This Really Is MY Year!

It’s only a quarter of the way into 2014, but it’s already shaping up to be the best year ever.  I’ve had so much success with my weight loss, I’m embarking on new adventures in fitness, I have an amazing group of family and friends supporting me with everything I do, and I’m happier than I’ve ever been in my life in general.

And then today, I found out that…

I’m so excited and honored!  I was nominated last week, which really made my day – it’s so nice to just be recognized.  This is my tenth year at my high school, and I’m having one of my best years yet in terms of how much I’m enjoying my classes and students.  Not to mention that I’ve had a lot of fun putting together quite a few events for my faculty, including a volunteer night at a local food bank and organizing a the 408K walk.

Winning this title is something that I think every teacher hopes for at some point in his or her career, and I’m just so thrilled that it happened for me this year.  I’m really proud of all that I’ve done professionally over the past 14 years that I’ve taught, but this just caps off what has become a truly wonderful year in my life.

 

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Onederful ONEDERLAND!!!

Talk about a NYE miracle! This morning when I weighed myself, as I do every morning, I saw the number that I’ve been yearning to see for years.  Gosh, I can’t really remember when I was last under 200 pounds – at least 20 years ago.

You guys know I was close on Sunday, but even though I really wanted to see 199 or less by the end of 2013, I wasn’t sure if I was going to.  Then yesterday I just so happened to drink a ton of water (11 glasses!) and this morning Mother Nature paid me a visit, which always helps me drop a decent amount of weight.  When I got on the scale this morning, I had hope in my heart that I would see good news.

So without further ado…

I really couldn’t believe it when I saw it.  I actually had to get on and off the scale a few times just to be sure.  And of course I had to document it for this blog (and Instagram).

The first thing I did was write a post on MyFitnessPal, and then I texted a bunch of my friends and family.  Then I stood there without any clothes on, crying.  Crying happy tears, but crying.  I was completely overwhelmed and overjoyed. I’d dreamt of this moment for so long, and it was here.  On December 31, 2013.  On New Year’s Eve.  What a way to end this year!

This marks so much more than just a number on a scale for me.  This is a HUGE accomplishment.  To think that I started 2013 at 302.0, and I’m ending it at 199.8 is amazing and incredible.  That’s 102.2 pounds that I’ve lost over the course of one year (115 pounds, total)!  In January, I was wearing tight size 28 pants and now I’m wearing 16s.  I was shopping exclusively in plus size stores, and now I can buy tops in any “normal” store out there.  I was dealing with such terrible plantar fasciitis pain that I couldn’t even take Sofi for a walk around the block, and now I’m running for 5 minutes at a time. What a transformation I’ve had in 2013!

I’m so proud of myself!

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#Reverb13, Day 21: Strange Encounters

Throughout the month of December, I’ll be participating in #reverb13: Reverb is a way to reflect on the past year and project into the next year with a prompt a day for 31 days.  December is the perfect time to reflect on 2013 and start to create intentions for 2014.

Day 21: Strange Encounters
Encounters | What thing did you keep encountering this year over and over again?  Was it something you learned from or just a strange coincidence?

This prompt wasn’t an easy one for me to answer.  Nothing jumps out at me as coming up over and over again throughout the year.  I mean, I could of course talk about weight loss or fitness, but I’ve already done that so much in the other prompts, that it seems a bit repetitive.

I guess I’ll say this… As I’ve lost weight and posted progress photos on Facebook, this blog, etc, or when people have seen me in real life, they keep saying the same thing.  That I’m glowing, that I look so happy.  And while I think I’ve always been a positive, happy person, even at my highest weight, my true happiness might have been overshadowed by my frustration with my weight.  Now that I’ve shed so much of that frustration along with all the weight, I do feel that my outward appearance finally fits with the person I’ve always known I am on the inside.

So I guess I keep encountering a happier me, and it definitely is no coincidence.

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#Reverb13, Day 6: Blowing Out the Candles

Throughout the month of December, I’ll be participating in #reverb13: Reverb is a way to reflect on the past year and project into the next year with a prompt a day for 31 days.  December is the perfect time to reflect on 2013 and start to create intentions for 2014.

Day 6: Blowing Out the Candles
You’re another year older!  How did you celebrate the passage of another year?  Did it turn out the way you had hoped?

I love birthdays! My own and everyone else’s.  From the time I was a young girl my parents always made birthdays my own private holiday. (For both my sister and me). There’s nothing more special than feeling like the entire day is dedicated just to you.

