Non-Scale Victory of a LIFETIME!!!

For the girls birthdays, we got them tickets to the New Orleans Wizard World Comic Con. On Saturday, we spent the better part of our 10 hour adventure on our feet - walking and seeing everything there was to see at this amazing event! I was amazed by my FitBit's readout at the end of the night. Almost 17,000 steps and nearly 7 miles walked. I think about where I was 7 years ago when I started this journey... I even reread My Story and remembered how badly my back hurt just to stand at the sink to wash dishes. An outing like this was something that only existed in my wildest dreams. I never want MY weight to stand in the way of someone else's dreams and for a long time, my inability to do things like this has kept my girls isolated. That's so not fair to them. The memories they created on this trip will be ones that will last a lifetime... They got to meet Glen (Steven Yeun) from The Walking Dead and get a picture with him. They got to see Stan Lee and Dean Cain and Linda Hamilton and Zach Galligan! We sat in the audience for a taping of an episode of SyFy's The Heroes of Cosplay! Those are so few of the many awesome things we saw and did!!!

There is absolutely no way I could have done this 200 lbs ago. No way.... So this was something completely foreign to me. I've been big for so long, I tend to avoid social situations and crowds like the plague. I think I mentioned before that I deal with an insane amount of anxiety. But despite being sick (2 weeks now with a head cold and chest congestion), I did it. I didn’t allow my insecurities keep me from enjoying myself. I didn’t even think about how still being 100 lbs overweight would affect my joints or how much pain I might be in later. I didn’t once allow any of that to keep my girls from having the absolute best time possible.

We had a freaking blast! They are already planning to go again next year!!! Who knew living was gonna be so much fun!?!?!?

New Year Off to a GOOD Start!

December was tough, but we made it through.  January took some transitioning and some adjustments, but again... we made it through.  My current weight is 227 which has been holding steady for quite some time now.  I started exercising a few weeks ago and with no changes to my diet, I fluctuated up 6 lbs.  Then I got sick and quit exercising and I'm back down to 227.  Weird how that works.  As soon as I can get rid of this upper respiratory junk, I'll resume walking and hopefully preparing for my first 5k.  I committed to a 1/2 marathon for February 2015.  So I have a goal to work toward.

Trying to help hubby get back on track, I made some infused waters to help detox.  I can say the fat flush water with grapefruit, orange, mint, cucumber and green tea tastes like ass.  But there's another one that I found that isn't bad.  this one calls for:

Gallon Jug
4 tbsp lemon juice
4 tbsp diet cranberry juice
2 bags of dandelion tea (brewed)

Mix together in gallon jug and fill with water and refrigerate for 2 hours before drinking.  This is not meant to be a meal replacement. 

I will drink it out of a 24 oz cup.  2 cups of the detox water and I add another 1/2 cup or so of cranberry juice and fill the rest with ice.  Yesterday was my first day trying it out and I was peeing every hour and it definitely helped move things along with #2 as well.  Hubby didn't notice much of a difference, but he'd only had about 1/3 of what I'd had for the day since he was at work most of the day.  I figured I'll give it a week and see how things go.  I'm so close to my 200 lb lost mark.  I'd like to be there SOON!!!  2 more lbs to go!  And only 28 lbs to ONEderland!!!

Our road to healthy has taken a turn for the better.  Our little ones (9 and 10 year old girls) have decided to jump on the wagon with us.  Our almost 9 year old struggles with her weight and has gained 10 lbs since August, despite being active and staying away from junk food.  We have always been very open about nutrition and always talk about how our bodies process food for fuel.  Apparently something sunk in with her and after weighing in at 92 lbs 3 weeks ago, she decided she needed to make a change.  She and I have been working on her food choices and incorporating regular activity and she is down 2.5 lbs.  Because she is still young and growing, I don't want her to focus on losing weight...  I just want her to focus on not gaining.  She will grow into the weight that she is.  But I know how much of a boost it is to her self-esteem to see that her efforts are putting out some positive results!!  So if she loses weight in the process, then we will take every little success we can.


I've got some big goals for the year.  First is to get back to school.  Still don't know what I want to be when I grow up, but I'll at least finish my Associates in Psychology.  Like I mentioned, I'm aiming for a 5k in a few months and a 1/2 marathon in about a year.  I'm hoping to make it to ONEderland by the end of the year.  I know losing this weight is not a race so I'm fine if it comes off slowly.  I will not sacrifice my health for a number on a scale. 

Well that's all I've got for now.  Hopefully I'll have my 200 lb lost update soon!!!  =)