ONEDERLAND!! I have now officially entered it!

--Trisha

I can't even begin to tell you how I feel today!! Here's why:

I am now under 200 pounds!! I cannot even remember the last time, but I think it was like 8 years ago! ALL I HAVE TO SAY is don't let the door hit you on the big butt, 200s!!! I won't be seeing you around again EVER! I still can hardly believe that mid-June I weighed close to 250!!

Stephanie here...

I have been battling the binge and I am winning.  I have some handy tools which I use every second of the day and I am so far doing okay.  I eat at certain times of the day and I only eat what I bring.  Now when the lady from the office brings in her super incredible best fudge in the world in, I hope I have strength to make it through...

I weighed in at 185.  So got through the holidays without a gain...so I am a winner there!!  I watched portions and drank a ton of water.  And coffee! :)  And tea... :)

My kids have been keeping me plenty busy and we are making crafts and getting gifts sent off for our craft swaps.  My daughter is finishing that up this week.  I am finishing up a stocking swap! :) 

So my goals for this week are very similar to Trisha's....water, water, water.  15 minutes of movement a day.  and of course, no binging.

A LOSS!!!

--from Trisha

I lost 3 pounds this past week! YEAH :) SO, I now weigh 206.2!! This is especially awesome because last week I had that 1.4 gain. I am getting so excited, because at this pace, I will be under 200 in three weeks!!!! That is my goal!

You can check out more details at my PERSONAL BLOG :)

Super Duper!

--Trisha
Last week 209.8, and today...207.8!! That's a two-pounder! I did NOT expect that, but I will take it. I know that TOM is any day now, and I am so glad that I weighed today before the all-day Halloween eating at school than if I woulda weighed in tomorrow!! I might actually weigh tomorrow, just to see the damage, LOL! Normally I wait all week...

And, something else I am totally proud of myself about: I got up at 5:30, and I went to the gym! I ran a 12-minute mile today, THE best I have ever done :)) I cranked the treadmill up to 8 mph for 90 seconds, and I did that TWICE!!! I will admit that I was a little terrified of falling on my face and off the back of the treadmill, but in reality, I am a lot stronger than I give myself credit for being!! My goal is to be able to do 10 mph for 30 seconds. I am going to go for that on Wednesday!!! Stay tuned...

This workout also helped me not feel so guilty for the sweets I ate today. I did write EVERYTHING down that went in my mouth :) I did eat small portions!!!

I have a plan to workout Monday, Wednesday, and Friday mornings at the gym, jogging on the treadmill, maybe some elliptical, and I would love to get the weights started, though that may be a little more down the road. I felt RADICAL all day, full of energy, that I don't think was just the sugar! Then through November, I have Zumba on Tuesdays, plus I have my Zumba dvds.

I also have re-focused my water goal, and I am on several days in a row of back to 100 ounces at least! I can totally feel the difference. I feel so much better when I drink enough water :))

I am so excited for this next month!! On October 3rd I weighed 215. So, I lost 7.2 pounds this month. IF I were to do the same this month, I would be right close to the 200 mark!! THAT is some SUPER motivation!!!

PHewwww! I made it through!

Last week wasn't my best week in all aspects of my life.  It was very emotional and just tough.  But today I have renewed spirit.  I have a different outlook on life!!!  It is once again a new day, a clean slate. 

I weighed in at a 195 this morning.  That is a gain I can totally handle.  I did lots of exercise and I didn't eat like a champ.  I didn't eat horribly either.  I was totally aware of what I was eating with my journal, the good and the bad. The one thing that I did do differently this last week was beat myself up over every little thing.  That could be why my weekend was so super fun packed and why today I feel so good!!!

I have been doing Zumba like crazy! Then this weekend, I did yard work and played with the kids.  Today is a whirlwind day...got a Halloween party to go to at the school and a lunch party at work.  But I will make good choices and watch my portions!! 

To a new day.....

Trisha's Weigh-In

I had lots of exercise this weekend :))
I had lots of food experiences, too!!
You can check it all out on my other blog.

Today I was nervous when I stepped on the scale, but ALAS!!! I weigh 209.8!!!!!!!!!!!!! So, I lost 2 pounds this past week :))) And, I am now officially--albeit not by much--out of the 210s!! WOO HOO :) I can't hardly believe that I now have less than 10 pounds to pull under 200!!! TALK ABOUT MOTIVATION :)

I gave Stephanie back the Health magazine she gave me. The crazy thing was that I had bought the same magazine(for the first time) right before she gave it to me!! I also gave her a Women's Running magazine, which was also the first time I bought it.

