Shake your booty!

Happy Saturday, a quick post today to share how much I LOVE dancing games for the WII :) They are such a great workout without having to go to the gym! I've been doing them for a long time, but this past week I rented a couple more to try and my daughter & I have been busting it out!

Ones I love:

Michael Jackson Experience (my all time fav)
Just Dance 2

I've also tried:
Just Dance
Just Dance 3

A great way to not only get a cardio workout in, but spend with the fam shakin' it! Can't say enough good things about them, so get out there and WORK IT OUT! Holla!

Have a great weekend :)

A much better week :)

After feeling like a bum for the last few weeks with my lack of exercise, I took control and got back in the game! I did my "normal" workout routine this past week, and it feels much better... I really needed to do that :)

My goal for the next week: Exercise at least 4 times for a minimum of 30 minutes each time


On a completely unrelated topic, my meetings have been going well. I really feel like I am starting to win the members over, and build my regular audience. I have been very honest with the group about my recent struggles, but also with my strength to keep at it and push through the challenging times. It makes me human, and I think helps them understand that I am not perfect and have the same struggles as they do. Just because I am a leader doesn't make me 100% on track at all times, and they need to know that I am right there with them. I have been leading this meeting for a month now, the first two weeks were a little rough with some more long term members that were very attached to the previous leader but I am hoping with time, we can also build that kind of relationship and I can prove myself to them. I am really enjoying leading, it gives me a different outlook on my journey, and is very rewarding :)

Where have I been?!?!

I am not sure what my problem has been for the last three weeks, but boy have I been slacking. I haven't blogged, haven't tracked, have hardly exercised, and my eating over Turkey day definitely could have been better.

I have been lazy. No real excuses, just lazy.

I got out of my routine, and it has been a struggle for me to get back into it. But I said to myself over the weekend that no matter what it took I would get back on track and move forward. And this week, has been much better for me. I might be over-analyzing this a bit, but I keep looking over my actions/behavior over the last few weeks and wonder, what changed? I am not sure anything really "changed", I just slipped.

Luckily, I have managed to stay at the exact same weight and I haven't gone completely overboard in the eating direction. That has stayed the same, aside from Thanksgiving. (Which by the way, I completely over ate to the point of the worst stomach ache I have had in a really really long time...). And because I have now made this my lifestyle I able to recognize when I am slipping, and have the strength to make it right. I have the want and need to continue on, and this is just part of this process. It's a daily challenge, and doesn't go away just because I lost weight. I have said this before, the "fat" girl is still in me and she pokes out every once and a while to keep me in check.

I talked about my struggles with my members at last weeks' meetings, I feel it is important that they realize that I have the same struggles as them and we are in this together. I am not perfect, and I want them to realize that these feelings really never go away completely. There will always been ups and downs along the way.

I am going to keep on trucking, giving my best and doing what is needed to stay where I want to be. And truthfully, even though I have not gained any weight in the last 3 weeks, I feel gross. I need to be on track, for my own sanity.

On a plus note, I have recently discovered knitting! It has seriously helped me with my "TV munchies"! I am keeping my hands busy and I haven't been snacking nearly as much while I am watching TV :) I might not be very good at it, but I enjoy it!

So here's to a great week! AND it's my baby boys' 3rd birthday tomorrow :) 3 already!

Damn you Halloween Candy....

Everyone that knows me, knows I have an addiction to fruit snacks and chewy treats.... Ugh. Something I cannot move on from, I have fruit snacks every single night, at least two packs. Love them. WELL, with Halloween and the ridiculous amount of candy my children got this past year - man I sure am tapping into those chewy treats. Between, fruit snacks, tootsie rolls, laffy taffy, and anything else they may have rec'd, I can't keep my hands out of that cookie jar!For the most part, I am not doing nearly as bad as I thought I would be but it seems like I have been grabbing them more often than "normal". I have no self control when it comes to candy... usually I eat so much of it the first few days that I get sick of it and then don't want it for a while. I am really hoping that will be the case.

Make it go away. Damn you candy.

I did it! I led my first meeting, it was awesome!!!!

Today I led my very first WW meeting, and it was a total success!!!!! It was such a rush to be in front of a room of members, and they actually participated! It felt totally natural to be up there, I wasn't nervous, and it just flowed :)

Today's topic was "Tricks NOT Treats" and challenges with Halloween temptation. I decided early on, I wasn't going to do a whole lot of planning. I wanted to go into it casual and carry a natural conversation with the members and it went exactly how I hoped and then some! Minus the part that I closed the meeting 5 minutes early not being aware of the time... oops.

Success! I loved every minute of it, and the feedback from the members afterwards gave me an extra boost of confidence that I needed to top the cake! My next meeting is Tuesday, and I am hoping it will go just as well. After the last 3 months of training, it is finally coming to an end and I can put all of the tools I have learned to good use :)

Children & Weight Issues

I am warning you, this is can be a controversial issue and I am certainly not one to push my beliefs/feelings on other people but this is a topic that I feel passionate about and well... I want to talk about it. These are MY feelings, and not meant to start a fire of opinions/facts/right/wrong.

I had a weight issue for most of my adult life, and have first hand seen/felt how different people treat you when you are obese. People can be cruel, judgemental, and it feels like the world is against you. As an adult, I could have controlled my actions, been active and prevented myself from gaining weight. I didn't, therefore, I was obese. Children don't always have the tools to make those choices, who's job is it to guide them and help provide a healthy environment? The parents? School? Who? At what point does a parent step in and take matters into their own hands?

I recently had a very emotional conversation with a co-worker who shared with me that her 12 year old daughter has a serious weight problem and has now reached over 250lbs. My heart absolutely broke. The feelings that she must be feeling as an overweight child must be overwhelming. But most importantly, how did she get to that point at 12 years old? What went wrong? Why didn't her parents step in and help her when they noticed she was heavier than the "average" child her age? Are there other reasons that a child can be obese? Hereditary? Metabolism?

As a mother to two young children, it is my job to teach them these tools their entire life. It is my job to keep them healthy, and surround them with a safe environment. It is my job to protect them. As of right now, this is not an issue in my house. But I will be damned if I sit back and watch my children's life fade away day by day without intervening. This topic boggles my mind, it saddens me and I wish there was something I could do to help this little girl gain her life & self confidence back. There is a whole world out there waiting for her, and as an obese woman in today's society unfortunately she will not be treated the same as a woman of "normal" weight.

What resources are available out there for children w/ weight issues?
What resources are available for parents with children w/ weight issues?

Recipe - Indian Summer Butternut Squash

Last year I found a new love for butternut squash and inspired by a side dish in a Lean Cuisine frozen meal, I made this up and it is my favorite fall side dish! I named it Indian Summer Butternut Squash because of the beautiful fall colors that the dish has. Seemed fitting :) I didn't take any pictures tonight of the recipe, I just didn't think of it...

