Reporting on Weeks 12-13. The End of my Project.

Wow!   This project has been an incredible learning tool!  
The two biggest lessons have been 

1.  I have more success when I lean on my Father in Heaven.  

2.  Weight loss goals are not reached by seeing how much you can lose in a certain period of time... rather it is in every day small simple choices.  

This project has been awesome to jump start my motivation to get moving again.   It has been a huge blessing in my life.  And while the project ends here my journey to my goal continues.   Each day I am striving to make good choices and when I do I see positive results.  The success isn't always shown on the scale but I can always feel the success.   My weight will be something I will have to be aware of my whole life.   I will need to continue to make good choices even after I reach my goal weight.

On week 10 I stepped on the scale and saw a 5 pound weight gain.   I wanted to just go to bed and not wake up for a while.  I had been so stressed with issues dealing with my son and my daughter dealing with health issues.   It was a hard few weeks and I realize that even though I was eating and exercising pretty well during this time my body was dealing with my stress in the only way a body knows how.   Those hormones (namely Cortisol) which release during stressful periods are great at helping you deal with your situation but they are also great with helping to pack on the pounds.   In an article on the Mayo Clinic website "Chronic Stress puts your health at risk."  It talks about how stress can cause weight gain as well as a whole bunch of other issues.   Once I realized what was going on and once I was able to get the issues with my kiddos resolved I went and talked to my doctor.   She is helping me do what I need to move forward.   By week 11 and then week 12 I had dropped a couple pounds and today I have almost lost that 5 pounds I gained in week 10.    I am down to 226.6.    My total weight loss in 13 weeks is 14.6 pounds.   I was hoping for a 20 pounds loss in these 13 weeks but I am happy with my results.  I have lost a little over 1 pound a week when I average it out.   That is pretty good.

My goal from this point on is to continue to use Weight Watcher tools and continue to walk, run, bike and do all of the fun active things I have been doing.
I am also heading to the Orthopedic doctor this week to get help for my numb toes.  it doesn't hurt but it is annoying.   I have a feeling he is going to tell me to lay off the running for a while.  I am guessing I have a pinched nerve someplace.   But when there is a will there is a way and I will do what I need to do to get my feet well and to keep on my journey.
Thank you so much for supporting me in my project!
While it isn't a load of money the total amount raised for the cuties in Liberia is $312.80.
I wish I could have lost more so there would be more heading to the orphanage but I am excited to be able to have even this much!!!
Thank you so much!!
 It is your turn now....please go to this page: http://hopeforfallenleaves.org/event/i-count-for-them/  and click on the button on the top right corner that says "Donate Here"  to pay your pledge.

I am so thankful you joined with me in helping some beautiful children have a little more of what they need.

Reporting on Week 10 & 11.

"When you're under stress, you may find it harder to eat healthy. Also, during times of particularly high stress, you may eat in an attempt to fulfill emotional needs — sometimes called stress eating or emotional eating. And you may be especially likely to eat high-calorie foods during times of stress, even when you're not hungry."  Mayo Clinic Article Stress and Weight management.

This has been my life the past 2 weeks!  The stress has been so high and I have struggled!  Struggled with the lack of desire to exercise, to eat healthy, to do anything I am suppose to do to create balance in my life and home.   Issues with Camden at school and with his ADHD and anxiety I have spent alot of time venting, crying and just feeling lost.   Then I went to work researching what is best for him.   The decision has finally been made and arrangements are in the works to make Camden's 2014-15 school year successful.   And we finally know for sure Brenley will have surgery and her awesome teachers and advisers at school made it possible for Brenley to have rest until her surgery.  She is done with school for the year.    Having these two issues resolved (or at least the answer is known) I am hoping I can start to feel myself again.  I thought I would feel and instant relief but I still feel keyed up and have had headaches for 3 days now.   

I am sharing all of this not to bore you but hoping you won't think I am totally loser when I share with you that the past two weeks my weight has been fluctuating all over the place.  Up and down and I have no idea how much I really weigh right now.   I am still making progress in my journey as I am learning how to overcome challenges.  I just have to remember this is a life long journey and not something I can accomplish in 3 or 4 months.   Thank you for sticking with me.  I am trying to stay positive but it has been hard.   But I am here and I am working.. every day I am working whether it shows or not.

Reporting Week #9: Counting Points gets a Thumbs up!

So I started counting Weight Watcher points (using their old system).  It is small but I am seeing results this week.   I lost 1.6 pounds bringing me to 225.0.   And I did it without feeling like I had to say NO to everything.   It as a nice change.   I think this is how the weight loss will be from this point on...slow but hopefully steady.

I am still seeing changes in my body.   I went shopping for some shirts and I was able to buy  in the large size rather than XL or XXL. It seems to depend upon the style so I am unsure what shirt size I really am but I know I am smaller than before.    I try to remember this when I see pictures of myself.   I can see changes in my face but I struggle looking at a full body shot.  I feel ugly.   I am  battling negative self talk....I feel good and see improvements but then I look at myself in a recent picture and I wonder how long it is going to take until the real Brenda is found among the fat.   I don't like to think this way and I like who I am inside...I just have to continue to carry on by having faith and moving my feet.  Having Faith and Moving Forward seems to be a common theme throughout my life.   

