New Goals

I have to admit that I'm back to "normal." That's not a good kind of normal. It's a chubby kind of normal. Remember when I looked like this? Well, I haven't gained any weight back, but I've lost my muscle tone and have become squishy all over. Really a bummer after working that hard. And I have to say that if we could have afforded to keep me at Goals In Motion, I would have! It's was the best thing for me. I feel like I was just mentally there. My body changed but my brain needed time to catch up and realize the results from all the hard work that I did. I was in a good place to kick it into another level, but alas, that's not what happened. So, I have some new things in store:

1. Follow the Goals In Motion eating plan (some of it anyway): more protein, more water, no carbs after 3p, eat 5x a day.
2. Along with GIM eating plan I want to try The Lord's Table. I have a friend who wants to do it with me and I pray that it will help me break the cycle of emotional eating and focus on food as fuel. (The diet portion will be modified for my hypothyroidism.)
3. 30-Day Shred. I've done this before and it's worked great. I just need to do it every.day.
4. Try this: 100 push-ups, 200 sit-ups, 200 squats. It looks like a good program and I'm anxious to give it a try. Maybe I can get my husband to do it with me. :)
5. After the 30-Day Shred, C25K (couch to 5K). I've never been a runner and I don't know if I want to start now. I need to get through the 30-Day Shred first. :)
6. I also want to see what the Sisterhood of the Shrinking Jeans is up to when they start their next challenge (current challenge ends April 13th). That will hold me accountable to working out, weighing once a week (not daily) and reporting. I've been in the sisterhood before and it was really good for me and I'd like to join again.

So, this all begins on Monday, March 21. There's a sad but important anniversary coming up that I need to feel good for. I know it will be hard emotionally and mentally so I want to feel good physically.
Who's in? Who wants to join me? Who's willing to take the challenge?

Bedrest

When I was pregnant with my firstborn, I was on bedrest for three weeks before he was born at 34 weeks. And I have to say that, although there was a lot of anxiousness involved, there wasn't a lot of boredom.

We don't have cable TV at home so that was a great help. Since my husband is in student ministry we know lots of students and I looked forward to 3pm when they would stop by to visit. That was probably my favorite part of the day. :) And then there were the naps...the glorious naps. People gave me wonderful things to do also: movies, color, make a pair of moccasins (thanks Jereth), color. Coloring became very therapeutic for me. It was such a calming activity. It probably really helped my blood pressure. :)

And that was another thing too. I had to be on my side at all times. So it was hard to play video games or do anything that would increase my heart rate. But I made it through...with my sanity. :) And I got to take home a healthy baby boy and that was the main thing.

Kristen, at We Are THAT Family, posted on her weekly Works for Me Wednesday about what to give someone on bedrest so they won't be bored to death. I thought it was a great list and hopefully will help you if you know someone on bedrest or someone who is housebound from an injury.

On My Own: Maintenance

So what do I do now that I've completed my 9-week challenge at Goals in Motion and will not be continuing with their maintenance program?


1. Walk everyday - That's easy right now because the weather is nice. I'm sure it will get more difficult to want to walk when it's cold and snowy. But for right now it's beautiful and the boys and I are enjoying the outdoors.
2. Do a workout video 5-6 days a week - The ones that we own are Jillian Michaels 30-Day Shred, The Biggest Loser Workout, The Biggest Loser Last Chance Workout, Jillian Michaels No More Trouble Zones.
3. Eat - This is probably the hardest for me. I get too busy and forget to eat and then in the evening I'm hungry. So I need to remind myself to eat breakfast and a snack in the morning. Otherwise I pass on the opportunity to boost my metabolism right away in the morning. I want to fuel my body so it can burn. ;)
4. Protein 5-6 times a day - This was a struggle during the challenge because I like variety and feel like I'm always eating the same things. My favorite ways to get extra protein throughout the day: protein shakes, protein bars, cottage cheese, almonds, peanut butter, eggs, chicken.
5. No carbs after 3-4p - Again, this was a challenge during the challenge but I found myself feeling better during the early morning workout if I ate some protein in the evening. Although, popcorn or dry cereal would be my first choice for an evening snack. And not having carbs at dinner has been an adjustment for my family. More salads less bread, rice and mashed potatoes. We still eat those things, just earlier in the day.

