End of the Road...for now.

Well, as the competition comes to a close (only one week left), I have resorted to the Low Carb lifestyle to attempt to win the competition. I could really use the cash right now! I WILL be perfect on it until at least the end of induction! I think I can really win if i keep it up! I am doing really great so far. I have been really lax on working out. I haven't done it in 3 weeks! I don't know where my motivation is, but I have been really busy doing stuff getting ready for my yardsale! I have cleaned out everything! So, I think I will get back to it after this week when things settle down. The baby has been sick to...yadda, yadda, yadda....

LONG TIME NO TYPE

Well, sorry for not typing for a while. My computer crashed and I will not be able to update for while! Weight is the same......keep on keeping on!

Headed the right direction!

Okay, things are looking up! I haven't blogged in a while cause I have just felt so darn down. (I am sure TOM had NOTHING to do with it!) But I have had 2 kick-butt workouts this week burning more than 900 calories each and my diet has been impeccable! I am trying to be REALLY good this week because we will be away for the whole week of the 4th and it will be hard to be on a diet...though I am really going to try to do good! I know it won't be perfect, but I can do pretty good I think!

The Biggest Loser competition has been pushed back due to the holiday, until the end of July. Thus, giving everyone a chance to recover from their respective vacations! I am really happy about this. I actually have a chance to win now! I can do it! I may not win, but I would love to lose 10 more pounds! (wouldn't that be great?!) I may be shooting it high, but I can try, right? So, on to the races!

I SUCK!

New pics of the kids in their 4th of July duds!

Okay, okay. I know it has been a while since I blogged. The truth is, I have fallen off of the wagon. I have been anticipating a visit from TOM and it has been torture! I have found it so hard to diet! My body has been craving all sorts of awful foods and I have been obliging its every desire! It is so frustrating and it seems to be a never ending cycle! Why can't I just diet and get the weight off without having these days (sometimes weeks) where I overindulge and feel completely guilty?!

I have also been slacking at the gym! I have gone to about 4 days a week and I have really been getting lax with the cardio. However, I have kept up my weight training, no problem. I think a lot of my problem is that my gym partner has had to take a break due to a personal matter. Having a buddy to work out with (especially for cardio) really helps.

Now, don't get me wrong, I haven't gained, but just not lost either! I don't know why I feel like a failure. And when I get like this, I have a hard time pulling myself up and getting back on track! I am losing motivation! Quickly!

Well, we had our official weigh in and I was sorely disappointed! My results were only a 2 pound loss and a .5% loss of body fat! Now, every scale (home and at the gym) I have been taking the body fat measurements on says I have lost 3% body fat. The only thing I can attribute it to is that I had just come from a very hard 2-hour workout and maybe it made a difference on the scale?! As you all know I have been doing Body For Life for the preceeding portion of the Biggest Loser competition, but the weigh in made me realize that if I want to win the $$ I am going to have to do something else (just until the end of the competition), so I decided to finish it off with the Weight Watchers program. I WILL NOT win on the BFL and I want the cash bad! So, if I drop a few pounds before I start BFL again...what will it hurt?

The only thing I hate about the Biggest Loser is that she moved the last official weigh in until July 9. Not the morning of July 4! This sucks becuase I am sure I am not the only one who is going to be out of town or celebrating to some degree and I know I don't want to weigh in AFTER I have been on VACATION for a week! Uggh!

Well, I think that is all for now. Maybe in a week I will post some new photos, but I am just not feeling it right now. I don't want to see what I look like in a state of bloat in my bikini! ;) If i am telling the complete truth, I have been putting off the pics AND writing in the blog! I know I have been taking steps backward and I didn't want everyone to disappointed in me! I know some of you look to me for motivation, but sometimes I need it too! However, since making myself write this today, I feel better. Maybe it will be just what I needed to get on track. If nothing else, I feel better. And isn't that what it is all about?

Week 6...

Well, this weekend wasn't too bad. We had friends come in from out of town and we went out and had a cheat meal at (of all places) the WAFFLE HOUSE! And let me tell you, I was BAD! Then I was at my mom's house on Sunday, and had a piece of cake and the potatoes from dinner had a bunch of butter on them! Yum. So I let my cheat day be a couple of meals over the course of 2 days.

