Strength!!!

So it has been a very, very emotional week. On Friday, a young, 13 year old boy in our neighbourhood accidentally killed himself by playing a game of auto-asphyxiation. I can not begin to explain how sick it was to learn of the details, at the same time joing a community and family in mourning this young life. I strongly urge all parents to speak to your children about this "game". I was surprised, when speaking to my 9 and 6 year old that they already new about it. Do not be naive. We continued to speak that some of these decisions have deadly consequences. Knowledge is power!

About a month ago, my 90 year old Baba took a fall down about 13 stairs - never broke a bone but hurt her shoulder and was pretty bruised up. On Monday, she was admitted to the hospital because her resting heart rate was way over 100. They have put her on blood thinners and continue to run tests. Hopefulloy she will be out of the hospital in a day or two.

And, as everyone knows that things happen in three's, today an aquaintance of my from high school, advises me that he underwent tests last week and they found a brain tumor. WTF!!! How sad, so enough is enough, I am trying to remain positive in the midst of all this shit.

I went to weigh in this morning as was down 3.2 pounds. I had actually gained last week 1.4 so the net result is 1.8 pounds, which I am totally happy with.

Hug your loved ones with extra tight hugs and tell them you love them! Life is too short to wait.

:O)

Weekend Strategy and Weigh In Results!

Firstly, after a week of what I had originally thought as crazy, I am excited to have lost 1 lb. As hard as it was to get in some exercise, I did manage a few walks and played outside with the kids. I find it easier lately just running around and playing with my kids as my form of exercise. I think it is very important for us to adapt to our lifestyle and incorporate fitness the best way we can, while still being health conscious.

So now I am into another crazy week. My husband is leaving this morning for Dallas, TX and leaving me with the following:

- 2 children
- 2 sets of swimming lessons
- 6 hours of hockey tryouts
- 1 football game
- 1 art class

I am not sure why he didn't leave a padded room for me, but I am determined to get through this weekend relatively unscathed. I am promising myself not to fall off the wagon just because we are busy. I am going to use this to my advantage!!

To all of you that have a busy weekend planned - we can get through it! :O)

TOM - I Really Loathe You!

I am really trying to get my head around how different my mental state is on the couple days leading up to TOM. I have unbelievable cravings and am pretty sure I could eat all day if I really allowed myself. I just feel blah! It slightly enrages me because I am so good for the remainder of the month and really feel in control.

My approach this time was to wean myself off of the crappy food and try and substitute with healthy cravings. HAHAHAHA!! That never worked! However, I did greatly reduce the amount consumed. I suppose I should be proud about it, but I am really only still looking for answers on how to combat the cravings.

This is going to be my ongoing goal for the next few months and I am really going to try and figure out what foods are the best to satisfy my cravings as well as not sabotaging my weight loss efforts.

As I was searching the internet, I came across this little chart. I am going to use it and see if it is effective.

The website is found here: http://www.fitsugar.com/How-Deal-Sugar-Coffee-Chocolate-Alcohol-Cravings-18176788

Sometimes Life is Just Really Hard!

Without getting into all the details, I had a very "trying" day on Sunday. It completely sucked all the energy out of me and for the first time in a long time I caved into the emotional eating.

I was aware that I was doing it, knew I shouldn't have been, but did not stop myself. However, what I did do, is say to myself "If you do need to emotionally eat, do it wisely." And by goodness, that is exactly what I did. I indulged in fresh cucumbers and carrots and had a piece of apple crisp.

Immediately proceeding said cave in, I went for a nap and awoke an hour later in a much better shape.

I really hate when this happens because I become rather grouchy and don't feel it is fair to the people around me. I even explained to my kids that I was grouchy and mom needed a break. They were so good with it.

It's all about thinking first and working through the difficulties, while being as honest as you possibly can.

Still hoping for good things at weigh in on Thursday, but time and the scale will only tell.

Here's to staying positive!!! :O)

Weigh In and I'm Not Disappointed

I had a STS at weigh in today and for some reason, I am totally okay with it. I accept that I am not going to always lose weight each week, but I will learn how to deal with a STS or gain. It is all part of learning and being comfortable with this new lifestyle.

I do know one main reason for the STS this week is my activity level was way down from what it has been in the past few weeks. I just need to up my game a bit for this week. I am going to make every attempt to get out for a walk each night or morning. I can also work it into my lunch break at work. I have to do this and will feel much better about it next week.

Looking forward to kissing the 240's goodbye.

:O)

I Am In A Way Better Place

Although I have had a rough couple of weeks, I am very proud to say that my weight loss efforts did not suffer by any means. I actually used the weight loss efforts as an escape from all the other "crap" that was going on around me. Who knew that I would be in a place where I didn't emotionally eat when things weren't going along perfect.

What a milestone that I was able to accomplish. I realize life has more turns, hills and cliffs than it does straight roads and I am willing to work with that and achieve a sense of balance between everything without make the situation worse by emotionally overeating.

I have really struggled over the last few years on making this journey truly successful. I am really attempting to come to new and practical realizations that will make this a lifestyle change that becomes more of a habit rather than constant work and effort.

I love my life and want to be around for a long time to enjoy it. :O)

Feel Like I'm Drowning

So I have had a really tough week. Many things are going on and are really, and I mean really, stressing me out. I have never been one to stress, but for some reason this week it is really getting to me. I am feeling so terrible, I feel like I could puke every few minutes. I have never experienced anything like this in my life.

I have decided to try and keep mega busy so I don't have to live the stress all the time, I am writing about it, hoping it will allow me to release some of it, I am picking away at the things I can control and trying to kick the ones I can't control to the curb.

I am hoping that my week of holidays will allow me to relax and find the good in life again.

In the meantime, I have still managed to control my eating and am happy to post a 1.8 loss this week. Thank goodness, because I am not sure what would have happened if this would have been a gain.

This is probably just what I needed this week to deflect some of the stress. Along with losing the 1.8 pounds, I also passed 25 pounds total lost and got my 10% key chain.

I will get through this! :O)

I am Thrilled

I have to say that after coming back from wiegh in today, I was extremely pleased. I lost another 3.2 pounds, after just being on vacation, and have lost a total of 21.2 pounds.

I can not tell you how happy I am that I made a decision to lose weight a couple of months ago. I feel successful and I feel that I am strong enough to continue on this journey for the long haul.

