There is a Onederland and I have seen it

Weighed in this morning at 199.8!! Chances are good I will still bounce around it a little, but there is a Onederland and I have been there. I will be making it my permanent residence. This is the first time I have seen it since around 2001. Next stop is to get out of the obese BMI (8 more pounds), then the final push to goal, which is right on the line between normal and overweight BMI. I may or may not stay at that goal weight. I haven't been there since I was around 30, so I am not sure if that is best or not. We'll see.

Psychologically, seeing my weight starting with a "1" instead of a "2" is the biggest victory of all. I was excited to lose half of my weight and I was even more excited to lose 100 lb.(the thread with photos here: http://community.myfitnesspal.com/en/discussion/10128091/100-lb-gone/p1 ), but seeing that "1" is the most satisfying of any of the mini goals. Running a close second will be when my BMI begins with a "2". I started out as "Class III morbid obesity" (BMI at 45 or above) so moving through the levels until I was merely obese, and soon to be only overweight, has also been huge.

Just shy of 18 months and I am feeling better and so much happier with myself. I started out not being able to climb the steps to my second floor apartment without resting (granted, the severe anemia I was diagnosed with contributed to that but my weight also caused a lot of back pain) and can now swim a mile and hike up to seven miles. The main reason I have to stop at seven is because of arthritis in my foot, not my general fitness.

It can be done and I am so thankful to MFP and the friends and teachers I have had on here (yes, even the "mean people")