Justin:  Weighs 205.4 lbs, down .8 lbs from last week and 18.6 lbs overall for a percentage weight loss of 8.3%.

 

Tammy:  Weighs 202.8 lbs, up 1.6 lbs from last week, down 10.8 lbs overall for a percentage weight loss of 5.1% overall.

 

This is the first time that one of our bumps caused us to have a net weekly gain.  As I mentioned to Terri and Tammy and Terri's web site, things were going well last week until I burned dinner both Thursday and Friday nights.  I simply could not get into my body what it was craving / needing and I tried everything in sight.  It was not an empty, stressed-out eating, but there was something my body was telling me it needed and I had trouble getting it.  I finally got that satisfied Saturday night and everything levelled off, but since everything else is going well, I am sure I can get this back into negative territory quickly.

 

Speaking of Terri, I am up 1.6 lbs toward our 30 lb weight loss goal by July 5.  That means 31.6 lbs to lose by then for me, but I know Terri and I will lose what we are trying to lose if we keep trying.

 

As for the 15 lb weight loss by the end of May challenge that Justin and I each signed up to do, Justin is down 4.6 lbs and I am down 1.6 lbs overall.  This one is a closer term goal.  I am determined to get there.

 

I am kind of worried.  Ever since Saturday night, I keep getting these little bright white floating things in my peripheral vision on my right eye.  It's weird.  I'm concerned that I may have done something to my inner eye.  I'm going to call an eye doctor this morning.  (I mentioned this because it did it again while I was typing.)

 

Justin has begun a new blood pressure medicine as of last week, but even before he did, his blood pressure was down closer to normal range.  I'm so glad about that for him.

 

Have a great week!

Tammy

 

Hi!

 

I mentioned in our blog in February that we were looking into the Weigh Down program after Chris mentioned it in her blog.  We have been doing this program for several weeks now and I must say that it is really beneficial for us.  Whatever each of you are doing that is working for you, keep it up.  If any of you are really struggling with schedules, priorities, and guilt, you might look into this program.  The kit of VHS and cassette tapes plus one book was $29.99 plus shipping and handling.  I did have to go buy a new cassette player because we did not have one that worked but we found one for $9.99.

 

Here are the reasons that this works for us:

1)  When we get sick or injured, there are no reasons we cannot continue the program.

2)  When we have hectic schedules, there is no reason we cannot continue the program.

3)  We are not spending all day worrying about our next meals, grams of fat, carbs, etc.  (OK, I am not spending all day worrying about these things and planning for Justin and me.  Justin just ate what he was given and gave me puppy-dog eyes when something was on the restricted list.)

4)  We are not spending all day tracking our food intake and work output.

 

What we do have to do is wait until we are hungry to eat.  Make sure that it is true hunger.  Drink a beverage while we eat.  Eat slowly and deliberately.  Eat smaller portions.  Pray to God for help and guidance.

 

It is funny, Satan does not like this program.  He attacks our weakest points to make us feel inadequate in whatever area of our life he knows to be most vulnerable, but when we recognize it for what it is, admit sin that is sin, and denounce Satan's attacks, we are actually made stronger.

 

For us we have to choose a program that works for us and this one is truly it, I believe.  I do enjoy exercising, but I found that doing so was taking away key parts of my life with my children and family - I felt guilty if I did and didn't get everything done that needed doing and guilty if I didn't.  What I am doing now is enjoying the pleasure of being outside and working in the garden for 15-30 minutes a day.  Working on my housekeeping and making homemade bread and such.  These are things that are enjoyable, and yield tangible results that my husband and family can enjoy.  I do not have to say that I cannot have this food or that food or must eat some other food.  We eat what is available to us in moderation - no guilt or anxiety.

 

So, if you wonder about our workouts and so forth, insofar as going to the gym, working out with DVDs, or walking for walking's sake, probably not so much at this time so that we can focus on the priorities God gave us; however, Justin's job does give him a good bit of walking and physical labor (we discussed renaming him Manuel Labor this week since he spent all day each day this week digging a trench by hand for a water pipe.)  I am still going to try to workout at home when I can and go walking when we can (I enjoy spending that time with Justin), but when I can't I can play with the kiddos at home, in the backyard or take them to the park to play.

 

I wanted to wait on blogging about the change in our program until we saw if we could live this way and have it work for us for several weeks.  So far, so good. We will keep you posted on our progress.  Our next weigh-in is Monday.

 

If any of you are interested in the program, go to http://www.weighdown.com.  You can also contact me if you have any personal questions about our results.

