Freaky Friday!

So, this morning I woke up, got dressed, and came to work as usual. I had been sort of frumpy and tired all week (mental stress), but today I felt like I wanted to get up, take a shower, and be cute. After all it is Friday, and the little birdies woke me up outside my window at about 5:30 a.m.

As I was fixing my hair, I realized that yes, I can't wait to get it cut next week. But, also that when I looked back into the mirror I was seeing a totally new person. It's not often that we stop and really talk to ourselves in the mirror up close and personal. And, NO this is not like pretending to be Snow White, and it doesn't make us crazy. We should take time more often to really look at ourselves in the mirror, not just from a distance. I think as humans we get so used to seeing the same thing in the mirror, that it really takes someone else outside of our bodies to say, "wow, you look different!"

And, today at work, my friend Connie in the Air Force office down the hall said, "your shrinking Michelle! Even on Weight Watchers, I don't remember the results being this good." And, that was really nice to hear. I noticed that when I put my jeans on this morning, I could pull out about 3 to 4 inches of loose material away from my waist, and I had to hike them up like a granny. And, when I showed Connie that it was time to get some new jeans, she was like, "remember, these are the one's that you were practically busting out of a few months ago." And, she's right. These were the same jeans that a week after I bought them, I had to sew the crotch because one morning when I went to get gas, I leaned in the car to put away my debit, and I heard a rip!!

It's crazy how much this plan has changed my life!! I feel like I have switched bodies with someone else, and I am really enjoying this one. I don't want to give it back either. So, yes, sometimes I cheat a little bit, but for the most part, I follow this plan to a tee, and it has paid off. So, for all those people that struggle with this, just take it day by day, work really hard at trying to stay on the plan, and you will see results!! And, remember to exercise those demons!!

A Home Away from Home...Greensboro, NC

This past weekend, I was a part of something so awesome!! I did my second race in a month for the March of Dimes March for Babies in Greensboro, NC with Sylvia and her wonderful family. This was a 3.5 K run/walk around the entire city of Greensboro. We had a motorcade, and since we were the Ambassador Family, we led the walk along with the booming drums of the North Carolina A & T Aggies drumline.

We left on Friday around lunchtime, and headed to Four Seasons Mall first. We got some really cute shirts and a dress, all on sale, from some stores that we do not have in Roanoke. Other than the Garmin taking us all over the crazy backroads, and the geese/ducks? that almost hit our car coming off the exit ramp, oh yeah, and that big thing she ran over that got stuck to the front bumper of that SUV, we got there in one piece!

When we got to her brother Anthony's house, we were welcomed with open arms, and a bunch of her family that I had never met. But, by the end of the weekend, it was like I had known them, and been a part of their family forever. We got to spend time with the kids, Tyler and Ashley, and also ate a lot of food!! Needless to say, I was not on my diet this weekend, but how could I pass up dinner at the Japanese steak house as a family? :-)

Saturday morning, before the race, we all got up, got dressed in our "Team Tessa" t-shirts that we stayed up until 1 a.m. making, and headed downstairs for some breakfast and to get organized. Once we got to the park, the weather was beautiful, and we were ready to go!!

During the opening ceremonies, we learned that with all the help of the local community, plus many sponsors and families, the total amount raised was over 1 million dollars!! This was the biggest turn-out Greensboro had ever seen for the March of Dimes walk, and I felt like I was a part of something bigger than myself.

During the walk, I had a moment of reflection. It was after I had reached the 3 K marker, and had less than .5 K to go. My feet were starting to hurt from running and walking, but never once did I want to stop! I began to cry, and had a talk with God. I told him thank you for allowing my life to be what it has become in the last few months. I told him how grateful I was that he opened my ears, and allowed me to listen to his voice. It was a voice that was always there, but has been much more prevalent here lately. I told him that without him, I would not have these experiences to cherish, and I am such a better person because of it. I know he was listening...I felt him there with me pushing me to the finish line with such vigor and energy.

When it was time to leave yesterday, I really wished that we didn't have to go. The kids were sad to see us leave, but we had to get home to our normal routine, and get ready for work today. This weekend was so much more than just a race. Not only did I have a great time with these people, I gained a few more members of my extended family. I know I am always welcome at Fox Haven Dr.

Earth Day

I woke up today, and had been looking forward to it, all week long. Today is Earth Day. It is a day to be green 100% even if you don't normally practice recycling at home or at work. And, all day long I have been going around looking for things to "fix."

This morning my co-worker threw a bottle of water and an orange juice container in the trashcan, and I made her pick it out. I took them to the bathroom and washed them out, and put them in the recycling container.

Coming back from lunch, I noticed that someone had thrown a box and a newspaper in the regular trashcan. I picked them up, of course, and walked them down the hall to the bin.

Our newest co-worker had a soda can in his trash, and when I came in to make copies of some medical documents, he picked it out, hid it behind his back, and tried to create a diversion as he backed it up to the green container in the hallway.

And, my favorite part of the day, was being officially recognized as the "recycling sheriff" by the Sustainability Program Manager (one of our former Professors of Military Science) for all the hard work I do around here to make everyone so conscience of it, today, and everyday.

