Hi I'm new to theGroup and read your post. I fee ljust like you. Iam joining a gym that I can get to close to work. I have aboth knees replaced and a back disk that moves all the time out of place. I have fybromyalgia, and arthritis, depression. If you want I can be your friend and we can support each other on what we did each day. I think if we give up 1 thing each day post it. And see about what we did at the gym or other activity plus drinking water etc. I am very determined to loose weight I lost 45 lbs befor 2 surgeries but gained it all back due to not being able to walk and didn't eat right. I call it the poor mans diet lots of boxed foods that were carbs. Now I am gettinf frozen veg. fresh veg and fruit too. I ate alot of chicken before but I think I will add some of red meat to it this time because it was such a hard diet to do. I am gonna go very low carbs. It really makes you feel good getting away from them. I will be posting all I do each day. If I have a bad day I have support here to get thru day and start again the next day. What do you say want to get excited about doing it?

I would love that! I am wanting to lose about 30-35 pounds, and having a support buddy would be amazing! For awhile I was on a poor college student budget and eating just cheap and fatty foods, could really only afford Ramon noodles and mac n' cheese. I am starting to eat more veggies and fruits, and I a lot of fish. I am also new to this site and I love how so far everyone is so supportive and willing to help and give suggestions. Makes this process a lot more easier knowing there are people out there wanting to support one another through the good times and the bad!! Today is my second day of eating more healthy foods and going to the gym, and I know its still super early to really start feeling a change, but today I woke up feeling so refreshed, I can't remember the last time I felt like that!!! I too will start posting my meals of the day and what I do at the gym!

Does anyone consistently participate in these groups?!

The story of my life. I waited 66 years before I got my butt in gear. I felt so sorry for myself being handicapped and all, that i just sat there day after day, working my job, and stuffing my face. Too tired after work to do anything but stop for fast food. God forbid hubby should help with cooking, cleaning, laundry, or shopping. So you still have all that to do when you can barely haul your butt onto the couch to zone out in front of the TV. But I just got tired of being sick and tired. Basically, I got pissed! As hard as it is to do, you have to put yourself first. It will almost be like taking on another full time job, but it can do done. There is an old saying, "If you want something done, ask a busy person to do it". And it is true. You can do this. Let me help you. It won't be fun and you may hate me, but I can push you harder than you think you can be pushed. And I will be working just as hard from my end. Think about it.
Erin

Think about your motivation, that why you started.Try to be patient in your weight loss journey and think about next six months, you will be looking like.Just watch weight loss before and after pictures for fun and distress.

WARNING: Male perspective...

I'm unsure if this group is mainly for one sex over another but am going to share my story for potential motivation to others as I think I really felt isolated and alone in my journey with only a very select few knowing of my goals and desires for weight loss.

I've been a fairly fit and active person all of my life from a teen active in sports, to a marathoner and avid sports player minus this last year and twice before when I was married and had gained 'sympathy weight' alongside my then pregnant wife who made me feel guilty to snack with her when the midnight cravings for ice cream, chocolate and/or taco bell would come due to the one in her womb was taking her nourishment for growth and development..

Additionally, I have a now managed former health disorder I've had since a teenager which slows my metabolism immensely when I am not in my optimum health state which hopefully will never change to what it had been. Exactly 13 months ago, I was being released from a healthcare facility due to my then health problems where I was kept and monitored for most of thirty days then a few months afterward in a longer term facility. Prior to that, I've been an avid and active sports player, marathon runner, football and baseball player, swimmer, kayaker, cyclist, etc. and of course was not doing any of those things last year when I was ill.

I will state unequivocally, my poor dieting choices, lifestyle as was going out a lot being a single man when my children were at their other parent's home, and gained the most weight I ever had in my lifetime.

Today I am exactly 40lbs. lighter than I was twelve months ago and sure, is not a 'ton of weight' when you see people on TV or internet ads claiming they took this supplement or had their stomachs sewn to avoid intake of food, etc. losing hundreds of pounds, etc. When we look at America as a whole, is very easy for many to be classified as overweight.

I DO love to cook, I love chocolate, ice cream? sure. Pizza? check. White Castle hamburgers? I could eat ten of them at any time easily.

However, one due to my health problems outside of eating terribly, I now have re-educated myself beyond solely knowing not to eat like crap and drink alcohol, etc. which also is a metabolism slower..

When I used to look in the mirror after a shower (when I took one), I would tell myself, "you fat piece of sh*t, you look disgusting and no wonder you're single and no woman wants you".

