The EatingWell "Diet" is sort of a misnomer - because it's really about changing your eating and exercise habits (for the healthier) for life. What are the most helpful things you've learned during this Challenge? How will you keep applying them to help you lose even more weight (or to keep off the weight you've already lost)?

The food journal has been the key for me, although it's difficult to separate all the components at this point! I feel like I have re-programmed myself to eat less and move more. I make better food choices, too. When people ask me what I've been doing to lose weight, the simple answer is tracking calories and gradually cutting back on the number of calories per day and per week. What is more difficult to convey is the positive outlook and ripple effect that come with weight loss. I didn't anticipate how enjoyable moving and exercising (and even eating!) would be after losing a few pounds. When I think about eating now I also think about the workouts I've done and how nice it is to get dressed and not have to try things on every day to see what fits. The sweetest thing is carefully budgeting for an ice cream cone and not feeling guilty about eating it knowing that it fits into my lifestyle!

I would have to say the food journal has been very helpful for me also because it helps me realize how many calories I am actually consumming in one sitting. Some items that I would take for granted and not even count, actually amount to a large overall caloric intake. This challenge has not only made me conscious of what I am putting in my mouth but has also made me conscious of exercising to burn more calories. Since I did not reach the weight loss goal I wanted to during this challenge, which was strictly my own fault, I am going to continue on until I get there. I will always make exercise part of my life and I think that is going to be the key to my success! I realized that once I started moving more, it took less time to lose pounds than with changing my diet alone. Eating Well has also taught me how to rethink food, items once thought off limits can be re-worked and Eating Well has shown me a different way to have that same satiety without all of the fat. It is definitely a lifestyle change, not a diet, everyone should eat this way and rethink their relationship with food in order to become balanced and healthy.

I agree that the food diary really is KEY but also one of my "favorite" tricks I've learned is planning before going to a restaurant what I'm going to order and how many calories it has, before i get there. I've even looked up the menu online if i knew where i was going. But simply knowing we were going to a "Japanese place" i looked up that a seaweed salad (my favorite) and miso soup would be only 105 calories total! I felt incredibly clever when I ordered.

Ok, so I too agree- the journal is a very important part of the process; however, it is really hard to keep up with at times. Keeps you honest! Exercise is so important for me. Difficult at times because of work/travel, etc. I do know that when I am consistent in my exercise I feel so much better. So my goal is to keep up with consistent exercise and journaling to try and stick to my goal. My weight loss was low but I am totally ok because I think that will help me keep it off over time.