Tales from the Treadmill

1st posted results

2011-01-26T09:05:00.001-08:00

We lost 3.27% ...not too bad for the first two weeks...that puts us in 4th place. I'll take it for now, and keep remembering that slow and steady wins the race!

Off to the races

2011-01-25T09:15:00.000-08:00

Well we had our 1st weigh in yesterday. I lost another 4 pounds, so add that to the 6 I lost the previous week and I'm down a grand total of 10! Not bad for two weeks, and my partner is down 8.5....so together we are rocking this out.

My trainer told me thing morning that he is having a cardio class on Thursdays, but I am NOT invited because of my hip pain and made a doctor appointment for next week. I'm sure it is just arthritis, but now we will know for sure!n. So i called

Right snack...Wrong Time

2011-01-12T09:31:00.000-08:00

So last night I needed a snack! I had one truffle from Christmas. Then I wanted to sit down with the box and a big glass of milk and eat a few handfuls of truffles. But I didn't! I went to the kitchen to find a better snack. There were cookies, I found a doughnut, but I didn't eat them. Instead I got a small bowl of fresh blueberries and poured on some skim milk and had my snack. I was super proud of my will power and my good choice. So I told my trainer all about it (left out any mention of truffles) this morning in the gym (while I was doing cardio, go me!). And he agreed that it is a good snack... but then informed me that I should be going to bed on an empty stomach! There goes my ritual of bed time snacking...and he informed me that empty stomach means no eating after 7 or 8! So i might need to move dinner time up too!

It's Go time!

2011-01-10T09:13:00.000-08:00

Contest Starts Today!
We had a nice big Mexican Take out dinner last night! Now just have to work on the Healthy eating and keep up on exercise. My partner S, is really motivated too. She is doing Medical Weight Loss Clinic (which I guess is pretty expensive) and having a contest with her sisters. So Im not worried about her dropping the ball at all. I just have to keep up my end!

Did cardio this morning, had a greek yogert for breakfast and eating soup for lunch.

New Year, New Drama?

2011-01-05T09:15:00.000-08:00

So....who remembers all the drama from the weight loss contest from last year? The problems with partners, I was going to be with M but then one of the directors snatched him up and then B was going to get me a partner, then he tried to trick me into being partners with him (which pretty much sealed the deal for putting us OFF speaking terms) Then I ended up with A and he was a great partner, and we came in 4th out of like 30 something pairs...but then after all was said and done I gained all the weight back plus some! Remember? no?, I'm trying to forget too!

Well B announced on Monday at the company meeting that there is a new contest starting. I decided that I am not even going to get into the drama this year, and I'm not doing the contest. Then yesterday after me and D's workout we were talking in the hall and P, the director, walked by and said I could have M for a partner this year. I told him I'm not even doing it and he said "Why, you guys are working out already!" Then this morning when I showed up to Workout my trainer was telling me how I have been doing great, and how I could win this contest and I have so much potential....blah blah...and I told him I'm not doing it, and he said "I know, but if you did..." So then later today, I was in talking to S (who is a 'bigger girl' like me, but super sweet and fun) and she asked if I wanted to be partners...so i told her I'll think about it. Going to talk to the hubby tonight, and the trainer and D in the morning, and then I'll let S know....

But I have dropped a whopping 2 pounds since New Year.....a drop in the bucket, but a step in the right direction...

New Year, New You

2011-01-03T09:11:00.000-08:00

So..I drooped a couple pounds! (Because I got my hair cut short! Haha I crack me up!)

I got a little talking to from my trainer last Thursday (last day of work before we were off for New Years). He said we need to hit it hard this year, and just do it, and other trainer-type phrases. But he is right. I told him that I need to weigh myself on a regular basis...like every day or two....so I can make sure that the scale is going in the right direction. My scale at home isn't working (probably just needs new batteries) so I weighed in at the gym.....264! See, when I'm not looking, and my pants are finally tight....I've put on 10 to 20 pounds!

So I ate OK over the weekend....and did cardio this morning...and weighed in at 263. A good start....just need to keep it up.....again.

Ohh the weather outside is Frightful..

2010-12-15T09:16:00.000-08:00

And my bed is so delightful
Need to work out, but I don't wana go!
'Cause it snowed, cause it snowed, cause it snowed!

I planned to work out on Monday, had my clothes laid out and everything. Then I woke up and saw the horrible storm that had snowed overnight. So I skipped the plan to work out and headed to work, got there 2.5 hours late due to traffic! Then planned to work out on Tuesday. Got up, dressed, started driving and found out that the traffic was still really bad, got to work at 7:30 so skipped the workout and just changed into my work clothes. So today I left early and actually got some good cardio in! I did plan to weigh myself on Monday, then Tuesday and never made it. Then I was there today and forgot to weigh in!

I started to feel better and cleared up on the 'bathroom issues' around Saturday. I waited a few days to make sure I was 'solid' then I started to take 3 pills a day yesterday. So far so good.

New Medicine

2010-12-08T09:59:00.000-08:00

I was working out pretty steady.....then it started to snow a bit, and I was late a few days, and I was off while my mom had surgery (all went well and she is home now)....blah blah blah....so I haven't really worked out in 2 weeks. I did go to the doctor the day after Thanksgiving (oh, and I ate a ton at Thanksgiving), and she started me back on Metformin. It's a diabetes drug, but I guess it helps lower TSH levels too, and helps loose weight (bonus!!) So i'm supposed to take 4 500 mg pills a day (big huge horse pills) but she said to start with one a day for the first week, then 2 a day the second week, etc.

So the 1st week went great, 1 a day and feeling good. Did notice that I wasn't as hungry. She had said that my apatite would be diminished (something with it controlling my blood sugar and insulin) and that is good because I had been eating like a hog lately.

Start week 2, 2 pills a day on Saturday. On Monday I tossed my cookies on my way to work, then after a blow out in the bathroom I went home and stayed in bed for the day. Thought I had a flu (which I still might have had a touch of) but now it is Wednesday and I still have horrible diarrhea. I finally looked it up on the Internet to day and diarrhea is a side effect that like 52% of people on this drug have! No wonder you loose weight!

My sweet hubby thinks I should call the doctor, but I'm going to wait it out for a bit. I see her at the end of next month, but if it gets too bad before that i'll call.

Maybe I should start watching what I eat...

2010-11-19T09:20:00.000-08:00

...At least on the days before I plan to weigh in. This morning I was back to 263! :( But I also had chinese take-out for dinner (salt city!)

One Week complete

2010-11-12T09:46:00.000-08:00

So I actually worked out every morning this week! And I weighed myself this morning and I am down 1 pound. I would have liked to see more progress after 5 days in the gym....but I did enjoy my Chinese Take-out for dinner last night and my huge calzone I had for lunch.....we will work on diet in a few weeks.

Sticker Please

2010-11-10T09:23:00.000-08:00

So Monday I did 20 min of Cardio. Then yesterday I showed up for my regular session with my trainer and he said "Come here, I have something for you." And he put a smiley face sticker on my water bottle and said it was for showing up Monday. Then I did cardio again for 20 min this morning (3 days in a row had not happened for a long time!) and he came and put another sticker on my water bottle. (I have been peeling them off once I get to my desk and putting them on a piece of paper.) and it is silly, but these little stickers are kinda motivating.

And!!! Yesterday was my daughters Pasta Dinner fundraiser at school. So I had a small plate of spaghetti and meatballs (very small portion, I thought I'd stop on the way home and pick up some Taco Bell or something, plus the hubby needed dinner too since he didn't go to the fundraiser). And there was a bake sale there and I bought 6 brownies, intending to eat a few now and then the rest with some milk once I got home. I ate one after dinner and my daughter had one...and I took the rest home. After the fundraiser we had to stop at a store, and then I went right home (no takeout!) And the hubby and daughter finished off the brownies while I did some housework. Then the hubby made himself some dinner while I took a shower and then went to bed. So NO night time snacking!!!! Pretty proud right now!

Say it aint so!

2010-11-08T09:26:00.000-08:00

This weekend we did the 'fall clean-up' yard-work. This included my hubby blowing and mowing the entire back yard while I raked in the front. After I was about 75% done, and he was 100% done, he came to the front to help. He finished the raking while I mowed the front. Then my hip was killing me so I rested. Then I went grocery shopping and my hip hurt so bad I had to lean on the cart to make it around the store. This (coupled with other complications of a more personal nature, including barely being able to clip my toe nails) has spurred me to....once again....start working on loosing weight. (also all my pants are incredibly tight!) So I worked out this morning, Monday with no trainer and weighed myself to see where I am........263! Seriously! I haven't been this fat for a long time.....I was 256 when I started with the trainer 2 years ago. In the past few months I have been barley making it to the gym 2 mornings a week, and I've been eating whatever I want, including cake, cookies, and candy at night with a glass of milk. Also my water intake has gone from 5-6 bottles a day down to 1-2.

The new plan is to try to do some cardio most mornings. And up my water intake. We'll see how this goes for a couple weeks and then work on adding more diet restrictions.

Also, on my last trip to the endocrinologist...she was feeling my thyroid and said "Did you know you have alot of facial hair?" No I hadn't noticed....except for the constant plucking I need to do to keep away the uni brow and Italian grandmother beard! And she said maybe I have PCOS? I know I have PCOS! I knew that 7 years ago. So she sent me to have a bunch of blood-work, to check kidney and liver functions and glucose, and whatever else....And she wants to put me on metformin (which I was on so that I could ovulate to get pregnant). But I guess it helps regulate glucose and helps you lose weight.....so maybe this is what I need. I go back to see her, get all the blood results, and hopefully a magic prescription, in a few weeks. I'm not going to hold my breath though, I thought the thyroid meds were going to help with my weight but that didn't happen at all. I'm just going to try to make it to the gym each morning and see where it goes from there.

Baby steps.....

2010-08-11T09:19:00.001-07:00

I worked out this morning...on a Wednesday, with no trainer! Go Me! I did a little over 20 min on the eliptical and burned 250 calories. I weighed my self also.....248. Now we move forward from here. I don't plan to post often....maybe once a week or so, mostly weight updates or if I feel I did especially good or especially bad at something, food, exercise, whatever.

Long time no see!

2010-08-10T09:07:00.001-07:00

So....how have you been?

I know I haven't blogged in a few months. I looked back to see what my last entry was...and I was complaining that I was burned out. Guess that was true. We did finish that last weight loss competition. Me and A2 came in 5th. Not a prize money position, but not too bad out of 30+ teams. I know it was my fault, if I had tried a little harder at the end we might have scooted up a few points and won some money.

Anyway, enough about the past.lets talk about now. I have been keeping up my Tues & Thursday morning work outs with D and our trainer. But I have been doing zero extra cardio, no M W F workouts, and definitely no lunch time workouts. I have really been enjoying the extra sleep, and I have been eating anything I feel like. So....needless to say....I have been packing weight back on. I was going to weigh myself this morning so I could have a good starting number, but I ran out of time.

Starting number for What?, you may be asking. Well...my sister got engaged yesterday. So that means there will be a wedding coming up. No plans have been made yet as to when, or if it will big a big shin-dig or a small deal or what. But I know that I do NOT want to be a FAT COW at the wedding. I was fat at my wedding, and I was 9 months pregnant at my other sisters wedding, so I want to be presentable at this one. So before I even know if I will be shopping for a brides maid gown, I'm going on a bride's maid diet! And the hubby said he was going to work on slimming down too, so that will be a great help to me. Let's see how it goes....this time.

Burned out!

2010-04-07T09:40:00.000-07:00

I don't know if my allergies are bothering me, or I'm slightly depressed, or if the time change is messing with my internal clock.....but I can NOT get up in the morning!!! I didn't workout Monday or today (Wednesday). I did a good workout yesterday in the morning only.... I have been eating OK, especially at work, salad for lunch everyday with leftovers. And eating healthy snacks...I just don't feel like hitting the gym. I know I should, I still haven't taken off all the vacation weight and I don't know when the next weigh in will be, but I'm sure it will be soon. I have been busy at home, doing yard work and outside playing with the kids (maybe that is helping to make me so tired)....I haven't been blogging because I don't have much to report. I'm just going to workout when I feel like it and not beat myself up when I skip.

Re-Gaining Ground

2010-03-30T09:10:00.001-07:00

Like I said in the last post from last week....I was up a little bit from the previous weigh-in, so I didn't turn in a weight last week. I think A2 was down a little, but it wasn't enough to keep us from slipping to 6th place in the ranking!! I'm sure it would have been even worse if I had turned in a weight. So we started in 1st place...then went to 2nd place.....and now 6th place.....That is out of money contention so it is a major issue! :)

I ate OK over the weekend...and I've been totally on workouts yesterday and today. I'm only 1 pound over the previous weight-in now (231) and going to work really hard all week to bring that down further. Before I fell off the wagon (I really need to get a seat-belt) I was at 227. And if I didn't tell you, I gave up chocolate for Lent and haven't had a speck of anything chocolate in over a month.

So Easter is on Sunday....and I have decided that if I get back to 227 or below by Friday at noon, then I can have some chocolate Easter Candy!!! I'm already planning what it will be....I know it will involve at least 1 Carmel Cadbury egg...that's the best thing I can think of so far. We are going to get the Easter basket stuff for the kids tonight, so I will see if there is anything else that looks really worth it. And I also know that I will have no will power once Easter is over, because I will not feel like I am letting down the Lord if I cheat...only myself...and A2...and the hubby who has been such good support.....now that I put it that way I think I can have the will power.....I will have a little chocolate then right back at it! Only a little over a month left of the contest....I can stick to it for the next 5 weeks!!

It's been awhile....(warning, kinda gorey)

2010-03-25T09:20:00.000-07:00

Sorry I haven't posted in a while......
I was doing really super good last week....was down to 227 on Wednesday, so 3 pounds down from the weigh-in the week before. Then I was off work on Friday, we went of vacation for the weekend. Took the kids to a big indoor waterpark. Had a blast, and since it was vacation, didn't even try to eat well. It was all room service and take out. But we were also walking constantly and swimming alot, so it probably about evened out. And I'm sure it would have been fine except....
Also since I was on vacation, I got my period, happens every time I leave home for a couple days. So, this was the 1st one since I got the IUD. And the doctor had warned me that my periods would be heavier than I was used to since I went off my BC pills....and she also warned that the IUD can make cramps worse. So I should have been more prepared....but it was pretty bad! I was in alot of pain from cramps, and I was super duper tired. Drove home from vacation Sunday around noon....crawled into bed and stayed there most of the rest of the day/night. Then I was miserable at work Monday (skipped all workouts) Got up to go workout Tuesday morning, texted the trainer that I wasn't going to make it, and went back to bed, skipped everything Wednesday also.
We were supposed to weigh in on Wednesday also, an e-mail came around on Tuesday....I went over yesterday, i was about 2 pounds up from the last weigh in, so I didn't record it and turn it in. My partner A2 e-mailed to see how I was, and I admitted that I ate bad on vacation and skipped my workouts for the 1st half of the week, I feel like I let him down....mostly because I did.
And it wouldn't be so bad if I all did was skip some workouts....but I also use my 'sickness' as an excuse to eat poorly. We got Chinese takeout Sunday night, Burger King Monday for lunch, ate a good dinner Monday night, had Subway Tuesday for Lunch and a good dinner Tuesday night, had soup/ salad/ and a burger from Big Boy yesterday for lunch and Qdoba yesterday for dinner.
So this morning I drug myself to the gym, and I just had a nice salad for lunch. No lunch time workout though, and I don't know if I'll workout tomorrow at all. I'm going to focus on eating good and work in workouts as I feel better. Should be back in the swing next week. And hopefully all the bad stuff I ate will just 'flow through'!

I have NO will power

2010-03-16T10:24:00.000-07:00

So....1st off we dropped in the ranking.....2nd place now. The team that is now ahead of us is a girl that doesn't have alot to loose, so just a couple pounds for her is a big percentage drop, and her partner is our maintenance man, and he is kinda heavy and has lost like 30 pounds. He is doing really good.

I have been doing good since last week. Eating mostly good, and if it is something bad, ice cream, I totally work on portion control. But I have been making all my morning and lunch time workouts. So yesterday I weighed in at 229....yes!!! and then this morning at 228 and about 1/8th....it just balanced just above 228. So I was super happy.

I totally planned on working out at lunch, and brought a weight watcher meal to eat......then we had a work emergency....someone had to leave and rush over to a testing facility....and that someone was me. So that shot my workout....but I totally could have come back and ate my planned meal.....but the draw of fast food was too strong.....and I ended up at Wendy's!

Weigh in Today...

2010-03-10T09:47:00.000-08:00

There was a weigh in today. I was sick all weekend, and even took Monday off work. While I was in bed resting I was just craving comfort foods, so I made no objecting when the hubby ordered pizza for dinner one night, and I got some frozen 'rib' patties at the store and had those with mac& cheese for dinner another night, in between I was skipping meals in exchange for sleep. and I had a couple bowls of ice cream because the cool creaminess helped my throat.

So I come back to work yesterday, to find an email that we are having a weigh in today! I had no idea what I would weigh and was a little scared. But I weighed in this morning at 230....not so great, but at least it is 2 pounds down from the last official weigh in. A2 weighed in at 5 pounds down from the last weigh in, so as a team we will do OK for the rankings, but I'm totally ready to loose the 1st place spot.

But I think will be a good kick in the pants to work hard and get the 1st place spot back! I keep worrying about why I'm stagnant, but the best way to get the scale moving is to get my butt moving...I need to work out longer and harder, just turn it up a bit. Easier said then done, but still worth trying!!

Back in in 2-3-0's Again!!!

2010-03-03T09:59:00.000-08:00

Sung to the tune of....I'm just pissed and not in the mood for singing!!!
I stayed at 229 last week, and then went home for the weekend, and showed up Monday at 231...it's now Wednesday and I'm about 230.5
But I have been working out every morning and lunch, and eating really good, I just hate this non-scenical fluctuation! But I'm just going to keep working on it, keep working on it. Hopefully I'll have another good drop and then when a pound or two come back on, I'll still be in the 220's.

Back in in 2-2-0's Again!!!

2010-02-24T09:45:00.000-08:00

Sung to the tune "Back in the USSR"

Yep....I weighed in this morning and I am 229!!!!! ha!!!!
Started this weight loss competition in the 240's (244 to be exact)
Ripped through the 230's
And now I'm in the 220's !!!!

I shouldn't be as happy as I am about this, it's still way way too much for me to weigh. And I have been in the 220's before, but then I mess up and get back in the 230's and 240's!! And I'll have to go back and check to make sure (which is one great thing about keeping this blog) but I think I have said "I'll never get back over 230 again" and that promise didn't hold much water, so I'm not going to say anything like that, I'll just keep working my way down, working my way down.

But I sent e-mails and txt's already today to Thank my Hubby and my partner, A2....and I'll just keep at it.
(3 weeks 'till the Waterpark!)

Man Down!!

