Wednesday Weigh-In

Well, after a week of not weighing in I took a chance and weighed myself this morning. Still 180 lbs., which I am EXTREMELY grateful for since for the last 2 weeks I've been eating crap and only working out less than half what I normally do. So no change is GREAT!

BTW, I did get up and go work out this morning, and it was HARD! Got to get back into the groove, I guess...

Just one more night of eating crap and then back to being more strict about watching what I eat!

Happy New Year everyone!

P.S. Can you believe my overuse of ALL CAPS this morning?! UNBELIEVABLE ;)

I'ts coming....I know it is

146......that is how much I weighed this morning.

Still 4 lbs under my goal weight. Yipee!'

I'm like a sitting duck......waiting for the holiday treats to kick in.

I know they will. I am just waiting.

It's weird to weigh myself ever week. After going a month without it, a week seems too short. The day creeps up on me all too soon.
So....for this week I am safe.

Next week......we shall just have to wait and see.

New developments......

So, Valerie....you were wrong. I was going to plow through the snow to go to the gym yesterday if they were holding classes but because they canceled them, I did decide to stay home. Although, Rob and I spent over two hours shoveling the snow off of our driveway and walkway so I got a good workout anyway. In fact, every muscle (not bone) in my back is nice and sore and tight this morning. It feels so good.

Speaking of classes at the gym, Denise (my mentor lady) informed me the other day that she will be taking her Thursday class completely back and will only be alternating Saturdays with me. What a crock! It ticks me off but....oh well. I just have to wait until my blasted certificate gets here (hoping that I passed of course) and then I will either try to pick up MY OWN CLASSES or look elsewhere for work. She did tell me, in the beginning, that this fitness industry is full of a lot of gossip and backbiting. I just had no idea SHE was part of it. HE HE!

Wish me luck!

It's been a while

I don't know my weight. Somewhere around 140 I'm sure. I've still been going to the gym. Today I did a body sculpting class. I love it. This is a body that could use some serious sculpting.
I did ask the dr. about exercise and she said to keep track of my heart rate. It shouldn't be over 140 for more than 15 minutes. So, I am trying to just keep it at or below 140 when I work out cardio. I did have to back it off a bit today in my class.
Of course, then I came home and ate a hershey bar... meh.

Anyway, I want to know what every one else is doing. You were all motivating me with your stories of exercise classes and marathons and whathaveyous. Now it is a like we only blog to weigh in and even that is sporatic. Not that I am guiltless here...just saying...

So, three out of four days at the gym this week. Tomorrow is a new day and we'll see how it goes. I am planning on the gym...

Chari's Weigh In

I know that I've been absent for a very long time, but I'm ready to get serious about this again. I think that the last time I posted my weight I was at 162 (that was several weeks ago). Well, the results for this morning are that I'm at 158. Woo Hoo! Wish that it were due to some awesome dedication, but it's not. I've been eating junk (not huge quantities, but junk none the less) and my run this morning was the first one in more than a week. Okay, so the lack of runs had more to do with Joe being out of town, me getting sick, and oh yeah, the painfully cold temperatures. But the point is, I could be trying a lot harder and then imagine the results! My goal is 145 so, that's only 13 lbs to go, time to get serious!

Wednesday Weigh-In

No change. No reason to post other than to stay consistent. Still 180 lbs. Christmas is coming, are you mentally prepared for all the eating?

Melanie's weigh in......

So I weighed in again today. I know I only waited a few weeks this time but the temptations was too overwhelming.

In spite of eating ice cream every night for two weeks and feeling a bit chubby the scale admitted that I had lost another 2 lbs.

I don't know whether or not to be too excited over it (because it wont last for very long) but it was better that what I was expecting (as in, a weight gain).

Aunt Flo is even visiting right now so..........I don't get it but I won't complain (at least not too much).

It doesn't look like I will be getting pregnant any time soon so I guess this "maintaining" stage will be my MO for the next while.

Maintenance is a *****. I don't like it one bit.

Wednesday Non-Weigh-In

Thanks for the guilt trip, Valerie! :)

I haven't stepped on a scale for a while - been in denial and/or scared of what it might say. But yesterday at Target I tried on a dress, two sizes smaller than any dress from there that has fit me in the last 5 or six years, and I could actually zip it up ... and I didn't even take off my shirt(s) to try it on, just my pants, so it actually fit better than that. It was a good day. I didn't buy it, because there is no way on earth that I would be able to nurse my baby while wearing it, but that is beside the point. It fit, and that's all I care about right now.

Wednesday Weigh In

Happy birthday to Holly and to me!

This week is another pound gone (180 lbs), to bring me to a total loss of 20 lbs just in time for my 31st birthday.

Is 20 lbs in 3 months good, average, or slow, do ya think?



Also, this blog will not help you with your accountability if you NEVER POST ON IT!!!

Wednesday Weigh In

I'm lazy and didn't go work out this morning. That really has no impact on anything other than to say I'm lazy. But that's not why we're here, now is it?

181 lbs. Down 1 lb which I'm extremely grateful for. 19 lbs gone to date. Oh, I guess I never reported on whether I lost that extra 2 by last Saturday, but, um, this probably tells you that. NO. I'm not beating myself up over it. It was a pipe dream anyway.

But I'm thankful for what appears to be slow and steady weight loss. SLOW anyway.

I know you've been wanting to know...

I will probably weigh myself tomorrow morning. I like to do it right after I get up and um...use the facilities. That way there is no extra food weighing me down. My forays to the gym have been mostly regular but not particularly strenuous. I still don't have much of an appetite. What I do manage to eat is carbs and meat. No veggies are touching these lips. In fact, if they are green they are probably not touching my hands either. Ugh, just typing about them and thinking about them is making me feel.... ugh.

So the reason behind the unreasonable aversion to food that I usually actually enjoy? The reason behind the loss of weight despite no exercising as much or as hard? The reason behind the constant queasyness in my life right now?

Yup. I'm pregnant. Seven weeks (ish) and counting.

So, I'll weigh myself tomorrow. I'll have maybe lost a pound or two. I still would like to be down about 14 pounds before I start gaining weight. But, we'll just see how it goes.

Wednesday Weigh In

Da da da da, da, DA! Even in the midst of cookies and pies I am holding my own this week. Yesterday was the making of the pies at my house (well, my mom's house which we're staying in) which also includes a delectable Costco Cheesecake (from Monday) and even in the midst of 2 pumpkins, an apple, the cheesecake, a banana cream AND a cheescake-like strawberry jello I still managed to lose 2 lbs.

Back down to 182 lbs. Thats 18 lbs gone to date. Again.

It's encouraging me to continue to try, however unlikely it is that it will actually happen, to lose the other 2 lbs by Saturday.

Oh, and also in the midst of an anticipated visit from Auntie Flo. And the cookies the Laurels dropped off for my mom (which Ryan ate some of). And the stress that is a CONSTANT in my life. Whiney much?

I took the plunge

Okay, so I gave in........

I weighed myself this morning!

Four weeks of not knowing and it's just.......nice to know.

I woke up this morning and felt pretty good. I was headed to the gym before breakfast and had just relieved my body of excess weight (uhum......sorry for the info). I told Rob that whatever the scale said was fine because I was feeling okay with myself.....and that makes all the difference in the weighing game.

Rob and I talked about a possible range I hoped to be in.

Anything less than 150lbs and anything under 153. If the scales tipped over 153 I was not going to move the slider any higher. I was just going to take it from there, do my best for the next 2,3,4 weeks and check again.

Good news though.........

148 lbs

So.......for now, I'm good. Even with all of the junk I have eaten (that I have berated myself over and over for).

It's funny......I have always eaten this way (good....mostly with an "occasional"(he he) treat on the side) and I have always been 150 lbs. So why now do I feel like it's not enough?

Satan has been working hard on me. He is using my body against me. He's jealous because he doesn't have one so he's trying to get me to ruin mine. What a jerk.

So.......I will continue to fight the mental battle and I WILL overcome it some day.

I challenge all of you to not fall into his trap either. We can be happy without looking like supermodels (they are airbrushed anyway). The world wants us to think that we can't be happy if we don't look like that. It's not true.

We should strive to be HEALTHY not SKINNY!

Take a minute to really think about that.

No News is Good News?

I haven't been to the school clinic in almost two weeks, and as such, I haven't weighed myself in that long either. But I haven't been eating so well lately, so maybe it's a good thing that I haven't weighed myself. Let me live in denial for a little while longer. I have been working out almost regularly, though, so maybe the effects of my not-so-good eating habits lately will be countered by my almost-good exercising habits. I should make it to the clinic on Monday next week (great, just after the National Gorge Yourself Holiday) so we'll see where I stand then.

4 weeks and still no go........

On account of Valorie, I will post.

I am STILL not weighing in. Some days that's good and some days it KILLS me not to know where the heck I am scale sitting.

Oh well, makes me a little less psycho that way.

Umm........that all.

you can DOOOO it!

I have to lose 4 lbs by Saturday. 2 lbs for the 2 that I gained, and 2 lbs for the 2 that I should have lost the last 2 weeks, but didn't because my eating was out of control. Why, you ask? Because my sister-in-law and fam are coming over for Thanksgiving to see her husbands family and we get to visit with them on Saturday and I want to be down 20 lbs from when they last saw me.

