Sunday, August 28, 2011

Getting "Unstuck"!

Good morning Girls & Happy Sunday!

Isn't it great that today is a new day?? A day to start fresh again! The slate is wiped clean & yesterday, whether it was a good "on plan' day or not is in the past & we are all moving forward, one step closer to our goals of becoming healthier, happier & skinnier! Oh, its all good my friends!!!

 I weighed in yesterday & only lost 1/2# but it was in the downward direction & not the upward so I guess that's a good thing. I was telling my WW leader Pam yesterday that I can tell the inches are coming off because my clothes are really getting loose but I just wish the scale would come & join the party. We had a laugh over that. She is such a wonderful & motivational speaker & I always leave her meeting feeling re energized & ready to tackle another week. She has become such a dear friend as have all of you! Her genuineness & caring are the reason I go to her meetings & it is so apparent that she truly wants all of us to succeed. There are a few people who are regulars at her meeting and we have become good friends which is such a bonus to have camaraderie in this weight loss journey. I am meeting my sister & 2 friends I have met at WW tonight at 6:30 at a High School track to walk.I am looking forward to it & I just hope the weather cooperates. Its very overcast today but they aren't calling for rain so we shall see. The weatherman is the only job where you can totally screw up & not lose your job! lol!

Our topic at WW this week was "getting unstuck". Oh, can I relate! I feel like my feet have been planted in cement lately. Pam opened the discussion with "Who feels like they are stuck?" She asked us what a plateau is? She said, "do you think a plateau is not losing for one week?" We all answered "no". " Two weeks?" We all chimed in "no" again. "How about 3 weeks?" " well perhaps" and 4 weeks without weight loss" A definite yes from everyone was loud & clear. She said that a plateau is when you are doing everything you are supposed to be doing & your weight stays the same. I think its your body's way of stabilizing. Then she asked us " Who feels like they are coasting? You lose a little one week, then lose a little the next week, then maybe stay the same or gain a little". Oh, that's me!!!! I'm a coaster for sure! I have been gaining & losing the same few pounds it seems forever! She said  coasting isn't a bad thing sometimes, like when we are dealing with life issues, stress etc, but coasting is most definitely frustrating & alot of people can get discouraged & quit if they are coasting too long. So true! Then she asked "how many of you feel like you are moving forward & doing well in your weight loss". Do you know not one person raised their hand! Pam said, "there isn't one woman on the planet who wouldn't want to lose at least 5#" and you know what, I have to agree with that statement. Its always gonna be something, isn't it? I will probably get down to 150 & still find something I'm not happy with. (sigh) Oh why oh why couldn't I have just been born a supermodel?? lol!! Anyways, I wanted to share this meeting topic here because I know that many of us are struggling with feeling "stuck" or we are "coasting" & its time to re evaluate what we are doing and why & re motivate ourselves to get back to doing what we need to do. Sept is just a few days away & my birthday is 4 weeks from today (uggh)and I want to see those 170s' by the time that clock turns yet another page in my life. I am ready to move forward.....are you with me???

I think Cat had a great idea for all of us to share a mini goal that we would like to attain by Halloween. My mini goal is to be 169 or in the 160s by Halloween. Its only about 13# and I believe it is an attainable goal for me. My weight loss has been moving so slowly lately & its time to shake things up & "get a move on" again. I have been praying alot lately for God to heal my tendonitis in my feet. I so desperately want to go back to the gym but I have a deep down fear that it is going to aggravate my Achilles tendonitis & I just don't want to go through that pain again. It is almost unbearable! (sorry to whine about this again but it is a daily nuisance & they hurt no matter what I am doing) I would rather have a  baby than have that foot pain again. I feel like I am watching life through a glass window & I am so jealous of those who can run & exercise & not have pain during or after. I have a job that requires alot of standing & walking so when my tendonitis is acting up, it is nothing short of miserable being at work & I need to be my best when I am caring for my pts & I don't want to be a slacker to my co workers. So would you all say a little prayer for me that God will heal my feet? I appreciate it!

Well ladies, I have rambled on & on enough here. I hope you are all doing great & I wish you a fantastic week!!!

Blessings are chasing me down & overcoming me!!!
((Sherri))

Thursday, August 25, 2011

If it ain't broke.....

Good morning girls!

What a busy week this has been and I have been so tired! I think its the weather is changing & my body is starting to figure it out. Its been sunny but much cooler up in PA & that coupled with the fact that its getting darker earlier, my internal clock is trying to figure things out. I haven't posted because I just haven't had the mental energy to muster up something good, but i have been reading your blogs & trying to comment daily. Thanks to all my Girfriends here for all your great wisdom & inspiration! Love It!

