Day 20 - Cruise phase

Weight: 157
Total weight loss to date: 8 lbs

2 lbs to go!

So close to the next phase.  I was really ready to give up at the beginning of the week.  But I ended up keeping on the 1/1 schedule and I lost 2 lbs this week.  I was glad to see some results.  I have been pretty diligent in keeping with the diet and working out.  I'm encouraged today, especially when I could easily fit into a pair of pants that would have been obscenely tight 20 days ago.

The protein days didn't seem as bad this week...I never dread protein day until afternoon/dinner time.  I don't know what happens but I really get hungry and irritable during this time, even when I've eaten plenty.  Breakfast is good because I have the oat bran with it, lunch is good because I love the rotisserie chicken I've found, but dinner is always a struggle.  I never know what to make or eat.  Most days this week I've ended up eating a big plate of eggs with some type of meat in it.  I can make it a little more attractive with Cholula hot sauce and some fat free cheese.  I don't know if hot sauce is on the plan but I don't care, I couldn't make it without SOMETHING to jazz up those eggs.

My mom has reached her goal weight and she's started the consolidation phase.  I am so happy for her!!  I can see how happy she is with her progress.  I think I'm happier about her success than anything else.  Hubby also met his goal weight but I'm not sure if he's going to go to the consolidation phase yet.  A couple of days this week he ate cereal and some walnuts though.  He said he wishes he didn't lose the weight this fast because now he'll have to struggle to keep it off before the trip in July.  I don't think that's the right mindset (it's "over" once our trip starts) but I don't really think he was trying to get slim and stay that way forever.  It was depressing him, I could tell.  I just hope that we have both weaned ourselves off the mentality that you have to have rice, potatoes or bread with every meal.

today I had lunch at a Chinese place.  It first appeared pretty healthy but after it sat on my plate for a while it was swimming in oil.  I literally could taste the grease on my tongue.  I guess after you quit eating oil for so long, you can really taste it in foods easily.  That greasy taste was a complete turn off and I couldn't eat the rest of it. 

I also had a fantastic job interview today that I pray works out!  I wore my pants that I couldn't put on 20 days ago!  I think the final missing link in my happiness is getting out of this horribly negative work environment.  Sometimes days will pass that no one speaks to me.  I've never experienced this before in my entire career!  I've been here 1.5 years and people still walk by me like they've never seen me.  A couple of people right outside my cube have never spoken to me ONCE (even when I tried to initiate conversation...awkward!!).  I'm getting off on a tangent but wow it really sucks coming to work here everyday.  And commuting to downtown...just awful.  I don't mind the taking the bus, but it takes SO LONG and then usually once a day I am dealing with vagrants saying crazy stuff to me on the street.  I mean I am literally scared to drive to work and park in the $12/day garage for fear of being mugged.  Awesome!!  Anyway, hope that interview went as well as I felt it did!!

Wine is probably in my future for the weekend.  I've figured out that I can have wine and still make progress...that could be dangerous.