I often find myself reflecting on what a great place I would be in if I could just make the weight disappear. However, what positive lessons would I learn from that. I truly believe that I will be more aware of what I need to do to make this work as I continue. I think this is one of those life lessons I needed to learn for myself. I am prepared to make this work. :O)

Satisfied!

I am trying super hard to listen to my body signs when eating. I must remember to eat slow and to STOP once I am satisfied. This is sometime easier said than done.

I had weigh in at noon today and was down 0.8 pounds. After weigh in I came back to the office and heated up my lunch.

I had packed some leftovers from last nights supper, however, as I was eating my lunch, all of a sudden I felt like I overate. I obviously missed the signal (because of course I wasn't really paying attention) and not didn't feel too good. I still had my cherries to eat, which I was looking forward to. Now the old me would have still ate the cherries. But realizing that would make me feel worse, I left them and will have them as a snack a little later when I am hungry.

Although I missed the first signal, I was successful at not making another bad decision and for that I am happy.

I am looking forward to a week at the cottage and am looking forward to some fun activities with my children.

Have a great Canada Day weekend.

What Have I Lost?

This was one of the threads on the GDT and I must say I loved it. It gives you a bit of a visual in regards to the amount of weight you have lost.

1 pound = a Guinea Pig
1.5 pounds = a dozen Krispy Kreme glazed donuts
2 pounds = a rack of baby back ribs
3 pounds = an average human brain
4 pounds = an ostrich egg
5 pounds = a Chihuahua
6 pounds = a human’s skin
7.5 pounds = an average newborn
8 pounds = a human head
10 pounds= chemical additives an American consumes each year
11 pounds = an average housecat
12 pounds = a Bald Eagle
15 pounds = 10 dozen large eggs
16 pounds = a sperm whale’s brain
20 pounds = an automobile tire
23 pounds = amount of pizza an average American eats in a year
24 pounds = a 3-gallon tub of super premium ice cream
25 pounds = an average 2 year old
30 pounds = amount of cheese an average American eats in a year
33 pounds = a cinder block
36 pounds = a mid-size microwave
40 pounds = a 5-gallon bottle of water or an average human leg
44 pounds = an elephant’s heart
50 pounds = a small bale of hay
55 pounds = a 5000 BTU air conditioner
60 pounds = an elephant’s penis (yep, weighs more than his heart!)
66 pounds = fats and oils an average American eats in a year
70 pounds = an Irish Setter
77 pounds = a gold brick
80 pounds = the World’s Largest Ball of Tape
90 pounds = a newborn calf
100 pounds = a 2 month old horse
111 pounds = red meat an average American eats in a year
117 pounds = an average fashion model (and she’s 5’11”)
118 pounds = the complete Encyclopedia Britannica
120 pounds = amount of trash you throw away in a month
130 pounds = a newborn giraffe
138 pounds = potatoes an average American eats in a year
140 pounds = refined sugar an average American eats in a year
144 pounds = an average adult woman (and she’s 5’4”)
150 pounds = the complete Oxford English Dictionary
187 pounds = an average adult man
200 pounds = 2 Bloodhounds
235 pounds = Arnold Schwarzenegger
300 pounds = an average football lineman
400 pounds = a Welsh pony

To date I have lost a bald eagle.

I will have to do this little test every couple of months until I have lost a 2 month old horse.

Have a great one!

Holy Shit I did it!!

I got on a bike and rode it yesterday. It has been at least seven years since I have been on a bike, maybe even longer.

The kids wanted to go for a bike ride and begged me to ride mine and not walk. I must say, I was a little frightened that I would have problems maintaining effective tire pressure. Needless to say, we had a great time and I will definitely be doing that again.

I thought for sure my a$$ would be sore today, but maybe all the padding saved it. LOL! I look forward to the day where my jiggly parts do not get in the way of me peddling.

Here's to not giving in to tunnel vision and listening to your children every now and then. They really do know something!

Have a great day.

My 6 Week Plan

I have been known to hate, and I mean absolutely hate structured exercise. However, I realize to make the positive changes in my life, I am going to need to come to terms with some form of steady or regular exercise of some sort.

As I was surfing the web I came across a 6 week "Train to Walk a 5k" plan and thought that it would be something I could complete. It outlines what to do each day. LOVE THIS!!

So as of today, I have completed Day 1 and feel slightly excited to do Day 2. LOL! Hope this feeling sticks for awhile.

My hope is that once I complete the walking program and stick with it for a couple weeks, I will be ready to begin the "Couch to 5k" program and run 5k by the end of the year. I just have to stay focused and remind myself not to give up if something tries to get in my way.

I am ready to make these changes for a lifetime and don't want to give up or fail. I will continue to remind myself that this is the best choice and I want to be a positive role model for my family.

I CAN DO IT!!!

Missed it by that Much

Missed my 5% goal today by 0.2 lbs. Really?

Somewhat disappointed, but I will get over it. LOL!

The scale is definitely going in the right direction and over the 5 weeks I have been doing this, I have lost 12.8 pounds, which I think is just great.

I am going out of town again this weekend for my son's ball tournament, however, I am going to really, really try to be super good. Although I follow Simply Filling, I may just track my foods for this week, to keep me a little more accountable while we are out of town. I will endeavor to drink water and try and get some walks in.

Resetting my lifestyle is such a mental game, far more than any physical component. I hope that I am able to stay mentally focused for a lifetime and that it will only get easier and become a habit. :O)

Product Review - Partners Crackers

I have always loved flatbread crackers, but have never found the one that "wows" me. Until now that is. I have fell in love with these crackers! They are delicious, especially when eaten with a little hummus. The best part is 3 crackers are only 1 points plus.

They do come in a few different varieties with my favourite being the Parmesean and Herb. This really is a satisfying snack that is points plus friendly. For now, this is my go to snack while at work.

What to do when....

your son is attending his first PanAm Martial Arts Games and you have just started Weight Watchers?

You go with him and be the proudest mom ever!!! We spent the last three days together, driving and sitting and not much of anything else.

However, I really tried choosing healthier food and drinking a lot of water. I am hoping that my choice selection will not go unnoticed at the scale on Thursday. However, if I have a slight gain or a STS I will not be disappointed as I know I could have and most likely would have made far worse choices had I not been following WW's.

