April Package Pen-Pal

 Friday I received something in the mail~it was my April Package Pen Pal

Here are all the goodies that were sent to me:

 My PPP was Jamie

She sent me some pretty awesome stuff! We have some Nut crisps, a necklace, earrings, salad dressing, gum, some seasoning packs, some twilight woods body spray and lotion from bath & body works (which is my favorite) and lastly was my mostfavorite thing of all~the cup with my name on one side and the other said has I am made for MORE! I am made for VICTORY!

If you would like to take part in PPP for next month, just let Jamie know.

This is how it works: You would basically take a few items ($15 limit) a month that you are using or have found that are awesome and you have enjoyed and send them to your P.P.P. Of course, they would all need to be on the healthy side and something that you have tried. You could also include products such as bath, beauty, aroma,etc that you have truly enjoyed and that are good for you. You could send them a note with encouraging words or scripture or maybe even a great book that you have read that encouraged you.
This is something for us to be creative with this and have fun with!

You can also check out Jamie's facebook page That picture is what you really look like to follow her on her journey..I must say she is pretty awesome!

For those who are regulars to my blog know that any ordinary Sunday/Monday I'd be posting updates on my weigh in..but this week is a little different~I haven't weighed this week yet! I'm just in this funk..I'm not sure if I would classify it as depressed..but I just feel really overwhelmed with everything going on right now. I have a doctors appointment on Wednesday so hopefully I will have some answers! I'm ready to be back to the way I was just 2 weeks ago~ready and eager to take on the world, staying within my calorie range, and exercising!

This afternoon, after getting home from work and just feeling exhausted..I went to status shuffle on facebook (something I do every now and then to see if they have anything that fits my mood) I clicked on christian encouragement..and this was the very first thing that popped up & it's exactly what I needed!

God can overcome all your problems, the only thing you have to do is stop 5 minutes, take a deep breath and PRAY! ♥

I heard this song in the car on the way home~felt like it was meant for me to be in the car at that moment bc it was what I needed to hear.

 

~Thought for the day~

Weigh In~Week 14

This morning after weighing in, I remembered  why I had my weigh in's on Wednesday...a friend had suggested having them on Wednesdays because it was the middle of the week (obviously) but that way if you ate something that you shouldn't have over the weekend, you had 3 extra days to work it off~I know this isn't exactly the way of thinking that I should have but I sounded good so, it's what I did, until last week when I decided to change it to Sundays for the RFSC. Now, with all of that said...I only managed to lose 1 pound! I mean at least I lost something, but I was trying to get 2! But I can't help but think that if weigh ins were still on Wednesdays it could have been more.

I can sit here and say...I have no clue how this happened~but the thing is that I know exactly how it happened...I let some set backs and my emotions get in the way. It all started Wednesday when I talked to my orthopedist about the pain that I had been having since doing the C25K and he is advised me to stay off my knee and no vigorous exercise for a couple of days .....then there is the discomfort to my lower abdomen area which I had an ultra sound for on Thursday and didn't show anything abnormal, so I'm not real sure what is going on.

But here's the thing...I let all of these things that I have going on get to me and it all really got under my skin and even in my head...I start having all of these thoughts: Why am I doing this? I'm never going to reach my goal anyway...Maybe I'm just one of those people that are meant to be fat...Everybody loves me the way I am so why change??..(and on and on) which leads me into  my "forget about it attitude". My "forget about it attitude" went alot like this this time..I'm going to eat what ever I want but I am going to track it (because I have this weird obsession with tracking my calories for some reason) So Friday night I had fried catfish with fried eggplant...then Saturday I had BBQ.

I've said over and over again since January 1 that I'm going to stop making excuses, but I'm still doing it! The reality is that this is Life...and it is my life...and I need to stop using all of the circumstances going on with me and around me as excuses to over eat! I'm sure had I not had the fried stuff Friday night and then all the BBQ food yesterday, I would have met my goal for this week..but I let everything get to me and went into my "forget about it attitude".

This is what I need to remember at these times I feel like giving up~That if God brings me to it, He will bring me through it! He did not promise days without pain or sorrow, but he did  promise strength for the day and comfort for the tears. On days that I feeling like throwing in the towel I need to call on Him and His strength to get me through it.

Something else that I need to remind myself of often is~ I don't need to have cheat days because this is not another diet, it is a lifestyle change and I am tired of cheating my life.

And remember we all have our moments of weakness...but keep in mind that weakness is NOT defeat!!

I need to take pride in how far I have come and faith in how far I can go. It did not take a couple of months to put all of this on soo it will not come off over night!!

Pounds lost since starting blog: 35

Pounds lost since 1/1/12: 11

Total inches lost: 12.5

Week One RFSC Goals and Outcomes:

Weight Loss Goal: Lose 2 pounds (Not Met, only lost 1 pound)
Non-scale Victory Goal:  Lose an inch (Not met~somehow managed to go up 1.5 inches)
Exercise Goal: 50 sit ups a day (Met)
Nutritional Goal: Try something new (Met~tried some kiwi, pretty good stuff)

Week Two RFSC Goals:
Weight Loss Goal: Lose 2 pounds
Non-scale Victory Goal:  Lose 2 inches
Exercise Goal: complete week 1 of C25k~this is something that I really, really, really want to do~so I hope my knee doesn't start giving me trouble again this week
Nutritional Goal: 2 1200 calorie days

Beginning of challenge measurements:
Waist: 41.5
Hips: 50.5
Arms: 15
Thighs: 29.5
Breast: 41.5
Neck: 15.5

End of week 1 measurements:
Waist: 42.5
Hips: 50.5 (0)
Arms: 16 (+1)
Thighs: 32 (0)
Breast: 44.5 (0)
Neck: 15.5 (+1)
Total inches lost: +1.5

~Thought for the day~

How goes it??

