You are what you read....or watch on TV

Yesterday, I went to the café for my breakfast burrito. I have been going to this place for nine years now and know the owner and staff really well. We got to talking about the great job my hubby did in making over my walk in closet. He is an incredible handyman type of guy and really knocked it out of the park on my closet! I will post some before and after pictures of it soon.

Anyhow, Alexis was saying how she needs a walk-in closet because she has too much stuff. She is in her early twenties and about three years ago lost about 25 lbs. She is also in the mists of planning her wedding. In her closet she has clothes that fit her now, clothes a few sizes larger and a few size smaller. At this point I started to channel the hoarder whisper lingo, this is the one I watch. Here are a few of my beautiful regurgitated lines:

"Remove one item for every new item you purchase"

"You don't need new clothing if you already have ones that still have the tags on"
In response to Alexis saying she can't get rid of any of the clothes because many still have tags!

"Honor your new body with new clothing. Stop holding onto the past"
In response to Alexis saying that she needs them just in case she loses or gains.


"Recognize when you are holding on due to sentimental value versus true value. Limit that to a few pieces"
In response to Alexis saying there are things that she really still likes, regardless of the size.

"You are not going to want to be in your fat clothes. You are going to want to honor and enjoy your pregnant body"
In response to her statement that she was holding onto the bigger size clothes in case she became pregnant.

At the end of our chat she said that I was channeling Oprah. :) Hey, I'll take the compliment.

Don't get me wrong, I have just very very recently have figured this out for myself. The new closet design has also helped me clarify my vision for my "stuff". I am just so tired of seeing so much "stuff" that I can't possibly use.

It isn't just clothing, towels, books, etc it is all the stuff that I carry around in my head. The anger of things that happened in the past, the disappointments, the running monologue that doesn't help build me up, the debt, the fear. I am just plain tired of it all.

I have started to address my physical environment in the hopes that it will help with my mental clutter. I think it is working. And if I have to channel Oprah every now and again to get a step closer I am good with that. :)

Week 9: Weight Watchers Weigh-In

February 2nd to 8th, 2011
Current Weight: 232 lbs
Week to Week loss: - 1
Total gain/loss: -9.5 lbs

I am a coward.

I am afraid of failure.
I am afraid that due to my weight I will never be a mother.
I am afraid of pain.
I am afraid of feeling pain again from the IVF cycles.
I am afraid of feeling the heart breaking pain of being successful at weight loss and still not be a mother.
I am afraid of feeling the pain from pushing my body harder than I did yesterday.
I am afraid of failing again after I have moderate success.
I am afraid of being completely honest with myself because I might not like myself.
I am afraid of being completelyhonest with others because they might not like.
(ironically enough people feel that I am too honest with them. If they only knew what I hold back!)

The one thing that I have come to realize is that being afraid is no way to live. So, inspite of my fear I am making great progress

I can do the high-intensity jumping in Zumba now.
I can keep up with the instructor in all the songs instead of taking a marching break.
I go workout even when I am not in the mood and without much convincing.
I am honest with myself every day. I can't hide from myself!
I am honest with the people that matter the most in my life and work thru the fear of hurting them or myself.
I have identified another thing I like about myself.
I don't feel like I am on a diet but on a life long change. And that is a momentous moment people!
I am getting comfortable with being angry.
I am realizing that not having the life that any woman in my family has ever had is okay. It is okay to charter my own course.

Progress Prompt # 7

Now that you're on a weight loss program, what's it like being with your loved ones?

I think that it has taken everyone a bit to adjust. My sister tries to out guess me with what I can and can't have. I think that she has finally settled down and realizes that she can suggest any place for lunch or dinner and it won't throw me off track. She trusts me to explain that I don't have enough points or prefer something else. (see the next question how this hesitancy of hers affects me)

My hubby feels it much more dramatically. He has to deal with the changes I make in the food that I purchase. I only buy what suits me. Like whole wheat high fiber bread instead of his beloved white wonderbread. :) I keep a lot of fruit and veggies in the house now. He says he likes fruits but the proof is in the pudding since I end up eating it all myself. He also has to deal with me going to workout each evening. That is a good two hours that I am out of the house, including the 9 hours I am out working, so the "us" time is greatly affected. He doesn't mention it but I know he would prefer that I did a video at home instead of drive at night. He has this really bad habit of worrying like crazy about me driving at night. Anyhow, he is adapting.


