Week 80 - Weigh In (Thanksgiving Week)

I'm a little late posting about my weigh in this Sunday. Life's roller coaster just continues to jerk us around turns with major ups and downs. Not that I thought our life could get more complicated, but surprise, surprise . . . it can!

But, enough about that. My weigh in this week was great. I lost 2.4lbs. I'm now only 8lbs away from being where I was when I received my mom's cancer diagnosis. Only 8lbs to go! So, if all goes well, I will have a net loss for the year. I'll be thrilled if I can be less in January 2012 than I was in January 2011. I'll be happy if i can be the same as I was in January 2011. And, I'll settle for being only a couple pounds heavier. The point is, no matter what that first weigh in shows in January of 2012, I'm far better today than I was over a year and a half ago when I changed my life. I am healthier. I weigh less. I am happier. I feel better. For the most part I am capable of making good choices and my food addiction is under control.

Over the next six weeks, I would like to lose at least 3lbs which would make me weighing less than I did at the start of this year. I believe I can do far better than a 3lb loss. Certainly, I would have loved to have seen a loss of over 50lbs (avg of 1lb per week) for this year. However, this year has been an extraordinary one. If I maintained the first 50lbs lost. . .that gives me hope that once I am at my goal weight, I will be capable of maintaining it.

This week I am thankful for so many things. i'm thankful for my family. They are the most amazing people I know. I'm thankful for my children, which are never ending sources of joy in my life. I'm thankful for the scientists who work in medical research. They make it possible for my husband to remain active, after suffering from JRA since he was 12. The drugs are harsh (a chemotherapy drug) but they give him life. I'm thankful for the doctors and nurses that saved my mother's life this year. While she is still battling through chemotherapy due to Stage IV breast cancer, she is alive. I'm thankful for my husband's family, who are an extended family of my own.

There is a special place in my heart though for the individuals that attend my Weight Watcher's meetings and read my blog. The support system in place that we have for each other is second to none. I love these friends. We laugh, we cry, we battle similar problems and we walk together fighting something that has plagued many of us for years. We are doing this, we are winning, and we share our journey, together.

So, for all my Weight Watcher's meeting buddies and readers. Thank you. Thank you from the bottom of my heart for all you have done for me. I could not be doing this without you. I need each and every one of you and I feel privileged to be needed by all of you.

Happy Thanksgiving, everyone.

Week 78 - Weigh In

This week I nailed it. I need to do this every single week. I planned. I measured. I weighed. I tracked. I moved. I drank my water. It was a great, great week.

The scale rewarded me for my efforts with a seven pound loss!! Seven pounds! Yes!!!  I haven't seen a 7lb loss since late July and it felt so good to see that kind of movement. I feel motivated again. I know what I need to do and I'm going to keep at it.

Now if I can just start writing about a few more things than updates and come backs. My blog fills in for motivation when my self motivation wavers. I need to use that and keep pushing through.

Welcome Home!

Welcome home. That is what today was as I walked back into my meeting room. My last weigh in was on August 14th - 11 weeks have passed since that last meeting and my last weigh in. The scale showed no mercy.

In the course of 11 weeks I gained 20.6lbs. There is no way to candy coat that (pun intended) - that's really how I got to this point anyway right? Candy. Cake. Ice cream. Potato chips and more. All jokes aside, there is no excuse for that kind of gain. Certainly, with all that has been taking place, there is reason, but it doesn't excuse the self-destructive behavior.

Honestly, I knew what I had to face. I wish I had done so sooner, as the number on the scale would have been far better. I know this. But the dread, each week, of seeing the gain prevented me from doing the very thing that was going to stop the gaining cycle. Going home.

But, that is now behind me. I have crossed the line and I've taken the first step. I faced the scale, I survived and now I move forward. I am excited to see what the numbers look like next week. I'm re-committed. I'm doing all the things I know worked for me and I know I can do it. I just have to.


Isn't that what it boils down to? Just doing it? Nike may have been on to something with their "Just Do It" marketing campaign.
Are you struggling? Have you been "off plan" for a little while? What is keeping you from returning to the healthy lifestyle? Just do it! You won't be sorry.