2010-02-18T10:06:00.001-08:00

OK...so not a man...my water bottle. Yep, the water bottle that started a craze goes down in flames. See, when I first started working out, my trainer told me to get a good water bottle because a key to getting healthy is to drink a crap ton of water....1/2 your body weight in oz's. So if I weigh 240 lbs, I would need 120 oz's of water a day....that's basically a gallon. So I found a great water bottle at Target, it had a dial on the side to help keep track of how much you drink. So I bought it, showed it to the trainer, and he thought it was so cool that he went and bought a couple. then everyone else in the gym saw the trainer with it, so they all bought one. And then the bottles went on sale at Costco for a 3 pak, and now everyone (almost) has that style of bottle!

So today, I was going across the street, and I was carrying too many things, including my bottle. And when I tried to open the door.....water bottle hit the pavement. At first I thought I had just lost the little rubber seal piece, and a friend was helping look for it. But then I realized that the clasp that keeps it closed was broken too...so I hummed a funeral dirge, and threw it in a trash can. Sad.

But I bought a water out of the vending machine, and I'll get a new re-usable bottle when I'm out shopping this weekend!

(Sorry I haven't posted in over a week....I've been on a plateau and a little discouraged. Then it was Valentines...so Hubby and I had a date, and I pretty much didn't cook all weekend, so lots of take-out, and a big heat-shaped-box of Whitman's Sampler! and the Girl Scout Cookies came in, so we have been munching on those...And I think going off the bc pills has my hormones messed up, so I have been really tired and depressed for a few days. But I worked out HARD last Thursday, this Tuesday and yesterday morning's with the trainer...didn't do lunch work out's this week MTW (T i had a 1/2 day and took the girl scouts ice skating, so i am going to count that as a workout, sure made my legs sore) (and MW I spent my lunch walking arounf handing out GS cookies) but I just did lunch today, and went to my meals last night, so the freezer is stocked with healthy dinners...so we are on track....oh! and I gave up Chocolate for Lent!)

We're Number 1 !!!!!

2010-02-10T09:51:00.000-08:00

That's all I have to say about that!

No rankings yet!

2010-02-09T09:41:00.000-08:00

So the weekend went really well. I did have a small piece of Angel Food cake at the birthday party, and some raw veggies. but the party was at a place called "Pump It Up", it's a warehouse with a bunch of those inflatable bounce houses blown up inside. So the whole time I was bouncing with my kids, and chasing them in the obstacle course and going down the big slide. So I more than burned off the cake.

I weighed in yesterday.....drum roll please.....down 12 pounds total!!! 244 to 232, thats a 4.9% drop!!! And A2 lost another pound since last week too. I was really excited to see the ranking today, but it wasn't posted when I was over there this morning, and I havn't been back over, so I'll have to wait and see how we are doing against the other teams.

My trainer always says that alot of my weight issues have to do with my hormones (and I know the hubby will agree that I can be pretty 'hormonal'!) And I know that my thyroid medication is helping alot. So I thought that it would help even more to get off my birth control pills, it's just another hormone I'm putting in my body every day, plus I hate having to remember to take my pill. But there are no plans for babies anytime soon...so....I got an IUD. That is NOT fun. I left work early yesterday for my appointment, I was so so super nervous. And when I was 'on the table' my knees were shaking the whole time. I could not stop, even when I put my hand on my knee and tried to stead it. And the doctor would say things like "A little pinch now" And it would hurt like crap for a second...."A little cramping now" And it would be aching in my abdomen...and when it was done she said I would have "Some bleeding and cramping" and to just take Motrin. So I drove home, took two 600 mg Motrin I had leftover from my last baby delivery, took a shower and went to bed. I left the hubby in charge of dinner, he ordered pizza, when it came I came out of my room, got a big plate of pizza, bread sticks, wings, and coleslaw, and went back to bed. I think I was sleeping for the night before 8 o'clock.

I did work out this morning, I just took it easy, and i did need to stop a couple times. No bad pains, just some cramping starting and i didn't want to push it. I didn't know how I would feel later, so I decided to skip my lunch workout and take it easy. I've had no issues, so I'll go back to two workouts tomorrow. And hopefully I'll have some rankings tomorrow too!!

I even did the Treadmill today!

2010-02-05T09:46:00.001-08:00

So...weigh in went AWESOME!! I'm down 10 pounds since this challenge started. So the hard work IS paying off. I only had one workout yesterday since it was our monthly employee lunch. It was Italian, so I could have eaten horribly, but I had mostly salad, some chicken that was in a cream sauce, some green beans, mushrooms, and 3 tortellini (I wanted more but resisted!) And the hubby and I did get Chinese takeout for dinner, I got MuShu Chicken, so it's meat and shredded veggies, not too bad (no deep frying or batter) and the hubby got kung po chicken. We did get egg rolls too. Then to make up for it I did 350 cals on the elliptical this morning, and actually ran on the treadmill at lunch.

That's right...I RAN! Not because I wanted to, as much as just to see if I could! There were no ellipticals by the time I got up there (there were bikes, but I hate those) So I got on the one open treadmill. I figured I would walk until an elliptical opened up. K was on the treadmill next to me, and he walked a min then ran a min or two.....So after 2 min of walking, I upped my speed from 3.0 to 4.5 and ran (more of a fast jog to be totally truthful) I told myself to do it for one min and then walk again....but after one min I wasn't too tired, so I decided to try for 2. Then my trainer walked past behind me and said something like "Good job Nick"...and that was pretty motivating, so I just kept running. Kinda like Forrest Gump! :) After 5 min I thought that was a pretty round number, so I backed down to 3.0 to walk again. My partner A2,(I really like this partner thing, more than I thought I would) came up next to the treadmill and told me what I good job I was doing. And since that is pretty motivating too, I told him that I would walk another min and then see how long I could run a second time. And I ran for 5 min the second time too!!! It was hard the second time and I was really counting down the seconds, but I did it!! And then I walked for another few min...and then I ran for another min, upping my speed every 10 secs or so, just to see how fast I could go...I got up to 6.0 and that is pretty fast...so I went down for a little cool down walk and was done.

A2 was leaving the gym at the same time as me and we walked down the hall together. He was telling me really good job on running 3 times (so him and the trainer must have been watching) and we chatted for a sec until he turned down another hall.

Pretty proud of myself right now! And Im going to ride this wave for the weekend. Have a kids bday party tonight, no cake for me thanks. We have a weigh in on Monday for our first team ranking, so Im going to try to get some exercise in over the weekend, and be very careful with what I eat! I'll let you know Tuesday when they post the team ranking how I'm doing against everyone else, but right now I'm kicking ass against myself, which is the most important.

Chugging along

2010-02-02T09:48:00.000-08:00

So the weekend went GREAT!!! I did NOT eat Taco Bell. I actually ate really well. And on Saturday afternoon we took the kids to an indoor pool for some time swimming, so much better than sitting around at home! I did pick up a Hot-n-Ready Pizza on the way home from the pool, the kids were asking for it. I did eat one slice of pizza when we got home, the hubby ate one too, and the kids ate it for dinner. Later I made Turkey chili for the hubby and I. It was 'healthy' chili....93/7 turkey burger, green peppers, celery, tomatoes, & spices! And it was tasty too.

So far this week I have gotten 2 workout each day, even yesterday when I had a 1/2 day, I got in a quick 20min cardio before I left!! And we went out to dinner last night, but we went to Mongolian BBQ, so I got to pick my own lean meat, filled up on good veggies and watch it cook on the flat top grill.

I really want to know what I weigh, I've gotten a couple comments that I'm 'looking like I've lost weight'. I can't think I look that different in just over a week, but now I'm really curious. Day and a half till I weigh in with the trainer.....going to go strong until then, then I'll report the good news!

Weekend promises!

2010-01-29T10:39:00.000-08:00

So it is the end of the 1st week.....and I did awesome!!!! First off we got the partner thing all straighten out. and I was talking to A2 this morning and we are going to try to get our families together soon, maybe over the weekend. I did 2 workouts everyday...averaging about 500-600 calories total per day. A good start, but I'm going to work on ramping that up over the next couple weeks. I worked on getting protein every morning after my workout, either a shake, or egg, or natural peanut butter on a whole wheat english muffin. And I ate a salad or wrap with fruit everyday for lunch. And NO takeout or fast food all week. I cooked dinner every night, lean chicken or pork and lots of veggies! And the hubby ate dinner with me, or went to his brother's to workout.

So now it's the weekend!!! I'm not going to go crazy, but I am going to be just a little less strict. I thawed some veggie lasagna and we will eat that one night. And maybe....we might have one CHEAT meal, like taco bell or something....I'll see how it goes. But if I do, then I won't feel bad for it, and I wont fall off thew wagon..it will be a reward and then right back to work.

I do have to admit to one little slip-up last night. I did eat 3 pieces of leftover Christmas candy...3 little Dove chocolate bites...Carmel filled....I really wanted them...and I ate one...then I ate 2 more...then I felt really guilty. And it was tasty...but not really worth the guilt. So next time I think I want something like that, I'll just know that it's not worth it.

Still going strong

2010-01-28T09:58:00.000-08:00

It's 4 days in, and it's going great! I weighed myself this morning and I'm now down 8 pounds!! That's about 3.3%. But the trainer has now banned me from weighing myself again until next Thursday. And in a show of support A2 isn't going to weigh in again until next Thursday too!

Had a great work out today, 250 cal on the elliptical this morning...then a good weigh lifting session, then another 250 at lunch. I made some tasty chicken cutlets last night, just browned in a pan with same PAM, sea salt, fresh ground pepper, paprika, and garlic powder. So lots of added flavor and no added calories or fat! So i cut some into strips and rolled it up in a whole wheat wrap with spinach and tomatoes and a bit of mustard! That and an apple is a tasty healthy lunch that I'm happy eating!

I don't know if I just have a good attitude right now because of how good the whole partner issue worked out, or because the hubby is on board at home, or what. But this is going really good right now!

Switch-a-Roo

2010-01-27T10:14:00.000-08:00

I did not appreciate the way B manipulated the situation to get us together as partners, and after only 1 day of 'There she is' I could not take it! I had a long talk with the hubby, and then a talk with the trainer. For all the complaining I do about my trainer, me and D calling him a drill Sargent and a torturer, he is a really good guy! He is hard on me because he knows that I need to loose weight and that I'm stubborn in my ways, and he really wants to push me. So we talked, and he agreed that B is too 'intense' for me and that the 'stress' would not be good for my weight loss, that it might actually hinder it. So we worked out a plan to switch partners. I suggests A2 (the guy that B put his old partner A with) and the trainer thought it was a great idea. A2 has lost over 100 pounds before, and is really kind and motivating. A2 has a wife at home and little twin daughters, alot like my own family of the hubby and 2 kids. (Where as B has a wife who lives out of state, and no kids, therefor no distractions or temptations at home).

I am kinda chicken, and don't do well with confrontation. And the trainer knows this, and good guy that he is, he did all the hard part. He talked to A2 and asked if he would mind switching to be my partner, he was totally cool with it. Then he talked to B, I'm still not actually sure how that went, B let me know that he knew, and said it was ok and that now I'm "going down!" And I feel so much better about the whole situation!

I have been doing great so far....2 work outs everyday, morning and lunch. And last night the hubby wasn't home, and I was so wanted to eat snacks! But I had a healthy dinner, and had a little sugar free pudding cup for a night time snack! I saw A2 in the gym at lunch and he gave me a thumbs up! I've lost 6 pounds so far....that is about 2.5%!!!!

The competition begins!! Again!!!

2010-01-25T09:53:00.000-08:00

So I pigged out all weekend. Ate everything that I wanted and everything that I knew I was going to deny myself for the next three months! Nachos, Quarter Pounder, french toast, tortellini with sausage, brownies, chili cheese fries, pop!

Weigh in was this morning. I walked into the gym and B said "there she is" and then B supervised mt weigh in. I got a quick 200 cal on the elliptical. Had a hard boiled egg white for breakfast, planned to eat more but I was busy and the morning flew by. At lunch I changed back into my workout clothes and went back over to the gym. As I crested the stairs B let out a "there she is" and it is already getting old! All the ellipticals and treadmills were being used, (everyone making a good show for the contest) So I jumped on a bike! I hate the bike...I struggled through 66 cal and once an elliptical opened up, I switched....got 210 cal in all at lunch, so 410 for the day. Not too bad, but definitely need to amp that up.

I'm munching on my salad with tuna right now. Instead of bringing in my bad of salad and all the whole veggies, and then cutting them up just before I eat lunch. I have all the fixings in the fridge at home, and I made my salad before I left this morning. This way all the stuff is at home and the hubby can have salad too (he said he was craving it lately!!) and it is quicker for me at lunch time, so it leaves more time to work out!

In case you were wondering....the official weigh in was 244!!! That is horrible...I was almost down to 220 at one point and now I'm only 12 pounds from where I originally started a year and a half ago! But this time I'm doing it up right, and the hubby is on board too!!!

Live from Las Vagas

2010-01-19T23:10:00.000-08:00

So, number one......Holy Canoly!!!! I'm in Las Vegas!!!! It's so cool!!!! Cool in the AWESOME way and in the chilly way. (I thought I was escaping the cold Michigan winter to come to the nice warm desert....well it has rained, sometimes sprinkles-sometimes pours, since we got here yesterday)

Number two....you'll never believe what happened on the whole partner for the newest weight loss contest front! I don't even know where to start.....I haven't had a chance to post since last Thursday and that's when the shit started to hit the fan! Hang in ALOT happened in the last few days.

So....Thursday is a normal day, and as far as I know M is partners with P, and I'm just going to stay out of it 'officially' but do it on my own. Then I happen to walk through the lunch room, and M is chatting with my trainer. So I go over and chat with them too. Then P happens to walk by (the coincidences are un-canny!) And P is joking with M that he (P) had a new different partner. (I was silently stunned, I hadn't heard that they called it off, maybe I had a chance to partner up with M again.) So P walks off, and M walks off shortly after. It's me and the trainer, I asked him when/why M&P called it off, then I preceded to tell him the whole back story of how M had asked me to be partners, yada yada, and he didn't want to tell P no. So the trainer tells me to go partner back up with M. I said something like "if he wanted to partner back up then he would have said something a minute ago when we were all talking" (Later when I relayed this story to the hubby he said that I make things so 'high school' and he is exactly right) So the trainer says lets go talk to him right now (did I mention that the trainer really wants me in the contest), and goes off after M, and I trotted along behind him. We have a little conversation with M. He says he isn't sure if P really got a new partner (its apparently a mystery person that P isn't telling to anyone) or if he is just joking. He said he would talk to P and let me know. But if it was off with P then it would be on with me. Sunshine on the horizon!

I was so excited and I wanted to tell someone so I texted the hubby and told him the high points and that I would explain when I got home....and since B is in charge of the whole contest, and had been pestering me to get in....so I texted him and told him that "I MIGHT be in the contest, I was waiting for an answer from a partner" and he asked who he needed to go convince and I told him not to worry about it, the trainer had already talked to them, and not to bother the trainer about it! And he asked if he could ask M about it.....and I wondered why he would think to ask M?

So I'm driving out of the parking lot at the end of the day, and I see B talking to P in the parking lot of the other building. So I called B and asked what they were talking about....and he said they were talking about the contest....then he started to ask about who I was waiting on, etc. And if that didn't pan out then he had a couple people that didn't have partners and he would get me a partner.....and I said I really liked my plan A (being partners with M) and plan B was to just do it outside of the contest. And he said that he would get me a plan B partner. And I said no, I'm bitchy and hard to get along with, I couldn't have a random partner. And he assured me that it would be someone that I knew and was friends with. When I talked to the hubby about all this later he thought that maybe R (how is my sisters bf that works there too) was who B was talking about, and that seemed feasible :) And at some point in the conversation with B, it came out that he knew all about M!?! And I told him he was not supposed to have talked to the trainer, and B told me that about an hour before I texted him, (so right after the trainer and I talked with M) the trainer came and spilled the beans to him about M and everything. (And in retrospect I think they schemed up everything else that happened)

So I talked to the hubby when I got home, and told him that I'm doing this hard core and I needed him to help at home. (And I had all these plans of things to say to get him on my side....but to my happy surprise I didn't need any of them.) He said "What do I get if I win? As in, he was going to have a weight loss contest with me at home! We have done it before, not since before my son was born, but it was always fun. And he said that I went to the gym in the mornings, so he would take time to work out in the evenings...go to the 'gym' in his brother's basement, or the rec center. And I thought that sounded great! (And if nothing else, that fact that my hubby might get a little skinnier and healthier, makes all this drama and crap worth it!)

So Friday morning I top the stairs to the gym, and there is M talking to B and the trainer. So I thought maybe he was there to tell me some good news...but no, he hadn't had a chance to talk to P yet. After M left, me, B, the trainer and another trainer all discussed who P's new mystery partner could be??? Then after normal Friday Bagel time I go over to check in with M....still nothing, hasn't talked to P. Then later that afternoon I go check in with M....still nothing, still hasn't talked to P, said he kept checking but he wasn't in his office. Then M went on break, and I went to P's office. (I just wanted an answer before I left for Vegas) And P was in his office! So we had a little chat....I told him the whole back story. He asked why I wanted to be partners with M and I told him because M was a great motivator and had a great attitude. And he said that is the same reason he wanted to be with him, but he had this other great plan for a partner, but he also didn't want to drop M......so I told him it was up to him (I think I actually was a little ruder about it, something like "Well you sit in this fancy office, so you can make these hard decisions" probably not the best career move in retrospect, I'll try to apologize. I was frustrated.) And he said he would make a decision by the end of the day.....

So it was almost the end of the day, and I didn't have a chance to get back over to the other building, and i wanted to know what was going on!! So texted B and asked if he knew....and he went and checked and I guess M was already gone for the day. So as I was driving out of the parking lot....I decided to pull into the other building. And I went and talked to the trainer, he didn't know any new info. And on my way back out, I ran into P in the hall. So I asked if he had made a decision, and he said yep...he was staying with M! (Crap!!) And he urged me to take the 'other' partner that had stirred this all up, and he told me who it was and his 'plan'...which was just silly to me, knowing all that I know....so I declined. (Can't tell you who the mystery was, P told me to keep it on the down-low, and I know that the trainer may or may not read this occasionally, and posting it on the Internet is NOT keeping it on the down-low....only person I told is the hubby....luv ya babes)

On my drive home on Friday I simultaneously texted B and the trainer and told the P and picked M, so I guess I'm on to Plan B....pretty reluctantly. But I figure if I drop out now then M would know that I was a quitter and would be glad that he didn't have me for a partner....I have to do it and kick ass now!!! I asked B who plan B was (ha, that's so funny now) and he wouldn't tell, said he needed to talk to M&P first and make sure.

