Hello everyone!  I started last year at this time at 310 and now I'm at 279.  I started out very motivated last year and it just got worse as the year went on.  Reading through this post gives me motivation to stay on track this year.  My goal is to be under 200 by this time next year ... that is if I don't lose my motivation again. 

Keep up the good work everyone!!!

HOW DO WE MEASURE SUCCESS?

One of the many ways that we measure success when eating healthy (and trying to lose weight) is by stepping on the scale and holding our breath until we received the verdict. Another way we measure success is how well our clothes fit (or don't fit, as the case may be!) A third way to measure success -- especially for those of us with diet-related health issues like high cholesterol or high blood sugar (diabetes) -- is by looking for positive changes in test results. Finally, a fourth way that we can measure success is by using a tape measure and seeing if we've been shrinking.

As a reminder, I've lost 71.6 pounds, 2-3 clothing sizes (depending on brand), my cholesterol dropped 60 points and my blood sugar average dropped 40 points ... ALL very positive measures of success for 20 weeks of eating healthy!!!

I wish I'd had the foresight back in August to take my measurements before I started this weight loss - healthy eating adventure, but I didn't. I waited for two months (about 35 pounds lost) and then took my first set of measurements ... so heaven knows what my actual starting measurements were! (They were depressing enough after the 35-pound loss, ya know?) Anyway, I visited a friend's house today (she's the one with the soft, fabric tape measure) and took my measurements after 20 weeks of dieting.

Here's the results .... the differences which have occured since October 20 ....

NECK ........................ lost 1.25 inches

UPPER ARM ............... lost .75 inch

WRIST ....................... lost .25 inch

CHEST ....................... lost 2.25 inches (drat)

WAIST ....................... lost 2.75 inches

HIPS .......................... lost 7.00 inches (hip hip hooray!)

UPPER THIGH ............. lost 2.25 inches

CALF ........................... lost 1.00 inch

TOTAL INCHES LOST SINCE OCTOBER 20: 17.50!

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Another way I measure success is by my willingness to try new foods. Last year, one of my healthy eating goals was to try new food -- and I did. This year, one of my goals is to keep trying new foods, and on the list was "try a new grain in 2008!" So, when I was at Whole Foods this afternoon to pick up hummus, I was wandering around the cereal aisle and decided to pick up a package of organic, puffet KAMUT ("kah-moot") cereal.  I had a bowl-full for an afternoon snack ... it's pretty tasty!

KAMUT is a close relative to wheat whose kernel is about the same shape as a wheat seed but a KAMUT kernel is more than twice as big. Even though KAMUT is very closely related to wheat, some (but not all) people who are wheat intolerant can eat KAMUT with no problems. KAMUT also has some pretty amazing nutritional strengths.  Scientists who have attempted to classify this seed generally believe KAMUT was an obscure grain kept alive by peasant farmers in Egypt or Asia Minor.

KAMUT is a high protein grain, generally containing 30% more protein than wheat. As this grain hasn't been altered by modern plant breeders, it retains its ancient nutrition, flavor and goodness. Due to its slightly higher fatty acid content, Kamut can be considered a high energy grain, and compared to wheat, Kamut also contains elevated levels of vitamin E, Thiamin, Riboflavin, phosphorus, magnesium, zinc, pantothentic acid, copper and complex carbohydrates. All around, Kamut seems to be a very healthy grain.

One cup of puffed KAMUT cereal has 50 calories, 0 fat, 0 cholesterol, 0 sodium, 70mg potassium, 11g carbs, 2g fiber, 0g sugar and 3g protein ... which means it has fewer carbs than puffed millet cereal and more protein ... WOO HOO! When paired up with 1/2 cup of unsweetened vanilla Almond Breeze at 20 calories, you've got a great healthy snack for just 70 calories!

TRY SOMETHING NEW THIS WEEK!

=^..^= MOLLY

Hey. I'm over 300. Just barely. Trying to get under 300 for the first time in a couple years. My name is Brett and I'm 24. I started about a month ago at 320. I weighed today and am at 302. So 18 pounds so far. My goal is to get down to 185 by my 25th birthday. I'd love to get in on this. I am super motivated and I love this site. Hook a brotha up!

-Brett 

Sun123 - sure!  I would love to be included.  My goal is to be 150 by June 2009 ... I know I can do it ... I just need to keep myself in check!

Thanks!

Hi sun - my "official" weigh-in day is Thursday also! I did sneak a peak this morning, though - 272.8 (down from 276). My weight just fluctuates so much though, so it is hard to tell what it will say tomorrow. I don't pay much attention to salt, so maybe that is why. I do think I am finally safely out of the 280s, though, where I have made my home since October!

I must say I have been exceptionally "good" this week. I have been to the gym 5 of the last 6 days and did an hour of cardio (plus weights on 2 of those days). I had been slacking off before that. Must be the New Year's mentality. Oh, and the boss is out of town. :)

I'm so glad to have found this forum! This is such an inspiration for me :)

 Start Weight:  364.4

Current Weight: 344.0

Goal Weight:  199.0

I am not over 300lbs but I am heavier than I have ever been in my whole life. I packed on 100lbs during my mothers illness and then death. I felt so helpless like it was to bad for me to dig out of... but after looking in this group... I am more than ever inspired to get my A&& on track.... There are people that have come much further than me..... No more feeling sorry for the sad shape of things but instead take back control.

I think that for me getting this heavy was deeply involved in a loss of control that I felt in my life... it is time to take back control... 

Yay darien!

It is my weigh-in day also, and  weighed in at 272.2! I really want to see the 260s this month.

Losing weight is so exciting but it is all-consuming for me! Does anyone else have trouble concentrating on work and other aspects of life? I need to find a balance but I am afraid to lose momentum.