Eat, Shrink & Be Merry! :]

New Condo Pics! :)

2010-07-15T18:23:00.002-05:00

Here are some pictures of the new condo I'm renting- I have a roommate, so I only had to furnish my room.

THE END! :)

Adios 9 pounds :)

2010-07-15T17:52:00.000-05:00

So I'm pretty excited. I just moved 1,800 miles from home to Boise, Idaho & I absolutely love it here. Everybody is so friendly and welcoming- it's great! My favorite aspect of it is that It seems to be easier for me to lose weight here.. super! :) First of all, I'm on a tight budget so I tend to eat at home a heck of a lot more! Secondly, I get to go up and down these stairs every time I have to take the dog out and/or go anywhere...

When I first moved here I decided there was no way I was going to be able to do it. I freaked out & started looking for a new place to live that day... I got light headed and out of breath just with the thought of moving all of my stuff up to that third floor. THEN I had an aha moment... this was going to be really super duper good for me. I get a bunch of exercise everyday without even having a choice. The last thing that has been really helpful with my weight loss is that they have two pools & hot tubs here in the condo community. I have been out swimming and getting my tan on almost every day. It has been so liberating for me, because I have not really swam in public in a bathing suit for years. When I moved here I decided there was no way I was just going to let that pool sit there and not use it just because I'm fat and don't want people to see me in a swim suit... So, I have been taking full advantage of it!

I have been busy adjusting, working, getting settled and organizing my stuff these past two weeks, so I have not yet worked out. There are two workout facilities here on the grounds, so I plan to fully utilize them starting next week once things are a bit more situated.

So my great news is that I lost 9 pounds these past two weeks since I have moved here. The most awesome part of it all is that I haven't really tried too hard at all... I have just been eating fairly healthy, and have been going up and down those dang stairs! lol :)

I hope everybody has a wonderful day! It is sunny & beautiful here... I hope the same goes for you all!

♥ Katie

It's been awhile... A looong while!

2010-07-05T23:13:00.000-05:00

Wow! It's been over four months since my last post.

So much has happened...

You know those experiences where something happens or somebody says something that is monumental to you, and at that moment you decide you are going to change. Like when a little kid walks by and says "that girl is fat" or when you wait an hour in line for a rollercoaster only to realize that you just can't quite stuff yourself into the seat. Well yeah- I've had both of those experiences and many many more, and each and every time I tell myself that I have to change- I just can't handle the embarrassment anymore. Recently it seems these experiences have been happening to me more than usual, which has really stunk :/ A few months ago I was flying home from visiting my cousin in Arizona. I have begun not wearing my seatbelt on the airplane, because either it doesn't fit, or I spend 10 minutes jabbing the guy next to me while I try to jam it on. Well, the no seatbelt solution was working well until the flight attendant came up to me and specifically asked if I was wearing my seatbelt... Fearing humiliation, I told her yes and continued doing what I was doing. About 5 minutes later, she came up to me again and said "miss, I'm going to need to see that you are wearing your seatbelt before we take off." I felt my face turn beat red, when I ashamedly had to admit that I was not wearing one. She told me that I was going to have to find a different seat, because they do not allow seatbelt extensions in the exit row... right there in the aisle in the middle of the plane she said that... I was horrified, embarrassed, ticked off, you name it... I just looked at her, sucked in as hard as I could, and jammed the seatbelt shut- it took a few tries, but I managed, and she walked away. At that moment I decided that I needed to change... but somehow hours later I managed to slip right back into my regular way of living. More recently I went to a restaurant with my cousin. The hostess seated us at a nice booth right near the front entrance. It was a tight squeeze for me, but I am pretty used to it by now. About 2 minutes later the hostess came back to the table and said that she was going to move us somewhere more comfortable... I knew exactly what she meant, but I told her no- that we were both fine and perfectly comfortable. She basically argued with me back and forth saying that our waiter told her to move us to a different table, because I didn't seem comfortable in a booth. I finally for some reason which I am still yet to realize, gave in and let her move us to a different table. I should have just walked out... I didn't like the way the situation was handled at all, I was put on the spot and embarrassed in front of my cousin and the surrounding people in the restaurant. Once again, I decided that THIS TIME I was going to change... for real this time, this was it! Well, needless to say It didn't happen. I just don't get it... how can a person endure these horrendous experiences and not be motivated enough to change. The only thing I can think of is that they just drag you down so much that you don't even have the energy, willpower or motivation to truly change. I don't know what it is.. it's just been a rough few months for me...

When these things happen I kind of just shut down, which is the main reason I haven't blogged in so long. But I really need to change that. I do so much better when I am writing down my feelings each day and reading all of your positive ideas and comments. So that is my new goal- blog blog blog :)

I have missed all of you! Tomorrow=read blogs & get up to date on how everyone is doing!

Well I'm off to bed. I will talk to you all tomorrow :)

Weekly Weigh In...

2010-02-21T14:07:00.000-06:00

Well.. I wish I were super excited for this post, but eh.. not so much. I thought I did really well this week, but I maintained the same weight. I know there are times where you plateau and stay the same, which is totally fine by me because I will take that over gaining any day!

Here's to a new week! :]

I hope everybody had a fabulous weekend!

Pizza... My Archenemy!

2010-02-15T10:07:00.000-06:00

So... I was doing really well with eating healthy until I was invited out for a valentines dinner @ a pizza place. I tried to be good and have a side salad first so that I wasn't as hungry by the time the pizza came around. Well needless to say.. I totally pigged out on pizza. I told myself just to have one piece, but my stomach had alternate ideas. I know these things happen every once and awhile, but it's hard not to get down on myself. I know I just need to take it for what it is- an occasional indulgence- and get over it!

How do you avoid those trigger foods? I have dealt with it by substituting the foods that I love for something healthier- for example: Rather than going out and ordering a pizza, I make homemade pizzas with whole wheat dough, low fat cheese, and turkey sausage rather than the fattening ingredients they are usually prepared with.

Have a great day everybody!

P.S: my weigh in day is going to be changed to Fridays, because I'm going back on my weight watchers program & that is when I go :]

Happy Days :]

2010-02-11T23:09:00.000-06:00

This week is going really well so far :] I am so happy with the way things have been going. I have been slacking about going to the gym these past few days, but I have been eating great and loving life! I have been pretty busy with school, work & job interviews! My job interview went really well! I think... There were 30 other people that applied for the position, so I'm thinking my odds aren't that great, but hey! I did the best I could :] We shall see!!!

I am failing miserably with my goal of only weighing myself once a week... yikes! I am doing better than in the past, but I'm still weighing myself more than I should be for my own sanity... I will be better!

I've come to realize that it is so much easier when you have a teammate or partner when you are on the road to weight loss. My mom is that team player in my situation. I am so proud of how she has been doing! She has lost 9 pounds so far. It is hard for her, because she has a lot of health problems so she isn't really able to work out much. Good job mom!

Who is your team player?

Tomorrow = tons of homework :-/

Goodnight!

Quick Note!

2010-02-09T23:15:00.000-06:00

I have to get to bed, because I have a job interview in the morning, but today was weigh in day. I lost 3 lbs. this week- pretty happy about that :] My goal for this upcoming week is to get in ENOUGH calories, and continue to work out hard at the gym. I hope everybody has a wonderful day! I will write more tomorrow!

Goodnight! :]

Interview Madness!

2010-02-08T15:09:00.000-06:00

I have come to the conclusion that the scale is capable of playing some serious mind games! It is driving me absolutely nuts- up, down, up down... I have gone a little (well actually a lot) overboard weighing myself pretty much every time I am in the bathroom.

Hence, my new goal: WEIGH IN ONCE A WEEK! This will be super duper tough for me, but I am sick and tired of the scale dictating to me how I will feel the rest of the day! Tuesdays are my weigh in days right now, so I will have my updated stats tomorrow.

I am pretty excited about the way things have been going for me. I have been eating really healthy and working out hard everyday. This is the longest consecutive time period that I have stayed on track, so I am pretty proud of myself. I know that this time I am going to succeed no matter what, and that is a great feeling!!! :]

SoOo... I have an interview on Wednesday for a job that I REALLY want! That only gives me a couple of days to learn more about the company and prepare myself, which is pretty stressful because I am a novice interviewee. Any helpful interview tips and suggestions would be much appreciated!

