Good news at my meeting this morning, Turtles, down 0.8. Wow, did that "0." mark me as a scientist or what?

I have to confess something to you, Turtles. Last saturday, after such a marvelous loss, I let myself eat whatever I wanted for the day. The whole day. Doughnuts for breakfast and pizza for dinner. I figured it out today, after my meeting, and last week I managed to clock in at *82* points for the day. For the rest of the week I was around 32 (my range is 26-33), and I burn so much in my Spinning classes I managed to pull of a loss.

So, what did I learn here? I was determined to turn this into a learning experience--I was surprised at the small-ish loss, given my activity and my average this week. So.

If I figure out my week's average with last saturday figured in, I averaged 39-40 points a day. So. First thing I learned, I can't have one whole day of mindless eating. 10 banked points, yes. Eating exercise points when I need them, yes (up to 4 a day, even though I earn 11+ with each Spinning class). A day of not paying attention, no.

I also thought about why I had let myself loose last saturday. I decided that I hadn't planned or thought through my day very well, and let myself be led by suggestion. There was also a little bit of "this is the only day I can eat these things" happening, so I'm going to try to add those specific foods in gently. Today I was mindful of planning and paying attention, and being gentle and supportive with myself mentally. Possibly last saturday was foolish, and possibly that's the way obsession/disorder lies, but I caught myself and I learned from it. I bought myself a few new hair-snap-clip-things today, as a reward. Quite for what, I don't know, but I felt that I deserved them.

So, dusting myself off, as it were. 2.5 hour hike today (exploring a park) and great plans for next weigh-in. I'm close (well, within 3 pounds) to my 10-pound ribbon, so that's my next goal.

Lauren, I agree that I'm young for mastopexy. When I was a girl/young teenager, I never developed right. Because I had weight problems at that time, too, I developed very rapidly and my skin fibers couldn't keep up. I went from a B cup to a D cup in 6 months, at the age of 13. I was deeply ashamed of how I looked, and hated my breasts passionately. When I received the compensation from the accident, I got myself surgery. My doctor, whom we refer to as Dr. Gerbil (his real name is Dr. Gervais) examined me and told me I had 3rd degree ptosis (sagging). Essentially, the stretched-out breasts of an 80 year old woman who's been a mother several times. Anyway, I had surgery in January 2000 in Minnesota--DH, who was just a boyfriend at the time, came out from London to help me through the week following surgery. It's the best thing I have ever done for myself! Worth the scars, worth the cost, worth the pain after surgery. I would do it again in a heartbeat.

Judy and Lin, DH is calling me and I can't write! I'll write later!

Lin and Lauren, I used to have a very active imagination. I'd spend my time daydreaming or plotting schemes. The part of my brain that was damaged, though, included the part that controls extemporaneous thought. Result being, I'm much, much, much more literal than I used to be. I have even become a visual instead of auditory learner--I have to be able to see something to make sense of it. When someone just lectures at me and doesn't give me anything to look at, I'm lost. Hence I turned to the sciences in my studies, and away from the "interpretive" disciplines. I still have the soul of a writer, though, if not the imagination. I am very precise about my vocabulary and still journal endlessly. I can't write other people's stories anymore, but I can still write mine.

Because I am such a literal/concrete thinker now, the "one day at a time" approach works well for me. I can't really imagine myself in the future, my brain struggles with the protest "but I don't know how it'll be then!". Instead I plan my days. Each morning I look at what classes I have, what other obligations, and where (in the city) I will be at what times. Then I plan out my "eating day", and because it's already planned (and thus something to look at) I hold to it. So okay, I can't seem to picture the future anymore. But that DOES mean that I don't get overwhelmed by the task before me, and I never worry about how long it will take to get to goal.

Judy, hope to hear from you soon!

Must go do Physics homework so I'll see everyone later!

Hi,

Great posts, ladies. I'm saving these for review when I need them.

We're going long, though, so I'm starting number 53. See you all there.

Lin