and the "BIGGEST LOSERS" this week are ...

 

 

 

And the "BIGGEST LOSERS" this week are ...

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

WHEW ... things are really slowing down in our little "community" here, huh??!  I have been able to pop onto some spaces & leave a few comments, but not as much time to respond as I'd like (or blog for that matter!).  I just wanted everyone to know that Ray & I are STILL mustering up our 212 ATTITUDES & moving forward NO MATTER WHAT & I'm THRILLED to see that many of our "friends" will be here, as well!  It's been challenging to get "back into the swing" of things (after I got a little "off track" this weekend!), but I've FORCED myself to eat right & exercise every day except yesterday.  I had another headache (I had one on Wed. but forced myself to work out anyway, b/c it wasn't toooo bad).  Yesterday was a different story.  I just felt really "yucky" & my head was POUNDING & since I didn't feel like cleaning up puke in the basement, I opted OUT of the workout yesterday. 

 

Today, however, I feel MUCH better & found a GREAT time to work out (this has been a tough thing for me, as my workout times are NOT consistent ... I just try to make sure I get them in every day!).  I got all of my little ones lunch & then headed down the the basement to workout.  My oldest son (who was having his own "lunch break") was able to keep an eye on everyone & then he got them settled for their 30 min. of TV for the day while I finished up.  I liked it b/c it relieved Nathan (my 12 yr. old) from having to "watch" the little ones while I worked out, thus he didn't miss out on any "schoolwork," plus, I was not dodging the little ones while doing my "TAE-BO" kicks!  They were happily having lunch & I had an hour of "peaceful" working out & then I was "DONE!" for the day!  I was able to grab a quick shower as soon as I put them all down for naps & then I had a light lunch, as I wasn't really that hungry (another BONUS??!!).  We are normally ALWAYS home for lunch, so I'm going to try to hit this time each day next week & see how it goes.  In the past, I tried mornings (too hectic w/the little ones & Nathan having to "watch them" meant he wasn't doing "school"), afternoons (I've usually LOST my energy & can't manage to get "moving" before the rest of my crew comes home from school, plus I'm usually trying to tidy up from our mornings).  By evening, when Ray is home, I AM able to work out w/o worrying about the kids, but there are MANY days "things" come up & someone has to go somewhere or I have to run to the store, which means if I WANT to get my workout in, it's LATE & I don't usually enjoy that, either .... soooo, after 11 WEEKS, it looks like I just may have found the PERFECT time for ME to workout ... we'll see!! 

 

I understand that this was a totally DRY & BORING post, but I felt like I had to get SOMETHING up here, so I could still feel "connected" w/all of you!  Hope you didn't mind "listening" & I PROMISE to be more amusing next time! 

 

So, just a few "Monday Musings" that came to me in the shower this morning AFTER I worked out ...

 

Wow, I thought my tummy was ugly before????  Now, it's starting to sag AND it has HAIR growing out of it (EEEWWWWW!).  I guess since it's on the lower half of my stomach, I couldn't SEE it when my belly was so big!  Now, it's just plain SCARY!  WHAT is that all about??? 

 

After I got over the shock of looking at my belly, I finished washing up & stepped out of the shower (insert heavenly sounding music here & a glorious sunbeam shinning down from above) ... Lo & behold, I was able to wrap the towel around my WHOLE BODY & there was not a GAPING CRATER down the side!!!  Yep, for the first time in a LONG TIME, a regular bath towel encircled my ENTIRE body & stayed put!!!  I actually did a little "towel dance" in the middle of my bathroom!  What a victory!! 

