By now almost everyone is back at school, the kids are back at school, vacations are over unless you are one of those lucky empty nesters, singles or kidless folks who can take your vacations in the "low" months!

How did you all do over the summer?

I found this summer to be my most challenging. There were a lot of emotional upheavals in my household from May on which still haven't been resolved and I occaisionally reached for the goody bags (peanut m&m's are my particular weakness, but hey- protein and a carb ). But all in all, I maintained. I think I was on the 3-5 pound yo-yo plan. I can really see and feel a 3-5 pound gain without the scale. I'm a shortie and any extra fat just glomps right onto my middle and kidney area. VERY visible in the mirror! That's enough of a wake-up call to get really strict again. Until the next mini-relapse.

I have to say I still haven't had the "aha moment": the one where I never go off plan again and always do all my workouts. Cardio is still a struggle. I still would rather lift several trucks and lunge them from here to Pittsburgh (hiya Meg!) rather than spend 45 minutes on a cross-trainer. But getting back on plan quickly is second nature. On another thread, we spoke of drawing a line in the sand; I've learned exactly where that line is for me, and how to jump back away from it.

So how did you all do this summer? What were your challenges and achievements?

Mel

Hey Mel, good thread idea.

This summer was good. I sorted out a lot of my stress eating (I am still working on it)and started losing weight again. I am down 10.5lbs from the middle of July. My weight loss isn't as solid and consistent as it used to be (I have gains some weeks, losses others, but overall it's been at a great pace). I would still like to lose 10-14lbs and realize it will probably take a while to lose it (more than 2-3 months), but that's okay, it's not a race but a lifestyle.

I started upping the level of my running, the only thing that has suffered is my WT, but I am actually doing stuff at home more waiting for my gym to open near my house. I plan to run a 10K in December and a 5K in October.

I am barely eating processed foods anymore and it has been great. I am experimenting with teh WW core plan, it's really good in certain ways. I have noticed my skin (I am almost 27 and still suffer from acne <I don't have PCOS, just bad skin>) is getting better since I have been eating better and that has made me happy.

Other things this summer, I have some stress helping to sort out a family issue, we're still working on it and I am helping as much as I can. Good things were moving to a house I own yah!!

I have never been a big potato salad/chips/beer person so summer has never been tough for me (I have had all of ONE beer this summer). I love the cheap fruit and veggies of the summer (even when I wasn't paying attention to my weight when I was younger I'd always lose weight during the summer).

Not sure if I had an aha moment, but I took a very harsh audit of my mistakes since getting down to goal. I now see things differently and I am much more positive about everything. I think I have almost convinced myself that high carb snack treats don't taste that good (but well made desserts are still delicious and so are European chocolates) and honestly I don't miss them (I still treat myself with dessert now and then). I eat in a way that I think I could maintain for life and that makes me happy now. I am enjoying food again and losing guilt and practising moderation and not becoming obsessed by it. Yah!

Mel: At least you have been maintaining so pat yourself on the back, you're human, but you've done an awesome job, especially with getting to the point of getting back on track is second nature.

Cheers!

Ali

Well, I thought I'd lose that last 5-10 lbs this summer, but you know what they say about the best laid plans. My eating wasn't great. Even though summer brings all those great, fresh fruits & veggies, it also makes me desire my favorite dessert even more: ice cream, specifically Ben and Jerrys . . . more specifically, B & J's Oatmeal Cookie Chunk. Okay, I'm through salivating . .

Anyway, I may have lost a couple of pounds. I'm hovering at 140 now. I did manage to get down to 136.5 the day I went on my one week vacation to visit my family. Of course, while I was there, I gained and am now up to 140 again.

Meliris, I had to laugh when you described how you don't mind strength work but have an aversion to cardio. I'm the exact opposite. Give me cardio any day. I love it. I think it must be something to do with the endorphins kicking in or something. I have to struggle to get my weight work in.

Okay, so are we all prepped for the holiday season? I'd love to be able to lose another 5 lbs., permanantly if possible, but at least as a cushion for those holiday treats.

I love this place, everytime I just "think" of something... the thought pops up as a question... I must be telepathic or something... Thanks Mel!

Anyways, I was thinking about my summer just tonite as I went out for a short jog.... It's been a very good summer for me... I've been yo-yoing the same 4# since about June, but for some reason it's not bothering me, although I do want to loose it somewhere along the way. My clothing is not tighter though it's about the same... I should really take pics, that would probably tell the real story...

The one thing I have changed is that I do a LOT more cardio than I did 6 months ago specially this summer with biking AND running. The running has made me think of a goal of maybe doing a 5K or 10K next summer.

The one thing that has changed is that I go to the gym whenever I have time, not just at a certain time, for example tonight I went out jogging at 6PM... the old me, just last year, would have never done some evening exercise. I've even gone to the gym at night, and THAT is a rare one, just to get my workout in if I happen to miss a body part that week.

Foodwise, I eat cleaner than I have ever, don't get me wrong I do fall of the wagon, but I seem to pick myself up faster, like Mel said. I attribute that to coming her regularly and being accountable for my actions. I do still like my wine on the weekends what can ya do! I should challenge myself sometime to not have any for a weekend OYE, wouldn't that be like quiting ??.. dunno if I could do dat moi!!

All in all it's been a good summer for moi ...

