Let's start at the very beginning... a very good place to start...

[PrairieGem]

Originally Posted by topfitmama

Me . Fessing up here.
I'm back to my high weight too. It's crept on slowly, over the last three years or so. It's not a ton of weight, something like 17-18 lbs, but... I haven't been able to keep the weight off.
I started out this year with great intentions. I have been keeping up with my daily movement (for the most), but my eating has been a disaster. I'll eat when I'm nervous, sad, worried, frustrated, feeling insecure, to celebrate the rare moments when I feel on top of things... It's been a bit of an emotional roller-coaster for many reasons, and I'm busier than I had been for the last few years.
I know those are excuses. It's a poor habit that I need to break.
Anyway... don't feel alone.

I could have written almost every word of TopFitMama's post (except the part about weaning--I don't have that excuse! ). I was doing SO WELL for the first six weeks of this year--walking, running, lifting, eating in check, and then a sudden work overload + a death in the family in mid-February totally derailed me. I'm trying to be patient with myself as I struggle to get back on track, but it's hard when I don't recognize the person in the mirror. My sig line feels like a lie--I haven't been for a run all month.

... But I went for an hour-long walk (in the snow!) today, and it was wonderful.

[KateTT]

I still work out at least 5 days a week, but my job is SO sedentary and I'm at my desk all the time so that in the last 8 years, I've put on 40 lbs! I haven't been very good watching my food intake even if I do continue to do good hard workouts.

I'm very disappointed with myself. About 2 years ago, I managed to lose 17 lbs and as soon as I quit being strict with my eating, it all came back.

With the extra weight, I struggle with some of my beloved high intensity workouts and find that my flexibility and Yoga practice has suffered also. Yes I have to modify.

So to all you lovely ladies, I say get right back up on that horse and start exercising again!!! And maybe we can all pledge to watch what we eat! I know there are many people here who will give you (us) a lot of support.

Just do it!
I know you can!

[Avila]

I am another beginner (re-starter) that just bought Powerfit Harmony and am waiting for it to show up.

[sherry7899]

I am with you! I've had an awful time with insomnia since late last year. I've been too wiped out to exercise. I did complete the Sadhana earlier this year, but I've totally slacked since then.

I'm restarting again-for the millionth time. Maybe exercise will help me sleep better. Nothing else has worked.

I did Lee Holden's 7MOM AM on Saturday, 10minutes on the treadmill yesterday, and 20 minutes on the treadmill today.

I hope to add in some Margaret Richard Unplugged workouts since they are 25 minutes long and no dread.

I may just alternate the treadmill and Margaret for awhile. I seem to be too overwhelmed to even pick out dvd segments at this point.

Sherry

[Laura S.]

I exercise regularly, but still have lost so much ground. I lost a lot of weight a few years ago and gained almost all of it back. I lost of a little of it last year, but am having trouble maintaining that and have even put on a few pounds in the past few weeks. The stress levels in my house are through the roof and all I want to do is eat "bad stuff". Now, my left knee is shot and I have no one to blame but myself for carrying all this weight for so long. I just hope to lose the weight before any other parts "go".

One of the most inspiring posts I have read here on VF is this one. Turns out, it wasn't quite true. Here is the rest of the story...

I post these for all the people who can draw inspiration from them.

[moonbeam31]

I only compare myself to myself and that is hard enough! I have not been working out much lately at all- probably 3 times a week tops and they are Jessica Smith, some easier Barre, no-non sense toning with dumbbell like Spark People and Minna Lessig, Tonya Larson. I am hoping once my youngest starts Kindergarten after summer is over, I will at least have 2 more solid days where I can really workout uninterrupted! I have to wok in the office 3 days a week.-so those days are tuff with driving to work, schools etc! At least I should have Mon, Wed, Sat and Sun to really focus on workouts! I need to regain my discipline as well too. I am hoping this will motivate me! Never stop trying! It is hard for us moms to get any time for ourselves! Sometimes our families like to sabotage our "me time " as well for some reason! As cute and wonderful as they may be- kids hate mom do not pay attention to them!

[sherry7899]

Laura, I will check out your links-thank you!

Notice I didn't even bring up eating....it's better just not to go there right now If I don't sleep well, I turn to sugar for energy (I know...disaster). I want to get sort of consistent with exercising and then make over one meal a day at a time so I might actually stick to it this time.

Sherry

[Kitten]

Originally Posted by sherry7899

Laura, I will check out your links-thank you!

Notice I didn't even bring up eating....it's better just not to go there right now If I don't sleep well, I turn to sugar for energy (I know...disaster). I want to get sort of consistent with exercising and then make over one meal a day at a time so I might actually stick to it this time.

Sherry

This is me,too

[PrairieGem]

I'm with Sherry and Kitten. I eat better when I'm working out, and vice versa... but these days (er, years), I seem to need to start with the working out. It's a lot harder for me to get a handle on the food. Working out is ONE THING in a day, and you're done... eating right takes all my concentration, every day. It's exhausting.

[SpiritSong]

Hey, Alison! Yes, it's me!! And I'm still not working out.

My excuse is that my life is sort of in limbo right now, so I plan on getting back to it once things are worked out. But obviously, I should just get going now.

Edited to add: And yes, due to the limbo and the situation surrounding it, of course my eating has gone downhill, so I bet I'm at my highest weight. I'm too afraid to weigh myself because I may be over a milestone weight, and I just don't want to know.