I once weighed 250 pounds and lost 80 pounds on my own. Then a few years after the weight loss, the man I was to marry died waiting for a heart transplant. I put 40 back on — food has always been a comfort for me. Now I’m at a steady 197–200.

I think the real goal is not so much the number but how we feel about ourselves. For the most part I feel okay about me. Heck, I don’t like my belly or my flappy arms but I do like this saying: I may not be perfect but parts of me are excellent…and parts are.

I hope to read about your successes — not necessarily all weight loss successes. There’s more to us, as you know.