Hi there! I am definately interested. I am also 48, mother of a 20 year old and an 18 year old, a bit taller than you - 5'9" - and a web programmer. I probably have one of the most sedentary jobs which is making this journey difficult! I can use all the support I can get!

Hey Karen! Mine are 19,18, and 17. My what tough ages those are!

Programming sounds interesting! But the last class I took on programming used those punch cards and a computer the size of my classroom! Even though you sit during the day doesn't mean you can't do this...It just means you need to carve out action times where you mooove!

You don't say how much you want to loose...not that it matters, I'm convinced that I will need to "keep watching" on maintenance forever-so I am in it for the long haul.

I am about to take a trip south for spring break. I figure I will blow it, I just hope I don't blow it too much!

I'm a newbie-just joined yesterday. I'm 49 and want to loose at least 30lbs. I'm 5'6" and currently weigh 169. I tried ww two years ago and did loose 20 lbs but hit a plateau that lasted 3 months and gave up. I'm hoping I can keep with this program as I have been feeling very unhealthy/lazy this last year and decided I have to do something. When I was 37, I went through a bad divorce and dropped my weight-along with exercising- to 127 and never felt better. Any tips or suggestions would be appreciated!

Welcome Wanttogetfit! hmm we gotta find a way to shorten that!

Your profile name is pretty much my goal too, so lets go! Its harder at this age, esp when we are always thinking...*when I did this the last time all I had to do was...* But that means the goal will be all that more cherished when we get there!

The CC tools are amazing, spend the time to investigate around the site, it is a blessing to me.

Hey do either of you like to cook?  Know any good recipes or tips? WTGF (well, that is shorter;) if you did WW you probably know the 0points vegie soup. It is one of my favorites.

Gotta run..treating myself to a pedicure for the trip. (do I hear islands calling...?)

Thanks for the warm welcome! I've been going through menopause for the last few years-night sweats really bad and along with that I find that my weight has really creeped up. I think the hardest thing for me with ww may be a problem again=and that is cooking for hubbie. He is really tall and no matter what he eats, he's thin, and I found it hard to cook him a high calorie dinner and myself a low calorie dinner. Twice the work. I also found that I ended up eating chicken breasts all the time, cooked differently, but it did become  boring. Sometimes  ya just gotta have the beef! Yesterday I had a can of tuna in water and a glass of high fiber, low sodium V8 juice for lunch and couldn't believe how full I felt all afternoon. Guess I'll have to stock up on that! Anyway, sorry for long post-excited to finally find my motivation to get healthier-this site is great!! WTGF

Hmm tuna and v8..that does sound filling!  do you add anything to the tuna or do you take yours strait up?

on a very non dieting note, it is snowing here and my plane is looking iffy. WAAAAA

Can I join? I'm 47, 5'8", currently 158.5 lbs, looking to get to 145 or so. I've been at this since January of this year (new year's resolutions and all that). My kids are a lot younger (I started late!)--one is two weeks from 7 and the other is 9. I figured I needed to drop the weight to be able to keep up with them! So far, I've had good success (down 22 lbs), but I fear that as I approach my goal, it's going to get harder and harder. I'm looking for all the support I can get!

Editing to add: I really like the recipes from Cooking Light--you can access a lot of them through myrecipes.com (this site has recipes from all types of sources--stay away from the ones from Southern Living, lol). The ones that I've used have been quick, easy and tasty! I made a wonderful chicken with pear-sage chutney the other night. The website allows you to save recipes to your account and also generate shopping lists, which I find to be an invaluable tool!

Hi everyone! It is so nice to chat with women at the same stage I'm at. This was a great idea alylou! wanttogetfit - I'm with you on the menopause! I never had a belly when i was younger no matter how big I got - huge hips but a tiny waist - classic pear shape! Now I find I have a roll around my middle! Where did that come from?? Have you tried making 1 dinner and then make sure you have extra veggies/salad? alylou is right! This is for life! Have you tried having some of the same foods but smaller portions? Hope you made your flight alylou!

