Completion of Week 9!

Happy Monday everyone! What a great week and weekend it's been. The whole week was sort of a whirlwind of birthday celebrations, with still, more to come. If this is what turing 40 is all about, sign me up for a repeat every year!

During the last week I managed to have 4 birthday dinners and a birthday lunch! On my actual birthday we went to Longhorn Steak House for dinner. The next day, lunch with the girls from the office. The next night, dinner out, unexpectedly. Friday was my "birthday dinner" from Evie & Jimmie, my friend Chris's parents. They didn't want to wait until my March 7th party to celebrate my birthday, so 7 of us went to the Seminole Hard Rock Casino for dinner and a little gambling. Dinner was fantastic, cooked by Chris & Tina's son-in-law, Gene. It was fabulous! Dinner out again, the next night...it's just been non-stop celebrating! It's been great! The waitress at Floyds, at the casino, had been on the program that I am on before, and knew exactly what I could have. She brought me out my own special dessert, strawberries, blueberries & blackberries, complete with a sparkler. It was awesome!

This week's results really were a surprise. I stood on my scale this morning, and as it ends up, it was weighing me more than the "official" scale. Today's official result was a loss of 3.6 pounds for a total loss of 39.2 pounds. I have 23 pounds to go and I'm so excited about it.

I feel pretty good about the pending transition to the maintenance program. I've been researching the maintenance program. As I've already said here, I have managed to maintain the weight loss of the first 25 pounds I lost, before starting this program, for a year. That has definitely helped encourage me for preparing for the maintenance plan. I didn't go into this lightly. I thought a lot about it, before spending the money, to be sure I knew that I would do whatever it took to get to my goal, as well, whatever it will take to stay at my goal. I'm very satisfied with the fact that this is not a diet that will end, but a lifestyle change that will continue all through the rest of my life.

I guess that it helps me to know that my father did the same thing. We discussed it today. He lost about 35 pounds, over 23 years ago and has kept every bit of it off. He eats healthy, but also never 'forbids' himself from having things. They don't eat a lot of junk food-but really, neither do I. My issue was mostly portion control and definitely a lack of exercise. I know there are people out there that think I'm going to struggle with the maintenance program and think that once the medication stops that it all comes back on. I know there are people who read this who don't agree with the decision that I made to go this direction, but I made the decision that I thought was the best one for me, and so far, it's been incredible. I've discussed the program and maintenance with people who have done the program. I've discussed it with a few friends and family and know what I need to do to maintain. I honestly don't expect it to be a big issue. It's just now part of who I am. I'm the girl who gets up and works out, 6 days a week, no matter what might be happening that day. I'm the girl who plans meals for the day the morning of, or sometimes the night before, because I like to have a plan. It's who I want to be and I'll do what I have to do to maintain it. It's so nice when I go out now for it to not be about the food, but about enjoying the moment and the moments are awesome! I look forward to all of the moments to come, regardless of what might be on my plate!

This week, there are lots of special moments coming up. I'm having out of town company this weekend. My friend Jen, who is my best friend in Connecticut, is coming for the weekend. We've got some lunches and dinners planned,a special dinner for Friday Night Party Night with Jen, Al, Peggy, Tina, Chris & I at the Columbia Restaurant in Ybor City. It's a "must-do" thing when you visit Tampa. Saturday, Jen and I head to my parents house to spend time with them. My family is visiting from Massachusetts and my grandmother is turning 90 on Thursday. We're having a big party for her at her favorite deck bar, yes....deck bar, 90 year old grandmother, she ROCKS! :-) It will be a blast to be with everyone and celebrate her life.

In closing, I hope you all have a great week!

"Fill your life with as many moments and experiences of joy and passion as you humanly can. Start with one experience and build on it.”


Here's a couple of moments of joy from this week: