Just started today and have a long way to go.....

Hi everyone,

I'm 31 yrs old and live in Michigan.  I have been over weight majority of my life.  It started really adding up once I had my kids.  I just found out I have high blood pressure and started taking medication for it.  Once the doctor told me that I told myself enough was enough!  I go back next week to see what my blood results, if I have diabetes, good/bad cholesterol ect..  I'm looking forward to meet others who are in the same boat!

Hi skinnymom, my name is Heather I live in tx. I started counting calories today after many a diet. Ive recently lost some weight with a hormone called hcg but it reacts negatively to me. I act really mean! Anyway I was logging my food and I saw your new post, Im sorry to hear your on meds for high blood pressure. lets  connect and encourage one another so we can succeed in this lifelong struggle! Have a happy and healthy day! Heather

Hi Skinnymom, My name is Kelly. Your story is very familiar to me. I am also 31, from Michigan, overweight most of my life, and really heavy after my daughter. Down 6 pounds since calorie count, almost 20 total. We are here for you! Glad you found it. :)

Hi skinnymom,

Small world...I live in Michigan too, and have been fighting tooth and nail for the past year or more to control my hypertension through my diet and not meds. I have tried several different ones and I just don't like the way they make me feel. I have managed it quite well so far, and I am now getting serious about counting my calories again (as long as I am changing my diet I might as well get all the benefits right?). The biggest piece of advice I can give you for controlling your hypertension is to kick the sodium and make Mrs. Dash and steam bags your new best friends!!! Read ALL labels as sodium(and lots of it) is hiding everywhere. My biggest error was arguing with the Doc that I didn't eat salt, I truly never used the salt shaker, so the first thing she asked me was what I typically ate for lunch. My reply was either soup or Lean cuisines. So the first thing she asked me to do was to look at the labels on those 2 things and to keep in mind that you should only have 1000-1200 mg of sodium per day. I did just to prove her wrong and low and behold my favorite soup and 480 mgs and my favorite lean cuisine had over 600mgs. More than 1/2 what you are supposed to have in a whole day!! I then began checking everything and it was everywhere!!!!!!! (milk, ice cream, and soda pop things that I didn't think of as salty were a few that surprised me). Trust me, reducing your sodium and eating "clean" will have a tremendous affect on your blood pressure (even sooner than loosing pounds).

Anyway let me know if you have any other questions!!!

Oh hey, what part of Michigan are you from?

Hi Heather, that sounds like a good idea!   I also have been on MANY of diets.  How are you doing today with it so far?

Thanks EVERYONE for the warm welcome and advice!  It's good to know people that is having the problem with weight.  I was thinking the same thing with the salt thing...about me not using "salt" on my food, but by what doodleynoodle said it makes scene  

Melissa