Is it even possible? Don't know, but I'm gonna try. I'm eating A LOT of salad (with protein like chicken, cheese, hardboiled eggs - don't freak out).

How very ambitious of me to choose Thanksgiving week for a major weight loss goal. Anyone else practicing restraint this week? Or is it just a big freeforall?

And why am I the only posting? People? Are you out there?

Wednesday Weigh In

up 2 lbs to 184. It could be worse. But it could also be a lot better.

crapcrapcrapcrapcrap

I'm so stinkin' nervous about weighing in tomorrow. I have a bad feeling that I've totally blown it this week. The eating is OUT OF CONTROL! I hate it, and I hate that I can't seem to find my self control anywhere. Every morning I tell myself that all I'm going to drink today is water, and then proceed to suck down the equivalent of three pops. Or tell myself I'm gonna control myself at lunch and totally inhale every sugar coated thing I can see. I'm good with breakfast and with dinner, it's everything in between that's killing me.

If you're paying attention that's the whole rest of the fetchin' day.

Confessions...

I stepped on the scale yesterday and.....drumroll please..... 136!

Here's for the confession part:
I haven't been to the gym for over a week. We've all been a little sick around here so I haven't gone to work out. However, my appetite is and has been almost nill. Hence the loss of 4 pounds. I suspect if I ever start feeling well that weight will come back. Something about losing weight when you're sick never stays off.
Oh well.

1st Official Weigh-In

So my scale is an evil liar and I don't trust it. One day it will say one thing and the next it will be 10-15 lbs different, and I know I don't fluctuate that much. So, I have decided to weigh myself every time I am at the clinic at my husband's school. Well, that scale is now officially even more evil than mine at home. No, it doesn't fluctuate really, but it says I weigh about 10 lbs more than I thought, but at least I have an official starting point and a reliable way to measure my progress (or lack thereof, as the case may be).

Drumroll, please ... 210 lbs.

I have decided to start running - something I've never really enjoyed, but since my husband isn't home at any consistent time every day, I need to be able to work out with my kids. I can't afford to join a gym (we live on student loans, so it's kind of tight) and I already have a decent jogging stroller, so that's where I am starting. Wish me luck, and as few blisters as possible, considering I NEVER wear shoes.

Wednesday Weigh In

Sigh.

182 lbs. No loss this week, but then again, no gain either. Time to kick it up a notch. I've gotta get my eating back under control. Grrrrr.

Hi -

Just a quick intro. I'm Mandi, and I'm addicted to Carbs and Blogstalking. I blogstalk through the time I should be exercising, and I eat carbs the rest of the time. Okay, so that may be an exaggeration, but there is some truth in it, otherwise I wouldn't need y'all's help.

I have two babies, Matthew is almost 2 (where did that time go?!) and Abby is brand new (2 months). My husband is Burkely; he is a chiropractic student with big dreams and I support him 100%. He is working on losing weight as well, and he is better at it than I am; plus he is a guy and for some reason notices that his pants fit better within two days of trying, unlike me who 'tries' for two months and the scale moves the other direction. That's why I'm joining up here - I need someone to be accountable to besides him.

I was always 'fit' while growing up. My senior year of high school I weighed 180 lbs but wore a size 7 or 9, depending on the outfit. Now, 10 years later, I weigh 200 lbs and am pretty far from that size 7. I don't have a goal weight, but with my bone structure I would be happy (okay, ecstatic) with a size 10 or so. I'll get there eventually, if I can just put down the pasta/bread/cookies/etc. and the laptop, and get my tush on the eliptical machine.

Oh, we live in Texas - here temporarily for chiropractic school. I grew up in small town Utah and I really miss the mountains, so we'll be heading back that way when school is done. I actually went to high school with Sheena (kind of, she is a couple years younger than me). That must be how I found this blog originally - a link from hers, which was a link from my sisters.

Anyway, thanks for letting me join the club.

New Member

Hey everybody, please welcome Mandi! Mandi says she's been blogstalking us for a while and needs that extra motivation that we can provide. Tell us a little about yourself....

Hey Mandi, if you had to send the request more than once I apologize. Stuff keeps getting sent to my spam folder, and every once in a great while I check it and there's something in there that shouldn't be. Like your request. So, if I took too long getting back to you, that's why.

You are most definetly welcome!

Weigh-in

After nearly two months of regular exercising and moderately cautious eating (hey, there is Halloween candy...) I am still weighing in at the EXACT. SAME. WEIGHT.

I have a couple of theories.

1. I must be losing fat at the exact same proportion to making muscle. Meaning: I lose a pound of fat and gain a pound of muscle. Almost simultaneously. I like this theory. It means that someday, hopefully soon, I am all of a sudden going to start shedding unwanted pounds daily. I'll keep you updated.

2. The gravity on this side of the state must weigh more. If I went to Spokane to weigh myself I bet I'd be at least 10 lbs lighter. I told Roy this idea but he didn't think so. Still he's a lawyer, not a scientist so I'm not putting all my faith in that answer.

3. Well.. ..

Here's another thing. It's not like I am losing weight then gaining weight. No. I am staying the exact same weight! I do work out. I promise. I've been trying to do 30 min of cardio --EVERYDAY!!! (except weekends) I am trying to vary my cardio work-outs so my body is buring calories in a variety of ways. Monday I did the eliptical with the arm thingys then lifted weights for my upper body. Tuesday I went to the body sculpting class that I've talked about before. I think. Anyway, it's an hour of step/lunge/freeweight/ab/sweat. I actually left feeling slightly ill yesterday because I worked so hard. I really am not trying to 'go easy on myself'. However, I know I can't go at 100% everyday or else my body has not recovery time. I feel like I'm starting to babble.

So any way. Here's me weighing in.

Wednesday Weigh-In

182 lbs. That's down 3 from last week for a total loss of 18 lbs to date. Yay for me! My new size 12 Levi's look awesome, thankyouverymuch.

Blasted Candy!

So, I was reminded over the last week that I have no self-control when it comes to candy! Seriously, it's a big problem. Joe left this morning to go out of town for the week which always makes for an emotional/lonely/depressed week....combine that with the loads of candy that we got trick or treating....it's a recipe for disaster. So, I picked out a few candies to bribe the boys with throughout the week and stuck the rest of it in his trunk before he left. Problem solved (hopefully)!

How are you guys coping with all of the junk food that comes with the Holidays, parties, etc?

I need ideas! And real ones that will actually work!

NO WEIGH IN'S!

Okay ladies. I have been boycotting weigh-in's lately.

What started out as a "only weigh myself when I feel GOOD!" weigh in, turned into a "weekly" weigh in, that turned into a "daily" weigh in that, most likely, would have turned into a "multiple times a day weigh in" (which is why I don't have a scale at home).

To tell you the truth, I am really struggling right now. I'm trying to get back on track to what is most important (health) and not spend so much time obsessing about what is not (anorexic looking skinny model body).

So........no weigh ins for now. Not until I am ready to look at them objectively again.

Sorry......any words of wisdom?

Trying on Dresses

Okay, first, here's my report for my weekly weigh-in: 164. Woo-hoo! 2lbs this week, I'll gladly take that!

The truly exciting thing, though, is that I went to the mall this morning to start looking for a dress to wear to my brother's semi-formal wedding in December. Other than being discouraged that, just like in High School, all of the cute dresses were sleeveless (sigh) I discovered that I'm in a size 8!!! I was shocked, I've NEVER been in single digits, EVER!!!

So, what did I do when I got home? Ate a protein bar and did a double workout video. I'm determined to look just as good as my sister-in-laws at the wedding (other than the bride, of course, it is her day...)!

Wednesday Weigh-In

All the more embarrassing since no one else has posted since my last post - uh, where are you guys?

So, maybe if I didn't weigh myself so fetchin' early in the morning, and if I had a digital scale instead of a dial with little tiny dashes that I still can't read even though I got a new perscription I would be able to ACCURATELY tell you my weight. But I do, and I don't, so I can't.

Sadly, sadly last week I read the scale wrong. This must be true because there is no possible way that I've gained 9 lbs in 1 week even if I am retaining water in preparation for my monthly joy of joys.

185 lbs.

Which, if you ignore last week, figure I read it wrong and it should've been 186 instead of 176 that's down 1 lb from 187, so this week I'm down 1 lb from that (And my mom sighs in relief that I'm not losing my milk). Total weight loss to date is 15 lbs which is 1/4 of what I want to lose.

Not as fun as 11 lbs in 1 week, but makes a lot more sense.

Wednesday Weigh-In

I have beat the plateau, beat it into submission with my awesome consistency. Drums please...

176 lbs. BOO-YA!

That is an 11 lb loss this week, coming on the heels of 1 lb weight loss over 3 weeks (can you say plateau?). Total weight loss to date: 24 lbs. I'm gonna say it again: BOO-YA!

I feel pretty, oh so pretty....

A healty outlet or a unhealty obsession.....

as soon as I figure it out, I will let you know.

(If you have no idea what the heck I am trying to say, join the crew)

New Author

Hey Everybody, please welcome Melanie B.! Melanie, be sure to tell us something about yourself, because you are the first person to join that I don't actually know. I hope that this works for you the way that you want it to! Welcome aboard!

