A Step in the Right Direction

Hey everyone.
I thought I would share my triumph with everyone.

For those of you who dont know, I had a heart transplant last year and am about to hit my 18 month post transplant day. (Surgery was Feb 26, 2010 for a long term genetic disease).

Because of this disease about 10 years ago I realized that exertion and my body just didn't go together. I landed myself in the hospital many times after exerting myself even a little bit. It was just not something my heart could handle.

Since my transplant I am actually able to do some walking which got to be so difficult near the end..(now i can actually run more then 2 steps). I still never walked much due to where I lived to get anywhere i had to drive and the humidity kicked my butt and the gym wasn't close, etc. I always had an excuse.

So on to my triumph. We have moved to a city and so I have done a lot more walking because there is so much with in walking distance. Yesterday I debated going to the gym which is across the street (we have free membership because of where we live). I finally went last night with my husband. But today, I went on my own! And it felt good. All I did was walk on the treadmill, but I feel satisfied that I actually did it.

Last night I walked for about 45 minutes and did just over 2 miles. Today I walked again for 45 minutes but walked 2.25 miles. Now if I can just keep this up along with walking to the store, cleaners, etc.

Katie

This Week's Triumphs!

I am in "I cannot screw this up" mode right now.  

Otherwise known as having an amazing amount of will power.  

I pray it will last long enough for me to see some results and be encouraged to keep going.  This reminds me of all the times I tried to quit smoking. (which I did do 14 years ago btw)  Before I actually quit, I tried so many times that I have lost count.  I even quit once for 6 months and went back to it.  Every time I tried to quit, I would tell myself that this was it.  This was time I would quit.  And then I would start smoking again for one stupid reason or another.  Losing weight is so similar, it's scary.  The difference is, you need food to live.  Here's the thing.  I'm an all or nothing kind of person.  I can't just cut back on something.  I either go whole hog or completely deprive myself.  So I am trying really hard to learn to find that middle ground.   That's why I admire Kassie (read her last post) for being able to have one mini donut the other day and just stop at one.  I struggle with that so much.  Anyway, I have been having a good week and I wanted to share my little victories.

Triumph #1

I had a Lia Sophia party last Friday, and I had some beers, I really didn't munch out too much.  However, I did end up eating a piece of the cheesecake that I had made.  I just couldn't resist.   Unfortunately, the next day for some reason, I fell apart.  So I was not so good Saturday and ate much more than I should have. :(

And here's where my victory comes in.  Usually, my having one bad day would send me into a tailspin and that would just lead to more days like it.  However, I stayed strong and got right back on the wagon on Sunday.  I have stayed on track ever since.

Triumph #2

Except for the above-mentioned day, I have gone on the treadmill daily for 30-45 minutes.  This is a pic the treadmill earlier today right before I got started.  You see that little gem sitting there?  Yep, that's my Kindle and if you could zoom in, you would see that I'm reading MotU.  That little thing has kept my ass on there probably 10-15 minutes longer than I normally would.  I just try to focus on the story and not look at the time on the treadmill.  You know how you get so involved in a good FF, right?  It has really been helping me.

\

Triumph #3

I love to go out to eat, but you know how hard it is to find healthy entrees at most restaurants.  I have certain restaurants that I prefer and I pretty much know what to order.  Chili's is probably my favorite restaurant, but those damn chips and salsa are like freakin crack!  Once I start eating them, I cannot stop.  I literally have no control over myself when it comes to them.  Even if I tell myself that I will just have a few and stop, it never happens.  Remember how I said I'm an all or nothing person?  This is one of those times.  So we went to Chili's the other day and as soon as the chips and salsa hit the table, I threw a piece of sugarless gum in my mouth.  Guess what?  It worked.  I did not think it was possible for me to resist Chili's chips and salsa but I did.   Next, I'm going to try that when I 'm cooking dinner because I tend to want to snack while I cook.

Please share some of your weeks victories in the comments!  

C'mon girls!  We need to encourage each other!

xo

Marie

Avoiding Temptation

It's easy to know the things that aren't good for you when it comes to food.

