Completion of Week 21!

Today marks twenty-one weeks or 147 days on the program. I can't ever find any fun facts about the length of time on the program. I googled 21 weeks and all I get it what happens during the 21st week of pregnancy. YIKES! I Googled 147 days and I got that on April 20, it was 147 days until the Buffalo Bills season opener. Quite honestly, given the two options, I'd rather talk about pregnancy. Don't worry; I'm not going to do that to you!

The past week has been, literally, crazy. It was a long week of being on the road, visiting agents, preparing to go out of town for a convention and still a little freaked out by the 6.5 pound weight loss the prior week. I received a phone call from Dr. Garcia regarding the concern from my blog last week about the high loss. He told me not to worry, things looked good. No issues that he saw on his end. He indicated that I'd cut risk factors for heart disease, high blood pressure and diabetes by 100's of percentage points by doing what I've done. He was happy with the success I've had on the program. He reads my blog and told me that I should be proud of this accomplishment as well.

This week I was (again) a little nervous about weigh in. My scale at home didn't move ALL WEEK. I had a stressful weekend and went out for a couple of drinks last night. Not the smartest thing I've done on the program, but I needed a little break. I went out to watch some of the Magic game. Regardless, I did end up with a loss this week. I really thought the NGTG might be done. I lost 1.1 pounds and that brings the total to 73.9 pounds since December 22, 2008.

It's been an amazing ride. After speaking with Dr. Garcia on Thursday afternoon and having another 1.1 pound loss, I've decided that my next appointment will be to begin the transition to maintenance. Dr. Garcia said that I'd still continue to lose a little bit during the transition to maintenance and would as well gain lean muscle mass. So the goal is still 3.4 more pounds, but as I mentioned last week, people are really suggesting to me that I stop at this point. Since I found out that I'm going to continue to lose a little bit as transition to maintenance begins, I'm ready to do that now.

It's been an incredible journey, the best thing I've ever done for myself, by far and now that I REALLY see it, I'm thrilled with the progress. This weekend I bought jeans in a size 4. I refused to believe I was really wearing a four and that the jeans (which I bought the same things in April in a size 10) were just a fluke. Tonight I shopped a little bit at Kohls, size 4 it seems to be. I bought a couple shirts and a jacket and another pair of jeans in the juniors department. I'm not sure I ever shopped in the juniors department when I was a "junior" let alone, at 40! It was definitely an eye-opener tonight. It shocks me how much the stack of clothes that don't fit, just since I moved, has grown. Needless to say, I'm finally proud of the accomplishment and I'm ready for the next phase of the program and of what life brings with it.

In closing, thank you all so much for the love and encouragement you've shown during all of this. Without the people I have in my life making it the center of what we do, I'd never have gotten through it. I'll be indebted to you all forever for putting up with me through it all. Those of you who are reading this that are friends and family, you are amazing. For all that you have said, all you have done and all of your encouraging words, thank you, thank you, thank you. There are so many of you out there that have shown great amounts of support, from my parents, my 'adopted parents', my best friend, my 'adopted daughter', and an entire host of amazing friends, spread out all over the country! You've shopped with me, called and checked on me, posted comments on the blog, watched me eat salad with carrot slivers that I pick off, watch me turn down dessert over and over again and yet, never tried to get me to "just have a little". You gave your honest opinions when it was time to buy smaller clothes, you encouraged me to get up at the crack of dawn to work out, and the list goes on and on! You guys ROCK! I love each of you so very much!

"I would thank you from the bottom of my heart, but for you my heart has no bottom." ~Author Unknown