My goal of going to the gym 5-6 times last week was just not to be I don't think! My ankles have been so bad! It has really sucked! When we went out on Saturday night they were so swollen! I wore some platform wedges out which I was sure that I was going to regret. But, oddly enough, Sunday morning my ankles did NOT hurt at ALL! That is too weird!?! Since they are feeling better, I am going to try the BodyAttach class again and see how it goes. So, that is the plan. If they still hurt, then I will just keep trying it until I can complete the whole class! I can only imagine that building up the exercise on my ankles will make them stronger gradually.

Well, Wednesday is the beginning of the 6th week of my BFL challenge. I can't believe I have been on this diet for 6 weeks! And, I have been pretty good. I mean we are all going to have some bad days, but instead of quitting, I have just kept on keeping on. I am notorious for going on a diet and letting 1-2 bad days be so discouraging that I just give up on the diet all together! I am really getting results too! I am going to post some new pics in the next couple of days for those of you who are interested! I know I can be better, though. I am going to really try to regroup myself and finish this challenge with a bang! I am committing to not going out until the end of the challenge (which will be the week of July 4th). And also committing to going to the gym like I am supposed to since my ankles feel so much better! And if for some reason I can't go, I am going to do a video at home (if I can get my DVD player to work)!

I have been conteplating starting to run. I am not sure if I can (ankles) or if I will be dedicated enough to do it, but it is something I am thinking about. We will see.

This week is the official 1/2 way weigh-in for the Biggest Loser Blogger competition. I am sure I prob wont be in the lead this week, but I will be by the end of the competition! I know it! I have been measuring myself and stuff, but I am excited to make my progress "official"! I am also excited to see where I stand in the competition. That is on Wednesday, so I will update you then~!

I hope you all have a great start of the week and finish it off with a bang. I am going to try to do that myself! So here we go....week 6!

Started off not so good, but getting better.....

I am going to have to just call this past week a bust and move on! Besides hurting my ankles and ruining my diet with the Memorial Day weekend fare, I only made it to the gym about 3 times instead of the 5-6 times that I would normally do. And to top it all off Charlie had a virus and was running a fever on Monday, so I wasn’t able to make it to the gym on that day, but I did go yesterday morning (Tues) to the gym and got a really good lower body workout! Also, my diet has been perfect this week though! I am still battling my ankles. I really don’t know what to do about them. I have been taking it easy on the cardio, but they still hurt! I have got to get over this so I can win the Biggest Loser contest! I REALLY want to win! Especially since the leader was posted and it was not ME! ;) There are still 5 more weeks left in the contest, so I still have a great opportunity to pull ahead (although I suspect that I am close to the top on the list)!

So, as far as goals go for this week, Instead of making a new goal, I am going to just try to go back to my old goal that I didn’t follow through on. I am going to go to the gym at least 5 times this week. And I am going to make my diet perfectly clean (so far so good). I have been perfect on my diet, but I have been calculating calories and I have been about 100-300 calories over what I would like it to be, so I am going to try to keep that down too. (Even though I have still been eating “CLEAN”!)

I will be posting some new pics next week for the results from week 4, though I don’t expect to see any changes since I haven’t been able to work out like I wanted to, but I will still do them! The only reason I would be afraid that I wouldn’t win this competition would be that the diet I am on is not geared at losing “weight”, but body fat and inches and gaining muscle. As a matter of fact, the book says to stay off of the scale because you probably wont see much change on it, but your clothes will fit better and you will be more tone. It actually says that my weight might actually fluctuate. I am worried about next weeks ‘mid-way’ weigh in since my weight IS fluctuating! Oh well. I will still LOOK like I lost weight. I am just such a slave to the scale, as I know most women are. We are so worried about that number, right? I wish I could overcome this!

I am starting to have people compliment me and ask if I have lost weight! That is encouraging me! Feels good when people notice! Also, I took my measurements yesterday, and I have lost a total of 9.5 inches! I am starting to see muscle definition in my legs and arms (especially when I work out!) and this is so exciting! We have our “official” mid-way weigh next week as mentioned above, so, I am excited to see how I have done on the “official” scales!

And finally, I have to announce that Lola has said her first words! I have been waving at her and saying ‘bye-bye’ just trying to get her to wave at me, and to my surprise, instead of waving, she actually said “bye-bye”! I thought it was a fluke, but she did it again and again, and then did it to my mom on the phone! She is so darn cute! She also shakes her head when you say “no-no”! Very adorable that girl! Here is a new pic of her and Charlie! Until next time….

Littlest Butterfly....

Still hurting!

