Hi Kim, my name is Suzanne and I live in a major city in the Midwest USA. I have been able to lose 42 lbs over the last year and a half. It has not been easy as I am 75 and have a very painful lower back condition. When I started getting serious about my weight in January of 2011, I weighed 208 and could only walk for five minutes at a time without having to sit down because of the pain. So, I started out by walking five minutes, four times a day in the house. When that became tolerable, I increased it to 10 mins, 3 times a day. By June, when it was finally warm enough to walk outside, I was up to 20 mins at a time. I did this every day until by the end of the summer I was able to walk 40 mins. In Nov. I bought a treadmill so I could keep it up through the winter. In order to avoid the boredom of it, I either listen to my I-Pod music or watch a movie on my computer. In addition, I lift hand weights for at least 30 mins while lying on my bed to protect my back. I started with one pound, and am now able to lift a five pound weight in each hand. I do this every morning.
I kept track of everything I ate by weighing it out or measuring it and writing it down. I had an online program similar to this one to keep track of my nutrition and calories, but that subscription ran out last Sept. I was at a plateau since Jan. so decided I needed to get back to what worked before, which was sticking to a 1200 c limit. When grocery shopping, I bypass the aisle with the snack food, because if it is in the house, I will eat it. I don't make any desserts unless I am expecting company which doesn't happen often. I never eat at fast food places (McDonald's, etc) or use frozen dinners or convenience meals. All meals are home cooked. The reward of looking in the mirror and seeing a new improved me is worth the effort it has taken. I am now much stronger, and suffer much less pain.
I would like to be your friend and help you in any way I can. It looks as though you are off to a good start. Congratulations!