Welcome New Team Members here!

Hi everyone, new to this team and new to spark people. Allergies - yes! When I was in my 20’s into my early 30’s I got allergy shots every week. My opinion they really didn’t help so I quit going. Right now, in my late 40’s I take singular and levocitrizine at night before bed. Still having problems with allergies all year, not just seasonal.

I am new to the team and a returnee to Spark. My allergies all depend on where I live at any given time. For the most part they are manageable. But come the early onset of fall/winter - I tend to have cases of allergy induced asthma.

Hi, I'm new to Spark Points and new to this team. I have more allergies than I could list--I'm sure a lot of you understand. I grew up this way (asthma as well) but even so I've had a scary couple of years. I've been in the hospital as long as three days for allergic reactions. I'll be interested in meeting you.

HAPPY VALENTINE'S DAY

Hello ! I'm a new member and I have allergies . My problems are sinus congestion , mold , pine cones , Kentucky grass , etc ,, ,. Recently , I have started receiving weekly allergy shots that are improving my health.

Edited by: ROYALP1 at: 8/21/2016 (14:23)

Hi Well I am back again I am Sandy and I have Allergic Asthma and everything gets to me from spells to dust to animals,even stress. I been in and out of hospitals like crazy. But I finally got a handle of things. I been on inhalers and all kinds of meds. Now I just take it slow and steady and I haven't use my inhalers much only as needed. I am a stay at home mom of 6 kids and I been married for almost 16 yrs now. We have a house full as we love animals. We have 4 dogs ,4 cats,2 birds,2 rabbits,1 red ear slider turtle,1 breaded dragon. Hubby is Allergic to Dairy and shell fish, He also type 2 diabetic. Just wanted to say hi and to check in..

Howdy everyone! I just joined today and looking for motivation on this journey. I am married, have 3 daughters and 5 wonderful grandchildren.Most of my allergy are outdoor related along with dust and pet dander. I have not found any foods I am really allergic to other than avocados.I have decided to start a lifestyle change of my own making.

Hi,

I am new to Spark too, have allergies to wheat, dairy, eggs and soy so might be able to help with some recipes or ideas.

Sonja

I am very new to Spark People. I just signed up today. :-) I just did an allergy test and found that I am allergic to lots of pollens, weeds, grass, and trees..... I also have found that I have a dairy allergy as well. Which really stinks since now I have to drink Almond Milk. Which isn't bad since I love Almond Milk. However, I am allergic to Soy/Soybean as well... How do you all deal with your outdoor allergies and exercise...

I CAN SO RELATE TO PUTTING FAMILY AND OTHERS FIRST. BUT IF WE HAVE TO BE AT OUR PERSONAL HEALTHY BEST SO WE ARE ALWAYS THERE FOR THOSE WE LOVE. THIS IS MY YEAR TOO! AND SO FAR IT'S BEEN GREAT. HANG IN THERE DEAR, YOU'LL MAKE IT. :) APRILSUNSHINE22

welcome to the team!

Hi, I am Jennifer. I am 26, married, with 2 boys and new to spark. I am trying to lose 30-40 pounds because I want to really. Just looking to see some new faces and keep motivated.

Welcome to the team!

Hi! I'm Lindafaye29. I have seasonal allergies and am allergic to VINEGAR! It is difficult to find recipes for BBQ, condiments, etc without vinegar!

WELCOME

Welcome

Hi, I'm Sara! I'm 35+ and live in Washington State with my hubby to be and our 6 kids. (3 from ex, 2 step and 1 newer - but I consider them all mine!) I have seasonal allergies and asthma. Two of my children have eczema. One is allergic to latex gloves. One is allergic to eggs. We are all allergic to cats and dogs... Hubby is allergic to dairy and has a low tolerance for wheat. Quite the mix, huh?

One of my greatest challenges is finding foods we can all eat without making each person their own meals. Oh, and did I mention my 2 year old only wants yogurt, a corn dog or chicken nuggets?