I've lost about 5 pounds since the end of my challenge but I don't know if it's fat or muscle that I've lost. I'm afraid that it's muscle. It's harder to stay motivated on my own. I really liked the class environment and working out to a video at home is hard to keep up. But I'm trying and doing pretty well. Hopefully I will get to my goal weight (140lbs) and maybe less. ;)

Goals In Motion: Finale

My 9-week "boot camp" at Goals In Motion is over! And I have to say that I'm disappointed that it's over. I thought I would be relieved. ;)

I was getting very discouraged because I wasn't seeing the scale move. I felt disappointment every time I got on the scale...1 lb here, 1 lb there. It was hard to know that I wasn't "losing weight." I kept telling myself that muscle weighs more than fat, but as a woman I wanted to see that scale move.

I did feel strong, though. I loved the resistance training more than the kickboxing (cardio was never my thing). And I was getting good at it. I loved starting a new "level" and thinking I was never going to be able to do something...squat with 50 lbs, do a full pike on a balance ball, wall-sit with 20lb on my lap (and have it be more than tolerable). I had great coaches who nudged me to try more weight or change colors of bands or even use two bands. They were so supportive and not pushy at all, just very encouraging. It was fun.

Don't get me wrong, kickboxing was fun too. My goal was to be able to kick a bag over and I did it! And it was awesome!! I liked feeling like I knew what I was doing (although there's still one kick that I'm not very good at) and hitting that bag did feel good most days. And it was fun to see what the different instructors would do. It was different every time and I really enjoyed that. I also noticed that in my last 3 weeks my thoughts during my workout changed. I was no longer focusing on remembering to breath, how much time is left, that I feel sick, I might throw-up, that I can't catch my breath, that this weight is heavy, how much time is left, I can't get my leg up that high to kick, I'm tired, and how much time was left. I was instead thinking of what to make for dinner, when was the last time I got my hair colored, where did I put that library book, wonder if I can stop by Wal-Mart and run errands before heading home, what was on my Wal-Mart list, why are people here already, is it 5:45 already? My brain was no longer just trying to keep my body working it was actually thinking. ;) It's just a little sign that my body was working hard and I wasn't having to use my brain power to keep it going.

Alright, here are my stats:

Body Weight
initial: 167
final: 155.8 (today I'm at 150.2)

Body Comp
initial: 32.9%
final: 30.2%

Sit Ups (full)
initial: 10
final: 32

Push Ups (modified)
initial: 30
final: 56

Sit and Reach
initial: 17in
final: 21.75

Mile Run
initial: 13:51 minutes
final: 11:55 minutes (which is better than high school)

Before I reveal my pictures, I wanted to tell you that I got third place for overall body change! So even though I didn't see the scale change much, my body changed. I would never have guessed that I would get third place and wish I would've kicked it harder the last few weeks and maybe I would've gotten first. :) I just never thought that I would even place. There were people in my challenge who lost 26 pounds and decreased their body fat by 6% so I didn't think that I would win anything. I was very shocked to hear them call my name. Ok, here they are:

Where I see the most change is probably my face, chin and neck. Also, I don't have as much fat under my right armpit. And my legs look smoother. The belly is another difference. There's actual muscle showing and less/no love handles.

Obviously the belly has changed and I didn't see it when I looked in the mirror but I can really see it in the pictures. I have ab muscles, granted it's no 6-pack but I don't have to look too far to see muscle instead of a belly. Again, my legs are smoother and I have only 1 chin and a neck. Someone said my chest looked perkier, but I think smaller would be more accurate. Why do women lose weight there first?

This is probably my favorite pose. I know I will never have a dancer's body (long, lean) because I know that I'm more of a muscular build. And I love seeing how smooth the back of my legs are. Yay!! Also my shoulders are more toned and you don't see any back fat. My bottom is smaller and my shorts are no longer skin tight.

It was a great 9-weeks. We're planning on saving some of our (hopefully) tax return money so that next year I can join a maintenance challenge (FYI: they do have payment plans if you want to continue after your initial nine weeks). Goals in Motion is a lot of fun. The staff is so encouraging and I can't say enough positives about the workouts themselves. They're great and they're a lot of fun. I have to say that Jeff was probably my favorite instructor because he would usually choose classic rock to work out to. Makes it more fun when you can sing along. Thanks to all of you who supported and encouraged me (Wendi, Karen, April, Kim). You made this process a lot of fun!! Thanks!!

A Healing Heart

As some of you remember from my birthday post, I have set some goals for my 30th (which is actually my 31st) year of life. I want to do some things that I've never done and a fitness boot camp was one of them...notice I said WAS.

That's right! I've finished my 9-week challenge and I've seen some amazing results -which will be revealed later this week. But that's not why I'm writing this post.

