Update

It's been a while since I've posted about the diet lifestyle change. I've been on a bit of a hiatus for the last month or so. Even though I have posted a few times that "I am back on plan", that's only been lasting a day or so before I slowly start straying. So for the last time, I am back on plan and have been for about 3 days. I'm back to counting the calories and staying under 1300. I started to gain a few when I quit counting. One day I thought I had done pretty well, but then went back and counted the calories and it was at 1800. I think my internal "calorie estimator" is off just a bit!!
When I was keeping it under 1200, the lbs were going. And even though it seemed slow at the time, 2-3 lbs a week is actually pretty quick. I'm watching the fat also and trying to increase the protein. I've started drinking a Slim Fast Low Carb Shakes (20g of protein) in the afternoon and it's seems to really help curb the hunger.
I weighed in at 217 on Friday, but I'm back down to 213 today. I'll make my "official" weigh in tomorrow on "Weigh In Wednesday"!

WANNA BE A LOSER?

To all of our loyal readers, you may have noticed that there is now an "invitation" on the sidebar. It's inviting anyone that is trying to lose weight to join the blog. So go read it and join us!Also, I went through and removed all of the daily stats. I'm still keeping track, but I'm tracking it on FitDay.com instead. It's just a lot easier.

Kitty On House Arrest!

Thought this was interesting - if it was a dog they would have already had him put to sleep though...yes I am a dog lover!

Residents of the neighborhood of Sunset Circle say they have been terrorized by a crazy cat named Lewis. Lewis for his part has been uniquely cited, personally issued a restraining order by the town's animal control officer.
"He looks like Felix the Cat and has six toes on each foot, each with a long claw," Janet Kettman, a neighbor said Monday. "They are formidable weapons."
The neighbors said those weapons, along with catlike stealth, have allowed Lewis to attack at least a half dozen people and ambush the Avon lady as she was getting out of her car.

Some of those who were bitten and scratched ended up seeking treatment at area hospitals.
Animal Control Officer Rachel Solveira placed a restraining order on him. It was the first time such an action was taken against a cat in Fairfield.
In effect, Lewis is under house arrest, forbidden to leave his home.
Solveira also arrested the cat's owner, Ruth Cisero, charging her with failing to comply with the restraining order and reckless endangerment.

I have a Personal Trainer!!

So, I'm gettting ready this morning and I turn on our Christian radio station. (you can listen live on the internet here - it's awesome) They are having their day of Praise and Prayer today. Basically people call in and talk about what God has done for them. The common thread was "God did it, I couldn't have done it with Him, I had to let Him take control." So let's just say I had a bit of a "come to Jesus" meeting this morning. It's like he was screaming "Let go, Let me - you cannot do this alone, but I can do it through you". I am sick of doing this alone. I can't do this alone, so here is my prayer for today and everyday from here on out.

Jesus, my Lord and Savior. As of today, I am turning this over to you. Push me aside and take this thing head on. Help me to conquer my addictions to food and give me the drive that I need to get the exercise program back on track. It is not your will that I be fat and miserable. It is your will that I be healthy and happy! Let Your will be done God. I give this to you. I am just going to sit back and let you move in this situation. I've said it before, but the control freak in me just can't let go. Forgive me for not trusting in you enough to let go. I want to let go. Teach me how to let go. I need you pick me up and take me through this. I love you and am believing you for health, strength and happiness. Not only do I want to lose weight, I want to learn to love myself more. Teach me to love myself. Surround me with positive, supportive people that will only build me up. I commit to you today to do whatever it is you speak to me. Amen!

I've said a thousand times that if only I had a personal trainer, I could do this. They could motivate me and be there to hold me acountable. But they are so expensive!

Well, God just spoke to me and said "You do have a Personal Trainer! I've been sitting right here next to you this whole time just waiting for you to call and sign up. The best part is that I am FREE!!! I paid the fee along time ago! I will motivate you. I will hold you accountable. I will teach you and guide you. I will walk with you every step of the way. I am your Personal Trainer! I don't ever close, I'm always here for you"

So I went to Ask.com and decided to type in "What is a personal trainer"?

Here are some excerpts from what I found...

A qualified trainer understands principles of anatomy, physiology...

A certified personal trainer is the difference in a successful fitness program...

A certified personal trainer is proven to be unparalleled in achieving desired fitness levels, increased motivation, and long term wellness...

So I am declaring today that God is my new Personal Trainer!!

Confessions of a Pig: Part I & II & III & IV & so on

I basically could have reposted the last post everyday since that post. Just replace Maple Nut Goodies with ice cream, fries, cookies, etc... I have just completely thrown the calorie counting, water drinking, walking, and healthy eating out the window. I gave up! We went on vacation last Thursday and we just returned yesterday. Of course the word vacation is defined as "permission to eat anything you want" in my dictionary. Here are just of the few "not so healthy" choices I made this weekend.... Moose Munch, Cherry Cake Double Take (1100 calories!!!!) , Corn Dogs, Yogurt covered Pretzels, Cocoa Puffs, Fries, Chocolate Chip Walnut Cookies, Sugar Cookies, Smoked Sausage, Kettle Korn, Truffle (just 1 though), chocolate covered fruit (just 2), chips and salsa, Chocolate cake & I'm sure there are a few more. Can you say "SWEET TOOTH". Now keep in mind all of that is over the course of 4 days - but still!! I had quite a rude awakiening this morning when I stepped on the scale and saw 214!! That's 6 lbs since the 8th!

How Goes It?

So how has everyone been? Things have been crazy around here so I haven't had much time to even email much less post!! Just thought I would put up a picture from a float we were on at the St. Patty's Parade. (Some of mine & my daughters friends - my daughter is on the far right.) Hope everyone is well! Talk to you soon - I hope!

OH By the way - Bombadil & Goldberry's sites are up and going and "safe" again! I just now got around to adding them back! Glad to know!

Confessions of a Pig!

Yes...I said PIG!! I just call 'em like I see 'em. While I was out on lunch today I bought a bag of Maple Nut Goodies....one of my fave candies. Well I took them back into work with me...big mistake! I ate a few here and a few there and before I knew it... the bag was empty! Yes, over the course of 4 hours I ate all 28 pieces. Guess how many calories are in one Nut Goodie......28 - that's 784 calories in that whole bag!!! OMG!! The sad thing is that I actually looked at the nutritional info before I started. I knew there were that many calories in that bag. Did that stop me? Nope! Well what's done, is done. I was going to weigh tomorrow....but I think I may wait a few days. I might pass out!!

Just So Ya' Know

I got an email from Goldberry saying that she and Bombadil were having problems with their blogs and for us not to visit them. Earlier in the week I had gone there and my spyware picked up the Trojan virus. It caught it thank goodness but she had just warned not to go there until they say otherwise. THEREFORE, until I receive confirmation from Chandra (Goldberry) I will take their links off the side bar to protect others. Hopefully, they will be up and running soon!

Wednesday Weigh In: Traci

Ear Stapling

SO I actually follwed a fad - I went and got my ears (yes both of them) stapled. Yeah I haven't always been the brightest one when it comes to weight loss! Ha! It sounds wild but you can read about it at www.staplepower.com and I am sure you can do a search on the web for it. Me and one of my friends went last Thursday. I have heard of several people losing weight by doing this and the lady that put ours in lost 10 pounds in two weeks. It does say it won't work for everyone but I am at my wits end and I SO hope it works for me! I told my hubby that it may just be one of those things that is "all in your head" but all I know is - whatever works!! If it takes me putting staples in my ear to make me think I will lose some weight then so be it! Ha! I have already lost 10 pounds since January and I am SO hoping that by our Disney trip in May that I will lose that much more! I will keep you updated through the journey.

Have any of you heard of this or do you know anyone who has had any success with it? I would be curious to know!

Long Time No Post!!

So where to begin...

I don't know if you have heard of this new weight loss craze of "ear stapling". At first I was like, "What...?" Then I know of some people that have had positive results from it. One of my friends and I went yesterday and had it done to both ears (you can read a little about it here www.staplepower.com) We don't know if it is going to work or not but hey at least we won't regret not trying! I will keep you updated on that!

When I originally started trying to lose weight back in August I was 262. By the time we started this I was down to 258. Since then it has been a roller coaster ride! When we stareted our Biggest Loser competition at work I was back up to 260. This morning I decided to weigh in (for the first time in weeks) just so I would be able to tell by next week if the staples are working or not and guess what.....I WEIGHT 250!!! I don't know how I did it but I have lost 10 pounds! Maybe because I have not been stressed about trying to lose weight so I finally did it! Now I am pumped and I want to SO bad see that number get below 250! Anyway - I have to get back to work but I wanted to briefly update you on my status!

