Yipes! You take care of yourself, hear? I don't care if you get in shape. I care about you not being in pain.

Thanks, Foggy. I've got ice packs for the pain. Works really well. The dx is actually a good thing as there is a possibility that a nerve block may help.

Those of you who can, get out there and do it, 'cause someday you may not be able to.

Congrats on a diagnosis! The worst part of not knowing is that they can't use the magic bullets. But a diagnosis where there's an actual treatment is awesome!

So I'm helping my sister do hay this week, and I'm ... actually stacking it! In a group of my sister, my 18-year-old nephew, and my scrawny 11 and 13-year-old nieces, I'm the third strongest!

So more muscle work may be needed.

In other news, that trick comedians do with stepping on a rake and then thwacking the heck out of themselves? It's much harder than it looks. Or easier. Rural life is not for sissies.

If you don't see me tomorrow, it's because my muscles quit in protest.

Last Friday I had the 12-month checkup for the weight loss study. One more in six months and I'll be done.

In the last year, I've lost 43 pounds - though we didn't start actively trying to lose weight until a few weeks in, so I'm gonna say it's been 11 months.

Just got my blood test results and they're all pretty great - despite being forever fat, my cholesterol, triglycerides, sugar and blood pressure have always been A-OK. Now they're "exceptional" according to my doctor, though in an prime example of "can't win for losing" my good cholesterol is has been a little too low for the last two tests. Still working to bring that one up. And my CO2 was below normal, too, which is a first. Wonder what that means...

Anyway, later in the day I took kitteh to the vet (she gained a few ounces, her blood work was good, and the vet was pleased overall), and while waiting chatted with a very cute guy with a fabulous TARDIS tattoo who had his adorable but timid pit bull with him. He weighed her while he was waiting and she clocked in at just under 42 pounds.

So, I've lost a pit bull!

Still have at least a Golden Retriever to go, though...

I'm pretty sure I have a Lab to go ... anybody seen my will power??

I have reached a milestone! I haven't been at this weight in 15 years! Walking, watching carbs and sugar, lots of veggies and working in the garden are the keys to my success. I've been gaining and losing the same poundage for years, and I finally broke new ground!

Where's taverl? I need a high five!

Congrats!

This is so wonderful.

I'm still plugging away. I had lots of fun on my bike and just walking over the past several days. And now you've inspired me to be better.

Woot! Well done!

I am afraid all the weight y'all have lost, I found. Had one of those come to Jesus moments when a chair I was sitting in Saturday night at a party broke. And I am getting perilously close to having to wear "heavy clothes". So maybe Ive finally had my wake up call.

Oh dear. Tell ya all what; when I learned how effed up my back was and was told in no uncertain terms to stop playing softball and for doG's sake NO MORE GOLF!!! That's when the weight came. I will bet dollars to donuts (Mmmmm...donuts) that I am by far the fattest/heaviest member here. But I have a note from my doctor. That said...my doctor shakes her head and pronounces me healthy on a regular basis, but I can tell that she HATES it.

Message: Be as fit as you can be within any physical limitations you may have. I'm morbidly obese, but you wouldn't know it from my blood work. (Maybe it's the cardio from the gay midget pr0n. )

Just had my final visit for the weight loss study this morning. In the 18 months since I started, I've lost 48.3 lbs. Was hoping to top 50 before all was said and done, but I'm definitely not complaining. While I only lost about 5 lbs. since the last visit 6 months ago, it's still better than gaining, and even when I was losing 2-3 lbs. a week, it never really felt like I was dieting.

I was very lucky in 1) finding the study and 2) getting placed in the group I was. The methods they used were exactly the right ones for me, I think - and the timing helped since I was definitely ready to make a change.

If there's anybody in the San Francisco area looking for some help losing weight, they're still enrolling participants and will not be done with the study until late 2013 at the earliest. Participants are randomly placed into one of two groups, both focused on dealing with stress and losing weight, so it's a win-win.

http://www.osher.ucsf.edu/shinestudy.html

(Don't worry too much about the BMI. I was slightly over the limit - something shocked and appalled me, and surprised the study coordinators since they've seen a lot of fat people and thought I weighed less than I did. I explained I walked a lot already and could do the light exercise they recommend and was given the OK.)