I started the Fitness Boot Camp for several reasons:

1. I've never done it before and it's on my list.
2. I wanted to be in better shape.
3. I needed a reason to get out of bed in the morning.

After losing our baby I went through a period of pretty rough depression. I have two young boys that I needed to care for daily, and I did that. I got up in the morning and I cared for them. But I did that while I was in my pajamas all day. I did that while crying at the drop of a hat. I did that with an open wound. I did that while questioning God's reason for my loss and wondering if it was my fault. I did it with guilt over my responsibility (if there was any) in losing my baby. I cared for my boys with all the strength that I had - which wasn't much. I'm so thankful that I have a wonderful husband who supported me through all of this (by cooking, cleaning, showing me grace, loving me in such a special way). And it's hard to admit that the days were so dark.

A few weeks before my birthday my husband asked me if I'd like to join a fitness boot camp. He'd heard me talk about my birthday list and wanted to encourage me in that. I told him that I needed to think about it. Then I talked to some friends at church that had done Goals In Motion. I gave them lots of excuses of why I wouldn't be able to join the 9-week challenge but I think I was just scared.

It had been a long time since I had really done something for myself. As mothers we are so used to sacrificing our time, our schedules, our comfort, our sleep, our bodies, our minds, our hearts to our children and not take time for ourselves. I felt guilty for the cost of the program and didn't think that I was worth that. We had money saved up and my husband wanted to give this to me as a gift. So I accepted the challenge and knew that the cost of the program alone would keep me feeling guilty motivated enough to keep going.

I'd say the hardest parts of the program were getting up at 4:30a to be at the gym by 5a, eating enough throughout the day, and not eating carbs after 3p. And I can't say that I was very disciplined with my eating. I was really strict at the beginning and got a little more relaxed at the end - which isn't a good idea.

I started seeing results and noticed my clothes fitting looser and that I was losing my double chin and gaining a neck. ;) I was happy with the changes but thought I would feel better. I thought that seeing my body change would make me happy. I thought it would make me feel good again, but I wasn't and it didn't.

I was still sad. Still mourning. Still questioning. My body may have started to look better, but my heart was still bleeding and I was still nursing an open painful wound. All the kick-boxing and beating that bag was not helping my heart like I thought it would. All the weight-lifting and doing things that I never thought I'd be able to do was exciting and encouraging but it wasn't healing.

I think that it's important to realize that making yourself get out of bed, that working out regularly, that smiling and holding your tongue, are all ways to survive grief and make it through a whole, albeit changed, person. But that's not what was healing to me. Being on my blog talking about my loss, humbling myself enough to ask for prayer, reaching out to friends and family to tell them where my heart is at. Being real with people and sharing my thoughts and feelings was what I found to be healing to me. And it's not easy.

I learned quickly whom I could trust. I learned that some people are better listeners and some are better talkers. I learned that you will get burned in the process and not everyone is understanding. I learned that the people who had gone through this type of loss (even if they were strangers) were the only ones who really understood, who really had advice and stories that I wanted to hear, who I could really listen to talk about God's promises and God's love. I couldn't stand to hear someone compare my baby's death to the death of a grandparent or an elderly parent. I couldn't stand to hear people quote Scripture about God's plans and His promises for His children. So in the process of healing there is a fine line - learning how to guard my heart but not isolate myself. But when I wasn't talking about my loss, when I wasn't asking for prayer that's when my heart and mind took it's deepest dive into the valley.

All this is to say that I did survive fitness boot camp and it was a great encouragement (and success) but it's not the thing that healed my heart. Being with the people of God and humbling myself enough to talk about my loss and ask for prayer is what is healing my heart.

Protein Bar Review

I've been eating protein bars when I'm on the go since starting this new diet way of eating. Goals in Motion focuses a lot on the nutrition part of their program which is great, but hard for a foodie like me. I've been doing pretty well and not splurging really at all. I have a bite of a treat here and there, but as for no carbs after 3p I've been doing really good since the evening was my big eating time.

Anyway, back to the protein bars. I never thought I'd be eating these things and I have to be careful and pick times when I absolutely have no other option because they're kind of expensive. But when my in-laws were visiting last week they let me pick out a few bars to try and they paid (thank you!!!). That way I could find some that I really like and not have to worry about the money end of it. So, on to the review.