I'd thought I'd just take a minute to see how everyone is doing on there first week of the challenge....and to actually share some new/updates with everyone..I as, you know, have been trying to do the C25K, and yesterday during my first jog, I started hurting something offal~but I was determined to not stop and go right back home so I walked the rest of the way instead of throwing in the towel all together and by the time I got back home I was hurting pretty bad. Then when I woke up this morning it was felling ok, so I decided to do the shred and I was able to do the ENTIRE thing but I'm paying for it now! What the heck! I've talked to my orthopedist and he is advising me to stay off my knee and no vigorous exercise for the next couple of days :(

Then to make matters worse, I've been having alot of discomfort to my lower abdomen area for the past couple of days so my doctor having me go do an ultra sound at the hospital tomorrow, he said he thinks it may be cysts on my ovaries :(

All of this news came to me within 3 hours of each other..no exercise for a couple of days and I may have cysts. Really? Why does this have to happen right when I'm in such a good groove with my eating and exercise! Soooo frustrating....so what did I do? Instead of doing what I should have done~which would be calling on GOD and my friends at this time of need~I turned to food! Like I always have! (I thought I had worked through all of this, but guess I was wrong.) Now, grant it...I did track everything I ate (broccoli shrimp, egg roll, combination fried rice, and (yes there is even more) a crab cheese wanton) and I'm still within my ranges for the day, but I feel horrible! I ate way too much than what I've been eating at one time!
To make matters worse, my poor husband came and had lunch with me and he tried talking me out of eating everything that I was eating~but I was in that pity party mood for myself~and told him to just leave me alone.

Here I am..I have all this support...I'm doing good for 2 straight weeks...and I'm going to let my emotions get the best of me!

The quote "Weakness is not defeat" (from MTC) keeps running through my head but at the moment I feel like a total failure.

Here are my new goals for week 1 since I am out of commission for a couple of days & C25K isn't going to happen:
Weight Loss Goal: Lose 2 pounds
Non-scale Victory Goal:  Lose an inch
*Exercise Goal: 50 sit ups a day
Nutritional Goal: Try something new

~Thought for the day~

We are different people than we

were at this time last year

Weigh In~Week 13

Well, since I'm participating in the Ready for Summer Challenge, I decided to change my weigh in days to Monday (instead of Wednesdays)..just so it'll flow better with the weekly check ins for the challenge. This morning I weighed in at 222 pounds!! Which gives me a loss of 2 pounds since last Wednesday! I am sooo beyond excited with this number, 2 pounds in less than a week~not too shabby, I'd say! All my hard work and tracking is paying off!

Last night was my second day of my C25K~Week 1 and it was a little easier than the first time, I just have to work on the breathing more.

So~here goes my beginning weight and measurements for the Challenge:
Beginning of challenge weight: 222 pounds
Beginning of challenge measurements:
Waist: 41.5
Hips: 50.5
Arms: 15
Thighs: 29.5
Breast: 41.5
Neck: 15.5

Wow! Looking back at my measurements from March 1 2012, I have lost 4 inches! But I have one more week left to get a little more off before my monthly check in :)

Here are my goals for week 1:
Weight Loss Goal: Lose 2 pounds
Non-scale Victory Goal:  Lose an inch
Exercise Goal: Complete week 1 of C25K
Nutritional Goal: Try something new

~Thought for the day~

Do not give up what you want MOST for what you want at the moment!

Summer Challenge Week 1~Mini Goals

Tomorrow kicks off the Ready for Summer Challenge & I'm supper excited to begin, actually the past week has been awesome work out and eating wise, so this will totally help I think. After all..July and Panama City Beach will be here before I know it!

Here are my over all goals for the challenge:

Weight Loss Goal: lose15 pounds.
Non-Scale Victory Goal: lose 10 inches.
Exercise Goal: To get 50 workouts in on these 70 days.
Nutrition Goal:  1300 calories a day limit.

Here are my goals for week 1:
Weight Loss Goal: Lose 2 pounds
Non-scale Victory Goal:  Lose an inch
Exercise Goal: Complete week 1 of C25K
Nutritional Goal: Try something new

Friday was actually my first day for my C25K training and I lived to tell you all about it, lol! It had it's ups and downs..I fell like if I can get a grip on my breathing that I could do even better, but that's something that I will have to work on. But I'm excited to do it! I've always wanted to run..and what better time to learn than now? I do have my insecurities though~running outside, in my neighborhood, where there  people around every corner that know me live (you know where I am going here)... but surely they have better things to do than to watch a "big girl" wogging (walking/jogging) down the road, right??

~Thought for the day~

Ready for Summer Challenge

My friend Jamie, over at That Picture...is what you really look like, came across a challenge the other day and asked if I wanted to join in on the fun..so I figured, what the heck..what do I have to lose...absouletly nothing except some weight. Plus summer is right around the corner and vacation will be here before I know it so I think this would be perfect right now!

