I am so way off track it's not even funny. I keep going up to 220, I lose it, and then I gain it again. I can't even count the times I have done that so far. What started it back again last time was my "attempt" to quit smoking. I had lost 22 or so pounds, and then tried to stop smoking and gained almost all of it back. Now I am point A again. I've recently started college, going there part time..and still working full time..and I just feel so stressed..and I turn to eating..and I haven't been exercising. I am just a big mess right now. I tell myself, Brooke, gonna walk tomorrow with dixie..or go up to the trail with the bike..but I haven't done it yet. I feel so miserable, and I have felt like crap so much lately that my family is worried about me. they say I am too young to feel miserable/to be sick all the time. I "NEED" to get back on track. Help?! ;(

Oh, and my Doctor wants me to start on the South Beach Diet. What do you all think about that? It seems like it would be a very hard thing to do, but he said I didn't have to do it full force...

Sounds like you're taking a lot on! You said you're at point A again, does that mean you plan on trying to lose weight AND quit smoking too??? That seems like you're taking on a lot doing that. Your Dr is recommending South Beach Diet which I'm not on but I think is a sound program but what is he suggesting about the smoking? Does he want you to do both at the same time?

I'd sit down w/your dr and discuss ALL of this. Let him know you want to lose weight and quit smoking but you're really stressed out with work and school and trying to do this too.

As far as what you can do on your own, if you do SBD I'd plan the meals out for the entire week. Your schedule is pretty hectic so this will help you avoid overeating in between.

It's really hard for us to force ourselves to exercise when we REALLY don't want to. Don't beat yourself up you're running from work to school and doing everything in between. Can you walk on the job on breaks/lunches or at school to help you along? If you have equipment at home maybe plan on doing it in the AM before you start your day or in the PM when you have a little more time--try not to think of it as exercise think of it as a way to "pep you up" in the morning or "wind you down" in the evening.

Most of all DON'T STRESS OUT! Sit back, take a breath, an congratulate yourself on what you've accomplished! You are doing some amazing things w/your life and should be proud!

Yeah, I am. I have been really stressed. lol. What I mean by Point A, is when I joined this site I was the weight I am now, so, therefore, I am back to the beginning. I have talked to my Doctor about losing weight, and not much about quitting smoking. My Mom got some chantix, so if she doesn't use it, she said she would give it to me. And I have heard a lot of good things about it. But, I really want to tackle the weight issue first. And then when I gain about 10-20 lbs from quitting, I won't be as upset, and I can just lose it slowly when that moment comes. I am going to try to start on the SBD soon. Money is really tight for us, so, getting the "right" foods is quite hard since they are so expensive.

We have a treadmill, and some weights. But, right now there is a laundry basket on it, and a few small boxes. lol. I need to move them, and get my a** in gear! I really want an exercise bike. I like bike riding, and enjoyed it when I went to the YMCA, other than everyone else around me. Made me feel weird. lol. And yes, I can take walks while at work. I work right next door to me, taking care of Mom, and I am sure she wouldn't mind me taking a small walk here and there. It's just the whole motivation thing. Yanno?

Thank you for your pep talk.

First I'd like to say I'm glad to see you back here brook. I was wondering where you went. I understand how stressful life can be when you take a lot of things on. (A big thing that contributed to me getting up to 300 pounds was working two 20 hour a week jobs and going to school full time plus trying to be a normal college student who like to . . . um . . . party a lot. Needless to say I can totally see now how I got myself up to 300 pounds and sometimes I don't know how my body didn't just totally crash out on me.) Anyways back to you. I think it is great that you started school again but it is really hard to balance everything in life. However I find that organziation is the key. I'm sure you can lose the weight, you lost 20 pounds before and I have no doubt in my mind you will do it again. I'm also sure that you will be able to kick the smoking habit. Here are a couple of thougths that came to my mind while I read your post.

First about picking a "program":
Why does you doctor want you to start SBD? Did he give you specific reasons or potential health benefits? Did you discuss other dieting options with him? Is he a nutritionist or does he have experience providing health programs for individuals who are overweight (this may sound odd but even being a doctor he might not be in the best position to give you advice on that if he doesn't have the necessary background. You might benefit going to see a nutritionist or dietitan more then starting SBD. A lot of colleges actually offer them for free to help curb eating disorders on campus.) Is SBD something you are going to be able to substain for a lifetime in order to maintain keeping your weight off?

My second set of thoughts are more about being busy and losing weight (these are mainly from being a busy grad student who is trying to balance weight loss with everything else):
Are you planning you meals out . . . If I don't plan then I end up eating crap.
Are you planning in times for you meals . . . this may sound like an odd one but I learned that I didn't plan in specific meal breaks then I wouldn't eat or I would just snack all day.
Take meals and snacks with you when you have work and class . . . My backpack is always full of food that way I avoid the possiblity of buying a candy bar.
Are you planning in time to execrise whether it be on your lunch break, before work, before class, after class. Again if I don't plan it in it doesn't happen.
Are you planning "me time" in everyday. If you don't you will burn out.

Good luck, remember you always have everyone here to help you out.

And welcome back!

I quit smoking on the 19th of August and started a real diet on the 7th of this month. Brooke I am so right here with you. I am at almost your wieght and just starting as well.

I am no longer spending 5 bux a day on cigarettes but I am spening 3 bux a day on gum! When I want a smoke I chew gum, thus I have not stopped chewing gum since August 19! I started binging when things got stressy and the gum wasn't helping, now I plan on hitting the treadmill when those times hit. *pauses for more gum* My NP said to gain weight then worry abotu loosing it when the nicotine cravings go away. But, I have spoken to several people that stopped smoking in the 80's and still have to fight not grabbing a pack when things get tough.

Keep me posted and we can buddy up on this and stay smoke free and get all hot mamma like!

hey - congrats on your commitment to quiting smoking! you can do it!

ive done south beach and the first phase is pretty tough. as in special prep, you cant just go out an eat whatever etc. so if youre willing to put in the prep time then its great for losing fast... lower carb high prot med fat is i think pretty much the diet. its not a great one to do half as**d in my opinion because you can easily get up above your caloric needs for the day with the fat and prot levels if you are not sticking to it. on the other hand they do have a lot of "prefab" foods you can buy (meal bars, frozen microwavable meals etc) and then you can jist add veggies but I think a lot of those are for stage two or three.

if you decide not to try it my recommendation is to try to start the day off with some protien (i really like that new weight smart or whatever its called oatmeal (by quaker) its got like 9 g protien and a lot of complex carrbs so it keeps me going for a few hours. then try to do a lot of lean protien and veggies. that way you are not so worried about carbs (ie you can go out to dinner and get chicken and veggies and not worry that there is tomato sauce or something that might put you over your limit).

ok sorry for the ramble...

good luck i think you are making a lot of positive changes!