I've done well the past few days and am feeling MUCH better about my weight gain situation, compared to a week ago. I am down to 212-ish again, and have been feeling much better back on my normal food intake. I've stayed at a good calorie level the past few days and it shows, and I have also been more 'on' with my exercise.

In fact, I cycled about 20 miles over the past two days, and will be strength training my upper body today. I have some strong motivation to step up my weight loss while waiting in between cycles for baby #3, so I am really throwing myself more aggressively into weight loss than normal. I am usually a fan of moderation in all things, but I am putting an extra 15% or so into my weight management efforts to see what I can shed by the end of January. It's a bit of a game with myself, actually :)

I am committed to losing weight anyway, but due to some new information from my husband I have revised my weight milestones just a smidge. You see, we're trying to get on a health savings account and off our current health insurance, and we just got a quote from the company we're looking at. I really want to switch off the current system to one that suits our needs better, so this is what I am now shooting for.

The max weight they will insure for my height is 207, anything above that is excluded from the plan. That is just a stone's throw away, so I consider myself insurable at this point. And since we won't be switching until after another baby is born (so, essentially at beginning of next year, if all goes as planned) my next goal is to get as low in their weight brackets as possible, to get a better rate.

The break points for 5'-2" female are:

207 lbs (max insurable - 40% increase in cost)

189 lbs (20% break point)

172 lbs (10% break point)

160 lbs (no increase - and at this weight I have almost unlimited options to go with other companies)

This is a really important thing for DH and me, and it is super motivating because these weights are so attainable now, even with a pregnancy in the middle. I was really excited with this instance quote because these are tangible numbers I can shoot for that have more than just psychological value to me. We were looking at HSA's two years ago and at 260-ish I was just flat out uninsurable for all intents and purposes, and it was so disheartening. But now all my hard work over this past year has had a real payoff for my family, and something I thought was unattainable for me is now within reach. SO exciting!

My new aim for 2010, considering that I am planning to spend most of the year not actively losing much weight (I'll still try to shoot for a calorie deficit if I am not hungry and eating healthy foods, as much as my midwives will allow) will be 189. That is 23 pounds from where I am today, so if I am really on and lose 2 pounds per week it should be easily achievable in 2010. I have a history of losing weight while pregnant (I am usually lighter the moment I deliver than I was when I got pregnant, and then it drops further when swelling reduces) but even if I gain this time around, I highly doubt it will impact my weight loss significantly. I just don't eat a lot when I am pregnant, probably because I have such a short torso there is simply not enough room for food!

Either way, even with another baby in our plans I am confident and committed to aim for 189 by next January. This isn't a new year's resolution, it's a promise to myself. Even with my perceived 'failings' in 2009, I did VERY well and lost a ton of weight. I am PROUD of myself! And more than that, I proved to myself that it can be done, and it's not even that hard. Just a few good habit changes and some accountability to journal food and even someone like me can lose 45 pounds.

So that's that, then. I am working on my next 23 pounds and cannot WAIT until I get there, as it is a huge rate decrease over the current quote and just that much closer to my ultimate goal. And how convenient, that my high school weight and primary loss goal of 160 also coincides with leaving the 'obese' category and opening up a world of insurance possibilities! I am of the opinion that medical insurance is only supposed to be a tool to manage finanial risk (not cover ever single booboo cost-free) and an HSA is the best tool for the job for our family's goals. Despite my weight now, I greet this as nothing but good news for us and I am really thrilled to have another goal to work toward that is giving me more focus than 'general good health and fitness'. I know I can lose weight and be happy without a hard and fast goal, but I find this both preferable and infinitely attainable.

So here's to my continued progress toward 189 :)