27 (Forever? Please?) Single, no cats no dogs. I live with family still - stupid high cost apts. in my area - and no reasonable roomates either. I'd LIKE a dog though, so hopefully someday.

Need to lose about 50-60lbs. Horridly bad at sticking with something, and the coworkers at my office choose the 'let's pick on her lack of follow through' attempt at encouraging me. It only makes me mad and I grab a candy or something else to snack on just to piss them off. Or tell them to piss off, or something. I do better with the encouraging kind of encouragement, thus I am here.

SW-188 CW-183 GW-130

Hi Everyone.

Welcome Janett and lilwolfe. After just turning 34 I can relate Janett. I really want a family but don't think I can get past finding the right guy. My problem is I keep looking but let my low self esteem keep me in bad relationships. You are probably doing the right thing by getting happy with yourself before you look for someone else. I wish I could say that I thought men would be different, but I'm afraid almost all want model types, whether they will admit it or not. So frustrating.

South Beach and WW - keep us updated. I find it hard to combine programs. Nuts are your friend in moderation - you almost need to use the saturated fat grams for the WW points calculation (just a thought).

Connie - why did you stop the to do list if it was working? I recently bought a house, so I can relate with being overwhelmed. Maybe try to make really small goals for now. If I'm home I try to do at least one house chore a night. It's not much but at least I feel like I am trying and making some progress. You could do the same with getting out - pick one day during the week and plan something fun, even if it is only for an hour.

You hit the nail on the head about marrieds. Friends are never top priority (not that they should be when you have a family). People keep telling me about all these great things I do and places to see (new to my area) and I think it's wonderful except that I am not going to go alone. There's no fun in that for me. I have accrued tons of vacation time because I don't want to take a vacation alone and don't have other single friends to go with me.

btw - my birthday was actually not bad. I worked, kept busy and spent the evening with friends. Could have been a lot worse.

lilwolfe - I think you'll get all the encouragement you need here, or at least a good start. Is there something you are trying right now that you need help sticking with (e.g. eating habit, exercising)?

Have a great night everyone - glad to see the thread active. Ang

So far WW and SB is going good. I can't do a diet where its all you can eat, because I go crazy. I love cheese and if there's no restriction, I'll eat too much. Its day 4 and so far I'm down. I weight myself every day, I know you're not supposed to, but its a hard habit to break.

I totally agree with feeling overwhelmed and not having enough time. I really don't know how working mothers do it. They work, take care of the home and their children and probably their husband. I have to give them a lot of credit.

During the week I don't do much, I go to the gym at night, by the time I fix supper and clean up, its late and I just want to crash in front of the tv. I end up doing most of my housework on the weekends. I suppose if I had a life, I'd resent that, but I don't have much of a social life, so it fills the weekends.

Hey, thanks for the welcome aboard. I played a wicked mean softball game last night in weather that was meant to boil noodles! It was 85 degrees with a humidity of 91% *drip drip*

shyangel - I don't know what to try really, as far as food stuff goes. I was all set to give South Beach a try, but there is absolutely nothing I can eat for breakfast, because I strongly dislike eggs! Exercise, I have a gym membership, I think I just need go force myself to go enough that I start feeling the rewards of my going... ugh.

So, it's 9am, I didn't (never do) eat breakfast at home, and all that is here is Poptarts. Eat them anyway, so I have -something- in my tummy? Or wait until lunch and risk binging??

Here's to hoping for a good day!

Hi there girls,
I am a single mum in Delahey, Melb, Australia. My son is 11 y.o. and I work 2 part time jobs as well as take care of house, dog, 2 cats and b/f when i see him. I'm not terribly overweight but I still get depressed about it. And I can totally relate to not feeling like you have enough time to do what you want to do, and ironically when you have some spare time it gets wasted because you are too tired. Doh!! Anyway I hope that its ok to talk in here. I only need to lose about 6 to 7 kilos. Please don't groan, I know its not much. I get glares from my sisters in law, the look that says what have you got to worry about. I just wanted anyone who looks at women who don't have much to lose in that way that it is all about whats going on mentally and obsess in my own way just like girls who have more to lose than me. So ok thats enough of being serious and all, lets do lunch....lol. We can virtual eat and never get fat..hehehe. If only that would work. Anyway it is 1.05am in the morning here and I am sitting up because I like having time to myself. Can anyone relate???

Welcome kimby - sounds like you have a lot of responsibility. No wonder you are too tired to do fun stuff. Don't worry that you don't have too much weight to loss. It is all the same in the head - 5 or 50 pounds. I don't feel any better about myself today than I did 2 years ago and an additional 40 pounds.

lilwolfe - if you hate the gym so much why don't you try something else? I love getting outdoors much better than being in a gym. Since I like it I tend to try and make time. Have you thought of Weight Watchers for a 'diet'? It is pretty flexible if you are picky about food you like. Do you have specific eating habits that are not 'good'? Sometimes small changes to an existing diet works well.

