What is all this fuss about, anyhow?

First off...I managed to lose .6lbs last week (YAY!) , and I am now scoring a 86.2% on the Fat Test...that is pretty cool considering the plethora of POINTS I used last week...but for the 15 Week Challenge, I am only down .84%. I need to get my bootay into gear, and maybe this week's challenge is just the kick in the pants I need...

Our weekly challenge was to think of ways to reward ourselves for all the hard work we are putting in to this healthy journey we have undertaken....both short term and long term. I am a fan of prizes, shit, I will email Mr. P and tell him I need a prize just because it is Monday, and when he gets home from work he will have a prize for me...in the last two months I have gotten flowers, shoes for the boat, workout socks, magazines, candy (shhhhh), and a million Route 44 Diet Cokes. So it isn't that I am against rewarding myself....BUT

I just wonder about rewarding myself for treating myself the way I always should have been. Shouldn't the journey be reward in itself? Shouldn't my (less) fat ass fitting in an airline seat next week be all the accolades I need? Shouldn't showing my children that any bird can change its feathers at any time be enough to fulfill me to keep going? Shouldn't the smile across my face after completing a hard run be the only medal I need?

ehhh....fuck it. I want prizes. Now, I have to do some thinking about what I am going to award myself....okay, a whole day of pondering why I am doing this and here is what I gots:

Small: a new song from iTunes for every 5 miles I run each week, to be purchased on Sunday evenings to refresh my playlist. This week's will likely include songs from this album:

Medium: All my medium goals are CLOTHES related...every 10 lbs, I am awarding myself a CUTE piece of clothing (or three)...I really have started digging getting ready in the morning, clothes are fitting and it is fun to get adorbs! I tend to focus on tops, because they seem to fit longer as I drop weight...but in another 10 pounds I think I will have to buy new pants, they are getting droopy!

Large: At 199 lbs (I haven't been at this weight in over 15 years), Mr. P and I are going to start getting S.C.U.B.A. certified so we can swim with the fishes! This will include the purchase of a water-resistant/proof digital camera, so I can take pictures like this:

Giant: an adventure trip to the Galapagos with Mr. P after I lose 110 lbs and keep it off for a year...it is an $8,000 trip that I want to take, so I have to save $$$ too! I started a savings account and was contributing $10 for each pound I lost (there is $58 is there from two years ago), but I completely forgot...money is a bit tight right now, but in the Fall, I am going to catch it up, and get more consistent with depositing on Mondays after weigh-in.

My bigger goals are going to take some time...years, perhaps. Weirdly, I decided just this very.weekend that I am completely okay with that. I am really much more excited about our intermediate running goals...the Disney Half in January 2010 (fuckity fuck, I didn't know it would "sell out" and when I went to get the link it HAS, damn damn damn) 2011 (boo) and the 2012 Marathon in ROME (have I mentioned this?).

I really liked this challenge, because it really forced me to think about WHY I care about my weight...while I want to look good, and feel good, and live longer....my main reason is that I want to DO stuff. I am almost 40, and I am about to the stage where we can pick up and go do stuff, but if I am too fat, I will be too scared to try!