The weighting game...learning to live healthier!

Mom and other things on my mind...

2011-10-02T03:54:00.000-07:00

Well, here it is 6:30 am and I'm wide awake. I've probably been awake sinc 5:15 or so. I've just got so much on my mind. As you can tell, I've been MIA for quite some time. There are several reasons for that. This year has been one of the hardest of my life.

I started school back in September of last year in order to obtain my Masters in Business. Everything was going well with that until January of this year, when my mother had a stroke. Talk about a heart breaking situation. It was so hard to see your mom doing so well one day and then the very next day completely be unalbe to walk or talk very clearly. This was especially hard considering I almost lost her before I was married 3 years ago due to gastric bypass and posioning of her blood system.

Thankfully she survived the stroke and is continuing to get better. Most of the paralysis has healed. She is walking again and even driving. Her speech is very clear and her face is no longer drawn. They just told her that she would probably only get 60% of the use of her hand back recently. That was another heart wrenching thing for her and for me as well. I want my mom back the way she was. Maybe that is selfish. So, I continue to ask prayers for her. I know God can heal her because he has thus far. I told her not to listen to what the therapist said about her hand coming back...that he was not God and he has no way of fulling knowing if this was the case.

Now here it is October, I have 7 more weeks of school left before I'll be done. I cannot wait for the day. I honestly at times wish I wouldn't have began this program, especially knowing what I know now. I am unsure if it will truely benefit me. I guess I've come to realize the important things in life aren't school and education, but family, friends, and God. Granted education is important, but I just hate that I've had to miss some valuable time I needed with my family during this very hard year.

With school being almost finished I hope that we can start work on creating a family. It's been on my mind so much lately. I'm not sure why unless God has placed it there. I realize I am getting older and my window of opportunity is becoming very narrow for the chance of pregnancy. I worry that if I am to get pregnant that mom will not be able to do the things she has always wanted to do for her new grandchild. I worry that it will break her heart that she cannot hold it, but only with one arm. I worry way to much!

I also really want to find a home church for my family. Husband and I have never been on a regular basis to church other than when we first got married. It was nice there, but I just didn't feel like we fit in. I really want to find a church that teaches the truth and is a good environment to raise a child and has good programs for adults as well. I pray God will lead my husband and I both to the same church. I want to be active members so badly. I'd love to have that support system.

On a brighter note, my husband and I have both lost weight. We are both using weight watchers and it's amazing the results that we have seen. I am down 18.5 lbs (still above my wedding weight) and hubs is down like 25-30 lbs. He looks amazing. He is actually below his wedding weight. I've got 10 lbs to go to make my wedding weight and 6 more to go to make my "when I met my hubs" weight. I'm so proud of us. I've even started a running program and have been doing it daily.

Here's me and my little baby girl posing while on a mini vacation. Goodness she is such a doll. I was probably 16 lbs down here.

Well, I guess I'm off to bed now. Much to do this week. With school finishing up they have bombarded us with tons of homework. Pray that I make it through this. Pray for my mom as well. And also pray that we will be able to conceive a healthy child.

Good night all :)

Prayers for my Mom...

2011-04-04T20:45:00.000-07:00

I know it has been awhile since last posting, but there has been a lot going on. I ask that you all keep my mom in your prayers. She had a stroke at the young age of 55 on January 7th. She has made leaps and bounds of improvement since then, but still cannot walk by herself or use her left hand. She is being very positive about the whole situation. I truly believe God can and will heal her fully! I just wanted you girls to know why I've not been around. Please pray...

Thanks so much!

-2 years + 16 lbs = Lack of Motivaation

2010-08-17T20:00:00.000-07:00

Wow. I just went back and read my very first blog post on blogger, which was 2 years ago. I've gained 16 lbs since then. Whoa, Nellie - Apparently marriage has been good!!

Time to get my booty in gear, right??? I hope, anyways.

Seems like I try everyday for a short period of time and by the end of the day I cave in and eat something really sweet or really bad for my health. So, the question to answer... Why do I continue to do this to myself? I know in my head that these recent eating habbits are so unhealthy. I've recently developed the habbit of gorging - eating as quickly as I can, just because I can. Honestly I think something that has contributed to the weight gain was the Phentermine pills that I was partaking in last July - August. When I stopped taking the pills, I was down to 132 lbs. That means I have gained 18 lbs in 1 year alone. I'm up to 150 lbs. now. I believe these pills have messed up my metabolism like crazy. So anyways, I don't know why I continue to do this to myself, but it makes me very negative and unhappy.

Here's hoping that you ladies will pray for me and help me to overcome this negativeness. Also, pray that I live my life everyday to the fullest and not just sit on the couch and watch my life pass me by.

Hopefully, I will be able to blog more soon and hopefully it will be more positive blogging instead of all of the negative self talk I've been doing lately.

Wish me luck ladies...

Vanilla - That is so me!

2010-08-08T19:22:00.001-07:00

Some times I feel so vanilla. You know what I mean?? I stick to the safe things in life. I always eat the same things. Everything in my house is decorated in neutral. I never accessorize the way a girl should. I either have a job interview or a date night if I take time to fix my hair. Sometimes I even go without makeup and I'm definately a girl who should not be doing that. The thing is I'm so vanilla on the outside, but inside I'm a mixture of all flavors.

I honestly think the thing holding me back from exploring more and more fashionable things is my size. Granted I'm not huge, but I've put on about 20 lbs since I met my husband, poor guy. I'm so thankful to have him because he doesn't seem to mind, but I can tell such a difference in myself since all of this gain.

I love fashion and always have, but since the weight gain and bad hair cut I've started wearing anything in my closet that isn't too tight on me. My fashion since has went out the window.

I really need to work on this - to make myself feel better.

Do you girls ever feel the same? I just feel so plain....and yes even homely anymore.

Adventures in Cake Decorating

2010-07-20T18:25:00.001-07:00

Hey gals! I just wanted to share a couple of pics with you. I am trying to begin my own cake decorating business in the future. This is something I would love to do for a full time job. Especially, if we ever have kids! The first cake is a Zebra cake I did as a suprise for a 2 year old little girl who loves Zebras. I missed her birthday party so I made her her own special cake.

The cake is chocolate with almond butercream. The zebra is made out of fondant. Her mom actually texted me yesterday and told me that the little girl had ate the entire Zebra!! LOL I thought that was funny b/c I know how bad fondant taste, but she must have enjoyed it.

The second cake is chocolate with vanilla buttercream and a turle made of fondant. The lily pads and flowers on top of the cake are fondant as well.

Anyways, wish me luck, b/c this is something I really enjoy doing. I've got a lot to learn still, but I think I can do it! I'm taking the last Wilton cake class in August so I should be able to work with fondant a little better by then :)

Talk to you soon!

Amber

2010-07-17T14:41:00.000-07:00

Hello all! Well, I've been back from a whirlwind trip of Amsterdam, Paris, and Lond for about 2 weeks now. It was a great trip, but so tiring. I still think I am trying to get caught up on my Zs.

I will have to say the best things I saw/did on this trip were:

1. The Eiffel Tower - It is an amazingly beautiful site!

2. The Anchor - A place where Shakespeare supposedly dined.

3. The Prime Meridan Line in Greenwich Village

The most dissapointing things during this trip:

1. The Mona Lisa - She is so little.

2. The Changing of the Guards. It was sooo long and boring.

Needless to say I would love to go back and visit. Especially London. It is such a beautiful place!

I did learn that I love living here in the States. Nothing compares to being home...

Hopefully I can write more later.

Talk to you all soon!!

Today's Food Intake

2010-03-22T07:10:00.001-07:00

I've decided this will be my food journal today. I am striving for 1200 cals a day. I may try counting weight watchers points as well. I just need something to get me going and I figured this is an easy way to keep up with my cals. I'm tired of living to eat. I want to eat to live.

Breakfast
Quaker Oats Bar = 100 calories
Coffee = 30 calories
H2O = 1

Lunch
Chey Boyardee Sphaghetti = 250
4 Crackers = 260

New Job looking for a new wardrobe...

2010-03-10T18:29:00.000-08:00

Well, ladies, my prayers have been answered! I will officially be in a new posistion at my current place of employement starting Monday. I am so excited and think this will be such a positive move. I need a new place to grow and learn and apply what I've learned in my undergraduate degree. This job is not technically a move up, but I think the change in titles will help my resume in the future. I will be working in the purchasing department whereas right now I work in the Overhaul shop as a Customer Support Rep. Granted, the job I have right now is so much more than just Customer Sup., but the title does not reflect that and neither does the pay. I can't wait to begin the new posistion because my new boss is amazing, plus I get to work with 2 of my greatest friends. So, wish me luck with this new position.

With all that being said...I am in desperate need of a new wardrobe. I really want to dress to impress in my new posistion. I feel that this will only help me make more connections in the company and possibly help me to move up. I know I need to work on weight loss, but I need to dress for the body I have right now. I have posted on the nest to see if anyone can help me come up with 5 cute mix and match outfits for work that don't cost a fortune. I really want to look fashionable, but not too trendy. So, if any of you gals have suggestions I would appreciate it. I've got one girl that is helping me out on the nest...Can't wait to see what she suggests.

I've become that girl who got married who used to be somewhat cute and has now let herself go. Or at least that is the way I feel anymore. I really need to get my booty exercising again. Hubby & I did at least go walk around the block tonight with the pup. I'm working on this...hopefully the weather will continue to be warm and sunny. Warm and sunny always motivates me more.

Well, all of my new year resolutions have apparently fallen by the wayside. I need to resolve to complete them again. Here they are...since I didn't record them the first time:

1. Clean the house daily.
2. Do not procrastinate with homework.
3. Loose weight.
4. Exercise.
5. Do not come home and sit on the couch as soon as I get off work and finished eating.
6. Find a church home and go to church.

I'm sure there were more, but I have forgoten them. Wish me luck with my endeavors. I'm trying to be a better person. I think getting away from my current posistion might help.

Today I'm feeling kind of low.

2010-02-10T19:21:00.000-08:00

I'm not sure why, but I just do. I'm so ready for a change in my life. I just don't know what that change will be.
I really want a new job, but due to a tuition reimbursement contract I cannot live my current employer for at least another 2 or 3 years. This is because I plan on obtaining my masters. However, I can switch jobs within the company. I keep hoping and praying that God will point me in the right direction for a career.
I also would like to change the way I dress. Don't get me wrong, some days I do alright, but others like today for instance I just look so dumpy and not put togehter. Granted...I was comfy.

I looked at that outfit and thought "what not to wear...here I come." The whole ensemble just made me look short and heavier than normal. As i was telling the girls on the nest, I would love to lose weight and I've been putting off buying clothes because of this. I even found myself apologizing to my husband today for being "frumpy".

Another change that would be beneficial, is to learn to let the past go. I've had a really hard time doing that. It's so hard to forgive people when they hurt you. It's even harder to forget the things they have done. I just have to remember that I am not perfect either. I have my imperfections, too.

This leads me to the change I need the most. I need a church I can call home. A place where my husband and I fit in and can help out. It's so hard to find a place that meets both of our needs. I am much more conservative than him (Church of Christ upbringing). I just want to find a church that teaches the truth and is always striving to find the truth. This is a necessity and it has not happened yet.

Anyways, I guess that will be all for now. Thanks for listening to my reflective thoughts.

Prayers

2010-01-22T11:45:00.001-08:00

Please pray that I find a more fulfilling job than what I am in now. I love my job, but I graduate in May with my Business Degree and I am so ready for a positive change. I know I haven't posted in awhile, but I would appreciate your prayers.

Thanks,
Amber

Great News and my newest addition!

2009-10-22T20:16:00.000-07:00

Hi ladies! It's been awhile, huh! I've still been on and off blogger reading my favorite girls blogs, but I've just been kind of lurking.

Well, I have to admit that tonight when i saw this post:
http://fitsexysuperwife.blogspot.com/2009/10/help-me-decide.html?showComment=1256267492044#c5211808891667679137
from Fit, Sexy, Super-Wife I was inspired! I cannot believe what a major difference the BFL program has made for her! It's just amazing.

