Monday, July 30, 2012

57 By 57

Sprague Lake - Rocky Mountain National Park
Estes Park, Colorado - June 5, 2011

Thought I'd borrow an idea from BlogFriend, Betsy From Tennessee, and post a picture from last year's summer adventure in the hopes that a sparkling alpine lake with snow-capped mountains in the background might drop the sweltering temps a few degrees.   Sorry, Betsy, it didn't work when you did it and it isn't working today!!  Guess we'll all just have to be patient - fall is coming.

Moving on to "cooler" things.............

I'm hoping to hear a collective rendition of Happy Birthday from all parts of the country when I just casually mention that today is the day.   Yep, I become 57 years young at approximately 10:54 a.m.  I was born on a Sunday morning, and my mother always laughingly told me that since we were good Baptists, I was born between Sunday School and Worship Service!!  

But the news is much bigger than the fact that it's my birthday.   A few weeks ago, when I realized I wasn't going to quite make it to goal weight by my birthday, I set a smaller goal to have lost 57 total pounds by my 57th birthday.   I didn't say anything about it because truthfully, I am so close to goal, it didn't matter, but when I realized the numbers jived, it sounded like fun.   And yes, this morning (actually, yesterday morning), the scales rewarded me with that elusive 57th pound.

Now, I want to hear that collective rendition of YOU GO, GIRL from all corners of the earth!  I am so proud of myself and it feels so good.  What FEELS different this time is that I believe I am in control.   I am not approaching maintenance with fear because I am content with the way I am eating and don't intend for that to change.  The last time I was at this point (in 2007), I was already scheming about things I was going to eat and restaurants I was going to visit.  Of course, I was going to keep it all under control and thought I had it all together.   And for awhile, I did!   I stayed at goal weight for more than a year before I got lazy, picked back up some bad habits  and well, we all know what happens!   This time, I'm not scheming.   There's nowhere I want to go, nothing I want to eat or any plans I'm making that are different from the way I've been living for the past eight months.  And that's a good feeling.

What am I doing to celebrate?   Why hiking, of course!   By the time you read this, I will be well on my way up the mountain for another great day on the trail.  Bill's summer class has finished, but he needs to be at school one more day then he'll be out until August 15th.   We have a couple of fun things planned for this week to celebrate my birthday and then several days next week at a cabin in western North Carolina with friends from our college days.   It's our last few days to celebrate summer before he returns to school for fall semester.  And we plan to enjoy every moment!

I'm having a virtual birthday party!
What gift of wisdom will you bring?


16 comments:

  1. Here is a YOU GO GIRL from me! I'd write it 57 times but you might get tired of reading that over and over. Or maybe not!

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  2. Hooray, Sharon! Yay you! Seriously, losing 57 pounds is an amazing accomplishment, and you have every right to feel proud. And I cannot think of a better way to celebrate your birthday than to hike. Hope you and Bill enjoy your time together. Happy Birthday!

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  3. Happy Birthday, Sharon! And what a fabulous birthday present you've given yourself. 57 POUNDS! YOU GO GIRL!!!! Enjoy the birthday week celebrations and go proudly into this new wonderful life. (BTW, 57 sounds really young to me!)

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  4. YAY! Happy Birthday! And CONGRATS! :)

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  5. Awesome way to celebrate your birthday and your weight loss. All I can say is avoid moderation stategies and you keep 58 pounds off by next year !!!!

    So happy for you. Great job on getting to your goal. Karen P

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  6. Happy Birthday Sharon - and YOU GO, GIRL!!!

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  7. Happy birthday and a BIG congratulations Sharon! Sounds like you've got some great celebrations planned!

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  8. Karen@WaistingTimeJuly 30, 2012 at 12:00 PM

    Awesome:) You, your being in control, how you are spending the day, the 57 pounds...

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  9. Happy B-Day! And a big congrats on reaching your goal. Have a great day hiking.

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  10. Awesome! That is a great accomplishment. YOU GO Girl!! Oh, and Happy Birthday.

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  11. Congrats on your weight loss thus far! One thing I’ve found to be extremely helpful and useful as a supplement to my current diet/exercise plan is Fullbar (www.fullbar.com). Not only do their products help you lose weight, they also help you maintain your weight loss.

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  12. Fifty Seven wishes for a great birthday are being sent to you! Did you get them?

    Yes, you go girl. Amazing accomplishment. It is indeed wonderful to know that we are in the driver seat this time around. I am happy with what I am doing and where I am going, too, in terms of weight loss and getting healthy, but loads of other things, too.

    Have a great BD hike!

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  13. YOU GO GIRL!!! So proud and excited for you Sharon! And Happy Birthday!!!! I'm glad you have a week of birthday festivities planned...enjoy it! :)

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  14. Happy, happy birthday, Sharon! And HUGE congratulations on achieving all that you have!

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  15. Happy belated birthday, Sharon! I hope it was one of your most magical days, yet!! I'll never again forget it because you share it with my sister!
    Happy travels, and much love!!

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  16. HI Sharon, I read often but don't comment enough...BIG BIG Happy birthday and BIG BIG congratulations on reaching goal!!!!!! You are an inspiration!!

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