Jules... a prelude to our date

Princess part 2, originally uploaded by willemkristina@verizon.net.

I had to do it, I mean, I just had to. And no, there is not a gown to go with these. I did however find a fabulous red jacket last night that I couldn't resist. ( I'm thinking only of you dear one) I want to look lovely for you.:)
I'm looking forward to our date!
I love you,

Kristina

Girl Power and Weight Loss!

We are doing it - an inch at a time, a pound at a time. WOW, can you believe it - we have lost almost 240 pounds. I know my part is small, but 8.2 pounds is a big thing to me. Kristina is having a great success with her incredible recent weight loss but we should not forget that for some of us it takes longer. Every pound is really important to the person who lost it. It means a change in lifestyle and choosing to make better decisions on a daily basis. It means going forward when you didn't see the results you wanted or when you have slipped up and indulged. Nothing can beat the feeling of standing on that scale and seeing lower numbers or trying on clothes that you haven't been able to get into for a long time and having them fit. I have boxes of clothes waiting for me. I used to joke about myself and say I belonged to "the size a month club". I will be packing for a cruise to the Caribbean next week. I am looking forward to trying on my size 12's summer shorts and capri's. Here's to GIRL POWER and weight loss!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I have witnessed a miracle!

I have seen it...No, not the appearance of the Blessed Mother on my wonder bread, not the regrowth of Jeff Woodward's hair, not even the clean bedrooms of my children...I have seen the unmistakably "narrower" Kristina! She came over yesterday, an amazing 30.6 lbs. lighter, and swept me off my feet. Literally. Crushing ribs 3 and 4 in the process. For a brief moment, I was no longer earth bound, she just lugged me right off of the planet's surface, ladies!

It was so great to see her glowing and excited and full of expectation and hope! She really looked terrific and she had the best time trying on clothes that I have just recently shrunk out of. She looked adorable. She made me scared, frightened even, because she is going to pass me up, I think she is going to be thin and beautiful and I will still be frumping away! Oh well, so be it. (I am just kidding, of course.) She just may sweep the awards at the Spring Hurrah....Figures.

Congrats to Krissy G!
She wants us all to see
The more water she drinks
The more she pees

And the more she flushes
The pounds fall away
Until her husband just gushes
With pride as he says

Oh, Babe
What a Babe
She's my Babe
Oh, Babe

(Okay, Willem is a little more articulate than that...just keeping it family friendly, ya all.)

Signing Off
Miracle Witnesser
Former Owner of Baggy Butt Jeans
Jules

A happy recipiant of miss baggy butts' clothes

I saw Julie yesterday and she generously gave me two bags of cool clothes that she has shrunk out of. Most of them fit me wonderfully. There's a couple of tops that I really need to lose a little more to feel comfortable in. But I am a happy camper. Thanks Jules, you blessed me! It just feels awesome to have clothes in a smaller sizes that fit properly. They really are more flattering when they're not hanging on you. :)
I've had a good week so far. I had my fourth workout this morning. Who knows, I may just go for the justo and get a solid six in this week. Now, that would be a first!
Well, here's my numbers:
Day 59: 1446 calories, 9 glasses of water, workout
Day 60: 1,653 calories, (whoops), 9 glasses of water, workout
Day 61: 1,450 calories, 10 glasses of water, workout

Kickin BUTT (not your saggy jean butt Julie, just general butt)

