Day 161 - Weigh-In Wednesday

Pounds I want to lose --- 100
Pounds down today --- 4
Total Pounds Lost --- 37
Pounds left to go --- 63

If you read my last post, you will see that I have taken a "break" from the super focus of weight loss to work on my mental and emotional health. Funny that I've plateaued for the last 2 weeks and when I focus on something else, I lose four pounds!!

I had a dear friend in town this last weekend for her grandmother's funeral. We got together Saturday night and after spending several hours catching up, she says, "You really don't have anything going good for you right now, do you?" I know that sounds harsh, but after hearing for myself every aspect of my life in one sitting, she was right. Uh... I'm alive! That's something, right?

On Sunday, I was doing my normal stuff... watching tv, doing laundry, grocery shopping. I was on Twitter and saw @ChampagneDiet's tweet about her book Sparkle! I downloaded it from Amazon and began reading it. I also ordered the paperback. THAT BOOK IS AWESOME!! I'm not even done but I knew it was time to start celebrating life!!

Although my dad doesn't make the healthiest of dinners, I happily accepted the offer to join my parents for dinner that night. I figured I would just eat what I thought I could and not sweat it. I was there long enough to play a game with my mom, help clean up afterward and I even ate dessert. It was a homemade apple cobbler that my brother made with apples from his own tree. It had very little sugar and was very yummy! I even made an effort to get along with my sister of whom I had distanced myself from.

To the bewilderment of my children, on Monday, I invited my parents over to our house for dinner. I've never done that before outside of a birthday party, it was really nice. We set the table with the "real" plates (the closest thing to china that I have) instead of the plastic ones and got out the champagne flutes. I had made pancakes with fresh fruit, bacon and eggs, so the flutes were filled with either orange juice or milk. I asked everyone to toast to something they were grateful for, which lead into an evening long discussion on gratitude. I got everyone little notebooks to keep daily expressions of gratitude in. My first entry was that I was grateful for my mom!

I picked up some champagne yesterday after work and once again had the flutes out for dinner. I also got sparkling juice for the girls and a fancy water bottle for my son. (He doesn't drink carbonation) It's great to hear what the kids come up with for their toasts!!

So yeah, the four pounds this week is just a bonus!!

(Thank you Cara! :) )

Day 147 - Weigh-In Wednesday

Pounds I want to lose --- 100
Pounds down today --- 0
Total Pounds Lost --- 33
Pounds left to go --- 67

Sigh... BUT!! My gym is having a Fall Weight Loss Competition!! It starts Monday and goes for eight weeks! That is exactly what I will need to keep me motivated and my older kids are going to join in!!!

Day 140 - Weigh-In Wednesday

Pounds I want to lose --- 100
Pounds down today --- 1
Total Pounds Lost --- 33
Pounds left to go --- 67

With a 5 pound loss last week, I'm not too surprised with the 1 pound this week! But I also didn't have as successful of a weekend either. I let myself get in my slump again. Sigh. I am determined to have a better weekend this next one!!! I'm going to plan a hike for Sunday!! The weather is getting cooler and the chances are going to get fewer and fewer. It's going to be beautiful! I can't wait!!

My son joined me at the gym the other morning! :) Each day he was asking what movie was on, so I invited him along! I worked out while he stayed on the treadmill to watch The Avengers! He was too tired the next day, but it would be great if he can start going with me on a regular basis!!

Day 133 - Weigh-In Wednesday & Successful Weekend

Pounds I want to lose --- 100
Pounds down today --- >>>>> 5 <<<<<
Total Pounds Lost --- 32
Pounds left to go --- 68

FINALLY!! I have a breakthrough!! FIVE POUNDS!! WAHOO!!

I think a lot of it comes from being more mindful of my past week and having a successful weekend!!

I kept the kids around as long as I could on Saturday. We did chores and then sat around playing games. When it was time for them to leave, I insisted they be picked up, eliminating the urge to drive past the wine store! I watched TV until the store was closed. I had resisted! YAY!!

In celebration, I decided to have a splurge dinner.... but I took it one step (<--- Ha ha!!) further! I decided to WALK to get my splurge meal! I put on my walking shoes and headed to the store. Along the way, I was mentally concocting this magnificent splurge meal.

Beef! No... that's too much. Salmon! Ummm. Yeah, Salmon! With a shrimp Bearnaise sauce! Yeah!!! I'll be a little good and get asparagus to steam. (And smother with Bearnaise!) Hmmmm... what else?? Rolls!! I LOVE ROLLS!! Yeah, I'll get rolls!! Garlic rolls!! Dessert? Should I get dessert??

