I spin you right round, baby right round

Well I had a horrible, horrible eating weekend!! pms struck me hard & nobody dared to get in between me & chocolate this weekend!! (trust me! I would have hurt somebody if they had even tried!) But at last today is Monday and I am back on the wagon again, striving for clean eating and I added a spin class today so............ Drumroll please .........I will be taking spin 5 days a week now!!! (dunt, dunt, Dah!!!!) (don't you just love "implied" sound effects!) So we shall see if I am still able to walk on Friday. (this has been about a month and half process to work up to). Definitely whining all the way!!

I have added step class back into my routine, and will be blogging about the low down of step class tomorrow. Now that is some fun stuff!

I am going to try to eat clean and step up my work outs for the next few weeks, I have set a "target date" to see what I can accomplish by that date of October 14th. (I have an annual party to attend on the 15th so I am going to use that as a source of motivation to keep me, keeping on. Hey! I have been on a diet since January you really have to set either different weight loss goals and/or event motivators to kick you in the bootie to kick it up a notch!). So much of this weight loss journey that I am on all starts in the mind!!! And for a large part 50% of it is fought and success is determined in the mind! What is my decision today? Will I make good eating choices today? Will I move my body today?


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"Taste and see that the Lord is good. Oh, the joys of those who take refuge in him!"

Psalm 34:8

What is your focus these days? The above is the verse I have been focusing on during this stage of my diet. What stage you might ask, well I have crossed over the half way point on my diet. I am down53.9 pounds, I have only 46.1 left to go!!! However when you have been dieting as long as I have (5 months strong as of today) You have to change your focus, I love the above verse! What satisfies my soul is not mindless eating food that offers no real nutritional value, but knowing that the Lord, nourishes my soul.

Do you have a verse, a positive motto, or picture that you look at to help inspire you to your weight loss goal, or what ever you are currently working towards (it could be a financial goal, a parenting goal, a redecorating, or even housecleaning goal)? I would love to hear what inspires you!

down 47.5 pounds

So the journey began with one step. Stepping out in faith that I could accomplish what seemed impossible: lose weight. I have been on this journey for about 5 months now. This far down the road I do think I will be able to now reach my destination.

Above is a picture of me on New Year's Eve (my heaviest 249)

Above is a picture of me weighing 222. (going down!)

Above is a picture of me weighing in at 202 pounds.

Well here I am this week getting ready for my body pump class. (sorry the picture is not my best) I am down a total of 47.5 as of today. Yeah! I am closely approaching my second goal which is 199, (I am 3 pounds away from reaching this goal).

I have decided to break my total weight loss down into mini goals to help me stay focused and positive. My first goal was reaching 215. My second goal is 199. The third goal I have set is 175. That is as far as I can focus "out" on the future, right now. Anything further just starts to seem unreal. Which is why I decided to focus on mini goals, instead of the huge end number of losing a 100 pounds. My mind just can't wrap itself around that number or what that might look like right now. (my momma always told me "how do you eat an elephant? bite, by bite, by bite". So here's to taking small bites out of my weight loss journey!)

I hit a plateau this last 2 weeks. I have tried to stay positive, and just keep moving. I added a step aerobics class this last 2 weeks. (The first week I could barely move the next day.) I was very sore, but the class was so much fun. I went back for my second week yesterday. I am happy to report that I am not nearly as sore as I was last week - yeah! This is such an accomplishment for me. I do not think I would have been capable of doing an hour long step class in January when I started my weight loss journey. I feel that I have grown stronger, increased my stamina, and it is just easier to move being 47.5 pounds lighter. So with all this in mind, I will continue on, walking down the road towards my weight loss goal!

Well I hope everyone has a great Memorial day weekend! Stay safe & have fun!

I am 40 pounds down!

I am so excited! Last week I hit the 40 pounds down mark! Woo Hoo! This is an amazing mark to hit on my weight loss journey! I am very excited! I am now only 9 pounds to go before I am below 200! This really inspires me to keep on keeping on!

diet update

I am down 35.7 pounds and still going.... (going strong, I hope so!). I think my second wind has kicked in and I am ready to keep on keeping on going down the diet roadway.

Party!

It's funny how you can be cruising along focused on your goal, working hard. Encouraged by the results you are seeing and then out of now where

Bam!">
All of a sudden yesterday, I was overwhelmed with weariness! The night before we had gone to small group and I was told that someone could tell that I lost a little weight in my face. Don't get me wrong I love compliments, but come on! I have lost 33 pounds, and have gone down 3 pant size. So depressing that nobody is realizing or noticing all the hard work I have put in. I almost cried yesterday, and was thinking "Why Bother!?!" I have been on a diet for 3 months now, working my bootie off and nobody can tell! Then I realized I was being hormonal! Did I mention I started craving, chips & Salsa and Brownies?

