Chat Room !!!!

YAAAY !!!!!  In an effort to make my blog a little more "interactive", and not quite so 'one-sided'....I have found and installed a chat room !!!!  I'm so excited !!!!!
It doesn't require a log in or anything from you, you just pick a 'nickname', so I'll know who I'm talking to, and voila !!  We're chatting away !!!  Whenever I am on the blog, I will sign into the chat, so you'll know I'm there, and we can talk !!
I'm really, really hoping that this will help build a sense of community where we can share, and I can hear more from you !!!  It is a 'private' chat room, only on the blog, but I believe it has the capabilities to do private messaging within the chat....no sure though, will check into that !!!

Oh!, and at the bottom of the page, I've put in a Question/Answer box, where you can leave questions, comments, answers for me and each other !!!  Hope to see ya on there !!!

In the meantime.....come visit me, and Let's talk about it in the Chat Room !!!!! ;)

xoxoxo

Hangin In !!!

Some of you may have noticed, (and have been kind enough not to call me on it !!! lol) that I haven't blogged in a bit.  I wish I had some amazingly, staggering news to deliver to you on how it's going...but, I don't.  As far as the weight goes, still sitting right where I was.  And truthfully, I'm ok with it....for now !!
See, when you have PCOS, there are times when your body just digs in its heels, and refuses to budge.  Despite your best efforts, nothing you do SEEMS to make a difference.  And, it's even more frustrating when you're being good, and the scale moves in the wrong direction !!!  Happens all the time.  Just got a reminder from a good friend, that I'm not alone.  She too is gaining and frustrated.  A big hurdle is getting passed that "alone" feeling....once you do, you can draw strength from those who walk with you.  I guess that's true in any life situation, not just losing weight with PCOS.
But, what do you do when your body fights you EVERY step of the way ???  And, when what takes a regular woman 1 year to do what inevitably takes you 3 ???  It's frustrating.  So frustrating.
This is where I am.  Locked in the unending battle with my body.  And, when I break through this "wall", there will be another one, and another.  What I hope to accomplish, is to learn something from each of those "walls", and use it to hopefully make the next one a little easier to break through.  And, I want my Soul Cysters, to know that they aren't alone either, and that we can draw strength from each other, take back control of our bodies and our lives, and feel better than we ever have !!!!
There will be times when we (I) will see a gain....there will be times when we (I) will have looooong plateaus and sit at the same weight for a while.....and my body will resist this process constantly, until I'm able to convince it that this is the better way to go !!!!
I WILL NOT GIVE UP !!!!!!!!  I WILL CONTINUE TO WORK TO FEEL BETTER AND LOOK BETTER, and I WILL EVENTUALLY GET THERE !!!!!
I will do this with God and each of you by my side, and I WILL buy a sexy black dress when I get there !!!!!! LOLOLOL

I am grateful for each of you....and a special note to my PCOS sisters.....YOU are not alone !!! There IS strength in numbers, and I am here if any of you want to talk !!!!

I hope you all have an amazingly blessed Thanksgiving....avoid the bad carbs !! lol....Be kind to one another and yourself, and remember....stay focused and celebrate everything !!! ;)

xoxoxoxo

Week 3 Weigh In....

Yeah.....we're going no where....fast !!!! LOL
This morning, we're sitting at 206.2 !!  Told you guys it was a long, slow process !!! And, when you have the PCOS fighting you, it gets longer and harder....lucky us !!! LOL
Well....no point in 'brooding' ....just gotta get off my chunky butt and move !!!!
It'll be ok....we'll all get there eventually !!!  Hopefully, the scale will like me better next week !!!
Thanks for helping me stay on track !!

How's has everyone else's week been ???? Anyone care to share ????

