Day 72

My health educator at HMR called me yesterday to discuss my 4 week average weight loss. Due to the weekend cheat and 8 pound gain from a couple of weeks ago, it threw off my 4 week average. They continually monitor weight loss on a rolling 4 week average to ensure the program is still working well and that a person does not need to be transitioned into maintenance.

Although my health educator and I had spoken the week I’d gained, she still followed up today. Basically, in order to stay on the weight loss plan I am expected to lose at least 9 pound in 4 weeks at my current weight. Of course this has not been a problem, except for the weekend I cheated. So basically in order to stay on the plan she said I’d need to lose 2.5 pounds in the next 2 weeks (whew, easy). At first I was nervous because I thought she was calling to tell me they were moving me to maintenance because of that one weekend.

Long story short – if I did not lose 2.5 pounds within the next 2 weeks, then I would be moved to maintenance, which I’m not ready for yet. Although it would be nice to add some veggies in, I still have 120 more pounds to lose and if I get out of the weight loss phase now, I know that I’ll never lose the weight or possibly gain back what I’ve lost.

They kept telling me that the week after you cheat is the hardest to get back on the plan, but it was not for me. I’ve done great and increased my physical activity too. Again, so far this week’s been good too. I have not gotten in physical activity in since Monday since I’ve been working from 7am-8pm all week, in order to take the next 10 days off from work, but I am so looking forward to the break. I have not had any time off since June and I need it.

My kiddo is out of school, and I plan to go to the gym each morning, let her play in their child-care area and get my workout done. There are a lot of classes they offer at 8am & 9am during the week which I would like to try and can next week while we are off. Other than that, I plan to get the house squeaky clean and completely relax.

Food at Christmas is usually not an issue for me. Both families have some finger foods, but that’s it. Also, both families do Christmas on Christmas Eve, then we open presents at home on Christmas Day… woohooo…vacation here I come!