Originally Posted by Brooke220

Marty, yeah, it would be great to look into the future -- at least, I think it would but sometimes I wonder .

I've just recently come off a bad day of eating foods I don't think were especially good for me. The difference is that before I wouldn't stop at one day or two days or even a week -- I kept going and going. This time I'm really motivated --thanks in part to my tool and in part to my successful weight loss so far -- to get back on track right away.

Lisa, to answer your question, I count my calories, trying to stay under 1,000 a day although some days I may have a little over that. I try to make sure that I get as much protein as I can while I also getting in vegetables and some healthy carbs. Maybe once a week I'll have a snack treat -- like a 200 calorie bag of Chex Mix. What got me off track the other day was mandatory OT at work, which I was depressed about -- so when they served us nachos during our breaks I indulged and felt really bad about myself but got back on track the next day. The main thing is that I'm not denying myself anything but I do limit my portions. When we go out, for example, I'll eat maybe a fifth of my husband's Red Robin burger, along with a side salad. Maybe once a week or every other week I have a glass of Chardonnay when we go out. If I see a dessert I'd like to try, I do -- with one (two at the most) bites. I don't want to get full on it; just taste it. When I'm shopping at the grocery store I read the protein and calorie content of everything I buy and make my choices accordingly.

By no means do I consider myself a guru of what you should and shouldn't do -- I've just found a handle on what works for me.

I also try to get in some exercise at least 6 days a week. If I can't make it to the park to walk my 2 miles I'll make sure I work in the yard. I'm also doing a LOT of walking in stores, looking for new clothes and such.