**Days 364 & 365**

Final weigh in for the year:

219 pounds, so that's 10.5 lost in the month of December - I didn't reach my goal of 12 pounds for December, but I was close.  (I had to use my old analog scale to weigh-in because I still haven't had the time to get a new digital one with being busy with Christmas and then getting sick.)  So, I've lost a total of 29.5 pounds this year.

I was ready to do a post about what a failure this year has been for me - I mean, 29.5 pounds lost in one whole year?  That's it?  Total fail!  Or is it?  After thinking a bit more about it - no, it's not a fail, not at all.  I lost weight this year, and that's an accomplishment - something I hadn't been able to accomplish in the previous thirteen years.  I, also, started exercising this year, and since the beginning of the year there has, rarely, been a week go by that I haven't done some kind of exercise.  I, also, participated in five 5k races since July.  My eating is better than it has been YEARS, and I, completely, gave up pop, which I can say I will never return to again.

Could I, or should I, have lost more weight this year?  Of course!  Unfortunately, I struggled alot over the last six months, but I didn't throw in the towel and give up, which I would have done in the past.  In the past, I would have given up, gained back any weight I had lost and then some, but things are different now - now, when I struggle - I keep going.  I know I'll continue to have challenges in the coming year, but I have no doubt that I will continue to make progress.  I'm looking forward to 2012 - it's going to be good.

**Day 363**

It was day five of being sick, so it was time to go to Urgent Care - still sporting my cute bracelet:

So, the doctor said that I have a sinus infection, which, I guess, explains this horrible headache!  I'll be taking antibiotics for five days.  I'm still congested in my chest, and coughing alot, so I can't exercise, which is very frustrating - this is not how I wanted to end this year....sick, and sitting on my butt for a week, but it was out of my control.

I'll be back on Saturday to do an end-of-the-year post!

Oh, I have to brag about my girls - they have been so great the last few days putting up with a sick mama!  They've been stuck inside, but they've been wonderful about keeping themselves occupied, and have even been cooking for themselves!  They've been playing together, and making costumes, and putting on plays:

There has been no fighting between them - seriously, none!  And that's quite something for these two!  I've very proud of them.  They are such good girls!

**Days 360, 361, & 362**

This flu is kicking my butt!  I've been dealing with a fever, headache, and chest cold since Christmas Eve night.  My daughter took this unflattering pic of me when I was half alseep (or what felt like half dead):

My sweet dogs are always with me.  Anyway, this is pretty much how I've looked for the last four days.  My fever, finally, broke this morning!!  I haven't had a fever since about 9am, and I'm really hoping it doesn't come back.  Unfortunately, my headache and chest cold is still going strong.  My dad says I got sick because I wasn't taking my Vitamin C supplements - he swears the Vitamin C has kept him healthy for the last three years.  Okay, so I'm taking it now - better late than never, I guess.  Thanks for bringing it over to me, Dad!

Although I'm, definitely, getting better I'm not ready for any exercise.  Maybe tomorrow.  Be back soon.

**Days 358 & 359**

I was really down in my last post, and ready to give up, but just a few words from Tim and Debby pulled me out of my funk.  Thank you, Tim and Debby.  Of course, I can't give up, and I won't.  For now, I'm dealing with this:

Santa brought me the flu for Christmas. :)  I've got a high temp., alternating chills and sweats, a major headache, and I'm aching from head-to-toe....I swear, even my ears hurt!  So, I'll be back when I'm better, which, hopefully, will be tomorrow!

I hope you all had a wonderful Christmas!

**Days 355 - 357**

Well, when I don't visit my blog for a few days it can only mean one thing .... I'm not doing so great!  I'm letting the holidays get the best of me.  I'm busy and I'm tired, so I've been skipping the exercise, but that's just an excuse because I haven't been SO busy, and SO tired that I couldn't get, at least, 20 or 30 min. of exercise in, each day.  I've been averaging one crappy meal a day, and I haven't been drinking, nearly, enough water.  So, that's how it's going on my end.  I'm allowing myself to fail, and I need to do better....as usual.  It's the same old thing from me lately -fail, fail.  Same old, same old.  Blah, blah, blah.  It's getting harder to come here to blog because it's embarrassing for me, but I don't want to stop blogging, so I have a choice to make - change my ways, or stop blogging because no one wants to come here to read a weight loss blog about someone who is, constantly, making poor choices, and not losing weight.

I hope you all have a wonderful holiday!!!

**Days 353 & 354**

I didn't workout yesterday.  I woke up very sore after Sunday's 5k trail run, so I used that as an excuse to skip exercising.  It probably would have helped if I had done a little something, but I didn't.  My back was still sore this morning, BUT I didn't skip my workout again.  I did a 20 minute walk on the treadmill.  I forgot to take my camera down with me for my usual picture, and I was too lazy go up to get the camera and then back down to the basement, again, to take the picture (yes, I am that lazy), so no picture tonight.