Weigh in

Last week: 183.3
This week: 184

Sooo tired of the roller coaster!!!!  I need to shake this!!!  I have been journaling food, and exercising.  But I think I need to amp it up a bit.  I need to double check my portion sizes.  And I need to move even more. 

I will do this.  I have to do this.  I can do this.

YES, YOU CAN! I am so proud of your exercise!! Remember that you are making changes on the inside, both healhty heart-wise and healthy head-wise :))) YAHOO!

Trisha's weigh-in :))))))

So sore today! Wow, I am REALLY feeling that jumprope workout!! And, my friend gave me her ZUMBA dvds and even the little shaker sticks!! WOO hoo! Excited to try it tomorrow morning :) Plus tomorrow afternoon we ZUMBA!

Weigh-in time:
I weigh 211.8, so down 1 pound from last week! I so want to work hard this week and drop 2 full pounds.

How about looking at the big picture?
Started at 235.4 which equals 23.6 pounds lost during challenge or10%!! That's a milestone for sure!

Or, even the bigger picture?
244 at the beginning of summer which equals 32.2 pounds lost in four months or 13.2% :))

Trisha Weighing In

Last week 215, today 212.8 down 2.2!!! I am so freaking excited!! I can't believe that 3 more pounds, and I will be into the 2 single digits...209. I am now officially 13 pounds from being under 200!!!!! For this challenge, I am 20 pounds lighter. Plus, I am  down from 244 at the beginning of summer, so that's a total of 31.2 pounds!!

Today I had 5 different people comment on how good I was looking :))) And, people that didn't even know what I am doing.

I need to take another picture :) And, I need to do my measurements again!


I do feel like this is the inspiration to re-focus! I need to drink more water. I am drinking water, just not my goal of 100 ounces.

And, I wanted to start lifting weights this month, which I have not. I even wrote up a schedule, but I haven't made it happen. Actually I have only been working out two to three times a week, which is far under my goal. Now that I can see the light,I feel like going towards it!! I want to work out at least 15 minutes EVERY day. I don't feel like that's too much, especially when I want to power through and reach my next goals (under 210, and then under 200)!!

I definitely have the eating down, and the writing everything down is making a HUGE difference :) I feel so in control with my calorie intake!! Now, I just need to find the same commitment to my calorie output! And, I know I can do it :)

Stephanie's weigh in and highlights

Stephanie here...

last week: 184
This week: 183.3 :) 

This was a crazy week for me.  My baby wasn't feeling good.  He was up every hour to hour and a half for two days. So I had total lack of sleep.  And sleep is a very important task for me.  I get sick and grumpy and just not a happy camper when I lack sleep.  My focus gets all messed up!  Speaking of focus, I am in the process of writing a blog post about mental hurdles and the little light bulb that I had light up this weekend!

This whole process has been such a learning experience for me.  More than I could have EVER imagined...

Oh me oh my!

Where have I been?  Is it seriously already Wednesday???  I have had a ton of fun this week and have been busy with my kids and hubby! 

First, weight in:
last week: 185
this week: 184
loss of 1lb.  :)  I will take it! 

So the 5K came and went and I am excited to keep at this jogging business and get form and breathing figured out better and next year conquer the course jogging the whole thing!  I did my run alone and I finished in 41 minutes.  I could see Trisha the whole way! :)  I could have done better I think, because I don't think I pushed myself hard enough.  I got a side ache after the second water station, so I didn't drink anymore after that! It was fun to pass by people I knew that knew this was a challenge for me and they would knuckle bump as we passed by each other! I really enjoyed myself! But for the next three days, I was SORE!!! My shins felt like the bone was bruised and my ankles hurt.  I kind of felt crappy afterwards too, but I think my allergies are to blame there.  And just like Trisha, I wheezed into the night and part of the next day!  I use to use an inhaler for anything exercise related but haven't had to for years.  Well I could have used a puff after the race!!!  So I think I will see about a refill!!!  Maybe that is part of my problem with breathing while I jog, I am just not getting enough oxygen.  Trisha, if you get diagnosed with EIA, you will totally see a difference after a puff of the inhaler! The only thing I didn't like about it was it gave me the shakes. But I would rather have the shakes than not being able to breath!

Yesterday I exercised at lunch.  I did the bleachers at the school and a long walk afterwards.  It felt good to use different muscles.  But again, I got lightheaded and felt icky, so again, I wonder if it is EIA???  We will find out after I get my inhaler!

