The Power of One- Starting Day

Today is the beginning of the latest challenge that has been issued by my amazing (and supportive) friends over at the Sisterhood of the Shrinking Jeans. This challenge is different the past few challenges as it is all about me...or in your case YOU. There will be no teams and it is strictly all on me on how well I do during this challenge.

I know that when the Sisterhood started up with all the 'teams' stuff I was kind of a whiney bitch about it leery of having to pull my weight and the weigh of a team... but then I turned into that person that probably no one wanted on their team. I was trying... just not very hard and not enough to make myself feel happy. I mean I watched what I ate as it went into my mouth and exercised barely and not really at a good level to even call it exercise  but this time it is all on me. That certainly doesn't mean that I won't still have my amazing friends here to support me... I mean these gals (and guys) are amazing! They really do care about me and my fat ass... they want me to get healthy...they want me to succeed and be at a healthy weight for my children, my family but most importantly they want me to get healthy for  ME.

As moms and wives,  we tend to not put ourselves first. We tend to spend so much time taking care of everyone else and making certain that everyone's needs are met that we forget about ourselves... heck even the dog has been to the vet twice this year for her check ups and I still haven't gone... so that is what makes this challenge a bit more special for me... its all about me. So here is where I put pictures of my fat butt online (again) along with my measurements and weight and promptly say good bye because those numbers need to leave the building...forever.

Starting Weight for Challenge: 254.2 lbs
Starting Measurements: I measured on my right side
Arm: 14 inches
Chest: 52 1/2 inches
Waist: 50 inches
Hips: 56 inches
Thigh: 27 inches

The challenge for today (the starting day of the challenge... it goes through Feb 23rd) was to STATE YOUR HEALTHY LIVING GOALS for this challenge and the New Year. No, we’re not calling them resolutions, because that is so last week. We are calling them goals, because goals are awesome. You can make mini-goals, short-term goals, long-term goals, or just plain goals. They can focus on anything from pounds you want to lose to races you want to compete in. However you want to do it, just make sure you get it done, okay?!

So here is my list of HEALTHY LIVING GOALS:

• lose at least 13 pounds. Why 13 pounds? Because that is 5% loss goal for weight watchers
• exercise at least twice (hopefully 3 ) a week
• drink my water.... 8 glasses... EXCEPT I am using my new Tupperware BPA Free 26 ozs water bottle as my 'glass'... so that means 208 ozs of water each day.-- so if you call me and I don't answer... I'm probably going pee... AGAIN.
• cook a healthy dinner every night to include a healthy balance of protein, carbs, vegs etc. 
• in addition to cooking healthy meals... watch portion sizes. 3ozs = size of a deck of cards etc
• eat to live and not live to eat

I think these are reasonable goals...and honestly if my local girls see me not at least attempting to follow through with these... please kick my ass... a good ole ass kicking may very well be exactly what I need to get my fat ass in gear.

Happy Shrinking Ladies (and gentlemen) and don't forget it isn't too late to join the challenge... please do so because when it comes to friends who are going through the weight loss process with you... more really is merrier.

New Challenge Coming up

The Sisterhood of the Shrinking Jeans has a new challenge that will begin on December 29th, and I am really excited about it. The past few challenges have been 'team' challenges at the Sisterhood and this latest challenge will be us on our own.... we of course will still have the amazing support of our awesome friends at the Sisterhood, but it will be all on us personally to do it.

The new Challenge is going to be called the "Power of One". You can sign up for the new challenge already all you have to do is pop on over to the Sisterhood and sign up with their simple and easy form. You KNOW you want to :)

Here is a direct link to the upcoming challenge:
http://shrinkingjeans.net/2010/12/announcementpower-of-one-challenge

Hope to see you there :)

Weigh in Wednesday

Today is Wednesday and we all know what that means in weight loss land... WEIGH IN DAY!!!! :)

Today is the week 3 weigh in for the latest challenge over at the Sisterhood of the Shrinking Jeans. My weight today was 250 lbs straight up. So far I have lost 2.2lbs for the challenge and that is ok... I am really hoping that slow and steady wins the race and in this case the race is the race for my health and my life.

