The final five...

I thought losing those last ten pounds would be hard. Well, I am halfway through that goal and now on to the final five. I have struggled the past couple of weeks but am happy to say I maintained one week and this week, to my great surprise I was down a pound. So, here I move onto the final 5. Today I am at 140 even, so I am hoping by next week to report I am back into the 130's! And for those of you who enjoy working out at home on videos or dvd's, I have found a new love, it is called "Core Secrets". I bought my first DVD and used it yesterday. 30 minutes of weights and weights on a balance ball. It kicked my butt. It has been months since I have been sore from a workout, but I am sore this morning and it feels great! Worked all kinds of new muscles and I am now on the hunt for more of these workouts. They are simple and straightforward, it is not all showy and bimbo-ee and I am looking forward to some great results. Well, have a great weekend everyone! Thanks for all your posts and great support here. I really feel I would not have made it this far without all of you!
Tina

I broke the 180's!

This is a report from a very stunned, but very happy, happy lady! Holy cow! I knew I would see a bit of movement from the scale, but I did not plan to see the results I did. I had to reweigh myself 4 times just to make sure I wasn't standing crooked or something! As my ticker shows, I am down to 178.4! I have really accelerated the weight loss this last week, and the way I think I have done it is by cutting off my eating at 8 PM. This sounds so easy...believe me, it is NOT! My husband gets home from work Tue and Wed at about 9:45 and he always has a snack. It is so hard not to join him. Last night it was popcorn...so hard. But I did it. And it has paid off. I have also worked out at the YMCA twice, walked around the zoo and went swimming twice with the kids. That helps, I am sure.

Anyway, I felt stuck in the 180's for so long, I was beginning to lose hope. It feels awesome to break that barrier.

Jules

I have been having a Summer

I have been trying to not spend as much time on the computer this summer as "things happen" when I am not paying attention to the 2 year old. Today he spilled the hamster food all over the family room. He is just at that age where he needs to be watched. I can't gate off the entire house.

I am still on track and still losing. This week following my time of the month where I always have a gain, I lost 5.6 lbs. I am eating all the yummy summer veggies, fruits and eating very little meat or bread. We have been swimming everyday to beat the 105 temperature. I cleared off the exercise bike that doubled as a clothes rack and have been riding it while watching one of my favorite Food Network shows.

I do try to read all the updates every few days. I am so proud to be a part of this group of ladies. The support is so great and I get many good ideas from everyone.

Off to fix some breakfast for three hungry boys then for a swim before the sun gets to intense.

Amy (Athenainaminivan)

Living a fuller life!

I am pleased to say that I have ventured out of my house alot with my boys this week. I have taken them to four different parks, within the last four days. This is something that I RARELY used to do. I am the type of person that thoroughly enjoys staying home, and staying in my routine. But this week I've just had the itch to do something with my kids. Now that I weigh less, and have been working out, I have a lot more energy. And I kind of have this feeling like I want to make up for lost time. I want my kids to have happy, fun filled memories of them with me in their growing up years.
I've even contemplated finding a local track in the evenings to start jogging, and taking my oldest son with me, perhaps to ride his bike? I don't know, I just feel different this week. I feel youthful, and energized. That, in and of itself, is an amazing transformation. And I am thankful for this radical change in me. For in it, my family also reaps the rewards.

Powerful Motivation

Jules asked me if she had scared me away, and I told her I hadn't been posting because I haven't been doing so well and am having trouble with motivation. So, I thought I'd share a post from my personal blog here.

Originally posted on Sob'ah My Soul.


My weight loss efforts are not paying off. I keep losing and gaining the same four pounds. I lose them, my clothes feel a little loser, my step a little springier, and then I relax, let myself have a little "treat". Then after a week of "treats" my clothes are uncomfortable again and I'm berating myself for being so undisciplined.

If only I could find the thing that will motivate me even after I've begun to relax. I need a loud and powerful motivation like Mel has found.

In Body for Life for Women, Dr. Pamela M. Peeke writes about finding the thing that will motivate you. It has to be something powerful that touches on real emotions because late at night when you're looking in the fridge at the leftovers you need something that keeps you from letting yourself have a little "treat". She suggests creating a sentence that begins with "I'm running from,..." and then ends with, ",...and running to,..." So, it's high time I created my powerful motivating sentences.

I'm running from tight clothes that pinch and bind and running to clothes that drape my body making me feel beautiful and sexy.

I'm running from belly rolls and back fat and running to sleek and slender thighs.

I'm running from feeling sluggish, tired, and old and running to feeling young again.

I'm running from frumpy and running to gorgeous.

I'm running from brownies and Doritos for comfort and running to the Lord.

Twelve

So... sorry I didn't post my update yesterday. My husband has been taking the computer to work, and I've been running late, making it tough to post!