Gym update

Weigh-in: Don't ask. Okay, 140!!!! It may be 139 which is just not good enough for me to count. *MuscleweighsmorethanfatMuscleweighsmorethanfatMuscleweighs...*

I joined LAFitness. I decided to be perfectly honest with myself and realized I would not go work out at the other gym. I wasn't that motivated there. (I don't remember if I told you all that or if I just thought about telling you all that.) Now I have been going everyday (mostly).

This week:
Monday- Cardio (20min on the treadmill) and weights focusing on legs.
Tuesday- I think I'll try a new class called Body Sculpting. Sounds like something I could use. Great workout, lots of lunges. When I was done my arm muscles were shaking and it was hard to change my clothes. With in hours, I am unable to perform any weight bearing tasks (such as walking) using my legs. (On a personal note, I forgot to bring a clean bra. We weren't going home for a while so 'hanging loose' wasn't an option. In one of my not-finer-life-moments I used a blow dryer on my sports bra and cringed while I put it on. EWW. I know.)
Wednesday- Even though I have a bit of a cold and feel crummy and still can't walk or climb stairs, I head out for a light workout of cardio and weights focusing on my back.
Tomorrow: Kickboxing! Wahoo!

I went every day last week except for Tuesday. Oh, and the weekends. I'm trying. Really. I have been trying to watch what I eat and make better choices. I am being mindful of portion control. Now I just have to have patience I guess.

Wednesday Weigh In

I'm just happy it didn't go up this week because I ate HORRIBLY!

187 lbs.

Getting back on track...

uggggghhhhh....

This is the noise you'd hear if you were putting your ear on my oh-so-abundant tummy (can I call it a tummy when it's the size of 8 pillows?). This would be from the amount of CRAAAP I have consumed in the last 30 hours and the lack of exercise I have had in the last 30 years.

I'm not losing anything. I should quit so you guys can rocket to success. Dump the fat! That means me, y'know?

Discretionary Calories......music to my ears.

Okay, so I double posted (in my fat lard blog as well) but it was such a good read I wanted everyone to see it.

This is an exert from MyPyramid.gov on discretionary calories (I love that term......discretionary calories.....doesn't it sound nice?):

You need a certain number of calories to keep your body functioning and provide energy for physical activities. Think of the calories you need for energy like money you have to spend. Each person has a total calorie “budget.” This budget can be divided into “essentials” and “extras.”

With a financial budget, the essentials are items like rent and food. The extras are things like movies and vacations. In a calorie budget, the “essentials” are the minimum calories required to meet your nutrient needs. By selecting the lowest fat and no-sugar-added forms of foods in each food group you would make the best nutrient “buys.” Depending on the foods you choose, you may be able to spend more calories than the amount required to meet your nutrient needs. These calories are the “extras” that can be used on luxuries like solid fats, added sugars, and alcohol, or on more food from any food group. They are your “discretionary calories.”

Each person has an allowance for some discretionary calories. But, many people have used up this allowance before lunch-time! Most discretionary calorie allowances are very small, between 100 and 300 calories, especially for those who are not physically active. For many people, the discretionary calorie allowance is totally used by the foods they choose in each food group, such as higher fat meats, cheeses, whole milk, or sweetened bakery products.

You can use your discretionary calorie allowance to:

• Eat more foods from any food group than the food guide recommends.
• Eat higher calorie forms of foods—those that contain solid fats or added sugars. Examples are whole milk, cheese, sausage, biscuits, sweetened cereal, and sweetened yogurt.
• Add fats or sweeteners to foods. Examples are sauces, salad dressings, sugar, syrup, and butter.
• Eat or drink items that are mostly fats, caloric sweeteners, and/or alcohol, such as candy, soda, wine, and beer.

For example, assume your calorie budget is 2,000 calories per day. Of these calories, you need to spend at least 1,735 calories for essential nutrients, if you choose foods without added fat and sugar. Then you have 265 discretionary calories left. You may use these on “luxury” versions of the foods in each group, such as higher fat meat or sweetened cereal. Or, you can spend them on sweets, sauces, or beverages. Many people overspend their discretionary calorie allowance, choosing more added fats, sugars, and alcohol than their budget allows.

So....I guess I can justify my eating of loads of candy. As it said here, 100-300 calories for those who are not very physically active. I figure because I am very physically active I can at least consume 600-700 of these "discretionary calories." Don't you think?

Okay, so I am just kidding but it is nice to know that a bit of candy consumption is not going to kill me. Now I just have to taper it down my mega doses to "a bit" and I will be good to go.

This website mypyramid.gov is an excellent resource for anyone trying to loose weight or just stay fit and eat healthy.

Wednesday Weigh In

Argh!

Weighing in at 187.

That's a whopping 1 lb. weight loss in two weeks. Is it residual water retention from my period? I have longish periods. Or is it that I've hit a plateau? This is beginning to be frustrating because I haven't changed the amount I'm working out, if anything I'm doing more, but the numbers are not falling.

I want them to fall.

My new mantra is: Muscle weighs more than fat. Muscle weighs more than fat. I keep muttering this to myself as I slowly go insane.

Perhaps I've slacked off on the portion control end of things. Very possible. Also, on a totally gross level, I usually have a, um, constitutional before I weigh in and it's just not happening this morning. Think that'd make a 4-6 lb difference?

Yeah, I said it was gross.

What a jip!

I just opened a box of "DOTS" and there was only three in there.

What a jip.

Now that is what I call portion control.

Well, now I will just have to open another. That's right. Maybe even 2-3 more. Just for spite.

Hello....is this thing on? (tap, tap)

Am I the only one posting weigh-ins right now? No way.....isn't EVERYONE supposed to do it.

Yesterday I weighed in at 158....slowly climbing the ladder again.....and it sucks.

After today, I don't think I will want to weigh myself for a long time.

For some reason I feel like crap a(I think aunt flow is a comin' for a visit) and I have been medicating myself, with tasty food, all day.

So much for eating a homemade pizza yesterday with no meat or cheese........just sauce, vegetables and a nice tasty piece of chicken on the side (it was actually REALLY good).

Not Weight Related

Um, are any of you getting the comments emailed to you? If not, do you want to? Let me know...

Gym Shopping

I went gym shopping today. My walking buddy, Mindy has a membership at LA Fitness so we headed over there this morning. The kiddos played in the play center while I subjected myself to the embarassment of disclosing my weight and body fat to a trainer so they could tell me how much I NEEDED their gym. (Which, of course, is alot.) I have not determined if I will ever disclose to anyone ever! what percent of body fat I'm currently carrying.

Perks:

• The gym was nice. It is newer and everything was in good working order.
• It is a bright sunny place because of windows and skylights.
• Mindy works out there and it is almost like having a personal trainer. Only she laughed at me when I was sortof, kinda trying, but only a little bit succeeding at doing sit-ups on an exercise ball. At least I didn't fall off! But we're friends so its okay.

Downsides:

• completely adult gym. No kids allowed in the pool, ever. No kid classes, no family orientation at all.
• Not so helpful staff? After my workout, I was suppose to talk to someone about membership stuff. So I went over to the desks. The nice fella who had been helping me before wasn't there. In fact there was only one bored looking twenty-something girl. I asked her for help. She ripped a page out of her miniture notebook and wrote down some figures for me. Handed me the page. Good-bye. The End. So, do you want my membership or not?

We took a drive to another nearby gym. Lake Shore Athletic Club. (HAHA, when I first typed this I left the 'h' out of Shore)

Perks:

• A family club. Totally family friendly-- Indoor and outdoor pool that kids can use during open swim. Kid classes, bigger play area.
• Wwaaaaaaayyy more friendly people. I got an individual tourguide who answered all my questions and gave me handouts with class schedules, pool schedules, fee chart, the works.
• Outdoor tennis court.
• COUPON FOR 50% OFF INITIATON FEE.

Downside:

• NO MINDY. I would probably go by myself but a buddy helps so much. Plus I don't really know how to work the equipment so I would stand around and try to watch other people work-out. There are trainers in the equipment room but I know I wouldn't ask for help. Is that their job? Yes. Would they kick you in the shin for asking them? No. What's the problem? I'm a big weeeeeeenie!
• Not bright.
• Older equipment
• OLDER patrons. Not that I have a problem with old people. I don't. However, the patronage did seem to mostly fall in the 'Silver Sneaker' catagory. Disclaimer: It could have been the timing of when I was there. 11:30 is not a usual work out time for mommies.

So now I am needing to compare the prices/packages and make a determination. I would like to go to LA Fitness, mostly because that's where Mindy is. There is a place here called Kids Club where I could take the kiddos for swimming lessons, etc. But that's memberships to two different places. *sigh*

I think I am going to go ponder this myself so you don't have to read every thought I have. What do you all think?

Wednesdays are quickly my least favorite day

I don't want to stand on a scale. Who's idea was it that we weigh in on here so much?

Oh yeah, right.

So I will have to get to a scale but I have a question that seems to make the most sense on this blog vs the other blog.

I had to buy new (smaller) jeans over Labor Day weekend. I never used to dry my old jeans in the dryer because they shrink, right? So why are these new (smaller!) jeans going through the dryer and not getting too small? In fact, by the time I've worn them for an entire day they are a little baggy. Only in parts but still.

They are a regular cotton/spandex mix, I think. I am pretty sure I didn't lose more weight (I'll weigh in later!!) since I bought them and my tummy/boobs are not shrinking at all. So what gives? Besides the jeans, I mean.