I started out the week doing the low carb/low sugar BFC thing & after 2 days, found myself to be such an irritable grump to be around that I decided it is best for me to just continue WW plan. Every time I do BFC, I can swing a couple of days & then I just cant do it anymore. Its just not the plan for me and I know that without a doubt now. I am jealous of all of you who do it so diligently & to see your successes is amazing however, this plan isn't great for everyone. I thought to myself, "you have done so well on WW Sherri & you are not only losing pounds but inches too so why reinvent the wheel?" If it ain't broke, don't fix it, so I am gonna do just that! In perspective, over the last 8+ months I have lost almost 40# & over 17.5 inches from my body, 6 inches from my waist & 6 inches from my belly. I am now wearing a MISSES size 14 & this plan just fits my lifestyle the best. I don't have time to make 2 separate meals for my family, & when I get home from work at 5pm, the last thing I wanna do is cook 2 meals. Its hard enough for me to cook one! lol. So that's my thoughts. I had gotten on the scale on Monday & it was saying I was up about 3#...yikes! I got on the scale this morning & I am back down to where I was last week on weigh in day. I would like to see 1# lost this week at least so just going to continue to stay true to this and keep plugging away. As Rosalie said in her post believing it will work is essential, and I have not only seen WW working for me but it is proven to work and it is the best fit for my life & that makes me happy.

So 30 days from today, I will be turning 45 yrs old....Uggh!!! I want to be in the 170s by my bday dang it! I really wanted to be in the 160s by then but that's just not the case...perhaps by Halloween. I'm getting there...slowly but surely, we are all getting there!

So if you are feeling down about not being where you wanted to be at this time, chin up my friends! Look back on how far you have come & the little successes along the way like the looser clothing, better health & improved nutritional habits you have formed. I have to constantly remind myself that the scale DOES NOT define me and I hope that you will remember that too!!

Have a wonderful day today!!! I am off to the dentist, then to get a haircut & color (gonna get a sassy new do today!) then to school shop for clothes, then its meet the teacher night. A full day for sure....no such thing as a day off! lol.

Hugs & Encouragement to all my skinny peeps!
((Sherri))

Sunday, August 21, 2011

Time to mix things up!

Hello to all my Sisters in the quest of Skinny!

Well, yesterday was weigh in day & I am sad to say, 179 didn't happen this week. I actually GAINED 2#! Arrgh!! I was so hopeful because on Monday the scale looked so promising but oh well, it happens & I am forgiving myself & moving on. Its a new day & a new week! The topic of next weeks WW class is getting unstuck. I am anxious to attend that one cuz I feel like somebody planted my feet in a pot of cement! lol.

Anyways, since purchasing my size 14 jeans, I cant help but try those darned things on daily if not sometimes more than that. The one pair actually makes my butt look skinny & you can see daylight through my legs!! haha! But what is disturbing me is the whole muffin top thing goin on. All of the jeans that I bought have a low rise, which I have always wanted to wear because I think they are very "on trend" & I hate the whole "Grandma jeans" thing, but the problem is with the low rise brings out the muffins & I am not liking that at all!! we will still be wearing shorts & Capri's for another month or so so I feel like I have some "leash" as far as doing something about it. I have been reading all of your blogs & looking at your photos & I have to tell you, there is something to be said about the whole sugar/carbs thing. It is so apparent the differences I can  you see in your bellies by watching these 2 areas. I love WW & it has been working well for me but I feel like I am "stuck" in the 180s & have been for months & it is not only getting old but frustrating. I feel like I need to mix things up a bit and seeing all of your successes has inspired me to try doing the BFC lifestyle for a week & see what happens. I do remember that when I was following it, I had very little to no bloating, my tummy always felt flatter, & when I looked in the mirror my belly actually looked different. I know you know what I'm talking about. So starting today, I am giving it a whirl to see if I can break into the 170s. Its worth a try. I do still plan to do WW though...I just may need to make some tweaks along the way with sugar & carb intake. I know that I have been eating way too much of both lately & I am thinking its the reason I saw a gain this week. The homemade heath bars, cookie dough etc...even though I accounted for it I think it was just too much.

I love Dawns post about the mid years resolution. I would love to reach goal of 150 by the end of the year but I know its rather lofty to dream that big, but "dreaming is what aspires us to be that which we want to become" and I want to become SKINNY!!!! So I am putting it out there & dreaming big!!!

I hope you all have a great Sunday!!!

Blessings to all!
Sherri

Thursday, August 18, 2011

Doing the Happy Dance!!!!

Hello girls!