I had a tonne of fun and was so excited to be a part of my son's journey while still continuing on mine.

I would say success for both of us this weekend.

Another One Bites the Dust

Another weigh in, another 1.8 pounds down. YEAH!

This next week will be somewhat of a challenge. My son is competing at the PanAm Martial Arts games and we will be away. So this means mostly eating out with a very minimal schedule.

I will however, pack fruit and some "wise" snacks to nibble on and attempt to make the best choices while we are away.

I am truly excited for him to be experiencing this great opportunity and I not going to let me issues get in the way of us having a wonderful time.

Here's to hoping he brings home for Team Canada.

Weigh In Week 3

Success!! Down another 1.4 pounds.

Every week when I go to meetings, I get nervous. As I am driving I can feel my stomach getting more anxious by the minute. How crazy is that? This past week had a whole lot of crazy to it and I guess I was just hoping the scale would still cooperate.

I always feeling a weight being lifted off my shoulder, once the leader tells me I did a good job and lost weight. Why is it that I need that reassurance? Is it that I have low self esteem, because I have never really pegged me to be that type of person? Is it I need others to validate my success?

My preference would be to go about doing my thing, making healthier food choices and incorporating exercise, quietly go to the meetings, weigh in, listen to the meeting and leave unnoticed.

Maybe it's that I am a bit embarrased for letting my weight get out of control. I never used to be overweight. Like many others, mine has crept up in the past 8 years since having children. But how does one gain 100 frickin' pounds in 8 years and not get a hold on it sooner. Oh well, there is no use dwelling.

I have made the conscious decision to say goodbye to the added baggage so I am around for a long time.

:O)

Reward for 5% Goal

One of the first goals I have set is to lose 13 lbs which is 5% of my total weight loss. It really does help setting smaller goals along the way and reward yourself for achieving them.

So having thought long and hard about this (actually not really), I have decide that a pedicure may be a very deserving reward once I reach my first goal.

I LOVE LOVE LOVE the spa!!! I am so looking forward to it. 4.2 lbs to go. With any luck I will be able to book my spa day by the end of June.

Here's to setting and achieving goals!

Here We Go Again!

As you can see my efforts went on hiatus, but we are back (with avengence).

I am currently working on Week 3 and have successfully lost 8.8 pounds. Of course, I am thrilled and am truly hoping I can get to my goal this time.

I am not even attempting to count points, this is what eventually drove me over the edge last time. I am strictly doing Simply Filling, with slight modifications.

I am way to busy to constantly be tracking the points. I just have to find what works the best and stick with it. Until my body requires a change that is. LOL!

My first goal is to reach my 5% of 13.5 pounds. :)

Back to Reality and Loving It!

So I seem to be back in the swing of things after a couple weeks off for holidays. Today was to be my weigh in however, we are so busy at work that I did not get out. However, I did weigh myself at home this morning and was the same.

I had a lot of catching up to do on all the blogs I read. All of these girls are amazing and extraordinary in their own special way. I must say though, I sure give the ones who post pictures everyday a lot of credit. That is my hope -- that I can get to the point where I can add more pictures to my blog. It just gets a little hectic being a mom of 2 active children and working full time.

Hope to have a great weekend in the rain!! :O)

A Quick Check In!

So I have been on holidays for the past week and a half and am loving it (other than all the rain). I am not neglecting the blog on purpose, just enjoying the time off.

I will be back at it full force on Monday and hopefully ready for weigh in on Thursday.

Have a great weekend! :O)

Weekly Weigh In

Well, was able to lose 2.4 pounds after a week of being laid up for a week with back spasms and then a big Ukranian wedding to boot. So I feel great that I was down the 2.4 pounds. I guess it is definately becoming second nature to pick whole foods and eat a lot of fruit and veggies. I have also snacked very little at night this past week, so that also may have something to do with it.

So I am also officially 1/2 way to my goal, almost 6 months to the day. Not bad!!

Tomorrow is my last day of work until August 4, 2009. I am thrilled and will be going grocery shopping to load up on healthy food for out at the trailer.

I was hoping to spend more time blogging tonight, but I am freezing and can't seem to warm up. So I will be back tomorrow.

:O)

Feeling Pretty Good!

Other than the fact that my back is still trying to recover from whatever I did to it a week and a half ago, I feel pretty good.

All week I have felt in control and not worried in the least about obsessing over what I am eating. Maybe it is becoming more natural.

I am super busy at work trying to get everything cleaned up as I am on holdiays next week.

My intention is to try a few new recipes next week, while I have more time. Will be spending the week up at the trailer, so am looking on going on some hikes with the kids and just plain relaxing by the campfire at night.

Will check in tomorrow after weigh in. Hope all goes well. :O)

Glad to see Monday!

On Friday, I had given myself permission to have a good time on the weekend without stressing over what I was eating and what it would cost me.

I was laid up the better part of the week with a major back injury, so I was due to have some fun at my cousins wedding on Saturday.

We had a great time! Probably ate and drank a little to much, but still tried to keep choices reasonable. It's funny how this has become more of a habit than before. I don't have to try so hard to make healthier choices.

However, it is now Monday and am back to reality and will make great choices this week. Weigh in is on Thursday and I guess we will see the damage then as a result of a week with no movement and a Ukranian wedding weekend.

Have a great day. :O)

What a terrible Week!

So I have had a shitty week. I managed to pull all the muscles in my back last Saturday and have not been able to move effectively ever since. To top things off, the medication the doctor has given me, makes me very dry. I have never experienced anything like this. I can't seem to drink enough water in order for me not to feel thirsty.

On the up side, it is now Thursday and I can slowly move around, which I am very grateful for. My weight has stayed the same this week, which I would consider wonderful, since I have had no exercise of any sorts at all.

I will be off to a wedding this weekend and I am very excited. I feel confident with my new eating habits and don't think that will be a problem at all on Saturday.

Have a great weekend and hope everyone is well.

Weigh In

So after my re-commitment and refocus, I went to weigh in today and was pleasantly surprised with a loss of 1.8 pounds.

This signifies over 50 lbs gone. I am totally thrilled and almost half way to my goal. I have the confidence that I can continue to do this and I am thrilled at the lifestyle changes I am making.

So with the same enthusiasm I had when I lost 25 pounds here are some items that weigh 50 pounds:

50 pounds of tomatoes50 pounds of potatoes

My daughterHave a great weekend - I am off to the trailer for some R&R.

