Thighs of Steel?

We started Parent/Child swimming lessons yesterday. I was worried about wearing a swimming suit but once I put it on I realized that I didn't look so bad...just really white. I bought a suit last summer from a plus sized store online and it is a very flattering one with a skirt. And I realized that I didn't give a crap what the other mom's thought of me anyway and I was so focused on my beautiful daughter that I never gave it a second thought.

So...I was crouching in 3.5 feet of water, holding my 23 pound 2 year old for 40 minutes. And 15 minutes of that I was crouching/walking in a little circle called the lazy river. My shins had started to cramp up by the end of the class but I didn't really realize just how much exercise I was doing....until today.

I woke up at 5:35am. This is my normal wake-up go for a walk in the neighborhood time during the week. But it's Sunday and I was going to sleep until 7am. I decided that since I was awake...I should go walk. Great Idea, until I got out of bed....and almost fell to the floor!

The fronts of my thighs are in horrific pain! We live in a 4 level house and it is all I can do to get up and down the stairs! And my left arm (the one that was holding my daughter the most) is almost unusable.

On the one hand.....I am in pain but I'm also thinking AWESOME! I got in a work out bobbing in the water! I'm going to have THIGHS OF STEEL by July when this class is over. My legs are going to looks amazing!

YAY EXERCISE!

my beautiful family

I ran...

Last night was a little rough, even though I went to bed at 9:45pm. Around 11p, my son came to my bed because he saw ghosts in his room. Daddy chased them away and put him back to bed. Then Daddy wanted to talk. Then at 3am...little girl woke me from a dead sleep with her screaming because her pacifier had fallen out of bed. (note to self: time for the binkies to go)

On top of all of this...my stupid wisdom teeth are giving me trouble and the one side is making my ear hurt. I really need to get this taken care of....

So when my alarm went off at 5:35a...I almost went back to sleep because now I also had a headache from being woken up so many times. But I really needed to do some thinking so I got up, put on my workout clothes and headed out.

It is a beautiful day in Utah this morning. I wore a vest and didn't really need it. Once I got to the spot where I normally turn to go home I decided to walk a little further. On my way back, a guy running passed me and I thought about how I would love to run like that.

I have several mixes on my iPod for exercising and one is labeled running. You see how hopeful I am that I will run someday. I could have called it walking....but I want to run. Anyway, on the way home I was having a conversation with Jesus about Calvin's job and wanting to move home to Denver. I had just told him that I was putting it in his hands because I needed his help when this song came on.




Did you listen to the words? Gotta move to a town that's right for me! I was so excited that I started running! And I ran for about 75 feet! Whoo Hoo!

Here are a couple things that seemed to be an issue while I was running.

My hair...in my eyes.
My iPhone...flopping around in my vest pocket.
My knees...hurting.
My hips....cramping.

I guess I have a ways to go here but the good news is that I'm moving to Funky Town!

EDITED: Well, it's 11am now and my hips don't hurt anymore and I feel really....good. I can't exactly explain it...but I feel like I'm breathing easier. Also...keep thinking about the swimming suit I have to wear tomorrow for the kids' swimming lessons. OY!

Are you UP for a Challenge?

If you have been following my journey...you know that I can't turn down a challenge. My new friends Angie and Shannon at Weight Loss with The Fabulous Fatties issued a challenge yesterday and I took them up on it. I encourage all of you to join in because theses are all wonderful things to do for yourself!

Here are the details....

This will be a 2 week challenge based on point system. You can earn points by living healthy, being kind and eating well. We are excited to kick this challenge off and hope you will join us!

*Eat 5 servings of fruits and vegetables daily- 5 points

*Drink 8 glasses of water a day- 8 points

*Exercise- 1 point per minute

*Do a random good deed- 5 points

*Stop drinking soda pop for a day- 1 point

*Actually read someone else’s blog post and leave a comment- 1 point

* Answer our Fab Fatties random bonus questions about us- 5 points

-Bonus questions will be posted daily on our blog.

