Hi everybody. I've made some attempts in the recent months to get back on track, however, I did not succeed.. I've failed miserably (weight wise). I'm actually quite embarrassed. I won't even tell you how much I weigh. A lot has been going on in the recent months, now, hopefully, I am settled enough to start this journey again.

Jeremy and I just moved into our new house almost 2 weeks now. The construction was completed 3 weeks ago, so we moved right on in. That was a fiasco. I didn't realize how much crap I had until we had the largest U-Haul truck, and three mid sized vehicles (including a Mini-van) completely packed. I'm happy to report we're in now, and for the most part settled.

I started a new job in January and so far, its been wonderful!

Carsons doing well. He's getting so big.. he'll be 9 months old on the 18th. I can't believe how quickly it goes by. He's a handful and takes most of my time. He loves attention that's for sure. I'll get some picruers out soon.

I had been feeling really not well lately, kind of run down. I went to the Dr. he did some blood work-- I am ok. He did bring it to my attention that I need to start working on the extra weight (Like I didn't already know that!)

I can tell you, I do feel pretty crappy, I feel like I look crappy too, I do NOT want to be fat and I AM! I know what to do, I've done it before but I CANNOT find the time. Seriously. I'm reaching out to all of you... Please help me. Say something, anything to get me motivated!

I look forward to jumping back on board.

Hi Gretchen!

I don't remember you from your last go round, as I am a newbie myself. But I just wanted to welcome you. Please don't beat yourself up about your time away. Just pick yourself up and get back on!

Nice to meet you!

Kimbie

Hi Gretchen,

Glad to see you back. You are not alone. I had struggled lately, and was too embarrassed to move my ticker up when I gained.

You did it before ~ I'm certain you can do it again. We're here for you.

Take care

Ahhhh, a welcome blast from the past! Hard to believe that Carson is 9 months old already ~ time really does fly (pictures, please). Congrats on the new house and new job. Well, it certainly has been a jam-packed year for you!

Now, you want advice? I suggest you use the search function and read the posts of someone named "tolose85". You see, this poster burst into this forum full of piss and vinegar and proceeded to eat and exercise herself into a happy, healthy (and hawt!) young woman in no time. Her motto was "BE POSITIVE" and she become an inspiration to many. I think if you read her posts you can't fail to become motivated. In fact, you may see a lot of yourself in her.

Welcome back!

Hi Gretchen....
It's good to see you around again! I'm sorry your life has been so hectic lately! I know how you feel....I've been eating fairly clean and really upped my exercise....but I haven't lost any weight...my new plateau is 176...ugggggghhhh. It's hard to stay motivated when your busy, stressed, or when you get stuck at the same weight for a gillion years like me..errrrrrr. We can do this though...I know we can. You are so beautiful......you deserve to do this for yourself! I guess we'll just have to keep helping each other. Maybe now that things have settled down for you a little bit...it may be easier to focus? Anywho...I wish you luck and remember...I'm here for ya anytime.
Talk to you soon...
Luv,
Liv

Gretchen!!!!! It's so good to see you back. First off you can't beat yourself up over your failed attempts.
I love Si siggy about Failure not being Dishonourable, Quitting is. You haven't quit yet. Yes you've had a couple of bad tries but look at what you did then to not get the results you wanted. Jill is right. Go back and look through all those posts. I know when I was struggling I would love to get on here and read about you and how well you'd done and it would motivate me to try harder. You know you can do this.

Gretchen -- I have seen you pop in here a few times since I started, but don't really know you. *whew* you have been busy with a lot of lifestyle changes lately! Baby, new job, new house. I can only just do all I need to do with a settled life, so I can't imagine how to keep it together during multiple transitions in a year!

You now have a totally different life than you did the first time you were here. So, that's a challenge. I get the sense that the last time you tried this you took the bull by the horns and made a TON of lifestyle changes all at once.

I wonder if you might need a different approach this time around. Maybe pick ONE thing to start with and do that: portion control, or water, or lunches, or extra movement in the day. And then build. Baby steps!

Oh, and come here all the time! Welcome back!

Hey, there's our girl!! It's good to have you back! I remember how great you did & you promised to get back on track as soon as Carson was grown up a little bit more. I think now is the perfect time! I think we need some pics, too. We're glad to have you back!

No shame honey, we all know what a crapshoot this whole weightloss thing can be. Life has been stressful, (congrates on the new house and job, BTW) things have gotten in the way, but the point is, you're here now. What's done is done, you only need to move forward from here. Welcome back sweetie, it's good to see you again.

Beverly

P.S. WE WANT PICS, WE WANT PICS!!!

Gretchen, It is good to see you back! I remember Carson was born just a little after I had joined, hard to believe how the time passes so quickly. It is amazing how life just takes over sometimes that you lose sight of youself. Believe, I have been there. Now is the time to get back the drive that you had to do it the first time around. The proof is in the posts as Jill has said. Welcome back!

Hi Gretchen, I only just joined right after Carson was born. Was that really 9 months ago? Good to see you again!

~Dee

Thanks everybody--- please, keep the posts coming... Its really starting to mentally prepare me for this journey. I've already made some alterations to my routine, no soda, lighter lunches etc. I've got one more week of bad food left in my house, I've been staying away from it. As soon as its all gone, I'm going to load up on the good stuff. We're pinching pennys due to the new house etc... Or elce I'd trash the current food and replace with the good stuff.

I appreciate all your comments... keep em coming.

Hi Gretchen!

Its good to see you back. Don't beat yourself up. Whats happened has happened. Its what you do now that counts. Having a baby is a huge change. Its hard to stay on track. It took me 11 times to get it right

Catherine mom to 11
mabear's homepage

Gretchen, first, take a deep breath. You've got a lot going on, lady! Mothers tend to put themselves second (or perhaps third, fourth or not on the radar at all!) when really we need to put ourselves first so that we have enough energy to give. Schedule some "you" time so that you can do what you need to do. Can Jeremy lighten your load? Do you have relatives who can come by and take over so that you can get some time to exercise? I know we had to learn the art of marathon cooking on the weekend so that when we got home from work, we could just take something out of the refrigerator and heat it up. It requires megadoses of planning, but in reading your old posts (which I did after Jilly mentioned it), you were a great planner.

You WILL get your mojo back. It may be a different mojo, but once you get into it, you'll start to lose the weight and feel better.

And, man, is that litte baby already 9 months old? He must be crawling around getting into everything.

Hello old friend!!! Glad to see you back here. It's the 1st step. You did such a awesome job when you were here previously. That alone tells me that you have what it takes to make this happen. But life has taken a 360 degree turnaround and your lifestyle is not the same so you can't do it the way you did before. And that scares you and makes you feel like you can't do it all. NOT SO my dear. All you need is a new plan. Maybe you can't exercise as much as you did before, ok, so...Create a plan that has as much exercise as you can fit in. Maybe your meals can't be as clean as they were before (not as much time for cooking), ok, so...Change what you can. You still have to eat and it takes the same amount of effort to grab an apple as some cookies. No one says that you have to get healthy the same way you did before. But some things haven't changed. You are still the same positive, vibrant, determined Gretchen from before. You just have a whole lot more on your plate now. You can do this!! All you need is a new plan taylored to your new lifestyle!! I believe in you!!!