<p>My theory is that the whole family needed a vacation although each of us from something different. I apparently needed a break from healthy eating and exercise. So yes, it was worth it and I don’t exactly regret it. But now I have to get back with the program. I went to Pilates this morning - check; walked the dog - check; ate two Kashi cookies, huh?</p>
<p>PS The caramel sauce was so thick it glued my mouth closed.</p>
<p>Puzzled- were they the Dark Chocolate Kashi cookies? My D and I love them but they are dangerous. We can’t have them in the house. They pretend they are good for you with lots of good stuff in them but they are a ton of calories per cookie!</p>
<p>Yes, mom60, and they were on sale so I bought 2 boxes. Wish you and your D were here to help me eat them.</p>
<p>Whew. Some of that weight gain was temporary. Two fell back off, so am back down to within 3 lb of my goal. But I am inspired by all of you and would like to give myself a cushion and lose , if I can, a few more afer that. I haven’t been lower than my goal weight in a very very long time. Not sure I can do it, but will try.</p>
<p>You can do it, Jym!</p>
<p>Yes. You. Can!* </p>
<p>*political reference from 2008 unintentional ;)</p>
<p>My only daughter has left for college and now I’ve no excuse not to get serious about my weight loss. Have been lurking here for weeks but will start a weekly posting of progress. I appreciate everyone’s great information. Started on my plate 2 days ago–what a great resource.</p>
<p>I agree about MyPlate, bungalowdweller! It made me look at the food I contemplated putting into my mouth in a whole different way…</p>
<p>Met my final weight goal yesterday!! I was busy all day and literally didn’t eat until 9:30 when DH handed me two slices of pizza…I did not resist. We’d been to S3s back 2 school night for Jr yr, aka hell, and I was feeling very defeated. Oh well. I don’t dare get back on the scale today and ruin it. I’m close if nothing else.</p>
<p>WAHOO!!! Congrats, blueiguana!! Thats fantastic!! How long did it take you? How much did you shed??</p>
<p>I am back down to 1/2 lb of my low, which means 2.5 from my goal, though I’d like to get a little lower to give myself a cushion. Slow and steady…</p>
<p>Again CONGRATS!! Great job!!</p>
<p>OK, folks, I’ve been lurking and now I am joining in.</p>
<p>I’ve always been skinny and yet in the past year or two I’ve suddenly gained 15 lbs!
This morning I took a long walk, oatmeal for breakfast…</p>
<p>boysx3–I’ve always been skinny and so was my mother, yet I can recall her complaining about her waist getting thicker (she called it that Middle-aged spread). I think it’s gravity. Just a few pounds, but they settle around the waist & hips so skirts don’t fit as well.</p>
<p>Fighting it with exercise & proper diet, but I never had to worry about this before. Middle-aged spread. :(</p>
<p>Edit: If I gained it in the bust I wouldn’t complain, but NOOOOOO…</p>
<p>Jym - So nice when that ‘temporary’ vacation lbs drop off and you’re only left with a manageable 2/3 to knock down. You’ll knock those out in no time!</p>
<p>Over about three months I lost about 35lbs. I thought that was my goal but had a hard time moving into maintenance mode. Over the next two months I slowly lost 10lbs without much fanfare. So here I am. I feel good here, may end up teetering up a couple lbs at times, but nothing I’d get too excited over. I’m not going to spend a lot of time fighting my body as long as I’m doing my part. I’m 45yo and have to acknowledge things change. BMI is well within a healthy range.</p>
<p>Big goals, which I have shared, but it’s good to say them ‘out loud’ because it makes us more accountable, is a healthy long term maintenance plan, and the dreaded exercise thing I am so bad at. I’m going to look into pilates as suggested. I think as I’ll simply be doing it for health and not looking for weight loss results I will be more patient and relaxed with it (I’m hoping).</p>
<p>bungalow - Welcome! I love myplate! I used it constantly for months, and now just to look up calorie content and track weight. Great tool! :)</p>
<p>Boysx3 - Also Welcome! Glad you’re here to keep us motivated!</p>
<p>mommusic - You’re cracking me up! I was this weight 7yrs ago. I’m carrying more in my bust, and less in my booty this time around. I honestly liked it the other way. Isn’t the grass always greener!!</p>
<p>Wow, blue iguana! Super impressive! Last time I did this I lost 20 lbs rather quickly. This time. It’s been a slower process and I’ve been less careful, meaning I’ve accepted the overall lifestyle adjustment and have allowed periodic splurges. I am much older than you so it’s a slower process, but it’s doable. I use the live strong site. Welcome new dummies! :)</p>
<p>Slower usually results in a more long lasting result as it comes from a more sustainable lifestyle change. That’s why I really want to focus on a realistic, livable plan.</p>
<p>I’ll confess, I’m very spoiled in that my oldest son works at Wegman’s in produce. He’s the guy that cuts up all the fresh fruits and veggies and repackages them ready to be eaten/cooked for your convenience. He will bring home a fresh pineapple and have it cut up in no time for me…yum! He’ll hull and slice strawberries, also a favorite. He is less inclined to chop my veggies, but will if I ask. 
It makes it very nice to have the help and support of all the freshest and healthiest things without even going to the store.</p>
<p>I have been using the Livestrong site sporadically, but if I eat something new I log it just so I can see what it did to me. My biggest focus is to eat breakfast and lunch, and a lighter dinner, and fight off food after 8pm. My weight is down 2 lbs since last week, so I’m happy, because that’s 5 lbs since I started chatting in this thread. It now been 2+ weeks now of empty nest and my exercise goals are being met. Pants are looser, so that’s positive.</p>
<p>I should have weighed my dog … he’s been doing these 3-4 mile hilly hikes with me and he has to be tightening up as well. I did go out to dinner last night and had 2 glasses of wine, so I definitely have to exercise both days this weekend.</p>
<p>blueiguana, Congratulations on reaching your goal. I wish you were here so I could take you to Pilates with me. My vacation weight is coming off rather slowly. One lb. fell away immediately and now I seem to lose .2 per day. At this rate it will take a couple of weeks to get back where I belong. I actually went over and had a look at the maintenance thread on WW for inspiration and found the following quote:</p>
<p>Between stimulus and response there is a space. In that space is our power to choose our response. In our response lies our growth and our freedom.</p>
<p>I am working on my will power by focusing on that space.</p>
<p>Snowflake - Nice work. I think eating your big meal in the middle of the day is a great strategy. Have used it for years now.</p>
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<p>My biggest problem is the “fight off food after 8 pm” also. I should try to get to sleep by 9 pm…</p>
<p>If you are always hungry after 8 pm, why not just plan an evening snack into your eating plan? I find it really doesn’t take much - at this time of year a few cherries and I am good to go.</p>