Long time, no write

Thank you for all the concerned calls, texts and emails. I have NOT fallen off the wagon. I did have some set backs. Here's a recap.

First I got a very painful serious spider bite on my belly. It swelled up to the size of a softball, and hurt to sit, drive, even some clothing was uncomfortable. If you had been a fly on the wall at my house, you would have heard me wincing in pain just getting up off the couch. I couldn't imagine running on a treadmill. So, after I got the meds from the Dr. I just focused on eating right, and prayed that I wouldn't lose ground.

After about two weeks, I finally got to the place where the pain was bearable and the bite had shrunk to a mere tennis ball. Off to New York, Philly, and Orlando I went for various reasons. This trip around the world took another two weeks. So that means, by the time I got home I hadn't been to the gym in a month! Can you say Yikes?!

Though I wasn't spending all my time in the gym, I did get in a lot of walking in NYC, and took a couple of walks with Lori while in Philly. (Good times) I had cheesecake, but only a 1/4 of a piece. I had pizza, but only one slice when normally I would have two. I had a brownie, but I didn't eat the whole pan. I enjoyed my vacation, but I didn't blow my plan. By the time I got home I fit into those jeans that I battled with in my last blog. Yes...the ones that were TWO sizes smaller! So Yippe for Me!

Week one of being back home was rough. I'm not going to lie. Getting back into the habit of the gym just didn't happen. I went ONE day, and wasn't keeping track of food as much. When I weighed in, I saw that I hadn't gained ANY weight while out of the gym for a month, and going around the world. However, one week at home and I put on 2lbs! Even though I was mad, it was just what I needed. A kick in the pants. I was in danger of losing ground.

Last week, I killed it! I hit the gym hard, and Mac showed me the wonders of "incline" on the treadmill. I don't know why he waited two months to show me that! I'm burning twice the amount of calories in the same amount of time now. :) It feels good, and this week when I weighed in, I had lost 3.8 pounds! I lost what I had gained the week before, plus enough to FINALLY reach my first 10 pound mark! I celebrated by purchasing a beautiful pair of black suede boots. LOL I love them so much. Saturday night I dreamed about wearing them. LOL I'm going to figure out how to post pictures on this thing and let you see them. I'm sure you'll agree they were a good reward. The joy of purchasing those boots, gave me an idea. I am going to save a little money each week, and buy myself a new pair of shoes for every ten pounds I lose. Don't you think that's a great idea?

I didn't want to buy myself new clothes, because my sizes are changing too often. I'll be able to wear these shoes for years and every time I do, I'll think these are my ten pound boots, these are my twenty pound shoes, and then these are my 100 pound red high heels! LOL

Overall I'm doing great. I started reading one of the Biggest Loser books. It has helped me more than anything I've read so far. I've switched from keeping an online food journal to keeping one in my purse along with a calorie counter. I spend three days a week away from a computer, so that wasn't really working out, not to mention how frustrating they can be when trying to find certain foods. The book is a lot easier to use. I bought the coolest looking journal at Barnes-n-Noble to keep track. (pictured above) So, that's all new this week. I can't wait to see if it makes a difference.

It has me counting carbs and sodium as well as calories. Sodium in stuff is CRAZY! No wonder we're all retaining water! We're supposed to have an average of 2400mg of sodium per day. Do you know how much was in my 6in. 6 gram of fat subway sandwich today??!! 2260!!! That was supposed to be a healthy lunch. Next time I'll know to avoid the pickles. I LOVE pickles, but one small pickle has almost 500mg. I just can't believe it.

Anyway..I'm kind of finding a rhythm to all of this now. I really needed to reach that 10 pound mark. I don't know how I've dropped two sizes and only ten pounds. I don't understand this whole gaining muscle that weighs more than fat, but takes away inches things. It's strange. I really needed to see a number for my mental wellness. God answered that prayer. I really feel like I'm starting to believe that I can do this now. It's like that first ten pounds was a wall. Now I'm expecting GREAT things. I'm so excited!!!

Okay..off to the gym now. I'm hungry, need to go to the grocery store, and was out until 2am last night, but sometimes you've just got stick with it. Hard work pays off! I really had begun to fear that somehow this wasn't going to work for me. That something was wrong with me, and what works for everyone else, wouldn't work for me. It's funny the things the enemy can convince us of isn't it?

Well..I'll catch up with you soon! Promise.. ;)