Rough Day...

Today has been hard for me.  Really hard.  I got on the scale to see just how much I've gained back.  17lbs.  Ouch!  I am so mad at myself, and for letting everything be more important than me again.

This starts such a spiral in me, too.  It's where the "what does it matter" thoughts come from.  And the "it's never going to happen" thoughts.

I HAVE to get back on track.  And I need to learn to like me again.  I think part of the down in the dumps crap is all part of being female and having wacked out hormones for part of the month.  And part of it is that I realize NOW how much better I felt.  It sure didn't seem like I was getting anywhere, but I know better now.  Why is it that hindsight is always 20/20?  And why is it that getting back there now seems so much harder than it did before?

I wish someone could give me answers to these questions, though they are more rhetorical than anything.  Tomorrow is another day, and I will do something for me to make me feel better... I just need to figure out what it is.

Broken... and Monday Weigh Day 1/31

Broken.  It's how I am feeling today.  I got on the scale hoping for a loss.  One stupid pound would have made my day.  What did I get?  Another big fat 235.  Again.

I couldn't help myself, and just cried.  I told Brian I was ready to stop, and didn't care. The tears streaming down my face said otherwise.  The words were just my way of trying to hide my insecurities and fear though.  I know the scale is not the best judge of progress, it's just the most convenient.  But knowing that in my heart doesn't mean my head wants to listen.  I do care.  I am not content to stop here.  But this mental game is hard.  So much harder than the work.

 ♦Weight Loss the Game - Mental Edition♦

Object:  Lower the number you see each time you step on the scale.

Strategy:  Expend more calories than you consume.  For every 3500 calorie deficit, you will lose one pound.

Tools:  Exercise, nutritional labels on foods, willpower. **

Players: 1 **

Winning the game:  Set your sights on a goal, and actually make it there.

** other tools available, though not always used, include: friends, family, huge support networks.  People with these tools in place tend to do better than others.  As such, playing this game with someone else will increase your ability to play, and ultimately win, thus making this a multi-player game if done correctly. 

♦♦♦

New in this edition -   To make the game more interesting, we've included the most difficult option we could come up with!  We like to call it, "Your HEAD!"  If you can overcome your HEAD and still manage to lose weight, fabulous.  Please remember your HEAD will throw things at you that are difficult to surpass - fear of failure, lack of self-worth, doubt, just to name a few.

Reviews for ♦Weight Loss the Game - Mental Edition♦

"Whoa!  This game was intense.  I was plodding along, doing great, when out of left field, my HEAD got in the way.  Made it hard to want to play anymore."

"Intense.  How people overcome your HEAD still is a mystery to me.  I haven't finished the game yet."

"Weight Loss the Game - Mental Edition is so much harder than I had expected.  It's 99.8% about overcoming your HEAD, and .02% about doing the work. "

I am still plodding along though.  I want so much more than 235.  I have to break it, instead of letting it break me.  So I ran this morning, even though I didn't want to.  I pushed it hard, even though I didn't want to.  Because though I didn't want those things, I DO want what they will get me.  So even though I don't like them today, I am using them to get me what I want.

For me, this is where it ends today.  Call it self preservation if you will.  I know I am.


*I apologize for the "poor me" post today, especially to Heidi.  I hate feeling like I am raining on her HUGE victory post.  I just can't beat this broken feeling today.  I fully expect to be back to my ass kicking ways soon. ♥

 

 

All is Quiet on the Home Front...

Ha!  If that was the case, I would be able to blog like I wanted!  So I guess it's only this home front that it's been quiet on.

Here's a recap of what's been going on here:

• Trip home for Christmas.  It was great.  Except for coming home and almost rolling the van. Then not being able to see the road.  Yeah, that part we could have skipped.  Gotta love Wyoming winters.
• STILL searching for the perfect Suburban for our family.  I was so sure we were going to find one in Colorado.
• Finding (and buying) the PERFECT Suburban in Idaho a whole week after we got home. (Pictures to come - maybe).
• Injuring my foot.  I am pretty sure I was on the verge of a stress fracture.  It was bad.  I took a week off from running, and in turn was kinda crabby.  Amazing that the fat chick was suffering from running withdrawls.
• Realizing that my shoes are s.h.o.t.  
• Sick kiddos
• and on and on and on.

Basically, it's life.  It's nothing new, but it's never the same, ever.

