____________________________________________________________________

For more than 50 years Barbie has been the world’s most popular fashion doll, inspiring girls to ‘try on’ different roles and encouraging them to play out their dreams. This year, Barbie is opening her pretty pink closet! Girls of all ages will have the opportunity to design, inspire and create with new Barbie products that will be introduced throughout the year.

Barbie I Can Be…Fashion Designer
I Can Be… dolls are a great line. Designed to inspire and delight, they are both affordable and unique. With more than 130 careers under her pink belt, this year Barbie is channeling her inner artist and going ‘behind the seams’ to embark on her exciting new career as a fashion designer. Wearing a cute and comfy outfit, and sporting tools of the trade such as a wearable wrist pincushion and a tape measure, she carries a tablet so she can sketch, style and research anywhere she finds inspiration. In stores now, and on MattelShop.com and Amazon.com for $13.99.

Barbie Design & Dress Studio Doll
This set, that allows girls to design their very own fashions for Barbie, is one that I know Maya, my 7-year-old, would love! It comes with everything a girl needs to create customized fashions for Barbie and gives girls the opportunity to become a real-life fashion designer using their imagination and creativity. Basically, you choose a dress to decorate, color and embellish it using the stencils and fabric marker, and then tear away the paper frame to finish your one-of-a-kind creation! Design tools include holographic sticker sheet, two stencils, and three marker pens. Refill packs are sold separately. In stores now, and on MattelShop.com and Amazon.com for $21.99.

Ken My Cool Mini
For the first time ever, Ken is getting a car of his own! And it’s not just any car, it’s a fiery red Mini Cooper! With its sleek design and chic black interior, this two-seater is perfect for driving his best gal, Barbie, around in style! In stores now, and on MattelShop.com and Amazon.com for $26.99.

Dolls of the World Collection
Established in 1980, the Dolls of the World Collection is the largest and longest-running series in the history of the Barbie brand, and one of my favorites! After more than 30 years of success and over 100 dolls created, the line has re-launched this year with a fresh new look.

Each doll wears a beautiful ensemble inspired by the traditional dress of various countries and regions around the world. Every doll also comes with a ‘passport’ and a special pet providing extended play value. Argentina with a puma, Australia, a koala, China, a panda, Ireland, an Irish Setter puppy, Mexico, a Chihuahua, etc. A little stereo-typical, perhaps, but still fun! Visit www.barbie.com/dollsoftheworld to travel the world with Barbie, play games and learn fun facts from each country. Dolls of the World Barbie dolls retail for $29.95 each and are available in stores, and online on MattelShop.com and Amazon.com.

Argentina (the first!), Australia, China, and Ireland are available now:

Mexico, India, Holland, and Chile will roll out later this year.

Dancing with the Stars Barbie dolls
Out just in time for the new season of Dancing with the Stars this Spring, these three dolls are ready to dance! Available in Waltz, Paso Doble, and Samba, they retail for $29.95 each on MattelShop.com and Amazon.com.

William & Catherine Royal Wedding Giftset
Last April, the world watched as Prince William and Catherine Middleton said “I Do” at their fairytale wedding. The Barbie Collector William and Catherine Royal Wedding giftset, available this April, commemorates the first anniversary of the royal couple and their momentous wedding day. Wearing wedding day attire inspired by their iconic original outfits, I think these dolls really do the couple justice! The Prince William doll looks regal dressed in his traditional uniform, while the Catherine Middleton doll wears a floor-length ivory gown fit for a princess. This set retails for $100 on www.barbiecollector.com.

Barbie Ultimate Closet
Barbie doll’s closet is just as iconic as her shoe collection and Dreamhouse, and now, girls can fill and organize their fantasy wardrobes with this fabulous new product! The closet includes a ring for girls to wear that unlocks extra content in the Endless Closet Fashionistas mobile app for the iPhone or iPad. A new line of Barbie Fashionistas dolls will also come with this special ring. Available this summer for a suggested retail price of $24.99.

