Ok, I've ignored it long enough and now it's become an actual issue...my hair is falling out.

And yes, I am smart enough to know that a person typically loses around 50-150 hairs a day. But my hair falls out in handfuls and by the end of the week my brush is stuffed full of lost hair.

So, what do I do when I am confronted with a truth I can no longer ignore? Research!!!

Dieting is one thing, but losing my hair is another. It's gotten bad enough that you can now see my scalp, which to say the least is not good on the self-esteem. No matter how much weight you lose if you end up bald you still aren't going to feel great about yourself, especially when you had hair when you were fat.

I had a feeling it was due to the fact I was losing weight and losing it fairly fast. Sure enough, according to online reports significant and rapid weight loss can be accompanied with hair loss. This could be due to the lack of proper vitamins, including but not limited to low iron or...get this...too much Vitamin A! Yes, too much Vitamin A can result in hair loss. Be aware.

I have been rather lax about taking a supplement, thinking that I was getting enough vitamins (I love how my English weight loss counselor says it...vit-eh-mens) through what I was eating. Apparently not. Solution: start taking a daily vitamin as well as an extra dose of folic acid. Which, by the way...EWWWW! I've been burping up the most awful burps since I took that folic acid. Moms-to-be...I understand your agony now. I may also pick up some extra iron if I don't feel the daily pill is giving me enough.

Of course, it will be 2-3 MONTHS before I notice any real change. Let's hope that I keep some hair on my head in the mean time. I may end up having to cut off my hair (which I had just gotten past the awkward growing out stage) so that it appears fuller. It also means making changes to styling hair treatments. What really sucks is the hair that I do have is incredibly healthy! I mean, no split ends or breakage in sight. It's shiny, smooth, and really lovely. Oh well, so it is with me.

I am writing about this so that if you are also noticing a hair loss that is not typical, well...there are things you can do. This is what ~I~ am going to do:

1. Take a daily vitamin

2. Take folic acid daily

3. Cease wearing a pony tail unless I have no choice

4. Wear ~loose~ hats when out in sun (protect my scalp but not crush my hair)

5. No more brushing hair while it's wet. Just deal until it's dry.

6. Use very little product on my hair when it's not needed...less reason to wash more than 3-4 times a week

7. Wash only 3-4 times a week if possible - due to the fact that washing results in more hair down the drain (literally)

8. Keep an eye on my iron intake to see if I should increase it

9. Take deep breaths and remember that stress also can lead to hair loss

10. If it all falls out...buy a great wig. And then buy some fun colored ones...if Katy Perry can do it, so can I. :)

Good luck to the rest of you.

Okay, so I've been kind of...missing...for a bit. Sorry. :)

The deal is I usually check in from work and work has been, well the term "crazy" barely touches how it's been here. Compile that with a short weight loss plateau and a stomach virus (which made up for the plateau...lol!) and there hasn't been much to write home about. Err...blog...about.

Things are not going to be getting slower anytime soon at work so the odds are I will be backing off from my blogging for a bit. At least until I can actually get caught up enough that taking a moment of time to write down some thoughts won't make me feel like a heinous criminal. Or better yet, get home and actually do my writing from there. The issue is, as with most people who work and commute...when I get home I have so much other stuff to do before I collapse from exhaustion that blogging is pretty low on the list. *sigh*

Happy thoughts, though! While it may be a fluke of the scale, today it read an all-time low (and by that, I mean all-time in the last 10 years). I stepped on the scale and it read 237.2. Which means...38 lbs and I'll be back in the Ones! I can't wait for my One-derful day! Speaking of ones...I am now getting into size 18s...another "1" I haven't seen since, well, basically since I was 18 years old. Which is weird...I don't remember weighing this much when I was a size 18, but then I was avoiding the scales back then and probably did. Not to mention it's been shifted since I had a breast reduction since that time of my life.

And one more bit of news...according to my last measurements...I have now lost 60.5 inches from my body!!! That's over five feet of me that's gone!!! FIVE FEET! Let's all say that one more time...~five feet of excess Sara is gone!!~ I know people who are just over five feet tall...and I've almost lost as many inches around me as they are tall! That's pretty substantial and a great perspective for me.

