Traci -

I just wanted to make a quick suggestion to you. If I'm in a real time crunch, I take my books with me to the gym and read while I do the elliptical or the stationary bike. It's not the ideal situation for either pursuit, but it did help me fit both in when I was really crunched.

I wouldn't say it is ridiculously easy on some days, but it is easier this time than other times because of a mental shift in my approach. Now I see my eating plan as the path to feeling great, being healthy, and having the goodies in life. When I saw it as unfair, a punishment, hard work, almost impossible, etc., staying the course was impossible.

I still have days when I go off plan, but now I'm right back on course because I have the commitment to live my life in a mostly healthy manner. I truly understand the meaning of this being a lifestyle and not a diet, whereas before it seemed like a lot of horse manure to think of it as anything but a diet.

When I was younger, it was "easier" to take off pounds quickly. A little effort and the pounds melted off. At this age, the pounds aren't dropping off easily--I have to put in more effort, and it goes slower no matter what I do--but it feels different because of my mental shift.

I don't know...I guess this is just the first time I have really committed, as some of you have mentioned..I have bad days and go off plan..But I don't quit altogether like I would have in the past..I use to "diet" a week, eat something "bad", and stop trying altogether. Now, I am just like..."OK, I ate a some pizza...Let's try not to do that again for awhile."
I am so glad I have you guys!! I really feel like the support from this site has been the difference maker.

Thanks mug! I think they're pretty hot myself :p

Thanks, LaurieDawn. I will probably resort to that when I move back into the Y when it gets cold. I've been in pretty much "full panic" mode since starting back to school fulltime, but it's getting better. Did six miles on my bike last night - waited too long to start - it gets dark SO darn much earlier now! But it was great and I just need to take a time out and go do something. Looked at the pile of dishes in the kitchen and went for a bike ride. :-) DH can do the dishes this morning.

I understand what you mean...some days I can stay on plan and have a good day without even thinking about it and then some days I struggle. For me, it has alot to do with planning, hormones, attitude and sleep. All this can play a role in what kind of day I have.

That is the EXACT same approach that I have started this time. Everything gets written down & I move on.

It's not easy-but boy, is it WORTH it!!!

Hey Sockmonkey -- try to remember your mindset when you posted this, see it's working! maybe not as fast as you'd like right now, but it IS working! :carrot:

LOL Thanks trazey...This really made me smile :)

So much for it being a habit though lol.

Help!
 

Hey,
You say it's easy, please can you give me some pointers then? How did u get started? What do u eat? What kind of excercise do you do? I would really appreciate some pointers because you seem to be really successful.
Thanks
C
xx

Actually, LOSING felt like that for me, for most of the journey, anyway. The last ten vanity pounds, and maintaining, dear god, that's tough. Because I AM eating "normal food" now, and I can go out to a restaurant, and eating as much as 2000 calories once or twice a week isn't going to kill me... but now that I can give myself the treats occasionally, its hard to stop treating every day. I need to find a routine that doesn't feel like denial, because I can't and won't feel like i'm on a diet every day for the rest of my life.