Since the beginning of 2015 I have been enjoying all the compliments and applause.... and have come to rest on my laurels.

I enjoy the praise, but this is no time to get lazy, and I really have. I read somewhere that when people reach their goal, instead of thinking "Wow that worked so I'll stick with it!", then tend to feel like they're all done and inadvertently revert to their old habits. Yup.

I am glad to say I seem to have the maintenance thing down. Staying put isn't too hard when I work at it during the week and ease off a bit to enjoy my weekends. I've "restarted" with serious commitment a few times in the last 4 months without tremendous success, and have lost and regained the same 3-4 pounds a few times.

But then, one extra event takes place... a trip, a stressful week, something, and it becomes more than just a 2 day weekend of fluid boundaries. And I stepped on the scale and saw an 8 pound gain. NOOOOOOOOO!!!! :o :o

So that was it - no more dilly dallying, no more cruise control, no more resting on my previous accomplishments. Sure I feel great and fit and happy, but there's more work to be done. The longer I postpone it, the longer it will be until I can just be "normal." And I so look forward to being "normal", in that my struggle with weight is no longer a giant banner I carry for all to see. I want to shop at normal stores and fit in normal places and not worry about some things normal people never think of. You all know what I'm talking about.. .we've all been in those situations, right?

So, 3 weeks ago I went grizzly... attacking this thing like I did in the beginning. Seriously curbing the calories (800-900), working out 5 days a week, almost no carbs other than veggies, and writing everything down in the food log. And once again, the pounds started coming off quickly. Thank you, my teeny, tiny, sleeve!! I love you!! I dropped the 8 and 6 more to boot for a 20 year low of 244 lbs. WOW is THAT motivating!!

After the first day, I kind of got into a groove where I didn't want to blow it. Normally, I can find a bunch of reasons or excuses to go easy on myself, but once I made it through a day or two of the strict regimen, I felt like all the work would be wasted if I laid off now. I think about how every time I gain back a pound, it means the sacrifice I made to lose it was wasted. I have paid for the same 5 pounds over and over, but not anymore!

I want this trek over sooner than later, so I might as well be strong, sacrifice, and stop dragging it out.

So onto week four of the strict regimen. Reminding myself that my sleeve is just one tool in my arsenal and I still have to work at weight loss. Granted, I now can fight with a bazooka instead of a sling-shot but I still have to do my part. I want to see the 230's this week and never see the 240's again!