You don't say what kind or how much exercise you are doing, and studies have shown that we tend to over-state how much exercise we get. If you are doing aerobics in an hour-long class three or four times a week and are doing an hour or two of weight training twice a week, you should be able to eat 1400 calories a day and still lose weight. You should never eat less than 1100 calories a day - you are telling your body to shut down all but essential functions, slow down its metabolism and store fat. You also don't say where you are in relation to your ideal body weight. Don't expect to lose weight if you are already below that.

Is it just me or does Weight Watchers actually have nothing to gain by people keeping weight off? Like so many of you who are using WW, I've been there before on several occasions, lose ten or 20 pounds, and then it's just a matter of time before I flashing my credit card again. Luckily, the small town I'm in can't get enough members to make a class (they insist on no less than 20), so I'm spared this time. What people with food issues really need is a place where they can get alternatives to food for comfort in times of emotional stress, loneliness or need. And supporters who aren't all about what you're going to eat today or how you're going to avoid eating. Thin people don't have food in the front of their minds all the time. Anyone found a lifestyle changing support group that isn't obsessed with food?

I used to always suffer from constipation every time I went on a trip - something about interrupting my routine and missing a bowel movement, then eating unfamiliar foods, which are also part of going on a trip. Now I always bring along a couple of "Smooth Move" teabags (I think Traditional Medicinals is the brand name), and one cup of that at bedtime assures results in the morning. Be warned that it is a laxative (senna is the active ingredient) and should be used sparingly. For everyday bowel health, I add psyllium husk (I use Trader Joe's "Secrets of Psyllium") to your protein shake or smoothie. It's basically fiber - somewhere around 10 grams per 2 TBSP - not only will it make that smoothie more satisfying it will also help keep things moving. None of this is a substitute for a regular diet of vegetables - but if any of us here were able to do that, we'd have no weight problems to begin with.

Little

Thanks! So here they are: NEW AND IMPROVED!~ 18 REASONS IT'S BETTER TO BE SLIM 1. better general health (provided it's not a bulemic/anorectic slim, or drug-induced slim) 2. easier to move and exercise (physical fun with friends - touching toes, tying shoes) 3. less physical fatigue (feel amazing!) 4. easier to find stylish clothes (sexy black dress, etc) 5. look good in a swimsuit or shorts! (including bikini and lingerie) 6. men are more attracted to slim women 7. people don't label you with: glutton, lazy, greedy 8. spend less on food 9. more comfortable in public seats (movies, planes, etc) 10. cooler in the summer 11. more confidence due to looking great in (and out of) clothes (strip tease is no longer humiliating) 12. pride due to success at an endeavor 13. (harmless) revenge on people who looked down on me for being overweight (including former classmates) 14. even if the kind of fat I have isn't the kind that is dangerous to health (omentum), eating less relieves the extra stress over-eating puts on my digestive system 15. less likely to injure an ankle or foot by stepping wrong or jumping 16. maintaining a healthy weight sets a good example for the people in your life 17. not being overweight improves your chances of avoiding serious injury from a fall 18. when you're no longer hiding behind a plateful or mouthful of food, it's easier to break out of shyness and get to know other people at a party I wonder if there could be even MORE reasons??

When I was a young mother, I had gained weight when I was pregnant, so I asked a small town doctor for diet pills. He prescribed amphetamines (this was in the late '60s, before everyone knew just how dangerous they were). I immediately started losing weight - just had no appetite at all, and seemed to have limitless energy - but I noticed that I also had a much quicker temper. Then I moved to a bigger city, and started gaining weight really fast. So I tried to get more amphetamines, but no doctor would prescribe them to me. By this time, I discovered that my teeth, which had always been perfect, had started giving me all kinds of problems (now known to be caused by amphetamine use). Another thing I noticed is that it was WAY easier to gain weight than it had been before I used the diet pills. I now believe the pills permanently damaged my metabolism. At some point in the early '80s, some friends gave me some street "speed" - another name for amphetamines. I took them a few times, but had two close calls driving, and realized that my ability to drive was really affected by using these drugs. Another thing I noticed is that they hindered my ability to enunciate, and really messed with my sexual responsiveness. Take if from someone who has used them - if you start taking them, you'll spend the rest of your life trying to overcome the damage they do. You are perfect just the way you are, so don't despair! Losing weight is a worthy pursuit, but it's not going to solve all of life's problems. And it's certainly not more important than having good health.

I just thought of a couple more reasons being slim is better than overweight. So here's the growing list. Fifteen reasons it's better to be slim. WHAT'S SO GOOD ABOUT BEING SLIM? 1. better general health (provided it's not a bulemic/anorectic slim, or drug-induced slim) 2. easier to move and exercise (physical fun with friends - touching toes) 3. less physical fatigue (feel amazing!) 4. easier to find stylish clothes (sexy black dress, etc) 5. look good in a swimsuit or shorts! (including bikini and lingerie) 6. men are more attracted to slim women 7. people don't label you with: glutton, lazy, greedy 8. spend less on food 9. more comfortable in public seats (movies, planes, etc) 10. cooler in the summer 11. more confidence due to looking great in (and out of) clothes (strip tease is no longer humiliating) 12. pride due to success at an endeavor 13. revenge on people who looked down on me for being overweight (including former classmates) 14. even if the kind of fat I have isn't the kind that is dangerous to health (omentum), eating less relieves the extra stress over-eating puts on my digestive system 15. less likely to injure an ankle or foot by stepping wrong or jumping That's 15, and just working on this list has had the benefit of my not overeating for the past two days. Yeah!

Now we're getting somewhere - thanks for the responses - I have updated my list with the reasons that were more than re-statements of reasons I already had listed. But I want a real long list to convince me that I should make the promise to myself to lose weight, so let's keep adding to the list: WHAT'S SO GOOD ABOUT BEING SLIM? 1. better general health (provided it's not a bulemic/anorectic slim, or drug-induced slim) 2. easier to move and exercise (physical fun with friends - touching toes) 3. less physical fatigue (feel amazing!) 4. easier to find stylish clothes (sexy black dress, etc) 5. look good in a swimsuit or shorts! (including bikini and lingerie) 6. men are more attracted to slim women 7. people don't label you with: glutton, lazy, greedy 8. spend less on food 9. more comfortable in public seats (movies, planes, etc) 10. cooler in the summer 11. more confidence due to looking great in (and out of) clothes (strip tease is no longer humiliating) 12. pride due to success at an endeavor (I'd say due to keeping promise to myself, but I obviously haven't made that promise yet) 13. revenge on people who looked down on me for being overweight (including former classmates) That's 13, and my mind is starting to get interested in the concept. Any other reasons to get slim? I'm a little frightened to start the list: Reasons not to change my current behavior ...

I think I finally understand why I can't keep the weight off - I'm not convinced that there are more benefits to being slim than getting to eat whatever I want. So maybe some of you can help me make a list titled: WHAT'S SO GOOD ABOUT BEING SLIM 1. better general health (provided it's not a bulemic/anorectic slim, or drug-induced slim) 2. easier to move and exercise 3. less physical fatigue 4. easier to find stylish clothes 5. look good in a swimsuit or shorts! 6. men are more attracted to slim women (is this true?) 7. people don't label you with: glutton, lazy, greedy 8. spend less on food 9. ... help me here!!