Santa can eat my share.

Christmas came and went and I am still feeling good. I didn't skimp on what I ate at Christmas and I didn't feel bad about it. My aunt makes the most delicious creme de menthe dessert and my family always looks forward to that around Christmas! There is no way I could pass it up!

I am seeing a lot of friends on Facebook and even on the Weight Watchers Facebook page talk about how they are starting a diet or WW soon. I kind of have to laugh just because I have been there many times before. "This year I am going to exercise and be healthy." I laugh because I never stuck to it.. then. I've said this before and I'll say it again:

This is completely a state of mind. It's something I need to do for myself, not for anyone else. I didn't start because I made a resolution to do it or because I felt like I needed to, I made the decision because it felt right at the time and I had the right mind set. I wanted to start this journey.

So, friends I challenge you to not make a resolution. Instead, I want you to start because you want to, not because it's the start of a new year.

Have a Happy New Year! Here's to a great 2012!

I Fell Off

So, somewhere between Thanksgiving and now I fell off the bandwagon. I came down with strep throat and a bad sinus infection and the antibiotics I was on made me gain 5lbs. Well, I have at least lost that again, but since the beginning of the month, I haven't lost anything else.

To help me get back on track I took photos again yesterday. I don't see as much change as I'd like from October until now, but the past few weeks have not been good. I haven't been tracking like I should and because I'm not, it's easier to pick the less healthy choices. (I'd like to add on the Dec. picture, that is not muffin top. It's just the way my shirt bunched.)

But, here is from the beginning until now:

I just need to remember that I'm 32lbs lighter than I was 4 months ago! I am down 2 pant sizes and 3 shirt sizes. Those are great accomplishments. I already feel better and have more energy. If I think about how I'll feel/look in another 4 months it does help me be motivated again. I'm a goal setter but am trying not to set many during this, however, I think it would be possible to lose another 30 by May. That would put me at 62lbs lost! Almost unbelievable.... but I'll do it!

The Turkey Got Me

I'm not sure if it was Thanksgiving or if it was just my lack of tracking (okay, I'm sure it was both) but I didn't lose anything this week. The scale wavers from .5+ or +0 from last week. I completely lost motivation with everything else in my life and ate whatever was convenient.

I completely hate myself right now.

I am just thinking about how I could be -2lbs from last week and how great that would have felt.  I admit I ate too many of the awesome peanut butter and chocolate bars that I made... and then there was the personal pan pizza from Pizza Hut... evil. I don't have anyone to blame but myself and that is why I am so upset with myself right now!

This is a new week and I just need to look to the future. My goal is -2lbs for next week. I will do it!

I am loving Pinterest and I found a few fun workout videos. They're not the normal aerobics I've seen. This one will work your arms:

Source: goop.com via Rowena on Pinterest

and this one will make you look like Gwenyth. ;)

Source: goop.com via Renae on Pinterest

Gobble, gobble.

Tomorrow is Thanksgiving and that means... lots and lots of food. Luckily, I'm not a huge fan of salads so it won't be hard for me to avoid those. And by salads I mean the noodle, full of dressing, mixed with other junk salads. I am bringing buns, Jello, and a dessert. The buns will be whole wheat, the Jello will be sugar free, and the dessert will be very, very bad for everyone. Haha. I have the mindset that I don't want to fully quit eating things, but in portions they are fine. I'm 31.5lbs down (hit my goal of 30 by Turkey Day!) so I think it's a good one to follow.
My meals tomorrow will include, turkey, a bun, some mashed potatoes, sugar free Jello, and a bite or two of a dessert. I am used to snacking in the afternoon at our family get together, but this year I won't! That is where the points will start rising. Just because it's a holiday, doesn't mean I am not going to watch what I eat.

I leave you with this thought for the day:

My Closet

I went to put my laundry away tonight and decided I needed to go through my closet again. I got rid of a few more things and sorted the rest. A few of the categories are 'will fit soon' and 'stuff I wear now.'