Well, time to get back to work. Have a wonderful weekend everyone!

Ok...time to take a serious look at my lack of motivation.

Yes, I have been in the long and arduous process of moving, remodeling, and unpacking...all of it at once.

Yes, I have stuck as close to my eating plan as time and convenience will allow.

Yes, I have continued to lose weight.

But no, I am not feeling like I am doing everything I should be.

There have been too many little "cheats." Not a true cheat because it is a healthy version on if (fat free ice cream) or because I only ate one (one cookie...no more). But between those and the squiggly-line food choices (yes, you can have hamburger but it's not supposed to be fried...and even draining it only does so much), I ~know~ I'm headed towards a slump. Combine all that with the fact that I have been too busy to do any kind of workout and it's a weight loss disaster waiting to happen.

The problem is I have moved 50 miles away from my gym and I have an hour to a 1 1/2 hour drive home after work. I get in sometime after 7 p.m. and then usually have to cook dinner. Then when that is done I do some kind of project in the house or cleaning or laundry. And even though I would like to do a workout, I have no bike, no inline skates, and the Wii is in a box somewhere...which leaves just walking and it’s usually raining when I get home.

I keep telling myself once I get everything unpacked it will get better, that once everything is where it should be I can take time for myself again. And people keep telling me that packing, unpacking, installing, uninstalling, moving, lifting, and such is exercise...but let's be honest...it's not burning 500 calories in an hour like I used to at the gym.

I guess what I am saying is, I feel like I should be doing more for myself…even though logically I know that it’s very hard to do so.

So, it’s time to recommit to myself.

I, Sara, do hereby swear that I will not sabotage my weight loss efforts by eating any squiggly line food or off the plan food. I swear that to the best of my ability, I will attempt to exercise at least two days a week for at least 30 minutes until such time as I can change my gym membership or start a new exercise program at home. And finally, I swear that even if my efforts do not result in a huge weight loss that I will not throw in the towel.

Now, let’s see if I can stick to it. *wink*

Yesterday I had a bit of a scare. I fell asleep at the wheel while going 70 mph on the interstate.

Luckily it was just for a second and the rumble strips woke me up, but things could have been much worse, especially if I had drifted into the other lane rather than off of mine.

Now, I am not usually a person who falls asleep at the wheel. As a matter of fact, I am what I call a "driver." A driver is a person who loves to drive, who volunteers to take the wheel when a group gets together for dinner or a road trip. I enjoy driving (especially in Florida...nice flat state makes for easy roads). And usually all I need to stay awake is to sing along with the radio...but lately that has not been working.

Yes, I know I am stressed from trying to complete the move and get the apartment cleaned up, but this is very not like me to have issues behind the wheel. And yesterday wasn't the first time that I have felt so drowsy that my driving was affected. And I don't want to be dangerous behind the wheel, but that's what I am. But I now live 45 minutes away from work, so guess what? I'll be driving long distances every week day.

Tonight should be the last time I have to go to the apartment. Then I will be able to carpool to work with my mother and having another person in the car should help me stay awake. It's because when I am this tired (I am tired all the time now, or so it seems), and I get behind the wheel on a mind-numbing drive, even singing along with the radio fails to keep my brain active enough to not go asleep.

And the strange part is, I know I am getting some sleep. For instance, last night I went to bed at 10:30 p.m. and I semi-woke up at 5 a.m. My alarm was set for 6 a.m. but my mother was making noise in the kitchen so I woke up from that. At the least I got 6.5 hours of sleep. At best, I got 7.5 hours of sleep. So why do I still feel like crawling under my desk and conking out?

Any how, if anyone has suggestions on what could help me stay awake when behind the wheel, I am all ears. Coffee doesn't do much for me anymore, so that's not going to help. Perhaps once the last of the stuff is out of the apartment I can just relax and breathe...maybe that's all I need, some breathing room. *sigh*

Okay, so I am back from vacation...and what a vacation. Ever have something planned and then it all goes horribly wrong? Well, that was my vacation time, which was supposed to be spent moving from one city to my new house in a neighboring city. But it's not easy to move furniture and boxes when the guy who is being paid to install the flooring puts you off for an entire week!! It was the most wasted vacation ever...no fun to be had and nothing really accomplished. I am almost glad to be back to work.

