An end, and now the beginning

Well, the final weigh-in for the Mustang Meltdown was last Friday. It ended about a month ago, but they decided that we should all weigh in once again to see if we continued to lose or if we were able to maintain our weight loss.



I stepped onto the scale...149 pounds!! From my heaviest weight of 178 pounds, I've lost nearly 30 pounds!



Yay, me!



Now the real challenge begins. I'm happy with my current weight. I'd like to stay in the 140-150 pound range, but I've never been successful maintaining weight loss for long periods of time. Now, we all know how I feel about the word never, so I'm ready to face this challenge now too!



I've been really happy with my commitment to exercise since this journey began. It's now something that I crave as part of my daily routine. That makes me feel happy.



I've been feeling myself slipping lately in terms of eating too many things that aren't healthy for me. In the back of my mind, I hear, "Your body needs to trust you. Don't let it down again."



Last Wednesday, after an intense hip hop abs workout, I was walking up the stairs and my knees were aching. Talk about fear! If I get injured.....I don't even want to think about it. Luckily Laura's pool was ice cold on Saturday, and after I was forced to get in by my parental guilt, I actually felt great the next day! Thanks, Laura, for my ice bath!

Almost over...

There's a saying that I hold near and dear to my heart....


The top three reasons that I'm a teacher....June, July, and August.


While not entirely true, it is definitely a bonus. Of course, no one else is off for the summer with me, but I'll take it anyway. I love that I can spend three months with my son, especially now that he's older and can do a lot more things.


I always have so many plans for the summer, so I'm hopeful that I can follow through this year.


I've noticed that Willie isn't very good at handwriting, so the other day we had a conversation that went something like this...


Mommy: Willie, I really need you and Miss Debbie to work on your letters.


Willie: I don't want to!


Mommy: It's important for you to learn how to write your letters!


Willie: But I can't make the "a"!


Mommy: It will get a lot easier with practice.


Willie: I'm not doing it!


Mommy: Well, if you don't practice now, then we'll have to spend time each day this summer working on your letters, so that you'll be ready for school.


Willie: That's okay. I don't want to go to school.


Great. My son is ready to give up his education, because mommy is going to force him to learn his letters. My motivation for this task comes from being a teacher. I know that boys, in general, struggle with fine motor skills, and therefore, struggle with handwriting. I've worked with several boys this year who struggle so much with handwriting that they don't do their best work simply to avoid writing more words. I don't want that for Willie. And so we'll practice.


Ideas for the summer:

Library programs
Swimming lessons
Handwriting practice
Adding some stenciling to my home
Exercise
Lots of walks to the playground
Bike rides on the rail trail
Get rid of things we don't use anymore
Make more dinners...order less take-out
Eat more at the table as a family
Free movie programs
Shop less
Save money for vacation

We're going to have a great summer. I can't wait!!!