What a difference a year makes.

JJ said:

To all here who have been so helpful, a continued thank you.
For those still working to their weight loss or other health
related goals, please keep after it. For me it has been
more than worth all the effort, I hope that you can each
have goals that make it worth your effort too.

I am so happy for you. What a wonderful reward for all your hard work.
Congratulations.

Rebecca

JJ said:

I just returned home from my annual father/daughter dance.
This has been a ritual I have looked forward to for many
years, but one where I typically would squeeze myself into a
suit, drag myself to the dance, dance twice with my
daughter, then spend the rest of the night wheezing in the
corner.

That was last year, and every year before it in fact. By
early November of last year I had lost about 30 pounds so
while I was making real weight loss progress I was still
grossly out of shape, and by no means certain I was going to
be successful. This year, I am 100 pounds down, have been
diligent in going to the gym up to 5 days a week every week
since last April, having worked hard on both weights and
cardio.

Tonight, I fit perfectly into my nice new sports jacket and
slacks...and didn't cringe in disgust with myself. Upon
arrival we began dancing as soon as we walked in the door
and continued non-stop until the dance was over two hours
later. (Visualize a gymnasium with 200 8-12 year old girls
going crazy and a bunch of middle aged fathers trying to
keep up to understand how frenetic this all is.) As hard
has I have worked this year I am still surprised that I
never became winded or tired the entire time. Sweated like
there was no tomorrow, but no difficulty whatsoever.

I don't know if any of you will appreciate what this means
but it means the world to me. For too many years I sat on
the sidelines, thoroughly enjoying being out with my
daughter on her special night, but unable to really
participate in a meaningful way.

Any of you who have been here long enough to have read my
early postings with my goals may recognize that being able
to do what I described above, as I described it, was one of
my goals. This felt good. This felt very good. This makes
it worth it.

In two weeks my oldest daughter gets married. I'm looking
forward to dancing with her at her wedding too.

To all here who have been so helpful, a continued thank you.
For those still working to their weight loss or other health
related goals, please keep after it. For me it has been
more than worth all the effort, I hope that you can each
have goals that make it worth your effort too.

Congratulations! I'm so happy for you. I know the feeling of sitting
on the sidelines too well. I'm glad you aren't doing that any more.

Lybbe
Highest Weight - 308
Started Bernstein Diet October 2, 2004 - 243.0
Today's weight - 219.0
Goal - 150

"JJ" <[email hidden]> wrote in message news:Wjgld.80795$HA.40815@attbi_s01...

Quoted message said:

I just returned home from my annual father/daughter dance. I don't know if
any of you will appreciate what this means but it means the world to me.

Aw! Made me cry - what a wonderful story! Congratulations!!

Nicky.

--
HbA1c 10.5/6.4/<6 Weight 95/80/72
1g Metformin, 75ug Thyroxine
T2 DX 05/2004

What a wonderful story, JJ! You made me cry, too! I can relate to how you
feel. I'll bet that your daughter was very proud, too. I'm so happy for
you!

Now, go get ready to 'cut a rug' with your oldest daughter!

;-D

--
Linda
LC since Oct. 13, 2003
296/186.6/160
http://home.att.net/~lewis_linda/index.html
http://community.webshots.com/user/mslewtoo

"Are you telling me there are dead people in my living room watching
videos?"--Nina (Truly, Madly, Deeply)
"JJ" <[email hidden]> wrote in message news:Wjgld.80795$HA.40815@attbi_s01...

Quoted message said:

I just returned home from my annual father/daughter dance.
This has been a ritual I have looked forward to for many
years, but one where I typically would squeeze myself into a
suit, drag myself to the dance, dance twice with my
daughter, then spend the rest of the night wheezing in the
corner.

That was last year, and every year before it in fact. By
early November of last year I had lost about 30 pounds so
while I was making real weight loss progress I was still
grossly out of shape, and by no means certain I was going to
be successful. This year, I am 100 pounds down, have been
diligent in going to the gym up to 5 days a week every week
since last April, having worked hard on both weights and
cardio.

Tonight, I fit perfectly into my nice new sports jacket and
slacks...and didn't cringe in disgust with myself. Upon
arrival we began dancing as soon as we walked in the door
and continued non-stop until the dance was over two hours
later. (Visualize a gymnasium with 200 8-12 year old girls
going crazy and a bunch of middle aged fathers trying to
keep up to understand how frenetic this all is.) As hard
has I have worked this year I am still surprised that I
never became winded or tired the entire time. Sweated like
there was no tomorrow, but no difficulty whatsoever.

