I just started some personal accountability Monday, so three days under my belt. I had to order a scale, and according to email, it should be delivered today. Eek!

I know I need the motivation of "numbers", I've got to know how much I'm losing.

I hope my starting weight isn't too much higher than 350. That's what I've estimated. We'll see how delusional I was tonight.

Anyway, I've been perfectly on plan for three days now, working on the fourth.

Rachael,
I really wished I had a starting weight. I didn't face the scale until I was 3 weeks into my eating and fitness change, and when I finally stepped on, I was 266, so 270 is just an estimate.

Don't let the number get you down. It is just a starting point for you, that is all. And know that this is the highest it will be, and that it will be going down from now on.

Congrats to you for being on-plan for 3, going on 4 days. You can do it!

Thank you so much. I keep telling myself that it doesn't matter what the starting weight is, as long as it's going down. I guess that's why I'm on this site.

It's nice having cheerleaders!

I know it is scary but Congratulations on taking the steps to face the truth. It is hard but SO worth it. Major kudos to 3 days on plan as well. That is awesome!

I know it's scary. However, realize that this number is just one small moment in your life and if you keep up the whole diet and exercise thing you won't be there for long! One thing I really wish I had done when I started my journey was take all my measurements possible AND lots of photos from all angles. I've found the more measurements I take the better I can track my progress and see how far I've come (because sometime the scale does get stuck).

Good luck and I wish you well on your journey!

I did ask my husband to take my picture last night. He was confused, "Why?". I told him I wanted good 'before' shots. He jumped up & grabbed the camera. I didn't even look at the pics afterward, I just want to have them to be able to compare later!

It is just a starting point. After I had my daughter, my mom dragged me to weight watchers and at that first weigh in I cried. Not just cried, I sobbed.

Having that starting weight only shows you how far you've come once you have the chance to look back.

It's scary, but it means nothing in terms of what you CAN and WILL do starting now!

When I started my plan, I didn't step on the scale for the first six weeks of my plan. I didn't want to know, honestly. I mean, if I knew, that meant that I'd have to acknowledge it. I'd have to own it. I figured, hey, I'll know if I'm losing weight. Things'll be getting looser! I'll look better! Who needs the hard truth of numbers? Fight the mathematical dictatorship!

Six months later, I wish that I had, if only so I could have an accurate count of what I've actually lost. I've estimated that I was at 360, based on being at 346 six weeks in. However, that number might've been higher. And if I was higher starting, then I deserve X pounds more credit than I'm giving myself. I'll never be able to claim that glory.

Here's the truth: if you're doing this plan, and you're taking the changes in your lifestyle seriously, then whatever you see on the scale today will be the highest you ever see it. It's all downhill from here in the best possible way. I love stepping on the scale now; every time I see it's clicked down a pound, I get to do a little victory dance while humming "Another One Bites the Dust."

It'll be cool. No matter what.

As everyone said, it can be a little scary. But, it's just a number.

And it's an amazing number to have when you start getting further and further away from it.

Kudos for taking before pictures! Those are GREAT for comparison shots a few months down the road

Thank you all so much for your wonderful words of support. I weighed 314 lbs this morning. I was so surprised. Just goes to show how screwy my self image is, not to say I'm HAPPY that I'm over 300#, but you know what I mean. I had to update livestrong/myplate calorie goal, and now my widget on the page says "I lost 34 pounds" LOL, wonder how I fix that??

That's great that your starting weight is quite a bit lower than you thought! I don't know how to fix your widget thing but just keep it up and it'll say a lot more than that before too long!

We all started our weight loss journey "somewhere"...
And no matter what that weight was, it was always "too much".


Best of luck to you on your journey!

The person who makes a success of living is the one who sees his goal steadily and aims for it unswervingly.
That is dedication.
Cecil B. DeMille (1881 - 1959)

Congrats on taking the plunge and facing the numbers. I'm sure it was hard to see but I'm glad it wasn't as bad as you anticipated. You will be under 300 in no time! Keep up the good work and personal accountability!!

The numbers don't define us, we define them!

My starting weight of 320 is an estimate. Last I had looked at a scale I was 316 then I know I gained weight before going to see my sisters but lost about 15 lbs there because of lack of stress. When I came back I was 300, gained 10 lbs back then managed to lose 5 before starting my journey. I think most people tend to estimate their starting weights