As an engineer by training, I find quantitative analysis -- numbers -- an expression of control. Self control, exercise, body function, health and illness... So while I'm fortunate enough not to have to be "Bionic Betty" with a peripheral pancreas, I still refer regularly to six separate instruments, plus additional Web-based resources, to manage my food intake, exercise output, and biometric information.

Weight. Some folk say weighing once a week is enough, but I find that if I don't weigh in every morning, my weight can go off on very health-unfriendly curves. I log my weight both in The Daily Plate and in my personal Excel workbook.

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I went shopping last night for just one new outfit and for the first time in a very long time I tried not to be so hard on myself about the way I look.
 

I’ve been heavy for a long time. I remember my mom helping me try to lose weight when I was in sixth grade. I think I lost 13 lb. and was beside myself with excitement.
 

I can’t ever remember a time when I was happy with the way my body looks. Though when I look back now at pictures of myself in college I realize that I wasn’t as heavy as I thought I was, didn’t look as undesirable as I thought I was.
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This morning in the shower I tried to plan out what I would wear today. Brown capri pants, for sure, I thought. They are comfy and roomy. The shirt I wanted to wear, though, was waded up on a shelf. Seriously, I'm not in high school anymore, why don't I put my clean clothes away?

Anyway. The brown capris felt a little loose and looked pretty baggy as I looked myself over in the mirror. Hmph, I thought. Maybe the black capris would be better; I'm just not feeling this brown thing today.

Same deal with the black capris, but I was running out of time -- and clothing options -- so I went with the black ones. Whatever, I'm a desk jockey so I can live with it.

But the more I moved around the more I realized that my pants were actually too big! Not just a little loose, but like a size or two too big.

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I've been on a bit of a Bond kick lately.

That's Bond as in James Bond, Double-Oh-Seven, licence to kill, and all that rattle. I've been a casual fan since girlhood -- the first post-cartoons drive-in film I remember was You Only Live Twice -- and I've followed, or not followed, the progression of films depending on the actor playing Bond and whether or not I had enough money to go to the cinema.

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Today I started responding to a question left in a comment. 

In the end, I decided this subject deserved its own post.

I have lost somewhere between 40 and 50 pounds over the past year and half.  It depends on the day and the time of day and whether I've worked out - etc, etc...

Anyway, it's been a long, strange trip losing the weight.  And the way I did it is pretty simple.

I stopped trying fad diets and started doing things the one way that I think really works.  I made very basic, but important changes to my lifestyle.  

I count calories and I burn calories.  It's that simple.  I used a calculator I found online to figure out how many calories I should be eating if I wanted to lose weight. 

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Old Navy Bikinis

Spring Break is coming up in three weeks. I'm heading out to the tropics. My wardrobe: swimsuits, shorts, tank tops and short skirts. Of course, I'm thinking about how my body is going to look in a bikini and hip-hugging shorts. I decided I need to lose the extra pounds I put on in the last few weeks (amazing how fast it jumps up without you even noticing). (READ MORE)