Its getting late & a storm is rolling in so I am gonna be brief here but I had to share my good news! My daughter & I went out looking for school shoes for her tonight. We Went to Payless...nothing. Then went to Marshall's, nothing, HOWEVER I decided that I was gonna check out the jeans they had. None of my jeans fit me anymore and I have a huge stack in my closet that I am going to donate to Goodwill. I tried finding a new pr in the spring & I just wasnt happy with any of them. Anyways, I went to the 16s but decided that I would try a couple pr of 14s on for kicks & giggles & guess what???! Yep, they fit!!! I could zip em and everything! I bought 2 pr (1 pr Levis & 1 pr Lucky jeans) and although I will be much happier when I lose another 7-10# wearing them, I could go out and wear them in public w/ no problem!!! I am seriously so fricken excited I can hardly stand myself!!!!! Oh wait, and get this!! Then we decided to go to Kohl's to look for shoes & she found a pair (thank goodness!) & she wanted to go to the Juniors section & I felt the pull to the jeans dept again. So yep, I loaded up my arms with lots of 14s and most of them were a pretty good fit, but I chose 1 pr that I thought looked the best & bought them. They are Levis straight leg (which I love but they are so hard to find!) in MISSES Size 14!!! Buying jeans has always been such a thorn in my side because I have always had a belly and this horrible scar that I try to conceal. Buying jeans is almost as bad as bathing suit shopping for me.....seriously! I was wearing and 18W for I cant tell you how many YEARS. I wore a size 12/14 when I got married 18yrs ago & I am finally getting back into that size again and it feels amazing!! Really energizes me to keep going & stay focused. I dispised shopping in the Womens Dept because everything looked so matronly. I have always wanted to shop in the "normal" ladies dept & not the fat girls dept. and it looks like I have officially left the Womens dept for good! So as I sit at my computer tonight, in my closet there are 3 pr of size 14 MISSES jeans waiting for me to wear them!! And they aren't "grandma jeans" that the waist comes up really high on either....they actually are pretty flattering with the lower rise and they kind of have a whitewashing on the front that I think has a slimming illusion to it. I find that my tummy looks flatter in them as opposed to the higher rise. Just don't like how my undies feel in them with the lower rise....oh well, guess I will go buy some newer SMALLER undies then! :)

So that's what happened to me today....I am officially a REGULAR size 14!! Slowly but surely I am getting there & I am getting smaller. Jeans don't lie!

Have a great night my friends & thanks for listening!

Love & hugs!
Sherri

Wednesday, August 17, 2011

Hump day post

Hello friends!

Thanks for all your great feedback on the fitness center & if I should rejoin. I am really leaning toward rejoining & I do agree that if I can get myself there 3x week it would be worth the $. I have an elliptical (don't like the one I have at all...very choppy) and a treadmill and a bike too but there is something about leaving your house to exercise. I don't know what it is but for some reason, I work harder. I do worry about the tendonitis flaring up even worse but you can put your membership on a medical hold with a Dr.s excuse & my foot Dr is great & would do whatever I needed. I had been on 2 medical holds already & just decided to cancel it because of the uncertainty of my foot condition. I REALLY need to exercise & I miss it, as crazy as that sounds. I feel like I kid with their hands up against a window looking in at something wishfully when I think about rejoining because I do worry that I am going to mess up my feet (I have it in both feet) even worse if I do too much. I will mull it over a little more & will decide definitively soon. It is expensive, but I am worth it & as I said, it is one of the nicest fitness centers I have ever been a member of & it is great that it is adult crowd. They do have a pool too so I could utilize that & do water aerobics. Anyways, thanks for your feedback! :)

Oh....today was a tough day at work! We were having  a going away luncheon for 2 of the girls who are going back to school & I brought my lunch of some homemade chicken barley soup that I made the other night, which, if I might add, was a really good batch!!! All was going well until I saw the homemade heath bar candy. I should have never even taken a bite because I ended up eating 3 pieces!!! Yikes!!! NOT GOOD even though it was delicious!!! Oh well, it is accounted for so I will move on. I had a cheeseburger for dinner & fell asleep after dinner & when I woke up, I went into the cupboard & started eating Doritos without even thinking! I probably had 2 portions of them....there weren't alot left in the bag but still, I ate them without thinking because I was sleepy & impulsive!! Arrgh! I HATE it when I do that! (sigh) Oh well, back on the wagon again...I slipped off! So that was my day. Tomorrow will be better even though it is a pretty busy day for me & my only day off.

I hope you are all doing well!

Hugs to all!
Sherri

Tuesday, August 16, 2011

Thank you to all my peeps!

Hello dear friends!

How funny it is, I just restarted blogging again and some of you are new friends and some we have known each other a while now, but nonetheless, I feel like we have been friends forever and I cherish & appreciate your feedback & friendship. :) I feel like Dorothy on the Wizard of Oz at the end of the movie when she says to everyone how she feels like shes known them forever, but she couldn't possibly now, could she? lol

I'm feeling better about things that have happened, with my daughter & especially with my 2 friends who said & did some things recently that have just broken my heart. We all hung out together in HS & did alot of things together...parties, prom etc. Anyways, I have made the decision that I can no longer devote my energies to being upset with them. They made the decision to say & do what they did to me and for my personal mental well being, I have made the decision to cut all ties with them permanently. One of them is a guy & one is a girl, both were such cherished friends, so that's why it hurts so deeply. I am not a vindictive person nor one who holds a grudge, but the lies & things that were told to me cut like a knife and I can never trust them again. Perhaps its why God kept them out of my life for all those years and maybe its best that we just go back to the way it was before we all reunited. It just makes me sad because I really thought that I mattered to both of them. Anyways, just wanted to say thanks for being supportive. I feel very lucky to have friends like you who do truly care. I can hear it in your posts. You are all wonderful!!!!