 

I share those with you because this weekend, I got HORRIBLY off track!  I didn't really work out at all (I normally do 5-6 times a week!) & by Sunday, I was depressed that I had gained back that extra pound I had lost by Thurs. & my mood was in the toilet!  I was grumpy & short w/everyone.  I managed to get everyone to church b/c I KNEW I needed it, but I still didn't lighten up.  In fact, as the day went on, I got even "moodier" & ended up baking some of those "break apart" cookies that were left over from my daughter's b-day slumber party on Friday (Ray was out snowblowing).  Now, I have to tell you that I have NOT stooped to "emotional eating" since I had a giant piece of my daughter's b-day cake back on the first of February.  I knew I had been riding a "slippery slope," as I'd had some fast food on Fri. & some soda (which I have almost totally cut out ... MAYBE one can a week w/healthy pizza on Fridays!).  I thought I'd be OK, but w/the snowstorm & having "extra" kids here for 2 days/nights, I just kinda "gave up" on me.  I think by the time Sun. rolled around, I knew I was in trouble!  As the day went on, I ate the cookies (5 of them ... UGGGHHH!) & drank some Hot Chocolate before bed (haven't eaten before bed since starting this whole challenge!).  I drank little (if any!) water for those few days & I am STILL AMAZED that I lost that ONE pound by Sun. morning!  I guess maybe I HAVE built up enough muscle to "keep burning the fat" when I don't do so hot!  

 

Anyway, I am PROUD to say that I mustered up EVERY OUNCE of 212 DETERMINATION that I could & I FORCED myself to get in the basement & work out BEFORE anything could get in the way today.  I even promised my 4 yr. old that we'd go the library AFTER I worked out (knowing she'd hold me to it & I wouldn't be able to slack off & not go!).  I was DREADING working out b/c I knew it had been 4-5 days since my last workout & I even thought about just doing a 30 min. "easy-breezy" ball routine I have.  Once I was dressed & in the basement, I figured I'd better just buckle down & get to it.  I put on my 1 hr. ADVANCED tape & almost DIED!  It's AMAZING how quickly our body reverts back to being "out of shape"!  I was able to do the whole thing (minus a few reps on certain exercises), but man, was I SUCKING WIND!!!  My muscles were NOT happy that I had "taken the break" & I can assure you that I will be at it EVERY DAY THIS WEEK to get back in the groove! 

 

I was starting to feel "proud" of the muscles I was developing & even though I'm a LOOONG way from my goal, I was proud of my progress!  Getting off track this weekend reminded me that I AM human & I WILL make mistakes, but for the first time EVER, I said, "Today is a fresh start & I choose to take back control"!  I've been pretty "upbeat" & determined through this process, but I think I finally had my moment of doubt.  Thankfully, I've come TOOOO far to let it overcome me & I KNOW, w/the help of my husband, my 212 family & all of you, I can stand up proud, again & move forward!  I really want to be an inspiration to all of those moms out there that think there's NO WAY they can do it!  With 6 children, it isn't always easy, but I know it HAS to be done!  I want to reach out to each of you & say, "it's OK, we're going to make mistakes, but we WIN just because we choose to learn & move forward!"  Please know that I think you're WORTH IT & I hope that you will dig deep & find a way to re-energize yourself one more time, if you are struggling!  Together, we WILL do this!!!

 

 

Well, our weigh-in day is "officially" on Sundays, but I wanted to see how close I came to losing my 20lbs. in 2 months, so I hopped on the scale today ... I am PROUD to report that I am down 19 lbs. in TWO months!!!  Yes, I'm still "behind" by 1 lb. (which you can BET will be GONE by Sunday! ), but I would have NEVER even thought it POSSIBLE to do, if I hadn't been encouraged to take up the challenge by this Biggest Loser MPMU!  I had been "floundering" for several months on HOW to get my body in shape, as I was VERY unhappy (not to mention UNHEALTHY ... for the first time in my life, I had HIGH blood pressure!  Today, I'm happy to report that it is TOTALLY back to normal!!!).  I'd looked at several options & even half-heartedly "tried" several things, but NOTHING kept me motivated & on track ... until now!  With all of the support & encouragement I've gotten here (not to mention from my wonderful hubby!), I've been able to battle through the 180's & 190's since beginning on Jan. 6, 2008!  Today I am "officially" at 179, so I've left those nasty numbers behind FOREVER!!!  My goal is to "SLICE THROUGH THE SEVENTIES" in March & continue on my journey, NO MATTER WHAT!!!  April will see me "SMASHING THROUGH THE SIXTIES" & then in May I will "FIGHT through the FIFTIES"!  By the end of June, I will have "Fried the FORTIES," where I will only have TWO POUNDS to go to reach my goal of 138!!  When you see it like that, it's truly EMPOWERING!!  To think I will be celebrating the summer weighing SIXTY POUNDS LESS than I did when I started the year is just INCREDIBLE ... especially considering I was on the brink of being 200 pounds!!!  I am SOOOO excited!!!  I know it is still a BATTLE every day, but I LOVE having all of you here to cheer me on through the tough times!!  THANK YOU for your continued support!  I could have NEVER done this w/out all of you & I HOPE that my journey is inspiring to someone else, who NEVER thought it possible!!!   EACH of us is WORTH the effort & determination this challenge requires!  I encourage every ONE of you to muster up the 212 MOTIVATION & FOCUS that is necessary to stay on track, b/c you & your family DESERVE the opportunity for a LONGER & STRONGER life!!! 