Ang

shyangel - Hmm, well. My biggest collapse comes between noon and 5pm at work. I eat mostly because I get bored, or stressed. Unfortunately, being at work it's not like I can so, 'oh I have a craving, let me get up and go do something else'. Hee. It's very frustrating and would take a mountain of willpower to just sit my butt there and NOT grab something to appease the boredom snacking.

When I have time to stop for groceries, I usually get a healthy cereal (Kix is my favorite lately) and some skim milk - keep that at work and eat it around 9am. Lunch comes around, and rather than stay in and eat healthy, I am so bored from work, that I am in 'escape mode' - and finding healthy things to eat in an area of town that is all industrial sectoring, is tough to say the least.

Another thing I might note, is that just this past year, in an attempt to 'get my life on track' I finally, (after years of avoiding it) got braces. So a lot of things become a pain to eat. i.e. snack veggies, fruits, sandwiches on firm breads -etc etc. Everything needs to be cut up. And well, having to put even more effort into eating is just really annoying.

I do love doing stuff outside, but I am a person with a pack mentality, like, I hate doing things alone. Bike riding, walking, I'd even like to try to work up into jogging outside, - but I don't have the courage or confidence to go out and doing it all by myself, (which, I suppose is not so awful, there is safety in numbers I guess.)

So the gym is a little more likely to get me going, only because I am not alone. I just wish I -liked- it more.

Hi shyangel,

Thanks for the welcome, I have just been reading through all of the posts and thoroughly enjoyed it. I have just started seeing a psychologist and am hoping that I can put this weight issue to bed. Its not the main reason I am going but I have had poor self esteem for so long and a lot of bad things happen that I need to come to terms with. I cannot remember a time when I have not worried about my weight. I started drinking tab at age 14 and having an apple and tab for lunch. My weight has fluctuated from 46 kilos (almost anorexic and bordering on eating disorder) to 74 kilos and depressed after my son was born).

I am now 62 kilos but the weight I feel most comfortable at is 55 - 56 kilos. I am only 5'3" and I don't look bad but when I look at myself naked I cringe. Cellulite and being unfit makes me depressed. Even when I am down to regular weight the cellulite thing bothers me immensely. Does anyone else feel this way. I would rather be the weight I am now with no cellulite or look toned etc than be slimmer and have this horrible cellulite.

Anyway on the positive side I cooked up a batch of meals in advance from book weigh less naturally and although I had fish n chips tonite....lol I feel a little better knowing that I am starting to head in the right direction. Would really like some motivation in the exercise dpt. I have handweights & a small weight bench thingy, a bike and a fit ball and still I cant motivate myself to either get started, or when I have to stick to it.

I would love an online exercise buddy to make a commitment to so that I would feel more motivated. Anyone interested???????

Hi Kimby

Wow...cellulite...I don't remember having cellulite exactly but I did have wobbly legs...and I DO MEAN WOBBLY. I use either my bike, treadmill or just take a walk 30 minutes a day. I've been doing this about 1 year now...well...the first 6 months or so it was only every other day with great results. Now, I have muscles in my legs and when I stop walking my legs stop with me. It is so worth it to do something, anything for at least 30 minutes every other day. I find it much easier if I do it in the morning and it is done with. The rewards are FANTASTIC. At first, it seems like there will never be a change...but before you know it...you will start to see things transform.

I think the cooking meals in batches like you have is wonderful....I've never tried that...maybe I will

lilwofle - I can relate about work. When I am stuck behind my desk I have to consciously try not to eat but it does not always work. Have you tried drinking tons of water and/or chewing sugarless gum? Can you bring a lunch and then escape and eat it outside? I joined a running club to get outside and get the group mentality thing. I definitely get out more because I know I am meeting people.


kimby - congratulations on getting started with the eating. One step at a time. Although I am by no means perfect, I have a better handle on exercise than eating, which I terrible at. I would be happy to chat privately with you about exercise. Send me a private message if you want to and we can exchange e-mail addresses. Pick one thing about exercise that you want to start and work on that. Tell us and pick one small goal. If you let us know then we can hold you accountable.

Ang

Hello everyone. Nice to see new "faces" since my last post.

I get bored at work too. I work an evening schedule and am the only employee in my department that works evenings. The departments are scattered throughout the building and right now I have a section of the building all to myself. I work in transcription and I have to listen to dictation and then type the dictation so I really can't spend a lot of time talking and visiting. So I miss out on a lot of the "camaraderie" the other employees have. But it is nice and quiet in my work area.

