Feb 26, 2008 update by David-284
<- Photo taken on	Jan 16, 2008
Journey start date	Sep 17, 2007	Currently at 33.33% of goal
Total loss since start	66 lbs	Now has 132 lbs left to goal
Since last update	Lost 2 lbs
Weight at this update	352 lbs
17 of 17
		My Picture Progress

I am still here and way behind in weekly updates.  I spent the day with Dr. Nick yesterday and was encouraged with his understanding/empathy for what he went through and what I am in the middle of right now.  In his book he talked about the 103 pound halibut and the experience of accomplishing a major weight loss of 103 pounds yet feeling glum and still seeing a fat person realizing there was so much more to go.

Well in total I am 92 pounds down some prior to meeting Dr. Nick, 130 more to go and yesterday was my equivalent of catching the 103 pound halibut.  Thanks Nick for encouraging me and helping me to see more clearly.

I have been stuck at this weight, plus or minus a few pounds for more than 1 month.  It is frustrating but also I see where I can do better.  It's comparable to hitting the wall in a marathon run. 

I haven't given up.  I have avoided updating but ironically the support you need the most is when it is hard.  It's so easy to update success but so hard to be honest about a lack of success.

thanks for your support.

	Posted by fellow HealthSteward Tim-215 from Ohio on Feb 26, 2008 There is a thought that there are spots when your body wants to  stay where it is for awhile while it checks out whether there's a famine or whatever.  Not sure there's any validity to that.  I know for myself, there are some definite plateau busting life skills: (1) special care to weighing very often so you can experiment with the effects of different types of foods.  For some people, they find that -- for instance -- a particular carbohydrate food category like yeast bread, salty foods, grains, nuts, seems to really slow them down.  That didn't apply to me, I checked all those out and there wasn't any effect for me; (2) extra exercise; there was a time I busted up a plateau by working out twice daily for a couple of weeks, (3) LESS exercise for a few days, if there was an overtraining effect setting in wherein you find your exercise capacity is definitely less than it recently was, (4) breaking meals up into more, smaller meals, (5) logging all the intake and output and measuring how much of a deficit you need to produce X pounds of loss, and (6) eating a bit more so you feel like moving a lot more. Can you tell, it's interesting to experiment on yourself and determine the source of that temporary plateau.
	Posted by fellow HealthSteward Karsten-53 from ON, Canada on Feb 26, 2008 BRICK WALL AHEAD Hi David: Unfortunately the weight didn't go on quickly and it won't come off quickly. When you run into a plateau Tim gave you some good advice. I would also urge to to write down everything you are eating. Every little spoonful or taste. Sometimes it is those little things that we don't count or even think about that cause us to delay or weight loss journey. Hope you have a great losing week. - Karsten  PS: I would also urge you to update weekly if possible. I find that helps to keep me focused.
	Posted by fellow HealthSteward Dawn-276 from Indiana on Feb 26, 2008 David, I am glad you updated and realize the need to be accountable.  Take one day at a time.  You can get through this rocky place you are at.  Have a great week. Dawn
	Posted by fellow HealthSteward Rob-101 from Wisconsin on Feb 26, 2008 I turly feel your pain! Hi David, ... Wow, what an outstanding and honest update!  I can say that I truly feel your paini as you write.  I totally agree that it's so much harder to update when the scale is not moving in your favor ... we can feel like such a failure.  The most important thing is that you are still here and you still updated so good for you.  It's taken me over 2 years to lose my 120 lbs and I still have 34 to go to get to goal.  I am finally truly at peace with the slowness of my journey because I realize that this is a life journey ... as long as I'm doing my best and I'm truly enjoying life and losing slow ... that's OK because I want this to last.  God is faithful and I know He will give you the strength and courage you need to stay in  the race.  Just take it one day at a time and you'll be amazed ... before you know it, you'll be down another pants size or shirt size.  Clothes don't lie so just keep after it my friend.  Just know that I'm praying for you David. You are a good man!!! Have a very blessed week, and thanks again for your honesty today. It really did encourage my heart.
	Posted by fellow HealthSteward Mary-104 from Minnesota on Feb 27, 2008 You'll push through that wall, no problem.
	Posted by fellow HealthSteward dr. Nick-1 from California on Feb 28, 2008 I love you. My brother, you are 41% of the way there from the start and exactly 33.3% there since joining our community.  I am so eager to see this through with you.  We have much to accomplish as a team.  God WILL complete the work that he started between us.  It's His will and I am available to you to do and be whatever to make it happen.
	Posted by Josh from Winchester, CA on Mar 13, 2008 Dad... You are going to make it!! Truthfully I cannot understand what you are going through.  I have not had the amount to lose that you have, and until anyone does, I don't think that they can understand.  All I know is that I have not given up on you!  You are going to push through! In the last five years I have had 5 major leg surgeries, and I know that each time I had to teach / convince myself to walk again.  There were many times especially after the first two accidents that I did not think that I would ever walk again, but in the end I am walking. My physical therapist used to say that the most progress is made when it is the hardest. You are at a hard time, and I pray that you are able to step it up to a new level and make big progress to your goal.
	Posted by fellow HealthSteward dr. Nick-1 from California on Sep 30, 2008 I miss seeing your updates here! Though real life sure is better right?
	Posted by fellow HealthSteward Stacie-235 from Michigan on Oct 18, 2008 Happy Birthday David!
	Posted by fellow HealthSteward Sarah-29 from California on Mar 1, 2009 NIGHT BEFORE THE CRUISE /ALL Healthsteward in the area invited! WEDNESDAY March 11th (If you are interested and available the day before) 6:30 p.m. Healthsteward Bon Voyage dinner at Souplantation! 17210 Bernardo Center Drive, Rancho Bernardo, CA 858-675-3353 Come out and meet some other fellow Healthstewards in the Southern California area. Several Healthstewards not going on the cruise will be joining us for a Grand Bon Voyage Celebration! ALSO... After the Cruise / For ALL local Healthstewards in the area 11 a.m. Healthsteward Gathering and lunch at Seaport Village. For those interested, we will all meet upon disembarking, and drive over to Seaport Village in San Diego together. It’s just a couple miles away from the Port. We will provide further details on the exact location for those interested on the cruise. Again, there are several online Stewards from Southern California (who will NOT be on the cruise) who plan on meeting us for a HealthSteward Gathering.
	Posted by fellow HealthSteward Dave-40 from ON, Canada on Aug 28, 2009 Hi David. I was just paging through all the Health Steward names and discovered I had another "David-pal" here on HS. It's been a while... Hope you come back and tell us about it sometime. - Dave
	Posted by fellow HealthSteward John-331 from California on Oct 18, 2009 David, if you're still checking in, Happy Birthday. Please give us a post if you get a chance, it would be nice to hear how you're doing.