Do you find losing weight easier if you have the support of others or do you prefer to keep your weight loss efforts private?

I am not a shy person at all but I tend to prefer to not discuss my weight loss goals with others, friends and family. Obviously, you four blog followers and lurkers aren't included since I over share with you!

I feel that I have much more control of my journey when I don't add their expectations to it. This sounds so horrible but I feel weighted down by all my previous, failed and not failed, attempts and their expectations. I just don't need that on top of all my own self-talk. That being said, there are a few that are really aware of my goals - for everyone else I am just doing my own thing.

Happy Monday!!

Making a positive change

The universe is bashing on my head to make a change.

Sheryl's blog posts
It shouldn't be a secret to anyone that I am fairly motivated by Sheryl's weight loss journey and blog. One of the very first posts I read on her blog was regarding her change to removing artificial ingredients from her diet. I can't find the original one from when she first explained it but read this one and this one if you are interested in what she has done so far.

Dr. Oz
I found her posts to be incredibly interesting because a few years ago I had read both You: On A Diet: The Owner's Manual for Waist Management and YOU: The Owner's Manual.

Interesting enough, although I found the section regarding the five ingredients that Dr. Oz recommends to eliminate from any diet interesting it just felt too much like a....well diet. It didn't seem sustainable long term for myself and much less my husband. Now, don't get me wrong. Years ago I released the need to bring him over onto the healthy path with me. I simply now just purchase things that are good for me and rub off on him in good ways. *wink* I talking about food people! FOCUS! :)

Dr. Oz plans is to eliminate: hydrogenated oil, sugar, high fructose corn syrup, enriched flour and bleached flour. Dr. Oz makes an excellent point when he explains that sugar can be called a multitude of things: High fructose corn syrup, Evaporated cane juice, Molasses, Sucrose, Corn sugar, Dextrose

Oprah
DISCLAIMER: I have been an Oprah fan since I was teenager. If you don't feel the same way, that is okay, just skip over my posts about her because I really really love me some Oprah.

I dvr all of Oprah shows so I am usually a few days late on seeing the shows. Two nights ago my hubby and I watched the episode of the Harpo staff going vegan for a week.

A few years ago, my niece was vising from New York. We a long discussion a few years ago about what it means to be vegetarian or vegan. Not only from the food consumption perspective but also from your moral and spiritual perspective.

Another benefit of having lived in a third world country as a teenager is that from I was well aware of where my food was coming from. Not only the animals but the fruits, legumes, rice, sugar, etc. Shortages are well know. Fruits aren't in season or have to be imported. Cattle, chickens and pigs are raised for consumption. The food was planted and harvested. It is hard back breaking work. Cows were milked and the milk wasn't sold to us in containers ready for consumption.

While I do not have an issue with consuming animals and their products I do have an issue with irresponsible raising and slaughtering of animals. I agree with the comments made on the show that we need to honor the life that was given. There is a right way to treat animals, even in death.

Unfortunately, here in the US I don't have much visibility into where the food is coming and how it was handled. This has been bothering me for a few years. Yet, I haven't done much to do anything about it. Lets be frank, getting it at the supermarket is just so darn easy and affordable.

Combination of Sheryl, Oprah and Dr. Oz:
For the last six months or so, I have been focusing on eating things that have a mother or come from the earth first, before eating crap. I find that this aligns well with both the new WW Points Plus program, (hey, I was ahead of my times), Dr. Oz recommendations and what Sheryl has done.

Hubby, like myself, is a carnivore. He isn't remotely interested in going Vegan for a week, day or even meal. He is open to being Veganish (check out the Oprah link). He is open to purchasing, and spending more, on food that is harvested and produced in ways that we agree with. It was fascinating to talk to him about the process and the ideas explained on the show. He is also on board with eliminating artificial ingredients in our diet. Like I explained before, I was just going to do it and he would buy/eat whatever suits him. But having him on board with this idea is awesomeness.

The plan:
I am going to review the nutritional labels for the products we eat most often. Then take a little field trip both thru Google and Whole Foods to find some alternatives that we can both tolerate. I recognize that this may mean that we will a) eliminate a food completely, b) have to make it from scratch or c) settle for an alternative. By no means do I expect to this to be an overnight process but over the course of the next few weeks we should be at a much better place.

