Kat - enjoy your cruise, try to stick to your diet plan as much as possible, and just try to enjoy being in the moment. It sounds like you have an important job and are being trusted with a lot of responsibility. I'm sure there will be employees there who look up to you, and might even be intimidated! When you think of it that way, maybe you won't be so hard on yourself because you're not at the weight you would like to be yet.

I watched a documentary from the 1990s, called Fat Chance, about an overweight man who was trying to diet and exercise. By the end of the movie, although I believe he was still trying to lose, he had hooked up with a support group that promoted fat acceptance and living life to the fullest NOW, instead of sitting on the sidelines until that magical achievement of the perfect weight.

While I don't agree with being content at my higher weight, I also am trying to remind myself not to hide away just because I am heavier than I would like to be. Life doesn't wait for a normal BMI. It's happening as I type this. For me, the movie was a good reminder not to become a hermit, and to say yes to opportunities that I would normally say no to.

Bookmark - I know that you will make a comeback in April! Mistakes are never mistakes if we learn from them and bounce back. At least, that's what I tell myself when I go off course!

Slashnl - so far I am really liking the app! I still can't imagine myself jogging the whole time, but maybe with this training, I'll get there. It makes me wonder how effective gym equipment is, because I can do 65 minutes on a cardio machine at higher levels and steep inclines, but I'm doing 30 minutes of outdoor walking/jogging, and I'm finding it really challenging. I would have thought I would breeze through 30 minutes easy, what with my gym performance.

This week ended WORSE than it started for me! Work is so stressful, it's almost unbearable. I intentionally skipped bootcamp both times this week just so I didn't have to be in a group of people.

I just want to say formally to this forum--Thank You!
Thank you for posting here every week and sharing a small glimpse into your life with me each week.
You truly are inspiring and encouraging to me.

Well, here we are starting a new week, new month. I have to do better this month. It was not a great March for me either. I feel better now, but still have a little bit of a cough. I almost had myself talked out of going to the gym this morning, but I knew it was starting to mess with my mind a little bit. So, went to spin. It wasn't as bad as I thought it with be, after taking a week off. But feeling it.

I've been struggling so much with food lately, I am recommitting (again) this week to staying on plan. I am going to try to go with lots of discipline, without any "treats". Enough already! I know that I have wasted the first three months of this year, for the most part. That can't continue.

K9Owner - Oh boy, I totally understand that!!! Sometimes, you just don't want to make the effort to be nice to others! I hope this week is starting out better for you.

Guacamole - I agree with you about the machines and being outside. Even doing the same activity is harder to me outside than it is inside. Like when I run on the treadmill, it keeps me moving because it is set at a certain speed. Outside, it is all on me. And just the concentration level needs to be up, but also the changes in the path with different inclines makes it more challenging.

And... here we go!!!

Diane: If you find a plan that helps you stick to your plan, please fill me in I did ok this morning for breakfast and lunch. Then, after lunch--I just felt as though I was starved!! TOM is here, so I'm blaming!!
On the bright side, I really wanted vending cookies and didn't give in! I had a T of PB instead.

I took my furries for a tonight and soaked up 12K steps!! Go Me

I had a net gain of 3.2lbs for March and while it's not 25lbs for the first 3 months of the yr, it is 25 lbs up from where I need and want to be--which is where I was when I plateaued.
It is so easy to get into a pattern of poor choices and then staying in the same pattern for days, weeks, months….
The good thing is, it's just as easy to make good choices and stick to them once you have the correct mindset. I'm NOT back to this mindset yet. I want to be!!

Some ideas I can offer you, me, and anyone else who may need it is:
1. Get involved in something new (or something old that you've abandoned) that you enjoy.

2. Read! New blogs, books, meal plans

3. Make encouraging note cards with phrases like "Today, I WILL choose to run outside." "Today, I will eat 4 servings of vegetables." "Today, I will have a salad for lunch using fresh veggies." "Today, I will NOT watch TV." (post that one on the TV screen) Then, post them all over the house where you will read them several times a day.

4. If you need new equipment (workout clothes, shoes, etc), make a budget to go buy it. The chances of you working out in clothes that don't fit is highly unlikely!

5. Join a group if you feel comfortable or get a buddy to work out with. This can be a challenge, but the benefits are great if you can succeed at finding someone who will push you when you don't want to work out.

6. Before going to the market, make a list of clean foods to buy and STICK TO THE LIST!! If you don't buy junk, you are less likely to eat it.

7. Drink more water, then--Drink some more. I've posted this link before, but it's worth reposting http://www.coachmmorris.com/2012/05/drink-water.html
Also, here's the water bomb I take every day to work http://www.coachmmorris.com/2013/04/...ugh-water.html
Yes, people stare and ask questions, but I have choices and I intend to utilize this choice to drink what I want!

8. Try not to think about food that you can't or don't need to eat. Instead, focus on what you CAN eat. It's good to mentally prepare by saying, "Today, I GET to eat this and tomorrow I GET to eat that." It sets you up for success!!

