[yhahmd]

EDIT: I posted this in General Chatter, but upon further inspection think it goes better here. So I've asked someone to delete that one.

Wow, I took a little break after Christmas, and I thought I'd given up. It's weird, though, ever since I STARTED being more aware of what I eat and how much and when, when I STOP counting calories and exercising, I don't feel afraid anymore that I'm going to go completely off track.

I'm down 18.6lb as of today (last time I logged in my journal was november). I hit a nasty plataeu and just decided to take a break. It ended up WAY longer than I intended, but the good news? I didn't gain ANYTHING back. I've taken 3 breaks throughout this journey, each at LEAST 3weeks to a month long, and I never put the weight back on.

Why is that? I don't want to get cocky and think I can eat whatever I want, because eventually, it's going to start showing up again on the scale. I'm just... I don't know, I feel pretty good that even if I wasn't eating perfect, I managed to stay within my calorie range for that long. I even LOST a little bit! Does this happen to anyone else?

So, now, I've got 26.something lb to go to get to my goal weight of 140, and then another 20-30 after that. I'm STILL looking for a job, but I figure, WHILE I'm jobless, why not put my time to use? I'd love to see 165 as soon as possible (that was my first big goal), and then scoot on into the 150s.

[Rana]

Welcome back! I think breaks can be good to get used to our bodies in the new weight and it sounds like you weren't going crazy eating too much out of control.

I think you should take advantage of the "free" time you have now because I'm sure you'll get a job and you'll be focusing on that, rather than the weight loss. Do everything you can now!!!!