tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-68054984698637007322024-03-13T20:11:07.799+01:00A healthier JayLadyNothing tastes as good as losing weight feels!!!JayLadyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11790564079768015932noreply@blogger.comBlogger34125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6805498469863700732.post-59828745137715087552009-06-28T08:30:00.005+02:002009-07-11T16:29:25.615+02:00Who will carry me when I die? and Am I setting a good example for my children?With the deaths of two mega stars this week, my own death has been on my mind. Thank God that the years of treating my body like a garbage bin did not lead to any serious health issues, but I now want more than that. When I die, I do not want people to worry about who will carry my casket because of how heavy I am. It's not something we think about often, but it's a reality. If we are not cremated, someone has to carry that casket in and out of the church and even if it's six of the strongest men we know, it can still be difficult for them if the deceased person is obese. I don't want to be a burden to my family in life or death.<br /><br />Now to a lighter subject, I had to register my oldest son for football this week. The registrar needed a current weight for him. I was shocked to find that in the last year my 12 year old son has lost 7 pounds. I have noticed that his body appears much leaner, but I attributed it to puberty (more testosterone= more muscle). I had no idea that the change in his eating habits would also equal weight loss. He is by no means under weight, but it still bothered me a little. I do not want to <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">obsess</span> over what I eat, but I find myself doing so on a regular basis. Apparently so much that it has rubbed off on my children. My 12 year old son (<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">Omari</span>) and my 9 year old daughter(<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">Abriah</span>) have began reading nutrition labels. If something is loaded with fat and calories, they won't eat it! I know it's a good thing for them to be conscious of what they are eating, but I don't want them to develop a complex either. I especially worry about my daughter because she only has a few <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3">years</span> before puberty hits and Lord knows her body will go through changes then. Since noticing my sons weight loss I have become less verbal about nutrition labels and calories. I will still only bring the good foods into the house, but hopefully they will eat them more because they enjoy them and less because the label says its good for them (speaking of foods we enjoy, the <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_4">berries</span> have been fantastic this week; blueberries, raspberries & blackberries). They have plenty of years to forfeit taste for nutrition.JayLadyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11790564079768015932noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6805498469863700732.post-68723852332396177742009-06-17T07:39:00.002+02:002009-06-17T07:46:57.306+02:00I'm still here and still determined!I have decided to take this thing one day at a time. I'm not going to get all emotional over it anymore. All I can do is remain determined and stick to my plan. The weight will come off if I consume less calories than I burn. The formula is very simple! I did make a poor choice yesterday and ate three cookies. I'm sure they were loaded with calories, but I did share the rest of the package with my family so it wasn't too bad. I resisted french fries and kiwi lemonade at lunch yesterday and I also did something I NEVER do. I declined mayo on a sandwich and let me tell ya, for the person that LOVES mayo, that was a HUGE deal. I snacked on mandarin oranges and chocolate <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">altoids</span> (only 15 calories in 2. I'm sure I had about 10 throughout the day)as opposed to the garbage they sell in vending machines. Today I plan to take it one step further and I'm leaving the <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">altoids</span> at home. I'm taking no cash with me so I won't be able to purchase any vending machine garbage. I'm taking a 32 oz bottle of water so that should help keep me feeling full and if the snack cravings get too bad, I'll munch some sugar free gum. I have a plan of attack. Let's pray I can stick to it!JayLadyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11790564079768015932noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6805498469863700732.post-36562581880378393302009-06-14T21:13:00.002+02:002009-06-14T21:24:26.498+02:00Slow and Steady Wins the Race!So here I am day 2 of my renewed commitment to a healthier <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">JayLady</span> and I must admit I'm rather proud of my <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">sticktoitiveness</span> (totally not a word, but you get the point). I made some good food choices today and I pushed myself to get my weight training in, walk two miles, and work on some toning here at home. My husband and children have joined in and we all worked on the toning and some light calisthenics together. It was beautiful to work on my body with my entire family. I know my husband and I are teaching our children valuable lessons that will benefit them for years to come. With that thought in mind I have decided to simply stick to a life style of smart food choices and efficient workouts. If I focus more on making a lifestyle change and less on losing weight I know I will get the results I desire. I must be consistent. This is not a sprint. This is a marathon that will last the rest of my life. If I want to be around for my family I must live for the future. No more focusing on today's struggles with my weight and appearance. I am not focusing on finishing this marathon with as few setbacks as possible!JayLadyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11790564079768015932noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6805498469863700732.post-73019476100312929042009-06-13T13:15:00.002+02:002009-06-13T13:21:40.240+02:00Still