Thanks! and I hope everybody is having a not so manic Monday! :]

The New Me! :]

2010-02-06T20:42:00.002-06:00

So a BIG CHANGE happened today!!! I still can't believe I did it! I chopped my hair off!

I went from THIS:

TO THIS:

The hairdresser was so excited- she hadn't done such a "makeover" in a long time. As I watched the mountain of my hair on the floor get bigger and bigger I knew there was no going back. Good news is that I totally love it & it will be sooooo much more manageable! I feel like this is part of a whole new me, because I was always too afraid to have short hair framing my big ol' fat face. The new me doesn't give a darn! :]

Have A Wonderful Weekend Everyone!

Oh yeah- p.s: the healthy eating & working out is going absolutely fantastic. I am so excited to weigh in next week!

Weekly Weigh In!...

2010-02-03T15:37:00.000-06:00

So..... today was weigh in day! After working out 6 days of this past week and eating super duper healthy I am happy to say that I have lost 8 pounds this week. I am very happy and proud of myself for that accomplishment. I have had more self control and discipline then ever before.

Yesterday was rough... I just was not motivated at all to go to the gym and work out. Finally, around 10pm (I was tired as heck) but I told myself that If I really wanted to change I needed to get up and get my butt to the gym! In the past I would have just ignored those feelings, but last night was a turning point. I got up and ready, headed to the gym, and worked out HARD! I felt so accomplished on my way home. It was one of the best feelings.

Hope everyone is having a wonderful, healthy day!

♥ Katie

Temptations!...

2010-02-02T13:51:00.001-06:00

So we all have our "things." The foods that are absolutely irresistible to us. I think it's important to recognize those trigger foods so that you can stay far far away from them. Well!!!... last night I failed to do just that. I had such a craving for ice cream. Luckily all we had was strawberry frozen yogurt. Moral of the story- I ate too much of it! hehe :] For eating practically perfect the rest of this past week I really don't feel too bad about it. It's good to indulge every once and awhile, right?...

I have discovered a new love in the breakfast world. If you've followed me for awhile now, you know that I am not very good at eating breakfast so this is a big thing for me! Peanut Butter Banana Smoothies... YUM! :]

1 medium banana

1 cup ice cubes

1 cup fat-free milk

1 1/2 tablespoons peanut butter

1 cup fat-free vanilla yogurt

Just blend it all together. It makes 4 servings & It's delicious (at least I think so!)

Hope everyone is having a wonderful day!

Ahh... the sweet smell of success! :]

2010-01-29T22:40:00.000-06:00

So... a few days ago I joined a weight loss challenge with a bunch of members of my family! We are calling it the 50 for 10. You put in $50 and have to lose 10% of your body weight by the end of the challenge (March 29th). If you meet your goal you get your money back and then split or get all of the money from the people that did not meet the goal. A little family fun! :] Well... we got quite a few people to join and the money pot is at $500. Now that is some major motivation! I am pretty excited about the challenge, because I needed something to spice up my routine and get me motivated.

I joined a gym by my house a few days ago- "Snap Fitness." LOVE IT! It has everything I need to get a great, well-rounded workout, it's totally cheap, it's only a couple of blocks from my house, and the best part of all is that it's open 24 hours. I have worked my butt off (literally) at the gym these past few days & it has felt great! I am super excited about the new year and my new start to a healthier, happier me! :]

Well... after eating healthy and working out like crazy at the gym these past few days I am very happy with the results! I have lost 6 pounds these past three days. I know that you lose a lot the first week, but dang! I'll take that!

Hope everybody has a wonderful weekend! :]

♥ Katie

Oriental Chicken Salad! Yumm! :]

2010-01-22T18:22:00.000-06:00

So today I discovered a new love in life... It's name is Oriental Chicken Salad from Applebees! Holy yum!! :]

Life is good... My school semester starts this week, which I'm actually pretty excited about. I'm taking American Government, Personal Economics, A Language Arts, & Psychology. Should be pretty fun, especially psychology & government. I'm taking them all online this semester so that I can be there for the birth of my sister's baby at the end of April. That way I can stay there for a few weeks, get my work done while I'm there, and not have to worry about missing anything.

I really need to get into the habit of cooking again! That is going to be my goal for next week- cook at least 5 of the days of the week. I have a few weight watcher cookbooks that I really like, but I could definitely still use some more ideas.

WHAT ARE YOUR FAVORITE(S) HEALTHY RECIPES?

♥ Katie

Yikes...

2010-01-19T22:43:00.001-06:00

Well... this is by far the hardest blog post I've had to write...

I am:

ashamed

disappointed

saddened

overwhelmed

discouraged...

I faced the scale today for the first time in months. After making horrible eating choices, not working out, and being really down on myself these past few months, not only did I lose all of the progress that I had made but I GAINED from my original starting weight.

It's incredible how crummy that itty bitty scale can make you feel! I realize that this is a pivotal moment in my life. I am absolutely devastated, and could easily just throw in the towel. In the past that is exactly what I would have done, but this is a NEW ME! & I am not going to give up. I am going to take this for what it is... a learning experience.

Here are the MUCH DREADED STATS!:

Current Weight: 318.2 lbs.

That is a 3.2 lb. gain from my original start weight. I am still in absolute shock! & It's taking everything inside me not to fall apart...

But tomorrow is a new day! I am going to wake up in the morning & move on.

Goodnight All!

Hello 2010! A New Year- A Time For Change! :]

2010-01-18T23:20:00.000-06:00

Hello all! :] I have missed you dearly!

Life has been a crazy whirlwind these past couple of months, but I am officially committed to blogging for this new year. A little late, but hey! Better late than never, right? I have really struggled with healthy choices these past two months. I am going to put it behind me and start over! I am ready to put forth the effort & will NOT give up on myself. I am worth it :]

These past months in brief review:

I had a blast in sunny Arizona!

I am going to be an aunt!

I have a rekindled love for piano!

& I kicked my boyfriend to the curb who was doing nothing but bringing me down! :]

It has been a crazy couple of months, but afterward I am more enthusiastic than ever! & I am ready to turn my life around! Hello new me :]

I will weigh in, set some new goals & elaborate more tomorrow! Goodnight all!

♥ Katie

Missing In Action!

2009-11-11T19:06:00.001-06:00

So... I have been a major blogging slacker!!! Life has been hectic, and while I'm sure I could have made time to blog it just hasn't happened. I have been helping to care for a close family friend with Leukemia. It has been quite the rollercoaster... It's extremely hard to see somebody you love go through something so devastating and painful. It's been really rough, especially since the recent passing of my grandfather- It brings back all of the memories I shared with him.

But anyways, I want to be better with my blogging because it most definitely helps to keep my butt in gear!

So I'M BACK! :]

Goal Check In! :]

2009-10-21T00:46:00.000-05:00

Here are the goals that I set for myself a couple of months ago! I have come so far since then, and I feel I am a completely different person- inside and out. Here are the updates on how my goals have been coming along :]

Daily Goals:

Workout 5-6 days a week (including resistance training 3 times per week)

Reward: After committing to it for 1 month- I join the Wisconsin Athletic Club :]

UPDATE: I have worked harder these past couple of months than ever before! I have a completely new found confidence in myself, because I am doing things I never thought I would be able to do. I am so proud of myself!- something that I haven't been in years. I haven't been completely on top of working out 5-6 days a week, but It is something that I am working towards being consistent with.

Take the dogs for a daily walk.

Reward: Well behaved dogs! :]

UPDATE: I did a really good job with this goal in the beginning, however as it has been getting colder I have been slacking. Besides... the chihuahuas can't really endure much of any extreme weather- I need a stinkin' lab or something!

Track & write down what I eat each day.

UPDATE: This is a continuing struggle! It seems so easy, but I seem to forget and/or not make time from day to day. I need to just buckle down and DO IT! I know that tracking what you eat is so important, especially during times of struggle!

No soda

Reward: Having teeth when I'm older :]

UPDATE: Going wonderfully!

Blog each day about my weight loss journey!

Reward: My blogging friends inspirational comments & motivation!

UPDATE: Well.. I have done pretty well with this for the most part, other than my 2 weeks of being shamefully missing in action :( But I am back on track!

Drink 6 8oz. glasses of water each day.

UPDATE: Going great!

Eat 5 servings a day of fruits/vegetables.

