Biggest Loser 9 Spring challenge -- Part 2! HERE WE ARE! :)

[LuvBaloo]

Thanks! That made me feel so much better. I did end up trying on the gown yesterday. It's big in some areas on me. I do have some relatives that have noticed I've lost weight. Thanks for reminding me of that. Funnily, I was planning to wear Spanx-I just couldn't find one that fit. I ended up going to Vicki's yesterday and buying a bra size I didn't think I needed, but I got comfortable with, so not a terrible day overall. It wasn't my plan for yesterday, but I shouldn't have dreaded it. Thanks again!

Hoping for a good day today!

Bridal stores are crazy with the sizing. Ignore the number, be proud of the changes you've made and its great that family is noticing the changes :cool1

Sunday's QOTD: What is your clothing of choice for the Disney parks. I'm thinking bottoms.

I usually wear jeans if its cool and wear capris when its warmer. We don't go in the summer, so I am not usually warm enough to want to wear shorts and I don't really like how I feel in shorts anyways.

Monday's QOTD: Part of the weight loss process if figuring out why we gained weight in the first place and figuring out strategies to avoid the causes. What was your weight loss catalyst and how do you manage or avoid the catalyst.

Weight gain happened slowly throughout college and then gained more with each pregnancy. Biggest issue was time and money. We could afford to eat out more, so more fast food meals when time was tight. Also got into a bad habit of going out for lunch instead of packing a decent meal. And the only thing close enough to my work is A&W which is just a bad choice multiple meals a week. Last year when I started my official weightloss journey, I started spending the money from eating out at lunch on buying healthy easy lunch options to pack. I can be stress eater, so the best thing is to not have the foods in the house. I can also be a mindless eater (sit down to watch a movie and eat an entire big bag of chips!) so I have to not sit down with the big bag.


3Tinks - Thanks for your long answer. I have caught myself sneaking trips to McDonalds and its just a bad idea. If I'm thinking of hiding the trip, then the trip isn't worth it. I hadn't really thought about it until reading your answer got me to thinking about it.

Now I'm off to enter the weigh-ins and I'll be back to post the reminder list

 

[LuvBaloo]

Here's the friendly reminder to send in your weight. If your name is on the list I'm missing your weight for April 9th. (As always, you are welcome to participate without doing the weigh-ins )

auntlynne
chskover
CptJackSparrowsGirl
Craftydawn
donac
Eeyores Butterfly
goofypete
jbm02
jennz
JFrey4240
jimmaher69
Kitchensinkguy
leamom2princesses
LittleSeacow
MrIncrediDad
Mrs D
my3princes
PedroPete3
redwalker
RutgersAlum
seashell724
ShortyNBug
TammyAlphabet
tea pot
Worfiedoodles​

 

[donac]

Plan a new project. The idea of starting a project gives you a new lease on life.

 

[Rose&Mike]

On an upnote, I ran an official 5K today! I finished in 42 minutes. I'm not speedy, but I did jog the entire time. And I never, ever looked behind me! Even when a couple parents with strollers passed me, I just kept focus on going forward. I repeated the WISH mantra of "Better Last Than Did Not Finish" repeatedly every time I wanted to look behind me. Once I got to the finish line, and saw DH and DDs, I grinned so big and put on an extra burst! It felt so good to have them there cheering me on! Once I cooled down a bit, I have to say, it was nice to look back at the finish corral area and see there were still plenty of people making there way in.

Very exciting! Congratulations!

 

[Rose&Mike]

3tinksandaneeyore--I really indentified with your QoftheDay answer.

Good morning! Dh and I both woke up at 4:00. It's going to be a long day. I'm already on my second load of laundry. I thought about going to the Y, but I really want to go to strength class after work, so I guess I'll wait.

QoftheDay--I've been thinking about this as I do laundry, and I realized I have been 'sneaking' food for as long as I can remember. That's what my mom used to call it. There were lots of reasons for it. But eventually I guess it turned into a stress reliever. I always felt happy when I was eating, and ashamed afterwords. I've mentioned this before, but my mom was 5' tall and tiny, and I'm 5'7 with a large frame. (My wrists are bigger than dh and he's 6'3" and even when I was thin I wore a bigger ring size than him.) Anyhow, she told me my whole life that I was a big girl. What exactly does that mean? I have never felt good enough. I have always felt fat. It's really kind of sad. So I guess my catalyst is not feeling good enough, and feeling that any food that I eat is too much. Honestly, if there was a way to just get your food through an iv and not eat, I think I would be a lot happier. It would take the decision away and I wouldn't feel like I was doing something wrong.

