@rosemarya Thanks Rosemary. I think we all need to find what works for us. Many people of course love Weight Watchers but I find the idea of being a group and getting weighted to not be something I want to participate in. I do best with my methods. I find myfitnesspal helps me because it makes me more aware of the nutrients in everything -- calories, fat, carbs, sodium, etc. When I am on a roll, which I am right now and hopefully will manage to sustain it, I am very aware that if I have it I have to record it and that helps me to not casually snack on something.
As I mentioned in a different post, when the scale begins showing a loss that helps me a lot too.
JK

Well my husband and I started Jenny Craig on Saturday and I have lost 2 lbs thus far. They say the first week is usually water but since I'm on a med that empties my body of water I'm inclined to think I might have lost some fat. The food is prepared which is making it possible because I'm learning how my lifestyle does not give me a lot of time to prepare food. I know this will change once my youngest is in college next year. You still add fresh fruits and veggies. My husband and I are starting with strength training every other day and once we have done that for about 2 weeks we are going to add cardio. It really helps to have someone to do it with. In the past either he or I have attempted to lose weight but never at the same time.

The hardest part is that I still have to cook for my youngest daughter and she had a birthday party on Saturday, special bday dinner tonight (her actual bday), and we had a cookout with our church group last night. For last night we went to the cookout but had saved our fruit portions for the evening and I brought a fruit salad so we ate that. I'm hoping to be down 26 lbs by Christmas. Having the prepared food makes it much easier to eat well because when I'm in a rush something healthy is ready. You do feel like you are eating all day because you eat three meals a day and 3 snacks. I have had minor hunger pangs which have been warded off by drinking water

The best part is that the sodium intake follows my doctor's orders and so does the protein. In fact, I think I'm eating less protein now than before and that is good for my kidneys. I didn't think I could find a diet program that would follow the restrictions I have for my kidney but Jenny Craig diet is set up by dieticians and approved by the Heart Association. It is probably the healthiest I have eaten in my entire life. In such a short time I'm seeing how you can eat good food with portion control.

Thanks for checking in on me!

@lcamino, Lynn, Thanks for the update, and the inspiration! I agree that having a 'buddy' is terrific, especially when it is your spouse!
My husband and I have been going to the gym together, but each doing our own routine - it keeps us going regularly. So many of my friends have quit going. So I feel very fortunate and healthy.

I am looking forward to hearing from you as you and your husband continue. Keep us posted - and inspired:-)
Rosemary

@rosemarya - Good for you! My husband and I will strive to emulate you and your spouse.

@lcamino Lynn, this sounds great! Maybe I should look into Jenny Craig too.Of course I would still need to cook something different for my husband so that makes things difficult.
Years ago we both wanted to lose some weight so be both cut down. He was eating over 3000 calories a day and losing weight. I was eating around 1500 and not losing any. 🙁
Thankfully I think both my son and daughter may take after him in that area. I am thankful too that neither has my complexion, that burns so easily.
JK

@contentandwell - We chose Jenny Craig because my in-laws knew someone who had tried many diets and was successful on Jenny Craig. Plus she said their food tasted the best (still not all my favorite but the portions are "small", really appropriate, so it is doable) and you can make substitutions for things you don't like. Plus it is designed by dietitians so there is an appropriate amount of protein, carbs, fruits, veggies, good fats, salt etc. The prepared meals just makes it easier when you are learning but I suspect Weight Watchers or the Mayo Diet is just as good. My husband and I just needed some encouragement - to see some immediate progress - and Jenny Craig has made that easier. We tried others ways with some success (I lost 20# and then put on 12 when I stopped exercising and counting calories). The real test will be if we can maintain it when we are fully transitioned onto food I am cooking but for now my goal is to lose the weight before my transplant.

I will say that I think one of the keys is eating 6 times a day because it keeps your metabolism working and burning fat. My husband's job sent him to something called The Human Performance Institute where the executives learned about being a corporate athlete. It is very scientific and a place where olympic athletes go to learn how to maximize their energy with exercise and eating. Anyway, it was critical that people eat 6 times a day to keep your blood sugar level (no crashing and getting tired so then you sleep or eat something sweet or high in carbs) and energy high. I suspect the Mayo Diet and others do the same thing. So if you are doing it on your own I'd try smaller portions but more often.

Oddly enough I find it hard to eat that much because it does require thinking about what you eat and planning. You feel like you are eating all the time. I used to think I was so good if I did not snack between meals but that was the wrong approach. Of course, when yo eat 6 times a day you have to watch your portions. My meals are a lot smaller and so are my snacks. The hardest thing for me to cut is the fruit. I used to eat A LOT of fruit. My fruit portion this morning (a beautiful, and yummy, fruit salad I made with red and green grapes, pineapple, mandarin oranges, blueberries and strawberries) is half what I would normally eat. I always told myself, "Well it's healthy, it's fruit."

It is also important to eat as soon as you get up to get your metabolism working.

All that to say that you need to find what works for you. I feel confident this is going to get me where I need to be pre-transplant. I started on Saturday and it is Wednesday morning and i have lost 3 lbs! And because of the medicine I'm on for my kidneys (it empties me of liquid) I'm quite confident I'm losing fat. Of course, I'm sure the exercising (just doing weights thus far - small steps) is aiding in the weight loss.

Once again, try to find a buddy. It really does make a difference and take all I wrote with a grain of salt (seems like a bad idiom for this conversation) because I'm not a dietitian, trainer, or doctor but someone who has not taken care of myself for many years.