For Karilynn

I'd like to formally thank Karilynn for the brief and yet scintillating mention of my name in her recent blog “For Melissa”. I’d like to go on record by saying that although it is true I made out with her “now gay” HS boyfriend I’m pretty sure he was gay the whole time she was making out with him as well. :0)
LIFE: it comes at ya!

Oh and about this month I’m ending it with only about a 5.8 pound loss (it was 6.4 in my first pic but i forgot my spoon and when i re-did the pic it seems i gained. EEK!). I know that’s not going to get me in the top three but I also know this… I ROCK! I’ve managed to steadily if though slowly lower my weight and I’m keeping it off! But even more than that the inches seem to be just falling off me! I’ve found EVEN MORE pants that are fitting me now that I had no hope of buttoning merely weeks before. WHOOT WHOOT! I’m still fired up and VERY excited to start October. I’m back to work full-time and I now get paid to go to the gym for 3 hours a week. I love working for the government! :0) In addition to that my sister, who is an avid marathon runner, has asked me to run a 10K with her early next year. Although the prospect of that is, at present, scary as hell it also gives me something to work toward. Wish me luck!

I scream! You scream! We all scream for Ice Cream!

So, I’m not the type of person that can deny myself completely of all things yummy. If I try to do that, I end up eating twice as much as I would if I had no restriction at all. My solution to this is to allow myself 1 dessert per week with no regrets and no negative self talk. I find that in doing so I am MUCH choosier about the dessert that I ultimately end up eating. Every sweet thing that crosses my path becomes a 20 minute internal debate before I sink my teeth into it. This is excellent because usually during that debate I can talk myself right out of the desire to “cheat”. Thoughts like, “is this ___(fill in the blank with the item)___ worth losing my free dessert over?” Usually the answer is no so I move on.

Well the other day I chose to eat Ben & Jerry’s Key Lime Pie ice cream. It’s a lovely ice cream. I discovered it shortly before starting this competition and I’m sure I must have eaten 3 or 4 whole pints in that week alone. I LOVE ICE CREAM!!! Always have and probably always will. Ben & Jerry… they are some of my best friends. Just ask my hips and butt because they’ve been gaining ground thanks to those two guys for years! :0)

MY BREAK THROUGH: I opened up that pint of creamy ice cream and started to eat it. Usually if I am having a dessert I’m having it all. But this time I didn’t. I got about 1/3 or the way through that pint of ice cream and realized that I was finished! Done! I had, had enough ice cream to satisfy my craving and I didn’t need to eat any more. Now in the past I would have set this thought aside and pushed through to the bottom of the container. I would have been determined not to waist my dessert with a mere fraction of the total contents. But this time I STOPPED! I put the lid on and put it away! Then guess what else happened. To my utter surprise I was not haunted by the ice cream looming in my freezer. In fact it didn’t bother me at all that it was there. One week later when it was time for my free dessert again I simply opened it up and ate some more. It was awesome!

I'm On A Roll… Get Up I’m Hungry!

Get it? If someone says, “I’m on a roll.” I like to reply, “Get up I’m hungry!” As in, “Get off the roll so I can eat it!” LOL! I think I’m funny.

Ok so I’m not on a roll but I’m sporting one!

This is me and this is my totally fabulous spare tire I havebeen carrying around since my baby was born (July). The amazing thing: IT’S SHRINKING!!!

I had my husband take these pictures today because these jeans ACTUALLY FIT!!! Just 2 weeks ago, that’s right just 14 days ago; I could not even button these up!

I’m not sure what came over me but this morning I decided I’d put them on, just to see. I almost wet my pants when they not only buttoned but they buttoned easily! I jumped around shouting and cheering at this huge improvement. Just last week my husband took all of my measurements and I was horrified at what they were. I was feeling pretty bad about it… you may all remember my fatty, fat, fat blog. Anyway, now I’m SOOOOO glad that I did that and wish I had done it sooner because obviously I’m changing and gaining ground. (Or should I say “loosing” it!)

Also, my scale has barely been moving but it is holding steady and that makes me VERY happy because that means the weight is actually gone. I’m not just fluctuating because of water weight or something. I was telling Karilynn I feel like something has clicked. I’m not sure when or what exactly it is but at some point I stopped just going through the motions and now I’m ALL FIRE UP!!!

So, look out ladies because I’m feeling good and working hard. If you’re not feeling that kind of energy I pray that God will bless you with it from this point forward! Love to all and many thanks for all of the support! I think this group ROCKS!

Walk On

I got a new pair of shoes this week. They’re great shoes! Trail runners, water resistant, excellent support, and bright orange! Plus they were on sale. I don’t know if it gets any better than all of that. HOWEVER, two days ago when I went walking I wore short socks and since they are new and not broken in my beautiful new shoes were rubbing bad on the backs of my ankles. I got about 2 miles from home and realized it was starting to hurt. Nothing to do but to walk home right? I got to the end of my road and could go no further. I took off my beautiful shoes and put them in my stroller and walked the rest of the way in my little black socks. Let me tell you the pavement was freaking HOT!!! So I traded one pain for another. When I got home I finally looked at my heels and there I’ve got blisters the size of quarters! Ok maybe the size of nickels but still HUGE!!!

