Hi. I'm Mary. I just turne 50 last month. I've been overweight most of my life and I'd just like to finally get some of this weight off. I weigh 350 and I'm afraid of getting bigger. I've tried almost every diet and pill that's been dreamed up. All of them have given me short-term results. With almost every diet I've tried I'd lose weight, then, without going off the diet or cheating, I'd gain back every pound I'd lost and in most cases more. I'm at the point now that there are health issues that prevent me from getting the exercise I need. I can no longer enjoy the simple things in life. My husband used to love going on walks, camping, amusement parks and just about any wild adventure you can think of. Amusement parks are no longer fun cuz I can't ride the rides, and I can't walk around like before. We go to a restaurant and they seat us in a booth, but I don't fit. It's humiliating to have to ask for a table because you just can't squeeze all of you fat into a booth. And shopping for clothes?? Forget it. Stores don't carry my size. Blouses aren't too hard to find, but pants are next to impossible. And don't bother suggesting I make my own clothes. They don't make patterns that big either. I'm really a small lady trapped in a big body. I start to do things, then realize I can't because of my size. I want to dance with my husband. I want to ride the rollercoaster. I want to climb a mountain. I want to take my grandbabies to the park and play with them. I'm afraid I'm gonna die before some of them are even old enough to really know me. And I don't want their only memories of me to be "that big fat lady".

You might want to consider getting your physician involved and maybe a counselor. This website is great for support, but if you're honestly eating healthy and still gaining weight (or not losing), then something is wrong. Obviously, you need to find some way to get some exercise in, even if you have to start super slow at first. Good luck.

Every physician I've been to have told me either I'm just too lazy or I eat too much. My husband actually got in one doctor's face and told him that if I ate any less, I'd starve to death. Well, I wouldn't literally, but I eat very little. Maybe that's the problem. Maybe I don't eat enough. Is that even possible? But, according to doctor's tests, there is nothing medically that is keeping me from losing weight. Fibro Myalgia and Psoriatic Arthritis are what keep me from getting the exerise I need. Walking, or rather strolling, is about it right now.

Hi! I know how frustrating it can be as an obese woman myself, but it must be 10x as hard w/ FM. My father has it and it really limits his activity. My 2 cents for now - Eat 6x a day (maybe 300 cal per meal give or take), foods you like, but that aren't processed. Get moving - I recommend trying the Leslie Sansone walking tapes/DVDs. You could probably rent them at a video store so you don't have to invest in them, if you don't like them or can't physically do it. I also recommend reading "The Gold Coast Cure." It is a nutrition and exercise program written by a woman who has been battling MS. It is said to work wonders. My father is reading it now and hopefully it will help even just a bit. I know all this is easier said than done. I think I know so much, but never put any of that knowledge into action. I am new to this site and I hope the friends I make will aid me in my journey. Good Luck. Please contact me any time if you feel like chatting. Nicole

Yes, all of the above is correct. When you eat too little, your body goes into a sort of hibernation, where all your processes (including metabolism) slow down. This is why you gain weight even though you've cut back on food. The above suggestion to eat (at least) 6 (small but healthy) meals a day is one of the very best things you can do. This means you are eating every 2-3 hours, so your metabolism doesn't shut down. In fact, if you eat healthy, small meals (low-fat, lots of steamed or raw veggies), your metabolism should increase. Also find a doctor that is willing to work with you. Any physician should listen to what you have to say and be able to work with you.

You guys have all given me some food for thought...pun intended...haha!!!! I'm not anorexic or bulemic. I've always had a healthy or above normal weight. But, I guess in a way I am anorexic in that I don't eat enough to keep my body functioning and my metabolism working as it should. I'd never thought about that before. My previous comment about starving myself to death was made sarcastically. So maybe I've sabotaged myself with all these diets. Thank you all for the input. I've learned more here than I have anywhere else.

Hi Mary! One suggestion about your medical conditions and exercising: how about the sitting-type of workouts? My mother is in a wheelchair, but she uses the Chair-a-cise videos and the Sit and be Fit series and has lost almost 20 pounds! It's mostly arm work (even using cans of soup and socks for resistance, so not a lot of investment) and surprisingly, it really does get her heart rate up.