Its been almost a year since I last posted.  I made it to my then goal back in December '11 ... then I went to Hawaii for the first time ever for three weeks AND on my first cruise ever!  No surprise, I gained almost 20#s back ... am in the process of losing it AGAIN and it isn't any easier than the first time ... actually its worse because I plan to go lower IF my body will let me ... Haven't changed the counter though and don't plan on it ... using it to guilt myself ... I still have a ways to go before I am even back there, but the clothes fit again, snugly, but they fit.  I will be going back to Hawaii in a few months and that is just scarey!!  IF and/or when I get back to original low weight, I'll start moving the ticker again ... that may be awhile!!  9#s to go ... I am hanging my head in shame!

I have quit all but a few games on Facebook and have been slowing deleting friends and getting postings off my newsfeed.  Sometimes I wonder why I am friends with people I actually know, so what am I doing with all these people who's comments frustrate, aggravate and infuriate me? 

It isn't the political, religious or lifestyle comments that aggravate me so much as the poor me postings ... know what I mean?  Of course, the ones who complain about the "other side" and their aggressive tactics and then post their own biased and aggressive comments, photos and rantings also aggravate me but I can skip most of those knowing there isn't anything important about the actual person posting ...

The longer I live the more I center my life around my four-legged and feathered kids ... so much easier to deal with than actual homo sapiens ... with a few exceptions of course (you know who you are and if you have to ask, it isn't you!).   I just don't care for the drama.  We all have drama to a certain degree ... pull up your big girl panties (or big boy shorts) and deal with it.   I'm not talking about asking for prayer or good thoughts because of illness or loss, I'm talking about the ADULTS who are lonely (text me, call me, poor me with no friends)  because they are sitting in front of a computer or tapping on a smart phone all day ... GET UP, GO FOR A WALK, HIT THE PARK, LIBRARY OR Y ... TALK TO PEOPLE!

Just rambling ...

Two sweatsocks to the 150s!

I know ... I've been bad ... just busy with traveling, company, worry, yada yada ... OK, just lazy to be honest! Sorry about that!

Today I have lost 36 pounds and have under 13 to go ... unless I change my goal which depends on how I look and feel. I am not going to be perfect .. have let myself go too many times and the skin is just never going to go back where it belongs no matter what I do ... well, not no matter what ... if I have a few thousand $$$ to spend on tummy tucks and such, that would work, but at my age? Who am I kidding? OMGosh, I totally forgot to mention a great NSV (non scale victory) ... Last week I glanced in a mirror one afternoon and there they were ... right in front of me ... MY JAW/CHIN BONES ... wooooohooooo!

Just getting all this abnormal fat off and feeling better is enough of a reward for me. I can actually button the new size 10 pants I bought when Julia and I went shopping -- breathing is a little bit of a problem though, so I won't be wearing them for awhile yet! hahaha I wore a size 10 in high school, which as near as I can figure is a size 8 in today's fashion world. I wore that for a few months 9 years ago, but not really thinking I'll worry about getting there this time. Really going for the healthy BMI which is below 125.0 ... don't want to get 'skinny' as the last time I did that half the folks I knew thought I was gonna die at any moment!

This is day 26 of the vlcd in Rd2 ... feeling good, no cheats .. over all doing well!

Julia and Jesse moved to Hawaii on Wednesday .. I'm a weenie and cried most of the day. Have to start saving for a trip over. Can't wait! For those who don't know they were 9 days late leaving WA due to Jesse breaking his foot ... surgery, four pins and a screw ... yeah, nothing simple there. There are some not for the squeamish photos in an album on my Facebook photo page if you can't resist and have a strong tummy!

Getting closer every day ...

You know how you see skinny girls cross their legs and then tuck their foot behind the other ankle? Yesterday I couldn't do that ... today I CAN!! wooohoooo OK, I'm certainly not skinny, but sure a lot thinner than I was and on my way to healthy to boot!!

This is such an awesome journey with surprising results every single day. I have a few real life friends doing it as well .. not because of my journey, but they also found it on their own ... and I know one is doing very well! The other two don't stay in touch often, so not sure about their journey at all but hoping for great successes for them as well.

The temp has soared over 100 today after keeping us in early spring/late winter for so long .. it is quite a change with very little warning. Almost makes me happy my eye is not sunshine worthy and I must stay in the air conditioned confines of my home. HA .. good excuse! Healing ulcer and staph infection .. neither a lot of fun, both painful and difficult to deal with. Hopefully with the prayers of wonderful family and friends I will heal sooner rather than later!

Am on day 10 of the vlcd ... keeping it as close to 500 calories a day as is possible. The last couple of days I have lost over 1 pound so expect that to slow a lot soon. This is the 2nd week which notoriously is slow and sluggish, but since I have some experience with the reasoning behind that, I am hoping to plow my way through it ... I am actually enjoying the journey and hoping that these next 18 pounds will leave the building during this round. Wouldn't that be awesome?