Posts by nillytoots

I know it has been quite a long time since I posted and to be truthful I haven't even been logging my calories since I started school. It's a super accelerated program that has me going 29 hrs a week and homework for each class is a paper, homework, reading and quizzes. It's nerve-racking and time-consuming but totally worth it. I know this is worth it in the end. I have successfully lost another 2 lbs in December which I surprised about but it was great to see. I'm down officially to 195 lbs to start the new year and that's fabulous in my book. I know that I can do this, it's just a matter of time. I'm loosening up my time contraints and just taking loss as loss no matter what. I value your commitments and friendships and hope that you'll keep me in your minds for when I do find the time to show up. I will keep checking our threads and hoping for the best for all of you. Happy 2009! May it be the most successful year yet for all of us in all things!

• A special thank you to 2babe for sending me the email reminding me about this part of my life, I literally had forgotten
• Good job to Rach for almost breaking the 200's glass ceiling (floor?)
• Very nice to dutch for getting into the 180's, it showed me that I could have been there if I'd just kept going instead of taking a jump off the cliff!
• Very nice to see Tanya and KC here faithfully (and I hope I didn't forget anyone else!!)

Ok, just to explain myself a little, I got laid off from my job.  This put me into a tailspin of not only freaking out about finances but OMG I don't even have any marketable skills and with today's job market, what am I gonna do??  It's not that I took that internally and started eating like a maniac or whatever.  Actually, it's helped me to no eat out and eat at home.  So, my eating has been decent, not overboard.  But I haven't logged or exercised or cared about my eating and exercising habits for almost a month now.  My weight has been maintaining..I'm still at 197.2 lbs.  I just haven't been losing.  I am off for the next 5 days to Disneyland in our pre-planned annual family reunion so I'm sure that healthy eating will have to take a break but I will make the best choices I can make and make sure I am drinking lots of water and maybe all of that walking will do me some good.  Plus, this is the family that I wanted to blow out of the water with how good I look so we will see if all of my hard work has been worth it to see their reactions (assuming they will have any).  The last November 2007 that I saw them all I weighed 241 lbs and wore a size 22/2X.  Now I am 197.2 and wearing a 16/XL most days.  (some days I fit my 14's it's just weird)  So, I don't know if anyone will notice but that's not my problem if they don't, they are blind!! LOL  I do sincerely apologize for just dumping you guys as soon as I felt overwhelmed but it's sort of a habit with me to prune the stress back is to go into cocoon mode.  I will try to be better, that is all I can promise.  Lotsa love, Misty (P.S. Remember, I will not post again this week cause I will be out of town but I will check in again next week hopefully with a smaller number!)

Yes, it's the perfect time of year for it. It was very good and thankfully, there's leftovers to have tonight too!  The cornbread was good too.  It was a sacrifice to eat just one wedge! :)  I blew it this morning though.  My daughter is having troubles in school.  She's usually a very good student and her behavior is usually good.  We usually only ever got complaints that she was 'too friendly' meaning she's a social bug who can't stop talking most of the time and she knows just about everyone so you can't really move her to a new seat cause she's friends with everyone.  But yesterday, her teacher told me that she took something out of the desk of someone else and gave it to another boy as a 'present' then lied about it when asked directly by the teacher. It was awful to hear that stuff about my own girl! I know I've taught her better than that.  Not only was I embarassed but I was incredulous that she would do something like that.  Hubby and I had to sit down and discuss how she'd be punished for lying and stealing for goodness sakes! She's 7 years old. I didn't think we'd have to address issues like this yet!  She's already grounded and we are giving her nasty chores to do like picking up after the dog and cleaning toilets. (we use the worst chores as punishments to try and get them to behave better)  Plus, she lost the privelege to go to the Fall Festival this Friday.  My husband was all set to take away her Jonas Brothers ticket too but I told him that's too much (besides it's not until the end of next month, far too removed from the date of the 'crime' to be effective).  Ugh, this parenting thing is hard!!

Marlies, I agree with you about just needing a thread starter and then we pick up the stick and run with it so to speak.  Not so much a coach as a starter, like a relay race!! :)  I'm glad everyone likes the 10lbs goal better.  I beat myself up trying so hard for the 10%!!  Over the last 7 months I've only lost 18% of my body weight!! I couldn't have done 10% in 3 months but so many groups adopt that number.  It's kinda sad!!

