hahaha, just had to throw the fasting thing back out there!

Hello again. I'm back and better than ever, with new weight loss goals for 2008. Remember me? I Lost about 60 lbs last year on a supervised protein shake fast. Then jumped off and gained about 20 of it back. I gained the first 10 back right away, as I was expected to when I started eating solid foods again. Then lost control of the eating during winter and gained back about 8-10 more. But don't feel sorry for me, it's just part of the journey that is "weight loss".

Have learned some incredible things over the past year. Also made some incredible changes in my lifestyle. I'm actually pretty amazed I haven't gained back more weight. My eating has gotten a bit out of control again... boo. But I've gained a new passion for bicycling that has helped me keep most of the weight off... yay! :-) I can't believe I bicycle around town now. If you told me that someday I'd be one of those crazy people bicycling to work and back, I'd say that YOU were crazy. But I really went bicycle nuts in 2007 and now own 2 bikes, and am shopping for a 3rd. I hope to get in shape enough for doing some bicycle tours or maybe even joining a road cycling team. Even got the boyfriend and lots of family members into biking. They're really tired of hearing about it actually... hehe.

Winter really screws with your weight loss/fitness routine. Just when I thought I had things down, winter and the rainy season came along. I started bicycling less, and eating more. My appetite came back and it was hard to avoid the pies, candies, and party snacks. Then my commuting bike got stolen! Very crappy stuff... I get really antsy and depressed when I haven't ridden in a couple days. But it thankfully got picked up by the police and I got it back a month later a bit scarred but still ridable.

But good news for the coming year. First, going back on diet to take some more weight off. I'll eat about 800-1000 calories a day to support all the bicycling. I know a lot of people don't believe in fasting for weight loss, even supervised. But I've done it, it worked for me, and there was something incredibly great about it. Just the freedom from food. No counting calories, and no addictive foods to steer you into eating more fat/sugar/salt/etc. My skin totally cleared up, scars and blemishes I had for years disappeared. I can totally understand why some cultures use fasting for spiritual purposes. I guess in a way I am too, but weight loss is my main focus. I actually can't wait to give food a major break again.

And a yoga studio opened just around the corner from me! I've been waiting years for a decent yoga studio to come near me and it's not even expensive. I can't wait to start classes. I'm not doing this for weight loss, although I hear it's great for that. I'm doing it more just for the fun. When you lose a lot of weight and are more physically mobile, everything is fun. I'm also continuing to explore new physical things to do in my off time, getting more and more away from the television and eating for "entertainment".

Tootles everyone and HAPPY NEW YEAR!!! :-)

so where do you go for regulated fasting? I've fasted before for spiritual reasons and you do lose some weight but never more than a week. how long did you fast to lose your weght?

I was on my fast for about 3 and a half months. Ate somewhere between 500-700 cals a day depending. Towards the end I was probly eating around 800 cals a day. Expensive as hell but i loved my weight loss coach. Helluva guy, knowledgable and friendly. Plus he bicycles so at least we have that in common.