So, as an adult, I have some depression and anxiety issues, and I use food as a comfort. It's gotten much better, and I'm feeling ok about things now. I don't talk to my mom anymore, so that helps--there's much more to the story than anyone really wants to hear. I know I'm an adult now and responsible for my actions, but sometimes it's really hard to turn off the messages from your childhood. I'm thinking about seeing a nutritionist, just so I can get a realistic, non-judgemental approach to what is healthy, because the more weight I lose, it seems, the more I hear the judgemental voices. Does that make sense?

Thanks for posting this question. It was hard to think about, but really good for me.

On a happy note, yesterday dh and I booked a trip to wdw in May for our anniversary. We have never really celebrated our anniversary. On our first he was on a ship on the way to the Persian Gulf. So, we will be at WL for our 23 anniversary, which happens to be on the 23rd. Dh loves numbers, so he's very excited! This is our second trip wo DS. We're hoping this one is more relaxing. We went last year after visiting Ds at college. It was really stressful and really hot. We had a lousy visit with ds, and the second day we were at WDW he called to tell us he was sick, but the good news was they didn't think it was h1n1. He has a history of asthma so I worried about that for a few days. And it was hot. We were there in October, and they broke records almost everyday--upper 90's and humid. So I'm hoping for no sick kid, and reasonably warm weather. We're staying two days in a regular room, and three days concierge--which we've never done before, so this is quite a treat!

Have a great day everyone!

7:45--I'm re-reading this, and I just wanted to say, I'm really not as miserable as this sounds. For some reason this question just pushed some of my buttons--which is a good thing!

 

[flipflopmom]

Happy Monday everyone!!!! Had a great weekend, great night out with my girlfriends Saturday, haven't gone "dancing" in quite a while. Lovely day at my mom's yesterday after church, topped off with finishing off the rough draft of my research paper for class... Feeling good about life. ALTHOUGH, DH decided yesterday that we need to upgrade to the Deluxe Dining Plan again in June. His decision is fairly solid, the girls are grazers and need to eat more than once a day, the cs options don't hold much for DD1, who is very picky and now a Disney adult, we enjoy a/c breaks in the summer, and spending money WHILE on vacation makes him cranky! We have a fair amount of buffets, which can be bothersome for me. Most of them are breakfasts, so I know I can fill up on fruit, as can DD2 who is still identifying healthy and non-healthy foods. I have begun the mental preparations already..

Monday QOTD: My weight loss catalyst? Well, I had lost 55 pounds prior to surprisingly getting pregnant with DD2 four years ago. We had to have fertility treatments to get DD1, that added a bunch of weight. I finally was down to my h.s. graduation weight when I found out I was pregnant. When I am nursing, I don't worry with weight loss. I had started a bit of a weight loss regime, lost some of the weight I had put back on during baby/toddler times, and then I found out Daddy was sick. The resulting months of grief and stress added.....28 additional pounds. When I went to the dr. in January for strep and sinus infection and stepped on the scale, I realized enough is enough. I started that week cutting out sugar, making better choices, and then began couch to 5K on Feb. 8.
I have issues with feeling in control, so planning what to eat, when to exercise, helps me gain that control. I also am learning to stay away from emotional eating, away from the junk food in the grocery store, and out of the drive through on the way to gymnastics.

Sorry for the book. Have a great day everyone! Hoping I can get a run in before I have to take DD to gymnastics tonight. I hate to admit that I loved having last week off from that rat race!

 

[tigger813]

Monday QOTD: My catalyst is STRESS! I first gained weight after getting married and then more so with each pregnancy. I made a life/career change in 2007-2008 leaving teaching to become a massage therapist. This allows us more family time and trips to Disney when we want not when the job dictates. We got a Wii in 2008 for Christmas and that got me started. Weekends are another catalyst too as that's when I lighten up and have a few drinks and don't get my workouts in. i worked out Saturday morning but skipped it yesterday as I was really tired. Will try and get a small workout in this afternoon and then I have my Irish Step class tonight. I will get up early tomorrow and get back to my 5-8 miles a day. I usually do 2-3 miles on Tuesday nights watching BL! Looking forward to next week when girls are on vacation. DH took Mon-Wed. off. I need to be available to work so we will make plans accordingly. Got yard work to do and some house cleaning that we actually need to get done before Saturday.