Today, was awful for me, food-wise.  I felt like eating all day!  I wasn't craving anything in particular - I just wanted to eat .... non-stop!  So, I ate too much, and, now, I feel really full and bloated.  I don't know why I was in such a bad place today - maybe because I started my period (four days early, dang!), but I'm not going to make the same mistake tomorrow.  I'm working on a plan for the rest of the week, and I'm going to stick to it - like glue!

I hope you are all doing much better than me!!!

**Days 351 & 352**

My sister and I did the Reindeer Run 5k today, and it was the hardest race I've done, so far.  It was a trail run, and it kicked my butt!  We ran in the woods, on open farmland, a gravel road, and we dealt with ice and mud - I almost lost my shoe, at one point, because it got stuck in the mud.  It took us forever to finish the race!  I complained through the whole thing because I spent the entire time trying not to fall or break an ankle - my sister is a saint for putting up with me!  I now have a sore ankle, a sore heel, and a sore back, BUT I'm glad I did the race because it was a real challenge for me, and I finished it.  Plus, my sister and I spent alot of time laughing - so it was a good time, too!

Here's my time:

Shannon D'Amico  284  0:52:11.5   39

And a few pics:

 Behind the cars is one of the open fields we ran in

  Ran on gravel

 Ran out in those woods

AWFUL picture of me, but my Do Life shirt looks great!  You can get one here!  

**Days 348, 349, & 350**

It's almost 1am, so very, very early Friday, and I'm still up, and probably won't be going to bed anytime soon!  I've been working around my house non-stop for the last two days.  We're having two parties this weekend, and for some crazy reason we started to redecorating one of my daughter's bedrooms, so, of course, I wanted it done before our first party tonight.  We painted her room, tore off the old trim, bought new trim that needed to be painted before we put it on, painted a bookcase and a chair, hung pictures, hooks, and a cork board, and, finally, had to assemble her new loft bed, but we finished it all around midnight.  In addition to doing her room I had to clean my whole house, do laundry and, of course, go shopping for all the food, and stuff, for the parties.  I am exhausted, and my feet and back have been killing me for two days, and you know what's coming.........I haven't exercised in two days.  At first, I was really bummed that I wasn't going to reach my goal of exercising everyday this month, but I'm kind of over it.  It's not like I've been sitting around doing nothing, and I know I'll get back to my exercising tomorrow, since all my work around here is done.

Something really embarrassing happened a few days ago - me and my fatness broke my scale!  I got it Tuesday morning to check out my weight, and as soon as I stepped on it I heard a loud crack!  I was like - WTF?!  I stepped off it, but didn't see anything broken, so I picked it, and gave it a shake, and something was rattling around inside it.  I stepped back on it, and a lovely number appeared - 216.  Ummm, I know I've been doing great with my workouts this month, and I've been eating really good, BUT there's no way I'm 216 pounds!  So, while I would love to be able to go with that number....I can't.  My scale is broken, and I'm going to have to buy a new one.  I do have an analog scale here, but I really liked the digital scale, so I'll get another soon.  We only have two weeks left in December, so I'm going to hold off on weighing in until Dec. 31st.  I'm still going for my goal of losing 12 pounds this month - we'll see what happens.  I'm going to work hard for it!

Have a great weekend!

**Day 347**

I attended a wake tonight for a family friend - he was the best man at my parent's wedding, and friends with my parents for over 40 years.  He was diagnosed with cancer just six months ago, and lost the battle a few days ago - he was 63 years old.  Very sad.  We went out to eat afterwards, and I was more than ready to do some emotional eating.  I shouldn't have, but I did.  I ordered potato soup, a tenderloin sandwich and fries. I
had less than half of the potato soup, and I took the bun off the tenderloin, and then ate about half of the tenderloin - the soup and tenderloin turned out to not be all that good, but if it had been I probably would've shoved it all down!  The fries were good, so I did eat more than half of them.  And I've only had 48 ounces of water, so not a great day for me.  I did manage to force myself to get on my treadmill when I got home.  My plan was to walk 20 minutes, but I pushed myself and did 30 minutes:

Tomorrow is a new day, and I will do much better with my eating.

**Day 346**

I completed this challenge:

Yay!!  I've exercised every day for the last 12 days, and it feels so good!!  I'm going to keep it going - I plan to exercise every day this month, so 12 down, and 19 to go.  I can do it.  I will do it!

I was back on the treadmill tonight - another 35 minutes:

It's going to be a busy week, so it will be a challenge for me to get my workouts in, but I will find the time!

**Day 345**

I did a 35 minute walk/run on the treadmill - more running than walking! :)

I did some short-burst interval training runs at 5.0 and 6.0 mph for 30 seconds at a time!  That's fast for me - ha!  I was a sweaty mess when I was done - it was a great workout!

I'll be participating in my fifth 5k next Sunday, and I've done no training outside! Dumb, dumb, dumb!!  Sunday's race should be interesting!  

