Fit Mommy Fri~ WK 15: STEADY and STILL At It!

I HONESTLY have such a long way to go, and b/c many of my Fit Mommy buds are just maintaining~I get a little discouraged with my progress! In fact it's hard to write every week without disclosing all my stats but I do feel that some would not be able to relate to my situation, but I do feel that FOR ME it's helpful to continue to plug along with this meme.  In fact, I get few comments here~but no matter...comments or no, I write this one FOR ME.  You have to do that too~find things in life that hold you accountable and in the game...and opting OUT of the game is what I did in allowing myself to become so morbidly obese.  But, no more! I am in and still at it. . . it's PROGRESS I count~not perfection! I won't EVER get there if I focus on my flaws rather than my victories...and so I encourage all the Fit Mommys at whatever your desired goals to focus on WHAT YOU ARE doing and celebrate that MORE~don't beat yourselves us, but learn and change~grow...that little flower that began as a seed to a sprout fought the dry crust of the earth's surface to rise up to the sunshine and flower! WE CAN TOO!

My progress this week is evident in my feet.  I have been a size 13 WWW shoe and yesterday in my thrift store travels I found a regular width size 10 to my comfort~WOOT~

Soo for me, it's ALL IN THE FOOT today! LOL

I am still white flour and sugar free~no preaching here! In fact, you may not need to do this in your life, but if you are struggling, let me say that NOW that I am thus, I don't EVER want OR EVEN DESIRE to return. Why? B/C I AM FEELING BETTER than I have in YEARS! and ...my body is shrinking faster than I ever dreamed.  I believe that higher than normal sugars per my research shows that it will increase inflammation in the body~and that causes puffiness and swelling...yup...SO I WAS BIGGER eating sugar even though I was not gorging (in the end of still consuming) it!  Soo you can keep right on~but know that I do count this as a pure unadulterated MIRACLE in my life~I am amazed that I am celebrating 26 weeks tomorrow.  I also celebrated 21 years with hub on Wed~that's a victory! Also..I am one year in my program of changing my health by giving my life to God. PTL!

I continue to drink water~evercise..got on that bike this week~climbed more stairs and worked like a dog! woot!

I'm cking out a new Christian Bible study that addresses food addictions HERE!                  .

If you want to read more or join up with the other Fit Mommys~HIT that button!  HOW was your week? Are you gardening this year? Are you adding more veggies-raw and healthy?? What's up with you??

Fit Mommy Friday~WK 13: Progress NOT Perfection!

I'm participating in the Fit Mommy meme each week where we share what's going on with our attempts to get healthful with our food and exercise.  You can join up too~click that big button! ;-))

Soo it was a good week!  I have been way way more active, but I haven't been swimming OR biking, but I've pushed that vacuum a lot and cleaned and cleaned ~running errands several days~AND YARD WORK!!  DOES this count when it's all new for me?  I was on my feet yesterday over an hour and it felt fine~My life is definitely improving.

Last Friday I did measure my body.  I did:
neck
upper arms
forearms
bust
waist
fat hang over waist..LOL
hips
thighs
knees
calves
ankles...

GOT the picure?? LOL..I haven't weighed in about 8 weeks but I am shrinking~ so now I'm going to track it a little more officially.    Food continues to be WHITE free and I'm working portions of course! I am also moving more~in time...but I did do some really HARD physical stuff in raking my front yard this week and cleaning up the sidewalks and porch from winter and yard trimming! whooho!

We got snow this week! LOL...

Thanks for coming by~
God has not given us a spirit of fear but of power and a sound mind~amen!
You can join the other Mommys HERE or just read about us~all levels and abilities! whoot!

Fit Mommy Friday~WK 11: Different Week

I'm participating in the Fit Mommy Fri for accountability and support.  You can too!  This is a group of moms who are changing our lives one MOVE and food at a time~

Well, my week was definitely different.  I didn't go swim ONCE so far~and not planning to today either...but..but...I did MOVE MORE~got out more~and even got my BIKE OUT and took a few spins~planning to go again TODAY~Received my Denise Austin book yesterday too~sooo I have a feeln' things are GONNA CHANGE...LOL! But my food continues to be good~I am eating a good many calories, still around the 2K mark, and so my wt loss is slow, but I am MOVN' and planning even more~
Thanks for coming by~

To read what the other moms are up to, head               !

Fit Mommy Friday~WK 10: Slow Week...Sorta!

I've had a wierd week.  I've been doing well with my eating plan.  I did change the construct of the foods I am consuming leaving more starches off my plate and going a little higher in protein.  NOT exactly calorieless, but much lower in the sugar department which has meant that I am still feeling GREAT for the most part..all except some emotional stuff I am going through. Loads of decisions and changes ALL at once!  These wonderful creations of God, our bodies are affected by our emotions, environment, food, water balance, exercise...oh my! The list is endless, but none the less, its a fine balance we seek, and I'm revamping my life one day at a time!  It is easy to feel overwhelmed right now, but I am keeping my shoulder to the wheel and pushing forward.  NO slack time for me.  Exercise consisted of riding my stationary bike and pedaling machine each day and/or swimming.  My body is shrinking still...this is GOOD~and while I haven't weighed in for a while, I don't let that stop me.  Leaving sugar and white junk behind has been one of the BEST things I've ever done for ME.  I know it's a challenge.  BELIEVE ME, I know...I am living it.  And for the other eaters in my life such as my family, I make things very hard~no mo FUN foods for me...so I don't participate anymore.  But I've tried to ADD  IN some other stuff in our lives that equal LOVE just as much as eating together.  It's been a big change not to go out to eat for recreation.  Hub and I did THAT a lot...and for convenience.  NO MO...oh no! but I love the movies and well, biking and hopefully when the weather improves WALKING SOME...not too keen on this yet, but I will be...I also envision RUNNING...just you wait~Sister has some ideas for her future! Yes, INDEED!

What about you? Are you eying the future with your health and happiness in mind??
Head to the Fit Mommys  HERE to ck it all out!

Fit Mommy Friday: Wk 9~Blah, blah, blah...