The scale is looking very promising lately and when I got on this morning it said I was up just 1/2#, no big deal, that's just water weight. I'm telling you girls, I am just DYING to see that 179 on the scale & I am gonna bust my butt to see that number by Sat!! Like I said in an earlier post, I don't care if its 179.8, that is what I am working for & it is less than 2#. I have contemplated rejoining my fabulous wellness center that I previously went to before I had my Achilles tendonitis. Can I just tell you girls, it is the most AMAZING & FABULOUS fitness centers ever!! It is meticulously clean, wonderful staff, and amenities galore! Its rather expensive per month though so that is what is holding me back from rejoining. Its $59/month but it is all adults, no children under 18 allowed & as I said, it has a true WOW factor& state of the art equipment. I have to pay their enrollment fee again which annoys me that they don't cater to previous clients but I can get a corporate rate through my employer where they will cut the $125 enrollment fee in 1/2 ($62.50) then you have to pay the $59/month so it would be 121.50 to rejoin. What do you think girls? I have the money, the only thing that concerns me is that my tendonitis, which is still painful daily but more under control, will become aggravated & I wont utilize my membership like I did in the past. I need to tone up and I know that right now, I need to exercise to get this weight loss moving a little quicker & I desperately need to tone up. I am so dang flabby. What do you think????? Not sure if you can take the virtual tour via what I have posted but if you want to check it out, google LECOM Medical Fitness & Wellness Center.

                                                 
fitRewards Upcoming Events daily schedule View Our Facility | Virtual Tour LECOM Click here to view floor plans

@ Pattie re:your question about WW & what I am doing, I am just following the program. I eat fruits in moderation, usually no more than 3 servings a day & I incorporate their  healthy guidelines into my daily diet: 5 servings of fruits/veggies, 2 milk/dairy servings, 2 servings of healthy oil (2 tsp total/day) 6 glasses of water, a daily multivitamin, eating whole grains, 2 servings of lean proteins/day & staying within my daily points plus target of 29 points per day. It is working for me & I don't feel deprived which is key for me. I don't do well with deprivation & I found myself fantasizing about fruit & yogurt when I was on BFC. I just don't have that kind of will power. There is nothing that is off limits. & it is teaching me to co exist with food.
. I still have my days where I could eat & eat & eat but I have learned that there are some things that can only be an occasional treat (like ice cream cones which I would LOVE to have EVERY DAY!!) & I am learning to enjoy it & appreciate it when we do have it for a treat. I LOVE McDonalds ice cream cones! They are 4 points plus value & it is only $1. A bargain all around. We usually have a cone 1xweek & I look forward to it. Its usually on the weekend when we get one. Anyways, that is what working for me. I'm happy on the plan & I feel it is a sustainable lifestyle for me. There are so many successful losers on WW. Look at Jennifer Hudson, their spokesperson. OMG! She is so skinny now & she has lost 80# on the plan. I feel like....If she can do it, so can I!!!!

                                  

                                       
                                                       
                              
                                                        She is AH-FRICKEN-MAZING!!!
Like anything though, it works when you work it. Bottom line. I don't care if it takes me another yr to lose the next 30#, I am bound & determined that it is gonna happen this time around. I have given up & quit the plan more times than I would like to admit because I wasn't losing fast enough, but the real truth is, I was not being honest with myself & was making it "Sherri's plan" & not following it as it was intended. My hairdresser is down 35# since March...you should see her...its like an OMG moment every 5-6 weeks when I see her. I go for a cut & color next week. I cant wait to see her. She inspires me!

Well, I am babbling way too much now & you are all probably nodding off, so I will say goodnight & wish you all skinny dreams!

Take care!!
((Sherri))

Monday, August 15, 2011

Hello! Hello! Hello!!! Its me!!

Hi Girls!

Did you think I forgot you? Not a chance! Just been a busy bee!! Wanted to update you on whats been happening here. My poor daughter (12yo) has been having horrible pain in her front tooth that she broke in half in a scooter accident 3 yrs ago. We had the tooth bonded and all was fine until Fri night. She has been in miserable pain off & on & because I knew the dentist couldn't do anything for her til Monday, I medicated her all weekend with Tylenol & Motrin & got her an appt this morning to see the dentist. They took xrays & sent her to an endodontist for a 2nd opinion & my worst fear is coming to pass....she has an abscess, actually 2 small abscesses & needs a root canal on her front tooth next week. She has never had a cavity a day in her life & all we can figure out is that some bacteria got under the bonded tooth & started this up. I feel so bad for her but it has to be done. She in on antibiotics for a week & will have the root canal next Wed. My poor baby! She is so darned cute! I hope her tooth doesn't turn gray. She has braces on too but the endodontist says it shouldn't be a problem as they go through the back of the tooth. I want to get her a little something to relax her before the procedure & I think I may need a little something too! I have taken such meticulous care of my kids teeth all their lives & instilled good oral hygiene & neither of them have ever had a cavity. (Sigh) Please say a prayer for her...and me!!!