I have had a good week so far with food. What has worked for me is limiting carbs and fat. I re-joined Weight Watchers in May. I was diagnosed with type 2 diabetes last year and it was the kick in the a$$ I needed to shape up. My dr sent me to a diabetic educator. She advised me to limit carbs to 60 grams at each meal and 30 grams for a snack. She also told me that I should be more careful with carbs, not just sugar. I decided that I do not want to go blind, lose my legs, or go into kidney failure. I do not want diabetes to destroy me. So I am working hard to keep my blood sugars normal and my cholesterol and triglycerides. I am at the age where weight loss is for my health and not for how I look. I am nearly 45 and know that I will have not a tight toned body like Brittney Spears. I have cellulite, stretch marks, veins. But I can have a nice healthy 45 year old body. I really don't give a $H-t what a man thinks about the way I look.

I would also like to say that I understand about not wanting to do things alone, but you cannot let life pass you by while you sit home alone. I have gone to the Smoky Mtns and to Chattanooga Tennessee by myself and had a wonderful time. I enjoy the freedom of coming and going when I please and doing what I want to do.

I hope you all have a good weekend.

Connie - you seem to have a great and realistic attitude about your health and body. I am 34 and know I will never be 'perfect' but in the back of my mind I want it. I guess for now I should be happy to get on the right track and lose 1 pound. I keep looking for the track but it keeps eluding me.

I can't say your job sounds very exciting. No wonder you get bored. At least it seems like the type of job where you have to pay attention. Do you have problems with snacking at work?

I know you are right about getting out alone but it just isn't as much fun for me. I am determined to go somewhere this fall even if it is by myself.

Today was a partial bust for me. No running because of rain and really did not get much productive stuff done. Oh well. I hope everyone else had a better first half of the weekend. Any good stories out there?

Ang

Just checking in on everyone. I had a so-so weekend on the eating, but did a lot of work. My volunteer work on Sat. kept me moving and I put in 5 miles of walking just from working in the pastures!! The party Sat. night was of course, not so hot on keeping my calories counted, but ah well - a little fun and splurging is alright. Real tired from the activities of the past three days, and looking forward to a good week starting tomorrow.

Can anyone suggest a place I can get some info on running? I have exercise induced asthma, but as long as I don't go all out, it usually doesn't bother me. (All out being in a highly competitive situation, where despite my body suggesting I cool off a bit, I keep pushing for the sake of the win.) Heehee. Anyway, I'd like to get into it, but have -no- clue how one would start?

hi lilwolfe (and everyone) -

What kind of volunteer work do you do? You mentioned working in the pastures. I have been working my garden/farm and afraid that I am not getting enough exercise doing it. I don't really do that much walking, more bending over and weeding. Sounds like you had a busy weekend. It's good to have some fun and relax on the calorie counting once in a while - that's living. How is your week going so far?

You can get a lot of info on running at coolrunning.com. They have lots of different information and a forum full of people with advice (not always good but always good intentioned). I run also and can help you out as much as possible if you let me know what info you are looking for. I started the runners thread on this site that you could join too.

The most important things about starting to run are getting a good pair of running shoes. Go to a running store and have them do an analysis of your running style so you get the proper shoes. This is so important. When you get out on the 'road' what you do will be determined by your fitness level now and ability to run. Most people who have never run (me included) start with a program of walking and running (alternating). coolrunning has a c25k program that helps with this but there are other similar programs out there.

Before I ramble too much, let me know if there is something in particular I could help you with. You can PM me if you would rather.

How is everyone else doing out there? I've been stressing about life (what else is new) and at a crossroads with my bf. I wish I could just be happy by myself. Happy Tuesday.

Ang

Hello everyone. I am single and 51, living in the suburbs of Washington, DC. I am 4'6" tall and was about 80 pounds overweight early last year. Last summer, I started eating healthy and exercising regularly with the goal of reducing my cholesterol and losing weight. It's been really slow going, but I've lost 35 pounds, reduced my cholesterol almost 70 points, and improved my blood pressure enough for the doctor to allow me to step my meds down from 7 days a week to 3 or 4 days a week.

I haven't used any particular system or program to lose weight. Just good ol' healthy eating and lots of sweat. I exercise 6 days a week, twice at the gym and four days at home. At the gym, I do an aerobics class or cardio machines and weight training. At home, I do one of several Walk Away the Pounds walkaerobics workouts or Tamilee Webb's I Want That Body toning workout (and occasionally a balance ball workout which is toning/relaxation).

I have about another 35 pounds to lose, though I don't really know what my goal weight is/will be because I have never (naturally) been thin in my adult life. I was thin for a short time at age 19 due to an extremely low calorie diet but being that I'm now 51, I don't think of the weight I was at 19 after starving myself is a good weight to use as a goal. I don't ever expect to be a size 5 again, but would be deliriously happy with a size 8 or even a 10.