188!

Broke the 190 mark! What a roller coaster ride! After last Sunday's weigh in I made the mistake of weighing myself on Tuesday a.m. and was @ 193 :( I was NOT a happy camper. I was frustrated to say the least after having told 193 goodbye forever! Lesson learned, though-pay attention to what week of the month it is and don't freak out to much. (Isn't it GREAT being a woman **sarcasm intended**)

Anyway, THE weigh in is tomorrow, so I'm off to get the groceries so that I can be back in time to do a 1 hour bike ride.

See ya!

Progress!

2 lbs. Well, not bad...considering how busy this week has been. I worked my butt off at the beginning of it and then got messed up for the remaining 3 days (as far as exercising). It feels great to be close to finally be leaving the 190's.

FOR GOOD.

I was discussing will power with Bob this morning and I tell myself

"It's only food. I have the rest of my life to taste it. Right now, to reach my goals this year I can go without that taste and WITHOUT the frustration of seeing the scale go up!"

According to my chart on the Biggest Loser Club website, my original BMI was 36.4 "Obese" range. Now, I am at 32.6. My goal is a BMI of 22

My goal for this week--May 24-30 is to lose 3 lbs. and get 4 workouts in. This will be a challenge since I'm planning to spend a LOT of time on my computer finishing up 3 videos and Thursday is my sister's birthday :)...

On another note--Jacob has lost 17 lbs. and is at 333 on HIS quest to reach 300! AND Bob has decided that he's ready to work out at the gym! He is down to 280 and determined to get down to 260!

I am so excited that our entire family is motivated to get healthy!

Growth

Nate the Great is growing FAST! I can hardly believe that my baby is pretty much finished with the 6th grade! This school year has flown by for me, maybe not for him, but definitely for me. Nate was on Student Council, Beginner Band, and in Choir this year. He sure was busy keeping up with all of his commitments. I am so proud of the young man he is.

Spring Concert

One of the joys in life is going to the middle school concert as a parent. The progress that this band has made in less than 9 months time is AMAZING! I mean, I do know that the beginner band took home some High Honors and some big trophies last weekend and they have been practicing hard--but to hear them play now versus at the Fall concert--WOW!!!

I had a a REALLY hard time getting photos of Nate from where I was sitting, but I want to share them anyway.

Poser

Jacob is funny-He loves to make goofy faces when I'm trying to get a shot of him. In this one I was trying to show his haircut.... got the eyebrow!

Spring Shoots

Okay, it's mid to late May already...but I'm finally getting a chance to post some photography of the blooms in my front flowerbed. This is my beloved Clematis all lit up with the afternoon sun.



This is a Bird of Paradise




And its leaves and branches.

Teen Driver

Aaack! Caleb is driving! It's been delayed as long as possible... and now we present THE PERMIT!

It's all part of the journey to manhood I'm telling myself. I'm just glad that we don't own any sporty cars--just two boring minivans with airbags ;) Congratulations Caleb!

As you can see in the picture, Jacob is right behind him waiting for his turn.

New Lens!

 
My new lens came today!
Jake wanted me to take his picture and look what came out! I'm lovin' this wide aperture. This shot was taken with only my bedside lamp!

He is getting so grown up!

20#

Woooo Hoooo! I hit the 20# mark this morning!!!
Never thought that the scale saying 192 would feel so good!

Now, on to the next 20!!!
I am in Medium Scrubs (probably size 14ish)

Yay!

New Adsense

Hahaha! I just added Ad Sense to my blog and the first ad to come up is Jillian Michaels of the Biggest Loser! That is hilarious because I joined the biggestloserclub.com and got the books and that is the workout program I have been using! Welcome Jillian! :P

Feel the Burn

Ouch Ouch Ouch. My shoulder will not let me forget that I had a good workout today! I am being very careful and methodical to have correct positioning when I do anything with my right arm at the gym. I do NOT want to send myself back to the doctor! However...I do need to remember to take the ibuprofen before I go. I may need to sit up against some ice tonight.

I really hope my new lens is coming in the mail today or tomorrow! My niece's birthday party is Saturday and I'm hoping to catch some good shots!

Well, we're NOT going to be able to see D.C. this summer as we had planned. I put in my leave request at work and it was denied because another tech had already requested that time slot. I resubmitted it and we will be leaving July 22 for Williamsburg, VA to visit Bob's friend Sherry and her family, then to New Jersey to visit the Statue of Liberty and say hi to the Story family in New York. From there we will head up to Buffalo to visit the Leubners and go see Niagara Falls on the USA side, then to Auburn to see Bob's family and have a family bonfire night and play cards and hang out. On our trip home from New York we will make a stop in West Virginia to see Jeremy and Emily Carpenter in their new home and THEN for the finale we will spend a couple of days chillin' on the beach at Myrtle Beach with Jenny and Orion!

That is a LOT of stops in a lot of different places! AND A LOT of Family to catch up with! My head will be spinning--but in a Good way :)

What are your vacation plans for the summer?

It Fits!

I just put on my "Grey's Anatomy" Scrubs I bought a year ago but haven't been able to wear. I put them on about a month ago just to see where I was at and wasn't even close. I managed to wear them to work last week, but was grateful that I wear a gown over them most of the day-still a tad too tight.

They are actually just right today! Looser around the middle and butt! It's so exciting and rewarding to see the work paying off.