Anyhow, we did finally buy a new-to-us Suburban, and so I finally get to cash in on some of my reward days.  I've only managed to rack up 47, but who's counting. *insert big cheesy grin here*  I love it!  I love driving it. It's awesome.  And when I drive it, it's so cool to know that all my hard work has paid off.  

After I took a week off from running, I ran my first 5k.  Well, it was a virtual 5k.  Running Mate is hosting a virtual 5k every month throughout 2011.  A virtual 5k is where you run on your treadmill, at your local track, in your neighborhood, wherever.  No race entry fees, just go out, do your best, and then report back with your time.  I ran my first 5k in 51:46.  I don't think I will ever forget that time.  I am so proud of it, it's ridiculous.  I had to walk a little more than I liked, but the biggest thing for me was that I finished it!  But in running that 5k, I came to the absolute understanding that my running shoes are shot.  I need new ones badly. My foot isn't going to forgive me if I don't, and I don't want to take the chance of missing precious weeks because of an injury.  So I started looking heavily into what kind of shoes I needed.  Living in the middle of nowhere doesn't give me the option to run down to my local running store and have the people there tell me what shoe I need.  I kinda have to figure it out on my own.  And if you thought I did a lot of research on a new vehicle - hahahaha - you should have seen me over the past week trying to figure out what kind of shoe I need.  I finally ordered them today from Amazon.  

Aren't they pretty?  Amazon was so nice and told me that they'd be here on Friday.  I can't wait to wear these puppies out!

I've been slacking on exercise lately, which is why my weigh day on Monday was another maintain.  I can't complain (omg, I am rhyming, someone stop me).  I haven't put in the work I need to lately.  I haven't wanted to stress my foot with my crappy shoes any more than I needed to.  But I am not going to have that excuse anymore!  234 will be gone soon. :)

Oh, and another fun NSV for me today.  When I started this journey in October, my resting heart rate was dangerously high - about 90.  I took it today after sitting on the couch for awhile, and it's down to 64!  Even though I have a ways to go in the scale and tape measurement department still, my body is getting much healthier little by little.

And finally, here is my official "before" photo.

I finally feel like I've come far enough to not be embarrassed by this picture any more. This was taken in late Sept. 2010, and I know the scale said 260 here.  But this isn't who I am now.  It's who I was.  It is the me that decided to start getting healthy and making me a priority though.  So now I embrace it, and I love it.  Without it, there would be no now.  Remember that foundation I talked about here?  It's starting to look a whole lot prettier from where I am standing.  I do want that foundation.  It kicks some serious bum-bum as my boys would say.  I will try to get a picture of me in the same shirt and pants (and snuggling that handsome dude) again soon.  But we know how life keeps getting in my way.  But you know what, I sure enjoy everyday of this life more than I did that life. 

♥

Monday Weigh Day - 01/10

234 today!  One more pound gone.  :) Yippee!  I've kind of been in maintenance mode for the past couple weeks, but that's okay.  I think my foot is on the verge of a stress fracture, so I've been taking it pretty easy.  It bugs me a lot to not be running 3x a week, but I'd rather take a little time off then have to take 12 weeks off because I am in a cast!

Also, in the last 9 weeks, I've lost 9+ inches!  That feels so good and SO weird at the same time.  I really don't feel that much different than I did at 260.  But the scale and the tape measure don't lie, so I will just go with it, and work on feeling the results.  I think there is something to what Brian says about how you feel about yourself being a habit.

Monday Weigh Day - 12/20 - TWENTY-FIVE POUNDS GONE!!!

I dropped another 4lbs. this week.  It has to be the running, right???  I don't know what else it could be.  I don't feel like I am depriving myself of anything.  Granted, I am not giving in to every cookie or candy or french fry that comes my way, but I am not totally avoiding sweets or treats either.  Could I actually have found a balance that works for me!?!?!  I feel great.  I got into my "skinny" 18s the other day, too.  I haven't worn these since right after my niece was born in 2008.  It felt awesome to have them on.

Okay, this has to be quick... I am a day behind on my running (whoops!) and I am just waiting for my iPod to be charged enough to go out and do my first outdoor run (eek!).

Monday Weigh Day - 12/13 - TWENTY POUNDS GONE!

