**Days 256 & 257**

I'm doing SO much better!  Doing the 30 Day Shred challenge is helping, so I'm glad I decided to join the challenge.  Jillian is once again kicking my butt - I hate her and love her, simultaneously!  I'm hoping to lose weight AND tone up a little while doing the Shred.  Here's a picture of my very UNtoned arm:

Oh, how I dream of having beautifully toned arms, and shoulders!  I don't think it's in the cards for me because I'm pretty sure I'm going to have too much excess skin, BUT we'll see.  I'll take pics at the end of the challenge, hopefully, I'll notice a bit of a difference.  

There's only 11 more sleeps before my next 5k.  My eldest daughter decided she didn't want to do this one with me, but my youngest daughter said that she would do it, which was a surprise because she, normally, doesn't like to exert herself! :)

I hope you are all doing well out there.  One life!!!

**Days 254 & 255**

I woke up today thinking: I've only got one life, and I need to make the best of it - physically, mentally, and emotionally.  I've been struggling over the last two months, but I have to do better because I don't want to waste anymore time.  So, I need to do better with this one life I have, and I need to live it better - physically, mentally, and emotionally.  I've decided "one life" is my new mantra.  When I woke up this morning I said it over and over again - one life, one life, one life.  Then, I got out of bed and drank one glass of water, ate a healthy breakfast, and completed day 1 of the Shred Challenge.  I started the day off great, and the rest of my day is going good, too (except for this nasty headache I'm dealing with!!!) - I had a healthy lunch, and a healthy snack, and a healthy dinner is planned.  I'm going to end my day with a 30 min. treadmill workout.  I feel really good about today, and I plan on having another good day tomorrow.  One life!!!!

I didn't weigh-in on Friday because I really didn't see the point.  I knew I wasn't going to see anything good facing back at me.  I don't need to worry about numbers on the scale.  I need to get back in a regular routine of eating well, and exercising, so that's where my focus is right now.  I'll do my next weigh-in this Friday.

I haven't been able to visit a few of my favorite blogs!  When I click on them I'm getting a Malware warning saying that I might get a virus if I proceed to the site.  I know zip, nada, nothing about computers, so I'm not sure what's going on, but I'm afraid to proceed to the sites because I don't want to get a virus!!  I'm going to try to remember to ask my husband about it tonight, so I can get back to your blogs to offer support!

**Days 251, 252 & 253**

Thank you, again, to everyone for your supportive words!  You all know how difficult this journey is, and I'm so glad we are all here to support one another.  I, of course, will never give up.  I guess, I just need to whine sometimes when it gets really tough.  So, I had my boo-hoo moment, but I'm feeling better.  I'm feeling more positive, and I feel ready to get back to doing all the good things I need to do to continue on this weight loss journey.  I know I will have many, many, many slips along the way, but I will accomplish my goals - I know it.

I'm loving the cooler weather!  Walking and running outside is so much nicer now, so I'm looking forward to getting back on a regular training schedule for my 5ks.  And I'm, also, looking forward to doing the 30 Day Shred Challenge started by this wonderful blogger.  I think, a challenge is just what I need!!

I hope you are all enjoying your weekend!

**Days 249 & 250**

I'm in a downward spiral.  I feel like I'm starting to lose this battle.  I feel overwhelmed.  I'm trying to get in the right mindset again - I'm trying, I'm trying, I'm trying.  I'm just so off right now, but I'll find my way back.  I will.

**Days 246, 247 & 248**

Quickie post!  We enjoyed a nice, relaxing weekend at the cabin.  I didn't get any exercise in while we were at the cabin, but when we got home this afternoon I took a bike ride with my family.  It's so nice outside, so it was a great day for a bike ride.  My sister bought this bike for me a couple years ago:

I only used it a couple times.  Even with this big, cushy seat....

it was so painful to ride!  Today was the first time I've been on it since losing about 30 pounds, and, oh my, what a difference 30 pounds can make!  I had, almost, no pain in my tush while we were on the bike ride!  My legs got a great workout!  Best of all, my girls were so happy to go on a bike ride with their mama for the first time ever!  It was a wonderful feeling, and I can't wait to go on our next bike ride tomorrow!

Tonight, I'm going to do a 5k walk/run with my daughter.  We only have 20 days until our next race.  It will be here before we know it!!

**Day 245**

I know I just weighed in two days ago, but I decided to stick to my regular Friday weigh-in and I was happy to see that I'm down a half pound since Wednesday!  Hey, it might only be water weight I lost, but I don't care - the scale went down a bit, and I'll take anything!!

We're going to our cabin for the long weekend, so it will be a challenge for me to get my exercise in - not because I don't have an opportunity to exercise while I'm there - I, totally, do!  But I tend to get lazy when I'm there because I just want to relax, and I will relax, but I will, also, get two days of exercise in while we are there!  I will!!  And I went grocery shopping for the weekend today, and I bought lots of healthy foods, so I'm all set there!

Have a wonderful weekend!!

**Day 244**

I didn't want to come back to my blog yesterday after posting about my gain - I was afraid of what I would (or wouldn't) see in my comment section, but I didn't need to worry about anything because you were all there for me, and I am so grateful!  Thank you  to Chubby, Colleen, Hope, April, Deb, Jacqui, and my dad!  Your kind, encouraging words really help me!  It's hard to explain what the blog community means to me.  You all helped me to lose almost 30 pounds, and I have no doubt that you will all help me reach my goal.  Thank you for your constant support.  It helps knowing that I'm not on this journey alone.