I have some news.
The good news is we are home! I've never been so happy to clean out a mildewed fridge. We heard power had been restored and we kissed the farm goodbye and headed home in a hurry. We've never made such good time and I'm thinking that's miraculous considering 2/3 of our children are suffering with a plague called Hand-Foot-Mouth Virus. It is a lovely bug.
Thank you for all your prayers and sweet comments and good thoughts you sent our way.
Now, the bad news.
I have gained five pounds this past week.
And I hold Hurricane Ike completely responsible.
When we weren't stumbling around in the dark, we were eating. We seriously put away some serious hurricane preparedness.
Even my toddler picked up on the necessity of a full belly. This is how I found her baby doll:
If you add the new five pounds to the old six baby pounds I never lost, and couple that with the four pounds I've gained from sweet tea, you've got someone who needs to lose fifteen pounds, just to squeeze back in her clothes (that have gone up a size with every child).And so, I think I'm getting fat, y'all (I realize that this is based on the eye of the beholder, but let me add that I am not exactly tall). And I'm on a dark and lonely road filled with vanilla Oreo cookies.
I need some accountability. And since you guys have been so helpful in my life, I thought I'd propose this idea:
I will take a picture of myself naked every week so you can watch the progress.
How's that for some accountability?
Oh, I kid.
I know there would be vasts amounts of internet jealousy.
And puking. Lots of puking.
So, first, I need ideas. How do I lose fifteen pounds? (please do not suggest I give up sweet tea, those comments will be deleted).
I'm thinking about just putting a thumbs up or down sign out there once a week, so y'all can keep me on track.
Or do I need to charge my camera?
63 comments:
oh great if you do this then I'll also be plagued with it as well...can't we just all be fat and happy?!
Ok..so take one thing out of your daily intake...I would start with bread. It's everywhere and usaully in everything I eat.
I'll try also...hey I said try!
Oh, Kristen....my husband blamed EVERYTHING on Hurricane Gustav! EVEN constipation. I KNOW! CRAZY...You sure have the right to blame Ike for the extra food. We ate a lot, too.
I would like to tell you that I can share my story with you. It does involve a loss of sugar as I was diagnosed hypoglycemic nearly 8years ago. HOWEVER, you can have sweet tea. Only with sugar-free sweeteners.
If you are interested, I can email you with ALL of my pointers and include my weight loss, etc from then. Let me know. I have found that when I share my "diet" (really it's a lifestyle that I will be quick to tell you I VENTURE From. It's just the rule...there ARE exceptions!)--I try to tap into the foods that you as an individual like to eat regularly. Then it's easier to build on.
I'd be happy to share. BTW...I'm not exactly tall, either.
Rena
Oh well heck, I saw the pics below and can totally understand why you've gained weight. I'd have gained 10! Oh that just stresses me out.
Glad you are all ok.
Just lay off the Oreos and whatever that baby doll is eating and you should be fine! : )
Its good to hear your safely home! Good luck with the fridge! That smell should help you lose that weight. *giggles*
I lost the last of my baby weight (after my third) by giving up refined sugar. EEK! Don't delete me!! LOL- but seriously, take out the processed, refined crap and you'll be amazed :) Start eating fresh whole foods, start as slow as you need, one food group at a time if you need, and throw in a few burst to 10-15 mins of exercise and you'll see results. Sometimes my exercise is just a few lunges and situps before my toddler jumps on me, but hey it's something!
Glad your home safe. And I say charge the camera! But maybe keep the clothes on! :D
Kristen .. stop .. You caught me .. rolling on the floor. (Puking, lots of puking, you are so crazy!)
Accountability? Hmpf! Can't give you any, I need to lose 40 lbs., yeah, I said 40.
And what with Thanksgiving and Christmas in good ole Kentucky (on the farm)around the corner, by January it will be around 50 lbs.
So I will be waiting to see what lovely goodies come from the blogging sisters .. and see what I can try to lose before November 20th.
I'm vertically challenged myself... and I never lost the 50 lbs of baby weight (PCOS doesn't exactly make it a picnic to lose...). So I'm game to hear all the suggestions! I've tried everything else.