* Recommend 2 fabulous friends from twitter and tell us why we should follow them- 2 points

* Eat a healthy breakfast-1 point

* Lose weight- 1 point per pound

* Keep a food journal for the day- 5 points per day

* Take a walk during you lunch break- 5 points

* Have a friend join this challenge- 25 points per friend

-make sure your friend tells us you recruited them!

How to join:

Go read THIS POST and then Email fabfatties@aol.com and tell them you are IN!

But hurry....today is the last day to join!

Week Nine...Re-set Button

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

Let's weigh-in...

Last week: 210 pounds
This week: 207 pounds

LOST..... 3 pounds

YAY! I also lost a total of 3 inches from my waist, hips, torso and thighs.

The Plan from Last Week:

Last friday, I ditched my plan and decided to take some drastic measures. Because it was a three day weekend, I thought it would be a great time to do a juice fast/colon cleanse. You can read all of the details HERE and the update HERE. The bottom line is that I'm so glad that I did it. I feel like I pushed a reset button on my body because I'm not craving soda or sugar anymore. Now, I have to work on this uncontrollable urge to put food in my mouth...even when I'm not hungry. I need to buy some more gum to keep my mouth busy.


The Plan for Week Ten:
Blue...completed
Red...not completed

AM Walk Outside

• Thursday
• Friday
• Monday
• Tuesday

Water Aerobics

• Saturday

Strength Train

• Thursday
• Monday

Yoga & Meditation

• Sunday

7.25 hours of sleep a night
Take Vitamins and Acidophilus

If you are looking for a great cookbook with healthy recipes...look HERE.

Juice Fast/Cleanse Update

Day One (Saturday)
Started my day with my first dose of Colon Cleanse pills and a big glass of juice...Naked brand Green Machine mixed with Strawberry Banana Smoothie. By about 9am, I was really missing my morning coffee so I had a cup of Detox Tea. And I was fighting hunger so I ate a couple cups of watermelon...I decided to pretend that they were chucks of chicken.

About 10:30 am I started feeling a little dizzy and low bloodsugarish so I had a glass of orange juice and I instantly felt better. At Noon, I made my chicken broth which would be my dinner. It smelled so good....

I decided the best way to stop thinking about food was to take a nap. This didn't go too well because the Detox tea was making me have to use the bathroom a lot. Plan B was to start reading TWILIGHT because everyone says that you get so sucked in that you forget to eat and sleep.

Around 4pm...I realize that I am no longer hungry. Strange....

At 6pm, I drink my chicken broth and have a little bit of the chicken (about 1/4 cup) because I can't see how I'm going to make it through the night without eating anything. Through the night, I drink more detox tea and water.

Day Two (Sunday)
I wake up feeling pretty good but I have no energy. All I want to do is sit on the couch and watch TV. The kids want food and it is difficult for me to make things for them and not want to eat. I have another Strawberry Banana Smoothie with a shot of green machine.

Around Noon, I develop the worst headache of my life. I know that it's caffeine and sugar withdrawal and try to just suck it up. I'm also feeling really achey and sick.

At 4pm, I informed my husband that I was stopping the fast and I was going to prepare something to eat. I was feeling so badly that just going up the stairs to get my kids up from their nap was difficult. I poached 5 oz of salmon and prepared a romaine salad with mushrooms and snow peas. I was really full when I finished it...almost too full.

At 6pm, my husband brought me a Iced Coffee from McDonalds. I drank half of it and my headache vanished. I went to bed still feeling full.

Day Three (Monday)
I weighed myself first thing and I've lost 3 pounds. The cleanse begins to work (if you catch my drift) and I feel really good. My head feels clear and I slept really well. I made myself a smoothie with the last of the Naked juices and I throw in a banana and some strawberries.

For lunch I'm going to have Oprah's Green Drink. Here is the recipe I used:

3 stalks celery
1 large cucumber
1 apple
1 chunk fresh ginger
1 cup fresh spinach
1/2 cup orange juice

Combine all ingredients and blend until smooth. My blender couldn't handle the load so I chopped everything up in my food processor and then blended it in the blender. It is a little thick but it smells so fresh and good!

