So I skipped blogging my weight a couple of weeks. I’m sorry. We’ll leave it at that. And to make up for it, this is my second blog post today. Where have I been theses last couple of weeks? New York City & Charleston. Let’s start with New York. I had the TIME OF MY LIFE. Since my 3 week honeymoon in Paris 9 years ago, this was the best trip ever. And I got to spend it with my beautiful man. We stayed away from doing anything touristy and just wandered aimlessly throughout the city. From pretending we were locals at Cafe Habana in Soho to spending 30 minutes walking an angry old lady 3 blocks to her bus stop; I felt like we did New York the way we wanted to. Not how most would have. And we loved it.

I want to live there. (But that’s a whole ‘nutha subject)

And since this is a Weight Loss Wednesdays post, I said all that to say that I may have gained a pound since the last time I weighed in. And I am fine with that because there was no way I was going to visit New York and not try the amazing food that lives in this marvelous city. And I mean: I did not hold back. But we walked miles and miles every day we were there, so, considering how much I ate I’m surprised I didn’t gain more than the 1 pound.

Next we went to Charleston. Again. And I would still go again and again for as long as I live. I never tire of this city. This time, the main purpose was to shoot an engagement session for a very dear bride of mine. (Pictures coming in the next couple of weeks.) We brought the kids along and spent some time together walking the quiet neighborhood streets of historic Charleston, and then spent a couple of hours at the Isle of Palms beach. I just loved spending that time with Alin and the kids. Although I love having fun with my husband when we are alone together, I seem to enjoy even more just seeing my kids happy. I have LOTS of pictures of our day in Charleston to show in the next few weeks.

Now on to the stats. My next mini-goal is to reach 200 pounds by 05/06/11 which happens to be my sister-in-law’s wedding in Mexico. I cannot wait to rock my new body then!

STATS:
Start weight: 215
Last weigh-in: 207
Current weight: 208
Mini-Goal (sister’s wedding on 05/06/11): 200
Long-Term Goal (10 yr Anniversary on 03/10/12): 135

For a girl who LOVES food as much as I do, it’s been a pretty successful week in resisting the many urges I had. And as a result, I had a total weight loss of 8 pounds in one week! Here are some of the temptations I overcame:

1. We eat at Bombay Grille, our favorite Indian Restaurant, around 3-5 times a month, and I ALWAYS eat the Shrimp Tikka Masala. A dish full of succulent, juicy and huge shrimp that sit in a large pool of the most amazing tasting sauce you will ever eat, and always ordered at a “level 3 spicy”. I dump that dish over a bed of delicious white rice, enough to feed between 2-3 people easily. I would then alternate using a fork or the cheese-filled garlic naan bread to scoop the amazing goodness into my mouth one after another until the plate is practically licked clean. So that is what I normally order and eat. The temptation I overcame last week? Well we visited Bombay Grille, and instead of telling Ajmal, our waiter and friend, I’d have the usual, I said I would try something different. So I looked at the menu and looked for something lower in carbs and calories. Shrimp Tandoori, I guess? Ajmal warned me there was no sauce on that dish, and I said painfully, “I know”. So that’s what I ordered. Just grilled tandoori shrimp over a bed of bell peppers & onions. No rice, no….sauce (although I did steal a tablespoon or two off of my husband’s tikka masala plate). But my victory here is that I made a better choice when the temptation was in my face to eat what I normally eat and love so much. I could live on Bombay Grille’s shrimp tikka masala for the rest of my life and never get sick of it.

2. I fought the urge EVERY night last week and this week to eat past 7pm and I won every night!

3. I walked into Target to buy some cleaning supplies and the candy aisle is not too far from it. I ALWAYS go to the candy aisle and buy Sour Patch Kids and Chewy Sweet Tart mini’s. And then I’d finish both bags in 1 day, no problem. So I put the cleaning supplies in my basket, and walked over to the candy aisle, even though I knew I shouldn’t. I grabbed the bag of Sour Patch Kids, looked at the back and counted around 600 calories & 130 grams of carbs for the bag. YIKES! So I put it back. Then I walked over to the Chewy Sweet Tart Mini’s and checked the back. Over 1,000 calories for the bag as well as over 350 grams of carbs! I don’t think I ate that many carbs ALL last week & this week put together, let alone in one bag of candy. So I put the bag back and walked away. All the way to the register. All the way to the car. All the way home. I fought the urge to stuff myself with 1600 calories & 480 grams of carb goodness and I won!

4. I went to the gym a couple of days, walked a trail with my family another day, and signed up our whole family for martial arts. Karate for the kids and Krav Maga for Alin & I.

STATS:
Start weight: 215
Current weight: 207
Mini-Goal (NYC on 04/15/11): 205
Long-Term Goal (10 yr Anniversary on 03/10/12): 135

How many attempts has this been? You know, the whole blogging my weight loss and tracking my progress thing? Probably my second third attempt. And I’d like to tell you that this is my final attempt and that I am finally going to lose the weight that I have been trying to lose since… well, since my first pregnancy 6 years ago. But I can’t promise you that. I’m consistent when it comes to being on time for things, or when it comes to my kids’ schedules. But when it has anything to do with do with little old me, it seems like consistency goes to the back burner. And that saddens me.

I have three best friends in my life. Two of them have children, and both look incredible. Incredible and healthy, not even for having kids. I don’t want to be skinny. I wore a size 32D corset on my wedding day, and I realize I may never be that size again. And I am truly fine with that fact. At this point I will be elated if I could get down to a firm & toned size 8. Fashion & shopping were my #1 loves before I fell in love with photography. Now, it’s just something I like to look at or watch others do, but dread doing it for myself. And sometimes it brings me to tears.

So here we go. It’s 6:40am right now. I just walked back from my 6 year old’s bus stop, and normally I would crawl back in bed and try to get in every ounce of sleep I can before the other three children start sucking the life and energy out of me. Instead, I am writing this to you, world. I am holding myself accountable to however many of you that are reading this right now. I am going to go eat a small breakfast (3 cage free organic egg whites with 1/8 cup of TJ’s quattro fromaggio cheese and a tall cup of water), wake up the kids, get them washed up, fed, go to the gym (there was a huge storm this morning so I did some Kinect fit), come home, and take a shower. I am then going to do what I didn’t do with my previous weight-loss blogging attempts. And that is to take a “before” picture. I am not looking forward to this, but how else am I supposed to hold myself fully accountable?

So if you have read this far, thank you. I know there are so many of you reading this that can relate to what I am struggling with here, and I would LOVE to hear what you have to say. Tell me your stories, or just root me on. I could use all of the words of encouragement I can get to keep me motivated at this point.

Here’s a recent photo of me at the current weight:



STATS:
Start weight: 215
Current weight: 215
Mini-Goal (NYC on 04/15/11): 205
Long-Term Goal (10 yr Anniversary on 03/10/12): 135