Hi, I miss being a Loser. (So I'm renewing my Weight Loss plan)

[Emyly]

Hey all.

Once again I'm back at the beginning of a new year. Last year I had weight loss success thanks to JLosers and another support group based on The Biggest Loser. In fact, I lost around 20 lbs or so. I entered Grad School this fall and gained it back, unfortunately.

I posted to the Roll Call thread (again) and detailed my weight loss plan. . . here are the basics of my goals and plan of action:

Weight Loss Goal: 16 lbs by April 7th, 2008

Exercise Goals:

More. I haven't been able to do much exercise AT ALL aside from bowling 3 games a week in league. I would ideally like to get out and bowl on the weekends and start walking at least 20-30 a day between teaching, taking classes and office hours. I have only been in 8 of the gazillion buildings on campus, so I think I'll take a map.

Diet Goals:

I would like to first eliminate "regular" soda and switch to an acceptable diet soda for those times when I HAVE to have caffeine (crucial to a grad student's success). After that, I would like to limit the number of diet sodas and drink far more water.

As for food, I want to take salads for lunch and stay away from fast food or at least choose healthier fast food.

I've been dabbling in weight loss in JLosers since it began. . and I managed to gain all of the weight I lost last year back during the past few months after I started grad school. Crazy schedules and lack of good choices and planning really did me in as well as no chance to get out and exercise because of teaching, taking classes, doing homework, hosting office hours and driving 2 hours each day.

[Dani]

Emyly..welcome back....

The minute you stop thinking about your new choices as a diet, and instead as a lifestyle, the more successful you'll be.

[Emyly]

Thank you for the welcome and the suggestion about mindset.

I've had a hard time maintaining the healthy choices when the going gets tough (last year things got crazy at the end of the school year and I just kind of. . . . relapsed).

I usually use the word "diet" interchangably for "healthy eating", as in "My diet is extremely overloaded with carbs" or whatever.

I really think the key is going to be exercise for me. Historically, making healthy eating choices has been easier than finding time to exercise, especially now with my weird school schedule. I'm just going to have to schedule it in with everything else, and then I will hopefully be faithful to the routine.

I like the lifestyle reference. . . going on a "diet" sounds very temporary, implying that when the goal is reached, the weight loss initiative is over. You've done a great job of showing the result of maintaining a healthy lifestyle

I am getting excited about this process, which is a good thing!

Emyly..welcome back....

The minute you stop thinking about your new choices as a diet, and instead as a lifestyle, the more successful you'll be.

[Jinx]

The minute you stop thinking about your new choices as a diet, and instead as a lifestyle, the more successful you'll be.

exactly! you can start with "diet" food(lean cuisine, jenny craig, healthy choice, etc.) to give you a jumpstart and to learn portion control, but you need to eat real food you will stick with 1, 3 or 10 years from now. and cut out or lessen things you know you can live without. it has to be a lifestyle change to work long term. good luck!