Day 24 Round 2

128.5 lbs. Still can't shake the popcorn routine. I don't know what's wrong with me and my willpower lately. I did so well on Round 1. Today I make another promise to myself to do better.

Day 21 Round 2

128.5 lbs. I am bouncing around on this round like there's no tomorrow! Every day I want to cheat! Plus, I've had upsetting circumstances, birthdays and parties galore. I've got to get a grip. It's likely I'll need to mix up more hCG to get me through this stage. I have vacation in August! I really wanted to be on phase 4 by then. Even the best laid plans sometimes end up failing.... It is by no means a crisis, but I expected to be further along than this. I've lost my discipline and can't locate it!!

Day 17 Round 2

129 lbs. Yesterday I was 126.5 lbs. I cheated mightily with a milk shake and plenty of popcorn. I think I've had my popcorn fill as of late.

It's time to get serious again. Given the events of the past week it has been difficult to stay focused. Today is Monday and I plan to do better. I've come so far and this is no time to backslide. Working full time, even if it is somewhat temporary, in this heat it really shouldn't be too hard to continue to drop these last few pounds. I just need to keep my eye on the prize. Plus, yesterday I did buy 3 pairs of jeans.....size 4. Can't have that be for not.

Day 15 Round 2

127.5 lbs. With all the happenings of late, I'm not surprised that I am still losing or maintaining my weight. I have cheated with popcorn (not one, but two bags) for two of the last three nights. The other night I forfeited an hCG dinner and drank an entire bottle of wine.

In life, one can be blind-sided by the people we care about and think we know. It is not up to us to judge them for their deeds, but to try and understand what it might feel like to walk in their moccassins. This week my regular rural carrier for whom I've been a substitute (cover days off and vacations) for the past 2+ years decided to check out of this life and move on to the next one. It was a double deal made with her husband. You could say that in their minds it was all about pain and love. Understandably, the situation is very rough for the rest of their family and friends. To say that no one saw this coming is a blatant understatement. Everything was well planned by them, including the distributing of their wills and letters via USPS to their children from previous marriages. I talked to her the night before when she called to give me a head's up that I would likely be working the next day and the day after. Her reasons for the absence were fabrications and I played right into her hand as would have been predictable. No clue, no suspicions.

What unfolded over the last two days has been tragic and difficult to pull off. I've had to step up and fill the shoes of one of the most caring, competent, diligent, knowledgeable and nurturing postal carriers I've ever known. While I miss her presence terribly, I trust in her actions and that God has taken her under His wing. She was an angel among us and now I feel she will be watching over us.

Today it is time to put my diet first again. No more cheating. It's time to shed the rest of this weight. There's so little to go, therefore I should be able to do it without any problems. Focus....

Day 11 Round 2

128 lbs. This time around I really want to cheat!! Yesterday I did have 3 extra grissini sticks and about 1/3 extra fresh apricot. I also took a brisk walk for about 40 minutes. Granted, it wasn't the worst cheat ever and I did still manage to lose 1 lb. I guess after being on phase 4 for so long and managing my weight so well, I feel it's hard not to eat just a little bit more of something that previously would not hurt me. I never thought this would be such a struggle because I was really looking forward to round 2 and taking off the last 10-15 lbs. It seems I have to watch myself more than in the last round. That's a big surprise.

Day 10 Round 2

130 lbs. Saturday I went to dinner and went off course pretty bad. The day went well, but the dinner (expensive) was another story. I had 1 spare rib for an appetizer. Dinner consisted of 2 shrimp, 3 scallops, and a very small lobster. Not bad, if you don't notice how they were all cooked and in what. Dessert, shared by four was coconut ice cream, pineapple upside down cake and drizzles of raspberry and two other sauces I can't remember. 2 glasses of wine were also consumed. With all that, I only gained a half lb. Unfortunately, that makes me think I can cheat more often. I really need to watch these last 10-15 lbs. and stay focused.

Next week I'm working a full schedule, so maybe there won't be time to think about cheating. I just have to get through this week.  

Day 6 Round 2

132 lbs. Man, I just blew through those first 8 lbs. in two days. This was better than round 1 where I dropped 6 lbs. in the first 3 days. Today, I did sort of cheat...already. On my 5 scallops for dinner I had about 1/3 cup of some mango salsa I had made from scratch. Nothing too extreme. Just mango, onions and jalapenos. It made the scallops taste delicious! After dinner I went out and mowed and edged the lawn, which was no small feat. Can't remember the last time I mowed since the grass was pretty high in spots. Just maybe, I worked off those extra calories. The scales will tell tomorrow.