month TWO pictures

Not much change from last month.  I was hoping to have more visible results! I HATE waiting!

(and I swear my ENTIRE house is completely clean...except for that one laundry basket over my right shoulder sitting on the couch mocking me! Please pretend to NOT see it!)

Up to date, I have lost nearly 44 lbs....but I STILL CANNOT TELL! I'm sorry to whine, but that's how I've been feeling lately.

The only upside that I AM feeling these days is stronger and cleaner.  Does THAT even make sense?! I'm NOT looking for compliments but rather just venting.  I'm still fitting in my pants that I've been wearing for years. I'm still wearing the same size clothes that I started with. 

I HATE being patient!

month two progress

It's that time again! The 15th of the month is my date to weigh and take measurements!

I've lost another 11.2 pounds!

TOTAL WEIGHT LOSS IS 41.2 poundage!!

(I'm frustrated though--because I didn't lose as much this month as I did last month.  I've chalked it up to the workouts and the fact that I'm building muscle.  I can feel that my legs are stronger!)

I started partying to Turbo Jam on 11/1/09.  I only did it 3 times a week for the first week, and then increased it to 4 and 5 times a week in beginning of December.  Fast forward to now, I exercise every day and love it!

I took my measurements:

Arms: -2
Waist: -4
Hips: -3

I've lost a total of 9 inches!!!

Just in the 6 weeks that I've been working out to Turbo Jam! I can stick with the exercise because I don't kill myself to the point of exhaustion, but I work hard.  I sweat.  I drink tons and tons of water.  I absolutely love it! PICTURES TO COME TOMORROW! Stay tuned...

get down and party!

I absolutely, positively, am head-over-heels in love with this!

BECAUSE:

-it's FUN

-the time goes by fast

-the intensity level is what you make it

-it's not a workout, it's a dance PARTY!

-it's easy to stick to

-it combines cardio with weight training

-I do it every day and dont' get burnt out or tired of it.  I actually LOOK FORWARD TO EXERCISE!

Try it, I know you'll love it!

gulp gulp gulp

The experts say that we need to drink half of our body weight in ounces of water daily.  If you're like me, water is SO BORING! I drink it out of necessity to aid my weight-loss habit, but I don't really enjoy it.  Every hour I guzzle 8 ounces of water no matter what.

If I get tired of normal tasteless water, I have to get creative.

I fill up a pitcher and add a little bit of Crystal Light.  Or some sliced lemon.  Or some sliced cucumber.  I also drink a lot of herb tea during the day.  Mmmmmmmmmm!

The benefits that I've noticed since I started this program:

-my hair is so much more shiny and feels more healthy

-my skin is brighter and more supple

-my body has adjusted to the higher water intake and I don't spend all day in the bathroom

-I feel fuller longer

-I just feel CLEANER!

a cake and no cheating!

I made a cake yesterday and didn't lick the bowl once! I didn't snitch any cake nor frosting! I drank 20 oz of water during the process so I'd feel extra full and never once cheated!!!

goal #1 reached

I wanted to lose 30 pounds...and then get contacts! I haven't had them for years and I've wanted them so badly. Guess what??

I REACHED IT!


I've lost 24.6 pounds since 10/15/09, but I lost 6 pounds before that. (I joined Weight Watchers earlier this year) So I'm claiming it!

I've lost a total amount of 31.6 pounds...and I'm showing off my conacts!

holy wow, batman

I wanted to see what ONE MONTH DIFFERENCE makes!

10/15/09

11/15/09

Just proves that EVERY DAY COUNTS!!

one month update

This is ME! 21.2 POUNDS LIGHTER!!!

I lost 21.2 pounds in one month.  I'm trying HARD not to smile in these pictures, so that's why the funny staring faces. 

If you would like to rewind to see pictures of my first post and "before" pictures last month, click HERE.

I'm going to try to wear the same outfit so it's easier to see my progress!

Bad Habits that I've broken:
-I don't "munch" on junk
-I don't eat candy or sugar; I don't crave it!
-I fill my time with other activities than with food
-I don't eat at night anymore
-I drink 64-80 oz of water and NOT pop
-I "reward" myself with a can of diet coke once in a while, but really don't crave it.
-I find myself much more happy.

a litlte tip for today

Cultivate Friendships

We love spending time with friends but sometimes are too busy to keep up relationships. Experts warn that this could be hazardous to your health since people with solid support networks tend to live longer. Nurture healthy friendships for fun and support. And get rid of unhealthy friendships that are emotionally draining.

From Take Shape For Life's Tip of the Day for November 13, 2009.  I love it!

just an afterthought

Just wanted to share a HUGE accomplishment.  We took the kidlets trick-or-treating on Halloween night last week and got about 8 lbs of candy.  We only went to 2 trunk-or-treats and a couple neighborhoods, but often the kids were the first and only trick-or-treaters, so they were rewarded with GINORMOUS handfuls of candy. 
I threw about a pound of it away after inspecting all the loot.  I was impressed with myself because even after sorting and rooting around 500+ pieces of candy, I didn't have a single piece!

I DON'T WANT ANY!

The candy is NOT hidden.  The candy is very accessible and I could easily eat behind closed doors, but I don't.  I don't think about what I'm missing out on.  I'm not thinking about what it would taste like.  I'm thinking that if I did have a piece, I don't know if I could stop at just ONE.  As I chose not to have one, it's gotten a lot easier to look past the short-term satisfaction and looking forward to the long-term goal.  I never thought that I'd be the one to say no to chocolate and be OKAY with it.  I have given away some of it, thrown away some and the kids have some now and then.  Now the candy and chocolate is an after-thought.  If even that!

