Checking in and feeling good

Hi everyone!

Just posting my numbers for this week. I am still not weighing in, but I am comfortably back into my size 14 jeans with room to breath! And tanking it in one more notch on my belt! Woo Hoo!

Day 15: 1154 calories, 12 glasses of water
Day 16: 1237 calories, 13 glasses of water, workout
Day 17: 1214 calories, 10 glasses of water
Day 18: 1101 calories, 10 glasses of water, workout
Day 19: 1120 calories, 12 glasses of water, workout
Day 20: 1284 calories, 8 glasses of water, ate "forbidden" food ( a tortilla out for Mexican)
Day 21: 1200 (projected) calories, 10 glasses of water

Have a great week!
SueAnne

Silent for awhile

I haven't posted for awhile. Sorry. I seem to be getting back on track. I have been so impressed and inspired by you all and the dedication you have all shown toward your own weight loss journeys. Thank you for sharing your energy with me. I'll try and do better about getting on board. I think I've been stagnant because I haven't been dissatisfied enough about the way I look. Maybe I need to go swimsuit shopping. That always bums me out enough to get me back on track (tee hee). I have had three weeks of success and hope for another this week. I'll let you know.

Can We Make it FIVE? - Oh Yeah - UPDATE!

I was challenged by the horse trainer I work with at www.napoleonltd.com to ride four times a week. Its part of my 'fibromyalgia relief plan' I've developed....but its been toooo darned hard until

Last week
and



THIS WEEK! - I even rode FIVE TIMES (updated post from Saturday)

Yeeeehhhhaaaa! I rode five times again this week! That makes nine times in two weeks!
SueAnne, who can understand fibro, will understand how HUGE this is for me. Thanks for giving me a place to cheer about it!

I am back!

Hi ladies, I know that it has been months since I last posted anything here. Forgive me. I have been seriously involved with my husbands recording project and haven't had any time. Also during that project it was an eat on the fly, think about it later kind of thing. I am happy to say that we are finished with step one of his CD and the last two weeks have been redirected to my weight loss goals. I have been limiting my calories and keeping a food journal. I have also been hitting the gym about 4 days a week. I weighed myself yesterday and have lost 1.6 pounds. I know it isn't much but I tell you what it is a start. My first goal it to get below 150. I have 6.3 pounds to lose in order to achieve that. Ultimately I want to lose 30 pounds. I am gauging my success more or less with my body fat % versus weight so I may adjust the 30 pound goal later. Anyway, just wanted to check back in and let you all know that I am one pound into my journey. Just a little step but a motivational one just the same!
Jenny

I'm reaching for the 100's!

There are just 3.3 pounds between me and breaking into the 100's. I am a happy girl. I've lost a total of 51.5 so far. I'm more than half way there. I hope that I can make into the hundred pound zone by the time of the Spring Hurrah. Wouldn't that be awesome? Even if I'm not able to, I feel like I have a lot to be happy about.

Day 114: 1,561 calories, 14 glasses of water, workout
Day 115: 1,510 calories, 13 glasses of water, workout
Day 116: 1,516 calories, 9 glasses of water, ( No Curves today, but I did spend about 1 1/2 hours mowing my lawn. Does that count?)

Did anyone see Dr. Oz on Oprah?

Okay, so most of you know that I am an Oprah fan. And for good reason, I say! Dr. Oz was on her show this week and he went over some very important information on how we all can live longer, more quality filled lives. Here are the FIVE big no-nos for our body. You can discover these no-nos by reading your labels, women that I love. Please take the time to read the labels, for your sake and for your kids and hubbies sakes, too.

Big No-No number ONE: Sugar !!! Highly addictive, messes up your immune system and your insulin system. Puts weight on and masquerades as an energy source then kicks your butt as it drops you like a bad habit.

Big No-No number TWO: High Fructose Corn Syrup (this stuff is so bad, it messes with the all important hormone that tells your brain when your tummy is full...so you keep eating!)

Big No-No number THREE: White flour: Don't be fooled, if the word enriched is in there next to flour, even wheat flour, it means they have taken all the good stuff out and then added a man made vitamin sprinkle to it and called it enriched.

Big No-No number FOUR: Hydrogenated Oils or Trans fat: Normal good oil has a short shelf life, so scientists figured out a way to add hydrogen to it which lengthens the time a product can stay on a shelf and not spoil. The problem is that our body does not recognize this as food. It doesn't know what to do with it. It has the consistency of Crisco and it stays in our arteries, blocking them.

