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26 avril Small battle ... WON!!!!I just thought I'd share an incredibly tough day (& ended up night!) that I managed to survive yesterday, as it was a HUGE accomplishment in my book!
Yesterday, Ray forgot to set my alarm (we have one & he sets it after he gets up ... NEVER been a problem before, but I think he was running late, too!), so I was awakened from a DEAD sleep by my earliest daycare child pounding on the door! I was in a fog & b/c I had jumped straight out of bed, my head was NOT feeling great! The day started w/me WAAAY behind the 8-ball, as I had not showered or had breakfast before my entire crew was up & needing things before school. It was a crazy morning & I was already feeling the stress! I had a few other issues in the morning that just continued to add to my frustration & stress, so when I ran to the grocery to get some things for everyone, I was feeling VERY "needy" for some "SUGAR" ... I KNEW it was my "emotions" but they were STRONG. I ended up getting some chocolate chips to make my delicious peanut butter chocolate chip cookies (which I haven't had since DECEMBER!!). I was making banana bread muffins for Ray, as he left for a Men's retreat with our church yesterday & won't return until Sunday. I figured if I was already baking (I HATE banana bread!), I might as well make something I LIKE!!! Well, the day continued to be CRAZY & I only managed to make the bread for Ray. By dinner time (I had 2 daycare kids that ended up here an HOUR longer than they were supposed to be!), I was famished & couldn't WAIT to get my hands on an oooey-gooey pizza! I had planned to make one of my own broccoli-chicken pizzas on whole wheat crust, but I didn't have the time/energy to do it. I ended up devouring THREE pieces (I've cut back to 1 or 1 1/2 if it's normal pizza) AND I downed a Dr. Pepper (which I have basically given up!). I could feel the "soothing" kicking in. I ended up taking 3 of my kids out for a good walk after dinner, b/c I felt a little guilty for what I had eaten (& in the back of my head, I was STILL planning to bake those cookies when everyone went to bed!). We got back & my boys ended up having a friend over for a sleepover & I got the little ones to bed (later than usual b/c it was so nice outside!). Needless to say, by then (9:15 pm) I was feeling VERY tired & anxious to get those cookies baked (yes, even at THAT hour!!!).
 I started pulling out the ingredients & with each one, I felt worse & worse. THIS is NOT what my 212 Family would want me doing! Even though Ray wasn't here & I'd had had an EXHAUSTING day, I didn't NEED to feed myself w/these cookies! I literally BATTLED w/myself for 15 minutes!! Next, I said, "Fine, I won't make them, but I'm having SOMETHING sweet!" I raided the pantry & couldn't find ANYTHING (thank goodness!). When I really stopped & thought about it ... I truly wasn't even HUNGRY ... I was simply CRAVING some comfort (SWEETS!!!). Again, I pulled out some graham crackers & figured they would be the least "damaging" of anything I could make/find & almost ate them; however, I had all of YOU in my head saying, "STAY STRONG ... use your 212 DETERMINATION ... you don't NEED anything ... think how GOOD you will feel tomorrow when you have NOT given in to this temptation!!" I am proud to say ... I DIDN'T GIVE IN!!! I sat in my chair with a HUGE glass of water & relaxed for the FIRST time that day! It was STILL a battle sitting in that chair & NOT giving in, but I did it!!! I was SOOOO proud!!
 Around 11:15, Sarah (9 yr. old) came home from next door (she was sleeping over) w/a HORRIBLE stomach ache. She was crying & feeling like she needed to be sick. Well, to make a LOOOOOONG story short, it looks like she had FOOD POISONING from the restaurant that she ate at last night w/her friend!! I've NEVER had a child that had it & it was HORRIBLE!!! She literally was getting violently sick every 20-30 minutes!
 She was in SOOO MUCH pain & I felt SOOO bad for her!! She cried & tossed/turned in my bed all night (when she wasn't getting sick!!!). By 5 am, she finally settled into a fitful sleep & my darling Noah, Emma & Anna were up & READY for their day by 7 am ... I wanted to CRY!!! I am truly EXHAUSTED today & know I will fight another battle later on, but for now, I am feeling PROUD of how I managed to stay STRONG!! My son has a flag football game this afternoon & I'm hoping it will be quick so I can get in a at least a short little nap (my mom is coming over to watch the other kids while I'm at the game, so hopefully she'll stay a little longer & let me catch a quick cat-nap!). I want to really say THANK YOU to you, my 212 Family, for being "in my head" & keeping me STRONG when I really didn't feel like I could do it alone!!! You guys are AWESOME & I'm SOOOO thankful that you were "there" w/me in my battle!!!
I hope you are ALL having a SPECTACULAR SATURDAY & I can't WAIT to hear how everyone did this week!!!
Take care, everyone & until next time .... drink some water, move a little & SMILE! 