Well, I got up this morning with every intention of going to the gym and taking BodyAttack and BodyPump. After arriving I began Attack and could only make it about 10 minutes. My ankle is just killing me! Then I got on the elliptical and the bicycle and it still hurts doing those! I am not sure what to do! I need to work out hard, but I am limited now with my ankle! Any suggestions on recovery? I dont' know if I sprained it or strained it or whatever, but all suggestions will be appreciated! Uggh!

OKAY, THEY'RE UP!

Okay ya'll, you can go check out my progress pics now! I just posted!

Inspiration and perspiration....

“Success is 10 percent inspiration and 90 percent perspiration"-Thomas Edison

I created this blog to keep me and my fitness program on track and for the remote chance that I might inspire someone else, and as it turns out, I am accomplishing both of these things! One of my favorite clients and friends Andi called me yesterday not only to schedule an appointment, but to tell me that I had inspired her with my blog. Andi is a runner, and has always been one as far back as I can remember. Quite a few years ago, she began running marathons which is a feat in itself! But with some time going by and life getting in the way, she got away from her training. She told me that by reading my blog about my journey, that it inspired her to create her own blog and to train properly for her next marathon! (I will link her on my page as soon as get her link) I am proud of her for this! She is a very hard working and determined woman and I know she will succeed with flying colors (something she has already accomplished in life)! I am proud to call her my friend and I know she will complete her journey! GO ANDI!

BTW....Andi is also very creative and makes these fabulous handbags and dresses! You should go check out her designs and buy one if you like them! I know you will! I have one! They are so cute, and she makes diaper bags too! http://www.amgbags.com

I am going to be posting some new pics for week 3 of my journey with BFL sometime today, so check back in to see them. There is a link to the right on this page that will take you right to them!

Well, as far as my workout and diet, things are going smoothly. After the weekend from diet hell, I have recovered well. My diet is back on track and though I have been going to the gym, I haven't been able to go full force due to my sprained ankle! I decided to take it easy and let it recover this week before I go full force next week! It is already starting to feel better but still hurts. Despite my bad weekend, I have managed to maintain my weight, so that tells me that I am still going in the right direction! I know I cannot be perfect, but I can get as close as possible as long as I am moving forward! Also, since I did not get a workout in on Monday, or Tuesday, I am going to go workout in the morning (Saturday). Hopefully this will catch me up!

I know I had planned on writing about more than this, but I can't remember what all it was! Maybe I should keep a list instead of trying to remember it in my head! So, when i do remember I will post again! Until then, keep on keeping on!

Gotta get this off my chest!

Okay, I am going to post again today cause I need to confess that after taking a long weekend of eating crap, I did not go to the gym today! I did eat right though. But, before you judge me too hard we have had a little bit of stuff going on here. Last night, Lola fell off of the table where we were feeding her (in a seat) and landed on her forehead will all the force of her body. She immediately became lethargic and tired and her eyes started rolling around so we went to the emergency room immediately! They didn't want to put her throught the radiation of a cat scan but they wanted us to observe her for 24 hours by waking her up every 2 hours and checking her pupils and other things. So, after a night of that Charlie woke up with a fever so I have been holding my sick babies all day. Charlie's temp went down, however, Lola has slept a LOT today. I have called the doc and they assured me that she was going to be fine as long as she wasn't vomiting or her pupils were ok. So, needless to say no gym for me today. However, I still feel really guilty about it. I don't know. Well, I just wanted to get that off of my chest cause I have to be truthful if I want this to work. And I DO! Whew...I feel better (sortof)!

So, I am not as strong as I thought!

Okay. I am weak. I realize it now. It was very hard for me this weekend being a holiday, and there were things to go to and it was really hard for me to keep in perspective....alcohol doesn't help this situiation! I really blew it out of the water! I won't even go into how bad I was but it was pretty BAD! I am so ashamed! I think this was the only holiday for the rest of my challenge, so, I am really going to do my best to not drink and to concentrate on my goal of finishing this BFL challenge with my dignity. So, today is Tuesday. I am back on track with my eating, however, I am not sure about working out today. I worked out really hard last week, and during a class I took on Thursday, I thought I did something to my ankle. Last night and today it is swollen. Maybe a sprain. What do I do about that, cause I don't want to lose any training time. Do you wrap that? Soak it? Any suggestions will be helpful. I have epsom salts too.

Yesterday me and Phillip had a wonderful day. The kids were at their Mimi's and Papa's house and they didn't want us to come get them right away, so we went and ate breakfast (don't ask where!) and then went to do some shopping at Bridge Street. I got some new tennis shoes to workout in! I really needed them! I have been wearing the same shoes for the past almost 3 years! It was time!

