Since I had previously asked you guys to hold me accountable, I guess I’d better update you on my progress with the Seven in ’07 goals I set out for myself at the beginning of the year.

1. Lose 70 pounds. Well, I can’t say enough good things about Weight Watchers Online. I’ve lost 17.5 pounds so far. I like how easy WWO is to use and the tools they have available. With Weight Watchers you can eat anything as long as you count it, you know? I wasn’t doing so well at managing my points early on – like I didn’t go over for days and days and then WHAM! I’d use up ten (or more) of my 35 flex points in a day. Lately, I’ve been trying to mix it up a little bit. After two or three days where I am at or under my allowed points for the day, I’ll go five over on purpose (even if I have to suck it up and eat some chocolate;) ). It seems I read somewhere that may help the old metabolism from slowing down. I hope so. All I know is that I now have only one pair of jeans that fits me. And I hadn’t been able to wear them in a year or maybe more until last week. Go me!

I’m still not where I should be on the exercise thing. Now that the weather is finally nice I have gone for a 2.5 mile walk two days in a row and have another scheduled for tonight. I also bought a pedometer. I’m just competitive enough, I guess, that every day I try to get more steps in over the course of the day. I recommend this highly. You can pick up a pedometer for as little as $6.00 at Target. Maybe they’re even cheaper elsewhere.

2. Run a 5K. Well, see the above comments on the exercise thing. I had set a goal for the Madison Race for the Cure, but I don’t see that happening at this point. I’ll pick a different one in the fall. I’m also thinking about walking a half-marathon or biking a century. Aside from chronic laziness, the bronchitis that I had a couple of weeks ago, really did a number on my cardio fitness. I mean, it’s not great to begin with. I don’t exercise regularly and I am asthmatic. Of course, I know that the asthma is a much smaller factor when I exercise so I am working on it. But I am also not beating myself up when I don’t. I’m just tuning in more to how I am feeling. I feel better if I exercise so I am trying to use that as a motivator. I still think the 5K could happen this year.

3. Find a job with a future. Well, the job search does not go well. I’ll leave it there.

4. Build a nest egg. This would be tied to the job search. It is discouraging but hopefully it too shall pass.

5. Develop some willpower and break some bad habits. Baby steps, people. Baby steps. I think I am doing okay here. I’m focusing on how things make me feel and what are good decisions vs. bad decisions. I stopped buying soda the other day. It’s an expensive habit and not good for me so I’m not doing it. I’m eating more fruits and vegetables. This is another area where the tracking stuff on WWO helps a lot. I feel accountable for what I’m doing. I also know that eating better boosts my immune system. A stronger immune system will hopefully minimize the recurrence of Pars Planitis in the future, right? Right. Now, if and when it rears its ugly head again, all my loyal readers will need to give me a pep talk. Flare-ups of pars planitis are very frustrating, depressing and very likely to steer me off course. But I know this and I hope I can stay strong.

6. Stop being my own worst enemy. Well, I am learning to like myself so if I start to really love who I am and what I’m doing, being my own worst enemy wouldn’t be so bad, eh?

7. Take hubby on a vacation. I have no plans for this but oh how wonderful it would be. We haven’t even had a night alone together since he got back from Kuwait last fall. For awhile, we were trying to go out to (the points-friendly menu) Applebee’s once a week, but our finances aren’t allowing that at the moment.

So there you have it. A status report. How do you think I’m doing? How are things with you?

Thanks for checking in. You’re awesome.