Yes, I know it's Friday.  Trust me.  The "to do" list I have that has to be done before we go home for Christmas tomorrow morning is hanging over my head reminding me constantly that it's Friday.  But once again my weigh day post is late.  Sue me. :)

I lost 4 pounds last week!  That brings my grand total to 21lbs.!!!!  I was so shocked Monday morning that I made Brian check the scale 3 or 4 times before I believed him.  I have no idea what I did last week that made it such a fabulous drop, but I will take it.  Especially because I have no faith at all that Monday will bring another loss.  As a forewarning, my post is going to be late next week too.  We're heading to my father-in-law's house tomorrow, and I don't think I will get a chance to update until sometime Tuesday when we are at my parents.

Have a fabulous weekend everyone!  And just say "NO" to the Christmas goodies.  I am going to try to, too!

weigh day

I dreaded this weeks weigh in day. I really did! I fell off the wagon. I ate horribly and didn't exercise. I was depressed, and it was all I could do to fight back the tears everyday. I got on the scale though. And I was surprised to see that I lost 2 pounds! It was the boost and the kick in the pants that I needed! My total weight loss to date is 68 pounds. I am 7 pounds away from getting my nose pierced. I am so excited! I've wanted my nose pierced since I was in high school! Its something silly and selfish that I am doing for nobody but myself! And I cannot wait! Next week I WILL be able to say that I've lost 70 pounds!

I'm working more hours lately, which is keeping me busy. I had my days planned out and a pretty good routine going before this influx of work hours. But, that is out the window until further notice. I am hoping to get a new routine going. I haven't worked out since before thanksgiving and I'm feeling pretty crappy about that. I plan on working out tonight. I'm hoping to get a good workout in tomorrow. I have to say, though, that I have a physically demanding job. Its 8 hours of constant movement, so I know I burn a lot of cals while I am working, so at least that is something.

I have to go shopping for a new pair of dress pants, and I'm actually a little bit excited about it. I am currently in a size **eep** 24. All of my pants are big on me now, so I know I'm at least one size smaller... I'm hoping I get a nice surprise and maybe be two sizes smaller. A girl can dream right?!

Monday Weigh Day - 11/29 - FIFTEEN POUNDS GONE!

Well, 16 really.  But who's counting?  Oh yeah - ME!!!
And that's 3 down from last week.  I made it through Thanksgiving and I LOST weight!  Dr. Phil (whom I casually follow - sometimes he makes me want to poke myself and then him in the eye irks me) said that it's not uncommon for people to GAIN 12 pounds between now and Jan. 1!  OMG.  I am hoping to be down another 8 or so by then, not up!

I am feeling so good and positive about my life changes.  I have been trying to find things that Brian will do with me.  He says he has something against running, so he won't do that with me (though it really is too cold for us to run outside, and I think CPS would frown upon us leaving the boys alone at this point).  But I did find a Hundred Push-ups Challenge that we are doing together (and so is Heidi!!!) and we're enjoying.  It takes you from being able to do X amount of push-ups to around 100 in 6 weeks or so.  Very similar to the C25k program in that it's progressive.  I can already see that it's working - Monday I did a 4 push-up max, and yesterday on Day 3, I did 7!  Brian has increased his max from 14 to 18 too.  I am very proud of him.

Today was Week 5 Day 2 of the C25k (can you believe I am still doing this 6 weeks later?!?!?!) and I felt awesome after my run.  I ran for 8 minutes 2 times!  I ran more than I walked, including the warm up and cool down!  Wednesday I am on schedule to run for 20 minutes with NO walks.  I must admit, this makes me a little nervous.  20 minutes!?!?  That's a LONG time.  Like really long.  But I can do it.  I will make it work for me.  This is a shout out to all you music lovers.... I need help!!!  Right now I have 3 songs I listen to when I am doing the running portion of my workout -
"Raise Your Glass" by P!nk
"Hot n Cold" by Katy Perry  and
"Jump" by Van Halen

I need more songs ASAP that are fast paced like that.  It's getting easier and easier for me to lose myself in the music while I am running, but I can't mess with my iPod every 3 minutes if I expect to make it through the 20 minute run.  Part of my "strategy" is to not look at how much time I have left.  It psychs me out to see that I still have 4 minutes, or whatever.


Speaking of "Jump" though, I've been thinking about a new reward.  Please try to follow my convoluted ramblings here.

