ONE is a Lonely Number...

Last night was my weigh in, only five days since my last. As I'd mentioned last week, my coach is competing in the Hilo Olympic Triathlon this weekend, so the normal Thursday weigh in was not an option.

In those five days sadly, I only lost 1.4 pounds. Though I'd hoped for a bigger number, I'm certainly not discouraged by any means. This is a process, one of time and dedication which is exactly what I've put into it from the start. I have not and will not cheat. There is not a cheese burger or doughnut that tastes better than long term success and health. Gone are the obese days, shortness of breath, tired, and lethargic, grumpy days - GONE.

I've been working out at lunch more and loving it. It's such a challenge to get to the gym at night with other commitments. Having the University gym so close has been such a blessing.

In my future are 5K and 10K races. I've made a mental note of the ones I want to do so I'm just waiting for the registrations to open. I've also decided along with my master’s program studies, I will start studying for my Certified Personal Trainer certificate. I am committed to making this a life change; to help others in one way or another. With the knowledge that I have now coupled with my studies, I'll be a force to be reckoned with even if just for my own personal growth.

I'm excited for the continued changes in my body, the fit of my clothes, the energy and happiness I now have. I'm excited for my next weight in 16 days - April 14th - it should be a good one!

Till then - xoxox

(The picture is of my calendar at work - it keeps me motivated.)

Going, going, gone!

Whew made it through vacation without a single cheat!

This is far too important for me. Though my mother's cooking is amazing and the smells of the kitchen (and the Breadboard) tempted me, I remembered why I'm doing this, what I want from it and know that I need a forever change. The last day of my vacation in Wyoming, my mother told me she was proud that I stuck with it. That means more than any delicious food.

Nine days since my last weigh in and I'm down 5.85 pounds! Nearly six pounds in 9 days! That's a total of 23.25 pounds and over 21.5 total inches in four weeks. AMAZING!

I'm certainly starting to feel it in my clothes. Where I once needed an extension for my bra, I now am at the last hook and need a new bra altogether. Just in my torso I've lost 4 inches, 5.4 in my waist. I'm holding off on purchasing anything new because this is just the beginning.

I was that girl that would go through the drive thru and order food for my son and I and pretend like I was ordering another meal for someone else then eat it too. I could eat 3/4 of a large pizza, a box of Krispy Kremes, it was never ending. I was eating like a linebacker though I'd never played football in my life! NOW - I sleep better, feel overall better, work out in the morning before work and then at lunch I'll either walk two miles or go to the gym and workout more intensely. I love feeling healthier. I truly loved feeling comfortable in the seat on the airplane and as mentioned last week, in the pew at church. There's not a price you can put on feeling great.

I'm 1/4 to my goal, yes sports fans, I plan to lose 100 POUNDS! My hope is to have this accomplished by mid-September! I want to run 5 and 10K's (to start). I want to be cut and super fit, I want to keep this as my permanent lifestyle and inspire others, even if just my family, to live a healthy life. There is nothing better than when your child hugs you and tells you he can now touch his fingers - then weeks later he can touch his palms together around you. He's the best measuring tape ever!

Next week will be an early weigh in. My coach, who has also been on the IP program, will be completing the Hilo Olympic-length Triathlon! I'm inspired by her and plan to compete with her in an open water swim later this fall in Seattle. Who knows, I might make an Alcatraz comeback!

Come see less of me on Wednesday! Thank you for being a part of this journey. XOXOX

17.4 in 18!

That's right folks - 17.4 total pounds GONE FOREVER in 18 days. I mean really, a pound a day sure beats the pound a week idea square in the pants!

I'm so excited; it really is like my Christmas every time I go to weigh in. I used to think only crazy people were excited to stand on the scale in front of a stranger or be wrapped up in measuring tape from head to toe - CALL ME CRAZY. I love it.

My family is headed on vacation tomorrow morning, so I had to weigh in on Tuesday which was two days earlier than normal. But in five short days, less than a week, I lost 3 pounds, bringing my total to 17.4 in 18 days!

I love how my clothes fit, how I feel, how much better I sleep and so on. Sunday at church I fit comfortably in the seat which means I'll feel more comfortable on the plane tomorrow. I feel better in clothes now, not like an over stuffed sausage. I LOVE where this is going.

I'm excited to go home to Wyoming and see my family and I'm not even scared. Ideal Protein has made this so easy and bullet proof that I'm seriously NOT at all worried! Now had it been Ireland (which I'm visiting next year), Mexico or Hawaii it would have been a little scary, surely still not impossible, but Wyoming is the protein capital of the world - I'll be fine.