Indian Summer Butternut Squash

1 - Medium Butternut Squash, peeled and cut in cubes
1 - Onion, chopped
1/3 Cup - Dried Cranberries
2 - Granny Smith Apples, chopped
1/3 Cup - Water
1 Tbsp Cinnamon (or to taste)
1 Tbsp Nutmeg (or to taste)

1. Preheat oven to 450 degrees

2. Spray glass casserole dish with cooking spray

3. Add prepared ingredients to dish; squash, onion, dried cranberries, apples, and water

4. Mix ingredients well, top with cinnamon & nutmeg to taste - cover casserole dish w/ lid

5. Bake for apprx. 1 hour 15 minutes or until squash is soft

6. Let cool slightly, serve, and enjoy!

Serving Size 3/4 Cup (4 WW PointsPlus per Serving)

Go away saggy skin :(

Have you ever seen a deflated balloon? Or the jowls of a dog? Yup, that's my stomach. For the most part my body has bounced back pretty good and I don't have a lot of saggy skin from losing weight. But my stomach is terrible! No matter how hard I work at it, it's hard underneath but the skin literally just hangs there... It is probably one of my biggest insecurities about my body.

I often say "if you don't like what you see, don't look." I have worked very hard to get where I am today, but I am human and still have insecurities. I can't help but stare at it, and feel it in my clothing.

How is it that I can feel so good about myself, but this one thing holds me back from feeling completely confident in my own skin? At 203.4 lbs I would've given anything to look this way now, and feel how I do about myself. Our bodies take a serious beating and are absolutely amazing how they can bounce back time and time again... Maybe after two pregnancies, and losing 55lbs+, this is as good as it gets? Just part of the deal?

My Love/Hate Relationship with The Scale.

Not that this is healthy, but possibly obsessive... I weigh myself every morning when I wake up. Literally, every single morning. I have been around the same weight for a couple of months now give or take a pound or two, but lately the scale has not been my friend. I really didn't intend on losing much more weight, but my "ultimate" goal is to get back down to my pre-pregnancy weight of 143. I decided when I got to my goal of 50lbs loss, I would keep doing what I am doing and my body would eventually get there. I haven't been overly concerned about it, but it seems like no matter what I change up I am stuck at the same weight, 148/149.

I started tracking again, and have been very good about it for the last several weeks. I was training hard for my marathon, and now I have started back at the gym with my freed up time. And still, the scale won't budge.

Maybe this is the weight I am supposed to stay at? I really don't think so, I think my body can get down another 5lbs. I am not a big girl, I am 5'4" (barely) but yet for months, I am still here. Some days I am way down, and then the very next day I am up 2lbs. SOOOO frustrating.

But instead of throwing in the towel, I am going to keep trucking. Continue working out, eating right, and most importantly tracking. This just goes to show, that even after you have lost the weight it is still a struggle. Nothing comes easy, at goal, you still have to work to stay there.

Let's hope for some scale movement next week :)

I did it!!!! Marathon - done, done, and DONE! :)

I did it, I did it, I did it!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Not only did I finish my first Inline Marathon (26.2 miles), I knocked it out of the park! It was the absolute most amazing thing I have ever done since starting this process, and I can't wait to do it again! My dear friend Sarah and I have been training for this together, and I can't imagine doing it without her. She was a great partner, we started together, finished together, and kept each other motivated along the way.

Leading up to this past weekend, I was having some anxiety about the race. I was scared, nervous, anxious, excited, and just the fear of the unknown was eating at me! We have been training hard, so the distance was not my concern, I am not sure why I was so anxious. When we arrived to Duluth on Friday, we went to the DECC to pick up our racer packets. Once we got to the arena, I saw the finish line, and was surrounded by the atmosphere of the race - I WAS READY! I just wanted to get started and do it already :) Sarah and I agreed that we were not going to push for a certain "time" to finish, but just wanted to finish. We have been pacing at apprx. 2hrs and 30 min while we have been training, and thought as long as we did our best and stayed near our training time we would be happy. THEN, once we got around everyone, we decided it would be even more awesome if we finished around 2hrs 15 minutes. Hey, what can I say, we are competitive :) Saturday morning, we woke up, ate a nice protein filled breakfast and headed down to the race! My nerves faded, and I felt more ready than ever to get this under my belt. Team "Pink" was ready to dominate!

Once we got moving, and started the race we felt strong, and confident :) The view was amazing, it was along the North Shore of Duluth, and was truly breathtaking. Each time we passed another mile marker, we were getting closer and closer to our victory, and making GREAT time at that! Our husbands were our biggest fans, and stopped along the 26 miles to cheer us on, and take pictures of us in action. It was such a great feeling to have them there pushing us along the way. The support of the local residents was so incredible. It was very emotional to see the people lined up, just to support all of us. This is nothing like I have ever experienced before!

The last three miles, we pushed it hard, and wanted to finish strong! Crossing that finish line was the best feeling ever, hearing the crowds, I get chills just thinking about it. We both killed our time and finished 2hrs 7 minutes! Woot woot! Cannot wait for next year :) So awesome! Here are my official stats: Time: 2 Hours 7 Minutes 41.8 Seconds Paced: 4:53 per mile (view kilometer pace) Placed:1005 out of 1586 Placed: 240 out of 603 Females Placed: 32 out of 108 Females in the F2529 Age Group

Update - I've been tracking!!!!!! Yay!

Since my last post was setting the goal to start tracking regularly again, I am proud to say - I am sticking to it and have tracked every single day!

It's been a rather eye opening experience to see how relaxed I was getting... But is making me more aware again, and it feels great to be "on track" :)

It's been sort of crazy lately, getting super excited for my first Inline Marathon on Saturday (YIKES!)

More to come, wish me luck and pray for decent weather!

Goal for this week: Continue tracking, and make the best choices I can!

My new goal... to track.

From the beginning of my journey, I was very good about tracking my food/beverage intake each day. Anything I put in my mouth, I wrote it down. This is something that is absolutely crucial to WW weight loss (or any weight loss really), it keeps you on track and is an eye opening tool that makes you more aware of the choices you are making. Just by writing something down, you WANT to make better choices :)

Since spring my tracking has been basically not existant. I don't know how I got out of it, but I just felt like I could handle not tracking and continue being successful. I have managed to continue making decent choices most days, my portions have started to creep up on me, and my compulsive "grab" snacks seem to be happening more and more. I absolutely NEED to get back on the tracking wagon. I bought a new tracker, and started it again. And boy, just that alone has already made a difference. I didn't realize how powerful writing everything down was, it had been so long that I almost forgot the impact it has. Just keeping track "in my head" wasn't good enough. You can writing things down in a little notebook, buy a WW tracker, use ETools, by a WW points clicker - whatever you need to do, I cannot stress the importance of this.

