Rosinate, very glad you are daring to take the risk and that you shared your thoughts with us.

Random thoughts: I think about age and death also but as my friends, online and off, know, I have a life goal to live to be 120 (theoretically, and absolutely that is possible).

Ok, typed a long response here (deleted 'cause ramblin') but guess my point is, even if I don't make it to that age, thinking about life for me, makes all the difference, for all any of us know, we might just be the first people in history to live to be 200, 300, how do we know (don't think Social Security will cover that, but I'll worry 'bout it later).

So one of the reasons I have chosen to focus a lot on weight and fitness in my life (I used to weigh more than 100 pounds than I do now) is that not only will it without doubt help me reach the longest life I can achieve but I want that life in a fit body, or as fit as I can make it.

So, yea, understand. It frustrates me when I have a stupid regain after I worked so hard for so many years lol.

But we dare to keep goin' and keep the pressure on ourselves, I think, because the reward really is life itself, or a certain kind of life.

Thanks for the good luck wishes on the three meals! I don't mean that I am saying I should never have a snack or even a treat, just want to establish a more old-fashioned, peaceful three meal eating pattern, with occasional snack.

JJJ2!!!!! Woot! Congrats on Day 2! I actually have the opposite problem re the weekend in that I am only now learning to HAVE a weekend since the job change. I find it easier to stick to less calories on the weekend than when working and I really am trying to train myself to not work weekends.

Funny, was just watching a PBS fund-raiser about a doctor's books: "Younger Next Year." This guy (sorry, don't know his name and too lazy too google, have heard him speak before, would like to get the book) is talking about the new science of aging and he mentioned weight loss as being about eating portion controlled meals and not eating between meals.

He recommended exercise but said it is a separate issue than weight loss.

Woot!

I knew that!

Thanks for the kind wishes, both!

Day 2 dawns a bit more cheerful.....

Good luck, all.

Huzzah, Rosinate! Huzzah JJJ2! Let's do 'er!

I am pretty cheerful and actually this is KIND of a count thing as I am on really day 2 of the three meals a day with occasional snacks when needed (that's the best way I can define the pattern I wish to eat in). I did really well with my experimental Pizza Hut anti-binge lunch yesterday. Should explain that I am battling changes in career that have defined me for decades and feeling alienated and lonely as I used the career a lot for company and though working now, even seeing the same people, it is not permanent or the same. So the fun of going to Pizza Hut needs to be redefined and I was thinking that if I went there yesterday I would have a binge because I was going alone, not with coworkers or friends. But I did extremely well, did the lunch buffet and took slivers of everything I wanted and ended up with a 600 cal lunch (not 10,000 lol) and ate a few energy gels (my stop gap snack for now) in the car.

Let's go!!! I'm up for day 3 of the PATTERN, anyhow!

Scale BETTER be nice tomorrow or it is a lamp!

Congratulations on Patterning the pizza into its proper place!

I think I'm clearly daring to risk to Amaranth! because I'm eating 3 squares (actually, quite small squares) and a snack if it arises too.

So, the morning got away from me after I had a cup of coffee. I have to wait for an hour after meds before I eat, and suddenly it was 3 hours and lunch time.

Breakfast = a cup of instant coffee.
Lunch = a small chicken/lettuce sandwich and some canned fruit with yogurt and ground flaxseed.
Snack = a moderate piece of sponge cake ~ my churchwarden had made me one as a treat. The rest is in the fridge. The last time she made me one, I ate the whole thing, about 9" square, in a sitting.
Dinner = will be some kind of protein I haven't thought of yet on salad.
Evening = milky coffee

I can live with amaranthing!

Rosinante - You did get me to thinking, and my basic thought was that I would probably be dead by now if I hadn't gotten busy and lost the 65 lbs. I lost. I enjoy life, even at my age. Hey, life is good, let's enjoy it. Anyway, thanks for putting the thought in my head.

Tess - Whatever works, works!!! Personally I've always been a three meal a day gal. Occasionally I'll have a snack, but not every day. So whatever works for you, let it work for you.

Hi to any and all lurkers. Come on in. We are friendly folks here who seldom if ever bite anyone.

Today is my Day #7, so I've finished a week of my personal challenge. And I am forging onward into the second week. It's been a good week, and the scale is smiling at me. I smile right back at the silly thing, too.

Let's make each day count.

Huzzah, Rosinate!!! Huzzah JJJ2!!!

I did have an extra snackiepoo tonight as tomorrow is my weigh-in and I always seem to kind of self-destruct or something the night before. Not sure what that is about. But I was hungry so my snack was one of the little "to go" cups of pb and 11 pretzel thins (flat pretzel cracker/crisps). Not sure if the scale will like the extra or not but there it be.

Today did an anti-hermit training exercise at the mall and forced self to have lunch and stay two hours lol. Lunch was all sweet treat food, ye don't want to know but did ok with cals today, maybe a little high.

Tomorrow, I guess is Day 3 of this meal patterning exercise. Thanks for the support, ladies! Woot!

Let's us DO 'ER!

Day 3 dawns.
Day 2 successful.
Someone brought me a cake yesterday, and there's still 2/3 of it left in the fridge. If I'd been concentrating a bit harder, there'd have been 3/4 - but last month there would have been 0, so it's an improvement.

Good luck, all, for the day ahead.

Good work on the cake, Rosinate! (that rhymes, woot!)

I am going back to bed lol.

I gained another pound! May or may not have a second weigh-in ceremony tomorrow, haven't decided. Redoing goals and plans.

Woot! The turnaround has gotta take place soon!

Not unhappy, just dealin', will get there in the end! Woot!

Decided to start my count again. This be Day 1. Workin' tomorrow so not sure if I'll post much but tomorrow will be Day 2!

Had a wonderful shake for dinner with 1/2 cup frozen organic berries, green tea/water, scoop protein powder, 2 Laughing Cow Light cheese wedges.

Really full from this!

Rosinate - Good job with that cake!! The world is full of tempting treats, and we just have to deal with the temptation. You did just fine.

Tess - Goals and plans must be redone every so often. Life has to be dealt with, and you are doing just that.

My Day #8 went well today, and I'm on to Day #9 tomorrow. Weekends have always been a challenge for me. Tomorrow I will help serve a luncheon at our church which equals another challenge. But life is full of challenges, isn't it? Yep, challenges are just a part of life.

Let's keep smiling -

Huzzah, JJJ2, good job on the weekend and have fun at the luncheon!

Rosinate, how goeth it? Woot!

Sorry, I like to say woot!

Was restless so did another half hour walk 'round the neighborhood and now feel more like sleepin' ... see ye streakers!

Day #9 has come and gone on my personal 14 day challenge of reasonable eating. I worked at the church this morning preparing and serving a luncheon to a group of visiting pastors. Then I visited my friend in the nursing home. So it was a stressful day, but I managed to stick to my personal eating plan.

On to Day #10 tomorrow. Greetings to one and all -

I'm generally speaking still in here and fighting.

Woot, JJJ2 and Rosinate, congratulations on the positive reports!

I am on Day 3 of the new count, same ol' calorie control challenge, doin' well.

If I do a weigh-in today (it is still the middle of the night), I intend to change the weight I consider "official" for the week as that will help me keep to the behavioral goal. I sometimes do this although I am basically a once-a-week weigher!

For now, I shall go back to bed! Huzzah!