Spice Up Your Water!

I get sick of the same old water super easily...it is like ridiculously hard for me to drink as much water as I'm supposed to.

I've added lemon and cucumbers to my water before at restaurants, but a friend of mine started trying different fruits too and I've followed her lead. There are lots of options and it's super yummy and colorful! Try lemons, cucumbers, oranges, strawberries, limes, raspberries...the possibilites are endless!

I've had 4 of these big cups already today!

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Insert Happy Dance Here

I weighed myself this morning and was down another 6 lbs, making that a total of 9lbs in just 5 days! Obviously, I don't expect to keep losing that quickly but I am hoping to lose a minimum of 2-3 lbs per week in order to drop a total of 100-125 lbs by next July.

Why next July, you ask? You'll find out soon! :)

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It's a new dawn...it's a new day...it's a new life...for me...and I'm feeling good!

It's my new theme song!

Big Fat Greek Deliciousness

About a month ago greek yogurt was recommended to me by a few friends and I finally decided to try it. Since then I've been experimenting with a few different ways to use it...in smoothies, as a vegetable dip, fruit dip, with fruit mixed in...lots of different ways. The only way I've found that I don't like it is plain. It tastes like really weird sour cream all by itself.

Well, yesterday I took one of my little yogurt cups and added about 3/4 tablespoon of splenda, drizzled about a tablespoon of honey, and then sprinkled some cinnamon on top....YUMMY!!!!! Very delicious, almost like a desert! And sooooo creamy!

The particular kind of greek yogurt I used is 80 calories for 6oz and then the honey was about 64 calories so it's a perfect low calorie snack.

Greek yogurt is usually double the protien of regular yogurt, this particular kind had 15 grams in just 6oz! It's also a good source of your daily dairy! Pair it with some fruit and your tastebuds will thank you for sure!

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Off to a good start...

I really started to kick in gear about a week ago. I've been eating good and exersising ( I did Zumba 4 times last week plus a 7.5 mile bike ride...see prior post if you need a good chuckle).

I didn't have a scale at home so I sent James out to get me one. I decided to keep it in the kitchen for two reasons. A) My bathroom is too small, and B) I figure keeping it in the kitchen will help me think twice about food.

Now, when I first stepped on that scale I was convinced it was wrong. So I stepped on it again...and again...and since third time is a charm I did it again. No change. YIKES! I was about 8 pounds heavier than I was the last time I weighed in at Weight Watchers. I had a slight breakdown, but then James reminded me of what a good week I had and that I can bring it down. And he's right. This is only the beginning.

I weighed myself this morning and am down 3 lbs just since Saturday. I can do this...no turning back now!

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I want to ride my bicycle, I want to ride my bike!

This morning after waking up early for Zumba and still feeling motivated, I talked my sister into going on a bike ride on the Centennial Trail. Now, they say that you can't forget how to ride a bike, which is true, but I think that you can forget how to ride a bike and still look coordinated. I had no balance! Some training wheels would have really been nice, HAHA! Anyways, we went and ended up riding about 7 and 1/2 miles! I know that's not that far for most human beings, but for a big chick like me who hasn't rode a bike in years, I think that was quite the accomplishment! Yes, I was passed by a few small children and had to stop a few times on the way back once my legs felt like jello, but I was very excited to have accomplished that. It was a beautiful day for a ride, the slight breeze was nice to help with the heat. And the people on the trail are so nice, always smiling and saying hello. Not to mention the little birds and butterflies flying all around you...I felt like I should bust out in song and start singing Zippity Doo-Dah!



About five minutes into our ride, I loudly started to sing "Knock Three Times"... Emily then proceeded to shoot me the look of death. I guess she was embarrassed or something, but c'mon haven't you always wanted to do that like in Now & Then?



Ok, so I normally don't post pictures of me looking so awful as I am aware that with my hair pulled back and no make-up, I do tend to resemble Chaz Bono. However, here are a few pictures from our ride today:

Beginning of our ride...I was riding around the parking lot singing, "Fat girl on a little bike, fat girl on a little biiiiiiiiike" in my best Chris Farley voice.


Half way done!


Me and Emily in all our sweaty glory!


Had to pull over to rest for a few. At this point I was wondering if I had a heart attack how fast the paramedics would actually get to me or if I would just die and roll into the river.


YAY! We finished!


Then when we got home, I promptly collapsed in the grass and laid there for awhile...


And last but not least, Emily cooked up some delicious chicken. I cooked the veggies. Ok, I put the bag of steamable veggies in the microwave and then seasoned them when they were done...that was the extent of my culinary skills.


All in all, it was a good day. I am looking forward to being able to ride longer distances...but for now, baby steps!

The light bulb finally went off!

