Same Weight, But Smaller

I am still 144, but my size 12's are baggy on me. Which is great! I don't care how much I weigh, I care what size I am.
I made it through 2 days of lunch meetings with just bringing my own lunch one day and just drinking water the other. It's still hard, at times, but not nearly as hard. I'm just really enjoying being smaller, that food doesn't give me nearly as good of a feeling - even chocolate! hehe
We are going out to a club Saturday night and I am debating whether I am going to have a glass of wine or not. I always feel anti-social if I don't have a drink, but I am anxious to get to the 130's, so we'll see.
I'm still eating an apple a day, 1/2 at a time. I really notice the difference when I miss it. However, I live in the apple state - Washington. And I'm having to get apples from New Zealand in order to get organic. And, get this, they are $3.99 a pound! How can they get away with that in the APPLE STATE! /sigh Oh well, I have to pay it, because I need it. And, by golly, I'm worth it! =)

144.2 Today

I love being in the weight range of 'normal', though it takes some getting used to again. And I'm obviously not where I want to be. But it's coming off...it seems like 1/2 pound a day is what I'm averaging (when I'm not plateauing). That's pretty darned good, in my opinion, especially because I use cleansing cream and moisturizer on my face.
I could see that I was getting more wrinkles when I was only using moisturizer every now and then. I know Dr. Simeon says people's skin looks younger with this diet, but not mine. I have definitely aged my skin doing this. I am hoping I can go in to a dermatologist for some treatment and reverse that a bit. My son says I look like I'm 33, so the weight loss is worth a little wear and tear on the skin.
Need to get ready for work, so I'll talk to you soon! =)

145.4 Today

Took me a few days to lose that pound, but I am definitely losing inches too. I'm scrambling for clothes that fit. Good thing I kept a few of my favorite items when I'd gained weight...otherwise this would be an expensive transition.
I got a lead on a job yesterday where I could eventually work from home and make 3 times what I'm making now. So, I will be exploring that this week. No, benefits, though...so, I'll need to think about that.
We are starting to go through the cycle of getting a lot of invitations to go out again..it seems to go in spurts, don't you think? It's hard to turn them down, and I don't turn down all of them, but sitting there drinking water or tea when everyone else is having cocktails and snacks is hard. I'm sure it must be like a person who is trying to quit smoking, going out to a bar with their smoker friends. I'm not feeling sorry for myself, though. I'm very happy and grateful for this diet and where I am right now.
Well, off to work. Hope you have a great day! =)

146.6 This Morning!

The back half of the 140's is going really fast...I hope the front half does. The 150's took so long, I was dreading how long this would take, but it's zooming by. I've lost 46 pounds so far, and it's worth every moment of inconvenience! My goal is getting closer by the day and I'm so excited! All I can say, is hang in there when you have a long plateau, once you are off of it, the weight loss starts moving fast again. Have a great day - I know I will! Tootles! =)

Another 1/2 Pound!

I am loving this! Ok, so it wasn't a pound, but heck, it's going the right direction and I'm not on a plateau. Woke up this morning with a migraine, but I'm feeling a bit better now. I'm not sure if it's from the chlorine from the pool, or stress. Fortunately, it started in the middle of the night.
When my migraines start during the day, I usually get really sick - vomiting, etc. But when they hit me in the middle of the night, they are a bit more gentle. I still had to call into work; if I push myself I will end up sick anyway. I felt bad leaving them without coverage...though maybe someone was able to come in.
I was on the internet a little bit ago, and I randomly came across this store that was selling bear shaped bookshelves. I was ready to move on to another site, when my eyes cause the word 'boobs.' What? So I read the description. It said what it was made from and that it was good for storing CDs, DVDs, boobs,....Obviously it was a Freudian slip, meant to be 'books'. So, I wrote them an email:
Your Joe Bookshelf says you can put 'boobs' on it. Not sure who has large enough breasts to need to rest theirs on a shelf, but probably not enough to warrant putting that in the ad...just a thought. And thanks for the laugh!
Gotta love funny typos, huh? Well, have a great evening! Tootles! =)

Down One More!