NOT Making Progress.... UGH!!!!What frustrates me the most is I know what I need to do to lose weight. For some reason however, I am not doing it. My workouts are sporatic at best and I am making poor food choices daily! I don't know where the will power and determination went. One year I am on the ball and losing weight, the next I am trying to get rid of the 20 pounds I have regained, plus 35 more. I really don't know what to do anymore. I've tried everything I can think of to recapture my will power, but nothing seems to be working. I guess I'll just keep trying to force myself to the gym as often as possible and do my best to resist poor food choices. Maybe I need to just take it one meal and one workout at a time. I may be pushing myself to hard to quickly. I haven't given up hope, but it sure is slipping away. Any advice anyone can offer will be greatly appreciated!JayLadyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11790564079768015932noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6805498469863700732.post-78212257070032089352009-04-24T16:03:00.002+02:002009-04-24T16:10:56.001+02:00In the words of Oprah.... How did I let this happen again?Looking back over this blog has me really ashamed of myself. I worked so ridiculously hard for 8 months, only to slack off when life got hectic. I slowly stopped going to the gym and slowly started eating junk again. I haven't forgotten all that I learned, so I'm up only 20 lbs as opposed to the entire 80. I've gone from a comfortable size 10 to a very exact fitting 12. My tummy that was so close to being completely flat is now pudgy. I still avoid all beef and pork, but my portions have slowly gotten larger. I still monitor my calorie intake though, and I'm working on getting back into a normal gym routine. I now have to lose 55 pounds to reach my goal! I can't believe I am saying those words once again. At my lowest, I was only 29 pounds from goal. Weight gain stinks!!!! Maintenance is sooooooo much harder than losing was, and to top it all off, the motivation and will power just aren't what they used to be. I have got to find some way to get back on track. I want so desperately to be a size 8!JayLadyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11790564079768015932noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6805498469863700732.post-47432483978828425412008-09-13T13:13:00.002+02:002008-09-13T13:23:07.752+02:00Well, It's time to get back to business!!!Wow, life came at me so fast, I got completely off track with my dieting and exercising. I didn't go completely crazy on the food front, but I could have definitely made some smarter choices. Since my last post, I've traveled to the States and back, I've moved into a larger home, and I'm currently suffering through I pretty bad case of Shingles. Everything that has happened made me stop and question whether or not I am in a place where I can continue to focus on weight loss. For a while I thought I was ready to head into maintenance, but when this case of Shingles popped up, I realized, I want to lose a little more. I am focusing on my lower body b/c thats where most of the fat remains. The hard part is I lose from my upper body first. I'm still a little challenged since I can't work out, but I know I'll be bale to again soon. Right now though since I can't leave the house and really can't exercise at all (my Shingles are on my face and causing monsterous headaches) I am watching what I put into my mouth. I don't want to consume empty calories that I can't "work" off. I'm not going to stress over the remaining few pounds, but I am going to go back to basics and begin eating like I did when I started this journey back in November. Mostly protein and veggies. No empty calories (so all water, all day) and no simple carbs. The biggest thing will be the cream in my coffee. I think I'm going to use skim milk and equal. It'll take some time for me to get use to, but it'll be worth it when I see the look on my husband's face. I want him to shine with pride when he sees me. According to the Dr's scale I've gained about 2 lbs so I'll have to work those 2 off and get these remaining 20-30 off. I don't have much time left though, so I probably won't get it all off before hubby comes home, but I'll do the best I can!JayLadyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11790564079768015932noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6805498469863700732.post-78217533716117625082008-07-14T20:37:00.004+02:002008-07-14T20:54:05.060+02:00When to say whenAs I get closer to my "goal", I am beginning to absolutely love the way I look. As of today I still have 30lbs till I reach that magic number, but I honestly don't know if I'll go that low. When I look in the mirror, I still see small areas that need to be slimmed a little and toned, but I don't know if I WANT to lose another 30lbs. I definitely want to be healthy, but not skinny! The collar bones I once loved being able to see now look funny to me. I don't want to have bones sticking out everywhere. In my very humble opinion being super skinny is not sexy (plus my hubby doesn't like it). I think I have decided to work on improving my overall health and not focus so much on the weight loss. I will still weigh in weekly, but my main focus will be pushing my body to it's physical limits. I really want to get into shape so that I can run at least 3 miles without stopping and feeling like I am going to pass out.