Party Time!

I just wanted to say thank you to everyone who commented on today's weigh-in post. I am so happy with how well things have been going so far, and your interest in and support of my journey means a lot. So many of you said that you see a difference in the starting point and updated photos and it makes me feel really great to know that some changes are noticeable (even if I have a hard time seeing them myself).

After reading all of your remarks I looked at the photos again and I think that because I am holding my arms differently in the two pictures, I am justifying any small improvements in my mind by assuming that it is a trick of the camera. I guess I really am my own worst critic, but it really helps to have all of you telling me that you see improvement and to have you all cheering me on. Thank you so much!

I have to ask: why does it seem like there is an endless number of celebrations - complete, of course, with unhealthy foods - during the summer? It feels like it's one thing after another. There are fairs, day trips, barbecues, birthdays, vacations, and other special events. And the list of fatty, sugary, oily, salty, gooey, battered, and mouth-watering foods that accompany these outings seems to be endless.

Today my challenges were coffee with a friend followed by a simply birthday party. I only had water when I was out with the friend and even turned down part of a brownie that she offered me. At the party, I loaded up my plate with salad, celery, a couple pieces of pita bread, and a piece of chicken. I deftly wiped the drool from the corner of my mouth as I avoided the extra saucy meatballs, cheesy potatoes, and oh-so-tempting large white dinner buns.

The one real issue I had was, surprisingly, with the salad. It had a lot more cheese, croutons, meat, and eggs in it than I realized when I served myself enough to take up half the room on my plate. It was delicious and I actually went back and had a little more, but it had so much high fat content that I feel like I should have stopped part way through my first serving. It's all healthy stuff, I know; I just don't want to slide back into the unhealthy mindset of eating more than I actually need.

On the flip side, my real accomplishment today is that I not only requested just a tiny piece of cake, but I actually threw out most of the small slice I was given. I had planned on four bites and that is exactly how many I had. The rest went right into the garbage without anyone being the wiser. I'm not a fan of wasting food, but I am proud to say that I did what I needed to do!

FOOD & BEVERAGES:
- 9 glasses of water throughout the day
- 1 1/2 cups of grapes
- 1 cup of pineapple
- 1 small sip of caramel hot chocolate
- 2 whole wheat pita triangles with babaganoush
- 3 cups of salad with deli ham, hard boiled egg, cheese, spinach, tomato, onion, bacon bits, croutons,and blue cheese dressing
- 10 celery sticks
- 1 piece of shake and bake chicken
- 4 bites of chocolate cake
- 1 mug of tea with milk

EXERCISE:
- 2 sets of 10 lunges for each leg
- 45 minute walk
- 2 sets of 10 squats