One Month In, And...

Drum roll please!

*clears throat*

As of yesterday afternoon, I weighed in at 273.4 -- exactly six pounds less than last week's count. That comes up to 16.6lbs lost total over the last month. Which means...

I have officially exceeded my 5% weight loss goal!!

*much dancing ensues*

I can't even begin to tell you guys how exciting this is. It took a month to lose what I'd gained in a year and a half. And this is what continues to boggle me -- it keeps coming off! Provided that I keep to my routine and eat those things that I've grown used to, it's almost like I'm not even trying. Even that great monthly enemy hasn't kept me down this week. Not to say that the bad days are gone...to the contrary, they happen on a weekly basis. But! The cravings have become a bit easier to manage, and I now avoid the snack aisle like the plague. Zumba continues to be fun, which has helped tremendously.

I'm sure that eventually things will start slowing down, and I'll level off at just over a pound a week, maybe. And that's fine -- it's as it should be. It's the small victories that make the cravings and occasional monotony so worth it.

So where to go from here? I certainly can't rest on my laurels. My next goal will be 10% of my starting weight -- losing an additional 14.5lbs, which makes my weight goal 261 pounds. I know I can do it. It may take another month. Maybe a little more. But I'm already two pounds into the new goal, so it's already looking optimistic!

Challenges for this weekend: I turn 27 on Sunday, which means two things. 1.) I drop another point, and 2.) there will be much food in celebration. So while I fully plan to enjoy myself, I can also control what I eat. Here's hoping that I won't have gained anything back by this time next week.