This year, I had a nice, quiet birthday.  Since it was a year without an 0 or a 5 in it, I spent the day doing all the things I love.  I woke up to my parents on the other end of the phone, singing me “Happy Birthday.”  Then I got on the scale, and saw a nice weight loss (great gift!).  Then Sofi and I went on a long walk, followed by some pool time.  Later in the afternoon my sister and I had some sister time getting a pedi.  And then the evening was spent opening presents and going to dinner at a great seafood dinner with my family.  My friends took me out for dinners and drinks and coffee dates the days before and after.

It was wonderful to spend the time surrounding my special day with everyone I love.  Sure, I would have loved to have a huge surprise party with tons of friends and family, or go on a trip to Vegas with all my girlfriends, but spending a quieter day doing all the little things that make me smile was fitting for the year I’ve lived.  This year I’ve spent so much time making my life better through health and fitness, and while the overall changes have been dramatic, they came about in small, subtle ways.

They say the way that you spend New Year’s Eve is the way that you’ll spend the year ahead.  Since I consider my birthday my own little “new year’s day,” I guess the same can apply.  I spent the day doing all the little things that make me happy, and this year has been my happiest yet.

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Saturday Smiles :)

It’s been a long time since I did a Saturday Smiles post, and because I’m so happy right now, I figured it was the perfect day to post.

1. One of the best things about this week was that I got to see one of my besties, CTLB.  She had come out to SF for a teaching conference, and we were able to steal a couple of hours to catch up on life.  The awesome thing about our friendship is that even though it can be months between phone calls or a year since we’ve seen each other in person, when we do get together again, it’s as if no time has passed.  I’m really hoping to get out to MA to visit her this summer, if she’s not too busy with family life or obligations to friends (SO many of her friends have gotten married over the past few summers that she was booked up almost every single weekend. I’m hoping that they’re all married now, so she’ll have a bit of free time).

2. Yesterday I had a lot of fun shopping at Target – for clothes!  Now I’m not saying that Target is the place where I’m going to fill my closet with fashions, it does mark a milestone. When I was morbidly obese, I longed for the day to be able to buy inexpensive clothes at Target. I know Target has plus-sized clothes, but they are all pretty awful, and when I was at my heaviest, even they didn’t fit.  So yesterday when I saw a few fun items, I knew I had to pick them up:

First up, pjs!  Now that it’s getting darker earlier, and the temps have turned chilly, I often get into my pjs when I get home from work.  I got this set (XXL), which have an alpine/fair isle patter on the pants.

I also got this fun grey and berry polka dot set (XXL).

I’ve been needing long-sleeved tshirts because all of my others have long since been donated. (Long-sleeved tees are a great way for me to extend my weekend/casual wardrobe, because I can wear them under short sleeves on cooler days. When I saw them for $12, I picked up some basics – a black and a white (XL).

This coming week I’m going to be teaching my AVID students how to annotate a text (mark notes onto an article or other reading), and to keep it interesting and grab their attention, I found a great article on the NY Times Learning Network about selfies.  I have a fun lesson planned, complete with a quick write and discussion questions, culminating in the students taking some selfies, which I’ll put into a class slideshow. (They’ll love seeing this goofy pics when they’re seniors). So when I saw this sweater, I knew I had to buy it to wear on Wednesday during the lesson:

Too perfect, right? And I love that this is an XL in juniors!

Last Christmas I really wanted to be able to buy this shirt, but even the XXL wouldn’t fit.  This year, I’m hoping I can find one in the store, because I know the XL will work. What a long way I’ve come.

3. I’m hoping smile will be beautiful as I continued the shopping and bought some new lip treatment/lipsticks.

I splurged on a new Fresh Sugar in Berry, and then saved money by picking up 3 new NYX lipsticks @ $4 each:

Doll

Snow White

B52

We’ll see how they look on me, but from the swatches I found online, I think they’ll work.

4. And finally, the thing that I’m really smiling about today is the bike ride some of my friends and I are going on later this afternoon.  I appreciate that they’re taking time out of their busy schedules on a Saturday afternoon to join me in celebrating my 100+ pound weight loss. It’s a gorgeous, sunny, clear day, so it should be ideal for a long ride.  I’ll write a post, with pictures, later.

I hope today brings you plenty of things to smile about.