This (along with a couple of other changes that I'm making, which you can read about in my Weigh In Wednesday~Week 12  post) may be exactly what I need.. because after all I've only managed to lose 8 pounds since January 1, 2012!

This challenge will last 10 weeks, starting March 26th. You set your own goals, and check in weekly. There will also be small weekly challenges, these are voluntary.
Here are the goal categorizes:  weight loss goal, non-scale goal, exercise goal, and nutrition goal. You can choose to do one goal or all goals, it is totally up to you.

So like I said...Summer vacation is coming up, Panama City Beach is just around the corner..so I'm going to put my all into this challenge.

Weight Loss Goal: lose15 pounds..but I realize that I'm a big girl with BIG numbers to drop and I think that  I've gotten a handle on things so once I see how I'm doing I may up this number:)

Non-Scale Victory Goal: lose 10 inches. I really think this one is possible if I keep my mind set because Since January 1, I've only lost 8 pounds...but lost 9 inches! (may have to up this one too, we shall see)

Exercise Goal: To get 50 workouts in on these 70 days..Whew this is going to be hard..I've been kind of struggling the past couple of days with my workouts but I WILL do it!

Nutrition Goal:  1300 calories a day limit..that's another doosey..the past couple of days I've been trying not to go over 1400 calories, so this will be a MAJOR challenge

So here is the question...

Are you looking for a challenge to help you in your weight loss?

Need a motivation boost towards the summer?

Need accountability?

Look no more!

This challenge will last 10 weeks, starting March 26th. You set your own goals, and check in weekly. There will also be small weekly challenges, these are voluntary. So..what are you waiting for? Go sign up at Ready for Summer Challenge

 

Weigh in Wednesday~Week 12

Hope everyone is having a great week! This week started of kind of shaky but I just had to get a grip on things. I managed to lose one pound this week. I know it's not alot and it puts me right back where I was at the beginning of this month so I'll take it!

Looking back this past month, I have had alot of struggles~food wise and exercise wise. Time and time again I've felt like I'm not strong enough to do this..And...then today I heard this song:

I feel like this song goes straight to my heart for where I am on this journey...even though the past 2 days have been awesome, I'm not going to lie~they were rough! But I just have to ask the Lord to be strong enough for the both of us.

I'm heading North and not looking back. (I actually have tears in my eyes as I type this listening to the song.)

I also want to share that my blog has allowed me to find someone who is on this same journey as me and has become a great friend of mine.... I'm sure I'd still be struggling if it wasn't for her, but I think I'm on the right path now thanks to her. We have been reading Made to Crave together for the past couple of weeks and comparing notes and texting each other encouraging things~and I just want to say THANK you Jamie! It really wasn't until Sunday night reading when things really began to click..I have to realize that weakness is not defeat... I have to realize that I don't need to have cheat days because this is not another diet, it is a lifestyle change & I am tired of cheating my life..... I need to pray for self control before I ever even sit down for that meal or head out for an outing with friends...and remember I am made for MORE~I am made for VICTORY!! Last night reading..I came across Revelation 3:8~Behold, I have set before you an open door, which no one is to shut.

I have tried to do this on my own time and time again but have failed... but this time I'm doing it different, I'm calling on God, my friends, and my family to help me through this! This is a door that the Lord has set before me and not even I will shut.

~Thought for the day~

Just a little thought..

As my weigh in day is approaching..I just wanted to share (or pretty much confess) that this weekend I did give into temptation. I ate and I ate alot! Am I mad at myself???..sure. My whole "March madness" thing I was trying to do flew out the window because I could not control myself!

Hopefully you guys aren't too tired of hearing my ups and downs (which there seems to be alot more downs lately, but I'm working on that) & Like I said plenty of times before, it may take me a while to get where I'm going, but I will get there one day :)

Something I discussed with a friend earlier this week when I was really struggling...this is what I need to remember: I don't need to have cheat days because this is not another diet, it is a lifestyle change & I am tired of cheating my life. But something that I can do is allow myself to splurge when I feel like it without guilt (??, we shall see) but do it in moderation. I will need to pray for self control before I ever even sit down for that meal or head out for an outing with friends. ~I am made for MORE~I am made for VICTORY~

And remember we all have our moments of weakness...but keep in mind that weakness is NOT defeat!!

Weigh In Wednesday

Much to my surprise the scale was actually up a pound this morning..which puts me at 225. I've been doing good with my whole "March Madness" (not binging thing) for a week now so I'm not sure where the problem is. It may because I've been eating whatever I cook for my family in small portions (but it's not the healthiest stuff) and I haven't been tracking all of my calories like I should on MFP.

As sad as it is to say....This is how my day went after my weigh in this morning...didn't do my shred video because I was sooo sore from the past couple of days doing it....so then I had a hot pocket for breakfast because at this point I'm thinking what the heck...it's not going to make a difference because EVERYTHING that I've been doing is not making a difference....but then I got a grip....went on my morning walk with the girls that I work with, had apple and peanut butter for a snack, sandwich with a pickle for lunch (doing a good job right, trying to recover from the hot pocket)....but then I get home and I'm in a rush to get something on the table for supper so I throw some fish sticks and french fries in the oven but I'm sooo hungry while they are cooking I have a pop tart and once the food is done I have 4 fish sticks and french fries...then after all of this and I have time to digest what I've done...I go on a 1 & 1/2 mile walk.