By the way, have you talked to Aunt Teresea and your mom about joining the site?

Food Finds

Just some foods and drinks that I have found that are good low calorie choices:

Listed in this format:
Food(linked to website)/Where I buy them/Calories


Pastry Twists - Wal-Mart/60 per twist
These are yuummmy! Brayden and Bobby like them too, so I have to buy enough to share.

High Protein Fruit Drink - Internet/70 per packet and 16g of protein T
These are the drinks I used to have to buy when I joined the local "weight loss center". I've just now realized I can buy them online. The wild berry is my favorite. The WLC recommended 3 a day, but I'm planning to do 2 a day. I definetly need to get more protein in and this is a great way to do it.

Edy's Light and No Sugar Added Ice Cream - Wal-Mart/90-130 per 1/2 cup
I've mentioned these before, but they are worth mentioning again. I've only had the Light, but it is awesome, so I'm guessing the other has to be pretty good also.

Eggo Toaster Swirlz - Wal-Mart/120 (1 set of 4)
These are a great fix for the sweet tooth. There are lots of other choices on the Eggo site that are low in calorie (the key is eating only what the serving is)

1/3 Less Sugar Cereals - WM/120 for 1 & 1/4 cups
I loooovee cereal. I always thought that I needed to give it up if I was trying to los weight. What I need to give up is eating 2 huge full bowls of it. (please tell me I'm not the only one??) The serving you get for 120 calories is actually quite a lot. Add 1 C 2% milk and you only have a total of 245 calories. I love to eat the Fruit Loops w/o milk for a afternoon snack also.

Frozen Vegetables - WM / 60-110 per cup
Both Birsdeye and Green Giant make some great vegetable "side dishes". I can eat 2 servings of these vegetables for dinner and be stuffed and stay under 200 calories. I really like vegetables but hate the chore of making fresh veggies tasty without adding a bunch of oil or butter.

Today Even The Music Cries

You hurt me - I don't think you even know.
I try and try not to let my feelings show.
I am only human my heart so tender and easy to bruise.
Why can't you say I am sorry or my bad or hey girl I tried!
How I long for someone to stand up for me and be by my side.
No admission at all - now the tears start to fall.
What is that I hear? Is it the music or is it tears?
I guess today even the music cries.

Predator Among Us

It has been in the news lately that a sexual offender who was from here, then moved to Missouri, has been in prison and NOW is being released after only 4 months. The bad news is...
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
HE IS MOVING INTO MY NEIGHBORHOOD!!!

It is scary to many of us because it is just a normal middle class neighborhood loaded with kids! Not to mention he will be a neighbor of someone I know! They have at least 3 school buses just for my daughers school. HERE is an article from when he was originally arrested in Missouri and HERE is a link from one of our local news channels.

As a mom of an almost 8 year old I am pretty upset about all of this! What is your take on it? How would you feel?

Weekend Update

I did pretty good this weekend. I didn't get any exercise, but I stayed within my calories. I didn't get much water though. I did breakdown and buy 3 boxes of Girl Scout Cookies... who can resist GS cookies? Especially when I was a GS myself, I did it for the girls, for the cause....(yeah right). I at least got the Low Fat Lemon ones....they are my fave. I'm going to allow myself 3 a day (130 calories). I got thin mints too, but B & B have already polished those off. By the way, I have a new goal... Bobby and I are going to the Nascar race in Charlotte, NC for Memorial Day weekend. That is my final goal date. (oh yeah we have decided to hold off on a baby until after then). I'm calling my new goal "Countdown to Green". Just in case you don't know, that's what they call the days/hours leading up to the race (green as in green flag - GO) That gives me 89 days (almost 13 weeks)....so my goal is to average 3 a week....for a total of 38 lbs. As of today's weight that would bring me in at 174. I would be extremely happy with that weight, even though I would technically still be considered overweight. I am going to really begin to study the Biggest Loser info and I'm going to commit to doing it for one week 100% (after I go grocery shopping this weekend). Not that I am quitting after a week, I just reserve the right at that point to switch up a few things based on my tastes and schedule. My main thing is going to be to stay under the BL's recommended calories for me. (1500) and to get 30-40 minutes of cardio 3 days a week and 3 days of "strength training. The exercise alone should make a big difference since I haven't really been doing any for the last few weeks. My weight loss goal for Wednesday is to be back down to 210.

Brad & Jen Finally Divide the Loot!

BRAD Pitt and Jennifer Aniston have agreed a multi-million-pound divorce settlement, Finally. The couple thrashed out the deal just over a year after they announced their split.

Friends star Jen, 37, will keep the 16.6million mansion they lived in for five years of marriage. The 12,000sq ft Beverly Hills property boasts eight bedrooms, six bathrooms, a pool, spa and tennis courts.

In return, Pitt, 42, holds on to the controlling share of their film company, Plan B Productions, believed to be worth more than 28million.
It's hot property after making 12 successful indie movies, including Tim Burton's Charlie And The Chocolate Factory. All I know is I really wouldn't mind getting either end of that deal!!

Food Find

You have to try these...they are so yummy and only 60 calories per twist. I've only had the california almond and original. They have been my little secret at home for a while.... Brayden and Bobby stayed away because I said they were good for you... good as in "better than the junk I would usually choose" Well last night I had them taste it.....big mistake. The entire bag was devoured by the end of the night.


By the way, I forgot to post my weight yesterday but it was back down to 211!!

Dunkin' Donuts!!

Ok, so I wrote that post and got all inspired and I haven't been back since... It's not because I haven't been on the program, I've just been so busy and haven't had a chance to get back here. So I'm here now. I'm excited about weighing in tomorrow. I just hope I'm back down to where I was a few weeks ago. I do have a confession to make. Someone brought in Krispy Kremes today and I took a raspberry filled one from the box and brought it back to my desk. I didn't want anyone to see me eat it (um, that's a sign that you have a problem), so I put it in a napkin and was going to wait until the room cleared before I ate any. Well thank goodness I did that, because the longer it sat there there more guilt I felt. I looked at it and imagined how good it tastes and in my head I said "screw it, I want that donut" and almost as soon as I thought that I thought - well you're not eating it...just throw it away...and that's what I did. I have just thrown a perfectly good Kripsy Kreme in the trash. I actually felt guilty for throwing it away because someone else might have wanted it and now I have taken it and trashed it - but you know what? Nobody else really needs that junk either!

I figured instead of putting a picture of the yummy donut, I'd put a picture of the nutrition label!!

Show Me The Weight Loss! Show Me The Weight Loss!

You had me at "I don't know what happened"! Reading that definitely gave me a Jerry McQuire moment! That was deep stuff but oh so true! I even had to send it to my mom! She responded with this:

wow that is so profound and inspirational and SOOOOOOOO TRUE! Tell her we will pray for her courage and ask her to pray for ours. To be brave enough to fight this giant. p.s. bet she got an "A" in speech class too!

I mean really that was SO true! Though I will say there has been alot in my life that I say I want but I really don't give 100%. I mean I really do want it but it is like I don't know why I don't try harder!! The thing is I DO deserve to do better than I do about alot of things! Plus, I mean how hard is it really to say no! I mean I say no to lots of other things that would keep me from reaching other goals so why is this so hard! I think you hit the nail on the head when it comes to almost feeling like a drug addict would feel! This HAS to be how they feel! We have got to do this! It is so important to us and it is just time! Every time I try to make an excuse I am going to remember the "speech" you just gave and say DOG GONE IT! I am WORTH this!! All I have to say about what you wrote is this!

*clap* *clap* *clap* BRAVO!

What A Blur!!

Things have been flying by the past week or so for me! It has been wild!! So what have I been doing you ask? Well....

Last Thursday
I had an assignment due in my biology class. Then that night my hubby, daughter and I went with my best friend's family to the Rodeo. The kids loved it! We also got to see Dierks Bentley while we were there! Hubba! Hubba!

Friday
A bunch of us were supposed to go out for my best friend's hubbies and mom's bdays but the birthday folks decided they didn't want to go. I ended up going to my friends house and eating some yummy steak & twice baked potatoes! We had to go over to visit her mom and tell her happy birthday and check out her soon to be finished/remodeled kitchen. We went and grabbed a couple of movies and then that was when I got the call. What call you ask? My husband - who is the the USCG and was on his way to drill several hours away - called and said, "Baby, I have bad news. I am halfway there and just realized when I dropped you off you left you keys in the ignition and now I have them with me!" OH NO! I was LOCKED out of my house from Friday night until Sunday night! My daughter was already spending the night with my friends daughter so I was invited to make myself at home for the night on their couch!

