Beila, I think that was part of the problem. If I ate something that I didn't plan on, then I didn't eat one of my healthier meals. HOWEVER, I've think I've come to the conclusion that that is the problem. You have to still eat. Those calories count but it's not giving your body the nutritional fill that it needs.

Now that I have been reminded of the importance of eating at all 6 meals a day. I believe that my previous 1 pound a week loss will start up again. I realized that I didn't eat all 6 meals thinking erroneously that it meant less calories which would equal a bigger weight loss. That has proven to be incorrect for the past few weeks. I had a couple of free meals during the week but I didn't skip a meal because of something that I hadn't planned on the weekend.

All the carbs that I eat now are all beautiful and healthy carbs Like couscous and veggies. Today I'll be making quinoa because I haven't had it in quite a while.

Ann- That was the past 2 days! lol 188.8 Saturday and 189.6 Sunday. But that peek always gets me motivated and reminds me of how close I am to that next ...?... drop? What the heck do you call that? The 190s, 180s, 170s? The next decade drop?

I'll always take a move on the scale even if it's water weight!

I started my son last week watching what he eats and the portions, eating more often and making healthier choices. Lucky for me he loves EVERYTHING. Give him ANY vegetable and he'll try it if not probably love it! So he's very easy. He's 5'4 and was 151 last Monday, today he's 145. I've been trying to get him more active too. I didn't tell him that I think he needs to lose weight. I told him that I can tell that he is uncomfortable with his body and I want to help him. I do think that he's too heavy and I'm worried about the direction his weight is headed but I don't tell him that.

LTs- I hope that some of this Florida weather will migrate to where you are soon. Although I don't look forward to it getting any warmer than it is right now. I love the real spring!

Beila- I missed the end of your comment earlier. I can't say if it's realistic or not since we all lose weight at different weights. But I found that putting a date on it discourages me more when I don't meet that deadline. But just thinking of the number and focusing on reaching that number period. Helps A LOT more for me. I wanted to be 190 by the end of February and I wasn't so I think that led to my 193 stand still and eating less on the weekends than I do during the week when I am seeing approximately a pound a day loss. I can't do "deadline" goals any more because of it.

I think of Christmas and wonder where I'll be by then. We have about 38 more weeks until then and I figure I should be at or near goal. Even if I'm not, I'll sure weigh less than I do now and that's my focus. What are your normal weekly losses? You also have to factor in for a possible plateau, setbacks, and that fact that you may lose slower the closer you get to goal weight.

Sometimes setbacks are avoidable and sometimes they are necessary to strengthen us for our maintence phase.

Beila - I know what my problem is...I have not worked out for about 2 weeks. My eating hasn't been horrible. I can just NOT get into working out. My DH is going through the same struggle right now. I need to start taking my vitamins and see if that helps. I just feel exhausted no matter what I do.

Suesno - I will take any sunshine you send my way.

Ann - congrats on the 6lbs!! woo hoo!!

Congrats Ann! Glad to hear you are seeing results from low carb! So happy you're getting to see lower numbers!

LT--I'm feeling your pain too, I just don't feel like working out today. But I must if I want to see results. Some days it feels wierd when I don't exercise, so if I do it almost every day, it becomes a part of my routine. The vitamins and coffee help me A LOT, especially in the morning. But if your only time to do it is at night, then maybe find a time to try with your DH. Like it's an activitiy you can both enjoy and spend time with each other. You always feel lazy about it beforehand, but then afterwards, you're always happy that you did it. No one ever says, boy I wish I didn't go to the gym today. You know what I mean? I hope that helps.

LT- I felt the same way for the first few weeks that I started working out. It was a struggle to get it done and I was sooooooo exhausted. It was like irrational exhaustion. It didn't make any sense! I was getting enough sleep I was eating better. It eventually went away. At least you have your eating under control. That's always the hardest part!

So I think the 190 was actually a tease because today I was back to 189.6! Yipeee!!

Suenos -- this gives me hope, too! Everything feels like a struggle these days. I want to look forward to working out someday

Good morning! I dragged myself out of bed at 7:30am this morning to a quiet house. All the kids are still sleeping. It has been me, my coffee, and Jack (one of our golden retriever's) enjoying the sunshine coming through the window this morning. That's right, the sun is shining. Thanks Suenos.

I feel like I have been complaining a lot lately. I haven't lost anything for a while. I have faced the truth..it is my own fault. The past month, I have not been perfect on eating (not that I feel that I have to be, but I was bad and not even close to perfect. lol) and I have completely giving up on exercising. I think it has been due to stress. How ironic because exercising would help with the stress... I know, I know.
So here is the game plan. Stay on plan with eating this week and start back to exercising on Monday. No excuses. Going to mentally prepare myself this week. I will stay low carb until the 24th. Easter and my baby's 5th birthday!! That's right, my baby turns 5 this year. That means all of them go to school next year. Crazy.

Talk with you all later.

NYGiantsGirl- It is sooooo true. It's hard to believe but when I tell you that I struggled for at least a month. I even went to the doctor and had all kinds of blood work done because I thought there must be something wrong with me. The exhaustion started before I started working out. I would be walking and all of a sudden it was like a wall of exhaustion would just come out of nowhere and hit me hard. Like I was sprinkled with that magic guy's (whose name escapes me at the moment) sleeping dust or something. If I would have had the opportunity to close my eyes at those moments, I would have been OUT like a light. Eventually it got much better. I just put one foot in front of the other and did it.

