Well, it has been a while since my posting on my series of the Battle of the Bulge. I received so many responses, concerns, help and ideas from all of you.  I wanted to thank you all in advance on this long, much needed journey.  A lot of us are in the same boat and if you want to be a part of lesstolove(less to love), just let me know and I will have Lance email you.  It is just a place to put your ideas out there, write down any concerns you have or any obstacles you may be facing with your weight gain.  It helps to have the support, believe me.
    Well, down to the numbers.  I hate to put this down in writing because it makes it all the more real.  Back in late February, I was at my heaviest at 190 pounds!!  I couldn't believe it when I stepped on the scale one day and I saw that  number.  I had so many emotions--sad, angry, upset, frustrated, furious.  I cried to say the least.  It was then that I realized I had to do something before I reached 200 lbs.  My close family  members and I started a little Biggest Loser of our own, like the one on TV.  It worked for 2 months and I lost 10 lbs.  I was well on my way I thought.  Wrong!!!  After 2 months, the family stopped, I stopped and I gained my weight back.  This wasn't working the way I thought or hoped it would.  I was about to give up all together.  Then, a little  voice  inside me said, "Don't give up".  This is when I wrote my first entry about my weight.  After getting all the positive feedback and knowing that I wasn't the only one, I decided it was time to take another course of action.
    After talking with Shelly(Tom's wife),Jen(Ted's wife) and my sister Shelly and hearing how they were really loving Weight Watchers(WW), I decided to take the plunge and see what all the hype was about.  Now, I had tried WW before on my own without going to the meetings and it didn't work.  Well, this time, I signed up for 10 weeks and have been going since June.  I am attending the weekly meetings and it is really helping.  It gives me the support I want and need, to make it on this weight loss journey.  I am happy to say that since I joined back in June, I have dropped almost 17 lbs!!  I weigh in at 171 lbs now.  That is almost 20 lbs since February.  It is really working and I feel so much better.  I have more energy, I am not as tired and just feel so good about myself.  This was the best thing I could have done for myself.
    It wasn't easy at first.  I was hungry all the time and I was getting frustrated.  You just have to think of it not as a diet but more like a lifestyle change.  I think that is what did it for me.  If I say I am on a diet, I set myself up for failure.  I am making healthier choices now and am much more aware of what I am putting into my body.  I have to say that keeping a food journal has really put into perspective what I was eating before, too much!!  Seeing on paper what you are eating makes all the difference in the world.
    I hope that all of you who are in the same boat as I am, with all the varying degrees, get to that point where enough is enough and you are ready to do this great thing for yourself.  When you are, let me know and we can be weight loss buddies and communicate through our support group.  There is nothing more important than support from your family and friends.  To me, food was my crutch.  I used it to make myself feel better.  I ate when I was happy, upset, angry, bored, just about anytime I needed a a "quick fix".  It was almost like a drug.  Now, instead of eating, I will occupy my time with something else like playing with the kids, doing yardwork, washing the van or whatever else needs to be done.
     I wish all of you luck on your journey to a happier and healthier you.  I have a ways to go before I hit my goal of 145 lbs(this is what I weighed when I got married and I felt really good), but I know I can make it with the help and support of my family and friends.  Thank you again for all of your support.  Don't forget, it takes more than a "diet" to lose the weight.  You have to want to do this for yourself and when you are ready, the rewards are awesome!