Amanda - So thrilled you are back with us. I have thought about you. Glad you decided to come back under the name we know you as and elected to rejoin our thread. To have your boyfriend be the driving force has to be a mixed blessing. On the one hand, it is fantastic to have someone share the journey, and so much easier to stay on track when you're not dealing with someone who is either consciously or unconsciously sabotaging you. On the other hand, I hope that he doesn't get all "food police-y" on you. Dealing with all of the drama of weight control is hard enough without adding that extra layer. And yay for the early successes! They make the "white knuckle" times more bearable.

Diane - So happy that you are back at it with the fitness. Gotta be frustrating that the stiffness doesn't just go away once and for all, but really glad that you are able to go on hikes and go running and rock your spin class and your body pump. The food part tends to be the hardest for me, too. Hopefully, that comes together this week. Success just means we stay on plan enough to get results. You asked about my goal weight. I had decided to try to maintain in the 155-160 range, but earlier this month, I lost about five pounds without much effort. (I know -- go figure.) So, I am trying for the 150-155 range now. I am still "overweight," per the BMI chart, and have lots of extra fat (especially on my thighs/hips), so just sort of going with the flow right now.

Carter - So glad you are asking for the help that you need to make your project a success. I appreciate your kind words about perspective, and I would return the compliment. When I work-crunch like you are, I sometimes use that as an excuse to indulge in my worst habits. I am incredibly impressed that you walked away from binge behavior after your Tuesday/Wednesday candy binge. I am most vulnerable to just binning the whole "let's be trim and fit" effort during/right after a binge. Can't wait to hear about your continued successes - both at work and in getting back to fighting weight.

I took a long weekend with my husband last weekend. We left Friday and returned yesterday - a 13-hour drive to our destination and an 11-hour drive back. (We planned for traffic better on our drive home.) I did really well restricting my tendency to want to eat all the candy when I drive long distances, and made excellent food choices during our visit with our in-laws, but when we got back to our house at about 1:00 yesterday afternoon (we left at 2:00 a.m.), I made lots of bad food choices and was at 155.4 this morning. But I also started bleeding yesterday, which makes my Fri/Sat/Sun discipline sort of impressive to me, as PMS time usually involves extra calories, and makes my Monday overeating unsurprising. But I am back on track today, and feeling good about being back in the routine. I didn't weigh Sat/Sun/Mon mornings, since I wasn't at home, so this morning might just be a temporary uptick from overindulging yesterday, or I may have found a fairly static weight point at 155ish. I love that either way is fine with me. Thank you, Diane and Carter, for advising me not to move my goal ticker down 20 pounds to 140. This is the most chill I have been about my weight since I was probably 12 years old. It's a pretty fantastic feeling, especially as my decision to not be completely uptight about it has not resulted in an overnight 100-pound weight gain, as I have always feared it would.

Today's plan - Stay on track with food. Make sure I get in my 11K steps. (I got fewer than 11K for the first time yesterday since January 3, so I need to restart the streak.) Hit the weights with enthusiasm this evening.

Dread: You know, sometimes you just survive until the motivation returns. It isn't fun getting back on track, making sacrifices again, but it is so great when the weight starts dropping and you start feeling really good again. I know you can do it!

Laurie: Sounds like you had a successful weekend, even with the little bump up on the scale. It will go back down, I'm sure! I do think it is really good to leave the goal alone for now. How nice it is to see that you're 7 pounds past your goal! It's good to have some positive feedback!

For me, not much new. I skipped body pump this morning. I woke up with a headache and kind of sore, so I decided to just sleep in a little. Work has been a little crazy with people out, so I think that was the problem. I will be going running tonight after work, though.

