I Accomplished 1 Thing in 2009

Yup. That's right. 365 days and I accomplished 1 thing.

I MADE MYSELF A PRIORITY. FOR ONCE IN MY LIFE, I PUT ME FIRST.

Every other thing I have done this year has stemmed from that one accomplishment. At first I was nervous about it. I thought that best bud or hubby would be mad or hurt or feel less important. Nope. I was wrong. They were super encouraging and always let me make time for the gym or would eat things based on what was best for my diet. I just love them. I want to squeeze them til their heads pop off. Okay, maybe not that tight.

If you are afraid to do this one simple thing to accomplish your goals, I suggest you give it a try. I even switched the school I worked at. I started over. I moved everything. I had to start at square one with co-workers. It has not been super easy (I really miss my old buds) but it was to make more time and less stress for me.

Because of these things, I have more confidence. I was able to say goodbye to my personal trainer and still be successful (giving me lots more cash in my pocket). I lost another 75 pounds. I went from a size 20 to a size 10. I love to shop now (like I did today and bought lots of stuff). I completed the Mud Run - including every obstacle. I am so proud of that. I am also now able to eat something bad for me (say maybe a Big Mac on the way home from Christmas last week - maybe) and know I will not regain 115 pounds from that one meal. And to tell you the truth, I did not regret it or feel fat after.

I have learned. I can do this. Everyday. With every choice. My attitude has changed the most this year. It isn't all or nothing. It is just give and take. It has to be or you cannot stick with it.

Well with that, I will finish getting ready for the New Years party I am about to attend (I shall eat pizza but not drink alcohol so I can drive - see give and take - and tomorrow I will run like I did today). Thank you all for being such great friends this year. I am truly grateful for you, your blogs and super hilarious comments.

Cheers to us and our successes in the year to come!

Grandparents Intrigue Me

Before I begin, let me tell you that I am aware that I am securing my place in hell for posts like this. However, I am a curious person and I find humor in things and maybe you do too. I like to share.

I took these 3 photos at my husband's grandparent's house (and it was full of people so it was not easy). There are just walls of what I call "crap" in this place that I am DYING to get pictures of but I do not have the guts to take those pics because the rooms are filled with relatives.

These were 3 things I was curious about though.

Picture #1 - the phone. Weren't these called rotary phones? I called them dial phones (I know all phones dial, I am special like that). But I think years ago (or decades) people were told that these phones do not support the 911 service (I could be wrong). Now if I were in my 80s and I fell alot (like these folks tend to do) I would make sure I had one of those buttons you push on a necklace or a portable machine to tap out some morse code asking for help. Or maybe....a cordless, push-button phone. I can understand no cell phone because they live in the middle of NOWHERE and reception sucks. But anything is better at giving you chance at calling for help than dragging your body across the room, sticking your big, arthritic fingers in the holes (you would have to feel for the right ones) and turning the dial 3 times just to find no one on the other end of the line.

Picture #2 - the bathtub in the main bathroom. Did I tell you this family is full of farmers? Yup. Farmers (and grandma was a school bus driver). In Kansas. In the middle of NOWHERE in the United States of America. So I am curious as to why the wall in the bathtub has the Taj Mahal on it. I asked my husband last year. He never thought about it. It has always been there (that he remembers). No one has ever asked about it. You're not curious? Just me? Also - why are there boots in the tub?

Picture #3 (disturbs me the most) - I took this in the doll room. I also like to think of it as my nightmare. I would NEVER sleep at this house just because this room exists. C-R-E-E-P-Y!! Hello? Do you see the bags on their heads? Who does that? Is it to keep their hair nice? Then why don't all of them have bags on their heads? Were these the bad dolls that must be suffocated? What if this gives the dolls ideas and they come to life and choose to do this to me? I literally had to shut the door to this room and return to the living room and stare at the ceramic bust of Jesus who watches me while I eat dinner.

I was at my in-laws for 4 solid days. I was so excited to go the 3 miles down the road to the grandparent's house. These were some of this things that greeted me there. Boredom really makes your mind work in wacky ways. Perhaps that is why their house has these things.

You can leave me hateful comments but I just felt the need to share. It was like having a secret I just HAD to tell.

On another note - I am de-crappifying my body today which makes me feel a bit like I am in detox. And this is only from like a day and a half of bad eating but there was a lot of caffeine for multiple days. Dude this sucks.

