So the last couple of weeks have been pretty good, but I’ve been...um...cheating a little here and there.  It finally took its toll this week – no weight loss.  So, back to being more structured and keeping better track of what I am doing and planning ahead!!

 Overall, I am doing super.  I am down 15 lbs since 1/7 and almost all of my measurements are down!

 Bust 47.25      now   45     =  -2.25

Waist 41.5      now   38.75 =  -2.75

Hips 46.5       now   45.25 =  -1.25

R Thigh 27.25 now   26.5   =  -.75

R Calf 19       now   18.5   =  -.5

R Arm 14.75  same

 I’ve been having a struggle with my body though.  My knee is giving me problems and now my back, too.  I can’t really do much cardio because of these...grrrr.   It’s so frustrating!  I finally have everything aligned to get healthy, and my body is giving out on me.  So I saw a knee specialist and I am going to a physical therapist this week to see what I can do to help my knee and back.  I hope to get some good news – or at least some alternatives.

I am still worried about the future.  I talked with my dietician this week and we agreed that I need to stay really structured for a while – that will not be a permanent lifestyle, but it will help me stay disciplined so that, when I start maintenance, I will have had a long period of time being structured so it will be more of a habit.  Don’t know if that makes sense to y’all...but the reasoning is that the longer I keep the habit of being structured, the easier it will be later.  If I break the structure now, I will never get in the habit.  It helps to have people in my household who are also trying to remain healthy...but their goals are different than mine, so it is still a struggle now and then.

Any way, that’s this week’s experiment.  J

In the mean time, just trying to remember to pre plan my food and activities.  If they’re not handy or already on the schedule, I won’t do it!  I have so many excuses I can come up with!!  (if you need an excuse for something, just ask me.  I’m sure I can help you!)  ha ha ha

Just keep keepin’ on for now.  And staying in touch with friends like K and C and F who are also striving toward their goals.

Well, i'm in the middle of week three and, while I have faced a few challenges, I must have done something right.  i'm down 12 lbs since 1/7!!  I am ecstatic!  the restrictive plan i am following has not proven to be as hard as i originally thought.  i am settling into a great pattern.
 
some of the challenges I have faced have included being out and having to order food at less-than-ideal restaurants.  I had three instances in one weekend.  I learned two things from this weekend.  first, always be prepared.  I found some relatively decent protein bars at my gym and am allowed one per day.  i also keep string cheese and jerky on hand.  they are all great portable snacks that you can use in a pinch. 
 
the second thing i learned is be firm with the people around me.  in all three instances, food was at least two hours later than i had planned.  so i was HUNGRY!  when i went out to the restaurants, i made the best choices I could find.  at one restaurant, i ordered a side of broccoli...but missed the fact that it was covered in browned-butter and mizrithra cheese...it was the BEST BROCCOLI I'VE EVER HAD!!!   but i was way over on my fat for the day.  ha ha ha  another lesson learned - find out how it is prepared BEFORE they bring it out.  but it was so goooood...
 
my workouts are going awesome.  i am really in touch w/my progress and have even surprised my trainer- telling her that an exercise is easy when she had already increase the weight without telling me.  i am excited that i'll start to see great results soon.  i have already had to tighten my belt by one loop and am about to move to the next one.  Whoop!
 
i have dealt with some depression issues, too.  i don't know for sure what that is about, still trying to explore that with my counselor.  My friend mentioned that her depression stems from no longer having food as a comforting friend, a trusted "shoulder to cry on", if you will.  i don't know if it is the same for me, but it could be...
 
I am looking forward to the coming weeks.  as I add in more and more foods, it is more exciting, but also more challenging.  i am trying to track my food every day and i don't always get it in
 
but stay tuned!  Kelli and I are kicken' butt and we'll update our pix soon.  hopefully you'll be able to tell some differences!!!  :)