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Sizzlin’ Summer Weigh-In: Week 11 Post Op VSG

Summer’s here! Which means that fun in the sun is a daily way of life. Getting outside and getting active is easy, and it’s on my agenda for each and every day this summer. Being on summer vacation means I don’t have any of the workaday responsibilities that can get in the way of my plans. Now that I’ve had the VSG surgery, achieving my weight loss goals is only a matter of time, and this summer is going to be HOT. Sunday weigh-ins will keep me accountable through the weekend, and will give me a positive goal to begin each new week. I’m not on a diet, I’m establishing a lifestyle – my new life. My Sunday progress updates will be called Sizzlin’ Summer Weigh-Ins.

Week 11 marks the last week of summer (for me).  Starting tomorrow, I’ll be at school everyday getting my room/curriculum ready, attending teacher development meetings, and getting back to the swing of school.  I tried to make the most of this last week, and had a great time at the beach with Sofi on Friday (check out my Instagram to see the photos).  I also gave it my all with my workouts this week, but I’ll go into that in a bit.  First things first…

So, how’s the scale looking?

I weighed in this morning at 241.0, which is a loss of 0.2 pounds this week, and a loss of 36 lbs since surgery!!! I’ve lost a total of 74 pounds from my highest weight. I am disappointed that my weight has basically stalled this week.  It’s not for lack of effort in eating or in working out.  There are a few other factors at work here – I have my period for the 2nd time this month (my hormones are going crazy with this quick weight loss) and I’ve lost consistently for 11 straight weeks post op, plus the 38 lbs I lost pre-op.  I shouldn’t be surprised at this stall – everyone else I know who’s had WLS hits a stall at some point or other.  Most people hit theirs around the 3rd or 4th week, so I guess I’m lucky that I’m hitting mine at 11 weeks.  One thing I’m not going to do is freak out.  I know this is temporary, and that I will turn it around.  I’m just looking at it like my body is taking a well-deserved rest. 

What’s not taking a rest is my workout schedule.  This week I went to vinyasa yoga with my sister, tried C25K, continued with the 30-Day Squat Challenge daily, kept working out on with my hybrid trainer, went to my first Zumba class since surgery, and walked along the ocean with Sofi. I took two rest days, which I think are going to become more and more important as school begins.  The main thing is, I enjoyed my workouts, and making them fun is how I keep at them.  I’m even beginning to look forward to them and miss them on my off days.  I love this fitness person I’ve become. 

My food was on point this week, too.  I’ve been making sure to get in at least 60-75g of protein, as my program recommends.  I’m also trying to keep my carbs low – around 50-60g.  My calories are right around 800.  I see other WLS peeps on MFP who get in 80g+ of protein, which I find amazing.  Normally, my instinct would be to make some sort of change in my diet if I didn’t see numbers I liked on the scale, but I’m not going to do that this time.  I know I’m doing everything right, and I like the mix of protein, veggies, fruits, and carbs that I’ve been eating.  I think this is real progress for me. 

The challenge of the upcoming week is going to be keeping up with the routine I’ve built this summer now that my schedule will be much more impacted with school.  I know I can do it.  It’s going to be about not letting myself slack on workouts, even as the days get busy.  Working out is, at most, an hour or so out of my day, and I know I can make it a priority. 

  Until next Sunday, my friends. I hope the scale treats you well, and that you have a wonderful week!

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Friday Five: Dog Days of Summer

Happy Friday!  Today is my last Friday of summer vacation!  I wish I could tell you I was typing this from some amazing location, like  the beach, but alas, I’m sitting on my couch in the living room.  I did want to make sure to make today really count, since it’s the last Friday I’ll have off in quite some time.

1.  I started out today with a Zumba class. My first time taking Zumba since surgery, and it was fantastic! The teacher was super energetic, and really fun.  I noticed that I was able to really increase my intensity with the moves like never before.  For example, in the past when the class was doing jumping kicks, I’d just keep my feet on the ground and kick.  Not today!  I was jumping and kicking right along with them.  My cha-cha-cha and my meringue probably looked a bit rusty, but I was keeping pace with the rest of the class, which just shows me another NSV – my fitness level is so much stronger than I was before surgery, and it’s only going to get better from here.  I decided today in class that once I’m able to fit into the sizes, I’m buying myself some Zumba pants to wear.

2. Speaking of buying clothes, this week I hit another fun milestone – I’ve lost enough weight that I’m able to justify buying bras from Victoria’s Secret. For so long my band size was too large to find anything nice at VS, but now that I’m measuring a 38, there’s so much more within reach.  I treated myself to a couple of fun, sexy bras, and I can’t wait for them to arrive.

