ONE year...FIVE days

YUP...that is how long it took me to lose 100 POUNDS!!!!

I landed on that beautiful number this morning and couldn't be happier!I've got about 30 lbs to go...but that will be here soon enough!

I'll be back with pictures of me in my milestone making shirt by the end of the day!

Big Suprise

Well as promised and mentioned Monday, I went and had some fun. My dear husband is on vacation this week and I've been wanting a new tattoo for awhile now. So as a reward of sorts, he paid for me to get this one...that is the beginning of many to come.

The plan is to eventually be a sleeve with an underwater theme. I will add a manatee, a sea turtle, sea horse, some fish and end at my wrist with coral and rocks.

This was not my first (actually was my 4th) but none are this big. I sat for 3hours for this...the others will be smaller. It was alot of fun and a get day!

Easter Fun

Yesterday our family celebrated Easter in a different way than previous years. It didn't involve candy or eggs, no Easter hams with all the fixins. We spent the day at a local amusement park, Six Flags Over Texas. Arriving when they opened at 11am and leaving when they closed at 7pm...there was ALOT of walking involved. I would have NEVER been able to do any of this 97lbs ago! Returning to the world of amusement parks was a big goal and fun reward along my weight loss journey. No long afraid to visit one for fear something would not buckle on me.

Today will be an even BIGGER celebration in a much different way. I will not tell what just yet, but will be posting photos later!

I can see the light

This morning I ordered my celebratory shirt...

I'm only 3 pounds away...and can't wait to wear that baby on the big day!

90 and falling!

SO excited today when I stepped on the scale and FINALLY hit the 90 pound loss mark!!

10months ago I would have never believe I could do it in this amount of time...but it has been quite the journey.

Today is day 6 of sugar free life. No biggie so far. I miss my coffee...but life goes on!

I look forward to hitting that 100 mark soon!

Glad to feel GOOD

Finally feeling back to my old self this morning. I went to my water aerobics class...It had been a week since I'd worked out. I just hate being sick.

I asked my daughter to take a couple of new pictures for me this weekend (as I am scrapbooking my weight loss journey). I am proud to announce I am 1 pound away from 90lbs lost. I am just dying to cross that 90lbs mark! It is shocking how time flies when your busy. I can remember being so proud at 20lbs. lost, 35, 50...to think of 90 or 100 was too far to stretch my mind. I have always worked off little goals. I constantly focus on making it to the next mark...not the overall goal - as it would be too overwhelming for me. I am just thrilled to have made it so far in just 9 1/2 months. I had hoped I could do 100lbs in a year...but never pressured myself with it, but as the time draws near I think it is possible to accomplish.

The other day my husband was complementing me on my hard work and success...he told me he thought I'd never do it. I guess after seeing someone try and fail for years one would just assume this was just another "Try". Most previous "diet" attempts lasted less than a week. While I was caught a bit off guard by the sheer fact he was admitting to me he never expected me to accomplish this...I can't blame him for it. Somewhere inside myself I might not have believed I could do it either in the beginning, but I sure am glad I stuck with it. The changes I've made have become a lifestyle, I have really never felt like I was dieting. That was the purpose of the journey - to make a change, to improve my health, my fitness, and my quality of life but not feel deprived. I am just ever so grateful that I have found success to this point as I know so many of my fellow bloggers have truly struggled alot.

Oh Happy Day

Well today is Happy for a couple reasons...

Happy Groundhogs day

&

Happy Birthday to my sweet 16 daughter Katie!

Today I tried a new recipe - KALE CHIPS

I was reminded of reading of the idea as I strolled through the produce department, always looking for something new and unusual to try. Simple put you wash your Kale, tear the greenery from the stems in 2-3 pieces per stalk. Add them to a bowl with 2 tablespoons of olive oil and totally cover them all, tossing with your hands and kinda massaging them.

Place them on a baking sheet, spread out, sprinkled with salt and bake at 200 degrees for about 30mins. Keep an eye on them - cause they can pass from done to burnt pretty quick!

While they were cooking I was a bit unsure what they were going to taste like, as I wasn't sure the smell coming from the oven was edible...but to my surprise they are amazing! I look forward to having them with a sandwich tomorrow!

Spreading the Word

I want to share with you my new adventure. The Next Challenge from awesome blogger and friend South Beach Steve! Please click the link of the image to go check out the detail and join us in this life changing challenge to a new improved you!

