Wanted to start up the chat here again post board-crash. Occasionally, there's something to say that folks with only 20 lbs to lose may not quite understand, an I can't think of a better place for it.

-=Mike :back:

Thanks for doing this, Mike. The ranks have been rather quiet lately. I guess we are resting up for the new year and the new challenge. Soldiers, march! We are more than conquerors through Christ, our Captain.

Great idea. We have another new member with over 100 pounds to lose. Her name is PS and hopefully she will find us and join in.

Good deal. "It takes guts to be gutless" ;)

-=Mike

Sir, I perceive thou art a seer. Thanks for all the nifty, short one liners I can readily memorize. :)

Glad you find them helpful,Editor. Whatever gets us down the road from the Century Club to the maintainer's hall of fame works for me :)

-=Mike

It is helpful to me, Mike, and I am tired of that forum where we only have one lonely member there. I hope to become number 2.

You'd be number 1 if you were number 2... :)

-=Mike

:aw: , :blush: :mike: and find out that flattery will get you everywhere. :th:

Editor - think "flatter-me" will get you everywhere... ;)

-=Mike

:ah: :weigh:

:im: :lol:
-=Mike

:mike: :cooly:

Reflecting this morning before digging in to work...

Of all of the many flaws Jesus' followers had to overcome, there wasn't a "chubby" disciple among them (though the concept does bring a few images to mind). Come to think of it, I can't recall any reference to overeaters throughout the bible that got any guidance other than "don't."

Anyone see it different?

-=Mike

Jesus taught them that His (their) meat was to do the will of God. One concept they grasped readily, I agree.
I do love this Scripture though that describes my over experience with food fancy.

Deu 32:15 But Jeshurun waxed fat, and kicked: thou art waxen fat, thou art grown thick, thou art covered with fatness; then he forsook God which made him, and lightly esteemed the Rock of his salvation.

Excellent quote, Editor - thank you for sharing. I suppose it all boils down to :focus:

Any other Centurions have a thought on this?

-=Mike

Great topic for discussion. This is related to my reply under the childhood obesity issue in "My Voice". They all WALKED everywhere back then. No cars, busses, plains, or trains. Yes, some rode camels or donkeys, but that still must have burned calories. :) Even then I think they gave the animals rests and walked part of the way. Just their feet in sandals, or maybe just bare feet. Plus, there was Jesus' teachings against gluttony, and probably limited availabillity of higher calory foods. I think it was just a healthier society back then, IMHO.

True, Dave. Frantic-paced lifestyles coupled with fast food to fuel them weren't the norm back then for sure. No TV, video games, or Internet for entertainment either. Good insight... :brill:

-=Mike

OK, troups, time to rally up.

Something to ponder and reply when you get a chance:

What will you do to celebrate WHEN you get to your goal weight? Whole new wardrobe? New hair style? Big vacation?

I'm working to get to goal by next March (3/2008). March 26, 2008 will be Fayrda and my 20th wedding anniversairy. We want to take a vacation, with the boys. Maybe Florida, or a cruise. So, this is further incentive for me to stay on course.

How about you?

Very worthy cause, Dave.

I plan to have pictures taken. When I met goal last time, that is what I did. Dick and I so desperately need pictures as a couple for our photo album.

right now my focus is on getting to mini goal weights and not thinking about the goal weight; so no plans on how to celebrate that but I do have vague plans for steps along the way. the idea of a good holiday is great dave! a cruise would be such fun; or at least in theory it sounds like fun since i've never been on one and a great way to celebrate your anniversary. Editor; you could have new photos of you taken now ........... and then get another set when you get back to goal again

Mike, i know this is late; but i'm glad you've started up the chat here again ...... i really do think there are things that we experience that those needing to lose a smaller amount may not experience. One of the craziest things i heard recently was that someone wished they weighed a lot more than they did so they could go on the biggest loser to lose weight???? so right now they need to lose about 10lbs; so gain 100 to lose that - weird!

Ariela---would you want photos of you taken now? That will be my reward for effort.

Easy one for me - I want to take my kids to Wally World, but I know that I could run into issues getting onto rides with them as I am...

-=Mike

Mike, that is one of my goals as well - to fit on ALL the rides at an amusement park. Close to us is Darien Lake (used to be Six Flags Darien Lake, but was just sold) which has a Superman roller coaster. The first year in operation an obese man fell out, so they put in seat belts in addition to the restraints. I could fit, but it was tight. Then a year later they put in smaller seat belts. All to discourage large people from riding. I have not been able to ride Superman in about two years due to the smaller seatbelts, but I am planning to go to Darien Lake this summer and ride ALL the rides.