Well, here's some good news for you. The last weight I really posted on here was between 142 lbs - 146 lbs. Well, I got up to 150 lbs this summer (this is not the good news part), but now I am back down to 136 lbs. I had actually gotten down to 132 lbs, but then we went on vacation...and of course I cheated. And cheating always leads to a huge down hill spiral! I swear I think fattening food is addictive!!! Is there any truth to that?

Anyways, here is a pic of me and my family at a recent wedding:

Anways, I just wanted to share the inspiration and also say hello to you girls that I haven't talked to in ages!

OHHHHH!!!! And I have to show you the most important thing that I have acquired lately. Here she is: My cute little cheerleading shih tzu, Bella (yes, Twilight fans...my husband came up with this because he knows I love the series). Too cute....I know!! She is my little baby and I just love her so much!

Anyways, I hope to hear from you gals soon! Good luck!

Debut of the Carpeted "Porn" room

2009-06-13T21:55:00.000-07:00

Thanks Irene & Amanda for your comments yesterday! It means a lot. It's nice to have someone to relate to on her.

Well, as promised yesterday, I said I would blog about the carpeted blog room. And what good is a blog without pics, anyways?? So, I will post the pics and the bottom and you can see for yourself what I am talking about.

So, about 2 years ago (this coming October) my husband, boyfriend at the time, decided to do some house shopping. He had never owned a house before so he wanted to make sure he got a great deal. Well, I got to go with him on this great adventure. It was so much fun. I loved looking at the different houses and loved pretending like we were a married couple. It's exciting to purchase a house...even if it isn't for you (see at that point in time I had no clue he would ever ask me to marry him). So, we searched and searched until we found this little gem:

It's a beautiful house. As soon as I walked into the living room, I knew it was the house for him (and me, too). It was just beautiful and unique. The living room was huge (30x30) and so comfy feeling. And it was the perfect size and fit for him. It even had that special room, a game room, built in that all guys dream of having at some point in time. Everything was just lovely. Then we walked into the smallest room in the house beside the game room and there it was.... THE PORN ROOM. Imagine this: Red, brown, and orange plaid carpeted walls and floor. Oh, yes...I am not kidding you. Carpet on the walls straight from All in the Family. Not a pretty sight at all. It's one of those rooms you look at and your eyes get a little blurry from all the colors and shapes! From that point on, we have called it the porn room. Mainly because we live near a college and the previous owner was a proffesor. We think he might have had a little something, something going on in that room. I am afraid to you tube it because who knows....there may be dirty videos out there featuring our room! Not only is it floor to wall carpet, but the wall pulls open to reveal the electrical box and water heater (I tried to capture it semi open in one of the pics). So, see for yourself....

Now, the carpet is not the only reason we call it the porn room. The sports room has got some weird stuff going on too. Examples: plug ins all along the ceiling and a huge area of the wall made like a TV screen. In other words, it looked like he also had some viewing party's down there, too. Granted, none of this story is probably true, but you have to think some kinda weird hippy stuff went on in the carpeted room. Anyways, I had to share the pics with you. I am seriously considering putting the room on "Rate my Space." I really think if HGTV saw this room they would be willing to travel all the way from California to give us a semi free renovation. It is truly a hideous room!

On another front: I did weigh tonight (1:30 am). I officially weighed 150.2. Wow, I've got a lot of work to do!

Well, I'm off to finish making my sad attempt at a Dooney and Burke purse cake for my mom's birthday party tomorrow. I'll talk to you gals soon! May have a pic later!

I'm back (for good this time)!

2009-06-12T18:50:00.000-07:00

Well, well, well...Hello fellow blogging ladies! Yes, I know it has been forever since my last post. I have been bad...very bad about blogging. Although, I have still been reading everyone's blogs and enjoying your stories so much. I've never met such a fun, unique bunch of girls!

I have missed blogging so much! Honestly, I think it does keep me in check with a little bit of everything.

Anyways, I'd like to take a new approach to this blog. I want to blog about my health (dieting & eating prorperly & exercise), but I want to also discuss other things as well. I wanna talk about things I enjoy, things that are important to me, and just plain ol' silly things that pop into my head at random moments. Oh, and I would also like a new look to my blog, but I've not really found a good website to get nice backgrounds. So, if any of you know of a site, please let me know. I prefer free backgrounds :) Yeah, I know...I'm cheap, but why put money into something when you can get it for free! Yes, I am a little frugal.

And speaking of frugal... I have to share with you all the two most recent purchases I've made:

My brand spanking new 2009 Honda Civic!

&

My beautiful lavender Coach purse!

Ok, so maybe those weren't frugal purchases, but darn it aren't they cute??? I needed a car so bad. I've been driving an 1988 blazer ever since December 2007 because I totaled my Nissan 200sx (on my birthday - what a present, huh). I didn't really need the purse that bad, but I've never in my life purchased a brand name purse for myself (I am feeling a little guilty for it now). Besides, I was a little frugal with the purse. It was purchased at an outlet!

As for dieting...let's just say it's not been good. I couldn't even tell you how much I weigh now. If I were to guess it would probably be around 147ish. I will weigh in tomorrow just to be sure. My usually battle still persists. You know? The lack of motivation thing and the nesting syndrome. It's kind of a sad situation just because I've gained the weight so quickly. I can tell you this: weight gain on a petite built frame is not a fun thing! I think it is affecting my back. I've hurt for the past couple of weeks and just in general felt weaker and more tired. Also, I just feel uncomfortable (because even my larger clothes are fitting tigher). But...I don't want to dwell on the negative. I've done that to much in the past. I know what I need to do. I just need to do it! Weight watchers, anyone? I think I'm headed that way again.

Well, I think that is about it for tonight, but look for the following post to be published soon:

1. Decorating & the carpeted porn (ha - you will see what I mean...I promise it's not dirty) room

2. How I feel about children and when we plan on having them

3. How to get ahead at work

Have a great night, girls. I promise I'm back to stay unless a bus hits me :)

P.S. If you know of a good guide for blogging tips and tricks (as far as formating and that type of thing), please let me know.

Cakes by me :)

2009-05-10T20:53:00.001-07:00

Hey gals! 2nd post in one night!! Go me! I wanted to show you all the cakes I've made so far. I'm learning to work with fondant on my own and it is so hard. I think I am seriously going to take a cake decorating class. I enjoy it and would probably enjoy it much more if I had a clue what I was doing. Anyways, here's the damage below.

Race car cake for my dad's birthday. It's a replica of the car he used to race (pictured in the lower left hand corner).

Twilight cake for me niece's birthday.

Mom's cake for mother's day. This one was actually a chocolate chip cookie. I have since learned they are very hard to ice (hince all the holes in the icing).

Well, that's it for tonight. I'm going to bed. I've had to much sugar. It's no wonder I can't loose weight!

Back from Philly

2009-05-10T20:23:00.000-07:00

Hey girls! I've been back from Philly for a little while, but haven't posted. We had so much fun while we were gone. Here are just a few pics.

I had so much fun running the Rocky stairs - we even got video!

Here's us in front of independance hall.

Me posing like Ben Franklin.

My favorite stop in Philly besides Pats!

I hope you all doing well. I've been keeping up with your blogs - regardless of my bad blogging!

New Fat Pants-Just wish they were Phat Pants

2009-04-15T19:32:00.000-07:00

That's right. I had to give in and go by new fat pants. It's official. I'm up 14 lbs. from my wedding day weight. I keep fluctuating between 142 - 146 lbs. Anyways, it's a depressing day when you finally must admit defeat and surrender to the need to purchase larger clothes. Don't get me wrong. They are cute pants, but not so cute in a size 11/12 when I've been wearing sizes from 8-10. I bought them at Maurices. Oh, I also bought some shirts. It was really depressing when I tried on a L rather than my normal M and it was too tight! I didn't want to spend too much money on clothes b/c I do plan on losing this eventually. Unfortunately, I'm just not motivated. Not even with the 2o/20 challenge. I just can't get into gear and haven't been able to for quite some time. I'm so sorry that I keep promising to lose weight and motivate myself and others in the process, but it just hasn't happened. I don't like making empty promises. Anyways, my old pants got so bad that the buttons were popping off and the zippers wouldn't zip. I've even resorted to wearing a fat sucker (does anyone else call them this?). Basically, its a girdle, but just for the top part of the body. I seriously considering some Spanx. If it were only worth the money. I've even thought about buying those slenderizing tank tops that cost up to $60.00. It would be much cheaper just to lose the weight and much more comfortable. My fat sucker does not equal comfort. It makes me feel bound and big and blah. Honestly, it's hard to conceal under my clothes becase the straps are so wide. I'm so embarassed about having to wear this thing. Do you know how awful it is when your husband notices your fat sucker. He doesn't care that I've gained. He even says he can't tell, but I know better. I can tell. I just have to look in the mirror. The other day I was riding in the car and looked in the side view mirror. I noticed a roll of fat on my back just above my bra strap. That is just gross. I had them before, but they were much smaller and less noticeable. I swore I'd never get to this weight again....and well here I am. I'm thankful that the warmer weather is coming though. Surely, this will make me more active and apt to exercise more often. Speaking of exercise...Hubby is going to show me some exercises here in just a second. He's heard me complain all night and now he is motivated to motivate me :) Well, that is all tonight... Sorry about the huge paragraph!

I miss being skinny!

RIP - Skinny Me.

Checking In

2009-03-28T20:51:00.000-07:00

This is just a quick check in for tonight.

Today was my free/cheat day on 20/20. We ended up going to a fabulous German restaurant in town. I swear if I ate like that every day I would be 800 lbs. It was so good and greasy. :)
Anyways, tomorrow I'm back on. I've found it's really hard to cheat all weekend and maintain your focus on Mondays. I've had a hard time with that in the pass. To me it seems like one cheat day will snowball into another and then another. I'm not going to let that happen. I'm fat and happy today so there is no need to indulge tomorrow.

I have a 12 page paper due on Monday. I didn't realize this until late Friday night. I knew I had a paper due, but I was thinking it was like 3 pages. Boy was I wrong. Then I have another 12 page paper due next Monday. So, the plan is to stay up tonight and finish my paper that is due this Monday. It's actually an interesting topic. Thankfully! It's about Mary Kay Ash, the women who started Mary Kay Cosmetics. If you have never read about her, I must admist it's a good read. She is an amazing lady with some great principles. I must say I admire her thus far. I've still got 200 some pages to read though. Here's the book I'm reading:

Well, I hope everyone has a good night. I've got my coffee in me and I'm in a quiet room now. I was sitting in the LR with my hubby, but there is only so much Lethal Weapon movie noise I can handle while I'm trying to read. Gunshots and screeching tires usually interupt my thought processes, go figure! lol

Bye bye for now.

Week 1 - Weigh in Results

2009-03-27T07:11:00.000-07:00

I started at 145.2 and now I am down to 142.2. Yeah!!! I'm excited!

I did pretty good. We will see what happens next week!

Twilight & Steps 2, 5, & 6 of 20/20

2009-03-26T18:28:00.000-07:00

Well, I'm finally on the fourth and final book fo the Twilight series. My goodness. I've never experienced book reading like this. It's like crack or cocaine. It's sad addiction that eats at you. You can't stop after reading 1. You just want more, more, more!! It's no wonder I have no time to do homework, exercise, clean house, or pay bills!!

I know my poor husband must be tired of hearing about the stories. He thinks all of us girls are crazy. Everytime I see a red head girl on tv I say "Now, that's what Victoria should have looked like!" He just shakes his head and says that I have a problem :) I admit it, I do. That's the first step, right?

Well, as for Step 2 (set rewards) of the challenge. I still cannot think of a reward to set. I'd like to think it would be to purchase new clothes. I really don't want to buy clothes right now, but I think I need to where I've gained so much weight recently. That brings me to Step 5 (Take photos of yourself). This is the really scary part. Please excuse the poor quality of the camera. Our good ones (all 3 of them) are broken so we have to rely on cell cameras. Also, please ignore my poor, poor posture and my greasy looking hair. I had been asleep on the couch before these pics were taken.

Here are the photos. We shall call these before photos. This is me at 145lbs. Both front and side views. Wow, if that isn't motivation to do something. I can't believe how much I've gained....Or how much a diference 10 lbs. makes!!!

