LUNGES! LUNGES and more...LUNGES!

Ahhh the lunge. The single most affective and best exercise on the planet! I can't tell if I even do them right...must have mirror at gym...ARG! But... I did 4 lengths of the tennis courts yesterday with my friend, Angela, because I didn't want to drive to the gym. I then, went home and did frog squats ( see the correct way to do these at the end of this post) and some abs! Feels great! If you want your bum to perk up and SEXY quads... then the LUNGE is for you!



Don't forget squats. I like to do ball squats with a ball behind me on a wall ( helps support my fragile back)and some weight on my shoulders, when I am at the gym...SOOOO GOOD! I have a hard time with free squats and keeping my upper body from bending forward for my counter balance..UGH! Here are those great babies....



and then the frog squat, also easier on my back!

I forgot about endorphine rushes and how FABULOUS they are!

I went to the gym today only to find that my bootcamp class won't start up again until next week...soo I lifted out on the floor today for the first time in about a year:(...:) I have been attending classes and such but not really going out there and lifting weights like I used to love to do...bummer for me. I don't exactly know why I quit doing it, who knows why I do half the stuff I do???

Happily, I feel shakey, spaghetti armed, full of energy, on top of the world, peppy, kind of buzzy and warm feeling...I love it! Endorphines are some pretty intense and AWESOME things.

I would invite them to come back any time they please!

Recipe for endorphine rush:

*double bi-ceps - 2 types of curls, 3 sets of 15 reps each - 10 pound dumbbells

*double triceps - kick backs and machine, 3 sets of 15 reps - 60 pounds resistance and 10 pound dumbbells

*double lats(back) - pull downs and seated rows, 3 sets of 15 reps - 50 - 60 pounds each

*double chest - dumbbell press and chest press machine at an angle, 3 sets of 15 reps - 20 pound dumbbells then 25 pounds resistance on the machine


It is humbling to see how little I can lift at this point. Good thing muscles have memory and will snap back quickly huh? I could bench 55 pound dumbbells just a few short years ago:)

"My body will never be the same after I have a baby, right?"

My sweet sister commented " Your stomach looks like a 25 year olds" In my last update post! I love it! I hear all of the time things like " Your body will never be the same after children. Your abs can never go back to what they were. We just have to accept it...HOGWASH! While I have not yet "fully" returned to my 20 year old body...YET I do trust that it will happen. All in good time and with a lot of sweat and work! I don't think it will just be the same I believe it will be better! Because I will appreciate it more this time around and take better care of it!!!!!! When all is said and done I will have lost somewhere around 90 - 100 pounds...that is no small amount of weight to lose. I may have a little saggy here and a little veiney there but I look FABULOUS and FEEL fabulous and I have begun to fit right back into my old/newer better skin! I wore size 10 pants when I was 150 pounds and I am in a size 10 now at 179 pounds...what will 20 more pounds do??? That is right...SIZE "8" baby! My ultimate goal! That is more than I could have hoped for, but it is not the actual size or weight of my body that has made such an effect on my lifestyle change...it is the way I FEEL. My mind has been sorting through all kinds of mental garbage and taking it out to the curb! A healing of the soul, if you will. I have discovered things about myself because I was willing to take a long , hard look into the depths of my entire person. Why did I eat the way I did. What is the reason for the habits I had developed?

Asking your self hard questions and THEN BEING WILLING TO ANSWER THEM is winning the battle!

" Why do I think I need a little "treat" at 9 pm to " decompress" and have some time just for me?"

" What makes me want more food than I need?"

"When am I eating the most of my calories?"

" What causes me to feel justified in eating food that hurts my body? ...and way too much of it?"

Plain and simple I am a food -aholic! I see that now , after months of self evaluation. It is empowering to know that about myself! I use food like an alcoholic uses their drug of choice. I eat when I am HAPPY, sad, frustrated, bored...you name it!

Then searching for REAL answers for my symptoms....

" Strategies, guidelines, rules,faith,healing,support,moderation,love(self love)..." All a good place to start...and END:)

Can anyone say LACTIC ACID?