 

[pjlla]

Morning all! I haven't had time to read everything that I have missed since Saturday morning, but I have a "Mommy brag" that I need to share!

At DD's swim banquet on Saturday night she won their highest award! Their "Tigershark Award" (team name) is given to the person that best overall embodies what it means to be a Tigershark....improved swim times, team spirit, sportsmanship, leadership, good attitude, hard work, etc. I couldn't have been prouder. They give YMCA Mind, Body, and Spirit awards and I was kind of hoping she might get the Spirit award, but she did better than that!

Sorry to be so "proudy pants" but I am just so stinking proud of her!! I knew I could share it here with you all...........................P

 

[lisah0711]

Good morning all! Hope that everyone had a fun and healthy week-end!

Had a computer free Sunday yesterday so will catch up on the QOTDs. Also, the links will be updated for the COW and weigh ins by noon my time, if it isn't too busy at work. :scared2:

Sunday's QOTD: Pants of choice for WDW... at WDW we go in Dec or Jan so it is jeans. I might wear a pair of capris if it was warm enough. At DL is it the same. Since it is usually warmer, it would mostly be capris. I would like to be able to wear something besides cotton capris because after Splash Mountain they are uncomfortable and stretch to make by backside look even bigger than it is!

On an upnote, I ran an official 5K today! I finished in 42 minutes. I'm not speedy, but I did jog the entire time. And I never, ever looked behind me! Even when a couple parents with strollers passed me, I just kept focus on going forward. I repeated the WISH mantra of "Better Last Than Did Not Finish" repeatedly every time I wanted to look behind me. Once I got to the finish line, and saw DH and DDs, I grinned so big and put on an extra burst! It felt so good to have them there cheering me on! Once I cooled down a bit, I have to say, it was nice to look back at the finish corral area and see there were still plenty of people making there way in.

A big congratulations and to you for finishing a 5K this week-end!

Speaking of orthotics. I got a new pair after I had my foot surgery last year. They are less than a year old. Since I have gotten them I have notice that my right foot turns out more than ever. The new orthotics I got were soft where my old set were a lot harder. I go back to the foot doctor who did the new pair and talk to him about it. I was just wondering what type of orthotics people had.

dona, my orthotics are rigid. I've used the foam ones but my physical therapist told me the soft ones last about a year. They are full size so I just can't wear them with sandals but with my Merrell sandals that is not a problem. The rigid, custom fit orthotics are supposed to last several years. I got mine from my physical therapist when I finally shook off the PF last year. My podiatrist that I see now prescribes the same ones -- I will ask the brand and PM it to you. I wonder if your orthotics are wearing differently since you are walking so much more now?

I got to zumba at 12:30 today and noticed the instructor's car wasn't in the parking lot. Turns out they changed the time to 8am just for today but didn't bother to notify me. There's only 1 other person that takes the class regularly on Saturdays and they notified her but supposedly didn't know how to get ahold of me. It's so frustrating! Apparently the co-owner of the studio notified the other lady through Facebook. I'm friends with the studio, but not with him directly. He must have logged into his own account instead of the studio account so of course he couldn't find me! I think a phone call would have been a better idea anyway since it was a last minute change and they should have all that information since my kids have been taking their dance and gymnastics classes there for at least 8 years! I'm really trying to get over it. I'll just have to go for a bike ride today to make up for it because I was counting on those activity points!

That was a bummer, not to mention rude! Hope that you had a nice bike ride!

Monday's QOTD: Part of the weight loss process if figuring out why we gained weight in the first place and figuring out strategies to avoid the causes. What was your weight loss catalyst and how do you manage or avoid the catalyst.

My catalyst was simply letting myself go year after year and using stress as an excuse for not doing what I should. Now I just do what needs to be done, slowly, surely and I am making progress. But it took over a year to really figure out what was going to work for me so don't be afraid to try different things until you figure out what works for you!

