Where do I begin? Ah, I’ll start where I screwed up. Let’s see…oh, well, that was a series of mistakes. Ok, I’ll start with the biggest one: 2010 Holidays – I deliberately ate whatever my heart desired because ‘I want to enjoy the holidays. I told myself and anyone who questioned the volume of food I shoveled in my mouth ‘I know how to get the weight off’. The 50 lbs I lost became 40 thanks to that great decision.

So did I really know how to get the weight off. Sure. Did I? No. Fast forward a couple of months, work is really busy, there is a lot of snow and comfort foods seem just perfect for my mood. I can always get back on track tomorrow. Right. I’m working out, but not enough to make a difference. I got back to 45 lbs, but then slipped back to 40. I could do better. I spend most of March and early April working really hard just before vacation. I got back to 45 lbs again. One week on vacation and I’m at 37 lbs lost. I pull things together again and I’m back to 43 lbs lost in a few weeks.

In May I decide workouts in the morning that involve too much jumping and running are too difficult, but I’m great on mornings with strength training and circuit training. I take a look at the calorie burn and decide I will focus on strength training and use Jillian and Bob’s various circuit programs for my cardio (i.e. cardio with ST). I decide to listen to the message that women will not bulk rather than following my long-standing fear that I will. I steadily increase the weights. The treadmill starts to collect dust and the Turbo Fire workouts stay neatly in their package. Five to six days a week through the end of June I lifting weights with circuit training. My eating is decent. I’m firming up. I see the muscles in my legs, I’ve got “big guns” (thank you DH, but telling me that I could be a female body builder was not a compliment - but I do agree it is better than flabby), even my forearms look better… but my pants and blouses are getting snug. What is going on! I get on the scale. GASP! I’ve gained! 33 lbs is all I can claim.

Lessons learned:
#1 -- I DO NOT have this all figured out
#2 -- Constantly going over my calorie range means I will not lose weight – even if I workout frequently
#3 -- Some girls just bulk. You’re one of them. Strength training is very important, but keep it to 2-3 days a week
#4 -- Like it or not, those jarring workouts are necessary for success. They have to be done on weekdays before work.
#5 -- Stop buying candy. Even when you think you can work it into your calorie range, you don’t. You just want more…and then you want something salty.
#6 -- When your pants start to feel tight, they are! They were not just washed, and even if they were, the used to fit post wash just fine.

I'm starting over with basic goals. I've gotten away from things that I have learned. I looking at this like I'm new to SP. Goals:
1. Log into SP once a day. Using the app is great, but I really need to read what others are doing to stay focused.
2. Calorie range: I’m going to try to get there at least 5 days this week.
3. Protein at each meal
4. 3 fruits and 5 vegetables a day
5. Limit the number of meals from a box to 4 per week
6. Exercise: 5 days this week – minimum; three of the days need to be just cardio.
7. Water: Keep filling up that bottle