Edited by: SHOGARTH at: 2/19/2014 (00:42)

WELCOME

Hi and welcome

Hello my name is Cheryl and I live in southwest Florida and that means that there is pollen all year round...I have been seeing an allergist for the past 5 years and have most of my allergy attack at bay but every so often when the pollen is at its highest with cedar and elm trees I do still get some reaction but my horrible sinus headaches are gone now for about 3 years.....I truthfully feel that what I eat has a lot to do with having allergies in the first place so hopefully as I learn to eat better I will be able to continue to keep my allergies at a comfortable level.

WELCOME HOPE ALL NEW MEMBER DOING GOOD

Welcome

welcome new members

Hi Y'all. My name is Kristina aka QuirkyMom. I am 26 yrs old and live in Alabama with my husband, 2 awesome kids, and a service dog in training. I have around 120 lbs to loose overall but my focus isn't weight. It's getting healthy because not only do I want and need to but my family deserves me at my best. My 6 yr old has Autism, slight amblyopia, (lazy eye), severe GERD, voiding dysfunction, chronic GI upset, hyper-mobility, food allergies, sleep problems and severe anxiety. My 5 yr old has Epilepsy, a mutation on the LPIN2 gene (causes fevers of 106+ every few days, rash, pain), Juvenile Arthritis, slight reflux, hyper-mobility, hypotonia (low muscle tone), and her list can go on for a while...I have been so wrapped up in caring for them and for my husband that I have lost myself. This is my year though. I have some big challenges ahead of me but I am ready to meet them! I deal with dairy sensitivity, seasonal allergies, and random allergic reactions to something in my house that we haven yet to figure out...

welcome new team member

MARBETH38, Welcome! I have been with SP since last May, and I belong to several groups in here and I am a co leader of one too. Feel free to send me friend requests. All my best to you all.

hello just join

welcome new team member I hope you be sucessful

Happy and Healthy New Year to you all!

HI

Hi everyone! I have been a member of SP for a long time, but haven't used it as much as I should. I am up to my highest weight ever, so am starting again. I have food allergies that make typical diet plans difficult. I am allergic to wheat, chocolate (my favorite food), and milk. I would appreciate any advice, hints, etc.

welcome to all new members

hi I am new to this team. i have allergic asthma triggered by dust, pollen, grass, trees, and chemicals. i also suffer from some food allergies to shellfish like lobsters, crabs, shrimp and allergic to pineapple. I am strongly allergic to cats and hamsters. I do get sinus and upper respiratory infections twice a year.

My name is Liz and I'm 28. Growing up I played a ton of sports so I never really learned how to watch what I eat because I always burned it off with no problems. Once I hit collage is when my weight struggles began because the sports stopped. I have tried many times to battle this thing, but always loose motivation some way some how. So I'm hoping this will turn over a new leaf and get me on the right track! I am also a RN with a pediatric home health agency and absolutely love my job!

My allergies are pretty much anything outside, some medications, and most definitely cats.

Hello everyone, I live in Cheshire in the UK. I have asthma, IBS, allergic retinitis as well as issues with gluten, lactose and dust.

It's a relief to come across this site by accident, when on facebook! I take anti-histermines and use lacto-free milk which made a huge difference. I use a natural seawater nasal wash which also helps.

A few months ago I finally managed to give up smoking (having done so the previous year, put loads of weight on, lost it then started smoking again!) I will NEVER smoke again but this time the weight gain will not disappear. I hope we can all help each other find solutions and cope better with the problems.

Hi Everyone! I'm new to this team. My allergies/food sensitivities are to most fruits and berries, including apples, blueberries. This does not include citrus fruit or avocados, fortunately. I avoid most of the offenders, but occasionally I eat them - because I like them. The problem comes as I have constipation, despite drinking plenty of fluids. At 60, I just live with it. Also pollen is now at its worst and having a really bad effect on my sinuses.

Hi!
I'm Rachel and I just joined the team. I have year round allergies to pretty much everything outside. . . Also dust, mold, pets and antibiotics! My favorite way to work out is by walking and I love outdoors so having allergies (and asthma) really stinks!