I have to tell you...I was really nervous about doing this but I knew I needed to do something drastic to detox from soda and sugar. I'm hopeful that this has broken my sugar cravings and will help me eat healthier. I already don't feel like eating as much....I just keep feeling like eating even though I'm not hungry. This is another habit that I need to break. Eating for the sake of putting food in my pie hole. I often eat because I feel like eating and tend to grab things that are not healthy. I want to crave fruit and vegetables...not cookies and soda. I want to be strong and healthy and put good food into my body.

And I still want to run....

Desperate Measures!

I'm pissed.

I'm so sick and tired of busting my ass (pun intended) and not having anything to show for it. I have suspected for a while that there is something wrong. This is not the first time that I've worked really hard with exercise and diet and seen very little results. I've lost and gained the same 8 pounds over and over for the last two years. The only time I really lost a good chunk was when I had food poisoning.

Last year, after working out and eating healthy daily for 4 months with no change in weight or measurements....I went the doctor thinking there had to be something physically wrong with me. Every test came back fine except that my good Cholesterol was low and my bad was high. And then my doctor had the nerve to tell me that I needed to lose weight. I even went on a medication called Topamax because I have migraines and it helps people lose weight. Not me. I dropped three pounds on it and that was it.

So here I am 8 weeks into this version of my journey and I'm stuck again. I don't want to go another 8 weeks working hard without results so I've decided to do something drastic. My friend Monica told me about the Liver Cleanse Diet. I did some research and I've purchased some pills from my health food store. Tomorrow, I will be on a juice/liquid fast and then Sunday and Monday I will be doing a colon cleanse.

Here is my plan:

Saturday: Begin Colon Cleanse pills, juice, homemade chicken broth, Detox Tea
Sunday: Salt Water Solution (1 qt of water with 2 teaspoons Sea Salt), juice, broth, Tea
Monday: Salt Water Solution, Oprah's Green Smoothie, broth, tea, fruit.
Tuesday: Start adding food back...fruit, veggies, fish, nuts. Start taking Acidophilus tablets.
Next 8 weeks....I will eat a diet mainly consisting of fruit, veggies, chicken, fish, eggs, brown rice and Sprout bread. There is more...but it's all I can think of right now. I will not eat dairy, fried, fast or processed food. I will add coffee back after a week but I am eliminating soda completely.

I feel like the diet itself....is more along the lines of how I should be eating, with the exception for eliminating dairy. I feel like the cleanse is necessary to get rid of all of the bad stuff that is plugging up my liver and gall bladder and allow it to work properly.

When I was at the health food store....the cashier made a comment about my purchases and I told her what my plan was. She told me to *brace myself*. Which kind of scared the shit out of me. (pun intended) When I went to get my veggies and fruits....I thought about buying the extra soft Northern Bath Tissue....just in case.

My husband is prepared for the aftermath of the next few days and he is offering his full support. I'm imagining the detox, plus withdrawal from soda and coffee will be traumatic and much like that of an alcoholic. Things could get ugly.

The good thing is that I know I'm doing this to get healthy and that I will feel so much better when it is over. I have these addictions that must be dealt with....sugar, caffeine, processed food and US Weekly. It's going to be tough...but I can do it!

My Symptoms of Liver Dysfunction:
Inability to lose weight while dieting
Sluggish metabolism
Reflux
Gall stones
Nausea
Abdominal bloating
Irritable Bowel syndrome
Craving for sugar
Headaches

My Twitterscope for today!
It's easy for you to hold on to an exciting vision today without becoming too impractical about it. Just because you can imagine something extraordinary that you want to do doesn't mean your goal is beyond your reach. But even if you're trying extra hard to keep yourself grounded, don't let this be a justification to talk yourself into letting go of a dream. Believing in the impossible will help you stretch beyond your normal limits.