On the house viewing front, frustration abounds!! The lady is refusing to let us see the house.  She apparently had surgery recently and is using that as an excuse to not let realtors in.  As she's simply a tenant and not the actual owner, I have no way of knowing if what she's doing is actually legal but she's getting away with it nonetheless.  It's very frustrating because that is my dream house and she won't let me see it for myself!!  :)  It will all happen in God's timing, I know.  It's just frustrating that His timing isn't MY timing!

Wow, about the hike.  You must have been in a very zen-like place.  I get that way when I visit this state park in Oregon that has over 10 waterfalls and 10 miles of trails to visit each one of them.  We would get there in early morning and stay until sunset.  It was great.  We'd have the best time.  Unfortunately, the desert does not have waterfall trails.  :( 

It sounds like grueling training but worth it if that's what you are there to train to do.  I hope you are successful.  Just not failing is motivation right? You don't wanna waste your money.  My best idea for you would be to start the day with your largest meal since it sounds like most of the rest of the day, you are either working out or getting sick! You need at least something to start your metabolism going in the morning and hopefully digest most of it before you get yourself so worked up you are sick.  Fortunately, your body will probably adjust to the pace of things and you will find it easier and easier to get through your runs and exercises.  You should be proud of yourself for even trying to get through this process.  Most people wouldn't even sign up much less try to get through it all the way whole! I have faith that you want it bad enough, now it's a matter of getting your body to cooperate huh?  I wish you the best of luck.  Try not to be so hard on yourself, you are doing something great!

Since this week is almost over, do we have to do another weigh-in and measurements or can we do them Monday like usual? Or are we changing our weigh-in day...I'm confused but I like the goals and stuff.  Definitely do-able and I'm sure they will make me feel power-full and not power-less as I have for the last 12 weeks trying to lose 20.9 lbs!! That was crazy to assume since it's taken me nearly 3 months just to lose 13!!  But anywho...

Rach, you actually have a job which I considered going back to school to do.  Is it something you would recommend to someone? I think I would like it better than ultrasound tech which I also considered.  What advice would you give?

Well, things are looking good this week.  I haven't logged my calories on cc for a long time but I keep a written journal which seems to be more attainable to me.  I keep my diary up-to-date and while I have no idea how many calories on average I have been getting, I feel great and in control of my eating which is a good thing.  Also, my energy level this last week since starting my protein powder has been great!  I've not been sleeping as well as I'd have liked but that's mostly due to my new laptop coming than anything I'm eating. :) I've stayed up way too late playing with my  new toy. LOL  We'll see how much it affects me on Monday.  See ya girls then, have a great weekend!

Well thank you dutch and Resip for your nice comments.  It helps my self-esteem (and we all know how abused that can get when you are heavy).  BHAG made me laugh. LOL 

Dutch, OMG about the Jonas Brothers...it's totally believable.  I'm rather pissed though because due to popular demand, they are opening another show in the afternoon which would have been SO much better than an evening show for the age of my little ones.  As it is, my late show tickets are going to have me scrambling to get to work on time (I work 11pm and concert is 8pm) but those are the breaks.  I'm gonna check out the website just in case I can get the shows switched.  (crossing fingers)

Well, this week is going pretty good for me.  Already seeing some lower numbers on the scale and I bought some 100% whey protein to start adding a bit more protein to my day.  I struggle with getting enough protein because it seems most sources of protein are also high calorie or I don't like it.  I'm hoping it will work.  Tastes pretty good too! :)  that's about it for me today.  Lovely ladies...keep up the good work!

Dutch, so happy things aren't always as bad as they seem! I'm glad you are ok.

2babe...a lot of what you said, hit home. It does suck getting older and realizing that the people you love the most are mortal.  I'm so lucky not to have had to learn that lesson at an earlier age like some people. I'm blessed to still have my mom. I think people need their mom's no matter what age they are! And I also subscribe to the general thinking of nothing's really off limits.  I just have to limit portions but not outright outlaw anything. I know what tempts me most and those are what I hold off on the longest but when I do let myself have them, I emphasize and tell everyone around me that I'm 'treating' myself so that it reinforces that I will not let it overpower me. 