Week 66 - Weigh In

I'm on a roll! Weigh in was another loss again this week. 1.6 more pounds and it pushed me into new territory. Yes! My weight is now 319.4. It's the first time I've been under 320 in YEARS! I was so happy to get to move my weight tracker on the blog.

This week I plan to just keep doing what I'm doing. It's going to be a tough one as my mother has surgery this Friday. But, I can do this. I can make it through all this stress and not gain weight (ultimately keep losing). I CAN and I WILL!

I will be writing more in the very near future. But, at least I'm updating with my weigh-ins and holding myself accountable for what the scale says. . .fortunately, we are still moving in the right direction!

Update, yeah that is a catchy title

I has been crazy busy. The move, mom's cancer, preparing the kids to go back to school, but I'm hanging tough. My weigh in on Sunday was great, I lost 3.8 pounds.

I am getting ready to take on another hurdle, I'm going to quit smoking. I've quit a few times only to fall back into it months later, but this time is it. I'm quitting for good. September 1st will be my official quit date and it will be tough, but great.

There are so many reasons to do this now, the three most important are the ones I gave birth to in 2001, 2006 and 2008. I pray they never hear the words, "your mother has cancer."  Not that smoking caused my mother's breast cancer, but if I continue to use the cancer sticks, I'm sealing the deal that they will, at some point, hear those words.

I will be getting active again on the blog. Life is starting to get back to "normal" as far as daily routines.

Soon I will also have more than just updates and weigh ins. There is so much more to write about than just the progress, so more to come, friends. More to come.

Week 64 - Weigh In

I really haven't been MIA, although it's been two weeks since I posted. My family just went through a major change - we moved! It was a quick move, somewhat sudden, and was certainly bittersweet due to the circumstances behind it - but it is absolutely for the best and we are very thankful for the many blessings we have.

We moved all last weekend and by Sunday morning, while I had the best of intentions to go to my meeting, my body hurt like I had been run over by a truck. So, I missed my meeting. This morning however, I was up before 6:30, arrived at my meeting before 7:30 and was ready to jump on that scale!

Granted it's been two weeks since a weigh in but my loss was 5.6lbs! Yes! Woohoo! I made it through a stressful move and still lost weight! I've nearly caught back up to where I was when I fell off the wagon, HARD. Only about four more pounds to go until I start seeing new numbers on the scale. I'm so excited!

This week we are stocked up on fresh fruits and veggies. I'm getting ready to go prepare lunches for tomorrow. It's going to be a fantastic week!

How have all of you been?

Week 62 - Weigh In

It was a tough week but I stayed the course with my food choices and tracking. I lost 1.6lbs. No loss is too small when the goal is avoiding a gain.

This one is short and sweet today. But, finally, a loss! So, I'll repeat all I did last week, this week and look forward to seeing the scale again next week.

Thanks for sticking with me, friends. :)

Week 61 - Weigh In

I started today off right. I met a couple friends at the gym and we worked out for 30 minutes prior to our Weight Watchers meeting. It felt good to be back there, it's been a few weeks. I did notice I was more sluggish today. I think the combination of crap foods in, lack of sleep and the 7.2lb weight gain may have all played a part. But, it feels good to sweat and feel that soreness again.

It was also really great to be back at my meeting. This week is going to be a good week for the scale. I'm going to hit the gym and track my foods. As soon as I log off the blog I'm going to plan everything and then spend some time in the kitchen preparing food for the week.

The 7.2lb weight gain was actually less than I thought it would be, so that was a good surprise. I don't want to "officially" start over because I want to continue to build on the 44lbs already lost but because so much of weight loss is a mind game - I'm going to play one purposefully.

For this "restart" I'm going to consider today's weight as my starting weight. It's not a backslide. I'm not "up 7.2" - no, I'm starting this week at 332lbs. I really think that will help my motivation to get back to where I was seven weeks ago.  Everything is behind me and there is no reason to dwell on it.

Week 55 - Weigh In

It was an "oh, sh*t" kind of morning. At least, those were the first words out of my mouth when I woke up at 8:05 (my Weight Watcher's meeting starts at 8am). My first thought was, "just skip it, you know you're up."  I had already looked at the scale and surprisingly enough, I have gained, which I have to say wasn't expected. It's a surprise gain. (Can I stress anymore what a surprise it was? LOL)  It also didn't help that all forces of the universe seemed to be against me going this morning. 

