I’ve been doing pretty well in terms of exercise. There have been some off days, but my boyfriend and I are going to the gym together with increasing consistency. I have to be the instigator of it, but he’s a very willing participant, and it’s starting to become a little more of a routine. I’m hopeful that within the next couple of weeks, when our fall schedule is really in place, we can be even more dedicated.

I started my fall grad school classes last week, and I have another one tonight. That adds a level of complication… But hey, what doesn’t, you know?

Basically I’m rocking along — not losing, but maintaining. I feel like I’m right on the brink of having a good loss week, and that will be a majorly motivating factor.

Anyway, that’s the boring update on my life. Will try to be a bit more active and talkative. Blessings to you ladies (and gents) who are reading!

So let’s see… Over the weekend my boyfriend and I went to Canton, Ohio, for the NFL Hall of Fame inductions and expo game. We’re Titans fans, so it was a great game for us! We were there with one of his college friends, who’s a Bills fan — it was a little less fun for him. But truly, it was a great time getting to meet some of his friends, hang out, and watch some football! (I think I’m an overall happier person during football season!)

We left to head home on Monday, and stopped in Cincinnati at King’s Island to ride roller coasters on the way home! It was wonderful! We had such a good time. We both love stuff like that — it was a really great way to spend an afternoon. Of course, it meant getting home super-late…

And, when we got home, it was to my boyfriend’s smoke detectors going off. They’re all hard-wired together through his alarm system, so if one goes, they all go… There was no fire, thank goodness, but his alarm system is ALL jacked up. We were up till the wee hours of the morning trying to get the alarms to shut up, figure out the issue, call repair people… Boo.

Poor boyfriend… He’s having a really hard time lately. He has gained some weight — not a ton, but some — and he’s feeling really bad about it. He knows I find him attractive, but he’s worried about his health (his dad is significantly overweight, and he doesn’t want to start down that path). He’s pondering doing Weight Watchers. I’ve never tried it, but it doesn’t seem like my kind of plan… However, as boyfriend acknowledged, he does a lot better when there’s a “system” to anything he’s attempting, so it may be great for him. We talked about it a lot yesterday and I’ve told him I’m 100% behind whatever he wants to do, and I’ll cook whatever we need to, help him keep track of points (or however it works — I’m clueless!), continue to be the gym motivator (even more so)…

I just don’t want him to feel bad about himself. He’s too wonderful for an extra 20-25 pounds to make him this upset.

I think the next couple of weeks will be interesting as we figure out what plan will work best for him and really (re)commit to our health.

That all said, I’ve been eating, at least, remarkably well, and have managed to get in at least some exercise every day so far this week. Just haven’t had a lot of time to be online and check in with folks. (So hi everyone! Hope you’re all doing well and feeling healthy!)

I’m about to head out of town for the weekend again. Leave tomorrow for Ohio… My boyfriend has gotten us tickets for the NFL Hall of Fame inductions and expo game. The Tennessee Titans are playing — yay! Really looking forward to our jaunt to Canton.

Anyway, in case I don’t make it back on the computer before next week — happy weekend and healthiness to you all!

Of late, I’ve been traveling a lot on the weekends, which is fun and hard all at the same time. This weekend is one of only two for the next SEVERAL weeks (months?) that I’m not either going anywhere or having guests stay with me. I’m so excited about doing whole lot of nothing!

Actually, though, there are plans. Tonight is date night! Boyfriend and I are going to a movie — think we may go see the documentary “Food, Inc.” I’ve been really eager to see it, and usually he just likes to make me happy. Tomorrow we’re getting up earlyish and going to the farmer’s market to stock up on some yumminess. Then his parents are coming up for lunch and to spend the afternoon. Church on Sunday, followed by the gym. After that, some cleaning and errands. A productive weekend — and one not spent in the car!

I think I MAY make it under 200 pounds (again) for this weekend’s weigh-in, too — especially if I do eat well for the next couple of days. THAT would make me happy.

A good weekend to all of you. Rest well and work hard!

I’m six pounds away, and MAN, I want that massage! I have been eating well this week, and there’s no reason that shouldn’t continue. I’m getting in gym time. I’m drinking my water. I don’t want to jinx it, but I think this week should be a loss, maybe of a couple or three pounds even… If I could do that for the next 2 or 3 weeks in a row… Massage by mid-August! Want that so much!

The premise of the show, for those who aren’t familiar, is that three men and three women, all strangers, are brought in to meet one another and go on dates in a completely blacked out room. In other words, it’s simulated blindness, so you’re forced to get to know the person without a visual.

