Fitness For Real This Time

I am 5'5 and I weigh 144, I'm not fat but for me I feel extraordinarily chunky. I want to lose weight so that I can get down somewhere in the comfortable 120's range. I have been working out for about two weeks and watching what I eat for the most part, but since I haven't been activley monitoring my own progress, I'm starting to hit a rut. I am in my early 20's and keep thinking this is supposed to be the time in my life that I have my best body, but instead I've been figuring out ways to avoid being in bathing suits. This summer I am determined not to feel that way. I am young, I am healthy, I should feel confident. Last spring I lost 14 pounds and had so many compliments, but over the fall and winter I just let myself pack it back on. I am going to get the weight off and keep it off this time. It's about staying motivated and having a total lifestyle change. I don't believe in diets, because who can really stay on one forever. I think it's about stopping and really considering what you want to put in your body, and also about treating yourself, but in moderation. For a part of my lifestyle rehab I have been staying out of bars, which at 22, is a little hard. I'm by no means an alcholic but all of my friends tend to meet at bars, and have a few drinks as a way of gettting together on the weekends. Last weekend I suggested bowling, and almost got laughed at. It's frustrating that my friends want to spend time in an unhealthy atmosphere slurping down empty calories. If I could only convert them to iceskating, or bowling, or even shopping it would be a much more active way to hang out that would fit into my new lifestyle. Now I'm not slamming bars, I know sometimes getting together to have a drink can be pretty relaxing, and from time to time we all deserve a drink, I just don't see any reason that I can get my friends out of thier chairs and onto their feet. Lucky for me my boyfriend has been a bit easier to convert. He agreed on Sunday to skip the usual "Sunday Funday," at our local bars and make the 45 minute drive to Washington D.C. Once we were there we walked for hours through the museums, and to the Lincoln Memorial, we walked nearly 8 miles just sightseeing. He and I both had a blast, and we finished by going out for salads.(Ok well I had a salad, he had a burger and fries.) It's just that I am so determined to lead a more active fit lifestyle with, healthy food, and outdoor activites, but it's as if I am the only one with this mindset.