my clothes were getting tighter and i just refused to 'give in' and buy a bigger size. TBH, i was not heavy but i just refused to fall into 'oh we are older, its just what happens' category. my friend introduced me to THM and it changed everything. basicallly, you do not mix your healthy carbs and fat in the same meal. eg.: eggs with bacon/sausage and 1/2 avocado OR egg whites with veggies on sprouted bread chicken thighs with buttered veggie (broccoli) OR white meat chicken over a bed of lettuce with cucumbers, toms peppers etc and a light dressing (not heavy oils) or on a low-carb wrap/pita it does take some thought, but once you get the hang of it, its easy and automatic. i eat no white anything. no sugar, i do use Truvia. i eat mostly berries as they are least amount of natural sugar. i eat every 3-4 hours, not in between, this is good for your digestion and metabolism. i do have Hashimoto's for about 25-30 years now, and actually my med dose has recently gone down and my thryoid is not as swollen. my Endo is very pleased. i do my best! to not eat after dinner. i walk 5 days a week (3-4 miles), Follow the THM plan and use their recipes which are fabulous. Even DH likes them! BP is perfect, Cholestrol is 180 although my LDL is a slightly above 100, always was since my 30's - genetics?? i am not saying everyone is the same, but this diet lifestyle really works for me. good luck to everyone!

Glad to hear that everyone is on a path to getting back on track or making additional improvements! I am back from vacation-- didnt get too far off track but I had way too many cheeseburgers (SO found a place he loves and wanted me to try-- and then we had to compare to another place) and a few too many cocktails but overall did pretty well. I held my weight steady and came back with a renewed interest and resolve in eating well and living healthier! Ive been lazy-- with exercise, with posture, with keeping healthy foods in the house! They all feed off of each other so improving one will increase the likelihood that I improve all! I think I have to start with a focus exercise -- it is the area where I need the most improvement and I think I tend to want to eat better, sit/stand more straight when I am feeling better about my body and movement. I just got a new portable bose bluetooth speaker so I am going to make a few playlists on spotify to use in the basement for different durations for treadmill, jumping rope, elastic band/strength exercises etc. I am also determined to master the stupid weighted hula hoop LOL. I tried a few times early last year and failed -- I am determined to keep it going! I am looking to be more consistent this year -- consistent with everything including losing inches and weight! I turn 60 this year and I want to lose 60 more lb. I am not going to make any resolutions but I think it will help me stay focused and moving in a positive direction when I do feel lazy or overworked or just discouraged. Thanks for starting the thread, GS ... and thanks all for sharing your experiences, everyone! You are all such great support and inspiration!

Carol: Would love to see your pic. of Chantilly Cream since I love yellows. I repost the pic. to identify my roses last November better: White is Bolero, pinkish cluster is Mary Magdalene, red buds are Munstead Wood, yellow is Strike it Rich, orange bud is Carding Mill, and bi-color lowest bud is Double Delight. I cut them in bud before hard-freeze last November: I'm down to 117.6 pound today .. which is a miracle, considering that I was overweight at 122 lb. this May. Last year when I was 62, it took me ONE MONTH just to lose 1 lb. Berberine with cinnamon capsule really helps, that's why it's the best seller in Amazon with 30K purchases per month. My goal is to lose weight down to 115 lb. by Christmas, then I will be safely in the NORMAL weight BMI for my height of 4'11" & will be 63-year-old next month. In the past I could never lose weight unless I skip breakfast and work for hours in the garden, or skip lunch while walking/shopping for hours. Fasting via being busy/active and eating only 2 BIG meals of protein/fat/fiber is the easiest way to lose weight.

KW: Were it not for my lady barber, my damn eyebrows would look just like Rooney's. Speaking of hair, here's a sonnet I wrote for a college class over a decade ago: Sonnet Of The Middle Aged Man Why doth mine hair groweth out mine nose, pray tell? Brows grown thickly as the virgin forest. Mine youth saw the cast of no such evil spell; Ears, nose and brows burst as angry chorus, Yield to the skills and tools of mine paid wench; Who leaves not a recurrant shaft untrimmed. May let them grow, as often do the French But wife would have the light of marriage dimmed. What incantation to invoke the spring; Head hair on top and rear lying fallow. Now middle age forlornly taketh wing; As more needless growth awaits the morrow. Mirrored, as tweezers yank I wince in pain; Heavy the price one pays for being vain.