My Quilty Pleasure

I have one. I have never been one to really like chocolate bars, but Cadbury Thins I love. They are the perfect amount of chocolate to satisfy my "empty calorie" snack fix. I have never tried these before and know they have been around for ages, but I finally thought I would give it a go. I especially love the mint chocolate one.

I know there are many other healthier options to spend my points on, but this is for special occasions.

Tomorrow is weigh in, and am really not sure what to expect. I have had a mediocure couple of weeks, but am looking forward to getting back on track.

Less than Motivated!

Over the last couple of weeks I have really noticed that my motivation is slowly slipping. For the record - I DO NOT WANT THIS TO HAPPEN! I have not gained any weight back, but am definately not losing any.

I have been following the simply filling technique for the past 4 months. I think I will switch things up this week after weigh in to go back to counting points again and see if that can kick start the weight loss again.

I feel really great having lost almost 50 pounds and I want to keep at it. My desire is still strong, I just need to get the motivation going again. Mentally I am still in a good state. I am not depressed that my weight loss has slowed down because I am in this for the long haul, until I reach goal. I believe with some planning this state will be temporary.

Weigh In and Struggles

I was somewhat sad but still gratefull at my weigh in last week. I lost 0.2 lbs. Yes a loss is a loss and I am totally happy with that, but after a week of struggling, I was really looking forward to a great meeting.

The leader was subbing for our regular leader and was less than inspiring, and therefore I got very little out of the meeting, which was so unfortunate. Especially at a time when I needed it.

We had a very busy weekend and I believe that the choices were not the greatest. I am really looking forward to the meeting on Thursday with hope that I can get some newly energized motivation out of it. I have not completely fallen off the rails, just slowing down a bit.

Positively Speaking

As I was lurking around the Weight Watcher's message boards, I came across an interesting post about "struggling with the feeling of not being good enough, of not being able to make anyone happy, and of being disliked by people they admire".

This totally got me to thinking, that when I started WW in January I was in the exact same space; however, with a few things in addition to including too embarrassed to go out more than I had to, felt I was letting my children down because I was too lazy to play with them, and numerous other issues.

Almost six months later and 50 pounds gone, I still have some of the same holdups, however, it feels like the walls are slowly being broken down. I believe I am making great progress and want to continue making progress. This is one of the main reasons I did not set a specific date as to when I want to lose my weight by. I want to see steady progress and when I get there, I will have achieved my goal.

I am worthy of achieving this goal because:

1. I deserve to be happy.
2. I have two children that need their mother as much as I need them.
3. I want to live a long and healthy life.
4. I want to socialize without trying to hide.
5. I want to be a great role model.

6. I want to make it through 1 day where nothing hurts.

7. I want to truly love myself.

I will not give up! I am not going to be a quitter. I will succeed!

Weigh In

So another weigh in down and am please to report yet another 2.4 pound loss. So now I am just 0.8 pounds away from a total of 50 pounds. Hopefully I will reach that goal next week.

I have also posted another progress picture. I sure have a hard time looking at myself in pictures. I always think I look terrible. However, I perservere so when I look back I will see how far I have come.

It is quite funny, even though I have lost nearly 50 pounds, when I look at the pictures to me it doesn't look like I have lost that much.

I can't wait to be looking at the progress picture in six months time. I am hoping that I will see a difference by then.

Day at the Spa with my lovely Daughter!

So as you may recall, my daughter and I had a special day at the spa, where we got pedicures and manicures. It was so much fun, and I must say, Jayda did amazing. She had a wonderful time and the girls treated us wonderfully.

We were treated with hot chocolate, cinnamon buns and water with real cranberries. (I had requested that they only bring a cinnamon bun for my daughter, I was so proud of myself - it smelled delicious).

It was so calming in here they had leather chairs divided by sheer curtains to give some privacy and a fireplace in the room. So cozy.

I have also included a couple pictures of Jayda and I during the pampering process.

Product Review-Island Way Sorbet

So I must share my most recent product find. I totally love these things. They are super fun to eat. As you can see by the picture, these little items come in a unique bowl of their own. In the box that I bought there were the 4 flavours: Lemon - in a real lemon half, Orange - in a real orange half, Coconut - in a real coconut half and Pineapple - in a real pineapple half. They are an amazing low point snack. Each of these are 2 points. I found these at Costco.

You can find the Nutritional Information at their website http://www.islandwaysorbet.com/products.cfm.

Weekend of Walking

So was able to get in two early morning walks on both Saturday and Sunday. I increased the walking distance a bit from my previous walks. The route was almost 3 kilometers. I walked this in about 1/2 hour. I would typically be able to do this much faster, however, my back was acting up with spasms, so just took it easy.

Week 21 Weigh In

Just a quick post to update on my weigh in this week. As many know, I have been pretty sick the past couple of weeks; however, I am still thrilled to report a loss of 1 pound.

I am totally flirting with 50 pounds gone. I am hoping to reach that little milestone by July 2, 2009.

Firming up the Arms!

I have decided that now is the time to firm up the arms. I have always had bigger arms, but I am going to try my best at least to firm them up so they do not appear so flabby. I have picked 3 exercises I will start this week. They are tricep dips, tricep curls and push ups. I have included a step by step tutorial on how to do each exercise. (In case anyone would like to join me).

Tricep Dips:
1. Use a bench or chair. It will need to be sturdy enough to hold your body weight. Stand in front of the bench, with your back to it.

2. Place your hands on the bench with palms down and your knuckles facing forward. Hands should be slightly closer than shoulder width apart. As you are doing this you will bend at the knees and your legs should be at a 90-degree angle.

3. Lower your body by bending at the elbow. Exhale slowly as you bend. Lower for a count of two. Elbows should not point out away from the body as you lower.

4. Straighten your arms out. This will push your body back up. Inhale slowly through your nose as you straighten your arm.

5. Complete 10 to 12 repetitions. This is considered one set. Towards the end of the set it should get difficult to perform the exercise. Perform enough repetitions of the tricep dip to work the muscle to fatigue without causing pain.

6. Do two to three sets. Rest your triceps for a minute in between sets. Work your triceps two to three times a week, with at least 24 hours' rest between workouts.

