Hi I'm 53 years old Gave up smoking about 4 years ago and put on 3 stone in doing so. Have struggled since to lose weight or gain any motivation to do so. Comfort eat now that the children have left home and I find myself on my own night after night. Long winter nights do nothing to motivate me to leave the house and take up any exercise classes - so I am in a cycle of self perepetuating loathing for how I look in the mirror, unable to get clothes that fit nicely and comfort eating to make myself feel better. But I want to lose weight I want to feel good about myself so I have joined this forum and accepted one of the weight loss challenges - I CAN do this......with a little support!!