tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-51977618161439599432024-03-13T23:38:42.169-05:00Moms Fighting Fat Comes BackTwo years ago I started Moms Fighting Fat, a weight loss blog that not only shared my personal journey, but supported mothers and women of all sizes and shapes as well. Unfortunately, my life seemed to fall apart at the seams and I allowed both my journey and my blog to go away. I also put back on 27lbs of the 40 I lost. But, I'm back and ready to start again...so let's get started, shall we?Sandra Winnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16078024597758910786noreply@blogger.comBlogger21125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5197761816143959943.post-16049623398194335622011-08-16T18:04:00.001-05:002011-08-16T18:06:45.881-05:00Minus Four and Winning the Insomnia Battle...Hooray, four pounds lost in two weeks. I know it isn't that much but I'm thrilled regardless...and losing between 1/2-2lbs a week is considered healthy and you stand a better chance at long term weight loss.<br />
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Even more importantly than shedding fat over the past couple weeks has been my sleep. I've battled severe insomnia for just over eight years. It started off as slight insomnia but gradually grew worse. I was waking at 2-3 a.m. every morning, one o'clock every now and then, and staying awake. About mid-day I was extremely tired but couldn't nap so I usually went to bed between 7-8 p.m.<br />
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Over the past year, when my insomnia was at it's worst, I became addicted to an online mmorpg game. Although I quit playing when the kids woke up to spend time with them, and my hubby when he's home, I would play between 6-8 hours every morning. Nothing much to do during vampire hours so I took comfort in logging in to the game and skyping with a group of other adults who played. I looked forward to visiting them each and every day. It was a tough decision for me to work on a healthier sleep pattern over playing anymore; the game I've found easy to be away from, it's my gal pals I miss--one an English woman in Holland and the other lives in Australia. Both of them weren't just fun to goof around in game with, we had fun lady talks that had nothing to do with the game. And of course, stories of motherhood entered the equation as well. Once in a while I do manage to get on Skype for girl time with them and we stay in contact via FaceBook as well.<br />
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Now for the good news...I actually woke with the sun the other day! I've been sleeping 7 1/2-8 hours a night and go to bed between 9:30-10:00 p.m. I feel normal for the first time in over eight years. As long as I remember to take magnesium for "crazy legs", I'm good to go. See, at first my insomnia was trying to get to sleep (I have gone to sleep fine for a long time now), then it became not being able to sleep after waking up to pee. I've worked on just going back to bed and if I lie awake for more than 15 minutes I'll get up and read from a book or online.<br />
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I think something else that has helped is that I do not have depression caused by stress anymore. The wee morning hour insomnia started a few years ago. Not only were we having marital problems but our now 17yo son was driving me insane with his shit. Everyday it was something with him. I loved him but his behaviors were stressing me out. I would wake at 2 a.m. and be worried sick or wonder what he was going to do today to break my heart. Such early rising eventually became a time of solitude for me, it was <b>my time</b>, it was the time I could have a few hours of peace. An aside, I'd say it was about 6 months in to early morning insomnia that I started playing the online game at such crazy hours.<br />
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I'm excited to see where having a normal sleep schedule will take me. I already have more energy during the day, and of course to workout! :-)<br />
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Hugs~SandySandra Winnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16078024597758910786noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5197761816143959943.post-31155731530018851362011-08-14T05:40:00.002-05:002011-08-14T08:53:33.854-05:00Take Your Diet Program and Stuff It: MasterChef Julie Goodwin Turns Down Jenny Craig<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjV5f3js4EE6Hw9zEkc8A0CiQ_Rvkx6oU7iquPwsWbjhZyuTFvwQ03ZeZs3OmIRyYISeMtKKNX3PGhgZs9BF96xGz040aVok47yI8u3qXeGP-g_tIh9phrm2hitqONGFv4uEU9WrPONQJo/s1600/Julie.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjV5f3js4EE6Hw9zEkc8A0CiQ_Rvkx6oU7iquPwsWbjhZyuTFvwQ03ZeZs3OmIRyYISeMtKKNX3PGhgZs9BF96xGz040aVok47yI8u3qXeGP-g_tIh9phrm2hitqONGFv4uEU9WrPONQJo/s1600/Julie.jpg" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> <a href="http://www.news.com.au/entertainment/celebrity/celebrity-masterchef-julie-goodwin-turns-down-lucrative-jenny-craig-deal/story-e6frfmqi-1226114493764">MasterChef Julie Goodwin, photo via news.com.au</a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;">Look at July Goodwin's sweet and confident smile. This is a woman who is truly comfortable in her own skin, so comfortable she turned down $250k from diet company giant <i>Jenny Craig</i>. I really admire women like her and do have an example in my own life--my mother. </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;">I really don't blame Goodwin, can you imagine going from your own, home cooked gourmet foods to boxed dinners? Yuck, I won't even go there--although for $250k I probably would, lol (just being honest). She's perfectly happy being the way she is and hasn't an inkling of desire to change. She's very bold about it too...</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 12px;"></span></div><blockquote>"I don't want to be thin. I don't want to be anything different to who I am," the 41-year-old said.<br />
"I think people have been really willing to embrace me for who I am."<span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 12px;"><span style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><br />
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</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 12px;"><span style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">Read more: <a href="http://www.news.com.au/entertainment/celebrity/celebrity-masterchef-julie-goodwin-turns-down-lucrative-jenny-craig-deal/story-e6frfmqi-1226114493764#ixzz1Uzw014Cg" style="color: #003399;">http://www.news.com.au/entertainment/celebrity/celebrity-masterchef-julie-goodwin-turns-down-lucrative-jenny-craig-deal/story-e6frfmqi-1226114493764#ixzz1Uzw014Cg</a></span></span></blockquote><br />
My mother flat out says, "I love to eat", when it comes to dieting. My mother would rather enjoy full flavor than skimp any day. She also jokes about having "fat cramps" in front of people; my mom is such a character! I also have friend in Holland who is no holds barred when it comes to not wanting to lose weight. One time she was telling me about an awesome orange cheesecake she made and I was drooling--I swear I gained pounds while listening--on this side of the ocean. I jokingly said, "It's the fat free, no calorie, no fat kind? Right? So I can eat all I want." She replied, "No, it's full of fat and sugar and calories and I won't pretend they're not in there." I don't know what my friend in Holland looks like but it doesn't matter, she captured my friend strings long ago so what difference does it make? She's beautiful to me already, and I feel the same about others--thin, fat, and everything in between.<br />
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</div><div style="text-align: left;">Enjoy the Day and Hugs~Sandy</div>Sandra Winnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16078024597758910786noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5197761816143959943.post-73782097993599372442011-08-05T08:42:00.000-05:002011-08-05T08:42:24.660-05:00Oldie But Goody: 7 Ways to Enjoy Sex While on Your Way from Fat to Fit!I wrote the following for both my old blog and Yahoo! Shine. My friend, LaVender, kept the link on her blog but it went away when I removed my site. So, here it is, an oldie but goody blog from the past....<br />
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Many overweight women (heck, some women in great shape too) are so concerned about their bodies that they'll refuse to make love or fret the entire time they're doing it...even though they've decided to take steps to eat right and exercise, and even if their partner still finds them desirable.<br />
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I'm not a "sexpert", but I once fit the latter description. My hubby would want to ravish me and all I could think about was how my hippo-like butt looked from behind, how I would position myself so my boobs and belly flab wouldn't flap away like a pelican taking off from the water (you know the sound), and how I could avoid movements that would make my back fat ripple like Jello. Not anymore.<br />
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If you find yourself fretting about those same things, these tips for enjoying sex while on your way from fat to fit may be of interest to you...<br />
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1) Don't worry about what your lover "might" think...that's selfish.<br />