 

By the way:  Justin turns 40 on Thursday (April 3).  Let's see how close to his first goal's weight of 200 he is by then.  I may sneak in an extra weigh day next week so we can see.    With all the hard work he has put in at his job this week, he should be close.  Please feel free to leave a word of encouragement or a happy birthday message for him in our guestbook.  Its fun to watch him blush  when people write a message to him and he does appreciate it. He's just not accustomed to people going out of their way to encourage him.

 

For all of you who have weigh-ins this weekend, best wishes to you and may the scales be kind to you.

 

Tammy

 

 

 

 

 

I got comparison photos of Justin posted.  He looks great!  I can see improvements in all pictures particularly his front and side photos.

 

I finally finished getting my comparison photos completed. You can tell my hair grew, to find any other changes, you'll have to look REAL hard.  I did realize that my derrier is protruding less in the new side photo - that's a plus.  I did include a picture of me in one of my favorite dresses, which fits more loosely, YEA!

 

Justin and "his" girls posed for a lovely photo that, unfortunately, did not turn out.  I will get a new one taken as soon as I can so you can see him in his suit. 

 

I also have some of our garden. I tried to get a new picture of our garden, but the camera did not want to cooperate, so I will have to try again later.  We'll try and keep photos coming as it grows.  I am looking forward to the fresh fruits and veggies.  I'm hoping to learn how to can successfully this year - and that we do so well that we need to can.  We'll eat what we can, and can what we can't. 

 

ttfn,

Tammy

Justin:  Weighs 206.2, for a weight loss of 17.8 lbs.  Outstanding!

 

Tammy:  Weighs 201.2, for a weight loss of 12.4 lbs.  OVER 12 lbs lost to date!  YIPEE!!!  Just over 1.2 lbs to go to be below 200!

 

I was also excited to see that as a team, we have lost a combined weight of over 30 lbs!

 

Speaking of 30 lbs, Terri suggested a challenge between the two of us for each of us to lose 30 lbs by July 5.  Sounds good to me!

 

As for the New "Post MPMU" Challenge to each lose 15 lbs by the end of May that Justin and I signed up for, Justin is 3.8 lbs down, and I am down 3.2 lbs.

 

We had a lovely weekend.  Friday, Justin and the children got the garden ready while I picked up a few more garden supplies and some items our church's youth group needed to host Easter breakfast and decorated and prepared the area for the breakfast.  One of our neighbors allowed us to borrow their tiller so they tilled up half the back yard and the front flower garden.  When I got back, the older children and I went to the Good Friday Tennebrae service.  It is very special.  When the pastor's wife closes with, "Were You There?" I get goose bumps and teary-eyed everytime.  (Tennessee Ernie Ford sang my favorite version, but hearing her voice reverberate through that somber room is something special.)  Justin stayed home with the baby because she is just at the age that she is too fussy for a service like that.

 

Saturday, Justin, me and our 4-year-old worked most of the morning and all afternoon in the garden and yard, planting vegetables, flowers and herbs, weeding, fertilizing, watering, and working the soil in the smaller areas Justin couldn't get with the tiller on Friday.  That was enjoyable work / exercise.  It was a beautiful day for gardening.  It was supposed to rain on Sunday, but it did not do as much as we had hoped.

 

Afterward, we went to Justin's sister's home for a family get-together and had a nice dinner and a good visit.  We discovered that the baby LOVES pinto beans.  Cool beans! 

 

We had a lovely Easter together.  The service was nice.  (It was my turn to keep the baby entertained, so I didn't get to see and hear all of it.)  We got to visit with my parents after lunch for a bit, then had a relaxing afternoon.  (I was told to go to bed and sleep since I didn't get to sleep at all since I woke up Saturday morning.)

 

I hope everyone had a blessed Easter and has a wonderful day!  I hope your weigh-ins have gone / go TERRIFIC!  Good luck everyone!

 

Tammy

Christi just outed me - I am in fact a certifiable dingbat.  Are there any of you out there who are close to being out of a certain range and mentally go to the next lower range - I guess out of wishful thinking?  When I weighed early yesterday, I told Justin, "I weighed 103.8 lbs this morning.  Just .2 lbs more and I will have lost 10 lbs."  He looked at me strangely (which I thought was kind of rude considering my excitement) and said, "So you weighed 103.8 lbs, huh?"  It took me a moment, then I realized what I said.  Doh!  I don't even want to weigh 103 lbs,but I am definitely ready to be out of these 200's.  I guess I'm looking so forward to being out of the 200's, that my mind just makes the jump for me. 

