Weekly Weigh-in {June 28th, 2011}

Starting Weight: 292
Last Week: 203.2
This Week: 202.4
Weekly Loss: -0.8 pound
Total Loss: -89.6

Weekly Weigh-in {June 21st, 2011}

Starting Weight: 292
Last Week: 204.2
This Week: 203.2
Weekly Loss: -1 pound
Total Loss: -88.8

I can't believe how close to ONEderland I'm getting. It feels a little strange that I'll get there soon! Only 3.4 pounds away from 199.8!

ABCDEFood!

A: is for Apple, what’s your favorite variety?
Pink Crisps (also called Pink Ladies)

B: is for Bread, regardless of nutrition, calories, or whole grains what is your favorite type to have a nice big piece of?
Something that is crunchy on the outside, but soft and light on the inside. French and Italian loafs are often like that.

C: is for Cereal what is your favorite kind currently (just one!)
Fiber One raisin bran clusters

D: is for Doughnuts, you might not currently be eating them but what kind do you fancy?
I haven't had one for well over a year, but I do like maple long johns with nuts or apple fritters.

E: is for Eggs, how would you like yours prepared?
Scrambled, well done. No runny stuff for me, please.

F: is for Fat Free, what is your favorite fat free product?
I don't buy fat-free products because they're usually full of other junk to make up for the lack of fat.

G: is for Groceries, where do you purchase yours at?
Mostly Target

H: is for Hot Beverages, what is your favorite hot drink?
Apple Cider, it is the only hot drink I like.

I: is for Ice Cream, pick a favorite flavor and add a fun topping.
Chocolate peanut butter fudge with Reeses on top.

J: is for Jams or Jellies, do you eat them, and if so what kind and flavor?
Strawberry jam, if I have it.

K: is for Kashi, name your favorite Kashi product?
I don't care for any Kashi products.

L: is for Lunch, what was yours today?
I haven't yet had lunch today. Yesterday I had a Lean Cuisine pizza, a few Pop Chips, and some strawberries.

M: is for microwave, what is your favorite microwave meal/snack?
Orville Smart-pop Kettle Corn

N: is for nutrients, do you like carbs, fats, or proteins best?
Carbs for sure!

O: is for oil, what kind do you like to use?
EVOO (extra virgin olive oil)

P: is for protein, how do you get yours?
Mostly from peanut butter, turkey, and chicken

Q: is for Quaker, how do you like your oats?
Quaker apple cinnamon, made thick with milk

R: is for roasting, what is your favorite thing to roast?
Chicken and tomatoes for sauce

S: is for sandwich, what’s your favorite kind?
I'm a plain jane when it comes to sandwiches, I like turkey and cheese and that's about it.

T: is for travel, how do you handle eating while traveling?
I pack a lot of my own snacks and try to make the healthiest choices possible otherwise.

U: is for unique, what is one of your weirdest food combos?
I don't think I have any weird food combos!

V: is for vitamins, what kind do you take?
A women's multi-vitamin and extra calcium and vitamin D.

W: is for wasabi, yay or nay?
Never tried it, but heard it's spicy, so nay.

X: is for X-RAY. if we x-rayed your belly right now, what food would we see?
The Fiber One bar I ate at my WW meeting this morning and that's it. (It's nearly lunch time now!)

Y: is for youth, what food reminds you of your childhood?
Shoe string potatoes, cheese balls, peanut butter and honey sandwiches, cream of mushroom soup rice, and chocolate cake (birthdays).

Z: is for zucchini, how do you prepare it?
Baked in bread.

Weekly Weigh-in {June 14th, 2011}

Starting weight: 292
Last week: 205
This week: 204.2
Weekly loss: -0.8
Total loss: -87.8

I'm happy for this loss as I had a tough week of eating some high point days. Having my DH home again after he was gone for a month meant more eating out, which meant higher point days. I'm so close to -90 pounds and can't wait to get there!

