WHAT WAS I THINKING?

The Couch-to-5K Running Plan

Our beginner's running schedule has helped thousands of new runners get off the couch and onto the roads, running 3 miles in just two months.

By Josh Clark

Too many people have been turned off of running simply by trying to start off too fast. Their bodies rebel, and they wind up miserable, wondering why anyone would possibly want to do this to themselves.
You should ease into your running program gradually. In fact, the beginners' program we outline here is less of a running regimen than a walking and jogging program. The idea is to transform you from couch potato to runner, getting you running three miles (or 5K) on a regular basis in just two months.
It's easy to get impatient, and you may feel tempted to skip ahead in the program, but hold yourself back. Don't try to do more, even if you feel you can. If, on the other hand, you find the program too strenuous, just stretch it out. Don't feel pressured to continue faster than you're able. Repeat weeks if needed and move ahead only when you feel you're ready.

Well, after having read this with a friend…I decided that this sounded like something interesting. WHAT WAS I THINKING? Me? I am NOT a runner….YET! Yes, it is I that took 20 minutes to run walk a mile in high school. It is a wonder that I ever passed PE. So now it is our goal to be able to run a 5K next spring. Again....WHAT WAS I thinking?

Do you I really know what it means to run a 5K? Heck no! All I know is it means that I run farther than I have ever run at one time before. Honestly if it weren't for high school and having to run the mile annually I don't know if I would have run that far all together (childhood excluded) Then it was fun to run and run and run. So where do I go from here mentally. Because you know as well as I do that I have to be prepared MENTALLY for this.

I have to succeed at this, because right now I really feel like I have failed at the weight loss project. I know, I know...I just need to get back on the wagon, but right now it really feels like that wagon is being pulled by a race car and not just a team of horses. I feel like the harder I try to get back on.....the farther they pull away. Maybe they think they are in the Kentucky Derby or something. Oh GREAT....everybody/ thing is running these days.

Well back to the couch....I mean the training! Week one seems fairly simple.

~WEEK 1~
Brisk five-minute warm up walk. Then alternate 60 seconds of jogging and 90 seconds of walking for a total of 20 minutes.

What? I only do this 3 times this week. Sounds simple right? Yep now if only I had 3 times of 30 minutes that I just had popping out of my calendar. Is it bad if you have to literally "schedule" time to work out. Like I mean...look at my calendar and mark 3 times this week that I can train to run. What is up with that? Something tells me this is bad. But from here I will move forward. I am going to push myself and I have several friends supporting me on this tilt - a -whirl of life adventure.

Garden of SUCCESS

Plant a Garden of Success

Plant 5 rows of peas:

Patience
Perseverance
Preparation
Planning
Positiveness

Include 3 rows of squash:

Squash negativity
Squash dieting
Squash deprivation

Add 5 rows of lettuce:

Let us be positive
Let us take responsibility
Let us be in control
Let us reward our accomplishments
Let us be empowered

No garden is complete without turnips:

Turn up with a positive attitude
Turn up with a smile
Turn up with new ideas
Turn up with real determination
Turn up with success

MAY YOUR GARDEN FLOURISH!!!

This little encouragement was found over at Dotties.

Back and ready to kick it!

After getting frustrated for the last 2 months because I wasn't dropping any weight, I got pissed off very frustrated. Frustration lead to depression and depression lead full circle back to frustrated pissed off. While that completely sums up how I was feeling, it doesn' sum up why. Why did I go from frustration to depression. For me it was lack of focus. Focus on what I wanted for myself. I got lost in the everything but not the anything. Causing confusion? Sorry, none to be had. I stopped focusing on my and what mattered most. I started focusing on the looking better and liking the smaller sizes. When in reality I should have been focusing on the true why. The why of losing weight.
I pause....do we really know the why? Do we focus so much on material rewards, (and I use the word material loosely, meaning that can be anything from new jeans to special cup of coffee to a pedicure) Well I did! I lost my focus. My days started to look like this again.

I was trying so very hard to lose weight because I was hoping to chaperone my daughters band trip to New York. Well that "reward" fell through because my daughter is only a sophmore and the chaps picked are those of junior and senior parents. Fair enough right??!!?? So then I had to focus on another reward....hmm so many to choose from, where do I start deciding and prioritizing? First my thoughts went to...oh if I reach my goal, then I should get to go to Vegas for my 15th wedding anniversary. Then it was, oh if I reach my goal then I will get to celebrate if we go to Colorado to watch the Lancers perform. The list goes on and on. Anywhere from new clothes, to dinners out, to you name it...I probably tried to reward it.

Then it hit me like an atom bomb.

This is my reward, right here.....

No not the roasted marshmellows, but my kids! This is why I need to lose weight. Ultimately for myself, because I am selfish. I mean, there is NOONE that would be ever able to raise those 3 kids as well as I do. I am sure they have all the skill in the world but darnit....raising these babes, that's my job! So the only way that I can do my job to ensure that is to get healthy. In this case, getting healthy means, losing weight, exercising, and most importantly staying mentally healthy. And how can I stay mentally healthy if I am to busy getting ticked off at the things that I cannot control.

