Weigh In #16

Happy Friday!!!  I hope you all are as excited about the weekend as I am!!  It will busy but fun!!!

Of Course...Tomorrow is Mini-Goal #2-The Rudolph Run.  My two work pals (Lindsey and Kristen) and I will be walking bright and early in the AM...Representing TEAM MAWA!!!  I am looking forward to completing another goal and getting pumped up for another week of this Journey! 

Saturday evening will be Christmas decorating with my Mom and Uncle and then on to Sunday for Church, a workout...some Football...a church program...you know...the usual!

OK...so today was weigh in #16...and I must say something...(for those of you easily offended...close your eyes)...DAMN...this is hard!!!!  I mean really....For as much as I have been riding a bike, rowing a boat (so to speak) and doing whatever it is I am doing on the Evil Elliptical...one would think I would have lost tons of weight AND been in China by now!!!! BUT NOOOOO!!!!!  I lost 1lb....that's all...1 tiny, little pound...OK...I had to get that out of my system. 

So reality...I have lost another pound and I am one little tiny micro step closer to my goal.  Despite my little outburst...It feels great to be getting healthier and I have had  a few victories this last few weeks. 

• I survived my first skinny Thanksgiving
• My clothes are getting too big
• I extended my time on the Evil Elliptical from 5 minutes (don't laugh) to 15 minutes (again, don't laugh)
• I have set another mini-goal
• and the big one...I am still breathing!!!

I WILL COMPLETE THIS GOAL!!!!

Tone Tone is doing research about metabolism boosting foods-A more complete list than I posted before...when she sent me the link, the article had the below cartoon attached.  Hilarious (at least it was to me)!  Below that is the list of foods and a link to the website. 




Below are 25 of our favorite foods to improve your metabolism (in no particular order):

Metabolism Boosting Foods

1. Cocoa
2. Water
3. Blueberries
4. Flax
5. Sweet potato
6. Avocado
7. Tomato
8. Yogurt
9. Cinnamon
10. Garlic
11. Beans
12. Almonds
13. Apples
14. Egg whites/Beaters
15. Soybean
16. Lemon
17. Ginger
18. Brussel sprouts
19. Spinach
20. Olive oil
21. Oats
22. Fish
23. Cottage cheese
24. Chick peas
25. Lima beans

http://skinnygeneproject.dreamhosters.com/boost-your-metabolism-2/

I will be making some additional changes to my diet next week...try something new and see if I can kick start my decrepit metabolism.


Thank you Ann for the encouraging and really helpful email!!!  Loved it! 
Thank you to all Aunt Charlotte, Aunt Lois, Howard and Barb...for your words of encouragement this week.

Thanks to ALL of my family for really getting on the band wagon and supporting me!  Thank you for taking the time out of your busy day to follow along.

I can't say enough how much I appreciate the support of my friends and co-workers...you guys are awesome.  Thank you for taking time out of  your day to follow along!

And again, thank you to Kerri Walsh Jennings for continuing to send messages of support to this Fluffy stranger who keeps sending her updates on a Journey to lose 120lbs.  Unbelievable that you take time to respond, support and cheer me on from Cali!  I so appreciate it!

HERE IS OUR CHRISTMAS SONG OF THE DAY!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XeShHAZk3to

HOPE is a One Way Street

Happy Thursday!  I am sneaking in a quick blog post.  I am trying my best to get some sleep tonight...so, I am trying to get everything done early enough that maybe that can be accomplished. 

I decided to make this post a little cheer leading session...largely because I need it!! LOL!!!  As soon as I leave the office, I am headed to work out and then home!  No errands, laundry or any other activity that might prohibit me from shutting down this brain and hoping I can get some sleep.

 Hope is good...Hope is one of my favorite words and always something that I need to be reminded that I have at my disposal...I have talked about Hope several times already and I am sure that as  long as I have this task before me...I am going to have to rely on Hope along with few other things...I will save those for another discussion.  I found this photo  and I liked it...I liked that it represented HOPE as a one way street...For me there is only one way to accomplish this goal and that is to continue to have HOPE...In my head...HOPE encompasses many other important feelings, actions, words... such as Faith, Trust, Willingness, responsibility, accountability, humor, love, determination...I could go on...but I won't.  But  what I will do is post these "borrowed" pics from Google...These are my cheer leading posters for the day...These are words of encouragement, motivators!  Reminders that I must continue to work at this, have fun at this, cherish this, learn from this, BALANCE this...soak up every moment of this...so that when I have accomplished the loss of 120lbs, I really will have gained so much more...and I will know it!!!

