Hey gang ... I KNOW it's all about "calories in/calories out" & I can honestly say, I'm TRYING!  However, it's a challenge for me in my  current life to figure out the EXACT calorie/fat/protien/fiber count in every bite I take.  That being said, I'm WAAAAAY further along than I've EVER been, just for the simple fact that I'm READING labels & making much better choices in those areas!  Obviously, I continue to lose an average of 2 lbs. a week, so I'm doing OK, but I've been stressing lately that if I didn't start accounting for EVERY MORSEL that went into my mouth, I would not reach my goal.  I understand that those that keep a food journal are the MOST successful & my ultimate goal would be to GET THERE; however, right now, that's just not possible & STRESSING about NOT keeping one is only making it worse!  I am doing OK w/my food choices & keeping to a STRONG exercise program each day, so for me, that is a HUGE improvement over what I was doing just a few short weeks ago!  I really can't "do it all" at once, or I think I'll throw in the towel, so I'm going to continue reading those labels & maybe incorporate a few of the tips below to really help me MAXIMIZE my dietary changes, until that food journal becomes a reality!  I thought maybe some of you would benefit from seeing the tips, too!  Enjoy & let me know what you think!! 

By the way ... on a side note ... I absolutely HATE fruits & veggies.  I can stomach a few (broccoli, beans, strawberries & pineapple), but I'm SURE I NEED to really start incorporating even MORE variety.  Most of the time, it's a "texture" issue & I just have this horrible "gag" reflex when it comes to these healthy foods.  If ANYONE has some helpful hints on how to overcome this (or if you've done it yourself!) I'd LOVE to hear from you!  I want to overcome this, so I can really "do as I tell my children to do" & NOT "do as I SAY!"  THANKS!!  ~ Angie

 

Lose Weight Without the Math

Sick of diets that are more complicated than your tax return? Here's how to ditch unwanted pounds--no calculator required

Paige Greenfield

With all the weighing, measuring, and calorie totaling, dropping a few pounds can seem as mind-bending as high school calculus. But it doesn't have to be. "Of course calories count," says Dawn Jackson Blatner, R.D., a spokesperson for the American Dietetic Association, "but there are plenty of ways to cut them without a math Ph.D." In fact, some simple lifestyle changes are often more effective than obsessive number crunching. Follow these four strategies and the only figure you'll be thinking about is the smokin' one in the mirror.

Instead counting calories - Try joining a club
Because Keeping a running total is a little like guessing how many jelly beans are in a Mason jar. According to a 2006 study published in the Annals of Internal Medicine, Americans--even those who are at a healthy weight-­consistently lowball the number of calories in large fast-food meals by up to 38 percent.

For portion control without the decimal points, sign up for a delivery service like DeliciouslyYours (ediets.com) or Health Management Resources (hmrprogram.com). They deliver meals in just-right sizes to your doorstep each week. And the foods they consist of are usually high in fiber and protein, so you won't feel deprived, says Anne Fletcher, R.D., author of Thin for Life.

Another, er, plus: The smaller portions train you to recognize proper serving sizes, so you'll make smarter choices when the prepackaged grub is out of reach. You can enroll in a meal-delivery service for $12 to $20 a day; there are good options in the freezer aisle too, says Elisa Zied, R.D., author of So What Can I Eat?! Look for frozen meals that have less than 500 calories and have at least four grams of fiber, no more than 15 grams of fat (fewer than three grams saturated and no trans fat), and fewer than 700 milligrams of sodium.

Instead eating by food ratios - Try eye-balling labels
Because If diets like the Zone, Atkins, or South Beach didn't work for you, it may not be because you couldn't give up bagels. It could be because you're too darn busy to bother updating percentages and ratios at every meal. If you don't have Rain Man keeping tabs on your meals, try this instead: Take 15 seconds to scan food labels for key ingredients. According to a 2007 report by the USDA Economic Research Service, we spend an average of 30 percent of our annual grocery bill on foods such as muffins, cakes, cupcakes, cookies, crackers, ice cream, candy, soda, and doughnuts--foods whose ingredients lists have sugar at or near the top. It's a pretty big duh that sweeteners jack up calories, but they also take your blood sugar on a roller-coaster ride that lands you right back at the fridge. We call it the theory of "calories in, calories in."

End the snacking madness by making natural, whole foods the bulk of your diet. That includes fruits, veggies, and lean meats such as chicken, turkey, flank steak, pork chops, and fish. And when stocking up on packaged foods, choose ones "that list whole foods, such as whole-wheat flour, oats, peanuts, and real fruit, in the first line of ingredients," Zied says. That's your clue that a food is lower in calories and higher in fiber and protein than one with a lot of high-fructose corn syrup, sugar, molasses, or even honey.

Instead of logging 30 minutes on the treadmill - Try pumping up to scale down
Because According to a recent review by a Duke University medical research­er, treadmill displays inflate the number of calories you burn by 10 to 15 percent. The study also found that 20 percent of us reward ourselves after exercise by eating as many calories as we worked off--and that we're less inclined to get physical after a strenuous workout for two to six hours. That's when we'll veg out on the couch instead of do housework.