Tricep Curls (with free weights):
1. Stand (with legs slightly bent and feet hip-width apart) or sit on a bench. Raise your arms straight overhead while keeping them close to your ears.

2. Bend your elbows, lowering the weights behind you. Straighten your arms to raise the weights to the starting position.

Modified Push Ups:
1. Start on all fours with hands a bit wider than the shoulders.

2. Walk the knees back a bit in order to lean your weight on the hands and flatten the back from the head down to the back of the knees.

3. Pull the abs in and, keeping back straight, bend the elbows and lower body toward the floor until elbows are at 90-degree angles.

4. Push back up and repeat for 1 to 3 sets of 10 to 16 reps.

Feeling slightly normal again!

After a week of being extremely sick, I am glad to report that I believe I am on the upward swing. I have coughed so much this week, I was actually getting sick of hearing myself. Unfortunately, I couldn't leave. Was able to get about 5 days of good rest (thanks to my wonderful children understanding that mommy was not feeling well). I made a conscious decision to not worry about following any program or try and make it to weigh in, just to get lots of fluids and sleep. I am back at being a little more aware today and will have my weigh in on Thursday.

I feel pretty good other than still being slightly tired, but should regain the energy in the next day or two (I hope).

Will take it easy tonight and watch the hockey game with the kidlets and try and get on the treadmill for a wee tiny bit. Will have to gauge this, as when I start to do too much, I start to cough.

Sick of Being Sick!!!

Last Friday I was blessed with a head and throat cold. It has totally taken me out. I have no energy and if I am not coughing or throwing up, I just want to sleep. I have not achieved very much in the last 4 days in the form of exercise. I am hoping to feel better in the next day or two.

My weigh in this week will be on Saturday morning. I am going with my son's Grade 2 class to the Children's Festival on Thursday and then with my daughter to the spa on Friday. So as you can see, I really do not have time to be ill.

While I was talking myself out of exercising the past few days, it got me to thinking if exercise would really make me worse or if it would help me get over this bug. So I researched a bit on the internet and found the following rule of thumb:

The age old question. I have the sniffles, not feeling so great, can I work out? Should I skip?

Maybe you’ve heard the old wives tale “sweat out a cold”? Not necessarily true. A brisk walk can help clear a stuffy nose for a short-term fix but working out when sick can make you even sicker. The rule of thumb is the “neck test”.

Sick above the neck? If you have a headache, stuffy nose or scratchy throat, go ahead and exercise. Keep your intensity a little lower than normal and monitor how you feel. If you feel dizzy, stop.

Sick below the neck? If you have the aches and pains of a fever, coughing, chest congestion, or upset stomach skip that workout. Your body has a certain amount of energy and it needs all that energy to fight your illness. Working out will take that energy away and you are likely to remain sick or get sicker. Let the illness run its course then get back to your normal routine.

Another consideration, if you have a cold and are heading to the gym, keep the other gym goers in mind. I’m sure they would not appreciate your sneezing and coughing on the elliptical machine. Would you want to work out next to someone who is sick?

As we get into our routines and are finally developing good strides in our workouts a cold doesn’t have to ruin us. A few days off is not the end of the world. You can return to your routine rested, refreshed and roaring to go.

Another Great Weigh In!

Just returning from another weigh in and I very proud and excited to report that I lost another 2.6 pounds this week.

This will make my 20 week total - 45.8 pounds.

I will stay focused this week and continue to fight the fight. We have another busy week out at the trailer and should be able to keep myself busy.

Reward Day!

So as a reward for my successful weight loss progress so far, I have booked a morning at the spa with my darling daughter. I am going to have a pedicure done, while she has a pedicure and manicure done. She is only four and a half years old, but loves having her nails painted. We are having them done at the Beverly Ashdown Day Spa http://www.beverlyashdown.ca/ in Saskatoon. The package that my daughter is having done is called the Little Diva Pedicure and Manicure. I am having the Desperate Housewife Pedicure.

I have the day off from work and my son will be in school, so it is the perfect opportunity to do a "girls thing". It doesn't really happen very often, so I am totally looking forward to it. I will post pictures if I remember to take the camera.

I am so looking forward to this morning of fun with my precious little girl. :O)

Superslim Rice Crisps - Product Review

If you are looking for a low point snack with lots of flavour, I recommend that you go out and buy a box of these. They are 13 good size crackers for 2 points. I love the Sesame flavour; however they do come in other flavours, including Original, Sea Salt and Sweet Chili.

If you had 6 or 7 of these crackers along with 2 traingles of the laughing cow cheese, you have a great 2 point snack that is very filling. Even better, mix salsa with the cheese first.

Yum, what a great snack when you need to satisfy a craving.

Weigh In and Self Awareness

Had my weigh in today and lost another 2.6 pounds. I love learning that this is a new way of life and not a "DIET".

This week I am focusing on self awareness. One of the most important factors in building your self esteem and confidence is your self awareness.

Being self aware is knowing:

What you want in your life? I want to live long and enjoy a wonderful life with my family and friends.

Your strengths and weaknesses. Some of my greatest strengths are my greatest weaknesses. Some of my strengths would be that I am caring, well educated, creative, while some of my weakness are I am a perfectionist, stubborn and very private.

What motivates you and makes you happy? Definately my family is one of my greatest motivators. I cannot explain the overwhelming love and emotion that I have as a mother. I just want to be around as long as I can for my children. They are my pride and joy and I love sharing their life with them.

What you want to change about yourself or about your life? Part of my journey is too allow my body to exist in a healthier environment, therefore, this is one of the changes I would like to make and am actively doing it.

Your achievements so far. I have successfully lost 43 pounds. I am raising 2 beautiful children to be respectful people and love themselves and others. I am a successful business women, with a wonderful husband and extended family and friends, a beautiful home and other luxuries we can enjoy as a family.

How you relate to others. I can relate to others on a variety of different subjects. However, there are always certain areas that one finds hard to relate to, especially if you haven't experienced it.

You need to improve as a person. I have to learn to "relax" and take more me time. I find that when I have free time, I should be playing with the kids or doing other chores. I think it is important to have time alone, I just need to learn how to do it.

Your most important beliefs and values. I believe in respect for yourself and others and value friendships.

How you see yourself as a person. I see myself as a hardworking mother and wife that strives for happiness and fulfillment.

This was a wonderful exercise - it allowed me to really believe that I have lots to be thankful for and to keep striving for my happiness.

