This is one pound of butter.  Each stick of butter is 4oz., therefore 1/4 of a pound.  My 18-week challenge is to lose 100 sticks of butter – mostly the ones spread over my thighs, upper arms, and gut.

As of yesterday morning, I have lost 4 pounds.  Translated into butter, that’s 16 sticks.  Sixteen sticks!

As a very visual person, this stick of butter comparison is very helpful.  Not for stopping my craving for anything I can dip in or coat with butter, but for realizing that a pound is actually quite a large mass.  Not to mention an accomplishment.

With weight training, I am expecting to gain some muscle mass, which will show in my weigh ins (as not losing any weight).  Since the scale isn’t always motivating (seeing the numbers drop each week), I needed to pick something else that was visual (that should increase every week by adding more sticks of butter to it to represent my weight loss).  Even if I lose .25 (1/4 of a pound), that still represents in adding one more stick of butter to my pile, which shows change (however slight it is).

What visual aids do you use to show how much you’ve lost and to help keep you motivated?

I cannot even begin to describe the breakfast we had this morning.  To me, it was a very odd combination, but sometimes things are worth trying (and I’m so glad we tried this one).  Worst case scenario, you don’t like it…you never have to make it again.   Well, this morning was a different case.  I loved the creation!   English muffin, peanut butter, apple, and cheese.  Yes, I said cheese.  It totally doesn’t fit with the rest of the ingredients.  It’s like watching Sesame Street and picking which one doesn’t belong as they sing their song (and it’s always obvious which one doesn’t fit with the rest they have pictured).  Well, someone did their homework, because the cheese definitely belongs on this breakfast sandwich.  What a great combination!  I will be making this again.  It’s so quick and simple, tastes amazing, and is packed with protein, fiber, and carbs.  It’s the perfect combination and it’s filling!  What more could you ask for?  I can’t wait to make this for breakfast again tomorrow.

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