I'm not sure how to over come obstacles like the ones I had today...it's kind of the story of my life..do great for so long..have a bad day...fall off the deep end.

I'm not giving up...just in a rut

Tomorrow will be better..because I say so :)

~Thought for the day~

FMM: Book Worms

FMM: Bookworms (Revisited) 

1. How often do you read for pleasure?  I go through phases in which I can’t put a book down....to not reading for weeks..just depends on the mood
2. Are you currently reading a book?  If so, which one? I'm currently reading Made to Crave
3. Do you subscribe to any magazines and/or newspapers? No..if I seed something interesting at the check out counter, I'll grab it
4. Do you prefer reading traditional books or using an e-reader?  E-reader..I have a nook and love it
5. How often do you go to the bookstore?  once maybe twice a year to do Christmas and birthday shopping for my little boy
6. Do you read at the gym? No
7. Have you ever been a member of a book club?  Not a book club per say..but right now a friend and I are reading the same book so that we can talk abt it
8. Do you wear glasses when you read? No
9. Has anyone read the Hunger Games?  If so, would you recommend it?  I haven’t read it yet but I hear they are good
10. What is your favorite thing about reading?  It’s the only "me" time that I get :)

If you’ve taken part in FMM then you know the rules. If you’re new, please take a moment to answer this week’s question on your own blog then add your link in the comments section  at: www.alltheweigh.com so we can all see your FMM questions and answers.

March Madness

 Weigh in didn't go exactly as I had hoped this morning...I weighed in at 224 pounds, which don't get me wrong is great because I didn't gain but I would have liked to have lost a little something~but I guess that is what happens when you binge on the weekends..which leads me to my next subject..with all this binging that I've been doing on the weekends~I've decided to come up with March Madness (I know sounds cool right? lol)


This is how I have March Madness planned out:
There is one overall goal for the rest of the month of March that I want to reach~DO NOT BINGE!! Yeap, that's right...I'm challenging myself to go 25 days without binging!! (Complete Madness, right??) But if you've ever been in my shoes you know the feeling that you have after a binge...it is HORRIBLE!

Something I'm figuring out is that~I can eat what I cook for my family... I don't have to grill me a piece of chicken on the side to have with a salad every night~I just have to eat in moderation and not over do it.

Today was the first time in a long time that I actually walked away from what could have been an awful binge~someone had brought Reese's PB eggs to the office today & I had one..but I really, REALLY wanted two or three!! It took alot of talking to myself before I over came it & for a second or two I actually thought I was going to start crying..(sounds kind of crazy, right) but it's at times like this that I am at a constant argue with myself...long story short, I thought about how far I've come & I want to move forward, not backwards & I over came it and I'm sooo happy that I did!! Am I beating myself up tonight because I had chocolate today, no because the reality is ...I can have it as long as it is in my calorie range and I don't over do it.

The question of the day~will you join me on this challenge??

There is no prize at the end of the 25 days except for the satisfaction of knowing you can do it!!
That is unless you want to be like me..and reward yourself at the end of the challenge..I'm going to get those volatile sandals that I talked about awhile back:)

~Thought for the day~

Set Backs

The weekends always get the best of me..Friday night we went to my husband's grandparents house for some boiled crawfish~but I didn't over to it..Then Saturday came and I had already set in my mind that I was going to use Saturday as a 1200 calorie day but I didn't eat anything until supper because it is "that time" for me and I just wasn't feeling good at all..but I made up for not eating much yesterday today. We went to my moms for lunch where we had fried liver and mashed potatoes then for supper we order from a local Drive in restaurant..I had a hamburger with cheddar peppers.

I keep trying to go over in my head why I do this to myself...all week I do wonderful then the weekend comes and it all goes down the drain because of the choices that I make and because I don't have the control to say "No"!

What makes me feel worse is when I get on Pinterest and they have all of these great inspiration weight loss blogs posted (don't get me wrong, I love reading weight loss blogs but it's day's like today that I don't know if I'll ever be one of those that will eventually reach my goal)...one I read today was about a woman that lost 50 pounds in 6 months..and I can't help but want that to be me!!! But here's the thing..I know that if I keep doing what I've been doing (eating right during the week and then splurging and binging during the weekend) I'm not going to get anywhere!!

I have a supportive husband, family, & friends who that I know I can call on if I needed to but it is kind of embarrassing when you keep failing time and time again. I'm sure they get tired of hearing me, just as I am sure all of you here are getting tired of hearing it as well & I'm sorry...I'm really trying to figure this out.

Goals for the remainder of this week (until Weigh in Wednesday)
 *Have 1200 calorie days Mon, Tues, Wed
 *Walk at least 2 miles each of these days
 *Make time to read everyday
 *Make time to pray everyday
 *Find a Non scale victory in each day

I think that part of my problem my be that during the week I eat Smart One's every day for lunch and for supper I'll cook me something separate from what I cook for my family...but on the weekend I eat whatever they eat & I'm sooo hungry for some good food that I over do it. I'm not trying to make excuses but maybe I need to learn to eat what they eat but in moderation so that I don't over do it on the portions...I don't know...what do you think??

