Good Monday morning everyone... I'm enjoying a long weekend.  We are only allowed to carry over 5 days of PTO from year to year and I had quite a bit more left.  So, I have taken off random days over the past month or two and took off Friday, today and tomorrow to use up the last of them.  I still have 5 days, but ran out of time in the year to take them.   I actually have off from the store, as well.  Much needed time off.  Today I am going to continue doing some cleaning around my bedroom.  It is the room that always gets ignored.  I've been working on it little by little over the weekend and will continue today and tomorrow.  

Yesterday, I was called to help prepare a woman from the synagogue for burial.  It's always different when it's someone I know/knew.  This woman was 89 years old and was the wife of one of the founders of Just Born (the company that makes Peeps).  Her family was and is very active and prominent in our congregation.  I have fond memories of her and her sly little grin as I walked by her during services to go to the bathroom.  She would pat me on the arm or behind with a bit of strength and humor.  Good memories... I will not be attending her funeral, though, because an old friend of mine from school also lost her father in the past week and his funeral is at the same time.  I will be going there to offer support to her and her mom.  It's been a tough few months with so much loss and dealing with my lack of my own family during the holiday season.  

Anyway, my maintenance program has been a mess.  I am still struggling daily with trying to maintain my weight loss.  I am approaching my 4 year surgiversary and feel like I haven't been sticking with any plan.  My request for a revision was denied and I am having a hard time recommitting to the program.  I know what I need to do, but my addiction for food has completely taken over my life.  I feel very lonely and am not sure how to get back on track.  I need to focus on minute by minute because even day by day, hour by hour is not working.  

I hope that the rest of you are faring better than I and that you all have a good day and week and holiday season.  I miss you all.  

Congratulations Maura.  I know you must be working hard to maintain your weight loss.  I need to get back to exercising regularly.  I'm glad you are able.

Keep up the great work.

Love,

Trish

Congrats on your surgiversary!

Thank you for your sympathies for my mom. I did try and contact you but was unable to.

Beth

I haven't been posting here, but a few people reached out to me and I appreciated it, so I am posting about my 3 year. I only had this in my blog, but decided to post here.  It's going to sound like a boast, because it is.  I'm proud of myself.  Wow... I'm saying that.. I'm proud of myself. 

This journey has been surreal.  In October, I took the most amazing trip - half way around the world to China, Tibet, Nepal and Thailand.  Hiked to an elevation of 18,200 and am blown away at being able to accomplish this feat.  It did not come without hard work, discipline and an amazing support network.  Am blessed.

Am happy to be maintaining.  Am blown away that I am actually making time to exercise to maintain.   I catch myself and need to keep my food in check.  I am on the scale daily.. just part of my accountability routine.  Am a size 4/6 from a 22/24, am 135 lbs down from 256, have a BMI of 21.8  from 41.3, have a body fat percentage of 21.3 (god knows I was 80% grease before), I have a new lease on life, am loving skiing, biking, hiking and taking classes at the gym. 

I allow myself some indulgences, but try not to allow it in excess and have been able to keep myself in check.  Regain scares the crap out of me and I have seen so much of it.  I know I'm still a baby in this journey as I have the rest of my life ahead of me to continue to maintain, but I am determined to do so.

That's my story and I'm sticking to it.

loving this new life,

Maura