[futurerunner]

So I said I started Jan 11, but really I never did. Perhaps I started thinking about it more.

I bounced up a bit but am losing the bounce and getting back in the saddle

I have decided I can't take it all on at once. So I am trying to eat better, drop the junkie snacking and eating all day type behavior. The other thing I am doing is focusing on getting out and walking to exercise. I am going to build on the exercise because feeling better physically helps motivate me to eat better. I hate this sluggish feeling.

I am trying to fix my sleep as well, I have fallen into the habit of staying awake too late, and then napping during the day, this has lead to a very sedentary life style.

So..... I really hope to start feeling better about myself and get pointed in the right direction. I had successfully lost 50 pounds a few years, life stress/changes have lead me to stopping exercise regularly and poor eating resulting in gaining it all back. I know it can be done, I just have to be serious about doing it.

J

[Eliana]

It takes a while to start feeling good. In fact, it took my such a gradually long time that I literally woke up one day and realized, "Hey, I feel amazing! And I have for a while!" I was extremely sluggish at the beginning, for a good 3 months, I'd say. But I also took on everything at once, as you say.

I think you have a good plan to "eat better", but maybe define it more. Something I like to do is swap out one food every month, either dropping it entirely or switching it to something healthier. One month I switched from regular yogurt to Greek by mixing it half and half and gradually decreasing the favored yogurt until I liked Greek by itself. One month I swapped out regular milk for soy. One month was devoted to trying a new vegetable every week and I learned I love fried cabbage, asparagus and Brussels Sprouts. This method gave me something new to keep things fresh, goals to achieve and something to focus on besides the scale.

Walking is touted as being one of the absolute best exercises for weight loss. I've recently learned that running a mile and walking a mile burns the same number of calories. Walking just takes longer. I'm not sure I believe that yet...sometimes I do.