I told DH the other day, as we're TTC baby #3, that I'd rather be fat and pregnant than just fat. How's that for positive thinking?!?!?!
Oh. You. Are. Too. Funny!
At least you know how to keep your sense of humor about it. Me? I like to sulk in front of the mirror. And then go find something to snack on.
If it makes you feel better, I never lost any of my baby weight. My little boy is about to be three and I still weight about what I weighed when I had him. Nine months pregnant. Maybe 5 pounds less. MAYBE. Ah, it's sad and depressing. So look on the bright side - at least it's fifteen and not 40. =\
If you figure out some miracle weight loss plan where I can eat all the sugar and bread that I want and not have to lift a finger for exercise - please be a dear and share? :)
I got tired of all the extra weight last year and joined weight watchers with a buddy. It took me a year to drop 45lbs but I did it. It was the only program that has worked for me. I am still within 1 pound of my goal weight 6 months later. I now weigh what I weighed when I got married 19 years ago.
Go for it and take a buddy with you. It is way easier to be committed if you are accountable to someone!
Best of luck ;}
Hugs!
Sign up on www.peertrainer.com with an accountability buddy. Eat less and exercise more.
I've actually really enjoyed the online site Spark People. It's free, there are a ton of useful tools and suggestions and a wonderful supportive community.
http://www.sparkpeople.com/myspark/loginpage.asp?whereFrom=nutrition.asp
I'm pulling for you!
Get thee to Sparkpeople.com now!
1. it is free
2. it tracks calories, fat or ANYTHING
3. I lost 40 lbs using it
4. It is free
5. it is FUN in a wierd way.
no I don't work for them!!!!
Ok, NO KIDDING, I wrote a tiny blog post about this right before Ike hit. I had decided to coin a new phrase: "The Ike 15." Because seriously, our emergency food included (among other things, like, you know, *canned foods*) Whoppers and Twizzlers and Oreos (oh my!). And of course by Sunday all the candy was gone and the canned peaches were still stored away in the pantry. ;)
Glad you're home now. Good luck moving on through all this post-Ike stuff (hint: if you don't want to hear any more about it, don't turn on your tv!).
I'd recommend Weight Watchers. It's easy & you get to eat! It just helps you pick the right choices, like fruits & veggies and healthier types of food. I was on it before my youngest... and I'm finally getting myself back on it. Only I have more than 15 pounds to lose. ;o) Goodluck with whatever you choose!
So glad you made it back home!! That must feel wonderful.
Please, please don't take those pictures - I thought you liked us! :)
I had success with Weight Watchers in the past because I didn't have to actually give anything up (I get VERY cranky if you tell me to give up a certain food or food group!).
Also, I started a separate blog for accountability. You can check out www.stopeatingallthechocolates.blogspot.com for my weight loss roller coaster and suggestions. Also, I have several yummy healthy recipes on there which the family even likes.
I wish I only had 15 to lose, but I'm working on it!
I'll tell you what has worked for me and let you decide. Since July 1st I have lost 20 pounds. I'm not on a fancy diet or anything. I just eat low fat yogurt {80calories} with a little granola sprinkled on top for breakfast. Then, for lunch, I eat lightly.... a little tuna a crackers. For supper, I eat whatever I want! I did cut out all....all....sweet tea and regular sodas. I drink only diet Dr. Pepper and flavored water now. I also snack here and there. Those 100 calorie snack pack are great! What 'cha think?
glad to see you're home. Nice baby doll - boy can she indulge!
You lose 15lbs, you let me know HOW you did it! I'm still 7 more of baby weight, then 10 more of move weight.
And I AM working out at the YMCA, doing yoga, and training for a 5K - and still not dropping squat!