The clothes that I had used to fill almost the entire closet. (And the rack goes about 3 feet each way of the doors.) Here is a picture of what it looks like now:

1. The shirts that fit me now minus a sweater and shirt that I wore today.

2. Pants that fit me now. Three of the dress pants didn't fit me until recently and I have three pairs of 'farm' jeans that are old and I don't care if they get ripped/dirty... also didn't fit me again until recently. 

3. My school clothes for tomorrow. All of which I didn't realize fit me until tonight!

4. Sweatshirts.

5. Workout pants and tshirts. I have a lot of shirts....

6. Clothes that will fit me soon! I picked up few sweaters and one pair of pants for cheapo at second hand places, otherwise the rest are things that are about 4 years old that I, for some reason, still had in the back of my closet.

7. The 'beginning' pants. Just a pair of jeans and a pair of dress pants that are now way too big. 

8. Hangers that used to hold clothes.

9. Green screen/extra pillows. (I'm a photographer... don't ask me why the screen is in my closet.)

10. Scarves, tanks for under clothes, fuzzy socks, and silly socks that I like to wear. (Don't judge me.)

11. Closet junk.

Weird Bunchy Pants

This morning when I got ready to go to school, I put on my black pants and found they felt a little more loose than normal. I put on my belt to find I'm on the LAST and SMALLEST hole (I was on the 2nd to BIGGEST in August) and the pants did this weird bunchy thing.

Ew.

I ended up leaving the weird bunchy part and then I decided I needed to go pants shopping after school. I checked a few second hand places to find nothing that looked good. They don't have a large variety for plus sizes. I then just decided to check out what Target had. I took three different sizes into the dressing room because I didn't have any idea what would fit me well. I took the size that I was in before along with one smaller and one bigger, just because that is what I typically do.
I tried on the smallest pair first and THEY FIT. I was PUMPED. Not only did they fit, they looked good, too. Aka - No muffin top or uncomfortable parts that were too tight.

Today is also weigh in day... 28lbs lost so far! And the shirt I am wearing in the picture was too small in August. I also did my measurements today and found since last month I've lost 3 inches and 4 inches total since August. I don't know if this is good/bad or if I'm even measuring right, but it's something! I will take another studio picture closer to December so I can compare August, October, and December. Can't wait!

Still Losin'

First, I lost an Oliver... 9lbs.

Then, I lost a Gavin... 21lbs.

This is Dooker. He weighs about 26lbs.

Well, I lost him, too. (I have actually lost 27lbs!) My goal is to lose 30 by Thanksgiving. I'm not sure how much my niece weighs, but I'm sure I'll lose her soon, too!

Kickin' it in gear.

I stepped on the scale this morning to see that I finally lost that pesky half a pound!! I have now lost 25lbs. I've been doing Weight Watchers for 3 months and I think I have the food/nutrition part down pretty good. I was going to add to this lifestyle before, but decided to wait. This week I am going to sign up at a gym. I haven't found the 'perfect' place to go yet, but when I do I am going to start working out 3-4 days a week and then add days. I don't want to 'burn' myself out by trying to go everyday. Once I lose 10 more lbs, I'm going to treat myself to these bad boys:

:)

Exhausted.

I am absolutely exhausted after this week. On Tuesday I had the flu and even though I thought I would lose some weight because of it, I gained 1lb. So, for the first time ever I was up .5lb on weigh in day. That kind of brought me down, but I have no doubts that I won't lose before the next weigh in day. I am currently .5lb away from losing 25 and I would like to hit that and more by Thursday.

I am currently helping my brother and sister in law get settled into their new home and I'm also in my last few weeks of student teaching. I have many assignments due and it's also a busy time for the studio. On that note, I'm off to bed.

Not even Punished!

So, this past weekend I traveled to Nebraska to help my brother, sister-in-law, and nephew pack for their big move up north. (Yay!) I can't say that I was the best at watching what I ate, because, well... I wasn't. I didn't track at all and decided it's hard to eat healthy while you're on the road. I knew I was going to pay for it.