Step 6 was easy. All I had to do was pledge to lose weight for the pound for pound challenge. I pledged 6 lbs. I think we report the actual weight loss in May.

Oh, is anyone on here an accountant? I'm really considering getting my masters in accounting. If anyone has any advice it would be appreciated. I've never worked in accounting except for in a cash room at a grocery store once. If your an accountant of know one and feel like sharing any tips of info, please feel free to leave a comment.

Well, that's it for tonight. Tomorrow is weigh in day! I hope I did some good!

Step 1 - 20/20

2009-03-24T20:45:00.001-07:00

Hey, girls! As some of you know, I joined the 20/20 Chllenge at http://ashisfit.blogspot.com. I'm excited about this. I think it will be good for me. A lot of my blogs will go along with this challenge. So, here is step one:

Step 1:Make a plan and set your goal!

My plan: To lose 20 lbs. in 20 weeks
My goal: To reach 125 lbs.

I'm trying to grasp the concept of BMR as i explained once before in a post, but I'll post it again. My BMR is 1436. Here is one plan of how to do it:

Consume 1200 calories and burn 300 calories a day.

Or I could...

Consume 1300 calories a day and burn 400.

Honestly, I must say that counting calories is a little scary for me. I've always counted points. Well, I should re-phrase that. I have only been successful at counting points, but to be honest. Calories in vs Calories out makes a lot of sense. Does anyone know a website or resource for getting calories on things? I think I am just un-easy with the concept. It's math - Go figure!

Now, with this challenge I wonder if you can still lose a lb. a week by having a cheat day?

Step 2 is all about setting rewards - I've still got to think about this one. I'll let you all know what I come up with.

Anyways, talk to you all soon! Have a great day!

Any ideas??

2009-03-23T19:39:00.000-07:00

I want to do something special for my hubby on our 7 month anniversary. I know that sounds silly, but he went all out for me and bought me flowers for our 6th month anniversary. See below. They were beautiful flowers!

So, I really want to do something special for him on April 6th. I think I may get him an Ipod or a 12 string guitar. He deserves something for putting up with me all this time. He's picked on me a lot b/c I forgot about our 6 month anniversary until the end of the day. Maybe I'll make him a candy bar bouquet, too. However, if I do that, I'll want to eat all the candy!!! ha

Anyways, talk to you all soon. I just joined up for AshIsFit's 20/20 challenge. We will see how that goes! Wish me luck!

Twilight party and time to get on track.

2009-03-22T18:49:00.000-07:00

Hey gals! I hope everyone is doing well. Last night we had a twilight party at my friends house. It was a lot of fun. We had werewolf kibble, twilight cake, edwards (a drink with a mix of orange juice, grenadine, 7up, and hypnotic), and bellas (the virgin version of the edward drink). We also had wolves in a blanket. Ha.

My friends and I have all passed the twilight series around. I am now on the fourth book. I can't wait to finish it. I have to say...We were all very disappointed in the movie. It in no way compared to the books. The books are so much better and much more in depth!! Here's a pic of the cake I did. I tried to incorporate all the book covers into it. It's an apple with the torn ribbon, the chess pieces, and the flowers. However, my husband and I joked all night about how it looked like a pumpkin more than an apple. Oh, well. We tried!

Regardless, we had a great time. We made fun of all the cheesy moments in the movie. I told hubby that he is "my personal brand of heroin." Ha.

Anyways, I've so been slacking on weight loss. I've been on a binging kick lately. It's so sad. When I do good, I do really good about eating healthy, but when I do bad, I blow it out of the water hugely!! I have a friend that is doing the B12 shots right now. She thinks it is really goin to hep her lose weight. She's also taking Phentermine. That's a litte scary for me. The B12 shots are interesting to me though. I am curious as to what her results will be.

Well, i'm off to do my homework ...woo hoo! I've got 3 or 4 papers due in the next 2 weeks.

Here I am...

2009-03-19T18:52:00.000-07:00

Hey girls! I hope everyone is doing well. Things have been really crazy around here. I'm taking two class right now so I am a little overwhelmed with things to do. I have 3 papers due in the next 2 weeks. I just wanted to touch base and make sure you all know that I haven't forgotten about you. I have actually missed being on here. This is a great weight loss tool for me.

Well, I promise to update more often! Going to a twilight party on Saturday. Hopefully we will have a camera by then and we can take pics!!!

See ya soon!

Exercise completed!

2009-03-01T17:25:00.000-08:00

Yeah!!! I actually exercised today. I started out with the shred and made it half way through. I couldn't really get in the groove of it b/c it felt a little boring. So, I moved on to my own type of exercise. I put on my ipod and danced, did situps, pushups, planks, lifted weights, and leg lifts. I must have done that for 25 minutes. It actually felt pretty good. I felt pretty silly, but hey at least I moved and exercised. I was so afraid hubby would come walking through the door during one of my little "dance" routines. He would have taken the opportunity to poke so much fun at me :)

Today has been such a lazy day. The majority of my day has been spent on the couch reading New Moon. Five more chapters and I will be be finished! I can't wait to start the next book. Whoever knew that reading a book would be so addicting!

Other than that...not much has happened today. I worked on my presentation for school. Then I worked on the references. That was exciting. Let me tell ya. I hate APA formating!!

I'm dreading work tomorrow. I'm so ready for a change. I know that is an awful thing to say right now with the economy being so poor. I just wish I was finished with school and working in a job that was meaningful. I fell like anyone could do the job I'm doing right now. Don't get me wrong. I enjoy where I work and what I do, but just ready for a change.

Well, good luck to everyone tomorrow. Happy healthy eating and exercising!

Oh, has anyone signed up for the Self Magazine Challenge???

Realization & Calorie Burning Question

2009-02-28T19:23:00.001-08:00

Today I was thinking about a lot of things. Mostly about life in general, but my thoughts turned to the blogging for weight loss thing. I've decided that I am not a motivation right now to myself or to others. I've fallen off the wagon majorly. I've not exercised in what seems like eons and my eating habits have regressed. So, with that being said, I'm going to do better. Today is a new day, right??? It's time to start over!

I am making a promise to everyone that reads this blog and mainly to myself that I will become a better motivation. I've decided that I will not allow myself to blog unless I've exercised first (unless it is a rest day). I'm not beating myself up over this, but it's just a realization that came to mind today.

When I began this blog months ago, I was determined to complete C25K. I managed 2 weeks of that and quit. Then I decided I would do 3o DS. Well, I completed one week and quit. Both of these things are something I really wanted to succeed at. I really want to run a 5K by July.

Well, I won't let myself down again. I'm tired of living this way. I have to make a change and this is the best way I know how. It's such a motivation to read everyone's blogs on here. I am just amazed how every one has succeeded over the past couple of months. I just want to be able to return the favor of motivation.

Anyways, enough of that....

I calculated my Basal Metabolic Rate (BMR) today. I came up with 1423.1. Apparently, this is the number of calories I would burn if I stayed in bed all day.

According to sparkpeople.com, my goal for calories a day is 1,200 - 1,550. I'm not sure how many calories I eat a day because I count weight watcher points. I will try to figure out the equivalent tomorrow.

What I am confused about is how many calories I need to burn to lose at lease 2 lbs. a week. My hubby figured it out to be 7000 a week or 1000 a day. Is that right? All of this is too much like math to me! ha. I don't do math!!

Well, I think I'm going to go read some more of my New Moon book. I can't wait for Twilight to come out on DVD. I'm excited to see it for the first time. I hope it is just as good as the book.

Goodnight gals and thanks for the support!!!

Today's menu

2009-02-26T19:00:00.000-08:00

Real quick tonight...here's my menu. My week hasn't been that good as far as being healthhy, but I did much, much better today!!!

B: oatmeal (2) coffee (0) biscotti (2)
S: apple (1)
L: fet alfredo (5)
S: apple (1)
D: salad (3), chicken stirfry (3) ice cream sugar free (0)
S: 3 mint cookies, 1 peanut butter (4)

Total Daily Used: 21
Total Daily Allotment: 21
Total 35 extra points used this week:

I'm back!! (silly computer)

2009-02-25T18:50:00.000-08:00

Hey gals! I'm so sorry that I have been mia! It seems like forever. I've missed being able to blog. The reason for my abscense is due to the fact that my husband got my computer adapter confused with his work computer adapter and turned it into work. I finally managed to get my adapter back from IT last night. Unfortunatley, I think my computer is jealous because my hubby got an new computer and it decided to just quit working last night. Aparently it's a common problem with vista. You log on to your computer and nothing ever loads except your desk top background color. I was finally able to get it to work once I was able to start it in safe mode and restore... I'm crossing my fingers that it doesn't happen again. If you don't hear from me in a couple of days, you'll know my computer is gone coo-koo!

Anyways, on the health front:

Where in the crap did that wagon go???? I fell off of it and it totally left me stranded in the dust and the wind!! Oh, I have been so horrible ever since Valentine's day. I guess I took advantage of the holiday big time. I've manage to cheat daily. It's not been little cheating. It's been great big huge "honey bun" cheating! lol Well, we went to the store tonight to get healthy food. So, I have no choice, but to eat healthy! Yeah.

I've felt like poo since eating all this junk. I'll weigh tomorrow and post the damage.

Oh, I'm newly addicted to the book series "Twilight". If you haven't read them yet, I highly suggest them. It's such a good story and totally not what I was expecting. I'm only on chapter 3 of the 2nd book, but i'll let you all know how it goes. There are several girls at work who love the series. I give them credit for getting me interested! Thanks, Mary!

Is anybody giving up anything for Lent? I'm not Catholic, but I thought about doing this just for me. I actually think I will add something for 40 days instead of taking away. Like....hmmm...exercise or prayer.

I don't know if any of you are religious or not, but I am feeling so guilty here lately for not going to church. It's really bad. My hubby and I haven't been since we got married. Wow. That just hit me! It's been 5 months since we have been to church! That is horrible. I really want us to base our lives around God and we haven't been doing that lately. I think it's important to have God in your relationship.

Anyways, I guess I am going to go read a little bit more.

Valentine's update and other things.

2009-02-17T16:39:00.000-08:00

Hey, everyone! I've been somewhat MIA here lately. Sorry about that. I've been a little busy with school and other various things. I haven't got to update since Valentine's day came so first I want to say Happy Valentine's Day to everyone and I hope everyone had a great one. Secondly, I want to tell everyone what my dearest did for me on V Day:

Most of our day was spent lying around the house relaxing and doing nothing. It was nice. I get so tired of rushing all the time. Around 2ish I realized that I still needed to pick my mom up something for V day. So, I asked my dearest to come with me to pick her out something and then we could drop it off by her house. To my suprise and shock, he answered with a snarled up nose "do I have to??" Well, needless to say I was mad....so mad. I thought "who does he think he is??? and why doesn't he want to see my mom on valentine's day???". As soon as he said that I grabbed my purse and told him I was going to go on. Apparently, I stomped my way down the stairs to the car and left. Hmm...some romantic holiday this was going to be...

Well, I got home all prepared to pout and not talk to him the rest of the night (like any mature adult would act). As soon as I walked through the door I could smell food cooking. I walked up the stairs and there were candles lit all around and a vase of flowers on the table. Our dry erase board was in the window. It said "Welcome to Chef Lafon's." He had cooked steak and gravy with biscuits and sweet potato fries. I had mentioned not a week before how I had missed my great grandma's steak and gray and biscuits. Needless to say, I about cried. I felt like such a jerk for getting mad. I apologized and was forgiven. He also got me a massage, aroma therapy bath, pedicure, and manicure. It's like 3 hours of relaxation! I can't wait to use that. It just made me feel so horrible though because I got mad and because we had agreed not to buy each other anything. We plan on going to Gatlingburg this weekend...hopefully (and i'm paying for it all - regardless of what he says)!

Anyways, that was my Valentines day. I ate lots of bad things. I weight this morning and I have gained 1 lb. I'm back at 142 lbs.

I feel like I've done good the past couple of weeks eating healthy, but I'm still not seeing a huge difference on the scale. I know it's b/c I'm not exercising. Shame on me! I need to start.