Laurie: Hi!!! I've thought about y'all too, wondering how everyone was doing and hoping everything was going well. I even read the thread sometimes without commenting lol. I'm glad to be back! You're right, it's definitely a mixed blessing. We tried this exact situation before with AWFUL results - he got super food police on me, I got angry and resentful, he gave up because why try if I hate it, etc. This time, we're both being a lot better. He's not being so strict and I'm abiding by the "rules" we decided on without (much) complaining. Believe me, I'm trying to enjoy this honeymoon weight loss streak as much as possible lol. Congratulations on hitting "chill" level on your weight loss! This is where all the lessons come into play: how to keep your weight manageable in such a way you can live with the rest of your life. :) I'm sorry to see that you and your husband are having some marital issues about your weight loss...I hope the counseling is helping everyone adjust a little more!

Slash: Where did you go hiking at/how long was it?? I can't wait to be at a point where I can go for walks in nature and not feel out of breath every five feet lol. We got a dog in the fall of last year, and now that the weather is getting nicer I'm thinking of taking him for walks at the local dog park as a way for both of us to get outside and spend some time together. I'm starting to get more focused and determined with the diet and weight loss....slowly but surely lol.


So I didn't weigh myself this morning because I have a weakness for lemon/lime salt (beer salt) and ate some last night. I know I'm heading into shark week (I've got the muscle aches and the cravings, etc) so I've decided to just not weight myself for a few more days. Hopefully once I do, I'm in for a good surprise. :) I'm starting to get more invested in this diet that Boyfriend has me on. Now that the initial hardcore cravings for grease and cheese has come down a bit (it honest to God feels like detox right now), I can start to get excited about getting healthy and losing weight. Today is Pi Day (yaaayyyyy!) and my coworker and I drove around and bought a bunches of slices of pie from different restaurants and diners to bring to work. I'm proud to say that I ate my original lunch (a turkey and swiss cheese sandwich and an orange) and only ate one slice of apple pie (even when faced with my choice of different kinds literally sitting right in front of me). I was tempted to buy fast food BUT I held out! Small victories. I'm also trying to focus on drinking a lot of water and hydrating myself. Probably TMI, but my pee color is waaayyyyy better now.

Back pain is getting better slowly but surely. It's usually at its worst in the mornings, but stretching through the day seems to make it better. I'm thinking I can start on the gym at the end of this week. Yay!

Edit: Y'all, I just looked up what exactly "water weight" was and why you lose it first, and it kind of blew my mind a little bit lol. IT MAKES SO MUCH SENSE NOW.

Good morning!

Diane - Ugh on the work stress bleeding over and causing personal stress that cuts into your work-out time. Glad you got the extra sleep and that the run is on your agenda for this afternoon. Hope that the absenteeism goes down so that you can feel better and that your headache goes away quickly. Hope your run is fantastic and energizes other areas of your life as well.

Amanda - Glad that you and the bf were able to make adjustments to a formula that did not work well last time. Hopefully, you maintain the direction and it gets easier for you. Sorry to hear about the back pain. Working out provides so many benefits, in addition to the calorie burn, that I can't wait for you to be able to get back to it. The food is most important, of course, and it seems as though you're getting that down, so progress is inevitable, right? And thank you for your kind words about my marital issues. I don't actually believe they're about the weight loss. Rather, the weight loss is the catalyst that exposed the issues. But either way, I'm hoping to successfully work through them.

I had a not-great day with food. I got in my 11K steps, but had a pretty lame work-out last night. This morning, my weight shot up to 157.6. A small voice inside my head is telling me that 157 is a great weight, so I shouldn't worry. This is the same voice that told me in 2015, after I worked so hard to get down to 190, that as long as I was in Onederland, I shouldn't worry so much. Or 210 is a lot less than what I've weighed in a long time. Or at 220, I was still successfully maintaining a 50-pound loss. Or blah blah blah. This voice needs to be quiet. 157 means I've crossed the line into territory that I need to avoid. And frankly, I don't really enjoy the feeling of helplessness that I had yesterday. I was determined not to eat the snack food that I avoided for a bit, but I gave in and ate all of it. Not only did I feel helpless over the craving, but I felt bloated and uncomfortable once I ate it. So, I am going to acknowledge that sometimes, my food cravings are harder to control when I am actively bleeding, but not impossible. And while I will never feel the horror at reaching 157 that so many lifelong thin women would feel, I am going to take it very seriously.