On Monday, I was up almost 5lbs. from the last week. I prayed that it was just water weight from the sodium at fast food places, but I didn't have any hope that I would lose anything this week. I stood on the scale again yesterday and I was .5 up from last week.

Today is weigh in day... Since last week, I am down 1.5 pounds. (That'll teach me, huh.) I cannot believe that I lost after such a bad weekend! I'm very thankful though. This weekly loss has brought me to 24.5 pounds lost total. Only .5 from 25!! I am excited for weigh in day next week when I hit that 25 mark plus more!

Here is a screen caption of my WW screen. The journey so far has really paid off!

Since I am a photographer, I feel obligated to send out photo cards for Christmas. (One year I didn't and my brother who doesn't care about anything even commented that I just sent boxed Christmas cards.) Normally I stick to head and shoulders and would NEVER even take a body shot let alone send it out for the world to see. Well, this is one of the shots that I took a few weeks ago and I don't hate it! 

I can't wait to see what next year's Christmas picture looks like. :)

Lost my Nephew!

I have already lost 1.5lbs since last Thursday, which was weigh in day. I know after a .5lb loss, I come back with a vengeance the next week, but it always gets me down anyway.

A lot of you gave me some great ideas to help with my lack of motivation feeling, but none of them gave me the inspiration I was hoping for. (And thank you, by the way.) Maybe it's became such a daily thing that I don't need that new feeling of excitement that I did a few months ago. I am still on track and still going strong, so I decided that's all I need. 

Also, with my 1.5 loss so far this week... I have lost my 9 month nephew. I'm down 23lbs! :)

Realization

I had another .5lb loss this week. I kind of expected it since I've had quite a few 1-2lb. losses the past weeks, but it has really brought me down. Today is the first 'bad day' that I've had in a long long time. 


I've come to the realization tonight, that I cannot rush weight loss. As much as I want to lose 'fast' I never put on the weight fast. It was gradual over many years. So, if it takes me a few years to be in a healthy spot, so be it. Not that I want it to take years, it might. I just can't expect to lose so much by a certain date.

I have realized it, but I just don't want to accept it.  I need something to motivate and inspire me a little more. Any ideas?

I went to Clothes Mentor this afternoon and bought 2 pairs of pants, a sweater, and a scarf... for $38!

The sweater and brown pants still had the store tags on them! SO awesome. I am currently in between sizes, so nothing really fits the best. But in a few weeks, I will have to go through my closet again and get rid of everything that will be too big. I am going to keep a few things just to 'remember' this part of my life by and so I can take pictures with them when I reach a healthy weight for me.

My NSV

My non-scale victory of the day: I wore a pair of pants today that were too small last Spring. Now I can pull them off without even unbuttoning them.

Oh AND - I have now lost 21 pounds. :)

August to October.

Two months of hard work has paid off. :)

I have 1 pound to go until I've lost 20! I am hoping to reach that by weigh in day on Thursday.

2 Months... almost!

I am 1.5lbs away from losing 20lbs.  I doubt it'll happen by this Thursday, but I know I can lose it by next week. Being able to track it and actually see and feel the progress in my clothing is really making this seem more 'real' to me. Before it was just a number on a scale, but it makes it so much better when you feel your clothes getting bigger and baggier.

While I am still very motivated, my posts are slacking. I am also keeping a journal for the college for student teaching and one for myself, (and one for my business) so it's hard to keep up with everything. 

This weekend I will be taking another self picture. I'm excited to see the difference between August 1st and October 1st! Two months of hard work... I hope it will show!

Special Announcement

Today is not a weigh in day, but I feel the need to post this....

I stepped on the scale tonight just to see where I was after the weekend. I had pizza AND a cookie this weekend, but still stayed in my points. I was a little scared to see the scale stay or go up....

I stepped on.. closed my eyes... and then opened them and looked down. Since Thursday I lost another 3.5 pounds! I had to check 3 times to make sure the scale wasn't just being goofy.

Yeah... I have lost 18lbs now.  :) I decided I'd like to be on a Weight Watchers commercial while Jennifer Hudson is singing. I have also started tracking my weight loss by how many "Olivers"... Oliver is my dog and he weighs 9lbs. So far, I have lost 2 Olivers!