At home, Roanoke City provided me with a paper and a plastic bin. They even have a monthly contest of who recycles properly, and how much waste they save each month. Who knows, maybe I could win that prize??

I just believe in going the extra mile to try to make our future a better place. I sure hope to be around a long time, and I want mother Earth to be as beautiful a place as it is to me today.

Although allergies have stopped me up for about 3 weeks, I still love to go outside and just look around at all of God's greatest creations.

So, for me, just walk a little further, and put it in the green bin instead of the gray can!

I will now step down from my soapbox...

30 gone before I'm thirty...

Okay, so I had a roller-coaster of two weeks, with some major sweet cravings (it was that time last week ladies), but I weighed in today, and was ecstatic about a 6.2 weight loss!!!!!

So, this pushes me right up to the 30 lb. mark, and I couldn't be happier. I don't have to say it, THIS PLAN WORKS, but I want to scream it!!! I hugged the nurse so tight today, and told her that I wanted to run around the room. She backed up against the wall and said, "go for it!"

She complimented me on my mental strength, and assured me that it would help me push forward to reach my final goal. I truly feel like a different person. I am loving the way I feel after I exercise, or put something in my body that I know is giving it strength and nourishment instead of just empty calories.

I drink enough water to be part camel, but it's flushing my system out of all impurities, and it helps me stay full longer. I find that I don't want anything else to drink. No soda, no coffee (what has the world come to?), and definitely when I have went out and had a few beers, I have felt like a dehydrated mess the next day.

I only have 21 left to lose of the 51 I gained last year, and I have now lost a total of 61.3 since March 2007. I am feeling that 75 milestone again, and it is making me very excited!!

Sylvia and I are heading up to Greensboro this weekend to do the March of Dimes walk for babies. This is a 3.5 mile walk in honor of her niece Tessa that was born premature and lived only a short 117 days. It feels so good to be ABLE to do these kind of events, and know that I am not going to pass out or want to quit mid-way through it.

There is a time in everyone's life where they feel a change has to be made. And, for me, this is the completion of the initial transformation I began in 2007.

And, this time, I will become the beautiful butterfly...

I was Running...

So, for my friend, the blog natzi, here it goes...

I had to come up with something to talk about, and I thought about this weekend when I took my Dini-dog for a long walk/run around my neighborhood. We left no street untouched, and no phone pole un-peed on. He loves walking outside, and it benefits us both. It is good exercise, and it makes him really sleepy.

I have been trying to add a little more running each time to the mix, and I'll set small goals like, "let's run to the school sign", and the next time, "let's run past the school sign to the parking lot." I know he doesn't know what I am saying, but it's really cute watching him run alongside me, nipping at my pants leg.

I love having my house in a wonderful neighborhood that has plenty of hills, and places for new adventures. We always see someone mowing their yard, or some old man walking himself very slowly, and we smile, say hello, and keep it moving!

He is the best companion, and he never says no when I say, "wanna go for a walk?"

55.1 lbs

I woke up feeling a little under the weather today, but I have been noticing, this week especially since I ran some this weekend, how much better my cloths have been fitting. Especially the way my dresses have been hanging nicely around my much smaller mid-section.

So, I decided to pull out my old Weight Watchers book to look at my "original" starting weight from 2007 and compare it to where I am since my last weigh-in on 4/5/10. And, I was so happy to see that since then I have lost 55.1 lbs!! I have lost a total of 23.2 of the "second" starting weight, which is almost half the weight I had put back on since the "original" weight loss.

Confused yet??

The point is...I am so happy to see that number above 50. I remember the first time I was losing, when I could say I had lost 50 lbs. that was a huge accomplishment! And, when I hit 75 lbs. I was in shock! Then, to say to someone that I had once lost 86 lbs was like a dream come true!! I had set my "original" goal of 100 lbs. and still haven't gotten to that one yet, but I know it's coming. To reach that goal, I have to lose another 45 lbs. But, I know I can do it. And, the closer I get, the more I remember those old feelings of excitement.

Weight loss has and ALWAYS will be a struggle for me. But, I am going to push myself this time farther than I have ever gone before. I want to reach that goal of 100, and who knows after that? I see it, I taste it, and I am so ready to finally achieve it!!!!

Race for the Cure-10 April 2010

This past weekend, I participated in a truly Amazing event. I did a 3 K Breast Cancer walk/run in honor of all the Cancer survivors, and also my mom, who survived Cervical Cancer in her 20's. As you all know by now, I have been losing weight, and walking at least 5 times a week preparing for this big day. I have been excited about it for weeks, and was so glad when I woke up Saturday morning, and I could put on that shirt that said "Race for a Cure."

Sylvia came down and stayed with me Friday night, and we got a good night's rest. We woke up early, had our healthy protein filled breakfast, and put our game faces on. I cut up apples as a snack, and we headed to Greenhill Park. On the way there, we found out our team captain was super sick, but that she had a back-up plan, sister Connie to the rescue! So our team that was once 6 was down to 3, but we were still pumped!