So my new goal for right now, is to rebuild tracking into my daily routine.

Have a great, and safe Labor Day everyone :)

I have an annoucement to make!

I am pleased to share that I officially became an employee of Weight Watcher's :) I am currently training to be the newest Leader in the WW family! I was hired a couple of weeks ago, and have started the training process...

I am excited, nervous, anxious, and many many more emotions for the process to begin. I feel like the tools that I will learn to lead an amazing group of people and support I can help provide are things I can use for a lifetime and apply in my everyday life. I am so honored to be given the opportunity to provide the support that I needed when I started my journey to the WW community. It is hard to believe that a little over a year ago I was walking into my first meeting looking for help, and now I can/will be that person at the door helping members through their very own journeys :)What an amazing feeling!

More to come on the training process, I have no idea what meeting I will be taking over and it is a lengthy training process. I will share when I know more :) Yay! So exciting!

My workout companion... Emma :)

Back in June we suddenly lost our family dog, Jack. After he died I couldn't bring myself to go for a walk without him. There is just something about the companionship of a loyal pet that is unexplainable.

A short time after Jack passed, we welcomed Emma into our family, a beautiful yellow lab. A yellow lab has been my FAVORITE breed for years, but I didn't feel I could offer the level of exercise they require so we waited. Though it felt very soon to get a new dog, I was willing to open our home and hearts again to a loving puppy :) She has been the best thing to come into our home, I cannot say enough about her! She is the absolute best!

About 5-6 times per week since the day we brought her home at 8 weeks old, I have brought her for a walk. I am training her to be my loyal walking/jogging companion. In the beginning it was as expected, she pulled on the leash, stopped all the time, was easily distracted, and just your normal puppy. In just seven short weeks since she has came into our home, she has transformed into my partner! She now jogs with me, walks beautifully, doesn't pull as much, is focused, and knows exactly where to position herself :) I know this sounds cheesy, but I truly believe that she was brought to me on purpose. She is completely loyal to me, and I cannot imagine our home without her in it.

There are a million reasons why dogs make great workout companions, here are a few:

1. They are always ready to go, and never make excuses why they can't.

2. They need the exercise too, so you're killing two birds with one stone.

3. You are socializing them everytime and exposing them to the world, which ultimately, makes them better dogs.

4. They enjoy it, they just want to be with you!

5. Have you ever watched Cesar Milan (aka The Dog Whisperer)?? lol... He says that walks are the most important training tool you can do with your dog. It teaches them who the pack leader is :)

6. They keep you motivated, even when you don't feel like going seeing that look on their face or excitement in their body when you talk out the leash is absolutely worth it!

7. They can push you to keep jogging, even when you want to stop and walk the rest of the way.

8. Giving your dog the exercise they need gets all of that extra energy out, which helps their behavior.

These are just a few, but I cannot stress how important exercise is for your pet. If you are unable to walk/run them regularly, simple activities like frisbie or fetch can also help get them moving :) Nothing is better than the love and loyalty of a family dog!

I have started to research races that include your dog, my goal is for next spring is to do a few 5k's with Emma!

Recipe - Garlic Hummus

I love love love hummus, and buying it premade meant I had no clue what was in it! We talked about it at my latest WW meeting, and one of the members was saying how easy it was to make. I gave it a shot, and not only was is SUPER good but it literally took like five minutes to make (not to mention it is about $1.50 per batch!). As an excellent source of fiber, hummus makes for a nice filling snack :)

Garlic Hummus

2 Cans of Garbanzo Beans (aka Chick Peas)
4-5oz of Chicken Broth
1-2 TBSP of Lemon Juice
Minced Garlic or Garlic Powder to taste
**You WILL need an electric chopper or food processor of some sort**

1. Open can and drain garbanzo beans completely

2. Add about 1/2 can of beans into chopper (do NOT chop yet)

3. Pour about 4-5 tbsp of chicken broth, a splash of lemon juice, and garlic to taste into chopper w/ beans.

4. Chop until beans have turned into a thicker paste, add more garlic/chicken broth if needed

5. Once completed, add hummus into container and refridgerate.

6. Repeat all steps until you have used all of the garbanzo beans

Serving Size 1/4 cup (4 WW PointsPlus per serving)

Other Ideas:
Add roasted red peppers instead of garlic
Use as a veggie dip
Serve w/ reduced fat crackers

A Few Tips for Successful Grocery Shopping

At the beginning of my journey grocery shopping was a huge fear for me, it was something that I had not mastered quite yet. I think everyone creates their own routine for shopping, and you get the same things over and over again or just items that are "comfortable". The first few times I picked up food, I went without my kids & hubby, and it took FOREVER. I was calculating everything out (for my WW points) and I would only put safe foods in my cart. I probably wasted lots of money while doing it too! Here are a few tips I have used along the way that make my shopping trip much easier, and cheaper too!

1. Be prepared, make a list after looking through your cupboards/fridge to determine what you really need so you're not buying duplicates.

2. Don't go hungry, eat before you go! (This one is the most crucial for me)

3. Most of the time, I go weekly shopping so that I am not buying a ridiculous amount of food. Just enough to last a week or so, I save money and food does not go to waste when I plan my meals accordingly.

4. Do your research, find out where the deals are. I buy all of my produce at Aldi's and meat at Walmart, just to save money. Seems silly, but when you are basically living off produce it really helps.

5. Buy the produce that is in season, I love summer months because you can get more varieties of produce. But that doesn't mean that in the winter I don't buy any because it's spendy. I just buy what is in season for the time of year.

6. Only put food in your cart that you feel you can eat with control. I have two young kids, so buying snacks is a necessity. But instead of buying junk food, I buy healthier options that still tastes good for them but if I decide to join in I can eat without overdoing it. Example: Chocolate Goldfish crackers, fruit strips, Reduced Fat Crackers, Sugar Free Pudding

7. I shop in the outside border of the store for 90% of my groceries. The outside borders are the only sections of fresh food that actually go bad. I buy very little in the middle sections, if the food doesn't go bad and can sit in my cupboard for months/years - I don't want it :)

8. Read the nutrition facts BEFORE putting the item in your cart. Even if it looks healthy from the packaging, looks can be deceiving. Look at new unfamiliar items carefully so you are fully aware of what you are bringing into your home.

9. Make healthy substitutions every chance you can. Example: Instead of buying regular noodles, buy wheat, salad dressing/cheeses buy light or fat free, instead of canned veggies buy frozen or fresh.

