Like you, I’ve lived most of my life severely overweight. I’m only 5′2, and peaked at 260 lbs. eight years ago. With 62″ hips, I was literally one flabby cube!

I’m way older than you, and actually didn’t have any health problems until I was 43. At that point, every step was excruciating. My partner was in the same boat, only worse. We’re about the same height, and she weighed 300.

We decided we had no choice, and would lose the weight through diet and exercise. We counted calories, and at first could only walk for ten minutes at a time. After 18 very tough months, I had lost 120 lbs and she was down 150! We’ve kept it off for more than 5 years, with occasional ups and downs in the 5-10 lb. range. We’ve gone from size 24/3X to size 6. We’d both love to lose another 10 lbs., but menopause seems to be controlling our bods the way your period does yours.

If we can do it, anyone can. There were plateaus along the way, but the thing that really got us over the humps was 1) realizing that this wasn’t a diet — we were retraining ourselves in how to eat for the rest of our lives and 2) regular exercise. One way to get started with exercise is to walk for 20 minutes before or after every meal. That means you’re walking for an hour a day. I did that for a while and then gradually ramped it up. I now get up at 4 am and do at least 75 minutes of vigorous cardio 7 days a week, and I’m 51 years old. Nobody says you have to get as crazy as I am!

When your doctors clear you for exercise, you gotta start doing it every day. Don’t tell yourself that you have to be a gym rat — just start walking or ride a bike, and don’t let yourself off the hook, and don’t give up. It will make all the difference. Get a walking buddy — having that support makes it easier.

Good luck! I believe in you. You sound like a terrific woman and we terrific women can do anything!

So I’m wondering are you all better? It’s such a terrible thing to always have to keep on your mind.

Btw, I live in southern California too.