It is great that I am getting such wonderful support from family, friends, co-workers, strangers...a world class volleyball player who has 3 Olympic Gold Medals...it is mind blowing...

AND  I HAVE TO BELIEVE THAT I CAN DO THIS:














So tomorrow is another weigh in.  I am ready...I will take whatever I get and build on it!  I must not let the pace of this Journey be discouraging!!! 

OK...Here is our Christmas Tune for the day
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hENMvHM9QR4

The Fluffy Girl Rap-For Kay

Hello...well Wednesday is in the books.  I hope all of you had a great, productive, healthy day.  I am working really hard on leaving the office at a normal time and have managed to do that 2 whole days in a row...Woo Hoo!!!  Tonight...I HAD to leave because Tone Tone and I had to go and pick out our Christmas tree.  We were going to go yesterday..but  chickened out after all the rain!!!   So tonight was the night...We picked it out in record time!!!  2nd tree we touched!  That was it!!!  Yay!!!  We will actually decorate this weekend!  There will be pics! 

So today is a tough day for my family.  Today is the 3rd anniversary of my cousin Kay's sudden death due to a drug overdose.  She was only 32 and left behind a 12 year old son.  It was a horrific day...a day that seems to be burned into my brain.  So today was a mix of emotions for me and given that writing is an outlet for me..I really wanted to "say" something about the day...Of course, this blog is supposed to be about my Journey to lose 120lbs...but reality is...I am human and all things human impact me and my process. Losing a loved one is one of the most impactful facts of life.

Kay's death was tragic, heart breaking and the end to her tragic battle with addiction, obsessive compulsive disorder and depression.  I have wanted to "say" something profound...something that somehow explains the loss...describes her spirit, her humor, her beauty inside and out and the burden that carried for her but...the words were not readily at my fingertips and then I came across the below post/picture on Facebook. This was written by my 15 year old cousin Clay, Kay's brother Kyle's oldest child.  I decided that I did not need to write anything at all...that had already been taken care of...


"3 years ago today is when my Aunt Kay died from overdose. She was one of the people everyone loved... One of the ones you never thought anything bad could happen to... But it did. Some of you out there may not see the danger about doing drugs, taking one pill too many... But it killed my Aunt and I don't think I could ever really get over it. You may think no one in your life would care what happens to you, but if you were to depart from their life cause you made a stupid mistake, you could change theirs forever. Please think about who your friends are. Don't let the wrong kinds of people pressure you into doing something you know is dumb. RIP Aunt Kay... Miss you. ❤ #missher"



Here is what I do know...Kay would have loved my blog (I hope that does not sound arrogant)...but it is true...She would have gotten all of my humor...she would have loved that I was trying to get healthy and she would have probably written a bitchin'  rap representin'  the Fluffy Girl's Journey!

Something like this:


Her name is Fluffy Girl and she's here to say
She bustin her butt most everyday
She's tryin to drop pounds
and get healthy to stay
so she don't  drop dead on  the ground one day! 

That is for you Kay...you would have done better...that is all I got though!!!

OK... I took a workout break today...Back to it tomorrow...Friday will be a day of rest before The Rudolph Run....TEAM MAWA will be there and ready to rock the Rudolph!!!

OK....Here is our Christmas song for the Day! 


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DO8vD0ClzbE

From a Heavy Weight to a Light Weight

Hi!  I hope all is well with all of you.  It is Tuesday evening and I have worked,worked out,ran a couple of errands and am hoping to get into bed earlier than has been the norm for me lately.  As I think we have established...I struggle with this whole Balance thing I keep harping on...So maybe if I keep talking about it...incessantly...maybe I will figure it out..THAT remains to be seen.  However, I am acutely aware that I have not been getting enough sleep and there are a bazillion studies out there that say that a lack of rest and high stress levels can cause weight gain.  WELL...there you go...I don't eat too much....I just need to relax and sleep more....HAHA!!! Why didn't somebody tell me that!!! 

