98 days left!

Since it is less than a 100 days until the 1/2, I decided that I would count backwards. I know that it has been 10 days since I last wrote. I have no excuses. There has been major drama in our Biggest Loser contest. One girl has lost 39 lbs as of February 1st. That is over 14% of her body weight. It has been frustrating to say the least because the next closest person has only lost 7% and then everyone else is comparable to that. When asked what she is doing, she has only replied, "I will tell you after the contest." But last Monday Missy asked her if she was doing HCG and she said, "yes." They didn't ever specify in the rules that they couldn't take it, but it just doesn't seem fair to those that are working their butts off to not even have a chance at the grand prize. So the owner has consulted with her lawyer and they have told the owner that she could refund her money. When told that the girl said, "I never told you I was on HCG. You asked me and I said no." What???? What kind of integrity is that? It has been crazy. Anyway, enough about that. I was very happy today that I had lost 3 lbs. I have been sick and not exercising this week due to some major dizziness that I have been having. I am feeling somewhat better today and hope that next week, I can get back on track.

Day 27 of 135

I had a great workout yesterday! I am SO sore. My abs hurt if I laugh or cough. I'm going back to it tomorrow. I just need to get my running going! That's the crazy part. You'd think I could do that. I have been eating really good so hopefully we will see something on Saturday.

Day 25 of 135

Well, my plans didn't go as planned this morning. Long story....can't explain on a public forum. I did play dodgeball for a half hour and I played hard. Then we went bowling. I want to get on the treadmill, but I have to be up at 4:45 for my weightlifting class. So I am going to choose to sleep. I am exhausted and I haven't even had Parent Teacher conferences yet which are on Wednesday and Thursday. Hopefully I can make it. I have done really well on my eating today and yesterday so I'm hoping that will show up on Saturday! Thanks to all who are following this. I really appreciate the support.

Day 24 of 135 - I know! I know!

Well as you can tell by my posting that I probably didn't have a good week. Well, you are right. I ended up losing a pound but that is according to my scale. I didn't even attempt to go and weigh in, partially because of the roads and the other reason was because I had such a bad week. So I have a new resolve....I am going to have an excellent week which so far I have had. I am going to do my running and be faithful with just that. If I can fit in anything else in then I will. My goal for the week will be one hour of cardio a day...so tomorrow, I am up at 5:45 to run. I'll check in tomorrow!

Day 20 of 135

Well, I worked out, woo woo! I did an hour on the treadmill. I walked most of it with some spurts of running. I didn't follow my c25k very well and I am sure it will show on Day 2 when I am supposed to run 8 minutes. I hope I can do it!

Day 19 of 135

Well folks, I'm here to confess....I am a slacker. I have been rebellious since my 2 pound loss and going at the rate I am, will end up GAINING that 2 pounds back! I have 3, count them 3 days to get my act together so that I can lose instead of gain at the next weigh in. I have to admit that I have been feeling depressed since I was expecting a bigger loss last week and to top it all off, Andrea (of the Biggest Loser show) lost 7 pounds so now we are tied. I don't know what I'm gonna have to do to lose at least 3 more for this week. Maybe I will stop eating and fast for 3 days. I don't know. Tomorrow is a new day and I am going to be on that treadmill no later than 6:15 tomorrow morning. If I don't then you are all invited to come to my house and form a line to give a swat to my boo-tay. Night!

I found this on another blog and LOVE it! Just had to share...

I AM THANKFUL

FOR THE WIFE
WHO SAYS IT'S HOT DOGS TONIGHT,
BECAUSE SHE IS HOME WITH ME,
AND NOT OUT WITH SOMEONE ELSE.

FOR THE HUSBAND
WHO IS ON THE SOFA
BEING A COUCH POTATO,
BECAUSE HE IS HOME WITH ME
AND NOT OUT AT THE BARS.

FOR THE TEENAGER
WHO IS COMPLAINING ABOUT DOING DISHES
BECAUSE IT MEANS SHE IS AT HOME,
NOT ON THE STREETS.

FOR THE TAXES I PAY
BECAUSE IT MEANS I AM EMPLOYED.

FOR THE MESS TO CLEAN AFTER A PARTY
BECAUSE IT MEANS I HAVE BEEN SURROUNDED BY FRIENDS.

FOR THE CLOTHES THAT FIT A LITTLE TOO SNUG
BECAUSE IT MEANS I HAVE ENOUGH TO EAT.

