I know I can lose weight...I've done it so many times before. Since July I've gained 40lbs and that was the 40lbs I lost since the beginning of 2007. I always maintained some kind of exercise program but since October I've been a slacker and can't seem to get back on track. I know I can lose weight, I know I can!!! I'm a small business owner and got consumed with the year ending and making some changes to boost our bottom line for the 4th quarter and there went my routine. Last night I twisted my ankle on a pine cone and fell on my butt -- I could barely get up!! I never thought I needed help or support but looking back at my early teens when my mom got me to an OA meeting and I had a sponsor. I felt goofy and it didn't work - in 5th grade she had me on weight watchers and I felt like a freak but prior to my 10th birthday I was a pip squeak and she fattened me up because she thought I was too thin....well, in my late 40's I'm starting to panic and just don't feel well. I'm scared but I keep telling myself, I can lose this weight!! I've done it before, I can do it again -- the trick is keeping it off and not being distracted by birthdays, holidays, special events, stress from work, crazy schedule, lack of exercise and so on. We recently turned my exercise room into a spare bedroom and that about ruined my daily exercise program -- a good excuse is what I keep telling myself!! The weather changed and I prefer the warmth and I clam up during the cooler months and won't go in our garage to exercise or get to the track....the time change and it's too dark, any excuse I can think of that works in my favor (which is really working against me) In my heart and in my mind, I know I can lose weight, I just know I can!!! In October I went to visit my family and my mom especially is very overweight 300lbs at least and I was looking really good and as we drove away she said, be careful, don't go off course and it was odd the way she said it because I wasn't even concerned about it...I was on a roll and completely motivated. Somehow that negative thought stuck with me and suddenly watching my food intake and exercise routine became an issue when all along I was doing great. She planted that negative seed in my head and made me feel insecure about my goals -- it was a weird thing and I don't blame her, of course....but I thought that was an odd thing to say when I was looking and feeling so great. Why not say, keep up the good work rather than all doom and gloom like I was entering some scary place which is where I ended up.....I'm looking at losing 80-100lbs at least....I'm 48 and 250lbs and I know I can lose this weight, I just know that I can!!!

Well you are better than I am. I do blame my mom for my weight problem! And an aunt as well!
When I was 11 years old my mother and my aunt decided that I needed to be on a diet, I was overweight. I needed to lose a whopping 7 pounds according to the 'charts'. I remember I weighed 132 and they thought I should weigh 125. That might seem a bit heavy for an 11 yr old but I had fully developed by then...oh lucky me...So not only was I a whale in their eyes, but I also got the 'boy' lecture to boot...you know, the one about how boys only want one thing and they will only like me for the 'goods'. It makes me so so so so angry that they did this to me. I was 11, I would have probably lost the few pounds naturally had they not projected such a rotten self image on me. I remember not only starving to death, 11 yr old on 1000 calories a day sneaking food (oh yes, this is where I learned to sneak food), I was eating those little silver decorating beads I was so hungry...but also feeling so awful about my newly developed body. So here I am nearly 40 and still struggling with my weight and yes I do blame my mother and I dont feel bad about blaming her, shame on her! :mad: If anyone has young girls, leave them be about their bodies, help them to love who they are not matter their size. Ok off my soapbox now...
Zone Diet is an awesome diet. This will be my second go around. I lost 20 pounds the first time I did it and felt amazing. What happened you ask? :P Well life threw me a curve, my husband got cancer (he is well now) and my life went crazy. Sadly enough that was nearly 5 years ago and I have really struggled since then. A lot of things happened during that illness, I learned the hard way just how cruel my inlaws are which blindsided me, and it has been a long road recovering mentally since then. The diet really works, I cant wait to get back with it. :w00t:

We ate food for comfort and my mom would send us to the store and especially when my dad wasn't home....but now at my age I have to take control -- I know there are a million reasons why I got this way and I know exactly who inspired me but my goal now is to get motivated and stay motivated but this is the first time I actually feel like I need help prodding along where in the past I'd put my mind to it and that was that. For some strange reason it stung when my mother said that to me a few months ago -- I know she loves me and we get along but mostly because I never say anything negative or am completely candid about how I feel about certain things, at least not directed to her about her or do I remind either of my parents how awful our childhood was....we already hashed all that a number of times in the past and only my mother was willing to take partial blame, my siblings blame them completely and I think my dad realizes his role but will never say it was a mistake rather he did what he did out of love and how he thought he was doing the right thing at the time. Beating and insulting your kids isn't a good recipe for raising confident ambitious children. Either way, I realize now it's easier for them to just drop all that for the sake of peace but we all know how it was and the truth about it all. Now I have to pick myself up and forge ahead -- I need help to do it so I turned here. It isn't easy admitting I need help, at least not for me. I never had time to sit idle and feel sorry for myself and most everyone I know either thinks I'm a rock or made of steel or expects that of me. For some reason it isn't normal for me to break down. Just after thanksgiving I got a bad cold, first one in years and I stayed in bed for a week but I think a lot of that was depression and only I know that to be so. I've always been extremely independent, I look nice and dress nice even large, I own my own business and prior to that had okay jobs and I was married one time before and now I'm married to a wonderful man that is supportive and loving so to the outside world my life is a peach! But anyone can only take so much and I secretly have issues that I share with no one and my weight is a huge factor. My goal is to try to get back on track no matter what and leave the rest behind me including negative comments from my mother that she puts out there in her innocent way that I believe had a serious negative impact.

I hope you can get back on track Staci --- and you too can leave the negative stuff behind! As I keep telling myself, I know I can lose this weight, I just know I can!!!

Staci, I appreciate your honesty. I felt I was reading about my life when I read your reply. I blame my Mom too. When I was 10 years old my Mom decided I needed to lose 10 lbs. I weighed 120. I was an embarrasment to her. She was always comparing me to her slimmness, and pointing out obese people to me and saying "You don't want to be like her do you, look how fat she is". Talk about crushing a childs self image. Mom put me on 1000 calories too. I knew I was overweight when I heard my Mom talking about me to her sisters quite often. She as always comparing me to my siblings and cousins. I am 1 of seven siblings and to this day none of them are overweight at all. I never felt good enough. Now that I am an adult I realize only "I" put the food in my mouth. I too learned to sneak food and still do as an adult and I'm 54. Yes, I remember eating those silver decorating beads and chocolate chips, too. I have often felt angry at her. I can't change any of the sordid details of my experiences but I can change how I feel and react to them. I AM going to succeed with this lifestyle. I will never diet again!! I know this is my beginning! 239 lbs and 5'1'

Yes I am starting over again and again and again. It's very discouraging to have to do it once more but as always I am trying. I am going to lose the 30 pounds I put on since last summer. I come from a family of obesity - mother, aunts and uncles so I know how important it is to eat Zonefully. My game seems to be that I put on 20-30 pounds then go back to the Zone and try to get it off again. Well it is getting much harder each time, this time being very difficult. I identify with so much that people in these posts are saying. If anyone would like to be a Zone Pal by email or lives on the Vermont - New Hampshire border I am game. I did a great job back when we were getting daily/weekly emails from the Zone and wonder if that would help again.

Hi Mary, Staci, and Mary,

Welcome to our Zone community here. Looking forward to hearing more from all of you. Cheers!

You may feel free to email me, although I don't live in your area. But, I realize how important it is to have some daily support and encouragement. That is why I like coming here.

I also miss the "Daily Zone" newsletter. The information was cyclic and repeated itself, but it was nice to get reminders every day, and to see what recipe they were offering!

My email is cranberrycat@hotmail.com.