Weight Loss Journey!

Well I am beginning weight loss journey. Yesterday I created a chart to help me keep up with my calories, etc. I went ahead and ate as usal yesterday. I really didn't think it was that bad b/c I really didn't eat alot...but the calorie intake...INSANE! I just ate three basic meals and a snack. I didn't even eat alot at the meals...no more than the regular serving. All of that being said...here it is..*gulp*..I ate OVER 3300 calories yesterday!!!!! YYIIKKEESS!!! I am just in shock. I really don't eat that much but this just goes to prove it is WHAT I eat that is so bad! It is aggravating b/c I know others that eat so much more. I just have to learn that MY body is different and I have to work hard to get it back to where it needs to be!! So here is my "before" picture:

TTC #2

Well it is that time again!! Brian and I have one beautiful daughter - Baylee - she will be *gulp* 11 years old in April!! In the last 9+ years we haven't "prevented" pregnancy but we haven't exactly been trying either. Last year when Brian returned from deployment we decided (finally we were on the same page!) to ttc #2. We tried for several months until my grandmother passed away. We slacked off some for a few months and around the time we started back found out my SIL was pregnant. She is in her late 30's and being her first child I talked to my husband and we decided to wait until the first of the year tomorrow before we start ttc again. This gives her time to experience her first pregnancy without being compared to others. Also, my first pregnancy was hard as I didn't get to experience it with my "husband". My first husband was killed in a car wreck while I was pregnant with Baylee. My husband (now) adores Baylee and is in the process of adopting her. She adores him and knows she has one daddy in heaven and one on earth. After all, we have been together since she was 15 months old and he is the only daddy she has ever known. So back to the story - not only to give her time to enjoy her pregnancy but the same for us. This will be the first pregnancy that I would be able to share with someone and actually been my husbands first pregnancy to go through as well.

So - starting tomorrow Jan. 1st - we are back in the ttc challenge! Yes I DO mean challenge! Ha! I have always been irregular and was told by doctors that they were surprised I was even able to conceive Baylee. A couple of weeks ago I had a doctor's appointment that was very discouraging. Basically, I was told that they did not think I could conceive any more children. Some of it may be my weight but most of it is the fact that I have always had issued even when I was a size 5! Brian and I decided - doctors are NOT God. We are going to start this year out right. Getting in shape, bbt, vitamins, etc. Then we will go from there! We are going to try for about 6 months and after that point we will talk again and decide if we want to continue to try. Alot of it has to do with our kiddos will already be 11/12 years apart and we really don't want them to be any further in age.

More later...

Almost 2009

I for one cannot believe it is 2009 already (Well in a few days anyway)!! Yup...it is that time again...New Years Resolutions!! I can't say right off the top of my head that I have any. I have a lot of things I have been wanting to try to do and have already started to do. Just the usual:

* Lose Weight (Duh!)
* Organize my home & office (Already started!)
* Start our weekly family game night again
* Be more focused at work
* Stay in contact with my family and friends better

Like I said...just the usual. I don't know...maybe it will work, maybe it won't but I am trying anyway!!!

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Today Baylee left with her grandparents to go to Knoxville. I always dread her traveling so far away form me but I know she is in good hands. She will have a good time. She is going up to visit her great-grandfather and great-uncle. They are sweet and I wish I was going with her! :-) Though, I really don't have any time to take off of work. I enjoy that area of Tennessee so much. Brian and I went up and stayed in a cabin in the mountains with our very OWN indoor pool...right in the middle of the cabin. It was so nice and relaxing. A good time to relax, meditate, reflect, pray, etc.

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Brian has been working on his "baby" in our garage. I am SO ready for him to get finished with this truck but I really think there is FINALLY a light at the end of the tunnel!! For a birthday gift his dad has helped purchase over half of the things that he needs to get it going. He really is almost done with it and I am SOOOO glad. This truck has been an eye sore for 6 years now! I love him and even though that truck is SO ugly to me right now (and will be for sometime) it is his baby! Well as long as he is happy....and we don't have a car note....well then I am happy!

More Later...

Perplexed...

...about a friend of mine. I love her dearly but for some strange reason...just out of nowhere she stopped talking to me - I will refer to her as "new" friend. I have no idea why. She will talk occasionally but it is very short and sweet and USUALLY only when I contact her first. See I introduced her to my best friend - which I will refer to now as "first" friend. I just know they both need someone else other than me because I think friendships are important. For awhile all was fine but then just one day...nothing. Now my first and I still talk and hang out all the time. I thought well maybe new friend just had a lot going on (and the truth is the poor thing does! I don't know how she does it!). Yet, I find out that she IS talking to my first. I think this is great! I WANT them to be friends with others but I just don't understand why she ISN'T talking to me but she IS talking to others. I don't expect my friends to put me first over their other friends but I would like some sort of response. If I call, message and text and never hear from you then I am going to assume it is something I have done. I have asked and asked but she just keeps saying she is busy BUT not too busy to talk to my first but she IS too busy to talk to me? I don't get it and I KNOW there has to be a reason. Either you are mad, hurt or for whatever reason just have falling out of friendship feelings with me? I will be so sad either way but I would much rather someone just be honest and tell me what is up...even if things never change...than to make me wonder. I don't want her to think I am abandoning her either. I guess I am just going to be here if she needs me. I may wait until after the holidays and invite her to do something just the two of us and leave the ball in her court...that would give me my answer. I will always be here if she needs me but I can't keep chasing my tail in this friendship. :-(

Can I Get That Light For You?

Okay this is kind of silly. I am just sitting at work and I heard someone ask someone else...who is sitting in an office with floor to ceiling windows...do you want me to turn on that light for you? Well they have worked like that all day and I am SURE they know that there is a light in their office. Sometimes..headaches or for other reasons we just don't want the light on...AND THAT IS OKAY! As for me...I am definitely a NO light girl...or a natural light girl. Unless I really just can't see what I am doing you will never catch a light on in my house during the daytime hardley b/c I keep my windows open! I say all this to say...sometimes we just don't like the light. I know there are others that like every light in the house on...and that is okay, too. Just leave us "no florescent light" girls alone! LOL! :-)

Knowing Right from Wrong....

...but I still "emotionally" ride the fence. I have the "blahs" right now and I hope when I go to bed and wake up...AND THROUGH PRAYER...that the blahs are gone tomorrow. I dealt with a situation today that was rough. I was in a situation where I had to tell the truth and telling the truth is ALWAYS the right thing to do. I know I did the right thing and I know the outcome was right deep down in my heart and soul. I know what happen WAS God's will and through prayer it was a great thing. I just feel bad...as a Christian...for the other person that was adversly affected. What happend to the other person as a result of what they did they deserved. I just emotionally feel sad for the other person. They are lost and can't even see the wrong of their ways. I just hate the knot I have in my stomach right now.

I Got The "Go Go" In My Blood...

I don't know what my problem has been lately. I have just been in the mood to GO. Not so much go but just feel I don't know...adventurous...lets see what that means:

ad·ven·tur·ous
1. inclined or willing to engage in adventures; enjoying adventures.
2.full of risk; requiring courage; hazardous: an adventurous undertaking.

