Hi everyone, i am new today and look forward to getting to know you. I am 42 years old and have been overweight for a while. I used to be a size 8 but once i had my kids my weight has gone up and down but mostly up. although i have always been on one diet or another once i started to lose weight it came off easily but now i am over 40 i am finding it hard to lose the weight and so easy to put it on . So i am determined to lose it once and for all and be happier in myself.

Welcome! Good luck to you.

Welcome to the forum! I too am a 42 year old mom, wife, etc. Have patience, the weight will come off.
Do you know what food plan you are going to follow? There is a ton of information about many different food plans on this site. Pick a plan that fits in your lifestyle and you can follow long term. I chose calorie counting because it is free and flexible. It allows me to eat almost anything I wanted as long as it fits within my calorie range for the day and there are ton of free apps out there to help you track your food. Give up the sugary drinks and drink lots and lots of water.
Incorporate some exercise into your weekly routine. You do not have to join an expensive gym try to walk more, use the stairs more, download videos off of YouTube or Hulu.com to work out to. There are a lot of things you can to do with spending a ton of money.
Lastly, if you have a bad meal, a bad day, heck, a bad food week. Do NOT let this be a reason to throw in the towel. Get back on track at the next meal. You can do this!!!
Best of luck to you!

Welcome! Here's a couple of links for you to look at. Join right in! Read lots and feel free to ask questions. We're here to help!


http://www.3fatchicks.com/forum/weight-loss-support-13/
http://www.3fatchicks.com/forum/40-somethings-216/

Minnie, welcome, glad to have you join us. I suggest you look for a Challenge or Support group to join; small check-in groups make it easier to connect, get involved, and be accountable. We have groups centering around specific diets, themes, or age groups, find one that inspires you and just post to join!