It really wasn't that bad as 'blah, blah, blah', but it wasn't overly GREAT either. It was just the routines of life with a restless heart in wanting my progress to MOVE faster! I was blessed with week with a pedaling system to start biking each morning in my bedroom before warm weather arrives here in our little neck of the woods where right now the sky is all gloomy promising MO rain to an already flood riddled-water soaked community~bummer! But on the other hand, this will mean a gorgeous spring so I can look forward to riding my three wheeler bike around my neighborhood each day to see gorgeous blooms and that great spark of green that means life is and spring has sprung!  Soo I'm not gonna complain. Even though there is snow promised by weekend, because I am so blessed to be celebrating that my eating continues sound. In fact, I am learning more how nutrition really is going to be a healing fix along with exercise to this weary obese body. What I have learned is that our cells ~our bodies at its tiniest point actually breaks all foods and liquids into basically three categories: FAT, PROTEIN and....SUGAR!  Well, the first two were no new revelation to me; my goodness our government has been harping since the 90s the evils of FAT-FILLED foods and have driven some to giving up so much~and even exercising sooo much~take my dear friend who 'got the message' so to speak in the late 80's (yeah, we're THAT OLD...lol) who jazzercised and moved on to high defined body points, but her bones today??? They may likely crack out from under her should she move the wrong way..and at fifty, this is NOT good~but mention full fat eating and she cringes~but most willing to eat nonfat and loads of sugars, both hidden and not.  Of course, she's NOT obese.  I am.  But we're all learning, right? And my own lessons have been even worse.  What I'm learning is that sugar is hidden in not only evil~gorgeous~sinful~delish foods, but that it IS even my healthy mainstays such as all the green stuff and crunch...yup~you are reading me right. IF it ins't fat or protein~it's sugar. NOW, not ALL sugars are created equal.  You have the crunchy and we're not talking pure crunchy sugars, here..lol (NICE TRY),  but rather the ones the health gurus are going to tout, like our back to nature: FRESH FRUITS and VEGGIES~yes, they too have sugars but b/c of their high high fiberous INSOLUBLE fiberousness~that part passes digestion and SLOOOOOOOWS the absorbtion of SUGAR into the blood and thereby burns MORE effeciently? NEED a CHEMISTRY LESSON?? I did! In fact, three years ago I was in a nursing anatomy and physiology class and learned this stuff~sitting on that back row with my study buddies~raising my hand, "WHERE do the VEGGIES fit in???" uh..duh...well... ... SUGAR.  IS IT any wonder that I have still contracted with my MOSTLY~not kidding here or lying~MOSTLY vegetable based diet that I have developed insulin resistance?  And dear sister, do you know that just b/c I am obese and you may not be that YOU too can develop this too? Oh yes, my risks were higher, but I believed that eating just healthy foods were enough. But this strategy is not. And so what I am about to say is absolutely unbelievable:  Thin people are insulin resistant and can develop DIABETES too~This has totally blown my mind! Sooo just the thin or 'fit looking' by not really be soooo...back to judging book covers, are we??? LOL...better NOT! LOL...we had better delve a little more~

So in looking at my food, I can assure you that I have eaten my veggies, oh yes...but what is my overall CARB (sugar) intake? What's happening to me?? Well, after looking at this carefully and the changes I have made, remember that I have been 21 1/2 weeks NO processed/refined sugars or flours~and sooo I now am attacking in full force my overall sugar load each day. My neuropathy is resolving. My facial numbness is resolving.  My body is shrinking~listen, I haven't measured ME, but...I have weighed less before, but I NEVER EVER have been able to see all the liters and veins in my feet (not pretty, I'd say~), but certainly NO swelling or inflammation.  WHAT I am researching is that when the overall sugars are controlled in the body, inflammation decreases and the body can heal...boy is inflammation painful too.  For real, it is!  Soo now you know, dietary changes on are the horizon for me.  I am eating more protein and fat~don't get me wrong. I am still concerned with AMOUNTS but I am watching that load of sugar so closely. I don't even WANT sugar anymore because I feel sooo much better. I can't even describe the differences to you, but they are dramatic, and even that I WANT to exercise is just amazing! God is soo good! He's healing me! And I know that balance is key here...so don't go thinking I am advocating a pound of bacon for breakfast or anything silly LIKE that! Oh no! This sister doesn't eat pork either, no joke.  Gave it up over 10 yrs ago...not kidding! So I know I can change. I know I will change.

My week?

I only got to the pool once, but did get out and walk and even have daily worked my arms and upper body.  No high impact for me...YET...but I sense that change is coming...and it's ALL gonna be good!

Head over to ck out these other Fit Mommys HERE or JOIN US~believe me we're all in different places, but this accountability is amazing for keeping us going~
HUGS!

Fit Mommy Friday WK 8~Still Working, But Hit a Glitch~

It's a little glitch, but still a big one in many ways~I have not gotten to the Y as much as I need to this week~in fact, it's Wed right now when I am beginning to write this post and all that yucky snow and ice that got dumped on us on Sunday night-Monday really slowed me down...and then it kept going on Tues..but today, I've been tied up helping the kids get back into the schooling routine as we were off on Monday too...ha! Soo much for increasing my exercise! BUT you do have to know something about me~I have been continuing to MOVE MORE inside my house and have committed to HUNTING DOWN a stationary bike so I can begin working on it each morning before I start my day~just a few minutes of fast peddling before I go down the stairs to begin with God, my friend who prays and studies with me each day~and then breakfast~ALL days except Sundays when I am in a RUSH to head to church...oh yeah!  Well, so I've not found a bike YET, but I am thinking about hitting the Y after church tonight and swimming for an hour...hmmm...I COULD do that...yeah, gonna run it by the clan to see if they wanna~

Soo I am thinking MORE exercise is beneficial. My neuropathy is improving~My body is shrinking. You know, I never measured to begin with, but those smallest jeans are now gettting loose~whoohoo! I am drinking more water and working my body at intervals throughout the day~seriously..while I'm not full blown aerobic shape exercise potential YET, one day, I will be...

