I ask you to judge me by the enemies I have made.

So......

First of all a slight move away tonight from my regular blog post titles to pay tribute to my favorite president of all time. FDR's bday would have been today ...The title is one of his quotes

My friends...I am very tired on this saturday evening. This blog will be SHORT...
Had a long two days at work but I did manage to sneak away today and go weigh in for the week ...
I lost .5 lb this week ...a low number but a loss is a loss is a loss. I get losing .5lbs but its still a weird number for me to wrap my head around ...I will take it but its just out there for me ...

So To date

Starting Weight - 381 lbs

Todays loss- .5 lb

Total Lost - 58 lbs

Todays Weight 323 lbs

Thats all I got today except ...Goodnight my friends.

God Save The Queen

So.......

Blogging is dead. No doubt about that ....Its as dead as a doornail. Going the way of the Dodo bird...Extinct. Many folks in my friends circle have predicted this for a while now and yup...Its official now.....but I am thinking it's just dead amoung my close friend group because I read tons of other blogs that are updated on a regular basis.
I am sad because I really enjoy blogging during the week. So my struggle is this ...do I admit defeat and join the bandwagon and shut down my blog. Put up a "Closed" sign on the door and ride off into the Twitter sunset? Here's my thing...in a short while something will come along that will of course replace Twitter. Its going to happen, right ?
I am sticking around for a couple more months to see what happens .....

Oh, it is probably the amount of sodium you had!"
Salt!!

I am as guilty as the next person for sometimes finding a reason behind my gain or my lack of motivation to excercise.
Folks blame salt... Not the decisions, but salt...
To lose weight you have to be honest.
To lose weight you have to not make excuses.
To lose weight dedication is important, but even more important is making sacrifices.

There are gyms all over montgomery .
There are nine million free weight loss websites to help motivate people.
95% of food has nutritional information on it.
You Tube has tons of workout videos.
Libraries have diet and fitness books.
We can cry and whine and tell ourselves life is not fair.
Guess what, you are right.
We can say the economy sucks. Guess what, it does.
But before we blame salt or lack of water for our weight gain We first have to blame ourselves.

See, losing weight is not hard.
It is not hard once we realize that we can do it. Once we realize that it is okay to make a bad decision, but lets not fool ourselves into thinking that decision was a good one.

Be honest, look at your decisions from the past week.
And go from there.

My Life Would Suck Without You

So.....

With this post I now have more blog posts than what I weigh.

I am happy with the progress I have made. Yay.

Rank Strangers To Me

So.....

Sometimes I sit down to write this blog and think..."Who really wants to hear me go on about my weight loss?" but then I remember that this is part of my accountability so here I sit .After a week of worrying about all the crap I put in my body at Lake Junaluska last weekend I actually went on Friday and weighed in and managed to lose 2.5lbs!
So to date....

Starting Weight - 381 lbs

Todays loss- 2.5 lb

Total Lost - 57.5 lbs

Todays Weight 323.5 lbs

Also I am pleased that to date I have lost 4 pants sizes. I got new pants at Christmas and am taking them this week to have them taken down one size. I am looking forward to the day in the very near future when I can go get pants at a place like Sams. Sams, you say ? Yes Sams...they have name brand stuff and its incredibly cheap...But their sizes only go up to a certain point BUT I am almost there....
Some older dress shirts are starting to hang weird and not look right when I am wearing them...
These are all VERY GOOD THINGS ...

Having said that I found this on a site and thought it was funny so I thought I would share tonight ...Enjoy.

Childhood obesity represents one of our greatest health challenges, so with that in mind, I’m suggesting a few edits in some of the most popular children’s literature to address the subject head-on…

The Adventures of Skinny-the-Pooh
Not-So-Little Women
The Very, Really, Really, Enormously Hungry Caterpillar
The Runaway Belly
Guess How Much I Love Ham
The Cat in the Fat
Where the Wide Things Are
Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Diet
Oh, The Pizzas You'll Eat
The Velvetta Rabbit
The Little Engine That Could… But Never Did
Anna Rexia
Mike Mulligan And His Steamed Veggies
Pippi Wrongsnacking
Furious Gorge
Amelia Bread-elia
Binge to Terabithia
Chocolate’s Web
The Liar, the Scale, and the Wardrobe
The Boxcarb Children
Sarah, Plain,Tall & Fat
James and the Giant Pouch
Roll of Belly, Hear My Cry
Fatilda
Stuart Not-Too-Little

A Foggy Day

So.....

