I am lifting weights - supposedly if you build up your chest muscles, the fat gets pushed out on top of the muscles and you are bigger and perkier on top. Lots of pushups!

Here is what I read: for women - 1000 calories for the first 5 feet of your height, plus 100 calories for each inch over 5 feet. Then add the calories for any exercise that you do per day. Haven't gotten to maintenance myself yet though!

Short update: we are going to counseling to get a divorce that is fair and monitored so we don't hurt each other more than necessary to get this over with.

I decided to simplify. I am doing Weigh Watchers, so I have 19 points per day. I put 19 pennies in my pocket, and as I eat whatever I am going to eat, I move the points from one pocket to another. I try to keep 5 cents for dinner points! Also, I carry the WW booklet to check the points so I count as I eat and I don't do too much planning ahead. Even McDonald's will tell you how many calories are in their food. So I have tried to reduce how much I think about food.

The lactaid is for every time you eat food with lactose - but cheddar cheese and swiss don't have lactose, and also yogurt has its own bacteria to help so I only take the lactaid with pizza or glasses of milk.

No - but you can find that on line fairly easily with a search.

that is how I started - overcomplicating the process. I just started a new thing today, not worrying about planning too much - I also have a good idea about the calories now. I also decided that I am not going to make complicated recipes, because if I am a little bit hungry, then everything tastes good, even like sauteed plain chicken with a little salt and pepper.

I haven't tried anything other than the cheap drugstore (CVS) lactaid, and it's working well for me. I also started eating yogurt every day - Stonyfield is a good flavor, but any with bacteria is fine because they all have the right stuff to fix your guts - it is supposed to help build up the bacteria that you need to digest lactose on your own. Also, cheddar cheese and swiss cheese do not have any lactose in them, so I eat those without lactaid. Good luck!

What do you do to get your daily intake of fiber? What do you eat to get up to your requirement? I am sick of fiber bars!

Thank you for the replies - I am getting our finances in order, figuring out where our money is, getting our house straightened out in case I stay or we sell, and also losing weight for my health. So far, the ball seems to be in my court so I am getting my ducks in a row.

I set up a virtual treadmill in my office - I have a standing station from my computer and march in place while I am on the computer. I can only stand it for about half an hour, but I am working and exercising at the same time. Good luck - even if you can get 10 minutes, 2 or 3 times a day, you can get in some walking or running, or better - jump rope, and you don't have to go anywhere.

The weight loss challenge? Oh, yes. very difficult. I had to learn all new habits just to lose 7 pounds (4 months). I struggle each day and I am trying to find ways to keep from having to think about calories calories calories. So far, it is difficult every which way I turn! Exercise, food choices, time crunch - aaggh! Ok - I know people who have done it and we just have keep on plugging away, changin, tweaking, etc.! Good Luck!

lol!

Wow, such great thoughts! Thank you all - I think the story isn't over til the fat lady sings and there won't be a fat lady in this house pretty soon when my new lifestyle kicks in! I really appreciate all the different directions that people are coming from - lots of good ideas. I am coming up with a plan! Going to the financial advisor tomorrow, got insurance straightened out, looking at getting my home in order too, as many things have gone by the wayside during these stressful times.

Very helpful answers all!

What do you think I should do? My husband feels that our use for each other is over (baby moves out next year to go to college) and that we should move on. "We're not getting any younger and we should find people who really make us happy." We have an on-again, off-again relationship, where he goes cold over insults or disagreements, and then warms back up again after a while. Well, he dropped this on me 4th of July, that was weeks ago, and he has not mentioned anything since, but is not really talking to me, even though he also said he thought he would move out. So, my thought is I ought to say - "Stay or go, just get it over with!" But part of me thinks, if I ignore what he said, things will blow over - although they never have, I always have to apologize for whatever is bothering him. What do you think? Should I break the stalemate and make him decide? Thank you in advance for any insight! We are 52, married 21 years.

5ft 4 - 1772.2 is a lot of calories but it sounds right for an active woman your age. So, now, to lose a pound a week, start eating 1200 calories a day. You will be surprised at how little you get to eat, so definitely drink a lot of water and also start substituting veggies and fruit for bread, potatoes, and cake! (That's what I had to do - I was eating donuts or cake every day!)

You can do a web search for: how many calories should I eat each day? Different websites will let you know how many calories you need to maintain your current weight. For me, I am 5 foot 3, and I weigh 165 pounds. If I eat 1400 calories a day, then I stay the same - I did that in May and did not lose any weight. So, I had to eat less than 1400 but then not lower than 1000 so that I would get enough vitamins and minerals to maintain my health and also there is a thing called starvation response where your body thinks you are starving and hangs on to fat. So - to lose a pound, you have to have 500 calories less per day than your body needs. You can eat 500 less, but better to exercise and eat less because both of you are on the lower side and you need about 1000 calories a day. Another way to figure it is: if you want to weigh 120 pounds, you should eat 1200 calories a day. If you can stick to that amount for a month, and you are not losing, then add exercise or eat a little bit less or both. Good luck!

You can google "how do I figure out my weight watcher points" and you will get the formulas to use. You can set your fatsecret diet to count the points for you, too.

Hi! I am 51 years old, weigh 165 now, and just started working on cutting out white flour carbs. I was pretty full today - this is the second day that I am working on an Atkins style menu. Not sure about the data base, but Good Luck with fatsecret! I have lost 5 pounds over the past 10 weeks - it's good to hear that someone else things that's a good plan!