Also my son's PE class is discussing nutrition. I am NOT thrilled with all that I see b/c it's still too sugar based, meaning that there are too many grains in the overall make up of the suggested diet~grains however unrefined STILL turn to sugar~albeit slow..so watching them and eating them as natural as possible is a huge thing in reducing the glycemic index of a food plan. I'm thinking diabetes PREVENTION, here!

Here's some links:
Centers for Disease Control

I really like that this site is a STOREHOUSE of most anything health including current stats on the health of the nation and it doesn't help that I met someone who worked there once who said that the CDC is basically in the KNOW about all things health in our nation...okay, sounds credible to me...since I have a nursing background, this makes sense to me even more!

Okay, today is NOW Friday and I am way behind getting this post up~but I am struggling. I need to weigh and measure my food EACH meal and I don't *like* doing that~sooo I made a commitment yesterday to do this and guess WHAT? FAIL~sooo since I've had breakfast and lunch already~I will do it TONIGHT~oh boy!  I'm also snowed in so can't get out~have a level 2 travel advisory so this means I am STUCK in here~but going to begin my exercise bike research~I WANT one to begin each day with some riding~woot!

Still staying clean with the KINDS of foods~just want to address amounts at this time~AGAIN! BELIEVE it OR NOT~you CAN get fat on celery~don't believe 'em when they say YOU CAN'T...LOL...eating healthy and with proper portions with exercise fuels and keeps this body going!

Thanks for stopping by to ck on me~the pics are all Dec-just a week or two back in church~BE BLESSED and KEEP UP the great work. To ck on other Fit Mommys~go HERE!  You wanna join? GREAT, come on!

Fit Mommy Friday WK 7~Research Equals POWER and MOVEMENT; MY RESULTS

I've been doing water aerobics, but they aren't overly stressful, while I am gaining endurance. I'm NOT like the other Fit Mommys who have either NO weight to loose or who have 100 or less to loose, and their exercise/fitness goals are more maintanence than restorative~not so with ME...actually I have much more than that to loose, but the greatest thing I will loose is my life IF I  don't do something~so here I am ...and I want to reach out to those LIKE ME who think it's hopeless...it's not. HOPE comes from God~not ourselves.  Any problem we have is something HE can fix~and He does...but the biggest thing I'm learning is that a food plan alone is just a DIEt and it won't work for me.  I need something more~I need a focus on my spiritual health~mind and spirit~that helps my body~AND looking to God helps me on this path. He's my source and strength.

Recently, my son enrolled in an online PE course which is exploring all kinds of activities as well as the information on how to become fit and stay that way..WHAT A BOOST for me! I am so thrilled to get access or maybe not access~but to have this info put before me~AND I also won a fellow Fit Mommy's giveaway for a Denise Austin book...I'm MOVING ON UP, folks!! YAY!

Okay, so I want to link up and share what I am exploring. So beginning today I am going to give you these links and some highlights as I explore them.

Strength Training:  About.com Weight Training 101
This site is pretty extensive and exhaustive about lifting weights. Two tips would be to warm up and then do all muscle groups to prevent uneven building and possible injury. I also figure that I need a Workout Finder Suvey  to be able to know what level~or just HOW beginner I am ...I mean, I am way way out of shape~Also you can sign up for a FREE Exercise Newsletter via email on that same page~sounds great to me!

Okay~it put ME in theExercise for Beginners  page which looks pretty good. Some of it I have accomplished and others I can read and figure out...The part about gym intemidation is pretty good b/c while I go to the Y to swim, believe me, it's embarressing. I don't like *that* part...but~it's MY health...and I gotta DO IT!

Beginner Goals has some pretty good info on HOW to set attainable goals. Believe it or not~this is probably the area that FIRST we all need to address~HOW dumb would it be to set an unattainable goal for myself and then GIVE UP because I have *failed*!  Duh...WHAT did I expect, but to fail~and what's worse than failure AT my own hands? Not much! So in being kind to me and living in honesty, I know it will take some time to undo my damage. Death by Fork is one thing that will take some time to undo in my life...TIME is on MY side~I pray...


Okay~so here's my progress this week:

Exercise: I've begun putting into place some exercises here at home that are little five-10 minute repetitions of movement in between the swimming. I've committed to getting to the Y 3 times a week...I also calculated how many calories I am burning for this water aerobic exercise and at my size, it's pretty good....yup~I'm still going to do these! Yay!


My food continues strong, although I awoke from a nap on Sunday afternoon after DREAMING I had scarfed down three cookies in my sleep~YIKES! Well, I didn't praise God! I am still sugar FREE...and tomorrow makes 20 weeks! YAY!


Okay~I weigh in on Monday~don't think it's going to be a huge loss, but I am hoping for a good result based on my efforts and the way my clothes are fitting~

Thanks for stopping by and cking on me~You can read about the other Fit Mommys OR join up for encouragement and inspiration~Just click HERE OR on that button up top~Leave me a shout out~I'd love to hear from you! ;-))

Fit Mommy Friday: WK 6~Hitting a GROOVE~

Here's my valentine~no choco for me! 20 yrs and going strong!

I began this HEALTH journey actually back in April of 2010.  I need to loose a lot of weight and also to get physically fit.  Both are a health issue, so when I got the information about Fit Mommy I decided to join up~of course, I am at the beginner level~You can join up too~just click that button on top and read on~

But I've been faithful. I kept going. AND TODAY makes 19 weeks no sugar or white flour~though my wt loss is slow, it's extremely healthy.  I'm down the last weigh in 41lbs.  I am feeling great and while this past week has been stressful, I am going forward with my food and exercise plan.  Ppl can think they are being healthy ignoring the food aspect, but I tell you that I have weighed less than I do right now, but I was bigger. NO JOKE! The inflammation that not eating healthy caused my body actually put pounds on me too~in excess bloated swollen puffy body~but I've been literally shrinking since changing my FUEL and drinking water~I still struggle with that part. Water is just one of those hard things even though we have a distiller and drink only that!

Here's my week:

I exercised three days at the YMCA for water aerobics and it may seem lame, but I like it.  The HOT TUB afterward is a treat too!

The other four days I did stretches and more movement.  I can't wait for the ice to melt~Spring, you say??? LOL...