It is days like this it seems like I will NEVER reach the finish line...but I know that tomorrow is a new day & then I remember how far I have come...32 pounds lost!! I'm not throwing in the towel just yet :)

February 2012 Measurements

Today was another great day..work has been crazy but other than that it's all good. I stayed under my 1200 calories for today~one day down, 2 more to go & I went walking this morning with the girls that I work with before work~so one down there too, 4 more to go.

My measurements for today are:
Waist: 43 (-2)
Hips: 52 (-1.5)
Arms: 14.5 (-.5)
Thighs: 30 (-.5)
Breast: 43.5 (0)
Neck: 14.5 (-.5)
Inches lost during month of February~5!!!
Total inches lost~9

Me~March 1, 2012

Pounds lost since starting blog: 32
Pounds lost since 1/1/12: 8
Inches lost: 9

Weigh in Wednesday

Today was an AWESOME day..even with it being weigh in day! Much to my surprise the scale was really good to me. I weighed in this morning at 224 pounds!! That's a 6 pound loss since last week~even with having a rough couple of days! Totally pumped up right now & ready to do this!!

That's 6 more marbles to put in my "Pounds lost" jar and $10 to put in my rewards jar :)

Goals for this week:
*3 1200 calorie days
* Walk 2 miles at least 5 days this week

Keeping today short but I'll be back tomorrow to post my measurements and a recent picture since it will be the first already :)

Lastly..but certainly not least...Jamie at That Picture...is what you really look like. Is trying to get together with other bloggers and see if anyone would be interested in doing a Package PenPal (P.P.P)? You would basically take a few items ($15 limit??) a month that you are using or have found that are awesome and you have enjoyed and send them to your P.P.P. Of course, they would all need to be on the healthy side and something that you have tried. You could also include products such as bath, beauty, aroma,etc that you have truly enjoyed and that are good for you. You could send them a note with encouraging words or scripture or maybe even a great book that you have read that encouraged you. If you would like to do this with us, just email Jamie at faithmomma.jp@gmail.com and let her know :)

~Thought for the day~

Failure

What is failure?? Failure refers to the state or condition of not meeting a desirable or intended objective.

This word describes how I am feeling at this moment..I feel like a complete failure.
It all started Saturday when I went over my calorie goal...then came Sunday and I had decided that I was going to do better Sunday than Saturday, but that was a joke...then came today..today was HORRIBLE! I over ate sooo much today..I have tears in my eyes just trying to find the words to put on here..I feel like I am at a constant argument and fight with myself...I am not proud of what I have done..I feel horrible. I know the reality is that I did it and there is nothing I can do to fix it except start again tomorrow..but as I sit here trying to come up with words to express myself...I can't help but feel upset/ disappointed with myself.

How long have I been on this journey...for what..just to trow it all out the door for a binge that only leaves me feeling like crap for days? How many times I have said I'll do better tomorrow? How many times have I said I'm tired of being overweight? How many times have I wished I could shop in a regular store instead of plus size one?

My failures do not define me. My failures are only a temporary change in direction to set me straight for my next success.

As horrible as I feel at the moment and as embarrassed I am to admit all of these things that I have done wrong the past couple of days..I'm not going to give up. This is my life and though this is a struggle, I'm not willing to let it go just like that.

Note to self~Don't let failure get to your heart.

Need to keep this in mind for the rest of the week:

Sunday afternoon my two year old and I went to Wal-Mart because I wanted to get him a new carseat and while there I ran into someone who I hadn't seen in a while but I'm friends with on facebook so she keeps up with some of my posts I put about losing weight and she was pretty much blown away by the way I look...she said that the pics I post on fb don't do me any justice because I look so much smaller in person....Really..me?? It made me feel sooo AWESOME to be complemented like that

I like that feeling..my husband tells me all the time how he can tell that the weight is coming off but it's just a different feeling when it comes from someone that you never see...because how am I supposed to know if he is saying it just to be nice and not hurt my feelings or is he being FOR REAL?? When I ran into my friend that do... That should have been my sign to get back on the wagon right then and there but I didn't...but that moment is the moment that I need to remember next time I feel myself falling.

~Thought for the day~

In a Funk

Hope everyone is having a great weekend! Mine has been so so...I woke up this morning with some sinus funk or a cold or something so I'm feeling a little under the weather..

Yesterday was suppose to be my "Fashion Friday" but I didn't have time to post because we had my little boys birthday party last night~can't believe that little booger is 2 already :) Anyway here is my outfit for this week..to tell you the truth, I'm not real sure where it comes from, It's just something that I found on Pinterest and thought was cute so I pinned it on my "Someday Outfit" board, because ...Someday ...hopefully within the next year..I will be able to pull off cute looks like this :)

My goal for this week was to have 2 1200 calorie days and I've done it! I actually did 3..Wednesday, Thursday, & Friday were all under 1200 calories.

My daily goal on MFP is 1400 calories a day..so the past 3 days have been wonderful!! I love it when it gives the little message...gatorsgirlie has completed her food and exercise diary and was under her calorie goal...that puts a BIG smile on my face..but today it didn't tell me that..I was actually 62 calories over my 1400 calorie allowance...I know, not that big of a deal right?? But I feel bad for it..right now I want to do SOMETHING..go to the gym...go for a walk..do SOMETHING to burn those 62 extra calories off..but none of these things are going to happen..I can't go to the gym because the gym that I belong to closes at 4 on Saturdays and is closed on Sundays (thinking about canceling for this very reason, but that's another story for another day)....can't go for a walk because the mosquitos will eat me alive....but what I can do..and I will do as soon as I put my little one down is have some one on one time with Walk a way the pounds..I got to do what I got to do to get this feeling gone..not sure how many calories I will burn, but should be ATLEAST 62...which brings me to my next subject...

