Day 6: My Food Boyfriend

Today's Weight:  205.6
Yesterday's:        206.6
LOSS:                  1 pound

Total Loss:          7 pounds

When it's good, then it's good, it's so good til it goes bad

Til you're trying to find the one that you once had

I have heard myself cry 'never again'

Broken down in agony, just tryin' find a friend, oh oh

I'm safe up high, nothing can touch me

But why do I feel this party's over?

No pain inside, you're like perfection

But how do I feel this good sober?

I've often compared my relationship with food as a bad boyfriend that I just can't leave.  I know he's bad for me and I try to quit, and I do for a little while and then I start meeting him in secret places for a rendezvous.   I kind of feel like I'm in food rehab right now and my boyfriend is outside waiting for a chance to meet with me.  Oh, and he talks to me through the TV.

I feel like i'm really ready to break up with my food boyfriend and only see him occasionally.  He can't be a regular part of my life anymore.  And my husband can't see him anymore either.  This threesome is over.

I have to tell you...I've been pinning a little bit for the foods that I probably shouldn't have anymore.  Remember that Mushroom Burger from Red Robin that I talked about a few weeks ago?  I'm trying to figure out if there is any place in my life for that stuff anymore or if I should never eat it again.

The thing is...I don't want to be a healthy food nut.  I still want to enjoy a glass of wine, pizza and going out to eat.  I love food!  But I also think perhaps....these things should be the exception and not the rule.

hCG Diet: VLCD Day 5

Today's Weight:  206.6
Yesterday's:        207.6
LOSS:                  1 pound
Total Loss:          6 pounds

WOOT!  I was pretty happy to see that this morning after the day I had.  It took me all day and about a gallon of water to feel better and by the time I did...I was ready for bed.

I did read a bunch of blogs yesterday and found several people that felt foggy for a few days.  I suppose I shouldn't be surprised because this is a drastic change for my body and it's probably freaking out.

Another thing I'm struggling with....irritability.  I am a big fat ball of crabby right now and I hope that side effect goes away really soon.  Based on what I read....that's to be expected too.
My poor husband.....

Less serious side effects may include:

• headache;
• feeling restless or irritable;
• mild swelling or water weight gain;
• depression;
• breast tenderness or swelling; or
• pain, swelling, or irritation where the injection is given.

The good news is that I woke up at 5:30am...rested and feeling really good!

hCG Diet: VLCD Day 4

Yesterday....was hard.

My husband is working from home this week so the whole family went to the store together so that he could take a little break.  I brought home some fresh shrimp to eat for my dinner and picked up a couple onions and some strawberries.  And I got a Lobster Tail for Thursday night's dinner.

We came home to a huge mess.  I had left my sister's dog in the house because it was freezing outside and he went crazy.  He ate bread out of the pantry and pulled the kid's sippy cups out of the sink and chewed them up.  But he was no where to be found.....

I finally found him in my daughter's room.  He had shut the door on himself because he was investigating a bag of dirty diapers on the back of the door and then he pawed at the blinds and broke them.  Wooden blinds....expensive wooded  blinds.  He also destroyed Mallory's purple butterfly....she was devastated.

This made me stressed.  My children were crying, my husband was mad and I was trying to clean up the mess.  And I wanted chocolate and a soda in a really bad way.

Of course, I couldn't and didn't indulge but I realized what a stress eater I am and that this is one of the things I need to work on.

My shrimp was delicious!

I slept like a rock last night...9 and a half hours.  I rarely get more than 7 so this was amazing.  But when I got up, I felt terrible....my arms and legs felt heavy and I was light headed.  I almost passed out in the kitchen and had to go sit down.

I discussed my symptoms with my husband and decided that I should eat my apple.  It's been 30 minutes and I feel much better....my head is still a little foggy but that's normal for me.  :)

I think until my body gets used to this....I should be eating my apple in the morning....I had no idea I had low blood sugar issues.

And now...for the numbers!

I lost .8 pounds!

And that's not all!

Waist:             36       in..........35     in      1 inch
Hips:               45       in..........43.5  in      1.5 inches
(*)(*)              41       in..........40.5  in      .5 inches
Upper Thigh: 21.75 in......... 21      in     .75 inches
Lower Thigh: 20.25 in.........19.75 in     .5 inches
Calf:                17.25 in.........17       in     .25 inches
Bicep:             12.75 in.........12.25  in     .5 inches


Not too bad for less than a week!

hCG Diet: VLCD Day 3

Hunger Pains....I'm thinking it's entirely possible that I have no idea what it feels like to be hungry.  Have I really ever allowed my stomach to be empty for long?  Judging from urges to want to munch all day and my lack of willpower in the past, I think it's true.

The major feeling that people deal with in the first few days of Phase 2 is a feeling of emptiness in their stomachs. This is quite different than hunger pains. Weighing yourself daily and seeing the spectacular results will keep your motivation high, allowing you to overcome any short-term hunger.

I read that this could go on for 7-10 days.....

This brings me to one of my goals for me and my family.  Smaller portions!  We'd done this before but dear husband has returned to going back for seconds and sometimes.....thirds.  And eating what the kids don't eat.  I'm on the lookout for smaller dinner plates.....


Okay, so I weighed this morning and I only lost .4 pounds.

But....I'm having one little problem that only fiber can cure...if you know what I mean.  I have instructed my nursemaid (Bobbi) to talk to Cindi about it and tell me what to do.  I also think I might have eaten one too many melba toasts yesterday.  DAMN THE MELBA TOAST!

Side Note: I haven't needed TUMS in two days.  And I slept well last night, waking very refreshed but I had a headache.  I normally wake up feeling like I need more sleep....this is amazing!

Tomorrow....I'm taking measurements.

hCG Diet: VLCD Day 2

All night...I dreamt that I needed to weigh myself but I couldn't get to my scale.  There were ton's of people in my house that needed things from me and every time I tried to run upstairs to my brand new Biggest Loser Scale...I was prevented.

But then I woke up and found that I lost......3.8 pounds!

I was so excited!  I'm also quite happy that I was able to sleep last night.  I had to get up 5 times to use the bathroom and one time to re-dress my son but I was able to go back to sleep and even slept in until 7:15am.

Yesterday, my newly pregnant friend sent me a text and said she was up all night peeing too. And that it's almost like we're pregnant together.  I told her 'Yeah we are...except I'm having a Food Baby'!

I thought you might like to see what I have to chose from in my menu.  Luckily, I like most all of the choices and I think I should be able to mix them up a little.  I just keep thinking...What Would Martha Do?

Yesterday, I was so hungry that I ate one of my melba toasts with my coffee.  And I'm thinking I might have to eat my fruit as between meal snacks until I get used to not grazing through the day.


• For breakfast have only:


— black coffee, organic green, black and white tea...as much as you want.


