Update...Saturday Weigh in Edition.

Good afternoon Girls!

Well, I am happy to report that my weigh in this week was very good! I am down 2.6#!! Yay!! I did have  a 2# gain last week so I am back to baseline + a little more. My total weight loss for January was a whopping 1.6#....not great but its not a gain so I will take it! My goal was to have 5# off this month, so I am 3.2# behind the "8 ball" going in to Feb but it is what it is and I am moving forward. My friend Tairrah who I work with (sounds like Tara) has been on WW since March 2010 and she hit 70# loss today. Isn't that awesome??! She was a pretty big girl when she started, pushing 300# and now she is 210. (she had lost about 10# prior to joining last March). I am so proud of her!!! She is very shy and I think she has always liked "disappearing" into the woodwork but what a difference I have seen in her since she has lost the weight not only physically but socially. She is 27 so she has youth on her side and a way better metabolism than that of a 45 yr old premenopausal woman (me), but she has worked hard and I made sure when they were sharing today that Pam (our Leader) made sure to ask her about her loss. So many people were inspired by her and I think it made her feel really good to talk today in front of the group. She is a really sweet girl and she inspires me and always checks in to see how my week is going when I see her at work, and I do the same with her. I saw her eating one of the Panera "UFO" cookies and she STILL lost 3# this week....and I didn't even have a bite of one! (Sigh) Oh well, tis my fate. I just have to work harder as my age & hormones are not on my side.

I did make an appt for my initial health assessment at my gym on Wed and I cant wait to see where I will be in 3 months. They provide you with a 1 hr training session with a certified personal trainer to design a fitness plan for you and every 3 months you can get a re-assessment to see how far you have come. I want Jamie (my trainer that I signed up with) to design a plan for me that will work my arms, back & abs. My legs are pretty thin so those only need a little toning up and I think the elliptical & walking and a few leg machines will take care of that. Ive always had pretty nice legs for the most part. Its the darned belly that's always been the problem. I would like to see how toned I can get my belly in hopes of avoiding the tummy tuck, if possible. As I think about it more, I really don't want to go through that pain. It is pretty miserable, so I am told , and every pt I have taken care of after a tummy tuck, is pretty miserable. I am going to work hard and make getting to the gym more if a priority, at least 3-4 times a week. I know I can do it and I think the exercise will be a catalyst to get my weight loss back on track.

So that's it for me today. The hubs took my car to Syracuse for an overnight umpire clinic so I am stuck with his gigantic Dodge Ram truck this weekend! Uggh! Its like driving a monster truck to me, but my  Jeep Grand Cherokee (which might I add is the BEST car I have ever had!!!) handles better than his truck and gets much better gas mileage and I feel better knowing he is in that vehicle rather than his truck. I don't have big plans other than going to church & the gym tomorrow so its all good. My oldest dtr is spending the day with her boyfriend & his family so I am taking my youngest dtr out for dinner tonight. We were thinking maybe Olive Garden but not sure where we will end up. I have the monster truck so I would like to keep driving to a minimum.

I hope you have all had a fantastic week!!!

Hugs to all!!!
Sherri

It's time for a post from me...

Hello friends!

I haven't been online a lot, just a quick check in here & there. Ive been busy and when I hop on the blogs it takes me a good hour, sometimes longer to read all of your posts and comment (when I can if the computer allows me to) so I am back and I just wanted to check in and let you know whats been going on over here in my little corner of the world.

Last weeks weigh in was nothing short of a huge disappointment. I gained 2#! Man did that make me mad! It seems I have been on hiatus since I had that bad head cold and I had lost my desire to exercise and was eating over my points , so I sucked it up, took my lumps, and am moving on. I have been very good this week and I pray that the scale will be my friend on Saturday morning. Our Anesthesiologist had lunch catered in from Paner'as and I am proud to say I didn't go near those sandwiches and those cookies that were the size of UFOs!! lol! I kept telling myself that it wasn't as good as I thought and that it wasn't worth it. It worked! :) Its all in our heads and although I am a work in progress, I proved to myself that I can overcome that kind of temptation. My lunch was so good too. I packed some homemade veggie soup (1 cup) a turkey pita sandwich on 9 grain pita with some lettuce, 1 slice of provolone (light) and  a smidge of ranch dressing, and I had a small yogurt with a few blackberries & raspberries. It was really yummy and I was not only proud of myself, but I had a very happy tummy and I fed my body with good things. I had a really yummy grilled chicken salad for dinner with ranch dressing (2T of the real stuff. No fat free dressing...YUCK!) and I topped it with a little cheese and 3 oz of baked fries. OMG...soooo good!!