Yes that most definitely could be me. I don't know why I feel this way. I love my home. I love all my friends and family being close by. I love...okay like...my job most of the time. (Though I would love to go back to nursing school). I just have been in the mood to go! I almost want to move to another city...try out new things...etc. I don't know if this is a good or bad thing or if anyone of the people that might actually come by and read this has ever felt this way. I just want to GO. Seriously, if someone offered me the opportunity to pack up and move to a new city right now I would go. I just hate feeling this way because I feel like I am wishing my life away. It has gotten real bad though. Just today I found myself on the way home listening to the weather and news reports of OTHER cities in OTHER states on my XM radio...what is that all about?

All I can figure is it is summer. I am ready for vacation and maybe by the time I get home the "Go Go" feeling will be gone....hhhmmm.

...Lost & Found...

Yes I have been away for awhile now...almost a year! I missed it! No excuses as to why I haven't been around and there will be no promises about how often I will be here! HA! All I know is I am back for now! Stay tuned! :-)

January 2008 ~ Me Again!!!

Yup, it is that time of year again!!! Time for new years resolutions!! I had tried so hard to get down to a good size before Brian came home and just didn't get to where I wanted. I just kind of gave up. I have no idea why! Well now he is home and wants to get in better shape too so we are going to do it together! We will see how it goes. I am going to try real hard. Tomorrow will be a new day for me .... again .... HAHA! Traci you were a great inspiration seeing you at Christmas so that was encouraging, too. So tomorrow I will be at it again.

In the morning Brian and I are going to get up and start jogging. I have never really been a jogger so we are going to workup to one mile. Then when I can accomplish one mile then we will move up from there. I am going to try ... again ... to get my 8 glasses of water a day. We are going to the gym at night after work. I am going to attempt for now to do my slimfast for breakfast and for lunch. I am going to have two snacks through the day and then eat dinner with Brian and Baylee at night. So little baby steps but I really want this and have wanted it for YEARS now. I HAVE to do it. I have had some health problems lately and I want to get rid of those and get off my meds!

Then we have talked about going out west for our summer vacation. We were thinking Grand Canyon, Yellowstone and Royal Gorge. Kind of a road trip. You have to work up and get in better shape before do something like that b/c the altitude (I hear) will take your breathe away.

THEN one very BIG reason is we are going to TTC!! (Try to conceive!) I am already at a disadvantage b/c of my age and feminine problems...but then you add being overweight to it...well it makes it hard to get pregnant so I want to try my best to lose weight in order to do that as well!!!

Well I guess that is all for now! Just wanted to check in for 2008 and get a good start!! So here is to reaching our goals in 2008!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Long time... no post!!

Ok, so I haven’t posted in quite sometime… well that’s because I haven’t exactly been watching what I eat or working out as much….BUT I haven’t gained a pound, so I’m happy about that. I’m still sitting at 199. I haven’t gone crazy with the eating, but I’ve had a few cookies here, some fries there, a slice of apple pie over here… you get it. I’ve only been walking a couple of times a week rather than my usual 6 nights a week. I have been staying busy though and very active with Brayden. We played basketball and football for almost 3 hours yesterday…that was definetly a workout. So anyway, I’m here today to pledge to get back on the counting calorie program and the exercise program until Thanksgiving Day… after that it’s back on until the trip to MS for Christmas. I would like to lose 6 by the 22nd and another 8 on top of that for a total of 14 more by the MS trip. That will put me at 185lbs… the lowest I have been since high school. Definetly doable if I can just stay on task.

Weigh In Wednesday (A Day Late!)

Well I have been procrastinating b/c I keep meaning to update my food journals from the past two days but then I thought forget it! I need to update!!! So here it is.....





Yes that is right people...16 pounds! So not as much as you all have lost but at least I am back on the wagon!!! I didn't eat so well yesterday but plan to get back on it today. I figured that would just be my cheat day. I really have slacked on my water the past 4 days or so...I was doing so good. That is another thing I am going to have to get back on today!!! So I originally wanted to lose 50 pounds before Brian came home...but as of now...if I could at least get down 30 pounds that is the smallest I have been in sometime and I think that would at least allow me to go down one pants size. That is what I am hoping anyway. The way I figure I have about 10 weeks left. If I can lose an average of at least 2 pounds a week for 10 weeks that would be an additional 20 pounds...which is 6 pounds over my current goal of 30! That would be awesome!

Actually, I would AT LEAST like to get this extra 14 off before Thanksgiving when I see the family. Plus, all we do is eat, eat, eat all week and I think if I can stay disciplined enough between now and then it will be so much of a habit that my stomach wouldn't even have room for all that yummy food. Plus, if I at least appear that I lost weight and someone notices...you know that will have me on cloud 9 for a week!!!

Weigh-In Wednesday: Traci

Ok, so the goal was to be at 199... which would have been 5lbs in 1 week. Well, I only lost 3 but I'm not complaining. The 199 will come... very soon! I didn't exercise at all last week so I'm honestly impressed I even lost what I did. Onederland... HERE I COME!!!

Jump Start Diet - Day 4 (Cheat Day)

Well I had decided early on that I was going to try to have a cheat day one day a week. On that day really try not to go over my calories but eat a little worse that day! :-) Brians family was in town. I went and spent time with them and it was alot of fun. We went to P.F. Chang's for lunch, went bowling, went to Cozumel for dinner and then had cake and ice cream at his mom's house for his cousin's birthday!! So I was really scared as to what my calorie intake was going to be. I just drank lots of water to keep my belly full and ate very small portions of everything I did eat. I had no rice, no ice cream, etc. At the Mexican place I had 5 chips...then I put my straw wrapper in my salsa bowl and pushed it aside so I wouldn't be tempted to eat anymore.

So this is how I did:


Almond Cashew Chicken 335
Wonton Soup 350
One Bite of a Spring Roll 50
Salsa 7
Chips 50
Cheese Enchilada 225
Enchilada Red Sauce 150
Birthday Cake 75

So this totals to my calorie count for 1250

I know I have been trying to get 1500 but I am glad I had some leadway just in case the calorie counter I used was not very accurate.

Water!

I probably only had about 60 oz of Water Today

Exercise!

No significant Exercise but I did go bowling which my guess wiht my research on the net shows I probably burned at least 356 calories and I know that isn't just great but oh well! I tried! :-)

Jump Start Diet - Day 3

I did not do as well today at all.

I just was not hungry for some reason. I was having a very emotional day anyway and sad and upset. (Missing my man and bills!) So really was not in the mood to eat I don't guess or exercise for that matter. SOOOOO....all I did was this:

I Drank 2 Shakes today! (Breakfast, Lunch)

80 oz of Water!

Exercise!!

Nada!! :-(

Rule Of Thumb For Drinking Water!!

Water and Weight Loss

Water plays a major part in weight loss. Because water contains no calories, it can serve as an appetite suppressant and helps the body metabolize stored fat. It may possibly be one of the most significant factors in weight loss.Also, drinking more water helps to reduce water retention by stimulating the kidneys. Studies recommend that if you are overweight, you should add one glass of water to your daily requirement for every 25 pounds over your recommended weight.

Fun Water Facts
Seventy-five percent of Americans are chronically dehydrated. This likely applies to half of the world population. Preliminary research indicates that 8-10 glasses of water a day could significantly ease back and joint pain for up to 80 percent of sufferers. A mere 2 percent drop in body water can trigger fuzzy short-term memory, trouble with basic math, and difficulty focusing on the computer screen or on a printed page.

*I copied this from somewhere and closed the window before I was able to save the link...so if this is yours let me know and I will gladly give you credit!*

Jump Start Diet - Day 2

I made it another day!