So I decided that I was being sensitive, and that yes, I was being hormonal. So I would allow myself "permission" to eat a higher calorie dinner last night. However limiting the amount of food to only one plate, and I would count my calories. So I made chicken fajitas, chips with salsa and guacamole, and had 1 piece of brownies. However that seemed to really, really satisfied the beast of hormones that was raging in me. I did not even have a snack later on that evening. I weighed this morning and I did not gain, I did not lose either but I am OK with that today. I feel more inspired to I was checking in on blog land and my favorite blogger Keelie over at RealFat had an inspirational post this morning that has really helped me get my head back on. I am staying committed -God has not brought me this far to head back into the wilderness! So I am about to head off to Body Pump class. I hope everyone has a great weekend!!!
Image by Cool Text: Free Graphics Generator - Edit Image

Image by Cool Text: Free Graphics Generator - Edit Image

1 degree can make all the difference!

I got home from the gym the last two days with a giggle. The First one, was after my second class called "Body Pump" -each class has a different instructor. This instructor was precious! Funny, kind, encouraging, and she wanted to know my name at the end of class, and encourage me to come back to class which I Really, Really appreciated!! But I got the giggles almost when she asked if I was a new member at the gym. (Did I happen to mention that I was the only Plus size woman in the class? I couldn't help but giggle and think, "hum, however could she tell". (The old me would have been to intimidated to go into class and participate, but not now! That old way of thinking though still roars it's ugly head every once in a while. )

Just as quickly as I can be encouraged something small can happen that lets the wind out of my sails! I am fighting through it! I ran into a good friend today at the grocery store that I used to see on a weekly bases, and haven't seen as much in the last 6 weeks. She did not mention my weight loss at all -boo hoo! (33 pounds! and she did not notice-ugh!) I kinda whined around, and had a little pity party for myself. However not a huge one, no following off of the diet wagon or anything.

So when I got home and was checking my emails I was very encouraged to find the below video being sent to me. So after watching it, I am more positive and I choose to cross the line!!

and keep crossing that line!! I also received my LoseIt weekly report from last week. I choose to celebrate my small victories, or choices each day, each week!

Exercise total for last week:

type: Total time: Calories burned:

Yoga 25 Min 64

Walking 5 Hours & 50 Min 1400

Stationary Bicycle 1 Hour 20 Min 831

Weight Lifting 1 Hour 15 Min 259

Total 2555

I hope you enjoy the video. Thank you everyone, who sends me an email, or comments on my weight loss journey updates! I really appreciate your encouragement!! (More than you know!!!)

Down 33 pounds!

I am very excited to report that I am down 33 pounds!!! Woo Hoo! This does my heart good! I have been working out about 2hours a day (total -not all at one time), and after I enter my calories for the day and my exercise (which on the LoseIt! site/app subtracts the calories burned from calories eaten) I try to keep the final number somewhere in between 800 and 1,000 calories per a day.

My favorite new thing to eat for breakfast is 1 packet of oat fit maple and brown sugar oatmeal, 1/2 T of peanut butter, 1 truvia packet, 1 tsp of flax seed-ground, and 1/4 tsp of cocoa powder. I get my fiber, I get my protein, I get my heart healthy omega 3, and best thing yet it taste like you are eating no bake cookies! This breakfast adds up to being 220 calories, but it keeps me full and gives me the correct fuel to work out!

If you are currently dieting or trying to cut back what do you like to eat for breakfast?

What are you drinking?

Well if you have been following my post you will know that I have started a weight loss journey to get into better shape. I did not try to do everything at once I have been doing this for about 8 weeks now, and I have been trying to add baby steps each week.
week one: started to watch my calorie intake
week tw0: started exercising
week three: started to drink 4 glasses of water a day
week four: started to take 2 baby aspirin a week
week 5: started to change up my work out routine
week 6: ordered a bunch of books on dieting, and exercising from the Library
week 7: spring break!

and week 8 (drum roll -please!) I am starting to add 4 glasses of green tea to my diet a day.

Did you know that a Dutch study showed that drinking green tea helped individuals lose weight and inches around their stomach. A japan study also showed that drinking green tea helped in lowering LDL cholesterol-want to read more, check out these sites: Suite101, Livestrong, liftorlife.

