Cell Phone Pictures

YIKES! Atleast I could button them, but NEVER NEVER wore them anywhere looking like that FYI! DECEMBER 15 2009

JANUARY 12th 2010. Pants were wearable and not too uncomfortable.

Baggy pants MARCH 8 2010. BYE BYE PANTS!!

These pictures make me feel a little more successful than those other ones. I took the first picture Dec 15th and texted it to my friend to show her I could atleast button my pre-pregnancy Lucky jeans. I felt pretty good about that, but was ready to be able to wear them, in public!

I took another pic a month later and was happy with the progress of one month of hardcore exercise and watching my food intake.

I was wearing them yesterday and I kept having to pull them up, up, up. SO annoying! I thought to take another picture before I throw these pants into my storage bin in the garage with my maternity/ after baby clothes. Not planning on any more babies... but I am still young so can't quite bring myself to get rid of all of it. Anways, this series of pictures really made my heart happy. And made me feel really proud of myself. Amazing what the body can do, get huge to carry a special baby, birth that child and then shrink back up.

Thank you body! I love you today!

Before and After Pics

After. Front view I can't really tell a diference

After Side,

Before side view

Before

I decided to finally get my before and after pictures up. I also took a series of three shots of my stomach in prepregnancy pants over the course of 2.5 months. Those little cell phone shots happen to be much more appealing than the work out outfit ones, but for today I will post these.

Food For Thought

Today is the day I share some foods that I regularly eat, or foods that I think you might regularly eat with their point values.

Breakfast
bowl of honey bunches of oats, skim milk- 3 pts
bowl of old fashioned oats, tsp brown sugar and less than 1/4 c craisens- 5 pts
egg, egg white, cheese with salsa scrambled-5 pts
Sara Lee whole wheat toast- 1 pt
tbsp peanut butter- 1 pt
light yogurt, flavored 1 cup- 2 pts

lunch
smart ones frozen meals- have points on them
tuna sandwich loaded with veggies- 5 pts
progress soup- has points on can
salad with chicken- veggies are 0pts, have to account pts for meat topping, cheese, and dressing
grilled cheese- 4 pts (2 slices bread, reduced fat kraft singles, little butter)


snacks
100 cal packs- most are 2 pts
1/2 c sugar free jello- 0 pts
5 cups 94% fat free popcorn- 1 pt
hard boiled egg- white only- 0 pts
small orange or peach- 0
2 graham cracker squares- 1 pt
med orange, apple or pear- 1 pt
bowl of chocolate cheerios- 3 pts
weight watchers has their own line of snacks, and candies they have the points marked on them. I try and do 100 cal packs instead because they have less fat than the candy

dinners
dinners are harder because I eat what I feed my family. I try to load up on veggies (opts) limit whatever carb I have, and eat a portion of protein.

drinks
diet soda- 0pts
crystal light- o pts
glass skim milk- 1 pt I think
WATER DRINK A LOT OF WATER!!

A few eating out point values
McDonalds
quarter pounder w cheese- 12 pts
mcchicken- 8
chicken nuggets- 1 pt each (this is pretty good I think, I fill up on 6)
Asian salad with grilled chicken 6 pts
egg mcmuffin- 7
sausage burrito- 7
small french fry- 5
large french fries- 13

Blimpie
Turkey sub white roll, cheese, lettuce, tomato and onion- 9 pts
ultimate club- 17 pts
beef and cheddar wrap- 17
sugar cookie- 8
choclate chunk cookie- 5

Subway
turkey- 5
roast beef- 5
american cheese- 1
vinegar- 0 mayo- 3
bread wheat- 4
italian- 4

Taco Bell
chicken quesadilla- 13
bean burrito- 7
soft beef taco- supreme- 6
fresco style crunchy taco- 3
fresco grilled steak soft taco- 3

Cold Stone Creamery
Cake batter like it- 10 pts
cake batter- love it- 17
mint like it- 10
sinless rasp. sorbet- like it- 4
mix ins
brownie 1 pc- 4
oreo cookies 2- 3 pts
gummi bears- 2
peanut butter cups (1 pc)- 5 pts

Have any thing else you are wondering about? Let me know, I have a ton of books!

Weight Watching

Today at church one of the girls announced that since January she has lost 20 pounds! I overheard someone ask her how and she told them weight watchers. Which reminded me that one of my friends just asked for a little information on the famous weight watchers. I have said before, I did the weight watcher program after my first baby and had super good luck with it. I am a true believer in their program. I lost 15 pounds and kept it off all the way up until my second trimester with my second baby.

Weight watchers works. All the commercials you see that say people who do weight watchers lose more... I think they are true. The program is set up in two different plans. I know they have new and improved stuff but I am recapping what I learned in 2008 when I followed it. I believe there is a core plan, and a flex plan. I followed the flex plan which basically allows you to eat anything you want, as long as you keep track of your daily points and stay with in that number. You are also given 35 free points to either use through out your week for extra cravings, to use all at once like if you go out to eat and you want something really good, or you can save them and reap bigger weight loss rewards for the week.