Sea Shells

Helen, my Weight Watcher's leader, gave us each a sea shell as we left the meeting this week. She shared that the first time she had come to Florida she was a recent graduate from nursing school and was walking along Daytona Beach. She felt so happy and calm walking along the beach that she decided that she wanted that forever. She went back to the hotel, shower, changed and walked over of the first hospital and applied for a job. She got that job and she started herself on the path to happiness.

Her parting thought was go after your happiness.

This weeks Weight Watcher's topic was activity. Here are some of the points that were made

• Activity isn't about putting on a thong and going to the gym. :) (Helen loves talking about thongs).
• Looking good in a thong isn't worth crap if you are dead.
• Don't short change yourself on activity. Cleaning the houses, walking the dogs, taking a flight of stairs, etc are all activity.
• Helen has completed half-marathons in 3.5 hour or less, walking only! She never saw herself as an athlete but setting these kinds of goals have helped her stay in shape.
• "Members of Weight Watchers that didn't include activity as part of their plan during the losing phase end up going somewhere to have portions of their bodies lopt off. It ain't pretty and looks even worse if they don't maintain!"
• Start out by doing what is necessary. Then what is possible. Before you know it you are doing the impossible.

She went around the room to see what people were doing as a fun activity. These are a few that were mentioned.

• Line dancing
• Ballroom dancing (woohoo!)
• Zumba
• Walking
• Gardening

Helen's suggestions on Points Plus

• Eat your daily points, all of them.
• Eat your happy crap with your 49 weekly points.
• Always eat your weekly points before your activity points.
• Eat your activity points whenever you want!
• When a member tells Helen "I can't get all my daily points in" her answer is "Yes, you can. That is how you got here!"
• Over all her years being a leader she never had a member that came in from binging and overeating on veggies and fruit. Don't be afraid of the zero points veggies and fruit. Just eat it!
• Try veggies prepared four different ways. Suck it up and put on your big girl panties and start eating veggies.

Power Foods

• Reduced calorie bread is a Power Food.
• Potato is a Power Food.
• Not all Power Foods are zero points.

Week 7: Weight Watchers Weigh-In

January 19th to 25th, 2010
Current Weight: 232.5 lbs
Week to Week loss: -1
Total gain/loss: -9.0 lbs

Something you should know, I weigh-in at home since I was only using the online tools when I first started WW (for the final time as Sheryl says!) in December. I started attending meetings in January.

When I was last attending Weight Watchers I had found Helen, a great leader, at the center by my house. Those meetings are at 8am on Saturday mornings. That is hit or miss for me depending what I do on Friday night. So it isn't surprise that I was absolutely thrilled that she offers a meeting during my lunch hour on Tuesdays by my job.

Something else you should know, I really hate weighing-in during the day but I love weighing in first thing on Saturday mornings.

The compromise that I made with myself are the following:

I weigh-in at WW on Tuesdays at noon with the following conditions:
- full clothed
- take off shoes and jewelry
- eat breakfast and drink my water
That number I will now put on my progress chart only.

I weigh-in at home on Wednesday mornings with the following conditions:
- butt naked
- after I have peed
- as soon as I get up

That is the number that you see posted at the top of my weekly weigh-ins and what I consider my official number. One of these weeks I will go weigh-in on Saturday and am sure that the numbers will catch up with eachother. I am not worried about it but wanted to explain it to ya'll. This way I feel completely accountable in all ways and it works for me.

Progress Prompts # 6

Name 10 good things about yourself.

1. Have a great smile.
2. Am excellent at dealing with diverse people and situations. Barely anything makes me shy or nervous.
3. I understand that I am not in control....although I would love to be!
4. I am the most improved at almost any physical activity I attempt.
5. I am intelligent.
6. My hair is awesome: naturally curly, manageable and malleable. (remind me of this when the summer humidity kicks in)
7. I have rhythm, lots and lots of it.

I can't think of three more to add. Interesting is that out of the seven only two were physical attributes. I will have to come back to this one later in my journey. I think that this exercise has opened my eyes that I have things to learn about how I view myself. There is an extreme room for growth.