I don't know

I tried to post on my own blog and now it's posting here and I must have pushed the wrong blog (duh!) and I don't know how to delete this one so I'm editing so it says this. Sorry you just wasted 10 seconds of your life.

I Swear, I'm Working Just as Hard if Not Harder

So, um, just how much would you say your period affects your weight?

On the up side, I got my period. It's only 4 weeks late. I wasn't worried. Oh, and I'm a liar.

On the down side, or rather the not-up-but-not-down-either side my weight is the same as last week - 188 lbs.

I'm hoping it's my periods' fault. Yeah, let's go with that.

I suck, I suck, I suck

Tonight I consumed and undisclosed (because I refuse to add it up) amount of sugary desert things. I, myself, made chocolate brownies with Reese's peanut butter chips melted on top. I consumed about 1/3 of the pan before I even left the house. Then, at Bunco (Sheena......I missed you), I continued to sample everyone else's treats (as if I wasn't already sick to my stomach from the 1/3 pan of brownies) and ate myself into a stupor.

I totally suck. I hate it when I do that. NO SELF CONTROL! I SUCK, I SUCK, I SUCK.

I have a class to teach on Thursday so I guess I will "have to" practice my routine ALL DAY tomorrow (I'm thinking at least 4-5 hours) to make up for it.

Melanie.....you fat lard!

So much for becoming sickly looking. At this rate I will be back to my old chubby self.

Can I have one week of zero accountability? No weigh in? No CRAPPY number climbing.

I hate myself tonight.

I suck!

I need to do. Anything. Just DO

I'm so glad you guys are having such success at the weight loss thing. I, am not. Having success, that is.

Today we had Annie's birthday party and I managed to only eat 1/2 of the small piece I cut for myself and no ice cream. That is huge for me even though I managed this a few weeks ago since I have found myself in the middle of midterms this week among other normal triggers for me.

Anyway, I am NOT weighing in this week mostly because I am too lazy to go back across town to Rite Aidn and partly because I am afraid of what it might say. I should be excited about maintaining any loss so far and yet if I don't see a drop at all I feel frustrated and that's a trigger, too. See, you don't get to weigh 333 lbs by having only 1 or 2 triggers. And that is what I weighed at the beginning of this year. (not anymore!!!)

I need to get my schedule together so I can actually go work out. Things just need to remain stagnate for me to get it figured out. It seems like every week there is a new reason to not be able to go. I want to sleep or be lazy or procrastinate working out AND homework by saying I'll do the other one and then really watching Hulu so I can catch up on Bones.

It's bad when I treat working out like my boyfriend on the side. I shouldn't have to lie to him to get out of doing it. Affairs are suppossed to be fun, right?

Yes, it really is this crazy inside my head.

Apparently More is Less....scientific experiment successful so far.

So I have been keeping up with the calorie counting and trying to keep up consistent calorie intake throughout the day and so far.......it is working. I haven't had a binge session yet. I am taking in anywhere from 1600-2000 calories a day and should probably be taking in slightly more with as much as I work out right now. It's actually hard to find food worth consuming. I never thought that would happen.

I have also found that some of my favorite foods I thought were not "too bad" are actually quite disgusting and some are actually REALLY quite excellent. I am being adventurous and trying some new foods as well. Monday night we are going to have black bean burgers. I am actually really excited to try them. If they turn out well I will get you the recipe (with the nutrition fact, of course).

So I weighed in this morning. 146! Yeah. It's kind of nice to stand on the scale and put the big weight at 100 and move the small weight down instead of the big at 150 and have to move the small one up. We'll see how long it lasts but for now it's kind of fun.

There are a FEW downfalls, however, to this weight loss. It comes of my upper body at a faster rate than the lower. My "A-cup" bras are now getting loose one me. I believe I am working my way right into size AA (did you know AA is smaller than A?....Well it is.). And do you know how hard it is to find a size 38 AA bra? Nearly impossible if not impossible. Most of the time I have to buy extenders because I have such a huge rib cage (Rob, since the beginning of time, has teased with me that cannibals would have a feast on my ribs. What a loving husband, huh?).

Downfall #2
Because I continue to loose on top, my collarbones and neck are starting to look a little sickly. I must admit, in my twisted little brain, I kind of like it. Especially when I am weight lifting and looking in the mirror. The muscles flex and it make it look even smaller and skinnier. Disgusting, I know.
I do realize that it could get really ugly really fast. No one likes the anorexic look. I just wish my body would stop slimming up top and start working on "the hambutt" (buttocks and upper hamstring. You know, the whole overhang/crease thing). It really is my greatest ASSET....get it?

I guess I will just have to do more squats and more lunges and dead lifts and pelvic raises and ............ you get the idea.

BMI

Just for fun I decided to check my BMI and also see what my BMI would be at my target weight. I went here. Right now I am on the very edge between normal and overweight. Even at my target weight of 120 I would still be safely in the middle of normal. 120 here I come! Except for the unfortunate M&M binge this afternoon. *sigh*

Hi.

My name is Sheena and I want to lose weight.

(This is where you all say, "Hi Sheena" in a bored, sing-song voice.)

Alright, I forgot to weigh myself this morning and I'm not about to do it since I just ate. You'll have to deal with me weighing 140 lbs the last three times I've weighed myself and call that good. Or, not good really.

My target weight is between 120-125 lbs. I know how that may sound to some, but seriously, I'm 5'3" and I have a small bone structure. There is no reason for me to not be at my target. Um, except that I like to eat. I really like to eat. I like to eat sweets and carbs by the bucketful. Oh, and I really don't like to exercise. Mostly.

However, I have started 'walking' with a buddy. Now I feel really lame because, seriously, walking?! But that's what I've been doing and let me tell you, I'M SORE! We started on Tuesday and went about 5 miles. Wednesday we only went probably half that because of time constraints. Today, we are not going because my buddy has a blister. Tomorrow we are not going because I have a meeting. I guess that means I'll have to take the kids on a bike ride. *sigh*

Uh, what else. Oh, I am hoping to join a gym or fitness club or some such thing so I can start attending classes because I really do like to kickbox. Plus I want get some muscle tone. . . we'll see how that goes.

I am joining this blog because you have all been motivating me for sometime now as I have been lurking around reading about your lofty goals. I'm hoping some of your motivation and wonderfulness will rub off on me.

Okay. Uh, thank you.

Yay! Someone else has joined us!

Okie dokie everyone, please welcome Sheena! I think we all know her except Holly, and Holly, you know her by the *pant* *gasp* *pant* bicycle post that she did. So, get moving and get posting!

Weigh In

Today is Wednesday, today is Wednesday. Wednesday WEIGH-IN! all you hungry children come and eat it up. Come and eat it up. (Holly will get it if no one else does).

Drumroll please................188 lbs.

If you're keeping track, and I am, that's down 8.5 lbs from last week, so what I'm doing is working for me. Yes, I double checked the numbers. No, I don't expect it to keep falling at this rate, it's just not possible. And yes, I am being perfectly healthy - I'm not starving myself, that is also, just not possible. I eat when I'm hungry, but healthier choices than before, and I'm working my butt off. Quite literally.

12 lbs lost to date. WOWZA!

*Uh, originally posted 11 lbs lost to date, but apparently I can't do simple math. 8.5+3.5=12 Even better.

13 hour workout weeks are a killer for the body.....awesome for the scale

So after another CRAZY workout week (13 hours this week with 10 of them being from Wed-Saturday) the scale was my best friend. (Did I also mention that I have actually started eating more calories throughout the day instead of binging on CRAP at night? It's working wonders).

Anyway....Saturday morning I weighed it at 147lbs. For me this is an incredible weight. It's too bad it wont last. It never does. 150 lbs is where I ride and 150 lbs is where I will return to. Just once I would like to be at 145lbs long enough to actually buy a size 8 pant and be able to wear it for a long time (at least 6 months). Unfortunately, for me this has only been a dream. I haven't been small enough to wear a size 8 since I was a gymnast and had 10 % body fat (isn't it sad that with only 10% body fat I still wore a size 7-9? I have some freakin' huge bones.....Damned genes. Why couldn't I be born into a skinny family?).

In all reality, I just want to be 150 lbs at my 10 week doctors appointment the next time I get pregnant (NO! I AM NOT PREGNANT.......I SAID NEXT TIME, LADIES!). I have weighed in at 150 lbs every 10 week apt (other than my first. I was 160 lbs since I had packed on a bit of newlywed weight) and it is my goal to always be there when I start again.

Weight maintainence sucks. I would rather be pregnant and gaining or post pardum and loosing. What am I going to do when I am done? I will have no more excuses. I think I'll go crazy!

A Little Behind

Hmm, I just re-read that subject line and realized it can be taken two ways, one is the truth and one is what I'm working for but will probably never attain (no matter how skinny I get)!

But, what I mean is that I'm behind on the weekly weigh-ins. I didn't weigh my self last Saturday and I was 163.4. Nice, almost 2 lbs that week. This morning, after a killer run, I weighed myself again: 161.1. Woohoo! The problem is that it's not my "real" weight, I haven't been brave enough to do that for awhile, I've only been my weight after I run so far that I've drained every ounce of EVERYTHING out of my body... of course I'll weigh less then! But, in a few weeks I'll be done with these crazy run longs and I'll get a better idea of where I'm really at, for now I'm enjoying these numbers!

