...my family!!!

So I've looked at my family's eating and exercise habits.  Hmmmm, those kids didn't fall far from the tree.  They snack all day - like me.  They sit and watch t.v. (or play video games) - like me.  They say, "just a second" - just like me. 

Now, if I have my big ice water bottle sitting out on the counter, two of the three kids will drink from it.  If I have a cup of Crystal Light out, they'll drink from that.  So what does that say - hmmm, maybe I should always have the water sitting out.

The hubby had back surgery.  Of course the first thing the doctors say is to lose weight, and he has but that wasn't why his back hurt.  So he just recently had back surgery and the surgeon keeps emphasizing that he needs to keep losing the weight.

I've noticed my knee seems to be bothering me a lot more lately and while I think there is more going on in there than just my weight issues, but I do think the weight has led to the issues.

My oldest - 12 years old - has had to have blood tests to monitor his cholesterol for the past two years.  He's been in the 98% range for height and weight.  Luckily we've gotten the cholesterol numbers down, he's still pretty sedentary.

The oldest and I have signed up for a 5K.  I've always looked into doing one but just never signed up.  Then I ran across the Awesome '80s Run that will be in San Francisco in November and it was in my price range to sign us up.  I figured if I actually signed us up, we'd be more motivated to do the training.  I'm excited because the finishing medal is a metal cassette tape.  Oh how I love the 80s, so this is right up my alley!!!  I just worry for my knee.

Anyway, my point is that I really need to be a better model for my kids.  Especially my daughter.  I don't want her to grow up with my bad habits and lead to a life of insecurity like I have.

... My Health

I'm feeling like Old Mother Hubbard today because my cupboards are bare.  So I cannot completely start gung-ho on my food plan ~ HOWEVER, I have been making better choices and selections today.  For lunch I made a different type of "sandwich."  I took half a cucumber and scooped out the seedy part.  Then I took 2 of those Laughing Cow swiss cheese wedges and spread it in the part I just scooped out.  Then I topped with oven-roasted turkey deli meat.  It was tasty and actually filling.  I ate it with a smoothie and I was full afterwards.

Then I learned about a new snack from my Aunt Kay while at a reunion at the family cabin.  She got it from the Dr. Oz show.  You take an avocado and some oranges.  Cut into pieces and toss together.  Drizzle with a little olive oil and a dash of salt.  I was so skeptical at first, but I am so glad I tried it because it was TASTY!!!

I didn't have my usual Crystal Light Peach/Mango Green Tea, so I actually drank water.  I made my usual stop at Pinterest tonight and found something called "Sassy Water."  It's basically water, lemon, cucumber, grated ginger and some sprigs of spearmint.  Well, I don't have ginger or spearmint but I've got everything else.  They stated to make it the night before so that the flavors mix well and it will be cold and ready to go ~ DUH why haven't I thought of that before?  Also, by putting 2 quarts of "sassy water" in a pitcher then you can see exactly how much water you have left to drink for the day.  Makes sense.  I've been dieting for a long time and I haven't tried this yet.  Love new tricks!!!

I've got a few apps that I am going to be using at the start of this venture.  I do like the Nike+ app.  It will track how long I walk and will tell me my best speed or average speed.  And the website that's associated with it has been fun.  They've been revamping it lately though.  Click here for some information.

I also discovered the Lose It! app.  I've never been a calorie counter, but I found with this app it makes it so much easier because you can just scan the UPC code and all the info is in their system.  YAY!

And finally, I will stick with the Dr. Phil Ultimate Weight Loss Solution information.  I know it worked for me in the past, so I will base some of my food plan on this.  Basically, before I ever counted calories I would just have the meals set in my head, so no matter where I was I would know what I should be eating.

BREAKFAST:   
1 protein serving
1 starchy carbohydrate
1 fruit
1 low-fat dairy

SNACK: 
1 fruit
1 low-fat dairy
Veggies

LUNCH:
1 protein serving
2 veggies
1 carbohydrate

SNACK:
1 fruit
1 low-fat dairy
Veggies

DINNER:
1 protein serving
2 veggies
1 carbohydrate

Well, that's today in a nut shell.



XO

...weight loss!

