Note to self: Don't skip breakfast!

During my weight loss attempts I always have one constant thing that I have to make an effort at each and every day...

Eating Breakfast

They say people who skip breakfast are more likely to be overweight than people who eat something at the beginning of the day.

So that is "me" a "breakfast skipper". I have to make myself eat something in the morning instead of getting up and just starting my normal daily routine without thinking about food until around 10 a.m. ( granted I get up around 5:30 a.m. each day)But I never miss Snack Time...It's my favorite:)

My "fuel" of choice in the morning so far since switching to WW is Strawberry Yogurt Burst Cheerios with Almond Milk.

I love this, it's super yummy! You have to give it a try:)

Getting used to the changes

Well I am a few days into my diet change over to Weight Watchers and I definitely had some not so pleasant side effects last night.

We had hot dogs for dinner...not my first choice but my younger children love them.

Keep in mind I haven't had any processed meat in many months. Not even 30 minutes after our meal I was running to the bathroom:( I had never felt so awful in my life!!! I first thought maybe I had the flu, but I am feeling fine this morning now that I got rid if all the "nasty" food I ate.

I and my stomach are not ready for some of these foods yet. It looks like I will need to add more carbs in slowly.  Otherwise the switch is going well, and I am loving some of the new options I can enjoy. I will share some of them with you all tomorrow:)

Why I want to change my life

I haven't shared with all of you my main reason why changing my life has become such a passion of sorts...

I have lost many loved ones the last few years. My Grandfather passed away from Leukemia,he was a diabetic. My other Grandfather died of a massive heart attack, also was diabetic. I lost a Grandmother to many years of battling different types of Cancer, she was a diabetic. Another Grandmother just recently passed away from a stage 4 brain tumor, I lost my mother in law at the age of 59 from stage 4 Bone Cancer, a aunt at the age of 54 just passed away from Cancer. My husband lost both his Grandparents in the last 3 years from Cancer as well and his Grandfather was a Diabetic.

1 more, MY FATHER...he suffered from a Heart Attack a couple of years ago in his late 50's. He also was dealing with Diabetes.

Diabetes is a heart felt concern for me, trying to avoid this is my passion. I had Gestational Diabetes during my pregnancy with my 3rd child and was told considering my family history Type 2 Diabetes is a 90% sure thing for me in my life unless I make some changes...

My father fought hard after his heart attack, he put his life back on track with a healthy diet and exercise routine and because of those changes he is NO LONGER a Diabetic!!!! Praise the Lord!! He looks and feels amazing, and I am so proud of him:)

For these many reasons, I feel that it is my job to treat my body with the most resepect possible! I am given a healthy body...I think it would be a shame to disrespect this wonderful gift by putting "crap" (sorry) into my body and letting this valuable gift slip away when so many others have lost there lives...I still have mine and I want to be hear as long as possible to enjoy this gift God has blessed me with! :)

Wouldn't you??

Don't live your life saying "I will start tomorrow" Because you may only have today. So make the best of this GLORIOUS day and treat yourself and your body with the respect and care it deserves :-)

Weight Watchers Day #1

Yesterday was the first day of my new Weight Watchers diet plan. It actually went well:) I did feel like I was cheating most of the day. The reason for this is because most of the foods I ate would have been a huge no, no on my low carb diet. But I did feel good at the end of the day that I stuck to it :) I like to think of each day as a huge step towards the bigger picture.

When you get up in the morning say to yourself " I am a beautiful person, I value my health and the body God has given to me, and for this reason I am worth taking care of myself each and everyday!"

I am looking forward to this new journey....

I hope you will join me:-)

<3 Michelle

Confidence and Contentment in 2012

Lots of changes are in store for 2012.

The biggest change is my diet. I will be switching from my current low carb diet to Weight Watchers. The reason for this is to give my body back some of the nutrients that it has been lacking as well as some variety food wise.

So follow me in 2012 while I make this change. Progress is on the way...

I have set 2 personal goals as well for myself in 2012.

1st personal goal is to run/walk my first 5k.