I gave back the magazine that Trisha shared with me and I have to say it was a good magazine!  It has some good workouts in it and interesting articles.  But like Trisha put on a sticky...too many ads!  So now it is my turn! 

Trisha's Weigh-In and maybe TMI

Last week: 215.6
Today: 215
Down .6

I am OK with that, considering how absolutely bloated I feel...TOM started yesterday afternoon (so appreciative it wasn't the day before during the race!?!). That got me thinking...since I have been eating healthy and exercising, I am back onto a normal schedule (which is abnormal for me), and if that holds true, I will be TOM the day of my half-marathon in Vegas. THAT could be a problem, because I have TERRIBLE cramps and feel very nauseated the first day of TOM. I think that's an age thing, as I wasn't that way until only this past year :( I am curious how regular joggers deal with those sorts of things.

Best dinner ever. I wasn't feeling hungry at all :( So, I decided to try Stephanie's pumpkin oatmeal for dinner, and it was perfect, and exactly what I needed!!!! A new favorite comfort food for me :)

Trisha's UPDATE!

Today I jumped on the scale, and I weighed 215.6, so that's a 2.4 loss! Writing EVERYTHING down that I ate has to be the answer :) And, the bottom line is that I am eating whatever I want--though mostly healthy--but, I am measuring, weighing, and counting calories!

I know I have read over and over that people who lose lots of weight and keep it off, they all track their food. Originally, I thought I would just do it for a week, but I am going to keep it  going. I truly believe this will help me accomplish my weight loss goals. I am being honest with myself--just read my guacamole/tortilla chips post. I even realized that I had not been counting the chocolate covered coffee bean that I have been eating, LOL! So, I added that today!

I have never kept a food journal for longer than a couple of weeks, so I am VERY motivated to make this happen for a long time!!

I have also been loving food!! I tried a  new recipe tonight :) It was yummy and healthy! I like to make my own dressing, too!!

The challenge results/weigh in for Stephanie

Oh the mock 5K, how you tried my every muscle, my every minute of the run.  I look forward to redoing this!!!  The weather sucked but I did it!  My muscles got tense and rock hard but I finished!  I have to say it was really hard for me.  I didn't have the positive feeling that I sense Trisha had! :) I blogged about it on my other blog.  And I can't sugar coat it, I am a hurting unit!  My knee cap hurts on my right leg, the tops of my feet are sore, like the bones are sore.  It doesn't seem like I have been doing the C25K program, I feel like I just ran for the very first time.  And while I ran I felt so tense which made it hard to jog! I did it in 45 minutes...yes, I boned it.

But I have a plan...I now know what NOT to do before the race!  I am pretty sure the winds won't be so bad.  (I got stuck in a dirt storm yesterday!) I know that I won't be eating a breakfast before, but just some toast and a banana.  I know that I will stretch a heck of a lot more!!! 

I did an endurance workout at lunchtime today...I wrote about it (with a pic!)  It felt good!  And I did this 3 mile walk in 45 minutes!!  HELLO, can anyway say "kick in gear Stephanie"?  This walk is 2 huge hills!!!! 

I am not feeling good about myself the last few days.  I think it is time to do measurements and see where I am with those.  Cause the scale...well the scale just isn't helping me!  It said I was up .4 lb.  But it is TOM but I just don't want to use that as an excuse.  I am going to buckle down this week and see what happens.  I feel like a broken record...saying I am going to do this two pound loss thing but it never happens. 

BUT...I am wearing a pair of jeans I couldn't wear a month ago! :) 

Last week: 184.6
This week: 185
Gain of: .4 

So long 220s...we shall NEVER meet again!

--Trisha's weigh-in and week review!

I now weigh 218! This is exciting :) I am glad to see the 220s GONE forever! That's a solid two pounds this week, and I feel like I am in a real routine now that may be (?) more lifelong instead of a diet per se?! Since I am eating normal things on occasion, or even a special thing here and there!

I did eat TWO pieces of veggie pizza on Friday night, which is the first pizza in I don't even know how long!!! I also ate a brownie and a caramel apple on Saturday. ZOOKS...that was two things that I really didn't need, but OH BOY I ENJOYED THEM BOTH :))

I did live up to my challenge, and yesterday I walked 13.6 miles in 3 hours and 50 minutes. If you are a person walking around a track, that would be 53 laps!!!! I walked a gi-normous loop up where I live. This means that I can make the deadline when I go to Vegas in December! Yesterday was quite an experience though, which you can read about over on my other blog!!

