It was cold and we needed to get out of the house yesterday, so we went to the Lloyd Center mall last night to walk around, warm and dry.  We even brought snacks.  So I had Gary take a photo of me.  I have to say, I see the difference, but I certianly feel better than I look still.  The body will match my self image soon enough!

 

We're so pleased with our progress this year.  Of course, it'd be great to have the kind of results they have on campus.  I think we could, we're just trapped by our own struggles and fighting our way out of our weight oppression.  It's going to be a lifelong effort, and we're on the right path!

 

Okay, well maybe I do.  A gym membership is simply not in the family budget.  In other words, we can't afford the extra expense.  I'm sure others find themselves in the same situation.  You might say, we'll cut something else out.  There's nothing else to cut out.  We've already sacrificed so that I can stay home with our young son.  We don't eat out and I'm a pro at keeping the grocery bill down (less than $400 a month.)  We don't go see movies, we don't go out for drinks (we don't drink at home either, we don't drink), we make coffee in the mornings (no more latte's for us), and vacationing is staying with my mother along the Oregon coast, or family comes to visit.  So, we have to work out the old fashion way.  You know, get up and move.

 

We're doing okay, but not great.  Our goal was vigorous exercise.  I don't think it's been very vigorous yet.  We do move more and we're not as sedentary.  It's a start and we can try harder.  Just do it!  My favorite exercises are dancing and playing outside. Pre-baby, I loved to go to the clubs, now the club is my living room. I also still like to go down to the local schoolyard and shoot some hoops or step outside for a long walk through the different Portland neighborhoods. Another favorite is a walk through the zoo, which is a family favorite.

 

We are glad there was a loss at all!  Woohoo!  Gary's dad and wife flew up from Texas for a visit, and we ate out every meal on the road touring the Oregon coast.  So here it is:

 

I think preparation is key for me.  Last night, I really didn't want to do anything, certianly not cook or prepare food.  Thank goodness there was left over chicken and yams in the fridge.  I made a salad and heated up the rest (and left my poor hungry husband to fend for himself...awe)  It was a yummy, fulfilling dinner, but it would have been so easy to have run out for drive-thru, or order a pizza.  So...preparation is key for me.  If I have to work to hard when I don't feel like cooking, I may be bound be make a unhealthy mistake. 

 

So, I think I sorta knew this, but last night was a good reminder and realization.  So, with this in mind, I also need to leave the house with some healthy snacks for me, just like I do for my toddler to keep us all happy.  :)  I was just thinking about his and thought I should write it down and put it to my mind for later recollection. 

 

 

 

   

So it's been two weeks since Sara and I have started changing our lives, and this is the first time I'm blogging. It's true, I didn't lose any weight this week, and it's my own fault. I'd like to think it's water gain from the salt I've had this week. I didn't add any like I love to do, but it was in the teriyaki sauce I use like three times this week. I'm DONE! I have just decided I need to start running (more like jogging) everyday, and I'm starting tomorrow morning. I am proud of both of us for starting this new life, and keeping it going. Thank you Sara, I love you.

I feel great about this week, my husband, on the other hand, doesn't.  He's a bit discouraged this morning, but not swayed from our mission.  We reviewed our food journals and talked about what may have made the difference.  He ate out twice during the week and though he made better decisions than he typically would, he could have done better.  For instance, his egg scramble had bacon in it, which he could have avoided and he could have asked for egg whites.  That's going to be a huge change for him to special order food.  I don't mind because I've always been a picky eater.  I'm a plain cheeseburger girl, who doesn't like mushrooms, pickles, mayo, ketchup, mustard, and so on.  It'll take some getting used to for him to ask for better prepared meals when I'm not there to help.  Also, he added teriyaki sauce to his chicken and rice last night, which is laden in salt.  I'm sure that didn't help matters. 

 

Okay, we're still both excited to working on our health and totally in it to be our best biggest losers!

 

I’m so proud of my husband.  He has really embraced this mission and has been tremendously supportive.  He has been packing his lunch everyday with lots of fruits and vegetables and chicken or fish.  He’s even been giving me items to add to the grocery list of, like raisons for his oatmeal.  Oatmeal!  Everyday, he eats oatmeal now instead of toast and fried potatoes with his eggs.  He’s still eating eggs, but only one yoke and two whites.  This is fantastic!  He used to be the guy that would make country gravy on a regular basis. 

 

Also, he’s been working out on his own too.  He goes to the garage to work (he does custom framing, furniture pieces, and sketches for his muralist clients) and he ends up lifting weights while he’s out there.  It’s so nice both be dedicated to health and fitness at the same time and work together as a team.  Again, I’m so proud of my husband!

 

I can’t believe how motivated Gary and I are!  We’re into the second week of great food and exercise and we haven’t weaned yet.  I feel so confident and mentally strong!

 

I feel so positive about this journey that I went shopping for smaller clothes with a dear friend of mine that is also making changes to her families eating habits.  I currently wear a size 22.  I purchased a pair of slacks and a pair of jeans in every size down to a 14.  (Lane Bryant has clearance up to 80% right now.)  I’m so excited to fit into my new clothes and see the sizes get smaller!!!!

Our children learn from watching us and they want to eat what we eat.  Alexander wants to eat off our plates (even when he doesn’t like it, he wants to try it.)  I was surprised to see him walking around with a green bell pepper slice in his mouth yesterday that Gary had given him.  He chewed it for a few minutes and ultimately spit it out, but he tried it!  I felt so good about that.  I don’t feed my son hot dogs and macaroni & cheese, because we don’t eat it.  However, Alex wanted pizza and ice cream and fat laden nachos.  See where I’m going with this, what a difference a week has made. 

 

I’m so excited to be on this journey and have life lessons reminded to me daily.  We ultimately just want to be healthy and happy and we’re on the right path.  It feels good!

 

Okay, Gary and I weighed last Saturday, December 30, 2007 and started eating better.  So instead of giving ourselves extra days before we record our weight loss, we decided that we'd continue to have our weigh in's on Saturdays to keep to just 7 days.  

 

Here are our results!

 

 

Since we love both Bob and Jillian, we're the purple team!  (Red and Blue make Purple.)