I tried it, and it didn't work for me. I kept thinking things like, "Oh, I only have 2 more pounds till my next goal and still have another 2 weeks to meet it...I can have this slab of cheesecake today and have plenty of time to work it off..." 
Having a big number means, hey, I really have a LOT to lose--I'd better keep crankin'! It's a mental game for all of us here, and finding what works best is usually the hardest part of all 
Of course, this is what works for me today...next week, I may be back to focusing on 5-100 pound increments Oooh, Chinese food...one of my MAJOR weaknesses! The thing about it, though, is that it is SO high in sodium, so you may still be retaining some water tomorrow, so keep that in mind when you step on that scale if it shows a little gain. And heck, if it shows a loss, know that maybe your real loss is even a bit more than it says
Val--congrats on losing the stress weight! You are so positive in what you write to everyone else here...I'm with you, behind you, and all for you, too!
mechell--glad to hear you are feeling a bit better
Sandy--congrats on resisting the carrot cake! It is one of my favorites as well (mostly because of the cream cheese frosting
), so I know how challenging (and, therefore, rewarding) that must have been!Brenda--I just have to say that I REALLY like your top in those photos! I love the look of halter-style necklines, and I also love anything sparkly. Sorry the party was dull, but you definitely looked good!
Lilion--I wasn't trying to tell you you need to exercise. That's something we all know. I guess my point was more that it'll happen when it happens. I used to exercise like a fiend when I lived with my sister in Va Beach, but then I moved and pretty much just stopped. For the past 2 years, it's been kind of off and on, and then for most of this year, it was nonexistant, until my recent light switch in mid-October. I have no idea what caused the light switch to finally flip on, but I'm sure it'll happen for you, too, when the time is right. In the meantime, know that "experts" say the weight loss battle is 80% diet, 20% exercise, so you've got the hard part under control
As for me, I just made 5 salads in plastic containers and tossed them in the fridge to eat during the week. And, man, do they look good! I went to Trader Joe's last night and got lots of easy ingredients to throw together, so my salads are romaine lettuce, grilled chicken strips (just thaw and eat--gotta love it), chopped mango (frozen, so again, just thaw and eat), almond slivers, and diced tomato (from a can, rinsed to remove excess sodium). I also got a really yummy TJ's salad dressing--sesame ginger soy vinaigrette (or something like that).
I also got some peeled, cooked, tailless shrimp to try on salads and stuff. I always say I don't like shrimp, but I honestly haven't had it in a few years, so I thought I'd give it a whirl. Again, it's one of those fabulous "thaw-and-eat" products, so I have no excuse not to try it
Let's see...any other good TJ's buys? OH, yes! I got a bag of frozen vegetable pot stickers (wontons). I was skeptical at first, thinking they would be high-cal because of the dough, but you can have 8 of them for 200 calories, so only 25 calories each! I thought that was extremely reasonable, and they microwave in just 3-4 minutes.Oh, and I KNEW I was retaining some water...whereas yesterday my scale read 300 even, today it read 297. I won't change my ticker till it stays there for a few days just to make sure, but it's still better to see I'm going in the right direction with my planned eating. Today's menu is quite similar to yesterday's, and I'm already almost finished with my second liter of water. We're going to a concert tonight, so I'll be sure to eat before we leave. No need to spend the money they ask for concert concessions
You are moving away from that 300 lbs already 
I understand where you are coming from with the big goal motivation, and I really do hope it works for you 
My trip is coming up fast now! I'll be in Victoria in 8 days!! Unless I decide to wait and leave when John starts his vacation, then it's 8 additional days. Either way...coming up fast! No real news here...I'll check my weight on Tuesday and see the damage. Hope everyone is well! 
