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A few months ago, while talking to a friend about struggles with weight, men, self esteem, femininity, family...you know, the regular things we ladies like to complain about...I came to a realization:
My life is good. I have a remarkably wonderful and supportive family. I have good friends with companionship, loyalty, and generosity in abundance. I have a job that I love dearly and have a deep passion for. I think I am pretty good at it, too. I have a home that is comfortable and filled with the love of my most treasured friend, my Old English Sheepdog. I have a host of "things" that enhance my life...books, movies, a television, art, computers, an ipod, beautiful clothes and shoes. I have food to nourish me, clean water to drink, a place to bathe, and a happy future. Most importantly, I have my health. I am strong, and sturdy, and my blood pumps and my lungs breathe...for now.

The ONLY things I have to worry about are 50 pounds. How lucky am I? The only thing that stands in the way of me living a long, happy life...is me and my choices about food and exercise. There are so many people in this world who do not have the riches that I do. They have far greater things to worry about in life than the size of clothes they will buy next season.

So I've come up with a plan to inspire myself to take charge of my health and weight. In 2007, I will lose these 50 pounds. I will make good food and drink choices. I will exercise. I may not always be perfect, but I will keep going. And...here's the inspiration...I will lose so that others might gain. I will lose to give.

For each of the 50 pounds that I lose, someone else will be given something to make his or her life better. Someone else will be lifted up by my positive changes.

This is where you come in. I am asking YOU, my friends, family, and supporters, to help me give to others. My loss will be your motivation to give and your gifts will be my inspiration to lose.

Here's how it works:

I will ask each of you that would like to participate to sponsor one pound of my weight loss. You will choose from the list of gifts that I will post below. I will keep you updated on my progress. When your pound is lost, you will give the gift that you have chosen. The gift might be to yourself or your family or it might be to an organization or charity. I will only ask you to give an amount that works for YOU. I only want you to give what you have to give.

I will participate in the giving, too. At the end of 2007, I will give an amount for each pound that I have lost to the Susan G. Komen Foundation of Kansas City.

I hope that my changes will not only keep ME living healthy and happy in this world a lot longer, but give others a chance to have the good life, too.



First, click the "Post a comment" link at the bottom of the first entry of this journal. If you do not have a LiveJournal, you can post as anonymous, just PLEASE let me know your first name and where you are from. I'd love it if you would also email me personally at losetogive@gmail.com with your identity and any comments you have that you do not want to leave on the weblog.

Next, let me know which pound (first, fiftieth, fourteenth, etc.) you would like to sponsor. You can also tell me that you will sponsor any pound, or that you would like to sponsor a pound in the first ten, the second ten, the third ten, the fourth ten, or the last ten. I'd really like it if we could get the first 10 pounds sponsored this week so that these gifts can begin as soon as i start losing! If, by some amazing piece of luck and generosity, all 50 pounds are sponsored and people still want to participate, I will put more than one person on a pound.

Last, choose a gift that you would like to give when I lose that pound. Below you will find a list of gifts that would be special to me. You can choose from that list, or you can choose your own! Please make a commitment to following through with your gift when I lose your pound.

Check back to find out my progress and to see when your pound is lost! I will weigh in first thing tomorrow morning and I will update with my progress each Sunday. I might update throughout the week, too, with thoughts and reactions to this process.

The Gift List:
You can give to the following organizations with monetary gifts or by volunteering your time or other resources.

The Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation You can also give to this great organization by signing up to walk in one of the "Race for the Cure" activities.

The Alzheimers Association

The Dream Factory of Greater Kansas City

Notre Dame de Sion School of Kansas City

Girls for Change

Habitat for Humanity

The Rose Brooks Center for Ending the Cycle of Domestic Violence

Kansas City Child Abuse Prevention Association

The United Way

Lose ten pounds of your own to give yourself and the people who love you a stronger, more vital, more capable you.

Organize a food drive in your neighborhood/school/workplace and give to a local food bank or shelter.

Donate books to your local library.

Volunteer at a local soup kitchen.

If you live in Kansas City, volunteer for Christmas in October

Decide on your own gift!


Thank you so much for participating!

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