Think Think Chocolate Covered Strawberries
This bar is very sweet. Almost too sweet. You might want to have a cup of coffee or tea to tone down the sweetness. The flavor was ok but too sweet and I'm not really much of a "sweet-tooth." Definitely would not buy this again.
(200 cal, 70 fat cal, 7g total fat, 3g sat fat, 0g trans fat, 0mg cholesterol, 115mg sodium, 21g carbs, 1g fiber, 0g sugar, 15g protein)

Power Crunch Protein Energy Bar Cookies and Creme
This bar was ok. It had a weird aftertaste and it really made me enjoy drinking all 16oz of water. ;) I mentioned this aftertaste to my coach and she said that they don't taste good because they're good for you. Being a foodie, I don't think that way. I want to enjoy the things I put in my mouth. I don't think I would buy it again.
(205 cal, 105 fat cal, 12g fat, 5g sat fat, 0g trans fat, 0mg cholesterol, 75mg sodium, 115mg potassium, 10g carbs, 1g fiber, 5g sugar, 14g protein)

iSS Oh Yeah! Protein Wafer Chocolate Peanut Butter
This bar was super delicious. It probably helped that I had the Think Thin bar first, but still it's good. It's like a Kit-Kat bar mixed with a Twix. And there's two wafers in the packet so you can enjoy both at one time or split them up into two servings. It's my favorite so far and I will be buying this again.
(210 cal, 117 fat cal, 13g fat, 6g sat fat, 0g trans fat, 2mg cholesterol, 140mg sodium, 8g carbs, 2g fiber, 2g sugar, 14g protein)

Rockn' Roll Hi-Protein Nut Roll Bar Nutty Peanut
I got this bar at GIM after a workout when I knew I wouldn't get home for a while for breakfast (even though I'm not really supposed to do that - I need to eat a real breakfast). It's VERY chewy and made my jaw tired. Maybe it was because I just worked out but it was a lot of chewing. But it was good. Kind of like a Snickers or something. It has the most sodium and the most protein of all the bars I've tried before. I may be buying this one again mostly out of convenience.
(290 cal, 150 fat cal, 16g fat, 3.5g sat fat, 0g trans fat, 5mg cholesterol, 350mg sodium, 150mg potassium, 25g carbs, 6g fiber, 2g sugar, 21g protein)

If you're eating protein bars, what kinds do you like and why? I need all the help I can get. ;)

Goals In Motion

I just completed my first week of Goals In Motion 9-week Challenge. And it's hard work - just like it should be. When you sign-up you get a 30-page manual about the workout program and a nutrition guide. I would say there are 4 main components:

1. Nutrition
2. Kick-boxing
3. Resistance Training
4. Teams and Coaches

The nutrition has been the hardest for me (although the workouts are killer). I'm just not used to eating anything until about 1:30p. I just get "too busy" to eat in the morning and I like to enjoy my lunch in the peace and quiet while the boys are sleeping. I think I've been selfish about that and I'm working on it. I've been eating more than I have in a long time, just different foods at different times of the day:

6:15a - breakfast
9:00a - snack
11:30a - lunch
2:30p - snack
5:30p - dinner

There are three components to this new way of eating: 100oz water per day, a protein at every meal, and no carbohydrates after 3pm. They keep it simple yet challenging. The manual gives you some recipes and lists of veggies, fruits, carbs, fats, proteins that you can choose from. It actually gave me a lot of hope.

Kick-boxing is our cardio workout which we do 3 times a week. And it's hard. work. And I mean hard. work. I finished my mile run on 7/24 in 13 minutes 54 seconds. With all the cardio we're doing I'm hoping I can beat that time at the final review. And I can't wait until I'm strong enough to really beat that bag. It will be fun when I'm punching and kicking with strength instead of just trying not to quit.

Resistance training is also really hard work. The instructor constantly reminds you to be working toward your "10" - your hardest level. I even went up on weight today from last week and plan on increasing some of the weight on Wednesday. My lower body is stronger and therefore I require more weight there. Kind of fun.

Now for the teams and coaches. This is a great part of the Goals In Motion challenge. The coaches workout with you and help you with your form, check if you need heavier or lighter weights, and for the first 2 weeks you email them everything you eat. That's right, everything. They go over what you've eaten and encourage you where you made good choices and instruct you where you went wrong. It's a really nice system and it really keeps me accountable.

The program is only as hard as you make it. You set goals with your coaches and work to achieve them. They can be strength goals, cardio goals, weight goals, fun goals, whatever. Personally, I'd like to lose some weight with this program but I need to keep in mind that my thyroid will be taking this working-out-thing personally so I need to keep tabs on that. And also, I hope my family helps support me instead of telling me that I should just eat what I want - so you better be supportive. ;)

So far, it's been a good week. I need to get to bed on time but that's never been easy for me. I think Goals In Motion is a great motivator and I'll let you know how I'm doing as we go along.

