Blah.

Spring has sprung in Dallas. Lest you be envisioning lots of beautiful flowers poking their heads up, let me correct you.

Spring in Dallas means rain...and lots of it. We'll get several inches between now and June. This is actually a good thing, because my porch plants really needed watering and I'm just terrible about it. However, it means that I can't call the exterminator to kill all the little critters that come out of the woodwork in the Spring, because the birds need to be out of the house when he comes...and I'm not sticking them out in the rain!

Of course, we will get our fair share of beautiful little buds all over the place...I actually have a couple of calla lilies blooming for the first time! My daffodils are daffodead though...they look pretty ragged.

I was supposed to get my car washed yesterday, and we ended up chasing elevator calls (Scott's a mechanic) all day, so we never did get to it...and now it's raining. *sigh*

Good news though...I hit J.C. Penney's last night, in search of clothing that fits. I stood in the Women's section, looking at all the 1Xs that used to fit me, and started tearing up as I realized that I no longer had to shop in that department! I headed over to the other sections and found clothes in three different areas that fit me! Woohoo! I love being a size 16...it frees me! (Of course, I'll love 14 even more and, with lots of work, size 12!)

And best of all, was walking into Victoria's Secret...they rarely carry XL in the stores - you have to buy them online, and I was able to buy a new pair of panties right there on the spot! I mentally lifted a middle finger to Lane Bryant...lol! By the way...am I the only one who thinks $12.99 is a little much for ONE pair of panties?

I knew I was close yesterday. I woke up this morning fully prepared to have to fudge my weigh-in by tenths of a pound, as my autoship goes out tomorrow and I want that 30 lb bear!

I tiptoed over to the scale (maybe if I sneak up on it, it'll be more cooperative, right?). I exhaled (air has to weigh something) and stepped on. Feeling like I was in Vegas watching a slot machine, I prayed as the numbers came up...196.9!! That means 30.1 lbs lost!

WOOHOOO!!!!!!!!!!!

I wanted to share pictures of all of my babies tonight, since it's Ozzie's birthday today! Click on the picture for a larger view.

Life with these birds is like living with four 2-year olds...there's never a dull moment, and they're so loving in their own ways. Ziggy is an attention hound, and so is Ozzie...they want to be snuggled and petted constantly! We give them all they want ;)



Sammy, cockatiel


Ozzie, Senegal Parrot


Lucy, Sunday Conure


Ziggy, Quaker Parrot

And, lest Misty think we don't love her anymore, here is a picture of her :)



Misty

I went shopping today and bought a new pair of pants and three new shirts...all in size 16! Major rush for me, it's been a couple-three years since I could squeeze into a 16!

So I finally get below 200 and it suddenly becomes "free eating week"? I swear there's something about that number that I'm having a problem with. Extra desserts here and there, bread with my lunch, an eggroll just before bed...all foods that aren't on the program, and all the wrong times to eat them. Added up to no weight loss today...in fact, almost a half pound gain. UGH!

OK...time to recommit, to remember why I'm doing this, and time to remind Scott that he can't make it hard on me by asking me to get him treats because it makes me want them.

Because Nutrisystem has decided not to show my profile, at the moment, I thought I'd paste a couple of pictures, and show my weight loss history.

My name is Helen. I got married last summer to a terrific man who is my best friend, supportive cheerleader, and is just wonderful to be around. Unfortunately, this wonderful guy also weighs 120 lbs dripping wet - I feel like an elephant next to him!
I had been on Nutrisystem in 2000 and lost about 28 lbs. Everyone started telling me how great I looked...so I figured I had lost enough and left NS after just a couple of months. BIG MISTAKE. I hadn't learned enough to keep the weight off.

This time, I'm going for broke...140, here I come!

3/9/05 - ONEDERLAND!!! 199.4!!

My Progress

Week 0: 01/05/05 - 227.0 lbs
Week 3: 01/26/05 - 212.3 lbs -14.7
Week 4: 02/05/05 - 208.0 lbs - 4.3
Week 5: 02/13/05 - 205.4 lbs - 2.6
Week 6: 02/21/05 - 206.0 lbs + .6
Week 7: 02/27/05 - 203.8 lbs - 2.2
Week 8: 03/02/05 - 202.3 lbs - 1.5
Week 9: 03/09/05 - 199.4 lbs - 2.9

The "official" start picture - 1/5/05

7-11-04 - Wedding Day :)

2 wks before wedding...YUCK!

I thought that I'd try to put a picture up here tonight. This is my Quaker Parrot, Ziggy, taking a bath. If you click on the picture, a new window will open with a bigger picture of him. Isn't he adorable? :)

Ziggy takes a bath

Today is a gorgeous day. The temperature is wonderful, the sun is shining, they're not working me too hard today at work...and, for the first time in 4 years, I weigh less than 200 pounds!! Yep, officially hit 199.4 this morning and my life is awesome :)

I have officially lost 25.3 lbs! Woohooo!!

I started walking yesterday and yes, I'm a little sore, but I'm so motivated that a little soreness won't stop me!!

I'm hoping by the end of March, I'll be down a minimum of 30 lbs, 35 by the end of April, 40 by the end of June, when it's time for our annual BBQ. I want everyone to go...WOW :))