171 lbs. 

down 26 lbs. from start 

31 lbs. to my goal 

Ok... So it may seem like nothing has changed since I wrote last. But I actually fell off the wagon again. I went up to 177lbs... But don't worry guys! I'm back again! I've been working pretty hard the last two weeks. I've lost about 6 pounds. I'm trying to find a pretty consistent workout routine. I'd like to do strength training 3 times a week and some zumba for cardio once or twice a week. I'm back to logging consistently. I need a MFP buddy to help keep motivated. I love seeing other people logging, working out and losing. Encouraging each other and doing it together keeps me excited. But I've learned not to rely on someone else for motivation. Other people are humans, just like me. They fall off. They get lazy. Tired. Sick. Busy. But just because they do should not give me am excuse to do bad too. I'm doing this for me and only me so only I can make this happen. I gotta keep my head in the game. I started this journey about a year ago exactly. And I just think... If I get serious now... I have time to accomplish a lot by spring/summer! I can look even better than I did last year. I suppose this is all I have to say for today. Hopefully I can write in a few weeks and there will be a steady decline like before! 

Oh, on a slightly different note. I have decided to stop drinking alcohol. I don't know for how long. Maybe a few weeks, months, years, forever? Who knows. Some days I think it's going to be so easy to just never drink again. And then other days, I remember certain holidays, events or even great memories that involve(d) alcohol and I worry that I'll miss out on some fun times if I choose to never drink. Like New Years? The idea of being sober on New Year's Eve just seems weird. Or Mardi Gras? What about vacation? Would you go to Vegas and not drink? Or an all inclusive resort? Or even certain social situations. Holidays with Phil's family and girls nights. I'm going to feel weird declining a drink. These are the things that leave me unsure of my relationship with alcohol. Should I just learn to have only one or two drinks and stop? Just learn to not drink excessively? But sadly, then I say "then what's the point? Why drink at all?" When I drank, I drank to get intoxicated. Sooooo I'll just stop there. But I'm still puzzled with it all. We'll see how that works out. At the very least, it will make eating better and exercising a little easier by never being hungover! :) 

See ya! 

Melissa