2nd personal goal is a new goal weight for this coming year. * New goal weight 160 lbs. That would give me a total loss of 65 lbs.

Whatever you decide to make your goals for 2012, I know you all will do amazing!! With support of one another we will do this and rob food of the power it has had over us!!

<3 Michelle

Sickness

Oh my!! Being sick is absolutely no fun.

I have the worst sore throat and cough ever. I have been sick since Florida and its only getting worse, I may need to go into see the doctor in the near future:(

So basically I have been doing nothing exercise wise, I barely have enough energy to do the basics around the house like laundry etc... And go to work.

I know I am complaining, and rambling so I apologize!

I am not doing a weigh in this week, I am hoping to get back on track and get rid of this illness and I will do a weigh in next week:)

Have a wonderful week everyone:)

Christmas Blessings

I am so very blessed today to be with family celebrating the birth of Jesus and the joy of the season of giving.

My husband and children are gifts alone this year and every year, but my husband went above and beyond....again!

I never ask for anything, but yet my husband goes above and beyond anything I could ever ask for:)

Here are some pictures of his and the children's wonderful gifts they gave to me...

Have a wonderful Christmas,

Michelle<3

Merry Christmas "Eve" everyone!!

I took over 2,000 pictures so I did you all a favor and posted only a few:)

Have a very Merry Christmas everyone!!!!

Santa you are so not "nice"

Well we are back from Florida...

We had beautiful weather in the 80's each and everyday. I will post pics in a later post:) But along with the lovely weather came allergies and effects from the A/C:( Now I am dealing with a terrible cold, sore throat and ear ache..not fun!!

I think Santa must not like me to much..Haha!

I really did not do well with my eating/dieting while we were away. #1 Florida/Disney World doesn't care that you are eating low carb ..frankly they are Carb lovers!!

Hot dogs, mickey ice cream novelties, mickey chocolate dipped rice krispie treats, cinnamon rolls, brownies...the list goes on and on:(

So to make a long story short, when you are eating VERY little carbs and then you eat like a months worth in 6 days you feel like "junk", you are bloated:( and you put on weight VERY quickly!!

I can tell you that the scale is not my friend right now, and I am considering going back to Weight Watchers so that this doesn't happen again and so my body can have more "variety"....????

Here's the shocker 8 lbs. up right now, we will see what Monday brings for the final numbers.

I am going to enjoy my family and the food on Christmas and I hope all of you will do the same!:)

I am ready to get back on track and know I can lose these extra pounds that I am up. Time to get back at it and rock it in 2012!!!!!

Tx for sticking by me and supporting me, it means more than you know:)

Michelle

Weigh in

In one of the last post I told you that I was going to do an extra weigh in this Friday, since I will not be able to do my normal weigh in on Monday.

Here are the results:

-1.4lbs.

*I also had TOM visit me this week so I am thrilled with a loss:) I also just realized my goal of 40 lbs. By Christmas is pretty much accomplished in my eyes! .2 more pounds away, so I am going to enjoy my vacation and the food:)

I hope everyone has a Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays!! Enjoy your families and hopefully make many special memories to share for years to come :-)

Michelle

Finally...I scream, you scream, we all scream for Ice Cream!

I have been wanting to find an ice cream/ popsicle that wasn't awful for my diet...

Good luck right?

Well I found one!! I can now have a popsicle with my kids before bed and not feel guilty about it:)

These are so yummy!!!

*sorry about the picture it Is taken from my phone so its not the best:)

12 short weeks

With tears in my eyes I share with you this post.

If 6+ years ago I would have known that in 12 weeks I could change my life for the better...

*More energy to do daily activities; example: climbing the stairs.

*Going to the beach with my family, and enjoying it! Not sitting on a towel while everyone else is swimming and having fun!

*Go for bike rides

*Add years to my life:)

*Go for walks/hiking

*Swimming

*Feeling confident!!

*Look good in my clothes

*Most of all just ENJOY LIFE!

* Weighing in at 186.6 :-)

I wish for everyone to have this feeling, it is truly Priceless !

