Weigh In

I forgot to tell you all that the next Biggest Loser competition started for me 2 weeks ago. It was great, I had lost 1.something at that first weigh in.

Last week I didn't make it. It was my twin girl's 11th birthday and we were too busy partying.

Tonight, I gained 2.7 pounds. It was really depressing. In my defense, I have been staying within 2 pounds of 155 for the last 4 weeks. At the first weigh in I was at 153.4. It still doesn't make me feel any better.

Oh well. Next week better be better.

Rough Night

I'm into my third week of this incentive program. So far, so good, but last night was rough. I just wanted to keep snacking. And I made the mistake of buying almonds again. I don't know why I keep doing that. I love them, but I just don't get enough to justify the points. And, no, I'm not trying to start another debate on almonds. I KNOW they're good for you, but I want to eat the whole dang package, not just 24. 24 almonds goes by way too fast, and then what? I've just blown 4 points. I could have a good, satisfying meal for 4 points! (And, yes, I realize 24 almonds might be a satisfying snack for some, but it just isn't for me!)

Anyway, I've had these 3 weekly flex points hanging around (weekly flex points are points I can use anytime during the week on whatever I want in addition to my daily points). I keep expecting to eat them and then something comes up and grabs my attention and before I know it, I'm getting into bed without having touched them.

I really thought I would use them last night because the munchie cravings were hitting me hard, but then I started talking to the Student online and she convinced me to come over and go on a walk with her instead. So, I still have those 3 little points just waiting to be eaten. It'd probably be more, except I blew through most of my WFPs on Saturday when I had a run-in with the Laffy Taffy. Stupid, chewy candy.

I really miss eating out right now. And ordering in. Or picking up. Whatever. I was super jealous of Hubs the other night when he ordered pizza. And I don't even want pizza, I just want to be able to go out and get some good food that's been prepared by someone other than me and bring it home and... well... stuff myself. Is that too much to ask?

I'm sure this is all just 'cause I started my period. Stupid female hormones.

(That's right, I said PERIOD! Ooooh, scary!)

M.I.A.

I know that I have been MIA this last week/week and a half. Life has been just a little bit crazy ;).

Last Saturday, #3 had a dance recital. It was cute in the "I really don't want to watch all the other classes perform" kinda way. The recital was way to long, I think 2 hours. It was a bit much. I am glad that #3 likes dance, but I dread the recitals.



Wednesday's weigh in was fun. I did not win, but it was so neat to see these people break records for themselves. One lady finally broke her goal to be under 200 lbs, her final weight was 198 lbs after losing 45 lbs total. I watched another lady make her goal weight. It was a really fun night, even if I didn't win. I ended up in 10th place. I did get $20, which was a very nice surprise. I can say that since January 2nd, when the contest started, I have lost 26 pounds, went from a size 14 to a size 10 (and still going down), and I regularly go to the gym. I also have a lot more energy. It has not been easy to lose weight. I have cried and whined to hubby, I am sure he is sick of hearing me talk about it. But, I can say that it has been totally worth it. I feel a lot better than I did. We are starting a new contest in two weeks. I think I am going to join it again. I like the motivation and the support. Besides, it is a lot harder to cheat if you have to get weighed in front of a whole bunch of people.

The new community center opened this week. We have gone every day. My kids love it. I think that the gym is just OK. I wish it was bigger and better equipped. I still have my other gym membership until the end of July. I don't know what I will do then. I really don't like the gym in the new center. At least I have time to figure it out.

School ended for my kids on Friday. Thank God! I don't have to get them to school late anymore. :) I have the whole summer to work on getting up early again. In the meantime, I think that I will enjoy reading until midnight and waking up around 8 am.

Yesterday was #5's 2nd birthday! We got her a tricycle for her birthday. She just sits on it and rides it. Her great-grandmother sent her a box full of gifts. It was nice to have. Money has been tight and I am glad that she had some other things to open. I can't believe she is 2 already.





Luckily, last week is now over. I think that #2 has a couple of more softball games and then we are done with all of our commitments for the summer. I did put put #4 in swim lessons, but that is it. I want to take the whole summer off. No commitments. We are going to just play all summer. I think that we will probably get bored, but sometimes, bored is just what is needed.

Scary

Every so often a story on my Home Page catches my eye and I click on it. Once in a blue moon it's something that actually interests me.

Today it was a story on some of the worst foods in the country. I was shocked by some of them and after all the reading I've done, after all the research, after all the watching my weight... well, it's not easy to shock me.

Click to read for yourself:

America's Unhealthiest Drinks Exposed

The 20 Worst Foods in America

Then go here and discover more interesting/frightening facts. C'mon, it'll be fun! Doesn't everyone love to learn that what they've been eating and drinking is ultimately going to send them into an early grave? Okay, that's a bit morbid. I'm sorry.

What really got me was the Baskin Robbin’s Large Heath Bar Shake. It has over two cups of sugar in it!! That is ridiculous. Would you like to know how many points are in it? Fifty-four!! Remember, I only get twenty-three per day.

Crazy, I tell you. Crazy.