I'm down to 148.6 this morning. One more pound, and I'll have lost 35! I am feeling great and, honestly, looking pretty good! I am really happy to be one step closer to the finish line. Every day that I get on the scale and it's gone down - even a little bit - is a great day. If anything bad or annoying happens during that day, it doesn't bother me for long...I'm in too good of a mood! So, fortunately, I had a good loss today, because the afternoon was bad.
The morning started out good - I had a pedicure and had a fill done on my nails. I hung out a little bit with my hubby, which I always love, and then got ready for work. Work was truly bad. I signed a privacy clause, so I can't tell you what happened, but a mistake was made (not mine) and my manager sold me down the river so she didn't look bad. At least, that's what it looks like. And she was gone today and didn't answer my calls. We have a meeting planned for tomorrow. That should be fun...
On the positive side, I didn't plan on staying on this job for long anyway. So whatever happens is fine with me. I have met some really nice people and had a couple of laughs, so it's all good.
Well, I'm beat. I'm supposed to eat dinner now, but I'm so tired...too tired to cook. And I have to get up to be at work at 8am, so I'll probably just go to bed now. Goodnight! =)

I'm Dancing on Air!!

I have finally made it to the 140's! OK, so it's 149...but there is no '5' in the tens spot and I am ecstatic! Each 10 pounds seem to take longer and longer, but I'm getting there. I'm closer to my goal every day. AND, like I said before, I'm feeling good while I do it.
There's no sign of becoming immune to the hcg still. Remember, I was nervous to use this last vial because I was afraid of that. But I'm just having the normal amount of hungry days and non-hungry days people have depending on their hormones, etc. Most days, even if I am 'hungry', it's mostly just wanting the variety of food that I am unable to have right now (OK, and craving my favorite, which you know what that is!). On my worst hunger days, I just eat dinner earlier than normal, and then I'm fine.
On a different note, I met a helicopter pilot today. I've always thought flying a helicopter would be way more fun than an airplane. He was telling me some concepts you have to master in order to fly one, and I was fascinated. If I had the money, I would take lessons for sure. Maybe that should be my next goal once I master this? =)
We were supposed to go to 'The Dark Night' (Batman movie) tonight, but my eyes are burning. The senior center where I work has a pool, and I am very sensitive to chlorine...I hope I can keep this job up for a bit. I may end up going to the eye doctor to see if there are any drops I can use. The ones I have don't help at all. Anyway, if any of you have had a chance to see that movie, write to me and tell me what you think. I'd love to get a few reviews! Thanks and TTFN! =)

Another 1/2 Pound

OK, so I was hoping for more of a loss...but every little bit counts, right? And I think I'm losing more inches right now too, so that's great!
Have any of you fellow bloggers and readers ever seen the 2001-2005 BBC show 'Coupling'? It's not a show I'd recommend to my parents or to people who get embarrassed talking about sex, since that's a huge part of the show. But if you are a person who finds the difficulties of asking another person out for a date funny, and the strangeness of dating different personalities entertaining, then I highly recommend you buying there DVD's. I was laughing so hard yesterday that strange noises were coming out of my mouth...squeaks and gasps and who knows what else. I wasn't really listening to me, I was watching the masterful comedic antics of these amazing British actors. Want an all out laugh? Watch this show, but don't be drinking anything while watching, or it will come out your nose! =)
I need to clean house today and help my son get his new house clean, but I'd rather sit around and watch 'Coupling'...and if we're going to be talking about rathers, well, I'd rather be drinking a Caramel Macchiato right now instead of tea. Come to think of it, I'd rather be on a warm sunny beach laying on a hammock strung between 2 palm trees drinking a Pina Colada. But then the reality of not having any money for that right now, hit home and I'm looking around and /sigh time to get cleaning. Tootles! =)

Every Little Bit Counts!

