What I Owe

Ok... I think I have this figured out...LOL!

I owe:

Robyn-Earrings
Darlene-Earrings
Lori-Stone Bracelet
Roxann-Stone Bracelet

If I owe you something, PLEASE let me know. I am just so scatterbrained right now I don't want to forget ANYONE!!

My Thursday Weigh-In

Starting Weight 174.5
Week 1---164.8
Week 2---164.2
Week 3---161.7
Week 4---160.4
Week 5---157.8
Week 6--- 155.5
Week 7---156.2
Week 8---154.3

Total Weight Loss 20.2 pounds

I think having my morning walks back have made all the difference in my life...LOL! They help my weight, they lift my spirits and I have bonding time with Quincy which is SO fun! :)

We all have 1 month left in this challenge. Let's see if we can't kick it up just a notch! :)

Ok, HELP ME!

I know some of you have earned earrings. Please email me if you have earned them but not heard from me!

THANK YOU! :)

Monday Weigh in. LATE

Well I figured since I gained a pound, I could wait one day to break the news. We celebrated my son's 3rd birthday on Sunday and wouldn't you know that cake and ice cream would show up on the scale yesterday. Not to mention that I am retaining water, bloated and I am making another birthday cake for my niece's 6Th birthday party tomorrow. I am excited about that. She requested a mermaid cake, so I can't wait to get in the kitchen and decorate. Ariel Here I come!!

I know the weight gain is merely a monthly body fluctuation, so I am not too concerned. Next week will prove to be better. I hope!!

Dana I will e-mail you my pix tonight.

Friday Weigh In - Late! Vacation

Hi Everyone: I feel like it's been forever since I posted anything on the Blog. I guess Summer causes everyone to slow down and reflect. On a positive note I have now lost 10 lbs. so I've gone from 170 lbs. to 160 lbs. which feels great, but on a less positive note I have been diagnosed with breast cancer for a second time. I think the anxiety has a lot to do with the weight loss! It seems that everyone has something to deal with. I will try and continue on with the blog until the end of September. I'm feeling incredibly anxious and I'm having a mammogram today and a 2nd ultrasound on Thursday which is a core biopsy and a fine needle aspiration. If you didn't know I live in Canada so health care for Cancer patients is very fast! I'm truly grateful for that.
All the best to everyone in their quest to "move those pounds" and I'll keep you posted on my progress. Maureen

snack

anyone have any low fat, filling, unique snack ideas?

discouraged.

So I have lost a total of 7.5 pounds but feel very discouraged. Had alot of things happen here recently so I feel down. I am going to start tomorrow with a new attitude and hopefully my weight loss will pick up.

Weigh-In

And again Thursday is upon us. I am down a couple of pounds from last week. I am excited because I didn't lose any the week before. That puts me at 8 lost so far. I have found that I lose only when I get in 45 minutes of exercise 6 days a week and drink my yucky water and watch my calorie intake. That is a lot to think about...but I am trying every day. I think that is all we can do.

Weigh-in

I have been MIA the last few weeks. We were presented with an opportunity to move that we had to act quickly on so I have been a little busy with that.

I know I didn't weigh myself at all last week and today I was down 4 lbs.

For a total loss so far of 6 lbs.

I feel like I am so far behind so many of you, but I will keep going on my slow and steady pace.

My Thursday Weigh-In

Starting Weight 174.5
Week 1---164.8
Week 2---164.2
Week 3---161.7
Week 4---160.4
Week 5---157.8
Week 6--- 155.5
Week 7---156.2

Lost 18.3 pounds

Well, as you can see this week has not been a good one for me. Several things have worked against me in helping me to lose my focus.

First of all between family and friends we celebrated Logan's birthday all weekend long.

Second of all my sister had her 5th baby on Logan's birthday and it brought up some feelings that I had been trying to bury about Grace's death. Myself and 2 of my sisters were all due to have babies this year within a couple of months of each other. Seeing her precious new son made me feel all hollow inside again.

Third of all the boys started back to school on Monday therefore eliminating my morning walk.

So this next week, I need to regain my focus, talk through my feelings on losing Grace and figure out a solution to getting all of my exercise in.

Sorry if I have let any one down. I feel mostly like I let myself down.

Wednesday Weigh In

I am trying to put myself first! Apparently I'm not doing a very good job.........up .2 lbs.

I have ran 10 K so far this week..........need to be better about my strength training on T-TH-S.

Keep up the good work ladies!

Doesn't Dana ROCK!?!?!?!

Weekly Weigh In

Today was an OK weigh in - down 2 lbs from 2 weeks ago bringing my total to 7 lbs. Gena I totally understand. I don't like my weight to be the focus of every day, but it takes a great deal of focus (even more than I have been giving it) to move the scale. I feel encouraged, but still there is much work to do, but just knowing I need to post progress or lack of progress each week has helped! And prayers are sent your way Gena and for all of us to keep on track.

Back where I started.....