I am sooooo sore that I want to die....I expected that, wanted that even right? I will just keep telling myself that. Why is it the older I get if I don't lift weights for awhile , when I go back it feels like someone took each and every muscle in body out, pounded it with a meat tenderizer and replaced it neatly and "gently" into it own lovely place, after running it over with a tractor and putting it in a meat grinder:) ?

No pain no gain right?

Pain is weakness leaving the body right?

ha ha ha ha ha

I love pain:)

September 1st, 2009

Weight : 179 pounds - down 1 pound
Bust : 38 in. - same
Waist : 32 1/2 in. - same
Thigh : 22 in. - same
Hips : 41 in. - same
Arm - 13 in. - down 1/2 inch
Total weight loss : 71 pounds
Total inches : 45 1/2 inches

So ...I lost 1 pound and 1/2 of an inch..URG!

I begin going back to the gym tomorrow so I am excited to see what changes that will make for next month. I take it one day at a time! At this point I am just happy to see whatever progress I can make and that I haven't gained anything back:) I am going to have my body fat tested sometime this week and I will start posting that monthly too!

Can anyone say daily doubles?

I have been feeling like I want to work out 2 times a day...so I am going to give it a try:)

Lime and cilantro tacos

Salsa:
3-4 tomatoes , diced
1/2 onion , diced
1 tablespoon diced garlic (I buy it in a jar at Winco)
1/2 bunch of cilantro (chopped fine)
salt to taste
2 tablespoons lime juice or jiuce from 1 fresh lime ( I use the juice from the store in a plastic container from produce)


Chicken breast:
1-3 diced and cooked in a little olive oil with salt to taste

sliced black olives

1 dolup each sour cream

2 corn tortillas ( I ususally make my own but I just used store bought today:)

This is a quick and easy dinner option! Did I mention it is DELICIOUS?

some meal ideas!

Breakfasts:
Oatmeal is my #1 choice( I eat it everyday!)...I eat as much as I want...just put what I want in a huge bowl, add lots of water and microwave for 3 minutes...add sliced strawberries, frozen blueberries...bananas...whatever. Then liquid stevia and skim milk! I add maple extract and crushed nuts sometimes if I don't have fruit I like!

4-6 egg whites: put a diced avocado, salsa( of any kind) onions, sour cream, whatever you like to add flavor!I even add ham, red peppers and onions sometimes instead!

( Have them both or switch off and on for breakfast! ) A big breakfast will get you far for your day and kick starts your metabolism. I don't hold back on how much I eat but I am careful of WHAT I eat.

Lunches:

I eat leftovers from dinner( my qualifications are...no sugar, no cheese and no butter/marj/canola oil...etc...no fried/breaded foods)

I eat whole grain bagels with cream cheese(slather it on there) and lunch meat...preferably turkey or chicken but I do eat ham or roast beef sometimes too. I put sliced cucumbers or alfalfa sprouts on them too.

I eat turkey wraps( see old posts)

I eat salads : Spring mix ) from Winco) with spinach added and cottage cheese( don't measure) and canned beets and dressing( I like Caesar yogurt Bolthouse farms from Winco in salad section, real low sugar in that one...ranch works too)

I love sauteed Mushrooms, zucchini, onions, yellow squash and pepper and salt in olive oil...ooooo yummy!

Another easy good meal ( I got from Quincy) is coconut oil...a teaspoon or so.. ( best oil out there if you have some, it is best cold pressed) with broccoli (sauteed) salted to taste and add a can of Costco canned chicken...mmmm yum! I hate Tuna fish so this is a great sub!

Dinners: I just eat whatever I cooked the night before seeing as how I don't eat past 5pm and my family prefers to eat around 5:30-6pm....or later:) It is not rocket science but the same preferences apply to my dinner choices as previously mentioned. I really don't eat much, portion wise, for dinner. I don't measure it but I use a small plate and only one scoop or so of food. Make it good food so you don't need as much.

Beans, rice and chicken with tortilla chips is a good one ( I add garlic, diced canned tomatoes, 3 beans,cumin, chili powder and salt. I also put sour cream on top to make it creamy)

Spaghetti is a great food! Wheat noodles, sauce is : sausage, 2 cans diced tomatoes, basil, oregano, garlic, salt , black olives, sauteed mushrooms, and onions. Sprinkle a dusting of Parmesan for taste and you are good to go! Remember you are NOT eating for 2 and choose your portions WISELY! DO NOT EAT BREAD with this meal...add a salad for your veggies!

