Motivation please!!! Running to lose weight

Last winter I began running again and I absolutely fell in love.  I felt great.  My body was getting firm.  But you know how it is, life steps in the way and hands you a few hurdles and it's easy to get off track and lose motivation.

Now it's been less then a year but I've eaten my way up to my highest weight ever!  I can't fit into my pants and I don't like the way I look or feel. 

I've decided to start running again and so far it feels great.  I'm no where near as fast as I was by spring of last year but I still feel good when I hop off the machine. I look forward to hoping onto the treadmill and I'm doing it almost everyday. I've also started cooking foods from scratch, watching what I eat and walking a lot with my dog. 

The problem I haven't seen any reduction in the pounds.  I feel like a blimp that's never going to deflate.  Does anyone have any great stories about how running helped them?  I could really use them right now!

That's great - congrats on starting up again and its great to see that you are really enjoying it.  That is key to weight loss -- you have to find something that you enjoy or you won't continue in the long run. And its all about making real lifestyle changes, not just a period of dieting.

I started running again in late spring, and its been an amazing way to help keep the weight loss  steady. It really gives me a little runner's high, and I just love how it your own body doing all the work and not a machine.  I primarily mix it up b/w the elliptical and running, but really prefer the running.  So I went from no consistent running in 10 years to now training for a half marathon (next month!)- did a 13 mile long run yesterday and it felt great.  The increased physical capability and strength has been just as motivating as the change in physical appearance.  My blood pressure is 112 /70 my resting HR is now under 50. This is coming from someone who was 220 pounds this time last year, now down to 140.  

The smartest thing that you are doing is cooking fresh healthy meals. Make sure you log your food and exercise daily to be certain that you are truly creating a deficit. If you are doing that properly, then give it a few weeks before you get concerned about the scale - -the body is a funny thing and you may just need a little time. I found that since running again, I will have a small drop for a week or 2, and then maybe a shocking big one on the 3rd or 4th week that 'sticks'.  Keep doing ALL of the right things and you will see results!

If you are the type of personality that likes numbers/tracking things/ seeing graphs and the like to visually show your results, then I recommend the Nike+iPod (if you have an iPod) - -its a fun little gadget that helps me do all of the little mind games you sometimes need to keep you going.  (I used my AmEx points to get a Nano as a reward for losing weight, and have loved incorporating the Nike gadget as part of my routine.)

One of the great things is you will start to get a nice little lift in the tush and the your pants will likely get much looser in the thighs...!