Memories

My first memory of food...let's see...............

Dinosaur soup. I was in the first grade at St. Paul's and we were studying Dinosaurs. As a class we made a huge pot of soup. The big red tomatoes were the bloody Dino's eyes, the kidney beans were the kidneys, I guess, the corn was something important and I am sure there was a lot more but I will never forget how amazing that soup was. I have tried to recreate it several times in the last 25 years and have never quite gotten it right. The weird thing is, I hate soup! I mean, I will eat it if it is put in front of me, and I usually am very pleased. However, the thought of it is so boring to me.

Now that I am being healthy I may try it again.

Get Up and Get Out!

"Just keep swimming...Just keep swimming..." I feel like Dori from Finding Nemo. I am always trying to "Just keep swimming" or in a more literal sense, just keep MOVING! I could have easily just played around the house with Carter this morning. We could have watched Disney movies and lounged around. I could have just kept on cleaning up the house while he starred into the TV, but I chose NOT to do that. It was a choice. I got into the car and we went to the park at 10 am. Instead of parkin' it on the bench I joined in on the fun. I used this as an opportunity to burn some calories.

I was running around, climbing up the slide the wrong way, up and down the rock wall, playing on the swings, and squeezed into the little bouncy car the rocks back and forth. Yes, I was THAT parent.

We played for only 30 minutes, but that 30 minutes was great quality time with my child and it burned at least 100 calories. An added bonus was that it wore him out and he was down for a nap at 11:30!

So get up and get out! Your kids and your thighs are waiting.

(Any other flexible schedule parents around Midtown that would like to join? It would have been safer with more people. Please let me know!)

Fools Rush In

You know that feeling in the morning when your like, "I am not hungry. I do not want to eat. I think I will just have some coffee and go. Wow I am so skinny for not needing breakfast!." These are thoughts are lies lies lies!!!

I am so sorry to be the one to say this, but stop being such an IDIOT!!! Point blank: If you skip breakfast, you will NEVER lose weight. So many fat people think they are doing so great when they tell me, "I didn't have anything to eat today until lunch!" I want to say, "Well, good for you! You have officially tricked your body into thinking you are starving and to STORE FAT!"

So many of us by into diet pills. Diet pills usually promise to boost, or speed up, your metabolism. Friend, listen to me carefully when I say this...the best way to boost, or speed up, your metabolism is to simply eat something right when you wake up!!

When you have been sleeping for over 4 hours, your stomach becomes empty. You brain is so smart and incredibly efficient. Let's just say, if we ever end up on a deserted island, the body knows just what to do. It will kick into survival mode and store your fat!

When you put food in your mouth in the morning, picture yourself through a coal on the fire. This coal keeps the fire going and at a steady pace. We are not throwing 10logs on it to make it blaze out of control, just a enough to keep it going. You do NOT want that fire to go out. We want it to continue burning fat and NOT think we are starving on a deserted island.

This morning I was nauseous at the thought of eating anything. I was completely satisfied with my coffee and wanted to exit the kitchen. I knew that if I did this, my body would not start burning the fat off my thighs. I got out the skillet and had two eggs sunny side up. I sat down and took a bite that I felt like I did not "need".

It does not impress me, your friends, or your body when you skip breakfast. It actually makes you look like a big dumb idiot. Ignorant in the food department. I was there and didn't realize how important this was! I am begging you to eat breakfast no matter how you feel.

Food Ideas:
Oatmeal
Eggs
Jimmy Dean Egg, Sausage and Cheese Delights
Fruit

I eat eggs and whole wheat toast or a Jimmy Dean with every day. I always have a side of fruit. You should look forward to breakfast! It is the biggest meal we get! If you really want to lose this weight.

Tonight go ahead and decide what you are going to have in the morning so you don't have to think too hard about it.

BREAKFAST IS FOR WINNERS!

Weigh-In Day=SCARY

Today is Thursday which means one thing....WEIGH DAY! If you read my previous post you are aware of my fear of getting on the scale today. I had 3 pretty bad evenings this week in regards to food. HOWEVER, I had 6 intense work out days, and 4 really good days on my diet.

Last week I was 201. I was hoping that this week i would drop below the 200's and into the dusty 100's!! This morning I woke up and prayed, "Lord please help me to not be discouraged when I see this number." Than the number 205 popped in my head. This was my prediction for this mornings way in.

I was tempted to skip the weigh in all together and just really try hard this week. I wanted to do this to protect myself from getting discouraged. Then I remembered...It is OK. I am not perfect. It is not over if I gain this week. I do not have to beat myself up if I gain.

200. I LOST A POUND! No, I did not get down into the 100's, but I did in fact lose this week! 200 EVEN! I am so proud of myself and I am VERY happy with that number. I am one step closer to my goal!!!

Recap: Goal Weight= 170lbs

30 more to go!!!

Oops...

Wow...that is the 5th day this week that I have taken a mid-day nap for over 2 hours! I have been so exhausted. The only things I have done differently have been joining my awesome new gym (Phoenix Fitness) and I went back to work (2 half days a week). Those are two really big changes now that I see them in writing! NO WONDER!

I feel like I am not going to lost weight this week. I feel great and very sore from working out but I also feel like I need to share something else. I am feeling very guilty and quite ridiculous. The last 3 days for no apparent reason, I have had Carter's left over scrapps at dinner, my own dinner with wine, and to top it off, 3 scoops of vanilla ice cream with frozen fruit on top. I have 107 different excuses for each of those actions but I will not waste yours or my time.

It is a scary thought for me fo some reason to get below the 200's. I want it SOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO bad though! I am at a loss of words. I need help.

I found some words! I know what I need to do and here is what it is. KEEP GOING! I will plan my dinners better and give the dog Carter's scraps. I won't have things in the house that will tempt me and if I do, I will practice self-control. I forgive and love myself and I know that I can do this. Lord, please give me the strength today and tonight to honor my body and my commitment.

??????

Writer's Block.

If Madonna Can Cartwheel on Bleachers...

I worked out really hard at the gym today. I went on a family bike trip, fed the ducks at Municipal Park, took a two hour nap and then went to a friends house for the Super Bowl.

I am tired but had a great day.

Good Night.

-------------
HA!!!!!! So the post above was me late last night just trying to stick to my commitment of daily blogging. Let me start over... (Thank you to my blog accountability partner, Amy for making me redo this one!!)

SUPER BOWL SUNDAY!!!!! Of course I did not watch a single play, but I thoroughly enjoyed the company of some friends munching and chatting it up in the dining room. Surrounded by that famous buffalo dip, that yummy chex mix desert thing with the powdered sugar, homemade chili, and my veggie tray I was just being a normal person.

It was exciting to me that I did not sneak into the kitchen 25 times so no one would see me binging. I had a few bites of the bad stuff but nothing to through me over the edge. ONE CHOICE AT A TIME.

Speaking of choices...what in the heck was Madonna thinking. Those boots maaaaaaaaaay have been a mistake. I have to hand it to her, however, for being in such great shape. She is at least 50 something years old and doing cartwheels on bleachers. More power to ya Madonna!

I guess I better step it up!!!

"You Should Be Ashamed Of Yourself"

This is me asleep at my college graduation. The ceremony was 4 hours long and me and my best friend, Erin were really cracking ourselves up here. I would rest my eyes while she was on the look out and then she would take her turn. The two silliest and MOST FUN girls in the world and this picture proves it. By the way, as we took our diplomas on stage, Erin and I held hands and did an old fashion curtsey to the audience.

(Deep Breath...)I just woke up from an amazing nap on a lazy Saturday. I needed it. My eyes are still heavy and I feeling relaxed as Beethoven is softly playing in the distance. Sitting here I feel firm and together. I feel accomplished and happy. I am proud of the way I have chosen to get here. I have used honesty, self-control, discipline, and humility to reach this point.

Last night I was at a dear friend's house discussing all of life's challenges. People fail us all the time. We really can't figure out why things have to be so hard and painful all the time. We were sitting there happy that we had each other and happy that we were both doing so well in our own personal lives. We love our husbands, we love our children, we love the Lord and we love the gym. We have not always been able to say that all at once, and it feels good.

She mentioned that she loved my blog and I began explaining why I did it. I started this blog because I was desperate to lose weight. I needed to be open and honest with the public in order to pull myself out of denial. I needed accountability.

NO DIET WILL EVER WORK FOR YOU...until you are REALLY ready to lost the weight. You must get an accountability partner on your team. You must call them up and say, "I am tired of being fat, and I want you to know that I am going to change right now. Will you hold me accountable?" You must accept the truth about yourself and find the support you need.

In your childhood you have the love and support of your parents. In your marriage you have it from your spouse, if you are or were an athlete you had it from your coach...you get the picture. You need support if you are really going to do this.
Stop hiding from the truth. It is not a big deal. People want to help you. Do not be ashamed of your weight or your size.

When I was in high school, I would cut the size 14 tags out of my jeans so that no one would know. I was truly ashamed of my body. No wonder I couldn't lost the weight. I had no support from myself, much less anyone else.

I want to encourage you to start being a little kinder to yourself. Don't put yourself in the corner anymore (Yes,I mean like Baby from "Dirty Dancing"). There is no way you can shine from there.

I recently have learned this:
I am through hating myself and beating myself up.
I am good person and I have good intentions.
I love others, I love myself and above all I love the Lord.
I want to honor God with my words, my thoughts and my body.

We have all been raised hearing things like, "You should be ashamed of yourself". You may hear this ridiculous phrase after falling asleep at your college graduation, skipping class in high school to make out with your boyfriend, or stealing gum from the store when you were five.

Yep, and these are just 3 of the hundreds of things I have done to be ashamed of myself.

That was the past and you know what? I'm NOT ashamed of myself, I just need some good guidance and a treadmill. But thanks for the suggestion!