Day 2 was a little harder. I was a little more tempted to eat early in the day but I didn't. Also, I got busy when I got home from work and fed Baylee, etc. Then after she got in bed I realized...It was 9:15 and I had not even had my shake! So I was bad...I skipped it last night b/c I felt that was too late to even have one!

So this is what I did:

I Drank 2 Shakes today! (Breakfast, Lunch)

An Apple For Mid-Morning Snack!

One Orange for an Afternoon Snack!

100 oz of Water!

Exercise!!

I went to the gym. YEAH! Tuesday and Thrusdays are my weight days. So that is what I worked on. I didn't do but about 5 minutes cardio just to warm up before my weight session. I know it worked b/c I feel just a tiny bit sore as I write this!

Today (Friday) should be fairly easy. What I am worried about is sticking to it over the weekend. I don't have any drastic plans this weekend so maybe that will make it easy for me. Plus, I am going to try to carry around a water bottle all weekend and some sugar free gum and see if that helps!! HAPPY FRIDAY!

Jump Start Diet - Day 1

I made it! Go me! Go me!

So all in all it was okay other than I am SICK and TIRED of going to the bathroom...but that is okay...I just pretend I am flushing all the fat out! So this is what I did:

I Drank 3 Shakes today! (Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner)

An Apple For Mid-Morning Snack!

Broccoli For Mid-Afternoon Snack!

One Orange for Evening Snack!

100 oz of Water!

Exercise!!

I didn't do any significant exercise today except just basic house cleaning. Hmmm. Not good. I was trying to do one thing at a time - you know get used to the food today then add exercise in tomorrow. Not to mention I didn't go to bed the night before unil 2:00 a.m. So wasn't really up to work out. Hmmm. Bad me. However, I have already packed my gym bag for tomorrow!

Weigh-In

Hey Ladies!

Well..I know I haven't blogged in a while, but I have been busy. Things are settling down now, though. I did fall off the wagon for a week. I didn't gain, but I didn't loose. I have started back strong this week. So...I am at 178. I have three months before justin comes home, my goal is 30-35 lbs.
Tiff..way to get back on the wagon. You can do it girl. Like traci said it is forming a habit.
Traci..way to go! Keep up the good work!
Have a good week!

The Biggest Loser - 9/11/07!!

I have been really emotional this week but I tell you hearing their stories...you know before they picked teams. I cried! I guess because I could relate to alot of them! I also cried when the older guy made it to Bob first! I don't know if I cried because I was happy for him or if I was crying because even I - be many years younger than him - could not have beat him to the finish line! Good for him!!

I was also thinking how HARD they work out. WOW! My little 45 mintues on the treadmill is NOTHING compared to their workouts. I am REALLY going to have to push myself to be more like that.

I really don't have a favorite yet but I think the girl that got voted off last night...well she was a good choice...in my opinion anyway.

Did you watch? What are your opinions/thoughts on last nights show? Is there any certain person on the show that you can relate to more than other - based on size/body image?

TIFFANY'S BIGGEST LOSER PROFILE

Ther person I more closely relate to is Hollie. We are close to the same size...though I am a little bigger because she is about 2 inches taller than me. Something about her just reminds me of myself. Though I might change my mind latter on...this is who I am kind of following and watching. Now as for me...here is pretty much a current picture of me. It was taken about a month ago...after my 6 pound loss. It is REALLY scary. Probably one of the worst pictures I have seen of myself in awhile. Most of the reason why is someone took this picture without me being able to say "shoulders up" "let me stand behind something" "chin out", etc. This is the all day everyday me...I really hope in the next two weeks this image begins to change some...

Weigh-In Wednesday: Tiffany

Good Morning All! Well it is the first day of my new diet. I didn't get up and exercise this a.m. b/c Brian and I talked until 2:00 a.m.! YIKES! So needless to say I will have to wait to do that when I get home. (Along with cleaning my house that has been somewhat neglected this week!) Anyway, I will blog more about my diet later! As far as, the weigh in today...I weighed this morning...still maintaining at the 6 pounds lost.

Now originally I wanted to lose 50 pounds...then I said 40...and now I am saying I want to lose AT LEAST a total of 30 before Brian gets home. That is my first "mini-goal!"! I need to lose more than that in the long run but that is my starting point! So 6 down...24 more to go!!

Traci - I cannot wait to see your weigh in next week! I am willing to BET you can get that 4 pounds off!!! YOU GO GIRL! I am so proud of you! How does it feel to be so close to "One-derland"??

Susan - How are you doing? Tell us about your diet and going to the gym, etc.

Weigh-In Wednesday: Traci

No news, is usually good news... but not in this case. If you've noticed, I haven't weighed in for a couple of weeks... well that's because there is nothing to report. No loss, no gain. I hit a plateau... which is code for I quit counting calories, drinking water, and exercising for about a week and all of my momentum came to a screeching halt. However, I'm happy to report... I climbed right back on and the scale is moving again.

My goal was to be down to 200 by my birthday... well my birthday was Saturday and here I sit at 204!! So, I've set a new mini-goal to be under 200 by next weigh-in!

Down 2 lbs since last weigh in for a total loss of 28lbs!

Tiff - Definetly keep us posted on the shake thing. I'd love to do something for a week or so to take off some weight quickly! BTW, looovvveee the pic!1

My Bright Idea....

...Well it might not be so bright to you all but I am doing it anyway!! :-)

I have had a horrrible month! Here it is over 3 months since Brian left and I only lost 7 pounds and gained one of those back!! I HATE grocery shopping and packing my lunch. Period. Well there is this lady that plays Bunco with me. She is on a doctor approved "shake" diet that is done at a local hospital here. I can't afford to pay the hefty price to actually buy the supplies from them but I have decided for two weeks I will impliment my OWN shake diet. I will start tomorrow and do a blog every evening before bed for two weeks and see how it works out. I sure hope I see some results. Now this diet is going to seem...well bland and hard...but it is much better than the one she will be on b/c she can have no solid foods...period. I do not plan on staying on this diet forever. This is what I plan on doing for two weeks until I "jump start" myself and then I will modify it to be somewhat...normal!

So here is my plan:

Daily I will talk a multi-vitamin, iron and thyroid pill. I will attempt to drink 100 oz of water daily. I will also walk a minimum of 45 minutes daily and do 30 minutes of weights on Tuesday, Thursday and Saturdays.

Breakfast - Shake

Morning Snack - Apple

Lunch - Shake

Afternoon Snack - Broccoli (raw)

Dinner - Shake

Evening Snack - 1 Orange & 1 Cup (raw) Broccoli

This totals to be 1482 calories a day.

So I do realize this seems extreme but I will be honest...it has gotten to this point!

I will check back in tomorrow!!!

Weigh In Wednesday: Tiffany..I suck...

Well needless to say (as you can tell from my heading) I am not in a very good spot when it comes to weight loss! I have not worked out in like a week!! I have been too lazy in the mornings, can't at lunch and don't have time at night! SO I will be getting my but in high gear...tomorrow...gulp. Please pray for me. I REALLY need to do this. I just can't seem to get back on the wagon...I got my pinky finger on there but just can't pull myself up.



Traci - congrats on the 1 pound!! CONGRATS ON THE 26!! You go! By the way, loved the advice below...will be following that!!! Love ya!

Weigh-In Wednesday: Traci

Only down 1 lb for a total of 26lbs. Hey, that's better than gaining one.

Now I just have to make it up this week and lose 3.

Ask and ye shall receive....

