First thing's first:

1. Answer these questions before starting your diary.

-- How much weight do you want to lose?

Ideally, somewhere between 80 and 100 pounds. I don't know what I'll be like at any of those weights, but I'm going for a size 6ish. Single digits baby. Single digits.

-- What is the timeframe for reaching your target weight?

Aside from ASAP? July 2007 at the latest. A life long friend of mine is currently in Italy, and won't be back until then. And I said "Hey wouldn't it be funny if when you came back I was all skinny?" Considering that he hasn't seen me not fat since we were 7. So now I've accidentally found myself with a projected date. Fun!

-- How do you want to accomplish your goal (what methods do you want to use)?

Diet and exercise and sensibility. I have a gym membership. I found a "diet" that should work for me (considering my almost-vegetarianism) that also looks like it could be easily intergrated into non-weightloss-eating (yay rice diet!), and basically looks like everything I've ever wanted. ::tear!::

-- Who or what can support you in reaching your goal?

Man, hopefully everything. I'd love it if I could make a buddy who also wants to lose around the same as me, and who'll chastize me for the inevitable binge eating (I'm trying to not do it, I swear, but sometimes it just happens) and whatnot.

-- How realistic is your goal?

Well, it sounds realistic to me. 80 lbs in the next 10 months. That's what, 2 lbs a week? It's steep, but if I get close to it I'll be satisfied when my friend returns. There just needs to be some serious weight loss.

-- When will you start?

I started today!!! Yayyyyyy! I will put up a post...after I post this. Woo!

Okie. So.

Starting weight: as of last night, 219.
Current weight: for some mysterious reason, 215.
Goal weight: 130.
Ultimate "hey I'm tiny" goal weight: 115-120ish.

Today I started my "rice diet." Which was fun, and I was actually full for most of the day. Except for right now, as I still need to eat my other piece of fruit for the dinner thing.

Breakfast: 2 slices of whole wheat 9 grain bread, 1 cup strawberries, 1 cup green grapes.
Lunch: 2 slices of whole wheat 9 grain bread, 2 cups strawberries.
Dinner: 2 slices of whole wheat 9 grain bread, 1 medium peach, 1 cup green grapes.

Exercise: Though I intended to go to the gym, after 11 hours at school...no. So after writing this, I'm going to go for a long walk, especially now that my iPod is charged. I'm going to go for an hour.

I'm excited for tomorrow, because tomorrow I get veggies! They're cooked and waiting for me and everything. Oh so exciting! Anyways. I'm off on my walk! I'l check in later and everything.

Interesting diet. I never saw this one before. I hope you find this to your liking.

We're here for you.

Good luck, I hope you enjoyed your walk.

Hope your walk was fun! My starting weight was 219 also and I have been losing 1-2 pounds a week, so it is doable, and safe. Good job!!! You can do it !!!!

Good job so far! I hadn't heard of the "rice diet" before...and I'm not seeing any rice in your menu...uhhh, or am I reading something wrong. Is there a website for it? Keep up the good work, 2 lbs a week is very healthy and doable.

You are at your lowest weight in the morning, and you gain throughout the day. I actually gained 6 lbs between 7:30 am and 6 pm! Crazy, but true. Weigh yourself in the morning before you eat anything, and do it at the same time of day each time, to make it accurate!

Good luck!

"Accidentally" slept in today. Don't think I'll be able to make it to the gym, as I need to study for an exam I have tomorrow morning. Ooo. Maybe I'll go to the gym after the exam. That might work well. Last night my walk went ok. Lasted 50 minutes before wanting to die of boredom. Tried some jogging...and that sucked. Really really sucked. I should work on that. Feeling a little stressed today (tests everywhere!), but hopefully I'll survive. Anyways. On with the show:

Breakfast: 1/4 cup of granola, 1 cup of green grapes, a cup of organic fat free peach yogurt.

Lunch: 1.5 cups of sauteed zucchini and red bells peppers and onions with 1.5 cups of whole wheat penne.

Snack: (I was hungry and there was no food around, so...) a bottle of low fat chocolate milk, and a 100g chocolate bar. I feel mildly guilty.

Dinner: The Low Carb 6 dollar burger from Carls' Jr. Got conned into going by a friend. Mildly guilty. And I had about 12 oz. of iced tea. Not guilty about the iced tea.

Today I probably drank like 1.5 liters of water. Something close to that. Mmm water!

Yeah...I don't know why it's called the "Rice Diet." It's basically just carbs and veggies and some fruit and dairy and a little protein. And because I love veggies and fruit and carbs, I was all "OH YAY" about doing it. Not too wild about meat. So I'm stoked. Anyways. I actually found it via this website. And read that people were on it and losing like 4-6 lbs per week. And that's insane and potentially unrealistic for me, but I figured that I should lose some serious weight on it, considering the veggie base. I was a little worried about the generally low levels of protein, but then I remembered when I was on a high protein diet (for all of two weeks). It made me lethargic feeling and weird and I found it really really hard to eat as much as I was supposed to and it was just not a great time and I actually gained weight (and it wasn't all muscle). But it's been two days (umm...ignore dinner svp) and I'm feeling good so far and am amazed at my vegetable cooking skills. I'm just so fantastic. Man. Lets hope that I actually lose weight though.

And I know about the whole morning weighing thing. It's just so strange how your weight can fluctuate like 5 pounds in one day. I weighed myself originally on an empty stomache, so I figured that it was vaguely accurate. Either way, I weigh too much.

Good on you for making the choice - i reckon you just took on about 100 odd buddies who will help give you the pick-me-up when you relax back by starting a diary!

Regarding the title of your journal ... dont plead to loose weight, its your god given right to be able to - DEMAND IT!

Hey Suzi...glad to see your s tarting off well and I believe that you can get to that goal! I'm trying to get down to a size 8-10. Keep at it!

~ Sara Maria ~

Ok...suzi I tried 3 times to reply to your message, but it wouldn't let me. Stupid computer. I don't get it. I think I will start my own diary, so come check me out. I will keep checking on you.

Hey Suzie!!! You are off to a Good Start. Good for you on taking your Walk. I have heard of the "Rice Diet" A lady on here introduced it to some of us a while back. And she was succesful on it. it was Secertlysizeseven I belive, She has not been here for awhile, But you should check out her journal.

Anyhow, have a GREAT Day and Drink your WATER!!

Hi Suzi,
Welcome to your diary.

Good luck with your plan - I have found for me, that I can not eat a prescribed meal plan. Life, family and friends tend to get in the way - so I need to eat the stuff around me in proper portions so that I will be able to maintain my weight after the loss. I think I would just regain the weight after I go "off" a set diet.

Being flexible and listening to your body is a great way to start. Finding a diet that works for you is *great* but if you find yourself feeling even mildly guilty if you "break" the diet, then perhaps something else would work better?

Have you checked out Free Diet Plans at SparkPeople or FitDay - Free Weight Loss and Diet Journal They are good places for recording calories and full of information.

I do have a question - you wrote:

then said:
Does that mean your weight of 219 was on an empty stomach at night?
I'm hoping I misread that wrong and that you don't go long period during the day without eating - that can really mess up your metabolism!

Good luck on your journey,

Hey Suzi, Miss not to wild about meat!

Have you ever thought about going Vegan? Think about it when you get bored with this and need a change. I find its easier for me to BE something then to diet...........if that makes any sense. And its fun to try to figure out what I can and can't eat. Anywhoozle, you are doing great, keep up the fab work!