Weigh in Wednesday

Weigh in~

Stayed the same.

Hoping for a loss for next week:)

Michelle

I am back!!!

WOW, it has been along time!

I can't believe how much has changed in the last few years. My children are now 17, 13 and 8 years old, my job has changed a few times, and I went back to college.
The one thing that has remained unchanged is my battle with my weight. I haven't lost any more weight but have managed to keep most of it off during this time. I have been primarily focused on my job and school and running my household that I put myself on the back burner for a while. Now its time to get on track once again. I am hoping by writing on this blog once again that it will keep me in line and finish the race that I had once started.

So lets get started!!!

Here's goes nothing. See you back here same day next week and see how things went :)

Having a purposeful life

Today my heart feels very heavy. I am really struggling lately with a lot of feelings that maybe my new job isn't the right fit for me.
It makes me cry every time I think about whether it is bringing my life purpose? I will tell you a little about what I do/did for a job and maybe you can relate a little more that way.
I previously worked at an assisted living center for the past 10 1/2 years before leaving in June. I currently am employed at a local hospital as a  housekeeper. I was hoping to use this as a "starter" position to get my foot in the door.
I really feel like I am not serving God in this position....Does that make sense?
I am a people person with a big heart and my gifts are being "bottled up" and put on the back burner.
I need to keep praying that God will show me what I should do....
Please Pray for peace and that if change is the right path for me.
In God I will serve no matter the place:)
Michelle

New favorite drink

Yum!!! You can have this hot or cold. which ever you prefer. Such a nice drink for fall:)

*1/2 cup of Chai mix is 70 calories, 0g fat, and 0g fiber.
*1/2 cup 1% milk is 50 calories, 1.25g fat, and 0g fiber.

Mix the equal parts together and enjoy!! *If you are going to enjoy this hot, mix the equal parts together and heat over the stove in a small saucepan.

Poor food choices

Ahhhh!!!! I was doing so good yesterday until we went out for dinner.
We took my sister in law and my father in law out for dinner to a local pizza place to celebrate my sister in laws 40th birthday. I had good intentions, but pizza buffets are evil;) I consumed way to many calories, but today is a new day!!
"Starting over is better than never starting at all."

Busy, Busy, Busy

Hello everyone!!

I am sorry for the lack of posts recently. School is off to a great start at our house and I am as busy as ever!! I have 3 children all at different schools this year. My oldest is at the high school, middle child at the middle school, and youngest at the elementary school. WOW, I suddenly feel very old;) I am also working many 12 hour shifts at the hospital and am part of our churches senior high youth group as a leader this year.

As the changes in my schedule have changed I have also been slacking a TON in the dieting department. I have been trying, but it gets boring!! I think I can cheat here and there and it won't add up...WRONG!! I need to step it up again and need some motivation. So, we booked a Spring vacation to Tennessee in April. I think that will help me get on the ball again! I am very excited about this vacation and all the hiking we are planning on doing so I need to get my butt in shape{literally}:0)

I am planning on doing my first official weigh in next Friday so stay tuned for that...

I look forward to hearing how everyone has been doing since we all have talked last, so please comment I would love to hear from all of you!

I am here:)

Oh, how the summer has flown right by! We are leaving for our last camping trip of the summer and it is so sad to see it come to an end:(

On the happier side of things. I have lost those stubborn 4 lbs. That I have been up the last few weeks. Back down to -50lbs!!!! I had my yearly and my doctor was so excited to see my weight loss since last year. I lost a huge amount of body fat, blood pressure was great(that's normal for me anyways) and I am still currently on no medications except a multi vitamin:) Overall a great appointment besides having to have a pap smear;) lol!!

Have a great day everyone!

Anniversary and many changes...

My wonderful husband and I are going to be celebrating our 16th wedding anniversary tomorrow!! There has been so many changes in the past year, all good:)

I have grown so much in so many ways...I have tears just thinking about how God has been working in my life. I not only have lost weight, but gained so much closer to God in the process.

Here is a picture of my husband and I last year on our anniversary vacation.

And here is a recent picture of the two of us taken by one of our daughters. Sorry if this picture isn't very clear. Something about going from my cell phone to my blog doesn't work so well.

The heavy me and the lighter me, were loved by this man either way:) Thank you God for blessing me with such an amazing man!

WW Brownies

Ingredients:
2 tbsp. margarine
1/3c. sugar
1/4c. cold water
1/2 tsp. vanilla
1/2 tsp. baking powder
1/2c. flour
2 tbsp. unsweetened cocoa powder
2 tbsp. chopped pecans
1 tsp. powdered sugar

Directions:
In a small saucepan. Melt margarine, remove from heat. Stir in sugar, vanilla and water. Stir in flour, cocoa powder and baking powder. Mix well, stir in nuts. Spray a 8x8 inch pan with Pam. Pour in batter and bake @350 degrees for 20 minutes. Cut into 8 bars and sprinkle with powdered sugar.

