What does losing weight mean to me?
In a nutshell, losing weight means looking "normal". It means looking more attractive and looking more healthy. Yes, these are all "superficial" things. But that's a big part of it. It also means me not looking at myself in the mirror and being disgusted with my belly and my chin.

What are the rewards?
I will be able to wear nicer clothes, and have more options available in how I dress.

What will gaining or not losing weight mean to me?
It will mean yet another failure. I have a problem with starting things, and not stopping them, so I really really do not want that to happen with this.

What are the consequences if I don’t lose weight?
Consequences include - looking fat in wedding pictures, not being able to feel comfortable in all clothing, and more effort required in doing some fun things like hiking or biking. Also, I'd probably start smoking again.

Do you have an idea of a specific goal weight? If yes, what is it?
I think, rather than weight (at that point, being under 200 is all I really want), I would like to slim down to a 36" waist in pants. That's not too far to go!

Goals
I am setting the following goals for myself for the next four weeks. Let's see if I can stick to them!

1) Work out with weights once a week
2) Ride my bike for at least ten miles three times a week (if I start riding to work, this will be easy)
3) Go on an hour long walk with Scout and Carrie once a week

All of these goals are pretty easy to reach, and should be a lot of fun.