Weight Loss

So, I lost 2.6 pounds last week. We have one more weigh in. The Finale or what ever you would like to call it. I know that I am not going to win the $2000. To be honest, I am hoping that I can jump to number 5. I am currently number 10. At least if I make the 5th position, I will make my money back.

Here are the current stats:

1) SV 22.20% 74.2 lbs.
2) KM 20.10% 34.7 lbs.
3) MC 18.75% 49.3 lbs.
4) KS 17.86% 45.0 lbs.
5) MM 16.92% 30.2 lbs.
6) SD 16.12% 39.7 lbs.
7) BD 16.09% 41.6 lbs.
8) HE 15.57% 25.5 lbs.
9) BB 14.59% 32.7 lbs.
10) TEETER 14.53% 26.3 lbs.

We are going to do another one over the summer for 10 weeks. I think I will do the next competition, I am not sure yet. I don't think I need the competition at this point. I am working out regularly, eating right, and steadily losing.

As of last night, I have lost a total of 26.3 pounds. I have to lose 4.5 pounds to make the top five, I think. It may actually be less. I guess it just depends on how much everyone else loses this week.

Wish me luck this week! I am going to need it!

An Incentive... and I hate watching my weight!

Since I've reached Lifetime status on Weight Watchers, things have gone a bit, well, down hill.

I never thought it would be harder to maintain my weight than lose it, but it is.

Especially since I have a whole month in between each weigh-in now.

See, when I was trying to lose weight, if I happened to get a bit out of control (meaning I ate all the chocolate I could get my hands on), I had my Thursday weigh-in looming over me so I almost always got right back on track the next day.

Well, now if I have a "bad" day, I find myself using the fact that I don't have to weigh-in again for another MONTH as an excuse to continue having bad days.

It's not good, especially since these occasions make me feel terrible. I don't like eating so much I want to just lay down and die.

I told Hubs that I needed an incentive program and we actually came up with one.

For each day that I stay on track and count my points like a good girl, I get fifty cents. (I know, not much, but there's more.)

We're going to track it on a month by month basis. If at any point I lose track or stop counting, I not only lose out for that day, but I lose everything I've earned up to that point for the month.

If I stay on track the entire month, I get to take everything I earned and double it.

If I stay on track for six months, I get a $100 bonus.

I think this could work. There are lots of things that I want to save up for. Like the Portraiture Action for Photoshop. Or an annual pass to Disneyland for someone who will actually go with me!

I don't plan on doing this forever. Just long enough to improve my way of thinking.

And get some presents.

Weigh In...

Ok. Not so good. I think last weeks weigh in was a fluke thing. I gained 3.1 of it back. Sigh. I am ok with it. I am NOT going to let it drag me down.

Weigh In...

We only have 3 more weigh-ins and then the contest is over. I am currently number 6 out of 40....Go ME! Everybody in the top five gets some sort of money. To be in the contest, each person had to put in $100. There have been cash prizes each week for the biggest loser of the week. At the end, #5 gets $100, #4 gets $200, #3 gets $300, #2 gets $500, and #1 gets $2000. I would love to win the $2000, but I would have to lose at least 6% percent more of my body fat. We'll see. I am hoping that no matter what I get into the top 5. To make my money back and a little extra, would be great.

So, tonight's numbers....

I lost 3.8 pounds!!!

Thank God! After 3 weeks of staying at the same weight, tonight felt very good! As of tonight, I have lost over 25 pounds since January 2nd. I think the thing that is helping the most is that we have been eating at home almost every meal instead of eating out almost every meal.

Weight Loss

I know that my weigh in isn't until Wednesday, but I am feeling a bit frustrated. For the last three weeks I haven't really lost any weight, I haven't gained any either. As of today, I haven't lost any this week. Arg. This is really hard! I think that you should be able to lose weight as fast as you can gain it. It only seems fair.

So, I am going to start writing down everything I eat again. I want to make sure that I am making the right decisions. If I am not, at least I will see where I am screwing it up, you know?

Yesterday, I found a recipe for a granola. It has no oats. It was very yummy. I am going to tweak it a bit more to see where I can cut out some of the fat.

Flax Seed and Nut Granola

(from www.mrbreakfast.com)

1 cup flax seeds
1 cup sunflower seeds
1 cup unsweetened shredded coconut
1 cup chopped pecans
1 cup chopped walnuts
1 cup chopped almonds
1 stick of butter -- melted [Next time I am going to cut the butter down to either 3/4 of a stick or 1/2 of a stick]
2 teaspoons cinnamon
2 teaspoons vanilla powder (sugar and alcohol-free)[This was a little expensive. From what I have read, you can sustitute extract for powder equally.]
3 packets of Splenda (or other sugar alternative) [This time I used 1/4 C. of honey. Next time I will try it with a sugar substitute for hubby.]

In a large roasting pan, mix together flax seeds, sunflower seeds, coconut and nuts. Drizzle with melted butter. Stir in cinnamon, vanilla power and sugar substitute. Toast in the oven at 325 degees for a half hour, stiring every 5 or 10 minutes.
[I ended up roasting it all in a pan on the stove. I melted the butter and the honey together and then added the spices. I then dumped the nuts and the coconut into the mixture and coated everything really well. I stirred constantly until everything was starting to get all golden.]





