Everyone, thanks for all the kind welcomes! Oh, it's what I need. An active thread and lots of encouragement. I am so in the dumps these days and that's not like me. But I'm beaten down and I think I'm getting sick, which would explain the depression. I'm usually not that bad.
I'm a bit hesitant to weigh in as I've lost a lot of muscle and haven't been exercising much. Also, I want to put muscle back on and now this will wreak havoc with the numbers. Maybe if I give you measurements along with the weight. How about that? Can I do that? I tend to get extremely hung up on the scale and it works against me. Even when I know I'm losing inches I get discouraged when I see the numbers on the scale go up or stay the same and then I eat! What a waste! What a waist! Waist, where might that be, my dear?!
Well, I weigh in kilograms and think I'm somewhere in the 70s, probably somewhere in the 160 lb range. Not sure, will get back to you with the stats.
susanne -- thanks for your big welcome. Ok, I can whine and I can clap

so let's just hope I can get my ever-expanding butt in here often enough to post. Congrats on your 5-lb loss!

Don't belittle it. A loss is a loss and take it anyway and anytime you can get it!! It sounds like you're doing great with your food as well. This is where I've been really failing and normally I am something of a health nut. Continue to inspire me!
little grasshopper -- hello and thank you too! please, please encourage me. I am a big baby these days, maybe always was. I need talk and more of it. Looks like you and I are about the same in weight. I used to be solid, now it's all jiggly. Oh yuck! Well, back to work on this wonderful bod. 6 miles of walking, good for you!

Did you figure out the ticker thing?
stormy -- WELCOME!!

I just started here too. Wow, what a commute!?!! How do you do that? No wonder you've put on weight. Work and then more work is so stressful. I am under horrible stress as well so find solace in knowing you're not alone if you can.
It's easy to eat well and exercise when you've got loads of time (well, not for everyone) but add stress and well. . .kiss it goodbye unless you can really dig down deep to that tough stuff you're made of. Remember how diamonds are made! Me too, 40 pounds gone would make me very happy. Let's work on this together.
oraki -- thanks for the welcome and

on your 7-pound loss. Go girl! Great stuff. Water looks like fat! Don't pooh-pooh it. Yes, BE happy! You're a success.
crime girl -- Hello, thanks for the welcome and thanks for this great thread. It looks like you've got a great bunch of people here and this is very hard to find this time of year when most people wimp out and just indulge until the New Year.
Yes, don't worry about the scale this week. Little fluctuations don't mean much. It's the big picture that matters.
Looking forward to your question. I'm a day ahead of most of you I guess (unless we've got some Aussies here) so don't mind me if I get confused or confusing with days.