Monday, January 9, 2012
Spotlight...
I have so many amazing people in my life who are encouraging me every single day. So I thought I'd pay some special attention to someone new every so often so I can share how important people are in this journey. My amazing friend Amber. She has been such a huge part of this for me. She truley makes me brave. She encourages me to try new things. She always has some sort of recipe pulled up on her computer with the points value and anytime I come over to her house she always has some new food for me to try that's low calories and point friendly. I tried tori at her house for Bachelor night... We work together in the same office it's nice to know I have someone here helping me 8 hours a day 5 days a week. Thanks Ambah!
Saturday, January 7, 2012
My journey begins....
So, I think about this term a lot when people ask me what I am doing to get healthy. I've narrowed it down to the 4 W's (dubs); Working out, Will Power and Weight Watchers. I have lost 56 pounds to date. I began my journey on September 15, 2011. I will never forget that date because it was the first day of the rest of my life. The day I started Weight Watchers. I have tried 100 different styles of weight loss and none of them worked (as you can see in earlier posts).
It all started when I went to Walmart to try on a pair of pants for work and the size I normally fit in easily did not even go past my hips. I pretty much vowed to never try on clothes again at that point, but since I have to wear clothes, I decided to call my best friend, Nadina, who lost weight on Weight Watchers and ask her how the points worked. She gave me the formula but really encouraged me to go to the meetings. I remember thinking, "yeah right! I will be so embarrassed and I don't want to have some crazy, Richard Simmons wannabe telling me I can do it, like sweatin' to the oldies" So I yeah, yeahed her and tried to do the points on my own. She didn't let me yeah, yeah her. Instead, she looked up the meeting and called me to inform me of where and when to go and what times she knew I'd be able to. It was a Thursday night and right up to a half hour before, I was making every excuse in the world not to go. I was pulling into my drive way on Thursday night at 5:40 and guess who calls me to see if I was going to a meeting? Yes, Nadina. All I could think of was, Seriously? She is not going to let me blow this off, is she? So I told her I was going and I actually went.
The meeting started at 6:00. I got there and I was so embarrassed. I told them I just want to check it out, but I was NOT signing up yet. So, I stayed for the meeting and I really liked the leader, Maria. She was engaging, funny, so kind and she was extremely motivating. Before the meeting ended, I joined. I paid for 10 weeks in advance. I got weighed...oh the weigh in was bad. I was way heavier than I even thought was possible. I cried. In fact, I cried all the way home. Of coarse I called Nadi right away and she was so supportive. She encouraged me and told me I can do this. I needed to hear that. I needed her nudge. Ok, it was a full on push...but I thank God for that push every single day.
When I got inside the house, I was still crying. I went to Andrew, my husband, and told him this is a matter of life and death and I told him how much I need his support and his help. He agreed and has been very helpful and extremely supportive. I have so many amazing people in my life. I feel like one of the lucky ones. I lost 11.4 pounds in my first week and I was sold! After that meeting, I was crying..again, but these were tears of pure joy and a little bit of disbelief. I remember calling Nadina and my sister Chrissie and just bawling my eyes out.
The next week was not quite as successful. I lost less than a pound. But it wasn't discouraging. It just made me re-evaluate the points I was eating. I realized eating grilled chicken, red potatoes and veggies are way better and more satisfying than eating 3 taco's even though it's the same in points. Once I changed my points to healthier points, I started losing a minimum of 2 pounds per week.
Then I started adding activity. I started out doing very little. Parking farther at the store, walking a bit faster at the mall, etc. I remember when I first started working out with an aerobics video, I could only do 10 minutes without getting tired. Once the weight started coming off, I increased it little by little until I was easily doing 45 min to an hour. I walk a lot! I started walking my kids to school, which is huge for me cause I used to get tired walking down my drive way (that is not an exaggeration). The day I walked my first mile, made me so happy. Me, a mile? That's just crazy talk. Not anymore...I walked 2 miles yesterday and it felt amazing! It's funny really. I used to think of ways to get out of walking anywhere. Now I look for opportunities to exercise. If I am waiting for a friend to pick me up, I say, just pick me up down the street, I'll be walking.
I no longer view myself as a lazy person and I like the person I'm becoming. The "improving" me is excited to go play with her kids at the park, go places, do things. I don't sweat anymore (unless I'm supposed to) which is a big deal for me, cause I would sweat just sitting in a chair. I also stopped taking blood pressure pills when I hit 50 pounds...Yeah!
