Month 2 and a week

So I haven't been posting weekly like I have planned, but oh well.  Life kind of gets a little busy.  We had another family reunion and I went to Vegas a couple of days before.  I have been feeling really hungry.  I am through with all my extra meds.  I was going to try and be good for the family reunion, but didn't stick to it at all.  I didn't go crazy with eating lots and eating sweets, but didn't eat the 6 meals and didn't drink all the water.  I gained 6 lbs while I was off, but lost it 3 days after.  We are trying to figure out why I am hungry all the time.  Not just a little, but a lot.  I am trying Prilosec and drinking powerade zero.  Sat Aug. 9 and Sun. the 10th, I did my lean and green for lunch.  I think that helped.  Today the 11th, I didn't have time to fix me a lunch and ran out of powerade, so I have been hungry.  Not too bad during the day, but tonight I am starving.  I am trying to stay positive and strong.  I am going to try all the suggestions and go from there.  I am starting to do the work book and change my attitude.  I am liking the results, just not the hunger part.
Now for my measurements.

Weight: 220, that is 27lbs down
Chest: 47 -2 1/2 inches down
below chest: 39 1/2 - 4 inches down
4" above waist: 42 - 4 1/2 inches down
Waist: 46 - 2 inches down
Hips: 48 1/2 - 1/2 inch down
Butt: 47 1/4 - 2 inches down
Arms: 14 1/2 - 1 inch down
Thigh: 25 1/4

Not to bad I might say.  That part I am loving.  WooHoooo!!!

1 month down

One month down and it hasn't been easy.  I went to the dr.'s to see if I had to see if I had a sinus infection.  I didn't have one, but she put me on some steroids to help drain any fluid behind my ears.  I didn't realize it, but it put me out of fat burning mode, so I have become really hungry and ready to give up.  Rochelle has been awesome and trying to make it easier on me.  She put me on the 4&2, which didn't help, then we tried the 3&3.  I was only it on it for one day before we headed up to a family reunion.  I didn't stick to all the rules, but thurs. I had the right breakfast, lunch subway.  I had  a foot long chicken breast sandwich, with a lot of veggies, no dressing, on a 9 grain bread (the bread is not on the plan).  I had my MF meals in between.   For dinner I didn't do so well.  We had pizza, I did go for the garlic chicken (big slice), 1 supreme (small slice) and stuffed cowboy (1/2 small slice).  I did have salad.  For Friday we had overnight crock pot French toast.  I made with 1/2 whole eggs and 1/2 just egg whites, then with almond milk.  I did make me some cooked spinach.  Trying real hard to stick as close to the plan as possible.  Lunch we sandwiches, I put a lot of meat and had it on a wheat flat bread.  Still drinking water with each meal and having a MF meal in between.  I have stayed away from fruit, chips and sugary stuff.  For dinner I had a 2 chicken brauts with mozzarella cheese and artichokes, and 3 cups of salad (on the plan, I measured my meat to equal 6 oz).  Doing really good.  I did have a fat boy ice cream sandwich.  So far, my only sugar.  Sat.  they fixed eggs, sausage, and toast.  This is when I started not to do so good and slowly crept further away from the plan.  I only had a small amount of eggs, 2 sausages, and one piece of toast.  Lunch was another sandwich day, still drinking my water and eating a MF meal in between.  Dinner was tacos, only had 1 1/2, trying to get my protein in.  Didn't get the greens I needed to.  Sunday was a flop.  Had cereal for breakfast, MF meal, Arby's chicken, bacon sandwich with jalapenos bites, 4 chip ahoy cookies, 1/2 the water I needed to for the day so far.  Had another MF meal, then cereal for dinner.  I did have almond milk with it.  I am just glad that the family reunion wasn't any longer.  Now back to sticking with the plan.  Hopefully by next week the steroids will be out of my system and I can get back in fat burning mode.  I think since I was out of fat burning mode, I didn't stay all the way on the plan, and I didn't want to get depressed on not able to eat what everyone else was having. I am just funny that way.  I do want this weight to come off and look forward to seeing what it is like to be in fat burning mode.  Too not be hungry and have energy.  I got on the steroids to early in the program to feel completely in fat burning mode.  So now is the time to see how much I weigh and what my inches are and my beautiful picture.  I gained 2 lbs. over the weekend, but not bad for taking a little break.

weight: 236
Chest: 49 - 1 inch down
below chest: 43 - 1/2 down
4 inches above waist: 46 - 1/2 down
waist: 48 - 1 1/2 down
hips: 49 - 1 1/4 down
butt: 49 1/4 - 1 1/2 down
arm: 15 1/2

Not to bad for the first month.  Here's hoping for a better 2nd month.

