Loni's Life

It's been a challenge to exercise with the torn ACL and now doing the rehabilitation work on the reconstructed ACL.   I am finding inspiration with the incredible Sara Bown of Use it 2 Lose it She has posed a new challenge open to anyone for FREE (not just her Life Coaching Clients).  As part of the Commitment Process we had to choose a Before photo and select goal(s) for the next 11 weeks that were not pledged pound goals.    So here are my health-related goals for the next 11 weeks.

First meeting at TOPS since December 18th... 4 members in attendance, 2 gains, 1 turtle, 1 loss... and that loss was from me!   8-tenths of a pound, but a loss none-the-less... and that with family parties, dining out, and holiday frivolous behavior thrown in.  My plans for 2013...  Resolution: Take even more photos!   I loved that in a year-end review of 2012, that I had LOTS of pictures to choose from that actually featured ME.  That was a huge shift for me; since as an overweight gal, I am usually the one cringing when the camera came out; hiding behind other people; or avoiding it altogether -and- finding fault with every photo that was taken.   Goal: Lose average of 1 pound per week.  (I'm not aiming huge here; just average) How: 1.     Keeping my food record at least 5 days per week 2.     Exercise minimum of 30min per day x 3 days per week 3.     Train for Bike MS in May  (...

TX SRD 2012 Denim, Diamonds & Lace  - Addison, Texas Friday night – Fun night – Before & After parade; Chapter Diamond award Saturday morning – Presentation of Colors, National Anthem, Pledge of Allegiance, Armed Forces recognition and God Bless America; Leaders, Kings & Queen parade; Greatest Improvement winners, KOPS Charm and Beauty winners; Division winners; presentation of reigning royalty.   Saturday evening – KOPS Pledge; KOPS color guard; KOPS graduate processional;   KOPS diplomas an presentation of roses;   KOPS sharing of a white rose with a TOPS member to provide inspiration; KOPS Longevity award (for consecutive years of KOPS status) 5-10-15-20-25-30+ (awarded in 5yr increments); and then KOLS (KOPS of Long Standing) parade; this groups the KOPS by total 1-year increments of KOPS status; and then presentation of 2011 Royalty Runner Up Queen: Patsy Cowan, Sulphur Spring, Starting weight 288.6; loss to goal 103.75 pounds ...

Another inspirational video shared by Bev Staniak, Regional Director - at Texas TOPS State Recognition Days 2012

From Regional Director Bev Staniak's presentation at TX SRD 2012... This video  was aimed at those members that perhaps didn't have the best of years in facing the scale in 2011.  

Our TOPS assignment last week was dealing with de-cluttering.   My challenge lately isn't so much de-cluttering as it is unpacking.    So I was able to make some more progress, getting another 6 boxes unpacked :)    I also got my bell purchased at Huffines hung and will need to get my whirlygig hung either by getting out my Reebok step -or- a have a certain tall and snarky kiddo to hang it for me. Overall, I think I'm doing pretty well for 4 months out from the move.

Mama C is on a roll... and she got to open a gift pack last night since she had a loss at TOPS.   She had her choice of 2 different, specific packages last night... one to celebrate last night's loss and one to celebrate an upcoming milestone.   One was selected by our friend Deb... so Mama could either open it immediately or use it as an incentive to stay on track to reach that next milestone; the other was in a USPS medium flat rate box i.e. somewhat larger than the normal small gift in the gift grab bag.   Mama opted to open the one that had been picked by our friend Deb ~ the Woot T below.     Congrats Mama and many thanks for the notification Deb!  Congrats to Mama for staying on track... you're gonna love what's in the package you chose as your special milestone incentive package!    I'm proud of you!!! 

It's a rarity to have a no gain meeting at TOPS when you have several members weighing in.. but 6 members with a previous weigh-in plus 1 member returning (first weigh in of this year), we had a NO GAIN MEETING!   To top things off, I was the chapter's Weekly Best Loser.. which also means I'm at my lowest weight for the year, yippee!    And all but 1 of the 6 returning members was in NEW WEIGHT tonight... and the 6th member is not that far from new weight... so Hoooray for us!   Thanks to Cheryl who is our Program Chair getting us all in a Spring Cleaning, DeCluttering, Taking care of our selves, Motivated-mode! 

