tinyz

So, as you can tell, it has been over a year since I have posted anything to my blog.  It was kind of funny going back and reading my last blog, about what the year 2008 would bring.  Its funny (in a way, anyway) because 2008 was a HARD year for us!!  It seemed like we kept getting hit with negative thing after negative thing, and we couldn’t figure out why!!  It started off with me losing my job after Christmas of 2007 (as I stated in my last blog), and then fighting with unemployment and my old employer for 3 months before I finally found a new job.  Between car accidents, medical bills (unrelated to the car accidents, thank God), water pipes bursting (and costing $3,000 to fix), and trying to catch up with the 3 months of work I missed, things were really rough.  But…we are still on our feet, we are both employed (which is a feat in itself this day and age), and we are all in good health.  So while it was a difficult year, really, we have a lot to be greatful for, and that is what we are trying to focus on for 2009.  And somehow, through everything, I still managed to lose a little weight last year =)  I am doing my stair climb again this year, and that is great motivation for me to get back in shape.  Not only that but it is just such a great experiencce, for one, I get to spend a fund day with my family, but on top of that, I get to help people out who suffer everyday with lung problems, what more can a girl ask for?  And just wait until you guys see pictures, our costumes are going to be AWESOME!! 

 So anyway, that really sums it up.  I am really blessed, really looking forward to making 2009 a great year, and to losing some more weight!!!

Well, 2007 was a great year for us.  We bought our first house, our family is healthy and well, and I really feel blessed with all that we have.  2008 is right around the corner, and its a little scary and exciting to see what the New Year holds for us.  I just lost my job last week, not by anything I did, its just because the economy sucks, and  I worked for a small company who sadly, is probably not going to make it.  So anyway, it was kind of a sad ending to an otherwise incredible year, but I know that God has something else planned for me, I just have to stay strong and figure out what it is.  In the meantime, I am going to enjoy spending some time with my family, and taking in everything that is really important to me, I hope that everyone has a really great New Year.

Okay, so I really wanted to be at my mini goal by Christmas, but I haven’t been doing as well as I should be, and the weight is coming off, just slowly.  So I got this catalogue (spelling?) in the mail today, and it had the CUTEST Christmas lingerie in it, and I thought, if I could be at my mini goal weight by Christmas, I would love to wear one of those for my hubby for Christmas, maybe TMI, but I did order it, and it has really given me that little boost that I was very much in need of to stay on track, and I have exactly 3 weeks until Christmas day to get to my mini goal.  I am going to work sooooo hard to do this!  Wish me luck!

I FINALLY did it!  I have officially lost 10 pounds, yipee!  I was at 9, then gained a pound back, and sp I was really good this week, worked out extra hard, and those last 2 pounds came off.  I was so happy to weigh in, I put the scale at 163, and it didn’t even blink telling me that was too high, so I put it at 162…getting closer, then 161, bulls eye!  2 more pounds and I will be in the 150’s again!  And when I put my weight on here, it said Good Job, you have earned one red star, yaaayyyy!  Okay, sorry, I am just ecstatic.  I also decided to measure my waist to see where I was at there, and….one more inch gone, for a total of 3 inches off my waist!  Even my husband said something last night about me getting my waist back, and my husband doesn’t notice anything!  Well, I just had to share my great news with you all.  I haven’t been on this site very much, you know what the hussle and bussle of the holidays are like, but I promise I will get some comments and booster notes out to my buddies really soon!  YEE-HAW!!!

Yay for a short work week!  I get Mondays off already, so I just have to work tomorrow and Wednesday, then I get a 5 day weekend.  Woohoo!  I didn’t gain or lose any weight over the weekend which makes me happy.  Saturday was my mom and dads anniversary party, and I didn’t eat as well as I could have, but I avoided the sodas and the alcohol and the cake, so I am happy with that.  The party went really well, the cake came out amazing (my sister and I made it, see pic below), I think we did a pretty good job seeing how neither one of us have any kind of training in cake decorating =0)  But throughout the whole process of making the cake, I didn’t have one lick of it.  So I am really looking forward to working hard this week, and hopefully maybe losing a pund or 2 over Thanksgiving!  Friday is black Friday (anyone else participate in that craziness?) and my husband and I will be out before sunrise as usual.  I call it our own little piece of insanity, but its so much fun!  Anyway, this is going to be such a fun week, and I am really in good spirits about the whole thing, I can’t wait.  I hope that everyone else has a wonderful Thanksgiving (and a healthy one)!

The cake

http://i26.photobucket.com/albums/c105/mctiny87/DSC03300.jpg

My dad gave my mom a ring anyway (notice the tears and her finger), we gave my dad a gift card so he can buy a ring for himself as well.

http://i26.photobucket.com/albums/c105/mctiny87/DSC03417.jpg

My mom and dad dancing (Yes!  The doctor gave him the okay to put weight on his foot!)

http://i26.photobucket.com/albums/c105/mctiny87/DSC03463.jpg

My dad and I dancing

http://i26.photobucket.com/albums/c105/mctiny87/DSC03489.jpg

Well, I weighed in this morning for my Friday weigh in, and I didn’t lose anything.  Not a single pound.  I am feeling pretty bummed at the moment and was hoping someone had a really good idea that will help me feel better about not losing any weight.  Its just that I have been working so hard toward that 10 pound mark, and I can’t get there.  I have been eating healthy and working out 4 times a week, I just don’t know what else I can do…  Tell me if manybe I am eating the wrong foods… yesterday I had a high protein cereal bar for breakfast, I had peanut butter celery for a snack, I had a small salad for lunch, a kiwi for snack, and grilled pork chops with a salad for dinner.  Today I packed a banana for breakfast, 15 cashews for snack, a tuna sandwich for lunch (no mayo) on 100% whole grain light wheat bread, a low fat string cheese for snack, and we are having grilled chicken for dinner.  Anyway, that about sums up what I eat on a daily basis.  Anyway, I know I should be proud of the fact that I have lost 8 pounds in less than 3 weeks, but its hard when the scale doesn’t always reflect your hard work.  Like I said in my last blog, I’m an instant results kinda girl! =0)