Other than killing myself running, I also tried really hard to work on changing some bad eating habits this week. Let me share:

1- Eating late at night. I know we've all heard this one before, but it's a killer for me. So, I set 8:00 as my cut off time and STUCK TO IT! No fudging, (although there was one or twice that I ran to my bedroom which has the slowest clock in the house just so I could finish a snack before the clock turned, that's not cheating, is it?) Usually though, I'd brush my teeth while I'm getting Sam ready for bed about 7:30 and then I'm done for the night. End of Story.

2- Eating junk while I'm feeding my kids. Are fishy crackers really that bad? YES! Too easy to loose track of how many bites of crackers, cheese, PB sandwich, etc. And then I'd turn around and eat a full meal of my own once they are down for naps. Not good. So, I'd get a big glass of ice water and pop some gum in my mouth to get me through their meals and snacks. So far, it's a good change.

3- Eating while I'm cooking. Same concept as before, easy to loose track and just a bad habit, all around. I made a rule for myself that I would only eat sitting down at the table. Period. One day I was cutting up some veggies to have with my lunch and I started to pop a piece of cucumber in my mouth and then stopped myself. Not that I'm saying it's bad to each veggies while cooking, but it's the habit that I'm trying to break. It's totally a subconscious action that I'm trying to be more aware of and STOP!

So, there you go. Maybe it can help you guys, or maybe it just helps me to write it down. Either way, that's what I'm working on...we'll see how week 2 goes!

Weigh In

So, I've been trying to kill myself with exercise. It's leading to weight loss, but not a whole lot else is getting done. So, yesterday I weighed myself and I'm at 196.5. That's down 3.5 lbs from last week. And seriously, I am super-duper impressed with myself. Because I'm working out like I'm Melanie (or a Melanie wanna-be). Also because of the muscle gain, water intake factors I really should have gained weight this week, but I just take this to mean that I lost a lot more fat than I gained in muscle, right? Awesome.

Just so you get an idea here's what my days look like:

Monday - Gym at 5:30 AM (up at 5:15 AM), 400 calories on a machine. Then 3 different weight machines - 3 reps of 10, low weight because I'm trying to slim down, not bulk up. Then home to do pilates. Drink a ton and a half of water and we're good.

Tuesday thru Thursday - Same as Monday, only now I'm adding in walking/jogging (so far just walking) 4 miles on the trail after Lincoln goes to Pre-school. Drink an additional couple of gallons of water, and we're good.

Friday - Gym at 5:15 AM (which suckily means up at 4:45), take a HEAT class (I don't know what the letters stand for, Mel?) and embarrass myself. At least I have a friend embarrassing herself with me.

Saturday - Gym at 9:15 AM to take a Zumba class. Haven't done this one yet, but I did do the Monday thing last Saturday. I'm pretty sure this is going to be more of the embarrassment thing.

Also, I am OFF Coke. Yay for me. And I've got portion control down. And sugar intake is practically non-existent. And I am personally supporting one small agricultural farm with all the salad and veggies I'm consuming. And I may drain the aquifer all on my own because I am THIRSTY!

You don't want to know where I've found my motivation.

So...

What, so Valerie goes on hiatus and now NO ONE can blog on this? Because I'm sure all your excuses about PMSing are over by now. If not, see a doctor.

Okay, so it's Wednesday again. And I'm going to be brave, again. I weighed myself yesterday with a full bladder (WHY doesn't Rite Aid let you use their bathroom!?!). I am putting the full weight even though I do know how much a full bladder of pee weighs. (that's a different story in which I was at Weight Watchers and had to go so they re-weighed me and I lost 4 more pounds)

292.

I'm claiming this as a person victory since I have started eating more again due to the anorexia caused by the medication I recently started has lessened in its' effect.

Whatever. I'm losing it and that's what counts!

Holly's Right - Weigh In

Though I've sworn off the weigh in until I had something more positive to post, Holly's right, and it is in fact making me feel like I'm no longer accountable. Which isn't a good thing as evidenced by my weight:

200 lbs.

Again.

BUT! I found a friend to work out with, and we went to the gym this morning at 5:30 (which means I got up at 5:15 - AM), and we worked out. I feel good that I did something, now I just have to KEEP doing something every day for the rest of forever, because that's exactly how long it's going to take to lose my 65 lbs.

Now it's your turn to weigh in.

Oh, and I think we should weigh in EVERY WEDNESDAY just to keep us honest. Deal?

Something goes here. I don't know what.

So I was thinking... First, I'm getting overtaken. I have to recruit some friends to post on here. I swear I DO have some. At least one. Really. It's just I have friends who don't WANT to lose weight. Or who don't blog. *sigh My friends are boring vanilla friends.

Second, has anyone else noticed that there's no longer any weight postings on here? What's that about? I am BY FAR the fattest of us all. Probably fatter than two of you put together. And yet I'M the one who notices we're not being forthcoming with the weight loss thing. See, if you have to post it, it keeps you accountable. Ask Weight Watchers. That's the plan. You are accountable to the old lady by the scale with you so you HAVE to lose weight so she doesn't know what a loser you are (or aren't as it goes).

You guys are my old lady in the cubicle. C'mon!! I'm not going to be the first to post and it's not that I WANT to blab it everywhere, but this is NOT a socializing blog, right? This is war on fat, peoples! (as my three year old would say) WAR means we do things we don't like to do for the betterment of mankind. I know my husband (the mankind I worry about) would appreciate it if I dumped some more fat. How about your mankinds?

New Kid On The Blog

Hello and thanks for letting me join your party/group therapy session, it's exactly what I need! I totally need to be accountable to other people (hubby's don't count in my book). Here's my quick and dirty info:

I'm right in the thick of a weightloss battle known as MY LIFE and I've accepted that it will last exactly that long. There's no way, even if and when I reach my goal, that this will EVER get easy. Let's be honest. I have always been fat. I did a slideshow for my Mom's 50th birthday a couple of weeks ago and I was mortified at some of the pictures because I don't think that I ever realized how big I was, I always thought that I was "a little chubby" but I had no idea how bad it was. Most of you know my Mom so I won't go there too much, but looking back I never had any motivation to be healthy. She was overweight and I was her only daughter so of course I would be overweight. End of Story.

I reached my all-time highest weight a little over a year ago at the end of my 5th pregnancy. Before delivery I was 248 and 2 weeks later I was down a measly 25 pounds to 223. That's when I started Weight Watchers (again, I've done that in between almost every pregnancy). I stopped WW in March for $$$ reasons and have been trying to do it on my own since then.

After months of doing excercise videos at home, some ladies from church invited me to go running with them in the mornings. Well, she invited me over the phone before having actually met me in person, I'm pretty sure that if we'd been face to face she wouldn't have thought that I'd be interested, or is that just my own insecurities, who knows. Other than running the mile in gym (which I did pathetically and usually walked the whole way) I've never run before. But I was up for a change and a challenge so I started on my own because I didn't want to embarass myself in front of these new potential friends. Now I'm hooked and while I'm still very slow (and probably not very graceful) I'm training for a half marathon in about a month.

I'm 20-25lbs aways from my goal, which is where I have been for several weeks. I can't seem to take any more off. So frustrating. The good thing is that I'm skinnier now than I ever been. The bad thing is that it's because of the running, not because I've changed my bad habits. I'm a major compulsive emotional eater. I need therapy so that's why I'm here, right? My weight yesterday was 165 (that was after an 8.6 mile run, the day before that I was 168). So there you have it. When I registered for the race I had to sign up under the "Healthy but Heavier" division. I'd love to loose the "Heavier" title.

Yay for Me

Okay everybody, please welcome CHARI! (Holly, it's pronounced SHAR-e). The rest of us know her and she just caught wind of this blog and wanted to join. Look at us attracting other people with our weighty issues. Get it? Weighty issues? HA! I'm so funny!

Friday, after my depressing bout at the gym, I decided that I'm actually fed up with being so unattractive in my own mind and did an hour of pilates after the kids were in bed. I couldn't do every move because I'm too fat and the fat got in the way, but I did most of them, and the ones I couldn't do I did my best modified version.

THEN, on Saturday I did 1/2 an hour on my stationary bike (private parts sleeping all the way), and then followed that up with an hour of high-intensity aerobics/pilates. I am feeling EVERY muscle in my body, and it's kind of nice to know that they're there. Interestingly enough I did the best food control after that because I just kept thinking, "eating that's not worth the amount of effort it takes to get it back off." True, true.

i AM trying...

I went to the Y with the kids today. I decided to do an aerobics class. 20 minutes into the class here comes the lady to get me because Aile's been crying for 10 minutes and they have a 10 minute crying policy. So I did go, but I didn't get to finish. I felt like crying because this was supposed to be the thing that would work for me, but it didn't. I'm not giving up; we went to Target and bought bigger pacifiers to see if that might help. It would totally help if they would just give her some Cheerios, but they have a no food policy too. Stupid policies.

But still, 20 minutes is better than no minutes. I may have to get up and go at 6 anyway and then go back after taking Caden to school until she can handle it. CRAP.

And, because I'm proud

I bought new pants this weekend. They're size 22.

That seems enormous to you all but I started this year in 26's.

YESSS!!!!

Now I have to get the shirt size to go down. dangit, that means sit ups. craaap

A la peanut butter sandwiches!

