Before and After (well more so during)

I didn't even know if I really wanted to put these on here, but the difference is pretty shocking to me...so I thought I would share.

This is the difference 67 pounds and hours in the gym makes:

Before: Today
Jeff took the above picture of me this morning as I was leaving work, these are my smaller black jeans, I think about 3 sizes smaller. I stopped wearing jeans a few years ago, it feels great to be in a new pair! Plus, do you notice I have a bright turquoise shirt on?

Now on to a few more before and afters, do I really need to point out which ones are which?

I don't even look like the same person.

The before picture I showed you were the good ones! UGH!!!!
The good news is...I AM SO NOT DONE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Cash in my pocket!

I am sooo sick of paying $2.50 (if on sale) a box for 100 calorie packs. Honestly a lot of the time the little snacks in there are flat and lifeless! So today i thought I would do a little experiment and boy am I happy!!! So on to the Dollar General....

Where i found lovely little bite sized cookies, chocolate chip, oreo-esk-like and teddy gram-ish, all ONE DOLLAR a box! 140 calories a serving, so I split it up and did the math so that I would have 100, 5 cookies per bag and 10 grams per bag, 100 calories 2 points!

Perfect size snack. I also bought a box of baggies for $2, but I only used about a third of them, so that leads me to .67c!

Yes I packaged them all up, it only took like 10 minutes!

I got 32 servings out of those 3 boxes! They taste pretty darn good for a non-gourmet cookie!

32 servings / 4 bags per box (regular brand) = 8 boxes x $2.50 each = $20

32 servings ~ 3 boxes @ $1.00 each + .67c for bags = $3.67!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

That's right folks 10 minutes of my time is worth $16.33!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Cash in my POCKET!!!!!!

Low in points too such a bonus!

Falling off the wagon...

I thought maybe if I admitted it on my blog maybe it would jolt me back on track.

One of the hardest things I have always had to face is my weight-loss...well loss...gain...loss...gain gain...loss......I just want to stay with loss.

right now I am at a 4 week halt, thankfully I haven't gained but I feel like complete shit!

I hurt me knee really bad working out with a new trainer, and the more the weeks go by the more pissed off I am!

I can hardly work out, last time I went in the pool it hurt, lovely eh?

I know that there are other things in the gym that I could be doing, but instead of just sucking it up and doing something instead of nothing, nothing is what I keep choosing.

It is so much easier to just toss in the towel...but all my goals, all my hard work so far!

The bridesmaid dress that I am going to have to get into in 5 months!

The kids I want to have....

OK, I need to get back on track, at least I didn't gain!

But I am soooo bored with weight watchers, I am finding it so monotonous!

Oh well I am just going to have to keep going, I bet once I get on track I will feel better in just days, instead of shit for weeks LOL.

Thanks for reading, encouraging and emailing me.

I will keep you posted...tomorrow will be a better day...the sun will come out!

4 Points sooo Yummy!

I forgot to show you a picture of what my dinner looked like last night. I gave you the recipe but no picture. This whole plate of food was 4 points!

It is turkey meatloaf & root mash YUM! Just look at that, such comfort food. It is just not the same if you don't have a visual!
The root mash as you know is 0 points. The big slice of meat loaf is 4!!!!
Here is the deets on the meets...loaf! Lol!


1 pound ground turkey
3 egg whites or 1/4 cup egg substitute
1 cup salsa (half mixed in half on top)
1 cup broccoli (I cut just the floret tops off, the stems don't soften enough for my liking)
1 medium red bell pepper
1/4 cup plain bread crumbs
1/2 cup jalapeno peppers (optional)
1 tsp cayenne pepper (optional)
1 tsp black pepper

mix all together reserving 1/2 cup of the salsa. smash in a dish, top with remaining salsa. Bake at 350 degrees for 35 minutes covered, then 15 uncovered.
Serves 4. 4 points each!

Root Mash

Hi my friends!

OMG this is soooo good! Instead of mashed potatoes...
2 medium turnips
1 large rutabaga
2-3 parsnips

Peel and cube all these roots to about the same size and boil them in water, just like mashed potatoes. Cook until fork tender.
Strain and them mash or whip with mixer.
Add seasoning, like salt, pepper, garlic, cayenne whatever you like!

This is sooo very good and no points how can you go wrong!

My SpiN on saYing gOOdbyE to a sTACK of bLACK...

This morning I took a giant leap out of my comfort zone

stomach in knots

fear in my head

and every excuse I could think of not to go...

