Page Title

Introduction Text For my whole life, I saw myself in my head as a beautiful woman with long flowing hair who could do anything. Strong, independent, confident, graceful and spontaneous. I always thought to myself that someday I would lose weight and become that person, because that person wasn't fat. But it was always someday and not today. In November 2005 I realized that I was that person I saw myself to be, and all I had to do was release her. I started using my gym membership, seriously. I started working out with a trainer and went to an obesity clinic to discuss my options. I decided to give an honest try without medication or surgery, and if it didn't work after 6 months of my hardest effort, I might consider other alternatives. Fortunately, in that time I had made great progress in my weight loss and was convinced that surgery was not the way to go. Eating lots of veggies and going to the gym every night works wonders! Exercise has become a regular part of my life... when I can't get to the gym I find that I really miss my workouts. Healthy food is the same... I can't help but notice how few veggies are present in most American food. I've always loved cooking, so cooking healthy has been one of my hobbies. I'm always trying new things in the kitchen, and more often than not they are very tasty! My friends who are not trying to lose weight agree. The word "diet" is not in my vocabulary. I am not "on a diet". I will never be "on a diet". I'm eating well and working out because it makes me feel good. Beyond good, even. That feeling after having run longer than ever before (and I remember the day when I ran 5 minutes and couldn't believe I had done it). The feeling of meeting people who haven't seen me in a year and everyone noticing that I'm suddenly much smaller. The feeling of going and doing things that I didn't think I could do...

Height: 5'7" Starting weight: 284 (11/1/05) Current Weight: 176 (11/3/08) Goal Weight: 160 When I started, I wanted to be a beautiful, buff, energetic person. The process of starting and working out made me realize that I already AM that person.

(If you look at my food tracker and see that there are meals missing, don't worry, I do eat 3-5 meals a day, just sometimes don't track dinner or meals that I eat that I don't prepare because they are complicated and not accurate. My calorie totals for the day tend to be around 1500.) I'm going to the gym about 5x/week and commuting by bike every day. Favorite things are running, biking ... and yoga! I'm also eating less starch with dinner (small change, big results), drinking less milk (about a gallon/ every other week as opposed to 2-3 before) and more water. With all the veggies and fruits I eat, I don't really feel the need to eat a lot of chocolate and such.

Boston, MA I'm a graduate student. My life at this moment is research and exercise, with some gourmet cooking and indoor gardening on the side.

"Grant me wings that I might fly... my restless soul is longing..."

Add a Link
Save Changes