Goals In Motion has three locations in Central Iowa.

Fitness Boot Camp

That's right. I've taken the plunge and frankly I'm pretty nervous about it. This afternoon I will be introduced to a host of events that make me uncomfortable including having my picture taken in shorts and a sports bra (my pre-boot-camp pictures), be weighed and measured by a professional, and learn how to use the equipment at the gym.

And then Saturday is our EVALUATION. Yes! It's as scary as it sounds. We'll do push-ups, sit-ups, strength and stretching and then the finale - A MILE RUN. I haven't ran a mile since I was a jr. in high school and that's over 10 years ago. My body is not made to run. I have poor knees, big bones, and a heavy gait. I'm not looking forward to it. Honestly my goal is to not be last. I talked to a friend and she encouraged me with, "You're supposed to stink at it the first time. That leaves more room for improvement for the final evaluation." I guess she's right, but I'm still pretty terrified.

And then the whole changing your eating habits thing. I like to cook and I don't like to be limited. I feel that I am limited by quite a bit with the hypothyroid, allergies to processed meat & foods, and not having a gall bladder. The last two things are foods I should be avoiding anyway, but still. It's hard knowing I will have to cut out even more. I'm trying to stay positive because at least there's a wide variety of fruits and veggies during the summer months. It will probably be harder in the winter.

There's also the commitment to changing my sleeping habits. I have a tendency to stay up way to late and be tired all day letting my husband get the kids breakfast. This will help since I have class at 5a or 6a. There are other times but I need to get home before my husband has to be at work and I don't want to do evenings. That means I'll have to be to bed on time. And the classes start next Monday when my in-laws are visiting for the week. I want to be able to stay up and play games but realize that I have to go to bed when my body tells me to instead of fighting it and getting sick or become so pooped out that I can't even function. I think this will help with the depression as well. I'll be tired when it's time for bed and I'll be forcing (hopefully it will become habit) myself to get up on time to work out.

I am ready to do something for myself. It's been a long time since I've really done something for me. My husband and I decided to wait to try to get pregnant until after our former due date in October and get healthy for myself. I'm kind of excited about that. Plus I need to process through some more emotions and I think kick-boxing will help. ;) I don't know that I'm ready to hope for another baby. The next pregnancy will be really hard for me not to be worrisome the entire time so I'm going to give myself a little more time before the pregnant-momma-brain-body-and-soul takes over.

Of course I'll be blogging my adventures through my Fitness Boot Camp so be prepared for some sweaty, teary, and hopefully inspiring stories. ;)

I Heart Amoxacillin

About 2:30am on Monday I woke with horrible pain and pressure in my left ear. It hurt so bad I wanted to jab and ink pen in my ear to relieve the pressure. Knowing that was not the thought of a sane person I got up, took some Tylenol, and proceeded to try and sleep until 8am when I could call the clinic.

I finally fell asleep and woke at 8am to call the clinic. Then I had a total breakdown. After waiting5 1/2 hours through the night to call the doctor (and not go to the ER like I really wanted to) I was told that my doctor's schedule was full. I told them I didn't care who it was I just wanted to get in as soon as possible...which turned out to be 3pm. I said a polite thank you and took the appointment. Only to get off the phone and cry and cry and cry. I didn't want to have to wait another 7 hours to get in...but I did.

I got to the clinic at 2:55p like a good little patient and waited 25 minutes to get into my room. After being weighed, having my temp, B/P, pulse and O2 checked I waited another 15 minutes to see the doctor. At which point he looked in my ear and told me that I indeed have ear infection. At 3:45p I walked out the clinic door and headed to the pharmacy.

There I had to wait 25 minutes for my prescription to be filled. They want you to walk around the store and shop a bit so they tell you have to wait...even though I'm sure it was filled and sitting on the counter. ;)

I got home and took my pills with a big glass of water and some yogurt (I dont' want a certain complication that can come from antibiotics so I'm doing my best to prevent that). And even 12 hours later, I feel better. I've so far taken 2 doses and wish I would have been able to take my first dose on Monday morning instead of afternoon, but alas I'm following orders. Anyway, when you really need an antibiotic you can tell because it works SO well and I'm so thankful for modern medicine and a little thing called Amoxacillin!!

