Hey, everyone, my name is Cheryl and I have a problem. In 2006, I lost quite a lot of weight and was down to 199. I can only guess that this # freaked me out, because at that point, I stopped trying to lose weight, slipped into old habits, quit working out and gained back 50 pounds from October 2006 until today. I have tried to start over since the first of this year to no avail. I have tried to start over at least 3 times, with no success. But, no more, today is the day. It is getting nice out now and my pants are tight, my fat is spilling over the top, I am generally uncomfortable and totally uncorfortable in shorts, out in public. A lot of the weight I gained back went to my legs, and now I have fat cellulitey legs, where I never had that before! It grosses me out. Everything else is fat too. I am so pissed at myself. Why do we do this to ourselves? I am inheritently lazy, how do I make myself work out? I am not a big fan of working out.

As far as food, I do okay at work during the day (if I plan). If I do not plan, then all bets are off. And when is this $5 Foot Long Special over at Subway???? I go there, get the footlong, plan on eating 1/2 and then eat the whole thing. I am officially banned from Subway by myself. I do have issues at night at home, I graze. I am hungry when I get home from work, so I have a little something. Then we always seem to eat late, and oh boy, if I have some adult beverages, then all bets are off! And yes, I drink more than I should, there I admitted that. That is another issue I need to get under control? How do you get that under control when that is your coping mechanism? How do you learn other coping mechanism? What are other coping mechanisms?

Thanks for being my on line counselors and letting me rant.

I am starting over today too. Good luck to you. I want to lose like 50 lbs. I started and then I thought that I was preggo so I quit. So now I am starting back. I am ready to go!!!! BYE BYE weight.

well...ummmm I havent really changed in weight...which upsets me since I have been eating right (well for the most part) Dr thinks I might be hyperglycemic and I might be starting medicine soon, but in the mean time it is very frustrating to not budge the scale eating right...so I am throwing in excercise starting today.

Mary

Cheryl, I too am seeing the cellulite thighs. Better late than never for us to get back on track. Maybe you can turn to a hobby or go for a walk, for that coping mechanism?
Good luck to all of you. I am officially starting over today as well!

I'm in the SAME boat! I lose weight, people notice, I stop trying. My biggest problem is that while I don't really love the way I look, I'm completely comfortable with myself - so motivation is a big problem for me. Until recently! I met a friend who's completely opposite. Her weight consumes her life and all of the sudden I started looking at myself a little harder and realizing that I wasn't really ok with the way I looked. To be perfectly honest, I am not ok with anything in my life right now. I stay at home with my 2 babes and have no money to actually call my own. We're barely making it paycheck to paycheck and the prices just keep rising (as everyone is more than aware!). My house was never as messy as it has been over the past winter! I've just become lazy in every form of the word...so I started my own business and that got the ball rolling for me. All of the sudden the motivation just came to me. I kicked soda, I started exercising, my house is spotless, I started making my own money AND I'm starting to actually lose weight. But the BEST thing is that I feel like a million bucks!
Now I'm not a pro by any means, but I think that everyone should start with a really HUGE dose of positivity. Rather than saying I'm going to lose weight, you have to say I AM losing weight. Rather than saying I have to exercise you have to say I WANT to exercise (even if you don't!). I've read tons on positive thinking and the effects it has on your mind and it's so true that when you think positive you program yourself to BE positive. Our brains are funny things. You can program yourself to actually be sick if you think about it hard enough! Since you feel as if you lack motivation you just simply tell yourself a hundred million times a day "I AM motivated". Surely there are a hundred people reading this shaking their heads, thinking it's just not that simple. But give it an honest effort. It really is just that simple. Make yourself little signs and put them up everywhere - tell yourself in the mirror - think it in your head - tell the world..."I AM MOTIVATED". I really believe that this journey begins in our heads.
So my friend, I wish you luck and beg for the same from you! My do-over began yesterday! I think that we're in the right place! Everyone here is awesome!

I'm also starting today! I'm ready to lose the last 40 once and for all. My goal is to to it by November 1. I'm ready to go!

Welcome, Cheryl!

Oh, my gosh, I "got" everything that you said. The cellulite on the legs thing... where did THAT come from!? I always prided myself on not having cottage cheese legs. Now I've got them!
And lazy? Oh, my. I used to be so full of energy, and now it's all I can do to get my big butt away from the computer.

I'm so glad you mentioned coping mechanisms. I Googled it (I Google everything, but rarely use the information... no wonder I'm so fat), and found a few good links about breaking bad habits, etc.
I had to hunt a bit, because most of the suggestions were for things that we already know. Eating better, exercising, etc. DUH! Just tell us how to make ourselves do it!
I'm forcing myself to read and absorb the information (because I'm lazy, and I've got the concentration skills of a three year old). It makes sense. This is not going to be easy, but it's May 2nd, and I'm determined to get back on track with you!

Here are the links:
http://depression.about.com/cs/selfh...kbadhabits.htm
http://ezinearticles.com/?Breaking-B...Habit&id=71021
http://www.pickthebrain.com/blog/str...ing-good-ones/

I hope these are of some help to you. Hang in there... you can do this!

Best wishes to everyone!
And welcome to you, too, Six Months!

Dear Starting Overs,

This is my first posting on 3 FC. I have been reading and looking for motivation and today I got it.

I have struggled with weight from the time I was 16 and I am 54. I have had some success with conventional weight loss programs and groups but always go back to the original weight plus. I like exercise, but I also like good food and red wine.

So what did I learn? Eating foods with a high glycemic index causes me to loose control. Similarily, the first couple of days on a diet gives me the same sensation-hunger and craving.

I am going to look at everything that goes into my mouth and evaluate the glycemic index. It is pretty easy and anyone who has looked at their own diet will be able to do this in a heart beat. there is lots of information on-line. I really feel better-less head aches, and more giddy-up.

I eat too much for all kinds of reasons. Loosing weight will not change the reasons why I eat too much. I am trying to focus on my health and wellness. This journey is for me.

I want to report that my first day went fabulous! I can do this, I just need to stay in the right frame of mind. 1 day down, the rest of my life to go