Kind of slacking this week. My birthday was Tues., and this weekend will come into play. (cookout-family get together) Will kick it up a notch for the month of June. Lot's on my mind.

My change of my (54) pounds lose has been pretty amazing. But the largest part of it has been health. I feel so much better than I did 4 months ago. No need for insulin, meds, needles,test strips, lancets, and the cost that comes with them. no more 5 glasses of Alka-Seltzer a night to combat heartburn, I have so much more energy, with less hip/knee/back pain.I was destined for an early exit in life. Just got it in my head to correct the issues, so I could watch my sons, daughter-in-laws and grand-kids grow. I have had many medical issues in the past 25 years. Cancer, many surgeries, extreme loss of blood, Lots of pain. Lots of depression. Lots of worry. I feel a turn-around coming for me.If I lose 12 more pounds, I will no longer be "high risk" for life/health insurance. Meeting the Staff at Slim and Fit, my fellow contestants, and Laura Kessel has also been a great thing for me. Nobody seemed to care if I got myself into the 400 pound range the last 30 years. I am doing this on my own, and for the 1st time in a long time..I am succeeding! Getting good info from all concerned.......and using it.I probably won't win the contest....and that okay.....as I still consider myself a winner just for being at this stage of weight loss, and for meeting many people who care and encourage all of us to get healthy. Thank you Laura Kessel and the News Herald for doing this. Now....Time for a walk!

Scale went haywire, so I am not sure where I am at. Hoping for the best. Good friend still critical, but getting better. Walking and counting calories. Big weekend with the weigh-in, gardening, cookout, just catching up on things around the house. Family get-together next weekend. Birthday Tues. Dieting will be a tough go! Good luck to all. See ya Sat. noon.

Did a lot of walking today in the rain. Buried a dear friend last week, and now another good friend in critical condition in Geneva Hospital. Heart failure.  I am hoping to get to where I was at the last weigh-in to be honest. When depressed, or stressed...I eat. Trying not to, but it's been a tough May for me. Looking for a job. Weather isn't helping matters. Calorie counting has been rough. Hope all are well. See most of you Sat. noon.

I will be lucky to stay the same at next weigh-in. Not concentrating. Turned in my resignation today at my part-time job. Still bothered by the passing of a dear friend. Worried about many things, and my weight loss seems to be on the back burner. I need to get back at it, to get to my goal. Hope all of you are well. Big Jim.

Bad week for me. Hope to just be where I was at last week! Will try harder soon. Hope all are well. Getting sick of bad news. Happy Mother's day to all you mother's out there. Enjoy your family, and friends!

Lost a good friend today to lung cancer. What a great lady. I was blessed just to know her.

Scale isn't moving. I am putting in the effort, as in the past, but the reading is the same. I knew it would be harder the last few legs, but man! Walking a fine line on low-carbs/calories, and having my blood sugar get too low. Probably always will. The past 30 years did a number on my body. My own fault. After last sat. I knew I could reach my goal of less than 300. Now I'm not so sure. Must stay on the path, and bear down. Hope all of you are well, and happy.

Hope all are well. Nice seeing most of you yesterday. Smoking a turkey breast this afternoon...in the rain it looks like. Please remember this contest is based on % of weight lost, not total weight. Like I said before, I hope we all tie for 1st. Even at 5 pounds loss a month, that's 60 pounds by 2012. I still don't feel much different, but when I lift 50 pounds, I realize what I was carrying around. How harder my heart, lungs, and joints were working. With 6 inches of loss around my waist, I am not afraid to go to a game, or concert now. Those seats are not made for a person with a 54" waist. 46"/48" seems to fit much nicer! Not afraid of PVC chairs either! Still have a ways to go though. Again, keep the faith, and good luck to all.