Still without

Well, I'm back at my parents house, trying to do some of my computer stuff. What a hassle!
I will have a new computer next week, and I'm happy for that, but it does mean less accountability, less tracking, less reading.
So maybe this will be the week I get my sewing machine set up?!

No computer at home

trying to post from my parents computer. :(
Mine is in the shop, hopefully to get repaired and not replaced (though that'd be fine, too, except the cost!)
Hoping for it to be done this afternoon!

No computer at home!

Hi!
Would love to update, but I am so lost without my own computer!
Hoping it will be ready by this afternoon so I can read all my favorite posts again.
And post a little something...
Casey

Ready for Summer challenge #4

Goals for week 3

Weight: I’d like next week to show my weight at 255lbs. That’s a 5 lbs loss for a week, but remember, I’m already down a few from my last weigh in! Aim high!! I did it!! I lost 6.6 lbs. That puts me in a new category. I am no longer morbidly obese, just plain old obese now! (I hate that word!)

NSV: I’m going to try on that size 20 pair of jeans I have again. Also, I’d like to set up my sewing machine and start sewing again. Nope, the jeans don’t fit. YET! That’s ok, it will happen! And the sewing machine… nope! Maybe next week!

Exercise: C25K week 2 still needs to be done. Also on alternate days I’d like to do the 30 day shred. I want at least 5 days of exercise crossed off this week! No C25K training this week due to rain – muddy roads – and then mosquitoes. I just focused on getting some workouts done at home and did 5/7!

Nutrition: This one is going to be hard! I’ve decided to go low-carb for 2 weeks. I’ll be avoiding flour and sugar and starchy foods. Wish me luck!! Not as hard as I thought. I’ve just finished 7 days of low-carbing and I guess once I made the decision, I could stick to it. Going for week 2 now!

Mini-Challenge: Visit every challenge participant. I think I got around 20 or 25. That’s a lot of challengers! Sometimes I decided to do my workout instead. J

Weight:

Ready for Summer Challenge, beginning weight

Date	Kg	Lbs
3/24/12	117,1	258,1
3/31/12	116,5	256,8
4/07/12	118	260,1
4/14/12	115	253,5

Now for the week 4 goals:

Weight: I’m hoping for a 2 lb loss this week.

Exercise: Same as last week, 5 days out of 7. And if the mosquitoes retreat, I’ll go back to the C25K training.

Nutrition: Same as last week. Low carb. Avoid sugar, flour, starch!

NSV: Same pants! And same sewing machine! AND the boys closet needs cleaning and decluttering!

Hasta la próxima! Have a great week, and make good choices!

Casey

Ready for Summer #3

I'm a little late getting this in... sorry! Easter break goes til Monday around here!

Last weeks challenge!

Weight: I'd like to lose at least a pound again. Nope, I didn’t! I actually gained, and was very frustrated. I’m back to pre-gain weight today though.

NSV: I have some pants ... they are size 20 and I'd like to fit them by the end of the challenge. I fit a 22/24 now and I can zip the 20's but serious muffin top there. But for this week I'd like my tightest 22's to fit. So I didn’t even try these on because … well, obviously they wouldn’t fit because I had gained.

Exercise: C25K Week 2 Fail as well! I didn’t get much exercise in because on school break, church activities, family things and a sick child. And then it poured here and I couldn’t get out on the road. Really muddy!

Nutrition: My calorie goal is 1520 a day, and I'll be tracking! Did pretty good here. I think my gain was probably somewhat due to salt. Barbeque! So, once I was back to normal eating (less salt) my lbs went down quickly.

Mini-challenge for the week. Do an exercise you don't normally do. This was probably the most fun! And the most painful afterwards. I played volleyball! I haven’t played in years and this group of ladies was just there to have a good time and unwind. Wednesday and Thursday I was in a lot of pain. And even today, a week later, my neck still hurts. My arms were bruised, too but I wore those marks with pride. I want to go tonight again, but I’ll have to see if I get a babysitter to come over or if I take my kids with me or if I just don’t go tonight.

Ready for Summer Challenge, beginning weight

Date	Kg	Lbs
3/24/12	117,1	258,1
3/31/12	116,5	256,8
4/07/12	118	260,1

Goals for week 3

Weight: I’d like next week to show my weight at 255lbs. That’s a 5 lbs loss for a week, but remember, I’m already down a few from my last weigh in! Aim high!!

NSV: I’m going to try on that size 20 pair of jeans I have again. Also, I’d like to set up my sewing machine and start sewing again.

Exercise: C25K week 2 still needs to be done. Also on alternate days I’d like to do the 30 day shred. I want at least 5 days of exercise crossed off this week!

Nutrition: This one is going to be hard! I’ve decided to go low-carb for 2 weeks. I’ll be avoiding flour and sugar and starchy foods. Wish me luck!!

Last E2E challenge update

Well, I'm a little late. Sorry!

These last few days have been filled with family, and I've hardly found time to get on the computer.

Well, I had hoped to finish this challenge with a number under 255. Not happening! And I can't believe I gained this last week. And so much. It's been very frustrating.

Weight chart:

12/31/11 - 122 kg         268,9 lbs

04/08/12 - 118,2 kg       260,5 lbs

total loss: 8,4 lbs

My goal clothing looks no different on me now than mid challenge. So that’s the picture you’re getting.