So Monday morning, yesterday, (well 2 days ago now since it is after midnight!) I e-mail B and ask who Plan B is......and he feeds me the crap about he needs to make sure with M&P. And i was only working a few hours before leaving for Vegas, and I wanted to know since I would be back to work again until the morning of the weigh in. But I asked a couple times and he wasn't budging. So I texted the trainer and asked him, but I didn't get a response. I left for the airport now knowing. Then later when I was waiting at the terminal B texted me....he said it was official with M&P...so was I ready for Plan B??? I said ready....and then he told me that it was him!!! This was a giant shock because I knew that he was already signed up with a different guy, lets call him A. Then already had a team name picked out and everything 'Gym-me Buff-it' actually kinda cute. (But I'm not having that as my team name, I'll text B tomorrow and tell him he better come up with something for us.) I asked what happened to A, he said that he got another guy to join and be A's partner, so he was free to be a team with me. I was still kinda stunned and didn't respond for awhile! I was trying to piece it together in my mind. I called the hubby and went over it with him. I'm sure that this is what him and the trainer schemed up on Thursday! And I told him I hoped he didn't strain a brain muscle on his plotting. But I guess that's that! I get back from Vegas next week...and the contest begins.

PS, Vegas is 3 hours earlier than Michigan....so this morning, when my body though it was 7:30 and I should be up, it was really 4:30 here...but I was awake and couldn't go back to sleep....so I busted out 325 calories on the elliptical here at the hotel. And then walked about 10,000 miles at the trade show today! and have 2 more days to go!

So I bought a "Salad"....

2010-01-14T09:36:00.000-08:00

I had to run out to the bank at lunch. And Quizno's is in the same plaza as the bank, at the opposite end. (and I didn't even get in my truck and drive to the other end, I walked all the way down the sidewalk and then all the way back to my truck!) I thought I would go to Quizno's and get a salad for lunch. And I did get a salad. But this is NOT a healthy salad. I'm not even going to pretend it is. I watched them make it....It is lettuce, with tomatoes and salsa and diced white meat chicken...healthy so far...and a big scoop of guacamole....still ok.....and a big handful of cheese....getting dangerous....and then they give you a little bag of toasted tortilla strips to put on it and a huge cup of dressing. I know, I know....I could have skipped the tortillas and used salad spray that I have in the fridge, but I didn't. I only used 1/2, maybe less, of the dressing, but it is so so thick and creamy. I know it is loaded with fat, I should have skipped it. All of my workout this morning is going just to burn off the dressing from my salad....the 1/2 dressing....I don't know who eats the whole thing!

I'm so proud of myself right now!

2010-01-12T09:10:00.001-08:00

If you have noticed I haven't posted my weight lately. I just looked back over the past few weeks, Before Christmas I was 232.....well I came back from New Year's at 240!!! I was very upset with myself. I have been working out every day since then and really putting alot into the workouts too. But I still haven't been eating the best. I've been doing pretty good while I'm at work, but then not so good at dinner, or on the weekends, and I have been snacking at night. I know this. I know it's bad. And then I jump on the scale and wonder why the numbers are not going down! Well they went down just a little, 237 this morning. And my trainer happened to be looking over my shoulder, so he knows that I'm at 237 right now too. I was 237 at the START of the last contest, then I lost 15 pounds, then it started to come back on when I went on the lower dose of my synthroid, and when I was working my ass off, and my ass was still getting bigger, I gave up again!

So today during our workout I happened to mention to D and our trainer that Taco Bell had new commercials about their "Drive Thru Diet!" (Basically they say if you are going to eat fast food anyway, then something from their 'fresco' menu is better than a burger somewhere else.) And the trainers quick answer was something like "Well if you are that weak, then there is no help for you anyway" I'm not too sure about that second part, but i am sure the first part is "If you are that WEAK" That struck a cord.

Then a few minutes ago I was getting ready for lunch. I was mentally gearing up to go in the break room and get my bag of salad and cup of salmon out of the fridge. and I just didn't want it. It didn't sound good, i was not hungry for it, and my mind started to wander. Something like soup and a sandwich sounded better. Maybe I could run out to Quizno's. Where else could I go. And as Taco Bell rolled through my mind, along with the list of other near by places, I heard the trainer's words again....weak....I don't want to be weak. I know I am, but I don't want to be. I had taken the time to go to the store and buy healthy lunch foods and brought them in, and they were just waiting to be eaten.......So I thought it over for a minute, and I went to the break room. I was just going to suffer through my salad, and as I was opening the fridge door I wished I had a sandwich. Something that I could chew...something warm and comforting...not cold salad! Then I looked at my shelf of food. I had it stocked with salad, and blueberries, and hard boiled eggs, and yogurt, and Light, Whole Grain, English Muffins!!! What if I made a sandwich on a muffin!

So that is what I did. I toasted the muffin, and spread the salmon on, and had a smaller salad on the side. And it is good!!! And it is satisfying!!! And I am so proud of myself right now!!

I just need to make these better choices more often. 237 and counting...and I leave for Vegas on Monday!

Lots of changes in the last couple days!

2010-01-08T09:37:00.000-08:00

So...I last posted on Tuesday at lunch. Then Tuesday afternoon we had our monthly company meeting, and the new weight loss competition was announced. B is pretty much in charge of it all, and he explained all about the partners and blah blah blah. So right after the meeting I went to talk to M about signing up together. Well! There was another meeting in the morning that M had gone to, and during that meeting one of the men on our Board of Directors, the guys that run our whole company, had asked M to be his partner. M said he still wasn't 100% sure if I even wanted to be his partner, I never gave him a firm answer, and how could he say no to P, the Director. And he apologized, but he is right, and I don't blame him at all. This is a good chance for him to rub elbows with one of the upper management, and I don't want to take that away from him.

So I just decided to go back to not doing the contest at all. Not that I'm giving up, I'm just not signing up! I won't win any money, or loose any either. I came up with a plan to still weigh in and out at the contest dates, and then I can keep track of my own weight loss percentages and compare them to how M & P's percentages are. And if I do better that P, which I plan to try really hard to do, then I'll just tell M that he made the wrong decision! Not in a mean spiteful way, just a busting his balls, playful kinda way! And it will be great motivation for me! I think I like this plan!

And...double bonus!!! I went to the endocrinologist on Wednesday afternoon. And what do ya know....my TSH level is really high! I could have told you that with out doing the blood work! I knew I was freezing cold all the time, I knew I had no energy, couldn't get out of bed in the morning, always wanted a nap. I knew my skin was dry and itchy, and my throat felt tight. (She always asks about constipation, but that is never a problem I notice, and it was the only symptom I didn't have!) So, of course, she upped my synthroid dose. I'm back up to 100, and last time I was on 100 the weight was coming off. So in a few weeks when it starts to regulate in my system i should see some big drops. Especially since I'm going to be trying so hard.

I talked to my trainer on Wednesday morning and asked for some hip exercises. So I can strengthen it up some before Vagas. So yesterday morning before we started working out he had a little 'talking to' with me. The first thing he said is that "This is not going to be an emotional conversation" And I told him I couldn't promise that, because we both know how easily I cry! (I cried for two days over the whole M not being my partner thing, I was so happy that he believed in me and wanted to be my partner, then so let down when he had a different partner. but like I said, I don't blame him, I was just really sad about the situation. Lots of hugs from the hubby helped make it better) So the trainer told me about how the hip is a joint, and you cant do alot of exercises for it, but he gave me some stretches to try, and said the best thing I can do is get some weight off! And I said "I know" and he said he is going to beat me if I say "I know" again without actually doing something about it. And he is totally right. I just posted about how loosing weight a year ago helped my hip a ton.

So....not in the competition.....no partner to depend on.....need to do it for myself, by myself....and don't have the thyroid excuse because I just got a higher dose of meds which should basically turn the metabolism on high gear! I had a great workout yesterday, did good cardio this morning, eating salad with tuna for lunch, and have plans to take the kids sledding tomorrow (carrying kids, up-hill, in deep snow has got to be a great workout!) Now I just need to do it!

My hip is killing me!

2010-01-05T09:25:00.001-08:00

So, if I haven't mentioned it before. I have a pain in my hip. Years ago my mom told me it sounded like arthritis, so I just assume that's what it is, even though I have never had it looked at by a doctor, and don't have any plans to in the near future.

It used to flare up and be constantly painful if I did something that required me to walk all day, like a trip to the zoo or something like that. And not just an hour or two of walking, like all day walking, with breaks and rests, but mostly being on my feet. I noticed it originally when me and the hubby went to Chicago for our 1 year anniversary (that was over 6 years ago now!!) and we walked all day, and we were walking back to our hotel and I couldn't walk anymore. We finally got a cab for the last few miles because I couldn't take another step.

And I used to fall because of it too. Like if I was sitting at my desk for an hour and jumped up to get something off the printer, my leg just would not hold my weight and I would fall. Sometimes catching myself on the edge of the desk, sometimes ending up on the floor. And at home when I would sit on the couch with my feet curled up under me, and then when I would get up I would limp the first few steps until my hip loosened up. The hubby would lovingly call me limpy and tell the kids he was getting me a new hip for my birthday.

So...since I started working out over a year ago, my hip has gotten better. It probably has to do with dropping weight....(I know I do nothing but yo-yo lately, but since I started I have kept off over 20 pounds) And also strengthening the muscles in that area. And I have also noticed that when I don't work out regularly, my hip starts to act up more. So I only worked out once from Dec 23rd until Jan 4th!!! And now my hip is killing me! It probably has to do with the weather too, but i can't control that!

So I leave for Vagas 2 weeks from yesterday, and I know I am going to be doing nothing but walking the whole time I'm there. So I need to stick to working out and strengthening up this bum hip of mine so I can do my job when I'm in Vagas! I did cardio yesterday and a full workout today. So I just need to stick with it for the next couple weeks. It will help my hip, and then my hip will be looking that much cuter in my new suit pants!

Off the Wagon.....but just for the Holiday's

2009-12-30T09:40:00.000-08:00

so....after my last post, I happened to run into M (the new possible, now probably, partner). I asked him what he had been saying to my Dad, and he happily told me that he needed to conspire with my Dad to get me to be his partner. I asked if he was mental, because he was the one that came in 2nd last time, and I had come in 22nd, and I should be the one working to get him as a partner, not the other way around. So basically it was settled that we would team up. So I happily told him that I had been doing pretty good and had worked out every morning for the past couple weeks. And he told me to, and I quote, "Cut it out!" See heading into the competition we don't want to loose all the weight ahead of time, because that's weight that won't count when the contest starts. And I agree with him, and I'm all about any excuse, but I also still need to fit into my new suit pants!!

I enjoyed myself for Christmas. Made cookies for all my family and friends. Made a huge dinner for my hubby's family on Christmas eve. (And I mean HUGE!!!! For Appetizers: A shrimp ring, Chili Cheese Dip w/tortilla chips, Cheese, sausage & Crackers, Veggies & Ranch, Deviled Eggs, Relish tray, and Spinach & Artichoke dip w/ mini pitas. Then for Dinner: Honey Baked Ham, Turkey, Mashed potatoes & Gravy, Stuffing, Cauliflower w/Cheese, Cheesy potato casserole, Candied Yams, Maple Glazed Carrots, and rolls. then for Dessert: Pumpkin Roll, a few kinds of cookies, candy, and my sister-in-laws brought 3 different kinds of pies. And I also made Punch) And since there were 7 people there, there were tons of leftovers!!! And we had a big dinner the next day at my mom's house. And the next day I was sick of home cooked food so we went out for Pizza.

I only worked out yesterday with my trainer, and I'm not working out anymore this week. I'm eating a salad, with leftover turkey, for lunch today. And I'm making a pretty healthy dinner tonight, Chicken, rice, & green beans. But I have been munching on leftover desserts every night before bed. Tonight will be the last of the pumpkin roll...yum! And we are going to my sister's house tomorrow for New Years Eve and there will be a ton of food!

But after that I am totally back on the wagon. Not so much as a New Year's Resolution, more because I need to fit into my pants in less than 3 weeks!

Doing Good, Feeling Good!

2009-12-21T09:52:00.001-08:00

So, I worked out again this morning, so I am happily back into my 'cardio every morning' routine. I'm not as tired as I was a few weeks ago either. Saturday I went to my company Christmas party, they rented out the Detroit Institute of Arts, very snazzy!! Then Yesterday I went to the casino with my mom in the morning, did some shopping on the way home, then baked all afternoon and into the evening. Yes, I licked some spoons, and sampled some wares, but not too much. I made a little roast and some mashed potatoes for dinner, and I weighed in this morning.....232!! So still slowly going down, even after a day of baking!!

I have more baking to do tonight, and then I need to box up the goodies to hand out for Christmas! I love to bake, and this is the best time to get it all out of my system, then hand out all the hard work so I'm not tempted to eat it!

Quickly, back to the Christmas party. I sat at a table with my hubby (of course :) ), my parents (my dad works with me, remember), my sister and her boyfriend (who works there too, bf not sister), and another guy random guy from work that ended up at our table. So the other guy was asking how I had done in the weight loss competition, and I said not so hot, because I had gotten sick and fell off the wagon, yada yada. And he asked if I was going to do the next one, and I said I was thinking about it. And my Dad chimed in, "Yeah, you are going to be partners with M, right?" and I was shocked, like "How do you know that!!" and dad just said he 'knows things.' So...obviously....M must have told him. Because I didn't say a work to anyone...except here...but no one reads this.....except that I did send a link to my trainer.....whatever....most likely M told my dad. So that is good news, because that means he was serious about what he said, and that gets me kinda excited about this whole thing!

Also, I had to buy a suit for a business trip coming up in a few weeks, I have to go to Vagas for a week. So I bought all new clothes before I started here, a year and a half ago. And my pants were size 20. And I was so sad at the time that I had allowed myself to balloon up not just to double digit sizes, but then to sizes that started with a '2'!!! So...I know my old work pants are really loose now, but I haven't bought anything new. So I was trying on suits, and I fit easily into the 18....and the one that I really liked and wanted, they only had the pants in a 16. So I thought, why not, and I tried them on....and they fit!! Not great, they are definitely tight in the leg and making a muffin top, but I got them up an buttoned without a struggle, so that was good enough for me. (I got the jacket in an 18, just because it was more comfortable.) So I'm going to try to drop at least 10 pounds before my trip, then my suit should be really perfect!

That's the goal 10 pounds before Jan 18th! Starting weight, 232! Count down starts .....Now!

Another Challenge....A New Partner??

2009-12-16T09:43:00.000-08:00

First off, I weighed in before my workout yesterday, 234...down one pound from the day before, Great start to my new (again) dedication. Then yesterday was our department Christmas pot luck, so I ate a ton for lunch, including appetizers, 2 plates of food, and dessert....and then snacked on some leftovers in the afternoon. So I weighed in this morning before my workout, pretty much expecting to have gained, and I was just a shade under the 234 from yesterday, lets call it 233 & 3/4....what a great surprise.

So, at the end of the last weight loss challenge, when I had given up and was blaming everything on my thyroid and sickness, B told me that they are already starting to plan the next challenge. This time they want to do partners, to which I told him, "No way! I'm not going to drag a partner down with me."

Fast forward to today. I had to go to production to talk to a few workers about processes. One of the workers happened to be M, who came in in 2nd place in the last challenge. He lost something amazing like 82 pounds. He started out around the hubby's size and just worked really hard. I saw him in the gym a few times, especially when I was doing the lunch time workouts and occasionally after work too. He was always in a good mood and motivational. So today we discussed the work related issues, and I congratulated him on his 2nd place win. He noted how I had been so strong in the beginning and then he didn't see me in the gym anymore. Apparently he had asked B about me and was told I was sick. So I told him the rest of the story, that I was sick, and my whole family was sick, and I got run down, in part because of my thyroid, and I was giving in to the pizza and Chinese, and then got discouraged. He told me how his wife was super supportive and he couldn't have done it without her, and how he understands how people like us, "big people", have food issues and it is so easy to go back down the 'bad food choice' road. He also has a family with small kids (I'm not sure how many or ages) and that it is hard to go workout and eat right and be with your family.

I told him about my new theory, where the less I worked out the worse my energy level was, and how I'm working out everyday again, and even though it has only been 3 days I'm already feeling better. He totally agreed and gave me some other energy tips. Ever hear of Royal Jelly??

Then he brought up the impending competition. I told him the same thing about not wanting to drag a partner down. And he said, we dont know how people will be pared up yet, but if we get to pick partners, then he wants to be my partner. Even though he watched me crash and burn last time, how I kinda gave up at the end, he wants to help me. He said he could "see how bad I want it." And how hard I tried, and that if I started to get discouraged a little he would kick me back into it. And I think he would. And I think I could trust him to not have any ulterior motives, he just made a big change in his life and wants to help me do the same thing.

So...I was reading Glamour Magazine....

2009-12-14T09:26:00.000-08:00

I have brought in articles from Glamour magazine to my trainer before. He just laughs them off. and I should know better than to take the advice from a magazine over my licenced/ professional trainer (did I ever tell you that his son is a professional body builder??? The man knows what he is talking about).

So lately I haven't been feeling good. So I have been working out less. and I have been exhausted when I get home from work, and don't feel like cooking, so I give in to pizza and take out and whatever!

And then I put weight back on. So I feel discouraged, "I'm never going to lose weight, any I lose I'll just put back on!" Si I give in to all my cravings, cookies, pizza rolls, TACO BELL!!!!

And I feel even worse. So I started blaming it on my medication. Maybe I need a higher dose, yeah, that's why I'm tired and want snacks!

Then I was reading, and I remember reading this many times before, but diet and exercise have a big impact on your mood and energy level! So I started thinking....Sure, I was sick and run-down.....but then I didn't 'jump back onto the horse'! I kinda strolled along the coral fence and peeked over.....So today I'm going for a ride! I came in and worked out....325 calories, not a ton, but way more than I've done in the past month or so, and I'm having good'ole salad w/tuna for lunch....have some yogurt for this afternoon and a dinner thawing in the fridge for tonight.

I'll see how long I can keep this up again, but....if my theory is right....for every day I exercise and eat better, I should get more energy!

(And as far as weight, I weighed myself this morning, 235, almost what I started the weight loss challenge at, but I'm not going to be discouraged by it, it's just a number, and by the end of this week, that number should be just a little bit smaller!)

Sickness strikes again!

2009-12-10T09:47:00.000-08:00

Not me this time, luckily.....but my poor little son. He's only two, so he can't say "My tummy doesn't feel so well, I think I'm going to be sick"...and then run for the toilet, like I would. Instead it's more like a little whinny "Ohh oh, ohh no!" and then projectile vomit, all over me. twice. at 2:00am. needless to say that none of my family got sleep that night. And I was tired the next morning and skipped my workout, actually didn't go to work at all in an effort to keep any and all germs in my house. and then I was late to my workout today, still tired. So no warm-up cardio. And then he had us to leg presses, and I broke two toes! I just assume they are broken, then swelled some, and hurt like hell, and they won't bend. So I was on the leg press machine, and I was curling my foot up so as to not put pressure on the toes. The trainer always say for these excersises to push through your heel. So you are not really supposed to put pressure on your toes anyway. I do, I know I do, I try not to, but I do. So maybe breaking some toes will help me do better leg presses! but I can't let the trainer know, he might want to break toes on my other foot too!!!
I know I need to come in and do cardio tomorrow, but I'll tell you right now it is not going to happen. I need rest. I really do. I have been going to bed early, and I still can't get up in the morning. The hubby is getting super annoyed with my snooze button. I can't wait till I go to the endocrinologist in a few weeks!

