I'VE LOST 47 LBS.

Today was my weigh in day at Weight Watchers. I was thrilled when I stepped on the scales and had another 1.8 lb loss. That brings me to a 47 lb loss so far.

I have to say that sounds like a lot of weight! Well, it should because 47 lbs is a lot of weight. I still have a lot more to go though. But, I'm going to make it this time to my goal weight. I know I will because things are different this time. I'm not in a hurry and I'm not on a diet.

I'm just changing the way I relate to food. Some days it's hard. Some days it's super easy. Sure I'll mess up now and then. So what! I just pick up where I left off.

But, I'm having a hard time in another area. I'm not sure to how to even start to work on that.

I've dropped down from a size 22 to a 14 and I even have one pair of pants that are a size 10. So I know I'm smaller.

I feel better too. So what's the problem you ask?

When I look at myself in the mirror or in photos I still look the same to myself. Like I have not lost anything really.


I've had lots of people tell me how much better I look and make remarks on how much I lost. I've even had two people start on Weight Watchers because they said I inspired them with my weight loss.

I was over at a friends house and her husband came up to me and said "You look really good. You have lost a lot of weight". Now I don't know if his wife told him I was on a diet or not but I do know he is not the type of guy who would say anything about a woman's weight if he didn't mean it.

Today in my meeting I sat next to a lady who I've never sat next to. She said she heard I lost over 45 lbs and was asking me questions on what I did to to that. She then said "How much more do you want to lose?". I told her about another 45 lbs.

Her eyes opened wide and said "Really? You sure don't look like you need to lose that much!".

It's nice to hear all these remarks and I start to think "Well, maybe I do look better". Then I see a photo and think "Everyone has lied to me! I'm still just as fat as always!"

I was thinking by summer I would be comfortable in a bathing suit in public but I feel like I'm really going to look like that lady in the photo above.


I've heard it sometimes takes time for your mind to catch up to your body. I don't know if this is true or not.

I've been fat my whole life. OK, not my whole life. I was born early and was only a tiny runt. But, by my 1st birthday I was one of those kids with rolls on my arms and legs and they have been there ever since.

A chubby kid! I was the one picked last when we had PE and teams were picked. I was at the end of the pack when we had to run around the field.

I had to shop in the "chubby" kids area. I was always bigger then my friends and classmates.

In high school, I was fat too. Though I look back now and wish I was that size. But, you know how teen girls are. Sticks! I was twice their size.

So, I'm used to seeing myself as the fat person. I've never been anything else. Maybe that is my problem.

Well, don't get me wrong. I know I'm still fat. Just maybe not as fat as I think I am.

I just don't understand that if that is true, then how come I see the same size person in photos of myself?

Has anyone else had this problem? If so, how did you get over it?

I was going to post a photo I took of myself on the first day I started Weight Watchers and one today so you could see for yourself what I look like. But, I don't have the first day photo because it was on my other computer and I have not gotten it put on to my new computer yet.

I HIT THE JACKPOT!!!

As promised, I'm sharing with you what I found as I was unpacking boxes yesterday.

SILVER!! Lots and lots of silver. Only it wasn't mine. It belonged to my sister, Patty.

She has had it for years and never used it. She was ready to get rid of it but when I told her I loved it she gave it all to me! How lucky can I get?

Thank you so much Patty for being such a wonderful giver and great sister!


It didn't look all shinny like it does now though. It was pretty tarnished. So I used a little elbow grease and now it all looks brand new.

There is a water pitcher, two dishes with covers to keep the food warm, a butter dish.

It's hard to get good photos as everything reflects off the silver.

This cute wine holder. Also, a creamer and sugar holder. I wish I had a tea pot to go with those. Maybe someday I'll find one at a thrift store.

This cute scalloped dish has a crest on it. I'm not sure what the crest is of. I thought it could be the Kennedy crest but I don't think so. I'll have to do some research.

This darling serving tray with a handle, another bowl with a pretty rose pattern going around the edge and another scalloped dish, perfect for candy.

This is a better view of the butter dish (it matches my silverware from my Aunt) and one of the covered dishes. Which can be turned into two uncovered dishes.

You can see the bread basket and a meat tray as well as a better shot of one of the scalloped dishes.

I know a lot of people don't like silver because they don't like to clean it. I found the cleaning to be very enjoyable.

When I was a child I would go to my favorite Aunt's house and she would take out her silver and we would sit there and polish it all up. We talked about everything while doing it. I loved that time spent with her.

So when I was polishing up this silver those memories came flooding back to me.

I also love to see how the tarnish comes off and under all that is a bright shinny beautiful piece of silver.

I can't wait to use these pieces. I've already decided to use several of the pieces at Trinity's Birthday party that we are having this weekend.

I wonder what I'll find the box I unpack today?

For those of you who are interested, I had my first weigh in of the year. I lost 3 lbs this week! That means I made my goal of 10 lbs lost between Thanksgiving week and the first week of the year. I hope you did too.

