I read the success stories of people losing 40, 50, 60 pounds in 6 months and for a while I was beating myself up for not getting to my goal.  Then at face to face meeting with NS's "mother hen" PamSB, she pointed out something I had overlooked.  I kept saying I was spending a lot of time "off plan" and Pam pointed out that I hadn't gained any weight through all that, and had maintained at around 139-140 for a long time.  She's right!  I've actually learned how to maintain an over 20 pound weight loss!!!!

I've been really good the past week, and with another week and a half to go I will be at 138 prior to my next shipment, so I'll have that little goal bear.  But more importantly, I know that I can keep at the weight I am!

I've had some really nice NSV's along the way.  I've gotten back into lots of my clothes, took in some pants to be taken in, and am wearing a pair today that will likely need to be taken in as well.  I did all this without as much exercise as I should have been doing.  And instead of beating myself up for not exercising and not being at goal yet, I'm starting to celebrate my success.  I wonder sometimes if we are all too quick to jump on our own perceived failures and not congratulate ourselves for what we actually have accomplished.

When I first joined NS I put 140 as my goal.  I changed it to 138 so I'd have the "float" of a couple of pounds, with the intention of staying around the 140 mark.  And that's exactly what I have been doing.  I know that NS has given me the tools to stay at this healthier weight.  I also know that I truly have permanently changed my eating habits.  I don't eat as much at one off-plan meal as I used to.  I think before I stuff something high calorie into my mouth.  Even when I cheat it's not as much, or as bad, as I used to.

In one week I'll officially qualify to join AARP.  That has me totally freaked out and depressed, as I never have been able to think of myself as that age.  But I also can, for the first time in many years, get on the scale at the doctor's office and not cringe at what I see.

I'm truly grateful for NS.  And I'm grateful especially to the boards - I don't think I'd have stuck it out with the friendship and support of so many people I may never meet.  Between recipes for taking away boredom, info on the buddy bucks program (even though it's all messed up now, it has saved me a fair amount of coin over the past 6 months), even clueing me in to the Nourish items at Big Lots, the boards are a key component of my success.  And I've made friends too, even more importantlhy.

So for the next week and a half I'm working the plan to hit that magic number.  And I know I'll do it.  But more importantly, I know I won't ever see 150 on my scale again!