Today's plan - 1 - Do NOT go near the candy jar at work, for any reason. Take alternate routes to avoid having to see it. 2 - Use protein shakes during the day until I am safely back under 155. Hopefully, that will only be a day or two, but who knows? I still have protein shakes from July that I used during my two-week liquid diet, and it will be good to use them up, and I know I only consume them because I am addressing my hunger, not my desire to eat. 3 - Take my short walk breaks during the day. 4 - Stay focused and productive at work this morning so I can slip out to run at about 11:30. 5 - Eat "regular food" with my family for dinner, but be very disciplined and don't overeat. I will also make sure that some sort of green veggie or fruit is part of the meal for me. 6 - Drink part of a protein shake/protein water in the late afternoon so I do not feel the need to eat everything in sight when I walk in the door after work. 7 - Do not eat after dinner. 8 - Avoid the kitchen. Just gotta be super disciplined today. I might not need to be as disciplined tomorrow, but I also might. That, however, is not today's problem.

Also, for what it's worth, my marriage right now feels almost stronger than ever. It feels deceptive, because the divorce drama came out of the blue last week, so I have an acute awareness that this "honeymoon-like" period could dissolve pretty quickly. But. The divorce drama actually helped me walk through the "what-if" scenarios. I would be okay. I am now appropriately planning for the "what-if." Whereas before, I had turned down my husband's offer of financial assistance for the surgery, now I'm welcoming his help so that I can maintain more of a cushion if I have to find a new place to live. Facing the potential reality of a divorce makes me far less worried than I was when it was an amorphous possibility. (Our finances are completely separate.) Part of me thinks he was just testing me to see how committed I am to this relationship, now that I'm all thin and hot. (Disclaimer - I am neither thin nor hot, and don't have any particular desire to become either of those things.)

Hope everyone has a fantastic day!

Dread: The hike I went on last Saturday was a total of 2 miles. It is somewhat rigorous in that it is steep in some areas and very rocky in other areas. There are other trails nearby that are much more carefully groomed and level, but I like this one because of the view at the top. It isn't used much by bicycles, so it is very peaceful. Oh, and you did well with pi day! I love pie, so that would have been tough for me! Glad you had success!!!

Laurie: So, maybe that voice in your head is your "hooker"? I think it is good to be relaxed somewhat about your weight, but I also think that not letting it go too far would be more beneficial because you can catch it while it isn't so hard to take it back off again. It sounds like a win for you!!

For me, I did go running last night and it was pretty good. I feel like I'm making good progress in getting back to where I was. Still not perfect at all, but at least it seems much better. I also went to spin this morning and it was another tough one. It's funny because Wednesday's class used to be the easy one. I'm not sure where the instructor went, but the ones filling in have been fantastic. They really push you to do better.

Food has been much better on plan. I think that through the week, I'll be fine. I'm just going to have to be diligent on the weekends, because that free-for-all seems to put me back too far.

Hey All

I've been traveling for the past few days so not checking in.

Dread I really totally understand where you are coming from right now. I was hanging out on this thread a lot in 2015, even though I was still struggling, but then I just abandoned entirely, and finally I came back. The dedication of Laurie and Diane always inspires me! No matter what I'm doing, they're still plugging away. The beginning detox period is always the hardest, and good for you for resisting pie on PI day!

Diane I'm impressed with your hiking! You must be a lot fitter than you think. I'm pretty good with walking when it's not too hilly, but going up a mountain is definitely beyond me right now! I can definitely hear your enthusiasm as the exercise improves, and that always helps with the food in turn.