I'm feeling on track these days... I managed the holiday season with averages of 1 pound losses per week; but then post-Hawaii (January), I've been struggling with the same 3 pounds off, on, off, on, off, on...the plantar fasciitis injury hasn't exactly been helping my weight loss mojo... but the neurotherm treatment should resolve the last of that issue.  So back to the tried and true formula of planning out my JC menu to include various non JC meals out.  This week has included several outtings to celebrate Mama's birthday ~ La Hacienda, Olive Garden, and Los Charros; plus last night post-TOPS we had our weekly dining out option, this week to San Miguel's.    In spite of all that, I planned ahead for those eating lightly at other times, getting in my exercise and water and so forth and had a loss at TOPS last night :)    Hopefully, that will translate to at least a turtle or a loss at the JC scale with Liz on Friday.    And sin...

It's not very often that I experience a pure unadulterated FURY... but today was one of those very rare times... and it was at a time when I was hungry anyhow because my eating schedule was just simply off kilter today.. and lessons learned were to pack a snack bag for the car whether I think I'll need it or not and to listen to the hungries when they give me the warning signs. Alas, I had cleaned out my JC stash from the car; and the one edible in the car was a gingerbread molasses cookie that I had gotten with my lunch at Paradise Bakery....and a rational voice inside me whispered "Step Away From The Cookie" Oh the the hungry part of me wanted to just go ahead and eat that cookie.. but there was a cognizant part of me that along with listening to the whisper... that was remembering the part of the TOPS pledge that says..  "I will control my emotions, and not let my emotions control me".. and recognizing that I was mad, mad, mad, mad, mad (Mi...

I've had one of the best eating-on-plan weeks even handling a few variations quite well.. we'll see what the scale says later.. but for now I am really proud of myself for following this so diligently.. now to get some more cardio in this week as last week was a lazy week with only 2 walking days. Each day I had either my planned Jenny Craig meals -or- my planned Meal on My Own Meals which were limited. "Meal on my Own" Options Tue night we had El Grande Burrito where I had a Chicken and Cheese quesadilla, sour cream, refried beans, and corn chips. Wed night for the Survivor watch party we had Rotisserie chicken, green beans, corn/cheese cornbread Sun night I went with Mama and our Undergrad student to Discover UTD and I had some cucumber slices, green beans, mashed potatoes, pasta, and just 2 little nibbles of chocolate brownie and chocolate chip bar... because I knew we would be stopping at Beth Marie's for ice cream where I had 1 scoop not 2.. in a bow...

.... About me... This week we started a 5-week series on Body Image... we had to come up with a list of 10 things we like about ourselves... Loyal Trustworthy My hair My smile A generous spirit Wilingness to help others A good friend Loving Athletic A nice tan :) Hard-working Adventurous spirit We also have this thought to keep with us: We have skills, talents, personalities, brains and hearts and that's what makes us unique.   Each one of us is different, each one of us is special, and that's where we need to start.

I've been paying attention to the recent TOPS Lesson series on Mindful Eating... and have been trying to really work at portion control along with the mindful eating.   If I find myself eating too fast, I will swap to my non-dominant hand which can be a challenge.    I am also trying to make sure that it is taking at least 20 minutes to eat including chewing my food well, putting down the utensils while chewing, really savoring the flavors of the food, and being appreciative of all it took to get from the farmer/rancher to my plate.    I've also been doing better at the JC plan since I've started pre-planning my week and really following the plan with some suitable substitutions along the way.    For example, instead of my JC dessert option and a glass of milk, I substituted 1/2 cup of ice cream.  Instead of my JC meatball stuffed sandwich, I had chicken fried rice for the same calorie count.  Trying to keep all things i...