Homemade chicken noodle soup: Boil chicken for like 3-5 hours...the longer you simmer it the better it will taste due to the fact that time releases the natural MSG flavoring in the bones:) Pick out the chicken, strain the broth and add both back to pot. Add... diced onion, celery, red pepper, zucchini, yellow squash, broccoli..whatever you want...and whole wheat noodles! Have at it!...add some salt and pepper to taste! Easy Peasy!

Never eat bread with your meals...except lunch...bread is just a filler food and does NOT satiate your cravings for food! So keep it to a minimum...REALLY! And...DO NOT EAT CRACKERS of any kind..they are the devil:)

Keep what you do eat worth eating, make it work for you! Make it taste great! Do not eat empty calories, it wastes your body's natural furnace ability! Eat high fat foods like avocados and olive oil...dark meat on chicken, they keep you satisfied but know your limits, it is not a free for all here folks! Be reasonable in your portion sizes but don't measure stuff, it make you become OCD ( Obsessive Compulsive Disorder) and crazy!

Let us not forget to exercise at least 5 days per week, at least one hour per day and make it count...no pansy exercise here either folks you actually do have to sweat to make it worth your efforts! GET YOUR HEART RATE UP for at least 30 of those minutes! You figure out your own heart rate scale but I try to hit between 140 and 180 beats per minute to burn the fat. Anaerobic is okay for short spurts but don't get crazy with it. I am a big believer in muscle or body confusion...mix it up. Don't get stuck in that everyday I do the same exact thing rut, your body is smart and will catch on quick. I add different things to my exercise...some days I take a run or something later in the day when the ol bod least expects it! Shake it up! Do like 15 minutes of abs or crunches when you weren't planning to, when you are watching tv like a mindless idiot! Stuff like that helps out tremendously with your progress!

When you are pacing around and can't think of what to eat eat some Adam's peanut butter with a banana or apple, humus and carrots or a handful of nuts ( raw or roasted doesn't matter) go for taste but only a handful..nuts have tons of calories! 125 per 25 almonds or so:)

I ocassionally eat a sugar free jello pudding cup when I really want a treat but limit yourself to just 1(60 calories)

Don't "count" calories but be aware of them, you can't eat like 3000 per day and expect to lose any weight! Be educated and know about your food and then it will become natural. You will intuitively know how much to eat.

Never eat until you are FULL!!!! Only until you are satisfied ( this will take some mental evaluation on your part, especially if you eat to medicate your moods!)

Drink more fluids than you think you need. After 5pm I drink all I want( which results in peeing like a hundred times in the middle of the night)...whatever doesn't have calories that is:) If I feel restless, which happens, I drink a HUGE glass of water and try to occupy my mind with something else! It works!

Keep your goal on your mind...ALWAYS! Especially when you are at a party and feel like eating just that one piece of cake won't hurt...you will start again tomorrow...I will dispel your delusions right now, you won't start again tomorrow...it will take you years to start again so why bother cheating in the first place! Social eating is RIDICULOUS...just DON"T DO IT! You really will not miss out an anything...all you have is to gain...gain strength, empowerment, health...life!

Lastly, but the most important is PRAY! Everyday and thank God for the strength that He gives you to continue on. Gratitude for what you have will get you farther than you think. Relying on Him to help you do this is the only successful way to get it done! I guarantee you you don't have enough strength on your own!

looking back ...again

I went back to the beginning of this blog and read my very first goals. I have exceeded expectations by 10 pounds and am going to go for the 160 new goal! YAY! I have to chuckle because this journey has morphed into quite a different thing than I expected. I was all ridged and " count calories...journal what I eat" at first. funny how you start something huge like a weight loss program and you think the goal is in mind and the way to get there set in stone. NOT SO...take it as it comes. Feel inspired to change things around. Do what feels right to you, personally! Don't be afraid of changing your attitude and feelings about certain aspects of what you are doing! Live freely! BE INTUITIVE! Most of all...Have a fun time with the journey...or the climb...which brings me to explaining a little about why that song pops on now everytime you come to my blog. I don't like Miley all that much but as I listened to this song a few days ago I thought"THAT is exactly how I feel about my journey!" so I added it for a time...I will remove it eventually, but in the meantime...just turn down your volume if you get sick of it:)

Meal plans...

