gatorlorraine's Journal

we had an awesome service last night
Dec 10 2009 14:55

I haven't been to our church since before Thanksgiving for one reason or another and I have missed it sooooo.  I decided last night to join the regular service and not go to the youth bldg - I guess I was in need of some good bible food because I sure got full - and it felt so good.

We're not having regular services this Sunday night or Wednesday either due to a live gospel nativity we are setting up along the road-side of the church property.  There will be 4 scenes - the birth of Christ, the death of Christ on the cross, the empty tomb, and the Heavenly Throne.  We plan to be in full costume and character from 3-6 Sunday - Thursday as the 7,000-9,000 cars pass by on their way home to some outlying towns.  Our church is along a two-lane country highway just before an intersection (and a railroad track) and our pastor has watched cars pile up there for years and started planning this about 3 years ago.  Well - this will be the last year for the high traffic being they are starting construction of an overpass that will re-route the traffic about 1/4 mile away.

I'm sure those who travel that way regularly have been watching the construction and are curious - and I hope they will all receive a blessing as they ride by next week and witness a fully active scene of Jesus on the cross, and further down Him sitting on His heavenly throne. In all, there will be about 60 people involved in the various scenes.  My daughter and I will be in the Heavenly scene and will be laying our crowns at His feet.  We are all parking down another street, so no cars will be seen on the property, only the people.  I pray the Lord will be glorified and lives will be touched. 

can't sleep tonight ! ugh!
Dec 08 2009 02:30

I went to the ADAVANCED Zumba with my daughter and neighbor tonight - it seemed more than I could handle, but I could really tell how much I have improved to even look like I was keeping up and in step. 

But I came home exhausted and fell asleep on the couch - and then  got woke up hearing my son going back and forth from the kitchen and well - now I'm awake and can't seem to go back to sleep.  I probably should go wash some clothes and take a nice hot bath - but we'll see.

I've found some interesting posts tonight though - and even some more Christian groups.  I really loved the success story today - 150 lbs gone - it's so attainable!  I'm so ready to attain it for myself! For God's Glory of course.

getting re-started!
Dec 01 2009 23:18

I'm glad to get back to my routine tomorrow.  I really saw how messed up my eating can be when I don't have a plan.  My daughter and I decided to eat what we wanted over thanksgiving and tonight when we went to Zumba I felt I could hardly move!  It's only been a week and I was sweating up a storm (but was moving more than I have in the past I believe)

So, tomorrow - we're back to the 1600 calorie thing.  It was so much easier and took the guess work out of things - also - I think my system is not handling all the extra sweets (pumpkin pie, cheesecake, blueberry yum yum, peanut butter cookies and mints)  yuk - I'm done!!   those things taste good at the time, but the stomach problems and pooties afterward are for the  birds!

I can say that I didn't have those problems when eating sensibly and not having sweets.  It took me all yesterday and today to recuperate - and I'm finally ready to get some things done while on vacation this week.

I look forward to the day that I can say no to those foods upfront, so I don't have to live with the consequences.   I'm still learning!

learned some things today
Nov 23 2009 05:01

My daughter and I decided to eat normal foods today being we were going to a church luncheon and so were going to substitute and we both did really great not overeating and making good choices.  However - when we got home was a different story.  I guess because we didn't plan out the rest of the day - and because I had a cake at home that I had made to take with us, but in all the scurry of trying to get ready - I forgot to turn on the oven - so we had to leave empty handed and my husband stayed behind to take the cake out of the oven.  So, when we got home about 4:00 and were rightfully hungry - the first thing we saw that the cake.  This is where we went wrong - because we should have had some real food first.  But the lesson learned was leaned well because we both feel crummy!  I've just gotten up here at 5:00 am and my stomach feels terrible.  Usually by now that first glass of OJ is so welcomed.

So, we did wrap the cake up and take it next door to grandma!! And now we know to have a better battle plan for Thursday and Saturday. So, lessons learned !!!

4 days in-(me minus 10 & my daughter minus 15)
Nov 15 2009 12:53

I never knew how fast restricting calories would work!!  We decided to add this new twist in order for our family to see the results compared to last year when we saw them last for Thanksgiving. 

It was last year that I was at my highest weight of 360 that my mother told me how concerned she was about my weight (and my daughters, who was then around 294).  And then she told us about Calorie Count. 

We have both lost inches in the recent months through exercising but the scale wasn't really showing the results and we both wanted something concrete to show them (cause we know the love us and will be excited for us - and maybe to avoid another talkin to)  

During the past year we both identified what our main "trigger" food was and worked toward eliminating that one thing.  Mine was chocolate and hers was chips, and both of us have been successful.  So, it's been small steps toward progress and thankfully has brought us to this point.  I can honestly say that if someone had told me I needed to do this a year ago - or even months ago - I would have rebelled - so all in God's time - and now here we are!!!

I haven't been much for weighing in regularly, but when I have I did see how drastic the changes were from day to day.  I apparently can hold a lot of water in my legs resulting in a weight gain or loss of up to 10 lbs one 24 hour period of time and so I decided to not let the numbers on the scale determine my success but rather how my clothes were fitting - and things were getting looser (even when the numbers jumped up).  I also have had more energy and notice I've gotten stronger in the exercises that I do. 