UPDATE: Yikes... hehe. Definitely need to work on this one. I'm usually getting between 2-4 servings. Meal planning time!

Take a daily vitamin.

UPDATE: Good :]

Short-Term Goals:

Lose at a rate of 1 and a half - 2 pounds a week.

UPDATE: I have pretty much had a 2lb. consistent weight loss up until a couple of weeks ago where I really struggled. I am back on track & am hoping for a great loss this week :]

Lose 20 lbs. by November 3rd, 2009

Reward: $50 Shopping spree (clothes) for every 20 lb. loss.

UPDATE: I have lost 10.6 lbs, which means I have 10.4 more pounds to lose in about two weeks. While this is achievable, I don't know that it is realistic. We shall see!

Long-Term Goals:

Incorporate running into my daily workout routine.

UPDATE: I, for the first time since I was a child CAN RUN!!! I started incorporating running into my workout about a month ago. While listening to my ipod I run during all of the choruses. It's a great workout & I am so proud of myself!

BE POSITIVE!

UPDATE: I have a completely new and improved outlook on life. I have been so much more positive and am beginning to learn to love myself. This is an amazing milestone! I know I have a long ways to go, but as long as I stay positive I know I will succeed! :]

Reach my goal weight of 155 lbs. by: April 14th, 2011 (my birthday)

Reward: I couldn't possibly think of a greater reward than reaching this goal! What a great gift it will be!

I hope everybody has a wonderful day! :]

Over the Top Blog Award

2009-10-18T12:23:00.002-05:00

So I'm a little late, but I need to fulfill my duties to my "Over The Top" blog award.

Here it goes...

1. Where is your cell phone? in my pocket

2. Your hair? blonde

3. Your mother? the most wonderful woman I know

4. Your father? kind & caring

5. Your favorite food? Mmm... Pizza!

6. Your dream last night? I don't actually remember any of them...

7. Your favorite drink? Pink Lemonade OR Hot Chocolate

8. Your dream/goal? To be happy in life

9. What room are you in? My living room

10. Your hobby? Horses, piano, & traveling

11. Your fear? Failure...

12. Where do you want to be in 6 years? Happy & healthy with a beautiful family.

13. Where were you last night? TGI Fridays with the family

14. Something that you aren’t? Skinny..? hehe.

15. Muffins? Mmm- blueberry!

16. Wish list item? Get a new job.

17. Where did you grow up? Milwaukee, Wisconsin

18. Last thing you did? Checked my e-mail

19. What are you wearing? Jeans & a Key West T-Shirt

20. Your TV? Fox News :]

21. Your pets? 3 dogs- Tucker, Clifford & Bella

22. Friends? They mean everything to me :]

23. Your life? I love my life.

24. Your mood? tired...

25. Missing someone? yeah.

26. Vehicle? Silver Mazda3

27. Something you’re not wearing? Socks...

28. Your favorite store? Hmm.. that's a tough one. Kohls? Old Navy? I dunno..

29. Your favorite color? Pink

30. When was the last time you laughed? Last Night

31. Last time you cried? Friday...

32. Your best friend? Melissa

33. One place that I go to over and over? Work

34. One person who emails me regularly? Sue :]

35. Favorite place to eat? Japanica.. I love Japanese food.. yum!

*Drum Roll Please*

I would like to grant the Over The Top Blog Award to the following bloggers!:

Tiffany

"Me" - What is your name anyways? hehe :]

I hope that everybody has a wonderful Sunday!

Boy Troubles...

2009-10-16T22:45:00.003-05:00

So I'm really struggling right now with not wanting to hurt this guy's feelings... he is totally into me & I am just not feelin' it.. AT ALL! On the other hand, I know that If I string him along and don't say anything It will hurt him more in the long run. What do you say? Help me ladies!!

Maybe if I wore my hat like this he would leave me alone!...

hehe :]

Hope everybody has a fabulous weekend!

Short and Sweet

2009-10-14T23:39:00.000-05:00

I love all of my blogger friends! You are all amazing, encouraging & inspirational!

I am so grateful for the great support system that I have in you all. It's a great feeling to know I am not alone on this journey and that there are people out there who genuinely care about my success and happiness.

Thanks so much to every single one of you for making me smile each day :]

Love, Katie

Honest Scrap Award :]

2009-10-14T00:19:00.004-05:00

So today I must fulfill my duties of receiving the "Honest Scrap Award". Which means you will be learning ten things about me you probably didn't know... I hope I don't bore you :] hehe.

1. I attended a Spanish speaking school for 4 & 5 year old Kindergarten. Trust me.. you could never tell by listening to me speak it. Yikes!

2. I am a cowgirl at heart! I love horses- I just sold my baby boy (Cole) a few months ago, because I just didn't have enough time for him anymore between work and school. Hardest thing I've ever had to do :(

3. I love to travel!- I have been a lot of places in the U.S, as well as Paris, France & South Africa :]

4. Oh gosh... this is getting hard. haha.. Umm... I am going to school (well.. not this semester) to be a labor and delivery nurse. It is what I have always wanted to do!

5. I love photography.. I wish I were better at it. But that leaves me much room for improvement!

6. I have obsessive compulsive disorder... It sucks!

7. I LOVE animals... they are the best! We have three dogs- 2 Chihuahuas and a Shihtzu/Toy Poodle Mix.

8. I play piano :] & organ.

9. I want to have a big family someday. I love kids!

10. I have struggled with being overweight nearly all of my life... It is only just recently that I have learned to love myself the way that I am. I am so excited about the changes that I have made in my life to be happier and healthier! :]

Goodnight All!

+2.2 lbs.

2009-10-12T21:36:00.000-05:00

Wow.. that was NOT fun at all to put as the title of this post, but it is what it is. I figured why not just weigh in tonight (already a crummy day) instead of ruining my day tomorrow. Well there it is folks... I gained 2.2 pounds these past two weeks.. But I am officially over it and moving on!

I AM going to work harder than ever before & I AM going to reach my goals, because I AM worth it! :]

Goodnight!

Blah...

2009-10-12T21:18:00.000-05:00

This is by far the hardest blog post I've had to write thus far. I have been putting it off for almost 2 weeks now... :( I have completely fallen off of the bandwagon. I feel like garbage! I haven't been working out & have been eating whatever I want...

Life threw me some stressful curves and I went right back to my old, crummy ways. I am so disappointed in myself! I have felt sick nearly every day from making unhealthy choices, but it hasn't been enough to get my butt in gear. I skipped my past 3 weight watcher meetings (I have no idea what I weigh), but I would most definitely not be surprised If I gained all of my weight back. Gosh! How could I do this to myself?!

I'm really struggling right now with life in general and I guess I just gave up and felt I was no longer worth it. I wish I were a stronger person... I wish that I was able to find value in myself and be more positive. My self confidence has plummeted, but I know that I can get out of this slump.. I have to. I promised myself that I would do this, and I am going to get it done no matter what.

I am going to weigh myself tomorrow.. face the news.. & move on!

I have missed all of my blogger friends :(

Kat- you're a dear! You made me smile for the first time today :] Thanks for the "Honest Scrap Award"

I will share 10 things about myself tomorrow when I am a whole new, positive, upbeat, happy, confident person :]

I hope everyone is doing well! I am super excited to catch up on all of your blogs!

The Grand "Shred"-Nale!- 30 Day Check In

2009-10-01T02:22:00.003-05:00

SoOo... today is the grand finale of the Jillian Michael's 30 Day Shred Challenge! :]

When I look back on this past month I cannot believe how far I have come. I have literally changed my life completely around! I have done things I never thought I would be able to do... I have uncovered a new spark of self confidence :] And most importantly, I have learned to love myself.

In just this short period of time I have already begun to accomplish so many of the goals that I have set for myself. Here are a few:

Be Healthier- Well this one goes without saying..
Feel Strong & Fit- I feel absolutely phenomenal! I have so much more energy & stamina.
Not Fear Going To The Doctor- I went last week! :] :] :]
Feel Better About Myself- I have come so far in this area... My self confidence has skyrocketed this past month. I am living and loving life like never before & it feels amazing.

Here are my current stats & pictures after 30 days of shredding!

Bust- 52.5" (1/2 inch loss)

Waist- 43.5" (2 inch loss!)