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If your partner wants you, don't concern yourself with bodily flaws. Making love isn't all about you and your feelings, it's about theirs too. I was shocked to learn that my husband actually felt that I was not attracted to him and, consequently, he felt rejected. Whoa, what an eye-opening piece of knowledge that was for me! There I was, so concerned about me that I thought nothing of how my actions affected him.<br />
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Stop worrying. He doesn't care, so why should you? It's okay to be selfish though when it comes to wanting your sexual experience to feel good; in fact, the more you get off the more he will too.<br />
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2) Don't cover-up...let it all hang out.<br />
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*Gulp*...yet another problem area that my husband spoke with me about. It drove him insane that while in the heat of passion I would grab at my shirt to pull it down in an effort to hide my fat. Do you know why? Because, to him, I wasn't truly enjoying our time together, my mind was focused on my appearance rather than allowing myself to be pleasured and give pleasure...I didn't just ruin it for me, I ruined it for him.<br />
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Quit covering and be uninhibited! Start retraining your mind to focus on how good the sex feels rather than hiding your bod. Once you're comfortable letting it all hang out, you'll be singing, "Feels like the first time, feels like the very first time." Really, it is that freeing!<br />
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3) Go with the flow flap...there are other noises after all.<br />
Forget about the sound of your fat flapping, it really isn't that big of a deal. Just "Ohhhh", "Ahhhh", "Oh, God", "Mmmm, baby", "Yes, yes", "More, more", and "Oh, right there" your way through it all. Concentrate on his sounds also so you can zero in on what he's enjoying the most during your sexual encounter!<br />
4) Envision a new you and be the aggressor...rock your lover's world.<br />
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Fantasizing can open a whole new world of ecstasy with your significant other. I can work myself up in no time just thinking about what my hubby could do with a lighter me. Foregoing the down 'n' dirty details, let's just say I have quite an imagination! Once I get the vision in my head, I seek out my husband and start ripping his clothes off; and I keep the fantasy going while having sex...it doesn't matter that I don't have my perfect physique yet, my husband enjoys being the prey for a change.<br />
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5) After strength training workout sex...it does the libido good.<br />
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When you feel like a million dollars the last thing you'll think about is fat, so after workout sex is the perfect time for love making. You may be pouring sweat like rain during a Spring storm but that's okay because you're muscles will feel tighter which makes you feel sexier and more energetic. Take a quick shower if you must and then grab your lover and head to your Love Palace for a calorie burning "sexardio" session.<br />
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If you're lucky enough to workout with your hubby, make sure you spend some time grabbing his chest and biceps to spice things up a bit.<br />
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6) Eat light...for sexual delight.<br />
"Hey, baby, wanna go smack bellies?", my husband asks in jest knowing full well that having sex after a meal that's high in fat and calories is the last thing either of us want to do. If just one heavy meal turns off ones sex drive, imagine how eating like that all day affects you. Eating more nutrient rich foods throughout the day tends to increase your sex drive and makes you feel lighter--you know--so you can play Cowgirl without worrying about squishing your significant other.<br />
7) Axe the Waterworks...Constant self-pity is unattractive.<br />
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It's one thing to confide in your lover about how sad you are about your weight issues, but constant whining and not doing anything to change it is another story. My husband, though he wishes I hadn't gained so much weight, was still attracted to me--until he reached a point where my daily moping made me completely unattractive to him. Don't let the same happen to you because it will make for one ho-um sex life. After all, it's no fun making love to a Mopey Murtle; you and he will simply go through the motions and not truly enjoy one another.<br />
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Don't wait until you reach a healthier new you before enjoying intimate moments with someone you love. Always remember that sometimes the best part to the end of any journey are the great times you had along the way!Sandra Winnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16078024597758910786noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5197761816143959943.post-35426871441721083902011-08-04T08:37:00.001-05:002011-08-04T08:42:39.993-05:00Weigh In, My Goal and What I've Been DoingHow could I have started this blog without remembering to post Monday's weigh-in? I've always had a bad memory, but it really took an even bigger dive once I hit forty. First things first...<br />
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<b>Goal Weight</b>: 150 pounds (I look awesome and curvaliscious at this weight!)<br />
<b>Current Weight</b>: 222 lbs<br />
<b>Pounds left to go</b>: 72 lbs<br />
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<b>Workout</b>: <i>Jari Love's Slim & Lean</i> workout dvd for strength training.<br />
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<b>Nutrition</b>: It's been extremely hot and humid here which affects my appetite; I eat less when it's uncomfortably hot. I've decided not to go extreme with eating because it seems to be my biggest downfall. I'm eating what I normally eat but less of it and less snacking too. This week I've been drinking nice cool fruit smoothies with soy milk or a chocolate protein shake. I had spicy tuna sandwiches for lunch on Monday and Tuesday. Yesterday I pigged out on an <i>Arby's Chipotle Chicken Sandwich</i> combo--I may set aside Wednesdays as a free day. Monday's dinner was roast beef, mashed potatoes w/gravy and sweet corn. Tuesday I made hoagies with a bit of mayo, onions, green peppers and <i>Steak Umm's</i>. Last night I wasn't too hungry--thanks to my <i>Arby's</i> lunch--so a peanut butter and jelly sandwich hit the spot.<br />
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I find that when I go whole hog and work out everyday that I burnout quickly. The same goes for eating, which leads to yo-yo dieting. It works better for me to ease in to a healthy lifestyle and gradually build. I'm sure many of you can relate. :-)<br />
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Have a Happy and Healthy Day~SandySandra Winnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16078024597758910786noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5197761816143959943.post-71810580907340435372011-08-03T06:36:00.003-05:002011-08-03T06:54:35.363-05:00Plus Size Models with Flat Tummies: Where Are the Rolls?<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqr3SlYYFkT0xv0UXfS8hmjpIdfs-1B5j42kGMyLTaiOMt6ia3jug6TqTVkRZ0PVEIoY4Fk-jSdcjrApXV7WgWEBbsPuwkjNbvYnEGm-EwJgakCQh_yqpFDnMVS-vLUKdrQmku3siYSR4/s320/LB1.jpg"><img border="0" height="271" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqr3SlYYFkT0xv0UXfS8hmjpIdfs-1B5j42kGMyLTaiOMt6ia3jug6TqTVkRZ0PVEIoY4Fk-jSdcjrApXV7WgWEBbsPuwkjNbvYnEGm-EwJgakCQh_yqpFDnMVS-vLUKdrQmku3siYSR4/s320/LB1.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.lanebryant.com/sexy-plus-size-intimate-apparel/bra-panty-sets/striped-push-up-bra-striped-boyshort/4043c17941e1856/index.ens?Mcatn=bra+%26+panty+sets&Mcatpn=cacique&Mcatg=category_root&Mcatp=cat_4043%406000&Mcat=17941%406000"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5TDD74lKkwZhBZ3iAxCuWWAzFwjjaMD46OzuejNyQ96-QJQHdDnsSGuH77w8MPWyHNMQoMmMDWMQpaMRUwj89syF8MLuJwsdJSZMl14La00jL1sDHdfUqZszgq35Ax3kAColPFOaQSQM/s1600/LB2.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Every month when I get my <i>Lane Bryant</i> catalog in the mail I skim through it trying to find a woman who has a few rolls; instead, all I see are gorgeous curvy women--I'd love to be any of their sizes! Where are the fat rolls? Where are the bulging bellies that fall over the panty line? Where are the size 28s? Hell, I'd happy to see a size 18-20 because that's about my size. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Although I appreciate <i>Lane Bryant</i> serving the clothing needs of bigger women and the industry in general using more models in sizes 8-14, it seems the truly overweight and obese women are receiving the short end of the stick. Perhaps this is an area of modeling where height shouldn't be such an issue. After all, 220 lbs. on a woman 5'7" and below looks a lot different than a woman of the same weight who is 5'10" and over--her fat obviously has more distribution available.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I'm not a fashionable woman because I have a hard time finding clothes to fit right. I don't want something too big because it instantly makes me look bigger, yet I don't want clothes that fit too tight or I end up looking like an amusement park ride meant for fairies and imps. Are there any magazines or websites out there to teach women like myself how to look the best they can--not expecting a miracle here--in what's available? I've searched, but most sites I come across claiming to be for plus-sized women are no better for me than <i>Lane Bryant</i>.</div>Sandra Winnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16078024597758910786noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5197761816143959943.post-47571587165671404532011-08-01T06:28:00.000-05:002011-08-01T06:28:09.066-05:00Got Mom? What's Missing From Your Photo Albums?Look through your albums online and off. Do you have more pictures of your children, significant other, random photos, etc., than you do of yourself? Is it because you're the only one who takes pictures, or you aren't comfortable having your photos online (even if the album is private), or is it because you're ashamed of your appearance? I'll be honest...I'm ashamed of my appearance and because of this unhealthy attitude, my children will one day go through our albums and rarely see me. Quite sad, isn't it?<br />