I am down one pound this week. It wasn't my best week. Thursday I went to Olive Garden with some friends, and decided I was going to "enjoy myself" which I persist in thinking means I have to eat unhealthy. Whatever. It's slowly getting through my brain that I can make healthy choices and still enjoy myself. So two breadsticks, two plates of salad, and half a plate of steak gorgonzola alfredo later, I was full... I haven't been FULL in a while and I didn't necessarily love the feeling.

Also? I learned this: it's still really dangerous for me to venture away from my plan. Because the next two nights, I did it again. Friday we went to a steak house. I wasn't horrible, but did have salad with ranch dressing, cheese, and croutons and a baked potato with lots of butter and sour cream. Then Saturday I decided I really wanted fast food and got a cheesburger, curly fries, and a milkshake.

I've been back on track since then, but this does remind me that eating poorly is a VERY slippery slope for me. It reprimands me and also scares me. Will I ever be able to eat just one "cheating" meal and not pay for it for three days... a week... a month... sixty pounds? I don't know, to be honest.

So for about a minute I pouted that I had not lost more, and then I remembered my little vacation from the exchanges, and was grateful I was still down a pound.

Here are the cold hard numbers. I didn't calculate the calories for the Olive Garden dinner because NO IDEA.

Monday, 7/10: 1183 calories, 14 glasses water, workout
Tuesday, 7/11: 1439 calories, 14 glasses water, workout
Wednesday, 7/12: 1302 calories, 14 glasses water, workout
Thursday, 7/13: ??? calories (OG), 14 glasses water, workout
Friday, 7/14: 1504 calories, 14 glasses water, workout
Saturday, 7/15: 1950 calories, 14 glasses water, workout
Sunday, 7/16: 1175 calories, 14 glasses water, workout
Monday, 7/17: 885 calories (MISTAKE), 14 glasses water, workout.

Down one pound, from 200.2 to 199.2, for a total of 12.4
~Paige

Back on that Horse

I'm not an excerciser. I don't run. I'm not signed up at a gym, or the YMCA. I'm not even all that athletic. So, when it came to figuring out how I was going to get in my 20 minutes 3x a week, I was stumped.

The answer came by finding an activity I actually enjoy, and doing that. Its not working out then, its doing something I enjoy and OH! Joy! I actually get a work out at the same time!

I've added surfing excercises to my night time regime (girly push ups and stuff) so that when I go to Hawaii again in a month, I'll be able to have more endurance. Its pretty hard to paddle out.

So - I am posting this because I am reporting I have ridden twice so far in the past seven days and I plan to get my hiney up again once this week at least. Gotta get back on that horse after a month long hiatius.

Starting the Week off Right

I met briefly with a client today who, as we were wrapping up our meeting, goes "you look really great - what have you been doing?" So I told him about you guys and he smiled.

And I know he wasn't making up the looking great part. He's clergy; they can't lie.

That sure does brighten up a Monday!

Six days, and counting...

This time next week, I will be on Whidbey Island for my reunion. I was just going to do the Saturday, Sunday thing. But I've changed my mind. I'm wanting to do the Friday night get together as well. It's a casual night, where everyone is just meeting for drinks at one of the larger restaurants and bars. Initially I wasn't really wanting to go, because I know that several people will most likely be getting drunk. But then I thought, as a christian, I could go and have a couple of glasses of wine,(maybe even a mixed drink). We could always leave before things got out of hand.
I've been working so hard to get this weight off. This week, I worked out seven times, in six days for Pete's sake! And I'm feeling so good about myself, especially after finding that picture of me from last summer. That doesn't even look like me anymore. I figure there won't be a chance like this for another ten more years, and I should make the most out of this opportunity to see everyone.
So, six days and counting. I can't wait!

Weigh in

Hi everyone! Jeez, you take a couple of days off the internet and come back to loads of posts and inspiration! Our computer room is currently torn apart as we paint. But anyway. At the end of my second six week phase I weighed in a few days early so as to try to avoid the unfortunate side affects that come along with my period. Well, I weighed and started my period the next day (yuck and early). So, now that it is over, out of curiosity, I weighed in while at the Y today and I am actually down another four pounds than I thought!! Woo hoo! that puts me past the half way mark and the next stop for me is the 150s baby!!
I am glad you are all still around and doing so well:)
SueAnne

Whoosh!

Okay, I don't have any fat pictures of me to post at the moment (or skinny ones for that matter) but my starting over seems to have kickstarted quite a bit.

I was doing well for a while before I reset and I kind of knew that it would catch up with me at some point. Since I reset (all 5 days so far) I have been doing really well - making a conscious effort to drink enough water (and a quick aside: does anyone else feel like all they do each day is pee?), watching what goes into my body, spacing out meals so that I'm not hungry, and staying psyched about myself.