Saturday
I had to get up early while everyone was asleep and go buy me and my daughter all the necessities needed when you spend a weekend from home! I guess one good thing out of the deal is I got new clothes and make-up! Ha! After that I picked my daughter up from my friend's house and we went to my mom's. We (me, mom, daugher and 10 year old brother) rode to my 23 year old brothers house to check out all the work he has done! Then we went shopping & browsing! Afterwards we went back to mom's and had lunch and the adults napped while the kids watched a movie! Oh boy was it nice! That afternoon my friend called to see if I wanted to go out with a group of my other friends but I told her to go ahead and I would plan to join in the next weekend or so because I was going to go out to eat with my family and go watch Motocross! It was SO good! They do the coolest tricks on those motorcylces and 4-wheelers! I would be scared to death! Ha! My 7 year old daughter whats a motorcycle now. She liked them even before that night because her uncle has a room full of trophies from all of his motocross!

Sunday
My best friend called me around 8:30ish to update me on the night before and to find out if we were going to church. Since I was locked out I didn't have church clothes and she had a family function to go to with her hubby we skipped church for the week and promised to get back in the swing of things next week! My step-dad cooked us a great breakfast and then we went out to my step-grandparents farmhouse. They have horses and dogs everywhere! The kids had a blast. Afterwards we all went for pizza and then riding around looking for new cars! When we got back to my mom's I got my things packed together and was on my way to meet my hubby (who was coming back in town) and I got another call from him saying he had a little fender bender! No damage done so HOPEFULLY all will be fine! I was so glad to be home Sunday night - we even turned on the gas logs and just relaxed!

Monday
Back to work - I was SO tired from all of my going that weekend! I had to spend my lunch hour running around buying stuff for my daughters Valentine's party. After work I met my hubby & daughter for dinner and then I headed back to my best friends mom's house for our weekly Monday night meeting of watching The Bachelor! I got home and worked a couple of hours I was WIPED by the time I finally crawled into bed!

Tuesday
Happy Valentine's Day! I got up and got my daughter off to school to get a sugar high on all the candy the would be eating that day! Me and a friend met my mom and one of her friends for lunch. After work we went and met my whole "immediate" family to take my grandmother out for dinner for Valentine's day. It was a really wonderful time and with her Alzheimers I cherish every moment that we spend that way! I took her back to the nursing home and the hubby headed to the house. When I got home the hubby was cleaning up. My daughter went on to bed and the hubby allowed me to take a nice long, hot, bubble bath in the jacuzzi tub! After I got out I got a massage and some TLC from the hubby!

Wednesday
Went to work and then went home and worked some more! At bed time we realized my mini-schnauzers batteries for his collar for the underground fence must have gone dead. He had gotten out and we took 1 hour and 1/2 or longer looking for him! After my hubby found him we FINALLY got into bed!

Today
I am at work and super busy! Not to mention right after 5:00 I have an assignment for school due. Then I have to go home and work some more (I have really been putting in some O.T.!) and start studying for a check test that will be tomorrow.

Weekend Plans
My best friend is having a root canal done tomorrow so I offered to watch her daughter if she would like me to. Saturday if the weather is good I have to help my mom at my grandmothers house. Then we may get together with a bunch of our friends Saturday night and go out. Sunday morning Church of course and then Sunday afternoon hopefully some R&R! Somewhere in between all of that chaos I have to squeeze in some study time for my Biology mid-term next week!

Whew! So are you tired! I know I am! I guess I will talk to you later! If you don't hear from me until this time next week you know why! ;-)

What do you want??

I don't know what has happened. I was so gung ho for a while and doing so good and now it's like I have lost all my motivation. I weighed this morning and I'm up to 213....wrong direction!! I need to figure out where I fell off and jump back on while I'm still fit enough to catch the train! I'm not going to make any excuses, (even though I have a ton of them running through my head) The truth is I obviously just don't want it bad enough....but I do! Or so I think I do!!

How does that happen? How can someone want something more than anything in the world, but not want to do what it takes to have it. It's not like I'm 5'6" wanting to be 6'. I want something that IS possible, something that is as easy as just making the decision to do it. I will never understand it. If I had some horrible deadly disease and they offered me a cure, I would do anything it took to get the cure. I would think I was worthy of receiveing it. But somehow this disease is different. I like the way the disease tastes, I like the way this disease makes me feel (in the moment anyway). But on the other hand this disease IS killing me...slowly. It interrupts my livelyhood, it makes me cry, it makes me depressed, it makes me feel weak and unworthy, yet somehow the good feeling I get from it is more powerful then the horrible feeling it also gives me. It truly is like a heroine addiction (not that I know from personal experience) The more the addict does it, the more they want. When they do it, it makes them feel wondeful, but afterwards they hate themselves....but they continue to go back, over and over again.

I am worthy of this...WE are worthy of this. We are worthy of the money it takes, the time it takes and the support needed from those that love us.

I am robbing my marraige.
I am robbing my relationship with Brayden.
I am robbing my future.

I say there isn't anything that I wouldn't do for my child, yet there is...

CAN I do this? Yes
Do I NEED to do this? Definetly
Do I really WANT to do this? Honestly? I'm not sure. I definetly want to lose weight, but I don't know if I want to do what it takes to do it. If I did...wouldn't I be doing it? My body doesn't want to do it and I'm not sure that my mind is quite on board with the idea either.

They (who are "they" anyway) always say with any addiction that not only do you have to want it, but you have to want to do it what it takes to overcome it. I disagree.... I don't think I have to want to workout everyday for the rest of my life and I don't think I have to want to skip dessert from now on. If I waited until I wanted to do those things, then I'm not sure I would ever do it.

So the real question is.. CAN I do something that I really don't want to do? Do I have the inner strength to suck it up and do what it takes even when I don't want to do it? YES. YES I DO!!

and I have proof...

I stood in front of my college Speech Orientation class every Monday night and gave a speech. I DID NOT want to. I knew I wasn't good at it. I HATED it. But I dug down and found the strength to do it anyway. I did it because I wanted the "A" and it was worth it.

I made myself vulnerable and laid on a table, half naked for hours with my legs spread open in front of my husband, mother and a room full of complete strangers. I definetly DID NOT want to...but I did. I knew the reward was worth. Brayden was worth it.

I packed up my stuff and my son and left my husband after almost 5 years of marragie to go live with my parents. I DID NOT want to!! I loved him and wanted to be with him. I bawled my eyes out along the way, but I did it. As heartbreaking and scary as it was...I DID IT! I found strength in God, in my family and most of all strength in myself that I did not know was there. At the time I didn't know it would come to be one of the best things that ever happened to our marriage and probably the only reason we are still together today. So was it worth it?? Yes, even though at the times it was so hard and my heart ached! Even though I felt weak and wanted to give up sometimes.

So do I want to do all of the hard work that it takes? Want to? Not really. Will I? Yes. Because I know the reward will be worth it.

It will be really hard at times. There will be mornings when my muscles will ache as I climb out of bed. I will have moments of weakness. There will be days that I feel like giving up. So even though I really don't want to do what it takes... I know that I have the strength and the determination to do it anyway. I WILL do this...not because I want to... but because I have to. For Bobby, for Brayden and most importantly....FOR ME!!

I hope there comes a point in this process that I will actually enjoy exercising and I hope there comes a time when I enjoy passing on the dessert...but for now it's going to be all about inner strength and doing what I don't really want to do.

Do you REALLY want it??

What things have you done in life that you really didn't want to do?

Happy Valentine's Day!!

I HOPE YOU ALL HAVE A WONDERFUL DAY!

These roses are for each of you and they represent friendship! If any of you are giving roses today here are some helpful hints to make sure you are sending the right message! Enjoy!

Rose Color Meaning
Amaranth Red Long Standing Desire
Cardinal Red Sublime Desire
Carmine Red Deceitful Desire
Firey Red Flames of Passion
Black roses Death, Hatred, Farewell. Mostly used at funerals.
Orange and Coral roses Desire
Lavender/Purple roses Sublime Desire
Peach/Pale colored roses Deceitful Desire
Pink Roses Flames of Passion
Light Pink Roses Death, Hatred, Farewell. Mostly used at funerals.
Orange & Yellow Roses Enthusiasm, Desire, Passionate thoughts.
Yellow Roses Joy, Friendship.
White Roses Reverence, Humility.

Weigh - In Wednesday - Traci

So I am sad to say that I weighed in this morning at 212.2 Honestly I was expecting it to be higher after yesterday!! I've done good so far today and plan to do so from now one! I can really tell I worked out. I'm sore and I only did 20 minutes.

I really like the deskercizes you posted!! I'm going to try to do some!!!