But now that we've made this change in keeping our calories at 1600/day it's exciting to get on and see the numbers dropping.   So, today I saw my lowest number since I started on CC almost a year ago and I hope we've finally come up with a winning formula that will get the bulk of our weight off. 

It's so needed as we both have knee and feet problems from the excess weight and I told my daughter I wanted to see her lose some weight before she gets a job or starts school and that her job right now is going to the gym every day and her school is to learn about how her body works and what it needs to function properly.

So, keep us in your prayers.   I've been so encouraged by you guys and gals who have made this seem so simple - and I guess it really is when you either give in to the resolve or just determine in your mind that this must be done and the time is now!

So the goal is for by Thanksgiving for her to be at 265 and me to be at 330.   That will be a 30 lbs difference of last year for me and a 29 lb difference for her - both around an 10% total loss from LY (I've heard it takes about a 10% loss for others to really see the difference)

Thanks for the prayers to stay on course and keep our resolve and learn more about making this a permanent change!!!!

trying something new
Nov 11 2009 08:33

4/12 edit:  minus 4 lbs  in just 24 hours (I'm sure a lot of it is water weight, but none the less, I'm excited) (my daughter just called and she is minus 5 since yesterday!)

***********************

My daughter and I have definately been more active and we've cut out a lot of junk foods, so we're now ready to try adding something new. Years ago I did a 1 month weightloss program at our local gym that had us follow a strick 1600 calorie food plan with gallons of ice water each day and strength training 3x's per week and a 20 minute walk 5x's per week.  

So we have the exercise routine in place so we figured it's time to restrict the calories.  I plugged the foods into the food journal last night to see if I could remember them and it came to 1609 calories and CC gave it an A.  So,  we've started today and I wanted to track it in my journal.  We're committing to  2 weeks for now which will bring us up to Thanksgiving (for which we're going to Atlanta and don't want to miss everyone's specialties!)  So, we'll come up with a new plan after then.  For now, this one is simple and takes out any guess work and will teach us some better portion control.

So, here's the plan . . . the trick is to eat every 2 - 3 hours (on schedule) and drink ice cold water in between. 

7am - 1 cup orange juice  - when you wake up (100 cal)

8am - 1/2 Lender's plain bagel with 1 tbls cream cheese (150 cal)

10am  - other 1/2 Lender's plain bagel with 1 tbls cream cheese (150 cal) and a snack (100 cal)

12pm  -1/2 sandwich and 1-2 cups salad with tomato (dressing) (200 cal)

(white bread, 1 tbs mayo, 1 tbs mustard, 1 slice cheese, 6 deli slices roasted turkey or chicken)

2 pm - other 1/2 sandwich (200 cal) and one snack (100 cal)

5pm - frozen dinner (260 - 300 calories  up to 35 carbs) Lean Cuisine type along with  1-2 cups of green vegetable (50 - 100 cal)  and 1 cup of milk (100 cal)

7pm - snack  (100 calorie snacks = yougurt, grapes, apple, banana, popcorn, etc...)

Free foods in between if needed - carrots, celery, cucumber, tomato, etc...

      and hot tea and coffee in between (with no sugar)  no sugar free sodas

Water, Water, Water !! (1-2 gallons per day)

  ******************So, here we go!! *************************

We set our status to sedentary and added the exercise in the activity log and it showed burning about 4,100 calories a day leaving a deficit of about 2500 per day.  we're hoping to learn more about how our body works and to learn some self control.   So, Lord help us to remember and give us the energy we need! (and make it easy for us to do!) 

Ten Tenors
Nov 04 2009 07:20

My husband and I got to go see the Ten Tenors last night.  I loved it! and he thought they put on a good show.  It was non-stop music from all countries and era's.   I took the staff photos for the Performing Arts at UF and in trade they let me pick out tickets for any of their upcoming shows.  So the two tickets would have cost $110 - so this was a treat I would have never afforded myself.

My husband wanted me to call ahead and see if I would be able to fit in their seats, but I was just too embarrassed to do that.  (That happened not long ago when we went to see a play)  But I've been feeling small - my pants are all a little looser, so I decided to take a chance -  AND I FIT!!   I had to lean toward my husband so my arm didn't push into the lady beside me - so I was aware of how nicely they all seem to fit - so this will be my new goal, to sit in a theatre without my arms spilling over into the other seats!!

praise the Lord!
Oct 30 2009 12:23

My daughter drove herself to the gym today!  She got her license during the summer but we haven't had an extra car for her to drive (and she didn't get her learners permit first, so basically she was in need of some experience)

But yahoo!  I can't tell you how good it feels!  My son should have his regular license in about 2 weeks - so goodbye taxi days!  That's so hard to believe.

So, Lord keep them safe on the road, I put them both in your hands.   Thank you Jesus for watching over us night and day!!!!

Gator Day
Oct 18 2009 12:52

I worked the gator game concessions with my daughter and the youth group, and oh my am I sore!!

It was a long long day - we left at 11 am and got back home about 11pm !! 

I'll write more when I get caught up on some rest!! :)