Everyone who runs has days like that. If someone says they haven't, they just haven't gotten to it yet. Sometimes it just all seems to fall apart at once and either you slog through or give up, but either way it's not very satisfying. The good news is that the next run after a "Stonker" (as those bad runs are often called) is usually pretty darned good.

Thanks, corinnak, I now have a new word in my vocabulary -- stonker!

Sorry to be so "proudy pants" but I am just so stinking proud of her!!

As well you should be!

Have a great day everyone!

 

[maiziezoe]

Monday's QOTD: Part of the weight loss process if figuring out why we gained weight in the first place and figuring out strategies to avoid the causes. What was your weight loss catalyst and how do you manage or avoid the catalyst.

The biggest epiphany I've had is that even if I am able to buy or make whatever food I want, it still has a certain amount of calories. And even if no one else knows how much or what I eat, that food still has a certain number of calories. And even if I eat the food in the car where no one can see me, the food still has a certain number of calories. I was driving home from a friend's retirement party a couple of weeks ago. DH was at home with our DDs. My modus opererandi for the last fifteen years or so has been that if I'm out and about in the evening I can "treat myself" to something to eat that wouldn't be considered healthy. This was my own small form of binge eating (one of a couple bad patterns I had). For example, I'd stop at McDonald's and get an entire meal that I'd eat with no one the wiser.

Well, as I was driving home from the party (where I had excercised discretion on what to eat and drink), I started thinking, "Where shall I stop to get my own personal goodie that no one will know about but me?" I caught myself thinking this and then consciously thought, "Well, what treat can I get that doesn't have any calories? No calories? There are no treats that I usually get that have no calories! Then what can I have? Water doesn't count as a treat! Even Starubucks has calories! Man!"

It was quite the little conversation in my head! But, it was also rather eye-opening in that I had somehow gotten myself to subconsiously think that any treat eaten incognito was calorie-free! I consciously knew that wasn't the case, but when I mindlessly let myself stay in that pattern, it allowed me to eat pure junk guilt-free.

I've been doing more scrounging in the kitchen this past week for extra meals. Luckily, I just am not buying anything terribly bad these days, so there aren't a whole lot of options even for minor binges. But, yesterday, I must have eaten about four big bowls of cereal. Today, I've stayed OP all day for the first time in two weeks. That feels good.

Sorry for the long post!

I can so relate to that!! Several months ago the motor in DH's car window stopped working. I was in his car coming home from the grocery store and thought about stopping for a Frosty at Wendy's. No one was with me so no one would know, right? Well, I couldn't get the darn window down when I pulled up to the ordering thing in the drive thru... but I was too lazy to get out of the car and go in to order a frosty. It was an eye-opening moment for me but it was still several months before I decided to change my lifestyle.

Morning all! I haven't had time to read everything that I have missed since Saturday morning, but I have a "Mommy brag" that I need to share!

At DD's swim banquet on Saturday night she won their highest award! Their "Tigershark Award" (team name) is given to the person that best overall embodies what it means to be a Tigershark....improved swim times, team spirit, sportsmanship, leadership, good attitude, hard work, etc. I couldn't have been prouder. They give YMCA Mind, Body, and Spirit awards and I was kind of hoping she might get the Spirit award, but she did better than that!

Sorry to be so "proudy pants" but I am just so stinking proud of her!! I knew I could share it here with you all...........................P

Congrats to your DD!! That's awesome!

 

[maiziezoe]

Happy Monday!!

Monday's QOTD: Part of the weight loss process if figuring out why we gained weight in the first place and figuring out strategies to avoid the causes. What was your weight loss catalyst and how do you manage or avoid the catalyst.

I was never overweight until I was in my late 20's. When I got pregnant with my oldest son, I was 19 and 97 pounds (at 5'4.5"). When I left the hospital after he was born, I was 88 pounds. I was too thin (but I thought I was fat). My first weight gain started when I was trying to get pregnant with my DD-13. My ex-husband and I tried for several years with no luck so I went on fertility drugs and gained 90 pounds. Then I got pregnant and gained even more weight. After she was born, I started running and the weight poured off... and stayed off. I was actively bulimic at the time too (as I was in high school as well). Then I got a divorce and met my now DH and I got pregnant with my DS-5. I gained a lot of weight with him because I was on bedrest. After he was born, I got pregnant right away and miscarried... that happened 4 times total. Each time I got pregnant, I would eat for 2... then I would miscarry and I would emotional eat.... then I would get pregnant and eat for two... lose the pregnancy and emotional eat... over and over. After my 4th miscarriage, my doctors told me NOT to get pregnant again. That really made me sad so I really ate. I don't think I cooked for 3 weeks. I think we ate out every single night. Then I got pregnant with my DD-3. I gained even more weight (bedrest again). After she was born, I nursed for 14 months and ate like a linebacker. I was eating for 2 again.

