Finally joining in... First of all Bobby, it really sounds like you're going in the right direction. When I read your comments from 6 weeks ago to now, you seem to have evolved to eating in a more sustainable way for the long term. I've been following, but instead of starting with the food, I started with the exercise side. I had been feeling that age and gravity were taking too much of a toll. Now that I've been doing "boot camp" for 1 hour, 3 mornings a week since early December, I can see the changes in toning, but it's still hard to get rid of the gut. My instructor said the best results she sees in people is when they cut out wheat products. So that's my next step. I'm not a big sweet or junk food eater, but I do like my bagels, pasta, croissants, good bread... So my plan is for no predominantly wheat products (not going totally gluten-free). I'm not going to worry about everything, or totally diet (I don't believe that works for the long run). Just going to make one change at a time until it's a lifestyle change. I've heard often that it takes about a month to really change a behavior. And that seems to hold true for me, so first, I'm just going for changing breakfast from a bagel w/cream cheese to oatmeal and banana or yogurt or ?? (Breakfast ideas anyone? I get really hungry after the morning workout!)

Thanks for the encouragement Sherry. My body is still hanging on to weight like grim death. It's certainly not coming off as quickly as the first 10 did. I've been lifting weights aggressively 3x a week, so I'm certain it's muscle gain. I'm paying less attention to the scale now, and more attention to my measurements, which continue to reduce, so that's more important than the scale. dedtired, what's up? Are you taking a break, or throwing in the towel completely? I hope it's not frustration that's making you throw in the towel. Or if you fell off the wagon, because you can get right back up there again. I made a dozen cupcakes with buttercream frosting, for DS's birthday on Sunday. I'm so proud that I only ate one. But there have been 3 leftover ones sitting under the cake dome since Sunday and I'm tempted to throw them in the trash so that I don't have to look at them any longer. I made some lovely beef vegetable soup with bulgur last night. We had leftover rib steaks from the weekend, and they made a wonderful soup. So filling, and less than 200 calories a bowl. The last of the leftover steak went into my egg white omelette this morning, with red peppers and onions, and filled with 2 tablespoons of Annie's salsa. Huge breakfast for less than 300 calories. Who said dieting had to be hard? :-)

For those of you who are interested, I've lost 80 lbs. It took me 1.5 years. I've kept it off for almost 2 years now. The maintaining is more difficult for me than the losing was. I went to a doctor who has the industrial style of the little scale Mtn recommended. It measures the fat, water and muscle. Tells you your BMI, etc. That really encouraged me. It also tells you your resting metabolism. I ate 500 calories a day less than what my resting metabolism burned, and I consistently lost 1 to 2 lbs a week. After about 25 lbs, I joined a gym and started working out, too. I never really felt deprived because I decided how to use my calories. If I wanted to splurge on something, I knew I had to give up something else. And I always have one Dove dark chocolate candy before I go to bed. I struggle with keeping the weight off because I still love food. I eat so much healthier now, but I have trouble with portions. I gradually eat a little more and a little more. That's why I weigh every day. I can't afford to let it slide. If the scale starts creeping up, I have to nip it in the bud immediately. I've lost weight on 3 separate times in the past, and always gained it back. This is the longest I've ever kept it off. Before, I started gaining it back almost immediately after I'd lost it. What started it all was that I found out I had a fatty liver. It scared me. I didn't really think I could lose it, but to my surprise, I did. After menopause, when I tried to diet, I felt starved and deprived, and then didn't lose any weight. I wasn't cutting back enough. With this calorie driven diet, since I ate what I wanted, I was in control, not some unseen dietician or author. But different things work for different people. Now I'm healthier than I've ever been, in better shape physically than I've ever been, and feel 42 instead of 62. Since I lost slowly, I lost primarily fat, and minimal muscle. And the gym helped with that as well. So take heart, if I could do it, you can too. And if you fall off the wagon, jump right back on. The longer you delay, the harder it is to get back on.

Thanks everybody. I am going Sunday to the brunch and will gain a true perspective then. Following a passion and all . . . I am a musician, but I'm a bit in the cracks there as well. I do still play in one group in my old town an hour away. The options here are either the really good group where someone pretty much has to die for a spot to open, and the come-all band that has way, way too many folks playing on my instrument. But then these folks don't really socialize outside of the rehearsals, so . . . Tish - thanks for the invite, and you are so correct about the hiking. So. Much. Hiking. And I agree there is potential in some of the other interest groups. But it is a challenge I think with a single mingling with couples (pinkmountain was spot on with that). Maybe not as taboo here in the west as it would have been if I were still back in the South, but not ideally what I was looking for. Single women are my comfort zone at present. Baby steps and all.