This group is for those dealing with the challenges of being fit when you have a significant amount of weight to lose which becomes harder after age 40. If you're an old or new friend and not over 40 and feel this is the place to post, jump right in.

I'm feeling like a failure. I don't like it at all.

I'm going hunting for my missing ambition to get healthy, my willingness to say "No" and my drive to being POP and proud of it.

40+ years old, 300+ pounds, trying to start exercising, I fit! :-)

I went about three months of healthy eating before I tried to mix in exercise. I am starting with cardio. My goal is 20 minutes a day of walking at about 3mph for 5-7 days a week. I'll work in strength training in a couple of months, I need to establish a routine first.

This whole month I'm trying to just do 20 minutes (plus a few minutes warmup / cooldown) and no more. I have two failure modes that I recognize in terms of exercise:

1) I get all gung ho and try to do 45-60 minutes a day. This works great -- for a week or two. Then I get sick of it and being a perfectionist, decide I have failed at the exercising and do nothing.

2) I get all gung ho and after a week or two of walking a mile, maybe two at most, on most days, I decide that I feel great and decide it'd be a good idea to go on a 5-8 mile hike. Then I get really bad shin splints or hurt my knee (that happened last time, physical therapy yay) and have to stop walking while I recover. That makes me lose all momentum and I never get going again.

I am hoping that 20 minutes a day is achievable.

Oh, and I forgot to add! Stupid weight gains, grrr. I've gained two pounds this week and I know it's not from what I'm eating, it's from exercising. When I start up my muscles are sore, and then they get a bit inflamed and start retaining water trying to heal themselves. Apparently it is pretty common for people who are starting a new exercise routine. In the meantime, I refuse to adjust my weight tracker upward. :P I've decided that this month, as long as I am eating reasonably healthy and walking I don't care if I maintain or even gain overall. I probably won't, but if so, then so be it. If I go TWO months gaining I will have to reassess what's going on.

How is everyone? I did ok on Saturday but got off track on Sunday and ate bad again on Monday. My IBS is acting up and I try to avoid veggies for a few days so I ate carbs which made me crave more carbs. Cupcakes called my name. I gave them away after sampling a couple. At dinner I ate Mac and cheese. I don't even really like it.
Food is planned for today. Back on track starting now!!!!

Hi everyone!! glad i found this group! my name is Beverly, 42 and 307lbs. Doing weight watchers and recently changed it to all online, so im looking for a good support group. looking forward to getting to know the group. :-)

Welcome to our group.
I am finding if my routine is messed up I don't stay pop. Right now my daughter and new baby are here. She has been sick and needed help with the baby. I'm sleeping on the couch in the livingroom with her. I wake up every 2-3 hrs at night to help her. I am exhausted and not cooking like I should. I am sitting way more than normal. I want my routine back.
I was pop yesterday but wed was a bit over. Today I will be pop! I am not exercising and my body aches.
Why is it that change affects me so bad?? Today she plans to go home and try to get her routine back so I can have mine back. I hated empty nest and now I welcome it.
Judy how are you? Carol challenged me to staying pop for 30 days. Right now I'm shooting for a week. Lol join us ? One day at a time!!!

Welcome! It's great to see a new face.

I've been on WW for ages. Lost 75 then back peddled and I'm still trying to keep it together. I need the meetings to keep me even semi-on track. Without them I hate to think what kind of shape I'd be in today.

I bought a cute little fairy to hang off the rear view mirror in the car. She spins and twirls on her ribbon as I drive. I've named her Barb, after my WW leader. I get hungry as soon as I get into the car. Yes, I know all about taking healthy stuff with me but, what can I say, I usually don't and end up at a drive thru.

I held it together with the help of fairy Barb, yesterday. I was headed home and was hungry. My first thought was, of course, pizza. Barb twirled around and said "no". Fish sandwich and mushies from Atlantic Seafood? Another spin: "No, and you hate that big steps to get in!" Leader Barb's words from a recent meeting "Mindless eating" echoed in my brain and I ended up with a plain baked potato and a salad. Guess what? I was full!

I was POP yesterday and so far today. After the last few weeks even being close to POP feels good!

Deb, I like Carols challenge. I'll try it. Yesterday will be my Day 1.

I was not pop on Saturday. I am pop today. So starting today as day 1 again.

So far I'm POP!

Way to go Judy!! Today is day 2 pop for me.

4 days POP for me. Today should be too unless I have an unplanned meltdown.

Good job Deb!

Day 3 pop is in the books.

Day 5 POP. It's getting easier.

I had church last night and we had pizza. I ate veggies for lunch so I had calories for dinner. I ended my day at 1100 calories. Tonight I have bunco and we have fingerfoods. I try and make good choices and avoid sweets. I never allow myself seconds so I should be ok. Lunch will be a veggie steamer.
I sure do better when I stay home. Lol
Scales are not moving.
Way to go Judy !!!

Day 6 POP! It's weigh in day today for me. Off to WW in a bit. Sure hope it shows, even if it's just a pound.

Deb, I'll bet you made great decisions at bunco last night. We all know sometimes the scales are a day or two behind our efforts. Hang in there.