Its been a busy busy week for me so far....I was out of town last weekend with my youth group on a ski trip to western North Carolina. We had a blast but heres the deal...I am exhausted!! We got back Monday and usually by the following day aftr a big trip I am back to normal(whatever normal is) but not this time....I have been dragging my tail all week.
Not sure why I am not bouncing back but each day is the same ...TIRED !
Add to that we are planning our 60th Anniversay and Homecoming at Dalraida UMC and I am knee deep in helping to plan all that...should be a great day but by the time it gets here I might be sick of homecoming stuff....BUT I am pleased to be doing anything I can to help out ...I really do love my job !

I have been in the process of a massive detox of my body after eating the food served to us at Lake Junaluska last weekend ...Oh wow that is some terrible processed food if I ever say any ...
Just nothing good about it ....I did manage to eat salads but the rest of the meals we had were pretty terrible. Been lots and lots of water this week but I have a bad feeling about weigh in this coming weekend ....not sure why but its just a feeling. Your body knows.

Someone sent me this the other day ....You have to write down 17(random I know) things that make you happy in a secret sorta way ...Here goes ...

1. Archie Comics from the 70s and 80s
2. Old telephones. Heavy loud ones.
3. Walking when its bitter cold outside.
4. The Beverly Hillbillies.....My all time favorite line on that show was when the Clampetts went to England and Jethro wanted to be a knight..."What's your name?"..."Jethro"....What's your surname?"...."Sir Jethro" HAHA
5. Pack Place.
6. Making up lyrics to well known songs.
7. The smells of Thanksgiving day.
8. A well delivered joke.
9. Giving a good gift.
10. Making folks laugh.
11. Looking at old pictures.
12. Picking up my nephews from school.
13. The british accent on my Garmin GPS.
14. Old christmas decorations.
15. McRae Meadows at Grandfather Mountain.
16. New shoes or boots.
17. Being at the beach during cooler weather.

If you got anything you would like to share ...Please do ...

Anything You Can Do

So.....

Weighed in today since I will be out of town till Monday afternoon. I managed to lose another pound this past week.....so as it stands today

Starting Weight - 381 lbs

Todays loss- 1 lb

Total Lost - 55 lbs

Todays Weight 327 lbs

Yeah ...I am pleased with that ....

One of the things I keep getting asked over and over and over again is how hard is it to do without things that you like ??

Well, its difficult cutting things that are fatty,greasy,cheesy and gooey from your diet. It really is difficult for those of us who love our food like that...

I mean who wants to go without ?? Specially in America....We are taught from an early age that the we have the world on a string and if you want to hit up Taco Bell or Krystals late and night and fill your bodies with heart aching and stopping crud then go for it ...I will eat this today and worry about it tomorrow ...Right ?

Its difficult to modify and cut but not impossible!

Sweets, salty snacks, sugar filled sodas....Sometimes you find that its easier and better to go without than to try and fit them into your new lifestyle. Especially early on in your weight loss journey.

Some folks say that they cant deprive themselves of the things they love....I would say that we are depriving ourselves a healthy future that we deserve. But we often slink back into that mode of "its just too hard ...poor me"
We would all be suprised to see how easily our lives would change and adapt if we did without....

It would require some planning as with anything but if planned right anything is within reach...

We find that planning is crucial in living a new healthy life...We are just so used to crap filled things going into our bodies. The food industry is doing a much better job of providing us with things that are good for us but its still not as easy as we would like it to be ...

but you know what ? You can buy fruit and veggies at any grocery store !!!

We area hard wired a certain way but once we start replacing and push the mad mad craving out of our minds we begin to live a better life...We will worry a bit to begin with but soon our minds will join us on our mission.

So is it hard to do ??