I feel really bad about this weekend, but whereas I would have given up on it all together, I am just going to get back on the diet "horse" and keep going. I may have set myself back a little, but not as much as I would have if I just let it get the best of me! I really hope to win our little contest, but I will never get there doing what i did this weekend! It helps that I ordered the Eating for Life cookbook and got it in a couple of days ago. Now I have some more options to eat. So I am going to try out some other recipes now. I made some homemade protien bars this morning. We will see how they taste.......????

So, onto the rest of the BFL challenge. I will persevere and finish! Thank you guys for all of your help! I really appreciate it! Keep commenting!

MY REAR HAS OFFICIALLY BEEN KICKED!

This has been one heck of a week in the workout world! I have worked out so hard! I just have to keep it up and maybe the results will be quicker! Kelly and I did body attack on Monday, and it was hard! I made it though! Tuesday I got up and did a KILLER Lower body workout, Wednesday I did Body Pump (first time in 2 years) AND did about 20 minutes of Body Step, Thursday I actually got up at 5 AM and did Body Attack at 5:30 (hard first thing in the morning), and today I am going to the Moove and Groove class with Kelly. So...lots of hard work and a perfect diet! Phillip and I even went to Rosies Cantina and I had a salad with chicken and beef with salsa instead of Ranch dressing and NO cheese!! And of course water. I was so proud of myself! It was soooo good too! YUM!

I cut my friend Evelyn's hair this week and we committed to going to the gym tomorrow morning at 8:00 AM to take Body Attack again! It is such a high impact class, but I am going to conquer it! It was a really hard accomplishment yesterday morning so early, but I did it!

Well, Monday is Memorial day as you all know. Sunday is when everyone is going to Pam's house for a poolside barbeque and then later in the day we are going by Jason and Kelly's house to celebrate with them too! Bry and Chris are coming to spend the night and all of my Decatur friends will be there! I can't wait to see them all!! It should be a nice day. I have committed to remaining on my diet with the exception of alcohol. I plan on drinking vodka and monsters so I can cut my calories with that too instead of beer which I LOVE! But I will be okay! I know I can do what I set my mind to! And so far I have this diet thing licked!

As of today I have lost 3% bodyfat and 9.5 pounds! Pretty impressive for 2.5 weeks I think! Don't you? Go check out the link for Measurements and Pics to the right. I have put up an update to my pics section. I posted week 2 pics! Tell me what you think!

GOAL SETTING

Well, the week so far is going great! I set myself a foal of eating "clean" all week, and so far I have done just that! I also set myself a personal goal of eliminating all "additives" to my foods such as salt, dressings, and things of the like. The only things I am allowing myself to add is Salad Spritzers, Mrs. Dash, and Butter Buds. Now the only thing I have to eliminate is my morning coffee and creamer (sugar free). But lets not get too hasty....one thing at a time! I love my coffee and it is the first thing I go for in the morning! I plan on eliminating this, but small changes!

So, today is the next Biggest Loser Blogger weigh ins and I have some good news to report! I am down another 1.5 pounds and a total of 2% body fat! This is awesome! I may not win, but I already feel like i have! At this rate my results will be phenomenal! I am so excited to see my results in another 8-10 weeks! I know I can do it an d I am more motivated than ever! Seeing results is amazing! And so motivating!

I don't know if I mentioned before, but I put up new pics at the link to the right! Go check em' out! I will be posting measurements there soon too!

On another note! I just have to say that Kelly and I took Body Attack on Monday, and it kicked my butt! I can't believe how hard it was! I actually gave up when there was about 15-20 minutes left of the class, and got on the bike. But then I heard the instructor say that there was 5 more minutes left before cooling down, and I was like "crap...I gotta go back! I can do it for 5 more minutes!". So, I got back out there and finished! It was a kick butt class! One of my next goals is to take it until I can complete it without taking the options or quitting before the class is over! I did my friend Evelyn's hair yesterday (she looks fab!) and she also is doing the challenge with us, and she is also a member at Lady Riviera. We made a commitment to go to the gym and take it (Body Attack) on Saturday morning at 8 AM! Kel, you in? You don't want me to win do you? Good, I will see you there! ;)

I am kindof worrying about memorial day. I am invited to my friends house to grill and have a few adult beverages, but I don't wanna cheat! I may just make that my cheat meal for the week. I am really not worried about the meal cause I can eat good, but I am on the fence about drinking. I am not sure what I will do yet. I really don't wann sabotage my diet. I am so motivated! I just am not sure! What do you guys think?

