13 week weight in

I know...I am really bad about posting, or the lack of posting. I weighed in this past Saturday - 13 weeks after beginning my journey - and I had lost another 2 pounds. This makes my weight loss to 21 pounds. Oh yeah - you know I am feeling good about this.

Well, with that said, we had the baby shower for Caden on Saturday and the family Easter Egg Hunt on Sunday. You know with our family their was lots of food at both. I still feel pretty good about my choices. Staying away from the candy, especially chocolate, is really the hardest thing for me.

Well, this Saturday is another weigh in. Wish me luck!

What a week!

I had a feeling all week this was going to be a good week for me. I lost 5 pounds this week and am super excited. My weight loss is now 19 pounds. I still have not found my way back to the gym but feel even with my day to day living, I am making better choices. I tend to not worry about getting a close parking place, knowing the extra steps will be good for me.

I have to get going as we need to be out the door by 9:15 and this gives me 20 minutes to get ready.

Still no time for me...maybe someday

I weighed in and lost another pound. I have now lost 15 pounds and even though this is great, it was not what I signed up for. I really anticipated losing more than this in the 11 weeks or so I have been doing this. It is a bit frustrating to work so hard when it comes to my eating only to see such small amounts in weight loss. I know I probably didn't gain it quickly, but I wish I could see better numbers. Since last week, my total point allowance each week is less than when I started in January. I guess it is taking my body some time to adjust to this.

I still haven't managed to get to the gym. Joey has a game today, Emily a game Tuesday, and Joey again on Wednesday. It looks like Thursday is free - at least for now.

Realizing I must make time for me...

This past weekend I was out of town with Christina. Since I didn't really feel the need to take the scales with me, I weighed in on Tuesday morning. I managed somehow to lose 1 pound. This brings my current weight loss to 14 pounds. It is amazing how shirts which used to bulge in the front are now laying loosely against my front. I was also able to get into a smaller pair of jeans this weekend.

A friend at work was chatting with me about the gym. When I admitted I had not been in weeks, she went on to tell me about the most recent episode of The Biggest Loser. When Aubrey went home, she began putting everyone else's needs before her own. She ended up gaining weight. My friend told me I need to be sure to take time for me. I know I will be a happier person if I do this, so again I vow to take the time I need to make it to the gym. Twice a week is what I am shooting for. I can work more time in as I need to, but if I can make it to the gym twice a week, it will be a good starting point.

Talk with you all soon.

No loss...but no gain either!

I just returned from picking my mom up at the Airport, it is after 11 pm and I am wiped - so this will be a quick post.

I did not lose this week - BUT - I did not gain either. I am okay with this, as I really didn't feel like it was a productive week. I will try harder this week to stay on program and see what I can do about getting to the gym.

All I can really think about right now is going to bed.

Goodnite:)

Snow Day Monday...70's Today:)

Last Saturday at my weigh in I lost 1.5 pounds. I was pretty pleased since I did not go to the gym at all that week.

Later that day, Mom and I went shopping and I had a blast. Mom is going to Chicago to visit Cindy and Brad and while there she will be attending a taping of the Oprah Show. She has been saying for months how she needs new clothes. Well...not any more. I picked her up at 11 am and we did not get home until 9 pm. Of course not all of the time was spent shopping. We managed to eat lunch at Ruby Tuesday's (they have the most awesome salad bar), visit with friends, and finished the evening off with grocery shopping.

I had a blast picking out outfits for my mom to try on. She stayed in the dressing room and I would just keep filling the dressing room with outfits.

Let me tell you - If the camera happens to span the audience, my mom will be the best dressed woman in the audience. At least the best dressed woman named Joyce from Waldorf Maryland:)

That evening, I cried myself to sleep as my legs were aching so terribly. The next morning I could hardly walk. It was a great relief we were snowed in on Monday as it gave me one more day to recuperate.

This week was a busy one for me, with end of the month close out at work, and working Bingo Tuesday and Thursday nights. So of course I did not make it to the gym this week either.

I lost 1/2 pound this week and this brings my total weight loss to 13 pounds. I am happy to be on this journey and am ready for the long haul.

Working out at the gym paid off

I did make it to the gym last week. I decided the plan would be to go Monday, Wednesday and Friday each week. I get off of work at 4, so I could realistically make it to the gym, get dressed, and ready to begin by 4:15.

So Monday, I leave work and while waiting at the light, I realize I only didn't bring socks. No, I didn't use this as a way out...I went to CVS and bought socks.