Welcome kkatilie! I can't believe you mention those great "muffin rolls"!! I was exactly the same as you-where did they come from? No matter how heavy I got up to my late 30's-never had that roll, now??? I'm starting to think that I may try a different approach based on your suggestion-have my main "dinner" at lunch-I drive a school bus and am home during the day, so maybe preparing my dinner at lunch isn't a bad idea, that way I can cook for hubby at the regular dinner time and just eat the salad-veggies! I may try this on Monday and see if my hunger gets use to eating mid day. Your right though, this has to be a life style change that I adopt, because I think the weight will just creep back up if I go 'off'.  I miss being 25 and able to eat whatever I wanted and not gain weight! I did have a bit of an eye opener though, my ex husband's family is from Europe, and his parents were always way overweight. I just figured that was in his family-he is now over weight as well. Well my kids (daughter 25, son 20) just came back from Europe for a visit-first time, and was showing me picutes of ex's family over there and I was shocked to see that all his  relatives were really thin!! This just goes to prove to myself that this is a choice-to be overweight. Really have to adjust portions and choices so I can be healthier. Sorry about long post.  Hope alylou was able to catch your flight!

Hi, I'm 47.  I would like to join.

I've been drinking slim fast for breakfast, 2 snacks, around 9 and 3 and having 2 meals that consist of 1/2 cup protein, 1/2 cup starch and as much veggies as I want. I find after I normally gobble down my protein first (I'm a carnivore) and then my bread/pasta and then by the time I get my veggies done, I'm full. I've lost 16 pounds since Jan 5th, still lots to go, but this seems to be working, not much measuring and calculating and I eat the same food (if not the same way) as my family.

Count me in, please.  I am 47 and mother to a 2 year old (yes, I know, what was I thinking).  I have you all beat, I have 100+ to lose but am losing 1 lb at a time.  Need all the support I can get.  I am a stay at home mom now and have become obsessed with cooking healthy and figuring calories in everything that goes thru my lips.  It's working, but slowly.  I know most of you have small meals and snacks but I can't do that.  If I snack I don't stop eating.  I wonder why that is.  I eat (or try to) around 1400 a day with 2 big salads, 1 meat, and lots of veggies.

Hi everyone.  I am 49, 5'9", married 30 years, 3 children ages 27, 25 & 24.  My current  weight is 174 lbs.  I started battling my weight (again) on January 5th when I got on the scales and discovered I had let myself get up to a whopping 193 lbs.  Not a good morning emotionally, but certainly the wake-up call I needed.  I found this site about a week later and totally by accident and it has been a God-send.

I can manage my calorie intake just fine.  I've switched to whole grains, super lean meats and lots of veggies and I am seldom hungry.   My biggest challenge is working out.  I did really well with that in the beginning but the last two weeks I feel myself slipping back into my old sedentary habits.  I just don't understand why the sudden lack of energy & motivation.

Nice talking to you all.  Best of luck to you on this journey.

Mamafred--you and I started on the same day! I recognize some of those same feelings that morning after I got off the scale. And then I, too, found this site about a week later, and it really has helped me stay motivated and on track. I struggle with exercise, too--this past week has been awful--when work gets hectic, the exercise is the first thing to fall victim. My kids are still pretty young, so I feel like I'm sacrficing time with them if I exercise when work takes up more of my day than it should. What I need to do is take care of the exercise first thing in the morning, but I am sooo not a morning person! At least not as early a morning person as I'd have to be to get my exercise in! Anyway, glad to see this group is growing--welcome, and I hope we both start finding the motivation to get our bodies moving again.

Betsytuck--a two-year-old! More power to you! I'm also 47 and I thought I was having a hard time keeping up with my 6-year-old and 9-year-old. I'll tell you, dropping some weight has really made that easier--I'm confident it will be the same for you as you continue to lose.  I like your attitude--one lb at a time is the way to do it. Sometimes looking at the big picture all the time can just a bit overwhelming.

Yay! We've got a great group so far! I'm excited!

