Good Morning to you all ... it's Tuesday here, I guess I'm a little ahead of the rest of you ... or am I behind? ... Haven't quite got my head around the time differences!

It's great to get to know you all!

Freda, I know exactly what you mean ... I look back at photos of me when I was younger ... before marriage & kids! ... And I wonder what the **** happened to me?! The weight seemed to sneak up on me without me even noticing ... one day I was slim ... then suddenly, wham! ... It was there!!

Sassybiscuit, you are doing brilliantly! I'm really impressed with your determination as far as exercise is concerned. This is the other area which I need to address. Basically, I don't do any! I've hated any form of exercise all my life and find it a real struggle to get to grips with any kind of routine. I know I need to do something about this sooner rather than later. We do have a large dog who needs lots of exercise ... most of which I leave up to my hubby and the kids but I know it's about time that I got out there and did something about it ... the extra dog walks would be a good start! Reading posts like yours makes me feel ashamed that I'm so darn lazy! I WILL start to do something about it!

Marsha ... kids ... pregnancies ... I know what you mean! ... They've got a lot to answer for!!!

Kona, I'm also an emotional eater. Whenever I get stressed, or upset, or whatever, the first thing I turn to is food. Although I do generally have a fairly healthy diet, I do tend to binge on the wrong things when the emotions get out of control. I was also brought up as a child to eat everything on my plate which has carried through into adulthood ... a habit which I am trying to break, because as you say, even if it's healthy, too much is too much, no matter what you eat.

Well, Spring has most definitely arrived here in HK ... daily temps around 24'c-28'c ... unfortunately, along with that comes the humidity! I HATE, HATE, HATE HUMIDITY!!! ... And it's only going to get worse over the next few months. Of course, if I wasn't so overweight, I wouldn't feel so uncomfortable! Oh well, only 6 more months of it and then I look forward to some cooler weather without the humidity!

Have a great day everyone!

Nichola

I was a bit overweight as a teen, then slimmed down in my 20's, then I got an office job and started gaining weight in my 30's - ugh! I've lost weight and put it on again kept it off for 3 years and then had another life change and put it back on -

My main need right now is to exercise but I just can't seem to stick to it for more than a week.

Mauvaisroux, that's exactly my problem, I'll decide to start exercising a few days per week, say walking ... I even bought a pedometer a few months ago and felt really motivated ... but then after the first week or two the novelty wore off and I got bored with doing it. I always end up making excuses, like I'm too busy and don't have time, or I'm too tired when I get home from work (even though I only work part-time!). I just can't keep myself motivated long enough to ever get to the point where it becomes habit and part of my life.

I know I'm going to have to make more of an effort to do something about this. My husband is a walker ... he often goes off on long hikes at the weekend and takes part in charity walks etc. I'd love nothing more than to be able to join him ... unfortunately, our fitness levels are so far apart that I simply can't keep up with him ... a brisk 20-30 mins is about all I can manage at the moment without being out of breath ... and he goes off for like 4-5 hours!

I really need to find something that I'm going to enjoy ... something that I'll be able to stick to. Now the weather has warmed up, I noticed yesterday that the apartment complex where I live has just started to fill up the pool again, perhaps I give swimming a try (as long as there's no one else around to see me in my swim suit!!). We also have a residents gym here which I haven't been in for about 4 years ... and even then it was only a half-hearted attempt! I don't know how to use most of the equipment in there, but they do have a treadmill, and an exercise bike, so I've got no excuse really.

There's got to be some form of exercise out there to suit me ... I just need to discover what it is .........

Nichola

Hey - if you have a free pool and exercise room then go for it!

Hey, I think you are all right. Don't have much time to post tonight, but I would love to be on your thread.

Catlover

Welcome to Catlover

Mauvaisroux, you're right, I should just go for it. In fact, I think I should be ashamed that I've got the use of these facilities and don't bother using them Saying that though, the pool isn't great for exercise ... can't really do laps in it as it's a funny shape, like a kidney ... but I guess I could swim round and round like a goldfish ... that would still be exercise right?

Ok, I've made a decision, hubby's going to be off work for a few days over Easter, so I'm going to get him to come to the gym with me to show me the ropes, and I'm going to go in the gym 3x a week when I get home from work ... the pool isn't heated so I think I will have to give it a couple of weeks to heat up under the sun before I venture into it ... but I am going to use it!

Hope you all have a great Easter!

Nichola ... How do I look??

Good Morning all,

Welcome to all the new people! My smilies aren't working today for some reason! Glad to have some more people on board. It's always good to get new insight from different people. We all have different oponions and experiences. It all adds up to a lot of good information!

My computer has been down for a few days! I only got one about 4 years ago, was afraid to take it out of the box for months, then was afraid to get internet service! Now, don't know what I would do without it! But i'm not very good at solving problems with it! It's that old fear comming back! If I touch something it might break! I need a teenager in the house!

What is everyone going to do about Easter dinner? What are your traditions and what are you doing to continue them with your kids? Are you making the "traditional" dinner? Adding a few low cal things in there too?

I do make a "traditions" dinner, with the ham and all the trimmings. But I try to add a few lower calorie things also, a fruit salad and a vegetable tray. All the "traditional" desserts but also a few things that I can have without guilt too. I'm making chocolate covered fruit this year, strawberries, grapes, pineapple.

I actually like to exercise and miss it when I don't have time. I think it's like everything else, it takes time to form a habit! I wish I had the swimming pool and gym! But I do have the treadmill in the baement and a few other pieces. In the summer time I just walk outside! I put on my booktape and away I go!