As for the weight loss, I am still pluggin along & doing well. I lost .6 this week and although it is a small number, they are adding up and I am nearing 35# off with WW & less than 2# away from the 170s and a total of 40#  lost is about 3.5# away! Very exciting!! The scale this morning looked promising for the 170s so hopefully it will hold & I will be doing the happy dance on Sat morning! (fingers crossed!)

I'm dealing with some sadness too. A friend, who I thought was a friend, lied to me and did the ultimate betrayal. I don't want to go into detail about it but I am so crushed as I thought I meant more to them. I thank God for my awesome girlfriend Mary who rescued me last night & allowed me to vent & cry & she shared her wisdom on the situation. This friendship is now forever scarred by this and I don't know if I will ever have it in me again to trust this person. This is actually the 3rd time this person has hurt me & I refuse to allow myself to be hurt again my their actions. It is inconceivable to me that this person would do this to me as I would NEVER EVER do that to anyone. Anyways, thanks for listening to me babble about this. It helps to vent & God bless my hubby, he just hugs me & lets me cry on him. This is the 2nd of my high school friends who has done this to me & I am just so devastated & just downright hurt by it all. Oh well, I guess that's why they never stayed my best friend. I wish em both the best & all I can say is, "what goes around, comes around". I'm not a vindictive person but I do hope that someday they will both feel the hurt they have caused me. I can never trust either of them again!

So how are you all doing? I hope you had a great weekend!!! Please post & let me know how you are doing. Weight on Sat was 181.8. I'm shooting for 2# this week to get into the 70s again! Oh, how Ive missed you 1970s!!! Cant wait to get there!!!!

Have a great evening!
Sherri

Thursday, August 11, 2011

Good morning! Thurs Aug 11,2011

Hello friends!

Sorry I haven't posted in a while. Ive been working alot more lately and by the time I get home, I am exhausted & my brain is mushy, hence, no posts. Today is my day off & I am enjoying it! Not a whole lot planned except a Dr. appt later today & that's it! Its sunny & beautiful here in Erie, PA & its a comfortable 75degrees with no humidity. Yay!

I'm having a good week but the scale hasn't budged....grr! Its funny, I seem to level out at one weight & then all of a sudden I lose a couple of pounds. I know I sound like a broken record but man, I wanna be in the 170s ...NOW!!! I know that if I continue to do what I am doing, it will come off, just wish it would come off faster! I don't really have anything good & inspirational to share today. I wish I did but I'm comin up with nothin. :( Must be that mushy brain. haha!

Well girls, have a great rest of the week & keep on keepin on!

Hugs to all my skinny peeps!

((Sherri))

Saturday, August 6, 2011

Quick Post...weigh in day results.

Hi Girls!

Well, weigh in day was okay, a bit disappointing. I only lost .4 (1/2#). I had a really good week & exercised 5 of the 7 days by swimming for 1+ hrs 3x & then walking the dog 2x on a 2 mile walk each time. Well, I am not gonna get my panties in a twist over this. The scale is moving downward, even if it is at a snails pace this week. It does all add up in the end. I had 2 really good weeks before this week losing 2.4# & 2# plus today's that makes it 5# in 3 weeks. I suppose when I look at it that way, its not so bad after all. We always seem to want more, don't we? But bottom line....as my wise mother says "you didn't put it on overnight, you're not gonna take it off overnight either". Thanks mom! I am really close to getting into the 170's...so close I can taste it! My weight today was 182.4 so I am less than 3# away from being in the 170s!!! It is gonna happen this month ladies! MARK MY WORDS!!!

My sister did well today & I am so excited for her! She finally hit her 30# milestone & we have both lost about the same amt of weight. She is my "chief motivator" and I am so glad to be on this journey with her. I'm a lucky girl...I have the BEST sisters!!! Its funny because 3 weeks ago my sister & I pulled out our weight records from WW & realized that we were gaining & losing the same 5-6# for the past 3 MONTHS!!!! It was a loud wake up call for both of us and we have been doing really well ever since. I am so done with seeing 180something on the scale though....its time to move onward....or should I say, DOWNWARD!

So that was my day. I am home alone tonight & the house is so quiet. Its really kinda nice, but I do miss my husband. They left yesterday for a softball tournament & wont be home til tomorrow. He rubs my feet at nighttime before we go to bed & even though he is always as hot as a furnace, he is nice to snuggle up to.

Well girls, have a great night!

((Hugs)) to all!!!
Sherri

Friday, August 5, 2011

Hello weekend....its Friday!!!!

Hello dear friends!

Man, and I exhausted!  A very busy day at work today. I barely had the chance to sit down at all. The surgery center that I work at is so busy, but I do love busy because it makes the time go fast! I have the best job ever!! I LOVE LOVE LOVE what I do and the people I work with! I am so blessed!

