What do we get from CK? Of course, our food database, nutrients and calorie contents of hundreds of foods we don't have to search through volumes for. A diary that adds up all our calories and water and steps and nutrients. Articles and info to educate us as we strive not only for weight loss but to learn how to live healthier lives. There's lots here -- that's why we pay our dues, right?

But the one thing of most value to me is the Community. Friends mirror back to me what I've thought and said and that makes me look at it again -- do I really want to do that, think that way, continue that practice? Such as, when I wrote about allowing food treats for attaining weight loss goals, and I was all salivating over my proposed Dairy Queen treat. Tracerfire wrote something to me about sugar creating sugar desire. I thought, oh, I know about that, I can control that for one treat. But I've remembered that and remembered that over the next 3 or 4 pounds I had to lose to get to goal. Now I'm only 1 pound away from that goal, and I'm thinking maybe a charm instead ... where is that darn charm bracelet of my past, I want to drag that out now!

I hang out on the Beck thread. The thread reading the book called The Beck Diet Solution, that is. This book uses cognitive behavior therapy, or rather guides the reader in using CBT, to change our minds, that is, our ways of thinking. We're changing from the thinking that's made us fat to thinking like a "thin person." The discussions on the thread, and the support and encouragement, and the boosting of failing, flagging wills has been like a "real" circle of friends. I put "real" in quote marks since, of course, these friends are real!

I also hang out on the 2009 Lose a Pound a Week Challenge thread. I began 2009 with the expectation that I could lose a pound a week and be 52! pounds lighter on New Year's Day next. I thought this would be a good group to hang with. Need I say that the plan to lose a pound a week has gone astray? But the plan is still in effect, because of these great guys on this thread. We track how much the member has lost that week, his or her current weight, and how many weeks s/he has lost that pound this year! On this thread as well, the encouragement, bolstering, and blessing works to everyone's benefit to keep us moving forward. (Hey, Gang!)

So, my opinion is that Community is maybe the #1 reason to be on CalorieKing!





JOKE: My friend sent me a Shoebox greeting card. I want to copy it and post it, but I'm afraid I'd be busted for copyright infringement. Hopefully, I can tell the joke though:
SAM: You know you are what you eat!
JOE: Yeah, well I need to eat a skinny person!