I don't know if any of you will appreciate what this means
but it means the world to me. For too many years I sat on
the sidelines, thoroughly enjoying being out with my
daughter on her special night, but unable to really
participate in a meaningful way.

Any of you who have been here long enough to have read my
early postings with my goals may recognize that being able
to do what I described above, as I described it, was one of
my goals. This felt good. This felt very good. This makes
it worth it.

In two weeks my oldest daughter gets married. I'm looking
forward to dancing with her at her wedding too.

To all here who have been so helpful, a continued thank you.
For those still working to their weight loss or other health
related goals, please keep after it. For me it has been
more than worth all the effort, I hope that you can each
have goals that make it worth your effort too.

--
JJ.
275/175/180 - as of November 1, 2004 (adjusted target
weight)
Atkins since Sep 1, 2003
http://f2.pg.photos.yahoo.com/ph/jjsmythe/my_photos
1, 2, 3...98, 99, 100. Done!

Congratulations JJ, I just saw your pics. You look wonderful. You are an
inspiration to us all. Keep up the good work.
"JJ" <[email hidden]> wrote in message news:Wjgld.80795$HA.40815@attbi_s01...

Quoted message said:

I just returned home from my annual father/daughter dance. This has been a
ritual I have looked forward to for many years, but one where I typically
would squeeze myself into a suit, drag myself to the dance, dance twice
with my daughter, then spend the rest of the night wheezing in the corner.

That was last year, and every year before it in fact. By early November
of last year I had lost about 30 pounds so while I was making real weight
loss progress I was still grossly out of shape, and by no means certain I
was going to be successful. This year, I am 100 pounds down, have been
diligent in going to the gym up to 5 days a week every week since last
April, having worked hard on both weights and cardio.

Tonight, I fit perfectly into my nice new sports jacket and slacks...and
didn't cringe in disgust with myself. Upon arrival we began dancing as
soon as we walked in the door and continued non-stop until the dance was
over two hours later. (Visualize a gymnasium with 200 8-12 year old girls
going crazy and a bunch of middle aged fathers trying to keep up to
understand how frenetic this all is.) As hard has I have worked this year
I am still surprised that I never became winded or tired the entire time.
Sweated like there was no tomorrow, but no difficulty whatsoever.

I don't know if any of you will appreciate what this means but it means
the world to me. For too many years I sat on the sidelines, thoroughly
enjoying being out with my daughter on her special night, but unable to
really participate in a meaningful way.

Any of you who have been here long enough to have read my early postings
with my goals may recognize that being able to do what I described above,
as I described it, was one of my goals. This felt good. This felt very
good. This makes it worth it.

In two weeks my oldest daughter gets married. I'm looking forward to
dancing with her at her wedding too.

To all here who have been so helpful, a continued thank you. For those
still working to their weight loss or other health related goals, please
keep after it. For me it has been more than worth all the effort, I hope
that you can each have goals that make it worth your effort too.

--
JJ.
275/175/180 - as of November 1, 2004 (adjusted target weight)
Atkins since Sep 1, 2003
http://f2.pg.photos.yahoo.com/ph/jjsmythe/my_photos
1, 2, 3...98, 99, 100. Done!

You are truly an inspiration. This is the 1st message I read this
morning,,,,,and you know this really inspires and motivates me to keep on
going. I'm so happy for you, and looking foreward to posting a similar
message next year. Thank you for posting. You are helping so many others,
and I bet your family is proud of you.
Take care,

--
Started LC Sept 26/04
189/172.5/125
"Rebecca" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:h2kld.81152$HA.60060@attbi_s01...

Quoted message said:

JJ said:

To all here who have been so helpful, a continued thank you. For those
still working to their weight loss or other health related goals, please
keep after it. For me it has been more than worth all the effort, I hope
that you can each have goals that make it worth your effort too.

I am so happy for you. What a wonderful reward for all your hard work.
Congratulations.

Rebecca

What a great story. Congratulations and continued success. :-)

--
Cheri

JJ wrote in message ...

Quoted message said:

I just returned home from my annual father/daughter dance.
This has been a ritual I have looked forward to for many
years, but one where I typically would squeeze myself into a
suit, drag myself to the dance, dance twice with my
daughter, then spend the rest of the night wheezing in the
corner.

That was last year, and every year before it in fact. By
early November of last year I had lost about 30 pounds so
while I was making real weight loss progress I was still
grossly out of shape, and by no means certain I was going to
be successful. This year, I am 100 pounds down, have been
diligent in going to the gym up to 5 days a week every week
since last April, having worked hard on both weights and
cardio.