Well, on to check out the biggest loser blogger results on Kelly's site. (I would link her on her, but hers is private. ) I can't wait to see how everyone is doing this week!

READY TO GO!

Today was really great! Phillip got up before he had to go to work and we went to Logans! I did really good on my diet. I only had a few peanuts, a salad, 1/2 of my steak and a roll...or 2. ;) First let me say that my diet allows me a whole cheat day, and I only took one meal! YEA ME! Then for supper I got right back on. After lunch, we went to the grocery store and picked up some things we needed to replinish my diet food. When supper was over, I got all of my Ziploc containers and prepared my lunches for the rest of the week! I am prepared! I am determined that I am going to eat perfectly "clean" this week and do all of my workouts to the letter! The only downer for the week is that "TOM" is visiting...ahem...if you get my drift! I hope he doesnt try to interfere! I am strong and I can do it!

I am also glad to announce that I met my goal and went to the gym 5 times last week! I went alone, sans Kelly, on Friday, and had a kick butt workout! I can hardly walk today and it is SUNDAY! haha! The first of many workouts that are going to be kick butt! I am pumped and more motivated than ever to finish this program! I am going to take some new pics and measurements on Monday evening and put them up hopefully Tuesday, so keep posted!

Finally, my goal for this week is to 1) Workout 5 days again and 2) Be PERFECT on my diet. CLEAN eating only! I am strong, and I can do this. I met my goal last week, and I am going to meet it again this week!

TEAM STACEY!

ONE WEEK DOWN-8 MORE TO GO!

Well, our challenge is for 10 weeks ending on the morning of July 4th. I was already a week behind on starting my dieting because I was at the beach, but much to my surprise, I am already down 4.5 pounds as of Wednesday and 1% body fat! This is amazing! AND I think I have actually lost more since then! It may sound crazy, but I can already tell a difference in my body! Subtle differences, but i can tell! The BFL program actually is a 12 week cycle so I will be doing it longer than the competition, then I am going to start another Cycle to get the rest of the weight off. I love this BFL program! It is easy to follow, and the results are AWESOME! If you have time, go check out my pics and measurements link to the right, and search some of the "TOP 20" profiles in the toolbar. You should see how some of the people started out looking and then after a few "Cycles". Don't worry, I don't want to look that bodybuilder, but I do want the fat off to show my muscles!

I only have 1 more day (today) to finish my weekly goal of working out 5 times. It will be harder since Kel won't be there, but I can (AND WILL) do it! Maybe I will take a cardio class if there is one! Honestly, I have never felt better than I have since starting this diet. It is called "clean eating". Meaning, if man made it, don't eat it. Besides the dieuretic effects, I just FEEL amazing! I hope the monmetum continues! If I can keep up this pace, i am sure to do well!

I will be posting new pics and measurements sometime early next week, and will continue to try to post them weekly or at least bi-weekly, so, check back often, and leave some encouragement!

PROGRESS PICS AND MEASUREMENTS!

Okay, here it is. On the navagation bar to the right you will see a link to the site where I am tracking my progress with measurements and photos. After you click the link it will direct you to my profile page. ABOVE my profile page is a blue toolbar with a "PHOTOS" link. This should show you my pics taken January 8. I have only lost 2 pounds since then so they are still pretty accurate not to mention GROSS! I am also very sunburned! Anyway! You should check back to the link occasionally to see where I am! i will make a post when I update it to help remind you to check it! Comments Welcome!

