I *think* this is a good site for counting calories...maybe someone else will want it..

Here is a link that might be useful: the calorie counter

Sparkpeople is supposed to be good, I have not used it though.

Picture Perfect Weight Loss is a good book to have. It is really an eye opener. Not actually a diet, but shows you equal calories of different foods. A great motivator!

Here is a link that might be useful: Sparkpeople

I'm in the same boat, I gained weight when I quit smoking and still have about 15 extra pounds. Try walking, and watching what you eat. Ride a bike too.

Thanks Lydia! You always have good answers for me!
Joann thats my next thing is stopping smoking! The bride would love to see me quit and I DO have a perscription for something and dang I hate to put on even more weight! ( I know, believe me I know what a cop out that is!)
Once the snow is gone I guess I could pull my bike down from the garage ceiling where its been hanging for *ahem* a few years now!
Right now one thing at a time.

Portion size is critical.....at first you have to know what the USDA considers a portion size.
I found what helped me was to keep a food diary for three to four days of what you normally eat and then go from there.
Cut down on the amts, substitute whole grains for white flour in breads, eat more vegetables and realize that corn, peas and potatoes are considered a starch. Reduce the amount of salt and fat in your diet. Drink more water...and exercise, even if if is just walking in your house for ten or minutes at a time until you can get outside.
Don't keep stuff you shouldn't eat in the house.....do like Glenda and lock it in your trunk. LOL
Another thing that helps is to have someone to cheer you on.....we can do that!
Make the commitment and just do it! (Easier said than done.)

I think your sleeping potion has slowed down your metabolism. So you will definitely have to shake your booty.

I've got 20 pounds myself to shake off. I have a new blood pressure medicine that has just about stopped me in my tracks. Hard to get energy.

Gayle

So, I'm taking on Household projects and a little more exercise.

Lori, best tips I can give:

Cut out seconds at EVERY meal. Now, that doesn't mean you can take more the first time either!

Sub some fruit or pretzels for evening snacks.

Cut candy bars in half, and eat only half of one when the urge comes, or even go to quarters.

Above all, don't regret going off ever once in a while. In fact, give yourself one day every week, or every other week when you allow yourself something extra yummy, and possibly not even good for you.

With those to start with you should be able to stop the gaining.

Once that happened, you can try a loosing regimen. Best options are cutting serving sizes. Read packages, and don't EVER take more than what's considered a serving size.

And increase your activity level to burn some fat!

Good luck.

Moni

Watch your portions.
Eat lots of fruits and veggies.
Exercise for at least 30 minutes.
Drink your water!

Our bodies have not evolved from the caveman days. Cavemen would go for long periods of time surviving on berries and roots. They would expend a great deal of energy hunting for meat.
During times of famine the metabolism would slow down to cut down on the amount of calories being burned. This is called starvation mode.

Fast forward to today. You get in your car and drive to the store. You purchase and consume high calorie foods, mostly processed. Our lifestlye is why we are all overweight.

Eat a lot of fruits, fish and vegetables and small amounts of meat. Get out and move your body everyday.

Donna

I feel your pain Connie! I'm in the same boat. I think that as I've gotten older my metabolism has just slowed down. I've also recently stopped taking HRT which my Dr. said accounts for some of my weight gain. And I quit smoking last February 13(almost a year now!)

I walk EVERY DAY - I do a fast 1.8 mile walk each work day on an afternoon break, walk the dog every evening (that's alot of stop and go though), always park far, far away in parking lots, walk everywhere that I can, rarely eat red meat, eat a lot of fish and veggies, not too many snacks, drink gallons of water, etc. and I am still gaining! GRRRR. It's very frustrating.

I do love to eat and recently realized my portions were probably too large. I've never paid much attention to calories or serving sizes, but I am now. Do you know that a normal size portion is about as big as your fist! That's an eye opener for me. I'm trying to eat smaller portions and more meals. I'm used to eating one small meal and one bigger meal each day. Need to spread that out over about 5 meals a day. We should also avoid the "white" foods which I already do. Mashed potatoes is a hard one for me to give up. I love potatoes. Fortunately I love sweet potatoes more. I also skip the butter - I add just a bit of cinnamon.

I would also like to get a stationary bike but I don't really have room to store one.

Good luck to you. If you want a diet buddy maybe we could come up with some sort of challenge for all of us here at the KT that are struggling to lose a bit of weight. I would be happy to drop 15 pounds. I don't own a scale and am afraid to buy one. LOL!!! That scale in the grocery store surely can't be right!!! HA! I judge by the way my clothes fit and how I feel.

~Betsy

Drinking water helps a lot. My daughter loses weight just by increasing the amount of water she drinks. Also...like someone said, portion control and no seconds. No sweets. I lost 20 lb. recently by doing that, and plan to get back to it as soon as Jody goes away to work for 3 weeks.