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I get half-pissed off when my husband or children try to photograph me. I typically glare, put my hands in front of my face and give a very stern, "No, don't take my picture." My daughter, a budding photographer, looks so sad when I turn down her taking my snapshot. What kind of mother am I to ignore the sadness of my daughter in favor of ensuring no one sees my picture? So concerned over my looks that I don't want my photo even in a personal family album?<br />
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Despite my husband, children and friends telling me how beautiful I am, I look in the mirror and see a fat slob. I overcame that attitude a couple of years ago until the marital problems brought me right back to square one. Somehow, someway, I need to reach down deep inside and find that confident woman. She didn't exist for most of my life so she may take a while to come back.<br />
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My temporary high self-esteem wasn't due to weight loss, I started feeling better about myself because I was eating right and exercising. I posted photos, videos of myself working out, etc. on my past blog, regardless of still being in the 220 pound area. So, again, I need to find "her". I need to overcome the low-self esteem I suffered from the result of being emotionally abused by my step-father for 13 years as a child. I wasn't a "lard ass", or "lazy ass" or "fat ass" as a child, but I was too young and had no one on my side to make me believe otherwise. Therefore, self-confidence was something that eluded me until I was 39-years old.<br />
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I'm not ready to start posting photos at this time, give me a few weeks though, and I'm sure I will be. However, I'm not going to freak when my family and friends want pictures anymore. What about you? Are you ready to reach down inside and find your healthy self-esteem? Don't allow yourself to punish your loved ones more day by not allowing pictures--they truly do love you just the way you are.Sandra Winnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16078024597758910786noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5197761816143959943.post-67680135806947376412011-07-31T18:49:00.000-05:002011-07-31T18:49:10.319-05:00Looking Backward to Move Forward"If you don't know your history, you're bound to repeat the same mistakes." While that certainly holds true for me when it comes to living a healthier lifestyle, I'd like to add a positive spin--you can also go back and look at the right choices you made.<br />
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Before I copy and paste my old posts, I'd like to share with you a bit about what happened. I'll spare you the excruciating details because all that really needs to be said is my marriage was going downhill and fast due to infidelity. When you go through my 2009 posts, you'll see I apologized for not blogging as much in April and then again around the summer months and September--I was an emotional wreck and things kept getting worse.<br />
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I tried so hard to keep on track with my blog and my weight loss efforts, but depression kicked my ass. I found myself hating everything about that year and wanted to rid myself of all reminders; in haste, I deleted Moms Fighting Fat permanently. It's a mistake I regret to this day--especially since some company came along and grabbed the same title for their website.<br />
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How are things now? Great! I'm happy to report that it's been a long, hard road with many changes but my husband and I have worked everything out. Our marriage, our children, our family has survived one of the hardest obstacles to overcome in a marriage. One of the most important things I've learned from the entire experience is this: with hard work and dedication almost anything can be fixed. I've forgiven my husband, I've overcome depression, and now all that's left to do is work on physical me.<br />
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I look forward to going through this journey with all of you again. For now, I hope you'll enjoy going through some of my posts from two years ago. I'm sure many of you can relate to falling off the healthy lifestyle wagon and an equal amount find it awfully hard to get back on it again--we can do it though, right?!Sandra Winnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16078024597758910786noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5197761816143959943.post-39408993812943464212009-04-30T19:20:00.000-05:002011-07-31T19:21:55.945-05:00Review of Jari Love’s Get Ripped: Slim and Lean vs. The Biggest Loser Workout: Power Sculpt<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #2a2a2a; font-family: Verdana, Tahoma, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px;"></span><br />
<div style="line-height: 1.5em; margin-bottom: 15px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdx9Iq5GCn-m9jaP9Nz7syDqFfTp66ClNGKWS6GzTBN4VgHXrim93ovWIaAjY0gGmF4HVYPmvBW1G7FPAjoCmNuiAZKuHtoyKVyu2mbFAVe9tpHKC68SInCF7xm8fMR14QKOkAzzmAIrpo/s1600-h/Jari.jpg" style="color: #0a8fbc; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdx9Iq5GCn-m9jaP9Nz7syDqFfTp66ClNGKWS6GzTBN4VgHXrim93ovWIaAjY0gGmF4HVYPmvBW1G7FPAjoCmNuiAZKuHtoyKVyu2mbFAVe9tpHKC68SInCF7xm8fMR14QKOkAzzmAIrpo/s200/Jari.jpg" style="border-bottom-color: rgb(176, 176, 176); border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 1px; border-left-color: rgb(176, 176, 176); border-left-style: solid; border-left-width: 1px; border-right-color: rgb(176, 176, 176); border-right-style: solid; border-right-width: 1px; border-top-color: rgb(176, 176, 176); border-top-style: solid; border-top-width: 1px; display: block; height: 200px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; margin-top: 0px; max-width: 97%; padding-bottom: 5px; padding-left: 5px; padding-right: 5px; padding-top: 5px; text-align: center; width: 146px;" /></a></div><div style="line-height: 1.5em; margin-bottom: 15px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimqFrjtwfaFtm8-ytx4SUarjH8mtUxWEfFVR4Sa0MBVtvH8oCQ1dC2tLqZyhZMLx3mFWK_wHJFeWO3ensAv1ao-foygpBnLmpFpDCCpbcjscWBu-YNiTFBk3Oli3cI84Ap_80d3hIHVA11/s1600-h/TBL.jpg" style="color: grey; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: underline;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimqFrjtwfaFtm8-ytx4SUarjH8mtUxWEfFVR4Sa0MBVtvH8oCQ1dC2tLqZyhZMLx3mFWK_wHJFeWO3ensAv1ao-foygpBnLmpFpDCCpbcjscWBu-YNiTFBk3Oli3cI84Ap_80d3hIHVA11/s200/TBL.jpg" style="border-bottom-color: rgb(80, 80, 80); border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 1px; border-left-color: rgb(80, 80, 80); border-left-style: solid; border-left-width: 1px; border-right-color: rgb(80, 80, 80); border-right-style: solid; border-right-width: 1px; border-top-color: rgb(80, 80, 80); border-top-style: solid; border-top-width: 1px; display: block; height: 200px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; margin-top: 0px; max-width: 97%; padding-bottom: 5px; padding-left: 5px; padding-right: 5px; padding-top: 5px; text-align: center; width: 139px;" /></a></div><div style="line-height: 1.5em; margin-bottom: 15px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">On Monday, April 20, 2009, Jari Love’s <span style="font-style: italic;">Get Ripped: Slim & Lean</span> DVD came to me by way of Netflix. The next day I popped in the dvd and began what I think is a huge step in the right direction with strength training.</div><div style="line-height: 1.5em; margin-bottom: 15px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">There is a major difference between Love’s <span style="font-style: italic;">Get Ripped: Slim and Lean</span> workout versus <span style="font-style: italic;">The Biggest Loser Workout: Power Sculpt</span> one. Although Power Sculpt is great, it lacks changes to really tear deep muscle tissue which is essential for building muscle. Consequently, there aren’t a lot of repetitions so after a few sessions of doing the workout, you can easily lift the weights, although you can go heavier once that happens.