Yeah, its not the easiest thing in the world but its hard being overweight and unhealthy for the rest of my life...I am TIRED of that

Is it uphill? 'scuse my language here but HELL YEAH !!

Is it within my grasp and yours too ?? Well, HELL YEAH !!

And guess what ??

Its totally worth it !!

Hello My Baby

So......

This has been a stress filled last few days ....I will not even begin to go into all the details but needless to say that capping off today with car troubles ending having an alternator replaced on my car was just blech.
Having said that I have been rather emotional the last few days for some reason. I know some of yall are thinking EMOTIONAL!?!?! Yeah....I get emotional from time to time and the last few days have been tough for me....
As a result I have wanted to eat. This has never been like me ...I dont really eat when I am going through something but the last couple days have had me craving things like big juicy cheeseburgers....french fries covered in ketchup and YES mayo!!
I am working past it and have had alot of help from MRS L....but its still been tough. I am in some ways glad to have this chance to work through this time cause it tests me in some ways....I can understand better what works and does not work for me. At the end of the day I am going to take this as a great learning experience.

and now a little off topic
Haiti .....
I cannot even begin to imagine living in THE poorest nation in the Western Hemisphere and then having your entire life literally crumble out from under you in a matter of 30 seconds. I am really sickened by what we are seeing on the TVs tonight in regards to possible death tolls and property destruction.
My prayers are with those folks affected by this earthquake

Don't Worry Bout Me

So........

Today was weigh in and am pleased to announce that I managed to lose 3.5lbs this past week. After a gain over the two week prior to that I am happy to perhaps be on track with losing weight again. Up or down though I am here for the long haul. Here are the numbers as of today ...

Starting Weight - 381 lbs
Todays loss- 3.5lb
Total Lost - 54 lbs
Todays Weight 328 lbs

Drinking. Most if not all of us have had a drink of some kind in our lives. Some of us love to go to a social event and have a drink in our hand. The feel of the glass and the feel of the warm as it flows down your throat.
I am no stranger to having a drink from time to time. I am no lush by any standards. But for almost the last 6 months I have almost completly stopped drinking. I can almost count on one hand how many times I have had a drink since August. Over the holidays I was at a party and I swear to you I maybe had two swallows of a beer. Thats it.
I would rather just go without at this point in my life....I am not saying that I will never again have a drink but when you sit and look at the points associated with drinking on the WW diet system its just not worth it to me anymore.
This will perhaps cause a little awkwardness in social settings from time to time. Being the guy who does not drink sometimes gets you a weird look.....I am ok with that too.

So I sit here a few short months away from my 36th Birthday....Living a cleaner life in regards to my eating and consumption of foods.
Its a good place to be ...

How Are Ya' Fixed For Love

So......

I am a decently smart guy ....It might take me a while to figure out the instructions to a shelf I bought at IKEA but eventually I get it together(it also helps to not follow the swedish instructions)

I have been on a weight loss "journey" for almost 5.5 months.
Its been great.
Has it been easy ? Nope.
Has it been fun? Sometimes.
Will I continue? Heck Yeah.
Will I offer encouragment to others? Yes, If I feel like its the right thing to do in the right situation.
Do I have all the answers ? Well of course!!! Ha not really ...but I do have a wee lil bit on insight that I did not have 6 months ago...

Having said all that I have found that in my life its a good thing to surround yourself with folks that are....

1. Supporters. In ANY circumstance.
2. Smarter than me.

I get a few blogs and tweets from other folks also on a weight loss journey of some kind....Some have lost HUNDREDS of pounds and others have lost a couple of pounds. Some of their advice is below ....