TTFN

Boy, this thread has really turned my attitude around about my own success this summer. I really wasn't all that happy with the progress I've made ... but now, thank you Mel, Ali, VMELO, Ilene & Meg, I've been thinking about what I DID do as apposed to what I "wanted" to do. I made some very good changes, not only in my eating and exercise but just in my mindset. I can honestly say that I've honestly moved from the "diet" mentality to a life style change over the past few months. I even lifted to failure for the very first time in my life.

It all really began when I started worrying about maintenance and how I was going to manage it. This site has played a very big roll not only through motivation and support but it has also taught me to constantly look for additional resources to keep myself focused on my health and well being.

I do appreciate you all,
Thank you.

Meg, I'm sorry to learn of the stress in your personal life during the past year. Kudos to you for getting through it so well.

I've decided that I'm going to try focusing on cleaning up some of my eating behaviors rather than just calorie counting. I'm finding that I'm getting a little sloppy with my eating. Even though I haven't gained any weight from it, I know how important it is to nip those bad habits in the bud. So, I'm going to try to do small things that worked for me when I was in my more stringent "losing" mode. I'm going to start with the following: 1) not allowing myself to eat anything unless I'm sitting down; 2) practicing portion control even if I have the calories not too (i.e., not eating 1/2 a pint of Ben & Jerry's even if I can spare the 600).

I'm sorry if I've digressed from the subject, but I thought that this different perspective (changing behaviors rather than just watching calories) might help some others who were successful [more or less] during the summer but would like to have done a bit better.

Vmelo, I think what you talked about really is the subject, not a digression. Maintenace is 100% about the life-style perspective versus "being on a diet."
Diets succeed, end or fail. The mental and lifetyle changes are what makes for success. Each time I slip or just find myself getting too complacent, it's a matter of cleaning up the food a bit. Making the wiser choices.

Mel

Hello, everyone!
This has been an interesting summer for sure. First and foremost, I was excited when in June, I became a lifetime member of WW! The last 6 months before I made my goal weight was yo-yoing on the scales. Once I made my goal weight, I was soooo afraid that I would regain all those unwanted pounds. However, I have managed for the last 3 months to "maintain" and that is indeed exciting to me! I have even lost a couple more pounds, but I am not sure if I will keep those extra pounds off with the Holidays approaching. I sure hope so! I never realized just how hard the "maintainence phase" was going to be. In order to NEVER regain those lost pounds, I now know I must work at it everyday now for the rest of my life! Yes, it is worth it, however, I now know I MUST EXERCISE EVERY SINGLE DAY in order to maintain my wieight loss.

This summer, I started running! I have always power walked, but I decided to try and add running to my daily workout. So I combined the two, and I feel great!!I go for an hour every single morning(provided another Hurricane isn't headed our way in Florida!
Now that I include running, I seem to have a lot more energy. I have gotten to the point that if I don't exercise, I am miserable.

I have started eating more fruits and veggies this summer. It used to be that I ate all the fresh fruits because I "should' for a healthy lifestyle. Now I LOVE fruits in particular. This summer, I would often go for a big slice of watermelon, cantaloupe, apple, or peaches to satisfy my desire for something sweet! And you know what? It worked!!! That extra slice of fruit kept me from going for a cookie or ice cream. Not that I don't enjoy an occasional treat like that. I would be fibbing if I told you I didn't eat those yummy sweets every so often!

I have found that my friends here at 3FC keep me going in the right direction. The support on the various forums are so helpful to me. Thanks to each of you for all the good advice and encouragement. I know that whenever I need a friend, I can find everyone here ready to lend an ear while I chatter away with my "newest" problem!
Thanks again!
CAROL

Actually...this has been a pretty cool summer for me as far as weight goes.

As most of you regulars know, in December I gave myself a full tummy tuck for Christmas. (well actually...my SURGEON did the work, I just paid for it! ) I realized in May that I wanted to LOOK *****IN' this summer (is that term still used?) so I got to work!

Since I'm a diehard AM gym rat - I can't even FUNCTION correctly without my early morning gym visit - the exercise was no problem. As always, my problem is FOOD. In a word (well two words) - what I call 'recreational eating'. What I needed to do was find some alternate activities to replace the times I would spend eating for fun!

Suddenly my schedule filled up! I've been riding on Tuesday and Thursday after work and on Saturday mornings for awhile. I've added Pilates and Yoga classes to my schedule - 3 days a week - at 7 pm on Tuesday and Thursday and 4:30 on Sunday.

I took on more duties at work - one of my other goals is to get out of the 'admin pool' (okay mostly to make more money...I admit it...) so I've been working a LOT towards that as well.

I cleaned up my environment even more than it was before - I finally persuaded Jim to go to the doctor for a physical - after his blood tests came back, the doc said it was time for him to get serious about his diet and exercise - so he's cut out most of his fast food and I've loaded up the fridge and pantry with healthy choices - including a bowl filled with apples, pears, peaches, nectarines already washed that he can just grab and eat; light yogurts; cut melon (our new favorite is ORANGE-FLESHED HONEYDEW - it's a cross between a canteloupe and a honeydew and it is SO SWEET AND GOOD! If you can find it I highly recommend it!!!); Minute Maid Light Lemonade and Diet Rockstars (he's addicted to them, and I've finally gotten him off the regular, sugar-filled ones) chilled and ready to go; etc. (for emergencies - I also have some Lean Cuisine Microwaveable Pizzas - he's gotta have SOMETHING that resembles junk ya know).

The results - for me anyway - have been great - this has been an AWESOME summer! Now if I can make it through the three months of diet **** - October through December - I'll be sittin' pretty for 2005