I am in the 160's and the dress goes on

How exciting. I weighed in this morning and my weight is 169 ... A whole new set of numbers ..So happy.

And tried on my wedding gown today and it goes on. The zipper will only go up 1/2 way but it goes on.. I was soooo nervous trying it on because I truly had no idea whether it would even go over my hips yet or not but it did. I felt amazing prancing through Curves today in my wedding gown. There is something about a wedding gown that makes you feel like a princess. Curves members were there cheering me on. What a great feeling.

I think I can do it.

8 weeks to go and the push is really on because I am determined to do this. I will zip it up the whole way by my 9th wedding Anniversary.

Birthday celebrations complete

Birthday celebrations for Brooklin's big Birthday have been very fun but also challenging for eating healthy.

Brooklin turned 8, on August 8th, 2008. So, its a very special year for her and we celebrated heartily with a 3 parties. One intimate party with Nick, Brooklin and I and then a family gathering and finally today an oh so special Hannah Montana Rock party. 3 Eating extravaganza. Thank goodness for excercise. Without my Curves workouts and cardio runs, I think I would have really gained enormously. I think I have held my own and it really just stalled progress slightly.

I am back in the saddle once again.

Keep your focus even when it feels impossible

Sometimes it feels like you are spinning your wheels and getting no where. I was sick again for a couple days. Enough already. Most people would lose weight when they are sick. Not me. I actually gain weight. I think its because I have been sooo active and when I am sick, I am not active at all. Also, because when I feel sick, I tend to just eat what ever I think is going to make me feel better. Things like chicken noodle soup and crackers and cheese. Carb attack...Sodium attack and lack of protein. Well, I am just going to try to be more diligent with my multi vitamin. I think maybe I am depleting my supply of nutrients with all my activity and am lacking something to keep getting sick. Not to mention , like everybody else, I have alot on the go and on my plate so to speak.

But thats just life. I am not giving up...I am getting even more determined. When the fight gets harder, pray that you get tougher! thats what I am doing.

Set mini goals and reward yourself when you hit them.

I can finally say that I am more than half way to my goal of 55 pounds. I am now down 28.6 pounds.

It feels really good. We have an exchange student coming to live with us for a year. We pick her up next week from the airport, on Wednesday. My goal for when I pick her up is to be in the 160's. There is something very exciting in reaching a whole new set of numbers. Right now, I am 171.4 and I believe that I can do it. ....even to just see 169 is going to be awesome. I cant wait. If I get into the 160's by next Wednesday, I am going to give myself a reward of a spray tan. It really makes you feel like a new person, having a healthy glow.

Rewards are a great idea to get that feel good feeling of accomplishment. I highly recommend them for everyone. Set a mini goal and then reward yourself,,,,even something as small as a new nail polish or a fresh bouquet of flowers ...Keep the journey fresh and fun...

Midpoint has arrived and I am down to midpoint goal

Wow, its the halfway point of my journey...half way between my start date of May 20th to my end date of Oct. 23rd.

I needed to be down 27.5 pounds to be halfway to my weight loss goal of 55 pounds.

Now, the second half should be exciting. I cant wait to say, I am more than half way to me goal. It always feels better to be on the other side of half.

When I am doing my Curves workout, I am always excited when I see that I am more than half way done. Same goes for running, you feel like well, I can do whats left to do, that less than half of what I just accomplished.

Water retention has been a huge challenge this week with PMS related issues hitting with a vengence. I thought I would never get rid of 3 pounds that I fought with this week. But, alas, once and for all they are gone.

There is power in the printed word

Tracking what you are eating and drinking is key. It is so easy to slip up into old habits.

I had a few busy days in a row...which lead me to neglect to track on my Curves online weight loss program what I was eating and drinking. I am once again pulling in the reins before anything gets out of control.

My new thing is to have 2 glasses of water before I allow myself to reach for that cup of coffee in the morning.

I just drank my 2 glasses of water and now I get to enjoy that first sip of coffee, BUT NOT UNTIL I track those water. I get to check off 2 glasses of water on my program...then ahhh..that coffee reward at last!

Some things are better left unknown

I looked up the fat and sodium content in an East Side Marios garden salad. One small red bowl has 15 grams of fat and 750 mg of sodium. No wonder I always spike up in weight whenever I go there because I usually innocently have 3, 4 or even 5 bowls of their unlimited salad.

Whoa, in 3 bowls is the amount of fat grams for my daily fat consumption. Mind you, I typically watch very carefully my fat intake. I try to get in some good fats like from olive oil.

4 bowls of this salad would put you over the high end of sodium levels for a day for a healthy person...I healthy person should not consume more than 2500 mg of sodium per day and a person with heart concerns has half that limit...they should not exceed 1200 mg daily.

Hmmm. ...why is it that everything delicious has its price, yes even salad!