[Ginger]

Originally Posted by Gemme

Thanks for creating this thread, IslandScout. I'm not in the same boat as you, but I see you in the water!

Thanks, Gemme.

I just weighted myself. I haven't had the courage to do that for a while. I'm at 155 pounds, a lifetime high.

My ideal or dream weight is about 135-140. I know that sounds high for a dream weight, but I'm a size 6 at that weight, and I like my hourglass shape Besides, below about 135, the way I carry weight, I just look too thin; I have prominent collar bones at any weight, and if lose too much, I just look emaciated in that part of my body, and my face looks too thin.

So, I'm thinking, 15-20 pounds to drop. But I've been trying to get this thing under control for about two years and for the first time in my life, I seem powerless to stop it.

Here are some of the challenges:

1) Not enough sleep. I can fix that!

2) My partner cooks for her kid every night, and I eat lots of pasta and rice and beans and yes, vegetables and greens with them. She's tried to cut down on oil, but it's still not working for me. I bought the Weight Watchers Points Plus cookbook that my sister and her husband use—I spent two weeks with them over Christmas and fell in love with the food—but the team-effort shopping and cooking thing it would take to pull off those menus is just not gonna happen. And I'm too exhausted after the long commute home, to cook separately for myself. TMI I know, but those little domestic logistics can really mess up a person's eating habits. But I can fix that too!

3) I belong to a nice gym that's five minutes from home but I never go. This is unusual for me. I've belonged to one gym or another for over 20 years and it's a life habit I never even think about, or thought about, I should say—till it suddenly wasn't there. Now, I can't get up the energy to go. I feel like I'm walking through a thick gel half the time when I get home. But who says I can't fix that!!

4) My food cravings are OUT of control. I will do things like eat a bag of jelly beans for dinner or a box of crackers for lunch. I have no self control. Can I fix that? I'm beginning to wonder.

I don't know if I'm making sense, I'm exhausted, but I wanted to get some thoughts out and appreciate people's feedback.

Sincerely,

IslandScout