Never forget that you didn't get this way overnight, and you won't get back from here overnight, so you must be patient and be persistent. Every little step in the right direction, however small it may be, is just that: a step in the right direction.

Kashi GoLean Crunch cereal (and Harris Teeter's version, for a dollar less per box!) is high in protein and fiber, and is very satisfying. Also love beans and grilled chicken breasts. I use the frozen ones quite a lot- not ideal, but convenient, high protein, low cal, and they taste good, so I know I'll eat them!

I have gone from eating hardly any salads/leafy greens to really enjoying them! I use the mixed greens or baby spinach, and make sure I have different veggies and dressings on hand to keep it interesting.

Good for you! It is a challenging endeavor, but so worth the effort. If I could only give you one piece of advice about it, it would be to celebrate EVERY step in the right direction. So, for example, if you hope to lose two pounds one week, and only lose one... that's GREAT! You lost a pound! Please don't berate yourself by saying that you "only" lost a pound. It is a step in the right direction; maybe not as big a step as you would have liked, but it is a pound that you have lost, and you don't have to worry about it anymore! Also, remember that every day is a new one. If you have an "off" day, don't beat yourself up for it; just remember that you can start fresh tomorrow morning. Just take it one choice at a time, one day at a time, and be kind to yourself. You can do this! :)

Another vote for the thrift store! Consignment shops are also great. Seeing your smaller, healthier body in clothes that fit and flatter is a great motivator to keep working hard!!

I am chiming in to agree with kstubblefield- the C25K program (at least at the beginning) is not so much about distance, it is about building endurance and getting your mind and body used to running. The program gradually builds you up to be able to run 30 minutes. You will likely end up running nearly 5K/3 miles in those 30 minutes, and once you can run 30 minutes, it is not a huge deal to add on a couple more minutes to make up the difference. When I did it, I think the first time I went out after completing the program, aiming for distance, rather than time, I ended up running about 35ish minutes. Once you are used to running 30 minutes or 5K, adding distance/time in small increments comes rather naturally. Go at your own pace, whatever is comfortable for you. I agree with those that have mentioned smartphone apps or podcasts- music is a big help, and it is great to not have to watch a clock for the intervals. Above all, ENJOY it! Running can be fantastic stress relief as well as great exercise.

I love to go to Ruby Tuesday for dinner- their salad bar is amazing! My favorite thing about it is that I can get a variety of veggies on my salad there that I don't usually get at home (the produce that would go bad before our little family managed to eat all of it, or the things that the rest of the family won't eat at all). I usually order something tasty and maybe a little decadent, and get the salad bar with it. When my meal arrives after my big plate of salad, I am already mostly full, so only eat a little of what I ordered. Then I take the leftovers home to hubby. ;) Also, I don't know if there is a Silver Diner near you, but they have quite a few very healthy options, and they also use fresh, locally produced ingredients. Yum!

There are some really great workout videos available that take 20-30 minutes- easy enough to fit in in the morning before getting out the door! Jillian Michaels' 30 Day Shred and Ripped in 30 are kick-butt workouts in only 20 minutes, with minimal equipment. I also like her Yoga Meltdown workout, which is 30 minutes. I don't know if you are a mom or not, but Lisa Druxman's Mama Wants Her Body Back DVD series is also great- 20 minute workouts designed to fit easily into your day. HTH! :)

The main catalyst for my life change has been Stroller Strides, a workout for moms with kids who are stroller age (6 weeks to... well, whenever they won't ride in the stroller anymore! lol). I started attending classes in January of 2009, but did not make any changes to my diet, and was not attending with a lot of regularity or consistency. I could tell I was getting stronger, but I was not losing any weight. A year later, January of 2010, our instructors announced that they were thinking of hosting a Get Fit Challenge the next month, and wanted to know who may be interested in participating. My immediate inner response was, "Nope, don't bother. You are always going to be the 'big girl,' and there's nothing you can do about it." My second inner response was kind of a giant "WTF did I just say to myself?!?!?!" I realized that thinking that sort of thing about myself was ridiculous and hateful and unhealthy. I decided then and there that if I could lose even one pound before the start of the challenge (in about a month), then I [b][/b]had[b][/b] to participate in the challenge. I started making changes immediately, counting calories and paying attention to my choices, and managed to lose about ten pounds before the challenge started, so I did it! I won the Get Fit Challenge, and got a massage and a pair of earrings for my efforts, and kept going from there. So I guess the main catalyst was that I realized how poorly I was treating myself... and knew I would win a massage if I won the challenge. ;)

