Yay!

I went back to the gym today to exercise and weigh myself... boy was I nervous for the weigh in! I had been away from my gym the whole time I was at the Rennies' house, and they cooked me a lot of food (which was very nice of them, and I ate moderately). Christmas and New Years had come and gone and those are both trouble spots for me ... plus it was the end of the day and I had just eaten a big meal.

Yet low and behold... my weight has gone DOWN! The week before I left my weight was stuck between 185 and 183... now it is 181. I think it was my choice to moderate my eating throughout the visit and make sure that when I was celebrating, I didn't pile on too many calories. I am also watching what I eat for pain management purposes, so certain things like cheesecake and pizza were off the table for me for that reason. In fact when people around me were eating very rich foods like cheesecake or french onion dip, I actually felt nauseated instead of tempted.

I got in a great 45 minute uphill workout on the recumbent bike. My heart was really pumpin! I am feeling my endorphine high now. When I have a positive weigh in, it really motivates me to work hard. Soon I will finally be back in the 170s!

Two Thanksgivings ago when I came to Tip Top looking feeling and looking thinner than usual, I was around 180 pounds. I am happy that I have pretty much gotten back to the weight I was then, and my New Years Resolution is to get down to 150 ... so I'm about halfway done! I know this half will be harder in most ways, but I think this saying is true: "The hardest lift is your butt off the couch".

Tomorrow I am gonna hit the weights! I have a goal to do real, serious weight training three times per week for the next six months, in addition to three cardio sessions. I think that should get me to my goal and prepare me for beach season to boot.

Derek also said he would buy me a dress if I lost fourty pounds (meaning 170) by Valentine's Day. What do you think? That's eleven pounds in six weeks...  I am young and feeling ambitious so I think I can do it. I am starting my elimination diet now so that will help, along with rigorous exercise. Obviously I would love to power through my 170s faster than I did my 180s but I know each ten pounds is harder than the last. Perhaps we can have a St. Patrick's Day extension :)

Feelin' Good! It's amazing what exercise can do for mood... I was feeling so gloomy while writing yesterday's entry, but today I feel like I can conquer the world.