Thursday update

So, I am not sure what my deal is lately... first of all... I can eat way too much. So, I need a fill, that a certainly true. But secondly, I am just feeling so lazy about the whole weight loss thing lately. It is like I went on vacation and have never come back. I am not eating horribly, but I am also not making the best decisions. I am not really seeing any scale movement and I am not surprised.

I find myself thinking things like, "I don't really mind the weight I am at, why keep trying?" or "I will have to buy all new clothes once I lose more weight". Both of these things are true, but not a good reason to stop losing. I want to be healthy, I want to get into a normal weight category... I want to make good choices.

So I am wondering what my "real" issue is. I wonder if I am scared to lose more weight. I wonder if I have been comfortable at this weight and now am hesitant to push forward because I don't know if I will be comfortable at other weights. I am trying to look inside my mind and figure out what my real hold-up is. I am seeing now that the mental challenges are really coming to the surface. For the first year I was motivated, I was excited, this was all new. Now that real life has set in and the band has become old news I am faced with different feelings.

Maybe it is time to go back to that therapist!

Happy Thursday all!

One year + some days

So, I have been insanely busy and entirely missed my one year bandiversary last Thursday. I was busy updating my resume and applying for a new job. Things at my current place of employment are going down hill financially. As a library, we are funded by property tax. Property tax is falling in MI (and else where) which means WAY less money for us. The management and library board have almost agree (will vote this month) on a balanced budget for 2011, however, 2012 looks really bad. It looks like we will be laying people off... cutting hours.. furlough, or other things that will impact my income. I can't afford to work part time or not at all and some job opportunities have been opening up elsewhere... so I had to get my stuff together.



I would be sad to leave my current position and location but I would also like a new kind of challenge. We will see where this all goes... but anyway, things are a-okay for now.



On to my one year... I have pretty much stayed at 80 lbs down. I feel like this is something to celebrate! I would have liked to be 100 down... but honestly.. I am just going to keep on working on it and I know I can get there.



So much has changed in the past year... I feel so much better both physically and mentally.

I can do things I couldn't (or didn't want to) like hiking and biking and just walking around a festival. I am not out of breath or breathing hard. I sleep well, I don't snore, and I wake up refreshed. I feel like a somewhat normal person. I enjoy life much more. I make good eating choices MOST of the time. I enjoy clothes and shopping more.



However, I still have some work ahead of me. In the next year, I need to lose another 40ish lbs. I need to continue learning to use my tool for good and not evil... and I need to continue down a path of positive lifestyle... all still challenging, though less so.

I could not have made it this far without all my blog friends. Thank you for everything!

Vacation... and I am back

I was on vacation for one whole fabulous week. We went to the Upper Peninsula of Michigan (where I grew up) and visited family and friends. My parents have a cabin on a lake and we stayed there for the week. Lots of swimming, kayaking, boating and so on. It was so great! I did come back 3 lbs heavier.. but I don't care. There was so much great homemade pie and other wonderful things... also some grape soda... adult beverages.. ect. Now I need to get back to it. I also need a fill. I called today and scheduled an appointment with my doctor and the soonest I could get in is September 16th. That is okay though... maybe I can get my eating back on track and know exactly where my restriction is.

So anyway, I am only a few days away from my 1 year bandiversary... where has the year gone. Hope you are all well... I am going to try to catch up on all that I missed while I was gone!

I am a versatile blogger...

I must do the following:

1. Thank the person giving the award.

2. Share 7 things about yourself.

3. Nominate 15 bloggers.

4. Let your nominees know about the award.

First of all, Thank You so much miss Suzieq4givn! It is an absolute honor, and you have been a huge inspiration to me!

7 things about me:

I grew up in a very rural part of Upper Michigan. I loved it but couldn't wait to move away. Now I wish I could move back.

I have two first names, one middle name, and a last name. My first name is hyphenated so my initials spell ASS.

My favorite food is Ethiopian.

My favorite day of the year is Halloween, I love costumes!

I was in speech therapy a good chunk of my childhood for a lisp. I refused to change my ways, I like my lisp, eventhough many folks don't even notice it.

I like animals more then people.

I grow a very large organic garden every year. I always get so excited to plant everything in the spring but despise taking care of it by July.

Nominate 15 bloggers: Okay, so I have done this before... I cop out. Honestly, it is so hard to pick 15 bloggers. All of the blogs I follow inspire me and keep me motivated. So here is to all of you out there in blog land!

H&M Really?!

I had to return a couple things at the mall today and decided to wander into H&M since I had some extra time before I had to be at work. I have always loved H&M but since we got our first store in MI some years back I have never been able to fit into any of their clothes. Today I decided I would try a couple of shirts on. I ended up buying three shirts... two size 12!! And one size L! OMG! They looked great, felt amazing, and I was so excited.

Lately, I have been so busy having a social life I have pretty much just been maintaining my weight. I have been doing drinks with friends, dinners out, and parties left and right. The most fantastic thing about this is that I have been maintaining my weight loss. I may bounce up or down a .5 lb (177.5-178.5) but I am thrilled. I certainly want to continue getting the weight off... I really want to see my goal, but I am also really enjoying the spoils of my work so far. I feel like I am so much more social now... I have always been social, but now I am looking for any opportunity to go out with friends.

I have a nine days work free coming up here as well as my husband's birthday and our seven year wedding anniversary. I don't expect to have any earth shaking loses in the next couple weeks... maybe even a small gain. But I am so excited with how far I have come!

Sara Rue weight loss

I just read this article from People Magazine. She looks really great. I thought she was always beautiful and looks just as lovely now. I do wonder though... how will she keep this weight off? Will she continue on Jenny Craig forever? I believe I read, at one time, that she had always struggled with weight. I hope she is able to keep the weight off! I hope she continues to have a good relationship with food.

Okay... today's picture isn't great...

I had been outside all day, sweating and tired. However, it is still a great comparison picture from last year. The first picture was taken 8-15-2009 (just 1 day shy of a year ago) and the second one today. We have an end of the summer celebration at the library and both photos are from that event. I wish I would have worn a shirt that wasn't as big on me... but you can still see a difference!