Barbie Photo Fashion Doll
This doll comes with her own digital camera built in. Girls can select from pre-loaded graphics or take their own pictures, which will magically appear right on Barbie’s own t-shirt. Using website software, girls can add frames and special effects to photos and create personalized slide shows. The doll holds more than 100 images and features an internal rechargeable battery. Available this Fall for a suggested retail price of $49.99.

And lastly, a sneak peek at the 2012 Holiday Barbie!
She’ll be wearing a gorgeous red gown this year.

Do any of these new products appeal to you? Right now, MattelShop.com is offering free shipping on new arrivals! On orders of $50 or more only, but that shouldn’t be hard to get to if you’re a Barbie fan like me!

Speaking of being a Barbie fan, there’s a brand new Barbie website for girls of all ages – www.BarbieWow.com – that just launched this month. It’s a little slow to load, but there’s a lot to see. Once inside, girls can explore a world of endless fashion, accessories and imaginative play, through interactive activities such as a design studio to dress up Barbie and augmented-reality “mirrors” to dress themselves up using the doll’s favorite fashions. In partnership with Polyvore, girls can take inspiration from Barbie to create real-life looks and designs that are all their own.

So Wow!

I’ve stayed far, far away from the computer this past week, so I missed last week’s update. No worries, though! I’m still going strong! My trip to New York City was beyond wonderful. I had such a great time at Toy Fair, and even more fun out on the town with my husband every night! It’s amazing how a little getaway can reenergize a relationship.

 THE PLAN

I’m happy/proud to say that I was sooooo good throughout my entire weekend in NYC. It’s kind of amazing, honestly. In the past, trips like these have been my diet downfall, but not this time! The fact that I was super busy most of the day helped, for sure, but having a plan for my one daily lean & green meal was a must!

Even the one day I didn’t have a plan, things worked out. I just went for the healthiest option – fish – and always carried a couple of Medifast bars in my purse, just in case.

Thank you to the lovely ladies at my favorite PR agency that treated me to this meal. Love you!

I did have a drink on two separate nights, but made sure to pick a low cal/ low carb cocktail, and boy, did those drinks go straight to my head! I guess that’s no surprise, considering I haven’t had any alcohol since… last year. This also made it easy to stop at just one.

 CHALLENGES

While I was on plan all through the weekend, and even on Valentine’s Day, Thursday was especially hard for me this week. It started perfectly – I even had a quick chat with my dietician in the morning – but things went downhill pretty quickly after that. I had a tiny bite of one of my daughter’s Valentine’s chocolates, which led to me eating the entire thing. And then 3 more, plus 2 dulce de leche candies my grandpa sent me from Mexico. Perhaps it was my mom flying back home the day before (I miss her!), or the candy just being there, or a combination of both, but it wasn’t a good feeling. I gave away the rest of the candy that same afternoon, and as much as I wanted to beat myself up over it, I didn’t let it ruin the rest of my day as I would have done in the past.

I used to be that way, but now I’m different

*An exercise from 100 Days of Weight Loss, by Linda Spangle*

• I used to have an all or nothing attitude, but now I just get right back on plan after hitting a bump in the road.
• I used to be easily discouraged, but now I’m inspired and motivated to keep going, and use journaling and writing to keep me on track.
• I used to eat mindlessly, but now I listen to my body, paying attention (and savoring!) every bite, stopping when I’m satisfied.
• I used to think measuring my food was too much work, but now I do it without even thinking about it.
• I used to drink more juice, coffee, and soda than water, but now I carry around my bottle of water with me everywhere.
• I used to exercise sporadically, but now I strive to move more, sit less, every day. Even 10 minutes of dancing with my daughters gets my heart rate going!
• I used to stay up late, but now I choose to go to bed early and wake up (a little) earlier instead. I give myself one weekend morning to sleep in.
• I used to put everyone else first, but now I make taking care of MYSELF a priority.
• I used to fear I would never lose this weight, but now… I’m doing it.