The weather was quite chilly at first, but once it was time for our race to begin, we were warming up with the day's sunshine. We walked the first entire lap, and then Connie said it was time to run. I knew in the back of my mind that I was going to push myself, and I wasn't sure how far I could go, but I decided to just start running and see what happened. I ran the entire straight away on the second lap, and I had to stop. I was so proud of myself, because normally my endurance is nothing like that with running. Sylvia had been "training" to run on the treadmill in the gym, but so far, I had just been mostly walking and jogging sometimes with my little Dini-dog.

But, once I got in my groove, there was no stopping it! I decided to run a part of the green-way the second time around, and made it really close to the pic-nic table area. Sylvia and I walked the rest of the way until we saw the 2.6 K marker. At that point, we were near the river, and it was almost the finish line. So, we kicked it up the last notch and ran until we reached the 3K marker in pink! On the way in, I felt like a hero, I was slapping hands with all the kids at the finish line as they were saying, "good job, good job!" and high-fiving me! It was awesome!!! I was on a high for the rest of the day!

After the race was over, Sylvia and I decided to get our nails and toes done, and just chill for a bit. We ate a yummy lunch, and enjoyed the rest of our day together. I can't imagine anyone else that I would want to share this journey with. She is a truly inspirational friend, and someone I consider just like family. She is doing awesome on her weight-loss journey, and we just continue to push each other, and talk our way through all our issues with this program. We are truly blessed to have met, and known each other now for 10 years!

This weekend showed me a lot about myself, and just how wonderful life can be if you just take advantage of every God given opportunity. I would have never been able to do any of this without his love, strength, and forgiveness. And, this is only one of many of those moments that I will remember forever.

Ode to the Pollen

Oh sweet smelling pollen, why do you make me sneeze?
And making my throat sore, just as you please.

I love the sunshiney weather, as it makes me want to move.
But, what happens this weekend when I don't have my normal groove?

I am walking for a cure you see, so I cannot be sick.
And, when I hit that finish line, I don't want to miss a lick.

I guess I will carry tissues, and stuff them in my bra.
Because what's more sexy than having a nose that doesn't know how to stop?

Running that is, and I guess I won't be doing that.
For fear that the pollen will rise up and make me fall flat.

I sure hope you listen, and hear what I'm saying.
Cause I'm doing this race, and I will keep praying.

Praying for those who have fought this battle and lost.
And, for those that have survived, whatever the cost.

So, dear pollen, whether you are a friend or a foe.
Please just cool it off a little bit, so off to that race I can go!!

I am not a Diet Robot

This is the beginning of my 7th week on this program. And, for 42 days I had stuck to this program to a tee! No cheats, no giving in to temptation and cravings, and no thoughts of what the old way of eating felt like. But, this weekend, I decided that I wanted to take a breather. Have a weekend that felt somewhat normal, and eat somewhere without picking the carrots out of my salad, or substituting fries for broccoli. So, I did.

On Saturday, I had dinner with my girl, ate a burger and fries from O'Charleys. And, for dessert I had a mini brownie with caramel and fudge topping, and a scoop of vanilla bean ice cream. And, it taste good. The only downside to that was I felt really full, and for the rest of the night, I was burping it up! My body was like, "what the heck is this stuff?" But, I don't regret it. Sometimes you do have to live in that moment, and just make a decision and stick to it.

Saturday night we went out, and I had a few beers and danced all night long. I had the best weekend I have had in a long time!! And, I deserved it. Every last calorie.

Then...came Easter Sunday at Grandma's house. But, I only ate protein. No fruit, no veggies, no dessert. I was back on the train as my friend Ashley call's it. I spent time with my family, and headed home to do some yard work and cleaning around the house.

Today I weighed in with a 2.8 loss! And, I am happy. I know it could have been more, but I am proud of myself for being in control of my eating this long, and having the strength to "fudge" and get right back to it without skipping a beat!

My total loss is 23.2 lbs, and I am only 14.8 lbs away from being under 200 again. I feel great, I look great, and I can't stop smiling today!

Thank you Lord, for all you have given me and continue to show me about myself. I am truly blessed!

Spring is in the Air!

The weather here has been beautiful since yesterday. And, today, is supposed to be the warmest yet with temps going up into the 80's!! And, since I have been losing weight, I have been getting really excited for these warmer days. I have a lot of clothes in my closet from last summer when I was about this size, so it's been really fun trying stuff on and seeing what I can fit into again. Last night, I decided to do something I never do...lay my clothes out the night before. Usually, I just get up and decide in the morning, but since my friend was wearing her Spring dress, it inspired me to lay my outfit out ahead of time. I decided to wear some crop pants, and a really cute yellow shirt, and some funky jewelry. I tried it on in front of the mirror, and was really surprised at how much slimmer I actually looked than last year. It's funny when you lose weight, because each time you lose it differently. It depends on the kind of food and exercise you are doing, as to which places lose first. And, this time, I have noticed a major difference in my upper and lower tummy area. (Don't worry, the booty is still there, but looking more proportional with my smaller waste).

So, when I got the whole outfit together this morning, I was feeling really great. And, I know that it is only going to get better from here. It feels good to wake up and want to put myself together, adding the accessories as final touches! I promise, this feels better than anything I could ever eat!!!!!!!!