I am down 9.5 lbs...see if you can catch me...come on, I know you ca do it! ;0)
You are so funny--you always make me laugh! I think if I had to take naked photos of myself for the blog each week, it would definitely motivate me to stop eating Ding-Dongs. :-)
We bought the Wii Fit and my husband has lost some weight over the past two weeks we've had it. The whole family has had fun playing games and doing the exercises on it. I'd recommend it to anyone looking for a fun way to get in shape. (But it's not exactly cheap.) -Julia
I do transcription work for an internal medicine clinic. Everytime someone comes in saying they want to lose weight, the doctors always give the same advice, becuase it works. Stick to a 1500 calorie a day diet and you will lose an average of 1 to 2 pounds per week. Add in a walk around the block every other day and it will be 2 to 3 pounds/week. That means 15 pounds in 5 weeks or so. It is not exercise alone. You can exercise all you want but if you are still stuffing your face you wont lose any weight. You must count every calorie, which is tougher than you think. PLus, it will make you realize how many calories you are actually consuming on a daily basis, where your big calorie foods are, and where you can make cuts. Im only a few weeks into it, but I fell better.
I see a couple have already mentioned it, but I wholeheartedly stand behind Sparkpeople. I started with them (FREE FREE FREE!!!) in June of 2007 and have lost 45 pounds with them. I'm down to my HIGH SCHOOl weight!
Commitment and determination are 90%o of it; the rest is simply keeping track of what goes in your mouth each day!
I have no advice, except to add that I am vertically challenged; standing at a height of 5ft IF I stretch!
10lbs look like 50.
I have gained 18 in 2 years..I didn't just have a baby, so I have NO clue what is going on. But I will join in on your challenge!
No nudies for me, I would NOT want to be responsible for others illness.
So glad you made it back home, safely but with a few bugs. That HGM stuff is horrible! NO NAKED PICS PLZ. I am with you on the weight loss~I am addicted to Pepsi, I know if I would just lay those things down I would loose some but it is soooo hard! Good luck, some of your previous post have some really good weight loss ideas. I might just try some of them! -:]
sorry that is suppose to HFM! :}
I had decided last week that I needed to loose about 10 lbs.
But this week I got out the fall/winter clothes and noticed they must be a size bigger than my summer clothes because I can zip & button with no problem!
I don't have any weight loss tips except to say do NOT give up your tea. Everybody needs their tea. But I did want to chime in and ofer some empathy on the hand/foot/mouth plague. My family had it twice (even though they said that was impossible) and it was misery. Hope everyone is well soon.
You are too funny!
Try to walk every day. I think that really helps me to keep my weight in check. Well, so I think anyway. Plus, it is a nice time of year to do that.
Welcome home! I am so glad you are home and safe.
All I can suggest is getting one of those aerobics DVD's and then doing it everyday. Make it something you do with the kids for 15 to 30 minutes a day. It is what I do (well kinda, I do belly dance and my 2 year old is better at it than I am!)
Give up Sweet Tea??? How could you even utter, type, think those words!?! This coming from a Sweet Tea Addict!
Maybe we should try to get some type of challenge going for all of us who are trying to lost weight! Accountability is the key!
Seriously? Do you gain weight from Sweet Tea???? I'm doomed then if it's true. I thought it was from the Coke I drink every morning. Damn.
Okay, no camera is necessary. Walk every day. Or .... heck, I don't know. If I knew, I would lose MY last bit of weight. I've been going to the gym for four months now, 3 - 4 times a week, working an hour on the elliptical, up to resistance 8 & 9 and getting my heart rate WAY up there, and still, can't lose the last 10.
Yea!!! You are home safe and sound. Now I have the perfect way for you to lose that 15 pounds (please be careful how loud you say that around your daughter!!)
You get out there and help everyone around clean up the mess that Ike left. After about a month of all that hard physical labor you will have lost the weight, be in shape, have toned muscles and will be EXHAUSTED. Now the kids might be running amuck and the laundry piled high, and everyone one else will be starved, but hey, you will have lost that unwanted poundage.
