Moving On

I have been absent from Blogger the last few days. I am getting back to the things I loved to do do before my life was consumed by losing weight. Do you ever feel like you have forgotten who you are? besides a person who is trying to lose weight?

Michelle is my name. I love to read, craft, scrapbook, take pictures, be outdoors, camping, walking, riding bike, shopping, baking/cooking, canning etc... I love my family, God and myself. I am not just the girl who has lost almost 45 pounds...

I have been reading 2 different books the last few days and I am in awe of the writers and their message.

This devotional is wonderful. Please check it out:)

If you are a wife, you MUST read this book, it is an amazing read!! Everything about it hits home for me and it will for you too.

I also have been doing a few crafts:0)

I found this idea on Pinterest. You take an old picture frame,insert a piece of notebook paper instead of a picture. I decorated mine with a few buttons and scrapbooking flowers:) Now you have a dry erase message board to leave messages for your family. *Use with dry erase markers only*

I love making my own cards!! It is something I have been wanting to get back to for a while now.

I will end this post with the Prayer from my devotional today.

Dear Jesus,thank you for creating me as you did. I Pray today that I would think as much of you as I do my appearance. Help me to be a woman of substance today and honor you in the time I spend on me versus the time I spend with you, Amen.

Me a runner?!

A quick post today to tell you all that I signed up for my 1st 5k in May!! I also convinced my husband to do it with me, even though its on his bday:-)

I better get training huh?! I know I can walk it no problem, but I would like to be running the whole thing:-)

Have a great weekend everyone!

It's what's for lunch

Here's a look into my lunch today:) In case you were all interested;)

Homemade Ranch Dressing:
5 tbsp. dried minced onion
7 tsp. parsley flakes
4 tsp. salt
1 tsp. garlic powder

*Mix together and store in airtight container( I love mason jars to store things in)

Dressing:- Mix 2 tbsp. dry mix with 1 cup mayo and 1 cup sour cream.

Dip:-2 tbsp. dry mix with 2 cups sour cream

*Mix up a few hours before serving.

My salad:9 Dole salad in a bag, tuna, and a little parm cheese and dressing of course:)

Weigh in #18

Here are my results for this week.

-4.2 lbs lost

Thank you for all the feed back on yesterdays post ladies:)

Funny moment

Yesterday I was on the phone with my Mom and I am telling her about my progress this week and the conversation changes to me telling my Mom about the new jeans that I got the other day. My oldest daughter who is almost 16 is listening in on the couch next to me says "Mom, you bought/buy jeans in the junior section now?!" I said, Yes, Yes I do:-) I wish you could have seen the look on her face;) Priceless!

A question for all my fellow "athletes". Do you find when you workout to the extreme your weight on the scale sometimes shows a gain? I have really been pushing myself outside my limits and this morning the scale was up a bit. My eating hasn't changed, so I was just wondering if it was from working out? Can that be?

Busy day!

My day has been crazy busy, but a good kind of busy:0) I walked 4 miles in the mud and ice..but goals were never met by sitting on the couch! I did laundry, dishes, cleaned the toilets:P (my least favorite thing to do)and made Lemon Tea Bread.

Here are my new jeans and belt. The shirt is new too but I didn't get it in the pic.

Then I had my little man take some pictures of the cute pockets of my jeans.

Back pocket. Tx little man:)

Hitting goals

Well guess what...

Victory!

While getting ready this morning I put on my cute new jeans and my favorite black belt and well...its time for a new belt! It doesn't go any smaller!! Whoot hoot:-)

I also wanted to share with you something that I shared with my husband this morning. As I was standing on the scale this morning checking my progress. I realized "I haven't been this weight since 2002!" (My middle daughter was 2 years old then, and now she's 11) I told my awesome husband this news and he was excited for me as well:)

A quick bragging moment for me here, did an incline of 13 yesterday and kicked some butt;) literally! Lol

P.s. a sneek peek into Fridays weigh in...I have been telling my husband how close I am to hitting the 45 pound mark:) and he is going to take me to get a new outfit if I hit it this week! And trust me I will:-)

Setting your goal weight

The question of the day is:

"How do you determine what your goal weight should be?"

Please share how you have set your goal weights. I would love to hear from you!

Is it Friday yet?

I took a peek at the scale this morning and WOW!! I am thinking this weeks weigh in is going to ROCK:-) Can't wait to see the final numbers on Friday and share them with you.

Have a great Sunday my friends:-)

A new way to look at weight loss

I really have a new appreciation for how far I have come in terms of my weight loss.

This is why...

Really!!!! I had 40 lbs. of that "stuff" on me?! Gross!

