[redwitch]

I kept trying to avoid this thread. Finally got brave and opened it up and started reading. Cringed a little as I sat here munching on tortilla chips and drinking my Coke. I was one of those people who could eat anything and never gain an ounce. Heck, I even dieted to gain weight to no avail. Then I hit my mid-40s and the pounds started coming on and on and on. Unlike HB, I'm not a big fan of food -- I'm too fussy of an eater and have a few allergies, which makes life difficult at times. Worse, I have no clue how to diet.

I think I'm going to have to break down and find an exercise group that truly interests me. Probably something that combines dance and a swimming pool would probably be my best choice. Anyone know of anything that isn't run by the Wellness or Learning Centers? I don't want to get into something that will end in 6 weeks and I really can't afford to spend a lot of money on this right now.

In the meantime, I love this idea. Maybe you guys can help me figure out a diet that I'll tolerate and, no, I won't give up my Coke Classics -- I've tried the Diet Cokes ... YUCK.

[Barefoot]

I've been eating comfort foods since I left TV with the justification that they're helping me get through a hard time. However there is a problem .. comfort foods are addicting.

Like Hyacinth, in my life I've lost more weight than I can recall! But not permanently. I've loved being a size 6, and I think I still have those clothes somewhere. Probably in the same box as my size 8s. Unfortunately they are 40 years old.

How I wish I could be happy the way I am, and not want to look like the skinny movie stars who are 30 years younger than I am. An impossible dream.

Everyone I know is on a diet, and in six months, everyone I know will be the same weight or more. The big question is not what diet to try, but how to be happy as we are?

[Hyacinth Bucket]

Hello All,

We are now approximately 100 yards from Monaco, the French President is flying in tonight.
I can relate to what Barefoot wrote, Red I can not relate to you at all. I wish I could.

I did not want to open this site at all. I knew if I opened this site my conscious would start nagging me and I would hear all of my sistahs talking to me.

I did not have any candy, bread and some other foods I would love to have had.

So thank you all for keeping these items on my no no list. Without you I would be enjoying the food.

Oh well.

Bare do you want my clothing to store in your attic also. I have not been able to part with smaller size clothing because I say to myself "Someday ....."

I find I am just like Mark Twain who said he has no problem quitting smoking - does it every time after he smokes his last cigarette. I can replace food with cigarettes.

Love ya all,

HB

[beady]

Maybe we should all get together and pool our boxes of skinny clothes . We could have a huge sale and ease our guilt collectively. Always helps to share with girlfriends , this could work.

[Just Susan]

The thing that I have found that helps me the most to get rid of my clothes is to give them to someone who will get pleasure from them. I work at a Women's Recovery Center and often the women come in from the streets or detox with nothing. When the choose something I have donated, it makes me feel good. There are also battered women's shelters. Places like these almost always need clothing...homeless shelters also. Just a thought. It works for me.

[Barefoot]

Originally Posted by Susan&Tom

The thing that I have found that helps me the most to get rid of my clothes is to give them to someone who will get pleasure from them.

Susan, good comment - that is the only thing that works for me! Not sure if you have the Salvation Army in the USA or not, but they do excellent work. I am always hauling bags of clothes and household goods over to their store. They employ challenged people to fix any broken stuff, and everything gets sold with proceeds to the needy. Makes it much easier to say goodbye to stuff.

I think I just hijacked this weight loss support group topic; :cop: and this actually should be posted under Nonie's thread about cleaning out her house and barn.

Just ate a chocolate bar, and now I'm regretting it. A minute in the mouth, forever on the hips. As Oprah would say: I'm having a pity party in my mouth. Now this qualified for the Weigh Loss Thread!!

[galady]

When I retired, I gave all my beautiful business outfits to the "Goodwill" along with racks of smaller sized clothing. The only reminders of my thinner days are bags of wonderful, sexy undies! My sister goes crazy everything she visits me and checks to see if I have finally let go of my treasures. She sold her home yesterday and will be moving to TV before me----I finished the ice cream, pie and everything that was sweet yesterday! I'm happy for her, but I "found" TV and wanted to be there a year ago.

Meeting with our realtor this afternoon---for the last two months our listing has been incorrect, the wrong city in the description. I am heading into the kitchen for toast and jelly.

Thanks for letting me tell you about my secret stash.

[chelsea24]

OMG galady that's my kind of eating! I'm such an emotional eater. I eat when I'm happy and I eat when I'm sad. I fight with myself all the time.


I call myself a Meter Eater. If the emotional meter zooms up, I celebrate with food. And when the emotional meter drops down, I comfort myself with food.

You sound like me, a Meter Eater! Think I'll have another bagel. NO YOU WON'T! YES I WILL! NO YOU WON'T! YES I . . . . . .

[nONIE]

Chels,

my big problem is, I dont even fight with myself. If it looks good I eat it. At least you talk to yourself about it. gives you some time to think about it before you actually do it, so theres hope for you.

Im like the cookie monster on Sesame Street. gobble, gobble gobble, yum, yum yum! Cant stop long enough to think about it. I think Im hopeless!

[Just Susan]

Here are some thoughts inspired by these recent posts:
1. I don't really believe in the Hi-jacking of a thread. In other words I think what we are witnessing here is friends comfortable enough with each other to express our thoughts, wander a bit, as women do and then wander back to the original topic. Who is it that gets offended by this???? Not me.

All women are capable of doing/thinking at least 10 things at once and that is how our brains work so how is that hijack? We get it, and this is, the FEMININE FORUM.