The Perfect Recipe for Losing Weight & Eating Great

I recently bought The Perfect Recipe for Losing Weight & Eating Great by Pam Anderson. She is a veteran dieter and spent several decades Yo-Yo Diet track. (hmmmm....sounds familiar) She is also a cookbook author and food writer....her job is FOOD! I just eat like my job is food. She finally realized that the gimmicks weren't working and she just needed to eat less and exercise more! She talks about how her desire to change her life began more than two years before she shed a single pound when she decided that she wanted to be proud of the way she looked.

She started her journey by seeing a psychotherapist and getting acupuncture/massage treatments. She learned that she put everyone else's needs above her own and she started to change her relationships.

She began her exercise program by walking twice a day...throwing in an extra walk at the end of the day. The extra activity was not only calorie burning but also curbed her appetite! Before long she was running.....

What I like about her advice is that she didn't completely cut out sweets and wine. She made room for them in her every day diet. She didn't deny herself anything. She just made better choices and ate smaller portions. Her other tip is to eat what you love! Find things you love to eat and make them healthy. Eat what you love but eat small amounts.

I have bookmarked a bunch of great recipes in the book and I can't wait to try them! I found much of what Pam says to be so helpful to my journey and how I want to live my life. And....she was in her mid 40's when she lost 42 pounds and changed her life! She is proof that it is never too late to make your life better!

A few of the recipes I'm anxious to try....

Seared Scallop, Black Bean, Orange and Avocado Salad *
Mexican Chicken and Hominy Soup
Creamy Black Bean Soup with Cumin and Salsa Verde
Baked Fish with Asparagus, lemon and Fresh Herbs
Spicy Grilled Shrimp
Wine Biscuits with Cracked Black Pepper
Numerous Pan Sauces
Roasted Buttered Brussels Sprouts with Dijon and Lemon
Light Orange Panna Cotta with Fresh Raspberries
Biscotti
Fruit Salsa

* Recipe I'm making this week!

And from Marie Claire Magazine....

Top 10 Beauty Foods!

Wild Salmon...reduce skin inflammation, prevents redness, wrinkles and loss of firmness
Low-Fat Yogurt...strong bones, teeth and nails
Oysters...helps build collagen and speeds up renewal and repair of skin
Blueberries...prevents long-term cell damage
Kiwi...help prevent wrinkles
Sweet Potatoes...keeps skin smooth and protects against sun damage
Spinach...helps protect eyes
Tomatoes...can protect against sunburn
Walnuts...helps against psoriasis and eczema
Dark Chocolate...increases blood flow to the skin and boost hydration

I had blueberries in my cereal this morning but these are all things I like (minus the yogurt) and I should be eating more of them!

Week Eight....Routines

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

Let's weigh-in...

Last week: 210 pounds
This week: 210 pounds

LOST..... O pounds

What the heck???? ZERO. I've worked so hard.....

The Plan from Last Week:

I'm loving Amber's challenge! I have exercised every week day! Still exercising while the kids play....some days for longer than others but I'm moving! Still drinking more water and much less soda. Brewing iced tea to have in the fridge as a alternative is working out great! I am getting more sleep which is helping my workouts. I went to bed really late the other night...after sobbing watching Grey's Anatomy and it was a struggle to get through my work out the next day. Sleep is a crucial ingredient! I ate fast food. *hangs head in shame* It was horribly deep fried fish too. With Tarter sauce and deep fried English chips. I felt terrible after eating it....my stomach hurt and I was pissed at myself.

I looked into the Gluten Free lifestyle...because I thought I had a problem with Gluten but I'm not sure that's my problem at all. Ever so often (a couple times a week) I get stomach craps from something I've eaten. I can not figure out what is causing it. I went one whole day without eating Gluten and felt pretty good....but it was really hard!

The Plan for Week Nine:

Exercise every week day...adding 5 minutes more
Strength Training 2x
Replace more soda with Iced Tea
7 hours of sleep
Vitamins!
No Fast Food

I took a look at my credit card statement.....and I broke out in a cold sweat! I am putting myself on a spending freeze for 3 weeks. I am allowed 1 shopping excursion per week (for fresh veggies and fruit) and that is it! No more Target, No more Internet purchases, No more runs to McDonalds and Starbucks. Connie has been a very bad girl!