Thursday WI (18th Week)

Lost another 1 pound for a grand total of 40.6 pounds -- so far.

On my way back from the meeting I was reflecting on what has made me successful so far. I truly believe that staying for meetings is so crucial. It is amazing the hints, ranging from where to buy low point foods to coping mechanisms, you get out of the meetings. Obviously everyone at the meetings are dealing with the same struggles as I am, so for me it is far easier to relate to them and find the confidence to continue.

I also credit my children - my source of energy. I love them so dearly and I am enjoying every minute I can with them. It is so much to know that playing takes less energy now than it did a few months ago.

I am also very stubborn (which is an understatement), so with that alone, I cannot fail and will not fail. It may take me a while but I will keep at it.

Now onto week number 19 with 4 days at the lake - will be packing healthy and will earn as many ap's as I can.

:O)

Monday Evening Walk

Last night was so gorgeous out, so after my son's ball game, I decided to go for a walk. It took me about 30 minutes to do the above walk. Now I have something to beat and keep challenging me. I am going to slowly increase speed or distance. I will also keep track of each walk and see how I improve over time.

Having Fun Losing the Weight!

I am constantly trying to figure out ways to not lose interest in losing weight, which has definately been my problem in the past. The following are three ideas I am going to try this week.

#1: Play tag on the playground. This should be a fun activity for losing weight. Running, climbing, squatting and laughing are great ways to burn calories.

#2: Challenge my husband or children to a game. Will probably be basketball, road hockey or soccer. Should be able to have fun burning calories while participating in a little friendly competition.

#3: Pack our favorite healthy foods and head to the park or zoo for a picnic. Being outside, getting fresh air and eating healthy foods will feel great.

Weigh In #17

Down another 2 pounds today at weigh in. I LOVE IT!!! That is a total of 39.6 pounds. My BMI has also changed from 41.8 to 35.8. Very exciting.

So will be trying a few new recipes this week, including 1 point chocolate chip cookies (yum!) and trying to up the activity.

We will be going up to the trailer for the weekend so I need to go out and get groceries. Will be stalking up on fruit and veggies. I really try and have a great selection of food at the trailer so it is easier to stay on track.

What's your motivation?

What is your motivation for losing weight?

For me, other than the obvious (must lose weight to be healthier), it was to be able to wear my wedding rings again. I have not wore them since 2004. Yes, that is 4 years. I tried them on last night and they are not quite ready to go on. They are getting close. I am sure once I hit onederland it will be a matter of pounds. This definately motivation to continue the journey.

Another huge motivator for me was to be able to spend hours playing with my children. This gets easier with every pound I lose. It is such a wonderful feeling to play and run with them without getting tired or pulling something. I can't wait to lose another 30 pounds and see how much easier it is then.

This journey really has so many perks, I often wonder why I have derailed in the past as there really is no benefit.

Thursday WI

Had my weekly weigh in this afternoon and am proud to report I am down another 1.2 pounds.

Even though I am following the simply filling, I am going to track this week and make sure my portions aren't getting out of control. I want to make sure I am not slowly increasing portions, and how close I am to my aloted range.

Creamy Cauliflower Soup

I seen this recipe on http://weight-watchers-points-recipes.blogspot.com and it sounded so good. I have a head of cauliflower at home, so timing is perfect. Will let you know how it turns out.

Servings: 4 servings • Time: 20 minutes • Points: 1 ww point

1 tbsp butter
2 tsp unbleached flour
1 head cauliflower - chopped
1/2 cup chopped onions
4 cups fat free chicken broth (vegetarians can use vegetable broth)
salt and pepper to taste

In a medium saucepan, make a rue by melting the butter on low heat. Add flour and stir about 2 minutes. Add chicken broth, onions and cauliflower and set heat to medium. Cover and simmer until vegetables are tender (about 20 minutes.) Puree with an immersion blender until smooth. Season with salt and pepper.

Frozen Peanut Butter Cups

8 oz Cool Whip
6 Tbsp Peanut Butter
2 Tbsp Hershey chocolate syrup

Combine Cool Whip and peanut butter. Line 12 cupcake tins with liners and spoon in mixture.
Top with a drizzle of syrup and freeze.

That's it! (1.5 points each)

This is a great treat if you are looking for something to take care of a craving.

New Favorite Treat/Snack! :O)

Special K Bliss Mocha!

By sheer destiny I ran into this morsels of goodness at the local grocery store yesterday and I had to just try them. I couldn't even wait to get back to the office, so I opened one in the vehicle and to my pleasant surprise -- they were wonderful, and only 2 PTS! I don't really care for the regular granola bars. They are a little syrupy for me, these aren't like that. They come in several different flavours. I also bought the plain chocolate ones for my children, and they loved them as well. I love finding new low point snacks.

Another Successful Weigh In!!

So last Thursday was my weigh in, and I am happy to say that I am down 4 pounds for the week. I had some serious ap's this week which included three hours of raking on Sunday alone. I did make a concerted effort to ensure that I fuelled the body for the upped activity. So I must have done something right. I also received my 16 Week charm for the key chain. Hard to believe that I have been at this for 16 weeks and have lost 36.4 pounds. I am very excited and am looking forward to another 16 weeks.

The 2 most important things for me in being successful at losing weight is tracking and portion control. If I can stay focused on these two things, I see the results.

As a side note, we pulled the trailer out on the weekend to park it for the summer and we are going to try and spend the night this coming weekend if the weather is nice. So note to mother nature, please send nice weather our way.

Mentally Preparing for Dim Sum

So I was just informed that the office staff is going to go out for dim sum tomorrow for lunch. I LOVE dim sum and cannot wait. However, that does mean some pre planning. First of all my weigh in is on Thursday, so my first awareness will be the salt intake. Second of all, I only have 30 points for the day (I have definately used up all weekly ap's); therefore, I will have the typical 2 point grapefruit for breakfast at around 9:30 am and use about 18 ponts for the dim sum. I think if I stay to mostly steamed items I should be able to count 5 pieces for 4 points. If I end up eating 15 pieces, I will end up using 12 points, allowing room for a couple deep fried items. I think (I know) I will be okay. :O)

I will drink lots of water and tea to help with any of the salt intake. I plan on staying within points and being successful for weigh in on Thursday.

What a great week!