<br /><br />I love writing this blog. Just actually typing the words have helped me to make up my mind. I am going to focus on being healthy and if I lose more great, if I don't, I'll survive!JayLadyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11790564079768015932noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6805498469863700732.post-43895362042708122802008-07-11T17:08:00.003+02:002008-07-12T07:14:52.492+02:00Just when I think I'm getting this running thing downWell I thought my body was getting accustomed to my new found love of running, but I found out today I was wrong. Yesterday I worked out for 35 minutes on the elliptical before my run on the treadmill and I felt great! So great I ran for 17 min instead of just 15. I woke up this morning feeling great so I just knew my body had adjusted to the running..... WRONG! I get on the treadmill and do my three minutes of walking to warm-up (I start a 3mph and increase the speed every 30 sec), once I hit the three minute mark I increase to my run speed (5mph). The first couple of minutes feel fine and I start getting excited. Then out of nowhere BAM! I feel like I am going to die! I wanted so badly to stop and just walk. The only thing that kept me going was sheer determination, and the fact that there was this skinny chick running behind me. If she can do it, so can I! j/k Seriously though, I love running. I'm tired of my body telling me I can't do it! So I pushed through the fatigue and did the full 17 minutes, slowed back down to 3mph for 2min to catch my breathe, then increased my walking speed to 3.8mph to finish my cardio. Though it sucks that the run was sooooo much harder than yesterday, it still felt amazing to finish. I will get good enough to run a 5k if its the last thing I do.JayLadyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11790564079768015932noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6805498469863700732.post-77542539556334832762008-06-29T06:04:00.002+02:002008-06-29T06:18:09.599+02:00GOODBYE OBESITY!!!After a busy and very stressful week, I was not expecting a loss. Imagine my sheer delight to step onto the scale yesterday and see 164, a two pound loss! I went onto TDP to track the loss and when my BMI popped up I realized I'M NO LONGER OBESE!!!!! That feels freakin AWESOME! Back in November when I started this journey my BMI was 40! I had no idea how much weight I really needed to lose until I saw that number. Today my BMI is 29.99, just .01 below obesity, but who cares, the fact that it's .01 below and not 10 above is worth a celebration to me.<br /><br />Years ago if someone would have told me that I'd be celebrating being "overweight", I would have called them a liar to their face. I am still amazed by how I let my eating habits get so out of control. I ate like crap all day everyday. I should have known all the fat was building up. Thank God the "warning light" came on when it did, before anything under the hood needed to be fixed. I'm walking away from obesity with only minor cosmetic damage. A little loose skin and a few stretch marks here and there. Other people are not so lucky. Some end up with transmission problems, fuel system problems, engine trouble, or worse complete engine failure. I am very fortunate the only lasting results of years of obesity for me are things that are purely superficial!JayLadyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11790564079768015932noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6805498469863700732.post-70726611221504709812008-06-23T18:35:00.003+02:002008-06-23T18:56:34.631+02:00Great NSVWell today is my official weigh in day for the 100 Pound Challenge (The Daily Plate) and the scale didn't budge. Any other day, I would be sad about that, but not today. Today I am on cloud 9. When I woke up this morning I thought, "I think I'm going to try to run on the treadmill today. Who cares if I can only last 2 minutes like last time. At least I'll put forth the effort." I got on the treadmill and set it for 15 mintues. I have no idea why, but 15 was the magic number. I ran the entire 15 minutes without stopping once! I have never been able to do that before. Years ago I ran in the mornings, but that was more of a slow job for 2 or 3 minutes and then walk for 5. It has always been a desire of mine to run a 5k, and this morning sealed the deal. One day I WILL be able to run my 5k!JayLadyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11790564079768015932noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6805498469863700732.post-40534210964224409612008-06-21T19:11:00.003+02:002008-06-22T20:17:32.815+02:00Carbs Anyone?Well I'm about 7 months into my journey and all of a sudden I am craving carbs like crazy! I didn't realize it until today, but this week I have been having the strongest craving for simple carbs. It's not time for my monthly visitor, so I really don't understand it. I haven't restricted carbs from my diet, so my body isn't going through withdrawal, but it is definitely begging for carbs. I'm not expecting a loss this week b/c before today I wasn't paying attention. Next week I'll up the protein again and hopefully this carb thing will go away. Simple carbs love my midsection and I am too proud of my forming six pack to waste it on junk! Plus I wanna drop this last 36 pounds and I can't do that eating sugar and food that turn into sugar.<br /><br />Does anyone else go through the carb craving phases?JayLadyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11790564079768015932noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6805498469863700732.post-1280305624229976642008-06-16T21:51:00.002+02:002008-06-16T22:06:13.785+02:00Awesome Weigh-InJust to toot my own horn a bit, I lost an amazing 4 pounds this week. I really worked hard last week. After being on vacation so long, I really wanted to put up some nice numbers to stay on track with my goals. I'm seriously considering getting a personal trainer in August to help me finish this leg of the journey. Since I've already done so much of this on my own, it would be nice to finish on my own, but I'm open to the idea of help. All that matters is reaching that finish line so that I can move into maintenance. I know I will never be obese again. That is a promise I have made to myself. I love this beautiful body God has given me too much not to take care of it. Afterall, this is the only one I'll get. At 40, I want to still look and feel young. I don't want years of bad choices to make me look old before I get there. I want my husband and children to be proud of me. I never want to be the mother who embarrasses their child every time they come to the school. I want my children to beam with pride when they introduce me to their teachers, friends, and classmates. At 240 pounds, I was the "fat" Mommy. Young children make the most honest observations I have ever heard. The last thing I want is for my children to experience an ounce of pain due to their Mommy's appearance. <br /><br />My husband is in the military which obviously focuses heavily on weight. At 240, I was one of those spouses that "needed to lose a few pounds". My husband is amazing, and loves me unconditionally, but I want to be a prize on his arm, not someone that his co-workers joke about behind his back. I don't want to be the wife with the "pretty face". Simply the "pretty wife" works for me.