Looking back at my weight chart, I see that the first time I got down to 187 was December 27, 2006, almost 2 months ago. I've been ping-ponging around with several pounds since then. Finally today, another baby step back down. Well baby step - I lost four pounds this week. Three old ones I've seen several times, but one brand new one. That brings me to a new all-time low of 186. I am hoping the downward trend will continue.

That awful time I had last week with the temper tantrum and the near-rage was, as I suspected, hormonal. Wow was that a rough week. These hormonal swings of mine were so well-regulated when I was on the pill, but I've been off that since January 06 or so. My cycles have been very irregular, and I'd been three months without until this last one. Time to check in with the gynecologist, I think!

Work has been extremely nuts. It seems that with my job, it's either totally quiet or totally insane. We're in insane mode lately! Even so, I've managed to stick to my workout schedule, maintaining 6 days a week, and busting my butt each session. Still working with my trainer, but now just once a week. To switch things up, I hit the very early aerobics class a couple of days a week, and I've been enjoying that. Even the part where we get down on the floor. I can haul my own self back up, which is a new and good thing.

It's late and I'm whooped so I'll leave it here for now. Hope all who read this are happy and well!

Oh! Tonight was the big Mardi Gras party at Karla C's here in Tuscaloosa. It was really nice! I always love getting together with all the folks I know from the messageboards, and I'm so touched that folks drive so far to join us (hi Randall! Kay!). I took some photos, of course! If you click the photo below, it'll take you to the other pictures I took as well:

Bleah. So that 3 lbs. I dropped last week to 187 is back. I weighed in at 190 today. How aggravating! Of course, as my 2 year anniversary approaches, I am anxious to have not met my goal. I can't see me losing 17 pounds in five or six weeks, whatever it is. Two years seemed like plenty of time to lose whatever I had to lose at 18 months, but now I see it's not going to happen.

Oh. Well.

This was a great week for working out. My job kicked my butt, but I was up at 4:30 several days and out of the gym by 6:45 to get to work right on time for some crazy busy days. I did well with food, too. Especially during those busy times, I planned ahead and had Power Crunch bars in my desk. I had no meal breaks for 2-3 days there, but I was able to get 10 minutes a few times, and managed to wolf down a Power Crunch bar or two each day to keep me going.

My shoulders and neck are really taking shape. For the first time since my surgery, I took a look at my back today. I realized I had just not looked at it in ages. It's taking shape, too. And also looking like a droopy hound-dog face.

Saw another plastic surgeon for a consult this week. He is very recently out of school, so he's not got tons of experience on his side compared to others I've seen. What he does have is training in the latest techniques and equipment. He had some interesting ideas about how to do the work on my breasts. To deal with the hidradenitis suppurativa, I need to have all the skin around the crease under my breasts totally removed (deeply). My breasts actually also need a lift. He drew a diagram of what he would do to handle this challenge, and it was super clever.

I think what I'm going to do now is make a follow-up with the past PS I saw before my wedding in September. He was by far the most experienced, has a fantastic reputation, and as head of a major academic PS program and clinic, he has credentials out the wazoo, particularly with the HS. He said in September that he wanted to "think about" my breasts before saying what he would do there. So I'll see him again and get his thoughts on that, and then it'll be time to start making some decisions.

It scares the holy hell out of me, still. I just keep telling myself that it is time to get rid of the size 5x skin!