Funny, aren't we?

I went to get my hair done this morning and my hairdresser is also someone I consider a good friend. We started talking about some random topic and she said, "I can't talk to you about this until we talk about YOU! You have lost a major amount of weight!" She kept going on and on about how thin my face has gotten and how good I looked. At the end my hair looked super cute and she said, "Now this hair belongs on this face..." Made my day!!!!

Great NSVs as always - I do love reading this thread! For me, this was a totally fun NSV - the jogging path I use goes by a golf course, and as I was doing my run this morning, I got whistled at by a foursome on the golf course...made me smile

NSVs are so wonderful! I saw your pictures, Rachel. That foursome knew what they were doing.

Tricia - My NSV is almost the same as yours, just a different amusement park. I initially went about three months ago, and never got kicked off a ride, but I did go through a few deprived of oxygen. When I went yesterday, I rode all of the rides, some with a little room to spare. So wonderful! Though I felt sick for this poor woman who went on a ride and the operator told her she had to get off. Then, the child she was with screamed, "She's way too big for this ride" in explanation to someone else. It just broke my heart. Surely there's a more humane way to handle that situation.

Yesterday was filled with NSVs, in fact.

1 - Even though we were leaving early, I decided to get up at 6:00 and get in my swimming. Felt great about doing it.

2 - After swimming, I sat on the bench to put on my shoes, and curled my leg up on the bench and put the shoe on just like a normal person would. I haven't been able to do that in years!

3 - I had purchased a new shirt just for the day - a fitted T-shirt, to prove that I now actually have a shape. After getting home from swimming, I went to put it on and couldn't find it. My 11YO son was wearing it. We had bought new clothes for the kids, too, and he just assumed it was his. (He likes oversize shirts - we aren't even remotely the same size, but still...)

4 - This is the funniest one. After I had forced my son to give my shirt back and had put it on, I was asking my 13YO daughter for confirmation that my outfit looked good together. My husband kept offering me his shirts to wear. When I finally asked him why, he whispered, "That one shows your breasts. I thought you must be uncomfortable wearing it." It's not a tight or revealing shirt - it's just designed to taper in at the waist. Thinking back, though, I don't know that I've ever worn anything that emphasized my shape - even when I had one to emphasize!

5 - We split up into mini-groups, and I rode with my 10YO son for a while. Poor child was huffing and puffing trying to keep up with his mother!

6 - I planned well enough in advance that I had plenty of healthy food to eat, so I never went hungry, but was not at all tempted by all of that amusement park crap.

It was a great, great day. A day that will fuel my efforts for weeks to come.

Last night we picked up my daughter, from her two month vacation visiting her father, and to celebrate we went to Olive Garden. Her choice, and I didn't want to disappoint her. I ordered their new Venetian apricot chicken with broccoli and asparagus (480 calories). I had them put the low fat parmesan salad dressing on the salad, no bread, and just one glass of red wine. I came home and was within my calories and felt great. This morning I'm finally down a full five pounds since I started on July 1st and I feel that I really have a handle on this weight loss and will succeed!!

Ritzy, it seems like sometimes we hit a tipping point and everyone starts noticing and commenting on weight loss. Even though my loss has been pretty steady throughout, there were certain points where I'd suddenly just get a slew of comments, as if it had all come off overnight. Enjoy the compliments, you deserve them!

My NSV is from last night. I feel a little guilty about even mentioning it, but what the heck, if I can't share with you guys, who can I share it with? I was at a party last night, and at one point, looked around and realized I was the skinny girl in the group I was chatting with. That never happens to me!

We go to breakfast after Mass every Sunday. There is a place very close to home that we haven't been to in a long time (we get bored with the same menu). Our normal waitress was all over telling me how great I looked and how much I'd lost, etc. Then the owner chimed in later asking me how much I lost and telling me how great I looked.

It was a little embarressing, but very nice to know that people are noticing!