I'm taking notes!
Thanks everyone.
One of my problems is snacking, I know that.Sweets and more sweets,breads and the starches of course. The other would be the portions I am sure and not enough water or exercise.
I think I will trying keeping track of what I eat for a few days. This is pretty much all new to me, as I have never had to pay attention to this before. I am going to have to get into the better eating habit and watching it.

One of my diet "tricks" is that I keep a large bowl of apples, pears, oranges, etc. sitting on the kitchen table. That is my snack bowl. If I am hungry for a snack, I can have a piece of fruit. If I am not hungry for fruit, I am not really hungry. There are no other snacks in my house.

Another trick is that I keep a pitcher of unsweetened decaf iced tea in the fridge at all times. This may sound strange, but I find that drinking sodas, even diet sodas, make me crave sugary, carby foods more. Tea doesn't do this.

You do need to talk to your doctor about your meds. Maybe there is another sleeping pill that would not cause cravings/weight gain? Ask your doc.

I bought Green Tea yesterday. Mainly because I need something "Hot" on my throat and I didn't need a bunch of caffene. Maybe I can accidently loose weight. LOL! It could happen!

Gayle

Well, i've lost over 40 lbs now, in the past year...with no real "dieting", no counting calories.

Here's what I have done:
Substituted water for diet sodas and iced tea. I still have my Mocha latte for breakfast, but very rarely diet coke anymore.

I make an effort to eat more protein. I eat sandwiches, but without the bread. In fact, i've virtually eliminated bread from my diet.

If I get a craving for a sweet, I pop a Mentos (or other mint). Such things are only 10 calories, they're a "cheap" sweet.

I beleive in balancing carbs (50% or less of daily intake), fat and protein. If I feel i;ve been doing too many carbs (fruits, especially), I have a couple of hard boiled eggs.

Protein and fat are longer burning fuels...they last longer, decrease hunger pangs.

Tom found caloriecounter.com a couple of weeks ago. He needs structure to watch his food intake (and they believe in balance, as I do), and has lost 2 lbs since he started.

Both my eating habits and caloriecounter suggest 1 lb a week is the best bet for long lasting results. Both my doctors are thrilled with this slowish loss, and I've actually been taken off my BP meds...i'm maintaining normal BP without them.

I empathize completely. I am stuck on a plateau that doesn't want to move. No matter how little and healthy I eat. No matter how much I exercise. It's a long, long story...I'm 54. My problems started when I was 51 and was sick with a respiratory virus that sent me to the ER. I was born with Mitral Valve Prolapse and the virus affected my heart. I went on atenolol (beta-blocker), but managed to get off of it last year after I retired and had less stress. Since that time, I gained 35 lbs and I had always been slim before that time. Or, if I gained a few lbs, I could eat 1200 calories per day and easily lose the weight. Not anymore. Sigh.

I am literally measuring my portions and counting calories. I keep a spreadsheet that I update every day and then save my total calorie and fat consumption per day. I also record any weight or measurement changes.

I posted a few of the Trader Joe's foods with calories and fat in on of my blogs. I plan to keep adding to the blog. I've just recently started it as part of my motivation to keep documenting foods.

Hope this is helpful.
Cameron

Here is a link that might be useful: counting calories

If you constantly deprive yourself and think about what you can't eat food will no longer be enjoyable. Instead say to yourself, "I respect my body, therefore I will nourish it with whole, healthy, natural foods. Think of all the beautiful whole foods from nature that you can enjoy. Don't focus on the foods you can't eat. The reason they are high in calories is because they are junk. Sugar is not good for you. Change your relationship with food and you will not be overweight.
Donna

My nest friend Sue lost 30 pounds in a year without dieting. She joined a Curves for Women Gym and went three times a week.

Another vote for Sparkpeople.

The site teaches you how to eat. It's not about cutting out everything. It's about learning how much of things to eat. If you use the site, it will work for you. That means, entering everything you eat and participating in the forums.

I've been there for a few years now, and absolutely love it. It's helped me lose weight after having two babies :)

You can find me on there as audrey444.

Dottie's weight loss zone is a good site too!
Oh but this is gonna be hard! LOL
So far I am on my 3rd 10 oz glass of water today and about to start my 4th. I hate water! LOL
I have been reading calories on everything today! Keeping track of food too.
I picked up apples for a snack, I don't like a lot of fruit, so I may be eating lots of apples til the summer stuff comes in.
I bought whole grain bread. Yogurt at 100 calories I guess for breakfast, which I never eat, but then I'd get hungry around 11 am and start shoving things in my mouth that I know were bad!
DD the bride said she will start walking with me and the dogs once its nicer. Hurry up spring!!!!

A woman up the river gave me wise advice ten years ago when my metabolism shut down. She is in excellent condition. She told me she eats whatever she wants but has to work it off.
Her approach to food is like budgeting and saving money: 'do I want to waste calories on this junk or do I want to save up and have a really good dinner later on?' she asks herself. This way she has always has a choice. She's never backed into a corner.

She also turned me onto this little tip and by golly it works!