The competition is over!

2009-12-04T09:52:00.000-08:00

Yep! all done, the weigh in was today. I didn't even know when the weigh in (or weigh out as I've heard others call it) was supposed to be. Then I met the hubby at the Chinese buffet for lunch yesterday, and when I got back to my office, I had an e-mail that the numbers were due before noon today! Of course!
So I weighed in..... 231.5, so that is down a grand total of 6 pounds, 2.5%. Better than nothing, way better than gaining, but I know that i was down 15 pounds a couple weeks ago, then all the sickness, and tiredness, and Thanksgiving! And I totally admit that I was eating badly. If I had been doing my minimum workouts, but eating better I think I would have done so so much better.
I'm going to the doctor on Monday, the Gyn, and I'm going to ask about getting off the BC pills, I think I'm going to try an IUD instead. So maybe that will help, they usually say that BC pills make you hold onto some weight. Also, I go to the endocrinologist in another month, and I'm hoping she ups the dose of my thyroid meds. I think that will help with my energy and my coldness, it will all depend on my blood work.

I don't know what is wrong with me!

2009-12-02T09:52:00.000-08:00

I feel like crap! Not sick....no runny nose or sore throat or any of that....just tired, and achy. I didn't want to get up yesterday, but I didn't know why. I had went to the Red Wings game the night before, but we were up 4 to 1 in the 3rd period, so we left early, avoided the traffic, and I was dropping my friend off a little after 10pm. So I wasn't out too late? But it was a Tuesday, and since I didn't have a good excuse to tell my trainer, I sucked it up and went. Straight off he knew something wasn't right, he told me good job showing up, but to take it easy, stop if I felt bad, you know the drill. I was able to keep up with D and K for most of the workout, but I wasn't too much fun, no joking or singing along with the radio, or dancing in between reps, my normal nuttyness, I just didn't feel like it.

I met the hubby at subway for lunch, I just wanted to get out of my office. Made it through the rest of the day and went home. I ate the last of the Thanksgiving leftovers for dinner and was in bed around 9:30. I didn't even go out and kiss the hubby goodnight, which is highly abnormal for me. I didn't even realize it until he came in and asked why I was falling asleep already! I was watching TV, then I was suddenly really cold, so I got under the covers and just started to nod out. (That's another thing, I have been cold alot again. I was doing so much better on my medicine, so I am chalking the coldness up to the fact that it is December, but my medicine might have something to do with it???)

I could NOT get up this morning. I woke up a few times in the night and couldn't get comfortable. My hip usually has pain in it, I think it is arthritis, and it has hurt for years. It's been better the last year or so since I've been loosing weight, but not 100%. Now for the last month my left ankle has had a similar pain. I started to feel it the night of my Dad's 60th party, and thought it was from the boots I wore, but it hasn't gone away. Sometimes it's worse than others. But now the last two nights I have been sore all over. My Back, my shoulders, my arms & legs. So I hit the snooze this morning until there was noway I could make a workout, then I reset it for 7, and when it started to go off again I couldn't get up. I know the hubby hates when I hit the snooze alot, but I couldn't help it.

I noticed the last couple days too that my face is breaking out a little bit. So maybe I'm PMS'y. But I have never been PMS'y like this. Usually bitchy and tired and zitty. Never depressed and exhausted and achy and zitty???

I go to my OB/Gyn on Monday for the yearly tune-up. So i will tell her. She is a good doctor and the one that originally sent me to the endocrinologist last year and found out about my thyroid issues.

When will this contest be over already?!?

2009-11-30T09:17:00.000-08:00

So Thanksgiving has come and gone, I've been snacking on leftovers for days. Today is the last day of November, so I guess that means the contest is over. I kinda don't care. I was in the lead, or a close second for awhile, then I got sick, then I got discouraged, then I didn't even care. I did workout this morning, just 20 min on the elliptical, but it's better than nothing. Hard boiled egg for breakfast, turkey w/mustard and a tangerine for lunch, maybe a yogurt for a snack this afternoon. I have no idea what will be for dinner, I'm going to a Red Wings game with a friend tonight. So it's some kind of stadium food.....i would look forward to it as a reward if I had been eating great lately. But I know i have been pretty much been eating whatever I want, and the stadium food is so expensive. Maybe we will just get something before we go.

I guess the final weigh in will be tomorrow? I don't even know, no one has said anything about it! This whole contest totally sucked. We should have had weekly weigh ins or something. Then when I was doing good I would have had some positive feedback that would have kept me positive. And small negative feedback would have motivated me to stick to it. But I got nothing either way. The first month we all talked about it "Hey, how are you doing in the contest!" There was friendly competition. But it kept getting stretched out, and I totally lost interest.

I weighed myself this morning....233. That would only be 4 pounds lost in the last 3 months. I guess I should be happy about any weight loss, but I know i was down 15 pounds in the 1st month and then it has been creeping back on. I haven't weighed myself in a long time, so maybe some of it is water weight from eating crap all weekend, but that will just be a pound or two. I'll just try to get through the rest of the holidays without putting anything more back on, maybe peel a few more off. I really don't care right now.

Living on comfort food.

2009-11-24T09:18:00.000-08:00

It's November, quickly headed for December, and here is Michigan, that means it's getting cold. It's that time of year when I am once again allowed to use my oven. (I am completely banned from using the oven in the summer, the hubby says it heats up the house too much. So in the past I would cook on the stove-top, or eat cold stuff like sandwiches, or get take-out! This last summer I learned to love the Grill!!!!)
So....last night for dinner I made a chicken pot pie. The night before I made enchiladas. Thanksgiving is in a few days, and I'm planning the foods I need to take to my mom's; candied yams, and cauliflower w/cheese......all things baked in the oven!
And while I am basking in the glow of warm-i-ness and yummy smells.....I realized that I am still supposed to be on a diet!!! The contest is still on!!!! It's over next week, and I was doing soo soo good for soo soo long...then I got sick, then my whole family got sick, (I just went to the pharmacy last night and dropped $72 on 5 prescriptions!!! BC for me, that's a standard, cough syrup for my daughter because her allergies are killing her poor little throat, and 2 different ear drops and an antibiotic for my son because his teething had given him a bad ear infection!) a few pounds came back on, I started working on getting them back off, then I...well....I kinda gave up! There I said it, the lure of taco bell and comfort food overcame any will power I was trying to have!

Just need to work on the diet!

2009-11-19T09:51:00.000-08:00

So, I am just doing my normal workout plan again. No lunch workouts, and when B came over today to show me his new hear-rate sensor watch, I told him no more Monday night workout either. I feel good about this decision, I just need to do my moral cardio MWF and lifting on TTh. I think that is plenty of exercise, especially if you add in playing with the kids, and taking care of house, running errands, etc. (The trainer does NOT consider that stuff as work, but I figure if I'm moving around, not sitting on the couch, I'm counting it as work!) I even but a music channel on the TV last night and was busting a move while doing the dishes!!

So...the diet! I have been doing the protein shake after my morning workouts. I still have stuff leftover from the one time I did a fruit flush, it's supposed to be 3 scoops per 12oz of water, but that is 270 calories. So I decided that I don't need that much, and I have been having 2 scoops, so that would be 180 calories. I'm back to eating salads for lunch, and I'm going to throw a sandwich in maybe once a week so I don't get too sick of the salads. I've been doing really good with my meal-prep dinners! tonight we are having baked talapia!

I was over-exercising, and wearing myself out and making myself sick! and then I wasn't eating the best because I was rationalizing that "it was OK to eat a cheeseburger because I had worked out 10 times this week". When I think I will do better overall to exercise a moderate amount and concentrate on eating really good at work all week, pretty good at dinner each night, and having 1 cheat meal on the weekend.....obviously next weekends cheat will be Thanksgiving!

I think it's my thyroid

2009-11-17T09:25:00.000-08:00

So I'm over the big sickness that took down my whole family for a few weeks, we are all over that now. But I just can not get my energy back. I hit the snooze like 100 times and I have not been able to make any lunch time workouts.

D wasn't here to workout this morning, I guess she is sick and off for a few days. So it was just me and the trainer. We had a really good workout, he put on those big padded gloves, and I did front snap kicks into them, really gets your heart rate up! I also did some curls and presses. But mostly we talked about my thyroid medication. I told him since she moved my dose down to 88 I have had a lot less energy and have plateaued on the weight loss. He said that he was proud of me that I wasn't getting discouraged and that i was still working out every day, even though I wasn't getting much results. I told him that I was getting results with the 2-a-day workouts, but then I wanted to take a nap on my desk by 3 in the afternoon. so he told me to stop trying to do lunch workouts, not that I have been doing them much the past few weeks, but now i guess they are 'officially' done.

I know I haven't been eating the best lately either. but yesterday I had a lean frozen meal, and today I'm eating salad with tuna. I have started to have a protein shake after my morning workouts instead of my normal egg or yogurt. I don't know if that will help with anything, but it's a nice change-up....and it's chocolate!!!

Trudging along

2009-11-03T09:27:00.000-08:00

Well I had a good workout this morning, but am skipping a lunch workout today, in the on going effort to get better. I think I am definitely much better, but not 100%. Hubby is slowly getting better too.

I figured that there are about 9 weeks left in this year. And If I can steadily lose about 3 pounds a week (a fairly healthy rate) then I will be under 200 by new years. So If you break that down further, that's about 1/2 a pounds a day. I was 226 yesterday, and 225.25 today. So that is 3/4 of a pound and above the average that I need to stay on pace.

I know this is supposed to go on over Thanksgiving and Christmas, so I'm not going to freak out when I don't reach my goal. I have not reached most of the goals I have set so far...the weight I am now (in November) is more than I had planned to be in June!!! But...I have lost over 30 pounds total, in a little over a year, so it's a slower pace than I would like, but at least I'm going in the right direction.....AND!!! I didn't even tell you this!!!!

We do Health Hammer at work. Which is a guy that comes in with a bunch of equipment, and does a bunch of quick tests on you, blood pressure, weight, blood, stuff like that....and my cholesterol dropped over 30 points from last year!!! My blood pressure and weight and BMI, and fat percentage were all improved too. So I'm not only loosing weight, but I'm getting alot healthier too.

Starting to get better

2009-11-02T10:05:00.000-08:00

Man! I wasn't kidding when I said I was sick. When was the last time I posted? Like 2 weeks ago???? My whole family was sick, me, both kids, and worst of all the hubby. Early last week the hubby was diagnosed with pneumonia! He is just now getting better, but not out of the woods yet. They say his immune system is really down, and if he got the flu or anything right now it would be bad news!

So I have been trying to take care of him and the kids, I work, then soon as I get home he goes to bed and I get the kids dinner and take care of them until bedtime. It wouldn't be bad, except that I'm sick too (We went to the doctor, it's just allergy problems that me and the kids have, but I'm sure that's how the hubby's started too, it just ran into his lungs and took him down for the count) so I haven't been able to get the rest I need, so what should have been sickness for a week or less, has now stretched on for 3 weeks!!!

I'm not even going to say I have been eating well, because I haven't been. And I skipped most of my workouts last week. I did cardio Monday, morning, lunch and plyo after work with B. Then did my morning workout Tuesday, and then threw in the towel.

The last few days the hubby has been feeling alittle better, so I have been able to get some rest. (I was up most of the night for about 3 nights in a row just listening to him breathe, I was so scared he wasn't going to be ok) So this morning I did 430 calories on the elliptical, but I'm not doing a lunch workout, or after work. I think I will just do mornings all this week and see how I feel.

I weighed in this morning, 226. Not too bad considering I have been munching Halloween candy and leftover cheesecake the last few days. My Dad is turning 60 this weekend, and we are having a big party with all our family and friends, over 100 people. So I would like to look nice for the people I haven't seen in a long time. But i also don't want to over do it and end up like a pile of poo again.

I'm Sick!

2009-10-15T09:09:00.000-07:00

I may have over done it....but for whatever reason....I'm sick! Standard cold I think, scratchy throat, runny nose, coughing, sneezing, tired.....ya know....miserable! So I worked out this morning, didn't push too hard on cardio, but did all my lifting fine, even a couple more reps in each set.....then as the morning wore on I felt worse and worse....and now it's lunch, and I'm full on sick.

So I skipped my lunch workout, and I'm totally planning to sleep in tomorrow and not work out at all. Just rest a few days. But I'm not going to use this as an excuse to eat horrible..... Talk to ya next week.

On my way

2009-10-13T09:57:00.001-07:00

So I did an extra work out last night, 3rd one of the day. Me and B met with the trainer for some plyometrics.....which is basically getting your heart rate up. We first took turns jumping rope, B is not that good of a rope jumper, he kept tripping or getting the rope caught on his feet, or hitting himself in the head (I don't even know how you do that!)...I, on the other hand, am an awesome rope jumper, one thing that being a girl has helped me succeed in! Then we did this thing where you bend down, jump out to a pike, jump back in, then stand up and jump ...all while holding a weighted ball.....we had to do sets of 10, B would be done with his set while I was at about 7 or 8, and those last 2 or 3 would be going very slowly because I was whipped by that point. Then we stood on a BOSU and balanced while hitting a punching bag fast and hard!

That was a great workout.....then I weighed myself this morning.....223.5!!! almost back to where I was. And I lifted with D this morning, and I did cardio at lunch! I am splurging for dinner tonight. I have been craving so many things that I know I shouldn't have....Taco Bell has a new black taco that I keep hearing ads for....they have a 2 for $20 deal at Chili's and it all looks good....but I'm not caving to any of that......nope! Subway had a buffalo chicken sub....so I'm going to have that tonight. I figure I'll load it up with fresh veggies and it will be pretty healthy, and I will feel satisfied that I'm eating something I drool over on TV!

I need to just stay away from commercials and it will help me stay away from bad food!

That time of the month

2009-10-12T09:47:00.000-07:00

So B e-mailed me today and asked what me weight was for this weeks post....I told him that I'm not saying since it's that time of the month! Which is true....but when I weighed myself this morning I was 227, which probably has a lot more to do with the lasagna and garlic bread I ate for dinner last night.....and the Del Taco midnight snack on Saturday.....then any period bloating. But I bought me some time....I really need to crack down these next couple weeks. I need to be at least the 222.5 that I reported two weeks ago at weigh in in two weeks!!!

Taking it to the EXTREME

2009-10-08T09:15:00.000-07:00

So today was our monthly employee lunch. It was the standard stuff. I would have loved to have eaten a cheeseburger and some cookies and washed it down with a pop. But instead I had a salad and a chicken breast and some veggies, I also had 3 small ribs and a few bites of mashed potatoes. I am stuffed and do not at all miss the stuff I didn't eat.

I was sitting and eating with 3 girl friends, and then B came and sat at our table. On his plate was 1 chicken breast and some pickle slices. That's it! Everyone commented on how little he was eating! He said that from the things he knows about the contest, he is not going to win, he will at best come in 3rd (which will push me out to 4th and out of any prize money!) but he at least wants to beat me! Then as we were all talking he commented on how tired he was and then later about how he was still hungry. No Poo!!! Your body needs fuel! I might have eaten a crap ton more than him, but I am satisfied. I ate much healthier than what I used to eat. And I know that I filled my body with good nutrition. Lots of good vitamins in my salad and veggies, not so much in the pickles!

So I'm pretty sure if what B knows is accurate, and I have no reason to doubt it, then I am out of the running for the contest. And if he keeps up his 800 calorie a day intake he will definitely beat me. But I don't care. I'm doing this for me. I'm not going to give up, I'm just going to continue to do my best. I lost 15 pounds so far, give or take a little, and I'm moving in the right direction without being miserable. And that's something I can keep up once the contest is over.

It was water!!

2009-10-06T10:19:00.000-07:00

So I finished out yesterday with another round of cardio...1120 calories burned in all!!! (Even though B stood me up, but it was for a good reason, he asked if he should try to win something for his wife in a silent action, and I said go for it, so he left early to put in a bid....btw, he got it!!) But we set up a standing date for Monday's after work, at least until the end of the contest.

So I weighed in this morning, and 4 of the 5 pounds I put on over the weekend are gone. So I'm at 223.5, which is -5.9%......B's last posted list had me at 6.1%, so I am almost back there.

I did cardio and weights this morning, just finished up another 1/2 hour of cardio. and am enjoying a salad and chicken breast.

I have tomorrow off to go to the doctor, so I'll see ya on Thursday!

Well that didn't work so well...

2009-10-05T09:18:00.000-07:00

So at the end of the last post I said I planned to weigh in Today at 220 or below! Yeah Right! What dream land was I in when I wrote that! Instead of loosing a couple pounds, or even staying the same which would have been totally acceptable, I gained 5 pounds back!!! I'm so mad at myself!

But I knew it would happen. I ate anything I wanted all through my Birthday, and My son's birthday, and his party! And My mom got me a cheesecake as my birthday cake, and I shared it, but I took the rest home and had a total of about 3 slices. Plus the brownies that I made last week, plus a couple pieces of my son's birthday cake.

But I have been doing super good for the last month, and this was a little slip up, over 5 days, but now I am back on track. And there were high points, like the food I ordered for the adults at my son's party, wrap sandwiches, veggie tray and fruit tray! Then I took the leftover veggies home and made stew! And I went to my Women on Target event, which is notorious for having bad food, so I took a salad and strawberries with me. And they had better food this time, you could order a burger or chicken sandwich with fries, but I didn't...I just ate my salad.

So I'm right back at it. burned over 750 calories on cardio so far today, morning and lunch time workouts. And B invited me to work out after work too. So I'm hoping these 5 pounds are just water, and I can loose it plus more this week! And I'm not just hoping, I'm working at it!

I got stood up on my Birthday!

2009-09-30T09:46:00.000-07:00

It's my Birthday today. I had planned to meet the Hubby at Subway for lunch. But he texted me this morning that he is sick and stayed home from work. So no lunch time date for me :( (he better get me a good gift to make up for it :) )

I did my workout this morning, started on the elliptical like usual, burned 150 calories, then the trainer had me go to the treadmill and run at a 5.0 speed on a 15 incline (the highest it goes) I was huffing an puffing, and then went back to the elliptical to finish out a total of 425 calories burned!! Then I went and did some weights (to make up for not being here tomorrow) I powered through the first set of dumbbell curls with 15 pounds, so the trainer had me switch them of for 20 pounds and did 2 more sets (I'm really proud of myself for how strong I am getting) Then I went to do tricep pushdowns with one of the guys, R. He was doing 90 pounds, so I did 3 with the 90 as a joke, but was surprised that I could actually push that weight. So I went to 60 pounds (my normal) and finished a set of 20. Then for the next set the trainer was right next to me and made me do 25. Then R switched it out to a higher weight for his set and when it was my turn again he put it to 70...and I did a set at 70! Super Girl!!!!