Ok, so we are now learning lock moves in martial arts. It is where you take another persons arm, twist it into a pretzel and squeeze until they wince in pain and hopefully they will "tap" (which is where you tap with your other hand to be released, notification of pain) out. I was paired up with a teenage boy. Unfortunately on my Weds class, it is all boys and one mama, me. Hmmm, it's a teensy bit weird. Or maybe a lot weird. So here I am, all 5'3" of me and what do I have to do to this teenage boy? I have to straddle him. Yup, you read that right. Ok, talk about a little uncomfortable. Glad I have known him since he was shorter than me, and I kind of feel like I might owe his mom an apology. Wait til she hears, "Jordan's mom had to straddle me today in martial arts and do arm locks on me for 40 minutes!". (Oh, and did I tell the story here where another teenage boy in class hit me in the boob? Well, if not, maybe I will later, I am still in therapy over that one) Nice. Thanks Master Chang. So anway, he is a higher ranking belt than me, well actually everyone is. Anyway, I was able to practice these locks on him the whole time so I could understand how they are done (he being the higher rank, he doesn't need the practice like I do). Let me tell you, I was exhausted! I have seen my son do this for years, and thought "He is just sitting there, hardly moving at all, how could he be so winded and tired?" Ha. Never judge what you have not done. It is HARD work to get their arms in those awkward positions, remembering all the moves you have to do and then to do it hard enough to get them to be in pain! So, long story short, I am still really enjoying martial arts, except the boob and straddling thing. (that sounds so bad it makes me giggle) I am getting a great workout and learning a thing or two (or at least I hope) about defending myself. Maybe I will gain a little more self confidence out of the whole deal and not be such a chicken all the time.

Here is today's menu:
Breakfast: cereal soy milk
Lunch: veggie stir fry over brown rice w/ hoisin sauce
Snack: pineapple w/ cottage cheese
Dinner: enchiladas and salad
Snack: banana and ice cream sandwich, chocolate! YUM!

Slow and steady wins the race right?

Here are my stats for the week. I weighed in tonight (WW) and I was down a whopping .6 of a pound! I am rejoicing in this ladies. Better down than up:)

Total bank points used: 22
mochas: 2

Things to enjoy when the scale doesn't obey.........

Looser clothing!

That feeling 10-30 minutes after you've eaten and you realize you are not overstuffed and you don't need to unbutton your pants!

Your husband saying "You're my little hotty".

Enjoying ONE serving of girl scout cookies and knowing you could've eaten the whole box.

We Ate It, We Moved It, and We Lost It blogger site. Encouraging words from friends.

Thinking about the pounds you have lost and picturing that many sticks of butter hanging from your body:)

Your Chiropractors secretary not recognizing you because you look so good.

Working out, feeling good about it and NOT feeling like you will drop dead immediately.

Publishing pictures of your baggy butt jeans on the internet!

Love you guys!
SueAnne

New Goal

One thing you guys don't know about me is that I am an absolute retirement-planning fool. I am all about tucking money away today so that I will have the option to retire when I want. Okay, maybe not when I want - otherwise you could throw me a party next week - but I want the ability to look up one day when I'm 52 and say "Okay, I've had a good run, see you in the funny papers."

One of the big concerns facing many retirees is outliving their savings. If you've planned on 20 years of retirement, you retire at age 65, but live to be 94 - well, you can see the problem. 9 years worth of problems to be exact.

(I swear this is getting back to a blog-related topic)

I was playing with MSN Money's Life Expectancy Calculator and found out that at the rate I'm going, I should plan on living to be 93. Sounds good, right? Well, they tell me that if I weighed 151, I'd get an extra 9 years! Think about what you could do with an extra 9 years: the grandbabies and great-grandbabies you could play with, the books you could read, the time you could spend with people you love. Count me in.

So I have a new goal: 151. I'll just have to save my pennies accordingly.

Pineapple overload!

