Hello!

I found this forum less than 30 minutes ago. And I'm hopeful that I can benefit from your experiences and support.

I would like to lose perhaps 75 pounds. My difficulties are two-fold: a disabled diabetic husband who needs to eat frequently, and my own physical limitations. While I well understand that exercise needs to go hand-in-hand with better eating choices, I have severe arthritis in my knees, and cannot walk without a cane. My exercise comes from housework and a full-time job, and I often need to sit just to take the load off my legs.

I know why I eat like I do; I'm either consoling myself, or celebrating, or depressed, or stressed. Okay, I suppose those are all the usual suspects. My cravings are sweets and carbs, and have been all my life. I can only trace that back to childhood, being one of four children that needed to be fed on a limited budget. And it's cheaper to eat wrong than eat right.

Is there any hope for me? I'm 52 years old, and have been overweight for 25 years. My first hope is that I can fit in with others like me, here at forum.

Thank you! ~Bobbie

Hello Miss Bobbie and I think your husband needig to eat every so often is a good thing as you should eat 5-6 small meals a day. Start out ith changing small things and before you know it the weight will come off. As far as exercise I would start out with maybe a 5 minute walk and slowly increase. You will begin to feel better in no time. Your in the right place as there is alot of supportive and motivating people here and some going thru the same as you. Good luck!

Dear Bobbie: AKA "I'm a mess." !

You can do it; there's lots of support here.

I realize that money may be an issue, but you might consider getting a good physiotherapy consult about movement. If you're in a university town, you might find some consultants there. But, if you can walk, then walk all you can.

Enjoy searching the boards and finding the place where you feel comfortable. There is good support.

Good luck,
Rhonda

You can do it! Just log in here a lot and post whenever you feel the need to overeat, and people will be there for you. You're not alone!

And 25 years overweight can be turned around anytime you choose it and want it bad enough. =)

Hey Miss Bobbie -

You CAN find alternates for all of those situations you named where you normally eat. For me, I used to eat when I was anxious, frustrated, upset, depressed, or to celebrate. Now for the first four, I exercise...same burn, much healthier, and the same endorphin lift at the end. For the last I do something nice for myself...like a bubble bath or a pedicure.

Find some alternates, start working a plan, and get rid of that "I'm a mess" attitude. You can do this!

Can't wait to see you around.

What about something like swimming as an exercise? Dunno if a pool is readily available - but it's easy on the joints.

It's definitely not hopeless, and you'll fit in here very well. There's really something here for everybody.

My husband and I are both on disability. He for an inherited degenerative joint condition and diabetic neuropathy. I for arthritis, and autoimmune connective tissue disease, and fibromyalgia. "Dieting with Obstacles" is a great Forum here and has really taught me that no matter your situation there's always hope, but you can't be too hard on yourself expecting fast-working miracles. Slow and steady, really does win this race.


Starting small really does help. Making changes that you can live with, is vital because change (even for the good) adds stress to your life, and when you're already overloaded with stress it can just become too overwhelming.

Finding lighter versions of what you already like is a great way to start diet-wise. As for exercise, warm water exercise cannot be beat. The Arthritis Foundation (arthritis.org) accredits warm water exercise programs, and you can visit the site and find out if there is one in your area, as they're listed by zipcode. If they don't have one listed, you could still call local YMCA's, YWCA's, and health club and ask if they have arthritis exercise programs and how warm they keep the pool.

I LOVE the warm water pool in our area. In our area it's $4 for my husband and I both to go each time. They arthritis foundation accredited programs tend to be quite cheap, or in some areas free. The only problem with warm water exercise is that it feels too good. It's easy to overexert yourself, and be very sore once you get on land. I told my husband that if I had my way, I would live in the warm water pool, but I'd have to rig something up so I wouldn't drown in my sleep.

Wow! I like this place already! Thank you all for your positive enthusiasm.

Okay, I'll weigh myself in the morning and give it a start. Now, if I could convince my husband to make some changes at the same time, it would be a lot easier. I think. I'll be back to check out all the forums, especially "dieting with obstacles."

Goodnight, Ladies!

Never, ever give up. Life is full of challenges and this is yours for today. You take eveyday with what comes your way, if you slip up tomorrow is a new day and you start strong just as you did the day before. I have faith in you and know you can do it. Why not start following your husbands diet with him. I bet you will notice you start loosing weight too.