Weigh-In ... Hot 100 Update #13 & Christmas Miracle

Today's Weight: 185.5

Loss/Gain: -2.0 lbs.

Total Loss So Far: - 45.5 lbs!!! HALFWAY to my goal!!!!!!!

Yes, I'm a little excited about seeing a two-pound loss the week before Christmas. The best part, and my little Christmas miracle I wanted to tell you about, is that it wasn't that hard.

This year I've noticed that my desires are not to stuff myself with every special treat that only come around once a year. Yes, sweet goodies have sounded good, and yes I've eaten some, but I haven't felt like all I want is to indulge. I can't explain it except to say that it's proof real change is happening in my life.

This is a small miracle to me and something I'm very grateful for it.

Now on to my Hot 100 Challenge update:

WEIGHT GOAL: Lose 0.5 - 1.5 lbs a week (Beginning weight 194.0). I am down two more pounds this week, which puts me at 8.5 pounds lost so far. According to my goal, I'm still okay. :)

ACTIVITY GOALS:Exercise four days a week, no skimping down to three during the holidays. 3/4 done and a DVD workout is on my schedule for today. Was going to put this in red in case I ran out of time, but decided that was quitting. I will get this done. If you wonder...check back tonight and I'll confess if I did or not. :) *update.. YES I got that 4th workout in!!*

Be able to jog at 4.8 mph for 25 minutes. This gives metime for slight warm up and cool down on the treadmill that has a 30-minute limit at the gym.Done!!!!!!!!!!!! YEA!!!!! I completed this last week and was able to jog at that pace two more times after that one day. =D

FOOD GOALS: Drink at least 64 oz of water daily. Done . Been getting 64+ in daily. :)Journal all my eats and drinks and stay within my calorie goals daily, with the exception of one high-calorie day that I allow to throw things off a bit. Yes, though I had more than one high-calorie day this time, but it all got tracked.

EMOTIONAL GOAL: **I've decided to make my emotional goal the goal of visiting one new blog each week. Connecting with others on this journey is the emotional support I need at this time. Yes.

HOLIDAY GOAL: Only one or two "foo-foo" coffee drinks from Starbucks the week I am visiting my mom in November. I will stick to regular coffee and cream the rest of the weeks. Partially done. Last Friday night I shared a grande non-fat white chocolate mocha with my girls and I had about 1/4 of it. All I wanted was the taste, so I had a few sips and was done. Yesterday I had a "foo-foo" drink, but it was a tall skinny hazelnut latte and I think that's fine under the terms of this contract since it was only 90 calories.

As I said earlier, I'm so very grateful for the miracle of change I've seen in my life this Christmas season. The skinny latte was more proof of that change. I didn't even want a white chocolate mocha, because I knew the cost of it and how rich it would be. It was not worth it to me any more, my health and weight loss goals were more important than a drink that had as many calories as a small meal. Amazing.

You know, this is just like the miracle of Christmas that is the birth of our savior. The angel told Joseph:

"And she will bring forth a Son, and you shall call His name JESUS, for He will save His people from their sins.” Matthew 1:21

God sent his son to earth to bring hope for all who are lost. For me, this includes a girl who was hopeless when it came to dealing with her weight issues. Gluttony is a sin, whether I want to admit it or not, and I'm so glad that Jesus was born to help me to deal with that issue as well. I'm still dealing with it, but thank the Lord that there is hope and peace available through Jesus.

I wish you all a very Merry Christmas and I pray that you find the peace and hope that come through Christ.