I had someone tell me last night that she follows this blog..I had no idea people would get my links from the community and start reading? FUN:) She got my blog from another mom at the school whose daughter has been reading this...Thanks Teli! anywho...she asked about my meal plans...I told her I might include some and label them for links on my sidebar. I don't really have specific meal plans because I don't count calories and I don't keep track of what I eat but I will mull it over and try to narrow down some good ideas. For now I will label the posts that do include anything about my plans and what I eat. Stay tuned and check out the sidebar.

Today I ran 3 miles ...no problem

I told Leavi I would run with her. I am not a runner by any stretch of the imagination but I figured I could handle 3 miles...right? Well she took me in the first mile and a half but I kicked up my pace and beat her back home! Yeah I rock:) I am surprised at how well I can run. I could have gone farther. Maybe I will become a part-time runner yet? Who knows what time will bring?The trick is hanging in there until you begin to like it right? Oh...and don't eat a plate of yakasoba noodles right before like I did...can you say " side cramp"?

I am so happy that I am in good enough shape to handle a 3 mile run in 30 minutes..go me!

PATIENCE is a virtue!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I have a lot of trouble wanting to lose the est of my weight faster./ I think to myself" Self if you could just get some fancy pill or program and get rid of this last 20 pounds lickety split life could move on..." WHAT? AM? I? THINKING? Then I say "self..get over your worldly impatience...just wait it out slow and steady wins the race." Life is not perfect and doesn't always go as planned. The best things in life are worth waiting for! If I were to say, for instance, starve myself down 20 more pounds . It wouldn't last. I don't want that. I can hang in there and I do see that I am making great progress. I am within the healthy and normal range for my height for the first time in 15 years:) YAY me! Even with all the progress I have made I still have my moments of weakness and failure. I just hold my head up high, PRAY and look to my future with a HUGE smile on my face! I have done something HUGE that I haven't been able to do in 15 years of trying and failing. That is good news! My life id different and I AM DIFFERENT because of this ADVENTURE:)

Happiness to all of you out there!

Sorry about the delay...August 13th, 2009

Weight: 180 pounds...That's right...I made it to my first goal!!!!!!!!! Down 9 pounds since last month!

Bust : 38- same
Chest: 33 - same
Waist: 32 1/2- same
Thigh: 22 same
Hips: 41- same
Arm : 13 1/2- same
Total weight loss: 70 pounds
Total inches: same

I don't know how I can lose 9 pounds but not any inches? Weird?...Now on to 160 pounds...wish me luck!

183 this morning!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I am just dumbfounded that I am still losing. I expected another dreaded plateau. YAY me! I must be honest here...I have not been to the gym but once this entire summer vacation. Not by choice but haven't been there nonetheless. I can't wait to get back into a routine when school starts so I can do the gym stuff for ME! I love my workouts so very much! I miss them terribly! I do walk every morning rain or shine still which is what keeps me sane!

I have 23 pounds to go...I can wear a size 10 in most things...I feel FABULOUS...my arms look like turkey gooblers but hey how said I would be a supermodel? For the first time EVER my workout clothes are way too big..hee hee! you know what that means...SHOPPING...yeah right ...if I had money:)

186 and holding!

Yay for me! I am so happy that I haven't hit a plateaux again...just have to get to 180...then 20 pounds left, that can come off whenever it likes!

July 1st Update

Weight: 189 pounds!!!-down 5 pounds
Bust - 38 in - down 2 inches
Chest - 33 inches - down 1 inch
Waist - 32 1/2 inches - down 1/2 inch
Hip - 41 inches - down 1 inch
Arm - 13 1/2 inches - down 1/2 inch
Thigh - 22 inches - down 1/2 inch
Calve - 15 inches - down 1/2 inch

Total weight loss - 61 pounds
Total inches - 45 inches ( This is 6 inches all over this month!)
I just bought a pair of size 10 shorts and jeans and they fit FABULOUSLY!

