Ok, so I'm a week into my new "lifestyle" plan. I choose not to call it a "diet" plan because mentally I think I have a block specifically about that word. I have lost 3 lbs! Mark and I are doing this together as a team, but even more than that we're involving the whole family. Jonathan has become our fruit smoothie gourmet (w/Splenda not sugar), and Morgan gets up at 5:30 am M/W/F to go to step class with me. Also, no more junk food in the house. We are making an effort not to buy things that are unhealthy. How are we doing it? Simple. Eat less and exercise. Keeping it under 1500 cal a day and going to the gym 3x a week plus a walk with Mark on Saturday (ok, so I try to keep up with giganticness's stride; to no avail). Plus he's already 40 lbs ahead of me in the process. Well, here it goes. Why will I be successful now when I haven't the previous times? I am changing my lifestyle, thinking and overall food habits. It has to be done. You know, it's amazing when you don't eat the usual "junk" filled with sugar you don't feel hungry all the time. This first week has been good. I've not been hungry in between meals, and no snacking at night. This is going to be a long journey. I will be 42 next year, and Mark and I will celebrate our 21st anniversary in September. We have to do this so we live to see our grandkids and actually enjoy our retirement someday. It's more about health and active lifestyle than quick fix diet. Of course, a lot of prayer helps too. I have been asking the Lord to help me make good choices and keep me from being hungry all the time. So far so good!