First Week Results - Woo hoo!

I weighed in this morning and after my first full week on the Lindora program, I've lost 12 pounds! They say it's 14 pounds, but on Day #1 it was raining cats and dogs and I was wearing heavy boots. I know they weighed 2 pounds.

I understand that the first week's loss is the highest and subsequent weeks won't produce such dramatic results, but what a great way to start. Success is invigorating!

Dinner with Friends

I love to entertain. I love having friends over and we've always made sure there was plenty of everything -- appetizers, dinner, dessert, drinks, the works. Last night was our first attempt at entertaining while I was on Lindora and it was a success.

It helps that it was an impromptu dinner party with some of our dearest friends as guests. They happen to be on Weight Watchers so aren't wanting to overeat either.

No appetizers this time. Check. Dinner was grilled lean beef, a big salad, asparagus & squash for everyone plus baked sweet potatoes for Brad & the guests and a baked potato for my son Andrey (who actually wants to gain weight). Dessert was mixed berries (with fat-free Cool Whip for everyone but me). Our guests and Brad had red wine and port with the berries. I skipped it. No big deal and surprisingly I didn't even miss it.

I saw a Facebook post from someone yesterday who had just started a diet and then splurged at Farrells -- certainly a hard place to practice healthy eating. It was worth it, she said, because her family doesn't usually get to do things together. I could hear myself in those words. I have allowed myself that special treat so many times because I've had a bad day, or a good day or it was a holiday or a birthday or a Friday or Saturday or ... you get the picture. One time really doesn't make a difference but all the times together have added up to a lot of extra pounds.

Interestingly enough, the next few pages I read in the Lindora Lean for Life book last night was on rationalizations. I know I've heard this stuff before but maybe I wasn't ready to listen. I'm listening now. I will continue entertaining and celebrating and enjoying time with friends and family. But I'll do it differently.

The Beginning of a Journey

I've decided to start this blog because I want to chronicle my weight loss. I don't know if anyone out there will read this, but the fact that it's in a form that CAN be read by others somehow creates a feeling of accountability for me. I've tried to lose weight before, but never as much as I need to lose now. And never with any long-term success. I am determined that this time will be different.

My name is Shannon and I will turn 50 this year. I am happily married and have one son and four cats. I have a reasonably successful career and I live in a nice house in a suburban neighborhood of Long Beach. I like to travel, garden, play poker and read. And I am fat.

I don't usually acknowledge that fact. Despite my weight, I don't have a negative body image. Except for when I catch sight of myself in the mirror, I feel pretty normal most of the time.

When I was 40 or 50 or even 80 pounds overweight, I never let it slow me down. But now I am well over 100 pounds overweight. Perhaps in another post I will share the number. But right now I'm not comfortable with that. he weight itself, though, has become hard to ignore. When I fly, the airline seats and seat belts are too small. In restaurants, sometimes the booths are too cramped. I can't even recall the last time I shopped for clothes anywhere other than a plus-size clothing store.

High school - I'm the one on the right

I was always chubby as a kid and plump as an adult, other than a couple starving-myself-thin periods in high school and college. I've tried various diets over the years - Weight Watchers, the vegetable soup diet, the South Beach Diet, etc.... The yo-yo weight loss and weight gain has screwed up my metabolism, and ultimately resulted in an even heavier me.

I'm fortunate that my blood pressure, cholestorol, glucose levels, etc. are all normal but let's face it, being overweight still isn't healthy. And it isn't fun. This year is the year I reclaim my health and move toward a thinner me.

Last week, I signed up with Lindora, a weight loss program where you go twice a week to get B-12 shots. The goal is to eat a low-calorie, low carbohydrate, moderate protein diet that results in ketosis so your body will burn fat.

So far, so good. Within the first three days, I lost 6.5 pounds! I know it's probably mostly water weight, but what the heck, it's weight. And having a success means it's easier to stick to the eating plan.

As I'm writing this, my husband just came back from the grocery store and showed me the 4 ounce low-fat cottage cheese packs he bought for my protein snacks. I feel blessed that he is so supportive. We're stocked with lean proteins, vegetables, salad fixings and fruit. My goal is that by the end 2012, I will be at least 90 pounds lighter. It's a big goal, I know, but I'm determined to get smaller!