Hello all you beautiful Grandmas!!  I am a Grandmother of five.  They call me Farmor, which is Swedish for Grandma.  I am 49 and am hoping I can still hang w/ this group.  It sounds like we have alot in common.  I started Alli today.  So far, so good!  I have a recumbant bike w/ a fan(woo hoo), that I will be riding every day for 30 minutes.  I need to lose about 40 pounds.  I am in pretty good health.  I had a hysterectomy a few yrs ago and have still struggled w/ endometriosis(long story).  A year ago I had my gall bladder removed.  I work from home right now too.  I am a motivational speaker and I have always felt that my weight has hurt my credibility some.  I lost 50 pounds 7 yrs ago and kept it off for 3 yrs, but then it slowly came back.  Looking forward to joining you all on the journey to wellness!!!

Sending hugs to all!!

 Well hello Farmor! I am starting Alli today 03/30/09. I am not a grandma yet and my kids better not make me one until they graduate college.  I need to lose 50 lbs and am going to need all the buddies I can get.

Tamara

 Thanks for the welcome Tamara!  My oldest son & his wife had their first child before my son graduated and their 2nd child was born right after my daughter inlaw graduated from college.  I give them lots of kudos for finishing despite all of the challenges that come w/ raising a family.  I hope you don't mind me adding you as my buddy.  This is going to be an exciting journey that we have embarked on!

 Welcome Farmor, Tamara and Grammy.  I agree we have a lot in common.  Grammy, you have done great with your weight loss.  It sounds like you have alot of energy.  Can you send me some? I had another tough day trying to fit in my walking. It is suppose to rain for the next couple of days so my walking will be out of the question again.  I am planning on putting on some exercise cd's instead.  I struggle through them but I guess some exercise is better than none. 

 Hi   I am 54, grandma (nana) of 5 beautiful grandchildren and ready to lose weight and change my lifestyle ways.  I need to lose about 25 pounds, and I have extra incentive, my son is getting married in July.  I don't want to be fat for his wedding.  I also know that if I lost this weight, I would feel alot better, physically and mentally.  I am here for anyone who wants to be my diet buddy, and I need support from anyone who will help me.  This Alli plan is new to me.....I really want it to be the answer....I have been a yoyo dieter long enough.....Today is day one....Good luck to you, and I hope we can help each other.

 Hi!

I started on Sunday and Thursday will be the first day with Alli tablets.  I too, am a grandma, but won't be 50 unitl May.  Next to eating the biggest trouble I am going to have it getting moving.  I work 9 hours at day in front of a computer so by the time I get home my brains is exhausted and I can't get moving.  Any suggestions on how to get moving????

Looking forward to chatting with everyone :)

 Happy Tuesday Ladies!!  It's been 2 days on Alli and no treatment effects so far.  Whew.  I went shopping today and stocked up on everything I need for the week, including low fat snacks.  I had a double chocolate, sugar free, 60 cal. jello pudding for my snack tonight.  Even my husband loves those.  I may have to buy more if I run out...lol.  I am going to chop all my salad veggies tonight, to save time during the week.

Grammybird1- Thanks for starting this thread!  It is so encouraging to know that there are so many fabulous grandmas out there striving to be healthier.  We are a force to be reckoned with; look out world, here we come!!  :)  By the way, way to go on the 3lb weight loss!!!

Coffeenut-  What new career are you embarking on?

Arleighj-  Woo hoo, 3lbs lighter!!  You go girl!  I have a collection of Leslie Sansone, "Walk Away The Pounds" cd's that I use.  She is so encouraging and easy to follow.

Suzanne-  Thanks for the encouraging words.  It's great to see someone who is doing so well on the program.  Your 19lb weight loss is very inspiring!

G- Congrats on the pending wedding of your son!  Special events are great motivators as we look to eat healthier.  My 50 lb weight loss 7 yrs ago was for our 25th wedding anniversary.  I reached my goal and looked great, but three years later I was putting the weight back on.  I struggle w/ staying motivated after I reach my goal.  One piece of advice I have is: eat a tiny piece of wedding cake.  I was so rigid that I never had any, and I regret that now.

Blueeyes12-  Psst.  I'll let you in on a little secret.  When I am feeling totally exhausted after a long day.  I will watch American Idol, and instead of staying on the couch, I will dance through out the whole program, including the commercials.  I love dancing and it gets me moving.  :)

Enjoy the rest of your evening ladies and thanks for the support and encouragement!!

I,m 51 and a grandma of 1, and I started Alli back in November 28, 08 I weight 236 at that time and now weigh 202 for a loss of 34 lbs. I fell much better, but still have 52 lbs to loose. I now always eat a healthy breakfast, a Lean cusine or Smart Ones for lunch and always a lite Dinner. I have 2 healthy snacks a day. I take my Alli right before I start to eat. If I am going out and think I will have more fat than I need I take 2 Alli pills. I also bought the AB Rocket which I do 30 sit ups 2x a day, I have workout DVD's I work out to for 30 min's a day, and now that th weather is nicer I walk each day after I eat my evening meal. So Diet, Exercise and Alli will give me my freedon from a bad heart that most of my family member seem to have, this was the main reason I started trying to get mysefl healthy. Besides I want to be around when I get my Great Grandbaby, Cause I really feel that I will only have 1 grandchild in my life.

