Hi. I’m a 55 year old single mom of a 16 yr old boy in Southern California. I’ve been struggling with getting rid of the weight I gained when I was pregnant with my son and then regained after my father passed away a few years ago. My biggest issues have been eating due to depression and evening snacking. I’m not looking to get skinny, just down to a more healthy weight.

My son has some pretty significant food allergies and I have been avoiding cooking separate meals for us up until recently. He’s allergic to most of the healthier proteins including fish, poultry, soy, beans, and shellfish, so I have been eating way too much beef, pork, and carbs. As my cholesterol levels and weight have started to creep up I decided I need to re-evaluate what I eat. I would also like to start an exercise program but am temporarily sidelined with a pretty bad case of achilles tendinitis, which is frustrating.