A more efficient way to counteract dessert is to pump iron. Though cardio torches more calories minute-for-minute than lifting, weight training keeps your internal furnace going long after you put down the dumbbells. A study in the journal Medicine & Science in Sports & Exercise found that after six months of lifting weights three days a week, subjects increased their resting metabolic rate (that's the number of calories you burn just sitting on your butt) by 7 percent. To squeeze the most out of every curl and squat, speed it up: Another study in the same ­journal found that lifting quickly (for example, during a squat, lowering for two seconds, then coming up as fast as you can) fries calories 11 percent faster than lifting slowly. Researchers think the explosive movements create more calorie-melting muscle contractions.

Instead of measuring each bite - Try enjoying each bite
Because Being a slave to your kitchen scale won't make the one in your bathroom budge faster. A 2007 study in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition confirmed that it is possible to eat more and still slim down. The study compared weight loss in two groups of obese women. All of them were told to eat a reduced-fat diet, but one group was also instructed to consume a lot of water-rich foods, like soups, fruits, and vegetables. That group ate 25 percent more food by volume but lost more weight (an average of 17.5 pounds versus 14). How? They were eating fewer calories, but were still satisfied, thanks to the foods' high water content. "Physical activity was the same in both groups, so if the people in one group lost more, they had to have eaten fewer calories," says lead study author Barbara Rolls, Ph.D.

Instead of measuring your meals, try a more measured approach to eating. It takes your brain 12 to 15 minutes to receive the signal that your stomach is at max capacity, so wait for it. If you pause between bites, chances are you'll get that signal before you've scarfed down seconds. Don't have that kind of self-control? Choose foods that are impossible to bolt down: produce you have to peel, nuts in the shell, and spicy foods.

Last updated: February 21, 2008   Women's Health Issue date: March 2008

Well, I don't know about you, but I'm really starting to see some POSITIVE changes from this journey we are taking.  Has it been EASY ... NO WAY!!  Am I even CLOSE to being done ... NO WAY!  But what I AM seeing is a GLIMPSE of what is to come & I LIKE it!!!  I was determined to lose 2 HEALTHY pounds a week (on average).  Since we just finished week 7 & I have lost a total of 14 lbs., I'd say I've hit that one pretty dead on!   I wasn't always HAPPY when I saw a TEENY little loss (.3) or even a big fat ZERO lbs. lost (after busting my TAIL w/exercise & eating right!), but overall, I've been working on a good steady loss, which will KEEP those pounds off FOREVER!  I thought I'd share a few "reflections" I had this weekend, thinking over the past 7 weeks:

 

Every DAY I choose to make good or poor choices for my body!  I tend to be an "all or nothing" kind of gal.  I like "instant" gratification & I like to see RESULTS.  I have had to challenge myself to STOP thinking this way, b/c before, if I made a "slip" in my eating/exercising, I would simply "GIVE UP" b/c I'd "failed" anyway & WHY BOTHER!  Now, I am viewing this as a LIFETIME of choices that I get to make EACH day.  Sure, I'm human & I "mess up" from time to time, but that's the GREAT part about being human ... I can CHOOSE to make a BETTER choice at the very next meal, or I can make the choice to get up off the couch & "MOVE MY MASS," as Ray likes to say!    Sometimes it takes ALL I HAVE to lace up those shoes & exercise, or NOT put that piece of chocolate in my mouth, but I KNOW, IN THE LONG RUN, THAT CHOICE will make me happier, so I CHOOSE to delay the gratification & do what I KNOW will be best!

 

Being accountable to others is a NECESSITY for me!  I cannot do this alone, so I am BLESSED to be in this supportive community, where I can share my thoughts & gain strength from others!  I LOVE being able to cheer others on & I am grateful when others acknowledge the work Ray & I are doing ... I get such motivation from that & I thank EACH OF YOU who have seen to it that we are supported along the way!!  It's ALL of your little "voices" that ENCOURAGE ME to make those "good choices" each day & for that, I am truly blessed!!!

 

Sharing this journey w/Ray is a MUST for the longevity of our family!  Who was I kidding, thinking we were not going to suffer any "consequences" of the bad choices we were making?  Just because we hadn't dropped dead of a heart attack, didn't mean our bodies were w/o problems!  I know for a fact that the high blood pressure I had in the fall was a "wake up call" for me to say, "Whoa, maybe I'm NOT invinceable" & I NEED to get healthy for myself AND my children!  (Not to mention Ray's high cholesterol & such!).  Having Ray & I do this together makes it a "family" activity & now our KIDS are learning how & WHY it's soooo important to make those "good choices" each day!  Seeing them eat truly "healthy" snacks, over the "supposed" healthy ones I was trying to feed them says it ALL!  They learn quickly & it is OUR job to make sure we give them every opportunity to grow healthy & strong!!

 

Hearing someone say, "are you losing weight?" really DOES make you feel good!  No matter HOW MUCH I've said that I didn't "care" what others thought, or that I was doing this for my health, etc. ... hearing someone (other than my kids & Ray) recognize my efforts (when they had NO IDEA I was part of this challenge!) really helps you to see that you ARE changing, even if it seems to be at a SNAIL'S pace!!  I WANT others to continue to recognize those efforts & I want Ray to be just as proud of me as he is!  I may say I "don't care what others think," but I guess deep down, I really do a little bit!  Hey, if I have to use THAT for motivation ... why not??