Hips- 57" (1 inch loss)

Thigh- 31" (1 1/2 inch loss)

Arm- 19" (same)

Total Inches Lost: 5 inches

30 Day Grand Total: 13 1/4 inches! :]

Starting Weight: 315 lbs.

Weight After 10 Days Of Shredding: 309.4 lbs.

Weight After 20 Days Of Shredding: 306.6 lbs.

Current Weight: 302.2 lbs.

Weight Loss: 4.4 lbs.

30 Day Grand Total: 12.8 lbs! :]

Pictures From Day 1 Of The Shred:

Current Pictures After 30 Days Of Shredding & Healthy Eating:

Time To Go Shopping! :]

Thank you everybody for your amazing support for me in this journey! Congratulations to all of the ladies who accomplished the Shred Challenge. & a special thanks to Syl for starting the challenge and being an inspiration to us all :]

Hope everybody had a wonderful day! Goodnight & God Bless! :]

"Konnichiha"

2009-09-30T00:06:00.000-05:00

Hello In Japanese! :] So today I went to a Japanese Hibachi restaurant & it was absolutely delicious! It's pretty much my favorite- super fun, amazing food & relatively healthy! :] What more can you ask for?!

ANYWAYS...

Shred countdown: 1 more day! Can't believe it...

So Biggest Loser tonight: I'm pretty sure it goes without saying- Tracey = hmm.. let me think of an appropriate way to say this... JERK! She disgusted me... I mean come on- how selfish can you be?! Other than that I thought it was a great show. The loyalty that all of the teammates showed towards Shay was so great... It's encouraging to think of despite some bad apples, how many wonderful people there are out there!

Shout-out to my sister Annie!- HAPPY BIRTHDAY! :]

Today was a good day! Ate healthy, got my workout in & had some fun in between. I am super excited, because after working out consistently for the past month I have earned one of my landmark rewards- joining the gym by my house! :] Woo hoo! I'm not gonna lie.. part of me is kind of nervous, because I dread I will be the "gym fatty" but I know that's not what it's about. I need to walk in there with my head high & focus on my goals!

I absolutely loved Missy's blog post today! Congratulations to her!- She has come so far & should be dang proud of herself! I think it is so so important to recognize and reward yourself for your accomplishments. I can't wait until the day I can look back on my journey smiling from ear to ear :]

Weigh In Day! (drumroll please...)

2009-09-28T23:32:00.000-05:00

So because I missed Weight Watchers on Friday I was going to wait until the final day of the "shred challenge" to weigh in, but I gave up on that whole scenario. haha.

I just couldn't resist stepping on the scale this morning... Since I've been working my butt off it's hard not to want to see results, so I figured it was alright :] However I WILL do my measurements & pictures on Wednesday for the grand finale of the shred. I cannot believe the challenge is almost over. I have never worked out this hard in my entire life... It has been such a mental and physical challenge for me! & I am so proud of myself that I have been able to stick with it. That dang Jillian sure is a butt kicker!

So to my thorough surprise and excitement!... I lost 4.4 lbs. this past week and a half!... That's more than my first week's loss. I swear- I almost peed my pants. ALMOST! I can't wait to see if the inches have been melting away along with the fat! I am just so happy that I have committed to making this life changing decision. It has been such a rollercoaster, but I know that in the end it will be worth every minute of it.

SoOo... my walking/newly running shoes have been giving me blisters. Do any of you wonderful bloggers have any ideas for some good, solid, comfortable shoes?!

I'm thinking these...

NOT! haha. The new Skechers-shape-ups... If only it were so easy as to walk around in ginormous clown shoes to lose weight! :]

Have A Terrific Tuesday! :]

Viva South Africa!

2009-09-25T14:13:00.000-05:00

So I completely forgot that I had an appointment this morning, so I had to miss my WW meeting. I was not too thrilled about this, but I will get the update on what they talked about from my mom. I absolutely love the meetings- they are like my rejuvenation for the upcoming week. Boo for missing! I will save my weigh-in day for the final day of the shred. I am super excited to have almost conquered Jillian's challenge, but at the same time (I can't believe I'm saying this) I think am going to kinda miss it. It's so motivating to have something specific that you are working towards. But I will just have to pick something new :]

As I'm sure many of you know, right now Weight Watchers is doing the Lose For Good Campaign. Depending on the weight loss of the members, WW will donate up to 1 million dollars! to help feed children and families who need it. They are also holding food drives @ every meeting & other locations as well. Did you know 1 out of every 6 children in America don't know where their next meal is going to come from? I find this statistic absolutely devastating.

I think it's extremely important to be grateful for what you have. I am so appreciative that I have been so blessed throughout my life! When I went to South Africa a few years ago It was such a wake up call for me. The extreme poverty deeply saddened me & made me want to make some kind of difference in the world. I mean sure I have done volunteer work at homeless shelters & nursing homes, etc., but I wish I could do something bigger. Until I find that opportunity to make a difference on a larger scale, I am going to make a strong effort to help others in small ways. So that my friends is my new goal! :]

Here are some pictures from my South Africa trip. Some of the best times of my life!...

Hope Everybody Is Having A Fantastic Friday! :]

Adiós Fat Pants!

2009-09-24T20:56:00.001-05:00

First of all, thanks for all of your support. You are all so great, encouraging & inspiring! :]

So I've officially lost a pants size- borderline 2 sizes! :] I'm pretty dang excited about this! Woo hoo! It's an incredible experience to watch yourself literally shrink. I didn't think I really looked any different, but when I went out tonight with my cousin she right away said she noticed a huge difference. That makes me feel great, because this can be such a tedious & slow process- It's nice to see some results!

However I am kind of nervous about my weigh in tomorrow @ Weight Watchers... I have worked my stinkin' butt off this week, but haven't seen any results on the corrupt & evil scale. Oh well.. it is what it is. I'm not worried about it, because I'm losing inches!

I hope everybody had a wonderful Thursday! :]

The Reveal...

2009-09-23T02:15:00.000-05:00

Why have I chosen to make my blog "anonymous"? What am I so afraid of? What are the real reasons that I do not want to disclose my identity for all the world to see? I know the reasons.. there are hundreds. Mainly, I am embarrassed of what I have become. I am humiliated by the fact that I have let things get out of hand and gained all of this weight. I am devastated when I look in the mirror. My feelings of self worth have diminished day by day. I am saddened that I have allowed my health to get in the way of the things I have wanted to do in life. I regret making poor decisions & not having the self control that I so desire. I am under the constant stress of wondering what others may or may not be thinking of me. I am a prisoner inside my own body.

This is no way to live life. This is not me living up to my full potential.

I have decided to make a promise to myself that I, from this point forward am going to live my life with dignity and respect. I am on the path to a happier, healthier life & I am going to be proud of myself. I will be happy with my accomplishments instead of thinking of what I could have done better. I will love myself the way that I am. I am not defined by my appearance, but rather who I am deep down inside- you hear that all of the time, but do you actually believe it?- I am going to.

As I wrote this blog post I was crying. At first I thought it was because of all of the pain and hurt that I have dealt with most of the years of my life. But now I'm beginning to realize that they may be tears of joy... I'm letting it all go & moving on.

Goodnight All!

Pizza Anyone...?! :]

2009-09-22T00:55:00.002-05:00

Today was a great day! :] I didn't have to work which was a major plus! I got some cleaning done, went grocery shopping & afterward I ran on the treadmill. No.. I don't think you understand- I, Katie, RAN! I don't recall the last time I've come close to any gait near a run. It wasn't easy and heaven knows it wasn't pretty, but I did it! I was pretty gosh darn proud of myself! :] I have tons of great workout music on my Iphone, which has really made working out so much more fun!

So tonight I made homemade pizza on whole wheat pizza dough! (Thanks Kat!) I used a recipe from one of my Weight Watchers cookbooks and just kinda souped it up a bit. I made it with Mozzarella & Parmesan Cheese, Pepperoni, Turkey Italian Sausage, Green Pepper, Tomato & Onion. Yumm :] It was absolutely delicious if I do say so myself! A statement from my most intimidating critic (my mother of course): "This might just be the best pizza I've ever had!" What more could I ask for? I pleased the chef! :] 1 slice = 4 points- TOTALLY worth it to me! Gosh I love pizza..*end of rant*

(The picture isn't the best- it kind of looks burnt,

but it's the whole wheat pizza dough- I promise!)

