Hi everyone!

[APilgrim]

Thought I'd stop by and introduce myself. I have..after years..come full circle on my attempts to lose weight. I am finally looking at weight loss not as a end to itself, but as the by product of eating right (Atkins!) and exercising. Its so hard to look at things that way when you've got so much weight to lose, but I am trying. I am trying to view this as a very long pilgrimage to a a destination that I may one day reach, but having no intentions of putting time limits on it.

I have but one, short term goal. I start a PhD program in January, and by then, I want to feel better about myself. I'm at my all time high weight (had to buy a "high capacity scale" just to weigh myself...how humiliating) and will be tracking it religiously downward, even if I KNOW not to expect any changes day-to-day. I'm just sort of obsessive about it.

Anyways, I visited ADBB such a long time ago and thought about signing up to keep myself on task - should have listened to myself then! But here I am years later, finally doing it. Look forward to participating in this great community!

[Asclepius]

WELCOME!!! So glad you've joined the party. First off, congrats on the PhD program! What will be your area of study? This place is loaded with helpful people who have made absolutely astounding strides toward good health and I have no doubt that you are soon to join their ranks!

[APilgrim]

Thanks so much for the welcome! Its a PhD in Public Administration - its exciting, but its going to be difficult/long (4 years at a minimum, even with a masters degree)..although frankly if I can lose weight, a PhD program would seem like cake (that I won't be eating).

Anyways, I ended sick today (of course!) and have not been eating and have been drinking things with carbs - ginger ale - so I never really got to start off on the right foot. I am going to push back my start day 1 day to Thursday so I can get off on the right foot. I am determined not to wait until "monday" which has historically been my infamous day for starting/failing attempts to lose weight!

[Asclepius]

Graduate/Professional school is taxing but rewarding at the same time - much like getting back in shape I suppose. Thursday sounds like a swell day to begin your quest. Gives you time to go to tickerfactory.com and create your own ticker. It seems silly but watching that little thing move as you make progress does a lot to boost morale. This also gives you time to rid your place of temptation food. Trust me - just planning not to touch it or storing it all in a "hiding place" is worth jack crap.