It's funny you mention divorce along with the weight loss because the one thing I fear is that people are going to look at me and think... "poor thing is so depressed, she's not eating and she's losing weight". WRONG... she is working her butt off and eating right. Don't get me wrong, being single again is definetly a motivator but the actual weight loss has nothing to do with getting a divorce. I'm not saying you think that, I know you know that I'm working hard...but I think a lot of people will assume that.

As far as what I'm eating and doing to stay motivated. It's really simple actually. I eat pretty much anything I want, I just write it all down and track the calories. I eat no more than 1200 during the week and no more than 1500 on the weekends. I have found that I'm naturally eating healthier though because I want to be able to still eat when I'm hungry, therefore in order to stay under, I have to eat healthy. I could eat chocolate cake everyday, but then I would be starving. I don't know how to explain it but it has finally clicked... food is nothing more than nourishment anymore. I don't daydream about food like I used to. Don't get me wrong, if I see a box of Krispy Kremes in the kitchen at work... the thought may cross my mind... but I simply tell myself no. I can either give in to that one moment of weakness or I can triumph and take pride over the fact that I didn't go for it. The longer that I've gone the easier it has gotten. There were donuts in the kitchen this morning and the thought to eat one never even crossed my mind. That stuff only makes me feel sad and depressed... I have enough going on that makes me sad and depressed... why add to it?

I've been eating lots of fruit and veggies. I've been taking my lunch everyday. I make myself drink 100 oz of water a day. It's not an option. I drink 1 on the way to work, 1 at lunch, 1 on the way home and 2 when I get home. I've just had to make it a habit. I've emptied my house of all junk food... other than Brayden's one box of Little Debbies that I let him have. They are HIS... I even wrote his name on them.

Something else that I have been doing is skipping breakfast... now I know that goes against everything everyone else says... but hey it's working for me. I find if I eat breakfast that I get really hungry around 10 or so and go hunting down sweets. Instead, I just wait until 10 to eat my first thing for the day. I have a cup of coffee when I first get to work and that keeps me satisfied until that time. I either eat a banana or yogurt and then I don't eat again until lunchtime. For lunch, I eat a Lean Cuisine or Smart One and then eat a tomato and cucumber with Fat Free Zesty Italian dressing... so good. I usually can't eat it all. I then make myself wait until at least 3 to eat again... even if I get hungry before then, I just pop a piece a gum, chug some water and tell myself no! I usually eat a 100 calorie pack of cookies, or some kind of Smart Ones dessert at 3. I leave work each day with about 600 calories left. That' s more than enough for dinner, including dinner at a fast food place. I make myself wait until atleast 6:30 for dinner. Dinner lately has consisted of Ramen noodles, or a huge bowl of sauteed squash. We have fast food about once a week, even pizza. If you stick to burgers w/o mayo or chicken, you can usually get away for less than 500 calories. Thin crust pizza isn't too bad either if you can stick to just 2 pieces. I try to save atleast 100 calories for "dessert". Sometimes dessert is 1/2 cup of ice cream, sometimes it's a big square of dark bakers chocolate. To be honest, most days I ended up about 100 calories under what I should be getting, that's not good either... I really try to make myself get all 1200 in. I never thought I'd be having to make myself eat.

The first 2 weeks were hard...but I made myself do it. It has gotten so much easier. It's become second nature.

As for exercise, again I just make myself do it. It helps that I have someone to do it with. She counts on me to show up every night and I count on her. Unless something urgent comes up, everyone in my life has learned that at 7:30 every night, Traci will be walking. Even Brayden has accepted... he complains, but he knows that no matter what, we are going, so he might as well suck it up and go along. It's been so hot lately that I've been going to the gym instead. On the rare occasion that I can't go, I bought a Pilates DVD and I do it instead. I took a free Pilates class a few weeks ago and OMG... I hurt in places that I've never hurt before. I like it because it gives you long lean muscles instead of bulky muscles. Speaking of, I only use machines at the gym... resistance training is much better for women vs. weights. You get to tone without adding bulk...I've been doing it about 3 times a week and haven't bulked up... just toned up.

The most important thing that I have done is finally gotten into my head that I HAVE to take care of me and that it's ok to put me first sometimes. I don't care if Brayden is tired of eating vegetables and hates not having soda in the house. Guess what, after a few weeks he quit whining about not having cokes and cookies and he's actually learned to enjoy some new foods. He loves squash now. I don't care if he doesn't want to put down the Playstation to go walking for 45 minutes, this isn't about him. I say that but actually it is about him too, one of the biggest things I can do for him is to teach him at this early age, how to be healthy, to get him in the habit of exercising. He will thank me one day. I want to be around for him 20 years from now. I want to be able to run and play with him. I'm doing this for both of us and I can't allow myself to feel selfish just because he doesn't always like it. I spent the last 10 years taking care of everyone but me and look where it got me... fat and alone!!

Ok, so that was kind of quick and dirty and more of a rambling than an organized post... but hopefully it has made you think and given you some motivation. Tiffany this is one of the hardest things I have ever done, but at the same time.. it's absolutely the best I have felt about myself in a long time. I was so tired of looking at everyone else and being jealous because they were doing it and I just couldn't. Well I'm on the other side now and it feels great. You CAN do this!

I love you girl!!

Hello Stranger...Me..Not You All!!!

I am SO glad the two of you didn't pretty much drop of the face of the earth like I did. If it weren't for the fact of you two sticking it out and posting I wouldn't have this guilty feeling in the pit of my stomach right now!! I got in a bad spot...you know that one...where nothing goes right (in your mind) and you are NOT motivated anymore. Well for the most part I am out of it now...though I am kind of having a blah moment right now. (More to come on the blah moment to come...)



Yesterday I didn't eat so great but I did walk 2.5 miles last night...I even added in a few "sprints". (Talk about dying...)



Today I have eaten fairly well - could have been better: 6 ritz crackers, charbroiled chicken sandwich from Chick-Fil-A, fruit cup from Chick-Fil-A, light yogurt and 3 pieces of peppermint (I could not resist! I love peppermint! LOL!) I went at lunch and did weights. I am not trying to work TOO hard on them as I do not want to bulk but slenderize and help speed up this weight loss. I am going to go to the gym at lunch on Tuesdays and Thursdays and do weights. Monday, Wednesday and Friday go to the gym for Cardio. Then on Saturdays...SOME form of exercise even if it is only 30minutes. This past Saturday I went and walked 2 miles. As a little side note...that fruit cup from Chick-Fil-A was like the BEST I have ever had! YUM YUM!



OH I tired to do that Map My Walk link...my street does not show up on there yet so oh well! I tried...very cool link tho'!



I will say...my mouth literally dropped open when I read your comment to Susan re: Size 16!!!! AWESOME GIRL!!! WOOHOO!! Susan your weight loss has been awesome, too! Only to think .... had I just STUCK with mine I would be seeing great results by now, too. SO that is why I am feeling kind of blah...that and the pic I just saw of myself taken a couple of weeks ago...oh Lord...eye opener for sure.

