I haven't posted much on here, but have been popping in to read almost daily since I got "back on the wagon" at the end of September. Since everyone else's success stories are so inspiring and motivating for me, I hope my first small success will encourage someone else.

I was afraid I wasn't going to make it, but actually met my mini goal before my Dec. 31 target date - and ... drumroll.....I've lost 22 lbs.! Sometimes I think that's not a big deal when I've got so much farther to go, but then I realize that's a substantial amount of poundage gone. For good. I mean it.

The next part of the journey is the hard part, though. For the last ten years I've lost & regained this same 20 pounds and have never been able to do whatever it takes to get below 240#. Of course this time is going to be DIFFERENT. I'm lucky because I work at a university that offers fantastic health promotion services to its employees, and my supervisor encourages us to make use of them. Walking has always been my primary form of exercise, and I'd take the winters off...but now I have only to walk two buildings down from my office to the gym, where I can try out the equipment and take classes for no charge. It's almost enough to make me look forward to going to work !

As for my next mini-goal: (Confession: I've had to really push myself to make this goal "public" because if I didn't post it, then I couldn't "fail" by not reaching it. But I'm ready to be accountable. Unless I chicken out. Which I'm not going to do.) I'll turn 48 on April 23. I would like to have lost a total of 48# by then.

I'll try & be a better poster here, too. Things will settle down for me next week, once I get back from a business trip to Puerto Rico. I'm not ready to don my bathing suit in public this time around, but when I have to go back there next fall, I imagine it'll be a different story.

As long as I've taken up this much space, I want to throw in a last thanks to everyone for sharing on here - the ups & the downs - and a big cheer of encouragement to all of us.

Congrats, 20 lbs. is an awesome start! Having the gym at work is awesome, definitely don't take the winter off, lucky girl

I relate a lot to you because I always bounce around the same 30 lbs...once I get under 230 I feel incredibly close to being under 200 and for some reason that is the point I start sabotaging myself. i have some fears of being thin again, and this time I am going to whoop them, instead of the other way around. We can do this, just start posting so we can motivate one another

Congrats on your amazing loss! Sounds like you have a solid plan in place to keep going!

Congratulations! Isn't it a wonderful feeling to know that you CAN and ARE doing it!

Wonderful!! Twenty pound is ALOT!!! Sounds like you have a good plan - keep up the great work (and we all know it IS work to NOT eat what you want).

What an awesome accomplishment....it's hard to lose weight, whether it's 10 pounds or 100 pounds. Look at that 22 pounds gone as hard earned! Good for you, keep it up!

Congrats, diva! 22 lbs. is definitely a big deal! Posting here often is a good idea. I really think it's one of the things that keeps me on track!

CONGRATS! When u think 20 lbs isnt alot, go pick up a (2) 10 lbs weights.

CONGRATS 20 lbs is awesome, it is really encourging, I can't wait to see the 20 lb mark, I BET IT FEELS GREAT!

Way to go! How good it must feel to know that not only did you reach your first goal, you reached it before your target date!
Woo Hoo! Keep it up

Great job!

Thanks, everyone!

Hey, Purplefirefly, we're almost at the same "place" -- maybe we can help each other do whatever it is that needs to be done to kick 230 in the butt! And then 220....210...! I'm sure you're as tired as I am of finding those same pounds over & over again.

and congrats to you!!!

Hey, you're doing great!! Congradulations!

Congrats on meeting your mini-goal! I look forward to hearing more from ya!