I didn't want to post anything about my weight until I really got going with my new diet and exercise program. I have had too many false starts in the past, and I wanted to see a real commitment from myself before I talked about my "triumphant" weight-loss on the internet. Once it's up here, baby, it's here forever. I don't need somebody to see me and say, "Hey, you said you were losing weight. You look just the same as the last time I saw you. Maybe fatter." That's why I had to be certain this time was real. So here goes....

I have lost 35 pounds since March. Yes, 35 pounds!!!!!

Although I still weighed far less than my highest ever weight (I was well over 300 pounds in college), I saw that the scale was slowly creeping back up to an unacceptable level. So I decided to make a real change. I am counting calories, keeping track of everything I eat, pushing myself in the gym, and taking alli. Right now, I am at my lowest weight since late 2002. I think this time it's for real. And I think I finally understand the things I need to do once the "diet" is over. No more up-and-down, yo-yo fluctuations.

I have a fairly ambitious goal, and I will keep you all updated as I get closer to it.