Angie 20 avril FINALLY ... HALFWAY THERE!!!!It seems like I have waited SOOOO LONG to post this, but I am THRILLED to finally be able to do it ... Ray & I have officially reached the halfway point of our weightloss journey!!! With our weigh-in this morning, we topped 50.5 lbs. with only 49.5 to go!! I am just ECSTATIC right now! Ray has been posting a nice steady one pound drop over the past few weeks & I have remained STUCK around 177. I was totally prepared for at least a one pound gain this morning, as my wonderful "Auntie Flo" arrived for her monthly visit last night! I was in total SHOCK when I got on the scale this morning & it read 175.5!! I honestly had to step off & get back on because I was CONVINCED I was just IMAGINING what I WANTED to see!! I think I FLOATED down the steps!!! I am soooo excited to see the downward trend again & I am DETERMINED to make it continue now!! Although we are at our halfway mark, Ray has already lost an INCREDIBLE 28 pounds!!!! I am hanging in there with 22.5 lbs., but I now have the majority left to lose, as Ray only has about 12 more pounds to go! I know he will be done before me, but I know he'll continue in his healthy habits AND he'll continue to support & encourage me as I continue the journey! I have to say, I wondered if I'd be having a good week b/c I put on a pair of shorts yesterday for the FIRST time this season & they actually felt a bit baggy. Now these were shorts that were STRETCHED to the limit last summer (even took out the string that made the elastic part!) & yesterday, I was wishing I still had that string, as they would have fit a bit snugger that way! I was a little surprised, but I tried not to get my hopes up ... now I can see that there IS a difference & I wasn't just imagining it!!! WOOOOHOOOO!!! I am hoping that my 212 family had as good of a week as we had ... spring has finally SPRUNG & it's time to get our bodies BACK in gear!!!! NO MORE EXCUSES!!! WE CAN DO THIS!!! Ali was SUCH an inspiration this past week & if she can do what she did (MOSTLY AT HOME!!!!), then we can CERTAINLY do SOMETHING, don't you think??? She definitely had that 212 DETERMINATION & I was SOOO proud of her!!! I am going to think of her, sweating it out at home ALONE, every time I want to give up, NOT exercise, or eat something I shouldn't!!! What a tribute it would be to her & ALL she did to inspire America if we could follow in her footsteps, one pound at a time!!! Keep up the GREAT work you are doing, America!! We can do it!!!
Take care, everyone & until next time .... drink some water, move a little & SMILE!
Angie 15 avril Getting my "MoJo" back ....I will be honest with all of you guys ... I was really starting to lose steam & looking back over my past 3 weeks on my spreadsheet, it was obvious! I've either maintained or gained/lost the SAME .5 pounds.
Honestly, I am TOTALLY in SHOCK that it's not MUCH WORSE!!! "Life" happened & I'm typically not one to make excuses using my "sick kids" or "crazy schedules" or such. We CHOSE to have a large family & we roll w/the punches no matter what!!! Well, we seem to have had a round of strep that just will NOT leave our house (at least one or two children home every few days with it for the past THREE weeks!) and I started babysitting for another 4 yr. old & 9 mo. old last week, so that was a HUGE adjustment for everyone! Yesterday, Emma (our daughter who just turned 7) had an appt. w/a pediatric neurologist. She's been having headaches since late Jan. & our regular pediatrician felt it best to see a neurologist, even though she was 90% sure they were NOTHING SERIOUS! The day finally arrived & we found out that Emma is suffering from childhood migraines. She has them fairly mildly & right now they are treatable w/motrin, although we may need stronger drugs or maintenance drugs in the future. I learned a LOT from the Dr. yesterday (including the fact that my mom & I most likely have migraines, too! I just assumed the really "DOOZY" headaches I had every month or two were "stress" related. I just figured it was normal to have such a bad headache that I was nauseous & felt like my skull would explode?? I didn't "see bubbles" or have them for days or anything like what I THOUGHT migraines were, so I never IMAGINED that I had them!). Anyway, they are apparently "hereditary" & once he determined that my mom & I most likely suffered from them, he felt MUCH BETTER knowing that this was most likely the case w/Emma, as well. Apparently this is a common age for kids to be able to start "explaining" them & hers were "triggered" by a virus everyone had in Jan. that included high fevers & headaches. He said a virus is a very common trigger for migraines in young children & that she may not be destined to have them as an adult, as she MAY get rid of them in her teens (although he said girls typically have a little bit of a harder time b/c once the "hormones" start in, that can also be a trigger). So, we were thrilled & relieved to know it was nothing serious (we have to go back every 6 mo. to have her re-evaluated for a while), but nothing serious ... PRAISE THE LORD!!! I guess I really hadn't realized how worried I was about it until it was all over yesterday ... I felt like a WEIGHT had been lifted from my shoulders (to bad it couldn't have been LITERALLY six pounds or something!!  ) So, on the ride home from the Cleveland Clinic yesterday, I decided that there were NO MORE EXCUSES! I had to continue taking care of myself, no matter HOW MUCH I just didn't "feel" like it. I have lost 21 pounds & felt frustrated that MORE hasn't come off! I'd lost my "workout MoJo" & had really not done anything for almost 2 weeks! NO MORE! It was up to ME to stop the downward spiral & I had a choice to make ... I came home, changed into my workout clothes & went walking/running in our neighborhood!!
Now, here's the "212 SUCCESS STORY" for you Michelle (& anyone else who NEEDS one!) ...
I have NEVER in my life run further than chasing my kids down the driveway to keep them out of the street (FYI, my driveway is NOT very long!!!!