So here it is the last day of August and I am setting my sights for the remainder of 2009 and making sure that I am in this for the right reasons, and those reasons are

1. HEIDI
2. MORGAN
3. CHRISTOPHER
4. KADEN
5. DANIEL

AND IF THAT'S NOT REASON ENOUGH....THEN I SURE AS HECK DON'T KNOW WHAT IS.

So good-bye to the 1st 8 months of 2009 and the 53 pound weight loss (which I have maintained during my slacking months, which to me is a huge accomplishment. To be able to eat fairly normal and just be aware of my consumption and still not gain) and hello to the last 4 months and the new me! In 2010 you will find a stronger (physical and mental) healthier, and more faith filled me!

July 20, 2009

Another weigh in......and another 2 pounds lost. So actually since last week I lost 4! But I don't count 2 of those as those were already lost! So the official number is.....

2 (boys)

2 (pieces)
2 (boxes)

GET IT???

2 is the number for the week!

July 13, 2009

This is how my last week felt for me on this eating better roller coaster.

This was by far the hardest week of my program so far. I struggled with many emotions, stresses, stupidities, you name it, I am pretty sure I struggled with it. I by NO means was extra careful of what I consumed for food last week. In fact, one might say I was even over the top. We attended a carnival and that made things much worse.

I mean there are cheese curds, mini donuts, cotton candy and the list goes on and on......

I am proud however to say that I didn't eat any one of these orders by myself, but I shared plenty with my family! If my kids would just tell me "NO" Darn me for teaching them to share!

Anyway.....I was up 2 pounds for this week. Shocked? I am not. That is what happens when you completely let yourself go!! But this week is gone and the new one is here and now it is time to refocus.

S*T*R*E*S*S

I have found that stress still affects me in not so positive ways. This week has been a horrible one for me...at work....at home....I wish I could say at play, but I don't seem to have much time for that these days. :~(

But I have noticed that stress does still affect me. I have gotten much better when I am stressed on how I deal with it! In the past....I would have made sure that I had chips in the house, then I would just munch and munch and munch. Hence the reason that I am working my butt off now to lose the weight. But you know, things in life happen for a reason. So I gained lots and lots of weight for a reason huh?!?! Yep I guess so.


I follow another blog very closely, here, take a look. That is MckMama. She has really helped me to realize remember, that things happen for a reason and that God has this all planned out for us. I knew this once upon a time....but where did that thought process go? Out the window I think.
I wrote about EMOTIONAL EATING a few months back. This is a post that I don't always refer to, but when I do....it helps set me straight. Well to a point. If I still resort back to that EE (emotional eating) way of life even if just once in a while, am I really set straight? Not so much!


So how does God have this planned out?!?! Maybe why is the better question! I mean why did God chose me to be one that struggles with weight? I don't know and most of us don't know the answer to the why's. I guess if we did, then we would know more than God Almighty and that really wouldn't be fair now would it?!?!



For me my answer of "Why did God chose me to struggle with my weight?" is a hard one. Not hard to answer, but hard to admit. I feel he chose me to struggle with weight so that I would realize that life does not need to be that complex. I am such a controling person and want to have things done my way all of the time....that he was giving me something that was much harder to control. Now is this fair? Some might say yes....some might say no. For me....depends on the day. Do I feel it is fair that I struggle daily with weight loss...NOPE! But does my family feel it fair that I control? Probably not. So what do I have to do with this information?
Maybe the better question is...."What will I chose to do with this information?" I will chose to use is sybolically. You know, take the word "weight" in several contexts. For instance, I will take the "weight" of stress that I feel and use it in a positive way, constructively. How you ask? Well, I will use it to push that extra walk, or push to get up that 1/2 hour earlier on days that I am able to be sure to get my bike ride in. Also many times during this weight loss journey, I will start to wait. Wait for additional direction from God. I will also wait for things to happen. I will be more patient in letting things happen without being such a grump. Because of my controlling nature and my feeling of needing to rush, I don't take time to just be patient. My poor kids!
Now I do realize that I am no



but over all I feel that I am a pretty good mom! Yet I do know that I could work on that patience just a bit. HMM.....maybe that would help with the stress level too!

JULY 6, 2009

YEP...THIS IS MY NUMBER OF TOTAL POUNDS LOST AS OF TODAY!!!

With this weeks weight loss of 2 pounds I have officially hit 50 pounds! I just can't even believe it! This is so cause for celebration. Maybe I will head for another walk!!!

I did however treat REWARD myself because I hit my 2nd round of 10% loss. This means that I took my starting weight multiplied it by 10% and first came up with a loss needed of 24 pounds. Once I reached that goal I took that current weight and did the same....and have now reached that goal of a 22 pounds loss. Next goal.....a 20 pound loss! I would like to do that by the end of August....I should be able to achieve that since I have already lost 4 of those 20 pounds!