Hi my name is Lisa and I'm new here to spark. I have allergies year round, allergies to tree nuts and recently have been told that I have an allergy to gluten. I have yet to see any GF (gluten free) foods listed on this site. I'm a bit disappointed in that and the fact that there are not many foods prelisted on this site. I have been using myfitnesspal.com which has some great features as well, but I love to ready Fitness Magazine and this site was recommended, so I thought I would check it out. So far I has lots of cool features, however I do find it a bit busy. If anyone has any ideas on gf meals, foods, products to recommend please let me know. Wish you all well in your personal goals and hope to chat to all of you. Thanks and wish you all well with this Spring season! :-)

Hello!

My name is Raemi and I have terribly seasonal allergies, sensitive asthma and just congestion, congestion, congestion! I take a regulatory inhaler daily coupled with claritin or bendryl on bad days. I know that when I was lighter in weight, some of my allergic symptoms have lessened so, losing weight for me is crucial to feel better and be able to use my nose better!

Cheers everyone!

Hi I am Ariel and I am 20 years old. I have a 7 month old daughter. I suffer with allergies all season long. I just recently started taking benadryl daily which seems to help. I am 200 lbs right now, but my goal is to get down to 140.

Hi - I'm new to this team. I joined SP a while back and fell off the wagon. But now I'm back and fully committed!!
I have seasonal allergies. And now it kicking my butt!! A walk in the park is brutal at this time of year!

Hello, I am back...I have been having some hard times but realized that sparkpeople and this team have been very supportive. So here I am Glad to be back and hoping to reconnect

Hi! I'm new in sparkpeople and French (please excuse me if I'm not writing well). :)
Well... I'm suffer of serious eczema , food allergies , respiratory allergies but I'm doing fine with a good alimentation and treatement!
I have to loose 22 pounds and hope get support here, and help you in return :)
Take care.

I suffer from allergies 24/7 365 days a year I was born with a weakened immune system I've always had illness in one form or another. Most recently I had a dr put me on methodise , an immune booster and I'm not sure what to think about that, but he said i need to take it for a few months. Is there anything I should know about that?

Hi, this is my first day on Spark so still learning the ropes. I have seasonal allergies and am allergic to pet dander. This time of year is good for me if I avoid homes that have indoor pets. Praying for success and ability to stick with it. I have around 50 lbs to lose and am 72 so I know it will be a challenge. Hello everyone!

Hello - I am new to SparkPeople and adding this team to my retinue. I have seasonal allergies - nothing too bad. I've never been tested for food allergies. I've decided to see how I feel on a gluten free diet. Do you know if I can request gluten free meal plans?

In any case - I'm glad to be here. I have lost 86 pounds already, but I have another 50 (at least) to lose. I look forward to getting to know you all - we're all fighting a common enemy. It's good to have friends to support us in the battle!
Blessings!

Hi, I'm new to Spark and am looking forward to this journey. When attempting to control my allergies through shots I reacted to everything on the allergy test itself except for food. As I've gotten older my symptoms have gone from stuffy nose, sneezing, watery eyes to asthma. I've had asthma my entire life, but now the trigger seems to be allergies so thankfully the waking up at 2 am with an attack has ended. Unfortunately I now will have an attack while not really being sure what set it off. Anyone else with this problem?

I have allergies, allergy induced asthma and now I get a reaction to nuts. I am not allergic to nuts but they make me cough constantly. Does anyone have a snack that will fill you up like almonds and other nuts do?

Hello, I have seasonal allergies that I live with all the time. Mold, dust, animals, trees, grass, etc etc. I also have asthma that is allergy induced. I have to keep my allergy meds up 24/7 in order to keep from having an asthma attack. I have animals that my allergies are used to. I take my daily zyrtec D and that is about it.

Hey! I am anaphalaxic to coconut. It's weird, I know. I also have seasonal, even though the tests came back negative.