) I absolutely DESPISE RUNNING w/all my heart! I have NEVER wanted to be a runner, but it was SOOO nice outside & I KNEW that I had to really "mix it up" in my walk, if I was going to benefit from getting out there & doing it! So, I started out warming up w/a nice brisk walk & then I alternated walking 5 min. & running 5 min. for an entire 40 minutes!!! I will be honest ... that first run, I truly thought my lungs were going to EXPLODE after only a FEW driveways. I didn't see HOW I could keep going at that pace for an entire 5 minutes (sounds so wimpy, doesn't it???) & how in the WORLD did I think I'd do MORE than 5 min. of running???? Well, I thought about our little 212 group & how we have made an effort to always give that ONE EXTRA DEGREE, so I kept myself going by playing little mind games w/myself. I said, "you can make it to that blue car (which was about 3 drives down)" & lo & behold, I did it w/o dying. I figured I'd made it that far w/o passing out, why not try for the corner ... so I DID! Pretty soon, I found a little "rhythm" (which certainly would NOT break any records!!) & I had run for an entire 5 minutes!!!!! I slowed down & my heart was about to beat out of my chest, but I had done it! I couldn't WAIT for my 5 min. of walking to be done, so I could see if I could really try it again. Amazingly enough, I did & I ended up walking/running for over 3 MILES in 40 minutes!!! I was SOOOO excited & PROUD of myself!! Honestly, my legs & body really felt like they could keep on going, but my lungs were NOT part of that group. I was sucking some SERIOUS wind by the end & I could tell my endurance was running out! That night, I was still wheezing a bit before I went to bed & wondered if maybe I have a little "exercise induced asthma" like my son has? I had asthma as a child (no wonder I HATED running!), so who knows??? But I KNOW it will get better if I keep at it! Today, I am quite sore & my feet are KILLING me (I don't think I really have a good pair of shoes for running ... $15 Wal-Mart tennis shoes probably aren't the BEST support for a larger person who's trying to do some running!). Anyway, I don't think I'll ever have the desire to graduate to a full blown "runner," but now I know I CAN add it to my walks & get some HUGE benefits from upping my effort!!To several of you who have reached out to check on us, I have to tell you how MUCH that means!! I didn't see that I was really helping anyone as I was in a "slump" & saw that many others were, too. I didn't feel like I was really that much of an "inspiration" anymore, especially as the MPMU wound down & people really started to leave. I can't tell you how MUCH it means that several of you have asked us to keep this up & have mentioned that we are/were an inspiration ... THAT was my WHOLE FOCUS in the beginning & I really lost that a bit recently. I'd LOVE to continue & know that I NEED all of you to help me jump back in & get back to it!! We've got a great little "family" here & I want ALL of us to succeed!!! Ray & I are going back to doing our 212 sit-ups each night, as that seemed to REALLY help us in the beginning! I'd LOVE to have you guys join us again! Let's all start tonight & do them BEFORE we watch the EXCITING BL Finale (or do them during commercials if you don't have TiVo!!! Who's with us???
Sorry this got so long, but I thought you guys deserved to know how I had sorta "fallen off the wagon" & how much your words of kindness have encouraged me to keep going!!! Thank you to EACH of you & I hope you will continue to stick w/us, so we can help support our struggles & CELEBRATE our successes!!! Hang in there, guys & let us know how you're doing!!!!
Take care, everyone & until next time .... drink some water, move a little & SMILE! Angie
Angie 25 mars 212 Group - Week 8and the "BIGGEST LOSERS" this week are ...
SCOTT & FRANCES!!!! They have officially claimed this title for the FIRST time, even though they've NEVER posted a LOSS in 8 weeks!!! Please pop over & congratulate them at: www.scottandfrances.spaces.live.com It was a close one, between Scott & Frances (.82% lost), Ray & Angie (.76% lost) & Tammie & Glenn (.67% lost)!! Individually, I nudged out Scott's 1.08% loss w/a 1.1% loss myself! I am SOOO excited to declare them our 212 team winners, though, as they have continued fighting EVERY week, overcoming MANY obstacles along the way! Their 212 SPIRIT is obvious!! Keep up the GREAT work you're doing, guys! It's paying off & you are an inspiration to us all!!!!
18 mars 212 Group - Week 7And the "BIGGEST LOSERS" this week are ...
TAMMIE & GLENN!!!! They have officially claimed this title for the THIRD time!! They basically BLASTED themselves into first place by losing an AMAZING 7.2 lbs. (Glenn, I'm sorry you had to get so sick, but it definitely worked in your favor!!!). Tammie must have had the 212 LASER FOCUS this week, as she lost an INCREDIBLE 5 lbs.!!!! On a week when most of us either gained a little or maintained, she deserves a HUGE round of applause!!! Tammie, tell us what you did to make that happen so late in this journey!!! I think many of us have "hit a wall" & need some extra motivation or "UMMPH" to get us rockin' & rollin' again! Please share what you did & send us your challenge for the week!!! Also, a BIG CONGRATS to Mike & Michelle (www.mmullins94.spaces.live.com), as they were the only other team to post a combined LOSS ... way to go, guys!!! Keep up the momentum!!!
As for Ray & I ... I gained a pound (my first gain since starting this journey ... BOO-HOO!). I know it was my lack of working out on the weekend & not monitoring my food as well as I should, so I'm not surprised. Guess that means I'll have a GREAT week this week, huh??? I've gotta give Tammie a RUN for her money!!
 Ray lost .5 lbs. He battled eating well at school & missed a few exercise days, so considering that, he did good just to post any loss!! Overall, I'd say this is the week we need to STEP IT UP gang! Spring is just around the corner & we need to get these bodies in TIP-TOP shape before we have to start removing layers of clothing, right???
