Losing Weight - a constant task

So it seems that here in my 30's, my metabolism is feeling quite lazy. From my prime youth, like most people where I could eat anything I wanted and never gain a pound, I have in fact gained weight. About 2 years ago, I blew up to the extraordinary weight of 206lbs. I went on the Nutrisystem diet and lost about 25 lbs, ending eventually around 180 lbs. I was moderately happy about my progress and vowed to never gain that kind of weight again.

Now I am at 215lbs, and feel like I am starting all over again. While I know that I can lose the weight (using Nutrisystem again), the real source for my concern is in how quickly I gained back the pounds. In my head I felt that I "could eat anything again" or that "I could always lose the weight just as I did the first time". I went from 4 meals a day to 1 large meal consisting of a cheeseburger, fries, and a milkshake, or Chinese food and enough of it to feed a family of 4 with a dog. The irony is that if you ask me how to lose weight, I will tell you. Drink a lot of water, eat 4 or 5 small meals a day consisting of no more than 250 calories eat. Eat healthy grains such as rye, whole wheat and pumpernickel. Avoid sugary foods, especially as a meal. (Donuts are not breakfast). Most importantly, do something to exercise. It doesn't have to be a new regiment to run 5 miles each morning, or train for a marathon. I should be something simple to start - take the stairs instead of the escalator, get off the subway 1 stop early and walk the distance, or make a habit of doing something you have put off.

But all of this knowledge didn't help me keep the weight off. Why? Because I, like most people, am particularly bad at following the advice I know is best for me. I assumed that if I got back to over 200lbs, I could and would do something about it. While that is true, I should have been setting more realistic goals, such as if I gained 10lbs to do something about it. Maybe not even to lose them, but to stop the weight gain. But it is difficult to combat the onslaught of marketing, psychological mass-media appeal of "make Americans fat" foods, eating out in restaurants (all of which have individual portion sizes that could be cut in quarters and still be more than enough). But difficult is not impossible, and that is my new motto.

So the plan?

• Lose the weight again.
  
• Set smaller goals to maintain the weight.
  
• Be more conscious of my own rules of eating and how different they are from America's view of eating.
  
• Be conscious of my own weight and my metabolism rate.
• Be more active.