**Counting Calories**

I haven't been hardcore on keeping track about counting every single calorie that I put into my mouth. I've just been trying to eat healthier, and, obviously, it's been working since I'm losing weight. However, with not losing any weight last week - after thinking I had eaten pretty good all week, and thinking I was, for sure, going to lose some weight - I am going to start logging my food. I'm going to use myfitnesspal to track my calories, so I'll know, exactly, how many I am consuming everyday. I know this is something I should have been doing all along, but it seemed like it would be too much work, and very time consuming....just more proof of my laziness! Yes, it will be more work, but it will be worth it, and it will help me reach my goals.

**Two Tummies**

Reason #12 to lose weight - my stomach. I'll never forget when my daughter was about 3 years old, and she asked, as she patted the area, - "Mama, why do you have two tummies??". And she was right - I did have two tummies, still do. I have two big rolls of fat in my stomach area - two tires on top of each other. Obviously, it's very unhealthy to have so much fat in my mid-section, but it's, also, awful looking, and so uncomfortable. So, I can't wait for the day when I will no longer have two tummies!!

**Sigh**

Well, this is embarrassing - after posting last night about how I was anxious to weigh in because I've had such a good week.....the scale didn't budge. I was still at 237. I looked down, and thought - well, that can't be right! I got off, and stepped on it again, and still nothing. So, I tried one more time....the same. I didn't lose anything - zip, nada, zilch! At first, I was very upset, and wondering what I did wrong, but then I realized - there are going to be weeks like this, and I just have to move on, and not let it discourage me. In the past, I would have given up, and got myself a big mac or a king size candy bar to make myself feel better, but those days are over. Next week, I will see a loss - I know it. And, hey, I didn't gain anything, so there is a silver lining!

**Ready**

I'm very ready to weigh in tomorrow! I try really hard to stay off the scale all week because I don't want to get discouraged by what I see, so I haven't been on it since Monday. I've been great about working out this week. I exercised earlier today, and, I think, I'm going to do another 30 min. before the night is over. I've, also, been on track with my eating this week, so I'm hoping to see good results on the scale in the morning, but we'll see. Stay tuned....

**Snowed In**

We've been snowed in all day because of the blizzard, and watching movies, being on the computer, cleaning the house, and doing a laundry can only hold my attention for so long, and then I get bored, and when I'm bored I get the munchies. Thankfully, we don't have any junk food in the house, but I've been wanting to eat off and on all day when I don't really need to, so I've been drinking alot of hot green tea. Also, for a snack I cut up a sweet potato, sprayed vegetable spray on them, sprinkled a little paprika over them, and baked them in the oven. They were so good!! So, today has been a challenge food-wise, but I'm getting through it!

I've posted some pictures of all the snow outside. I hate the snow, but my kids are loving it! Click on the pic to enlarge.

**Reason #11**

Reason #11 to lose weight - breathing! I want to be able to breathe easier. When I lie down on my back, my breathing becomes wheezy, and with each wheezing breath I am reminded of how unhealthy I am. It's scary, and it's embarrassing. When I walk up our stairs to the second floor I am, often, winded, as if I had just run around the block. It doesn't take much for me to get out of breath! I look forward to no more wheezing because I know when I no longer wheeze it will mean my body is getting healthier!

**Almost 40**

It's my birthday today - 39 years old....so, so close to 40! I can't believe I'm almost 40 years old because, as I mentioned in an earlier post, I don't feel a day over 25...or 18...or even 16, some days! Well, the last couple days, I feel 80 years old because with all the water I've been drinking I'm in the bathroom every 10 min., but anyway....

I'm not going to dwell on the fact that I'm only 11 years away from 50!! Age is just a number, right? And I'm feeling okay about being a year older this year because I'm working hard to better myself - emotionally, mentally, and physically. I'm only a month into working towards a new lifestyle, but I'm feeling great. I'm feeling encouraged. I'm feeling better than I have in a very long time!!

With the blizzard coming, I'm spending a nice, relaxing day at home with my girls, and my husband is coming home early, so it's going to be a great birthday!!