Starting weight (7/15/08):    279.8    (1/8/08):    285.2
Calories/Carbs Goals (limits):       1400  / 30.0
Yesterday’s calories & net carbs:  1353 / 25.8
Yesterday’s exercise:    20 min. elliptical
Weight Yesterday:  248.6    Today:  250.6
Change today::  +2.0 lbs.   Loss-so-far:  29.2 lbs.  /  34.6 lbs. 

I gained two whole pounds in one day.  Two.  Pounds. 

Then this afternoon I discovered the probable cause.  Yeah, Tom came to visit.  Dammit.  I so totally wasn’t expecting that.  My body seems to have adopted a new crazy schedule, one that I can’t understand nor predict.  But at least it’s good to know I have a reason for gaining two pounds overnight.

This morning I pulled out three pairs of jeans from the very depths of my dresser… jeans which I have not worn for ummm, probably four years.  I like these jeans a lot.  One pair is burgundy, one pair is brown, and one pair is butter-soft-faded-light-blue.  I tried them on.  I could pull each over my hips but could not button nor zip any of the three.

This is good.  The last time I attempted to put these jeans on, they stopped midway up my thighs.  The fact that I got them up around my hips is definitely progress.  The fact that they would not button or zip gives me something to shoot for.

I want those jeans.  I want to wear those jeans!

—–^v^v^v^v^v^v^v^v^v^v^v^v^v^v^v^v^v^v^v^v^v^v^v^v^—–

Now that I’ve covered the bad news (weight gain and pants that don’t fit), I’ll move right on to the good news.  I logged in my measurements (http://www.weighttracker.info/).  I hadn’t measured for a full month, so I got to see some nice progress!  Just thought I’d share!   =D

                   Loss this Month                Total Loss since January

Chest                .75 inches                            2.75 inches

Waist              1.75 inches                             5.00 inches

Abdomen       1.50 inches                             3.50 inches

Hips               1.00 inch                                6.00 inches

Thigh             1.00 inch                                3.00 inches

Calf                0.25 inch                                1.00 inch

Neck              0.25 inch                                2.00 inches

Upper Arm     0.25 inch                                1.25 inches

Forearm         0.25 inch                                1.00 inch

_______________________________________________________________

Total Lost:                                      25.5 inches

CARTOON OF THE DAY

4469

Starting weight (7/15/08):    279.8    (1/8/08):    285.2
Calories/Carbs Goals (limits):       1400  / 30.0
Tuesday’s calories & net carbs:  1364 / 24.5
Yesterday’s calories & net carbs:  1076 / 33.5
Tuesday’s exercise:    40 min. ex. bike / 10 min. elliptical
Yesterday’s exercise:    40 min. elliptical
Weight Tuesday:  249.6    Weight Yesterday:  248.4    Today:  248.6
Change today::  +0.2 lbs.   Loss-so-far:  31.2 lbs.  /  36.6 lbs. 

As I’ve mentioned before, I quit smoking on New Year’s Eve, 2006.

Last year when I was going through the stages of quitting smoking, I got invaluable information and incredible emotional support from an online forum at stopsmokingcenter.net.  It made all the difference to me and my quit - the site helped me to know what I needed to know to STAY quit, to never succumb to the temptation of that horrible addiction ever again.

This year, in going through the stages of weight loss (so far), there have been many similarities.  For this journey, 3FC has been my source for information and support.  Just like last year with the quitting smoking, the bits of information I have internalized have solidified my resolve to move forward.  I can’t un-know what I know now.  Just as I will never again see cigarettes the same, I will never again look at food the same.  I can never again just eat whatever I think I want with abandon and NOT KNOW how many calories, how many carbs, how much fat, or how little nutrients I’m ingesting into my body. 

For the rest of my life I will be AWARE - and that’s a good thing, because it means this loss will be permanent.  Ain’t no yo-yo here.  This weight is going and it’s never gonna come back.  Oh, I’m not just spewing what I *HOPE* to be true, I’m stating with certainty what I *KNOW* to be true.

