Finally joining in... First of all Bobby, it really sounds like you're going in the right direction. When I read your comments from 6 weeks ago to now, you seem to have evolved to eating in a more sustainable way for the long term. I've been following, but instead of starting with the food, I started with the exercise side. I had been feeling that age and gravity were taking too much of a toll. Now that I've been doing "boot camp" for 1 hour, 3 mornings a week since early December, I can see the changes in toning, but it's still hard to get rid of the gut. My instructor said the best results she sees in people is when they cut out wheat products. So that's my next step. I'm not a big sweet or junk food eater, but I do like my bagels, pasta, croissants, good bread... So my plan is for no predominantly wheat products (not going totally gluten-free). I'm not going to worry about everything, or totally diet (I don't believe that works for the long run). Just going to make one change at a time until it's a lifestyle change. I've heard often that it takes about a month to really change a behavior. And that seems to hold true for me, so first, I'm just going for changing breakfast from a bagel w/cream cheese to oatmeal and banana or yogurt or ?? (Breakfast ideas anyone? I get really hungry after the morning workout!)

I just found this forum, even though, I've been using Gardenweb for a few years. A typical menu for me is lowfat, low calorie, and, for me,low in sugar and salt (I have salt-sensitive hypertension and a family history of diabetes.) For breakfast I usually eat microwavable oatmeal . My favorite variety is apples and cinnamon, or any flavor that is low fat and low calorie, as well as low in sugar. I eat a six ounce cup of active culture yogurt along with this. Depending on what fruit is in season, I also have watermelon, canteloupe, grapefruit, orange, figs, mangno,, papaya, honeydew melon, or, if I have fresh tomatoes from our garden, I eat them. I usually limit myself to one of the foregoing. Also, I have eaten southern field peas and brown rice (wholegrain), or some other leftover from the day before, scrambled egg on wholegrain bread, and usually drink ice water, a cup of gatorade or powerade, diluted l:l, green tea, or green and white tea blend. I really like the latter drink best, but sometimes settle for the former drinks. For snacks, I eat fresh tomatoes, blueberries, or other berries, cherries, papaya, mango, watermelon, or other melons, or bananas, or the yogurt and try to drink mainly ice water or a l:l dilution of powerade or gatorade. For lunch, I usually have stringbeans, or whatever fresh vegetable is in season, along with wholegrain brown rice, or a main green salad, such as McDonald's Asian Salad. I rarely drink soft drinks, as they do not agree with me. I drink decaf or caf sweet regular tea a little more than I drink soft drinks, but only unsweetened, or l:l dilution of unsweetened and sweetened. Also, if I drink regular tea, I always try to drink a glass of ice water for every glass of iced tea I drink, as the regular tea is a diuretic. I am usually in town in the afternoon, and for a snack, I try to drink iced water with lemon, mainly, or the l:l dilution of powerade or gatorade, along with either low calorie, low fat, low sugar snacks from the grocery store, such as fruit in season, or rice or other wholegrain cakes, or McDonalds yogurt parfait, or baked apple pie. For dinner or supper, as I called it when I was growing up, I usually have fruit or fresh vegetables in season, or a bought side salad, along with a McDonald's grilled chicken patty, bought on the side alone. I usually eat the grilled chicken at home on wholegrain bread. If I am not in town, I use wholegrain pasta, bought chunky mushroom pasta sauce, a combination of turkey and 4% fat lean ground round to make spaghetti, or some other pasta dish. I usually go to bed by at least 9:00 p.m. as I try to get up at least by 5:00 a.m., so I only eat a tomato, if in season and fresh from our garden, low fat, low calorie yogurt, a Mcdonald's yogurt parfait, or in-season fruit, or a banana if I had an early dinner or supper, am hungry, and only if I can eat it one or two hours before bedtime. I try to stay hydrated, as I work outside in our family garden, along with my 96 year-old mother, for one to five hours every morning I am able. What I try to do is eat most of my calories and complex carbohydrates for breakfast, eat a moderate lunch, and a small dinner or supper, with two small snacks. I am a great believer in reading nutrition labels in the grocery store, primarily the calorie count. I also try to eat no more or less than than the serving portion listed on the labels. I lose approximately two to four pounds a week on this regimen. Hope that this helps.