I am thankful to feel the progress in my body even if the pictures aren't showing it.   I can run faster.   I trimmed 4 minutes off of my mile which is HUGE for me!   I am still a slow runner but Rome wasn't build in a day and I didn't put all of this weight on in a day.   I have to remind myself to be patient with my body.    I look forward to being able to hike this summer and bike and be active with my children.  This is something I used to be, active, but then one day I wasn't.  At least that is how it felt.   I have goals and a secret desire of my heart that I hope will come sometime in the next couple of years and I want to be physically ready for the call if it comes.   Even it that call doesn't come the Lord will have other plans and I want to be able to meet he challenges with energy and vigor!   Good health is an incredible blessing and everyday is a gift!   

Another milestone this past week is wearing a belt.   My pants are getting too baggy so I tried an old belt on. I could only do it up on the first hole but at least I could do it up!!!!!   That was kind of fun!!!   

My favorite grocery item is Greek Yogurt (non-fat).   

Baked Nacho Casserole by Ro*Tel.

I made this recipe and replaced the mayo with the Greek yogurt.  Saves LOTS of calories and fat.  I think the mayo probably adds some flavor so I added some taco seasoning and garlic powder to give it a little more spice.  I also replaced the burger with turkey burger.  It turned out yummy.    Next time I will use rice on the bottom and less tortilla chips on top.   This would bring it to a lower point value.  

So this was my week in a nutshell.
Onward and Upward!

Reporting Week #8 - Better late than never.

Ok so I am a few days behind in reporting.

Week #8 ended with me stepping on the scale and wanting to scream as it showed me about 4 pounds heavier.   Made me so stinking mad!   But then I stepped on the the scale the next day and breathed a huge sigh of relief when I realized it was all water weight.   I guess it was just a weird day.  But I did stay the same...no loss.   So I started using Weight Watchers plan. I am so happy I did.   So far this is so much easier to deal with and I can make a meal for my whole family and still be able to eat it myself.

I decided to take my measurements again to see if there is any progress there....and to my surprise I have dropped about 2 inches from my chest and abdomen.   I am happy with that!!!!  Hope it continues to come off!  

I have been working hard, working out and being true to my goals!  I hope when I weight in this week all the hard work shows!!!

Report Week #7 - The Same Old Song.

I made some awesome strides this week.   Been back to running and pushing myself.  I had to kind of step back and walk for a while but this week I was running almost 2 miles without stopping.   Has felt AWESOME!!!!    I am getting stronger.   The frustrating part is my body isn't showing it on the scale once again.   I am fluctuating between 226.4 and 227 ish.   So again no loss to report.  *UGH!*

This Easter weekend I decided to just eat whatever and not exercise.  Maybe it will wake up my body or something.  Who knows.   If I go another week without loss I am heading to weight watchers because it means what I am doing isn't working.  But I won't stop trying.  There have been alot of "mommy" type worries the past few weeks with my oldest son being diagnoses with ADHD w/Anxiety and one of my daughters not feeling well and having some things we need to help her change.  She is under a doctors care and she is trying to take good care of herself but it is hard when you are young.  These sweet kids should be able to just be kids and not have adult type worries.   But I believe they have been blessed with just the right gifts from a loving Heavenly Father to help them through these hard places.   And if I believe that then I need to remember it for myself as well.   I have not been left alone to face my own hard places...I know that.  I have witnessed it so many times in my life.  I am so thankful for that knowledge.  Sometimes I just need a reminder.  

If you get a free moment this week could you say a little prayer for my kids and myself...that we can overcome these "hard places".   Thank YOU!!!

Stress + Stress = Bad Report for weight loss. Week #6 Report.

I am not a super emotional eater ( at least most of the time) but I am an "anxious" eater.

When I am feeling my anxious self I can't focus as well on tasks and goals and I find myself wandering in the kitchen.  Sometimes this leads to eating....sometimes it leads to organizing.  (I prefer the second).   So I am sad to report I haven't lost anything.  :(  

Tomorrow is a the day my worries and anxiety over my oldest son's school issues will finally get some help.   We see the pediatrician tomorrow and I am hoping we leave with some answers and some help.   I worry a little bit that some of that "help" will be in the form of her telling me I need to change Camden's diet.   I am scared I won't be able to take on another new way of eating on top of the goals I have set for myself and my family already.  But if I need to do it then I will and will just pray my heart out for help!   But honestly the whole idea makes me so tired.
 *Deep Breath!*

So I am moving forward this week and going to work as hard as I can and I will expect to see a difference on Friday. 

  I need to Keep Calm, Get Healthy and if I need to "wander" because I am anxious my goal is to wander out the door in my jogging shoes.    

Week #5 Report

It has been a cold yucky raining kind of week.

My mood pretty much matched the weather.

I have been worried about my 7 year old (you can read more about that here), had a great case of pms and pretty much just felt like staying in my jammies all week.

So you will notice I didn't keep my tracking log this week and I didn't exercise every day.   I am amazed I even get to report a loss at all.

It isn't a whole pound but it is a loss.  0.4.

My eating wasn't super bad....pretty good considering but I hope to do much better in the new week.   I am still fighting the blues but hoping they go away with the stormy weather.

I found this saying and loved it!!!!
Been there done that and here I am again....NOT giving up this time even if I do have a bad week!