From the day I found out I was pregnant with DS-5 until the day I decided to change my body back to the way it used to be, I gained 74 pounds. 74 pounds in 5 years and 13 days. Yikes.

 

[my3princes]

Morning all! I haven't had time to read everything that I have missed since Saturday morning, but I have a "Mommy brag" that I need to share!

At DD's swim banquet on Saturday night she won their highest award! Their "Tigershark Award" (team name) is given to the person that best overall embodies what it means to be a Tigershark....improved swim times, team spirit, sportsmanship, leadership, good attitude, hard work, etc. I couldn't have been prouder. They give YMCA Mind, Body, and Spirit awards and I was kind of hoping she might get the Spirit award, but she did better than that!

Sorry to be so "proudy pants" but I am just so stinking proud of her!! I knew I could share it here with you all...........................P

Congrats!!! That is awesome. What a Good Girl you are raising and you have every right to be proud

 

[my3princes]

I know that todays QOTD was a tough one, and sometimes looking within ourselves and admitting the truth is tough. I'm proud of everyone for doing the sole searching and I hope that we can gain strength from each other. I know that I am seeing lots of patterns developing between our stories and I'm certainly trying to learn from others how to help myself. Thanks for all your honesty.

Deb

 

[pjlla]

Sunday's QOTD: What is your clothing of choice for the Disney parks. I'm thinking bottoms.

Weather permitting, shorts... preferrably light weight denim... my favorite type of short. But I am okay with lightweight cotton shorts of any kind. Since we went in January several times, it was often jeans. But last trip was a nice warm April, so shorts every day! I usually wear a "Disney" t-shirt every day.... I own many of them. I usually wear a poncho on the wet rides (yup, I'm a weinie!!), so I don't worry too much about wet pants.

Monday's QOTD: Part of the weight loss process if figuring out why we gained weight in the first place and figuring out strategies to avoid the causes. What was your weight loss catalyst and how do you manage or avoid the catalyst.

Well... I "thought" I was fat in high school, but in looking back I really wasn't. Although I did struggle a bit in my early teens and again in college, the majority of my weight came on after I was married and post-pregnancies. I've always been an emotional eater and a comfort eater... and I have/had many BAD eating habits like eating in front of the television and eating in the car.

My initial motivation for the current weight loss journey I am on was an April 2008 trip to WDW. I was NOT going back there bigger than I was on my previous trip. Happily, something really CLICKED this time and I was able to keep up the motivation and continue on my healthy eating journey AFTER my trip ended.... and here I am more than 2 years later, still at it!!

It was GREAT to see so many long, detailed responses to this most recent QOTD. It means that it was a SUPER question and it really got us thinking DEEPLY about this journey we are on! That is so important to our continued good habits.

I am subbing at school today and have only been able to hop on sporatically here. I'll try to jump on again later..............P

 

[50sjayne]

Monday's QOTD: Part of the weight loss process if figuring out why we gained weight in the first place and figuring out strategies to avoid the causes. What was your weight loss catalyst and how do you manage or avoid the catalyst.

For me the initial weight gain was my pregnancies, but I used that at an reason to over induldge. After the births I was just too lazy to do the work needed to lose. I also struggle with stress eating. I try to be conscious of not eating the wrong foods or too much food when in stressful situtations and I have realized that this is a life time committment to watching what I eat and just keeping my overall activity levels up.

Since I got 'knocked up' with my daughter I think I always felt like I've sacrificed so much of mylife---food was just a simple pleasure. There were a few events that kind of made me give up entirely--emotional stuff. Disneyland really has given a lot back to my life.

Morning all! I haven't had time to read everything that I have missed since Saturday morning, but I have a "Mommy brag" that I need to share!