Anyway, I was thinking tonight and I remembered something that I learned during my quitting-smoking-journey, something that was very helpful to me at the time, and it occurred to me that it applies to my weight-loss efforts as well.

H.A.L.T.  It stands for “Hungry Angry Lonely Tired.”  The idea behind it is:  When you feel a craving for a cigarette, take a moment to evaluate your current state of mind.  It’s quite likely that you’re either hungry, angry, lonely, or tired - and if you just address that current state - the crave will go away.

The same thing applies to eating!  When I get a “crave” (or just the urge to eat outside my plan), I stop and take stock - does my body or mind need something else?  I would, however, like to add another “T” to that acronym.  H.A.L.T.T.  Hungry, Angry, Lonely, Tired, Thirsty.  Often when I want food, what my body really needs is just a drink!! 

By the way, I visited the stopsmokingcenter forum today and realized that I’ve now been quit from cigarettes for 668 days - and that I have NOT smoked 20,065 cigarettes so far.  Wooohooooo!

CARTOON OF THE DAY

4416

Starting weight (7/15/08):    279.8    (1/8/08):    285.2
Calories/Carbs Goals (limits):       1400  / 30.0
Sunday’s calories & net carbs:  1477 / 26.6
Yesterday’s calories & net carbs:  1430 / 37.6
Sunday’s exercise:    1 1/2 hour shopping/walking
Yesterday’s exercise:    zero / zip / nada
Weight Friday:  248.8    Weight Yesterday:  248.8    Today:  249.6
Change today::  +0.8 lbs.   Loss-so-far:  30.2 lbs.  /  35.6 lbs. 

I’m editing this at 11pm because I just got a huge shot of ENTHUSIASM and I just HAD to share!!  Wooohoooooo!!!!

Ya mighta noticed I have a pretty extensive blogroll over there on the right…  Well, one of my sources of inspiration is a blog by “zeusmeatball.”  His blog is incredible, if you haven’t already, you should definitely check it out!  ANYway, he upped his own game today by deciding - just nine weeks before the end of the year - to aim for a total loss of 200 POUNDS in 2008!  To reach this goal he will have to lose an average of 4 lbs. a week from now until January 1st.

His conviction was so infectious!!!  I decided right then and there that *I* wanted to up *my* game too!!

SO - FOR THE NEXT NINE WEEKS, IT IS MY GOAL TO LOSE AN AVERAGE OF 3 LBS. PER WEEK.

For the past 4 months, I have averaged 1.66 lbs. per week.  So I’m lookin’ to almost double that!!!  I HAVE A NEW EXERCISE TOY!!!!  I CAN DO THIS!!!!

———–Speaking of which, here’s my entry from earlier this evening, lol——————

My elliptical was delivered today!  It didn’t get here until late this afternoon, though, so hubby hasn’t had a chance to work his magic.  (He even wants to paint it!)  We had them leave it outside (just until after it’s been lubed and cleaned up).  I, of course, jumped right on it to test it out - and it’s just as creaky and hard to pedal as it was at the store.  But it doesn’t look bad:

I’m just so happy to have it here!!!!  =D  =D  =D   I know myself well enough to know that if I have to go to a gym to use one of these babies, it ain’t gonna happen.  Having one that I can hop on and use whenever I want, I’m much more likely to actually DO it!

Hubby loves, loves, loves a bargain.  He loves to buy stuff cheap and fix it up and then sit back and admire his frugality, ingenuity, and craftsmanship.  This is a good thing because it means that I can have pretty much anything i want - as long as I can get whatever-the-item-is at a good price!

Oh, and sterling!!!!  I LOVE the idea of using my saved $$’s to buy a HRM!!!  If the monitor on the Elliptical doesn’t work, then that’s my next weight-loss-related purchase!!!  Excellent excellent suggestion!  Thank you!!!

