Hello, everyone! I am new to this forum and am starting my weight loss journal. I have previously posted to a different weight loss forum that has become very stagnant and no one posts anymore, so I'm looking to share my thoughts and also gain wisdom from the other folks here!
Previously, when I posted online, it was such a great motivator. I started on Dec. 28, 2005 and within about 6 months I lost 40 pounds and two to three pants sizes. I did that by cutting portions in half and exercising 5-6 days a week, a combo of cardio and strength training. I maintained that weight loss for over a year and resumed my program to try and lose another 20-30 pounds the next year, and was close to my goal that Spring, but got side tracked by some aggravating physical problems that were a setback. Now, a year and and half, and one less uterus later, those things are ancient history and I'm physically and emotionally ready to resume my journey!
I have this superstition about NOT setting New Year's resolutions because they seem destined to fail. So I am started this on December 28, not January 1. I know--silly distinction to make, but it matters to me that this is not just lip service.
As for my journal title and my screen name, it comes from an old Jim Croce song that says "There ain't gonna be a next time, this time"--I'm planning on building on my previous successes, changing one negative habit at a time and making changes permanently.
Because I had a hysterectomy (including the old ovaries), my body has done some bigtime adjusting over the last year and a half. All in all, I will tell ya that I would recommend the procedure to anyone--life is great without a uterus!!! White shorts any damn time I want, no mood swings and no negative side effects. EXCEPT this pesky thing about now having a thicker middle than I used to. I spoke to my OBGYN and she suggested this book called the ABS Diet (I'm sure not news to many of you). I have already been pretty active so I need to focus on changing some of my eating habits. I think this plan sounds pretty do-able for me. The plan focuses on small, evenly spaced meals 6 times a day, with most meals built on the 12 power foods--almonds and other nuts, beans and legumes, spinach and other greens, diary (low-fat), instant oatmeal, eggs, turkey and other lean meats, peanut butter (natural), olive oil, whole grains, extra protein powder, and raspberries and other berries. It is not exclusive to those foods but just incorporates those into most meals. Basically just focuses on good, healthy whole foods instead of junk and on spacing those throughout the day so that you keep your metabolism cookin'. I've experimented with it and done well so I think it is time to commit to it firmly for a few months and see what happens.
It also incorporates some ab exercises which I will work in as well, but I already have some great exercise regimens as part of my daily life and will focus mostly on those. I've been loving Yoga lately and feel like it really has the power to transform not only my body but my spirit so I will have that as the centerpiece of my exercise. But I also own an elliptical, a treadmill and a bowflex machine that all play parts in my exercise routine.
So that is a little bit about where I'm going. I will post my starting weight, measurements and all that jazz tomorrow, but wanted to get this thing started tonight and you all know that it is POISON to weigh OR measure in the evening, right?!?!?!?! So, nice to meet you all and I look forward to learning from all of you!

Okay, here goes. I'm putting it all down in writing. This is where I am starting.
As of Dec. 30, 2008, I'm weighing in at 219, which is about 5 lbs less than I did a few days ago, so I'm not feeling too bad. I am 5'6", and the last time I knew I really looked and felt my optimum was at 155, so that is what my goal is. I think that is reasonable. I actually started this same process on almost the exact same date in 2005. I started then at 224, but with way bigger measurements. At that time, I had completely fallen off the exercise wagon for some time and I was in terrible shape. Ever since 2005 I have incorporated exercise into my life--sometimes more than others, but never stopping completely. Not sure what it all means, other than since I never stopped exercising, even though I put most of my weight back on, I guess I have become a fitter fat person than I was before. :-) Back then, my measurements were Bust 45.5/Waist 37/Abs 45.75/Hips 47.5. NOW, even though I'm only 5 lbs lighter than I was then, my measurements are Bust 42/Waist 34.5/Abs 42/Hips 44. So what the heck????? About 3 inches less everywhere, but only 5 lbs less. I guess that is the beauty of exercise.
Well, anyway, here I am starting over again, damnit. I was sure I was going to keep it off, and I did for the first year. But I went through a lot physically and emotionally in the next two years and unfortunately the weight crept back on. But the inches didn't completely and I need to feel good about that. So now, if I can have the same success I did three years ago, I should end up in the best shape ever, by building on the success I have been able to maintain. I would love to greet summer at 155, with measurements Bust 38/Waist 29/Abs 38/Hips 40. I think I can do it. I would love to be in size 8 by this summer. I'm in 12/14 right now.
So how have I done on my first day of my big adventure? Well, I started out good so far. I had a nice thick smoothy of lowfat yogurt, whey protein, raspberries, mango and banana and skim milk for breakfast. I did a 20 minute elliptical routine followed by a 20 minute yoga session so I'm feeling pretty good. I'm going to do what I did successfully three years ago regarding some of my worst habits--try to replace one per week. So this week's challenge is to replace some of the caffeinated and carbonated drinks with water. It shouldn't be too hard because I gave up my beloved diet drinks about 6 months ago. I just didn't like the way they made me feel so I researched them a little and didn't like what I learned about them. Unfortunately I replaced them with sweet tea from McDonald's and even though I get them "half sweet/half not" I blame it for some of my weight gain. The good news is that getting rid of that little addiction should be an easy way to trim some calories without really noticing.
I also roasted a turkey breast last night so I would have yummy lunch makings this week. I'm off work until next Monday so temptation looms everywhere and damnit if I am not a GREAT cook, especially baked goods. So I'm just tempting fate by starting a diet this week of all weeks. But the thing I like about doing it this way is that feeling that if I can do it now, I can do it anytime. The New York, New York effect (Cue Liza Minelli, "If I can make it there, I'd make it anywhere!)
Well, I guess I'd better go have my midmorning snack, as advised by the ABS Diet authors. I'll keep you posted on my progress!

Just real quick... I saw you in my diary and apreciate you coming by! Alway good to have new friends.

I'll be back... Fair warning... I'm a nice guy, a good friend, good at support, an incorrigible flirt and an occasional (some would say more than occasional), Perv...

If that's okay with you...

Still hanging in. Glad to see I've got a new friend, reluctantcabbie!