I felt this picture appropriate in two ways. It depicts the three pounds I've lost and encourages me to "finish the fight." This truly is a fight to regain my life back. A life I can enjoy with my family, being active, happy and healthy. Soon I might just post progress pictures - then you should be scared cause they are icky but it's progress and that's the part I'm most proud of - moving forward.

Be blessed, enjoy life.

Next weigh in, March 24th - see less of you then!

Going DOWN

The scale is and I love...no LOVE it! Last night was my weigh in and measurements and I'm happy to report I've lost another 3.6 pounds and a 1/2 an inch EVERYWHERE. Who wouldn't be happy. I know it's a far cry from my first 10.8 pounds but I'm also educated enough to know I was shedding excess crap and shocking my system, therefore I fully expected week one to be a higher loss.

So far the Ideal Protein food is just fine. People at work laugh at my astronaut packets of spaghetti or chili, but are then surprised to see that it looks and smells (and from my perspecive), tastes just like regular food. Week three (starting today) I was able to create my own food list from their packets so no longer do I have to suffer through the oatmeal that looks like wall paste or the "crispy" cereal that comes with it's own powdered milk! Those two really were the only bad items on my lengthy menu. I'm thrilled to be able to eat a great dinner with my family, steak, chicken, fish, pork and vegetables (excluding corn and carrots of course.)

I'm full of energy and overall happier than before, so it's a WIN WIN to be THIN!

Next week I weigh in early (Tuesday)since I'll be traveling home to Wyoming for a visit - it'll be fun to see people who I've not for sometime and hope they can see the difference I feel!

I love shrinking - I'll need to buy a belt though because it's not time for new clothes, I'll go poor lol!

Come see less of me next week!

I Lost a Baby!

Okay I really didn't lose my baby; I know exactly where my son (8) is. But I lost the equivalent of this baby!

Folks, I told you I was excited for last night's weigh in! In my first five days, I lost 10.8 pounds and various inches in places on the average 1.4 inches in my neck, arms, chest, hips, waist...I mean really 10.8. LOVE IT. Yes I know it's largely due to the shock I'd placed on my system from eating crap to eating a high protein diet but it also is an eye opener of what exactly that crap was doing - it was holding on, leeching onto my body, making me tired, irritable, sluggish, poorly focused, bleh. Now, in just 5 short days, I feel vibrant, awake, alert, ready and most of all happy. I'm excited for next Thursday! This will certainly be a fun journey! Won't you join me?

Just Add Water

I cannot believe it's been over a month since my last blog, that should truly tell you that I've not been focused, not been on my game. That has all changed recently. Without sounding like another "I've found the perfect diet" story which it may, I really did or at least I'm giving it a go.

Last week on Facebook, I read a post of a very elated friend who'd lost 8 pounds - of course I was all over that like white on rice. I've known this guy since grade school so I asked him - "how'd you do it?" "The Ideal Protein Program" was his response - this is NO diet kinda guy so I inquired more. The more he told me, the more intrigued I became. I did research online, read reviews, read the company story, read more reviews, looked a number before and after photos, then...I found and called the Ideal Protein coach at my local clinic and set up an appointment.

The Ideal Protein Weight Loss Method is a medically designed protocol that results in fat loss while sparing muscle mass. The protocol was developed over 25 years ago in France to help athletes become trim.

The Ideal Protein Weight Loss Method is an easy 4-phase protocol which helps stabilize the pancreas and blood sugar levels while burning fat and maintaining muscle and other lean tissue. This protocol is also an excellent support for cellulite reduction and has been used in well over 2500Professional Establishments in North America over the last eight years with great success.

“The cause of most weight issues in a modern society is insulin dysfunction. A diet grossly disproportionate in its share of saturated fats and sugars, such as in breads, cereals, muffins, cakes, pastries, pasta, pizza, rice, corn - very much like the North American diet - causes the pancreas to produce an overabundance of insulin, which stays in the system and puts the blood sugar level in a negative balance.” Dr. Tran Tien.

I began my Ideal Protein journey Saturday, February 26th, 2011. So far, so great, by day three I'd conquered my headaches (a common withdrawal of crap cause) and I felt better, more awake, more alert, and less craving. Day four I lost all my cravings, I'm not feeling like I should eat everything in sight which was my biggest issue - I'd eat because it was available, I'd then associate that with being hungry which was not the case at all. Getting my head, stomach to get that I wasn't hungry was the battle - so far this has really helped. Tonight is my weekly weigh/measure at the clinic - I'm excited as crazy as that sounds - I'm interested to see if my feelings are more than just feelings. Granted I would laugh at work and call this the "Just Add Water" diet or the "Astronaut" diet but all in all the science makes sense - it is similar to the Atkins diet but better formulated. I've been able to incorporated my clean eating habits into my lunch and dinner routines and I'm excited for what's to come!