Laurie Sorry as it sounds as if the hooker has made a reappearance! If you want my opinion, I think you haven't figured out yet what your maintainable weight range will turn out to be. 150-155? 155-160? It's more realistic to try to maintain in a range than to maintain a specific weight. I TOTALLY GET that you don't want to go up at all!!!!! But you may want to also be alert for the tendency to be over-restrictive... in case that starts to trigger you to forget how awesome it is to be you right now! :-)

So, I'm feeling pretty happy with a few unexpected NSVs! Had to travel this weekend, and I was really nervous about it because last year, I actually purchased a seat belt extender because I was on a leg of a flight where I was just BARELY able to get the seatbelt fastened. I've found that the seatbelt problem seems to start when I get above 280, and I'm only been that high or higher a few times in my life. So, NSV number one is that when I left for this trip I was 284, but the seatbelt was fine. I was able to fasten and tighten a little. Since I'm still above 280, I attribute this to the fact that I've been diligently tread milling, so I must be more compact! And the second NSV is that I was developing more and more of a phobia about going to the doctor-- in particular, I have been terrified of developing diabetes because my mother has it even though she is not overweight and so I had developed this idea that I didn't want to go to the doctor at all until I lost weight. So, I FINALLY got up the courage to get my blood work done. The great news is that I'm FINE! My new doctor has been really encouraging and understanding about my hesitation to proceed with the WLS. I did reasonably well food-wise on the trip (as well as can be given that I had to eat several meals out) and so far, I'm still losing steadily without getting nuts about calories. So, all is well.

HOWEVER, sadly I had a bit of a bad moment when I realized that the place where I went to speak posted a tape of my speech on the internet...I had not seen a video of myself at this weight... and it really took an adjustment for me to really face what I look like at 280+. I really debated about what to wear, and in the end, I kind of wish I'd worn something different. So, I'm trying to focus on the positive-- my hair looked great, I was poised, and my speech was very well-received, but of course, all I'm thinking about is FAT UBER!!!!!!! And really, that boils down to why it's SO HARD to start at a very high weight, because it takes a really long time before you really start to see the payoff, and it's so hard to really feel the results... I remember from last time that it's not until I get below 220 or so that I really start to see payoff in terms of smaller clothes, etc. and in the meantime, it's so easy to see fat me and have the HOOKER start shouting "Yeah, you thought you were doing so well???? Look at you!!! You are still FAT!!! Sigh

Which brings me back to Laurie and why I hope that you will spend many minutes of every day admiring yourself and reminding yourself that YOU ARE SKINNY RIGHT NOW and NOW is the time to enjoy it!!!!

Laurie: You know what the ultimate irony is? If I had been working out and strengthening my core, I probably wouldn't have tweaked my back the way I did lol! It's alright, though. I'm planning on going back this weekend (fingers crossed!) even if I haven't completely resolved the back pain. It only starts hurting when I'm sitting or standing still for an extended amount of time; when I'm moving and stretching, it stays relatively pain-free. There's no nerve pain involved (THANK GOD). Feeling out of control and helpless when it comes to hunger and cravings is no bueno...I'm glad you feel more powerful and determined today (in relation to both your body and your marriage)! Helplessness is an awful feeling and it's easy to lose control when you feel like it's being taken from you. I'm glad the drama brought out the clarity of the situation for you. I'm rooting for y'all!

Slash: That hike sounds awesome! There's lots of big parks here that I want to explore, and I know my dog would LOVVVVVEEEE to get out and about. I mean, the idealist part of me dreams of going hiking and camping and being outside all the time...but the reality is that I hate bugs and the outdoors and everything involved in being outside lol. Glad to hear you're getting back into the steadiness and diligence every day.

Uber: Hey!!!! Yes, coming back was rough but ultimately I feel SO MUCH BETTER being back lol. I finally feel like I'm back on track for real. It's a lot easier this time around (or at least it feels that way). The detox is pretty rough, though. I've subscribed to a lot of pages like Tasty on facebook and all of a sudden, there's food porn everywhere. I'm dying a little bit right now. :'( Congrats on the seatbelt fitting and the good news from the doctor!!