I KNOW we can all do this & we're stickin' together until the end, so let's start cheering each other on & checkin' up on each other to see how we're getting through the week! When you want to put something in your mouth that isn't the BEST for you, think of the rest of your 212 family right there w/you, urging you NOT to do it!! If you don't feel like exercising, picture one of us encouraging you to just give it 15 minutes (you can do ANYTHING for 15 min., right??!!!) & once you get going, you'll just POWER THROUGH a good workout!! Honestly, gang, we KNEW this would be tough & we all have REALLY GOOD REASONS for sticking to our journey ... our families DESERVE to see us healthy & HAPPY for a LOOOOONG time to come!!!! 212 MOTIVATION & FOCUS is what we need to think about this week!!!Now, get out there & eat smart, drink your water & MOVE your bodies!!!!
~ Angie 15 mars I'm back!It seems like forever and a day since I last posted something. I am just not a blogger, eventhough I am thinking of starting something like this at school... blogging not weightloss!
Things are going good for me, I am now starting to see the efforst in the way I look. Even other people have commented every now and then and it is uplifting to hear. I still have a ways to go and sometimes I am not as motivated as I should be. I think I need to change things up a little at the gym. I tried running on a tredmill and actually liked it, until my basketball injury. I may give that another try. I am also thinking about combining my cardio and weights into one long workout! Who knows!
gotta run! kids waking up early this morning!
Ray 14 mars perfect exercise time ... FINALLY!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!
Take care, everyone & until next time .... drink some water, move a little & SMILE!
Angie 10 mars tummy troubles, towel wrapped ... back on track!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!!!
Take care, everyone & until next time .... drink some water, move a little & SMILE!
Angie 212 Group - Week 6WOW, thanks to Ray's AWESOME loss this week, we were able to pull out our third 212 win with 5 lbs. lost (1.25%).! I am SOOOO proud of Ray b/c he was TICKED when he went back to 220 last week & his TOTAL 212 DETERMINATION was evident in his 4 lb. loss this week! Eric & Krissy (www.nomorefattyfatfat.live.spaces.com) were right behind us (1.06% lost), as Eric posted a 5 lb. loss this week (apparently, having wisdom teeth surgery is a good "jump-start" to any weight-loss program! Hope you're feeling better, Eric!!!).
Individually, Ray & Eric tied with a 1.8% loss this week! Way to go guys! Not to be outdone, Abby (www.thejimenezmenace.spaces.live.com) represented the gals & posted a 1.4% loss with 3lbs. GONE! Several teams & individuals struggled this week, but we are ALL on a fresh page today!! We plan to use this week to really "ramp up" our excitement again & get ourselves back on track! We are SOOO worth it!! Hang tough, gang & know that we are all in this together!!! Do you realize we've lost over 115 POUNDS as a group in just 6 short weeks!!! That is something to be TOTALLY proud of! 212 PRIDE & FOCUS will be the name of the game this week!!Take care, everyone & until next time .... drink some water, move a little & SMILE!
Angie 6 mars 2-month weigh-in ... SOOO close!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!!! Take care, everyone & until next time .... drink some water, move a little & SMILE!
Angie 4 mars 212 Family "Biggest Loser" of the week is ....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!!!! Take care, everyone & until next time .... drink some water, move a little & SMILE!
Angie 3 mars still plugging along ...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!!!!
 Take care, everyone & until next time .... drink some water, move a little & SMILE!
Angie 1 mars I am not in highschool anymore!Well, it has been such a long time for me to drop in a line, I thought I could squeeze it in prior to working out. The other day I went up to our highschool to play 3-on-3 with some of the highschool football players. It is something we do every year, and I am usually completely exhausted within the first few minutes of playing. This time however, things were different. I felt great about playing and thinking I could "keep-up" with those 16-18 year olds. Who was I kidding. While running after a loose ball, I felt a sudden and sharpe pain in my left calf. Not to mention that my right foot was killing me. It turns out, I pulled a muscle in my calf and did something to my foot. Needless to say I am still very sore. I am not expecting to have great numbers, which will really hurt the team as Angie is looking good this week. (actually she looks good any week). Well, I am off to the gym to try and "tough it out" without injuring my self and further.
Later.
Ray 29 février 212 Principle #5 - PERSEVERANCE!Hey gang! Well, this is a little later than normal b/c Ray let me SLEEP IN this morning ... it felt GREAT! He's such a SWEETIE!! We have MORE SNOW falling, but the kids all went off to school, so not too many "rugrats" at home today!
Today's 212 Principle is PERSEVERANCE & it's one I've been WAITING to blog about all week! The video states that: "Perseverance is not a long race: it is many short races, one after another." ~ Walter Elliot. I just think this is the PERFECT way to think about our journey to better health! I know I've equated this challenge to running a MARATHON & NOT a sprint, but let's face it ... a marathon is pretty darn DAUNTING at this juncture in my life, whether it be real or figurative!!
Thinking about this journey, though, as a series of "short races" is EXACTLY how we continue to move forward! We can do ANYTHING for a small period of time (when we have that 212 belief & attitude!), so if we just "string together" a lot of those little efforts, they will all come together to create a successful journey!