And it is not over yet. My folks fly in tomorrow for about 5 days. And then there is New Years. I will keep with exercise and lots of water. I must. At least I will get more presents!! Hope you enjoy your week!

I did get presents!

I just got back from four solid days on the farm. I went NOWHERE. Today I finally got to go 3 miles down the road to visit the grandparents. Look for a post about that tomorrow (with some fun pictures). After that, we headed home (about a 7 hour drive). I had to - for my sanity's sake (and those around me).

I got some presents finally. The first picture is a present from my in-laws. The best gift ever! Beef! I get it every year and every year I love it. Last year I also got a trip to Vegas. But not this year. This year I got a gift card to Banana Republic. Score!!! I am going to buy more skinny jeans (which I have been wearing everyday since I bought them, don't worry...I bought 2 pairs...but now I want more).

One funny thing we learned while bored on the farm is that my in-laws have never down loaded any pictures from their camera to their computer in 5 years. Can you believe it? They just delete some to make room for more. There were pictures from Xmas 5 years ago on there. My lovely husband downloaded them all and cleared their memory sticks so they can take some on vacation next week.

Picture #2 I found on that camera. According to the date in the corner, it is from Xmas 2005. Looking really plump in my fat girl uniform (all black and super faded from all the wear it got). I had never seen that photo. If I had, maybe I would have lost weight sooner.

Picture #3 is from this Xmas. Just thought I would throw that in for comparison's sake. 115 pounds lighter, longer hair (and now it is my natural color) and color in my wardrobe! I guess I am starting to see how people think I look like a different person. I for sure feel like a different person. And I like it. A lot.

I am exhausted and want to sleep but feel the need to peek at a few blogs before I pass out. Hope you all had a great weekend!

I have yet to open a present...

Christmas day and I have not opened a gift. We are waiting for my sister-in-law and family to show up tomorrow. So many presents yet none we can open. Torture. Snowed in and just staring at presents - for 2 days. Oh well. Good things come to those who wait, right?

It has given me time to enjoy my in-laws (I really do enjoy them - funny folks) and dogs and exercise. We have even played games and watched movies. Like families used to do in the olden days.

I have been thinking of some things that have changed from last Christmas to this Christmas. So here they are:

Christmas 2008:

1. I had lost 40 pounds and was so proud.
2. I was scared to death that eating too much at Christmas dinner would make me gain back all 40 pounds (this is no exaggeration)
3. I was super nervous about leaving my environment and schedule.
4. Travelled by car for days to see all the family (exhausting and not healthy).
5. Realized I was still pretty fat, even after all I had lost and exercised.
6. Never thought I would lose 100 pounds.
7. Elf was my favorite Christmas movie.

Christmas 2009:

1. I have lost another 75 pounds and I am even more proud. I FEEL so good!! Especially in my new size 10 jeans (this seems so unreal to me).
2. I know I can eat over in calories. It is just a holiday. I need to just keep exercising and get back to my routine when I get home.
3. I am super relaxed. I know I can do this. I brought things that I need to keep up with my workouts and am doing cardio on the in-laws treadmill (I am making it up myself and doing well I believe).
4. We travelled to see one family and asked that the other come to visit us (and they actually are). Much healthier (for me anyway).
5. Realized that if I never lose another pound, I will be EXTREMELY happy with where I am.
6. Cannot believe I lost 115 pounds. Now I am wondering/studying/researching maintenance.
7. Elf is still my favorite Christmas movie. Some things never change. And never should.

The realization of how far I have come and how great my health is - that is the present I get today. It may not come in a box with pretty paper and a bow but it is by far the BEST present I could ever get.

Merry Christmas!!

We made it to Kansas before the storm. We have gone nowhere today. Cold, freezing rain and snow. At least it is a white Christmas. Man have I been eating. A lot of healthy stuff but I am in eating mode. I have exercised (but not enough to negate the amount of calories I have consumed but hey - it is Christmas!). This is me enjoying the weather! I hope Santa brings you lots of good stuff!

What a Day!!

First of all....THANK YOU for leaving all your comments and thoughts on yesterday's post. I am taking note (literally with pen and paper) of your suggestions. Many of these websites I have not heard of. I knew you were the peeps to ask. If you have not commented on yesterday's post, please do. I read all comments and seriously consider all suggestions.