Big No-No number FIVE: Saturated Fat: fats that come from an animal source. These fats are easy to see. They remain solid at room temperature. These also greatly clog the arteries. Now is butter better than margarine? Absolutely! Butter is a natural product that our bodies understand and know what to do with, while margarine is man made and filled with the trans fats spoken in No-No number FOUR.

Check this out for more info.

Love you guys!
Jules

dying to shop!

Hey ladies,
can i just tell you how excited I am to go on our shopping trip? my clothes are starting to hang out me and its driving me nutts! I don't like feeling frumpy, but i also don't like spending money! what is a girl to do? So i have a few outfits that still look okay, not great, but okay. I've got like 150$ just burning a hole in my pocket for old navy and some serious sales racks. less than two weeks away!
thanks for all the support! i love reading how everyone is doing, i'm still pluggin along, and doing great!
Mandi

My clothes are getting looser:)

Hello everyone!
Since I am not supposed to weigh in until May 29, I can only share that my clothes are definately getting looser! It feels so good and I am pulling out shirts that I have just not been able to wear because they couldn't cover my big butt that was spilling up and out of my pants (I gain everything there!). I am feeling great! I have energy! I miss certain things, but I am learning new things! Woo Hoo -17 days sober from sugar! I made it through two birthday parties in one day without cake! WOW!
SueAnne

Spring Hurrah

Hey Jules,
Since the Spring Hurrah is 2 1/2 weeks away, do you have any details for the plan? ( I am a planner, can you tell?) Anyway, you know, time ? Place? etc? My kids have T-ball games, but we plan to come anyway. Just would love to meet everyone, but I have to make some plans to fit it all in:)
Love ya!
SueAnne

Thank you Ladies...I feel like a new woman this morning!

I am so glad that this blog has become a soft place to fall for even me. My once a month downward spiral hits me hard and you are all there to encourage me. Thanks. I am so, so human and though I feel motivated most of my life, I have moments of ickiness. It is the terrible self-examination mode that puts me in a tail spin. I can never please myself when that happens. I always feel so far from the mark. I know it is 99% hormones, and in yesterdays case, fatigue. Thank you for picking me back up. You are all so forgiving and supportive to me! We are truly in this thing together, aren't we?

Thanks again and have a terrific day out there!

Jules

Quote of the week...

My 69 year old neighbor said something to me that just really put a smile on my face. A few days ago they said; 'Hey skinny, where's your butt?!' There are a few things that I never imagined I would ever hear, and that was one of them. :)
We completed our remodel job Saturday night, and had a family party here on Sunday afternoon, and I had decided in advance, that I wasn't going to journal on Sunday. That lead to not journaling on Monday as well. So now it is Tuesday, and I've had my workout and bowl of cheerios. I'm back to life as normal, with no more 'Fun' foods. But hey, we're only 2 1/2 weeks away from the Spring Hurrah, and I've got all of you ladies to impress. :) I'm glad that there is no condemnation. I used to be very severe on myself if I had any "Illegal" foods for a day. All I can do is make right decisions for TODAY. Knowing that my body will reward me as I am faithful.

Day 111: 1,490 calories, 8 glasses of water, workout
Day 112: no journaling
Day 113: no journaling, workout

Two weeks sober

Hello everyone!
I am 15 days sober from sugar! Woo hoo! It has been quite difficult at times, but ultimately rewarding. I can't post all of my numbers because I gave my food journal to my leader, but I have stuck with it and feel great. I still struggle with emotional cravings at times, but I am amazed and hopeful. I hope you all are well:)

Day 15: 1,154 calories,12 glasses of water

Have a great week!
SueAnne

Woo Hoo!

I actually rode FIVE times last week. I am very pleased. I had more energy last week with the sunshine, and had to take less pain meds. Just though you all would celebrate with me!

I better log in...Warning, grumpy woman alert.

My tide is out, girls....The ship has left the shore....I am irritable and grumpy and easily set off....It will only last for a few days, but still, that is where I am. Yuck. My poor kids. Someone save them from me. Ha! Although I feel like it is the other way around at the moment. I need saving. Definitely.

I had a terrific weekend doing the Global Night Commute and expanding my heart and soul to the hurting. Mercy is pity in action. That is my main gifting, I believe. It can be an exhausting one, though. I created a new blog (like I need one, right?) to document our journey with the children in Uganda. www.invisible-children.blogspot.com Check it out. I need attention. Lots of it. Ha!