Hi, I'm Garett3003 and JAGGED007 those aren't my real names their my game names you have probably met me if you play lord of ultima, battlefieldplay4free or battle field heroes.
...
...
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add me

Greetings and blessings to all!

I deal with the ultimate allergy-- to myself! Yes, I am literally allergic to my own blood which is an autoimmune issue known as AICU. This means going on large doses of prednisone and painkillers periodically when my body decides to "bloom" into hives. While I'm not allergic to any foods, I have family with dairy and egg issues that I've learned how to "cook" around.

My main problem is being able to work out while suffering from the inability to breathe or the fear of getting hot. That, and fighting to NOT gain weight when I'm forced to take steroids (which usually happens every other month or so).

Hi everyone. I'm frozen pond. Just joined today. i have a bad milk allergy. Any suggestions for substitutes for recipes that call for milk or cheese?

Oh cheese! How I love it, too. We've switched to the Galaxy Foods Veggie Slices, which help with our dairy sensitivities. But they do contain casein (milk protein). So far I haven't found any vegan cheeses that actually taste good and have a nice texture. But for a cheesy taste in things, I like Nutritional Yeast.
Best of luck to you!
Dawn

Hi everyone!
I'm new to SparkPeople and am hoping to find motivation and encouragement as I journey back towards a healthy weight.
I tend to eat a mostly vegetarian diet, with very little dairy.
My allergies are mold and some kinds of pollen. But the biggest thing for me is my sensitivity to dairy. I can eat dairy, but afterwards I notice joint pain, gut noise, and sometimes migraines. It all depends on the type of dairy and how much I ate.
My husband and one of my children seem to have the same issues with dairy that I do, so it makes it a little easier to cook for the family.
Hopefully someone out there is interested in sharing tips, recipes, and motivation with me!
Dawn

Hi everybody! :) I'm Chee and I'm new to Sparkpeople. My friend recommended this site to me a month ago and I haven't started till today. So far it has been exciting to be on this website when I got to learn how to keep track of what I eat, learn different exercise I can do, and meeting new people!

I have seasonal allergies, allergies to dust, allergic to nickle, and to this fruit that resembles a lichee (it's brown and smooth with a dark pit and white flesh).

Thanks for reading.

Hi, I just got diagnosed as being allergic to dairy products. I've had medication allergies for years and I'm able to deal with that. It's the dairy allergy that is my problem. Dairy products are in so many things under so many names. I have lots to read and learn to see how to avoid all dairy. What makes it worse is that I'm a cheese addict. I haven't found a cheese I don't like. LOL

Hi, all!

So glad to find this group on here! I am allergic to six foods: soy, peanuts, corn, pistachios, pinto beans, and green peas. I am allergic to all types of grasses, ragweed, almost all trees, dust mites, cats, and a couple of different molds.

I had been getting SO sick with my sinuses and my stomach the last few years and I finally broke down and got testing. Since then, I have been taking a daily perscription zyrtec-type-family antihistamine, and avoiding the obvious types of the foods I'm allergic to (corn, soy, and peanuts are in nearly everything, so I don't avoid all their derivatives, just obvious forms of them.) So far, stomach has been better and so have the sinuses, but I'm trying to eat cleaner and avoid the more processed foods.

Glad to meet you guys!

Edited by: SAMMYBUNNY at: 5/16/2012 (14:36)

Hi everyone with allergies, so i was hoping this site would help me be healthy and active, and would help me device a diet plan I can stick to. I am allergic/intolerant to wheat, dairy (not hard cheese apparently) and soya, and eating any of these causes me to get eczema. I also get eczema if I put on any chemicals on my skin, for example chlorine, most make-up or moisturisers etc. On top of that I have hayfever, so allergic to pollen, dust mites and cats. So I was wondering if there was a way to limit what is shown in the meal plan? Thanks.

