View from my Dining room!

As promised earlier- this is my neighbors garden.  It is in this narrowish strip between out two driveways.  I didn't get the greatest shot- but there is a lovely mixture of tulips, lupin, and lots of other stuff out there as well as some beautiful rocks!

Down 10lbs and a pant size

I have met my modified goal of losing 10 pounds in a month.  I still have two days left so let's see by how much I can exceed it! 

Now her is the really exciting news.  About 6 months ago I was buying new pants because all my others were getting too small.  I knew a certain size and make of the "George" brand at Walmart would work and I wanted nice looking slacks.  I was in a hurry so I grabbed a pair, but did not try it on.  I was ashamed when I realized I had grabbed the wrong size but I didn't have time to exchange them.  So I have been lugging around these size 16 slacks that were WAY too small for me for all this time. 

They were so small that I could not even think of buttoning them and I was having a hard time getting them over my mammoth thighs.  Yuck.  Not a fun mental image there.  Sorry about that.  Then my 18s started to get tight.  Yikes.  This was getting out of control.  Then I hit my heaviest ever.  193.  On a 5 foot frame.  Really not good.

So now I am on the Atkins journey and have lost actually from my heaviest- just shy of 13 pounds in a month and week.

So tonight, inspired by the losses posted by others on the Atkins board I decided to try on my own personal albatross.  And guess what?  Over the thighs.... great I think!  Over the rump- even better!  Can I button (this was where I had had about a 3-4 inch gap before)?  Suck it in...and yes!  Button!  Can I slip buckle?  Yes!  And can I zip?  Yes!

Now to be sure- they are a bit skin tight over the rump and thighs...so they won't be on my wardrobe list for another week or two- but this is the first time EVER that I have actually gotten the darn things on!!  My current size 18s from the same company are starting to get loose and I could pull them down and off without unbuttoning if I really wanted to.  I don't need a belt with them yet but I am SO looking forward to the day when I do!  I have some jeans that have been patiently waiting for me to stop being such a cow that are now going to get to see the light of day again.  I am so so excited!

I am starting my exercise in earnest now.  Horseback riding and working on the Eliptical as well as walking on my breaks.  Do you think I can step up the weightloss and hit 15lbs next month?  That was my goal this month but I didn't quite make it.  I would dearly love to surprise my family with a great loss before my Grandfather's birthday on June 9th.  Lets see- so I am 181 right now so I could be in the 160's before June 9th then I am going to be the happiest girl!  That would put me back to what I weighed about the time Nora was born and I would have to buy new clothes!!  I can't wait until I have to buy new clothes because everything is too big!

I am having so much fun losing weight.  It is so much more fun than putting on the pounds!

Good Morning!

 

This morning is gorgeous here in South Eastern Montana.  The sun is up and I can already feel that it will be a warm, glorious day.   The Johnny Jump Ups are flowering all over the yard and my neighbor has this wonderful garden that I can see outside my window in our dining room.  I am so grateful that she has planted this beautiful space.  It really gives me a lot of pleasure to see her garden.  You can tell that over the years she has added and cared for it with an artist’s eye.  I’ll try to get a picture tomorrow to share.

 

Still plugging away with Induction on Atkins.  You can stay on it as long as you want and I really want to keep losing weight as quickly as is healthy and possible.  Going to the Ongoing Weight Loss is reputed to slow weight loss down a bit so until I am within 15-20 pounds of my goal- I am going to keep on induction.  I think I can still get a 10 pound loss for this month which makes me so happy!   I really need to incorporate some stretches and exercise into my program so starting today, I am going to take all my breaks outside and walk around the building where I work!

 

I am so happy that the warmth of spring is here.  Spring is always such a wonderfully hopeful and renewing time.  As if seeing new grass and plants coming up encourages us to renew our spirits as well.  I am all for a little spring cleaning of the soul… How about you?

 

Weight Loss Journey Continues

My initial weight loss has slowed down somewhat, but I have lost just over 8 pounds in less than a month.  That is amazing to me.  I have never had consistent weight loss before.  I was hoping to lose 15 pounds this month, but I will take 10!  I think that is an achievable goal. :)