Last week was so extremely busy. For Easter we went to Medicine Hat to spend the weekend with friends. There was no school for my kidlets last week, so I took holidays and spent the week with them. We really had a great time. Painted bedrooms, went swimming, biking, shopping, visiting, etc. We even managed to get up to the lake to rake the leaves on our property where we park a 5th wheel trailer for the summer (about three hours of ap's). Now we are really stoked about summer.

Even with having the week off I managed to get to a weigh in, where surprisingly I was down exactly 1 pound. LOVE IT!!! I am sure this is a result of the extra eating and extra activity points, but hey not bad.

I have come to realize - I hate organized exercising. What I mean by that is treadmill, exercise program, gym, etc. I would much rather get my ap's in by doing yard work, house work, playing with the kids, going swimming with the kids, etc. I think for me it is a whole productive thing, with my time so limited I have to kill two birds with one stone - nothing wrong with that. So far this method is obviously working for me, so why change it at this point.

Here's keeping my fingers crossed that this Thursday will be a STS or a loss.

Happy Easter!

Just back from weigh in and I stayed the same. I am happy obviously that there was no gain. So we are off to Medicine Hat this weekend for Easter and I am totally prepared to stay op. We are taking the kids swimming, biking and other outdoor activities while we are there, so should be able to get some ap's in. I will drink my water (among other things) -- but I will prevail.

Happy Easter!! :O)

Motivating the Weight Loss

I have read many self help books, articles, etc. and have realized the common ground in all is finding out what makes you tick. As much as we want you to look your best and lose weight, there's much more to life than weight loss. It's important to know how to eat properly and to educate yourself on a healthy lifestyle.

We must continue to develop the person inside in order to gain the results we want on the outside. Be thankful for what you have. Do you have a job, house, spouse, car, children, friends, food to eat, nice bed to sleep in, television or credit card? If you have half these things, consider yourself lucky because the majority of the world's population would love to trade places with you.

It takes work and sacrifice to lose weight but you can enjoy the process by maintaining balance. Set days aside for eating your favorite meal with the family or taking that special person out to eat and don't worry about fat and calories.

Develop yourself by investing in others. Ask yourself what you can do to help someone make their world a little better. Develop into the person you want to be by educating yourself and taking care of family and friends.

Life is more than losing weight and fitting a certain image. So put your life in proper perspective and don't make appearance the main focus. Take care of your mind, soul and body. Seize the moment and take firm hold of the responsibilities placed before you.

This journey is worth it in so many ways.

New Progress Picture - Yikes!

So I have finally added a progress picture - not very flattering. There was a brief moment that I thought I should not even put it up, but I totally want to use it as motivation and I really want to see the transformation every few months.

On a positive note, I really feel the benefits to losing the weight. Going for a walk with my children outside is way easier. I LOVE IT!!! This is such a wonderful feeling.

I am not even going to comment on the whole weigh in thing this week; will just be hoping for the best.

One Point Chili Recipe

I love this stuff and will be making a pot of it this weekend. Sooooo gooood!!

Ingredients
10 ounces extra-lean ground turkey breast
1 medium onion, diced
2 (28-oz) cans diced tomatoes
2 medium zucchini, diced
2 medium yellow squash diced
1 (15 oz) can black beans
2 (15-oz) cans fat-free, reduced-sodium beef broth
4 celery stalks, diced
2 green bell peppers, diced
1 (1 1/4-oz) package dry chili seasonings

Directions

Spray a large nonstick skillet with nonstick spray and set over medium-high heat. Add the turkey and onion and sauté until browned, about 10 minutes. Transfer the browned turkey and onion mixture to a large soup pot and add the tomatoes, zucchini, squash, beans, broth, celery, bell peppers, and chili seasoning. Bring to a simmer over medium heat. Continue to simmer until the vegetables are tender, about 20 minutes.

Serves 20

Nutritional Info/Per Serving
Calories: 76.5
Total Fat: 1.3 g
Cholesterol: 0.0 mg
Sodium: 321.2 mg
Total Carbs: 10.7 g
Dietary Fiber: 3.0 g
Protein: 6.5 g

Woo Hoo!!!!

So just back from WI and am down another 2.6 pounds. All I can say is Holy Shit!! I really can't believe it. As I mentioned in my other post I thought I had cheated a bit this last week.

I do follow the simply filling and do not really record my extra weekly points, so I thought for sure this is what might really mess me up.

Anyway, I am very grateful at the loss and will take it any time I can.

This really does work!!

So I have been following the WW's plan now for approximately 3 months. The one thing I have really noticed is that if you follow the program as outlined, you are very successful; however, if you cheat, the program is not really forgiving. This past week I have cheated several times, so I am very curious as to how my wi will go today.

Quite often I wake up thinking why does it take so long to lose weight. I was never really a bad eater, I just ate too much too many days in a row. I have always been at the very least borderline over weight. It wasn't until after my pregnancy that I became obese. This was definately an eye opener for me, and I feel terrible I have done this to myself. However, I am committed to making the change. My family has a history of overweight people; does that mean these eating habits have not been changed down through generations?

I am adamant that I will provide my children with great eating habits. I want to break this cycle, if I can. Both my children are very active and so far they are doing just fine. However, I want them to continue to know how important it is to eat right and exercise. I will often tell them that we need to do this so that our muscles and bones remain healthy. They never hear the word diet in our house -- it is just "the way" we have to eat.

I feel great that I have been able to lose the weight I have and am looking forward to seeing the progress 3 months from now.

Have a great day and think "thin thoughts".

Where did the weekend go?

Wow, what a busy weekend. Friday night took the kids swimming for a couple hours; Saturday had karate, music, went to a garden show and then off to hear a friends band play at the bar. Sunday took some time to ourselves and napped.

As for being op for the entire weekend -- it went fairly well. Actually I would almost guess that if anything, I didn't use enough points (see that is the problem when you don't track). I don't really drink, so using points for alcohol isn't usually an issue.

I am still struggling to get the exercise in. I have not totally given up, it just seems to be difficult. One of these days it's just going to happen (because I will have wanted it bad enough)! :O)

Wow! Another WI down.

Had my weekly Thursday wi today, and was down another 1.4 lbs. I have lost a total of 28.8 lbs.