Hi :) I'm new. My name is Monique, I'm 48, 80 pounds overweight and eat gluten free. I look forward to 'meeting' you all and discussing eathing healthily.

hi im sherry i dont know if i have wrote anything here yet r not. but here goes if i havent but if i have im sorry for doing it agn.i have so many allergies that i cant name them all from some medicines,to food, to nature and alsop to bees. and that is really bad cause there is bee hives right next door to where i live. i like to go out and sit on the porch but i cant cause i have already been stung 4 times since i have been living here.so i stay in side except for when im walking /running and hope that thwe bees dont get upset with me being around where the hives r.

I have had an allergy to yeast and MSG for 30+ years. I found Benadryl is about the only thing that keeps it under control. I am also allergic to most pain killers. Luckily I don't have to worry about much else.

Hi, I know how hard it is when you have seasonal allergies and food allergies. I am also allergic to lactose and I see in all the Sparks meal plans, milk, yogurt, cottage cheese. I love all these but I would be miserable if I tried to include them in my diet, and there aren't enough lactose pills in the world to help me if I as much as sniff a dish of icecream. Finding a way to include calcium is very difficult, save suppliment pills, which I take. Also, the medicines for asthma sometimes cause acid reflux and some foods trigger it also. I just pick and choose my meals carefully, sometimes I have to abandon the Sparks meal plan and use my own, based on what my body is feeling that day. I am still losing weight, just not as quickly as I would if I could stick to their meal plans. Hang in there, and good luck.

Hi, just joined yesterday and am enjoying the site a lot. I'm 28 and live in New Zealand's shakiest city, Christchurch.
I have had hayfever (not sure it's what you guys call it), since my teens. It's seasonal, so probably pollen triggered.
I have mild asthma, first major attack when 20. For the most part it isn't bad, but I can't take Voltaren any more.
And just recently, well, in the last 4 years, I have been having mild IBS symptoms. At the moment I know it is triggered by lactose and fructose. So I have been trying to reduce my intake of those.
Just a note on the IBS, I have started having 2-3 cups of peppermint tea a day which has helped with some symptoms.

Hi I'm Terri. I am new to this site, and I really like the personal help blogs. I am allergic to just about everything and every one. If it breathes , lives or is green, I am allergic. I take lots of allergy medicin twice a day and nebulize daily for asthma. I knew about drinking lots of water, but I did not know eating more fruits and veggies would also help. I'll gladly try it. It might make my weight loss go faster also. I have about 80 pounds to lose.

Hello, I'm new to the group, though I joined Spark people a few years ago, I keep coming and going due to life issues. I have to semi-severe food allergies; onion and caffeine, and am mildly allergic to wheat. I have lots of trouble finding foods to prepare because of my onion allergy as almost every recipe out there calls for onions. I have yet to find any substitute for the flavour of onions, and have to be careful with any prepared sauces, dressings, or the like. I also have seasonal allergies and the like, but they can be treated with allergy pills

Hopefully we can all share lots of good tips with each other!

I live in Ohio also, and have allergies and asthma. I am a nurse and a little advise would be to use your medication as prescribed. I understand the thought that you don't want to be dependent on them for the rest of your life, but the truth is, allergies don't just go away. Once allergic, it's pretty much a done deal. If your allergies and asthma are in any way severe, you could be taking your life into your own hands by not taking the medication the way you are supposed to. There are some homeopathic remedies out there for environmental allergies that may or may not work, but I would use the other medications as the doctor says. I don't enjoy taking my medication either, but I prefer it to the alternative. Good luck in your weight loss/fitness journey!

I am also allergic to poultry and came to this team to find others like me. I am also allergic to pork and several veggies. It is tricky not only to find frozen entrees that are healthy, but also to get soup that isn't chicken stock based. Any suggestions or thoughts are welcome. Thanks! Good luck to you!

I'm struggling with either food allergies or intolerance. Hope to find friends to share the journey to the end and enjoy our successes together.

Hi, my name is Sara and I am new here. I have seasonal allergies as well as an allergy to kiwi, peaches and mold. Hope someone can help me learn ways to deal with these. Thanks.

