[luvinthenewme]

I am back. Once again! I have tried numerous diet plans and failed, Ive tried WW, Ive tried Low Fat, Ive tried Atkins, Ive tried Slim Fast, Ive tried South Beach, you name it, Ive tried it and failed. When does this cycle EVER end? It seems all I do is go in circles. I eat when I am bored and depressed, get very little excercise and fell exhausted all the time. I will be 42 years old on March 1st and I feel like I have aged beyond my years. I desperatly need some support and encouragement. I have vowed to try the lowfat 1800 Calorie Diet once again, this time I am adding the Alli Pill to see if it will help keep me accountable. I just started back to College. I put off a career until my children were older, and now my youngest will be 17 soon. I just became a grandmother in 2008 and now I have two beautiful granddaughters, whom I love with all my heart, but it just adds to the feeling that I am older and aged beyond my years. I guess I am feeling sorry for myself at this point. lol I just want to get this weight off me. I lost 20 lbs by doing nothing over these past two months so I am hoping once I get my but in gear I can finally accomplish my goals. Would love to have a buddy who would encourage me and hold me accountable. lol

[randomcards]

Welcome,

When I read your subject I though "well, hopefully get off the rollercoaster at the bottom"

If you've tried and failed to follow specific plans in the past, maybe that's not for you? Following specific diet regimes works really well for some and really poorly for others.

Personally I know that I will fail on anything that leaves me hungry or forces me to permanently give up anything. So I've found success in simple calorie counting online. I have a target range for calories (and also rough goals for fat/carbs/protein), and I work each day to be around that target. If I find I'm way off from that target (high or low) I'll adjust. I count everything, even horrible cheat days, and plan ahead for things wherever possible.

Regardless of what you choose to do, the fact that you have rollercoasterd a lot in the past is actually very useful! It means you have a LOT of information about you, your behaviors, what works, what trips you up, what's liveable, and what is a temporary solution. One of the first things I did when coming up with my own plan was look at personal weaknesses/barriers (ex. I travel a LOT) as well as personal strengths/assets (when at home I can schedule gym time whenever I want). Then build behaviours into your plan that utilize your strengths and specifically target your weaknesses.

I am actually typing this from a hotel room on the road and this is fresh in my mind, because I just ate some brown rice sushi in my room that I picked up in the grocery store (one of my travelling behavior changes).

[nitenurse]

Maybe specific plans just arent for you, what about trying eating what you normally eat just reducing the portion size and for exercise start simple ..try walking 20 to 30 minutes a day and build from there

[Releve]

Luvin, I feel your pain. I'm a yo-yo too. I know it can be done because I've done it before (and more than once). It's not even really hard when I'm cruising along on plan. Dropped the weight, felt and looked fantastic. It's the maintenance part that gets me. I think I get cocky. The exercise starts tapering off. There are more cheat days. I stop planning meals and bad things start appearing in my grocery cart. I stop stepping on the scale. I buy a bigger size. I become less social because I don't want the people I know to see me like this. I think I go into some kind of evil trance, LOL. Before I know it, I've gained it all back and then some. I'm determined that this time will be different!

I applaud you for taking control once again. It sounds like you have some exciting and positive changes in the works. Congratulations for going back to school. I know you'll find encouragement and support here. I truly hope you find the end of the rollercoaster.