MY WEIGHT

As I go into my 8th week on the Medifast plan, I’ve reached another milestone – 20 lbs gone forevahhhh! 4.8 lbs lost over the past two weeks. I don’t like to focus on the numbers – or toot my own horn – but come on, 20 lbs in 50 days!! 

• Starting weight: 211.6 lbs
• Current weight: 191 lbs
• 20.6 lbs lost, 31 still to go!

REWARDS

I dropped by the Sephora store in Times Square last weekend and picked up a little makeup palette and a Bare Escentuals lipstick, my 15-lb reward! I missed my 20lb goal by a week, so no Broadway tickets, but I’ll think of something else instead. I have my eye on this Trikke, actually. A body-powered, three-wheeled scooter, which looks like a lot of fun and a good way to get some exercise and playtime with the girls outside in the spring. It’s a little (okay, a lot) outside of my budget right now, though, so we shall see. Ahem… my birthday’s in June. Just sayin’.

Past rewards:

• -5lbs: Silver earrings DONE!
• -10lbs: EarBUDi clips DONE!
• -15lbs: Sephora shopping spree DONE!

More info on MEDIFAST! A discount, too!

Does my success on the Medifast plan inspire you? I sure hope so! Use my coupon code, BUZZ56, and sign up for Medifast Advantage, and when you order $250+ of food, you’ll receive 56 free Medifast Meals and free shipping!

The details: For your first order of $250+, use my code, and enroll in Medifast Advantage to receive 28 free meals. Do the same on your next order and you’ll receive ANOTHER 28 free meals! This offer is only valid if you enroll in Medifast Advantage, and it’s limited to one per customer. It’s not valid with prior purchases, any other promotions or discounts, or for Medifast Ready-to-Drink Shakes. Check out Medifast’s website for complete details on the program and discounts.

Also blogging about their Medifast journeys:

Kelly at The Turnip Farmer
Jenni at Jenni From the Blog
Stephanie at Goober Monkey
Alison at O My Family
Jessica at The Unemployed Mom
Stephanie at A Grande Life

Disclosure: I receive free product in order to evaluate and comment on my experiences on the Medifast Program. Medifast products and the Medifast Program are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease or illness. Any medical improvements noted while on the program are related to weight loss in general, and not to Medifast products or programs.

It was Chiquito’s prize for winning the Hartz Angry Birds photo contest!!

Yum. Look at all that amazing stuff!

Yesterday – Valentine’s Day – the girls and I sorted everything in the box and made little packages for some of the pets in the neighborhood. There’s no way Chiquito could use all this stuff, and spreading a little love to our furry friends was a lot of fun!

YOUR TURN: Has anything special happened to you this week?

If you’re looking for a way to save on your favorite Hasbro toys and games then look no further than Hasbro.com/fun for all kinds of deals and savings during Hasbro’s Annual Fun & Game Event, going on now!

Register today at Hasbro.com/fun to print over $125 in coupons (quantities are limited) and get access to incredible daily deals. All daily deals include free shipping! Kids, ages 6 – 13, can also get in on the fun by playing games for a chance to win hourly prizes from their favorite brands, such as My Little Pony, FurReal Friends, Littlest Pet Shop, Beyblade, Nerf, Transformers, Connect 4, Bop It! and Simon Flash. Kids just have to be signed up by a parent or guardian to get their own log in. It’s a simple game – only takes about 5 seconds to play – but Maya loves it!

Make sure to check out all the fun and savings while you can because the deals end in two weeks – on February 29th!

Disclosure: I was provided with a free sample of the toy pictured above.

If you order by Friday afternoon – February 10th – and pay for Express shipping, you can still get your gift to your Valentine in time!

Rancho Woodcut Heart Print $9.95
2 Carat Cup $15
Lenticular Heart Earrings $20
Hug Salt & Pepper Shakers $30
DNA Bracelet $30
Chalkboard Vase $40
Hands Bowl $55
Forget-Me-Knot Ring $65
Inside Out Champagne Glasses $70
Red Square Watch $125

__________________________________________________

YOUR TURN: Have you ever been to the MoMA?

