Posted: April 8th, 2006, 8:51 amWhat a wonderful post and a wonderful thread of replies. 
Welcome, Doug! 
Welcome, Doug! Update:
I originally posted as Aviatiorno1, but I am registered as SleeperNo1. So I'll post under that screen name from now on. I got the nickname Sleeper when I was in law school. I had an acute Vitamin B deficiency (Caused by the removal of my terminal illium (Crohn's) and went to sleep everyday. I now take periodic B12 shots to allevaite the deficiency.
It is Wednesday, March 12, 2006 at 4:50 p.m. As I write this post, I got up this orning and weighed . I am at 197. I am back in size 36 pants comfortable and can bend over to tiw my shoes without holding my breath. I have noticed the loss of weight in my face as well. I have more energy on 700 caloreis than I had on 3000. LOL.
As was predicted by you all, the hunger pangs have subsided. I am maintainng a slight sweet taste in my mouth which my pharmacist friend tells me is a signal that I am in ketosis. Yea!!!. A couple of times today, I got so busy that I forgot to eat on schedule. I am going to have to set an alarm to remember. Now that I am used to the slight hunger, it feels much better than the stuffed bloated feeling of a big meal. I feel like getting up and doing something. I have been more productive than I have been in several months at work. Is it increased self esteem? Yes. Is it less weight? Yes. Is it that my Crohn's is better controlled? Yes.
The other thing that I am most proud of is that I went with co workers to lunch at Burger King. I ate my meal replacement bar on the way and got a Diet Coke to drink while they ate Burger King. I love Burger King but I was able to confidently sit there and sip my diet coke while they ate. It is too important to give up now after the spectacular start that I have experienced.
I'm losing it and loving it. Dieting is a decision. I get up each morning and look in the mirror like they teach you in AA. I say to myself that I may fall off the wagon tomorrow but as far as today is concerned, I'm going to stay on the diet. Just for today. Then I get up the next day and do it again. Each day I succeed in doing that adds a little feather to my self esteem. The good thing about self esteem is that it builds geometrically. A little bit creates more and more.
Please give yourself the gift of this self esteem. All of us have faced so much in life. Promise me that, for today, you will stay on the diet and do what you are supposed to do. Just for today. Then get up tomorrow and promise yourself to do it again. If that is too long, make the promise morning and afternoon or hour by hour. Just make a promise to yourself and keep it. Even these little successes build on themselves. The way to eat an elephant is to eat it one bite at a time. You lose weight the same way, one minute at a time.
energy is another indicator that you are in the fat-burning zone – isn’t it wonderful to be free from the cravings – your 
trip to Burlger King demonstrates that you are gaining 
control over food and that you no longer allow a bag of fries or a greasy gutbomb to entice you.
