Ok, last week when we weighed in I gained 1 lb. I was in last place out of the group after two weeks. It was safe to say that my balance was definitely off. I chose to splurge on all my outings and thought that if I was running and lifting weights it would even out and I might still lose. Wrong.

I was a little discouraged when the results came in. Then, on top of that, I read Marty’s comments to us. She was tough; there is a reason that she looks so good. She works hard for it. My initial reaction to her statements, were, “I don’t think she’s ever had a Tammi Coe cake.” And, I didn’t think that I could do all my social outings without indulging. But, I did take it to heart and I tell you what, I tried her strategy a little over the past week and it worked. I had two big BBQ’s with friends and family and I still managed to lose weight this week. Yeah!

My Strategy:
I took a veggie platter to the BBQ’s, passed on the hamburgers, went for chicken and skipped the dessert. I did have a few alcoholic beverages (cheated), but other than those drinks, my diet was really strict with vegetables, fruits and proteins. I’m trying to cheat once a week and not once a day. It makes a big difference.

I’m still going to the gym. I’ve upped my running to three miles and I’m continuing to lift weights. It’s hard not to get discouraged. Especially when you start lifting after a long time has passed. For some reason, I always think that I’m going to be able to start at the weights I left off at. That’s never the case. I feel so weak, but I know if I keep at it I’ll regain my strength and even grow stronger. I keep telling myself, “Any exercise I partake in is better than nothing.”

Next week, I’ll up my running to four miles and try to stay strict on my diet. Exercising and eating healthy does work. I just have to remind myself to be patient, positive and plan ahead to keep it going. My biggest challenge in this upcoming week is that I’m taking a girls trip to Florida… yikes. I hope I can stay strong with my new eating habits and find a place to exercise. Send me will-power strength!

My tip for the week:
After the BBQ I had left over chopped-up vegetables, so I preserved them in tupperware in the refrigerator and every night I would sear them for dinner. It’s organized and so easy to access. My new plan is to buy vegetables and fruit on the weekends, cut them up and store them in the refrigerator for the week. Healthy snacks at my fingertips.