Spring Break is over and now it is time to get ready for the weekend and back to work.

I got alot accomplished this week. My portfolio for grad school is completed and delivered to the professor. I tried a different workout plan. I have managed to begin to streamline my eating. I cleaned out the closets. I have cut and painted and put the new shelves in the bathroom.

I feel good. So far I am averaging 3.8 pounds of weight loss per week. I may have hit another flat spot because I seem to be stuck at 9.5 pounds lost. The Ladies at MRC just advised me to increase my water intake from 64 to 80 oz a day for a couple days. This should help push my buldging cells to release the fat. Other than that I am good.

I know that it is just nine pounds but it is pounds that I would have never lost any other way. I can kinda see my face coming back, not that it was ever gone. But the fullness of my face seems to be fading.

I am excited about working my way through this program. As I was leaving MRC, I saw one of my co workers signing up for the first time. Just to speak with her for a lil bit gave me a boost of confidence. Knowing that she will actually call me for help is exciting because I know that I will be able to help her through this journey too.

It has been almost a full three weeks and I am still excited about the program. Isnt that something!

When I was seeing a therapist last year he helped me discover that I am a perfectionist. At first I laughed at him. "Have you seen my house lately? It would prove your theory wrong!" I've always been somewhat of a clutter bug (clean toilets, mind you, but clutter laying around). And then we started discussing what a perfectionist is I realized that he might be on to something.

The definition (found here): a person who demands perfection of himself, herself, or others. 

Notice that this doesn't say 'achieves' perfection. It says 'demands' perfection. This is what I do. More so from myself but I find myself demanding it from others too. I think I have an issue with clutter because I give up. If I can't do it 'perfect' then I won't do it at all so I can avoid the frustration it causes!

So, how does this work with my diet? Well, as I mentioned in my previous post, I've made little mistakes here and there on the plan and it is literally maddening for me. When I realize what I've done it drives me crazy! It's all I think about. It's hard to let go of that mistake and move on.  I guess the upside is that for the first time in MANY years I'm determined to not give up. I want this so badly that I find myselfworking twice as hard not to make the same mistake twice.

Having said all this, I weighed in today. Down another 1.5 lbs! I was genuinely surprised! This just helped me realize that even when I make small mistakes I can still have good outcomes!

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Pretty good! Monday I had my weigh-in and was down another pound. That put me at about 3.5 lbs lost for the week. Not bad! If I keep this up I will make my goal weight in the time frame prescribed!

This week my kids are off for spring break and I've found it difficult to get to the gym. They are just young enough that I don't really want to leave them home and there are four of them so I don't ever feel like I can take ALL of them with me. A conundrum for sure. I anticipate that my weigh-in tomorrow will not be stellar. But, I'm okay with that.

Things have been a little crazy with the diet too. I haven't 'cheated' or as they say at MRC - 'eaten anything off plan'. But I have noticed that I haven't been perfect with the 'schedule' of food and supplements. For example, I'm supposed to be taking a cap full of these liquid minerals twice a day. Sometimes, at the end of the day, I'll realize that I've forgotten to take the second dose (usually it's the next day that I realize). Or I notice that I haven't eaten in the last 4 hours and missed a protein drink that I'm supposed to take as a snack. This frustrates me. I feel like I am planning my food ALL DAY LONG. I'm constantly writing in my food journal and looking up doable recipes online. I guess this is just an adjustment from the 'don't think about it - just go through the drive-thru' mentality. I hope that eventually this just becomes second nature. Cuz it's driving me bonkers!!!

Kids are home all day and the house needs to be cleaned from top to bottom. In the mist of all of this I have to stay on track with my food intake.

So far so good. I have been able to do it. I am a little out of routine but everything is still going good for me.  I have been precooking my meats and portioning them out. Just doing that alone has helped me out tremendously.  All I have to do is fix my veggies while the meat portion is in the microwave. I still have a desire to eat food that I shouldnt but it is not a craving. I just look at the food and keep on moving.

This week I have been off work as well so I have been able to attend some of the other fitness classes offered at the Athletic Club. I tried the body sculpting this week. It was great. If anyone out there can get away and try this class I do recommend it. The instructor is very nice and gives good cues. None of the of the exercises are hard but they do work muscles that you might have forgotten you had. The classes are offered at noon so I wont be able to go for awhile since I am usually at work during that time.

I went to MRC this past Tuesday and great news. I am down another 4 pounds. I am a half pound away from ten pounds lost, I think. I can tell a little in my face. It doesnt seem so round. I am also down 11 inches so far. But the wierd thing is that I am not losing inches in my tummy area. And that is where all my troubles are. I am hoping that I will lose all the small pockets of fatty deposits first and then the big stuff, the tummy.

So I am working hard to keep everything moving smoothly. Thank You All for your cheers and prayers.