Does anyone have a heart rate monitor or other gadgets that let u know how many calories you are burning?? I could use some pointers in this section. I've heard of the fitbit (from another blog) & the slim coach (from the biggest loser)..but that's pretty much all I know..any suggestions would be appreciated :)

Today is what is is, there is nothing I can do but get off my butt and go exercise to work off those extra calories I ate, Tomorrow will be better.

Since I already met (and exceeded) my goal for this week already~so $5 in my jar~I want to set another goal for my self...almost feel like I need to...like I have to have a goal in mind or ELSE...so my new goal for the rest of this week is to do 2 miles of walking for the rest of the week..whether it be walking outside or doing walking away the pounds..it is time to start moving:)

~Thought for the day~

~Yesss~

Game Plan

This week so far has been AWESOME, I just hope I can keep it up through the weekend...with that said..I've been thinking alot about how I need to get it together! So I "adopted" this idea from pinterest and had a friend help me make these canisters:

• The one on the left is Pounds Lost: Right now it has 26 marbles in it
• The one in the middle is Way to Go/Reward Jar
• The one on the right is Pounds to Go: Right now it has 70 marbles in it

This is how my Game Plan is going to go:

• Every week I will set a goal for myself. (Examples: have 2 1200 calorie days...or workout at least 3 days...or lose 1 pound~you get it don't you?) For every week that I meet my goal I will put $5 in my Reward/Way to go canister.
• But~here is the catch with the Reward/Way to Go canister: for every goal that I do not meet, it is one less $1 for the canister. (Example: Goal is to have 2 1200 calorie days in the week, but I actually only have one, then I would only put $4 in for that week...got me??)
  
• Now for the Pounds Lost & Pounds to Go canisters: For every pound that I lose, I will take a marble out of the Pounds to Go canister and put it into the Pounds Lost Canister (until the "Pounds to Go" canister is completely empty :) ...the point of these Canisters are really to just give me a visualization of what I have left to lose ..and also what I have accomplished

The last part of my new Game Plan is to re-look at my "Reward" list that I done awhile back..had I have decided to make a couple of changes..here is the new list:

• -10 pounds (222): Pedi (I'm hoping to make it here really soon~I have a gift card that is about to expire within the next month that I want to use.)
  
• -20 pounds (212): Massage~I can't remember the last time I had one..so can't wait for this one
  
• -30 pounds (202): Day out with my best friend (this is where all that "Reward" money will definitely come in handy
• -40 pounds (192): New Bathing suit
  
• -50 pounds (182): Weekend with my wonderful husband~I recently purchased tickets to Red Hot Chili Peppers for him for his birthday which is in October and we plan on making a weekend out of it...so I have 8 months to lose my 50 pounds..I can do this~right??
• -60 pounds (172): New clothes and shoes...now I know through out this journey I will have to buy new clothes..a pair of pants here and a shirt there..but I'm not going to get alot of one size, because I'm not planning on staying there for long...BUT by the time I reach 60 pounds I will be close enough to my goal weight..so I'll start working on my new wardrobe at this time
• -70 pounds (162): Trip to Disney World or a new purse...and by new purse I mean a Coach or a Hobo...I love purses and NEVER splurge on getting one for myself.... I actually received my first EVER coach handbag and wallet this past Christmas as a gift and I love it...but when I make it to losing 70 pounds, I will get ME another one :)
  
• -72 pounds (160~GOAL): A smart phone!!
  

Since my weigh in days are on Wednesdays, my weekly goals will go from Wednesday to Wednesday..my goal for this week is to have 2 1200 calorie days.

OHH and I almost forgot the best news of all is that I fit into 20's comfortably, no Muffin Top..YAY..now to start working on the 18's

~Thought for the day~

Weigh in Wednesday

Today the scale was definitely not on my side, but no one to blame for that but myself. I weighed in at 230 pounds. WOW...is all I can say. This puts me up one pound since last week's horrible week. I know what I'm doing wrong. I'm fine as long as I'm at work then as soon as I get home I just want to EAT...especially the weekends, they are the worst!

This week's theme (I guess you can call it) on the Biggest Loser~which the whole season's theme is "No more excuses"~was "I lack self control". Wow, that is me in a nut shell right there. I do great for a couple of days...then BOOM, like that I loose it!

There are sooo many reasons I need to do this, I need to get this weight off so I can't give up!!! Giving up is not an option for me....I may struggle, but I'm not going to throw in the towel!

I had alot more thought out that I was going to post about but the internet on my laptop isn't working and I'm having to use my husband's so everything else, if I remember them, will have to wait until another day.

~Thought for the day~

Fashion Friday

The past couple of days have been great!! I've been staying within my calorie range and getting some workouts in, not everyday, but I'm happy that I'm getting at least some days in :)

Here is today's outfit

It comes from Old Navy

**Can't wait until I can shop here instead of always having to always go to Lane Bryant or Avenue **

~Thought for the day~

Weigh in Wednesday

Today, the scale was definitely not on my side. I weighed in at 229 pounds this morning, which puts me up +2 from last week. I could sit here and lie and say I don't' understand how this happened..but I do. It's because I haven't been eating right or exercising..no one to blame for that but myself.

