Thanks HappilyMe

Maybe what I am looking for is a similar path like you have found, to do it MYSELF. Thanks again.

This is an awful lot like what I'm doing too. I'm tracking my calories, but I don't have a goal, or a limit. I just see. If it stops working, I'll have the food log to go back to see what I can change.

I just wanted to say that the OP is one of the most open minded people I've seen on the forums. She asked for help and didn't lash out when people wrote things to offer suggestions.

Seabiscuit: I really do hope you succeed.

Like HappilyMe, I count calories and have a nominal "goal" in mind for the boards, but my actual goal is "weigh less next month than I do this month." My caloric goal for the day is 1500 calories, but I can reach that goal however I choose.

I tend to get bored easily myself. My workout routines, my diet staples, even my meal times need to change up occasionally or I start to get cranky. Jenny Craig took 70 pounds off of me in about five months--super-fast, yeah, but by the time I was looking down the barrel of my sixth month, I couldn't have choked down another plum chicken or Salisbury steak.

Now I don't have to worry about that because when I get bored, I can change it up however I want. And because I set all my goals in relation to my behavior--the stuff I CAN control--I don't let myself feel discouraged about not meeting a weight goal because that's something I can't control as precisely.

I stubbornly think that the best place to start is common sense eating.

Like what surfergirl and Happy said, this means
1. Cutting out almost all processed food (I'll take a slice of homemade chocolate cake over a lean cuisine any day!)
2. Cutting out simple refined carbs (white rice, potato, white bread, high fructose corn syrup)
3. Eating lots of lean proteins
4. Eating very few grains
5. Eating lots of fresh fruits and vegetables
6. Drinking lots of water
7. Reduce portion size

Don't diet, instead nourish your body. Feed it whole, unprocessed foods as much as possible.

I didn't put any numbers on this list, only vague descriptions like "most" or "lots." Play around with what works for you. I need a Diet Coke every other day, some people need a pizza splurge from time to time to keep them sane. 50 g of protein may be "a lot" for me but it's pitiful for someone else. Cutting out "most" grains may be ok, cutting out all grains may be critical for someone else. Play around with what works with your body. I personally have to calorie count on top of these steps I listed, but that's where I am. Maybe you don't.

Dieting should be an act of kindness and love towards your body by providing it the fuel and nutrients it needs to be strong and beautiful, not a repeated self-flagellation of deprivation and sacrifice.

I wish you all the best of luck on your journey!!

I think I may start writing down what I eat again so I can see where I can make positive changes.

Yeah I agree with what you are saying about JC, I think it is a great weight loss program but I got sick of it because I could only take so much of that packaged food. It took the weight off quickly with me too but it is expensive and I am glad someone else can understand what it is like to get bored.

Thanks for the positive success wishes!

I guess I just no longer accept "getting bored" as a valid reason for going off plan and throwing away all the work that I've done. There are some days - sometimes weeks - when my job is boring. I can't just walk off the job because of it. Taking care of my body and getting healthy is my job, and my boss is kind of a b!tch, so I have to do it well! Getting bored is not an option! LOL!

<<<What is the exchange plan?>>>

In the exchange system, foods are grouped into basic types — starches, fruits, milk, meat, sweets, fats and free foods. Within each group, you'll see how much you can eat of various foods for the same amount of calories, carbohydrates and other nutrients. You can exchange or trade foods within a group because they're similar in nutrient content and the manner in which they affect your blood sugar.

I find that this plan gives me ample opportunity to eat the foods I want to eat, yet it helps me control my eating. Therefore I never get bored with my eating plan.

For further information on the exchange plan, use a search engine. There's lots of info out there.

I believe that this is excellent advice. You must have the mindset in order to make it work for the long term.

I also feel that you have to make changes that you can sustain for a very long time. We didn't get this way in a few months ... and it will take longer than a few months to fix the problem In fact, I'm begun to believe that the words 'diet' or 'program' won't work for those of us who come here with many years of overweight behind us. It has to be sustainable change.

My plan basically consists of:

1. Eating whole (not processed) foods
2. Exercising a lot
3. Re-training my body to recognize hunger and satiety signals so I don't overeat

What keeps me from getting bored is cooking. I have more cookbooks than the public library, in all different ethnic cuisines, so there is always something new to try. It helps me save money, too, since I cook in quantity then freeze individual portions for later.

For people who don't want to count calories which is what I do I always suggest strict paleo or new atkins because it is almost impossible to not lose weight if you follow the rules of those two plans.

You don't need a diet plan. Just make better food choices...make yourself eat meat, veggies, nuts, seeds, some fruit, little to no starch and no sugar - period. It's not torture, it's the right thing to do for yourself and your body. You can have the occasional bad snack not a meal, but just a bad snack (watch your calories) and if only you know you deserve it...not a meal. Make sure you're getting in some physical activity.

Dedicate 5-6 hours per week if you can do moving around. Find exercise you like and run with it. Work at your own pace and chart your progress as you go along. The better you are at being consistent, the more energy you will gain to work even harder and longer.

This may sound crappy, but believe in yourself and that's all you'll need to come out on top once and for all.

I appreciate those of you who have given me some encouraging, smart, kind replies- thanks.

I write down everything I eat and track calories I use this website to find out how many calories to eat a day for weight loss

http://www.freedieting.com/tools/calorie_calculator.htm

I know how you feel about being frustrated. The thought of following a plan or writing down what I eat everyday just made me stop before I ever began. It wasn't that I was lazy or unmotivated, but it just seemed like I would have to do it FOREVER and it was a depressing thought.

BUT, I knew that I had to do something. I know what has absolutely not worked in the past (i.e. restrictive plans) and what has given me some success (portion control and calorie counting), so I went with the calorie counting. Logging my food hasn't been nearly as bad as I imagined since I utilize some tools online, rather than toting a notebook around. I use the Daily Plate and it's been really fun and easy.

I know that I won't have to log my food forever because if you are attentive, you'll learn correct portion sizes and which foods are a bit better than others. After awhile, I learned that I didn't want to eat 1500 calories of junky food all day, but rather 1500 calories of healthy foods that make me feel good.

A bonus for food tracking is that I started to find foods that were triggering stomach issues in my body (hello, soda!) and eliminated it. It was neat.

Just a plug for food tracking and calorie counting! (-: If you use them as a learning tool, you won't have to dedicate the rest of your life after goal to it.

Good luck on finding the right way of eating for you. I think the most important lesson on any eating plan and lifestyle change is not to give up because you have a bad day. I used to do it all the time ("well, i just blew it with cake, so I might as well eat crappy today...and tomorrow...and the next day"). BUUUT, if you have a bad day, it's not so bad as long as you get right back onto your plan afterwards. Took me a long time to learn that, and I'm glad I finally stopped giving up and keep trying.