You weigh in every week at a meeting. Meetings are 30 minutes I think and everyone who works for weight watchers has been through the program and successful with it. The leaders are required to weigh in monthly if they are in maintenance. They are living proof of the success of the program. Meetings were helpful for me because I was held accountable at them. I went every week and weighed in, in the same clothes at the same time. Some people are nervous that everyone will know how much they weigh like on biggest loser, but that is not the case. Everyone stands in line and waits their turn, the only person who sees your weight really is you and whoever is checking you in. Although, at Weight Watchers they really encourage you to look at your weight exactly like I have encouraged you... as just a number. The number does not define how fit, healthy, important, smart or beautiful you are.

Meeting topics are on many different things from strategies for the upcoming super bowl was one of mine, eating out tips, exercise, grocery shopping ideas, and loving yourself. Simple things, but when many people come together you always leave with a bigger database of knowledge. (Which is why I am always begging for people to share comments on here!!) I always got new ideas whether it was a new breakfast idea or a new exercise goal, or just reinforcement that everyone is doing the same thing I was: working hard to get fit. It isn't easy and it is a struggle to make good choices every day.

So, that is basically my testimony of Weight Watchers haha. I really like it, I should totally be getting paid to push their program huh?! Well, for those of you like me, who are living in real life and don't have the extra money to put to weight watchers... keep coming to pound pinching. We can help each other, and teach each other what we are doing to make lifestyle changes to be the best, most fit people we can. I think weight watchers in aprox 10 dollars a week, and you pay that until you lose all the weight up to your goal. Typically you start with 10 % being your goal weight. When I first started I was almost 160 pounds, I paid 10 bucks a week until I got to 144, and then for six weeks of maintenance after. Once you reach your goal and stay their for maintenance, you are a lifetime member and can go for free for life, as long as you weigh in every month. In fact, I could go back to any weight watcher meeting now, because I am at my goal weight and would not have to pay. Don't worry I wont leave my pound pincher's hanging though. :o) Isn't that so cute how I think you really care?! (it sounds kinda expensive, but if I had the money, or if you have the money, I DO think it is worth it... what is more important than taking care of your body? Not too many things!)

SO FOR YOUR DAILY POINTS: This is how you figure how many points you get each day, plus the 35 you get for each week. Hope this isn't against any rules to post this, I am crediting that this is WEIGHT WATCHERS program, not mine!

1. Are you F- 2pts
Are you M- 8 pts
A nursing mom- 12 pts
(that's crazy I only give myself 4 extra points for nursing, according to my ob-gyn that is all that is necessary)

2. How old are you
17-26- 4 pts
27-37- 3 pts
38-47- 2 pts
48-58- 1pt
58 plus- 0
(when I get old I am totally not doing this program.. i bet they are hungry!)

3. What do you weigh? Enter the first 2 digits of your weight. Example, I weigh 144 so I use the first 2 digits - 14 pts

4. How tall are you?
under 5'1- o pts
5'1-5'10- 1 pt
5'10 plus- 2 pts

5. On most days of the week how do you spend your day?
sitting down (receptionist, bus driver, office worker)- 0 pts
occasional sitting but mostly standing? (sales person, housewife, cook teacher) 2 pts
walking most of the time (Waiter, mailman) 4 pts
doing physical work most of the time (nurse, gardener, construction worker) 6 pts

Add your points and that is your daily allowance. I get 27 points. Most days I follow this plan.

More to come with food ideas and their points, and I will find out how you can purchase their books that have most foods listed with their point values.

In vs. Out

What's up everybody!?!?! Yay TODAY, is the first day of the rest of our lives! We are going to be strong, fit, healthy, and maybe even a little bit skinny at the end of this 9 weeks. I can feel it, it's going to be a great competition. Did you notice the side bar? There are NINE of us so far!! For real, that is some serious cash the winner will receive!!!!

As you know, I have been doing some running lately, all of that running has been on a treadmill. My absolute, all time farthest run EVER is 4 miles. I went to the gym yesterday, still sore from volleyball and went 3 miles, but felt certain I was about to kill over dead so I had to stop. I decided today, after our funeral (which was such a beautiful celebration of life and all that is good in it) that I deserved a little me time. I took off on foot outside!! Well, outside running is a bit different for me than treadmill running.

Everyone I have ever talked to about running is either an A.)INDOOR runner or B.) OUTDOOR runner. I think I must be an indoor, though I really want to be an outdoor one. I clocked my run after I got home and it was only 1.9 miles. It was a hard run, I was sweaty and out of breath as normal... just hadn't gone as far as I thought I could.

I guess you just have to acclimate your body to anything new. It will take me some time, but I am confident that I can become any darn sort of runner I want to be. And today, I decide I want to be an indoor and an outdoor runner. So here is to the start of something new for my body.

I hope that you all know that as well. What is hard today, will not be hard in two weeks. We must teach our bodies new things, and as our brains tell them what to do... our bodies will respond and strengthen and condition themselves to fullfill those tasks that we have set them out to do. Don't limit yourself from something because you don't think your body can do it. Maybe today it can not. But take it slow and teach your body the basics and it will catch up... before you know it what was hard today will be a piece of... (no I will not say a piece of what) easy in a couple of weeks.

