Weigh In

This mornings goal was to reach 174.6 or lighter. I stepped onto the scale hoping to see the 174.6 fearing 175.0 but wait for it...... 172.0 that is a 3 pound loss this week. I am so ecstatic. I am only 2 1/2 pounds from reaching my first mini goal of being below 170. I haven't been below 170 since my little brothers open house and I was at 168 pounds.

168 pounds, 2008

I was 162 the last time I saw my mother. Feels good knowing that I am only 10 pounds from that. The lowest weight I have been since having children was 154 pound and that was my weight right before I got pregnant with Nicole. I have 3 weeks until my vacation and I really want to clear the 170 mark by then. Here I go...

Running numbers are 12.4 total lost since the 1st of year and 40 lost since my largest recorded weight at the doctor.

Night before

I have weigh in, in the morning. This past week the scale has been amazing but not today. I am pretty worried about it. I did good today food wise, and I got my workout in so I really hope that will be enough. The goal number is 174.6 cross your fingers and toes.

The dressing room.

Our family vacation is only 4 weeks away so I have started working on gathering some spring/summer clothes for everyone to wear in sunny Florida. Today I dared to venture into the store and into the dressing room. I started off at JCPennies. I found myself between departments mentally and physically. I love the styles found in the juniors department but most things found in there do not fit me. I am short so I need "short" pants and those can typically be found in a couple different departments. Also I am wide so I need plus size but don't like the styles found there. I am also a business woman so I like some items found in the womens department. I started walking around from department here and there trying to fix and match and put a few things together in my arms. I did it, I put together three really cute outfits now it was time to hit the dressing room. This is normally my least favorite part of shopping. I step into the small room in the back. I lay out my treasures and hang up my purse. I can feel the stess and anxiety whelling up inside as I undress. I put the shirt on first; and it fits infact it's a little big. I put on the flannel and it fits perfect. I head next to the pants. First the capri's. Now I had picked up two different pairs. One from the juniors and one from womens. Neither one really fit right. I had picked up two pairs of jeans. First my normal size 16's. They fit comfortable and look okay but a little long. There is no way I will fit the other pair they are a size 14 short. I step one leg in and then the next. The legs feel a little tight but not too bad. Length is perfect. I button them... wait I can button them. I zip them. Can this be? I fit into a size 14. What a feeling. I been in a 14 since my little brother graduation which was on goodness almost 4 summers ago. I had really been working hard on losing weight and was about the same weight as I am today. School got in the way and I put on the freshmen 15 a couple times.


XL top, 14 bottoms @ 175 pounds

 So here is what I looked like. I know not the best photo but it's a photo. I stood there for a couple minutes debating do I buy or don't I buy. After sending a text to my not much help husband I decided I coule buy the flannel. I would look for a size smaller in the top and I would pass on the jeans. I didn't want to pass on them since they were a size smaller but I really don't need jeans right now, I need capri's. I figured also that I have 4 more weeks and maybe another 3-4 pounds would make them feel even better. I headed back out (personal assistant had the day off so I had to get dressed again so that I could find smaller sizes and come back in and get undressed again) to find a smaller top. I love the color and it works perfectly. I headed back to the plus size where I found the top before and guess what 1X is the smallest size they have. I CAN NOT FIT PLUS SIZE ANYMORE!!!! I checked out juniors they had one close to this same color in an XL and in the womens department they had another one close to this same one in an XL. So I picked up those ones plus a L just incase. Headed back into the dressing because I was feeling pretty good I thought I would try the L on first. Fits but not the right look. A little tight in the chest. I tried on the Juniors XL and no way - it hugs all the wrong places. I tried on the XL women's top and it looked the best.

It was a long trip and had some emotional ups and downs but in the end I got two tops and a braclets. I also left the store knowing that even though I am still in an XL that Plus is too big and I can fit a 14 again. Overall I would say it was a good trip. I am still in need of a couple pairs of capri's and a couple more tops but that will have to wait for another day - and maybe 3-4 more pounds down.