• For lunch eat 100 grams (weighed raw) of grilled (no oil or fat):

— organic beef or veal, or
— organic chicken breast (skinless), or
— wild Chilean sea bass, or
— flounder, or
— sole, or talpia or halibut
— lobster, crap or shrimp

• One large handful of one of the following organic vegetables:

— Spinach
— Chard
— Beet greens
— Lettuces of any kind
— Tomatoes
— Celery
— Fennel
— White, yellow, or red onions
— Red radishes
— Cucumbers
— Asparagus, or
— Cabbage

These can be eaten raw, steamed, grilled (without oil), or gently boiled. Do mix vegetables in the same meal.

• One small organic apple, or small organic grapefruit or orange, or a handful of organic strawberries.

• You may season any of the food with the juice of half an organic lemon, white or black pepper, organic raw apple cider vinegar, sea salt, organic garlic, organic basil, organic parsley, organic thyme, organic marjoram, or any other organic herb. Absolutely no oil, butter, dressings, or anything else!


Two Melba Toasts or Grissino Bread Sticks.

• Dinner:
— The same choices as for lunch. Do not, however, have two meals exactly the same in the same day.

You may also find this interesting....I can't wear my regular make-up or use my regular soap and shampoo because they contain oils and chemicals that mess up the rate of weight loss.

So....I'm going to be looking pretty bad for a while because I really don't want to buy a bunch of crazy organic products. I have approved soap and toothpaste.   I think I'll be staying home for a month!

hCG Diet: VLCD Day 1

I'm currently doing a brand new round of hCG, click HERE to follow along.

VLCD = Very Low Calorie Diet

Hey everyone!  I made it through my second load day but I don't feel like I really loaded very well.  I tried to eat as much as I could but I was never really stuffed....not the way fast food makes you feel.  Hopefully, that won't be a problem in the next few days.

One problem I'm having already...is sleep.  My newly faux pregnant body is getting me up to pee every two hours and I'm one of those people that can't go back to sleep if she's awoken in the night.  So...I've been awake since 4am.  I think I only got about 4.5 hours of sleep.  Sleep is very important on this program.  This might call for some Ambien and some Depends.

I finally got up at 5am and decided that laying there thinking about how I couldn't eat until lunch time wasn't going to help me go back to sleep and there were many other things I could be doing like....drinking my precious coffee without cream or planning my goals for 2010.

In other news....Bobbi was supposed to be doing this with me....but she's not.  So I've asked her to hide her soda's and snacks in her room.  And I'm going to stick all this leftover candy down there too.

In preparation for this, I cooked up a bunch of tasty meals and stashed them in the freezer so my husband won't starve to death.  I didn't really want to be cooking for him and then eat my little meals so I thought that was the best plan.  Plus, he's told me that he can fend for himself.  This is great news because I didn't think he could.  :)

5:44am....I think I'm hungry.  It's probably just my brain telling my stomach that I won't be eating for a while.  I'm sure it's psychological.  And it's one of the things I'm planning to work on in the next 37 days.

5:00pm...Wow! Today was harder than I thought it would be.  I'm pretty sure I've been going through food/sugar withdrawals all day.  Once I ate my lunch I felt pretty full but soon I was feeling the urge to eat and my stomach was feeling empty again....even though only a few hours had passed.  I've also had a headache that wasn't helped by my attempt at a nap on the couch.

I think I might have to use my two fruit portions as snacks until I get used to not snacking all day.  And I'm having trouble finishing all of this water.

say goodbye to my little friends.....

My lunch!

I'm anxious to see what the scale says tomorrow......

hCG Diet: Load Day # 2

My first load day went well....I think. I ate 1100 calories and 72 g of fat from McDonalds for breakfast and then had a Chicken and Black Bean Burrito from Taco Time for Lunch.  Calvin made Chinese Food for dinner and one of the items was deep fried in Peanut Oil.  I had wine, eggnog and cookies.  Oh, and my doctor Cindi, sent home a box of chocolates for me.  LOL!

I was miserable! And I gained 2.8 pounds.

Today, I will have to really work to get in all my fat and calories since I can't eat fast food (closed for Christmas).  I'm going to make some Gruyere Gougeres this morning and we're having a turkey with all of the fixings for dinner.

Then...tomorrow morning....all of the bad food goes in the trash!  Goodbye forever!

Here are my before pictures....I will never look like this again.

Merry Christmas Everyone!

My Last Day as a Fat Mommy

I had my first appointment with Cindi Duncan at Wade Laser Clinic in Bountiful, Utah yesterday.  My sister is her medical assistant so I'm excited to be working with both of them.  Plus, Bobbi lives with me and will be giving me all of my injections.

Bobbi started off by having me stand on a special scale and hold some handgrips.  I'm not pleased with the results and am more committed than ever to make this work.  Here's what she came up with for me.

Weight................... 216.6 pounds
Body fat percent.... 46.7%
metabolic age......... 88
Waist..................... 38 1/4" (over my clothes)
Hips........................ 48" (over my clothes)
BMI........................ 33


Did you see that? My body is functioning as an 88 year old woman! No wonder I feel like this.  Cindi and I went over the protocol and she gave me a list of vitamins to take and then I was off to the pharmacy to get my hormones.  And then I ate a burger.

Today is my first load day.  Bobbi gave me my first injection and I'm planning a trip to Mc Donald's for a fattening breakfast burrito and some hash browns.  Later, I'll be eating movie popcorn and our Christmas Eve meal will be Chinese Food made by my husband.  Followed by some ice cream.  I hope I can eat it all!

In other news...Gold's Gym called me yesterday and I'm being considered to win the Gift of Fitness...but I might not because I'm doing the hCG Protocol.  They want to gift someone that can do it naturally and without the assistance of a doctor and I totally understand.  I'm just so happy that I was considered and feel so blessed by all of you that nominated me.  Either way, I think eventually I will be a member of Gold's Gym and will finally be a FIT MOMMY!

That is my ultimate goal afterall......

Weigh-In Time

So....my computer is broken.  I have limited access to my husband's laptop so I feel sooo behind!  I have an iPhone but I find it impossible to comment from it.  In the meantime, I'm doing lots of reading and that makes me so happy!

I want to thank you guys for all of the wonderful nominations for the gym membership.  Many of you shared your emails with me and they made me cry!  Thank you so much for your support and for being such wonderful friends.  I love you!

The good news is that I'm back down to 206!  YAY!  I'm hoping to be 205 when I start my hCG protocol next week.  That's right!  I start one week from today...on Christmas Eve.  I'm so excited and spent hours making a menu out of 10 ingredients.  LOL!  I'll explain more about that later.

Until then...I'm soaking up all of the info I can, writing tips and product recommendations into my little notebook.  Looking for recipes and printing them out.  I want to be totally prepared!

A Good Deed...Please!

Thanks to Fit Mommy's advice...I talked to Calvin and told him that I wanted us to workout together a couple times a week. He agreed and told me that we should do it on Tuesday and Thursdays and then one weekend day.