 THE PLAN

I just got my second order over the weekend, so I’ve been trying out a bunch of new Medifast foods. S’mores bar = love. Pretzel sticks and BBQ bites? Yum. The crunch factor is something I was missing, and these definitely satisfy. I ordered more ready-to-eat foods (To Go! meals, Medifast calls them) this time in preparation for our trip.

I haven’t even packed my suitcase yet, but I have organized all the Medifast foods I’ll be taking with me into little baggies. I’m taking enough bars, shakes, pretzels, juice drinks, and bites for 4 days, plus a couple of brownies that I’ll bake ahead of time. Packing the cool Medifast BlenderBottle, too, to make preparing the shakes that much easier.

I’m not going off plan. Nope. Not doing it. I’ve worked too hard the past 5 weeks to mess up now. I will let myself have one delicious restaurant meal each evening, so it’s not like I’ll be missing out! (More like saving money for a little 5th Avenue shopping… ) I’ve already made reservations for each night we’re there; usually I always keep my husband in mind when doing so, but this time it’s all about ME. Looking at the menus ahead of time to make sure each restaurant has a variety of lean & green meals took some time, but I’d rather be safe than make bad choices.

 CHALLENGES

I noticed that my weight loss was slowing down, so I took some time to look over my food logs and actually analyze what I’ve been eating. After talking to my dietitian about how perhaps I had “slipped” out of the fat-burning state, one thing stuck out to me big time. I never even liked ketchup much before, other than for dipping a french fry or two every now and then, but I became slightly obsessed with it the past couple of weeks. Weird, right? I was probably eating it everyday. Dipping some rotisserie chicken in it magically reminded me of chicken nuggets. Adding a little to my Medifast sloppy joe made it more sloppy joe-y. I only had a little bit at a time, but since it’s high carb, I’m sure it all added up. That said, we ran out of ketchup last week, and I haven’t bought anymore since. There are tons of those little packets from fast food restaurants lying around, so my kids can use those if need be.

MY WEIGHT

And what happens when I lower my carb intake? I lose weight, THAT’S what!

• Starting weight: 211.6 lbs
• Weight lost month one: 12.6 lbs
• Weight lost week five: 3.2 lbs
• Current weight: 195.8 lbs
• Still to go: 35.8 lbs

REWARDS

Since I reached another 5 lb milestone (15.8!!), it’s time for another reward. A makeup palette from Sephora. I haven’t bought new makeup in forever and have never had a set with everything in it – eye shadows, lipstick, blush.

I was about to purchase this online, but I’ve decided to wait until this weekend to visit the Sephora store in Times Square. I might just change my mind and get myself something else. Maybe I should just say my reward is a Sephora gift card then, huh?

Past rewards:

• -5lbs: Silver earrings DONE!
• -10lbs: EarBUDi clips DONE!

INTERESTED IN LEARNING MORE ABOUT MEDIFAST?

Check out Medifast’s website for complete details on the program and discounts. If you use my coupon code, BUZZ56, and sign up for Medifast Advantage, when you order $250+, you’ll receive 56 free Medifast Meals and free shipping! Medifast Advantage has a lot of perks, including free customizable meals and a free BlenderBottle with minimum purchase. Let me know if you have any questions!

Also blogging about their Medifast journeys:

Kelly at The Turnip Farmer
Jenni at Jenni From the Blog
Stephanie at Goober Monkey
Alison at O My Family
Jessica at The Unemployed Mom
Stephanie at A Grande Life

Disclosure: I receive free product in order to evaluate and comment on my experiences on the Medifast Program. Medifast products and the Medifast Program are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease or illness. Any medical improvements noted while on the program are related to weight loss in general, and not to Medifast products or programs.

