I haven’t had much time to update this site at all this week, really. Work has been keeping me hopping and on my toes pretty much the entirety of last week!

Just wanted to check in on my weigh in date and record my progress. It was a slow week – but I did manage to lose 1.5 lbs for a total loss of 12.5lbs so far. I haven’t done my measurements yet – - and I really shouldn’t be putting them off, but I’m going to have to put them off until tomorrow morning.

Would love to put some of this client work load aside – - but can you imagine?.. “I’ll be right with you – - I just have to measure my boobs first!”

Ummm… no.

Anyone else wake up this morning craving thick buttermilk pancakes? Laden with butter and thick maple syrup? I did – talk about torture!! Arghh!

I resisted the urge, as difficult as it was. I made myself a bowl of hot oatmeal and sprinkled it with cinnamon and splenda, instead – to try and tone down my inflammed sweet tooth.

I’ve done well this week, with the eating. I’ve stayed on my plan and didn’t waiver. Every week that goes by where I can say that is something I consider a huge success on my part. I’m a cookie monster! I can sit and eat an entire bag of hershey’s kisses all by myself, in under 30 minutes flat without blinking an eye!

Body for LIFE does give you a free day in the plan – however, I don’t incorporate a free day at all., not in the diet/menu area at least. Why? Because I know me. If I know that today is my ‘free day’ – I lose it and go all out. Talk about lacking self-control!

Instead – I give myself a treat once a week, as long as I’ve stuck to my plan. That treat?

A triple-grande caramel machiatto from Starbucks. In all it’s 310 calorie goodness – I allow myself to have one, once a week.

Not bad since I used to drink 2-4 of those A DAY! No kidding! Before I leapt into full time self-employment and started home-officing completely, I worked for the last 15 years as a Registered Nurse in the area of Home Hospice care. I spent my days in my car, travelling from one patient’s house to another.. all day long, every day.

And do you know how many Starbuck’s with drive-thru’s I would pass on a daily basis? My territory spanned a 4-county area here in Wisconsin, and I’ll tell ya – that’s a LOT of Starbucks! I was drawn in. Sucked in. Starbucks really had a hold on me.

The lo-down on one triple grande caramel machiatto?

Calories:310
Fat Calories: 110
Total Fat: 12g
Carbs: 37g
Sugars: 34g

Image. 2-4 a day. That would be 10 – 20 in one work week. No WONDER I ballooned! Sheesh!

Now? The drink is the only indulgence I give myself in a week – but that’s only if I know I’ve been really good with my meal and exercise plan. I look forward to it – - and I’ll tell ya – - when I give myself that ONE treat a week? It is the BEST damned triple grande caramel machiatto I have EVER had in my LIFE!

There is probably something healthier that I could treat myself to. I mean, considering the nutritional info on one cup of that caramel goodness . . . I should probably look into it. But, I’m still losing pounds and inches on a healthy, steady roll, so I figure if I can congratulate myself with something I really love – and if that helps me stay focused all week long? Every little bit helps. I treat myself to it on Saturdays. I just make sure that on Sunday, I spend extra time on the treadmill and torture myself there, instead.

It is SO worth it.

As I enter week 4 of the challenge – I still find myself motivated and encouraged by my current roll of successes. Today was my official weigh-in day and my progress so far equals a loss of 11lbs and a loss of 8 inches. How could I not be encouraged by that?

When this first started on 12/26 – Chris (my fiance) took pictures of me in my bra and panties. Ugh! We took front shots, side shots and the dreaded shots from behind (cough).

Today – on 1/16 – we took them again. Standing in the same spot, wearing the same clothes. When I put the pictures next to one another – the changes were really dramatic. Amazing what 11lbs and 8 inches can do to a person! It seems most of my loss has come from my waist, hips and back. The “well-fed-rolls” that appeared underneath my bra strap across my back (under my shoulder blades) are now all but gone and there is more defnition in my waist and abs. I’m psyched!

I’ve talked with many around the net about diets – and have resisted the temptation of fad dieting. You know, those diet plans that claim you’ll lose a full dress size in 6 days? Come on – get real. The only way I know of for losing the weight and dropping sizes is the good old ‘eat right and exercise’ plan.

I don’t believe there is a pill that will do it. The only pill I pop into my mouth on a daily basis is a multivitamin. That’s it. I don’t believe there is a drink that will do it. Or a bar, or a patch or anything other than changing the lifestyle habits that got me this way in the first place. I’ve read up on those diets that have you eating the same dollup of food for every meal, every day – never waivering.

My feeling is – - if it’s not a plan that I can stick to for an entire lifetime, then forget it. This is a lifestyle change for me, not a get-thin-quick plan. I’m convinced that healthy eating and a good, moderate exercise plan is the only way for me to go.

So Anna Nicole Smith can take her royalties for TrimSpa and go get another tummy tuck – it ain’t for me!

On the Body-for-LIFE discussion list I belong to – many have cautioned that Weeks 4-6 are slow, you kind of hit a plateau and stagnate without experiencing a whole lot of loss in pounds or inches. I’m prepared for it (I think) – - I swear I won’t let the plateau get me down or discourage me. That’s my goal for the next few weeks, to just keep working at it and looking foward to week 7-8.. keeping my eye on the prize!