So there are now just six days until my first “official” weigh in.  Don’t get me wrong, there have been plenty of moments on the scale since I started this July 11th.  However I set up goals with rewards every 3 months.  The first goaline is October 10th.  I need to weigh in at 290 or less to collect my self directed reward.

There are only 2 ways it can go.  Pass or Fail.  The odd thing is that I am feeling that even if i don’t reach the 30 pound loss – I won’t be a failure.  In no way do I not want to reach my goal.  However, I feel like I have built a pretty solid foundation for what I have been doing and that the long term end result – 100 pounds lost in a year – will be reached.  Recently I mentioned to Anne that I am not really motivated by my “reward”.  What’s bizarre is I set up the reward.  Oh well, I know the next reward for the second official weigh in will get me moving.

So 6 more days to lose 6 more pounds.  I checked in this morning and lost 4 pounds last week.  Of course this is after not losing anything the previous week.  Nonetheless its a victory.  Now in order to drop 6 pounds in a week, one would need to burn an additional 3500 calories each day.  NO PROBLEM.  Actually, its a big problem.  I am thinking if I don’t eat anything from Thursday – Sunday, I’ll make it.  Yeah, that’s not going to happen either.

My secret weapon is my Jewish ancestors.  It’s the high holidays, which means fasting on Yom Kippur.  So from Friday at sundown to Saturday evening – approximately 6pm – I will be fasting.  Alright, well thats not going to work either.  My fasting will likely last until Saturday morning when I walk into the kitchen.  (sorry Mom)

Instead of focusing on possible failure – I am focusing on what’s next.  I have picked out my next race.  This is significant because although I have run more than one 5k previously… never was there just 6 weeks between events.  I usually like to take 6-12 months off to prepare.  i.e. – sit on the couch!  This time is different.  I’m not just trying to sell myself those thoughts.  It really is different.  I have continued training every other day… and yesterday knocked off 90 seconds from my 5k time.  So I have set another goal – finish the Rockville 5k in 36 minutes or less.

Some may read this and think, 36 minutes?  That’s all you got.  Yup – that’s all I got – for now.  In time I know my times will come down.  But I am not focused on the time.  The time just helps lead me to the result that I want.  The elusive 100 pounds.  So my journey continues with a positive attitude.  I recently have been looking at pictures from my wedding day, remembering how good I felt from losing 50 pounds to get to that moment.  It helps to keep me focused on the current task at hand.  I think of how good I will feel as the weight continues to shed off.  And I know that whether or not I reach my first weigh in goal – I will still be WINNING.