The past couple of days have been off the wagon, too. So that really doesn't help the situation.

Well, I'm off to finish watching biggest loser. I think it's awful that show is on for 2 hours yet they tell you to find time to exercise... yeah, I don't do a thing while that show is on! I should be at least doing situps through the commercials.

Ok gals. I'll talk to you tomorrow.

Insulin Resistance

2009-02-12T17:15:00.000-08:00

Hey gals! I hope everyone is doing well today. I feel like poo today. Only because I ate really bad for supper. We ordered Mexican food and it's hurt my stomach. On top of that, I feel like I ate a bunch of empty calories that didn't satisfy me. I could still eat a pizza full of calories and fake happiness.

Well, that got me to thinking how I've felt pretty bad as of late - even though I have been eating pretty healthy. Then I remembered how I was diagnosed with insulin resistance a couple of years ago. Here is the definition of it.

From Webmd:

What Is Insulin Resistance?
Normally, food is absorbed into the bloodstream in the form of sugars such as glucose and other basic substances. The increase in sugar in the bloodstream signals the pancreas (an organ located behind the stomach) to increase the secretion of a hormone called insulin. This hormone attaches to cells, removing sugar from the bloodstream so that it can be used for energy.
In insulin resistance, the body's cells have a diminished ability to respond to the action of the insulin hormone. To compensate for the insulin resistance, the pancreas secretes more insulin.
People with this syndrome have insulin resistance and high levels of insulin in the blood as a marker of the disease rather than a cause.
Over time people with insulin resistance can develop high sugars or diabetes as the high insulin levels can no longer compensate for elevated sugars.

http://diabetes.webmd.com/guide/insulin-resistance-syndrome

Well, basically, I've done nothing to correct the problem since finding out. The reason I found out about the IR is because I thought I had PCOS. I still think I have PCOS, but I have not been diagnosed. I quit going to the doctor before we got down to the diagnosis. I was telling my husband all of this tonight and he is determined I need to go back to the doctor and find out for sure. So, I'll keep you all up to date with that situation.

So, I'm thinking this may have a lot to do with my up and down moods since eating healthier. Blogger 100DAYS had mentioned that my carbs could be affecting how I felt. I totally agree with her. I think the carbs may be increasing my sugars too much and then I am crashing afterwards. The doctor at the time of my diagnosis told me that I should be on a low carb diet, but I have never been much on low carb anything. I'm a carbivore....ha....I love my carbs. I could eat mac & cheese, mashed potatoes, and fet alfredo all in one setting. I need to work towards correcting this problem. My biggest fear is that I will end up having diabetes one day and IR leads to that. I've had to watch my mom fight through this for so many years. Diabetes, in general, sucks!

Well, after looking up IR on webmd I started reading on PCOS again. Then I read the words that I had forgotten for so many years. I read that women with PCOS have trouble conceiving. Again, I've not been diagnosed, but about ever symptom out there...I have. Why would this be any different? I will be so disappointed and hurt if Brian and I cannot have children. I guess it's always been in the back of my mind that I may not be able to conceive, but the thought just crushes my heart. I really want kids. Wow, I used to say I never wanted them, but I do now. I really do! Sorry, I had to let all that out.

Anyways...

Yesterday sucked on the eating healthy front. I didn't update like I normally would. I can't really remember everything that I ate. How bad is that? Like I said earlier, today wasn't good either. Tomorrow has to be better. I can't keep doing this to myself everyday. Tomorrow will be much better!

Talk to you all tomorrow.

Sorry, this is goin to be quick b/c I can barley hold my eyes open.

B: nutty buddy low fat bar (2)
S: apple (1)
L: fazollis (13) cheesecake (4)
D: bacon cheese sandwich (4)
S: popcorn and coke (4)

Total Daily Used: 28
Total Daily Allotment: 21
Total 35 extra points used this week: 8

Good luck tomorrow!

Not feeling so hot tonight.

2009-02-09T19:58:00.001-08:00

I don't feel the best tonight. I am not sure why. It could be that I had a some what unhealthy, rushed dinner. I just feel like my stomach has bottomed out (if that makes sense). It feels like I should eat something to settle the feeling, but at the same time, I don't want to. I don't feel like I am doing the best with my food choices as of late. I'm still staying within my food points range, but for some reason I feel like I am eating to much. I haven't lost that much weight. I'm not sure if that is due to food intake or to me not exercising. I've been a bum when it comes to exercise lately. However, I did get a little motivated when AshIsFit said that her abs look like Anita's from 30 day shred. I think I could handle having great abs. Anyways, like I said, I'm not sure why I feel bad...and/or feel like I'm not doing the best eating properly, but I just don't.

As crazy as it sounds, I feel like my food intake affects my mood. All week long I felt really negative/depressed. Then on Friday we had a cheat day and it's like that baked spaghetti changed my mood completely. I was happy and motivated to do things. Go figure, it must have been all of the bad carbs that perked me up. So, I'm really confused how eating healthier, right- sized portions are making me feel yucky.

Anyways, enough rambling.

Today started my weight watcher week over. This means my extra 35 points started over today.

B: Special K waffles, 2 (2)
S: Kudos bar (2)
L: Ham & Cheese w/baked cheetos (7)
S: Kudos bar (2)
D: Baked potato with cheese and chilli (7)
S: Ice cream sandwich (2)

Total Daily Used: 22
Total Daily Allotment: 21
Total 35 extra points used this week: 1

I'm going to bed now. I just feel so yucky. I think it was the chilli that did this to me!

Do you know the muffin man?????

2009-02-08T18:27:00.000-08:00

Well, I certainly do!

Unfortunately, Mr. muffin man and myself got aquainted again today. For some reason, I got the urge to just up and bake some chocolate chip muffins this morning! I did it with the intentions of giving them to my learning team from school. Do you think that happened? Mmmm, not so much. I ate them little suckers right up. How can a girl resist when there is all of that warm, chocolatey, fluffiness staring you in the eye??? Therefore, my dinner and snacks were nothing but muffins. Thankfully, it is Sunday and all my points start over tomorrow!!!

Well, so much for counting points today...I can post what I know is definate.

B: Bacon & grilled cheese (5)
S: Popscile (0)
L: Smart ones pizza (7)
S: coke (2)
D: muffins, muffins, muffins, muffins
S: ditto......

Total Daily Used: 14 (that I know of - the rest were to high to even go about counting.)
Total Daily Allotment: 21
Total 35 extra points used this week: Blew the rest of them out of the water today.

Tonight my team came over. Oh, I can't wait for school to be over with. I'm so tired of working in teams. I realize they do this so we can see what the real world is like, but heck...I'm tired of it. Unfortunately, we have a team member who does nothing. She is too busy partying to pull her part. She is still young and has a lot of growing up to do. I like her, but she needs to get her priorities straight. I guess I should have told you all that I am still trying to get my bacholers in business before I went on that little rant.

Anyways, I'm off to spend some much needed quality time with my husband. We've been busy cleaning today...and I've been busy doing homework. Maybe I'll talk him into watching a movie!

Betty Crocker, I'm not! & Hair help!!

2009-02-07T20:41:00.000-08:00

Hey gals! I hope everyone is good tonight. First things first. I'm thinking about doin something different to my hair. What do you all think? I've added some pics of me with hair at different stages. I just don't know what to do with it right now.

This is me right before I was married in September. My hair is a little shorter now, with what is supposed to be side swept bangs. However, the bangs only lasted 2 days. The got on my nerves, because they kept having a huge gap in them that couldn't be fixed with hairspray.

This is me with my hair hot rolled at one of my bridal showers. This is the longest my hair had been in a very long time.

Our engagement picture by Miranda Fawn Harris. Again, my hair is hot rolled and just a bit shorter than the bridal shower pics.

This is the shortest my hair has every been. This is actually me at 126 lbs, too.

This is me with short flippy hair after I lost my first 15 lbs on weight watchers. Wow, this pic is back in the day!

I look a little ghostly in this pic, but I liked my hair at that length.

Ok...on to the stories of the night:

Arrrrrgh! No, that is not me pretending to be a pirate. I'm so mad, frustrated, and irritated right now. It's my own fault, though. Let me explain.

I love to bake. Honest, I do. i love making cookies, cakes, and cupcakes. I make my own homemade buttercream icing. Heck, I love making anything fattening and bad for a human on a diet. I may not be the best baker, but I do ok. Here is some of my little creations I've made over the past year.

Choc cake with hershy kisses

Choc cupcakes with peanut butter buttercream icing

French vanilla cake with buttercream icing

French vanilla cake with buttercream icing and fondant flowers

Choc cupcakes with peanut butter buttercream icing and reeses cups

A few days ago (well, 10 to be exact), a really good friend of mine gave me a friendship bread starter kit. I'm not sure if you all have ever had/made this stuff before, but it's a really moist, cinnamon flavored bread. Actually, it's almost cake texture. Basically, you recieve a baggy full of the beginging mixture for your bread. It takes 10 whopping days to make this cinnamon gooeyness. Mostly you squish the baggy every day and add certain ingridients to the mixture on certain days. Well, today was day 10 for me. So...

I went to the store and bought the following things for my bread:

eggs - $1.48

wooden bowl - $18.00

instant pudding - $1.24

milk - $3.68

2 loaf pans - $3.oo

for a grand total of $27.40. That's a lot of money to have in a cake. Thankfully, we already had the other ingridients (flour, sugar, cinnamon, baking powder, baking soda) or it would have cost us a fortune.

Well, to make an already, long story short, I made the bread, baked it for an hour as recommended, and took it out of the oven. After about 5 minutes, both loaves fell in the center. I emptied the one loaf onto a piece of aluminum foil as instructed and when I did it fell out in big ooey gooey, yucky clumps. It wasn't done at all. It was nothing but runny nastiness. It's my own fault. I should have checked the done-ness of the bread before removing it from the oven. I guess I just got too anxious. So, I had to toss a whole loaf in the garbage. I tried to save the other loaf by putting it back in the oven, but I'm yet to know if it is ok. I told hubby that he could take it to work if it tasted ok b/c I didn't want to see it anymore. It just really upsets me that I put all that time, energy, and money into something that didn't work out for me. So, in short, my friendship bread turned out to be not so friendly!

Sorry for the long rant, but i just had to get it out of my system. Anyways, on to other things.

Today, I had the experience of going with my mom to help her pick out a wig. See, she had gastric bypass in June of last year. She's lost almost 100 lbs now, but in the process she started to lose her hair. It breaks my heart to see her with such thining hair. So, today we went and found her a wig. Actually, we had a lot of fun doing it. The ladies at the boutique were so nice and so understanding. It's hard watching someone lose their hair. Espeically a woman. Especially your own mother. Now, they think it will grow back eventually, but right now her body is getting used to having fewer nutrients than normal - hence the hairloss. So, she actually got a really cute wig. It made me want to get one. It looks so natural on her. Its almost the same color as her natural hair, but with a few blonde highlights. Very stylish (even has darker roots to give it dimension). I'm excited about it for her. I just hope to goodness no one makes fun of her for it. If they do, they are going to have me and my sister to deal with. I told her that I wouldn't let her go walking out on the street with anthing that looked fake...and I didn't!

As for healthy eating today, here's my menu. It wasn't the best day in healthy eating, but we were gone all day shopping.

B: Coffee (0)

S: Kudos bar (2) & G2 gatorade (2)

L: BBQ Chicken (4)

S: Piece of chocolate bunny (3), Sugar-free cardboard cookies (1)

D: BBQ Chicken (3)
S: Corner of evil friendship bread (1)

Total Daily Used: 16 (however, I am not sure if I calculated the chicken right, so it could be more)
Total Daily Allotment: 21

Total 35 extra points used this week: 19

I haven't weighed since friday due to the free day I had yesterday. I may do that in the morning, if I feel up to it. My hubby has been fussing at me for weighing so much, but he really doesn't understand. If I don't weigh, then I forget what I am doing this for.

Anyways, I'm done taking up your all's time :) Have a great night and a great Sunday (speaking of - we really need to start going to church again - we've been lazy!)

Bye!

