must get back on track!

I am happy to report that we had no damage to our home from either hurricane. Life is getting back to normal.
I am also happy to report that my weight did not really change during all of this. However, my eating did. For a while we had to eat whatever we could make on the grill or butane burner. Cooking a balanced meal would have taken way too long. I did manage to make snap beans one night. The other nights were filled with meat eating craziness. Now, I am trying to get our refrigerator stocked back up with the necessities of good cooking.
It doesn't look like I will make my goal of 190 by Luke's birthday, but I am still trying.

We interrupt your previously scheduled programing

I am evacuated. I don't like it, but I am. We are in Baton Rouge. Hurricane Gustuv (what a name, eh?) is headed right for lower Terrebonne/Lafourche parish. Since yesterday it has started on a more easterly track. I can't decide if that is good or bad. I don't think it really matters. It's so close to Thibodaux that I think we are in big trouble.
I can not stand the thought of flooding. If that happens I don't know what we will do. Our neighborhood has never flooded before as far as anyone knows, but there always a first time for everything.
I can handle if the roof gets blown off. I can handle if the giant pecan tree across the street lands in my living room, but please NO WATER!
I am also worried about my grand parents. They are at my house. The won't go any further away from Grand Isle.
Today's track looks awful for Grand Isle. This could be it for the tiny island that my family has called home for a hundred years. It'll kill my grand paw if the house is destroyed. My mom won't go back again. I don't know what will happen.
If Thibodaux goes down we are all in too much trouble to comprehend. We can't all end up homeless.

Today, I want to have a good day. I don't want to look at another pessimistic map. I'll panic tomorrow morning. Today could be the last good day for a very long time.

By the way. My grand paw's scale said 194 last night. My house scale would disagree, but I'll take it.

God Speed.

almost the 1/2 way mark

Sunday is September 1. This day will mark the 1/2 way point of the biggest loser competition I'm holding. I'm happy to report that as of this morning I am down almost 6 lbs. This is perfect considering that my goal is 6 more lbs away and I have about a month to get there.

I really need to step up the exercise. I can't wait until it gets cooler outside. I really hate to be hot! When it is cooler I think I will want to walk a lot more. I have decided to do The Race for the Cure on October 13. It's a 5k. I will be walking it...very slowly I'm sure! lol

Recently I bought the Weight Watchers New Complete Cookbook. I really like it. It has interesting recipes. Some of them are a little difficult. Good thing I spent all those years in culinary school!

-until next time

bye bye 200!

Never again will my weight begin with a 2!

Now, just 8 more pounds to lose and over a month to do it in to reach goal #2!

I hope everyone else is doing well. Please call me if you want to weigh in.

Finally. Maybe?

There's nothing like a virus that keeps you bent over the toilet all day long to help shed a few pounds. I was SICK yesterday. It was awful. Feeling like you are going to pass out every time you life your head and having to chase a curious 10 month old all at the same time could make you want to jump off a building. Trust me.

I wasn't able to eat anything yesterday until about 8:00 last night when I finally managed to get a bowl of soup down and keep it down. The bug has pasted and I feel better today.

This morning the scale said 198.6, but I am pessimistic. I'm afraid that once I eat normally today it will go back up tomorrow. We'll see.

Otherwise, I found this AWESOME recipe on discoveryhealth.com on Tuesday. It is a spinach and mushroom lasagna. I made it Tuesday for dinner. I don't know how many calories were in it, but I think it's one of those meals you could have once in a while and not feel bad about. It was SO yummy that I made another one and froze it for later.

Here's the inside and the finished product.

We had the Rini's over for dinner that night and they really liked it too.

That's about all I have to report today. Here's to hoping that I don't gain more than 2 lbs today!

Damn the 200

200.2.....shit.

I know I shouldn't really be discouraged because I did eat every bit of my hibachi on Saturday night, but still. I just like seeing the scale move just a little. Especially after eating less than 1000 calories yesterday. Maybe it will pay off tomorrow.

I just want to be rid of the 200. If I could get a 199 or 198 for 2 or 3 days I would be so happy.

So, I promised measurements and here they are.

Chest: 45.5"

Waist: 41.5"

Hips: 48"

Right thigh: 27.5"

Left thigh: 29 "

Right arm: 14"

Left arm: 13"

I wish I had measurements from June. I know some things (read: not my boobs) have gotten smaller. I would like to see my waist get in the 30s and everything else just get smaller.

I am going to get Kelvin to take a picture of me to compare later.

Oh, I have some new favorite workouts.

I got this set at target of resistance cords with a dvd. I did the whole workout yesterday. It wasn't easy, but I liked it. It's very zen.

I also got a dance workout dvd staring Tabatha from So You Think You Can Dance (otherwise known as that show that is WAY better than American Idol). Even after dancing for the the first 18 years (minus the first 2) of my life....I guess it's true when they say if you don't use it you lose it. I felt so awkward and had a hard time picking up the dances. O'well I'm sure by the 3rd or 4th time I do the dvd I will get it.

Now, what am I going to cook today? Always the $64,000 question.

