Caution: Rant Ahead

To the girl at the track last night who thought it was ok to bring her dog, shut the gate and let it loose while I was running,

This is a middle school track.  It is not a dog park, nor is it a play pen for your oversized baby.  There are people here who are serious about their health, who are being seriously disturbed by your badly behaved dog. It's not the dog's fault that it wants to play.  It's just being a dog. Barking, chasing, and darting around runners' feet, some who are very unsteady, sluggish, or clumsy to begin with, is not the dog's fault.  It's yours, for allowing the dog's behavior to continue; for not immediately releashing your dog when you saw that it was causing problems.  For some of these runners and walkers, it has taken every single thing they have to get out there and make that workout count, and the amount of angst and discouragement they feel at this unwelcome interruption may just be enough to completely derail their efforts and cause them not to come back at all.

But you don't care.  You're too busy doing your own thing on the far side of the track to notice.

This is not exclusively your track.  You do not have the right to commandeer it for your own personal use, simply because you want to do a two-fer and get your lunges in while walking your dog.  You do not have the right to close the big, rolling, rusted gate that will not freely open, thereby denying egress to others just because you want your dog to be able to run free while you swing your arms.  It's not safe to anyone to be caught behind a fence with no easy way out....what if your dog should cause an unsteady runner to trip on the asphalt and get severe road rash, sprain or strain something, or worse, break a bone? 

But you don't care.  You're too busy checking the fit of your shorts.

This is a track that is used by children.  Children who, because of the nature of football, soccer, track and field events, or simple physical fitness, are constantly falling in, dropping down on, or rolling around in the grass on the infield....where your dog may or may not have been peeing while you ran the bleachers.  Or worse.

But you don't care.  You're not the one who will have to go home in disgrace after being ridiculed by the whole class for having dog shit smeared all over them.

This is a track that has been graciously left open for public use. How long do you think that will last, if people start complaining about you bringing your dog?  Probably not long.  People who are not so far along on their journey to better health depend on the security and privacy of being able to work out in a safe place away from public scrutiny.  To them, this place is their sanctuary....a place where they can be alone with their selves for a little while to concentrate on the one person they most often neglect.

But you don't care.  To you, it's just a stupid track.  There are plenty of other places.

But sister, you need to understand that it's MY track as much as it is yours.  I know you saw how furious I was when I left, and I hope you realize how lucky you were that I chose to leave instead of confronting you in anger.  Your actions may have run me off last night, but you will not run me off again, I assure you.  And next time,  IF there is a next time, I'll be making a phone call to animal control.  Maybe if you have to pay a healthy fine to get your precious back, you'll think twice about how your actions affect other people.

Maybe.  But I doubt it.

Sincerely,

Older, More Experienced, and Much, Much Wiser

Birthday Weekend Wrap-Up

We had an awesome time in Chattanooga! Ok...let me back up a bit...

I left work two hours early on Friday afternoon so that I could get my Friday run in.  I ran slow (hah!) and easy, and had no trouble with my knee, thank goodness, so I was able to complete the run and do well.  Just knowing that I stayed on track with that gave me a tremendous boost going into the weekend.  Friday night, we met Keith's brother and sister-in-law in Chattanooga, and had a few drinks in the hotel bar while we caught up.  Since I had done well all day on plan (and hydrated WELL), I had the calories to spare, and I ordered a cup of gumbo for dinner and stayed with straight liquor on the rocks instead of a mixed drink...much fewer calories!  So, Friday was a definite success, all around.