I've now lost 41.4 lbs. I'm thrilled to hit that 40 lb mark.

One last thing before I go, you must go to http://never-e-nuff.blogspot.com/ and see the wonderful apron she has on her blog that she is giving away. So cute. Be sure to tell her you found her from my blog.

IF IT'S TUESDAY...

That's right, if it's Tuesday it must be weigh in day.

Bright and early I woke up, crawled out of my warm bed and got dressed. Then I got in the car, drove to my Weight Watcher meeting and met with my sister, Maureen.

Together we walked into the building and one by one we got on the scale.

Today the scales were good to me and said I had lost another 2.4 lbs. Which makes that now a total of 38.4 lbs. So that means, I've lost 8.8 lbs. since the challage to lose 10 lbs by the first week in Jan 2010 was made.

I only have 1.2 lbs more to go to reach my goal of 10 lbs. It should be a goal I can reach. I sure hope so.


It's been hard to be good durning these past few weeks. As you know, there are parties, Christmas functions, dinners, baking and all sorts of sweets everywhere these days.

This week I think one reason I lost was due to my brother and sister. So I must thank them.

One of the first things we did when we got to my brothers house was to go for a walk. Not by my choice either.

My brother had recently gotten his electric wheel chair and wanted to go take it out to see how it did on his streets.

The streets where he lives are all hills. It's either up, up, up or down, down, down.

As we were walking, it was getting harder and harder to go that first mile. You see, it was all up hill! I thought my legs were going to fall off.

But, I would hear my brother and sister telling me to keep going. That I could do it. I was almost to the top of the hill.

They were my cheerleaders.

It made me remember years ago when my brother used to live up by me. It was way before he had his stroke and he used to run then.

He was always trying to get me to get out there and run with him. The best I did was walk. I've never been a runner and doubt if I ever will be.

He would call me up daily and tell me he was going to the track to meet me and I had 20 mins to get there.

With his help, I walked lots and lots of laps back then. He has always been my cheerleader and has tried his best to get me into shape.

Since my brother has had his stroke, he has told me time and time again that I need to eat right, exercise more and take care of myself. He does not want anyone else in our family to go through what he is going through.

So, with my brother and sister's help, I made it up that hill that went on for what seemed like forever. I was so happy when we made it to the top and we got to turn around.

We walked for several miles that day. The more I thought about it, the more I think my brother just used his wanting to check out the wheelchair as an excuse to get me walking.

We all agreed that every time we get together we are going to go for long walks. As much as I hate to exercise, to me it's the sweetest thing. Because, I know they are going for mostly for me.

I'm so blessed to have such a wonderful family and I'm so thankful we are all close and really love each other.

It's because of my family that I really believe I'll lose my weight this time.

Maureen goes to each meeting with me and gives me so much support. Gene talks to me and peps me up and is checking on my exercise and Patty makes sure I always have the right food to eat and cheers me on.

So, I would like to take this time to thank each and every one of them and let them know I love them with all my heart.

A DARLING WAY TO GIVE SOMEONE YOUR COOKIE RECIPES!

Today I went to my friend, Sandra's, home to help her make her potato pancakes. Since she is Jewish, these are always part of her Holiday dinner.

For the past five years I've helped her make them. It's become our tradition.

We also exchange our Holiday gifts on this day.

One of the items she gave me is this darling recipe book. It's full of her own tried and true cookie recipes.

I love it! I think has to be the cutest thing I've seen in a long time!

It's made out of a photo album, recipe cards, scrap booking paper and charms.

Sandra is always so creative.

I just adore the colors and the vintage look to this book.

Look at that tiny whip she attached to the binder area. So cute!

The recipes inside are wonderful sounding! But, I think the paper they are typed up on is just fantastic! Very retro looking.

Here is a better look at the paper. Well it's actually vellum.

In the back she even added some sweet blank recipe cards so I can add my own cookie recipes to the book.

The charms are just so sweet! A great touch!

She even took the time to add some matching ribbon to the charms to make them add just a pop of color.

I'm so lucky to have such a great friend in my life.

This is a gift I will always treasure.

I won't be making any of these cookies this year. Not to good for my Weight Watcher plan. But, I know when I do they will taste super!

Speaking of Weight Watchers, today was weigh in. I am happy to report I'm down another 2.4 lbs.

It looks like I finally broke through my slump I was in two weeks ago. I know I can make my goal of losing 10 lbs by the first week in Jan for sure now.

I FINALLY DID IT!!!

Yes, you read that right. I finally went to the gym and signed up. Not only did I sign up but I'm going to be working out with a Trainer for awhile too.

I wish I could say I'm excited but I'm really not.

I went to weigh in today and the scale went in the wrong direction. Up! YIKES! Not again!

Well, I knew they would. I was so bad last week.

Things didn't go as planned in Laughlin. It was so windy there was no way we were going to be able to do our planned walks along the river.

Plus we ate at the buffets and while I had veggies, I didn't have the right kind. I had potatoes with gravy, corn and I put butter on the other ones. Plus I had bread.