That is all. Thank you for tuning into this special announcement!

Another Happy Scale Dance.

Sorry for the lack of posts lately, but I have started student teaching now and have been SUPER busy with everything. I hardly have time to think let alone keep tracking, exercising, and breathing.

Today was weigh in day. I was hesitant to even step on the scale this morning because last week's half a freaking pound made me frustrated, but I did it anyway.

I'm down another 1.5 pounds for a total of 14.5! Awe-some.

I am still motivated, however, my tracking has been slacking. I can't be on my phone during the school day, so I can't track and always forget to enter what I ate during the day when I get home. My normal lunch consists of a turkey sandwich or cold chicken breast pieces for about 4-5 points, along with Special K chips for 3 points and apple sauce for 2 points. For a snack in the morning I typically have a stick of string cheese for 2 or a granola bar, also for 2. So I know I'm at the 15-17pp range when I get home and that includes breakfast. That leaves me many, many options for a late afternoon snack and supper in the evening.

That could be anything from frozen waffles, bacon, and eggs or pizza rolls or a chicken breast and hashbrowns or a hamburger or sausage, egg, and muffin sandwich or... anything!

I purchased two things recently. One is Jillian Michael's book Making the Cut. I haven't had a chance to sit down and read it all, but the circuit training in it is great! I also purchased a Wii Fit and it comes with a disc, but I also got the Wii Sports and Biggest Loser Challenge games. I've heard great things about the BL Challenege. I am going to set it up tonight, so we'll see how it goes! :)

Wish me luck!

Less than 1lb.

Well, today was weigh in day. The verdict: loss of .5lbs. Not even a pound.

I know people are saying that at least it's a loss, but I honestly don't feel like it's anything. I have actually been eating better than last month, but have started student teaching, so I'm hoping that's why things are slow this week. I am more than annoyed right now!

That is all for tonight...

Into Month 2

The weather has been SO nice today. Cool, but windy and it really makes me look forward to Fall. I decided since I have the food part of my new lifestyle pretty much down that I need to start the exercising part soon. I don't really have the time to go to a gym so I have been thinking about different options for working out.  Here are some of them:

•  Jillian Michael's DVDs - I have two of them already and I actually enjoy doing them and 'feel the burn' after!
• I do have other work out DVDs like yoga, pilates, and even Zumba. P90X may also be an option in the future. I already have two sets of free weights, yoga blocks, and a balance ball. Those are typically used in the workout videos.
• Netflix has a ton of options for videos in their instant viewing section. That will help when I want to try something 'new. 
• Wii - I am going to purchase the Wii Fit board and a few games. There is one that comes with it and I'm going to get the Biggest Loser Challenge. The reviews online are pretty good for it.
• Walking/Jogging - This will get a little harder once the snow comes, but that won't be for a few months. 

So, these are some of the options for getting off my butt a little more. :)

Habit is habit and not to be flung out of the window by any man, but coaxed downstairs a step at a time. 

- Mark Twain

----------update-------------

So, I just settled down with a movie and my treat for the week. You remember the Ghiradelli cocoa that I spent awhile in the store shopping for. Well, it tastes like watered down cocoa powder. Seriously gross.

Instead, I decided on a new treat - Snack size Snickers. Also, 3pp, but a much much better tasting 3pp.

Tonight after I did the laundry (super awesome weekend, I know) I decided to go through my clothes. I am donating anything that is too big (a few things), is Summery and will be too big soon (shorts, etc.), a few pairs of pants that are just gross looking on, and.... the ROPE SHIRT. Buh bye!

For those that don't get it, I posted about it in the Losing It group recently.

"It was on sale and bought it cause it looked like it would be cool for summer. I was telling my sister-in-law, that it's been a month since I started and told her to guess how much weight I've lost. She said 'A lot cuz your rope shirt is baggy on you.' :D"

This is my first small victory in this journey and there will be many more to come!