I called my best buddy to have her answer it for me. Here are her answers about 10 good things about me.

1. Sexy
2. Intelligent
3. Heart of Gold
4. Logical
5. Honest
6. Giving - is too little a word
7. Trustworthy
8. Go Getter
9. Sensitive
10. Am a woman

Week 6: Weight Watchers Weigh-In

January 12th to 18th, 2010
Current Weight: 233.5 lbs
Week to Week loss: -3
Total gain/loss: -8.0 lbs

A few minutes after posting my stats for last week I received a call that my grandmother was in the ICU in NYC. I left very early on Friday morning to be with her. My grandmother Elena is the proud mother of 11, grandmother of 34 and great-grandmother of 17....but I still felt that I need to touch her and be with her.

I didn't return until Monday night, after an exhausting weekend spent in the Milstein Building of New York Columbia Presbyterian Hospital. I also managed to get food poisoning on Sunday and Aunt Flo on Monday. Talk about a stellar week.

I ate very week prior to the food poisoning and very well afterwards as well but the -3lb loss is still surprising!

This weeks accomplishments:

Made good food choices while traveling: fruit, fresh made salads and yogurts!

Progress Prompt Monday #4

I apologize for the delay. My grandmother Elena was in the ICU this past week and I flew up to New York City to be with her. I got back in late on Monday and am still recovering from this long weekend.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Progress Prompt Monday #4
Is exercise part of your weight loss program?
Hell yeah!! That is the integral part of my weight loss program this time around. Incorporating the Weight Watchers plan and moving more is what I know will be the key to my long term success.

If so, what exercises do you do?
Currently, I participate in Zumba three nights a week. I also signed up for the Biggest Loser program at work. I anticipate incorporating treadmill/stair/elliptical workouts to my routine in the next few weeks. I also plan to add pilates and yoga classes to help with my non-existent flexibility.

Do you exercise at home or at a health club?
I have mention this before but I manage the Corporate Fitness Center at work. The membership is free to all employees. I also am a member at a local gym.

How often and how long?
The local gym: 3x per week
Work gym: 5x per week

How do you feel after a workout?
Sweaty.
Extremely tired.
On a super high.

Do you love it or hate it?
L.O.V.E. it.

Are you at peace with your exercise program?
Yes because although I know it is exercise I view it more as just moving. I only take classes that I enjoy. If I absolutely hate the exercise class I just don't do it. There are enough things out there that I can do that I do like.

Are you also at peace with knowing that you have to exercise for the rest of your life?
Absolutely. After spending this weekend with my Grandmother Elena I realize that the reason she is so strong at 86 is because she never stopped moving. I look at my other Grandmother Eva, who is completely sedentary and the difference is night and day!

Week 5: Weight Watchers Weigh-In

January 5th to 11th, 2010
Current Weight: 236.5 lbs
Week to Week loss: 0
Total gain/loss: -5.5 lbs

Holding steady. I did so much emotional eating this week but I balanced it out with a lot of working out so instead of having a gain, I held my own. Feel proud of that but regrouping for this upcoming week. Yeah me!

This weeks accomplishments:

• attended 3 Zumba classes alone. Burned 1017 calories in one session alone!
• joined the Biggest Loser eight week program at work.
• went to Zumba in the evening on the same day I did the Biggest Loser workout at the fitness center at work. Felt incredible!
• did really well with evening snacking.
• didn't binge during emotional week.

