Cackleberry wrote:Sure wish I had your level of control, I couldn't bear not knowing for a full month; I'd go nuts!!!
And I'd be petrified that I may have more than just a day or so to make up, what if I had a bad few weeks, that can amount to a bit, and trying to back track when it's gotten that far is just too hard for me to comprehend.
I'm hoping that I learn a lot about my eating habits between now and maintenance to know when i've been bad or not. I don't ever want food/weight loss to control my life. It never used to before I was married. I used to weigh 56kg up until I got pregnant with my first. I never used to count calories, weigh myself etc, I just had everything in moderation. We'd eat out at McDonalds but perhaps once a fortnight and even then, it would be a medium meal and that's it, no extras. We'd eat popcorn at the movie marathons we used to go on, we'd enjoy food, rather than let it control our lives. I truly believe my problem began after I had my son and felt I had to lose the baby weight. I started 'dieting'. There started the yo-yo dieting and i've struggled ever since. I became a binge eater. I want to go back to the days where I was more carefree with food. It shouldn't control your life. It is just food afterall. I should know more about portion sizes by then to be able to control it. Hope that makes sense?
Yes it makes perfect sense!! Only wish I could say that it is simple to go back to those "carefree" days. Ohhhhhh I know (and miss) them well and soooooo much too.
I remember being able to eat whatever I liked and as much as liked, and now, I can eat whatever I like as long as it's not too much!!!
The problem is that as we get older (and I'm by no means suggestion you're old Karen)
is that our bodies don't process food as efficiently as it did when it was younger and fitter. The human body is designed to nurture itself, and so when it ages, it slows things down a little (often a lot more than we'd like). The first to jump on the "go slow" wagon unfortunately is the metabolism, and as middle age spread starts happening, you have to work twice as hard to get half the results you once did as a youngster!!! But hey, take heart it's not all bad news!!! I've read for years about the dreaded "M" word (menopause) and I can tell you that the rubbish about gaining lots of weight or being unable to lose weight when you're going through it is horrific.....it's not!!! I'm living proof that you can go through "the change" and not change into a blimp!!! As long as you eat right, and not allow yourself to turn into a couch potato!!!
Karen, you have a brood of kids to run around after, that in itself is more exercise than some people know in a lifetime!!! Once upon a time, it would have been me!!!
Don't be too hard on yourself, you will get back to your ol' (young) self again, and you'll have revitalised energy to burn!!! You will look and feel great, and your world will be your oyster (or grilled fish, or souvlaki)!!!
I'm not going to tell you what to do; you've proven that you know what it is, how to do it, and can AND WILL do it again.
But I will tell you this.......BE HAPPY!!! Enjoy your food, and don't be afraid of everything that goes in your mouth; life is about enjoying food and being active. It's not about gorging yourself (I'm not trying to promote gluttony here) but it is about eating well, eating healthy and taking back what is rightfully yours!!! You deserve the best, and the best and surest way to get what's coming to you, is to BE KIND TO YOURSELF, accept that there will be rough days, dark moments, weaknesses, and strengths, losses and gains, but above all, a commitment to giving it your best shot!!! And if that's all you can afford to give, then woman.....how could you possibly make a mistake???!!!
Once I reach goal, i'll only weigh myself monthly to keep an eye on things. I will probably still count calories, as I know it isn't just a temporary thing to do just until I lose the weight, this is a lifestyle that I need to maintain, but by goal, i'll have a much larger calorie allowance 
Don't put yourself through that angst everyday. Sure you'll feel great if it's one of the "good" days and the numbers go down, but when you do ALL THE RIGHT THINGS only to see a rise, man.....that feeling sucks!!! 