Hi Kelly!

I know exactly how you feel right now. I'm in the same place. So I'm going to give you the same advice I'm following for myself. I definately would not completely give up, but in stead of obsessing and stressing about it. Just go about your life, classes and such with the only objective to make healthy choices. Making healthy food choices, walk when you can, take stares instead of an elevator and such. When you are not so focused on it, you'll get up one morning in a rush and realize that the pants/skirt you just put on are a bit big. That is what always works for me.

I'm following this plan for now...make healthy food choices avoiding processed foods as much as possible and be as active as I can. Sometimes not thinking about it so much is what jump starts you to lose again.

Best wishes and good luck. I think you received good advice. I can also tell from your past success that you are a strong person capable of achieving anything you desire.

There's a lot of good advice here and a lot of ways to look at this, but you ultimately have to make the decision.

Maintaining can sometimes be more work than "dieting". Maybe just take a break in the respect of weighing yourself and stressing about lbs. Depending on the type of plan you're following, maybe just cut out a few items. If you're counting calories or watching carbs, for instance, cut out anything made with flour or sugar---just doing that will make a difference without a lot of other changes.

More than anything, take time for yourself when you can, to just breathe. You do have a lot on your plate but the healthier you eat the less overall stress you will experience...

Good luck!

I agree with everyone else, maybe not take time off from calorie counting/exersizing (I think that is what you are doing?) and all things healthy. But maybe too take a break from the scale. I have decided to do that myself and I have felt really great. I continue to make healthy choices and exersize but I am not letting a little number on the scale make or ruin my day!

Good luck in whatever you decide!!

Is there that much difference between maintaining and dieting??? I mean you still have to watch what you eat when you maintain from what I gather from reading what others do.

I agree with those who have posted that you have to be careful that you don't gain back what you have lost because it would be a crying shame to do that as we all know how hard it is to lose 25 pounds much less 40 or 50 like you.

good luck in whatever you decide to do!