Well, folks, this journey really is a rollercoaster! One day I feel like I can TOTALLY do this and everything is on the right track, and the next (today, as it seems) I feel like something's off and worry that I'm messing up without knowing it. Most days I end up with 100-200 calories left over. Yesterday I went over by 170 to shake things up a little (?) but I worry every day about those tiny details with the calories. I know the fact that I'm keeping track and staying within range and working out is a vast improvement to before but I guess I'm just getting my head around it all.

There are no complaints on my part, for sure, but part of me thinks that if I had lost the first 9-10 lbs more slowly I would be better able to "believe" that it was a true reflection of being on the right long-term path and not just a manifestation of my body's sudden shock at a big change in lifestyle. Is that messed up?

For anyone who had a big initial weight loss (for me it was 10lbs in just over 2 weeks) and then had it slow to a healthy rate, how was that transition? Tell me your story!

Thanks guys, although I feel happy generally, these ups and downs of self doubt are so nagging. I have to believe in this process and in myself and a life long struggle with weight is showing me where my confidence lies. I need to improve that.

Well in April I lost from April 1st to the end about 13 pounds I think it was. I was like WHOO HOOO!!! Now it was in May I lost nothing, nada, and I thought about giving up. Then in June I lostt 2 pounds and this week alone for July I guess it is June/July I lost 2 pounds in a week. I am very happy with that. I also was happy because at my job I could eat ALL DAY and I held back last night and the night before. So no eating after about 7 has helped this past week as well.

I went through the discourged and then BOOM lost weight again so now I determined to be thin.

I just searched Banks' "expectations" post and it made me laugh as I'm fitting "stage 2" to a T
I guess I'll just have to push through the wall. But you big losers on here are a BIG inspiration to me. More anecdotes please!

Well- - - - - I'll give my usual

1) Weigh and/or measure everything, my eye was much larger than actual amounts
2) Log it BEFORE you eat it. This can help you make a better choice.

It will be exactly 6 months on Monday (my weigh day) and I'm so pleased with the success and I'm not bored actually still very excited with the whole process. It's like an education the degree being NM (New Me) !

Wishing you much success