July 26 - A dip into the archives

Hey Ho!

Hiya! Just thought I'd pop in for a quick hello. I'm also diggin' in my archives for a past blog or two to get you through your Thursday!

Here's one that was posted last year February...I was in week 4 of my Couch to 5K Program, and had just gotten blog of the week. Happy reading!---

"Blog of the week. Wow. Thanks again guys, what an honor. I always get self-conscious when this happens (not that it happens with any regularity...sheesh, could I sound any more conceited???) because, well, I don't really know why. So I'll try not to be self-conscious. Ok then.

I'm sitting here drinking my "Lady Grey" tea, which I absolutely love. It's like Earl Grey but with a few more hints of Citrus. Twinnings makes a great Lady Grey tea. In fact, they may be the only ones who make it. I buy it at Cost Plus World Market, and then put one packet of splenda and 1/2 tsp half and half in it. Yummers. I also saw it online at a United Kingdom Foods Import website called jollygrub. Lots of fun stuff on that website, just made myself an order. If you are a tea drinker of the English bent, you would love the following teas: PG Tips (Whole Foods carries these), Typhoo, these are two good quality general black English teas. Sort of the same idea as "red table wine". All-purpose, good taste, hearty, pleasant. Did I mention I love tea? Just the process of putting the electric kettle on (I'm too impatient anymore for the stove-top kettle), letting it steep, preparing it, and taking time to sit and drink it. Wow. It's like a little retreat every time I do it.

I went to Bible School in England at a place called Capernwray Bible School, and we used to have tea breaks every day between second and third hour. I mean, come on, we were in England! You had to have tea! They would have the mail out by then, so everyone would race up to the Castle (the school is located on a large estate with a large estate house) to see if they had any mail. The kitchen staff, God bless 'em, would wheel out the carts of tea (with milk...you have to have milk or cream with tea....) and the leftover pieces of toast from breakfast, covered in cold butter...I really learned to appreciate toast with cold butter when I was in England, better to spread the Marmite on...yum!

Anyway, when I came back from England I had developed a penchant for a good English Tea. Americans ditched the tea as the national beverage in favor of coffee during the Revolutionary War, when they dumped all the tea into the harbor and declared it the "Boston Tea Party" as a revolt against paying taxes on everything (including tea) and as a statement of rejection for all things English. Now, don't get me wrong, I love coffee too...just about as much as tea...but we Americans have never really gotten back to drinking tea the "English way". That's ok. It's my little ritual and I love it. What does this have to do with anything? It doesn't. I'm just blathering on about good memories.

This weekend was a great weekend for me, exercise-wise. I did a session of week 4 on the "Couch Potato to 5K in 9 Weeks" program on Saturday, and then ran a little extra afterwards. Then on Sunday I went to do another session of week 4, and my IPoD had erased week 4! I have no idea why. So, I did a session of week 5. It kicked my bu**. The first day of week 5 had me running for 5 minutes at a time, 3 times in a row with 3 minute breaks in between. I was so excited when I got through it that I went ahead and ran all the way home, which was a 16 minute stretch. A little over a mile. I RAN A MILE! WITHOUT STOPPING! I can't tell you how long it has been since I have done that...I think atleast 13 years. It felt GOOD! No, it felt GREAT! I was wiped out when I got home, because my total routine of doing the podcast and then running my own way lasts about an hour.

I wanted to push myself, because session 3 of week 5 has you running for 20 minutes I think....and I wanted to see if I had it in me. I think I will have it in me when I actually have to do it. I need a day off, though, which is what they recommend anyway.

Weight wise, I should just stop weighing altogether. I was up another pound. So, that's 2 up from Friday total. I know why I went up the first day, it was those 4 southbeach diet bars. (Curses!!!) But today...I don't know. Maybe still residual gain from the Friday night screw-up, maybe building muscle (some of my run is WAY uphill), I just don't know. My clothes aren't fitting any tighter, in fact they are looser, so I'm not going to stress about it. At least I'm going to TRY not to stress about it.