**Day 344**

I did 25 minutes on the treadmill last night.  I, accidentally, pulled the safety cord out right at the end, which, of course, shuts down the treadmill, AND wipes the current data, so I can't start it again from where I left off!!!  I can't tell you how many times I have done this - it ticks me off!!  However, I can pull up my past workouts in the "My Maps" on the treadmill, but it doesn't store the calories I burned, but I took my picture, and then restarted and finished my last two minutes.  Anyway, here's the good news!  I was going to walk/run 20 minutes, and I planned to walk 3 minutes, run 2 minutes, walk 3 minutes, run 2 minutes, etc., but when it came to the end of my first 2 minute run I just decided to keep on running, and I continued to run for the rest of the workout without stopping - well, except for when I pulled the power cord (dang it!!!).  I ran for 22 minutes - it felt really good to push myself!!

Tonight, I did 20 minutes on the treadmill - yup, that's it.  There was no pushing myself tonight - some days it's there, and some days it's not! 

I was good on my calories today, but, not so good, with my water.  I'm working on getting another 24 ounces now!

Hope you're all having a great weekend!

**Day 343**

Last Friday I weighed 229.  Today, I weigh:

5 pound loss!!!  Yay!  I kicked butt this week!  Now, I just need to keep it going!  Weekends are hard for me, so I know the next few days will be a challenge, but I can do it!

Have a wonderful weekend!

**Day 342**

I, finally, made it back to the gym tonight - it's been quite awhile since I was there!  Thank you to my friend, Jen, for making me go - I tried to get out of it....shame on me!

Crossramp - 15 min.
Treadmill - 15 min.
Elliptical - 10 min.

Tomorrow is weigh-in day, and I'm hoping to see a good loss - fingers crossed!

**Days 340 & 341**

We had a very busy day yesterday - my daughter performed in a musical/play last night as the "Evil Queen":

She was awesome!!  Anyway, after we got home from the play I did the 30 Day Shred, Level 1.  It's a quick workout, but it's a good one!

Tonight I did 2 miles on my treadmill:

I kept my calories under 1500 today, and I'm working on getting the last of my water in!

I've worked out seven days in a row - so far, so good on my challenge to work out every single day this month!!

**Day 339**

My back was bothering me last night, and it felt even worse when I woke up this morning, so I decided to skip the gym tonight, and just do a light treadmill workout at home:

So, it's not much, but I wanted to do something!  Plus, our Florida trip is less than 60 days away, so I need to keep at it if I want to lose more weight by then, and I do - I really do!!

*Days 337 & 338*

Last night I went out with my parents and my sister to celebrate my mom's 60th birthday - we had an appetizer, dessert and drinks, so I was way over on my calories for the day, but I did get a treadmill workout in:

And I was, pleasantly, surprised to see this number on the scale this morning:

I was 229 on Friday, so I'm still moving in the right direction (finally) - yay!!

I was back on my treadmill today for another 30 minute workout:

My goal is to exercise every single day this month!  I'll be going to the gym tomorrow night!

This is, totally, off topic, but I just have to say if you ever have a chance to go see Frank Santorelli (he was the bartender on The Sopranos) - go see him!  He's a stand up comic, as well as an actor.  We went to see him at a comedy club last night, and, I swear, I never laughed so hard in my life!  He is hilarious!!

**Day 336**

I did a 40 minute workout on the treadmill tonight.  I only ran 16 minutes of it - my legs just weren't having it!


Two days ago I weighed 229.5:

Today I weighed in at 229:

I'm moving in the right direction!

**Still Day 335**

I signed up for another race - Reindeer Run 5k!  It's on Sunday, Dec. 18th, and it's at an equestrian center where my daughter takes horseback riding lessons.  The race will take place on a cross-country style course, and it says the following on the registration form:
~Bring a change of clothes and shoes. You will get muddy and wet, but it’s worth it!~
Hmmm, I don't know about this?!  IS getting muddy and wet, on what will probably be a very cold day, worth it??  We'll see.

**Day 335**

I did a 30 min. walk/run on the treadmill today.  I found an interval workout online, so I attempted it, and almost died!  At one point, I had to do 5 minutes at 4.0 mph with the treadmill at a 10% incline!!  My chest started burning - that's never happened before - oh my, it hurt!  So, after 16 minutes of the interval workout - I put the treadmill at a 2% incline, and alternated between walking and jogging for the last 14 minutes.
 
I burned 250 calories, and did 304 vt. feet - okay, I don't even know what the hell that means, but it has to be good, right?  I, also, did Level 1 of the 30 DS, and spent 10 min. using my dumbbells, so I'm very happy with my workout today.  I kept my calories under 1500, and I'm working on getting the rest of my water in for the day.

My hubby is out of town on business all week, so I'm really missing my late night gym workouts!  Thankfully, I have a treadmill here at home, but I can't wait to get back to the gym on Monday!