I wandered into the office and my phone was flashing. Text messages. Not just from one of my Weight Watcher's buddies, but two - both asking where I was. This kind of support, these little nudges, make all the difference. I knew I couldn't tell them I was skipping my meeting. So, I quickly got ready so I could make the 9:30. I texted back, letting them know I would be there. They both were going to do some grocery shopping immediately following the 8am meeting, so I decided I would go a little early, stop in the grocery store to say hello and then go on to the meeting.

I looked for my keys. Yeah, no where to be found. I searched for my Weight Watcher's book, which I always keep on my desk - nope, not that either. It didn't matter, I was going. I finally found my keys.  I popped in the grocery store and chatted with my friends for a few minutes and then straight to the meeting I went.

So, I weighed in. I am up - 4.2lb gain. It's ok. This is the struggle of weight loss. This isn't a sprint. I'm undertaking a life-long battle of obesity. I will win it. I will just see set backs, sometimes.  It seems they are far more frequent now than they used to be, but we just deal with them and move on. I am the tortoise.

Week 54 - Weigh In

Amazing weigh in this morning!!!! I lost 7.2lbs this week. I'm only 3.8lbs away from a total loss of 60lbs. Yes!!!!! I feel awesome. (And I finally get to move my tracker and post a weight loss "sticker" today! It's been a while.)

I woke up extremely early. I knew I had a great week and had looked at the scale early on and saw a 6lb loss. So last night was like Christmas Eve. It's been WEEKS since I've seen a really great loss. One of my good friends happened to be online early as well. We chatted for a few minutes and as I thought about asking her if she wanted to hit the gym before our Weight Watchers meeting - she was typing it! So, we did it! 7am we were on the treadmills. My legs were a bit sore from yesterday, but once I got moving that worked out.

So, here are the quick stats:
Loss this week: 7.2lbs
Total loss: 56.2lbs

Week 53 - Weigh In

This is the start of something great. I feel re-motivated and I feel ready to go. I went to my meeting this morning expecting a gain. In fact, I came very close to using my no weigh-in pass just so I didn't have to see the number. However, I received an email from my wonderful leader. It was sent out to the group but it really spoke to me, personally. It was about coming home, no judgment, starting fresh and I told myself it's just one weigh-in, it's just one number and next week will be fantastic.

To my surprise, I lost 1.2lbs.

I've been in a rut with my weight loss. First it was my husband's surgeries, then finals, then graduation. Once all that was over it was like I took a giant sigh. I can't say I was always 100% focused on my weight loss, as I've always had a lot of stuff going on, but my focus certainly was more than it has been the last few weeks.

So, I'm re-focused and re-committed. Today, I'm changing it up. I'm cooking foods I haven't had in a long time. I'm setting myself up to have a really great week.

It's been a little while. How are all of you doing? Have you reached any major milestones? Have you tried anything new? Share!

Week 51 - Weigh In

Welcome home! That's what I felt as I walked back through the doors of my Weight Watcher's center. It's been three weeks since I attended a meeting and it feels like an eternity. I really miss my meetings when I don't attend and I really NEED my meetings. I gained. It wasn't a little gain. There is no sugar-coating this one (well, actually, this one was sugar-coated considering the things I consumed to get to it). It was a major gain. But that's behind me. No looking back, only forward. I know what mistakes were made, I know what I did. Today is a new day and a fresh start.

This fresh start truly is a new beginning. I'm approaching my year anniversary of weight loss and over this year I've had some pretty major events that could have put a stop to the entire process. But, they didn't. Not that I want to jinx myself but my life has changed greatly in the last few weeks. Since I'm finished with school until next January, I've been given the gift of time. I plan to hit the gym regularly again.

Immediately following the meeting a friend and I went to a local gym and put some time in on the treadmill. It felt great. I feel great!

I'm confident the SIX pounds I gained will come right back off in no time. This is going to be a fantastic week. I'm going to work hard, track precisely and welcome next week's weigh in with open arms.

Bring it on!!