<br /><br />At 166, I don't get nearly as many "your face is so pretty" comments. At this point, I am no longer plus size. Now it is about meeting my goal. It is about the confidence that comes with proving that I can do anything I set my mind to. This decision to get in shape and stay that way has to be one of the single most important decisions I have ever made. In this moment, I love me for loving me enough to do this!JayLadyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11790564079768015932noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6805498469863700732.post-63794411806998106742008-06-15T07:28:00.000+02:002008-06-15T07:54:30.584+02:00Finally!!After two months of maintenance and vacationing I am finally back on track and losing. During the past two months I have lost, but much slower than I have grown accustomed too. I thoroughly enjoyed spending time with my wonderful family, but if I'm going to lose this remaining 38 pounds by this fall, I have to get back on track. <br />I took my measurements today and I have steadily lost inches, so that is a good thing. More people have been noticing my weight loss, so it must be due to the inches coming off. My waist for one is really slimming down and shaping up. If only my hips and thighs would follow suit.<br />I have set a very aggressive goal for the next two weeks so I plan to spend more time in the gym. Thinking about previous weight loss efforts has brought I strange realization to me. I lose weight best when I walk! I love the elliptical and other gym equipment, but what works best for me is good old fashion walking. Once I started using the treadmill, my legs really began to slim and shape up. I loved the results so much, I kept using it. I remember when I first made the cheerleading squad back in junior high school. I weighed around 120 and felt sooooooo FAT! I spent the summer before my 9th grade year walking the track at a junior high in my neighborhood. When I went back to school, everyone noticed how much weight I'd lost, and all I'd done was walk. Fast forward to early 2003, about 3 or 4 months after I knew for sure I wasn't having any more children. I decided it was time for me to get into shape. I was roughly a size 16 (some 18's). The apartment complex I lived in had a 24hr fitness room and I began working out 5 mornings a week. That was when I first discovered the elliptical. I fell in love with it b/c it was low impact and thus VERY easy for me. I toned pretty well, but lost very little. Up until a little while ago I thought that was b/c I still ate crap. That may have been part of the reason, but I now believe it had a lot to do with the fact that the elliptical does not provide the type of workout that gives my body the best results. Fastforward to last November when I made the decision to get and stay in shape. When I went into the gym, I immediately went to the elliptical. I thought since I loved that machine it was "best" for me. In all fairness, I did lose a little, but I got MUCH better results once I started walking on the treadmill and treadclimber. I guess the point is, the machine that is harder for me to do is best b/c it's pushing my body to work harder.<br />All gym equipment is NOT created equal. What works for me and my body may not work for you and yours. Which gym equipment works best for you? How does your body achieve optimal results?JayLadyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11790564079768015932noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6805498469863700732.post-59252916882245468322008-06-09T21:07:00.000+02:002008-06-09T21:29:39.522+02:00Back from Vacation!<span style="font-family:courier new;color:#cc33cc;">After two weeks in the States with my family, I am very proud to announce I did not gain weight!!! Go me, it's my birthday, go me it's my birthday!</span><br /><span style="font-family:Courier New;color:#cc33cc;">A little background info: I come from a family of mostly overweight people. To my knowledge only one person is working on their weight right now. Everyone else pretty much eats whatever, so dieting around all that fattening food is not always easy. Fortunately for me though, I really have no desire to eat the way I once did. Portion control has finally become second nature, the thought of a greasy burger make me wanna gag, and most sugary foods are WAY too sweet. I went to one of my favorite restaurants (Smokey Bones) and ordered an appetizer as opposed to a entree and actually shared with my kids. I now know how to eat until satisfied, not stuffed! My body is definitely thanking me for treating it better. I can now sit for longer periods of time without feeling like my buns are going to fall off. I can cross my legs without my knees screaming in pain. I can walk for hours without my feet yelling in agony. I can go up and down stairs without feeling like I need an oxygen tank. The list goes on and on. Most recently I noticed that my monthly friend has decided to start showing up on time again (maybe TMI). For nearly a year it was complete guess work, and it never occured to me it was b/c of my weight. It's amazig how much stress being overweight causes for your body. It literally affects every area. Also, my chronic heartburn is gone! It would get so bad at times that I'd sit awake rocking in the middle of the bed at night b/c nothing would soothe it. I'd wake my poor husband numerous times throughout the night.</span><br /><span style="font-family:Courier New;color:#cc33cc;">On a purely physical note, it felt great not to shop in the plus size section anymore! At first I felt like a fish out of water b/c I couldn't shop in any of my favorite stores anymore. I kept thinking to myself, "Where do little people shop"? I even had to take a few 12's back to the store b/c they were too big! While wearing a size 10 outfit I bought, I kept saying to myself, "I can't freaking believe I'm wearing a 10 right now! A 10! I'm wearing a 10!" I felt like I could have literally lept over a mountain that day. That feeling is almost like a drug. Though I've never tried drugs, the feeling is so addictive, it must be similar to what addicts experience.