Next time you think your 5, 10, 20 etc... pounds aren't good enough, look at this. I think you will change your mind.

Weigh in early or wait until later?

Ok dilemma...

What time of the day is best to do a weigh in?

I usually weigh first thing EARLY in the morning like I did today, but now when getting myself all "pretty" for the day I thought I would step on the scale another time...since it was just sitting there calling to me;)

Let's just say I LOVE my scale! Down another .6 lbs.

I am thrilled!! I will add that to my total for todays weigh in. So that brings me to a total loss of -40.0 lbs. Lost so far!!!!!!!

Weigh in #17

Here is this weeks weigh in results.

Loss of -1.0 pounds

Jumping for joy right now!! The scale is going in the right direction:)

Thursday's Thoughts

It is amazing to me how good I feel today! I have a new "pep in my step". I think because I am back to doing something comfortable and I feel so good knowing I am a powerful woman who makes up her own mind,  and her own decisions. Just knowing I am in a familiar place makes me smile :-)

Can't wait to see some results at tomorrow's weigh in!

Hold the toast!!

After writing an earlier post, I really thought about what it is that "I" am looking for in my weight loss journey. Everyone says and does there own thing when it comes to what works for them when it comes to dieting. I am keeping things honest with you, I enjoyed the time I had off of a Low Carb diet, but the feeling of "enjoying" those foods has long passed for me. I have been really thinking and Praying about what to do from here on out on my weight loss journey, and I have decided to go back to what has worked the best for "me"...Low Carb.

I am giving myself another challenge to jump start my weight loss again. Now I never really did bad on WW, dont get me wrong but the scale isn't moving and I want to see those numbers keep on moving down and get to my goal weight:0)

I am challenging myself to a 2 week challenge to give my weight loss the jump start it needs!

"The greatest realization is this; God will be with me every step of the way. He never quits, and he never loses. If I ever feel like I don't have the strength to continue, I can always find strength in God. He holds the power for me to suceed in my new life, and he will give it to me every time I ask.... One step at a time. One day at a time. One sucess at a time."

Christmas parties are finally over!

A huge sigh of refief...my parties are finally done and the tree is packed and put away for another year:) We had our last get togther at our house last night.

It's a new week and I am ready to have my schedule back to normal..finally:)

I have spent most of my morning so far re-arranging furniture and sweeping. Sounds fun right?!

New Pic

Here is a full body shot. I haven't done one in a while:) Sorry if the picture isn't the best from my phone.

Snowy days

Today is one of those days where you just want to stare outside your window..

Have a wonderful weekend everyone:)

Michelle

Week in review

So I am taking a good hard look at the things I have been eating this week. I have come to some conclusions.

*1- I have been eating way to many processed foods!

*2- I have been feeling very bloated since switching diet plans. This is caused by too much salt in my diet.

*3- I drink way to much diet pop.

*4- Since switching diets I now haven't been eating enough protein.

All in all I think this contributed to my stand still on the scale this week. I am going to do somethings different this next week and eat more whole foods and add eggs back into my diet. No coffee for a week and less pop...more water. Let's see how this impacts the scale at the next weigh in.

Prayers!

I am asking for Prayers for a close family member. We just got word that his Cancer has moved into his lungs, liver and chest lymph nodes. He has been diagnosed with Mucoepidermoid Cancer and because of this being so rare they are not sure what options they have.

If any of you know of someone who has had this type of Cancer, or treatment options please let me know.

God is always at our side, and people hear our Prayers.

Michelle

Good things come in time ~ Weigh in #16

This pretty much sums up my weigh in for this week. I lost/gained -0. I stayed exactly the same. This is not a suprise. I am learning to read my body pretty well and when messaging with a friend today I told her that very thing:)

I am totally ok with this. The scale will move, just not today:)

Have wonderful Friday everyone!

Blessed

Good Morning everyone!!:)

I first of all want to say my husband is such an amazing man! He bought me a gift a few days ago and I absolutely LOVE IT!

iPod Touch, 2 cases, gift card, and an arm band to put it in when I walk:) God has blessed me beyond measure!!

This is a picture of my husband and little boy taken this fall.

I feel like I shouldn't be rewarded for losing weight because it isnt about that. The rewards have come in other ways... Health, mind and soul. This was a wonderful suprise though and am enjoying every minute of listening to it:)

My hope is for all of my blogger friends to have wonderful and supportive people in their lives to be a role model or "cheerleader".

Michelle

*This is how I wake up each morning and go about my day:)

Getting friendly with food again. It's not the "enemy".

What a gorgeous day here in Michigan yesterday! Upper 40's, sunshine..couldn't ask for more in the middle of January:) Usually we have a ton of snow by now!