I was reading on the today show website about a lady in the Joy Fit Club who lost 180 lbs.  She had a quote she 'lived and ate by' which was "nothing tastes as good as being thin".  I totally completely agree with that!  I recently tried on my original 'goal' skirt that I had bought way back when I was wearing 22-24 clothes and 241 lbs.  And what do ya know....it fits!! It's beautiful and I'm wearing it and thinking, I never actually believed I'd ever fit it.  It's amazing to realize that I was at a point where I tried something even though I didn't even believe in myself.  Now, I feel like I can accomplish anything, do anything.  I could not wipe the grin off my face prancing around the house in my 'goal' skirt!! And I'm not even done with my weight loss yet....so miracles happen and I know that every bite that goes into my mouth is going to fuel my happiness NOT my unhappiness.  Not anymore!!! Oh and a teensy side note, since I'm at work, I cannot post my new pics but when I get home, I'll post pics of me in my goal skirt as well as me in my 'revised' goal dress you ladies remember me telling you about my size 12 goal dress?? Well, that baby looks great on me!! LOL  But you'll be able to judge for yourself.....Toodles!

I'm gonna post a doozy just warning you all! LOL  So much to say, so little time! First off, (doing a happy dance!!!) I made my goal of getting under 200 by the end of September even if it took until September 30th for it finally to read 199.4!!! YAY!  That is a loss of 41.6 lbs since March 1, '08.  I am ALMOST half way to my main goal of 91 lbs and also super-goal of 101 lbs.  It's a great feeling to see that 1 in front.  It's enough to keep me going in this badass little race against fat! 

Also, it is the week for measurements again so here are mine:

Waist-38"

Bust-44.5" (under breast bra measurement 39") (which still makes me a friggin DD!! grr)

Hips-46"

Thighs R-22.5" L-23"

Body fat: 25% (49.8lbs fat/149.2lbs lean)

BMI: 32.2 with a W-to-H ratio of 0.83

Still in the BMI level of obesity but at least it's only Class 1 now instead of 2.

To learn what motivated me to start, just read my home page.  I explain it all there.  Not to mention the being hot all the time because of blood pressure and shaking and almost passing out due to hypoglycemia.  Now that I eat right and on time, my blood pressure problems went away and my hypoglycemia only acts up if I go too long without a snack. 

My motivation to keep going?? Well, to be honest, it's not always easy as I share with you guys all the time.  Some weeks, my heart just isnt' in it but one tip that I've done since I started that gives me a lot of reassurance is I have "Cheat Week" Every 6 weeks approximately.  During that week, I eat normally but if we go out, I may have something I've been telling myself no about or have an alcoholic drink or fast food item.  I also don't log all week and I don't weigh all week.  It gives me 7 days of not thinking about weight or food.  It's much much easier to get back on the saddle if I've given myself a little rest break.  It also gives my body a little break and (hopefully) holds off plateaus that would be more regular to me.  I'm not one that exercises a whole lot like the lot of you so to me, it's surprising that I lose weight at all but I'm sure my problems would be more severe if I didn't give my body a little run for it's money so to speak.  I also tend to vary my days for instance 1300 one day but I'll go 1600 the next day then back to 1400 then to 1500 then down to 1300 again.  Never two days in a row are the same.  I am hopeful that it keeps my body fueled but also keeps it guessing so it can't settle down into a routine.  I know eventually I'll have to incorporate generous exercise especially if I want this flab to get toned up instead of just hang! LOL 

That being said, I do have a small confession to make.  Even though at first, it was my health and kids that motivated me to finally lose it, I also have my mom to thank (but not how you think).  See, my mom is morbidly obese ranging anywhere from 270-300 lbs my entire life so when I saw a picture of us together in April and I was nearly as large as her in the picture, I knew I was doing the right thing and making the right choice to lose the weight while it was still physically possible.  See, my mom has had every health crisis that is associated with obesity including diabetes, heart conditions, high blood pressure and cholesteral and well as kidney failure which led to her getting being on dialysis as well as finally getting a transplant.  Even through all of her pain and obvious discomfort, she still uses food to ease her mind and soothe her soul which is hard for me to watch.  I definitely know that I do not want my children to view me with the pity that I sometimes view my mother with wishing she could see not only see what she was doing to herself(she's aware of it) but that she would CARE.  So, there you have it.  I have never shared how I feel about her obesity but I've shared with her how much it would mean to us for her to prolong her life, etc. She still doesn't do anything about it.  But everyone's different and like we've all learned from each other, it's different things that finally get someone off the couch and deciding to change their life. It's not an easy decision.  Addiction to food is real and it's deadly and it afflicted millions of people all over the world and it does not discriminate.  (steps down from her soapbox...!!! LOL)

Ok enough about me...how about you?? LOL

P.S. Jella-if you can google the "Early Show" the lady's name is Joy Bauer and it's her website that all the inspirational 100 lbs loss stories are.  Hope that helps.