At DD's swim banquet on Saturday night she won their highest award! Their "Tigershark Award" (team name) is given to the person that best overall embodies what it means to be a Tigershark....improved swim times, team spirit, sportsmanship, leadership, good attitude, hard work, etc. I couldn't have been prouder. They give YMCA Mind, Body, and Spirit awards and I was kind of hoping she might get the Spirit award, but she did better than that!

Sorry to be so "proudy pants" but I am just so stinking proud of her!! I knew I could share it here with you all...........................P

Congrats!

Sunday's QOTD: What is your clothing of choice for the Disney parks. I'm thinking bottoms.
Off season capris and I liked my Winnie the Pooh overalls.
This summer it will be all capris and shorts.

 

[lecach]

Monday's QOTD: Part of the weight loss process if figuring out why we gained weight in the first place and figuring out strategies to avoid the causes. What was your weight loss catalyst and how do you manage or avoid the catalyst.

Prior to getting pregnant with DS in 2004 I was a Weight Watchers lifetime member. I gained 45 pounds in pregnancy and lost all but 18 of that. Being a Mom I just didnt have the time to cook the healthy meals or to exercise and while I tried from time to time to lose it I just stayed right in that range. So far since I got my Wii Fit for Christmas and made up my mind to go back on WW I have lost around 9 pounds. I'm disappointed since I wanted to lose about 15 before our cruise (leaves the 18th) but it's the lowest I have been in 6 years so its still good.

 

[Graciesmom77]

Well guys, I guess I am allergic to exercise!
I went out to do a fast walk today. I did manage to do a mile, which isn't a lot, but for me its a lot more than I have been doing. I was just bee bopping along and kept noticing that my arms were itching but I kept trying to ignore it. As I walked back up to my house I looked at my arms and they were covered in hives! Yuck. I put on some Benedryl and its helping, but man, what luck!

I decided that I am not waiting until I lose weight to look better. I bought my self 8 new tops and 2 pairs of workout capri's online at Walmart. I hate spending the money on me, but I kinda agree with my hubby's favorite statement"Happy wife, happy life". If I feel better about myself I think it will rub off on my girls and eventually my whole life. I am trying to be more positive and focus on all the blessings I have. Later this week I am getting new contacts, and if I ever hit the 20 pound mark..... no.... WHEN I hit the 20 pound loss, I am getting my hair done at a really nice place in town that I have always wanted to go. Ok, now that I said all that..... someone tell me I am not being a terrible person spending all this money on myself!?!?!

 

[princessbride6205]

Monday's QOTD: Part of the weight loss process if figuring out why we gained weight in the first place and figuring out strategies to avoid the causes. What was your weight loss catalyst and how do you manage or avoid the catalyst.
I had gained weight because of illogical mind tricks. I had never counted calories so I would just try to eat better and add a little more exercise. Until I got married, I was very active. Tennis and dance classes in high school, dance classes and loads of walking on college campus, two years as a performer where I sang and danced 5 days a week for a living. I didn't have to be strict about what I ate and I didn't have to build in too much formal exercise.
After I got married in 2005, I took a full time desk job. This led to a little weight gain, which I blamed on a new medication. Memory is a funny and selective thing - so each new, bigger pair of pants I bought didn't provide any warnings to me. I just thought, oh, those old pants were always too small OR maybe they shrunk in the dryer (Stupid apartment dryer!).
In November 2006, I finally got back on the scale for a reality check - I was one pound away from an overweight BMI. I started exercising for real and eating better - and bam! 2 weeks later found out I was pregnant. I tried to stay active and did not eat for two - but foods I could tolerate eating were all unhealthy. Veggies made me gag my entire pregnancy. But nachos, ice cream and cereal? Those I could do.
I let my brain get in the way again after DD was born - no counting calories or tracking exercise for me. Just "I'll try to eat better." I lost the baby weight, but then gained more when DH was temporarily laid off in 2008.
Seeing photos of Christmas that year and being miserable about not fitting in any clothes finally turned me around. I was technically overweight by BMI and I knew I had to kick it in gear. This wasn't me. I had always been a fit (not thin) person with a cheery disposition. And I was miserable and inactive. I feel so much better in my body where I am now, so I've got to bottle that feeling and revisit it later when I need motivation.