The letter "A"

2009-02-06T20:14:00.000-08:00

I read about this game over atMissy's blog "Confessions of an overweight shopaholic." Here's her link: http://shopaholiconfessions.blogspot.com/ So, she tagged me to play the letter game! If you want to play, leave a comment on this post and I'll give you a letter. You write 10 things you love that begin with your assigned letter - I have "A"!

1. Apples - They could potentially be the best fruit ever! Just add peanut butter and/or chocolate and I am in heaven.

2. Australian Accents - You know, Keith Urban....mmm...need I say more :) lol

3. "At Last" - My favorite song of all time. If you don't know it, look it up. It's by Etta James. Very, very sweet song. I like to think it is about me and my honey.

4. Antiques - Mostly jewelry, but i love the furniture, too. I really, really like the jewelry, though (hint, hint dear hubby).

5. Accoustic Guitar - I love accoustic guitar music. I can play some, but my hubby plays much better. Nothing gets any better than a man who can sing and play guitar!!

6. Alto vocal arrangements - That's a weird one, huh? I love singing the harmony parts of songs. I fell in love with the Alto voice range while in high school. It's so beautiful, yet haunting at times.

7. American Eagle jeans - They are so comfy and they fit me, so that is a plus. Short people have a hard time with clothes.

8. Afternoons - Especially on the weekend, it's the perfect time to relax!

9. Autumn - It's a beautiful time of the year. I love the rich colors reflected in the leaves.

10. Abs - Or I should say...I would love to have some abs... Nice pretty ones :) ha

Well, that's it! Hope to hear from everyone soon! Have a great night!

Free Day!!

2009-02-06T19:32:00.000-08:00

Well, Friday has finally come and is going away soon. I'm glad. I've been so tired here lately. It's time for a little R&R. My husband said today that the reason I've been so tired could be due to my change in work schedule. I used to work from 8:30 to 5 and now I work 8 to 4:30. I know that isn't a huge difference, but I've been getting up an hour earlier than I used to. That means I'm leaving before daylight and getting home after daylight. That could have a lot to do with my problem as of late. I was beginning to wonder if I had mono or something. I don't know where I would have caught it from though.

Well, as stated in my title, today was my free day (or I should say free night). I give myself one of those a week. Considering I've used few of my extra points this week, I decided to blow a bunch tonight. Heck! I deserve it. I lost another lb as of this morning. Again, that puts me back to 141 lbs., but at least it is a loss. So, here is today's menu:

B: Special K waffles (2)
S: Laughing Cow Cheese & 5 Ritz (2)
L: Left over twice baked potato (5)
S: Choc pudding (2)
D: Fazoli's baked spaghetti & 2 breadsticks (21)
S: Coke (2)

Total Spent: 34
Total 35 Extra Used: 19

Wow, I still have 16 extra points to use by Sunday night. I'll try not to use them, though. Mom wants me & hubby to go eat with her tomorrow. We need to find some place that has good choices or my hubby is going to kill me. He says every time he goes on a diet that it gets ruined some way....either he gets sent on a trip....or it's birthday season in one of our families.

Well, I had my 2nd Microdermabrassion treatment today. The dermatologist said that my skin looks really good. I just don't see it. I think I look nasty the majority of the time. However, the cool thing about my appointment was that the technician said I could stay in the treatment room as long as I wish and try out the YoungBlood Mineral Makeup line. I put a few little things on, but the thing I liked the best was the stuff she put on my face before I tried on the YB makeup. Here is the link to it:

http://www.dermstore.com/product_Soothing,+Smoothing+Skin+Bronzer+-+Wild+to+Mild_4890.htm

http://www.dermstore.com/product_Line+Tamer_4889.htm

First she put on the line tamer and then the wild to mild bronzer. It made my skin look very smooth. The bad part...it's $45.00 a pop. Ouch. I am used to getting a whole makeup kit for those prices, i.e. bare minerals. Who knows...I may break down and buy it. I'm such a sucker! ha. I'm also thinking of getting a glycolic peel, too. The derm said that it would help get rid of these raised skin places on my face. Also, help get rid of the sun spots. Geeze...I'll never save money at this rate. Plus, I still want laser hair removal! I need a raise! lol

Oh, Kohl's is having a good sale. I got a bunch of stuff tonight. I found a really cute pair of comfy shoes there. You all should check it out. I'm going to look online now :)

Have a great day tomorrow. I'll have to be studying sometime soon...we have to create a 45 minute presentation for class....yikes!

mmmm..twice baked potatoes

2009-02-05T17:16:00.000-08:00

My DH fixed twice baked potatoes tonight. I must say they were fantastic!!!! He should be a chef, i swear. The good thing is they were only like 5 points total!! Yum! I should have taken a picture!

Tonight, after we watched the Pilsbury bake off (I don't recommend doing this when you are trying to eat healthy), we decided we should try to make all kinds of things. or example: mini bavarian cream pies, lasanga pizza, baked potato pizza, apple dumplings, chocolate dipped potato chips, and red velvet truffles. I really want to try the lasangna pizza. It sounds yummy. I'll let you know if we try it or not. We'll have to wait for a night when I have lots of extra points before we make it. I am going make the red velvet truffles for work next week....and maybe dip some potato chips at the same time.

What's everyone's plans for Valentine's day? I don't know what I am going to do for my DH yet. I've got a couple of things for him, but nothing special yet. We are talking about making a trip to Gatlinburg the weekend after Valentine's day. That would be part of our present to each other. Maybe I'll have lost a couple of more lbs by then and I can wear something cute.

Well, here's today's menu.

B: Oatmeal (2)
S: Laughing Cow Cheese & 5 Ritz crackers (2)
L: 4 Cheese ravioli & roll (8)
D: Twice baked potato & salad (8)
S: Baby shower cake (5)
S: Ice cream sandwich (2)

Total Daily Used: 27
35 Extra points used this week: 6

Not too bad, considering it's Thursday and I've only used 6 extra points.
Talk to you all soon!

Sigh

2009-02-04T18:40:00.000-08:00

Yes, that is a sigh of relief. I am so glad this day is over. I've been in a bit of an irritable mood here lately. I'm not really sure why, but it's the little things that bother me. I'm hoping this mood passes. Maybe a good dose of exercise would cure my gloomy manner. I should definately give it a try! You know, a little Jillian Michael's (30 Day Shred) kicking my butt just might be the cure. At least, it would be a great way to release these silly, little frustrations.

Oh, I found a great little buy today. I'm not sure if you girls have a Shoe Carnival near your homes, but I got two pair of shoes for $13. You can't beat that, especially when you are in despearte need of some semi-ho boots. Mine were getting all raty and nappy looking. Oh, also speaking of great buys...Mom bought me a Liz Claiborne jacket for $14.99. The original price was $189. Cha-ching!!

Speaking of money and shopping... I've really got to stop spending cash on clothes. DH and I need to save money. I'm in serious need of a new car. Right now I'm driving my DH's car while he drives my pimpin' 1988 blazer. I like to call her the blue beast. She's got no locks, no rearview mirror, no radio...and well, not the best of brakes and tires. He's driving it b/c he doesn't think it is safe for me to drive. I actually used to have a pretty cute car, but I wrecked it in 2007 on my birthday! The good news about the wreck...they totaled my car, but I got to put the money towards my wedding this past year. Anyways, I got way off the subject there. We definately need to save money for a lot of things, but just like everyone else...We are worried about the economy. Seems like everyone is being laid off now days.

So, enough of my rambling for the day. I'll get on to the weightloss topic. I actually got a really good article in my email today. It was from Jillian Michael's website/newsletter. I'm going to post it for you all to read, if you want. Basically, it talks about how we should celebrate even the smallest sucesses. I'll post it down below.

My menu for today:

B: Apple (1)
S: Oatmeal (2)
L: Lean peporoni & cheese pocket (7)
S: Baked cheetos (3)
D: Chicken parm leftovers (5)
S: Popcorn & coke (3)

Total Daily = 21
No extra points used thus far!

Unfortunately, that extra point thing is about to change. We are having a baby shower tomorrow. That means homemade new yorker ravioli and cake! Geeze...how many festivities can we pack into the span of 2 months??? I'm not going to worry too much about it though. I've got the extra points to use, if I need to. I already know that tomorrow DH & I are planning on baked potatoes and salads for dinner tomorrow. That should help out my points values some.

I'm still kinda curious about how many calories I am getting a day. I guess I should go back and calculate that one of these days.

I also wonder if carbonated drinks can cause weight gain even if you don't go over your calories/points a day. They always make me feel so bloated!! But it is totally worth it! lol

Anywho, I'm going to sign off for the night. Happy weight loss!

Here is the article I promised:

Be Proud of Any Success! There's no such thing as mindless weight loss. You can't sleep off the pounds or take a miracle pill that burns fat. Losing weight is about making the right choices, every single day, in a variety of different situations. But even if you see the pounds coming off slowly, that doesn't mean you should throw in the towel. As one teammate explains, this journey may be slow going sometimes, but every milestone counts!
"Many of us are losing between one and two pounds, and we all sound the same... just one pound but its okay since I'm heading in the right direction, wish it were more, only 2, etc. What I want to say is that the one and two pound losses are AWESOME!!! They are not something to just 'accept' or 'wish that it were better... Slow and steady wins this race people! And we need to be HAPPY with those 1 and 2 pound losses... no not just happy, but HAPPY!!
I think when we see those HUGE losses on The Biggest Loser, we think that we should be pulling bigger numbers ourselves, but NONE of us are able to work out, sleep, eat, work out, eat, sleep, and work out some more. We are living in the real world with families, jobs, and activities. It is not an excuse! But getting one really good workout in per day, eating healthy, and working at obtaining a doable calorie deficit that you can be happy with and make a new healthy habit, is something to be proud of... remember, a 1,000 calorie deficit each day for one week equals 2 pounds and the end of the week. So those 1 and 2 pounders have to be celebrated. I am guilty of it myself... 'just 1 lb, but I at least it is in the right direction'... instead it should be 'YIPPY!! I lost ANOTHER pound this week!!'
A half pound, 1 lb, 2 lbs are success, and so anyone who achieves these smaller losses in a weeks time are successful too! I just want us to celebrate being a success — no matter how small the loss may be.
So CONGRATULATIONS to everyone who lost pounds this week... keep up the good work and pat yourself on the back — yes, even if it were a pound, do it! Pat yourself on the back and tell yourself that YOU are a success!!" –fit4deb

Up a pound, but expected.

2009-02-03T19:33:00.000-08:00

I weighed this morning and I was back at 142 lbs. I completely expected it though, especially with the superbowl/birthday festivities. It's ok though. I feel like I did good today. With that being said here is what I ate:

B: Strawberries and cream oatmeal (2)
S: Curves bar (1)
L: BBQ Beef - only one piece of bun & baked beans (8)
D: Parm Chicken with whole wheat pasta (7)
S: Popcorn & a bottled coke (3)

Total Daily = 21
No extra points used.

I was totally craving a coke in a bottle. I have to have one occasionally. I quit drinking soda probably 10 years ago, but I still get a craving for coke. We actually bought a bunch of bottled cokes right after Christmas. Target had four packs on sale for $1.00 something then. So, we just keep them down stairs until I get my craving. It's good they are down stairs though. Out of sight, out of mind. Thankfully!! Or else I'd weigh 800 lbs! lol

I don't know if it is something I am eating, but my stomach has bothered me for days. I just feel so bloated. I think I may still need to increase my water intake to make up for all the fiber I am taking in. I don't know. I just know it hurts. On top of that, I'm still in a funk over this gloomy winter weather. I sooo can't wait for spring.

Anyways, I've been awful. I haven't been exercising for awhile. It's pretty pathetic because I don't want to exercise because I know I will see a gain on the scale. This is what I do every time. I lose weight ok until it comes to the exercise part. I guess I just need to start exercising and not weigh the first two weeks I exercise. That way I won't see the gain. They even mentioned this on biggest loser tonight. It seems like Jillian said that was an excuse that people use to make up for not losing weight. You know the old saying..."You didn't lose weight b/c you gained muscle."