CARTOON OF THE DAY

4315

Starting weight (7/15/08):    279.8    (1/8/08):    285.2
Calories/Carbs Goals (limits):       1400  / 30.0
Friday’s calories & net carbs:  1418 / 24.8
Yesterday’s calories & net carbs:  1291 / 21.4
Friday’s exercise:    30 minutes elliptical 
Yesterday’s exercise:    2 hours shopping/walking
Weight Friday:  252.6    Weight Yesterday:  249.8    Today:  248.8
Change today::  -1.0 lbs.   Loss-so-far:  31.0 lbs.  /  36.4 lbs. 

YEEEEEEEEEEEHAAAAAAAAAAAAAAWWWW I’m finally in the 240’s!!!!  I was so stoked when I weighed myself yesterday and it was just a hair below 250 - then TODAY!  Wow!!!  248.8 is WELL into the 240’s!  (And it’s also darn close to 247!!!!)  HOOOOOORAAAAAAAAAY!!!!!!!!

Yesterday afternoon after I got home from my trip, hubby and I went on a quest - to look for a decent used elliptical.  We went to three thrift stores - and though we found several treadmills, there were no ellipticals for sale.  SOOOOOO we went to Walmart.  Just to see how chintzy the machines would be there, and to see how much $$$$ we’d be looking at.

The machines at Wallet-Mart were pretty nice - two models to choose from, both “Gold’s Gym” brand - one at $329, the other at $449.  Yikes!  I kinda knew they were going to be at least that much but still it’s way more than I wanna spend right now.  Later last night, Hubby mentioned that he’d seen an elliptical at this other thrift store in a neighboring town last time we were there (weeks ago) but the machine was outside - fully in the weather.  “I’m not sure what kind of shape it would be in, if it’s still there.”  Still, we agreed, we’d go take a look today.

It was still there.  And yeah, it was outside.  There were leaves and even a puddle of water in one of the foot-pedal thingies.  The case around the back wheel was cracked.  The battery-compartment-doors (on the underside of the console) were both missing.  The electronic console looked okay but couldn’t be tested.  My heart sunk.  This was exactly what I wanted but what good would that be if it were broken and unuseable??

I hopped on.  Couldn’t set the resistance.  Couldn’t set the slant.  Just hopped on, held the uprights and started “pedaling” — and it worked.  Yeah, it was a little rusty and rough at first (had to back up and go backwards once and then push it forward again) but it loosened up so I know a good lube job will help a lot.  I looked at Hubby, “What do you think?”

He looked it over carefully.  “I won’t know really what kind of shape it’s in until I pull it apart, but I think the basic structure is still salvageable — the electronic console might very well be totally shot, though.”

If the price is right, I can live with that.  Nothing to tell me how far I went?  How fast I’m going?  Doesn’t matter, I’ll just set a timer and at least then I’ll know how many minutes I put in.  If the price is right.

There was no price on it.  So I went and got the saleslady and she came out to look.  “$149,” she says.  “No way,” I say.  “Out in the rain for weeks?  You’ll never get 150 bucks for this.”  So she said she’d call her boss and ask him.  She went inside.

She came back out.  “Forty-nine-ninety-nine.”

It’s being delivered on Tuesday!  WOOOHOOOOOO!!!!

Here’s the closest I could find for a picture of the model:

4262

Starting weight (7/15/08):    279.8    (1/8/08):    285.2
Calories/Carbs Goals (limits):       1400  / 30.0
Yesterday’s calories & net carbs:  1105 / 25.1
Yesterday’s exercise:  30 minutes elliptical
Weight Yesterday:  254.0    Today:  252.6
Change today::  -1.4 lbs.   Loss-so-far:  27.2 lbs.  /  32.6 lbs. 

I’m so glad I brought my scale with me on this trip - it’s been, after all, quite a source of amusement!  This morning when I stepped up and saw the display I laughed out loud.  For real.  Then I shook my head in disbelief.