Working on for next week

• do five workout sessions (3 zumba, 1 biggest loser, 1 home video)
• track, track, track
• get some non-workout exercise in (like walking the dogs, etc)

~~~~~~~~~~~~~

The beginning of the year always brings out more people to both the Weight Watchers meetings and the gym. I personally don't mind this at all since I have been a participant in these new year waves many a time. Oddly enough, now that my mindset is on permanent mode, as in there isn't waiting for Monday, I am starting the change in the next few minutes....I wish I could lasso them all and keep them coming back....even when things start to suck!

I was explaining to my hubbster that a Zumba class this week was really good, high impact and full but that I got annoyed when I looked around at a room for 40 women and only saw a few sweating or flushed. How is it possible that you can take this class and NOT SWEAT? Shoot, just the number of people in the room should cause you to sweat a little! His response was "What do you care? You are there for yourself and you know you are giving 110%".

Holy crap, why do I care?
My observation didn't stop me from giving it 110%. Didn't deter me from enjoying the class. For meeting my goal for the day. So why the heck do I care? I think it is because I like it so much that I want everyone else to get the same benefit from it. They aren't going to keep on coming back if they don't see the results. They won't see the results unless they put in the work.

Why the heck do I care?
Because I wish I had my light bulb moment much earlier in life. I wish someone would have lassoed me. I wish I would have been saved from myself and years of struggling. That is why I care.

Progress Prompt Monday

[2.] What was your childhood like? Were you thin or obese? Did obesity run in your family? How were you treated by your family, your friends, your classmates? What were your feelings and thoughts as you dealed with obesity as a child?

I was born at Jacob Hospital in the Bronx, New York to immigrant parents. Talk about an American story. I was the third child born into a very happy and close family.


For the first six years of my life we lived on Harrison Avenue between Burnside and 180th street.

(Mom and my sister in front of the building: we are looking towards 180th street)

I just recently learned that it was called Morris Heights. Sadly the buildings were torn down in the late 80's and replaced with garden style 2 story apartment buildings. During the time that my parents lived there (late 60s to 1980) the block had 5 story apartment buildings and the corner of Burnside and Harrison was where our local bodega was located owned by Melito. I remember being given a dollar to spend between my sister and I. We would stand in his store and calculate how much we had left to spend by doing subtraction in the air. There is now a health center on that same corner.

When my mother talks about all the places she lived in New York her fondest memories is of this two bedroom apartment. I think that it is because it is where we became a family. My parents moved into the neighborhood when my brother was a year old or so. During their time there all the children in the extended family were born, right on that block. We all shared the same primary care physician. That fact has always been fascinating to me for some truly odd reason.

In our building lived many my grandmother, godmother, aunts, uncles and close family friends. In the building diagonally across the street lived my other uncles, aunts and extended family. My father says that during that time if a kid lost one tooth they celebrated it with a huge party. The kids birthday parties weren't really kid-centric as they are these days. It was more of an excuse for our parents to clear out all the living room furniture, put some music on, dance, eat and be merry for hours on end. I grew up being the runt of the litter (sort of - there was a whole second wave of cousins that were born in the 80s) surrounded by lots of cousins, cousins of cousins that weren't my blood cousins but are still my cousins. :) It was a very happy childhood.

We all, the kids in the family, had no idea that we lived in a low income area. Nor would we have cared. We were all well cared for, happy and living a wonderful New York childhood. It included playing in the fire hydrant during hot New York summers, sledding down the hill during snowy winters, shopping at Alexander's on Fordham and visiting the Roberto Clemente park as often as possible. All our fathers were hard working young immigrants. Proud to be in the United States and hard working for their families. Sundays were the day with Dad. Special days. The only one when Mom didn't make a home cooked meal because Dad would treat us all to a restaurant meal.

The cousins on my father's side of the family were born in groups so Richard and I were only one month apart. He and I were also the chunkiest of all the kids. It certainly didn't make me feel bad or odd, it just was it was.