It took me 100 days to lose 50 pounds! I still can't believe it. That's where the willpower came in...for sure. I choose not to eat cheesecake and I choose not to eat french fries. The best part is, I know I can if I want to. That's what I love about Weight Watchers. You do not deprive yourself. I am the biggest advocate for them. Remember how much of a skeptic I was at the beginning of this story? Well now Thursdays and my meeting are my favorite day of the week! I have been consistently losing 2-3 pounds or more per week and I haven't gained an ounce. I will keep on going. I love how I feel. I love looking at my improving body in the mirror. I love all new energy I have. But most of all I love that I am going to be able to watch my kids grow up and be an active part of their lives for a long, long time.
It all started when I went to Walmart to try on a pair of pants for work and the size I normally fit in easily did not even go past my hips. I pretty much vowed to never try on clothes again at that point, but since I have to wear clothes, I decided to call my best friend, Nadina, who lost weight on Weight Watchers and ask her how the points worked. She gave me the formula but really encouraged me to go to the meetings. I remember thinking, "yeah right! I will be so embarrassed and I don't want to have some crazy, Richard Simmons wannabe telling me I can do it, like sweatin' to the oldies" So I yeah, yeahed her and tried to do the points on my own. She didn't let me yeah, yeah her. Instead, she looked up the meeting and called me to inform me of where and when to go and what times she knew I'd be able to. It was a Thursday night and right up to a half hour before, I was making every excuse in the world not to go. I was pulling into my drive way on Thursday night at 5:40 and guess who calls me to see if I was going to a meeting? Yes, Nadina. All I could think of was, Seriously? She is not going to let me blow this off, is she? So I told her I was going and I actually went.
The meeting started at 6:00. I got there and I was so embarrassed. I told them I just want to check it out, but I was NOT signing up yet. So, I stayed for the meeting and I really liked the leader, Maria. She was engaging, funny, so kind and she was extremely motivating. Before the meeting ended, I joined. I paid for 10 weeks in advance. I got weighed...oh the weigh in was bad. I was way heavier than I even thought was possible. I cried. In fact, I cried all the way home. Of coarse I called Nadi right away and she was so supportive. She encouraged me and told me I can do this. I needed to hear that. I needed her nudge. Ok, it was a full on push...but I thank God for that push every single day.
When I got inside the house, I was still crying. I went to Andrew, my husband, and told him this is a matter of life and death and I told him how much I need his support and his help. He agreed and has been very helpful and extremely supportive. I have so many amazing people in my life. I feel like one of the lucky ones. I lost 11.4 pounds in my first week and I was sold! After that meeting, I was crying..again, but these were tears of pure joy and a little bit of disbelief. I remember calling Nadina and my sister Chrissie and just bawling my eyes out.
The next week was not quite as successful. I lost less than a pound. But it wasn't discouraging. It just made me re-evaluate the points I was eating. I realized eating grilled chicken, red potatoes and veggies are way better and more satisfying than eating 3 taco's even though it's the same in points. Once I changed my points to healthier points, I started losing a minimum of 2 pounds per week.
Then I started adding activity. I started out doing very little. Parking farther at the store, walking a bit faster at the mall, etc. I remember when I first started working out with an aerobics video, I could only do 10 minutes without getting tired. Once the weight started coming off, I increased it little by little until I was easily doing 45 min to an hour. I walk a lot! I started walking my kids to school, which is huge for me cause I used to get tired walking down my drive way (that is not an exaggeration). The day I walked my first mile, made me so happy. Me, a mile? That's just crazy talk. Not anymore...I walked 2 miles yesterday and it felt amazing! It's funny really. I used to think of ways to get out of walking anywhere. Now I look for opportunities to exercise. If I am waiting for a friend to pick me up, I say, just pick me up down the street, I'll be walking.
I no longer view myself as a lazy person and I like the person I'm becoming. The "improving" me is excited to go play with her kids at the park, go places, do things. I don't sweat anymore (unless I'm supposed to) which is a big deal for me, cause I would sweat just sitting in a chair. I also stopped taking blood pressure pills when I hit 50 pounds...Yeah!
It took me 100 days to lose 50 pounds! I still can't believe it. That's where the willpower came in...for sure. I choose not to eat cheesecake and I choose not to eat french fries. The best part is, I know I can if I want to. That's what I love about Weight Watchers. You do not deprive yourself. I am the biggest advocate for them. Remember how much of a skeptic I was at the beginning of this story? Well now Thursdays and my meeting are my favorite day of the week! I have been consistently losing 2-3 pounds or more per week and I haven't gained an ounce. I will keep on going. I love how I feel. I love looking at my improving body in the mirror. I love all new energy I have. But most of all I love that I am going to be able to watch my kids grow up and be an active part of their lives for a long, long time.