3. Wednesday evening headed to Italian Heritage Night at the SF Giants, and had a great time.  But what is sort of amazing to me is that when my friend snapped this photo of me while we were waiting for the train, I didn’t immediately feel the need to crop the photo so that it only showed my body from the waist up.  In fact, when I looked at it again yesterday, I realized just how much smaller my hips/thighs are now. Those are still (and always will be) my biggest problem area, but my body is really transforming.  It was really cool to notice it from this photo.

4. School is about to begin, and next week I have two teacher professional development days that I’m attending, which isn’t something worth writing about, except for the fact that this year, the district bought every teacher an iPad!  I’m so excited to get mine and try it out.  I’m a huge Mac fanatic, but couldn’t see spending that much money on an iPad, when I have a  MacBookPro and an iPhone.   But since the district is giving us one, hey, I’m all for it.  The PD day is supposed to show us some interesting uses of the iPad in the classroom.  Yay for free Apple gadgets!

5. Since today is my last Friday, I want to do something fun, so I think I’m going to head to the beach with Sofi so we can both enjoy this beautiful day.

I hope you have a great day!

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Sizzlin’ Summer Weigh-In: Week 10 Post Op VSG

Summer’s here! Which means that fun in the sun is a daily way of life. Getting outside and getting active is easy, and it’s on my agenda for each and every day this summer. Being on summer vacation means I don’t have any of the workaday responsibilities that can get in the way of my plans. Now that I’ve had the VSG surgery, achieving my weight loss goals is only a matter of time, and this summer is going to be HOT. Sunday weigh-ins will keep me accountable through the weekend, and will give me a positive goal to begin each new week. I’m not on a diet, I’m establishing a lifestyle – my new life. My Sunday progress updates will be called Sizzlin’ Summer Weigh-Ins.

Week 10 was busy! I was out and about with friends, working out on my new hybrid elliptical/recumbent bike, spending time with family, participating in the 30-Day Squat Challenge, and just enjoying these last days of summer. I’m trying to pack as much fun into these remaining weeks as I can. Which is not to say that the fun ends once school begins, because I have lots of fun things planned for after school starts back up. Plus, I’ve learned how to balance work and life and enjoy myself as much as possible each day.

So, how’s the scale looking?

I weighed in this morning at 241.2, which is a loss of 2.2 pounds this week, and a loss of 35.8 lbs since surgery!!! I’ve lost a total of 73.8 pounds from my highest weight. My reaction to this week’s loss is mixed. I’m really thrilled that I’ve lost 35 pounds in the 10 weeks since surgery. I cannot remember the last time I lost 35 pounds in 10 weeks, so that’s really impressive, especially for a person who has struggled on the scale like me. But on the other side, I put in so much work this week in exercise, and ate so well (high protein, low carbs, plenty of water), that I expected to see a bigger loss on the scale. But I do have to say, I have never hit a stall since my surgery, which is not something most people can say. I’ve consistently lost weight for 10 weeks, and even though each week’s loss is a bit less than I’d like, I’m still really happy with my overall result.

I think the NSVs are even more exciting right now. I’ve gone through my entire closet twice this summer, the most recent time was on Friday. I’ve collected 5 huge, black garbage bags full of clothes to donate, all of which are too big. Friday I was trying on clothes for school, and I’m such a dork that I’ve already picked out my outfits for each day of the first week of school. 🙂 I’m really liking the way the clothes are looking on me now, and while it’s sad to say goodbye to some of my favorite outfits that are literally falling off my body, I’m looking forward to adding to the wardrobe eventually and filling it with new outfits in a much, much smaller size. (I’m really straining myself not to give into my inner shopaholic and buy some new clothes for school. I have plenty of outfits for now, and I really want to resist buying too many pieces that are just going to get too big very quickly).

These Bermuda shorts/pedal pushers have been tucked away in my closet for over 5 years, because I’ve been too big to fit them. Well, I tried them on yesterday, and they fit! And that top used to be too tight around my hips for me to wear, but it’s swimming on me now (I’m not sure if you can tell how billowy it is in the picture).

I keep telling myself that it’s OK if I repeat outfits in order to conserve fashion funds for the time when they really count – when I get closer to goal.  In the past I’ve really overstuffed my closet full of clothes, so much so that I could go over a month and a half without repeating an outfit for school.  Which is cool and all, but not as much as a priority for me right now.  Plus, not buying new clothes until it’s absolutely necessary, like when they’re falling off of me, is going to make me get creative with the way I put outfits together, so I’m going to take it on as a challenge.