UPDATE: So the above I actually started typing on Tuesday. I ended up being out of work yesterday (and didn't eat well...) because she was sick and had to take her to the doctor (tonsilitis). I am still kind of blah. I just read your Weigh-In Wednesday Traci...I am not afraid to admit...I AM SO JEALOUS!! :-) Eight pounds to One-derland!!! WOW! Happy for you though girl! You deserve it!!! My mom saw your pics on my space and was like we need to do what she is doing MINUS the Big-D. :-) <--Sorry had to. Really though Big D or not you have really done a great job. So pointers please...give us a post on what motivates you and how you make yourself stick to it, etc. What kind of foods you do and do not allow yourself to eat and how often you exercise. I know you posted all this already but TIFFANY NEEDS MOTIVATION!!! You would think surprising my man would be motivation enough...but it hasn't...at first yes but now no. Well I gotta get ready for work....blah, blah, blah. I am supposed to do weights at lunch today but we will see...right now I am ALREADY not feeling motivated. Arghhhh....

Weigh-In Wednesday: Traci

Down 2 more lbs for a total of 25lbs!!

Only 8 more lbs before I meet my first mini-goal of being below 200 by my birthday. That gives me 24 days to lose 8 lbs... no problem!!!

HAPPY LOSING!

Weigh-In

Okay guys..I couldn't way in b/c my scale broke and I am broke right now (hmmm..a bunch of broke things) so I can't buy a new one at the moment..have to wait til friday. I can tell I have lost some though, my pants are falling off my butt, which is a good thing and my bra is too big. However, I wish it would fall off my stomach.
The sugar free double chocolate jello puddings are YUMMY! Also, if you have a publix grocery store in your area there brand diet sweet tea is awesome and 0 points.
Way to go Traci. Keep up the good work!
Tiff....our challenge is still on..right?!

Weigh-In Wednesday: Traci

Down 3 lbs for a total of 23 lbs lost!!

Weigh-In Wednesday: Traci

Down 2 more for a total of 20 lbs!

Just wanted to let you all know that I'll be placing a Mary Kay order on Friday. I am offering 25% to those that pay when your order is placed.

I accept cash, check and credit cards.

To check out the latest products, you can logon on to http://www.marykay.com/

**DO NOT place your order through the site**

Please send your orders to traci.douthit@sbcglobal.net by 5pm Thursday. I can pick up your money and I will deliver your product once it arrives.

If you live more than 30 miles from me, I will ship to you; however there will be a $6 shipping charge added to your order.

Thank you!!!

Weigh-In Wednesday: Traci

DOWN 2 MORE!! WOO HOO

I'M FINALLY ON A ROLL (AND NOT A BIG FAT BUTTERY ONE)

I THINK I POSTED MY ORIGINAL STARTING WEIGHT AT 230, BUT IN REALITY MY HIGHEST ALL TIME WEIGHT WAS 232, BUT I LOST 2 OF THOSE BEFORE I STARTED WEIGHT WATCHERS.

SO MY TOTAL LOSS IS 18LBS!!

ONLY 6 WEEKS UNTIL MY BDAY AND HOPEFULLY THAT MEANS 12 MORE LBS DOWN.

I'M SHOOTING FOR 15 THOUGH SO THAT I CAN BE UNDER 200! I HAVEN'T BEEN THERE IN YEARS!

All About Me!!

Love Life

• 
  
  I am married to my hero...love of my life...My Coastie!


• 
  
  He is currently deployed...I am missing him like crazy!


• 
  
  He can drive me nuts and make me laugh at the same time!


• 
  
  LOVE YOU BABY!!

Family Life

• 
  
  I am a mom to a wonderful 9 year old daughter!


• 
  
  She is my joy, my heartbeat and my love!


• 
  
  I have two younger brothers that I adore!


• 
  
  I love my parents and family and wouldn't trade them!


• 
  
  I am a mom to our two dogs - Storm & Tyson!


• 
  
  Oh did I mention our hermit crab Pearl..she is 1 year old!!

Home Life

• 
  
  I grew up in Madison and much of my family still lives there.


• 
  
  We bought a house over 3 years ago in Brandon (Reservoir Area)!


• 
  
  We don't plan on moving for a really long time!!!

Friends

• 
  
  My friends are my rock(s)!


• 
  
  There is a saying if you go to the grave with five good friends you have accomplished something!


• 
  
  I must be doing good because I have 6 very close friends!


• 
  
  They each bring out the best in me and cause me to smile everyday!


• 
  
  I know that I can always count on all of them and they know they can count on me!


• 
  
  I speak to each of the just about everyday...or at least every other day!


• 
  
  They all like each other and it makes me happy to know how well we can all get along together!!

Goals & Ambitions

• 
  
  To lose at least 50lbs before my hubby comes home!


• 
  
  To finish nursing school!


• 
  
  Travel the world!!

Favorite Things

• 
  
  My Family!


• 
  
  My Friends!


• 
  
  Beach Time!


• 
  
  Traveling


• 
  
  The Rain


• 
  
  Snuggling With My Hubby


• 
  
  Playing Games With My Daughter


• 
  
  A Good Laugh!


• 
  
  A Book I just can't put down


• 
  
  Comedy


• 
  
  Romance


• 
  
  Sunrise!


• 
  
  Sand between my toes!


• 
  
  That God allowed me another day!


• 
  
  Everything God has given me!

I am going to surround myself with more positive people, make better decisions in my health, love, friendships, work and spiritual life! I am just the girl next door...and that is all I want to be!

Wednesday: Traci

Total Calories - 1233
Total Water - 68oz
Total Exercise - 2 miles

Weigh-In Wednesday: Traci

DOWN 2 lbs...

I quit posting my food log, but I am going to keep posting my total calories, water and exercise.

I did good this weekend.. that's when I usually struggle but I made myself stick to it and when I felt like cheating and I just tried to picture the new skinny me and popped a piece of gum in my mouth.

WOW

Wow..way to go Traci! I am proud of you! That is such a great feeling! I am glad you like the grapes. I LOVE THEM in the summer, that and watermelon! Lately I have been cutting up yellow and red bell pepper in strips and snaking on them. In the morning I eat a reduce-fat, whole grain eggo waffle with reduced fat peanut butter. It is only 3 points and is pretty filling. I also tried the weight watchers fruit creamp pops. The berry and orange. They are soo good. The orange tastes like a dreamsicle. Well Ladies..have a great weekend and good luck..the weekends are hardest for me too. I am proud of you guys..keep up the good work!

Traci's Food Log - Friday

2 Pieces of Low Cal toast with Natural Peanut Butter - 170
2 Reeses Mini Cup - 86
2 Fajita tacos without the tortilla - 260 (high estimate based on others on the net)

1/2 c Refried Beans - 118

1/2 c Mexican Rice - 130

Total Calories - 764
Total Water - 56
Total Exercise - walked 2 miles

TGIF

Congratulations Susan... that's AWESOME!!! BTW, I tried the frozen grapes and they are really good.

Well I had a "non-scale victory" today (that's WW meeting lingo). I have a pair of jeans that have become really tight since I first purchased them last year. I haven't been able to wear them for about 5 months... well guess what I wore to work today... my jeans!! I was so excited. I didn't even have to suck it in to button them. It's amazing what a difference a measily 12 lbs makes!!

Good luck this weekend... it's always my most difficult time when it comes to snacking and eating stuff I shouldn't. I'm really going to do it this weekend!!

Weigh-In

So.. I weighed this morning and I am at 185. Yay! Congrats to you ladies as well. Keep up the good work! Here is a web-site that has a calorie calculator. http://www.self.com/fitness/calculators You just select the activity you did and fill in the info and it counts the calories burned. I use it all the time. Also, the past two weeks I have been parking at the end of parking rows and walking to a store entrance, as well as, taking the stairs instead of an elevator. I have lost an extra pound each week from it. Until next time....happy loosing!

Map your walk...