Now for the bad part.....I made brownies last night. My daughter helped, and they turned out really well. I made M&M, pecan Carmel, & peanut butter chip!!! And I had 1 pecan Carmel and 1 peanut butter chip to try them out. Then I brought them all to work, and had 1 M&M. But I didn't eat anything else this morning, and it is my Birthday, so I'm not going to beat myself up. Since I didn't get to go to lunch with the hubby, and I hadn't brought a lunch, I had to run out to get something. I thought of going to Taco Bell....but I'm still 5 pounds away from the goal I set to allow one meal at Taco Bell, and I didn't want to cheat that, So I got a salad a Quizno's instead!

I'm off work the rest of this week, so no official workouts. But I plan to walk my daughter to school, and play with my son, and get some shopping done, so it won't all be spent on my butt!

I'll weigh in Monday and the goal is to be 220 or below....birthday weekend, 4 days away from the gym, and loose 2.5 pounds!!! It's something to strive for!!!

Checked the list

2009-09-29T09:50:00.000-07:00

So I checked the list this morning, B has my total percent lost as 4.48, or something like that!! I just saw him in the gym (2-a-day again) and asked him if that was the real numbers, he said yes. Well with the 4.whatever I am in 2nd place behind him with the 7.1%, of course not counting any people that haven't reported their loss so far. that is extra good because, he didn't take into account that last week I e-mailed him that my loss was up to -5.89%....and I just weighed myself after my workout....222.5, which is -15 pounds, which is -6.31%!!!!!

Tomorrow is my birthday, so tonight I am baking brownies with my daughter. I will lick the beater, I will taste the frosting, I will eat a warm fresh baked brownie (only to test doneness of course:) ).....and I will not feel guilty for it!!!

Big weekend wasn't a big bust....too much :)

2009-09-28T09:27:00.000-07:00

First off....we had to go do some tests for work on Friday, we were going to grab lunch on the way, and the other 2 guys I was going with suggested Taco Bell!!! (Ohh how it taunts me!) So I texted my trainer and asked if I could maybe get 2 chicken soft tacos with just lettuce and tomato....he said no. So I made a wrap with a flaw seed wrapper, lettuce, tuna, and some honey mustard spray....it wasn't horrible, but the tacos smelled soo soo much better. (And I did have the restraint to not climb through the drive thru window)

I mainly kept it together for lunch because I knew I was going to kill it at dinner!! We went out for my baby sis's 21st b-day. We all met at Buffalo Wild Wings, I had a burger and 6 wings, and 2 Wild Punch drinks. Then we went to a couple different bars (no drinking and driving, we had a limo) and I wasn't worried about all the calories I was drinking up, because I was dancing it off just as fast!

Then Saturday my mom had offered to keep the kids overnight so me and the hubby could spend some time together. It's my birthday this Wednesday, so we took the opportunity with no tag-a-longs to have a nice dinner. He suggested a sushi place!! (I love that he is learning to eat new things) So we both had a very tasty and fairly healthy meal.....followed by tempura fried ice cream!!!! IT was soo good, and had whipped cream and chocolate sauce....but we ordered one and shared it.

So I was running late this morning and only got in 20 min of cardio. I would have like to go back at lunch, but I had to call in the confirmation for my son's birthday party this weekend and make an appointment for the kids photos. So i guess I'll make it up tomorrow.

On cloud 9

2009-09-23T10:02:00.000-07:00

I didn't tell you this yesterday, but while I was sweating away on the elliptical (I really should change the name of the blog to "Tales from the Elliptical".....A (who I don't think I've mentioned much, he is a regular in the gym, works out with my same trainer and originally, before I started, had lost over 100 pounds, he is very inspirational, and a nice daddy of twin little girls) anyway....A came up to me and said that he had really noticed lately that my face (and me motioned around the gowl and neck/chin area) was looking alot thinner. Just a quick little comment, but it kept me happy all day!

I was sad alot yesterday, everything is falling apart with a night out I was planning for my little sis this Friday, and I came to the realization that a weekend getaway for my and my son's birthday that I was wirlwind planning would not work out. And I had dropped the ball on getting my daughter's yearly check-up and my hubby had to make the appointment....just alot of poo. So everytime I was getting down, I thought about A's little comment, and it made it better, maybe just a little, but every little bit helps.

And then last night when we were on our way home from my daughter's school open house, the hubby mentioned Taco Bell....and I want it so so so badly, but I told myself I can have Taco Bell when I hit the 20 pounds lost mark (I'm at 14!!!!) so I said I could take them, but I wouldn't get anything myself...(Go Will Power!!!) but the hubby quickly took it make and said he didn't want to temp me (thank you...I might have been able to say I wouldn't get anything...but If I pulled up to the drive thru window, and smelled those glorious smells, I might have climbed threw the window and just started eating right out of the stations where they make the food....who needs burritos wrapped in paper when you can just put a scoop of meat in your mouth and take shots from the sour cream caulk gun they have!!!)

So anyway.....2-a-day again today....over 600 calories total burned.....down 14 pounds total which brings the percentage to......-%5.89!!!! And...I talked to B quickly, he is somewhere around 5.7? I think? So for the first time ever I'm doing better than him!!!! Go me!!!! Now I just need to keep up this momentum!

Making up for lasagna

2009-09-22T09:55:00.000-07:00

I just finished up my second workout for today. I only got 5 min of cardio in this morning before a pretty good weight workout (Bis, tris, bench presses, rows, and squat presses) so I went back and did 30 more min of cardio at lunch. Now I'm chowing my salad with salmon and some baby tomatoes home grown by D, thank you my work mommy :)

I absolutely needed to get some good work in today.....we had lasagna for dinner last night. And not even good lasagna that was homemade and I knew everything that was in it...no bad frozen lasagna from costco! It tasted ok, but I didn't even look at the ingredient list, it was probably chock full of preservatives and other things I can't pronounce! But I did pay attention to the calories, I ate approx 600 calories worth. But I feel like I made up for it.

Fell off the wagon a bit...

2009-09-21T09:28:00.000-07:00

I was so proud of myself about being down 5% that I went a little nuts. Friday we went to a vendor of ours for a bbq lunch. I ate way too much. A big piece of salmon on a burger bun, a slice of prime rib with mushrooms and horseradish, salad, pasta salad, and 3 cookies. I could have done worse, but I could have done much better too! I was tired all afternoon from cookie crash! Then Saturday I went to a dinner party and have 2 slices of cheese bread and a plate of pasta. But I ate well yesterday, and I'm eating salad for lunch right now.

I had to go to a different company this morning to check on some samples, so I didn't get to workout, but I brought my clothes to change into and am going to do cardio after work tonight.

This checking on test samples may cramp my style for the next week or more, but I will try to get in workouts regularly.

Minus 5%

2009-09-17T10:37:00.000-07:00

Yep...that's right ....-5%!!!!!
I did a 2 a day again....mostly because I was late this morning and didn't get any cardio before my weight workout. but i did 30 min on the elliptical, burned 380 calories, and weighed myself.....225.5 which is down a total of 12 pounds....which is -5.05% !!!!! woo hoo!!

Sand bagging!

2009-09-16T10:25:00.000-07:00

A couple days ago I noticed that B had posted a list of all the contestants...no names, just numbers, and everyone knows what their number is....I'm number 2. And some of them, just 3 or 4 had their percent lost so far....B (who is number 1, who wouldn't put them self no 1) is down like 5.6%...then the others that were posted were down like 1.5% or so. He didn't have a percent by me yet.

So yesterday he e-mailed and asked my percent...still 4.8% (period...and pizza...i expect it to jump next week) Then he preceded to tell me that he had been talking with our trainer, and the trainer basically told him to lie. For a good reason, but lie none the same. The trainer said the B's high percentage would discourage the other contestants...so B is going to "gain" a little weight this weekend and post a slightly lower percent next week...he said he is going to post me lower too. Then in a few weeks when other people start to lose more weight, then he will start to raise his and my percentages to their actual values. I don't think it's a very good idea, I think if people see us at high loses already it may discourage them, or it may cause them to step up their game and then everyone will do better. But I told him it is his deal, he set it all up, so I will go with whatever he decides.

No 2 a day today. Just 253 calories on the elliptical this morning , and salad for lunch...check ya tomorrow!

2 a days!

2009-09-15T09:56:00.001-07:00

I did a '2 a day' again....worked out this morning, lifted weights, and then went back and did cardio at lunch. So now I am scarfing down my grilled chicken, grilled squash, grilled mushrooms in a tomato and pepper sauce.....with a little pasta :)

Down, but not Out!

2009-09-14T09:49:00.000-07:00

Wow I haven't posted for awhile!

I didn't get a chance to post last Thursday because it was our monthly employee appreciation lunch. Normally that would mean that I was in the lunch room gabbing with friends and devouring platefuls of food and cookies! But this time I did so good! In the morning when I left my workout the trainer said "See you at lunch right!" And I was like "Huh!!??!!" But I did it, I got a plate full of salad, veggies, and a grilled chicken breast, then covered it with tin foil and went to the gym for 30 min of cardio before I ate.

Then Friday everything went to hell in a hand basket! I started my period. I don't know about you, but I am horrible....I had been weighing myself daily at home, and the last few days a couple pounds had piled on, even though I was doing so good with diet & exercise. So I was happy to see it was that time of the month (I can't track it on a calender because it is super irregular), and that was the reason a few pounds had added on. And because was craving carbs so badly, I had a bagel and cream cheese for Friday break time. I had a lunch scheduled with the girls, and they all got pizza and pasta, but I got a salad with grilled chicken, so I was proud of myself there. And then I got home and my daughter was across the street and the neighbors were having pizza, and she asked if we could have pizza....and I gave in. It sounded so good, so I got 1 medium pizza and some chicken, and we all 4 shared it...so it wasn't pizza overload.

Then Saturday I had a mom2mom sale.....I took my daughter with me to help. We got McDonald's for breakfast on the way....hash brown and Hi-C for her....fruit & yogurt parfait and water for me. Then a little way into the sale she saw a couple people with muffins (the sale had a little refreshment area selling foods...so I went and got her a muffing and a juice box... she ate about 1/2 the muffin...I ate about 1/4 and threw the last 1/4 away. And a few hours later when people were eating lunch I went and got some for us....hot dog and juice box for her.....turkey & swiss wrap for me (still drinking my water) So not too bad. And then when it was time to load up, that was a workout...I packed all the boxes, then carried each out to my truck and ran back up the stairs to get the next. My heart was pounding + I was sweating = workout!

Then yesterday.....Kashi for breakfast......Then we were at my church's little festival for lunch time. All they had to eat was hot dogs, chips, pop, Popsicles, and bake sale goodies. So that is what I ate. I planned that we were going out to dinner, so I thought I would get a salad.

That didn't happen! We had to go to a funeral down river (about 40 minutes away), my hubby's grand mother had passed away. We were going to go out to dinner with some other families, but once the service was over, the kids were tired and cranky and we just wanted to get them home and out of dress clothes. There was a pizza place in that area that my hubby always talks about, so....since we were in the area....we got a pizza and took it home. And it was as good as the hubby always says....I had 3 pieces, and then a bit later I had 1 more piece.

I worked out this morning, 453 calories in 35 min!! Then I weighed myself....226! same as last week. So I didn't loose, but I didn't gain. I will weigh myself again Friday and see if some of it was water from all the dough (bagel & pizza Friday/ hot dog, bun, & lots of pizza Sunday). I gave in to my cravings, but I need to get back on the wagon and keep heading towards my goal!

I did so so good over vacation!

2009-09-09T09:17:00.000-07:00

Did you ever have a deep fried Twinkie??? It's super good, they take a Twinkie, dip it in funnel cake batter, deep fry until golden, then put it on a plate and sprinkle on powered sugar. I never saw them until we started taking the kids to the festivals up-north. At that point I would have 2 or 3 every summer. I think of it as American as Apple Pie, and look forward to it as a high point to the otherwise ...lets call them quaint....little festivals. But I didn't have one this holiday. We went to the festival, I saw the stand, we even had to walk past it a few times. But I never stopped.

I helped my mom cook breakfast. I made the pancakes and hashbrowns while she made bacon and sausage and fried eggs.....then I sat down and just ate a grapefruit and a hard boiled egg.

I made the kids cheese quesidillas for lunch and everyone else had beef burritios and nachos. I had just some plain chicken breast and lettuce in my tortilla.

When they all roasted marshmallos at night, I had a 60 calorie no sugar pudding cup.

I came in yesterday, on my day off, and did a full workout with the trainer. I weighed myself....but the scale hadn't moved much from where it was Friday, maybe down a 1/4 pound. The trainer said that me & B need to quit weighing ourselves so much, he limited us down to monday mornings only....but I still plan to weigh myself at home, i'll just cut down to what he asked at the scale in the gym. I need to keep track that everything continues to go in the right direction.

I'm angry when I'm hungry!

2009-09-04T09:44:00.000-07:00

There is no excuse for this, but because I always rationalize everything and wiggle my way to My Truth (the hubby say's i should have been a lawyer because I can argue anything to get my way....or at least try)......Last night I had alot to do...we are leaving for up north tomorrow morning, so tonight we need to pack and I need to go grocery shopping (healthy food for me for the weekend, and sushi for dinner tonight, brown rice if they have it). So last night the laundry needed to get done, kids baths, dishes, more laundry, i needed to wash my hair, make dinner, pack my gym bag (that's every night now again) and lastly....laundry!

So I got the kids dinner while I threw in the first load....where was the hubby? He should be home by now....he was working late (can't fault him for making money) then started picking up the house, cleaned up from the kids dinners (hubby got home) ran bath and threw in the baby. Got him ready for bed and layed him down. Then I jumped in the shower, as I was getting done and toweling off, I heard voices! Hubby had said that my brother-in-law was coming by to pick up a welder to borrow (I didn't even know we owned a welder!) but I didn't know my sister was coming with him. So instead of a 10 min stop in, this was now a full blown visit, and I had things to get done...lots to get done...not to mention I was wearing a night gown with a towel on my head.

So I come out of the bathroom to a ruckus in my daughter's room. Apparently auntie wanted to take to tortoise out to play with, and it pooped on the rug, and my daughter stepped in it, and somehow...her red fruit punch got spilt all over the cream rug! So I'm on the floor sopping up punch and poo...while auntie is washing the rest of the poo off my daughter's foot!

So once that was taken care of...I heard that my son was awake again.....of course with people over and noise all going on right outside his door....so I put him back to bed. By now I am starving!!! I had a salad for lunch, but missed my snack because I was busy at work....came home and made the kids dinner and did eat about 4 baby carrots and a bite of peach....but that wasn't much. I didn't want to be rude, but I didn't know when they were leaving and it was already after 8:00...so I started dinner....from the meal prep again....and it looked so good when I was making it, I had been dreaming about eating it. So it was artichoke stuffed chicken breasts, sauteed veggies (broccoli, red peppers, string beans, and yellow carrots, so pretty) and Parmesan risotto with peas!......Every was in the pans simmering away...I still didn't want to be rude, but I had so much to do...(And I stated this to them a couple times hoping---praying---that they would get the hint....So I started to fold the laundry that was in the dryer and put the clothes from the washer into the dryer. I checked on dinner....it was done, but they were still there....so I turned the pans down....Then the son got up again....I wished they would get the hint...I was busy!...we needed to eat!.....they kept waking the baby up!!! (note: he does wake up a couple times on a usual basis....but this was the 4th or 5th time....and I know it was because he thought there was a party going on and he wasn't invited) So when I came back from his room....my sister took a lid off the chicken and said "Uhh...i think your dinner is burning!"

$H!T!!!!!

I was soooo hungry...and all the broth had cooked off and was blackening in the pan! and the veggies and risotto were all dried out!.....So I got mad!! I started complaining...angerly... that if they would just leave! I'm not sure exactly what I said...but I remember that it wasn't nice, and I was on the verge of tears....I tried to apologize and they were like "I think we should go" ....if only they had decided that an hour ago!

We tried to eat dinner....it wasn't really burnt.....but everything was so dry. I was so looking forward to it, and it was so dry I was actually choking on the chicken (it's an issue that comes up from my thyroid thing)....The hubby covered his with ketchup, and offered it to me saying something about lubrication. But I told him I'm serious about this diet, so no ketchup for me. I ended up eating the artichokes out of the chicken, and some risotto and tossing out everything else! The hubby helped finish folding the 1st load of laundry, the 2nd is still in the dryer...and I have a couple loads that need to get done tonight.

I called and apologized to my sister today. I told her that I was mad at them, but it didn't give me an excuse to act that way towards them.

But I had a good workout this morning...410 calories of cardio. At Friday morning bagel time I just had fruit...and 1 donut hole. I figured I deserved it, I'm down 11 pounds (4.6%) this week! Salmon and lettuce wrap for lunch...with a peach on the side. Plan on getting sushi for dinner...and then up-north for the weekend! I don't know when my next post will be...probably not until Wednesday, I'm off work Tuesday but I still plan to come in for my morning workout!

Needed Accountability.

2009-09-03T10:08:00.000-07:00

Creamy Dreamy Shrimp Scampi over linguine....that was the dinner from the meal prep last night. I wanted to make some garlic cheese bread with it, but I'm still trying really hard at the re-invigorated diet. So instead....I made green beans. It was a 2 serving size dinner....but I stretched the linguine (which was whole wheat to start with) out over all 4 of us. The hubby got a full portion, and then I shared mine with both kids (my son doesn't eat much, but my daughter kept wanting more, as she calls then, nu-nu's. And I filled the bare spot on my plate with more green beans. An egg after workout this morning( tell you more about that in a sec, which ties in the title) a multi grain light english muffin with natural PB for a snack...and a salad with tuna and avocado for lunch.

So I weighed in this morning, down about another pound.....-9.5 pounds so far (-4%) and it's still just the first week! I know I have to be careful this weekend, I'll be up north with the family, and my mom doesn't even try to cook healthy....I'm already planning to take most of my own food so the weekend doesn't undo the work I have done.

D wasn't here this morning, she is already on va-ca. So it was just me and the trainer. I tried to tell him how good I have been doing, but I think he doesn't believe me. And why should he? At the beginning of all this I was gun-ho! And I got great results. And I think he was happy. And then the results slowed down, then I put a few pounds back on...up, down, inching, inching, lots of plateaus, which discouraged me, then this whole thyroid issue...and I thought the medicine would be like a magic pill....and it wasn't (they are still adjusting my dose every time I go in)...and that discouraged me more....I stopped doing my extra cardio MWF...I would just trickle in here and there...I was doing my T Th workouts, but not all gun-ho like before...there was alot of complaining, and joking with D...not alot of actual sweat and not any progress. So I can see where the trainer would get discouraged with me, I was discouraged with myself.

But! I have changed my attitude. This little competition gave me a kick, and woke me up....I have had talks with the hubby, and my mom, and I am serious. So I will just keep pushing like I have been all week....and the week after that...and the week after that....I'm not going to set a ### goal...I'll just keep going....there will be plateaus (I'm sure the weight I lost this week is mostly water, and this rapid loss will stop very soon) but I'm not going to get discouraged...so he will come around......and also....I sent him a link to this blog. So he may be reading this right now. Hi!! See you in the morning, and I am ready to work.

