Weight-loss tip: First, make sure you're ready

[Anne Westlund]

This is a link to a really good article on the Mayo Clinic website: http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/weight-loss/NU00266#

[Hannah]

I'm not really sure it's that attractive either. And even though I'm heavier I'm actually happier with my body now than I was when I was younger and thinner. I think it's because age makes it easier to stop trying to compete for what you cannot have. I was happy with the way I looked when I lost those 15 pounds on the oatmeal and chicken diet and I'll be happy when I lose them again, and I want to exercise almost as much to make up for the flexibility, strength and energy that are negative age-related losses as much as for the weight loss.

Regarding food, I am absolutely thrilled with the Weight Watchers points system. It's unbelievably brilliant, really teaching you how to eat. Protein and starch are part of every meal I eat now. I can cook any style and eat anything I like just by looking at the recipe sites.

Hannah

[Valerie]

"I know I'll never again be "rail thin" like I was in my youth, really don't want to be, and actually don't believe that's deemed very attractive by those outside of the modeling/acting industry.

Exactly Barb. Being rail thin is not all it's cracked up to be. I almost hestate to mention this because of the negative remarks I usually get about it, but I don't think that will happen here.
I am one of those rail thin people, but not by choice or diet and exercise. I think my metabolism is backwards and I have a very difficult time gaining weight. It is just as much a problem as those of you trying to lose weight.

"Being at a weight that I can maintain and where I have more energy and flexibility is what matters to me"

Me too. I think everyone has their ideal weight and advertisers have trained us to not be happy with it. Weight also doesn't always have to do with size. My daughter-in-law and I wear the same size clothes but she is over 20 pounds heavier than me. Hers is a healthy weight, mine is not. My thoughts are that as long as you are healthy, eat the right foods and get the right excercise, the energy and flexibility, will follow and it doesn't matter what dress size you wear.

So, why did I join here you ask. I've given up on trying to gain weight, but want to start eating healthier and get on an exercise program. I feel that then the ideal weight, for me, will fall into place.

Anyway, that's just a viewpoint from the other side. I just hate to see you all being so hard on yourselves. Going back to my corner now.

[Barbara Ann Storrier]

Thanks, Valerie ... it's good to hear a viewpoint from the other side of the fence, so to speak. I don't want us to be hard on ourselves, either ... kind of trying to figure out where we are, age wise, metabolism wise, etc ...

I think heredity does have a bit to do with things too. My mother never had a weight problem ... but her mother was huge! I felt so bad about that when I was a little girl, her ankles always looked swollen and her feet took a real beating, not to mention not having a lap for grandkids to sit on :( Her energy wasn't very good, and simple things like getting dressed were a big effort for her. She sure didn't live as long as she could have ...

Eating right and getting regular (fun!) exercise is going to help us all feel better. It requires changing our own attitudes as well as making sure that those we live with understand what's up. It's easy to slide into bad eating habits and inertia ... it takes effort and commitment to transform our habits to more healthy ways, and I'm so glad we have each other's support here to help keep us motivated.

[Valerie]

Right on Barb. United we stand : )
Good point about making sure those we live with understand what's up. Sometimes I think others feel somehow threatened if we change.

[Anne Westlund]

Valerie

You are certainly welcome here! I want us all to think along the lines of healthy living, not starvation diets or other extremes to lose or even gain weight. We have to learn to be kinder to ourselves. What we say to ourselves is important too. I think we all have internalized what the "ideal" size and looks are, and feel we don't measure up. I want to say more, but words fail me....

Anne

[Valerie]

Thanks Anne. Yes, I need to (want to) be living healthier and what we say to ourselves is very important. The hard part sometimes is reprogramming what was drummed into us as we were growing up, whatever source it came from. Whether our parents, advertising, society.

[Hannah]

..maybe in this case, but your heart shines through! That's what I always thought about you, Anne ..

Hannah

[Anne Westlund]

Thank you for being so sweet, Hannah! You really made my day!