I have over 100 lbs to lose. I have arthritis and two bad knees.

I've found that I love water exercise. It is really the only exercise I can do that does not cause me pain. It helps me stay flexible. If I work out hard in the water it can be aerobic and can also build up some strength. Right now I have a flare up of Patella Femoral Sysndrome in my left knee so I am doing a gentle routine every other day. I don't get my hair wet (that would be a pain) and I am fortunate to have a Health Club membership where they have therapy pools with warm water. I think YMCA's have good water programs as well.

  MRB Percyfaith

I have had much trouble losing weight since the late 1970's after our daughter was born.  I could gain 5 pounds, which never seemed to come off,  during a week at the beach!  I had to work really hard to control my weight during pregnancy--while doing daily calorie counts, I managed to control it at a time when pregnancy weight gains were a big concern.  On the USD, I'm very pleased with my success, and I don't feel deprived of food at all.  My appetite for "junk" is now gone, and I plan to continue to eat this way for life.  When I try the recipes that are in the USD guide, I feel as if I am eating a gourmet meal. 

I have only 3 grandchildren, and 1 child, after getting a late start at motherhood. 

Hi ronniejoan......I'm 66, grandmother of seven, and I too need to lose 50 lb. And I have arthritis of the knees! I have an exercise bike, and that's a good form of exercise for us, as we don't have to bear weight on our knees. (But I really have to discipline myself to use it.) And I've begun to lift weights, too, 2 or 3 times a week. (Just 3 lb weights for now.) I'm on my 4th day of the diet and I've lost 6 lb. Today I feel somewhat lightheaded and just a little dizzy at times. I don't know if this is normal or not. I've always had problems with constipation, so I'm on the enhanced diet, and it has brought good results in that area. The shakes are good if you use the recipe with the almond or hazelnut milk. That's the third shake recipe in the book. The 1st and 2nd ones tasted awful. But if you use the milk, fresh berries or cherries, and a frozen banana, they're really good. I'm not crazy about the broth, but I drink it dutifully. I'm learning to like vegetables without butter or sauce, and I think this is a good thing. I've even learned to like veggies that I didn't ever like before, such as kohlrabi and bok choy. And I intend to keep on eating 2 cups of veggies with lunch and dinner from now on.