Speaking of which...it's kind of sad when you work for someone for three years and they still don't know how to spell your first name. Sara...not Sarah. Considering she signs my checks every two weeks, I was almost certain she knew how to spell it. Guess I was expecting too much. *sigh*

I almost want to call the house just to see if I hear the sound of hammers in the background. That would mean they are still there working and that they haven't just put in three hours of work and then call it a day again. I really almost lost it on them on Saturday when they said that. And it takes a lot to get me mad or upset, so the fact I was shaking with anger and so upset I could cry means that I had reached the end of my rope and was about to use a length of it to hang the flooring guy. I hope once he's done that he never steps another foot back into our house.

Happily I only have a few things left at the apartment, some of which I will be bringing home tonight. Since I'm paid up until the end of the month, I can now take my time on the little things and cleaning up. I wasn't able to talk the manager into forgetting about the rate increase for my roomies, but I was able to get her to agree to have the carpets professionally cleaned. Which means I don't have to clean them as well as I had originally planned. I am a very good tenant...when I move out, it's move in ready. It's just part of who I am.

So, if all goes even a slight bit on the side of "well," then when I get home this evening my bedroom flooring will be completed, the hall and spare room will be completed, and the office will be well on it's way. This would mean I can fill up the dressers (since they won't have to be moved again), build the shoe rack, and install the TV.

Wow...so far this has been very little diet related of a post. *lol* Let's correct that.

I've been doing...ok...on eating. I did end up having Subway three days in a row thanks to friends and family who were helping me wanting to eat there and since I was paying (a typical exchange, food for assistance in moving), I kind of had to go with them. Not sure yet how this will impact the scale when I get the courage to step back on it. But, my clothes are definitely still loose and I've given more of them away (including some favorites because even though I loved them, I didn't want to ever fit them again).

Since my schedule is back to normal, my eating is getting that way too. I've gotten back on track with my breakfasts, snacks, and lunch. Now to get my parents to understand that me not eating what they are is not an insult to my mother's cooking but necessary to my health. They seem to understand but then mom will cook 4 cheese mashed potatoes or corn dripping with butter and wonder why there is only grilled chicken on my plate. *lol*

But today my boss (who can't spell my name) did make it a point to tell me how proud she was of me sticking to my diet and losing the weight. She said it's amazing the difference it has made. I actually scrolled through photos my friends have of me on Facebook (as I don't put up photos of myself) and just looking at them has me realizing I now weigh less than any of those photos...some of which are over four years old!

When I hit 60 lbs lost, my mother and I are headed to Islands of Adventure in Orlando to spend the whole day in Harry Potter World. I am so excited about it (as a big Harry Potter fan) that I hope to reach that goal by the end of the month! Since it opens to the public on June 18th, we may not be the first visitors, but we'll be early enough to see it before people start to deface it (I hate that people always have to break and destroy things that are so beautiful and creative).

I don't know if I will post again this week..but if I don't...have a great week my friends!

The shirt I am wearing today is so baggy on me it's shameful. And the best part was when I bought it, I could barely get it closed. *grin* And my pants...a size 20. That's like 4-6 sizes depending on if you want me to admit I was up to a size 26 before. I was fitting into size 24, but I probably shouldn't have been. *lol*

Losing weight has been great for my self esteem. And I look in the mirror and wonder, "what will another 50 lbs gone look like?" I used to avoid mirrors, now I stop and look, trying to really see me through the mental block I had in place for so long. The real test will be this weekend when I think the camera will be out. I previously avoided the camera like the plague, wanting no record of my existence at all. But now, I am curious to see what a picture will show. Pictures, taken in the moment with no careful posing that conceals extra bulges, looking for flattering lighting, or the ability to do an instant "do over" because it definitely is not a good shot...those are the ones that show the you that you don't want to see. But I want to see her. I want to see her because it gives me clarity on what I've done to myself and knowing how hard I've worked to just get [ here ] means that it will inspire me to keep going. I may never be as thin as my sister, but that doesn't mean I have to be as big as my dad.