Who can be charming and witty when they feel and look terrible?

Excuse my bleeped out curses but when you don't feel good about yourself, is easy to beat yourself up and badly. Who needs the person behind you at the restaurant saying under their breath, "did he order two supersized double meals with a diet coke for himself or is a friend in the car waiting?" Things of that nature.

I have many friends who also struggle with weight and have encouraged them through my own experiences. We all are our biggest advocates or adversaries..

When I was and had been fit and trim most of my life, it was very difficult to persuade friends what works to keep it off. When they see you YOURSELF go through a hardship with mega weight gain classifying yourself based on height as 'OBESE' and the transformation is done, is when you become a motivator as they've seen you deal with it first hand.

Now, forty + pounds overweight is not as some I know who might be way heavier than that. However, that weight gain classified me as OBESE according to many health sources.

I love a good pizza but now instead of A. eating a whole large to myself, I might have two slices. B. My toppings consist of vegetables in place of bacon, ham, pepperoni, salami, extra cheese, whatever other meat they can throw on a meat lovers pizza.

I will however have chicken on pizza if an option or loaded with veggies and of course limit myself to a couple slices with a salad than a whole darned pizza and no salad convincing myself if I loaded it with veggies AND the meat I like then I was essentially getting my veggies too and was a 'healthy' pizza being also had my veggies..

DIET soda, is poison. Stay away from it. I used to think and kid myself that drinking diet soda was the answer to lesser calories and was dong good by only drinking half a two liter of diet soda.. Sure. WRONG on all accords. Now, my beverages of choice consists of; flavor enhanced/infused fruit WATER I make myself, coffee (limited of course to a couple cups a day versus formerly needing a pot or TWO), hot green tea/ and/or iced green tea I brew MYSELF that also has lemons, or other fruits such as raspberries in it after I've iced it.

I LOVE peanut butter to no end and can put it on anything from bread, crackers to fruit, by itself, what have you. I now buy all natural peanut butter and buy smooth for weight density while I'll place my own chopped peanuts in it if I want crunchy PB... Neither of my children like crunchy peanut butter so is why I buy smooth only being before I would buy smooth and chunky.. I also don't buy the PB with the gross amounts of oil to make it 'creamier' and all that nonsense television ads say makes the PB rich and creamy. Anything to get a better profit!.

Last, being in my mid 40s and almost as fit and trim as I was in my twenties, the only thing I have less of is hair. But who cares..

Adding notches to every single belt I own and cannot leave the house without a belt on, is all the while worth it.

I have ZERO cravings for sweets, chips, candy, pretzels, soda pop, wants for a good drink of alcohol when out with pals watching a sports event or out dining, anything. I log and categorize my meals as well as watch portion sizes rather than ensuring my plate has every angle covered, now the way I present my food on my plate as well, equals exactly one serving of each.

I may have in the past consumed average of 2400-3200 calories per day. Today, maximum surely is 1600-1800 cals daily. Somedays is 1500 cals. That's still a good amount.

If I want to snack, I don't beat myself up for it. I leave alone the chips, pretzels and nachos and crap such as that.

Coconut chips, nuts and dried fruits, once you get off the crap, those things taste WAY better anyhow leaving you very satisfied and convincing yourself as well that you've met your mid day or late night snack attack..

My only word of caution is to get some form of support group, (such as this site). I kept my struggles to myself and hadn't shared in my goals nor plans with anyone other than my doctor (who's shocked and impressed with my reduction). Outside of that, the isolation was and could have been a deal killer for me as had in the past. Especially with the negative self talk we ALL are guilty of to ourselves.

I have kept a fairly positive attitude and tell myself in the mirror when shaving now as I am very handsome and trim, I could be desirable to a woman if and when I want to be in a relationship, I could snack on good things and meet my snack attacks head on, etc.

Keep your head up, do not beat yourself up if you slip, share your GOALS here on DS where yes, I had to update my goal status a 'few' times when I slipped, realize you're never alone to face any challenge. Whether weight loss or otherwise. LIfe's short and we all have struggles and obstacles. Don't quit ever! (except for the bad things in life that make it shorter for us like sweets, and chips, alcohol, etc.).

I'm a new member here on DS and I wanted to join your group! I have always struggled with losing weight; I work out when I am able to but it is so hard to find the motivation. In the past, I was very active in sports and running but now that I am much older, I cannot find the time. Does anyone have any advice I can use that will help?