justWEIGHT – Feb. 18 - Week #7 – Day #7 (Day 49 of 365 – same weight today) Total loss 9.0, 43 to go!

Reality seemed to start creeping in on the car ride home. Not being able to get comfortable in the seat due to lack of sleep and about 10,000 extra calories for the weekend. Thinking about facing the scale in the morning is obviously going to be doom and gloom. Most days I find the daily quote truly encouraging and right on track, but seeing Enthusiasm Is Contagious seemed a bit off today as I don’t feel enthusiasm about much of anything except crawling into bed tonight. Although a very busy week ahead, I did unpack and sit down with Week #8 and the grocery list. Interestingly enough, it did perk my enthusiasm. I don’t like feeling this sluggish from overeating. Snacking on cheese, crackers and dip along with all the wonderful, but very fattening meals, has left me waddling like a duck. What happened to the water??? I seemed to have forgotten all about it the past few days. Okay, gear up. One day at a time. Here we go.

justWEIGHT – Feb. 17 - Week #7 – Day #6 (Day 48 of 365 – lost .6 today) Total loss 9.0, 43 to go!

Okay, so today I completely abandoned ship. We are staying in the most wonderful B&B, slept late and found fresh coffee, juice and lots and lots of pastries. Rather than dressing & going in to town, I grabbed a couple of muffins, cup of coffee, went out and stuck my feet in the hot tub and watched the deer run around the meadow. No kidding, I know it sounds like a fairy tale and it was, but it was a true fairy tale. Sometime late morning, I managed to put on sweats and tennis shoes and took a long stroll around the property for just a little exercise. Nothing but exploring the rest of the afternoon and the day ended with the most wonderful dinner starting with a toast and ending with champagne. I truly took the day off from the justWEIGHT plan and needed it. Checking tonight rather than this morning, I see today’s bit of wisdom read, Easy Balance. I think this is what I did today and tomorrow is back to work.

justWEIGHT – Feb. 16 - Week #7 – Day #5 (Day 47 of 365 – gained .4 today) Total loss 8.4, 43.6 to go!

Once again the timing on my daily reminder was perfect. Eat Out & Stay True To Yourself. If you read my blog yesterday, you are aware that I left this morning for a weekend with the girls. We left early this morning (breakfast at home) and arrived at our beautiful B&B just before noon. Lunch today was at a very well known café where I was able to substitute my justWEIGHT plan peanut butter and jelly sandwich for a club sandwich. I ate only half the sandwich, about half my chips, drank my water and guess what, no one noticed a thing. We shopped all afternoon which I know burned some of the calories and had dinner this evening at a wonderful restaurant. I just thought meat, vegetable and salad, had one glass of wine, left the bread alone, and two bites of a shared dessert. Somehow, I don’t think the 30 minutes in the hot tub melted away any calories, but all in all, I think I had a pretty good food day.

justWEIGHT – Feb. 15 - Week #7 – Day #4 (Day 46 of 365 – lost .4 today) Total loss 8.8, 43.2 to go!

Determination is a much needed reminder today. Yesterday was a good day with a loss of .4 pounds which I consider a major success. A few days ago we were reminded that personal time is a necessity and I couldn’t agree more. Tomorrow, I am leaving with five girlfriends for a bed and breakfast weekend in a wonderful quaint German town full of wonderful shopping, music, and you guessed it…..restaurants. Now none of these friends are aware of my little year-long venture and I intend to keep it that way. There is nothing like ruining someone else’s time by being picky and getting attention on a vacation weekend full of fun. Here is my promise to myself and to you…..”I am DETERMINED to take my daily menu sheets in my purse, look at them, memorize my daily encouragement phrase, and practice rational substitution and portion control one day at a time because no one can do it for you.” Stay tuned………..

justWEIGHT – Feb. 14 - Week #7 – Day #3 (Day 45 of 365 – same weight today) Total loss 8.4, 43.6 to go!

Went to a dinner party tonight and feel very fortunate to weigh the same. There are No Shortcuts. That should be easy for me to remember as I am a professional dieter. It has always been those “quick weight loss” schemes for me in the past and it is a real adjustment for me to take it slow and easy…but it is working. I am still about two pounds ahead of schedule on weight loss and am in day 45. I have now lost 8.4 pounds. It does not sound like a lot. No one outside my family has noticed. I still don’t tell people because I guess I have that fear factor of failing. It seems once I make the announcement there is no turning back. You may wonder why I would even say that unless you, too, are an experienced dieter. Then you understand perfectly. I’m working on that because I know it is just an excuse. I also know there are no shortcuts and that is why I created the justWEIGHT plan in the first place. I still remind myself every day what my doctor said, “Lose a pound a week for a year and you will never gain it back.” I am 2 pounds ahead!

justWEIGHT – Feb. 13 - Week #7 – Day #2 (Day 44 of 365 – lost .2 today) Total loss 8.4, 43.6 to go!

The first thing I did this morning was to write down the daily thought, One Day At A Time, and stick it in my pocket. Okay, the first thing I did was weigh. I am still on track with my pound a week weight loss, but the weight loss is slowing down. I have had lots of distractions, but that is just life happening. I am just thinking about today. I was running errands at noon and was very tempted to substitute and go by a drive thru window. I didn’t. In my pocket was a reminder of this journey so I decided to take today and today only. I went home and made my lunch, saving calories and money, and simply making good choices. Lots of Omega 3 and fiber tonight with salmon and brown rice. I also drank lots and lots of water. Good day.

justWEIGHT – Feb. 12 - Week #7 – Day #1 (Day 43 of 365 – lost .2 today) Total loss 8.2, 43.8 to go!

Well, well, well. Miracle of miracles. I lost .6 pounds this week after all the whining. Perhaps some of this is actually sticking in my mind and I am subconsciously doing better than I had thought. You know, it’s just all about making those good choices. I am elated! Six weeks down, 43.8 to go and I am 2.2 pounds ahead of the game. It is still not a habit. It takes concentration every day. I owe a good deal of thanks to my dear friend, Martha. She is one of those “skinny eaters”, and therefore, believe it or not, thin, healthy and beautiful. She and her husband took me to a seafood restaurant for dinner Saturday. It was not a fancy restaurant and was chosen because they have televisions on every wall showing some type of sports. You know the type of place where you walk in the door and feel the grease sticking to your hair? I thought, oh boy, here I go again. Martha wasn’t even looking at the chalk boards boasting all the specials. She simply leaned over and said, “It’s all pretty good, but I get the grilled shrimp, spinach and applesauce.” I did, too. I was a skinny eater. She does not know I am on the justWEIGHT plan. She does not know it exists. That’s just the way she thinks every day. It was delicious, we all cheered for our team and went home happy. It was just not that hard. What a good lesson for me and an inspiration. I am back to my food guide roadmap and thought for the day. I’m in my comfort zone and will not leave them behind again. Oddly enough, today’s motivation…Portion Solution. Thank you, Martha, for a much needed lesson.