So much of my life is marked by weight....I can recite to you how much I weighed at pretty much any point in my journey....

4th grade: 101 lbs
4th grade after weight watchers: 88 lbs
12th grade: 134
12th grade after diet center: 104
College: 115-120
Bible School: 125-164
Returning from Bible School, age 21: 164
Wedding, age 22: 122
2 years after wedding, age 24: 150
4 years after wedding, age 25: 175
9 years after wedding, age 30: 239
10 years after wedding, age 32, after body for life: 177
14 years after wedding, age 36: 266.5
15 years after wedding, after 6 1/2 months Medifast: 175

Wow. It's amazing how much weight and my weight problem has been a part of who I am. What happens when I don't have a weight "problem" anymore? It's kind of scary, the same way someone who won't leave their abusive husband thinks life without him would be. Kind of scary, but it's what they need to do. Most of them don't do it, and stay in that relationship because it's predictable. It's what they know. (I don't have an abusive husband, don't get me wrong) But I wonder if we stay in an abusive relationship with our bodies for the same reason. It's what we know. It helps feed our sense of "lack of self worth". So we stay here. Demoralized. Thinking we can't change, and even if we did, so what?

Well, I'm here to say that it is a load of crock. We can change. We need to change. If we don't change we are accepting the abuse we are putting ourselves through. Who does that? Who abuses themselves? We need to stop, and many of us through MF have found hope to stop. Being kind to ourselves is foreign to us, and some of us are learning how to do that, being dragged kicking and screaming. What? A massage at a spa? Me? YES, YOU! YOU are worth it. I am worth it. What? Take time for ME? YES! Take time for you. I do that by drinking tea. As often as I feel like it. In fact, I'm going to make myself another Cuppa'.

Have a great day y'all! Keep on Medifastin'!"

posted Thursday, July 26, 2007 4:03 PM by goalbysummer | 5 Comments [Edit Post]

July 26 - It's all about how much you care

It's All About How Much You Care

How much do YOU care today? Do you care enough to stay on program 100%? Do you care enough to drink your water? ALL OF IT? Do you care enough to get all 5 MF meals in, and your lean and green? Do you care enough to measure your protein?

Let's all do this!

posted Thursday, July 26, 2007 10:41 AM by goalbysummer | 10 Comments [Edit Post]

July 25 - Next pair of goal jeans!

OK, I found 'em!

Just a quick entry to let you know I tracked down my next pair of goal jeans on e-bay. They discontinued the style, (levi's) but I did get my 515 Bootcut Misses in a size 2 off ebay today for $5.50 + shipping. (The shipping was slightly more than the jeans!)

SO!!! My "goal jean" progression of the same style of Levi's remains unbroken, and I hope to have them next week! Heck, I hope to WEAR them next week! That might be a little ambitious...we'll see!

Take care!

posted Wednesday, July 25, 2007 7:55 PM by goalbysummer | 9 Comments [Edit Post]

July 25 - I remember when.....

I Remember When....

I remember thinking that toilet stalls were shrinking. And toilets too.

I remember thinking I'd wrench my back out getting out of my car.

I remember not being able to go comfortably through the turnstiles at Disneyland or any other Land, for that matter.

I remember actually reading the weight limit in the elevator.

I remember not being able to get up off the floor after playing with my son without using a piece of furniture to hoist myself up.

I remember my last bath pre-MF...the water not even covering my belly or chest...

I remember not being able to apply for private health or life insurance.

I remember being self-conscious in the grocery store, seeing passers-by examining the contents of my cart.

I remember buying candy online because I was too embarassed to buy it from the store.

I remember wearing size 7.5 shoes, when I should have been a 6.5.

I remember my size 26 W stretch jeans getting tighter...and tighter...

I remember my dad buying me a 2X t-shirt. And it was tight.

I remember being winded walking from the car into the store.