I hope everybody had a great weekend!
Thanks for all of your kind words & encouragement! :]

Day 20 Check In! :]

2009-09-20T20:53:00.001-05:00

SoOoO... today marks 20 days of shredding & healthy eating! :] I feel absolutely fantastic & I am so excited about my new life!

Here are my current stats & pictures after 20 days of shredding!

Bust- 53" (1/2 inch loss)

Waist- 45.5" (2 inch loss!)

Hips- 58" (same)

Thigh- 32.5" (1/4 inch loss)

Arm- 19" (1/2 inch loss)

Total Inches Lost: 3 1/4 inches

20 Day Grand Total: 8 1/4 inches! :]

Starting Weight: 315 lbs.

Weight After 10 Days Of Shredding: 309.4 lbs.

Current Weight: 306.6 lbs.

Weight Loss: 2.8 lbs.

20 Day Grand Total: 8.4 lbs! :]

Pictures From Day 1 Of The Shred:

Updated Pictures After 20 Days Of Shredding:

I'm off to work out! Kind of late, but it's all good :]

I love my life.

Mmm!

2009-09-19T21:11:00.002-05:00

Dinner turned out great! :] Here it is:

Barbecue Chipotle Meatloaf (4 points)-

Baked Vegetables (2 points)-

Cheddar Mashed Potatoes w/ Scallions & Bacon Bits (3 points)-

All for a grand total of 9 points! :]

Well.. I'm off to work out! :] I'm hoping Jillian is kind & compassionate tonight (hah yeah right!).

Have A Great Night Everyone! :]

I like to move it move it! :]

2009-09-19T13:59:00.003-05:00

Wow... the shred was a killer last night! I was not motivated at all to get off my butt and do it, but after I made the decision to "get er' done" I figured I would make it a really hardcore workout! It's the hardest I've worked out so far & I was so surprised with my stamina! I cannot believe how quickly consistent exercise can transform your body & energy level!- It's absolutely incredible. I am so happy & excited about it! :] Then later on when I worked out on the treadmill I decided to up the speed quite a bit & I was once again dumbfounded.
Woo hoo for my new "love" of exercise!- I feel amazing.

After making it a goal to incorporate breakfast into my life I have been pretty consistent. @ my Weight Watchers meeting yesterday my leader quoted the saying "eat breakfast like a king, lunch like a prince, and dinner like a pauper!" In the past I have come home from work so hungry & tired, which is when I would eat the most. I have tried to change this up by making breakfast my biggest meal of the day- huge change for me! It has worked! I don't find myself craving as many snacks throughout the day & I feel so much more satisfied. My breakfast this morning:

Peanut butter & banana on a whole wheat bagel (I ate 1/2), fruit salad (strawberries, raspberries, grapes & apples), & vanilla yogurt with granola. The only thing I managed to eat all of was the yogurt, but I tried.

Lunch:

Subway... yummm! :] I get turkey on whole wheat, no cheese, extra lettuce, tomatoes & a little bit of light mayo. Then I crunch a few garden salsa sun chips on top. Delicious! :]

On the menu for dinner tonight out of my Weight Watchers "Comfort Classics" & "New Complete Cookbook" is: Confetti Meatloaf with Cajun Barbecue Sauce, Bacon Cheddar Mashed Potatoes & Baked Vegetables. We'll see how it turns out- my poor guinea pig family :]

I hope everybody is having an absolutely fantastic day!

Goodbye 2.8 lbs! :]

2009-09-18T14:37:00.002-05:00

Today was my Weight Watchers meeting for the week- fabulous as usual :] We talked about red light foods (ones that are irresistible) & how it is perfectly fine to have them in moderation. My leader encouraged each of us to make a list of our red light foods & to calculate the points values for each so that when we do eat them we are aware of the "damage". haha. She didn't word it that way, however that's my version of it.

I will have to brainstorm a list for myself over this next week, however I would have to say my biggest weakness of all would have to be PIZZA! :] I haven't really had any since I started eating healthy simply because It is absolutely irresistible to me! I don't know what it is- It's a love of mine. I hope that I will find a way to incorporate it into my life without going overboard. So far my best bet has been either Weight Watchers Smart Ones or Lean Cuisine pizzas :] Works for me..

When I weighed in at the meeting I was down 2.8 pounds for the week.. I am very happy with that! :] I've got to admit... It's sometimes hard to be patient with weight loss (actually most of the time!). When I think of the grand scheme of things & that I still have 150 lbs. left to lose, it can be kind of depressing. I know that I have to fight these thoughts, but it's really hard. However, I will stay strong and remain positive!

My Weight Loss Goals :]

2009-09-17T00:50:00.008-05:00

GOAL: The result or achievement toward which effort is directed.

I am going to remind myself of this definition as I go about my weight loss journey. Some people set goals which are not attainable & when they don't accomplish them they feel they have failed. I have spent too much of my life feeling like a failure & having a lack of self worth, so I refuse to ever let a goal that is unaccomplished bring me down. I strongly believe that goals are of great importance as a motivational tool, as well as a way to keep you on track- nothing more than that! So here they are:

Daily Goals:

Workout 5-6 days a week (including resistance training 3 times per week)

Reward: After committing to it for 1 month- I join the Wisconsin Athletic Club :]

Take the dogs for a daily walk.

Reward: Well behaved dogs! :]

Track & write down what I eat each day.
No soda!

Reward: Having teeth when I'm older :]

Blog each day about my weight loss journey.

Reward: My blogging friends inspirational comments & motivation!

Drink 6 8oz. glasses of water each day.
Eat 5 servings a day of fruits/vegetables.
Take a daily vitamin.

Short-Term Goals:

Lose at a rate of 1 and a half - 2 pounds a week.
Lose 20 lbs. by November 3rd, 2009

Reward: $50 Shopping spree (clothes) for every 20 lb. loss.

Long-Term Goals:

Incorporate running into my daily workout routine.
BE POSITIVE!
Reach my goal weight of 155 lbs. by: April 14th, 2011 (my birthday)

Reward: I couldn't possibly think of a greater reward than reaching this goal! What a great gift it will be!

I will update my goals as I go along. Wish me luck!

Just For You Missy! :]

2009-09-16T12:34:00.001-05:00

Here's my beloved necklace I won last night! :] I never win anything- go me!

Here is one I thought about buying, but didn't. Good story... I know :] haha.

Have A Great Day Everybody!!! :]

I Didn't Eat Enough....?

2009-09-15T22:19:00.006-05:00

Today was weird... I just wasn't hungry. I used hardly any of my points (which I know is not necessarily a good thing). However, I will take THIS over being really hungry any day! SoOo... I ate a nice, big, healthy dinner & took care of some of those dang points!

Tonight was really fun :] I went to a Lia Sophia (jewelry) party with an old friend. It was great to catch up with her & I really enjoyed looking @ the jewelry! The best part of it all.... I won a free ($50) necklace! :] Woo hoo! I was super excited about it.. It's really pretty!

Well I've gotta go work out! But I leave you all with a couple pictures of my 2 little chihuahua "children"! :]

Bella

Clifford

Have a great night everybody! :]

Life Is Great!

2009-09-14T15:42:00.000-05:00

I just can't get over how much my life has changed these past few weeks! Since being on weight watchers, working out & eating healthy I have been in a better mood, lost weight, inches, & I have so much more energy! Having this weight loss blog has been so motivational mainly because of all of you cheering me on. Changing my lifestyle has been one of the hardest things I've ever had to do, & everybody's encouragement and uplifting comments have really helped push me along and have kept me positive! Thank you all :] It's also so inspirational to read all of your blogs- It's so nice to know you are not alone... that there are other people with your same struggles. Good luck to you all- you are doing an amazing job & you should be so proud of yourself for caring enough about yourself to turn your life around.

That's really what it boils down to... how much do you care about yourself? I sadly enough throughout these past years have lost so much of my self worth. I suppose I didn't think I was really worth taking care of & that I was so far off track that I could never possibly be successful in regards to my health. How ridiculous! It's never too late... & I am SO worth changing my life over! It makes me sad to think that I have "wasted" so many years of my life not being able to live up to my full potential. But It's time to move on... It's time to forget the past and focus on the future. Easier said than done, but I truly believe that I can do this! I deserve it & owe it to myself :]

For BREAKFAST (which is a new meal for me)- I had a whole wheat bagel with peanut butter and jelly on it. Lunch- Weight Watchers Smart One Meal (Quesadilla). & for dinner I'm making whole wheat spaghetti with turkey meatballs. I worked out this morning & I'll be doing the shred later on :]

I hope everybody is having a wonderful day!

