BeckyAnneGreenGables

Yes, yes, yes. I wear a helmet when I ride my bike. I work with people with brain injuries and concussions and I won't risk one myself.

Just asked my doctor about this last Thursday. I take a beta blocker; I asked if I could take it after I exercised in the morning to lessen the effect on my heart. He said sure. So I now take it after I exercise. Then he said, "I want to see you in six months, when you've hit your goal weight, and we'll see if we can get…

Yup, because I go to work right from the gym. No luxurious anything, I haul all my own stuff in and out, but...I'm more likely to exercise at the start of my day than at the end of my day.

Met husband when he was 22 and I was 23; dated him for about a year; married him at 24; celebrated our 30th anniversary last summer.

Love, love, love graham crackers dipped in chocolate frosting...if I say to myself, "I can't have those again" it's too hard. I just won't have them today.

Start with your doctor. Ask for a referral to physical therapy--they'll be able to set up a program (both cardio and weights) that you can do at home. Remember that many "senior centers" have affordable gym options. The Y also is able to offer scholarships for folks with limited resources. Check out the book Strong Women…

I've lost 20+ pounds so far (in two and a half months) just tracking calories. Occasionally I look at my carbs, protein, fats, and sodium but I know when I've had too much salt by the way my body feels (puffy, lips and mouth dry.)

If she's a theater kid, great. Our theater offers great classes for kids--they learn everything from building sets to selling tickets to putting on shows. The kids are moving nearly the whole time. How about setting up your own karaoke performances at home? Emphasize not just the singing but the way singers dance and move.…

Grand Rapids as well!

I don't log coffee (which I drink black, without cream or sugar.) It's 2-5 calories, so doesn't make a difference.

Google "calories burned" and "pedometer" and you'll get to several helpful sites--I use one at about.com. Enter your steps, your weight, and hit calculate and you'll find your answer.

There are a couple of websites that let you determine calories burned while standing--Livestrong is one. I'd use them to determine how many calories you burn then enter that data--you might want to bump it up by 1-3% to account for "extra" activity.

Try to see a physical therapist. They can assess your knees and assign exercises and stretches specifically for you. Knees are complex things.

Slow and steady wins the race. You're down three pounds in two weeks--that's a great, sustainable weight loss rate. You're laying a good foundation of eating right and exercising. It's discouraging, I know, when others post about losing eight pounds in a week; hang in these. My motto is "Lose it slowly, and it's good for…

I eat what I'm hungry for. I eat real food--no fake sugar, no fake fat, no lowfat cheese--BUT I weigh and measure my portions as though my life depends on it. Steamed fish and veggies? Sure, especially with a spoonful of fruit chutney for the fish. A burger? You bet--although I only eat a quarter to a half of it. As long…

I measure out and bag snacks--I take my lunch to work and it makes it easier.

I eat chicken kabob and fattoush salad every Monday night from Mediterranean Grills. Love it! And I'm losing two pounds a week. it's true that the owner of our restaurant (Ashton) will encourage me to finish my food when I'm there...but it's nice to have someone so interested in what I eat!

I'm with the majority of the responders here. I don't clean every day (I do pick up, clean bathrooms sinks, etc. on a daily basis.) If I do housework, and I'm breathing harder and I'm dripping sweat, I log the activity as cardio exercise.

Yup, I have reflux. Just had to go up to Prilosec x2 daily. Here's what I'm doing to treat it: keeping a food diary to identify trigger foods; cutting down to one cup of coffee per day; losing weight; no eating 3 hours before I go to bed. It's all helping.

I do suffer from acid reflux and so I need to stop eating about three hours before I go to bed. This was a HUGE change for me. I loved eating in front of the tv at night. Since I get up early, I try not to eat past about 7:30 at night; again, it's due to reflux, not any other reason.

My last straw? Thinking that I had developed Barrett's esophagus (a potentially precancerous condition) and knowing that losing weight was key in making sure my reflux disease was under control. I found MFP in November and haven't looked back.

Thanks for the thoughtful reply.

I worked with a very wise PA a few years ago. I happily pointed out to him I had lost 29 pounds. His response: "And we're going to ask to you to stay at this weight for a while before you try to lose again." I maintained that nearly 30 pound loss for over 3 years, not worrying about losing more, just concentrating on…

Now are we talking breathe or breed? I, too, have given up breathing (the waste of time! When I think of the YEARS I spent breathing!) I don't even know what bread is. I don't think, however, that I will stop (attempting) to breed.

Hi, and welcome to MFP! There's a Michigan group--join and you'll find lots of people from western MI.

Occupation: Speech-Language Pathologist in an outpatient clinic Dream Job: Trust Fund Baby

Try some protein. I found smoked mozzarella string cheese--made with skim milk--really satisfies for about 70 calories. Or add a teaspoon of peanut butter to your apple.

Look ahead. Small steps. You CAN do this. Keep your food journal. Get moving any way you can. I think about what my brother taught me in golf, when I would take a swing and the ball would move three feet. "Did you move forward? Good job! Good job!" ALL PROGRESS COUNTS, even the internal decision to step back on the journey…

I'm a speech pathologist and I work with many clients who have voice disorders (hoarseness, etc.) Our hydration guidelines that we use are these: Take your weight, convert it into ounces, and take in half that amount every day. For example, if you weigh 200 pounds, try to get in 100 ounces every day. Here's the thing: all…

Yup.