Hi.

I've never visited this forum before (at least I don't think I have but you'll have to forgive me because I'm 61 and I don't remember ANYTHING!!! lol).

I usually go on the Social chat, the computer forums, and the PN Boards.

But I said "you've lost a lot of weight, why not go and see how other people are doing". So that's why I'm here.

I have been on this weight loss journey ever since I'm 12 and started to eat for comfort.

I didn't have to eat, I could have NOT EATEN, I could have drank, did the drug thing...but no, my comfort zone was food.

I can remember being alone in front of my tv in my bedroom with all my chips and dips, and party mix, and cupcakes and yodels and whatever else I could get my hands on, and ever single night I would just sit and watch tv and vegetate in front of the tv in my bedroom.

I was quite big way back then. I reached an all time high of 300 or so when I was about 45 or so. I was very miserable.

I had severe problems with my son's behavior (we are no longer in contact). and that's how I coped.

It took a visit to the nutritionist. It took me getting diabetes (that didn't even make me eat healthy, because I wasn't ready).

But several years ago I joined the ACCORD program at Cornell and I saw a nutritionist (me and hubby both), and I actually got educated on what goes into my body, (what's good and what's not good).

Once I got the light bulb moment, there was no turning back.

I gave up red meat a long time ago, but I still was not eating correctly. I didn't move either. I didn't exercise.

It took me to be in my 50's before I (I guess you can call it maturity), well I just don't know, but I got the message.

I lost over 100 lbs. I look much better (except that many of my over-weight friends think I'm too thin) and that's not possible because you can't weigh what I weigh and be thin. It's not logical. My doctors at Cornell think I weigh what I weigh because of my bone structure.

I don't think I can ever get down to weigh less than 160 because of my body structure, frame and bone density but I really don't care.

My diabetes is under control (I reversed it in my eyes). I walk every day, and I lift 3 lb weights.

I am very lucky in that I don't get cravings for sweets or anything like that.

I don't eat sugar, I use light salt, and I eat live stuff.

I do a plant based diet. And I grow my own sprouts which is the easiest and cheap thing in the world to do. I adore salads with colorful things in them. I use extra virgin olive oil as a dressing. Just a bit but it works.

And I do eat eggs, and my cholesterol is just fine. Maybe it's because I don't eat red meat.

I take a lot of supplements, and the big one I take is Methyl B-12. I have diabetic neuropathy and this supplement stopped it in its tracks.

Believe me I know about stress and how a person can turn to food when under stress. I did this most of my life.

But I don't do it anymore. I would rather be healthy and imagine what my nutrients are doing in my body, then go and have a cheesburger and fries.

I believe (in my case), I changed the way I view food.

took me some time, believe me.

I look completely different now than when I was in my 40's. Most people dont' even recognize me. I don't care.

When you have weighed what I used to weigh, and worn a dress size 24 1/2, and now that I can wear a size 12, well to me, it's a no-brainer.

I don't want my diabetes to get worse. Thankfully I don't smoke or drink. I have friends who do and they cannot stop.

But food was my drug of choice.

I just had my lunch...Grilled Chicken on a bed of sprouts, grape tomatoes, some romaine and it was heavenly.

I eat grilled salmon, or tofu and veggies. I do not miss the Pizza, the eating in front of my tv every night, etc.

I had to really take stock of what I was doing.

Initially I made one single change. I stopped eating after 7 p.m. I did this for 4 years.

How ironic that now my diabetes has changed and to keep it stable I have to have a big of something before I go to bed at night. This took some taking used to but I said to myself:

"Hey, if it's good for your body, then you do it".

I'm re-learning food, and what affect it has on the body.

And I'm now 61.

I'm still learning.

And if I can do it, believe me, ANYBODY CAN.

So I wish all of my fellow posters a Happy and Healthy Thanksgiving.

And guess what I did today (FOR THE FIRST TIME IN MY LIFE). I baked a pumpkin pie.

But I just tweaked the recipe a bit.

Egg Beaters instead of eggs. Splenda instead of sugar. And fat free evaporated milk.

It smells wonderful and we'll be eating this until the pie is done. Next year I might make another.

It's an indulgence but it won't be a bad one because I found a way to still have pumpkin pie on Thanksgiving and not make it a gazillion calories.

HERE'S HOPING YOU ALL HAVE A NICE HOLIDAY.

Melody

welcome melody!

How good to hear that you lost this weight and that you are healthier and happier! Thank you for your encouraging post! Wishing you continued success and blessings.

Hi Vowel Lady:

Oh my god, the pumpkin pie was to die for. Alan could not get over it. I'm making a sugar free apple pie for Christmas.

And two minutes ago, the mail man delivered my package from Ebay. I purchased 5 seed packets. I already have my lentil sprouts in my refrigerator. I will now be sprouting my sunflower seeds, alfalfa, fenugreek and god knows what else.

This is so much fun, AND SO HEALTHY, and so CHEAP, well I can't tell you how much money I save. And when you put the sprouts in a salad, (I'm not going to buy any more romaine because I have my sprouts). So I'll just add my grape tomatoes, a slice of red onion, some mushrooms, and a few sliced black olives. To say that this salad is to die for, is putting it mildly. It's better than a piece of cake (but then again, I am INTO SALADS.

I have COMPLETELY changed my brain as far as eating. And I thoroughly enjoy GROWING MY OWN STUFF. I'm looking into getting an herb garden ( I saw the informercial on tv). They are sending me a catalogue. Now if I can grow my little tomatoes in my kitchen, well, what can I say.

Call me VEGGIE MELODY!!!

lol

You go girl. Thanks for the tips. Congrats on the weight loss.Hugs,
Fancylady

Welcome Melody

I think you are doing great. Now if I can just get back to the
Gym, before I head to Indy that will do me so much good.

I also have a massage on Monday.

Donna

Welcome Melody. You are a great inspiration. Thank you for posting about your story of weight loss. I've been missing in action for a very long time.

befuddled2

Hello Ladies:

How are we all doing today? I just finished rinsing my jars of sprouts and have some of them on my window-sill so they can get some light and they are now turning green.

I cannot believe that my two YELLOW thumbs are developing into GREEN ones. Never grew anything in my life.

I now have various things sprouting in my kitchen and my husband says if I mention the word SPROUT one more time, he's going to kill me. Yesterday, when he woke up, I said "how are you doing?" and he just replied with one word.

SPROUTING!!

I never laughed so hard. He laughed as well. Then last night I showed him the package of Light Tofu that I bought and I said "see, we can now eat healthy" and he burst out laughing and said "TOFU??" and I just said "well, I'm not talking about sprouts now am I?"

We laugh a lot. It's important to laugh in these times. I don't enjoy the holidays so whenever I find something to laugh about, well I try and laugh as often as I can. Makes one forgets one's problems for a bit.

Oh, last night I ground up some sprouted lentils and added them to my broccoli and zucchini patty mix. I sprayed PAM in a frying pan and make vegetable-sprout patties.

After Alan died and went to heaven over these things I just looked at him triumphantly and said "Hmph, you can make fun of my sprouting all you want but you just ate them."

I then said "And next year, I'll be growing my own tomatoes". He jumps up and says "We live in an apartment, where the heck are you going to grow tomatoes?" I just replied "where there's a will, there's a way".

Hah!!!

lol

Mel