There's no clever way to say this.

Me too! I haven't been faithful to MFP for several months and I'm ready to get back to it. I lost around 15 lbs early last year and as summer hit - I got too busy with canoeing and tubing and hiking and having fun! Which included lots of food and alcoholic beverages! I'd like to monitor what's going into my mouth again because I truly feel that is key for me...if i'm keepng track I pay much more attention! I'd like to lose 10 lbs and tone up and KEEP IT THAT WAY! Please feel free to add me, friends!

Yep, no easier way to say it than "If I don't do this, I'm going to die fat and unhappy".

I'll be 30 in May of 2014, and my hubby and I have been married for ten years. We don't have kids yet, and not sure if we ever will, but it'd be nice to have that option, and IF we do, to be able to take care of them, play with them, all of that fun stuff.

I'll add you, if you like. I've been at this a year, and while I could have done more, I'm so much happier than you could believe. If you need support, just ask for it!

Add me if you like.. I am looking for buddies who are serious about their journey and self improvement for both health and mental stability! 2013!

Welcome back. We are in the same boat (Well Kind of, I'll be 31 this year) but much of the same goals. You can do this! Dedication is the key and for me it's been making sure I try new foods and shake up my routine, boredom sets in quickly for me. And remember, you will have off days (it's unreasonable to think that you won't), the most important thing is to not let them get you off track, one off day will not throw you into a downward spiral. Shake it off and make tomorrow count! Feel free to add me.

I yo-yo'd as well over the years. One of the best things I did was go to a nutrionist--it was money well spent. I thought I was eating well, but it was more of a matter of the balance of what I was eating. I got a meal plan that was easy to follow and learned so much about the foods my body needs. My husband and I went together and it was interesting to see the differences in our plans--I learned our bodies all have different needs. Keeping a food diary was a recommendation as well which is how I came across MFP. I was able to customize my eating goals according to the meal plan I was given on this site which was awesome. Another thing I learned there was the importance of short-term goals. I always focused on my end goal. Rather I started with STG's such as 10 lbs loss in 6 weeks--not even thinking about the end goal. That was very helpful. Exercise is extremely important. Start slow and work your way up, make it part of your daily routine. For me, that was easier said then done. You can do this because YOU ARE WORTH IT!!! Keep telling yourself that.

A great suggestion I was given was to enter the food before you eat it.... that way you see the calories and decide if it is worth it, Good Luck!

I do this about half of the time, and it's really helpful. I go back and look at it throughout the day and if I think I might need to modify something in order to have more or less of one nutrient I'm tracking, I can change things. It also helps to remind of you things you'll get to have later in the day and can look forward to.

Hi! I know how you are feeling! I am a month into my weight loss journey and the motivation from MFP has been awesome...Please feel free to add me! As well as anyone else!

Need help for the weekend! I stick to my guns during the week but historically, weekends are my weakness. At work , I have no tempting foods, only healthy snacks. Not so true at home. This first weekend is going to be a HUGE test for me. Any ideas to keep me on the right path?

Piece of advice that I was given when I first posted on here (about Christmas and my dreading it...): don't think like that. There are many days that make up your year. Some of those days you will go over (don't plan to but if it happens so what - get back on the horse again the next day). Keep logging regardless - if you feel shame, anger at yourself for being silly or making bad choices? Use it to motivate you to find better choices that make you healthy and happy. A balance has to be struck and the thing I find is that if I don't deny myself things I feel better. No one says a few Quality Street Sweeties will kill you - but eating all of them everywhere ever will...moderation is what I have to learn...enjoy yourself but log to see where you should be and aim for that.

If you are looking to 'diet' you will get that result, but if you are looking at a lifestyle change then you will have to also change your ideas. It is nothing to dread or be tempted by things: you can have chips - just not a whole bowl, get popcorn in that is low fat, have your mayo in your tuna - just not a cup of it...measure and weigh things, look at packages and decide in the end - is it a treat if it is worth more than one meal in two bites...I save up calories for things I really want - like going to the cinema I love a bit of popcorn - but when you start to realize just how little you can eat to enjoy that bag (like 200 calories - or one package of instant oatmeal in the day to offset the calories - for the rest of the day so you can have a medium un-buttered Odion popcorn) the motivation or temptation lessens.

I have some go to foods that I find really make me feel less like a sucky baby and more like a person leading a normal life: non-fat yoghurt in vast quantities makes it so I don't have to cry about my cheese addiction. I love sausages but can only have them on a work out day...things like that. The first few days I found myself sulking a bit as my husband tucked into things that I normally love. Now I keep thinking 'bathing suit shot from August in which you could scare small children and attract fishing vessels" or "not being able to work out at the gym because you have no energy" and then I pull up my socks.

Prior to joining MFP I was just working out using Fitocracy (great app by the way - makes working out a game) and although I dropped a dress size I was not loosing any weight. The big bonus to come out of my efforts so far - have lost some weight - but being able to exercise more means that I have more energy...this time last year I would have to nap in the afternoon of the day I did my work outs because I was so tired I couldn't stay awake. That is sad. There a so many things that are better when you stay on track and do it right - I don't feel deprived like I thought I would and sure I have my mad days (well Christmas is all I can say) but knowing that this system works makes me so excited for this year. I am super pumped just thinking about loosing the weight and feeling and looking better.

Sorry - verbal diarrhea - but I am feeling so up after kicking *kitten* at the gym earlier and still being awake (and hell I'll admit it) being able to eat a few sweets guilt-free that I thought I would just try to pass that positivity on!

Good luck in your path. I know you will do it. I take one day at a time.

Thank you to all of your wonderful suggestions for help with my weekend weaknesses. I cleared out the cupboards and went to the store where I stocked up on colorful, crunchy veggies, oranges and grapefruits. I also ended up with a bag of frozen mixed berries that tasted great and was much more affordable than buying individual packages of fresh. I consider this past weekend a success. Tomorrow is my weekly weigh-in day...fingers crossed!