Hello all...

I haven't been around much lately - Christmas was such a hectic time, both at work and home (my fiance and I spent Xmas with his family in England so much time and effort was spent preparing for the trip), but now that it's over I'm having a bit of a hard time getting back to where I was before the craziness of the season got in the way...

I have the best of intentions... haven't given it up completely... but there are some habits I just can't seem to slip back into as easily. On one hand, I have gotten back to the gym and plan to continue to exercise 4-5 times a week; I definitely get enough water; and most of the food choices I make are good ones (i.e. enough fruits & veggies and trying to get in more milk). However, there's the other side of the coin - I start journalling but often don't finish out the day... or I write up until I've reached my points and then don't put down anything for all the points I've gone over. It is my TOM this week, so I'm sure that has something to do with the feelings of wanting to have more than normal, or stranger things than normal, but that in itself is not an excuse.

I am afraid that I have gotten comfortable. I have been on WW for 8 months and have lost almost 50 lbs. I will lose another 50 before I'm through (when, not if - though it may take longer, at this rate). But I've slipped back into some of the older habits I had and have found they fit very comfortably. I need to give myself a good swift kick in the pants to get it through my head that the newer, smaller clothes I have fit better than any old bad habit does.

So... checking in here has helped - if I type, I can't eat. Doesn't get any more basic than that, I think. Also seeing how everyone else is doing helps to show me that I'm not the only one and that, despite my feelings to the contrary sometimes, I DO have control over myself and DO NOT have to put into my mouth whatever croissant happens to come my way.

Ok... Well... yes, this has definitely helped. I have some more fruit to eat and then I'm officially back on the wagon...

Thanks for listening...

Christine

Hi Christine --

Just wanted to say you've come too far to give it all up. Believe me.... been there, done that and am now faced with the somewhat daunting task of doing it all over again!
My suggestion to you would be to take some "ME" time away from the hustle and bustle of life and re-group, re-consider why you're doing this and re-focus your efforts. Try planning Monday's meals in advance.
I know I just re-joined Wednesday after a 5 year (gained it almost all back) absence, and since then have felt unbelievably empowered and in control of ME!!!!
anytime you need to chat, vent, etc, drop me a line
jess

Christine,
Glad to read the end of your post when you declared yourself back OP officially. That's the way to do it. Say it, do it--be successful. Best of luck. You've done so well already.
234/208/199soon

Christine, Oh My God, 50 lbs is sooooooo good. If you an focus on what you have already done and then you will realize that you had it in you then so you will definately do it again. When I think of that weight it is like picking up 1/2 of one of my Grman Shepherds,ouch!!!!! You can find that strength again

Hi,

This may sound a little silly, but I'm all for anything that works. I noticed that when I journal, I do much better. If I have one of those slipup days, I don't eat as much as I do when I don't write it down. So, I really wanted to commit to writing it all down.

I got a hardbound journal on sale at Waldenbooks that has enough pages for every day of the year. I've been using stickers for a long time and this year I paste a sticker on every page that I fill out. It sounds a little childish, but decorating my pages with those pretty stickers is a tiny reward that keeps me writing.

Since I've started using my stickers as a reward just for journaling, I've been OP every day. The stickers also help me to focus on my successes. And, as the cliche goes, success does indeed breed success.

Good luck!

Lin

Thanks for all the words of support... I am happy to say that I am still going strong, having started my new 'program' on Saturday. I've been working out like a fiend at the gym (well, 30 mins weights and 45 mins cardio yesterday and 30 mins cardio so far today); and have been sticking to my guns re: food. Even went to the grocery store last night and restocked my shelves... High fiber/whole wheat pasta, Yves Veggie Ground Round, Lite Laughing Cow Cheese, new Spudz snacks (yummy in ketchup flavor btw!!), fat free yoghurt, etc... I'm on a roll! Now I just have to cook it! LOL! But seriously, I do have more energy for this again.

Even when things come along that might have made me eat before, I have other ways of dealing with it. For example, a woman I used to work with died this morning after a suffering with cancer for the last few months. Stuff like that would usually make me look for chocolate - and lots of it - but instead, today I went to the drug store and bought 2 magazines (my new treat - i.e. addiction ;-) and 2 pieces of poster board.

Like you, Lin, I'm a very visual person. I've already got one piece of poster board on my bedroom wall that's decorated with photos of the old me and tons of motivational and inspirational sayings to keep me focused, but after today I felt like I wanted to go home and do some more stuff like that to help keep me on track.

Your journal sounds like my own... mine is in an old
3-ringed daytimer type book - I have different sections in it... a pocket in front holds my points finder and exercise slide; a plastic zip lock like folder holds my membership card, small awards like magnets, etc...; then there's the journal section (I format each page so it's basically like the paper ones they give out); then in the back there's my 'goals' section - it's got a running count of all my weigh ins so I can see at a glance, from week to week, how I'm doing. It's also got a piece of graph paper that I chart my progress on so I can see it that way (it has a big impact when you see how well you are - or aren't - doing when it's presented that way). Finally, way at the very back is some blank pages so I can take notes at my meetings. It's *much* better than that flimsy thing they give out every week. The great thing about it is I can keep adding pages to it and everything I need is together in the same place.

Anywho... must run... thanks again for all the words of support.

Christine