We just finished a 3-week series at TOPS on Mindful Eating.   This week's activity task was to create a list of the things for which we are grateful and then to remember to be grateful for the food/nourishment we eat each day. Here's my Gratitude List in no particular order Family including Husband, Dad, StepMom, Sibling, Grandmother, Aunts, Uncles, Cousins Friends that are really Adopted Family (you know who you are) My Cat Other friends A job that is generally enjoyable and serves my need My home Stamping Knitting Hobbies Ability to ride my bicycle and to raise money for charity Support groups like TOPS Chocolate That I live in the USA Armed Services that serve, protect, and defend Public Servants- especially Fire & Police Clean Water Access to healthcare Access to education Internet Cell Phone Libraries Art Music Dancing Parks and Recreation Centers Mother Nature Good

One of my Houston-based TOPS pals, a nice young man, was lamenting the disparities in sizing of Men's clothing between brands... Enjoy my reply below: At least be happy that Men's clothing sizes seem to make sense... since pants are in waist sizes and lengths.. shirts are in neck sizes and arm lengths and that sort of thing... In Women's you have all those 12, 14, 16 type sizes... and and then you have those W's like 16W, 18W, 20W where W = Womens... Oh and let's not be a short woman or tall woman either, cause then you have to look at for "P" for "Petite" or "T" for Talls..  though sometimes Petite means short, but other times Petite means tiny as in size 2 to 6... And then you have some of these other plus sized shops like oh where was I this weekend.. oh Fashion Bug.. and so instead of being a 22/24, instead you are like a size 3... and then no one seems to agree on sizing for what size a 0X, 1X, 2X, 3X in women's is... ...

I had a 2.6 pound loss at TOPS tonight...now to keep the downward trend going.   Happy dance, happy dance!!   Woohoo

A gain for the 2nd weigh-in of the year; not exactly the start I wanted to my weight chart... but according to the calendar and my bra, it is coming into that oh-so-special hormonal time of the month.    It is what it is...  and I'm headed to Hawaii next week on vacation, so I'm not going to beat myself up over it. For TOPS homework this week, You are an awesome knitter You are kind and generous. You have beautiful eyes. You are loyal and trustworthy You are an amazing person.

Normally, I'd prefer a loss at TOPS but after a series of reds (gains) in my weight book, I was happy for the Turtle (stayed the same).   Plus "Mother Nature" and her monthly gift to women arrived this morning along with the bloat and extra full bra-cups. 11 weigh-ins until the end of the year; 14 weigh-ins before BFF and I leave for Hawaii.   Goal for an Island Facial paid for by BFF is 21 pounds (was 20, but I gained 1)... of course, I'm paying hers if she loses 20 also. May go to the gym after stamping with my upline tomorrow, or may work out to videos at home instead.   I will be cycling this weekend (training ride) and next weekend (LiveSTRONG Challenge) and in November, I'll be trying out Bikin' Mike's studio spin classes.   My "Fitness Fantasy" goal for 2010 would be to complete Bike MS... not sure if I will be able to finish the whole thing yet; but am still happy with improved mileage year over year.  2010 rides will incl...

Since my BFF is out of town for work and her DH needed sedation dentistry work done, I was the family member oncall to see that he got safely to and from the dental office.   Since we share the same dental office, I went ahead and made an appointment to see my dental hygeniest for what was supposed to be a 6-week post periodontal therapy check (missed that appointment due to extended stay in Las Vegas in June).  Good news was that my at-home care has been working; very little bleeding and only a couple of deep pockets at 4, but all the rest at 2's and 3's.   The deep pockets are around porcelain crowns with deep margins and even if replacing those crowns, most likely will have this issue forever... so the verdict was continue on early recalls at 3month cleanings instead of 6 month cleanings and continue home-care with the Sonicare cleanings, flossing, use the rest of the Rx rinse and fluoride treatment and then start Oxyfresh daily care regimen. Picked up BF...

Ok, I'm feeling a little better about the scale this week; though not all of last week's mystery gain has disappeared. Had some good laughs at dinner tonight - Mamma C, BFF and her DH are always a bundle of fun.