Thanks for stopping by and HEAD HERE  to read the other Fit Mommys!
PLZ don't forget my giveAway 
for a christian film~ENDS Feb 14th 11:59EST! Woot!

Fit Mommy Friday: WK 5: Snowed Under and Snowed IN~

It's been a very weird week.  We got hit with an ice storm with loads of snow and I've been STUCK right in this house without my YMCA trips to exercise, but I wasn't completely idle.  It has been an exhausting week because for the first time since my daughter as in K and my son in 5th grade that they have been in a public school~an online virtual K12 school...and we began on Monday!  Picture the haggard, sleep deprived Mom with her house dress and slippers~MOST of the week! LOL...Here's just HOW it went with ME...

Food was good in that I continue to be sugar free/white flour free, but I have noticed that I might be eating more...I dunno, honest...b/c UNLESS I measure, I can't visualize proper portions very well...sooo it's obvious I haven't been measuring! Oh boy! THIS can be trouble...yes it can!  Today makes 18 weeks and counting! God is good!

Exercise is different this week. I have done some movement and house cleaning stuff to be up and going all week. I spend two days out in stores hauling groceries or other good in and out of stores...I stayed pretty busy doing it on Sat and Monday both.  Sat I got to go to my fave grocery where we buy all the fresh foods.  I bought fresh pineapple, oranges, bananas, onions, greens, fresh green beans, vine ripened tomatoes, zucchini....uh...all sorts of good food to eat mostly raw and fresh. I am convinced food is a major key to health!

Okay, this sums it up pretty much except to say that I am looking to God to help me combat my poor health issues.  I am obese and for my weight I do well, but I am just too darned big~God help me! And my exercise is not what others can do, I know.  But to be a Fit Mommy I have to start somewhere with movement~I guess I am at or BELOW Level One~but grateful to be able to share with you all~Thanks for your encouragement. I am reading Max Lucados' Outlive Your Life, the Recovery Bible and the Life Recovery Workbook as well as For Today, and Beth Moore's Breaking Free.  These all add something to my walk with the Lord towards health.




Thanks again for stopping by and checking on me~If you haven't done so, check out the other fit mommies   HERE!

Fit Mommy Friday: WK 4: Down BUT Not Out~

So I'm feeln' kinda outta sorts. This snow and ice is getting to me~and I'm still plugging, but not feeling like DOING IT~I've overall been very much on my POE~lost an additional 2#s for total of 41#s~woot! Week 17 is completed with no white sugar or flour.  Here's a flyer I received on sugar FYI~

 

Sorry it turned out so small, but hope you can read it if you need some sugar FREEing inspirations!  I certainly do. But let me say that I FEEL so much better physically that I don't WANT to eat white flour and sugar~period. Like I don't eat pork either. When a food makes you feel so rotten, you have no trouble giving it up~but it's a mind game about the sugar, b/c since I've given it up, I don't miss it~MOST of the time...and less sweet tastes plenty sweet to me.

Here's my week:

Fri~YMCA water exercises

Saturday~Stretching and moving.

Sunday~Nothing. DAY of REST ;-))

Monday~Stretching and exercising at home.

Tuesday~Water aerobics at the YMCA

Wednesday~Stretching at home~

Thursday~In with a tummy ache~(NO MO sugar free candy for me!)

Friday~YMCA swimming and workout.

Head over HERE to ck out the Fit Mommys!

Fit Mommy Friday: WK 3: Workin' It~

SisterT was sick last week, but ended up getting in 3 days of exercise anyway~woohoo! This really is working for me, and I feeling so much better. I also find that my food is doing well too. I cut my calories last week to the 1500-1600 range and have continued with no white stuff eating 5-6 times a day. I did this a total of 7 days and this week have gone back to 3 squares and adding a snack if I need it at night.  This seems to be really working for me, and I am thankful.  My jeans are getting looser and so it won't be long I get to purchase new ones! WOOT! I've not been smaller than the pair I have on now other than in the dissent on the way to the dispear I have found myself when gaining this weight in the first place.  I am truly excited!


This week I began faithfully with a good water aerobic workout for 50 min in the pool on Monday, but we got an ice storm on Tues night~so no go yesterday~was very busy today...  I have been doing some range of motion exercises and movement since I can't go swim in this weather~but..HOPEFULLY tomorrow we can go~There's just something special about that pool and exercising!

Soooo how are you doing ?  Is it working for ya?  My journey has entailed small changes that over time have made a huge impact.  Won't you join me? woot!

Head on over to ck out the other Fit Mommys HERE!

Fit Mommy Friday: WK2: Sick/Weigh In and POE Change~

Okay, I've been participating with Fit Mommy Fri since the 10 Week Challenge, and this is Week 2 of the New Year~wooot!  Okay...Here's my thang~I got sick!  Yeah, I really began feeling sooo bad by last Fri that I couldn't make it to the Y to swim and do the water aerobics; even tried to head there on Sat but it was a no go...So on Monday I called the doc for a Rx and ended up going in... ... ... and facing.... .... ... ... the dreaded .... ... ... ... ...S C A L E~

Now you gotta know something.  First off~the scale IS NOT the measure of my success!  My measurement IS how I've eaten and taken care of ME~BUT...BUT ....  .... BUT.... It DOES SHOW how overall my plan of eating POE is measuring up (literally)! Soo with this said, I was facing the scale...and BIG TIME~

I got on it, and it revealed another 7lb loss~total 39lbs since beginning! WHOOT!~ Now in all honesty, this is a very very very very very  very ...you get the idea ;-)) VERY sloooooooooow wt loss plan evidently, b/c I had not weighed in 6 weeks. But I KNOW during that time to the present I've consumed no more than 2200 calories and no white sugars/flour, so just because it's slow doesn't mean I am off the plan...it means I AM on the plan~taking care to eat whole foods~foods prepared from their freshest state and not in boxes or cans...and OFTEN not even from a jar..unless we fresh preserved it OR froze it ourselves!  Anyway, I was sick and had to go in and began on an antibiotic~pfui!