Fabulous!

So Thursday arrives and I'm excited for him to come home so we can do this thing. I even prepared a fairly healthy casserole thing that I would put in the oven to cook while we are working out and it would be ready when we're done.

And then he called me and said...I'm going to be very late.

Fabulous.

When my sister got home, I threw the casserole thing into the oven and I spent 20 minutes on the elliptical. YAY ME!

I could have just blew it off but I really want to do this!

So...yesterday in my local paper I saw that my local Gold's Gym (the one I wanted to join) is giving away the Gift of Fitness! They are giving away TWO gym memberships and 18 sessions with a personal trainer.  I want to win this soooo badly.

But I need your help.  I need to be nominated and a panel of judges has to PICK ME! Please do a good deed this holiday season and email promotions@iflyutah.com and tell them how important it is that I (Connie Weiss) win this.  Deadline to nominate me is December 21st!

Thank you for your support on my journey to fitness!

Why Are You Fat? Part 2

I'm interrupting our regularly scheduled Friday Fashion Motivation for a very important message. 

I'm recently made a vow to stop eating all fast food (except Subway) because of the horrible fat and calories that the food contains.  It's not good for me OR my kids so I'm not going to eat it anymore.

I hadn't given much thought to regular sit-down restaurant food...since we don't go to those places much anymore.  But after reading Christy's post about the way restaurants are preparing food...I have to extend my ban to them too.  Go read Christy's post.  It's eye opening!

When we do eat out with the kids....it's generally Chili's or Red Robin.  I went to their websites and checked out the nutritional info and about fell out of my chair.

Cajun Chicken Pasta

1340   Calories
68 g    Fat
37 g    Sat Fat
106 g  Carbs
67 g    Protein

This is my favorite meal....and I usually eat half and bring the other half home....but still.

My kids meals from Chili's made me sad.  Sad that I'm feeding them this food and isn't good for them.

Kid's Pizza 

560    Calories
24 g    Fat
9 g      Sat Fat
67 g    Carbs
23  g   Protein

Kid's Mac and Cheese

500     Calories
18 g    Fat
6 g      Sat Fat
69 g    Carbs
16 g    Protein

We love Red Robin because they are child friendly!  My kids have never had a melt down in this restaurant....and I think it's because they're in a fat coma while we're there.

 

What Mama likes.  Oh My Heck!

 

I know lots of people that eat out a couple times a week because they don't like to cook but this is KILLING us people!  Christy suggested that if you eat at these places on a regular basis...you start to crave the extra fat and their food.  And I think she's right!


When we've had a bad week and have found ourselves eating a lot of fast food and at restaurants, or when we're on vacation....we crave this food when we get home.


I'm putting a stop to this right now!  At the very least...when you go to restaurants...ask for the nutritional information so that you can made an INFORMED choice for you and your family. And if they don't provide it...make a stink!

No Gym for Old Men

I'm frustrated.

Hubby has decided that we can't afford to join the gym.  *Sigh*

I was really looking forward to us doing this together.  Supporting and motivating each other.  Holding each other accountable.

He keeps saying that he needs to *do something* but something never happens.  And then on Monday, we went in for our flu shots and he had his blood pressure checked.  It was high.  High enough that the doctor was concerned.

We do have the gym equipment in our basement....an elliptical and a weight machine.  But we can't use them at the same time.

My thought was if we committed to working out at the gym, making appointments to do it....we would be successful.  My concern is if we just decide to use our home gym...it's too easy to let the pull of the TV and the kids keep us from working out.

Do you have any tips for me?  On how to motivate my husband? 

Because of this development...I made a plan for myself.  I'm going to work out in the mornings, before my husband leaves for work.  If I do it first thing and get it over with...I don't have an excuse.

I was so motivated this week by MizFit and her mantra of home is where the health is.  It's looking like I don't have a choice but to make this MY mantra.

Work out in my home gym 5 days a week.

No fast food (except Subway).

Quit the soda again......

No Sweets in the house. (this is hubby's new rule)

Less TV ...more reading

Shut Computer Off at 6pm

The Biggest Loser Season 8

I watched the finale with my husband and sister last night and we were so excited that  Danny Cahill won.  I had a crush on Rudy...and would have been equally happy if he had won. 

I was amazed how well many of the contestants did.  I was blown away by Tracey and Rebekka.  And I actually thought they looked a little too thin.

What did you think?  Are you happy with the winner?  Are you excited for the next installment that begins on Jan 5?

hCG Diet: The Skinny (pun intended)

I'm not naive.  I don't think the hCG diet protocol is going to be a magic shot that will solve all of my weight loss problems.

I've also read all of the information about the protocol 3 times so that I completely understand how it works before I made my decision to do it.  Furthermore, I'm going to be under the care of a physician that I trust.

And one reason that I understand what will happen is because I've experienced it first hand when I was pregnant. 

hCG weight loss studies have shown that weight lost following the Simeons protocol comes directly from adipose fat tissue rather than lean muscle.  In doing so, the weight lost comes directly from fat and does not strip the body of much needed muscle, vitamins or minerals essential to maintain good health, while at the same time, releasing excessive amounts of fat-stored nutrients into the blood stream to be absorbed by the body.  For this reason, hCG dieters report a feeling and appearance of great health and marvel at the loss of negative health risks they had as an overweight individual. 

Another benefit that I'm excited about is this diet's ability to reset the hypothalamus. I feel like my body has been stuck at a set weight that I can't get past.

hCG diet shots cause your hypothalamus to mobilize the fat out of the fat storage locations so that it’s available for use.  While you are only consuming 500 calories, your hypothalamus is continually releasing the fat stored in your body.  Because of this, your body is actually operating on thousands of calories a day.  The result is your body using thousands of calories of fat from your body each day, the reason hCG dieters lose 1 to 2 lbs of fat or more, per day. 

And, of course.... I have a plan! I'm not just going to sit back and watch the pounds drop away.  I've convinced my husband to join the gym and we are going to work out together several times a week.  So, while I'm training my body with exercise and getting into that habit.  I will also be re-training myself to eat healthier.  That ball has already been rolling for a while now.....

Friday Fashion Motivation: Guess Jeans

When I was reading my old journals this week...I came across my New Year's Resolutions for January 1988.

1. Lose 20 pounds
2. Get a Job
3. Decide what to do with my life
4. Try to control my temper
5. Write in Journal more
6. Stop watching The Young and The Restless
7. Cut back sugar
8. Drink more water
9. Buy a pair of Guess Jeans

I didn't even remember that I wanted those jeans! So that's my ULTIMATE GOAL. To buy and wear Guess Jeans. I like these:

 

What's your motivation this week?

Why Are You Fat?

During this season of The Biggest Loser, I've noticed more than ever before that they are talking about why.

WHY ARE YOU FAT?