But it is what it is & I'm not going to dwell on it..it's a new week and today was a great day & this week will be a great week!!

I almost forgot..my latest progress photo

I was fixing to head to bed when I remembered that on January 1st when I began this journey..AGAIN..I had said that one of my goals was for this dress I had bought awhile back to fit better by Valentine's Day..here are the photos..

This one is from September 2011..I know really TOOO tight, I had bought it in a size 18 in hopes that it would fit before we left for our cruise in November...

This is October 2011..still too Tight, so needless to say, I still couldn't fit in it before we set sail

This is today..still could loose a little more in the stomach area, but over all~it fits ALOT better..and of course I added the cardigan because I'm not exactly comfortable with my arms at the moment.

Happy Valentine's Day

Today has been awesome so far..cravings are in check!

Since today is Valentine's day..I thought I'd take a minute to tell everyone a little bit about my "Valentine" and love of my life. My husband, Nick, and I have been together since I was 15 years old~I was in 9th grade~the year was 1999. We actually started dating at a marching band festival, and have been inseparable ever since. A couple of years later, came our first son, Colby. We were still very young when Colby was born..teenagers and in high school..but we made it through it, when everyone else said we wouldn't..we did it!! (It was rough at times but I wouldn't trade Colby for anything in the world! And I think it made Nick and I stronger as a couple.) We made our commitment to one another official and married on November 3, 2006 in the Church with lots of family and friends there to celebrate it with us (standing room only). Our wedding day was everything a girl could dream of~I still get butterflies thinking about it! Here is a picture from our special day.. (Colby was such a ham:)

Three years after being married, we had our second son, Corbin, who will be turning 2 this Saturday. I can't imagine my life without my husband or kids....I love my little family with my whole heart..we may not have gotten started the traditional way, and alot of people probably saw us as screw ups who would never make it...but here we are 12 years later..Happy & still in LOVE!

We recently celebrated our 5 year anniversary by going on a Cruise...no kids..just Nick and I. It was great to have just "us" time but I did miss my kiddos terribly and couldn't wait to get home and see them....but at the same time, I'm eager to start planning our 10 year anniversary get a way!

FMM: Before Phots

If you’ve taken part in FMM then you know the rules. If you’re new, please take a moment to answer this week’s question on your own blog then add your link in the comments section here at: www.alltheweigh.com so we can all see your FMM questions and answers.

FMM: Before Photos

1. Are you on a weight-loss journey? Have you lost weight in the past? Are you trying to lose it now? Yes..to all of the above :)
   
2. Do you like being in pictures, or do you shy away from the camera? Definatley shy away from the camera
3. Does looking at old photos of yourself motivate you? It does..It helps me realize that yes, I have alot more work to do but I'm getting there slowly
   
4. Weight-loss bloggers, do you post progress pictures on your blog? Yes
5. Will you share a before photo with us (even if you don’t have an after yet?) Sure..I was about 300 pounds in this one, taken August of 2008:

and in this one I am 227 pounds, taken February 2012:

It may take me awhile, but I'll get to my goal one of these days:)

Doing this for Me

The past couple of days, I haven't been logging or ANYTHING!! Not eating right, not exercising, not tracking, not blogging....and Yes and it sucks pretty bad now that I sit back and think about it.

I was on a roll, really I was..I was doing awesome getting my workouts in and staying within my calorie range then this weekend got here and PooF~it all went away! Three days away is long enough, It's time to get back on track! I screwed up, I'm trying not to dwell on it too much, tomorrow is a new day!

I am doing this for ME...for me to live longer..for me to be happy..for me to fell pretty..for me to be healthier..for me to have more confidence..for me to be able to play outside with my family...for me to be happy with ME.

I need to LOVE me, today~not tomorrow~TODAY.

I'm going to try to turn in early because my little one has been waking up at wee hours of the night (not really sure why, maybe dreams). But I do hope to get some reading in tonight...trying to finish up Made to Crave and I'm going to download Jesus Calling :)

~Thought for the day~

It's kindda hard to read towards the bottom..but it says.
Exercise to be fist, not "skinny"
Eat to nourish your body
and always ignore the haters, doubters, and unhealthy examples that were once feeding you
You are worth more that you realize

**I don't really have any haters (at least I don't think), may have some doubters (but they don't say it to my face), I do have some unhealthy examples (but there's nothing I can really do about that)...but you know, now that I think about it..I (me..yea, the same person I'm doing all this for) is my biggest hater/doubter/unhealthy example.

Fashion Friday

Yesterday was kind of a rough day, temptation and will power wise...but I pushed and prayed through it. I made it through the day without binging or splurging! I did have a little red beans and rice for supper instead of salad like I had planed, but I was still within my calorie range.

Here is my "motivational" outfit(s)~couldn't decide on just one. One of these days I will be able to pull off these looks. (Well probably not the hills...but everything else)

All of this came from Lane Bryant

What's every one's plan for this weekend..Well this is how mine is going to go..Clean, do laundry, go walking Saturday and Sunday (if its not raining too much~has been raining all day today), do yard work (if it drys up), watch my Godchild for the first time (yes~his mom is a little protective of him), CHURCH, do some cooking..oh yes..and eat some CRAWFISH. Yummy!! My wonderful husband is even going to go to the pond and catch them himself!! (We usually buy them but at this time in the crawfish season, they are really expensive, so he is going to go his family's pond and get some for us.) I looked up the calories, and they really aren't as bad as I thought. I just won't have the corn and potatoes that us "cajuns" like to have with them.

