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!