BTW - You are doing a great job!!!

Deskercize!

I have done really good about exercising the past 3 days! I decided to look and see what I could find to ad a few more calorie burning activities in. I can across these three sites with some pretty good "Deskercizes". I am going to give them a try! What could it hurt!

http://www.ucop.edu/humres/eap/exercizes.html#anchor66636

http://www.dietbites.com/calories/dieting-exercise-desk-work.html

http://www.hooah4health.com/environment/occuphealth/exerciseatdesk.htm

http://www.webmd.com/content/Article/82/97478.htm

http://www.diabetic-help.com/workouts_at_your_desk.htm

WDW HERE WE COME!!

Woohoo! Our family vacation for the year has officially been planned! We are going to Walt Disney World. The hubby has been once, I have been twice and this will be my daughters first time! We are all so excited! Not to mention the fact that we have not had a "real" vacation in a long time! (I do suggest that everyone go at least once without kids!)

Other than that - just the usual - work, school and all else that comes along with being a mom/wife! We have tried organizing our house and getting some painting done. We hope to get our back fence put up in the near future - however; that might have to wait until after our trip! Alot of things probably will though!

What else, what else...ohhhh...we had a cook out at our house a couple of weeks ago and it was nice not to have to be the one to drive all over the world! Sunday we watched the Super Bowl at Brooke's house. This Thursday we are going to the Dixie National Rodeo and much to my daughter's excitement Dierks Bentley will be there! You know how young girls go gaga over these singers! Whew! I hope she outgrows that but being a women myself - I am sure she won't!

Hope all is well with everyone!

The Two Bad "W" Words of Weight Loss!

Those would be "Weigh In" and "Workout"! Ha! I finally got a fire under my back end this week! I walked (actually Gazelle) 2 miles yesterday morning and 1/2 mile last night. This morning I also got up and walked 2 miles. It takes me about 30 minutes right now to walk a 2 miles. I would like to work up to 1 hr a day. Yes 7 days a week! I would also like to add in my BL circuit training several days a week. THEN eventually I am going to add in weight training.

I have decided that I am not going to do a "Weigh In Wednesday" until February 22nd. It is going to be SO hard not to look at the scale every morning but I might get Brian to hide it from me! Ha! I just want to work out really hard for two weeks and see what a difference it makes. I am afraid if I keep looking at it fluctuating I am going to really discourage myself!

I am still sticking to "eating healthier" for now!

Good luck on your WW! A lady at work has lost 8lbs or so in a couple of weeks on WW. Another lady has lost about the same on South Beach. I just know me - I don't do well sticking to that sort of thing so I am going to have to do it the old fashion way! At this point it is just the fact that we are doing it - not how we are doing it! BTW - I really like your "fun" links! They were good for an afternoon pick me up!

We can do it!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Fun Stuff!!

Some cool sites that I've stumbled upon: (not all diet related)

Virtual Pizza Parlor: - Just pick your crust, sauce and topping and it gives you the nutritional info. Very Cool!!

Baby Name Wizard: Just type in a name next to the > and it will tell you when the name was most popular.

Virtual Deli: Similar to pizza parlor, but for sandwiches.

Death Clock: A bit morbid, but in regards to your weight it's interesting to see if you lost weight how many years of life you might gain. I would gain 3-4 more years. And if I led a more optimistic life I would gain 11 years of life!!

Rubber Faces: Stretch the faces of your favorite celebrities.

Change of plans....

...diet plans, that is. I guess I haven't actually been on "a plan", but I've been counting calories. I've decided that I'm going to give Weight Watchers a try again. I liked it when I did it, but I hated keeping track of everything. But now that I haven't gotten in the habit of counting calories, I figure it's no different than leeping track of points. The thing with only couting calories is that I'm taking fat into consideration, but with WW I will be. I'm not signing up on the site or anything. I'm just going to follow the point guidelines. I know that you've done WW in the past, but I'm posting a link to some info just in case you forgot how many points for each weight range, etc. Just in case you want to give WW a second shot also. I also found this online points calculator. So my stats will still appear the same way, I'll just have points beside each meal instead of calories. At my current weight I get 26 points and then there are the 35 flex points. I'm not going to use the activity points.

Slacker!!

Ok, so I have really been slacking on the posts. I was doing so good about posting everyday but now it's been over a week! I've been crazy busy at work and it seems like we have had something going on every night this week!! I have done o.k. this week. I haven't been counting the calories, but I have still been eating healthy for the most part... there have been a couple of "treats" this week. I'm guessing I've been getting around 1800 a day. I weighed this morning though and I'm actually at 209. I think the 1200 was just way too low and that's why I plateaued so quickly. So Im shooting for 1500 a day. I'm still not 100% on the exercise, but I am doing better. Brayden and I actually got up this morning and went on a walk. We got outside and I remembered that Bobby took the car to work today, so we had to go without the stroller (it's in the car). It was cold and windy but he was quite the little trooper. I did however have to carry him piggy back the last couple of blocks. When we got home he said "ya know mom, that exercise felt good". I told him that from now one we would do it every Saturday, he was fine with that but insisted we take the stroller next time. That's probably best anyway. I could have gone a lot farther, but he was ready to come back to the house. Mom is coming to get him later today, so I'm going to go again after he's gone. Anyway, I'm back on the counting calories and posting bandwagon as of today. I am sooo glad to hear that you are "feeling it" now. It took me a good month or so to really put my foot down and decide to do it, but once I did it got much easier. It won't be long before we have awesome b4 and after pictures like the BL pics. I have a picture from August that I'm going to use as my before. I think I may put the same outfit on and take a picture of me now and post them next week. That will be my first b4 and after! I've lost a total of 20 lbs since then so you should be able to notice a difference. Keep on keeping on! You are doing great and I am very proud of you!! Love ya!!

Hello Strangers!

Hi guys and gals! I have been so swampped lately at home, work, school and well...life in general! I hope everyone is doing fine - I just wanted to stop by and say hello!! Running out of time to post so just wanted to leave you with this funny little note- Have A Great Weekend!

I'm Feeling It!

I am feeling so much better! I have felt so sluggish between being sick, recooping from the holidays and my new change to "the pill". My body is finally kind of relaxing and boy does it feel nice! I STILL haven't gotten into the exercise mode but Brian and I are going to work really hard Saturday on getting our house in order and all of our exercise equipment put in the extra bedroom. We SO need to do that. I am looking forward to his help in getting in the "exercise mode". It will make things alot easier knowing he is another person looking at me like "Okay Tiff get with it!" I think I have finally mastered the eating. For example I eat alot less every day, I cleaned out all of my cabinets and have lots of healthy choices, even our "snack" food is divided out and fat free, at Baylee's class party this morning I didn't have the first cookie or chip, I went to lunch with some ladies today and I did have some fries HOWEVER I did not eat even half of them and one of the ladies ordered dessert for us to share and I had 3 "very small" spoonfuls! That is the only day I really splurged though but I still didn't do too bad. I just feel I am getting the hang of - and actually enjoying! - eating better! There have been no complaints at home either! I have looked back at all your food journaling and you have done AWESOME! I am really proud of you! So (as I keep saying) I just HAVE to incorporate getting all of my water in everyday and exercising like crazy!! I am really going to try to take on some of Bob and Jillian's pointers that they have on the site:

http://www.nbc.com/The_Biggest_Loser/dietcenter/downloads/

I also looked at this before & after photos of people that pretty much just did their own thing and lost weight by cutting back and exercising! Like you keep saying we didn't gain it overnight so we aren't going to lose it overnight! Hope these are inspiring to you, also!

BTW - If I haven't already told you *I really like your "No Excuses" post and agree with it 100%! and *I really like our before picture at the top of the site! Okay - by for now! Have a great weekend!!!!

http://www.nbc.com/The_Biggest_Loser/weightlossgallery/wlg_p129.shtml#photo

http://www.nbc.com/The_Biggest_Loser/weightlossgallery/wlg_p123.shtml#photo

http://www.nbc.com/The_Biggest_Loser/weightlossgallery/wlg_p110.shtml#photo

http://www.nbc.com/The_Biggest_Loser/weightlossgallery/wlg_p105.shtml#photo

http://www.nbc.com/The_Biggest_Loser/weightlossgallery/wlg_p11.shtml#photo

http://www.nbc.com/The_Biggest_Loser/weightlossgallery/wlg_p36.shtml#photo

http://www.nbc.com/The_Biggest_Loser/weightlossgallery/wlg_p40.shtml#photo

http://www.nbc.com/The_Biggest_Loser/weightlossgallery/wlg_p44.shtml#photo

http://www.nbc.com/The_Biggest_Loser/weightlossgallery/wlg_p51.shtml#photo

http://www.nbc.com/The_Biggest_Loser/weightlossgallery/wlg_p53.shtml#photo

Weigh In Wednesday!

