I lost another pound for a total of -70lbs!!! YES YES YES YES!!!
 
Yesterday was my sort of day off and I explored the world of Pinterest.  Although I doubt I will end up super crafty I did find a few projects I would like to start and some yummy foods to try.   One of the projects is easy.  I will just need to print something at an office supply print shop and buy a cute frame.  Another project is more taxing and I will need my Dad's help.  I plan to stop in today and look at an old door he has and make it into a coffee table.  We shall see.  I will post progress on my blog and try to take a few pictures of it today and as the project progresses.   Here are a few pictures of the projects and a yummy recipe I just might be making soon.  
 
I’m really happy to be back on track.  It’s been two and a half weeks and I have continued to keep up with my exercise.  Despite slow progress in my weight loss I feel good about myself and my body.  I am 21lbs from my goal weight.  I will not get discouraged by the slower progress in my weight loss.  It’s tempting to give up but I didn't gain this weight overnight and I can't expect to lose it overnight.  I have become obsessed with My Body Gallery.   http://www.mybodygallery.com/   I plug in my current weight and look at pictures, I plug in my old weight and look at pictures, I plug in my short term goal weight and look at pictures, and I plug in my goal weight and look at pictures.   Here is the picture I can't stop looking at, she is actually 2lbs heavier than my goal weight.  What do you think?  I hope this is what I look like in 21lbs!!!
 
I spent several months saying those top three words. " I should have exercised more this week."  "I could have exercised today if I hadn't been so busy."  "I would have exercised but something came up."  Over and over I said these SAME words.   But not these last few weeks.  I DID EXERCISE!  I DID FIND THE TIME!  I DID MAKE THE TIME!  I DID!  I worked out several days last week and this week I worked out every day but one.  And yes everyone needs at least one day of rest.   This week I felt very fit and very in tune with my body.  I have worked my body very hard this week.  I can already see results from this week and last week.  I see things looking firmer, clothes fitting better again.  This week I did my first HIIT (High Intensity Interval Training).  Wow! It was amazing.  Here's how it worksa;  You do something very vigorous as fast as you can.  (ex: running up the stairs or ridding your bike very hard) for 30seconds then you take 60 seconds of rest.  It really burns the calories and studies have shown it even burns calories at rest.  Studies conflict on how many calories but they know it does burn more calories at rest.  As the title of this blog alludes, I did not lose any weight this week.  I didn't loose a single pound.  I can't tell you how hard this was to accept.  I was very frustrated Saturday.  Yep I will be honest!  I felt like running to the nearest doughnut shop and getting a dozen (half glazed and half with white icing and nuts) and then calling in a pizza ( a large ranch pizza from Snappy Tomato) and stay in bed with the covers pulled up to my chin (watching lots of chick flicks) and never moving an inch except to use the bathroom and get more food :)   But I didn't.  Some weeks there is no loss.  And that's ok.  At least that's what Tommy was able to finally somewhat convince me of.  I'm not sure what I thought I would see on the scale???  I mean I was off for several months.  Did I think I'd drop 15lbs after 2 weeks of being back on the wagon?   Silly me.   So... time to keep on keeping on.  On to the next week.  Next week I am going to OWN that scale!  -70lbs here I come !
 
Several of my friends are very crafty!   I am not so crafty.  My friend Sally Moseley has really helped inspire me with her new website.   Take a look:  http://creativediygal.blogspot.com/.   One of my New Year’s resolutions is to organize and decorate my home.   My first project of the New Year was a photo wall I saw on Pinterest.  I wanted to display some of my favorite photos I have taken over the years.   I am very pleased with the way it turned out.  It really wasn't very expensive to do.  Wal-Mart had their black matted frames on sale for $5.00 a piece and I ordered the 8X10 photos at the photo lab for very cheap.  There is no way I could have bought art to cover the same amount of wall space for that cheap.  All and all I am very happy with the way it turned out.   I am not sure what my next little project will be but I hope to do more of them in the future.   Here's to a crafty New Year! 
 
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First Snow of the Year!
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Spicer enjoying his muffin.
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Fire and wine and Tommy's house.
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Stairs on Saturday
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Sleepy Yin Yang
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Sweet Spike
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Carla snapped this picture.
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Ready for bikes on Sunday.
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Amazing Sunday Sunset!
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Yummy food and fun with Spicer.
 
For the last month I have not lost a pound and for the first time gained a pound.  I felt like I had a wall infront of me, a wall I had put up myself from lack of exercise and slacking on my calorie counting.  Starting last weekend I took steps to get over that wall.   Since last thusday I have biked, weight trained several times, and did the stairs twice.  Even with a very busy week MADE time to exercise.  My dedication paid off and I not only lost the pound I gained but lost another pound too to make a total of -2lbs this week and -69lbs total.  Next week will not be as busy as this week so I plan to exercise even more.   I feel confident I am over the wall and back on track.   I know there will be other walls and other pittfalls to tackle as I continue this jounrey and I feel confident I can take each ot them on.   The best part of this journey is seeing all the "little things" that aren't messured by the scales.  This weekend I wore my skinny jeans.  I bought them a few months ago but was afraid to wear them.   This weekend I felt much more confident when I put them on.   I will wear them again :)   On Saturday I was trying to reach something behind my washer and dryer.  There is this tiny little spot between the dyer and the wall.  I found myself thinking there is no way i can fit in there but a little voice in my head said try try!  So I tried and I was able to shimmy my much tinier body right in there so I could better see behind the dryer.  I know it sounds strange but that made my day.   There is no way I could have done that 69lbs ago.   What are you doing to get over your walls and through your pittfalls?
 
Stopping By Woods on a Snowy Evening

Whose woods these are I think I know.
His house is in the village though;
He will not see me stopping here
To watch his woods fill up with snow.

My little horse must think it queer
To stop without a farmhouse near
Between the woods and frozen lake
The darkest evening of the year.

He gives his harness bells a shake
To ask if there is some mistake.
The only other sound's the sweep
Of easy wind and downy flake.

The woods are lovely, dark and deep.
But I have promises to keep,
And miles to go before I sleep,
And miles to go before I sleep.
 
This weekend Tommy and I did bikes on Friday, stairs on Sunday, and weights on Monday.  We plan to lift on Friday, do stairs on Saturday, and lift again Sunday.  It feels so good to be exercising again.  Here are a few pictures of our stairs and my lovely shoes!  I'm back baby! 
 
Be not afraid of growing slowly, be afraid only of standing still. ~ Chinese Proverb

It is hard for me to comprehend that one year ago I started this journey.   One Year Ago!!!  One year ago I weighed 67lbs heavier.  And no that isn't a typo, its 67lbs.  It appears my break from exercising and a little holiday fun has gained my first pound.  And it was the best worst thing that could happen to me.  It just wasn't a wakeup call it was a wake up MEGAPHONE.   I had gotten very comfortable in my skin and just sailing along maintaining.  NO MORE.  Time to get moving again.  I have been exercising more and plan to continue.  I have made a goal to reach 16lbs by my trip to Europe in April.  I have 13 more weigh-ins.  I am confident I can reach this short term goal.   What are you doing to put yourself back on track?   What are your short term goals?