Summer’s coming to a screeching halt at an alarming pace! The week after this one I have to be back for registration, teacher development days, and the first teacher workday. And then on August 19th the kiddos return and we have the first day of school.  It’s all coming up so quickly.  But I’m excited to get back.  This year is sure to be the best yet, for so many reasons.

But before that school bell rings, I have this last true week.  Minus Monday, where I’ll be at school all day for various meetings.  I have lots of fun planned, including a midday walk with my sister at Shoreline Lake Park, an Italian-heritage SF Giants game with the extended family and some friends, and a tapas party at my parents’ house.  Among a few other fitness-related items that I’ll blog about as I complete them.  I’m bound and determined to make this week one to remember!

Until next Sunday, my friends. I hope the scale treats you well, and that you have a wonderful week!

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FMM: 10 Things That Make Me Happy

Happy Monday! I have a lot of fun things in the works this week, and I’m excited to share them with you as they happen.  Look for some great posts this week. One thing I’ve been really lax on lately is reading and commenting on blog posts.  I feel like ever since Google Reader announced its departure, my reading habits have been thrown a curve ball.  So I plan to rectify that, beginning today.

But now let’s get on with this week’s topic.

If you’ve taken part in FMM then you know the rules. If you’re new, please take a moment to answer this week’s question on your own blog then add your link in the comments section at: www.alltheweigh.com so we can all see your FMM questions and answers. Please invite your blog readers to add their links here too so everyone has to opportunity to be seen. The idea is to connect with other awesome bloggers so take a moment to post your own FMM post and comment on a couple of other posts. Now it’s time for this week’s topic!

FMM: 10 Things That Make Me Happy

1.  First and foremost, my family.  They are the people who forgive me at my worst and celebrate me at my best.  They have been absolutely amazing in cheering my weight loss, and never shy away from complimenting me.  I am the person I’ve become because of their guidance and unending support.

2.  My friends.  So many of the women that I consider my best friends are people I’ve known since high school.  Friendships that last 24 years are solid friendships, to be sure.  But I also feel really close to people that I’ve met much more recently, because sometimes you meet someone and you just click.  You know the type of friendship I mean – the kind where you feel as if you’ve known the person your whole life.  I value my friends and remain loyal to them through thick and thin.  If you’ve heard the term “ride or die chick,” that’s who I am for my friends.

3.  Sofi!  You knew she was going to be in the top 3, didn’t you?  This pup has brought unending joy and happiness into my life. She helps me live in the moment and to appreciate life’s special, little moments that I might otherwise miss.  There’s nothing better than going on a long walk with Sofi.

I love this little one even when she’s being a monkey and tearing up the roses in my yard! (She loves eating the petals!).

Her favorite resting position. Does it get any cuter?!

4.  Teaching.  As much as I complain sometime about the workload/grading, I really do love what I do.  I adore hearing from former students and knowing that I impacted their lives in a positive way.  I enjoy watching them mature into bright, mature people who are ready to be contributing citizens.  It sounds corny, but I am so lucky to be able to do what I love for a living.  (Remind me of this in the middle of the semester when I’m drowning in honors essays, ok?).

5.  A great pedicure.  There’s really nothing like feeling like you toes look their best, especially in sandal season.

6.  Reading.  Not only does reading offer a much-needed escape from reality, but it often allows me to learn, grow, and expand my thoughts.  From the moment I was taught how to decipher words on a page, I’ve loved reading, and I know that love will last with me forever.

7.  Writing. This blog is my outlet, my creative space.  A place where I share my thoughts and emotions, my dreams and my frustrations.  Who knows if it will ever become something more, something greater.  I’m just glad I have an ability to express myself through the written word.

8.  The beach.  I go to the beach as often as I can, and still it’s never enough.  Someday I would love to retire to a small little cottage on the beach so that I could take morning walks along the ocean.  How amazing does that sound?  Believe it, be it, right?

9. Cooking.  Over the years, I really have become someone who loves to cook for myself and for others.  I love every aspect of it, from finding the perfect recipe, to planning the menu, to shopping, to chopping, to cooking, and tasting the final product.  Cooking is another creative outlet for me, and it’s been so much fun adapting the foods and flavors I love into my new post-surgery lifestyle.  I love a challenge!  Food is a huge part of my Italian culture, so the fact that I’m able to carry on my family’s traditions through some of the meals I make brings me great joy.

