I let myself down...big time!

Starting over! I was down to 199 lbs (from 305) and  I stopped counting cals and now Im back up to 240 (gained it all over winter) talk about a reality check! I look at the pics in my galary and want to cry..how could I do this to myself?

Aww, sweety, that sucks..and I can understand your frustration but you can't beat yourself over this. We all mess up, somtimes we mess up a little more...but it's key not to get depressed about it and get discouraged. Just look at it as a wake-up call and use it as an opportunity to get motivated more than ever.

It happened to me before, where I'd gotten down to 138lbs(5'7), and within 6 months I was up to 185lbs... so it happens to us all, I've been around 155 pounds for the past 4 years now, and am now looking to get back down to 140-145..

don't get discouraged, if you did it once it means you can do it again!!

I can understand the frustration but look at this as a learning lesson.  You stated that you stopped counting calories ~ lesson learned, you need to log your foods and count to achieve your goals.

Look at the weight gain as data ~ plain and simple.  It is done.  It is over.  Realize what you want to change and begin again. 

You did not let yourself down by realizing that you do need to count calories and use the site. 

Back up on that horse missy, dust yourself off and dont let the fall hurt you.  Dont obsess. Move on and w/in a week I bet we will see a more positive attitude and some loss.

Good luck to you.

Okay, I hear ya tj. It sucks big time. BUT you did a spectacular job losing weight the first go-round, you're still significantly below where you originally started out and your brain wasn't cleared of any memory facility - you STILL know how to lose the weight! So start again. Today. Get moving, count the calories, do all the stuff (healthfully!) that you'd done in the past. The weight WILL come off again!

PS I checked out your gallery and you're an inspiration! I know you can do it!

Look at the silver lining here too hun.... You were 305.... You are 240 now.  That's still an amazing 65# to be proud of getting off and keeping off.  Look at what contributed over the winter... was it lack of exercise from colder weather?  Being more busy with work and family things?  Just those holidays and all that evil high calorie party food?  Or are you like me and restricted too much and then binging happened?

Find where things started to change and see what you can do to beat them.  If it's the exercise, some home equipment isn't too bad if you can't afford a membership.  If you've got one, can you get a gym friend or friend to go with you so you've got that motivation to be there?  If it's the work things or family... take extra steps walking from the car or taking stairs just to get in extra exercise anywhere you can.  If it's the food... see if you can make your favorites healthier so it's not as bad as looking at things and feeling like you're missing out.  If you restricted, maybe plan in a cheat day a week so you can have 'bad' foods but you've got it counted out calorie wise so you really don't binge.  I do that every week and it's helping me a lot more.  I had the all or nothing attitude and it set me up for some failure that I now have to recover my gain and turn it back to loss.

You can do it... you beat it before and this time you've got a lower starting number to get back down to 199... it's only 41# this time... not the 106 you lost before.

*sneaks in and raises hand*

you are not alone.

I held steady at my goal weight (or at least close enough to it -- where my body was happy) for a year and a half or so.  And then I let me go to hell in a handbasket

So, like you, I'm back on the horse now and am hoping that by this time next year all of my last summer's clothes will fit again, as opposed to the clothes I had to buy for this summer.

As everyone else has said, you have the knowledge and the tools to re-lose what you re-found and stressing about it is just counter-productive.  And on the bright side -- maybe since you've (we've) done it this time, we won't ever let it happen again?  That's my hope anyway.  Sending positive thoughts your way.

Don't be too bummed, chalk it up to a learning experience which it was! Now you know you need to count everything, I think that's a pretty big lesson and now you know.  Sure its upsetting but now you know what you can and can't do, you'll get back down you already know how!!!

The hardest part is getting back in the saddle.  The rest you've done before, and can do again.  Anyone who has regained weight knows how you feel - like a piece of crap - like it's going to be so much work to just get back to where you were - but that feeling is fleeting - just get back onboard - you WILL succeed.

uve lost it before and u can lose it again...now u even no what u have to do to maintain it and not slip up

chalk it up to experience, be happy u learnt a lesson, chin up, and start over

Thank you everyone for the inspiring words...I can always count of everyone on this site to make me feel better, inspire me, and pick me up when I fall.  I truely appreciate all of you! Thank you again!