We B Hikin'....

**UPDATE** I just got back from the Doctor's today. I actually broke my tailbone. No more exercise for the next 5 weeks. Scary. I've really got to watch my diet and make sure that I eat within my daily caloric allowance. Ugh.

JT and I are camping this weekend with the family which of course means: Hot dogs, smores, chips, and other assorted camping food that I don't normally eat. Part of what I like doing with this "plan" of mine is that I don't deprive myself of anything. Things I shouldn't eat are eaten in moderation but they are not ignored. Love it. BUT: if I'm going to do something stupid like eat hot dogs and chips, I better have a plan to exercise my butt off. Little did I know that the exercise would have my butt in mind!

We (JT and I) decided to take a hike up this hill that the campground has nicely named the "Hiking Trail". Me being "cocky" thinking I'm much more fit than I am (after all I DO 25 min power walks everyday, how hard could it be??!!) decided to hike this hill this morning and work off that wonderful camping food I was eating. The hill is at a 40 degree angle and looked pretty scary. We walked up that hill (me at a steady pace and stopping several times) fairly quickly. But of course what goes up.......must come down. We walked around the top for a bit and decided we'd head back down. There was another trail down the other side and we decided to go that way instead of the way we came up. As we walked down the much softer dirt trail, I slipped and fell flat on my a$$. O.....M.....G. I hurt so freakin' bad!! My fanny is going to be a bit sore for a few days I'm sure. Lucky for me I'm lopsided and the pain is only on my right side. Go figure!
This pic was taken at the top of the hill. A little dark but you can see how high up we were (and how freezing it was!).

By the way, I'm still losing. I'm at 52 lbs and counting....(those hot dogs can't be all bad! ha!)

Thanks for reading...

The fantastic ride...

...my fanny is a little sore but yesterday I took the longest ride I've ever done. I had a Board meeting for HDI where I am Vice President of Membership. We met in Hayward which is approx 66 miles from my house. Gas prices being what they are around here prompted me to ride my motorcycle instead of taking the car. It was a casual meeting so not a big deal to do - meaning I didn't have to dress up. I know it's really shocking to see a 43-year-old woman riding a motorcycle, but the proof is in the pudding. This is me right after my ride home. No laughing!It's past time for me to buy a new motorcycle jacket, this one is an XXL!!

Size what?! You've GOT to be kidding!!!

So, I've been living by the golden diet rule of "If it's too big to wear, give it away". I haven't kept anything in my closet that I've outgrown. It's been a GREAT relief to get rid of those clothes knowing that the sizes I'm wearing means that I'm getting much healthier.
That being said, I've also been buying the next size smaller in anticipation of wearing it. This morning was a shock! I went to my closet to see how close I was to putting on my next size down and lo and behold......it fit!!! NO FREAKIN' WAY!!!! I must have been a freshman in High School the last time i was wearing A SIZE 8!!! Yes, I've gone from a size 20 to a size 8. In jeans at least! The tops........well, no so much! :) Not sure if or when that will ever happen.

Just couldn't wait to share....thanks for reading!

Ta da!

It FINALLY happened!! I woke up yesterday morning, got on the scale and hit my next goal! 50 lbs!! Actually it was 51 lbs!!! Wow. I didn't think I would ever get there because I've plateaued for so long. Now I'm doing the "happy dance"!! Happy happy joy joy happy happy joy joy!

It's time.

I decided it was time to show the real me. OR at least the "real me" as I used to be. I changed my BEFORE picture to show what I really looked like at the start of this blog. I was embarrassed to put this picture up before because I wasn't very happy with myself. But it's real. It's the old me. I am so much happier being at a healthy weight that I am finally ready to let go of the old me. It's been very difficult to see me in a new light. I still find that I see a bigger girl in the mirror. I know my clothes are smaller, but there are other parts of me that I just haven't accepted the changes yet. It's hard to explain unless you've been there. I still get Plus Size clothing catalogs and I look through them for cute clothes. It usually takes me a few minutes of looking through the catalog before I remember that I can't fit in those anymore.

The old me is gone and isn't coming back. Lucky for you, I've only changed the outside! :)

If patience is a virtue, I must not be very virtuous!!

I'm there.....the dreaded plateau. HATE it. I started this blog to talk about my weight loss and my successes/failures with it. This whole journey has been a mind game and I've been pretty successful despite my original thoughts of the contrary.
The past two months have been difficult because I've plateaued. Just sitting here with the same weight day after day. I really shouldn't complain but I'm thisclose to hitting a big number! I'm at 49lbs gone and just itching to be at 50! When people ask, I round up to 50 because it's easier, but I know better. I know I've still got one pound to go to be there...ugh. Honestly!
I am happy about a few things: I've gone from a size 20 to a size 10! No more shopping in the PLUS size department! I am finally smaller than my Driver's License weight! (Can't wait to get a new one!!!) I actually bought size MEDIUM shorts. Wow.
The upper part of my body is not cooperating (much to the happiness of my DH) and I wish it would be smaller as well. Can't have everything I guess.
I'm keeping up my daily power walks at work and continue to enjoy the IT cheerleaders. It's nice to have so many people cheering me on. Softball ends next weekend and I'll be getting back into Golf to make up losing out on that.

Thanks for reading....

Home James!

Tomorrow is the big day! My son has been in London, England for the past two weeks visiting the countryside and his relatives and he comes home tomorrow! He's been to see Big Ben, London Eye, Buckingham Palace, Westminster Abbey, various castles and museums and Stonehenge. (At least that's what he's shared so far!). I can't wait to see him and pictures from the trip! He's going to be one tired kid when he gets home. Timing for him stinks. He flys in late tomorrow and has to be at school for the first day of school on Wednesday morning! Not feeling sorry for him! :) I'm sure he'll make it through the first day only to head home for a long nap when he's done.