</div><div style="line-height: 1.5em; margin-bottom: 15px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">On the flip-side, Slim & Lean wears down your muscles. You don’t just do 18 single count bicep curls and move along to another exercise. Oh no. Jari Love constantly changes the dynamics of the entire session. You count four up slow and down slow, then up two and down two, down three and up one, pulsing, and finally single counts–then you repeat this three to four times. It’s the same whether you’re doing squats, shoulder presses, lunges, dead-lifts, or triceps. When it comes to bicep curls I start out with eight pounds and then end up using five. As for shoulder presses? Oh. My. Gawd. I do one set with eight pound weights, do 1/4 of the next with five pound weights and then finish the second and third sets with three pounds in each hand–shaking and grunting to lift them!</div><div style="line-height: 1.5em; margin-bottom: 15px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Another difference between Power Sculpt and Slim & Lean is the length of the workout. The Biggest Loser workout is broken up into five segments: 5-minute warm-up, 20-minute sculpting section, two 10-minute sculpting segments, and a five minute cool down. Once you’ve gained strength you can tailor your workout to do all three strength training sessions which adds up to 40-minutes. Jari Love’s Slim & Lean workout is broken up into 15 segments–12 of them equal almost an hour (including the warm-up) and that doesn’t include the cool down.</div><div style="line-height: 1.5em; margin-bottom: 15px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Even though Jari Love’s Get Ripped: Slim & Lean workout is harder, beginner’s can adjust the amount of weights used and pause if need be. And like I said previously, <span style="font-style: italic;">The Biggest Loser Workout: Power Sculpt</span> dvd is great. I really recommend it for beginners looking to ease in to weight training without half dying in the process. Make no mistake about it though, I used it for a few months before learning about Jari Love through a friend and felt it!</div><div style="line-height: 1.5em; margin-bottom: 15px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Three wonderful similarities stand-out to me between The Biggest Loser trainers, Bob Harper, Jillian Micheals and Kim Lyons, and Slim & Lean’s Jari Love; they are all very encouraging and definitely will keep you motivated, the workouts are fun, and you can tailor your workouts accordingly.</div><div style="line-height: 1.5em; margin-bottom: 15px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">I’ve done the <span style="font-style: italic;">Get Ripped: Slim and Lean</span> workout every other day since April 21st (minus this past weekend when I was camping) and can already feel a difference in my body.</div><div style="line-height: 1.5em; margin-bottom: 15px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">My fitness goal is to do the entire<span style="font-style: italic;"> Get Ripped: Slim & Lean</span> dvd without stopping or switching to lower weights and then I’ll move along to Love’s cardio and strength interval training video.</div><div style="line-height: 1.5em; margin-bottom: 15px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Have a happy and healthy day!</div><div style="line-height: 1.5em; margin-bottom: 15px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Hugs ~ Sandy</div>Sandra Winnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16078024597758910786noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5197761816143959943.post-12325440074799957152009-04-21T19:13:00.000-05:002011-07-31T19:14:48.939-05:00Rev Up Your Sex Life with After Workout Sex!<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #2a2a2a; font-family: Verdana, Tahoma, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px;"></span><br />
<div style="line-height: 1.5em; margin-bottom: 15px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Need some spice to your dead or dying marital sex life? Then let’s talk about sex and specifically why after workout sex rocks and how it can take your sex life to a whole new level.</div><div style="line-height: 1.5em; margin-bottom: 15px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">When you’ve been married for awhile (we’ve been married 17 years), it’s normal for intercourse to become a bit mundane and dwindle from quite a few times a week to a few times a month. Although sex isn’t “the” most important thing in a marriage, it does rank up there with having a healthy and happy one. So, what’s a woman to do when it comes to revving up sex? Why, workout with or at the same time as her husband. And, if he isn’t into working out, bring his ass over to the computer and give him a good reason to. <img alt=";-)" class="wp-smiley" src="http://s1.wp.com/wp-includes/images/smilies/icon_wink.gif?m=1308978502g" style="border-bottom-color: rgb(176, 176, 176); border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-color: rgb(176, 176, 176); border-left-style: solid; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-color: rgb(176, 176, 176); border-right-style: solid; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-color: rgb(176, 176, 176); border-top-style: solid; border-top-width: 0px; height: auto; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; max-width: 97%; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" /></div><div style="line-height: 1.5em; margin-bottom: 15px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">My husband works out at home in the mornings; he sets the alarm for 3:30 or 4:30 (depending on whether he runs or not) and leaves for work around 6:15. I usually don’t wake up at three-thirty but I do get up around 4:30-5am daily so instead of waiting until six, I go ahead and workout too. We do not workout together, but we’re usually done within 10-15 minutes of one another. Whoever finishes first takes a shower, but sometimes we take one together.</div><div style="line-height: 1.5em; margin-bottom: 15px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Regardless of your size, when you’ve finished a hard cardio or strength training workout, you feel sexy (once you’ve passed the dead phase). Also, cardio and/or weight lifting gets the blood rushing and we all know that sex enhancement herbs or drugs are all about getting the blood to places of desire–working out is a natural way to get those little red guys where they need to be.</div><div style="line-height: 1.5em; margin-bottom: 15px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">My attraction towards my husband happens on several levels; I love the sounds he makes when lifting weights, the sweat trickling down his rock hard chest drives me wild, and his muscles appear enlarged and powerful which makes me want to touch, touch, touch. <img alt=":-)" class="wp-smiley" src="http://s0.wp.com/wp-includes/images/smilies/icon_smile.gif?m=1308978502g" style="border-bottom-color: rgb(176, 176, 176); border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-color: rgb(176, 176, 176); border-left-style: solid; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-color: rgb(176, 176, 176); border-right-style: solid; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-color: rgb(176, 176, 176); border-top-style: solid; border-top-width: 0px; height: auto; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; max-width: 97%; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" /> His attraction towards me is seeing me working towards the goal and viewing the confidence I have when finished.</div><div style="line-height: 1.5em; margin-bottom: 15px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Feeling good about yourself, blood flowing throughout your body and the mutual animal attraction for one another are all perfect ingredients for an incredible sexual experience! You may also find yourself willing to try positions you normally wouldn’t do because your self-confidence levels are running high. I don’t know about your man, but if you’re an overweight woman like myself who try’s to cover-up the fat during sex with shirts or blankets–do not do it–my guy hates it and chances are yours does too. Why? Because it takes the focus of what you should be enjoying completely uninhibited.</div><div style="line-height: 1.5em; margin-bottom: 15px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Have a great day and try working out with your man!</div>Sandra Winnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16078024597758910786noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5197761816143959943.post-47183077915187517592009-04-16T19:15:00.000-05:002011-07-31T19:16:16.238-05:00Sore, Sore, Sore and the Cure for Soreness<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #2a2a2a; font-family: Verdana, Tahoma, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px;"></span><br />