Good Luck to our bodies! Be easy and talk softly to them! Remember that even if they don't look exactly they way you want them to, they still fulfill some very important roles for us each and everyday... and for that we must be thankful!

FYI

Busy weekend ahead of me. My in laws are in town, and our Grampa passed away this week.

We are all hanging in there, but I will be a bit busy on Friday. Still send all your weights in by noon Friday. I will get everything up and running as soon as I can.

Excited to start our new round of pound pinching! I can't waite to see how all of our progress goes. I know we will do just as good, probably better than round 1! And I am excited to hear that we have 5 people signed up and ready to start... I know that more of you have said you are going to do it so-- let's lose our weight together!!

Haven't Felt that In a While...

I went with one of my friends/high school teammates, Morgan to play some city rec volleyball last night. If there had been a spy in my car on the way to Meridian we would have been figured out: We were nervous, insecure girls. Scared to death we forgot how to play ball. We swore we would for sure not be doing any diving for balls, we didn't even have knee pads.

We definitly did not forget. We were a little rusty, but for not touching a ball with the exception of maybe two 4th of July bbqs since high school, six years ago, I thought we did impressively well. It felt sooo good to spike a ball again, and serving, yep.. .just as good as I remembered.

We spent the whole drive over saying how we weren't coming again, we were so nervous... we were going to suck. And I think we spent the whole time coming home wishing we weren't just subs for the team. It felt really good to get together with other girls and do something active.

Ya, well the whole swearing you wont dive for balls... Kind of ridiculous when you spent half your junior and high school years diving for balls during regular and club seasons. My knees are a little bruised today, my forearm (only one) is bruised. My hands are sore, and the tops of my legs are a bit tender. Really? I have been working out like a mad woman for two months, and after an hour of volleyball I am feeling tender?

I guess I haven't used those muscles in a little while. P.s We lost all three games, but by the third game we had the scores a little closer. And we had a GREAT time!

Letting My Body Rest

I received an email from a concerned pound pincher today. She wasn't able to post on my last post so I wanted to let you know what she had to say.

"I am disappointed. I hope you have stopped eating. The message you have sent is: Be incredibly strict and then let it all go. I hope you don't gain it all back."

Thanks Christine for your concern for me and all the hard work I put into losing my 12 pounds. I can see where you might be worried that I have "gone crazy!"

I pushed my body extremely hard over the last two months. I put in seriously hard workouts, and monitored my food fairly well. I have never been a person who has watched every single thing I put in my mouth, probably never will be. In every diet I have ever researched there are alottments made to eat food that you like, that might not be the healthiest. With weight watchers you are alotted an extra 35 points to use to eat those foods, with Body for Life you pick one day to rest from exercise and eat anything you want. With Dr Phil, you also take that break.

I needed a break this weekend from all of it. I worked out 26 of the 28 days of February. I am so proud of the accomplishment of my weight loss, winning the competition was icing on the cake. I think maybe, because I am like many of you, my own worst critic... I was a bit dramatic when I posted I hadn't stopped eating since Friday. My weekend of food choices were still much better than I have made in the past, but not as good as I had made during some of my weeks. I only lost 1 pound the final week of the competition, I think that justifiably shows that my weight loss is everything but just to win and let it all go.

Round 2 starts Friday!! I hope you are all excited, I know I am. I have decided to participate in round 2 and see where my weight loss takes me, hopefully down to 140. Intermixed with that weight loss goal, my training goal for my half marathon is still there and I hope that with this round of pound pinching I will find as much sucess as I did with round 1. It sure helps to be accountable to the WORLD WIDE WEB!!

Email me, or leave me a comment if you are planning on starting on Friday. I have heard a little trash talk between the competitors. As of the last comment, some one said, and I quote "bring it!" LOVE TRASH TALK!!! Let's do it, let's hear it!! May the best pound pincher win!!

Girl Gone Wild

I bet some of you are wondering what I have been up to since I found out I won our little competition yesterday.

Well, I have been doing a little of this, little of that, and a WHOLE FREEKING LOT OF EATIN!

I have been a little out of control. I did go to spinning class early this morning for an hour sweat session. That treated me good. I know I am being crazy eating everything in sight, and plan on stopping soon... very soon. Just haven't set an exact date to when exactly that soon is. Maybe tomorow, maybe Monday I will eat like a proper pound pincher again.

I have also been wrestling with the good angel and bad angel on my shoulder over more weight loss, not more weight loss. Do the blog, don't do the blog (I am doing round 2 either way, just haven't decided for sure if I am participating again) because of breast feeding. I am having an inner conversation with the angels over continuing breast milk for baby, or discontinuing. That's another story though, and I am still talking it over with my shoulder friends... so more to come maybe later on that.

I am off to New Moon at the dollar theater with friend. I will hope to keep my eating in check, but it is hard to gauge how realistic that is, being off pound pinching for the weekend, and being at the movie theater.

Well, hope everyone is having a fantabulos weekend! Thanks for reading my blog.