As much as I want to, I haven’t told the girls yet. If I tell them too early, they bug me every.single.day. “Are we going to Disney World today? Tomorrow? Next week? I want to go to Disney World nowwwwww.” Last year I told them at Christmas. They opened a box filled with Christmas ornaments and inside the box I had written “We’re going to Walt Disney World!” They squealed with happiness, of course, but by February the excitement had dissipated, and our trip wasn’t until March.

I’ve debated waiting until the morning we depart and literally running into their room and telling them, “Wake up, we’re going to Disney World!” but I’m not sure how they’d react. That would be fun to get on video, though, wouldn’t it? And it sure would make packing so much easier.

So while I continue to go back and forth about whether or not I’m going to tell them, I will (silently) countdown the weeks until our trip to WDW with a weekly Disney family night, kind of like ‘Family Game Night’, but with a Disney theme. Some ideas I have in mind:

• Eat Disney food! Recreate a fun recipe you tried at WDW (Dole Whips… mmm!), or put a Disney spin on a family favorite. Mickey Mouse pancakes are pretty easy to make, as is a Mickey-shaped pizza. There are some great recipe ideas at Disney Family.com. If starting from scratch isn’t your thing, I’ve seen Kraft Mac ‘N Cheese with different Disney characters, and sometimes you can even find special Disney cereal.
• Do a craft! Make luggage tags, an autograph book (they’re expensive in the parks!), paint matching t-shirts, etc.
• Play a game! Lately, we’ve been playing Disneyland Adventures for Xbox Kinect almost every day. It’s so fun. For Wii, there’s Epic Mickey, Disney Princess: Enchanted Journey, Tangled, and Toy Story Mania. And for both consoles, Disney Universe, Cars 2, and Toy Story 3. Don’t forget board games, too! My daughters’ favorite is Pretty Pretty Princess, Cinderella edition, by Hasbro.
• Watch a movie! I like to record movies on the DVR. Just in the next week, for instance, on Disney Channel you can find The Lion King on Sunday, 101 Dalmations Monday, Monsters Inc. on Tuesday, etc. If you have Netflix, add a bunch of your favorite Disney flicks to your queue.
• Wear Disney PJs! My girls probably have enough Disney Princess night gowns to wear a different one every night of the week. DisneyStore.com frequently has great sales on them.
• Read a story! I never realized how many Disney books we had until I started pulling them all off the bookshelf. Easily a couple of dozen, if not more. Disney Digital Books are fun, too!

Your kids will surely be dreaming of Disney after all that!

YOUR TURN: Do you count down to your Disney trips in a special way? Please share!

This is the first post of a series that I’ll be doing as we countdown to Disney. Whether you’re going to the conference, too, or are planning your own trip to WDW sometime soon, I’d love it if you followed along and visited some of my friends below! Next week’s theme: What made you fall in love with Disney? 

Bertolli, the brand known for their variety of pasta sauces, frozen meals and olive oils, recently issued a challenge to a group of bloggers – choose one of their great new soup options and create a special weeknight dinner for my family. Sounds easy enough, right? The catch – I only had one hour to do so.

Available in four varieties: Chicken Minestrone, Roasted Chicken & Rotini Pasta, Tomato Florentine & Tortellini with Chicken, and Tuscan-Style Beef with Vegetables, the hardest part of all this was probably picking out which soup we’d try first! I have a soft spot for tomato soup, so we went with that. Plus, the other 3 varieties are chock-full of veggies, which to most people would be a great thing, but I know my kids.

I try to involve my girls in the cooking process as much as possible. I’d like to think they’re more likely to eat what they help prepare, but that’s not always the case. Sometimes they just want to have fun and make a big mess, and that’s okay, too. It’s the ultimate learning experience… fractions, chemistry, taking turns, food safety, not to mention the fact that cooking is a valuable life skill! I even give them each their own list when we go to the grocery store – 2-3 items that they’re in charge of finding, kind of like a scavenger hunt.

