I'm 50 plus and a counter, May I chime in. I've been dieting alone for a couple of months now and I can feel my willpower waivering. I need some accountability and support and I hope to find that here. A little background. I began my weight loss at 165 and am just over 5 feet. I know I would feel better about myself losing weight, but also it's become a necessity healthwise. My blood pressure began escalating out of control and over the matter of a year or so I was in the hospital and have had stents put in three different times. I found that counting the carbs really helped with lowering the blood pressure, but I knew I had to modify and count calories and fat content as well because of the clogging of the arteries. I've tried to modify the Atkins diet to suit my needs and am probably a bit closer to the South Beach Diet. I did do the Atkins induction by the book and then began the modification thus the slow down in weight loss. I began with an good initial loss and have managed to get down to 152. My doctor would like me in the 110 range, but I think that's a little strict for a 50 plus way post menopausal woman. If I could get to 120 I would be thrilled, but again, going this alone is making me want to cheat. My husband is not a dieter and he does like to eat. I keep my grandchildren and they do love their snacks (and they are thin as a rail). My youngest daughter didn't get my short fat genes - she is tall and slender, and my oldest daughter who is short like me is beginning to put on a few pounds, but she has youth in her favor. I feel like if I can talk with other people with similar issues and who are also battling the bulge it may keep me on track. I have to admit this is the longest I have managed to stay on a diet and I am no where near what I need to be. Can you ladies take in a poor straggler and help me along my counting ways?

After taking the quiz in Dr. Amen's book and getting the results, I find that the reason I'm not able to stick to low carb long term is that it doesn't fit my brain type. Calorie counting is more suitable for me. Also have learned a few more vitamins that will help also there are foods that feed the brain and got a few of those which turns out I like so that will be helpful. I've spent most of my time today reading from the book and writing down things to do. Also learned that the exercise for my brain type is aroebics and I need to exercise 30 minutes 4 times a week. So I am thankful for the book. I'm eating my steal oats with blueberries and yogurt again for breakfast which is my favorite. Turns out that DH and I need to eat pretty much the same which is going to make meal planning much easier. From what I've read so far, this should become not only easier for me to do, but it should become a joy and fun. So we will see. Sure would be nice to feel good about myself and life in general again. I haven't felt that way in a long time. I'm eating healthier and more balanced than I have in a long time which should help.

Jane Remember those cards the Beck Diet told us to do and read everyday? From some of the positive things I've read so far, I think he recommends doing similar. So I think I'm going to get my cards out and start reading and meditating on those again.

Katzz - Glad to have you here. We are here to help each other and be a support and encourager for each other. We each have to find our own path way to health whether it be counting carbs, calories or points, but whatever each of us does... it really helps when we can have a place to go and get and give support. I lood forward to getting to know you.

to all of our Newbies as I see there are several while I was away from the thread for a while.

Y'all have a great weekend.

It seems like every diet book tells us something different! I guess one just has to find what works best for them. I have read so many and I take a bit of something from each one that seems to help me, but for me it always comes down to will power or lack of unfortunately. As I become more and more serious about getting my weight down and keeping my bs stable, eating out becomes more and more scary! We are eating out tonight and while I want to go for a change, I'm already dreading it too.

Katzz - We're happy to have you aboard! The goal your doctor recommended does seem low, in my opinion, but I'm no expert. You've lost well so far, so just carry on, and you'll get to your personal goal. I have found that willpower, for me, is much less important than perseverance. It took me years to "keep on keeping on" after a slip-up. Used to be, I'd forget the whole "diet" until the next day, or the next Monday. Now when I mess up, it's an isolated event, and my next meal is OP. How's your blood pressure nowdays? My DH, Neal, takes meds for his. I try to limit his sodium, too.

Trish - I still use my recorder for motivation at times. It's like a friend giving me a pep talk, and it really is effective. I'm so glad that you and Tony can eat basically the same things. Makes it easier on you. Neal isn't too picky, but I do make substitutions for him sometimes.

Mary - how did you do eating out last night? I know what you mean about all the diet books. I've gotten some good information from some of them, but sometimes I think the best thing I could do with them is tie them into 2 stacks, and use them as weights for exercise, lol.

Neal's high school reunion banquet was last night, and we had a lot of fun. Today some of the children and grands will be here. The weather is gorgeous, but windy.

Have a good Sunday.

Thanks for the welcome. This weekend I counted more along the calorie line than the carbs. While I didn't go over on my calorie intake the couple of fried chicken tenders blew my carb count. I didn't take a hit on the scales so I'll try to get back in line this week. I've reached a plateau and I don't seem to be able to come out of the stall. Any ideas on how to kickstart the process. While I'm not out jogging or walking, I am active. I keep my three grandsons each day and keeping up with three active little boys is not for the faint of heart. This weekend I also helped build a new pier, hauled lumber and trash, etc. and worked up quite a sweat and burned a few calories in the process - but not movement on the scales. Thanks everyone again for the welcome.

