[gina46]

Hello all,

I am a 46 year old mother of 5 and weigh in at about 270 lbs. I haved tried in the past to diet but have quit everytime with minimal weight loss. I have decided to start weight watchers the first of the year and I need all the support I can get.

I know what my weakness is and I am not sure how to corrected it. There are more than one but my biggest one is lack of any energy at all. Some days I don't get out of the bed at all. I eat all of my meals there too. I currently suffer with a bladder condition that keeps me in pain and I use that as an excuse not to move. I have enrolled in a water arobics class, I hope it helps.

Secondly, I need recipe tips and meal ideas. I am not sure if I can make this change and still keep my kids satified too. They love fried chicken and pork chops, and bread is a major part of our meals. Breakfast scares me. I regulary eat bacon (slab bacon), and sausage. Grits too. I don't like yogurt or cottage cheese so my options are kind of limited.

Last but not least I am a smoker. Not a light one either. This limits me from execise. Can I quit at the same time that I diet?

Basically I am asking if anyone out there has any suggestions for me. I really nee help. With my poor eating habits, smoking habits, and laziness can I ever lose weight? A look in the mirror now reminds me of a horror film, I just hate what I see. Can I ever be happy again? I am tired of crying all the time.

Help!!!!!

Regina

[OneXSport]

Hi Regina

I am 40 years old and I weighed 206 lbs about a year ago. I have lost 50 lbs so far. I did it by finding new healthy recipies that I and my family will enjoy and by getting active. Every day I had to push myself to get moving by either walking or by doing home exercise videos or by water aerobics. I stopped having lattes and sodas and found better alternatives like water and sugar free sodas.

Will your kids support you in your weight loss and healthy living efforts? Will they walk or ride there bikes with you while you walk. Will they try healthier alternatives? Talk to them. there are lots of really good yummy and healthy food available. It just takes time to find what you like.

If you have a lot of snow in your area do you have a mall near by? Many malls have walking groups. All you have to do is show up and start walking. You will make friends.

Weight watchers is a good program. I wish you much success with that. And Water aerobics is a really good exercise program that you can do for a life time.

There are loads of good recipes on 3FC just have a look around,.


Cheers I hope this helps and I am glad you visited this site.

[srmb60]

Hi ... for starters I'm going to recommend having a look at a website called fitday.com. Enter all the food you can remember eating from yesterday and maybe even the day before (you can make the program go back several days if you'd like) You'll soon seen how much you've been eating in a whole new perspective. Fats, carbs, protein, soduim ...

And if you keep in mind that what you really need to do to get started, is just eat less ....then you'll have a benchmark. Today and tomorrow just work away at having your overall calories less than the days you've entered as your experiment.

Keep in touch. We'll help you.

[bargoo]

Why wait til the first of the year ? You can start cutting out the high calorie foods now and have a head start when you join WW. Have you seen a doctor about the bladder problem? When I have a bladder infection I drink lots of cranberry juice It really does help.Remember the kids eat what you cook, if you cook healthy meals , it will benefit the kids, too. Good luck.

[the slim me]

Hi, I agree with the former writer, Why wait untill the first of the year. Start now. You can start with small changes, to get you ready for the big one. Do you drink a lot of soda? At least switch to diet. and there are some good diet sodas, just fine one you like. Drink a lot of milk? Switch to 2 percent. As far as your kids protesting, you are thinking of their future health too. They don't need to be eating like that or they will have problems in the near future. You're the mom, you make the meals, they eat what you make.

Water exercise is great to start. I hope you enjoy it. It will make a big difference in the weight loss and the energy leavel. You're tired all the time because you aren't eating right and getting enough exercise. You need to take baby steps to fix that. The more you lie in bed the more tired you will get. You may have to force yourself the get out for awhile, but you will learn to enjoy it.

For you and for your kids, I hope you make the change.

[Kriss]

Gina46,
dont be too scared. i am too. scared of failing. i deal with lack of energy too. i know once i was very energetic so i know i am not lazy and neither are you. you have fallen on bad habits. just change them little by little . rearrange your bedroom or redecorate it a little or a lot whatever you can do. make it beautiful, sexy or restful. Whatever you want it to be! Not a sickroom at a hospital where you take meals in bed. This will burn some calories too! You will be inspired by your new oasis. Treat yourself with something nice for your body... lotion or soft socks. I know you can do it gina! allyour health problems will get better when you treat yourself better! what do you say. Go in that room and move stuff. Even if your room is puuurrrfect right now you could do something small like take out the TV or add flowers. Good luck!