Well....

Well, another week has come and gone....

I am very happy to announce that I have now lost a grand total of 18 POUNDS since starting this journey!!!! I can honestly say that  I can't remember the last time I was this "light."

You know those soccer pants that I mentioned last week? Now they are way too loose. Even though they are equipped with a drawstring, I tie it tight, and they still feel way too loose. I guess that's okay.
Maybe even good I guess.

Dean has lost a total of 13 pounds now. And his blood sugar levels are still low. Right were they should be. That is the best news of all.

As I have mentioned before, I also have a medical condition called Bile Reflux Disease. At my last G.I doctor appointment I asked the doctor if I lose enough weight, will my condition go away? Her response was: "I don't know. Nobody knows the answer to that. Try it, and find out."  Well, since I have been on this diet,  I have chosen not to take my medications.  I have not needed them. The unbearable pain that I have felt all year, is no more.

This past week has been hard. I found myself very, very hungry a few times. I tried to ignore the mumbles and grumbles of my stomach, but Saturday night, the hunger pains became unbearable, but it wasn't near feeding time yet. So, I divulged in a crown of broccoli (split with my husband). It was also a very emotionally trying week. I got news that my best friend here in Vegas, unexpectedly moved away. In a way, I guess that's good, cause every time we get together, we always end up eating out. Some of our rituals became Smash Burger, the Crepe place inside the Bellagio, and Donuts. Without him here, there is no reason to eat out. 

Also, we came to the realization that are home is crumbling. We need to move.  And the sooner the better.  All of our floors are soft, and cracking.  Our water heater is leaking.  We can smell mold in our home. We strongly suspect we have leaking pipes under our home. Our toilet has been running a marathon for months. It finally stopped flushing all together, a problem I repaired with what appears to be a paperclip, and a rubber band.  But all of the other problems, cause us great concern.  We fear that it will crumble to the ground, at any moment. Because of this we want to move.

We want to purchase a house.

But this diet is super expensive. For the both of us to continue, it is a high cost of $600 a month. That is all the money I make in one month. Right now, we are torn in half.

Do we moth need to loose weight: YES.
Does Dean need, easy Healthy options to take control of his blood Sugars: YES.
Do we need a lot of money for a down payment: YES.
It the diet working: YES.
Will we save money by not continuing it: YES!
Do we like the diet: YES!
Has it been successful for us, thus far? YES!
Do I want to become a health coach for this company? YES!

We are just torn completely in half.  We are torn between good health, and a safe place to reside.

We have been discussing the possibility of putting this diet on hold, and saving this money for a down payment. And then starting it back up again once we are in a new home.

Now, lets talk about the light hearted items:

• My rings are too big. They now spin and spin around my fingers.
• My glasses are too loose.  Although I need new ones anyway, going and getting them adjusted seems like nothing more then a chore.
• I'm supposed to measure my hips. Last week, and this week during measurement time, I have made the comment: "I don't know where my hips went! I can't find them."
• My pants are too loose. And I don't have the money to replace them. It also feels like such a waste to go purchase new clothes when I plan on continuing to lose, even if we do discontinue the diet. Yeah, I know that the obvious answer is to go to a thrift store, or to buy a belt, but because I am still in the "plus size" clothes, these items are impossible to find.
• My institute teacher, behind my back, asked Dean if I have been loosing weight. Brother Fotheringham stated to Dean that I looked "skinnier." That was before he knew I was doing this diet.
• When I chatted with the daytime janitor at the institute, he saw me making my medifast food, and he asked if I was doing the diet too. I replied that yes, I am! He said that everyone is doing it. And that the reason that he knows that everyone is doing the diet, is because when he empties the trash cans, there is nothing but medifast packages in the trash bins.
• I was able to have a few outing days at work. We went to the park, I was able to slide down the slides, without getting stuck! An old worry of mine.

My cravings last week were insane. I only craved one item.  Smash Fries. They are French fries tossed in olive oil, garlic, and rosemary. Sooooo, good! But, I have been very good, and the only times I have broken my diet, is when I am fed at work.

 If we do discontinue the diet, we both feel that we have learned a lot about modifying  our own behaviors, and can continue to live a healthy lifestyle. But I still have 72 pounds to go, in order to me at my healthy weight. And this is really great way to get there.

I know a few of you have inquired about progressive photos. I am debating weather to put them on here, or just  reveal our new healthier bodies during the holidays!