Week 2 on Cycle 2

and I am down another 4 pounds! So that's 6.6 MORE pounds gone since starting Cycle 2 and 21.6 pounds gone since I started this diet 28 days ago.

OK, I LOVE this diet. I really do. I love that the weight just keeps coming off. I love that I feel better and look better. I love that I am fitting into clothes that have not fit me since before my son was born in September 2009. To make myself feel even better I look at my total weight loss since I checked into the hospital to give birth which means I have lost an amazing 58 pounds since September 7, 2009. So about 36 pounds I lost myself and then kind of, gave up I guess, until I found this diet. I kept making excuses for myself and saying that it didn't matter since we're just going to have more kids anyway. One day, I saw a photo of myself and realized, it was NOT OK. It was NOT OK to be a big as I was... it was NOT OK to not care. The day in December that I saw the 17 day diet on TV I just knew it was for me and I was ready to make the change and make it work.

Now... I have so much energy to keep up with my active toddler. We dance, we run, we play and I have the energy to do it all. It's a beautiful day here in DC today, 70 degrees! We went for a walk and I ran around with my son and didn't even get out of breath. It felt good to go out there and just have fun with him.

The best part is, I'm not done yet! I enjoy the foods I am eating now and I enjoy all the positive changes I see in myself. My goal weight is only 40 pounds away. It's so close I can taste it. I may make it there before I get pregnant again and I may not. I am OK with whatever happens because I do not plan on going back to my old ways. Who knew oatmeal actually tasted good?! I really do plan on embracing this healthy eating. Even when I am pregnant again (with more calories for the bambino of course). I just feel excellent that if I were to get pregnant now... I weigh less than I did when I got pregnant with my son. It's good to be at a lower starting point. And I definitely do not plan on gaining another 50 pounds with my next pregnancy!!

Now, I haven't been perfect on this diet. I've had a piece of chocolate here and there and last weekend - went all out. We had company and ordered Chinese food and drank wine. I indulged and I indulged too much. Let me tell you... the next day was not happy. My digestive system rebelled and I felt horrible. It was like my digestive track was saying "what the hell do you want me to do with this crap?" I can't believe I still lost 4 pounds this week, even with that night. The only thing I could think about was how much I wanted some fresh veggies and to be back on plan ASAP. That's how I know for a fact I am not only ready to embrace the change but... that's I am not in the danger zone for cheating.

In the past, a cheat day meant a mindset change. "Well, I cheated yesterday so what the hell... let's have that pizza today!" Now, while the cheat evening was fun and I don't think I regret it... all I could think about was getting back on plan. I also don't think my body has ever really felt so bad after a cheat day. It made me not want to do it again, at least not anytime soon. It also was not hard for me to jump right back on the wagon and follow the plan again. This never would have happened to me before and since it is now... I know this change is here to stay.