I was flipping through some old photo’s last night and got the wake up call I needed:
Me at my biggest, September 2007:
Me at my thinnest, July 2008:
I NEED to get back into my gym/healthy eating routine. I NEED to start recording what I eat and be diligent about my eating. I NEED to start getting back on track because I’m already 10 pounds more than I was in the second photo, which is only 15 pounds away from what I was in the first photo!
I’ve tried Body By Glamour, it’s how I lost my initial 25 pounds, but I don’t really like the new version. I tried Weight Watchers, it didn’t seem to work for me. I was constantly going over my points and when I wasn’t going over my points I was STARVING.
Any good tips for something I can use to track my food intake that might work for me? I’m also still on the search for the perfect strength routine at the gym!?
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Oh man. All I can say is I’m right there with you!! 10lbs over and searching for a great strategy to get away from it!
Have you tried the SparkPeople food tracker? (And congrats, BTW, on your second half!)
You need to find exercise that works for you and you like to do that way you actualy like to do it and its not a chore, also my ‘diet’ guide is actually the Canadian food guide while I dont always meet the recommended servings I try to every day and if you eat the correct portions then you dont have to worry so much about counting calories or anything!
I don’t really have any wondrous pearls of wisdom. Eating healthy snacks fairly frequently throughout the day, eating smaller meals (or watching portion control), and running a few times a week seemed to generally work for me, but of course everyone is different (and it sounds like you do all that already).
A friend of mine likes to track what she eats on a website and she really switches things up in her workout routine (running, spinning, teaching classes etc). I’d like to try the food tracking, but I don’t know if I have the discipline.
When I’m losing weight, I don’t follow a specific plan, because I find the food choices too limiting. I try to eat foods that I like and then I just count the calories. The magic number for me is 1500. If I try to keep it lower, then I end up cheating.
I think your nutz. I think you look So great right now. Just because you have gained a couple pounds since your “thinnest” doesnt mean you have fallen off the wagon. You go the gym/run marithons/do yoga/workout classes & run ALOT. Maybe the couple pounds are muscle? You seriously look fantastic & I dont think you should be concerned. Maybe if you stopped doing all of the excercise & eating like a killer whale (like the ones we seen) then I would be worried, but seriously, You are Looking FABULOUS!!!!
XOXOX
J
Don’t worry Amber, everyone goes through not being where they want to be and getting back there. SElf.com has a challenge program that has always seemed really great. I’m a huge fan of the mag in general. Check it out. I do weight watchers cause I like going to the meetings and it helps track my food, but if it didn’t work for you, maybe something different will work. I find that I tend to over eat. If I check in with myself while eating and eat slower I tend to not over eat as much. It might help with portion control. Best of luck!
I’m a Nutrition – only one exam away from being a Registered Dietitian – I’d Love to help out if I can!! E-mail me if you want to
otherwise – I think Calorie King is a GREAT place for recording intake. I’ve used it multiple times to create diet plans, test out recipes, etc.
Strength training? Not my forte, but I do best with things like the DVDs (Power Sculpt – with the Biggest Loser trainers) and just making it PART of my workout week no matter what. Not that I can say I’m good with this 100% of the time – but when I am I can feel it working!
For me – it comes down to routine. Having a routine/plan helps me immensely – as long as I know that it’s okay if I don’t stick to it 100% of the time. A little wiggle room keeps you relaxed and more willing to stick to it!
Nutritionist* haha oops
I wish I could give you some great tips, but I need some myself. If you do run into any miracle plan, I’d be glad to hear about it though!
I’m sorry, are you my long lost twin? Swear to God we are body-size buddies or something.
Before I decided that I was better off not counting calories I used SparkPeople. Loved it! Of course it’s not the method of calorie monitoring that will make you a success – it’s YOU.
Amber, maybe the pounds you gained are muscles? Afterall, you are getting more than enough exercise. I don’t count my calories and just make sure to have fruits and/or vegetables, some protein, and carbs in my meals. Ditto what Heather C wrote above: Having a flexible exercise and eating plan/routine may greatly help.
I don’t have any tips for you, because I am in need of tips too! the difference between you and me though is you already are doing great on the exercise and diet thing, even if you think you are not! from reading your blog everyday, I know you run and run all the time! and do other work outs! but I know our biggest critics are always ourselves. but just remember not to be too hard on yourself. like some other commenters said, you are looking great! so even if you try to do more strength training or be healthier with the foods you eat, just remember that as you go forward. btw, kudos to you for always being so open and posting an “at my biggest” photo. I don’t think I could do that! (though, I think I was “bigger” than you at my biggest)
I LOVE fitday.com!!! It really helps me track my calories and my carb/fat/protein intake! Have you seen it?
i don’t know, weight watchers worked for us. the key is to find low point high volume meals. we make a huge meatball sub and chips that’s only a 3 point meal. lots of zero point soups out there too. tons of veggies. it led us to determine the healthiest and most natural parts of the plan, and the truly healthy eating is the part that stuck with us. it’s been almost a year since kelley hit her goal weight and the theories have really stuck.
Oh Amber, it’s so tough, isn’t it? I’ve been doing WW and it’s been working for me – slow and steady, but at least it is coming off. I am the kind of person who has to write everything down – otherwise I seem to have no concept of how much I am eating throughout the day. Sounds like you got some great suggestions on here. I hope you find something that works! You’ll have to do a follow up post & let us know what works!
As far as weight training – does your gym have any strength training classes? I belong to a Y & they have a class that is great – shows you how to work all of your body groups. When I activate my membership next month, I plan on going to that. I used to do those classes & really felt like I learned alot about how to work various parts of my body.
Good luck, sweetie. I think you look fabulous – so don’t be too hard on yourself. We are all works in progress.
My strongest recommendation: GO AND SEE A DIETITIAN! From what I read here, you sound like a chronic dieter with perhaps disordered eating habits. A dietitian can help you put together a meal/fitness plan. I recommend a registered dietitian, not a nutritionist, because the latter requires far less education/certification. You can find someone who is registered with the American Dietetics Association at http://www.eatright.org.
Hi Lily! Thanks for your concern and advice, but I encourage you to go to my old blog, Amber Alert (www.amric1409-lifeasiknowit.blogspot.com) and read about the LIFESTYLE changes that I made in early 2008.
I don’t consider any of the food choices I make to be “dieting” it’s a lifestyle decision, this I realize. While I have not been making the best food decisions lately, I certainly do not want to go on a DIET to get back down to my lowest weight. I simply want to return to the lifestyle habits I developed over a year ago. I know if I do that, eventually the weight will come off and even if it DOESN’T come off, I will still be happier because at the end of the day I will know that I made the right food decisions.
Thanks again for stopping by my blog and offering your advice
Maybe do it by hand? Maybe just writing it down (and not necessarily counting calories) might be enough of a change to make you want to do it
Looking at old pictures definitely is an inspiration to keep going 
I really like Daily Plate. It’s easy to use, doesn’t take long and does a great job breaking down what you’re eating. As far as strength routines go, I LOVE my Jillian videos and I can really actually see a difference.