Cheer me on to the VICTORY!

Monday July 6th pics.....

Well here I am.....50 pounds lighter than February 2nd

I am wondering if I can see a difference that my first pics?

For the first time ever....someone called me a skinny mini today! I wouldn't go right to that, but I must admit that I am looking way better!!!

Bad pictures I know....best I could do with my phone! Here is my new $10 outfit! Shirt and pants. I got the clothes because last week I achieved my 2nd round of losing 10% YEAH ME!

June 22, 2009

Yahoo....this is what I am looking like these days. Next time I post my picture I will be sure to do a pose similar to this!

Anyway....this weeks weigh in....still impressive....I was down 2.5 pounds for a total of....hold on to your socks

48 pounds
woud you like me to repeat it?

48 pounds

12 more pounds and I will have lost 50% of my goal!

June 15, 2009

3 pounds this week.....HALLELUAH!!!

June 8, 2009

This is how I felt on this weigh in!

I lost 4.5 pounds....can you believe it?!?!?!? This was awesome. May for me was a rather slow month in the weight loss area so I was pumped!

Sorry about the minor MAJOR delay in posting....been too busy!

June 1, 2009

Ok, so I am POSTING this about a week late. I did have my weekly weigh in on time, but have just not found time to post the sad news....or maybe it was the fact that I thought if I didn't post it, the bad news didn't really happen. Nice that I can play mind games with myself isn't it?!?!?! Yeah ok, it didn't really work but I found that it was a nice try!
So for my first weigh in of June, I lost........
NOTHING, NADA,ZIPPO, A BIG FAT O!
I lost nothing at this time.
yep isn't that sad? But I keep reminding myself that I didn't gain and that is HUGE! So what did I do you ask? Well you will have to wait until tomorrow's post to find out.....we will have to see if it work! TTFN (tata for now)

June 1, 2009

Well, here are my monthly pictures. Let's just say, they did not excite me like I had hoped. I really had expected hoped to see a difference. Morgan says that she can see one. And what a dear child, she tries to be kind and points out that there are different outfits and different things in the background. So you know mom, that tends to make a difference. Almost makes me want to ping her! But she is a ROTTEN GOOD kid.

May 26, 2009

Well another week zoomed on by. And just as busy as the others! We had birthday parties, holidays, hard work outside and I am PROUD to say that I was able to shred 2.5 pounds. I was completely shocked by this fact while estatic at the same time. I am slloowwllyy reaching my next 10% loss. I am down to about 8 pounds that I have to lose until I hit it, but I am confident that I will be able to do that for sure by my first weigh in for July! A month later than I hoped...but I keep reminding myself that "Good things come to those who weight wait"

So for now I bid ado...and I will be posting pictures next week. I can't wait to send them!

May 18, 2009

Well another day of doom. I weighed in again today and ONLY lost 1 pound. That makes ONLY 1.5 pounds over 2 weeks. I told a friend of mine that I might cry. She then very kindly reminded me of this….”And I know this won't help, but at least you are still loosing, not gaining....”
I should be happy at a 1 pound loss….shouldn’t I? Then why am I beating myself up over this? Probably because I feel like I am working and working and working to lose this weight and suddenly I am not being successful. But then I guess I should stop and look at it, realize that I am being successful because I am still losing even if just in small amounts. I suppose that ANY loss is better than a gain!
Now I suppose I should share the positive….I seem to have lost another inch on my waist. This bringing that total up to 9” lost! I think that should make me VERY happy!
I am quite positive that I am not going to be able to reach my 2nd 10% loss by June 1st like I had hoped. This would have meant that it is taking about 2 months to lose 10%. This time I was supposed to lose 22lbs. To this point I have lost 11.5. Pretty sure I WON'T make another 10. Bummer! Oh well I guess as long as I keep losing!
Wish me luck for the next week.....I am going to need it!

30 DAY SHRED......

If you are looking for a good work out video....I must recommend this. There are 3 levels to it and each work out is only about 20 minutes long. Now I realize that I have not done a huge amount of workout videos...but I do know that I feel the burn after this workout!
It is cool because it does 2 minutes of strength, 2 minutes of cardio, and 1 minute of abs. This cycle then repeats 3 times. Each 5 minute segment is different meaning that you don't do the same strength training each of the 3 times. Also during the strength for instance you are working MANY muscle groups. So while doing your legs....you are also working your arms, shoulders and sometimes even your abs. What more could a person ask for?!?!
The other thing that is great....she has 2 girls that do it with her....one does a more advanced workout and the other does a nice modified. I even find myself doing some of each. But the workout doesn't seem to get boring.
I have done the first 2 workouts. I haven't died yet!!! I love this video!

May 11, 2009 Big disappointment this week......

Today I took a real blow to the SELF ESTEEM.....I was (gulp) only down .5 pounds.