Saying it more for myself this time....but, stay focused, celebrate everything, and have a great day !!!

xoxo

700 Hits !!!

Wow !!!! You guys are amazing !!! I can't believe my little blog has been viewed 700 times !!!
Thank you, thank you, thank you !!!!!  It really has been a wonderful thing to have somewhere to not only 'vent', but hopefully encourage others !!!  I know what a long, hard process this is, and I don't want anyone to ever feel like they are doing it alone !!  Even when I reach my goal weight, and you reach yours, the battle doesn't stop !!
Each and every day requires you to be vigilant and make good choices.  This is why they call it a "lifestyle change"...it's forever, baby !!!  You'll always battle cupcakes, ho-ho's, chips, fast food, and if you're like me....genetics !!!!  One thing I know for sure.....it goes "on" a hell of a lot easier than it comes OFF !!!  Please, please, please feel free to comment on the postings....tell me how you are.....and how I can help support/encourage you !!!!
And, don't forget to sign the guestbook at the bottom of this page, so I'll know you were here, and what you think !!!
Tell me the kinds of things you want to see/read about, and we'll open it up for discussion !!! ;)

You guys are the bestest, and each of you are in my heart prayers !!!

As always,
Stay focused, celebrate everything, and have an awesome day !!! ;)
xoxo

Bye Bye Halloween !!

It's no big secret with those who know me, that I really don't care for Halloween.  There's just not much about it I like at all....alright....I despise it !!! lol.....And, from a "fat girl's" perspective, it really is evil !!!!
However, I can't resist the urge to put my little one in a costume, and so we participate...somewhat !!
Now, I'll tell you that I caved....twice !!  Friday night, I had a mini peanut butter cup.  God bless my sister, Amy who tried to stop me.....she even threw out a sucker punch with "I read your blog" !!! lol.....I so love her !!!!  But, alas, it is hard to keep a chunky girl from her peanut butter cup, so yep....I ate it !! ;)  And, last night, I had 4 "kisses" (the oh, so wonderful chocolate kind !!).  Now, with that being said, I did jump on the scale, just to get a feel for what the damage was.....it was a long weekend, with several festivals....and festival foods...but I really did try to be mindful !!  So, the scale this morning, said 205.4 !!!!!  I was pretty excited !!!!  Granted, this is not an official weigh in day....that's still 3 days away, but for today, it was down, baby !!!!!  And, I... am... digging it !!!!!
Ya know....I used to be one of those people who said, "Aaah....yeah, the weight has to come off, but I'll deal with it AFTER the holidays".....then, several years back, it occurred to me....regardless of what month I start in....eventually, the holidays will come, and will have to be "contended" with !!!  Can't avoid it....they always show up !!!!
So, whether your progress is going great, and I pray it is !!! Or, it's kinda slow, like mine....don't wait !!! Go ahead and tackle the holidays.....learn how to deal with them now, and all subsequent ones will get easier.  They really do !!!!
For now, let's all give thanks that Candy Fest 2010 is over and done, and....I'm gonna hope that in a couple of days when the official 'weigh in' day comes, that this little scale still likes me !!!! ;)

Stay focused, celebrate everything, and have an awesome day !!!
xoxo

Week 2 Weigh In.....

Not good !!!!
Let's just get right to it.....this week's weigh in, and the scale says....207.  Damn it !!!!! lol
Ok, so I'm up what's basically a matter of ounces, but still....up is up and it still stinks !!  This is what I was talking about with this being a process and a battle !! I have to remind myself that there are going to be weeks like this !!!  It could be due to a couple of bad choices...I'll admit.  It could be because the hip prevented me from doing any type of a REAL workout.  It could be because inevitably every time I get "back on track", the PCOS gets REALLY irritated and fights back !!!  Such a hateful thing it is !!!
Anywho....there you go.  Scale is up, butt is still huge, and so we go to battle another day !!!

Anybody see my 'skinny jeans' up ahead ????!!! lol.....anyone ????  ;)

Thanks guys for all the love and support, couldn't continue without each of you  !!!

Stay focused, celebrate everything, and have an amazing day !!!
xoxo

Motivation....

Yeah......I got nothing !!!! lol

Truthfully.....nooooooo motivation going on with Gina today.....so, in chatting with one of my "followers" (super sweet girl, that I sooooo love talking to) she gave me the idea to turn to some motivating 'quotes'....now, why didn't I think of that ???!!! See why I need you guys ??!!!!
With her advice in hand, I went searching for my trusty little book of favorite quotes....yes, I really do have one !! lol   Well, I mean, come on....not everyone wakes up every day full of motivation !!! Unless of course you're Bob & Jillian who both seem to have it just oozing out of every pore...but, even them, in their humanness must have a day or two where they wake up thinking "I'm just not feeling it today"!!
So, I wanted to take a sec to let you know that it's ok to have a day like that !!!  Life happens, circumstances sometimes suck, and on occasion, you just "don't wanna"....I get it !!!
With my magic book in hand, I'll shall share with you some of my favorite quotes to help you (and me) stay in the "zone" !!!