Monday, November 1, 2010
Life Goes On....
I lost a friend on October 22. She was one of my employees for over a year and I've known her family for a long time. April was a sweet girl. She would do anything for her friends and often was the glue that kept her family together. She had an infectious laugh and had a smile that would light up the room. She said some of the most off the wall things and I would tease for it all the time! She loved it...she would just giggle and say, "Oh Em Gee Sandy!" One time she asked Mike Sullivan, "Are people from Spain just classy Mexicans?" We all had a laugh over that one forever! She was such a goofball!
Andrew cared for her girls this summer and our families kind of became intertwined. Her daughters, Savannah 5 and Brooklyn 3 were adorable chubby faced sweeties with long curly hair and her same beautiful smile. She was only 27 years old.
She had been battling Anorexia all her life. Nobody ever knew. She hid it very well and pretended to be healthy. She took her life after what the coroner said was a fit of rage. A side affect from not eating or drinking anything and her organs shutting down.
I went to her funeral on Saturday and it was a rough day for all of us that knew her. We all grieve in our own way but that day everyone seemed very lighthearted and it was more of a celebration of her life. Her sisters and family did a beautiful job with their eulogies and had dozens and dozens of pictures of her and a slide show to music. When I think of April, I will remember her sweet smile, that adorable laugh, and the way her daughters clung to her when she picked them up after work. They loved their mommy and she loved them so much. I'm so sorry that we didn't pay more attention to your illness April.
If I have learned anything from this tragedy, it is to love the heck out of everyone around me. To tell them every second I can that I am there for them and pay close attention to anything that may be troubling them.
Rest in peace April and I will pray for your girls everyday...
Andrew cared for her girls this summer and our families kind of became intertwined. Her daughters, Savannah 5 and Brooklyn 3 were adorable chubby faced sweeties with long curly hair and her same beautiful smile. She was only 27 years old.
She had been battling Anorexia all her life. Nobody ever knew. She hid it very well and pretended to be healthy. She took her life after what the coroner said was a fit of rage. A side affect from not eating or drinking anything and her organs shutting down.
I went to her funeral on Saturday and it was a rough day for all of us that knew her. We all grieve in our own way but that day everyone seemed very lighthearted and it was more of a celebration of her life. Her sisters and family did a beautiful job with their eulogies and had dozens and dozens of pictures of her and a slide show to music. When I think of April, I will remember her sweet smile, that adorable laugh, and the way her daughters clung to her when she picked them up after work. They loved their mommy and she loved them so much. I'm so sorry that we didn't pay more attention to your illness April.
If I have learned anything from this tragedy, it is to love the heck out of everyone around me. To tell them every second I can that I am there for them and pay close attention to anything that may be troubling them.
My poor hubby...
So as I stated before, it's been a long couple of weeks. On Tuesday, the 19th, Andrew had another seizure. It was a very hectic evening and I was helping my mom with something over the phone. The kids were up and down the stairs, being loud and pretty much just driving me crazy. Katie was at the top of the stairs and said, "Daddy is dying". I thought she was playing so I shushed her. Then she said it again. This time I yelled up to Andrew and he didn't answer. I ran upstairs and he was in the middle of a very bad seizure. He was on the floor and Joe and Nathan were yelling at him to get up. I panicked and kept trying to dial 911 but accidentally hung up on them 6 times in my panic state. It was awful. He finally came to after about 45 seconds (it felt like hours). He had no idea what had happened and he was definitely incoherent. My poor babies were so scared. We spent the next 5 hours in the E.R. while my mom watched the kids.
He's a lot better now. It's been almost 2 weeks and he's finally able to eat solid foods again. He bit his tongue really bad and it hurt severely to chew. So he's been using a straw to sip aapplesauce by the gallons! It was a horrible experience, one we never want our kids to go through ever again. We are all watching him like a hawk and he is seeing a doctor and getting to the bottom of the problem.
So keep us in your prayers, our family would really appreciate that!
He's a lot better now. It's been almost 2 weeks and he's finally able to eat solid foods again. He bit his tongue really bad and it hurt severely to chew. So he's been using a straw to sip aapplesauce by the gallons! It was a horrible experience, one we never want our kids to go through ever again. We are all watching him like a hawk and he is seeing a doctor and getting to the bottom of the problem.
So keep us in your prayers, our family would really appreciate that!
Kicking it up a notch...
