Still going strong :)

--Trisha
I keep my personal weight loss blog updated daily :)  Trisha Weighs In
I also keep my thankful blog the same! Who's Got Talk?

I am surviving the holidays and kicking bootie :)

Update, update, update!

--Trisha
Hello! I am letting you know that you can keep up with my progress on my weight loss journey on my personal blog :)

As well, I have revived another one of my blogs, and I am making it into a thankful blog.

You can check it out right here! I totally cannot guarantee that I won't blog about everything and anything else, but no matter what, I will find one thing each day for which I am thankful :))

Maybe we will come back to this blog, maybe next summer...We will see! Thanks for coming along for the ride!!

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 :)

Not a diet...

First and foremost, Stephanie…you hit the nail on the head, it’s NOT A DIET! It shouldn't be a diet. DIETS DON'T WORK!!! Maybe part of the reason why this is working for me this time is because, it’s NOT A DIET for me!

I have had several conversations with several people lately, as so many people have asked me, “What are you doing?” or “What diet are you on?” Some of them have been genuinely bummed when I tell them, “What am I doing? It’s called LIFE! I am not on any special diet. I eat what I want when I want, I just made CONSCIENTIOUS choices, rather than letting my emotions rule what goes in my mouth. I try to move. I don’t move as much as I would like to move, but I do some moving!” And, I always tell them about how I write everything down. That is the key for me, being 100% honest with what I eat and how much I eat, no matter what it is.

Stephanie...No one expects you to give your family time away. I ALWAYS choose my family first in everything I choose to do, and I know that I always will do that. I know that if I wasn’t choosing my family first, I would downward spiral into who knows where, but it wouldn’t be a good place. For sure if given the choice between being with my kids or working out, the family will always win. You have made choices for you. You are moving!! You walk and do Zumba, and you are right to not feel guilty to choose your family over your treadmill!! It’s all about balance. Life is crazy for most people. I think we all feel overwhelmed in our own situations, and it's just about truly figuring out what works and what doesn't.

As far as this blog goes, I don’t really care if we keep it going, unless we get to a place (maybe next summer) where we want to do some physical challenges or even just do some things together physically, like ride our bikes—you, Sarah and me. Or, go for hikes or walks or whatever. The blog could take on different topics, if we wanted to let it evolve into hobbies or parenting tips or healthy recipes, or whatnot. Though, I kinda feel like we both do that on our own blogs, as it is already. So, maybe it's come to an end...or, maybe we keep it around and just blog once a week or every couple of weeks to keep updates going.  

New week, thank goodness!!

--Trisha
Last week was a tough one for me. I had a few tough days, and then a few days that were OK, and then a few more tough ones. BUT, thankfully it's over!! This week has been FAR better, and I feel back to normal. You can read more about it over at my personal blog!

So, my weigh-in this week was a gain. That hasn't happened, except for maybe one other time on this journey. Though I was not surprised.

Last week: 207.8 this week 209.2 = 1.4 gain :(

100th POST! How cool is that?!

--Trisha

Here we are at a milestone, indeed! Now I am curious where we are going to go with our blog from here, as certainly our challenge has changed quite a bit. We both face our own personal battles with the scale, with an entirely different focus for each of us. Do we keep blogging here? Do we keep blogging about the same topics? Is this blog growing and changing and morphing into something new? Or, fading?

What are your feelings, Stephanie?

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!!!

Lots of updates!!

--Trisha
Check out my blog! I have found a heart rate monitor I am buying t his week!! SO EXCITED :) Also, I learned a lot about EPOC!!

Time is flying, and so is the fat!

--Trisha
I have updated my winter workout and weight loss goals over on my other blog! I can't believe we have been doing this since mid-July! 3 1/2 months :))

A journey, for sure!

Stephanie,
Thank you for having the courage to share your condition. I just wanted to say a few things about this challenge. I truly believe it's grown to mean so much more than just a challenge to each of us. I feel like it has pushed your struggle to the surface, and now you are able to focus on healing. And, holy smokes, you have been exercising for 3 1/2 months now!! So many benefits there, as well as where would you be physically right now without it?