I happen to be a very DETERMINED person (when I finally set my mind to something!), so I really understand this principle. A few years ago, I stumbled into selling Discovery Toys (being an educator & mom of 4 at the time, I LOVED the products & wanted them ALL!!!). Anyway, it started out as just a "hobby" until I found out that I could earn a trip to HAWAII for my husband & I. Well, knowing we would NEVER have an opportunity like that again, I JUMPED at the chance! I had NEVER done any type of "direct selling" before & I had LOTS to learn, but I was DETERMINED to make it happen for us! I had 4 children aged 5 & under & a husband who was out of the house MOST of the fall "toy season" coaching football, but I was going to make it NO MATTER WHAT! I worked w/my director in Jan. of that year (you had a year to earn the trip) to set up a "plan" to make it happen & then I worked that plan EVERY MONTH! Some months, I fell WAAAY short (I had just joined the business in late Dec., so not a lot of time to really get my feet "wet"!); however, I TOTALLY BELIEVED I was going to make it happen & I just adjusted my plan & made changes whenever necessary. The interesting thing is that during this time, my family & friends closest to me really weren't very supportive (except for Ray!) ... they said I was "working too hard," "Never going to make it," "should just quit & go back to being a mom," etc. (as if I wasn't home w/them all day every day! I did my "business" at night when Ray was home, so they were NEVER w/o a parent at home!). I had to block out ALL distractions & negativity & I did that by reading POSITIVE books, surrounding myself w/positive people & plastering my goals & incentives all OVER my house!! I had picutres of Hawaii, coconut candles, lotion & bath soap, I had a Hawaii "picture frame" sitting on my desk, waiting for a picture of Ray & I to be plastered in it ... whatever I could do to INSURE that I would be there! Well, Dec. came & I of course, got pneumonia that year. I had about $3000 left to sell & I was NOT deterrred (other consultants who had come that far just gave up ... I couldn't IMAGINE getting that far & quitting!). I had NO IDEA how I would do it, I just KNEW I would! I ended up doing a "Toys For Tots drive" that enabled me to sell over $1800 in toys AND donate them to a local drive in our area! The rest of the toys I sold during the normal "before Christmas rush" & we earned our HAWAII trip!
 It was truly one of the most EXHILARATING experiences in my life! I had just started in the company & earned a HUGE trip the FIRST year. It was NEVER easy, but I had a goal, a plan & I worked it EVERY DAY!! PERSEVERANCE truly paid off! Ray & I experienced a week in Hawaii TOTALLY PAID FOR, something we would have NEVER had the chance to do otherwise. It was absolutely wonderful! The next year, the trip was to Vienna, Austria! Although I was only a little "short" of earning that trip, our 5th baby was born during what would have been that trip, so it was for the best! The following year, I earned Ray & I a trip to Cabo San Lucas, another AMAZING vacation for the two of us! Again, it was NEVER easy, but I had the 212 BELIEF, ATTITUDE, FOCUS & PERSEVERANCE that it WOULD happen & it did!!WHY am I sharing this story??? Becasue I totally see this weight-loss journey as one of THOSE challenges! I have made the DECISION to change my lifestyle & I am DETERMINED to make it happen. I have created a PLAN to follow & I am doing whatever I need to do to make it happen! Some days, I have some SERIOUS adjustments to make, but in the end, I am GOING TO SUCCEED!! Perseverance pays off BIG TIME, if you just set your sites on winning each of those "little races"!! NO ONE thought I'd earn those trips w/all the kids we had (& WERE having at the time!) & all the work that had to be done. A lot of people think I'm "crazy" for trying to lose 60 lbs. "You don't need to" (they say) or "come out to dinner w/me, you can start tomorrow" or "honey, why kill yourself working so hard ... you look just fine" (little does my mom know that I am actually "killing myself" by NOT doing this!!!). There are ALWAYS those around us who DOUBT our abilities to succeed & it is our job to NEGATE those voices by persevering through the TOUGH times!!
Today, I challenge you to take a "LEAP" of faith & know that you WILL finish this marathon SUCCESSFULLY because you will PERSEVERE to the END!! You will do this by WRITING DOWN your smaller "GOALS" & posting them wherever you will see them EVERY day! Make yourself a "coloring chart" to color in each pound you lose (sorry, goes back to my kindergarten teaching "roots!" I LOVE to color & I LIKE feeling the satisfaction of coloring in those bars EACH WEEK!). Paste some motivating quotes around your house. Plan a small reward for each small goal "achieved" (I have a whole "system" of rewards for every 5 lbs. ... 10 lb. losses are celebrated w/each child as a "GOOD-BYE" to the pounds I gained while pregnant w/him or her. My first 10 lb. celebration was w/my oldest son & we went bowling & enjoyed a wonderful day together, just the two of us! I'm only 2 lbs. away from my 20 lb. celebration w/my next son, who wants to go to the batting cages. At the "in-between" 5 lb. marks, I have little "personal or couple rewards" like spending an afternoon reading, or going to a movie w/Ray, or donating 2 "oversized" outfits & buying a NEW one that fits!). All of this REALLY HELPS me stay on track & makes it FUN! The kids have a BLAST watching me color in blocks & seeing when their "10 lb. date" is coming (not to mention ... adds a little pressure on me to "keep going" so someone doesn't get "short-changed" of their special date!)!
Whatever you choose to do to insure you win your little "races" I URGE you to keep your eye on the "PRIZE" at the end! That is the ONLY WAY you can persevere through the TOUGH STUFF & come out a STRONGER, HEALTHIER person who will live a longer & stronger life for yourself AND your family!!
Remember, as the famous quote says, "It's not how many times you fall that matters, it's how many time you get back up!”
Take care, everyone & until next time .... drink some water, move a little & SMILE!