I'm 54 is that too old? I'd like to join a motivated group. I have three grown married children and a 17 year old high school jr. still at home. I just finished menopause...I think. Kept waiting for the dreaded hot flashes and night sweats  and never got them. I did get a triple chin and doubled middle.  This site has been the most educational and motivating place ever to keep me on track. I started out 189 have lost 27 so far. I'm 5 feet and have a long ways to get to goal what ever it may be. Having a teen still in the house means the only real time I get to exercise is mornings after she leaves for school. I try to walk outdoors and do a low impact aerobic to music inside each day. Her music and mine do not jive. I need an Ipod.

Hi everyone,

I am 45, married with 4 children (20, 18, 15, 10) and have been on my weight loss journey for almost a year and a half.  I saw myself on a video and did not recognize myself.  I could not believe how big I was (245.5bs).  I decided right then that I was going to lose the weight for good! 

I have lost about 70 pounds... (depending on the day) so far.  I did make it a lifestyle change and overall do not have a problem sticking with it.  I have maintained my curent weight (within 4 pounds) for almost 5 months and really want to tackle the last 20 or so pounds.  I almost cried the first time I entered my weight in a BMI calculator and it read "overweight" instead of "obese".  Now I can't wait to read "normal range"! 

kkatilie, I too have the muffin top and it drives me absolutely crazy!  I seem to be losing inches from all places except the muffin.  I have been doing crunches and abdominal exercises and my muscles are tighter but the muffin remains!  I am hoping that it will start to disappear with the last 20 pounds!

sophesca, I understand your feelings that you are sacrificing time with your children when you are exercising but, by taking care of yourself, you are providing a great example for your children...they live what they learn.  The exercise  will help you to live longer so you are there for them! 

Great group, thanks alylou! 

Ok - so I have been doing really good the past week and have even started seeing some small results. Next week though, will be the true test. I have to go to NYC for 4 days for work and am already starting to worry about trying to eat healthy. I think I'll be ok with the working out since the hotel should have a gym. I was thinking I could just stick to salads for the most part but then you hear about how some of these salads are 100s of calories and not near as healthy as they appear. Help!

New York City! WOW...never been. Its a someday dream. Salads can pack in the calories in dressing of course but also the choice of protein and croutons or no croutons. I can only imagine in New York you could  pretty much find what ever type of food you really want. Not a lot of help, sorry. I'm still in awe your going to such a fantastic city.

Unfortunately, I will be sitting in class most of the day - 8:30-4:30. I'll get out some at night but not a whole lot of time to sightsee.

It is one of my favorite cities. Would love to live there for a year but my husband would never go for it. The other city I really like is London. Both are great cities to walk around and just soak in the atmosphere.

Helllllooooooo

I came across this thread the other day, but didn't have time to post to it until now.

I'm 50, been married 30 years ( this October), have two adult boys 25, and 21.  I found CC last fall, but didn't start counting calories, and logging information until New Years day.  I've lost 6 lbs- so it has been a slow process. 

I know I've read where a few of you hate to exercise, sorry but I like it.  I think it's because my children are out of the house, and now I have ME time.  I usually work out 5 days of a week, for an hour each day.  I like to mix it up, I do spin classes, aerobics, and I belong to this daily boot-camp at the gym. 

I haven't gone through the big M yet, but my . are irregular.  Don't have a lot of night sweats, but, I do have an addiction to red wine, I tend to have a sweet tooth, but have been keeping it a bay lately. 

I recently had a metabolic screening.  I found out that I burn a lot more calories on a given day than I originally thought.  So just in the last month I have upped my calorie intake.  I am still waiting to see where this all shakes out.

Hope to keep track of this thread and get to know you all a little better.

Oh, Finally, my photo... the car....... my mid life crisis.... I know you all will understand.

I wouldn't mind adding you all as friends so I can keep track of your journals... do you mind?

T

Wow hershy, that car is not "shy" at all!

Well I am back from a week of unlimited food (and er... *hic* drink) and the scales at mid-day said I had gained 4 lb. I had assumed 5, and prayed not more than 6, so I am not upset. 9 days on a tropical island...sooo worth it!

Now I will be back at the diet to clear out these last 9 lb.

I see that the thread failed a bit while I was gone, do you think we can revive it?