I liked an elliptical trainer I used at a hotel gym. At home I have a 2 station weight machine, free weights, step, bench, treadmill, exercise videos, a recumbent bike, and a Tony Little Gazelle. I hate the treadmill, it is boring and noisy, I have to blast my music to hear it well (I do have some hearing probs). I have to admit, I love the Gazelle! It is easy to use, gets your heart rate moving (as long as you move), and is silent! No noise! I can listen to music, watch TV, whatever, with no outside noise. I also like my step and videos, and my other videos. I have collected about 30 over the past 20 years (I get them when they are on sale) so I can pick whatever I am in the mood for! Some of my favorites are Kathy Smith and Leslie Sansone. I also like dance ones, and short videos with 10 to 20 minute workouts for days when I don't have much time but want to do a video. And one of the best training item I own? My staircase! I run up and down, simple and efficient, not to mention inexpensive! For weight training , I really like the free weight better than the machine, they are more versatile.

What a timely thread! You know, I've been scaling back my time here on the forum because of my need to lose weight. I used to check in here at least 4 times a day, especially if working. Well, I was isnpired to try many of the recipes on here... some of them not so healthy. Now I check in about once every 3 days or so. It took a lot of self control! Sadly, I did have to curb my passion for baking in an effort to lose weight. I haven't made any sweet treats in about two months... I think... I can't even remember the last time I baked something. I've wanted to several times, but had to resist the temtation. My stand mixer is now growing a layer of dust... he gives me the evil eye every time I walk by, feeling neglected I'm sure. I've also been drinking only water at work and home (maybe an occasional glass of 1 percent milk, but nothing sweet). I've been forcing myself to exercise 3 times a week for 45 minutes (on the Gazelle glider or riding a bike that a co-worker gave me). I've gone from going to fast food restaurants while working 3 times a week to not at all. If I'm at work and didn't have time to pack a lunch, I'll run out to my car and get a granola bar (I keep a stash under the seat). I obviously need to do more because the scale isn't moving. The Jack Daniels sampler platter at TGI Fridays has been calling my name for a while now, but I've been good about resisting lately. I LOVE it, and like to get it once a month. Haven't had it for a month or so now. The last time I got it, I split it up into two meals and only ate half at at time. That's a tip I've learned on this forum and have been using it quite a bit lately. A couple days ago, I was cleaning out some closets and got hungry. I was tired from the physical work, and it was emotionally draining to see the memories of the past as I was cleaning. I wasn't really hungry, but I still wanted to eat. I drove to Long John Silvers to place a big order to take back home and feast on. While I was waiting in line to order, I realized that I was getting this food because I was upset or frustrated and not because I needed it! I scolded myself saying, "Bobby, you just spent 10 minutes sewing a button back on your pants that you've popped off with your gut, and you're in line at Long John Silvers! Something is wrong with that!" I got back in my car without ordering, went home and made a salad with some boneless skinless chicken pieces on top. OK... Most of my response hasn't been about cooking, so let me get on topic for a second! I did try a new thing in the kitchen that helped me with overeating. I deciced I wanted to try to make some homemade peanut sauce and fried tofu. I bought all the ingredients (incluidng peanut oil and rice vinegar which I'd never used before). Well, I don't love tofu so I will never over eat it! The peanut sauce was a little bland, so I added a lot of red pepper and made it really spicy. I'm not big on spicy foods, but I liked the sauce spicy! I just coudn't eat a lot of it. I've also read that spicy foods boots the metabolism, so double bonus. Can't handle a lot of it at a time, and it boost metabolism! It could be a good thing to start a support group here for people who want to lose weight... With the great collection of people here, I'm sure we'd encourage each other.