Tues~ I went to the YMCA and swam 40 minutes with hard aerobic jogging/laps/exercises with wts...went grocery shopping too~woot!

The new POE came about b/c I want to drop some wt fairly fast, and so I am dropping my calories to about 1600 for one week.  I don't think I can do it long term as the feelings of deprivation with get me, but in a short spurt I know I can with the Lord's help.  I am eating 6 small meals a day and drinking loads of water.  I hope this will jump start my metabolism so that I can get some weight off in the short run pretty fast!  THIS IS NOT a candybar OR grapefruit OR an all meat food plan~it's balanced with ALL the food groups in the freshest most whole state possible.  I will consume protein, bread (whole grain), milk(or milk products), fresh fruit, and fresh veggies along with good distilled water from our distiller.  It really tastes wonderful!  I hope to weigh in a few days to see how I've done~

Wed~POE going fine~doing light housekeeping and homeschooling today~got out to Youth group that night. Can't believe we are going sledding next week~oh well, Sister is NOT getting down the hill on a sled~THIS YEAR...but maybe next, Lord willing! I can DREAM!
Thurs~POE went fine although I did end up getting more food earlier than I had thought so when dinner was finished, I was DONE eating for the day having max'd out my calories for the day~Went to the YMCA to work out and then ran errands.  Loads of moving and grooving~I was beat, but I feel confident that my energy will improve over time and continued effort.
Fri~Okay, gonna slap this day right in here b/c I'm most likely to forget MY GOOD progress by next week's update~LOL...Headed to the YMCA and exercised in the water for 45 min and feel great~headed to the grocery(gotta get out and get that fresh stuff so it IS fresh!)...One thing is AMAZING~MY JEANS ARE LOOSER!! whhoooot! I'm eaten my food plan too~oh yeah!

Okay, this is my week~I have exercised 3/7 days which isn't too shabby for a fat girl~LOL!
How are you doing?  I'm taking it one day at a time~And you?

Read mo FMF (Fit Mommy Fri)  HERE!

Struggles~Fit Mommy Fri Week 1:~NEW Beginnings: Exercise: Water Aerobics

Christmas was just lovely and I think I've burned out on some stuff~I am worn out mentally and physically.  My food plan has been sustained and continued and having added a 3X week trip to water aerobics has really made me exhausted...add up all the OTHER stuff I do..and where does blogging and tipter-life come in?  I am going to make some room to continue all the good things in my life~ALL of them...

We are looking at some educational changes as well~

I am continuing to participate in Fit Mommy Friday for accountability and support as well as the reviews and inspirations~LIFE is just moving a bit fast for me right now~

HOW I've done~

I did some super duper introspection this weekend all surrounding NEW beginnings with a brand new baby year and decided that something would definitely have to change.  On Monday, the family went to the YMCA and we swam/exercised as a family so we would pursue health a little more aggressively and even has committed to our continued healthy eating for the New Year~

We went Monday and Wednesday~my activity levels have increased~I'm having some health issues like numbness and nerve pain as well as muscle and joint paint too~not fun~but I'm still going at it~

My food is clean, but my portions need some more work.  I find that I can overeat celery~ha! SSSsssssssssoo don't let anybody kid you that veggies won't make you fat~it's a lie! LOL...I just may begin carrying around that measuring cup yet~

I'm also taking better care of my skin b/c living in a cold brisk climate where wind chills are zero or below can really chap and dry~THIS IS NEW!

Well, this is it for my week.  I continue to work the 12 step recovery model and work with my eating plan...no white stuff/sugars..I feel GREAT other than the forementioned ilks!

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Fit Mommy Friday: WK10: TouchDown...

It's HERE~The last post of the Fit Mommy Friday 10 Week Fitness Challenge~whoohoo! I've MADE IT~yes, it's been a ride! AND I will have successfully been sugar/white flour-starches-rice FREE 12 weeks on Saturday...also been increasing my activity and drinking my water...FEELING soo much better..and now adding exercise to the mix...planning some stuff, but not totally sure what ALL yet~have a YMCA membership so want to swim (indoor pool) and walk the track..yeah, I NEED to do this..little overwhelmed by the thought, but gonna take it slow and steady...three sizes down...Lord KNOWS I have so far to go, but in His power~all things are possible! AMEN!

Here's some pics taken of me the first was in August and the last just a few days ago...my face is a little slimmer~THANK the LORD..but like I've said, the journey has JUST begun! (Probably can't tell it much in these pics, but the shirt is smaller...so is the belly...lol!)

Need a laugh? Here's one~FOR our progress! HUGS!
Thanks Chai Mommy for hosting this challenge and you can read mo HERE!

Fit Mommy Friday: Week 9~ALMOST There...Well, Sorta~

This is week nine of the Fit Mommy Friday 10 Week Fitness Challenge.  I've faithfully participated and worked to get these ummmm~EVERYTHING pounds off...I have lots of weight to loose...In fact, it's probably more than the whole gang put together...does this make me a winner? No. In fact, I've lost so much because of being morbidly obese in my life...I've been overweight since childhood, and was over 200 lbs by 7th grade~probably 6th, but good ole public school gym class confirmed it when we were publicly weighed (HUMILIATED) by having our heights and weights done for the class~Anywho~who hasn't suffered a little?  But so am I looking at winning this challenge? No.  I am not able to truly do the kinds of exercising that others can accomplish...With several hundred pounds to loose~I've almost said it, now haven't I? I am certainly ashamed...you see, dear friends~you can't really SEE me~but only KNOW what I share...and a tad more honest~I really have pretty much lived a sedentary life up until the challenge of moving each day~and my life~just getting from point A to point B makes me more active...try carrying around a few hundred pounds!  Okay, so my progress:

I continue to eat only what is on my plan of eating.  Today makes 11 weeks eating healthy~addressing my obesity. Of course, a ten week challenge of any kind will not take care of my problems nor yours. We will ALL no matter your size or goals, have to address healthy consumptions moment by moment~day by day~so that in this lifetime, our habits and lives will change.  I'm on this path.  I thank God for it.  Just last night I took the kiddos of our youth group out to snowball fight. They had such a good time and my activity was slightly increased by the extra walking and moving I did~and NO~I didn't snowball fight...was afraid I'd fall down..which in all honesty would have hurt me very badly...nope, so no snowball fights for me this year~but prayerfully next year.

