Wow...is all I can say.

I have had 2" wow" moments this week!
    The first one when I weighed in.  Another 3.2 pounds gone.  Wow.  And I even ate half of a( sam's size) bag of doritos ......Just had one of those days.
     The second one when I learned about portion sizes.   Portion size, what the heck.  I grew up believing that a  cereal bowl was the biggest one you could find, even if it was a mixing bowl.  And not to mention an ice cream bowl...........  Who knew......Some new things I have discovered is that I am not the only one who has this wrong.  Food manufacturers are even making their portions larger.  You can't assume anymore.  Chicken breasts, for example.  A "regular" portion is 3 oz.  I have found that the one's I have been getting are 4 or more.  It doesn't  sound like a lot , but it matters is your keeping track.  I am learning a lot about portion sizes and tricks for mealtime.  Like, when you make meatloaf, use a muffin pan.  Fill the muffin cups with your meatloaf and you will have your portions already to go.  Good for me.  Then I can freeze the left overs and have lunches.....If they ever were any leftovers....  I have baggies in my fridge with carrots, cauliflower, etc.  Then, when I am running out the door, I grab one.  I can munch all I want.  It has been a real life saver. 
     I have found that when I have a snack, if I eat a piece of fruit or a handful of carrots, then I am ok with one snack instead of 2 or 3.  Its helping me stay happy....
      My wonderful husband knows how much I love goodies.  He stumbled upon a new treat that I love and it tastes great.  The Blue Bell frozen fruit bars.  I have the peach ones, and I love them.  Its like eating frozen peaches.  Wonderful.
    I am doing good, staying on track, enjoying fruits and veggies.  I can hardly wait till the good ole watermelon is in season.  I am anticipating spring and summer fruits....yum...
    lets do this-
      

November 2012

This is a photo of me with my hubby and one of my children.  I am at the biggest I have ever been.  This is the last year I will ever be this big.   Lets do this......

The dreaded scale

I hate the scale.  I saw a clip of a reality show where the family was weighing in.  When the mom got on the scale it said "E."  My scale does that to me.  The thought that comes to my mind is....elephant.....Sorry but that is what I thought of.  This week, week 5, I maintained.  That made me happy though.  I started exercise this week and was afraid that I would have gained.  I know I have gained muscle.  I can feel the difference in my legs and hiney.  So that made me happy.  I have decided to stay away from my scale and just focus on the weigh in scale.  I find comfort in  knowing that its the same time of day , same day each week.  I just need to remember not to eat beans on weigh in day....lol....
My first month showed some good results.  12.6 pounds, 4.5 inches gone from my waist, 1 inch in thighs, 1 inch in arms, and 1 in bust.....(sorry honey)  I am happy with my results and look forward to the next months results.
It is getting easier.  I am finding that I don't crave certain things as much.  I did find a new indulgent, strawberries with melted sugar free chocolate icing.  It's the bomb.  I am very grateful to a wonderful lady who lost on the same program and has been an inspiration to me.  She loaned me her recipe book.  So I have been busy converting it and organizing my own cookbook.  When I do my menu for the next 2 weeks, I will be starting recipes from this.  My family won't know they are low fat.  Just that they taste wonderful. 
This is my journey.  Hard as it may be.  The end no where in sight. But I can and I will do this.  With the help of prayers, family, friends and my group.

A new year, a new beginning.

So much has happened in the past year.  I did not want this year to go by and next January say, why didn't I do anything.  I am so frustrated with being obese.  There are days that I can't move, bend, even sit to drive because my back is in so much pain.  I had an x-ray in 2011 and was told that my back curved in 2 different ways.  Well, it is time to help it out a little by getting this weight off.  I have no more excuses.  I had a hysterectomy last year and had all my labs done.  I don't have high blood pressure, I am not in the high risk category for diabetes, all my numbers were great.  And yet, I am obese.  I have been told all my life that I am big boned.  Well, yes I am, but these bones are tired of hauling around all this weight.

So, enough said, I am going to make the unlucky number 13, my lucky number.  This is going to be the year that I am going to do this.  The first week in January, I went back to my weight loss program.  Thursday was one month and I am happy to say, I have lost 12.6 pounds.  My personal goal is 10 pounds a month.  So, I am doing good.  Week 2 was very, very hard.  I felt sooooo hungry.  Week 3 was better, and week 4 was trying.  I still have my ovaries, so I still have the bloating and crankiness.  And boy, have I been cranky.....lol

To say this is getting easier is a lie.  It is still a daily struggle and I don't think I have convinced my brain that I can do this.  It seems that I fight with myself more and more.  I have found that I am not hungry, just bored or emotional.  I am just use to picking something up and munching whenever I feel like it.
I am learning to set little goals. 

 My first goal is 18 pounds.  I hope to be there before this month ends. 

What am I incorporating this month?  Eating a fruit or vegetable with every meal and snack.  I have found that my body thinks it needs to be fed every 2 hours.  So, I have my snacks, but I have a fruit or veggy with them.  It helps me to feel more satisfied

I record everything I eat, whether good or bad.  I am trying new dinner recipes to feed my boys.  Dinner time is the hardest time for me.  But I just need to have more salad, fruit and quit making homemade bread..........

Hears to month 2.    I can do this!