Easy....so far.

2009-09-02T09:21:00.001-07:00

Well everything went as planned last night.....Subway for supper. I did get the 12"....but I ripped off alot of the bread, and I got chicken breast, no cheese, spinach, tomato, cucumber, green pepper, mild peppers, a little black olives, and vinegar. Not oil and vinegar.....just plain old vinegar. Did you ever try it? you should. My sis, who works at Subway, turned me onto it. No calories, no fat, no sodium....just lots of flavor. So I ate my sub...and then instead of just vegging out in front of the TV....I DVR'd the shows I wanted to watch....and once they started I went and started to clean out a closet....then I carried out all the stuff and loaded it in my truck (I'm doing a mom2mom sale next weekend).....then I started my shows and just fast forwarded through commercials.....and I did a little bit of crunches and marching in place while I was watching....not much....but better than none. And just before bed I had my sugar free pudding cup and some milk.

I weighed in this morning, and I'm done a little more from yesterday!! So I was 229.5, thats down 8 pounds total so far (-3.36%) in just a couple days!!! And B has been recruiting like a mad man!! And the trainers have started recruiting too, we are going to let people join in all this week....so its like 30 people so far. That's a pot of $750.....can you believe it??? That's a house payment!! Or a small weekend vacation!! But everyone that says they are in might drop out....B is going to collect all the money next week....so then we will see what it actually is....and I'm not going to advertise how well i am doing so far, I don't want to scare other people off....I'll just tell my family, and B, and the trainer, and post it here...even though I'm the only one that reads it here, but it is a great log for me. So....salmon wrap for lunch again today.....shrimp for dinner tonight. I'll try to do some exercise tonight, even if it is just matching while watching TV.

I did cardio this morning....burned 410 calories on the elliptical. I know tomorrows workout will be killer, D won't be here, she is on vacation. And I wont be here next Tuesday, I have the day off for my daughters first day of school. So I know he will be hard on me tomorrow, and I know there will be pep talks about how I can take it all....and I actually think I can.

Off to a great start!

2009-09-01T09:17:00.000-07:00

I ate well all day yesterday, mowed the lawn for an added bit of exercise and enjoys a little dessert too (a sugar free pudding cup! Satisfies the chocolate craving with no guilt!)

I weighed in this morning, and I'm already down 6.5 pounds!!! (2.7%)
I'm sure most of it was just the junk I ate all weekend flushing out of my system, but it is a great motivating boost right off the start!

I had a great workout. The trainer found out about the competition. Apparently B had been drumming up participants all day and kept weighing them in, so the trainer figured it out. There is about 15 participants now, so that brings the prize pot up to a whooping $375!!! That's a big motivator too.

But the trainer kept telling me this morning "You got this in the bag" "Its yours to win" Stuff like that. And he might be telling everyone else the same thing, but I'm going to really try to win this.

Ohh the only bad thing is that they all decided to stretch it out for another month, so no it goes through the end of October. Just that much longer i have to control the will power.

I had a Lara bar before workout this morning.
A fat free yogurt after.
An egg at 10
I'm eating a salmon and lettuce wrap with a side of pineapples for lunch
I'll eat a healthy snack this afternoon (probably fruit or a granola bar)
Then we are getting Subway for dinner....I think I'll just get a 6" Chick breast with all the veggies!

See ya tomorrow

The competition begins!!

2009-08-31T09:12:00.000-07:00

First off...I haven't posted for over a month. I just read my last post to see where i left off...it was on a high note, that lasted about a second, then it was all just the same old thing. Sad but true!

So.....Friday.....B, remember B, the friend - nemesis - friend? Anyway B says we need to have a competition. We will put money on the line, weigh in Biggest Loser Style, and track % weight lost, and at the end of the month, winner takes all.

I thought this was a great idea because I have no motivation on my own. In a couple days it is the 1 year anniversary of when I started officially working out. And for the last month I keep saying I was going to buckle down to have something to show on that anniversary. But it never happened, I never buckled down, I never got motivated, I never lost anymore weight. And I have been slacking on workouts too....I show up on Tues & Thurs when I work with the trainer, but M-W-F, when I am supposed to do cardio, I have mostly been sleeping in. Soo....at the end of this month is my birthday, no big deal. But it is also my baby sister's birthday, and we are planning a big bar night, and then the following week is my son's birthday, so we will have a party with alot of family and friends. So I would like to look better for those events. I want people to say "Wow, you lost some weight!" So...I'm totally in for B's competition.

So...we decided the competition thing of Friday....so I was preparing all weekend. Some may call it cheating, but I know B was doing the same thing. I ate this weekend like it was going out of style. I watched a movie with my daughter on Friday night, Milk Duds and popcorn galour!! Then Saturday we got Chinese for dinner. Then yesterday.....I had cereal for breakfast....McDonald's on the way home from church....a huge plate of Mexican leftovers for a late lunch (covered with cheese and all scooped up with nacho chips)....then we ordered pizza and pasta for dinner....I even drank pop with dinner....then topped it all off with 3 snack cakes and milk!!! Dang! And I was supposed to cut the grass this weekend, but I didn't want to waste the exercise, so I didn't do it. I also stopped on my way to work this morning and got McDonald's! Double Dang!!

We weighed in this morning. B was 230 on the money. I was 237.5, I'm not too sure who else is going to get in on the competition. B is in charge of that.

I went shopping this weekend and got all the stuff I'm supposed to eat, all the food from the healthy eating plan the trainer had given me a year ago. So i had a plum this morning after the weigh in for a snack. I'm eating a whole grain wrap filled with lettuce, tomatoes, and tuna and a peach on the side for lunch. I have lots of healthy snack options for the afternoon (yogurt/ whole grain English muffins with natural peanut butter/ granola bars/ peaches/ plums/ raspberries) Then tonight I'm going to mow the lawn while I'm grilling some salmon that will be served with pineapple salsa and rice.

So hopefully I can keep this up for a month.....then I will win at least $50 (depending on who else joins in) and feel pretty good about myself.

Go, Hubby, Go!!!!

2009-07-16T09:49:00.000-07:00

I'm silently cheering for my hubby today...silently because he doesn't know I am chering for him. By now you should all know that I try really hard at working out. But I always fall short when it comes to the diet part of diet and exercise. I have lost around 30 pounds in the last 10 months or so of trying, but most of that was in the first few months and i've been on a huge plataue ever since. I know it's because I don't eat well....and I try.....but I always fall back into the same patterens. My trainer doesn't really even talk to me much about nutrition anymore because I think he thinks it is falling on deaf ears, or ears that don't want to listen....or ears that hear every word, have every good intention, but just dont follow through! Yeah, that's it!

So anyway, I try to blame my poor eating on my hubby and kids. But I buy all the grocrieries, I do the cooking...it's the times i'm busy or tired, or whateever that the little voices (not ones in my head, ones from my family) say "Let's just get pizza, or Chinese", or whatever thing that I should not eat, but it sounds so good, and I have no will power to say no.

So last night the kids were in bed, finially, and the hubby and I were watching TV. We were watching a show called something like "650 pound virgin"...it was about a guy that was 650 pounds, then lost a ton of weight, just with diet and exercise, no surgery (except to remove skin). And now he is looking for love. It was a good show. So the hubby get's up during a commercial and goes to the kitchen. I know there is ice cream, and leftover birthday cake (it was just my daughters 5th b-day) so I am steling myself to say no when he asks if I want some too, and I give myself the ok to have one bite of his...and while all this is going on in my head...he comes back to the living room with a bowl of grapes and pineapple chunks!!!!! I was so proud of him!! And I shared a few of his grapes....but I didn't say anything....I didn't make a big deal......But I am proud!! Now I don't know what he is eating today at work (probably nothing, he usually skips breakfast and lunch...bad bad bad!) but maybe this is a new healthy trend he is going to try to stick with! And I will support him 100% because all I have been hoping for is support from him. So now maybe, finally, we can do this together!

I have decided that personal trainers are just motivational speakers that know how to exercise!!

2009-07-07T09:11:00.000-07:00

How was that one for a long title??
So, I haven't posted in about 3 weeks...and I logged on and read my last post and just want to punch myself. (Actually I would never punch myself because I'm not really into pain!) but you get what I'm saying. My last post, 3 weeks ago, was all about how I was going to really step it up on the diet part of this whole diet and exercise thing. Well....it hasn't happened. (Who saw that shocker coming?!?) I have still been working out on my normal schedule, but I have been eating like total poo!!! We went away 2 weekends ago to a fancy vacation at a lodge that happens to have an executive chef on site, mmmmmmm, I did alot of walking, but there was no burning off the calories I was consuming.....you should have seen the desserts! And this last weekend was 4th of July, which I spent up north with my family, I've told you before how my mom cooks right? 'nuff said! But I did hold back some, like I didn't have any smores or hot dogs by the fire. And Sunday night when I took my little daughter to the fireworks, I didn't have any of the food at the fair, even though it all smelled de-lish, I just have an Aquafina Flavor water!! Plus I had to piggy-back my daughter for the 5 block walk back because her little feet hurt.

Back to the point....So it was me and the trainer one on one this morning, I'm not sure what happened to D the work-out buddy, must be still on va-ca. But whenever we are alone I get "The Talk"! Sometimes I cry. I didn't today. But he was saying how he saw that drive and determination in me at the beginning, when I lost that first 10 pounds so quickly....and he was asking what he could do to get that drive back. Any way he could help? Anything he could do? And I said I would let him know.....he acknowledged my 'hormone issue', as he refers to it, and he understands that we need to get that in check.

So I thought....and I think I came up with something. I think I need short terms goals...like when I know that he is going to weigh me in a week, I crack down and make my goal. But then any other time I just think, ohhh pizza for dinner wont hurt. So I'm going to discuss this with him on Thursday, and I'll let you know!

Back at it.

2009-06-19T09:34:00.000-07:00

So I got home from my work trip a couple days ago, and I've been doing pretty good. On the trip I wasn't so good, we went out to all our meals and I had whatever I wanted off the menus....Veggie Lasagna with Chicken for dinner (not too bad except it was a large portion size and I ate it all) ....Chicken wraps and a salad for lunch (actually pretty healthy) ....Pub stacker Sandwich for dinner (turkey on white toast with cole slaw and chips, and I only ate a couple chips and left about 95% of them.....and then I split a dessert) And then for breakfast at the airport one of my friends had gotten a hot ham and cheese croissant sandwich....and it looked and smelled soo good....so I went to the little stand to get one, but I got a yogurt, fruit, and walnut parfait instead!! Go Me!

Since I got back I have been doing really good at breakfast and lunch (salmon and salad yesterday/ Lean Cuisine today) but not so hot at dinner, back to usual! but I have worked out the past two mornings, so that is a big step.

While we were on the trip we were talking about diet and nutrition (me and a bunch of guys, you would think weight and dieting would be their topic of choice!) And one guy has lost 35 pounds in the past 3 months, so the others were asking how he did it, and how much was diet and how much was exercise. And he said he thought that diet was at least 65% of it. He has been running a couple miles a day, and eats mostly chicken breast, veggies, and protein bars and shakes.

So I'm going to continue with my daily workout. Try to push a little harder on my cardio. But mainly I guess that I learned that it doesn't matter that I workout 5 days a week if I still eat like poo!

New Meds are killing me...

2009-06-11T09:37:00.000-07:00

So i'm on the higher dose of my medication now.....and I feel like death. I don't know if it is from the medication, or because it's 'that time of the month' (which usually zaps my energy and makes be achy), or that fact that my family has the flu. I think it's the flu, we all feel bad, and there are lots of extra trips to the bathroom for various reasons. So i'm trying to hold the family together, the hubby went home early from work yesterday and when I got home with the kids he was sleeping. Because i know how yucky he feels I let him sleep while I got the kidlets ready for bed. (But I secertly wish that he would have realized that he had been resting in a quite house for hours, while I was at work, and then went to my mom's house which was a crazy mess of my 2 parents, 3 sisters, 2 brother-in-laws, 1 friend, my 2 kids, 4 nephews, and 1 step-niece!!! and once I got home I would have liked to rest too!!)

So anyway....I haven't had much appetite. And I've been skipping alot of meals since about Saturday. And then when I do feel good enough to eat, about once a day or less, I eat a whole horse! And I have been so tired that I have not been going to workouts. I skipped Monday, went Tuesday and then felt like I was hit by a truck the whole rest of the day, then skipped yesterday and today. So I think i am just giving up on this week. I'm going to try to enjoy my self this weekend, we should all be better by then. And then Monday I leave for Virginia on a work trip for 3 days. When I get back from that I will put my nose to the grind stone, buckel down, and get right back at it....and whatever other puns I can come up with.

2nd trip to the endocronologist.

2009-06-08T09:14:00.001-07:00

I went to the endocrinologist again....not much progress on my symptoms. I actually gained 1 pound from my first visit two months ago. She gave me the results of my latest blood work, my TSH numbers were down from the 5.? it was the last time to 3.?, but since that is still well above the 1-2 that is 'normal', she doubled my dose of medication. So now I wait another 2 months and see where it is then, and hopefully I start to see some improvements in my symptoms, including some weight loss.

....Probably Not!

2009-05-27T09:21:00.000-07:00

I don't know what I weigh right now....and I don't really care. OK, I do care, but....you know what I mean. I felt really fat in my workout clothes this morning. I spent the weekend up north with my parents and my kids. We had some Hardee's breakfast on the drive up.....we snacked and ate a ton while we were there. We went to the movies one night and had pop and popcorn and candy. Yada Yada Yada. Then Monday afternoon my son took a nasty spill and we had to take him to the ER.....3 stitches in the eyebrow and he's good as new. but just in case, I stayed home from work yesterday to be with him, you know, in case he needed extra love and care. I couldn't leave my stitched up baby with a sitter. So a missed day of work means a missed workout, and I didn't do cardio on Monday because that was a holiday. So a pig out weekend + 2 missed workouts in a row = blah!

....Or maybe Not!

2009-05-21T09:02:00.000-07:00

Well......I've been eating pretty good lately. And then my Dad called yesterday morning and asked if I wanted to go get us ribs for lunch. (There is a man with a smoker that has taken up camp in a parking lot just down the street from our work. He cooks ribs, and chicken, and pulled pork....and it all comes covered with sauce and with french fries that he makes in a little propane deep fryer right when you order.) So I went and picked a slab and fries and we shared it for lunch, and then we just finished up the leftover today for lunch.

I hopped on the scale before my workout this morning. (I had just walked past my trainer downstairs, so I knew he wouldn't be up there to check my progress if I just jumped on real quick)......230! So instead of loosing 2 pounds since last week, which was my plan, I gained 1!!! Not Good!

And this is a holiday weekend coming up, and I'm taking the kids up-north with my parents, and my mom gets up there and cooks like 15 people are there, even though there will only be 6 of us (and 3 of them are under the age of 7!!) But I will just have to work on restraint! (I went to a baseball game last night, and when I was walking around the ball park with my friend and she suggested we get waffle cones, but I declined, One small victory at a time!)

It's my Party.....maybe....

2009-05-18T09:27:00.000-07:00

This weekend there was a lot of drama at my house. My brother-in-law is turning 30 this week, and he wanted his wife to have a party for him. I don't know all of the details, just bits that my hubby told me, but basically there are scheduling conflicts and the party may or may not happen, and probably will not happen when the birthday boy wants it. So this got me thinking.....

A couple years ago my hubby turned 30, and I threw him a big surprise party. And because it was the weekend of Cinqo de Mayo, I had a great Mexican Fiesta theme. It all went off without a hitch, the hubby had a good time, and it is still one of my proudest achievements. (Graduating from college and bearing children are pretty high on that list too, but that was one heck of a party, and that I pulled it all off in secret while I was pregnant ..... give me some props!)

So later that year it was my 30th birthday. The hubby kept asking what he could do to make it special for me, but all I wanted was a big fat kicking baby out of my womb! (The baby was born 2 days after my birthday....the little stinker!!) So...needless to say....I had a crummy 30th. I thought maybe the hubby would make it up with something really special last year for the 31st.....but we had both been out of work that year, and financially anything Big was out of the question. So I got a dinner out and some nice gifts, and I was more than happy.

So all the recent birthday drama got me thinking.....maybe I will have a really nice birthday party for myself this year. We have some casinos near us, and they just built new hotels onto them, and they have night clubs in them......see where I'm going! But if I have a big night out for myself....i will need to be celebrating more than just 32 years of existing......and just before my birthday will be the 1 year anniversary of my weight loss journey......and I'm hoping to break the 200 pound mark by then.....see where I'm going again??

So!!! IF.....before my birthday......I can get my weight below 200 (27 pounds lost so far, 29 to go in the next 4 months)...then I will get a room at the casino for the night and invite my family and friends to come meet me there for dinner and dancing! Maybe even gambling, it is a casino after all!

This is such a better goal to strive for.....instead of a number I can be racing towards a PARTY!!! And you can all be invited....you just have to figure out the time and place on your own!

Drum roll Please.......

2009-05-14T09:49:00.000-07:00

To continue the food diary, after lunch yesterday I had a small Slim fast snack bar for my afternoon snack, then chewed some gum so I wouldn't be hungry. For dinner I scavenged around the house and ended up making soft tacos. Not the Healthiest meal, but I made it a pretty healthy way. Instead of the usual taco meat, side of rice, side of beans, nachos chips, cheese quesedillas, some crunchy thing in the oven (mini tacos, taquetos, etc) and salsa, sour cream, guacamole, and soft and hard shells.......I made venison meat (almost no fat) with taco seasoning, added water and rice and let that cook down, added frozen corn kernels, then served it on a soft tortilla with cheese and chips. (I did make cheese quesdillas for the kids, and I did eat 1/6 of my son's!) But I just had a small serving of the meat/rice/corn mixture and 1 tortilla...and I even bought the small soft taco size instead of the giant burrito size. So I'm proud of that dinner. Then right before bed the hubby offered me a Reese's Peanut Butter Cup as he was having one. I told him "No way, I'm weighing in in the morning!" And he apologized for eating it in front of me. I said "No prob!"

So anyway......drum roll please..................229! Not great, but under 230 and better than I thought it would be. I still got a pep talk from the trainer, but not the tongue lashing I was expecting. I'm actually pleased. Tuesday when he told me that I was going to be weighed on Thursday, I was really panicked! Thus the extra careful food choices the last few days. But, I didn't starve myself, or do any crazy laxatives or super workouts or anything. And I still weighed in under 230! I was just doing what I should always be doing, trying to put healthy things into my body, resisting temptation, regular exercise.......I just need to keep it up.

