Buffy - I was able to get out in the weather yesterday. I had originally intended yesterday to be an "off day" from working out because of scheduling and needing to give my bod a day to rest, but it was soooo nice out that I went for a walk. Did 3/4 of a mile and most of it was uphill!! Oh man are my legs sore today. And as for my knees, legs, pain, etc. I am doing well. I think I am rebuilding the strength in my legs and the soreness is not as intense as those first few days. I think alternating the long treadmill sessions with my pool workouts is helping with that a lot.
Jennz - Thanks!! As for soda and all that sugar, whoa, right?! I mean, I knew it was bad stuff but when I add up how much I was drinking it just boggles the mind that I have survived this long, really! And thank you for the offer on the info on work at home stuff, I may take you up on it soon!
Tracy - Thank you, my new trivia night went really well. I'd always heard that shopping the perimeter of the store was better for you, and I'm really realizing it is. You're not trapped in an aisle with all the tempting stuff! The plan I follow is the Carbohydrate Addicts Lifespan Plan. You can get the book for a penny used on
Amazon I believe if you are interested. It is written by the Hellers. A husband and wife doctor team that also wrote the Carb Addicts Diet. CALP was an evolution of that plan. They also wrote one called the Carb Addicts Healthy Heart Plan I believe. If I can answer any questions for you, just let me know! I post on a forum specifically for that plan if you want the info, I can DM it to you. Has some threads that cover the basics of the plans.
Looking forward to the weekend, even though I have a wake to attend tonight. Proud of myself too for getting outside and walking yesterday. Would have been very easy to just tell myself that I was too busy to fit in any exercise but then I remembered something I read this week that said when you want to lose weight you should focus on building yourself a fitness focused lifestyle and the weight loss will come along with it.
I did have a challenge yesterday. My sister works for a restaurant/bar that specializes in cupcakes and my dad popped in for lunch. She sent a cupcake for me with him back to our office. It was one of my favorites of theirs, a chocolate bacon caramel buttercream cupcake. Totally evil. I can't blame her as I'd usually snatch these puppies up by the half dozen and she isn't aware of my new lifestyle changes. I tend to be very private about the beginning of a diet because I feel like people have seen me start and fail so many times that I just don't need the scrutiny or perceived scrutiny when I am getting going. Probably not the best mindset I know, but I am working on it. I mean, eating in secret is one of the things that led me to my highest weight in the first place. But back to the story, so here I was with this amazing looking cupcake. What was I to do? I could have just eaten it right there and dealt with the regret, probably leading me further off track, or I could have thrown it away. I chose a middle option. I incorporated it in to my dinner as the carb-ier portion of my meal, eating half of it as opposed to the whole thing. Which was completely in line with my plan. I gave the other half to my incredibly thin roommate who eats twinkies by the box, have I mentioned I hate him?? lol. Felt good to know I could handle a challenge like that and move on!
I have a busy day ahead today. Working til noon. Then I am off to the gym for water aerobics. No treadmill today, as I think my legs need the break. Plus I am doing a lot of running around today so I think I will get some walking in. After the gym I have to hit two banks, Target to pick up a "potato ricer" so I can make some new cauliflower recipes this weekend, Barnes & Noble to snag a book a friend recommended (Gary Taubes, "Why We Get Fat and What to Do About it"), Verizon to pay my phone bill, grocery shopping (Really good Olive Oil is on sale for $3!!), then home to sort laundry and organize a closet, after that meeting my folks at the wake and then we're all going out to dinner! Then up at 7am on Saturday to go to the gym again! lol Wish me luck getting it all done!!
Have a great day and an awesome weekend all!
Mike
Be excited about those 4 pounds because you are 4 pounds closer to your goal than you were a week ago. 
If you want some work-at-home leads let me know, maybe something will work as a filler for you until you find what you want. I work at home and NO it's not sales, MLM, nothing - just work and get paid. 