I believe that as women, food is a part of our lives on every level. We are the providers of nutrition, the watchers of healthy lifestyle, the hostesses that wants to welcome and please our guests, the cleaner-upper that knows how much food costs and doesn't want to waste that little bit left on that plate...etc. All of these adult thoughts play in our brains right next to the self comforting thoughts of the "meter eaters" and the "cookie monsters"...(my personal downfall).

Now with that premise established;

My Question......How is giving up food, any different from giving away clothes tied to memories, leaving carefully chosen possessions behind, selling family homes, that when gone...end an era, duties we are no longer needed for are mourned. We are all at an age of transition and sometimes there is a huge sense of loss that accompanies that transition...and we don't want to let go because then we must face the unknown.

The good news...no GREAT NEWS is that all of us (and anyone who wants to join in this wonderful sisterhood) are in the same boat. We can and will be there for each other as support in whatever area we need. We can have one group for cookie monsters, one group for healthnuts and one for the maids in the middle, and acceptance for all.

If we embrace the future with acceptance of "what is" and actively work on making it our little slice of heaven, knowing that we bring to that future all that matters...ourselves, our love, and our memories. The things will become just things and the bad habits will be weights around our legs that are slowing us down.

What is keeping you from dancing in the square? If that is what you want, then put down the fork and excercise. If just being there is your thing, then imagine each item in your home in TV. Does it work? No? Give it to someone who really needs it and let them make memories of their own.


I am hoping to leave a lot of the weight and the stuff behind and join all my new friends soon.

P.S. oops looks like I pulled a Boomer. ;D

[renielarson]

Susan

Nice post.

So here I go...as Boomer #3 (luv your posts, Boomer! )...

For me, it's more than an age transition of letting go. I've always had trouble letting go of anything and everything dear to me.

Losing family and pets to death...I still find myself sitting and taking myself back to the time when...continues to be hard to let go even though I know they are gone.

When I return to my home state of Kansas, I always find the time to drive by hangouts, schools, and houses that, at one time, were so much a part of me...continues to be hard to let go even though those places are way in my past.

I had trouble letting go of my children as they matured. Not that I didn't continue to guide them and watch out for their welfare, but loosening the apron strings wasn't easy.

Then, when they got married and moved away from home..that was a terrible loss for me...knowing I had no choice but to let go and never again have my phone ring off the wall, kids walk in and out of the front door all the time, a houseful of overnight teenagers, proms, homecomings, sport events of which they were personally involved, etc...continues to be hard to not have them home.

Now, let's talk about old clothing. I have been on a teeter totter all my life trying to control weight. Every closet is full of every size of clothing. I hate to pitch any of it, especially now, as I lose weight and can depend on some of those clothes fitting again. I do admit that I wouldn't be caught dead in some of what I have saved because the style is so out of date...and those, I do donate. But, darn it...I have a lot of money invested in 4 closets, 4 dressers/chest of drawers, and 2 chests!...and it continues to be hard to throw everything away and make the commitment that I will never need to go into the extra closets again once I meet my goal.

What about my ancestor's antiques? Most of those I will get rid of. They are only special to me, because like many others, my children aren't interested. Now, why on earth can I pitch that stuff and not feel so attached? Quandary.

Food? Oh yeah...I do miss eating whatever I want whenever. So, when the hankering hits, I eat a bit to take my craving away. I'm doing okay giving some favorite foods up...but it would not continue to be hard to give them up all the time because I never, ever, absolutely, positively, without a doubt ever plan on doing that!

And...by the way...check out my new avatar! 1rnfl

Enough rambling for now...hubby is out of town for 5 days and I'm filling time! wav

[BETHPAGE BLACK]

Hi Ladies..so glad this forum has posted..Boy..do we all need support...Losing weight (and keeping it iff) has to be the hardest thing in the world.. I have lost 63 lbs on WW 10 years ago and I struggle every day to keep it off. I go up a few..down a few..but it is a constant battle..I used to do the point system but now I do "core"..which is basically eating more natural foods, brown rice wheat pasta fruit veggies lean meats and just eating healthy until you are satisfied..It works really well..but TEMPTATIONS are everywhere.. With all the restaurants in TV..we need support and restraint..Of course we also have every form of exercise available to us if we use it...Should also joint a walking group while talking about the support group...
Keep up the good work everyone..and when you slip..get up and keep going! Laura

[renielarson]

zx...laura

I use the point system but I find myself eating what you call the "core"....albeit fruit. Fruit has too many calories for me and not enough substance so I stay away from it. However, I do take supplements to make up for what my diet lacks.

I find that I eat much healthier when counting calories. In fact, I have have found a wonderful product...TVP...textured vegetable protein (soy)....that is as close to ground beef as you can get and I love it. Plus, it's much lower in calories. We order it online and found a company that sells it with a brown food coloring so it even looks like ground beef. I swear by it.

Keep up the good work....it's not a diet but a way to eat healthier.

[Just Susan]

Welcome Laura. You sound like the voice of reason...always nice to have a level head around. I agree WW is a great way to lose weight, however for me it requires an awful lot of attention.

This time I think I will be watching calories and kicking up the excercise.

Bright, your "sister" approves of the new avatar. It is perfect. Where did you find it? It is the same artist as mine I believe.

Note to all who read this thread...Bright also eats some kind of fungus that is advertised as a vomitous concoction...soy is not beef! And Bright dear if a person is hungry enough they will love anything they eat. I love you dearly Bright, but I shudder when I think of some of the things you eat.

[Barefoot]

Originally Posted by chelsea24

I call myself a Meter Eater. If the emotional meter zooms up, I celebrate with food. And when the emotional meter drops down, I comfort myself with food.

Chels, I didn't know what it was called .. Meter Eater, that is me to a T!! :