TO SPIN CLASS!!!

Let it be known that I made it through

ALL 45 grueling minutes!

My legs felt like Jello and my ass is so sore!

They play GREAT LOUD music and it is very high energy!

After wards (as if I wasn't shaky enough) I lifted weights with my sister. She was trying to kill me, but I refuse to complain or whine!

I will be back on that hard seat next Monday morning because everything I have been doing has already resulted in me saying goodbye to a stack of black clothes that are

TOO BIG!!!

WOOHOO!!!

20 items of clothing down and the rest I am still pinning when they are too loose!

I have bought a few new things, not too many because I plan to not have any of my original clothing left by X-Mas (if not before)! Actually I plan to donate the clothes I just got in a month or so, thankfully it is getting warmer t-shirts are cheep!

So join me if you will Monday at 9:05am for some spin 'cuz that is where you will find me, trying to get better and better at it!

I had to keep telling myself "don't you dare get off this bike...don't you dare!"

Towards the end of class, the instructor said

"almost there, keep going everyone, 15 minutes left!"

I said "I CAN DO ANYTHING FOR 15 MINUTES!"

Can I get a wha-what!

2.4 LOST WOOOOHOOOOO!!!
HAPPY GIRL!!!
39 TOTAL!!!!!!!!!

Do you like Donuts?

Not me!

Tonight was my first group/trainer workout! Holy SMOKES I have muscles and pains that I didn't even know existed!
But...I had fun!
AND I feel pretty DAMN GOOD! (till morning lol)
I would describe more about what's going on but I think my finger muscles are tired too!!!
I have to weigh in at WW tomorrow and I just hope I lost this week!
Last week I gained POINT 6! not 6 pounds .6 a little over half a pound, I know what you are thinking and I don't wanna hear it...it is not even a pound!
Don't you think I am well aware of that little fact?
It doesn't matter I was still throwing a little fit (all week)! !
So for the sake of others who see me everyday...please let that friggin scale say ANYTHING minus!
After all I have been working hard at the despised gym, and actually making friends with it!
More later I am going to go and pass out!

Thanks Sarah, you are a great coach!!!

This is so worth it...
Goodnight all!!!!



oooohhh the pain...even my ass hurts!

Oh boy look what I got myself into....

(If you care to read the details click on it to enlarge!) I am down 35 pounds in 16 weeks. I feel lighter, more flexible and just over all better!

So time to start working out!

This seemed like a good way to start, besides I will get to work with personal trainers...who knows maybe I will even win a prize!

For anyone that watches "Loser" I am just glad I don't have to weigh-in with spandex and a training bra {{yikes}} why do they do that to those people?!?

So wish me luck and I will keep you posted!

THINK THIN THINK THIN THINK THIN THINK THIN!!!!

Enjoy your weekend!

Long time no post...

More snow this weekend, everyone was complaining, not me, I like the snow! I like the season changes. I wonder if people who live in climates that are consistent (Hawaii) complain that the weather sucks??? Well, just when I get sick of one season we are ready for the next!

I have been busy being stuck in the house, I am trying to purge my hoard, lol. Sometimes I think I just like to collect things. When I was cleaning my craft room I found bags of stuff that I had tucked away that I hadn't even put away, mostly loot from Micheal's craft store, I do love a good sale and coupon!

Unfortunately my dear hubby got laid off 2 weeks ago, so we have to be kind of frugal with our spending cash. Might be a good lesson for us in this pissy economy to really appreciate what we already have, and to realize that we have enough!

I recently placed a goal list on the side bar of this blog. Weather or not anyone except me sees it, every week I update it and check things off, or check that the things are in progress. Hold me accountable to, well, myself I guess haha.

I am so please with myself that I have lost a total of 32 pounds, as of last Wednesday! I am feeling better everyday!

WW is paying off nicely for me this time. I posted a few weeks ago that I had trouble getting past the 10th week at WW, well I am now past my 14th week!!!

The great thing is that at this point I don't feel like I am on a diet,

its just the way things go!

It's Wednesday!

That means a quick update, I made it through my 10th week (WW) on to my 11th!

I am now down 21.6 pounds!!!

My knees feel so much better already!

My thin favorite jeans are looking more attainable everyday!!!!(photo courtesy of my blog friend Curt )

The P's...

I must do a little bragging about my parents:
They have also started WW @ home and they are doing so well 2 weeks into it and Dad has lost 12 POUNDS and Mom has lost 10 POUNDS!!! I am so proud of them!!!