It's always been a question on my mind and I've always wanted to really get to the root of the problem.  I know that there are things in my childhood that I can contribute to my quest to fed my emotions.  I'm surrounded by people that like to make up fake excuses for everything and I don't want to do that.  I want to know why I do this and figure out how to get past it.  On my Young and Relentless blog, I post my teenagehood diary entires every month and in the back of one of these journals I recorded my measurements and weight for about a year.

I noticed that I started out at a healthy weight....and then over a few months after I turned 17, I gained 30 pounds.  Luckily, I have these journals and an almost daily record of what was going on in my life to try to figure out what happened.

 After spending a great deal of time reading....I had two conclusions.  A Boy and All-You-Can-Eat Spaghetti were the problems.  I had started dating a boy who was very controlling and who I wasn't sure I wanted to be with.  I kept going back to him and let him take my power away (among other things) ....and he changed me. Around the same time, my Dad was hurt in an accident and I started having migraines.  I also frequented a local italian place on Monday nights and I remember having eating contests with my girlfriends.  And then there were the hidden boxes of Butter Cookies in my room. Oh my!

I started thinking about all of my failed relationships and their impact on my weight.  When I'm single....I'm thinner and I take care of myself.  When I'm in a relationship....I put on weight and deal with my emotions with food.  Do I exchange food for the love I want?

It was like a huge lightbulb went off in my head! I can't believe it took me 22 years to figure this all out.  When I'm with a man...he comes first and I neglect myself.  And now that I have a family...everyone comes before me.  When I think about doing something for myself....I feel guilty.

It's high time that Connie learned to take care of herself!  This foolishness has gone on long enough!

Have you figured out why you're fat?  What can you do to change it?

Pregnancy: My Best Diet Secret!

I'm getting really excited about the new diet plan I'm going to be starting soon.  I'm about to explain why I'm so excited and show you some pictures.  I'm going to tell you about my pregnancy with Alex. 

I've been heavy for a long time.  I started putting on weight around my 17th Birthday (more about that another day) and with each broken marriage....it just got worse.  When I left my second husband...I weighed 245 pounds.  My heaviest!

I left him and my old life, moved to Denver and joined 24 Hour Fitness.  In a few short months, I lost 25 pounds and fell in love with being active! Over two years time....I got down to 184 pounds.  My lightest in 12 years.

Then I started dating again.  When I met my current (and last) husband...I was down to 198 pounds, after getting back up to 206. I had just started running and watching what I ate when he came into my life.  I managed to keep my weight down until I suffered a miscarriage and fed my grief with food. 

When I got pregnant with Alex...I weighed 220 pounds.

I got pregnant in July 2005 and I didn't really have morning sickness...I just didn't feel like eating.  I didn't want sweets at all and I really didn't want soda.  I craved French Dip Sandwiches and Fries.  Wendy's Fries. 

In the first 8 weeks, I lost 8 pounds.  And I began to notice that my face was thinning out.

September 2005

December 2005

February 2006

 

April 20, 2006

3 weeks after I gave birth, I weighed 202 pounds! I jokingly told my husband that being pregnant was the best diet I've ever been on!  Not only did I come out of it weighing 18 pounds less than when I started but I felt great the whole time.

It's possible that's why I found myself pregnant again a few weeks later.  I'm a weight loss junkie! 3 weeks after having Mallory....I weighed 202.  And I looked pretty good.

The weight has crept back on over the last 2.5 years.  My recent high was 218 at the beginning of the year.  Losing weight is really difficult for me and I always having trouble with my knees because there is too much weight on them. 

A few weeks ago, Bobbi came home and said the doctor she works for is going to start offering this new diet program called The hCG Diet.  My ears perked up because that is the diet I've had the most sucess with! LOL!

I asked her to talk to him about letting me be a patient and blogging about my success.  He agreed!  So...in a few weeks when they are ready to get started.....I will be going on the hCG Diet.

A little info:

The hCG weight loss protocol consists of a very low calorie diet (VLCD) accompanied by treatments of hCG, rather oral or injected.  The average hCG dieter experiences rapid weight loss averaging 1 to 3 pounds per day.  In addition to loss of unwanted fat, the true benefit of the hCG protocol is its ability to help modify the dieter's relationship with food and eating, resulting in easily maintained, long-term weight loss.

hCG stands for Human Chorionic Gonadotropin, a hormone present in both men and women, but which is produced in great amounts in pregnant females.  During pregnancy, the substance almost completely controls the woman's metabolic functions.  In non-pregnant persons, research suggests hCG similarly increases the metabolism similar to a pregnant female.  Thousands of calories in stored fat are released, and are used by the body or expelled.

Info from hcgdietinfo.com

Surviving Thanksgiving

I'm not doing a friday fashion post today.  I think I have a food hangover! The good news is that I am STILL the same weight as when I arrived.  YAY! 

I hope everyone had a great Thanksgiving!  I have to tell you....I'm disenchanted with the holidays this year.  As a person that is trying to lose weight and lead a more healthy life....it seems like holidays are just reasons to eat.  A lot!

I ate small portions, eating more turkey and cranberries than anything and then had two very small pieces of pie (one pumpkin, one pecan) that really was too much sugar for me to handle.  I should have just had a couple bites of each...I know I would have been satisfied.

We went around the table and talked about what we're Thankful for.  My son is thankful for trains and my daughter; pink bicycles.  My hubby said that he was with his family.

I was last to speak and I knew exactly what I was going to say and I knew that no one else at the table would have the same answer as I.

I'm thankful that we are all *somewhat* healthy.  They laughed about my *somewhat* but it's true.  Everyone has some issue.  Hubby is diabetic, as are my BIL and MIL.  We are ALL overweight and my in laws are on numerous pills.  I'm so thankful that my skin cancer was not serious!

I told them that my WISH for 2010 is that everyone (including my aging in-laws) becomes more active!  My wish is for my husband and I to join Golds Gym and figure out a schedule where we consistently go to the gym.  I told him I wanted us to watch less TV and exercise more.

I watched The Biggest Loser: Where are they now the other night and based on that show and my many seasons of the show...I've come to a conclusion.  An Oprah A-HA moment!

You have to exercise to lose and maintain weight loss!

It's ground breaking right?  There's no way around it and I've always said that one of my goals is for my kids to be active and NOT learn to be couch potatoes from me.  The only way to meet this goal is for me AND MY HUBBY to get our asses moving. I think I almost have him convinced.

I'm also getting excited for something that's coming up soon that I can't wait to share with you.  Something that has a great chance of jump starting my weight loss!  Stay Tuned!

I'm on Vacation

I'm on vacation in Denver this week.  It's really hard for me to watch what I'm eating while I'm here because this is one of my favorite cities and there is so much great food here.

I've been weighting myself every morning on the scale that my in-laws have in their guest bathroom and it hasn't changed.  So I feel pretty good that I'm doing okay.   What worries me...is that it's all going to catch up with me when I get home....like Jet Leg.