So I had a decently good day today. Had half of a frozen fruit/almond milk/greek yogurt smoothie this morning, some burrito bowl mix (chicken fajita, black beans, corn, rice, bell peppers, onions, jalapenos) for lunch, and fish with carrots/broccoli and rice (with tartar sauce) for dinner. Not perfect, but all home-made and much, MUCH better than what I had been eating prior to this diet. And my dinner plate was legit 50% veggies. Boyfriend bought us some Reese's cups for dessert (as a reward for staying strong and not cheating), and instead of eating the whole pack, I just had two and gave the rest to my sister. I'm pretty proud of myself for being able to turn away chocolate and sweets right now.

I'm excited (and dreading) to be able to go back to the gym this weekend. My back pain is getting the tiniest bit better each day, and it's definitely just in the muscles. There's no nerve pain involved, THANK YOU BABY JESUS, and the more I move and get the muscles warmed up, the less it hurts. I'm going to slowly stretch and work the muscles a little and start with something low impact. I want to see more results, and the only way I'll finish up losing the water weight is to work off the glycogen that's stored up inside (and then it's onto the actual fat burning!).

Work is totally kicking my *** this week and I think it's because Shark Week is like a day away from starting. Ugh.

Diane - That hike sounds so lovely! And Uber is right - given that you are able to do a challenging two-mile hike, it seems as though your fitness level is probably still pretty impressive, especially because your running is going well and you are able to meet the challenge of the crazy interim spin instructors. And the weekend food challenge continues. I'm guessing for most of us. It is easier for me when I am at work, generally, and am able to stay in routine. But it's so frustrating to make progress through the week, and sacrifice it for a weekend's worth of guilt. You and me - we gonna get this right, though. And I agree about the range. Right now, I am trying to maintain in the 150-155 range. But I honestly don't know where I want to be yet.

Uber - Yay for a more compact you being able to ditch the seatbelt extender! And YAY for rocking that presentation and recognizing how well it went and how well it was received, even with that hooker in your head screaming at you that you are FAT and FAT is all that matters. If I were in that audience, I would have noticed you were fat, and my internal monologue would probably have gone something like this: "It is so hard to be fat and be the focus of so much attention, but she is absolutely rocking this." But that wouldn't have been my first thought. I would have probably been all geeked out because of how much I love your books (I am assuming you are one of the authors I adore, rightly or wrongly). I would have been interested in the structure of your speech and the mechanics of your presentation, as communication strategy is one of my interests. I am always feeling like my hair needs help, so I would probably have been looking at your hair and wondering if I could pull off that style. And, of course, I would have been interested in your subject matter. So, please tell that hooker in your head that she is wrong. Your audience is much more interested in you than in your weight. And I am also hyper aware that fat people are judged far more harshly, so I would have admired you that much more because of you are succeeding despite that obstacle. I am SO glad that you faced your diabetes scare, and that your health is good. And I take your advice to heart. I am really working on shutting up my hooker, who tells me that even after losing 110 pounds, I still have tons of extra weight and who reminds me that I have loose skin everywhere. But I do need to appreciate being this weight. And I am going to focus on enjoying how THIN I am. (And I am actively trying to suppress the voice in my head that is currently screaming at me that I am NOT thin. =) )

Amanda - It's so great to hear you talking about work so casually. You worked so hard to earn your degree and find a job you liked, so it's pretty fantastic that you're there, even though you're having a challenging week. You are making so much progress! I would have been super frustrated that the food police was rewarding me with food, so yay on you for handling it smoothly. I don't think I could have done it if I was premenstrual. So excited for you getting back in the gym, and so glad that your injury is actually aided by movement.

I stayed pretty well on plan yesterday/last night. I actually struggled to finish even one shake yesterday, as things were pretty crazy at work and I wanted to make sure to get my run in. I didn't eat dinner until 7:00, so I was pretty starving by that time. Nevertheless, I was disciplined in eating enough to sate my hunger and enjoy my meal, but did not get uncomfortably full. I did have huge cravings to eat everything in the kitchen, and chose to eat some Arctic Zero to satisfy my need to eat without driving up calories. Fortunately, I am back down to 155.2, so about the same weight as two days ago. I also ran, and did pretty well, finishing my five miles in 52:04, averaging one mile per 10:27. I also ran the first mile and a quarter at a 2.5 incline, though I steadily decreased the incline and increased the speed throughout the run.