Gained a pound yesterday.  Lost almost a pound-and-a-half today.  WTF?  It never fails to amaze me when that happens!!  I know, I know, I was likely holding some water.  Maybe because of my elliptical adventures and that it’s so new to me, maybe I was having some swelling.  For whatever reason… I’m still in the 250’s!  Arrrrrghhh!!

I really wanna get past 247.  Two.  Forty.  Seven.  I cannot WAIT until I can step on the scale and see 246 or 245 or really any number that isn’t equal-to-or-greater-than 247!!!!  Why is that such an important number to me?  I think I’ve mentioned why, but I don’t think I really went into detail.

Well - about 3 years ago, I started a new job at a company and made friends with two women that worked there.  Almost every day, the three of us would go out to lunch together.  They told me, right when I first started working there, that sometimes they skip lunch and just walk during their lunch break.  Walk.  Around the downtown area.  Just for the hell of it.  Instead of eating.

Honestly, I thought they were nuts.  I figured when the time came that they wanted to walk instead of eat, I’d bow out.  But — one day we went outside, undecided as to which restaurant to visit, and the sun was shining and there was a breeze blowing, and it just felt so good to be outside of the office (and away from the work and the drama there at work), that we just wandered aimlessly — still undecided.  Without actually planning it, the three of us skipped lunch and just … walked.  An hour later, we went back to our desks, refreshed.  I had some crackers or something to hold me over until dinner, but I really wasn’t even all that hungry. 

From that point on, I actually found myself suggesting walks, or suggesting destinations for walks.  At least twice a week, we walked during lunch.  And then we started walking during the afternoon break.  I was about 260 when I started working there.  Guess how much I weighed six months later when I quit? 

247. 

Without dieting, without working out.  Without really trying, I lost 13 pounds.  I went to work at the nonprofit where I work now - and then three months later - I quit smoking.  And gained.  Then five months after that I got sick.  And gained some more.  This past January I had been quit from smoking for twelve months and was devastated to realize that I weighed 285 pounds, the most I’d ever weighed in my life.

So when I finally dip below 247, I will finally feel like I’m making NEW progress!!

Oh, by the way, I went to the hotel gym again today.  I couldn’t wait to get on that elliptical again, but then after about 5 minutes, my left hip was hurting and both knees were complaining.  After 15 minutes, I was feeling no pain whatsoever (love those endorphins) but still I wanted to stop!  But I kept pushing on until I hit 30 minutes (the last 5 minutes, again, at over 4mph) and I was so glad I did!  It was awesome!

Special note for etherence:
I work for a nonprofit organization that helps parents of children with disabilities to understand the special education process and how to effectively advocate for services for their children.  It’s an awesome job, extremely rewarding.  =D

CARTOON OF THE DAY

4187

Starting weight (7/15/08):    279.8    (1/8/08):    285.2
Calories/Carbs Goals (limits):       1400  / 30.0
Yesterday’s calories & net carbs:  1185 / 26.8
Yesterday’s exercise:  20 minutes elliptical
Weight Yesterday:  253.0    Today:  254.0
Change today::  +1.0 lbs.   Loss-so-far:  25.8 lbs.  /  31.2 lbs. 

Okay so I was up a whole pound this morning.  Ha!  It’s not from overeating, that’s for sure.  I miss my low-carb bread and my low-carb tortillas!  I am, however, managing to eat yummy stuff while staying well within my goals.  Today’s adventure was to Panera Bread!

I love love love the turkey/spinach/artichoke panini at Panera.  Today I ordered that and a cup of broccoli-cheddar soup.  Of course I immediately discarded the bread - and once again discovered that the sandwich’s yumminess didn’t depend on the focaccia at all!  It’s what’s inside that’s delicious! 

We went to the gym again today!  We made a plan during lunch, the three of us ladies!  When we were free of our conference sessions, we changed our clothes and put our bathing suits on underneath, then headed down to the gym.  My assistant had never been on an elliptical before (nor had she ever been inside a gym before!) but she was game to give it a try. 

