Senecal ~ Unfortunately stress can be a major factor in weight gain, and you're not alone. The most important thing you said here is that you know this plan works because you've done it before. Getting your mind set to the right place and actually starting is the hardest part about any weight loss program (at least in my mind). Once you have had enough of the "weight", you'll be ready to pick up this plan again and not let anything stop you!! Just say enough is enough and I am going to get healthy!! I didn't really reach a plateau, so you'd have to go to one of the BMOS when, and if ,you reach it again and ask them. That's the best part...they are experts at this!! Don't let the total amount you have to lose get in your way. Set yourself small, reachable goals, like getting each new avi. I used to LOVE trying to get one of those, then on to the next one. I didn't want to think to far ahead, baby steps right from the get go. You can do this...you have proven to yourself already that it works, now you need to take the next step and start the plan and never look back!!! All the best, I know you are strong enough to reach your goal and change your eating habits for good!! No going back to the old ICK once you get to goal!!! This is a life changing plan!!
ShyAnn53 ~ thank you so much for the congrats, I really appreciate it. I knew my story would be similar to others out there, I just couldn't have been the only one going through all my issues from the weight. Sometimes I feel like I'm eating a lot of food, but I'm always sticking to plan and somehow it just melts the weight off. Hope your first week is super successful!!! To date I haven't had any problems keeping the weight off, and I have NOT gone back to eating any of the ICK food that got me overweight in the first place. It really feels good having my metabolism reved up!!! I have SO much engery these days, it's truly unbelievable. To me it's not about being a success as much as it is about gaining my health back. My friends and co-workers who are also following this plan have done a fantastic job but they all handle it differently. Some might take some ICK food here and there, while others like me don't dare. I'm the type of person that if I were to slip up and take a piece of ICK here or there, I'd have fallen off plan because my willpower would have started to slip. For me, it was all about staying strong in my mind set, don't let anything stop you and you'll conquer this!! As far as help with the variety of food...you MUST go to the recipe forum and start trying a huge variety of recipes. It is the key to staying happy with your food. I personally LOVE the maple BBQ sauce, Tuscan tomato basil soup, banana pudding, chili, potato chips, smoothies and lots of others. And grilling out, it's a MUST!!! Love grilled food. My mother says that sometimes I moan when I eat...that's how much I enjoy the taste of my food!!! All the best to you, and know that if you do the plan as written YOU TO will be in my shoes someday in the near future.
Psyche101 ~ They say, what's in a name, WOW, you picked a good one!!! Thanks for the kudos!! You say your meals are bland...make sure you start using LOTS of variety of No Salt spices. I'm using spices that I've never even heard of before and I'm thrilled with my foods. Also check out the recipe forum and start trying new meals. You'll find that you'll have a whole new list of favorite foods and spices. See above for some of my favorite recipes. Will adding M&Ms in daily hurt you...it might not stop your weight loss progress but I would think it might slow it down some. Believe me, once you give up chocolate you wouldn't even miss it. Try one day not having any, if successful, try doing it again the next day. You might find out that it was just a habit not a true sugar/chocolate need. You can always have a cup of tea with sweetener in it (that's my trick). I do that when I get bored and would like to pick. Once I get my tea I forget that I even wanted anything to eat. Don't let the food drive you, be in control of the food that YOU want to put in your body. I'm telling you, you'll feel like a new person once all the ICK food is out of your system. Same thing happened to me with dropping the salt. I didn't think I could ever do that, but once I did I felt like a million bucks!! All the best and keep up the wonderful job you are doing so far.
Enjoy your day everyone!!! Penney