So one of my goals for the week was try and start regular exercise. To give you an idea of a typical day for me:

6:00 am - wake up/shower/get ready/make lunches
7:20 am - take children to daycare and go to work
5:00 pm - come home from work/pick up kids from daycare
5:30 pm - make supper/clean up (If not at children's activities)
6:30 pm - help kids with homework/play with kids/bathe kids/0ther nighttime routines
9:00 pm - me time (if I haven't fallen asleep when laying by one of the children)

So my mind set this week was if I can start incorporating exercise, I should have more energy and be able to get up earlier to go on the treadmill or do Wii FIt or stay up at night and do something. I must say the days that I was able to "Get Moving" the result was exactly this. So I will be attempting to continue increasing the exercise this week. I managed to do the treadmill 3 days this week for about 17 minutes each time.

Another Monday!

Wow, not sure where the last week went.

We had a very busy weekend. Friday went to hear a friend's band play at the bar (Awesome!), Saturday we had karate, music, hockey game, hockey wind up. Sunday we just had a hockey game. Needless to say, we all crashed pretty early last night.

Due to the busy week, I have been doing the simply filling technique this week, so hopefully, I will see another loss at the scale on Thursday.

I am always amazed at how good I feel when I eat good foods. Not sure why the system thinks it needs to cave into cravings - doesn't benefit anything.

I am really looking forward to hockey season being over, I am going to refocus that energy to the treadmill.

Have a great day!

Welcoming Spring!

I am so glad that today is the first day of spring. We have had a very long winter here in Saskatchewan. I hope it starts melting soon and fast. We have a 5th wheel that we park each summer and I am really looking forward to spending the weekends out there. At this point it seems a very far away.

As I mentioned yesterday, I am going to attempt to get more exercise in this week. At the very least I would like to go on the treadmill a few times and do some Wii Fit. Not sure if it has to do with the weather, but can seem to get my but out of bed in the morning and am too tired when I get home at night. This is definately a mind over matter thing. I have lost about 27 pounds doing very little or no exercise; however, in the long run, it is important that exercise be incorporated into my everyday life. I have to do it! :O)

I also have another Product Review (only if you like seafood): It is the haddock from M&M Meats: really tasty and only 1 point per fillet.
Nutrition Facts
Per 1 average fillet (70 g)
Calories 60
Fat 0.5 g
Saturated 0 g
+Trans 0 g
Cholesterol 40 mg
Sodium 50 mg
Carbohydrate 0g
Fibre 0 g
Sugars 0 g
Protein 13 g

Weigh In

So even after my apparent "collapse" this past weekend, I managed to achieve my 10% key chain. That means I have lost 10% of the total weight I need to lose. In many ways this sounds fantastic, but then I think how much weight is left to shed and I realize I still have a long way to go.

However, I am determined to become a much healthier person, incorporate exercise into my daily life and enjoy playing with my children.

My goals this week are going to be - tracking, add some exercise and try a new recipe.

So my total weight loss to date is: 27.4 lbs.

Low Fat Bran Muffin Recipe

Low Fat Bran Muffins (Yields 12 muffins - 2 points each)

1 cup(s) low-fat milk
2 egg white(s)
1/2 tsp table salt
1/2 tsp vanilla extract
1/3 cup(s) unsweetened applesauce
1 tbsp lemon juice, canned or bottled
1 tsp baking powder
1 tsp baking soda
2/3 cup(s) unpacked brown sugar
1 1/2 cup(s) uncooked wheat bran
1/2 cup(s) all-purpose flour
1/2 cup(s) whole wheat flour

1. Preheat oven to 375ºF. Grease muffing cups or line with paper muffin liners.
2. Mix together wheat bran, lemon juice and milk; let stand for 10 minutes.
3. Beat together applesauce, egg, sugar and vanilla and add to milk/bran mixture. Sift together flour, baking soda, baking powder and salt. Stir flour mixture into milk mixture, until just blended. Spoon batter into prepared muffin tins.
4. Bake for 15 to 20 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the center of a muffin comes out clean.

When I make these for my kids, I add a few chocolate chips and they are even better.

Still Terrified!

So, I am still scared to look at the scale and see the damage that resulted from a weekend of poor eating habits.

On a positive note, I have been very good for the last 2 days and hoping that it will minimize the damage.

I will be making some Wheat Bran Muffins tonight. These are really a great snack for me. They are filling and are quite tasty. I will post the recipe when time permits (might even have it written out already somewhere on my computer).

I am also going to start taking progress pictures. I think this will be truly motivating and help greatly to keep committed to losing weight.

As a side note to Mother Nature - "I AM READY FOR SPRING - THE SOONER THE BETTER!"

TGIM (Thank God It's Monday!!)

So, for the first time in two plus months, I totally derailed on the weekend. Was somewhat bored and lazy (never a good combination) and thus didn't really plan any of my meals. For me to be successful with this, I must take the time to plan and make proper meals. I am not too sure how badly I have sabotaged myself. Was going to step on the scale this morning and see what the damage was -- just couldn't do it though. However, starting today, I have had no problem getting back op.

So note to self - "Forgive and move on!"

And, here's to hoping not too much damage was done.

Have a great day! :O)

What weighs 25 lbs?

So I had weigh in today and I am happy to report that I have lost another 1.4 pounds this week. This brings my total to 25.4 pounds lost. So this got me to thinking - What weighs 25 pounds?

A bushel of peppers:

25 pounds of cheese:

This tortoise:

I am very proud of myself that I have made it this far. My next goal is to achieve my 10%, which is another 1.6 pounds.

Blue Menu Wheat Crackers

Product Review
I have recently purchased a box of these crackers and I must tell you, there are fabulous. They are full of flavour and are crunchy. Nine of these crackers works out to 2 points. They are wonderful with light laughing cow cheese and red pepper jelly. Blue menu also has these crackers in Wheat & Onion and Wheat & Seasame. Can't wait to try those as well.

I love making finds like this -- Taste good and are point friendly! :O)

Here We Go!

So, I begin my journey of "weight loss". I have really been trying to lose weight for a couple of months now and have managed to lose about 24 lbs. I am very proud of myself and suprisingly it hasn't been that difficult. It really is amazing when you have the right mind set and the determination how easy things can be.

I have never really journalled anything in my life, so this blogging thing may be hard for me to keep up. However, I was hoping it could be my aid during this journey in my life.

My goals for the next couple of weeks are to begin an exercise program and try some new recipes.