10. Shopping! Whether it’s shopping for a gift for someone else, or adding to my own wardrobe, I adore shopping.  I get a rush when I’m looking for that special something and find it.  I’ve always loved the way that clothes make me feel about myself, but now that I’m seeing the results of my efforts on the scale, clothes are even better.  I haven’t had any major shopping trips yet…but I’m biding my time until that first major shopping trip.  I cannot wait.

11.  (I know Kenlie asked for 10, but I just have to add this last one).  Working out.  Who would’ve thought that I would have written those words.  But it’s so true.  I love the feeling I get when I tackle a new fitness milestone. And the sense of accomplishment that comes when a really good workout is over.  I even love the way my heart pounds out of my chest as I try to match the tempo of my workout tunes while I’m on the elliptical machine.  I love the way working out feeds my competitive nature.  I know fitness is going to be my hobby/obsession from here on out.  As things get easier to accomplish because my overall health is improving, I know I’ll try to overcome bigger challenges.

Now it’s your turn to answer the questions! And also be sure to go back to Kenlie’s blog and leave a link to your FMM post in the comments! I really encourage you to comment on as many people’s posts as you can – I’ve met some fantastic people through FMM. You never know who you’ll meet today.

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Sizzlin’ Summer Weigh-In: Week 9 Post Op VSG

Summer’s here! Which means that fun in the sun is a daily way of life. Getting outside and getting active is easy, and it’s on my agenda for each and every day this summer. Being on summer vacation means I don’t have any of the workaday responsibilities that can get in the way of my plans. Now that I’ve had the VSG surgery, achieving my weight loss goals is only a matter of time, and this summer is going to be HOT. Sunday weigh-ins will keep me accountable through the weekend, and will give me a positive goal to begin each new week. I’m not on a diet, I’m establishing a lifestyle – my new life. My Sunday progress updates will be called Sizzlin’ Summer Weigh-Ins.

Week 9 is in the books, and I’ve got to say, it was like a week of Wednesdays: not as bad as a Monday, but not as exciting as a Friday or Saturday.  Just kinda meh.  But all weeks can’t be birthday weeks + the 4th of July, right?  It was just that nothing was particularly thrilling about the week, but it wasn’t a bad week, either.  Just so so.  Then again, it was a week that I was on vacation, got to decide what I wanted to do, and didn’t have a lot of responsibilities, so I really can’t complain.

So, how’s the scale looking?

I weighed in this morning at 243.4, which is a loss of 2.6 pounds this week, and a loss of 33.6 lbs since surgery!!! I’ve lost a total of 71.6 pounds from my highest weight.  The loss this week is fine, but I know I could’ve done better.  I didn’t really push myself in my workouts this week, and there were a couple of days that I didn’t get all my water and/or vitamins in.  I didn’t have any missteps per se, but as I said before, it was just sort of a blah week.

But the week ahead is sure to be anything but blah.  I’ve got some fun activities planned, including today’s walk with FaveCousin at Shoreline Lake Park.  The park has a 5-mile loop, so I’ll definitely hit my 10,000 steps today, not to mention taking in the gorgeous views and catching up with FC.  I have quite a few other fun things going on this week, but I’ll save those for future posts.

Even though I didn’t do anything to make this week more than ordinary, something pretty extraordinary happened – I’ve lost over 70 pounds.  I’m really proud of myself! I feel so far from that frustrated woman who didn’t know how she could get herself out of the cycle of losing and gaining the same 3 pounds. The desperation and frustration I felt then was quelled only by my own determination.  No matter how hard it was for me, I never lost hope, I never doubted my ability to get here.  Here. In a quiet week where nothing significant was marked on the calendar.  Here, where progress photos are showing major changes.  Here, in the present where all that past perseverance paid off.

What I’m learning in this journey is that there will be weeks that are just ok when nothing particularly terrible happens, but nothing fantastic either. I guess weeks like this past one are sort of like resting weeks that help me appreciate the truly amazing weeks by comparison. Fair is fine sometimes, but if I want to achieve my goals, I have to do more to make them happen.  I don’t want to get comfortable in complacency, because that’s not the type of life I want to lead.  I know that once school begins, I may have more weeks that are just so-so, but it will be up to me to make them better. The way I approach this weight loss is the way I want to live the rest of my life – to the fullest whenever possible.

Until next Sunday, my friends. I hope the scale treats you well, and that you have a wonderful week!

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