 I wanted to be down 5# this month and I am sad to report that I am not down anything this month. I guess that's what you get when you get comfortable. I think that's whats been happening to me and why I haven't lost any significant amt of weight since Oct. I think deep down, I have become complacent & content with where I am . I haven't weighed this little in YEARS and I haven't worn a size 14 since 1999. I really believe this is what has sunk into my skull and it is the reason for my plateau. Its all psychological. So its a matter of getting my thinking back on straight  and refocusing again. I have lost the month of January and I take responsibility for that but I refuse to allow another month to pass and not lose any weight again. Before we know it, spring will be here and I want to be in the 160s by then. I read Amber's post about having her wedding dress fit again and I have decided that when I get down to 161, I will crack open the sealed box and try it on. I am actually kind of excited about that thought. That would be such a huge accomplishment and I promise I will have my husband take a picture and I will post it for you to see. My daughters have both said they have no desire to ever ear my wedding dress (which might I add, made me look and feel like a real princess) so why not crack that baby open & try her on again!!! My new motivation!

I am hoping that my posting issues have resolved. It seems I am able to post on blogs again without getting the blank screen so fingers crossed, lets hope that's the end of that dilemma.

I hope you all are having a great week!!! Its so hard to believe that February is right around the corner...how time truly does fly! Enjoy every moment!!!

Love & hugs to all!
Sherri

Somebody please tell me what is happening???

Hi everyone!
OK, I am not a happy camper here! It seems that blogger has changed something and I am unable to post comments on certain people blogs (Minichick & Pattie). I am BEYOND irritated with it and I am not sure what I am doing wrong and what I can do to fix this. If you can help me, I would really appreciate it! I am not technical in any way and I feel so badly that I am unable to leave comments. I want Minichick to know how proud I am of you for making WW lifetime!!! What an amazing accomplishment girl!!! Wooo hoooooo!! ( doing the happy dance here!!) And to Pattie, you know how I feel and I have tried to FB you with my thoughts. I am so sorry I cant figure this out girls and please know that I am able to read your blogs, just not able to respond. I am really hoping someone can help me out so I can fix this.

On the weight loss front, well things are not looking good this week. When I got on the scale yesterday am it said I was UP 5#!!! OMG!!!! I was freaking out!!!! I decided to do a week of BFC plan to shake things up. It is so far off from what I do on WW, but I think I need to do something to get the ball rolling again. So far so good. Yesterday was a good day and today has also been good. I want to give a shout out to Dawn and let you know that I made your chocolate muffins the other day and when I first tasted them, I have to be honest, I wasn't crazy about them. They were just kind of bland to me. So I decided to slice the muffin in half (I made them in a full size muffin tin and they came out great! They look prefect!) then I added 1 T. Natures hollow Raspberry preserves split between the 2 halves and a few raspberries on top and can I tell you, it is OMG good!!! I didn't add the chocolate chips to the batter. I added 1/2 tsp of mini choc chips on top before baking them and together with the raspberry, the chocolate muffin and the choc chips on top, it is a decadent dessert! I figured the S/C value of each muffin to be 4 gms sugar and 9 gms of carbohydrate. I only added about 6 raspberries on top and then the natures hollow added in makes it a little more but to me it is worth it! It was nothing short of a little taste of heaven! Thank you Dawn for sharing that recipe!

Well, tomorrow is weigh in day and I am not looking forward to it but I will get on the scale and take my "lumps" and move on. I am just so disappointed that here it is Jan 20th and I am still spinning in neutral. I need a really BIG kick in the pants please! I'm tired of everyone passing me by!!!!

I hope you all had a great week! Sending you all hugs!
Sherri
p.s please know that if i haven't commented on your blog its because I am having problems. It seems to be random with who I can & cant blog a comment on but I am having the biggest problems with Pattie & Minichicks sites. I am so sorry girls!!!!

So you wont believe this.....

Hello and Happy Sunday friends!

Well, prepare yourselves ladies for a rant because here it comes. You just wont believe this, but yesterday the scale (and a MEAN scale at that) said that I was UP a pound!!! Seriously???!! REALLY???!!! You have GOT to be kidding!!! I was so mad, frustrated, irritated, pissed off (sorry for that word but you know what I mean) totally ready to scream!!! How can you be sick all week, eat well and GAIN weight??! It isn't fair! I was DOWN the last time I got on the scale...not up!! My WW leader Pam said that when we are sick that sometimes the body will gain weight and not to worry, that it will come off by next weigh in. I am sure this does happen, but cmon, why me for Pete's sake?! I just don't know what I have to do to get the weight loss ball rolling again. I prayed last night and this morning in church for God to guide me on what I need to do. I realize I didn't exercise last week due to my cold and perhaps that is a factor. I don't know. I just cant take this idling much longer. Its gotten REALLY REALLY OLD!!! I haven't lost anything significant since October....OCTOBER!! That is ridiculous! I'm sorry to rant here, but this is how I am feeling inside. Just ready to scream!! I decided to take a no weigh in pass at the scale at WW yesterday. I just couldn't face seeing a gain on their scale too.