I'm getting used to politely telling my uber-sugar tooth, "No thank you." And I don't mourn it.  I don't mind.  I'm getting USED to it!

YIPEE!!!

all about BLT's

No, not Bacon Lettuce Tomato Sandwhiches! I'm talking about the little things that add up to an enormous calorie intake when I'm not even looking! I'm talking about the...

BITES, LICKS and TASTES!!

Tami called me the other morning and said, "I didn't LICK THE BOWL when I made muffins!"

Way to go!!

Thanks, Coach!

Many thanks to my health coach, Ang!  Thanks for your help this morning and for fixing me the BEST scrambled eggs I have eaten for a looooong time.  Yum!! 

welcome new member!

Congratulations to Tami!!! A new member of this blog, she is amazing and I look forward to see her progress on the progam as well.  Welcome Tami!
As a member of Team Skinny Jeans, she has a ticker also for her weight loss.  Follow her progress too!

This last week was emotionally-trying as I handled some EXTREMELY complicated and delicate matters in my life, and  I'm still very shaken.  As my emotions took a toll on my body, I was very sick to my stomach and then after I came to terms with it I wanted to E-A-T. 
I wanted ice cream.  I wanted chocolate and A LOT of it.

I did eat a couple bites of ice cream and 1/2 of a cheeseburger.  As I savored each delicious morsel of goodness, I realized that: 1) it didn't taste as delicious as I imagined it would and 2) I was satisfied by only one or two bites. 

YIPEE!! That was the first lightbulb.  Maybe I don't NEED to use food as comfort. 

I called my gal pal and we went out.  We ran grocery errands together.  It was fun afterall.  I'm back on track and feeling hopeful for this week.  Tomorrow is always a NEW DAY!

sweet and salty victory

Who doesn't love a nice fresh batch of McDonald's delicious french fries that are hot out of the fryer and caked in salt?  I chose NOT to have some tonight as my family enjoyed Half-Price Happy Meal Night! It's been a family tradition for YEARS as we all get together and touch base over Chicken Nuggets and Chocolate Milk.  The kids bond, we get little toys that are perfect for Sacrament Meeting and it's a win-win situation!

Except tonight was different.  I planned ahead and my Lean and Green meal was a salad with Balsamic Vinagarette with chicken GRILLED and not fried.  Got all my veggies in and I was satisfied and full.

And I didn't even sneak a fry.  NOTTA ONE!

who rocks? I do!

The last few days have gone very well indeed! Since I tend to be hard on myself sometimes, I'm going to focus each day on what I do RIGHT and make a list. Or what I'm thankful for. Either, or, it's going to be positive!

- I was able to wart off hunger with sugar-free gum. (Extra and Trident makes some yummy flavors!)
- I rewarded myself after drinking all of my water (64+ oz) with some diet soda. I love Diet Coke with Lime. So delish.
- Mr. Holdaway swept me away on a date night from the kidlets. We went to Cafe Ole! One of my most favorite restaurants. They brought out chips and salsa. None for me, thanks! (I didn't want any!) I ordered the fajitas, since they are all veggies and chicken. (I saved my L-n-G meal for then and it was so worth it!)
- I tend to get overwhelmed if I start thinking about next week, next month, etc. So I'm taking it one day at a time. As long as I keep myself focused, I don't get discouraged. Hooray!

day one

I am so excited for the program! I want time to move by soooo fast now. I can't WAIT TO SEE results!! I did it! My first day on the program.

It wasn't as bad as I thought it would be. I have extra sugar, extra water and a whole lotta extra toxins in my body to get rid of. I have been battling a nasty cold for the last 2 1/2 weeks and am still feeling it. Typically, you have FIVE Medifast meals and then ONE meal consisting of fresh protein and veggies. I broke up my lean-n-green meal over the day. This was my day:

8:30am- Hot Cocoa (always delicious, one of my favorites)

11:30am- Scrambled Eggs with 1/2 cup sliced mushrooms.

2:00pm- Hot Cocoa (I'm telling you this is liquid Happiness!)

5:00pm- 1 cup lettuce, 3 oz grilled chicken, 8 black olives (so like HALF my lean-n-green meal)

6:00pm- feeling very faint still battling nasty cold, needed some sodium, had 1 cup chicken broth.

7:30pm- 3 oz grilled chicken, 1 cup cut bell pepper. (The other HALF of my lean-n-green meal, really yummy, I cooked it so it tasted like fajitas, super duper yum!)

9:30pm- Chocolate Pudding (I was craving something sweet)

All in all, a very positive day! I am craving sweets, though. But I expect that to go away by tomorrow.

it begins

I have struggled with my weight pretty much for my entire life. I have always considered myself as the "fat friend" and that I just had to deal with it. I love sweets and love carbs, and any "diet" that I was on usually failed because I restricted myself.
I tried Weight Watchers earlier this year, but gave up after 5 months and only losing 17 lbs. I wanted to do something about it. I usually do a yo-yo diet and mess my body up further.
Two years ago, I lost 42 lbs in 7 weeks with Take Shape For Life. It was right before my sister got married and I loved it. It worked. It was the only program that I found myself becoming better and not being overwhelmed! I am at it again and this time, I'll keep going. I started this blog as a sounding board to help me sort my thoughts and share my feelings. I am a Health Coach now, so I figured that I should probably BE healthy if I am to help others

Here's what I looked like on day one; 10/14/09.


Costume change and more totally UNFLATTERING shots:
Ewwwww!



This picture was taken a few years ago...ewwww!


Let's see how I can change that.