If you read my post last night, I mentioned that I am going to talk to my plastic surgeon when I see him in Sept re: a tummy tuck next year for my appendectomy scar. Well, didn't we have a lady today that was a pt & she had  an abdominoplasty (fancy name for tummy tuck) done today & OMG I felt so bad for her...she was absolutely MISERABLE!!! They had her very well medicated & just couldn't seem to get the poor thing comfortable. She said she felt like she was dying & questioned whether or not she made the right decision having it done. Makes me REALLY question if I want to go through that kind of pain.....was God speaking to me through her? Not sure but I know one thing, I don't have a good pain tolerance so I very well could be just like her post op. Scares me a bit, to say the least. My best friend had a tummy tuck a few yrs ago & she said it was very painful but only lasted about a week to 10 days, then it was very much worth it. She lost over 90# having gastric bypass surgery & had it done along with a breast reduction, liposuction & body lift to the tune of $14,500! The sad part is, she gained all of her weight back & you would never know she every had all that done. Makes me sooooo sad to see her now.

Tomorrow is weigh in day at WW & I have no idea what the scale is gonna say in the am. I hope I am down at least a pound...that would be fantastic! I have had a really good week & have exercised & been very good, so hopefully, fingers crossed, I will be able to add another # down to my weight loss totals. I am so excited to hit that 40# mark. Its comin!! Hoping I will hit 178.5 by the end of August because that would be the 40# mark. Its only another 4# so I think it is an attainable goal. I definitely want to be in the 170s by the end of the month. I have to have a mini goal at all times. I need something to reach for, even if I don't meet the goal I have set, I can always set another deadline for it, but the goal always remains the same until it is reached. I had hope to have been in the 170s by July 4th but that didn't happen. I was dilly dallying so it was my fault for sure. My efforts were less than stellar so now that I have refocused, I feel a renewed sense that I can do this. Its all in between our ears! If you think you can, you can...if you think you cant, you're right. Think positive thoughts & if you don't have a goal to reach for, go and make one right now & put a deadline on it!

"Shoot for the moon & even if you miss you will still land among the stars!" Mary Kay Ash (founder of Mary Kay Cosmetics)

Have a super fantabulous weekend!!!!
((Sherri))

Thursday, August 4, 2011

Thurs Post...sorry I'm late!

Hello to all my "Sisters in Skinny"!

How are you all doing today? Did you have a good day?? I did. I cant say I did much today other that take my daughter to WW to weigh in, we went to visit my mom & dad for a bit & then came home & made a delish dinner of marinated grilled chicken, Ore Ida oven browned potatoes (which are actually BFC friendly!) corn (for the kids & hubby) & a salad for me that wasn't that great so I only ate a couple of bites of it. Then me & my hubby took the dog for a 2 mile walk. It was a beautiful evening and outside of it being so darned dry, we cant complain about not having a nice hot summer now, can we? I personally, LOVE the warm weather & could live in the sunshine year round. Perhaps I will relocate to Aruba where it is breezy & warm & sunny every day!! ahhh....(with a heavy sigh....) I LOVE Aruba! Anyways, enough about the weather! We have weight loss to discuss! :)

I still need to pack my lunch for work tomorrow. I'm thinkin tuna salad. I'm not especially fond of it but I can choke it down from time to time. It seems when I eat tuna before I weigh in I seem to do well so we shall see. The scale hasn't budged all week...still showing me the same number as last week. Oh well, I did have 2 good weight loss weeks in a row so maybe my body is just catching up, but for heavens sake, hurry up!! I wanna be in the 170s....NOW!! haha!

I made a call to my plastic surgeon to have a few moles removed from my face & I have a couple in my hairline. I had a breast reduction by him about 7 yrs ago & he is just such a sweetheart. I wouldn't want anybody but him slicing moles off of my face. He is a perfectionist & not too hard on the eyes either....BONUS!!! Anyways, I was talking to his office girl today and asked how much it would cost to have a tummy tuck. Looks like about $5,500 which I have to tell you, wasn't as bad as I thought it would be. And that's the whole shabang! His fee, the hospital fee including overnight stay & anesthesia. I have a HORRIFIC scar on my belly from having and emergency appendectomy as a child. I was only 3 yrs old & it was done in 1969 when the technology wasn't like it is today. My scar is something that has been such an embarrassment all my life. I have never been able to wear a bikini & it has disfigured my abdomen so badly that I have to wear undies with a tummy panel in them to smooth it out so my clothes don't look weird on. Its REALLY & truly that bad! Anyways, I have made up my mind that when I reach my goal, hopefully by the end of the year, I plan to have my scar revision & tummy tuck sometime next yr. I am scared to death to have it done but I have lived my whole life wishing that I didn't have this hideous disfigurement on my belly. I want to know what it feels like to have a flat tummy. I am going to get rid of as much belly fat as possible so that my results will be great. He has over 25yrs of experience & he does a fabulous tummy tuck so as embarrassed as I am to even have him look at it, I know that he has seen way worse in his career, I am going to see if it will be possible to have it done. I feel kind of vain in a way for wanting to have it done, but I have decided that this is my year for not making any more excuses. I have almost $4000 saved so I almost there. Was that TMI??? Geez, I sure hope not.