I began my workout using the stationary bike for 20 minutes. I then rotated through the machines, using the leg press, leg curl, leg extension, and different equipment to work my upper body. I spent 10 minutes on the treadmill, but due to my knee pain decided to finish the session back on the bike. I was there for about an hour and felt pretty good about the day.

On Wednesday while leaving work, I realized I only had one sock. Really, I was not doing this on purpose. I decided I needed to pick up a few other things, so I did a quick run into Target. Now really - a quick run! I was in there for almost an hour. I cruised through the baby section looking for things for Caden. So much fun!

I did manage to get my socks and get to the gym. I managed to get another hour in and while there noticed they would be closed on Thursday and Friday as they would be putting in new equipment. Okay - so I would only get 2 days in for the week - but it was still much better than not going.

Overall, being in the gym is a bit intimidating. With all the thin women, young and older, running on the treadmill and working up a sweat. I made the decision I was there for me - not to try to keep up with them. I did work up a sweat and felt some soreness afterwards.

It paid off in the end. I lost 2 more pounds this week, bringing my current weight loss to 11 pounds. That is more than two 5 lb. bags of sugar. I have bagged up my first set of larger size pants to get rid of. Yay me:)

People are starting to notice my weight loss and it feels good. But realistically, I am only about 1/9 of the way there.

Today I had my workout clothes with all of the intentions of going to the gym. I ended up working until 4:45 and had an award assembly at Thomas Stone High to attend at 6, so decided I would put it off for today. I will get there by Wednesday if not before.

No Gym last week...maybe this week

Okay, so last week came and went and I never got to the gym. I made it to Bingo on Tuesday, but no gym. Thursday I had a root canal done, so that was my excuse for Thursday.

I realize if I let it, I could keep having excuses. I have my workout clothes, so I will go today. I have had a headache since the root canal, but I will still go today.

I lost another pound last week, so this brings my total to 9 pounds. It is definitely going a lot slower than I wish. I know working out will change this, so here I go.

I am also vowing to eat out less this week.

End of week 4....

It is hard to believe I have been on my journey for 4 weeks now. I can't believe how motivated I am when it comes to my food. I have to find the motivation to get into the gym, but that is another hurdle. I lost 1 pound this week and this brings my total weight loss thus far to 8 pounds. I realize if I started going to the gym, my results would be greater, but for now I am okay with this. I know there will be weeks I don't even see a one pound loss, but I will worry about that when it happens.

I went out to eat with my family, Steven (Christina's boyfriend), Greg and Sandy, Nanny, and Michelle and the girls. We went to Jasper's and the food was great - service not so much. I chose the steak and shrimp and substituted grilled shrimp for the fried butterfly shrimp it would have come with. They ran out of baked potatoes before my meal came out and my choices were fries, mashed potatoes, or another not so good for me side. My loving husband gave me his baked potato and he took the mashed. It wasn't that I couldn't have eaten the mashed potatoes, it was I didn't want them. You see, on Weight Watchers I can eat anything I want to. I had my ice cream cake and counted the 14 points - but man was it worth it:)

I had a wonderful time with my family and had no guilt feelings of what I ate.

Well, I am now into week 5 and hope I can get to the gym this week. Wish me luck!

Little by little....

Today was the big weigh in and I lost another two pounds this week. Wow, I don't know why I expect more but I do. I want to see bigger and better results. I realize I didn't gain it all at once, so why would I expect to lose it all at once. I will continue on and be happy with two pounds a week - and realize some weeks may not even be that much.

This week is my Birthday week, so I will work hard on sticking to the program and saving some of my weekly points allowance for a special birthday dinner.

Weigh In ... and the results are...

My weigh in day is Saturdays and when I weighed in yesterday, I wasn't that excited about the results. I only lost 2 pounds and I was really hoping for more. I know, a loss is still a loss. The thing is, I weigh and measure everything. I have been eating so well, I really thought I would do better. I thought about just waiting until today and doing the weigh in again. I was also going to buy a new scale as was suggested by Christina and my mother, but this is the scale I started my journey with.

Christina called me last night and asked what my loss was. When I told her, she said "Mom, that is good - a loss is a loss". Others said the same thing.

I really hope next week is better. Wish me luck with today - we are taking my inlaws out to dinner for their birthdays. I know I can make good choices and I will.

