Hello all - I just joined the forum this morning, as I am determined to shed these 40 lbs I've put on since August of 2005.

I'm 58, married with two children (both single) and have a pretty wonderful life. But I've battled the weight since puberty. The only time I didn't have a weight problem, other than childhood, was after the birth of my first child until my mid-to-late 40's, when I began to enter menopause. I was up to 150 in January of 2005, lost 25 lbs with Jenny Craig, and then my life was turned upside down in August of 2005 by a lady named Katrina.

My very elderly father (91 at the time) was still living in my hometown on the Miss. Gulf Coast and suffered significant damage to his home, necessitating his relocation to our current home, approximately 400 miles away. He is still with us at the age of 95, thanks be to God, and is able to live in an independent living facility not far from my home, but this is possible only because of a significant amount of caregiving that I provide.

The major impact of relocating an elderly parent from his lifetime home town, repairing a home long distance, and taking care of his significant medical and physical needs - all without warning - played havoc on my ability to continue with my weight loss progress. Being one easily sidetracked, it was no surprise that I slowly slid back to my old eating patterns and failed to maintain my exercise routine, allowing the lbs to return with a few extra added for good measure.

Fast forward to early 2009, when the extra weight and the continued stress resulted in hypertension and other medical issues. I have been trying to re-focus myself since January of this year but it has been an uphill battle all the way. I'll lose a few, gain a few, lose a few, gain a few. I can't seem to psyche myself up to get this weight off once and for all, even though it is now much more than a cosmetic issue.

I struggle most with the movement of my body - I hate exercise with the heat of a thousand suns, and every moment that I spend in a gym is torture, despite the fact that it feels so good after I work out. I've never developed any type of love of exercise; the drive to the Y (five minutes away) is always filled with dread. This is my biggest weight loss obstacle, and I have decided that this is the issue that needs the most attention at this point. As I sit here at my keyboard I am dressed and ready to go, just waiting for it to open at 1:00 p.m. and wishing I had a magic pill that would substitute for daily exercise.

Controlling my diet is hard as well, but not quite the struggle for me that maintaining an exercise routine is.

I appreciate the opportunity to post here and trust that others will understand how I feel. I am constantly amazed at the fact that I can focus on many other things and succeed in so many other areas, yet this is the one struggle that seems to be my Waterloo.

I know I'll be visiting here often, as reading the stories of others is truly inspiring. Many have faced much harder struggles than I have and have been successful. My goal is to not only lose the weight, but to completely change my eating and exercise patterns once and for all so that I can enjoy the latter years of my life.

I'm not quite eligible for the 50+ club yet but I'm crashing your thread because I just saw your introduction. Sometimes 3FC is a little quiet on the weekends, especially a US holiday weekend, so I didn't want your post to go without a response.

It sounds like you've got a lot on your plate. I'm so glad that your family survived Katrina and that your dad is still with us at the grand old age of 95. He's so fortunate to have a loving daughter nearby to help him!

As far as exercise goes, it's really important to find something that you like. If you don't care for the treadmill or weights, keep looking for something else. Maybe you're the type of gal who would prefer to just put on the headset and walk a few miles a day. That's what I like best. I will probably need to join the gym soon because I'm a Yankee and it will start getting dark earlier here, so that it won't be safe to walk my narrow country roads in the evening anymore. So I will probably look for someplace that has Yoga, because I really liked that before. I've heard fun things about Zumba, so I could also try that. I've not done free weights before but that sounds like more fun than Nautilus, so that's also a thought. Some people don't like any kind of gym exercise and prefer to walk or bike outside, and that's OK too. Some gals here have done really well with the resistance bands and a video. Maybe just trying to incorporate more movement into your day (taking the stairs, parking further away when you go to the store, etc) is enough for now.

Best of luck to you. The most important thing is to craft a lifestyle that works for YOU. Dreading your exercise doesn't sound like much fun at all, so I would encourage you to just keep trying other things on until you find something that you enjoy and that works for you.

Welcome to 3FC!

Thanks for the encouragement, Windchime!

Right now I'm walking 45 minutes a day on the elevated track at the local YMCA. That's 45 laps, which is 2 1/2 miles. After undergoing a nuclear stress test to clear me for strenuous physical exercise, I am now under doctor's orders to move the ol' body for 45 minutes every day and to - in her words - "be sweating when I finish."

So sweat I accomplish!

It's so much harder to lose weight after menopause, but I've already done it once, with Jenny Craig. But my physician has me working with a dietitian and their recommendation is to follow a Mediterranean-style diet as much as possible, as I am insulin resistant. So that's the approach I'm taking this time. I have a bit of a leg up as I have never been a big sweets eater anyway, and the older I get the less appeal they have for me. However... white breads, potatoes cooked every way you can imagine, and chips are the boogieman for me, so they just have to go...and I have to accept that.

Hope you enjoy the rest of your holiday weekend!

Hey SouthernMaven!

Windchime is right--things do get a bit slower here over long weekends.

It sounds to me like you're doing all the right things, and we sure do know the special challenges of being older. But, you can do it! You're on the right track with exercise. When I started seriously exercising, I would do 20 minutes on the treadmill and then 20 minutes on the bicycle and then 20 minutes doing some resistance (weight) training. Helped me not to feel so bored to break it up like that. These days I don't switch around so much because I've gotten used to it--and the TVs at the gym don't hurt, either.

I like walking in the mornings, too. I live in Florida, so I know the thrill of summers where you just don't want to be out--and on those days, I usually walk at a mall instead. This is in addition to the gym.

I was living a bit farther south than where I am now in 2004 and 2005, and we were way too close to Charley! A friend of mine lost her home in Katrina--she was living in Biloxi, which was also very hard hit. She's never gone back, either.

Please to meet you!
Jay

Glad you joined us!

I find that exercise is a bigger challenge for me than staying on track with my eating. I found that walking and DVDS really work well for me. (more details can be found here).

Bottom line - keep trying new things until you find what works for you! You absolutely can do this! Really. I can't wait to read of your progress!

Thanks for the responses, everyone - I do appreciate the encouragement!

JayEll - I hear you about the summer heat. I'm in the Atlanta metro area, so we don't have as many days when it is just miserable (although this June was unusually warm) but I was in Biloxi for 4th of July and the following week and I can't remember the last time I was in such oppressive heat! (I'm a native of Biloxi, BTW, and most of my family is still there).

I know that I really do need to vary my workout routine; the dietitian has also encouraged me to try different things until I find something that I can get excited about. I read - here and elsewhere - of people like me who have had a lifelong hatred of exercise finally learning to love it, so I'm hopeful that may be the case for me. Fortunately my YMCA has many different programs, including lots for older people, so I'm sure I'll find something. The one thing that has some immediate appeal is anything in the pool, since I grew up a water baby. But that means buying a bathing suit, something I haven't done in many years.

There you have it - the pool is a GREAT place to start.
Bathing suits are on sale right now (at least up here in MI) - a GREAT time to get out there and buy one.