Anyways, I am going to say goodnite & sleep tite to all my online skinny peeps! Have a great day tomorrow!!

((Sherri))

Wednesday, August 3, 2011

Its Hump Day!

Hello friends!

Thank you for all the wonderful comments! I was so surprised to see so many and from new friends too. Many of you asked me questions so I figured I would answer them via a post. So here we go!

@Pattie~ My reason for switching to WW from BFC was because I was finding it very difficult to be happy & stay true to the BFC. There are MANY good things about the BFC and so many people have been so successful, however, I just couldnt seem to stay on it longer than a week before I was craving yogurt & fruit. I totally understand the rationale behing the insulin spikes & storing of fat etc but I just truly didn't want to live my life in a state of feeling deprived of those things. I rejoined WW in Dec 2010 w/ the support of my awesome sister and although it is coming off slowly, I am ok with it. I feel like this is a lifestyle I can maintain and I am a much happier person following the weight watchers plan. I do try to make good choices as far as sugars go and try to pick the lower glycemic berries etc but in my opinion, there are alot of valuable nutrients & antioxidants in fruit & I believe in moderation, they are A-OK to enjoy. I am losing weight, my measurements are getting smaller & the number on the scale is going down too. Its a sound program and my Dr. is pleased with my progress. In my opinion, I think you have to find a program that you feel you can maintain the rest of your life & make sure it is a plan that you will be happy on. I wasn't happy without my yogurt & fruit. I love your blog & have been having trouble posting comments via my google acct for some reason. I did sign up as one of your followers so now I am a "Pattie groupie"! lol. You may not realize this but reading your guest blog on Amber's blog made me realize the importance of having my online weight loss buddies so I decided to pick up my blogging again, so I have you to thank for inspiring me to come back to cyber world! :)

@ Joyful Susan~ No I really don't track S/C & points plus. Just too time consuming to do both & the plans are so completely polar opposite you really cant do that without making yourself a little crazy. I am trying to make lower glycemic choices while staying in my points plus target. I love my WW leader Pam & I love the suppport of my Saturday morning 11am group. It is such an uplifting part of my week to go there and I always leave feeling inspired, motivated to keep going & re energized ! Also, thank you for the sweet comment about my gams. Ive never had heavy legs & I really don't have any varicose veins so I guess I'm lucky. I do have a few spider veins but keeping the legs tanned keeps them concealed for the most part. They could use a bit of toning & I am working on that. Your blog is wonderful & I also signed up to be a follower of yours. As I told Pattie, I'm having trouble posting comments but I will try my best to pop in & say hi & leave a comment. I am in a weight loss journey with my sister & it is so helpful to have a buddie to lean on! Having online buddies is awesome too!! BTW~ You and Pattie both DONT LOOK your age!! Perhaps I can come swimming in your pool sometime?? (fountain of youth in your backyard girls??) hee hee!

@ Linda~ Thanks for sending me that note via FB re: my blog. Your message along with Patties guest message on Amber's blog made me rethink about restarting my blog. I appreciate your kind words & I will try my best to be helpful & hopefully inspiring. There is nothing easy about losing weight but its so much more fun when you have friends to walk with you on the journey. Best of luck with your son. I have a 15yr old daughter who is going to WW with me now. She is an absolutely beautiful young lady but she could lose about 20-25#. I want her to learn to make better choices in her life re: food. She is and always has been a very picky eater & I don't want to see her struggle with her weight like I did because I feel like I have missed out on so many things in my life because of being overweight. I never wanted to put a bathing suit on or heaven forbid be seen in one, I was very popular in high school but I always felt like I was the "fat girl" & lived my life so self conscious about my weight. I had alot of boyfriends in high school & they never seemed to mind my "chunkiness" which was a good thing I suppose because I do believe that many of them truly liked me for the person that I am inside.

And my Buddies Rosalie, Katie & Dawn~ Thanks so much for your positive feedback! It means a lot to hear that and you all have been walkin the walk & talkin the talk for a while now. You are great inspiration to us all!

 Its all about keepin on keepin on, isn't it? Staying focused on what you REALLY want & continuing to try. I do my best every day & some days are better than others for sure but I just keep thinking about how wonderful it will feel to wear the next size down, how fun it will be to buy a new wardrobe & then ultimately to see 150# on the scale & HOPEFULLY be wearing a size 10 someday. I haven't been a size 10 since 9th grade!!! No kidding!

I am a nurse at a Same Day Ambulatory Surgery Center and I had to give an inservice this morning to credential the other nurses on an IV pump that I have worked extensively with in my past nursing experience. I had 2 of my co workers pull me aside today and make wonderful comments to me about how they can tell I am losing weight & that I am really looking good. It fills the ole tank to hear that feedback doesn't it? Makes it all worthwhile when it becomes noticeable.

Well, I am gonna wrap this up for now. I hope you all had a great day!!! I will blog some more thoughts tomorrow....Sending you all skinny vibes!!

((HUGS))
Sherri

Tuesday, August 2, 2011

WOW! Its been a LONG time since I've written!!