So what are you drinking today? Do you have a favorite green tea you love to drink -if so please share!!

Down 27 pounds!

OK, well here is the latest diet update. I am down 27 pounds -Yeah! This puts my weight about what I was when I broke my arm back in August. Whew! That is a good start! I only have 70ish pounds left to go!
I am still using my "lose it" app from Itunes. I keep track of the calories I eat, and the calories I burn through exercise. I try to keep the calorie intake at the end of the day between 800 and 1,000. I walk or exercise most days 45 Min's to 1hour. I am currently enjoying Leslie Sansone 2 mile walk, and the "Calorie Burn Boot camp" on ExerciseTv. I have started to include a 5 min arm workout located on the Wikio news page. (I've included a link if you want to check it out) by Tracy Anderson, the creator of "The Method" work out, also Gwyneth Paltrow's trainer.

One of my Favorite New recipes to help deal with family breakfast on the weekend is this "Petite Cinnamon Swirls" recipe. My family loves it, and 1 swirl has 102 calories, so I can have this along with 2 tablespoons of scrambled eggs (46 calories), and 1/2 cup of grapes (50 calories) and have similar things to eat with the family for the weekends "Big Breakfast" for approx 200 calories. Not bad!

Petite Cinnamon Swirls

1 8 ounce tube refrigerated low-fat crescent dinner roll dough

1 teaspoon ground cinnamon

2 teaspoons grated orange zest (makes a huge difference!!)

1/3 cup raisins

1/2 cup confectioners' sugar

1 Tablespoon fat-free Milk

Preheat the oven to 375.

Unwrap the dough - DO NOT SEPARATE IT!!!! Place the dough in one piece on a flat surface. In order, sprinkle with the cinnamon, orange zest, and raisins. Press gently into the dough.

Starting with one long end, roll up the dough jelly-roll style, making a log about 12 inches long. Using a serrated knife, cut crosswise into 12 slices. Bake on a nonstick baking sheet, placing about an inch apart. Gently press down on each roll to slightly flatten.

Bake for 1-0-011 mins, or until beginning to turn golden.

Meanwhile, in a small bowl, stir together the confectioners' sugar and milk until well blended. Spoon over the rolls as soon as they are removed from the oven. Enjoy!

How are those of you doing who have been working on weight loss this spring, doing? Any recipes or tips you would like to share?

diet - ahhhhhh!!!!!

Well I have many labels: honey, wife, mom, sister, daughter, friend, those labels I love - however I also have a label I am not crazy about - "plus size". Yes, I know it is depressing to think about yourself like this and even harder to do something about it. (Now before people email me all upset I know that I am loved by may family, and by God, I am the sum total of who I am-however I would like the physical part to be a little bit smaller) I met a girlfriend for lunch 2 months ago - who looked fab! (Mind you our oldest children are the same age - and we have both struggled with weight gain and loss at each pregnancy) yet she had mastered the weight loss - of course I did what any red blooded woman would do I asked "how did you do it?"

Well she told me she was on a diet called "HCG" diet and that it had worked for her and it was a little radical but I should do my own research about it, and pray about it. My girlfriend gave me a website to go look out http://www.happilythinnerafter.com/ as well as gave me info to go to utube to find some videos of others who had done this diet http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A0cA91mSkFU, you can also go to utube and enter "HCG" in the search area and find tons of other people who are on the diet.

I have been on the diet for 17 days now and I have lost 12 pounds - ahhh!!! Now I have 80 I think I need to loose and you can only be on the hormone HCG for 33 days then you have to go off onto a maintenance period for approx 20 some odd days before you can go back to living your life or do another round if you have more weight to loose. Now, I have had some problems with keeping my blood sugar normal - not bad but I had to arrange when I eat the food allowed on the diet. However there are 6 ladies on this diet where I live and I am the only one out of 6 that has struggled with this issue at all. You can take the hormone HCG thru injections - but I am the Worlds Biggest Wimp so I take it sub lingual - and no I am not hungry all the time. I do get a little hungry but once I eat what I am allowed to I am satisfied. I am not sure if on my second round I will do sub lingual (under the tongue- oral) or do the injections - it might be nice to say I have tried it both ways.
I am not sure if anyone would like this information, I am not a doctor, nor am I trying to sale you anything. It just seems that this diet is working for me - quickly which is nice when you have over 20 pounds to loose and thought someone out there might find the information interesting. I will keep you posted on my weight loss - I am only 1/2 way done with this first round.

P.S. Did I mention that you are not supposed to exercise while on this diet. *giggle, giggle!