Size 10/12

Size 10??? Not quite yet...soon:)

I tried on the size 10's and they are very tight! I got them on and zipped but I am not going to buy them until they are more comfortable. I predict about 5 more pounds until that happens. I bought a 2 piece swimming suit/ tankini today! I got it at Target, of all places! Black bottoms and Black cinch top with white polka dots..WAY cute! I will take a picture in it tomorrow( I don't have the camera today) While it gets expensive to buy new clothes MAN IS IT FUN! I was looking in the dressing room mirrors at Target and got a good behind shot of myself in this new suit. I was startled to see I didn't look too bad. A little jiggly( to be expected for an almost40 year old woman who has birthed 4 children). I am not a tight little teenager anymore but I am so happy to see my new body. Peel off a Fat suit and realize how amazing you look and feel!

As far as my diet...I am sticking to my guns very strictly. This not easy, by any stretch of your imagination. It is hard to not eat after 5pm, bake for a family while you don't even eat the stuff. The smell of baking cookies is enough to kill a person with their own drool:) I am so determined...VERY VERY determined! A good friend asked me , recently, if not eating fun foods is worth it all? Don't I feel deprived? ( I admit I do sometimes, but not often)I have to say this:

YES IT IS WORTH IT!... and I wouldn't have it any other way. The more I resist the food that hurts me the stronger I become! It has developed a resolve that I have never had before! I know/trust myself now to be able to do ANYTHING I put my mind to! It feels AMAZING! Trusting yourself in a room full of wedding treats and cake everywhere is the most liberating and empowering experience I have had in years( first place goes to having babies..4 of them...without pain meds.) But saying no to food that feeds the FAT is INCREDIBLE!

If I could just individually take my loved ones who struggle with their own food demons aside and give them this one gift it would be TRUST YOURSELF!

LIFE ROCKS!

10 pounds to my first goal!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I just had to put in a SPOILER here I stepped on my scale this morning to 190 POUNDS!!!!!!!!!!!! I am losing fast again and I am SOOOOOOOOOOOOOO EXCITED! My blog is 180 pounds or bust but my dream goal is 160. Only now do I really think that is possible! My size 12 jeans are loose now so today I am going to treat myself to trying on a pair of size 10's. I really hope Fred Meyer has a 10 tall!!!!!!! I have to buy a whole new wardrobe when I reach 180 pounds:) I love it! The funny part is Robert is so happy that I don't think he is going to freak out when I spend a few hundred dollars on new clothes:) YAY me! I will really need new clothes again at 160 too. This is FUN! GOODWILL baby! I have determined that if I get into a size 8 again I am going to buy a pair of "Sevens"( I am not into brand names but I had a pair that were size 20 and they fit so perfectly I can only imagine how good a size 8 will look:)

I have been tanning in my tanning bed so my next picture will look really impressive:) I may even do it in a bikini for my 180 pound picture? Who knows?

I FIRMLY believe in NOT eating past 5pm. At first, it was 4pm but 5pm is more realistic and works just as well!

Have a happy Day!

Just thought I would plug the whole NOT eating after 5pm. Originally, I stopped at 4pm but now I changed it to 5pm and HELLO it really makes a difference ( down 1 more pound since Monday...HAPPY HAPPY HAPPY me!!). I would love to read some scientific evidence that this is true but... I believe you need sufficient time between your last meal and sleep to get the metabolism ready to sleep. Eating a really substantial breakfast first thing in the AM also gets that metabolism going!

I am on top of the world!!!!!!!!

June 1st!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

(My daughter and son took these pictures...not a great angle:)

Weight : 194 pounds - down 5 pounds
Bust 40 in - down 0 in.
Chest: 34 in - down 0 in.
Waist: 33in - down 0 in.
Hip: 42 in - down 1 inch
Arm : 14 in - down 0 in
Thigh : 23 1/2 in - down 1/2 in.
Calve: 15 1/2 in - down 1/2 in.
Total weight loss : 56 pounds!!!!!!!!!!
Total inches : 39 inches

I can officially fit into almost any size 12 jeans/shorts/skirt:) I am not where I would like to end but I am getting much closer. I finally don't feel hideous in a swimming suit, I know I don't look FABULOUS in one yet ...but I will , mark my words:) The best part of all of this is that I hiked 4.6 miles last Thursday( way up hill..) and I blew my skinny friends off the mountain:) hee hee...really, just have longer legs but it felt good anyway!