One Month

Today marks the one month milestone of when I started Weight Watchers! From August 1 to August 31, I have lost....

12.5LBS!

I was literally ecstatic when I stood on the scale this morning. I did a little happy dance, but stopped when the weight went up and down on the scale (from me wiggling) and FREAKED me out. Lol.

I will admit, the first few weeks SUCKED. I felt worn down and was hungry for the 'good stuff.' When I figured out I could still eat things in moderation and found replacements for other things, life got better and it got EASY. Boy did WW get easy! I never thought I'd say that, but it really has. It just seems like a way of life now and tracking points is just another routine in my day.

Even when I got done with school and went to Walmart to get groceries and a few other things, I didn't impulse buy like I normally do when I'm hungry. I did, however, buy myself a treat. I searched and searched for something that would be well worth it. I finally found something for the upcoming cool nights we'll have next week... Ghiradelli double chocolate cocoa. Doesn't that look AWESOME? It'll look even more awesome when I tell you it's only 3pp! Yes, I did check the points on what my treat would be. You didn't think I'd sluff off now when I've gotten this far, did you? :)

I will take a monthly picture this weekend, but I don't really feel like I see a big enough change to post it. However, Erica told me I had to or I'd regret it, so I will. And I have to thank Erica for all her support along with Nikki, Kay, and the rest of the girls in Losing It. Thank you for answering all my questions and listening to me complain and whine. The support team that you have really does make a big difference.

I'm very excited to continue this journey and I have set a goal for the end of the year. My goal is to lose 20 more pounds. It may be an easy one and I know I can set it, but it's a goal that I'm satisfied with and anything more than that is just icing on the imaginary zero point+ cake. :)

Goal

So tonight I have been thinking about goals. Do I set small goals throughout the journey? Do I set a goal of what I want to be at the end of all of this?

While I don't really think there is an end to all of this, I did set a bit of a goal. It doesn't mark the end of anything, it's very far off and will take a lot of work. It's kind of silly, but it's something. My goal is to lose 100lbs. Yeap, 100.  I don't have a date that I want to lose it by. It might be a year from now and it might be two years from now, but that is my goal.

I am a very goal oriented person, so I just wanted to give myself something to reach for!


Here is a good workout tune for ya:

Duffy - Mercy

Positive Attitudes

This week, I have noticed how having a positive attitude about weight loss and a healthy lifestyle is so SO important. Not only having a great perspective on this myself, but surrounding myself with others who are full of positive energy. :) On the days where I was thinking how hard it is and how I just wanted to eat what I wanted, it was much easier when I could see why I was doing this and
how much better things will be.

It's not about getting back in the game, it's about being IN the game already. You can't make any baskets from the bench.


"Instead of giving myself reasons why I can't, I give myself reasons why I can." - unknown

Whoa!

Weigh In Day.... I've officially lost 10lbs!

WW even gave me a 'You're losing too much' alert. Honestly, I am really, really overweight, so I don't feel like this is too fast. I feel like this is just right.

Things have been extremely busy the past week and school starts tomorrow! I will post a longer and more fun blog entry soon.

Foods I Love

There are a few foods that I have always liked, but since starting my WW adventure, I have come to love them.

The first food is Sugar Free Jell-O. Weird, I know, BUT it is 0pp and comes in all sorts of flavors. Put a little 0pp Fat Free Whipped Topping (Cool Whip) on the top and you have a delicious ZERO point dessert or snack. Not only is it 0pp, but both are pretty inexpensive items and you can get the off brands and/or hunt down some coupons to make them cost just pennies a serving.

The second food I love is eggs. One egg is 2pp and three egg whites are just 1pp! I go through about a carton a week. Gotta love the incredible, edible egg. :)

Good Workout Tunes

Foods I Never Thought I Could Eat

When I started WW, I was afraid I wouldn't be able to eat 'the good stuff.' You know, ice cream, potatoes, corn on the cob, and the list goes on. I figured they would be totally out of the question and didn't even look into the pp of them. I was wrong though!