Hopefully I'll be myself in a few days since this is Easter week and there's so much exciting and fun things going on. I don't want to miss anything and I don't want my kids to have to miss out on stuff either. ;)

Monday's Resolution

Why wait until January 1st to start your resolutions? Why not start today?

Today I started The 30 Day Shred again. Last time I did The Shred, I lost 12 lbs and maintained until right before our trip to San Diego (3 months). Vacations can be hard like that because you want to indulge...it's vacation! But it's not always a good idea. ;) So, here I am again, weighing in and starting over. Well, not completely over, but I have gained back some weight. Bummer!!

I will usually be weighing in on Wednesday with the Sisterhood of the Shrinking Jeans but I'm starting The Shred today and wanted to mark my start. Please pray that I have enough energy to get up early and enough discipline to go to bed on time! ;)

starting weight: 160.6 (yikes)

Here we go again, and hopefully I'll be to 150lbs by Christmas!! ;)

original starting weight: 166.4 - started May 20, 2009
lowest weight recorded: 154.2 - August 19, 2009

**Update: Up at 5:30a this morning. Shredding is horrible. I barely made it through Level 1. I can feel my body jiggling with every jumping jack and my heart was pounding. I almost felt nauseous. I know it will get better every day (at least it did the last go round). Here's to a full week of Shredding.

Wednesday Weigh-In 9/23

Pathetic. That's all I can say. I've gained a total of 6lbs which puts me at a loss for words. I've been tired lately and that's my trigger to snacking and not making healthy choices. It's just pathetic.

Ok, enough pitty-partying. I'm making a commitment to post a short report to let you all know that I have been Shredding daily and not slacking off. In fact, I haven't had a chance to Shred today (or since last Wednesday) so I will be doing that first thing after the boys are in bed.

We are going on Rebound in November, and I'd like to be a little more in shape than I am right now. I just want to feel good...because I was really starting to. Now, I'm feeling more jiggly and I can tell I've gained some weight back because my face is the first place I see it.

So, here are the stats and they will be much improved next week! Help hold me accountable to that. ;) Oh, and I'm not giving up my 10# button because I will be back at my 10# loss next week!

starting weight: 155.2
current weight: 160.2
loss: +5 lb
original starting weight: 166.4
cumulative weight loss: 6.2 lb


My Thoughts on The Biggest Loser
*spoiler alert*



Not much to say except the Losers did a great job this week. They defied the week 2 odds and lost 155lb together. We'll see how they do next week when they're bodies really hit survival-mode.

I was surprised that Shay was so judgmental towards Julio. He actually did a great job during the last chance workout. They all did a great job. Cheers to no one going home and what a great job on the balance beams!!

Wednesday Weigh-In 9/16

After watching The Biggest Loser last night I was inspired to fight against my self-will and get out of bed to Shred. I didn't want to, but my 22-month-old kept wandering in our room at 6am until I got out of bed at 6:30am. ;) That's some great accountability. Thanks, son!

Here are my stats and next week I expect some results from my week of Shredding!

starting weight: 155.2
current weight: 155.4
loss: +.2 lb
original starting weight: 166.4
cumulative weight loss: 11 lb


My Thoughts on The Biggest Loser
*spoiler alert*



First of all, I was surprised at all the swearing. And not just swearing but swearing at people. I didn't like that at.all. If I was on the show, I would tell them that I don't mind the yelling, but I would appreciate it if they didn't use horrible language. It just sounded abusive.

There are some heavy people on this episode but for the most part they seemed ready to work. And it's pretty cool to see Bob and Jillian work together. We'll have to see if there are any major arguments between them as the season rolls along. They have different strategies, although last night there was a lot of yelling from both of them.

Daniel - It's great to have him back. I hope he can be an inspiration to all the contestants of what you can do with hard work.

Shay - That girl just makes me sad. And mad. I was disappointed to see her walk out of the gym but I think it was a huge mental/emotional breakthrough for her when she walked back in without being coaxed. Good call, Jillian.

Julio - If he keeps flopping on the ground like a fish, he will not be my favorite contestant. I couldn't believe Jillian calling him "dead father" when he'd fall on the ground. But he said he appreciated her honesty and needs that reality check.

Alexandra - I thought she was such a cute girl and I was sad to see her go. I thought she worked pretty hard and most of all, she had a great attitude. Seems like she's done well at home with a 60lb loss!! And I can't wait to see who her crush is!! Oh, the drama. ;)

Abby - Nothing made me cry more than hearing Abby's story. And then when she was weighing in and she said she had to do it for herself because there was no one else to do it for. It just broke my heart. I pray for her.