10. Lastly, and probably the most important for me. Prepare your produce the moment you are done putting groceries away. After I am done putting everything away, I line my counter with all of my fruit and veggies, wash every piece, cut it all up, and place the prepared food in containers for the fridge. It takes a little time but I never waste any produce, it is so much easier to grab and go when it is all ready ;)

Hope these help a bit, I use every single one of these tips every time I shop. Happy shopping!

How's the Inline Marathon Training Going?

My friend Sarah and I are participating in the Duluth North Shore Inline Marathon (yes, that would be 26.2 MILES) on September 17, 2011!!!!!!!!!!! It is coming up so quickly, and my anxiety levels are starting to creep up... I am not feeling as prepared as I would have liked to be this close to the race. Tomorrow morning we are going to do some "hill training" to SOMEWHAT prepare for those intense Duluth hills we are going to face the day of the big race. I never thought in my life I would ever take part in something this crazy! I am so proud of us for facing our fears and just going for it :)Neither of us is in it to "race" for a good time, we are doing it to complete it and accomplish yet another huge milestone.

In addition to racing, we are staying up there for the whole weekend "kid free"!! We are celebrating a year of life changes and accomplishments with each other and our husbands. It will be a much needed, seriously deserved weekend away :)

Now it is time to crack the whip and get as prepared as we can! Here is the link to the race for anyone that may be interested.

http://northshoreinline.com/

Happy Saturday!

Here's an update on my slump & my dad is back in the game too!!!

Happy "hump" day :) I always chuckle a little when I hear that :) lol...

It's been no secret that this summer has been a struggle for me to maintain my regular intense workouts and control my eating at special events. Though my weight has not increased at all because of it, I was feeling a icky about the way I was handling myself.

Things over the last couple of weeks have been better, I have still been doing my daily cardio (walks/runs) and eating has been a bit more controlled. I have had a few events, and I did eat the food served at them but then the remainder of the week I have was more committed to stay on track. I am still not nearly as on "target" as I have been at times, but it's a work in progress! I am human, and still have struggles like everyone else :)

Also, I am going to try weighing in on Thursday mornings vs. at 5:30pm. I have been finding that the afternoons without my regular snack are far too difficult and then I binge eat after my meetings because I am STARVING! Not good.

Lastly, my dad has recently jumped back on the WW wagon!!!! Woooooo Hooooo!!!!! I am so proud of him, at the beginning of my journey I asked him to join with me. Let's be honest we both had a long road ahead of us, though he lives in a different state our daily check in phone calls were what I needed at that time and so did he. He had great success, and then he had some life changes that caused a slight hiccup in his own journey late last summer. I could tell when he decided to stop following the program, our daily phone calls then went to every other day, then soon once a week and we didn't even talk about the program anymore. I asked him several times to not give up, but he needed to make his own choice. I was in this for me, and I could not allow his slump to pull me away. I was focused and determined to keep at it. Throughout my journey, he has continued to be a huge support for me. But I knew inside he felt like he had failed me, a couple of weeks ago he made the best choice I have heard in a long time and decided to get right back on again!! Our daily phone calls have resumed, and he is doing amazing. I am so proud of him, and I will stand by him encouraging him along the way! I will be that support for him now in his journey, I know he can do this :)

Here is a picture from the week before we both started this journey. We went to his home for a family vacation and all we did was eat, literally. When I got home, I felt gross and knew I needed to make a serious change. My dad, was the first person I called asking for help.

Recipe - Diet Soda Cake

It's my mom's birthday today, and for every family members' bday we get together for dinner, cake & ice cream. I asked my mom if I could bring the cake, I wanted to try a new receipe!

Diet Soda Gluten Free Vanilla Cake (My stepdad requires Gluten Free, but you can use any box cake for this recipe)

1 Package Gluten Free Vanilla Cake Mix
10oz Diet 7up
1 Box Sugar Free Strawberry Jello
1 Box Sugar Free Lime Jello
8-12oz Fat Free Whipped Cream (I like lots, so I needed more than 8oz)


1. Preheat oven to 325

2. Empty cake mix in bowl, pour Diet 7up in cake mix & stir until mixed

3. Pour in greased 9x13 pan, and bake for 30-35 minutes until golden

4. Let cool for about 20 minutes

5. While cake is cooling, make jello using 1 cup boiling water and 1/2 cup cold water.

6. Poke holes all over cake w/ fork, once jello is ready and cake is cooled, pour jello over top of cake. (I used about 1/2 of each kind)

7. Top with fat free whipped cream and refridgerate for 1-2 hours

8. Cake should be cut in 16 pieces (4x4 rows)

Serving size is one piece (Each piece 5 WW PointsPlus)

Everyone loved it! It was very very moist!!!

I am back in the game!

I apologize for not posting lately, I was blogging from my cell phone and it is so hard to do that! I didn't own a computer until today, so now I have no excuse! I will be posting more often now moving forward :) PS... this is my VERY first computer! Crazy!

Hmmmmm... let's see, I did another 5K yesterday morning!! That would be my 5th total and 4th for this season! My time wasn't very good (36.47) but it was a hard run for me. Lots of hills, grass, dirt, and just a different type of ground to run on. I enjoyed the scenery, but made for a tough run! I did the run with one of my dear friends that has been apart of this journey with me every step of the way :) Between the two of us, we have lost 129.4lbs since June 2010!!!!!! It's amazing to have someone close understand the entire process.

Anywho, I am going to post some new recipes this week... I am so pumped not to have to do this from my phone! Wooooo hooooo for technology! lol

Shantal

Love it!

Day after day I walk into my home and see our family picture up all over our walls from two years ago... It is a constant reminder both good and bad of the old me. I demanded that we update all of our pictures on our walls with my life changes, without hesitation my hubby agreed :) I am in love with our family picture, it is beautiful and it makes me so happy to see all of us look great without nit-picking myself apart!

It's no secret the last month has been a serious struggle for me. I have been feeling a bit off track and since we have brought Emma (our new puppy) home my gym workouts have taken a backseat. I need to figure out a new routine and make it work... I NEED to get back in the swing of things, though I have been doing tons of cardio at home I haven't done any strength training in THREE weeks! Yikes!

I hope this is just a slump and it will pass, I keep telling myself it is normal and to stop being so hard on myself. My weight continues to go down or stay the same, so I am not going in the wrong direction there but I just feel "off". Lord Help me.

One day at a time, one day at a time.

Let's be honest, I'm human...and struggling this summer!

Though I've been doing my best to make the right choices with eating, I've also been splurging more frequently on the weekend during my events taking place. Between BBQs, parties, and every other event that seems to consume every single weekend of my entire summer, its really hard to remain in control at all times. I basically has stopped tracking, mainly because I've been making really good choices for the last several months and I just honestly didn't really want to track for the rest of my life. I've been concentrating on making this my lifestyle and I know I will not be writing down my daily food intake forever, so I thought I would try it for a little knowing if I couldn't handle it, I'd start it again. For the most part, my eating is fine I eat healthy 95% of the time, but the weekends are killing me!!!!! I'm human and feel uneasy about all of the constant temptation summer is bringing me.