Hey, YOU!! are you contemplating doing the next round of Pound Pinching with us??!?!?!?!! Well, I say DO IT!!!! Commit to it, for nine weeks and see where the road takes you. You might win some money, you might just learn to love exercise, you might lose some weight, you may fall in love with being healthy. The opportunities are endless and we would love to have you join us.
Talk to me people, I know you are reading.... leave me a commment... what are you thinking?!?!

And the Winner is...

Me! So I am excited but that would have been a bit more exciting to type someone else's name! Next time! Everyone did sooo well. It takes a lot of hard work and dedication to lose weight and maintain your losses each week! I really am so proud of everyone and thankful that you all took this weight loss journey with me. This never would have been as produtive for myself if I didn't have all of you rooting for me.

I took a picture of myself on the scale this morning so you would know that I did not cheat and this is for definite sure my weight. Sorry you have to see my ugly feet. I have been holding out on painting my toes in case I won... and now that I have... a pedicure is on my TO DO list!

Here are our final numbers!

Teri 157.4, 145.3 (-12.1lbs) -7.7%

S 248, 230 (-18) -7.3%

Rachel 202, 188 (-14) -6.9%

B 208.6, 196 (-12.6) -6%

Teresa 175, 166 (-9) -5.1%

Kendra 189, 180 (-9) -4.8%

Bryce 244, 233 (-11) -4.5%

Christine 163.8, 157.2 (-6.6) -4%

Amy 223, 216 (-7) -3.1%

Kara 196.8, 192.4 (-4.4) -2.2%

Melissa 181, 179 (-2) -1.1%

Steve 228, 228 (0)

Kendra's stats

Kendra sent in her stats to me today and I was too excited not to share! She did soooo great over this 8 week competition. She had a total weight loss of 9 pounds and her stats look just as great!

arm 13.5, 13
waist 41, 40
hips 42.75, 42
thigh 24.5, 23.25

That is some serious inch losage! Kendra I hope you are happy with your progress because we all know it AINT easy to lose inches or weight. It is hard work and you rocked it girl!


If anyone is interested they can send me their new weights and their new measurements for our next round and we will keep track. *Friday March5th new round starts* Like I said before, when the weight is not falling off like you want it to, most likely the inches are. Also I highly recommend before and after pics, even if you don't send them to me to post, keep them for yourself. It is enouraging when you can see something changing when you are working so hard!

My Final Measurements

I took my measurements tonight since the husband was home to make sure I was accuratly taking them.

I am pretty happy. Hubby seems to think if I can keep it up I can get really small. That's a compliment from him for the record. Thanks honey!!! I hope he is right.

Old Measurements(1/1/10) New Measurements (2/25/10)
r upper arm 12.5, 12
waist 37, 34
hips 42, 39.5
right thigh 25, 23.5

That stupid arm will not GO DOWN!! I hate how my arms look in pictures, so hopefully those arms are going to start shrinking!!

I am pleased with my loss of inches. I am so glad I took them because when the weight wasn't coming off as quickly as I wanted, I was able to look at the measurements and still see progress.

I will take my after photos tomorow night or Saturday morning. Can't waite to check those babies out!!

Email me your measurements if you took them before and you want me to include them. I can't waite to see how many inches you have all lost!!

Talk to you in the morning!! Can't waite! Make sure you email/text/call in your weight ASAP tomorow morning Friday February 26th! No weights will be accepted after 11:59 pm tomorow!

The Fat Lady Has Sung

I can't believe we are done! We have less than 24 hours until we step on that scale and admit how much weight we have, or haven't lost over the past 8 weeks. This has seriously been the quickest, most successful weight loss program I have ever done. Pretty sure it's because I had to lay it all out there and tell everyone my weight each week. I would have died of embarrassment if I didn't lose atleast SOME weight!
My son is 4 months 2 weeks old and I weigh around 146 pounds. Two years ago, when my daughter was 4 months 2 weeks old I weighed 153 pounds.
I freeking rocked my weight loss after baby #2! I am seriously so proud of myself. Everyone always says your body never goes back after babies, and while those stretch marks gracing my torso are there for good, or atleast until we strike it rich and have laser surgery... my stomach is close, very close to the old days. My legs and arms, close. And I am ok with close! Where there are marks, or a little extra padding... I am forced to remember one of the greatest miracles I will ever experience- pregnancy, nurturing two beautiful babies in my womb.
I am pretty confident when I say I am in the best shape of my life. I have never ever before been able to jump on a treadmill and push my body to run 4 miles, and never before able to do that two days in a row! I feel so incredibly good about my workouts. I ran two miles last night before I went into the magic room with mirrors everywhere for kickboxing. I was soaked. Drenched with sweat and I was rocking those punches and kicks and I felt SOOO strong. Like I could have busted up anyone tryin to mess with me!! It is so empowering to be 24 years old, married, have two kids and be able to look at myself and say I am strong. I can workout with the best of them, and I can probably kick half the people at the gym's trash. And that is in between tending to my family, dinner, dishes, laundry, reading books, playing blocks, and breast feeding my baby boy.
I would be totally ludicrious if I didn't recognize the hand of the Lord in my healthy ways. I pray each night He will help me to become more healthy, and strong so that I will be able to run and play with my babies. I really have always wanted to be that mom, when my kids are in high school that can come to a practice, or take them out to the track and kick their butts on a run. I want to be THAT example for them.
Being healthy is not a diet. Being healthy and fit is a way of life. And for me, it is the best way of life!
I still have work to do. I am not done. I want to lose another 10 pounds. That would be the lowest weight I have ever weighed in my entire life 135. I would feel so great at 135. I don't want to be 135 and skinny... I want to be 135 and tone. I want people to know I spend a little of my time in the gym, working on myself.
I have a new goal.
It is to run a half marathon. 13 miles. I want to do it, and I want to feel the adreneline and the excitement of a race. I want to feel the sweat drip and the endorphins go nuts in my head. I want to be strong and confident and I want to complete a half marathon race.
When, I keep asking myself. When will I be ready? My goal, today, is to run a half marathon before October 16th, 2010 when my baby boy will turn one year old. I want my almost 3 year old, my one year old, and my husband to be there at the finish line to see that mommy just busted a move and ran for 13 miles straight.
I can't waite. I can feel it now, it is going to be a great day!
Now, to find a marathon, start training and be ready. Operation Half Marathon starts today. I will keep you posted.

