I think I'm back in the game! I lost 4.5 pounds this week, bringing my total to officially 60.5 pounds. Woohoo! I'm so relieved to see a loss again this week. I was worried about getting on the scale this morning, but, of course I did it!

This past week was the first week back of the semester. I had a great time. My fave day is definitely M/W with math and photography. My writing class is ok. I need to give it time, I suppose. But nobody in the class is very outgoing, so I find myself getting bored with nobody to make quips with. I do it myself, but eh...it's just not the same. I dunno why. The teacher is great, not the most exciting, but he's decent. Like I said, I think I just need to give the class a bit more time.

I am forced to sit in a regular desk in writing, as well. BUT, unlike previous times, I actually FIT behind it enough to still be comfortable. Well, as comfortable as one is when sitting in one of those small desks...but I'm pretty stoked about that!

Being back to school makes it a little more difficult to get in all of my water each day, so I've not been doing so well in that respect. I take water with me, of course, but not wanting to have to run to pee every 10 minutes makes drinking a lot of it out of the question. I"m trying to make a concentrated effort to get it all in when I get home, though, but also, when on go to the SPCA after class on T/Th's I don't get home until after 5, which only leaves the evening to get it in. I'm attempting to work around it...we'll see soon enough, how I do.

Of course, I'm still getting in my daily hour of exercise. I refuse to not do that. Even when I wasn't losing the past few weeks, I was still on my treadmill every day for my 60 minutes of working out. My day just doesn't feel complete without doing so, and I find myself even looking forward to it. It's odd...but I'm glad my mind is thinking that way!

One of the random problems that I'm encountering after losing almost 60 pounds is the fact that all of my clothes are falling off. Now, that can be a good thing if I could afford purchasing new clothes. However, I'm unable to do that!!!

For instance, this morning I decided that I'd had enough of an ill-fitting brassiere. I knew I had alternate ones from a previous weight loss foray, but I was pretty sure that I didn't have any that were the proper size that I needed. So, I'm rifling through my lingerie drawer, checking sizes on tags and then tossing items aside haphazardly when I find a fancy bra that I used to wear under a shrug that resembles more of a skimpy top than anything else. It's padded (of course), and has little red cherries on top of a white background and red ruffley lace along the edge. Needless to say, it's not your everyday wearing kind of dealio. Not normally anyway.

It is now!!! It was the right size! So, till I'm able to purchase a more normal brassiere, this one is going to have to do.

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So I weighed in this morning, and I lost 2 pounds. I can't help but wonder if I've fallen into a slump/plateau. Essentially, I've maintained the same weight for the past 3 weeks. I'm not happy about it. I'm thinking about maybe adding some protein to my diet in the hopes that it'll kick-start a loss again. I'm willing to try just about anything at this point. I still have over 100 pounds to go...I can't get stuck now!

I had such good intentions to blog more over the holiday break....and I suppose that I didn't do TOO bad, but certainly not nearly as great as I wanted to. Such is my life. I've been fairly busy with volunteering at the SPCA and am totally loving it. Anyhoo, the new semester begins tomorrow. Math, Writing Fiction, and Digital Photography. I'm really looking forward to it. This is going to be a great semester...I can feel it!

Have you ever stopped to consider just how many lives you touch in the course of a lifetime? How about in a year? Month? You may not even realize that you ARE touching a life, after all, you're just living your own life the best that you can. But there are those precious times when you are touched by others around you, through thoughtful words or actions, or even just their presence, and that can stay with you for the rest of your life.

Each school year I think about things of this nature. I realize that the friendships that I've made in the classes that I've taken may not carry over into the rest of the years ahead. That doesn't demean the relationships in any way, but instead creates a sort of unique kinship...a bond formed by a common thread for only a few months, yet creates a lasting and respectful brush against a beautiful person and spirit.

Touching people around you doesn't need to be so profound. In fact, more times than not, it isn't. Often it's in the kind smile as your eyes meet a homeless man, seeing him and not looking through him. Perhaps it is in the simple motion of allowing a car merge ahead of you in heavy traffic, or even stopping to allow someone to cross the street. Simple and small gestures are truly what life is all about. Oh sure, we tend to remember the big things in our lives - the mountains. But we forget that it's the small hills that eventually make the mountains what they are, so large and grandiose.

Remember, as you head off into the rest of your week, to take care of the mannerisms that you set forth, the examples that you set for your children, or those around you. It is those small, cherished moments, that can last forever to someone else.

Yo peeps, don't forget to add your blog to the blog hop roll that you can find on the left. And, if you already have, be sure to add it to your blog so that others can add theirs, as well. The entire list will be there. Just sayin'. :D

Does anyone actually heed the advice of medical professionals about leaving zits alone and not popping them? Do even the medical professionals heed their own advice in this case? Doubtful...really doubtful.

Well, this week's weigh-in doesn't prove to be good news. The darn scale claims that I've gained 2 pounds. WTF? I'm blaming in on my skinny lattes. It's pretty much the only thing that I'm doing different. So no more of those for a few weeks! I've been getting plenty of exercise, not only on the treadmill but with walking the dogs down at the shelter. I just hope next week proves to be more fruitful!

Do you think that we enjoy having to worry about whether or not we'll be able to fit into a seat in a waiting room?

Do you think that we like to ask for seatbelt extenders on a flight, or even have to pay for an extra seat?

Do you think that we enjoy being so big that it's hard for us to wipe our own ass after a BM (or having to twist every which way in order to do so?)

Do you think that we like not being able to walk from our car in a close parking spot to the door and getting winded and out of breath?

Do you think that we enjoy sweating profusely with minor movement?

Do you think that we like getting looks and ugly words from people we don't even know?

Do you think that we enjoy the way that society thinks that we are lazy and slobbish?

Do you think that we like being discriminated against for a job interview that we are more than qualified for?

Do you think that we enjoy being self-conscious in public with what we eat?

Do you think that we like being chosen last in gym class?

Do you think that we enjoy being the butt of many jokes?

Do you think that we like to laugh at our own clumsiness because if we didn't we'd burst out crying?

Do you think that we enjoy having to worry about tattoo placement because if we gain or lose weight it may affect the appearance?

Do you think that we like to deal with health and fertility issues?

Do you think that we enjoy adding an extender to our car seatbelt?

There are so many things about being fat that the average person just has no idea about. Instead, they're thinking that we're all lazy slobs who sit around watching reality shows and eating Cheetos all day. Not that that doesn't sound fun, and all...but most of the fatties that I know have meaningful and fulfilling lives and families. And most of the fatties that I know don't enjoy the fact that they're fat. I know that I never have. I accept that I am fat. But that doesn't mean that I like it! Which is one of the reasons why I'm getting healthier at the moment. Being fat is not fun. It's not a choice that anyone actually CHOOSES to live with. And it's certainly not nearly as easy as "just eat less and work out more" and you'll lose it. Perhaps a lot of us ARE doing that...but you just see the specific snapshot of who we are at that moment. You don't see us working hard on the treadmill, or swimming pool. You don't see that we're getting by on 1000 calories or less each day. All you see is that moment, that specific glimpse of us at that particular time. You have no idea what we are going through or what our choices are. But let me just tell you...we don't need the snide comments, the looks, the sidewards step...we are aware that we're fat. Are you aware of how much it hurts; how many tears are shed? Next time you see a fattie, be kind, be polite, and know that we're people, too. And we certainly don't like being fat just as much as you do.