BTW, what and where is Wally World? Are you just referring to the park in that movie with Chevy Chase?

Whatever we do to celebrate WHEN we reach our ultimate goal or our mini-goals, it will be great to share with eachother as we travel down this path together. :)

Dave - I am loosely referring to Walt Disney World as Wally World, of National Lampoon fame. Amazing that they would engineer rides to deter anyone - with all of the 'tolerance' that goes on in America, we as a country are amazingly intolerant and insensitive when it comes to folks struggling with obesity.

Ariella - so glad to see you here. Biggest loser indeed brings out the good, bad, and misguided in society. Slim figured/narrow minded folk think that since they don't struggle with maintaining a reasonable size, they'd have no trouble reverting to it "if they were in your shoes." :kickme:

-=Mike

I thought I would share something that my fellow Centurion Soldiers may understand. I realized yesterday that I have LESS THAN 100 pounds to lose now! Yes, only .2 of a pound less, but I am no longer 100 pounds overweight! Just 99.8 pounds overweight! :) :rolleyes: This is a victory, and I praise God for His strength to get here.

I have been praying about and researching weight-loss surgery for several years. About May of last year Fayrda and I had decided that I should offically persue having the surgery. I got all the paperwork together and filled it out, all the needed documents from my primary doctor, and was going to send it to the bariatric surgeion late last year. Something said wait, try the SBD for a while first. Now, I may not qualify for the surgery. I do have the health problems caused by the obesity, but the insurance may not cover the surgery because I am not big enough. Ha ha, that sounds odd, but I am thrilled! I know SBD is working for me and for my family, so I will continue on this path for a while and see how it goes.

:praise: God for His transforming power!!

Oh my! First congratulations on this awesome achievement. I just gave you a standing ovation. :clap:

How curious that God just might block that procedure. When they say God works in mysterious ways, no one is kidding. :lol:

That's awesome, Dave! Keep on keepin' on!

-=Mike

Dave that is so neat; imagine being able to say I'm too thin to qualify! I love it!!!! Having less than 100lbs to go is so wonderful and so encouraging; great job!!! and I'm really encouraged by your success and so glad the SBD has been working so well for you.

Editor; I'd want photos of YOU the way you look just now; I wouldn't want photos of me now LOL but I understand what you mean and will look forward to when you do get those photos taken when you meet your goal weight!!

Mike and Dave, I've never been to an amusement park (and don't have kids to take) but I'd love to one day when I fit in the rides and it would be an enjoyable experience rather than a nightmare. LOL i've heard people calling Walmart Wallys world so I thought you meant that for a second there Mike

:) Dave I'm :cheer: and praying for you! :clap: The Lord is blessing your focus!

:vic: in Christ!

Ariella, I have a photo that my SIL took of me on memorial day last year. That is the latest picture I have and I am at my highest weight. I just posted it yesterday on my health site. As soon as my computer is repaired I will email it to you. That is the last fat picture I will ever have!

Now that's a statement, Editor!

-=Mike

Yep! A statement of fact even.

So...who's buying tickets to the amusement park? Come to think of it, that's what I should do - it would be such a waste to not be able to use the tickets that have been paid for that it would become an inspiration to drop the lbs before they expire. :hm:

-=Mike

I'll tell you--the price--to buy and waste the tickets would be the straw that breaks the camels back. That is a good idea. I won't buy clothese, but that is what I should do. Buy clothes now at goal weight and stare at them longlingly every day. It would kill me to have a wasted investment.

:hm: indeed. :brill: concept. Season tickets for Darien Lake go on sale about now. We used to buy them, but have not for the past 2 years. Maybe we should and consider it an investment in our health.

Great idea, Mike! :) :im:

I have a whole suitcase full of clothes waiting for if (should i say when) i fit in them again - they were old clothes that hardly got worn before they decided to shrink on me LOL .................... yes; those tickets for amusement parks are sure expensive!! it would be fun to go though; once we are all able to ride the rides with ease! Editor, are you back so that you can email that picture?

I did email it to you the day after I said I would. :) Might have gone in your spam because I do have a new email addy now.

ohno, i hope i can find it then - bad yahoo!