This is the point where it comes off a lot slower but I have stopped eating after 5pm so That is making a difference. And..NO the supplements didn't help, they are junk, just like I thought they would be. It is all food and exercise...that is the trick...sorry folks no magic pill out there unless you want anal leakage :)

Just a look back into the past

I have labeled my updates and added a link on the sidebar as well.

coming soon...Swimsuit picture..hee hee...just wait until Monday!

I friend gave me 3 new swimsuits that fit perfectly and I am ready to show the bod off. They are modest one pieces so I feel good about doing my next update picture in one of them, my favorite...the blue one:) I have lost some more weight so Monday comes with welcoming arms for me!

This will be the first summer I can wear a swimsuit without feeling YUCKY...I am thrilled!

Hello...I am not a super model by any stretch of the imagination but I am one real, almost 40 year old woman who has begun a journey to my real self. The journey has been rough but fantastic and WORTH IT!

I am here to show the world that 37, real weight, no touch ups or airbrushing is FABULOUS!

I don't need to look like Lindsay Lohan , Angelina Jolie, Giselle...or any famous anorexic to be beautiful. I just need to be happy with me, and I AM!

Yummy breakfast!

I don't have a lot of time in the mornings to fix breakfast but I take 10-15 minutes to fix this treat for myself. It is not only yummy but so great to start the day with good protein and carbs to keep me going! On the left we have 4 scrambled egg whites with red peppers, ham and 1/2 an avocado( great source of fat for us weight watchers!) I have added Salsa and onions too...or egg whites with onions and mushrooms sauteed in 1 teaspoon of olive oil...double YUMMO! To the right we have oatmeal fixed in the microwave with strawberries and bananas and Stevia and skim milk...triple yummo! Works well with frozen blueberries or maple flavor extract and chopped up pecans...whatever floats your boat!

Eat up and ENJOY!

I am overwhelmed with gratitude today!

Thank you AGAIN to my supportive family and friends and HELLO who knew others were reading this blog(I didn't)? I don't feel like a role model but it feels so nice to hear I have...yes me..what? INSPIRED people?? YAY!

MAMA J
JESSICA
ANNE
JONELLE HUGHES
...

All of you are so nice and supportive!!!!!!! It has totally made my day to hear your comments! All of you keep up your good work and never give up! It has been a good 8 weeks of plateau for me but I have officially broken through that and am losing again! I am so excited for June 1st so I can take more pictures and measurements:) In the past I have failed at the point when I plateau and it doesn't seem to want to come off again, JUST BE PATIENT! I have been doing everything I have always been doing...my body was just "settling" I guess??? I have changed up my workouts to " confuse" the 'ol bod and maybe this Aqai berry stuff is helping(who really knows?) I have stopped eating anything past 4 pm as well ( I think that is becoming effective too!)Like Anne suggested... I have added some milk product to my diet( plain yogurt with Stevia and strawberries on top) and I think that is helping. I was eating it for fun before every now and then but now I have some everyday for lunch:)...it makes me happy too:)

I am grateful for this body and this chance to make it healthy again! I am grateful for the Internet so I can reach out to others..wow I didn't see that coming, at all:)

life is good!

I feel great!

Just saying I love my new body! ...or coming back to my old body...however you look at it:)

And the good news is...

I may be losing weight again:) I am not holding my breath about this but I am down 2 pounds which makes me want to cry tears of joy today! I just hope it holds( my weight tend to go up and down until it finds , what I like to refer to as a "holding pattern").

Some great advice from a commenter was to add milk to my diet( I don't drink milk but I have been adding more plain yogurt with Stevia for sweetness...I think it does help!)

Another helpful hint, from a friend who is losing weight as well and has suffered the dreaded PLATEAU...change up your walk by going backwards up the hills..HELLO pain in the quads, very VERY VERY effective!