Week 48 - Weigh In

Ok, this is crap! I gained .2 pounds, mmhmm, POINT TWO POUNDS. I'm fed up with this yo-yo action and have to kick it into high gear. This is crazy! Honestly, my week wasn't bad.

I'm fairly certain I know what is going on, it's a combination of a few things.  I am pretty sure I'm retaining some water this week. But mainly, my activity has decreased. I know lack of time shouldn't be an excuse, but honestly, since this term of school started in January, my time has been extremely limited. Work all day five days per week, school four nights per week, my days outside the house don't end until 10pm and then I have to hit the books until after midnight. It's been extremely challenging to find a spot to get a workout in. I attempted to set myself up with a goal of using a personal trainer, doing weights several times a week, etc. and because I wasn't able to do it just as I planned (five days per week), I've let the all or nothing attitude get to me.  I need to remind myself that even 10 minutes of doing something is SOMETHING. One day doing it is more than zero. . .so this week I am not setting the huge goals of "I'm going to put seven hours in on the treadmill over the week!" No, all I am going to say is I will get some activity, I will vow to do SOMETHING. 

This upcoming week is slightly more complicated (understatement of the year) because my husband has his second knee replacement this Wednesday. Fortunately, since we did this recently (first one was done on February 2nd) I know what to expect and I can plan accordingly.

I went to the store and purchased plenty of fresh fruit and healthy snacks to take with me to the hospital. I refuse to seek out a vending machine at 3am for a KitKat just because I can.

So, it's onward and upward (well downward, oh whatever). Thus rut is one I desperately need to get out of and I think some form of activity is the answer.

There is light at the end of the tunnel for my schedule. I graduate on May 7th and will be out of school until January when I will hopefully (I have to apply and be accepted) start nursing school!

Quick Stats:
This week's weigh in +0.2lbs
Total Lost - 53.6lbs

Week 47 - Weigh In

I'm a bit late giving my weigh in from Sunday. Truth be told, we decided to go on a small family outing to The Florida Aquarium, so I ran into my meeting long enough to get weighed and then we were on the road to Tampa. Once we got back home I had to run to the grocery store, treat my dogs for a flea problem they have developed during our dry season and then get kids ready for bed/school the next day.

Honestly, I was a bit disappointed with my results on Sunday. I saw a loss, so that was good, but it was 0.6lbs. I know, a loss is a loss is a loss. And any loss is always better than gain. I get that, I do. But, I worked hard last week, watching everything I ate, sharing my tracker on here each day. Giving up Diet Coke. I really expected to see a really great loss. So seeing only a 0.6 on the scale was a bit lackluster.

It's ok, moving forward, glad the scale went in the right direction and I'll just keep on, keeping on. :)

This weeks loss: 0.6lbs
Total loss: 53.8lbs

Week 46 - Weigh In

All I really can say is Wow! Weigh in this morning was amazing - I lost 3.4lbs! This is amazing after having such a rough week. I can't explain it and you know what, it doesn't really matter. I'm thrilled! There is nothing more motivating than a nice loss.

Several weeks ago I hit my 50 pound goal. However, I had not been able to find my key-chain to take a photo of all my milestone charms together. In fact, I never did find it. My wonderful Weight Watcher's leader replaced it at today's meeting. I'm so thankful to have it back again. It's funny how these little things mean so much, but they do.

Since today's weigh in brought me back over my 50lb milestone, with a total of 53.2lbs lost I think the timing is just perfect!

My week of accountability (part 2) starts today! I'll be posting my food tracker each day this week. Please join me!

This is really going to be a fantastic week. I'm back and I feel great!

Week 45 - Weigh In

Enough is enough! I'm done floundering! This morning I saw the gain, as I expected. I'm up 3.6lbs. Yep, I went off track big time. But, what is done is done and I'll take it back off. I think this only illustrates how much I NEED to go to my meetings, track my foods, plan my meals and exercise. For years, I ate as I did this week. Flying by the seat of my pants, eating anything I wanted without giving it much thought - running to the vending machine when the chocolate craving hit and eating that Kit Kat whenever I pleased. It's easy to see how one could become nearly 400lbs when gaining 3.6 in one week. 36lbs in 10 weeks. . .72lbs in 20 weeks. . .

I've already gone to the grocery store and purchased all the right things. Today I'm going to sit down and do my normal planning routine, that I missed last week. I'm taking control again.

