@jan110144 and @KCJen thank you both so much for sharing your thoughts on this!

"Over time, I spend less time in the old behavior and more time in the new...One needs to accept that the longer the old behavior has been in place, the more one experiences the need to "restart" since the old behaviors are the more automatic and will take over when something interferes with making the choice to behave differently."

I agree with everything you said @jan110144, but these sentences stand out for me because they sum up my thinking lately. My weight chart here on MFP starts Feb '13 and it looks like a falling mountain range. I wish I were one of those people who lost their weight efficiently and then just kept it off, plain and simple. But comfort eating and "energy eating" were incredibly ingrained for me. For a long time I was convinced that all I could do was avoid the situations that caused that response, that the response itself was unchangeable. It's always possible I will relapse again in the future, but for now it feels like I've broken those particular bad habits.

@KCJen congrats on quitting smoking, and all the other positive actions you are taking. Very very inspiring. You're so right about avoiding negative self-talk. Improved mental health has been a huge part of this for me.

I did some thinking about what derails me from my morning exercise habit, and although I haven't yet been derailed completely, one reason my new habit has felt precarious is that I have delayed starting on several days and thought about skipping it altogether. The first week or so was easy, and then I started drifting back toward my old habit of sitting on my phone for a bit in the morning, scrolling through Instagram or the news or MFP. The draw is that this time felt very luxurious. Like an hour long bubble bath.

Thinking about it, I recognize that the first hour after I wake up is a very special time in that I almost never have any competing obligations, so it's wise to use this time for something that is important to me. There will probably be time to sit on my phone later in the day and if not, it's fine, because it IS an indulgence.

Assuming I will falter at some point, there is lots in this restart conversation to draw upon in getting me going again. Thanks again for your insights.

I tracked I logged I exercised

Hair...my least favorite topic...only because I haven't changed my hair for probably 30 years. I'm as archaic as they get. At almost 70, my hair is still long. I have no color that is not natural...but it's mousy color on the sides & back and mostly gray in the front. I just wish it was all white. My sister just told me yesterday she had her hair cut short and feels she looks 10 years younger. I think that's just her way to coerce me into cutting mine. She's been telling me to cut it ever since I turned 40. Think I would die of "FRIGHT" if I were to make a change and actually look in the mirror!

@hil331115 if you're thinking about change, I say go for it!
@w8goal4life your hair is fabulous! Mine was looking a bit tired and for me, your sister was right. I think I look about 5-10 years younger at first glance.
@jan110144

am_change wrote: »

What's on my mind today? Lots. But I'll talk about hair! So, I had my hair cut and before going had a think about what to get done. I asked my 3 yrold daughter and she said to get it short like grandad. Well, that cheered up her pretty much completely bald grandad. But it made me think that I have had almost the same style all my adult life give or take a few fringes (bangs) and I thought about why. Well for the last few years I think I've been clinging on to the style I had pre kids when slimmer.
Why? Did it make me feel slimmer? Or make the bigger reflection in the mirror feel better? Not really. So I took the plunge and asked the hairdresser to cut it so it sat on my shoulders (a BIG cut as it was half way down my back). And she did what hair dressers do and took another 2 inches so it's just below my chin. And it looks ok! Shortest it's been in the best part of 20 years! I'm still bigger than I want to be but I feel like Ive let go of clinging on to me from the past. I thought I was waiting to get closer to goal before changing my hair. As someone who's been dying her her the same colour since it started going grey (or white even!) at 18 (now mid thirties) I might even change hair colour next.

So many transformations on this health journey and hair is just another part I guess. Back in Feb when I lost first 10 pounds I too chopped it all off. I am over 50 and my plan was once my hair turned grey, I'd start coloring and change the style. I waited but grey didn't come (yet) and held onto old ideals thinking that was working and suddenly said let's just do it! I highlighted and cut it short and have loved it. Prior it was fairly long but always in a ponytail anyway. I think the simile here is just because we've always done something that seemed to work doesn't mean it bounds us to not try other things that may also work.

@jan110144 my mirror is nice to me but I'm not sure who the camera takes a pic of
@w8goal4life beautiful pics!

Seeking input on eating back exercise calories as part of weight loss (not maintenance - yet!) - do you eat none, all or a percentage as part of successful weight loss?

I agree with @jan110144. I've been in maintenance long enough now that I eat back most of my exercise calories. Always better to recognize the possibility that calories burned during exercise may be overstated.

I usually eat a small percentage of my exercise calories, but they can be a useful cushion if you need them. As the others said, the calories allowed tend to be very generous, so many people log the exercise but adjust the calories down.

@terryrichardson1 thank you for your insight, it seems consistent with what others have done (or are currently doing). On a completely unrelated topic, every time I see your profile picture I smile because I think of family in Ireland, a marvelous feeling.

@hil331115 Yes, I use my Fitbit tracker as my first estimate for calorie burn and then figure out how to tweak MFP to register something close to the Fitbit. While it's not perfect, I have been recently eating back my exercise calories and my slow consistent weight loss came to a halt, did an about face, and I gained over the last week. Urgh. Back to not eating back those exercise calories!

@am_change, that haircut must have been worth a pound...lol....I too started going grey in my early years I was totally grey before I turned 40. I have never dyed it, just went with it...lol My hair use to be very long but I changed before I was totally grey and went to a short bob, I love it as it is so easy to manage.
@w8goal4life & @hil331115 when the time is right you will know, until then don't let anyone else decide for you...hugs

@pribud Thanks! Hitting smaller goals help fuel the fire to reach the bigger goals

pribud wrote: »

I wish there was a LOVE button, I absolutely love your pictures @w8goal4life, where do you live that you have such awesome trails to walk?

We live in western New York in the Finger Lakes region. There are a number of state parks around all of the lakes in upstate New York to enjoy. These pics were taken at Mendon Ponds Park. IT was great fun to photograph fairy houses...and watch the children search for their next fairy house on the trail. It was just a super great day to be outside!