OK, this is going to be close. I have really worked hard and according my scale I should make the 5% but we shall see what the Lean Living scale says. I really hope things go well, if it doesn't I wish everyone the best, keep up the good fight, and remember slow and steady wins the race. It took me 28 months to lose over 50 pounds. I am healthier though the arthritis still acts up when it is cold and rainy.

Slovenian eat an Easter breakfast meal of blessed food. Traditionally the food includes Slovenian sausage, ham, hard boiled eggs, some type of bread and of course shaved horseradish root. Yes, I ate this for morning meal after church but a once a year tradition is just that. On the upside, spent the rest of the day fishing for about two hours and then came home and cleaned up the sticks in the yard, and took down a fence. So I think I exercised my meal away. Have to admit it will be close for me on Saturday. I am close to that 5% but not quite there yet. Good luck to all who are struggling like me!

Cori's weekly update real hit home! My plateau seemed to be the stress of life. We often forget how stressful our lives are, whether it is work, going back to school, or taking care of the family, and sometimes it is all of these. It is also difficult with the weather we have had this year, cold and snow. Now that the weather has finally warmed up it is time to get out and do some yard work. Like Cori says mix it up, my favorite is being outside and hitting the volleyball around with my girls. I love gardening so I spent Saturday pulling weeds, turning the beds and raking the leaves. So get out and have fun!

WOW, how the weekend has flown by, but doesn't it always? The busier one is the less one has time to think about food. Had to do a work event on Saturday so made sure to pack healthy snacks to nibble, came home and spent four hours outside getting the garden ready for planting. I did remember to hydrate so I never got those dizzy spells from bending over and standing up. Sunday was spent doing homework and a little bit of shopping. This was a great week for me and am very happy to say I included healthy eating with physical activity.

Well, let's see what I can do. I have three weeks to lose 5% of my body weight. Really don't want to be left behind. I know I don't have much to lose, but I am determined, I can and I will succeed. Stress has greatly diminished, time to relax and get the job done!

Well, I have lost two pounds since the weigh-in, GO FIGURE! Just got done talking with Cori and discussed how influential stress can be on weight loss.  My problem is cortisol. Yes, I was highly stressed in April. So here is how cortisol may effect you. Cortisol has a job and that is to replenish our body after stress has passed, unfortunately, it hangs around a lot longer than it should. It can remain elevated for a long time, and this is what increases our appetite and ultimately driving us to eat more.  Of course cortisol is a good thing when in a stressful situation and one is in physical danger, it allows us to fight or flee, unfortunately since our system cannot differentiate between danger and stress, it responds to the stress with the hormonal signal to replenish nutritional stores - which is what makes us eat. Yes, I will admit, I was rabid for donuts. Now that my stress has been relieved, I have lost two pounds and feel like I am back to were I should be.