Saturday was a very busy day for us all.  We started with a late buffet breakfast in the hotel (veggie omelet and some melon for me), followed by a tour of the Chattanooga Whiskey distillery (including a flight...yes, flight...of whiskey), a quick peek inside the Chattanooga Choo-Choo Hotel, which is undergoing renovation, a delightful lunch (salmon and veggies) at the Terminal Restaurant (and another whiskey while we waited), a tour of the National Towing and Recovery Museum (not nearly as boring as it sounds), a tour of the DeBarge Winery distillery (with a flight of wine samples, natch), and finishing up with a wonderful dinner (and another whiskey) at the Blue Water Grill ( more salmon and veggies...yumm!! But this time, a few bites of shared dessert at the end). Even with the alcohol consumption, and the dessert at the end, I only went over my daily calorie allotment marginally, so I consider that a huge success. We played a quick game of cards before bed, and turned in at a reasonable hour with plans to meet up for breakfast at 9am the next morning.

My original plan, as I had stated Friday, was to get up early and run before everyone else was up.  I had already done my recon work and found that the Chattanoogan Hotel where we stayed (beautiful facility, btw...highly recommend!) did indeed have a quite nice workout room (and spa, and pool...and I digress) complete with treadmills, so I felt like I was all set.  I got up, and immediately started searching my purse for the Clif Bar I had brought for just this occasion...to no avail.  Even after turning my purse literally inside out, I could not find it.  And I knew better than to try to run that early in the morning with no fuel, so I crawled back in the bed with my hubby, grumbling to myself, and resolving to run that afternoon or die trying so as not to break my so-far-perfect record.

We had a wonderful, leisurly breakfast at the Tupelo Honey Cafe (salmon and asparagus omelet for me( and about half a biscuit...serious no-no, but oh, so wonderful!) before saying goodbye to our cohorts and heading back to the Tri-Cities.  The weather all weekend was wonderful...overcast and cool, but not raining as had been predicted.  We couldn't have asked for more!

We stopped just before we got back into town, and I grabbed a grilled chicken sandwich before dropping off Keith and heading toward the track.  I had made sure to stay hydrated as well as possible all weekend, especially since I knew there would be alcohol involved, and I was very glad when I got to the track.  I felt good, my knee was pretty solid, and I ran steady to the end, averaging a 15:21 pace over 3.31 miles.  I was very happy with that, and again, I stayed well within my calories all day.

I'm back solidly on track this morning, and it feels really good.  Although I feel like I made great choices all weekend (with my food, at least, lol), I can tell the difference in my body, and I'm ready to feel 'clean' again....meaning the way I feel when I'm eating as clean as I usually do.  My body is thanking me already, and I've only had breakfast so far.

It's really nice to get away for a weekend here and there.  It's nice to know that I can have a great time right along with everyone else, and not go overboard.  There will always be situations like this going forward, and I don't ever want to feel like I'm the 'odd man out', because I 'have to be good'.  Rather, as long as my head's in the right place, and I approach the trip with a plan and some common sense, there is no reason why I can't reasonably enjoy myself right along with everyone else.  Did I stay perfectly on plan this weekend?  Decidedly not.  Did I make the best, healthiest choices I could under the circumstances?  Aside from a couple of bites of dessert and half a biscuit, I'd say yes, I did.  And a few drinks and/or a few bites of something off plan once every few months is not going to make or break my routine or my results.  It's when that becomes a daily occurrence that it becomes an issue. 

As long as I continue to work this plan, this plan is going to continue to work for me; of that, I have no doubt.  The important thing is that I keep working it....every single day.

Weekly Weigh-In

It's Friday....time to step on the scale, and I was not disappointed this morning. So far on this journey, I have not had a week yet that I haven't lost something, even if it was only a half of a pound.  This morning was no exception...237. I am down another 1.8 pounds, for a total loss of 44 pounds so far, and I am very happy with that.

This weekend is going to be full of challenges, starting today.  I am scheduled to run this afternoon, and although I'm looking forward to it, I'm also wary.  My knee is not 100%, and I'd be lying if I said I wasn't worried about it.  So, the plan is to run, but to run tentatively, to not give it my all, and feel it as I go.  If I feel twinges or pain, I will stop.  It will not be a great pace, but at least I will get the run in and not fall behind in my training.  The last thing I want to do is to have to stop at this stage of the game, just when I'm really making great progress.