I found this really cool website called Map My Walk, it allows you to map the route that you walk. For instance when I walk my neighborhood I estimate the miles based on the same drive in my car... but this is much more accurate. For instance, I've estimated my walk to be about 2 miles... but it's actually only 1.6 miles. I've been going to the trail lately and it has markers so that makes it pretty easy, but it's good to know that next time I walk in the neighborhood that I'll know how much I'm really doing. Check out my route...

Traci's Food Log - Thursday

2 Pieces of Low Cal toast with Natural Peanut Butter - 170
Grilled Chicken Breast - 110
Squash cooked in 1T oil - 85
2 Reeses Mini Cup - 86
10 Frozen Grapes - 34
100 Calorie Pack Cookies - 100
Bowl of cereal with 1% milk - 270
Cream of Broccoli Soup - 150
Cheese Stick - 50



Total Calories - 1055
Total Water - 56
Total Exercise - walked 2 miles

Weigh-In Wednesday: Traci

Considering I gained 3lbs during my little trip to MS, I'm happy to be down, even if it is just one lb. since my last weigh-in 2 weeks ago. I've done really good this week, so hopefully next weeks weigh-in at least 3 lbs.

Traci's Food Log - Wednesday

B - Coffee - 30
B - Strawberries w/ 2 packets of sugar - 94
L - Baked Sweet Potato with 1 T butter - 131
L - Dinner Salad with 1 oz of dressing - 257
S -Banana Recipe that claimed to be low cal but after I made it and figured it up it was 200 calories. It wasn't that good either...but I ate it anyway. :)
D - 1/2 of a Tostino's Pizza - 360
S - Cheese Stick - 50

Total Calories - 1122
Total Water - 48
Total Exercise - None :(

Traci's Food Log - Tuesday

B - WW Yogurt -70
S - Cereal Straws - 75
L - Ramen Noodles - 300
S - Strawberries w/T of sugar- 61
S - 1/2 c Chocolate ICe Cream - 100
S - Banana - 70
D - Soup - 120
S - Cereal w/ 1% Milk - 180

Total Calories - 976
Total Water - 56 oz
Total Exercise - walked 2 miles

Traci's Food Log - Monday

B - WW Yogurt -70
L - Smart One - 290
S - Tomato Soup - 190
D - Squash Sauted in Olive Oil - 130
S - Cheese Stick - 50

Total Calories - 730
Total Water - 90oz
Total Exercise - walked 2 miles

New motivation...

Hope you both had a happy 4th. I did, but I can’t say that I am too happy with the food choices I made. I went to MS as you know and ended up gaining back the 2 lbs I had lost the week before. I went back to counting calories yesterday though and I was able to lose one of them. I had a good weekend. Now that I’m single, I’ve been going out more and that has motivated me to keep up with the program. I mean, how am I gonna find the man of my dreams if I hate the way I look??? A friend of mine lives about 4 hours away and has someone she wants me to meet… supposedly we are perfect for each other. She wants me to come visit her and meet him. So I’m planning to go at the end of August… now that’s some motivation. I have about 6 weeks to lose 20 pounds. I think I can do it…no, wait… I KNOW I can do it. I’m not really in the market right now for Mr. Right, but I wouldn’t mind meeting a few nice guys. Anyway, hope you losers have a great week.

B - Yogurt 100/2

L - Lean Cuisine 150/3

S - Cobbler 170/3

S - 2 Mini Reeses 118/3

Traci's Daily Intake - Wednesday

B - Coffee - 39/1
B - 1.5 cups of Fresh Cherries - 110/1
S - Trail Mix - 180/4
L - Lean Cuisine - 330/7
S - WW Cobbler - 170/3
D - Chicken Breast with sauce 190/4
D - Whole Wheat Toast with RF Butter - 75/2
S - 10 Pringles - 85/3
S - Hostess 100 Calorie Snack Cakes w/ 1/2c Chocolate Ice Cream - 200/3 (low points because the fiber in the snack cake is high)


Total Calories: 1379/1300
Total Points: 28/28
Total Water: 56oz
Total Exercise: walked 2 miles

BTW, as for posting my daily intake... hopefully you guys don't mind. It's really more for me than anything... you all probably don't care to see exactly what I'm eating everyday. :)

Weigh-In Wednesday: Traci

I know I just posted my weight yesterday, but I figured I would do it again today for weigh-in Wednesday....


Down 1 lb for the week, total of 11 lbs

Weigh-In Wednesday: Tiffany

Well here it is my first Weigh-In Wednesday for the new year...funny since it is already JUNE!! (Really almost July!) So needless to say I have done enough slacking off for the year so it is time to get back on the wagon. I officially started this "new" weight loss program 2 weeks ago. In that time I have lost:

I actually cheated and on Friday weighed in and I was down 6.5 lbs. So since Friday I have lost but gained .5 back. Truthfully, I haven't drank enough water since Friday and haven't eaten that great so I am lucky (and probably because I am actually exercising) that I did not gain more than 1/2 pound back! All in all, I am okay with the loss. I had hoped to be up to 10 pounds by now but I will take 6! My goal for my next Weigh In Wednesday is 2 lbs...I would love for it to be 4 (and if it is great!) but I am trying to take baby steps. I am afraid if I set my "goal" too high that I will end up being disappointed if I don't come close!

You girls are doing great!! Let's Keep Up The Good Work!!

Another Loser

OK. So, I started June 4th and was 200lbs, as of today 190lbs. My goal is 130 lbs. I am basically counting calories and exercising 6 days a week. I try to only take in 1000-1100 cals a day. I find when I get hungry in between meals I snack on watermelon, cucumbers sliced with salt and pepper, and grapes that I freeze. That usually does the fix and it is nice and cool, since we are in the HOT summer. Also, on one of the days during the weekend I grill a bunch of boneless skinless chicken breasts or thighs, along with veggies, such as squash, cherry tomatoes, onions and bell peppers. It is a healthy lunch or dinner. I keep it in the fridge and heat up as needed. Keep up the good work girls!

Traci's Daily Intake - Tuesday

B - Activia Yogurt 70/1
B - Coffee with Creamer & 2 Sweet and Low 39/1
S - Beef Jerky 75/2
L - Smart One 180/3
L - Salad with Light Dressing 50/1
S - WW Cobbler 170/3
S - 5 RF Crackers 70/1
S - 2 Slices of smoked ham 32/1
D - Squash sauteed in 1 T Olive Oil (gotta have your 1 serving of good fat) 100/4
D - Chicken Breast with 2 T BBQ Sauce 190/4
S - 1/2 cup Chocolate Ice Cream with 10 Hershey Kissables 155/3

Total Calories - 1131 out of an allowable 1300
Total Points - 24 out of an allowable 27
Total Water - 88oz
Total Exercise - walked 2 miles

My first mini-goal

I want to lose 25 more by my B-day (Sept 8th)...

~Best Friend's Hubby's Deployment~

My bestfriends's husband...who also happens to be my best guy friend ever!..unit deployed. At least we will have each other through this...