This was really tough to choke. Actually I procrastinated, put off, didn't want to weigh, but finally walked my tushy down to the scale and hit it stepped on it and got that blow. Maybe I should have just had someone throw it at me....two problems solved... 1st I still would have had a blow to the head and 2ND THE DARN SCALE WOULD NOW BE BROKEN!

I decided that I just really need to refocus and get my butt in gear. I have learned that I do have to find that happy medium with food intake and exercise. Because I do find that when I am working out harder / more that I don't seem to lose unless I up the caloric intake.

For the upcoming week. I am going to really focus on the types of foods that I am eating....keep my points the same and continue to work on getting fitness in daily. I am really going to make sure that I commit to journal most all of my food intake and do my best to follow to a 'T'

I look forward to sharing these results with you next week!

OK SO NOW I AM REALLY FRUSTRATED!!!!

I am up a half a pound today! What’s up with that? Again I know that I am not supposed to be checking everyday but I am getting grumpy now. What am I doing wrong?

My only thought at this point is that I am not eating ENOUGH points? Do you suppose that could be it? I am not eating enough?

*Monday I had Life cereal -2 / 100 calorie cookies – 2 / South Beach pizza – 7 / Big ‘N Tasty no mayo/meat, 4 chicken nuggets and a s fry- 15.
Total Monday points…..26

*Tuesday I had Life cereal / granola bars – 4 / Easy Mac and peaches - 7 / 1 pc of chocolate -1 / McChicken and small fry – 13.

Total Tuesday points……25

*Wednesday I had Life Cereal / 6” wheat sub w/ oven roasted chicken, spinach, pickles banana peppers, mustard lite mayo and chips – 10 / B’NT no mayo/meat add grilled chicken, side salad, honey mustard – 8 pts / frozen lemonade – 2.

Total Wed points….22.

Why am I struggling this week??? I feel like totally blowing my points today and see if that jump starts my body….grr…..I am SO EXCITED FRUSTRATED. If anyone has tips or ideas…PLEASE SHARE!

The stess of it all.....

Ok, so I am struggling with this week…..the weight is at a stand still. I know that sounds pathetic when each of the last 2 week I have dropped 3 pounds each….but! My food choices this week have perhaps not been the smartest ok they were down right dumb, but I have stayed within my point range. I have also been working out. In fact last night I went for a 1 mile bike ride and also did Jillian Michaels 30 Day Shred video. This is a 20 minute, cardio, strength and abs workout. Oh yeah I worked on abs on my break yesterday also…..

But here is the problem…..my weight hasn’t moved all week. I know it is only the 3rd day and that I am not supposed to be paying attention to my daily checks because they really don’t matter…..but it is so hard. I am wondering if I need to be adjusting my points. I will do that today next week after my weigh in.

These are the struggles. I have wish I knew the answers.

I know that everyone has ups and downs when they lose weight. Why is that do you suppose? You would think if we are losing weight we would feel good about ourselves, right? But as true as that is…it is also false.

For instance today……one of my co-workers (bless her heart) has been a huge support for me! She always seems to know when I am having a tough day. Not that she comments about how my day is going or anything like that….but she always sends a compliment my way. That is weird for me….to accept compliments. And in fact, I find myself trying to cover up…so that I don’t get them…WEIRD I KNOW! I didn’t exactly realize this until that coworker made a comment and also made it to another and that other worker commented that it has been hard to tell the loss because of how baggy I had been wearing my clothes. Well for 1 I am too darn cheap to go out buying all new clothes for each step of the way. But also…it is sucky completely odd to have people commenting complimenting me.

Another 3 pounds.....

I just can't even believe it. I lost another 3 pounds this week. I don't ever expect to lose anything.....because it is hard to stay focused! I have really tried to add various physical / cardio activities into my day.
For instance....yesterday we were working on raking the yard. Let me tell you, you never know how big your yard is until you rake it! Anyway...I just kept thinking...calories burned, calories burned, calories burned. Each time that Dan said "It's tough isn't it?" I just kept thinking calories burned.
I would like to lose another 3 pounds for next week. I still have 12 pounds to go until I hit my 2nd 10% loss. My goal is to do that for my June 1st weigh in. So I have 4 weigh in's....do you think I can do it? I think that I have set my reward for that goal. When I hit it.....I am going to buy a new summer outfit! I can look good for the parades and Kaden's birthday party. Keep the luck a commin'

April 2009 Results

May Pictures

These are my pictures for May. This is my third set of pictures. Sometime is is hard to see the difference but I can sure feel it in my clothes!!!

April 28, 2009 (a day late)

This was the number for the week. I about fell out of my bobby socks, actually they were rabbit socks! I couldn't believe it. If you saw yesterday's post you would realize how incredibly nervous I was about weighing in today. So this number puts me at 31 pounds lost! I just can't believe it!

