**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!