Diets & Weight Maintenance Support Group

I'm partially disabled and like you, find it difficult to lose weight - partly because I can't get much exercise. I joined http://www.tescodiets.com/ and started a GI diet. It basically tells you what to eat day by day and there are various diets to choose from. You can alter the weekly menu if there's something you don't like at all and online support is available. It does cost money for a subscription (I think that's the right word) but if you can't afford it, you may at least be able to get some ideas from the site. I wish you the best of luck.

Bless you for wanting to get to a healthier place. I also am in the same age range as you and want to be as healthy as I stay in my home. I have come so far since last September with the help of my DS friends. You can do it also. It takes effort and the desire to really do it.
Here is a link to a great site to give you the basics of losing weight.

http://www.acaloriecounter.com/wei...#contents

i know it sounds really difficult to get to your target, but you do have to give yourself some credit for the stuff you are already doing, as your self esteem grows your weight will naturally go down,

i have always been advised by my gp that the bet exercise is walking, its free, and you can do it on your own, i am about to start to focus again on losing weight, i have 80lbs to lose and i am hoping to start losing by walking 2 or 3 tinmes a week and going to weight watchers,

i really admire that you go to the gym alone, i dont have the nerve but would love to x

Hey Kathy, you have the best incentive in the world: your grandchildren. You want to get healthier so that you will live longer and be able to spend time with them.

Now, I would not focus on a certain amount of weight to lose. Instead, you should just think about getting healthy. You have already made a great start by deciding to fix your eating and also by joining a gym.

First the gym - you have joined a couple classes which are great. At my gym, there are many types of classes, so what I would suggest is that you try some of the other group exercise classes because you will meet lots of other ladies like you, and possibly you can meet a few who will jump at the idea of exercising with you at the same times.
Another thing you can do is to ask for one of the trainers at your gym to write up a little routine for you. It's much easier to work alone if you have all the exercises written down in a notepad. Then as you are doing the exercises, you can write down your sets and repetitions.
Lots of people watch TV or listen to music when they are any of the cardio machines. Actually, you can take a book or magazine or newspaper to read while you are on an exercise bike.
The hardest part of the exercising if making it a regular habit.
Also, try hard to find types of exercise that you enjoy doing. Just because it's healthy does not mean you will stick to it if you hate doing it. My knees are very bad so a treadmill is out for me, but riding an exercise bike is OK. I don't swim but you could even try water exercising as it's very good for you and quite popular. I know that my grandmother even at 80 loved the water exercising.
Explore all your options and pick the fun ones.

Now the diet. First thing: don't diet; just eat healthy.
Most people fail on diets because they just don't work. Why? Because they are unrealistic. You need to be realistic about the changes you make.

Start small. Even just eating smaller portions is a great start that will get results. You don't need to spend more money to eat healthy. You just need to learn how to make healthy choices.
Some examples are things like canned tuna - you can get tuna in oil or in water, and you can also get low sodium tuna. The choice is yours.
Another example could be canned tomatoes or tomato sauce. You can get the regular stuff or you can look for things like diced tomatoes with no salt added.
You can start to read all labels on your food items and understanding what you are buying. You are looking for foods with fiber and protein and NO transfats. Look for items with very little sodium and watch for all the added sugars.

Ask your dr if any of the meds you are taking have a side effect of weight gain; there are many drugs that cause persons to gain weight. If the meds you are taking have this side, ask your dr to put you on another type and see if it helps with your weight. I was on meds for a year and gained a great deal of weight, after stopping the meds, I was able to lose weight.
Also ask your dr for some suggestions as to what you should avoid in the ways of exercise and diet, and ones that would be very good for you to do and eat.
Remember: any changes you make MUST be acceptable to you because you are making permanent changes, not just for a short time till you lose weight.

Exercising is fun! Find the kinds that are fun to you. It does not even matter if it's going for walks at the zoo with the grandkids., just get out there!

Why don't you see if there is a TOPS meeting near you. It is just $26. a year. I am sure there is others looking for a exercise partner just like you. I find it lots of fun and it really helps to motivate me. http://www.tops.org/AboutTOPS.aspx

I am 52 with RA, pre diabetic, high cholestrol and high blood pressure. I have over 100 pounds to lose. I know it is so important for you to keep moving with COPD. We can do this.

hi kathy i too am over weight by 60 plus,. i started optifast diet with the help of my dr and he also sells it and has a support group meeting. i am oin day 5. i have been doiing ok but now have a bronchitis so am in depressing. you on the other hand can and will feel better if you try something to lose and go out to some support groups. join the ymca thery are great,. it helped me so much and now i have started this diet. i know i am guerenteed to lose at least 50 piunds as long as i do it., it is expensive but if you byuy no groceries at all,. you can do it to, i will be in it for 18 weeks slowly putting back food,. it will help you if not join weight watchjers it is the best best best. i will be doing that next. do not sit home doing nothing get up and move iyou can do it really do it ok i will be looking for u on hjere thanks gerrisue

The best thing that I ever invested in was an elliptical machine!
It cost me around $350-400 but it was really worth it! I have lost a lot of weight with it. I work out 6 times per week at the moment, each day around half an hour. This will let me lose 1-2lbs per week! Sometimes I even managed 4lbs! My Mother is 63, also alone, and goes to the gym a few times per week to work out on the treadmill and the elliptical machine.. also she does yoga.. She has been able to lose quite a bit of weight herself!

Good luck with your journey!

May I suggest this group on DS Weight Loss Buddies. Here is the link...if you want to be matched for a June buddie go to the June Buddie posting. Indicate in you request any special needs or interests, such as do you perfer any particular age group or only male or female, etc

http://www.dailystrength.org/group...

try this book 100 days of weight loss it is a daily motivator and will work with any diet.