1)   "In order to get from what was to what will be, you must go through what is." - this one is so true, it's ridiculous !!!  And, sometimes the 'what is' is hard...lazy....and unmotivated....however, operative word here is "go"....we must "go" through it !! Not cave in to it, not be blocked by it, but GO THROUGH IT !!!

2)  "Ability is what you're capable of doing. Motivation determines what you do. Attitude determines how well you do it." ~  Lou Holtz    ~ self explanatory really !!!  Make sure the 'attitude' lines up, and let others be there for you, to build you up and keep that attitude in check !! (A special thanks to my girl, Liz, who did that for me today !!)  xoxo

3)  "If you train hard, you'll not only be hard, you'll be hard to beat."   -Herschel Walker

4)  "The principle is competing against yourself.  It's about self-improvement, about being better than you were the day before."   ~ Steve Young

5)  "It’s not whether you get knocked down; it’s whether you get back up." -Vince Lombardi

6)  "Slumps are like a soft bed.They're easy to get into and hard to get out of."   ~  Johnny Bench

And, last, but not least:  

7)   "Attitudes are contagious. Is yours worth catching?"  ~  Anonymous 

Hope this helps some one, some where !!! I know I already feel better !!!!

Remember,

Stay focused, celebrate everything, and have an awesome day !!!!

xoxo

Confession...

Well, they say it's good for the soul....they don't mention that it can be hard to admit you've screwed up !!!  And, I suppose in the grand scheme of things it wasn't THAT bad, however.....last night.....I had ice cream....and I LIKED IT !!!!!!!!!!! lol  It wasn't much, barely a scoop, and still within the recommended 'portion', but man was it good !!  Ya know, a lot of those 'light' ice creams just don't taste the same !!  And, a lot of them have Splenda in them now....which, I am horribly allergic to, that stuff almost killed me !  So, I've gotta avoid those, but I look at it this way....if I'm going to screw up or eat something like ice cream, I want the real stuff !!! Bring it on baby, with it's real cream, real sugar, real chocolate !!!  Then, it makes it worth it to me !!! And, if you look at the labels on some of those 'light' ones...the regular ones aren't so far off and that can make the light ones just as bad for you !  Reading labels is very important !! Yet another thing that Weight Watchers taught me...if it has next to no carbs, but enough sodium to kill a small herd of cattle, then it's still not a good choice !!
The point of today's rant........Learning to read labels becomes critical to learning what you're putting in you !!
Last night, I was fully aware !! LOL....I chose to eat that little bit of ice cream, and I'll deal with the effects for having done so, because it was my choice !!! I'll just do a little extra work out today to get rid of it !!
Which reminds me....hip still not fully cooperating, but it does seem to be getting a little better, thank you, Jesus !!! Hard to work out when the body won't cooperate !!!
Ok, back on track....going to 'try' to avoid the ice cream !!!  It's this week's goal !!! ;)
What's your goal for this week ???

As always, stay focused, celebrate everything & have an awesome day !!!
xoxo

Week 1 Weigh In....

Sooooooo......here we are.......one week later, and it's time for the 'official' first weigh in.....ready ????
Wait for it....wait for it.....LOL...just kidding !!
Starting weight was 208. lbs., and this morning's weight is 206.6 !!! Don't ask me how much it's down.....lol....it's way to early and not enough coffee right now for me to do math !!  All I care about is that it's down !!!!  YAAAY !!!!  Not too terribly much farther to go, and I shall be back in "one"derland !! ;)
It's been an interesting week....food wise, it's been good..have managed to avoid a lot of the crap, and I've done much better with my water intake !!  My problem has been the workouts....and, it isn't from lack of motivation or "want to"....ever since I delivered our little girl, I've had some major issues with my right hip !! It's crazy !!  They said it just didn't go back right, but I'm telling you, it doesn't feel like it's gone anywhere !!! It just locks up !!!  This week, I tried to start slow, and do some exercises with it, and low and behold, the pain got so bad, that it triggered a migraine !! ARRGGGHHH.......
So, I definitely have to figure out something to do here !!! I've been to the docs, they've done the x-rays...blah, blah, blah....."take this pill"....yeah, NO....not a pill girl !!  Just going to have to work it out and push through it and I will !!! Not being able to do much exercise is really going to slow this process down, and if any of you have ever lost weight before, you already know what a looooong, frustrating process it can be !!!
For now, I am thrilled with the little loss up there, and I'll just have to get creative for a way to 'work out' !!
Thank you all so much for walking with me, and sharing your stories !!!!
Remember,
Stay focused, celebrate everything, and have an awesome day !!!! :)
xo