And friends...I've been eating very well.  I went out for a fabulous brunch with my brother in law on Sunday and my hubby and I snuck off for some Christmas shopping and Sushi yesterday.  Can't wait for Thanksgiving!

Which brings me to what I'm Thankful for this year.  I'm thankful that even though I am overweight...I'm healthy.  I'm thankful that my skin cancer wasn't the bad kind and that I will have a little scar to remind me to use my sunscreen.  And I'm thankful for my healthy family...and I hope changes I'm making will make them healthier.

Have a wonderful Thanksgiving!

Friday Fashion Motivation: Tight Sweater

I got an email from New York and Company with this sweater on the front. I love it. But I know I can't wear it right now. It's too short and I"m sure too tight....it would show every. single. roll.

I'd get this beautiful sweater in red.....Antique-Button Ruffle Cardigan from New York and Company

$10 a pound

My husband just took my kids to get the oil changed in my SUV because we are leaving for a week long vacation to Denver tomorrow.  I have a dozen things left on my to-do list that I should be doing but I'm here instead.

I gained three pounds this week.

I know exactly how it happened.  Saturday happened to me.  I was like one of those before video's from The Biggest Loser.  It all started at Wendy's with a Double Stack and fries.  My husband also got a Rootbeer float and a ice cream dessert thing.  We shared the ice cream drinks but....I didn't need them.

And then I had a Girls Night Out with The Real Housewives of Utah and I ate badly.  Pasta with prime rib chunks and a cheese sauce and then half of a Creme Brulee.  In my defense, I didn't finish my dessert but it was mainly because I had eaten so much I was afraid I was going to throw up.  And I might have....if I hadn't just paid my $30 bill.

That's $10 a pound.

$30 that could have went through the gym membership that my husband said NO to.

I don't know if I can afford not to join.  My life may soon depend on it......

In other news, I just heard that Oprah's pulling the plug on her show. I want to go to her show soooo badly!  It's a dream of mine.  I'm sure the chances of getting tickets to her show and my husband taking me to Chicago just hit the slim to none category.

Friday Fashion Motivation: Work It Out

I almost forgot it was Friday!  This week has been a little hard....due to my 3 year old hitting the defiant stage.  If I hear the word NO one more time....

Anyway, I don't know how he knows but every time I start working on my fitness...he starts having sleeping problems.  Every time I need to get up early...he wakes up in the night and I don't get my sleep.  I'm so frustrated!

For this week's fashion motivation....I was thinking about the adorable work out clothes that I've always wanted.  But I want to look cute in them...you know.

I love this little number from JC Penney.  I love the color and since I have long legs, the crop pants will always be the right lenght!   If you like it you can find it HERE.

What's motivating you this week?

10 Reasons Exercise makes you Skinny!

 I've made a decision to exercise (and shower) in the mornings before my husband leaves for work.  It's gonna be a tight schedule but I can do it.  I felt so good after I did it this morning.  And this article got me motivated.

This information is from  Fitness Magazine's website.  10 reasons why Exercise will make me SKINNY!


1. Exercise zaps belly fat.
It's the easiest way to beat the bulge, period. "Regular moderate- to high-intensity aerobic exercise has the greatest impact on reducing ab fat -- the dangerous fat that ups your risk of diabetes and heart disease,"  Exercise is the ultimate middle manager because it lowers levels of cortisol, a hormone that has been linked to ab fat.

2. Exercise controls calories.
"It's pretty simple: You need to burn more calories than you consume in order to lose weight," says Nancy Snyderman, MD, a FITNESS advisory board member, editor-in-chief of BeWell.com, and chief medical editor for NBC news. Regular exercise blasts excess calories that would otherwise be stored as fat. "Plus, you continue to burn calories even in the hours following your workout,"

3. Exercise keeps lost pounds MIA.
"Ninety percent of people who have successfully lost weight and kept it off for a year do about an hour of physical activity a day,"

4. Exercise boosts metabolism.
Yes, you'll lose fat when you diet without exercising, but you'll also lose muscle, which means you'll burn fewer calories. The more muscle you have, the higher your metabolism and the more calories you'll torch.

5. Exercise trims inches.
The number on the scale doesn't tell the whole truth, says FITNESS advisory board member Jari Love, a certified personal trainer and fitness DVD star: "When you shed fat and gain muscle you may lose inches and drop sizes without losing actual pounds." For instance, if you gain 3 pounds of lean muscle and lose 4 pounds of fat, you've actually experienced a 7-pound improvement in your body condition, despite the scale only showing 1 pound of weight loss.

6. Exercise curbs emotional eating.
"Working out has been proven time and time again to help regulate mood, which has a direct effect on people who eat when they're stressed or upset," says Robert E. Thayer, PhD, a professor of psychology at California State University, Long Beach. Translation: When you're already in your happy place you don't need Ben & Jerry to lead the way.

7. Exercise creates a healthy chain reaction.
There's a reason you find juice bars at the gym: "Healthy habits tend to cluster together," says Boston-based psychologist Eric Endlich, PhD. "When people make positive changes, like getting more exercise, they tend to work on other health improvements as well, such as eating better." The result? Weight loss.

8. Exercise brings on the fun.
Let's face it: Rock-climbing is way more exciting than eating a celery stick. That's why it's easier to be active to stay slim than to maintain a strict diet. "If you look at people who incorporate exercise successfully in their lives, they've found something they truly enjoy,"

9. Exercise stops hunger.
People who exercise and diet are actually less hungry than those who only diet, according to a study in the journal Obesity. Bonus: Your self-restraint is higher, too.

10. Exercise ups energy.
Regular physical activity increases stamina by boosting the body's production of energy-promoting neurotransmitters, studies show. That pep gives you even more motivation to get moving and shed pounds. When was the last time diet alone did all that?

So, the bottom line is....I just have to DO IT!

Baby Steps

It's Wednesday! Time to weigh in....

Last week: 205 pounds

This week: 204.5 pounds

LOST: .5 pounds

WOOT!  I don't know what I did to deserve this because I didn't start my exercise program like I wanted to.  I'm struggling and I'm not sure why.  I know I'm tired and the change in weather tends to bring this on for me but I the weather has been *nice* here...it hasn't been cold yet and it's been sunny.


I sometimes feel like I need a therapist to help me figure out what my problem is.  Why can't I stay motivated to exercise?  Is it too late to change my ways?  Is it because I wasn't raised being active?  Why can't I eat better?  Why do I slide back into these old habits? 


I keep thinking about the gym membership that I wanted.  I want to be active.  I want to lose weight.  I want to be strong and a good example for my kids.  I want them to be happy, healthy and more active than I was growing up. 


The only way any of this is going to happen....is if I FORCE myself to do it.  What is it going to take?


I watch The Biggest Loser every week and I want what they have.  But I don't want to eat excessively healthy all the time.  I want Kit Kat's and cake, cookies, soda and wine.  I know that I can't have both. 

What is it going to take?

