Why?

Why is it when we have something bad happen that all we want to do is eat? I know its called emotional eating! Maybe thats where I got all my weight from. How do we combat this? I'll I want to do is go into my kitchen n stuff my face. I'm also thinkin about how far away the closest Sonics is and how good their Ice Cream is. I dont see this emotional roller coaster ride ending anytime soon for me, so what can I do? I'm calling on the Goddess of Will Power to come visit me everyday and give me the strength to continue on the path I have been leading.
Yesterday I was in such a good mood, I was going out on a boat with a friend, I put my swimsuit on and I wasn't disgusted with my body. I actually thought to myself, I'm starting to look good, and think about how great I'll look when I lose a couple more pounds, or at my goal weight! So that was the high spot on my roller coaster, last nite was the fall the huge decent, I think I even fell below ground level!!! Like I said I know this ride will continue on, and my only hope is that I lose my appetite or I will be gaining weight like crazy!!!

I'm wishing everyone else better luck than I am having! Good Luck!

~Elisabeth~

Distractions and Priorities

Hello all. It has been a while! It is definitely summer! I needed to check in because I find my energy about planning and prioritizing is definitely waning. And if I dont have a plan I am liable to do just about anything. Class has started again and I found myself without dinner last night. (only an apple as a snack) and man- fast food was screaming last night when I got out at 9pm! Don't worry, I didn't cave.
I have to be honest: I am blessed beyond words: my life and schedule is pretty much cake. I have lots of time for planning and certainly to exercise...and what I am finding now is that if I have even one additional distraction, my focus towards anything self-health related really has to scratch and claw to get any attention. Besides Nathan, school, the house, the garden, the husband, I have added an additional distraction this week; in the form of a 1.7# puppy. And I will tell you what I am transfixed! This may seem ridiculous....but I have to MAKE myself go do homework (which you would get if you knew just how much of a nerd I am) and make myself go eat a healthy meal, exercise ( the making part pretty much hasn't changed on that one!) shower, etc. My whole world is a little off kilter. I know things will smooth themselves out eventually...so I am cutting myself some slack about my distractions. Plus, there is nothing wrong with a little forced routine either. But, with that said, I am feeling much empathy for all of you...working full time and raising kids, running your households...some of you without help. This business has got to be especially hard. Not planning is so much easier...and tastier sometimes. Playing, resting, reading, and sitting feels so much better than running or lifting or anything involving movement! My hat is off to you. And I wish you a strong weekend.
Shannon W.

First of all I would like to thank Shannon W. for the awesome shirts she made us! They are fun to wear!

I don't know about everyone else but the weigh-in was so encouraging to me. Not just because I lost more weight than I expected, but because we were there as a team for each other! The support I felt in that room was so amazing.

Linette and I exercised yesterday together, so we wore our shirts (see pic). We exercised by running around after a 5 year old, a 6 year old, and a 7 year old at a large playground. (Linette's son and two neighbor kids). It didn't feeling like exercising either, it was fun. How come they didn't make playgrounds fun like that when I was a kid? I need to find different ways like that to exercise so it doesn't feel like work!!! Any suggestions?

I hope everyone is having a good week!!

Weigh-in Eve

Tonight I find myself reflecting over the past month. For me, it feels like it hasn't been that long since we started. I must confess that I thought that I would feel more adjusted to my new way of living by now. Uhhhh not so much. I can say that I do not dread exercising as much as I did...maybe that do-it-for-21-days-thing is right and I have made a habit...(please God), but the other parts- food and emotions have been quite a roller coaster for me. I am still grateful for the accountability and camaraderie that has come from doing this together. There have been moments (and some hours) I have seriously wanted to give up and go back to the old 'comfortable' way. Our group and committment has kept me on track. Thank you.
I am excited about tomorrow, not because there is any chance I am going to win, (because some of you I know are melting) but because I want to see you all and hear about your month. I must confess I am almost giddy about my gifts and the prizes. I think they are pretty cool (if I do say so myself). I also want/need a renewed injection of excitement to continue and I am counting on getting that from you all. (no pressure =0) So .....to us...to our first month....and our continued success. See you tomorrow!!
Shannon W.

FROM SHANNON G...Greetings my fellow losers!

Per chance, could anyone meet me at 2:00pm? My two boys are in camp beginning Monday and the friends they were going to ride home with that day just figured out that they actually go to camp the week after my boys so 2:30pm isn’t a go for me anymore L. Even though I can’t be there with everyone, I would absolutely love it if someone is able/willing to meet me at 2:00pm so I can feel somewhat a part of it still but if it’s not convenient, no worries, I’ll weigh-in with someone Saturday when I am at work.

I hope you are all doing fantastic!

Shannon.

What a week!!!

Well Everyone I had quite a week. As most of you know my birthday was this past Thursday. I had already decided that I was going to take a "free day" (without going crazy) on Thursday. Well I ended up doing it on Wednesday (thanks to the cake and ice cream at work), Thursday and most of the weekend. I didn't exercise once!!!! One thing I noticed is that I felt sick on Thursday and I believe it was from the cake and ice cream because I'm not used to eating that kinda food! I also noticed that I don't feel as good, or have as much energy as I did at the begining of last week. I noticed while walking around the zoo on Sunday that I was getting easily winded again. I didn't like that feeling so it is really encouraging me to keep exercising and eating right.

On the plus side, I went bra shopping on Thursday. I am down one band size!! Unfortunately my cup size is still the same, making it next to impossible to find bras! Around my rib cage is the only place that I seem to be losing weight. Not that I'm complaining cause I've got curves again!!! (And I'm not the only one that noticed, my boyfriend noticed too!!)

Well today I'm back on track and I hope to stay that way for the next 11 weeks!!!

Good Luck ALL

Its amazing what a pound can do....

Hello all. Hope your Memorial Day festivities were all that you hoped. Me, I cleaned (hard-even shampooed some carpet) all day, after exercising, and before company. I have been pondering this morning about how much my mood is altered by my perceived performance. If I lose a pound I feel good...I did good= therefore I am good. Gain a pound, well you can follow the logic.
I was floating on cloud nine before Tuesday morning, because according to my scale, I had lost a pound each morning for two days...I attributed it to Jillian's DVD, which by that point had become of icon status in my mind. So, cookout on Monday evening: ribs, corn on the cob...and dessert...will I have dessert? I decide yes, a small portion of angel food cake and 1 tiny(in my opinion) scoop of ice cream. The result: 2 pounds back on the scale Tuesday morning. No worries I think, water from all that salty meat...and inflammation from sugar that I haven't eaten in 3 weeks....So WHY isn't it gone this morning? Mark tells me...it will take a few days, Shannon, relax, or....let the Cortisol get you and add another pound...(he said this with the best intentions, mind you.) That's all well and good, but I am fascinated by my emotional response...because I feel like I 'screwed' up...but the truth is I didn't. I had a normal meal... granted with some 'treats'; but did not over do it at all. So this, for me, today, is not about food, or what I did or didn't eat...it is about neuroses and perfectionism, and my all or nothing/ black and white thinking....that's what. I have an out of town friend coming (of course for dinner) tonight and somehow in my mind I think that two pounds is going to make me look like I lost (or gained) 50. Now I am worried about that too.... is there a bed open on side 2?
So, today: I will write some more. I will do what I have been doing, as far as food and exercise, I am going to affirm my worth as a person (and not what I do or don't do) and I am going to move on. The scale will NOT have power over my mood today!!!! Thanks for wading through this crapola with me.
Shannon W.