Ok, so I'm only down 1/2 of a pound, but at least it means I'm into new territory AND and through with that plateau! Happy, Happy! =) 2 weeks ago, I was hoping to be in the 140's this week, but I think it will be next week. (Doubting that I will lose 1 1/2 pounds tonight. Though I will get to sleep in, so it could happen.) I am feeling good in the meantime, so I'm doin' fine!
I am now CPR/AED/First Aid Certified. I went to a class today. I'd never used a defibrillator before, (they are very cool!) and it had been years since I had gotten my CPR and First Aid. Not much has changed...people still bleed the same way and need to be bandaged the same way, hehe. Actually one change I found interesting...they don't have you take the pulse of an unconscious person. You watch and listen for breathing for up to 10 seconds, and then start CPR. People were wasting too much time trying to find a pulse, and every minute you delay giving a heart attack victim CPR and AED, is 10% LESS chance of them surviving. That's huge! I'd rather not have to use my CPR training on someone again, but if I do need to, there will be NO delay!
The Red Cross puts on a good class, with videos and dummies to use, and it's only $54 to get certified in all areas. I HIGHLY recommend it for everyone...you never know who's life will be saved...maybe a loved one's.
I'm having a hungry day today (probably because I could smell the food from the Red Cross's cafeteria all day.) And tomorrow is my day off of shots. I'm going to have to keep myself totally distracted tomorrow so I don't find myself thinking about food all day. I have been kind of keeping track, and 'they' are right. I do find I only have 3-4 hungry days a week. Unfortunately, being a food addict, those days are pretty hard, at times. BUT, I shall prevail! hehe Tootles! =)

Sorry for the Neglect

It's not that I haven't thought about you...I have. But remember Thumper on the movie Bambi? His mother told him, "If you can't say anything nice. Don't say anything at all." But you have been here supporting me for all of these months, so here's the low down:
First, I am not a morning person and I've had to get up at 5:30 every morning for work. "So, what?" you say. Well, I'm not sleeping for more than 4 hours, so I'm not losing weight. I am being perfect on this diet, and not losing weight because of a job sucks! I'd rather be cheating and not lose.../sigh.
Second, my job is a cross between being bored out of my head, and trying to keep up with all of the political correctness nonsense. 'Nuff said.
Well, I could seriously go on to Third and Fourth, but you get the idea. There just isn't anything to talk about that's positive - especially in relation to my diet.
So, my friends, I promise to do something, or at least find something, entertaining to talk about tomorrow. AND I promise, to not neglect you anymore. Tootles! =)

I Hate Bugs!

I got eaten alive yesterday at my brother-in-laws house, and was so itchy last night I couldn't sleep. So, of course, no weight loss. But I actually don't even care about that - I want to stop itching!!! AAHHHH!!!
OK, I'm done complaining (I think). I went in for orientation on my new job. There were 2 of us going through it, which should have made it more interesting...it didn't. But honestly, how do you make signing your name 50 times to documents you read interesting? Well, I guess you don't. I was supposed to get a TB shot, but the nurse was gone. Then I drove to where they wanted me to get my drug test (they asked me to go as soon as I was done there.) The place was closed.
Now, don't get me wrong...I'm not complaining. But seriously, if you are going to schedule an hour long orientation at 3pm, and then ask your new employees to go take a drug test as soon as they were done, wouldn't you make sure the place was open? It's not a new place they were sending us to, either. When she was telling us how to get there, she said, "They know us...it's where we always go. So, just hand them the paperwork, and they will direct you from there." I would think they would know it closes at 3:30...but that's just me.
On a good note...I had asked my hubby the last time we were at the mall to find someone who is my size, so I could get an idea of what I look like from an outsider's opinion. He didn't find anyone that day and I thought he'd forgotten about it. We went to Whole Foods today, and he pointed out a woman and said, "You are smaller than her." I was shocked! She looked good, and I still don't see that when I look in the mirror. I tried not to stare at her, but I was definitely watching her periodically, while we were both getting meat from the meat counter. I left there feeling really good. Hope you feel good too! Tootles! =)