Last night we went to my parents for dinner and I didn’t get out on my walk before dinner so I went down into my moms basement to use her treadmill. I found huge band-aids and wore thick socks but my blisters popped and the pain is INTENSE! But I pushed through and walked and walked. I walked for what felt like 27 years, because my feet were killing me, only to look down and see I’d only gone 2 miles. Merely half the distance I went yesterday. I read about so many of you running for 4 -5 miles or more and I’m thinking. I can’t even walk 2 miles? UGH!!!! Well I'm hoping that doing something is better than nothing. I'm also praying that these heal quickly! Until then I guess I just have to walk on.

Seriously? We’re fighting over a waffle? UGH!!!

Ok so my friend and I have a side bet going on our diets. My husband has developed menus for both of us and in an effort to stick with it we’re doing a little competition. We get a point each time we eat exactly what’s on our menu. On Sept 20th whoever has the most points will treat the other person to a $50 outfit at Lane Bryant! (WE LOVE LANE BRYANT!!!) As of last weekend I’m TOTALLY loosing and as far as I can see I’m still behind.

All of that to say this:

This morning I wake up with a MAJOR craving for waffles. My husband comes upstairs and I ask him if he’ll make me breakfast. He enthusiastically tells me he’ll make pancakes and I’m like, “pancakes would be good but I’d really like a waffle”. Regardless, pancake OR waffle, this fantasy was short lived because we don’t have anything in the house to make either. I said, “Well how about eggs? Then I could be on menu still.” But alas, NO EGGS!!! He decides that he can go to the store to get ingredients but I have a better idea. I coolly suggest that we go out to breakfast. I say something like, “If I’m going to loose a point I may as well get a really good waffle.” That did it! I must have offended him because suddenly he’s all huffy and going off about how we don’t have money to go to breakfast. Now I’m confused… 10 seconds ago you were headed to the store for groceries but we don’t have money for breakfast? Well apparently those are two totally different things and I was completely insane for thinking they weren’t. So I say, “Don’t worry about it. I’ll just have a freaking protein shake.” The results: he’s stomping around all bitter and angry because I won’t let him make me breakfast and I’m thinking, “Seriously? We’re fighting over a waffle?” UGH!

Fatty, Fat, Fat...

That’s how I feel today! Fatty fatty boba-latty and so forth. I, like so many of you, got down and dirty and took my measurements. My husband helped me with this and needless to say it was less than exciting!!! I HATE to see the changes in my body especially when they are negative changes. His response was, "WOW, you seem SOOOOO much smaller to me today than in those last few days of the pregnancy. I wonder what your measurments were then. Hmmm?" I know he didn't mean anything by it. I have to admit I've been thinking the same thing. Still, it's a sucky thought.
Yesterday I was feeling like a rock star. Today not so much. I have decided to hide my scale. I’m putting it in my basement. This way I have got to REALLY want to stand on it otherwise I won’t bother. I’m not one of those people that can weigh themselves everyday. I know how much a person can fluctuate in a day. In my mind I have this information but my heart seems to forget. When I’m down it sings with delight but one tenth of one pound shows back up and my heart breaks. Then here comes the fatness and the fat thoughts and the fat fatty fat, fat. So to hell with the scale! I’m doing the deeds… DIET, EXERCISE and LOTS OF WATER. I'm going to view this as a starting point and nothing else. (That's what I keep telling myself anyway.) I’ll weigh myself again next week or something.

To eat or not to eat? The truth about caloric intake!

Ok do you all want the truth? If you truly want your body to burn fat and maintain muscle mass then you must consume as many calories as you are burning in a day. How do you know how many you are burning? Trainers and nutritionalist will use your RMR. Your what? Your RMR is your Resting Metabolic Rate. You can go to gyms or a nutritionalist to get an RMR test. This will tell you how many calories you are burning (roughly) per day. To find your RMR they hook you up to a machine and have your lay at rest for a set period of time. Then they calculate how many calories per minute you burn while completely at rest, multiply that by the total number of minutes in the day and Ta-Da: your RMR.
Now let’s say your RMR is 1700 Calories per day. They ask about your “level of activity” and the computer will calculate how many calories it thinks you burn doing low, moderate or high levels of activity. At a moderate level (working out regularly) they would probably say you burn about 2800 calories per day. Then they would take that number and tell you how many calories to restrict to loose weight.

