did I mention sugar free jello and fat free cool whip. they are my life savers

I think that what works well for this type of lifestyle change (we don't call it diet ) is really following the plan as it should be. I find that, as Julia mentioned, not eating all your portions affects my weight loss. I also tend to eat later in the day, but when I make an effort to eat earlier and have my last meal at 7p (the very latest), I see a little more loss that week.

Of course, exercise and lots of water helps as well.

pearl and bizlawchik i found ur words really helpful...i feel like i have fallen off track. I just filled my water bottle and i am going to have a good day. thank u!!

I never noticed this thread before. Thanks for pulling it up Shari!

1- Make a list of the reasons you decided to lose weight. Post it where you can see it often, your own words can really help you stay on track.

2- Set mini goals with rewards at the end. NOT food rewards! Some suggestions would be things that make you feel good about yourself such as clothes, shoes, makeup, manicures, pedicures, massages, facials, lotions, perfumes, stuff for your bedroom, music, etc.

3- Celebrate your successes, learn from your failures.

4- Don't give up when you stall. Everyone will hit stalls from time to time, but they do end eventually, and you will start losing again if you keep with it.

5- Commit yourself to a lifestyle change forever. Just realize that gone are the days of putting anything into your mouth without thinking about it. Do not come into this plan thinking that "I can't wait to get to goal so that I can go back to cheese burgers and fries." It just does not work that way. Even when you get to goal, you will always need to repect a 90/10 way of eating, meaning that 90% of the time, you put only good things into your body, and 10% of the time, you allow a little splurge.

6- Lastly, I really want to urge everyone to take a good look at the food they are purchasing and preparing. Who is doing most of the work, you in your own kitchen, or the manufacturer? I truly believe that our country is engaged in a nutrition crisis due to convenience foods filled with trans fats, food colorings, and many other chemicals. These prefab foods are causing obesity, cancer, heart disease, autism, birth defects, and a lot of other ugly stuff. As we all get busier, our nutrition is really suffering. There is no crime in taking the Joan Cleaver road and spending more time in the kitchen to do it homemade. We owe it to ourselves and our families.

Plan plan plan your meals!

I have done WW in the past but am really having great success with LAWL. With both plan the journalling is the key! I take about an hour at night once a week and plan out my menu for the week. I take stock of what meats are in the freezer etc, veg in the fridge, grab my old journals and the cookbook and sit down and plan. On nights I know we have functions I usually leave myself a protein, starch, 2 veg, a fat and a fruit for dinner. I then plan the rest of my day around it.
If you are hungry and come in the door without knowing what you are going to eat you are much more likely to grab the wrong food or just eyeball what you are eating instead of measuring. Planning ahead allows you to add some variety to your meals, make favorites etc.
When shopping for meats bring them home, weigh them and label them for the freezer. I buy a bulk package of chicken or beef and then weigh out my portions. When I go to make a recipes that needs 5 ozs of chicken I can just reach in the freezer and get it and know I'm only eating what I should. Planning ahead makes it easy for you to know what to thaw the day before, what items to grab at the grocery store etc.
The journalling and even the meats take up a chunk of my time some evenings but once it's done I have no work to do for the rest of the week but to enjoy all my meals and know I'm staying on track.

Hope this helps!

I think I am going to do that Kristen... I already portion out my meats before putting in the freezer but I am going to sit down with the cookbook and recipes I have been printing and plan out the weeks meals tomorrow afternoon!

Hi Barb.. my COD truly believes that is why I am having such success.. if it isnt' on paper it doesn't go in my mouth. I do use my measuring spoon and cups all the time as I know my eyeball is far from accurate I never have cravings as I always revamp my menu and have a lot to choose from.. do you have the newest cookbook? I posted a while back but there are some great choices in there... Lemon Chicken, Oriental Style Shrimp Salad, Italian Style Burger, Mediterranean Pasta Bake, Veal and Mushrooms, Meatloaf.. just to name a few! The only ones I didnt' like were the Bran Muffins and the Chicken Okra Gumbo. .both were quite bland.
Note me with any questions as I use this book EVERY day lol

I have an older cookbook. I was thumbing through the newer cookbook at the COD today and noticed alot of the recipes were in that one. I personally liked the chicken okra gumbo but I added some more seasonings to it. It was bland at first. I dont know if I want to spend the money on the new one if alot of the recipes are in the one I have...

If and when you can will you post the Lemon Chicken and Oriental Style Shrimp Salad? I know that you a busy gal! Thanks!

I have the older books too and the new one is virtually identical with a few additions.. I'll try to at least get the Lemon Chicken in tonight if I can.

thank you Kristen you are awesome !!!!!!!!!! I am going to make sure that those 2 recipes are not in my book but I did not see them.

Best advice? I've never thought of this as a diet, this is a new way of eating for me, for life or I might as well quit right now! I decided I was too young to feel old.Stick with the plan, it works. I'm down 37 pounds and just finished my 3rd month. I never imagined that I could eat so much food and still watch the pounds fall off. It's certainly a motivator! And smaller jeans isnt't such a bad thing either! ha ha

Such wise words from someone who is living proof of an LAWL success story!!! Thank you for reminding us of the power of whole foods, Katie!!! You're awesome~~~

Katie - I agree with your theory too. Plus, when you make your own meals, you get a much more filling portion, I think.

Welcome back Shari!

That's the way I'm looking at it...to me "diet" is a psychological thing that i want to do subconsciously. It's harder for me if I actually say I'm on a diet.

As i mentioned in other posts, i'm just surprised about how energetic I feel throughout the day! I think that's what's keeping me strong right now...plus losing weight...although at my weighin today I gained back almost 2lbs. I'm not worried...today I went after eating lunch and drinking almost 3 liters of water.

For me when I get tempted to order a pizza or head to Wendy's, I think of how horrible i felt afterwards. I think of how fast foods such as KFC make me nausiated. I try and dwell on the negative of what i'm craving...it's not fool proof, but most of the time it works for me.