Of course, I celebrated by walking to Dottie's True Blue Cafe and having the bacon and bleu cheese scramble - and a brick of coffee cake - but the walk was a hilly two miles, and I brought half the food home. Then I went to the tailor's to get two pairs of dress pants taken in since, without a belt, they fall right off. Not very dressy at ALL.

Now, to find me a support group since that accountability and support really was very helpful early on in the study...but later, after next weekend's visit to Napa and dinner at Auberge du Soleil. I'm gonna need it.

Congrats Taverl.

Great job, Taverl! And Kate as well!

Congrats and good work!

Congratulations. You may have added years to your life and ensured their quality.

Both I and my elderly cat need to go on a diet. He weighs a bit over 18 pounds, which is heavy for a Korat. The way we are handling the problem of feeding two cats is that the younger and stronger cat will be partly fed on the kitchen counter, which the Korat can no longer jump onto.

Now they're looking for a similar way to handle my problem. This might not be pleasant.

Since you are able to reach the kitchen counter, they may have to get creative.

Good for you.

I went back to cycling this spring, and since April I've lost about 13 pounds. I participated in my first Century ride (100 miles) a couple weeks ago, and made it about 55 miles, which I was pleased with. I need to lose about 25 pounds more, to get me between 190 and 200, and I think then I'll feel comfortable in my own skin again.

W00t Taverl! Congrats. Eighteen months isn't a diet it's a change in eating habits. I know you'll make your goal soon.

High fives!

Congratuations!

If a support group is what works, do it! You know how much better you feel today than when you started.

Having a gym/exercise buddy always helps me too. It's more fun, too.

I am taking part in an 8-week Functional Restoration Program for people with chronic pain. Week 1 just ended and I'm completely wiped out. Exercise, physical therapy, shared medical appointments with the group of 8 "painies", nutrition classes, behavior management, sleep/food/exercise diaries, assigned pedometers and step requirements, anatomy and physiology... people have lost up to 20# in past programs. Two painies have put off surgery in order to take this program. We have one post-cancer patient, one post-surgery neuralgia patient, several fibromyalgia sufferers, a couple with chronic back pain, one with pancreatitis, and me. People were in tears describing why they are in the program.

Right now I can barely think straight, let alone think of food. It's a good feeling to be with people who understand.

Congrats!

However, all that weight you lost? I just looked over my shoulder and I think I may have found it. I tried to be sure, but I just kept spinning in a 3-stooges circle.

(Wise guy, eh? Woop, woop, woop, woop, I oughta...)

Well. That year is over and a new one has begun. Are we still motivated?

Looking back, I kept one of my two stated goals -to walk everyday and do the water fitness course at the Y.

Walking every day helped me to lose almost 30 lbs last year. I'm three dress sizes smaller and feel fantastic. The Y puts too much chlorine in the pool for me, so even though I swam on a team for 8 years when I was young and held an AAU record or two, swimming is not the thing that helps me now.

Mr520 and I have embarked on our 2012 journey towards fitness. I need to lose another 30 this year and he...well, let's just say he's almost twice the man he was when I met him. We started the Dukan Diet on Jan4. I finish this diet on August 28. He will continue into 2013. We have several French friends who did it a few years ago and highly recommended it. It is a high protein diet, heaven for me. . greek yogurt is becoming my best friend. I bought food flavoring glycerin drops to make it more fun.

I'm over the initial phase now and have lost 8 lbs. Now I put back carbs in the form of veggies. By the time I'm done, I will be the same size I was 20 years ago, before we married.

So, what's new with your fitness?

I'm heavier now than I was at the start of 2011, but lighter than I was in August, so I'm going to count the year as a partial win. I'm trying a few things with diet, but mostly I'm working on the exercise side of the equation. I've been doing a bit of nature photography, so that's motivated me to get out and hike more. Right before Christmas, I took up stand-up paddleboarding as a new hobby. That's helping more. It's a shitload of fun, and a great core workout.