Final Thoughts:

• I can't believe that two people were already in the hospital after the first challenge. And Tracy is still there! I hope she's ok, they didn't really talk about what was wrong with her or if they thought she'd even make it to the show.
• I could never do this job. I wouldn't be a great motivator because I'd get caught up in all the feelings. I can't yell at people when they're sad and crying. I know that both Bob and Jillian have a heart for these people and the time to talk and work through their hurts will come. It was just really hard to watch.
• I will not be watching this with my little people because of the language. Yes, there were some bleeps - well, a lot of bleeps, but some words weren't bleeped and they should have been. I thought it sounded more like verbal abuse than encouraging, inspirational words. I understand that there needs to be some yelling because people were quitting, but they need to cut the swearing.
• I will remember my tissues next week and try not to use my sleeve for my snotty nose and watery eyes.

Wednesday Weigh-In 9/9

Stats for the week:

starting weight: 155.4
current weight: 155.2
loss: .2 lb
original starting weight: 166.4
cumulative weight loss: 11.2 lb

I haven't been working out because I haven't been getting to bed on time. Therefore my goal for this week will be going to bed on time. I think it will be easier since we're back at home from a trip to visit family. Not disappointed at all. I'm just glad I've been able to maintain through the busyness.

Wednesday Weigh-In 9/2

Forgot to post my weight for the week:

starting weight: 154.2
current weight: 155.4
loss: + 1.2 lb
original starting weight: 166.4
cumulative weight loss: 11 lb

Really, that's not such a bad gain considering the PMS and feeling like I could eat the entire house. ;) Hopefully I won't gain again next week but rather, maintain.

Thanks for all the encouraging words. I'm hoping to start the Shred again soon...still feel so busy and overwhelmed. Also, I have no self-discipline for going to bed on time. It's horrible. And then I don't want to get up in the morning and workout. Yuck. So, that's a HUGE September goal, to go to bed on time. ;)

Have a great Labor Day Weekend!!

Wednesday Weigh-In 8/19

Look what I got this week:

That's right!! I've earned my 10lb button!! But not only that, I've lost a total of 12.2lbs!! Yay!!

starting weight: 157.4
current weight: 154.2
loss: 3.2 lb
original starting weight: 166.4
cumulative weight loss: 12.2 lbs!!

(I had to check my math twice and then get out the calculator because it just doesn't seem possible!)

I haven't really been working out too much (aside from playing outside with the boys and going for walks) but I have been watching what I eat. I'm not snacking like I used to and try to drink a glass of water when I'm first feeling hungry to see if I'm really just thirsty. And, I've been so busy that I haven't had time to think about snacks. ;) I do need to work on having breakfast everyday. That's still a challenge.

Keep up the good work, Sistas!!

**This is my 3-month anniversary with the Sisterhood. Let's compare stats:

May 20
weight 166.4 - TODAY: 154.2
waist 37 1/2 - TODAY: 37 (this has always been my problem area)
hips 42 1/4 - TODAY: 41
thigh 25 3/4 - TODAY: 24 3/4
chest 35 - TODAY: 33 3/4
bust 41 3/4 - TODAY: 40 1/4

That's a loss of 12.2 lbs and 5 1/2 inches. Yay!!

By the Way...

I weighed in on Wednesday and these are my newest stats:

starting weight: 157.6
current weight: 157.4
loss: .2 lb
original starting weight: 166.4
cumulative weight loss: 9 lbs

Hopefully next week I'll earn my 10lb button.

Wednesday Weigh-In 8/5

I didn't post about my weight-loss last week, so I'll update you on my stats:

starting weight: 158.8
current weight: 157.6
loss: 1.2 lb
original starting weight: 166.4
cumulative weight loss: 8.8 lbs

My new goal is to get my 10lb button next week! That would be awesome!! The other goals are still the same:

1. I will not give up.

2. I will go to bed on time.
More important than ever before since I started babysitting this week. I need to get to bed on time because I have to wake up on time. ;) Which is a good thing, just hard to get into a routine.

3. I will exercise daily (walking, shredding, swimming) and post on my blog - just for some accountability.
Still have been struggling with this. I've been getting up on time and getting my housework done so when the afternoon tiredness hits I can rest. Still working up to the daily workout, although I am feeling better. ;) Still 3 more weeks before I have my blood tested again.

4. I will only weigh on Wednesday.

5. I will do this for me!

Wednesday Weigh-In 7/22

It's our last week for the Shrinking Summer Challenge at the Sisterhood of the Shrinking Jeans. I haven't done as well as I would have liked, but there have been losses nonetheless. So I'm proud of that. And extremely proud of this: I am out of the 160's!!!!!!