[quote=healthnutmom]I sit down in the morning and plan the whole day of eating. I decide if I can eat what the family is eating for dinner or I need to make something just for me. [/quote] I do something similar; I eat pretty much the same thing for breakfast every morning (just different flavors of yogurt and different varieties of Kashi cereal), so I know that breakfast is taken care of, easy peasy, no worries. Then I decide before lunchtime how the rest of the day is going to go. Do I want to splurge a little bit on lunch, and have a slimmer dinner? Or do I want to have a smaller lunch and have a bigger dinner with my family in the evening? Some days it depends on what the rest of the day holds (will hubby be home for dinner, or is it just the kids and me? Can we go to lunch with friends?), while other days, it is more about what ingredients I have on hand for either meal. So I try to balance it out then, early in the day, and that helps determine what I can snack on in the afternoon.

My personal understanding of it is that "resting" is pretty much when you're putting your feet up- stretched out on the couch, just laying down or whatnot. Sitting is when you are seated (duh, lol), with your feet on the floor and your trunk upright. I could be totally wrong, but that is how I perceive it.

Yes... because sometimes I learn to enjoy it! Tomatoes, peppers, low sodium V8, pickles- all things that I previously hated but learned to love. Things that I still don't love, I try once in awhile (like once a month or so) to see if I still don't like 'em; reminds me- I need to try fish again soon. My tastes have matured since I've overhauled my lifestyle. ;)

There are some days that start off like that for me. I have realized, though, that those are the days I need to exercise most. I can start the day off in a terrible funk, but after getting moving for a little while (a Jillian Michaels DVD, a 30 minute run, a Stroller Strides class), I find that I am in a much better mood, and more motivated to make the right food choices for the day. I also start every day the same way for the sake of routine, and that seems to help.

I don't mind ads... as long as they don't include misspellings or grammatical errors!!!! Has anybody else noticed the one that says, "There is no question [b]to[/b] hard (or silly) for this gang[b],[/b] the community is here to help." Arrrrrgh, it hurts my brain. How about, "There is no question [b]too[/b] hard (or silly)[b];[/b] the community is here to help."? Can someone who has such powers please change it? It would make the ad much more effective!

I have two boys, 12 and 3. We all eat pretty much the same sorts of things, especially at dinner (it's my way or the highway at dinnertime!). Fortunately, my older son is a sharp cookie, and wants to do well for himself, and the little one is learning the difference between "real food" and "junk food." Sometimes it is hard to get him to try new things and eat his veggies, so we bargain at the dinner table: he cannot have his milk until he has had five bites of veggies, or something similar. Usually after the first couple of bites, he realizes that he actually likes the food that he was avoiding. His one "free pass" is green beans; I understand there are certain foods that individuals just can't bring themselves to eat (mine is mushrooms- they seriously make me gag), so I don't make him eat green beans. But he loves broccoli, and carrots, and peas, and baby brussel sprouts, so I don't worry about it an awful lot. The biggest challenge we face is that my 12-year-old is skinny as a rail, has a high metabolism anyway, and is on a stimulant based medication for ADHD- so he definitely needs way more calories than I do! We have had to compensate by adding higher calorie toppings to his foods; we put cheese on lots of things for him, add butter where we can, and always keep peanut butter on hand. But, essentially, we are all eating the same stuff. :)

I usually just record it (in my exercise diary here) as 25 minutes of circuit training. Probably not 100% accurate, but close enough for me. :)

Congrats! Keep up the good work!!! :)

Another vote for Greek yogurt! I have a serving of it with half a cup of Kashi GoLean Crunch mixed in, and it keeps me going for hours. I have recently started adding a tablespoon of ground flaxseed meal for a little extra fiber and omega 3.

Oh, yeah! Was on family vacation last week, at the lake, and going through pictures, I realized I wasn't embarrassed by a single one of them- even the ones where I'm wearing a bathing suit! Last year (and every year before), it was a matter of picking through and finding the more flattering angles. My husband also took some pictures of me kneeboarding, and my arms look fierce instead of flabby. The kneeboarding itself was also waaay easier and more fun than it was in previous years. I am really enjoying my new body. :) Good thread!

I have been eating way better foods, simply because I have very little self control with junk-y foods, especially sweets, and cannot have them around. With the better food choices have come smaller serving sizes. Should add that I have been allowing myself an indulgence here and there, but have tried to make better choices as far as those go, as well.