OK, I just weighed myself.. I have been proud of the fact, that even though I know I gained weight since DH passed, I stayed under 200. My buttons are poppin alright, but it isn't from pride anymore.

My health has been excellent, to spite the weight gain and that's why I didn't bother to jump on the scale. My BP is a bit higher this past year - still normal, but higher. I must lose 20 lbs yesterday, or my health may go to pot. I love to eat and can't do a lot of exercise, so how do I do it?

It's not that I eat a lot, but I guess it's what I eat. Cutting out my daily snack of chocolate chip cookies will have to stop..OH NO, I may die!!! Those cookies may be the whole problem! What else can I do?

I've been doing more exercises than I have ever done, since MS has taken over my body and I don't want to overdo. I'm serious about the 20 lbs ASAP. I guess the old starvation diet is the only way. I'm not good at especially laid out diets and I know I wouldn't stick to it.

I wonder if there is a magic pill to help. I've heard about them...you know, "just take this pill and you don't have to diet"? Sure, huh?

HELP!!!

Just eat anything and everything but in moderation. And not so many snacks during the week. I love chocolate chip cookies too but how many do you eat a day? Hope this helps. Sorry no magic pill.

Hi Sally,

I do not have much to say since I've only been on "one real diet" to lose weight and it only consisted of cutting out soda (I used to drink 2 liter soda bottle every day) and cheese. I went off for a couple weeks and lost 20 pounds and that was all to it for me. I did an MS diet that really helps and it calls for tons of fruits and veggies and I lost too much weight. Now I'm too light so that is the other side of the story. I hope you get what you desire.

Sally,

I agree w all who said a version of, "moderation." Look at your portions. Read labels- that is what helps me. After you have knowledge (what's in the product) you are responsible for whether you want to put it in your body.

Love you,
ANN

Hi Sally,

I'm in the same boat you are! I've been on a diet for the last several months and have lost around 35 pounds--but I have 60 more pounds to go because I want to finally get thin. The problem is, everyone's metabolism is different. A lot of people can lose weight on 1,200 or 1,000 calories a day, but I can't. Added to that, I can't exercise much because of the MS.

You won't want to hear this, but I stay on a diet of 600 calories a day. This is extremely low, but it was approved by my doctors down here because I was at a point last summer where I absolutely had to get the weight off; I was having heart palpitations. I wouldn't recommend a diet this low in calories for most people; it works for me because, with Lupus, Crohn's and MS, my metabolism is completely out of whack.

My food intake consists of a bit of healthy cereal or oatmeal for breakfast, veggies or a cup of low-cal soup for lunch and a chicken breast and veggies for dinner. For a snack at night, I eat about 25 grapes. I lose weight faster if I don't eat at night, so you might consider shutting down the food intake past eight pm--unless you want a few grapes or carrot sticks...

I don't know how mobile you are; I have mobility issues but on good days I make myself walk two miles. It's easy here in Key West because the weather cooperates, even if my legs don't!

It ain't easy, but it's worth it! I totally blew the diet over the holidays and gained about three pounds back, but I'm slowly getting back to where I was before Christmas. Hope that some of this helps.

I think we ought to start a regular weight loss thread here to encourage each other! Any takers?

Oh my, Keely, 600 calories is so low! I'd at least double that.

We are all different.

Be thee careful,
ANN

I'll be your fan club, Sal.

I've lost 30# since the first of July, and I get next to no exercise. The only thing that works for me is counting calories. I try to average around 1300 calories a day. I average it over the month, so if I keep it around 1200 or so, I can "afford" a couple of days to splurge.

Some people think counting calories is hard work, but it keeps me focused on what I'm REALLY eating. It's surprising how a spoonful of this and a couple bites of that can make a difference.

If I choose a yogurt that's 80 calories instead of 110, a slice of bread that's 50 instead of 90, spaghetti sauce that's 70 calories a half cup instead of 90--well, at the end of the day I've "saved" 90 calories. Doesn't sound like much, but that's 90 I can "spend" on something else. A banana. Or two Dove dark promises.

I have a little notebook where I write down the calories for things I have often so I don't have to look it up every time.

Another trick that keeps me honest is measuring things. It's really hard to guess what a cup of pasta looks like on a plate. Or 3 oz. of meat.

I found after two or three weeks of not pigging out, I started not craving the bad stuff like I thought I would.

Measuring food for sure. You would be surprised how much a cup of potato salad looks like on your plate. Or 1/2 cup of pork and beans. It sounds like so little but my how it looks on your plate after being measured out. Same with cottage cheese and all the rest. A good idea for sure.

Hey, I wouldn't quit the chocolate chip cookies. Find out how many calories in them. Have one every other day, or have two every Sunday...whatever works.

My daughter and granddaughter got me a BIG box of truffles for Christmas! There was a time...actually lots of times...I would have said, what the heck, it's Christmas. And have eaten the whole box by now. I've been having two a week.

I've made the mistake (for me) of denying myself everything "good", and I just set myself up for a fall.

Can you get the calorie counts on the things you order from Schwans? I think you said you don't cook much, their stuff may be high calorie. And portion size is important.