I have been playing the "journal catch up game". Not fun. I have been sneaking nibbles and discounting the importance of my water consumption and I need to just STOP IT NOW. So, here is my attempt at dietary honesty, fessing up to you girls and posting my newest numbers.

On the up side, people are noticing the change in me more, and I am noticing my body changing. It is encouraging. Little things like riding horses and not feeling sorry for the horse that it has to carry me. Ha. And I can put my hands on my back and feel the curve there. I can see the curves and feel the bones that have been hiding for so long. I can even fit my voluptuous self into some of my husband's size medium tshirts.

Here are my numbers:

Day 106 to 108: Women's retreat. Ate legal foods, but did not journal. Felt terrific about my choices here, though.
Day 109: 1284 calories, 8 glasses of water, bee pollen
Day 110: 1399 calories, 8 glasses of water, bee pollen
Day 111: 1402 calories, 3 glasses of water, (fighting the water thing today)
Day 112: 1304 calories, 8 glasses of water
Day 113: 1246 calories, 5 glasses of water
Day 114: 1317 calories, 8 glasses of water
Day 115: 1322 calories, 8 glasses of water

Thanks for being here for me. Send me some prayers today.

Jules

Do the Math

SueAnne's post about not being obese got me thinking... There are so many "ideal weight calculators" out there that give such different results that sometimes it can seem impossible to determine which one to believe.

So I figured I would post the height/weight formula for the National Institutes of Health. It takes a calculator, but I think it's a pretty good measure.

1) Take your weight in pounds
2) Divide your weight by your height in inches
3) Divide by your height in inches again
4) Multiply that number by 704.5

That will give your index number. An index number between 20 and 25 is "normal." 25-29 indicates a "warning zone" - you're overweight but it is not a clear danger to your health. Over 29 is considered obese.

My goal weight will leave me at 21.7. What about you guys?

A couple of pictures for posterity

Well, here I am, posting more pics. But hey, I've lost 50.8 pounds! A 3.8 pound loss for the week! WHAT IS GOING ON WITH MY BODY?!?!? I'm not really quite sure, but I can tell you this, I'm lovin' it! And might I add, so is my husband. : )

May I have a drum roll please?

I am back on line and am here to say that this morning I hit the 50 pound mark!! Fifty pounds exactly. :)I'm half way there people. And, may I say, that I am starting to "feel" thin? I know that I still have a long ways to go, but I feel so great about what I have accomplished so far. Just to be able to say out loud, that I've lost fifty pounds, is a pretty darn cool thing for me. :)
Thank you ladies for all of your ongoing support. Having you all here pulling for me, really has made all of the difference in the world!

Day 108: 1,428 calories, 10 glasses of water, workout
Day 109: 1,494 calories, 11 glasses of water, workout
Day 110: 1,394 calories, 11 glasses of water, workout

Invisible Children

Hey all, Jules here, putting on her Poor White Oprah hat today. Go on over to my other blog and read all about a new cause our family is involved in. It will break your heart and it will excite you that there is an opportunity to make a difference in the lives of children in Northern Uganda. And please, check out this amazing website! These three young men and the others who have joined them in making a dream a reality, have literally thrown every creative idea and talent at this problem in very new ways. Don't miss their video clips, they are both hilarious and shockingly real.

Have a great day!
Jules

PS Praying for Lisa, SueAnne, and Athena today!

Ooops

Ooops! Oh Lisa, in my zeal to change my ticker, I accidentally overwrote yours instead! I am so sorry!!!!!
SueAnne

Officially NOT obese:)

Hello everyone,

My next lesson will strictly forbid me from stepping on the scale again until May 29. (Good reasons for this-changing my relationship with the scale). I could tell I had probably reached my first goal because my clothes are getting looser and I really wanted to update my Ticker-so I weighed at the YMCA yesterday and woo hoo! I am down 10.5 all together and, by the skin of my teeth, I am no longer "officially obese". This is exciting and wonderful, but the changes taking place inside are even better. I am weary and irritable at the end of the days, but I am flying in victory each morning! Loving it! So here are a couple of numbers. For now, my Ticker will remain. (For now:)

Day 10: 1,117 calories, 12 glasses of water,
Day 11: 1,064 calories, 13 glasses of water, workout

Have a great weekend!
SueAnne