If anyone sees a red weather balloon today - please let me know. It should have a number from 1-10 attached beneath it. I need the number and the approximate address or GPS coordinates (within a mile). Thanks! Please send me a PM if you see one!

Well, it's my 40th day and I'm proud to say I'm still 100%!! It's not even hard, it's such a habit now. For the first time in my life regular exercise is also a habit. I knew from the beginning that this time was going to be different. I could sense that this was the time I make it all the way. I still feel that way today. Boy those milestones feel good:)

I was reading some of the posts about people going off plan and their reactions (good and bad) to it. It inspired me to share my strategy so far.

I know for me that I'm not ready to allow myself any leeway yet. I will stay 100% with no other option available for a good while. I know I'm not strong enough yet to dabble on the dark side without serious consequences. When I know that there isn't a choice, it's kind of a relief. I don't think about it, I just do it. I always write out my meals in my planner at least a day in advance, sometimes several days before. That way my eating isn't about choices, it's about following what's on my list. That I can do. It works for me.

I joined a challenge team that keeps me motivated to get exercise every day. I find that usually I go above and beyond the challenge, because once I've started, I find I enjoy it and continue. I've already noticed an increase in my endurance and that things are usually easier for me in general. I find that when I sit for extended periods I get jumpy and want to go do something. I could sit for hours before and not think about it.

I plan ahead so bad things don't happen to me. If I'm leaving the house and don't know when I'm coming back, I pack everything I need for the rest of the day and take it with me. I also take bottles of water that I've refilled and keep in the fridge to take along. I never, never walk out of the house with nothing. Too dangerous. Something might stall me in my day and then I'll get overly hungry and make bad choices. I've discovered that taking an "add water" type meal is very easy. You just stop at one of the gas stations with a deli and get a cup of hot water (usually located on the coffee machine). They don't usually even charge me for the cup. I'll generally buy a piece of fruit or a bottle of water so I'm not just using them. I pour the water in, stir, and put it in the cupholder until it's ready. If you can't find a gas station like that, I've walked into Burger King and gotten apple fries (just sliced apples in the shape of french fries) and get a cup of hot water from them. They will charge you for the cup, but it's only about 10 cents.

If I'm around people and situations with foods that are not for me, I don't even look at them (the foods, not the people LOL). If I don't know what is on the buffet table, it doesn't call my name. Much easier to take my own meals and snacks than to hope I can make some good choices from amongst all that temptation. Too dangerous. When people ask me why I'm not getting anything, I say "I'm on NS and I've brought my own food". No one has ever questioned that answer or tried to get me to sway from my resolve. If there are people like that in your life, they either need a good talking to or they shouldn't be in your life. People that care about you will honor your struggle to a healthy way of life!

Be healthy!

Peggy

Do you ever feel like you were meant to be somewhere?

I was headed out of town and for some reason headed in the wrong direction. (I'm going that way tomorrow). While mindlessly proceeding in the wrong direction, I came over a hill and there's this big beautiful golden retriever running down the road in BETWEEN the two lanes of busy traffic. I have a sports car, so he was pretty much eye level with me. I swear I saw "help!" in his eyes.

I pulled a quick U-turn, put the flashers on, stopped in the middle of the lane so no one could move, and called him over. Thankfully he came to me. I grabbed his collar through my window and a guy in a big recycling truck that was behind me came out and grabbed him, while I pulled over. Then another lady joined us.

He had a number on his collar, but no one was home. What to do? He also had a rabies tag that had a vet on it, so I called there and they tracked his owner through the serial number on the rabies tag (make sure your dogs wear these - they have multiple uses!). They had a cell number for the owner, but no answer there either. So the vet said to bring him there and they'd keep him until they could find the owner.

Tonight the owner called and thanked me profusely for rescuing Rudy. He made it home safely. Whew!

It amazed me how many people just kept on going. They had to know he would have gotten hit. There was a hill on both sides and people barrel over them. Kinda reminds us that we need to get involved sometimes! If you don't, who will?

Well, it's day 22 and I'm still 100%! I usually would have gotten bored with a diet about a week ago and drifted away. That's my usual pattern. But this time is different, I felt that before I even got the box. I'm ready to go all the way finally!

I'm down another 2.5 lbs this week for a total of 11.1 - yeah!! I've set a goal each week for number of steps that increases by 500 each week and I've exceeded it every time. I've joined the Wii challenge team, which I absolutely love and has me doing things I didn't know I could do - like run! I haven't run in years and didn't even think I could, but I did the last two days! Not a long distance, but it's a start!

I'm feeling happier than I've felt in a long time. I have a lot more energy and I feel more cheerful. Even my house is feeling it. My surroundings tend to reflect how I'm feeling, so my house is cleaner than it was and I'm getting some projects done that I put off for far too long.

On a side note, has anyone else noticed that your pants get longer when you lose weight? I guess they don't go "out" as much. Just an oddball observation.

Have a great week everyone!

Still 100% - I've lost more than 9 lbs. Love the Wii Challenge I've joined. It really gets me working on a variety of things and longer than I would on my own. I can definitely feel it in those muscles I haven't used in a while! Well, off to the showers, just wanted to capture my mood :)

 

Great job - keep up the great work! It will pay off in energy gained and lbs lost.

 

Peggy

I'm really enjoying all the fresh fruits and veggies. It's nice to not worry about making the entree, so you can focus on the sides. I took a road trip yesterday and still stayed on plan. I brought food with me and made everything finger friendly. I munched on blueberries, celery, radishes, etc., spreading the pieces of my meals out over the day. At dinnertime I stopped at one of those gas stations with a deli, where I got a cup of hot water, a banana, and a single serve packet of FF dressing. I poured the water into my Mac &  Cheese with Beef, put the dressing on my salad greens I had brought with me. It really worked out well. I wasn't tempted by all the chips and stuff in the store because I was well fed (and watered) all day. It just shows it can be done. That means the next time I won't tell myself it can't and make excuses.

Have a healthy weekend everyone. I'm truly embracing the saying "Eat to live, don't live to eat". That's a first for me.

Keep up the good work!

Yeah!! I've seen a 3 in front for the LAST time! Woo hoo!!

I can't wait for my one week weigh in tomorrow. I know I've already lost 7 lbs, so we'll see the week's total tomorrow morning. My body feels good and I'm enjoying the diet. Well, time for bed. I'm the judge of elections for one of the local precincts tomorrow, so it's going to be a VERY long day. I prepared all my food for tomorrow, so I can take it with me. There's a microwave in the room next to the polling area, so all is good! Have a good night everyone.

Keep up the great work, you're going to make it this time!!

I ran across this quote on another site and thought it made a lot of sense.

Stop living life for what's around the corner and start enjoying the walk down the street.

- Grant L. Miller, motivational guru

I certainly adopt that attitude in my travels - I've always been as much about the journey as the destination, but I must confess I don't follow it in my regular life. I think a lot about what I'll do when I'm thin. I think it kinda gives me an "out". I'll have to pay more attention to that so I can nip it in the bud when I start thinking that way.

Today I planned out everything for the week so I won't have to think about anything to follow the program. I also did some walking.

Things really feel different this time. I feel like I can do this. Usually I get bored after a couple weeks and sabotage myself, but something tells me this time is going to be the time I make it.

Keep up the good work!