Looking for Friends - 2 years into my weight loss journey

So here I am a two years later from starting my weight loss campaign. I cant say that I am terribly healthier but I am smarter. Overall I have lost about 40 lbs and kept it off. I think I have joined most of the sites (spark, fitclick, livestrong ect...) over the years. MFP is my home for here on out. I am hoping that reaching out and meeting people gives me that extra reason to log in and stay committed.

Weight history since deciding to take action:
Jan 2010-317
Oct 2010-282
Jan 2011-265
Dec 2011-283 - I started a new job and totally lost focus.
Jan 2012-276 - I have been back on track since mid December.

What I have discovered to be my truths about wieght loss:

Consistent exercise gives me the energy and motivation to keep going. The slope of inactivity is steep and slippery. A week turns into a month with a blink of the eye. Mentally I feel happier and less stressed out at work and home when I am working out 3+ times a week.

Counting calories is a must. Staying focused on only eating foods with nutritional value and being a slave to counting is the only way I make the right food decisions and defeat my cravings. Plan plan plan... If I plan my meals I make my goals. I must remove the choice and impulse from food decisions. Shopping and keeping easy to make foods on hand helps keeps me on track. A 100 calorie snack can keep me from jumping off the deep end. Eating 6 times a day keeps me full and keeps me from derailing into a starving binge.

Weight loss is a mathmatical equation - Calories in vs. calories burned. Nutrition counts. Natural is better than artificial. Good for you food can taste great.

Weight loss is a life style change and daily battle. The tortoise wins the race. Slow and steady weight loss stemming from healthy sustainable behavior is the only way to keep it off.

Not much in life feels as good as buying smaller sized clothes and getting compliments from friends on your hard work of losing weight.

I hope some of my truths help others beginning their journey. 2012 goal - apply what I have learned and stay on track for a full 52 weeks. Loosing 1.5 pounds per week is my goal and weigh less than 200 at the start of 2013.

I am looking for friends that log in daily, are willing to challenge me, are eager to congratulate me and love to cook and share ideas and recipes. Send me a friend invite if you can do this for me and I will do the same for you in return.