Oh what a night!

Oh, what a night, late September back in '63 (plus a few years)
What a very special time for me
As I remember what a night!

Ah yes, these lyrics sum up my weekend. How much we remember might be questionable at best, but there is no doubt that this weekend was ama-za-zing! To sum it up, Friday night E and I rocked out to Sugarland and they were simply incredible. I haven't been that amped during a show in ages!!! And for our first time sitting together, E and I had a blast and I hope to do it again soon! The Safe House bar followed by late night trip to IHOCS (International House of Chicken Strips), little sleep, and lots of laughs!

Saturday brought an adventure to Miller Park and a few firsts....first tailgates, first ballgames, first time having peanuts dumped on someone's head. Our gracious tailgate hostesses with the mostest (Evan, Jenny, and Michelle) did an incredible job! We braved our way through the cemetary, complete with guilt trips for E, and partied with the masses before one of the few Brewer home games left. The afternoon was hysterical and the fun spilled into the game as well. We saw hot guys, fist fights, a random guy tackled on the field, a new record for Prince, a food fight involving peanuts and nachos, fireworks, and more! Most of the time I had to remind myself that there was actually a game on since I was playing TMZ again with Michelle and Lisa's cameras. Yep, nearly 300 photos later, I'm pretty sure it's safe to say that EVERY single moment was documented. After the game we closed out the parking lot and headed back to my place. My stomach hurts from laughing so much, but I wouldn't have it any other way! Thank you, friends, for one of the best weekends yet! Can't wait for the Midwest Mafia reunion next month! Love you all!!!

Surreal.

Sometimes I step on that scale and think "no way." When I heard my 12 week total today, it seemed so surreal. Yes I know that I'm losing weight. I'm fully aware that I've changed my eating and exercising habits. Sure my clothes are fitting better and I'm buying smaller sizes. But 26 pounds? Seriously!?!

Wow. I'm still not convinced that it's all sunk in yet. And yet week after week I keep losing and that total keeps growing. To think that I'm a third of the way to a weight I'd be happy with, a quarter of the way to what I'd really eventually like to lose, it all just blows my mind. I'm doing it for real this time.

No more excuses. No more empty promises of tomorrow. Here and now. One meal at a time. Today. Forever. It's always going to be a battle, but I can walk away victorious this time. I know I can do it. I have to. I want to. I am.

In celebrating such a righteous victory, I was inspired to take part in the Lose for Good campaign that Weight Watchers is sponsoring. They will donate up to a million dollars to food shelters, pantries, etc. for every pound that WW members lose between now and October 17th. They also encourage people to donate to local food pantries or programs, so I have decided this:

For every pound I have lost by October 17th, I will donate a pound of food to the Hunger Task Force here in Milwaukee. As it stands, they will receive at least 26 pounds of food, and that number is only bound to increase!

My goal: donate 40 pounds of food at the end of this challenge!

You can take part in this challenge too, and it would be a great honor if you would do so with me! Either set a goal for yourself or make the promise to donate some food to your local shelter on my behalf. It doesn't have to be 40 pounds, but whatever you can spare. I'd be honored if you would help me give back. For all the support that I've received, it's time to give some of that back to people who need it. Ponder this: over 900 MILLION people go hungry every year, yet over 1.5 BILLION people are obese. Let's work to correct that imbalance...together!!!