hello blogites!  hope you are all well.  I have been doing okay but stuck on a crappy plateau!  I haven't been able to get below 247!  It has challenged me.  i have wanted to quit, cry and scream!  but i was persistent and today (i know it's not monday) i weighed at 240 lbs.  i am so relieved and excited.  that is a total loss of 48 lbs.  2 more and i will reach a major mile mark, 50!  why did i decide to weigh today?  b cause yesterday i stretched my self emotionally and went shopping!  something i have hated to do for years because the fitting rooms are too small, clothes don't fit and it is just plain depressing!!!!  it took quite a while for me to finally make the decision to go, it was a battle in my mind!  i went and tried on shorts (they look more like capris on me! lol) i started with the size i started out with before trying to lose weight--28!  it was evident that those were too large when i was able to take them off without unbuttoning them!  i went down to a 26, 24 and then really stretched myself and tried a 22!  surprise  they fit perfectly!!!  i nearly cried.  i still feel like crying!  i am so amazed at the way my body is responding and the changes that are being made!  i have hope today that soon i will enjoy shopping!  i will be starting real exercise soon, as i am going to visit the Rush for a 2 week trial.  we will see how that goes cause i really don't like to sweat!!!!  anyway, i want to give everyone a thank you from the depths of my heart.  your encouragment has made a big difference, please continue to keep it coming as i am really a weak person when it comes to this area of my life.  soon enough i won't have to keep life weighting!