Determination + Discipline,

Michelle

Weigh in week #12

I wanted to weigh in today, because I am going to do things a little different this week.

We are going to be gone on vacation for a while so I will be MIA. So my plan is weigh in today and then do a weigh in Friday before we leave:-)

So here is todays weigh in results:

-4.4 lbs!  :-)

Hope everyone has a wonderful weekend!!

Michelle :)

Make it happen

I saw this and it is something I have heard many times before...

Have you ever over heard someone say this very thing, or even said it your self before?

I know I have!

I think now that I have lost weight I am noticing things more lately. My husband I stopped at Wendy's yesterday to grab a bite to eat for lunch after we meet with our travel agent. I really did not want to go, I will be honest.. It still takes a concious effort to order the "right" thing! My mind is trained to say when I get up to order my meal make that a large..fries and pop! It just makes me sick what I have done to myself the last few years!!

I am going to have an honest moment hear with all of you..

As I am sitting there in the restaurant I can't help but glance around at the others enjoying their food( and look at what they are eating )The food they are eating literally makes my stomach turn:(

I guess this could be looked at as a huge turning point for me...

But trust me one moment of weakness and I could be the one with the "SUPERSIZED MEAL"!!!

I try to listen to people when they tell me they want to lose weight, but like this picture you have to STOP eating junk and start at some point. I wish I wouldn't have waited this long to get off my butt and make it happen!

I wouldn't trade how I feel now for anything:)

A day in my (eating) life...

Some of you have been wondering what types of foods I eat so...

I am using todays menu to show you:)

Breakfast: 2 scrambled eggs with some shredded cheddar cheese
* sorry I forgot to take a picture of this, was to hungry I guess!! :)

Snack today: Love my Raw Almonds and this is my favorite cheese in the whole world! I usually have this 2x a day.

Lunch today: I have an addiction to salads!! :)
Lettuce, 1 pkg. tuna, 1 hard boiled egg and 1 carb. ranch dressing.

Snack today: Sugar free Jello
I am going to make this and have some for my snack before bed tonight:)

Dinner tonight: I will be going to Logans Roadhouse with some girlfriends and going to see Breaking Dawn!!!

I am planning on having the Woodfire Chicken breasts and a Cesar salad and a diet coke:)

I also love Crystal Light;)

Have a great day everyone!

Weigh in #11...x2

I couldn't help but get up really early this morning and stepped on the scale in the midst of my craziness called "Monday".

I should have just waited, today's weight was even better!!

Loss of -3.0

Weigh In #11

Doing my post a day early this week. Tomorrow is crazy busy for me!

So here it goes...

Loss of -2.0lbs.

Whoo hoot!!!! :-)

Have a great day everyone!

Christmas time...

Thank you to everyone for the comments on my last post!!

I did decide to call her. She was so understanding, and said for me to go ahead and bring whatever I needed for my meal:)

All that worry for nothing....

On a "lighter" note...I am getting ready for our first family Christmas party tonight!!

Remember that cute, sexy dress and boots I showed you a while back?? Well I am wearing it tonight:)

What do you think? ;)

Dinner guests

Ok, another dilemma.

We are going over to a couple from churches house for dinner with 3 other couples.

I am looking forward to it...but I am not:(

I have been a nervous wreck worrying about what the menu would be etc...I know most people would say "wow girl you worry way to much!". But they don't understand how hard I am working to hit my goals and lose this weight.

I talked to my husband about what I would like to do, and that is bring my own salad along for dinner.Is this totally wrong of me????? I don't want to offend her but with low carb you are limited on food choices and I feel like going off it even for a min. is going to throw me off like Thanksgiving did(I was up right away the next day:()

Please tell me I am not a horrible person for doing this......

Happy Holidays!! Is it really December?

Update on my Shred Challenge

I am super excited about my progress so far!!

Waist: -2 inches

Hips: -3 inches

Thigh: same

Bust: -1 1/2 inches

Arm: same

* Started this on November 22

Here are a couple pics of me, I normally do not take body shots but wanted you to get an idea of what I look like besides my face:) Sorry they aren't very good...good thing I am not a photographer for a living!