Last night’s show involved a woman named Megan. My best guess is that Megan was probably a size 8, MAYBE 10. In other words, she wasn’t “model thin,” but she was not overweight in anyone’s book… Anyone’s, that is, except Matt (I think his name was). Matt and Megan really hit it off in the dark. They chose each other for their various dates, they seemed really compatible, etc. But when they hugged each other, Matt was trying to assess Megan’s size — and after the date, he was talking to the other guys about how she was “too thick” and he really wasn’t sure he could date her long-term. And when they were revealed to one another, and he saw her, he was clearly not pleased. The show ended with him agreeing to take her on another date — in the light — but it was seemingly obvious that it wasn’t a long-term thing, and that he was probably hoping for a little easy action before finding someone whose appearance was more to his liking.

At least that was our interpretation of it. And my boyfriend was so pissed about it. When the term “thick” was thrown out, he was like, “Which of those girls is ‘thick’? What the hell?” And when Matt was debating whether Megan was pretty and thin enough to date, I thought my boyfriend was going to throw something at the TV; he called the guy all kinds of names I won’t recount here…

I know I need to lose weight. But I love my boyfriend so much for loving me regardless of that. At 200 pounds, I know he loves me as much as he would at 120 pounds — or 250 pounds or whatever. That sort of security and confidence is so important and valuable, and I am so thankful for him giving me that.

I’m also glad he’s not an a$$ like the guys they get for TV dating shows.

Anyway, this weekend we’re headed to my mom’s to celebrate her birthday, and also to visit with other family who are going to be in town. It will be the first meeting of many of these folks for the boyfriend — hope he’s ready for my family — lol!

Should be good, and hopefully it will allow for some semblance of routine, healthy eating, etc. My boyfriend is so excited about us getting to walk my mom’s dog he can hardly stand it. (We really need a dog!!!)

So I’ll be out of touch all weekend, but wish everyone a great one! Will catch up with folks Monday…

My boyfriend did too, and on the way home, he told me he really wanted to start going to the gym more, but that he was going to need me to be the “instigator” of that — that he realized he didn’t have the motivation in himself, but if I’d suggest it and help him get into the habit, that would really make him happy.

THAT is exactly the motivation I need. It’s just my personality — I do my best when I’m doing something for someone else. I’m really “other-motivated.” So it can feel selfish if I go to the gym by myself and make that “me time” (even though I need “me time” and am trying to be better about giving myself some; it’s just hard for me), but if we go to the gym together and I know that he’s depending on me to lead in that endeavor… That will really help keep me on track.

So yay! I’m happy he’s willing to go with me, because it’s more fun to have someone there, even though we both have our iPods on and ignore each other for like 45 minutes or an hour. It’s just good to have the moral support! And I’m glad he’s willing to start taking better care of himself. We’re about to celebrate his 30th birthday… By the time we get married and have kids, we’ll both be in our mid-30s, and I want us to be as healthy and hearty as possible!

All of that is to say yesterday was good, and I think will start a trend for us. I’ll keep y’all posted!

His mom recently quit smoking, which is a huge deal after decades of cigarettes. In the process, she has gained some weight, and she’s been complaining to him about that. I think it’s gotten him thinking a lot about weight and health and so forth… I hope so, at least! As much as it’s nice to have online support from folks, it’s incredibly more motivating for me to have someone here, in “real life,” who will get up and go to exercise with me.

I’ve made a big impact on the way he eats. In the BD era (Before Dating), he was a huge fast food eater. As in, every day, every meal. Now, we cook at home almost all the time. He’s been shocked at how much money he’s saving, and how much better he feels… Now, if I can just get him on the regular exercise train…

Anyway, if anyone has any tips on motivating the people around you to join you in your exercise and healthy lifestyle choices, I’d love to hear them. Happy Wednesday!

Didn’t get to do much exercising over the weekend at all (Saturday managed a good walk, but my main activity all weekend was sitting in a car). Didn’t eat terribly, but not great either. Don’t you wish restaurants offered better options? Even salads are fatty in restaurants! (Overall, can’t complain, though I did have a couple of meals that as I was eating them I could feel myself bloating!)

In good news, I did lose three pounds last week. As little as I did exercise, that makes me pretty sure it was water weight/bloating that caused the gain week before last, but whatever. I still need to get my act together and get back to the gym in a dedicated way this week.

Not a lot else to report, really… Just sort of checking in since I was MIA since midday Friday. Hope everyone’s Monday is off to a good start!