Neat links...thanks! I just joined the group and am looking forward to getting tips on how to stay healthy while cooped up in a tiny office.

What about water walking? Then you could be standing up all the time, get resistance from the water, and not have breathing problems. I know that lots of exercise places have water walking or water aerobics classes. The water helps cushion the impact, and water walking burns a lot more calories than you'd think.



Also, if you want to swim but have trouble breathing, try the back stroke. It can be hard to swim straight because you can't see where you're going, but the benefit is having your face out of the water all the time. The side stroke and breast stroke also require less face-in-water time than other types of swimming.



Good luck!

I'd say that a cheat day only works if you have the self-control to get back on track the day after you "cheat." If you do, then more power to you. Personally I'd enjoy the cheat day so much that any good habits I'd started to form would start to unravel the minute I stopped...but we all are different. Good luck!

Oh boy, I know the feeling...except in my case it was far more than 6 pounds. I lost about 25 pounds over three months quite a few years ago. It was nearly effortless...changing life circumstances, etc. etc. In the several years since then, I have put on every single last pound. I gained nearly a pound a month during one bad year. Every month!



Now I'm trying to take that weight off again. I'm just starting though...not at the finish line where you are! So...at least you don't have to start all over again. At least you did achieve your goal. You got to the finish line and just got knocked off a bit. That's all. (Can you tell I am a bit envious that you really did achieve your goal? Way to go!!)



Good luck!

I don't usually refuse food gifts because it can seem ungracious to the gift giver (unless someone tells me ahead of time and then I can say, "Oh please don't bother...no, no really...I'm trying to lose weight." I got given an enormous chocolate bunny for Easter, and I gave it to my neighbors' little girl. She was delighted with it. My co-worker also repeatedly offers me chocolate. My rule is that I can have one piece of candy a day, so if I haven't had anything else I will sometimes take it (I adore chocolate). He is really skinny and athletic though, so I will also say laughingly, "Hey, we can't all eat like you do!"



The problem, now that I have almost completely gotten junk food eating under control (not always the cravings, but that's another story), is that I end up still eating too much--except now I eat too much of the non-junk-food category. For example, a second helping of whatever I ate at dinner, a second bowl of cereal, etc. I don't eat junk any more, but calories are calories!



I also find that I eat more when I'm very stressed and tired. When I'm super-tired, I keep thinking that I need to take in calories to give me strength.



Anyone have ideas/suggestions?