WW Point totals for 1 brownie:
Old points= 2pts.
New points= 3pts.

A week in pictures

Summertime

We are busy, busy, busy.

Life is great as well:) We have been camping, hanging out at the beach every weekend and working of course;)

I am trying to maintain my weight loss still, but I have to admit I am up about 5 lbs. I need to get back on the bandwagon again. It is hard when you are camping and having picnic lunches...I tend to snack more often.

How is the summer going for all of you? I would love to hear from you:)

Summer Fun & Healthy Choices

Hello Friends!!

It seems like forever since I have last posted. We have been busy with swimming lessons, camping, working and just living life:)

How has the summer been going for all of you?

Here are some pictures of some of my favorite things so far this summer as well as some of my favorite healthy foods that I have been enjoying.

Hayrides at the campground

Floating in the pond

Swimming lessons

Flowers

Iced Tea

Raw Nuts

Banana Chips

Have a great day everyone, until next time!
Michelle:0)

Clean Eating 1 Week Review

Overall this week went very well and I was very happy with the choices that I had made. I didn't notice any changes in my energy level, but I am also adjusting to working 12 hour shifts. I did though experience more of a full feeling and was less apt to snacking between meals. The one huge difference for me was I felt a ton less bloated! I hate that feeling, so this was a nice change:)

Here are some of my favorite changes from the week:

Granola that is locally made right here close to my town, paired with Greek Yogurt.




Chia Powder purchased at the Whole Food store. I added this to my yogurt, it adds a thicker consistency along with tons of health benifits!! The powder is easier for your syestem to digest than Chia Seeds.




All natural snack bar. It was delicious!




OMG!!! I picked up a package of these on my way out of the whole food store and after
1 bite I was hooked! The best peanut butter cup I have ever eatten!



Fresh Cherries = BLISS:)



Fresh sliced pears topped with Greek Yogurt. Then sprinkled with a Tbsp. of Good Life Granola. Heavenly!

Progress: ) and my first clean breakfast

My overnight oats were not horrible, but very heavy in my stomach. I could only eat a few bites. I am going to try a hot oatmeal recipe this morning and see if I prefer that more.

Here's to another great day, full of making better choices:)

Clean eating challenge

I am starting a new challenge today.
Everyone on the internet has there own ideas about what Clean Eating is. I am just challenging myself to eat more whole foods and not so much processed, prepackaged foods.

I love my morning coffee with vanilla creamer and that I am not willing to give up;) But as for the rest of my day I will aim to make better choices:)

I am excited to see if these changes will give me more energy or not? With me working 12 hour shifts now I need all the help I can get! Hehe:D

Have a great day friends,
Michelle

My week in review

Well I just completed my first three 12 hour shifts and WOW, I have had to process a lot! My new job is going well at the hospital:) I am happy to report that I have been maintaining my weight loss these last few weeks. I wasn't sure how it was going to go with me eating and sleeping at different times but I am thrilled to just see the scale numbers staying the same.

Have a wonderful Sunday everyone!
Michelle:)

Smoothies

Good Morning!!

I just made the best smoothie and I wanted to share quick a minute before I head out.

I found this Banana Smoothie recipe on allrecipes.com and with a few changes from others comments it was AMAZING!

Banana Smoothie

1 cut up frozen banana
1c. 1% milk
1 Tbsp. Honey
1/4 tsp. Cinnamon
Pinch of nutmeg

Blend all ingredients until smooth. Makes 1 serving.
WW points = 5 (old way)

Catching up

WOW, things have been busy over here!

First of all Happy Memorial Day! I am up bright and early after a long night of baking and preparing for 17+ guest to come over for brunch after the parade. We have done this for many years and our group is growing:)

I wanted to let all of you know that I got the job I applied for at one of our local hospitals!:) So my crazy schedule is going to get crazier. My post will be few and far between due to it being summer and will be gone a lot camping etc.. also I will be working full time now instead of part time.

I hope everyone will have a wonderful holiday and enjoy your summer:)

Michelle

Weigh in

Oh boy, confession time!

I posted a few days ago that I had hit my 50 lb. mark, and I did. I was so thrilled!!
But...

I took that as an opportunity to indulge a little, and now here we are on weigh in day and I have to tell you that the scale showed NO loss:( The numbers are the same as last Wed. So those few pounds I was down came back on with a vengeance!

Nutty Bars, dinner at Applebees and movie theater treats are the reason I gained those few extra pounds I was down back.

Today is a new day:)
Looking forward to seeing a loss for next week!

Not a weigh in day

I know it's not weigh in day but I want to share that when I weighed on my scale this morning I hit my goal of -50 lbs. !!!!!!!

I hope I stay at this for my official weigh in next Wednesday. I have been working my butt of this week and it is really paying off:)