The trainer's pep talk was pretty good too. He talked about how at work I have deadlines I need to meet and projects I need to get completed, and that there are always improvements to be made. (In case you don't know, I'm an engineer. So my job is to basically keep making things better.) So he was saying just to look at my weight loss goals the same. Just change little things to make improvements. And then after D, the workout buddy, left for work, and it was my usual last 5 minutes of alone time with the trainer he did something pretty cool. He pulled out this 'box'. It's a sturdy, metal, raised platform with a rubberized top surface. We usually use it to step up onto. He put it in front of me and asked me to crouch down a little. Then he told me to jump up onto it! I of course gave him the "What you talking bout Willis?" face. He just put a hand behind me and told me to do it. So....I did it!! I made it up onto the box, but lost my balance a bit and it was a good thing his arm was behind me to steady me. I stepped back down, he told me good job, and to do it again.......this time it was still a struggle, but I did it without loosing my balance. And I did it again....and again! 4 times in all. And he was really happy, and I was really happy. And then he told me that he actually didn't think I was going to make it. He hoped I did, but he wasn't sure. So that is a great confidence booster!!

I have just over 5 weeks until my anniversary. I had on my original goal sheet that I wanted to be below 220 by then, the weight I was when I got married 7 years ago. So 9 pounds in 5 weeks....2 pounds a week. I can do that!! And I am going to do it! Just you watch.

Weigh in Tomorrow.

2009-05-13T09:46:00.000-07:00

Ok...so to continue the food diary from yesterday.....after lunch I never got a snack because I was too busy working. Then I did go to Subway for dinner....I got a foot long chicken breast on wheat, no cheese, lots of veggies, and only vinegar for dressing. The hubby got a pizza steak and cheese and it looked reallt really good, and I did have one bite of it. Then after dinner the hubby had a bowl of light ice cream, and I again just had one bite of his. But then......I don't know if it was pent up hunger from the whole day of eating healthy....of from smelly the hubby's yummy sub....but I went to the fridge to get a drink, and I pulled out my 1/2 a pizza sub left over from Sunday's dinner...and I started eating it.....I ate about 6 bites, maybe a 1/3 of what was left of it. And I felt so bad for doing it....but I tried to do a quick calorie count, and I think I was still around 1800 calories for the whole day, so that is pretty good.

Today I didn't eat before my workout, then I had a Slimfast meal bar afterward.....no morning snack, too busy......a small salad and a lean cuisine fish & rice meal for lunch.......not sure what we are having for dinner yet. And no standing in the fridge binge tonight! No way.....I weigh in first thing tomorrow!

Weigh in on Thursday.

2009-05-12T09:50:00.000-07:00

So at the end of the workout this morning, my tainer told me to weigh in first thing Thursday. I'm sure it's because he knows that I have NOT been loosing any weight, and maybe even gained a few pounds. And then he can ride me about it for the whole work-out. And if you have been reading this from the begininning, you know what comes next, i'll cry, then blame it on hormones, then work really hard for a few weeks and actually loose some weight, then i'll get all lazy and the process will start over. So to avoid this, i'm going to crash diet for the next two days. I know this isn't good, and it won't give an accurate weight on the scale on Thursday, but maybe it will jump start me to keep up some healthier eating for a while. So today I had a Larabar before my workout, it's a new all natural food bar that my trainer suggested, they are actually really tasty and healthy, and I kinda like them. Best of all the flavors are all things like "Apple Pie" or "Cashew Cookie" So i can trink myself into thinking it's a dessert! So anyway...Larabar, workout, yogert, then a small salad and a Healthy Choice meal for lunch......I think i'm going to have some cottage cheese this after noon and then Subway (with tons of veggies) for dinner. I'll post tomorrow at lunch again, because that will keep me on track. Bring it on Thursday...I'm ready for you....I hope!

Pass the Salsa!

2009-05-05T09:40:00.000-07:00

Today is Cinco de Mayo.....I'm eating Taco Bell right now! Don't judge! You know that I love it, crave it, it calls to me in the night. I figure with all the swine flu in the news, Mexico is getting a bad rap lately, so I am celebrating with them today by enjoying their wonderful cuisine. (Ok, Taco Bell is far from authentic Mexican, but how could I pass up this perfect excuse.)

The Hubby is On-Board.....for now....

2009-05-04T09:36:00.000-07:00

So last Saturday was the hubby's birthday. He turned 32. All last week, in an attempt to spoil him, I let him pick what he wanted for dinner every night....so, needless to say, we ate out every night. I think it was Chinese on Monday, a steak house on Tuesday, BW3 on Wednesday, Pizza on Thursday, he went out with his friends on Friday, we went to a fancy Steakhouse on Saturday.

Now I thought I was going to be dropping weight left and right after I started my thyroid medication a few weeks ago, that hasn't happened yet, but I am still on the slow and steady track down. And the hubby has been noticing. He says that he can feel how much smaller I am when he wraps his arms around me, that makes me happy. But he also says that he is now at the biggest that he has ever been.

So in the middle of last week he said that he was going to enjoy his birthday week, but the following week, that would be starting today, he is going to be on a diet! So we polished off the last of the birthday cake last night, and I shopped for healthy food. My biggest food issue is always him. I eat very good all day while I'm at work, then I let him corrupt me at dinner time. I complain that I'm tired and don't want to cook, he suggests Chinese or pizza, I cave in. But he said he is not going to do that now. So tonight I am making grilled salmon, pan fries, and corn on the cob. Not the most healthy, but home-cooked and I'll know exactly how much salt and fat is in it.

Hopefully we can stick to this through our anniversary in June. My goal, on the goal sheet my trainer had me fill out way back in September, was to be under 220 by June 22nd.....so that is about 10 pounds to loose in the next 7 weeks. Should be totally do-able. That's the plan and I'm sticking to it!!

Skipped my cardio today!

2009-04-29T09:14:00.000-07:00

So last night on The Biggest Loser, it was the final week on the ranch, and they had flashbacks about how heavy they all were when they first started. And then they showed how well they are doing now, and they went to the doctor to show how much healthier they are too. One man is even off at ton of medications he used to take, just from losing weight. ....You think this would motivate the heck out of me!!

It did! Especially since I had a huge milestone of my own at my workout yesterday. Did I ever tell you about that 'box' that you get in to do ab exercises? Well it's not really a box at all...it's a tall thing and you stand up on two 'blocks' on either side, and it's hallow in the center. And when you are standing up there, there is a pad that you press your back against, and then two pads that are out front at a right angle that you rest your fore arms on, and then handles at the end of that for you to grab. Can you picture it? I'm probably not explaining it very well. Anyway, you are supposed to situate your self into it like so, and then you pick your feet up off the blocks and hold your weight with your arms and shoulders and then pull your knees up, or kick your feet out, whichever exercise you are doing. My first day of working out my trainer had me do that, and I couldn't. Not at all! As soon as I picked a foot off the block I would fall down. I tried a few times, but my bottom was too heavy and my top didn't have enough strength to support myself. Plus I had no endurance or even confidence in myself. And my trainer said "You will remember when you couldn't even do one of these!"

That was almost 8 months ago. And yesterday I worked out with D, my regular workout buddy. And then she scooted out at her regular time, and I had my last 5-10 minutes alone with our trainer. Only we weren't alone. There were 2 of the guys that work out on MWF up there doing a make-up. So the trainer was setting them up on exercises and I was just sitting there laughing and joking. And he told me to do some abs instead of screwing off. So I was doing these things on the bench that I hate, where you balance and lean back, and then put your legs out in front and pull them in and out. Anyway, it's a good move, it's just hard. So I did a few sets of that, still laughing and joking with the boys in between. And the trainer said something like "OK hot shot...get in the box!" And of course I said "I can't do that!?!" But I got in....I got all situated, and he held his hand up for me to pull my feet up to. I would do a little jump/kick thing, it wasn't good form or anything, but I got his hand each time, and then I would have to put my feet back on the blocks. After about 10 of those I had a little rest. Than when we started up again he held his hand closer and told mt "Knees". So I pulled my knees up to his hand and he counted "One"....I lowered my legs, and to my own amazement I didn't need to put my feet on the blocks, I just pulled my knees up a second time "Two"....and again "Three"....I did 5!!! FIVE without putting my feet on the blocks!! It still wasn't good form, and by the time I was at number 5 I had slipped down the back rest a bit, but I did it! And I rested for a second, feet standing on the blocks of course....And I DID IT AGAIN!! Five again!!....and a rest, and then a set of 3 and a rest and 3 and a rest and 3 again!!! I can do it!! My top is stronger...my arms and shoulders, and my bottom is down about 25 pounds....and I can do it! That feels so so good!

And then I woke up this morning and my shoulders and upper back are screaming!! The muscles hurt so so bad! So I reset the alarm, slept in a bit, and skipped my cardio. But I think I earned it. And i'll be right back at it tomorrow....Because to watch them change their lives on The Biggest Loser is motivating....but there is noting like actually doing it for yourself!

MMMMMmmmmm Custard!

2009-04-24T10:05:00.000-07:00

Near our house there is a little Ice Cream place, only they don't sell ice cream, they sell frozen custard. It's soooo tasty, and almost fluffy and very creamy. It's only open during the summer, and we like to walk there in the evening after dinner for a treat. Soooo...last night was my daughter's Kindergarten Orientation, so we went and learned all about what she will do next year when she is in kindergarten, and met her new teacher, etc. And she was a very good girl, listened and stayed quiet when needed, played nicely with the other kids, etc. So when we were heading home I said, "Let's stop and get custard!" And I called up the hubby at home to see what he wanted me to bring for him. now he loves custard, even more than me, and sometimes he will even get the packed pints that they sell so we can have it at home for a few days. So....this was the first trip of the year, and I was sure he wouldn't be able to make up his mind of all the yummy choices; shake, sundae, cone, banana split! And he said, "Ummm, I don't want anything, thanks anyway." I hung up, in shock. And we went, and my daughter picked out her treat. (She didn't even get custard!! She picked a little Bratz cartoon thing on a stick, you know, like you get from the ice cream man!) And because I wasn't bringing anything home for the hubby, I just decided not to get anything for myself either! This may not sound like a big deal to you, but it's HUGE to me. That is my will power showing it's little head. Sure it's easy to think, I want custard, but not get any because I don't want to put on my shoes and go all the way there, but to stand there and just say, "Nothing for me, thanks." Is a great feat for me. So I am proud of myself. And I do have to thank the hubby for having will power of his own, and that helped me to have some too!

It's been awhile....

2009-04-20T09:26:00.000-07:00

So, it's been so long since I posted that I actually had to go back and read my last couple posts to see what they were even about! They were about being under 230....(not anymore, I'm back around 234, i don't know what it is, but I just can not stay below 230, i have to really struggle to get there, and then if I even smell pizza it all comes flying back on) ....and going to the doctor.

Well I went to the doctor. She was an endocrinologist and a specialist in metabolism and diabetes. She looked me over, asked me about a bunch of symptoms....
Are you cold alot? All the time! Freezing!
Do you have dry skin? She looked at my forearms and shins and wrote down "Very Very Dry"
Have you been losing hair? Yes! I didn't even know that was a symptom!
Do you have trouble swallowing or feel like you are choking? Yes!! What does that have to do
with it? I thought I was getting a hernia like my mom has but I guess it can happen if your
thyroid gland is swelled up.
Are you constipated? No. This is the only symptom I didn't have, lets attribute that to all
the oatmeal and salad I eat!
And last and most important. Have you been gaining weight? No! (she was shocked!) I explained that I work out every morning and eat my oatmeal, yogurt, salad with tuna, cottage cheese and fruit, and then dinner, diet and I actually lost over 20 pounds in the last 6 months, but it's been hard. And I can't seem to loose anymore!

So she showed me my blood test results and explained that a normal reading is between 1 and 2.5 ...... I was a 5.04, only over double what a high reading would be!

She wrote me a prescription, sent me home with samples and told me to start the medication right away. I will go get my blood checked in another month and see if my results are good, or if we need to change my dosage. She said that I should see my symptoms start to improve and that I should actually start losing some real weight from the work I'm putting in.

It's been about 3 weeks. My skin is noticeably softer and smoother and not so itchy and flaky! I'm cold sometimes and warm sometimes, and I get under all my blankies at night, and I wake up in the night hot and take blankets off! (That has never happened except when I was pregnant!) I'm still loosing hair, but i have only choked on my food once in the last 3 weeks, so that is a big improvement.

So you would think with so many symptoms leveling out I've probably been dropping pounds too?? Nope! But, i did kinda think, "Now I have skinny pills!" And i have not been eating well. I did not eat salad once for lunch last week! I did go out for burgers once though, and a sub and chips on Friday....and a gyro and spinach pie another day!! And I realized that eating salad every day, is healthy for my body and my wallet!!

So starting today I'm going to eat really good all week. I'm eating salad right now, and I'm cooking chicken with peppers for dinner, and salad for lunch tomorrow....etc! But this weekend I have a birthday party & a big BBQ at B (you know, the ex-nemesis)'s house. And me and B are having a cheese cake cook-off! (We just can't put the rivalry aside completely huh?) And my baby sis's baby shower is on Sunday. So I'm going to be busy, and I'm going to be around a ton of NOT healthy food. So i will do great during the week, and try to do my best this weekend, without feeling like i am totally denying myself. And hopefully this will help the skinny pills do their job!

Are you cold??

2009-03-30T09:25:00.000-07:00

So I didn't weigh in last week...if I had I would have let you know how it went. My trainer asked me not to weigh in. I guess I'm supposed to do the big weigh in tomorrow and then I'm going to the endocrinologist in the afternoon to see about my thyroid and my metabolism. My trainer actually gave me a pretty good compliment, he said something like, you've done a lot of good work so far so we'll see what happens after you see the doctor. Which is great because he has been saying that I don't have much to show for all the work I've been putting in. I'm hoping that when I go tomorrow I will be put on thyroid stabilizing pills, my friends hubby was put on them and I guess he just started dropping weight and didn't even have the appetite that he used to have, she calls them his skinny pills, so I'm hoping I get skinny pills.

And also, I'm cold alot, I NEED to snuggle up to my warm hubby any chance I get, my fingers and toes burn because they are so cold at night, I like to push them under my hubby's bottom when we are sitting on the couch at night. I wait until he gets comfy and then I sit sideways on the couch and jam my freezing tootsies under him and its so warm and toasty. So...I'm hoping the skinny pills will perk up my metabolism and light my furnace and warm up my tootsies!!!

Under 230???

2009-03-23T09:29:00.000-07:00

Ok....So I was 234 for the 6 month weigh in, then I tried really hard the next week and was 231 that Tuesday. Then I said since I lost 3 pounds the previous week, I was going to do that again. Then I had to take Thursday off work, so I missed a workout that day, then I had a little get-together at my house on Saturday night and made a ton of snacks and had a lot to drink, so that day was shot! And we were babysitting my 4 month old nephew (don't worry, he wasn't at the party, my kids were at my moms and the nephew was at his house with my hubby) so that was alot of extra work, set up for a party, clean up from the party, ohhh and have an extra kid to boot! So Monday morning I was in no shape to go work out, I was tres tried, so I went back to bed and completely skipped my workout. So I was supposed to be trying to hit 228 on Tuesday, and I only hit 229. But that was still pretty good considering 2 missed workouts and all that bad bad, but ohh so good, party snacks! So I was on cloud 9 for a few days, I had lost 5 pounds in 2 weeks and was finally under 230 again. When I first got under 250 I never looked back, then the same thing with 240 (it just took longer to get there. But now this is the second time I've gotten under 230, and I really really really want to keep on the downward trend. But I admit that I have NOT been watching what I've been eating this week, I haven't been being horrid, just not nearly as good as I should be. So....I'm going to weigh in tomorrow morning, I was shooting for 226, but we'll see.......Pray with me now.....God give me the will power to resist the sweets I want so bad, the strength to choke down another hard boiled egg and more salad, and the determination to stay focused on my goals! I'll let you know how it goes tomorrow!

Trudging on.

2009-03-11T09:13:00.000-07:00

So....if you were wondering how the great 6 month weigh in went.....then you didn't notice that I havn't posted in over a week! It went pooy! Is that a word? I weighed in at 234! Not horrible, i'm down a grand total of 22 pounds. I should be happy, i lost the weight from the lateast baby and am back at the weight that I was when I was dating my hubby. But if you do the math, then I averaged loosing just under a pound a week for the last 6 months. Again, not horrible. But for the ammount of work and effort I have been putting in at the gym I would think I should have done better. And I do have that appointment with the engocronologist coming up in a few weeks, so maybe i'll find out that I can blame this all on my thyroid. But I don't want to be one of those people, "I can't help that I'm fat, I have a gland problem!" I'm fat because I like to eat Taco Bell! And Pizza! And whatever we have for dinner; chicken, meatloaf, pork chop....I like to make a sandwich out of it. You know, take my meat, that was all happy by it's self on the plate, and slap it between some bread with a slice of cheese! That is sooooo good, and yet sooooo bad for me. I don't need those extra calories, I just want them, and I have crummy will power. So I just have to stick with it! I'm telling myself that once I get under 220 (the weight I killed myself dieting down to for my wedding 7 years ago) then I can go buy ew clothes. The clothes that I have now have been getting baggy, which is a good thing, but I don't want to get new ones that fit now and then are baggy in a month or two....so it's spring, or almost spring, and I think I can hit 220 by the end of this month, and then get new clothes for April! So that is the plan. I was 234 last Tuesday, and then I did really good all week and was 231 this Tuesday. So that's 3 weeks to loose 11 pounds, hmmm not so easy, but a goal to strive for, and we'll see how close I get!

Ohh...and in case you were wondering....I did NOT eat the pazki! I looked at it all day, and then threw it away at 5:00. I really need to pat myself on the back for these small victories!

6 Month Countdown!

2009-02-24T09:57:00.000-08:00

Next Monday, March 2nd, will be exactly 6 months since I began working out. I plan to stay on my diet really well all week, and over the weekend, and then have the big weigh in on Monday. I mentioned this to my trainer this morning, and he said it was nothing to be proud of and that I should have made more progress in 6 months. So i'm just going to try really hard this week and see what results i get on Monday.

It does not help that it is Mardi Gras today, Fat Tuesday, and I work with a couple Polocks, and they thought it was their duty to bring in Pazkis today. Real ones, not cheap ones from a grocery store. They brought 2 dozen, and there are only 14 people in this office, so there are still 1/2 dozen sitting inthe lunch room just calling to me. So I took one. I didn't eat it, it is sitting on a napkin on my desk. It has been sitting there since 8:00, so that is over 5 hours and I haven't eaten it. I want to have the satisfaction of throwing it away and of not taking a bite.

I did lick it twice though!

The Weather is on my side Today

2009-02-19T09:08:00.000-08:00

A few months back I had a post about how the wonderful Michigan weather was trying to keep me out of the gym, it was making me sick and causing slow traffic and keeping me from working out. Well today the weather is on my side. It is CRAPPY outside! Snowy, blowy, drizzly, cold!