I have set up some goals for myself for the week and they are as follows:

• begin the 9 week program that is part of the EA Sports Active2, that I happened to win during International Fitness Day from my amazing friends at Shrinking Jeans
• Consume my weight (in ounces) of water each day
• Track all my food using the new Weight Watchers Plus Points System
• Watch portion sizes. Even though I have been attempting to following the WW program I have not been the best at measuring out my portion sizes...which we all know is a BIG PROBLEM
• Take a few minutes to myself each day
• Limit late night snacking and watch alcohol consumption... these all add up

I think these are some good goals for the week! Good luck everyone!!!

Start of a new challenge... Shrinking Days of Summer

Today is the first day of the newest challenge at the Sisterhood of the Shrinking Jeans. This new challenge will run from today Wednesday, May 26th until July 21, 2010. This will take us through a few of those 'bad' summer eating weekend to include Memorial Day and also the Fourth of July.  Here are some of the details that I stole from the author of the latest post at Shrinking Jeans  borrowed from the Sisterhood. I certainly hope that they don't mind....
OK, here are the deets for the new challenge:

• 8 weeks long (Starting today May 26, Ending July 21st)
• Mini challenges every week, running Sunday-Saturday (basically we will give you a task, whether fitness-related, health-related, mental well-being or whatever and each of us will focus on that task for the week)

• Be on the lookout for a new *Family* challenge that we will be starting in conjunction with our friends over at Weight Watchers.  It will be fantastically awesome and something that you can do with your children!
• We’ve created a group over at the ‘Hood specifically for this challenge.  If you are already a member of the ‘Hood, then head on over there and RSVP for some extra support.  If you aren’t a member yet, then click here to become a member and then join our new Shrinking Days of Summer group.  I’m here to tell you that the ‘Hood is awesome and a great tool to receive and give extra support for your journey. 
• Weigh in every Wednesday (including today).  Let us know how you did- how much did you lose/gain, what struggles did you have, what were the positives of the week.  Blog about it and post the link in the comments.  You will do this every week : ).

This Sisterhood also has a fun new posting schedule for their blog as well. if you want to check it out then go ahead and visit THIS POST RIGHT HERE rather than me snaking even more of their post for the day. 

So today I start my challenge weighing 259.6lbs... this is right where I was a year ago... :( I need to stop this... Here goes!!!

Weigh-in Wednesday and a New Challenge

It's Wednesday and on Wednesdays I do this horribly awful thing called weighing in and then to make it even horrible and aweful motivating I post it not only on the Sisterhood of the Shrinking Jeans website, I post it to my personal blog two places that the world can see it.... ugh.

Well this week at the Sisterhood starts a new and fun challenge called "21 Days"... this challenge is based off the fact that it takes 21 days to form a GOOD habit so in addition to keeping track of our weight loss and such we are also going to be working hard on forming some new habits. Below you will find a sample list from the Sisterhood.

Here are some great habits that come to our minds:

1. Water intake = minimum of 64 ounces a day
2. Fruits and vegetables = 5 servings a day
3. Dairy = 3 low-fat servings a day
4. Eat breakfast
5. Take a multi-vitamin
6. Exercise = 30 minutes a day
7. No nachos or chocolate cupcakes
8. Sleep = more than you are now
9. Go Whole = eat only whole grains
10. Stretch your body, try it for 5 minutes every morning
11. Pick up the clutter around my house every evening (gag)
12. Shower every day : )
13. Track calories or WW points every single day 

They have challenged us to pick 1-3 of these new habits and go from there... and honestly this has been really hard for me because I want to take them all :) I have highlighted the ones that I want to work on and have given myself a few additional goals.
I found that when I 'assigned' myself weekly goals I did a lot better than I have been. I am not going to lie... I am almost back to where I started at this time last year... I am 10 lbs away from having gained it all back and that scares the shit out of me... I don't want to be the 'fat' mom.... I want to be the mom that my kids are proud to say "that's my mom".... so here are this weeks stats and goals:

Today's weight is 250.8 lbs.

My goals that I have set for myself this week are:

• Drink 200 ozs of water each day
• Track all my weight watch points and stay on point
• exercise for at least 30 minutes each day
• start and complete week 1 of C25K.
• no late night snacking
• take it super easy when I go out with friends *this has been what has been killing me*

I think that is good for this week... here is to an amazing week for all of us.... Good luck ladies (and gentlemen)