After my run, Keith and I are hitting the road.  His birthday is on Monday, so I'm kidnapping him this weekend for a fun time with his brother and sister-in-law in Chattanooga.  Can't wait to see his face when we get there!  He has no idea that they are involved at all...only that he has to pack, lol.

Because this is a celebration weekend, I am not planning to take any food with me. Although we've traveled before, I've always packed my food, so this will be the first time I will be relying on my common sense to get me through the next two days.  I think I will do fine, not worried at all.  My next run will be Sunday, and it is scheduled to be my long run.  I tanked last Saturday, so...knee willing...I'm hoping to go into this one much better prepared.  If there is a treadmill at the hotel, then my plan is to get up early Sunday morning and run before the others get going, but my alternate plan is to run after I get home Sunday evening.  That is a poor choice, because I have no idea how late we'll be getting home, but at least I do have a backup plan.  I do NOT want to skip my runs unless my knee absolutely demands it.  They have become way too important to me.

So...that's my plan, and I'm sure there will be rich food and delightful drink set before me all weekend.  But knowing that I have already planned my steps in advance makes me feel so strong and prepared that I believe I will do well...and I know that we will have an awesome time!

Intervals!

I was super-happy with the results of my run on Monday.  At this stage of the game, a sub-15 is like the holy grail to me.  What I have loved with this Runkeeper plan that I never actually saw with the Couch to 5K plan (although I don't actually know why) is the staggeringly consistent improvement I'm seeing with every run.  Maybe it's the plan...maybe it's just me.  I dunno.  But I am incredibly impressed and motivated every time I see the results of my runs.

Last night, I started off feeling so good.  My body felt solid, and other than drinking a little too much water before I got started (if you know what I mean), I knew that I was in for a good run.  I started off really strong, but somewhere in the third interval, I came down funny on my right leg and felt my knee seize up.  That is never a good sign, so I eased back a bit after that, which you can see reflected in my split times.

 

10:10?? Are you freaking kidding me??

I've had my moments in the past...no doubt.  But I don't think I've ever been able to sustain speeds like I saw last night for as long as I did.  Even after my knee seized up, I was still seeing 11's, and that just amazes me beyond belief!  Yes....it was only for a minute each time.  But a minute can seem like an eternity when you're 70 pounds overweight.

Now....my knee.  The ligaments in the back of my knee had already been feeling extra tight this week.  I've been doing stretches before and after each run, but whenever I start running, there are usually areas (hip and groin issues spring to mind) that have to....shall we say, adapt..?...to the new norm.  I thought this was probably the same, but when I went all out last night, my knee just kind of folded under the added stress, I think.  Anyway, I can walk on it just fine, as long as I don't try to move too quickly or sharply.  What this means for my running in the short term remains to be seen, though....hopefully, I'll be feeling solid enough to run tomorrow night.

Monday --> RUNday :)

Lord, I've forgotten just how much I love running. There is something about leaving all the stresses of the world behind you and just zoning in to the rhythm of your feet pounding the pavement.  Nothing like it, I swear.  Doesn't matter how fast you are...it matters that you're clearing the cobwebs and going home refreshed.

Yes, refreshed. Not in body, maybe...but most definitely in mind, which is just as important, if not more so.

Last night was in a word...awesome.  Seriously.  I know I am in severe danger of overusing that word, but there is no other description that fits.  The weather was overcast, threatening rain. The wind was refreshing, the temperature cool.  The stars were aligned.  And after a little over a week, I had a sub 15:00 run.

My legs felt good, not rubbery like on Saturday.  My strength was not sapped from heat or lack of fuel.  My body was hydrated well.  And I ran strong.

I am so stinkin' proud of myself.  And I can not wait until tomorrow.  On the agenda: intervals!