To avoid gaining weight again I need to be real - use both the scale and clothing fit to gauge my maintenance. If things start going in the wrong direction, catch myself and get back to tracking calories for a little while. Making sure I don't blame any weight gain on other people, medication, the clothes dryer, etc. The accountability here has also helped me.

 

[corinnak]

Well guys, I guess I am allergic to exercise!
I went out to do a fast walk today. I did manage to do a mile, which isn't a lot, but for me its a lot more than I have been doing. I was just bee bopping along and kept noticing that my arms were itching but I kept trying to ignore it. As I walked back up to my house I looked at my arms and they were covered in hives! Yuck. I put on some Benedryl and its helping, but man, what luck!

I decided that I am not waiting until I lose weight to look better. I bought my self 8 new tops and 2 pairs of workout capri's online at Walmart. I hate spending the money on me, but I kinda agree with my hubby's favorite statement"Happy wife, happy life". If I feel better about myself I think it will rub off on my girls and eventually my whole life. I am trying to be more positive and focus on all the blessings I have. Later this week I am getting new contacts, and if I ever hit the 20 pound mark..... no.... WHEN I hit the 20 pound loss, I am getting my hair done at a really nice place in town that I have always wanted to go. Ok, now that I said all that..... someone tell me I am not being a terrible person spending all this money on myself!?!?!

Oh man, bummer on the workout itchies! I have heard of this before but is there any chance that it could be from the high pollen load in the air this time of year? Hope you feel less itchy soon.

As for spending money on yourself, I think it is the best thing you can do for you and for your family. I think it's great that you are getting the contacts right away, and hope you get that haircut sooner rather than later, as well. I told myself the same thing about getting my hair done at a nice place when I got to a milestone, and it took longer than I expected it to, and I never got myself over there until, on a very depressed Mother's Day the next year, my DH sent me to the spa for a massage and haircut and I actually went crazy and splurged on hair color as well. I felt guilty about the money AND the time away from my kids, but it was a good choice. I was depressed and at a high weight for me, but feeling that my hair looked really, really good led to my actually putting in a few minutes to styling it each day which led to my taking better care of myself in other ways, too. Not to say that you shouldn't hold onto that as a reward for yourself when you get to 20 - but it reminded me that every little thing you do to feel better about yourself makes it easier for you continue what you're doing because it feels so good to feel better!


Every person in your family benefits when you feel good. I like "Happy wife, happy life" better than "If Mama's not happy, ain't nobody happy" BUT I think both are true. Mom's and wives are often the foundation of our families. We're all about holding up the rest of the house, which is the more visible part, but if there's a problem with the foundation, it's hard for the rest of the house to be stable, you know? Gotta take care of the foundation!

All right enough expounding out of me. I dont' mean to go on and on - you just got me thinking.


This upcoming Saturday is the Challenge Obesity 5K! I believe that a few of us on here are planning to run it? You guys still in? I'm going to try to get there early and will be wearing WISH green. I'm trying for a new PR, so I hope it's not too crowded a field. I was looking at the difference between 2008 and 2009 and it seems like this event really grew between those two years! I am starting to get very excited! I had a great run last night and can't wait to pull out the stops on this race!

 

[LuvBaloo]

I'm really enjoying reading everybody's answers to the QOTD.

I'm starting to feel like I'm getting back on track. On Friday, I went back to using WW online which I had stopped before going on vacation. And I had a positive moment last night: I was planning on having 2 cookies after dinner so I took the box to the TV room (there was 4 left in the box, 2 for me, 2 for DH). But we got busy playing a game and then I was dis'ing so I got up to go to bed and realized I hadn't eaten my cookies yet. I picked one up to eat, and then stopped and realized just because I was planning to eat it and hadn't didn't mean I HAD to eat it now. I was tired, not hungry, so I put it back and this morning I brought those 2 cookies for my treat for lunch.

Graciesmom - I'm going to add my 2cents to Corinna great response. You are doing a great thing by putting some time & money into how you look (& consequently how you feel). I really think its important for Mom's to sometimes put themselves first. Its great for your DD's to see Mommy taking care of Mommy. I know when my girls grow up, I want them to take care of themselves not just take care of their families, so its important that they see me taking care of me. (not that I want to see my girls grow up and go off and make their own families)