Old-timer Fell Off the Wagon--Needs Help Getting Back On, Please

Ok, I fell off the wagon.  After losing almost 80 pounds over 14 months using CC and a doctor-approved lower-fat, lower-carb, higher fiber eating plan and daily exercise, I gained back 20 pounds.  Yep.  20.  I started falling off the wagon during the summer, and I didn't get back on but the 20 pounds did.  They're already back on my profile, and I own (sadly) every one of them.  Phew!

That said, I'm starting over and need help.  I CAN do this.  I HAVE done this.  I am TIRED of being unhealthy and falling into old patterns, and I WILL make this work this time.  I hope! :)

Why did I go berserk and gain the weight back?  Stress, I think.  Bad things happened since my last post in July--my mom's eyesight is almost gone, I broke an arm and a thumb (two different events), and I was sick for 3 weeks.  BUT good things also happened.  I got engaged!!  And, I got promoted.  Sooo . . . maybe all the changes were more than I could deal with, and the old friend/enemy food took over my brain (again).  I'm not sure.

BUT, I am sure that I'm back and committed to being healthier.  I'll be joining a gym starting after my trip at the end of next week, found a workout partner for the gym, joined "Lighten Up Iowa," told my fiance that I'll be cooking differently and expect support, bought healthier foods at the store this week, and signed on again here at CC.

Please wish me luck and offer suggestions for climbing back on and staying on the wagon.  I could really use it!! 

Thanks, and Happy New Year!

One or two events can really throw you off.  Then the pounds start to creep up so slowly, you think you have time to get back.  I know how it goes.  You sound very motivated.  Having a partner at the gym is a great incentive.  I usually go to the gym with my husband, but we can sometimes talk ourselves out of it.  When I have to meet a friend there, I make sure to go.  The only suggestion that I would make would be to make sure to buy lots of low cal food that you really enjoy even if it costs more than your regular food budget and make delicious meals.  Also, make a list of good choices at fast food places that you can frequent for the times you can't cook.

YAY!!! You're back! I'm sorry about the 20 pounds that have brought you back, but I'm glad to see you again! Congrats on the engagement!!! Congrats on the promotion!!!!

My smallest pants still fit, but... not comfortably. I think... no, wait, make that, I KNOW that I celebrated the holidays with just too much food. I don't have a working scale at the moment, so don't know how much I've gained back, but I know I've gained some back.

I have my hubby now playing DDR (which we refer to as "East Germany" :-D ) with me, and I want to make sure that by the time our first anniversary rolls around, my smallest pants fit like they did when I bought them, or are even looser.

So, my request is this: please move over, sister, and make some room on that wagon for my wide butt! (Yeah, and the rest of me, too; I don't think the butt would go all on its own.)

Thanks!

Thanks for the nice welcome back, Athena!  It is good to hear from you!  You can definitely share my wagon!  :)

welcome back sweetie....nice to see you here again....You know you can get back on track  :D

you are not alone! stresses hit me between the eyes, too, then all the holiday goodies....and i put almost 20 back on, too. I'm just getting back on the wagon and going for it like i did in the first place. eating healthy again...i think that's just what i have to do. not gonna fuss over it, just get back to doing what i know i need to do. and maybe not be quite so strict with myself all the time. i think i need to make room for a small no-no here and there, including it in the target amount of calories.  we CAN get back on the wagon and be succesful!

Thanks, Kathy!  I'm glad you're still here. 

And, Carol, we can DO this!  How was your day yesterday?  I was HUNGRY, but I stuck to it and dropped 3+ pounds (yes, most likely all water) today.

Hang in there!! :)

Welcome back.  I am hosting a kick my a** butt thread in my journal right now.  Want to vent?  Feel free.

Hi Spoiled_Candy!  I'll definitely stop by some time soon (today is crazy with the Caucus after work!  :D).

Maybe we should start a "Back on the Wagon and Need Our Butts Kicked" Thread in "Motivation"?  :)  I'll bet we're not alone!! 

Original Post by writestuff:

Maybe we should start a "Back on the Wagon and Need Our Butts Kicked" Thread in "Motivation"? :) I'll bet we're not alone!!

I assure you that you are not :)

You sound just like me.  I lost 63 lbs. and gained back 20.  Mine started over the summer too.  It's like food just grabs ahold of you and it's so hard to stop.  I truely think mine is an addiction.  Bad food just tastes so damn good!!   

But I'm done now.  I will not/ can not/ absolutely refuse to return to the person I was.  I keep telling myself this over and over.  I now have 61 lbs. to lose instead of 41 but I'm going to do it.  I'm going to celebrate each pound with a pat on the back and by being my own cheerleader.

Congrats on the engagement and let's do this together. 

Jacque

Sorry about that, writestuff. It's a daily battle, that's for sure. I'm curious - did you keep your larger clothes so that when you gained you still had stuff that fit? I got rid of my larger clothes. Now if I gain 5 pounds, everything starts to get tighter in the waist and it reminds me I better do something before it becomes a crisis, or I'll have to buy new larger clothes. You might try that this time if you kept your larger clothes before. All the best!

Do you need to start over if your already aware and thinking about taking care of yourself. I think a very important part of the change process is not kicking yourself for not making perfect progress. Be proud your still on the right track and don't give so much energy to any slip ups. Write down any positive steps you make each day toward a healthier life.

Thanks warrat, carol, and everyone for replying and helping me to get back into the swing of things!  I appreciate it!

Jacque, you have a great attitude!  Let's see how many people we can get to join our "back on the wagon" group! 

HK, spoiled, carol, Jacque, athena, and anyone else who wants to do so, PLEASE feel free to check in with the "Wagon" thread.  :D  I'll go post one right now in either the challenge or motivation forum. :)

moonduster, I did keep some (the much larger ones from 50+ pounds ago are long gone, thank goodness!), but I wish I hadn't.  Luckily, the weight is already starting to come off, so maybe when I get back to where I was, I'll ditch the bigger things I still have.  Good idea!

I put the "Wagon" challenge in "Games."  Why not have fun with getting healthy again?  <big grin>!