Well I am FINALLY back down to the weight of one of my first weigh ins - 252! Woohoo! I don't know how I did it but I finally did! So that puts me back to losing 10lbs since I started this thing late last summer. Imagine had I really really stuck to it all this time what I could have done! I really don't know how I did it other than I have been busier and the fact that I stayed in the bathroom with a stomach bug! I am also a little bloated right now because of Uncle TOM so maybe it was more...who knows! As I keep saying I HAVE to add in exercise! I mean it is getting ridiculous! I HAVE to do this! I have done SO well today and I am going to stick to it tonight by getting some sort of exercise in! Even if it is only 10 minutes I am doing it!!

I started drinking those Lipton To Go Green Teas with my water at least once a day. Green Tea is good for you and it has no calories, sugar or artificial flavors!

I am also going to try this www.staplepower.com My mom personally knows someone that did it and lost 15 pounds in 2 weeks. It may all be in your head - but whatever works!!

No Excuse Policy

Life will never present us with the perfect setting for losing weight (unless we sign up for the BL) There will always be something to blame for not being able to do it. Therefore, I have incorporated a no excuses policy into my regimen. I'm trying to catch myself when I make an excuse and then tell myself why it is lame and figure out a way to make it work. Here is a list of the excuses I used to use (ok I still use them on occasion) for not losing weight and what I try to tell myself. I actually started these last week and have been writing them down as I catch myself. I thought of a few more while writing this too. (WIL - why it's lame)

E: Because I have to cook for Bobby and Brayden and I don't want to cook seperate things!
WIL: Hello, they NEED to be eating healthy too. Do you want Brayden to grow up learning to eat healthy? Yes, then he needs to be eating healthy now. As far as Bobby is concerned, this is about me taking care of me! If he doesn't want to eat healthy then he knows where the skillet and the stove are.

E: It's so hard because I have snacks and stuff all around for Bobby and Brayden.
WIL: Again, they do not need to be eating that junk either. Get rid of it and replace it with fruit and healthy snacks. (I still need to get rid of a few things)

E: By the time I get home, cook dinner, clean it up, give a bath, read a bedtime story etc...I'm too tired to excersize.
WIL: You're not a single parent. Bobby can give a bath and clean. Just ask. ( I did and he does, I mean his woman is working on getting skinny - he'll do anything he can to help)

E: I just don't like to exercise. It's not fun.
WIL: You don't like being fat and it's not fun. If you're serious about this, making the decision between the two should be easy

E: I hate water and I just can't make myself drink it.
WIL: Water is essentially flavorless, how can you hate it? It's the missing out on the other stuff that you hate. And yes, you CAN make yourself. You are a mentally stable adult that is capable of making decisions. Just decide to do it!

E: The girls at work wanted to go out for lunch today and they really wanted me to go.
WIL: Then go, just make a healthy choice. Nobody said that because you're going to eat out that you have to eat junk. And if they are going somewhere that eating healthy is not an option...then don't go. You aren't a teenager anymore and are capable of conquering the peer pressure. Just say no!!

E: I have too much to do to be messing with counting calories and eating healthy.
WIL: This is one of the lamest ones. It takes just as much time to eat a hamburger as it does a lean turkey sandwich with light mayo. If you don't have time to count calories, then don't, but that doesn't give you an excuse to eat chocolate cake for breakfast.

E: I'm losing so slowly, I'm just gonna quit and learn how to be happy being fat.
WIL: You gained it slowly and the best way to lose it is slowly. Hey at least you're losing. Do you really think you will ever be happy being fat...NO, so don't pretend that you can convince yourself to be.

E: I feel like crap today so I'm going to take it easy and eat whatever I want.
WIL: That's fine, take it easy. That doesn't mean you can eat whatever you want though. It doesn't take more energy or time to eat an apple vs a twinkie. You probably feel like crap because you are "obese" (Yes I said the "O" word. As Dr. Phil says you can't change what you don't acknowledge - 6 months ago I was considered "morbidly obese", so I'll take obese...for now. I have 25 lbs to lose before I'm considered simply as "overwieght")

E: If I am cooking something special for work etc, I have to eat it because I need to know that it tastes ok... it right?
WIL: Wrong, you've made that a hundred times and you know it tastes fine. You know it's yummy too and that's why you really want to taste it!

E: I ate too much today but hey it's still less than I used to eat. (I use this one alot)
WIL: Keep telling yourself that and you'll be back up to 2000 caloreis before you know it. You are trying to learn how to quit overeating....so quit OVEREATING!

E: Once I give in I might as well blow it the rest of the day.
WIL: This is the kind of thinking that got you where you are today. Doing this is like running a race and tripping halfway and then getting up and running back towards the starting line. That's crazy!

E: It's expensive to eat healthy.
WIL: The medical bills that result from diabetes and heartattacks cost a lot more than lean meat and whole grains!

E: It's so much harder to do on the weekend.
WIL: Saturday and Sunday are no different then Monday, Tuesday.... It's just another day. Still 24 hours, the sun still shines and the moon still comes out at night. There is absolutely no reason why you shouldn't be able to do at home what you do at work. If it's easier because you stay busy at work, then stay busy at home. If it's because you aren't surrounded by junk food at work, then don't surround yourself with it at home. On the weekend you should actually have more time to exercise and think through what you eat.

Ok, I think that's it for now. I kind of got on a roll. I went back through all of my post and counted how many times I made excuses. Once I hit ten, I quit counting. Most of my excuses in the post have to do with exercise more than eating. The eating healthier and less has actually be pretty easy for me. It's the exercise that's been a bit of a struggle. I am working on it though and applying the "No Excuses" policy. I say going forward that we are not allowed to post any excuses. What do you think? If I do...it's your job to call me out. If I don't do well one day, that's fine, I just can't make an excuse. I have to be honest and blame no one but myself. The post should read like this: "I did pretty bad today. I have no excuse, I simply did not want to do it today. I was lazy and didn't think I was worth the effort." Because even if I did have to work late and I was tired and had a lot to do when I got home...the truth still is that I was lazy and I didn't think I was worth the effort....if I thought I was worth it...I would've done it no matter what. I'll be the first to say that yes I will still have days like that. Everyday is not going to be perfect. It's ok to have days like that, but I can't allow myself to let a day turn into a week and then a month. It's all about one day at a time. If you screw it up one day, go to sleep and wake up with a new attitude. No matter what, there is absolutely no valid excuse for not doing it. Even if the worst of worst happens (whatever that may be), it doesn't mean I have to give up on me and throw in the towel. It just means I have to work harder and be stronger. Ok I'll hush now. It's just the more I talk about it the more it gets engrained (is that a word) into my head. I'm going to read this post everyday.

Love ya girl!! We are worth it and we do deserve this!

I'm Back!

Well I have been out of the loop lately haven't I? I will cut to the chase with my weight. I am back at 255. One less than last week but not where I wanted to be at this point in the game. I have had SO much going on:

1. Missing days with Baylee & I being sick.
2. Playing "catch up" when I am at work.
3. Taking a night class - fun, fun!
4. ATTEMPTING to get my home in some kind of order!

Needless to say, as usual, I put my health on the back burner. I have GOT to stop doing that. I have also decided no matter how much I WANT to lose weight and how much I "cut back" if I don't start drinking my water like I should and exercise I will NEVER make it! I talked to Brian and we are going to work on getting our extra bedroom cleaned up and the exercise equipment brought back in there. It has been hard to exercise because the only time I have time to do it is first thing in the morning and late at night and by then I don't want to walk by my self. (Especially since we don't have street lights!) SO one thing at a time. I plan on working on the extra bedroom tonight and tomorrow. As of Monday I will have my exercise equipment in there and I will be back in the game. I HAVE to do this and I know I can it is just like sometimes I let life get in the way. I am VERY proud of you! You have done so well!

Wednesday Weigh In: Traci

Down just barely a pound from last week...but I guess at least it went down.

I really want to see a 3 or 4 lb loss soon. I have to get my butt on that treadmill!!

NO EXCUSES!

Weigh - In Wednesday: A Day Late!

I was out sick yesterday so I missed my weigh in. I told you I gained two pounds from my last weigh in from all of my pigging out! Well I am back down to 256 - one pound more than last week and one pound less than a couple of days ago!

