Hey there! I hope the info helped. One thing I forgot to mention is that I started out by keeping track of how many calories I ate in a normal day. There's a website called CalorieKing where you can find out calorie counts. I was amazed at how much I was actually eating. It was a wake-up call and helped me cut back initially. It's the little things that can do you in like salad dressings and stuff. When I do buy a fast-food salad, I try to remove some of the cheese (if there is any) and throw it away. (Not all of it, just a bit to lower the fat content.) Don't give up. Like I said, for me making small gradual changes, replacing bad habits with better ones is what made a difference for me. Hang in there! I'll be thinking about you. lb

ladyblue42; I think you are doing amazingly well, and I am happy that you got your cholesteral down. I eat much like you, except I have more snacks between meals, which we learned to do at the eating disorder clinic. The only problem is, my husband likes to eat high calorie snacks and meals, and it is often hard to resist going along with that. Also, once in a while I binge on chocolate or something when I'm depressed. I eat fruit and yogurt every morning with a bit of rice flakes on top. Lunches are often fast food types, and like you, I prefer to eat salads that have already been prepared for me. I am going to try harder to choose the low calorie lunches more often, and like you, my husband often cooks dinner, or picks up sushi to go, or sometimes I cook something, but I do try to avoid the kitchen too. I sounds like we have a lot in common. My Thyroid doctor is warning me that my cholesterol is going up to, but right now, it is not bad enough to have medication, but probably I will have to in the future, because it runs in the family. Unless I can use some types of suppliments to stop it from getting worse. I am trying. Thank you for the support and the encouragement to exercise more...

Well, it hasn't been easy. To make matters worse, last September for no apparent reason, my cholesteral went sky high and I got put on medication for that as well. Like I said, I just started out slow, changing one thing at a time. And I try to keep things simple, for me the less preparation, the better. For breakfast I usually have whole wheat cereal with Equal sweetener and skim milk. I happen to like Wheaties but there are others. If I don't have it with breakfast, about mid-morning I have an orange. It takes a while to peel it and eat it. I just try to stay away from the kitchen when I'm not supposed to be eating. Lunch is something simple like a sandwich with lo-fat meat or canned soup, something relatively low-fat/calorie like chicken noodle. I usually have a few Triscuit crackers and an apple. (Sometimes I eat the apple later if I feel satisfied with what I've eaten.) A snack later is usually dill pickle spears and a diet soda. (I really like dill pickles and the sour taste kills my sweet cravings.) For dinner, I'm lucky because my husband likes to cook. I just eat whatever he's having, I just try to control my portions. If I'm hungry later, I may have another bowl of cereal before I go to bed. Some people would be bored eating the same things all the time but it works for me because I don't have to think about it. I also throw in some baby carrots from time to time or treat myself to a salad from a fast food place. (For some reason, salad tastes better to me if someone else has done all the work!) About once a week I have a small ice cream cone from a local place as a treat and during the week I may have some popcorn as a snack. I'm not perfect by any means and I just try not to beat myself up about it. I am very conscientious about taking my meds even though they cost a fortune! And I have been getting on the treadmill about five times a week. Some days I really have to force myself but once I get started, I'm usually OK. It's just the getting started that's the problem. I just had blood tests last week and I'm happy to say that both my blood sugar and my cholesteral are back in the normal range. My weight is coming down very, very slowly -- nothing to brag about. But right now I figure I have enough to hand

I have a video for exercise for arthritis sufferers already, which I used to do, but after I do it, I still feel sore, for a few days. I lost the desire to do it, and actually I have lost the desire to do anything really lately, I don't have anything I want to do for fun anymore, and so I am contemplating asking the doctor for stronger medicine for depression. I just don't do much except for emails, and searching the net. I also do volunteer work , housework, etc., but lately I have an aversion to the kitchen completely, and don't want to cook anything until I get despirately hungry. Usually my husband takes over and cooks, while I stay in bed. I feel guilty for that, but that is how I feel. I guess I am sick right now eh? Ladyblue42; thank you so much for responding. I respect you a lot because I understand how hard it must be for you with diabetes. What do you usually eat all day? My brother has it too. Please notice my other email...

Hi unrequited, Please consult with your doctor. As ladyblue suggested, there are certain exercises that are appropriate for people with arthritis. Your doctor may be able to review these activites with you. They may also be able to review an approach to dieting that is most beneficial for you. Casey __________________________________ The Depression Center Support Team

Hi Unrequited, I also put on weight when I went on medications (and believe me, I did not need to gain any!) plus I have diabetes which also makes it difficult to lose weight. What I finally had to do was concentrate on giving my body proper nutrition rather than worrying about losing weight. And I started out slowly. For example, I knew that I was not getting much vitamin C and that I should stay away from juice because of diabetes so I decided to eat an orange every day. It took a long time but now it's a habit. Then I changed one other thing. I'm not losing a lot of weight but I do feel a little better. Fortunately, I am able to walk on a treadmill so I try to do that also. Maybe you could work with some hand weights. There are also exercise programs that can be done in a seated position. There used to be a show on PBS. I know it's hard and it feels hopeless sometimes but please don't give up.

Somebody help...there have been some of you that have lost weight while on medications, but I have gained a lot. I feel too depressed to move around much...I just have time to do the basics like laundry, cleaning, some cooking, and I cannot bend over to do gardening. I have arthritis, and walking exercise is painful and I just want to sit down and give up. I fell on my knees 4 times in the past 1 1/2 years and cannot kneel on my knees anymore because it is too painful. Should I starve myself again, go on a liquid diet, or what? I have tried many herbal diet pills and fat reducing creams, and I just got bigger. What can I do????