Gaining weight and I want to stop!

When I was in high school I never weighed over 110 pounds. I was always on the go and walked constantly. I can guarantee you that I walked 5-6 miles a day just to get where I wanted to go. I was so busy that I used to forget to eat (Not exactly healthy, I know). My friends and family always made comments on how I was too skinny and needed to gain some weight.

Well when I was seventeen I decided that if everyone said it than it must be true so I began to concentrate n gaining some weight. Yeah I know what teenager wants to gain weight, but I did. The plan was to gain 10 pounds making me 120 and then cut back some. The problem is the next thing I knew I was 140 pounds. Oops.

For the next few years I yoyoed from 120-140 usually depending on my activity level and whether I had a vehicle. As I got older though I had a car all the time and began driving everywhere. No more walking from place to place it took too long and what was the point.

So after awhile I creeped up to 160. I have no idea how this came about, but low and behold there I was. Since than I have had my darling daughter and actually weighed over 200 pounds during this time. I was lucky enough to lose it all while I was breast-feeding, but then gained back quite a bit of it since.

Of course now my friends and family tell me that this weight gain is just a fact of getting older. You know the story your metabolism slows down, pregnancy changes your body, etc. . .

I kind of feel like everyone has given me a way out of taking responsibility for my weight gain.

So what is my problem? Well I just can't believe it. By what people are telling me my weight gain has nothing to do with the fact that . . .
1. I eat more
2. I eat out way too much
3. I don't get enough exercise.
4. I drive everywhere I go.

I am not sure about other people, but I just feel that if I still did some of the things I did as teenager such as walking more and started eating healthier I could beat my weight problems. So this summer my goal is to be more active and start eating healthier. I also have have some Sensa that I plan to start using and keep debating on weight watchers. Maybe I could do them together.

I would love to hear some ideas from you all. Can you tell me what you do to help stay fit and healthy! I would really appreciate any advice you could give me.

Thanks ahead of time.