I had a good weekend:

-went for my 2nd appointment with a personal trainer, had a good tough workout & had my nutrition consultation with him
-my dh is totally on board with my eating & is going to do it with me (usually we are trying to do two totally different things)
-yesterday we planned our menu for the week, went grocery shopping, prepped most of the lunch stuff for the week & ate on plan
-today I have my lunch, my water & my clothes for dragon boating - I'm starting the week off strong (& intend to finish it that way)
-I read Harry Potter this weekend - it was good!

About two months ago, before I even started this plan, I was in Ross and found a dress I fell in love with. I tried it on, and it would only zip halfway up. It was a size 22. Couldn't find any other sizes. Bought it anyway, thinking my mom could alter it for me. Stuck it in my closet and kinda forgot about it. Happened to think about it yesterday and thought what the heck....I tried it on. It zips all the way now! It's a bit snug when I sit down, but I was thrilled to get that baby zipped. Maybe in a few weeks I'll have to have my mom alter it down for me.

Hearing clothes NSV are some of my favorite.
Today I was outside by our campground store. A neighbor who I haven't seen for awhile came by to ask a question.
He stopped and asked me if I was the new owner. I looked at him and said We have been here for 14 years. He said, you look different, didn't you have dark hair. I said yes I used to have darker hair and I lost 45 lbs since last summer. He said you look great.

I tossed my baggy clothes and started wearing clothes that fit and today, I was called skinny twice.

Now, we all know I am not skinny but it sure was fun! I am practicing the art of receiving a compliment, "Thank you" instead of "are you kidding, I have so much to lose"

I love NSV's about roller coasters. We all love it when one of us has a successful "butt fit" experience! You go, girls!

Took my daughters to Des Moines shopping today and had two NSV's. I went into a store called White House/Black Market that I have always drooled over (from the hallway) because they didn't have anything to fit me. Went in today and picked up a few things. This nice (wonderful, terrific, gorgeous) clerk offered to start me a dressing room. When I went to the fitting room she says, "I put in a smaller size of all of your choices, too, because I think they'll fit better." "Hope you don't mind. " MIND!!!??? And the best part - she was right! Bought a large and a medium! MEDIUM!!! I felt like a million bucks. The clothes were half price, but I'll tell you - I would have paid double for that medium!

Then we went to Panera bread for lunch. I ordered French onion soup with no croutons or cheese and half of a tomato salad with the dressing on the side. The guy taking our order says, "you're high maintenance, aren't you?" and I RESISTED saying, "yep, and you're fat, dude!" I ate on plan AND kept my smart remark to myself. Both NSV's now that I think about it! Great day!

*I went to my mom's house tonight on my way to volleyball. I walk in the door wearing my oh-so-attractive workout clothes and she stares for a second, then asks "HOW much weight have you lost??" I told her and she was quiet for a second, then said "Wow, that's really hard to do, that takes a lot of work."

It felt really, really good to have someone acknowledge the effort that goes into losing weight and not just the results (although I do love those compliments too!)

*I also had my cousin tell me yesterday that my size 16 jeans are "way too big." The ones I'm wearing have a little stretch in them, so I think I'll just try drying them and see what happens.

*I got into a size 16 lined skirt the other day. Lined clothes always seem much smaller to me than unlined. It's one of my all time favorite skirts so I've hung onto it for several years. It's still a little tight around the back, but it'll fit perfectly in about 5-10 more lbs.

I have my lunch packed for the day - that's two days in a row - on my way to becoming a habit - lol!

Lifeguard - It's those small steps that make all the difference. Great job on planning ahead.

Traci - What great compliments both! First, the mediums fitting is a great, great feeling, and then someone acknowledging that you are willing to put in the work to make sure you get what you need for your body.

Gale and Hocus - Clothes NSVs. That's really what it's all about, huh? Congrats!

And Sharon - You're gonna have to get yourself a name tag. So many of your casual acquaintances seem to lack the ability to recognize the new, transformed you!