After the Bronx my parents moved to Manhattan, 189th street and Amsterdam Avenue. That was were I first went to school (kinder to second grade). Although our apartment was directly across the street from the elementary school the kindergarten entrance was on the far corner, 188th street. Every morning my brother would walk my sister and I down the street. I felt so proud that I could keep up with him while my older sister always lagged behind. He would walk a few more blocks down to his middle school. I remember that my brother was in the chess club and won a trophy for a tournament. I was so proud of him!

After three years in Manhattan my parents moved us to Hoboken, NJ. My uncle had been living there already for a few years (also having moved from Harrison Avenue) so it wasn't totally alien to us. We lived on the corner of Newark Street and Bloomfield Street. My mother, who is by far the least trusting person I have ever met, felt very comfortable and secure in Hoboken. We lived in a good building and directly across the street from the police department. While my brother stayed registered in his NYC high school, my sister and I were registered for Demarest Elementary School. I remember when my mother walked us to school on the very first day of school how pleased she was that Demarest was located four short blocks from our house on Bloomfield Street. Sis and I were allowed to walk to and from school on our own for the first time.

There isn't any obesity in my extended family. Both my parents always held a healthy weight and were way ahead of their times. My parents believed in a very organic diet and home cleaning cooking (low in salt and oils).

My sister and brother were really thin as kids. I not only have the square jaw line of the three but was chunky as a baby and child. Everyone in the family called me "la gordita" as a term of endearment. I never felt self-conscious of my weight was a little girl and really didn't care that I was called "la gordita". I took it as a sign of love and affection, not insult or demeaning.

I recall always knowing that I was bigger than other girls in school but I had a really health self-image from a young age. I think that was reinforced by my father, brother and teachers when they continually praised my intelligence and personality. The only times when I was awkwardly aware was during "hand me down" time. My sister is significantly more petite than me but as we grew up it was typical for me to wear her better hand me downs.

(my sister and me on Harrison Avenue. This dress was a hand-me-down)

When I was 12 my parents decided to move the family to Dominican Republic. During my 11th and 12th year I had a massive growth spurt. (Those hand me downs were super tight!) I grew to the height I am today (5''5", still short by American standards but darn tall for Dominicans (the land of the short women! :) ). During my first 5 months in Dominican Republic I had a growth spurt and lost all my baby fat. My parents had been away for about three months during this time and were seriously shocked to see the change in me. I remember them sitting me down and asking about how I was feeling, thinking, eating, exercising. I didn't understand their concern but looking back that the pictures I can see how even I would have been concerned!

I can see now that a really bad pattern was starting in my life. During the school months I lived in Dominican Republic. We walked or took public transportation to any place we wanted to go so I was unconsciously active. I wasn't conscious of what I ate and don't ever remember binging while living there. During the summer months we would come back to the New York and like clockwork I would gain 15-20lbs. Within a month of being back in DR I would be at my regular weight. I followed this pattern for the six years I lived there.

After my initial growth spurt I settled into a healthy weight range (125 to 130) during my high school years. I was pretty active and unconcerned with my physical image (beyond my hair!). My cousin was diagnosed with PCOS when we were teenagers and I saw how she struggled with losing weight. I recall watching her struggle thru a cardio class at the local gym. I am ashamed to admit that I thought "what the heck is wrong with her?" because although I worked up a sweat I didn't struggle with the class. A few years later I would so completely understand her. I was diagnosed with PCOS when I was in my early twenties. I am thankful that I didn't have to struggle with it during my teenage years as well.

Week 4: Weight Watchers Weigh-In

December 29th to January 4th, 2010
Current Weight: 236.5 lbs
Week to Week loss: +1
Total gain/loss: -5.0 lbs

Recently Vane and I were talking about Pros and Cons of Weight Watchers versus calorie counting. Vane has lost a significant amount of weight and is a beast at working out. Let me repeat that....a beast! She knows how to get a good sweat going and keep that heart rate up! She has also lost about 70lbs already so she definitely knows what works for her.

The word that continued to come up was "diet". I kept on telling her that Weight Watchers is not a diet, it is a lifestyle. She wasn't "listening" to me and kept on explaining that she wanted something that she could do once she finished losing weight. This got me thinking...why do I love Weight Watchers. (don't look now, but here comes a list. :) )

The reasons I love Weight Watchers are....
...they develop tools that keep me accountable.
....they figured out that it isn't only about what I am putting in my mouth but why as well.