 

I really DO have the power to make good decisions, even when they aren't the BEST for me!  Ray & I have already been "tested" several times w/eating out & yesterday was a PRIME example for me.  I went out to lunch w/my mom to Olive Garden & ended up ordering an "ooey-gooey" pasta w/chicken & spinach.  Now, this is something I LOVE & would have DEVOURED previously; however, I KNEW it was not a good choice to eat the entire thing at once, so I asked for a "to-go" box IMMEDIATELY & put 1/2 to 3/4 into the box right away.  My mom thought I was NUTS & couldn't BELIEVE I wouldn't eat it all (she was quite happy finishing her entire plate ... until we were walking to the car & she started complaining that she felt sick b/c she was SOOOO stuffed!).  I "nursed" one soda (which I have pretty much given up on a daily basis!) during the whole meal (my mom had 3 GIANT ones!) & left feeling quite satisfied & PROUD of my efforts.  Had I chosen the most HEALTHY meal for me ... most likely, NO!  But I HAD found a way to enjoy a SMALL part of it & save the rest for another time (or share w/Ray or the kids today!).  You see, I KNOW I will NEVER stick to this "healthy lifestyle" if I cannot indulge in a few "taboo foods" once in a while (or skip my exercise for the day w/o guilt) ... but what I DO know now, is that I have the POWER to step back & decide HOW I want to proceed in these situations.  I could have TOTALLY blown my mom off b/c I couldn't "dine healthy" at that restaurant (I'm pretty picky!) or I could say, I would LOVE to join her AND enjoy a SMALL PORTION of something I will have VERY RARELY!!  All things in moderation, right???

 

It is FUN finding out that you are starting to fit into "old clothes" that once seemed IMPOSSIBLE!  Yesterday, I was able to wear a pair of jeans & a top that were COMPLETELY OUT OF THE QUESTION in January (trust me, I TRIED!).  I was honestly SHOCKED that they fit & I only put them on b/c all of my other jeans were in the laundry & I needed SOMETHING to wear!  When I slid them on (sz. 13-14!), I almost CRIED!  I couldn't even BELIEVE I could button them! (Granted, they are of that "stretch" version, which is a bit more forgiving ... but hey, there wasn't enough S-T-R-E-T-C-H in the WORLD for those puppies in Jan.!!!).  Anyway, I figured I'd might as well try on the shirt, too.  I couldn't even BUTTON the thing over my belly in Jan. & now I could button AND I had some "room to groove"!!  It is a little more "fitted" through the waist (unlike the normal "baggy T-shirt attire" that I typically wear) & Ray let me know right away how "GREAT!" I looked (isn't he SWEET!!!).  He said he's definitely seeing it in my face & now through my body, too, so I GUESS this hard work IS paying off!  I can't WAIT to shop for things in a SMALLER size!!!

 

I have more energy & motivation than EVER before!  I learned thes last week while Ray was gone for 3 days!  I had sick kids, NO HELP & all the "normal" duties of being mom.  I STILL managed to get everything done AND I forced myself to work out AFTER the little ones were in bed, which I have NEVER done before in my LIFE!  My mom finally called on Saturday to see if I "needed" anything or if I wanted to take a magazine & head out to Panera for an hour or 2 until Ray came home, just to get out of the house.  Can you believe I said "no thank you, but I'd LOVE it if you could just come over anyway, so I could run down to the basement & work out BEFORE he gets home!"  I had spent the day cleaning w/the kids who weren't sick & I desperatly wanted to get in a workout, too, but I didn't want to do it when Ray got home.  Again, my mom was SHOCKED, but she agreed.  After about 45 min. she yelled down to the basement to see if I was "all right" (apparently she feared my body could not take exercise for that long! HAHA!).  When I came up after about an hour & 10 min., she took one look at me & said, is THAT what you do every day?  Are you SURE you're not "overdoing it"?  Nope, I felt GREAT!  If someone had told me just 7 weeks ago that I would be making time at the END of my busy-crazy days to EXERCISE for an hour, I would have exploded w/laughter!  Now, I KNOW it HAS to be done & I MAKE THE TIME for it!!!  I am feeling better than I've felt in a LONG time & I can race up the stairs after my 20 mo. old w/out getting out of breath or my legs SCREAMING in pain!  I WANT to eat better & exercise b/c I have a lot of people "watching" me & I want to PROVE that I CAN do this!!!  I LOVE a challenge & this one is the ULTIMATE!!!

 

So, I could go on forever, but I just wanted others to see that, although this journey is NOT easy, we can EACH start to see the MANY little "benefits" & "motivators" in our lives, if we're just kind enough to ourselves to see them!  We are often so HARD on ourselves that we just GIVE UP out of frustration.  I'm here to tell you that w/6 kids, a homeschooler, daycare kids that I watch & a BAZILLION after-school acivities that I could EASILY toss in the towel most days!  Things NEVER go as I plan, but part of this journey is learning how to be FLEXIBLE, but stay on track &, based on what I'm seeing so far, ... it's TOTALLY POSSIBLE!!!  I hope you will stick to it, too, b/c it's SOOOOOO gonna be worth it!!!

 

Take care, everyone & until next time .... drink some water, move a little & SMILE!