To keep the girls busy, I decided to have them make some ginger cookies. They scooped, measured, and stirred the ingredients while I sliced and diced ingredients for a salad nearby. I spooned the batter into a big plastic bag so they could pipe it onto parchment-lined cookie sheets in little lines. They thought this was cool (and strange), not knowing that there was a method to this madness. I gave them each a handful of dried cranberries and sliced almonds (which I happened to be sprinkling on the salad) so they could decorate their cookies. Listening to my 1st-grader teach her little sis about patterns made me so proud!

I set the oven timer for 10 minutes. While the cookies were baking, it was time to make the soup! While I was going to make dinner for my husband and the girls, after that they were on their own! Bertolli Premium Meal Soups are meant to serve two adults, but in my case, it was just enough for one adult and two kids. Perfect. I chose this particular night to make this meal because I was on a tight schedule, since I was hosting a babysitting co-op meeting later that evening which I had to prepare for. The fact that I could potentially have a great meal on the table in less than 30 minutes with little to no planning? Priceless. Preparation consists of adding a cup of water, bringing the soup to a boil, and then back down to a simmer for 5 minutes, stirring every now and then. The soup was ready before the cookies.

Tomato Florentine & Tortellini with Chicken is composed of cheese-filled tortellini, white meat chicken, spinach and tomatoes in a rich tomato bisque with just a hint of basil. And let me tell you… it is DELICIOUS! I was the first one to have a taste. The flavors are just right; I didn’t need to add any extra seasonings. The texture is lovely; rich and creamy, but somehow delicate at the same time.

I had Maya and Maura set the table while the soup cooled a bit. They put their festive Valentine’s place mats out, all the silverware they could possibly need, and special (plastic) goblets. Daddy just got a big spoon. LOL. Where’s the love?

The verdict from my girls? Mmmmmmmm! I couldn’t even get a word out of them, not with them talking without their mouths full, anyway. I toasted some wheat bread and cut it into sticks so that they could dunk it in their soup. Kids love dipping things.

My husband said that he would’ve sworn the soup was homemade if I hadn’t told him otherwise. Aww! That’s nice that he thinks that I can possibly cook that well. I was thinking it tasted more like a restaurant-quality meal, but I guess I just don’t have enough confidence in my cooking.

This is when I kissed the girls goodnight, and slipped out quietly. Mommy confession: I lied and told them my meeting was a half hour earlier than it actually was, just so I could go for a quick run beforehand. I needed that “me” time desperately. I did leave a little treat for them in the freezer, going along with the same dipping theme. From what I was told the next day, they loved it.

BUY IT!

These new hearty, fresh-tasting meal soups are available in the frozen aisle of grocery retailers nationwide, including Walmart and Target. To learn more about Bertolli Meal Soups, please visit:

• Facebook: facebook.com/Bertolli
• Twitter: twitter.com/Bertolli
• Website: villabertolli.com

Disclosure: I was compensated by Bertolli to participate in the Weeknight Meal Special Challenge, but all opinions are my own (and my family’s!)

Now I become myself. It’s taken
Time, many years and places;
I have been dissolved and shaken,
Worn other people’s faces…
- from a poem by May Sarton

You hear “you’ve let yourself go…” and 99% of the time think of the visual aspect of that, no? Someone who doesn’t care about their physical appearance. I think it’s so much more than this, though.

It hit me on Saturday, when after fixing my husband lunch, I asked him if he needed anything else. It probably goes back to my waitressing days, but I just can’t help it. I was kind of taken aback when he snapped at me: “You don’t have to ask me that! If I needed anything else, I would get up and get it myself! Now come sit down and eat!” Ouch. I do this every day. I’ve gotten lost in the shuffle of pleasing others.

• I put everyone else’s needs before my own.
• I push my feelings aside so as not to upset anyone.
• I let other people’s burdens weigh me down.
• I’ve let myself go.

Wife and mother… those may be my two main roles, but I know that I am more than that. This journey isn’t just about weight loss; it’s giving me an understanding of who I was, who I am, and who I can become.