Stream of Consciousness

Last weekend DH came home from a month-long trip to England, we took DS to the circus and we got to meet the crew from the TIV from the TV show "Storm Chasers" it was such a fun weekend! I've included some pictures to share from our fun weekend below.

Elephants at the circus

It is Friday and I'm so glad for it! DS has been waking up early all summer and I've been going to bed late lately. These two things don't go hand-in-hand well and I'm tired! I usually sleep in on Saturdays, so tomorrow I'll catch up and then I'll be better about getting to bed at a decent time! Studies show that people who get at least 7 hours of sleep each night are most likely to lose weight and keep it off. Time to get some rest!

My guys and me with Sean Casey

 I've been told a lot lately that I'm an inspiration. That's the point of my blogging about this weight-loss journey of mine, to inspire others. I just want everyone out there who needs to lose weight to feel as good as I do! I've overcome a lot to get where I'm at and I'm still working on it, so I hope that I'm inspriring others along the way. After my conversation with my WW leader on Tuesday, I'm more motivated to reach my goals and become a WW leader. I think I'm finally headed in the direction to making a decision as to what I want to be when I grow up and I think it is going to be weight-loss/nutrition/fitness/helping others related.

DS and me in front of the TIV

I'm blogging right now to avoid cleaning my kitchen, changing sheets, and folding laundry. I really do need to get it done, but just don't want to! I sometimes wish there was a magic fairy to do these things for me. :)




 I love it when you leave comments on my blog! To inspire some answers, here are some questions...What is your least favorite household job? What do you do to make cleaning more fun? What inspires you?

Exercise Is Not a Four Letter Word!

I have written posts about exercise and how I don't do a lot of it. I've gone to the gym here and there, but, I've lost most of my weight simply by following Weight Watchers guidelines and walking.  The last few days, though, I've felt the urge to exercise. What is up with that?! I want to exercise?! How in the world did that happen and what do I do about it?! My first instinct when overcome with this feeling was to quickly call my doctor. I mean, I've never wanted to exercise before, something must be wrong with me! But, then I started to think about it more...maybe this is a good thing. Maybe I'm ready for the next level of commitment to losing weight, keeping it off, and changing my life. Yes, that's what this is...I'm just changing my life some more.

I started with it yesterday. I walked to Weight Watchers. I got up, got dressed, and my son and I walked to our WW meeting yesterday morning. It is only a mile away, but it was hot and windy outside yesterday and we walked anyway. I wasn't very bright about it, though, and wore brand new shoes yesterday. I now have some blisters on my feet from that two miles of walking. Today, because of those blisters, I was going to not do anything and let them heal. Then my friend Kenlie posted a video on her blog of herself moving after a big work-out. You should go to her blog and see it! The girl can move! So, despite my blisters, I'll be working out today. I think I'll be working out barefoot in my basement family room with a video, but it will be exercise nonetheless! I'm excited about these new feelings of craving exercise!

What do you do for exercise? What are your favorite videos? Do you belong to a gym, if so what is your favorite thing to do there?

PCOS and Weight-Loss

Tonight I read this article about PCOS (Poly-Cystic Ovary Syndrome) and weight-loss: http://communities.washingtontimes.com/neighborhood/maternal-ammunition/2011/mar/23/pcos-and-losing-weight/

I just want to write a brief note about this. I was diagnosed with PCOS June 2005. I went on metformin and, luckily for me, it was all that was needed to balance me out enough to have a baby. My baby is now 5 years old. I haven't been on metformin since then and am still losing weight. I'm writing to say that if you're suffering from PCOS, you don't have to listen when people say that you can't lose weight without medication. Yes you can, I did. Metformin is a good thing and I'm not saying otherwise, it is the answer to many PCOS related issues for most PCOS sufferers. I'm just saying that it's not the only way. I've lost 87 pounds with zero medication. The only changes I've made are in what I eat and how I exercise. Weight Watchers works. If you're suffering from PCOS and you want to lose weight, you can.  Stop using PCOS as an excuse as to why you can't lose weight and have faith in your ability to overcome it. Yes, it is more difficult for your body to lose weight and it will take more determination and work than the regular person, but it can be done. I'm living proof.