If it tastes good and is filled with sugar... it's not good for you!

So, with it being easy to know what these things are, it makes it glaringly obvious that when you see them you should turn the other way and get something else to snack on.

Good snacks!

Well yesterday I was on a shopping mission... get really expensive shampoo on a ridiculous sale at a specific store. What does this have to do with dieting and staying away from sweets? You may ask.

"EVERYTHING!" is what I would say.

On my way to Ulta (the store with the shampoo) I decide to make a detour at the Half Price bookstore. After browsing the books I leave the store and take a stroll down to the Hostess outlet store.

That's right... A freaking Hostess outlet store!!! I go in there because they sell this whole wheat oat nut bread that I love... it is like $6 at Jewel but at this store it's $1.29 a loaf! And clearly since this is a Hostess store they also sell all of those tempting little things full of sugar, bad carbs, covered in chocolate, or frosting. You know, the things that make your inner skinny girl cringe but the outer chubby girl wants at them, NOW!

I held my own and walked right by the 29 cent Twinkies, Ho Ho's, Snow Balls, donuts, cookies, cakes, pastries, pies. I kept my head high holding my loaf of bread walking to the cashier without looking back.

I get to the car and my niece asks me "Kassie, do you want one of my mini donuts?"

So I ate one! Just one and you know what.. I'm okay with it. I spent all day on my feet walking around burning off calories left and right, I was able to avoid all of the tempting snacks that I could have literally inhaled in about 2.5 seconds. So in the long run, one mini donut doesn't hurt.

Shhhhhh Marie do not mention the piece of cheese cake I had at your party the night before, it doesn't count bc it was a party!

Tell me, what are the temptations that you try to avoid?

How Are You Doing It?

The reason I got the blog up and running again is because I needed and wanted to give support.  I just want to thank you all that commented and joined!  I think about all the lovely things you have said and how it's going with you and you inspire me!

So how are you doing it?

I'm counting Weight Watchers points.  I joined a few years ago, so I have all the books (old system) so I just using that and I finally found a good iPhone app that counts points without joining WW.  It's called "My Score Plus" and it is the best I have found for me (and I have downloaded quite a few).  I did realize the other day that my app had miscalculated the number of points I should be allowed to have a day - I thought the number was high.  Then I looked it up and sure enough the app was giving me 5 more points per day that I should be allowed. So I adjusted that on the app.  Hopefully that is one of the reasons that I haven't been very successful.

So, I'd love to hear from you in the comments.  How are you approaching your weight loss?  Are you counting points?  Calories?  something else?  Let us know!

xo

Marie

I'm Baaaack!

Hey girls!  

I am ashamed of myself!  

Did you see the date of our last post?  

September, 2010!!! That is just sad.

So it's almost a year later.  

Where are you on your quest to get skinny?  

(And when I say skinny, it is my snarky way of saying "healthy" because that's what a real goal is!)

I'll tell you where I'm at........

5 pounds heavier than I was at this time last year.

This is the picture that really doubled my determination to trim down.  That's me on the right at a recent 100 Monkeys concert with BellaTesoro, hisbellamarie, MrsKassie Cullen and 17forever Lisa.  I just feel like I am huge in this picture.  I know a person is more than their weight and how they look.  However, I would like to feel good about how I look and I don't feel good about how I look in this picture.

BUT.....

I NEVER give up.....EVER!

So that's why I am back.

The reason I started this blog originally, was so that I had a place to vent and maybe create a support system with other chicks who had the same goals.  Well  I dropped the ball.

Well I'm picking the ball back up and getting back in the game.

So to get the ball rolling again, I thought I should tell you all where I am at right now - and be honest.

Here goes......

In this past year, I have gotten off track many many times.  I keep getting back on and falling off.  The truth is, I think my many failed attempts have really kept me from gaining more than the 5 pounds that I have gained.  I am now 44 years old and weigh 220 pounds.  I'm not embarrassed to say it, but on the other hand I'm am not happy with it. Here is the frustrating thing.  The things I used to do to lose weight just don't work anymore!!!  I guess it's my age.  Maybe my metabolism is slowing down - but I just cannot get the scale to move.  Has anyone else experienced this?

