Weighty Matters

I lost another 0.4 pounds, which gets me to 130 even. WOW! I would never have imagined losing 130 pounds, let alone in 68 weeks. The cool thing is that I am within 10 pounds of what I weighed in the spring of my senior year of high school .... granted, I was La Gordita back then, but I'm thrilled. I am happy to be that close, 20 years down the pike. I can't wait for the day when I go below that number. It can't be too long now!

I lost 2.8 additional pounds this week for a total of 129.6 ...... ah! how nice to be back on a downward slope, instead of a terrace. But you know, I need to celebrate the weeks I maintain instead of moping about them. I am happy. I am pleased. I am tired, so I'm signing off for now. More to come later......

I maintained this week ... again. I'm not disappointed but at the same time, I'm praying this doesn't become a trend. A big loss, maintain, a big loss, maintain. I know, I know -- it beats a gain. And I remind myself of that. But at the same time, I don't mind losing 0.8, 1.2, 0.6, 1.0, etc. as long as it's on a downward spiral. The 3.4's and 4.2's are nice, but I know better than to wish for that each week. But I'm hanging in there. I'm hanging for all I'm worth!!

My mother told me last night, "3 pounds. I just have a feeling you will lose 3 pounds this week." I pooh-poohed that notion ..... it's been so unbearably, miserably hot that I haven't been able to walk the dog every day (nor myself for that matter). Now, to be fair, she has said things like that before and been right .... but not this time. Mama was wrong. I lost 4.2 pounds this week!!!!

A friend in Washington State had asked me some questions about my weight loss journey..... and I figured I'd put the Q&A here too! 1. W hat motivated you to start? Seeing a number on a scale I never ever ever dreamed I would ever see. And having my GYN tell me that my weight was a direct influence on my health. I haven't seen that number since May 11, 2006. My first week, I lost 12 pounds which was enough to get me below that threshold. I firmly intend to never get anywhere NEAR that number again. 2. What is a continuing motivator for you to stay on plan? Honestly, it's both the good feeling I have now that I'm shrinking and the dread fear of dying from being obese. I am enjoying watching the changes in my body (even as I cringe at the batwings and muffin top that are now sagging to the floor.) The odd thing is .... I always had this sense that I would die young, in my 50s. When I was in my 20s, I had this strange sense of peace about it; accepted it as a possibilit...

I maintained this week. I am not disappointed at all. It's been crazy..... month-end usually is. It's just one of those times when I have to do a lot of adjustments. You're pushing yourself like mad for about 4 days, and then it's done and whew.... back to normal. I also admit to being less than motivated to walk in the mornings this week. I think it's flippin' RIDICULOUS to have temps of 75 degrees at 5:30 in the morning. I mean, REALLY! But I gotta get back in the swing..... I enjoy the buddy time (though this week, I have needed and enjoyed the extra sleep). And Maddox hasn't complained about it either...... So here's to a better week -- a more productive one, all the way around!

Tonight's weigh-in was very good --- I lost another 3.4 pounds (holy Moses!) for a total of 122.6 ..... this means I am now just OVER the halfway mark to my final goal. Just as I never imagined myself ever reaching that top weight that I did, I also couldn't imagine that I would be at this point, and certainly not this soon. I fully expected things to take much longer -- and who knows? They may yet. But I am just in awe. Speechless. Amazed. Beyond belief. I still have a long way to go..... no time for gloating or celebrating (wholeheartedly) just yet. It's sort of "all downhill" but not really. But what a great trip it's been!

I lost another 0.8 for a total of 119.2 ...... holy Moses! I also e-mailed the folks at the Upstate Race to change me over to the 5K. Several of my friends have convinced me that I can do this. And by golly, I plan to. I have also spoken to one of the GM's at work about sponsoring a team. He is considering it, and is very psyched about us having a team! The salespeople (the ladies, anyway) are on board. I have another coworker on board too. This is going to be great! WE CAN DO THIS! And to all those who are going through a struggle with their own healthy journey, hang in there. It can be done. I promise. I'd like to tell you it gets easier as time goes on, but I have my days too. There are days I want to slack up .... but I look back at how far I've come along, and I find strength to persevere. It's not easy but it is worth it.

