Thanks for checkin up on me guys. I gotta tell ya, once the holidays were over I thought I would be totally on the wagon but it hasn't worked out that way.  Everyday it is a struggle to NOT eat the crappy food that I crave. Everyday I make excuses not to exercise. Everyday I wallow in self pity about the fact that I have to return to work on Monday and leave my baby girl for 11 hours per day. Fact is, everyday... I am getting fatter. The scale has remained unchanged but I feel sluggish and sad. The few moments of quiet I do get during the day, I want to surf the web or check emails, not dust off an exercise video and jump around my tiny living room. How the hell am I gonna find the time or the strength to do this when I go back to work next week?

The food factor is killing me too. When I first joined EP years ago, I had good success with JC. I suck at cooking, nor do I like to cook, so for me JC is a godsend! But other than the fact one learns what a portion size is, JC doesn't teach you how to eat the right foods to gain optimum health. At least that's what I think. So now, with a 3 month old baby keeping me busy and tired, not to mention the dreaded return to the workforce grind... will I find the strength and resolve to eat well? I can't seem to find it now. I thought I had it a few weeks ago when I joined WW and decided to resurrect this blog, alas I had been lying to myself.

What to do know? Join JC to make life easier for me and to get me on track? Struggle with WW and hope that I find the fire that I've lost so quickly? Say "Screw it all," and have yet another slice of chocolate chip banana bread and coffee with half and half?

Thoughts? Ideas? Help?!

I think the structure of work might help.  At least for me, I'm more likely to stay on track on days that I work.  Maybe you're different.  I don't know.  I don't like to cook much either.  We eat spaghetti at least once a week.  Then usually tilapia one night. Super easy, takes no time.  We'll eat it with a green veggie and either rice, couscous, or quinoa.  We do have frozen pizza night.  That's all about moderation and eating a big green salad with hit.

You can and will do this!

{{{HUGS}}}

I think being at work might be the key to your success.  I find the more I'm home with the kids the more I graze and get off my plan.  I've been on both JC and WW and even worked and JC and I'd never recommend the plan to anyone.

Yes, it works and its easy but unless you eat JC foods for the rest of your life you are never gonna learn how to eat anything unless its prepackaged.  The center that I worked at wouldn't even let us talk about portion sizes and eating out until someone hit maintainance and that's just not real life.  People eat out, people go to parties etc you can't bring your Jenny meals everywhere.  I know people will disagree with me on it but that's just how I've always felt and maybe its just my experience with where I worked and used the plan other centers might be different but I would take weight watchers any day.

Weight watchers for me is more real and you can use the prepared foods with them and not learn portion sizes too I'm sure BUT they at least give you the option and would prefer you to be able to eat real food that you make yourself.

I hate cooking and that was another plus for me with JC but I've learned to like cooking and to make it easier via the crockpot.

Your daughter is adorable by the way.  I have 2 boys ages 2 and 1 so I know what your going through.

Is there some kind of activity you love??  For me it was dancing so I set out to find an activity that revolved around dance.  I stumbled upon Zumba and have been addicted ever since and am now teaching it.  Before I know it the class is over and its time to go home. 

 You have so much going on right now, and I think that maybe going to JC, even if its just for a short while to get you going again, might be a good idea, and you know how I feel about pre-packaged food. ;)

I don't have much advice about exercise, other than to just focus on doing *something* every day. I think once you get back into the swing of things you will find it easier to do more.

Your daughter is gorgeous! Congratulations!

Hang in there.  I understand what you mean about wanting to read email instead of getting up to exercise, expecially when you're worn out.  DON'T throw in the towel.  You'll start feeling better if you keep trying.  Do the easy things first.  Start drinking all of your water and take a bubble bath to feel pampered. Just keep trying to make better choices.  You can buy fat-free half and half!

Will post more later, gotta run, but wanted to say that I can relate to your feelings about JC (and about not cooking!!!).  Here's what I have been doing the last 2 weeks - not obsessing about JC, but eating JC most bfasts and lunches.  I've probably only eaten 5-6 dinners on JC, as we do eat out alot and have work stuff, etc.  Just doing this IS helping me to make better choices AND be able to lead a more normal, realistic life.  I figure if I am eating 75% of my meals better and in portion control, that is SO much better than 0%.  Will be slower loss (1 lb this week) but more realistic for the LONG term.  Hope that helps for now.

Oh, and lord help the day when my JC center decides to tell me what I can and can't order, etc......I'll take my $100/week elsewhere!!!!!