You need to make time for exercise, there is no way around it.  It may require that you get up in the morning up to an hour earlier to fit it in, but it will be well worth it.  Exercise will give you energy as well as curb some of your bad eating habits.

Put in some walking time during the day.  Walking from the car, during your break, it all adds up.

Sophia De Monte RPh

 Hey, everyone. I'm glad I started this thread, too.  I feel so much better knowing there are a bunch of us going through and doing the same things together. Had to laugh, Grammy. My name is Suzanne, too. I've been Gammy ever since my gs could speak. They even call me Gammy at his school. I doubt his teachers could tell you my real name without looking it up. I think I've added you all to my buddy list. I know I've lost one more pund but I'm having trouble at nap time when it's all quiet around the house. Seems as though that's my "grazing" time. I have to really struggle to not go in the kitchen and stand there looking for something to eat. Which means I'm not hungry, just bored. But not enought to wake up all the kids and have a grouchy bunch of little ones all afternoon. LOL I'll have to start doing my journal then, maybe. See you all in a day or two. PS, I had to hide the Easter candy from myself so I wouldn't eat it all. :(

I could use a buddy! :o)

 Hey good for you!! WElCOME!! I've been here a week ago tomorrow. I'm a grandma, too! I don't know a lot just now but maybe we can help each other. I'm 59, retired teacher from Illinois. I've been retired for alomost 5 years now. Found out just after I retired that I have some heart health issues. Not too surprised as it run in my family, BIG TIME! I've been gaining about 5 pounds a year and now find myself about 30 pounds from where I want to be. I've lived all my life trying to keep the weight off by just starving myself and not eating all the things I love. I've allowed myself to have those foods and here I sit , too heavy for good health and not at all pleased with myself. You know how hard it is to lose weight when you're older.

I started on the low fat diet for about a week before I started the Alli last Friday. I work out at Curves so when I weighed myself there last Monday I'd lost 5 pounds!! Was I susrprised!!? It usually takes me a month to lose five pounds. I was encouraged!

Good Luck to you! God Bless

 Way to go. 5 pounds is 5 pounds. And off is so much better than on.

I didn't even realize there was a 50 something forum here, too. I kind of like this thread and I'll hang out here. You all keep up the good work. We've all seen some changes, I'm sure.

 Happy Fit Friday everyone!!!  It's been a good week.  I did really well adjusting to the program and making good food choices.  I need to do better in the exercise department.  My goal for next week is to exercise 30 minutes Mon.-Fri..  My 1st check-in is Wednesday. 

Hairlady- Welcome to the group and good going on the 34 lb weight loss!!!  I know what you mean about "wanting to be around for your great-grandchild."  My MIL passed at 56 and my Mom passed at 58.  They both came from the generation that focused on others before self to an extreme.  My goal has been to keep a balance in that department, so that I can be around to enjoy my kids, grandkids, etc.  I also know that if I take better care of myself now, I will have a better quality of life now and when I am older.

Sophia- I appreciate all you do as a moderator and for the reminder that exercising as well as healthy eating are equally important.  

Grannybird1- I know all too well about hiding Easter candy or any candy for that matter from oneself.  I'm going to "tell" on myself, regarding Easter candy.  My husband purchased Easter candy a few weeks ago.  He had a secret stash and would remove a few pieces after dinner and give me some.  I had not asked him to help me control my candy intake, so I became very hurt and resentful about what he was doing.  He's a marathon runner, is very disciplined and consequently never had a problem w/ his weight.  One evening when he was out, I tore the house apart, until I found the stash and ate a whole bag of candy.  Of course, I felt miserable for binging as well as raiding his stash.  That incident motivated me to start the Alli program and get a handle on my over-eating and lack of regular exercise.

a1041- Welcome to the group and congrats on your 5 lb weight-loss!!!

Have a wonderful weekend all,  Isabelle aka Farmor

 Having trouble posting today for some reason. I had to laugh along with you about the candy. Hubby has to take his to work and that way I don't see it or want it. Once I give it to the kids I won't eat it. How goofy is that?

Congrats to all our weight losers this week.  I have a really long day so I have to eat snacks between meals. I finally settled on a brand of of cereal bars that  won't put me too far off schedule and keep me in my calorie and fat allowances. Being diabetic makes it all worse because I have to watch my carbs, too.  I can say that so far my sugar readings have been so much better since I started watching what I ate. And I found a fat free sugar free pudding that satisfies that chocolate craving. GS even likes it.

Keep up the good work everyone. We can do this.