Birthdays, Bets & Bananas

Happy birthday to me!

Birthday: Yesterday was my birthday.

Usually I hate my birthday. And I dread it, as it is always disappointing. I was especially dreading it this year, as it’s the first year in a long time that I have not had a partner.

This year, though, was amazing.

I stepped on the scale that morning, and that number over there showed up. The lowest number I’ve seen on the scale (that was from ME standing on the scale and wasn’t a malfunction) since I was 6 months pregnant with Chuck. In 2009.

Best.birthday.ever.

Then I had coffee with a dear friend. Visited quickly with another, then had lunch with more friends. Headed out for a hot stone massage (thanks to an awesome raffle win), and then went home and watched Moneyball.

Dinner with the family, scrimmage and then Mardi Gras/birthday celebrations & shenanigans with my derby team . I was a very VERY happy cupcake when I got home.

Point of reference scale shot from December

I could not have planned a better birthday.

It’s been an enlightening experience, this birthday. Letting go of my fear that things are going to go south and actually letting good things happen. Working hard to fit into smaller jeans, and having them actually fit. Having friends celebrate me.

It’s a turning point for me. One where I realize that I’m ok on my own (with the kids, of course, but without a partner). One where I can see who I am and who I was and how I don’t want to go back to that sad lady from six months ago.

I can see all of the work I’ve been doing (mentally, emotionally & physically) paying off finally.

It’s the best birthday present ever.

Bets: The “Shed Those Cupcakes” DietBet is going swimmingly, with $2100 in the pot and 84 people playing along! There is still time to join, if you’d like!

So far, we have lost 86.7 pounds (from those that have weighed in already – some are choosing not to). That’s a little over a pound a person in THREE DAYS! People are encouraging one another, talking about what they’re doing to shake that extra weight, and it’s a pretty fun deal.

I’m hoping to run another one in March, as I really like the format, and I really like the community that’s sprung from it.

Bananas: Seeing as how I’m doing a cleanse and Boy Wonder is now 13, growing an inch every day and eating me out of house and home, we go through 2 BIG bunches of bananas every week. Also, despite the fact I do not drink milk, we blow through a gallon every 4 days.

Do you have something that your family runs through a lot of?