I'mmmmmmmmm baaaaaaaaaaaaack!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Ok so I had the move done including setting up my new place in like 3 days but since I am now not in the city it took them a week and a half to get my cable and internet on and lets just say I am NOT impressed with Pioneer!  I have been working my tail off on the land as it has been neglected terribly. The renters also did more damagae than we had aorginally thought but what the heck its mine and mine forever. I will get it where I want someday a little at a time. I have been working on getting the trees (espeially those close to the house) trimmed and where they can be mowed under they had overgrown all teh way to the ground. I also habe a small stand of sumac near the house that is going completely so I can transplant a beautiful young mimosa tree I found near the back of my acrage there instead. I have also talked to a gentlemen about bringing in his brush hog in and knocking the entire 2 1/2 acres down so I can get control of it. Did I mention I have been doing all this tree trimming and limb hauling by hand. Yuppers me on the end of a bow saw tightening up my flabby flabby arms.
I seem to be in a weight loss slow down right now but while the scales arent showing it my clothes are and I will admit I have not been eating like I should. I have made myself a promise that I will start hitting my protien really hard again this morning. And getting myself back to basics. I have hit the clothing size I wanted to well I can get into some in that size and if my panni was gone I would be in even smaller size. but by the scales I would like to lose at least another 40 pounds or so.  I will get there although I will be happy too if I can tone up from all the yard work even if it means less weight dropping because the sagging is really starting to bother me. If I was rich I would get my whole body done. LOL. Why is it that the saggy skin my badge of honor that I have lost this weight bothers me more that the fat ever did?  My new found since of vanity maybe? I have been going out with girlfriends some and teh new attention I get from guys is amazing. Scary in alot of ways as well I have my whole relationship dating phobia that has nothing to do with weight has to do with exes. but it is also such a good ego boost to go out and have guys notice you!

Oh yeah since losing so much and getting so much energy back I have come to teh conclusion that my kids ADHD may have come from me after all. I just was always to fat and miserable to know it. I was actually accused of using speed when I was moving because I moved all my small stuff by myself in my KIA and all the guys had to do was come get the furniture and even then I was running circles around 3 teenage boys. LOL found out Aunt Sarah is still stout even at 165 pounds lighter. They used to think it was my weight that made me stout!   Will be in the market for a weight bench soon if anyone knows of a cheap one. Ok I am bouncing everywhere since so much has happened and IOa m sure you guys are tired of reading my random ramblings so I will get off here and see if its still raining if not me and Toby will go to the bridge down teh road and get in our 1 1/2 mile morning walk we have been doing everyday!

Gee, Sarah, I need a nap after reading that! LOL  Seriously, though, I'm so happy for you. You've made amazing progress: in your weight and in your life. Can you imagine doing all that you're doing 100+ lbs. ago? I know your place is going to look just as you want it to, in no time. And with the men...just guard your heart. Don't settle for anyone other than a man who will cherish you. :)
Blessings,
Mary

Congratulations on the move.  Remember-it doesn't have to get done all at once.

The skin thing is just one more thing to come to terms with.  I had originally planned on doing a tummy tuck, but that wouldn't really fix things now, and I just can't spend the money or the time to do a whole body lift.  I'm going nutso right now and hoping to get some restrictions lifted when I go to the doc on Wednesday.  In order to cope with a major surgery I'd have to be rich enough to have a staff of people to do my lifting for me....LOL. 

More than the skin, even being smaller takes awhile to wrap your head around.  I'm still wrapping my head around it.  I was taking clothes out of the dryer this morning and held up a pair of panties and thought 'I can't believe these fit!"

For me, the skin is hard because when I visualized me at a goal weight, that vision did not include saggy skin.  And it's as if, in some ways, we can never escape being the fat girl.  But, you can't escape your past, any part of your past.  It's with you, it made you who you are, but you don't have to let it define you. 

Deb, you are so right....the skin part is hard but it shows how far we have come...and yes it does still affect our attitudes on how we are looking....but like you said too, we can't let it define who we are.  I too only saw in my dream, that I would look a certain way....I forgot that there would be the flabby issue....Oh well........
Deb, I hope you do get the restrictions lifted soon. You seem to bubbly to be held back by rules!!

Sherry

I've been following the rules pretty good.  15 pounds max lifiting-so I got a tiny little bucket and moved some dirt today one bucket load at a time.  (This was a very important project, I needed a layer of dirt on my compost pile...LOL).

I'd be happy if I could just get in river water again-the dogs and I could go wading-burn off some energy...I'm pretty sure that one will be lifted Wed-my tape came off (with a little help) and everything looks closed up and healed.

Not so sure about riding-I didn't even ask cause I knew it wasn't going to happen before this Wed.  Other things I'm looking forward to doing are mowing, pruning-just regular old yard work.  Got some painting I'd like to do too! 

Well congratulations on owning your own place, even if it needs work! You sound like you are enjoying all of it, no matter what the challenge! Good for you! Owning it makes it so worth the work! It seems that the weight loss journey is the same for you...no matter what the challenge you are willing to do the work and that is what is making you a success on this path to a new you!
Congrats Girl!

Sherry

I totally get the loose skin thing!  Somehow I didn't really think about all this hangy downy crap when I imagined being smaller.  In an ideal world i would have the money to do my tummy, arms, and legs.  Oh well, I will just learn to live with it.

Congrats on the move and on running circles around the kids.

It sounds like you are a busy woman!  I HATE moving! 
I know what you mean about the skin thing!  Is it vanity???  I think its just a sign of where we have been and are working so hard to get away from.  Its a reminder!  At least to me anyway.  For now I will consider it my success.  At least until I can under go the knife!  This time last year I was so Fluffy!  Now I'm just saggy!
Take care and pace yourself!!!  Hugs
Kim J!

Thank You all I am sorry I didnt get back sooner but right after I posted I went to the potty and a storm hit and my computer got damaged I am still waiting to find out what exactly is wrong thankfully I bought the extended warranty.