Just got back from doctor's appt. Doctor was very pleased with my numbers. A1c 5.9 My overal cholesterol was good and the good cholesterol has come up and bad has gone down. We discussed Metformin and he said according to the tests that it was not affecting my legs or kidneys etc. We decided for me to stay on it and stay at 1000 mg. I told him about the new plan I'm on and he wanted to look at the book. He said he was pleased with how I'm doing so we didn't change anything. I also asked him what my goal weight should be. He said that realistically that we can only expect to lose about 15% of our weight or about 35 lbs a year. So he said that I could set a goal of hoping to weigh maybe in the 180s by this time next year. So I think I will change my ticker to read the goal he gave me for this year.

He is such a good doctor and encourages me and spends time talking with me. I was up 2 lbs from last time, but he wasn't concerned because everything else had improved so well. He said, "2 lbs isn't anyting... it could be antthing like maybe you haven't peed or ate something whatever". I did have my green tea this morning. I told him that I was coming off of caffiene except for my cup of green tea with caffiene in the morning. He said for me not to worry that he has to have his caffiene to get going in the morning too. I'm so blessed to have such a good doctor. I also told him that I've learned that no matter what diet plan that I use that I have to count the calories in order to learn portion and to have portion control.

According to this book, diabetics keep their glucose level easier without spikes if they eat 6 mini meals each day because eating bigger meals causes glucose spikes. I know that when I eat 1/2 serving of oatmeal that it doesn't affect the BS like a full serving does. I also learned that I need to eat my protein earlier in the day and eat my carby foods in the evening because it relaxes me. I was originally a person who ate only 1-2 meals a day and had to learn to eat 3 meals a day and now I am having to learn to eat 6 little ones. But I know I don't like stuffy heavy feeling so I believe that will be really good for me.

I go back in 3 mos for blood work and appt. I finally have things going in the right direction so now I'll just keep on keeping on and hope that when I go back in 3 mos. that I will be rewarded with more improvements.

Y'all have a great day.

Hi all. Mind if I join you? I will be 50 in a couple months and feel like that milestone is pretty much here. I've been a 3FC member for years and years. Today I logged in and was shocked it had been 4 months since I last visited. And want to know something, I've gained 9 pounds in that 4 months.

I'm a calorie counter. I use the iphone app LoseIt! and I did just that. I'd lost ~70 pounds. Over the last year, I've gained 17 back. My winter clothes are feeling snug now and I can't imagine my capris fitting. When I lost the weight, I gave all the big clothes away. I could buy a few bigger ones but I think that would make me feel worse than I already do. So it's time to pull the reins in and get back to business. So I logged back into 3FC and made my way here. I want to lose 10 of the pounds I regained. Maybe 13 pounds. I think those other 5 or so made me look a little haggard. For now, I'm going for the 10 pounds because I was pleased with my looks and how I felt there. But I do have this number hangup that I'll need to get over. I loved being in the 130's just because I truly never had and it seems like a good number where the 140's doesn't. It's a mind thing for me. But as I hit the 150's I'm thinking the 140's would be good. I think my biggest hurdle is the mind games I play against myself.

Thanks in advance for letting me join the counters. With my number obsession (weight and calories) the group by name fits perfectly. Plus I do see myself in a lot of what you all have posted.
Marie

Marie! You are the baby of the group! I applaud you for wanting to get the regained weight off before it gets out of hand. I have a calorie app for my phone, too, called Calorie Counter, and it sure comes in handy on days when I'm on the road, or otherwise not home. Usually, I fill out my food sheet manually each night for the next day in a 3-ring binder. Gotta love the new technology, though! Nice photo of you with your dog. I am a dog lover, too, and have 2. One is old, a collie/lab/? mix from the shelter, and the other is a about 1 yr. old -a beagle/dachshund mix that got dumped in front of our house. What breed is your dog? Kind of looks like an Alaskan husky type. Again, welcome aboard! You will find friendship and support here.

Hi, all! Just a fly by for me....it seems to be hard to find the time to get in here, and I am disappointed about that. I work from a home office and it seems like it would be easier than it is, but boy, have I been busy!

I had my four-week weigh in this morning, and it has been downhill all the way (in a good way!). It's slowing down though, as I knew it would, so it's time to start looking for those non-scale victories so I can stay the course. I am just a little over three pounds from my first mini-goal and feeling INFINITELY better. I am so glad I got going on this!

My best wishes to everyone here at 50+ for a great OP week. Hang in there, kids!!!

Welcome Marie! We're glad to have you here. I'm on WW, and although I refuse to buy their calculator (just stubborn) I'm guesstimating points pretty well so far. Had a weigh-in yesterday, and lost another 1.5 pounds, so that's over 10 so far!! All: I've been eating homemade pumpkin muffins with a recipe I found which are SO filling they can be a small meal - and only 122 calories a muffin! I think they could make a difference if you're an evening snacker like me. I'll have one for breakfast and one in the evening. Anyone interested in the recipe?
Have a good Wednesday!

Just a fly-by to tell you that the new grandbaby is here! Holden James was born this morning, and is a cutie! 7 lbs, 4 oz, and 22" long. Momma and baby are doing well. Clint, the daddy, is still walking on air, and hasn't stopped smiling yet.

Have a good day!