Well, Nothing Good Lats Forever

I am on another plateau. It doesn't surprise me, as I'd been this weight before years ago, and I know my body remembers. It's ok...I'm just going to keep on, keeping on. I know that sooner or later, it will jump-start again.
We had a great time down at the river yesterday. We took our screen tent down and set it up under the trees in front of the river. It's a good thing we had that, too, because the cotton from the cotton-wood trees was blowing so think that the sides of the tent were covered with fluff.
Later on, the mosquitoes came out. They wanted in really bad, but couldn't get past the screen. Unfortunately, my hubby got eaten alive when we left to hike up to the car. He's covered in bites! We had to get him on Benadryl really fast...that many bites makes a person very sick. I'm not sure why they attacked him and not me. We were discussing on the way home why that could be. I'm going to do some research today on it.
I wish parks would spray for mosquitoes, or better yet, get that all natural stuff made from concentrated garlic, that mosquitoes, ticks and fleas all hate, and spray that. Of course then you have to wonder...if you don't kill the bugs, you just sprayed stuff that kept them away, where would they go? It's too bad that humans have caused the extinction of so many species of animals and birds, and yet we still have to deal with the pesky bugs. I'm all for annihilating those that are harmful to humans. And don't preach to me about the food chain. Animals will adapt, or perish. That's the way it's always been.
On to a lighter subject...I get to go to my niece's birthday party today. She turned 13. Wow! A teenager. It's amazing how fast the years have gone. She's at the age now where she'd rather be with her friends than adults, but in a few years, we will have fun again. Learning to be friends as 'grown-ups'. That will be great. Tootles! =)

152.4! This is fun!

I LOVE getting on the scales as seeing a big loss! I had been a little nervous about whether I was actually going to lose weight because I had a lot of salt on my asparagus yesterday, and I put a spoonful of salsa on my chicken...I need a new taste. But it was obviously OK. I had a lot of water yesterday, so that may have helped.
I went to Whole Foods yesterday, and they've stopped carrying Z-sweet. I was so bummed, because I have it with tea every day. I got online to maybe order it, but the shipping makes it cost way more than at a store. I was sipping my tea this morning and missing the sweet flavor, when my hubby asked me to get the directions to the closest Market of Choice - the only supermarket in the area that has it. It's still quite a drive, but he took his motorcycle so the gas costs wouldn't break the bank. He brought some home while I went to my second interview. He's SUCH a sweetie!!!
And more good news! I got the job and I start on Monday! Yippee! While I'm in training, I will be working mornings, and (groan!) I'm not a morning person. But once I'm trained, it's afternoons. So, I go in Monday to get the drug test, TB shot, and orientation out of the way. I will keep you posted on my duties, etc. as i learn them. But for now, I need to go enjoy the sunshine! Have a great weekend! =)

Yippee! 153.8!

I was so excited on the scales this morning! So, note to self: Don't use the dregs of your hcg bottle...it makes you plateau. AND makes you ravenously hungry! I feel so much better on the 'new' mix.
I got a call for a second interview on Friday. It has obviously come down to me and at least one other person. I really want this job, so please keep your fingers crossed. Well, periodically...it's hard to go through your day with pretzel fingers...
It's going to be a PERFECT weather day today - clear and 81 degrees! We will celebrate my weight loss by spending some time outside enjoying the summer. Hope you have a chance to do that too! Summer goes by so fast, and before you know it, it's cold and rainy again. So, don't waste the good days doing chores - get out there and enjoy! Tootles! =)

2 Days

Well, it took me 2 days to get that pound off, but it's finally gone. I think the main problem was that I was at the bottom of my hcg vial, and it wasn't working very well. I was sooo hungry yesterday! But I mixed up a new batch today and I'm hoping the scales will move faster again.
I was proud of myself yesterday, I have to admit. I was so hungry, and yet I finished making the strawberry ice cream. I'd had enough for 2 batches...so I made one on Monday and one yesterday. For some reason the 2nd batch was even better than the first, my son and hubby said. And it looked it too. I was scraping off the mixer arm from the machine and it looked and smelled so good! I just wanted to shove it in my mouth! But even more than that one minute of yum, I want to be back to normal size again...so I resisted. I tell you, though...no more making sweets for a while. Well, my sister's birthday in August 4th, and I promised I make her a dessert...(I hate that 'dessert' is spelled with 2 S's, and 'desert' with 1...darned English language). hehe
Did I tell you I had an interview on Monday? It's at a gym for seniors. It sounds and looks like an amazing place - if I was a senior I would definitely go there! I should know later this week if I got the job. It's just part time, but has good medical benefits, and that's worth a lot! :)
OK, time to clean...I've put it off long enough. Have a great day and we'll talk soon! Tootles! =)

Only 1 Pound! Yippee!

