WORK OUT SONGS that will get you MOVING

Here are the songs that keep me pumped up and going during my 

work-outs. 

1.Jesus Saves by Jeremy Camp

2. Pump Up the Jam by Technotronic

3.Banjo Pickin Girl by Abigail Washburn

4. Oh, Canada by Fire Iron Frenzy

5. Rocky Top by Osborne Brothers

6. This is the stuff by Francesca Battistelli

7.Chattahoochee by Alan Jackson

8. Carol of the Bells by The Mormon Tabernacle Choir

9. The Leave Behind by Jeremy Larson(Fort Christmas)

10. Sadie Hawkins Dance by Relient K

11. Gonna Make you Sweat(Everybody Dance Now) by C+C Music Factory

12. Hallelujah Chorus by The Mormon Tabernacle Choir

13.Good Morning by Mandisa featuring Toby Mac

14. I'm Letting Go by Francesca Battistelli

Weight Watchers Update 9/15/13

Pounds lost so far:42 lbs.

Physical Changes: Two clothing sizes down. I have purchased quite a few new skirts at Goodwill and Kmart. Found a cute button down shirt at Target. Yahoo!! This is getting fun! Can't wait to get out of plus size clothing!

I can finally get my rings off of my fingers. Haven't been able to take them off for over 5 years. Plan to get them professionally cleaned. Once I hit my goal weight, I will get them resized!

The heat has bothered me as long as I can remember. It makes me moody and uncomfortable. This summer the heat hasn't bothered me as much as in past years. Maybe next year I can be one of those girls who actually can look cute during the summer. 

Favorite Food:

Who doesn't love chocolate milk? The Silk Pure Almond Dark Chocolate Milk is amazing. It is thick,creamy,and delicious! Last week I tried the Blue Diamond brand of chocolate almond milk. It was good,but not even in the same league as the Silk brand. Plus, the Blue Diamond brand has more calories per 8 oz. serving. The price is pretty much the same. So if you want a an indulgence, go with the Silk brand. 

Biggest Temptation: This past Friday I had a lot to do. I had forgotten my computer at home, so I had to go back and get it. Along the way I stopped at McDonald's for lunch. I don't know why, I had a perfectly good Weight Watchers meal in the fridge waiting for me. I let my frazzled mind talk me into McDonalds. I ordered a cheeseburger kids meal, which wasn't a horrible choice, but a much higher point value than I had originally planned.

Biggest Success: While at Target today I really looked at myself in the mirror. I still had in my head that I looked the way I did when I first started Weight Watchers. Sure, my cloths are baggy. Yet, there is just something about looking at yourself in the mirror.Today I saw that my shoulders are becoming more narrow. My legs are smaller and my face is thinning out. It is such an amazing feeling to look at yourself and actually see that your hard work is paying off. It is such a boost. I have come this far. I can do this. This is do-able! 

Highlight: The meetings are incredible. Even though I don't talk a lot during the meeting, I am getting so much out of it. My leader, Elizabeth is such a fun and encouraging person. She is always ready with a hug or a high-five! I haven't missed a meeting since joining. I look forward to going each week. I love the stickers. 

During the meeting today one of the women said something that made me want to jump up and shout. 

"Deprivation leads to desperation." 

Can I get this stitched on a pillow?! When we deprive ourselves of a certain food it gains power over us. If we keep depriving ourselves of that food that we REALLY want, we come to a point where we become so desperate for it that we lose control and eat a ton of it. We control the food, it doesn't need to control us. 

Don't forget to check out my post on my favorite work out songs!

Weight Watchers: Slithering Raccoons

Pounds Lost So Far: 29.2 lbs.(Just a smidge away from 30 lbs.) 

Physical Changes: My rings have become a lot more loose. I think my wedding band would slide off, if my engagement ring wasn't in the way. My engagement ring is 1/2 a size smaller than my wedding band. 