What have you done today ???

Today, I've decided to let the words from one of my favorite songs speak for me !!  I find the theme song from the Biggest Loser to be incredibly inspiring and motivating and an opportunity for some great 'self-reflection' !! ;)
So, ask yourself this......What have you done today to make you feel proud ???

Proud

I look into the window of my mind
Reflections of the fears I know I've left behind
I step out of the ordinary
I can feel my soul ascending
I am on my way
Can't stop me now
And you can do the same

What have you done today to make you feel proud?
It's never too late to try
What have you done today to make you feel proud?
You could be so many people
If you make that break for freedom
What have you done today to make you feel proud?

Still so many answers I don't know
Realise that to question is how we grow
So I step out of the ordinary
I can feel my soul ascending
I am on my way
Can't stop me now
And you can do the same

What have you done today to make you feel proud?
It's never too late to try
What have you done today to make you feel proud?
You could be so many people
If you make that break for freedom
What have you done today to make you feel proud?

We need a change
Do it today
I can feel my spirit rising
We need a change
So do it today
'Cause I can see a clear horizon

What have you done today to make you feel proud?
So what have you done today to make you feel proud?
'Cause you could be so many people
If you make that break for freedom
So what have you done today to make you feel proud?
What have you done today to make you feel proud?
What have you done today
You could be so many people?
Just make that break for freedom
So what have you done today to make you feel proud? 

I'll see if I can't find a way to post the song on here....in the meantime.....

Stay focused, celebrate everything and have an awesome day !!! ;)

xoxo

A rude awakening....

Holy Moly, people !!!!  Ok, so yesterday my family and I went to a birthday party for a very dear friend, and we had a blast !!  However, my dearest, darling girlfriend has out her trusty camera and is happily 'snapping' away....sounds good, right ???  Nooooooo........this was bad....very bad !!! lol
When we got home last night, low and behold those pictures start showing up on FB....

You know....when you're on the "inside" of you, it's very easy to say things like "it's not that bad"...."I don't feel so big", etc....but, when you see it right there in a undeniable color photo......yeah....your 'defense' is gone !!!  Seriously, you can't excuse it away...you can't minimalize it....you have no choice but to SEE it.  My reaction....not  a happy one......as a matter of fact, sometimes those moments can send you spiraling out of control !! I was mortified, disheartened, and generally (and literally) sick to my stomach when I saw these pics.
You just can't NOT deal with it at that point !!  (Yeah, they were THAT bad !! lol)
So now, I figure I have one of two options....I can either cave in and allow those images to become the new 'definition' of me, or, I can change it !!!  Opting for change !!! I have enough pics like this of myself, and I don't really need any more !!  I may use those pics as my "what not to be" photos....to remind me....in the meantime, should this happen to you.....don't cave !!! Don't let it become the way that you see yourself for forever !!! It doesn't have to be that way !!! And, as I had to remind myself...that camera can't capture your heart, and that is where your true beauty lies !!!  Although, this one did a really good job of capturing everything else !!! lol
Oh, and by the way.....until I hit my goal weight, I do hereby declare that from this day forward NO camera shall be allowed within 100 miles of me !!!!! LOL
Stay focused, celebrate everything, and have an amazing day !! ;)
xoxo

Thank you to my "buddies"...