 

Also, we took some measurements the other night and compared them to two weeks ago.  We are going to wait 2 more weeks before posting them because they were curious - according to those measurements, Justin was overall up by 3/4" (but when measured initially could not quite fit in part of his favorite suit and at the time of the most recent measurement could.)  Also, the measurements showed that I was down overally by more than 8".  That would be great, but I want to wait and see if that is true.  That seems like a lot of inches down for not so much weight lost in 2 weeks.  I think it was human error.  Our son's best friend said that he could tell I had lost weight (he has been at college and hadn't seen me for a bit), but I'm a little suspicious of the compliment because he also wanted our son to spend the night that night and may have been buttering me up.  I'll still take the compliment - who's going to turn down a perfectly good compliment? 

 

Have a great day!

Tammy

As I mentioned in an earlier blog, I had caught a virus.  I thought I was well, but I was WRONG.  Our baby caught it also and wound up much worse because her little ear canal got infected.  She has been running a fever between 104.1-105.3 since Sunday.  The good news:  she did not have any fever this morning!  YEA!!  She still has an icky tummy, but I think that is due to the amoxicillin.  I have been so concerned that she was getting dehydrated.  She is drinking more today already and has more of her appetite back.  I am so relieved for her.  I was achy last night, my throat still hurts, and I sound like a frog, but as of this minute, I am feeling much better.  (Not hot, chilled, or achy.)  I was supposed to sing part of a song as a solo for Easter, but I don't think that will happen.    That's ok.

 

Unfortunately, I am really behind on things I need to accomplish.  I am going to prioritize and get done what I can before Easter those things that must be done before Easter.  Everything else can wait until after Sunday.

 

I did weigh myself ahead of schedule yesterday and have lost .4 more lbs and all I have to do is lose .2 lbs more and I will officially have lost 10 lbs.  YEA!  That will be great!

 

I am working on my recipes to share.  I hope to have those up soon.

 

Justin is off tomorrow, so maybe I will actually convince him to get our progress photos taken.  I will be sure to get one of him in his three-piece suit.

 

Have a great first day of Spring!

Tammy

Don't read this if you don't want to know anything extra about tonight before the BL show, but they had clips on the Today Show with Tim Gunn.  Britanny was one of the ones getting a make-over.  I was surprised because I think of her as a bigger threat than Maggie.  I still don't see why they couldn't include that in the show last week unless they simply ran out of time from allowing the kicked-off contestants to weigh in.

 

Tim Gunn commented that the men did not want fitted clothes and that they were more difficult than the women.  That was interesting.  He commented that the women were just so excited to get clothes that fit and looked flattering on them.  I would love flattering cltohes.

 

Our son doesn't have Boy Scouts tonight, so Justin will get to watch most of the show with us tonight.  That will be fun.

 

Take care,

Tammy

Justin:  209 lbs, lost 1 lb from last week and a total 15 lbs so far (YEA!!) for 6.7% weight loss to date.

 

He wore his three-piece suit to the funeral yesterday (and looked very handsome I might add) - this is the same one he could not quite fit into a few weeks ago and his slacks looked very nice on him.  He said his next goal is for his neck to be smaller so he can button the top button on his favorite dress shirts.

 

Tammy:  204.2 lbs, lost .2 lbs from last week and a total of 9.4 lbs so far for a 4.4% weight loss to date.  (I'll take it - at least it is down.)  I know why it is only this little, a friend gave me a tub of my all-time favorite treats that I have not gotten to have for 20 years or more and I have had a couple a day.  I'm going to throw the remainder away because I have had my fill and can go a few more years (just maybe not 20) without them again.  I am just happy to have my weight go down at all after last week.

 

Starting tomorrow, every evening is booked until Sunday because in addition to this being Holy Week, I have my usual Tuesday outings with the children and Wednesday is church council that both Justin and I are now on (my last year, his first).  Next is Maundy Thursday, Good Friday (with a beautiful,powerful service at the Rock Church in Norse), a synod WELCA meeting Saturday morning and early afternoon then on to my sister-in-law's, up early to prepare a continental breakfast at church, then Easter morning service, then REST.

 

I did find out that Justin gets Good Friday off as a holiday - YEA!!!  He had to work all this weekend, so it will be good for him to have a day of rest.