I am really into it today! I feel great! I took some vitamins. I took a B Comples (which is good for your metabolism) that contains Vitamin C and Iron (which I need because I have low iron.) I am also starting today on taking Juice Plus. I don't know if you have ever heard of it but it isn't really a "supplement" it is considered "whole food". You can get info from www.juiceplus.com
A lady at work told me about it when I first started here. There is no replacement for actually eating the fruits and veggies but it is good for someone that cannot get all the required ones in each day. Here is a little info on it:

INFO FOR JUICE PLUS

Just two Orchard Blend capsules and two Garden Blend capsules provide the vitamin C of four oranges, the beta carotene of three raw carrots, and more vitamin E than several servings of spinach and broccoli … plus the many other vitamins, minerals, phytochemicals, and antioxidants found in the fruit and vegetable powders they contain.

Juice Plus+® provides the nutritional essence of 17 different fruits, vegetables, and grains in convenient and inexpensive capsule form. Juice Plus+ Orchard Blend® contains seven of the most nutritious fruits around: apples, oranges, pineapple, cranberries, peaches, acerola cherries, and papaya. Juice Plus+ Garden Blend® contains ten nutrient-dense vegetables and grains: carrots, parsley, beets, kale, broccoli, cabbage, spinach, tomatoes, and barley and oat fibers.

Taking Juice Plus+® capsules every day provides the nutritional foundation we so desperately need that is so lacking in our diets today.
There is no substitute for eating a wide variety of fresh, raw fruits and vegetables, at least 7-13 servings every day. But if you’re like most people, you don’t eat enough fruits or vegetables or enough variety. And those fruits and vegetables that we do eat tend to be overprocessed, over-cooked, or too far removed from the field, and thus lack much of the nutrition provided by fresh, raw fruits and vegetables. That’s why there’s Juice Plus+®. It’s a convenient, affordable, and natural whole food based nutritional product that harnesses the nutritional power of 17 vegetables, fruits, and grains. Juice Plus+® is not a vitamin supplement, providing a limited number of handpicked nutrients. Juice Plus+® is a whole food based product providing the wide array of nutrients found in a variety of nutritious fruits, vegetables, and grains. It’s the next best thing to fruits and vegetables … because we don’t get nearly enough of the real thing every day.

Weigh-In Wednesday: Traci

I almost forgot to weigh in today....


Up 1 from a few days ago but still down 1.2 lbs from last weigh in!

Salad Dressing

I LOVE salad, but I'm very picky when it comes to the dressing. The real stuff has so many calories and the fat free stuff is usually pretty nasty. I found these Cottage Cheese dressings and they sound ok and only have about 10 calories per Tbsp. They may end up being nasty too, but I'm gonna give the Thousand Island one a try. I'll let you know There are a lot of other really good recipes here also.

http://www.3fatchicks.com/cookbook/viewrecipe/197


This dessert sounds very yummy!!
http://www.3fatchicks.com/cookbook/viewrecipe/552

Dr's Appt

I went for my Adipex follow up today. Last time I was there (s0metime in Nov) I weighed in at 228.5 Today I was at 214 (I weighed in this morning at home at 211, i ate breakfast and have had 60 oz of water since then though). She said 14 lbs in that amount of time was great. She called in the refills and I go back on the 14th of February. My goal is to be at 199 by then. That's almost 4 lbs a week but I'm going to push myself to do it. If they can do it on the BL then I can do it. I'm bumping the cardio up to 40 minutes a night, sticking to my 1200 on the weekends and getting at least 100 oz of water a day. I can do this and SO CAN YOU!!! I know it's hard, but we've got to keep keepin' on. Not only for ourselves but for the kids.

WE ARE WORTH THE EFFORT AND TIME!!

Are you still taking the Adipex? I don't think I would have gotten this far without it. The nurse that did my weigh in took it for 6 months. She looks awesome. She lost 70lbs. She showed me her "fat" pictures. They were very inspirational!

Congrats!

(On the 210!) That is awesome! Only 11 pounds away from Onederland!! Woohoo! As far as my weekend....lets just say not so well! As I said in my last post we are starting a 3 month diet and I am going to have to be way more strict on it so to be honest I pigged out all weekend! I ate everything I crave to get it out of my system! As of this morning I had gained 2.2 pounds which some of it may be water weight because I ate alot of salty stuff. (I had Kyoto's for lunch yesterday which tends to bloat me!) SO I am on clean slate this morning! It feels good. Between the competition, this site and encouragement from you there is no way I can go wrong!!

Goal Day

Well yesterday was my first mini goal date. My goal was to be at 206 by the 15th. Well I weighed in yesterday at 210.2 Only 4 lbs away from my goal and I am pleased with that. Bobby said that I have proved that I can do this and he has agreed to put trying for baby number 2 on hold for now. No matter what I weigh though as of April 1 we are going to begin trying. I would like to be at 180 by then, but that would be 30 lbs in 11 weeks. My goal is to lose 2 a week, so that only puts me at 188. I would be ecstatic with that. I'll shoot for the 30 though, just to push me. I have finally started to bump up the exercising so hopefully that will help. How did you do this weekend??

Weigh-In Wednesday & Other News

Well I will start in with my Weigh-In from Wednesday. I didn't lose but at least I didn't gain!! I stayed at 255!! Ugh.

I have not been very motivated AT ALL the past couple of days. I am wondering if it is because everything is a disaster right now. My house is a disorganized wreck, my car is awful and my office was until a couple of days ago. I know it sounds stupid but when I am unorganized it is like I can't function! Not to mention the fact that I have been broke so couldn't really grocery shop like I wanted to!

So I am starting fresh "kinda". I am off Monday for MLK day so I am going to take this weekend to get my house & car clean and organized. I might even put a few new coats of paint on the walls. When I leave work today I want to leave things in good order so I can't start fresh on Tuesday when I come back to work. I am going to clean out my cabinets and fridge and go shopping and only by "safe" foods. I am going to get my extra bedroom cleaned and get my exercise equipment back in there. I am getting fired up just by talking about it!! I guess it is easier when you are organized and things seem to flow easier!

Not to mention the fact I got "The Biggest Loser" competition going here at work. We are going to go for 3 months each doing our own "diet plans" and see who loses the highest percentage of weight. The Biggest Loser gets the money in the "pot". So far we have 9 maybe 10 people so that puts us up to either $180.00 or $200.00!!! We have someone very trust worthy and not involved to keep the money and do our weigh in. We are going to weight in Tuesday and then we won't have another official weigh in until our last one on April 17th!

I have the advantage though because I have this site and you and I can post each week and get encouragment from you and doing this!! It feels good to come here and put in words how I am feeling!

Recipe

Beef and Biscuits
1 lb of Extra Lean Ground Beef
1/2 c Chopped Onion
1/2 c Bell Pepper

1 Clove of Garlic

8 oz Can of Tomato Sauce
10 oz Can of Regular Refrigerated Biscuits (not Grands)
1 c of 2% Monterey Jack or Colby Cheese shredeed
1/2 c Light Sour Cream
1 Egg, slightly beaten

Preheat oven to 375

In large skillet brown the ground beef, onion, garlic and bell pepper, drain. Stir it tomato sauce and simmer on low while preparing biscuits.

Seperate biscuits into 10. Pull each biscuit into 2 layers (this part is a bit tricky, the biscuits need to be cold and right out of the fridge or they are hard to pull apart) Lay 10 halves on the bottom of a lightly greased 8x11 casserole dish or a deep 9 inch pie plate. Reserve the other 10 halves for the top.

Remove meat mixture from heat and stir in 1/2 cup of cheese, the sour cream and the egg; mix well. Spoon over layer of biscuits. Arrange remainng biscuits on top of meat mixture.
Bake for 25 minutes, remove and add remaining cheese; bake an additional 5 minutes.

Makes 8 servings. Each serving is only 242 calories! Enjoy!!

To My Blog Friends!

Got this in an email and couldn't resist! I thought it was real cute. I am actually a little nervous today because we get our yearly evaluations. I strive to do my best but sometimes......anyway!

Hope you have a great day!

Weigh-In Wednesday: Traci

Down 3.9 lbs since last weigh and down 8.6lbs since original weigh in on Dec 6th. It's going slow, but at least it's going. I knew I would put a few back on after the flush over the weekend. I always seem do worse on the weekends, so I've decided I'm going to do the modified flush every weekend. I think if I have a certain strict paln to focus on I will do better than just winging it.

I Am Trying!

So last night I ended up changing around my menu some. I ended up eating 1415 calories yesterday and my activities were only at 1409 calories! Ugh! The thing is all and all I ate really good and I walked an HOUR last night!!

Today I am at 1204 calorie wise already!! I am going to have to work out more I suppose or this weight is not going to EVER come off!! I was worried about my calories but based on my BL book my average calorie intake for weight loss should be 1800 a day!! If I am not losing now I sure won't lose with 1800! I really need to pick up the exercise more. I mean on BL that is how they lose all that weight! They exercise like two hours everyday!!! Scary!

