Back again?

[SedentaryPlaywright]

I haven't been on the Beach for awhile. I successfully incorporated this WOE into my life four years ago, losing about 30 pounds and gaining confidence, better health and more energy. I started to "slip" after I quit smoking (successfully, yay) in 2008, and I have regressed to what I can only describe as a "high school" diet. I've been eating too much greasy, fatty crap, and I'm alarmed by things like, oh, the SCALES, not to mention, recent photos of myself. Enough is enough--I did it once, so I can do it again! Started P1 again yesterday.

Anyone else out there have a similar "slip" after a year or two of great success on the Beach? Would love to hear your stories.

[goodexample]

congrats on quitting smoking! I too had good success and then somewhere between ski races, swim races, and a kitchen reno lost my focus.... Now I am back and ready to be beautiful again... My goal is to be able to share some clothes with my teens... whether they will actually share or not remains to be seen.

[lulum]

Yes, I slipped and am back again. I had lost 30 pounds last year from March to early July when my Dad was diagnosed with bile duct cancer. His diagnoses was not good and I was determined to spend as much time with him as I could. As a result I ate anything that was quick easy and available. When my father passed away in early December I just didn't care about my weight. I even became determined to enjoy food as much as possible. I love to cook good food(note, this does not necessarily translate to healthy ) and I LOVE to bake bread so that's what I did and I ate a lot of it.
As of today I have gained 21 pounds back. I hate looking in the mirror. I hate the way my clothes fit and I hate the scale(boy that's a lot of hate isn't it?)
One of my coworkers started SB last week and when I heard her talking about it I decided it was time to do it again myself. So, here I am. Just like you I decided enough is enough, I did it before I can do it again. Day 1 for me. Maybe I can eventually start baking bread again(whole grain of course!)

[amgdgg]

Hi all! I too am BACK AGAIN -- 4th time in 6 years. You'd think I'd know better by now to stick with the maintenance, but NNNOOOOOO of course not but hopefully this time I will stick with it. The most I've lost was 36 pounds which was great and now, unfortunately this time, I need to lose alot more than that since I gained all back that I lost PLUS PLUS PLUS...lol....to the tune of starting 4 days ago at 202

Like you I don't like looking at what I've grown to be and being 5'3" weighing 202 at 56 years old is not pretty at all. I too HATE taking pictures looking like this and I am not happy that I had to drag out all my "big clothes" either!

I also quit smoking this year on February 22nd so I wanted to get a good grip on that before beginning a diet again but boy did I pack in the snacks when I quit and I swore I wouldn't do that but it kinda snuck up on me

I really like this diet and I am always successful so I am really looking forward to doing this again!

[our4dogs]

Hi! I am back again too! I had to re-register as I forgot what my username was (It's been that long!) Anyway, I weigh more now than I ever have and I am viewing the beach as a life change, not a diet. I am turning 30 in March. I am hyperthyroid, and my doctor has suggested RAI treatment but I would also like to see if maybe the diet changes will affect my TSH levels, before I get the treatment. I also quit smoking 2 years ago and I remember that before, when I was on the Beach, I used to go smoke when I wanted something on the not acceptable list so it will be interesting to see how I react to those urges. I have been on for a few days and have been cooking up a storm. I have been lurking for about a week and there are so many recipes that I want to try! I still have my old edition of the SBD book, does anyone recommend that I buy any of the new books that are out? Thanks so much!

[cindybakedababy]

I'm back again too.

I was on SB for a couple years and lost about 40 pounds. Then I got really sick and spent a month in the hospital on iv feeding and ended up getting under weight (at 5'8" i was 130lbs). After everyone pushing me to eat and eat and tell me I was too skinny I got back into really bad habits and basically regained 61 pounds in a year and now am feeling horrible about myself. I'm on day 1 of phase 2 and am ready to get to a healthy weight of around 155 and try to learn to maintain. I know how to lose and I know how to gain but maintaining is such a killer for me!