I am going to stick with yesterday's plan for today. Protein shakes at work. Reasonable dinner at home. Try to make sure I don't come home from work completely starving. Avoid the candy jar. Hit the weights tonight (and accept that this might jack my weight back up a bit). Eat some greens/fruit and stop eating entirely at 8ish. And, Uber, I am going to look in the mirror and look for the good things while ignoring the hooker in my head. =) AND at the gym, I am going to try to appreciate what my body can do, and value the functional aspects of fitness and weight control.

Have a great day, everyone!

I haven't had great internet connections the last week so there's lots of 3FC catching up to do. I'm still healing - good days and bad days but i'm definitely healing. Just not as fast as I want and I have to not overdo things. I started back at work this week but called out for the last day because I could just feel my body was not responding well. Weight loss and walking are both going well for me. I've made it almost 100 miles and I'm resting up at Tom Bombadil's house....

Welcome back DreadPiratePanda! Owning up to our regains is so hard but essential. Finding the motivation to get back at it is hard. I know this group is essential for my progress. The support and inspiration is amazing.

Good job Mandy getting back on track and you're 100 pounds down by July goal is totally do-able. And like you said, even if you don't get all the way there you'll be closer than you are now.

Laurie - your strength in dealing with your husband is wonderful and not letting it distract you from your goals (or letting it become an excuse to backslide) is even more impressive. I read your posts especially with an eye toward when i get close to goal and am maintaining.

Carter - you also inspire me by not letting work drive you over the edge. My inability to manage the work/life boundary and the stress of work requirements was a bit part of my regain and I also think is primarily responsible for my gallbladder adventures. You are doing such a great job through this stressful time.

uh-oh. Internet is flakey. I'm saving this and will add more soon...

before the internet goes out for good...

Slash - your hike sounds wonderful. We just got 3 feet of snow so no hiking for me for a while. Just walking out to the woodshed is a work out. But you really make me want out to get out and hike more.

Uber - congrats on the NSVs! Those really matter. And great news about facing the dreaded Doctor and the blood work. I've had so much blood work since Christmas and my doctor wants me to come back in a couple months once all the gallbladder related stuff is done tweaking everything. I know she's concerned about my cholesterol and perhaps pre-diabetes. But I'm down 30 pounds since I saw her in the beginning of January and i've been forced to eat really really healthy so for once i'm not dreading my doctor's appointment nearly as much as usual. I'd like to be in Onederland by the time I make my appointment....

I'm going to bundle up and go "play" in the snow drifts. I can't shovel but I can wade through the snow and fill the bird feeders....

You guys all really help me on this journey. Even when i don't get to check in for a few days I'm looking forward to coming back here and read your posts for insight and inspiration.

Laurie: Right??? It's crazy when I remember how utterly stressed I was working at my other nursing jobs. At this place, it's a whole different (manageable) level of stress. Like...a normal amount where I don't have anxiety attacks thinking about going back the next day lol. I don't think PMS had fully hit me yesterday, otherwise I'm not sure I could have handled it as gracefully as I did LOL. Congrats on staying on plan! It sounds like your body is doing amazing stuff for you right now! Good job controlling the eat-everything cravings :)

Vladadog: Thanks!! Yeah, ultimately my need for company that *gets it* was stronger than my embarrassment and shame at not succeeding. I'm super glad I'm back on the forum. The support provided here is irreplaceable! And there's always good advice and role models around. Congrats on being down so much since the last time you saw you doctor! Hopefully the forced healthy eating bc of the gallbladder stuff helps with the cholesterol and pre-diabetes!