Weekly Weigh-in {June 7th, 2011}

Starting weight: 292
Last week: 206.2
This week: 205
Weekly loss: -1.2
Total loss: 87

I'm happy with that loss this week! The last few weeks I've been slacking a little. Last week I didn't track three days and before then I had never miss one day since I started WW in April of 2010! I could give excuses about my DS being out of school for the summer along with my DH being out of town for a month (he's home!), but I won't. I simply didn't track because I wasn't feeling motivated to do so. I did better this week and was back to tracking every day. Tracking works and it was the topic of my WW meeting today, actually. I may blog about tracking later this week, but today I'm celebrating some NSV's instead!!!

NSV's = Non-Scale Victories or ways to measure success off of the scale. Here are a few I'm celebrating today:

• I lost 7 inches last month! I don't have the exact numbers in front of me, but I know I've lost over 85 inches total. CRAZY!
• My WW leader talked to me today about being a WW leader once I reach my goal. I hadn't yet shared with her that I was hoping to to do that someday and she approached me today to talk about it. In order to do that, I need to reach WW guidelines, which means at least 45 pounds more to go! I'm excited that she believes I'd make a good leader and I hope that this time next year I'll be one!
• She also talked to me about once I reach my goal, submitting my story to Weight Watchers magazine. Even if they don't publish my story, I was taken aback that she would suggest it and tickled to think that it might happen. It felt great to be recognized and it was exactly the motivation I needed to hear today to continue on this journey of mine.

I got home and felt refreshed from our meeting and from my talk with my leader. What a blessing she is to me! I made this little word cloud and have it printed out and am going to hang in on my desk.

Oh Ruby!

Call me slow, but I've just learned, through a Facebook post, about an ad campaign by The Body Shop that was out in 1998. Apparently The Body Shop wanted to show the world of cosmetics and fashion that women come in all sizes and we don't all look like Barbie dolls. The average size woman in the US is a size 14, this Ruby doll is a 16. I've read that Barbie would be a size 4.

With the Facebook posts made by my friends, I've read some comments about this ad that surprised me. Some have said that they think this ad is disgusting, that it allows women to give up on exercise and diet and that it's okay to be obese. One said that they felt that it was an "out" for women to let themselves go after having children. I disagree with these statements. I don't think this ad glamorizes obesity at all. I think it shows everyone that the majority of women have curves and lumps and bumps. I think it shows that there are few who don't have a shape similar to this in some way. Even women who work out and are physically fit have a curve, lump, or bump somewhere, especially if they've carried a child at some point.

I'm a size 14 right now. I look a lot more like Ruby than Barbie and so do pretty much every woman in my life with the exception of a few. Embracing different body types is a positive, good thing and I'm sad that this ad campaign didn't last longer.

Sunday Confessional {Too Quick To Judge}

This morning I had a huge light bulb moment, but first I have to back track a little to yesterday. Yesterday my husband and I took our son to the circus. It was a great show, but part of it really bothered me. There were these two guys who are strong men. They total 657 pounds between the two of them and consume over 7, 000 calories each, per day.

Photo Source

 I was disgusted with their calorie intake and their size. They didn't look "that strong" to me, but more fat than anything. Clearly in the photo above, they're quite strong. At the time I was watching them, though, I was stuck on how many calories they eat each day and how big they were. I realize now that these guys must eat like that in order to feed the muscle that they so clearly have and to be able to lift five clowns at a time on two huge beams of solid wood several times a day for each show. My husband pointed out to me that Michael Phelps, the olympic swimmer, consumed almost twice what these guys do when he was in training and that didn't bother me one bit. I was too quick to  judge because of their large appearances.