I have been bringing all the fixings for a nice salad on Monday and then making salads all week from it. So today I had mixed greens, broccoli flowerettes, carrots and tuna waiting for me in the fridge. But I didn't want it. I had all those things, plus tomato for a salad for lunch Monday, then I had taco salad on Tuesday (trust me, it was healthy, I'll tell you about it in a second), then the mixed salad again yesterday, and I just didn't want it today! I wanted a sandwich, or a burger, or anything other than a salad. And I was totally ready to go out to lunch, and then I saw the weather outside! We don't have any vending machines here in our new building, but they have a few (with fresh sandwiches and frozen pizza and chips, and everything you could want) in the main building across the street. But it is so yucky out I don't even want to make the 45 second walk over there. So....I'm eating my salad, again! But I am going to bring something else for lunch tomorrow, maybe some leftovers from home, or a Lean Cuisine meal from the freezer.

OK, so let me tell you about the tacos I made for dinner on Monday. The hubby loves taco night for dinner, and I used to really do it up with rice and beans, quesidillas, chips and salsa, all the fixings and tacos too. Well, we have not had taco night since I have been trying to cook healthier, but I thought, "Why can't I just make healthy tacos?" I was on a mission!

So I told my hubby we were having taco night! I texted him during the day and reminded him that it was taco night, I really wanted to get him ramped up for it. And then he wandered into the kitchen when I was starting to cook and asked astonished "Why are you cooking a big pan of celery?!? You better not be putting celery into my tacos! No Way!" So I assured him that it would be ok and shoed him out of the kitchen. I cooked a bunch of celery, chopped up little, with sea salt and a bit of olive oil and garlic until soft. Then I added a red pepper I had diced up and cooked it until it was almost mush. Then I added the ground turkey (93/7) and browned that. Then I spiced it up with a packet of low sodium taco seasoning. In the mean time I also made a package of Spanish rice (just regular rice-a-roni kind, only Kroger brand) and added extra tomatoes and a few handfuls of frozen corn kernels. And I served it with freshly shredded low fat cheese, diced tomatoes, shredded lettuce, black olive slices, and homemade guacamole (which is just smashed avocado with spices, basically another vegetable). So the meat was at least 1/2 veggies, the rice was 1/2 veggies, and I served it with veggies, and soft shells. The hubby said it was all good, he couldn't taste the celery and didn't even know about the peppers or turkey until I told him. So Healthy Taco Night.....Success!!

Gotta Love Those Squats!

2009-02-18T09:28:00.000-08:00

I know, the blog has been veering off track a little lately. So It's time to whip it back into shape.

Last Tuesday we did squats. We held a weighted bar and squatted, then lifted the bar over head after we stood back up. We did a set of 15, and did 4 sets. (By we I mean myself and D who is the latest and greatest work-out buddy, she is a little older than me, maybe 15-20 years, and is really funny.) So the next day I could barely walk, my legs killed! D e-mailed me and said that she could also barely walk! So then Thursday rolls along, we are both still in a lot of discomfort. I was stretching ever time I stood up to try to 'release the lactic acid', the trainer said this would help, i don't think it did. So Thursday he makes us to Step-Ups. Of course we were both complaining, and he said leg work is the best for both of us, and we are going to be doing legs on Tuesday and Thursday from now on. And he was sympathetic about our pain, he said he was going to make us do the Step-up while holding dumbbells, but he left the dumbbells out since we were so sore. Peach, ain't he?

So yesterday we did Squats again. We both started out holding a 12 lb bar. And then instead of doing 15 reps in the second set, I did 18. I thought I could do a little better, so I pushed myself, and know what I got for a reward? He switched me out to a 15 lb bar! And he said "Now lets see you go over 15 reps with that (D had been smart and got to keep her 12 lb bar) So I did 16 reps to spite him (:P)

But the point is, my legs are not sore today. And I saw D, and her legs are not sore either. So we chalked it up to the fact that we are both so much stronger and in better shape than we were last week! We'll see what tomorrow brings!

Speacialist Doctors...Fun!

2009-02-16T09:40:00.000-08:00

Well most importantly, the hubby is doing better. And of course being a stubborn man, since he is feeling better he has not made the appointment with the GI specialist, he plans to just act like it never happened. I'm to push for him to still make the appointment, if nothing else to make sure that whatever it was is gone and is not coming back.

I have an appointment to see a specialist of my own. Lucky me! I had my annual OB/GYN check-up and was sent for my annual mammogram (since my mother had breast cancer at a young age, and I had a lump a few years ago, which turned out to be nothing, I get to have mams every year.) Again, lucky me! Better safe than sorry. But, the Gyn decided to send me for some other blood tests also. Lets just say my system has been a little loopy and I thought it was from stress, but she thought that it may be a hormone issue, and guess what, the test came back that my thyroid levels were high. Now all I know about your thyroid is that it can have something to do with your weight and having dry skin, so maybe this has something to do with why I am working my butt off for not all that much benefit. 25 pounds in 5 months is nothing to sneeze at, but I would like to think that for the effort I am putting in I would get a little more reward back. I know that I go off my diet, but I still work out really hard, so I'll go and see what the Endocrinologist has to say.

A Little Break.

2009-02-12T09:40:00.000-08:00

OK, so I haven't posted for 10 days, I've been busy. I also just totally went off my diet for a whole week, and my hubby is sick, and we lost one of our beloved babysitters.

My hubby has been sick for about the last month. It started with stomach flu symptoms, and so I gave him fluids and rest and waited for it to pass. It never really passed. So he finally went to the urgent care clinic, they did blood work and it came back that is pancreas levels (I don't even know what pancreas levels are, obviously it has to do with the pancreas, but I'm not even totally sure what that does) were way off. He contacted our family doctor and she sent him for more blood tests and ultrasounds. That revealed that his liver is enlarged and is storing fat. My hubby could stand to loose some fat (So could I, I'm working on it, obviously you know this if you read this blog) but I didn't think it was anything that would be making him this sick. And anything to do with his liver scares him because his mother just passed less than 2 years ago from liver cancer. So more blood tests, and they show that he doesn't have liver cancer or hepatitis. But he was still nauseous and had horrible pain in his mid section. So yesterday he came home from work after a little bit, to try to rest. But he never felt better so he went to the ER. What do you think they did? Who guessed blood tests and an ultrasound? You get an A. That showed that his gallbladder was OK. They had him on an IV and gave him anti-nausea medicine and they couldn't do anything else for him so he came home. He's home from work today, in the same state he's been. His next step is to see a GI specialist....but other wise we wait and pray that it isn't anything too serious. The first set of ultrasounds had showed a small kidney stone, so maybe it is all from that? Pray with me that it is a little kidney stone and it will pass and my hubby will be good as new.

About the babysitter....my Aunt has been sharing sitting duty with my sister-in-law for the last 2 years. Well her hubby hurt his back a few months back. It has been getting steadily worse and now he can't work, so my Aunt finally decided that she can no longer watch my kids because she needs to get a full-time job to support her family. Totally understandable! I asked if maybe we could pay her more, that way we kept a sitter that the kids love and that I know loves my kids, but she said no. So we tried out a replacement this week, my sister-in-laws roommate, she watched the kids 1 day with the sister-in-law, and then 1 day on her own. It went well. So hopefully this will work out, at least until mid-April when they both go back to work, they have a seasonal job at a local attraction park. Then I might have to find a day-care or work something else out. My mom did tell me that my aunt told her that after I called and told my aunt I had found a possible replacement, my aunt hung up the phone and cried because she is going to miss the kids. So maybe she may watch them once a week or so when my other two sitters are working. And my mom is going to do once a week in the summer when my daughter is out of school.

So maybe you can understand why I've been a little stressed lately? And so I flew off the diet. With doctor appointments and other things that needed to get done and calls to make, dinner got pushed out of mind, and we ate take-out a few times. And with the hubby being sick, if anything sounded good to him that's what I immediately tried to get for him. So I gained a few pounds back, all my work from the Fruit Flush went.....well essentially....down the toilet. So I'm back on track this week, and trying not to worry and stress about stuff. I'm just trusting in God that it will all be worked out.

Who won the Super Bowl?

2009-02-02T09:34:00.000-08:00

Well I'll tell you it sure wasn't me! I weighed in this morning, and it was sad, very very sad. So sad I'm not even going to tell you what it was. And I'm sure it had nothing to do with the Super bowl party I was at last night, the wings and beer mmmmmm, or the date night on Saturday with the hubby, again mmmmmm.

I had good intentions heading into the weekend, you know I did. But I did not follow through! On Saturday we dropped the kids off with grandma and were supposed to go to a restaurant. I was tired, so we ended up getting our food to go. Remember we were going to order one entree and a salad and split them both? And the hubby was on board even? Well....we went in, sat at the bar and both ordered a drink. I got an Amaretto Sour, and they mixed it in a blender and it was so frothy and creamy tasting that I sucked it right down and got another one! Then we looked at the menu and put in our order for a pasta dish and a veal dish and an appetizer of fried cauliflower (hey, at least it was a vegetable). And went home to sit on the couch, watch a movie, and chow.

Then yesterday, Super bowl Sunday, I had planned to stay home with the kidlets while the hubby went to watch the game and chow pizza with his brother. I would have had a nice salad, maybe a sandwich for dinner. Then my neighbor called and said they were having a little party and the kids and I were invited over. Hmmmm, home alone with the kids, or across the street where the kids can play with little friends and I can talk with adults? Hard decision! So instead of being home with a salad, I was at a party with a giant spread of food. I tried to be good, I diced up pears & plums & grapes & bananas and took it with us. And I got a plate of protein (ribs and hot wings) and veggies (carrots, green pepper, and cucumber) and I didn't get any dip for either. And I had one beer. And I loaded the kids up with pizza and cheese doodles and pop (milk for the baby), and had none of that myself. If I could have stopped there it would have been great, we should have headed home after the first quarter. But the dips were calling me. So I went back and got a plate with a decent scoop of each, bean dip (with cream cheese and green chilies), chili dip (covered with melted cheese), and spinach dip, and of course a big handful of scoops chips to scoop it all up. And just when I finished, she brought down the little individual cherry cheese cake cups! Ahhrrrgggg! So I had one, I fed at least 1/2 of it to my son (my daughter was busy eating a chocolate pudding cup with her friend) (and then I wondered why neither of them wanted to go to sleep once we got home?!?)

So this morning I did 30 min on the elliptical, had oatmeal with blackberrries for breakfast, fat-free yogurt for my snack, and just finished a nice salad with tomatoes and tuna and salad spray. So I guess the lesson is, If you get knocked down in the big game, you still need to go to practice the next day. Play hard! (Sorry, I'm not too swift with metaphors!)

The Flush is OVER!

2009-01-30T09:35:00.000-08:00

YES!!! I did it! I finished up the flush on Wednesday, and I didn't cheat one little tiny bit. I stuck right to it. And I weighed in yesterday morning and was 227.5, that's down 3 pounds in 3 days, and down 28.5 pounds overall.

So I'm here on Friday eating my very healthy salad, mixed greens, broccoli, yellow pepper, tomato, carrots, cucumber and tuna. I did 10 sprays of my salad spay, the serving size, but it just doesn't taste...well...very tasty. I expected the flavor to really pop and be great after 3 strait days of salad dressed only with lemon juice. This salad spray was tasty and delicious last week. I did pick out a couple pieces of brown lettuce, so I'm thinking that most of the spray must have been on those pieces. What? Why is there some brown lettuce in my salad you ask? Ohhh....because this was the salad I made and brought to have for lunch yesterday. Why didn't I eat it yesterday? Welll.....uummmm....(stall).....Because yesterday my group had to go out and do some testing after lunch.....annnnddd......the other guys (totally them, not me at all) decided that it would be best if we all went in one car, headed out to where we needed to do the testing, and stopped for lunch along the way. And I agreed that this was a good idea because I thought we would stop at some coney island type place and I could get a salad, or even McDonalds has salad. But ......(I was totally dragged kicking and screaming I tell you) they decided to stop at Taco Bell! Ahh the Bell....my other nemesis (speaking of nemesis, as of yesterday's weight-in I was still 4 pounds below B, but that was before the Taco Bell). So I had one of those new platters they have, it's 2 chicken enchiladas served in a tray with little cups where they but a scoop of rice and a scoop of beans, and you get chips and salsa. Hey... if you haven't figured it out by now, when I go off the diet, I go WAAAYYY off the diet. But I did get an ice water to drink with it, so if that counts for anything.

And tomorrow my mom is keeping the kids overnight, so me and the hubby are going out on a date. We didn't have anything planned, my mom just missed the kids and asked if they could come, so we figured we would take advantage of the situation and go out to dinner. But instead of getting an appetizer and then each getting some entree, I suggested no appetizer, one entree of whatever we both would like to split, and then an entree salad to also split. So we each get 1/2 a dinner and 1/2 a salad. (I can't take credit, B came up with the idea and does it with his wife, he is working on her to lose weight too.) I'm trying to work on the hubby, but in a non-naggy wife kind of way. Just basically buy healthy groceries, cook healthy meals, and trying to be a better example myself, it was hard to admit to him that I went to Taco Bell yesterday when I have been telling him...no, politely suggesting to him, .....that he take his lunch more often instead of eating fast food most days for lunch. But anyway, I told him this splitting entree/salad idea, and he actually said OK, not even a funny look or a 'What you talking 'bout Willis' or anything, just a 'ok, sounds like a good idea'. I was pleasantly suprised. So maybe we can do this together! I'm excited.

Last Day of the Flush.

2009-01-28T09:38:00.000-08:00

I'm sitting here eating a pile of tomato slices for lunch. I had bought them with the intention of having them on my salads each night, but then another glance at the list of fruit servings and I noticed tomatoes. So yep, a tomato is a fruit, and I couldn't have it on my salad. So I'm having them for lunch. But in all the flush is going well. Nothing is 'flushing' yet, in case you were wondering, I guess that comes in the couple days that follow. But I don't feel too tired today, and I'm not irritable. I had plums for breakfast and a banana for my snack. Now tomatoes like I said, and then a pear and some cantaloupe this afternoon. Then the salad with lemon and avocado again tonight.

My daughter ate salad with me last night. She asked if she could have some and I gave it to her. Of course I topped her's with a little light ranch dressing, and made her a 1/2 sandwich to go with it. But she ate every bite.

I weighed myself this morning and I've lost 2 pounds since Monday, so that is encouraging. It's so nice to now not even push that slider on the scale past 230. When I have it below 220 I'm totally going to celebrate. Only 8 pounds to go, and that will be the lowest weight my hubby has ever even seen me at, the lowest I've been in over 8 years! Just the anticipation of being able to obtain these goals is motivation to stay away from all the bad foods that I would otherwise not even think twice about eating.

Part of me wants to go crazy tomorrow, when I'm done with the flush, and eat everything in sight. But then the rational part sees all the progress that I have been making and makes me just want to eat salad. So I'm going to try to split the difference. I'm planning to have an egg and toast for breakfast; cottage cheese for a snack; a nice salad with tuna for lunch; fruit in the after noon; and I am thawing a venison back strap for dinner, and I'm going to make baby red skins and mixed veggies.

I'll let you know tomorrow what the grand total weight loss is from the flush.

Flush....Day Two.

2009-01-27T09:23:00.000-08:00

Still not so bad. All I had heard from everyone else that has done this fruit flush is that you are so hungry and super tired. I mean, I guess I could say that I'm more tired than usual, but not to the point where I would be complaining about it. Hungry? That I am, about 30 minutes after I finish a serving of fruit i start to feel hungry, then I have some water, then I get busy with some work, and then it's time for the next serving, so still not so bad. But my tummy has been grumbling a few times.

The hardest part so far was last night. I was getting my kids dinner ready, they just had some leftover noodles and sauce with veggies and cut up plum. So I scooped the noddles onto dishes for them, and unconsciously I almost licked the fork! But I didn't. Then when I was dicing up the plum I really wanted to eat a bite, again I didn't. And lastly when I was prepping all my fruit for today I just wanted to pop a bite in my mouth. I can understand being on a diet and restraining from having some pizza, but its hard to wrap your mind around, "No, don't eat that berry!" I mean, it's healthy, I should be able to just eat it with no worries, but just not these next couple days. If this does nothing else it helps you with food discipline and will power. And I'm looking at my regular diet menu and deciding what to eat on Thursday when the flush is done. A slice of toast and an egg sounds like a feast for breakfast.

I'm eating cantaloupe right now for lunch, then I have a couple plums and a pear for the rest of the day, and then the salad at 6pm. I'll check back in tomorrow!

Starting the Flush

2009-01-26T09:56:00.000-08:00

So you need 3 things for the fruit flush.
#1: Fruit and lots of it (who woulda thunk it?)
#2: Raw veggies
#3: Protein shakes

I went shopping at Costco and got a nice variety of fruit, cantaloupe, black berries, pears, tangerines, plums, & bananas. Then I went to GNC and got the protein mix. And lastly off to Kroger for the salad makings.

I started today. You basically have an 8oz protein shake at 8am, 10, noon, 2pm, & 4. Then you have a monster salad for dinner. For my salad I have organic mixed greens, shredded carrots, bell peppers, cucumbers, & broccoli. Sounds pretty yummy. But you don't get to put dressing on it, just the juice of 1/2 a lemon and 2 tablespoons of olive oil. But you can substitute the oil for 1/2 and avocado, so that's what I'm doing. I'm thinking of it as a side of guacamole.

So far so good. The protein shakes are not as bad tasting as I thought, but I'm really looking forward to my salad later. After 3 shakes and nothing but water all day I'm really excited about being able to chew something.

And good news about weight too, because I was eating so awesome all of last week, I dropped a few pounds. This morning at my pre-flush weigh in I was down to 230.5 so after this detox I should be well into the 220's. That will make me sooooo happy. I had dieted down to 220 for my wedding almost 7 years ago, and I've never seen it since. And B weighed in this morning too, he is down around 233, so good for him, and I'm still below him so double good for me! I'll let ya know how it's going tomorrow with the fruit!

Truce.....kinda....

2009-01-22T08:39:00.000-08:00

So I told you all about the nemesis and how he was stalking arounf my Tuesday work out just waiting for me to weigh in. Then yesterday he was working out with the trainer and I was on the eliptical doing some kick-butt cardio (I've been really hitting the cardio sprints, they are grueling but i'm told that they really help up your metabolism). So between each of his sets he kept wandering over and saying things like, "So when are we weighing in?" "I might weigh less than you if you gained any weight..." Stuff like that. And I just kept trying to shoo him away, because I might ave gained a couple pounds, it's that time of the month and I always bloat up and get zits. So I was able to dodge him yesterday.

So today comes along, and i'm working out with our trainer and he is doing cardio. So the trainer says something like "There is the competition" Motioning to the nemesis, who says, "It's not really a competition, it's more like support." So I chimed in, "Yea, motivation for each other". And then he asked if I wanted to do the fruit flush with him this weekend.

Let me tell you about this fruit flush thing. Number one, I think the name fruit flush is gross. It gives me bad visuals. All I know about it is that it takes 3 days and you basically just eat 2 cups of fruit every 2 hours, and then a decent dinner. My nemesis, now I can't call him that....i'm just going to call him B. So B did the flush a couple weeks ago, and they were all talking about it, nd my trainer said I should do it too. So I guess I need to find out more about it, and I might do it this weekend too.