<div style="line-height: 1.5em; margin-bottom: 15px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">I’m into day three of the May 2009 issue of Prevention Magazine’s strength training workout and yesterday and first thing this morning I was sore…make that sore, sore, sore!</div><div style="line-height: 1.5em; margin-bottom: 15px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">I’ve been lifting weights every other day, as well as lunges and squats, since January but it didn’t prepare me for Prevention’s workout at all. The exercises require moving in to and out of the positions slowly. For instance, instead of just squatting and returning to standing position, you slowly lower into squat position to a count of four and then raise back while counting to two or four.</div><div style="line-height: 1.5em; margin-bottom: 15px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">The reason counting in this manner works so well and feels so new to your body is because it confuses the muscles and makes them work harder. If you’re in need of a boost to your routine, you should definitely try incorporating the slow-count method in to your routine.</div><div style="line-height: 1.5em; margin-bottom: 15px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Yesterday I could barely move and this morning was the same way. However, I’m no longer sore due to a wonderful natural “cure” for sore and tender muscles…after workout morning sex with my husband. Cool eh? Of course, you’ll have to use your own hubby or significant other to cure the soreness though…which I’m sure they’ll be happy to oblige. <img alt=":-)" class="wp-smiley" src="http://s0.wp.com/wp-includes/images/smilies/icon_smile.gif?m=1308978502g" style="border-bottom-color: rgb(176, 176, 176); border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-color: rgb(176, 176, 176); border-left-style: solid; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-color: rgb(176, 176, 176); border-right-style: solid; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-color: rgb(176, 176, 176); border-top-style: solid; border-top-width: 0px; height: auto; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; max-width: 97%; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" /></div>Sandra Winnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16078024597758910786noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5197761816143959943.post-70032456957994386912009-03-05T19:16:00.000-06:002011-07-31T19:17:38.504-05:00I'm an Herbal Essence "Yesser" This Morning<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #2a2a2a; font-family: Verdana, Tahoma, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px;"></span><br />
<div style="line-height: 1.5em; margin-bottom: 15px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">“Yes, yes, yes”, were the words that came out of my mouth as two more pounds are now in my past. In total, I’ve rid 15 pounds since December. <img alt=":-)" class="wp-smiley" src="http://s0.wp.com/wp-includes/images/smilies/icon_smile.gif?m=1308978502g" style="border-bottom-color: rgb(176, 176, 176); border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-color: rgb(176, 176, 176); border-left-style: solid; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-color: rgb(176, 176, 176); border-right-style: solid; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-color: rgb(176, 176, 176); border-top-style: solid; border-top-width: 0px; height: auto; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; max-width: 97%; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" /></div><div style="line-height: 1.5em; margin-bottom: 15px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">I wrote Melody yesterday and told her that I was dreading stepping on the scale today because of my bad eating days. She offered me up some wise words that echo those I’ve heard and read from Lara, “Don’t let yourself get focused with numbers on the scale.” Melody also told me not to get down if I gained or lost no weight, what’s important is getting back on track…again, many friends have said the same.</div><div style="line-height: 1.5em; margin-bottom: 15px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">It’s much easier said than done, isn’t it? You try not to focus on numbers but something deep within cry’s to be at a lower weight. Despite all of the great advice I’ve received from others battling the almighty bulge, I still find myself stuck with placing great importance on that crazy red needle and which direction it’s headed. If the needle moves to the left, I have an almost orgasmic experience. However, if it remains idle or ventures to the right, depression kicks in and I FEEL like running to the snack cupboard and devouring everything in sight, but I don’t.</div><div style="line-height: 1.5em; margin-bottom: 15px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">While trying to place less importance on what the scale reads is something I need to work on, I’m thankful that my mindset has changed for the better when it comes to other ways of dealing with disappointment over my weight–and that’s a good thing! <img alt=":-)" class="wp-smiley" src="http://s0.wp.com/wp-includes/images/smilies/icon_smile.gif?m=1308978502g" style="border-bottom-color: rgb(176, 176, 176); border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-color: rgb(176, 176, 176); border-left-style: solid; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-color: rgb(176, 176, 176); border-right-style: solid; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-color: rgb(176, 176, 176); border-top-style: solid; border-top-width: 0px; height: auto; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; max-width: 97%; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" /></div>Sandra Winnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16078024597758910786noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5197761816143959943.post-45876363056570175932009-02-28T19:09:00.000-06:002011-07-31T19:10:28.846-05:00Even the Dog Said, "Ewww" to Tofu!<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #2a2a2a; font-family: Verdana, Tahoma, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px;"></span><br />
<div style="line-height: 1.5em; margin-bottom: 15px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">To prevent myself from buying fast food when I was starving yesterday whilst out running errands, I grabbed some food (if you can call it that)from our local health food store’s refrigerator–Sweet and Sour Tofu.</div><div style="line-height: 1.5em; margin-bottom: 15px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">You see, my friend LaVender once made me a delicious tofu burrito with onions and peppers and salsa–it was awesome–so I thought, this should be good. Wrong! The first thing that struck me when I opened the little container was the <span style="font-style: italic;">aroma</span>; it didn’t smell like any sweet and sour food I’d ever had. The next thing was the <span style="font-style: italic;">appearance</span>; it sort of, kind of, looked like chicken but something just wasn’t right. After that came the <span style="font-style: italic;">feel</span>, I can’t quite describe it; it was a cross between jell-o and silly puddy. Finally, the <span style="font-style: italic;">taste</span>–it was horrid, not to mention the “jellpuddy” texture. My 11yo dd tried it too and snarled her nose after a tiny bite.</div><div style="line-height: 1.5em; margin-bottom: 15px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">After my daughter and I finished discussing this disgusting, so-called food, I tried to give some to our Boston Terrier, Pugsly. I threw a piece on the ground. He sniffed it and ran backwards and then he walked towards it again with caution, made a small “woof”, backed-off, and then finally ate it. LMAO!</div>Sandra Winnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16078024597758910786noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5197761816143959943.post-26282329019177111242009-02-25T19:10:00.000-06:002011-07-31T19:11:36.922-05:0025 Pounds in One Week?<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #2a2a2a; font-family: Verdana, Tahoma, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px;"></span><br />
<div style="line-height: 1.5em; margin-bottom: 15px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Don’t get me wrong, I LOVE The Biggest Loser but vehemently disagree with how contestants on the show lose weight. One man last night hopped on the scale and lost a total of 25 pounds for one week–good for him, but is it healthy? As an overweight woman who has been battling the bulge since my pre-teens and as someone who has taken off the same pounds over and over again, I can say, “No, this is not healthy!”</div><div style="line-height: 1.5em; margin-bottom: 15px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Throughout my entire life, I was able to lose weight quickly (for me a big weekly weight loss has been 7-8 pounds) but you know what–it always came back and with more weight to boot. It’s easy, you practically have to starve yourself or go on a fad diet like Atkins (although you lose uber amounts of weight it is not a healthy plan) in which fruits and veggies are restricted.</div><div style="line-height: 1.5em; margin-bottom: 15px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">The Biggest Loser Contestants not only eat a low cal diet but they have personal trainers and workout from six to eight hours a day! This explains why so many Biggest Loser winners end up gaining tons of weight back almost as soon after the finale’–most of their weight loss from loss of water and explains the extreme loose skin factor. Also, the workout program on the show is not something most people can keep up with once they go back to their jobs and family–and there are no trainers or cameras anymore.</div><div style="line-height: 1.5em; margin-bottom: 15px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Though my weight loss has never been that extreme in the past, it’s the same concept; most of my loss was due to water–not this time. On average, since December of 2008, I’ve steadily lost 1-2 pounds a week. I’ve cut out junk food (except on occasion), workout from 30-50 minutes a day and have upped my intake of fresh fruit, vegetables, beans, whole grains and water. I don’t starve myself but I don’t overeat either. This is the first time I’ve made a lifestyle change with eating and exercise that is slowly but surely becoming a habit.</div><div style="line-height: 1.5em; margin-bottom: 15px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">I LOVE working out with my Biggest Loser Cardio and Sculpting dvds EVERYDAY and I LOVE how I feel by eating healthy foods. Yeah, the weight is coming off painfully slow but everything I read says the people who are most successful at keeping weight off do it slowly and by making gradual changes–is it any wonder though? After all, if it takes a year or more to lose 40-100 pounds, you’ll have developed healthy habits that will last a life time versus quick weight loss at the expense of extreme workout and calorie restriction that when finished–most won’t be able to maintain and, therefore, the weight will come back just as fast as it was lost.</div>Sandra Winnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16078024597758910786noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5197761816143959943.post-18554611989774111842009-02-21T19:11:00.000-06:002011-07-31T19:12:56.823-05:00Finally, Well Enough To Workout And Introducing Melody Polakow<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #2a2a2a; font-family: Verdana, Tahoma, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px;"></span><br />
