Yes, I'm still very much alive!

Yes, I am a slacker.  No surprise to any of you that really know me.  I am kicking ass in a lot of areas of this journey... keeping up with the blog is not one of them, unfortunately for those who care enough to read it.  I will get better, though.  This is just as much a tool for me as it is for you to snoop around in my brain!

So, picking up where we last left off... I am 13 lbs down after 5 weeks in this challenge.  I am down more then 10 lbs of body fat, some fluid loss and a little muscle change.  I am totally OK with this number.  No, wait... I am PSYCHED about this number.  I have set an 8 lb. body fat loss for this next 4 week segment.  I am likely capable of a bit more, but I am certain that 8 lbs. is totally realistic.  I want to stay realistic and avoid disappointing myself along the way.  I am sure I am getting to the point where sweat and calorie burning is what is going to make the difference now... not just the eating right.  I am still struggling a little bit with that part.

Gathering up the motivation to get in a good heart-racing, sweaty workout on the non-Dan days is still hard for me.  There are 40 million other things that have to get done first.  I  still struggle with making the darn exercise part a priority.  I get why it is.  I just have no love for it yet.  Hoping that will hit me soon.  I need to be in love with it.  I owe it to myself.

In the past week, I went shopping for some shorts for a trip to Disney.  Aside from the fact that there were few options (we live in Florida, folks) I finally had to hit the dreaded WalMart.  Good news was I was able to skip the chubby section this time... AWESOME... and got a size in the normal ladies section.  One better is those shorts were slipping off me the whole time we were away.  I had to hold them up when I was running to get something!  SHUT UP!  Great feeling.

OK, so Disney World is the worst place in the world to go if you are eating clean.  Just FYI.  We spent 3 days there with my parents and I was hard pressed to find ANYTHING on plan.  The salads were caesar, pre-mixed.  The chicken was fried.  The burgers and dogs were not an option.  The chicken wrap was premixed with mayo.  The pizza had a super thick crust and the fruit options were as much money for 1 banana as I would normally pay for a whole bunch!  I skipped all the junk food carts (OK, I licked Nicole's ice cream cone, but any good Mom would... it was dripping for crying out loud!)  I packed snacks (Tim can affirm this, as he lugged the backpack around everyday) but at some point, the almonds and carrots and apple slices are just not enough!  I was happy to see that the the scale on  Thursday showed no loss, but no gain either.  I was fine with that.

**Side note... Carrabbas now offers a whole grain pasta option**

Now back to me.  Saturday will be my first trip up Gator Mountain.  I have spent very little time in the stadium aside from the occassional Gator game.  Just the thought of climbing up the bleachers, from the lowest to highest point is frightening, but I am confident I can make it.  Maybe not the 3 times in the plan, but it will be a great feeling getting up there.  I am fully prepared to not be able to walk 2 steps the next day and thank the LORD I do not have a 2-story house!

So yes, progressing great in this journey.  I feel good about so many things.  I am grateful for the opportunity more then anyone will ever know.  I would never have done this on my own.  NEVER.  

"Keep Swimming" a wise fish once said.  I am Makin' It Happen!