How About a Star for Being Awesome?

I am 1.2lbs away from my first 5lb sticker and I'm more excited by that then I thought I would be. The amazing thing is that I haven't had to make any huge changes to my eating habits yet, it's mostly been watching the portion sizes and cutting out that extra coffee run during the day. (A personal decision to stop going to Starbucks after four different instances of shoddy service in three weeks and two different locations has helped because it makes it easier to say 'no' when my coworkers head over there. I don't even really like their coffee either, so it's not like it was a hard choice for me to make.) This success without a complete overhaul to my current eating habits is leading me to think I'll continue going as I'm going. I know where I could improve on my diet but I'm not going over my points so I will keep those improvements for my ace-in-the-hole when I either have to lose a point as my weight drops or I hit a plateau. I fear the plateaus, they can be very discouraging, so it's nice to know that I have wriggle room to help me get through them.

I celebrated my 2.8lbs loss this week by buying a package of Reese Peanut Butter Cups and eating one of them. The other two are currently sitting in my tea cupboard, patiently waiting for my next reward. I really am becoming that crazy person who can turn down sweets. I am both shocked and proud of myself. Adding to the pride is the fact that I'm at that time of the month when all I want is chocolate (hence the purchase of the Peanut Butter Cups in the first place) but I'm okay with not eating them. I'm happy, in fact.

I realised I missed a lesson from last week, so here it is: I can now do a hamstring stretch without contorting my body in strange ways. For years, I have only been able to do a hamstring stretch by throwing my leg up and grabbing the back of my sneaker; the hand-across-the-laces was a dream from yesteryear. When you start doing shoeless West African dancing, this stretch becomes the least graceful move you will perform during the hour long class. I was warming up before our year end review last Sunday and while talking with another dancer, I popped up my right leg without even having to brace myself for balance. I was halfway through my left before I realised what I had done. It might seem like a small victory, but it's a step in the right direction and I'll take all of those that I can get.