So girls, I'm feeling a bit at the wits end here today. I have faith in WW and their plan. It has helped me shed over 40# this past year, and I love & believe in the program, but why am I so stalled? I have to wonder if deep down inside, perhaps a part of me is becoming complacent or perhaps content with being in a size 14 and weighing 179?? I haven't been a size 14 in so many years, I almost have to wonder. I'm out of the WOMEN'S sizes now and can shop in the misses sizes. I am wearing a Large or sometimes Medium top these days. Maybe, just maybe, I am getting a little too comfortable? So its time to get UNCOMFORTABLE! I need to remind myself. I am not done with this journey! I am going to lose this last 30# if it kills me to do it.

OK, I'm done now. Thanks for letting me vent my frustrations. This just isn't what I had planned on how my new year was going to start out. I'm not giving up! Just going to work harder.

Hope you all have a super Sunday! Shrimp Scampi over  shiritaki noodles for me for dinner tonight! Cant wait!!!! YUM!
Sherri

Happy Friday!

Good morning friends!

Its a snowy morning here in PA and we are anticipating more cold & snow over the weekend. We've been lucky to have such a mild winter so far and to see this snow it does finally feel like January. I don't mind the snow, just the long winters. In my old age, I am going to move somewhere warm....just sayin.

So enough about the weather. It seems I have been bitten by the nasty cold bug and its going on a week now. Ive had the runny nose, sneezing & plugged nose & ears & a sore throat. No fun and yuck! Thank goodness I am finally feeling better. I'm not a good sick person & my hubby doesn't want to get near me. HAHA! Cracks me up...he isn't a germaphobe but when I get sick, he just about quarantines himself from me. I have lost my taste buds with this cold so food just isn't enjoyable, which really stinks. I have been eating homemade chicken barley soup that I made on Sunday and that has been soothing to the throat and I am drinking lots of water and taking Mucinex D which might I add is a Godsend!

On the weight front, things looked good on the scale this morning. I never know what WW scale will say but I am thinking I am definitely down at least a pound. I always hope for more though. If you remember, I have been doing the Simply Filling technique but with the cold, I have deviated somewhat and have eaten some processed things this week but all in all, things have been good. I went to Barnes & Noble yesterday and bought Jorge's new book that Rosalie is in. It pretty much is a review of BFC & the quick meals are a nice reference for low sugar alternatives when dining out. I am trying to make better choices & eating lower sugar things. I do whole heartedly believe in the sugar/fat storage thinking. I wish that I were more disciplined to do the BFC all the time and I applaud all of you who have adopted it as your lifestyle. As we have said before, it doesn't matter what plan you are following. If you are seeing results and feel it is something you can sustain for life, then that is the best plan for you. Although my weight loss has been slow, WW is the best plan for me and is easily adaptable to my busy life. I have tried I believe EVERY diet known to man and this one has been the one that I have had the greatest success at, so I am just going to keep on keepin on! :)

I've been having problems posting comments on your blogs. I will get a comment all typed up and then I hit publish and it bleeps it away. It is very frustrating and I am wondering if that is happening to any of you? I have read your blogs girls and if you don't see a comment from me now you know why. I hope this is a temporary thing. A note to Pattie~ You are in my thoughts & prayers daily. Praying for your peace my friend.

So with it being a cold snowy day, my plans are to do a little cleaning. Not that I WANT to, but the ole ponderosa is in need of a good scrubbin! I hope you all have a great day today and a wonderful weekend!

Sherri

Good morning...time for a post from me!

Good morning friends!

Oh my goodness, I just realized I haven't been on the blogs for a few days. Seems that I have succumbed to the throws of a nasty cold...yuck! :( I just haven't had the energy to sit at the computer. I'm hoping it passes soon. I really hate being under the weather! I had plans to hit the gym today but I am just too tired & congested , my throat is so sore & the nose is in a constant state of running so I think I will hold off until things improve. Not trying to be a whiner here so sorry if it comes off that way. Just wanted to let you all know why I haven't been around. I did try to post on your blogs to get caught up with whats new with you all. My heart goes out to Pattie & her family. There are no words to describe such a  catastrophic loss. You are in my thoughts & prayers Pattie.