Questions of the Week: Name your guilty pleasure. Think of a healthier choice you could use as a substitute.

I love Starbucks Latte's, the White Chocolate Variety. A good alternative is the Iced Coffee's from McDonalds because they only have 180 calories instead of 400. And even better alternative is to make my own Iced Coffee at home....where the only calories come from 2 tablespoons of cream that I throw in. I also love ice cream and there are lots of great alternatives from Weight Watchers and Skinny Cow.
Check out this post I wrote yesterday about what drives you to succeed at your goals.

I am UNPLUGGED from the internet, twitter, facebook and TV today so that I can spend a distraction free day with my family. I will be visiting everyone tomorrow!

Check back this week when I review a diet/cookbook that I just read.

What Drives You?

I posted about momentum the other day and it's been on my mind ever since. It is not just the motion but the power residing in a moving object. The power to continue this momentum is within ME! I'm surprised how much of this journey to lose weight is mental. And how much I have to convince myself to do what I know is right....and how often my body takes over and makes cookies anyway.

I found an article in Body+Soul magazine about meeting goals. The information is based on the book Get Motivated by Tamara Lowe. I will give you an overview and you can determine which one you are.

What Drives You?
Like fuel your engine...what is the powerful internal force keeping you going to your goal?

If being competitive, having a deadline and the end result drives you then you are most likely a Producer. A producer gets things done! You probably have a TYPE A personality and are blessed with willpower and self-discipline. Fast-paced and task oriented, producers can conquer any challenge.

When you feel your motivation dwindling....

• Crunch the numbers...track your stats, keep a food diary and count calories.
• Turn your goal into a game...try to break a record or outdo yourself. Make your progress public. (like on a blog)
• Enlist a few friends to join you!

If collaboration, teamwork and relationships drive you then you are most likely a Connector. A connector puts relationships first! You are loyal, empathetic and supportive. You would rather fit in than stand out and are fueled by open ended time frames.

When you feel your strength weakening...

• Find and connect with people who have overcome a similar hurdle or reached the same goal.
• Seek out a group that can stimulate your motivation and match you with like-minded individuals.
• Make yourself accountable to someone that can keep you focused.

What Inspires You To Do Your Best?
What makes what you are doing all worthwhile?

If you feel validated by appreciation and you like to make a contribution you are probably a Internal. Internal's what to make a difference! You have an internal reward system and tend to be mission minded and derive satisfaction from meaningful work. You need to feel good about what you are doing and are fueled by positive feedback.

When you feel unmotivated....

• Reconnect with your mission. Jot your goals on a post it not and hang it on your bathroom mirror.
• Journal. Write about your frustrations and refocus on the reasons you chose your goal in the first place.
• Replenish your inner resources. Take a yoga classes, get a massage, read a book or get a good night's sleep.

If you need tangible benefits to spur you on you are probably a External. Externals thrive with attention and reward! You are success oriented and energetic and measure your success with tangible assets. You have a bottom line focus and good work ethic...but risk coming across as high-maintenance. Being compensated and recognized for your hard work keeps you inspired.

When you feel like you're stuck....

• Celebrate an achievement with a reward such as a new workout outfit, shoes or weights.
• Evaluate how each action you have taken has brought you closer to your goal.

Go HERE to take a test and learn more about what motivates you! Here are my results.

Connie’s Motivational DNA Type is: PVE
(Production-Variety-External)

The Champion

Champions enjoy a challenge and love to win. They are charming and enthusiastic leaders. Champions are natural persuaders. They don’t mind being the center of attention and are good at working with others while advancing their own ideas. Champions tend to be engaging and charismatic. They are skilled at getting things done in spite of seemingly insurmountable obstacles. In fact, obstacles just make tasks more interesting for a Champion. They are quick decision makers and can be impatient with those who are not. As solid negotiators, Champions are willing to compromise to get the job done. Champions have an innate ability to get others to follow their lead.

