I used to smoke 2 packs a day. When under stress, three to three and a half. At the height of my depression, I and my boyfreind would drink about 5 pots of coffee (the 12 cup pot) daily.

Now I don't smoke, though I will cheat. ( I know that it is risky, but I just do sometimes). I usually limit myself to about 16 ounces of coffee per day. My diet still is really bad. I skip too many meals. I surf the net late at night.

I don't drink too much pop at least. Maybe one or two cans a week at most. Though sometimes I will go on a little binge of three or four days in a row.

But I now feel so much better, to realize that I have made these improvements, even though my weigh just creeps up steadily. I remember trying to walk up a sand dune, maybe 20 years ago, when I was only thirty pounds overweight, but smoking. I needed two or three rest stops. And had a cigarette during those. Now although I weigh 260, I think I could walk straight up. Not quickly, but steadily.

I never had a weight problem (at most 30 lbs overweight), until I became severely depressed. So for me weight loss is just a code name for healthy lifestyle.

At this weight, 260, I know that I work so much harder at everything. But I would be pleased just to fit in a size 16, again. Though my "best" size was a twelve. I would not want to be thinner than that.