</span><br /><span style="font-family:Courier New;color:#cc33cc;">In addition to that feeling there is also the little voice in my head that continues to point out all of my imperfections. The stretchmarks I'll never be able to get rid of. The thighs that still need so much work. I think the remaining 40 pounds is almost completely in my lower half. There are days when I still look in the mirror and get grossed out. I still look at myself and see a fat girl! I find myself still referring to myself as a "big girl". Though the scale and my clothing both say otherwise, my mind still plays tricks on me. I know that if I am not careful that is going to be a big issue for me. I've had people to tell me I don't need to lose another 40, that 40 may be too much. I find it frustrating that when you are obese, people look at you and think/say, "She needs to lose weight", but then when you start losing, they wanna put a limit on the amount you can lose. What gives them the right?!?!?... ok, sorry, a little moment there. I had a few people upset me with their comments in case you can't tell. One person actually had the nerve to say, "Don't lose 40 more, if you just lose 15 more you'll look great!" How dare you, I look great now. How dare you tell me how much weight I do or don't need to lose! Where did you go to medical school? Ok, another moment, but I'm done with that now!</span><br /><span style="font-family:Courier New;color:#cc33cc;">I am more determined than ever to reach my goal. All of the vacationing is behind me and I can finally focus on losing the rest of this weight before my husband returns home for good! Only 4 months left and I want his eyes to pop out of his head when he sees me! Wish me luck!!!</span><br /><span style="font-family:Courier New;color:#cc33cc;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:Courier New;color:#cc33cc;"></span>JayLadyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11790564079768015932noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6805498469863700732.post-73796300948445356132008-05-18T21:35:00.000+02:002008-05-18T21:55:39.079+02:00SIZE 12!!!Okay, so maybe I'm just terrible at figuring out what size I actually wear b/c today I tried on two pairs of jeans (both 12R) and they both fit perfectly! I can't wrap my mind around the fact that a size 12 actually fits me. I guess I should back up a little. Yesterday I picked up a pair of jeans to wear when I go visit my family. I got a 14R b/c thats the size I thought would fit (nothing is more deflating than trying on clothes that are too small). When I picked them up, I thought they were cut kinda small, so I was leary about getting them. Then I figured, what the heck, if they don't fit I can just keep working hard until they do. So I get home and try the jeans on and they are pretty loose. If I were at goal I would have probably just worn them with a belt, but since I still have a long way to go, I thought it would be stupid to keep pants that I would only be able to wear for a month or so. Well, today I returned the jeans, and tried on a 12 in the same brand. The 12's fit perfectly, so I got two of them. <br /><br />I intentionally shopped in the juniors section for the first time (the women's section here sucks). Being able to walk pass the plus size section just blows my mind. I've been a plus size girl my entire adult life. Part of me still feels like I am. I guess it will take time for my brain to catch up with my weight loss.<br /><br />On a side note, I have a new best friend... well, second best. My crock-pot still holds the first spot, but this appliance is a close second and rounding third headed for home. Anyway, the mystery appliance is my new George Foreman grill. I have no idea why I waited all these years to get one, but I am so glad I finally did. I can come home from work, throw soem chicken or turkey breast on there and in no time I have perfectly cooked, tender juicy meat! It's like heaven in my kitchen. I use it almost everyday. With veggies slow cooking in the crock-pot while I'm at work and meat on the George Foreman while I'm changing out of my work clothes, I can have dinner on the table within 15 of arriving home. For a woman that doesn't like to spend much time in the kitchen these inventions are the best thing since sliced bread!JayLadyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11790564079768015932noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6805498469863700732.post-34623467182820029592008-05-12T21:08:00.000+02:002008-05-12T21:37:25.651+02:00Back with a renewed Vigor!!Well I guess I should say that I spent the last three weeks in maintenance mode. While my husband was home there was so much going on that it was almost impossible to focus on losing weight. I think I did as well as can be expected, but of course I wish I had done better. For the most part I realized I have just about mastered portion control. I also realized that I still need a lot of work on staying focused and resisting poor food choices. My husband bought two packs of pecan sandies cookies, and I didn't eat a single one, but we stopped for a scoop of ice cream at least 7 or 8 times. I think it's something about being able to see the nutritional facts that does it for me. I didn't eat the cookies because I read the pack and saw that there were like 80 cal per cookie. The ice cream though was this amazingly good Greek ice cream with flavors I have never dreamed of. The hazelnut tasted just like a butterfinger, and most of the flavors they carry are more like a sherbert than the creamy ice cream we have in America.... okay, I'm supposed to be talking about refocusing here, not ice cream!