well....

...I lost the 0.2 pounds that I gained last week... but that was it! I really wish I could find some miraculous motivation to get me to do some excessive movement. Just lowering my points down to the bear minimum is not enough. My Curves membership is "on hold" until September 1, so I'm just going to let it reinstate itself then. I thought about not renewing it and working out on my own but I have proven, if left to my own devices- nothing will get done. I put my membership on hold in June because the only time I was able to workout was after Kevin got home (because I didn't have anybody to watch the girls regularly) and by that time, I was exhausted from the day. Come September, I'll have Tuesday and Thursday mornings to work out... and walk/run!

I also have to get myself in a pattern of getting out of bed before 8am so I can get us all out the door by 8:45. I know, I know- I am spoiled by my girls not being early risers. I'm not sure if it's in their DNA or if it was taught (which it was!). Katy does get up early most days (7 am or even earlier!) but she just turns her TV on and lays back down or plays in her room. I hear her on the monitor & then turn it down so I can go back to sleep (Kevin usually tells me to turn it down before I can get to it- so it's not just me!!). I think in establishing a new AM routine, I'll be sure to fit in some walking/running! Of course, I'm going to have to ease into this [just like I did with weight loss]. I can't expect to wake up at 6am all of a sudden and feel great. I do have to promise myself this, it can't 7 months to start getting up earlier on a regular basis [like it did for me to start a serious weight loss regimen]!

When is all of this going to get easier??!?! Oh, that's right... NEVER! Ugh =) I guess that's what keeps like interesting!

**love & skinny hugs**

Ugh....

This week I gained 0.2 pounds!!! I know it's not a big weight gain but it's still a gain. I did really well with my eating and points last week but I didn't exercise a bit. One more proof that exercise is a vital player in this whole saga. I'm sure next week will not be any better. Both girls had surgery on Monday (Katy had her adenoids & tonsils removed & Perri had tubes put in her ears). My sister took Perri on Tuesday and my dad took her yesterday and today, which has given Katy & I some much needed one-on-one time. I've also been having to get up and give Katy her pain meds so I've been super tired (I've even taken 2 naps this week!) which means NO energy to exercise! I did adjust my daily point allowance on Tuesday so I'm down to 21 points a day. I thought it would be tough but it hasn't been so bad. We'll see if that helps when I weigh-in on Tuesday! So my goal to make it to Tuesday is to stay on track with my points and, at least, get on the Wii Fit twice!!!

**love & skinny hugs**

Props due... props given!

THANK YOU GOD!!! I had another great week last weigh in!! I lost the 2 pounds I put on over 4th of July PLUS another 1/2 a pound!! I was just estatic! Last week, during one of my devotion times I spent the entire time thanking God for my success with weight loss. When I went to the doctor one year ago and realized just how big I was and just how much I had to lose to get to my healthy weight (before Katy was conceived) it scared me. The week after that appointment, I joined Curves. I was not ready to change my diet but I learned to enjoy exercise. That was the first step of my journey. Then after I turned 30, when I VOWED to lose weight, the opportunity came through Weight Watcher Meetings at my church. That's when I realized that I didn't have to give up my past life, I just had to learn some new habits (like how amazing garden fresh vegetables are and exactly WHAT constitutes 1 serving!). So as I sit her typing today, 35 pounds lighter than I was one year ago and only another 15 pounds to go, only One that deserves the credit is GOD! He taught me to have Faith in Him and myself; to believe I can do anything I want with His guidance and assistance. I could not set out on a 50 POUND weight loss journey without God's help. This was bigger than anything I've ever done and I was so scared and lost but He has walked with me during this journey. I've learned to rejoice in the little accomplishments because before you know it, you realized that you reached some pretty big accomplishments! So for all you do, all the challenges you may be faced with, or all the short-comings you feel... GLORIFY GOD! All it takes is 5 mintues (not just today, but everyday) to thank God for all the amazing gifts He has blessed us with. Every "parent" feels a deep sense of joy and pride hearing their "child" thank them (not just for feeling appreciated and loved but also for using their manners!!! LOL!)... have you thanked your "Father" today?!?!?

***love & skinny hugs***

My first bad week!

Well, it's official... I gained 2 pounds this past week. I was pretty disappointed but I'm trying not to get too down. In the 17 (+/-) weeks I've been doing this, this is the first week I've had a weight gain. The thing that worries me most though, I'm still in the "weight loss funk." I'm tired of being in losing weight mode & am just ready to get to the maintenance stage. I hope this doesn't make it worse. It did teach me that if I return to my old eating habits, all the effort I've put forth will be erased and so will the 24 pounds I've lost. I don't EVER want to be that big again. I did great tonight though... we grilled out for my BIL's 30th birthday and I had myself a turkey dog & veggie burger! Of course I caught some slack (Kevin's family loves to tease each other!) but I just said I had to if I wanted to lose weight... then they moved on to somebody else :) Kevin did stick up for me (after calling it my "poop" burger b/c that's what it kind of looked like!)... he said "I guess if I would eat poop burgers, I could also lose 25 pounds!" Maybe posting this in sunshine yellow will make me smile & get excited to keep losing weight (hey, whatever it takes!)

So here's to getting back on track and praying for losing those 2 pounds this week (at least!).
**love & skinny hugs***

Look what I lost!

Do you remember how Oprah wheeled in a wagon full of lard/fat to show how much weight she had lost (it was in the late 80s or early 90s)??? Well, in telling Kevin how much weight I have lost to date it dawned on me that Perri weighs 26 pounds! So here is the picture of what I have lost so far... which is a much better picture than a wagon full of fat!

Tuesday is weigh-in day and we'll see how I did... I ate very well this weekend at the Lake. I didn't count points... I didn't think about it until Saturday then I got scared trying to recount everything I ate the past 2 days! I'm not going to get too upset if I gained weight this past week. It'll be the first time during the entire process I've had a setback. I'm just going to keep a picture of Katy around to inspire me because now I can't wait to post a picture of her on here when I reach that goal (btw- Katy weighs 32 pounds!).

**love & skinny hugs**

Trip to the lake...

We are leaving tomorrow to go to Paris Landing with Eddie, Jessi & Alex. We are planning to spend the days swimming in the resorts pool or the lake (while Eddie & Kevin golf all day). In packing for the trip, I decided that I should try on my 2 swimsuits (one from the summer after I had Katy and the other from last summer, after I had Perri)... I took a deep breath and put on the one from last summer (when I was my heaviest) and it was a little big but it also looked good! The tankini top flowed below the empire waist and the skirt bottom was flow-y! I think that was how it was intended to look! I'm pretty sure it didn't fit that way last summer! The swimsuit from the summer after Katy was born fit but it was a little tight but definitely wearable... and not obscene!!! Every year I say that I have to get in shape for swimsuit season and this is the first year I actually am! That is the true accomplishment!!

We are also planning on cooking-out every night! My only goal is to not gain weight this week :) I have lost 26 pounds since starting WW so I want to stay at the 25 pound mark (so I don't lose my fancy 25 lb. star on my weight chart!!). I will also do a lot more activity (swimming, chasing kids, etc.) so that should help. I also hope to walk at least once during the trip... fingers crossed!! In packing our food, of course I put in some better alternatives! My other saving grace will be Eddie... he's diabetic, so there's sure to be lots of sugar-free choices :) I'm sure Eddie would have never thought his diabetes would work for my benefit!!!

Here's to America's independence... and my independence from fat!!! HAPPY 4th!
**love & skinny hugs**