Double Lame

I warned my hubby, my 2 year old, and my four month old. I warned them several times!!

I said "I do not have time to be sick!! I am trying to win this weight loss competition. Do NOT under any circumstances, share your yucky colds with me!"

Ya, so apparently they decided to share despite my warnings of spanking and whippings.

I barely slept last night. Ear pressure, check. Sore throat, check. Sinus pressure, check.

BRATS!!!

Well, that's ok body. You decided to get sick, I am ok with that. Hope you are ok with working out anyway, because that's exactly what you are going to do. The same things I had planned for you before you stupid immune sysytem decided to take a dive. Running, yep. Kickboxing, yep. Cycling class, yep. Strength class, yep.

Too bad for you, shoulda thought of that before you whimped out on me!!

Hope the rest of you are skipping these pain in the butt colds that are circling the universe!!

Two more days til we face the music and end our 8 week competition! Good Luck!!

Ta Da... it's Monday!!

Hello fellow Pound Pinchers!!

How's it going? Are you motivated to finish out our last week strong??

What are you commiting to this week? I am busting my booty at the gym, limiting sugar/carbs. I will pray hard that the week is good. I am still hoping my running 8 miles last week might catch up and throw the scale into a downward spiral.

I think I am in second place right now, but there are a couple sneaky sneaky pound pinchers close behind me. It is still anyone's game. I am not going to lie, at first I started this knowing I wouldn't win but just did it for the motivation of being accountable to my readers. Well, my confession is this my friends. No offense!!! BUT I REALLY REALLY WANT TO KICK YOUR BUTTS!!! haha, just kidding... well I am kinda kidding, but I do want to win. I can feel the pedicure person rubbing my feet now.... ohh... ahhh..!!

Yep, that's right. I am praying every single night that I can lose 2 pounds this week. And that I can WIN the pot!!

So for you, I hope you do well too. I hope you maintain your loss and continue to lose!!
REMEMBER TO EMAIL ME YOUR WEIGHT BY 11:59 PM THIS FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 26TH!

See my side bar for our new rules of our new competition. STARTING MARCH 5, 2010~~

Want a Flat Belly?

Who doesn't?

A flat belly has been something I have yearned for, like, ever since I started looking in the mirror. I have worked out, I have ran, I have done abs here and there, (I hate ab workouts!!!) and I have dieted. Never had a flat stomach.

Ever.

I was reading in a Parenting magazine tonight about stomach issues in women. It said that women naturally have a rougher time with flat stomachs due to the hormonal changes from pregnancy, and loss of elasticity in the abdomen, along with sleep deprivation.

They listed several "flat belly foods" to eat that will help your middle section. They also said that these 4 things cause inflation in the waist!

"Stress. Cortisol increases blood sugar, which incresase insulin which increases the deposit of belly fat

Sleep Deprivation. Being overly tired leads to higher cortisol levels and throws your appetite-regulating hormones out of whack. And that- you know what's coming next- can result in binge eating.

Low vitamin D. A vitamin D deficienct can contribute to blood-sugar-regulation problems, insulin resistance, and, yep, tummy rolls.

Constipation. If you don't keep things moving, you know where it will all sit. Get regular with high-fiber foods (broccoli, peas, pears, ground flaxseeds) and LOTS of water. P probiotic supplement- which has good bacteria to aid in digestive healthy- will help too.

WATER is such a big key too. I have read in several places that our weights can vary by 3-5 lbs of pure water weight all the time. Foods high in salt make this worse. Lots of water flushes that out of your system and foods high in potassium help as well.

Not a big fan of belly button rings, but this pic was fast and easy to upload so I ran with it. ;o)

I posted

So I posted all the new weights for the week. A couple people didn't weigh in, so we will see next week how everyone as a group looks. This is going to be a critical week, there are a few of us who are close, and it is still anyone's pound pinching pot.

