Thank you

I enjoy working out

Do you feel like crap since you have not worked out in awhile, that's what happens to me!!

You're hot just the way you are.
I don't like working out over the holidays and I put on about 20-30 lbs over them. I takes me all spring to lose that weight.

Don't over do it, and try not to compare your new self to your old self. You'll never get your old self back, and by comparing yourself to it, you'll never be happy.

You look good the way you are

Keep up the work in the gym (lots of cardio)and eat properly. Try not to think of it as a diet.
Give it time and the weight will come off.

Why give up even the diet soda? I've heard that from a number of people but I don't know the reasoning behind it.

Diet soda has 0 calories but there is something in it that blocks weight loss if you drinkit regularly. You should drink and eat in moderation, no matter what it is you are eating or drinking.

Diet soda actually makes you eat more food.It's a brain thing. Harvard did a study on it. All you have to do to understand is go to McDonalds and look at the person ordering 2 Big Macs and a diet Coke.

Water, you have to drink a ton of water!!!

I'm don't think that I can buy in to that cause and effect reasoning there. People don't get fat because they drink diet coke. They get fat because they eat 2 Big Macs and order a diet coke to make themselves feel like they're still dieting. I do drink diet pop almost every day.. but I'm pretty sure it doesn't make me eat more. In fact most of the times I drink a diet drink with a small meal. I might have to test this out.

I've heard that drinking ice water helps a little.

And I've heard that drinking a lot of water a low salt diet helps a lot too.

salt makes your body retain water.

Less salt makes you sweat out the water a lot faster.

I've heard drinking a full gallon of water per day helps tremendously...

And eating your regular meals (3 of them) along with eating pineapple slices in between meals helps too because pineapple actually takes more energy in calories to digest than it gives your body.

There's a lot of tips and tricks to weight loss.

But the main thing is be consistant and be comfortable with the way you are going about it.

Another thing I've heard which helps a TON, is to allow yourself 1 cheat day per week. That will greatly reduce the risk of "binge eating" and help you feel satisfied that you are still getting some of the old foods that you love as a reward for your hard work.

Also being more active in general helps but the main thing when it comes to exercise is this:

Do a type of exercise that you love such as a sport that is physical.

I myself lose weight extremely fast when I play the drums often for example and I don't feel like I am working out when I am doing it because I am so wrapped up in the fun of it... Catch my drift?

Hmmm let's see... There's volleyball, tennis, basketball, softball, (want some drum lessons? lol, shameless plug, lol) running, biking, hiking, rock climbing, the list goes on... If I were you I would brainstorm by writing a list of physical things that you actually enjoy.

Good luck!

Ps. Also take joy in the fact you are working on it because 80% of success is just showing up!!! Be proud of yourself for making the effort!

Nick