Trying to get back in the swing of things

A couple years ago I lost about 35 pounds.  That was GREAT.  I down from a size 14-16 to a size 10 (at 5'10" that's pretty reasonable) and feeling good. 

Lots of crap happened, lots of stress eating, lots of excuses, stopped walking as much, etc.

I gained about 15 pounds back and I'm in a size 12.  I won't let it progress any further and I'm getting myself back on the wagon, so to speak.  I know the first few days are the hardest and the past few days I've started out well but end the day badly!

Today's a new day.  I'm going to pull up my bootstraps and do this.  The weather is getting cooler and I'm walking more and I'm determined to lose 15 - 25 pounds.  A size 10 is good.  A size 8 is better but one hurdle at a time, yes?

My biggest problem is late night eating.  I can do GREAT at work, eat dinner at about 6:30pm but right after dinner from 7 - 10pm my munchies kick in.  My brain just shuts off!!  We don't keep a whole lot of junkfood in the house so I'm not munching on bad stuff - but I'll just stuff my face.

Starting tonight - I'm going to take a quick 10 minute walk when that urge hits me instead of snacking.

Anyone else have that late night snacking issue?

Oh yes, I do have issues with late night eating.  I'll do great all day but something about 9 - 10 pm and I just want to eat, eat, eat.   Your solution to take a walk is a great one.  For me, I budget calories for a late night snack.  I like something sweet, so I keep low cal ice cream treats in the freezer like Skinny Cow, Dryer's slow churned ice cream, and Klondike 100 calorie bars.  An hour or two before bed I have my treat, a glass of wine and I feel good.

Good idea - I used to keep Skinny Cows in the freezer and I need to pick some up again.  They are AWESOME!!

That's exactly me, too - I have the super sweet tooth at night.  During the day I don't really have a sweet tooth at all!

I was going to recommend what Vcarrie did.  If you know you want to snack in the evening, just save some cals for the end of the day and then it isn't a problem.  I always have enough left for a dove promise or a cup of hot cocoa or something in the evening.

I used to do that.  I don't know why it's just completely left my head the past week when I've started to eat better again.

I'll make sure I have extra calories at the end of the day and somethind sweet like the Skinny Cows.

I just have to make sure I don't have THREE skinny cows.

:) I know what you mean.  Like you I lost weight a few years ago and then started to gain it back.  I'm back on program again and every day it's like, "Oh yeah, I remember how I did that last time and it worked.  Why did I stop doing that?"

I'm only speaking for myself here, but the biggest thing for me to re-learn has been that I am truly satisfied with smaller portions, and not to eat unconsciously. Everything I put in my mouth needs to be a conscience decision that I'm accountable for.  

OMG!! I use to be REAL bad at the late night stuff. I mean BAD i would wake up to go to the bathroom! let's say it's like 2 or 3 in the morning. And I would actually stop on my way back to bed at the cookie jar!!! and i would eat like 4 -5 of those bad boys!! sometimes we would have like a fish fry and all the leftovers would be in the fridge im talkin fried oysters, prawns, piecies of fish and i would stand there and grab like 4-5 prawns! COLD!!!!! can you imagine??? COLD FRIED OYSTERS!!! WTH????????? lol lol lol don't worry fight the urge, pick up a book, watch a bad informercial, (try not to watch the george foremans or the slider presses all those will do is make you more hungry) and you'll be fine!

Original Post by vcarrie:

the biggest thing for me to re-learn has been that I am truly satisfied with smaller portions, and not to eat unconsciously. Everything I put in my mouth needs to be a conscience decision that I'm accountable for.  

 YES.  I've been just throwing things in my mouth without thinking about it the past few months.  I need to actually think about it again and in regards to snacking, remember that sometimes I'm really just thirsty, bored, etc.  So if I make myself walk for 10 minutes and I realize I AM really hungry then I can snack.  But most of the time I realize I'm not really hungry and I just wanted to munch for no good reason.

Original Post by miamyamoe:

OMG!! I use to be REAL bad at the late night stuff. I mean BAD i would wake up to go to the bathroom! let's say it's like 2 or 3 in the morning. And I would actually stop on my way back to bed at the cookie jar!!! and i would eat like 4 -5 of those bad boys!! sometimes we would have like a fish fry and all the leftovers would be in the fridge im talkin fried oysters, prawns, piecies of fish and i would stand there and grab like 4-5 prawns! COLD!!!!! can you imagine??? COLD FRIED OYSTERS!!! WTH????????? lol lol lol don't worry fight the urge, pick up a book, watch a bad informercial, (try not to watch the george foremans or the slider presses all those will do is make you more hungry) and you'll be fine!