I pretty much had starch/carbs and fat.

Then it was Thanksgiving and I ate whatever I wanted. Plus I had pie. Real pie, not the Weight Watcher kind I planned on having.

Oh yes and let's not forget the left overs. It's no wonder I gained.

So after I weighed in I went to Knotts Berry Farm. I got a year pass because they are going for only $59.00 a year.

I thought it would be another great place to walk around and get some exercise in.

I spent a few hours there walking throughout the whole park.

While there I was thinking about how I'm going to start all over with my weight loss. I need to get back on track so I'm starting off as if it's week one again.

I knew I wanted to do this right and I didn't want spend any more weeks going up and down with the same two pounds.

So, I stopped at the gym and signed up. Since my health insurance pays for the yearly membership fee I thought I would spend the money it would have cost me to join and get a trainer.

I've always wanted a trainer to show me what to do and how to do it. Plus it gives me someone else to check in with.

He wanted me to stop going to Weight Watchers and make up a plan for me but I told him no. That I believed in Weight Watchers and when I follow it I lose like I should.

So he agreed. He just wants me to bring in my food diary every week so he can go over it with me. I can do that.

While I hate the thought of going to the gym I am sort of looking forward to it.

I'm going to take it one week at a time. He figured up my fat to muscle ratio and feels it should take me 21 weeks to get to where I need to be if I go to the gym 3 times a week and stay on Weight Watchers.

That is so do able! Heck I was thinking it was going to take me years. Just thinking that in May I will have reached my goal and be in shape makes me excited.

I'm almost looking forward to going. I feel like I have a new plan and I'm going to be moving forward now.

How did you do? Were you able to be good over Thanksgiving? I hope you did better then me but if not, start over like I am.

SO WHAT DID THE SCALES SAY TODAY?

You all know that this week has been a hard one for me. I felt like I was eating everything in sight!

I got on the scale two days ago (maybe a big mistake!) and noticed it was up 2 1/2 lbs. I was shocked.

I knew I was bad this past week. Eating things like Pizza and Mexican Food (more then once) but to see a 2 1/2 lb. gain was scary.

So, I spent the last two days eating right and trying to get my exercise in. I wondered if I could fix this gain with only two days left before my weigh in.

Well, today was the day to face the scales. Had I gained? Had I lost or was the number going to remain the same?

I didn't even want to go weigh in this week but I knew I had to or it would just another step backwards for me. So I got in the car and drove to Weight Watchers.

I got on the scale and, yes indeed, I had gained! There it was, right in front of me. The ugly truth. I had let food beat me this week.

The lady who weighed me said "Oh it's ONLY .2lbs. That's like staying the same this week."

I know she was trying to make me feel better but, it's NOT like staying the same. It's a gain! Sure .2 lbs is only a few ounces but so what. Sure, I'm happy it's not the 2 1/2 lbs I thought I would gain but so what. It's still a gain.

If I get excited about losing .2 lbs then how can I just ignore it when I gain .2 lbs.? I can't. I won't!

I took my .2 lbs and went to sit down. I didn't feel good but I didn't feel bad either.

I knew I had learned something. I knew that .2 lbs got me focused again. No more pig out weeks. At least I hope not.

So I tell myself I should still be happy because I'm down 32 pounds in 16 weeks. I am getting healthy and feeling better.

I did go try on clothes the other day and found I could wear another size smaller, that's good right?

Sure, we can all talk our self out of feeling bad for minor gains but I don't want to. I want to remember this feeling. This feeling of letting myself down.

I want to remember what it feels like to look back and see that those few meals WERE NOT worth the gain.

So that's it. This week, I'm back in the saddle and I'm moving ahead and I KNOW I'll have loss next week.

I'm happy this past week is over and I can look forward. Had I given in and not gone to weigh in I would have another whole week of worry and wonder.

It's always good to go face the scale and rejoice in the victories and learn from the defeats.

Staying away only ends up in the weight going right back on and nothing gets learned.

I'll be holding open my giveaway until midnight tonight so if you have not yet joined scroll down and enter. I will let everyone know the winner tomorrow.

Hope you are all doing well in your weight loss challenge and have stayed on track. We will get through these holidays with a 10 lb weight loss. We can do it!

ONE WEEK DOWN AND SEVEN TO GO

Well it has been a week already since we agreed to the 8 week Challenge to lose 10 lbs by the first of the Year.

How did everyone do?

I went to Weight Watchers today and the scales showed down another 2.6 lbs for a total of 32.2 lbs! I was so happy! I broke through that 30 lb mark.

So, I need to lose 7.4 lbs by New Years to reach my goal of 10 lbs.

I really need to kick up my exercise. Even though I've tried to get more steps in every day I need to actually set aside time every week to do nothing more then just exercise.

Yes I hate this though but hey, I hate the thought of having all this fat on me more. So I'm just going to do it.

What about you? What do you need to work on in order to reach your goal of losing at least 10 lbs by New Years?