Ok, I am glad I am in Alabama as I say this. How about youcut back on the sweet tea? (I am ducking here) You can still have it, just cut it back some. My other blog friend Krissy at www.wellbehavedkrissy.com she has another blog that I am supposed to be a contributor on, but I am a slacker and have just commented on it. Anyway its called Krissy's Chub Club and we holding each other accountable on there. We are trying to lose weight before Christmas. That way we can gain it back. Or at least I can. :)
I'm doing Weight Watchers. It's been one year. Lost 30 lbs in 6 months and have kept it off for 6 months. Like my hubby always says, 'Proof is in the pudding'. I love that Weight Watchers is not a diet. It's healthy and you are held accountable. It works. I don't work for Weight Watchers but when I make lifetime I would love to work for them.
You don't have to be 100 lbs overweight for it to work either. Lots of people join to lose that last 10 lbs that just don't seem to come off no matter how hard you work out. Take a buddy and have a great time!
I am also vertically challenged (5ft, 3/4 of an inch last time I was measured). I would love to loose 40 pounds, but 50 would be even better. I've lost 4 already this week. I downloaded a program for my iPhone called Edibles, and it helps me to track my calories. I eat around 1500 calories a day, and walk for an hour at least twice a week, more if I can. But I've heard the last ten or so pounds are the hardest to loose, so good luck with what ever you do. As far as your tea, what I do is fill a gallon pitcher with hot tap water, then add in 1 cup of sugar, then 4 tea bags. My boys and I love the Orange Spice tea bags from Lipton. Its sweet enough for me (and I LOVE sugar), and is only 15 calories per cup.
I'm glad you all are home safe and sound. Good luck!
When you find out, let me know. I'm not so tall either, but if I were 2 inches taller I'd be a known as the skinny girl. :-)
I need someone to come into my home, hold a gun to my head while I put my tennis shoes on, then chase me around the park a few times. That might work.
Yay for having power back! Hope the kids get over the virus quickly!
I have no advice. I'm in the same boat as you.
Glad your home and you didn't loose your sense of humor. I am in the same boat, I have carried the last 15 lbs for ....10 years.
Oh, I think you should drink MORE sweet tea. YES! (Just plan for it, woman!)
I don't know. But I'll cheer you on. Glad you're home!
I have a bit more than 15 to lose!! But I'm doing the "Fat Smash Diet." This basically involves no white rice or bread, portion control, and a lot of fruits and veggies. And I've also been walking about an hour a day with the baby in the stroller and the dog on her leash. I've lost about 10 pounds so far!! Yeah!!
Try sparkpeople.com It is a great free site and I have lost 54 lbs using it (even though I have another 50 to go). It offers great advice on diet and exercise along with a bunch of people who are going through the same things you are.
Yeah...I am glad you are home safe and sound!
As far as losing weight. I have NO idea. I'm still trying to get rid of my baby weight, although the baby is now 19 months old.
That picture of the doll had me cracking up! Don't be so hard on yourself...five pounds is not much! :)
I'm new to reading your blog, but am an Ike sufferer as well... the thing that works best for me is tracking my food intake on a website called dailyplate.com
girlfriend, you are perfect, funny and a "survivor"...keep that tea coming and throw in a wine cooler every once in a while. you'll be fine!!! haha
I'm in the same "15 lb" boat. I need to ditch it. We just joined the Y and hubs and I are participating in a "biggest loser" competition with friends. There's a lot of smack talk, which is keeping it fun, and one friend is doing the math every week. (We email her our weights every Tuesday and she emails stats by Wednesday.) No one gets "kicked off" but each couple put in $25 and the grand champs get the pot at the end of the "season" (just before Xmas). I plan to start posting about my get in shape efforts soon!
Kristen and THAT family, I'm so glad you all are safe and well, if a little heavier for the wear. I personally have live through 3 devestating storms, one when I was a kid and 2 more as an adult. I know your pain, confusion and sheer need to scream. If there is anything we can do for you here from MS or GA please let us know.
My mom is in Houston, with no power and little fuel and won't accept help from us. I'm befuddled but have to let her do as she wishes.
I pray for all of the city and residents to get life back on track soon.
Our God is an awesome God and will not let us down!