We then added the final product to yogurt. It was fantastic. All the kids love it and are asking for more to munch on through out the day.

Weight Loss

I forgot to post my weigh in.....

I think I also forgot last weeks. Last week I lost .8 of a pound.

Last night, I gained .1 of a pound.

I think that it was the pound of marshmallows that we roasted at the beach and I ate or the M&M's or maybe the booze we drank while playing scrabble....Sigh.

Three weeks of staying at somewhat the same weight is starting to drive me crazy!!!

Made A Decision...

Mom, you may want to close your eyes.

After a lot of thinking and pondering, I have decided that I am not going to go to school at this time. School takes way to much time away from my family and I don't think that's fair.

It was a hard decision to make and it boils down to this:

My family needs me. My kids need me. It is not practical to do school right now. So, when the baby goes to school, I am going to reevaluate and probably go then. At least then, I can go to school in the morning, get homework done before they come home, and then spend the time with the kids that they need.

I am very lucky. I have a husband that makes enough money, even if we struggle at times, to let me stay home with my kids. Being a Stay-At-Home mom is the hardest thing I have ever done. EVER! Most times, it sucks. There are times that I dream about being a mom that goes to work and sends her kids to day care to be raised. I have been told that is easier than being home all day, every day, all year. But, they grow up fast. My baby is going to school in 3 years. That's it. That sure isn't much time.

By the way, my WEIGH-IN:

I gained .4 of a pound. That's ok though, at least it wasn't to the next pound bracket.

Weight Loss

My weigh in this week was incredible. I made my goal plus some. Remember, my goal was to lose 2.2 pounds so that I could be below 160. Well, I did it!!

I lost 3.8 pounds!!! It was the most wonderful feeling. I am now at 158.3 lbs! I have lost 22 pounds since I started.

Anyway, We have now been in the house for 3 weeks and I am still trying to put it back together. I sure wish it was easier to do. Unpacking sucks. Not to mention that we have 4 of our children in some sort of activity or two. So, really, there isn't time to do much around the house. Or, I am just majorly procrastinating (which is most likely the case). Someone needs to come up with a drug for procrastinators. I mean, we have drugs for everything else. Why not procrastinating?

Have I mentioned that school gets out in about 6 weeks?! All my brats will be home for an entire summer! It really isn't so bad. My oldest is the biggest problem. He has such a hard time adjusting to big changes that he makes everyone else miserable. It usually only last a few weeks and them he mellows back out. I just dread those first few weeks. Oh well, at least I still have 6 weeks to prepare myself.

This week's goal

I am so close to being under 160 pounds, only 2.2 pounds away. So, that is my goal for the week. I sure hope I can do it.

Today, I took my kids to the park. We have gone every Friday for 4 years. We meet the same people there every week. We met them when we home-schooled. Most of them still do. One other lady has put half of her kids in school. The park is usually really nice. I get to talk to my friends and the kids get to play with theirs.

Well, this week was a bit weird. I am sure that it is just me, but who knows. I am trying to change my life and lets face it, I am always trying to figure out who I am and where I fit in this big gigantic world of ours. So, I am always trying out new things.

I haven't been to the park in a few weeks because of the remodel. So, sitting there today, it felt like I had lost touch with these women. It feels a little like my life has taken a totally different turn than theirs and that I have done it over the last month or so. I didn't have much to talk about with them and it seemed like I was sorta left out of the loop. It left me feeling really lonely. These ladies have been some of the only people that I have associated with over the last few years on a regular basis.

I don't know if I will be making park day anymore. We shall see. Maybe we will try a couple more and see how it goes.

Weight Loss

I have lost .6 pounds this week.

I am very happy about this because I ate like a pig the entire weekend. Especially Easter breakfast - pancakes with strawberries and bananas and homemade whip cream, lots of bacon, and eggs that are made with cream cheese and half and half. Yumm.

My goal this next week is to lose 2.2 pounds. If I do it, I will be at 159.9 pounds, which means I will be in the 150's! Not to mention, I will have lost over 21 pounds. So, Pray for me, cross your fingers, and wish me luck!

Weight Loss

I lost 1.6 pounds over the last two weeks. I didn't have the chance to weigh in last week, but I made it this week. So, my total lost is now over 18 pounds. WOO HOOO!

Weight Loss

I had a great weigh in tonight...

Lost 3.4 pounds!! WooHoo!

After nothing much for 3 weeks, it sure feels good.

Weight Loss

Umm, not so good this week. I am claiming water retention (it is that time of the month) and lots of muscle gain.

Weight gain of 1.1 lbs. :(

Next week will hopefully be better.

Weight Loss

I weighed in last night...

(drum roll please)

I lost 2.5 lbs. WOO HOOOO!!!!!

Weight Loss

I have told you before that my down fall is eating out.

Anyway, this afternoon was my weekly weigh in.

I gained .5 pounds.

Weight Loss

Well, tonight's weigh-in didn't go so well. It went better that I thought though. I lost .1 pound. Yes, that is a point in front of the 1.

At least I didn't gain, which I thought I did. So, I start fresh today.