I feel like I owe all you wonderful ladies an apology. Obviously, my heart has just not been in this and my focus is everywhere but on a healthy lifestyle. I have been talking the talk, but I have NOT been walking the walk. I am right back to my original weight of 198 lbs. Over the past weeks I have lost and gained the same 2.2 lbs repeatedly because I could never really get into gear. Prior to starting this journey with you wonderful, strong, courageous ladies I had lost 33 lbs from Nov to May and then I had just stalled out. So I thought this would be a great way to get jump started again. But I have struggled with my weight my entire life and I should know by now that if my mind and heart are not ready, I am just spinning my wheels. I am not giving up...but I am asking for those of you who are Christians to please just say a prayer for me to get my focus back. I am so proud of all of you...you are truly an inspiration! I know that God has put me admist this group of fantastic women for a reason! I am struggling, but I am not out. :)

Monday Weigh in

So I am down a half pound. Good, but not fantastic. At least it wasn't a gain!
I can feel myself falling off the wagon. I am surrounded by treats and goodies and it is getting very hard to resist. I had my neice and 3 nephews stay over the weekend, and to make things fun I did movie, rootbeer float night. It was a big hit. But it showed on the scale today. The left over ice cream seems to find it's way in my mouth. No self control I tell you!!! This week is going to be an extreme movement to get back on my healthy routine. Thank to everyone for all the great support.

Start 137
Week 1-135
Week 2-136
Week 3-135
Week 4-135
Week 5-131.5
Week 6-130.5
Week 7-130

the scale is my friend today!

wahooo!! i am now 134 ... the lowest i have been in - oh, years!! this is great!! so add two (or is it three?) pounds to my total, dana!! this is DEFINITELY a happy monday!

Favourite Snack Items & Friday Weigh-In

My first choice is blueberries. I can really overdue it on the blueberries. Next are sweet, baby carrots as fresh from the ground as possible. I do also love rice crackers although I think they do have some calories, but they satisfy my craving for potato chips and peanuts. Anything with salt! I still have 1 coffee a day, but the rest of the time I have water. Trying to stay on task.

On another note, there has been no weight loss this week. I am still down 7 lbs., but I hope next week I can shed some more. As long as I'm not gaining I'm happy.

Positivity is a great word!

Power Oatmeal Pancakes

I thought I would share a very yummy breakfast with you lovely ladies! I love this recipe. It gives me so much energy during the day. The recipe comes from The Eat-Clean Diet Cookbook, by Tosca Reno.
Power Oatmeal Pancakes
6 egg whites, beaten until fluffy
1/2 cup low-fat cottage cheese
1 scoop protein powder
1/2 cup oatmeal, uncooked
1/4 cup wheat germ
1/4 cup flax seed
1 tsp baking powder
1 Tbsp canola oil
1/2 tsp cinnamon

1.Place all ingredients except beaten egg whites in a food processor and pulse or blend until mixture is uniform.
2.Pour blended ingredients into a bowl and add the egg whites. Fold until just blended.
3.Prepare a griddle with cooking spray. Ladle pancake mixture onto griddle and cook until both sides are browned.
Makes 6 pancakes. I have 4 kids so I double the recipe.
For syrup, I took a handful of blueberries and a tsp of water ~ mixed it together in a small saucepan, mashing the berries as they cooked. That was my syrup. It was very yummy.

Calories: 283/ Calories from frat: 100/ Protein: 21g/ Carbs: 24g/ Dietary Fiber: 4.5g/ Sugars: 0.3g/ Fat: 10.5g/ Sodium: 198mg

I've Broken the Plateau

Yeah! I've broken my plateau. I've finally lost 5 whole pounds. This isn't much for some of you, but it is huge for me. I haven't been below 140 pounds in 13 years. Now I am. All it took was the five pounds to get me motivated. Now, (starting today) every time I go to another room to clean, drop something off, put something away... I do one mini exercise. Squats ~ put socks in boys drawer, Arm circles ~ put wash clothes away, Lunges ~ put dust rags away, you get the idea? It is silly, it is little, but it is SOMETHING. It is more than I was doing. I might not make the 20 pounds in 3 months, but I'm on the right track.

Thanks for the motivation girls! (I still haven't got the running part down, but the way I feel...it might not be long.)

Dana, you bad girl! Now I too enjoy the Kashi Dark Choc. Oatmeal Cookies. (So does Ashley ~ I had to hide them!) I have to limit myself to one every other day. :)

Broccoli Breakthrough

Yesterday my husband was attending his first aid/CPR class and wasn't going to be home for dinner, so I thought I would have something easy. My mom babysat for me while I worked and she had made an early dinner for my 3 year old son Hunter. So, when I got home I had a grilled chicken salad with all the trimmings. My son decided to sit with me while I ate. He then decided he wanted to try a piece of broccoli. Low and behold, he had just discovered the best food on earth. He sat there and ate every bit of broccoli in my salad. Now, keep in mind I generally serve him what my husband and I eat because I can't stand making separate meals. I have served this child broccoli for the last three years and last night was the first time he actually ate it, not to mention he then ate half my salad! I am so excited to see him interested in all the good food I make, FINALLY!!!

My Thursday Weigh-In

Starting Weight 174.5
Week 1---164.8
Week 2---164.2
Week 3---161.7
Week 4---160.4
Week 5---157.8
Week 6--- 155.5

Total Weight Loss 19 pounds

I am just plugging away. Walking most mornings and jogging at least 3 miles in the evenings.
I grill a lot of chicken for myself on my George Foreman. I will steam some veggies and eat some kind of fruit and that chicken for lunch. I eat oatmeal almost every morning. And drink a big glass of 1% milk each day. Dinners are really light. A piece of fruit or a frozen yogurt.

Thank you all for your great support.We are all in this together; to help and encourage each other.