I get to the store, get the Salmon and I already had shrimp at home. Go over to the produce and get the asparagus and a lemon. Get the Bearnaise packet and head over to the bakery. Late Saturday evenings leave much to be desired. The good stuff was gone, so I headed to the freezer section. There were two packages staring at me. Yummy gooey garlic *white* bread rolls and the whole grain ones right next to them! I looked back and forth. Back and forth. Sigh. FINE!! I'll get the whole grain ones and just add garlic at home!! Then I turn to leave and see the ice cream section!! Hmmm... let's just have a peek... I got some Greek frozen yogurt bars.

I walk back home, the whole trip taking me about an hour. Pretty good, I thought. I get the salmon on the  BBQ grill, I'm working on everything else and then realize... I cleaned out my fridge and cupboards!! I have NO BUTTER to make the Bearnaise!! So I bagged it. I wasn't going to go back to the store!!

I enjoyed a yummy dinner of salmon, steamed asparagus and whole grain rolls. I watched a little tv, cleaned up and then went to bed. It wasn't until I went to get some ice cubes the next day that I saw the unopened box of frozen yogurt bars in the freezer...... so much for a SPLURGE meal, huh??? LOL

What I was craving

Closer to what actually happened

OH WELL!!

Sunday, I got all my dinners prepped for the week!! And I felt great!! :)

Day 127 - I have W.A.D.

Pounds I want to lose --- 100
Pounds down today --- 1
Total Pounds Lost --- 27
Pounds left to go --- 73

I have come to a realization. Have you heard of S.A.D? Seasonal Affective Disorder. I have W.A.D. Weekend Affective Disorder. Please know that I am not making light of S.A.D! I seriously get into such a funk on the weekends, all I want to do is drink & sleep! I'm self-sabotaging my own efforts! I go to the gym all week, eat great all week, then sink into a depression on Saturday night & Sunday, rolling into Monday, which already sucks. It doesn't help that my kids are gone. But I can't force them to stay home. I need help!!!

I have been struggling with the "A" word. You know, the whole denial thing. But during the week when I'm making healthy choices and being super mom, it's not an issue. So I wonder??

I know I have to come up with a solution. And quickly. It has to include getting out of my house!!

One idea I had was I came across a website asking for volunteers to come help make sandwiches, which they distribute to the homeless. 

....Now I need more ideas!! {Insert below!}

Day 107 - Belated Weigh-In

Pounds I want to lose --- 100
Pounds down today --- 1
Total Pounds Lost --- 26
Pounds left to go --- 74

I've been caring for my daughter 24/7 for the last week after her surgery... It's like having a newborn again, only getting a few hours of sleep at a time!! I missed a couple of days at the gym and didn't eat stellar, so I'm very pleased with the one pound loss!!

This pretty much sums up my last week...

Day 98 - Weigh-In Wednesday

Pounds I want to lose --- 100
Pounds down today ---  1
Total Pounds Lost --- 25
Pounds left to go --- 75


It's ONE! That's better than NONE!! And besides, I'm feeling stronger! On my first day at the gym, the trainer had me stand up from the bench and do an overhead barbell lift, then sit back down... without using my hands to push. :/ I could barely get my ass off the bench!! I would lean forward just to get the umph! to get up!! He would come stand right in front of me and instruct me NOT to bump him on the way up. Seriously?? So yesterday, he had me do the same thing again. I stood straight up. He cheered, "Now THAT'S how you're supposed to do it!!" YAY!

Besides having to put my ex in his place on Saturday night, (big sigh) I had a really good weekend! I went to a little local bistro to pick up a really yummy spinach strawberry salad they have. But when I got there, I thought, "Why not stay?" I had no kids with me, why sit at home and eat all alone? It was very nice! Then I did something I have NEVER done before... I went to a movie by myself! Despite the grammar snob part of me screaming on the inside, I saw "People Like Us." (If you don't know what's wrong with it, don't worry. You're not a grammar snob and you won't mind. Thanks mom!) Yes, I cried and was very reserved about it, being alone in a theater and all. But I am SO glad I saw it there and not home alone. I probably would've been a wreck afterward!!

As far as my goals are going... 

My first one was to quit weighing in every day - DONE! I weighed in on Sunday and it wasn't even that satisfying. I'm thinking I'll just limit it to Wednesdays!

Second was to walk with my daughter - DONE! But now my poor baby is getting her tonsils out. That will be on the shelf for a couple of weeks.

Third was to write a book - DONE! Yes, I said done! I was going to give myself a couple of months to work on it, but I must have really just needed to get that out of me! So not only is it done, I'm published. (bowing) Thank you! Thank you!