Deb
I'd like to know! I'm with you... or maybe surpassed you, in the fat department, since I blogged about doing the Truffle Shuffle in a dressing room last week. Yeah. And wow, you only had 6 baby pounds to go?! Count yourself ahead of the race right now. There's a Hot For the Holidays going on at Baby Tea Leaves. At any rate, so glad you're home safe and sound. Blessings, Whitney
I have lost 60 with weight watchers and have more to go! i just joined hot for the holidays (link on my blog) for some extra accountability that includes PRIZES! anyway, i am now thinking about oreos...guess you better post one of those naked pictures so i will stop thinking about the oreos!
I have got to get started again. I was doing so well at the gym last winter and spring until vacation. I actually found that posting about it on my blog was a great motivator. Every week I'd post what I did at the gym that week and how many pounds or inches were lost (or gained). I don't know if anyone really bothered to read it, but knowing I had to put it out there kept me going to the gym and made me think twice before I dug into the cookies and ice cream.
I had to go buy new jeans today, two sizes smaller than my prepregnancy size. Why? I can't have any dairy. No dairy at all. It's in EVERYTHING. So, there ya go. 15 lbs just like that.
Sorry about HF&M. Blah.
Take it one day at a time, one goal at a time. That makes it more manageable! You might also glean what you can from MizFit: mizfitonline (dot) com
She's got oodles of insight and easy suggestions for those just getting started on a path of fitness. And, she's fun to read - the ultimate bonus when reading about fitness and nutrition. :)
Good luck and I hope all goes well as you settle back into life at home. I can't even imagine . . .
Try using Agave Nectar instead of sugar in the sweet tea. It's a natural sweetener that has anti-oxidants. (The Biggest Loser people use it.)
My only other idea was to go walking. A lot.
I sincerely wish I had some infinate words of wisdom for you.
But I don't.
I could say excercise....but coming from someone who is training for a marathon and STILL hasn't lost a pound...I'm guessing that would be the definition of hypocrit.
I could say portion control....but coming from someone who just ate a 3rd helping of a steak and potato dinner...um...yeah, not so effective.
So, I'm all for naked blogging...
Hey there! We think alike btw but you'll have to read my yesterday's post to see why?! Ha!
As for the diet thing...I lost 10 pounds after reading a few books about vegetarianism...I know weird...but I accidentally went Vegan for a whole month and lost 10 pounds...??? No extra exercising or anything.... (skinny Bitch was one of the books...sorry about the name, and it has massive swear words in it...so avoid it if you don't like that....
but I was just planning to stay away from processed sugar...and I don't eat a lot of eggs, and dairy bothers my tummy a bit and it was hot summer so....well...I went vegan and haven't gained the weight back, but I am back to my more regular diet....
Whoops, you asked the WRONG question for short comments...sorry!
I hope this won't sound sacreligious to you, but what if you made your sweet tea with splenda? I think the most obvious diet overhaul would be to cut down on sugar and empty carbs.
I'm so glad y'alls power is back and you were able to come home.
Sorry about the weight gain. But, I totally understand. I am way overweight. I need willpower!
I'm a chinese student ,just want to chant with some people .
sent from: fav.or.it
How do you feel about being a wet nurse? The only way I've lost significant amounts of weight is breastfeeding. Best diet ever.
LOL... you have a wonderful sense of humor... God bless on the weight loss..... Thankful that you are home and that most of all you are safe!!!
I don't know how many people already said Weight Watchers - but weight watchers has helped me alot! I have kept my weight off for 5 years. You could lose those 15 pounds by Christmas! with out giving up sweet tea - I did it without giving up my tall nonfat no whip mochas! Good Luck
I have said it in my own blog, Weight Watchers! I love Weight Watchers! I love that I can eat what I want, I love the easy to follow point system, i also love that i have lost 95 pounds.
If you are not into the program thing keep a food diary, I know you like to write no excuses there! I write down every single thing I eat, and drink. Make sure you have 8 glasses of water not tea with water in it, real water and 5 fruit of veggies, and 2 servings of milk, thats the trick I have found works for me, I don't go to meetings anymore, just keep a food diary.
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