I have been trying 2 new products ( Aqai berry and Colotox, a colon cleansing system) I got them on a free trial and I will let you all know if they are doing anything. I am very skeptical of any product that claims to help your metabolism or anything along that line ...but these were free so I figured what the HAY???!!! Can't hurt right?

Thanks for all your loving remarks! I am happy that I inspire you all...I don't feel inspiring but it makes me happy to hear such positve remarks on my behalf!

THIS IS THE SUMMER OF THE SWIMSUIT!

Still holding at 199...UGHGHGHGHGHGHGH!!!!!!!!!!!

Someone come and cut the rest of this fat off of me:) SERIOUSLY! I went down to 198 after fasting Sunday but back up today. I have added 25 pounds to a pack when I walk, maybe that will help? This last 30 pounds is going to kill me, I feel it in my bones...

Pros of losing the first 50 pounds:
My womanly cycle is lighter and shorter now
I can cruise past Lisa on our walks
I can fit into any chair
I can wear Robert's clothes now
I can fit into the snowboarding coat Robert bought m,e that was WAY too small when he got it!
I cost less to feed
I don't get hungry, ever
MY BACK DOESN'T HURT AS MUCH ANYMORE
I can wear normal sized clothing now and shop in the regular section:)
I sleep even better

Sorry no new picture this month...

I look exactly the same so what is the point? I weigh EXACTLY the same...UGH! Still 199 pounds. I think this must be the month of PLATEAU! It was bound to happen right?I am not on a ranch with a trainer soley focused on me, I have a real life people! I am trying to not be discouraged, Push through this! At least I didn't gain right? I know I can maintain now...good news right?

I have not taken measurements but I guarantee they are the same too:)

STAY TUNED NEXT MONTH!!! I will definitely take pictures and measurements on June 1st to mark Summer!

Today I had my body fat done :(

I showed up a bit early for boot camp class so I peeked around the corner into the "trainer's " den and asked if someone could check my body fat percentage. This "pinch" test is not 100% accurate but it gives me a good idea what the real number is. I started at approximately 47 1/2% body fat and I am now at 36 %. I was once 20% body fat before I got married and had all these special children. I am determined I will find my way to at least 27% That is not TOO unrealistic right?

The trainer told me to make sure I eat 80 grams of protein everyday( I don't think I was doing that) She said that will decrease body fat better, because by just dieting and exercise you are still taking from muscle stores but if you increase your protein you body keeps the muscle and sheds more of the fat. I shall give it a try. BTW...this is nothing I didn't know I was just resisting the truth I guess?

25 days and I think I may be over it?

I don't crave the "juice" heh heh as much any more but I am getting pretty frustrated about my weight loss. I have gone down to 1200 calories per day, it has been 2 days now and I haven't lost anything...we shall see..UGH! I am tempted to rent a Body Bug from 24 Hour Fitness to see how many calories I am burning everyday so I can get really number I should be eating?? I don't eat so many things( no butter, no cheese, no sugar, no fried foods, no crackers or chips, very little dairy) and I eat small amounts , I get the right fats, I don't eat after 5pm anymore, I drink TONS of water and pee all night long, I get plenty of sleep..WHAT AM I MISSING? I exercise every single day( 2 times on 3 days per week). Am I just not being patient enough? I have 30 pounds left to go I am riding right at 199-200( it fluctuates) and my body seems to not want to Release the grease! I look great but could look even better. I feel great but could feel even better! I am in between sizes so I literally only have like 3 pairs of pants that fit right, everything I own is too big. I want to get some new clothes but not until I am a sure size!

Nothing that will get me down too much but I am truly frustrated!

To top it off my husband got on the scale 2 nights ago and had lost 10 pounds for NO REASON( now he weighs less than me again... the booger)!!! He eats peanut M and M's, candy bars, dark chocolate by the pound, cheese, Rockstars, all kinds of junk and he loses 10 pounds!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Oh the injustice of it all! Here I practically starve myself and spend countless hours exercising and nothing happens...he does nothing and drops 10 pounds! WARPED I tell ya...just WARPED!