I am a very private person so starting a Journal is hard for me.
Laying it all out there for everyone to see. But I can understand the importance of it. I want to use this as a reminder to myself of where I have been...where I am today...and what my goals are for tomorrow. So, here goes nothin'...
I have always been "chubby". But, in my mid-30's, I decided to go vegetarian. Not knowing how to eat healthy, I managed to put cheese on EVERYTHING and went from about 250 pounds (not exactly chubby, right?!) to 350 pounds and a size 30/32. Not so healthy for a vegetarian. I went back to eating meat when I was diagnosed with diabetes. (Meat was supposed to help stabilize my blood sugars and since I obviously had no idea how to do that as a vegetarian...and the dietitian they sent me to also had no idea how to do that (where or where was Jeff?), back to eating meat I went.
Over the years, I have managed to lose weight eating SAD diets. A LOT of them. I did find Dr. McD's diet many years ago, but thought I could never live that way so set the book aside. (Oh how I wish I had been smarter back them!!!!!)
But always in the back of my mind was the knowledge that there is a better way to eat and to live. I had my weight down to about 204 pounds a year and a half ago. (Taking about 20 years! to lose 150 pounds. I am not exactly a quick loser or learner, apparently...) I found the McD website and starting "lurking" back then. Following a mix of the regular plan and some MWL meals, I managed to lose down to 167 in a year. Then, this summer, I fell apart.
And my weight this morning is 194. Ridiculous! 
So, here I am. It is the middle of the Christmas season, and I say NO MORE! When I finish this Journal entry, I am on my way to the store. My home currently has no fresh fruit or vegetables in it. (I do have frozen and canned veggies so I can make Jeff's fast food/DVD meals so all is not lost.) I don't even have any potatoes in my home. WHAT??!!!!!
I am new to journaling so I am not sure exactly what to post. I probably won't weigh myself daily (maybe weekly?). While it is obvious I need to lose weight (unless I were a 6'7" female body builder!), I want to focux on the healthy lifestyle. I think, in the past, I focused too much on just losing the weight, and not enough on being healthy and happy. And happy and healthy will lead to a slimmer me as a bonus.
Funny how, when I get started, I can't seem to stop.
Anyway, I will try journaling often and use this as a tool to help me identify areas to improve, and encouragement as I make progress.
Enough for today! Here I go! Jumping In!
cheryl
It has been quite an 'old' year so I have decided to post both the negatives and positives of this past year so I can remember all of the good and work on changing the less-than-good 
. Now for the positives: I finally joined this community and jumped in (although I don't post very often...yet); I am working towards 100% MWL and will ask for help; I have found an exercise I enjoy (line dancing) 
and as soon as the classes for 2012 begin, I will be there (YeeHaw!); I purchased some of Dr. McD and JeffN's videos, so I am ready to cook (and when I get a little more financially solvent, I will purchase a few more!). Looking back, I realize that in 2011, I 'overscheduled' myself with doing for others. Now I LOVE doing for others and that will never change, but I also need to focus on my health and this WOE, so I will find the balance. Health... excercise...100% McD ...and balance. Sounds like a good new year to me. 
Once the stove/oven is fixed, I will go back to roasted veggies too and try a few new recipes. I intend to WRITE DOWN a meal plan...and may even post in Roberta's Corner. Will I have the nerve to post under the MWL site? We will see... 
If you had asked me, I would have said I stayed the same weight through the Christmas holiday. So, it is good to post and take accountability. No wonder I gained so much weight back! I, apparently, haven't been paying enough attention.
) And then I was starving last night but I did manage to eat McD MWL. But, still, my failure to plan (as in take food with me) led me to a bad choice. Lesson learned!
for about the last week and a half. I managed to weigh in last Friday, and had a great weight loss, but I suspect it was because I wasn't really eating all I should have. 
Oh, it was all MWL, but looking back there was little fruit or veggies... mostly starches and McD soup cups. Hey, I needed easy! Anyway, I haven't been to exercise either...except the Fit Quickies for my legs... So, I am finally starting to feel 'human' again. 