In other news, I found a really good way to at home pamper your feet if they are like mine, tired and sore from all the working out. I got a pair of these shea butter socks for Christmas from Bath and Body Works. (Thank you Amy!!) They are lovely all by themselves and I wear them every night! I don't wash them very often because I don't want the smooth stuff inside to get washed out. Anways, my toes are starting to blister up from all the running, so I lathered some shea butter lotion on, put on my socks, and the next morning... my feet looked good as new. The blisters were noticeable after I worked out again, but they definitly feel A LOT better since I started this new regimen.
If you don't have those socks, regular socks might work, probably not quite as good, but I bet it would still help a little.

And... just wanted to tell you all that I am proud of you! I hope you are proud of yourselves. Everyone has lost weight, everyone has maintained a good loss, and everyone is still trying (except one of you... cough cough... DAD!!!!) Don't tell him I said that, he probably doesn't read it anyway. ;o)
Losing weight aint for sissy's... and none of you are sissy's! You are doing great and I am so glad that you are still making the choice everyday to be healthy, strong, and the best you that you can be!!

Good Luck this week! Only 5 days until our competition closes. Remember to email/text/call me your results FRIDAY FEB. 26th by 11:59. The winner will be declared no later than 11:59 pm on Friday!

FYI

Just so you all know I am still waiting for four people's weights.

I am not posting this week until I have everyone's results!!

So if I haven't heard from you, please shoot me an email so I can get everyone's weights and percentages up!

Next week, I will not accept ANY weights after 11:59 pm on Friday the 26th. The winner will be declared at that time!!

DOUBLE DOG DARE

OK everyone! I am working on this blog every day almost, and every day I get excited to see how many people have stopped to check this little pound pinching page out. The numbers are increasing, in fact 26 new people, who have never seen this blog have looked at it this week.

That makes me feel good. Like maybe this blog is helping more than just myself out. And let's be honest, nothing feels better than knowing you are helping others.

SOOOO with that said, I am curious. Who are you? Where are you from? I totally blog stalk people all over the country, so trust me, if I don't know you, I don't care you are looking at this weight loss blog. In fact, it makes me happy you are looking at it. And I would be so much happier if I knew some of you.

DOUBLE DOG DARE YOU to leave me a comment and let me know if you're liking what you see, if you have a story, or if you want to know something.

DO IT! You know you want to.

Ps. Who wants to do another round of pound pinching? I am toying with the idea, with some adjustments to the rules, let me hear you if you want another contest!!!!

A few good quotes

I was on my eliptical machine today, rotating between watching the movie Hitch (good movie, by the way) and reading a Fitness magazine. I read an article on Kristin Armstrong, Boise native and olympic gold medalist in road cycling. She had some interesting and inspiring things to say so I thought I would share them. She said she is very goal oriented and sets daily, weekly, and monthly goals to make whatever she is trying to achieve easier by breaking it down.

"The minute you start worrying about the woman running faster on the treadmill next to you, or the person speeding past you in a race, you stop focusing on your own goals. You can't control other people..."
I am competitive to an extent, but mostly against myself. I have done statiums or run with other people, specifically cousins who are very competitive (;o) no names lol) and they would kill themselves before they let me or someone else finish before them. I on the other hand, will gladly let you pass me just so I don't have to stress or worry about you, whether you are waiting up for me, or whether I am going too fast for you. I do best when I can focus on myself and my own goals.

The Cold Hard Truth
"On frosty mornings, I lie in bed and wonder, If I don't get up to ride today, who would know? The answer: I would. Remembering that I have made a commitment to myself and my goals is usually enough to get me going."
We have all made commitments to ourselves on this blog. Nobody is there to check to see if we ate the right thing, or if we worked out long enough or hard enough. But, we know. We are all responsible for ourselves, and for becoming the best self we can be. That encourages me. I am responsible for becoming my best self in all aspects of my life. Physically, mentally, emotionally, spiritually. It is smart to sorround myself with like minded people to help me better myself. I am so thankful for everyone who helps inspire me to be my best!

So Annoying!

I am super annoyed today. All I want to do is eat. Specifically I want to eat, bad food-- cupcakes, choclate, candy, and french fries.

No, I don't want to choose one of those things. I want all of them.

I was doing so well monitoring my food intake. I was balancing my bad choices with more good choices. I had two great loss weeks in a row. I was headed towards another good loss, I think, because I was doing so well.

Then Valentine's hit me. I did so well up until Saturday night, and then Sunday was a repeat offense. Today, I have done ok... I mean nothing to brag about, but ok. But all I can think about is bad food and how good it tastes and how much I really really want to eat it.

I hate how it is so much work to be good, I finally get myseld on track where the choices are getting easier, and then one little stupid weekend of mistakes in the healthy choices department can just wreck my whole friggin attitude about my weight loss.

I think I will go scrub the kitchen floor. I better keep busy or I know I might just eat everything I can get my grubby hands on.

Ah Jeez!

So, I was a bad leader this weekend. Not a good example.

I ate too much! I ate a lot of really good stuff. No need to go into detail, I don't want anyone who is craving some bad food to be tempted by my lack of control.