I've been really good about not weighing myself everyday. But it's hard not to want to know if there's been a loss (yeah) or a gain (NO!). And I always want a little preview on Tuesday night to mentally prepare myself for Wednesday. This morning I was pleasantly surprised with a 2 lb loss!! Yeah!!!

Here are the stats for this week:

starting weight: 160.8
current weight: 158.8
loss: 2 lb!!
original starting weight: 166.4
cumulative weight loss: 7.6 lbs

continued goals for this week:

1. I will not give up.
This has been a great goal for me because I was about to quit the Sisterhood. I'm glad I didn't (but it will be nice to not have the team "pressure" when I'm working through thyroid issues.

2. I will go to bed on time.
Again, has been getting better. I'm naturally a night-owl and I love to sleep in (but with two little boys that has become impossible). So was staying up way too late and having to get up way too early. Not a good combo. ;)

3. I will exercise daily (walking, shredding, swimming) and post on my blog - just for some accountability.
I'm still not on the daily exercise train. I've just been doing outdoor activities with my boys, but no Shredding and no real sweat-inducing workouts. Major improvement needed here.

4. I will only weigh on Wednesday.
Like I mention, I did great with this goal (except for my Tuesday night preview).

5. I will do this for me!
I continue to make healthy choices daily even while my body adjusts to my new medication. I'm feeling a little more perky this week so hopefully I'll get some workouts in.

Let's go Team Navy!!!

Wednesday...Thursday Weigh-in 7/16

I think I've done pretty good considering the curcumstances of my thyroid. I did gain this week, but it's not bad. I'm surprised it's not worse. I haven't been working out but my eating has been pretty good. Having a low thyroid makes an appetite drift away...but still gain weight. It's a weird cycle.

Here's the stats:

starting weight: 160.4
current weight: 160.8
loss: +.4
original starting weight: 166.4
cumulative weight loss: 5.6 lbs

continued goals for this week:

1. I will not give up.
I haven't given up, just slowing down and taking time for my body.

2. I will go to bed on time.
This has actually been pretty good so waking up on time hasn't been a problem. The fact that we're house sitting this week is. ;)

3. I will exercise daily (walking, shredding, swimming) and post on my blog - just for some accountability.
My lack of posting about exercising is because there has been a lack of exercising. ;) I have been walking with my boys some time during the day. And since we're housesitting, I'm spending a lot of time in the pool with my boys. Jumping, catching, splashing. I don't know if there's any calorie-burning activity while we play, but we are having fun. And I'm getting a pretty nice tan. ;)

4. I will only weigh on Wednesday.
This also hasn't been a problem because I'm not looking at the scale every time I step into the bathroom and thinking about if I should weigh myself to know if I've gained or lost.

5. I will do this for me!
I am. I am doing this for my health and for my self-esteem/confidence. I know that beauty is only skin deep, but there is a heart and a set of lungs (not to mention my muscles) that need a healthy makeover.

So that's where I'm at this week. I'm not going to get too down about not losing as quickly as I'd like, but I don't want to be lazy and blame it on the thyroid either. I need some encouragement from the Sisterhood to get me to do something physical each day.

Wednesday Weigh-In 7/8

Nothing exciting to report here. I guess it's not a gain, so that's good.

starting weight: 160.4
current weight: 160.4
loss: 0
original starting weight: 166.4
cumulative weight loss: 6 lbs.

My thyroid is really out of wack. I started my new meds on Sunday, but it's a frustrating because it takes 6-8 weeks to balance out. So, I will be exhausted and sad until then (sorry dear husband).

I have no motivation to get up early to work out, and I piddle the day away without any heart-pumping physical activity. I've been going to bed on time and still can't manage to get out of bed before 8am (and I've been napping in the afternoon, too). And I cry about a lot of stuff. My hands are falling asleep at night, or while I'm reading, when I'm at the computer, when I'm talking on the phone, etc. I know that's a major symptom of being low for me. That's what got me diagnosed in the first place.

I need to not use the thyroid-thing as a crutch. I need to work through the tears and the tiredness but it's really hard to not just want to quit. But I will not give up.

Here are my goals for this week:

1. I will not give up.
2. I will go to bed on time.
3. I will exercise daily (walking, shredding, swimming) and post on my blog - just for some accountability.
4. I will only weigh on Wednesday.
5. I will do this for me!

Ok. Here's to a better week all around. ;)