I had a cousin named Tony who was a bit older than I was (15 or so years, I think).  He was so much fun, played with my sister and I, was funny, and just a neat guy (a lot like his siblings).  When I was in jr. high, Tony was diagnosed with Leukemia.  He was newly married, had a baby girl, and in an instant his life changed.  I don't know the circumstances of how it came about, but I believe after he was diagnosed, he went tandem sky diving.  Our grandparents were living in Colorado near us, and Tony was in California.  Somehow a copy of his sky diving video wound up in Colorado.... the song playing during that jump was "Jump."  Every time I hear that song, I think of Tony and miss him.  But it's also lit a new fire under me.  I want to jump, too.  Every run, every time I hear that, I get a little closer to my goal.  Heidi and I have talked about meeting and sky diving together when we are both at our goals.  I don't know what I want mine to be.  199 is just my first goal.  But I do know I want to do it, even though it scares the you-know-what out of me.

I hope you all had a wonderful, blessed Thanksgiving.  I know mine was, for many, many reasons!

♥
Erin

Monday Weigh Day - 11/22

I have left the 250s behind!!!  This morning when I got on the scale it said 247!  3 pounds gone!  I am feeling pretty good about all of this (except for the cold I have right now), and am that much closer to my goal!  I have lost 20% (well, actually it's 21.3% but who's counting - not me of course) of my 1st goal of 61 lbs.

I had a pretty great NSV on Friday, too.  We went to civilization to do a lot of our Christmas shopping.  Since my pants aren't staying up, I needed to find another pair.  When we got to Old Navy, I checked out their clearance section.  They had a nice pair of black pants in a size 20, so I grabbed them and took them to the dressing room with me. I got a great shock when I buttoned them... they were loose!  Like not falling off my rear end loose, but still, they were loose! And when I showed Brian, he said it seemed like a goofy idea to even get them because they didn't look like they would fit me for very long and I'd be in the same place I am right now.  So I grabbed the pair of 18s thinking there was no way, but guess what???  They buttoned too!  And not the ohmyGodIcan'tbreatheinthesebuttheymakemelookskinniersoIamgonnasufferthrough buttoned.  They are snug in the waist and the legs, but I can wear them just fine!  I had planned on taking a picture of myself in them as a reference point, because I do have room to lose, and they are SNUG.  I still plan on doing it, but right now I have the head cold from hell, so it may be a few days.  And this cold better not get in my way too much.  I don't see how I am going to run yet... BOO! but I will try to figure something out!

Oh, and I did Week 4 Day 1 on Saturday, and it was GREAT!  I ran for SIXTEEN minutes total!  That's 2x longer in one workout than I ran during Week 1!  I ran for 5 minutes without stopping.  It was awesome!!!

Monday Weigh Day

Well, I had a stand still week.  No loss, no gain.  But I knew this was going to be a hard week going in to it.  My oldest son turned 5 on Saturday.  How is it possible that he's 5!?!?! So bittersweet to watch your children growing up.

Anyhow, I am okay with no loss.  I mean, yeah, I would have loved to hit the 240s this week, but like a quote I read a few days ago says, "Don't wail on the scale if you cheat when you eat!"  hee hee.  The eating could have been a lot better this past week, but I still feel like I am moving forward.  Not every victory has to be a victory on the scale.  In fact, I am having more Non Scale Victories (NSV) than I thought, and each one feels so good.

Some of my NSVs lately - 

I am most definitely down a pants size!  I have 1 measly pair of jeans to my name that fit.  Just one.  In a size 22.  I refused to buy more.  Part of the whole hating to clothes shop thing, and part of the not wanting to admit I am fat.  They are TOO BIG!!!  I have to put a safety pin in them to try to keep them up, but even that doesn't seem to be enough some times.  I officially need a 20!  We're going shopping this week in civilization, and if I can find a pair that won't set me back too much $ (because I don't plan on needing them for long) I am getting new pants! :)

I was getting tired of feeling like every one of my C25k workouts was punishment, and that I wasn't moving anywhere, so this week, I redid Week 1 Day 1 of the program, and I could see a HUGE improvement!   I could run each 60 seconds without questioning if I was going to make it like I did when I started.  And to make it more difficult for myself, I pushed the pace to close to 5mph!  It was great.

