Getting to Know You, Getting to Know All About You

Okay, I am shamelessly going to hit everyone with a meme because I'm tired of speculating about a lot of you. So please, answer and play along!

1) When did you join this blog?

2) How tall are you?

3) What is your favorite exercise activity?

4) What is your favorite thing about yourself?

5) Did you have a specific moment which made you decide to start this journey?

6) Are you bigger on bottom or top (general shape: lollipop, pear, or neither)?

7) Change in yourself you are most excited about?

8) Best, biggest, or most consistent inspiration on this journey?

I'll go first...

Tracy and Jenny I reset your tickers.

Are they right? Jenny, I wasn't sure if your start weight was correct or not.

Jules

Just squeaking into the 170's!

I'm down another .6, which just BARELY breaks me into the 170's. 179.4 to be exact. But hey, I AM technically there. Numbers can have such a pschycological hold on us. It just seems to me like I've been in the 180's for a very long time. I remember how badly that I just wanted to break out of the 200's this Spring. And here I am now, down 75.6 pounds, and feeling all sassy and sexxy. : ) Wow, what will I be feeling like in another 30-35 pounds? I can only imagine...

I got my butt in the shorts!

Okay- about....oh.... I don't know, sometime this spring I bought this cute little pair of shorts at Costco. I deliberately bought them a few sizes too small. I did this as motivation to lose the weight so I could get my butt in them. Well last weekend I put them on, zipped them up and sat down. I was comfortable too. Dear hubby said, "Wow they even look a little loose on you."

Sweet thought because they are NOT loose but they aren't tight either. I am so excited. You just have to love Ralph Lauren Jeans. The shorts are an 8 and so are the jeans I recently found at the local thrift store. No sense in forking out the big bucks for a pair of jeans that I hopefully will be too skinny for in a few months! Anyway I am very happy with my progress. I am down another 1.8 pounds since my last post. I have broke into the 130's ( am at 139) and I am so very happy with that. I am hoping to drop another pound this week but it is the dreaded PMS week so we will see. Can't wait to see you all on Saturday. I might have to do some bra shopping as the girls have lost a total of 4 inches! Yikes!
Jenny

Bad weekend, but good report

I have not been as faithful to my dieting and exercising as I should be. I have been out of town every weekend for the past 3 weekends and am going to be out of town again this weekend. The good news is the scale did say that I am down another .8 #s.

The diffrence in my attitude now vs. then is that I am not giving up. If it takes me 1, 2 or even 3 years that is ok. I am losing and that is what is making me happy. My clothes feel better on me and I feel better about me.

My goal this week is 2 pounds.....

Hanging Loose

Hi ya'll! I feel like I've been out of touch with all of you but really I've just been busy. I haven't gained any weight, I haven't lost any weight, but I feel good.

This past weekend I was at a couples bridal shower (contradiction in terms?) and the bride's dad was joking about his beer belly. So all us girls stuck out our bellies to compare - and I didn't really have one. I was able to pinch a little, but really I was pretty solid. It's kind of nice to look up and realize that you really are skinnier, not just that your clothes are bigger (goofy as that may sound).

Anyways, just checking in so none of you would feel abandoned. Hopefully next time I will have some sort of change (for the better I hope) to report!

All my love to you skinny chicks,
Lisa

P.S. - Update - This is a volcano picture from Guatemala - I can't imagine climbing it again - carrying an extra 27 pounds on myself!

(Sorry it's fuzzy - the flash off the smoke does that and yeah, that's lava, about three feet behind me)

I ordered the Trophies!

Okay, girls, I ordered the Trophies for the Fall Frolic. This woman at the trophy store just can't get over our little group! It is fun to brag about all of you! Looking forward to Saturday. See you there.

I sure wish I was ordering for all sixteen of us...Us Northwesterners will keep you all in our thoughts.

Jules

Hello to Mandi

Hey, Mandi girl, I got your journal today, looks good, girl! Keep 'em coming! And to anyone who might want to write our NYC girl, just email me for her address.

Jules

I'm up to a whole 300 sticks of butter!!!

Translation: 75 glorious pounds G-O-N-E! I made it to my goal a whole week early. : ) I had really wanted to lose 75 by the Fall Frolic. It's been kind of slow going on moving the scale lately, but I CAN see that I've gotten a bit smaller. It's weird though. I'm trying to get used to having men stare at me when I go out. That's something I've not had to deal with for so many years. Part of me doesn't want to lose any more, because I know that the more fit that I get, the more attention I'll be getting from the opposite sex. I WILL work at getting to my goal. I'm NOT going to stop. This part of the journey is just kind of... weird. I know it isn't just what I look like, it's how I'm carrying myself. My confidence is higher than I think it's ever been, which is TOTALLY cool!

Checking in

Hello Ladies,
I've finished my first 6 weeks of eating better and exercise (9/11). I've lost 10 pounds but have been holding steady for weeks now (I haven't gained or lost any weight). I know this is journey for me is a marathon and not a sprint. So my sense of accompishment isn't just what the scale or the measuring tape says. Accompishment for me is also adding to or taking something from my habits or thought processes, that push me towards my end goal.

One accomplishment that I am proud of is the commitment to exercise I have gained over the past 6 weeks.

These are the areas I will work on over the next couple of weeks.

1. Cook on Friday nights instead of going out with hubby.
2. After my morning walk, do my ab exercises. I've been really inconsistent with that part of my work out routine.

Everyone have a great week and I will see you at the fall frolic.
Kimiko

I have been eaten alive and spit out, piece by piece!

