The Beginning

In 2005 I weighed close to 400lbs.  In January of 2006 I joined Weight Watchers for the millionth time and over the course of a year lost just over 100lbs.

Today, July 25, 2011, I weigh 348lbs.  It's shameful and sad to admit that I gained back nearly all of the 100lbs I originally lost.  I had worked so hard that year to lose weight and now it seems like it was nothing more than a waste of time.  Who loses 100lbs and then gains it back?  Idiots that's who!

Today I start again.  It feels more difficult this time, I suppose because I'm older and because I understand too clearly the danger of what happens when you lose control over your eating habits.  For people like me, food addicts, it doesn't matter if it's 20lbs or 100lbs, the moment you stop caring about what and how much you eat, you gain it back. 

The difference is that this time I'm not alone; two girlfriends join me in the "battle of the bulge".  They each have their own reasons and motivations for losing the weight and while they may not have nearly as much to lose as I do there is no doubt that their weight loss journey will be just as important and difficult as mine.  Although, as I said, it feels more difficult this go around it's also more exciting, knowing that I have a support system in place to keep me motivated and encourage me when I'm losing faith.

We're setting weekly challenges for ourself, commiting to writing in our blogs and keeping food journals.  We're also laying it all out for the world to see with pictures, weight and measurement stats and our individual challenges and successes.

Week 1 Challenge

Drink 8 glasses of water for the next 7 days.

Daily Food Journal

Breakfast
8 vegetable crackers and two laughing cow light cheeses

Lunch
2 cups of vegetarian chili and 1/2 tblsp of parmesan cheese

Supper
1 cup of tomato soup
Monte Cristo sandwich (two slices of bread dipped in egg, low fat havarti cheese, ff mayo, mustard and smoked turkey)

Snacks
7 almonds
2 pb cups
1 cup raspberries
1 yoghurt

Not a great day vegetable or fruit wise but I did drink my 8 glasses of water and there was no snacking before supper which is a real weakness for me.

Tomorrow I'll post pictures and my weight and measurement statistics.