At this point, I have to lose 15 pounds to reach the next 10% loss and I have until my goal date of June 1st to accomplish this. I truly feel that I can do this. After talking with a friend today I realized just how proud of myself I should be. I had a horrible week last week and still lost. That is huge. I also had a lot of cravings. I don't want to say that I "gave into them" but I did satisfy them. I so wanted to have chocolate and we had Easter candy left so I had 3 Reese's Peanut butter cups. Not at once....but one per day! That is amazing.

So I am back to HITTING IT HARD! And let's see what I can accomplish by next weeks weigh in!

Another week gone by.......

.....and I am FREAKED out to weigh in. I am not able to do so today because I am home with the boys. (that's NOT what is freaking me out) What is freaking me out is the week that I have had. This has to be the week from hell. Ok so over all the week itself wasn't bad, I just had cravings and didn't get all of my exercise in. That was hard for me. I felt crappy because I didn't work out. This week has to start a better one for me! I rode bike yesterday with Morgan and the boys. Not as far as I would have liked, but it was tough when I hadn't been doing much for the rest of the week.
Morgan was a tough one to ride with. She kept on me. She knows that I am a fan of The Biggest Loser and that I love to watch Jillian Michaels. So she was on me, just as Jillian is with her contestants. It was sucky....I mean GREAT. I think it is much easier to get grumpy at people you love, and I am pretty sure that I told her more than one that she pissed me off! Her response?? That's ok....I am just doing it because I love you! Aww...how can you pass that up?
So...my weekly check in will be a day late. I am crossing my fingers. I was hoping to have 2.5 pound loss but at this point...I am just hoping to NOT have a gain!

an OMG moment

I just was looking at my "OFFICIAL" weekly weigh- in amount and realized that I am trying to lose 116 pounds total. Ok got that.....

but 1/2 of that is 58 (only 30 more pounds to reach that)

and 1/4 of that is 29 (only 1 more pound to reach this!!!!)

Do you know what that means?

I have lost almost 25% of my ULTIMATE GOAL.

April 20, 2009

Wow.....this week I was able to drop 3 pounds. I can't believe it! I for sure thought that I would have little if any change. I have been trying to get the exercise in, but some days that seems to be quite the struggle as well. I have been working harder to alter my points per day that I am allowed...maybe that is helping, I don't know for sure. I guess it is not hurting, right?

Also Saturday I took the boys for a bike ride and would estimate that we went about 3.5 miles. It was tough as the wind was against me quite a bit of the way. Then we got home and Dan was raking the yard, then we decided that we wanted to pull bushes. What are we thinking? Well what my husband was thinking...and saying...was that I should think about all of the calories that I will burn with the yard work. So every scoop of rocks I moved, I mentally counted the calories I might be burning!

I am down to 18 pounds that I have to lose to reach the 2nd goal. This is actually starting to feel quite obtainable. Tonight I won't be able to do the normal work out that I would like to, but I think that I will walk down to Subway at lunch and get a sandwich. I will then probably do some boxing on the WII tonight when I get home from work....time pending!

Emotions.....lead to

EMOTIONAL EATING

Have you ever been biten by the EE bug? Yep that is what I am gonna start calling it...the EE bug. Nasty little thing don't you think. But of course, maybe it is a big fatty bug. Oh "weight" that is just what it leads to is F-A-T. How do people get rid of this bug? Can't hire Pest Pro..they don't help. Wish the Orkin man would help, but he has other pests. So just HOW do you get rid of this bug? Tough question, isn't it?

Well, here are the answers that I have found that work for me.....

• Determine why I feel the way I do. Am I angry, frustrated, sad, bored? For me that is the big one....AM I BORED.
• Wait a bit......see if I am still feeling that way. I have been challenging myself to wait a minimum of 20 minutes to eat if it is not meal time. Yep....usually I am just bored.
• Exercise. Now I am not talking about going out for a jog, or anything strenuous like that. I have done things as simple as play the WII, even if it is NOT Sunday.

I find that if I can eliminate the thought of boredom from my mind momentarily even, I don't have infestations of the EE bug.

The farther I venture into this weight loss journey, the more I find it interesting. I guess because I try to learn more about the different things I am questioning. Just like the EE BUG. When asking this question I did...what else....a Google search and found this site. I found it to be rather interesting. Take a look....see if it fits you at all?

Water.....will I float away?

I have been noticing a trend in myself......if I don't drink enough water, I don't see much of a movement or at least not downward on the scale. So after going for a 2 mile bike ride and working out to Jillian Michels WII game yesterday and being up a 1/2 pound today I GOOGELED "Water and Weight Loss" I found the following:

Eight glasses a day? Are you kidding?!" It's really not that much. Eight 8-ounce glasses amount to about two quarts of water. This is okay for the average person, but if you're overweight, you should drink another eight ounces for every 25 pounds of excess weight you carry. You should also up this if you live in a hot climate or exercise very intensely.
This water consumption should be spread out throughout the day. It's not healthy at all to drink too much water at one time. Try to pick three or four times a day when you can have a big glass of water, and then sip in between. Don't let yourself get thirsty. If you feel thirsty, you're already becoming dehydrated. Drink when you're not thirsty yet.
Do you think water is yucky? Drinking other fluids will certainly help hydrate your body, but the extra calories, sugar, additives and whatever else aren't what you need. Try a slice of lemon or lime in the glass, or if you really think you hate water, try a flavored water. Just make sure you read the labels. Remember that you're going to be consuming a lot of this fluid.
It's probably a good idea to stop drinking water a good three hours before you go to bed. You know why.