I believe that this challenge, which has really turned more into a motivational blog between two unlikely people, has definitely made things better between us! Our entire readership does not know of our recent stress between our two households, but I believe that it healed much more quickly than it would have back in the day.

The bottom line is that neither one of us wanted to give up on all the progress we have made, in large part due to this blog!!! Is everything perfect? Of course not, but I feel like we can see things differently now, and that through this blog, we haven't just viewed one another based on our roles in a little one's life! Rather we see each other as women, as real people!

I look forward to seeing where our journey continues to take us :)

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!

OMG TRISHA!!!!

YOU ARE THE INCREDIBLE SHRINKING WOMAN!!!  I am so proud of you! I know how hard this is!!!  You have made such a HUGE change!!!  You are an inspiration!  I love reading what you write every week and I look forward to the next post from you. 

Good job Trisha!!! 

Gimme some knuckles!!!  KNUCKLES :)))

CRAZY busy week this week!! SIGH. SO, just wanted to thank you for your positive comments and generous feedback :) It's very much appreciated. I also wanted to tell you how you are an inspiration to me, as well! I am so proud of you for all of your exercise!!! I have had several people mention to me that they saw you walking up Kermel grade :)) I always get so excited!!! YOU GO GIRL!!!

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% :))

Update on the inches

--Trisha

July 13                            8/24                10/15              Total
Hips- 52 inches                 50                      48                 -4
Waist- 46 inches               43.5                    40                 -6
Chest- 49 inches               46.5                    44                 -5
Thighs-24 inches               23.5                     23.5             -.5
                                        Arms- 13              13                 0

THAT'S -15.5 inches off of my body!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Definitely jives with the changes in clothing sizes!!!

3 months is a BIG difference :)))

July 13



Oct 16

I realize the clothes are a bit different, but I can tell you this. The shirt in the first pic is a 2XL and fits tightly (as you can see), and the shirt in the second pic is XL, and it has a loose fit. Which btw, it is one of my all-time favorite shirts, and I was sad when I couldn't wear it because it was too tight!

I do have a LONG ways to go to get my goal, but it feels good to have this much accomplished in three months! I can't wait for the next three :))

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 :)

And...

I have a magazine that I am working on to share with Trisha!!! ;)

I LOVE THE HEALTH magazine :)) That was the first time I ever read it!! I will be giving it back next week :))) And, I have one that I just finished reading and need to get sticky notes in it, too!! It's been such a crazy week...

Tastes like a caramel apple :)

--Trisha

I made one of my favorite yummy salads tonight to take over to our friends' home for dinner!

It normally has snickers cut up and mixed in, but I left it out tonight, and it was still awesome!

Choose your favorite apple, slice and dice it up. I used Golden Delicious tonight.

Choose a favorite SF, FF Jello pudding. Tonight's choice was butterscotch! I do love chocolate, white chocolate, and even coconut!!!

Then you take one tub of LIGHT cool whip.

You mix it all up, and there ya be! YUMMY!!!!! And, it feels like such a dessert :)

Yummy and healthy recipe!

I love this recipe! I first made it while visiting family in Texas many years ago. It's easy, cheap, low calories, and DELICIOUS!! It's from the Texas Rangers (as in the law enforcement, and specifically eating out on the trail) Cookbook!

 It was perfect for today, and the weather!

Texas Ranger Casserole

Head of cabbage= 290- Cut up and place in dish.

1 can of tomatoes with garlic, oregano, basil = 87.5 - Pour on top of cabbage.

1 large can of Rotel –tomatoes with green chiles (spicy--a favorite of us Texans!)=  150- On top of cabbage.

Mushrooms – 60 - whole fresh mushrooms, but you can use sliced mushrooms, if you want.I just put them on top of the cabbage.

Ground chicken – 1 pound- 859- I use turkey sometimes, too!

Spices--oregano, basil, garlic,etc. and 1 cup of water, can add more, if you want to make it more soupy :) I have even added tomato sauce before, when I wanted it especially soupy!

TOTAL = 1446.5 for total  or 241 calories for 1/6th of the dish, which is really a lot of food, and quite filling!