Bye Week

I'm taking a bye week. Is that how they spell it in football? You know what I mean right, that week when the team doesn't play. I've decided that every time TOM shows up, I'm taking a bye week.

TOM is trying to play some tricky game on me....I think he's invited his friend MENopause to the party because OMG, I have been a mess this month. (If you are a dude reading this....Stop Now) Cramps, migraines that last for days and crying fits so bad that you'd think I'd just been kicked off from The Bachelor.

I did manage to go for a long walk with my family in the cold and wind on Saturday. GO ME! We bought our son a scooter so that both children would have them and so I could chase them around the park. Now...it's all up to me to drive them and their scooters to the dang park. IT'S ALL ON ME! 

Oh...right, it's winter in Colorado and the threat of snow is always around. The days are getting nicer, it just means I'm not consistant yet-but I'll get there.

  Goals for Week Seven Eight

• More Water
• No Carbs
• RUN for the PILS
• Food Journal
• LOSE TWO POUNDS!!

Linking up with The Java Mama for The Biggest Loser.

Step Up My Game

I'm really tired of losing the same 2 pounds over and over again. I know I'm making better choices but I need to step up my game.  I keep saying this...but I've got to get my heart rate up.  I've got to RUN!

It snowed and my momentum came to a screeching halt.  We even bought my son a scooter so I could chase both kids around the park.  Maybe today...if the weather cooperates. Maybe I started this training business too soon.  It IS February in Colorado.....

I've also got TOM breathing down my neck again.  And if I want to keep from gaining next week, I've got to go Paleo. It's the only thing that works.

  Re-visit Goals for Week Six

• Drink More Water  Not Really
• No Booze (ONE Glass of Wine)
• Exercise 4 Times  (Yes, but didn't RUN)
• Food Journal   YES
• Lose 2 pounds  Almost

Starting weight:     211.6
Last week:              210.6 (+ 1.6 pounds)
This week:              209 (- 1.6 pounds)
TOTAL LOSS:         -2.6  pound


Goals for Week Seven

• More Water
• No Carbs
• RUN for the PILS
• Food Journal
• LOSE TWO POUNDS!!

Linking up with The Java Mama for The Biggest Loser.

Damn Pizza

About a month ago, I had my first physical in 5 years.  I'd been putting it off for a while because I was afraid.  Although I knew that I'd been making small adjustments to our diet, I knew the numbers would tell the true story.

Once you have those numbers in front of you....you can't deny what needs to be done.  You have to take action or face the consequences.  Those consequences are heart disease, cancer and DEATH.

You might think I'm being dramatic.  I might be a little bit, but the facts are that I have slightly high bad cholesterol, low good cholesterol and I'm getting close to the pre-diabetic line.  I'm also very low in Vitamin D.

The good news is that the numbers aren't so bad that they can't be corrected.  I've caught it before things get out of hand and I've done damage that can't be fixed.  Again, I'm reminded that my baby steps aren't working and it's time for drastic and dramatic change.

It's time to exercise and it's time to get my family active!

I think it's also time for me to stop eating pizza.  I had some on Friday night and I felt terrible for two days! UGH!  And I gained two pounds and I'm having trouble getting rid of it.

REVIEW Goals for Week Five:

• Drink More Water! YES!!
• No Wine/Beer/Vodka YES!
• Exercise 4 Times (even if it's just dancing for 10 minutes) Just twice.
• Write in my food journal  YES!

Starting weight:     211.6
Last week:              209 (- .8 pounds)
This week:              210.6 (+ 1.6 pounds)
TOTAL LOSS:         -1  pound

Goals for Week Six

• Drink More Water
• No Booze
• Exercise 4 Times
• Food Journal
• Lose 2 pounds

Linking up with The Java Mama for The Biggest Loser.

Vow of Sobriety

Let's go over last week's goals and see how I did.

Goals for Week Four:

• Drink More Water! FAIL
• Avoid Sugar YES!
• Exercise 3 times (figure out the BEST time of day) Only once
• Limit wine to twice a week  YES
• Write in my food journal This needs some work

Bummer.  My daughter fell ill on Tuesday afternoon and was sick until Saturday.  TOM was with us all week too so things didn't go according to plan.  However, I lost the .8 that showed up last week and I refrained from eating tons of sugar while I was incapacitated.

Starting weight:     211.6
Last week:              209.8 (+  .8 pounds)
This week:               209    (-  .8 pounds)
LOSS:                    -2.6 pounds

I think I've discovered that working out first thing in the morning is best for me.  If I try to wait until my family leaves for work and school...I get wrapped up in my computer doing other things and I don't get it done.

I also desperately need to write in my food journal every single day!

My dear friend Heather is doing hCG again this month so to support her,  I've taken a vow of sobriety for the month of February.

Goals for Week Five:

• Drink More Water!
• No Wine/Beer/Vodka
• Exercise 4 Times (even if it's just dancing for 10 minutes)
• Write in my food journal

You can see my weekly menu plan here.

Linking up with The Java Mama for The Biggest Loser.  I've met some great gals that are working hard to drop some pounds and get healthy!

Re-Training my Brain

I feel really good about last week!  I ate well....and I exercised a few times.  I even took pictures of my food a few days in an attempt to keep myself accountable.  I made it through the weekend without blowing my diet!

I went to a cooking class at Whole Foods with my friend Heather and we learned a couple more meatless recipes.  You can see the pictures and recipes here.  Quinoa is my new best friend and even my kids are liking it.  WINNING!  Sorry...was that annoying?

I  had an AH-HA moment this week involving watermelon!  It feels like I'm learning how to eat all over again and re-training my brain to think like a healthy person.

I was super excited for my weigh in this morning and then TOM decided to rear his ugly head a few days early. It has to be the reason for the slight gain.  Hoping for better news next week.

Starting weight:     211.6
Last week:              209 (-2.6 pounds)
This week:              209.8 (+  .8 pounds)
LOSS:                    -1.8 pounds


Goals for Week Four:

• Drink More Water!
• Avoid Sugar
• Exercise 3 times (figure out the BEST time of day)
• Limit wine to twice a week
• Write in my food journal

Linking up with the lovely Java Mama for The Biggest Loser Challenge!

The Obama Plan

I've discussed the reasons for this transformation of my families habits.  The overall goal is to be more healthy.....and live longer.  The bonus is that we all lose weight and look better in our pants!

The real catalyst for this was the re-election of President Obama and the realization that we are stuck with ObamaCare.  This is not a political post and I'm not going to discuss the pros and cons of universal healthcare.

The reality is that things are going to change.  Health care professionals are going to quit, appointments are going to be harder to come by and surgeries will be denied. 

It's already happening.  My uncle Terry in California is 62 year old and waiting to die.  His kidneys are failing and he has been denied surgery.  He has many years left to live but it has been decided that the cost is too high.

We've explained to our children the reasons for the changes in our eating habits.  They know all about ObamaCare and that their Dad is old. (ha ha) They have dubbed our new plan....The Obama Plan!

So funny.




Now...for my weekly weigh in!

Starting weight:  211.6
Todays weight:   209
LOSS:                     2.6 pounds!!

I'm pretty happy with this number considering that I really haven't started exercising yet.  I just started today.

I'm also happy to report that after much pushback from my husband about his reduced portion sizes....he has lost 4 pounds since January 1st and is now fully on board! Funny how that works.....

My children are adjusting remarkably well.  They don't miss the juice, are loving the vegetables but they don't care for the whole wheat organic bread.

Linking up with The Java Mama for The Biggest Loser!

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?

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!

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!