I woke up this morning still thinking about these guys and Michael Phelps, and then I got on the defense when someone questioned my husband's diet. I thought, "It's none of your business what he eats!" "How dare you judge him!" Yet, yesterday at the circus I was doing the exact same thing. Not only was I judging the guys in the rings, I was judging the larger lady sitting next to my husband and the guy two rows in front of us who likely bought two tickets for the two chairs he was taking up due to his size. How dare I judge them! Who do I think I am?! One year ago I was one of those big people, being judged constantly and I hated it. I could see judging eyes every where we went. I stayed in my house an awful lot to avoid those judgmental glances. And here I am doing the same thing. I'm embarrassed to admit it, but feel that I need to be open to this so that if you're able to relate to it, you'll stop this judgmental behavior with me. Everyone deserves to be loved and to be treated with love and respect no matter what their size is. Shame on me for forgetting that!

New Look

I was just itching for a hair cut for several weeks and finally went for it this afternoon! So long pony tail, you can't hold me back anymore!

{Support} The Definition of

Reference of definitions 

sup·port[suh-pawrt, -pohrt]

–verb (used with object)

1. to bear or hold up (a load, mass, structure, part, etc.); serve as a foundation for. 

 

The foundation of my weight-loss success is my faith. My God supports me through it.

 

2. to sustain or withstand (weight, pressure, strain, etc.) without giving way; serve as a prop for.

 

My body used to have to support a lot more weight. I've been told that your knees support 4 times your weight, per knee. I've lost 86 pounds, that is 344 pounds less weight on each knee.

 

3. to undergo or endure, especially with patience or submission; tolerate.

 

 It takes a lot of patience to lose weight at a healthy long-term rate.

 

 

4. to sustain (a person, the mind, spirits, courage, etc.) under trial or affliction: They supported him throughout his ordeal.

I've had great support from so many friends and family members.

 

–noun

1. the state of being supported.

 

I am in a constant state of being supported. My blog readers, family, and friends are a huge source of support along with fellow meeting attenders and my WW meeting leader and receptionists.

 

–adjective

1.

(of hosiery) made with elasticized fibers so as to fit snugly on the legs, thereby aiding circulation, relieving fatigue, etc.

 

When I'm at my goal weight, there will be no more need for support hose! LOL! 

 

 

I have been so blessed to have such a huge community of support. Off the top of my head, I'm going to list some of my supporters here. If I miss you, I apologize in advance!

 

Ken W.

Sandie B.

Keary B.

Sallie D.

Tom W.

Beth S.

Laura W.

Jeff W.

Paul S.

Kim B.

John B.

Courtney T.

Peggy D.

Tina A.

Carrie  D.

Karn B.

Amber E.

Liz M.

Judy T.

Shannon B.

Andrea E.

Roselyn S.

Lori R.

Eve H.

Justin H.

Eric H.

Mary K.

Bill H.

Michelle H.J.

Karen

Jennifer

Jenny D.

Jen S.

Jen H.

Angela S.

Tanya W.

Beth A.

Beth U.

Cami H.

Sue

Noreen

Donna

Mary

Diane

Lorene M.

Megan L.

Melissa G.

Molly S.

Mindy R.

Nikki H.

Laura G.

Veronika S.

Kelly H.

Matt K.

Christine L.

Jackie M.

Bob M.

Jason L.

Nicole H.

Amber D.

Jennifer G.

Kristin D.

Jackie C.

Tawni

Rachel S.

Dawn T.

Gina F.

Julie B.

Ruthie H.

Sarah A.

Sarah B.

Michele I.

Janis F.

Amy A.

Amy M.

Ada T.

Jackie T.

Dorothy T.

Sandra T.

Annette B.

Annette J.

Bess G.

Connie W.

Dan F.

Holly F.

Gerry T.

Heather M.

Jodie W.

Katie W.

LiAnn S.

Kris K.

Stacey W.

Brent W.

Stacie S.

Tara W.

Toni P.

There are SO many more of you out there who have supported me and for you I am grateful! You ALL deserve a huge gold star.