I have had such trouble trying to figure out how to get started and post with all the technology and not knowing what threads and urls etc are, nor how to navigate myself, so being computer "dumb", I had to ask my husband to help me............. and "hello" here I am..

All you 50 year olds, you know its not easy to loose weight as it was years ago. I have packed on the pounds over the last months, and/or years. My clothes are popping and I am now wearing the every day loose skirt to be comfortable as those zips are just too exact. So, everyday I pretty much like to wear the same user friendly skirt. Have got some pretty sweaters to hide behind tho...........
Instead of loosing, I have been gaining. My wonderful husband is too good to me (no woman could ever imagine saying this) and every time I moan about having gained another pound, he just says "all the more to love".............he spoils me rotten and never comments about the weight gain, so its hard sharing my frustrations with him. Hence someone told me about this online computer network support, and it sounds great. I have committed to writing to myself every day, and who knows who else will be joining me in their weight woes, but together I hope to succeed and drop at least 20 lbs. To all you amazing girls who have been able to loose 100 lbs etc, and I have seen your before and after photos, I know you cannot empathize with me, but we all have our individual struggles and these 20 lbs are mine, and I pain over them daily. At 5' in height, 3 lbs are noticeable. I have battled all my life with weight and have maintained myself for periods of time, but I am out of control now. Being an orthodox Jewish wife and mother, every sabbath is difficult for me to control my eating as I entertain a lot over the sabbath and therefore cook lots. I have stopped making sweet kugels etc, but portion control is my issue. We are leaving in 2 weeks time for a 3 week vacation in Israel and thereafter upon our return, we are entering into the Jewish holidays of passover, so this will all be challenging, and therefore I am in need of support.I am committing to starting exercising tomorrow and will commit to a 30 min brisk walk sometime during the day. Am committing to stick to weight watchers (which I have joined 3 million times, but am no longer active) and will chronicle myself to my intake also. Talk soon.

Hi Rochel Leah to 3FC! I can empathize with every word that you wrote, except that I'm not Orthodox. I love your name, BTW. Leah was my grandmother's name. I'm 52, BTW. Yes, it is harder now, but it's also doable!

If you've started and quit weight watchers a million times, why not try something else? There are zillions of "plans" out there and maybe ww just isn't what is going to click for you. I lost most of my weight on SugarBusters and picked that because I'd seen my father and step-mother succeed eating that way. They keep a very strict Kosher home, so it's very doable for you.

Whatever way you decide to lose the weight, it's still the same overall: eat less and move more. Sounds simple, doesn't it? But all of us here know it's tough! You might want to check out the "Featherweights" forum for others who have around 20 pounds or so to lose, or any of the other Forums. Take a look all over the site. It's filled with supportive women, women who have succeeded, women who are struggling, and some of us who have succeed and struggle to keep it that way. (and a few men here and there.) Please feel free to post wherever you feel comfortable!

Mel

Hi Rochel!



You will be very glad that you found this site! Every day I am amazed at all of the knowledge the people here have and am inspired by the many wonderful successes that so many have had with their weight loss. I love having the great support and how quickly my questions get answered! There are SO MANY helpful people here!

I'm 55 and have been at my weight loss on and off since 1999. I began in earnest in June of 2005 when our oldest son got engaged. I did NOT want to be F-A-T in the group wedding pictures! I thought that maybe since he and his fiancee are athletes and VERY in shape, that a nice bonus wedding present for them from me might be a future grandma of their future kids that would have enough energy to run after their kids, play ball with them, and take them down waterslides! I am not at my goal just yet, but in a couple pounds I will have lost 75 lbs. AND gotten under 200 pounds for the first time in TWENTY YEARS! My blood pressure is better than it's ever been and I have TONS of energy! No wonder...I USED to lug around SEVENTY-PLUS pounds more than I do right now every single moment! What was I thinking?!!!!

I know what you mean about portions! Whoa! Did I ever eat portions!

I am not Jewish, but I have been in Israel. Our church group visited the Holy Land in 1972. Israel was a very wonderful place! I was awestruck being at the Wailing Wall! The Holocaust Museum was so hard to visit. I will have the sadness etched in my memory forever. We enjoyed visiting a kibbutz also.

Every weight loss, big or small is a journey. Every weight loss is tough for the person travelling it. Here you will find many who have a smaller amount to lose but are as frustrated as those of us with much to lose. It's a battle either way!

My husband has never mentioned MY weight either. Sometimes I wish that he had! I am embarrassed to think how much of my adult life was lived as a FAT WIFE! Do this FOR YOU! Do this so you will feel good about YOU! When you feel good about yourself, you will be able to be an even stronger and more self-confident woman. Everyone wins!

Have a GREAT trip!

Shalom!

Cheryl

Hi Rochel, I'm 55, soon to be 56 and can empathize with your desire to lose 20 lbs and also how hard it is. Every once in awhile I get all enthused and incensed and inspired,and then I don't care or tell myself I don't care. But I do. I have always been active and now am having trouble with foot pain and ankle swelling and I KNOW losing weight would help with that. So I am hoping that participating in this forum will help.

Shalom Rochel Leah...you have come to the right place!!
I completely understand what its like at 5 feet and even though 20 pounds doesn't sound like a lot, it really is. weight is weight, whether theres a lot or a little. I know what its like on Friday night when I cant say no to the Shabbat meal that my mother has cooked and its hard to eat something completely different from your family on that night.
And i know how hard it will be when Purim rolls around this weekend with all the baskets and I have actually announced that I (primary baker in my house) will not be making Hamantaschen this year because that is how I got off Weight Watchers last year. I figured Pesach wouldnt be as bad because we wont be eating much bread, but as a Sephardi, rice makes it to every meal and Matzah is still a white grain. But i have decided that holiday - no holiday I'm not gonna let something push me off because as soon as one holiday ends, another begins and we have all gone in the cycle of "im gonna start tomorrow" and tomorrow becomes tomorrow and becomes tomorrow. So i have made a pact to myself that on the first nights on Passover i will eat along with my family - in moderation, unlike how i used to eat the last years - and during chol hamoed (the days in which Jews may perform regular daily tasks) i will beef up my exercise to make sure i dont gain any extra weight.
You just have to remember that this weight loss is not just for this holiday season or for this year. If you wanna lose the weight you'll have to face these holidays every year. I mostly look forward to realizing that I passed a holiday without weight gain *cross my fingers*

I wish you a lot of luck and a safe trip to eretz yisroel!!

to all of you who answered me, thank you and thank you for including me in your support .........
Today was a good day diet wise, stayed pretty much on track, but as it was such a busy day, I only started eating dinner at 10.30 p.m, thats when my youngest son, 15, who lives in the school dorm (which is in the street behind us) came home for a quick bite and to say hello. That reminded me I had not eaten, so out came my dinner too. Tomorrow is a fast day for us, its the fast of Esther for the Jewish holiday of Purim and I guess I realized I would not be eating tomorrow, so I might as well eat some dinner, albeit so late. Did exercise today, but not for 30 mins as I undertook, but did do 20 or so... Better luck tomorrow, but I am on track..............
How do I put my picture of the left hand side, I can access it if I open up my name on the left hand side? My beloved husband had to help me get onto my page again, oh boy I just need to open my mind to computers....... I do have a post graduate degree so I cant be that dumb, but sometimes I do feel it. My young son, Aaron, overheard my husband asking for my introduction and when I said it starts as Im 53, etc, he flattered me by not believing that I am that old............. so hopefully I'm on track to starting to look better also. Bear with me. Talk soon.