Dear Margaret, Bru and Algts,

Thanks for the encouraging words. They bring tears to my eyes each time I read them.

Algts - best of luck with your own weight loss progress. I had a look at your baby pictures - what a beautiful baby.

Bru - thank-you for the birthday congrats - you always spread happiness - I guess it's a way of sharing all that Southern sunshine you soak up each day.

Dear Margaret, it does seem easy compared with powerlessly watching the pounds pile on, but you're right - I've invested many, many hours channeling all my initial enthusiasm into learning, reading, researching and exploring, hoping to build solid foundations for weight loss. It didn't occur to me that laying the cornerstones alone would bring me almost 1/2 way to goal.
Thanks a million for your wise words.

i almost cried at my flahbacks reading your story :-)
way to go!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Congratulations! And thank you... you've inspired so many people with your example. We have to keep sharing the good news, to remind each other that it's possible for all of us.

Meg

Thanks, folks...

Tiffie, yours is a truly amazing weight loss. You must be so proud. I hope that you can keep the motivation strong to maintain the weight - it must get much harder when you're slimmer. You look really beautiful in your pictures.

Meg - good luck with seeing your weight drop as you continue this diet. II find reading other people's stories to be really important to me - particularly people who struggle to lose weight and have the tenacity to keep going long-term.

Two people I find very inspirational are Jimmy Moore and Bowulf, both of whom do YouTube videos. I don't know whether you've found those yet, but here are some links:

http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=b6K2k...4265AF&index=23

http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=wY36FAfRXU0

http://www.thelivinlowcarbshow.com/...es-episode-211/

This is Jimmy's menu blog, where he logs all his food intake, plus his diet progress and exercise regime:
http://lowcarbmenu.blogspot.com/

Enjoy!

If it is magic then you are the magician. You have done all that work...and you deserve the credit and recognition.

Well done so far! You will be at goal in no time....keep on keepin on.

Now THAT is an awesome report! What a way to start the new year!

Hello Addict1000 - thanks so much for those kind words. I guess they're true to the extent that I have worked hard at it.. but wow! it was so worth it. I've boosted my fat/calories to give my body a break from weight loss for now, because I've been ill recently.. However, I'm still entertaining the hope that with good fortune, I might be close to my goal weight by next New Year.

I see that you're closing in on the 160s at the moment - that is fantastic. Good luck with continuing your weight loss in 2009.

Hi Feelskinny, and thanks for the good wishes. You've done really well too! Good luck for 2009