Welcome Chipper. You've already taken a few baby steps by establishing a starting point, finding a support system, and setting a plan to get healthier eats.
I think sheila said it best

This was me in the beginning and part of it still is when I find I don't want to do what it takes to lose the weight. But I have to remind myself that me and me alone is the only person who can be responsible for me losing weight.

Not losing weight is not an option for me anymore. I know I have to lose the weight if I want to be around with the kiddos in a few years. I want to be able to get down in the floor and play with them or go outside and play ball, run, etc.

I also have a big hang up about No-No foods so I too have no foods that are off limits. I am aware of foods that can cause me to pig out so I do not keep them in the house. That way if it is something I really, really want, I will have to drive to get it.

Ok, Jiffypop, help me make a list. I love making lists. I was thinking of losing the weight as my task. But, after reading your post several times, it has sunk in to be a "healther lifestyle" as my task. Other wise this weight will be coming right back on. To begin my list: This will begin happening on Monday the 15th. I have this thing about starting things on Mondays.
1) Exercise at least 3x's a week.
2) Start eating a good breakfast.
3) Cut back on smoking to fully quit.
I have read that it takes at least 21 days to begin a new habit,(sometimes longer). I will do these 3 things for 3 weeks and then will add another 2 changes.
The smoking, I have smoked for about 30 years. This is will be my hardest change. Dr. told me that is what she really wants me to work on. She suggusted that I take away 2 to 3 cigarettes a week and slowly cut down to none. I had tried this for awhile and it worked real well, but, then stress of finding out I have asthma and allergy to dust. The dust made me do allot of home changes, like curtains that can be washed weekly, no carpet, special sheets and pillow covers, list goes on and on. I also have HB, High trigrercylites(sp). Which no matter what I do may never change. I am the youngest of 6 and we all have it along with parents. Dr. said I was doomed from the start. Even the always thin ones in the family are on meds for them. Great family history. Is this what you were talking about?
Great advice Jiffypop and everyone. Thanks so much.
I feel so much better now. Time to go make my lists of changes and put them in order of importance. I have another hour of peace time before son gets home.
Chipper

chipper... ANY of the posts i lost was clearer and more concise than the one i actually managed to post, so i'm grateful that i made ANY kind of sense.

ok. so you now have 3 'to dos' for next week. nice choices.. how do you plan to accomplish them? what form of exercise? do you have what you need to do this [comfy shoes, a floor mat, the video/dvd player is working, whatever it is...]?

and the good breakfast: what IS a good breakfast? for some of us, it's bacon and eggs and toast, for others it's kashi cereal or cottage cheese with fruit. or oatmeal with protein powder. soooo. what is it for you??? [for me, it's a deviled egg made with hot salsa and chili powder, and 2 slices LF cheese on a wasa cracker with some red pepper or tomato - but that's ME, not YOU - or anyone else for that matter]

smoking is a tough one - and doing it at the same time as working on your diet is even tougher. ya gotta be kind and gentle with yourself throughout the whole process.

how many cigarettes less are you planning to smoke? and what will you do instead of smoking? ya can't eat, ya know... against the rules [or is it?? i know we've had some people who have managed to do both... very impressive!!!!]

it's all part of the planning. and we'll work on the list as time goes on... you have to figure out what you want and what you need first...

who knows? you might decide you need barbells!!!!!! believe me, stranger things have happened!!

oh and about the asthma.. yes it's a royal pain. i was very angry about it for a couple of years and wouldn't take my meds. but it FINALLY sunk in that (1) it wasn't going away. (2) if i took the meds as i was supposed to, i wouldn't notice the asthma (3) i needed to carry a rescue inhaler EVERYWHERE [and now i can't find the 3 that are stashed in my pocketbooks and i haven't missed them!!!!]. so, as my doc told me DEAL WITH IT. it's very manageable and you don't have to suffer with this..

Morning all. Doing well in the mind set today. Getting my ducks in a row. Doing my planning for the first day of the good life. My list is as follows:
1) My good breadfast: not to eat 4 pieces of toast smoothered in PB. Although I do now buy low fat. I will measure PB and buy whole wheat bread instead. To be more careful of my choices. To keep the dounts out.
2) Exercise: to either walk outside, or with WOTP tape, or curves.
3) Smoking: cut cigarettes by 3 a day for one week and then 3 more the next week. Since I do smoke allot, because of bordom, I went and bought a bunch of craft things to do instead. As long as my hands are busy. Not to smoke in my van, nor while getting dressed, nor when I get up during the night.
Jiffypop, question? Would it be easier to add to my change list every week or every other week? How long should I wait until I add another change? Like maybe one new change a week?
Thanks guys for the help. It is really getting me to think straight. I still have to work on getting it done. As stated by Sheila53. I want it, but, not sure if I want to do what needs to be done to abtain it. One hour at a time. I know as soon as I see some results the that will kick in.
Thanks again,
Chipper

good plan, chipper... soooo are you going down to 2 pieces of toast with 1 tbsp of PB on each?

as for the adding to your change list, don't do it until you've gotten into the groove with the changes. this is not torture, or a marathon, or a race. it's a journey that takes us to brand new places and we have to figure them out for ourselves.

so you might change the list once a month or once a week. it's all up to what feels comfortable for you.

some other things that many people around here do include non-food rewards for accomplishments - like every 10 pounds earns a book or a manicure or a CD or a special time with a friend or whatever.

soooo i hope you're reading everything you can find on this and other forums... there's SO MUCH wisdom from SO MANY PEOPLE and that's why this is such a wonderful place.

Heya Chipper!! I quit smoking while changing my eating habits. I quit cold Turkey. I've tried the cutting down approach before and totally bombed at it. I was far to addicted to just cut back. I have faith that whichever approach you take you will do great. I quit in July of this year. I have been smoke free since then. I gained ten pounds but have finally lost them. I won't even say it was easy. It was hard as ****!! The rewards though far outweight the risks of continuing the bad habit. We all know that it is always harder to do the right thing as opposed to doing the wrong thing. In the end though you will be so proud of yourself for doing it. You are stronger than you give yourself credit for. You can do this!! Overcome one thing at a time and then you see that you can overcome about anything that is thrown at you.

You are very much on the right track. The small changes really make a huge difference. Once you really get into the routine of things it will all become normal for you to do. Welcome to the board! We are glad to have you here!

Hey ya'll. Yep, Jiffypop that is the way I am going to do it. 2 toast and 1 tbsp on each, or 2 eggs and 2 toast w/ brumble & brown spread. Better choices. I am getting excited about starting. Like waiting for Christmas morning. I have set my goals and rewards. I am still drumming it into my head that this is not just to lose the weight, but to feel better about me and to improve what health problems I can, and that it is not going to be easy or fast. I don't want that oxygen tank in 20 years like the dr told me could happen if I don't at least start doing something to improve. Everything is getting worse with each new pound gained. Thanks again for the encougement. It's just great.

chipper darlin.. i WAS on an oxygen tank and bedridden. but not now!!!!

you can do this. i promise you. day by day, hour by hour. keep coming back to this fabulous site for help and ideas and wisdom and support. there's always someone around.

sooooo as long as you're ready WHY WAIT FOR MONDAY????