Hi all, new here to the site and hoping for some great tips and support for my weight loss. I have gained a lot of weight since going off Premarin and have decided to do something about it. I took a picture with my little sister (2 years younger) and saw that I am now looking bigger than she is, I love her dearly but I have always been the small one, weighing like 50 lbs lighter than her. I could not believe that I looked that terrible in the picture with her and felt very uncomfortable. I plan to start today doing something to shed these lbs. I have felt fatigued and have been hurting in my back and joints not to mention that last year I was diagnosed with Type II diabetes, not on meds for that so far and If I get my weight under control I am sure I will get these other life altering factors out of the way. I hope I gain a lot of support on my journey, I don't know how to diet and I know being here is my first step. Thank you

YOu really don't have to know how to diet... Losing weight is simply a matter of using more calories than you take in.. That comes down to eating and exercising. Exercise can be as basic as walking around the block a few times - or at l east once and wokring up to a few times.

For your diabetes, have you been to a dietician? have they given you any kind of dietary guidelines to follow?

I'd start your journey by reading the stickied threads arournt he forum - there's a lot of good information that's compiled there that will get you started on your way - particularly focus on nutrition, exercise and on topic - and do ask questions based on what you've read.

Welcome to the forum -enjoy your stay

Yes I have seen a nutritionist and she wanted me to only eat 1400 cals per day. I have a very hard time with that and I don't think that is very acceptable health wise. I know I need to lose around 40 lbs but that would be very hard for me. I have sat down in the past and ate 1400 cals at one time ( a thing of the past). I want to drink more water and start walking everyday, that is the first thing on my list. I have this exercise maching called the Gazelle, I am wondering how much this would help since you are mostly gliding your legs back and forth, the calorie counter on the machine is broken so I can't tell if its helping me any. The only thing that feels sore when I use it is my lower calves.

Calorie counters on equipment are notoriously inaccurate... so don't worry about that...

if you're going to use it -go with time spent on it and make sure you're working yourself... not to th epoint of collapse but you want to feel yourself working - a gazelle is cardio - so you want your heart rate to get up...

Again, spend some time with the stickied threads - you'll get some ideas for workouts you can do from home -using your body weight - resistance trainining - even with jsut body weight r esistance -is really important.