The scale

If I were a superhero then the scale would be my arch-nemesis. We decided that since the scale started acting up we would move it from the uneven part of floor to a stable part. After doing this it became real friendly. Today during my unofficial weigh in I showed a 2 1/2 pound loss. I really hope that it's for real and that it's from all my hard work not just uneven flooring. We will find out come Tuesday.

Girls Night Out

I have decided that I need a girls night. The guys in our lives go, go, go and we sit home. The only time I leave the house really is to either take a child shopping, attend a PTO event or some other child school related activity. Don't get me wrong I love being part of the PTO and feeling that I have a say in what happens. But, mommy needs time away also. So I sent out a text to all my close friends saying let's do it. Don't ask permission, just plan. That is what we are going to do. We need this. Now we just need a fun name for our girls night. I think once a month will work and we will plan, try, and do different fun things each time. Drink a little wine, eat a few chocolates, and gossip until we run out of things to talk about. I can't wait. I think the first one will be on March 3rd at my house. I have a ton planned that day but I think really it's the best day for most so I will make it work. I can't wait!

Long Night

Is it bad that I am not getting my workout in tonight? I am so tired, my kids are wired and not going to bed, and I think I am getting sick. So do any of these excuses work? I normally don't miss my workout but maybe missing this one will shake up my weight loss.


One reason I love the internet, it allows you to find articles supporting anything you need it to. I found one that says that you should take a day to rest. Give yourself at least one full day off from any kind of official exercise routines. A day off from working out is a great way to not only allow some well-deserved rest for your body, but also to help you relax mentally and emotionally. Even though working out is mostly a physical activity, your mind and emotions are involved too, and pushing yourself too hard can actually have some adverse effects in the form of feeling stressed, frustrated, overwhelmed or burned out. It went on to say that on your day off, you can still engage in physical activities, but try to keep them unofficial – activities like window shopping, playing with the kids in the backyard or taking a relaxing stroll on the beach are great ways to relax, recharge and restore your physical and mental energy.


I really need some motivation, r&r, and a little push.

Love this sign. I need it.. okay maybe that's part of my problem.

Weigh In

This sucks... as you can guess I didn't reach goal today. I knew going into the week that it was going to be a bad weigh in. At one point this weekend I was up almost a pound. When I stepped on the scale this morning I thought for sure I would still be up a pound, but was hoping for a scale miracle. What do you think happened? I flat lined and stayed even at 175.0.

I am trying to stay positive. Just really hard when a weigh in goes this way.

Feeling sorry for myself..

Spent the day running around the house cleaning anything and everything I could find to clean. I can still smell the pinesol and mop n' glow. As soon as I finished, Jasmine managed to spill fruit juice on the floor so guess what sticky again. So happy!!



Our wonderful friends from out of town stopped over to say hi. They are such wonderful people, but I can't help to get jealous of her and how great she looks. She has two kids; a 4 year old and a 7 month old yet she looks amazing. I had a chance to talk to her and found out that she is juicing for breakfast and snack. Eating Lean Cruisine for lunch and dinner. She is also working out twice a day. She is in the army and has a weigh in coming up and has been struggling to drop her last little bit of weight before then. I undertstand our lifestyles are different as well as our environements, but still doesn't seem fair. Why is it that she has time to workout? Why is it that her body is happy with this type of diet and responding to it? I find myself cheating still and I know that is part of my problem. I guess you can say I am still allowing myself to use stupid excuses and feel sorry for myself. Still just doesn't seem fair. I workout EVERY night at least 45 mins. some nights closer to 55 minutes. Do I need to increase my workout? I am not tracking my meals like I should, so maybe that's what's wrong. I just don't know what to do. You would think after 7 weeks on this "diet" I would feel better about it and myself but after tonight I am not so sure. I feel the same or worse then ever before. I am worried about Tuesday's weigh in. The scale hasn't been nice this week and I just know it will show a gain this week. I have 5 weeks until our trip and still 5 1/2 pounds from goal weight. I am ready to lose those pounds plus set my next goal weight. I guess you could say that I am pretty depressed tonight and should go to bed. I am going to take my pills, wash my face, and hope for some positive motivation to find me in the am.  