The title actually has nothing to do with the post. It just came to me.

So I have started working towards a life long goal. To get certified and teach "group exercise classes" (aka aerobics). I as super stoked. A teacher at Gold's Gym has been mentoring me and allowing me to take over some time in her classes. Last Saturday, I taught the warm-up, ab section, and the cool down. All in all about 15 minutes (and I guess you would know all of this if you ever checked my third blog.........are you protesting or something?).

Anyway, today I have a whole 25 minutes of the 60 minute class and she was hinting at giving me the WHOLE class on Saturday. It is a little nerve wracking but I have such a blast that I get over it pretty quickly.

So.....the plan is to get CPR certified at the end of the month. Then, hopefully, I will be able to start substituting her classes (and MAYBE even get paid a little bit). There are a few certification workshop coming up that I have yet to register for. Two are in November. One in Coure d'Alene, on a Sunday (No can do....crappy) and the other is in Lewiston, ID the day before. Otherwise I will have to wait for December when the have a workshop at OZ in the Valley. We will see.

So that is my story.

I have been so freakin' busy lately counting BPM's (beats per minute) of my favorite songs, putting together routines and practicing, practicing, practicing. So...why am I not getting any skinnier.

Oh, right....because I am super stressed and when I am stressed.....I EAT! FOOD, FOOD, FOOD. Yeah, those three pounds I finally took off.......it lasted a week. Say "hello" again to those obnoxious pounds.

Anyone up for starting a "self-starving anorexia support group." I know we could help each other if we worked together!

update

I changed my Y membership today, so I'm out of excuses for not working out. If I don't do it now it's just pure laziness.

In which I brag about myself for a minute.

I rode my bike. I rode it all the way to physics lab and all the way home. Okay, almost all the way home. Remember I have said this town is full of hills? So I rode the hills on the way there. I was doing really good on the way home, too. Especially when you consider that it was 3 hours after I rode there so the soreness had time to set in a little bit. But on the last really big really slight hill I had to get off and walk. But just to the top of the hill. I totally rode on the way down.

Duh!

The next day I didn't ride due to time constraints. Leaving the house in time for a 9 am class is hard when I'm on a bike! But I totally was able to walk so I guess I didn't kill myself. And I ended up walking a lot. I got totally lazy and rode the bus home between classes which meant I had to walk to the bus stop. And then home from the bus stop. And then I had to walk back to the bus stop again and to get the kids to and from the bus which is in a different direction.

Anyway, walking to the bus stop sounds like nothing, I'm sure. But I did do it. And it's more than I have done recently.

OH! And Dad came down to see the kids on Tuesday so we went to Dairy Queen. The kids got Blizzards (might have been their first since I never buy them!) and Dad got a cone. What did I get? Nothing. And I didn't feel deprived or anything. Yes!!!

Also, I skipped cake and ice cream last night at a birthday party.

Nothing New

I'm fat.

FAT FAT FAT FAT FAT.

It's time do something about it and just quit whining already.

Sigh.

(Fat)

The uphill bike ride

I read the blog from the link on your other blog, Val. I think she must have lost her mind. I bought a bike today and I am feeling exceedingly nervous about HOW AWFUL I am now going to look anytime I am on campus. Until it snows. That's right, once it snows, I'm not riding my bike up anything. Call me a quitter if you want, I am doing it in the rain and the sun and the fatness and sweatiness that is me. So I draw the line at snow.

That's the plan, anyway. I may draw the line at anything above 60 degrees so I will sweat a little bit less. And then I may say "only if it's not windy" and then I might add on that it cannot be overcast in any way because I am not riding in the rain.

No. I am going to ride until it snows. I spent too much money setting myself up with a comfy seat and a good bike to let is sit there and look nice.

I will ride. I WILL!!

anyway...

I'm changing my Y membership to a One Adult Family so I can take the fetchin' kids, I mean little darlings, and go at some other time than O-Dark-Thirty. Tentative plan is to drop Caden at school and head on over to the Y. Pray for me.

School = hills

which means I have to exercise whether I want to or not just to get to class. We've all heard the stories about "uphill both ways in the snow", right? That is reality in Pullman. I used to question the validity of how often it could happen that a trip would have uphill in it both ways. Then I moved here. There are no neighborhoods, just the designation of what hill something's on. College Hill, Pioneer Hill, Sunnyside Hill, Military Hill... And there's only 20,000 people including the students! There should not be this many significant hills. Then the university (at least the section of it I have to be on every day) is laid out on smaller hills on college hill. This doesn't just lead to lots of going up a hill to get somewhere and up the other hill to get back to where you started (even between 2 buildings. we're not talking across campus!) it also means there are a LOT of buildings where you walk in one side on the second floor, go down the stairs, and back out the other side on the first floor. In short, I go up hill to my first class, up a flight of stairs to leave it, up another flight of outdoor stairs to go up a hill to my second class, up 4 flights of stairs to the room, and then down a bunch of hills and up more stairs to get to the car. And I, in all my 300 or so pounds of fatness, have to execute these moves in under 10 minutes.

I hate this campus. They make me pay for a gym membership that I SHOULD go use but I don't need to because they built the entire campus on a giant stair climbing machine!

I miss flat land.

Goodbye jiggly butt!

Say goodbye to a juggly butt. I went for a jog yesterday morning and realized that for so long I have been sucking it up on my runs. My motto, since having Isaac, has just been "one foot in front of the other. Get through it....suck it up." So, in the process of doing this, I have done just that.....sucked....the end. I haven't had any improvement and I always come home with sore hips, knees and ankles. In my quest for "just getting through" the run I have been in the habit of using my joints to keep me going rather than my muscles. Armed with this knowledge, I spent the entire 6 miles focused on nothing but my muscles and, more specifically, using those muscles to propel me forward. I wasn't sure I could keep it up throughout the whole run but I did. It was awesome. My muscles were so fatigued in the end but a good fatigued. A deep-down-going-to-build-muscle-and-be-stronger fatigued. My joints? you ask..... not a single ache. Amazing.

So...I came up with this. Sometimes all we can do is put one foot in front of the other to keep us going (in all walks of life.....excuse the pun). We have to forget about the yesterdays (what we did or did not do, what we ate or did not eat (yeah right, like that ever happens), or how many pounds we STILL have to go to reach our goals. It's okay. The important thing is that we do keep going.

Then, there will come a day that we decide that those efforts are not enough and we push ourselves harder, stronger, faster. We may crash and burn the next day (ahem...I have not yet worked out today) but we will get ourselves up and move on. And then......we see the REAL results.

Val....do not be discouraged with the weight gain. IT ALWAYS HAPPENS. I used to have a rule that I could only weigh myself on days that I felt good (I'm not doing so good with this rule right now...a bit obsessed). But, that way, it doesn't matter what the scale says because you feel good anyway (and usually if you are REALLY feeling good, you will see good results on the scale as well). Holly, sweating to death totally counts in my book. Keep it up ladies.

P.S. I still have not been able to shake the extra weight I am carrying. Damned family reunion, strep throat and night time Olympic watching cravings. Now I am going to work really hard....okay now......okay now......no, maybe now. Soon.........

this weekend

I have managed to deal with all the stress related to the kids being with Brandon and not eaten a bunch of crap. In fact, I think the worse thing I have done this weekend is get a pretzel at the mall today. Yay!! for not stress-eating!!!

Listen, if you had an ex husband you might fully understand the feat this is. I usually am driven to, oh, I dunno... COOKIE DOUGH over my dealings with him. But not this time.

No exercise but since it's like 105 today I figure sweating while sitting still has to count for SOMETHING.

A Non-Weigh In

I KNOW that muscle weighs more than fat. I KNOW that I'm retaining water due to, well, you know. I KNOW that the numbers go up before they go down and that the only true way to tell how you're doing is by how your clothes are fitting. I KNOW all this, and yet, I hate my scale for telling me the numbers have gone up since I started working out.

I mean seriously hate it. HATE HATE HATE HATE HATE IT!

And no, HATE is not overstating how I feel.

So, I will not be weighing in again until I notice a difference in how my clothes are fitting. Hopefully for the better.

Oh, and I did work out yesterday, but not today. Tired, stiff, sore...but I noticed that I'm WAY nicer to my kids when I do work out. So back on track tomorrow.

And have the rest of you given up? Where are your posts?

Again

I did it again today......460 calories. The only reason I get out of bed is because of this blog. At least it's serving it's purpose.

Progress

At 5:45 am this morning the alarm went off. Because I set it to go off then. Holy Mother of (fill in your choice of expletive here), but that's EARLY! I turned it off and laid there for a full minute before I realized that if I didn't get up and get moving then I was going to be pissed at myself later, and that I would then have to report it to you all here.

So I got up. I got my workout stuff on (which I so conveniently laid out the night before), I got in the car, and drove to the Y.

Then, I got out of the car and went into the Y, and THEN I WORKED OUT!

Do you hear that sound......that's the sound of me burning 402 calories this morning. Wahoo!

Tomorrow I will input my weight, age, etc into the machine and see if I burn more calories being "tubby" than I do being "average".

Update

I joined the YMCA today.

The workout begins on Monday.....

Today

I think I'm actually losing it today. Not weight, just my mind. I wonder how much that weighs. At least it's almost time for bed and maybe these kids will let me get out of the Papa Murphy's Cookie Dough therapy I have invited myself to. I bought it feeling good, I never ever ever bake them though. Apparently I had my crystal ball in the "on" position this afternoon.