Biggest Loser

A weight loss competition among friends is under way. So far 6 ladies have come and weighed-in. I am expecting 4 more. I don't want to write too much about the Ladies joining me in a weight loss adventure, but I will say that it's good to have others around to keep me motivated. I hope this turns out well for everyone. I hope others use this as an opportunity to lose a few pounds. Don't quit...it's only two months of your life...we can all make changes!

Anyway, I am still living in 200ville. I am SO close to being rid of the 2 forever. I suspect it won't be gone until early next week. A busy weekend of eating out and birthday parties is going to keep me from eating perfectly and walking. I am not complaining or making excuses. It is what it is. I still have to live my life. Plus, I am REALLY looking forward to hibachi tonight.

I wonder how long it will take for me to drop a pants size? I'm already down one AND have switched from Avenue jeans to NY & Co. Jeans...so that's really like 2 sizes, right?

At 180 I will be in at least one size smaller. Although, this post baby body isn't the same as before so WHO KNOWS!

I know I promised pictures and measurements....they are coming soon, really.

Day 3

I figured out a little solution to my breakfast eating problem. Laughing Cow Cheese! Where has that been all my life? 35 calories of creamy goodness. Who knew that CHEESE could be 35 calories? I have that with my coffee, some low sodium crackers and some fruit. So far so good. I'm sure I can't eat it every day for the rest of my life, but for now it's working.

The picture to the left is day 1's breakfast. I shared the banana with Luke. The juice is v8 fusion peach mango. It's very yummy!

I also am in love with 100% white grape fruit juice. Isn't that strange?! It reminds me of my childhood and wine or margaritas. lol

My great grand maw (who was a crazy bitch) used to drink the little tiny cans and my grand maw would always give me one. It's so bitter, but so good. I haven't had an adult beverage since February 1, 2007. I didn't have a problem or anything. I found out I was pregnant the next day and haven't had a drink anything since. I crave margaritas, but for some reason grapefruit juice is like drinking a Margarita or a glass or wine. I even put it in a wine glass. Kelvin put salt on my glass Monday night. Don't laugh, it was delish!

I apologize for the poor quality of my pictures. They are camera phone pictures. Lugging my big Canon powershot everywhere just does not work for me.

I am looking forward to Friday when some local friends and I are starting up another Biggest loser competition. I am hosting this one. We already have 11 people....which means another $100 if (when) I win again. lol

I will post an updated weight on Friday as well as measurements and maybe even a picture!

Until then here's my latest favorite picture of Luke.

Phase 2: Day 1 (201.8)

I like to weigh myself first thing in the morning. This morning I am 201.8. I'm so glad. I have been off the diet for a whole week and I didn't gain anything back. I ate Chinese food. I ate Mexican (more than once). I went to Grand Isle just yesterday and ate a ridiculous amount of my Grand maw's cooking (gotta get it when you can!). I even ate at Chile's which is the WORST restaurant to eat at if you are on a diet. Even the things that should be OK for you at Chilies are not. They must use lard or something. I'm so glad that after only 2 months of eating "right" I have already changed my metabolism to one that allows for some cheating here and there.

My first struggle today is going to be breakfast. I HATE BREAKFAST FOODS. Actually, I love some breakfast foods such as, biscuits and gravy, sausage, bacon, fried eggs, and my favorite is hash browns...oh hash browns. Obviously I can't eat most of these things while dieting. I also will not be cooking breakfast for just myself while Kelvin is at work. That leaves oatmeal which is OK, grits which I can also tolerate and cereal (YUCK!). I don't like to start my day off with anything cold. I need hot food in the morning or I would rather just skip the meal all together and eat Brunch and Lunch (ha ha). Any ideas out there? Help! I'm off to get more coffee.

In the begining...

I'm going to weigh 180 lbs by January 1, 2009.

The last time I weighted 180 lbs was...um...2004? maybe. It was on an uphill towards 230ville sometime after starting cullinary school. Isn't that disgusting? I'm 5 feet tall. 60 inches. No one who is only a few inches too tall to be considered a little person should weigh near 200 lbs, but I do and I have for too long.
Here are the facts:
The biggest: 234 lbs
My biggest without a child in my uterus: 233 lbs (no, that's not a typo)
Weight shortly after I met Kelvin: 207
Wedding weight: about 210
June 2008: 213
July 21, 2008: 202
Smallest I ever remember being after puberty: 120 (9th grade)
Happy weight: 140-160 (10Th and 11Th grade and again a short time after starting college)

So, there are the numbers. Publishing that I weigh more than a full sized healty man doesn't bother me. I'm ok with others knowing. I am doing this because I feel like I need others to know in order for me to succede. Imagine if those lucky bastards on the biggest loser didn't have to weigh in on live tv at the end of the show. Would anyone watch? Hell no!
I am also hoping that a few people might actually read this and support me (read: If you see me at a taco bell drive thru please do whatever is necessary to talk me down).

Recently I entered a little competition with some friends and I won. I started in June 2008 at 213 and lost 12 lbs. I also won $100! How's that for motivation! I want to start antoher one soon. I'm just looking for other people to play along.

My next goal is to be 190 by Luke's 1st birthday. Then, 180 by
1-1-09. After that, 150 by 2010.

Phase 2 begins 7-28-08!