Week 2 and 3

Week 2 slipped by me before I could write.  Now tomorrow will be 3 weeks on TSFL (Take Shape for Life).  It has been a very trying 2 weeks.  I had went to the dr.'s on June 19th to see if I had a sinus infection.  I have been having problems with pressure and other sinus stuff.  I thought since I am changing the way I eat and making me a better me, I mind as well get this sinus stuff under control also.  I didn't have a sinus infection and the dr. was not sure what is going on with me (nothing new), so she put me on a couple of different medication to see if they would help.  One of them being a steroid, to help drain the fluid behind my ears.  I am not sure if that medicine knocked me out of fat burning mode or has made me extremely hungry ALL the time.  My health coach Rochelle Allen, has asked her group of people and nutritional support, what I can do to help my hunger.  They had me try 4-2, the 2nd day seemed like it was working, I wasn't as hungry, then the next days have been really hard.  I was super excited to eat an extra lean and green, but sad that it hasn't really helped.  I would eat a lean and green and like 5 minutes later be hungry, like I never ate.  I have not cheated on this, I may have eaten a little more then the recommended greens, and had a little more then a tablespoon of dressing, but that is it.  I am hoping that is not the cause.  I am still loosing weight, as of yesterday, I am down 13 pounds.  That is 2 more pounds then week 2.  Week 2 I had lost 11 lbs., that's 3 from week 1.  We are now in the process of seeing if my other medication is causing me to be hungry as well.  Rochelle, tonight, put me on a 3-3.  I am so wanting this program to work.  It is suppose to get in you fat burning mode, where you are NOT hungry, and have energy.  I did see if for a little bit, but that was short lived.  I am not giving up.  I have 21 more days on my medication, and was done with the steroids on the 25th, so I am going to give it 5 more weeks.  If I am still hungry, I am going to have to stop this program and kick my butt in gear and try it on my own.  Fingers crossed that it is just the medication and we can get it worked out.  A shout out to Rochelle (who probably won't see this), but for putting up with me and all my difficultness.  Here's to another week:)

Week 1

     Week 1 is over.  I am done 8lbs.  The first day was hard, had a headache all day.  The 2nd day was better.  3rd and 4th about the same.  I have felt weak all week, hehe, but not too bad.  I have had some sinus issues, which suck, and I think that has contributed to some of my weakness.  Sat. I did get some very needed cleaning of the bathrooms done.  Today I have felt hungry ALL day, but have gotten through it. 
     They have a group on facebook, that we can see how other people are doing, get recipe's, and get some advice.  I have tried to drink more water, and I got me some Powerade Zero, and that had helped.  I also tried to keep busy with cleaning.  The kids weren't too happy that I chose to clean the house on my day off of work.  I told them if they would quit being lazy and do some things around the house, then I wouldn't have to take every waking hour cleaning up after you.
Let's hope I can keep up with this energy to do more stuff with the house and the kids. 

The first day of the last diet

        After many attempts and many failures, I have decided that this "diet" is going to be my last.  Why am I choosing this diet to be my last.  It is because it is going to work, I am going to see it through the end, and I am going to keep it off.  I have tried Weight Watchers, which I did loose some weight, but  was not the time in my life when I should have done it.  I was still breast feeding Millie, so my points were about the same as if I wasn't on any points (if that makes any sense).  I did the HCG diet, which I did loose a lot of weight, but didn't do the maintenance period, which would have helped a lot.  It took a toll of my emotions to a degree I didn't like.  I tried boot camp for 3 months, which made me feel better, put things back to where they needed to be, but no weight was lost.  I started having ear problems causing me to get nauseated and dizzy if I did too many up and down motions.  So I had to stop doing that. 
        My weight has come on from having kids, my love of food, and medications.  I am now at my all time highest weight.  People say you should feel comfortable in your own skin, no matter how much you weigh.  I don't and I won't until I can get my weight down to a healthy weight.  I have high cholesterol, which I can get off medication once I am down to 170lbs.  I hate how I feel when I am on it.  I get out of breath going upstairs to tuck the kids into bed.  I want to be able to play with my kids, run a 5k, and go upstairs without being out of breath.
      If I want to quit feeling sorry for myself, feeling fat, and feeling uncomfortable in my skin.  I have decided to start Take Shape for Life.  My sister-in-law did and she looks great, my niece is doing it and she looks great, my neighbor, friend, and now coach did it and looks great.  I have read through some of the material and seems like the right move to make.  I am excited and nervous.  Today was the first day and it has been hard.  The next 2 to 3 days are going to be even harder, then they say is gets easier.  Your body finally gets into fat burning mode, they also you get energy.  I am excited for that part to come.  After about a couple of weeks on it, I am going to start exercising along with it.  My goal is to get to the weight I want or very close to it, be in the habit of exercising and eating smaller portions, do the maintenance period, and start living my life without "dieting".  They say the grass isn't always greener on the other side, but I am just trying to make the grass I am on now greener and maintaining it.