This information came from Inch-aweigh.com

I guess I better eat all of my points in a day also. I see that yesterday I used 4 less points than allowed.....

YUCK, YUCK, YUCK

Today is a struggle-
I am craving junk food and I am not sure why...yeah I do know why. I am stressed. Since Morgan got that darn letter (not her fault...we are so proud) I have felt stressed. How in the world am I going to help her raise $5000+ that seems almost impossible. Why do I do this to myself? I am so proud of Morgan about the letter that I can scream- but at the sme time frustrated. Good grief ~ when will we catch a breatk? It always seems like thre is something to buy.
I am very frustrated that I only lost 1/2 a pound today. I do know and believe that part of it is because I have not been walking this weekend. I love exercising - absolutely love it- This weekend I went on the bike with the boys. I pulled the bike cart. Thanks Uncle Rog and Aunt Linda. WE LOVE IT!!!
Help....I have to pull out of this slump!?!?! How do I do that? I know that it is only a couple of days and I really haven't done that bad eating....well until today. I had 2 pieces of a Jumbo Taco Pizza from Godfathers....yes 27 POINTS. Guess who is not eating that any longer ( or at least not 2 pieces) ?!?! Yep you guessed it....ME ME ME!
I think what I really need to do is, get a good menu going and STICK TO IT! I hate to say it but I really can't wait for the evening activities to be done. I think it will help so much! Well I am off to work on a menu for the next 2 weeks....wish me luck! I am going to need it!

April 13, 2009

Well, here we are....another weekly checkin. Not my best I might add. But then again the results are not bad, considering that we had a holiday. I check in every Monday but also weigh daily.....I know, I know you are NOT supposed to do that. But honestly...it really keeps me motivated. If I see a decrease or stall that keeps me going. Anyway, from last Monday to Friday last week, I had lost 2 pounds. Well I was up a pound today....but still lost 1 pound last week. So I figure that has to account for something....right?

But OFFICIALLY TODAY

I am down 25 pounds. I do think that is quick remarkable!

Celebrations

How do normal people handle celebrations?? My body is wigging out because of the “celebrations” that I have coming up. I have a birthday lunch for a lady that I work with. And then Easter is right around the corner. That amazingly enough I am not as concerned about as a lunch out…..I mean at Easter, I can control what is served, and as the hostess you can always seem to be too busy to eat.

I googled the definition of celebrations and found the following……. · Celebrations are a chocolate collection made by Mars, Incorporated, comprising miniature versions of favorite Mars - produced bars. ...en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Celebrations · celebrate - observe: behave as expected during of holidays or rites; "Keep the commandments"; "celebrate Christmas"; "Observe Yom Kippur" · celebrate - have a celebration; "They were feting the patriarch of the family"; "After the exam, the students were celebrating" wordnet.princeton.edu/perl/webwn · celebration - a joyful occasion for special festivities to mark some happy event wordnet.princeton.edu/perl/webwn · celebrate - lionize: assign great social importance to; "The film director was celebrated all over Hollywood"; "The tenor was lionized in Vienna" wordnet.princeton.edu/perl/webwn · celebration - any joyous diversion · celebration - the public performance of a sacrament or solemn ceremony with all appropriate ritual; "the celebration of marriage" wordnet.princeton.edu/perl/webwn

Please note none of these say you HAVE to eat food. So why do we as people feel that we should celebrate with food. To me the picture below is what I would like to celebrate with!

2nd GOAL

Here it is....on the start of my 3rd month I am setting my 2nd goal.

My goal is to lose 22 pounds by Monday June 1st.

When I reach that goal my special reward will be....hmm....hard to think of what to reward yourself with!!!! Got any ideas?

APRIL 6, 2009

yes...Yes....YES I DID IT! I HIT 10% TODAY!

This gave me a total weight loss for this week of 3 lbs! Amazing what adding a little cardio / strength training can do for a person! I just can't believe it. This weekend I found a pair of jeans that were on clearence for only 22 bucks. I didn't think that was bad, so I picked them up! They were 2 whole sizes smalled than what I have been wearing. However I told myself, that they were my first 10% reward. And I thought I might have to wait another week to get to wear them....but not the case! I am so excited I am about to bust!

April Pictures

Here is my picture for the first Monday of the month. I am trying to decide if there is a difference. So hard to tell when it is yourself. Here is last months pictures.

March 2009 Results

How many points can I have????

Here is what I have found online that I use as a tool to know how many points I can have.

