I need to get healthy

[Beverly C.]

One should be careful with the fruits also because some can be high in natural sugars. I am diabetic type 2 and have to be careful of mangoes and other tropical fruits for they send my sugars over the roof. Test your sugars and find out how your body reacts and keep a diary for a while until you get to know how your body reacts.
Jeanine

[Beverly C.]

Lorchan, that is brilliant news, are you working on getting slimmer, fit & healthy ready for your trip to Houston?
Had some friends round for supper on Saturday and had a wonderful time but gained back 3-4 pounds (too much wine), back to behaving again (sigh)

[ANNE E.]

Lorchan,
Congratulations on your weight loss Keep up the good work.
Anne

[Lois B.]

All of you have been an inspiration to me. I should loose a few lbs, not too many, but according to currant health standards I'd be better off 10 lbs less. I live in a family of atheletes. They love, love, love to excercise and sweat. Yuk! I'd rather sit and sew. If I am going to work up a sweat I want to see the fruits of my labor, a weeded garden, mown lawn, or snow shoveled off the driveway and walks. Those who love me best are on me all the time to get my cardio exercise and a bit of weight lifting exercise. My mother had osteoporosis and they don't want me to follow suit, hence the weights. I gave in. I joined a really inexpensive gym. That entitles me to a session with a consultant every couple of months to develop a program to help keep me healthy and strong. This is what has happened. When I go regularly, I have less pain in my neck, as well as, in my upper and lower back when I sit down for long sewing sessions. If I do get stiff and sore from too much sittin' and stitchin' it just doesn't last as long. I've not lost much weight, just a couple lbs. I really hate to admit how good all this is for me. I still have to push myself out the door to get to the gym, but the carrot at the end of the stick is more comfortable quilting time.

[Catherine S.]

Lorchen, congratulations on the weight loss. I need to lose some myself. Maybe with your inspiration I will be able too. To be healthy and fit is my goal. I can't do it alone, but with all of us in it together it will be easier. My prize is being able to enjoy my trip to Europe next year. I know there will be a lot of walking involved, and I really want to enjoy my trip. I don't have a lot of time, so must start now. Good luck to us all.

[Hannelore N.]

Thank you everybody for your wonderful comments. I come from a family of 'big women with attitude and slow metabolism', and I'm totally ignoring the listings of 'ideal weight', because according to the ones I have seen I should be a weight that would leave me looking like a skeleton.

Rosemary, about that trip to Houston: It would be great if I could hop on a plane and wouldn't have to ask a stewardess for an extension piece for the seat belt.

I'm eating really well right now, but I have cut out some of my absolute favourite foods: nuts, most bread, full-fat mayonnaise and dressings, cheeses like brie or mature cheddar. But it's a small price to pay, even though it takes a lot of disciplin. I am going out for meals to celebrate birthdays and such, but I pick very carefully from the menu, and go straight back to be new regime the following day.

I'm also very lucky that my family and friends support me without 'nagging' me. I had a quilting friend visit me for just one night recently (waving to Della.....), and instead of going out for a meal, I provided a super-healthy meal. I had told her before and she thought it was a great. My older son came over with my granddaughter after I had lost the first stone. Little Eva was clutching something in her hand. She gave me a stone that she had painted herself. Her dad then explained that I would get another stone, painted by Eva for every stone I manage to get rid of. I now have 2 painted stones and can't wait to get my third one sometime before Christmas. And my younger son gave me a hug last week and said: "Hey, Mütterchen, I can reach all around you now! I'm so proud of you!"

So, everybody: Keep it up! But don't get obsessive about it. You must continue to enjoy life, even if it's without mayonnaise (or whatever you 'sin' is) for the time being.

[Margo C.]

Way to go Lorchen! Eva's gifts are too precious!! What a wonderful reward for you!

[Lois B.]

Lorchen, I am sure our support and the support of your other friends and family is very important, but I can't imagine anything more motivating than looking forward to a collection of stones painted by that darling child. Congratulations.

[Lois B.]

Lorchen, you story brought tears to my eyes. Thanks for sharing. Yes, we all need to get healthy, and quilting isn't going to do it. Lois, great story about the weight, and I love your comment about not really wanting to admit how good it is! LOL I can identify with that one!

I'm gonna join this weight loss group. I have gained lots of weight, and I say it is mostly related to the cortisone (steroids) I am taking, but I'm sure I can still do a bit to improve. I find sometimes I eat when I'm not even really hungry, so that will have to stop. I have begun doing a lot more walking and noticed about a kg less! The dog is losing weight too! Actually I began because the vet told me the dog was getting fat! :roll:

On experience: I once lost about 7 - 8 pounds just not eating butter over a period of about 6 months. That's the only thing I cut out! By cutting out the butter, much of the food that I love that goes with butter happened to cut out too. I can now have toast in the morning with just light jam, without putting butter on the toast first. And the buns and rolls got avoided too, because they're just not as nice without butter.

I love the stone idea! Maybe those who do not have grandchildren to give them stone, can treat themselves to a 'stone' of the glittery kind for every 'stone' they lose. :lol:

[Renata L.]

Lorchen, what you are doing is fantastic, for you most importantly... and those you love. Your lifestyle change is going to reap many benefits and what is better than trading one of your stones for Eva's. That is precious!

[Pam D.]

Lorchen, major congratulations. What an achievement!! WTG girl!!!

[Pam D.]

Just found out about this programme http://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode...leasure_Sugar/ it was shown last night, but will be available on the bbc iplayer for at least the next week. (don't know if US can access it or not) but it definitely looks interesting.

[Pam D.]

http://www.theharcombedietclub.com/forum/content.php

Welcome to The Harcombe Diet Club! We have set this up for friends and fans of The Harcombe Diet and for people interested in finding out more about the diet, who hopefully will become friends and fans.

The Harcombe Diet really is different. 99% of diets are based on the myth that you need to eat less and/or do more to lose weight. This is fundamentally wrong. Overweight is about fat stored and losing weight is about encouraging the body to release stored fat. In no way is the body as simplistic as energy in = energy out – and, therefore, we do not need to put less energy in and/or try to get more energy out. We need to eat better, not to eat less.

[Hannelore N.]

"Weight gain and loss depends on what we eat, what we eat with what and how often we eat."..... Very interesting, Rosemary. Sounds like exactly the same principles that Slimming World ( http://www.slimmingworld.com ) has been working with for years here in the UK (I think they are also in the US these days). From my point of view, it's the support you get that makes or breaks any effort. I couldn't do it in splendid isolation.

[Hannelore N.]

Rosemary, you forgot this link: http://www.zoeharcombe.com/the-knowl...-myths-busted/