<div style="line-height: 1.5em; margin-bottom: 15px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">I still have a lingering cough but the cayenne powder, cider vinegar and honey keep it at bay, not to mention that me getting a full nights sleep has helped tremendously–and without sleeping pills! <img alt=":-)" class="wp-smiley" src="http://s0.wp.com/wp-includes/images/smilies/icon_smile.gif?m=1308177822g" style="border-bottom-color: rgb(176, 176, 176); border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-color: rgb(176, 176, 176); border-left-style: solid; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-color: rgb(176, 176, 176); border-right-style: solid; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-color: rgb(176, 176, 176); border-top-style: solid; border-top-width: 0px; height: auto; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; max-width: 97%; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" /></div><div style="line-height: 1.5em; margin-bottom: 15px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">This morning I did the beginning and intermediate cardio blast from my Biggest Loser DVD and boy did it feel good. However, Jillian’s segment is still very hard for me, especially the “burpies” (sp) which is when you bend over, walk your hands to push-up position, walk your hands back, stand-up, jump, and repeat for what seems like an eternity. Man, I huffed and puffed the whole ten minutes but I did it.</div><div style="line-height: 1.5em; margin-bottom: 15px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Now it’s time to refocus on eating healthier again because for some odd reason, when I’m sick I decide to eat what I shouldn’t. How silly is that? I know that if I hate super-dee-duper healthy meals that the bronchitis would leave within a day or two, so I need to buckle down and make it happen.</div><div style="line-height: 1.5em; margin-bottom: 15px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">A wonderful woman by the name of Melody Polakow shared her blog with me at a mom’s board online and it’s amazing. She’s a single mother and currently layed-off vegan chef whose teens live with her part-time. Her blog is called <a href="http://melomeals.blogspot.com/" style="color: #0a8fbc; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none;">MELOMEALS</a> and she shares not only how to eat spectacular vegan meals for $3.33/day, she also shares her financial and weight battles. I absolutely ADORE this woman and am looking forward to trying her recipes.</div><div style="line-height: 1.5em; margin-bottom: 15px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Be sure to pop-in and take a gander at her site, she photographs her amazing dishes and shares the recipes too!</div>Sandra Winnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16078024597758910786noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5197761816143959943.post-30603225479336617132009-02-09T18:55:00.000-06:002011-07-31T18:56:00.226-05:00Blah<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #2a2a2a; font-family: Verdana, Tahoma, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px;"></span><br />
<div style="line-height: 1.5em; margin-bottom: 15px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">That is how I’m feeling this morning after a horrible night’s sleep. Also, I’m sore as heck from pushing myself yesterday in cardio and not taking in near enough calories–it made for a long night.</div><div style="line-height: 1.5em; margin-bottom: 15px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">The weight is practically falling off me this week but yesterday was the first day that I missed my early morning meal and it messed everything all up. We were out of milk, our son was sick, and the kitchen was a freakin’ disaster upon rising. Due to busying myself trying to get all of that done, by the time I got home from shopping it was nearly ten o’ clock a.m. before I had breakfast; starting my small meal eating ‘ritual’ at that time of day threw me all out of whack.</div><div style="line-height: 1.5em; margin-bottom: 15px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Yesterday morning I did my beginning 20 minute cardio segment and added in Jillian’s 10 minute segment and did the Zumba video. However, unlike my first attempt this week adding in Jillian, I kept up better but am now paying the price! My feet hurt like heck.</div><div style="line-height: 1.5em; margin-bottom: 15px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Another blah moment came when I had my first bubble bath (I’m a shower gal) for the first time in years. There’s no hiding bodily flaws in the bathtub, that’s for sure. Instead of having a nice relaxing soak, I sat there looking at my fat rolls and found myself getting angry (with me) for allowing myself to get so damned big–it was just like my shopping trip a couple of weeks ago.</div><div style="line-height: 1.5em; margin-bottom: 15px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">I emerged from the bathtub a bit grumpy and then took my pissy attitude out on my husband, who was eating huge bowl of Breyer’s chocolate ice cream with syrup and whipped-cream on top, even though earlier I said, “Sure, you can buy some ice cream, it won’t bother me a bit”–Pffft!</div><div style="line-height: 1.5em; margin-bottom: 15px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Alright, I’ll focus on something more positive–I love my forearms, they’re beautiful, roll free and contain zero cellulite–and I don’t have cankles (whew!)</div><div style="line-height: 1.5em; margin-bottom: 15px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Food Log (30 Minutes of Sculpting)</div><div style="line-height: 1.5em; margin-bottom: 15px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Morning – Smoothie w/GV organic soy milk, blueberries, one banana, an orange, and a good handful of baby spinach</div><div style="line-height: 1.5em; margin-bottom: 15px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Mid-Morning – three eggs w/four pieces of turkey bacon, jalepenos and salsa.</div><div style="line-height: 1.5em; margin-bottom: 15px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Lunch – A big salad with red wine dressing</div><div style="line-height: 1.5em; margin-bottom: 15px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Midday- A mint choco square</div><div style="line-height: 1.5em; margin-bottom: 15px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Dinner – I don’t know yet</div><div style="line-height: 1.5em; margin-bottom: 15px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Glass of red wine</div>Sandra Winnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16078024597758910786noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5197761816143959943.post-90208234726856104022009-02-08T18:56:00.000-06:002011-07-31T18:56:52.185-05:00Holy Calories!<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #2a2a2a; font-family: Verdana, Tahoma, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px;"></span><br />