Fourth was to work on my office - - Does having the book done make up for this? :) I DID get my home computer diagnosed. It's dead. So I will be working on my laptop from home during my daughter's recovery. Office clutter can wait... I'm a MOM first!!

Popsicle Party!! My House!! Every night for the next 10 to 14 days!!

Day 91 - Weigh-In Wednesday

Pounds I want to lose --- 100  
Pounds down today ---  0
Total Pounds Lost --- 24
Pounds left to go --- 76


If you read yesterday's post, you won't be surprised by today's results. I was pretty down because when I lost weight several years ago, I had lost more than 20 pounds my first month!! Then my biggest supporter reminded me that I'm a quarter into my 365 day goal to lose 100 pounds and 24 pounds is close enough to a quarter of a 100 pounds to count! So I'm right on track!


Step back.


Re-evaluate.


Okay. Big Sigh. And besides... I gained it all back. I'm doing it differently this time!!


Then I read Jillian Michael's Facebook post from this morning:

"Tip for the day: STOP BEATING YOURSELF UP. Give yourself a break will you. All masters started out as students. You can’t be amazing at something over night. It takes time and patience. The same goes for exercise. Don’t have unrealistic expectations from yourself like running 3 miles next week. Instead, take the time to learn the basics: Proper form for each exercise, build muscle memory, build up your endurance and cardiovascular strength. Remember, Rome was not built in a day and neither is a healthy body."


Thank you! I feel better today!!

Day 84 - Weigh-In Wednesday

Pounds I want to lose --- 100
Pounds down today ---  1
Total Pounds Lost --- 24
Pounds left to go --- 76


Considering how I've felt for the last couple of days, I'm neither surprised, nor disappointed! I'm feeling much better today and this morning, I put everything I had into my workout!!

No, today... I'm okay!

Day 77 - Weigh-In Wednesday & New Jeans!

Pounds I want to lose --- 100
Pounds down today ---  3
Total Pounds Lost --- 23
Pounds left to go --- 77

YAY!! I'm headed down again! And I'm starting to feel it! 

I was able to skip a size! Look!! In the store with baggy 24s, out with tight 20s!! HA! Yes, they are a bit tight, but if they zip, button & buckle, I'm not wasting money on 22s!! My trainer says he wants to see me get to an 8! When I lost the weight before, I was in a 10. I'm SO ready to have this fat off of me!!

Day 70 - Weigh-In Wednesday

Pounds I want to lose --- 100
Pounds down today ---  2
Total Pounds Lost --- 20
Pounds left to go --- 80


I had unfortunately gained 2 pounds since my last weigh-in, so I really lost four! Joining the gym really helped to get me back on track!! So aside from my body being sore... it's been a good thing! :)
I was hoping for a bigger number after being so good and working out, so to not get discouraged, I got out the measuring tape! I had measured several areas before I started: neck, each upper arm, chest, diaphragm, waist, abs, hips, each upper thigh, each upper knee and each calf. Total inches lost from all areas is 34 inches!!! 4 inches each from my waist, abs & hips, then trickles down to half an inch in places like my neck and calves.
So to see all those changes really helped!! I'll take those two pounds, thank you!! All the way to the clothing store to get new pants! (They are SO baggy!!)

Day 57 - Weigh-In Wedne.... Err.. Thursday!

Pounds I want to lose --- 100
Pounds down today ---  0
Total Pounds Lost --- 18
Pounds left to go --- 82


Crap! I had lost a few pounds over the last week, but then the scale started to yo-yo and I ended up back at zero. I felt so defeated, I went back to bed. Yes.... that's when I should have gotten on the treadmill. But I also was having withdrawals from my kids, so I felt justified. My two oldest have both gone camping for the week. My oldest has Asperger's and his favorite form of communication is text. His phone is home. It's hard.


My youngest was already at the babysitter's, but I ditched work and went to get her. We had a Mommy-Daughter lunch date. But I was really good and went to a salad bar and I drank iced tea. I wasn't out to blow my diet, just blow my schedule!!!


Also, my Sunday "Prep" day was interrupted by a mile long checklist of camping items!! I did not chop a single vegetable or fruit Sunday!! :(


Listen to all my excuses!! Blah! Blah! Blah!


It's time to get things rolling again! I have a friend who has asked me to try these wraps, so why not now?? They're supposed to help shrink? explode? scare away? fat cells. We'll see, huh? You're supposed to put them on any part of your body you would like to use it.. tummy, thighs, arms, back fat.. for at least 45 minutes. You can even sleep in it. Measure yourself before and after and see a noticeable difference. Sometimes right away, sometimes after 3 or 4 applications. There are some pictures that are... Meh, kinda see a difference. Then some pics that are YEAH RIGHT! She was also in Ab Boot Camp at the same time!!


