Wanna get healthy, but need help!

[Becca]

Good work Jess! I'm not au fait with more specialised exercisey stuff, but I have become a bit nutrition obsessed!

One of my favourite bloggers, Kelly, created a post recently detailing how to shop better at the supermarket.

http://myhealthypassion.wordpress.co...ocery-shopper/

I really recommend it to everyone - it really clears up the myths that are around.

[Lady_aurora]

Awesome, thanks so much for the help guys!!! Working together with you guys and having you to help with motivation is definitely gonna help!!

I'm gonna check out those books and sites right now! For exercise, I have been doing a lot of stretching the last couple days and I have Wii Fit Plus that has yoga stuff on it that Im gonna try! I have a pool in my backyard and when it is nice out, I do try to get out there and swim.

[Steph-lovestheWL]

Hi Jess!

I'm not an expert as I obviously have a lot of weight to lose, but I am trying to get there.

Swimming, walking, stretching, and yoga are all great as mentioned. If you like to dance, I would also suggest maybe trying to find a Zumba class. Normal Zumba might be too strenuous for you with your arthritis, but you might look into Zumba Gold which is designed to be less strenuous. They even have Aqua Zumba classes. Zumba is great if you enjoy dancing and music, which you obviously do.

As for eating better, I am of the mindset that you shouldn't deprive yourself. The most important thing to know is what your choices are. Even at fast food places, you can get things that aren't too bad for you. Sure, we'd all like to eat nothing but organic, natural foods all the time, but that's not realistic so knowledge is power. One tool that might really help you are the Eat This, Not That books.

What I also try to do is find healthier alternatives to my favorite receipes. Some of my favorite sources are
Cooking Light
Whole Foods (Even if you don't shop their, most of their recipes are fairly healthy and you can substitute ingredients from what is available at your local grocery store)
Hungry Girl
Skinny Taste
Devin Alexander (These are the recipes from her TV show on Discovery Health. She also has a few cookbooks. I have her Deliciously Decadent cookbook and it's awesome!)

Good luck on getting healthier...we're all here to support you and know you can do it!

[Ray]

We always have the problem of eating healthy and I know Rachel is trying to eat different things than we do. It is hard when everyone one wants to eat fast food.

I know you mentioned swimming, but you might also look at water exercises. I did it a couple of times and really get a work out doing it. It is also not rough on the joints either.