PVE Motivators: Challenging assignments, authority, profitability, freedom from supervision and control, opportunities for advancement, contests, public recognition, deadlines, calculated risk and popularity.

PVE De-Motivators: Strict controls, protracted analysis, “group think,” and deliberation without meaningful action.

Quick Start Tips:
1. Your motivational type is always busy. It’s imperative that you create space in your schedule to devote exclusively to doing what is necessary to achieve the goal. The time will not magically appear. You must block off intervals to work on your goal.
2. Competition and commensurate rewards are powerful motivators for your motivational style. Design a contest with like-minded achievers who have the same goal. The first one to cross the finish line wins the big prize.
3. Make sure that the process is enjoyable. Invest the time and intentional focus to find fun ways of achieving your goal.

I thought the results where right on! While taking the test, it asked what de-motivates me and I realized that being criticized can completely ruin any momentum I have. I feel like criticism of my weight as a kid had a detrimental effect on me. It would upset me so much emotionally that I would take it out on a box of butter cookies which I would hide in my closet. I still need to realize that I can't heal wounds with cookies.

Free Gym Membership!

You all know that I love Subway right? I just discovered that Jared Fogle...the spokesperson for Subway is giving away a one year membership to the gym of your choice! Wouldn't that be a great way to reach our goals? I am having some success using my home gym and getting out and walking but I think I would reach my goals (and enjoy some kid-free time) if I belonged to a gym. I think the ability to work with a trainer would be so helpful to me and help me reach my goal faster. Just think if I had some like Jillian trying to kill me motivating me...I could be like Tara too!

Go to Jared's website right now and find out what you need to do to enter!

Gaining Momentum

I am feeling really good about how I'm doing with my diet and exercise. I am feeling stronger physically and my knee hasn't hurt for two weeks! That right there is reason for celebration! I am making good choices and thinking before I put things in my mouth.

There is an iPhone App that I bought a while back that I was using but then I stopped but it's really great and helpful so I'm going to start it back up again. It's called Lose It and you can track your food/calories/nutrients and exercise. You can set how many calories you want to take in during the day so you can see exactly where you are at all times.

I find quotes to be very inspirational....most of the time. I saw this one today and it made me laugh after the morning I had.

Treat your dreams as you would a garden: Give them room to grow.

I laugh at this because I doused my garden in weed killer this morning! Damn weeds! This one is a little more helpful to me right now.

Change doesn't happen overnight. It starts small and gains momentum.

That is exactly how I feel....like the changes I'm making and the exercise is helping me gain momentum. I just have to keep it up!

Week Seven...Choices

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

Let's weigh-in...

Last week: 211 pounds
This week: 210 pounds

LOST..... 1 pound

*yay...I'm so happy*

The Plan from last Week:

I exercised every weekday (except Friday because we were traveling)! Whoo Hoo! I have to tell you...I was so proud of myself while we were on our trip. We ate at Subway instead of McDonalds and I only drank one soda a day. Many times I only ate half of my meal but I did drink an entire bottle of wine by myself! If you would like to see more about my trip...Click HERE.

I have not replaced my soda yet. Coming back from Denver and all of the laundry and just getting back in our routine has been a little difficult. AND NOW...I am running around the house like a crazy person trying to declutter because we have decided to move back to Denver! My hubby is applying for jobs and hopefully he will find one quickly. Please Pray that this works out for us.


The Plan for Week Eight:

Exercise every week day
Drink more water
Replace soda with Sun Tea
Get 7 hours of sleep
Take Vitamins everyday
NO FAST FOOD

I am going to try really hard not to have fast food this week. The calories and sodium really screw me up and I don't need it. I would much rather have a bowl of cereal than a burger. Now...If I could just break this soda habit. I am also going to research eating Gluten Free and I have a new cookbook to share with you.

Question of the Week: Show us your inspiration picture. Of yourself skinny, of yourself fat, of a celebrity that inspires you to keep going.