Hubby and I discussed getting a treadmill or an eliptical tonight. I think it would be great, but I'm afraid it would be just like anything else. We would be all about it at first and then slack off of it. I think it would be great to have a treadmill though b/c I could just go downstairs to exercise.

Well, I guess that's it for today. I hope you all have a great day and good luck with your lifestyle change!!!

Again, I appreciate all of you motivating comments!!!!!!!!

Today's eats

2009-02-02T19:01:00.000-08:00

This is another quick entry b/c my computer is about to die.

B: Oatmeal (2)
S: Pudding (2)
L: Potatoes cheese and brocolli (4)
S: cheetos, apple, cake (5)
D: salad (3)
S: Icecream (2)

Total Daily = 18 pts
No extra points used today. I'm actually under my normal. Shock! lol

I'll be back to my normal blogging tomorrow! Have a great night and a good day tomorrow.

Birthday Party is over...

2009-01-31T14:40:00.001-08:00

and I am stuffed!!! I ate way way way to much today. I also ate all the wrong things! The next birthday party we have I will make sure that I have something healthy to eat...or someone to keep me away from the pizza, coke, & cake. So, I will say that I had all my points for the day plus the extra points I had left over for this week. Thankfully my week starts over on Monday and I will have my 35 extra points to use again.

Days like today remind me of why I don't like over eating. It makes you feel lethargic and lazy. I am so miserable right now. Tomorrow will definitely be better. I will be sure to eat good stuff.

I'm so glad that DH has gotten on this healthy kick too. It's a lot easier when he's doing it with me. Well, here's the menu for today.

B: Toasted Cheese (3 pt)
S: Popcorn (4 pts)
L & D: 3 pizzas pizza, 2 cheese bread, (21 pts)
S: Cookie cake (6 pts)

Arg...I'm dreading even calculating these. I didn't want to write them down, but I've always heard "if you bite it, you write it". It does help. It helps you realize what your mistakes are. So, heres the total. Remember again, that I only get 21 pts a day. I totally busted the bank!!!

Total = 34
Extra Points left = -13

OUCH!!! I'm in the negative. I need to exercise big time now!

Well, I may post later tonight, right now my sinus' are killing me...I'm going to go nap.

Another pound gone...

2009-01-30T07:13:00.000-08:00

I'm down to 141 this morning!! That's another pound down. I'm not going to get excited though. That means I've lost 3 lbs thus far.

More to come later!

Edited.....

B: Oatmeal (2)
S: Apple (1)
L: Lean Cuisine Fet Alfredo (5)
S: Apple, curves bar (2)
D: Toasted Cheese (3)
S: Chocolate Fondue (16) and all kinds of fruit, marshmellows, pound cake, and potato chips.

Total Daily Used: 29 Extra 35 Points Used: 32

Not too bad I don't guess, but today (1-31-08) we have a birthday party to go to. We are trying to think of a healthy way to get around it. We may go pick up some chiken or something while everyone else eats pizza. There's just been too many tempations this week. I'm really dreading April b/c everyone's birthday/anniversary is that month!

Oh, real quick...if you ever get to try a chocolate covered potato chip, it's highly reccomened!!!

Just a quickie...

2009-01-29T18:10:00.000-08:00

Hey gals! I'm going to try to keep it short tonight. Today's menu looked a little something like this:

B: Strawberries and cream oatmeal (2 pts)
S: Grapes (2 pts)
L: Lean Cuisine Fet Alredo (5 pts) baked cheetos (2 pts)
S: apple and WW cake (2 pts)
D: Bacon cheese sandwhich & pringles reduced fat chips (6 pts)
Second D: Toasted cheese (3 pts)

Total Points = 22 (one point over my daily allowed)
35 Extra Points Used: 24

The bad thing is that I am still hungry!! I could eat and eat and eat tonight. Who knows why, but I am going to try to sleep or drink more water instead.

I hope you all had successes today!!!

Birthday Cake!!! Oh, no!

2009-01-28T19:04:00.000-08:00

That's right... I did so good today until a friend of mine up and decided to have a birthday. Ha. We got her a store bought cake. You know, one of those really good ones with the real (or what I like to call LARD) icing. I did have a piece. It was wonderful in all of its bright pink glory. That's right. I told them to make the cake girly...they went all out. I mean...it was glow in the dark pink. Wow, but it was good. That'll just have to be another deduction from my 35 extra points this week.

Oh, besides the cake, I found out today that we will be attending a chocolate fondue party on Friday. I told my DH (who is trying to lose weight as well) that we would just bring a lot of fruit with us and try to not dip it in the chocolate to much. I'm really not sure of what other options to give him or me for that matter. It makes it kinda hard b/c he is not a big fruit eater. So, if you all have suggestions on how to be good at a chocolate fondue party, that would be great!

Ok, on with todays menu:

B: 2 cups grapes (2 pts.)
S: Strawberries and cream oatmeal (2 pts)
L: Turkey Sandwich w/cheese & hummus (4 pts) and baked cheetos (3 pts)
S: Curves granola bar (1 pt) Cake (4 pts)
D: Toasted cheese sandwich w/ chilli and 5 crackers (5 pts - the chilli was only 1 pt per cup, but it made me feel really sick, so I just skimmed a little off the top and ate it)
S: WW ice cream (2 pts)

Drinks: Coffee, 34 oz water.

Total Daily Value: 23
35 Extra Points Used: 23

I'll do better tomorrow. Surely, no one will decide to have a birthday or buy pizza or take me out to a business dinner! Or at least I hope!!

On to other things...

My DH almost had a wreck yesterday morning. In the process, he blew the tire out on our 2nd car. Granted, it was a piece of pooh car, but it got the two of us around. This means we are carpooling. I love riding with him, but I get off a half hour earlier than him...and he tends to work over his normal hours. So, today...I ended up waiting an extra 1 1/2 hours for him to come pick me up. Talk about making you tired!! Plus, I couldn't stay on the clock b/c they have pretty much nixed overtime. So, I just sat there and surfed the net...and thought about how lazy I felt just sitting there and waiting. I hate to wait. I guess I am impatient.

I'm actually pretty tired tonight. As soon as I got home, I started cleaning. I tell you what...I don't understand how anyone can keep there house clean all the time. Especially if they have kids. It seems like our house stays junked up. I really need to make a cleaning schedule for DH & myself. It's just getting me and him to stick to it. It takes 21 days to make something a habbit, right? LOL I doubt we can even do it two days in a row. ha.

Back to the subject of heathy eating:

I think I am going to switch up my lunch tomorrow. It's probably not good to have the same thing to eat for lunch every single day. Maybe I'll take a frozen meal. I know they aren't the best for you, but I really, REALLY like Lean Cuisine Fet Alfredo (plus, it's only a 5 pointer). I'll probably stick with the oatmeal b/c gosh that stuff is yummy. Just add a pack of slenda and ooh, la la - good stuff.

Off subject, yet again, but has anyone else noticed how tiny Jillian Michaels is? I couldn't help but notice it on the 30 DS. Also, last night when she was beside Dan, she looked like a midget. The funny thing is...I think she is the same height as me. I'm 5'2. Oh, I also read that she used to be 50 lbs. heavier! That is crazy!! Someone correct me if I am wrong about that. That got me to thinking about what she weighs, but I can't find that information anywhere. During my search, I did run accross a good quote for her:

"When you get a flat tire, you don't get out and slash the other three tires, do you? NOOOO! You change the tire, then go on your way!"

It can be found at this link:
http://www.sparkpeople.com/mypage_public_journal_individual.asp?blog_id=959552

How true is that quote!!! She is taking about when you give up on things, you give up on them big. You tend to blow it for days, even weeks. I'm guilty of that!

Well, I'm off to wake up my husband from his nap on the couch! :)

I'll leave you with my favorite quote...

"If you always do what you always did, you'll always get what you always got!"

Goodnight & goodluck!

Down another!

2009-01-27T19:33:00.000-08:00

I realize I shouldn't weigh everyday, but I couldn't resist. I woke up feeling lighter. I know that probably doesn't make sense, but I didn't feel as big and blah as normal. So...I weighed 142 lbs. That's another lb. down. Yeah for me :)

Most likely I won't weigh in the morning. I had a business dinner tonight. I didn't eat bad, but not the best in the world. I am going to use my 35 extra points to help cover today. Also, the group that we took out to eat tonight bought our lunch today...and guess what healthy choice they made??? Pizza! That happens to be a major weakness of mine. So here's my menu for the day (please don't scorn me):

B: oatmeal (2 pts)
S: grapes (1 pts)
L: 2 pieces of cheese & one pep pizza (21 pts)
D: 4 oz bbq chicken, 1/4 salad with ranch, 1 roll, julliene potatoes (13 pts)
S: WW ice cream (2 pts)

Drinks: 3 oz coffee, 12 oz unsweet tea w/ splenda, 32 oz HzO

Total Points: 39 pts

I finally rechecked my points total daily value. I am supposed to have 21 pts. So, far I have used 21 pts of my extra 35 points allowed each week. Wow, it's only day two and I've used that much!! Wow!

Today was just a bad day in regards to eating b/c of the buisness lunch. Granted, I could have made much better choices. I could have ate only one piece of pizza and had an apple. I also could have just stuck with salad at supper tonight and opted for a baked potato instead of the friend ones that came with the meal. I'm learning!

Tomorrow will be better!

Pictures for fun

2009-01-26T19:57:00.000-08:00

I thought I would upload a couple of pictures since the majority of you girls are on your way to getting married. DH & I were married in September of last year. Anyways, here's the pics...

Me alone in my dress

DH & I outside of the church

The following two are some of our engagment pics...I love the guitars!! We both play!

Anyways, happy wedding planning to everyone!!

Oh, I should mention that these pics were taken by In a Mother's Eye Unique Photography! I have to give her credit b/c she is the sweetest photographer ever!

Weigh in

2009-01-26T19:07:00.001-08:00

I couldn't wait until tomorrow to weigh in. So I did it this morning. I weighed 143 lbs. That is down 1 lb. from before. Yeah, me!!! I'm so thankful!!

I really wanted to tell everyone that commented on my last post "Thank you!!". You don't know how much it meant to me to log on and see such a response. It was very uplifting. In fact, it motivated me to eat better today. I just really appreciate you girls so much. I know that none of us really know each other, but seeing someone else achieve at the same goals you have is very wonderful!!!

Here's my menu for the day:

B= oatmeal, grapes (4 pts)
S= ww cake (1 pts)
L= turkey on wheat w/ cheese & hummus & baked cheetos (7 pts)
S= apple (1 pts)
D = lean pocket peporonni and baked cheetos (10 pts)

Drinks = 32 oz tea, 16 oz H2O, 5 oz Coffee with ff creamer (1 pts)

I estimated 24 points for the whole day. I haven't re-figured how many points I need a day, but I am thinking around 22. I really need to count calories, too. I am curious how the calories equal up to the points.

I'm really bad about not drinking enough in general. Some days I can go and just have 1-2 glasses of water. That could explain some of the weight gain, I think. I know my body needs liquids in order to operate properly and I just haven't been getting enough in a long time. I think the lack of fluids is increasing problems with my kidneys. I find that when I do drink more than my average 1-2 glasses that my kidneys tend to hurt more when I need to go to the bathroom. But...this has been the case ever since the really bad kidney/bladder infection I had in Dec 2007.

Well, off the subject a little, but I had my first HR class in the Business program tonight. I really enjoyed it. The teacher is very laid back and a great communicator. I didn't get bored once in his class, which is a miracle! Sometimes I think I have adult ADD...lol.

Anyways, I think I'll get off here and take a shower! Goodnight!

2009-01-25T18:28:00.000-08:00

Well, it's been awhile since I've written. Actually, I've been a little ashamed to update. I fell off the wagon this week due to that womanly time of the month. I realize that is no excuse. The good thing is I didn't gain. I'm still 144 lbs.

DH & I went grocery shopping tonight. I am proud to say that we bought all healthy stuff. I managed to stay away from all the sweets except the Weight Watchers ice creams. I have to have those. We bought a lot of fruits and veggies. We did really good. I just hope we stick to eating everything we bought instead of going out to eat. We learned tonight that we will not always be eating the same thing at dinner. I'm rather picky. I wish I wasn't. Actually, I've done really good at exploring new things lately. I even bought hummus. Despite it's potted meat texture, I really like it. I'm going to try it on a turkey sandwich.