Last week was another 1.8 gone, for a total of 118.4 pounds down! Tonight, we went out for dinner at the same restaurant that I mentioned in one of my earlier posts. It's only about 2 blocks or so from home, so my dad and I decided to walk home. I was doing it, however, in 2 inch wedge heels. It didn't bother me at all! I have grown to enjoy the walks -- especially my morning walks with Maddox. We're averaging a 2-mile walk in about 50 minutes. Not exactly the speed I had hoped for, but it will do. And I enjoy the bonding time with Maddox, my buddy! In other news, I DID IT!!!! I just registered online to take part in the Upstate Race for the Cure. It is a very personal thing for me -- I have an aunt who is a 15-year-plus survivor, and I lost a dear friend (Tee) to this awful disease. It's personal now. So I have done it, signed up, and now have to set about raising funds. It is hard to believe the changes I have experienced in 14 months. I am psyched about the changes t...

When something goes right, oh it's likely to lose me Apt to confuse me, because it's such an unusual sight Oh, I can't, can't get used to something so right Something so right...... I lost another 2.4 pounds this week, for a total of 116.6 gone! Something must be going right with walking the dog at the butt-crack of dawn each morning. In the two weeks I've been doing it, I've lost 4.4 pounds. I'm enjoying the morning walks. I still wake up just as groggily as I do any other morning, even the mornings I would go to the Y. I have never been the type to just bounce out of bed, eagerly anticipating the day. I doubt I ever will be. I have to ease into mornings. Right now, though, I don't have much of an alternative. Evenings are still just too hot at 8:00 to walk the dog. It's still in the 80s at that time. At least at 6:00 AM, it's not much more than about 72 degrees. One morning last week, it was a nice cool 65 -- THAT was lovely! Come the fall, the...

It's been crazy here....... long story. Two weeks ago, I had gained a pound back. I was thinking that the roller coaster had begun in earnest -- that things were going to stay like this. They may yet. It was easy to say "No big deal," but it is to me. I hate the up-one-week, down-the-next thing. So last week, I'd lost that pound plus another. I'm now 114.2 down. That makes me happy. But I still wonder if the rollercoaster is going to keep going up, down, up, down..... or if I can get back on a downhill trend. I'm trying to stay positive about this. I *know* I can do this. Just a little pondering.

It was a week here, to say the least. I had a sick doggie (who picked up an e. coli infection somewhere), a flat tire while on my lunch hour one day, and a few other swerves in my lane. God apparently took great pity on me ..... because I LOST 6.8 pounds!!! I am now down 113.2, and FINALLY below a certain number that I haven't been below since probably age 20. And I got a fantastic call today (saved on my voice mail) from a person at WW Corporate, calling to say they'd read my entry in the "Then and Now" contest and how impressed she was. Oh my God. It may not mean I am in the running for one of the grand prizes (because she did mention that they do want me to enter again next year as I get closer to goal). I nearly cried listening to it. I couldn't believe it. And as I mentioned at our meeting tonight, earlier this week, I'd lugged in a 15-pound bag of dog food. I was hefting it and thinking, "Dang this is heavy!!" Then I thought of how many 15-poun...

It was a rare off-week...... I gained 1.2 pounds. It was a crazy week -- very busy, very stressful, very zip-zip. A couple of times of eating at the desk instead of a real meal. So next week, we're back to the gym on a regular schedule. Mealtimes that matter (meaning, really thoughtful eating). And renewed focus.

Another 2.2 pounds gone this week, for a total of 107.6 -- I jokingly said, "Oh no! I'm about to go off the radio dial!" It's been a wonderful ride, and hitting the one-hundred pound mark has made me happy and re-energized. Only a few pounds to go -- and I will be HALFWAY to my eventual goal. HALFWAY!!!!! It will be all downhill from there (so to speak). It seems hard to believe .... when I first started, I never imagined I would be here right now. I'm just amazed. To all my friends who are in the weight-loss process ---- HANG IN THERE! It is so worth it.

