lkharris

Congratulations! Good work! - Oh, and I recommend Revlon "cherries in the snow" if you like a good strong red for your toenails!

Ah, hang in there. I have been an "all or nothing" for most of my life. I am now 48, and getting back into the exercise and decent eating habit after losing it due to work and travel for 4 years or so! But I've always been all or nothing - either working out 6 days a week or not at all! This time I'm really trying to…

Are you eating protein in the morning? I do hard boiled egg whites - 3 when I'm not working out a lot, 6 when I was. They seem to keep my from being starving by lunch, even if I have to wait for a later lunch than I'm used to! I try not to eat too much of the yolks, although once in a while that's OK, but that's where the…

How long do you have? If you can stand it try the old Scarsdale Diet - it's a two week, higher protein lower carb, NO sugar, dairy, grease, alcohol. Suppposed to be able to drop a pound a day and you do it for two weeks. I did it a long time ago and did lose weight quickly. I tried it again just last year but found it…

The magazines also airbrush out all the imperfections in the models so be aware - you're not really looking at a "real" body when you look at those mags! I remember being 14 or so and living on those things and being so depressed that I'd never get there. Nothing worse than being a little overweight in adolesence - except…

Protein in the morning - I do egg whites. I can boil them the night before and then just pop them out of the refrigerator in the morning. Used to do 6, now to 3 as I'm not working out like I used to, but 3 works. Keeps me from being totally starving by lunch, although i do eat a big salad for lunch with chicken on it -…

You're doing great. Try the DVD thing for exercise. I highly recommend yoga, power version, and if you can get an intro tape to start that helps. It is at least pretty forgiving - hard work, but even the videos remind you to do it at YOUR pace, not other people's! And the mall walking - I am sure in Michigan there are many…

Yeah, isn't that sad how as you age the exercise alone just doesn't work anymore? It certainly helps, but in the "old" days I could eat whatever I wanted, whenever and still keep the weight in check. Ah well. I have never done Atkins but for a quick reduction it sounds like it would work - have had friends do it. Good luck!

This is part of the "all or nothing" thing that I've subscribed to most of my life! This time around, after a couple years of not really doing much and totally losing the old 6 day a week routine, I am trying to teach myself not to do that anymore. Feel like it sets me up for failure - ie, once I take a break then I let…

I agree with others here - don't call yourself those names! And know that we ALL slip and you really have to allow that for yourself. Just keep plugging away and yes, it is a long term thing, not a diet. And when you have a good day congratulate yourself on that - you WILL have them!

Protein for breakfast, always for me. The old adage about eating breakfast is really true and I find that egg whites keep me from being absolutely starving. But I hear you on the caffiene - I cannot give up the two cups a day. Tried tea earlier this week and I was falling asleep at my desk at 2pm and then started eating…

Some people just cannot be happy for someone else, or even if they are actually happy for that person they cannot express it. If they are your friend, you try to just accept their limitation as a human imperfection. Doesn't mean you don't get irritated by it though! You don't get everything in any relationship from one…

depending on the filling - I'd maybe cut the calories in half. Or look up just plain chocolate and estimate how much you think you had... And to be fair I'd go heavy - ie, estimate a little more if you have to! And then take a walk....

I second the wine.

I agree with CasperO - enjoy and don't fret a couple pounds! Avoid the fried and really bad stuff if you can. If you want to enjoy the cheat at this time, do it! It's OK to take a little break - don't give in to the "all or nothing", just get back up on track when you return from vacation!

Just turned 48 in December. I originally used this site last year, fell off of the wagon but got back on this September. Had a bit of a sloth period with this holiday but getting back in gear in January. NOT a New Year's resolution, but just trying to get in a better lifelstyle habit and not go to the all or nothing…

Just start back slow. The all or nothing thing will kill you - I know, as I am a total all or nothing and have been for years! I am on the moderation plan now - if I can stick with "good" most days of the week, only be a little "bad", then at least I'm not gaining back. Just think, if you start back a little NOW, you won't…

Lots of water, avoid heavy carbs, and what Blondie said about the exercise - once you're actuall there it's harder to not do something! And SOMETHING for exercise is better than nothing. But you've also got to live a little - just use the old adage of if you cheat once, doesn't have to blow the whole day/week!

Just do it! Thursday is a GREAT day to start. You can do tomorrow & Friday and then you'll be set for the weekend. I have been off my exercise game for the last 3 years or so, to be honest. Been working on getting back into it the last 3 months or so. Running is really not for me anymore, hard on the knees and feet. But…

Hang in there. Are you eating enough calories? Sometimes when you go too low, you slow your metabolism. If that's not the problem you may just have hit the "plateau". Only thing you can do is keep up the good work!

I too went through that when I started up again - went 12 days on a pretty strict regimen and saw only 1/2 pound loss MAYBE.... But, a couple weeks later and 7 pounds were off. I am not a big fan of the scale - about how my clothes fit. And I'm 48 so I know the weight loss will be much slower than in the past, and take…

Eat a little dinner, starving will only make you feel worse and make the temptation to binge late at night that much worse! One day of cheat isn't that bad - I read somewhere that you have a week to "repent" and work it off....

There's a piece of pumpkin cheesecake in there now calling my name.... I will resist and chew gum!

Been there too - tried Xenidrine (ephedrine) at the advice of a trainer. It did work, and I didn't really have a lot of weight to lose - those last 10 that he wanted me to get rid of. BUT, it made me jittery, especially after eating. Just didn't like the side effects. And then all the news came out about how bad the stuff…