Went to Body Pump this morning. After not doing it for over a week, I'm very much feeling it. I am sure I'll be sore tomorrow. I don't know if I want to run tonight, but I think I'll at least go walk. Actually, now that I typed it out, I'm not sure why I wouldn't try to run a little. If the weather stays nice, I'll go outside.

K9Owner: Those are some good tips! Thanks for typing that out! It just takes a lot of discipline, doesn't it? Oh boy!

I wouldn't say it's easy to develop positive habits, although it is simple and maybe should be easy. It's always a battle for me, reestablishing a healthy lifestyle. Still, it can be done, and it gets easier day by day. I just need to remember that. I've had a good day yesterday and today. Some cravings and grumpiness but I'm hanging in there. And I got to the gym today, which helped to chill me out - work is stressful, getting things sorted out after my holiday and trying to plan for starting my Master's degree...lots of options and choices and logistics and things. It would be easy to put the weight stuff aside but I wont. I'm determined.

This is the Summer, at long last, that I'll be fit and trim again.

Diane: Awesome job doing 2-fers. I want to start taking a 30 min walk when I get up in the mornings. I'm not a morning person & just this shift in nights to days has my body completely OFF!

Bookmark: What field of study are you planning for your master's? I'm getting into one as soon as I find a house to buy and move!

Hello to everyone else.
Wednesday--the middle of the week already. I have a dentist appt. this a.m. Then, I get to go play with phones at work. It's supposed to rain today, which will spoil my afternoon run with my labs.
Hope you all have a fantastic HUMP DAY!

Yep, sore today from the body pump I did yesterday. I went to spin class to try to work it out a little. But feeling really stiff. I did go running last night, but had to do a lot of walking too. Oh well!

Bookmark: Glad it is getting easier every day! That's good!

K9Owner: Darn rain! Kind of like the wind we had yesterday, I couldn't go outside to run. Sad!

Up and down a bit with calories but generally on track-ish, and getting to the gym a bit, so that's a relief. I don't quite feel back in the swing of things, but I'm finding some grouchy determination. I find myself telling myself "I don't want to be fat" a lot when confronted by temptations these days. It sort of helps. The weekend approaches though and, as you know, that's my kryptonite, so fingers crossed I can keep it together.

k9owner: I'm looking at a special education masters with a concentration in behaviour disorders.

Hey y'all. I know I said I'd be back, just popping in to give a quick update on life.

My mom is currently in the hospital for renal failure, and has a host of other problems that are cropping up because of it. I've been at the hospital every day and haven't really had time to do much other than that. She is starting to perk up, though, and they're hoping the kidney damage is at least somewhat reversible. I'll be back once everything has calmed down.

Hope everyone is doing well!!

Really sorry to hear that your Mum has been hospitalized, DreadPiratePanda, but I'm glad things sound like they're looking up.

I am hanging in there. I'm pretty happy with how I've done this Friday evening. I went to the gym after work. I ate lights and healthy all day. I had half a thin crust pizza and some veggies and an ice cold diet fizzy drink, which I really enjoyed but also feel very comfortable with calorie wise. I'm also finding some non-food stuff to enjoy when I have down time that I want to make the most of, relaxation wise.

Tomorrow will be another potential trial, though, going to the movies. Regularly spaced, pre-planned meals is the strategy I'm going with. Plus a gym visit. I'm back down to 216 after a not-horribly diet feeling week. Planning to keep things moving. 200 again by May!

Where is everyone??? I didn't mean to kill the thread with the news of my mom! lol She's stabilized and is doing much better now. It'll be a long and difficult road, but she's gonna do great, I just know it. The problems she's having now mostly stem from her inability to lose weight in the past, and it has definitely opened both my eyes and hers. It's also given me a whole new reason to get my body healthy, because how can I expect her to work hard and be good to herself if I can't follow my own advice to her?

I checked my weight this morning and I'm at 258.8, which is about what I've expected. Now that things are calming down, I've got a whole new outlook and can't wait to get started losing weight again!

Hope everyone is well

I am hanging in there. Down a lb, nothing to brag about really.
I'm in the process of moving, so I have been packing & there's still ALOT left to pack.
Hope everyone is well, especially your mom (Amanda).

Hello everybody! I had lost a lot of weight over a year ago and was in Onederland and well on my way to goal. But then life hit and I moved, jobs, had a baby, and moved aparments (twice!), went from a dual income to single income household (my partner stays home with the little one) and lost one of my cats all in a ten month span. Soo...something had to give, and all of my lovely healthy habits went to the wayside and I regained like 60 lbs. Sadface.

I'm stoked to be back on the best weight loss support forum I've ever seen, and can't wait to get back on track. So far I've lost at least 8 lbs from my highest weight this go-round. Not sure exactly how many because I didn't have the heart to weigh myself until about a week ago.