....they provide me with tools to get through the journey.
....I can eat anything that I want, whenever I want.
....They teach me how to recognize the correct portion size and don't punish me when I multiple the portion sizes. (lets keep it real)
....They give me focus with the Good Health Guidelines
....They encourage me for drinking water and praise me with a happy face when I reach the daily goal!
....They recognize that fruit and veggies are good for me and give them to me for "free each day" and also praise me with happy faces when I reach that daily goal!

....They never stop working on making the program better. Just like I won't ever stop working on making myself better too!
...They know that binging on fruits, veggies and water isn't what got me to this weight.
....They know that teaching me how to live is much better than teaching me how to live on a diet.

My WW leader, Helen, said something that was a fun quinky dink. She said "People lets keep this simple: eater better and move more!". That is so like the logo on the side of my blog. Striving on keeping it simple in 2011!

Progress Prompt Monday

In 2007 I found this website and saved the list of progress prompts for possible use later on. There are 65 weight-loss related blog posting prompts in total.

The goal is to do a progress prompt each Monday (all 52 of them) including some extra ones every once in a while in order to complete the list in 2011. What better time than the present?


[1.] List 10 reasons why you want to lose weight. Which one is the most compelling and why?

(Listed in no particular order)

1. I want to lose weight so that my thighs don't rub together anymore.
2. I want to loser weight in order to reduce all the health risk factors that come with obesity.
3. I want to lose weight in order to align my mental image with what I see in the mirror.
4. I want to lose weight in order to not need to find a plus size section in stores and no longer have to wear the crap fabric that all plus size clothing seems to be made in!
5. I want to lose weight so that I can see my hoo-ha when I look down in the shower.
6. I want to lose weight so that I can see the wonderful muscles that I am developing.
7. I want to lose weight in order to see if pregnancy will ever be possible for me.
8. I want to lose weight because I want to be an athlete.
9. I want to lose weight to prove everyone, including my own self, that change is possible.
10. I want to lose weight so that I can sit down and not have a few rolls going down my back.

The most compelling one is # 9. I talk the talk now I want to walk the walk. I have spent the equal number of years in a healthy active weight as I have now in an overweight stagnant state. I want the next 17 years to be completely different and mind blowing!

Word+Goals+Lists=Happy Me

Word for 2011
Movement
Ali Edwards has a yearly tradition of selecting a word for the year. The word that chose me was movement.
Looking back on the year 2010 I would have to say that the word that defined it was stagnant. I am ready (and yearning) for movement.
…Moving my body.
…Moving my spirit.
…Moving my finances.
…Moving my relationships to new levels.
…Moving my projects along.
So yeah, movement it is!


Goals for 2011
Purchase my first bike ever!! (this one has my name or this one)
Then naturally.....learn how to ride a bike.
Track my finances on my spreadsheet.
Complete the Suzy Orman blue box.
Sew the quilt for my bed (aka learn how to sew in the process).
Complete Mom’s cross-stitch.
Make something or use my scrapbook supplies each month.
Re-do my closet: remove all old stuff, have hubby build out shelves, paint, etc.
Be able to do a split.
Work towards losing weight every week. My ultimate goal is to lose 100lbs, exactly.
Date day with hubby each month.
Perform my Cha Cha, American Tango and Rumba.
Take my doggies for a 20 minute walk, 3x per week. Total of 156 walks.
Complete the Great Urban Race with Vane in October 2011.
Read 25 books (see list here). Just got a nook for Christmas so that will help!
Go to Spain with Mom.
Complete (2) 5k events.
Complete (1) 10k or half marathon.
Learn to run.
Then naturally....{huge one} run a seven minute mile once (to beat a bet I made with a friend).
Go on my monthly full moon family walk.
Send a handwritten note each month to a friend, reconnect with someone!
Pack my lunch 3x per week. Total of 156 lunches.
Exercise Goals: yoga/pilates 2x per week.
Exercise Goals: run/walk 15 miles per week.
Exercise Goals: make stretching a habit!.Exercise Goals: Strength training 3x per week (156 sessions).
Complete BOMI certification (boring but a must have for my job!).

Happy New Year to you all and may you stay focus on what is most important and valuable in your lives!

Week 2 & 3: Weigh-In Weight Watchers

The holiday week threw me off on my posts. Here is a recap on the past two WW weigh-ins.

December 15th to 21th, 2010
Week 2
Current Weight: 237 lbs
Week to Week loss: -1.50
Total gain/loss: -4.5 lbs

December 22nd to 28th, 2010
Week 3
Current Weight: 235.5 lbs
Week to Week loss: -1.5
Total gain/loss: -6 lbs

I don’t have any screen shots because I didn’t track during this holiday week.