I remember being winded walking from my driveway to the corner, which is 0.2 miles on a slight incline. Very slight.

I remember being invisible to sales people in the clothing or any other stores.

I remember placing my first MF order.

I remember the day I got my first MF order.

I remember starting MF the day I got my MF order.

I remember NOT going on a pre-MF binge "to make up for all the things I'm going to miss....."

I remember my jeans feeling looser the very next day.

I remember losing 21 lbs the first month.

I remember the day they didn't have to give me an "oversized" robe at the spa.

I remember buying my first pair of "goal jeans" in a size 16W

I remember fitting into them.

I remember going on a cruise and trying to do MF...and feeling like a failure afterwards because I had a few "off program" meals.

I remember never "planning" a cheat

I remember when I hit Onederland.

I remember the day I weighed less than my 6 foot 2 inch husband.

I remember buying my first pair of real running shoes.

I remember using them for the first time in the couch to 5K program.

I remember my first 5K, 9 weeks later.

I remember my first 9 K, 2 weeks after that.

I remember my first 10 K.

I remember registering for my first half marathon.

I remember when I hit 150.

I remember running 8 miles without stopping.

I remember when I hit the 130's (today!)

I remember going from a size 8 jeans to a size 4 jeans in a month. (Last month).

I remember realizing my thighs didn't rub together when I walked anymore.


I commit to stay at or below goal weight when I get there

I commit that if I go above goal weight, I will immediately do the 5&1 to get under goal weight again.

I commit to never overeat 2 meals in a row. Or 2 days in a row.

I commit to model healthy behaviors for my family.

I commit to me. To my life. To my health. To my happiness.

How 'bout you?

posted Wednesday, July 25, 2007 6:37 PM by goalbysummer | 11 Comments [Edit Post]

July 25 - Two days until 1 yr Medifast anniversary

2-Days Until 1-year MF Anniversary! And New Mini-Goal Reached!

This morning I did the happy dance. I seem to be doing that alot lately! I remember when I started this program, it took me losing 40 pounds for anyone to notice I was losing weight. Forty Pounds. Now, people who don't see me for 2 weeks say I'm smaller than when they saw me last! It's truly amazing. Every pound shows up so much more now, so my preconceived notion about it maybe being hard to stay motivated as I get closer to my goal has been dashed. It is easy to stay motivated. I love it.

Ok. I am 2 days away from my 1-year anniversary on Medifast. Today I weighed in at 139 1/4 lbs. (I'm a daily weigher!) I began this quest of mine on July 27th 2006. Technically I weighed 250 when I started MF, but I just say 266 because that was my heaviest last summer.

So, altogether I've lost over 127 lbs. 6 more pounds and I will have lost Half of Me! I plan on sending pics to People Magazine, for their January special edition...who knows!? Maybe I'll be in their publication.

This journey has taught me alot about myself. The biggest thing it has taught me is that I had it in me all along to be fit and healthy. I just wasn't living in it. I was choosing the comforts of food over leading a fit and healthy life. I was living in despair when hope was there for the taking. I just didn't choose to take it until I started MF. There is nothing magical about MF. The change takes place in YOU. In ME. Medifast is simply a tool, and for some of us it is the best tool to fit our busy food-obsessed lifestyles! It takes the focus off food and onto living. I needed that to stoke the fires of my own internal drive. Now I'm cruising.

There are several "motto's" I've had for myself along this journey. I'll list them here. First is a quote by Renee Zellwegger, when asked how she dropped the weight she had put on for both "Bridget Jones" movies...she said

****"It's just about how much you care. The rest is just math."

The next motto I have seems a little cold, but it is so true. Many of you who have gained and lost and gained and lost can attest to it. Here it is.

****"You could always be bigger".

The logic behind that one is that no matter how overweight or obese we are when we start MF, we can always get bigger. The capacity for the human body to store fat is amazing. When you lose and gain, you usually gain more than you lost. It is just the anatomy of obesity.