Hello Dear friends!!

Did you think I fell off the face of the earth? My apologies for not blogging for a couple of months...my heart just wasn't into it and I have been so busy with life..... but I am happy to report Im still alive & kickin and getting skinnier!! Wooo hooo!!! I decided to rename my blog as I have not been following the Belly Fat Cure for quite some time.I am currently following Weight Watchers program and am having great success with it so I will continue to do this plan until I reach my goal of 150# which I hope to attain by the end of this year. Its a lofty goal but I am up for the challenge! :) I feel that we are all in this together and regardless of whatever plan you choose to follow, its so important to have your friends backing you and thats why I decided to resume my blog again. I have "met: so many of you through our blogs and have made such dear online friends to me through my weight loss journey with a special shout out to Diana, Rosalie, Amber, Katie, Lindsey, Kay, Kasey, Helen & Lisa, & Minichick to name a few off the top of my head. (if I missed somebody, my apologies...I am just writing the ones who regularly blogged comments)  I do hope to resume those friendships again and hopefully make some more new friends. Please feel free to leave your comments. I feel I have "been there" as I have struggled with my weight for most of my life and if my words or advice can help or inspire one person, it will be worth it! We are all in this together..."sisters" in weight loss for sure!!!

My starting weight, which was my highest weight EVER being NON PREGNANT was 218.5 and that was in March of 2010. I remember looking down at my scale that day and I cried because I couldnt believe that I had allowed myself to slip so badly to see a number that high on the scale. I was mortified!! I dawdled around & gained & lost the same 5-6# all summer, then saw a picture of myself at my parents 50th anniversary party and I remember being so horrified to look at those photos because that wasnt me. So my sister and I joined Weight Watchers Sept 18, 2010 & once again I dawdled around, not being TOTALLY comitted to losing and only lost 5#. I quit WW after a month and rejoined Dec 1st with the encouragement of my sister who was doing so well. And it was that day in Dec. that I made up my mind that enough was enough! My weight that day was 213.2. I got my head on straight again and made the decision that I was DONE with being fat once and for all....and when I made that decision & comittment, the weight began to come off. I guess my point here is, if you dont have your head in the game, you wont be successful. When you make up your mind that enough is enough, you too will be on your way!

Anyways, Im not sure what weight I was at my last posting but I am almost into the 170's now....my goodness, it has been FOREVER since I was in the 170's!!! I weighed 175 when I got pregnant with my oldest daughter over 15 yrs ago and I weighed 161 the day I got married. Isnt it funny how we remember our weights from so long ago but we cant remember what we had for breakfast?? lol...(sigh) Oh well, tis the perils of getting older I suppose! Anyways, My last weigh in at Weight Watchers this past Saturday was 182.8 and I officially hit the 30# mark with weight watchers and adding in the 5.5# I lost prior to joining I am down 35.5#. I cant even begin to tell you how great I feel!! I have been taking pictures of myself as I go along in my weight loss journey and I am really starting to see the difference in my body. I have lost 17.5 inches since last July. 6 inches gone from my waist, 6 inches gone from my midsection and the rest are small amts lost from bust, thighs etc. Although it is so hard to take that initial before picture and your measurements, I believe they are critical components to your success as sometimes the scale doesnt refflect the true story. When I dont feel like I am losing fast enough, I put on my old capris or shorts that I wore last summer that were a prefect fit and now they fall off of me or I pull out my tape measure & see if anything has changed or I will pull out those pictures and look at the one from August 2010 & where I am now and it gives me a new resolve to keep going. Now THAT is exciting stuff to see and it is validation that the hard work is paying off!!
                                     
                                                           Before photos Aug 2010

              
June 2011  26.4# lost

             
        
                                                          Me ~July 30, 2011 with 30.5# gone!
                                       (realized too late that this black top isnt very flattering but you get the gist)

I will try to post some new pics here but I have to tell you, my photos that I post on the computer dont look as good as the ones that are in "hard copy" print. Not sure why, but for some reason it looks this way to me. The photos look somewhat distorted & make me look bigger for some reason. I do wish you could see the hard copies as they look so much better  but you can look for yourself & hopefully see the progress.

With August now upon us and my 45th bday approaching in about a month and a half, I have set some small goals for myself that I would like to share. By the end of August, I would like to weigh 178. That would be the official 40# mark for me from my highest weight and by my birthday Sept 25th, I would like to be in a new decade of weight...the 160's!! I dont care if its 169.8, I will take it!! And as I said earlier, my ultimate goal of 150 I would like to see by Dec 31st. If it doesnt happen, thats ok, I will keep plugging away until I reach it, but its what I am shooting for.

I am sorry this is such a long post but Ive been away a while and wanted to get you all caught up. I hope you are all doing great!! I have truly missed you all and I hope that you will post a comment to let me know how you are doing on your weight loss journey. This is a lifestyle for me now and my 45th year is going to be the metamorphosis of me!!!

Have a wonderful day my friends!!

Hugs to all!!
Sherri