[bayqueen]

Hi All,
Finally getting serious (like 100 times before) about getting healthy, and losing weight at the same time. Have set 65lbs as goal. Have been trying to make sense of all the info out there and my head is reeling. Hoping to get started soon. Lost 65 lbs on South Beach 1 1/2 yr ago and gained it all back. I'm 47 and going thru menopause (fun stuff) and my body is changing in so many ways. Looking into the following to get info on healthy living. South Beach Heart Plan, Susan Somers - The Sexy Years, Eat to Live, The Perricome (?) Plan, and the half dozen others who've been on Oprah. So what do use and what to omit?
So much info. Looking for healthy foods,the right supplements and vitamins.
Also looking into exercise options. I walk 1-2 miles a day, but find I need strength training or a combo of both. Not interested in joining a gym, and think home workout vidios may be a better option. Was doing Michael Furmonds exercises along with South Beach last time, but missed the cardio.
Would love to hear from others who have sorted some of this out and have had sucess. Also would love to get and give support to others.
Hope to hear from you. Let's get healthy and lean together.

[tomandkara]

Welcome to the forum Bunny! I find it easiest, and least stressful, to add things in one at a time. If South Beach was successful for you before and you're familiar with the principles, then start back with that and get your eating plan stabilized before you try anything else. If I were in your shoes, I'd go ahead and do the two week Phase 1 program and just keep doing whatever walking I had been doing during those two weeks. Then in Phase 2, as I added carbs and fruits back in slowly (one serving a day for a week before trying something else), I would increase my walking a mile a day. Then the next week I might try out a new video. Then the next week I might look into the vitamins. Slowly. One day at a time. One week at a time. That leaves me feeling less overwhelmed and it helps me realize that I'm making a lifestyle change, not just doing this for XXX weeks and then going back to my "old ways". My changes become habits and then I stick with the plan easier.

Good luck! If you want to join us down in the South Beach part of the forum, just scroll down from the main page and we're almost at the bottom. Great group down there!

Kara

[JayEll]

Yes, do check out the Beach people! And we also have Exercise forums and many others.

Glad to see you here!

Jay

[WindyCityChick]

Welcome Bunny! There are a lot of different ways to approach weight loss - but I think the most important thing is to find a plan that you can stick to without feeling deprived. For some, that's South Beach, others use Weight Watchers, whatever. Me, I'm a simple gal - I just count my calories and make sure the calories in don't exceed the calories out. Anyway, glad you joined us, I'll look forward to seeing you posting about whatever plan you decide to follow, and your successes with it!

[Ladiibbug]

I'm a 3FC newbie too - 51 y/o and also a bit overwhelmed at the wealth of info & variety of diet plans.

Wow, congrats on the 65# weight loss on South Beach. So ... you know you can do it! Are you most inclined to go back to South Beach?

Now that I've committed to lose the weight and get healthier, my "plan" for now is, as Rosie says, "Eat Less, And Move More". I don't need a specific diet plan to tell me that bingeing on donuts & pastries & pizza is unhealthy. So maybe later I'll choose a specific diet plan, but for now I'm just starting with what I already know. The choice of diet plans is ...

Re: Menopause ... I'm peri-meno, or menopausal, or post-menopausal -- my body isn't sure yet. This is one of the reasons I finally made the decision to get serious about losing weight. Menopausal symptoms, mild high blood pressure, and a blood glucose # over a couple years just outside the high normal range (a potential diabetes indicator, Dr. says).

Good luck! Maybe we can be buddies in our journey!