In an effort to get myself back on track...I'm taking baby steps.  Since Monday....I've been taking a shower and putting on REAL clothes and make-up as soon as I wake up in the morning.  Three days in a row so far.  This is helping me feel so much better during the day and I think I have more energy since I'm dressed!!

Next week....going to bed earlier....so that I can start getting up earlier to work out.

Friday Fashion Motivation: Boots

For this week's Friday Fashion Motivation.....I'm going to talk about something that I've wanted for a very long time.  I think this fashion item looks amazing with so many different outfits and would make me look taller, thinner and like a rockin Momma!

Look how awesome these tall black boots from Nine West are! They are a little pricey...but I think they would last for a long time.

Here is my only problem. Most boots don't accommodate my LARGE calves.  This is my motivation this week.....What is your's? 

I Survived Halloween!

All morning....I've know I was forgetting something.  It just occurred to me that I weighed in this morning.  LOL!

Last week: 206 pounds

This week: 205 pounds

LOST: 1 pound

WOOT!   I'm amazed...because of the CANDY situation.  But I was sick over the weekend and didn't eat much.  I get my stitches out again today and then I'm planning to get back on the working out wagon.

You want to know what really motivated me?  Seeing TRACEY all skinny last night on The Biggest Loser.  WOW...what a transformation.  If she can do it....then so can I, right?

I didn't end up joining the gym.  I really wanted to...but I just couldn't find the money in my budget right now.  Maybe in the spring I can revisit that idea.  It did give me a lot to think about and I was remembering the first time I joined a gym and what a positive experience it was for me.  I'm hoping to blog about it later this week.

Until then....have a great week and come back FRIDAY to see what my motivation for the weekend will be.

Friday Fashion Motivation: Halloween Edition

Lynn had the great idea to make this week about Halloween costumes so I thought long and hard about what costume I would like to wear if I had the body I want and I came up with this.

This costume comes in only three sizes...Extra Small, Small and Medium. So just to fit into the medium we are looking at a waist size of 27-30 inches and a bust size of 36-38 inches. This would definitely take some work for me to get into.

What is your fantasy costume?

Have a great weekend!

Just Say No...to the Pop Tarts

It's Wednesday...that means it's time for me to weigh in!

Last week: 205 pounds

This week: 206 pounds

GAIN: 1 pound

And this is the part where I tell you my excuses. I had my skin cancer surgery last week and it went well. My face still kind of hurts...not sure if that's normal....I go in this morning to have the stitches removed so I'll ask. The first day...I had a hard time eating. And then I wanted to eat everything. TOM showed up a week early and my daughter had a fever all weekend. I did a lot of stress eating.

And I bought a box of Strawberry Frosted Pop Tarts. Have you had these? I grew up eating them and they are like CRACK to me. I pass them in the store all the time, telling myself that I can't have them. If I buy a box...I somehow find myself eating them all in a matter of hours days.  Of course, I was hiding them from my family...behind the Vodka.  But yesterday I broke down after my kids refused to eat breakfast and I gave them each one.

You should have seen it.  My daughter....so smart and inquisitive, asked me what this delicious pasty was called and wanted to know what the white stuff was.  I told her all about the sugary goodness and she said 'mmmmm....I really like this'.  Well, of course you do....it's baby crack!  I fed my babies CRACK!

This week, I got an email from the gal I took the ZUMBA class from.  She is closing up shop. I told Big Pappa about it over dinner and he reminded me that he didn't think I could do it.  I corrected him and informed him that the only reason I didn't go again was because of the cost.  It was $8 per class and if I went once a week, that was almost $40 a month.  I told him I'd rather join a gym for that kind of money. He tried to tell me that gym memberships are much more than that and I disagreed. SHOCKING!   I told him it couldn't be more than $40 because I used to belong to a gym and I'm sure I paid around $30 a month.  To prove him wrong...I called Golds Gym and inquired about a membership.

That is when I found out they are having a heck of a sale right now and I could join for just $35 a month.  This place has a pool, an indoor track, daycare and classes.  I got a little bit excited thinking maybe I could join.  And then...Big Pappa said no.

He has good reasons.  When would I go? Daycare is only free for family memberships ($65) so I would have to go in the evening.  It's 7pm by the time everyone arrives home, eats and I clean up the kitchen.  7pm is when I generally crash into a heap on the couch with a glass of wine or a Skinny Cow.  And I already have a home gym...in my basement.  I have an elliptical machine and a weight machine.  So maybe he's right..

I guess it was pretty telling when the membership guy I talked to asked if I wanted to come down right then and there (7:30pm) to check it out and have a free workout and I told him I couldn't because I was watching The Biggest Loser.  But do you know what happens when someone tells me that I can't do something?  It makes me what it more and it makes me what to eat ice cream.....

So last week ended up being a lazy week.  I didn't even think about exercising.  The chances of me going for runs in the cold, dark air...have blown away like the leaves on the trees.  Plus, my little community has turned into a hot bed of crime.  Our local PD is on twitter and they report all of the crime...it's made me feel a little unsafe since many of these robberies are happening between 5-7am.  SCARY!

This week....my goal is to GET UP and use my elliptical machine 3 times. (Thursday, Monday, Wednesday) And to NOT buy anymore Pop Tarts.

Please join me for Friday Fashion Motivation! The theme is Halloween costume!  WOOT!

EDITED: I just returned from the Dr. and I can't believe this...but they didn't get it all and she had to recut my incision, remove MORE tissue and re-stitch it.  I have 5 more stitches now.  I'm so irritated because I have to go back in a week and my husband is out of town next week.   I really wanted to put this all behind me....

Friday Fashion Motivation

I love fashion!  I had the best (and most frustrating) time putting together outfits for the SITScation blogging conference last week.  I didn't have any money in my budget for new clothes so I shopped my closet and I did really well.  But I'm looking forward to the day that I have to buy ALL NEW CLOTHES!  The Gym Bag Dropout gave me a great idea!  Every week she is going to post a picture, story or cartoon meant to keep her motivated.  This week she posted two cute outfits that she would like to fit into.

Looking at clothes...online.  Always motivates me.  So I thought it would be a great idea to do a fashion post every Friday...to keep me motivated through the weekend.  And i want you to join me.  I'll put up a MR. LINKY every Friday for your post.

My motivation this week is a Leopard Print Knit Dress from New York & Company.

 

Starting Over

I see that it's been a few weeks since my last confession.  The last time I posted...my life was stressed out and we didn't know what was going to happen to my husband's job.  I have good news!  He survived the layoff (this time) and we are feeling much more relaxed now.

Just after that was our trip to Denver, then last weekend I went to VEGAS for the SITScation Blogging Conference and today I will have my skin cancer surgery to removed the basel cell carcinoma.

Somewhere in all of that...I lost THREE POUNDS!  I think I have a secret...are you ready for this?  Cheerios.  In an effort to reduce my kids sugar intake, I bought them Cheerios and I started eating them myself.  Okay...I have another secret.  Crackerfuls.  They are a new snack cracker that I love and I've been eating them for lunch.