Angie 28 février 212 Principle #4 - FOCUSHey everyone! Well, we're FINALLY back to school (well, all that are of that age!) & my goal is to get this house back into shape! We had 10 kids here all day yesterday & several trips in & out to play in the snow (oh how I LOVE that whole "dress/undress" process ... NOT!). Anyway, we survived & it really was fun having everyone home! Ray has conferences tonight & then a football "coaching thing" at the H.S. tonight (they have all of next year's team come together to play basketball w/coaches & just "hang out & have fun" ... they stay until after midnight!). Luckily, Ray has tomorrow off, since he's got conferences late tonight, so he's giving me the "day off" tomorrow & staying home w/our kids & our "daycare" kids. I'm planning to do some shopping for our daughter's b-day on Sun. & then maybe just crash at my mom's for the afternoon & read/nap, since our weekend is going to be really busy! I am SOOOO blessed that Ray is such a "hands on" dad & so thoughtful to recognize when I need a "break"! He's the BEST!
So, our 212 principle today is FOCUS & what a GREAT thing to think about! The video defines 212 Focus as "having a simple, clearly defined goal can capture the imagination & inspire passion. It can cut through the fog, like a beacon in the night." What is YOUR focus in this journey? Have you made it simple & compelling, or have you created a complex, nearly impossible goal to attain?
As we move into the reality of this lifestyle change, it is CRUCIAL that we keep the FOCUS of our journey in sight! We must be willing to strip away ALL distractions & challenges, so we can truly FOCUS on what we are working toward! In our BUSY lives, it is SO EASY to get "sidetracked" into doing a MILLION other things each day (trust me, my life is MADE UP of nothing but distractions!
), but it is when we put in that EXTRA DEGREE of EFFORT that we pull ourselves BACK into "FOCUS" & do what we said we'd do ... NO MATTER WHAT (which is why I'm finding myself working out at the END of a VERY LONG day more times than I'd like ... never in a MILLION YEARS would I have thought I'd be WILLINGLY heading to my basement to exercise for an HOUR or more at 8pm or later!!) Some days, that extra effort might SEEM impossible, but I URGE YOU to not throw in the towel COMPLETELY. Simply admit that you can't do an ENTIRE workout, but you CAN spend 10 min. running up & down your stairs (or doing crunches, or walking your dog, or SOME TYPE of physical activity!). If you're pulled away from the meals you had all PLANNED OUT, then make the BEST of the situation & stay FOCUSED on making the BEST choices you can & move on! I'm not saying it's easy & some days, you just won't be able to pull it off; however, it's the BIG PICTURE FOCUS that will keep you ON TRACK & moving toward your goal that you must ALWAYS keep in mind!!To me, 212 FOCUS doesn't mean you barrel toward your goal to the EXCLUSION of all else, it means that you find a way to navigate the daily challenges in a way that keeps you ON TRACK toward your goals! It isn't always easy, but the 212 ATTITUDE, KINDNESS & BELIEF that you have cultivated will be the tools you can draw on to really keep you FOCUSED on that EXCITING goal you have set for yourself!
Today, I challenge you to re-commit to moving with PASSION & PURPOSE toward what you deserve & we will all be CELEBRATING your arrival in no time at all!!!
Take care, everyone & until next time .... drink some water, move a little & SMILE!
Angie 27 février 212 Priniciple #3 - BELIEFHey everyone! It's another SNOWY one in Ohio, so we are blessed with yet another snow day for the kids (once again, Ray gets the short end, as his district has school!). I spent over an hour & 20 min. outside yesterday shoveling the wettest HEAVIEST snow I've ever shoveled! It was GREAT exercise, but my chest & arms were KILLING me last night! I also did one of my 50 min. DVD's before dinner, so I got in some GREAT exercise yesterday, even though I had a house FULL of children!
I am on a MISSION to get OUT of the 180's this week, to stay on "track" for my goal of 10 lbs. a month. After weighing myself yesterday morning, that means I have TWO more pounds to lose by the end of the week ... NO PROBLEM, RIGHT? ... UGGGGHH! Guess I should be THANKFUL for that snow, huh? So, today's 212 Principle is BELIEF. The video states that 212 BELIEF fuels enthusiasm, & enthusiasm explodes into passion. It fires our souls & lifts our spirits. I can certainly see how this was the case when we first started this journey! We believed that we could truly make a life-changing decision that would make ourselves AND our children stronger & more healthy. We jumped in with both feet, setting up our space (or TRYING!), making "friends," starting a support group of other parents & immediately giving up MANY bad habits. We committed to daily exercise & eating smarter. We were happier & more energetic than we'd been in a LONG time! Life was GOOD & we had a PASSION to succeed!
Flash forward 7 weeks ... a lot has happened & we've endured many challenging situations. Monotony has set in & we realize that this isn't just a sprint ... it's going to be a MARATHON! We have to get up EACH DAY & "start over" with our choices. Some days, that is a GOOD thing (like when we've TOTALLY gotten off track some days!). Other days, we want to crawl back into bed & say "NO MORE! I battled yesterday to eat right & exercise & I just CANNOT do it again today!" THAT is when we have to stop & think about what we BELIEVE ... do we TRULY BELIEVE that this is what we want?
When you need that EXTRA DEGREE of passion or enthusiasm, reach deep down to the place where you set this plan into motion & SEE what results you are aiming for! Do you want to fit into a special piece of clothing? Are you aiming for a particular date that you want to look your best? Is there a celebration you're looking forward to when you reach your goals? Are you looking for a particular test result from your doctor? Take a minute to visualize EXACTLY how you will look, how OTHERS will be looking at you & most IMPORTANTLY ... HOW DO YOU FEEL??? Are you standing TALL & PROUD? Are you filled w/admiration for your partner's success? Are others looking at you in awe & respect for what you've accomplished? Do you feel overwhelmed by joy & happiness at finally reaching a goal once thought impossible?? Tap into THOSE feelings & let that picture RE-FUEL your energy & desire!
