Great Life Crappy Body

At 54 and toddering on 300 pounds, my life is exciting and happy inspite of my body.  I live with a male roomate who is great but not as great as my bf who is 12 years my junior, fixes everything and creates his own "Honey Doo List"  plus he is gernerous with his family and friends.  My job is creative and exciting  Being successful is a mind game for me not a body image.  Being sexy and beautiful is what I am not what I want to be.  Ladies and Gents I have found the secret to life.. "Do what you want with your body and not what IT  wants to do you"    I survived divorce (not because I hated him I just hated his lost jobs) plus gangarine, cancer and a hystorectomy all related to diabeties and obesity.  The worst thing that has collapse my world smaller is Charchots Foot.  A foot disease related to  Nerve damage from diabeties.  It collapses the arch and make the foot into a rocking chair bottom.  Yup it feels like that too "painful"  I just got fitted for a brace. and a orthotic... My feet are a mess.  And that is the only thing that is forcing me to be unhappy.   I can't get my shoes on anymore because of my belly.  So if I lost 40 pounds before and I know I can do it again.  Motivation is not the problem MONEY is ..the pool and WW are more then I can handle right now..  So I am hoping for a little support here.  I have the right food plan (Atkins or WW) and got the drive back so I am on a mission...Hope you can help.   I am a member of TOPS but found it to be a grange meeting instead of a real help. I found this site and fell in love with the posts and the pictures and yes I am thinking of WLS.  But my insurance has an obesity exclusion.  So Help me make my goal please   Put my shoes on easily and walk without a special brace.  It can happen with alot of melted pounds washed away.       Gloria  

Gloria, there is no reason you can't do this.  You have to have your mind set.  Take it a step at a time.  Excercising will be difficult, so let's start with food.  I am a great supporter of WW.  I tried Atkins, it wasn't for me.  But I have some awesome recipe books.  The eating out companion, if you don't have it.  I think it is an awesome way to go.  If ever you feel that you can't do it, I am here to cyber smack you back into focus.  Make little goals, one that you can obtain and not get discouraged.  I think that 40 pounds is a great goal for now.  Good luck with it girl.  There are some amazing people on here that give great words of encouragement.  I hope that we can all help you make you MISSION POSSIBLE!!

Hi Gloria, Glad ya joined us.  Hang in there and keep your hands out of the cookie jar! :)    Take one day at a time, one minute at a time if you have too.  Sounds like you already know what your doing, you just need to start and stick with it!  I know easier said than done. :)  Believe me, I'm in the boat with you a LOT.  So stick around, we can give each other support.  I also was considering wls, but my insurance also has an exclusion.  Figure out which way of eating you can handle and get to it!  You got some feet to take care of.  Good luck Holly

Gloria welcome to the group. It sounds like you have the right attitude to succeed in getting yourself to a healthier weight.  You've got a food plan, which is half the battle.  Besides willpower, exercise is the third component.  From the sounds of it, being on your feet is too painful right now.  When you get your brace and orthotic, will it make it so your foot is cushioned enough so you won't be in such pain?  I sure hope that's the case.  Until you get those items, you might want to consider strength/resistance training using stretch bands.  My exercise physiologist gave me some great exercises and two of them are sitting in a chair.  Actually the ones where I stand don't take long at all.  It's a great way to work the big muscles, which will help me burn calories faster.  Since the pool is out right now, maybe investing in an exercise DVD where you get to sit mostly?  Last year I hurt my leg and ended up finding an exercise DVD where I was able to sit in a chair. Even if you are thinking of WLS, you are still welcome here.  I actually started off non-op and then has WLS in January.  This group is so great that I just didn't want to leave.  I don't post much anymore, too busy with work and my DB, but this is always the first forum I visit when I decide to check out the website.  Just out of curiousity what form of WLS are you thinking of?

G, you can get started on what you know you have to do with or without WLS.  There some real heroes and she-roes among us.  ALL of us are also finding our way whether we are in maintenance, just started last week, etc.  I expected your post to be another run of the mill I hate my fat body, but whoa...your body really is in crisis. And I can see how beautiful you are on the inside, so that, my new friend, is all it takes.  Either of those plans are great.  Atkins is amazing anti-hunger, so if that is an issue, go that way.  WW is more moderate and we don't feel like we are eating too far off of what others around us are eating.  Glad to meet ya! Please stick around.

Wow, it's not often you see a newcomer come in with such a positive attitude!  I think you definitely have what it takes to get the pounds off!  There's a plethora of resources on this board. I'm sure you'll find the support and answers that you need to help you in your journey. I know I sure have.  I went to TOPS as well. I did like it and it was okay for a while but I grew tired of having to show up for meetings. I'm kinda one that wants to come and go as I please and being tied down on Tuesday nights bothered me.  Not to mention there wasn't really anyone my age, much less any men, there so I felt out of place. But anyways!  This place has been my support haven. It's wonderful. Ask away!  There are plenty of low-carbers here including myself. There are just as many more who are doing WW or similar meal plans. Lots of good info, support and very little drama here on this board. Welcome to our lil' clique! :P

I guess I really did find a great place to look when I am down or consumned with what is in the cupboards.. Worse yet the cake sitting on the counter at work.. I do wish one of the ladies's husband did not hold meetings at home..What she does not serve there comes here.   Does anyone know what language food talks to you in?  If you do let me know so I can purchase a  translation dictionary so that I can talk back to it so it understands "GO AWAY",   Please don't feel sorry for me with walking..I don't use a wheelchair and only walk with a cain when the ground is uneven.   Well maybe when I go to the casino..."Oh I think I should tell you walking is adictive when your at the casino has anybody experienced that additcion?  Not gambleing "Walking" it amazes me how many stepps I can walk at the casino but  I have a hard time doing that on my own.  The answer is   Put slot machines around the track with timers so you can only sit for so long.  It could work.!!! don't you think Thanks Again Gloria