Counting Calories vs. Counting Points

As I’ve mentioned I’ve struggled with whether or not I should keep counting points or if I should switch to counting calories. I lost more weight and lost it more quickly when I was counting calories. On WW I’m losing about a pound a week; I lost closer to 2-3 a week when I was counting calories. So, yesterday I tracked both points and calories. When I was counting calories, I was allowing 1200-1300 a day. With WW, I’m allowed 27 points. I ended the day at 1330 calories and only 22 of my allowed points. If I had been counting just points, I would have eaten the 5 additional points that I’m allowed - that would have resulted in about 300 more calories for a total of 1600! I’ve been tracking both today too…so far I’m at 615 calories and only 11 points. I only have 650 calories left, yet I have 16 points left… based on an average of 55 calories per point, I would normally eat another 880 calories. So in light of this, I’m going to go back to counting calories. It’s easier anyway because I don’t have to mess with calculating anything. I think WW works, I mean it’s basically the same concept except you get “credit” for eating more fiber and eating less fat. I guess I could just cut my points back to 22… but I figure why bother when the calorie counting is easier to keep track of. We’ll see what my weight looks like at next week’s weigh-in. I haven’t lost any weight in the last 2 weeks on WW, so I’m setting my target weight loss goal at 3 lbs for next week. Should be interesting considering I’ll be on vacation for 6 of those days. I’m going to have to work really hard to stay on course.

Happy losing!

BTW, starting tonight I will begin posting my daily intake again.

Skinny Dip!!!

HG's Amazing ATE-Layer Dip

(I got this from Hungry-Girl and I was SO excited because I love this kind of dip and I LOVE the idea of putting it on a tortilla! Yummy! I plan to try this in the near future! I will let you know how it goes!!)

Skinny Dip!
We're serious suckers for layers of cheesy, bean-packed, meaty stuff we can dip crisp veggies and baked chips into (yay!). This dip happens to be so delicious, that we've been wrapping it up in high-fiber tortillas and even eating it straight. And why stop at seven measly layers? HG has upped the ante, adding an eighth guilt-free layer to this fun fiesta food. Pay extra close attention to our most valuable layer (sorry, we had to!), spiced mashed butternut squash; it makes the perfect swap for refried beans.

Ingredients:

4 cups shredded lettuce

4 oz. fat-free sour cream

1 cup canned black beans; heated

10 oz. (about 2 and a 1/2 cups) butternut squash cubes

2 cups cherry tomatoes; chopped

1 cup diced onion

4 oz. roasted red peppers (not packed in oil); chopped

1 pouch (4 oz.) BOCA Ground Burger (or another ground meat substitute, like the Morningstar Farms version**)

1 oz. Galaxy Veggie Shreds, Cheddar (or another low-calorie cheddar cheese**)

3 and a 1/2 tsp. taco seasoning

Optional: lime juice, salt, and pepper

Directions:

Begin by combining half of the tomatoes with all of the onion. If desired, season to taste with salt, pepper, and lime juice; set aside. Next, nuke squash in a covered microwave-safe dish with 2 tbsp. water for 6 - 7 minutes (until squash is tender enough to mash). Using a fork or potato masher, mash squash to a pulp. Mix in 1 and a 1/2 tsp. of the taco seasoning and set aside. In a skillet sprayed with nonstick spray, combine Boca Ground Burger, tomatoes and the remaining 2 tsp. of taco seasoning and cook until crumbles are defrosted and mixture is thoroughly heated. In a large dish, layer ingredients in this order: lettuce, butternut squash mixture, tomato/onion mix, sour cream, black beans, "meat" mixture, cheese shreds, red peppers. Delicious served hot or cold! Makes approximately eight 1-cup servings!

Serving Size: 1/8th recipe; approx. 1 cup

Calories: 100

Fat: 1g

Sodium: 400mg

Carbs: 18g

Fiber: 4g

Sugars: 3.5g

Protein: 7g

* 1 Point! (Weight Watchers)

Low Cal Cobbler

This may not sound very good but let me tell you.... it is awesome!! The only bad thing that I can say about this recipe is that it is hard to only eat one serving.

3 Point Fruit Cobbler

16 oz bag of frozen fruit (I've tried blueberries and peaches)

1 Yellow Cake mix (don't use Duncan Hines, it has more calories)

12oz of Fresca

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Layer frozen fruit in the bottom of a 9x13 pan. Sprinkle dry cake mix evenly over the fruit. Pour fresca evenly over the cake mix. Do not mix the ingredients! Bake at 350 for 35-40 minutes.

12 servings

1 serving = 3 points or 170 calories

I'm in...

If you're back in, so am I. As you know I've been doing Weight Watchers for about 6 weeks now and I've lost 10 lbs. It's been slow going but at least it's going. I am struggling on the weekends but doing pretty good during the week. There are 2 ladies from work doing it as well. We've decided to quit going to the meetings though. We are going to start weighing in at work each week, so that we can still be held accountable. My mini-goal is to be under 200 by labor day. That's 21 lbs in 10 weeks... That should be no problem if I'll just stick with the program. I've debated on whether or not I should just go back to calorie counting, because I seemed to have lost it quicker then. I was allowing 1200 calories and with WW, I'm getting closer to 1400-1500 calories a day with 28 points. I guess I could push my points back to 24. For the next week, I've decided to do both and see what my calories look like compared to my points. As of today, I will start logging my food too. Glad we are doing this again, it has really helped in the past. Also, if you know anyone else that wants to join, please feel free to offer. The more support the better. By the way, see ya in 6 days!!!!

Long Time No Post...

Well I will make this short and sweet...the hubby has been deployed to Cuba for 6 months. He has already been away from home for almost 2 months prior to his deployment. In the next six (well really 5 now) months I am trying to lose AT LEAST 40 pounds before he returns. (My big goal is 120 pounds.) I am weighing in on Wednesday (just like our old Weigh In Wednesdays). I actually started my diet two weeks ago (on the 13th) so I am going to do my first official weigh in this Wednesday. I will be using this little marker to track my progress!

The frog is kind of .... well Brian's unit's mascot. Most of the guys in the unit have a frog tatoo on their butts! HAHA! That is a story for another day. Anyway, so that is why I chose the frog! I can not wait to see him moving along on his little lily pads! I can't wait until my first official weigh in! Check in on me on Wednesday!!

Playing Catch Up!

Hope everyone is doing well!! Things in my life have been a little crazy lately but I thought I would catch everyone up!!

Brian left to go to Cuba. He won't be home until sometime later in the year. That is what we have been told so as long as things go well he will be back by then! We (Baylee and I) are doing okay for now. We have our moments but all and all we are fine. I guess when you are faced with something you just can't change you have to work with it and move on! Plus, it helps that we are always so busy!! He works 12 hour days so I know he is so tired after working he probably doesn't have time to miss us much! Then on his days off they have stuff to keep them busy (bowling, movies, snorkeling, softball). I do hear from him every couple of days.

In the process I have cleaned out closets and gotten rid of SO much junk! I am telling you we had SOOOO much stuff that I was like, "Why did I even keep this?" I still have a ways to go but I really have made a big dent. I feel so much better knowing things are more organized! It helps me feel more organized all together...even at work!

I joined the local YMCA again! I have GOT to get this extra weight off of me! So many people I know have died (even in their 30's) from heart attacks and I don't want to be one! So I joined the gym and changed my work hours around so myself and a couple of the ladies form work take a longer lunch and go during our lunch hour. I am feeling better already and I just started last Thursday!

My mini-schnauzer Storm was just diaganosed with heart worms. For those of you that are animal lovers you know your animals are like another member of your family. They think we caught it early on so he goes for his first treatment on Wednesday. I don't know what I would do if he didn't make it! Especially while Brian is gone...I know it would really upset him and it would be that much more loss for Baylee right now. I know they can't live forever but this would be a REALLY bad time for something to happen. Plus, he is only 6 years old. So please pray he pulls through!

