Day 85

Okay, so the pressure is ON like DONKEY KONG! (stole that from Emily J. from a year or so ago...).  Happy day today.  This whole thing reminds of my struggles with math growing up....basically I'm a math dork.  BUT, when I was "on" in math and I got the right answers and it all made sense (which was RA-ARE) I LOVED math and considered myself an FG (msg me if you need to know what that means).  And of course MOST days, I felt like I needed to be on the short bus, the very short bus because I'm a math moron.  Weight loss feels the same.....on the weeks I lose (and not even lose big) I'm very pleased, dare I say, ALMOST getting excited.  On the weeks I gain, I'm not very happy but there's almost usually ALWAYS a culprit (didn't drink enough water, ate out, 'modified' too much etc.).  On the weeks I maintain, I consider it a win, just like in blackjack a push is a win and believe me that is TRUE!!!   SO, drumroll please..............................

Since last Saturday, I'm down 9 lbs.  NOW, before you get your panties in a twist, let me remind you I had gained 3.5 lbs. the week before so I needed to make up lost ground.  So the way I see it, I'm down 5.5 lbs for the week which of COURSE is pretty kick ass.  How'd I do it this week?  Well I didn't eat out.  Okay, so I had tequila, lime chicken over shredded lettuces with, yes, some cheese on Thursday night at village fest but it was prepared on the spot and not loaded with stuff....just really chicken strips, peppers, onion, and a little tequila/lime lovin'.  Serving it over shredded lettuce vs. rice or noodles??????  Geunius!   We've learned to LOVE lettuce for wrapping and eating things.  It's suprisingly sturdy, thick almost, and a much better alternative to tortillas, rice wrappers, BUNS, etc.  Frankly, I cannot believe I don't MISS bread.  I really don't!  AND, my big confession, I had a Carl's Jr. cheeseburger on Wed. (just a reg. one not one of their fancy ones) but no fries (of course!!!).  BUT the rest of the week, some days I only ate 4 MR instead of my available 5 and kept our lean and green meals really lean and green.  Also, I didn't drink as much water this week (and you know my theory about drinking the water to lose the weight) so I don't know that helped as much.  But I'm just mentioning it.  And no, I didn't really do any official 'exercise' either.  Oh, but I did have quite a few shakes too.  The shakes are DEFINITELY key for me.  If I've eaten something I really shouldn't or had a bad day or went out or whatever, the next day is a min. 3 shake day (sometimes 4) and that usually helps temper the damage. 

The main thing is, I finally really understand how to gain and lose weight.....if you eat too much you gain if you eat less you lose.  It really IS that simple.  I have also learned that sugar is the devil's favored child.  No, don't get me wrong, I love you sugar but we can't be friends any more or at least the co-dependent, friends we have been; BUT it really does trigger you to want more!!  I'd heard this for years but never believed it but I've never cut out sugar for more than a week in my life before.  On the few occassions I've had anything with real sugar in it....I find I'm crazy hungy the rest of the day.   So, I'm just sayin' it's the work of the devil and I'll enjoy it in moderation but for me that will be very, very tiny bits once in a very rare while.

Today for food:
Well as I'm writing this post at 9:17 PST I've only had my usual cup of coffee (with Coffeemate vanilla creamer - sorry healthcoach, I just won't give it up). And no food.  So, I'm fixin to make a pancake and that'll hold me for at least 2 hours, possibly three.

Oh one more little epiphany....I've actually gotten more done around the house.  Being busy really helps to do this.  If you work full-time, this would be a VERY easy diet to stick to.  If you work from home it's a little tougher because those "I'm bored, let's find something to eat" moments are harder to avoid.

Oh and one little tidbit....a reward for reading to the end.....in another 22 lbs. which will probably take 4-6 more weeks, I will reveal my current weight at that time and my official starting weight.  I haven't wanted to share numbers because they are so shocking, I didn't want anyone getting wound up about it.  So I don't mind telling I just want to wait until it REALLY means the most to me and 22 more lbs WILL.  Now, do let me say, that I'm at a weight right now I have seen since probably 2006 (mabye even before that).