Paris' New Purse

I guess it is supposed to be in memory of her dead dog! Ha! Check It Out Here!

Not much to say today! Just busy at home and work...my brain feels kind of jumbled! Hope all is well with everyone else!

I think your plan sounds great. I need to start paying more attention to the food groups too. I noticed on my fitday report that I am getting a lot less than the RDA on many vitamins and minerals. I need to start taking a multi-vitamin. Have you taken a look at the new food pyramid. It now bases your pyramid on your age and gender. Here is mine.


As for the water here is my take on it. I think the flavored water counts as far as your bodies hydration needs are concerned, however I don't think it counts towards helping to flush more fat. Fat is expelled through exhaling and urinating. It does make you go to the bathroom more, but your liver is having to filter out the artificial flavorings and colors therefore it's not flushing as much fat as it would be with pure water. But for people who struggle to get there water, I think the flavored water is a good addition. 100 oz from a combination of flavored and pure is better than only being able to get down 60oz of pure water because it is making you go to the bathroom more, therefore probably expelling more fat. However, 100 of pure would be even better. My goal is to get at least 80 of pure water a day.

New Outlook!

Wow! Sounds like the Trafany Fruit Flush is doing good for you!!! I should have at least try to modify it instead of quitting completely. Have I ever told you about my feminine problems? Without going into too many details - I can go for a year without a period and then I can turn around and go for months and months with one. It has been a nightmare. I got put back on BC Thursday to help regulate it. (When we get ready to try "baby making" I will get put on something else but decided I didn’t want to end up pregnant before WDW!) Anyway, I started taking it Thursday. My "problem" thus far has seemed to "clear up" and I am telling you I feel SO much better!! It also problem helps that I was more active yesterday!! I really feel great. It is a good feeling! I have decided to also come up with kind of my own "diet" plan.

Water
I know for sure I don’t drink enough. This is something I really need to bring in to my diet because without it the weight won’t come off as fast. I remember once you telling me that on one of the plans you tried you tried they say to drink half of your weight in water. Half of my weight would be about 15 8oz glasses. I have a hard time drinking water when I eat so 5 of those ten glasses will be at my 5 different meal/snack times and I will use my "orange" crystal light in those along with another glass of regular water. The other glasses will be "gulp" straight water in between meals! I think this will help A LOT!

Exercise
Truthfully you can’t really lose weight without adding this in. I am going to try to do something everyday for at least 20 minutes for the next two weeks. If I go over that is fine as long as I do something EVERYDAY for 20 minutes.

Food!
For the next two weeks I am going to stick to a strict diet Monday - Friday. On the weekends I am going to be more laid back though I will still somewhat watch what I eat but I won’t be counting calories. Come Monday morning back to my diet! My food for the next week will consist of this:

8oz Water

B - Oatmeal & Crystal Light Water + 8oz Water

16oz Water

S - Orange & Crystal Light Water + 8oz Water

16oz Water

L - Creamy Chicken Soup @ Hand, Dannon Yogurt w/Fiber, Banana & Crystal Light Water
+ 8oz Water

16oz Water

D - Grilled: Boneless/Skinless Chicken Breast, 1 cup Zucchini, 1 cup Broccoli, 1 cup Mushrooms & Crystal Light Water + 8oz Water

2 Cups Milk

Protein: 3 Servings
Fruit: 4 Servings
Veggies: 3 Servings
Dairy: 3 Servings
Calories: 1150

What do you think?

The Trafany Fruit Flush - Sunday Stats

8am -1 banana- 105
10 - cup of grapes - 110
12 - 1 apple - 72
2 - cup of cherries - 95
4 - skipped it
5 pm - I was so hungry for some real food and I felt dizzy and lightheaded (probably doesn't help that I gave a pint of blood that afternoon), so I skipped the lettuce and oil and ate leftover turkey spaghetti instead and then I had a tiny piece of chocolate cake. - 459

Total Calories - 841
Total Water - 60
Total Exercise - none

I think this 'detox" is really just a way to lose some quick weight, not as much as it is a cleansing thing. I haven't even been to the bathroom (I'm sure you wanted to know that), isn't that where the "cleansing" part comes in??? I am still doing it today. I brought nothing but fruit to work. I am going to eat real food for dinner though. That's my version of it, follow it during the day and eat a healthy meal of your choice for dinner. I think I may try that every weekend. Protein all day Saturday and a healthy high protein meal for dinner and then fruit all day Sunday and a healthy high protein meal for dinner. I'm doing this mainly for the weight loss not the detox part. I weighed this morning and was at 210.4, so I can say that it at least helps you lose some weight quickly. I just wonder if it will all come back when I go back to eating real food everyday. Hopefully if I stick to the less than 1200 a day it will stay off. I couldn't find the colon cleanse pills, I must have threw them away last time I cleaned out the medicine cabinet. I'm going to buy some more on payday and I will send you some.

I failed Miserably!

So I tried the first "protein" day. I did okay until about 2:00pm. I used a protein mix that Brian had at the house that he had bought awhile back. Let just say I had to "gag" it down in the first place then by 2:00pm when I tried to drink it again it LITERALLY made me sick. After that even the smell of it or the THOUGHT of it made me sick. It was horrible!!! It was something like one of these but it is fruit punch flavored. Yuck. Yuck. Yuck. I wish I would have thought of the low-carb slim fast. So now I need to start again! I don't get paid again until Friday and don't have the money so let me know how your part goes - I look forward to seeing your stats for those days - and I will try the "Traci & Tiffany" version of the Fruit-Flush Detox. I would think it would still be pretty good. I just can't even imagine trying to "gag" down another one of those protein shakes!! I still haven't eaten too terribly bad but I have not necessarily eaten that great yet either. I think Baylee and I will get out for a walk this afternoon and the next couple of afternoons since I have done NO walking and have not drank hardley any water. Those are the two things I am going to focus on right now. I am still going to watch what I am eating but focus alot on exercise and water for the next couple of weeks...you know make 'em a habit. I want this SO bad but thus far I have had a pretty hard time with it. I am still glad we have this though....it makes me feel more accountable when I know I have to answer to Trafany. I guess it is not supposed to be easier is it! I know I can do this - I just need to get with it!

Congrats on the weight loss! If you keep it going you will be at your 1st mini-goal by the 15th!! I was doing okay until the holidays. As of last weigh in I am still 30lbs away from my first mini-goal. I am giving myself until May 15th to reach that first mini-goal. That is only between 1.5 and 2.0 lbs a week. I have to, have to, have to, HAVE to make myself do this! I do NOT want to spend another summer miserable. No I won't be at my goal weight by summer but if I could at least feel like I am working towards something that would be good! I am ready to throw out all thos 22/24 clothes and be in a 18/20. At that point I will really feel like I am achieving something! That will be awesome!

Yes send me some of that stuff and I have seen that audioblog thing on another site - pretty cool!

This is sooooo cool!!!

You've got to sign up for this... www.audioblogger.com

This will also be great for when we start Jack's Legacy....if we ever do!!

That is what I heard when I weighed this morning...

I just weighed in at 213.0 lbs. That's the lowest yet! I know today isn't weigh-in day but I had to weigh this morning because I am starting the detox today. That's the only way I will know if it works. I decided to go with a premixed protein drink. I did a little shopping last night and could only find one protein powder that meets his criteria. It was $39. I'm not spending that much on something that #1 I may not be able to tolerate and #2 I only need for one day....well at least for now. If this goes well, I may do it once a week for a month as he suggests. I didn't realize until I got home that the article says that each 1 oz of powder mix should have 24g of protein. You are supposed to have 6 ounces of MIX, not drink, every 2 hours. Well I only bought enough to have 8 0z of drink every 2 hours (5x total) and it's only 16g of protein for every 8 ounces I drink. I will only get 80 total grams of protein for the day, but after looking at what I have eaten this week, that is more than double what I currently get. So I am just sticking with my own version for today. I will follow to the book for the next two days though. I bought the Slim Fast Low Carb shakes. I will be drinking the equivalent of 4 cans. That's a total of 760 calories, 36 g of fat, 24g carbs minus the 16g of fiber will give me 8 "net carbs", and 80 g of protein. I want to go for 100 ounces of water.

I decided to skip the phentarmine, I just need to press through until 6 pm when I get real food. I should be able to do that without it. Oh yeah Uncle Tom decided to drop by last night, so that will probably make this a little harder, but I'm doing it anyway. No more excuses!!

Later that day.....