Get an exercise bike or a treadmill.
Rent one or buy at a second hand store if you can't afford new.

Park it in front of tv.
In the evenings, while you are watching tv, ride the bike or walk the treadmill during the commercials. I do this three nights a week. My average ride on the airdyne is FIVE MILES for a one hour show. At first take it easy but as you get stronger, up the speed/resistance. I've never kept track of the time I ride but it's a well known fact that without commercials a one hour show would only be something like 1/2 hour long....LOL

I've lost a little weight since Christmas.
How much, I don't know but my clothes fit better.
I keep a big tupperware bowl of celery, carrots, radishes, green onions, etc in the frig so I have a choice between eating that cookie(s)or veggies to hold me until time for a real meal. I love how the bike riding tones me up and makes me feel strong.

My sister lost sixty pounds (over a two year period) by eating anything she wanted. She cut her portions by a third and doesn't allow herself seconds. She will eat desserts but cuts that portion by half.

You can do this.
Just don't look at it as a chore or make it into something you dread. Give yourself some choices. Most of the time you'll make the right choice.

Lori

I don't think we should even use the term diet for weight loss, rather just consider losing weight as a lifestyle change.I have gained a few pounds this winter just by being lazy. I think the best way to loose weight and keep it off is to cut portions.Cut the sugars and fat. Eat fruit and veggies for snacks,I eat lots of chicken and fish that is broiled or baked. I don't deprive myself of a treat occasionally. Exercise is important. Walking is great and if you have some really lively music just dance like nobody's watching.
Lois

I either ride my bike outside or my exercise bike 60 minutes to even up to 2.5 hours at least 4 times per week. I also do weights on a Bowflex 3 x per week. I do 100 crunches every morning for 4-5 times per week. I do yoga 4-5 x per week. I'm retired, therefore I work out. I just keep gaining muscle, but the weight stays the same. I mix up what I do so that I'm working different muscles. I also garden when weather permits -- spent 3+ hours outside yesterday doing a lot of winter clean up, heavy lifting, use tools, etc.

I don't starve on my 1200 calories. I eat healthy foods -- as many raw veggies as I want; 3 servings of fresh fruit daily. I have high fiber cereal, non-fat yogurt and skim milk for breakfast. I limit myself to only 1 diet soda (Trader Joe's brand, no preservatives), 1 cup of coffee, 1 cup of decaf tea, then lots and lots of water. I eat what I want, just small portions (by measuring cups and spoons).

My doctor is stumped about my inability to go below my plateau. She knows how I eat and exercise. My DH sees what I'm doing and he's stumped too. We went to a nutritionist together with my food diary. She says I'm eating right.

Cut out sugar and processed foods. Watch the high carb foods like potatoes, pastas and white breads. Stick to whole foods like fish, lean meat, cheese, eggs, lots of vegetables and add some berries, melons etc. Read the nutritional labels on what you buy. Know what you're eating!
Find time for at least 30 minutes of exercise a day. Get up a 1/2 hour earlier if you must. I peddle on my stationary bike and watch the morning news at the same time.
I quit smoking and gained 17 lbs. I have now taken 6 off. I do best watching my carb intake. Sugars and bread are my downfall!

Connie, have you thought about trying to quit the sleeping pills? I'm wondering if after a year and a half if maybe things have changed and you might not need them anymore? Or maybe you could try some natural remedies for sleep disorders? Just curious, I have no idea of your situation, just a thought that went through my mind when I read your post. One the topic of weight loss, I just read that raw or nearly raw potatoes are a good appetite suppressant, haven't personally tried it though.

ginger

Yesterday I went to lunch with friends. Everyone but me ordered pie for dessert. I asked a friend if I could have two bites of her pie. I am swimming 3 days a week at a hotel indoor pool. I also need to get back to Curves. I have lost 6 pounds and want to lose another 6.

I am reading more labels than I ever have before. Yesterday and today stayed under 1100 calories. But I was hungry! Drank 7 10 oz glasses of water today and only 5 yesterday. I gave up the creamer and sugar in my coffee, and it tastes like hell! LOL

Ginger, I am afraid to! LOL It had been years since I slept good and mannnnnnn I sleep better than any baby! I tried the melatonin and at first that worked somewhat and then I dunno if you can get used to it or what but it was a waste of time taking it.
I did think of trying to take the pills every other night instead of every night. I may call the drug store and talk to the pharmasist and see what he says.
I mentioned the weight gain to the doc last Aug when I was in for my yearly checkup and he wasn't concerned! He made me mad! I could probably live with the fact of 10 lbs and getting older etc. But now I have gained the other 7 or 8 in the past 6 months! Grrr so if I don't do something it will probably be double by this August. I just need to get it off before its up to 30 lbs or more and then it will be even harder!!!

NOW! Ginger!!!!!! How are you dear girl? Bet that lil Bradley is growing like a weed? I hope you didn't suffer any damage from the tornados the other night? Jodi had posted a question asking about you just a day ago!