I lost 1.0 this week, for a total of 105.4 pounds gone in 54 weeks. I can hardly believe it! Last week was crazy, and this one wasn't much saner. I didn't get to walk Maddox as much, and I can tell what a difference it makes. But the weekend is here, and it's a nice LONG weekend! WAHOO! We're going to spend some time outdoors and doing activities over the next few days. It's going to be great, and I'm really going to enjoy all the wonderful things I can do now -- and not be nearly as winded or tired as I was last year at this time, only about 13 pounds down. (Yeah, "only.") Lots of my online girlfriends are recommitting themselves to weight loss. GO FOR IT!!!!! You *can* do it, and I am behind you 100%!

A three-pound-even loss, for a total of 104.4 pounds gone. I am amazed! I didn't get to hit the gym as much as I wanted; didn't even get to walk Maddox (my dog) as much. It was such a busy week! But I am thrilled. I have certainly learned one big thing: DON'T QUESTION A LOSS!!! :-D The weirdest thing happened at my hairdresser's last night: apparently my hair has started to go curly (okay, compared to its usual stick-straight look). And I asked about it both on my favorite messageboard and at the WW meeting tonight. Yep -- apparently all this healthy eating is having a good impact on my hair. Better nutrients - better hair and skin. Geez, we know this about our pets; why is it so hard to practice on ourselves? Our WW meeting had lots of new folks and visitors from other meetings tonight. I got to meet a visitor, Colleen. I gave her the link to my site, so for Colleen: HANG IN THERE! You've done so well so far -- keep on rockin'! I have a few faithful followers o...

Today is my one-year anniversary on Weight Watchers. A few days ago, my boss told me that our GMs wanted to do something to commemorate my 100-pound loss (now up to 101.4 with 0.2 last week and 0.8 this week). After consulting me, they decided to do a nice healthy breakfast -- bagels (with whole-grain ones for those of us who are health-conscious), a nice fruit bowl, and fruit juices. What they DIDN'T tell me was the nice surprise they had --- a very nice picture frame, with 3 picture slots. In the first, they had my before picture (you've all seen that one). In the 2nd one, they have a picture my coworker took of me yesterday. She's been fabulous in helping me chronicle my journey (see picture below). In the 3rd section, they had a "future" picture -- they'd taken an image of a beach volleyball player and cut out my head and pasted it to it! They told me it's for inspiration! There was also a congratulatory card signed by all my coworkers in house. And ou...

It took some doing tonight, but I have gone over 100 pounds gone!!!!!!! When I got to WW tonight, I stepped on the scale at weigh-in. I was at 99.2 .... the leader and receptionist both said, "Oh no. We're gonna get you to 100 tonight if you have to strip!" And I nearly had to. I went to the RR, and did what I had to there. Then once everyone had weighed in, we moved a folding screen around the scale, and I dropped trou (yeah, I know: seriously TMI). Amazing what a little tinkle and a pair of pants weighs: 1.2 pounds. So I hit 100.4 pounds gone tonight. That's 100 pounds I NEVER EVER EVER want to see again. And I fully intend with every fiber of my being to NEVER EVER EVER let them get near me again. Now keep in mind, I am still nowhere near the end of this journey. Honestly, there is no end, just a change from loss to maintenance. But as far as total goal, I still have quite a bit to go. I'm not quite at the halfway mark for my overall goal. But OH! what a great ...

and little by little, you're there! 1.6 more this past week, for a total of 97.6 pounds. That's 2.4 more to go in 3 weeks to reach a goal of 100 pounds in a year. It's within sight!!!!

Four weeks to go until my one-year anniversary with Weight Watchers. Four pounds even to go to hit 100. (I lost 0.6 tonight to get me to 96.0 even). See the correlation? You best believe I am going to do everything in my power to lose the four pounds in these four weeks. Time to get back to basics (even if I'm not in Luckenbach, Texas). My mantra is 1 YEAR & 100 POUNDS .... I can do this. I can do this. I can do this.