Tonight, I fit perfectly into my nice new sports jacket and
slacks...and didn't cringe in disgust with myself. Upon
arrival we began dancing as soon as we walked in the door
and continued non-stop until the dance was over two hours
later. (Visualize a gymnasium with 200 8-12 year old girls
going crazy and a bunch of middle aged fathers trying to
keep up to understand how frenetic this all is.) As hard
has I have worked this year I am still surprised that I
never became winded or tired the entire time. Sweated like
there was no tomorrow, but no difficulty whatsoever.

I don't know if any of you will appreciate what this means
but it means the world to me. For too many years I sat on
the sidelines, thoroughly enjoying being out with my
daughter on her special night, but unable to really
participate in a meaningful way.

Any of you who have been here long enough to have read my
early postings with my goals may recognize that being able
to do what I described above, as I described it, was one of
my goals. This felt good. This felt very good. This makes
it worth it.

In two weeks my oldest daughter gets married. I'm looking
forward to dancing with her at her wedding too.

To all here who have been so helpful, a continued thank you.
For those still working to their weight loss or other health
related goals, please keep after it. For me it has been
more than worth all the effort, I hope that you can each
have goals that make it worth your effort too.

--
JJ.
275/175/180 - as of November 1, 2004 (adjusted target
weight)
Atkins since Sep 1, 2003
http://f2.pg.photos.yahoo.com/ph/jjsmythe/my_photos
1, 2, 3...98, 99, 100. Done!

"JJ" <[email hidden]> wrote in message news:Wjgld.80795$HA.40815@attbi_s01...

Quoted message said:

I just returned home from my annual father/daughter dance. This has been a
ritual I have looked forward to for many years, but one where I typically
would squeeze myself into a suit, drag myself to the dance, dance twice
with my daughter, then spend the rest of the night wheezing in the corner.

That was last year, and every year before it in fact. By early November
of last year I had lost about 30 pounds so while I was making real weight
loss progress I was still grossly out of shape, and by no means certain I
was going to be successful. This year, I am 100 pounds down, have been
diligent in going to the gym up to 5 days a week every week since last
April, having worked hard on both weights and cardio.

Tonight, I fit perfectly into my nice new sports jacket and slacks...and
didn't cringe in disgust with myself. Upon arrival we began dancing as
soon as we walked in the door and continued non-stop until the dance was
over two hours later. (Visualize a gymnasium with 200 8-12 year old girls
going crazy and a bunch of middle aged fathers trying to keep up to
understand how frenetic this all is.) As hard has I have worked this year
I am still surprised that I never became winded or tired the entire time.
Sweated like there was no tomorrow, but no difficulty whatsoever.

I don't know if any of you will appreciate what this means but it means
the world to me. For too many years I sat on the sidelines, thoroughly
enjoying being out with my daughter on her special night, but unable to
really participate in a meaningful way.

Any of you who have been here long enough to have read my early postings
with my goals may recognize that being able to do what I described above,
as I described it, was one of my goals. This felt good. This felt very
good. This makes it worth it.

In two weeks my oldest daughter gets married. I'm looking forward to
dancing with her at her wedding too.

To all here who have been so helpful, a continued thank you. For those
still working to their weight loss or other health related goals, please
keep after it. For me it has been more than worth all the effort, I hope
that you can each have goals that make it worth your effort too.

--
JJ.
275/175/180 - as of November 1, 2004 (adjusted target weight)
Atkins since Sep 1, 2003
http://f2.pg.photos.yahoo.com/ph/jjsmythe/my_photos
1, 2, 3...98, 99, 100. Done!

JJ, my successes have not been as dramatic as yours. I didn't have as much
weight to lose, but the loss has been real and the results have been similar
to yours.

Once you know that you can control your body, you beging to realize that you
can control your world. And when you realize that, your world starts to
become what you want it to be. Congratulations, friend, In all aspects,
keep doing what you know is right!

Jim
217/185/175

ps: Anyone wanna buy some really big second hand pants, cheap?

In article <Wjgld.80795$HA.40815@attbi_s01>, [email hidden] says...

Quoted message said:

Tonight, I fit perfectly into my nice new sports jacket and
slacks...and didn't cringe in disgust with myself. Upon
arrival we began dancing as soon as we walked in the door
and continued non-stop until the dance was over two hours
later. (Visualize a gymnasium with 200 8-12 year old girls
going crazy and a bunch of middle aged fathers trying to
keep up to understand how frenetic this all is.) As hard
has I have worked this year I am still surprised that I
never became winded or tired the entire time. Sweated like
there was no tomorrow, but no difficulty whatsoever.