We did it!  We put in a full 30 minutes!  I spent the first 15 minutes doing about 3.8 mph, then I slowed down a bit to about 2.5, just to cool off.  The last 8 minutes or so, I cranked it up to 4.5 mph.  I know to a veteran those speeds probably sound lame, but to me, it was awesome!  That is the fastest motion that I have sustained for any length of time - in 20 years or more!  When I’m playing DDR I work up a sweat, but I do get a little break between songs.  This!  This is way more intense - more difficult - and therefore, more gratifying!  I loved it!

I either need to get an elliptical for home – or a gym membership.  NOW.  

LOL, my husband’s gonna love hearing that.  Hahaha! 

ANYway, after we finished our 30-minute elliptical-workout, we headed straight for the hot-tub/jacuzzi.  Ohhhhh that was good!  We only stayed in for maybe 20 minutes or so but it was awesome.

CARTOON OF THE DAY

4129

Starting weight (7/15/08):    279.8    (1/8/08):    285.2
Calories/Carbs Goals (limits):       1400  / 30.0
Yesterday’s calories & net carbs:  1389 / 30.4
Yesterday’s exercise:  60 minutes ex. bike & 1/2 hour DDR
Weight Yesterday:  252.4    Today:  253.0
Change today::  +0.6 lbs.   Loss-so-far:  26.8 lbs.  /  32.2 lbs. 

Hey I’m writing this from my hotel room and I have this to say:

Oh. My. God.

I love this room!!!  I could LIVE here!!  Ha!  I have pictures to share - but before I insert the pictures, I want to explain that the original plan was that four people were supposed to share this room (and that’s the only way that our government-funded nonprofit project could support an expense like this).  It was supposed to be two double beds (not a king) plus a rollaway bed and a pull-out couch, so that us four female colleagues could share the room - without anyone having to share a bed, lol.  I mean, I’m close to my co-workers, but not that close!  =D

So one person of our party had to cancel at the last moment - and then when we get here we find out that the only room available is a king.  It just happened to be the manager that was checking us in, so he offered to put our third person up in another (regular) room so that no one would have to sleep together - at no extra charge!  Would I turn that down?!?  No, I don’t think so!

So, my administrative assistant and I are sharing this awesome room - just the two of us!  Here it is:

As you come in, there’s a hallway / entrance / foyer
(with a full bath on one side)
and then you see this:

Yeah, that’s a balcony outside the sliding doors.  =D 
Here’s the view of that room from out there:

And another view of that room, from the other corner:

And what is that, that you see in the background?  Yes!  A set of stairs!
Here’s the view from the top of those stairs:

Here’s that king-sized bed I mentioned:

And there’s even a little table and chair
(oh, and another bathroom and a walk-in closet down the hall!)

Here’s the view from that balcony outside:

And here’s just one more picture… a place that I visited earlier this evening:

Yes, I did!  I went to the gym before dinner.  One of my co-workers went with me and we both put in 20 minutes on the elliptical - yikes!  I’d never used one of those before and it was quite a workout!  I WANT ONE AT HOME!!! LOL.  It’s a good thing I’m accustomed to bicycling or I never would have made it five minutes, much less twenty!  I don’t think it was a bad start for my very first time but tomorrow I want to go longer - at least 30 minutes, maybe longer, we’ll see how my muscles feel about it!

4081

Starting weight (7/15/08):    279.8    (1/8/08):    285.2
Calories/Carbs Goals (limits):       1400  / 30.0
Yesterday’s calories & net carbs:  1397 / 22.1
Yesterday’s exercise:  45 minutes ex. bike & 1 hour DDR
Weight Yesterday:  252.0    Today:  252.4
Change today::  +0.4 lbs.   Loss-so-far:  27.4 lbs.  /  32.8 lbs. 