Also, Santa dropped off a wonderful gify on 12/24, Aunt Flo! Just want track when Aunt Flo comes each month in relation with my weigh-ins because I want to see if I will see a gain the week before my period each month.
I feel great and am doing great!

Oh sweet baby Jesus

Have I told you how much I like giveaways? Let me 'splain, Lucy.


What can be sweeter than enjoying someone's blog? Nothing, right? Hey, you come by and read my mundane and boring crap all the time. {You see, I am capable of being honest. :)}


A great blog is a like the perfect cup of cocoa on a cold Saturday morning. But wait my fellow blog readers and lovers....then that said blog does a SUPER giveaway! That just brings that blog up into another stratosphere. Now, don't fear because Ree has always been in her own blogging world category. Come on how many women can teach you how to cook shrimp, show you great pictures of her ranch, explain how to cut off calf nuts AND demonstrate some great homeschooling tips? Not many, my dear blog reader friend.


So, go on over to her page and submit a comment or two. You can only win the lottery if you actually buy a ticket (although techniquely someone could have give you one....I digress...)

Tombstones

Yes, a rather odd subject for the Holiday Season but I just found this post and love the idea. During the Holidays we allow ourselves to be overwhelmed, over-indulge and then guilt ourselves into a new year. Lets try something different this year!

Go over and check out her site. Great stuff. Here is a little excerpt

Throughout this journey to get myself healthy, I have had to do an equal
amount of exercise for my body and for my brain. In the process, I have had to
"lay to rest" many of my bad habits, physically and emotionally.

As part of my Halloween decorating, I'm going to make tombstones of all the habits or excuses I have had to eliminate from my life.

I *peeked*

I know that it is better if I don't peek and just wait for the "official" day but I couldn't help myself! Let me just say that I saw a lower number again! Yeah! And I have two days to go before the official weigh-in day! Woohoo!

A new week is upon us!

Review of week December 8th to 14th, 2010

Current Weight: 236 lbs
Week to Week loss: 2.5
Total gain/loss: -5.5 lbs

The Plan:
For the past two weeks I have been following the new WW Points Plus plan faithfully. (Check out Bitchcakes blog for details) I have never ever gone hungry which is a nice switch. I have been eating up fruits and veggies on a real consistent basis and loving it. Here is a litte recap:





I have maintained my water consumption at at least 64oz a day! I am going to focus on the healthy guidelines for the next few weeks. I am certain that it will help me move along at an even better pace. On that note, I have to get a multi-vitamin. Anyone have a suggestion on that?

Activity

I have one word for you, Zumba!! I have really been enjoying Zumba these past few weeks. I have been able to keep up with more sets than when I first started. I have also discovered that I *LOVE* seeing all the sweat. I have started cutting down my tshirts so that I can see it while I work out. It gets me really going. Like a little liquid afrodisiac. :) Who said exercise wasn't like sex?

What is annoying is that the WW online tool doesn't have Zumba listed as an exercise. So I take the calories burned (I used this HRM in black) and divide it by 80. After reading a few of the message boards on WW it seems that is the correct number to use for the new Points Plus program.

Here are a few pics of Vane & me after our Zumba classes. She is a beast at working out! Very motivational for me.





Overall:
I recognize that I am in the honeymoon phase but I am feel pretty darn fantastic! I am holding onto this feeling for as long as possible. :)

Next Weeks Goals:
Zumba 4x
Strength Training 2x
Tracking every day
Try running on the treadmill.

Running, Jogging, just plain ol' walking faster

Yesterday I went down the fitness center in my building. I always find it ironic that part of my work responsibilities is to manage the fitness center...anyhow. I got dressed, got the iPod going, jumped on a treadmill.

Easy.
Peasy.
Normal walking.
Getting that blood-flow going. And then....

I start to think about Ada from the Biggest Loser.

How she ran on that treadmill and killed her time. How she ran the marathon, took a potty break and still broke Tara's record....somehow this morphed into me running.

The truth is that I walk at a 3.3 and am huffing it. Today I will make sure to look at my HRM and see what it is because although I can still breath and don't feel like dying my legs HURT when I go any faster. So what did I do? Yes, I decided to run for 30 seconds. I can do anything for 30 seconds. I punched that arrow up up up to 3.8 and ran for 60 seconds instead.

To many, including my hubby, this wouldn't be an achievement of any kind. 3.8 should be a fast walk. 60 seconds should be no sweat. To me it is sweet victory. I have never run for a minute, ever. I don't ever push the button up past 3.4mph. I surpassed my initial goal for 30 seconds. Today I am going to shoot to relive that victory and push past it. Who knows? If Elizabeth from the Biggest Loser can complete a marathon I can run on a treadmill.

Week Recap: December 1st to 7th, 2010
Start Weight: 241.5
Current Weight: 238.5 lbs
Total gain/loss: -3 lbs