Now exercising is another story, it feels like I am always moving and doing some form of activity, but compared the level of intensity I am used to, I've been feeling like a slacker! Since getting Emma (our new puppy ) I've not been able to go to the gym after work, I don't live in town so I would go to the gym right after work before coming home. Well now, I have to rush home to let our puppy out of her kennel to go potty! I know once she is older and can hold it longer and I can get back in my routine but right now, I'm struggling! I have been getting in lots of cardio between walking our new puppy, running with her and keeping up with my two kids as well so I guess it could be worse...

Why is this weighing on me so much? Is this not ok? These things happen in life, and I am a normal human being so why can't I accept this and stop beating myself up? I've worked my butt off for the last year, am I just scared? Just goes to show how the ups and downs of the process don't go away, its just learning how to work through them and come out ok in the end.

I can and will get through this, I will make it all work...

So much to share!

Its been two weeks since my last post, and it feels like a moment ago... busy busy! Where do I start?

My hometown has an annual "Food Fest" each year, which includes a parade and TONS of delicious food!! For someone like me, its basically an excuse for me to let go and thoroughly enjoy myself :) Between gyros, cheese curds, chocolate chip cookies, ice cream, and probably a million other bites of other people's food... lets just say I'm pretty sure I was not in control whatsoever! But because I actually am in control, I was able to let go and the next day get right back on eating right and exercising. That's why WW is so successful for me, I can still live and not feel left out.

The next thing, which is honestly the most exciting...we have a new family member!!! Meet Miss Emma :)

After losing my beloved Jack the first week of June our home has just not felt the same. Though I didn't feel "ready" for another addition to our family, I absolutely fell in love with her and felt it actually may help us. She is just a true blessing, she's a Pure Bred Ivory Color Labrador. She has been great so far, and we love her to pieces! It has felt amazing having her join me on my walks! I've missed having a partner :)

Also, since my last post I brought my husband to a Twins game! We had a great time, and enjoyed doing something just the two of us. It was my birthday present to him, he's a huge baseball fan!

Between all of these special events, its been hard to stay on track! But I'm human, and this is the reality if life! I try my best, and make good and bad choices :)

I promise not to go two weeks before my next post!

One Year Later, Taking a Moment to Reflect...

On June 21, 2010 I made the choice to change my life. I received an email from my boss about procrastinating and how we will make up excuses to start something tomorrow instead of today. For me, that email was more than a typical email, it was a sign. A sign that I took and ran with, a sign that I needed to see that day, my first of many 'a ha!' moments :) As I celebrate my one year anniversary of gaining my life back, I am taking time to reflect how far I have came. This year was by far the hardest year of my life, but absolutely the most rewarding in the same breath. I have discovered who I am again, and found out more about who was buried underneath my own skin. Its truly amazing, and I'm so relieved to know I don't have to hide anymore! I'm ME! I've never been happier, felt more confident, beautiful, and fit! I am physically fit, that in itself it frickin awesome! :)

Here is a list of my top 10 accomplishments in the last year:

June 21, 2010 Before:

1. 203.4lbs
2. Size 18 Clothes or XXL Shirts
3. Didn't exercise at all
4. Couldn't jog for more than 30 seconds at one time
5. Bra size 40DDD (yikes!!)
6. Couldn't mow my own lawn without feeling like I was going to die
7. Ate so terrible I would hide it
8. Could only walk around my block once
9. Rollerblading was an activity from my childhood
10. Was asked to get off of a roller coaster because it couldn't strap properly

June 21, 2011 After

1. 149.6lbs
2. Size 8 Clothes or Medium Shirts
3. Exercise 4-5 times per week
4. Completed four 5k's, most recently finishing at 30.04 setting a personal record
5. Bra Size 36C (yippee!)
6. Not only mow my own lawn, can mow my neighbors too
7. Eat very healthy and am not ashamed of anything I eat
8. Walk/run 4+ miles regularly
9. Am currently training for an Inline Marathon in September 2011
10. Am going to re-visit that roller coaster and get back on to ride it!!!

What an amazing year!!!! And many more exciting things to come :)

Gym Time Baby, Vacation is OVER

I took a little over a week off of work recently for vacation, and I made the decision to take a small break from my workouts. I needed to relax and just let my body recover a little, I took exactly two weeks off and it felt GREAT! I loved every minute of it, I needed it! This past Monday was my return to the gym, it was hard getting back into the routine and geez was I dying! :) Yesterday and today I'm paying for my little break, I worked out again today and needless to say I am a hurting unit! But I needed it, I needed to get back to the gym, I needed to push through those moments wanting to quit and knock it out.

Its amazing how taking a two week break can make you feel like you haven't worked out forever, wow have things changed :)

Back to the gym again tomorrow...and the next day, vacation is over.

Recipe - Ranch Burger with Coleslaw

The perfect summer dinner! Love love love these burgers, and the coleslaw is just as delish! :)


Ranch Burgers

1lb Lean Ground Beef (93/7)
1 Package of Ranch Dressing Powder
1 Cup Shredded Sharp Cheddar (I used finely shredded)
Whole Wheat Hamburger Bun

1. Mix beef, ranch seasoning, and cheese in a bowl

2. Make 6 hamburger patties out of mix

3. Grill burgers for apprx. 5 minutes on each side

4. Serve on whole wheat bun

1 Hamburger Per Serving (7 WW PointsPlus Per Burger w/ Bun)


Coleslaw

1 Bag of Coleslaw Mix
1/3 Cup Dried Cranberries
2 Cups of Fat Free Mayo
2 tsp. Sugar
2 tsp. Vinegar

1. Mix all ingredients in large bowl

2. Place in fridge to chill before serving

3. Split into 6 servings and enjoy!

Servings are apprx. 1 cup (2 WW PointsPlus per Serving)

Helllooooooooo 140's, its been a while!

I officially broke into the next weight bracket! 149.6 to be exact!!!! I haven't been this weight in 7 years! Yes, my main goal was 50lbs but my ultimate goal was to be in the 140's :) Woot woot!!! Now that I'm here I'd really like to stay! When I got pregnant with my daughter 7 years ago I weighed 143, never in my wildest imagination did I ever think I could get close to that! Hell yes!

I missed you 140's, and I'm hoping we'll become great friends!

