Restarting, for real

Hi all! I used to use CC a few years ago, and it worked great for me. I got busy with life and all, and fell off the wagon. I've put some of the weight back on, and I'm finally ready to recommit to losing weight and tracking my consumption. I wanted to make a public declaration of my recommitment, to make me more accountable (hence, this post). I'm a 21 year old college senior, I'm 5'11 and want to lose about 25 pounds (15 that I've put back on, and then an additional 10). I'm very active and play sports, and I'm a strict vegan. I don't eat junk food, my problem is portion control. I eat very healthily, in general, and I AM healthy, I just eat too much. Anyways, I just wanted to say hi, and good luck to everyone!

Good luck! If it worked once it will work again, though portion control is always a struggle for me. =)

So glad to see your post - I am back on the wagon as of today too!  Committing to portion control, avoiding sugar, and hitting the gym three days a week!  I don't want to go into the holiday season already needing to lose weight.

I am in the same boat.  I am also a vegan and I try to eat as healthy as possible (I love sweets though).  My problem is that I love food and cannot stop once I start.  Portion control is key in weight loss, and it's so hard for me.  I am 5'8.5" and currently weigh 142 lbs.  I want to lose at least 7 lbs by Christmas.  How do you plan on dealing with portion control issues, long_run? 

Wow, it must be in the air!  I recommitted yesterday but today it's really on because I followed through and worked out this morning.  My mind is set, I'm watching what I eat and now I've worked out.  This is IT!!!! I don't want to go into 2009 where I am now.  At least on my way to my goal. 

I love food too.  Not candy and sweets, but real food.  Meat and potatoes, etc.  After looking at my calories for yesterday, I realized that if I could just work out, I really should be losing.  I don't eat enough, but when I do, I enjoy it! LOLOL I'm 5' 11", 240 and I'd like to lose 60 pounds and I know.  I have 3 year old twins and while I had just lost 20 lbs right before they were born to put me at 210, I got pregnant right after and have never recovered.  Well this is it.

I have portion control issues at time, but I try to make it with the good stuff like veggies and fruit.  I'm a very emotional eater and with stress around every corner, I do tend to soothe the anxieties with a good meal.  But I'm looking to get really active again as raising two little ones gives me every opportunity to Just Do IT!

The best to all of you!

I made a big, pretty much fat-free, lentil and sweet potato soup that I feel like I can eat lots of, feel full and satisfied.

And I packed my gym clothes, I will be there after work!

Earlier this year I lost about 10 lbs on calorie count. I was walking for 45 minutes a day, and felt WONDERFUL! Then I found the perfect man, who has the worst diet ever. I've taught him to eat a little healthier to help get me healthy. I don't have time or the energy anymore because of school etc, but I'm determined to stop over eating and eat healthier. Oh, and the Wii Fit got boring, but I did find Exercise TV on my dvr. Changes the exercise program every month! I'll see if that helps me out. I'm at 150, and my long term goal is 135. I would kill to be down to 145 right now.

Hi, sorry, I forgot to check this post! I love food too, and I totally agree with you slimtwinmom that REAL food is the best! I don't relate to the people on this site that talk about eating diet foods, and chemically processed alternatives to what nature gave us :) To each his own, but I just don't enjoy eating something that doesn't seem real to me.

Elizablitz, I'm actually just a very weird eater.. I usually only eat one or two meals a day, and drink huge amounts of tea (I love tea!). I think I'm going to focus on eating more slowly, and planning ahead.. sometimes, my overeating is a result of ending up on campus with no food. There are almost no vegan options nearby, so I usually end up getting a bagel sandwich.. tasty, but probably six hundred calories! That's close to half my day's worth, and although I'm not hungry after I'm done, I'm not full either, and when I get home I might munch on something else. If I plan ahead, and bring something light with me, I could avoid buying that sandwich all together (and save some money, too).

I think I really need to recommit to exercise as well.. I sold my car and ride my bike EVERYWHERE, which is good, but not enough. I play lacrosse a few days a week, but I think I really need to stick to a running schedule and get back into strength training. Not only will it burn extra calories, but it will keep me motivated and in the weight-loss mindset.

Is everyone having success so far?

I have not had much success so far.  I don't know what's wrong with me.  But today I really think is the day.  When i overeat, I can't exercise the next morning without feeling sick and i get home too late to exercise at night.  My only choice is to eat well so that I can continue to exercise...and I love to exercise! 

I dont' know why, but i just haven't been very motivated.  I think it's because the goal i have is coming up so fast and there's no way I will be where I want to be by that time, so I feel hopeless.  I just need to make an attainable goal and stick with it.  Who cares if the in-laws think i gained a few pounds since they saw me at my wedding (skinniest I've ever been).  They'll see me again.

Well, here's hoping.

Realistic, attainable goals are really important.  I like mini-goals - rather than "15 lbs by New Year's" I like to say "3 lbs by Nov 30 and then we'll reassess."

I haven't been too successful lately.  Some emotional overeating over the weekend.  It's a vicious cycle, I'm in a bad mood, I overeat, then I'm mad at myself for overeating ... which just makes me want to eat.  The weather is not helping - it's freezing and gets dark so early and I feel trapped in my house after work!  But I just need to think positive, think about all the opportunities I DO have to exercise, etc.

Vegetarian, I do that too. I generally set goals of about 5% of my body weight, and don't worry about what happens after that. Once I get there, I decide if I want to keep losing (I haven't yet reached a point where I've decided I'm at my optimal weight), and then I set a new goal of about 5% of my new weight. Five percent isn't TOO much (right now its about 9 pounds), so I can generally succeed in about a month.

I think I have a different relationship with food than most.. if I decide I want to lose weight, I just do it. I don't struggle with cravings, or loss of motivation. I guess that's how I am in general, though. I think that anything worth doing is worth doing 100%. I'm a pretty black-and-white sort of personality, and my willpower can overcome anything for a while. I suppose my motivation eventually dips, especially once I start getting closer to my goals. I'm the most motivated when I see the biggest challenge ahead.

Wow, you're lucky that you don't have to struggle with motivation!  Any secrets, or do you think it's just how your personality is? I always have a hard time finding motivation - for weight loss, studying, whatever. But once I do have it I get things done!

It didn't occur to me that it was that time of the month this week - a bit of PMS and my usual monthly need for salty snacks.  It's not so bad now.  And I am off to the gym again this afternoon.

I think that for a lot of people, when they start to "diet", they start becoming obsessed with food (I'm not saying this is you! Just something I've noticed about some people). For me, even when I'm not trying to lose weight, food is just what I use to get energy. Its not a temptation, or anything like that. Also, I have really weird food preferences. Being a vegan cuts out a LOT of junk foods that seem to catch others, and I don't have a sweet tooth at all (I might have a glass of fruit juice once a month, but that just about does it for me). In general, I'll have two meals a day, and a snack if I'm hungry. When I'm not trying to lose weight, I eat about 2000 calories a day. When I am trying, I probably eat around 1200-1300. I'm also really active- I sold my car about six months ago and I ride my bike everywhere I go. I run a few days a week, play sports, go to the gym. By the way, I know it SOUNDS like I shouldn't have any weight to lose, but what does me in is beer ;) (I'm a senior in college).

What sort of exercise do you usually do? I love trying new things :)