Hello ladies-
Thought I would post a quick up-date. I have been on an emotional diet for about the last three weeks. I have really been cycling through my own thoughts, beliefs, worries etc. I have been asking myself why I always put me last on my to do list. Big questions hu? Being a stay at home mom and a homeschooling mom doesn't give me much time alone. I have just begun to realize the effect that pushing my needs aside has had on my body. TIME- is a huge factor. It takes time to care for oneself. MONEY- is another huge factor. How can I justify spending money on myself when things are so tight right now. So... I put things off, I sacrifice and what happens? When I see the Starbucks sign I think " ah, a latte', I deserve one of those. I have worked hard and I am going to reward myself" So, I go get the latte'. Now this is actually a form of self sabotage!!! By not celebrating ME on a regular basis with good choices (such as a trip to the spa, a massage, a girls night out etc..) I rebel against the voice that says I am not worth celebrating and give in to bad choices out of rebellion. Does that make sense?
So..... I have decided to celebrate all that I am. I have given myself a certain number of things that I get to do per month just for the heck of it. This isn't a celebration of weightloss, or a reward for having earned something. This is just self care. Even if it is a trip to the bookstore for two hours and one new book a month. Doing this has made me appreciate me more. I am showing me that I value ME. This has added great strength to my will power regarding weightloss. I am not thinking "I need to lose weight, or I should lose weight" I am thinking I am gaining my body back for me! How cool is that!
All this week I have been doing a liver cleanse. It has left me feeling very uneasy inside! I am not having fun with this at all!! However I have been told that a liver cleanse is a great place to start as far as weight loss goes as it is the main processor of fats and aids in their removal from the body. So, for the last few days, due to the complications of my liver cleanse, I have been eating nothing but pineapple! Only fruit the doctor said. So I am now on day 2 and 1/2 of fruit and water only. I must say that I am doing fairly well. I feel pretty good and I am glad to be cleaning out my system. I also think I may be turning into a pineapple. I do know that I will be ready to eat better when I am done with this. It is amazing how a fast of some kind can bring more awareness to you regarding food and what it does to you. I walked 5 miles on Monday and will do weights today. I will keep you all posted regarding the progress of this cleanse.
Celebrate yourselves today, just for being exactly who you are!
Jenny

Hiya

Ok, sorry it has been a while...we have been really busy. I am proud to say that I am doing just fine. The weekends are still a struggle for me lately, but hopefully that will be different this weekend.

Monday and Tuesday this week I ate great.
Here is yesterdays menu:
Breakfast: cereal w/ soy milk
Lunch: cottage cheese w/ pineapple
Snack: two corn tortillas w/ avocado and pico de gallo
Dinner: Hoisin chicken w/ brown rice and green beans
Snack: skinny cow ice cream sandwich and popcorn
Drink: lots of water and an oj.

Not bad! Ok, things are looking up, my jeans are definately getting a little baggy again! Finally! Yippee!

I told you they were baggy!

Here are two before shots...same pants, different color, but exact same size. These were taken by my kids last June.
They were tight...they even had that magical stretch material in them that we all just LOVE...
And today...
Bag city....
Okay, so these are not the most flattering shots of me! You should have seen my sweet children when I asked them to take a photo of my butt. However, this is the evidence of my shrinking self. These pants, a size 16 with stretch material in the jeans, were tight on me in December. I don't know if I can scrounge up a photo of me wearing them before they became so baggy (I did!), but I think you get the picture! I love this!

I have added our blog links to the sidebar.

Total Pounds Lost

I think I will keep a running total of the groups total pounds lost! This blog is soon to have more stats than Major League Baseball!

Jules

A full 60 days behind me!

Well, ladies, how is it going? Haven't heard from many of you in the last few days...Hope everyone is ok. I am at the tale end of this blasted cold. My sweet daughter was diagnosed with a Bladder/kidney infection yesterday, and my puppy had the runs for three days! How about them apples? I have been sticking to my program, minus the exercising, and minus some enthusiasm, but I am shrinking away out of my clothes, which is a tremendous joy to me. I have not weighed myself, my next "official" weigh in day is not until April. I might cheat a bit on that...So tempting. But for now, I am trying to stick with their plan.

Day 55: 1342 calories, 8 glasses of water
Day 56: 1310 calories, 6 glasses of water
Day 57: 1229 calories, 8 glasses of water
Day 58: 1310 calories, 8 glasses of water
Day 59: 1202 calories, 8 glasses of water
Day 60: 1274 calories, 7.5 glasses of water

It feels good to have 60 full days behind me. It is a good start. I would rather be here than just starting out, but I would like that "honeymoon" feeling to return. I think it will as spring arrives. I am so glad that our blog membership is growing! It will be great to see what these new women contribute and what wonderful goals they will all accomplish! Lets unite to cheer one another on, girls! And please feel free to invite other friends to join. I wonder if we will get any men on our roster???