The next time you see them, you will see a whole lot less!!!

This picture cracks me up!

Have a great week everyone!

WW...

Well it is no secret that I am focused on losing weight, so I will probably be talking about it while I am on this little journey. So today I thought I would share just a little bit more about my personal struggle. I use this blog site as well sort of an on line journal, not quite as personal as my little paper pocket journal but none the less as important to me.

I have been overweight pretty much my whole life. The last 5 or 6 years have been the worst as far as my weight control. There has been so many struggles. My fathers many ankle surgeries, both of my parents surviving cancer (hooray!) and my 3 pregnancy losses. All of which contributed to my emotional eating, because that is what I do. It has always been my drug of choice!

I have tried on three different occasions to have some sort of Bariatric surgery and have been denied in some way each time! Go figure. I believe in signs and that God has plans mapped out for our future, so when something life endangering does not fall into place I simply do not push it. Hind site is always 20/20!

So back to WW (Weight Watchers) I go...maybe this is my 7th time? BUT every single time I have not been able to make it past week 10!!! What is the deal??? At week 16 you get this little key chain, it is not studded with diamonds, jewels or gold, but dammit I want that little key chain!! LOL! SO I am proud to say that as of yesterday I am on my week 10! Six more weeks to go for that little symbolic goal achievement! Then on to filling the key chain with more achievement charms! I feel like just breaking things up into small goals is so much easier then the BIG picture.

I created a little place on my side bar for my goals along with a weight loss "ticker" that is fun to update every week! The best way to achieve your goals is by writing them down. Somehow if you can visually see them you can achieve them!

So, keeping in the spirit of my topic I would like to recommend The Biggest Loser Workout, Weight Loss Yoga DVD. I got it on Netflix before buying it just to see if I like it...well I do! I used to love YOGA!!! I haven't done it for sometime, although I can't do all the positions as well as Bob, but it is nice that they have some of the old contestants on there doing the modified poses. I will tell you now I felt muscles that surely must have been on vacation over the last few years!

I think I will just have to buy my own copy soon, I don't want to keep my Netflix copy too long.

Hey who watched Bob explode on the show this week?!? NICE!!!

So that must be it for now, there you have it my unsolicited opinion and DVD plug, haha!

Thanks for reading!

~Peace~

Breakfast, The Most Important Meal of the Day?

YES!!!

I also believe that you eat with your eyes first! So mine at least has to look pretty. Keep in mind that Jeff doesn't eat half the stuff I cook, however it is important to me to take the time to "fancy up" my plates.

I have found through talking to customers, coworkers and friends that women do mot take enough time to make things special for themselves. While I realize I do not have the task of tending to children (for now) I do believe that the 10 minutes it took me to throw today's breakfast together for myself would be way doable with kids in tow! Besides unlike their father...my future kids will learn to eat vegetables and fruit!

As a self proclaimed food addict I am trying to kick the habit! I will instead try to focus on what I like better which is art and try my best to focus on healthy pretty alternatives. For example:

Today's breakfast consist of, 1/2 c. egg beater substitute, 1/2 c. chopped mushrooms & green peppers, 1tsp olive oil (saute the veggies), 1oz fat free feta (yum), 1 whole wheat english muffin, 1 small ripe and juicy plum, 2 moderately sized slices of cantaloupe (that was so sweet I am glad I ate it last it was like candy!), also to top off my eggs I use 2 tbls fat free sour cream. I put lots of seasonings in my eggs, pepper, crushed red pepper, garlic and just a smidge of curry just for that "what's in this factor"!

Then it is all about the plating. I eat all my meals on my china. We don't have fancy dinner parties so I figure why not use them all the time!

I also use mostly small plates, makes my food look like more!

To top it off I sprinkle a little parsley and crushed reds on it just for color.

It is not only pleasing to my eyes but it tasted FANTASTIC
so it is pleasing to my buds! For those of you WW...
5 points entire breakfast...yum!

I hope everyone is having a nice Sunday, I am going to dig my way through my craft room to make up some kids Valentines Day cards. My blog friend Pat has pledged to send 1,000 cards for a children hospital in Michigan. The cards are to not only give one to each kid but also for the kids to hand out to their friends and family. Isn't that sweet! So she has asked a few of her blog friends for a little help. I am hoping to post what I come up with on my Pixie too... blog.

It is too cold for the outdoors today (18) This flip flop/croc shoes wearing girl should have invested in some warm ugly-ass boots...maybe it isn't too late, seems we are in for a long cold winter!

~Peace~