Scientifically speaking: To lose 1 lbs a week you should have a caloric deficit of 500 calories per day. That’s 3500 calories per week which is how much is how much it would take to loose 1 pound of fat. (One pound of fat contains 3500 calories.) Here’s the thing... Once you have reached a certain percent of body fat EVERYTHING you put in your mouth is converted into fat. Once you have restricted your calories so much that your body is in a state of starvation it will stay that way and the BEST thing you can do is to EAT MORE!!! If you think that you want to loose 3 lbs a week so you restrict 1500 cal a day your body will do exactly opposite or what you want. It will store fat not burn it! But if you break out of that starvation mode then it may not just dump 1 pound per week but 3 or 4 with no extra effort on your part.

I know I know it goes against everything you’ve ever heard, everything you’ve ever been taught and most of all your emotions pick up and yell, “This can’t be true! It doesn’t make sense to eat more if you want to loose more!” I was there. When my husband told me all of this, I told him it didn’t make sense. I wanted to eat less and have my body burn up all the freaking fat I was carrying. He said this, “Your body doesn’t have emotions and your body doesn’t think. Your body is a machine! A perfect beautiful and creative machine that will functions that way if you give it everything it needs.” If you give your body all of the carbs, protein and fat that it requires to function well it will do just that. In fact if your body is getting everything it needs then it will stop running in a mode of starvation and begin running like a well oiled machine. It will send out the signals to dump the excess baggage (fat) because it doesn’t need it anymore.

The trick: NUTRIENT DENSE FOODS!!!!!
Good food like grilled chicken rice and vegetables. Also it is CRUCIAL to get Protein, CARBS (good carbs like rice, pasta, even bread if you’re careful and of course fruits and veggies) and FAT!!! That’s right folks you MUST eat fat every day. We all need good essential fatty acids you know the good stuff like Omega 3, 6 and 9. If you don’t eat fat your body will make it!

If you read my comment on Karilynns blog then you know that I am eating approximately 3700 calories per day. That is because I’m burning 3500-3700 calories per day right now. I have not been eating enough and my body, being the perfect machine it is, has been in starvation mode and storing fat like a champ. I’m going to reset my system by eating as much as I’m using. I’ve been at this about a week and going strong. I know most of you are thinking this is the craziest thing you’ve ever heard. But somewhere some of you may be thinking that it makes sense. I will say this, how many trainers that put you on your 1500 calorie diets will guarantee that you loose weight without working out? Have you ever heard of any? They all say work out! Work out! Work out! My husband will guarantee fat loss by eating on his menu even if you don’t change your level of activity at all! So am I crazy? Is he? Ultimately, time will tell. In a couple of weeks I’ll either have lost or gained. You’ll have to wait and see!

Sneaky Little Bastard...

Why is it that every time I put my mind to something these evil thoughts start creeping in. I’m totally geared up and ready to get on track with my diet and suddenly there are Baskin Robin signs EVERYWHERE!!! Things I NEVER eat like potato chips, candy bars and Twinkies suddenly have appeal and seem to be calling my name from ever nook and cranny. Everyone at work has chips and salsa, chocolate bars and salt water taffy on their desk. To top it all of there are 3 rows of GIANT cans of Pepsi filling the vending machines that line the halls at work. As if a cold refreshing Pepsi is not tempting enough now they have shiny, beautiful 16 oz cans. Short of Beer at the gas station I’ve never seen a can this big. All I can say is big blue has never been sexier and just in time for my diet. EEK!!!
Well I’ve decided! It’s the devil! He’s a sneaky little bastard that wants nothing more than for me to fail. He sneaks into my thoughts and is trying to cloud my judgment. Well I got news for you devil, you can tempt all you want but I’m not giving in!

I'm not just talking about it anymore!

Ready Set Go!!!
*I’d like to start off by saying that spelling and grammar are not my strongest features so if you’re way into that… SORRY! But you’ll just have to get over it!*

Hi everyone! This is my very first time blogging EVER so I’m not sure exactly what to write. I promise you there are people falling down dead from shock just by seeing this happen. LOL

I guess I’ll just tell you a bit about me. I’m 29 years old, married and just had a baby girl in July. Isn’t she adorable? I wish that I could say that I’m this heavy because of the pregnancy but the fact is, is that I am 4 lbs less today than the day I got pregnant. Most people would be saying good job that awesome… but hello? Have you seen my weight?
Needless to say I’m not at the peak of fitness but all of that is about to change!

My husband is a personal trainer that specializes in nutrition. I was hesitant to say that because I thought people might think I had an unfair advantage. To those of you that are thinking that again… hello? Have you seen my weight? My husband is an amazing man and incredibly knowledgeable about what he does. I worked with him a couple of years ago and got in the best shape I’ve been since Jr. High but as you can see I gained it all back plus more. Living with him I’ve gained tons of knowledge about health and wellness, specifically about nutrition. I love to talk to people about proper nutrition and proper positioning when working out but often I think the information falls on deaf ears. It’s something like the blind leading the blind. (the over weight instructing the over weight. You get my point.) So, here is the plan. I’m taking all of this knowledge that I have crammed in my head and I’m putting it to work. I’m not just talking about it anymore!!!