My clothes are pretty baggy on me now. I haven't gone to a store yet to try on a smaller size. I think I would be disappointed if I haven't gone down a size or two. Right now I am pleased with seeing the numbers on the scale go down. Yet, with the new school year starting I need a least one pair of dress pants to wear to work.  I am currently praying about transitioning to wearing only skirts and dresses. I will write about that another time. 

Favorite Food: Yoplait Light Yogurt, the Strawberry Shortcake flavor. 

This was a new flavor for me. Mmmmmmmmm....So good! It makes a good snack at only 2 Weight Watchers points. Very helpful at curbing my sweet tooth. It takes the edge off of my desire to head to Kroger for a cream filled Longjohn doughnut. I still crave them,but I'm not ready to add an occasional doughnut back into my diet. I think it will be like when I first cut out soda. I went cold turkey for a few months and then slowly introduced an occasional rootbeer back into my diet. I can take or leave soda now. I much rather would have water or an iced green tea. Maybe someday I will be able to have a doughnut without wanting to inhale an entire box. Now is not the time. 

Biggest Temptations: I went on a field trip with the kids at work. We went to Cici's Pizza and to the Skatin' Place. I made great food choices. I had one slice of pizza, a salad, and a brownie. I kicked temptation's butt. I also chose water instead of soda.

On Friday night, Michael and I went to Barnes and Noble. We usually get Frappacinos and some kind of pastry from the cafe. I chose the Lemon Lime Refresher which is only 3 Weight Watchers points. I am sad to say that I chose to share a piece of cheesecake with Michael instead of just a cookie. That 1/2 a slice of cheesecake cost me 14 points. Not worth the points, but I ate it anyway! 

From a previous visit to Barnes and Noble. Seriously,a Venti frappacino! 

Emotions: This past week I found out that a friend/co-worker in my department is leaving. This news made me sad, so I indulged in a little mindless emotional eating. Blah! This is a struggle for me. I know that I am prone to eat when I am sad or depressed. I need to work on other ways of coping, instead of heading for the food. 

Biggest Success: During the field trip, I skated around for about an hour and a half. Very fun! It took a few laps around the rink to get comfortable being back on skates again.Once I got comfortable, I had a blast zooming around the rink. The music,funky lighting, and smoke machine added to the fun. Hardly felt like I was working out. Yet, the next day I felt it in my legs. Roller skating is going to be added to my work out routine.I might have to get over the self consciousness of being a 30-something woman zooming around on skates at a roller rink. Oh well! I'll just be "THE CRAZY SKATING LADY!" 

My old-school roller skates that I've had since I was 11 years old! 

A Funny Story: I ran for while during my walk on Sunday. No, I didn't suddenly get a burst of energy and spontaneously break out in a run. I wish! No, I was scared by two raccoons climbing out of a storm drain. Upon seeing the darling creatures slide through the hole, I let out a scream and ran for my life. After about a block I slowed down. Just then,I heard a squeak behind me and I screamed again and booked it. I bet this whole scene was quite a sight. I finally stopped running when I reached the corner.I am not taking that route again.  

What do you do to keep you from turning to food when you are depressed or stressed? 

Weight Watchers: Weeks 1-3

My first three weeks on Weight Watchers has gone extremely well. Here is an update.

Pounds Lost So Far :19.4

Physical Changes: I have noticed that my leg muscles are firmer. My hands and feet are smaller. I also have a lot more energy. It is wonderful to come home from work and still have some energy.

Favorite Foods: Raspberries and Cantaloupe 

Emotional Changes: In the past few weeks I have noticed how much I would mindlessly eat. It would be nothing to eat 3 or 4 leftover breakfast bars at work. Now, before I eat I ask myself why I am eating. Am I hungry? Is the food just there? I also would never pass up a cookie,cupcake,or other treat in the breakroom. Now I really evaluate if that treat is worth the POINTS.   

Biggest Temptations: There have been a lot of temptations. I would love to say that I avoided all of them. My biggest temptation was the cookie bar buffet at a recent funeral. Tons and tons of beautiful cookie bars in a plethora of flavors. I gave in and just might have overdone it a bit. I didn't let my overindulgence spoil the rest of the day. 