Isn’t that a lovely commercial?
___________________________________________________

 THE PLAN

I’ve been on the Medifast 5&1 plan for 4 weeks now. I’m still going strong and find that pretty amazing. I’ve never been on ANY diet for more than 4 weeks. (Read about weeks 1, 2, and 3 if you haven’t already!)

I just placed my second order. This time I chose some of the ready-to-eat ‘bites’ and pretzels because of the convenience factor. I’m going to NYC for a few days and want to be sure I’m stocked with effortless Medifast foods so I’m not tempted to buy something off the street or order from room service. I might make a few batches of Medifast oatmeal granola to take with me, too, after finding this recipe that sounds really good.

I had my first chat with my dietitian last week. She’s so nice, and the fact that I can contact her practically anytime is reassuring. We talked about my goals and she answered a couple of my questions. My main concern was whether I should take a supplement since I’m on such a low calorie diet. I’ve been hearing so much about Vitamin D3, for instance. She told me that all Medifast meals are fortified with 24 vitamins and minerals, which is basically equivalent to taking a multi-vitamin. So… as long as I’m eating my 5 Medifast meals and 1 L&G meal a day, a supplement isn’t necessary.

She also recommended that I take my measurements so that I can see my progress off the scale when my weight loss starts to slow down (which it has). I hadn’t measured since November and feel so dumb for not writing the numbers down on paper. I put them into SparkPeople instead, and when I reset my goals at the beginning of January, all my data disappeared. Poof! But of course I didn’t realize this until last week. I did take my measurements at that point, though, so I’ll give you an update on that next month.

While I may not have inches to compare, I’ve noticed other little things.

• My wedding ring is loose.
• I don’t feel the need to tear my bra off at the end of the day because it’s too tight.
• My favorite jeans are falling off me. Literally.
• The elliptical is getting easier (and I’m actually starting to enjoy it!)

MY WEIGHT

YES! I’m finally in the 100′s… but I only lost a pound, I thought to myself when I weighed myself on Sunday. I let myself feel disappointed for about one second before appreciating that I still lost weight. Maybe not the 2-3 lbs I was hoping for, but something. The scale is moving in the right direction and I’ll never let myself go back to where I was. I’ve lost almost 25% of my goal of 52 lbs, and with every milestone I conquer, I feel empowered.

• Starting weight: 211.6 lbs
• Weight lost week one: 7 lbs
• Weight lost week two: 2.8 lbs
• Weight lost week three: 1.8 lbs
• Weight lost week four: 1 lb
• Current weight: 199 lbs
• Still to go: 39 lbs

Source: keepcalmgallery.com via Andrea on Pinterest

INTERESTED IN LEARNING MORE ABOUT MEDIFAST?

Medifast recently introduced a new customer savings program. If you use my coupon code, BUZZ56, and sign up for Medifast Advantage, when you order $250+, you’ll receive 56 free Medifast Meals and free shipping! Medifast Advantage has a lot of perks, including free customizable meals and a free BlenderBottle with minimum purchase.

The details: For your first order of $250+, use my code, and enroll in Medifast Advantage to receive 28 free meals. Do the same on your next order and you’ll receive ANOTHER 28 free meals! This offer is only valid if you enroll in Medifast Advantage, and it’s limited to one per customer. It’s not valid with prior purchases, any other promotions or discounts, or for Medifast Ready-to-Drink Shakes. Check out Medifast’s website for complete details on the program and discounts.

Also blogging about their Medifast journeys:

Kelly at The Turnip Farmer
Jenni at Jenni From the Blog
Stephanie at Goober Monkey
Alison at O My Family
Jessica at The Unemployed Mom
Stephanie at A Grande Life

Disclosure: I receive free product in order to evaluate and comment on my experiences on the Medifast Program. Medifast products and the Medifast Program are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease or illness. Any medical improvements noted while on the program are related to weight loss in general, and not to Medifast products or programs.