I really need to go through my tub of pictures and find one from the past that is inspirational to me. For now, I will tell you about when I felt the most fit and was in the best shape.

In 2002, I went to the gym every morning with my roommate, I ate small healthy meals and I looked really good. I was active, outgoing and having a blast! That year....I went on a white water rafting trip and I jumped from a 30 foot cliff into the Colorado River. Fat Connie wouldn't have done either of these things.

Here is the celebrity that I most admire and would like to look like. She looks awesome in jeans and has great arms! I have had to conceal her identity....but I'm sure you know who she is.

WOW! Did you watch The Biggest Loser. Can you believe Jerry? And Helen? I was a little disappointed that Tara didn't win but what an inspiration Helen is. She is only 10 years older than me. Jerry is proof that anyone can lose weight and get their life back...you just have to work at it!


I want to thank you all for your support the last two months. Having this blog and knowing that I have people that are rooting for me and are willing to take time out of their busy days to comment and encourage me has been so helpful!

Have a great week! Need some Motivation?

The Motivator

I am a visual, goal oriented person. My personality thrives on having a plan...something to look forward to and work towards. This is one reason why (and my husband doesn't understand) that I NEED to plan family vacations out several months. I need this light at the end of my tunnel.

I also need to have reminders of why I am doing something. In the past, I have put pictures of lingerie models on my refrigerator and my workout equipment. It triggers that mental note in my head that oh yes...I want to be half naked in a magazine thinner, healthy and fit! These work great but the downside is that my husband is constantly turned on and badgering me get jiggy with it! Don't get me wrong...I love that he is attracted to that girl on the fridge me but not at 1 am after he is done playing World of Warcraft.

My beautiful friend Monica is a jewelry designer. She makes the most amazing jewelry and what I love most about what she makes is that many of her pieces have meaning. She makes Mothering Jewelry for pregnancy, homebirth and nursing. She also makes custom pieces. A few months ago I asked her to help me design something for my sister. You can read about it here. It turned out great and is inspiring Bobbi everyday!

It occurred to me that I should have Monica help me design something to wear daily to remind me of my Goals. Something I would see everyday and would ping that mental note in my head to help me make better choices and keep me on track.

I asked Monica what stones would be the most helpful based on what my goals are and this is what she came up with!

Isn't it beautiful? I have been wearing it for about 3 weeks and it is truly helping me to attain my goals. It is a constant reminder of why I am making these changes in my life and I can feel the benefits from the stones! I am a firm believer in holistic healing and I would like to explore it more. Check out what this bracelet is doing for me.

Carnelian (orange) improves motivation, concentration and personal power. Helps one achieve greater success in personal matters. Helps ground people who meditate. Carnelian is one of the most helpful crystals for healing trauma, stress and emotional wounds that have accumulated in the etheric body or the Aura and are now manifesting as physical symptoms. Also increases sexual energy.

Citrine (yellow) - This stone is very versatile and is used for mental and emotional clarity, problem solving, memory issues, will power, optimism, confidence and self-discipline and life enjoyment. It reduces anxiety, fear and depression. An energizing and highly beneficial crystal, citrine absorbs, transmutes, grounds and dissolves negative energy, which makes it a very protective stone. Citrine crystals are invigorating and positive. Increases motivation! It can guide you to harness and utilize your creative energy. It develops inner calm and security, and makes us less sensitive and more open to constructive criticism. Can dispel negative feelings and help us to accept the flow of events. This stone is great with help in achieving goals.

Apatite(Blue) Using apatite is said to facilitate the desired results when working with other minerals. Apatite has been associated with appetite suppression, weight, self-acceptance, balance, healing and psychologically, increases motivation.

If you would like a bracelet like mine....Monica would be happy to make one for you. They are $18 and we are calling it The Motivator. They are not in her store because she designed it specifically for me but she will take special orders for them. You can contact Monica HERE.

** ** ** ** ** ** ** ** **

Okay...so I'm off like a prom dress to Denver for the weekend! I have enabled posting via email so I will be posting when I am feeling weak and I'm counting on all of you to make inspirational comments and get me back on track! I will also be twittering....

