Happy, happy Halloween

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Today has been a very happy, happy Halloween already. I bought a pair of jeans! Size 9/10! It was great! My friend came with me and it was so nice having her opinion. The last time I went shopping for jeans I had to begrudgingly and disappointedly walk over to the plus section. I remember that day about a year ago like it was yesterday. I remember how I felt and the feelings I had were those of helplessness, embarrassment and anger at myself for letting myself get to this point. The futility of desperately tyring to cram myself in a 14 was awful. I remember snapping at the skinny girl who came to the fitting room door to ask if anything was fitting, "NO!" And then adding, sheepishly, "I think I need to go up a size." So there I was in the plus section not knowing what to do about myself: "This is it, this is going to be me." Oh, how I wish I knew then what I know now. :)

I will remember this day also! I will remember the afternoon of Halloween '09 when I met a great friend downtown to go shopping. I will remember defeating the weight I had acquired. I will remember feeling good about myself. What a victorious day!

Can't wait to take the girls trick-or-treating tonight! The sun came out today and started melting off the record amount of snow we received this October. However, it is nice because there are a couple places who sponsor indoor trick-or-treating, which is wonderful because you just never know how the weather will be.

On a final note, I will leave you with a picture of me in the pair of pants I bought today (size 9/10) while holding up the ones I bought a year ago (size 16). Sorry, about the poor quality. I couldn't get it all in one picture, but I think it is pretty interesting. I can almost fit into one leg of the old pants. Wow! :)


Have a wonderful Halloween, everyone!

Good Riddance, Girdles!

Today I wore a vest and jeans I wore continually last fall, because I loved and still do (I can zip it up now- that's a wonderful feeling) the brown vest which I thought covered up some of my problem areas. However, I wore a Kimora girdle without fail almost everyday. I HATE GIRDLES! My husband hates them even more.

So, I just want to say GOOD RIDDANCE to those terrible, awfully uncomfortable girdles! What torture I put myself through because I felt so poorly about my appearance. And, my husband used to say, "I don't know why you wear that thing? I am sorry, but I can't really tell a difference anyway." It used to make me mad, but the truth hurts, right?! :) Well, those days are gone, regardless of not being to my goal weight yet.

This is a picture of me and my girls last fall in the brown vest and jeans I am referring to in the above paragraphs, and let me tell you I got darn good at hiding myself in a picture. Oh and Photoshop helps too! :) It is amazing what lighting and clone stamp tools magically do to a person. What a cheater I am! Anyway, in the following picture I have that stupid girdle on, my kids are hiding me and I found if you sit with your butt down (like in a wagon) your legs will appear smaller. So, this picture is really basically a farce when it comes to my actual body. But, oh well I still LOVE it! My girls are so adorable!

I think I am going to have a girdle burning party someday in the future. haha! :) I also, wanted to mention I actually almost forgot about that constricting girdle until today when I put on these clothes. It thought it was going to get away unscathed. Not so
fast! :)

Thank you again for humoring my ramblings!
Goodnight my wonderful readers and fellow bloggers.

Still holding steady...

So far, so good. I am still maintaining my weight. During our visit to Colorado Springs I did get up to 160! I ate a little, tiny bit of cake and ice cream and I was already up to 158 that day, so it just bumped me up. I was a bit nervous, but I did a steak day and went back down to 157.4. It works! I am very happy that maintenance is proving quite manageable.

Additionally, I forgot to post that I have been able to fit into two of the garments I took photos of in one of my first posts. I fit into the dress, and had to have my mother-in-law pin it, because it was too big. But, what I am most excited about is the jacket. I fit into it! I love it! It is still a little snug, but it still looks cute. I will take a picture later on.

I can't wait to do my second round, but I am just going to enjoy this month and start at the beginning of October. Time flies, and it will be no time at all. Exercise is also proving very enjoyable! Riding my bike is no longer hard and slightly embarrassing, and I have been working in the yard the past 3 days and I feel great.

Tomorrow is Amelia's birthday! She is going to be 4! I am so excited, and we are going to throw a big party on Saturday. It ought to be pretty fun, if I can keep it all organized- lots of kids coming. :)

Lastly, thanks to those of you who voted and shared your story. It was great!

Steak Day & A Beautiful Dress!

This morning I was up 2.8 pounds, so I am taking a steak day. It is mid-afternoon and I have not felt hungry. I am looking forward to a big steak tonight! :) It really is simple enough: if you gain more than 2 pounds do a steak day!

But more interestingly I had a wonderful experience this morning. My mother-in-law, whom I get along famously with and who I love dearly and the girls and I went downtown to do a little shopping. We went into a bridal shop (Mountain Valley Bridal), because I saw a beautiful jade green dress in the window a couple days earlier. Well, Mom convinced me to try it on. The size was a 12, but the very helpful and pleasant woman who helped me said they run small. Thank you for your help and it was really nice talking with you! I was terribly worried, but I went in, tried it on and fell in love with the dress! I looked quite good, if I say so myself! Something like this would have never happened before. I would never have even considered trying on a strapless dress like that, and if I did I would be whining and would have ended up coming out of the store feeling completely awful. I wanted to buy the dress right there and then! My husband and I may have a five year vow renewal next year since we didn't have a "real" wedding. I don't want to wear white or ivory and this green would be just stunning with all the red hair that will be present (both my girls and me ;)). What a fun time! Does anyone else have a story like this? For me this is such a big benefit of shedding some extra pounds: to really enjoy shopping for yourself!

Here is the link to a picture of the dress: Jasmine Bridal.

It's not too bad!

I am loving the maintenance period! :) I don't crave food as I did previously. So far I don't eat as much, and I am just enjoying being appreciative of food and how I feel. During the 3 days after discontinuing HCG I lost some extra pounds. Currently, I have lost a total of 24.4 pounds! I have now been holding steady at 155.8 pounds for the past 2 days.

For my first meal as a "free woman" I went to my favorite restaurant, Sweet Melissa's with my two little girls. I also had the pleasure of meeting back up with a dear friend who has reentered my life and has recently started her own HCG journey! You are going to do great! I had such a great time, and enjoyed catching up with you immensely! I ordered a veggie burger (without the bun). On top there was portobello mushrooms, swiss cheese, tomatoes and lettuce. Yummy!

I can't wait to go shopping! Most of my clothes are so baggy and I definitely need some clothes to show off my new figure! Yipee!!! I don't know if I should wait until I have completed the second round, though? It is not too far off and that way I won't have to spend money on 2 sets of wardrobes. Another loss of 20 pounds and the clothes I buy today won't fit then. It is amazing and almost unbelievable to think I will be in the 130's before Thanksgiving!!! I guess it was hard for me to think I would ever be in the 150's either. I just feel so light and there is definitely a spring in my step! :)

My thoughts go out to all of you out there losing with HCG! How liberating!

Oh, and I just have a question to those of you who may know: (Thanks in advance!)

1. Do you start counting the 6 weeks before starting another round from the last day of the 3 day period after stopping HCG? If that makes sense? It wasn't especially clear. Thank you! Goodnight.