 

OK, so this has NOTHING to do w/getting healthy or losing weight, but I know there are MANY fellow teachers in this challenge & rather than emailing them all individually, I figured I'd just post this here!  If you are a teacher, this will really make you SMILE!  If you are NOT a teacher & you have children ... PLEASE thank your child's  teacher this month with a brief hand-written note or conversation!  If you are not a teacher & have no children, then maybe this will simply cause you to stop & think about YOUR favorite teacher & how the inspired you in a special way!  I'd LOVE for you to share who your favorite teacher was & why ... who knows, maybe he/she is even part of this challenge & will SEE it!!  As teachers, just KNOWING that we've made a difference in a child's life is often the BEST payment of all!!

 

n honor of my hubby, who is away from his family for 3 days to learn how to be an even BETTER teacher (even though he's already AMAZING!), I'm posting this here ....

 

Since my hubby & I are separated on this special holiday, I figured I'd take a moment to send him a little note, in case he gets a chance to hop online while he's away.  If you don't care to read, no problem ... I'll post an update for EVERYONE soon!  For those who choose to read ... be warned that the last paragraph is a little "mushy," ... hey, it's to my sweetie & it IS Valentine's Day, after all!!!

 

 

 

 

“What lies behind us and what lies before us are tiny matters compared to what lies within us.” ~ Ralph Waldo Emerson

 

Hi gang!  The quote above is one I've LOVED since I got a plaque w/that saying in 7th. gr.  It helps me to remember that I will face challenges EVERY DAY, but it is within me (through the power of God!) that I am able to CHOOSE how to respond & tackle them!!  Below is a letter I sent out to our "212" teammates, after receiving one from another member about how she had made an INCREDIBLE EFFORT to walk on her treadmill for 2 hrs. & 12 min. last night during BL!!!! (Way to go, Tammie!!)  It was so inspiring to me, b/c I could really start to see how our MINDSETS are changing, no matter how many "challenges" the day throws our way!  Just recently, I'd have NEVER made the effort I did to accomplish my goal of "moving my body" before bed!  I simply would have collapsed onto the couch & called it a day, saying, "try again tomorrow!"  Well, NO MORE!  It's AMAZING to me that Ray & I are becoming so much more conscious of what/how we eat & making sure we get in our exercise each day!  We booked our tickets to a family wedding in June & I am SOOOOO determined to go & finally NOT be the "fat one" in the pics. this time!!  I've spent 11 yrs. pregnant/nursing or "recovering" from having a baby & had all the excuses in the world ... NO MORE!  I want to be the "Hot Mamma" of 6 AWESOME kids!!!    This challenge & all of the AMAZING people that we've "met" along the way is really the ONLY reason we are able to stay so strong & focused!  Having our 212 family really forces me to stay accountable even more & I THANK THEM for that!!!!  Check out my thoughts below & let me know how YOU are "staying FOCUSED" on your goals DESPITE your challenges!!!

 

Well, I've spent the week cheering on others who seemed to be having a "tough" week.  I really tried to encourage them when they were continuing to work hard & NOT see the results on the scale.  I just did NOT want them to give up, so I did all I could to encourage, support & motivate them to continue the journey, as we're ALL in this for the "long haul"!!  Well, the scale certainly got even with me today ... NO LOSS/NO GAIN!  I have been moving along at a steady clip of about 2 lbs. per week (last week I had 3!).  I had yet to experience a "plateu" or gain, so I was happy to just be plugging along!  Well, I knew the week got off to a rocky start w/the kids all sick & me not doing what I normally do, but I really tried to "kick it up" here by the mid-end of week & I thought I'd AT LEAST lose a pound (added EXTRA workouts & really tried to be smart about food intake!).  Well, it wasn't meant to be.  I can tell you as someone who just got on the scale & saw NO CHANGE after working so hard here the past few days, it's a VERY BIG BUMMER, as so many of you know!  The only GOOD thing I can take away is that I've given out so much "positive" advice & encouragement this week, that I'm just going to have to swallow some of my own, b/c I'm SURE NOT GIVIN' UP!!!!

 

For the first time in what seems like FOREVER I'm feeling muscles that are MUCH stronger (even those deeply hidden abs!!) ... hey, maybe I've added "muscle wt." this week & that's why I'm seeing no change on the scale, huh? I'll be HAPPY when that extra muscle kicks in this week & starts burning OODLES more calories!

 

For the first time in a LONG time, I'm not doing the "double arm STRETCH" every time I put on a T-shirt (ladies, you know the drill ... pull on your shirt, place BOTH ARMS up inside & PULL as hard as you can to give your belly a little more "wiggle room" in that shirt ... the ultimate RESISTANCE TRAINING at times!) !  I almost jumped for joy when I put on a T-shirt to work out this week & it barely skimmed my belly (if at ALL in some shirts!) ... WOOHOOO!!   I guess I'm making progress!

