A Post To Encourage You

Day 14 of six weeks

Weight today: same

Total lost: 2 pound in 13 days

1/2 cup of oatmeal: 150

1 tsp of sugar: 15

1 tbl of powder creamer with coffee:30

with sweet-n-low:0

two large eggs:140
1 lefse:30
1/2 cup of fat free cottage cheese:80
3 1/2 oz of sliced strawberries: 31
1 tsp of sugar:15
1 tbl of powder creamer with coffee:30
with sweet-n-low:0
1/4 cup of 1% milk: 27
1/2 cup of cinnamon toast crunch: 86
total: 439
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running total: 634

6 Ritz crackers:96
1 wedge of Laughing Cow cheese:35
total:135
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running total: 765

4 1/2 oz baked potato:99
with 1 tsp of Smart Balance light butter:15
4 1/2 oz chicken breast:148
1 tbl of powder creamer with coffee:30
with sweet-n-low:0
total:302
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running total: 1067

1 Blue Bunny Bomb Pop: 40
a few strawberries:25
2 1/2 Doritos Pepper Jack chips:37
1 cup of Cinnamon Toast Crunch:173
1/2 cup of skim milk:55
total: 327
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running total:1,394

Today's challenge: Staying on-calorie

Planned fitness: my abdominal routine once

Note on picture: This is an eight inch Jimmy John's turkey sub for 515 calories. I combined a snack and a meal to be able to eat this. It tasted great of course, and it was quite huge too.

Added note: What should I write about today? Any ideas? Yes, I know you are all wondering about the bomb pop face-off. Soon enough I'll talk about that.

A Post To Encourage You

Earlier today, I asked you all for ideas of what I could write about today. Mostly I did that because I just didn't have time to do anything before church and a good portion of yesterday was spent doing things that didn't allow me time to write something.

Also, I actually usually have post ideas but don't always act on them because...well, I know it's hard to believe...but with the five kids, housework...and all... I'm tired at the end of the day.

A little while ago, I thought I'd share with you ten positive changes I've noticed from losing twenty pounds. Actually it's 22 pounds and counting. I thought this might encourage you who are looking forward to life after the weight drops.

1.) I feel great about how I look. I can pull on a pair of jeans and know I look like a million bucks.

2.) I love all the extra energy I have from the working out. I ran eight miles yesterday like it was nothing.

3.) I love feeling more confident about myself. Because of it, I feel like I could take on projects and do things that I wouldn't have done when I had 22 more pounds weighing me down.

4.) I love looking younger. I'm already small in stature, and the more weight I've lost, the smaller I've become hence...the younger I look. So, much so that twice in the last two weeks, people have asked me if my daughter is my sister.

5.) I love moving about more, and acting more silly with the kids. I feel more comfortable in my own body, so that I'm not feeling self conscience about how my body might look big in some way, so I let go a little more and move more physically freely with the kids.

6.) I love feeling more comfortable at public functions. Instead of going to a function where I dread other people seeing me overweight, I enjoy going to functions. I don't think about how uncomfortably my clothing fits anymore, instead I enjoy good conversations.

7.) I love, love, love being able to run with one bra now instead of two.

8.) I love being able to run fast, feel the adrenaline flowing and the surge of power and strength I feel when I weight lift and do those physical activities.

9.) I love that I'm healthier. My resting heart rate is 63, where several months ago it was about 75.

10.) I love the compliments. Let's face it. You lose a bunch of weight, people are going to notice. I don't think I'll ever get tired of hearing the delight and excitement from other people who are happy for me in the changes that I've made in my life. Because, it's almost contagious. What happens, is they see my changes. And they think, "if she can do that, I can do that." And it looks like she's really enjoying the changes. So, then you encourage them in their desire to better themselves. And before you know it, you've helped to impact and improve the lives of others.

So, I hope this post encourages you. I hope you read this and know that you too can experience these wonderful changes. It's all worth it. Just keep trudging along, and before long, you'll wake up one morning...and not mind looking at your beautiful body in the mirror.