  Seriously though, there really is so much more to this Journey than just choosing to eat healthier and workout...I cannot underestimate the impact that making all of these changes can have physically and emotionally...oh and don't forget spiritually...cause that is happening too!!!  It is like getting a complete renovation and not just a paint job!!!  So while I am definitely eating healthier and I am working hard to maintain a consistent workout schedule...I still have significant room for improvement in a few other areas. 

I want to take a quick minute to again thank you guys for the words of encouragement.  I would be lying if I said that I am fine doing this all by myself....I think we all know that is not true.  One of my college roomie's sent me a wonderful message via Facebook this week.  She reminded me that she and I have been friends for close to 27 years...Which is odd...because both of us are only in our early 20's...as far as you know!   She let me know that she is in my corner...I like the visual of  that.  I like the visual of me fighting to lose this weight...punching my way through the obstacles (most of which I have created personally) and constantly moving my feet...jabbing and ducking...but always moving.  I like the visual of at the end of each round coming back to my corner to rest and having somebody there that I trust, that is there to help me, encourage me, challenge me...and possibly bust out the smelling salts if need be!!!  LOL!!!  OK...so I may have overdone the whole boxing/sports analogy...but it truly does feel like a fight and I am trying to drop a couple of weight classes...You know...drop down from a heavy weight to a light weight...Let's Get Ready To Rumble....
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MEvHzx-nal0


So thanks Marian (Worm).  You are a blessing and I am blessed. 


WE are heading into Wednesday!!!!  Let's GO!!! MAWA!!!


Here is the Christmas song for the day!

Inspiring


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mN70R-3ao0U


More Inspiration!!!



http://www.cnn.com/2012/12/04/health/child-weight-loss-bond/index.html?hpt=hp_c1

Counting Each Little Victory

Happy Monday to all...Well, my day started a little rocky...it took me 2 HOURS to get work this morning...Ahhh Houston traffic on a Monday morning!!!  Gotta love it!!  I missed my Monday morning staff meeting!!!  So...I started the day feeling a little behind the 8 ball!  So...I sat down at my desk..put my Pandora station on Christmas music...and "hunkered down" for a busy day. I am terrible at being stressed!!!  I know this may surprise some you but...I am stress eater....HAHAHA...DUH!!!

 So starting a day off in a less than happy fashion  is a perfect opportunity for me to polish off some tasty morsel as an antidote to stress...HOWEVER...obviously,that is a behavior I am trying to change!  So today...was another little victory for me.  I did not cave to the stress in that unhealthy fashion...so there is one in the win column for me.  Trust me, I am counting each little victory.  I am hoping that they all add up to 120lbs!!! 

So no stress eating and I managed to get in a decent workout too!!!  I  am still struggling with my schedule...getting home too late, eating too late...etc!  But, I am a work in progress I guess.  I know I say it a lot..but this Journey truly is about so much more than losing weight.  There is so much to accomplish.  I like the challenge though and doing it the way I am and all of the opportunities that I find myself having continues to amaze me everyday. 

God continues to Bless Me and I am hoping that I am able to pay that forward. 

So I am approaching Mini-goal #2...another 5K and I am hoping to shave some time off  of my personal best walking time of 59+ minutes...LOL!!!  I would like to knock that down a bit...without jogging...not ready to commit to running just yet.  I would like to lose at least 1/2 a super model before I undertake the whole running thing.  Trust me...my knees are thanking me!!! 

I am pretty sure that tomorrow is the deadline for the Rudolph Run!  You don't want to miss it!!!! 

OK...that is it for me tonight.  Gearing up for Tuesday...Ready to conquer this goal!!! MAWA!!!!


Here is the Christmas song for the day!



http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VGtiLouJWuU

The Christmas Miracle

Happy Sunday Followers of the Fluff!  I hope all of you have had a marvelous day!  My day has been busy...Church, lunch, puppy rescue, a little Christmas shopping, walked a few miles, grocery shopping,cleaning, laundry...a  little football and MAN...the Fluffy Girl is ready to flop!  