 

For the first time since STARTING this journey, I'm being forced to think about the CALORIES I'm eating during the week.  So far, both Ray & I have really just made a lot of changes to the portions of our meals AND what we were eating (making healthy options for meals & dumping soda, sugar, etc.).  Now, I'm starting to think we need to be more serious about COUNTING OUT those calories, b/c maybe we're not getting ENOUGH (or maybe we're eating more than we think??).  Ray went on a site this morning & found he should be eating 1800 calories ... I can guarantee he's nowhere NEAR that, which might explain his smaller losses.  I have to go check out what I SHOULD be eating, but I'd say I'm probably not doing what I should, as I've not been good about eating my healthy "snacks" btw. meals consistently.  I'm eating good small healthy meals, but NOT snacks, so maybe I've got to step it up, too???  So this week's SLOWDOWN for Team Lowe is forcing us to start "counting calories" this week ... a whole NEW ballgame that we're going to struggle with, I'm sure.  I'm guessing we'll be back here asking LOTS of questions from all of you PROS!!!!  It seems SOOOO complicated to me, but I guess if I USED the BL weight-loss site that I PAYED for back in Dec., it would really HELP, HUH???  I only have the site until Feb. 14, so I guess I should get in & really look around before it expires!!

 

So, even though Ray & I had a TOUGH week on the scale, I still had some small "victories" that I can be PROUD of, I know.  I won't lie, it's still a HARD thing to see those numbers pop up that you DO NOT want to see again!!!  I know Ray was KILLING to say good-bye to the 220's & he's stuck here again this week!  I have CONFIDENCE that we'll "figure things out" this week & we'll BOTH have a GREAT week next week (so WATCH OUT 212 Family ... we'll be back STRONG next week!)!!!  I'm just so PROUD of his continued dedication & our commitment to this together!  We are really FOCUSED on making this a lifestyle CHANGE for us AND for our family!!!  THANK YOU to BL for lighting that fire under our butts ... for that, we'll be forever GRATEFUL!!!

 

To our 212 Family ... we can't WAIT to crown another new CHAMP this week!!!  How FUN it will be to salute YOU this week!!  I can't wait to get everyone's weigh-in numbers, so we can PLASTER it on our space!!  You guys are AWESOME & I KNOW you've worked hard this week!!!  We're blessed to be sharing this journey with each of you!!!

 

Hey gang!  So it's been a LOOONG week so far.  Lots of sick little ones at home (various kids on different days ... one of the JOYS of having a large family ... they're always SO KIND to share! ).  Anyway, Ray & I are still hanging tough by NOT catching their little "cootie bugs," but we'll see how long that lasts ... it CERTAINLY seems to be going around!!  Needless to say, my week has almost "gotten away" from me & I'm JUST NOW hitting my exercise "stride" (good news for all my "212" challengers, I KNOW!! ).  I did Tae-Bo this morning for an HOUR after seeing it on someone elses space ... I had totally FORGOTTEN we had the DVD's & I needed a "change" in my routine anyway ... man, did it KICK MY BUTT!  It felt GREAT & I was SHOCKED at how long I could "stick w/it," but it was HARD!  I feel TOTALLY motivated to work out again, though, this afternoon when Ray gets home & I KNOW I'll really kick it into gear here for the end of our week!  My eating has been fairly good this week, w/Monday being the exception.  We had leftover b-day cake from my daughter's b-day & I found myself CRAVING a piece after lunch.  I was in a "mopey Monday mood" & had not showered, exercised or even had as much water as I normally do by lunchtime that day.  I TOTALLY know it was the "funk" I was in that pushed me to actually EAT the stupid piece of cake & let me tell you, I SOOOOO regretted it for the rest of the day!  NOT b/c it "blew my calories" out of the water for the day, or b/c I had "backslid" (is that even a WORD??) by eating it ... honestly, it was b/c it made me feel SOOOO SICK!!!  I have really cut out almost 90% of the sugar I WAS eating COLD TURKEY since starting this!  I have really tried to steer clear as much as possible b/c it gets me into trouble by wanting MORE of it!  Well, that piece of cake had PLENTY of sugar in it (not to mention a MILLION other "bad for you things"!) & it just SAT like a brick in my stomach!  When I went to change my son's diaper before his nap that afternoon, I was literally GAGGING b/c it felt like it was stuck in my THROAT (no, it was NOT from my son's STINKY diaper b/c he happened to be CLEAN!! HA HA!) .  After I laid him down, I ran into my bathroom & continued gagging for a bit.  Honestly, I thought I would feel better if I could just get it OUT, but no WAY could I do it!  I simply had to suffer the HORRIBLE feeling I had from it the rest of the day.  I really did feel like CRUD that whole day/night & I didn't even work out b/c I felt so awful (& b/c my first "sick child" arrived late that afternoon & needed LOTS of "cuddle time"!!). 

 

Anyway, I'm sharing b/c I've thought about that silly piece of cake ALL WEEK & how much of an IMPACT it had on how I felt ... and to think, I was eating stuff like that almost EVERY DAY before starting this challenge!  How SCARY that I was feeling like that ALL THE TIME & just ACCEPTED IT b/c I WANTED to taste that food!!!  Although I am still not CRAVING fruits & veggies , my body really is NOT craving the sweets like it was & THAT feels good!!!  I've honestly felt more energetic & "happy" than I've felt in a LONG time & I KNOW that's b/c I'm feeding my body better AND giving it some EXERCISE!!

