The Dance of the Ping Pong Ball

I think it is time for a Takin' Care of Mama update.  While I would love to say that "I've lost a lot of weight" the past month . . . I haven't.  During my 30 Days of Fun, my weight bounced up and down like a ping pong ball.  It never bounced too high, and never fell off of the table, but it did bounce around a lot.  (smile)

While it is easy to get discouraged on the "up" days, I do want to report that I've had more "down" days than "up" days, and I am still losing weight.  So, I'd love to share a few of my successes this month . . . and the milestones that I have reached.


Success #1  

I only gained 4.2 pounds during my 8 days in Puerto Rico.  

Yes, I gained weight.  But, this truly is a success.  I did not "diet" at all.  I did not take my scale.  I did not take any Protein Shakes.  I did not have a refrigerator to keep yogurt or cottage cheese at the hotel.  But, I made a lot of healthy choices while picking meals at the market or the restaurants.  At the same time . . . I CHOSE to enjoy myself.  I CHOSE to eat an Amazing Anniversary Dinner (and sinfully delicious dessert).  Because . . . I knew that I could get right back on track once I got home, and lose the weight again.  My weight loss cannot be "just a diet", but rather a combination of significant lifestyle changes and CHOICES.  If it is all about "denial", than the frustrations and temptations will be so much greater.  While I would have loved to lose weight while on vacation, I was pleased that I gained less than 5 pounds in our week away . . . without feeling the need to focus on food . . . without feeling guilty . . . while enjoying some Puerto Rican Specialties (like Toconos or Fried Plantains) . . . and while totally enjoying my time with my Sweet Husband.


Success #2

I have lost weight 11 of the 12 days since our return from Puerto Rico.  Wow!  

Slow and steady, that's what I've done.  (The only day that I've gained weight was when Hosanna and I went out to dinner at our Favorite Mexican Restaurant before the 10th Avenue North Concert last Saturday . . . and I just might have eaten a few too many Chips.)

While I did gain 4.2 pounds during our 8 Days in Puerto Rico . . . I have lost 7.6 pounds in the 12 days since we got back.  Woo Hoo!


Success #3

Milestone:  I weigh less than I did after my weight loss in the fall of 2010.

I lost 25 pounds between August 2010 and December 2010.  My life CRASHED at the end of December 2010, and I lost another 5 pounds (because I could barely get myself out of bed to eat).  Then I got pregnant . . . and then I lost the baby . . . and we continued to walk through crisis after crisis after crisis.  Over the course of the next 16 months, I gained every drop of that 30 pound loss back . . . plus a couple of extra pounds.

While it was discouraging (to say the least) to have gained the 30 pounds back . . . I am just thankful that I had lost the 30 pounds.  If I hadn't, I am quite sure that I would have still gained 30+ pounds during our 2 years of living in Crisis Mode, which would have put me 30 pounds higher than my all-time-high.  Yikes!


Success #4

Major Milestone:  

I weigh less than I have in over 13 years.  Happy Dance!

I know how much I weighed when I got pregnant with Josiah (in 1999).  I weighed the same when I got pregnant with Elijah (in 2001).  And, I weighed just about the same when I got pregnant again, 10 years later (in 2011).   But . . . I now weigh 7 pounds less than that pre-pregnancy weight.  


Success #5

I have lost 4  3/4" in the past month.  Woo Hoo!

I take 10 measurements weekly.  Just this week, I lost  .5",  1.0",  and  .5"  
just on the "Big 3" measurements.  


Yes!

I am REJOICING in my Successes (and working hard not to regret the little dance of the ping pong ball this past month).  

I am learning to make wise CHOICES before putting food to mouth (yet not feeling overly guilty when I do enjoy a few chips at the Mexican Restaurant).

I am moving FORWARD on the Takin' Care of Mama Journey (even if it has been slower than I'd hoped).

I am LOSING WEIGHT . . . LOSING INCHES . . . and looking forward to a few more MILESTONES in the near future (with just .6 pounds to go before hitting the 35 pound loss mark).

How are all of YOU doing on your own Takin' Care of Mama journeys?