Are you having trouble "fine-tuning" that picture in your head? Is your "belief" a little "fuzzy" at this point? Then it's time to tap into this AWESOME community & gain your support from them, until you can muster up that belief yourself! Find others that you "connect" with in some way & ask for their support! We are ALL working from that same belief, that we can & WILL create a healthier life for ourselves ... tap into the MASSIVE passion that is fueling this movement & be PROUD that you are a part of something so AMAZING!!! You wouldn't be here if you didn't BELIEVE you could make this change!
Today, I CHALLENGE you to really center on your vision of WHY you are doing this & allow that EXTRA DEGREE of BELIEF to re-fuel your PASSION & SPIRIT to continue on this marathon!!! You CAN do it ... I BELIEVE in you!!!
Take care, everyone & until next time .... drink some water, move a little & SMILE!
Angie 26 février 212 Principle #2 - KINDNESS!I hope you're all having a FANTASTIC day! We woke up to about 4 in. of snow & another 4-6 being called for today! Needless to say, my little cherubs have no school & I'll have 3 other children here who's parents need to work, so I'll have a FULL HOUSE today with 9 kids total ... WHEW! It's always fun, though, to get that "unexpected" day off from school ... poor Ray, his district didn't cancel (surprising since everyone around us is closed!), so he didn't get that little "gift" today! Sorry, hon!
Well, today's 212 principle is all about kindness. At first, I think we immediately think about our actions toward others. How patient are we toward others in our lives? How helpful are we to the neighbor or friend, or even stranger we come across in our daily life? Do we take the time to really listen to our children & others in our lives? We all know what it means to be "kind toward others" ... but I think 212 kindness takes it "one degree further" & says, "How kind are you to YOURSELF?" You can't truly be kind & loving toward others until you grant YOURSELF that gift!
One thing I'm learning in this journey is how HARD that can be!!!! It is SOOOO much easier to "cheer others on" & give them words of encouragement & support when I "see" someone is down. I am the first one to jump in & tell OTHERS to hang in there things WILL get better! I am quick to remind them that a "gain" is part of this process & to be PROUD of their continued efforts!
Why, then, do I find it so difficult to give MYSELF that same "advice"?? Why am I so quick to "judge" myself & harbor negative thoughts/feelings about myself in my head? Isn't the golden rule "treat others as you wish to be treated" ... if we're treating others with such kindness & respect, don't we deserve the same for ourseleves??
Today, I challenge you to show that "extra degree" of kindness not only toward others, but more importantly, TOWARD YOURSELF! If you make a mistake, DON'T beat yourself up ... stop & think of what you would say to one of your "buddies" in the MPMU! If you're feeling down about a "bummer weigh-in," see the POSITIVE steps you're taking to change it & MOVE FORWARD! Find a quiet moment today to read, pray, relax, take a bath ... whatever makes YOU feel rejuvinated & "special" ... YOU DESERVE IT!!!!
Take a moment to share a random act of kindness with someone today ... & then do the SAME for yourself! I'd LOVE to hear what you did, so please feel free to share!
Take care, everyone & until next time .... drink some water, move a little & SMILE!
Angie 25 février 212 Principle #1 - ATTITUDE!As we start off the week, I thought this was the PERFECT way to get our minds "ready" for another week in this journey to better health! As the "reality" sets in & we realize the permanence of making "good choices daily," we might start to feel disillusioned ... yet another day of fighting off cravings, battling our desire for inactivity, dealing w/"life situations" ... it becomes rather "un-exciting" when the scale slows down & we're seeing smaller numbers each week (or NO changes at all!). THIS is the time we have to dig down & find our 212 ATTITUDE ... that one degree of effort that will force our bodies AND minds to accept the challenges & then MOVE FORWARD! We all knew this would be a TOUGH journey & the ONLY WAY to stay on track is to keep a 212 ATTITUDE that will propel us into CONTINUED ACTION! Every day, we wake up to a choice ... do we choose to CONTINUE this journey, despite the challenges, or do we toss in the towel? The ATTITUDE you choose to put on makes ALL the difference! I hope you will join me today in cultivating a 212 ATTITUDE that reminds you ALL DAY that you are WORTH this effort & you DESERVE to reach your goal!
212 ATTITUDE, according to the video, looks like this: "The only thing that stands between a person and what they want in life is the WILL TO TRY IT & the FAITH to believe it's possible!" Obviously, we ALL have the "will to try it" or we wouldn't still be here sharing struggles & triumphs each week! What I'd like you to think about TODAY is this ...
do you HONESTLY have the FAITH to believe you CAN SUCCEED on this journey???
If you truly can't "VISUALIZE" or BELIEVE that you can conquer this challenge to lose weight & get healthy, then sadly enough, you won't! We can all cheer you on & support you in EVERY WAY POSSIBLE, but until you deem yourself WORTHY ENOUGH to deserve this AND SEE IT as happening, then you will continue to struggle! Unfortunately, no one can "give you" this faith. I wish I could figure out a way to "bottle" a 212 ATTITUDE & send EACH of you that gift, but I can't. You have to find it within yourself, with the help of whatever faith you call upon. I believe God did NOT create me to be miserable & unhealthy. He created an amazing body that deserves to be taken care of, so I can go out & bless the world with whatever gifts He has given me to share!