 

Now ... about this "running" thing ... I heard on BL this week (I think it was this week??), that "running is the BEST way to drop the pounds" ... just GREAT!  The one thing I DESPISE doing & THAT is the BEST way to lose the weight???  I cannot even BEGIN to describe how much I HATE to run.  I have NEVER done it for "hobby" & when I've been forced to, I honestly feel like I'm going to DIE.  It's really not usually my BODY that wants to give in, it's my LUNGS!  They just feel like they're going to EXPLODE if I don't STOP! (& I've NEVER been a smoker!!  I did have asthma as a child & was recently told it was "back," but I'm sure that's not it!).  Anyway, I just wanted to ask all of you KNOWLEDGEABLE people out there in BL Land ... IS IT TRUE???  Do I HAVE to run to really lose the weight I WANT to?  The reason I ask is b/c I have HONESTLY been toying w/FORCING myself to run a 5K just to say "I DID IT"!  (We have a neighbor who is a SERIOUS runner ... think Alcatraz Triatholon!) & he's ALWAYS trying to get Ray & I to start running.  I'm just AFRAID to even give it a go b/c I think I'd die!!!  BUT, if it will TRULY speed up my weight loss, then I think I HAVE to give it serious consideration!  I saw on someone's space that they are working a program called the "Couch to 5K" running plan, which is designed to get you up off the couch & RUNNING 3 miles in TWO MONTHS!  It can be found at www.coolrunning.com  Anyway, it sounds SOOOO intimidating to me (I like my intense little workout DVD's!), but I'm willing to give it a try if you all think it would help!  What do you think??? Has anyone else who HATES running ever tried to do it for more than a week (or even a day???).  I'd LOVE to hear from you!!

 

Well, school is almost over & I've gotta get ready for the return of my "healthy" gang!  Take care, everyone & PLEASE share your thoughts on "RUNNING" (or anything else!) w/me!

 

OK, so we had the first weigh-in of our little "support group" that we've named "212" & it was a CLOSE ONE!!!  All 9 teams posted a LOSS for the week & Ray & I won by only .3 lbs.  Scott & Frances (http://scottandfrances.spaces.live.com) were on our HEALS with a 1.4% loss!  Ray & Abby (http://thejimenezmenace.spaces.live.com) tied for the highest personal % lost, with 1.8% for the week!  We had MANY teams w/a 1% or BETTER loss & everyone did a GREAT job!  We had FUN doing our "212 Challenge" exercises all week (we challenged the group to do 212 of "SOMETHING" while they watched Biggest Loser last week).  Many of the teams took it a step further & did them all week (that meant some of us did over 1000 EXTRA "crunches" for the week ... I guess they DID "make a difference" huh??).  The "winners" of our 212 Family this week are Ray & I, so we are going to come up with another FUN challenge for our group to MOTIVATE us this week!  I am just SOOOOO excited to be a part of this "little family" of other parents who are working HARD to change their lives for themselves AND for their children!!  I am proud of ALL the hard work they put forth this week (amidst the many "challenges" that life always seems to bring) & I can't WAIT to cheer EACH of them on to even MORE success this week!  Keep it up, gang ... I'm SOOOO proud of you!!  212 DETERMINATION will make the difference!!!

 

 

 

So, I'm in the basement working out to my "Slim In 6" video & I just started laughing at one point ... the lovely, very SMALL instructor was reminding her very tiny "helpers" to remember to "pull that belly button into your spine" w/each contraction, while exhaling the very DEEP breath you were supposed to have taken ... well bust a gut, I can't even FEEL my belly button through the flab, let alone "pull it into my SPINE" while HEAVING myself up for a crunch contraction that basically entails a whole lot of grunting & maybe a MILLIMETER of "lift" off of the floor!!   As I worked the rest of the tape, I realized how humerous it would look to have ME behind the very lovely instructor showing off all of her moves ... "touch your toes" as you exhale that breath (TOES, are you KIDDING ME ... I can barely reach the ANKLES!!).  "Now, drop your head, exhale & REACH for the floor" (yeah, right ... I might make it if this BELLY weren't in the way!).  "Keep breathing, we're almost there" (BREATHING, I feel like I'm hyperventilating ... forget the whole "inhale, exhale w/each move" bit ... it's all I can do to SUCK THE OXYGEN into my lungs so I don't FAINT!).  "GREAT JOB, GUYS" (as I sit back on my butt b/c my legs are like rubber & SCREAMING w/pain ... apparently she can't "SEE" me too well, huh?). 

 

Honestly, though, I have to say that I AM getting stronger & able to do more with each passing day & I HOPE you are, too!!!  I just thought it was funny that they have a whole studio of thin, strong people showing you how to contort your body into a million different positions ... how about seeing some REAL PEOPLE in various stages of the "getting healthy" journey doing the exercises in the BEST way for them!  Now THAT wouldn't be quite so "funny" would it???? 

 

