This has been a KA razy week. It's only Wednesday, but it feel like it's been forever since the week-end. Sarah has been really sick with a lung infection and I am very focused on accomplishing a major goal. Labor Day I set a goal to lose 20 pounds by Halloween. Not only is it 20 pounds but it brings me to my first MAJOR goal of 100 pounds. Monday, I weighed (that is my normal weigh day) and I had 4 pounds to go. So, I decided to do some major buckling down this week and add some extra workouts so that I can reach this goal by Halloween. I am so tempted to step on the scale everyday but I feel like if i do that, I could easily get out of control to make this goal. Past times I've struggled with several self distructive behavior which included, but was not limited to, binging and purging and over exercising. These are tendencies I know I have and I know I could easily fall back into. However, I want to lose this weight and keep it off. I do not want some fad diet plan or some radical weight loss tool, I am making a complete lifestyle change, attitude included. So, while I have set a goal and look forward to reaching it, I refuse to make the choice to take the easy and destructive way out. Instead, I added a little heavier weights to my strength training, I am doing a little more cardio and I am writing everything I eat down in order to keep track of what I am doing. There is a difference in accountability to myself and obsessive self destruction. I am so excited to hit this big goal and I believe I will meet it. I will definitely celebrate it and be grateful that the work I have put in has yielded this result. But, is it okay to celebrate this? I mean, I put myself in the position to have to lose this weight in the first place. The answer, YES!! Of course I should celebrate. I mean, not only have I lost 100 lbs, but I have accomplished being certified as a Zumba instructor, I am teaching a spin class, and a major accomplishment; I have done some major emotional and mental health healing work. Unless you are very very close to me and Sarah, you probably have no idea how dark my world used to be. Let me tell you, it was a very dark, cold and ugly place to be. The support I have had from Sarah, my parents, and close friends sustained me until I could stand on my own two feet and make the decision that I was ....I REALLY WAS AND AM worth this fight. That is a MAJOR statement for me to say. It is NOT arrogant or assuming to believe I am worth this and worth the celebration. It is TRUTH!! There is absolutely NOTHING wrong with celebrating and being grateful for every single aspect of our lives. It does not always feel like it is a good time to be grateful or a good situation to be grateful for and it may not always feel easy BUT, sometimes our feelings deceive us. We can make the choice to be grateful and celebrate. I definitely did not enjoy the dark seasons of my life, but it has been a part of this journey all along and has helped me get to where I am now. We are worth celebration. We are worth the time it takes to accomplish goals for ourself and worth the celebration of meeting those goals. My challenge to you, set a goal....any kind of goal, start small....and when you meet it....throw yourself a celebration...even if it is just treating yourself to a few fresh flowers, celebrate you!! Peace to each of you my friends!!