Today it has been one year since I started the weight watchers program to lose weight.  I started at 191 and this morning I weighed 145.5.  At my lowest I was 136.  My body shape has completely changed and I am currently about the same size as I was when I got married 15 years ago!

I have struggled with such a drastic body image change and finally feel comfortable in this new, non-invisible place.  It has changed my relationships and I have seen 5 people who are close to me  start using the points program in 2008.  This is suprising to me because I hardly even mention weight loss in conversation (shy away from it actually) - and really only talk about WW when asked directly.

I just got back from 7 days of camping with my 3 kids and dog for Spring Break.  We visited New Mexico and stayed in Arizona.  It was a great adventure and re-connect with the kids — but I seriously thought I had gained 10 pounds!  Fortunately,  I am only at 145.5.  Hooray!

Maitenance is turning out to be as much a challenge as the weight loss.  My goal this year is to get back into the 130’s and stay there. 

Anyway, it has been a life-changing year. Thank you to all of you who have been supportive.

Hurray - down to 136 ~ which means only one pound to go!!  Saturday night my husband looked over at me and said joking, “I can’t believe you are turning into a trophy wife.”  Earlier that day a friend of mine commented that it was really hard to believe that I have struggled with being overweight all my life (which I have - and I’m not exactly sure what she was implying…)

Sunday Food Log:

Here’s the not-so-inspiring wrap up of my Nov. goals:

New December Goals:

1. 10 activity points per week - somehow.

2. Yoga sun salutations every day.

3. Lose the last pound to goal

4. No cookies Tues. Wed or Thurs.

5. one suana per week for mental heath

—> Well, those are almost like Goals -lite, but I am determined to take it easy on myself as holiday season swings into gear.  The holidays are notoriously stressful at homeless shelters, where I work, and I typically over-book my life. That combined with our current money-crunch spells possible over-eating trouble for me.

Well, no loss is no gain. Still at 137.5.  Holey Moley it is taking me forever to lose the last little bit to 135!!!  Good Grief already.

Of course the positive spin is that I made it through Thanksgiving unscathed.  But the real truth is that I managed to lose the two days worth of cookie binging prior to Thanksgiving Day before it showed up on my official weigh in. 

Tues. seems to be a bad cookie day for me - looking back over my food logs.  Probably because I am coming off three peaceful at home days- lots of excersize etc.  Then I am thrust back into the shelter drama - have to catch up on all the latest clients - and I go from 0 to 10 on the stress-o-meter in under an hour. (Don’t cry for me too hard - at some level, I like the drama - it is interesting and exciting.) The bottom line: today is Tuesday!

Here is my goal chart for November ~ I will definately be evaluating and tweaking it for December!

and lastly, yesterday’s food log:

Wish me luck today as I go off and do battle with the cookie visogoth!!!

This weekend I took my daughters (age 9 and 11) out for some Turkey Trot Training.  My goal is to develop a healthy Thanksgiving tradition to balance out all the food based stuff. 

So- the turkey trot out here is 4 miles - we are planning to walk.  I wasn’t sure that my oldest would be able to do 4 miles since she is a week post-appendectomy.  We trained on Saturday by doing a 2 mile walk around Sloans Lake.  They seemed to do fine - a little grumbling - but more joking around and giggling than anything.  Today we are scheduled to do 3 miles around a different lake to prepare.  My oldest was up throwing up last night –> so it is hard to tell if the trotter training plans for the day have been flushed. 

The other fly in the ointment is that the Turkey Trot is a fundraising event : $30 for adults and $20 for kids.  That is way too much money for me –> so I plan on going down to Mile High United Way and seeing if we can negotiate.  I can’t believe they would limit admission to well-to-do families?

Oh - almost forgot - down 2  pounds this week!  Which only leave .5 pounds from the hospital and 2 1/2 to goal!

Here is the sad update on my November goals:

Well huray for me - one down and only 2 more pounds until goal!! It’s hard to believe really. I considered going from 21 to 20 - but since I am still loosing (although slowly) at 21 I am going to stay.  I use my FP most days anyway - so I am a little confused at the value of dropping one — other than it causing me stress.

I’ve designed a new goal chart to help me through my November goals which are leaning more toward fitness these days. 

Today I am hoping to take a beautiful walk, clean the house and split my day lillies — but I will settle for a walk and a nap if it comes down to it.  Hope you all have a lovely Sunday.

Happily, Halloween went well - I was OP although sore from the excersize class.  The preschool halloween party was tough but I managed to get through it without  too much damage.  I made the kids pick out 60 pieces of candy (4 pieces a day for 14 days plus a little extra)  and sent the rest to work with my husband.  I’m hoping that removes most of the temptation. 60 pieces is still way too much for little children bodies — but they were gnashing their teeth as it was (read: I am such a mean mother.)

On to November goals:

1. Lose the remaining 3 pounds to my goal.

2. One excersize class and sauna (for stress management) a week

3. Do the Turkey Trot (5k walking) with daughters

4. Develop ways to stop the cookie binging at work before it becomes a pattern

5. Continue walking with dog and friends for fun (10 activity points per week)

6. Bike ride 4 times for fun - preferably figuring out how to get the bike trailer in the car.

OK - I guess that does it.  Those aren’t the most catchy goals - but achieving them will bring me to a more healthy place - and hopefully lead into the ‘maitenance’ stage well.  

Here’s my food log from yesterday: