Day 237: Hope

"Hope can be a powerful force. Maybe there's no actual magic in it, but when you know what you hope for most, and hold it like a light within you, you can make things happen, almost like magic." ~Laini Taylor~

There are those who would disagree hope is a powerful force. They say hope isn't a plan. Hope isn't a strategy. But you know, if you don't have hope, what do you have ? What do you do if your "plan" or "strategy" doesn't work out ? Failure is failure, whether you had hope, a plan or a strategy. Maybe hope gives you an easier out, but I think we all have different ways of working toward our goals. Me, I "hope" to lose enough weight to attain a "normal" BMI. This is a tall order, but just because I say "I hope" doesn't mean I don't have a plan or a strategy, because I do ! The fact that is, I'm heading into unknown territory because my BMI hasn't been normal for probably 30 years or more and I honestly don't know if I'm capable of reaching a normal BMI. So while it's easy to say "I will", if I'm honest with myself I have to say "I hope I will" - because I just don't know. That doesn't mean I'm not going to keep working towards it with everything I've got. Nutrisystem and exercise are my plan and my strategy and I just have to hope my body cooperates. If you're 5' 6" most BMI calculators say you should weigh no more than 154 pounds, so that is the goal. It's an ambitious goal, to say the least, but I'm already more than halfway there ! If and when I reach that goal I will likely try to lose a bit more, because who wants to be at the far end of the range ? As I've said on several occasions, I expect this to take 18-24 months and I'm prepared to stay committed for as long as it takes.

Breakfast was a 2.1 ounce cinnamon roll with, what else, Cinnabon's Classic Cinnamon Roll coffee. Second cup was Gloria Jean's Butter Toffee. These are my 2 favorites ! Morning snack was a 155 calorie vanilla shake with peanut butter powder. Lunch was a 4 ounce 220 calorie chicken fajita melt with raw carrots. Afternoon snack was a 5.3 ounce Light & Fit Toasted Coconut Vanilla yogurt and 2.5 cups of Skinny Pop popcorn (100 calories). This left 465 calories for dinner and an evening snack. Dinner was a 9.5 ounce 260 calorie roasted turkey medallions with mashed potatoes and gravy. I also had a big bowl of roasted veggies. Evening snack was a 3.5 ounce 130 calorie ice cream sandwich. Calories for the day are 1125 and I got 64 ounces of water in. Also got my workout done so I'm 3 for 3 this week !

I woke up to pouring rain this morning and would have loved to just lie in bed all day listening to it rain. Unfortunately that doesn't pay the bills so it was up and out ! The commute in was a little slower, but uneventful. I'm glad I took care of emptying my office already and didn't have to worry about ferrying things to my car in the rain. Only 2 more days in my office and then it's vacation followed by new adventures. I'll be working 3 days a week at home and commuting the other 2. This is going to be great in the winter ! I've never really minded the commute the rest of the year but I'm going to enjoy the savings on parking and fuel. I'll also get a lot of time back. I'll be "home" from work at 5 instead of 6 on the days I work from home. I won't have to run out the door at 6:15 am, I'll probably leave around 7 on days I go to the office. 

Time for a warm shower and my comfy bed. I am tired tonight so I don't think I'll be awake long !