Anyways, I unfortunately have no 30DS updates. I have time to do it...I just haven't. I just can't get over being so tired.

I'm really having a hard time with motivation. I know I want to live healthier and I want to lose weight, but what is driving me? Why am I not as driven as I was before? I think I give my self that 160 lb. leeway before I have my breaking point. That is so wrong on my behalf because I am miserable at 144 lbs. I was miserable at 136 lbs. I was trying to think of things today that would be good motivators for me. One that I thought of: I really want to lose weight and take care of myself for my job. As unfortunate as it is, most jobs promote girls that are attractive and take care of their bodies. I want to do that. That may be a sad motivator, but it works for me.

Well, I think I will go do my homework considering it is almost 10 pm. Keep up the good work. You girls are a great motivator to me, as well!

Fashion Sense

2009-01-19T18:09:00.000-08:00

Discovered this blog yesterday and I must say this girl has some style. Check it out.

http://fashionistastyle1.blogspot.com/2009_01_01_archive.html

I think what I admire about her style is that she knows how to incorporate the pop of color thing. I know this isn't really health related, but in a way it is. I think if I were to lose this extra weight I would be more experimental with the things I wear. Actually, I know I would be. When I was 126 lbs., I wore lots of different clothes and experimented all the time with things. So, I'm adding this as another inspiration for myself to lose weight. I want to be stylish again. Tomorrow is biggest loser and weigh in day and measurement day. I still haven't completed D5 of shred yet, either. I feel like I'm falling off the badwaggon.

I've been trying to think back to when I was really motivated on WW the first time. It was all so new. I was always so excited about weighing in each week. I also remember that I didn't tell anyone for a long time that I was doing it. I think that is actually something that helped me. I guess if no one knows that I am doing it then no one can discourage me or coax me into ordering a pizza and exercising later. Maybe I should go back to that again. Just not bring it up anymore.

I think it was easier back then b/c I wasn't seeing anyone. I was just living life to the fullest and eating what I wanted when I wanted. I lived off lean cuisines! It's hard to do that being married. Plus, I don't want to deprive my husband of good food just b/c I have all of this extra baggage. Does anyone have any good low fat easy recipes?? I think I get lost b/c I get stuck in a rut of eating the same things over and over again. I mean, I could eat italian 365 days a week, 3 times a day. I just love my alfredo!!

Well, I'm out for tonight. I'm pooped! I wish I had more energy!!! I've yet to get up and do C25K!

I can't wait for some warm spring weather. The only thing is I will have to take off some of these layers and reveal these fanastic fat rolls I've got going on now!

Day 4 - Finally!

2009-01-18T04:52:00.000-08:00

I did D4 of the 30 DS yesterday. I kicked my butt considering I skipped exercise for 2 days. Also, I didn't complete D5 like I said I was going to. That is going to push me back even further on completing level 1. I'm just so tired.

I dont know why, but the hardest moves on Level 1 are the bicycle crunches and the side lunges. I don't know how Anita and Natalie move with such ease. My legs do not move so fluid like. Oh, and it irritates me that they don't moan or pant for breathe. LOL I'm about to die and they are just cruising through it. I'm sure I'll get used to it. I better b/c Level 2 will be coming soon!

I'm going to consider my shopping trip yesterday somewhat exercise. We drove 2 hours just to find some bargains. Unfortunately, I only bought food the whole time we were gone!! Go figure that one! We walked a ton, though. I'm just not really interested in buying clothes right now b/c I don't want to stay at this weight! I would've bought some express pants yesterday, but they were for tall people....so I said no! I also seen my very first $2,ooo.oo coat. I will post a picture of it later. Oh, my...it was so ugly. Bright orange and real fur - yuck! I think it was an Austin Powers reject! I also found a Coach purse I would like to have, but I really can't see spending $500.00 on a purse just b/c of a name brand. It was pretty though!

Anyways, I will update later.

Carb Overload

2009-01-17T01:42:00.000-08:00

The past two days I have been so exhausted. I went to bed on Thursday at 8:30 and on Friday at 9. That means I skipped 30 DS both days. So, to kick things into gear I am going to do D4 & D5 today (once in the morning and once at night) and do D6 & D7 tomorrow.

I don't know why I've been so tired. Carb overload, maybe?? I think it really started on Thursday at lunch. I ate fairly bad. I had a craving chiken filet sandwhich from KFC (6 pts?) and potato wedges (6 pts). I knew that I shouldn't, but I did it anyways. Anyways, that set the whole day into a downhill spriral. I've noticed when I eat something bad for me it opens the door for me to eat more bad things. To me it seems to make me more hungry. It makes me crave more sweets. So that night, I had a homemade taco salad with shell, chicken, refried beans, lettuce and cheese. I don't think that would have been too bad, except we realized the so called "healthy" shell had 11 grams of fat in it!!!! Yikes.

Friday I considered a free day for me. I did good for breakfast (ff choc pudding - 2pts) and lunch (smart ones fire roasted pizza 8pts) and a snack (granola bar = 2pts), but supper we blew it out of the water with a hamburger pizza covered in cheese. I don't even want to know the points on it. Plus, I had two bottled cokes (my weaknessv-and a rarity). I'm just going to assume my extra 35 pts are gone for the week. They will start over on Tuesday.

Needless to say. I am going to do better today. I'm just a little worried because my mom, sis, and I are all going shopping today. That usually means fast food and sweets. Actually, we haven't been on a shopping excursion since mom had her gastric bypass (she's down almost 100 lbs. - this is another story for another time) so eating may be a lot different on this trip. I hope to make it to a Sephora store. I'm really wanting to try some philosophy products and I heard they have them there. Hopefully, we will find some decent buys. However, I don't plan on buying many clothes. I think I need to save that money for my celebration outfit (which will be some dress pants from express & some really cute shirt). I do however plan on buying me some shoes. I'm hard up!

It's 5 in the morning and i'm up writing this stuff. Could be because I fell asleep so early last night. Anyways, I feel like a total bum for not doing 30 DS for 2 days, but i'm making it up today and tomorrow.

I'll weigh in on Tuesday. I'm a little scared to do it any earlier, b/c of the pizza!!! Good luck today with your food choices and exercise!! Thanks to everyone for being an inspiration!!

Day 3 of Shredding

2009-01-14T19:00:00.000-08:00

It was kinda a stressful day today. There is this woman that I work with who is totally agressive and assertive....and intimidated by me. Now, I don't know why she is intimidated, but nonetheless she is. She has been stirring up things the past two days. I'm thinking she is doing this b/c review time is coming up, but who knows. I would think right now is the worst time to stir up anything considering the way the econmy is! We should all be lucky to have a job! Enough on that... Just needed to vent a bit.

Today was not so bad. I ate pretty healthy for a change. I am so glad that the Thanksgiving and Christmas temptations are gone. Next up will be Valentine's Day (speaking of...I really need to get my husband something...so far all i have is a card and a chocolate shaped apple). I can usually fight off that candy.

My menu for today:

B: 1 1/2 cup strawberries (2 pts) & 1 ww strawberry yogurt (1 pt)
L: baked spaghetti (5 pts) & ff choc pudding (2 pts)
Snack: fiber one bar (3 pts)
D: salad w/croutons, bacon bits, cheese, & some ff ranch (3 pts) & baked spaghetti (5 pts)

Thats a grand total of 21 pts. I'll have to look it up again according to my weight, but I believe that is the total I am supposed to have daily. Pretty good eating. I wish I could cut out the bacon bits and croutons, but I am a crunchy texture girl. I need something with a little umph.

I completed 30 DS L1D3 tonight. I am still struggling through it, but it is totally worth it. I hope I see some change on Tuesday when I re-meassure. I asked blogger AshIsFit how long it too her to see results from this workout. She said after the first week you could feel more toned. She also said after 2 months she developed the V muscles in her lower abs. I wouldn't know what to do with myself if I had those! I'd probably embarass everyone b/c I'd want to show them all the time. lol kidding...kinda :)

I think I may go play some We Cheer now on my Wii - considering husband is asleep on the couch. Bye for now!

30 Day Shred L1D2

2009-01-13T19:56:00.000-08:00

Well, tonight was the second installment of Shred. It was some what easier tonight. I'm contribuiting that to the fact that I kinda knew what I was in for.

Just from doing L1D1, I feel better. My stomach feels a little tighter than normal. That is always a good thing. I've actually not been able to suck in my stomach since all of this weight gain. Sometimes I can feel myself standing with my stomach sticking out like a pregnant person. I can feel the curve in my back. That is just not good. I've noticed that a lot more recently. I used to joke about this girl at my work who used to stand like that.... **I guess I learned my lesson. You shouldn't make fun of people...no matter what...you never know when something similar will happen to you**

I just hope I can continue on...as stated before. Now if I can just pick up on C25K again.

Other things that bother me since gaining weight. I have no work clothes that fit me anymore. All my pants are soooo tight that they cut into my sides. It hurts. It's just so uncomfortable and I feel like everyone else can notice. I also feel that when I sit down that I have this nice new shelf stomach that I can eat off of. I've noticed myself even using it to set my lap top on. I've heard of adaption before, but come on...a shelf stomach (built perfect for more eating). Yuck! Sorry for the grossness, but i'm just speaking the truth in hopes that someone can relate.

I think I will re-meassure on Tuesdays. That is biggest loser day...therfore I feel the need to participate. Especially since i'm addicted to that show!

Oh, on a side note... we fixed spaghetti tonight (baked with cheese) and it came out to only 4-6 points per serving! Score! Another find... ice cream bars that are only 1 point for 2 bars. The are called Blue Bunny sweet freedom fudge bars. Amazing find.

Well, I'm off to shower. Maybe I'll shave my legs. That should help me drop a lb. Ha!

Measurements and weight

2009-01-13T16:36:00.000-08:00

Ok, here is what I promised. This is so embarassing, but I am hoping it will open my eyes and show others and myself my progress. So, without further delay here is my weight and my measurements.

Weight: 144.5 (up even more!)

Left arm: 10.5
Right arm: 11

Left leg: 22
Right leg: 22 1/4

Under my bra: 35

Natural waist: 35
Lower waist (biggest area) = 38.5

Yuck!!!! I hope 30 DS works it's magic!

30 Day Shred L1D1

2009-01-12T21:33:00.000-08:00

Well, I did it! It was long over due, but I managed to crack open my new 30 day shred DVD and give myself a good hard workout. The moves weren't anything really complicated, but they were hard. I didn't realize how bad out of shape that I am. I'm hoping it gets easier towards the end of the level.

Anyways, I'm going to measure myself tomorrow and weigh in. That way I can keep track of how much I lose (or gain in my case lol). All of the reviews I have read of this program have yielded pretty good results. I seen one person that lost 7 lbs. That would thrill me!

I'm honestly a little worried about going 30 days straight with the DVD. I'm worried that I will fail...worried that it is going to be too hard... Exercise is hard. Like Jillian says in the DVD if you want this...you have to work for it. That is so true. I just need to keep reminding myself that I can do this and remind myself that those people on the biggest loser are a lot bigger than me and work out a heck of a lot more intense than me.

I've obviously slacked on C25K. I want to do this in accordance with 30DS. I just can't seem to get myself up out of bed in time to go to the gym. I'm thinking that morning times would be best for me because it will give me the afternoon to do whatever I want to do. It seems like if you go to the gym right after work that you never get anything accomplished...Well, at least for me.

Anyways, I hope everyone is doing well. I'm getting over my sickness (except the blisters in my throat) finally!!

Pregnancy Prediction...

2009-01-04T16:48:00.001-08:00

Ok, so I thought this was rather funny. Visit this link http://pregnancyandbaby.com/pregnancy/baby/Madame-Zaritska-predicts-your-birth-experience-736.htm and they will predict the whether the day you will deliver your baby and how large it will be. It's pretty funny considering I am no where close to being pregnant, but nonetheless entertaning. Here is what she says....