I urge you, today, to take OWNERSHIP of your ATTITUDE & go that EXTRA DEGREE to think positive in the midst of your challenges (we all have them MANY times a day!). Begin SEEING yourself reaching that "finish line" & celebrating the WONDERFUL HEALTHY PERSON you've become!
212 ATTITUDE ... that ONE DEGREE OF EFFORT separates the GOOD from the GREAT!!! So, make today GREAT by adjusting your attitude when necessary & finding a way to go that EXTRA degree! How about joining us for 212 crunches or conquering 212 steps today ... it's YOUR choice!!
Take care, everyone & until next time .... drink some water, move a little & SMILE!
Angie 212 Family 4th weigh-in ... it's a CLOSE one!Hi gang! Boy, it was obvious that EVERYONE had 212 DETERMINATION this week, as the final tally showed 4 teams w/in 1 TENTH of the winners losing percentage! As we settle into the "grind" of this weekly lifestyle change, we can see how important that 212 FOCUS is going to be!! I am SOOOOO proud of our 212 family, as almost EVERYONE either posted a loss, or maintained!! Every pound lost is a victory over not only our bodies, but our MINDS as well! These parents are PUSHING THROUGH the obstacles & MAKING the changes necessary to create healthier lives for themselves AND their children!!! Way to go, guys!!! Our 212 "BIGGEST LOSER" couple this week was Ray & I, with another 3 lbs. lost. We won by only .06 lbs.!!! I am so PROUD of Ray, as he finally broke the 220 mark by hitting 218 this week! He doesn't remember the last time he was below 220 ... probably before our 1st son came along 12 years ago!! GREAT JOB, honey!! David & Kristi (2.8 lbs. lost) (www.kristi-david-weightloss.spaces.live.com) & Mike & Michelle (2.9 lbs. lost)(www.mmullins94.spaces.live.com) were right on our heals with a .68% loss this week! I want to mention the two other teams that were in the .6% range as well, Frank & Abby (2.4 lbs. lost - .64%) (www.thejimenezmenace.spaces.live.com) & Scott & Frances (3 lbs. lost - .61%) (www.scottandfrances.spaces.live.com). With the losses so tight, I felt they deserved recognition as well! CONGRATULATIONS, again, to our ENTIRE 212 Family, for hanging tough for yet ANOTHER week in this journey!!! May you each tackle this upcoming week with renewed 212 determination & enthusiasm!!
Take care, everyone & until next time .... drink some water, move a little & SMILE!
Angie 23 février W-Day tomorrow & I have NO IDEA where I'll stand ...Hey everyone! I just thought I'd post a quick message relating my FEAR about the weigh-in tomorrow! I'm scared I'm getting to one of those "plateua" places, after losing about 15 lbs. fairly easily (I say that ONLY b/c I KNEW it would require MAJOR eating/moving changes & I have done those things fairly well). I cheated this morning, by weighing in to see how my week is shaping up (plus I was "blessed" w/that time of the month again, so I KNEW things wouldn't be great & I wanted to see the damage!). Anyway, I've busted my tail this week (doing 2 workouts a day since Wed.) & eating what I thought was good & the scale was NOT kind. At 5am, it said I had gained 1.5 lbs. & at 9 am (BLESS my husband's heart for giving me a morning to SLEEP IN!!! LOVE him for that!!), the scale said I was up by .5 lbs. I KNOW, I KNOW, weigh-in isn't until TOMORROW, but there is NO WAY I'm losing 2-3 lb.s OVERNIGHT (unless all this MUSCLE I've built up is going to magically MELT off those pounds today!
). I am SOOOO focused on getting OUT of the 180's in Feb. & I don't have a whole lot of time to do it, now, as the month winds down! I am trying really HARD to stay on that 10lbs. a month track & now I seem to be hitting a wall! I CAN say that I truly AM building a lot of muscle, as my husband can attest to. He felt my arms/legs the other day & was blown away by how SOLID they have become. I can even feel the muscles in my abs when I tighten them (of course, they are still covered by the blubber, so NO WAY was he going to feel THOSE muscles!
), but they ARE there ... even those "obliques" that the instructor is always encouraging me to CRUNCH are getting tight!). I know I wrote about being able to fit into clothes I couldn't, so my body IS changing & for that I'm thankful ... it's just that I don't know what else to do! I'm exercising regularly (& VARYING the routines!) & eating OK (I think?) & drinking a TON of water (over 100 oz. a day) ... WHAT IS UP??? I NEED A PERSONAL TRAINER TO HELP ME NAVIGATE THIS COMPLEX JOURNEY!!Since I don't have one ... maybe all of you could help me out. Any suggestions? HOW could I "jump-start" this losing game again? What can I do to rev up my metabolism & get it burning again? I can say I haven't been doing well w/eating those 5 smaller meals a day, as I just can't seem to fit in those "snacks." (I'm honestly NOT hungry for them!). I'm SURE that would help, so I will focus on that this week. Any other ideas from others that have hit this snag? I have NO PLANS to give up & I'm not discouraged, b/c as I've said, I AM seeing changes, but that's not to say I'm not frustrated. Any help would be greatly appreciated!!
Thanks, guys & enjoy a WONDERFUL WEEKEND!!!
Take care, everyone & until next time .... drink some water, move a little & SMILE!
Angie |
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