Recipe - Breakfast Burrito of Champions

I used to never eat breakfast, I would starve myself all morning and then binge eat at lunch. When I started my journey, I very quickly realized the importance of that first meal of the day. Though I have many breakfast favorites, I discovered I could turn my egg white omelet into a delicious breakfast burrito that definitely does the trick! I have been using "Flat Out" bread for many different meals, and they are so good!! You can change or alter the veggies to your preference, but this is how I make mine:

1 Flat Out Bread (3 WW PointsPlus) I buy these at Walmart
3 Eggs Whites (1 WW PointsPlus)
Mushrooms Chopped
Onions Chopped
Green Pepper Chopped
Salsa
2oz Pre-cooked Chicken Breasts Strips (cut up) OR 2 Fat Free Turkey Slices (Cut Up)

1. Spray Saute` Pan with Cooking Oil, add prepared veggies and choice of meat. Saute` on medium high heat for apprx. 5-7 minutes or until done

2. Spray finished veggies/meat with cooking spray lightly BEFORE you add egg whites, pour egg whites right on top of veggies in pan and scramble until finished

3. Add prepared food to middle of Flat Out Bread, and top with a little bit of salsa. Roll up and eat as a burrito :)

Serving Size 1 Burrito (6 WW PointsPlus per Burrito)

Other Ideas to Use Flat Out Bread:

Pizza
Wraps
Sandwiches

The Love of a Great Dog

Jack December 2006 - June 2011

Five years ago, I brought my mom to a dog breeder's home to pick up her new puppy. I walked in and immediately saw this very dark puppy that was distinctly different from the rest. He came right up to me, and I held him while my mom finished up her paperwork. I couldn't put him down! I knew I just had to have him, though we were not prepared for a puppy and had no intentions on getting one I some how convinced my husband to let me bring him home! Welcome home Jack!!! Jack was a Morkie (Maltese/Yorkie), and was a little less than two pounds the day I brought him home. He was a good dog from the start. He had such a personality! He was sure he was a large dog, very protective of us and his territory.

Through the years of his life, he molded into more than just a dog. He was a part of our family, and is the main reason I started walking one year ago. Him and I bonded so much during our many many walks/runs, he kept me company and pushed me to keep going even when I was ready to give up. He loved to walk with me! All I had to do was grab my wind pants and he knew it was time, he'd start jumping around and running back and forth until I grabbed his leash. During our long walks, he pranced around with this look of absolute fulfillment. I would praise him and talk to him, he was so happy. It was funny to see this little eight pound dog think he was 100lbs trying to take on the larger dogs in our neighborhood! That was just Jack :)

Two days ago, we suddenly lost our Jack. He was tragically taken from our life, and it will forever change us. I am not sure when I'll be able to face going for a walk without my partner. Our house feels empty without him here! I never knew how hard this would be. His loyalty to me and my whole family was unbelievable, he was a great dog and will be missed. My family is heartbroken, and it will take us a while to move on from our loss. I feel that without jack, I'm not sure I would've continued walking, I truly did it because he motivated me to want to do it.

There is nothing greater than the love of a dog, rip Jacky, Wacky Jacky, Jackers...

Recipe - Mini Meatloaf

I've always been a fan of meatloaf, I've tried several recipes and this is my favorite so far (that's healthy)! Hope you like it as much as I do :)

Mini Meatloaf

1lb Lean Ground Turkey or Beef (93/7)
1 Packet Onion Soup Mix
1 Box Low Sodium Chicken Stuffing Mix (unprepared)
1 Cup Water
2 Whole Eggs
1/2 Cup Shredded Carrots
*3/4 Cup Chopped Mushrooms
*1/2 Cup Chopped Onion

* Optional Ingredients

1. Preheat Oven to 350°

2. In separate bowl mix 1 cup water and stuffing mix, let sit

3. Mix remaining ingredients well, I usually mix with my hands

4. Once mixed, add in stuffing and mix again

5. In greased 9x13 pan, form into 5-6 mini loafs

6. Bake for 1 hour, let sit for a few minutes to cool before serving

Split into 6 servings (each serving 7 WW PointsPlus)

Before Baked, I can never fit 6 loafs in my pan

Completed Meal! Enjoy!

Success, they fit!

1998 Sophmore Year Formal Christmas Dance Dress (Picture taken 05/29/11)

1998 Sophmore Year Formal Christmas Dance Dress (Picture taken 12/98)

I have saved all of my high school formal dresses, I keep them at my mom's. This past weekend I was feeling a little risky and decided to try them on, it was either going to go really bad or really good... I was thin in high school and really didn't think ANY of them would fit, but to my surprise, they DID!!!! I tried on dresses from Sophmore year through Senior year, and every one fit! I was beaming from ear to ear, relieved that I could not only get them on but zip them AND breath! This was a serious milestone for me, and it feels so great :) Maybe I can actually move them to my own house now... not so depressing to look at them anymore.

I am one happy girl!!!!

Said Good Bye to a Great Man

This past weekend, celebrated the life and said good bye to my Uncle. Though it was a terribly sad event, seeing my family was really nice. Its weird how a tragedy brings everyone back together again... Something happens when I am with the 'Rocks' I lose all self control! The family can eat, and there is food literally everywhere! Between Sammy's Pizza, Coneys, and sweets I am pretty sure I gained at least five pounds. Ugh. I ate absolutely terrible! Oh well, it happens I guess.

I am lucky to have spent the day with my uncle last month, and though he loved me no matter what I looked like or how much I weighed it felt great for him to see me healthy. Give him one last bear hug, tell him I loved him one more time...he was a very special man and I'm so grateful for everything he has shared with me in my life.

I love you Gener, and I KNOW that you are up there with my Grandpa Dan eating Sammy's on the boat!

The Biggest Loser

Tonight sitting at home, I received a text message from my sister telling me how proud she is of me...she was watching The Biggest Loser! That show is very emotional for me to watch. Though I may not have lost 100+ pounds, my life has changed. The feelings they share and talk about are like an exact mirror image of how I feel each day, the struggles they go through are the same type of struggles I have. I find myself sobbing uncontrollably every time I watch it! Part of me watches it for extra motivation and to give me a reminder of this journey and how lucky I am to have been successful. Its very humbling!

This past week I have had a lot of mixed emotions, between my mother in law in ICU, my FAVORITE uncle that is like my grandfather passing away, and my two year old son having a severe allergic reaction I would typically turn to food to console myself. I can honestly say, I've handled myself absolutely appropriately and have behaved myself... stress for me is a trigger and I have a hard time staying focused with situations around me. I must be getting a little stronger because that was not the case this time, I remained strong and focused!

With that said, my mother in law is out of the hospital, my son is back to normal, and my dear Uncle Gener is pain free with my Grandpa in heaven. Though I will miss him terribly, I know that he will have a better quality of life now than he did his last few months on earth.

Before, After and Progess Pictures of MY Journey

I cannot believe I am going to do this... I actually shared my before pictures with my Weight Watcher's family tonight. Believe it or not, it actually felt GREAT! I wasn't ashamed of them, I wasn't scared to share them in the least bit! So I decided to share them with my supporters... This may not be for the weak, what you are about to see is pretty bad. But it's me. The old me.

