Week 16

Down 3.6 (32.8 lbs lost)

This week was about dumping the fluid I retained while lying on my couch for a week straight. I got back to normal eating, normal amounts of walking and went into the weigh-in with a full 35 points of my weekly slush-fund still uneaten.

I feel good.

I also went swimming this afternoon at the Crystal Pool and went on the water slide - twice. I would have gone more but they closed it off. I also had a sauna and felt kind of smug about the whole thing. My friend and I are going to add it to our Saturday ritual to compensate for the eggs benny we would like to have.

Mid-week

I just tried on every piece of clothing I own and, for the very first time in my weight-loss career, I'm letting go.

I've made a pile of everything that is too large and put the resulting two giant bags next to my front door to donate to Women in Need. I even put in the never-worn (still has it's tag) silk jacket that has been in my closet for 5, yes FIVE, years because I kept saying "you just never know..."

Well, now I know. It's too big and it will always be too big because I'm never going back there.

Week 15

Up .2 (29.2 lbs lost)

I was very sick all week. It began right after Easter dinner on Sunday and kept me horizontal on the couch all week. I had Laryngitis followed by a vicious head cold - I am still feeling the effects today. So, while I kept to my daily points and only used 13 of my weekly points (Easter dinner of course) I gained. Well, 1.6 ounces, lol.

It goes to show that even the usual amount of daily movement I get before any additional exercise is worth about two pounds a week to me. Because my week consisted of moving from the bed to the couch and back again punctuated with two trips up to the village for drugs and a doctor's appointment, I lost zilch!

However, the good news is that in WW world I achieved my 16 week clappy-hand charm and I received my 10% key ring. My next goal is exactly 10 pounds away and my reward will be to assemble a new bracelet made from yummy gemstone beads bought at Skanda. So far I have collected two chartreuse faceted Korean Jades, a deep blue-green turquoise, a matte round green agate, an aqua Peruvian opal, a deep teal Impression Jasper, and two vintage brass Tibetan beads (recovered from an old pair of my 80s earrings). Yum.

Week 14

Down 3.6 (29.4 lbs total)

Went sailing past my 10% goal and immediately went out and celebrated at Bon Rouge with Champagne, French Bread & butter, Omelette and salad, and Creme Brulee - blowing my whole day's worth of points on Brunch!! Whoopee!!

The next goal is 40 lbs. This is a psychological goal as much as a diet goal because it is more than I have ever been able to lose before. I have successfully lost 33 lbs in the past; twice. But I'm quietly optimistic right now. Spring is here at last and the urge to walk, swim, and bike is starting. This is the time of year I usually join WW (or begin Atkins, South Beach, Jenny...) so I have a huge head start and I hope the momentum carries me over the coming hurdles.

I'm also shopping in my closet right now and enjoying the resurrection of previously loved clothes. This time I'm ditching the larger sizes as fast as I can - no more saving just in case (except for the pair of jeans for the 'before' photo - you know, where they drop the giant pair of pants to reveal the new body?)

Happy Easter everyone!

Week 13

Down .4 (25.8 lbs total)

Not bad considering I expected to be up. A lot.

I was sure this was the recipe for "two steps back":

1. take one weekend away (wine, bubbly, pastry wrapped cheese snacks, crab cakes, delicious roast chicken)
2. follow it with a week of little events in which everyone brings food (lemon cupcakes, chocolate truffles, pecan pie, apple cake with sherry)
3. add a whole pile of stress
4. Sleep less
5. Mix with a deadline at work

But I guess I was sensible enough the rest of the time to make it a wash.