I am now up to 22 plus pounds since joining Sparkpeople. I am hovering around the 40 pound mark since I started my journey 6 months ago. I have not been this thin since I met my husband 11 years ago. People have been noticing and commenting enthusiastically about my weight loss. I am looking good, feeling great and buying new clothes!

I have lost 6 inches from my chest, waist and hips. I have lost 4 inches from my arms and thighs. I have dropped 3 dress and pants sizes. All that is great but not nearly as important and as wonderful as my latest bloodwork. Everything, for the most part, is back in the NORMAL range!! Cholesterol is 170 with my ratios completely in line. My A1C hemoglobin in back to normal. Vitamin D is now normal. The only things left to work on are my triglycerides, which are still high and my iron which is still low. I am working on those and hope to get those numbers back in line with the next tests.

I took my bike riding to new levels today. I was extremely pleased with pushing it. It felt wonderful. My family was so proud of me. My goal is to get to 15 miles by the end of summer. In general, getting my exercise has been quite the challenge. It is really something I need to focus on and dedicate time to on a regular basis. I am trying to "sneak" in small increments of time, 10 minutes here, 10 minutes there. But man is it a challenge.

The other big challenge I am going through right now is this awful plateau. I think I may have broken through this week but this morning I was creeping back up again. Getting over those plateaus can be quite distressing but I am resolved. I know the pounds will come off!

Until the next time, here's to your health!