I took these pictures in 10lbs increments, wearing the exact same thing each time. Also please note, I took these pics from my phone of my notebook that they are taped in. So the quality isn't the greatest!

Before 06/21/2010 203.4lbs

1st 20lbs Down 183.0lbs 09/09/2010 Week 12

30lbs Down 173.0lbs 10/24/2010 Week 18.5

40lbs Down 162.8lbs 12/30/2010 Week 28

50lbs Down 153.2lbs 03/31/2011 Week 41

Letter to the "old" Shantal - Celebrated my Lifetime Goal Tonight

In Picture from tonight at my WW Lifetime Celebration... Me, Missy (my Leader), Lisa, and Alyssa. These fantastic staff members have helped me every week for the last 48 weeks!

With celebrating MY LIFETIME GOAL tonight with the WW family; it felt only natural to write a letter to the old me, from the new me. The feelings that came over me this evening were so unbelievable. I have came so far and to be able to stand up and celebrate it, truly amazing.

Dear Old Shantal,

When I look at who you were, it is hard for me to stomach that person, that sight. I feel sad for you, I see the pain in your eyes, and the shame in your face. I know that each and everyday, you are wishing you were someone else. Your "fat" clothes are too tight, and you were convinced it is just your winter weight and it will go down again. Guess what? It's not your clothes, it's you. You are obese. You are more than obese, you are dying and killing yourself each day that you make poor choices.

You hid food, ashamed to eat in front of people and binge eat when no one is around. The lack of movement in your life is absolutely terrible, you hardly played with your own kids! They were missing out on YOU!!!!!!! They want you, they need you, they want the mom they deserve to have. You need to be setting an example for them, showing them how to LIVE. Get off your ass! You were not too busy to eat healthy and prepare meals for your family, you were not too busy to workout, it's all BS. If you want it, do it. Stop being that person that complains about being unhappy with themselves, but does nothing to try and change it. I love you, you deserve the best in life. You are a great person, and people like you. You forgot who you were, you were lost. Your husband loves you how you were, but was scared that he would be raising your children without you if you didn't change.

As the "new" Shantal, I can tell you I am happy, beautiful, confident, healthy, and feel like I am a teenager again. I can walk into any store and buy clothes without having to worry about the size. I can workout and finish it without feeling like I might die or puke. I do not need to stand a certain way in pictures anymore to try and hide my body or my chin(s). I can be ME again, I have found myself. I have gained my life back. I play with my children, I bring them outside, go for walks or to the park or whatever it is that they want to do. I actually look forward to get up each day and get ready for work looking forward to the outfit I might wear. I enjoy being active, and cannot imagine my life without it. I LOVE hearing people tell me how I look like a different person, I am. I look at life completely different now.

I can tell you that I am still scared of you. I am scared that you could return one day, and as much as I love you. I hate you. I don't want to see your face again, that look of shame in your eyes it something that I saw each day for far too long. I want to see joy, pride, excitement, happiness, beauty, and love. I want to see... ME! You are in my past, and long gone. Though I will move on from you, I will never forget you. Without you, I would not be ME today. I needed you to show me what I don't want in life anymore. I needed you to show me what it is like to walk in someone else's shoes.

The day you decided you had enough and needed a change, June 21, 2010. You walked into Weight Watcher's and asked for help, at 5'4" you weighed in at 203.4lbs. You couldn't believe that you could have allowed yourself to get to that point, but for once instead of making excuses as to why you were that heavy, you took responsibility and owned it. You knew it wouldn't be an easy journey, but it was something that you were ready to take on. You were more determined than you'd ever felt in your life.

As the new you, 48 weeks later I have met your goal, and exceeded it. I am so proud to say that I currently weigh in at 151.2lbs! That is 52.2lbs lighter than the day I walked into that building!!!!! I am going to continue this journey and see where it takes me. I am not going to stop, this is my life now. I am still as determined as I was in the beginning, but have realized how hard I have worked to get to this point. I am so proud of you, I am so impressed that you DID it! When I hug you, I can actually wrap my arms around you :) I love you, you absolutely did it.

Love,

The New and Seriously Improved Shantal

Recipe - Personal Pan Pita Pizza

Let's face it, just about everyone likes pizza every once and a while. Every time I eat a delicious greasy piece, I regret it. I can't stop after one piece, so by the time I'm done I've completely over done it! I made these pita pizzas for my family last night, and hands down EVERYONE loved them! They absolutely satisfied my craving without the guilt!

6 Whole Wheat Pitas
1 Jar Pizza Sauce
1 1/2 cup Shredded Mozzarella Cheese
Veggies/Toppings
*Mushrooms
*Black Olives
*Turkey Pepperoni
*Onion
*Turkey Sausage

*Optional Ingredients

1. Preheat oven to 425

2. Lay pitas flat, and add 2 tbsp pizza sauce on top of each pita

3. Add toppings on top of sauce for each pita

4. Add 2 tbsp cheese on top

5. Bake for apprx 15 minutes or until golden brown

Serving Size is One Pita Pizza (Depending on toppings used, 6 WW PointsPlus per pita with just veggies, 7 WW PointsPlus per pita with turkey pepperoni OR turkey sausage)

I am the key to my own success!

This past week I've had some mixed emotions, ups and some downs. I've had some 'a ha!'moments, and really have realized that I am the ONLY person I can count on 100% of time, its up to ME to make it happen. Nobody can force me to eat right or eat unhealthy, or workout... me. I am the key to my own success. No, I couldn't do this without my support team helping/pushing me along the way, but it in the end, its me. My eyes have opened to those around me, I've seen and realized who's truly happy and encouraging for me, and those who are not. And again, its up to me. I am the one and only Shantal, and I am doing this for ME, MY health, and MY life. No one else can or will drag me down!

I AM THE KEY!!

Call me self centered, call me self absorbed, DON'T CARE. I am, and will continue to be. Why? Because I am important, and deserve it. I have worked too hard to put myself on the backburner. No more, I need to feel important, successful, loved and happy, and I AM ALL OF THAT, PLUS SOME! This is the first time in years, that I have put myself first. Feels fantastic!

I feel better now, I needed to just unload a bit! I feel amazing today, I absolutely killed my 5k time this morning, ending at 30.04!!!

How's this for a Saturday morning??! Love it!

A typical workout week

The beginning of each week, I plan out my workouts. For me, I need to almost schedule them in so they get done! Don't get me wrong, last minute changes happen, plans change. I try very hard to workout at least five days a week, some days more intense, other days nice and easy cardio. I do enjoy working up a good sweat, and afterwards I feel so good!!! I go through periods of time where I lack motivation and skip the occassional workout or two...or three. I get right back on the wagon and get to work!

