I hadn't been walking every day like I used to because it has been so hot. Well . . . it was cooler this morning, so I went for a brisk 20 minute walk. So now I have to keep it up.

In the past, I have lost weight much more rapidly but I've always gained it back. I am hoping that by losing weight more slowly and really working on changing my eating habits (selections, quantity and frequency), I can keep it off this time.

It seems like an eternity since I've seen a drop on the scale. But I finally saw a 1/2 pound decrease, so perhaps this is the start of more steady progress.

Even though the weight is not flying off, I can tell that my clothes are fitting more loosely, especially in the waist. Hopefully, as I develop more muscle, the weight will drop faster. I am eating really well . . . lots of salads and protein, almost no carbs.

I have been using 5 lb weights every morning for the last 4 days. My back feels better, but I have plateaued on the weight loss.

As of yesterday, and again this morning, I started exercising again after a month long hiatus. The weights have my back and shoulders really sore, but I can tell that if I stay with it I will work the kinks out and have less neck and shoulder pain.

I have noticed that when I get 8 or more hours of sleep, I tend to either hold my weight or lose weight more easily. If I don't get enough sleep, I gain weight really easily even if I don't eat a lot more.

My friend, Gloria, just told me today that she has lost 50 pounds since she started working on her weight a few months ago. I think that is awesome! If she can lose 50 pounds, I should be able to lose 20.

Drinking lots of water helps reduce my appetite. And I have been very good in the last 2 weeks about soft drinks. I had 1 soft drink when I went to a movie, and 1 with my lunch on Saturday. Otherwise, I have been drinking water and tea.

The scales gave me a minor victory today. I saw 146 for the first time in a long, long time.

"Technically", I'm NOT on track. Craziness in my schedule every day has made it really difficult to stay on track with either eating or exercising. So I bought some almonds and some string cheese to keep with me and at the office for mid-morning and afternoon snacks. Otherwise, I get too hungry at meal time and eat too much.

I can't seem to get up the energy to go for a walk or go swimming because it is so unbearably hot. I am outside a lot during my business day, so I have no desire to go back outside to exercise.
So I will rearrange some furniture and create an indoor space where I can use my total gym, bike and weights.

Today's experiment is an attempt to see if I can reduce my appetite even more by eating a big salad with every meal except breakfast. I also bought some carrots to eat as a snack.

Okay, I haven't been exercising lately, but I have been careful about what I have been eating. I have discovered that if I eat any bread at all, even a little bit, I either stop losing weight or actually gain a little back. Bummer.

I've been pretty good about my eating habits in the last couple of days. And I haven't been as hungry as usual. I hope the change is permanent.

A summer cold has me not feeling well. So I am being a couch potato and have gotten off my 6 small meal cycle. I'm hoping I feel better tomorrow. It's hard to be outside in this heat.

Whenever I have lost weight in the past, I have done it by using drastic measures like fasting, using the Adkins diet or completely cutting out breads and sugars, including fruits. This time I am changing my eating schedule to have 6 small meals a day (3 meals and 3 snacks) and increasing my activity level to include moderate exercise at least 3 times per week.