Y'ALL! My brother gave me a Fitbit! I'm so excited because I can't be on my phone while at work and on the floor, but this will let me quickly check my daily steps and progress in a discreet way. I'm hoping having the steps right there on my wrist inspires me to walk a bit more. Right now I'm averaging anywhere from 5000-8000 steps a day just by being at work (and that's with taking the elevator all the time and not the stairs). I'm constantly going up and down between floors and running all over the building looking for charts, for people, for people to sign the charts, etc. Can you just imagine how many more steps I'd get just by taking the stairs? I take the elevator because the stairs make me out of breath, but I think starting tomorrow that's going to have to stop. Baby steps!

Diet went really well today. Strawberry/almond milk/greek yogurt smoothie for breakfast, sandwich/orange/pickle for lunch, and wheat pasta with chicken and broccoli for dinner. Frozen fruit popsicle for dessert, and only water or milk to drink all day. Feeling pretty good about weighing myself tomorrow morning. :)

Dread - I love love love my fitbit. It definitely motivates me. Like you my job has a lot of walking and when i'm healthy I walk with the dogs. But something about the fitbit makes me want to go just that next little bit. Plus mine tracks my sleep - I work overnights and my fitbit helps force me to try to get more sleep (often i don't even manage 4 hours and then wonder why I'm so tired by the end of my work week...). Anyway, the fitbit, myfitnesspal, and 3FC are all really really helpful to me.

Vladadog! So glad to see you posting. Sorry about the bad internet connection. Ain't nothing that drives me crazier (first world problem-wise) than bad internet. The Tom Bombadil reference? Either you're a super Lord of the Rings geek or you've found some sort of app that allows you to explore Middle Earth while you're walking. Actually, you probably wouldn't have found the app if you weren't a LOTR geek. I want to know more! I've loved those books since childhood. And I can't wait until you're in maintenance with me! My first thought was that you could watch me fail, then I would be losing again while rooting for your to maintain. But I've decided I am going to be as positive and encouraging with myself as I try to be with other people, so -- can't wait until you and I are working through the challenges of maintaining together.

Amanda - Fitbits are awesome! I lost my charger a few weeks ago, and it really hit home how incredibly dependent I am on my Fitbit to push me to get in the proper number of steps on the daily. As for the elevator versus stairs -- I have a relatively random rule. I will take stairs when it's one or two floors, elevator when it's more than that, and only if I am wearing sensible stair-climbing shoes. Fitbits generally track flights of stairs as well. =) Sounds like all of the pieces are coming together for you right now. I'm excited to see it all working. Hopefully, the scale will not be treacherous for tomorrow's weigh-in.

Carter - Can't wait to hear about the presentation and your continuing progress or challenges on getting back to fighting weight.

Had a pretty good day with both food and exercise yesterday. I am back into the 150-155 range, but just barely, at 154.4. Today is jeans day at work, and I put on my size 10 jeans and they just seemed too big. I remembered that I had purchased size 8 jeans a few thrift shop visits ago, so I tried them on, and they fit pretty loosely. Size 8 jeans and a M sweater. I took your advice, Uber, and just stared at my reflection for a few minutes, amazed that this is me now. I also had a counseling appointment with my husband yesterday. He told the therapist, "I feel like I'm reliving the last days of my first marriage," and then listed several things that I was doing that were similar to his ex-wife's actions -- losing significant weight, always wanting to be out of the house, taking on projects and goals. And all this craziness sort of made more sense than it has before. It is great to have a neutral third-party walk him through all of it, and after two weeks of marriage counseling, our marriage feels more solid than it ever has. I know it won't be all sunshine and roses, but Imma enjoy it while I can.

Going to try to maintain tighter discipline for the weekend to see if I can get down closer to 150. I was 153 about 10 days ago, but that's the lowest I've been since at least 2007. I think I'm going to try to run 8 miles outside today, not on a track, and with some hills, I am scheduled to donate blood this morning, so I will be mindful of how I feel and will not force myself to complete the running goal. I've been talking about an 11-mile run for three weeks now, and I need to just get 'er done, so I am scheduling that for Sunday.

Hope everyone has a great weekend!

Hey all! I've been really swamped at work. We are a little short handed, so working hard! Everything is going fairly well. But, gotta run.