I haven't blogged lately because there has been so much going on in my life, so I will do this blog in sections. Since my last post I am still walking everyday and the days I cant walk my normal routine, I do some kind of exercise. I walked on top of Red Rock parking structure one day, ran up and down my stairs when it was raining and I parked almost across the street at the grocery store when I knew that night would be busy. I'm very motivated! I'm not seeing much in the results department but I feel so good! So this can't be wrong! Last night for trick or treating we must have walked 3 miles! I sure felt it before bed and this morning. As the days gone on today, I'm feeling better and want to walk tonight...maybe a little further since I know I can do it!
I'm still eating breakfast everyday and eating less at night and I never eat after I walk! I'm going to clean out my garage this weekend and make myself a designated workout area. I've always wanted one and now I will try to set it up. I love music so I will crank it up and work on the tread mill and I'm hoping I can add some equipment to my routine. I'm thinking to start I will get some weights. If anyone has any suggestions, I'm all ears! So thanks to everyone for all their love and support! XOXOXO
I'm still eating breakfast everyday and eating less at night and I never eat after I walk! I'm going to clean out my garage this weekend and make myself a designated workout area. I've always wanted one and now I will try to set it up. I love music so I will crank it up and work on the tread mill and I'm hoping I can add some equipment to my routine. I'm thinking to start I will get some weights. If anyone has any suggestions, I'm all ears! So thanks to everyone for all their love and support! XOXOXO
Wednesday, October 13, 2010
New beginning...
So, tonight began my life change! I am totally changing how I treat my body and what I put in it! I have known I've needed to make a change for a long time now, but lately I have been feeling so low energy and just overall yuck! I never, ever eat breakfast and I am not usually hungry until around 11:30 and I feel starving hungry for the rest of the day! After the kids go to bed, I just snack, snack, snack (on all the wrong things of coarse). I sit at a desk all day and have no exercise at all...I HATE that I am becoming a couch potato! I have tried a million and one diet and exercise routines and nothing has ever worked!
This is going to sound nuts but I went to bed last night thinking about this. I always do, when I'm laying in bed, but by the time I wake up, I forget all the motivation I had! So I set my alarm to blaring Spanish music (cause I knew I'd say, wth?) and it worked! I got up, ate breakfast (raisin bran crunch...mmm), ate Chinese for lunch, skipped in and out for dinner and went for an evening walk with my family.
I already feel so much better and now I decided I would blog about it. I have a lot of people in my life who just love me unconditionally and I really love them for that, however, I really need encouragement to get in shape and eat right! So, if your my family, friend, (or husband, wink wink..) please tell me to keep going, don't stop and well, frankly, put down those french fries!!! My hopes are that blogging about it will keep me motivated and be held accountable! XOXOXO
This is going to sound nuts but I went to bed last night thinking about this. I always do, when I'm laying in bed, but by the time I wake up, I forget all the motivation I had! So I set my alarm to blaring Spanish music (cause I knew I'd say, wth?) and it worked! I got up, ate breakfast (raisin bran crunch...mmm), ate Chinese for lunch, skipped in and out for dinner and went for an evening walk with my family.
I already feel so much better and now I decided I would blog about it. I have a lot of people in my life who just love me unconditionally and I really love them for that, however, I really need encouragement to get in shape and eat right! So, if your my family, friend, (or husband, wink wink..) please tell me to keep going, don't stop and well, frankly, put down those french fries!!! My hopes are that blogging about it will keep me motivated and be held accountable! XOXOXO
Tuesday, October 5, 2010
My tender heart...
Oh Nathan, my sweet little tender heart! He is our love bug! He is always so sensitive and sentimental. When we took Katie to her kindergarten orientation, he teared up. He turned around and looked at me and simply said, "Memories" and then pointed to his tears, which of coarse made me tear up. (Guess that probably means he gets it from me) He is always doing things like that. Tonight was no different. Now my kids have their fair share of fighting just like everyone else's kids do, but it moments like this that make me just love them so much more!
Katie was doing her rounds of goodnight hugs and kisses and she went over to Nathan who was busy playing on the computer. She laid her head on his shoulder to just say goodnight and without saying a word just patted her head so lovingly. It melted my heart and thankfully I had my phone handy and snapped a picture to capture the moment! My heart is filled with love....
Katie was doing her rounds of goodnight hugs and kisses and she went over to Nathan who was busy playing on the computer. She laid her head on his shoulder to just say goodnight and without saying a word just patted her head so lovingly. It melted my heart and thankfully I had my phone handy and snapped a picture to capture the moment! My heart is filled with love....
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