The perfect ending to a perfect week...

Weigh in was amazing this morning!

My hard work this past week paid off!!

I lost 4.8 pounds!!!

Big Woo Hoo!!!!!!!!

I worked so hard for that loss! I think that's what I'm going to have to do from now on. It used to be easy to lose weight. A year ago, if I wanted to lose 4 pounds, all I'd have to do is cut back a little. But a year ago, I was about 40 pounds heavier and I weighed about 210 pounds than I do now. I'm learning that the more weight you have the easier it is to come off. Now, though, I'm really having to work my butt off—literally—to see a result.

I had fun doing it, though. I ran 5 days last week.

Wait a minute! 5 DAYS IN A ROW!!!
I can't remember the last time I exercised 5 DAYS IN A ROW! I have the hardest time with Monday mornings. I don't know what it is about Monday mornings, but I just CAN'T get my butt out of bed on to go exercising. That bed is so warm and fuzzy. It's like I'm laying on a warm, creamy layer of whipped cream—breath that visual in (you like how everything relates to food with me?). And I usually feel so rested, too. The last thing I want to do is upset the harmonious feelings—physical and emotional—to go work out. It's like throwing a brick in your lap. You know?

I have to admit, though, that I would not have gotten up this past Monday morning and exercised had it not been for hubby. He's rededicated himself to losing again. He's gained quite a bit, love his heart, this past year. He's been through so much, too. Twice in the hospital, doctors telling him to take it easy on the exercise for fear of it increasing his risk for heart problems, losing his job and fighting so hard to find a new one (which used to be a snap—but not in this economy any more). It's no wonder he's gained some of it back. But he's not liking it one bit so he's been re-energized to get back at it again. Which is good for me, because now I can go to the gym.

I don't know if I've mentioned it, but we have a gym membership that's in his name, only, and he has unlimited guests he can bring with him every day (for only $10 a month, not bad, huh?!). So, although it's affordable, its inconvenient when he doesn't want to go. But this week, (and some last week), he wanted to go every morning. Which includes Monday morning. So he peeled my lazy butt out of bed and made me go.

I was so grateful!!

It started the week off great. My thoughts were, if I could exercise on Monday, surely I could do it all 5 days. And I did!

We only went to the gym 3 times, but the other two days I ran outside in the neighborhood. Which I really like. I just have to get past the boredom of it. But you guys had some great suggestions for me yesterday. Like head washers anonymous (which is such a funky blog name, don't you think?) suggested listening to This American Life. Wow, I'd forgotten all about Ira Glass and his wonderful "This American Life" show. I've watched many of his Showtime specials and I catch him on the weekend on the local NPR station. (I put a gadget over to the right if you want to check it out.) And I can download his radio show podcast free each week. Sweet! I also LOVE A Prairie Home Companion. I'd forgotten all about that one, too. I can download his podcasts, too. I LOVE hearing the news from Lake Wobegon! And JC reminded me how I love watching my neighbors' yards. Though when I go outside of the neighborhood, I run between the road and a wall the whole way, just about. But I love looking at the other houses and seeing how they've landscaped their yards. I love the eb and flow of the neighborhood, too. I can depend on it, if that makes any sense. Thanks guys! You mean so much to me. I love reading your comments because you think of things that I just don't think about sometimes.

I think over the weekend, I'll just do my evening walks. To give my legs a rest. But come Monday morning, I'm back at it. At least that's the plan.

If hubby can't go to the gym, I'll just run outside. Now I know I can do that. After my huge victory yesterday!

I can't believe I'm this excited about weight loss again. I really didn't think it would happen again. I've been so down and so depressed about all of the sacrifices not paying off for the past several months. Especially after my huge let down for not reaching my 100 pound loss by Thanksgiving. That was really a huge blow for me. I tried to tell myself it was okay and I'd just have to wait and reach the 100 pound mark at a later date. But it really hurt. I really started to question why I was doing all this hard work for.

Then after Thanksgiving hit with a vengeance, Christmas brought me TONS of baking and indulgences. Remember I gained 8.4 pounds in one week—the week of Christmas. Which, by the way, I'm still trying to work off. I still have 1.6 pounds to get off to put me where I was the weekend before Christmas. I'm not worried about it, though, I know now that if I can just exercise, preferably running, it'll come off.

Of course I'm not going to expect 4 pounds again. My goal is one pound a week but even I know that's completely unrealistic, given how close I am to goal. My realistic goal is a half a pound a week. I have to keep myself firmly grounded in the realistic right now.

Well, I gotta get off here, now. I gotta get ready to go do something I haven't done in months, maybe even a year. I really can't remember the last time we've done this. We're going to the park to fly remote control airplanes. Hubby and his dad are RC enthusiasts. And I dearly LOVE going to fly planes on Saturday mornings. It's so much fun. I get to sit and talk with his mom uninterrupted for an hour or two—which is awesome. And they're always doing something silly and having great fun flying. And we usually get a plane stuck in a tree maybe every other time we fly—not hubby's plane, though. :) It's just so much fun!!!

So I'm off.

Hope you guys have a great Saturday!

P.S. Donna B, the 5k is the first week in February. I'll get the details and post them so you guys can start cheering me on.

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