<div style="line-height: 1.5em; margin-bottom: 15px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Yesterday my daughter’s Girl Scout troop went to lunch at Chili’s while on a field trip…which meant I went too. I ordered the endless potato soup and salad lunch (with honey mustard dressing) but had one serving of each. THANKFULLY, I prepared for what I knew would be extra calories by only having a bowl of cereal for breakfast because that meal alone contained 884 calories and over 55 grams of fat!</div><div style="line-height: 1.5em; margin-bottom: 15px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Also, because I knew I’d be going to Chili’s for lunch I did two sculpting workouts and cardio earlier that morning. Later that evening I did a few push-ups, squats and crunches with a medicine ball for about five minutes and cardio for ten by walking up and down on a workout step.</div><div style="line-height: 1.5em; margin-bottom: 15px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Out of curiosity, I hopped on the scale this morning and saw the needle on 222…Yay me! <img alt=":-)" class="wp-smiley" src="http://s0.wp.com/wp-includes/images/smilies/icon_smile.gif?m=1308958512g" style="border-bottom-color: rgb(176, 176, 176); border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-color: rgb(176, 176, 176); border-left-style: solid; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-color: rgb(176, 176, 176); border-right-style: solid; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-color: rgb(176, 176, 176); border-top-style: solid; border-top-width: 0px; height: auto; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; max-width: 97%; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" /> It isn’t my official weigh-in day though so it doesn’t count, but I’m happier than a lark that I didn’t gain and instead dropped two more pounds!</div><div style="line-height: 1.5em; margin-bottom: 15px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">For dinner last night I had a BLT w/light mayo and five pieces of bacon and french fries (baked)…I had my chocolate square too. However, due to eating heavier foods, I didn’t eat 6 small meals. That’s okay though, I think you have to allow yourself room for ‘off days’ by eating less and making sure to workout a bit harder to make up for it.</div><div style="line-height: 1.5em; margin-bottom: 15px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Oops, can’t forget about today’s food log:<br />
<span style="font-weight: bold;"><br />
Morning</span> – orange and 1/4 watermelon<br />
<span style="font-weight: bold;"><br />
Mid-morning</span>-blueberry whole wheat oatmeal<br />
<span style="font-weight: bold;"><br />
Lunch</span>-a huge salad from Ruby Tuesday with peas, chickpeas, lima beans, spinach, purple lettuce, green peppers, onions, carrots (no cheese or croutons), black olives, and topped with light ranch dressing<br />
<span style="font-weight: bold;"><br />
Midday</span>-chocolate mint square<br />
<span style="font-weight: bold;"><br />
Dinner</span>-homemade chicken noodle soup</div><div style="line-height: 1.5em; margin-bottom: 15px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Glass of Red Wine</div>Sandra Winnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16078024597758910786noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5197761816143959943.post-80594135120292124922009-02-06T18:57:00.000-06:002011-07-31T19:07:44.677-05:00Woo...I Feel Good<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #2a2a2a; font-family: Verdana, Tahoma, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px;"></span><br />
<div style="line-height: 1.5em; margin-bottom: 15px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">My body was ready to go this morning even though my brain said, “You don’t have to workout today”–I ignored my brain and pumped out three cardio workouts for a total of a 50 minute workout. I have no clue what came over me, but damn it–aw heck, I’ll let James Brown speak for me…</div><div style="line-height: 1.5em; margin-bottom: 15px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Food Log</div><div style="line-height: 1.5em; margin-bottom: 15px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Morning – Half a cantelope</div><div style="line-height: 1.5em; margin-bottom: 15px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Mid-morning – fruit smoothie w/spinach</div><div style="line-height: 1.5em; margin-bottom: 15px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Lunch-big salad</div><div style="line-height: 1.5em; margin-bottom: 15px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Midday-Chocolate square</div><div style="line-height: 1.5em; margin-bottom: 15px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Dinner – I don’t know yet</div><div style="line-height: 1.5em; margin-bottom: 15px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Snack-Orange and/or Banana</div><div style="line-height: 1.5em; margin-bottom: 15px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Late night-glass of red wine</div>Sandra Winnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16078024597758910786noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5197761816143959943.post-70409084514402528102009-02-04T19:07:00.000-06:002011-07-31T19:09:03.100-05:00Heart Healthy Friend's Advice<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #2a2a2a; font-family: Verdana, Tahoma, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px;"></span><br />
<div style="line-height: 1.5em; margin-bottom: 15px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">The other day I spoke with a really good friend of mine who is 40 years old and has the cholesterol levels of a healthy 25 year old–what a great inspiration!</div><div style="line-height: 1.5em; margin-bottom: 15px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">She works out 4-5 times a week, is fit as a fiddle and eats healthy. She also allows herself to eat food she likes from time to time like a Coke, fries, etc. After inquiring more about her healthy lifestyle, I’ve decided that I’ll try to implement a bit of what she does.</div><div style="line-height: 1.5em; margin-bottom: 15px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">I’ll be having one square of dark chocolate a day and a glass of wine at night (unless I treat myself to a Pepsi or Coke). She says that by allowing herself one ‘treat’ a day, that she doesn’t have the urge to splurge on a chocolate bar. She does not ever eat crunchy snacks like chips, cheetos, etc. because she, like me, cannot ‘only eat just a few.’ Lastly, eating every two to three hours, having a salad as a meal (careful not to go over 7 grams of fat on dressing), and getting in 35 grams of fiber a day.</div><div style="line-height: 1.5em; margin-bottom: 15px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">I’m going to try my hardest to incorporate her wisdom.</div><div style="line-height: 1.5em; margin-bottom: 15px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">That said, here is the beginning of today’s food log:</div><div style="line-height: 1.5em; margin-bottom: 15px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Breakfast</span>- Half a Cantelope</div><div style="line-height: 1.5em; margin-bottom: 15px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Snack</span>-Banana</div><div style="line-height: 1.5em; margin-bottom: 15px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Mid-morning meal</span>-Kashi Blueberry Cluster cereal w/1 cup of GV Organic Vanilla Soy Milk</div><div style="line-height: 1.5em; margin-bottom: 15px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Snack</span>-Orange</div><div style="line-height: 1.5em; margin-bottom: 15px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Lunch</span>-Big Hearts of Romaine Lettuce with 1 tomato, onions, jalepeno peppers, and 1tbsp of red wine vinegar dressing</div><div style="line-height: 1.5em; margin-bottom: 15px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Snack-</span>60% Caco Dark Chocolate Square</div><div style="line-height: 1.5em; margin-bottom: 15px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Dinner-</span>Fat Free Bean Burritos w/onion, lettuce, tomato, jalepenos, 1tbsp of hot salsa, 1tbsp of sour cream, and one large tortilla</div><div style="line-height: 1.5em; margin-bottom: 15px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">One glass of red Pinot wine</span></div>Sandra Winnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16078024597758910786noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5197761816143959943.post-13618339101657401332009-01-28T18:50:00.000-06:002011-07-31T18:51:38.687-05:00Who Is That Girl I See<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #2a2a2a; font-family: Verdana, Tahoma, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px;"></span><br />
<div style="line-height: 1.5em; margin-bottom: 15px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Or should I say, “Cow”? That description pretty much sums up my experience when I had to purchase a new pair of jeans two weeks ago–the ones that are now loose in the legs.</div><div style="line-height: 1.5em; margin-bottom: 15px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">We don’t have any full body mirrors at home; when I do use them, it’s to glance quickly at my hair and fix it if need be. In other words, it’s been forever since I saw myself naked. My husband is normally with me when I shop for clothes so I don’t look in the dressing room mirror, I slip on the clothes and run out and ask his opinion. Anyway, this time I was alone…</div><div style="line-height: 1.5em; margin-bottom: 15px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">When I saw my naked self in the mirror, tears filled my eyes and I was devastated. It was though I was looking an obese woman who I’d never seen before. This can’t be me, can it? “Yeah honey, it is you, there is no denying it,” said the voice in my head. I bought my jeans and promptly left the store.</div><div style="line-height: 1.5em; margin-bottom: 15px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">On the drive home, I felt my blood pressure rise and when I stepped through the door I took it out on the family. “Hi honey. Hi mom. Did you have fun shopping?” were the words I was met with. I replied with a snarky, “Noooo”, then I headed to the kitchen…</div><div style="line-height: 1.5em; margin-bottom: 15px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">My first desire was to go and grab some chips out of the cupboard and comfort myself. Filled with self-pity, I opened the cupboard door and was just about to reach in when reality set in–this is exactly how the obese woman in the mirror got that way. I closed the cupboard door, opened the broom closet and angrily began sweeping. Still feeling sorry for myself, I started emptying the dishwasher and clanking the dishes around so everyone would know it, lol.