Week 43 - Weigh In

I had a great week. The scale is moving in the right direction again. The theme of last weeks meeting was "Shake It Up" and I took that challenge seriously. I ventured into cooking some new recipes with foods I had never had before. I also started weight training. I believe those two changes made a difference and are what pushed the two pound weight loss.

I'm going to continue on my "try new things" venture. I have some new recipes to try and this week I have some pretty hefty fitness goals. They start today.  I'm hoping the extra activity will really push the numbers on the scale, as it is my hope to get in the teens by next week. I think I can do it!! Changing it up like this keeps me from getting so bored.

My fitness schedule for this week is:
Sunday (today) - 1 Hour Treadmill
Monday - 20 minutes ARC Trainer
Tuesday - Upper Body Weight Training
Wednesday - Personal Trainer Appointment
Thursday - Lower Body Weight Training
Friday - 20 minutes ARC Trainer
Saturday - 1 Hour Treadmill

It's spring break from school and I really want to push myself in the gym. So, here's to another great week!

Do you have anything new or different planned? Do you have an challenges or goals you are placing in this week?  I would love to hear them!

Week 41 - Weigh In

My week numbers have been a bit off, when I added the weekly weight loss tab today I found this little tidbit of information, so going forward they will be correct. This is week 41! I've missed a few meetings and had a few challenges towards the end of this week - so I saw a gain. It was only a pound but just a reminder that I need to refocus again. I know with going to the trainer this week and all the fantastic food I purchased yesterday that I'm set up to have a great week.


I added two new pages to my blog. The Weekly Weigh Loss section has my weight and losses running from start to current. I really love looking at that and seeing the progress that I've made - it's a motivator to stay on track. It also shows me that in the last few weeks, while I have still seen some losses, it's slow and time to kick it up!

Additionally I added a new About Me section which is well, about me, but includes a new before and after photo.

Here's to a great week friends! Next week's weigh in is going to be great!

Week 33 - Weigh In - Second Goal Achieved!!!

This week was the week! I did it! I not only hit my 50lbs gone, I exceeded it! I lost 2.6lbs this week, making my total loss 51lbs. I've set my next goal which is another 26lbs. It will be a huge milestone for me as I will be able to bid the 300's goodbye and see the 200's for the first time in probably 14 years! Yes, friends, I've been over 300lbs for close to a decade and a half! I will take another photo today, while I don't think there will be a huge difference between this picture and my last, it's a milestone and it feels like one I should mark with another before and after photo.

Quick Stats:
This week's weight loss - 2.6lbs
Total loss - 51lbs
Next goal - 77lbs

The road is long and sometimes all that matters is that you're on it

On a journey of 10,000 steps are any of the steps any more important than the others? I'm quite sure the guy on the road celebrates certain milestones, but is that single step any higher in value to the entire journey than say the 10 steps that it took to get there? No. Not really. The journey would not have been complete without all of the steps combined.

I keep this thought in mind today. My weight stayed the exact same. I didn't lose. I didn't gain. I just stayed the same. This is where struggle lies in weight loss. Sure, it's fantastic and even "easy" at times when the weight drops off in pounds by the week. Where the endurance comes in, where the willpower comes in, is when you do all the right things and the numbers just don't show it.

It's OK. At least it wasn't a gain. As cliche as using the word "journey" is, it honestly is a journey and there will be times where the unexplainable happens. I can't explain why I didn't see a loss. I measured all of my "right" foods. I exercised. I tracked. I drank my water. I got more sleep. And yes, even after all that, some weeks you just won't see it.

This is where commitment is key. As it would be so easy, after working so hard this week, to throw in the towel for a few days, do whatever it is the "old me" would want to do - which would probably involve large numbers of calories, no exercise and self pity. However, that was the old me. I refuse to succumb to those negative thoughts. I'm going with the mindset that I DID do everything right this week and as a result, the fruits of those efforts WILL show on the scale. Perhaps next week. :)

I don't really have any new goals. I'm going to keep doing what I've been doing. I know it's healthy, I know it's right. It just takes time which is going to pass no matter what I'm doing, so I might as well do all the right things and eventually I will make it to that next milestone.