I don't know if any of you will appreciate what this means
but it means the world to me. For too many years I sat on
the sidelines, thoroughly enjoying being out with my
daughter on her special night, but unable to really
participate in a meaningful way.

JJ, I'm SOOO happy for you! I remember you talking about this before
and about how great it felt for your daughter to hug you and actually be
able to reach around you. Improved health is GREAT -- vanity is pretty
good, too, but precious moments like these are PRICELESS!

--
Saffire
205/147/125 - 5'1.5"
Atkins since 6/14/03
Progress photo: http://photos.yahoo.com/saffire333

Saffire said:

JJ, I'm SOOO happy for you! I remember you talking about
this before
and about how great it felt for your daughter to hug you
and actually
be able to reach around you. Improved health is GREAT --
vanity is
pretty good, too, but precious moments like these are
PRICELESS!

Thank you Saffire. I believe that you have grasped the only
thing in all of this that has really mattered to me which is
basically being here for my children. I love all of my
children dearly, and all of them are special and the
relationship I have with each of them is unique and
invaluable. This youngest is special...in no small part
just because she is my youngest and my last.

BTW, I got one of those really big precious hugs that night
too.

--
JJ.

Jim Bard said:

JJ, my successes have not been as dramatic as yours. I
didn't have
as much weight to lose, but the loss has been real and the
results
have been similar to yours.

Once you know that you can control your body, you beging
to realize
that you can control your world. And when you realize
that, your
world starts to become what you want it to be.
Congratulations,
friend, In all aspects, keep doing what you know is
right!

Jim
217/185/175

ps: Anyone wanna buy some really big second hand pants,
cheap?

Thanks Jim.

I do believe that this is a quality thing, not a quantity
thing. Congratulations on your success.

I remain stunned at the apparent improvements. I never
thought that the overall improvements, in so many aspects,
would be so pronounced.

--
JJ.

Nicky said:

"JJ" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:Wjgld.80795$HA.40815@attbi_s01...

Quoted message said:

I just returned home from my annual father/daughter
dance. I don't
know if any of you will appreciate what this means but it
means the
world to me.

Aw! Made me cry - what a wonderful story!
Congratulations!!

Nicky.

Thank you.

Normally I would say that I never want to make anybody
cry...but in this case I think it was a good thing, no?

--
JJ.

Lady o' the house said:

What a wonderful story, JJ! You made me cry, too! I can
relate to
how you feel. I'll bet that your daughter was very proud,
too. I'm
so happy for you!

Now, go get ready to 'cut a rug' with your oldest
daughter!

;-D

Thanks Linda. All these folks crying...if you're gonna do
that I'm going to quit posting ;-)

Seriously, I share these emotional moments on occasion just
because, for me at least, they have been very powerful
motivators. I hope that at least a few people can read
them, and read into them, their personal motivations.

Normally I would say that there is no magic to all of this,
that hard work and diligence pays off in the long run. And
I believe that this is true so far as weight control and
becoming as healthy as one can be goes. But I was wrong,
there is much magic in this...as evidenced by many magic
moments.

I'm not a tearful guy but I suspect that I will shed a tear
or two at the wedding. I've been sharing both ends of the
spectrum, my oldest working hard to become a mature woman
and applying so many of the lessons I have worked so hard to
teach her over the years. My youngest girl, who is as
unlike any other human being I have ever come across in my
life--I've never known anybody else who has the connection
with animals and nature that this child has and I struggle
to nurture this because it is so different from me. But I
don't know that I've ever shared any stories about my son.
Perhaps I will do that next week.

What does talking about my children have to do with low-carb
dieting and support? Nothing, I suppose. And everything.

--
JJ.

Cheri said:

What a great story. Congratulations and continued success.
:-)

Thank you Cheri, Rebecca, Lybbe, Nicky and Sandy (and please
forgive me if I've left anybody out.)

Please keep up your good efforts, one and all.

--
JJ.
275/175/180 - as of November 1, 2004 (adjusted target
weight)
Atkins since Sep 1, 2003
http://f2.pg.photos.yahoo.com/ph/jjsmythe/my_photos
1, 2, 3...98, 99, 100. Done!

JJ said:

I just returned home from my annual father/daughter dance.

<snip>

Quoted message said:

In two weeks my oldest daughter gets married. I'm looking
forward to dancing with her at her wedding too.

To all here who have been so helpful, a continued thank you.
For those still working to their weight loss or other health
related goals, please keep after it. For me it has been
more than worth all the effort, I hope that you can each
have goals that make it worth your effort too.

You write the nicest posts. Congratulations on your success and the
rewards that go with it. Bet your girls are proud.

April.