So on to today. Quite an interesting day. First of all, I weighed in. I saw 174.8. That was my lowest weight ever. Finally back down to that weight (saw it on Thanksgiving weekend so it's been a while). There have been some eating episodes in the past few weeks (and a dream about chocolate cake that started the gain), lady troubles and a couple of small margaritas. However, there have been many calories burned and hours spent inside a gym (or 3 gyms) as well. I am trying to balance. I worked like a dog for that number and I am happy to see it again. Especially since I leave tomorrow (or is it now today?) for my holiday with the in-laws (whom I love but they live on a farm - BORING....sigh). I will continue to exercise and attempt to keep gains to a minimum (especially since my parents are coming here next week).

I bet you are wondering about the photos. No? Well, I'm gonna tell you anyway.

Photo #1 is my New Year's eve outfit. What do you think? Just kidding. Best bud and I went to Kohls tonight, way too late and saw these gems and had to try them on. Man they make everything look like a trouble area. Don't tell the Fresh Prince of Bel-Air I stole his duds.

Photo #2 is me reading your blogs in my living room. This is the night before new carpet. Hideous, nasty carpet. Thank goodness it is gone. We drove it to the dump early this morning. A romantic date with the hubby before work.

Photo#3 are the sweetest, cutest darling girls ever (best bud's twin daughters and my god daughters), me and one of my dogs (the good one who never tries to bite) hanging out in my finished living room (the couches and tables we got are nice, perhaps I will post another photo later of those)

Photo #4 is me tonight. I look all waxy and shiny but that is just the stupid camera. I took this picture to capture an NSV. Those my friends, are size 10 jeans. I have NEVER been a size 10. I tried on 2 pairs of pants that size and a dress and they all fit! I wore the jeans all night and even after eating no one was in danger of losing an eye from a projectile button. Score!! Also, did you notice that nice new (non-pet stained) carpet?

What a day! Great time with the scale. Better time shopping for jeans. Best time trying on tacky (horribly unflattering) clothes and laughing with best bud.

I will consider this my Christmas. Today made me smile many times. Even though I went out for lunch and dinner and consumed many calories, I have never felt so thin. I feel really good. I hope you all get to enjoy your holiday this much.

Here is the question

I am feeling a little lonely on this weight loss journey. The only time I do not feel that way is when I am reading your blogs, comments or emails. At the gym, people seem to either be super healthy, aerobic instructors or they are just starting on a journey. No one has lost 100+ pounds and is struggling with goal weights and transitioning to maintenance. At work, no one really cares about their diets. They really like to eat things that taste good - no matter the caloric cost.

I think that people losing weight usually focus on either diet or exercise. We work on both but have a strong suite for one. Mine is obviously exercise. I do not make any excuses. I do this religiously. Everyday. I love it.

Diet is another story. I count the calories. I try to learn about new things. I eat balanced meals. I eat 5 times a day (usually). But this is hard. I find myself saying - oh, you could have that extra (fill in the blank) for another 100 calories or so. This crap adds up. That is how I got so fat.

I fall back on the same stuff because it has given me pretty consistent results. I want to branch out a bit. I want to cook more. I mostly eat grilled chicken and salad (which I still love) but I want to try cooking other things. I need more support here.

Here is the question: Should I rejoin Weight Watchers?

I was a member from last Halloween until March. I was doing okay but I wanted to lose more. When I went to straight calorie counting it went faster. I have lost at least 50 pounds since I stopped WW.

Here are the pros:

1. I would have to be accountable to someone other than me for the first time in a long time.
2. If I have to step on that scale in front of others, perhaps I will not eat that extra 100 calories of whatever.
3. The recipes. I love the recipe sharing and the healthy finds that others bring to meetings.
4. Maybe I will get another 5 pounds or so off.
5. I would feel a little less alone in this journey.

Here are the cons:

1. I hate waiting for meetings to start and end. I mostly like the sharing of recipes and that is all.
2. I love straight calorie counting. I HATE converting things to points.
3. Will they let me join and say I only want to lose 5 pounds? I may want to lose more but I only want to tell them 5.
4. Paying the membership fee.
5. Crowded meetings after everyone makes their New Year's resolutions.

I know many of you have tried WW at one time or another (and still maybe members). What do you all think? If you were me, would you rejoin? Have you considered this on your journey?

PLEASE LEAVE ME A COMMENT WITH YOUR THOUGHTS!! You all are the experts here. I am turning to you for advice. Please share your wisdom!! Thank you. You all mean so much to me. Please don't take too long of a break over the holiday. I will miss you too much!