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I have been slowing down in my weight loss these past few weeks.  I have had several -1lb and even one weigh in where I didn't lose anything!   But this week's weigh in was great.  I have lost 2 more pounds.  This puts me at the halfway point plus one additional pound of my weight loss for a grand total of 41lbs lost.   It feels amazing to be half way there!!!!  One of my favorite books and movies growing up as a kid was Where The Red Fern Grows.  I was thinking about a line from the movie.  It is a conversation between the boy and his grandfather about meeting God halfway.  The point of the conversation is you can't just sit around wishing or praying for something to happen.  You have to put forth the effort, you have to do the work.  You have to meet God halfway.  And that is exactly how I feel about my weight loss.  I couldn't just sit around wishing or praying myself skinny.  I had to do something about it.   I am so glad I met God halfway. 
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 Here is the excert:  

 

Billy swallows hard, and Grandpa comes over to him as the Pritchards get in their wagon and drive off.

Grandpa: It makes me mad … folks like that gittin’ such a fine hound. Sure as I’m alive, that dog will end up as mean as they are.

Grandpa eyes Billy’s gloomy face.

Grandpa: I would’ve bought him for you myself, Billy, if I could have.

Billy tries to hold back the tears.

Grandpa: But never mind … one of these days, you’ll have your own hounds.

Billy: I don’t know, Grandpa. Sometimes I don’t think God wants me to have any.

Grandpa: Now, why do you say a thing like that?

Billy: Well, I’ve been asking him for dogs as long as I can remember and nothin’s happened yet!

Grandpa: Maybe you haven’t done your fair share.

Billy: What do you mean?

Grandpa: Well, it’s been my experience God helps those who help themselves. Now, don’t get me wrong. If God wanted to, he could give you hounds as easy as cuttin’ lard. But that wouldn’t do much for your character.

Billy: I don’t want character! I want dogs!

Grandpa: And if you want them bad enough, you’ll get them, Billy. And if you want God’s help bad enough, you’ll meet him half way.

Billy looks at his grandfather with a puzzled expression.

Later, Billy walks thoughtfully across the countryside.

Narrator (Billy as older man): I thought a long time about what Grandpa had told me … about meetin’ God halfway. Though I wasn’t quite sure what he meant, I was willin’ to do anything to get myself some hounds. I was just plain tired of all the heartachin’.

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I am down to almost 40 pounds lost but yesterday I had a bit of a reality check.  I was looking at the pictures of my from Daniel's wedding.   Fact: I am still over weight.  BUT!!!  I have come a long way.  That is why I still have 41 pounds to go.  Most people would think that sounds like I am defeated or I am being hard on myself but this helps me stay motivated.   I don't want to be comfortable at this weight.  I don't want to feel like I can stop.   I had a great moment yesterday.  I bought an extra large swimsuit from Old Navy and it was a little big.  I couldnt wear the large becasue it was way too tight but it felt good to know the XL was a little big.  I am also out of all my size 18s and in all my 16s.   I hope to be in 14s and larges by the end of the Summer.  Once I am in all 14s and larges it will be almost 7 years since I have been in those sizes.  Here is a preview of my new swimsuit.  What do you think?
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New Swimsuit (black ruffle one piece) and accessories (pink sarong and pink flip flops)
 
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I had a very very very busy weekend!  Friday was Tommy's show and I was up till almost 4am.  Then Saturday was Daniel's rehersal dinner.  Then Sunday was the wedding.  I was in charge of taking all the pictures.  This is my second wedding to be in charge of pictures.  What do you think?
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I lost another pound this week!!!  Total loss is -39lbs!!!  That's one pound away from being halfway to my goal!!!!


 
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Sometimes I notice BIG changes about my weight loss then other times there are just little things that make me smile.  One of those "little things" is my shrinking shoe size!??!!??!  I used to wear an 11 or even an 11.5 but now I can wear a 10!!!!  A size 10!!!  This makes me very happy becasue it means that any shoe store will have my shoe size now.  Not eveyone sells an 11 and even places that do have very limited products.  I am so happy!  Now if I could just do something about my long legs!!!! I dont think they will shrink :(  Oh well.  Here's a picture of my new shoes.  
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“The whole idea of motivation is a trap. Forget motivation. Just do it. Exercise, lose weight, test your blood sugar, or whatever. Do it without motivation. And then, guess what? After you start doing the thing, that's when the motivation comes and makes it easy for you to keep on doing it.”-- John C. Maxwell
 
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I am nearing the half way mark of my weight loss.  I am very excited about this.  If I loose 2 pounds on my Friday weigh in I will be at 40lbs lost.  It feels amazing to type that!  Even if I only loose a pound I will likely loose at least a pound this week and at least a pound next week.   So the big 4... 0... is very close.   I am so excited I could do a cartwheel.  It feels amazing to be this close to this milestone.  
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It is hard to exercise and be a single mom but I find ways.  Tommy and I try to exercise together when we can but sometimes it just doesn't work out.  The internet is wonderful!  You can find anything on there.   I found a great 10 min Zumba workout on YOU TUBE and I replay it 3 times.   Take a look!!!  It is quite fun! and a little darring ;)   Enjoy!!! 
 
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I saw something amazing on the scale this morning.  It was a number I haven't seen in several years.  It was a shocking number.  I called Tommy in to come and look at it.  I am so happy!!!  I also set a great record on the stairs this morning.  28.5 mins!!!  Amazing!!!  It feels great to beat my time on the stairs and to see such a low number.  I also bought my first size Large today in a long time.  I tried on an extra large and it was too big so I had to buy a large.  It felt so good.  I can also fit into almost all my 16s now.  So 14s and large here I come.  That means I can now shop at The Limited!! WOOO HOOOO  I took a gander at there website.  Here are a few things I like.  
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I lost one more pound!!!  Total loss:  38lbs!!!!