Will

Stop

Eating

Cookie Dough.

Weigh In

Okie-dokie, the magical scale has pronounced that I now weigh.....196. That is 6 lbs total lost since we started this blog. WAHOO!!!! I'm sure that doesn't seem like much to skinny-minny and Holly's 47 lbs lost but at least the numbers are going down!

So I'm thinking.....this is the biggest change I've seen and it's coming on the heels of my aforementioned mental discovery (uncertainty feels a lot like hunger), so.....coincidence? I think not.

Also, (sorry Holly, gotta post it) I've been mega-spiritual lately....morning and evening family prayers, morning and evening couple prayers, morning and evening personal prayers, personal scripture study with the seminary manuals that I bought, etc. And the result is that I'm so incredibly happy! I'm humming and singing around the house, I'm better with the kids, the kids seem a little less whiney, and I seem to have more energy.

Anyway, downward movement in the numbers is encouraging. Just imagine what might happen if I combine my epiphany and spirituality with some exercise....

Automaton

Okay, on the whole hunger/uncertainty thing - I'm eating way better, but sometimes get the icy fingers of fear at unexpected moments. But I'm not burying them under food, which is a huge improvement. Of course now it's almost easy to NOT eat, which is very strange for me, and not any more beneficial than overeating.

I used to have a standard lunch before I got pregnant with Aile, and I've been wanting to go back to it, but have been busy with the shovel (you know, burying), but maybe now's the time. Dr. Oz says the more automatic you can make your meals, the more consistent you become and the more weight you'll lose.

In case you're wondering (and I can tell that you are because I'm Oprah) the lunch is a small salad plate with as many veggies as I can shove on it, a string cheese for protein and fat, 1 slice of whole wheat or rye bread, and 1-2 tbsp of veggie dip (more fat because I'm nursing, and I just like fat, and if I'm going to eat that many veggies they have to taste fairly good). Oh, and a Coke. Because I'm not getting through the day without one. Very filling, and if you cut all the veggies up at once and put them in individual baggies then it's very quick too - and that's a requirement for me.

Hello fellow "I'm losing it" contributors

Okay, So I am very happy to have gotten an invite from Val to post here. I just hope it is okay with you, Holly.

So today has been a not so crappy day (hurray). I did jog 6 miles this morning and have YET to screw it up by my other habit, binging. But....sadly I know that it won't last very long. We are going to a BBQ tonight. You know what that means! Lots of food, lots of fat, and I will take way too big of portions the first time around not to mention the second, third and possibly fourth time I venture back to the table. I just can't help myself. It's like I think I will never be going to another BBQ again or that this is may just be my last meal on earth. How stupid is that. So...I eat myself silly, struggle with wanting to throw up, and (most importantly) blow up like a balloon and have a VERY hard and VERY unsuccessful time trying to suck in the ponch. Such is the life of a compulsive eater.

I don't have to weigh myself again until Monday and that would be great except that I usually do the same thing on Sundays that I do at BBQ's. Is there no hope for such a sick person as me?

Wish me luck.

Watch Out Oprah!

I mailed the Y application today. I haven't left the property since church last Sunday, and will not be leaving again until this Sunday, if I want to walk to church. None of this has anything to do with weight, but I just needed to say it.

You may notice we have a new contributor, welcome MELANIE! Whoop-whoop!

In talking with Mel today I had an epiphany....hunger feels a lot like uncertainty. I'll just let you all soak that up for a moment.

Hunger feels a lot like uncertainty.....so profound. I could replace Oprah.

So what does this mean for me? Wellllll, it means that I've been trying to bury feelings of uncertainty under pounds and pounds of food, hoping that it will make me feel better, but which inevitably makes me feel sick instead. So I try to bury THAT feeling....just a nasty, nasty downward spiral. However, since I am now armed with this knowledge, and knowledge is power I can break the cycle of abuse! (of my body).

Of course it also means I now have to deal with what the uncertainty is all about, but at least I won't be getting fat(ter) on top of it.

Weigh In

I never went to Rite Aid so I hadn't posted anything. I had foot surgery today and they had to weigh me first. Not the same scale so I don't know how accurate it is but they said it's 286. Woo hoo!! I'm going to choose to believe it since it's the hospital scale and they have to be somewhat accurate, right?

Okay. For those of you keeping track (which is mainly me), that means I have lost 47 pounds all told. No wonder my bras don't fit!

I'm turning in my application for the Y tomorrow (the lady takes Tues. & Wed. off). We make pathetically little so we should be a shoo-in.

Then I'll work out.

What a cop-out to not working out now. Yeah, I know.

Not Good, But Not Craaap

200 - no change. I guess that's good since all I did last week was eat craaap and then kick myself on Sunday when none of my dress clothes fit.

After talking last night to Ryan about which gym to join (b/c the Y is definetly NOT free), and a regular time for me to go, we made a decision: We're applying to the Y for the scholarship program, I'll go work out in the morning's before he has to leave for school, and if it requires him kicking me out of bed he'll do it. This is good; this is a plan, and having previous experience with a gym I know that I can do it and that I'll enjoy it. I can hardly wait for him to bring the application home tonight. Probably better to spend that 30 bucks a month on a gym membership (and GOING to the gym) than a pig-out fest for girls night anyway.

What's YOUR plan?

I have decided

I am not going to care what the scale says this week. I have not weighed myself since the craaaappy weight I got early this week. I felt like a huge (pun intended!) failure since it said I was back up. Maybe it was water weight, either the gain or the loss, but whatever it was, I got all icky about it. All week I felt like I sucked the big one. Then I decided to put on a shirt I haven't worn in awhile. All my tank tops I have been wearing this summer have gotten baggier and baggier but I ignored it. I have bras that I have had since I stopped nursing Alex (and newer ones!!!) that do not fit anymore. No matter how tight I do them up they don't do anything for 'the girls'.

So if my bras are too big and my shirts I haven't worn in a long time are fitting better, I must be down SOMETHING, right? I have to belive I am making progress. Otherwise I will be eating my way to comfort. Not cool.

Okay, so to recap, we weigh in tomorrow and I am forgiving myself for only having potentially lost 33 pounds instead of 39. Maybe. We'll see what the scale says.

Weigh in!

Soooo Insightful

Amazingly enough, if I do something with my hands I don't stuff my face.

That is all.

Do I Need More Melatonin?

Today I played races with the kids outside. It was a good 10 minutes of starts and stops sprinting. There's my exercise. Of course, I ate like a 1/4 of a bag of Chips A'hoy. But at least I did the running around, right?

I find when I'm happy I'm more willing to do that kind of thing, (the running/playing with the kids outside, not the Chips A'hoy). Does that mean I need to be using my happy light on top of my happy pill on top of the sunshine outside?

Guess it couldn't hurt. Maybe I'll become so happy I'll be made fun of on Seriously So Blessed.

Role Reversal

I had two hot dogs, chips, and watermelon for dinner. Ryan had a salad. What's wrong with this picture?

Craaap

I had to pick up a prescription today. I get my pills at Rite Aid. Guess what I did while I was there? That's right, I weighed myself.

Craaaap.

I'm not telling what it said in numbers, it's enough to say it was "craaaap".

Aiden says I shouldn't have done it because it is not a weigh in day. Maybe he's right. But I was obsessing about it last night (and really for the last month or so) to the point where I kept him up until midnight talking about all the crazy mental issues I have surrounding weight. Luckily he loves me so he didn't punch me out so he could sleep or anything.

But there here I go today being all dumb and stuff.

I hate fat. I want to try thin.

I should start actually working out. I should go to the Rec Center. I should make Shaila honor her offer to walk with me. I should get over my embarassment but I don't know if I can ask for help like that.

And I have to go back to the foot doctor because my stupid screwed up toe (that same toe I had surgery from and EVERYTHING else wrong in this world) (I keep accidentally typing "TOW" which is funny because I feel like I'm towing it around.... ha!) got a blister that turns out to be full of puss and now I get to figure that out again this week.

Fun. I'm fatter again and I have a dumb toe again. whoo hoo.

Weekday/Weekend

I once had someone tell me that if you eat good and exercise well 5 days of the week - let's say M-F, then you can eat whatever you want on the weekend. What do you think?

I'm totally for it because Saturday was girl's night and I had a cheeseburger, fries, 2 cokes, and almost an entire piece of mud pie that I shoved down my gullet. Seriously so amazing that I didn't puke. PLUS I didn't do any exercise at all.

So.

I guess I'm back on track starting tomorrow. Also, I'm looking into a membership at the YMCA - apparently they have a scholarship program for lower-income families (or non-existent income in our case). You know, the whole broad-cross-section-of-humanity thing. That would totally ROCK!

GRrrrrr

I keep wanting to call Mom and tell her I have lost more weight. But I tried once and no one answered so I took that as a sign(?) and decided to let her find out when she sees me. Then I'll know if it's actually noticable. Unless you tell her, which is fine, but I am not telling her.

See, I don't see any difference. Aiden says he does. So I went shopping with my friend yesterday and while I was gone a bunch of other families around the complex came out to ride bikes with Aiden and the kids. Apparently Matt and Shaila said they had noticed that I had lost weight and Shaila (who walks every morning and is fit and speedy) wants to walk with me in the evenings. But they didn't want to say anything in case they were wrong. Then Aiden told everyone else out there that I have lost 40 pounds.

