h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

I haven't visited this area for years and I still have weight to lose. When I started trying to lose weight, back in 1999, I wanted to lose 3 stone 8lb in a year. No chance! More than 6 years on, I've lost 1 stone 2lb. I'm still trying, and this time hubby's joining me. He's been adviced to lose weight for health reasons. It's not cardiac, diabetes or any other life-threatening condition. He suffers Obstructive Sleep Apnoea and he's been advised that losing weight may help.

So I have 2.5 stone to lose, hubby could do with losing at least that much. I'll keep you posted on how we do. I'll need to get hubby's 'proper' weight, though. His most recent weighing was at a hospital, where he was weighed fully clothed, including a heavy pair of shoes. That little lot must have added about 4lb to his weight.

As an aside, I know hospitals want to know our weight in case it has any impact on whatever condtion we've gone in with. Why do they insist on weighing us fully clothed, when they know they won't get an accurate weight. It wouldn't be so bad if they made allowances for how much the clothes weigh, but they just write down the weight regardless of the inaccuracy.

I always try to wear the same or similar things if I'm being regularly weighed, and take off shoes/jackets etc. At least that way I know the difference is real and the actual isn't out by too much. Also, try to get weighed at the same time of day. I find different scales vary by up to half a stone anyway.

In any case, good luck with it! Nice that you are doing it with hubby too. I expect I'll be back trying to lose weight again in the second half of this year...

I always weigh myself first thing in the morning. That's after I've 'been' and before my first drink. That way I'm as light as possible. My scales will knock off 1lb if I lean forward a bit, but that's cheating. One day, I won't need to fool myself that way.

At hospitals or my GP, it's not so easy. I'll take off as much as possible (I wear slip-on shoes, so that's easy), but the 'time of day' thing isn't something I can arrange. They weigh me when I'm there, and I'm stuck with that.

I used to do the same as you - first thing, post-pee, pre-tea

I always tried to make apps first thing in the morning too...

So whst are the two of you going to do to try and lose a bit of weight? Your husband's apnoea must be a bit scary for both of you so doing something about that is a good incentive.

First thing we're doing is cutting out 'naughties' completely. No more crisps, cakes, biscuits or puddings. I know that cutting something out makes it more desirable, but hubby reckons that's the best way for him to lose weight. Other than that, I'll be trying to get more exercise. This is tricky for me. I have MS, and one of my symptoms is that I tire easily. I was once advised not to do more than 10 minutes of exercise twice a week. We've inherited mum-in-law's dog. I hope to be able to walk him at least once a day, not necessarily every day, but more than twice a week. One walk is at least 20 minutes.

There are other forms of exercise available to me. I've got an exercise mat (hardly used) and a yoga DVD (also hardly used). We've also inherited mum-in-law's exercise equipment (also hardly used). This includes one of those cycle-thingies you can use while sitting in an armchair, some wrist and ankle weights and (I think) one of those cross-country skiing exercisers. Hubby also says there's an exercise bike somewhere. If I can't get some exercise out of that lot, there's no hope for me.

Another health problem that affects my exercise is trochanteric bursitis. That's painful hips, to the layman. It affects how easily I can get down to the floor, how long I can stand and/or walk... Anything that uses my hips, including sitting down!

Well - let's hope you manage to stick at it, .

In my case I know it's will power I'm lacking. However - new year, new leaf. Maybe .......

One day at a time, that's the way to go. My mum quit smoking nearly 30 years ago, long before nicotine patches and gum. Every morning she'd say, "I will not smoke today." The way she saw it, quitting for one day is easy. Anybody can do that. Keep adding the 'one day's and you get weeks, months, years. I'm planning to do the same with 'naughties' - starting tomorrow. Hubby went out for a meal with an old friend tonight, so I allowed myself a piece of raspberry cheesecake. (If he's having a nice meal, so am I! )

Regarding exercise, I ended up walking the dog *twice* today. In the morning he got 40 minutes, in the evening he got 45 minutes. That ought to cope with the cheesecake. I also tried the "armchair cycle-thingy" we inherited from mum-in-law. It slides all over the floor, so that will have to be seen to. However, I've found that I can 'hand cycle' using it, i.e. I use my hands to turn the pedals. It's something people in wheelchairs do for aerobic exercise. I occasionally use a wheelchair, so it will help tone my arm muscles for when I need to self-propel.

We're planning to go on a cruise at the end of June. There are 24 weeks until the departure date. I'm hoping to be down to 11 stone by then. I'll keep you posted on how it goes.

A date to work towards is always good. (Like Kelli and her Wedding Day)

I vaguely remember my 40th birthday being a date I'd set myself. On the day, a few events made me extremely depressed and low on self-esteem, which took all incentive away to even try and diet. Now I'm 53 and regretting it all the more, as it's harder at this age.

If I could have my life again, I would have made keeping my weight down a priority from the age of 16. But as a child of the 60s, I grew up with a round tummy, what with the type of food we had in those days, and not daring (not being allowed) to leave anything on our plates.

Ironically, it's always been my mother who's been on at me to lose weight. She grew up in the 20s and 30s and was very sporty (captain of the school netball team, champion diver and swimmer). I am not good at any sport and hated everything except gym. So my mother could probably never understand how or why I was chubby.

Sorry - it's your thread.

Hey, the title is 'if anybody cares', and you obviously do. So you're welcome to put your in.

If I could have my life again, I wouldn't have let my weight creep up after I got married. I was 9 stone 6lb when I met hubby, at my heaviest I was 13 stone 6lb. I'll be happy to get down to 9 stone 12lb - eventually.

Mum preferred us to clear our plates, and the portions she served up were huge. But it was all good healthy stuff, plenty of vegetables along with the meat and potatoes. I grew up loving veg, but hubby doesn't. I can count the veggies he likes on the fingers of one hand. I don't like cooking two different meals, so I ended up giving up a lot of the 'healthy' stuff I enjoyed. Well, that's going to change. From now on, I'm aiming to have some veg with every evening meal. If hubby doesn't want it, he doesn't have to eat it. I'm going back to eating cabbage, cauliflower, sprouts, spinach, broccoli... all the stuff you're told to eat when your a kid 'because it's good for you'. I've never cared much for fruit, but I just love veggies. Of course, I'll cook some of the veggies hubby likes, from time to time. I'm just not going to limit myself to those few items.

My mum is now 78. She's lost some height through osteoporosis, but she's still a reasonable weight for her age. She has never had a go at me to lose weight, just to eat more healthily. She has always understood why I was chubby. In terms of build and body type, I take after her side of the family, while my sister (taller and slimmer) takes after our dad's side of the family. I never liked sport, either. I loved swimming, but was never a strong swimmer. The only other sports I ever enjoyed were badminton and table tennis. I was never much good at either of them, but I was always better at things like that than at team games. Hated tennis, though. It's amazing how much of a games lesson you can waste hunting for a tennis ball that 'just happened' to go over the fence on to the railway embankment.

Just to give you an update, I've reached 11stone 6lb and stuck at that. I only have 6lb to lose to hit my target of 11stone by our holiday, but my health is stopping me exercising as much as I need to. I've had a number of disappointments recently that have had me hitting the 'naughties', so that doesn't help. I'll have to be more rigorous if I want the weight to go.

We'll be on a cruise in about 6 weeks and I'm determined not to gain any weight. OK, the food will be there for 4 meals a day, 5 if you count the late-night supper at around 11pm. Just because the food is there, I don't have to eat it. Breakfast, lunch and dinner are enough for me, and I may only have 2 courses (starter and main) at dinner.