............"As I journeyed to lose 158 pounds, I learned that it’s important to learn to say ‘no’. Saying ‘yes’ to cakes and pies is easy, but learning to say ‘no’ to foods you don’t want or need is very freeing and empowering.” –Diane

.............“If you keep going on & off a ‘diet’ (which by the way is NOT a lifestyle change for life), you’ll never learn to ‘listen’ or understand your body and how it reacts to certain food choices AND exercise. I have been able to keep this up so long and keep it off because I LISTEN TO MY BODY AND MAKE CHANGES BASED ON WHAT MY BODY AND LIFE ARE TELLING ME. Each choice I’ve made is one I know I can live with lifelong or until my bod tells me otherwise.” – Jody

..............“Pick your ‘perfect’.” – Tony

...............“If I could pass along one ‘here’s the answer to all the fitness/healthy living stuff that ails ya’ tip, it would be simply one word: CONSISTENCY. The key for both losing and maintaining is moving. Consistently. Every day. Day in day out. Year in year out. People consistently ask me how many hours I workout a day and seem not to want to believe how little exercise I do (30 minutes pretty much every day, ranging from traditional exercise to vigorous dance parties with my daughter). I am simply consistent and that, in my opinion, is the key. I move every day. In some fashion. No matter how busy I am. No matter what else is happening in my life. No matter what silly form my movement may need to take to squeeze it in. Day in day out. Year in year out. Consistently.”– Carla

................“Do it out of love, not punishment.”

................“I discovered the sure path to permanent weight loss is to find out why you eat and solve that. Otherwise, that wicked "why" comes back to haunt you like bad Halloween candy hiding in your sock drawer. Once solved, that "why" will leave your life and take the bad candy with it.” –Pat

................“The two most important elements for success? Self-honesty and consistency. You have to be very real with yourself and your habits. You have to accept responsibilty for every choice you make. Understanding the power of a choice is so critical---when you realize this, get super honest with yourself---and protect your journey by giving it a super high importance level---and realize consitency is key. Well, how can you fail? You can't. Success is yours for the taking!” – Sean Anderson

...............“Typical NY resolution: massive changes and maybe a cleanse diet. Embrace logic instead: make small changes that you can live with forever” –David Kirchhoff, President & CEO, Weight Watchers Intl

I weigh in tomorrow after a slight gain the last two weigh ins.....Hoping for a loss tomorrow but prepared for anything

See yall then !!

Stuck In The Middle Again

So.....

I went to the doctor today to get refills on much needed medicines. It was not a fun time.
You see heres the deal ...I dont like a doctors office. Not that many folks out there line up once a day just to get into them but I dont handle the situation very good at all.
If I have a planned appointment then i usually get nervous the night before....I get nervous on the drive over ...I am anxious in the waiting room area. Sitting between folks hacking up their lungs is not my idea of fun .... I can't sit still once I am back in the room before said examination. I pace...open drawers...look in cabinets....look out the window...look in drawers again....think about stealing some tounge depressors.....wonder if I could get the contents of a whole jar of gauze pads in my pocket....wish I could use the ear thing to look down into my own ears...I am a wreck.
Today was really no different. I finally got back to the room a good 30 minutes after my prescribed appointment time....get in and nothing. No vitals are taken. The doc comes in and asks me if anyone took my BP, temp, etc...and I say no they did not...now she looked a little cheesed off. She leave the room and comes back with the stuff and does it all....
Clearly at this point the morning she is not having a great day....
My blood pressure was high ....144/92. She starts telling me I need to lose weight to get that down some more and in fact one of the best ways to lower high BP is to go on a diet.
Let me add this here ....I have been without my BP medicine for at least a week so I am pretty sure not taking PLUS the added stress of just being there to get refills made my pressure be higher than normal
I proceed to tell her that I am actually on a diet and ahve been since August and have lost over 50lbs....Almost like turning a light on her whole attitude changed. She says THAT'S FANTASTIC...!!!! Then she proceeds to tell me that she has recently also lost about 60lbs. We start talking about stuff and by the time I left we were both smiling and swapping stories.
Maybe she should have taken my pressure again to see if it had some down any ....
A doctors appointment that made me smile ....go figure !

At This Moment

So.....

