Level 1 - Day 45

Gearing Up For Weigh-In Day

I have to admit that this week has been a struggle for me.  After two weeks of straying off the plan due to out-of-town company and an extremely hectic work week, I'm finding it difficult to stay focused.  Maybe some of you out there have gone thru the same thing.

It's especially hard when you have either lost a good amount of weight or the opposite; you haven't lost any.  I have had great success during the first eight weeks, so gaining only one pound during the past two weeks didn't seem that bad.  Perhaps that's the reason I'm having a difficult time staying focused.

But, it's times like this that you have to dig deep ... real deep ... because this period of time is a cross-roads ... and what you do will dramatically impact your weight loss success.  In addition, I have also grown to appreciate how difficult it is when you live with people who don't want to stay on the plan for every meal.  My mother's month-long visit has been a true test for me.  Mainly, because she's eating things that aren't the best choices, and some of them are pretty tempting.

However, for me, my mother's visit will end and I won't have tempting foods in the house once she leaves.  For some of you, that's not an option.  And, I'd like to personally recognize those of you who have to deal with these kinds of temptations on a regular basis.  You are the ones who have it the hardest and I commend you all!

Breakfast - Leftover Quinoa with non-fat milk and Agave Nector.

AM Snack - Watermelon.

Lunch - The last of the Chicken Meatball Soup from day 42.  I have to mention that this soup got better and better each day.

PM Snack - I am a huge licorice-aholic, and yesterday was National Licorice Day.  So, guess what?  My mother bought me a little package of licorice as a gift.  It was so sweet of her, and I know she did it out of love.  But, come on!  I'm still trying to get over my two week fall from the plan.  Is this what you call tough love?

I really had to dig deep ... as licorice, along with potato chips, are my biggest weaknesses.  I'm sure you can all appreciate how difficult these moments are ... and how badly I wanted to open the package and inhale them.  But, guess what I was able to do?

I didn't want to hurt my mother's feelings because she was so excited about honoring licorice day, but I didn't want to blow it, again.  So, I opened the package and ate a piece in front of my smiling mother.  Then, when she became absorbed in her television show, I walked away with the package in my hand and went out to the garage, where I dumped out the rest of the bag in the garbage bin.  And, from the distance I could hear all of you cheering me on, and it wasn't so bad.

Dinner - The last of the Chopped Vegetable Salad with Roasted Chicken and Champagne Mustard Vinaigrette (from Day 43).