Shere I too am 5'11" but started at 360. today I am 238 which is amazing to me. Its funny I read your post today because just last time I realized i had been eating horrible all weekend and wondered why. Came to work & sure enough i am at the beginning of my cycle. I have Always been huge & always been a sugar addict. I dont buy sugar anymore but the hubby & kids do. I beg them to buy it per serving or eat it all but that doesnt alwasy happen. I even noticed yesterday I was eating dorittos something I hate....I really have to set an alarm or something for that hormone Monster....thanks for pointing him out (notice i called it him hheheh) and gOod luck Diana noreika

Sheri, I so feel your pain.... Although I have made goal and am past goal I am all of sudden able to eat more and am pushing the envelope to say on the amount! I definitely have been feeling like the "self destructive monster" has opened the jaws once again! A few months ago I thought and figured I had everything in control.. Then it came time for maintaining and I found that I could eat junk food and not gain. Still thinking I had control I have been eating more then my share of crap.. Instead of one serving size of candy I have been eating 2 through out the day.. I am totally aware of it and know I shouldn't and that I need to stop, but then that darn monster just keeps on going and eating.. I also have been pushing my stomach.. Meaning, I have been eating well past the full feeling these last few days... I haven't had this need to do that in a long, long time.... So it's scary.. But I do agree with hormones playing a huge part in all of it.. Right before my monthly I crave junk and my stomach seems to grow! I can eat much more during that time of month then when it isn't... I think for me a few months ago I had control but now I don't and I have to admit that and get the crap food outta the house! I buy things thinking that I have control and although I don't eat the whole bag or box I still eat well over the normal serving size.. So I need to stop buying things like that... I try my hardest not to beat myself up over things because that just makes you feel worst.. So don't beat yourself up! Take one day at a time.. Cut back where you feel you can... For me I am so use to eating 6 mini meals daily that today I am changing that since my meals aren't so mini anymore.. So I plan on eating 3 meals and 2 snacks... You have come so far and are doing great! Just always remember that... Also what always gets me back in control is knowing I can totally screw this up! So for me I tell myself "you have to do this".. Nip things in the butt now before it gets totally out of control! But know you are not alone! Take Care, Kim

Thanks Shawna... I will give those thoughts a try!! It just may work.

or the lack thereof.... Okay, so here's my deal.... I was 350 lbs at 5'11", I say I was big boned, and I still say I am so it wasn't all fat... hehhe. Anyway, here I am now at 196-ish (fluxuate a few lbs) and I am still 5'11" heheeh.... I know i've done great, no doubt about that... but I would like to lose at the very least 26 more lbs.... and I've been stuck in this range of the 190s for quite a while.... and well, it sucks. I know why I have been stuck... will power or as I said before, the lack thereof.... I can now eat almost whatever I want and a significant quantity more than I should. I don't seem to dump on anything and as a consequence, particularly near my period, I find myself eating waaay more than I should and not having the will power to curb it.... it's like my self-destructive monster has opened its jaws and wants to devour me and my success. Is anyone else experiencing this disappointment? What tools have you used to snap yourself out of this behavior...what tools have you used to remember to fight this behavior before you succumb to the cake and cookies? Thanks for listening guys, Sheri

patti, that is just so awesome... thanks for sharing... we need these positive stories. It is definitely amazing how far we have come in such a short amount of time... let's keep on truckin'!!!