Hi all! Honestly, my biggest challenge is getting in enough calories. I always eat the same thing for breakfast every day. When I'm not watching my diet I pig out on lunch and dinner and drink a glass of wine or beer or two at night. When I'm trying to lose weight, I eat a Lean Cuisine for lunch and fix a healthy dinner, but this all often adds up to only about 900 calories. I'm 5' tall, 41 years old, and live a sedentary lifestyle, so I'm aiming for 1,200 calories a day. It's generally 7 or 8 at night by the time I realize that I'm short and I don't want to eat too much in the evening, but I'm also worried about going over my amount with snacking during the day. What usually ends up happening is I eventually find the right mix of snacks during the day and then rarely deviate from it, which means I get sick of my food choices. So I'm still trying to figure all that out!

One success is that I've gone through the latest issue of Cooking Light and chosen a half dozen recipes to make through the weekend, so I feel really good about having a rich and varied diet while sticking to my nutritional goals. One plan is that, since I don't drink enough water during the day, I want to buy a large insulated tumbler to keep in my office and perpetually drink ice water throughout the day (I'm good in the evenings at home).

Hi All!

So my week has been going well so far because of two small successes. #1: I have been active every day this week (running or cross-country skiing). It is so much easier for me to eat healthy and eat within my calorie limits when I am active. #2: I got on the scale this morning. As I mentioned in my "initial weigh-in" post, I was active on MFP for quite a while at the end of 2009 and the first half of 2010 as I went from 174 pounds to a final weight of 138 (so happy and fit at that weight... never thought I could do it!)... but then a lot of changes happened in my life and I used them as an excuse when I fell off the wagon. I started avoiding the scale and only peeking every few weeks... then every few months... I was scared of what it would say and disappointed in myself. Well, I finally got myself back on MFP and joined this group so that I have to go on the scale and so that I can have help and support in keeping myself accountable. So I climbed on the scale this morning and was actually surprised to see it read 156.4... last I'd looked several weeks ago, it had read 160. It's not great, as I still have a ways to go to get where I want to be, but it isn't as bad as I'd been expecting... and from here on out, I'm going to make it a point to keep that number dropping.

As for what I plan to do in the next week to eat right and exercise, I am going to plan meals ahead of time (try for the day before) so that I know what I can eat before I start scavenging. It's always helpful for me to have an entire day planned before it starts. I am also making it my goal to exercise for a minimum of 1 hour every day this week... and next week too. I need to re-build my endurance for skiing and running.

Hope everyone else's week is going well!

This week as not been my greatest. Actually started new years eve. Went out of town, and that did it to my routine. Ate a lot of junk (low quality poor nutrition food). And I have not been exercising. However, I manage to remain under maintenance for the week. So I shouldn't gain any weight, right? Yeah, right, I know the scale will still show an uptick. So I'll chock it up to salt. Anyway, start day one of the elimination diet today (to test for allergies) and back on my exercise routine. So, should be doing better here on out. But right now still vegging.

Hello Everyone!

Today is my first day in the group but I did start a NO Sugar Challenge on the 1st. So I think this group will be perfect for me. I started the year at 181.5 and will weigh in tomorrow and post it here.

I have been preparing my lunch each night, made a dinner meal plan for the week, and I drink a smoothie with fruit & spinach for breakfast. I made homemade healthy snacks for those weak moments and I have fallen in love with LaraBars for pre- or post work out yummy-ness.

I also did strength training twice this week and cardio twice this week!

I feel like I am off to a great start and I am looking forward to this journet with you guys.

I am struggling with the scale but I have lost 4 inches this week so I guess I will ignore the scale!!!!!

That's the best thing you can do -- my trainer doesn't believe in using the scale. I had to beg her to weigh in every two weeks. The lose in inches is awesome!!