FOR MY SHADOW THAT WATCHES ME WORK
BECAUSE IT MEANS I AM OUT IN THE SUNSHINE

FOR A LAWN THAT NEEDS MOWING,
WINDOWS THAT NEED CLEANING,
AND GUTTERS THAT NEED FIXING
BECAUSE IT MEANS I HAVE A HOME.

FOR ALL THE COMPLAINING
I HEAR ABOUT THE GOVERNMENT
BECAUSE IT MEANS WE HAVE FREEDOM OF SPEECH..

FOR THE PARKING SPOT
I FIND AT THE FAR END OF THE PARKING LOT
BECAUSE IT MEANS I AM CAPABLE OF WALKING
AND I HAVE BEEN BLESSED WITH TRANSPORTATION.

FOR MY HUGE HEATING BILL
BECAUSE IT MEANS I AM WARM.

FOR THE LADY BEHIND ME IN CHURCH
WHO SINGS OFF KEY BECAUSE IT MEANS I CAN HEAR.

FOR THE PILE OF LAUNDRY AND IRONING
BECAUSE IT MEANS I HAVE CLOTHES TO WEAR.

FOR WEARINESS AND ACHING MUSCLES
AT THE END OF THE DAY
BECAUSE IT MEANS I HAVE BEEN
CAPABLE OF WORKING HARD.

FOR THE ALARM THAT GOES OFF
IN THE EARLY MORNING HOURS
BECAUSE IT MEANS I AM ALIVE.

Live well, Laugh often, &
Love with all of your heart!

Day 16 of 135

I only lost 2 lbs. I am not very happy. I do think I know what I did wrong so I am going to have to change some things this week. I only got to the gym 4 times this week so, I need to make sure that I hit Monday too. I ate some sweet chex mix and when I say some, I mean a lot! So I am going to cut out all of my sugar this week. Then I am going to stop eating by 7 o'clock each night. Hopefully that will make a difference for the next week.

I am a big fan of the Biggest Loser and this last week, I noticed that Andrea from the black team weighed in at 279. I saw that I am ahead of her so I decided to create a little challenge. I am going to try to keep losing more than her until she is voted off. I feel that will give me some competition. Let's hope she doesn't have more than a 7 lb. weightloss this week.

Day 15 of 135

Well I did my last chance workout which almost became my LAST workout! I decided not to follow my C25K and just run and walk. I went with my friend Melany and anyone that knows me knows that I am competitive. So I knew that even though she is a lot better runner than me, I just needed to do the full hour on the treadmill. So I started running (and yes I did stretch before) and I was doing great. I passed 5 minutes (which is the most I've gone), then I passed 6, then 7 and then 8. Well during the 8 minute time, my hand hit my headphone cord and my iphone almost fell. I let out a little scream, at the same time I am looking over at Melany to see if she saw what happened. While I was doing that, my foot moved over too far and caught the side and I totally almost biffed it! Luckily I grabbed hold of the handles and jumped off. I was SO lucky! Anyways, then the girl working there came over to see if I was "ok", which of course I was. I didn't know that I screamed so loud. So I got back on and just kind of ran/walked for an hour. I was thrilled at the progress I've made and ended up going 3 1/4 miles in the hour.

Tomorrow is weigh-in day. So excited! I just hope that I've lost something substantial. We shall see! Tune in tomorrow...same bat time, same bat channel!

Day 14 of 135

I am sooo sore! I was already still sore from my pump class on Tuesday, but after running last night and then having Pump again today I am really feeling it. So I am worried about running tomorrow. I still have some pain in that groin muscle hoping by tomorrow night, I will be able to run good. I'm on my last day of Week 4 and Week 5 looks like a killer. By next Friday I will have to run 20 minutes straight! I don't know if that will be possible...I really don't.

Day 13 of 135 - Finally ran again!

I know it's a big shocker but I finally ran again! I have been a slacker in this department but I did it. I just didn't do ALL of it. I got to the second 3 minute run and felt a tweak in my groin muscle and then I was limping. This has happened to me on and off, but I couldn't keep running this time, so I walked away the rest of my time. Next time I am going to be smart and stretch those muscles.

My eating was great until late this afternoon when I made a sweet chex mix for my daughter's "Nature Club." I ended up eating 2 cups of it (if not more) I still stayed within 1 or 2 points of my WW points.