 

Well, another week down & our little group continues to CHUG along!  Our winner's for week 5 are:  TAMMIE & GLENN!!!  They have captured the title for the SECOND time, but it was CLOSE!!!  David & Kristie (www.kristi-david-weightloss.spaces.live.com) were only .2% behind the winners!!  In the "individual" categories, the girls KICKED -BOOTY!!!  Kristie was first w/3.8 lbs. lost (1.8%) & Tammie was second with 3 lbs. lost (1.5%)!!  AWESOME JOB, gals!  Michael & Cassandra (www.stumblingtostanding.spaces.live.com) struggled this week, along with Ray, but I LOVED Cassandra's note that said she now realizes how QUICK that weight will come back on if she's not diligent about her "lifestyle" ... just a few days of "off" eating or not exercising can quickly start us back on that downward spiral!  I KNOW all three of these guys will be VIGILANT this week & be right back on track next week (especially if you all pop in & give them a few words of encouragement)!!  This is for the health of ourselves AND our families & they are WORTH IT, RIGHT???    CONGRATS, again, to Tammie & Glenn!  You guys are TOUGH competitors & I'm PROUD of your continued efforts!!!  Keep up the GREAT work this week, everyone, & remember to keep that 212 DETERMINATION alive, so we can celebrate YOUR success next week!!!! 

 

Hey gang!  It was a good week for me, as I was able to achieve another 2 lb. loss.  I have until Mar. 6th to lose 3 more pounds, so I can reach my "20 lbs. in 2 months" goal ... I am going to do all I can to make it happen, but I am HONESTLY AMAZED that I have been able to be as steady as I've been.  It's been SLOW & sometimes frustrating, but overall, I've kept my head down & pressed forward, DETERMINED to lose this 60 lbs. by the end of June!  I know it's only going to continue to get harder, as I lose more weight, but I intend to stay the course!  I'm HOPING you all will continue here w/us, so we can continue to support & cheer one another on!  I gain MUCH strength & inspiration from all of YOUR stories, so I HOPE you will all continue to share!!! 

 

Ray had a tougher week, as he had the first personal gain for our team ever (2 lbs.), but it didn't result in an overall gain, as I had lost 2lbs.  I know his heart was really not into it as much last week & I honestly think that is due to a situation that happened early in the week.  He had a former student commit suicide (the boy was a sophomore in H.S.) & it was very tragic.  I found Ray talking about him almost every day last week, just "in passing," so I really think he was emotionally affected by it more than he wanted to let on!  We also had 2 days of horrible weather & was late to the gym, thinking he would be getting a call for snow days.  By Thurs., he played in the b-ball game w/the H.S. kids & hurt his leg/foot, so I think that was just the LAST straw!  He was FRUSTRATED & I could tell he was mentally "tired"!  He has a "no excuses" attitude & was fully aware of what was most likely going to happen on the scale.  He KNOWS where he fell short last week & has every intention of getting back on track this week, so I have NO DOUBTS in my mind that he will!  

 

Our 212 group continues to do well & we have another CLOSE competition going between 2 couples so far this week.  I'm waiting for 2 groups to check in & then I can't WAIT to post our winner!  I'm sooo proud that these couples are continuing this challenging journey with a 212 ATTITUDE!!!  Keep up the GREAT work you are all doing ... it will be SOOOOO worth it, especially as summer approaches & our kids BEG us to be outside, active & in the water with them!!!!