I enjoyed it though, I worked out every day this week, and I am not going to take a rest until next Sunday. Hopefully I will be able to maintain my loss, and be back on track by Friday.

It dawned on me today, when I was thinking about my post that I was going to share some strategies for my last two weeks. Then I realized I am tied for second place to win this competition, and sorry... but I am keeping my big guns hidden!

I have big plans for the ( I think it's 60 bucks) money if I win. Pedicure for one thing. My feet need some TLC from all this workin out. And maybe, a new work out outfit to I can keep in shape in style!

What are you going to use your money for if you win!?

Remember our final weigh in will be FRIDAY FEBRUARY 26th! I will declare the winner that day! SO REMEMBER TO SEND ME YOUR WEIGHTS ASAP THAT DAY! I will not take weigh ins after Friday at 11:59 pm.!! Whoever has lost the highest percentage of weight on Friday at 11:59 pm will be the overall winner and will receive the POUND PINCHING POT!!
*Please be honest, please dont do any crazy starvation/cleanse/ anything else that isn't in line with the healthy habits I have talked about on this blog!

Good Luck this week! There are several of us who are close in weight loss percentages, it is still anyone's pot!

Valentine's Parties...

Happy Valentine's Weekend!!

Isn't this holiday weekend great? It is sooo great to celebrate the love we have for one another, however, this is a tough weekend on the dieters schedule, especially for us pound pinchers. We only have two weigh in's left until the winner is declared by the highest percentage of weight loss.

I was getting kind of nervous about this weekend, I think starting on Wednesday, when I received some to-die-for choclate truffle candies in the mail. Can you say yumm??

I succeeded in only having 3 of those little truffle balls. Guess how many grams of fat are in 3?

17!, that is so ridiculous.

I hid them in the pantry from myself, then the next day had to send them to work with the hubbers. I knew I couldn't be trusted all day, alone with the truffle balls.

I bought an angel food cake mix at the store, and some strawberries. My valentine's treats are going to consist of the cake, with berries and chocolate covered strawberries. Delicious indulgences, I wont feel like I got "jipped" on the love day, and I wont gain back all my weight.

Good Luck this weekend Pound Pinchers. Remember how good it feels to see the scale go down, and how crappy it is when it goes up. If you go to a party, fill up on the veggie tray and avoid the fried/breaded/dip isle!!!

May the Force be with You!

Kickin Ace and Taking Names

Can I just say how ridiculously excited I am???!!!

My last chance workout tonight was supposed to consists of 3 miles of running, and pliometrics. I try and put in all I have on Thursday's before my weigh in.

Instead I ran 3.5 miles and did pliometrics.

I am so freekin stoked! I have never ran further than three miles, atleast since I had my first baby, anyway.

It's a proud day for Teri.

A Love Letter...:o)

This is an email from one of our fellow penny pinchers. It made my heart smile a little brighter to hear such good, motivating, happy thoughts from Amy.

Teri,
I just had to say I love exercising!! I feel so good when I'm done. I can't even be sad that I'm fat anymore because I'm doing something about it. I think its magic, when you're trying to fix it, you’re not sad about it anymore. (by the way, she isn't fat for the record,) I've been trying to say everyday “I love exercising!!” Over and over again and it really works! I do love it now, for the first time ever. It's like my body is saying thank you, this feels good. OK I'm done now, that is my testimonial of the day. Thanks for all your help. It's much easier with someone. :)
Oh and I was pretty mad! At minute 18 my ipod ran out of batteries!!!!! Rude!!!! I tell you, it was hard to stay on but I did! Yeah! At least I got to listen to apple bottom jeans! I tell you it was in my head all weekend, yes even in church.


I am so glad to see and hear that people's total perspectives are changing. Exercise doesn't have to feel like punishment. It can be the best part of your day, and I am so glad that Amy, and hopefully you too, are learning to LOVE to exercise!

How many times?

I have a confession to make.

I only record my weight each week after I weigh in on Friday morning on my Christmas Weight Watchers scale. I weigh in first thing in the morning after I feed the baby, pump the rest of my milk, go to the bathroom, and I DO NOT eat or drink a thing after I go to bed on Thursday night. That is my bare minimum wieght and the only day that I follow that whole ritual is Friday morning.

However, I typically weigh my self atleast three times everyday. Once in the morning, and always at night but the times in between there vary. I like to do it after a work out, before I want to eat something bad that I know I shouldn't, and sometimes just to see what the heck that little scale will say.

Some people might say that's obsessive. Maybe it is. It isn't like my weight loss is excessive, so I think for now weighing myself many times a day works for me.

It keeps me in check too, I know if my number has gone up too much during the afternoon, I need to be more careful that evening. If my number stays fairly consistant, I know I have a little wiggle room with what I eat.

I know people who are daily, weekly, and others who never step on the scale, but manage their weight by the way their clothes fit.

How many times do you weigh in?

Intimidated?

I remember my first night back at the gym after I had my first baby like it was yesterday. I went with a cousin who was in shape. I was 20 pounds over weight had acne all over my face and was still wearing maternity clothes every day.

