I weighed 188 pounds for years without trying to do much about it. I had gained 50 pounds over the course of many years at a sedentary job, and then the weight gain stalled at 188. Somehow I just came to accept that I would forever weigh 188 pounds.

And maybe I would have... until I got laid off from my job after 16 years. Talk about a shock to the system! I got a new job a few months later, and I decided this was the time to change things up. Suddenly it all seemed totally possible. I committed to more walking and more healthful eating. One year after I started my new job, I weighed 155 pounds. I was 33 pounds lighter than what I thought was my permanent weight!

The idea was to strike out for a final goal zone of 147 to 153 pounds. It seemed totally possible, but then I took another job, which turned out to be more stressful and more time consuming. I gained back 12 pounds, and I was starting to settle into resignation.

That's not acceptable.

So - I am back. I'm eating light and eating right from here on in, going back to my motto last year: "If it's in a package, it's not my snackage!" I WILL return to 155 pounds, and then push onward to the goal zone of 147-153 pounds that I was heading for before I temporarily lost my way.

I can do this. I am already doing it.

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Update: I have done it! I have now hit 154.9 pounds, I'm doing my strength training again, and I ran another 5K. I must never forget how easily that all slipped away from me and how quickly the pounds and the out-of-shapeness returned when I wasn't staying focused.

I've found that the 5:2 approach is working extremely well for me. I lost 12 pounds in three months with very little suffering! Doing two days a week of semi-fasting (500 calories) is easy now that I'm used to it, and the regime seems to have mental clarity benefits too.

All in all... I am feeling pretty spectacular.