Another C25k NSV - I decided I wasn't ready to move on to Week 4 this week.  The 2nd 3 minute run was beating me.  It was awful.  I wobbled between stopping, and pushing myself to the point that I thought I was going to puke.  Neither happened (thankfully), but it wasn't any fun either.  It wasn't something I was looking forward to, and I knew there was no way I could run like that for 5 minutes.  So today I gave myself permission to run slower on the 3 minute runs.  You know what happened?  I LOVED it!  I loved not having to question if I was going to make it.  So my pace slowed from 18:06 per mile to 19:00 per mile.  I don't care, because I had fun!  And it was empowering to allow myself a little wiggle room.  To not be pushing it so hard that I hate it.  I don't HAVE to hate getting healthy.  I should love it. And today I did. 

My aunt recently emailed me, and part of it was so powerful for me, I was in tears.  I'd like to share some of it with you.

 What really inspired my prayers and writing was your comment about how you will start to tell someone about what you are doing and then start discounting it. I just want to say.....DON'T Ever Do That Again! It made me feel so sad. There is nothing negative about what you are doing. It is all good. This is an incredible journey you are on and the beginning is just as important as the finish. So you don't look like a marathon runner right now. That is not the point. With confidence you tell others, and you inspire others. It is like saying the first part of anything isn't as important as the last. That is not true. If you don't pour the foundation on a house you can't possibly build the walls and put the roof on it. The first stone laid to build a church is as important as the last. You are laying the ground work, traveling the hardest part of the road right now for the sweet, sweet victory of the finish line later.

I had never thought about what I am doing right now being a foundation for things yet to come.  I was in the mind set of "when I get to X pounds, I can do Y."  I need to stop focusing on what I can't do yet, and put more energy and joy into what I CAN do now.  So I can't run at a 5mph pace for 3 minutes yet.  Big deal.  I CAN run at a 3.5mph pace, and I LIKE it.  And 5 minutes doesn't seem so scary anymore.  My slower pace is just the foundation.... It's not the prettiest part of the house, but there would be no pretty part without it.  It's  boring and nobody says "Oh, look at that foundation - I want that!!!"  But the beautiful part of my house and my journey are coming.

Nothing is going to get me down!

Last night was weigh day. I lost a pound. I know a pound is better than nothing, but I exercised almost everyday. I ate relatively well. There were a few meals in which I didn't chose the healthiest things, but I stayed within my calorie limits. I'm at a point in which the weight is not melting off the way I really want it too. The little voice in the back of my mind is telling me to do go Atkins, or do the Shakeology cleanse to drop pounds fast, thinking it'll give me a boost. But... the I really don't want to do either. I want to eat healthy everyday without cutting anything out of my diet. I know what to eat, I know what not to eat and I want to stay within those limits. I can't help but be a *little* bit disappointed in only losing a pound. This pound is off for life, and its a pound I will never have to lose again, and that is nothing to be disappointed about.

I let the number on the scale rule me too much. So I am going to follow the advice of my nurse at work, and I am going to skip my weigh in next week. When I get on that scale in 2 weeks I will be mid 260's and that will be a great great feeling!

I also have to make a confession. I am a depressed person. I have suffered clinical depression for a good portion of my life. Along with that I suffer anxiety. Since I have started exercising regularly I have not had to take any of my anxiety medication. I have been HAPPY! I am not letting stress get to me. I am smiling, and I am laughing. I want to dance!! In fact I have made a commitment to have regular dance parties. Granted I will be dancing with no one but myself but I can't wait to CRANK up the music and just dance!

The One With 10lbs. GONE!!!

Yep, I am officially down 10 pounds!  Yay!


I was a little bummed that it wasn't 11 pounds this morning, but I don't want to let stupid things like "I only lost 1 pound" derail me.  I should be thrilled! And I am.


Every pound lost is one closer to my goal.  Every pound lost is 1.63% of my goal!  Which means as of today, I have lost 16.3% of my goal!  That's almost a fifth of the way there!


This week I am going to concentrate on the same things I have been. I need to try to get in exercise at least 5 days - I missed three days last week. :( It's Matthew's birthday week though, too, and that will have different challenges with everything I need to do in order to prepare for it. 

We're doing it!

Last week was a good week for me. My weigh day was friday and I lost 3 pounds!! That makes 8lbs, I think, from when Erin and I started this journey together, and 61lbs total! I worked really hard last week, and that was a great reward! Another great reward.... having to pull up my pants at work! My husbands aunt handed down some scrubs to me. They've always been a bit tight in the upper thigh area and fit just right in the waist. Big in all areas now!! My undies are even big! My bras are too big now too. I can't wait go shopping for some smaller clothes. I am going to hold out for a little bit though. I want to skip the 22's and go straight to the 20's, or maybe even 18's. That would be a great feeling!