Hi, my name is Eileen. I'm new to spark people. One of my friends told me about it and I decided to check it out, I fell in love with it right away. It seems like it will be motivating for me. I used to be a junior olympic gymnast but due to injuries I couldn't continue in college or further. i'm trying to maintain a healthy lifestyle and possibly go into fitness competitions. Just to keep me busy with not a lot of impact on my body. Anyways, I have really bad allergies and I'm not sure what of yet, because I've never been to an allergist before kinda crazy because I've dealt with this for 20 years. I also have bad asthma and living in Ohio, isn't the best for me. I have about 5-7 different inhalers and a nebulizer that become my best friends when the seasons change and not to mention a bunch of allergy medicine. I try to not use them though because I don't want to depend on them for the rest of my life. If I could get tips on how to kick the prescrips and find some natural ways to help my allergies that'd be great. Thanks!

Hi, My name is Emily. I don't have allergies. But my husband and son do. My husband suffers from seasonal allergies, and some medication allergies. My son has seasonal, medicine, and food allergies.

Hello everyone!
My name is Tiffani, I'm 24 and I am new to Sparks. I have cold induced articaria, which means I am allergic to cold. I can no longer eat ice cream or popcycles or have a smoothy. The AC in my home can even trigger it if i stay in one spot too long. It makes my hands and feet swell and I get hives all over my arms and legs... mostly joint areas. I have also been sent to the hospital lately because of a reaction to medicine they gave me for the migraines I have been having. My throat, tounge, and face was swollen and it was pretty scary. They say I'm in a reactive state and can react to anything. They gave me steriods for everything and now I have gained 40lbs. I am in pain daily because of the migraines and it makes exercise difficult. The migraines are very painful, I had no idea till I got them just how painful they were. Light and sound bothers me and by early afternoon I am so tired and in so much pain i fall asleep on the couch and that doesn't help me loose weight at all.

I look forward to meeting everyone and helping eachother reach our goals. :)

Tiffani

Hello everyone! I'm Melissa, I am currently trying to get fit, but my asthma and allergies make it difficult to have the motivation to exercise. I stay up almost all night coughing. The lack of sleep is really hard on my energy level and I'm finding it really hard to find the energy to reach the potential I would like to.

hi i m a doc and i m allergic to dust,sandstorms,animals,strong perfumes..all these things give me a bout of acute Asthma Attack....

I have several allergies. None of them are food. I'm allergic to dust mites, ragweed, cat and dog dander, and mold. I've had the allergies for over 20 years. I regularly see an allergist. I receive 4 allergy shots every three weeks.

Hi everyone
It is so tough when you have food allergies. Me, I am allergic to poultry(eggs, chicken, turkey), Flax. A lot of the recipes call for chicken or turkey. It is really limiting in a lot of the frozen entrees for me. But I did find out that lean ham is just as good as chicken. Which is very hopeful.

Hi there,

I've had various allergy problems for over 20 years. It started with molds in the winter and a few foods (onion, avocados and kiwi). I'm lactose intolerant since I was a child. I can eat cheese and ice cream but only in moderation otherwise I get the same reaction as I do to milk. Over the last 5 years my allergies have progressed to include, pollen and gluten (gluten I've suspected for a while). I've also developed asthma due to my pollen allergies.

I'm sure am glad to be a part of your group!

Hello everyone,
I just got back into spark people and I'm really excited about starting my healthy journey. I would consider myself lucky to have allergies that aren't impossible to avoid. My list is a little long but I get along pretty well. Right now I'm allergic to tree nuts, peanuts, selfish, melon, kiwi, cherry, avocado, and banana. I hope my list won't grow anymore. Good luck to everyone!!!

Hi, I just joined a few days ago, my fiance has some weird unknown allergy so thought I'd join this group and see if anybody has similar experiences - but will post about that in another sections.

In the mean time, hello! :)

Hello, starting spark program today! Looking forward to talking to some of you soon.

