Oh, and...

[hellomama1128]

I was just looking back over my old entries and realized that the last time I posted, I was talking about a doctor-led diet I had started on in November of 2006. Well, I managed to lose about 35 pounds on that, even though I wasn't exercising at all. By March 2007, I had stalled out on weight loss, and I stayed at the same weight for about a year. It was March 2008 when I joined the YMCA and the Biggest Loser Program, and I've lost 40 pounds since then. So my sum total is 75 pounds over the last 1.5 years, have kicked pre-diabetic medicine, and am now working on kicking high blood pressure meds (although I'm not sure that high blood pressure has as much to do with my physical being as it does with stress!) Now...I'd like to lose 40 more pounds. I think I'd be really happy with that, as I would then be a size 12/14, almost as thin as I have been most of my adult life (with the exception of one glorious period ['93-'94) when I got down to a size 10/12).

Reminders of the rewards for losing weight and getting in shape:
1) Being able to buy clothes in any store I want (I even got something in H&M!)...being able to buy new clothes!
2) Being able to walk up the steps of the Philadelphia Museum of Art without getting winded
3) Being able to fit comfortably anywhere I choose to sit, including airplanes, stadiums, etc. Only someone who has been really heavy understands why this is such a victory.
4) Sleeping soundly
5) Feeling satisfied with much less food
6) Learning that exercise feels GREAT and that I LOVE doing it!
7) Learning to racewalk
8) Getting my face back

Thank you for indulging my navelgazing. :)