Today I read and exerp from a*Fellow member (Luella's 8/31/06 blog) that I felt was worth noting on a new forum thread: "This morning after I did my routine of breakfast, and exercise I did a little reading about heart attacks.* I put heart attack and time into the search engine.* The thing that is surprising is that heart attacks occur mostly in the morning, but if they occur at night they are usually fatal.* I start my morning slow, and work up to a faster pace.* Breakfast is my first priority, then exercise.
I also read that heart attacks are usually around the holidays, and in the winter.* Another fact, which is not a surprise is that losing weight helps lower blood pressure...
One other thing that the article I read about heart attacks said that diet and exercise is important in keeping a heart healthy, and it must be lifelong, not a temporary thing, and that in a weight loss group that had lost weight only 13 percent of the people who lost weight kept it off.* Leading a healthy life is for life not until you lose a couple of pounds."
I thought this was a wonderful example of issues that we might want to discuss and*incorporate into the way we think about our diet and exercise.* It is*good*for us to bring up*health issues.* We frequently hear*statistics from the media and medical community concerning*obesity and illness, but rarely do obese people openly discuss those things (Maybe, there is a fear that mentioning them may actually bring them to fruition in our individual lives?), but whether we discuss them*or not,*we will still disproportionately suffer from joint pain/injury,*heart problems and diabetes that breaks down many other large organs and functions of the body.* All of these conditions can substantially detract from the quality of life, by limiting our mobility and physical*interaction with others in mainstream activities.*
While many of us have a goal to lose weight for emotional well being and so we can feel comfortable in our own thick skins (which is also a good thing), there are equally important health and longevity concerns that we should not be afraid to emphasize in our weight loss programs.
My Story:* When I turned 35, I*began feeling more & more sluggish, my joints and bones have increasing stiffness and lack of motion/range, and in the last year, I began to really fear the inevitability of developing heart disease or having a sudden heart attack.* This is one of the major reasons I have decided to take control over my health and make sure that my next 20 years are not spent in the same oversized, unfit shell that my last 20 years were spent.
I hope sharing Luella's wonderful information and my story will help in opening an area of dialogue, where we can*discuss our health concerns and share information that we have*obtained, which can*help improve our*physical quality of life in addition to the emotional support we are receiving through one another on this site.*
Wishing all of us good health and diet success!

I too decided to change my way of eating not only to lose weight to look better, but to feel better. At this time I don't have any serious health issues, but as I get older I worry about getting them. I do have arthritis in my knees and my back and hips bother me a lot when I walk very much. I know that my weight contributes to most of my pain. Others in my family have had surgeries for hip replacement and knee surgeries and I have an older brother who is scheduled for back surgery next month. I don't want to go through all of the problems others in my family have. I want to be able to play with my grandkids like other grandparents do. I want to take hikes and go to amusement parks and go swimming.
I don't do well with conventional dieting, if I do lose I gain it back plus. I knew the only thing I can do is to completely change my way of eating and to eat healthier and make it for life not just lose it and eat the way I use too.
I can't physically do a lot of excercise at this point, but I have found a 15 minute daily excercise plan that I plan on starting in the morning. I will increase it as my body allows me too.

Yes, health issues are an important part of life and should be discussed.* My dad died of a heart attack when he was 58.* I thought about this and discovered that I was eating just like him!!!!* Take out, lots of junk like ice cream, cake, candy etc.* I also was not exercising and he didn't either.* I really don't want to follow in his footsteps like that. (other things maybe, but not an early death!)* I am 59 and I got real worried.* So I have decided that I must do something to reverse this!!!* Hopefull I can stay on track with the help of my buddies and this forum.* *

Just some info to support what we already know.* In physiology class the instructor explained what we all know about water, but it bears mentioning again for anyone who thinks increasing water consumption is optional or a weight loss myth.**
Most simply said, Water molecules break down lipid cells and help to remove the stored fat (from the cells) in*our bodies.* Increasing water is definitely a positive step for anyone who is trying to lose weight, plus it has the added benefit of detoxing*our bodies by keeping the kidneys active and excreting impurities that stay in our systems too long if we do not have enough clear fluids to flush them out.
I personally have started keeping water in the fridge and putting several drops of lemon juice in the pitcher every time I fill it up.* This helps to soften the flavor of filtered tap water, if you don't like buying bottled water or run out of your store bought brand.