Okay, so I went back and calculated my calorie intake for the past 3 days to see just how many calories I have been eating.  Starting on Tuesday: 802

Wednesday: 826

Thursday: 1105

So do you think I am not eating enough?  I mean, I am not trying to starve myself, I though I was eating healthy by eating 5/6 times a day.  Plus, I don’t feel hungry.  Anyone have any suggestions for me?  Will eating more really make me lose weight faster?  *Sigh*

I have always been the instant results kind of girl.  I hate cleaning unless I see a big difference right away, and the same goes for losing weight.  I want to see results, NOW!  Although I don’t really see much of a difference in my weight just yet (other than I had to keep pulling my pants up today), someone else did, and that makes me so happy.  I went into my old job (a bank) to pay a bill, and one of the tellers who I haven’t seen since I stopped working there in August asked me if I have been losing weight.  YES!  I really am looking forward to seeing my sister-in-law on Christmas because we only see her once or twice a year, and if I can lose a few more pounds before then, well, I am hoping she will notice.  I just keep thinking of all these small things and keep chugging along. =0)

Today is also officially the first day of phase 2 of the South Beach Diet.  So I am eating fruit for breakfast!  I am so excited.  It is so nice to be able to eat fruit again, I almost feel like I am cheating.  But like I said, I made it to the gym this morning, I added 25 extra crunches because the first set didn’t wear me out, and I added 5 extra minutes to my cardio workout, 3 minutes in my warm-up and 2 minutes on my cool-down.  I feel great today!

Well, with yesterday being Veterans Day, we had a three day weekend, and I hate weekends anyway (well at least when it comes to eating healthy), so a three day weekend is just that much worse.  First of all, I did not get a chance at all to make it to the gym, no Saturday, Sunday, or Monday.  Now, Saturday and Sunday went by without a problem, then along came Monday.  We decided to get some Christmas shopping done, and out we go to lunch, at Burger King.  My husband ran in, so I just asked him to get me a grilled chicken salad (I by the way, absolutely LOVE Burger King tacos, but didn’t order any).  But is was those pesky french fries that did me in.  I hated myself afterwards, and my body did too, because I got almost instantly sick.  But, I told myself not to beat myself up about it.  You live and you learn and you go on, and I did.  I had a really healthy dinner, and skipped my dessert (sugar free fudgsicle) and drank a whole lot of water.  So needless to say I was scared to death to stand on the scale this morning, but I was ecstatic to see that I actually lost a pound, just one, but I thought for sure I was going to gain weight after eating french fries.  So that made me happier than I can even say, and I feel like my resolve is renewed all over again.  I was thinking last night that all I needed to lose was one more pound and I would be a quarter of the way to my goal weight, and there went that pound.  So my mission is already 25% complete, that puts things in a whole new perspective! 

So on another positive note, I talked to my dad over the weekend, and he said that his doctor announced that his foot was looking really good, and was actually starting to heal, there was new skin!!  YAY!!  Well, my dad can be very stubborn, and for the longest time refused to check his blood sugars, but with some insistance by his doctor and my mom, he has been checking his sugars often, which I believe is really helping him to watch what he eats, and keep his sugars low, which in turn is helping his foot to heal. 

On a less positive note, because of his surgery, my dad has lost his job, and is no longer working, so my parents are probably going to lose their house.  It is hard to think about because they have been working so hard toward buying this house, and they finally were able to, and now they have to give it up.  They are both so positive about the whole thing and I just wished I could help them out you know.  Anyway, they just celebrated their 30th anniversary yesterday, so we are throwing them a huge party on Saturday.  I asked my dad what he was going to buy my mom, and that was the first time in this whole process of losing their house that he actually showed any signs of sadness.  He had wanted to buy them new rings, because they both lost theirs a long time ago, so he had been saving up to buy new ones, but spent the money trying to save their house.  Anyway, I just admire both of my parents so much for all the hard work they do, and for being such strong people, they really are amazing, and I know that just like hardships they’ve had in the past, they will get through this too.

Well, Thanksgiving is right around the corner (if you can believe it) and I have a lot to be thankful for, so let us ponder on that rather than the food this year! =0)  Have a happy and healthy week everyone!

I signed up to do a stair climb for the American Lung Association of Colorado.  I participated this year in February, but was incredibly out of shape and had bronchitis at the time as well.  I made it to the top, but not with a time worth mentioning.  I swore to myself then that I was going to participate again next year, and so I started a team (everyone who is doing my Biggest Loser competition) and we are going to do it!  I am so excited!  On top of doing something positive by participating in the climb, it is another motivator for me to get into shape.  Last year the climb was 47 floors and I believe 1,014 stairs all total.  This year there are 53 floors, and over 1,200 stairs, I want to finish in less than 12 minutes.  If you would like to make a pledge for me (keep in mind this is a Colorado based Association) my website is

https://www.mrsnv.com/evt/e01/part.jsp?id=1761&acct=0503203064&rid=720420&part=fund

and you can also read my story from last years climb at

http://www.mrsnv.com/evt/mgifts.jsp?id=1761