Jules

The big Three- O

I have done it. I have lost my first thirty. Well, 30.6 to be exact. This morning at Curves after I weighed, I walked over to the other women with my arms raised up, like a champion, and proudly proclaimed my success. What a great feeling. What a way to start the morning off. One day at a time, one meal at a time. I will make it to my goal! : )

TA-DA !!! I did it! I found the secret to losing weight ! No diets !!! NO exercise!!! (ok so I had to walk around Disneyland..which is no easy feat!) All you have to do is go to Disneyland and find the nice, nice man in the booth marked Cartoons of you.....and walaa.....there it is!!

(P.S. that's probably about how big my head would be...if it were only true!!)

RUN! Girl Scout Cookies in the house!!!!

Hello ladies!
It has been an interesting week with the flu and all. And the girl scout cookies I ordered from my friend's daughters (before the big life style change) have arrived. I have enjoyed one serving this week. I suppose knowing the point value keeps me to one serving instead of the whole box! It is a good thing!

Frank and I went on our date night. Went to Famous Dave's for the first time. I have definately enetered into the gray area in my food choices this weekend. Still counting, still pointing, but not as many healthy choices. Famous Dave's was wonderful. I enjoyed ribs, garlic mashed potatos and onion strings. Not exactly healthy choices, however, I ate very small portions, enjoyed every bite and didn't leave feeling stuffed! Calling it a succes! Enjoyed the time and my husband too! It's all good.

Here is this weeks info so far...
Day22 (15 pts.) ;4 glasses of water, 3 fruit servings (sick day-survived)
Day 23 (24+ pts); 12 glasses of water;2 fruit and veggies
Day 24 (24+ pts); 6 glasses of water; 4 fruit and veggies (Famous Dave's day)
Day 25 (24+ pts); 8 glasses of water; 5 fruit and veggies
Day 26 (8 pts -so far); 8 glasses of water; 1 fruit and 4 veggies

bank points used so far this week:22
mochas this week:1 (yes only 1!)

Kimiko, Jo, and I have women's retreat this weekend. That will be hard. They feed us 3 squares a day which is good for me, but the goody table is always open. Sweets -my weakness -yikes!

Something kinda cool happenned

Well, guess what happened to me? I just went to the chiropractor to get adjusted, and the part time receptionist, who knows everyone's name, DID NOT RECOGNISE ME. She hasn't seen me for a few months, and so I went ahead and told her my last name. Well, she said, rather embarrassed,'I'm sorry Kristina, I didn't recognise you'. So, this is a good thing, right? It rather made my day. Anyhow, here's some numbers:
Day 53: 1,373 calories, 8 glasses of water, workout
Day 54: 1,334 calories, 9 glasses of water,
Day 55: 1,609 calories, 9 glasses of water, workout
Day 56: 1,449 calories, 7 glasses of water,

Momentum

Dear Ladies,

I am terrified of the scales, because I am terrified of any discouragement I may encounter after all of you have motivated the heck out of me. That's why I haven't stepped on since I joined you two weeks ago.

My scales routine is very cautious. Before I step on, I get in my mind what I think they will say and highball the estimate by a couple of pounds. "195" I'll say before I step on, even though I know I might cry if that's what the scales really show. "Barbecue, chocolate, jelly beans," and yes, Jules, "cupcakes," I'll think, going through all of the bad things I've eaten since I last weighed. And when I step on, my eyes are shut. I have to take a couple breaths before I can look.

Today I am 5.5 lbs below where I started two weeks ago. I feel so grateful to all of you that I could cry. I've lost weight before, but it has never been as easy as it has been knowing that you are all cheering me and eachother on. Thank you.

22 sticks of butter down. On to 40!

All my love,
Lisa

Prayer

Lord,
I don't like this battle much, I confess. But I embrace it as your chosen path for me. I don't have any strength of my own to say no to my addictions. To break and form new habits. To recognize and change destructive patterns. I ask not that you strengthen me to fight the battle, but that in my weakness, you live your resurrected life in me and through me. Clothe me in humility, so that whether I ever shed another pound, my life reflects the beauty of your love, your peace and your work in me. Let me not become so focused on a goal that I lose sight of all that is truly important. Thank you for the changes on the outside and within me. And may even this thorn in my flesh be used for your glory and to bless others. In times of plenty and times of suffering, may my hearts cry be ....Blessed be the name of the LORD
In the name of Jesus,
Amen