What If I Gain It All Back?

I noticed about a week ago that there are few things less flattering then the bulk of flab that lives between the bend of my arm and my back. Considering I'm going to be wearing a strapless bridesmaid dress in less than 20 weeks, I realize that I have some toning up to do before exposing the world to my undefined upper body. To help with toning, I've started doing Jillan Michaels' "30 Day Shred."

Also, I am still running, and I'm halfway to my goal of running 20 miles in January, which I'm really enjoying. In February, I may switch from miles to minutes so that I can focus on the length of time running rather than the mileage. By focusing on time, I think I will end up running more than I do when I focus on the mileage.

Becoming a runner and losing weight have been my two weight loss and fitness goals. There was a time a few years ago (2006 to be exactly) when I could wear a size-10 pair of jeans and a medium top and the numbers on the scale were at a very reasonable number; however, if you blinked, you missed this brief moment in my life.

Those few months in 2006 are the only time that I remember being less than 200 pounds. I stepped on the scale this morning and it read 209.8.

How exciting! I lost another two pounds, and I'm slowly creeping my way to "ONE-derland" and being less than 200 pounds! I am so excited to see my hard work paying off, but I'm also very nervous.

As I mentioned, for a few months of my life, I was at a healthy, manageable weight. For a few months I made healthier food choices and worked out. The key phrase being "for a few months." I know what it's like to lose weight, but then I gained it all back. How do I lose weight and maintain my loss?

When I was at my lowest weight, I ate healthier foods, but I didn't have a food plan that I could sustain for longer than a few weeks or months at a time. I was eating a very low- to no-carb diet, and unfortunately, when I started eating carbohydrates, I started putting weight back on. At first, I didn't gain much weight, but slowly I noticed that my clothes no longer fit. Those medium tops and size-10 jeans were quickly a distant memory.

I don't want to be less than 200 pounds, or running, for only a few months. I want years, hopefully many of them, where I am happy and healthy. I will be thrilled when I break through and arrive at a weight that doesn't involve 200, but I am also okay with it happening at a slow pace.

As much as I'd love to wake up tomorrow and be able to meet and exceed my weight loss and fitness goals, if I don't learn how to maintain my weight loss through healthy eating habits, as well make exercise a priority, I will be right back to where I was when I began my quest for a lifestyle change. It doesn't do me any good to lose a whole bunch of weight and rack up running mileage just to relapse back into some very bad habits. I've been there, and I've seen how miserable I am when I regain weight that I've worked so hard to lose. I want to actually maintain my weight loss when I get there and continue to push myself toward even bigger running goals.

After decades of dieting only to gain it back, two That's Fit readers have decided to finally rethink their relationship with food and exercise over the next year to move toward a lifetime of fulfilling, healthy living. Come by every week as Ashley and Lee share their successes and challenges as they tip the scale.