Hey everyone,
I just joined spark people a couple night ago.
I am hoping that this forum may help me cook for my husband. He has a sensitivity to gluten (not quite celiac's) and just found out and so I am having to learn to cook gluten free. If anyone can recommend any good resources I would really appreciate it.

I'm new to Spark People and am frustrated with menus that have nuts & eggs in them. They always seem to be the healthy go to proteins and I'm highly allergic to both. I've made a good start and happy with the SP resources.

Hi all!
I have 3 children, 2 of which have food allergies. Right now we avoid milk, soy, eggs, peanuts, tree nuts, fish, shellfish and sesame. It makes for a very interesting diet at times.
I keep starting and stopping my weight loss journey. I'm really wanting to stick with it though. I want to lose the weight and keep it off. I'm tired of the yo yo-ing I've been doing lately.
Lil

I'm finding SP very helpful. Try reading some of the articles. You can make changes that will benefit you. Have a wonderful day!

I have had an SP account and keep forgetting to keep it up. I have Chemical Sensitivity and a food allergies. I am starting over and going to be more determined my health is not doing great because of my weight.

Hi, I'm new to SP, but not to allergies. I am allergic to house dust, h d mite, and dogs. I had sinus surgery last winter and have been struggling with an ear infection, middle ear inflammation, tinnitus since September. Such a hectic work schedule this week, that I forgot some allergy meds the last two days. Yesterday I had a hard time functioning well at work due to a horrendous headache. Today I woke up tired, congested, just down. How amazing when I realized I'd skipped some meds I usually take in the evening. I took some Claritin D, did saline sinus rinse an hour ago and am starting to feel more alive.

Hi, My name is Jen, and I just joined Spark People today. I live in Massachusetts, just south of Boston and developed food allergies when I was in college. I am allergic to peanuts, tree nuts (except coconuts), sesame, apples, cherries, and alcohol.

Some of my challenges include: finding healthy snacks to eat on the go or at work, not being able to store food in the office refrigerator or use the shared microwave to heat up food, and finding healthy, frozen meals for days when I work late and am too tired to cook.

I want to participate and comment, etc., but posting and sharing online is hard for me. I guess I am shy about activities like this; sharing can be scary. Does anyone have tips about "forum shyness" as I call it?

Jen

Hi Pat and welcome!

Sounds like you've a long journey so far. I had to start with small steps then building onto them. One of my first steps was measuring all of my portions. Portion control was a huge eye opener for me. I also listened to my doctor about eating something about every 3 hours. So eat breakfast, lunch, snack, snack, dinner, and maybe another snack depending on when I eat dinner. By doing this it keeps me from being hungry. Under HEALTHY LIFESTYLE, click on nutrition and look for the article, "Healthy Carb, Fat and Protein Ranges." It really put things into perspective. As far as what to eat ... just try 1 or 2 new things at a time. Find things that you like and work with it. My guys are picky eaters so I can't go too crazy on the healthy stuff so we just try to a few things at a time to see what everyone likes. It's no fun cooking just for me. I do find that planning meals helps but there are times I just have to wing it anyway. I just try to make the healthier choice. I have diabetes and high blood pressure and I'm trying to get off my meds. I now know that it's going to take a while. Heck, I don't really care if the weight comes off. I just want to be healthier. If the weight comes off, then great!

As for exercise, I like to do things sitting down too. Look into a recumbent stationary bike. I can bike and do so many things while biking. At least it would help with mobility. Start with 5-10 minutes then add on as you feel more comfortable. I now find myself riding for 45 minutes to an hour sometimes because I lose track of time.

I do walking too now but a friend and I often walk at the mall and maybe get some shopping in or go to the grocery store and get an extra circle around the store. I guess my point is that every little bit helps. I do know that if I don't get any exercise, then I feel horrible.

Hope this helps.

Have a great weekend!

Hello, all!

I'm Pat; I'm 65 and I live with the love of my life in the Dale Hollow Lake area of TN.