This yo-yo thing on the scale is cracking me up.  Up .2 then down .4 then up .4 then down .2 - it all adds up to NOT getting out of the 250’s yet!  But that’s okay, because it’s motivated me to PUSH IT ALONG!!  I want to see that two-forty-something number on the scale!!!!  And if it’s gonna take a little extra work, then so be it!

Tonight I put in some time on the DDR between 7 and 8 pm and then at 9:00 sharp when DWTS-Results came on, I climbed on the exercise bike and did not stop pedaling and did not climb back off until the digital clock in the TV room clicked over to 10:00 and the show was over!  I have no idea how many miles that was (forgot to go buy batteries today) but my BUTT felt like it was about FIFTY!  LOL, my rear-end was numb by the time I climbed off!!  I kept the pace pretty consistent so I think if I had to guess how fast I was pedaling I would say about 12-14 miles per hour - so since I kept it up for an hour, geee that would beeeeeee uhhhhhhh lol 12-14 miles!

I’m leaving tomorrow for a conference - won’t be back home until Saturday.  I’m bringing my computer though and the hotel has internet.  Since I won’t have my DDR there, I guess I’ll be hitting the hotel gym too.  I feel very uncomfortable at any gym but I’ll get over it.  I NEED to move this weight loss along!

And YES … I’m bringing my scale, LOL!

CARTOON OF THE DAY

Special note to Joy:  To post a picture, there is a little icon above the window where you “write”, it looks like a little tree I think?  Anyway, when you run your mouse over it, it says “Insert/Edit image.”  Anyway, find the URL of the picture you want to post (if you want to post one of your own you can use a free service like photobucket) and copy the URL, then click on the tree icon and paste the URL in the box that pops up.  Hope that made sense!

Oh, and the dice game we were playing?  It never had a name when I was growing up, we just called it “The Dice Game,” but recently someone told me that the name of the game we play is “10 Thousand,” which makes sense, since you play until… um… 10,000.  LOL.  The rules are online at:
http://www.iplay.net/ourgames/10000_rules.htm

4042

Starting weight (7/15/08):    279.8    (1/8/08):    285.2
Calories/Carbs Goals (limits):       1400  / 30.0
Yesterday’s calories & net carbs:  1287 / 28.9
Yesterday’s exercise:  5 miles real bike
Weight Yesterday:  252.2    Today:  252.0
Change today::  -0.2 lbs.   Loss-so-far:  27.8 lbs.  /  33.2 lbs. 

Tonight during Dancing with the Stars, I got to thinking about the whole TV addiction thing.  Seriously, for the past 15 years I just haven’t been into TV.  Other than keeping up with my soap (and all you have to do for that is tune in once a month, lol), I just wasn’t interested in being a regular watcher of any show on TV.

Then they started posting TV shows online, so I could watch it whenever, instead of during it’s TV time slot.  Suddenly TV seemed much more accessible, and so I started watching stuff - and getting hooked in the process. 

The other day when I blogged about the shows I watch, I surprised myself by listing thirteen different shows!  Thirteen!  OMG, I had no idea that I was regularly watching THAT many shows!  I felt really guilty when I realized just how much time I waste SITTING in front of either the TV or the computer screen.  So, right in the middle of DWTS tonight, I pulled out the exercise bike (dusted it off, ha), and pedaled for the rest of the show.  The batteries were dead in the little indicator thingie but I pedaled on anyway (so I don’t know how far I went, just that I pedaled for 45 minutes).

I can’t really use the exercise bike while watching my online shows (I’ve tried) but at least I can make better use of the time in the TV room.

I also did an hour of DDR tonight.  I felt great!  I even did a few of the jumps, but I’m still taking it careful.

CARTOON OF THE DAY

In case Paula is out there lurking and reading … I miss ya, girl.

3974

Starting weight (7/15/08):    279.8    (1/8/08):    285.2
Calories/Carbs Goals (limits):       1400  / 30.0
Yesterday’s calories & net carbs:  1288 / 17.9
Yesterday’s exercise:  1 hour DDR
Weight Yesterday:  252.0    Today:  252.2
Change today::  +0.2 lbs.   Loss-so-far:  27.6 lbs.  /  33.0 lbs. 

