picture

I finally figured out how to get a picture on here. This is me and the fam on a dinosaur at the hogle zoo. Don't I have some pretty boys?

oops

So I had a little setback, I kind of gave up for a month, but I'm back and ready to try again. I got down to 238, but now am back at 245, but I can live with that, it will go down. What I really need to talk about is what causes me to be this way. being overweight is not as much physical for me, but mental/emotional.

People talk about losing weight like it is all opinion there are so many different diet plans and theories out there, but weight loss is simple science. If you eat less calories than you burn, then you loose weight. So if it's so simple, and we all know what to do, why is it so hard? Why do I gain the weight back when I know how easy it is to lose? I can tell you why, and it is also the reason this country is so messed up financially: We want to be happy now.

Donuts make us happy, that big bowl of ice cream makes us happy, and if there is a way to buy something now, even though we don't have the money yet, we are going to be happy NOW. So how do we get away from being in the now generation and delay our gratification?

If anyone has any ideas, let me know, we can start a conversation right hear online.

weekly weigh in

So I weighed my self this morning and I am now at 245! So 7 lbs down. I also lost 2 1/2 inches in my waist and 2 inches in my hips. Not bad for a weeks work. My goal of the week is to drink more water. It's just good for you.

I have also fallen in love with sugar free, noncarbonated rockstar energy drinks. I've created a poll so you could all vote on whether I need to give them up. be educated, I'm sure you can find the nutrition facts online.

That's all for now, but expect more when I have more time.

Hit my low point?

I read once that every one who is extremely overweight has to hit bottom and reach a turning point in order to have the strength to change, I must have hit that point a few days ago. I was just about to go to bed and I realized I could not remain the way I was. It wasn't fair to my kids, it wasn't fair to my husband, and it wasn't fair to me.

So for the last 4 days I have finally been practicing what I preach and eating healthy. I found a wonderful calorie tracker on livestrong.com called my plate. I feel so special every time I put in what I ate and know it was the right thing. I have also been using the eliptical I made husband by me 2 years ago that I swore I needed.

Now I do cardio for 30 min at least 5 days a week. That first day was probably the hardest thing I have ever done in my life. Using music or TV as a distraction has alway been my MO, but now I do it in silence. Everyday I feel like I win a war, the whole time I tell my self I am beautiful and strong and in control. By staying positive and thinking of what I can eat and what I will be able to do has helped me not have any temptation (other that wanting an extra tuna sandwich for lunch yesterday, which I resisted).

It's only been 3 1/2 days, but I have no doubt I will succeed. To keep me honest, I will post my progress on here with advice for anyone going through the same thing.

starting weight: 252 (ouch!)

goal weight: 160

mini goal: get under 220 by my anniversary ((August 10) (and before anyone tells me thats not healthy, you always lose the first weight fast, I lost 5 lbs the first day) ))

I weigh in monday mornings so feel free to check in and cheer me on.

If anyone is open to some friendly competition, bring it on, we can even have prizes!

Let me end with a quote I found in tip-a-day guide to healthy living by Melanie Douglass-

"Make a promise to yourself--right now--that you will appreciate your body as the precious gift from God it was meant to be. Satan is jealous of your physical body because he doesn't have one--and he'll continually try to seduce you to abuse, neglect, and despise yours. Don't let him!"

cream of zucchini soup

With summer finally here, gardens will be maturing and we will all have more zucchini than we know what to do with. So aside from sending it my way (zucchini donations always welcome!), I found this easy and delicious cream of zucchini soup recipe that I'm sure you will all enjoy.

Cream Of Zucchini Soup

1 T butter or olive oil

1 cup chopped onions

6 medium zucchini, peeled and slices

4 c chicken broth

1 pint light cream or half and half

black pepper and seasoned salt for taste

Use a medium to large pot

saute onion in the butter or oil for 5 minutes or so till translucent.

add broth and zucchini, bring to boil and simmer till soft but not mushy.

pour in blender and puree

add cream and seasonings and blend

If it's still hot you can serve it straight from the blender, otherwise put back on stove and heat.

This was a hit with my kids, and perfect for on the go, you can put it in a cup!

Happy New Year! An apple a day

So it's the new year and I have already eaten my share of M&Ms for the whole year. It's amazing how hard it can be to get eating under control. I think I might just start my new year off right now with the eating right.

So my tip of today is to eat an apple before every meal. There just like candy, in fact, my kids think that apples have candy in them. But are really only 60 calories and good sugars. If you eat an apple before your meal then you get mostly full from that and don't need as much food. Lets go for not getting overfull in 2011.

I'm having my grand opening on January 22nd, so anyone who comments between now and then will be entered into a drawing to win a free massage. Will also give $10 off any massage booked between the 22nd and the 28th.

Massage does wonders for your health, it will increase circulation, rid your body of toxins, and of course manage any pain you may have. A good deep tissue/ russian will even feel like a workout to your body. More on the benefits of massage later.

To finish it off for today I have a bath recipe to soothe those sore muscles till you can get that massage.

Sore Muscle Soak
1 cup epson salt
3 drops lavender oil
3 drops juniper oil
2 drops peppermint oil
2 drops black pepper oil

*Mix oils one drop at a time into the epson salt. Stir well. Sprinkle into a deep, warm bath. Stir bath until dissolved. Soak for 30 minutes, gently massaging sore muscles under the water. Enjoy!