</div><div style="line-height: 1.5em; margin-bottom: 15px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">After my small temper tantrum, I went to my room and wept. It was then that Donnie came in and spoke with me. He was very positive and supportive. He told me that there was nothing I could do about the past but I could change the future by working out and watching what I eat.</div><div style="line-height: 1.5em; margin-bottom: 15px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">He was right. Tears and sorrow are not going to help me lose weight and get healthy. I needed to step up my workouts from three days a week to five or six and eat better…it’s the only way.</div><div style="line-height: 1.5em; margin-bottom: 15px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">It’s been two weeks now since my dreadful shopping experience and I actually look forward to exercising daily. The pain I once had after working out is gone, but the Biggest Loser beginner segments of the tapes are still hard to get through. However, I’ve come a long way! I’m able to get in a few good jumping lunges and do a couple of regular, versus girlie, push-ups.</div><div style="line-height: 1.5em; margin-bottom: 15px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Lastly, I’m too embarrassed to post a picture of myself. But, so you know I’m not a size 10-12 fussing about being obese–I wear a size 20 in women’s Levis. I’m longing for the day I can wear a size 10-12 for the first time in many years.</div>Sandra Winnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16078024597758910786noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5197761816143959943.post-91153529034482978892009-01-27T18:52:00.000-06:002011-07-31T18:53:05.110-05:00Still Going<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #2a2a2a; font-family: Verdana, Tahoma, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px;"></span><br />
<div style="line-height: 1.5em; margin-bottom: 15px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">I haven’t been blogging but I have been continuing to workout and try to eat healthier. My official weigh-in is this Thursday but I hopped on the scale today because my jeans are a bit loose in the legs–2 pounds gone! <img alt=":-)" class="wp-smiley" src="http://s2.wp.com/wp-includes/images/smilies/icon_smile.gif?m=1268957919g" style="border-bottom-color: rgb(176, 176, 176); border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-color: rgb(176, 176, 176); border-left-style: solid; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-color: rgb(176, 176, 176); border-right-style: solid; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-color: rgb(176, 176, 176); border-top-style: solid; border-top-width: 0px; height: auto; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; max-width: 97%; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" /></div><div style="line-height: 1.5em; margin-bottom: 15px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Two pounds isn’t a whole lot but I honestly don’t believe it’s due to water weight. The reason being is that I’ve been eating less but not starving myself…and I’ve been working out.</div><div style="line-height: 1.5em; margin-bottom: 15px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">It feels really good to wake up, have some coffee, workout, and be showered and dressed before the kiddos rise from their slumber. Having all of that accomplished by 7:30 am has helped give me energy, something that I normally do not have.</div><div style="line-height: 1.5em; margin-bottom: 15px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Most days, I rise and look forward to working out but I still LOATHE holding in push-up position and want to smack Bob (Biggest Loser trainer) up one side and down the other. LOL Seriously, I find myself cussing at him while my arms are about to crumble while holding up my entire body!</div><div style="line-height: 1.5em; margin-bottom: 15px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">I’m looking forward to my weigh-in Thursday but won’t be disappointed if I’ve still lost just two pounds for the entire month–well, maybe a little. <img alt=";-)" class="wp-smiley" src="http://s1.wp.com/wp-includes/images/smilies/icon_wink.gif?m=1268957919g" style="border-bottom-color: rgb(176, 176, 176); border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-color: rgb(176, 176, 176); border-left-style: solid; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-color: rgb(176, 176, 176); border-right-style: solid; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-color: rgb(176, 176, 176); border-top-style: solid; border-top-width: 0px; height: auto; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; max-width: 97%; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" /></div><div style="line-height: 1.5em; margin-bottom: 15px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Thanks to all of you and your support! Your words of encouragement help keep me going. <img alt=":-)" class="wp-smiley" src="http://s2.wp.com/wp-includes/images/smilies/icon_smile.gif?m=1268957919g" style="border-bottom-color: rgb(176, 176, 176); border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-color: rgb(176, 176, 176); border-left-style: solid; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-color: rgb(176, 176, 176); border-right-style: solid; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-color: rgb(176, 176, 176); border-top-style: solid; border-top-width: 0px; height: auto; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; max-width: 97%; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" /></div><div style="line-height: 1.5em; margin-bottom: 15px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Love and Hugs ~ Sandy</div>Sandra Winnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16078024597758910786noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5197761816143959943.post-19583453579787173442009-01-08T18:53:00.000-06:002011-07-31T18:54:26.284-05:00Trials and Tribulations: Getting Through Them<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #2a2a2a; font-family: Verdana, Tahoma, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px;"></span><br />
<div style="line-height: 1.5em; margin-bottom: 15px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Here it is, one week later and not one pound was lost. <img alt=":-(" class="wp-smiley" src="http://s0.wp.com/wp-includes/images/smilies/icon_sad.gif?m=1268957919g" style="border-bottom-color: rgb(176, 176, 176); border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-color: rgb(176, 176, 176); border-left-style: solid; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-color: rgb(176, 176, 176); border-right-style: solid; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-color: rgb(176, 176, 176); border-top-style: solid; border-top-width: 0px; height: auto; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; max-width: 97%; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" /> Due to financial pettiness that came upon us, I was not able to go ‘raw, raw’ or completely vegetarian.</div><div style="line-height: 1.5em; margin-bottom: 15px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">I ate as many fruits and vegetables as possible over the past week and only ate when I was hungry. Over the past two days though, I’ve had a couple of meat dishes — a helping of Hamburger Helper, and one sloppy joe with 8 onion rings. No popcorn or chips at night or through the day.</div><div style="line-height: 1.5em; margin-bottom: 15px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">I’m going to continue carrying on! I think my body is resisting right now because it isn’t used to being worked out regularly and eating better. My butt, thighs and hamstrings feel nice and tight — I love the feeling!</div><div style="line-height: 1.5em; margin-bottom: 15px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">After the first couple of workouts, my feet hurt extremely bad. However, I think it had more to do with it being easy, in our Florida weather, to throw on a pair of flip-flops — horrible for someone with arthritis in their feet. To combat the pain, for the past two days I’ve worn tennis shoes all day long and my feet feel a lot better!</div><div style="line-height: 1.5em; margin-bottom: 15px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Insomnia still plagues me. Last night I broke down and bought an OTC sleep med and slept seven straight hours, ahhhh, but I went to bed at 7:00pm because the night before I didn’t sleep a wink.</div><div style="line-height: 1.5em; margin-bottom: 15px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Today is a new day, right? The weight will come off, eventually, it has no choice. I think one thing that I’ve allowed to discourage me when trying to lose weight and eat healthy in the past was not losing weight ‘fast enough’; not this time though! My new attitude has to be one filled with not only positivity but logic — I did not get this way overnight, and I won’t lose it overnight.</div>Sandra Winnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16078024597758910786noreply@blogger.com0