Ok, I'm tossing in the towel. Kage will get his alcohol at AC. I've lost weight, but not enough that I can lose the remainder in a healthy fashion before Anthrocon.

Things I've learned in this process:

• Develop an exercise plan and stick to it, using as many people to remind you about it as needed.
  
• I can still ride a bike, but for nowhere near as long as I used to. Stamina fades when not used.
  
• Most fast food places will not charge me extra to have a bottled water with my meal instead of a soda.
  
• I can eat smaller portions of food and be satisfied. The trick is to ease the way down, either by slowly decreasing size or greatly increasing frequency.
  
• If you crave something, resist it, eat something else, and still want the thing go get it. You'll just eat a lot more otherwise and not be satisfied.
  
• When taking salad to work, do not store the dressing with the greens.
  
• When experimenting with new recipies, determine feasibility of reheating in a microwave prior to getting to work.
  
• Smaller portions are easy to find, even at fast food places: smaller subs, don't up-size, get a kids meal, etc.
  
• I can, in fact, stand tomatoes in small doses.
  
• Single-serving powdered drink mixes are tasty.
  
• Vaguely fruit-flavored water, carbonated or otherwise, is disgusting.
  
• Plain carbonated water is actually worse than Sprite/7-Up/Sierra Mist, all of which hav the same anti-taste to me.
  
• I should really visit a doctor for a general checkup.

While stress was a contributing factor (lost job, boring as hell job for a month, another new job, new hardware testing, promotion), lack of self-motivation was too. Also, the last item on the list is inspired by the massive headaches I get when I eat less than some amount in a given period of time. Said headaches cannot be subdued by any headache medication I have ever taken, but can generally be tamed with *sigh* sugar. A friend suggested I may have problems with low blood sugar. Said friend is not a medical expert, but has lots of experience in a lot of things.

Now here's the kicker: I'm not going to stop trying to lose weight. Sure, there won't be a prize on the line anymore, but I want to lose a lot more weight. So, if you see me around, ask me how I'm doing: I'll be happy to answer and take the reminder.

Now that I've managed to weigh on the same scale twice, I can safely say I lost 7 pounds in November. If the two scales I've weighed on are reading the same, I've lost 22 pounds since Anthrocon and 2 since MFF. I'm not where I wanted to be, but I'm still in range.

I've got a much better job now. And probably much to unclekage's annoyance, an even large motivational team, almost all of whom are members of the USMC.

I've picked up a single small eight pound weight for use atwork during my shift when I'm sitting around waiting. I've found several powdered mixes to put in water that have no sugar or high fructose corn syrup (or any other -ose that I've noticed). I've also purchased a weighted jump rope which I need to adjust to my height. Yes, I promise to bend my knees when I use it.

I spent this weekend helping my boyfirned's parents clean and move stuff into their vacation/future retirement home.

It's beginning to get cold, but something tells me sweating off weight in the fursuit is neither good for me or the suit. :D

Yay, I have a new job.

While not mentally challenging in any way, it does demand my full mental attention or I create more work for myself.

As a result of this, I've been a bit more active in the past week - though being sick yesterday didn't help.

When you have been ill (violent upchucking) to the point of needed something to balance against when I stand or walk, what is a reasonably safe level of exercise afterwords?

Wow, haven't ridden a bike in years. Don't even own one. Fortunately my mate has two.

Damn am I out of shape - bike ride lasted maybe 15 minutes? The distinct ring of pain on both thighs brought the trip to an end. I will, however, repeat this while it remains cool - the 10-15 minute ride felt far more beneficial than the 30 minute walk.

While I do feel like I've lost some weight since Anthrocon, I'm not quite off to the roaring start I had planned. The abrupt loss of my job the Sunday after Anthrocon served as a serious demotivator and depressant - and when I get really depressed, I tend to eat high-sugar foods. I have since refocused on my goal and starting Monday morning will be taking a minimum 30-minute walk every day, weather permitting. My primary motivator in this task will be my boyfriend, who has to leave for work at 6:30am - by having him force me to get dressed and get going, I shall be able to walk while it is relatively cool outside.

I had the beautiful plan of walking in the morning before work and before it was hot outside.

This has turned into sleeping in waaaaay too late in the morning so I can get through work. I will, however, do something tonight.

I discovered that the gym at work has a nice electronic scale.

Current (Starting) Weight: 341.5 pounds
Current (Starting) Waist (using non-stretchy pants at where I wear them): 44-46.

Logically, the first step is telling you all what's going on.

Just before the Masquerade began, I made a bet with everyone's favorite cockroach (unclekage). The short version is, that if I lose 100 pounds by next AC (June 27-29, 2008), he gets no booze during the con.

The specifics:
In the event of success on my part, the duration of no booze shall be from the start of opening ceremonies on Friday until he walks into the staff dinner Sunday night.

I must lose at least 100 pounds.

By my choice, I shall not use diet pills, fad diets, etc. to help me lose weight. I am of the opinion that I am already eating far healthier than I was 2 years ago and far less - I desperately need to increase my physical activity. (Of course, now that I have an army of new friends to motivate me, it's over 100 outside...)

I am adding a term now that should I fail, I will purchase the good doctor a bottle of liquor of his choice, within a price range, and present it to him during Uncle Kage's Story Hour.

The Journal:
I'm going to use this journal to log my efforts - jogging, DDR, whatever it takes. I'm also going to log my progress.

I've run into a challenge already. I weigh somewhere between 325 and 350 pounds - I think. The electric scale my boyfriend has won't actually display my weight. I don't have a gym membership - but I need an accurate reading of my weight - ideas?