A few weeks ago at work, the kids made indoor s'mores. It included marshmallow fluff and chocolate fudge frosting. The smell of the chocolate fudge frosting when you open the can is intoxicating. My first instinct was to dive into that can of chocolate goodness with a spoon and inhale the fudgy delight. It was torture to have to spoon that stuff into bowls on four mornings that week. I tricked my partner-in-crime into dishing up the stuff one morning. One day I indulged and had 1/2 of a graham cracker and a little bit of frosting. It satisfied the craving and took away the power that the temptation had over me.

Biggest Success: Losing 19.4 lbs is a pretty big success! I also concurred a physical roadblock. In my neighborhood there is a hill that I would always avoid. On my walk one day I was feeling especially motivated and tackled that hill. I made it up  without even stopping to rest. Yahoo!

Sunday is my meeting day. I find myself really looking forward to it. I have a little routine that has really been working for me. I start my Sunday off with a walk. I head to the early service at church. Next up is my meeting followed by a trip to the grocery store. I love routines and this one is really working!

What routines are helpful to you?

Why I Joined Weight Watchers

This is me at the end of May. This is the picture that shocked me. This is the picture that inspired me  to finally once and for all take charge of my life. This picture was the turning point.

I have struggled with my weight for most of my life. I was always the heavy girl in school. In Middle School, I was teased mercilessly. 

In college, I was overweight. Living in Boston and Providence I did a lot of walking to get around. I was able to keep my weight at a some what maintainable level,despite the fact that I was eating horribly in the dining hall. 

The real trouble came when I turned the big 3-0 ! My skin, body, and hair seemed to change overnight. I had dry skin, thinning hair, Hidradenitis Suppurativa and PCOS.  Hidradenitis Suppurativa causes huge lumps to form under your skin.  Mine usually were on my leg and under my arms. These lumps can be very painful and embarrassing. When they burst, foul smelling goo comes out. With the painful lump the idea of exercising and even moving was too much to deal with. 

Last summer, I was able to lose 21 lbs. just by cutting out soda. I replaced the soda with donuts. At least three times a week I would go to Kroger to get three donuts and a chocolate milk for breakfast. The cream filled long johns were my weakness. I soon regained the 21 lbs. plus a few more. 

I commute over an hour each way for work. After my morning classes, I would grab what ever fast food was the easiest to get. If I didn't have to get out of the car, all the better. After work, I would be so exhausted that I would take a nap. Sometimes, I would be so exhausted that I wouldn't even bother to get out of the car. A little nap in the parking lot.  One day I took over a four hour nap in the front seat of my car. A few neighbors came over to make sure I was still alive. How embarrassing. Yet, I still wasn't ready to change. 

My cycle of donut eating, fast food, sleeping, and vegging out on the couch wasn't bothering me. I was fine with it. I made excuses for all of my destructive health decisions. I couldn't exercise because my hidradenitis suppurative was acting up. I couldn't make healthy food choices because it was just too expensive. Excuses, excuses, excuses. 

Then I saw the picture that a friend posted on Facebook. I was mortified. I finally saw how I really looked. I finally got it. I realized that if I continued with this kind of lifestyle that I wouldn't be here much longer. I was letting my size stop me from doing things that I once loved. I was too embarrassed to be seen in public most of the time. Seeing that picture was the wake up call that I needed. 

One day at work a co-worker was talking about how she just joined Weight Watchers online and was really enjoying the program. That afternoon I sent a text message to my husband telling him that I wanted to join Weight Watchers. We did a little research and found that our health insurance offered discounts to join Weight Watchers. I also contacted my Doctor and requested a prescription for Weight Watchers. With a prescription, I am able to pay the fees using my health savings account. Everything was falling into place.

Two days after returning home from vacation I joined Weight Watchers. I am so glad I finally made this huge life decision. I know it will be a long road ahead. I am ready for the challenge.

Check back often as I document my journey of getting healthy and losing weight.