<br /><br />Anyhoo, I feel refreshed and ready to complete the weight loss phase of this journey and move into maintenance. Only 44 pounds to go.... so close compared to the 110 I started out with. One of the pairs of size 14 pants I ordered is actually too big! That was one of the things that helped me regroup. The thought of being able to go down to a 12 is VERY appealing to me. I want to get this weight off and keep it off for life! Also, I want the feeling of accomplishment that comes with reaching a goal. I'll be able to say, "I did this". With no surgery, or weight loss pills, I lost a whopping 110 pounds. I decided I wanted to do it, and I worked my butt off (literally) until I reached my goal. At this stage of my life.... there is no better feeling!JayLadyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11790564079768015932noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6805498469863700732.post-38995472385004806552008-05-09T09:55:00.000+02:002008-05-09T10:20:57.832+02:00I've been taggedOkay, here goes, I hope I'm doing this right!<br /><br />Four Jobs I've Held:<br />Preschool Teacher<br />Front Desk Clerk<br />Staffing Supervisor<br />Family Readiness Support Assistant<br /><br />Four Movies I Could Watch Over And Over Again:<br />The Color Purple<br />What A Girl Wants<br />Where the Heart Is<br />The Matrix (all three)<br /><br />Four Places I've Lived:<br />Dillon, SC<br />Charlotte, NC<br />Columbus, GA<br />Vilseck, Germany<br /><br />Four Shows I Like To Waste My Time On:<br />America's Next Top Model<br />CBS Soaps<br />Dancing with the Stars<br />Law and Order SVU<br /><br />Four Of My Favourite Foods:<br />Chicken wings<br />Broccoli<br />Corn<br />Chicken breast<br /><br />Four Places I'd Like To Be:<br />Paris<br />London<br />Anywhere in Italy<br />Anywhere in Spain<br /><br />I don't know many bloggers, but I tag <a href="http://www.myso-calledfatlife.blogspot.com/">http://www.myso-calledfatlife.blogspot.com/</a> and any others that may read this and want to get in on it.JayLadyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11790564079768015932noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6805498469863700732.post-63214557770597203182008-05-03T09:02:00.000+02:002008-05-03T09:33:59.742+02:00Officially a 14!<div><br /><br /><div>I posted back in March when I bought a pair of size 14 pants and they fit, but I didn't count that as my "official" size as they were a little snug, plus they had "stretch" in them. So I bought another pair of 14's, this time jeans though with no stretch. I thought I got them from the ladies section, but somehow I picked them up from juniors.... what was I thinking.... I guess I wasn't. Anywho, the 14R from the junior section now fits perfectly (plus I've gotten some other 14's here and there and every single piece fits!!!). I wore the jeans yesterday and my husband kept telling me how great I looked. He said he loved the jeans on me, and my legs looked... are you ready for this?.... SKINNY!!!! He said my legs looked skinny!!! I can't freaking believe it. I realize they aren't really skinny, but they are much smaller than they were when he saw me last. My legs still need the most work as I am a pear shape, but he said they looked skinny! If that's the case then the rest of me must look skinny too since the legs still have the most fat. I am beyond proud of myself for finally making the decision to do something about my health and appearance. <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1eERFXA-0T5Sx_Ep_7BDK5dixFUxTpPUMnxsIOp_9698Ag9Te2NVoJjV-qb5D2gguPkF8-SYq2Duydf9Cj0rS9XJPqslsUxvV1XS-ZQbZFJBMFQlenk5DtwYEOy3_oY5L4yHUeCBWjm4/s1600-h/garmisch+054.JPG"></a></div><br /><div></div><br /><div>I don't think anyone should settle for "I'm just big boned", or "I'll never be thin". I just don't believe those statements are true. There was a time in my life when I did, but now I know better. I will never be a size 2 (simply b/c I don't want to be), but I am on my way to thin. I only have 44 pounds left to lose to reach my goal of 130 which will probably be about a size 8 on me, which is perfect. I don't need to be any smaller than that. That will be a healthy size and weight for my height which is in turn healthy for my heart. I find myself listening to other overweight women and hearing them say the same things I once said almost hurts. It hurts b/c I know most of them say it for the same reason I did. To avoid the pain that comes from being overweight. No one wants to be overweight. No one wants to be called fat. No one wants to only be able to shop in certain stores b/c they can't fit regular sizes. Thats not fun or encouraging for anyone. I'm going back to the States to visit my family in a few weeks, and I am looking forward to shopping in regular stores again. </div><br /><br /><div></div><div>I know I still have a very long way to go with my weight loss, but I have made a huge accomplishment and I am going to reward myself for it. Not everyone can say they have lost 66 pounds, so this hard work deserves a treat. My husband wants to lose 40 pounds and I still have the remaining 44 so we have given ourselves until October to do it. If we both reach our goals, we are going on a cruise to reward ourselves. I'm very excited about that as I've never been on a cruise before. Then once I maintain my weight loss for one year I am treating myself to a breast lift. I always thought I'd go for the tummy tuck, but my tummy is flattening quite nicely, so breast lift it is. I can't wait. It feels so good to actually plan these long term goals as if I am already there.</div><br /><br /><div></div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsUQIZpQRjxGMoKGoRFFoP_3jD7gcGQsFULt4XDQkgPzw0ACnlKDT7XnjaEHkrKE94A_Yz1vEhAIg2V1qbBXdyi9vddUpuE-j_Eqj-LPexZZR-VZkhn77Ep1DEr6iOg9ohk-Tv1_hq8H4/s1600-h/garmisch+096.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5196049687636706194" style="CURSOR: hand" height="294" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsUQIZpQRjxGMoKGoRFFoP_3jD7gcGQsFULt4XDQkgPzw0ACnlKDT7XnjaEHkrKE94A_Yz1vEhAIg2V1qbBXdyi9vddUpuE-j_Eqj-LPexZZR-VZkhn77Ep1DEr6iOg9ohk-Tv1_hq8H4/s320/garmisch+096.JPG" width="218" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><div>Here is a pic of me from our vacation, which by the way was amazing, so I'll include a pic of the view from our balcony as well! I love the mountains!!!</div><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1eERFXA-0T5Sx_Ep_7BDK5dixFUxTpPUMnxsIOp_9698Ag9Te2NVoJjV-qb5D2gguPkF8-SYq2Duydf9Cj0rS9XJPqslsUxvV1XS-ZQbZFJBMFQlenk5DtwYEOy3_oY5L4yHUeCBWjm4/s1600-h/garmisch+054.