Bother 2 - I took the real age test at RealAge.com and now I’m trying to lower my “real age”.  Well one of the things that it recommended was for me to get more sleep.  So I started to keep track of how much sleep I actually get and it really isn’t enough.  I’m missing like a full 10 hours of sleep in a week.  And there are days I get 5 and then some I get 10.   I think this effects my mood big time and how my body feels.   I’m tired because I don’t get enough sleep and I’m tired because of the days with too much sleep and trying to play catch up. 

Bother 3 - I’m trying not to get angry so much so that my stress levels are down but people in this house keep pissing me off.  Are they secrectly trying to kill me?  It’s funny when you say to yourself “I will not get angry” and right away something makes you angry.  Like just making the statement alone invites anger. 

That’s it!  Thanks for reading!  Carry on.

I counted every calorie and every fat gram these choppers came in contact with and it paid off.  Not to mention all that dang cardo too.   I’m proud of the fact that I did not eat out at all this week.  All meals were cooked or prepared at home with my Cooking Light cookbook.   Yay me!  This is big for me.

Have a great weekend Buddies!  I hope everyone hears their own good news! 

I did however plan for the evening and saved up alot of calories in order to throw some back (like my honkey tonk talk?)  and still meet my calorie goals which is kinda weird in a way.  But, it’s what I’m trying to do to find balance with losing weight and not sacrificing my social life.  I gave up alot of social time last year trying to get in shape and now since I lost the bulk of my weight, I don’t want to sacrifice it again. 

So I’m happy to report I met my calorie goals big time.  I even did the research on what beer had the lowest carbs and calories and for you beer drinkers out there reading, there is a difference.  If anyone cares, Miller Lite and Budweiser Select are lower in carbs and calories then any of your regular type bar beers. 

Have a great weekend buddies.  For those of you who are weighing in tomorrow or Sunday, my fingers are crossed for you and me!  Oooh, I said that way too loud.  (rubbing my head)

I’m thinking if a parent wants their kids to have snacky foods (which I’m ok with myself) then you have to give fruit equal time.   Now I can see how this wouldn’t work so easily for a child who has junk all the time and then their parents try to get healthy and the kids rebel because they don’t normally eat fruit.  That I can see where it would take some time and some battles.   Lord knows I’ve been there with my oldest.  But, if we get our kids early and teach them that fruit can be good and make it a normal thing around the house then they are better off in the long run. 

Let’s hope I can take my own observations from today and remember them not just for today but from here on out raising her.  Let me remember to always have good foods around.  Always.   Fingers crossed!

Have a great day Buddies!  Let’s karate chop some fat today!  Aaaaaeeee yaaaa!  (hand making stupid chopping motion)

Good news for me tonight.  I ran 3 miles!  I guess it’s not the most exciting news but it’s always nice to see you still “got it” ya know?  I used to run that alot before and then stopped and would pick it up here and there.  So anytime I can run it now makes me think there is still hope for these lazy bones of mine. 

 Have a great night buddies.  Let’s now put our feet up and rest.  Ahhhh…and sip on some wine… 

Food Log

Exercise Log

Sunday - Started my health plan all over again.  Hit all food target numbers that I set for myself

Monday - Hit food target numbers I set for myself and ran 2 miles and walked 1.  Started reading my Dr. Oz book again to get re-inspired.  Started taking vitamins again.

Tuesday - Hit food target numbers again and ran 2 miles and walked 1.  Registration form has been sent out for my first 5k run. 

Wed - Ate a good breakfast so far and looking ahead for a good day.  (scale had good news this morning but won’t log anything until later)

Have a great day buddies!  It’s never easy starting over but the pay off is great if we keep at it.  I should know.  This is my umpteenth time restarting. 

 Anyway…….I signed up for a 5K race for Oct. 15th.  This will be the first race I have done where I actually ran it.   I hope that training for this race will help jump start my weight loss efforts again and if I complete the race then I can scratch that one off my New Years Resolution list. 

On another note, the other day I read a blog where someone spoke about the skinny people and their efforts to lose weight too and how they talk about it.  When I was younger I used to think they (skinny people)  were just complaining over nothing too but I have since changed my way of thinking.   I remember when I was 207 and I needed to lose over 60 pounds.   When I started reaching the 160’s did I then become one of the skinny people?  No.  When I reached 150 did I become one of the skinny people?  No.  I may have gotten skinnier but I wasn’t skinny.  My BMI still said I was overweight.  What is that magic number out there that tells others you need to stop talking about weight loss?   I know there are some people that need to lose 60, 70 or even 100 pounds but just because a person isn’t in the 200’s doesn’t mean they shouldn’t talk or act on their weight loss.  Just because a person has only 15 more pounds to go doesn’t mean they shouldn’t talk about it.  I remember working with some skinny girls and they would watch what they ate and discussed it and that’s probably because they knew if they didn’t that they would gain weight too.  The only difference between them and I was that they watched what they ate and I just ate whatever I could.   I guess my whole point is on this subject is what’s the magic number that you have to quit talking about weight loss?   I may not be 200 and something pounds anymore but my weight is still at a dangerous number for heart problems and other medical problems so I think that’s ok.  And if someone whose 130 wants to try and get at a healthy but at a lower weight then I’m ok with that because it’s better they do it now before it really becomes a hard struggle.     This was not a rant but just an opinion on the subject.  I mean, if we all made it to our goal weight and became “skinny” are we not allowed to talk about our weight loss efforts anymore because we are no longer considered “fat” by others?   Believe me when I say the struggle continues on.  I made it to my goal weight once and you just don’t magically stay at that number.  You have to keep working out and eating right or the weight comes back on.