Yesterday my husband gave me a wonderful gift!! I will share with you tomorrow what it was:)I will keep you in suspense for now;)

On to the post topic food is not the "enemy". I really have felt like most of my journey has been so consumed by the thought of "forbidden foods". There is NO food that is forbidden or off limits anymore. If you eat things in moderation you can still lose weight!! Who would have thought?! I always had the mentality that the less you eat that is less calories, so you will lose more...wrong! I am glad that through this weight loss journey I have not just made physical changes, but mental ones.

Yesterday I think I really enjoyed my food for the first time in a long time! I had such a good feeling about things yesterday. I guess it wasn't willpower it was brainpower!

Here is some of the "fuel" I enjoyed yesterday:

*90 calories, 1 fat, 5 fiber

* 4 slices: 60 calories, 1.5 fat, 0 fiber

*These are one of my favorites!! 130 calories, 7 fat, 1 fiber

*190 calories, 2.5 fat, 1 fiber

Well there was my lunch:) Are you hungry yet?

I will end this post with a favorite quote:

"Gratitude bestows reverence, allowing us to encounter everday epiphanies, those transcedent moments of awe that change forever how we experience life and the world." -Sarah Ban Breathnach

Having a little fun...

I have so much to do today around the house and errands to be run, but what am I doing... trying on clothes and taking pictures with my new camera:)

I am still trying to figure things out but I think I am doing a pretty good job. Here's a pic from this morning of me:)

Mother, wife, daughter, sister, friend... healthier, skinnier, EVER thankful, sincere, Thanking Jesus for EVERY DAY he gives to me!

Michelle

Hello Monday!

Well did everyone have a wonderful weekend?

I feel like time just flew by and here we are it's Monday again! I worked all weekend so I don't have anything exciting to tell you about really. I did do a little shopping though:) I bought a few new shirts, a pair of tall chocolate brown boots a new sweater dress and a new pair of jeans. Which I was in desperate need of! We cleaned our closet out this past week and I loaded up my van with all my "fat" clothes and away it went.

Then I really thought about it...
I was actually sad! Some of those things were my favorite, and I was sad to see them go. But I am happy not to be that size. The girl who fit in those had a sore back(from her large chest), no energy and didn't always feel the best about herself...but NO more:) I am feeling the BEST ever.

Contentment feels soooo....good!!

I am no longer in a hurry to lose the weight, I know things are slowing down and I am ok with that. It will come off a little at a time and I will get to my goal!

Michelle

Wrappin' it up

Today I am wrappin' up my yogurt taste testing fun:)I have had fun doing this, I always enjoy sharing my opinions with you. I hope this has helped some of you:0)

Here is #5: Chobani Greek Yogurt, 140 calories, 0 fat, 0 fiber. Was over $1.00 in price for 1.

I thought this yogurt had a nice creamy texture, not to sweet and just enough of the fruit on the bottom to add in. It's a must try!

Yogurt #6:

Apple Pie Yogurt...I am SOLD! At 100 calories, this was my second favorite by far. The first being the caramel WW yogurt from a previous post. If you love Apple Pie you will love this! The chunks of apple are to die for:)Super creamy and .80 a piece this yogurt is worth it for sure!!

I hope all of you have a wonderful weekend. Stay strong and faithful to yourself and your diet. See you all back here on Monday!

Michelle

MIND over matter

I was messaging with a dear friend today and we were discussing weight loss/dieting of course. I was reminded of hard hard this journey has been for me so far. No matter how much weight you have lost 10, 20, 30+ pounds it is hard work!! I was telling her a little bit about how there were many nights where I would go to bed early in tears because I was so "hungry" and just wanted to go to sleep and not think about food any more.

Food has so much power over us, but our minds have more. It wasn't a phsical hunger I was experiencing, it was a mental hunger. The key is to know the difference.

I fight everyday to make the right choices and keep on fighting the "food war" that I am having with myself. It is not an easy thing to do...

I will share something very personal with you that a "friend" said to me the other day. She says to me during our conversation "You look great don't get me wrong, but you know how it goes. What are you going to do when you gain it all back? That's what happens to everyone, it's like a roller coaster ride, enjoy it while you can!"

Ok, first of all this is not a true friend, if they say this to you!

I replied to her with this "NO, actually it's not. This is my life and I am changing for my health not just my apperance or the number on the scale! This is for good, you will see.