I have not been exercising.  Once the cold weather hit...I couldn't bring myself to run outside.  I'm a wuss. Plus, my kid is having sleep issues again.  I'm hoping to find time to use my home gym.

So I sit here at 9 pounds lost.  I really want to hit that 10 pound mark so maybe...I will try to exercise this week!

Week 28...15 Days

This blog post contains spoilers to The Biggest Loser Season 8.

Welcome to the 28 th (completed) week of Extreme Makeover: ME Edition hosted by the incredible Amber Filkins!

Let's weigh-in...

Last Week: 208 pounds
This week: Weigh In Cancelled!



This Yesterday morning I woke up at 5:30am with a killer migraine. It was so bad that I couldn't even drag myself down the stairs to the kitchen to get some pain reliever so I scavenged through my bathroom cabinets and came up with a lone ALEVE. I put myself back to bed hoping for 45 minutes of sleep and expecting to feel much better when the pain meds kicked in.

I woke up...feeling a little better only to discover that my husband's alarm had NOT gone off and it was now 7:15am and Hubby had an 8 o'clock meeting. There was a mad scramble to get him out the door and make myself some coffee.

And I forgot to hit the scale.

It's probably for the best because I've been under a lot of stress and my weight goes up no matter what I do.  On Monday...I will know if my hubby still has a job and then I can either relax...or deal with a whole lot more stress.  I'll let you know what happens.

No matter what happens...I'm going to Vegas in 15 days.  I'm attending the SITScation Blogging Conference and I'm super excited and nervous!  I'll be meeting 80 (I'm guessing) other bloggers and honing my blogging craft.  I really do love to blog and meet new people so this is perfect for me.

The dealio is...there is a shirt that has been hanging in my closet for 5 months that I really want to wear.  It's a lovely lavender color with poofy cap sleeves and I love it.  But it doesn't quite fit.  Do you think I can fit into it in 15 days?  We shall see!

My works outs haven't been happening.  I went for my run on Sunday morning and it felt great!  And then the weather changed and I haven't been out since.  I'm going to try to go tonight after hubby gets home.  I have GOT TO keep up with my exercise.  No Excuses.

Did you watch the Biggest Loser last Tuesday night?  I loved the message...it's all about your choices!  And I'm going to try to use the would you rather phrase in my own life....I just need to remember to do it.  Liz made me laugh when she said...she didn't get fat by pushing herself and she was awesome in that challenge of carrying those 25 pound buckets!

Tracey....oh Tracey.  It appears she is the bat shit crazy one in the group this time.  Are they casting this part now for the show?  I couldn't believe that after she forfeited her trainers for the week that she would take the other challenge too and then manage to piss off almost every single person on the ranch.  She is tooo much! I still don't understand how that gal lost 11 pounds! BANANAS!

I want to talk about the yogurt that Bob gave Abby to snack on.  The 100 calorie, 5 g protein, has extra calcium and vitamin D.  It sounds WONDERFUL...but I wanted to know how many sugar grams it had.  I've been tracking mine pretty closely and I'm shocked at how much some food has in it.  I looked it up during the show and it has 11 g of sugar.  That seems like a lot to me since you really should only have 40g in a day.  I know it's an easy snack but WOW..that's almost 4 teaspoons of sugar.  What do you think?

My final thoughts on the show.  I love that Amanda wears FULL make-up and diamond earrings to the last chance workout!  Love her!  And I was very sad to see Sean and Antoine leave...but they are doing GREAT at home.

Have a great week!

Week 27: Fighting PMS

This blog post contains spoilers to The Biggest Loser Season 8.

Welcome to the 27 th (completed) week of Extreme Makeover: ME Edition hosted by the incredible Amber Filkins!

Let's weigh-in...

Last Week: 208 pounds
This week: 208 pounds

LOST....0 pounds

TOM is here. But did you notice? No weight gain! A couple months ago, I started taking Evening Primrose Oil along with my vitamin D supplement. I was having such horrible hormone crashes, migraines and food cravings. And it would take me a full week to recover from it. This is unacceptable!

This month...I didn't even realize that TOM was about to arrive and thought I might be pregnant! He quietly showed up without the fanfare of a day ruining headache and I didn't have to hide in the pantry with a bar of baking chocolate.  The real bonus here?  I haven't wanted to kill my husband...yet.

Evening Primrose Oil is rich in gamma-linolenic acid (GLA), which is useful in treating a number of conditions including endometriosis, autoimmune disorders, benign prostatic hypertrophy, eczema, diabetes, and migraines. It helps relieve symptoms such as irritability, bloating, breast soreness, and depression occur before and during menstruation in many women. Clinical studies show that the GLA found in evening primrose oil contains essential fatty acids that seem to alleviate symptoms.

I am taking 3-500 mg pills for the first 2 weeks of my cycle and then 6 pills (3 in the AM and 3 in the PM) for the last half. It's working out great!

Fitness: I ran TWICE last week. YAY!  And I was supposed to run yesterday...but my daughter came down with a fever and I was up all night with her.  So..tomorrow I will be onto Week 1 DAY 3 of Couch to 5K which works out great because then I will be on track with my friend Jessica (who really needs to update her blog...just sayin') who is doing the program too.

This week...Amber wants to talk about The Biggest Loser and how it's inspiring me. Hubby and I have watched this show together for a couple seasons now and I believe that we learn so much from it.  There is always some tidbit of information that we might not have thought of before.  Like what an AHA moment I had last night when Jillian was showing the Brown Team to make a week (or a few days) worth of snacks and line them up in the fridge!  It really only takes 10-15 of prep time to make sure you can grab and go what you need.  I love this idea because I used to rely on those protein bars as a quick on the go snack.  NO MORE!  Next time you go to the store...look at the labels on those.  HIGH FAT and SUGAR!  You might as well eat a candy bar.

This week on The Biggest Loser....I was all kinds of pissed off at Julio.  It didn't look like he was working very hard but then he came through with a 19 pound weight loss and blew everyone out of the water.  He confided that he was working out on his own....and then I understood.  I do the same thing.  This is why I don't join gyms and I run around an unlit track in the pitch blackness of 5am!  Crazy right?

I was so glad to see Tracey back but I'm irritated that they won't tell us what is wrong with her.  She can't work out with everyone else?  WHY! I think she did great even though she was only walking and swimming. Jillian must be right...Calories In...Calories Out!

I loved the conversation between Bob and Jillian about killing Julio and when they were playing tug of war with that big guy (still struggling to learn all of their names) and I cried when Sean found out he was having a baby girl!  I wish they would have Curtis Stone on every week because that man....oh lord was I happy to see him!

The best part of this episode was that everyone (except Julio) worked as a TEAM and lost 155 pounds that week!  No one went home!  I'm really liking Bob and Jullian working as a TEAM also but I know that can't last....