Have a good one buddies.  To all my fellow Texans out there, especially the one’s living on or near the coast, stay safe.  That Ike looks pretty mean. 

Thank you God!  Thank you for hearing me when I was soooo down.  Thank you for the blessing you gave us!

Thank you to all my Buddyslim pals that responded to my last blog.  So many of you reached out and shared your experiences and feelings and you tried to lift me up.  One poster even said she didn’t have advice but wanted to say my situation sucked and that made me laugh because it was true.  lol.  Many people reached out to me through email to say they would pray for me or just wanted to check on me.  What a wonderful wonderful feeling.   Thank you all.

It has a been a low few months.  There have been some highs and then some low lows.  There were times my husband and I were allies and times we let each other have it.   Now, we can move on and be hopeful. 

Oh, did I tell you?  There are times that I even surprised myself.  I was going through this low period and somewhere inside of me I found the courage to take a couple of salsa lessons.  Something I always wanted to do.  I joined a salsa meetup group and I took my first lesson the other day and then took another one at a little club.  Funny how you can go through a bad period and then do something outside your norm simply for the heck of it.  I’m too depressed to clean my house but I’ll take salsa lessons?  Ha ha!  

This year has been real funny for me.  I’ve never done so many different things this year and at the same time there was a low period.  Ahh, what life throws us.

I’m going to enjoy this weekend even more.  Some friends, my hubby and I are going camping.  When I get back, it’s back to work on losing this weight and being a better buddy again.  A friend invited me to join her 5K team for a race in November.  I didn’t want to sign up for it at first because I didn’t know where I would be in November or how I would feel if my hubby was still out of work.   Now, I will join.  Fo shizzle! 

Thanks again for all your support, stories and prayers!  I only wish good things for all of you.  I don’t want anyone to be in that sad lonely place I was in.  It’s not a good place to be.

What drove this blog today?  Well, I’ve been trying to be the most patient person I can be.  More patient then ever before.  Hubby lost his job about 3 months ago and he’s having a hard time finding a job.  He puts in something every day but no real bites come through.  Interviews happen but there is always something he is lacking that they want.    Finally something hopeful comes his way.

1. Husband had a phone job interview about 3 weeks ago. 
2. Then we wait to see if they ever call back.
3. They do call back and set up a panel interview.  We wait for that day to come (following week).
4. Interview day comes and hubby says it goes really well.  Now wait to hear back.
5. Days later (on a Thurs) finally hear something back.  Hubby needs to do one more phone interview with the guy he would be working with if hired.  Sounds like it’s pratically in the bag.  Interview scheduled for Monday 1:00.  Need to be patient just another while longer. 
6. Monday comes and I’m hopeful.  1:00 comes and no call. Grrr.  Hubby calls HR to see if he missed something but they tell him the boss guy forgot interview.  Reschedules it for 5:00.
7. 5:00 comes and no call again.  Super grrrr.  Hubby calls and HR says they will try and find out what happened tomorrow.

All this waiting is driving me crazy.  He submits his resume and application so you wait days to hear back.  Then if you do hear back, you wait for the interview day.  Then you wait to see if they want to hire you.  They all say they will call whether they will hire your or not but they really don’t.   You wait, wait, wait and wait.  And when you think you have followed all the rules of being as patient as possible the powers that be make you wait just a little more.  Squeezing just one more ounce of hope you have.

My patience is being tested.  My spirit is slowing wearing down.  Depression has come and gone during this last 3 or 4 months and it’s finally winning.  If depression and I were in an arm wrestling match I think I’m about an inch away from touching the table and losing.

Oh, and I’ve gained about 8 pounds.  Not good.

Anyway, my license is when I was probably over 207 pounds and my face looked huge.  Now I’m not saying everyone over 207 lbs has a huge face.  It’s just mine was super huge  and looked really bloated.  Might have been because of my thyroid problem too.  It really looks like a whole other person than myself. 

Look, to those of you who are struggling, please stay the course.  I’m telling you, it is so worth it.  I’m not just saying that so that you can get compliments from people either.  I’m saying it’s worth it because for me, my confidence level is so much higher than it was before.  I feel better, can dance longer and feel more outgoing then before.  I don’t stress about what to wear when social things come up and about not being in photos anymore.   It’s a great feeling.  And I’m not even in the “skinny skinny sizes” either. 

And here’s another reason too.  I’m somewhat stressed about my husband’s job search and I can say that I have not once grabbed food in any way for comfort.  If I enjoyed a few drinks it’s because I knew what I was doing and had a plan for it.  Even later in the evening we went to a friends house and he brought out some queso and chips and even in my “drunk like haze” I remembered my plan and didn’t eat it.  I think it’s because practice makes perfect.   Retraining my body to learn new habits too.   Stay the course ladies and gents.  There is so much more waiting for you. 

P.S.  They couldn’t pay enough right now to give up that license picture.  I admit, I like to hear compliments about it. 

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