I just wanted to take a sec to say thank you to everyone who has visited this blog...and especially to those who are 'following' it !!! I don't really like that word..."following"....I wish I could change it to read "joining".....I see it, and I think of that old saying...."Don't walk in front of me, I may not follow....don't walk behind me, I may not lead....just walk beside me, and be my friend".  I like that MUCH better !!!
I am a Weight Watchers girl at heart....it's how I lost the weight the first time, and I know it will work for me again....I need the structure and the accountability !!!  Unfortunately, right now, I am not able to join WW, so I can't attend the meetings (which I sooooo loved !!), but yet I needed that sense of 'community' and accountability.  You all are giving me that, and it helps soooooo much more than you know !!!  I know there are people who believe in me (and I in you !!), and who will be 'watching' to see how I do....it makes a difference...truly it does !!!  "Any one with no accountability is destined for failure.."  I sure do wish I knew who said some of these great quotes that I carry around in my head !!! LOL
Anyways....thank you to each one of you !!! You are helping !!!! And, I'm here to help you too !!! Message me, if you need to, and we'll chat about it !!!
In the meantime....let's go get some 'acitivity' time in burn some fat !!!! ;)

Pushing forward....

Good Morning !!! Welcome to Saturday !!
I guess we should address yesterday real quick....it was.....a less than stellar day !!!  I was not feeling good at all....didn't manage to do anything right, really.  Didn't eat 3 meals....didn't drink enough water....no activity.....basically, just fail, fail, fail.  But, ya know what....that's ok.  There are going to be days where I feel like crap, I look like crap, and I just don't feel like doing...crap !!  As long as too many of those don't string together to be a new routine, you're ok !!  And, they won't....not here, not now !!!!
STAYING FOCUSED !!!
So, brand new day, and we begin again ! Am sooo glad to be feeling better, and am looking forward to getting out of this house for a while to do something FUN !!!  Get the old "chunky butt" moving, ya know !! ;)
That's my plan......yesterday, NOT good ......today.....going to be GREAT !!!!!
How are you guys doing ???  Any one care to share ????

Curve balls.....

You're not going to believe this......so, here we are....Day 1, and already a curve ball.....LOL....that's pretty much how life works, right ???!!!  My darling, wonderful, amazing husband comes home and announces he's giving me the night off, and taking me out to dinner. He's sooo wonderfully sweet and good to me !!! Of course, I'm thinking...."oh crap....here we go"....so, what do you do ??? Well, these things happen...they're part of reality...what am I going to do, never see the inside of a restaurant again ??? Hardly !! So, we punt.  We have 1 plate instead of 2....we avoid fried stuff....we drink water instead of sweet tea, AND, we make sure we have fresh fruit for dessert instead of the usual cake/doughnut thingie.  All in all, I would call it a small victory !!  2 days ago, I might have gone nuts...today, however, I'm unbelievably aware of the size of my butt, and chose NOT to indulge.  I mean, that kind of eating is what helped me get back here in the first place !!
And, as someone once said, "if you always do what you've always done, you'll always get, what you always got" !!!  So true.
All other areas accomplished !!!  Yaaay  !!! ;)

.........We'll deal with tomorrow when it gets here !!! ;)  xoxo

A New Day !!

Good Morning all, and welcome to Day 1 of "Moving Myself Now" !!!
Today, we are going to put into practice all those things listed on "The Plan" page....I've planned out cereal for breakfast (Checking the serving size, of course !!)  A turkey sandwich for lunch, and a 3oz. piece of steak with a small baked potato and green beans for dinner.  I'll throw in a few 'snacks' of veggies and such in between.
See, in order for the "life change" to work for me, I have to be realistic !! I'm one of those people that the INSTANT any feeling of "deprivation" creeps in...I'm done !!!  Tell me I CAN have it, and I'll probably choose not to eat it....but, tell me I CAN'T have it, and I promise you, it'll be all I want !!!
And, the bottom line remains the same.....burn off more than you put in, and you're good to go !!!
I have my "tally sheet" all ready to make sure I get in all of my daily "requirements"....
We're shooting for:

8-10 glasses of water
5 servings of fruits & veggies
2 servings of milk

And, at least 30 minutes of activity !!

Keeping track of what you eat is very important for a couple of reasons !!
  1)  Hard to deny what's right there in black and white in front of you !!
  2)  Easier to keep up with triumphs & failures
  3)  If you feel something's gone "wrong"...you can look back at see what you did !!
  4)  And, when it all goes "right"....you have a tangible "certificate of accomplishment"  !!