This continued path I am on~is for the first time EVER a solid reliable way to live.  You see, diets never worked. I've been on them ALL my life. But of course, I'd find myself tempted or excusing or just being blah enough to overeat and the pattern would continue...fat on top of fat...until you sorta KNOW the story...one obese middle aged woman attempting to change her life~without surgery or other worse health affecting methods.

You see, I have to share just quickly WHY obesity surgery is not an option for me. With this amount to lose, you might think that it would be the solution for me.  But almost nine years ago I lost my only sibling, my little brother to obesity surgery via a itty bitty medical~surgical mistake that unfortunately was not caught, but cost him his life at age 35.  It took eight hours for him to die, and the medical recovery nurses nor ICU nurse nor two doctors didn't catch it..tragic for sure~and what's worse, is that there is NO way that even if he had survived the procedure and lived~while thin~he would've been healthy.  Remember all that water we try to gulp down each day? Well, the ppl who've had this procedure like he had find it nearly IMPOSSIBLE to maintain their electrolytes naturally b/c they no longer have the physical space nor absorbtion to handle even NORMAL amounts of volume.  Imagine a morbidly obese body that is now stressed by lack of adequate hydration and nutrition (fuel.)  Okay, so now ya know...

But my victory will be all the SWEETER! God has been so good to me.  I am moving..and another fact you didn't know~I've already lost 90 lbs...yeah, you have that number correct.  NINETY...but when I said I have hundreds more to go~getting the picture, yet?  I know that God is going to use my testimony if He allows me to live.  SisterT isn't usually this morbid, but I want to be more transparent by sharing. I want to encourage you to continue your journey of HEALTH (moderation in all things!) so you don't find yourself like I have done.  I am definitely blessed to have found a new way of life...new tools for my journey of life...and HOPEFULLY a new life in a smaller body.

Please pray for me...humiliation comes in so many forms, and fear of failure, fear of loss, fear of just ole fear often tries to consume me.  But as I ONE day at a time~walk this new path...no, I'm not able to just go walking around my block YET..but it's coming!  Just being able to LIVE LIFE is amazing if you have ever EVER lost that.

Thanks so much for your prayers and support.  I have at least this next year or two to KEEP going...so while our challenge will end for some of us~I'm still going to be plugging away~bit by bit~pound by pound~movement by movement. Did I ever share my secret dreams of wanting to be a ballerina as a child? It's such a beautiful art form, and I really wanted to when very young...well, no money and not the correct body...ha! Okay, so you can see there's a dancer here~INSIDE...dancing...in my heart, and ONE DAY in my body!

Hopping off here to head out shopping AGAIN today~what a blessing to have such energy...God is sooo good! Walking the stores is a boost!

Thanks again~sooo how are you doing? Don't give up~EVEN THO it's Christmas! What better gift to yourself and the ppl who love YOU other than taking CARE of the body God gave you? Join me?

Hugs!

Read mo of the Fit Mommy Fri ladies  HERE!

Fit Mommy Friday: WK 8: Counting Down...

the pounds, that is~
What an amazing challenge this has become!

It is encouraging to gain such momentum from reading your progress as well as working on my own!  I don't weigh every day or even every week, b/c I learned years ago that this kind of practice just sets me up for failure, but if it works for you, of course, by all means go for it! So since I can't give you a number of pounds for the week, I can say that my clothes are bagging on me~that once worn bigger sizes are now being put away so I can recycle them to someone else~Praise God!  I AM NOT keeping them~I wore them wayyy too long!

So my progress is this:

10 weeks without sugar/white flour will be celebrated tomorrow~whoot! All the while we have had two birthdays, Thanksgiving, church social dinners and ladies' functions and even other social events where food was the main event within my immediate family~My children haven't been deprived ONE bite of birthday cake~in fact, I've encouraged them to have their cake AND EAT IT TOO~lol! By NOT eating any~there was mo for them, so to speak!  But as part of this EXTREME NEW lifestyle, I have also learned NEW ways of shopping for and preparing foods.  First off, I READ labels.  I am looking for sugars and all it's insidious names and starches and its insidious names AND then I am looking for flours and all the descriptions and names it can have...I have researched and read a bunch on this so I have that crucial info...I do my best to make SURE that none of the "offender" ingredients in positioned no closer than 3, but at least 5 on the ingredient list.  Also I don't eat much pre-prepared foods. I do eat mayo (fat free/low cal~10 cal per tbs), margarine (yeah, I know butter is better..the cal or virtually the same~BUT I like margarine! LOL...and so far, colesterol isn't my enemy~calories are...LOL..this could CHANGE tho...LOL), flour~whole wheat variety, yogurt (I know I can make this~it's convenience and taste...I haven't acquired that homemade taste in this arena..but I plan to...I gotta get the right stuff to make it...), eggs (I buy these~don't have my own chickens...(maybe never, but the idea has crossed my mind!), cheese!(not making it either, but I've thought about it too)...You get the idea...I'm eating as many fresh/whole foods as possible! The foray into pasta~the whole wheat variety is interesting! Today we are making homemade lasangna noodles...and we use whole wheat flour to thicken gravy...oh yeah, it's good!  I have taken to collecting healthy recipes that are altered from their originals to make them health conscious and even binding them in a notebook~when they're keepers, I'm taking care to keep them LOL...

But then the most amazing part is cooking. Did I ever share I hate the kitchen..or I did hate it...it's always been a place synonymous with DRUDGERY for me.  Maybe all the guilt of late night binges after meals were eaten while I LITERALLY cleaned up~the left overs, that is...had gotten to me~but I never fully embraced cooking. I resisted it when  teenager, and never tried to really learn much then..and when I needed to learn, I learned by default.  You know, accidental learning...short cut here, easy way~there...but this amazing thing that includes recipes also includes new skills...that utilizes the shopping~label reading.  I can really cook!  IF I WANT TO~ha! Yes, SisterT has been in the kitchen a little more...my mother who is much like a chef of sorts does a fine job and has always loved it~but I'm learning! I no longer resent the kitchen, but rather enjoy 'rattling' the pots a little...ALL for love~love of health...good health begins with the intake of nutrition.  This is such an amazing change for me.  I am certain that my eating along with God's blessings has afforded me the health I do have thus far as I long ago gave up the premade processed stuff~for fresh and raw~but I had truly NEVER gotten a handle on portions...over eating is over eating no matter on what!  THIS IS A BIG GIANT change!