I haven't weighed myself at ALL this week which is crazy for me. I am notorious (at least to my mom) for weighing several times a day. I want to be surprised on Saturday so I am not going to weigh at all at home.

Tomorrow morning...5:15...Pump FX!

Day 12 of 135

I had a much better day than yesterday. Yesterday I felt like all the forces of evil had combined against me. Today just a few forces...thanks to the prayers of my dear, sweet mother. Why is it that whenever you are trying to improve, that Satan just has to try to get his ugly little claws into things? So it's been a struggle. I will be honest about this. I'm finding that it is hard to post the failures I'm having.

Also, I have just been feeling SO overwhelmed, lonely, disappointed, sad...I don't know what is up with this. Today, however, I have felt somewhat better. I am still disappointed that I didn't get as much accomplished as I should have.

I did however stay strong in the food area. I have eaten within my points again, which is good. It has been a little tough to not eat especially when I'm feeling so emotional. That's my drug of choice...food. Right now, I would love to have a peanut butter cup hot chocolate with marshmallows but I am going to start the dishwasher and washer and go to bed and drink a big bottle of water! Doesn't that sound great over hot chocolate? Nahhh, but it'll have to do.

Day 11 of 135

I'm posting today because last night I ran out of time. I got to bed by 10:15 to be up at 4:45 this morning. I had a great eating day yesterday. I had my protein shake for breakfast, a lean cuisine for lunch with an orange and sugar-free jello pudding. I then for dinner had a great Taco soup that everyone loved! I stayed within my weight watcher points.

I just got back from my weightlifting class and my arms are KILLING me so I'm going to sign off now until tonight.

Day 10 of 135

Yesterday was a CRAZY day! I stayed up late the night before so I tried to sleep in, but I had to get up for my weigh-in so I only got to sleep until 9 (I know poor me). When I got to the weigh-in, I weighed in at 274. So plan didn't work, lol. I actually had lost a pound from the previous week and that was after eating whatever and exercising 2 times. Now watch, I will do everything right this week and gain 5 pounds...:). So then we had a class on a new nutrition website that is on the Lady Fitness Website. I am still experimenting with it to see if I like it better than Weight Watchers online. I'll let you know.

After the class, I went home and cleaned out my fridge and freezer. It's sad when you have sauces, etc. that date back to 2006. I SWEAR I've cleaned out my fridge since then! Then I went shopping which was crazy busy! I have stocked my fridge with healthy food and I feel prepared for the upcoming week.

Last week, (if I'm being honest) I really didn't care too much about what I was doing so I only ran once and did my class once. This week, has to be a lot better. I will report each day how I did on my eating and on my exercise. I am not going to weigh myself everyday and I will just be surprised at the gym. I am excited for this challenge and I am grateful for all of the support I have been receiving from all of YOU!!! Much love!

Day 8 of 135

Now that I'm typing this at 1:47 in the morning, all I can say is "Bring on today!" I'm excited to get going on my next 9 weeks! I am going to drink all of my water and then head to the weigh-in! Goodnight!

Day 7 of 135 - Pump FX

I did the pump class this morning at the gym. I was a very grumpy girl and I wasn't too happy about getting up at 4:45 after going to bed around 12:30 a.m. Then I had to drive in fog, which I hate! Anyway, once I got to the gym and got the bench, weights, and bar I was ok. It turned out to be a great workout. In fact I'm dreading tomorrow because I'm already sore.

I did accomplish a major thing for me today and that is that I did full situps today. I normally will do the crunches because I have always thought I was too fat to do a situp all the way, but today I decided to try it and I ended up doing about 3 sets of 8 while holding a 5 lb. weight! I couldn't believe it. It just goes to show me that most of what I think I CAN'T do is all in my head. I need to at least try. I was really happy with myself and feel that it is another thing to check off my list of things I need to overcome. Very exciting!

Day 6 or 135 - No exercise for me.

Crazy day today. Stopped eating by 7:00 tonight. Feeling good, but really sore from last night. Didn't run tonight. Have to get up at 4:45 to get to the gym by 5:10 and it is 11:20 at night so I think I need to get to bed. I have actually had one good night's sleep in about a week and that was last night...well, once I fell asleep, around 1:30 a.m. Hoping to catch up this weekend. Night!