Saturday

Saturday should be used for relaxing, cuddling, movie watching, and sleeping in. Not my Saturday, no no. It is used for house cleaning, grocery shopping, and power walking. Feeling pretty good. I got a good 5 mile cardio walk in. I felt like I needed a good workout to work off the 6 cups of popcorn I ate. That's right 500 calories of popcorn. I feel like I need to walk another 5 miles though.

Today's menu is as follows:
- Sausage, egg burrito for breakfast
- Venison Burger for lunch (not too good)
- Popcorn as snack
- Lean Cuisine for dinner

Tomorrows plan is to sleep in.. Ha Ha - mother of three that isn't going to happen.

Butt Belly

That's right I said it; I have a butt belly. I have lost some belly fat and have been left with this freaky looking belly. I look like I have two butt cheeks with the folded wrinkly looking crack in the middle. It is so nasty, I need to do something with it. 


I started looking at some exercises to tighten up that skin if at all possible. Below are some examples I found that claim to tighten up mid-section in no time! The goal is to try to do at least 15 – 20 repetitions of each exercise listed below.

• Leg up straight arm crunch -- This exercise will help tone your upper abs and can be performed using a dumbbell to make it more challenging. Lie flat on your back with your legs up at a 90 degree angle from the floor. With your arms straight (hold a dumbbell if you desire), curl your shoulders and upper back off the floor using your abs while pulling your arms up towards the ceiling. Hold for a second; then slowly lower your shoulders and back down toward the floor. Keep your arms straight and legs up during the entire exercise.

• Air Bike -- The air bike is performed lying on your back as well. Place your hands behind your head with your elbows bent and your knees pulled slightly toward you. Using your abs, curl your shoulders up off the floor and pull your right elbow to your left knee until they are touching (or almost touching). Then alternate by pulling your left elbow to you right knee. Continue alternating right to left until you’ve reached the desired number of repetitions.

• Side Bridge -- The side bridge will strengthen and tone your obliques. The exercise is performed lying on your side. Resting your weight on your elbow and forearm, raise your mid-section until your torso and legs form a straight line (sloped upward). Simply holding this position will help tone your abs; hold the position as long as you can.

• Lying Leg Raises -- Lying leg raises will help you tone and tighten skin around your lower abdominal muscles. Lie flat on your back with your legs straight and up in the air (90 degrees from the floor). Keeping your legs as straight as possible, slowly lower them out in front of you until they are almost touching the floor; then lift them back up to your starting position and repeat.

• Pelvic Thrusts -- Pelvic thrusts will also help tone up your lower abs. As with leg raises, lie on your back with your legs up in the air (90 degrees from the floor). While keeping your legs up, slowly lift your pelvis off the floor and upward using your lower abdominal muscles; then lower yourself back down to the floor and repeat.

Weigh In

So True, So True! 

It is weigh in day. Good bad or other wise; I had to do it. I woke up this morning feeling pretty bad about my diet yesterday and lack of workout. The scale during the week had me getting pretty excited.. Last week I was 2 pounds from reaching my first 10 pounds since changing my lifestyle and 38 pounds from all time high weight. I saw this personal goal this week a couple times and have been hoping and praying that this morning I would see it again and get to report that I did it.. Sadly I do not get to do that. I stepped on the scale this morning and what did I see 175.6. I tried everything to drop another 1/2 pound. I went to the bathroom. I washed my face. I laid on the floor and did some crunches. After all was said and done the best I could do was 175.0. So that is what I am recording for this week. That is 1.6 pounds lost this week, and I am excited about that. Stay tuned next week to hear my announcement; because it WILL happen.