This morning: 332.2
This time last year: 279.6
The difference: 52.6

Hi. There are 52 weeks in a year. That’s +1 pound each week this year.

Well, damn.

Here we go again.

Grateful for: Clear-headedness. Another chance to have another chance.

Starting weight: 354.6 pounds
Last week: 306.8
This week: 299.0
Change this week: -7.8
Total change: -55.6
Next milestone: 60 pounds gone (I already celebrated this one, but will celebrate it again.)
Current goal: 250 by the end of 2009

This week’s mantra: Turn around and get pointed in the right direction.

Grateful for: A blissfully uneventful procedure on Wednesday. Aside from trouble with the IV and a 3-hour wait on the gurney, after 6 pricks, 2 hematomas, and struggling to wake up from the general anesthesia just to sloppily demand, “But, do I get to go home this time?” all seems well. My duct injury and liver bile leak have healed better than they expected, they did NOT have to re-place a new stent on the duct, and I have been sent on my merry way for now. I’ve slept off the anesthesia and my throat and voice are nearly back to full functionality (the procedure was endoscopic — a tube through the throat to the intestines). All in all, it is the best possible outcome for the time being.

Starting weight: 354.6 pounds (well, that was my 2/2008 weight)
Last week: 287.2
This week: 281.4
Change this week: -5.8
Total change: -73.2
Next milestone: 80 pounds gone (I already crossed the 75-pound milestone when I weighed after getting home from the hospital).
Current goal: 275 by Valentine’s Day, 227 by the end of 2009

This week’s mantra: The journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step.

Grateful for: Friends, family, projects, creativity, my dogs, and my habit of re-orienting and re-focusing myself in autumn rather than at the New Year.

Starting weight: 354.6 pounds
Last week: 274.8
This week: 279.6
Change this week: +4.8
Total change: -75.0
Next milestone: 80 pounds gone
Current goal: Maintain under 289 by year end, 275 by Valentine’s Day

This week’s mantra: This is the week for renewal.

Important note: I now understand how dangerous it is to achieve goals without having a new goal. It’s like telling the universe, “Thanks for all the help — but I feel like stalling out now.” So, my next goal will be to weigh under 275 by Valentine’s Day. This makes me seem like a real under-achiever, but consider this. Sometime in the next month I will have major surgery, and I assume my recovery will not include vigorous exercise or even hours of standing in the kitchen, cooking. Also, I’d like to make it through the holidays without having a major diet meltdown. It is still my goal to weigh under 289 pounds by the end of 2008 and under 275 by Valentine’s Day. I promise to adjust these numbers as needed, but I’d rather adjust them down than up.

Grateful for: having a computer again. Last night, I got my geek on and replaced my hard drive. I still haven’t tried to restore the backup of my personal weight spreadsheet (with handy-dandy charts!) but I will do that later today. Looks like I will be able to post more frequently again!

Starting weight: 354.6 pounds
Last week: 291.4
This week: 288.8
Change this week: -2.6
Total change: -65.8
Next milestone: 70 pounds gone
Current goal: 275 by Valentine’s Day

This week’s mantra: “Adopt the pace of nature; her secret is patience.” (Ralph Waldo Emerson)

Grateful for: learning how to roll with the punches. This post is being back-dated, because my computer died and I wasn’t able to post on Saturday. Fortunately, I was able to weigh-in. What will I do if my Tanita dies? KNOCK ON WOOD!

Starting weight: 354.6 pounds
Last week: 293.2
This week: 291.4
Change this week: -1.8
Total change: -63.2
Next milestone: 65 pounds gone

This week’s mantra: Roll with it, and then let it roll off your back.

Grateful for: my mom’s birthday gift — that she was willing to take time out of a business trip to come to my apartment and help me tailor and alter my 11 pairs of suits and work pants. I have invested in some nice business clothes over the years — and all of my size 28 trousers are falling off my hips after losing over 60 pounds. The average amount that has been removed from the waistband of these pants, so far, is 5.5″. Someday, I’ll actually buy new clothes, but I’m grateful to her for buying me some time and saving me some cash.

Starting weight: 354.6 pounds
Last week: 292.8
This week: 293.2
Change this week: +0.4
Total change: -61.4
Next milestone: 65 pounds gone

This week’s mantra: Celebrate yourself.

Grateful for: The power of writing. I’m beginning to think that writing things down is the most important step between dreaming and achieving. Writing things down takes bold daring, courage, and moxie. It invites success into my life.

Starting weight: 354.6 pounds
Last week: 294.2
This week: 292.8
Change this week: -1.4
Total change: -61.8
Next milestone: 65 pounds gone

This week’s mantra: Let the storm blow all around you. If you cannot move forward, drop your anchor and just stay pointed in the right direction.

Grateful for: Having this place to express and sort through my feelings. It helps me refocus on what’s important. Also grateful for the people whose insightful comments challenge me.

Starting weight: 354.6 pounds
Last week: 301.2
This week: 294.2
Change this week: -7.0
Total change: -60.4
Next milestone: 65 pounds gone

This week’s mantra: Stay calm and focus on smaller goals.

Grateful for: Let’s not anyone be shocked that my weight is up this week. In addition to everything else going on, I got my period this morning. So, today I’m grateful for perspective. After all, aren’t I the one always preaching about the power of perception? Three weeks ago, I would have been squealing with delight at these numbers. And that’s what I’m grateful for. Knowing that I have the power to put a positive spin on this. Knowing not to let a negative perspective smash my forward momentum. And, so, I am grateful to have a body, to be making peace with it, and to have a good doctor and amazing health insurance.

Starting weight: 354.6 pounds
Last week: 296.8
This week: 301.2
Change this week: +4.4
Total change: -53.4
Next milestone: 60 pounds gone (since I already reached 55 pounds gone)

This week’s mantra: Trust the doctors to figure things out, trust the universe to give you strength, trust your body to respond as you GET BACK TO BASICS.