Want to know my favorite part of losing the weight? Finding my jaw line and seeing my sloped chin start to disappear. I admit...I stare at my jaw and chin in my reflection now. I am lucky that the weight came off my face so fast, and I look at myself because it's been years since I recognized my features as a whole. Before it was, "oh, I have nice lips" and "my nose is cute." Now I look at the whole face (including the jaw line and chin) and think, "maybe people aren't lying when they say I am pretty." Only two times in my life has someone called me pretty/beautiful and I have ever believed them. For someone who is 31 years old, that's sad.

How can someone who is morbidly obese be vain? Am I vain because I feel prettier? I don't know. And I don't think I care. I am just happier, and I think that translates into feeling better about how I look. And I think I deserve to feel pretty...doesn't everyone?

Miss me?

Well, I've missed all of you! Reading your blogs keeps me on track and gives me inspiration, and boy I could use some of that (and sleep) right now!

Let's just say, yes...I have a house. And I have sore, aching muscles that are a result of spending over eight hours getting up and down to install a wood laminate floor. And it's not over yet. I still have three more rooms and a hallway to lay flooring in and since I am the only one who ~can~ get up and down and up and down, I get to be the one doing the work. There will be blood, sweat, and tears in that floor...but it'll look good when it's done.

No formal workouts this week or last...too busy packing boxes, moving boxes, and ripping up and installing flooring. I figure that should count towards a workout since I did so many squats and lunges on Sunday everything from the hips down is sore. Did you know the muscle on the back of your knee can be sore? Well, yes, it can be...especially if you have to wear knee pads since you're kneeling on concrete floors.

Still, things are moving along and I'm trying to stay on track with my eating. Having more "sandwiches" than usual and I fear the extra bread (even if it is low-cal and low-carb bread) will throw me off. Right now I am not showing a loss, but that could be my TOM and the extra water retention I'm experiencing. I mean, of course the TOM shows up smack dab in the middle of such a tumultuous time. Mother Nature and her darn little "gift!"

Well, I hope everyone is doing well and I can't wait to really get extra time to catch up on the blogs. Have a great week and if you're off for it...Happy Memorial Day ahead of time since I'll be busy that day. *lol*

Today is the house closing. Finally, after months of searching, several offers that fell through, and many anxious nights of trying to not picture myself in my house, in a matter of hours it will all be over. And while we are not moving in for a few weeks, at least it will be ours and no one can take that away from us. Big ball of stress that sits on my chest can finally go away. *whew*

But, that means I won't be online, won't be posting. To be honest, I haven't turned on my laptop at home in over four days. And on Sunday, I forgot my iPhone and was disconnected from the entire world for a whole day. It felt...wonderful. I have decided to "forget" my phone more often and drop the electronic leash that I've given myself.

So, diet-wise things are going to get crazy. I will do my best to make good choices and eat on schedule, but I fear that I will get too hungry because I will forget to stay on my eating times while we get the house ready. I am very regimented when it comes to eating...only at specific times of day do I eat so that I can control myself. If I get hungry between times, I tough it out because I get to eat again at "this" time. It works for me, but I fear that with everything that will be going on, I'll get too busy or forget to eat on time and then be too hungry and make a bad choice. *fingers crossed* I think I shall start carrying some of my healthy snacks in the car (the ones that don't melt) so I can hopefully avoid that.

This may be my last post for a while. I need to concentrate on packing up the apartment and getting the house ready, so that means there won't be much "spare" time. Ends up we're replacing all the flooring in the house with wood laminate...and though I would prefer to hire someone else to do the install, to save money we're doing it ourselves. This is a huge undertaking since it's a 2300 sq ft house. I am not looking forward to it...but I will enjoy the end product so I am just biting my tongue and stocking up on Aleve for my back. Let's just say Dr. Woosley (my chiropractor) is going to be seeing me for a while once we're done with this move. *lol*

So, other than weigh-in updates, I'll be gone. Good luck to the rest of you and keep up the good work. I'm sure I'll have lots of good blogs to catch up on when I get back.

Miss you already!