I hope you find it useful! This information was taken from this site.

This is just a rough guide. You'll need to attend a meeting to find an accurate daily points target that meets your own needs and profile.

less than 150 pounds 18-23 daily points

150 to 174 pounds 20-25 daily points

175 to 199 pounds 22-27 daily points

200 to 224 pounds 24-29 daily points

225 to 249 pounds 26-31 daily points

250 to 274 pounds 28-33 daily points

275 to 299 pounds 29-34 daily points

300 to 324 pounds 30-35 daily points

325 to 349 pounds 31-36 daily points

more than 350 pounds 32-37 daily points

I track my points on a spreadsheet I designed, it gives me 3 weeks on one sheet. I then use a calendar to take what food I am eating.

3 Exercises...

....for a tighter you. Yep this is what I found and guess what....they are not horrible exercises. Check it out here. If you look at this page, I think it is nice that they give you a variation of it. I am hoping to get started with these exercises this week. Probably tonight.....if you think about doing them and start, let me know how they go!

Excitement this weekend

When I had to send my letter to my Dr to get a approval to be reinbursed for my treadmill, he sent back the letter. With this letter he included a copy of his dictation from my August 2008 annual exam. Well with all of the new information out about waist size and heart disease, Dr P. has started checking this.

Well long story short

......I bought a tape measure this weekend and have.......

Lost 6.5 inches off my waist!!!

OMG I never thought that day would come....

March 30, 2009

The day of the weigh in came once again! Strange how that happens week after week! First I would like to say how very proud I am of myself. I have been working at this new way of life for 8 full weeks now. I suppose it is because I am seeing results...boy that sure helps.

But the offical Monday weigh in......
DOWN 2.5 pounds!!! YEAH
That gives me a total of 21 pounds lost since February 2, 2009

I am trying to reach my 10% goal by my next weigh in. That would mean a 4 pound loss for next Monday...do you think I can do it? I am confident that I can, if I just put my mind to it!

march 23, 2009

Well another weigh in approached today, and I am proud to announce that I was down another 2.5 pounds. This week I hit 18.6 pounds that I have lost. Amazing. I have never lost that much weight on my own without some sort of pill. Ok actually I have only tried a couple. But this time I am achieving success on my own! YAHOO!

Two more weigh in's and I am so excited....I get to have a picture taken! Honestly....I can't wait! I never thought that I would say that, but it is true, I CAN'T WAIT!

This weekend, we were outside on Saturday afternoon playing and I had Morgan go in and get the camera to take pictures of the boys, and so that I could take some! Well the smart allic that she is....took some of me and I must say, I even see the difference. Maybe if I can get it together I will try and post them.

The best part of today's weigh in though.....I even lost over the weekend!

Look what we got

That's right a treadmill. We got it home on Wednesday night. It was fairly quick to put together and I used it last night. I was very proud of myself. I walked 1.38 miles and burned 200 calories in 30 minutes. Not bad for someone who sits at their desk most of the day!

My struggle now.....my children want to execise. Christopher asks almost from the moment that I pick them up if he can go home and exercise. Not a bad thing I guess, but it makes it hard for Mommy to get her exercising in!!

March 16, 2009

Well.....here is the latest weigh in results!

I am down 2 pounds from last week! Yeah I am seeing consistency! That is what I love. This is also what keeps me going! I love that I am seeing some weight loss each and every week. The weight isn't much at a time, but it is consistent.

I had a great recipe shared with me last week for Cheesey Potatoes. The only thing that I did do differently was use regular hashbrown vs. the southern style potatoes. This is a recipe off the site I have linked to the side.....Dotties. She has a great site. She has done lots of the work for you in figuring out points. She also has a huge list of restaurants. Take a look if you are wanting something new!

STRESS AND WEIGHT GAIN......

I was talking with a friend at work this morning.... and she is wanting to lose weight but is not at the point of committment yet. I keep telling her it is ok....which it is.....she will commit when the time is right for her. She said it is just frustrating because she is watching what she is eating and the scale seems to continue to creep up. I told her what I learned (reheard) a few nights ago about stress and weight gain. So then I started my break today by Google'ing Stress and Weight Gain and found a great site. Click here to view. This really tells you many things about why people are struggling these days to lose/keep off weight. There is so much stress for EVERYONE, whether at home, work, or personal committments everyone just has way too much. So what do we do about this?????

I think back to the time that I was being treated for Migraines. My Dr kept saying that they were stress related (and I do think he was right) and that I needed to learn HOW to deal with my stress. How to deal with my stress......that's a loaded gun waiting to be fired. Oh wait...that was just me. That WAS how I dealt with stress...I would bottle it up and keep it in and do my best to make everyone around me frustrated. So a lot of good that did me.....now not only was I stressed but those around me were and that in turn made things worse for myself. What a vicious cycle that was huh?!?!? My poor family, they were usually the ones that got the worst of it. I have learned that this I cannot do.....so I have learned a lesson there. BUT...

