[Treasa]

Hello, I'm new here and wanted to introduce myself. I'm 48 and over the last 18 years (when my first child was born) I have gained more than a hundred pounds. Since February, I'm down more than 30 pounds, so I'm still up 60+. I don't want to get back to <110 pounds as I feel like when I was thin, I wasn't really healthy (I was too thin for my frame) and I also don't think I'm motivated to get to and maintain that super skinny weight.

But I feel like there are 4 reasons I'm so heavy:

1. Was very stressed for several years being the primary caretaker for my aging aunt (who moved into my dining room)and then dealing with an adopted child with reactive attachment disorder. I'm not a stress eater, i just think the stress kept the weight on me.

2. I also had 4 pregnancies (including one still born child). During those pregnancies I vomited around the clock and lost lots of weight each time. My body was in starvation mode. Post pregnancies I was really hungry and so I ate. I think it was my body trying to get back some of its mineral stores.

3. Really crappy eating. I drank so much Diet Coke and diet iced tea and refined carbs (bread, bread, and more bread) that my blood sugar was crazy.

4. I'm terrible at exercising. I got a fitbit last year and have been pretty good about 10k steps at least 3 days per week, but I'm trying to get that up to 5. We have an elliptical so I really have no excuse except that I'm lazy.

I'm here because I really love to hear people's experiences with different supplements that they are taking as I feel my starvation/vomiting pregnancies have been the biggest contributor to my weight gain. I also need the motivation to exercise. The way I look at it, I'm not just losing weight, my whole body is healing.

[IanG]

Welcome, and what a sh!t show you have been through! My advice based on your description is to focus on eating nutritious, healthy food. Purge all the rubbish. Think lean protein (eggs, chicken, fish/seafood), lots of fruits and vegetables, some oats and a little dairy. Ditch the processed carbs (bread, cake, chips, candy, soda). Food is medicine and if you get it right you will heal your body, lose weight, have more energy and dramatically boost your desire to exercise.

[Jacqui_D]

Treasa! I'm sorry to hear all that you've been through, but I'm glad you're taking control of your health now! Good luck!