Hi:
I am starting a journal today to help me with my weight loss efforts. I've tried everything under the sun, but haven't (yet) learned how to maintain a "sane" weight! I've been extremely thin, and extremely fat. Right now, I weigh the most I ever have--238 lbs. I am 5 foot ten inches tall, and 41 years old, and female. I KNOW I am headed for health problems down the road if I don't develop better eating habits. Thank God, my health is good now, even after all the "food abuse" I've put it through!
My plan is to follow an 1800 calorie diet with emphasis on fruits, veggies, lean meats, and whole grain carbos. I like counting calories because you can divide them up howver you want. I am going to try to post my food intake daily here, but computer time is limited at my house ( two kids--always on the internet) Well, wish me luck, and good luck to you also! Pat (Butterfly1)

Welcome to DT Butterfly! I see that you have a plan and that is the first step. You're right about the future. I wish I had not allowed myself to gain back my weight and now here I am at 55 trying to get it off again. Good luck to you and never give up!
Babs :)

Welcome Butterfly... Welcome to diettalk.

Babs and John--thanks for the welcome and words of encouragement!
Here is my food log for today:

Good friends Kashi cereal (90)
coffee with ff creamer (40)
banana(120)
skim milk (100)


apple (80)

slice of high fiber bread (110)
turkey slices(30)
mustard (20)
baby carrots (40)


apple (80)

broccoli (160)
lg chicken breast (240)
lg. baked potato (300)
reduced fat margarine (100)
skim milk (100)

that's approx 1600 cals., so I have about 200 calories left for an evening snack. Also, I drank 8-10 glasses of water, and went for a brisk 20 min. walk with my dog, Fred. So.
IT'S ONE DAY AT A TIME!!! I just need to string together several days of "sane " eating together to establish a habit, I read once that if you do something consistently everyday for 6 weeks, yo can make whatever it is you are doing a habit!
Don't ever give up!! Pat

another day to do with what I will! I am too lazy, I decided, to type in all I eat during the day today ( I am an extrememly slow typist!) but I will keep track in my little notebook. I feel very good today. I have a very busy day ahead, but I am going to plan, (and pack) healthy foods for my lunch, and get a little walking in after work. (even though it is FREEZING out there!)I just need to stay positive, and work my plan. The one good thing after all these years of dieting is that I KNOW what to do to lose weight healthily.It's just that I need to use food as a fuel for my body-- not for comfort. Or celebration, or boredom, or anxiety, etc. I need to be able to name what is bothering me instead of eating, and develop the ability to FEEL what ever I'm pushing down with food. Maybe a first step would be to able to acknowledge to myself that I AM pushing something down, instead of just automatically reaching for food when I am feeling anything!! Hey, no one said this butterfly's journey is going to be easy!! Pat