I’m still making good progress, even with my hard times. I’ve lost almost 20 pounds since January, and I’m almost to my pre-pregnancy weight. Then I want to lose another 20 pounds to get to my goal weight. Then…I will continue with the diet of course, and see what other nice surprises lay in store for me.

The question is, once my weight and health are where they should be, will I still find motivation to stay on the BTD way of living? I hope so, and would like to plan ways to stick with it this time. It was a gradual road to low compliance, last time. I figured I could afford to cheat now and then. That became more and more often, and began to include corn and dairy. I think my ‘cheats’ next time will have to be more strict…like a few more neutral carbs here and there, but no avoids. Especially not avoids that are in the top ten or so worst avoids for my type…like corn and dairy surely are. Is there a category of superavoids? Of course, the diet isn’t about what we can ‘safely’ cheat with, an avoid is an avoid, they all have consequences.

Here’s some other motivation I just thought of…Think of the example you can set when you continue on the diet even after you are obviously healthy. That’s bound to get more interest in the diet than before, I would think. To be a person who others ask “what’s your secret?” To have been overweight, lost the weight, then kept if off for years of excellent health is more an accomplishment than just losing it in the first place.

Of course, I haven't met my goals yet, but I'm sure I will, and I'm sure some of you have!

I actually hit the sidewalk again today, 3 miles, walking, up and down hills, pushing a stroller. It was a good workout, but my allergies almost did me in. I took some nettle root when I got home; next time I'll take it before I go. It seems to work as well as allergy medicine, without making me tired.