Too Sweet For Me!

Can you believe this? Look at how many cubes of sugar are in these sodas! I'm shocked and disgusted!

Go to Sugar Stacks and check out all of the other foods and their sugar content. It is sure making me think twice about what I put in my mouth! No wonder I'm addicted to sugar....

Week Six...Miracles

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

Let's weigh-in...

Last week: 212 pounds
This week: 211 pounds

LOST..... 1 pound

This is a freakin miracle!

The Plan from last week!

I did not exercise 4 times. After I made that goal, I started to think about the 3 mile walk that I needed to complete on Saturday and I didn't want to let my team down by injuring my knee. I was so proud of myself for walking miles IN THE RAIN! I felt really good that day and made some healthy choices afterward. For example, that afternoon...I went to a birthday party and I ate a turkey burger! It was so good!! I also ate some fruit instead of chips. I have been drinking more water but I didn't cut back very well on the soda due major PMS. I really need to find a cure for that....I didn't drink any alcohol and I ate several salads. Overall, I think I did great this week!


The Plan for Week Seven:

Exercise Every Weekday (except for Friday)
Drink more water
Begin to replace soda with Iced Tea
Lift Weights 2x
Get 7 hours of sleep
Eat more veggies

Friday...we are driving to Denver (525 miles away) to see David Copperfield. I'm hoping that he will make my fat disappear. It's worth a try right? We will then turn around and come back on Sunday. 20 total hours in the car. Fast food, junk food, Big Gulp Sodas, my favorite restaurant and a Starbucks within walking distance. AKA TROUBLE!

I vow....to make good choices. I am going to enjoy my dinner out with my husband but will make good choices during the day to allow for more dinner and wine (oh yes, there will be wine) calories. I will make smart choices when we stop for fast food and I will grab a bottle of water instead of a soda on the road.

I accepted Amber's challenge to workout every weekday in May. I also stole her idea for marking days off on a calendar, putting mine on the fridge right next to the Victoria Secret model that I tore out of a magazine. I'm hoping she will help keep me out of the fridge! This was just the challenge I needed! Thank Amber!

I feel like an idiot. *connie smacks herself on the forehead* I am guilty of getting stuck in one way of thinking and not being able to see beyond that. I had myself convinced that I had to get my workouts done while the kids were napping/sleeping/caged. The reason that this is a ridiculous idea is that my gym is IN my kids' playroom. Today, I took them downstairs and they played while I worked out. I wasn't able to concentrate because they were asking me a million questions....but I moved my body! There is NO REASON why I can't do my workout every single day!

Question of the Week:We're all here at EM:ME because we're unhappy with our bodies, or our health; there are things that we are trying to change. But today you must share one thing with everybody that you absolutely love about yourself.

Great question! It is easy to focus on the negative and forget that there are wonderful qualities within us. I think the thing I love most about myself is my passion! I tend to be passionate about many things...my children, cooking, crafting...the list can go on and on. This passion also helps me to be a glass half full kind of person and I'm always focusing on the future and how to make it better. Lastly, my ability to take care of my family. I work so hard to make sure that everyone has what they need. I prepare wonderful meals, clean, organize, plan trips and outings and love my husband with everything I've got. Oh, And I think I have pretty eyes.

Check back this week because I am going to share something that is keeping me motivated! I'm really excited about it!

No PIzza for Me Ma!

Last night my husband decided to bring home pizza because the kids requested it. I agreed and then got to thinking about it and decided that I did not want to eat pizza. The amount of calories are more than I wanted to eat and it gives me heartburn. Plus, I always feel like crap after I eat pizza...like a carb hangover. However...this doesn't happen when I make my own pizza with homemade dough and choose my own toppings (favorite right now is Fresh Mozzarella and Caramelized Onions!)

I called Hubby up on his way home and I asked if he minded bringing me a Subway Sandwich instead. He was happy to do it and was proud of me for passing up the pizza.

I was proud of me too.....