"What she senses for youThe day you deliver, outside will be blustery. Your baby will arrive in the evening. After a labor lasting approximately 7 hours, your child, a boy, will be born. Your baby will weigh about 11 pounds, 10 ounces, and will be 19 inches long. This child will have light brown eyes and be almost bald. But there is more. I get the impression that you have some questions -- unresolved concerns you have been too shy to address with your caregiver. This is quite typical. You might appreciate some of the advice to some of these seemingly embarassing pregnancy questions. "

That's all I really have for now except this morning I weighed and I'm back down to 140 lbs. We still didn't manage to go to the store, but I found some good recipes on sparkpeople for when we do.

10 reason to lose 10+

2009-01-04T04:10:00.000-08:00

Well, I borrowed this idea from the blog http://weightlossweekly.blogspot.com/. I thought it was a great concept and a great way to motivate myself. So, here I go.

1. I want to feel comfortable in my clothes again. At this point, I feel like I am busting out the seams of everything I own. When you feel uncomfortable in your clothes, you feel uncomfortable with everything. Or at least that has been my experience.

2. I want to live a healthier lifestyle. I don't want to lose lbs. just to be skinny. I want to be healthier. I want to live a better life.

3. I want to provide a good example for my children. I know, I know, I don't have any yet, but when I do, I want them to realize how important eating properly is. I thought about this the other day. I can't force them to eat veggies for lunch when all I want to eat is a big ol' tub of Ben & Jerry's Half Baked ice cream.

4. I want to feel sexy. I know that may sound funny, but it's true. I want to feel that my husband thinks I look great naked. He would say that now anyways just because he is a good guy and wouldn't hurt my feelings, but I know it isn't true.

5. I want to be able to run an 8 k by July. I thinking dropping some weight will definately help out. I've got to get back on the C25k bandwagon!

6. I want to be able to sit down and not have this huge fat roll pop out! I'll still have one at 126lbs, but it will be much smaller...and I can deal with that.

7. I want to wear a bikini. I've worn one once in my life and that's when I weighed 126lbs. It was actually liberating. Hopefully, I will get to that point again.

8. I want to prove that I am not a quiter. Losing weight is hard. I want to show that it is possible to myself and to others. Hopefully, this will motivate my husband to get healthier, too.

9. To be more extroverted. I know this is crazy, but even gaining 15lbs. has caused me to be more introverted, more to myself, and more quiet. I think it's because I feel like when people are talking to me all they notice is how much I have gained. I've had people tell me before that because I married now I don't have to watch my weight...I can gain as much as I want. I don't want to be one of those people who gain a ton just because of marriae.

10. To feel prettier. I noticed that I take a lot better care of myself when I am at lower weight. I used to get up and fix my hair and makeup every morning before work. Now, I am lucky if I just have fondation on before leaving the house - and my hair is never fixed.

Well, there are my reasons. Maybe this will inspire someone else to list reasons, too.

Off the subject of the 10 reasons, I must say that I still feel pretty crummy. I still have this viral infection I cannot kick. The doc wanted me to take 3 days of claritin to see if that would help and if not take antibiotics. It's looking like I will have to fill the antibiotics. My throat and head can't take much more. This would explain why I got up at 6:20 this morning. Even the drowsy cough syrup isn't working. What really stinks is that I have to meet with a group from school this afternoon at 2. I'm not going to be in the right mindset for that I'm sure.

Anyways, I hope everyone has an amazing day. Good luck!

New year - new post.

2009-01-02T12:01:00.000-08:00

Well, as you all can tell, it's been some time since I've posted. Note to everyone: If you see that I haven't posted most likely it means that I have fallen off the wagon and am to ashamed to post anything! With that being said, I am now at a whopping 141 lbs. I can't believe this. I can't remember when I weighed this much last time. It goes to show you, if you don't pay attention to what you are putting in your mouth, then it will all land on your hips. What's that saying??? A moment on the lips, a lifetime on the hips! That is so true.

With this being the new year, I'm going to start anew with the rest of the world on this mission to live a healthier lifestyle. Although, there has been a wrench thrown in my plans. I have a viral infection in my throat and am on the DL for a couple of days. I'm afraid of exercising until I kick this sickness.

I got 30 day shred recently, but I haven't started it yet. I accidently ordered it on amazon to be shipped overnight. It ended up costin me twice what I could get it at walmart or target. I'm going to send it back and get a refund then order it for a cheaper cost. Well, that is if I don't decide to go ahead and use it.

I really need a makeover. My clothes are not fitting me right now. I have gained so much. I think I am going to set up rewards for each amount of weight that I lose. Maybe that will motivate me.

Reward #1 -5 lbs. Manicure

Reward #2 -5 lbs. Pedicure

Reward #3 -5 lbs. New Outfit

If I reach all of those rewards, I will weigh 126 lbs. Those are my first goals. Hopefully I can stick to it. The best part about it all ... I will be able to fit in my old clothes!

Well, I think I will go take my cough syrup and sleep a bit. My sinuses are hurting!

Whoa! Scale - Whoa!!!

2008-12-05T21:08:00.000-08:00

Wow, let me just tell you. I weighed yesterday morning and I officially weigh 140 lbs. I haven't see that number in a long time. That is pretty high for me - considering 2 years ago I was 126 lbs. Like I said before my highest weight was 159 lbs - I don't want to get anywhere near that!!!

It's been a rather depressing week. I've been on the hunt for that perfect Christmas party dress. I went tuesday for 2 hours - wednesday for 2 hours - thursday for 1 hour - and friday for 1 hour. And guess what? I found the dress I'm going to wear hanging in my closet. I bought it 2 years ago on sale at JC Penney for 9 bucks and have never worn it. It will be my little blac dress for this year. Anyways, looking back on it I've spent 6 hours looking for a dress! If that's not wasteful, I don't know what is. During this hunt I realized that I had gained weight. Dressing room mirrors are so unforgiving! I need one of those at home with those harsh lights so I can see what I really look like! Anyways, it made me realize that I'm not as motivated as I should be. It made me realize that I've let myself go back to some place I said I'd never be again. Therefore, as stated earlier, it's been depressing.

I have decided that I can't let this get me down. A pitty party will do me no good other than to make me more depressed (it will also induce me to eat cookie dough, which somehow I don't think would fit well into this new healthy lifestyle I should be living ha). So, I'm going to pick myself up off the couch and go run in the morning.

That is another thing I'm going to change. I've not been doing the c25k to the best of my ability. The last time I ran was Thanksgiving morning. That was over a week ago and I'm supposed to be doing this every other day. I will never make it to the 8k in July, if I don't set a schedule. With that being said, here is the schedule I will try to stick to:

Tuesday - after work

Thursday - after work

Saturday - when I wake up

I really need to stick to this schedule!

So, tonight I got online and started looking up races to sign up for. The first thing coming up that I could participate in is a 5k fitness walk. I've asked the girls on the nest to define this for me. I was afraid that might be the weird little walk they do in the olympics (speed walking, i think). There is a 5k running race in March. I think I will definately sign up for that one. It just makes me really excited to think that I can do this. That I can cross that finish line. I can't wait for that day! I'm sure the emotions will run rampid! I even plan on writing about it in our company newsletter. Gosh - I get teary eyed even thinking about it now. I will be so proud of myself when (not if) I do this!

I've attached a picture of me on our honeymoon. I probably weighed 133 in that picture. That was just 3 months ago! Us short people don't hold weight very well!!

Well, I guess that is it for me tonight. i just want say that I am so happy I found the nest and these blogs. I've never felt so inspired to do something than now.

I hope everyone has a fantastic weekend!!!!

Virtual images

2008-11-29T22:28:00.000-08:00

Well, I tried to make a virtual image of myself at the size I am now (left) - and then one at the size I want to be (right). However, it doesn't look like that much of a difference. I guess it is because it's only a 10 lb-ish differece. The one on the left is at 135lbs and the one on the right is at 126 lbs. I just don't think that image looks much like me know. My belly is much bigger than that! Oh, well.

I've done horrible the past couple of days with eating. I've had pizza, mexican, and chocolate chip cookies. I think my problem is that I eat to quickly. See, I only get a 30 minute lunch break at work. So, I tend to eat very quick all the time. I used to not do this when I first started weight watchers - but now it's like I can't help it. I think I need to start taking a sip of water between every bite instead of shoving one bite in right after the other. Sometimes I feel like a pig b/c I eat so quickly. I'm just shoveling it in as quick as I can. That is so unhealthy. This is a promise to myself: I will slow down my eating! Maybe this will help me drink more now - b/c that is another big problem I have. I don't drink enough in general.

Well, that is all I have to say tonight. Hopefully, I will complete Week 1 Day 3 of C25K tomorrow. I really need to work on my exercising!

Happy Thanksgiving!

2008-11-27T06:49:00.000-08:00

Happy Turkey Day everyone! I hope everyone is doing well. Well, this morning I got up and finally finished my 2nd workout of C25K. I know, I know. It's about time. I mean it's been a week or longer since I did my first workout. I guess I've been lazy.

I ran outside this morning. Geeze, that is rough in 30 degree weather. I don't know how people do it! I definately need to invest in some warmer clothes, if I am going to continue this. I want one of those cute little ear warmer bands. I just hope they look good on me. I've decided that it is a lot harder to run outside than on a treadmill. I feel like running a treadmill is a breeze. Running outside is definately more challenging. I think it will define my muscles more (once I get some - ha).

I feel so much better when I exercise. I don't know why I don't keep this up. If not for losing weight and getting ready for this run, then just to keep up this fanastic exercise high. Ha. Running might be like a drug to me - who knew? Well, at least I hope it ends up that way. I would love to be addicted to something healthy for a change. My good friend Mary is going to teach me how to breathe properly when running. Hopefully that will help me with the side stiches, once they begin again.

Well, on a litter note. I made the cutest cupcakes the other night. They look like little turkeys. I made homemade peanut butter buttercream and chocolate buttercream ones. I added the picture to the top of this blog.

Anyways, I hope everyone has a great Thanksgiving. I've got to go shower and heat up the food I cooked last night. Gosh - I feel so domesticated!! lol I made brocoli and cheese casserole and hashbrown casserole last night. I also made oreo truffles!

Well, try not to gobble till you wobble this year. See ya soon! Thinner I hope!

Exercise Accomplished:

11/27/08 - 2nd C25K run.

1st Day of C25k!

2008-11-19T18:51:00.000-08:00

Hello, all! This is my very first post on blogger. Sure, I've posted before, but it's only been on Myspace. So, let me tell you a few things that I plan to do with this blog before I began my spill on the C25k.

1.) I will use this blog to keep track of my weight.
2.) I will also use it to log my exercise and healthy lifestyle choices.
3.) Hopefully, this will motivate me to live healthier...and maybe even motivate others.
4.) Oh, I will probably end up writing about marriage and life in general (I'm a newly wed - yeah)!

Ok...on with the blogging :)

Well, my very first day of C25k training was yesterday! If you don't know what C25k is, I suggest looking it up on the cool runnings website. It's an excellent begining runner's traning guide. In a nut shell: it's to get you up off the couch and running a 5k in 9 weeks.

My first workout actually went very well. I felt so energized afterwards. Who knew such a great feeling could come from working out!!! It took me 25 minutes to complete the first work out (5 minutes of that was warming up). I ended up going 1.54 miles. To me, this is amazing. I'm not a runner and never have been, but this program really makes it easy.

I should also tell you that a few friends/coworkers of mine and myself are planning on running an 8k in July. I'm so excited about I can't stand it!! This is something I've always wanted to do, but never have been able to. Now, only if I can convince my DH to do it with me! I really want him to. I think it would be so good for us...and an amazing accomplishment.

More on the reason for blogging...
I' ve decided that it is more important to focus on the healthy aspect of exercising instead of the losing weight aspect. Sure, i would like to lose weight, but I want to be healthy first and foremost. This has really helped motivate me the past couple of days. I just keep thinking of how much better I feel when I exercise. Also, if we do ever decide to have kids, I want to be able to live a long life with them.

Well, thanks for stopping by and hopefully next time your read this we will all be a bit healthier.

Stats:

Age: 29
Weight: 134.5
Height: 5'2

Exercise accomplished:
11/18/08 - completed first C25k workout!