June 8?  My last entry was June 8?  Sheeesshhhh!  That's terrible!!!

Okay, so I don't have time right now to bring other parts of this blog up to date, which would be nice, but oh well!... But here are the stats:

Starting weight, February '06: 187.0 pounds

Current weight, 8/29/06:         170.5 pounds

So, I've had a really rough, busy, hectic, overwhelming summer, where I've literally been turning to God, who upholds me in His everlasting arms.  I've balanced out changes of food selections (brown rice) with smaller portions (when I eat white rice or white noodles, for example), changed portions (veggies take up the largest part of my plate) and changed choices (afternoon snack of 94% fat free popcorn without guilt, rather than some form of chocolate or other higher fat, higher calorie choice).  The reason I've not lost MORE is that I have the following philosophy: if this is a lifestyle change, and not a diet, then it doesn't matter how fast I am losing just so long as I am losing.  I am interested in being able to have a Starbuck's caramel frappacino when I want one, and an occasional dessert, or sharing a Ben & Jerry's pint of vanilla Heath bar with my hubby from time to time, as long as I am still losing weight.  And, if/when I get to a place where I an not satisfied with my weight loss, if I plateau, if I want to lose weight faster, I know that I can reduce or eliminate these delicasies (sp?).  But I am not ready to go there yet.  If I want changes to be permanent, then I have to make them slowly, like Flylady says, one change at a time until I've got it down, then move on to the next change.  Baby steps.

So, right now I have changed a lot of things in my diet, but am not purely following the WW guidelines, and not recording what I eat, not staying purely CORE or anything.  When I am ready I know there are more changes I can move to, and I know what they are. I know what I can change in my diet, I know I can start exercising...  But for now, I am the tortoise.  Slow and steady.  1/2 pound this week?  0.4 of a pound?  I'll take it.  It is a weight loss, and the numbers are going the right direction.

Who's with me?  Let's do it!  Slow and steady, Lord.  Hold my hand.  I am weak, but you are strong.  Help me to become all that you want me to be, and help me choose changes that will be a permanent part of my life!

Diana