I've been overweight my whole life. In an effort to help myself, I'm actually going to detail my struggle here in this web site. I must begin by admitting that at the time I first started developing this web site (January and February, 2000), I weighed over 250 pounds (251 to be exact!), and I'm only five feet tall. What does this mean?

I have pain in my knees every time I walk up or down stairs (Patellofemoral Syndrome), and my other joints ache. I have pain in my feet (Plantar Fasciitis). I have to be on medication for my elevated cholesterol levels. I have hypertension, and am on medication for that, as well. I have Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease which also has to be treated with medication. I'm depressed and on medication. I have Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome (for which I take still more medication) which makes losing weight more difficult, and being overweight makes it worse. Closely tied to the PCOS is the fact that I'm insulin resistant, and have borderline Type II Diabetes. I have Irritable Bowel Syndrome, which is always worse when I eat junk. I had to have my gallbladder removed, and even now I still have to cope with Post-Cholecystectomy Syndrome. I physically cannot tolerate large amounts of fat in meals because it makes me feel sick, but I have eaten the fat anyway. I have no evidence to support this, but I even think my headaches (yep, more meds) are worse because of my weight and the strain it puts on my body. I'm tired all the time, even after plenty of sleep. I don't enjoy my wonderful life the way I could if I was smaller and fit. I have added a list of reasons I need to lose weight and get in shape. You might want to read it, and make a list for yourself if you're trying to get in shape to - it can be very motivating! For more information about how obesity and/or excess fat intake increases the risk for many diseases, visit the Disease Risk and Obesity page.

All of the conditions above could be improved or eliminated, either by weight loss or exercise. So what have I been doing about that? Well, up until very recently, I didn't do much of anything! To read more about my success in finally getting healthy, check out My Journey. To see how far I've come, you can review My Progress. I'm losing weight successfully this time with Weight Watchers. I have been in Weight Watchers many times over the years, but this time it's different! I've tried so very many things over the years, but none had any lasting success until now.

Below are some of the different ways I've tried to lose weight and get healthy before. I'm providing links to online sites for those that have them, not necessarily because they worked for me, but because I think information is a good thing-maybe they'll help you.

Weight Watchers (probably more than 20 times-I bet I hold some kind of record!)
Nutri-System (This link is to their "at-home" program. I went to one of their diet centers.)
Carbohydrate Addicts
Atkins (I've tried this several times, too.)
Protein Power (their 'official' web site doesn't seem to exist anymore!)
Sugarbusters (Another lower carb program.)
Physician's Weight Loss Center (You can even buy their products online now. As with Nutri-System, I went to one of their local centers.)
Richard Simmons Deal-a-Meal
Phen-Fen
Xenical
Optifast
Overeaters Anonymous

I know more about nutrition than some nutritionists that I've worked with do. I'm a registered nurse. I know the biology and physiology involved. What I didn't have, and have never been able to sustain long-term, is the motivation to do the work involved in changing my body and fitness level. It IS work, no matter what the ads say. To make a real change requires significant effort, and I just hadn't put forth that effort. I am determined to change that this time around. In researching links to put in this section of my web site, I first found a site that actually gave me motivation, and before I go any further, I have to share it with you. I had been completely unmotivated to do anything about my weight, or my complete lack of fitness. This woman's story did what nothing else, not the doctors, not my own knowledge, not even all of my medical problems could do: It made me want to try again. For that I am extremely grateful. As part of that gratitude, I am going to attempt to do a similar thing with this part of my web site. I'm going to try to help motivate others. To see how I'm doing, go to My Journey to Health and Fitness.

Denver Post Online: Kerri's Story
Extensive 33-part site detailing Kerri Smith's weight loss story, using a protein sparing modified fast (Medifast/Optifast/HMR type) diet, followed by other types of diets, such as an anticancer diet. She has lost more than 130 pounds and battled endometrial cancer. This is a really terrific site. It presents real life solutions, motivation, and support for folks trying to take back control of their lives and their health.

I will provide as much information here at Bug's Best as possible, so that this quest will be a success for all of us. Please explore the information here, and the information that the links provide. Take what works for you and leave the rest. Maybe you'll need it later, maybe not. If there is some other kind of information that would help you, please let me know and I'll try to find it. Remember that my goal is to find the very best, most useful information available on the web for the topics I care about so that other folks don't have to!

  NutriCounter - Hand held weight loss and health management tool.