A Night of Temptations

Even though much of the area businesses were closed today for Martin Luther King Day and will be closed tomorrow for Inauguration Day - I had to work today and also have to work tomorrow. I wanted to give myself a little treat, so I planned on playing Bingo. Since Mom was out of town visiting Michele and the kids in Fredericksburg and Emily had to work - one of my daughter's from another mother, Taylor and her sister Jamie went with me. They were offering a free dinner of Chicken Cordon Blue, potatoes, fried shrimp and rolls. I really didn't know what the dinner was and was hoping there would be something I could eat and stay within my points for the day.

After leaving work, I had an appointment to donate blood. Things went well there and while I was getting my snack of pretzels and water after the donation, I chatted with several people also waiting to leave. Before I new it, I had met Jennifer who is also on Weight Watchers. As I talked about my journey of weight loss and my goal to become a healthier me - I realized I was putting myself in a terrible position this evening. The Jaycees Hall has great food! The best fries, fried chicken strips, and of course there is always desert. Was I tempting fate?

I picked up Taylor and Jamie and after we got settled into our spots, we walked up to check out the buffet. I knew I could not stay on program while eating this, and the girls quickly jumped in and suggest I go to Subway and get my favorite Veggie Delight Sub. So that's exactly what I did.

For the rest of the evening, I had Taylor get French fries on my right and another Taylor (one of Christina's baton twirlers) eating french fries on my left. Little Taylor’s Grandmother was eating ice cream across from me and little Taylor was eating sherbert. Have I mentioned how great there french fries are? Well, I managed to make it through the evening without indulging.

Once I arrived home, I was able to have a Weight Watchers Peanut Butter Cup Sundae and two glasses of milk. It was worth the wait and I stayed on program and within my points for the day.

The moral of the story is - I know I can't avoid these types of situations. I just have to stay strong and make good choices. It really helps to have those around me who know what my goal is and encourage me to keep reaching towards it. Thanks Jamie and Taylor for encouraging me.

Oh yes, I did win $25 on an early bird game. Not a big win - but a win none the less:)

Little by little

Okay, so I lost 3 pounds. Not a huge loss, but a loss none the same. As I have said often, I did not gain all of this weight quickly - I don't anticipate losing it quickly. Hopefully next week will be a little more. Well, I must go shopping - so let me prepare for the 8 degree weather outside. It could be worse - I could be in Chicago. Just kidding - If I were in Chicago I would be hanging with Cindy - INSIDE!

The end of week one

Okay, so today is the last day of my first week doing Weight Watchers Online. Tommorrow is the big weigh in day. Keep your fingers crossed for me. I know I did a good job on the program, but I am still worried I won't lose. Regardless, I know I am eating healthier and I did say I wanted to be healthier. We will see!

The Journey Begins

This Christmas was one of the happiest I have had in many years. We were able to provide some awesome gifts for our children, family and friends. The fact is we did so without using any credit!

Christmas morning is different now the kids are not little, but this is not a bad thing. Now that they are older, they get excited about us opening our gifts from them and from each other. This was no different this Christmas.

My son Joey gave me and Emily tickets to see "Legally Blonde the Musical" at the Kennedy Center. Even though I knew about the gift, it was a wonderful surprise for Emily and we had an awesome time.

Emily made me a CD in which she created herself. She recorded dual tracks of herself playing Josh Groban's "Believe" with her trombone and she sang the song. She added pictures of me when I was a little girl and through the years, each of my kids through the years, and finished it off with a wonderful dedication thanking me for being her mother.

Christina made me a Picture Book entitled "Our Wedding Story". She gathered pictures from our wedding album and with the help of my best friend Robin, was able to name and label each picture. Since we never did have larger than snapshot pictures done from our wedding, this was a fabulous gift.

Of course, I spent a good part of the day crying each time I looked at my gifts. I also made up my mind it was time to do something about the me I have become. For the most part, I am extremely happy with myself and my life. Seeing the pictures of the me from way back when made me realize I want that me back. I don't want to be as thin as I was in 1986 - but I need to be healthy. I need to be able to stand without pain during church. I need to be able to walk all day in an amusement park with my family. I need to be able to run and play with all of my nieces, nephews and someday - many years from now - with my grandchildren. I am tired of missing out on the fun the family is having because I need to sit and rest.

I was encourage and inspired by Marissa - Cindy's friend - to begin this journey and to document it. Marissa thank you for your inspiration! Cindy thank you for your love!

I ask all of you to keep me in your prayers and to check back often for updates on my journey.

Life is not a spectator sport - It is time for me to stop watching life pass me by.