You all are so wonderful on here with your kudos and hugs.  Thank you for being part of my life!  My last journal was about my goal to loose the weight that I've gained once again (quit smoking, so it was OK as I was doing something so good for my health).  Here's the thing with me that I didn't fully explain.  I have a family with lots of heart disease.  My Dad has had two open heart surgeries; I just lost an aunt and an uncle just in the last year due to heart disease (and unchecked weight).  It's really important for me to loose the extra weight just for my health.   It really has nothing to do with my appearance because I think I'm a pretty good looking gal, and we all know, it's what's inside that counts! That said, I've been many many sizes in my years ranging from size 8 to size 28, and my best weight is size 12-14.   At 5'2", the charts say I should weigh about 20 lbs. less than what works for me.  I just want to get back to where my jeans aren't screaming (in fact, I have a couple pairs that are just too tight so I'd like to get back into those).  It's all good, and I wasn't even sad about buying a size 18 a couple of months ago.  The good thing is that I'm also a seamstress, and the size 18s I bought can easily be brought in with a simple seam down the sides (no double seam there).  I am the queen of altering clothing as I've had to do it so many times.  Heck, when I wore and size 28 skirts, I just never wore pants because I could not get any that would fit!  After being almost 300 lbs., loosing 40 lbs. seems like child's play to me!  I can say that being in control of what I put in my mouth gives me so much more energy.  Pups and I have been logging a mile before brunch, then a few more during the day, even when we are freezing out there.  Luckily, today is warmer though wet so we just trudge though the quagmire...  It's all good.