The feeling of control is so important when working on losing weight. The feeling of being out of control is really a yucky feeling to have (to use clinical terms) J. This is important to think about when you notice that you are “sneaking” food. It is hard to really enjoy something when you feel you are “cheating” or “sneaking.” It is so much more enjoyable to have something when you know that you planned for it, factored it in, worked for it and are consciously choosing the food (rather than feeling like the food is choosing you).

Big news! I’ve crossed the 15-pound mark! O.M.G.

I really don’t have much more to say this week except YAY! (I was going to say Yahoo, but them I remembered this.

So often people are afraid they are going to hit a plateau. They have a weight in their mind that they always get “stuck” at. Or they can’t believe how well they are doing and feel doomed that at any moment this is going to come to an end because they can’t imagine that this can really keep working. [Jennifer note: That’s me to a T!] Most often when someone hits a plateau, it is behavioral, not physical. Don’t let this happen to you! There is no reason you are going to get stuck at a particular weight.

Recently, I attended a conference in Orlando, FL.(I know…the hardships of work are often unbearable.) In the midst of the preparation and conference itself, we had a half-day reprieve and could do what we wished with that time. My boss and colleagues commenced with holding an impromptu meeting at the pool and water-slide, but I opted to stay in my hotel room-doing my taxes.

So I’m still at it. And here’s the lead: I’ve lost almost 20 pounds! Can you believe it?

Part of me can – I’ve worked hard, I’ve journaled, I’ve leaned on Elizabeth DeRobertis, my incredible nutritionist who is leading me through the winding maze of healthy eating.

Part of me, however, has been here before. If you’ve lived a pudgy lifestyle as I have, you’ve likely lost 20 pounds before – and gained it back, and lost it, and gained it back.

I recently saw an article about a famous actress renewing her vows with her hubby of 5 years. This was done after having a baby, starting a reality show and launching several businesses. I remember seeing her start her reality show a few years back. She looks totally different now. The dress she got married in was completely different from the one when they first married. The recent gown was very sexy, mature and sheik.

It made me think about renewing my vows to my hubby. We've been married 3 years...and can I just say that 3 years has been quite an accomplishment!

I recently attended an artists’ studio tour in my hometown. Seeing these amazing avant-garde work/home/creative spaces was a powerful reminder that there is no “one way” to live or work. Drinking in this visual feast of multimedia, oil paintings, woodwork and sculpture, pottery and glassblowing brought my imagination alive and inspired me to re-visit one of my favorite mantras: do it different.

For today, please call me Jennifer.

For many years, this has been an inside joke with my siblings, but you are all part of my extended family so I feel comfortable sharing it with you.

As a child, I dreaded situations that required introductions-first day of a new school year, meeting a new kid on the bus, speaking with adults, etc… You might have thought that I had an innate tendency towards bashfulness or an aversion to people, and you would have been wrong.

I’m still chugging along, keeping to my eating plan. I’ve hit a bit of a plateau, but I’m OK about it. I’ve arrived at this moment before and I have somewhat high hopes that I’ll be able to push through. So please keep that in mind as you read on…

Chocolate Chocolate-chip Muffins from the corner deli I bought a large herbal tea this morning (more on my chai latte addiction later) and eyed one of my favorite morning treats. I don’t think I’ve had one in a year, but oh, man – how I loved these things! So sweet and sticky. Mmmmm.

I am going to admit it right here publicly, without guilt: one of the major benefits of working is getting a break from your darling children.  Oh yes, we working moms have CRAZY amounts of guilt about leaving our kids each day for our jobs, and constantly re-assess if it is worth it, whether that is for a few hours each week or full-time-plus and whether it is working from our home office or traveling to the other side of the world.  But I truly believe it is ok to ENJOY escaping to…I mean going to…work.