[getfuzzyfan]

Yes I'm back as well. I started March 4th and so far so good. I know this works because I lost 30 lbs the first time around. I'm up 25 lbs!! The usual excuses for gaining weight on top of having gone through colon cancer surgery (successful with no need for chemo/radiation ... lucky me found in time). Just being very careful to incorporate lots of cruciferous vegetables and fish or chicken more often than red meat. Looking forward to getting back into the few skinny skirts I have hanging in the closet and also the thrill of shopping for a smaller size.

Good luck everyone and good health.

[jus626]

I'm back too.

I did very well a few years ago, and then decided I'm ready to get my health in order and start a family. Much happier when I'm living this way.

[Tskora35]

So everyone why is it we can't maintain this way of life? I was on few years back lost 25lbs and have bee up and down since. Any good reasons?
Tina

[RedRox]

Not really. Human nature, overconfidence with some success and thinking that the old ways can seep back in without any real damage, perhaps viewing it more as a diet than a lifestyle change, etc. IMO it ultimately comes down to not really dealing with the emotional and mental side of why we choose the foods we do. If we don't put the same amount of work into that side of it, then losing the weight to begin with is just a temporary exercise in self restraint that will eventually give way at some point. YMMV.

[OnaMi]

excellent post Red

[bettieboop]

Hay Red, you must have figured out how to deal with the emo side of dieting. How'd you do it?

[cathyhudson]

Yea, back again. Sigh. I lost 30 pounds about 4 years ago. I am now back up 20. I gained over 5 pounds just on a recent vacation to key west florida. I had a GREAT time, but I drank alot of cocktails, and beer off the street and key lime pie....etc. Anyway, it seems I gain weight pretty easily. I think, though,that I lose weight pretty easily on SBD. I just think this second go around is going to be much much harder. Ironically, I have more good things in my life than I did 4 years ago. More friends, better relationship with my husband...but that also leads to more social situations that have led to my gaining the weight back. Another hard thing is that I actually like celery and green beans and fat free yogurt alot now and I think I am going to have a hard time excluding the problematic food and drink items that are the problem now. I think those are simple things like GOOD coffee with good creamers and syrups, dinners out and social gatherings. I am 46 but my friends from work are in their twenties so it leads to a lot of happy hours and nachos! It's not going to be easy.

I don't think I have a serious problem with carbs anymore like I used to, I eat so much less even now than I did 4 years ago. I'm not sure what to cut out. And I'm hungry. I'm going to need help!

[Aliciamag]

Im back too, I was on SB back in 2005 because my cholesterol was high and my nurse practitioner recommended it and it worked great I lost 45 pounds! Since then I have gained it all back. I have tried to get back into sb woe several times but I couldn't stick to it Last year I was diagnosed with Hypothyroidism. I was tiered all the time my joint hurt so I didn't want to do any thing. I've been on Levothyroxin for almost a year and Im feeling a little better. My Dr is still adjusting my meds. Last week I was just fed up with everything that was going on in my life that I decided that I was going to start Phase 1 and get my life back!!! I started March 29 so this is day 5 and I have a little headache, but other than that I'm going to stick with it I hope to make some friends here and give support too. Good luck to everyone



Never give up....Never surrender!!!

[ChallengerGirl]

So happy to find this forum is still alive and thriving, I even recognize a few names. I was a regular here back in 2004 when I found the beach, and for the first time in my life actually was successful with weight loss. I am now 8 years older and having lost about 80 pounds at one time (I think I have found about 40 of that again but not quite ready to dig out the scale) ready to get back on the beach. My life is entirely changed since my last experience so it is very much like starting all over again for me. My old user name was fittingly "MommyBear"... at that time I was a stay at home Mom to three little ones from Newborn to 6 and barely knew there was a world beyond my front door. I have since suffered more heartache than can be measured, divorced, changed careers a couple times, found myself and in that the definition of happieness, and even fell in love. I will be getting married this year and would love to feel good in a wedding dress, healthy enough to balance my family and career efficiently and just plain be happier in my own skin. My kids are now 8, 11, and 14 and deserve a Mom that can be a healthy role model to them not only in what I do for them and everyone else but in what I do for myself! Easing into this and plan on beginning Phase 1 Monday, I work about 60 hours per week on top of raising 3 kids so I will definately be looking for any time saving advice you are all willing to share.