Traci -

I just wanted to make a quick suggestion to you. If I'm in a real time crunch, I take my books with me to the gym and read while I do the elliptical or the stationary bike. It's not the ideal situation for either pursuit, but it did help me fit both in when I was really crunched.

I wouldn't say it is ridiculously easy on some days, but it is easier this time than other times because of a mental shift in my approach. Now I see my eating plan as the path to feeling great, being healthy, and having the goodies in life. When I saw it as unfair, a punishment, hard work, almost impossible, etc., staying the course was impossible.

I still have days when I go off plan, but now I'm right back on course because I have the commitment to live my life in a mostly healthy manner. I truly understand the meaning of this being a lifestyle and not a diet, whereas before it seemed like a lot of horse manure to think of it as anything but a diet.

When I was younger, it was "easier" to take off pounds quickly. A little effort and the pounds melted off. At this age, the pounds aren't dropping off easily--I have to put in more effort, and it goes slower no matter what I do--but it feels different because of my mental shift.

I don't know...I guess this is just the first time I have really committed, as some of you have mentioned..I have bad days and go off plan..But I don't quit altogether like I would have in the past..I use to "diet" a week, eat something "bad", and stop trying altogether. Now, I am just like..."OK, I ate a some pizza...Let's try not to do that again for awhile."
I am so glad I have you guys!! I really feel like the support from this site has been the difference maker.

Thanks mug! I think they're pretty hot myself

Thanks, LaurieDawn. I will probably resort to that when I move back into the Y when it gets cold. I've been in pretty much "full panic" mode since starting back to school fulltime, but it's getting better. Did six miles on my bike last night - waited too long to start - it gets dark SO darn much earlier now! But it was great and I just need to take a time out and go do something. Looked at the pile of dishes in the kitchen and went for a bike ride. :-) DH can do the dishes this morning.

I understand what you mean...some days I can stay on plan and have a good day without even thinking about it and then some days I struggle. For me, it has alot to do with planning, hormones, attitude and sleep. All this can play a role in what kind of day I have.

That is the EXACT same approach that I have started this time. Everything gets written down & I move on.

It's not easy-but boy, is it WORTH it!!!

Hey Sockmonkey -- try to remember your mindset when you posted this, see it's working! maybe not as fast as you'd like right now, but it IS working!

LOL Thanks trazey...This really made me smile

So much for it being a habit though lol.

Hey,
You say it's easy, please can you give me some pointers then? How did u get started? What do u eat? What kind of excercise do you do? I would really appreciate some pointers because you seem to be really successful.
Thanks
C
xx

Actually, LOSING felt like that for me, for most of the journey, anyway. The last ten vanity pounds, and maintaining, dear god, that's tough. Because I AM eating "normal food" now, and I can go out to a restaurant, and eating as much as 2000 calories once or twice a week isn't going to kill me... but now that I can give myself the treats occasionally, its hard to stop treating every day. I need to find a routine that doesn't feel like denial, because I can't and won't feel like i'm on a diet every day for the rest of my life.