Yes...I did say puppy rescue...today after church, Tone Tone and I were headed to lunch...we got to  the restaurant and when I opened the car door, I heard this horrible screeching noise...it sort of sounded like a wounded goose...I quickly realized that it was a puppy!!!  Several people were trying to catch this puppy that could  not have been more than about 3 months old...He was wandering the parking lot.  So...I had to pitch in!!!  Every time any of us got a hand on him...He screamed...He  did not appear to be hurt...just horrified.  So here I am in my church clothes laid out in the parking lot trying to get this puppy from underneath a car...he even bit me a couple of times (too little to hurt).  FINALLY, one of the guys caught him. Once he got the puppy in his arms..the puppy stopped crying and was just shaking!!  Bless his little heart!  Here is the really cool thing....A Christmas Miracle of sorts...the guy that caught the puppy...his dog died last Saturday...and the puppy he found today...looked just like his dog that passed away!  I like to think that God had them cross paths today...so they both can be happy!!!! 

So my workout today was a loooonnggg walk around the apartment community where I live...I waited until evening...put on my Pandora-Today's Hits Cardio workout and strutted around the apartments...I am not exactly sure how far I walked...but my pace has definitely picked up!!!!  Of course, the Rudolph Run is next Saturday morning, so I needed to get in a practice run (walk). 

OK....Today is the Official Start Date of Mini-Goal #3-Here is the shirt and I will wear this shirt in public on March 2, 2013 (or sooner) depending on my level of Fluffiness!! 



I am ready for week 17..Ready to continue this JOURNEY 120 "MAWA INSPIRED"...

For those of you playing along...Let's Go and Lose our Butts!!!! Literally!!!!  Watch out Monday...HERE I COME!!!

Christmas Song of the Day!


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gco8K7Ie5go

It's Beginning to Look a Lot Like Christmas

Hello there...it is late Saturday (actually early Sunday Morning) and I am just posting...Believe it or not...I almost forgot!!!  First time that has happened! 

It has been a resting day for me!  I really needed it!  I decided that I would take today to try to recuperate from the week and try to enjoy myself and relax. 

Nothing too exciting to report...Mom and I did some Christmas shopping this evening...I LOVE CHRISTMAS!!!  I enjoyed spending time with my ToneTone and buying presents.FUN!  Other than that, I did an excellent impersonation of a couch potato!  You should see it!  Amazing...I may be one of the best couch potato impersonators on the planet!!! 

I did do one thing today that I have not done so far on this Journey!!  I tried on clothes in my closet that were a little snug...or just plain ole too small!! Some things fit now that did not a few months ago...a small victory of sorts!  I have a couple of things that I LOVE that still don't fit...I am hanging on to them and making them a MINI GOAL....I have one shirt in particular that my Mom bought me several years ago at Christmas that never fit...I actually think the size was incorrect on the shirt but I LOVED it and refused to take it back.  SO...That is going to officially be a MINI-GOAL #3!  Now, the shirt is still pretty tight...so I am giving myself 3 months to fit into it!!!  Tomorrow, I will post a picture of the shirt...and Officially begin the 3 month road to wearing that shirt out in public!!  Boy...I hope it fits...otherwise, I will look like a sausage in  public!!! 

So...another Mini-Goal is on the calendar.  There will be others....

Congratulations to the New Boston Lions and Wes and Wil Teague...They played a tough football game and WON!!!  They are now 12-0 and are advancing to the next round of the Texas High School State Championship Playoffs!!!  I got to listen to the game online AND got my own personal text play by play from Julie and Jeff!!!  Loved every minute of it...though I truly thought I was going to puke in the last few minutes of a very close game!!!  Wesley Teague got an interception late in the game that was a key to NB winning...Congrats WES!!!  Inspiring!!!!!  MAWA!!!

Tomorrow will be a fairly busy day...Church, a little shopping, groceries, laundry  and of course, a workout...as I decided to take Friday and Saturday off! 

I hope you all have a spectacular Sunday full of fun,family, love and Blessings!! 

It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z3rJX3U9yM8