Me+Breakfast=Disaster

2009-09-12T23:31:00.000-05:00

So... I officially STINK at eating breakfast! I know I know... "breakfast is the most important meal of the day" blah blah blah! That doesn't help.. I need ideas to make me more motivated to actually eat it. Any ideas? :]

Today was a great day- I got a lot of cleaning done, worked out & ate well.

The End!

Woo Hoo!

2009-09-11T15:59:00.000-05:00

Today marks the second week of me being on Weight Watchers. I wasn't thrilled about getting up this morning to head off to the meeting, but once I was there It was great! I can't even get over how hilarious my leader is... I feel like I'm paying to see a stand up comedian, who just so happens to have great healthy eating & weight loss tips! It's absolutely fantastic! :] I was a little worried about weigh in this morning, because of my little "slump" that I had this week, but I was very happy with the results. I'm down 2 more lbs. :]

This was a wonderful learning experience for me, because after last weekend I was so ticked off at myself for making poor eating choices & not working out. This just proved to me that you can't let two stinkin' days dictate how you are going to live the rest of your week- It's not the end of the world. Thanks for reminding me of that ladies!

Oh yeah... did I mention that my mom joined the program with me? I was pretty excited about it, because it's always more fun to do something with somebody else :] My mom is good friends with a lady who attends our same meeting, so afterward we went out for lunch. We went to Ruby Tuesdays & I had the salad bar with two turkey minis. It was delicious & I felt great afterward- not too full!

I have a lot of energy today & have decided I am going to work out like a mad lady tonight! I am so happy with my results after the first 10 days of the shred & healthy eating :] I can't wait to keep it up & shed the rest of these pounds and inches! Woo Hoo!

Day 10 Of The Shred :]

2009-09-11T01:15:00.000-05:00

I'm happy to say I have officially overcome my "slump!"

I have been shredding my butt off, walking, & doing my Wii Fit! :] I feel fantastic!

I can't believe today marks day 10 of the Shred Challenge! I've never worked out this hard in my life & I am so happy with the results- mainly in the way that I feel! :] Thanks to everyone for supporting me- It really means a lot!

Here are my current stats after 10 days of shredding & healthy eating:

Bust- 53.5" (1/2 inch loss)

Waist- 47.5" (3 inch loss!)

Hips- 58" (1/2 inch loss)

Thigh- 32.75" (3/4 inch loss)

Arm- 19.5" (1/4 inch loss)
Total Inches Lost: 5 inches! :]

Starting Weight: 315lbs.

Current Weight: 309.4 lbs.

Total Weight Loss: 5.6 lbs! :]

Updated Pictures:

haha... I actually look worse in these pictures than in the beginning, because of the camera angles. You can't really see well, but my pants are also getting really baggy, which is exciting :]

Congratulations Everyone On Your Accomplishments & Results! Goodnight!

Happy Days...? More Like Crappy Days! :/

2009-09-08T23:16:00.000-05:00

So I have a confession... There is a reason I have not blogged these past few days... they have been downright crappy! I had a migraine & cramps... I haven't been working out consistently & my eating habits have been nothing to write home about. However, I'm going to try super hard not to let this one weekend of weakness bring me down. I'm really sad & disappointed in myself that I let it happen, but whatever... I've just gotta get over it & move on.

Tomorrow is a new day! & It WILL be great! :]

Goodbye 4 lbs! :]

2009-09-04T18:02:00.000-05:00

So... today was my first weight watchers meeting. It went great! My leader is absolutely hilarious- I totally love her! The facility is adorable- super colorful & bright! & the group of people were super supportive and fun. The best part of it all- I lost 4 lbs. this week :]

I had kind of a humbling experience while I was there... the girl behind me at weigh-in was super duper skinny and adorable. I was kind of wondering what in the heck she was doing there... trying to make everybody feel like garbage or what? During the meeting (she was sitting across the room from me)... I thought "maybe she's just here for some kind of confidence booster or something." I'm not gonna lie... she kinda subconsciously ticked me off. THEN our meeting leader announced that we had something to celebrate today!- somebody had reached their lifetime goal... well you'll never guess who it was...??? Her of course! She has been a member for a long time and has lost 60 pounds! I felt absolutely horrible... how dare I judge somebody- how dare I do the same darn thing that I worry people are doing to me. As I said it was actually quite humbling & I'm glad I had the experience. I am usually not a judgmental person whatsoever, but I have challenged myself to become better & I encourage everyone else to do the same :]

Well I'm off to work out! :] Hope Everybody Is Having A Fabulous Day!

Energizer Bunny! :]

2009-09-03T22:34:00.000-05:00

As I blogged about earlier today, I really really had to push myself to exercise (shred) this afternoon. But after that was all said and done and I got off my butt and did it anyways... I have been like an energizer bunny ever since. I shredded & then took my dog for a walk. Then later on when I got home for the night I was for some odd reason motivated enough to work out on the treadmill AND do Wii Fit. I feel like a little kid who had one too many pixy stix! Yet I wouldn't trade it for the world... I haven't had this much energy in probably over 8 years- It's incredible!

My 1st Weight Watchers meeting is tomorrow morning :] I'm pretty excited about it... it seems quite a few fellow bloggers have had a ton of success on the program & I'm hoping for the same outcome! I decided to wait the extra couple of days and use tomorrow as my weigh in day as well. I'm kind of nervous about that part... but we shall see- it is what it is. Wish Me Luck!...

Goodnight! :]

Workin' My Butt Off... Literally.

2009-09-03T15:26:00.000-05:00

So today I did NOT want to work out. I thought of a million reasons that I couldn't, or didn't have time, or "I'm already so sore", I need to this- I need to do that. Well it was all bull crap! I kicked myself in the butt and did it anyway! :] I am most proud of myself today, because this was the first time I had to really really push myself to exercise. I didn't realize that the honeymoon phase would be over so quickly, however It just makes it into more of a challenge for me. And I love challenges! :] (ask my parents). haha. I took my dog for a walk this afternoon at a much faster pace than usual... he definitely noticed the difference, because I was basically dragging him half way through.

On The Menu For Tonight!:

Spinach Fettuccine with Chicken and Broccoli. Yumm :]

Recipe:

Makes 4 Servings-

1 Bunch Broccoli Rabe, cleaned and chopped

6 ounces spinach fettuccine

4 teaspoons olive oil

4 (4-ounce) skinless boneless chicken breasts

1 teaspoon salt

1 teaspoon dried oregano

1/4 teaspoon crushed red pepper

1 onion, thinly sliced and separated into rings

4 garlic cloves, minced

1 head radicchio, shredded

2 tablespoons grated Parmesan cheese

1/4 teaspoon freshly ground pepper

1/4 cup chopped fresh basil

1. In a large pot of boiling water, cook the broccoli rabe 2 minutes. With a slotted spoon, transfer to a bowl. In the boiling water, cook the fettuccine according to package directions; drain.

2. In a large nonstick skillet, heat 2 teaspoons of the oil. Add the chicken, salt, oregano, and red pepper and saute until cooked through, 4-5 minutes on each side. Transfer to plates.

3. In the skillet, heat the remaining 2 teaspoons of oil; saute the onion and garlic until tender, 3-4 minutes. Stir in the broccoli rabe and radicchio; cook, stirring frequently, until tender, 4-5 minutes. Add the fettuccine, then sprinkle with the cheese and black pepper. Serve topped with the chicken and sprinkled with the basil.

Per Serving: (1/4 of pasta with 1 chicken breast): Points Value- 7.

I just got the Weight Watchers New Complete Cookbook & I totally love it! It has tons of wonderful, healthy recipes that I am looking forward to cooking! :]

Hope Everybody Is Having A Wonderful Day!

Day 2 Of The Shred!