I have also and am in the process of learning this new lesson.......EXERCISE.....HMM....kill 2 birds with 1 stone if you ask me. Because here is the thought....if I exercise then I release endorphens and I am happier. Point being....less stress. If I exercise I burn fat and calories....less weight....less stress.....another cycle. HMMM.....ponder that for a while.....read my next entry to get more of my thougts about stress and weight loss......also I want to hear your ideas! How do you relieve stress. And if you hear ideas from others, send them here or give them to me yourself!

Have yourself a stress free weekend....the sun is going to be out!

POTLUCK TERROR......

Do you know how horrible these can be to a person that is trying to lose weight? But I did it....I made it through my first one yesterday. I was very proud! I even lost 1.5 pounds yesterday. YAHOO!!! I thought I did quite well. You know how when you are going to one, you like to try lots. Well I did that, but did it sensibly. I only had 1 bite of everything except the main entree, which was sloppy joes. And the dip that was there for chips....only tried the dip and didn't have the chips to go with it! I was very proud of my self control. And the desserts that were there....oh man....we have awesome chefs in our midst. But again...control prevaled and I did not have any. After my first few lessons, I have learned better.....HOW DO I WANT MY POINTS TO BE USED? On empty calories? Nope not anymore! I want to eat foods that fill me up and give me energy. Today I have to endure another potluck....what am I doing to myself? Well I am proving that I can beat this challenge! Wish me luck.

29 POINTS.....UGG

Tuesday night was not the best night for me.....first off it was snowing, and you couldn't go anywhere, and then you know that time when you have all the cravings in the world! Well my craving last night was for a WHOLE entire bag of chips.....wait....calm down.....I did NOT eat the whole bag, in fact, I ate NONE! That's right....NONE! This would be a first! So next comes logic, I know at this point of the evening that I am just craving and craving salt. So I think, hmm...I have to eat supper anyway, let's have Culvers. It is close and the drive there won't be so bad. So Morgan and I wander (by means of car of course) over to Culvers and I am thinking what I want to eat. Grilled chicken would be the best, this I know....but gosh darn, it doesn't have the same salt taste as a great big burger (mind you I have only had 1 in 6 weeks). Normally I would have the Bacon Butterburger Deluxe DOUBLE, and onion rings. But in my quest to eat "healthier" I choose to only eat a single. That has to be better right? Sure 4 points better. Somehow 4 points doesn't seem like much.

Anyway....I did not know the point values until I checked this morning.

Bacon Butterburger Deluxe - SINGLE 15 points

Onion Rings 14 points

Do you see that......29 points for two items. Thank goodness for weekly bonus points.

Stuffed French Toast....only 4 points

I made this delicious STUFFED FRENCH TOAST for a staff meeting. It was wonderful! Filled with lots of fruit and just a hint of sweet! If you want to get the recipe for this great treat, click here.

March 9, 2009

Well the good news is........THIS DID NOT HAPPEN TODAY!

For today's offical weigh in, I am down.....

14.1 pounds

Is this not the cutest.......

This little black dress is what I can't wait to wear when I reach my goal! I have always liked the looks of the "little black dress" because they are always cute and most often very classy looking. Maybe I will get into this before the New York trip and I would be able to wear this on the dinner cruise. I am not sure if we have to dress up for that or not I guess. Only time will tell.

Wish me luck!

WEEKENDS........

I am finding that weekends are a struggle. Not that I eat in excess, but rather that I don't always choose to eat the best items.

Read on......

Friday night I splurged.....I had a CHILD size Shamrock shake @ McDonald's.

This little critter holds a WHOPPING 9 POINTS. That is terrible. And let me tell you, my taste buds were not quite as happy with that shake as I thought they might be~ Now lets look at this in reality. I can eat that shake for 9 points.....OR....I can have the following

Grilled Chicken Breast (3)/ Side Salad(0) / Parfait (3) / Honey Mustard (1) (for the salad) / Hot Mustard (1) (for the chicken)

8 points

Now tell me.....why would I do that to myself? That's a lot of food for only 8 points vs. 1 thing to taste for 9. Slowly I learn.

Last night's supper.....

Last night we had spaghetti. I love spaghetti....in fact it is probably my favorite meal. This tends to be a stuggle food for me to control. But last night I was proud......normally I would want to eat 2 huge plate fulls but I only had 1 medium plate full. Yes I did have another 2 bites. I had a couple pieces of garlic bread and a glass of milk. However, I was ready to ping my 14 year old that said, when I went for a bit extra, "Is that in your points?" I was VERY quick to inform her that i had been planning for that meal all week and had saved points just for it!

Now my offical weigh in's aren't until Monday mornings, but I would like to point out to my dear darling daughter....that I lost 1.5 pounds yesterday....so yes! I did have enough points.

March Pictures

Here are my March pictures. I seem to see some difference between last month's pictures and this month's. I don't know for sure....what do you think?