So, it's the big morning & we're BOTH holding our breath!!  Happily, we can BOTH report a loss this week, after really working hard to make SURE it happened!  Ray lost 3.5 lbs. & I lost 2 ... not spectacular numbers, but we're movin' in the right direction again!!!  He's down a total of 13.5 lbs. in Jan. & I've lost 9lbs. (10 will be gone BEFORE the first day of Feb., as it's my goal to lose 10 lbs. a month ... almost there!!!).  This is the most AMAZING thing ... last year when I was trying to "get healthy" it took me almost 3 months to lose 15 lbs. & I was THRILLED w/that ... NO MORE!  I am NOT "starving myself" & it's not been too terribly AWFUL losing an average of 2 lbs. a week, so I'm TOTALLY FOCUSED now on losing this 60 lbs. by June, when we have a wedding to attend for Ray's family!  I can SOOOO do this now & I'm EXCITED to prove it!  It's soooo AWESOME having Ray "in this" w/me!  When we're sitting at a birthday party DYING to dive into a 3rd, 4th or even 5th piece of pizza, we can look at the other & KNOW that we'll survive w/out it (& THANK THEM later for reminding us!!!).  We actually PLAN now, BEFORE we are in a difficult situation, as to what we're going to try & do!  We encourage each other to get in our workouts & support one another when we just don't FEEL like going!  This truly is a WHOLE NEW WAY of life & we are SOOOOO thankful to BL for encouraging us to jump in & give it a shot!  How BLESSED we are to be sharing this journey w/all of YOU!!!  THANK YOU for your continued support & strength!!  This truly is NOT something we could have done on our own!!!  Blessings to EACH of you on this journey ... may you find the strength, courage & determination to STICK TO THIS, so you might celebrate a longer & healthier life!!!  (Can you tell I'm feeling JOYFUL today!!?? )

 

Hey gang!  Well, it's almost time to see how we fared this week ... I know Ray is ITCHING to have a good loss this week, as last week's gain really deflated him a bit!  I know he's busted his tail this week, both in exercise AND in watching what he's eating, so I have NO WORRIES that he'll be FINE!  I, on the other hand, am a bit apprehensive, as it's "that time of the month" for me (ladies, you know what I'm talking about here ... sorry guys, but it's a fact of life!) ... anyway, I KNOW that means I will be LUCKY to have a loss this week, so I'm not holding my breath.  I've really tried to watch what I'm eating this week (even turned down some of my old favorites!) & I've started working out in our basement doing various exercise tapes (sometimes TWICE a day ... WOOHOO!).  I just figured it's easier for me to TRY & work it in here at home WHENEVER I can, than to try & get out of the house to the gym right now ... we'll see how the scale reacts to THAT!  I'm doing GREAT on my water intake each day, but I really need to get back into my habit of eating 5-6 smaller meals each day ... I'm having a hard time getting in (or remembering!) to eat btw. those regular meals.  I'm SURE that would help my metabolism speed up a bit!

 

We have another b-day party at my sister's house tonight that will include LOTS of pizza, cake & ice-cream.  I'm going to try to stay strong & enjoy a SMALL amount of what I want & just enjoy the celebration.  We went out bowling last night w/some friends from our church & of course they wanted to go have dessert afterwards.  On the way to the restaurant, Ray & I went from saying we were having NOTHING to deciding that we would feel silly not at least having a little something.  We made a plan to split the smallest dessert we could find & leave it at that.  Well, wouldn't you know, the best laid plans sometimes fail ... we ended up sitting at separate tables (5 guys & 5 gals), so sharing was difficult; however, they had these "mini-shot" sundaes that were really tiny, so we each got one of those & just "nursed it" for the night.  Honestly, we probably had less calories than if we'd shared a big huge chocolate drenched molten cake/ice-cream thingy!!!  It was our first night out together in a social setting like that in a MILLION YEARS & honestly, I was pretty proud of us!  I had my water bottle ("jug" as everyone called it b/c it holds over 50 oz.!) & Ray only had one drink at the bowling alley (iced tea b/c the water machine was broken ... see hon, it PAYS to have your own "jug"!  HAHA!).  We only drank water at the restaurant & had the tiny sundae, so hopefully, we didn't sabotage ourselves!  Time will tell ... it's still a "learning curve" for us, as we figure out how to handle all kinds of different situations, but at least we're TRYING ... MUCH MORE than we were ever doing before!

 

Gotta run & do my second workout for the day before the party (Ray just got back from the gym) ... so have a GREAT night & we'll check in after we weigh in tomorrow morning! 

 

Hi guys!

 

I've been MIA a few days, as it's been a busy week & computer time has been limited; however, I continue to plug along doing WHATEVER I CAN to make sure I'm eating more sensibly & "Moving my MASS" each day, as Ray, the science geek likes to say!    After last week's 2 lb. loss, I was all "gung-ho" to knock this week outta the park ... I'm not so sure that's going to happen.  I'm hoping for at least a BUNT!!  I KNOW my loss is going to be slower than Ray's ... I just don't want to see, after three months, that the ENTIRE amount left to lose for our team belongs to ME!!   I am SOOOOO proud of all Ray is doing to have success!  He's a big ex-football jock who LOVES to eat DOUBLE sandwiches & load up on PLENTY of fries, chips, etc.  He has forced himself to really monitor his portions & he ALWAYS tries to get in a big healthy salad ... I think he is AMAZED to feel "full" after only 1 helping, if he just waits long enough!  His exercise commitment is impressive, to say the least (there is NO WAY on this EARTH my body would be moving from that bed at 4:30 a.m. ... especially given the cold & snow here!!!), but I KNEW he would!  Keep it up, hon, I know how hard you're working!! 