--
"Things that try to look like things often do look more like things than
things. Well known fact." Esmerelda Weatherwax. (Pratchett 1988)

What a wonderful post!
Congrats.

JJ said:

I just returned home from my annual father/daughter dance.
This has been a ritual I have looked forward to for many
years, but one where I typically would squeeze myself into a
suit, drag myself to the dance, dance twice with my
daughter, then spend the rest of the night wheezing in the
corner.

That was last year, and every year before it in fact. By
early November of last year I had lost about 30 pounds so
while I was making real weight loss progress I was still
grossly out of shape, and by no means certain I was going to
be successful. This year, I am 100 pounds down, have been
diligent in going to the gym up to 5 days a week every week
since last April, having worked hard on both weights and
cardio.

Tonight, I fit perfectly into my nice new sports jacket and
slacks...and didn't cringe in disgust with myself. Upon
arrival we began dancing as soon as we walked in the door
and continued non-stop until the dance was over two hours
later. (Visualize a gymnasium with 200 8-12 year old girls
going crazy and a bunch of middle aged fathers trying to
keep up to understand how frenetic this all is.) As hard
has I have worked this year I am still surprised that I
never became winded or tired the entire time. Sweated like
there was no tomorrow, but no difficulty whatsoever.

I don't know if any of you will appreciate what this means
but it means the world to me. For too many years I sat on
the sidelines, thoroughly enjoying being out with my
daughter on her special night, but unable to really
participate in a meaningful way.

Any of you who have been here long enough to have read my
early postings with my goals may recognize that being able
to do what I described above, as I described it, was one of
my goals. This felt good. This felt very good. This makes
it worth it.

In two weeks my oldest daughter gets married. I'm looking
forward to dancing with her at her wedding too.

To all here who have been so helpful, a continued thank you.
For those still working to their weight loss or other health
related goals, please keep after it. For me it has been
more than worth all the effort, I hope that you can each
have goals that make it worth your effort too.

----== Posted via Newsfeeds.Com - Unlimited-Uncensored-Secure Usenet News==----
http://www.newsfeeds.com The #1 Newsgroup Service in the World! >100,000 Newsgroups
---= East/West-Coast Server Farms - Total Privacy via Encryption =---

I haven't been around since your early days, JJ, but this post was so
very inspirational. I have a little boy, and one of the reasons I want
to lose the weight is to have the energy and stamina to be a real part
of his life.

Thanks for posting!!

Nicole
(290.5/208/137)

JJ said:

I just returned home from my annual father/daughter dance.
This has been a ritual I have looked forward to for many
years, but one where I typically would squeeze myself into a
suit, drag myself to the dance, dance twice with my
daughter, then spend the rest of the night wheezing in the
corner.

That was last year, and every year before it in fact. By
early November of last year I had lost about 30 pounds so
while I was making real weight loss progress I was still
grossly out of shape, and by no means certain I was going to
be successful. This year, I am 100 pounds down, have been
diligent in going to the gym up to 5 days a week every week
since last April, having worked hard on both weights and
cardio.

Tonight, I fit perfectly into my nice new sports jacket and
slacks...and didn't cringe in disgust with myself. Upon
arrival we began dancing as soon as we walked in the door
and continued non-stop until the dance was over two hours
later. (Visualize a gymnasium with 200 8-12 year old girls
going crazy and a bunch of middle aged fathers trying to
keep up to understand how frenetic this all is.) As hard
has I have worked this year I am still surprised that I
never became winded or tired the entire time. Sweated like
there was no tomorrow, but no difficulty whatsoever.

I don't know if any of you will appreciate what this means
but it means the world to me. For too many years I sat on
the sidelines, thoroughly enjoying being out with my
daughter on her special night, but unable to really
participate in a meaningful way.

Any of you who have been here long enough to have read my
early postings with my goals may recognize that being able
to do what I described above, as I described it, was one of
my goals. This felt good. This felt very good. This makes
it worth it.

In two weeks my oldest daughter gets married. I'm looking
forward to dancing with her at her wedding too.

To all here who have been so helpful, a continued thank you.
For those still working to their weight loss or other health
related goals, please keep after it. For me it has been
more than worth all the effort, I hope that you can each
have goals that make it worth your effort too.

Nicole {Freezing in Wisconsin} said:

I haven't been around since your early days, JJ, but this
post was so
very inspirational. I have a little boy, and one of the
reasons I want
to lose the weight is to have the energy and stamina to be
a real part
of his life.

Thanks for posting!!

Nicole
(290.5/208/137)

Thank you, and you are welcome.

I suspect that your son will have many opportunities to be
very proud of you.

--
JJ.