Not much action in this group, but maybe just posting this will help me.

[Bertha Venation]

I have type II diabetes which I brought on myself by being obese for 25 years. I was a skinny kid and it's hard to look back on that person. I want to be skinny again, but I don't think skinny will ever happen. I'm to the point where I'd settle for size 18, although I wish for 14. I'm size 26 now.

Having diabetes, I know from my doc that the thing for me to do is to count carbs, not calories. I'm going to start that today, but with my track record who knows how long it'll last.

I'm thinking of lap band surgery, although if I did it it would have to be next year. Too much else going this year.

I'm in a weird place, and very unhappy.

[hedgehog]

1. I would start just by taking a 5 minute walk. It'll get you out in

the sunshine and you'll feel better. Don't try for half an hour; who has the time? Just a five minute walk.

I'd stay away from the lap band surgery because I keep reading about the high rate of complications.

[justgamma]

2. Welcome, Bertha

You can do it! I started at size 26 and am now wearing size 14 Jeans comfortably. I've lost 100# since last March. Here's a post to show how I got started.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=337x4000

I know it's hard with diabetes. My daughter has it. She's learned to control it well. Just start with baby steps.

Good luck on your journey.

[stewartcolbert08]

3. I am doing Weight Watchers Online!

Inspired to me by my boss who has dropped 110 lbs over a years time, she is awesome! It worked for me last year too but then I got lazy and just started eating whatever because I dropped the weight! LOL Bad idea apparently because here I am again! You can get the books and stuff cheaper on ebay than on the website that tells you the points values of stuff and after that its all about portion control. They encourage exsercise of course but even if you just walk 15 min a day thats better than nothing ya know and you get 36 flex points a week to reward yourself with for exsercise! What do you think?