Hey I saw another little tiny gain this morning but I know what it is.  My knees - though they feel okay! - are swollen from last night’s DDR.  (BTW Lillie, DDR is “Dance Dance Revolution,” a video game that is my workout of choice.)  I’m fully expecting to see yet another gain tomorrow morning, because I went bike-riding today and I’m thinking my knees will swell even more.

This afternoon I decided to wash my husband’s Jeep - a task which requires one to stand on a ladder to properly clean the top and I’m like majorly afraid of heights.  But the weather was so beautiful and his white Jeep was so dirty, that I felt compelled.  I called upon my 16-year-old son to help me (because no task or household chore should be accomplished without your teenager if you have one!) and without a single rolled eyeball, my son did his fair share.  Life is good, ha!

While my son was rinsing the Jeep off, I pulled out our bikes and lined them up for a bath too.  “When we’re done washing the car, let’s go for a bike ride!” I said to hubby.  He mumbled something about the tires needing air but didn’t say no, so I took that as a yes.  After we washed down the bikes and wiped everything down, I got the (strong, hale, hearty, teenaged) boy to carry the compressor outside and proceeded to start checking the air in the bike tires.  Of course I couldn’t get the gauge to work right so hubby ended up doing it for me.  (It’s fair!  He does the same thing to me when it comes to folding clothes!)

Son decided he didn’t want to go with us on the bike ride.  His loss, because our destination ended up being the Hops Restaurant which is 2 1/2 miles away from our house.  Hubby thought it was pretty funny that we went out for a healthy, vigorous 5-mile bike ride — but stopped for steak halfway through LOL!  Hey, I figure it this way - we would have eaten dinner either way.  Whether the bike-ride was separate from the meal or combined with the meal doesn’t diminish the value of the exercise one bit.

Here’s where we parked our non-vehicular-mode-of-transportation:

I went inside (while hubby locked up the bikes) and requested a table on the front porch.  When the hostess brought me out there to choose a table, we saw Mike with the camera so we stopped to pose, heheh.

By the time we finished our meal, it was dark outside!  Here’s the hubby, enjoying his after-dinner-coffee:

In the picture, there’s a menu spread out on the table because we were playing our dice game after we finished eating.  (He won a game before the food arrived, but I kicked his butt in the game we played afterward!)

Okay, so I mentioned … I had steak!  It was awesome.  Once again, I got creative with the items which were available on the menu so that I could have a low-carb meal.  My steak came with a small salad (which I asked them to strip of everything except for the lettuce and bacon bits and to bring me italian dressing on the side, of which I only used about a half a tablespoon because the dressing was so strong and sweet).  For my side I asked for broccoli and also paid extra for a “topping” for my steak- it was a yummy mixture of spinach, artichoke, and marsala sauce (which the waiter gave me with no mushrooms, that was nice because I fully expected to just pick them out). 

If I go there again, I’m gonna order the exact same thing - only chicken instead of steak.  The steak was delicious - and was a nice change since I eat chicken almost every day - but it was also over 400 calories for the 6 oz portion that I ate!  I could have had chicken for less than half that.  Doesn’t matter, though, I’m still well within my calories for the day.

Have I mentioned that I love eating out?  Heheheh!

Edited to add:

Hey!  I was looking at that picture of me on the porch at Hops and thought, “Crap, I still can’t see any change, I’m as huge as ever.”  This so bugged me because I can feel it in my clothes!  So I zoomed in to take a closer look … and did finally see a difference!  The purple shirt that I’m wearing today is one of many - I have just about every color - in size 26. 

The orange shirt that I wore in my “before” pictures is exactly the same size and style as the purple shirt I wore today.  Look at my left arm (er.. on the right)… see how roomy the shirt is now?!  Woooohoooo I can see it!  I can see it!!!

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