Everyone make it a good day! Freda

Hi Freda.... yah Easter dinner is one to be gotten through LOL. I am going to someone's house and the guy makes the BEST homemade dinner rolls I have ever eaten. So I a plan to limit myself to one with NO butter and just eat small portions of the stuff that is high in calories and fat. A test of my strength; that's for sure LOL

Hope everyone else puts on their "strong shoes" too LOL.

Good for you Nichola!

Easter dinner we are going to my mom's. She's making roast beef, roast potatoes, veg and sherry trifle. I'm making the Yorkshire pudding.

My plan is to skip the wine with dinner so I can have the trifle, limit the potatoes and double up on the veggies.

We don't exchange gifts at Easter so there is no chocolate/candy in the house but I will pick my mum up some flowers or a potted mum arrangement.

Hello Everyone:

I've been reading this thread for a few days now. I've decided to jump right in and introduce myself. My name is Marie. I am a divorced 41 year old single mom of one child (17 year old son). I live in TX. I've been overweight pretty much my whole life. I'm the oldest of 7 siblings and am the ONLY one overweight. Of us 7, I have only one sister who of course is completely the opposite of me. She is like a size 4/6 and has never had a weight problem.

Over the years, I did manage to lose about 75 pounds 10 years ago on Weight Watchers. Unfortunately I think I might have only kept it off for 9 months before putting every pound back on plus some. Over the past year I've done so many different diet programs... lets see Suzanne Somers, Weight Watchers, Atkins, Medifast, and most recently Rice Diet.

At this point I'm just so TIRED of being so consumed with it. I'd like to stick to an exercise routine and eat healthy and love myself for me. Exercising for me has gotten to be pretty difficult. Not so much because of my weight but because I have a health condition called fibromyalgia and rheumatoid arthritis. Because of this, my body is always in pain. So exercising is very difficult. More recently I've been able to walk on the treadmill about 3 times per week. I'd like to increase it though. However, consistency is still a problem for me. However, my eating is still out of control.

So here I am hoping to find strength, encouragement and motivation to get the weight off. I am currently around 255 and need to get down to about 155. I've lost about 20 lbs since December which I did with Weight Watchers but I fell off the wagon the end of February and have not been able to get back on.

Sorry for such a long post. I'm looking forward to getting to know everyone.

Marie

Hello Marie!

Thanks for the introduction! We will gladly make room for you up here on the wagon so just jump right back on!!

Hi Marie, welcome to the thread I look forward to getting to know you

Well, I'm having a few busy days ... hubby's off work for the Easter hols which is a bonus as he often ends up working! We were going to go out for lunch tomorrow (Easter Sunday), but I've decided to do the whole traditional thing at home ... for us it's turkey and all the trimmings ... dessert's going to be bannoffie pie because it's my kids favourite (and mine ) ... I'm not a great dessert maker, but I do make a mean bannoffie pie, or so my son always tells me!

I will try not to over induldge too much, but I'm not going to make myself miserable by thinking I can't have something after I've gone to all the trouble of making it! After the hols I'll be straight back on track. I haven't been weighing myself lately ... just trying to get my head around eating more healthily, and cutting out any stuff that I perhaps shouldn't be having, and also concentrating on my portion control. I've been happily maintaining for the past few weeks (ok, so I did hop on the scales on a couple of occasions just to check!!) while I've been sorting myself out without any pressure, but now I'm feeling much happier and more in control of my eating habits, so I'll be hopping back on the scale next week and will start to keep track of how I'm doing.

Whatever you are all doing for Easter, have a good one!

Nichola

Hi Everyone, The holidays are always a problem. But then, there are always occasions that will be there to tempt us! We have to learn to be more in controle and plan ahead. It's ok to have a "bite" of dessert. Denying yourself will just make you eat more of everything else. But a bite doesn't mean half a pie. And, know your self. If youcan't stop at a bite or too, realize that, and don't take that first bite!

And, speaking of pies, Nicolla, what is that bannoffie pie you mentioned? Not something we have here!

It was so warm here today I shaved my legs and put on shorts!! I went for a long walk too, taking advantage of the warm weather. Listening to a really great book tape. I know some of you have mentioned that you hate exercise. Really, give it a chance! You just feel so much better! It does take awhile I admit. I gained a lot of weight after a back injury. When I first started walking again I couldn't even go 2 blocks. I would have to sit down on the sidewalk my legs hurt so badly! I would cry and hobble back home. Now I take long walks and feel great. And as for fibromialgia and RA, exercise is the first thing that is recomended!

Everyone have a great Easter! Remember, holidays are about the people we love, not about the food! Freda

Hello to everyone - welcome to Marie! It was supposed to rain today here in Minnesota - now they are saying 75 and sunny til tonight - YEAH! After our long winters, we deserve it!
I ended up spending about 5 hours in the mall yesterday, went in the morning with DD, then stayed and met DS and his GF there later. Got a LOT of walking in - my hips hurt by the time I got home.
I have been really trying to slow down my eating, and trying not to eat when I am really not hungry - both are problems for me. Hope there will come a time after a lot of practice when it will just happen naturally! I read something on another site which, while kind of funny, has had me thinking. If we remove all the issues around eating, then hunger and thirst become a body function, like peeing. If someone tried to tell you that you should only pee three times a day, at certain specified hours, etc., it wouldn't work for most of us! So we pee when we have a need to, stop when we are done. Could we do the same with eating if we really listened to our bodies?
Have a great day, and Happy Easter to all!
Marsha

It was a gorgeous day here on Friday so DH and I went fo a walk - for 2 1/2 hours!

I thought my legs would be killing me today but so far they are okay

Hope you are enjoying your weekend!