Will Workout for Weight Loss!  This is my first official post to what will be my journal to shedding 100+ pounds.  Not sure who will read this or if it will just be for me - you know the modern way to journal except for the fact that it won't be totally private.  But if my journey, successes, and/or struggles help you reach your goals, then it will be even more satisfying.  Not only would I love to shed the weight, I'd love to be a more confident ME.

I'm a 41 year old, stay at home mom of 3 who has always felt fat.  I have never had much self-esteem.  Never felt comfortable in social situations.  I was bullied on the bus in middle school because of the glasses I wore.

(Gotta love the 80s)

From that time on, I've always been so self-conscious about the way I look.  I even ran across a picture I took of myself when I was about 22 years old.  It was my "Start" picture.  What bothers me the most is that I wish I looked like that now.  I wonder what my life would be like if I actually liked myself back then.  But I do realize I wouldn't be where I am today without that part of my past - you know my hubby and kids - and I'm OK with that.  But I never really lost any real weight.  Just slowly gained weight as time went on.

(This isn't the exact "start" picture but it's the same time period.  I wish I loved myself then.)

I met my husband through AOL.  Remember when you'd get those CD's in the mail for a free trial of their internet service.  I was totally into hockey at that time.  The Denver Grizzlies started my love and then they moved back to Utah and Colorado got the Avalanche in 1995.  I discovered that AOL had a hockey chat room.  I'd basically be a stalker and just read the conversations.  I would get too nervous to actually type something to join in on the conversation.  My heart would race and I'd get all anxious.  I found that the Chicago Blackhawk fans were always the rudest.  So when the Avalanche beat the Blackhawks out of the Stanley Cup playoffs I quickly jumped online to actually give a "ha ha" shout-out to those rude fans.  Well, no one was there.  Go figure, I get the nerve but no one to give hell to.  Then just before I signed off I got this Instant Message asking me who won the game.  I proudly announced that the Avs were moving onto the next round of playoffs.  He was so pissed, especially knowing the player (Sandis Ozolinsh) was the one who made the winning goal.  He used to play for his favorite team - San Jose Sharks.  We bantered back and forth for a bit and next thing you know I'm packing up my bags and moving to California (8 months after meeting online).

After moving to California I earned my Bachelors Degree in Film Production and married my fellow hockey fan.  Prior to getting married I did what I could to lose weight before the wedding.  Weight Watchers and Jenny Craig.  They work, but it wasn't something I could do long term apparently. 

(Wedding day ~ 8/22/1998 ~ Pebble Beach, CA)

I had my first son in 1999 and reached my highest weight.  Had my second son in 2002 and was "proud" that I maintained my heavy size.  This was around the time Dr. Phil came out with his Ultimate Weight Loss Solution book.  I was a fan of Dr. Phil, so I gobbled up all the information.  I also read his Self Matters book and learned a lot about myself that I found helpful to my weight loss journey.  I lost 60 pounds with Dr. Phil's knowledge.  I joined a group of women who were all part of this same journey but then the women who didn't really have much weight to lose caused some distress between those of us who had a lot of weight to lose, so the group disbanded. 

(Before and After ~ 60 pound weight loss and almost to wedding weight)

And shortly after that I became pregnant with my third child - my daughter.  I had a lot of good eating habits, so I only gained the "recommended" 30 pounds during pregnancy.  It was the 4 months of sitting on the couch with a newborn where the 60 pounds found it's way back to my body.  That was 6 years ago and I'm back up to that same highest weight again.  Over these last 6 years I have tried and failed at losing weight.  I hate it.  I feel like I'm the only fat mom at my kids school.  I feel like the only fat chick at the pool.  I feel like I'm the fattest person in the room - even though I feel completely invisible around other people (does that even make sense?).

(Most current picture - before getting those nasty roots touched up, but this is about weight not hair)

I became an Uppercase Living Independent Demonstrator - a direct sales business.  Scared to stand in front of people, I dove right in.  Over the last 5 years I've actually become a bit more confident, not ready for public speaking or anything but I've come such a long way.

So here I am again, a year before my 25th high school reunion with every intention of FINALLY shedding 100+ pounds to finally be FABULOUS in my FORTIES!!