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5196050314701931426" style="CURSOR: hand" height="171" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1eERFXA-0T5Sx_Ep_7BDK5dixFUxTpPUMnxsIOp_9698Ag9Te2NVoJjV-qb5D2gguPkF8-SYq2Duydf9Cj0rS9XJPqslsUxvV1XS-ZQbZFJBMFQlenk5DtwYEOy3_oY5L4yHUeCBWjm4/s200/garmisch+054.JPG" width="258" border="0" /></a><br /><div></div></div>JayLadyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11790564079768015932noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6805498469863700732.post-56177478565261733242008-04-19T09:06:00.001+02:002008-04-19T09:12:59.972+02:00He's Almost Here!!!My husband is on his way home!!! I'm so excited. He hasn't seen me in 49 pounds!!! I wanted to get down to 175 by the time he got here, but I'm still a pound heavier than my goal which is okay! You can't see a 1 pound difference, but the 49 gone is a huge difference! Hopefully he'll arrive tomorrow so I probably won't post for the next couple of weeks while he's here, but I wanted to keep up with my weekly accountability. Three more pounds gone forever! I am really proud of myself for finally doing this. I have wanted this for so long. I only have 46 pounds to lose to meet my goal. This is utterly amazing to me. I am flying on cloud 9 right now!!!JayLadyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11790564079768015932noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6805498469863700732.post-49012200376743924132008-04-12T22:23:00.000+02:002008-05-03T09:37:09.608+02:00SHOPPING!!!!Since moving to Europe last fall I have been patiently waiting to travel to Czech to go shopping, and today I finally made it. It was <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">soooooo</span> worth the wait. I found some really neat things for my yard/garden, a sword set (stand included) for my husband, and 2 purses for myself all for less than $90. Of course I didn't pay in dollars, but that was the total after the exchange rate. I am so thrilled with the items I got! I can't wait to go back and get more things for my yard/garden. I learned today that gardening is so relaxing for me. I always wanted to get into it, but never seemed to have the time. Living in Europe has really helped me find my green thumb as there is so much beauty everywhere. Driving through the small towns and villages and seeing the beautiful flowers blooming is absolutely mesmerizing. It really makes me want to contribute to the beauty. I am thankful to have the opportunity to experience this culture/way of life. America is still the best nation in the world, and I can't wait to return, but I am enjoying every moment of this experience!JayLadyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11790564079768015932noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6805498469863700732.post-51164523287504925722008-04-10T21:29:00.000+02:002008-04-12T06:13:11.452+02:00Root Canal<span style="font-family:arial;">Well today I had the distinct pleasure of phase one of a root canal. Let me just say this is a pleasure I can go the rest of my life without ever enjoying again. Once again I had to go the entire day on liquids and soft solids, something which my stomach was not happy about. Like a crazy person, I actually went to work after the dental appointment and only left an hour and a half early. I came home and made a large batch of oatmeal, cooked it a little longer than normal so I wouldn't have to chew much, and then fell asleep on the couch for two and a half hours. I woke up two hours ago, and now I'm heading to bed for the evening. Normally I get up at 5:30 to go to the gym, but tomorrow I plan to sleep in since I don't have to be at work until 9:00. I think my body is definitely trying to tell me it needs rest and for once I'm listening.</span><br /><span style="font-family:Arial;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:Arial;">~On the up side I was two pounds lighter when I stepped on the scale this morning! Thats a total loss of 60 pounds!!!</span>JayLadyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11790564079768015932noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6805498469863700732.post-43538384098602880902008-04-07T07:11:00.000+02:002008-04-07T07:33:00.604+02:00The Emotional Yo-Yo.... gotta love being a woman<span style="font-family:courier new;">Well three days afer my last post, and guess what? I love the skin I'm in!!! I've decided that like every other thing I hold dear to me, my views on my own body are going to differ slightly from time to time. Especially when I'm emotional already just from the joy of being a woman. I think the driving force behind the insecurity came from the fact that I'm going to see my husband for the first time in 42 pounds. Why I chose to measure that in pounds.....dunno? Anyway, looking at myself in the mirror and trying to imagine what he may see when looking at me, plus all the pictures I've taken lately caused me to panic a little. But now I realize that it wouldn't matter to him if I still weighed 240 pounds. He married me that way, and has only shown me love and support from day one of my weight loss journey. I was basically obsessing over nothing. I have been known to do that from time to time (shhhhh don't tell anyone). Now that my hormones have settled and are close to being back to normal (whatever that is), I am thinking more clearly. I have made improvements in more ways than one. Not only is my body smaller and lighter, but it is healthier. I have more stamina, and WAY more confidence. It feels great to stand up and look down and not see a belly that looks pregnant. It feels great to be able to tuck my shirts in if I want to. It feels great to shop for new clothes b/c everything I own is too big!!! Those are amazing feelings that I refuse to stop myself from enjoying. This journey is an amazing one, and I have decided to enjoy every step! I look and feel great! I have learned to see portions sizes which ultimately means portion control. My stomach gets turned off at the thought of eating fried greasy foods! I crave large homemade salads like I once craved McDonald's chicken nuggets! I know deep down inside me that this has been a lifestyle change. I would not still be on the journey after 19 weeks if it weren't. </span><br /><span style="font-family:Courier New;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:Courier New;">I saw someone for the first time since Feb the other day and she kept raving about how much smaller my stomach was. A co-worker at work had said the same thing and I'd over-looked it, but when she said it, I realized something. Yes, I do still need to do a lot of work on my abs, but people can't see that when I'm all overed up. My tummy actually looks flat again! It's been years since it looked flat. This is something I should be celebrating not stressing out over! I need to love my body as it is. The more I love it, the harder I'll work to get it in shape! I am determined to meet my goal, but also to love my self at every stage of the journey!!!