Working hard each day to prove these people wrong,

Michelle

Week #15 Weigh-in

Good Morning Friends!!:)

I know it hasn't been a full week since my last weigh-in but since I am switching my weigh-in day to Friday's I thought I would start today:)

It has been a full week now that I have been counting WW points, from switching diet plans. I wanted to let all of you know that I donot pay to go to WW, or attend meetings. I am doing this all from home with the materials I kept from the last time I attended Weight Watchers(which was a long time ago). I know things have changed a million times since then but it ALL works if you stick to it!

So here it goes time to get on the scale:)

-1.8 pounds!

WHOOT HOOT!! I am super excited about this:-) Time to go shopping...TJ Maxx here I come:-)

Have a great one,

Michelle

Talking about yogurt ~ Taste test #4

Good Morning everyone!!! Hope you day is going terrific:)

Here is what I was hoping to have for Breakfast this morning.

Yuck!! I know that is not nice, but I had heard so many good things about FAGE that I was expecting more. More being the operative word here. There was just not enough flavor for me. The fruit flavor you had to add was good there just needed to be more.

At 130 calories, and at $1.53 each. I give this a 2 thumbs down. Now I need to come up with something else for Breakfast this went in the trash!

On to a happier note:) Here is what I am going to have later today...

I love this because it has 2 individual servings in this box. So one for another day:) @ only 5pts! The only question now is should I have this for a snack or part of my lunch? ;) Oh to have such worries...hehe.

P.s. I am switching things up a little for 2012. I am going to be weighing in on Fridays now, starting tomorrow..so watch for a Week #15 weigh in post:)

Michelle

Talking about yogurt #3

Hello again:)

I am catching up on things now that my computer wants to work correctly:)

Here is the yogurt I taste tested today-

OMG!! YUM-O!!
You have to try this it is delicious:9
*2 WW points

I have nothing bad to say about this yogurt. I even caught myself shutting my eyes and licking the inside of the lid pretending it was frosting...It was that good!! It is a "Must Try" :)

Here's my Lunch one again today:)

*The Lean Cuisine meal= 7pts.
*The Pretzles are AMAZING!! 2pts for 10

I had a glass (1cup) of this for a snack. YUM-O I feel like Rachael Ray every time I type or say that;)

*1 cup= 90 calories, 1.5 fat, 2 fiber

Here's what's for dinner tonight:)

Homemade Loaded Baked Potato Soup(recipe from Gooseberry Cookbook)
I saved a lot of points for a cup of this tonight considering I do not know the point total...but it is worth it!! It taste amazing!

Who knew I had so much to talk about today:)

Michelle

Talking about yogurt #2

Well let's see if my computer will let me load pictures today.

Thank goodness!! It's still slow but working:)
Ok, the first yogurt I tried yesterday was Dannon OIKOS Fruit on the bottom Greek Nonfat Yogurt.

*Calories= 130
*Serving size= 1container
*Total Fat= 0
*Dietary Fiber= 0

Well overall it was very good! It is super rich and very thick in texture. I could hardly eat the whole thing it was so filling! Almost dessert like:) The only bad thing I can say about this yogurt is the price which comes in at $1.25 a piece, and it was a little too sweet for me personally. Other than that it is a good pick!

I also wanted to share with you my lunch choices from yesterday because they were SO good!! :)

My taste buds were screaming for joy, I am loving all of the new choices I can have on this diet compared to the Low Carb!! P.S. I only had 1 apple not the whole bowl:)Hehe

Talking about yogurt

Over the next few days I will be doing a review of different types and flavors of yogurt. I have a very picky palette so this should be interesting:)

I figured this would be a fun thing to do and share with you my opinions on each one.

I will post about the first yogurt later today:)

I would love to hear about any of your favorites as well, so please share!! :)

First weigh in of 2012- Weigh in #14

Well after my vacation to Florida and basically eating more carbs than I had in months I was up about 8 lbs. I didn't do a weigh in last week because of illness.

This being the first weigh in of 2012, I am super excited about my weigh in this week considering how much I was up and switching over to Weight Watchers from a Low Carb diet I knew there would still be a gain...

+3.2 lbs.

This is wonderful considering I was up more. When you switch over to a different diet there are a lot of things you body needs to adjust to. Everything is going so well with the switch that 3.2 lbs. is not going to get me down....I will lose it next week:)

2011 Changes

A short post on how far I have come this last year.

*The first picture is me this past summer on vacation.
I hardly recognize this person anymore.

*The last picture was me yesterday at our families Christmas party. 40 pounds lighter and trying on a beautiful apron I was given for a gift. ( I <3 aprons!!) Starting 2012 off with a bang.. I feel like I am keeping a little secret, since changing my diet:)

I guess I am still getting used to the huge variety of foods that I am now enjoying. I just feel a little like I am "cheating" still;)

Have a wonderful New Year everyone!!

Michelle