Thanks for the advice matty.  My main concern is that it's going to be an open casket viewing and a graveside service so you know...worried about nightmares and such.  I myself have never seen a dead body before so who knows how I'll even react.  We'll just have to see.  I'm commissioned by the family to acquire 30-50 spongebob t-shirts (in adult sizes mind you) for the entire graveside service because that was Gabe's favorite character and if he is watching us, we all want him to know we know that will make him smile! :)  But you know how hard that is??? I'm searching frantically online and every mall in this place...thank goodness Las Vegas is resourceful in the shopping arena!! I will meet my goal! LOL

Here I am in case anyone missed me!  Will get to why exactly in a few minutes.  I was going to respond to a few of last weeks posts but I just drew a total blank.  Crap.  Ok.  All I can remember was Rach's comment calling our Scott a goddess.  Trust me, all male! LOL  But anywho...ok onto this week.

Loss is fabulous and awesome this week.  MIL must be good luck for me cause I'm down to 200.0 even steven.  I anticipate seeing ONE-derland before the end of the week!!!! That's the plan anyway.  And that's with eating out almost every day since she's been here.  I've just been working hard to make good choices. 

Goals for the week:

Food: 1) Don't eat past 9pm 2) Up Protein, lower fat 3) Keep fried foods to a minimum, try to have none!

Exercise: 1) I like to move it, move it...I like to groove it, groove it.  Try to get off my bum and do something, whatever, whenever to move this body.  2) Get back to exercising first thing in the morning 3) Use the fabulous walking shoes I just bought to actually walk and not just to look cute

Mental: 1) try like heck to not have negative self talk, get over it, it's done 2) i'm good enough, I'm smart enough and gosh darn it, belts are cute  3) the scale does not equal my self-worth

Ok.  That being said, I just have to inform you that I may or may not be able to do these things as expected this week.  My baby cousin lost his battle with cancer late last night (a few hours ago) and I'm already battling my emotions.  Even though it was expected, it's still a shock to actually happen and I'm at a total loss about how to tell my children that the cousin they saw Monday will never be there again.  He was 3 years old but he fought for every day of it.  But I will remember his infectious grin and his curiousity about life.  He was a bright and caring boy.  Now he can be with Jesus and is free of his aches.  I will try not to reach for food to stuff my sadness.  I will instead turn to exercise as a way of working through my thoughts and having alone time to grieve.  Thank you all for being here to tell.  I'm off to bed now so will talk to ya all later in a day or so I think.

I have several tattoos and whether I've gained or lost pounds, they grow or shrink based on the elasticity of my skin but since I have lost it at a really steady pace, they are not affected.  I work with the public and the only thing I will say is it's retarded how some people judge you just because you have ink.  I am not a criminal or a bad person but some people (mostly older, i think) seem to think it automatically makes me so.  I don't care because it's my body and I'm treating it that way because I respect my freedom to express myself.  I have more people tell me they are beautiful than are afraid but I did notice that it affects me on the job market.  Many jobs will not call me back if I wear clothing that reveals my ink, but if I wear long sleeves during interviews and stuff, i get callbacks.  But to me that feels dishonest so I mostly just wear something whether my tats show or not.  Just extra info in case you want it.

I too have progress pictures but it's mostly in my face I suppose. Still have 52 lbs to my goal.  But ehh..maybe they'll help someone. :)

go to mypyramid.com i think it's the US version but you can actively log your planned meals into it to see how close you come to meeting your goals.  most people are inaccurate when they think of what a serving of a vegetable or a fruit are.  You'd be surprised how quickly you meet your daily needs.  Check it out

check out a few model homes in your area for great painting ideas...I saw this one and loved it

Base walls were cream colored with 'paint within frames' of this wonderful burgundy rose flecked with gold...it looked almost like those nail polishes that look one color from one angle and another from the other way.  They had these little insets with floral accents in the center framed with large black frames...it made for a very interesting room and I can see it setting off your leather furniture well.