Hi. I'm a 65 year old woman and have had the same problem you are having. Right now I have gained my weight back only because I have not kept my mind on what I was doing to lose the weight. With me it is - I either am accountable to someone - or I am out of control. I don't know if I can name the well known program I have joined (for the third time), but this program really works. It costs money which is a drawback, but I seem to do a lot better when I know I have to go weigh in every week.
I do better with writing down every single bite I put in my mouth (which is a requirement). But, it makes me so aware of the empty calories and the emotional calories I would eat without even thinking about it. Most of my eating is emotional - just to feel better. Food does make you feel better because it raises the serotonin in the brain - the feel good chemical.
I have somewhat of the same problem with exercise you do; however, I have a friend that loves to do any kind of exercise. So she calls and motivates me. We both like to do water aerobics - go about twice a week. It is good exercise. So, I would suggest find a buddy.
And if you are home with kids, put an aerobic tape in and exercise in your living room. Your kids will love it, too. I got my youngest daughter a belly dancing CD for Christmas. That is good exercise - also, I got my other daughter a CD showing how to do exercises with hand weights. (I got her 5-lb weights, too.) Get a jump rope. Just somehow be committed to doing exercise every day. This morning I did my knee strengthing exercises (something I have been neglecting) first before I got involved in anything else. I find that my good intentions to exercise are just that - good intentions - if I get distracted. So, make a date with yourself. Put it on the calendar. Do it first. If you work, change your clothes and exercise before you have a chance to to anything else. When I worked, there were several other women who loved to walk. So we would walk, rain or shine. About the only thing that kept us from walking was deep snow or ice. We walked many days carrying our umbrellas.
You can do it. I really think, though, you sound like you need to be accountable to someone for your food diary and exercise. Join a good program that keeps you accountable and get an exercise buddy. Good luck.