Along the way, my food plan has changed just a little bit.  I am eating a few less carbs than I began eating.  I have reduced the morning eating to one serving most days instead of two, and alternating the yogurt or milk serving between morning, lunch or supper meals to equal two instead of the three I was consuming. The overall bulk of my food is decreasing!  This is HUGE, too!

With my obstacles, I have to ask myself, 'HOW do you eat an elephant?' meaning that conquering a terrible situation of ill health due to morbid obesity and inactivity is akin to eating a GREAT BIG animal???  The resounding answer is 'ONE second/minute/hour/DAY AT a TIME!  or...one bite at a time~each meal or food encounter being put in its proper place~in the right way: God honoring.  God honoring amounts, combinations and times'...THIS is a new concept for me, too. I had NEVER considered GIVING God my food each day!

Activity is interesting.  I am almost feeling hyper!  My energy is returning, and I have no desire to do all the sitting THINGS I have done for years! I wanna dance and move~guess my house is gonna look better too! LOL...and you know, my whole life is improving! I am sleeping better as well.  The whole body is recovering! Exercise this week included more shopping and getting up and moving~anybody like to dance like I do? Good thing I'm a child of the 70s...LOL...there's some AWESOME dance music from the 70s-90s! Wooot!

Almost forgot the water~still struggle, but this headache means that the tall glass I just poured and downed half of needs to be emptied! STILL working on this one~since the stomach has shrunk, getting it all in a tough! BUT HEY, stuffing water beats stuffing food~LOL!!!

Okay, Fit Mommys~here you have it...one fat woman's attempts to give God her life...and you can join up the efforts and read mo HERE!

Fit Mommy Friday: WK 7: On Target~

I'm in week 9 of leaving sugar and white flour alone TOTALLY...I am way more active...now, I've injured my wrist,  but still plugging along!  Food is good and clean! Drinking water mostly~

I am researching Glycemic Index verses carbohydrates for solid totals on my food plan.  Due to my disease, I may need to make some modifications.  Exercise continues to be ADLs and shopping~woot! Who doesn't enjoy shopping?

Read mo HERE!

Don't forget the DVD contestThe Narnia Code ENDS TONIGHT!

Fit Mommy Friday: WK 6: Victory! God is Good!

Honestly, I never thought in my life to give over to God what I am eating and how I am treating my body.  I've been a Christian for many many years, but somehow I thought that my body was something I had to manage alone and my failures were uniquely mine.  I never ever gave it a thought that I had the ability to offer my life, my physical body up to God for His will and direction on how I take care of me.  Since about April, all this changed.  God made it clear that I needed to address my eating problems and my overall physical condition.  As an obese female, life had gotten hard, but He let me know that through His strength and power recovery and healing is possible...I am so grateful for this journey.

About 6 weeks ago, Chai Mommy offered up a 10 week fitness challenge for us to take on making needed changes in our lives~a Fitness/health initiative of sorts. I joined in order to work on my life.

Last week was my weigh in~I don't weigh except when I have doctor appointments.  I was down 18lbs! I can honestly praise God for this~I am also down three pants sizes!! whoot!  This is amazing to me.

I committed last week to walk our dog each day, of which I did not.  I don't think I am quite ready to hit the icy sidewalks yet, but I did get out several days this week shopping with loads more walking than I had been capable of in the recent past.  My progress may seem slow, but it's steady.  I am enjoying going into stores again.  Not that long ago it was a painful chore.

I've continued to drink water and today also makes 8 weeks TOTALLY without white sugar and flour.  I have discovered all kinds of delicious food that are either sugar free or are whole wheat in this process~this is amazing! I even am enjoying new vitality and feeling GREAT~

Since April, my total wt loss is 32lbs, but just for the record, I have so far to go that this is less than a drop in that proverbial bucket...however, I am grateful for this amount of physical healing.  I know God is helping me.  I have battled some health issues too~but God is also in control of this in my life as well~I am fully trusting Him~to guide me over what to eat~when to eat and even HOW to eat.

Here's to another week~Just a few more to gooooooooo...woot!

The Fit Mommys are working hard~Read about them HERE!

Fit Mommy Friday: WK 5: Lead Us NOT Into Tempation, BUT Deliver...

SisterT has made some serious changes since joining up with Fit Mommy just five weeks ago. In fact, my changes are just a tad longer in duration~seven weeks today (Thursday) where I have found myself controlling my compulsive over eating habits through a rigorous 12 step program, prayer, food plan and all the tools available to help me.  On Saturday, I celebrate 7 weeks without sugar and white flour.  Since that time, my energy has increased multi-fold! I am running around a little crazier than normal doing our errands and shopping as needed.  Life had gotten pretty tough for me~health issues were really keeping me down.  It's a long story, but severe obesity has it's challenges~and I'm feeling great. I began in ONE size of jeans and now I am able to zip and wear 3 sizes smaller!~I think I have this correctly. I began at size a and now wear a,b,c,...D!  IS this four or three? Either way it's a bunch! My wedding rings are falling off to the point I've hunted them in the bed where they had fallen off...so now I'm wearing a band that's much smaller to hold them onto my finger!  My shirts are bagging...well, to be HONEST~I'm bagging! LOL...but this is  sooooooooo good! I'm feeling so pumped!

One day I will share my story of my journey with you all.  There is so much shame associated with obesity, and if you don't live like I have... then, well...something about the truth of walking in another's shoes applies here...but...I am not ready to tell you all just yet...so please understand...HOWEVER, I am praising God! Really this IS HIS victory in my life!


