How do I prevent this from happening again?

Okay, I'm down another pound and it's been 9 days on very minimal carbs diet and working out. I won't be able to go the full two weeks, will be in North Carolina with Jim's family and it's Memorial Day weekend. I'm going to have some wine and just eat normal, but wise. Saturday will be day 13, so that's not too bad. But when I'm at my goal weight, how do I avoid this from happening again? I have to keep this in mind because I've been struggling with this 5-20 pounds for the last 10 years! Do I get on the scale every week? Do I start dieting again at 5 pounds over my idea weight? I know I'm going to keep exercising, running, strength training and staying active in general, but when times are stressful and time is short, what will keep me on target? That is what I have to keep in mind, maintaining this weight loss for years! Never seeing 150 again! How will I do it?

It's working!

Monday I started my strict regimen of no or very little carbohydrates and today the scale says I lost 4 pounds. I can see it, I can feel it, I can literally feel my stomach burning the fat. I'm only three pounds from my "wedding weight" and most of my clothes don't fit me at all! Even stuff that was my "in between" clothes before are loose. That's means I've surpassed my weight over the last few years!!! I think since I got pregnant. I'm still waiting for the ball to drop. Ten more days to go...I just don't know that I'll be able to run or work out like I've been this week. But as my mantra has been, I'm not giving up.

Kicking it up a notch

Okay, call me obsessive, 'cause I am. I've been teetering between two or three pounds for three weeks. I want to push my weight loss to the next level so I'm doing two weeks of no carbs and working out at least four or five days a week. My co-worker happens to be a certified Body Pump instructor and she's studying for this intense core training that is only 30 mins, CX30. She practiced on us last week and I was so sore around my core area, but it was a good sore. I'm encouraging her to keep working with us, possibly getting approval to teach the class as a health incentive to the building if we can get permission to use a conference room. But for now, just in one of our offices. Unfortunately she's got that cold that my whole family had a month ago and she wasn't up to working out yesterday, but I refused to let that stop me. I brought my workout clothes anyway and ran to the Brandywine and back for 1/2 hour (approximately 2 miles). It feels great. So as of today I have one day of carb free and 30 mins of intense exercise down and 13 more to go. The carb free is much harder than the exercise...

What's with the obsession? I went to Marshall's on Sunday and found not one, but four great looking swimwear pieces! I only brought three for the price of one swimsuit ($67) and one is reversible, so yes, that's two in one!!!! I love it, a beautiful classic one piece strapless in a bluish red by Jantzen, fits like a glove and actually holds the girls up! A polka dot bikini by Jag that the top fits PERFECT and supports like I've been looking for, but the bottom was switched out for an XL so I'm seeing if some skilled seamstress can alter to my size (fingers crossed) and finally a black and white print/polka dot, bra sized top, reversible two piece by Coco Reef that I could wear right now! It's been so hard finding the right swimsuit because I'm only 42 and I don't have a figure that I feel I should cover up with skirt bottoms or a tankini, but the girls are hanging now and I have to have a top with support. I'd just like to be a little thinner (5-8 pounds) and toner around my waistline.

This is really hard for me to imagine, getting back to my idea weight. I keep thinking, what's going to sabotage it? Pregnancy? an injury? some health condition? going back in to internship in the Fall? I don't plan on giving up and I love working out, so I think it's just a matter of eating right most of the time. Just 15-20 more pounds to go and I hope to knock out at least 5, hopefully more by the end of these two weeks!

PS. I love Marshall's!!!!

Mother's Day

I've been sick for more than 2 weeks, finally on some antibiotics, but it does only so much for a sinus infection. At least I can breath out of my nose at night without any medicine. Today, I ran 3 miles and pushed myself uphill several times thinking about my blood pressure being out of control because of all these medications and not sleeping. I also thought about Jake, running for Jake, doing this for Jake. It's mother's day but I'm so thankful for him and that he made me a mom and how adventurous he makes my life. At least I have that. Which leds me into my next statement, Jim and I argued again today, over my supposed bad mood, over scheduling too many things to do today, over not telling him that my family was coming over for dinner. Other than that, the day was really nice. Mom, Erica and Rae came over and we put together basically a seafood feast, crabs, grilled oysters, mussels, grilled salmon, coleslaw, corn and red potatoes. Everything was delicious and I'm stuffed. Jim said he wasn't going to stay, but he ate dinner and thanked everyone. Jake was hyped up and didn't want to leave the girls. My mom got me a card and garden flowers. It was nice to see someone had honored me for mother's day. Rachel bought me an online gift certificate from Shutterfly. I'm not sure how I'm going to use it, but we'll see. Now I'm exhausted, running, gardening, shopping, cooking, and eating, takes a lot out of you. Despite a wonderful day with family and great weather and getting so much accomplished, I'm still disappointed that Jim didn't take the time to get me anything.