Good Morning! Well, I think I’ve officially moved into ONDERLAND, I weighed in at 199 lbs and just 1oz. It’s been a seven year struggle, these last few months have taught me a lot about myself, what I was doing wrong, what I was doing right, how strong I really am mentally, emotionally and physically. It’s truly amazing to me how far I’ve come in just a few short months. When rejoined CK back in May, first I did the 1 week free trial and lost 5 lbs before committing and rejoining CK the last week in May, now I’ve lost 24 lbs and 9 oz and a total of 29 ½ lbs including my free trial week. Considering how overweight I was it doesn’t really seem like a lot but the changes to my body are huge. I started thinking put it in terms I could relate to…how many of us have ever cooked a 30 pound turkey…they are huge right! I did one year and I could barely lift the darn thing but yet I’ve been carrying it around and more for years.

Another thing I noticed is the past two days my back isn’t hurting as bad as it usually does, the sciatica has calmed down as well, I still feel it but it’s not so intense. After running down the street Sunday night to let Justin know about his Dad’s accident I thought for sure I would be in major pain yesterday but I wasn’t. My calves are a little sore but my back and knees are surprisingly OK.

It’s so strange because I remember feeling hopeless when I started, that’s why I did the free trail. I remember from the last time I did CK, how much actual work all the tracking is and honestly, I didn’t know if I was up for it, BUT… I also knew it worked and was what I needed to do to be successful; I just had to mentally get there. I probably have another 25-35 pounds before I’m at a solid healthy and FIT (toned) weight and that seems so weird to say because I remember how I felt in May (like it was yesterday). I’m OK with this because I know I WILL get there, I KNOW I CAN DO IT!!!

So for anyone reading this who is new to CK, struggling, or down…hang in there, keep plugging along, we go through ups and downs, emotionally, mentally and physically but if you are persistent and just keep logging your foods, meeting your calories and taking the ride, you too will round the corner. Think of it as a roller coaster, all the ups, downs, twists and turns before it’s over. Our ride is a slower but still has all the thrills of the coasters as we see progress. Life will happen, let it, we also have to realize we can only control ourselves and how we react, focus not on what’s not working in our lives but on what we can; controlling our calories and somehow it all will fall into place. BELIEVE!!!

I thought this was fitting, it was the quote I saw that made me decide to recommit to myself and rejoin CK in May…I keep it in my work cubicle taped to my monitor.

“Your present circumstances don’t determine where you can go; they merely determine where you start. ~ Nido Qubein

That’s it for me today!