~The Hubby's Deployment~

Well if you have wondered where I have been...lets just say things have been crazy. I saw they hubby off to Cuba, made some great friends and shed alot of tears! He will be missed and I will be praying for him everyday! Please remember to think about and pray for our ENTIRE military and their families...their sacrifices for our freedom is HUGE!!

A Quick Vent From The Church Member In Me

I just have to vent this...my mom was planning on joining the Church I attend. She won't tell me who but when she mentioned it to another member of the Church apparantely the member had a bad attitude about it. The Church itself is an AWESOME Church and I can only imagine that this particular member whomever she may be must have something against my mom or the devil was working through her. I have noticed something about Churchs though...especially small ones...all to often you do have that group of people that don't want change. You also have the ones that would rather complain about something than do something positive about it. What really got me is now my parents and brother - whom I was really looking forward to joining our Church - have now decided because of what one person said to them not to join the Church. I know not everyone is a Church goer and not everyone can relate but just imagine this was a really important club or organization that you were in and the whole point was to bring people together and do all of the positive things...wouldn't it be wrong for a member of "said organization" to go completely agains what the whole organization is about??

OKAY I AM DONE VENTING!!!

Stop This Ride...I want OOOOFFFF!!!

This morning I compared my life to being locked in the back seat of a car and someone throwing a brick on the gas pedal...and off I go! It seems it has been this way for months. As I said in my previous post my husband's grandfather passed away about 7 weeks ago...Monday night his grandmother passed away. I am torn in my feelings about this. I just keep thinking she is in such a better place but yet I know how much she will be missed here. The only thing that gives me reassurance is she told us last Sunday, "I am in a win/win situation. Either the cancer will be healed or I will be going to heaven to be with Granddaddy."

I am ready for things in my life to start slowing down...and I know it will. I know God never gives us more than we can handle and I am just trying to hold my head high!

We all have our hard times and I know that we will all make it through!

Thyroid!

I have been feeling kind of bad lately...migranes, dizziness, etc. I decided to break down and go to the doctor and check this out. In the process of doing this he told me I have Thyroid problems. His nurse was telling me that after my medicine gets in my system that it really may help my weight loss right along! So here I am again saying I am ONCE AGAIN going to try to lose weight! I figure that maybe JUST MAYBE if I can attempt to eat right, drink water and exercise along with taking my new meds that I will able FINALLY to shed some of this weight! I will keep you updated!!

Life Happens

I know I always come back and PROMISE I will be up and blogging again. I decided this time...no promises! We have been busy and well...times have been hard but things will eventually slow down...I suppose anyway. My cuz and one of my best friends Traci and a friend of mine that recently started a blog Holly...made me want to get back into blogging again. I had started using "My Space" last year...but not really doing alot of blogging. That took up alot of my time but I am kind of over it. I will keep up with alot of people there and check in occasionally but not as often as I had before. All in all ... i miss my blogging time here. I miss my blog friends!!

I am again going to copy something from Traci...I am just going to list what all has happened to me since...well November. I can elaborate on more if you like and I am sure I will eventually but for now I am just playing catch up!

• Thanksgiving - my whole family on my dad's side came to visit and all of us for the most part spent the whole week at my grandmothers. We decided to make this a new tradition. It was so nice...I saw people I haven't seen in years...most importantly my dad! It was so nice...we have a good relationship (in my opinion) it is like we can just pick up where we left off and there is not real akwardness...I was a daddy's girl for sure! :-)
• Christmas - this was kind of a blur to me! We have so much family that it is hard to keep up!! WHEW! All in all it went very well!!
• Baylee had her whole cheerleading team over to the house for a slumber party and they had a blast! Those girls crack me up!
• I got rear-ended on the way to work...the next week my husband got rear-ended on the way to work!
• My husbands grandfather (he was very close to him) got very sick after Christmas and on March 1st went to Heaven.
• A few weeks after this my husband's brother was in a 4-wheeler accident and remains in the hospital today. He is much better than he was but it will take lots of therapy to get back to normal.
• My husbands grandmother (that was married to the grandfather that passed away) is now in the hospital fighting cancer.
• I learned how to say "no more" and walk away.
• I learned that I am stronger than I thought I was.
• I learned you can be nice to someone without them taking away your sense of self worth.
• My washing machine broke.
• My fuel pump went out but now it is fixed! Yeah!
• I am coaching Baylee's softball team and loving it!
• She decided she hates gymnastics and never wants to go back...fine by me.
• Side note to above...I usually don't let her quit things but I didn't feel she was learning anything especially considering what we were paying...plus she really did cry everytime I took her because she hated it...even though she misses her friends that go there.
• I am on the planning committe for my 10 year reunion - I am so excited to see everyone!!
• This is the sad part...my hubby and my best friends hubby will both be deployed this year. We don't know exactly when they will leave but sometime between now and the end of summer...keep them in your thoughts and prayers!!!

So that is all for now...well I am sure there is more but that is all I have time for anyway. I will try to keep update more...but no promises!! Talk to you soon!!

1/4 cup walnuts - 184
yogurt -90
cheese stick - 60
1/8 cup dried cherries - 70

7 No brainers to losing weight....

Listed below are 7 things guaranteed to help you lose weight. They are things we have heard before, but I think it's good to remind ourselves of how easy losing weight can actually be. I printed this off and taped it on my kitchen cabinet. Why not the fridge? Because it would get lost among the calendar, appt cards and Brayden art. On the cabinet, it's sure to stand out every day. I got these tips from http://10way.blogspot.com/. They have other great life changing tips too.

1. Drink Ice cold water - Okay I know you already know this and you probably already know ice cold water makes your body burn fat to heat the ice cold water back up to body temp, but I keep saying drink water because… A lot of people still don’t drink enough water. If you want to lose weight fast… Stop wasting your money on ugly fat-weight gainers like coffee, soda, and juices and pick up a FREE magical weight loss drink called water

2. Eat Peppered beef jerky - I can’t explain any science behind this one, but every time I eat peppered beef jerky I seem to shred a little fat and I think this is due to the spices they put in the beef jerky and some studies show that spicy foods increase your metabolism and there’s also enough protein in beef jerky to help curb your appetite

3. Kill your cravings - Eating lots of protein (nuts, jerky, fish, and chicken) raw veggies and water will kill your appetite. I promise you the sooner you get used to eating raw veggies you will stop craving for all the junk foods that made you fat in the first place.

4. Drink green tea - Hate drinking water all the time? Then sip on some green tea to increase your metabolism to burn more fat.

5. Limit carbs - This is really an emergency weight loss trick. If you stop eating carbs (or limit your carbs) you can lose 5 lbs or more real quick by burning up all the stored carbs in your body. You have about 1 pound of carbs stored in your body and each pound stored in your body has 3-4 lbs of water attached to it. So if you burn up the stored carbs in your body… The 5 lbs of water will burn up with it

6. Do something in the morning – Wake up and break a sweat for 30min in the morning. I know you hate to exercise but if you do it first thing in the morning guess what… Your body will ONLY BURN FAT because since you haven’t eaten anything yet… Your body has no choice but to feed off the stored FAT in your body for energy.

7. Walk for 10 minutes after you eat – Your body burns calories to digest the food you eat and if you walk for 10 minutes after you eat you will increase the amount of calories you burn during digestion and get his… If you eat three times a day you will easily get the 30 minutes of activity you need to lose weight (3 meals x 10 minute walks after each meal).