 Coming Next week...progress photo! 

Week 26...Biggest Loser is Back!

This blog post contains spoilers to The Biggest Loser Season 8. The name of the contestant that went home has been written in WHITE to conceal their identify.

Welcome to the 26 th (completed) week of Extreme Makeover: ME Edition hosted by the incredible Amber Filkins!

Let's weigh-in...

Last Week: 208 pounds
This week: 208 pounds

LOST....0 pounds

Did I tell you about the candy? Oh right...I did. F-ing candy. If I never see another Twix bar it will be too soon. And my husband's birthday is three days after mine so there was cake. Now there aren't any birthday's until March. Thank goodness!

Last Wednesday...I started the Couch to 5K program...and I had to restart it today because I didn't get a chance to run since then.  Okay...that's not true, I had a chance I just chose not to.  And I had to run last night when my sister's dog got out.  That is all about to change because my biggest motivation of all time just started last night!

It's on like Donkey Kong!

I love The Biggest Loser.  Watching that show every week keeps me motivated and I sometimes I learn something.  I love Jillian...she's my favorite!  But I would crap my pants if she were my trainer.  So...in addition to updating my progress each week, I'm also going to talk about the show.

My  favorite contestants....Tracey, Amanda, Rebecca, Abby and Liz.

I like Tracey because she's a homemaker and we have to stick together...plus, she has drive.  Unfortunately, she drove herself into the ground and spent the first week in the hospital.  I'm concerned because they never told us what was wrong with her.  Thanks to her teammate Couch MO...she got to stay.

I like Amanda because I voted for her to be on the show last season.  I think she has a good attitude but I wish she had been able to lose more this week.

I like Rebecca because she is cute and I liked her hair.

Abby....broke my heart.  I want to her to succeed sooo much.  She has an amazing attitude and spirit.  I love her already.

Liz...is the older lady of the group and I thought she looked MUCH older than 49.  I don't want to look like her when I'm 49 (in 10 years).  She is a wake up call to me.

In the end Alexandria went home and lost 60 pounds.  She talked about meeting someone at the ranch and being excited to get to know him.  Who could it be? She's only 20 so it's got to be either Antoine or Daniel. *The contestants name has been printed in WHITE so that those that haven't seen the show yet will not know who went home.


I announced my race schedule last week! Did you see it?  I'm being a little ambitious but I like to have goals.

P.S. My hubby left for work late this morning because he has a doctor's appointment to check his blood sugar levels.  (he was diagnosed with Type 2 Diabetes in January 2008)  So I had a chance to talk to him and I talked him into doing a Biggest Loser Weight Loss Challenge with me!   YAY!

P.P.S.  Please go over to my friend Tricia's blog and support her quest to lose weight!  She working really hard on WW and needs some bloggy friends!

BOTR: My Races

I got so busy with celebrating my 39th birthday and my new early bedtime because I suddenly can't keep my eyes open past 9:45pm that I forgot to post about my races.  I feel really badly that I blew off the race I was going to do for my 39th birthday.  I just restarted my training so I decided my punishment...would be to run more races and to challenge myself when I can.

Just the fact that I'm doing the training and races in THE FALL/WINTER is a huge challenge for me.  I tend to hibernate and work on my winter fat to stay warm in Utah but this winter is going to be different!

Connie's Race Schedule:


October 11th ~ Run walk The Rocks 5k in Morrison Colorado


October 31st ~ Harvest Run 5K Wellsville Utah


November 26th ~ Anthem Turkey Day 5K Broomfield, Colorado

Speaking of my birthday...you will NOT believe what my family (husband and sister) got for me.  Me, the woman that has been busting her ass running on the track and cutting her sugar grams....

CANDY! 

Can you believe that?  Granted...it was my FAVORITE candy but I don't need it.  And I should have threw it all in the trash...but I didn't. 

Week 25...I love Sugar

Welcome to the 25 th (completed) week of Extreme Makeover: ME Edition hosted by the incredible Amber Filkins!

Let's weigh-in...

Last Week: 209 pounds
This week: 208 pounds

LOST....1 pounds

I'm slightly disappointed with that ONE pound but I'll take it. I can tell you right now why that is only ONE pound and it's my own fault. I ate Pizza last night. I forgot to take anything out for dinner and my husband told me to order a pizza. It's like the single worst thing I can eat. I pay for it for days!

The good news is that I've been exercising again. YAY! Altering my kids' nap schedule has been working and they have been sleep through the night! I'm also leaving for my run a little bit later so that it's not quite so dark. It was funny last week though...Friday morning, I left the house at 5:55am. It's a little under 1/2 miles to the track and I ran part of it so that I would get there quickly...then I started walking around the track (which is not lit) and came across one gal. As the sun came up and I could see my surroundings...I saw that there were 6 people there and we were all spaced out and never ran into each other. It was a little strange and felt like I was in a scary movie.

I'm working really hard to keep my sugar to 30g a day and my sodium to 2400mg. The sodium hasn't been that hard...but the sugar is killing me! I'm going to keep working at it because once I get my sugar under control...I'm going to work on my kids next! Which brings me to Amber's question of the week:

How are you being a healthy role model for your children?

I don't think I am yet. At the moment...I am working out before they get up for the day so they aren't seeing me exercise. I'm working on making better choices and eating small portions which my daughter already does but my son has a big appetite for a 3 year old. We have not been good about not giving them candy and ice cream. In fact, I think my son is craving sugar because he gets up in the middle of the night looking for stuff he isn't allowed to have all the time. Last night he was after a jar of tootsie rolls! Thank goodness for the Toddler Alarm we installed (my sister in the room under the kitchen). She put him back to bed for me. This sister-wife thing is working out GREAT!

Right now...I am working towards getting into shape so that I can be active with the kids so that they grow up with a childhood full of activity and fun. I don't want to raise sedentary people. I don't want them to end up like me....

I want to be off from a DIET before my daughter knows what's going on. I never want her to be on DIET. I just want my kids to be healthy and active...and happy!

Plan for week 26:

Wednesday: Couch 2 5K day one
Thursday: Lift Weights
Friday: Couch 2 5K day two
Saturday: Off
Sunday: Yoga
Monday: Couch 2 5K day three
Tuesday: Off

I almost forgot! I am issuing a challenge to help you get a jump start on the holiday eating! My friend Kara and I have formed a group called Bloggers on the Run! The challenge is to walk or run a 5k (or more) before December 1st. This is your chance to take personal responsibility for your health at a time when some of us fall into the couch and start eating all of their kids' halloween candy. Join the group by going to THIS POST leaving a comment, grab the button and start training. I'm going to do several races in Utah and Colorado and I'll be announcing them on FRIDAY! Do it for yourself, for your family and mostly do it for your country! We're all counting on you.....

Have a great day and don't forget to wear sunscreen, eat your vegetables, spay & neuter your pets and wash your hands.