2009-09-02T23:34:00.000-05:00

I just got done working out a little while ago & I feel absolutely amazing! I really pushed myself tonight & it was great! Every time I was tempted to rest I would think about what Jillian says... when it burns the most you are burning the most (something to that effect). Woo! I'm excited for the next 28 days, but more than anything I'm excited that this is the beginning of the rest of my life! I'm so happy that I've committed myself to making healthy decisions :] It is so empowering to feel in control of your body & to actually feel good about yourself.

Goodnight All!

P.S:

2009-09-02T21:37:00.000-05:00

P.S: It seemed my pants were looser this morning. I was super excited! It's only been about a week... is that even possible?! Well I'm not complaining! :] Woo Hoo!

Chipotle=Bad!

2009-09-02T21:34:00.000-05:00

So today... I kind of.... ate a burrito the size of my head.

I went out to lunch @ Chipotle with a couple of my friends & I told myself I would only eat half of the burrito (Tortilla, Chicken, Black Beans, Rice, Pico De Gallo, Cheese, Sour Cream & Lettuce). Well.. the good news is that I DID only eat part of it. The bad news... :( I ate the rest shortly after. Boo me! I did however learn a lesson from this disaster- IT'S NOT WORTH IT! I have been feeling so good & energetic lately and the ginormous burrito stole that from me. What nerve! Well It won't be happening again... that is "fo sho" :]

I worked late tonight, so I'm working out rather late as well. But I am committed to working out long and hard tonight to work off today's "mistake (a.k.a. ginormous burrito)". hehe.

Jillian, Here I Come! :]

Have a great night everybody!

I Thought I Was Going To Die...

2009-09-01T22:58:00.000-05:00

Well by the headline of today's blog you may think I had a usual near death experience, such as almost getting hit by a bus or falling off a ladder or being bucked off by a horse. Well I am not referring to any of those things- my near death experience was.... the Jillian Michael's 30-Day Shred DVD. Goodness gracious! The woman was a nazi. I thought it was never going to end- I suspect her voice will haunt me in my dreams :] "strength, cardio, abs, strength, cardio, abs" over and over and over! I knew it was going to be bad when I went to the bookstore to pick up the DVD... I asked a lady for help, because I couldn't find it and when I told her what I was looking for she said "Ohhh dear.. I love Jillian, but she is evil!"

Don't Let The Smile Fool You! ;]

On the flip side- I felt incredible afterward. I was rejuvenated & actually had more energy when I was finished- enough that I then worked out on the treadmill. I can't say I necessarily look forward to the next 29 days, but I know it will be well worth it! :] Thanks Syl!

Daily Food Journal:

Breakfast- Oatmeal

Lunch- Peanut Butter & Jelly and Vanilla Yogurt

Snack- Salad

Dinner- Baked Chicken, Mashed Potatoes & Broccoli

Thanks for everyone's support! :] It is much appreciated! Goodnight All!

30-Day Shred Challenge!

2009-09-01T13:20:00.000-05:00

So today is the day.... (dun DUN dun)! Let the fun begin! It's shred time :] I'm doing the Jillian Michael's 30-Day Shred with a group of fellow bloggers & it starts today! I can't say that I'm necessarily "excited"- that wouldn't be the right word. As with any workout I am most excited for the results not necessarily the process to achieve them! :] hehe. But with the support of my friends, family & fellow bloggers I know that I will get where I want to be. This is the beginning of a lifetime goal of mine to be happy & healthy. It's sure to be a long and rocky road, but I am excited and optimistic about the journey ahead.

Oh dear... here are the much dreaded stats & pictures:

Bust- 54"

Waist- 50.5"

Hips- 58.5"

Thigh- 33.5"

Arm- 19.75"

I'll use my same (yucky) pictures that I just took the other day, because I look the same :]

Well I'm off to work- I will blog later after my workout!

Have A Great Day!

Work = Blah!

2009-08-31T23:00:00.000-05:00

So today was just one of those days... work seemed to drag on FOREVER! - I thought I was going to lose my mind. Hopefully tomorrow will be a much better & quicker day! :]

Daily Food Journal:

Lunch- Subway (AGAIN... gosh It's becoming a pattern) I got the usual: a turkey sub on 9-grain wheat, no cheese, extra lettuce, tomato, & lite mayonnaise.

Dinner- I made broccoli and cheese stuffed baked chicken breast. I got the recipe from a fellow blogger- it was delicious :]

Dessert- Strawberry Slushy (1/2 cup fresh strawberries, half cup sugar free lemonade, & a 1/2 tray of ice cubes)

The other day I saw the movie Julie & Julia. It was pretty cute & it inspired me to become a better cook. I am going to make a strong effort to make healthy dinners each night for my family & I. I am going to go through weight watchers cookbooks & any other healthy cookbooks/recipes I can get my hands on. Wish me luck [or better yet- wish my family the best as they will be the taste testers... a.k.a. my guinea pigs :]

So I didn't work out today, but I did tons of shopping- does that count? I am going to be joining the Wisconsin Athletic Club. It's about 2 minutes from my house & is extremely nice! They offer a ton of free group classes, indoor and outdoor swimming pools & all of the usual workout equipment. I'm most excited to try out the spin class :] Membership also comes with 2 free sessions with a personal trainer, so I plan on taking advantage of that as well to get me off on the right track. They also have a 24 hour facility, which is only about 10 minutes from me. It will be quite convenient for long work/school days!

I'm super excited everything seems to be falling into place :]

Goodnight All. Sweet Dreams!

Brewers Win! :]

2009-08-30T22:08:00.000-05:00

The Brewers win 4-1 :] Woo hoo! Good game- we had amazing seats right on first base (next to Prince Fielder!). The best part of it all was that amongst all of the brats, nachos and peanuts I was able to find 2 health conscious foods! I had a turkey wrap and a baked potato. I was so excited... I didn't think I would be able to find anything that wasn't drenched in fat. I succeeded & it felt great!

For dinner I had a bowl of cereal, a peanut butter banana sandwich & milk. Yum.

I am really excited- my first weight watchers meeting is this Friday :] So far I have just been using their online features, but it's just not the same as going to the meetings. I chose Fridays, because that is when my favorite leader, Peggy teaches! When I was on the program years ago I went to her meetings... she is ABSOLUTELY HILARIOUS! She teaches all the core things you need to know, but incorporates her own style, flair & comedy. She's absolutely fantastic... I can't wait!

Well I'm off to bed! Goodnight Everybody!

Love Wii Fit!

2009-08-30T11:41:00.001-05:00

So yesterday wasn't exactly what I would consider exciting, hence- no blog. I drove all day, came home, took a nap, ate dinner, worked out (wii fit), and went to bed early. Exciting! I know :] My eating diary from yesterday Is as follows: Lunch- Chicken Sandwich & A Salad. Dinner- I made a turkey burger on wheat toast & baked potato fries.

I only worked out about 20 minutes on the Wii fit, but I was impressed with myself that I did it at all considering the fact that I was absolutely exhausted. I never realized how absolutely horrid my balance was until I began playing Wii Fit. They say to me "do you often find yourself tripping?" my answer- YES! I really like the variety of exercises that they have available to do, and I also love their brutal honesty. When first setting up the game you do a fitness test where they weigh you & check your balance. My "Wii Fit Age" is 29. Boo! That's +9 years over my actual age. Hopefully that will improve :] In reference to it's brutal honesty- when I weighed in she says in a sweet, cheerful voice "You're Obese!" I almost died laughing.. it was hilarious.

Today I am going to a Brewer's baseball game. They're playing the Pittsburgh Pirates, who they've beaten the past 2 games in the series so hopefully it will be a good game! :] Well.. I've gotta go get ready! I will blog later.

Have A Great Day!

Bad Katie!

2009-08-28T18:12:00.000-05:00

Today was definitely not the best of days- I kinda fell off the bandwagon a bit. I'm making the 13 hour trek back to Wisconsin from my sister's house in Virginia. I'm @ a hotel In Dayton, Ohio- I figured I might as well get a good night sleep and start the road trip back up again tomorrow morning, instead of dealing with Chicago traffic. Anyways! Back to the "bad news"- the day started out well.. I had oatmeal for breakfast, subway again for lunch & THEN... (drum roll please) Wendy's chicken nuggets for dinner. Blahh! Although I did have a side salad instead of fries- I'm feelin' pretty guilty at the moment. Even though fast food is my only current option I know I could have picked something a tad bit healthier. But life goes on!