Once a month I will be taking a side view and profile picture and post.  I am also going to keep a chart of a weekly weigh-in.  I will try and keep a weekly journal to see how I am feeling and all that fun stuff. 

I weigh 247lbs.

chest: 50"

below chest: 43 1/2"

4" above belly button: 46 1/2"

waist: 49 1/2"

hips: 50 1/4"

butt: 50 3/4"

 

MJ Photography

Here are just a few pictures that I have taken throughout the year...

Jackson graduates from Kindergarten

May 21, Jackson graduated from kindergarten. Steve was sick, so he wasn't able to come.  I remembered the camcorder, but forgot to charge it.  I didn't get any of it on video.  He did such a great job and singing all the songs.  Here are some pictures of him during the graduation.

This is Jackson with his teacher Mrs. White.  I am not sure why he is smiling like this...

Then I had to get him in front of his picture of himself, one with Millie, and one with his certificate...

It's amazing how much Jackson has grown since the first day of kindergarten.  Throughout the year Jackson has been taking speech.  It has helped a lot, he still needs it next year, but we can understand what he is saying most the time.  He qualified to go to extended day kindergarten, which made my life so much easier.
 He has been such an awesome boy, I couldn't ask for a better son.  Love you Jackson!!!

"Little white balls from HELL"

Hopefully by the title you will know what a pain this experience was.  Steve was home sick and I had just got back from Jackson's kindergarten graduation and Kaylie's egg drop.  I am in charge of a fun run for the school the kids are going to next year, so I came up to my room and started on stuff.  The kids were laughing and seemed to be having a good time.  I wasn't worried because I could hear the kids, it's them being quiet that worries me.  I am not sure how long it was, but Jackson came in to say hi, I turned around and this is what I saw...

I knew from that moment, I was in trouble.  I immediately got up and went into Tessa's room, and this is what I found... the picture don't do it justice

All those "little white balls from HELL" came from this....

Jackson and Millie had gotten some scissors Tessa left laying around and thought it would be fun to see what was inside.  Then seeing the fun "little white balls from Hell", proceeded to sprinkle them all over Tessa's room, their hair, put them in their pockets, down their pants and who knows where else.
In case you didn't know, they are static, so they stick to everything.  We got the shop vac and tried to vacuum them up, but then I had to get our regular vacuum.  I thought for punishment I would make the kids help me.  They were having even more fun, the shop vac has a place where you can plug the hose in to suck up or blow out. The kids would take toys and hold them to the part where the air was blowing out and let go of the toy and watch it fly.

Needless to say, it was not a punishment for them, but for me.  We are still finding the "little white balls for HELL" all over. 

Lesson learned, no more pillows or anything like that.
Good thing Steve wasn't feeling good, who knows what would have happen to the two little ones.

some of my pinterest

I have a new interest called pinterest...hehe!!! I have been trying the tips on cleaning they have on it. I cleaned some bright red spots on my carpet. All you do is take equal parts hot water and ammonia and put it in a spray bottle and spray the spot good, then take a white towel put it on your soaked stain and your iron and steam it out. The first picture is off one that was a bright, deep red stain that took quit a bit of soaking and steaming, so it left it a bit faded. To me it looks bright red. I am not sure what it was and I didn't get a before.


This one was of red koolaide that I tried to get off before. It happened just shortly after we moved in...

and this is what it looks like now.... Wa-La it's gone...

Next I clean one of my burners from my stove... worked like a charm. All you do with this is take 3 TBSP. of ammonia in a Ziploc and place your burner in it and seal it for about 12 hours or more. I put it on a plate, just in case it leaked.

The left one is the dirty one and the right one is the clean one. I didn't realize how dirty they were until I did this.

Look at the dirty ammonia... yuck!!!