I Joined SP in January 2007, but didn't do a lot with it until after my triple bypass surgery 9/11/2009. When I was released to "normal activity", I ordered the WiiFit Plus and came back to SP. Did pretty well for a while, but the stresses of life threw me off-track last spring. Now that I'm past my 1-year surgery anniversary, and many of the especially large stresses are gone, I'm ready to have another go at it. I need to tone up my body—BIGTIME!—AND lose about 60 pounds.

I don't have any known FOOD allergies, which is a plus, but the pollen, dust bunnies, etc. keep me sniffling year-round. I don't rate HIGH on the scratch tests, but there are many.

My particular stumbling blocks are:

1) I'd rather sit and do needlework or read than get up and get active, and

2) I have a terrible mental block to planning menus, buying the food, and following through by serving the meals. Yes, I serve meals, but not necessarily the low-fat, low cholesterol, low sodium meals that we should be eating—EVEN WHEN I HAVE MADE A PERFECTLY GOOD PLAN AND BOUGHT THE FOOD!!!

Blessings!

Pat

Hi Teri and welcome,

If I have to get fast food I try to make healthier choices. I use a book "Calorie King Calorie and Carbohydrate Counter". The book has many restaurants in the back of the book that shares calories, fat, and total carbs (for diabetes). In the front portion of the book there food categories in case you can't find info on you a particular restaurant or if you like to cook at home. I take this book with me everywhere in case I don't get the opportunity to check out info online prior to leaving the house.

It's all about making healthier choices and taking small steps then building onto them. Portion control was a big eye opener for me. It made all the difference in my weight and my health in just 6 months.

Hang in there! Start small then add on.

Hi there, my name is Teri...

My problem is not eating at all and when I do, it's usually on the run...not fast foods, just the wrong stuff.
So my body turned on itself and went into continuous starvation mode, turning anything and everything I ate into bad carbs and storing it in places I never thought existed.

I have tried different things to combat it but I guess I just choked it up to "No will power"
But now...it's a must!

I don't have any children but I do have a roof over my head and I'm still employeed so, I really have no excuse for being this way except for hard relationships.

The weather here changes so often...first it's hot & dry and the dust, pollen and anything else flying around goes into my sinuses...thus the sneezing, coughing, runny nose and watery eyes begin.
Not to forget..sinuses pressing on my upper teeth making them ache.

Then comes the wet, rainy weather, bringing with it molds & mildew.
Here, I haven't gotten over the dust and pollen attack when I get hit from the other side.

So, I guess that makes me a wishing hopeful.

Hello my name is Nallery and I am new to the site. I actually just heard of the site today on yahoo.com. I really want to lose weight and would be willing to work hard to do it. I tend to be the person who works very hard at the beginning but then begins to lose motivation as time goes by usually at the two month mark. I really don't want to be that person anymore. I really need support. I am allergice to anything that will affect my asthma and I am also very allergic to msg.

Hi! My name is Ellen and I just joined today. I have been working on eating better and losing weight for awhile but have had setbacks with my asthma which has meant being shut up in my house stuck on the couch. So I thought I would add this program to my arsenal for the support. I have seasonal allergies along with asthma. I live in South Central PA and the humidity this year has been brutal on my asthma- missed almost a moth of work within the last 3 mo. I also have celiac disease, which I guess is more of a food intolerance rather than a food allergy. Looking froward to getting back on track with my weight loss goals.

and to the team new members.

Hi to all my name is donna and i am new to allergies..by that i mean i quit smoking 3 years ago on oct 1 2010.at the age of 52.I became very very ill and 8 months later i was diagnosed with Asthma,along with that came a whole parcel of allergies that affect my breathing,trees,long grass,mandarine oranges,feathers and worst of all wet mold..it has been 2 years and still trying to manage the asthma,i hope i find some info on how to manage..

Hi, my name is Shannon & I'm new. I'm lactose intolerant, but I have a son who is allergic 2 a lot of things. So since his diagnosis, I've been able to stay away from certain foods because of him. It's especially hard because I love ice cream !!!!! But ice cream is very fattening as well so I can live with that. I'm starting over & I'm really excited because it's anew day & a new me.