Your mind controls your body not the other way around. You can force your body to do what it tries to tell you that it can't. You know very well that it can. Your mind is always a part of the problem but you have to propel your body to get it done. Kind of like when you KNOW you have to pick up the kids from school or let the dog out and you just don't want to you'd much rather not. But you do? It's that power that you have to use. And it definitely "ain't" easy that's for sure But if it were easy, we'd all be hotter than we wanted to be right now!

LTs-I was hoping you'd receive my gift soon! Good job on facing that truth. It's one of the suckiest things that we are forced to do with ourselves. But once we actually do it we realize that our goals are possible and we're just holding ourselves back. Sometimes people blame the diet or the exercise and think they're doing everything right but when they're really honest and really think about it they can see where they have played a part. My whole month long stand-off at 193 that I couldn't quite grasp? All me.

I cried when I watched TBL loser this morning on my DVR! That's the first time I've ever cried when someone has been sent home

I know you're right. I am not happy about last week's total lack of weight loss, though -- I thought I was mentally prepared, cause I knew having family in town (and different groups! all of whom insisted on no-win situations like Ethiopian food!) for five consecutive days was going to do me in, but I wasn't ready when the number came up. My only consolation is that it would have been so much worse if I hadn't tracked all week and tried to hoard points.

So I knocked over the stand-up punching apparatus in cardio circuit -- twice. I was MAD!

Hey everyone, sorry been quiet lately, i've been lacking in motivation and just had it with weight loss. I've just been binging every day. I can't seem to keep my thoughts off of binging lately. Just crazy. Well I'm hoping I can figure things out and just mentally get myself back to where I need to be. Wish me luck!

NYGiants- At least you had a plan! I've done that before where I've gotten up my resolve made a plan and the have it all just go to pot for reasons out of my control. Sorry that you had to go through that it sucks! I'd much rather lose control or just go off the deep end all by myself because of me than because I can't control the majority's food vote option It'll get better Oh yeah and then harder and better again!

Beila Is it the food that you're eating? Are you happy with what you eat or satisfied with the amount? You may need to actually eat more to lose more. The thought of eating more for me was like "You've GOT to be kidding me! I can't do that!!" and a few weeks ago I tried to restrict myself more. Did NOT work. That's actually another reason I plateau'd now that I think about it. I am in LOVE with the foods I eat at each and every meal. My last meal for the night is like a desert for me. I don't have to worry about not eating after 7:00 because it's OK to eat certain things before bed. This is going to sound not good at all if you're not a cottage cheese fan WHICH I was not before I started this WOE (way of eating). I mix the cottage cheese in a blender until it's smooth and put it all back in the container and in the refri until I'm ready to eat it. I use about 1/4-1/2 cup of cottage cheese 1-2 packets of splend mix in a bow and then put about 4-5 cut up strawberries in it. When I want an extra special treat, I put 1 tablespoon of Smuckers all natural chunky peanut butter. O.M.G. You really have no idea until you've tried it. I eat that literally EVERY. SINGLE. NIGHT that there are strawberries in my fridge. Which is most nights. And I'm not close to growing tired of it.
Maybe if you can't stick to it you might have to find another way that fits you better? I don't know I wish I could give you the perfect solution but I can give you this

Hi. I just turned 38 last month and I also need support. I was doing great on my diet until I started selling chocolate for my7 year old's school fundraiser and buying Crispy Creme doughnuts from my coworker. I was down to 169 lbs. Now, I'm back up to 179. I did't gain all of weight back (starting at 189, my heaviest since pregnancy). This is Day 2 for me of the HCG diet, so tomorrow I start eating 500 calories along with the shots. I'm hoping to get down to 155.

A small but significant food victory today:

My friend bought a Groupon for crepes and gelato. I am anti-eating out after last week's awfulness, but since she is the font of support usually, I couldn't say no.

Crepes are bad. But insisting on a cup of chicken, salsa and onion *without* the crepe and *with* salad greens is good.

Hey everyone... sorry I kind of vanished. Sometimes I find keeping up on these forums difficult. I've also been sick agian, this time with strep. I've had 4 illnesses so far in the 4 months of 2011, not exactly how I wanted to start the year!!! I did manage to go for a short run last night and I'm planning on trying a short work out tonight. I had a lot of reading to do so please forgive me if I leave someone or something out

Beila - I'm glad to hear your depression has lifted but don't forget about the depression area. It could still be very helpful for you with these downs. I'm glad your journal is very effective for you! I can never keep up with stuff like that, diaries, journals... anything like that I always seem to drop no matter how good my intentions are at the start. What about the set point thing? I've been stuck forever and you guys got me thinking. How and/or what did you find?

Ann - I'm feeling better, thanks. Did you find a light box? I'm thinking of trying to save some cash to get a different one since mine still isn't fixed. But I was really trying to save for something else.... I don't want to pick between the two. Your mini goal sounds tough but like Suenos said, everyone is different. Congrats on the 6 pounds

Suenos - If you like walking you might really like running too. You might be different from me, in that it sounds like you would benifit from having a running partner while I really internalize during my run. I think you should check out the Couch to 5K program, it is really good, it starts you off very slowly. Congrats on the 30 pound loss! While I was reading I found myself really hoping your return to the 190's was a temporary thing. I was very happy to read that it was! Keep doing what you're doing!!!