 

Well, as Ray mentioned, our oldest celebrated his 12th b-day yesterday & it is TRULY hard to believe!  I remember him being born like it was YESTERDAY (what EVERY mother feels, I'm SURE!!).  I also remember how QUICKLY I bounced back to my "pre-pregnancy" weight (except that final 6-10 lbs.!), but I didn't care ... I was a MOM!!  Now, 6 children later, all of those "extra 10 lbs." have added up to a hefty 60 lbs. that need to be released!  With Nathan's b-day, we begin the process of celebrating ONE birthday every month until July (I guess we were good at spacing things out, huh?).  Anyway, b-days are a BIG deal here, b/c we CELEBRATE the fact that person is part of our family & our lives!  Of course, with celebration comes FOOD!  Ray & I tried to "prevent" our normal pizza indulgence last night by making up some broccoli & chicken pizza's on whole wheat thin crusts ... they are SOOOO yummy!  I think given the situation, I did pretty well.  I did sneak in a very small (HONEST!) piece of the pepperoni pizza, but overall, I didn't cave too bad.  When the cake & b-day brownies came out, I had another SMALL slice of cake to celebrate & that was it (nevermind the ONE small brownie I TESTED when it came out of the oven earlier in the day! ).  Honestly, for us, I think we did pretty darn good & I KNOW we will continue to get better w/each celebration, as we get further along in our healthy ways!

 

I was most proud of myself this week on Tues. or Wed. (the days seem to blur by Friday!) when Ray got home late b/c he had to work out after school (that was when his 24/7 gym was LOCKED that morning! UGGGH!).  Anyway, he arrived at "meltdown time" (mom's you KNOW what I'm talking about here ... every kid in the house is STARVING, the baby is HANGING on your leg, trying to get your attention, your older ones are trying to finish homework, which for SOME reason involves asking YOU every question imagineable & the dinner you HAD planned for the night is just NOT going to work w/the time frame you now have, b/c a trip to the store to get the ONE ingredient you need would be OUT OF THE QUESTION at this moment!).   Anyway, Ray arrived during THAT time to find out my oldest son (the 12 yr. old) needed help getting started on some snowblowing for his "business" that he started this year.  Needless to say, me leaving to go work out THEN just wasn't in the cards!  Well, Ray got Nathan started & then proceeded to work on making TURKEY BURGERS (YEP, you read it right ... this family of "Beef Only Burgers" was venturing to the healthy side!).  I started washing & cutting potatoes to make "healthier baked fries" (also a new venture!).  Once I got them done, I decided I could STEW & GRUMP about not getting in my workout (wich, if not done before 6pm, is REALLY hard to do, since I like to be around for dinner & bedtime routine) OR I could CHOOSE to do something about it ... well, I chose to march upstairs, toss on some sweats & popped in a "Slim in 6" KILLER video, which I proceeded to do amid the "chaos" of my house!  I normally HATE doing a video in front of my children, let alone RAY, but I had no choice if I'm going to SUCCEED this week!  Burgers were done (& might I say, TOTALLY TASTY!!), fries were ready & my workout was OVER (of course the PAIN I felt from moving certain muscles was just BEGINNING!), but I had DONE it!  Normally, I would have just thrown in the towel & said, "too bad, no time, no can do on the exercise today!"  Maybe I AM starting to have a SLIVER of a shift toward adopting a more healthy attitude! 

 

Yesterday, I jumped out of the car after picking up the two 3 yr. olds from preschool (I babysit one for a neighbor b/c I don't have enough of my own ... HA HA!), I grabbed a shovel & starting scraping about 10 in. of ice off of our driveway (ok, I KNOW Ray said 3 in., but he was NOT there!) .  Yes, our son the "neighborhood snowblower" had neglected to do our drive (b/c we were rushing him to join us for our turkey burger dinner!) & the ice & melting snow was making a MESS.  Given the weather that's coming, I knew the driveway needed to be cleared.  I figured it would take me 15 min. & I'd let the kids stay out & "play" while I made a quick job of it & we all went in for lunch ... NOT!  Since I've never really DONE that job before, I was in for a TREAT!   It took me almost 45 min. to do the job (which my 1 yr. old LOVED b/c he LOVES to be outside & he was following me around w/his own little shovel ... sooo cute!).  Of course, about 15 min. into it instead of being DONE I was sweating PROFUSELY, breathing HARD & nowhere NEAR being finished!  I decided to keep going & use it as my "exercise" for the day, since the b-day party would leave me no time to work out at the gym!  When I finished, I felt exhilarated ... not only by the site of the massive driveway being CLEAR, but also b/c I had worked my TAIL off & it felt GREAT!  It might not have been squats, lunges or curls, but by golly, I could FEEL it!!! 

 

So, I'm not sure this week will reveal any "earth-shattering" numbers for me in the weight-loss department, but I AM starting to see small changes throughout my day that are forcing me to be more healthy & aware of what I'm doing!  Each day is a BATTLE to avoid the sweets I crave so much or to get in the exercise I need, given the list of things that need done, but I AM making changes & for that, I can thank ALL OF YOU!!!!  When I was out w/my little ones earlier in the week running errands & I wanted NOTHING MORE than to stop at the drive-thru & grab a quick lunch (& SODA, since I gave those up COLD TURKEY!), I had over 100 little "voices" in my head saying, "DON'T DO IT ... "  I was able to leave the parking lot (yes, I  HAD PULLED IN!) & go home to a HEALTHY lunch for myself AND my kids ... for that little victory, I am TOTALLY GRATEFUL!!!! THANK YOU to ALL of our "friends" who are cheering us on ... I just wanted you to realize the impact you have, just by being there in our "weakest" moments!!!