This is something I NEVER, EVER could have done before. I would have just scarfed everything done like there was no tomorrow. 
I still don't trust myself too much and so I don't make it difficult for myself by buying things that would require me to...like...put part of the opened bag away....away, as in, away in the cupboard, NOT in my stomach! For this, work is actually good, because I will go out and buy a pack of something and give all but a bit for myself away. There are always hungry men to chow down on anything you throw them. Like a pack of hungry dogs! But, I admit to having bought things and then not telling anyhow and eating them all myself! 
So, today is my Day 12. Wish me luck!Caro -- Working back in the posts here...I'm happy to see you're seeing progress and moving down the scale!
That said, please, please be careful about getting hung up on the scale. The scale is pretty meaningless. You could be losing lean body weight, not fat, which means you'll be burning even less calories. The idea, basically, is to EAT and exercise and only make your calorie deficit about 500 a day. You are exercising and you know muscle weighs more but, being denser, takes up less space. Take your measurements! Try on tight clothes. See how your shape is changing. This is what you gotta focus on! Ok, maybe you know that. I just get worried when people start talking about the scale. Ok, blondie! but be careful you don't offend any of our blond members! Tokyo is 13 hours ahead of the East Coast, 14 in the winter ('cause there's no daylight saving time here). Easy way to figure it out...add 1 to your time and change the a.m. to p.m. or the p.m. to a.m. and Tokyo is always ahead. It's going on 7 a.m. Saturday morning here. With you, that would make it going on 6 p.m. Friday evening. Land of the Rising Sun and all that. Got it?!
Ok, getting further back in the posts here, I come to your very interesting talk of the rose-colored glasses coming off. As I said last post, YES, this is it exactly and something I deal with a lot. It's largely what got me in a slump earlier this week. It's part of the tactics we use to deny reality, to see what we want to see and not what we don't. It's like how good we get at avoiding any reflection of ourselves. Oops, mirror, store window!...eyes cloud over, focus blurs...whoo!! close call.... But now, we're showing the courage to hunker down and say, okay, what's the bottom line? and we see it and we want to cry....it's tough but I think what we got to do is get over the emotion and get past the thoughts of what got us there. Like you said before, what's done is done. What can we do about it? And, looking back is okay if it's only to learn what NOT to do. As they say, it AIN'T rocket science! And we're not ninnies. We just..whatever...had other things more pressing than worrying about the flab around our middles. Okay, so now we're going to do something about the flab...calm, cool, collected..that's the way we gotta be. Objectivity is the word! No sniffling, no whining, we are NOT our fat. But our bodies ARE the outcome of what we put in them and what we put them through. Ok, Sherlock, let's crack this case once and for all!
jkg -- That's the way! Planning! Planning! and being prepared. Getting those fruits and veggies in front of you and half the battle's won! Great going!!
curly -- Hmm. I wonder why vitamins are making people queasy...
Must be the additives they put in some of them or the coloring or something. I would try a brand that is totally natural. Well, curly, that's great that you're seeing a posterior peeking through. I love that, when your body starts to change shape that makes it look...well, like there are muscles and bones underneath. 
Good for you and you're rolling right along, aren't you? Keep it up! 
Trixi -- How did your BBQ go? Were you able to get through it okay? I'm glad to hear you're getting out and about these days. Okay, emotional stuff is just something we're going to have to deal with. Be glad we got feelings! You got through Day 4. Good for you!
Keep it up. And, if it makes you feel any better, I too, am suffering in the heat. 90 degrees and above here. Walking through water kind of humidity. But I'm an August baby and I can take the heat! 
Good luck, kiddo! mscat -- You are utterly amazing! An 11:30 p.m. workout. Wow!
How are you doing now? I hope still well. Remember the free day if you ever need it, it's there for you. Yes, jkg, curly, they give us hope. If they can do it, we can too! Yes, "never give up" is my mantra, and that means it's something I need to keep telling myself. Funny, I used to think I was a really persistent type and I was in certain things, but I've realized that there were others that just one disappointment, just one setback, would have me jerk into the fetal position while pretending I "didn't care anymore." Mscat, you can do it! Make your goals! Java --- So, Java Turtle, what's this I hear!? A missed journal entry? I don't get it? Can't you just fill it in and kick on? As I said, you can take your free day. I hate to see you lose momentum, but it's your call. If you think it's strategically better to go back to Start now, then so be it. You're doing so well!
And I'm proud of you! 
You're finding solutions to the sticking points, free weights, calendar. Optimists never stop thinking! You are an optimist! 
Theres still hope. I spent the day driving around my brother-without-a-license, mopping and doing laundry, bringing my mom some stuff for apartment, kids have been nutty... I just want to take a nice bath. I`m telling myself, work-out and then enjoy the bath! I hope it happens, I`ll let you all know if I make it.
I usually dont do it all at once. I really need that bath now....
I hear what you and Red are saying about the scale. It's not just that but I feel the extra lbs in my clothes too. Going to start taking my measurements and tonight I had LF cheese, yogurt, and grapes for dinner instead of my usual fare of red meat and starches.
Great going!!
Enjoy your week end girls.
And a little bit ago, with the radio on, I stood at my station and did 100 knee lifts (50 on each). Owww that was a bit painful. 
But Da Turtle just can't seem to leave the pretzels alone. 