Day 5 of 135 - The Biggest Loser

Last night, I had a dream that I was actually running the 1/2. I was going down the canyon and it was so easy for me to run. I really hope that I will feel that way on May 15th. It made me so excited yet it has made me a little apprehensive. I have been thinking that I REALLY don't know what I've gotten myself into. It might be one thing to be thin and train for this, but to be as heavy as I am and want to do this? I think I will have to claim temporary insanity.

Then tonight I watched the Biggest Loser...GO TONGANS!!!! (Ofa atu!) As I was watching all of the contestants share their weight with their friends, family, coworkers, neighbors, and listening to Jillian and Bob tell them that this was the first couragous thing they had to do, it made me re-think my decision to not tell my weight. So I'm going to tell you my fellow readers because I think it's important that I make that step so that I can start my recovery process. Ok, here goes... I weigh 275 pounds. My highest weight reached 300 pounds, a number I had hoped I would never see. The lowest I have been during the past 6 months is 266, so I am back up 9 lbs. On the positive side, I'm still down 25. I really can't believe I'm putting this out there and hopefully there aren't a lot of you to read this, but I felt it needed to be done. This is the only way I can be real with myself and make the change that I need to.

So now the good news...I did Week 4 Day 1 of C25K and it was tough. I didn't think it was something I could do. I've been worried about it for 2 weeks. You have to run 3 minutes (which I have been barely able to do), walk 90 seconds, run 5 minutes, walk 2 1/2 minutes, run 3 minutes, walk 90 seconds, run 5 minutes with a warm-up and a cooldown. I can't believe it, but I did it. The last 5 minute run was so hard mentally to do. I didn't even want to start it. I kept thinking, "people that read the blog will understand if this is all I can do." But then I told myself that I COULD do it. It was only 5 minutes and if you watched last season's Biggest Loser, I always try to think of Shay and how she was 400 pounds running and if she could do it, then I can do it. I have to do a lot of talking out loud to myself especially in the last minute, but I did it! I am very proud of myself for not giving up and it felt SOOOO good when I was finished. I think it was the most I have perspired in a long time, and I get to do it all again tomorrow!

Day 4 of 135 - Loser Day

I guess I'm only into day 4 and I'm going to disappoint someone, but mainly me. My alarm went off early, but due to stomach trouble during the night, I put off running until tonight. However, I have not been home long enough to be able to do anything. I took the kids out to eat at Chili's because I got a gift card from my mom and wanted to use it before I can't eat there. They don't have that great of low-calorie food. Well, I am SO exhausted from my first day back to school and I have to be up at 4:50 for the Pump FX class. I am going to go to bed now having NOT done my running. So I think I will be doing double time tomorrow. I did however play dodgeball for 30 minutes and I worked up a sweat so there was a little cardio. So here is one of my down days and I'm hoping that the rest of the week will be a lot better!

Day 3 of 135 - The Sabbath Day

On Sundays, I plan to share my goals for the upcoming week and what I hope to accomplish. Also, I would like to share some quote, scripture, song, or idea that has helped me in my life...so be prepared!

Since my weigh-in isn't until Saturday, I am not going to be majorly strict in my eating. I am going to be working on portion control and ending my eating by 8 p.m. I will still eat a little sugar and maybe have one or two diet pepsis. I am going to use this week to get my refrigerator cleaned out and prepared for all of the healthy food I'm going to purchase this coming weekend.

The following is the exercise schedule I intend to use this week...
Monday - C25K (couch 2 5K) I start Week 4 Day 1. It will consist of 5 and 3 minute runs. I can barely make it through a 3 minute run so we shall see if I can make the 5 minute part.
Tuesday - Pump FX at 5:30 - weight training class.
Wednesday - C25K Week 4 Day 2
Thursday - Pump FX at 5:30
Friday - C25K Week 4 Day 3
Saturday - 10:00 weigh-in/class then I will be doing a Body for Life workout for upper and lower body

It is going to be a tough week getting back into the school routine so my goal is to be to bed by 10 p.m. Hopefully this will be accomplished.

My new theme song is the new one by Whitney Houston called "I Didn't Know My Own Strength." Here are the lyrics...Her song is number 6 on my blog and you can sing along. This describes the road I've been on for the last few years and where I am NOW!
...Enjoy!