</span>JayLadyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11790564079768015932noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6805498469863700732.post-42124456447723471882008-04-04T09:59:00.000+02:002008-04-04T10:12:41.808+02:00Adjusting to the new me!For some reason I never thought that it would be difficult for me to adjust to my "new" appearance. However, I am shocked when I see myself in photos, or if I'm walking by a mirror/window and catch a full body view. Being able to actually see my collar bones has been another HUGE thing for me. I know how much the number on the scale has gone down, but actually seeing myself thinner is so difficult. I'm so accustomed to seeing the GIGANTIC thighs and bulging stomach that it almost doesn't look like me anymore. It took me years to accept the fact that I was as large as I was, and now that I'm going back down, I don't know how to deal with that either. It's like a different person is looking back at me. Don't get me wrong I never want to see those 57 pounds again, but I haven't seen this woman in so long, she's like a stranger to me. I honestly can't remember the last time I was this size. I've been trying to remember my weight at different stages of my life, but the truth is, I never paid this much attention to it b/c in my mind I was slim and trim. Even when I broke the 200 mark I still felt attractive so I don't have any significant memories of the way I looked or felt. It wasn't until I was squeezing into a size 18 trying desparately not to go up to a 20 that I realized I needed to make a change. At that moment I began to see myself as I really was.....FAT! I was fat, round, out of shape, and uncomfortable in my own skin. Though that realization only took place a few months ago, I programmed myself as fat, and now that I'm not AS fat, I can't wrap my mind around that concept. I feel like I look weird when I see myself in mirrors. Like it's a trick mirror and I'm really fatter than my reflection looks. I spent 5 minutes staring at myself with my breakfast plate in my hand this morning because I caught a glimpse of myself in the mirror and my stomach was almost completely flat. I kept pushing it trying to make sure I wasn't subconsciously holding it in. Has anyone else gone through this? SURELY I can't be the only one. How did you get past it?JayLadyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11790564079768015932noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6805498469863700732.post-43443364167232653712008-04-02T21:06:00.000+02:002008-04-02T21:53:30.915+02:00Another crazy weekWell this week has been another hectic week for me schedule wise, so I have still not been able to hit the gym like I need to. On the bright side my walk away the pounds dvd arrived today so I'll be able to work out at home when "life" prevents me from getting to the gym. The most important lesson I've learned so far during my weight loss journey is that the only way to fail is to give up. So what if I can't get to the gym 5 or 6 times a week.. What matters is that I'm staying active and feeding my body for fuel, not taste. I want my fuel to taste good, but the nutritional value is what's most important at this point. I am eating to become a "healthier JayLady".JayLadyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11790564079768015932noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6805498469863700732.post-56622637179527365362008-03-30T08:29:00.000+02:002008-03-30T20:58:44.972+02:00FINALLY HIT THE HALF WAY POINT!<div>It's official, I've lost a total of 55lbs!!! I am now half way to my goal, and I made it here much faster than I expected! I did it in 18 weeks as opposed to the 24 I had planned for. My original goal was to lose the 110 pounds in 48 weeks. Even then I thought that was a HUGE stretch. That seems like such a short amount of time to lose such a large amount of weight, but low and behold, all the frquent small meals, and exercise is really paying off. Maybe I can reach goal in 44 weeks, a whole month ahead of schedule! Who knows? The sky really is the limit at this point. Nothing can stand in my way, but me, and I have no intentions of slowing me down. Wow, 55 pounds, what an amazing accomplishment!! I am so proud of myself for sticking with this. This is one of the most important things I've ever done for myself. I love the person I am right now and the person I am becoming. Someone that sees the value in herself enough to improve the things that need improving, while accepting/loving those things that will forever remain the same!</div><div> </div><div> </div><div> </div><div>This me today on my way to a jewelry party! Not too bad if I say so myself. I can actually tuck my shirt in without my stomach hanging over my belt!</div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLpDO5h7GGdKFlv579vAghEqEXK9VR_2VL_pBKwLAKrMCIa4kChhvK6eDMeBvGuVw9HnkDYuPYgfWYsCxRvWANxXONN-CiiGUhyStqZKq881E6BwDHh0LUAYkNzc3yWQu5gleS0yJlpVM/s1600-h/March30+073.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5183610472386134130" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLpDO5h7GGdKFlv579vAghEqEXK9VR_2VL_pBKwLAKrMCIa4kChhvK6eDMeBvGuVw9HnkDYuPYgfWYsCxRvWANxXONN-CiiGUhyStqZKq881E6BwDHh0LUAYkNzc3yWQu5gleS0yJlpVM/s320/March30+073.JPG" border="0" /></a></div><br /><div></div><br /><div></div>JayLadyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11790564079768015932noreply@blogger.com1