11 lbs. Lost, 24 to Go!

(181 lbs on 11-21-09)

So glad the weight is coming off slowly but surely. I try to keep my calories under 1500 each day. We'll see how that works over time. It's nice being able to fit into some of my clothes that were tucked away in the closet.

PILATES!

So I've decide to give Pilates a try. Seems like all the celebrities swear by it. This article http://www.pilatescentral.co.uk/famous-pilate-devotees.asp talks about how it helps strengthens, tones, and enlogate so I'm going to give it a go. Luckily I have that On Demand feature with my cable television service so I just do it at home. I'm currently maintaing my weight at 181.5, but it's a bit challenging....almost obsessive. Counting calories, fighting the urge to give in to snacks I crave, and fighting the urge to eat when I wake up in the middle of the night.

One good thing is that I finally acquired a taste for yogurt thanks to McDonalds. The only way I can eat it is with fruit and granola. That little cup is strangely filling so I hope it helps me reach my goal. We'll see....

My mother (1950-1997)

Today marks 12 years since my mother's passing and not a day goes by that I don't think about her. My baby girl is about the same age as I was in this picture. I'm guessing my mother was about 28 or 29 in this photograph.

10 lbs.Lost, 25 to Go!

182 lbs. on 11-14-09

http://spreadsheets.google.com/ccc?key=0AoX9uU3swo45cEhIc1lpNVlUaVB5bU4ta3NPdEstR3c&hl=en

I'm excited that I lost that 10 lbs. Unfortunately, losing 7 lbs. this week was due to having strep throat and zero appetite. Excuse the tired expression on my face and the colorful hair accessories. I decided to use pipecleaners to curl my locs.

3 lbs. Lost, 32 lbs to Go

I was devasted about gaining nearly 5 lbs in one week, but I realize pms does a number on me. One thing I've learned is that I'm usually well behaved a good solid 2 weeks out the month, but by the 3rd and part of the 4th week I just pig out! I've got to get a handle on that, but I'm not sure how.

Since my official weigh-in day is each Saturday, I went ahead and recorded my 189 lb. weight, BUT I came down with a nasty sore throat Saturday night. I doctored on it ALL weekend but it just wouldn't go away. I feel like total crap and just couldn't take it another day. I went to my doctor this afternoon and just like I figured....strep throat. My husband just made it home with my Z-pack prescription so I'm hoping it will knock out the pain and lower my fever immediately. I'm so miserable.

The only upside is this sickness leaves me with little appetite. My throat feels like razors and the thought of eating overwhelms me. Just tried eating a mashed banana, and it felt like gravel going down. I weighed in at 189 Saturday morning and by this afternoon I was 183.5. Imagaine that, 5.5 lbs. weightloss in 2 days. I'll just milk it for what it's worth b/c no telling what will happen once I get over this strep. My appetite may come back with a vengence OR maybe this will be a new start towards my weightloss efforts.

We'll see. Weigh-in is on Saturday.

7.5 lbs. Lost, 27.5 to Go!

(184.5 lbs on 10-31-09)

http://spreadsheets.google.com/pub?key=pHHsYi5YTiPymN-ksOtK-Gw&output=html

I'm so elated about my weightloss! I'm still struggling to find the time to work out during the week, but I managed to work out this weekend. I believe my weightloss resulted from the stress I felt all this week. I've been so busy with meetings and and trying to meet deadlines. Stress usually have the opposite effect on my appetite. It's strange because I haven't had much of one and I actually like this feeling. Any other time I'd be wolfing down a burger, fries, and shake so I'm going to embrace this feeling and hope it lasts.

I haven't had the time to cook much this week so my dad made the children spaghetti. They've been eating on that plus the McDonald's they've eaten the two nights I've had to take them to work when I held parent-teacher conferences. Our usual dinners include fish, tacos, chili, cheeseburgers, pasta, chicken, chops, and pizza and bbq on the weekends. Mostly red meet throughout the week.

I haven't had red meat in a couple of weeks (not intentionally) and I can feel the difference. I feel lighter. I tried converting to turkey years ago, but turkey burgers made me want to barf! I usually only prefer turkey on deli sandwiches. I'll start with turkey chili and seasoned ground turkey in my tacos to see if the family likes it. Maybe that will help with my weightloss.

4.5 lbs Lost, 30.5 to Go!

(187.5 lbs. on 10-23-09)

http://spreadsheets.google.com/pub?key=pHHsYi5YTiPymN-ksOtK-Gw&output=html

I managed to lose 4 lbs. this week...How? I really have no clue b/c I haven't exercised in nearly 2 weeks. I managed to work out 25 minutes yesterday and about 30 minutes this morning. I have been stressed and overwhelmed. I didn't get a chance to grocery shop this week so we've been eating take out, well really my husband and the kids. I've been just snacking here and there. That's probably the reason I lost those few pounds...I definitely don't want to see them come back!