So my week went something like this:

Water and eating 2-2200 K each day.
No processed boxed/canned kinds of foods.
Increased exercise and movement.
Water~although I did drink a few diet sodas this week.  I am PURPOSELY keeping these on an occasional basis!


NOTE about ThanksGIVING: My day was not about food, but about having a good restful day.  We did have a nice meal that consisted of traditional foods that were prepared with whole~good ingredients of which I measured and watched portion wise.

I had:
Turkey
Dressing measured and lower cal (if you wanna know, you can ask me ;-))
Gravy (broth with mushrooms)
small amount of sweet potato (just potato~no sugar or other stuff)
Fresh prepared greenbeans.
Fresh prepared collard greens (about 1/4 cup)
Betty's Holiday Fruit (freshly prepared cranberries/applesauce/pineapple with sugar free jello)
Pear relish (3 TBS) (sugar free)
Pumpkin stuff (sugar free pumpkin pie w/o crust)

I had been really concerned about over eating today~of course: Today is GOBBLE GOBBLE DAY for so many of us~and since I've left that life behind, I needed to plan, which I did.  Also I negotiated with the family what they would need/like for this day~they had stuff available to them I didn't touch, like mashed potatoes and gravy made with flour.  All in all it was a beautiful day~no STUFFING!! me~or the kind of food ;-)) I am really grateful to God for being able to have such a blessed day!

Sooo this next week: I AM~

Planning to add walking my dog daily.  Let's see how this goes...it's supposed to know tomorrow afternoon~uh...maybe not~we'll see!
and keep on my plan of eating...
~so far so good!

Check out the other Fit Mommys  HERE!

Fit Mommy Friday: Week 4~Rolln' Rolln' Rolln'

SisterT is experiencing NEW vitality and strength since making the needed changes to her lifestyle~I definitely continue with nothing white and sugar free, while continuing to measure all my food keeping totals to around 2k calories a day eating three meals/no snacks, drinking water (not the best), but balanced (6 weeks tomorrow!! whooot!!).  I am generally eating something from every food group: protein, fat, carb, veg, milk EVERY meal...and it's working!! I am almost the energizer bunny~almost hyper! My outlook has changed to one of HOPE; my mind is clear and free of pervasive negative thoughts; and I am giving my life over to God OneDayAtaTime for His will and service in my life...and it's kept me quite busy.  Busy, busy, busy!  Sooo my recap today is that I've continued the plan~clothes are beginning to hang seriously~weigh in is Nov 30th and I feel peaceful.  God is good!

One of the keys to success has been willingness to make the needed changes in my life.  Desire doesn't do it all~I have to be willing to plan and then do that plan each and every time food is needed in my life.  Talk about a mine field! Ha~so many things are wrapped in our food and the choices we make from the emotional to the relational~think how often food is tied to people and places~EVENTS!  With willingness, I am in a constant state of "doing what it takes" to maintain my plan of eating.  One thing I've done in this area is to view food in its proper place: as fuel~nothing else.  I no longer allow food and my passions for it to dictate to me WHAT, WHERE, HOW or WHO I will eat with~meaning that while I do get involved with eating around others (certainly my family and some friends) and will eat at different places besides my spot at the kitchen table~the importance is not longer on those things, but rather I focus on food's healing, healthful, nourishing properties making sure that I am eating the WAY I am supposed to be, when I am supposed to...this is a whole different mindset...and about the celebrations with food thing~like the upcoming holiday of GRATEFULNESS~I've realized since food is a fuel~do I socialize at the GAS STATION?  NO, so am not going to OVER emphasize the foods of this event.  For me, this will take the focus off of creating a huge meal~over eating it~to making the focus really on my family and friends with the gratitude I feel in my heart.  We are planning a healthy meal with proper proportions and balances AND activities that center around our family~no more coma eating and passing out for us~I am hoping to have enough good weather to ride my bike that day with my family AND maybe go to a movie~wanna play some board games too!  THIS is going to be a fun day!


There are struggles with this kind of thinking.  This past week, God was incredibly gracious to make a way for me to continue the plan~my children had an event where food was going to be central (cast party-Sat night 12 MN) where loads of food where present and encouraged.  Also Sunday was our church's Thanksgiving meal~where ALL the great cooks do their thing annually!  Okay, I was worried.  I knew that without prior planning I'd be sunk.  Soooo how I handled them? God took care of the longing and desire for foods not healthy for me~yes, A MIRACLE! A total and complete miracle! But here's what happened: I had my dinner at 6:30 prior to the performance on the Saturday night and then had nothing but a bottled water during the party.  My nose and senses were presented with lovely smells of chocolate and other tempting things, but I had no desire for them~truly a miracle.  I also refrained from going NEAR them as far as my power was concerned~I stayed from the buffet tables and just remained in the fellowshipping areas.

On the Sunday, I awoke much later than normal due to the time we got home from the party, but still needing to eat breakfast and get to church.  I went a head and had my breakfast and then went to church with God letting me know that I didn't have to eat at noon with my church family~and I could fix a plate to bring home...okay, great plan..but then when I went to fix that plate~THERE WAS NOTHING THERE I could eat on my plan save what I had brought (veggie tray and fruit sauce)!  I knew that left overs in my own dishes would come home with me, so i left the buffet line and began visiting our church family~it had only been two hours since I had had my breakfast~waaaaaaaay too early to eat~this worked beautifully! I was so blessed by focusing on the people~wow! AND such a miracle had occurred in that I had total peace~my lunch was eaten at 3PM...God is good!

Another struggle in eating in a healthful, sound way is the family expectations surrounding foods, events and all~ that while my family doesn't share my problems, they are affected by them.  Family expectations will make doing Thanksgiving an interesting day~hence why I've negotiated the day's activities and food planning.  It won't be Thanksgiving for my hub without certain foods~won't be for most of us...key here for ME is balance and love for them while making sure I have what I need too. I am responsible for this~really.  

Okay, enough rambling.  I am going to continue this plan~keep moving and praying for God's will in my life and asking HIM not only to bless what I eat~but to give me direction for what and when.  He has plans for success and not of disaster~amen!

Go check out the inspiring stories HERE of folks on Fit Mommy Friday's challenge! whoot!