I hit goal!

 Those last two pounds too a loooooong time but I made it!  Yipee!  Yahoo!  Yee Haw.

Now the hard work begins .. Maintaining for the rest of my life!  Yipes!

2 lbs from goal!

 This is getting to the hard part.  Two lbs to go and then to maintain.  I feel wildly successful but only time and patience will tell the next chapter.  

I don't feel much different.  My mind still feels fat.  I need to work on that.  I did this for me and I feel good.  That's all that counts.  

Back from Vacation

 Was two pounds up when I weighed myself after vacation and two pounds back down this morning.  

I'm back on track and heading for those last 5 pounds!

Going on vacation for two weeks.

 I'm 5 lbs to goal and going on vacation for two weeks!

Wish me luck.  I'm scared!

On No! Not again!

 When I lost weight in 2005, I got down to 137 and couldn't seem to get any lower.  I still 'felt' fat and it no longer seemed worth it to eat smaller portions and deprive myself of treats just to stay at a weight I didn't even feel successful at.  

Here I am again.

I've lost 13 lbs and yet I still feel exactly the same.  How can I change that?

I've been 137 for a week now.  How can I break that plateau.

How can I not repeat the same mistakes from last time?  

An automated breakfast

  Dr Oz recommend this in You on a Diet.    Great book by the way!  

I had trouble finding a breakfast I could eat that was the same day after day after day.

But for three weeks, I've done it and I like it.  It has all 4 food groups and enough protein and fat to keep me filled until lunch.

1/2 cup fat free cottage cheese (milk and protein)

2 slices weight watchers bread (starch)

2 tsp light peanut butter (measured, one tsp per slice)

1/2 cup berries (blueberries, raspberries, or blackberries)

I never thought I could eat the same thing every day.  I use to be so hungry by 10 am but now I last easily.  I like my automated breakfast.  

3 years?!?!

 I met with a nutritionist this week to get some advice about maintaining.  Not that I'm there yet but 3 times (yes three times!) I have lost 20 lbs only to regain it.  I am 7 lbs to goal and I am so bound and determined to keep it off this time.  I feel like the really hard work will be when I'm at goal and I want to let down my guard a bit.

The nurtitionist said it takes THREE YEARS for your body to stabilze to the point where it isn't always fighting to get back to where you were.  THREE YEARS is such a long time!  Yet in 3 years I'll be 40.  I can take three years now to be at my goal weight the rest of my life.  I can do this.  I will do this.  

Strange

 I had a breakfast meeting this morning and was sitting beside a chatty fellow who I had never met before. He is on the heavy side and at one point turns to me in a discussion about biking and says, "You wouldn't know it not being heavy and all but it's hard to start exercising when your bigger like me." 

I was surprised into silence and didn't say anything.

Do you tell people when they make comments like that that you use to be a lot heavier?

In some ways it might encourage them to see that it is possible to lose. I wonder if I should carry a 'before' photo around with me to show people when they imply I could never understand 

Before and after photos

I can't figure out how to put my photos here.  If you want to see them you can see them here.... 

http://mommysavers.com/boards/beauty-health-fitness-weight-loss/83442-share-your-before-after-shots.html

Half way there!

 I am half way to goal

Hmmm ..... how to celebrate? I'm not buying new clothes until I reach goal and then everything I own will be donated and I start with a fresh new simple wardrobe.

The surprising parts so far: 
I've lost most of my muffin top / spare tire.
My breasts have completely vanished.
But my lower stomach hasn't changed at all! I hope that's going to reduce next.