I had such a good time with my friends and only gained a pound! I am back on the straight and narrow today - even though I'm making homemade ice cream for my niece. Fresh strawberry ice cream, to be exact. But, really, I DO know that nothing tastes as good as being thin feels, and I have lots I want to do when I get thin.
We were going to have a big bon fire tonight, but the wind hasn't died down the way it was supposed to...so we are having to postpone...again. I think we've had to do that 2? 3? times already.../sigh. The weather this year is atrocious! Oh well...
So here we go losing the same pound for the 3rd time...hehe. I wonder if it will just get harder and harder to stay 'good' as I get smaller...I sure hope not! I'll be sure to keep you posted! =)

Unexpected Gliches

We heard from friends who live out of town last night that they were in town and wanted to meet for breakfast at 8am at a diner in town. I didn't want to deal with telling people I was dieting, so I asked if it would bother them if I just drank tea - that I don't eat that early. They were fine about it, so off we went. I sat there and had tea, and chatted and had a good time.
Then they invited us to run around Portland with them, and as we hadn't seen them in a year, we agreed. This put me in a bad place, as far as my diet went. I knew we wouldn't eat at anyplace that would have anything I could eat. But I am tired of constantly turning people down to do things because of my diet. So, I gave myself permission to cheat for the day and to just enjoy myself.
And, enjoy I did! They are such fun people - we really laughed a lot! Both are chefs, also. He is a pastry chef and she is a savory chef, so they really like food! I will hate getting on the scale tomorrow, but who knows when we will see them again?
Anyway, what's done is done, and I'm going to just jump back on the wagon. Wish me luck! =)

Gotta Hate Plateaus!

I'm exactly 155 today. Can't seem to get past that weight. It makes it harder to be good, that's for sure! But I've been good. I even went to the local farm where their strawberries had been picked and dropped off 1/2 hour earlier. I bought a flat and brought them home and made 2 strawberry pies for my mom's birthday. I had fun serving them to everyone...they all had seconds, which is a huge compliment, and I just kept thinking that 'Nothing tastes as good as being thin feels!' And it's true.
I have a 1/2 of a flat left and am going to make Freezer jam. My hubby loves it and if I have enough, I will give my son, mom, and sister a jar. It's fun to give food gifts, especially ones I've made myself. It's usually cookies or fudge I give out...but this will be fun too.
I've been enjoying riding on the back of my hubby's motorcycle - more this year than last. I FIT better this year, though we need to get a new seat, as I don't have as much cushion on my hinny anymore, hehe.
Please keep your fingers crossed for me...I'd really like to get down below 155 tomorrow. I'll keep you posted. Tootles! =)

Almost, But Not Quite

...to the weight I was for the party. Re-losing weight sucks, you know? Oh well...at least it's coming off...
None of the pictures from the party will work for this blog, so I'll just have to get batteries for the camera and bite the bullet. I just HATE having my picture takes, so I was really hoping for the best from the party pics. All of those are either with people, or have me sitting down.
We are going to see the movie 'Wall-E' today. I just love cartoons and I heard that this one is good - I sure hope so. I'll give you my review tomorrow. Ok, off to the grocery store. Tootles! =)

Feeling Kind of Blah

Nothing to report about the diet...not really losing weight, but I didn't really follow it the last couple of days due to being so headachy from the heat. I thought I was well enough to go on a motorcycle ride with my hubby yesterday. The ride was nice, especially the parts out in the country by the river, but I got way over heated and had to go back to bed.
I'm better now, but I'm going to make sure I stay cool this week. I weighed 157 today, so I need to loose 1 1/2 pounds to get back to where I was Saturday. I hope to have that gone tomorrow...it's good to have hope, huh? hehe
We are getting the pictures back today from the photographer we hired for the party. If we got any good ones of me, I will post one. Tootles! =)