This is it! I've had it with all my less than wholehearted attempts to get this weight off and get in shape. I've just had it!! 2002 will be different, and so will every single year after this one. Now, I just have to set out to prove that statement true. This is the beginning page of my 2002 online journal.Here you will find my online diary, updated when I can, with reports of my successes and what I've learned. I also have a chart showing my progress. The ups and downs are really depressing!! You can check it out here: My Progress. Should you want to see pictures (they're very painful!), you can find them here: My Progress in Pictures.

Previous pages of my journal are here:
Pre-August 18, 2000
August 18, 2001 - March 10, 2001
June 3, 2001 - December 16, 2001

September 21, 2003
January 2, 2002
July 4, 2002 

September 21, 2003
It's hard to believe that it's been this long since I updated this page, but I've been hugely busy, I've had surgery on my thumb, and who knows what else since January! I promise, I'll try to get this site updated soon. I've actually lost some weight as compared with my January 2002 weight, thanks to being on Glucophage. I have a much smaller appetite. Since January 22, 2002, I've lost 41 pounds!!! Yay! It's taken a long time, but maybe by the time I'm 60, I'll weigh under 200! LOL! I've got 15 more years.

January 2, 2002
This year is going to be different! I have said this so many times before, and it's always turned out to be a lie. This time it is not going to be a lie! I'm going to do it! No one on earth has more of a commitment to getting healthy than I do right now. I have a lot of reasons to lose weight. Well, that may be a little strong, but I do have the motivation, the knowledge, and the drive to succeed this time. I have so many reasons that I need to lose weight. When I read through them, I am very motivated. If you're struggling to lose weight and get in shape, I really recommend making a list like this - it will help you focus on what's really important. I don't want to ever think that a particular taste, or restaurant, or 'eating occasion' is more important than my goals again. You can read my list of reasons to get in shape and reduce weight here:
Why the Bug Has to Lose Weight and Get Fit. I have a goal set for this year, and I intend to meet it. By December 31, 2002, I will have lost at least 50 pounds, and I will be able to exercise for 45 minutes at a time. And I'm going to do it! Just watch me!

July 4, 2002
Sadly, it's taken me this long to update this journal. It's also taken me this long to get back on track. I've rejoined WW Online, and here I am counting points again. I reached my highest weight ever Saturday a week and a half ago, 278. The next Monday, I rejoined WW Online. Good idea, huh? Geez! I'm such a lazy idiot when it comes to losing weight. I get motivated and lose it, just like so many of you, I bet. I just have to keep on trying, no matter what.
I've been working so much overtime and have had so much going on at work that it's been impossible to work on this web site and update this journal. I'll try to do better! I just downloaded a new version of Dreamweaver (Dreamweaver MX) that I use to work on the site. Hopefully that will help! I don't think work will let up anytime soon, though, so I'm not making any update promises here!
I lost 9 pounds from what I weighed officially for WW on 6/22/02, and lost a total of 15 pounds from that highest weight a few weeks ago. That's progress, and I'm going to try to stick with it!
The least I've weighed in the last two years is 227. I don't know how I let myself get so much bigger than that. I got lazy, I got bored with WW, I didn't want to try so hard anymore. From everything I've read lately, though, it seems that you have to try hard ALL THE TIME, and you can't ever give up. It's a little frightening to think that I'll have to work at it this hard forever, that I can't just eat what I want to. I don't eat huge quantities of food like a compulsive overeater or anything, but I do like fast food, and Italian food with all the cheese, please, and Mexican, with more cheese please. I don't care much for meat - just give me pasta and cheese, grilled cheese, fried cheese, etc. You just can't do that if you're going to lose weight. I just have to remember how serious this is. I'm using a cane to walk. I can't go to the places I'd like to visit because my knee and foot hurt too badly. I'm miserable. Surely no food is worth this, right?