My dad plants a HUGE field of sweet corn. I always look forward to this time of the year when I can go and pick it fresh. Nothing beats it! Add some chicken AND hashbrowns in with that sweetcorn and you have a delicious and very filling meal.

My lunch! Only 10pp!

Ice cream was another thing I thought I'd never eat again. I was, once again, very very wrong. Kemps makes FloatBars. They're a popsicle and ice cream combined. Double the fun! Eat one and it's just 1pp, eat two and it's 3pp. Definitely a great treat to cool off this summer.

Skinny Cow makes fudge bars, but beware!! The box says they are worth 1 WW points. Well, yes points, but not Points Plus! With the new system, they are actually 3pp. They are very similar in taste to the WW brand of fudge bars and I have seen this in stores around the area more. 

Do you have a favorite LOW point WW food? Feel free to share it in the comments and stay tuned for 'Foods I Love.'

My First Week

This morning, I got up and ate a quick breakfast which consisted of only a strawberry Nutrigrain bar (4pp). I was running behind and had a session, so I needed to get going. I filled up my Camelback and I was off.  I didn't even remember it was 'Weigh In Day.'

When I got home, I was thinking of what to eat for dinner. Oh yeah... it's SUNDAY. I quickly ran back to the scale. I stood in front of it for a little bit. I hoped (prayed is more like it) that I had lost enough to make this worth my while. I know on Weight Watchers, you normally lose 1-2 pounds a week. I figured since this was my first week, it had to be at least 3.

I stepped on the scale and looked down....


          I lost SIX pounds!

I couldn't believe it! This week definitely had it's ups and downs, but I'm feeling great right now. I'm ready for anything!

Day 3 is gonna be a long one.

Renae and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day. Not for WW reasons, but more just life reasons. It makes me want to eat EVERYTHING, but I am being strong. Trying to at least.

My lunch this afternoon:

2 slices of turkey bacon - 1pp
english muffin - 4pp
egg - 1pp
cheese - 2pp

A total of 8 pp. If I would have used just egg whites (0pp) and a lite english muffin (2pp) it would have only been 5pp. Awesome, huh! For dessert I had sugar free jello and fat free Cool Whip on top, both for 0pp. Proof that you can eat delicious food and still lose weight. There are always healthier substitutions for the things you are already eating. You don't have to go hungry.

Shh.....

Okay guys, so I have this secret. It's not really something that other people know, but I thought I'd share it with you today. Are you ready?......     I'm overweight!

I know. Shocked aren't you. You couldn't even tell.

          Yeah right.

I have been so intimidated to even talk about my weight. When other people say how they need to lose weight, I just encourage them and wish I had the guts to admit to the world that I had a weight problem. Even a week ago, I never would have admitted it.

Well, guess what. I have a confession. I just don't want to lose weight, I need to lose it. It's going to be hard. It's going to suck. I don't care. I'm going to do it!

Here is my 'before' picture:

Where to start?

To tell you a little bit about myself, I am 26 and in need of a new start.  I am currently a college student and will graduate in December. This time around, I am majoring in Elementary Education and I love it. I will be student teaching in a Kindergarten classroom this fall and I could not be more excited. About 5 years ago, I started my own photography studio so you will definitely see a lot of pictures on here. I love my family, I love my friends. I am hoping they will give me the support I need through all of this.

Ever since middle school, my weight has been up and down, but for the past 7 years, my weight has gone nowhere but up. I've tried to blame it on other things, but in reality... There is no one to blame but myself. It's time that I start taking things back into control. I signed up for Weight Watchers this morning and I have friends who have been very successful on it. I mean, if Jennifer Hudson can make it work, anyone can, right? ;)

I figure this blog will be full of my thoughts, hopes, plans, and hopefully, met goals. Like I said before, you'll see plenty of pictures and also videos. I am pretty funny (Okay, so I only think I am) so there will be plenty of humor.

Okay, now go do something healthy for yourself. I am going to go figure out the pp on all the food in the house.

----------------------------------------------------

Update: I wasn't kidding.

New Start

Check.... testing 1 2 3. Anybody out there?