What have you tried to get over this hurdle?

So this is what I'm trying this week.  I am cutting back on carbs and trying to make my meals more of the fruit and veggie nature.  Carbs are my downfall....I can live with out meat....but give me bread and potatoes.  So for a week I'm going to try to cleanse my body.  My awesome brother seems to gotten my treadmill going again, so the heat is not an excuse not to at least walk.  So I will be hitting the treadmill this week more as well.

So that is where I am at right now.

Please tell me in the comments where you are at with your goals right now.  Maybe you can get the ball rolling with me?

xo

Marie

Gee Thanks Mom, Those Things Sure Help With My Diet

I don't personally do the grocery shopping for our home, 

so I have no say over the things that are bought.

Sure I can ask for specific things that I would like to have around maybe some fresh fruits or vegetables (which are currently lacking in this home).

Well these are some of the things in my kitchen right at this very moment that are beckoning me.

"Come to us, it's midnight and you are so very hungry and thirsty!"

"No" I say to these deliciously loathsome snack foods. "You are not good for my IRWTSMN diet."

Barq's Root Beer is my kryptonite.

AW COMEON!!! EFFING PIE! REALLY!?!
It has chocolate mousse and a chocolate cookie crust under that cream. I want to cry :(
PS: None of those missing pieces are from me, no really, I'm serious!

I would get one healthy part out of this snack. Milk, well only the milk that gets soaked up in the cookie.
Like I would ever drink milk that was dunked in.

I could eat the whole bag in one sitting, but I will not touch them.
My brother and his friends can eat all the chips in the house. I don't want them *sigh*

Really 2 Boxes of Fruity Pebbles, 2 Boxes of Cocoa puff's (one is generic)
MutherEffing Cookie Crisp, I used to beg and beg for these cereals, when I was 5, now I only eat the Cheerios

Look's innocent enough, raisins are healthy and it even has 50% more of them, sadly this bread is not.

I'm trying my damnedest to stick to my IRWTSMN diet plan. It's working but it is very hard to stay away from these delicious food offerings. It also doesn't help when my BFF calls me up, she can break my resolve with one conversation and this is one we just had two days ago
BFF- "Let's get Tastee Freeze" (local ice cream place, that rocks, btw)
Me- "No I'm on this 'If Rob Were to See Me Naked' diet."
BFF- "WTF is that, you can't be serious, let's get ice cream it's 98% Fat Free!"
(It doesn't help that she's a twi-hater and doesn't get the appeal of the pretay! Ugh!!!)

I am going to be honest here and tell you all how that conversation ended. Me with a strawberry sunday practically licking the cup clean and by practically I mean literally, I'm so ashamed.

I feel my resolve crumbling every day but then I see this

And I think to myself, "Self, Rob is right step away from the Root Beer and Pie and everything will be alright."

The ice cream was one slip up and now the above pic of Rob is placed strategically above my calendar so I will see it on my way to the fridge or on my way out the door and with the power of Rob I shall get through.

~Kassie

FA (fat ass) Goals

Hey!  It's Tess, from TNT!  

I would like to thank the Twilight Junkies girls for inviting us over here!  

This should be a great partnership with our diet plan...IRWTSMN™.  

Have you asked yourself that "what if" question today?  

Well, if not, then you should.  

It will make you drop that donut, push away from the pasta, and move your ass.  

It's a fail proof way of becoming a tad less voluptuous.  

Trix and I have been using this method for a while now and if used consistently, 

it really does work!  

I've made some motivational pictures for myself.  

I'll share a few of them with you today...

Please feel free to use these in anyway you see fit.  Review mirror in your car.  Refrigerator (if you can get by with that...my hubby frowned on this idea).  Bathroom mirror.  Desk at work. Etc, Etc.

I'll have some more for you guys on this week's IRWTSMN™ post this Thursday.

Don't forget about your goals for the week...as small or big as they may be.

My individual goals are:

1. Drink more water.

2.  Eat out less for lunch.

Simple enough.  Hopefully, I can succeed.

Good luck, girls!