I've never entered an "NSV" before -- but today, I can! For the first time in about, oh, ten years or so, I bought "average" sized panty hose. I was afraid to even try them on -- even though the height and weight chart said they should fit. But not only do they fit, they actually feel good! My old queen sized ones were so long, there was absolutely no support at all.

I met a group of friends for lunch today to celebrate a birthday. This restaurant has the BEST pretzel "salad" (their words...it's really dessert) and it's positively SINFUL! I completely skipped it. I had a grilled chicken salad with the vinaigrette on the side and I dipped my fork before every 3rd bite. When she cut the birthday cake I did let them serve me a piece. I ate 2 bites (small bites, even) and let the rest sit there. Yea!!!

Tricia: Good for you. I think I know the "salad" you're speaking of - jello, whipped cream, etc right? I never thought about it until you mentioned it, but salad is a ridiculous name for that concoction.

My NSV: I had my measurements taken at Curves last night and, according to their records, I have lost a total of 14 inches (combined from several measurement spots) since joining 2 months ago. I haven't noticed a big change in how I look, but I figure that is coming...

My only NSV so far is two people asking me if I've lost a couple lbs. Granted, 10 lbs doesn't make much difference physically on a person if they have over 100 lbs to lose. But it always starts with my face. My face gets smaller. Heh. So it's still nice to know that my 10 lb loss is still visible to some.

That's really beautiful, LisaMarie. You are a lucky girl!

Thanks, Tiffany! You're doing awesome, by the way, in case I haven't told you lately! You reached a new "decade" and I didn't even know it yet! I love when people get to a new decade!

Laura: Yep! That's the one! It's positively delicious and is one of those things I will allow myself on occasion when I'm there with friends (we split it). However, today there were 10 of us and we were having chocolate cake. I would never order one "salad" for myself because I know me well enough to know I would eat the ENITRE piece! Chocolate cake I can look at....strawberry pretzel "salad" I inhale!

We had beautiful weather today and I spent 4 hrs. outside mowing my yard, picking up junk my dogs had tore up and sweeping my bi-level deck. It's funny but I've really developed a passion for yard work and gardening and such.

I am recommitting today. I have decided I need to say this every day.

Last month when I realized I had to do something with my body,it came about because I tried on some clothes from last spring that didn't fit, I have been exercising since then, and eating better. Today I pulled out a pair of pants that would not close on me 4 wks ago, today they are on buttoned and a little roomy . I feel good. lol.

All of my smaller clothes currently go on! Some aren't pretty, and I need to lose more to get back into them, but some are just about ready to be worn!

After I'm comfortably in these ones, I will have no more smaller clothes in my closet which means I'll need to buy smaller, motivational pieces.

What a great feeling! Congrats! I LOVE to shop the clearance racks. A couple of days ago I found 4 pairs of jeans, 2 pairs of pants, 3 pair of workout pants, and 2 shirts for $53 total (which is UNDER $5 per item - got to love that)! I bought sizes all the way down to 12. That's how I shop, now. I love having things in the closet to try and and see where I am from week to week.

I had on a jacket and a cute skirt (size large from a regular store -- woohoo!) today, and a woman at work came up to me and said the following: "Seeing you standing there in that outfit, you'd never know you were ever an OUNCE overweight." I am clearly still overweight, but that was still nice to hear. So that was great, but later an even better one happened!

I went to a specialty shoe store to get custom-fitted for running shoes, and the guy fitting me pulled out a pair of shoes then said, "Wait..I hate to ask this because it's rude, but how much do you weigh?" I told him 184, and he said he asked because that particular shoe doesn't work for people who weigh under 150, and he thought I weighed under 150!!!

This was a very good day!

I usually do my measurements around the beginning of each month. Since I was out of town, that didn't happen, and I finally got around to them today. So, in about a month and a half, although I didn't lose a ton of weight in that time, I did lose 9.25 inches - which explains why clothes fit different.

Since the beginning, I've lost 37.75 inches - wowzers!