What do you get when you reach the top level of the game...

Well, I'm still in the game. I'm not gonna quit 'til I achieve the highest level possible. I'm not sure what level that is, but I'm gonna make it.

You ever play some of those Facebook games? Some of them are kinda cool. Some of them are just down right snarky and "are you kidding me?!". I've started playing a new one called Baking Life. It's kinda cute. Kinda basic. But I thoroughly enjoy it. I can bake cupcakes, tiramisu,  meringue pie, brownies, and stuff like that. I'm at level 37 (or something like that) and I don't know what the top level is. I can't find it in the documentation or help section anywhere. So i don't know what the top level is. But I still want to try and reach it--whatever it is!

That's kinda how I feel with my weight loss right now. I don't know what the top level is or rather then "end" of my journey, but I'm going to keep going until I get there.

Sounds pretty sadomasochistic to me! It's like someone handing you a book to read, but every time you turn the page, you're no closer to the end of the book. But it's such a good book, you just can't put it down.

So I'm going to whine and complain about this "never ending" journey I'm on with the hopes that some day, I'll see the end of the trail. 

And my hope is that you'll be traveling right along side with me keeping me company. And likewise, I'll be keeping you company. Together, I know we'll reach the top level and declare victory! I know it!

So last week I had a horrible detour back a couple of levels. I told you I gained like 5 or 6 pounds in the matter of just a few days. ... Miracle upon miracle, I was able to get them off before the end of the week. By last Saturday, I'd only gained 4/10ths of a pound.

You know how I did it? I drastically reduced my calorie intake for a couple of days. NOT RECOMMENDED!!! Please do not try this at home! But it worked, in a pinch.

You know those cereal box diets where they say give us 6 weeks and you'll lose 10 pounds? Well, that's an awful short period of time to lose 10 pounds. But it's basically just reducing your calorie intake over a short period of time. Something that's okay, but not recommended for a long period of time.

But it worked for me.

Then this past week, I was up almost 4 pounds by the end of last weekend and I was able to get all but 8/10ths of it back off (I gained 8/10ths at this morning's weigh in). 

All I did to lose that weight was just to eat my regular 21 points a day and ate balanced foods, lots of water, high protein and fiber, etc.

Now my challenge for this weekend is to only gain 2 pounds. I'm tired of gaining 4-6 pounds on the weekends and then striving all week to get it back off. NOT FUN! But 2 pounds I can handle.

So today, I'm splurging on my yummy yummy foods, but not TOO much. Probably use up most of my flex points. Tomorrow I may indulge a bit, but it'll be very small portions so I can stay on points for the day. Then hopefully by next Saturday I will have actually pulled a loss.

I mean I'm only about 7 pounds away from goal. And each week I lose anywhere from 3 to 6 pounds just from eating on plan. Imagine how well I'll do if I just stick to the plan all weekend. I don't think I'm ready to give up my Saturday splurges quite yet, but I think I'm ready to be a little more sensible about them. And then give up my Sunday splurges altogether. And by "splurge" I mean, eating what I want and how much of it I want.

Thank you for all your encouragement lately. I means so much to me. More than you could possibly know. Together we'll make it to the top level and win the big prize. (I hope mine's more than just a brightly colored jewel :)

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