I have taken my "Biggest Loser" Fitness book with me to the gym the last 2 times to follow the exercises and make sure to do them right. It makes me a little uneasy...but why do I care what total strangers think? I dunno, but I did it anyway.

It sure does help the motivation factor when your muscles ache and your feet burn to be able to get yourself back to the gym when you're seeing progress both in the inches department and on the scale!

I still have a long road to go, but at least one mile of it has been overcome!

Mother's Day Dinner

Grrrrr... I finally hit 193 on Sunday and was good all day:
1 cup shredded wheat, 1 cup nonfat milk for breakfast
Orange for snack
Turkey wrap (whole wheat) for lunch
and even worked out! Jake went with me to 24 hour fitness and we did our Biggest Loser workout :)

The guys took me out to Texas Roadhouse for dinner and I had sparingly ate 2 cheese fries --that is "2 fries" not 2 servings of fries, 2 yummy melt in your mouth rolls and 1/2 of a steak kabob, a few pieces of steamed broccoli. So....Monday morning BAM! I'm 196! Hate that!

So, I ate right yesterday and I'm down to 195 again...and I'm spending an additional week making up for the 2 rolls and 2 cheese fries on Sunday :( It's so maddening!

Anyone else experience this? I know that I am still going to continue losing, it's just so frustrating to go backwards with such effort!

New Equipment

My Mother's Day presents are AWESOME! (Can't wait until they arrive :P)
My family got me this awesome photographer's backpack






A remote control


AND!!!!!!
A new lens!!!



I will post some new pics on here when my lens gets here!

Growing Boys

I whipped out my camera and caught Caleb and Jake Saturday evening. Man! They are growing fast!

Mother's Day 2009

 

Mother's Day this year was awesome! I was greeted with hugs, kisses and a big present first thing (after they let me sleep in). After breakfast (which was going to be an omelet until Caleb discovered there was no eggs :D)we went to see the new Star Trek movie. It was such an incredible feeling sitting between Bob and Jake and watching the incredible effects.
 

After the movie, Jake went with me to work out. We got back and showered and cleaned up- ready for dinner. They took me out to Texas Roadhouse and we had a blast.

Hello...

 "Hello, Agent Friday? I think I found Agent Big Foot's ShoePhone" Caleb goofing off with Jake's new shoes. We are all amazed at Jake's Mammoth size. Caleb's femur is about the size of Jakes sneaker!

Mother's Day Flowers

 
Yay! My Clematis are blooming!
When I first planted this clematis it didn't grow right away, in fact, we didn't even see it for the 1st 2 years! God used this plant to give me hope for my children one day in the middle of some tough teenage antics. I had just dropped each one off at their schools and I remember that we had lots of head butting that morning.

I was feeling down and feeling like I was not a good Mom and that my kids were not learning the lessons I had tried to teach them about who the Lord wants them to be. As I pulled in to my driveway I saw it--A brilliant burst of purple, ONE bloom poking its head out from behind the bush. The Holy Spirit spoke volumes to my heart that day. He was conveying to me that it's my job to plant the seeds and that He is faithful to provide the sun and the rain for their hearts and minds--that it's not solely up to me--and I will see the beauty grow. I received so much encouragement from that little vine that day and now, every Spring more and more blooms develop even more beautiful than the previous year. I thank the Lord for that reminder. I love that this year my clematis bloomed 2 days before Mother's Day--reminding me that God made me a mother and He is in control!

Cardio Pump

Wow! I AM pumped! Isn't it interesting that now that I have decided to lose weight and get in shape 2 people have stepped up and gone to work out with me! Last week Kim invited me to work out at her gym @ her apt. This is way cool. It is so hard to go to the gym after a 12 hour shift, but somehow having a friend doing it with you it seems easier. Yesterday I went to a Cardio Pump class at Gold's Gym with Lupita. Wow! The Squats and Lunges Kick my Butt!!! I was still feeling sore from last week, but I was thinking it would be good to work that lactic acid out.

My whole body except my abs feel like they had a good workout. I will have to do some ab work after my treadmill time today.

She says she likes to go to those every week and I can go too. I think I will change my membership to Gold's. It is cheaper and I can work out with Lupita.

This morning when I weighed I am at 195!!!!!!! over the weekend my weight had gone back to 197 and then Monday it was 196 again. It is great to see that 195 on there.

Caleb wrote me the sweetest note yesterday morning. It is the best mother's day gift ever! It is so encouraging. I won't share all of it, but here is part:

"I am so proud to call you that: "Mom". I was looking at your goal sheet on the fridge, how you have consistently lost 3 pounds every week! I may not know how hard it is to stay away from the junk food, but just hearing you become so frustrated when you are tempted with it just breaks my heart. When I saw that you would be 165 by vacation I thought 'Wow!'"

God has done an amazing work in him. I am so lucky to have a him for My son!


What motivates you?

Progress...

I went to the Efflands for dinner last night and was concerned about the menu. We had sausage wraps, watermelon, potato salad, coleslaw and chocolate silk frozen pies for dinner! I was very apprehensive about the menu and eating late, but I had 2 sausage wraps--1 without a tortilla, about 2 tbsp of potato salad, and a piece of watermelon. For desert I had 2 slivers of chocolate yummy goodness and this morning I am at 196!!!!! Praise God!

I got called in to work, so I will have to work out after and get groceries late tonight.

My legs are still Mega sore from my workout Thursday. I know, I know--I need to work out to get the lactic acid out. I will do that today!

I am so excited to see progress in the way I look and feel and the scale!