Come and peel me off the floor, ladies...I went to my FIRST ever Pilates class today at the YMCA. I am no longer the woman you once knew. Something has rocked my core, spit out my soul, and shredded my very being. I came close to tears three times, almost vomited my 1/2 banana once, and felt like I was being interrogated by Jack Bauer's torture agents. Other than giving birth, it was the hordest physical thing I have ever endured. I know you are laughing, but I am completely serious. And the verdict is....I will be back. Pray for me, mind, body and soul.

Love and aches and pains,
Jules

wowzers!!

Well,
after all the stress of this summer and weight I gained back (don't know exactly how much-i was too scared to even look) i had the gutts to weigh in this afternoon when I was at the Y. Yes, I actually followed my plan and worked out! Anyways, I am down 2.5lbs since the last time I weighed in about two weeks before I moved here. So that is REALLY encouraging. It means I've lost quit a bit more than that. So now I'm determined to keep up working out after school, it really felt good. It helped to get all the stress off my back from the school day.
On the city note, I'm getting to like the city more and more, but still miss the comforts of home. I' sure it'll keep getting better though. I had SUCH a great time at the sports bar the other day watching my boys play ball. I actually met about a dozen seahawks fans all from the Northwest!! like from kirkland and bellevue!! so awesome, and we are probably going to enjoy the season all together! :)
At any rate, I'm on my way to my goal again. I have less than 20 pounds to go!! only 19.5! I can't even believe it! :)
Have a great week, Mandi

Guess who bought her first pair of 10's?!?!

That would be a pair of low rise, boot cut levis. You guys, I CANNOT believe that I can wear a size 10 jean! I haven't worn a size 10 pretty much since High school. I did own a skirt in that size about ten years ago. But a pair of jeans is a whole 'nother ball game. : ) I'm so excited. I keep having to look in the mirror at my butt. It's like, I can't believe that that body part is actually attached to me. ME! I had gotten accustomed to seeing such a different image in the mirror. I just feel so good about myself. : ) Oh, BTW, in case you didn't know, the largest pair of pants that I ever wore were a size 22!!!

*thud* *thunk* *roll* *clamber* *scratch*

Those are the sounds of me falling off the wagon and climbing back on.

This week I went to a wedding, which I was in. I left on Wednesday and returned home last night. I ate too much, drank too much, and made far too few attempts to exercise. Sad. I also gained something around four pounds, but I can't concentrate on that because it's depressing.

Son, instead I'm going to focus on climbing back on our wagon. I exercised this morning, and have big plans to eat well, start drinking my water again, and keep exercising all week. It actually feels good to be climbing aback on. It just doesn't feel good to be rolling around on the side of the road with the muck.

See you ladies there!

New Workout Routine

Hey girls. Life is busy right here in the great state of Texas and chaos. Thought you all would life to see my new personal trainers. We do this workout each night for 30 minutes. Amazing results.



All joking aside, the business of fall has but my eating in danger but I am leaning on God and asking for extra help to make it through snack time during Sunday night church, the goodies people bring to Bible Study, Pot luck dinner at church, homeschooling, well....life in general!!

Amy

Go Seahawks!

Hey ladies,
Just wanted to let you know I won't be deprived today of the game, I found a sports bar near where I live that plays all the games! Sweet!
On the food note, I've been doing well, although this weekend I ate a little over 1200 both Friday and Sat, so today is a new day. Now that my first week of school is over, I plan on incorporating working out after work at the YMCA. I have a membership there, but have barely used it, so I need to jump on the machines there and look at it like a treat to myself. That will start tomorrow after work. I had a dream last night that I flew home for the weekend to see everybody and was home for the Prism meeting, and when I went it happened to be the week for weighing in, and I didn't have any idea where I was because i haven't weighed in. So I think I better do that soon. It's been six weeks since we weighed in last right jules? feels like it.
:) Hope you're all well!
Mandi

Just reporting I rode again this week - which makes only twice, but that's two more than NONE!

I haven't been as good at water as I should be, and I've not eaten enough today, but I'm determined to make a better day of it tomorrow. Who knows, maybe I'll even get my butt up on the horse again.

YeeeeeHa!

Pray for Kristina this weekend....

Today and Sunday are very significant days in our dear Kristina's life. Eleven years ago, her sweet, firstborn son was born and then past into a new life in Heaven before anyone was prepared to say goodbye. You can read her tribute to Josiah here. I had the privilege of being there for Kristina and Willem during this time...It is an honor I will never forget. We are bound together in a special way.

Love and concern,
Jules

This will crack you up, a young man made me blush!

I was turning out of the grocery store parking lot, and was yeilding for this little pick up to turn first. I looked at the passengers, who were two young men, approximately twenty years of age. AND, one of them blew me a kiss. Not with his hand, but with his mouth. There was no mistaking it. That guy was majorly flirting with me! Oh man, I could have been his mother. If he only knew. Anyhow, I can tell you this, that wouldn't have happenned 73 pounds ago. I must be lookin' pretty darn good. : )

Still going......

I have been doing well! I lost another 1.25 inches since I last posted. The gym has been missing me. When ever the weekend comes up it seems like the days fly by and I don't go. This week has been rough too, getting my fanny there too. No excuses...right. Also...that is when I weigh-in so now I can't report my weight loss until I get there.

My pants are getting loose, it is so exciting!!! I can't wait until I get into the next size smaller. On Friday's we get to wear jeans at work, every week I have been trying on my old jeans hoping it will be the time that they will fit. Last week I got them button zipped and sat down...didn't think I could make it a whole day.

Wish I could go to the Fall Frolic and meet you lovely ladies. Maybe next year I can make arrangements to stay with you Jules.

Will post my loss later...