Hi Everyone! Looking for any advice folks have for getting back in the swing of things, but mostly just looking for encouragement, since the ol' self esteem is suffering at the moment. I was pretty active here in 2007, when I dropped from 188 to 148 lb. I originally wanted to go for 140 lb, but at that point I hit a ton of health issues and decided to stop. Had a couple surgeries and now everything is back under control. My chronic conditions are now in remission and I'm enjoying life again.

I maintained the 148 lb pretty well (some ups, some downs) until this summer, when I was working CRAZY long hours/weekends and my fitness routine went out the window. My studio was kind to provide overtime meals, but eating take out every day (even trying to eat the healthiest things on the menu) took its toll. Add in a wedding (license to eat), honeymoon (license to eat more) & then SEVERE family stress (self medication time), and I was suddenly doing things like shoving two apple fritters in my mouth and calling them breakfast. Clothes shopping on Boxing Day was the wake up call I needed: I'd be up to my original weight -- and past it -- if I didn't change.

So, it's time to start at the beginning again and set this right. FitDay is up and running again, and here I am now. I did this before, I can do it again...right? Will you take me back, 3FC? Will you??

I look forward to meeting everyone who's active now, and hunting down the folks from the 2007 era to see what they're up to.

If anyone has any tips for getting back on the wagon, I'm all ears!!!

So excited to be back.

Hm.
1. Welcome back!
2. Congratulations for having regained so (comparatively) little.
3. Congratulations for taking control.

I think my number 1 tip would be - try to forget you're re-doing this. OK, remember that you did it before so you can do it again, but don't dwell on what you could have been now if you hadn't let go then. Without going down the "Today is the first day of the rest of your life" route (oops, I just did) it can be quite a burden to carry on remembering what was/might have been.

Having said that, how did you do it before? I'm a fan of calorie counting, and if you are too, I'd suggest the best way forward would be to spend a couple of days logging every single thing you eat and drink. I find that just a couple of days of doing that, and I begin to automatically make healthier choices to stop the calorie total rising ridiculously. Once you begin to see the healthier choices making a difference on the scales, you'll be able to work out a good calorie budget for ongoing weightloss.
Good luck!

Hi there! Welcome back, and I TOTALLY remember you.

Jump back in and get to it. You know what to do!

Good for you for catching it, and doing what you need to to get back to it! I would say try to get back into whatever lost you the weight before. Welcome back!!

Welcome back!

And my only tip would be would just jumping back on the wagon and getting back on track. which is what your already doing!
just stay focused!!
and once again welcome back!

Woo! So much support -- I remember why I loved this place.

Rosinante: I really like what you said about not dwelling on the fact that it's a re-do. Thanks! Calorie counting is definitely the best bet for me, so I hear you on that one!! I'm all set up with FitDay. My biggest problem has been portion -- I generally eat pretty well otherwise (aside from the stress eating I mentioned), so I NEED calorie counts to keep my portions under control. Lovely to meet you!

mandalinn82: I remember you, too! Nice to see you around these parts, and it's inspiring to see that you're still maintaining. I will jump right back in and see where that takes me. Thanks for the encouragement!

sept15lija: thanks for the encouragement! I suppose if I did it once, I can do it again, right? See you around the forum!

Mickeypnd: I will focus hard. Thanks for the words of encouragement.


All right, I feel energized! I feel ready! WOO!! Thanks, everyone!

I agree, major congrats on getting a handle on the situation so early.

You have lost a significant amount and you've maintained that well for so long with all those stress factors...you KNOW how to play the game. And that really is half the battle, I think.

So call upon your past experience...what routines worked for you? Which foods were the most satisfying? What calorie range? Etc etc. Getting back in the habit of following your plan will be tough in the beginning, but it gets easier quick.

Hi maalisse! I remember you too! Good for you for coming back! You're welcome here!


Jay

Hey maalisse, welcome back chickie, I so remember you & have wondered what you been up to! You lost it before, you can certainly lose it again.

mkendrick: Thanks so much for the ideas! I've gone back through my journals/logs and am drawing from that. It really is helping.

JayEll: I remember you, too, and all the support you gave while I was losing! Glad to see you again.

evilwomaniamshe: Another familiar face! Thank you for welcoming me back.



Week one done...I think I'm officially back on the wagon, thanks to everyone's support. Looking forward to getting fit with everyone here (well, those of you who aren't maintaining. ) See you around, everyone!

Hey, we are kind of in the same situation, I'm back after about a year and also luckily caught my problem before getting out of hand. I too had hopes of losing just 5 more lbs before I hit goal and my kids lives took over with school, running here and there, the holidays!!! and WHOOPS, I added a few more back.

I am going straight back to what helped me lose before, eating more healthy, filling foods, counting calories while calorie cycling and of course exercise.

We GOT this!!!!