I could pick any part of my body, really. But what do I hate the most? Saddlebags!! So here's what I'm going to do. I'm only going to use them on ONE saddlebag!! I'll go with my right side. I'll use 4 wraps. (Can only use one every 72 hours) And document my results.


They will either not be that effective or I will be lopsided!! HA! HA!!

Here goes nothing!!

Day 49 - Weigh-In Wednesday

Pounds I want to lose --- 100
Pounds down today ---  0
Total Pounds Lost --- 18
Pounds left to go --- 82


I was bouncing up and down all this last week!! I did super good yesterday... and then nothing! And by super good, I mean food. I think I've been so concentrated on diet, that I let the exercise slip away from me! It didn't help that sometime throughout yesterday, that my pedometer reset somehow and I went to bed with 1,000 steps for the day!!??
I even got my family back from my Mother's Day Meatloaf Dinner by cooking Father's Day Dinner! Lean pork skewers with fresh green beans and green salad with veggies! No carbs!! I attempted to make mashed cauliflower, but it turned into runny baby food. I did not serve it. It was gross.

Time for some new fitness goals!!

Day 42 - Weigh-In Wednesday

Pounds I want to lose --- 100
Pounds down today ---  5
Total Pounds Lost --- 18
Pounds left to go --- 82

I did better than I thought I would, especially considering I had very very very little motivation over the weekend! I cleared off the DVR for starters! (In my living room because I got rid of the TV in my bedroom, remember?)  I caved and had a glass of wine on Saturday night. But then that lead to crappy sleep and I was wide awake at 4:30 on Sunday morning. One, I shouldn't have had it at all. Two, I could have had it earlier in the night so it wouldn't affect my sleep. Stupid wine. (It was tasty, just not so worth it!)

And once again, my weekends threw me off and I missed some lunches. I was really good with my water intake though! I can't believe how much I'm drinking now when just a short time ago it was making me gag! The lemon thing helped, but I don't always do that anymore!

I did have some successes...

I went to an awards banquet for work. It was at a restaurant I've never been to before and with it being a banquet, I didn't know if we would even have a choice. But when I walked in, I was handed the menu and asked to choose from 4 or 5 different beef, chicken or salmon plates. The salmon said it came with a garlic butter sauce and I asked if I could have it without. Sure thing! YAY! Then they asked, "Chocolate Cake or Cheesecake?" I said neither and the gal looked at me weird. "You don't want dessert?" I almost felt like saying, "A fat woman doesn't want dessert? Crazy, huh?" But I just said no thank you. The meal came with green beans, baked potato and rolls. So I had salmon and green beans for dinner! It was really super tasty and I didn't miss all the extras!

Last week, all the kids wanted to take turns on the "new" treadmill! That's fine with me!! My youngest spent a surprising amount of time on it. She comes out of the room all huffy and sweaty and my oldest daughter says, "Wow! Look at you! You're all sweaty!!" Youngest replies, "No, that's my fat cells crying!!" That's my girl!!! :)

....Onto another week!!!

Day 35 - Weigh-In Wednesday

Pounds I want to lose --- 100

Pounds down today ---  5

Total Pounds Lost --- 13

Pounds left to go --- 87


Five is my biggest week yet!! I've been following Bob Harper's "The Skinny Rules" for the last week. And I really think I could have lost more if I had EATEN more!! I lost a pound a day for the first 3 days, really sticking to the book. We had so much going on with end-of-school graduations and parties, and a family party, etc.. that I missed lunch on both Saturday and Sunday! I could have been at 7 pounds, but hey! I'll take 5!!

That's pretty gross.

Day 28 - Weigh-In Wednesday

Pounds I want to lose --- 100

Pounds down today ---  3

Total Pounds Lost --- 8

Pounds left to go --- 92

Not as much I wanted. I really could have planned my holiday weekend better!!! So, even though I haven't completely finished it, I'm starting The Skinny Rules today!!!!! I had a lot of good stuff on hand already, so I had Greek yogurt with blueberries and Ezekiel toast for breakfast. I'm having apples & peanut butter for a morning snack and a tuna garbanzo salad for lunch. I brought the book to work with me to go through the dinner options and will stop at the store on the way home if needed. 

I'm going to stop anyway to find an older person version of Just Dance for the Xbox!! I've been doing Just Dance Kids with my children and that GUMMY BEAR SONG gets stuck in your head for hours!! AGH!!!

This is what I REALLY need!!!!!