Digital Extra: Alisha's Challenge

Journal staff writer Alisha A. Pina chronicles her weight-loss effort. Alisha A. Pina can be reached by phone at (401) 277-7465 or by e-mail at apina@projo.com

Then and now: A measure of success graphic

I'm getting my life back
EAST PROVIDENCE -- Several days this past year, I was a walking contradiction.

6 months and 34 pounds later, she's gained tons of confidence
EAST PROVIDENCE -- Did you know Old Navy has a T-shirt size extra, extra small? Even if I had gotten to my goal weight of under 200 pounds by July 1, I wouldn't have been able to fit one breast in those T-shirts.

Work pays off, just not on scale
EAST PROVIDENCE -- I didn't lose or gain anything in the last two weeks, but I'm awfully proud of myself given the circumstances.

Work can make you fat . . . sort of
EAST PROVIDENCE -- Going to the gym, paying attention to portions and eating healthy were much easier to do when I was on vacation last week.

When indulging, always think small
EAST PROVIDENCE -- "What diet are you on?" many ask.

Plotting against my plateau weight
EAST PROVIDENCE -- My trainer and I have decided to change my workouts to get out of the weight-loss plateau I've apparently hit.

(Almost) 30 pounds, but who's counting?
EAST PROVIDENCE -- There is nothing wrong with high expectations if they are realistic. Mine are certainly realistic.

And then there are the bad weeks . . .
EAST PROVIDENCE -- Although I tell people to take it one pound at a time, I've been panicking for weeks that I will not make my July 1 goal weight.

Time to lighten up on the dark clothes
EAST PROVIDENCE -- My security blanket when I was a youngster was yellow. I carried, or mostly dragged, it around with me everywhere and didn't feel safe without it. My sister, who often hid it from me, referred to me as "Little Linus."

A team to count on
EAST PROVIDENCE -- My boyfriend, "Dorito boy," was staring at me with an affectionate smile early Friday morning.

When your body says rest, it's time to listen
EAST PROVIDENCE -- My food log these days reads: 7 a.m. tea with lemon and a pack of oatmeal; 9 a.m. water and two Advil cold and sinus pills; noon water, aspirin and sugar-free applesauce; 3 p.m. Lipton noodle soup and water; 6 p.m. more soup; 9...

Water can tip scale out of your favor
It's common knowledge that people get dressed and undressed in locker rooms, yet when I saw two women, NOT ONE, strip to their birthday suits the other day to accurately weigh themselves on the scale, I was, like, "Whoa."

Big can be beautiful; it just isn't healthy
It was easy to play the role of strong black woman during my college years. My facade was a confident girl who promoted big can be beautiful and wore shirts that showed more cleavage.

Alisha's Challenge: Hindered by my frog-eyed kneecaps
My physical therapist and my trainer disagree on what is best for my injured knee and weight-loss plan. It's been so frustrating that I've found myself lying to one just so we can stay focused on my workout.

'You'll have to get me a smaller size'
I have a backside now. Before, my rump shaker seemed inverted and as flat as an ironing board.

A little humor saves the day
Quitting entered my mind for the first time Wednesday.

Knee injury adds another hurdle to conquer on road to weight loss
Dr. Phil says "whatever the situation, you can choose your reaction."

Unfortunately, living together doesn't mean dieting together
Living with a skinny person while trying to lose weight isn't fun or easy.

It's a different world when you're overweight
When the seat belt in my car wouldn't extend any further and click in to the buckle one day this week, the tears flowed. I thought I was too fat for the belt.

Many hidden dangers lurk on road to diet success
If you're trying to lose weight, you can get reprimanded for eating a salad.

The first week: Excruciating
"Fat No More in 2004" is my mantra as I attempt, yet again, to tip the scale in favor of health.