The light bulb finally went off! It has come on numerous times before, only to flicker and then burn out. But, now, it's on and shining bright! I am so ready for this change in my life. If you know me, you know I have struggled with weight for my entire teen and adult life. I am the heaviest I have ever been which is ridiculously high. Not quite ready to put the actual number out there for everyone and their mother to see, but I am ready to share my journey. If it ends up to just be a few friends or family members reading this, or even if no one sees this and it's just out in cyberspace somewhere, I am totally fine with that! It's just something for me to do to keep my hands busy. I figure it's better to blog that stuffing my face with food whenever I'm bored/sad/tired/stressed. And if my situations and experiences can motivate or inspire someone else...then rock on. I know plenty of people that are working on their diet, health, and fitness. Let's share our journeys...let's encourage each other!

This blog has no real structure. It's most definitely not one of those fancy-schmancy blogs...very basic. I'm not very techy at all! I want to post on my experiences, emotions, recipes, exercises and products I may come across, and even music. Music is such a huge motivating factor for me, it is a huge mood booster to me so I am sure I will post lots! I may even do some vlogging (video blogging in case you didn't know), we will just hafta see!

I'm not following any type of specific plan at this point. I was doing Weight Watchers but it's too expensive so until I can afford to go back, I am trying to still follow the plan on my own without going to meetings. Also counting calories. Really, overall just trying to watch my portions and be more aware of what I am putting in my mouth.

I am so ready for the girl trapped inside this big 'ol body to be set free! I am fun, sassy, sexy...on the inside...but I am ready for this to be outwardly reflected as well. I am sick of wearing fall/winter wardrobe in the summer. I want to be able to go out with my friends and do fun things without being self conscious about what people think. I don't want to wear yoga capris and a t-shirt over my bathing suit just so I can go floating down the river this summer (yes, I actually did that last year). So, here are a few reasons why I am ready to make this change in my life:

* My health- my dad had adult onset diabetes. He ended up losing weight and controlling it, and it didn't end up to be so bad, but I am headed right down that path if I don't get my shizz together.

* I want to be a mommy! I have been trying to get pregnant for almost 4 years now with no luck. I know if I lose weight that will help. Even if there is something else "wrong" with me fertility wise, at least if I lose weight, I can still have a healthy pregnancy once I get the help I need (fertility treatments, etc). I don't want to be a lazy mom. I want to be able to go do fun things with my kiddos and honestly, if I were to evaluate my current status, if I had a little one now, it would be hard to keep up.

* My marriage- I don't need to go into too much detail on this one. James obviously loves me for me and I know that, but he sees how my weight effects my everyday life, including my relationship with him. To say my weight is a stumbling block would be a complete understatement. I need my confidence back. When I get that back, I know things will be SO MUCH BETTER in all aspects. Even just in the last day since I had my "a-ha" moment, I have gotten a lot of positive reinforcement from him and I know that will only continue with time.

* I want to like myself. People always say, "No one else can love you until you love yourself". Well, I don't love myself. Most mornings I don't even like to get out of bed. Sure part of that is still depression from after my dad died, some days I'm up and some days I'm down. And while those "bad dad days" still happen frequently, a large part of not even wanting to face the world is because I hate having to face the day with the way I am. I don't like to get dressed or do my makeup or hair, because I know no matter how hard I try, I will still end up looking like a cow. I want to be comfortable in my own skin!!!

* I want to be a better role model- in January James and I started working with our church's youth group. I work with the girls with my friend Jana and I really do love working with them. But I got to thinking about it...how can I be a good role model for these girls when I hate myself so much? That's not right. I need to see myself as God sees me so that I can be someone these girls can respect and be inspired by.

As of right now I am working on setting up a goal list to go along with rewards. Once I lose a certain amount of weight, I get to do something fun for myself. Example: when I lose 10 lbs, I'll go get a pedicure or something like that. Still working on making the goals realistic and the rewards something I will look forward to.

That's all I've got for now, but stay tuned :)

Sweet Summer Treat

Get in the car. Drive to the store. Buy some of these. NOW! They are absolutely, positively DELICIOUS! They come in a few different flavors, but the Peach Blackberry Smash is my fave!

And only 70 calories!!!

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Modified Iced Passion Tea from Starbucks

This is one of my favorite summer drinks from Starbucks...here's what I ask for:

Venti, iced passion tea with sugar free vanilla syrup instead of the regular syrup with 1 or 2 packets of Splenda (depends on how sweet you want it).

Its very low calorie and yummy. On the old Weight Watcher program it was only 0 points but not sure about on the new Weight Watcher Plus...I'd still imagine pretty low. Definitely try one they are super yummy!

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Berry Almond Chicken Salad

This new salad from Wendy's is DELISH! A half-size salad is a perfect portion at 270 calories but even the full-size salad is only 450 calories.

It's made with iceberg, romaine, and spring mix lettuce, asiago cheese, strawberries, blueberries and then topped with fat free raspberry vinegarette. I use 2 packets of dressing, but if you do this be sure to add another 50 calories.

I know, I was weirded out with having fruit on my salad but the whole combination with the dressing is soooooo yummy to the tastebuds!

I'm lucky that James works at Wendy's so he can bring them home for me! Go give one a try!

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