Christmas Eve and Christmas Day eating went fine. I planned to allow myself a few treats. While I was eating I felt like I was doing horrible, but when I came home and wrote it all down...on paper it looks more reasonable than it felt doing!





I am constantly amazed at how my tastes have changed. I'd been dreaming of my mom's fudge, I ate a piece, but it wasn't as good as I remembered, so it was easy to stop at one piece. Same for other treats...some were just not worth the points when it came to taste, so they were abandoned after one bite.





I worked out Monday and Tuesday...but my local gym was closed wed, thur, fri, sat & sun. We got a ton of snow (which is so weird for Texas) so I couldn't go outside like I would normally. I found myself to mentally obsessed and almost mad inside that I could not just go somewhere and workout. I am now seeking to join a 24/7 gym to end this frustration...as my gym has short hours and no Sundays.





I got back in the grove today...up early and went to water aerobics...I loved it, but man it was hard to get motivated since it is still freezing here (literally 26 degrees)! I'm looking forward to hitting the gym tomorrow and getting back to the weights. I cease to be amazed at how my arms are shaping up!

Can you believe it? - hot 100 update

Christmas is only 4 days away! Where has the time went?

We had a great weekend. The hubby and I attended his annual Teamster Christmas party. It is always a good time. So many drunk people in one location to watch as they make fools of themselves...LOL! Every year they do photos at the party. Last year we didn't do it because we arrived a bit late and the line was so long, but a friend did take a photo of us.

So I'm posting both last years photo and this years...

Quite amazing difference (if i do say so myself).

HOT 100 UPDATE:

1. lose 5lbs. per month - lost 6 lbs. for Dec so far

2. workout with weights 2x's per week - DONE! love it...you should see the muscles I have now

3. no bread/crackers for snacks - DONE! finally conquered this problem

No problem!

Wow...I never expected to being sharing with you that I ended Thanksgiving day with points left over!!! I knew I had planned to be well in control on my eating, but even I never anticipated having a calorie surplus.

I began my morning with a run/walk at 8am in 45degree temps...it was such a personal accomplishment. I've never exercised on any holiday before. Next year I plan to be running in the local turkey trot.

I had a good breakfast, prepared the hubby and kids and went to the inlaws. We had a splendid time..better than I can ever remember. It was nice that my mom-n-law actually acknowledged my weight loss too. I am not motivated my recognition but I hadn't seen her in 6months so it was encouraging for her to say something, she is not really the kind to say much.

my kids: Ivy 11, Katie 15, Jared 20

Friday - I went shopping on Black Friday for the first time EVER. Never before could I have probably navigated the crowds - I am sure I would have NEVER been able to stand in the lines either. It was an awesome experience - beside what I was able to get on sale - just that I could go, participate, feel again like part of the human race!

Saturday - I slept in till almost 10. I am typically up like clockwork at 6:20. I ate breakfast, got the family situated and off to my run/walk. I completed Day three of "Couch to 5K". Week one is under my belt...complete....I can hardly believe it! I look forward to my first goal of Running in the Cowtown 5K February 26th...hopefully with my husband and maybe some friends.

We put up the outdoor Christmas lights and decorations. Then off for a family bike ride. We had a nice afternoon and evening. We ate homemade pizza, watched a movie and spent a nice evening with the girls. I look forward to Monday and a new week, new month, new challenges and new accomplishments.

I will update my HOT 100 tomorrow!

new eyes and a smaller size

This year I wish you Happy Thanksgiving thru new eyes and a smaller size!

Over just the past few days I have really been thinking and noticing so many new things I am thankful for. Yes, I too am thankful for all the typical things: God and Country, my parents, my husband and children, that my husband had a good job in a bad economy, that we are healthy, etc..

but now living my life in such a different manor than the previous 34 years...I'm seeing so many new things that just make me smile and be thankful!

I am thankful for:

• the extra room between my tummy and the steering wheel
• my feet and ankles no longer hurting just to walk
• seeing a smaller shadow in front of me on sunny days
• that I am leading by example for my children to live a healthy life
• that I am learning to run after being told I might never walk again 13yrs ago
• that I have finally found the courage and strength to put myself FIRST
• that I finally feel like I am becoming who I was always meant to be

I wish you all the same joy today as you celebrate Thanksgiving with your families!

Mark it in the record books...

This was the FIRST Halloween EVER that I didn't eat candy...woohoo for non-scale victories!