First a few thoughts:

1. This week I was really appreciating my health. Sure, I struggle with my weight, but I have been blessed with amazing health. I mean, I get sick from time to time, but in general, I am a very healthy person. Even with the extra weight, I can run and exercise and I have full function of all of me. Such a blessing!
2. Losing weight the slow way takes a lot of restraint and discipline. You would think it would be the opposite, but really, not eating is easy. Eating moderately and healthfully is a totally different ball game. But I think I’m catching on. So far, so good.
3. If it is at all within your power to start a lunch group, and people want to be healthy, I highly recommend it. Today’s salad was a delicious Greek Spinach Salad. It was fantastic.
4. While the process is slow, it is paying off. I went upstairs today for a meeting and Amanda, who had been on vacation for 11 days, asked me how much weight I had lost since she’d been gone. Well, as you all know, I didn’t lose any weight last week and actually gained a little, which is what I told her (although, I guess if you take the sum of the last two weeks, I had lost a little). Her response was that when she saw me it was like one of those moments where you haven’t seen someone in a long time and they just look really good. How flattering is that?!
5. Sharing this goal with everyone around me, but especially on the blog, was a great idea; an idea I stole from another blogger. I love having a forum in which I can talk (write) freely about my successes and my obstacles, without feeling like I’m forcing someone to listen to my stories. Blogging about this whole process is probably one of the major components of my success thus far.
6. While, sometimes it’s hard to make an inconvenient, but healthy choice when there are so many convenient, but unhealthy choices, I do love healthy food and I am grateful for that. I have always been a veggie fan and I love brown rice, but this week I got hooked on whole wheat pasta (Archer Farms, specifically…love Target) and multi grain tortillas. Absolutely delicious! And I’m learning that if I can make healthy food convenient, I’ve got it made.
7. Another major break through…I used to hesitate when posting (or sharing) pictures that involved me and food, whether it was a scoop ice cream or a slice of an apple. I would do it occasionally, but not without serious reflection. I used to always think about what people would think when they saw a picture of me eating. I finally came to the realization that a) most people aren’t thinking about anything other than how much they wish they had that ice cream cone and b) I just don’t care anymore. I know what’s going on in my life and I feel good and that’s what matters. And, well, I love food. Big deal. So do millions of skinny people.
8. Losing weight scares me. I know that may sound strange, but think about this with me. I know how to be chubby Chloe. I have been chubby Chloe since I was ten. I don’t know how to be anything but that. Well, I was non-chubby, anorexic, laxative popping, exercise addict Chloe for a while, but that’s not something I ever got comfortable with (thank Heaven, really and truly). Even writing this, I can feel a little bit of anxiety starting to build. Losing weight means losing a part my identity…it is new territory. And, as I learned from one very unhealthy relationship, no matter how much I know, intellectually, that the new situation will be better, it is very, very hard to let go of the one that’s familiar, the one I have learned to handle.
9. Going along with #7, I think part of the success behind slower weight loss is not just that your body has time to adjust and be healthy, but so does your mind. I could be totally wrong, but doesn’t that seem to make sense?

And now onto the weigh-in. After last week’s little set back I did get back on track. There was no beating myself up; there was no self-loathing; just a sense of accomplishment for what I had already done and a renewed commitment to myself.

This week, I lost an even 3 lbs for a grand total of 15.2 lbs. I am right on track…in fact a little ahead, averaging a little over 2 lbs per week. At this rate, I will be 24 lbs lighter when I run the SGM in October, and that is a happy, happy thought! Every pound I lose will reduce my time and the pressure on my joints. My knees are thanking me already.