Here are some things I really need to improve on in the year 2010

• My sleep. I dont sleep very good. I will go nights without actually sleeping through the night. I wake up often but I dont ever really get to sleep. I have talked to friends and family and the consensus is that I need to have a sleep test done. I will do that soon.
• My finances. I need to get out of any and all debt that I am in.
• Eat more fruit. I eat a good bit now but not nearly the amounts that I should. I go to the store and buy large amounts of fruit and veggies and then they go in the bin of doom and then next thing I know I am throwing out A LOT of stuff.
• Eat organic. Its going to be a costly affair to begin with but I have yet to read or see anything that says organic is not better for you. One recent research showed that regular foods processed in normal processing conditions might actually cause you to GAIN weight.Thats not something I am looking to do in 2010...Gain weight. I will start small with my organic ways and gradually add things in as I can.
• Create weekly menus. I know there is a website out there where you can go and plan a menu around your weight watchers and then print off the recipes,buying lists and point values for everything. This sounds like something I would like.
• Encourage more.
• Lower blood Pressure. I am feeling that this is the year I can stop taking my meds for this ...we shall see.

I am glad that I am on the right track with things and am excited about where I am headed.

Auld Lang Syne

So.....

Its January 2, 2010 and here I sit weighing considerably less than I did 5 months ago ....I went today to weigh in and gained 2lbs. I am ok. I did not pass out. I managed to keep it together. There was no crying or gnashing of teeth. The walls did not come tumbling down. There are going to be days like this ...I know that. I am ok with it too ...

So as of today ....

Starting Weight - 381 lbs

Todays gain- 2lb

Total Lost - 50.5 lbs

Todays Weight 331.5 lbs

You see I said from the beginning that I was taking a whole new approach to things ...I am not going to dwell on why or why not. I am not going to second guess all week what I might have done LAST week. Tomorrow is a new day and it begins anew ....

I count my points and drink my water. I excercise. I even started back trying to take vitamins.

And you know what ....2010 is gonna be the best ever. "The best is yet to come" as Francis Albert would say ....

I have had many many folks ask me about my plans as far as weight loss goes ....How much do I want to lose? The number I am shooting for is 230lbs. Weird story but thats the number....

Its a LONG TERM GOAL and today in our WW meeting we talked about short term goals....Little things that keep us going. I can see 230 in my mind but I can see ramping up my exercise as a short term goal. I can see myself buying some new clothes as a short term goal.

I could list a lot of things here ....

But I know this ...there are some grey areas in weight loss...There is nothing that is "black and white"

There could be one person who weighs 200 pounds who would say "How did I get to this enormous weight" and then there will be someone like me, who throws their hands in the air and says "I am done being out of shape and overweight"

There are some who believe frozen dinners are the way to go and others who think they are a waste of money.

Some people lose weight by working out at home, some by going to the gym, and some do not even work out at all.

Some need the support of blogs and bloggers, and others could care less.

Everyone has a story to tell. Everyone has lost weight differently.There is no such thing as a "perfect diet" or a "right or wrong plan".

I have learned this during the last 5 months after speaking to folks and reading TONS.

I have changed aspects of my life and I will say one thing about weight loss....Do not ever say you do not care.

I am inspired by my friend ELucas who lost and has maintained....and yes I am inspired by those folks on The Biggest Loser. I want to be that inspiration one day ....I care.

A poor decision will not ruin you ...Not caring will. I care

So what will 2010 bring for me besides my continued road to better health. ....

Maybe I should be less annoying

Maybe I should post more about trees and the environment

Maybe I should fly to visit friends more.

Maybe I should take off a couple of weeks

Maybe I should make a lot of money

Maybe I should just keep on moving forward.

I have said it on Facebook and Twitter and to any person that will listen to me ....2010 is going to be an amazing year and I am glad to have you all along as fellow travellers.

Seasons Of Love

So.....

Went to weigh in today and please find below the results

Starting Weight - 381 lbs
Todays gain- 1lb
Total Lost - 52.5 lbs
Todays Weight 329.5 lbs

I have said before that I am totally ok with gains here and there. I know its part of the process. So to have made it through almost 5 weeks of roasted turkeys,dressing, ham, cheesy "stuff", sweet chocolate "stuff", cakes, cookies, pies, candies,casseroles,homemade breads, egg nog and a taste of alcohol here and there ....I am very please to have only gained 2 pounds over the course of the season. Add to that I managed to lose alot more than I gained so I think i am on the right track.
ALSO....I got new pants and am proud to say that since august I have dropped THREE pants sizes. My old belts dont fi(got a new one today)
So thats good ....
I am pleased to have a WONDERFUL friend joining us at WW and cannot wait to be on this journey with her. Its gonna be a blast.!!!
I will be taking a year ending week off and wont report in till NEXT Saturday ...
Have a great END OF THE YEAR WEEK!!