Not much new here on the diet front. I am trying to eat "clean" & rid my body of processed food. I do love my turkey bacon though and nitrites & all, I am still gonna eat it! Weight watchers has a part of their weight loss plan called "Simply Filling". Now I know many of you girls are BFC girls, and you know that I am a WW girl, so oblige me here for a moment. The Simply Filling Technique is where you eat mainly "Power Foods" which are whole unprocessed foods. Fruits, veggies, lean proteins low fat dairy & 2 tsp of healthy oils/day. It has worked great for me in the past , where I have lost 3-4#/week. The hardest part is the preparation. When you are eating "good" you have to be prepared & have those good foods on hand so that is my plan today. Since I am not going to the gym today, my plan is to prep some healthy meals for the week with Simply Filling foods. I started eating SF on Sunday and I got on the scale this am and am down 2# already! Now, mind you, when weigh in day on Sat rolls around, we could be talking a different story because my weight fluctuates 1-2# daily (which might I interject here drives me CRAZY!!!! Sigh...I know its a girl thing but still) I feel better eating this way and there is some flexibility with the program as you have 49 extra points that you can use toward foods that aren't power foods. So we shall see what happens. I am tired of spinning in neutral and it is time to SHAKE THINGS UP!!!!!!!!! My goal is to lose 5# this month to stay on target for reaching my goal weight of 150# by June 20th.

So that's my thoughts for today. I hope you are all having a great week!!!
Keep on Keepin on Girls!!! Its a NEW YEAR and we are on our way to being our BEST ever!!!!
Hugs to all my peeps!
Sherri

Some pics & a quick post....

Good morning friends!

Well, I am off to the gym to work out but wanted to share some photos with you. I started my weight loss journey in the fall of 2010. These are my before photo & an updated photo taken last week. I was blown away by the difference in my profile. So when you feel discouraged that the scale isn't moving to the number you want it to, take a look at some photos, take your measurements or put on a pr of jeans that you haven't been able to wear in a while and let that be a source of encouragement to you in your weight loss. Just seeing these photos really opened my eyes to just how well I am doing.
 I must go now as I have a date with the elliptical at the gym! :) Oh, and by the way, I rejoined my fitness center that I belonged to last year and I am soooo happy I did! It wasn't cheap as it is an amazing facility. It's like the Taj Mahal of fitness centers, but I decided that I am worth every penny!!! :)  I was there 2 hrs on Tues. I did 65 mins on the elliptical & 20 mins on the bike and then walked the track a few laps to cool down. I burned over 650 calories!!  Gonna go & burn some more fat today!
Here are my pics. Can you see the diffference??

Me~ Aug 2010 About 216ish :(   (NOT happy & looking pregnant!!Uggh!)

   

Me~ Dec 31, 2011 weighing 177.4 (38.6# less!!) :)

To each of you, have a fantabulous day!! I will catch up with blogs later tonight.

Love & Belief always!

Sherri

Welcome 2012!!!!

Good evening friends and a very happy new year to you all!!!

Its 8pm on the east coast and I am sitting here in my workout clothes getting ready to hit the treadmill but I wanted to just make a quick post and share some thing great that happened to me yesterday. 

I took my 13 yr old daughter & her friends to the mall yesterday and after dropping them off, decided to pop in to Chico's to see what they had on sale. Nothing great there. Then I went to Christopher & Banks...nothing there. As I was walking to leave the mall to head out to my car, I passed Macy's & thought I would check them out. Well, can I just tell you, I got some amazing deals!! I have been holding out to buy any new clothing because I don't want to load up of clothing at this size only to find it too big & then have to sell it to consignment in the fall. Well, Macy's was having a BIG New Years 75% off sale on alot of sweaters & some summer stuff mixed in too. I found 4 tops, 2 sweaters (1 a MEDIUM and 1 a Large) as well as a casual 3/4 length cotton tshirt (sz Large)with a little bling on the front and a really adorable purple top (more for summer, Size MEDIUM!!) and I got them all for under $30!!! I believe it came to $29.60. Outside of the fact that I got all of that for under $30, the best part for me was to find that 2 of them were in a size medium! I haven't worn a medium in over 10 years!!! I almost couldn't believe it ,but by gosh they fit!!!! I tell ya girls, there is no food on this planet that can possibly make me feel better than having a size medium fit.

We didn't do much last night and I went to bed around 11:30pm only to be awakened by fireworks & drunken neighbors screaming at midnight. (sigh) Oh well. Its been a good day today and although I feel tired, I am going to hit the treadmill for 30 minutes tonite. I didn't get a chance to put my goal poster together yet, but I have an idea of what I want it to look like. My sister and I chatted for over an hour last night on the phone and she has another 65# to lose and I have 30# left to lose so we were getting a strategy together. My monthly goal is to lose 5# each month to reach my goal weight of 150 by June 20th. My sister plans to lose 6# each month to reach her goal by Dec 2012. I feel they are all attainable monthly goals & it feels good to have a "plan of action" in place.

Today was my hubby's 51st bday. I made him BBQ ribs, coleslaw & reheated some fried potatoes from the other day. I had a little bit of the pork  some coleslaw. It was really good! We celebrated with a DQ ice cream cake for dessert. I had a very small slice & the best part is, I felt very in control.

Wishing you all a very ahppy, healthy & SKINNY 2012!!!!