I held on to 10 lbs of water last week. That might be an all time record. It is all gone today. Thank God!

It's only 4:10 pm, and I have eaten just about everything on my plan today...with the exception of 1 vegetable. I have that 1 vegetable serving in the microwave right now. Just a hungry day I guess. I still have a lot of water to drink.

I have been playing in the same 10 lb playground for too long. Im frustrated and need to break through this 10 lb prison. If I really give it my all this week....I know I can lose.

It's Monday - a good day to recommit to the week. It's a good "no excuses" week. I don't have meetings at hotels, dinners with friends or anything this week that might mess it all up for me. I start - today - with a walk, sweetened o's and 3/4 c. of blueberries. May the force be with us.

Not really sure what my deal is this week. I feel yucky and just let myself slip. I can be pretty good for 2 meals, but then one meal - I won't make the right choice. Yesterday, I was pretty darn good, even though I had to eat out twice.

But let me tell you about shopping! I had money, a big coupon and I got to go out kid free for the day. Someday I look forward to shopping with the rest of the public at every other store out there....but since 1994, I have been confined to the often hidden away Plus Departments of stores or Lane Bryant. I am not THERE yet, but I am looking forward to that someday. It inspires me.

I've known what size I am at Lane Bryant for years. I just grab those pants, in that particular style - and I am good to go. Well since losing 40 lbs since last Christmas, I have been trying to hang on to my bigger pants for as long as possible until I have to conceded to buying new ones. I decided at work last week....the pants HAD to go. I was actually holding them up by rolling the top up and using a belt...and at times OFFICE BINDER CLIPS to keep them on. HAHAHAHA.

What I was trying to avoid was Lane Bryant's newer sizing. They put you in a catagory of a shape and color and number that has nothing to do with your actual size. It forces you to talk to the people that work there to discuss what color and number they think you might be. I don't like to ADMIT what size my pants are outloud. Its a secret between, me , God and my pants.

I was so happy to buy new sized pants and *I just knew it*...smaller tops.  I spent almost 2 hours in this new Lane Bryant. I tried on probably 60 items. I had two sales people working with me. I was having a blast. I was pretending I was on "What Not To Wear". What would Stacey and Clinton REALLY think? What are the rules? I bought new bras and undies in new smaller sizes too....and even a really cool necklace. When all was said and done...between my double coupons and everything I found....$300 worth of clothes came to $120.

I am still riding the wave of happiness :)

I tucked my shirt in, for the first time in 10 years.

Don't let me fool you. I haven't lost this week. Due to PMS, I have gained this week (water)and yesterday - I ate RPF (real people food) for dinner.

I did -JUST - get off the phone though with someone who offered to bring me a gourmet lunch today......but I declined....citing that I am SO very close to my first Nutri System goal and have to stay on plan, but thanked him.

Day by day. Day by day.

 

 

...a belt. I haven't worn one of these babies in ages. They were just too uncomfortable before. Now its a requirement.

It's tough being a girl...that t.o.m. bloat. I totally shouldnt have - but I did...weigh myself at 6 am...weighed myself at 8 am (gained 2 lbs in 2 hours)...weighed myself at 8 pm (gained 6 lbs in 12 hours)....or 8lb in 14 hours. Yes this is how badly that T.O.M. effects me. I have been super super good all week. I know that all this insane bloating will go away in days.....but it still stinks. I tried to resume my workout even though I have an aching hip. Bad idea. My hip hurts again. Being a big cry baby today. Friends recommended that I cut out the diet coke to see if I bloat less. Its a good idea..and it makes me crabby all at once. complain complain complain

1 serving of strawberries sliced up thin (1 fruit) 1-2 servings of lettuce (1-2 veggies) 2 laughing cow light cheeses (=1 protein) 6 almonds crushed (=1 fat) Maple Hill Farms Fat Free Poppyseed Dressing I eat this salad when I am also having the chicken salad on melba toast. It's a very refreshing kind of meal. YUM!

I am spending the morning cleaning out my overstuffed closet....with no pants on. HAHAHA! I am trying on all the shorts, skirts, pants and other things I had stowed away for a thinner day. I had bought these shorts 2 years ago and I just figured they were my size so they had to fit...so I snapped the tag off and tried them on when I got home....and horror show...they did not fit. Hot DAMN! Today they do! I lost 40 lbs all together this year with and without NS. I'm very inspired. I have so much to get rid of to make room for my new, thinner life. :)

Well every weekend, I go out and buy all my veggies for the week. I feel like if I lined up all the veggies I've eaten over the past 77 days AND fruits...I could easily fill my entire house. As I was going through a drawer to find a utensil...I re-discovered my ziplock steam bags. These are a great thing people. Each bag tells you how long to cook each kind of veggie in the microwave in the bag - and they come out great! The produce is very expensive, especially living in the Northeast. I'm wondering what a pineapple costs where everyone is? It's $3.99 here. A package of strawberries is also $3.99. Blueberries are out of season and the tiniest package is an alarming $5.99! With all this in mind - I show no shame when the produce manager wheels out the "second hand" vegetables and fruits. For the most part, they are all in great condition and cost a fraction of the normal cost. For example, I almost bought a 5 lb bag of apples for $8. Buying the "seconds" - it cost me $1.10 for 5 lbs! A bag of lettuce here averages about $2.99...on the seconds shelf - .98 cents! It's really a great savings if you hit it just right. Today, I bought one of those giant vegetable trays - normally $15 for $6. I took all the carrots out and roasted them in the oven with an onion and mushrooms and divided them in single serving containers for the week. I washed the little tomatos and set them aside for salads for the week. The celery, I will eat today with my 1 tsp of peanut butter. The peapods, I am thinking about stirfrying. The broccoli, I steamed (enough for 2 servings). I keep buying a zuchini and a summer squash and steaming them. I keep them in a big container. When I made my eggwhite omlette in the morning, I had a heaping helping of squash/zuchini to it and it bulks it up. Very satisfying! Have a skinny day pals!