In The Bleak Mid-Winter

2008

2009

So.....

You will find above last years christmas picture and this years ....I see a slight difference. The belt I was wearing in LAST years pictures I cannot wear this year cause it TOO BIG ...Heck Yeah !!

Hope yall had a great Christmas Day !!

So This Is Christmas .....

Luke 2:1-20

The Birth of Jesus

1 In those days Caesar Augustus issued a decree that a census should be taken of the entire Roman world. 2(This was the first census that took place while Quirinius was governor of Syria.) 3And everyone went to his own town to register.

4So Joseph also went up from the town of Nazareth in Galilee to Judea, to Bethlehem the town of David, because he belonged to the house and line of David. 5He went there to register with Mary, who was pledged to be married to him and was expecting a child. 6While they were there, the time came for the baby to be born, 7and she gave birth to her firstborn, a son. She wrapped him in cloths and placed him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn.
The Shepherds and the Angels 8And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night. 9An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. 10But the angel said to them, "Do not be afraid. I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. 11Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is Christ the Lord. 12This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger."

13Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying, 14"Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace to men on whom his favor rests."

15When the angels had left them and gone into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, "Let's go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has told us about."
16So they hurried off and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby, who was lying in the manger. 17When they had seen him, they spread the word concerning what had been told them about this child, 18and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds said to them. 19But Mary treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart.

20The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things they had heard and seen, which were just as they had been told.

O Holy Night

So......

Its Christmas Eve !

My thoughts on another year gone by ....

• I am still in the same job. I love my job and the folks I work with ....Its a frustrating job at times but at the end of the day I go home happy and content with the with the work I am doing. I know alot of folks who cant say the same thing ...
• I am amazed sometimes at the folks who HATE Montgomery. Montgomery is a nice city and my adopted hometown. Be nice to her....
• Having found out this year that I have hearing problems in one ear only makes it seem like I hear even WORSE ....The roar is still in my ears and I am looking forward to the day when that ends.
• I got to spend some great time in Western NC this past year ....Going 4 times total.
• As you all know, Health become a big issue for me at the end of the summer. 2010 is shaping up to be an AMAZING year....I have a few personal goals that I would like to see achieved by this time next year and with some hard work and determination I will do it. I am also excited to have folks join up on the journey. Its gonna be FUN!
• Speaking of health stuff ...sometime after the first I am going to finally schedule some type of sleep test. Lack of Sleep = poor health. I get sick with little things alot...colds sinus etc...time to check this out.
• I am going to go hiking next year. Not a stroll in the woods by my house but a real weekend long hike ...maybe longer. Jmcfee is going to be my guide cause he is the great hiker !!
• I continue to find so much love and support from my WONDERFUL friends. Nick, Laura, MrLucas, Jackie, John, Laura, Jason,David, Ryan, MT, Steve,Mary and Lane.....Yall make my life meaningfull and amazing. Where would I be with the love and support ...I just dont know. Words cant express my love to yall....
• I started to Twitter this past year....do I like it ?? Verdict is still out but I am still tweeting.
• My family....I love yall for everything yall do ....
• I say it every year ...but I still terribly miss my Dad. I dont think that will ever change.
• I dont have any movie lists or music lists to share. I see alot of stuff on Netflix and buy alot on iTunes but I have weird tastes in both at times ....

I could go on and on .....

After this coming weigh in on Saturday I am going to be taking a week off from blogging till the first Saturday in January 2010. As you can tell I have used song titles since August for my blog titles ....should i keep it up or change to something else..? Sometimes the song titles match something in the post itself but other tiumes i just like the song ...So should I keep things the same ?? Let me know

Thats it for tonight ...its getting close to 1:30 am and I need to be up early tomorrow

Peace Love and Happiness to you all and Happy Christmas Eve

White Christmas

So....