This week, I am writing EVERYTHING down that I eat and blogging it over at my other blog :) I am figuring calories, too. Depending on my icky sicky cold, I may work out in the morning...we will see if that's in my cards or not.

Stephanie's Monday weigh in!

Finally, finally, finally!!!  I am at a number that I haven't seen before!! 

Last week: 185.6
This week: 184.6
Loss of: 1 lb!!!! 

I am seeing a pretty steady pace now.  A healthy pace.  I am still "in training" for the 5K in October.  I am finding that running on the track is much much harder than on my treadmill, but I am able to go faster on my treadmill, I think. :)

I need something that tracks my pace, but then I think "do I really want to know how slow I am going?!"

Off to get more water!!

Stephanie's weigh in

So I got up this morning and hopped on the scale.  We all know that I have had a challenge lately of losing even with all my changes and stuff. 

last week: 186.8
This week: 185.6
Loss of: 1.2 

I was hoping for more cause I was really careful at fair and to not have the bad foods.  Although I did have a 7-up and that was the first soda I have had in so long!!  I must say it was YUMMY and refreshing in the heat of the day.  :) 

So I have signed up for the 5K Autumn Leaf Run on October 1st.  I have a challenge with myself and blogged about it here.

Also I have suggestion on a challenge this week for a challenge.  Trisha, I had read a posty in my gift bag that you wanted to get back to working out in the mornings?  That is what I want to do too so that anything else is extra!!!  And to help me train for this 5K.  So how about this week we try to workout 3 mornings? It can be for 15 minutes, 30 minutes, hour, whatever just as long as we are up and getting our health on!!!  It can be stretching, yoga, cardio, whatever gets us going.  Just to start the habit. 

I did 30 minutes this morning of week 2 day 3 of the C25K program.  Baby boy was playing and talking to me!!!  It was cute! I am proud of myself for getting it done considering lunchtime temps are to be high 90's and I know I won't get as much done after work cause it just doesn't fit my schedule. 

So now a new week, yep Trisha, a clean slate!!! :)  That is what Monday's are for, a fresh start!!! :)  Good job at fair!!! 

Trisha's weigh-in

OH Lordy what a week!!

I don't have much time to post right now, but I should be able to catch up this evening!!

SO, the news is somewhat incredible to me, as I lost a pound this past week, considering I was at fair since Wednesday. Though I wish it would be more, I will take it!!

I am now at 220, which means NEXT week I will be out of the 220s FOREVER!

I feel like I just hit the reset button this week, after two weeks of craziness. And, if I can lose during two weeks of that, then anything is possible!!

I will blog more tonight!

Finally, I am posting!

Oh what a crazy time it has been!!!  Spent a couple days at the hospital with my dad and step mom and my aunt.  It was crazy stressful and emotional!  But it also meant I slacked on exercise...and it showed.  I had a gain of a 1.8 so that means I am back up to 186.8.  It really sucked seeing that gain, but I am not letting it bring me down!  I made some yummy applesauce cake that is like 64 calories per square!!  And I didn't add the chocolate chips, so I am proud of me! It is really yummy and the hubby liked it too...I put it in my daughters school lunch so the jury is still out on that one! And for once, the gain doesn't depress me or make me want to call it quits.  I am going to go forward and continue making good choices!! 

One thing that has helped is the rockin gift I got from Trisha from last weeks challenge!!!  I got a cool tote filled with goodies like a huge bottle of SmartWater, yummy gum, a rocking Weight Watchers magazine and some good smellin, aromatherapy candles!  THANK YOU!!!! I loved it!  I really liked all the sticky notes! LOL!  I do think you have a good idea, Trisha, about the magazine swap! 

So I am moving onward!!!  :)  I will see a loss darn it!!! 

Trisha weighing in :)

This will be a shorty, as I am writing here in the morning while eating my oatmeal :)

Last week we started school again, so my life's returned to a bit of a whirlwind. I will definitely blog more this week, probably tomorrow, to catch you up on everything.

The big news:
Last week 224 (a gain of +1)
This week I weigh 221!!

Yahoo! I am super happy with that three-pound loss, especially when I feel like I am running in a million different directions all at once!! Plus we went out of town this past long weekend...and, that's normally very hard for me.

I just need to survive this week (our first time entering an animal into fair, plus second week of teaching, and our second football game on Friday), and starting next week, things should settle into a normal routine!