 I feel like that sometimes.  I haven't eaten in the middle of the night because I'm too tired and out of it at 2am :p  But 9pm...

Last night I wasn't even hungry and I found myself at 8pm cooking up more chicken strips.  I was doing okay before that and had a decent dinner.  Two more strips - another 300 calories for no good reason.  At LEAST I managed not to make myself a peanut butter and jelly like I wanted to!!

Original Post by wychofavalon:

Original Post by vcarrie:

the biggest thing for me to re-learn has been that I am truly satisfied with smaller portions, and not to eat unconsciously. Everything I put in my mouth needs to be a conscience decision that I'm accountable for.  

 YES.  I've been just throwing things in my mouth without thinking about it the past few months.  I need to actually think about it again and in regards to snacking, remember that sometimes I'm really just thirsty, bored, etc.  So if I make myself walk for 10 minutes and I realize I AM really hungry then I can snack.  But most of the time I realize I'm not really hungry and I just wanted to munch for no good reason.

 

Me too.  I am definitely an eat-because-I'm-bored person.  I can't tell you how many times I've stood in front of the fridge or the pantry and realize I'm there not because I'm hungry, but because I had nothing to do in that moment.  For me that's the biggest reason I log all my food -- it forces me to think about what I'm eating -- and I stick to a eat about every 2 -3 hours schedule.  All things I did when I first lost weight, and stopped doing when I gained it back.  And have to accept I will keep having to do to maintain.  

But, your plan to take a 10 minute walk is a great strategy and one I should start incorporating myself.  More movement is always a good thing. 

It worked for me before :)  Plus, a 10 minute walk isn't a huge inconvenience or something to dread so I'm more likely to do it.

I know the feeling.    I was going to ask for help myself!!!  My husband almost died this past week.  (thank God he is okay now)  I have been back and forth to the hospital and I began the nervous eating process.  I only gained 1 1/2 lbs  but I have no go get em' desire right now.  I am trying so hard to get back in the groove of things.  I am mentally and physically drained!!!!!!!!!!!  I'll start back on Monday.. 

WOW - I'm glad he's alright, too.  That situation would drive anyone to eat because of nerves.

Original Post by wychofavalon:

I used to do that.  I don't know why it's just completely left my head the past week when I've started to eat better again.

I'll make sure I have extra calories at the end of the day and somethind sweet like the Skinny Cows.

 

I just have to make sure I don't have THREE skinny cows.

I love Skinny Cow, but I also have a tendency to have more than just one sometimes. I keep sugar free creamsicles in the fridge for days where I don't have a couple hundred extra calories to devote to my ice cream on a stick fetish. Also, walking helps. Sometimes I walk while eating a creamsicle, hah.

Another good idea.

I'm stopping at Costco on the way home today and I'm going to pick up Skinny Cows and whatever lo-cal, fatfree ice cream on a stick they have :D

Original Post by wychofavalon:

 

I just have to make sure I don't have THREE skinny cows.

hehehe! that is sooo me!

hey guys im looking to join a place to go to keep track, vent about life, keep each other (ok, mainly myself =] ) motivated..

I was on here before, got stressed and a lot of stuff happened.. lost my internet, forgot my username UGH!!! not to mention gained back all the weight i lost and then some. CC says I should lose more than 100 pounds... I think that a goal of like 20 pounds should be reasonable for me. I mean, they are saying be smaller than i was even when i was younger and an ana. yeah, i have let myself go.. mainly becuase i did stop that whole starving myself crap, and since then i have pretty much consistantly gained about 10 pounds a year... I am just so frustrated with myself. I saw pictures of myself from when i was ana and i am just so grossed out that I have let myself get this big.. and my current situation with where i am living is a little messed up and it just makes it that much harder to keep track of eating well and stuff. plus i have friends who also dont care, which is the WORST thing for me.. i need like a full time trainer who is all over me about what im eating and how much im exercising. 

So, i was wondering if i can join up with this group and start all over with my weight loss. I have a few friends from work who we have plans to work out and do the c25k program together.. i just need that little extra to keep me motivated.

Oh and by the way, the internet is a little iffy so if i dont come back for a few days or anything it is because of that. =]

thanks guys! im looking forward to helping keep you guys on track while keeping my fat self motivated!!!