Didn't Know My Own Strength Lyrics

Lost touch with my soul
I had no where to turn
I had no where to go
Lost sight of my dream,
Thought it would be the end of me
I thought I’d never make it through
I had no hope to hold on to,
I thought I would break

I didn’t know my own strength
And I crashed down, and I tumbled
But I did not crumble
I got through all the pain
I didn’t know my own strength
Survived my darkest hour
My faith kept me alive
I picked myself back up
Hold my head up high
I was not built to break
I didn’t know my own strength

Found hope in my heart,
I found the light to life
My way out of the dark
Found all that I need
Here inside of me
I thought I’d never find my way
I thought I’d never lift that weight
I thought I would break


I didn’t know my own strength
And I crashed down, and I tumbled
But I did not crumble
I got through all the pain
I didn’t know my own strength
Survived my darkest hour
My faith kept me alive
I picked myself back up
Hold my head up high
I was not built to break
I didn’t know my own strength

There were so many times I
Wondered how I’d get through the night I
Thought took all I could take

I didn’t know my own strength
And I crashed down, and I tumbled
But I did not crumble
I got through all the pain
I didn’t know my own strength
Survived my darkest hour
My faith kept me alive
I picked myself back up
Hold my head up high
I was not built to break
I didn’t know my own strength

Words by Diane Warren

We all have so much strength, we just have to find it inside us and with God's help we can survive and then flourish! Love to you all!

Day 2 of 135

Well, I went to my "Biggest Loser" orientation...and learned a few lessons. Lesson #1 - Apparently the contest is about the money and not the weight. Lesson #2 - People will cheat. Lesson #3 - I am a naive person.

First of all, instead of drinking a ton of water and eating a lot of food this morning to increase my weight for the initial weigh-in, I don't eat anything all day hoping I will be "thinner" for my weigh-in. Am I really this dumb? Maybe so, but I was one of the few people that was not upset when we found out that there was no weigh-in today. Hee hee! I guess it sucked for all of the women that had drank a gallon or two of water! The first weigh-in for me will be next Saturday at 10 a.m. I guess I better start stockpiling my water for Saturday morning! ;)

While in the orientation, they inform us that we need to weigh with capris or shorts on because if we wear pants then we need to roll up our pant legs. Why you might ask? (and someone did) Well to make sure that noone wears ankle weights...are you kidding me? These are things I would have NEVER thought of. Then someone asked whether or not we can take supplements or things like HCG. Obviously they can't regulate us so I guess it's not against the rules.

Then the grand finale of the meeting was getting our front and side photos taken in the doorway of the bathroom (a place I'm very comfortable in, lol). I think I closed my eyes on the picture but she said, "It doesn't matter. It's only your body we are concerned about." Geesh!

So I have made a few goals for the upcoming week...1. Make an appointment to get some HCG. 2. Find a way to fill my bra with weights and not have anyone notice. 3. Make sure I eat at McDonalds the morning of my weigh-in...and 4. make sure I drink my stockpile of water 15 minutes before I weigh. Then I might have a shot at that $1000.00 grand prize.

Day 1 of 135

I've been wanting to lose weight for many years now. Without going into reasons why I have arrived at the weight I have, the plain fact is that I'm fat. Last June, someone at the gym, started a contest to lose weight and so I signed up. That was the beginning of my journey. I am not at the point of posting my heaviest weight yet, but maybe in the future I can share. I think that there is still that fear in me that if I fail, then everyone will know what I weigh and it will be like a red letter (or shall we say number) across my chest. So when the time comes that I can deal with this fear, I will give up the number.

After the contest ended in July, I think I had lost about 10 pounds so I decided to start doing Body for Life. It is a great program and I lost a total of 24 more pounds bringing my total to 34 pounds lost. Now I have gained a little back and fluctuate between 28-30 pounds lost.

My gym is now starting another contest, a "Biggest Loser" contest with a grand prize of $1000.00. It is an eight week contest and I go in for pictures, a weigh-in and information tomorrow. I'm hoping that I can get re-motivated and continue my journey.

I also did the craziest thing and that was sign up for the Ogden 1/2 marathon on May 15, 2010. I have had a goal of running the St. George marathon in 2010 for 3 years and I am putting my name in the lottery in April. I wanted it to be the first race I ever did, but a good friend of mine talked me into running the 1/2 with him...so I signed up (hence the countdown of my title). To be honest, I'm really scared. As of yesterday, I can run 3 minutes without stopping and that is hard. It is like running with another person strapped to my back. I know in my heart that this is what I need to do so I am excited to start this road.

I hope you enjoy the journey with me.