The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly

This weekend was full of ups and downs.  Friday night, fresh off a 2 pound loss that morning, I had my first binge since I've started this journey.  It wasn't a big one...I had bought a can of cashews on the way home, because I was starving.  Of an 8.5 ounce can, I (cautiously and responsibly) ate about 2 ounces, put it away, and logged it.  That was good, and I was proud of myself.  After we ate dinner, I logged that, and realized that the nuts had pushed me to my calorie limit for the day with just a dozen or so to spare....and I was relieved, but it was a big wakeup call for me to see how close I had come. 

• Who knows if one extra would push me over the limit? 
• Who knows that I ate exactly two ounces to begin with? 
• What if I was already unknowingly over the limit? 

Oh, gawd...deliver me from over-analyzation.  The more I sat there and thought about it, the more that damned cashew can called my name until nothing would do other than to go shut it up.  So I did.  I went and got it, thinking 'just a few more'.  That was the bad.  I am firmly convinced that the road to Hell is not paved with good intentions, it's paved with justification. 

One cashew at a time, I sat there with that can in front of the tv, and I munched until there was only about half an ounce left.  With every cashew, the guilt mounted, but it wasn't enough to stop me.  That was the ugly....and it is what has stayed with me all weekend.  Why?  Why, after finally hitting such an amazing goal that morning was I driven to self-destruct mode? Looking back, I can see that pattern repeating itself time and time again over the years, and I really want to find out the answer to that more than any other single thing. I'm hoping that this time, I will.

I think that little black cloud stuck with me for most of the rest of my weekend.  Saturday was beautiful, and I got up, made a great breakfast, enjoyed it with my coffee, got dressed and headed into town for my long run.  I was pretty stoked about it, but I had to make a stop before I ran that took longer than I wanted to take, and consequently, my tank was pretty empty going into that run.  I should have eaten. I should have run earlier.  I would have done much better with my run if I hadn't battled heat, exhaustion, and guilt from the night before.  The only thing I did right was to hydrate, and that, at least I did well.

It was not enough to get me through the run, though.  I tanked out about 3/4 of the way through and did a lot of walking toward the end, cursing myself the whole way.  If I hadn't eaten those damned cashews, I wouldn't be feeling so sluggish right now.  If I'd packed a snack to eat before my run, I wouldn't be feeling sick with no energy right now. If I'd gotten an earlier start, I wouldn't have needed to pack a snack, because my breakfast was proper fuel...it just didn't last long enough.  And I'd have had a much cooler run.

But no....I do things the hard way by nature.  At least I stuck to it and completed the workout.  That is some consolation.

I was so wiped out that I took a two hour nap when I got home.  Sunday, it poured all day, so I was very happy that my scheduled run had been on the prettier of the two days this weekend.  So far, I've managed to avoid any runs in the rain, but I know they're coming.  It's only a matter of time.  I cleaned house for two hours, which counted for good cardio time, so I ended the weekend on a positive note, and ate well both days.

This week, I intend to stay strictly on point with my food, to the best of my ability.  I intend to stay well-hydrated, and I will be running late enough in the day to avoid the heat.  My challenge will come with my Friday run.  We're supposed to be going out of town as soon as I leave work, so I'm not sure at the moment how I'm going to get that run in.  And Sunday, I will need to figure something out, as well, because that will be the day we travel home.  I'm not as worried about Sunday...I will have more leeway on that day than I will on Friday.

This is a life challenge.  These things will always come up, and if I'm really making this a life change like I keep telling myself, then I'd better find a way to make it work. And I'd better find a way to forgive myself when I screw up and move on to the next day, because every day is a fresh, new start.

At Last...Progress!

I feel like it took me MONTHS to get out of the 240's, but realistically, it only took me six weeks (hah!).  I'm hoping that is what a plateau looks like to me....movement, but excruciatingly slow.  I have yet to have a week with no loss, thank God.  But I'm really happy to report that I AM now officially out of that damned decade and on to greater things.  I lost two pounds this week for a total of 42 lost, and am now at 238.8.  Hopefully, this decade will only take me a couple of weeks to dust and I'll be rockin' the 220's before I know it!