Hope everyone has a great weekend! I know I plan on it!

~Thought for the day~

~This was me yesterday..not really stressed but overwhelmed with the control that food has over me right now~

Will Power

The other day my thought of the day went something like this..It takes Will Power to get started and habit to keep it going. I'm struggling with the whole Will Power thing today, I haven't eaten anything I shouldn't (yet), but I'm constantly arguing with my self..I'm to the point of almost crying. Is it ever going to get better?

~Thought for the day~

**And I just want to take a second to apologize for my post about weight loss surgery the other day, I didn't mean to offend anyone~guess maybe I should have done more research and asked more questions instead of assuming that bc you have the surgery everything is so much easier.

Weigh In Wednesday

It's made it's way here once again..Weigh in Wednesday, that is.. and the scale isn't exactly my bff at the moment, so I'll make this quick. I'm still at 227. Which I'm not thrilled about, but I'm not really upset either. Sure, I would have loved to have seen a 2 pound loss (or even a one pound loss) but with everything that went on this past weekend and having trouble getting to the gym (pretty much everything called LIFE), I'm just glad I didn't gain :)

This is a journey to a new & healthier me... not just a diet. I'm trying to figure things out as I go so it may take me a while, but one day I'll make it there.

As I mentioned in a post a couple of weeks ago, I've been sort of struggling spiritually and I've been avoiding church to not have to deal with certain people...I've been avoiding prayer because I was so upset by everything that was said... But I've come to realize that I'm not hurting anyone but myself by doing this. So I've made up my mind that it's time for a change in this part of my life also. I downloaded a new book last night called Made to Crave..I'm only about 2 chapters into it, but pretty much it's about how we were all made to CRAVE...but not to crave food..we were made to crave God, and it gives pointers of things to do & things to pray when certain feeling start setting in... like cravings/discouragement/emotions/helplessness get the best of you.. I am going back to my church Sunday with an open heart and mind (though I will not bring my little boy, not ready for that yet~but maybe one day)

~Thought for the day~

Rambling

I have a bunch of different topics..really alot of rambling... that I want to touch on today..so lets get started:)

I know I've said it a couple of times..and I'm going to say it again...that I would LOVE to have weight loss surgery. Just seems like the easy thing to do. I mean hey, you pay a COUPLE thousand dollars...have a 3 hour surgery...go on a liquid diet for a couple of weeks..and WAALA...you have it...you are 30 pounds lighter in a couple of months and at your goal weight in about 6 months. But It's not going to happen..my husband and I have talked about it time and time again, and he has this belief in me that I can do it, so it may take me for ever, but hopefully one of these days I'll get there.

~Found this on Pinterest and thought it was Perfect for this subject~

The past couple of days...I've been sort of struggling, ever since we went on that Mardi Gras run this past weekend, I can't get back on track. I mean, I didn't do too bad but I just can't get back into my routine. I haven't walked or went to the gym ONE time this week so far. My little boy has been either getting up really early in the mornings or waking up a couple of times during the night, which makes me super tired & I end up not going to the gym and puts me running late so I don't get to work in enough time to to go walking with the girls I work with. I even had TWO pieces of King Cake today..I know, right..WHAT was I thinking. But that is IT..I'm saying it TODAY, It is time to get back on track!
*I may have to start hitting the gym at 7 or 8 on the nights that my husband doesn't have to
work to get my workouts in.

Awhile back I had posted my goals and rewards...Well, my reward for reaching my 50 pound goal was that I would get to go on a weekend getaway with my husband...and even though here lately it seems like I'll never reach it (because it is taking me forever just to get to my 10 pound goal) I have to do it before October 4th. Last week I bought tickets to the Red Hot Chili Pepers for my husband for his birthday. He is totally excited! It is in New Orleans (a couple of hours away) so we plan on finding a sitter and making a weekend out of it. So I need to kick it up a notch or two...or maybe 3!

My husband is always telling me how beautiful and sexy I am..but I hopefully by the time October gets here, I will be knocking him off his feet :)

I found this on Pinterest (incase, you haven't realized a trend yet, I have a little obsession with Pinterest)...and next time I run to Wal-Mart I will be picking up the things to make this:

This will give me a visual of what I have lost and what I have to go :)

Something else that I will get on my trip to Wal-Mart is a canister/jar for is for a reward jar. I saw this on a fellow bloggers post..this is how hers goes & I'm going to do the same:
*Workout at least 3 times a week & my reward is $5 (this will come in handy when I reach my
goal of losing 30 pounds and I get a day of shopping with my bestie)

I've been really thinking about my thought of the day from yesterday...A huge part of losing weight is believing you can do it and realizing it is not going to happen over night...This is not a diet for me...it is a life style change, it may be a struggle, it will be hard, I will be tempted, I will have bad days, things will come up & I won't be able to go the the gym, it will take time, but I must not give up..I CAN DO IT!

~Thought for the day~

*Goal for this week..spend more time with GOD*