Today the past goodness and current goodness caught up with me. The scales showed me down 4 pounds this morning.

I'm eating enough (1200-1400 cals/day), I'm not running myself ragged (tennis a couple times a week, skipped yoga), and I realize that a lot of this is probably water - but 4 pounds in 5 days? This can't be healthy, can it?

Don't get me wrong. If the scales show me down, I'll be happy. I just want to make sure I'm not sabotaging my metabolism in the process...

Here I am last summer... yowza!

100_0400, originally uploaded by willemkristina@verizon.net.

You know when you put on an outfit, and feel cute in it? Well, that's how I felt this day, until I saw the photo! It's a wonder that I didn't delete it right away. I'm glad that I didn't.

Day 186: 1,480 calories, 12 glasses of water, workout
Day 187: 1,361 calories, 9 glasses of water, workout
Day 188: 1,782 calories, 9 glasses of water
Day 189: 1,331 calories, 12 glasses of water, worked out twice!
Day 190: 1,704 calories, 12 glasses of water, workout
Day 191: 1,456 calories, 12 glasses of water, workout

Feelin' pretty

100_3336, originally uploaded by willemkristina@verizon.net.

Wow, I put on makeup just to go to the grocery store! I remember when I'd only where it like once a week. I'm taking such better care of myself now. And in more ways than one.

Feelin' skinny

100_3344, originally uploaded by willemkristina@verizon.net.

These are my capris that I bought at the Spring Hurrah... and they are too big! Yippee!!

I made my 50 lb. mark! (Photos below)

I am posting to declare that I made my 50 lb. mark this week! It is a big accomplishment and I am proud of myself and I am so, so thankful to all of you for your amazing support of me. I am a new woman and I am looking forward as a child looks forward to visiting Disneyland for the first time, of reaching my goal weight. I hope to reach it by the new year.

I am newly inspired by an Oprah show I saw this week. She is doing some things that I am not, but that I could easily incorporate into my world.

#1 Have a cut off time 2-3 hours before bed. My cut off time for eating is 8PM. I have done it the last 2 days and it is hard! Several nights a week, my husband gets home at about 9:45. I like to have a snack with him. No more. I am going to do this one. Bob Green (Oprah's trainer) says that this is the MOST important rule. Wow.

#2 No more alcoholic beverages for me. I have about 4 diet cokes and rums a week. They aren't that many calories, but they mess with my metabolism. This is a sad one for me. I enjoy them....maybe too much. Sigh.

#3 Work out 5 mornings a week and add two late afternoon workouts as well. This will be my most challenging. Not because I don't belong to a gym (I do, the YMCA) and not because I can't find the time....it will be the most challenging because it takes the most effort and I will have to overcome my self image of myself. I do not see myself, fully, as an active person. In Weight Watchers, they called this acquiring an AI and Active Identity. My mom never had this AI and so I never had it either(or rarely). I went through spurts of it in High School. I ran, rode a stationary bike, and was on a softball team, but in between doing those things, I just vegged and did not see myself as an "exerciser".

Pray for me. I am trying to stir up the pot a little here. I am proud of where I am now and how far I have come, but I have more to go. I know the last 42 lbs are not going to come off just by wishing it.

Jules

50 lbs gone

50 lbs gone
Originally uploaded by Shutterbugphoto.

This was taken this morning by my daughter Becca. Before hair and makeup...sorry. I am so happy for my progress. Thank you all.

Jules

Thanksgiving 2001 crop

Thanksgiving 2001 crop
Originally uploaded by Shutterbugphoto.

This is the worst photo of me. It was a happy day, but oh my....I have no clue what I weighed here. It was at a time in my life when I did not weigh myself. My 4th baby was about 14 months old and I would be pregnant with my 5th 7 months from this photo. I had just started a walking routine with a gal I met at the library. She lent me beautiful dishes for Thanksgiving that year. I have come a long way. Thank God for his strength and for his Spirit breaking through to me and showing me my self denial.

Me pumpkins 10-05

Me pumpkins 10-05
Originally uploaded by Shutterbugphoto.

Here I am 2 months before I really got serious about losing the weight. I am estimating that I was about 220 here. I remember the first time I saw this photo. I realized then that my self image of myself was way off from reality. I thought I was a lot thinner and I was lying to myself about the true state of my health.

me 232

me 232
Originally uploaded by Shutterbugphoto.

I have posted this before, it will forever be my reference photo. Oprah says to "Own the number". Well, I am owning it. Here I am at my highest "known" weight, 232.

What I saw at the zoo today made me think....

How much will does that snake have? It wants that lil mouse in its BELLY!
How willing are you to give yourself what your body needs?

And, when you fail, are you 'gaggin a snake?'
Like, when I scarfed down that piece of cake today?