That eating healthy ain't that bad at all and this is something that I will continue for the rest of my life.  Won't take the pills of course but this way of eating I will.  I started my weight loss journey on May 7, 2007 which is 66 weeks ago.  To date I have lost 85 pounds and added alli on August 8, 2007 which is 53 weeks ago and since then have lost about 63 pounds.  Not sure when I started to exercise--I believe it was before I added alli but not 100% sure on that one.  I do the stationary bike every day if I am at home.  In the past couple months I do pool weights about 3-4 times a week.

This is a slow process getting it off--I have pretty much been faithful in my eating except for a week long cruise which I might add in that week I added 12 pounds.  My last morning on the ship I was back on program and I have probably overeated besides that one week maybe another 10 days or so so that will give you an idea.  I have averaged with my setbacks about 1.3 per week which isn't bad since I'm 56 years old.  It is work at my age to get this off--used to fall off in my 30's etc.  I have had a weight problem all my life and have lost weight plenty of times only to go back to the ol same eating habits and gained it all back.  This time since its taking me so long to get it off I have finally come to realize why I am fat.  I am fat for many reasons.

1.  I do not know when I am full--I can sit and eat and eat and then all of a sudden just be stuffed--my solution to this problem is that I'm going to journal for the rest of my life.  Once I get my weight off and figure out my daily calories to maintain I will journal--that will keep me from overeating.

2.  I ate so many wrong foods it was pathetic and sure I will again.  Chips are a major downfall and they will no longer be in this house except occasionally.  Peanut butter cookies another major problem for me--not allowed in this house--if I do have them here I will eat a few and then throw them out.  I don't know how many times I have bought chips and then had them and they were calling my name and finally I just threw them out.

3.  Deep fat frying is out and I have figured out ways to change my cooking and still fulfill those hunger pangs for fried food.  Like deep fried shrimp I now buy the panko ones at costco and take a cookie sheet and lightly spray it and then put the shrimp on it and lightly spray them and bake and then flip and lightly spray again.  Taste like the real thing--even son and hubby were impressed--lol.  For fried chicken I have taken the skin off for years so thats no problem but now I lightly dip in egg beaters and then in cereal that I just lightly crunch up with my hand--seems like for me the bigger the pieces the more crunch it is.  This has helped me alot on those 2 things.

4.  Steak I buy Laura's now--its expensive but well worth it to me.  Very very lean and I get her ribeye--its good.

5.  Hamburger I buy only 93% now.

I weigh daily and it used to bug me horribly if the scale didn't move but now I know that it will at times not budge and for me that is faithfully journaling and also faithfully exercising that one day it will move and since I got this attitude it does that.  :-)  Yes I have had plateaus.

I really again think this time is different that I will never ever be anywhere near the size that I was because I truly have figured out that I make myself fat by what I put in my mouth and I sure didn't get fat from broccoli and salads with low fat dressings etc.  Shoot I could eat 10 cookies at a time--no problem.  I also know that I have gone to too many funerals of people younger than myself that were obese and you get the picture on that one and dang it I will not die from being fat.  I have too dang much to live for.

My starting weight was 286.4 and this morning I was 201.4 so as you see I have lost 85.  I figure I have maybe 50 more to go--not sure--will know when I get there BUT I do know I will get there.  In just a few more pounds I will no longer be that horrible obese work according to bmi.  I know for some of you that have alot to lose that it seems like it will take forever but time goes by so dang fast--it sure doesn't seem like 15 months ago I started this and again this is forever.  I will never ever go back.  I can do so much more now without panting and I feel so much healthier.  I know my husband and family isn't as worried as they were and they deserve to not to have to worry about me dying just because of my weight.

I know this is a very long post but I'm truly hoping it helps even one of you.

Linda

s/w 286.4, current weight 201.4, goal weight approximately 150. I think--lol 

 Linda, Wow!  Thank you!

We have so much in common.  For me it's not chips or cookies.  It's steak and sauces and pasta with way too much butter and cream.  Matters not.  What you've said is oh so true.  These things might be "calling us" but we don't have to respond.  There are other choices and they're just as good, if not better!

I gave away my deep fat fryer a couple of weeks ago to make counter space for a George Foreman.  I'm still taking baby steps and appreciate all of your ideas so very much!

Mary

linda..  thanks so much for your post..  i  appreciate how hard it is to lose weight at out age (i am 55).. i see all of these people losing 2,3 even 5 lbs in 1 week..i cannot imagine..i am thrilled when i lose every hard earned pound..it seems like it's 2 weeks for every pound lost  in spite of the fact that i have been doing it all right.. and excercising like a mad woman, cardio almost every day and using weights.. the good news is i do NOT have saggy skin and i feel 10 x better than i did when i was 30.. we have turned it around and we WILL  get there eventually because we have the tools and we have each other to encourage us on..for the first time in many years i see the under side of 170  i am now at 167.5 and plan on staying the course until i get to where i want to be.. i can hardly wait until i have the "problem" of weight maintenance.. but someday we will ..keep up the good work ..... here is your "atta girl..way to go!!" thanks again... kathy

Thank you both very much. I am 56 and just started Alli about a week ago. I need to lose 30 pounds and I cannot believe how hard it is to lose even 1 pound at this age. I cannot figure out why my body is so resistant!! I am following the plan but I may need to eat a little more fat and fewer calories to get the GI tract working right and lose weight. I am grateful to these message boards and realized today that it will take months to see an effect, not days or weeks. Getting that perspective is very helpful.

Cindy

linda:)

thank u so much for ur post..u r a ture inspiration :)

 Linda, big congrats!! Hey, I know exactly what you mean, I am 53 and it seems that it is so easy to gain the pounds but it takes forever to take them off!! keep up the good work!! Thanks for the post!!

Elia

Well, it wasn't too long for me!  This is truly my thrill, to log onto the board and see a success story like yours!  I read those before I read anything else.  Yours is so inspiring.  You have figured it out, what works for you, and have gained an unwaiverable determination to stay with it.  I love it!  Best wishes for your continued success and enriched life.

Judy