A friend of mine emailed this to me and I wanted to share

Ways That Losing Weight Is Like Writing A Letter To Santa .....

Anyone can do it

Being greedy isn’t a recipe for success

Some people need a little help getting it started

You feel better once it’s done

The possibilities are limitless

Your’s is different than everyone else’s

Helps if you write down all the things you want

If you can’t stop being naughty, you probably shouldn’t even bother

Once you’ve done it, you have to continue being good

Sometimes you feel like it’s going nowhere

Just saying what you want doesn’t mean you’re going to get it

You really need to be good, not just say you’ve been good

It’s harder to do when you get older

You really should leave out cookies

It doesn’t work if you don’t believe

Home For The Holidays

So.....

No weight loss stuff tonight ...got family on my mind.

I look at the family picture above and I see two folks missing....My Grandaddy who was and is my Hero and my Daddy. I cried tonight looking at that picture but you know what ...

Our family goes on...It goes on with the smiling faces of those great kids down front there ...It goes on with my cousin Ashley being engaged and getting ready to start a family with Tyler. It continues through the grandkids who have famlies. The grandkids who remember the years gone by and the Christmas of 1975. Or the one from 87. We share with the little ones about how Santa brought horses for presents one year....We share and laugh.

We eat Grannys cake.....Her amazing chocolate cake!

So our family endures through loss and tragedy....It sounds stupid and corny but we endure because we do remember those past holidays, we eat that cake, we share those memories about our Grandaddy who loved Christmas and told us to always believe in Santa Claus....and I do Believe. You miss your Daddy with an incredible ache in your body but you remember how happy he was to watch his grandkids open gifts Christmas Day. You laugh when you remember how he would sneak off after lunch to go home and take a nap...

Family endures.

We fight and argue. We forget names. We laugh at each other till we cant see straight. We wonder who will eat that least piece of chocolate cake and you know what....

My family is full of crazy folks ....but crap I love um!

Merry Christmas !

Deck The Halls...

So.....

Tomorrow will be a busy day filled with family christmas time at my grannys house and i decided to go today and weigh in ....
I lost 5 lbs this past week !!! I dont know what I did different....I dont know how I manged to lost that much weight but I did and am very happy. Getting to 50 lbs is a HUGE deal for me ...its almost psychological if that makes sense....But here I am at 53.5 lbs to date...I said back in August that it would be cool if i managed to lose about 60lbs by Christmas....6.5 lbs is not that far off folks ...
WOW...

So to date

Starting Weight- 381 lbs
Todays loss- 5 lbs
Total Lost - 53.5 lbs
Weight Today- 328.5 lbs

The Christmas Waltz

So.....

We are knee deep in the holiday season ..Thanksgiving, Christmas, Hanukah, New Years ...the list goes on and on and so far this year I have been to more than a few parties with a few more to go before New Years Eve.

Here is a list that someone sent me. It is a good listing of things to do to help you out at a party if you feel the need to go a little overboard.

Always bring a pocketful of low-fat ranch dressing to dip carrot sticks in.

Dance furiously to burn off extra calories, even if there isn’t any music.

When you see a plate of cookies, think about me licking each one of them (because I do that at every party I go to).

If you’re looking for a beer that’s lighter than regular beer, try “light” beer.

Chewing on poinsettia leaves will suppress your appetite (probably due to the fact that they’re poisonous).

Instead of eggnog, enjoy a glass of eggwhitenog.

If there’s a bowl of chocolates, stuff them all in your mouth as quickly as possible so that they won’t wind up tempting you all evening long.

To get a little exercise, use the restroom at the house down at the end of the block.

When no one’s looking, spin around a couple hundred times.

Raw vegetables are a good healthy choice, especially if you fry them up and dip them in catsup.

While you’re talking to your boss at the office party, shake uncontrollably. It burns 40 calories an hour.

If someone offers you a piece of cake, explain that you’re Catholic and can’t have any.

Wear clothes that are three times too small so that you won’t feel like eating because one sugar cookie might make a button shoot off you as if shot out of a gun.

Ask the host if he or she has a treadmill that you can drag out into the living room.

Every time someone offers you a drink, fake a heart attack.