I was so antsy all day yesterday, leading up to my run last night.  I'm really loving that I'm so looking forward to my runs again. They don't feel like a chore any more, more like a treat that I have to wait for.  I contribute a lot of this to the fact that I'm having to wait a day between each run, which has me chomping at the bit to get out there...a very good thing at this point in the program.

Last night, the run felt very heavy to me.  I made sure to eat good before going out, but I'm not sure that I hydrated well enough early enough in the day to do me any good on the track.  I always run with a water bottle, a habit I will probably need to think about breaking at some point (way down the road), but I really need to be hydrated before I step on the track to keep my energy level up.  Still, I battled through it and did really well, I think.  I shaved a couple of minutes off my Sunday run, which was basically the same run.  Although a 15:31 pace is still turtle-worthy, it's pretty good for ME, starting out again, and I'm happy with it.

I'm already drumming my fingers, waiting for tomorrow. I'm gonna get out there early.

Tuesday Runs

I had a blast last night.

Before, when I was running, I ran every day except for Sunday.  I never had a training program, I just ran. At first, I couldn't even make it a quarter of the way around the track.  But then I learned how to pace myself, and found that the endurance became easier and easier, and I could run for longer and longer distances.  My standard short run became a three-miler.  I would usually run that on Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday. Thursday, I would up it by a mile, and then another on Friday, with a long run (six miles) on Saturday. Sunday was my rest day. That became my norm....to just plod the designated amount of miles every day, happy that I could go the distance, but wishing I wasn't such a turtle about it.

No wonder I never built up any speed.

This time, I'm trying to train smarter.  This time, I'm using a training schedule that incorporates interval training, fartleks, and tempo runs to help accustom my body to running at faster paces, longer.  And this time, it's working.

Last night, I ran intervals.  And I felt wicked good doing them.  Not only did I run faster, but I shaved a minute and a half off my Sunday run time.  As a matter of fact, I felt so good, I didn't want to stop when the run was over, so I queued up another workout and walked another mile after the run.  And this morning, I'm not sore at all....unlike Sunday.  So my body must be improving.

It's a good thing I was able to run last night, because today, it's going to be pouring all day. It rained yesterday too, but it was my run day, and I wasn't going to give it up, even if it meant running soaking wet.  Fortunately, I didn't have to....the rain had stopped by the time I left work, and held off long enough for me to get my workouts done and get home before the bottom fell out again.  I considered that a major victory.

Today is a rest day for me. I'd like to have gotten a walk in, but whether I do or don't, the endorphins from last night will be enough to carry me through until tomorrow...my next run day.

I can't wait.

Another Milestone

I'm celebrating today!  It's the 100th day I've been on this journey, and I'm still going strong. The last 100 days have been really good, all things considered.  I can't even say I've had any bad days, so far.  I've had a couple that I've been a bit...shall we say, uneasy about, days that I know I could have done better.  But I'm proud to say that I've had no binges, I've done well with my water about 99% of the time, and true to my plan, I have gotten back on the track, and loving it.

If I had to say, I would have liked to have been more active over the past 100 days.  But given the weather conditions over the winter and my abominable overtime issues, I think I've done pretty well, all things considered.  I'm very much looking forward to running more (this afternoon, in fact...although it's raining like crazy right now, and set to do so the rest of the day).  Running for me only fuels my mental fire. It doesn't hurt that it does crazy good things for my body as well, but my biggest weight loss issues have always been mental, and probably always will be. Still, I've turned a corner now.  I can tell, because I'm obsessing about the track again.  I am impatient to get back on it, even though I know how grueling it will be while I'm doing it.  I think about it all day long, and I got really irritable yesterday when I left work, it was perfect weather to run...and I realized it was my 'off' day.

Grrr.

I know I'm going to get wet this afternoon. I do not care. I'm going to run in the rain, I'm going to laugh while I'm doing it, and I'm going to celebrate 100 days of healthy living!

Spring has Sprung!