At first, it was hard to just walk around the block. I did only cardio (walking) for the first three months, then I made the plunge and got a gym membership. My husband works out of town or late nights 90% of the time, I needed to be able to workout without having to worry about my two kids. I did my research and found a reasonable gym, with childcare. I was overwhelmed with all of the equipment, I didn't know how to use it! I sort of observed how other people used them for the few few weeks and watch the trainers for some tips! :) Now, I love going to the gym because of the variety and options! I never get bored!

I am a woman of routine, though I mix up my workouts I tend to follow the same pattern each week. Here is a typical workout week:

Monday - 30 min cardio of any kind, and 30-40 min of strength/resistance training

Tuesday - Off, with my daughters dance class its a busy night! I rest every Tuesday

Wednesday - 30 min cardio of any kind, and 30-40 min strength/resistance training

Thursday - 60 min cardio of any kind

Friday - 60 min pool resistance training, with dumb bells, noodle

Saturday - Off (usually unless I run a 5k)

Sunday - 60 min cardio of any kind, unless I run on Saturday then I take off


Examples of cardio: walking, jogging, ellipticle machine, bike, rollerblading

As I've lost weight, I've increased my resistance training. I want to be toned, and tighten things back up! It is super important to do both!

I'm tired from just typing that :)

Recipe - Chicken Cordon Bleu

This recipe is soooooo yummy!! It came from my Emealz recipes, so I'm not taking the credit! Have made it several times, and my family loves it :)

Chicken Cordon Bleu

6 - 4oz Boneless Skinless Chicken Breasts
6oz Deli Style Smoked Ham
6 Slices Thin Swiss Cheese
2/3 Cup Fat Free Chicken Broth
2 tbsp Fat Free Mayo
1/2 Cup Italian Bread Crumbs

1. Slice each chicken breast down the side, leaving one side connected

2. Add 1oz ham and 1 slice of swiss cheese into the sliced open chicken, closing the top once completed

3. Brush chicken with mayo and roll in breadcrumbs

4. Saute` chicken in skillet over medium heat until browned

5. Add broth, bring to boil

6. Cover, reduce heat, and simmer for about 5-7 minutes until done


1 Chicken Breast per serving (7 WW PointsPlus each)

I faced my fear... I bought a new swimsuit

I hope all of the mommys had a great day yesterday! My day was amazing, and spending it with my family was all I could ask for :) My husband made me a delicious breakfast (and healthy!), bought me a beautiful bouquet of spring flowers, my six year old made me a homemade crown, and to top it off my husband wanted to take me shopping for some desperately needed summer clothes! Does it get any better than this??!!

Two things I've feared about buying summer clothes, shorts & a swimsuit. I haven't worn shorts in about seven years, my goal since kicking my workouts up a notch has been to wear a pair of shorts AND feel comfortable in them. I've still been wearing my old swimsuit, which at any moment looks like it is going to fall down. Yesterday, I tackled both fears and felt great in both!!!! I tried on several swimsuits, some looked ok and some didn't. I found a style I liked, and most importantly, I left the store happy and relieved instead of the typical tears that come with swimsuit shopping!!!

My shorts were a much easier experience, they were the first pair I tried on and looked awesome! Overall, everything I tried on fit perfectly. It was such a great feeling, and a seriously successful trip! What a relief :)

A mother's day to remember!

Today's Race & My Favorite Cheerleaders

I ran another 5k this morning, it was a great run! I beat my last time by 1 1/2 minutes, finishing at 35.10!!!! But today's race wasn't about my time, it was me setting an example for my family and showing them mommy can do this! My husband and children came to watch me for the first time, it meant so much to me! For them to see me start and finish was truly indescribable. It made me push to finish strong! I want them growing up seeing a healthy lifestyle, and understanding the importance of exercise. I found myself getting emotional seeing them standing there cheering me on, so excited to see me! What a great feeling and reminder of why I am doing this!

An awesome start to a Saturday! I'm so happy and proud right now :)

Munchies, munchies! Some of my favorites :)

I am a big snacker! I can only eat so much fruit and veggies, sometimes i just need some salt or sweets! I enjoy munchies, and I'm a creature of habit. Once I find a comfort food, I stick with it. I grocery shop at Walmart, Target, and Aldi's, all of these products can be found at one of them. Enjoy these delicious snacks!

Tip...Whenever I buy a large bag with more than one serving in the bag, I put one serving in Ziploc baggies and put the baggies back in the large bag. Then you have one serving ready to grab at anytime!

1. Veggie Straws, Aldi's (38 per serving = 3 WW PointsPlus)

2. Quaker Apple Cinnamon Mini Rice Cakes, Target/Walmart (8 per serving = 2 WW PointsPlus)

3. Jolly Time HealthyPop Butter Flavor 100 Calorie Mini Bag Popcorn, Target/Walmart (1 mini bag = 3 WW PointsPlus)

4. SnackPack Sugar Free Pudding, Target/Walmart (1 package = 2 WW PointsPlus)

5. Pepperidge Farms Chocolate Goldfish Crackers, Target/Walmart (50 crackers per serving = 3 WW PointsPlus)

6. Light String Cheese, Target/Walmart/Aldi's (1 stick = 1 WW PointsPlus)

7. Light and Active Fruit Strips, Aldi's (1 strip = 1 WW PointsPlus)

8. Light and Active Ice Cream Sandwiches, Aldi's (1 sandwich = 3 WW PointsPlus)

9. Fiber One 90 Calorie Chocolate Chewy Bars, Target/Walmart ( 1 bar = 2 WW PointsPlus)

10. Special K Cereal Bars, Target/Walmart (1 bar = 2 WW PointsPlus)

Enjoy!!

Support team, everyone needs one!

Whether you're doing this alone, with a friend, or family member, everyone needs support! Many people are ashamed of admitting they are trying to get healthy, maybe afraid of failure, or scared of rejection? I don't really know the reasons, I've been more than open about this process since the day I started. For me, the more open I am the more accountable I feel! I want people to ask me about it, I want people checking up on me, I need that!

I've been very lucky throughout this process, my family is so supportive they offer me unconditional support and words of encouragement. They keep me going when I am feeling sluggish, and boost me back up again! In addition to family members, I have friends and coworkers that have been there praising me, encouraging me, asking for health advice, and keeping me in check :) Lastly, my ww family and leader! I don't know what I would've done without the support of that family. My leader has checked in on me if I didn't come to a meeting for a while, and my fellow members have shared their struggles/milestones to keep me motivated!

I cannot stress enough how important it is to surround yourself with positive people that are going to pick you up when feeling down, praise you, push you when you need a little push, and provide you unconditional love and support!

Thank you to my entire support team! Without ALL of you, I don't think I could've done this!!!