On the plus side, while I was packing up all my stuff @ my sister's I got quite the workout. I went up and down that flight of stairs probably 20 times- It was a blast lemme tell ya! I'm pretty exhausted from driving all day, but hopefully I'll make it down to the weight room tonight, or I'll just work out in my hotel room.

Hope Everyone Is Having A Fabulous Day! :]

P.S: I am relieved and happy to say that after my week trial of the "No White Diet" (not a huge fan) I am joining weight watchers :] I've done the program once before years ago and I was quite successful, so I'm pretty excited about it!

YMCA or The WAC...?

2009-08-27T15:05:00.001-05:00

So i'm trying to figure out which gym to join when I get home from vacation... The YMCA or The Wisconsin Athletic Club. I suppose I will go take tours of each, but meanwhile the WAC's biggest advantage is that it's open 24 hours. The Y's biggest advantage is that it's about $20 cheaper each month. Hmm... decisions decisions.

Meanwhile, in the real world- I woke up today feeling good :] I had a 6" turkey sub on 9-grain whole wheat & a salad for lunch. It was delicious! I also got the Garden Salsa sun chips from Subway without looking @ the label first.. MISTAKE! 9 grams of fat just for the little stinkin' bag. blahh. Needless to say, I did not eat them. I have decided to commit to the Jillian Michaels' 30-Day Shred Challenge! I hear it's kinda like a living hell with benefits :] So we shall see!

I head home from vacation tomorrow morning. I was visiting my sister in Virginia :] It'll be around a 16 hour drive, so I'm thinking the chihuahua and I will probably hotel it up somewhere half way through. Other exciting plans for the weekend: Milwaukee Brewers baseball game Sunday! :] I'm going with my friend Andre- should be fun!

Hope Everybody Is Having A Wonderful, Healthy Day!

Workin' Out :]

2009-08-26T22:38:00.000-05:00

I just got home from the Gym with my sister. I walked on the treadmill for a half an hour. I'm starting out slow, but I know that that's the way to do it. I need to keep at a pace right now where I can work out for at least a half an hour, preferably 45 minutes continuously without having to rest. Well.. I'm off to bed. Goodnight All! :]

Yummy Yummy!

2009-08-26T18:19:00.000-05:00

So I'm not too sure the whole "NO WHITE Diet" is really for me. I realize that I have only been doing it for day, but I'm practical enough to realize that it's not something I will want to follow through with on a daily basis. But regardless, I have endured the whole 24 hours thus far. (haha) - tonight I had grilled chicken & a scrumptious salad for dinner! I also had a little bit of couscous (a whole heck of a lot less than I would usually have eaten). Overall today was a good day :]

Here's a random cute little poem I came across: ENDURE TO THE END!

When you've eaten too much and you can't write it down,
And you feel like the biggest failure in town.
When you want to give up just because you gave in,
and forget all about being healthy and thin.
So What! You went over your points a bit,
It's your next move that counts...So don't you quit!
It's a moment of truth, it's an attitude change.
It's learning the skills to get back in your range.
It's telling yourself, "You've done great up till now.
You can take on this challenge and beat it somehow."
It's part of your journey toward reaching your goal.
You're still gonna make it, just stay in control.
To stumble and fall is not a disgrace,
if you summon the will to get back in the race.
But, often the struggler's, when loosing their grip,
Just throw in the towel and continue to slip.
And learn too late when the damage is done,
that the race wasn't over...they still could have won.
Lifestyle change can be awkward and slow,
but facing each challenge will help you grow.
Success is failure turned inside out,
the silver tint in a cloud of doubt.
When you're pushing to the brink, just refuse to submit,
If you bite it, you write it....But don't you quit!
- Author Unknown

P.S: I struggle with eating breakfast in the mornings, so I'm wondering if anybody has any healthy smoothie ideas or any other breakfast suggestions?

Oops....

2009-08-26T12:39:00.001-05:00

So I MAY have eaten my leftover Japanese food from yesterday. I skimped on the rice though, so it was mostly just chicken and vegetables. Do you think the rice being brown makes it any less of a sin? I don't... but it was worth a shot :] Life goes on- I'm now going to take my dog for a nice long walk! She is a 3 lb. chihuahua, so I may have to carry her part of the way... ridiculous I know. She is adorable though!

SEE! :]

Have a wonderful day everybody! I will blog to ya later!

UPDATE: The walk was not much of a success in the 90 degree weather- we went to the park and she lied down in the grass panting after about 10 minutes... I will go to the YMCA to work out with my sister tonight :]

Follow Me On My Weight Loss Journey!

2009-08-25T19:43:00.000-05:00

Hello! :]

I have made a promise to myself to make this blog completely blunt, 100% honest and straight to the point. I am a 20 year old Wisconsin girl. I am a fun-loving, outgoing, humorous, caring & kind person who just so happens to weigh 315 lbs. (Dang! It seems 10x worse when you actually write it out). I have decided to make myself somewhat anonymous, at least at this point, due to the simple fact that my situation isn't exactly something I am proud of. In fact- it is devastating to me. There's no way around it... being overweight is something I live with each and every day of my life. & let me tell ya- it is a lonely road.

But moving on! I want and need to remain positive and optimistic, because I am going to SHED THESE POUNDS!!! The plan is to rummage through different eating regimens, diets, exercise programs, life plans- whatever the heck you want to call them! & hopefully find something that works well for me. I want to live a happy and healthy life and am extremely excited about my new endeavor and change in lifestyle :] I will do a weigh in each week and hopefully see the numbers take a plunge. My first weigh in was today and here is my current weight/BMI & goals:

Weight Loss Journal

Start Weight: 315 lbs. (BMI-39)

Goal Weight: 155 lbs. (BMI-24)

Total Weight Loss Goal: 160 lbs.

Weekly Weight Loss Goal Rate: 3 lbs. per week

Estimated Time Of Weight Loss Completion: about 13 months (September 25^th, 2010)

The first on my list of things to try is the "No White Diet". Brief synopsis: Basically, you just stop eating food with sugars, white flour (pasta, bread, cake, donuts, etc), white rice, and potatoes. This effectively cuts back on the carbohydrate in your diet, especially the high glycemic types. Just realize that there are also white foods, such as tofu, cauliflower, and onions, that are low in carbs and good for you! Here is the low carbohydrate pyramid that I am to live by :]

I will follow a daily exercise program consisting of about 30-45 minutes of light exercise. [Walk/Jog, Bike Ride, Swimming, or the infamous Wii Fit! :]

I am on vacation, but here are a couple of pictures I took of myself today.

Wish Me Luck! Goodnight Fellow Bloggers!

Eat, Shrink & Be Merry! :]

New Condo Pics! :)

Adios 9 pounds :)

It's been awhile... A looong while!

Weekly Weigh In...

Pizza... My Archenemy!

Happy Days :]

Quick Note!

Interview Madness!

The New Me! :]

Weekly Weigh In!...

Temptations!...

Ahh... the sweet smell of success! :]

Oriental Chicken Salad! Yumm! :]

Yikes...

Hello 2010! A New Year- A Time For Change! :]

♥ Katie

Missing In Action!

Goal Check In! :]

Over the Top Blog Award

Boy Troubles...

*Short and Sweet*

Honest Scrap Award :]

+2.2 lbs.

Blah...

The Grand "Shred"-Nale!- 30 Day Check In

"Konnichiha"

Weigh In Day! (drumroll please...)

Viva South Africa!

Adiós Fat Pants!

The Reveal...

Pizza Anyone...?! :]

Day 20 Check In! :]

Mmm!

I like to move it move it! :]

Goodbye 2.8 lbs! :]

My Weight Loss Goals :]

Just For You Missy! :]

I Didn't Eat Enough....?

Life Is Great!

Me+Breakfast=Disaster

Woo Hoo!

Day 10 Of The Shred :]

Happy Days...? More Like Crappy Days! :/

Goodbye 4 lbs! :]

Energizer Bunny! :]

Workin' My Butt Off... Literally.

Day 2 Of The Shred!

P.S:

Chipotle=Bad!

I Thought I Was Going To Die...

30-Day Shred Challenge!

Work = Blah!

Brewers Win! :]

Love Wii Fit!

Bad Katie!

YMCA or The WAC...?

Workin' Out :]

Yummy Yummy!

Oops....

Follow Me On My Weight Loss Journey!

Short and Sweet