So, what am I doing to stay on track? I am eating every 2 1/2-3 hours. I've never been a big breakfast person, but I am eating as soon as I get Ethan to school, or very shortly after waking up. then a couple hours later I'll eat a banana or an apple. Then for lunch I am having Shakeology, which is complete nutrition in a glass and only 140 cals. Then another lil something, usually carrots, while I'm making supper, and then of course supper. I try to be done eating after supper. I had one day last week that I felt like I ate a lot of food, and thought for sure I really went over my calories by a lot. But I entered in everything I ate into myfitnesspal.com and found out I actually came UNDER my calorie goal! I am trying to eat clean, and lean. Trying to pump up the protein, and lower my carb consumption. The carbs I eat are always whole wheat, or in my fruits and veggie's. I won't eat white anymore. No potatoes, white rice, pastas, breads, etc.

I am also getting more routined and disciplined with my workouts. Turbo Jam is so much fun, and I am seeing such a difference in my energy level and stamina. I also added some strength training last week. I only used 3lbs weights and I only did one strength workout but I really felt it! I'm hoping to do 2 strength workouts this week, along with my cardio and ab workouts. I can't wait to measure myself again to see how many inches I have lost!

I only have 9 pounds to lose before I can say I've lost 70 pounds! And I only have 14 pounds to lose before I can get my nose pierced! I can't wait! I am so proud to say that Erin and I are working this, and we are DOING IT!!

Monday Weigh Day

I am thrilled to tell you that even though I have been surrounded by Halloween candy the past few days, I resisted the temptation for the most part.  And it showed this morning!

I lost 2 pounds!!!

It's amazing to me that even though I wanted chocolate last night like you wouldn't believe, I wanted the scale to move more! And it did.  

Wooohooo!!!

We interrupt this Sunday morning....

to bring your attention to the tickers at the bottom of the page.

Heidi is currently having technical difficulties, but hers should say 59 lb lost. Hooray!!!

Mine is down 7lbs.!  7lbs!  Woohoo!!!

Ok, that's it.  You can now return to your regular scheduled whatever! :)

The One With the First 5 Pounds!

Yep, that's right!  I am 5 pounds down from my starting weight!  WOOHOOO!!!!

Okay, got that out of my system.  Well, not really, but I can control it for the rest of the blog post.  I've decided for me that Mondays will be my weigh days.  I have a feeling it will help to keep me more on track on the weekends if I know that Monday morning will be my official weigh-in.  I am getting on the scale periodically throughout the week, just to keep me on track too.  But those weights won't count for my goal or reward.

Now would be a good time for me to explain the reward system I have put in place for myself.  I have 2 systems in place - 1 for exercising and 1 for losing the weight.  They will work together hand in hand.  This is how it works for me...

• For every day that I exercise for at least 1/2 hour, I get a star on my chart.  When I have accumulated 7 days, I get one reward day.
• For every 5lbs. I lose on my "official" weigh-in days I get a week of reward days.

What's a reward day you ask?  It's a day to drive our new to us Suburban or Yukon XL.  We haven't actually purchased one yet, so for the time being I am just accumulating time.  My husband and I have vastly different ideas of how often we should drive this, so this is a good compromise for us, and something that I really want!!! 

As of right now, I am sitting at 8 days of driving it!  I can't wait.  

For my other goals, this is what I would like to do:

• Get down to 199lbs. (reward for this is a Cricut - man I can't wait) - 61lbs. lost from SW
• Run at least one 5k in the next 6 months (need to check into availability on these)
• Possibly run the 1/2 marathon in our town in Sept. 2011.
• BE a runner.  I want to have the ability to run.  I want stamina and lung capacity for this.

I didn't really have a date in mind for this.  I'd like to use Heidi's date though, so we are both working with the same goal in mind, and the same time frame.  I know that puts me a little over 2 lbs. a week, so I might need to adjust the date to slightly further in April.  However, I am not changing it yet.  If I start adjusting goals before I even start, then what's the point?  Gotta keep myself honest.

Along the way, I will be rewarding myself with things like new clothes as I need them.  I can't have that as a main goal right now because of how much I hate to shop.  Woo, a reward I loathe.  No thanks.  I am expecting this to change though.

What are some goals YOU are working towards?  How are you keeping on track?