Dieting Delima

Well today went just as I planned. I actually got up this morning and went to the gym at 6:00 AM! I did my lower body workout and a short warm up. Now, I just have to get up on Thursday and do it again! If I did it one I can do it again! My diet went pretty good until tonight. I worked all day so that helps me to be good, but when I got home I was really hungry. I started by cooking chicken, asparagus and some whole wheat pasta...no problem there, but then I could not help it but I wanted some Peanut Butter! I had 3 tablespoons and a banana! Then I had one stick of a kit kat bar. I know to some this may not sound like much, but it put my caloric intake close to 1800. However, I have had a TON of water! Probably at least a gallon and a half! Hopefully that offset my moments of weekness. I admit I could have done a lot worse, (like eating the WHOLE KING SIZE Kit Kat!), but I still feel guilty for it! The BFL (Body for Life) program is the diet I am on. And no where in the book does it say you have to stick with a certain calorie count, that is just something I am keeping up with. It actually says to eat 6 meals a day combining a protien and a carb at each meal. It is a body builders diet that has a workout program to compliment the diet. Basically, it is meant to burn maximum FAT! Translation: body fat percentage! I shouldnt feel guilty, I just cannot make my brain think that way. This just goes against all diets I have ever been on, but I know it works! I will just keep charging on. Even if I don't win the BIGGEST LOSER BLOGGER, I will be tone and buff! I will just work out really hard tomorrow and be extra good tomorrow. I know everyone has those days where you just cannot satisfy your hunger, and today (tonight) was one for me! Okay I am done venting about my frustration over my overeating.....

I have set a goal for myself for this week. I am planning to go the gym 5 days this week. I used to do this all the time without even flinching! I know it is juust going to take some adjusting to this new way of life again to make it a permanent part of my life...AGAIN. It is just sortof frustrating to start over at (almost) square one. I am so proud to have my beautiful daughter, but I am not a fan of what being preggers for a second time did to me! I had worked so long and hard to lose 60 pounds! That is a lot to accomplish! Now I feel like I am starting over. Kindof discerning. But I have to start somewhere. So here I go.....

Well, I think I have covered it for today. Thanks for checking in!

Let the games begin!

Ok, so here goes. If you are reading this blog, you have been selected to join my journey of weight loss with me! I hope you find it interesting and I would love for you to join me if you feel motivated to do so! I know many of us battle our weight. I will always struggle with mine because I was not blessed with the "skinny" gene! For those of you who have been blessed with that gene, CONGRATULATIONS! You have already won. Now, since I do not know any of these people, I will continue for all of my peeps who struggle daily with their "thunder thighs", "jello bellies", and things of the like.

I have officially signed up for a competition amongst my friends we are calling "Biggest Loser Blogger" (hence the name of my blog). We have until the morning of July 4 to see who is capable of losing the most weight and body fat %. We each put in $30 and in the end, the "biggest loser" will win the pot! I think it is up to like $430 or something! But, in the event that I don't win, (which is not going to happen), I have still gained (or rather lost), weight and body fat. The point is, in the end, we are all losers...I mean winners! ;)

We are actually in the 3rd week of the competition at this point. The first week I was out on vacation, so I did not start until last week in week 2. I did really well. I dieted beginning on Wednesday ( I couldn't diet Mon and Tue due to the fact that I couldnt get to the grocery store before then). I also worked out on Wednesday and Friday. I burned like 550 calories each day. My friend Kelly and I lost a bunch of weight working out together before I got preggers with Lola, so I have been working out with her on MWF at Lady Riviera. (I work on Tuesday and Thursday) I also have a membership at another gym called 24/7. I dieted until Sunday (mothers day) and then took the day off. I am doing a program called Body For Life (BFL) which I cannot say enough good things about! www.bfl.com Though I got off to a good start last week, I have to step it up a notch! I have decided beginning this week I am going to continue my workouts with Kelly as usual, but, I am also going to add working out at 24/7 on Tuesday and Thursday mornings before the kids get up. I will have to be at the gym so early, at least by 6:00 AM, but I am going to do it! I have to work on these days so I dont have any other time I can do it! I just haven't been feeling that 3 days a week is going to do it for me! So, tomorrow will be the first day of that. I will keep you posted on how this is going!

As I have mentioned before, yesterday was Mothers Day! It was wonderful. I spent the day with both of my babies and Phillips family. Phillip got me an AWESOME heart rate monitor! Don't worry, I asked for it. He did not get it for me trying to tell me I was fat! I used to have one that came with a chest strap, but the strap broke rendering the rest of it useless! He got me one without a chest strap and it is awesome! I can't wait to use it! It tells you how many calories your body burns while working out based on your heart rate and other info you set into it. It also helps you keep yourself in your ideal heart rate zone! I love it! Everyone who is working out should get one! You would love it too!

Okay, so the game is on! I am prepared to go the extra mile to get this baby weight off. QUICKLY! I need your encouragment and comments! I will be posting photos, measurements, weight lost, and anything else I can think of to motivate myself. I am really putting myself out there. I hope you can see that. But I can't be embarrassed by this information anymore. I have to use it to my benefit and embrace it! It may be more than you ever wanted to know about me, but I am laying it out on the line. Do with it as you must!