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Weight today:  239.2       Change since last weigh-in:  +2.4 lbs.
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The September challenge is up and running!

My apologies to all the hardy and devoted who have kept reporting stars in my absence!  The cool thing about this monthly challenge thing is — you get to start over!  Tomorrow is a FRESH MONTH!!!!

So if anyone else reading this screwed up during August, please join me in starting a lovely fresh new month in September at:  http://www.w8challenge.com

Well.

That said, I would like to comment on my own 2.4 lb. gain.  And here’s my comment:  CRAP!!!

I have no idea where two-and-a-half pounds came from.  It’s TOM right now and I usually LOSE during TOM, or at least near the end (which is where I am now).  Weird, weird, weird.  I don’t understand it.

But at least I didn’t go up into that next decade.  I would be majorly depressed to be back in the 240’s again.  I would like to see the 220’s again, however!!!  So that is my goal for September!!!

I’ve been stuck in the 230’s for SEVEN MONTHS.  I keep losing the same five or six pounds over and over again and it’s time to GET SERIOUS!!  I know I’ve said that before but I’m really talking to ME here.  And apparently, “ME” needed to hear it again!

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Weight today:  236.8       Change since last weigh-in:  -0.8 lbs.
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I’m back.  Woohoo two days in a row!!

I went out to eat twice yesterday.  Once in the afternoon, I had to take my daughter to a doctor’s appointment - you know - that doctor.  So after surviving that ordeal, I treated her to Cracker Barrell with a hot fudge brownie ice cream dessert at the end.  For her, not for me.  Well, I had one bite.

And then once again for dinner I went out.  I was meeting an old friend - haven’t seen her for 13 years - and we agreed to meet at this cool restaurant which is on a lake.  People can actually drive up in their boats, tie up, and walk up the dock to a table.  I went by car, however.  =D

Anyway, the ambiance couldn’t have been better, the company was great, the conversation was amazing, and the food was delicious.  My friend had oysters on crackers for an appetizer, then a big ol’ cheesesteak sandwich (dripping with onions and mayonnaise) with french fries (dripping with ketchup) for dinner, while she gulped down one yummy (alcohol) drink (can’t remember what it was called but I just had to have a sip) and no less than four beers.

Now the amazing part of this story is that this woman lost ONE HUNDRED POUNDS since I last saw her.

She eats whatever she wants to eat now because she exercises all week like a madwoman.  This is how she lost her weight, she started exercising and amazingly she ended up liking it.  Now it’s such a part of her life that she can’t imagine not exercising.

Did I mention that she’s gorgeous?

Anyway, if THAT wasn’t an inspiring situation to be in, I can’t imagine what would be.

P.S.  I had a lovely caesar salad with fire-grilled chicken, no croutons, dressing-on-the-side.

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I got an email from inkheartmeg today.  She just wanted to make sure I was ok.  So then I come here and all my online friends have rallied around me in my absence, wanting to make sure I was okay.

I’m okay.

I’ve been a bit overloaded at work lately - including a mandatory trip to Washington DC.  But that’s not really the reason I’ve been absent.  *Sigh*  I went off my diet again.  Big surprise.  Honestly I hate writing the I-screwed-up-again-that’s-why-I-was-gone post.  Hate it.  I would much rather never HAVE to write such a post.  I would much rather write one of those wonderful I-lost-more-weight-I’m-thinner-than-ever posts.

Yeah, I miss that.

So okay, I went off the low-carb again, thinking that I’ll just do low-calorie for a while because I am sick to DEATH of eating the same things over and over and over and over again.  But then as soon as I introduce certain foods back into my diet, I start wrangling with cravings and — sooner rather than later, I cheat.  And cheat BAD.  So as of three days ago, I’m back on low-carb.

I lost two pounds in those three days.  It’s just water, I’m thinking.  But it’s good to see the numbers on the scale go down nevertheless.

So here’s my new starting weight, as of this morning:

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Weight today:  237.6       Change since last weigh-in:  +5.0 lbs.
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It could be worse.  Much worse.

What I’m NOT doing, though, is exercising.  I have not been on the exercise bike nor the elliptical AT ALL this month.  I have not ridden my real bike, I have not done the DDR nor any of the exercise tapes I’ve collected.  I have sat on my ass.  All month.  That has GOT to change.

I’ve been reading this book:  Such a Pretty Fat and it is totally cracking me up!  I love Jen Lancaster’s writing style - she has that dry snarky humor that I’ve always really enjoyed.  Up until about 7/8ths of the way through this book, it’s about all the reasons she didn’t lose weight, but then close to the end (where I am now), the book talks about how she finally did.  Inspiring!

Annnnnyway, thanks for your caring messages.  And for your concern.  And for just being here.

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Congratulations to the JULY CHALLENGE WINNERS!!!

Woooohoooooo!!!

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