I was so embarrased. I was so self concious. I had never been one of the big people in the gym. I was that day, I was bigger than the big people. We did the eliptical for probably 30 minutes, I remember I wanted to die. I was breathing like a freight train, we did some abs, I couldn't even pull myself up for half of a sit up. I was scared to death I would see someone who might recongize me, (hard to do when you don't even recognize yourself).

I was in a hard spot on life. I was soooo depressed about the way I looked. I had a beautiful baby at home, and I wanted to feel like a beautiful mom. It wasn't working. My face hurt so bad from the acne that came on when I got pregnant with her. My body was so swollen and heavy with the extra weight. I hadn't worked out for 10 minutes in a year.

That was the day I learned to feel compassion for heavier people. I realized why people say they hate gyms.

I made myself keep going. I started the group classes, the kick boxing, strength training, and eventually I started to do the step aerobics. None of these classes were easy. I was so self conscious of how I looked, if I was doing a move, or a step wrong. I was sure everyone was talking about me and how fat I was, and wondering why I didn't fix my face.

I was in a bad place.

But I kept going, I made room in our budget to go and buy some workout capris that fit. I still have them... they signify something to me. They fit now, but they wont for much longer. I remember how excited I was when I had to pack those two pairs of black pants up because they were too big. Each week the workout's got a little easier, I was getting a little stronger and I was gaining a lot of confidence back.

I realized, everyone starts somewhere. Not one person in the gym went in tip top shape, or stick skinny. They started somewhere. Just like I did. And I realized that nobody even notices when you mess up a move, or don't lift just perfectly, or if you run a little funny. What they do notice, is that you are there. That you are working hard, that you are trying to improve yourself in whatever way... and that my friends is worthy of all the respect in the world.

So if you are scared to try something new, or to take your first trip to the world of gyms, remember that everyone has to start sometime, and it always gets easier. Get your butt there, work out, keep going. It always gets easier.

Just so ya know

We have lost two more participants from our challenge.
Kinda sad, but they are on to bigger, better, and faster things.
We have lost three people to the famous HCG diet.
Just wanted you to know, even though my dad really thinks I am kicking people off if I think they are going to beat me, I'm not... they are just exploring other weight loss avenues!
So, with that said-- We are playing for 55 bucks now! Just to keep you informed!

Strength Train Part 2

So I have found it most beneficial to my health and strength to attend a weight lifting class at the Idaho Athletic Club. It is 45 minutes three times a week. In a perfect world, I would make it to all three classes, but more realistically I only get there once or twice. When I had my first baby, this is the class I blindly went into one Saturday morning and said to one of the pretty fit girls in the class, "Do you think I can handle this, I haven't worked out in a while?" She didn't think I could, but luckily someone else piped in and told me to stay, and do what I could. I think I did half of what everyone else did, but I kept going back and the results were so good. Weight started really coming off and I was getting really strong, fairly quick.
The nice thing about these classes are they are high repitition, and low weights. Which means you don't bulk up from doing them, but you get more cut and defined looking. I think we end up doing like 50 squats, and lunges some nights. And equal amounts of bicep curls, shoulder work, and abs. This class is so great because I don't have to remember 5 million different routines, or how to properly do everything because the instructor is right in front of me doing it. She mixes things up and gives a variety of different moves. It is hard, it burns, but it feels really good knowing I just worked my whole body in an hour. I always do atleast 30 minutes of cardio before or after and this my friends, is a great work out for me.
It may be intimidating at first... it was for me, but know that every single person there was there for the first time at some point. No one does everything perfectly and just like in life, we all have to learn at some time. If you ever want to hit a strenth training class with me, I'd love a partner. In fact, a friend of mine, Lindsey went to kick boxing with me this week and it was SO FUN to have a partner there, someone I knew was counting on me to be there so I wouldn't flake out and cancel.
Even if you don't go to the IAC, I highly recomend checking this class, or another one like it out!

Bye, Bye, Bye (you know the N'Sync song!)

All I can think of is that song!!! BYE BYE BYE 150's!!!! HELLLO.... New York and the 140's! I have missed you 140's, so so so so much!!!!
I can not tell you the excitement that came over me this morning when I dropped my drawers to find the scale reading 149.4! I wanted to see 140 something for a long time and I am so thankful all those workouts finally caught up and the scale went down!!!! Thank you Scale Gods! I prayed and Prayed to you, thank you for listening.
Several people had a really great week! I know what an accomplishment this is. I hope you are rewarding yourself and being proud of all the hard work you are putting in! Weight loss aint for sissy's if you know what I mean.
I sometimes think to myself after I see a good loss that I should reward myself with something yummy... like ice cream, or a cookie, or a doughnut. BUT!! That is a bad idea. If you are thinking it, you probably would be best to go eat an apple. You DO need to reward yourself, but with something other than a food that is going to jeapordize the amazing progress you have made... that is the bad angel on your shoulder telling you to eat to reward yourself!! haha, but really it is!
Keep it up! Keep working out, keep eating the "better" food, and keep smiling! We are all doing soooooooo great.