Ok, here is an update for Detox day 1. It's 4pm and I've had 3 of the slim fast. I feel really full. It's time for another and I don't really want to drink it. So tonight I'm supposed to have a 3-6 oz piece of lean chicken, fish or beef and 3-6 cups of raw vegetable salad with olive oil! I'm having salmon and steamed broccoli though. I just can't do 3 cups of lettuce with oil. Ok can't really isn't the word, I don't want to. How much different can 3 cups of stemaed broccoli with nothing on it be from raw veggies and oil? So maybe this first day isn't exactly by the books, but I still feel like it's a good first day to the detox. I think this day is mainly to get our body ready for the next 2 days of mostly fruit. I also have some Arbonne colon cleanse. I've taken once before and let's just say that yes I think it cleaned out some areas that had not been cleaned out in a while!! I'll skip the details!! Anyway, I'm going to take one of those before I go to bed too. If you want some, I will mail them to you. I have a huge bottle.

Not only do I have a B&B - we are both T’s! Just add that to the list of things in common!

Organic - I agree about the organic. It is very expensive but it is so much better for you! It is a shame that it is so expensive to eat healthy! No wonder so many people in America are Obese!!!

TBL - Watching the show last night I was really encouraged. Once again these are just people that are watching what they eat and exercising. If WHOLE families can do this it seems like I should be able to do it! It is amazing how much 40lbs makes a difference. Then that one mom that lost 78 - wow! The all looked great! I got my BL book yesterday but did not have time to read it yet. As soon as I do I will start posting info, etc. as I read it.

Discovery/Fitday.com - I signed up for the Discovery but I never went in and researched. Yes before on our "other" tries to lose weight we did discuss fitday. I am glad you brought it up because I was trying to think of it because I remembered the little charts and stuff. I do really good when I can see how I am actually doing!

Detox Diet - I was going to send you the info out of the magazine I found but when I started looking it had a website. I went to that website and found out I could by the e-book for $5.00. I am going to get you the info ASAP. I only read the magazine version - I have not read the e-book yet. I plan on doing that tonight. My goal is to start day 1 of the fruit flush on Saturday. You want to do it to?

Well I tried the Discovery Health thing and I don't like it. You can't choose your foods for the meal planner, it gives you the option of several customized meals. Have you looked at it?? I decided to sign up for fitday.com instead. It's free and you can track your food, activities, water, etc. I really like it. It even lets you do graphs so that you can see your progress. Some of the food I eat isn't listed but I just improvised. For instance the Ragu sauce wasn't on there, so I just used regular spaghetti sauce and adjusted the ounces until the calories equaled what I knew they should be. I figure once the calories are adjusted that the fat, carbs, etc probably end up being pretty close. Even though I am tracking calories, it's good to see the carb and protein intake also. The activity thing is similar to the one on caloriesperhour.com. You enter how much you drove, cooked, worked at a desk etc. It adds all of that up and compares it to what you ate to make sure you are burning more than you eat. It breaks it down to basal, lifestyle and activities. The basal is the resting, the lifestyle is based on your "lifestyle level" you put in your profile (ie: sedentary, active, etc) All of the activities you entered are in the activities category. You should check it out. Seems like it is one of the sites we talked about last time we were trying to lose.

Food Finds

Crystal Light Sugar Free Hard Candies - 25 calories, these are really good and 4 of them actually equals 1/2 of a fruit serving - they are at the bottom of the page
Pillsbury wheat roll - 90 calories, these are awesome, much more flavor than the regular dinner roll, the boys prefer them too

I made spaghetti using the new Organic Ragu and I used the Barilla Pasta Plus that has added fiber, protein and omega 3 (really good, taste just like regular pasta) and I used 93% fat free ground turkey. Yum!!

I like the idea of organic. The spaghetti sauce was sooo good. I assumed that it would be gross because it was healthier. It tasted pure..does that make sense? It was just like I had taken tomatoes from the vine and crushed them. I would love to switch to buying mostly organic products, but it's expense at the specialty stores.

WOOHOO!!!

Congrats on the 4lbs!! Love the picture!!

Yes please send it my way...I think I will try it. You are exactly right on the pregnancy thing. I want to eat healthy and still exercise. Last time I think I used being pregnant as an excuse to
be lazy and eat whatever.....and now look at me!!

I'm going to sign up for the discovery health thing today! BTW I found a new little snack..well the snack isn't new, but I didn't know that they had so few calories. Only 110 calories in the breadstick variety.


I found an off brand at Family Dollar and it only has 95 calories....every little calorie counts. It's just as yummy!

Weigh-In Wednesday: Tiffany

Well I weighed in this morning....255. Still not as low as I was on my first weigh-in; however, I am down 4 lbs from last weeks 259 and still less that the 262 that I started with way back in August.

I am going to sign up for that Discovery Health thing - great idea!

Any loss - 1.3lbs or not - is great! You go girl!

Well look at it this way even if you do have to start trying now you can still continue to try to lose weight. I mean considering the other problems you have had in the past you may or may not get pregnant on your first couple of tries!! Also, there are alot of workout tapes etc for pregnant mom's. It would also be good for the baby for you to eat healthier and at least walk so don't look at it as a bad thing if you have to start so soon - just stay on track no matter what! If you keep up the good eating and exercising habits through out the pregnancy and don't use the pregnancy as an excuse you will drop the weight SO fast after you have the baby!

I found this kind of "detox" in a magazine I saw at the store yesterday and I picked it up. The lady that told about it lost 9lbs in 3 days. Of course *results not typical*. Anyway, I am going to try it tomorrow, Friday and Saturday. On the 1st day it is alot of Protein shakes etc, 2nd and 3rd days it is alot of fruits. The article really explains it. I will scan it in and email it to you in the morning just in case you want to try it too. They say you can do the detox for 3 days and then regular diet for 4 days and then start over. They were saying you can do this up to 12 weeks or so and it really "cleanses" your body and gives your weight loss a boost!

Oh no!!

I just realized that I am 10 lbs and 10 days away from my first mini-goal. My deal with Bobby was that as long as I met my goal we could wait and try for baby number 2 in April, but if I didn't meet it then I would agree to go ahead and start trying. My whole excuse for not wanting to have another baby right now is that I want to lose some weight first. Well I have been saying that for a year now, so he said if I could prove to him that I was serious this time that we would wait until April. I better get my butt moving. I think if I can lose at least 5 more and be only 5 away from my goal that I can convince him that I am doing good.... I'll blame it on the holidays. I have got to be very good from this point forward. You better believe my butt will be on that treadmill tonight!

Weigh-In Wednesday: Traci

Only down 1.3 lbs and not back to where I was before Christmas, but at least I am down this week!

Surfin' the web!

I think I am going to sign up for this. It's completely free and offers a lot of features that most pay sites offer (meal plans, assessments, trackers, etc) It has some really neat stuff. Check it out. Wanna sign up?http://health.discovery.com/convergence/bodychallenge2006/opener.html?clik=netmain_feat1

Here are a few cool sites or articles that I have found:
http://www.fitwatch.com/ (have to pay for access to certian areas of the site) http://www.deniseaustin.com/free/feelgreat/10dos.asp http://www.wegmans.com/eatwelllivewell/weightManagement/020105.asp

Low Calorie Recipes

Some of my favorites in a low calorie version:

Potato Salad - http://health.yahoo.com/recipe/?f=bhg%20recipe&id=r054249

Meatloaf - http://health.yahoo.com/recipe/?f=bhg%20recipe&id=r053832

Orange Chicken - http://health.yahoo.com/recipe/?f=bhg%20recipe&id=r053198

Eggplant Parmesean - http://health.yahoo.com/recipe/?f=bhg%20recipe&id=r054209

Onion Rings - http://health.yahoo.com/recipe/?f=bhg%20recipe&id=r053932

Fettucine Alfredo - http://www.fitnessandfreebies.com/local/fettuccine.html

Peanut butter cookies - http://www.fitnessandfreebies.com/local/pbfudge.html (only 30 calories per cookie)

My mouth is watering just reading all of these.

I like the idea of commenting in a post unless we don't have anything to post. I think your DW (disneyworld) goal is definetly acheivable and I don't think 2 lbs a week is unreasonable. You can do it. By the way I think I have gained control again. I didn't take my meds today but I'm still doing ok.

Yikes! New "Five Month" Goal!

We have picked a couple of dates. We have decided that we will go to Disney World sometime between the last week in May to the first week in August. That means I have to get on it NOW because JUST IN CASE we decide to go the last week in May I would really really really like to lose at least 40 lbs by then. That would put me at 219 from my last weekend and at least down one size. That means I would have to lose on average 2lbs per week. I don't know how reasonable that is but I am really really going to try to get as close as I can in the next five months!