Goal Met!

Hi readers!  I know it has been a couple of weeks since my last posting.  I wanted to share with all of you that I met my 25 weight loss goal as of July 4th!  We got our new dog that I wanted - Phoebo, a little bit shy of my goal but I still made it!    I am so happy with the progress I have made but I still have a ways to go before I'll be totally happy with my body.  I am still over weight.  I still have problem areas and areas that I just want to tighten up.  I have to admit that I'm very happy and proud of my accomplishment.  I feel good.  After sharing a before and after with friends on Facebook, I had a LOT of positive comments and congratulations from several of my friends.  I'll share the same before and after pics with you. 
Here is me BEFORE the transformation began.  This was Easter of this year.  My cousin took this picture.  It's not a bad picture but it is a good sample of what I looked like before.

Here is me now - this was taken yesterday - July 5th. 

As you can see, my Phoebo is behind me.  He's my baby and follows me everywhere!  This time of year has been tough for me.  Keeping on track with all of the parties and bbq's, etc that we have been invited to have made it difficult to be good.  I'm either maintaining or losing and not regaining so that's ok.  I'm ok with that.  I try to get a walk in with the dogs or on my own at least once a day and do lots of other physical activity- cleaning, dancing with my work out video, gardening, etc. every day.  It's paying off.  The change is drastic and hearing people tell me I look so skinny like my friend Eileen did this morning, has made it all worth it and then some! 

Phoebo is another story.  Acclimating him to being with us has been rough during this time of year because is absolutely PETRIFIED of fireworks and there has been an overabundance of them this year.  People are setting them off well after midnight and not just little ones in the driveway - the huge ones that go BOOM.  Really frustrating trying to take my terrified dog out to go potty when he's spending the entire time fighting me to go back inside.  I'm always worried that he's going to go in the house again.  He's been here for almost 2 weeks and we are still dealing with accidents in the house almost daily.  Our training classes start on Wednesday with an orientation - no dogs that time and then next Wednesday, Phoebo starts learning.  I'm really hoping this training class solves our issues with him.  He's a bit of a strange duck.  He won't just poop on the grass- he's particular.  He prefers to go anywhere but- on top of a rock, in someone's ivy, tall grass, on mulch - anywhere BUT on the grass.  I don't understand it but I'm hoping we can break him of that so we don't have to worry about him anymore.  Well, I'm not going to go on and on about him now.  I will say that he is a great addition to our family and we love him to pieces already.  I love to snuggle with him and enjoy his hugs and kisses - yes he gives hugs!  It's so cute!

Talk to you all soon!!!  Thanks for sharing my story :)