I don't want to talk (or blog) about it...

But I guess I owe everybody an explanation for my absence, don't I?  Well, there's the short version and then there's the long version.  For the sake of time, I'll provide the reader's digest version so we can all get on with our lives.

I just couldn't get on board and stay on board with Medifast.  I missed fruit, beans, brown rice and other healthy things I like but can't have while on Medifast.  And yes, dammit, I missed alcohol.  I'm not a lush, at least that's my story and I'm sticking to it, but I like to have a cocktail once in a while.  Especially in the summer.  Summer is the season for recreational drinking.

The end result of being "off plan" for several weeks now is that I've gained 2 of the 5 pounds I lost.  I'm actually encouraged by the fact that I didn't gain all 5 back and then some because that's what usually happens when I fall off the wagon from a diet.  But, I have begun exercising regularly and I plan to do some general healthy, moderate eating, rather than following a specific plan.  That has been successful for me in the past and I'm hoping it will be this time around.

I will be back to provide an update when I have some good news to report.  Hopefully that won't be more than a week or two away.  Prayers are welcome...

And to my sister Sarah, if you're still reading this, feel free to start teasing me now or just be glad we can enjoy some good grub together when you come to visit (in moderation, of course)!

Week One - 4 Pounds Down!!

This is what four pounds looks like:

Sort of.  Each of these bottles weighs just a little over a pound.  

Every time I climb the stairs, my knees are breathing four pounds easier.  

So, before I shrink anymore, I figured I better get the "before" pictures taken and posted.  It's painful to post these, but it's all part of the accountability plan.  I have to keep going so I'll have better pictures to post.  While better health is the number one priority in this journey, I won't lie; looking better is a close second!

7/6/11

Day 7

What a crazy weekend!  So, I was doing pretty good with Medifast, not perfect, but pretty good...until last night.  We had a big BBQ potluck bash in our cul-de-sac and I caved to the temptation.  I drank AND ate food that wasn't good for me.  Just look at this...

 Who could resist?  Apparently not me.

This morning I refused to let myself be derailed by yesterday's slip-up.  I made my Medifast banana shake (good stuff) and started drinking a ton of water again.  I'm going to give an update on my weight loss total for the first week tomorrow morning.  

I've got a ton of homework to finish up this week so I need to keep my blogging short.  Here's the reader's digest version of the past few days...Medifast Beef Vegetable Stew - pretty good with lots of green tabasco sauce.  Medifast Chicken Noodle Soup - not so good but not terrible, I wouldn't order it again.  Medifast Banana Pudding - gross!  My favs by far are the shakes (vanilla & banana) & bars (lemon meringue, caramel  and peanut butter).

I'm not struggling as much with hunger, but the other day at the grocery store, I found myself feeling discouraged with the limited choices of Medifast lean & green meals.  There are lots of healthy foods I enjoy that on another plan, I could eat and lose weight.  For example, fruit, carrots, beans and brown rice.  All things I love but all things I'm not supposed to have on Medifast.  The lack of options may be my downfall from sticking with the program religiously, but it will not deter me from my path to health & a skinnier bod.  I just need to find a balance that works for me.

Meanwhile, off to the gym to work off last night's bad choices!

 But so worth it!

P.S. I'm so proud of myself.  No coffee with tons of fattening, sweet cream or Dr. Pepper this week.  A HUGE accomplishment for me.

Day 4

I haven't disappeared.  I've just been at the ballpark.  I wish I could say I had been there watching my son's team crushing the competition, but the opposite would be a more accurate description.  Bummer...But at least the tournament is over (for us) and we can move on to the fun 4th of July festivities, unfettered by the craziness of tournament scheduling.  (For those of you who aren't familiar, thank your lucky stars!!).

The first day was hard, the second day was harder and the third day was HELL!!  The fourth day really is better, surprisingly.  After how hard yesterday was, I thought I would never adapt.  BUT, I do have some thoughts about Medifast and weight loss plans in general that are partly mine and partly a friend's, a friend who has quite a bit of knowledge of all things nutritional and exercise, by the way.  This friend did a bit of an intervention with me.  She couldn't hold her tongue when she read that I was tempted to eat Cheetos off the floor....LOL!!

You'll have to wait though because I am needed at the pool.  I really want to interject with some snide comments about Shamu and the like here, but I'm not going to trash myself like that anymore.  I'm going to head to the neighborhood pool, big ol' tummy and all, to just enjoy myself and stop obsessing about this weight loss thing for the first time in days.  I might even do a cannon ball...step aside!!!