Wow! What a glorious weekend!  The weather was perfect, including the temps, and my whole body just screamed to get out and enjoy it.  I spent two hours Saturday morning cleaning house, which counted for my cardio that day.  Then I met my friend Tracy to do some car shopping before heading to my in-laws' for dinner.  We got home just after dark to a clean house. I jumped in the shower before heading to bed....what is it about a clean body in freshly washed sheets that feels so exotic, I wonder?

Anyway, since I had gotten so much done on Saturday, I had looked forward to a lazy Sunday, just chilling all day. But Tracy had the Spring Bug and wanted to get out again, so I agreed to ride into town to cut her hair for her.  And since I was going into town anyway...

I had already signed up for a 5K training class on my runkeeper app. I've never really used it before, always preferred endomondo, but since I found that course, I decided to sign up and give it a try.  It just happened to start on Sunday, so I got to the track and booted both apps for comparison.  Definitely liked the runkeeper better....it called out time and pace every five minutes. It also syncs with myfitnesspal, and facebook too, and I was able to complete the first day of my training. 

This course has you running every other day for 8 weeks, and I found out this morning that if I stay on track, I will complete it exactly one week before the Covered Bridge 5k....perfect!  So...that is my goal.  I've already printed out the registration form and have it hanging over my desk at work to keep me motivated.

After my run (a mile and a half solid, by the way, with a warm-up and cool down lap, for a total of two miles done. :) ), I headed to the grocery store to stock up for the week, grabbed us some dinner (a burger for Keith, a salad for me) and some gas, and headed home, feeling extremely accomplished.

Yes, I may have gotten to bed a little later than I should have, and I did lose another hour of sleep around 2:00 in the morning when the coyotes decided to visit...but I still woke up feeling great (besides a little soreness in my quads), and full of energy. 

Today is a rest day. I will be working late all this week, so I will probably try to work an extra hour tonight to free up time tomorrow night, and I should still have enough time when I get home to do my day one workout, which is really short.  That's my plan, anyway.

Man, I wish every weekend could feel like this one did.

Processing...please wait...

I'm not going to lie. I'm having a very hard time processing my weigh-in results this morning.  I had tried to convince myself that I would be happy maintaining this week, after our trip.  I even said so in my last blog entry.  But I didn't maintain, I actually lost a pound.  After non-plan food.  After no exercise.  After LOTS of eating out. 

AFTER ALCOHOL.

I lost a pound.  And I almost feel like crying.

It's stupid....it's so stupid to feel that way after such a victory, but I just can't seem to help it.  (Yes, yes, I know all feelings are valid, and it's unreasonable to call them 'stupid'.  But above all things on this blog, I'm trying to be honest with myself, and if all feelings are valid, then the fact that I feel that it's stupid to feel that way must be valid, too.  Just go with it.) 

I have been thinking about it all morning, trying to reason it out, trying to understand this feeling: 

• Am I discouraged?  No....not really.  I have no deadline on this weight loss, no 'goal date' I want to lose it by.  There is a reason for that...this is a lifestyle change for me, a learning process to better manage my health for the rest of my life, and as such, I can't even begin to think of an 'end game', because for me, there will never be one. I will always have to carefully watch and manage my intake and activity, from now on.  So...the action of losing weight for me is a by-product of that lifestyle change, not the actual goal. My goal is health and long life. But my weight loss IS a measurement of my progress toward that goal, and I view it as such.
• Am I angry?  No, definitely not.  I am actually very pleased that I was able to get any weight off this week, and even at a 'measly' pound, all forward motion counts. It is still measurable progress toward my goal of good health.
• Am I sad?  Nope. Not in the least. I'm happy to have been able to see that graph go down another notch.  Regardless of how deep it went, it's better than flatlining, any day.

No....I think it's just frustration.

• After five weeks and counting, I'm still in the 240's.  I'm sick of getting on the scale and seeing that number four in the tens' place. I've been ready to see a three there for the past three weeks, and I'm STILL a pound away.
• I am a pound away from hitting the next goal on my list.
• I am 9.8 pounds away from the 50-pounds-lost mark, which I REALLY wanted to hit before we go to Chattanooga in two weeks to celebrate Keith's birthday.

