Hi,
My name is Melissa and I have a problem. *step 1*

I' currently 26. I've been overweight all my life. My heaviest was just after college at 22, I was 240lbs and stayed there for a while. I ended up having stomach problems for almost 2 years that caused me to lose some weight but more so I lost my health. Doc's finally figured out my gallbladder was dead and had it removed. Started a whole new chapter in my life. I started getting healthy, ate well, began exercising. Very slowly at first, and everything started to change. I lost weight, became more fit and energized with life. I got a boyfriend. I worked off 60lbs as of last summer. But then...things have changed in the last 6 months or so.

I moved in with my boyfriend. We are in a new area that I don't know much about. Its still winter so walking/running is very difficult. The areas I do know have lots of speeding cars that make me nervous and no sidewalks. All the stress from planning/moving has triggered me to start eating badly. And he buys a lot of crap food: cookies,chips, pudding...I try to tell him to hide it, and he is starting to do that so i don't scarf it down on him. Also, our floor in the new place creaks, so my nice turbo jam vids seem to be out as well unless someone has a suggestion?

Mainly I'm looking for ways to get motivated into starting again. I've lost a good amount of muscle mass and fitness and am now starting to gain weight back. I don't want to go back down that road but its been difficult to get started again.

Thanks for listening!!

Ps, I biked a lot in the lighter months, had started running, and did some weight training a few times a week. Turbo jam was great for bad weather days but got repetitive.

Is there a gym near by? If so, get a membership there. You can exercise safely without traffic, at least.

Most gyms have classes...spinning, aerobics, yoga, pilates, etc, so you can do that if you get bored with the running and weight training routine.

Not all gyms have this I'm sure, but the one I go to has a room off the basketball court that has a television and dvd player. I'm not sure what it was initially used for, but some of the women meet there and do workout videos like aerobics and TaeBo. That'd be great if your gym had one of those so you could do Turbo Jam there without the floor making noise...I'm sure others would join in; I know I would!

Those are some great ideas, Shep!!

I was going to mention the gym membership also.

Perhaps get a thick rug to put down in front of your TV? That should help muffle the squeaking and the sound for any neighbors beneath you. If your concerned about the food, talk to your boyfriend and try to work out a system where you grocery shop together and cook together so that you both learn to eat healthier. Even if he's not over weight, an excess of cookies and puddings and snacks will ultimately begin to show on his body and possibly his health. Getting yourselves in the habit of eating healthy now will prepare you for a future and help keep you both in shape!