the SCALE

we have had an old school scale in the house, you know the one that you have to set your self and the little red hand bounces when you step on it?   That is what we have been gauging our weight with.  All in all I thought I was doing really well.  Things weren't soo bad....

...til I stepped on a digital scale last weekend.  Our scale is not 1 pound or 2 pounds off.  Heck it isn't even 5 pounds off.  Our scale is TEN POUNDS OFF!  Needless to say, this discovery put a little hitch in our giddyup.  Turns out, paying $10 for a scale that helps determine your health and dieting quality, is not a good investment.  Who knew?

So this week I have purhcased our very own digital scale.  It was still the cheapest option they had, a whopping $18!  However, the new scale is both a blessing and a curse.  Every time I eat, drink, or pee I step on the scale to see if anything has changed. 

On one hand, I can see this as keeping me accountable. 

On the other hand, I can see this as a devil contraption that keeps reminding me how far from my goals I really am, which sends me straight into the arms of the comforting pringles can. 

Be it an angel or a devil, either way, knowledge is power. 
...and I currently have 192.4 pounds of knowledge.

sausage and hashbrowns

We have completed weekend two of Operation GO TO THE GYM.  We spend about 1 hour each day of our weekend working out our hardest.  We have now invested in Wii Active, to give us something to use at home when we just can't seem to make ourselves go to the gym.  So basically we have no more excuses that we don't have opportunity.  Now we just need to make the full commitment. 


Part of the gym commitment is seeing results.  We live in a day and age where we want immediate results.  When we have to work hard and not see pay off for several days, weeks, or even months that signals to us that it isn't working, so we abandon ship.  I want to lose weight the natural way so there are no drugs, powders, or chemicals involved.  But that also means that the weight loss will be gradual, and it will take more than just two visits to the gym a week.  It will take consistent work and better eating habits. 

Lets take yesterday as an example. 
For breakfast: blueberries and cream oatmeal with one slice of toast. 
Snack: trailmix. 
Lunch: turkey and cheese wrap with LOTS of veggies and pretzels. 
Dinner: Egg and Sausage casserole, and hasbrowns. 
Dessert: 100 Calorie Ice cream bar.
Late night snack (which you aren't supposed to do): handful of sunflower seeds.

My day went great til dinner time.  I had two HUGE helpings of casserole and two helpings of greasy fried homemade hasbrowns.  It's not about not eating these foods.  It's about portion sizes.   Something I will try to do better on.

(It's also about ulcers and heartburn.  You would think I would learn NOT to eat sausage and hashbrowns at dinner time.  UG!)

30 day diet

I am on a 30 day diet and I have already lost ten days! =)

a little humor to start my day. 

If all goes well...

If all goes well, we will be going to the gym tonight.  It will be a slow start, but I am so excited to be getting back on the treadmill.  It's been far too long.  

I will wheeze.  I will turn red.  I will sweat.  I will chafe. 

I will smile at the end, because I know we on our way to becoming healthier people. 

FAT PANTS

My fat pants don't fit anymore.  My FAT PANTS.  The pants I specifically bought for fat days when I was too bloated to fit into my other clothes.  The clothes I haven't been able to wear for almost a year now.  I have jeans stored in the closet that used to fit like a dream and make my butt look awesome.  However, since the climb of the scale, I have been having to wear sweaters or maternity type shirts to hide my muffin tops.  You read me right.  Muffin TOPS.  I have a double layer muffin top.  I have my belly muffin, and my bra back muffin.  I suppose the back fat is just the cherry on top.

I still diet in the mornings and when I am at school.  I eat healthy choices, I consider my calories.  Then I get home from work and all heck breaks loose.   Dinner time unleashes delicious unhealthy horse sized portions of food.  Sure we eat salad and vegetables, but that is typically negated by the three servings of tacos, pasta, pizza, etc.  Of course there is also the after dinner snack (which typically leads to another snack of course).

So with that said, I give up.  I can't do it alone.  I need help.

I have decided (depending upon the cost) I am going to enlist the help of a personal trainer.  Not for an extended time, but for a few sessions just to get me headed in the right direction and provide that motivation I need to get to the gym and keep going back.  Historically speaking, once I started going to the gym and seeing results, I altered my eating and my willpower increased because I didn't want to undo all of my hard work just for a cookie or canister of chips.

So lets hope Anytime Fitness will show mercy on my poor chunky monkey soul and bestow upon me the good news of a reasonable price for a trainer.

Stressed and Fat

I have been fairly (and by fairly I mean REALLY) stressed with my work environment for the last year...or more.  Other things have contributed to my stress, but I think it's my every day work place that causes the most anxiety and stress in my thoughts, worries.  I have noticed since I have been more stressed in my workplace I have slowly but surely added on close to 40 pounds.   I eat a lot, I will admit that, but overall I don't eat that terribly and what I eat is usually "good" foods (vegetables, yogurt, fruits).   So this leads me to believe there is a real reason why I can't lose weight easily and can't seem to control my self.  SOOOO, I googled and learned something interesting.


Chronic stress and cortisol can contribute to weight gain in the following ways:

Metabolism -- Do you feel like you're prone to putting on more weight when you're stressed, even if you're eating the same amount of food as you always have? Too much cortisol can slow your metabolism, causing more weight gain than you would normally experience. This also makes dieting more difficult. Cravings -- OK, you're stressed. Do you reach for a nice salad or a pint of Ben & Jerry's? I'll bet on the latter. People experiencing chronic stress tend to crave more fatty, salty and sugary foods. This includes sweets, processed food and other things that aren’t as good for you. These foods are typically less healthy and lead to increased weight gain. Blood Sugar -- Prolonged stress can alter your blood sugar levels, causing mood swings, fatigue, and conditions like hyperglycemia. Too much stress has even been linked to metabolic syndrome, a cluster of health concerns that can lead to greater health problems, like heart attacks and diabetes. Fat Storage -- Excessive stress even affects where we tend to store fat. Higher levels of stress are linked to greater levels of abdominal fat. Unfortunately, abdominal fat is not only aesthetically undesirable, it’s linked with greater health risks than fat stored in other areas of the body.

Stress and weight gain are connected in other ways:

Emotional Eating -- Increased levels of cortisol can not only make you crave unhealthy food, but excess nervous energy can often cause you to eat more than you normally would. How many times have you found yourself scouring the kitchen for a snack, or absently munching on junk food when you’re stressed, but not really hungry?

Motivation for Sale

I am wondering if anyone has some motivation for sale?   I am looking for a moderate amount.  I am willing to pay up to $75-100 if the supply seems to be of good quality.   If you or anyone you know has motivation for sale, please contact me @

Miss Christy
123 Dieting Failure Drive
Hungry, MO