The only thing I can think of to help you lose weight is to cut the portions of what you eat. Really cut down the portion size. And don't eat until your gut rumbles and gurgles (hunger pangs).

Longterm, this and exercise are the only real tools to keep the weight off.

Lanna, I feel your frustration. I've battled with my weight all my life, it seems. In 2013 I lost 62 pounds on medifast, which is a low carb meal replacement program. I looked and felt great! I lost it with no exercise whatsoever. Then my mother died, and the grief and depression overwhelmed me. I gave back in to eating sugar for comfort.

Of course I gained the weight back, but I'm now trying to get myself back onto the program, or something similar. I realize medifast is expensive, so an alternative would be something similar like Atkins. For me, it has to be about lowering the carbs. When I stop eating those foods, the weight falls off. The idea is to get the weight off, then you gradually add in higher carb veggies and fruits. I was doing that and was keeping the weight off until, like I said, I gave into the grief and depression. Now I get to start all over....ugh! But I do know what works. You might google Atkins or the Paleo diet. They are similar.

Good luck to both of us!

I have low thyroid as well as fibro. When you go gluten free you will notice carbs are much higher. I am not an advocate of carb free diets but balance of proteins with carbs. My diet is veggies, fruits, quality proteins and one or two servings of GF grains. I am not perfect but if I follow this regime I can keep from not gaining and lose slowly. I was told by multiple MD's to get more protein in my diet and it helps.

Fruit and veggie smoothies with a low carb protein powder (I use a rice protein from health food store) helps me a lot. I also like to measure 1/4 c low carb nuts and munch on a couple during the day if I feel like reaching for a snack.........if not dairy free Greek yogurt is great too.

laurab

I am an emotional/boredom eater. I have found success with garcinia cambogia as a appetite suppressant. I really don't feel hungry until mealtime and Ive been eating significantly less. Probably the best thing is losing the desire for sweets, a big problem for me. When I do eat sweets now, I feel worse. I've increased my protein intake and reduced carbs. I'm not a big fruit eater as I find them quite sour. But I like veggies. I do minimal exercise currently because of serious rib pain. I used to do 1-2 hours of jazzercise a day, just a year ago! I now do a few minutes a couple of times a day on my stepper.

It's very frustrating dealing with weight issues. If you're on meds that have weight gain as a side effect, you must be serious about how much food and the quality of the food you eat. But you may want to check into the garcinia cambogia. It's helped me.

Bobbii, I've heard others say that about garcinia. Could you tell us how much and how often you take it. Thanks so much!

2 capsules 30-45 minutes before each meal

I no longer eat evening snacks or anything between lunch and dinner.

My typical day is breakfast at 10ish (if I eat it, sometimes I'm up too late). Lunch Between 1-3, depending on that breakfast! Dinner 6:45-7:30.

I do get the grumblies sometimes but I just distract myself and they go away.

I've tried other things and this is the only one that kills my appetite and desire for extras.

Portion, balance and exercise. The fact you say you are inactive, you may need to reduce caloric intake. Wondering if Weight Watchers would be helpful? Changing the way we eat so we can maintain a healthy weight I think is the smartest and most successful in the long run. Have you discussed this with your doctor? Possibly PT would be something to try, to help you get exercising if pain is an issue. It can really help with stamina and pain management too.

Weight is a battle for many of us. Pay attention to calories and fat calories. Fat calories should not exceed one third of total calories. In between snacks are helpful, but need to be limited in calories. Sometimes this can help curb appetite so that you don't overeat at mealtime. Gluten-free products do often have a higher fat content so you need to pay attention to that too. If you aren't gluten intolerant or celiac, you may want to speak to your doctor about that. Just some suggestions, don't give up!

Thanks, Bobbii. I'm assuming they pose no problems with your meds. I am on methotrexate for my RA, so I'll probably google to make sure there are no interactions.

Thank you for all the suggestions. You all have great advice. I've heard of garcinia cambogia and I'm gonna give it a try and I will look into the paleo diet as well.

I also feel your frustration I have also had problems with weight an mine is also in my middle section, I do my best to exercise and eat little meals a day and with these little meals I do not eat much . I try to be active as I can but it is hard to be living with fibromyalgia an not much seems to help with anything. I have also tried to go without eating but very little but no matter which way I try and do something it does not pan out for me.

I understand. It's really hard and leads to extra stress that we don't need. Something I wanted to share: a great tool I discovered on my phone is a step counter that came pre installed and I can keep track of my activity and my good and bad days. I can try to use that to gauge how much I should eat on that day based on my level of activity. You may be able to download one and I know you can buy one in a sporting goods store if you don't have it on your phone.

CARBS! carbs carbs carbs lol you have to cut out all carbs. its really hard to do but when i do it i lose 2lbs a day. no bread, rice, noodles, cereal, crackers, potatoes. nothing. and of course sugar :)

Garcinia made me sick. Oh well.

When I look at myself in the mirror, I look pretty normal, but if I see myself in a photograph, it's positively shocking how fat I am.

I was athletic all my life, so I was used to eating pretty much what I want. Now, I eat only the best and I'm still far. I wonder about how my meds are effecting me and just fling up my hands and tell myself to forget it. I have bigger things to worry about. No pun intended.