Regardless of how each day goes....remember this......CELEBRATE EVERYTHING !!!!
    Whether you've done great OR slipped up, you have gained something !!!  If you did "good", you gained all the benefits from having done so.  And, when you mess up, you've gained the knowledge and experience of what NOT to do !!!!

Have an awesome day !!! ;)

New Pages

Ok, so in expanding this blog, I have added several new pages...all of which you are welcome to come and check out !!!
Please keep in mind, that I want and NEED to hear from you !!!!  Follow the blog....post some comments.....let me know how you're doing, and the progress you're making !!!  Please ??!!  We all need to know that we aren't alone !!! ;)

Tonight's dinner:  3 oz. ground chuck patty...1 bun...2 slices of tomato....and a handful of chips !!!  This is really an example of what NOT to do...... Why ??.....please take note:  NO real veggies to speak of, no mention of water to drink, the chips...well, nuff said there !!!  I'm telling you all this, because you need to know the good and the bad !!   And, since I got started kind of late in the day, I'm planning for tomorrow to be better !!! It will be !!!

And, just so you know....for a snack, I have chosen to forgo my usual Oreos, and have instead opted to have some oranges, and a bottle of water !!!   Each good decision, no matter how small, can lead to more and more....good decisions !!! ;)

Proving it to Bob, Jillian and most importantly, ME !!!! :)

Ok, so let me kick off by saying this blog is in no way shape or form connected to or endorsed by Bob Harper, Jillian Michaels, or the Biggest Loser !!  This blog is my little "adventure in life", which I plan to use to show to myself that I can do it....AGAIN !!! See....a couple of years back, I was well on my way to FINALLY reaching my goal weight.  I was down 65 lbs., of the 100 I needed to lose, and was doing ok.  Then, the most AMAZING thing happened...after 16 years of being told we'd never have children, my husband and I were in fact going to have a baby !!!  I was elated and dumb founded, but oh so grateful to God for letting me !!  I gained 70 lbs. throughout my pregnancy...sure, some was "baby"....the rest was strictly from making love to too many big macs !!  And, my butt became the proof !!!  Now that my baby is 19 mos. old, and GORGEOUS (if I must say so myself :)....I have yet to get back on track, and get the weight off.  So, while FINALLY getting to watch the first episode of Season 10 of the Biggest Loser (Yeah, I'm 5 weeks behind....such has become the pattern in so many areas of my life !! LOL)....something occurred to me.  "How many seasons, Gina ?"  That was the question.  How many seasons will go by, that I plan to sit and watch, and not be changed ?? Not be affected, not be moved ??  Where did that "Gina" go from a few years ago....and more importantly....how do I get her back ?
This much I know....sitting on my chunky butt....NOT working !!
Now, let's be honest.  How many of us have sent a message to Bob & Jillian, either on their websites, email, Facebook or whatever begging them for motivation or for them to come "kick our butt" ??? LOL  I have.  Really, I have.  But, here's the reality.  The odds of them coming to my home to deliver my 'ass kicking' are about the same as me hitting the lottery.  Not too likely to happen.  So, why am I sitting here waiting for it ??? Why am I actually expecting to hear my phone ring, and it be one of them ??  And, why am I using them NOT coming/calling as an excuse to not get going ??  One last question....WHY DO THEY NEED TO ???  Each week, they talk with the contestants...they "tweet", they facebook messages, they do public service announcements....they send motivation every day !!! Hell, they both live for it !! (I love them for that)....but, think about it....who are they doing that for ?  And, exactly WHO do I think they're talking to when they do ??.....uhhhh....ME !!!!!! And, YOU !!!!  Yeah, they are....they're talking to us, because although I'm sure they'd love to, they don't have the time to call us all !!  But, those messages, and all future ones are for us !!
Sooo, here's the plan !!  We are all going to use this blog as a sort of "movement" if you will.  A tribute to ourselves, but also to Bob & Jillian to show them just how many of us there are, that they have ALREADY motivated, and already moved !!!
One day, I may meet one or both of them....I'm not sure....but, this my friend, I am sure of....when I do....it won't be because I need them to say "You CAN do it"...no, no....it'll be because they will be able to say..."YOU DID IT" !!!!!!!!!
We can do it together !!! They moved us....and now, it's time for me to move myself !! Are ya with me ???  :)