“You want to exercise but you are just so (yawn) tired. Here's how to power up (zip, whoosh).”

If you think you're too tired to workout, it may be just the antidote you need. Ask anyone who works out regularly and seldom are they ready to take a nap afterward. Generally, you are encouraged NOT to workout right before bed for the simple fact that it revs you up. If you prefer to workout after work hours, this is a great way to recharge which may not only take you through a workout, but get you motivated to do something more than just hold down the couch after dinner.

“You try to eat well but there are so many opportunities to fail throughout the day. Here's how to put the rug back under your feet.”

Plan your nutrition. It's easier to make good choices if the choices are limited to good choices. (Say that 10 times fast!) It seems pretty easy - and, hey, it is. Don't have a box of doughnuts or toaster goodies in your house. Instead have plenty of fresh fruit and already cut up veggies at your disposal. Take only healthy snacks and lunch foods with you to work. If you don't have the bag of chips, you can't eat the bag of chips. We're not saying you can never have them again, but if it's more bother than it's worth to get them (like having to run to the store), you might decide not to bother. Problem solved.

“Even though you've dropped a few pounds, you don't like how you look. Here's how to dress for success.”

We've seen the fashion faux-pas - either women wear too tight of clothing in an attempt to seem thinner (which just ends up accentuating the weight that's left to lose), or they wear clothes that are too big to try to hide the weight. There is a third alternative: wearing clothes that actually fit - not hug, not drape. If you are one of the later, with oversized clothes, and you like the style of them, find a tailor or seamstress and have them altered. It's really not that expensive. If you're in the first category, you may just need to go shopping. If possible, take someone with you who will be honest (and not your sister who dresses the same way as you). For the best fit clothes should not require you to "suck in" anything to get it fastened. They should not be tight, overly loose, but "fitted." If something fits fairly well in all but one area, again, get it altered. By taking the time to find clothes that fit your shape, you'll be amazed at how just wearing the right clothes will make you feel so much more confident, worthwhile, and motivated

You are not alone. I have the same problem with gas and bowel movements. The orders are bad, but I use Bath and Body Works room sprays. They are concentrated. I carry one in my pocketbook, one in my desk and medicine cabinet. I had bowel obstruction surgery five yrs ago. Mine husband and I are separated for this ussue being one if the reasons. The children keeps me busy and church. Suicide is not an option. Do you hear me? God is able. He took you through the surgery. It's going to be okay. Get support. YOU ARE NOT ALONE. God will never leave you nor forsake you. Ask Him for help. He will direct you in the right direction. Change your diet to vegan. That means to also be gluten, lactose, egg, sugar free. Breads, pasta, dairy and sugar will make you sick and cause diarrhea. God bless.

I am doing some informal research and would like to talk to anyone who hit their goal weight within 18 months but before they got there gained 10 - 30lbs (or more actually).

I have some ideas about how our metabolisms behave when we've been on a long term weight slide and I also recognize the pattern of those of us that are close and how the weight loss rate and our resting metabolic rate tend to go way down. I have a few questions like:

1) How much weight did you gain after you hit your lowest point before gaining and then proceed to your goal? and what was your low before the gain?

2) Was it a one time incident or did you yo-yo your way to goal?

3) After your gain did your weight loss rate pick up? and was it smooth sailing all the way to goal?

4) Have you maintained your loss?

5) Were you able to stop at goal or did you sail right past it?

I had a thought yesterday that when we gain weight and try to lose it seems to be a step pattern we gain 20 lbs lose 10 and then that 10lb net gain becomes our new normal then we creep up, lose a little step up and next thing we know we are 300+lbs. I wonder if the opposite works. If we work our way down to say within 10 lbs of our goal and weight loss slows, then we put on 10+ lbs and then go back to losing if the reverse momentum carries us through the slow part. 

Don't anyone worry I have not intention of trying this or experimenting with it, but I think it is an interesting concept that might be worth digging into a bit and would really be revolutionary if we find this pattern to be prevalent.

Let's Hear IT!