When I got home from shopping everyone was all "Oh, Congratulaaaations on losing weight!"

Thanks, but I'd like to be commented to when you notice all by yourself, without Aiden telling everyone. I know he's proud of me, I know it was the best intentions. Is it weird that I am a little uncomfortable with EVERYONE knowing? What if I stop losing? What if I gain it back? What if I just fall apart on it? Ugh!

Officially unofficial

Alright, I went to Rite Aid and stood on the scale. I had NOT gone potty in a few hours so that can add weight (one time it was 4 pounds at Weight Watchers!) but I am putting my read out here so we can secretly know it's probably less but... whatever.

294 today. That means I have lost 39 pounds altogether since May.

Here's the potato sack part: That makes a little under EIGHT 5 pound bags of potatoes that I have lost. Go to Safeway and check that out. I am excited and a little braggy, mostly because I still don't know how I have made the scale say lower numbers AND I don't really see it myself although everyone else seems to see a difference.

Next week, more lower numbers for us both!!!!!!!

Weigh In

Okay, I weigh in at 200 lbs, which is, AMAZINGLY, down 2 lbs from last time. Probably because my Aunt FLO came to visit, and not at all due to anything I did, because I didn't DO anything.

But I did my pilates this morning.

YAAAAAAAAY!

We Weigh In Tomorrow, Okay?

Exercise Shmexercise

I have to get to Rite Aid so I can weigh myself. Then I'll truly know how good/bad I'm doing.

I only ate 2 meals yesterday, didn't overeat, kept to a LOT of water, got my exercise in the form of sitting in the sun and watching the kids ride bikes. Now that they are good at it, I get less exercise from it. But I was sweating all day long from the heat. Doesn't that count?

I did drink a couple Cokes but there was SO much water in between, I feel like it was kind of justified.

The word 'justified' probably shows how bad I'm doing.

Back on the Wagon

Today I didn't overeat and I managed to drink only 1 coke, and I got some exercise in the form of yardwork. Overall, not too bad. I did catch myself naked in the mirror after my shower and have suddenly found my resolve to get my stomach back into SOME kind of shape. Like flat. That would be nice.....So pilates, here I come!

Sunday Bloody Sunday

I took advantage of the kids being gone and slept in. Then I did nothing until it was time to get the kids. Then I ate "we're on the road" food. But not a lot which is good since I had absolutely zero exercise.

There's not anything about losing weight here but I feel like this is a confession of sorts and if I skip a day who knows what will happen? Avoiding the slippery slope.

Today

Today was a no exercise day. The kids are gone, I slept in, took a bath, watched tv, and went out to dinner. On the other hand, I didn't eat much. Maybe this balances out the lack of movement?

All I know is I probably won't move much tomorrow, either. Maybe. We're taking the kids to a park in Ellensburg before we head for home so their wiggles will be out.

Have fun tomorrow. I hear your man is coming home. yay!!!

*Sigh

We shall not discuss the food situation today. Because it did NOT go well. On the upside, I pulled all the weeds and cleaned the entire downstairs - including mopping (Gasp!) prepatory for Ryan coming home. Still - not balanced. Must. Try. Harder.

Exercise and creamy food... hmmm

I was concerned I wouldn't get any exercise in today. I was good with breakfast but then we went to Shari's for lunch (potato soup and potstickers... no pop!) so I was concerned when the kids didn't want to ride their bikes in the wind. And a little relieved.

Then things cooled off a little and we got a lot of bike riding in. Which means I got to do a lot of short jogs. Then I got a couple of longer jogs running to rescue Ashley trying to become Evil Knievel (you know what I mean) off the sidewalk/curb into the parking lot where I was having Annie practice. So there was my grand exercise.

Does it mean I am burning more calories if my tummy is getting actually hungry? Because I swear I am digesting my own stomach lining today. I waited 4 hours between breakfast and lunch and then 4 more until I was starving and ate a snack. To top it all off, I hurried and made dinner early so I'd stop growling. I don't know if I am eating healthy (ha!) with my potato soup at lunch and then biscuits and gravy for dinner. At least portions are in line. The kids and I ate the same amount.

Now I am off to eat my middle of the night Totino's pizza because I am digesting myself again.

I have to get back on the veggies and good stuff. No more cream! I might as well have had a blizzard.

Oh yeah, and I finally went to the gas station and got a pop tonight AND ate half a box of Milk Duds. I suck at this.

But I jogged. Kind of. Short bursts. -ish.

Two Hands

On the one hand, no Coke today, on the other hand, two cookies. Um, I make GIGANTIC cookies so really more like 4 or 5 or 6 little cookies...does it all just balance itself out? I didn't exercise, but on an unrelated note I did shower for the first time in 3 days. I'm feeling a little bit like "at least I'm keeping track of what I'm eating" - I'll work harder on the exercise part when Ryan's home. A cop-out, I know. But there you go.

So, are we weighing in once a week or what?

avoiding cookies? I can't, they're in ice cream.

Dairy Queen will be the death of me. A week ago Aiden and I were watching tv and here came the ad for Thin Mint Cookie Blizzards. The commercial ended and we both started making THOSE sounds. You know the sounds; you've made them before, just about something more appropriate. So that night we got one each. And we ate the whole thing. We NEVER finish a small and yet both of us ate our medium and wanted to lick the cup.

Yesterday we went to Boyer Park again. Lots of swimming exercise. I keep forgetting to mention that the parking lot is up a bit of a slope. So I count hauling the cooler, bags of towels, snack bags, my purse, three kids, and a 64 gallon tote with beach toys and life vests in it up and down the hill as extra exercise.

I also got to run along with bikes (we're trying to Alex and Annie completely done with bike training).

We came home and made cheeseburgers and corn on the cob. The rest of the day I had eaten a bowl of cereal, a Coke, a 6 inch sandwich from Safeway (NO MAYO!!), and a pretzel and cheese Handi-Snack thing. So I'm okay with the cheeseburger. Then the kids went to bed and DQ started calling my name from across town.

I'm weak, I went. It was good, I ate the whole thing. And it was not a small. They are the Blizzard of the Month so it's financially responsible to get the medium at the regular small price, right? So whatever exercise I had was blown to heck and back. But I think it may have been worth it. Then I had the "I can't believe I ate the WHOLE THING" guilt grip me and I informed Aiden there's no more DQ in our futures. We'll see how that goes.

In an effort to avoid the cookies calling my name from the kitchen I am blogging. Today was A DAY. You know what I'm talking about because you read it on the other blog. But, I have managed not to overeat. My bad has been the equivalent of 2 1/2 cokes instead of just one, and I had 1 s'more with the kids after dinner. I will not even offer up the excuse of my day - I should've opted for water instead of the 20 ouncer at the checkout at Walmart, and totally shouldn't've had the s'more. But still, portions under control, and no overeating of sweets. My exercise today consisted of wrestling a bike and running behind a bike. Holy crap, I'm out of shape...

Alright

I went to Boyer Park today and swam a lot. I am counting that as my exercise since I did not end up running with the older kids on their bikes today. (Running to get them going with no training wheels... by no means do I run along with the kids like on an actual exercise run RUN thing or anything. If I could do that, I don't know if I'd be here).

I count extra the fact that I had to help Aiden out of the middle of the river, pushed Ashley across AND carried her across (and back, of course), taught Annie to "swim" with her life jacket and had to pull her every few feet or so, AND I had to half push/pull, half carry Alex across and back, too.

All in all, I'm sure I'll be sore tomorrow but nowhere near what it was the other day.

Since Valerie was brave and honest and all that jazz, I will join the ranks and admit I weigh just under 300 pounds.

When you've recovered from that number, keep reading.

I'll wait.

I have already lost about 30 pounds since April. I was 334 at my heaviest and the last time I weighed myself (not today, I'll admit) on the scale I use at Rite Aid (I find it hilarious even if no one else sees it's humor value) I was at 295.

I just have to add something here so that the number up there is not the last thing this blog post says. Don't judge me, just love me back to a decent weight. =D

Weigh In

Okay, I'll go first. My Name is Valerie, and I'm FAT. I weigh in at 202 lbs (stop laughing) and my goal is to lose a good 52 lbs. My plan includes healthier eating, exercise, and posting here. Sad to say this will probably be the biggest motivator, because I don't want to have to post a higher number.

So now it's your turn. If you want to join in with me leave a comment with your email address and I'll send you an invitation to author with me. If not, check back regularly to keep me on track.

FYI: You don't have to post what you weigh if you don't want, but for me, I think it's going to keep me honest. Nothing like lying about your weight to the blogging public. ;)

Happy Losing!

Okay, so first off let me just say that it was a CHORE to even get this blog going. There are apparently A LOT of blogs out there dedicated to weight loss - as evidenced by the list of names I tried that were not available:

be thin
losing it
im losing it
get skinny
loser
im a loser
be a loser
weightloss
lose weight
lose weight now
fat free
muscle up
slim down
slim down now
i want to lose weight

and my personal favorite,

fat fat fat

So, this is my way of being accountable to you, the viewing public. Holly, I know is in, anybody else want to play? If you do, we'll add you as an author and we'll all post our exploits together. Whee!