Here's the thing; frustration never killed anyone. It's just made them miserable.  And I have to decide today whether I want to stay miserable, or if I want to get the hell over it and move on.  Today is a new day, and it's the start of a new week.  I can either wallow in self-pity, or I can get off my butt and make this week count.

• I can eat clean, and stay on point this week.
• After a two month stall due to the weather and my crazy schedule, I can finally, finally get MOVING again.
• I can keep a positive attitude.
• I can make each day the best it can possibly be.
• I can remove every reason for failure that is possible to remove, so that when I get on that scale next Friday, I will have killed that weigh-in.  And the momentum will be enough to carry me through the week after.

In other words, I can have faith in myself, and patience, and I can ROCK this!

Weekend Recap

The weekend was, in a word, AWESOME.  I mean from start to finish, it was awesome.  We took our time going down to Atlanta on Thursday, and although we ate out most of the day, I ate responsibly.  Thursday afternoon and Friday were work days for us, and although I stayed extremely conscious of what I ate, I actually wound up eating very little of what I had taken with me. I didn't need to. It's a fortunate thing that my sister-in-law is very health-conscious of what she feeds her family, and makes much from scratch.  So I was able to eat very well and still stay within my boundaries.

I did have a shot of spiced rum after dinner.  And it was yummy.  And I did count every drop of those empty calories.  And I did still stay within my limit. Yay!

Saturday was party day.  A delicious, all-natural, organic meal at an amazing event put on by my sister for my mother's 80th birthday.  A great time with family and friends, followed by an amazing hen party at my mom's (where I forewent the pizza and opted for a couple of slices of ham, instead), and an evening out with Keith and our daughter, Jessica.  We went bar-hopping, something neither Keith or myself has done in YEARS (or really wanted to now, lol), and I am proud to say that I had three shots, all within my limits.

Sunday was part church, part rest, part work, and part fellowshipping with family.  We had a great time, and it was the perfect way to wrap up the weekend before our trip home on Monday.  We took our time coming back, and again...although every meal was eaten on the road, I was very careful of the content and stayed within my limits.

I'm very proud of myself, and consider it a victory if I only maintained this week.  I don't believe that I did, though...I already feel as though I've lost a bit, which will be amazing if it turns out to be true.  I did my best, even with the alcohol, to stay on track and drink all my water or more, so I'm happy no matter what the outcome.  I could not have had a better time, so if I can come out of it with a maintenance weigh-in, I will have proved to myself that I can do this for the long haul, and do it beautifully.

Weekend Challenge

Well....I made one goal, but came just shy of another one. Still very happy, and only slightly disappointed that I didn't make it. I'm down another 2 pounds this morning, which puts me at 241.8...a total of 39.2 pounds lost.  This is awesome, no doubt...especially given that I had to weigh one day early this week. We're going out of town this weekend, headed to Atlanta as I type. It's a business trip with a lot of pleasure thrown in, and I expect to see a lot of family that hasn't seen me since the second week after I started.

I had really wanted to go down and be able to say that I'd lost 40 pounds so far, but dangit, I'm .8 shy of being able to say that. It was the goal I didn't meet. I came close, though! I am at a lower BMI, however, so I can mark that off my list of goals as accomplished.

This weekend will be full of challenges, just as much as the last time we went. But I'm a little better prepared this time, I think. I went out last night and bought a nice rolling cooler. This morning, I packed it full of all my food for the weekend, so I'm all ready. And the cooler means I won't have to be embarrassed about taking up all the room in our hosts' refrigerator, like I was last time.

I'm feeling strong, my resolution is firmly in place, I have tons of energy, and it's April, which means I can get back to the track! My plan is to start next week the day after we get back, but if I can manage to slip away and sneak in a workout while we're gone, so much the better!

No stress, though, either way. If I do, I'll just count it as a bonus. ;-)