It has been four years since I started gaining weight. It has been over two years since I’ve tried to lose weight. This year, I had the most success, logging in 15 pounds of weight loss since the first of the year. This is great! But most of that loss took place within the first three months of the year. Since that time, I have been fluctuating back and forth among the same ten pounds.

When I began in January in earnest, I did the math. I imagined myself losing at least two pounds a week in 2007. I asked a friend who had lost weight if this was reasonable. She told me to shoot for one pound a week. I readjusted my goal, and it seemed reasonable.

After the first 15, I lost 7 more and then I gained 8 lost 6 gained 4 lost 8 gained 6 lost 2 gained 9 lost 4…

You get the idea.

I began 2007 at an all time high (not counting pregnancy) of 250 pounds. I would estimate that I gained 40 to 60 of those pounds in 2006. In fact, I know for a fact that I weighed 219 in March 2006, which at the time I thought was horrible. Now I wish I weighed that.

I have not been able to get under 230 no matter what I’ve done. I have cut out pop and fast food. I have tried to eat sensibly. I am eating breakfast.

My downfalls that I was aware of but not willing to change (yet): flavored creamer in my coffee (fat free) and alcohol in social situations. (Last weekend I had three seven and sevens. Normally, I may have a few bud lights or Mike’s hard lemonade during a weekend.)

I have become frustrated and annoyed with myself. I don’t tend to snack, and I don’t normally eat after dinner.

Finally, I figured out that I had done all of the research I could online, and I needed active help from a medical professional. I made an appointment, and I went Wednesday.

I saw a nurse practitioner. I loved her. She probably spent 40 minutes or more talking to me about my habits and giving me great tips to help me continue to lose.

She ordered blood work, so she can rule out physical problems like thyroids. And she gave me some great tips.

I realized that I eat at the wrong time of the day. Typically, I don’t eat lunch until 2 or 3 p.m. I have dinner around 7 or 8 p.m. She suggested eating all of my food by the day no later than a 6 p.m. dinner. She said it will better match my metabolism, and it could result in additional weight loss. I’m trying it, along with some other things, and I hope it will result in some success.

Wednesday, at the doctor’s office I weighed in at 235. At home on my scale this morning, it showed 232. I’m not suggesting I’ve had a 3 pound weight loss. I’m just trying to record both, since they are different scales, and I will take both as a starting off point to see how I do with this new eating schedule.

One of the biggest problems I have in losing weight is figuring out my calorie intake for things I eat at home.

A month or so ago, I looked into more serious medical intervention like weight-loss surgery. I even considered signing up for an informational session. It was alarming to realize that my BMI is VERY close to the range where I would be considered a viable candidate for weight loss surgery. To qualify, you need a BMI over 40, and mine was 38 at the time I checked it. At a 38 bmi, you could qualify if you had other health problems, which I don’t. And I don’t want them either.

My ideal weight (high end) for my height (5′7″) is 160 pounds. In high school, I tended to weigh 150. As an adult, I was normally 170 or 180. It is only in the last four years (since my dad’s death) that I have really put on the weight.

One reason I gained so much in 2006: I was working two jobs AND going to grad school, which meant I tended to grab at least two fast food meals a day (lunch and dinner) as I drove to my various responsibilities.  I also think my weight gain tends to be related to stress.

On the news the other day, I saw a pretty cool idea. It’s the walkstation, which is a desk affixed to your treadmill.  I’d use it.