Welcome back. It's always a struggle, there is no use in denying that to ourselves, is there? But we must keep trying, otherwise the alternative is a dead end alley.
You know what you need to do, and coming back to the boards is one of the best ways to help you get back into control.

Thank you guys..I just get so down on myself because I have been at a standstill for like 5 months now....It came off so quicly at first...during the summer when I had lots of time to organize myself...But since I started back to school at the end of August I have been losing and gaining back the same 10 pounds.

Thank you so much for your good advice and patience with my persistant whining LOL. I just get so caught up with "how busy I am" that I use it as an excuse to eat whatever I want. I need you guys for my reality check :)

So glad to have you back!

I have been pretty much "stuck" since mid-November, too, so I totally relate to where you are. I am finally, finally back on track (I hope), having lost three pounds in the last week, and my ticker's at the lowest weight it's ever registered. So now, I'm going to say something completely sacrilegious, and hope that it helps.

I have heard countless times, "This is not a diet. This is for life." followed by advice on picking something you can live with forever. And I've got to tell you, that mindset just has not worked for me. I have to pick something that fits my circumstances for the next month, or week, or three months, or whatever I can reasonably plan for. So, maybe for the next few months while you're overwhelmed with busy and can't manage to find the time to plan meals and cook like you successfully did this summer, maybe you decide that you want to try one of those shake diets, or that you want to eat primarily pre-packaged foods, or live primarily on yogurt and cereal for a while. Your choices don't have to be ideal to be an improvement over a string of fast food, and you can slowly build into a more ideal diet by adding in a new type of food every week or so.

And let's face it. If you're living on Taco Bell and McDonald's, your taste buds are not that discriminating. Just remember how wonderful it made you feel to be losing that weight, and make a commitment to making it work.

So glad you're back here!

Welcome back, girl! It's hard, really hard, especially when you are as busy as you seem. BUT you know how to do it and now you just have to want it more than McD's (which I know can be an awfully strong draw when you are in a rush or hungry at night). I have found all kinds of neat ways to make junk food healthy. Is it great for long term health? Probably not. Does it work for creating the calorie deficit necessary for weight loss? Yes. How about making your own cheeseburgers and you can just heat them up in the microwave. If you use 1/4 pound 7% fat beef (170 calories) and a light cheese (70 calories), plus ditch the bun, that is only 240 calories and it won't feel like diet food. Or another of my specialties is to mix 1 tablespoon of sugar free hot fudge topping (45 calories) with a half cup of fage 0% yogurt (60 cals), then freeze for about 20 minutes. It's diet ice cream. I know exactly what you are saying about getting sick of healthy foods. So get creative, Mary. You CAN do this. I expect you to continue to check in here at 3FC, got it missy?!

Yes m'am!

Welcome back! You should try those Morning Star products. I had the mushroom lovers burger tonight and it was so much tastier than beef and half the calories. I can't believe I ever wasted so many calories on real burgers.

So glad to see you back, Mary! :hug:

You know what? Sometimes I STILL go to McD's. BUT...and I know it's still not great because of who knows what kind of additives are in it...I get a Chicken McGrill, no mayo, mustard instead, and a diet coke. I get that drive thru feeling for about 300 calories :) Not the best thing you could eat...but by no means terrible.

I think just coming back here will help....and I'm so glad you're here!

:hug:
Linda

famograham, I don't know what a Chicken McGrill is--but on the McD's website, the grilled chicken sandwich without mayo is closer to 400 calories.

This is why fast food can be tricky... :)

Jay

Hey Mary,

I was just thinking about you on Friday, hoping everything was ok.

I completely understand about gaining a few lbs and feeling stuck. I gained TEN pounds between Thanksgiving and New Year's. I'm finally back into weight loss mode, but it's disappointing to be losing pounds I've already lost before. I had thoughts of quitting but as I was wallowing in self-doubt and despair one day I had a revelation. Either I could re-lose those pounds or I could continue on the track I was on and regain ALL 63 I'd lost! No, thank you.

Keep on keepin' on. You're still down 35 lbs and that's awesome!