And my measurements have not changed recently.

Beginning waist measurement: 48 inches

Today's waist measurement: 44.4 inches

And right now I’m especially glad that I joined another challenge before even finishing this one. I think if I hadn’t, I’d have just been too discouraged to start another one. But I will keep going!

I was reading in my challenge book again this morning and I was reminded of something. Since I’m still in the process of learning what my body needs and how I can best lose all this weight, there are some things I need to avoid.

I guess I’ve been wanting to lose weight without feeling deprived (key word here is feeling). Because if I’m nourishing my body the way I should (healthy food instead of empty calories) I will not be deprived.

So I need boundaries. Not the flimsy boundaries I’ve been setting myself by eating almost anything in moderation (which would be something I may be able to do in maintenance). But I need a stricter plan. I need to plan. Period.

“My brokenness couldn’t handle freedom with food outside the boundaries of my plan.”

“Bounderies keep us safe, not restricted.”

And so, I’m really grateful that I could be a part of this challenge. I’ve met some wonderful people. I’ve appreciated every comment and word of encouragement you have made. I plan on keeping up on your journeys.

Especially thanks to Mir for hosting. You have been an encourager right from the start, even while going through your own struggles. Thank you!

And another special thanks to Julie for being an awesome challenge-buddy. Now she gets to stay my friend! We will definitely be staying in touch.

So, there it is! Last post for the challenge!

Take care and God bless!

Casey

So glad I’ve been reading this book!

Midweek update E2E

Well, fellow challengers, last mid-week update! It's been ... challenging!
While my weight is not where I'd like it to be at this point in the challenge, I'm realizing more and more that this is a "marathon and not a sprint."
When I stepped on the scale this morning, I was so frustrated. I keep going back and forth over these same numbers. I've been so excited about doing more exercising, and I redid my goals on MFP and am tracking more and eating less. And nothing shows. Grrr.
So today I punished myself with food! I know horrible! And while I'm not over my calories for the day (yet), I'm really upset that I let my defeat win. But since the day is only half over, I've decided to only have half a bad day instead of a whole, entire bad day. So there, scale!
OK, on a more positive note... I made some amazing bread today. Lots of whole wheat and grains. And it's yummy! (Yup, that's where I had too much!) My whole family prefers whole wheat to white bread and I'm sure I'll have to make some more soon!
And... for the Ready for Summer Challenge, our mini-challenge was to try a new kind of exercise this week. I had bought some 2kg dumbells and have been working my arms AND I played Volleyball on Tuesday night. It was FUN!!! My hands got bruised up and my neck and knees hurt so bad, but I loved it. And though I did have to take a rest day yesterday, I'm going again next week!!
This week I haven't been reading much, but I did listen to an Audiobook. Pacific Vortex by Clive Cussler and since I really liked this one quote of his, I'm going to leave that with you...

'Patience, Pitt told himself over and over. Patience.
The two most important words in the English language,
he repeated in his mind, were patience and hope.
He just might be able to bring it off...'

Casey

Ready for Summer update Week 1

Time flies!!

WEEK 1 - Goals were:

Weight:  lose 1 lb  - Not quite... I lost 0.6 lbs.

NSV: Stop the snacking - Not quite, most days were good, I snacked on fruit, but a few days were not so great. I greatly reduced the snacking, but did not eliminate it altogether. I was mostly happy with that! :) Exercise: C25K week 1 Total success! Actually the whole exercising was successful. My daughter and I did 3 nights of C25K, I did Level 1 of the 30 day shred on 2 mornings and a Leslie Sansone Dvd on one morning and a 40 minute bike ride on Sunday afternoon. Very happy with my exercising this week.Nutrition: 2 liters of water Did not track, but I'm pretty sure I got this in!              
Mini challenge: try 1 new fruit or vegetable this week.
 

 I tried Eggplant. I've had it once or twice before, but always hidden among many other veggies.  I was really liking the pictures of Eggplant Parmesan, but decided I wanted to know what Eggplant tasted like.

So I sliced my 2 small veggies, drizzled them with some oil, and sprinkled garlic salt and some parsley on them. First impression... roasted sunflower seeds.

They were ok, but I didn't eat them all, my husband ate some, but we were both not too excited. I will probably eat them again, (I've asked my sister to make us some Ratatouille this week) and I may at some point make the Eggplant Parmesan dish I looked at. And I think I'll also try it baked with tomato, basil and mozzarella like Treadmill Hiker suggested. But now I know what Eggplant tastes like!

I loved being challenged to do this! :)

Next week

Weight: I'd like to lose at least a pound again. Easter food... :(

NSV: I have some pants ... they are size 20 and I'd like to fit them by the end of the challenge. I fit a 22/24 now and I can zip the 20's but serious muffin top there. But for this week I'd like my tightest 22's to fit.

Exercise: C25K Week 2

Nutrition: I revisited my goals on MFP and decided I needed to reduce my calories if I wanted to lose a little faster and more consistently. Which also means tracking more closely. So my calorie goal is 1520 a day, and I'll be tracking!

Mini-challenge for the week. Do an exercise you don't normally do.

I just bought some 2 kg weights and am planning on working my arms. I did quite a few bicep and tricep curls this morning and will be checking out some more exercises to do with them on the internet. Again, suggestions welcome.

 Have a wonderful and blessed Easter
Casey