So, whether you weigh 200 lbs, 300 lbs, 400 lbs, 500 lbs or 600 lbs right now, it is so important to be diligent and steadfast to your goals because you could always be bigger. People who throw in the towel, or are done struggling with dieting, usually don't understand this notion. They are just signing themselves up to be bigger in the longrun than they are right now.

And I fully understand, every day, that I am just a few bad decisions away from weighing 300 lbs. Just because my body is at 139 right now doesn't mean it doesn't want to gain it all back. It does, and I can't kid myself into believing I am normal.

Anyway, hope this helps someone!

Take care!

posted Wednesday, July 25, 2007 11:27 AM by goalbysummer | 10 Comments [Edit Post]

July 24 - Last Pair of Goal Jeans

Rather Appropriate, I Think!

It's rather appropriate that on the day I hit "Normal Weight" category, I bought my last pair of goal jeans...in my style of jeans. What I mean, is I am falling off the other end, size wise, for goal jeans! I went to the Levi Outlet yesterday and they didn't have a 4S Misses 515 boot cut jean, which have been my goal jeans since I began with the 16S lastyear....and used IT as a goal jean! Well, as I said yesterday my 6S Misses 515's were getting a little roomy, so I thought it time for another pair of goal jeans.

Today I went to Macy's, and they had one pair of 4 S (for "short) stonewashed 515's, so I bought 'em. Now, usually, goal jeans for me are a "future" wearing event. I buy them so I can see how far I can get them on, so that in a week or two I can notice a change. When I can get them comfortably on and they are wearable, I buy the next size down.

I got home, tried them on, and guess what? They are wearable. So what am I to do? I am in a quandry. Levi's doesn't MAKE 515 boot cut jeans in anything smaller than a 4. I know, I know, WOA IS ME! I may have to look to the Junior's section now! Sheesh! And I just became "normal weight", folks, it's not like I'm wasting away here to nothingness!

I get to go on a fishing expedition for the next pair of goal jeans, I guess!!!

Take care!

posted Tuesday, July 24, 2007 3:14 PM by goalbysummer | 17 Comments [Edit Post]

July 24 - Normal Weight!

NORMAL WEIGHT! NORMAL WEIGHT!!! NORMAL WEIGHT!!!!!!

So, I have been waiting for this day to come. It was one of my mini-goals. I remember starting this diet, and thinking how much weight I'd need to lose in order to be "normal weight". Well, I've done it. I am "normal weight". Today is a day of celebration. Today is a day of mirth and glee. Today is actually a day of intense housecleaning, but I can have a wonderful time doing it with the knowledge that my husband's comment that I am "normal" looking has really come to fruition. The Medifast BMI calculator says I'm normal looking also.

I have just dropped from the majority into the minority of Americans. 54% of Americans are overweight or obese. I had contributed to that category for the last 15 years. Not any more. The next time my BMI gets higher than normal, I will be pregnant, Lord willing. And I won't EVER be overweight or obese again UNLESS I'm pregnant, and even then it will all be baby weight because I know how to eat for my body now.

I am normal weight. I am normal weight. I am normal weight.

My next mini-goal is to break into the 130's, and then my next mini-goal is to get into the 120's, and then under 128. I weighed 128 when I got married 15 1/2 years ago.

Body-fat and fitness-wise, I am still training for the 1/2 marathon, although I've backed off my intense training of running, and added some weight-lifting to my routine in order to keep my body toned and shapely. I don't want a "runners" body, which is generally extremely thin, with small legs. I'd prefer a more balanced look, with toned muscles.

Currently I'm 31.5% body fat, and I'd like to be 22% body fat. That is my ultimate goal body-fat wise.

Okay, it's off to start my day. I just needed to let you all know I'd reached "normal" weight. Have a great MF day!

posted Tuesday, July 24, 2007 9:51 AM by goalbysummer | 20 Comments [Edit Post]