Try to be a better person by making better choices. This starts with the choices you make for YOURSELF. By taking care of yourself, everyone around you will benefit. Pray for integrity, wisdom and the understand of what God's love really is. He loves you just the way you are and you should not be ashamed of yourself. But, you should take better care of yourself. That's what I'm doing. Join me. The grass really is greener over here.

Skinny Friends Rule!

This is one amazing mother with one amazing BOD!

Sitting in the kitchen watching Jane Ellen scurry around was an incredible learning moment for me. She was multi-tasking like I had never seen. Truly the strongest and coolest person I know. She was baking, cleaning, and entertaining me with her stories as I sat and eagerly listened to everything she had to say. She has a rock hard body and beautiful skin. She is energized and full of life. She has two children who adore her and tweet around her all day long like two little chicks so dependent on their mother hen.

As I was soaking it all in watching in amazement as she got out the blender, she started filling it with raw baby spinach leaves, cucumbers, blueberries, strawberries, pineapple, almonds and FLAX SEED!!! She flipped the switch and the blender went to town. With the blasting sounds of the blender in the background the kids immediately jumped up from playing with their toys and ran into the kitchen screaming, "SMOOTHIES!!!!!!!!!!!!!"

She then proceeded to pour them each a glass of this purple concoction. My 1 year old immediately wanted in on the action, and as stood there watching in disbelief as she handed him his own rain forest blend, he chugged the whole thing.

I thought he would take a sip and spit it out on the floor. The only thing that needed to be picked up off the floor, however, was my jaw. Jane Ellen, all bright-eyed and bushy-tailed, then handed me a huge glass of her love potion. I could not wait to taste this Ripley's-Believe-it-or-not drink. I took a big swig and could not believe that this amazing blueberry smoothie actually had everything my naked eyes had just witnessed being put in it.

The next day I went to Sam's and bought all of the ingredients. It has been over a week and Carter and I both have had one of these smoothies snacks almost every day. He loves them and so do I. Can you believe this?? Try it!

My final thought is this...Start hanging out with healthy, skinny people. You will learn a lot and really discover why they look so great. Skinny people don't advertise their secrets probably out of fear of being persecuted for their healthy ways. Try hanging out with your skinny friends in a comfortable at home setting and TAKE NOTES!

25 POUNDS

As of today I have lost 25 pounds.

I was 201 this morning. I am so close to being under 200!!! This will be such an exciting day when I can see my weight begin with the number ONE.

This morning after seeing how close I am to being done with the 200 pound range...I immediately started to freak out...and NOT in a good way. I was scared. I was scared that I would binge eat sometime today and screw it all up. I didn't want to sabotage myself. I want to succeed and I want to be strong. I want to have discipline and practice self-control.

I frantically starting texting Garland and Tripp, my life coaches that have held my hand every step of this journey. After discussing with them my fears and thoughts, they talked me down from the ledge that I was standing on. They reminded me that I can not just throw it all away in one afternoon. They reminded me that this is my lifestyle and I shouldn't be scared anymore. They brought me back to reality where I could breath again. I could see clearly. I am so excited and thrilled to continue this journey and kick some butt!

I CAN'T BELIEVE I HAVE LOST 25 POUNDS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Which Pig Are You?

Me about 2 weeks ago. I was burning with my dad. I got here by being a "pig will". In order to have an active healthy lifestyle try saying yes to random activities people invite you to. There's a story my dad would tell me and my sisters about 2 pigs (ironic, huh?!). One was a "pig will" and one was a "pig won't". The "pig won't" missed out on a lot of fun actvities by always turning down invitations. The "pig will" had a great life. Are you a "pig will" or a "pig won't"? Just remember, "pig wills" are skinnier than "pig wont's". They also have a lot more fun.

Back to work today. I have been out for about 6 weeks now but have decided to go back to my Medical Sales job. It is only 2 half days a week and so I can still be with my little man. Today some of the nurses told me how skinny I looked. I found myself teaching these eager beaver nurses how to be healthy! I loved it.

This morning I got out of bed and my pajama pants litterally dropped to my ankles. That's right I lost 2 pounds over night. I am finally back to where I was before the Holiday's took over my body. I was 202 today. I am 3 pounds away from being in the 100's and I am so ready to be there!

Today's Food intake so far...
7am whole wheat english muffin, egg whites, turkey sausage and mozzorella cheese/coffee, milk and creamer...water
9:30 Power Bar (Sugar:only 2 grams!! Be so careful with anything out of a box! Look at the sugar!! If it has more than 7 grams per serving, don't eat it!)...water
11:45 Baby Spinach greens, tomaotes, cucumbers, feta, humas, sting cheese, grilled chicken with balsamic vinegerette dressing...water

It is raining so I am trying to decide what to do for my work out today.

I am feeling really blah right now. I really need to clean but I am so wanting to take a nap. Carter is napping and it would be the perfect time. I am going to be strong and CLEAN!