 

I do hope the baby is feeling better today.  The girls and I did not go to church yesterday because I was still somewhat achy and my throat hurt, with a mild cough (Justin had to work in the morning so he could go to the funeral in the afternoon).  The baby did not wake up until I went to change her diaper at 10:30am yesterday - she NEVER wakes up that late - and she was scorching hot.  I have 5 thermometers in the house and the one I wound up using showed her temp to be 101.4 - but after checking it later, I am sure it was much higher.  Even the Motrin did not get her temperature all the way down.  Last evening an hour AFTER some Motrin and Tylenol, her temperature was still 102.1.  It did finally go down more.  If her temperature is still up today, I am going to get her a doctor's appointment and see if she has more than a virus.

 

I am going to try to get the girl's Easter dresses mostly finished today.  Wish me luck!

 

We did not get our new pictures taken yesterday because the baby was so ill, but we will try to get them taken tonight and put up this evening or early tomorrow.

 

I hope everyone's weigh-ins went well.

 

Blessings to all of you!

 

Tammy & Justin

I was struck dumb yesterday afternoon when I received a phone call from one of the ladies at church who told me one of my friends, who was in her mid-forties, died suddenly of heart failure Wednesday evening.  She and her high school-aged daughter had been visiting her in-laws, went home, she asked her daughter to move something for her and died.  Her family also lost a granddaughter the middle of last summer.  The baby was born prematurely and fought for several months, but could not overcome her heart problems.  I am praying for their family, especially the daughter in high school (I believe she is a junior this year) and her granddaughter that I have had the privilege of teaching in Sunday school the past year.  My daughter and her granddaughter have been good friends because my friend would bring her to church with her anytime she kept her for the weekend, and sometimes would meet her parents halfway just to bring her.  The parents live about an hour away from here.  She is the big sister to the baby who died last year.

 

My friend had diabetes, lost weight, but had a severe heart condition.  If I remember correctly, she had had the problem most of her life.  She had major surgery about 18 months ago or so and was doing much better.  She was active in ladies' organizations and walking.  I knew that I would see her at the local clinic rather frequently for one reason or another (I work there on occasion helping with their computers.)  She had just been so active that I forgot that her heart was so frail.

 

I know that God alone know the number of our days and I really do look forward to joining Him in Heaven, but I want to live to see my children grow up and play with my grandchildren.  I made some mistakes in my eating Wednesday and particularly yesterday.  I must get myself back on track and focus on the goal of health so that I can not only watch my children grow, but play with them and be active with them in the process. I don't want to look back and realize I missed out on opportunities because I was unhealthy and did not take every opportunity to get healthy and play with my children.

 

Justin has a doctor's appointment this afternoon - a physical.  He had one not too long ago, but this is a different doctor.  She is an internist who is very thorough from what I have been told by a friend of mine who works at the hospital / clinic and others.  Justin has not been on blood pressure medicine for several months now, not because his blood pressure is down, but because the first prescription made him feel like he had something caught in his throat all the time and the second medicine cost $50 per month WITH insurance and did not lower his blood pressure.  He also feels like he is falling apart with aching joints and such.  I hope he follows through and asks about quitting his snuff.  Nicotine has bad effects on one's health and he already has some precancer cells on his gums from it.  Both his parents died from cancer, but he insists that he is not going to get mouth cancer and that he will not lose his jaw.  Who knows, but stopping now would be better than waiting.  (Yes, I am a nag.  I just don't want to continue to watch him increasing his risks of cancer.  He knows it is because I truly love him that I ask him to stop.)  Quitting may even help his blood pressure.  We'll follow-up with the outcome.

 

On a good note, tomorrow is our 5th anniversary and he has been banned from the Boy Scout campout on threat of being physically evicted if he shows up.    This will be our first anniversary that he has NOT gone camping with our son.  He likes this campout in particular because they help with a chuckwagon cook-off.  I have practiced making chicken fried steak for years and I must say, it is REALLY good, but I went two years ago, and there was someone who out did me.  MAN, was it good!  They even had mashed potatoes that were out of this world.

 

Saturday is supposed to be really nice - actually hot at 90 degrees, so hopefully we can go to the local state park and walk or fish.  We just have to figure out how to keep the baby happy if we decide to fish.  It is supposed to rain Sunday and that is the day of my friend's funeral, so it would be nice to do some fun things tomorrow.

 

Due to our plans for the weekend, I probably won't update this until Monday - weigh-in day for us.

 

Have a great weekend and blessings to everyone.  I hope your weigh-ins go well for those of you who have them this weekend.

 

Tammy

I am certainly impressed with the weight losses of those who went home, but isn't the point of continuing when they got home, not only to be more healthy, but to try for the $100,000 prize?  Why bring them back?  I understand this is a "reality game show," but that really put a fly in the ointment.  Also, I am not glad to have Mark back.  I would much rather had Bernie or Trent or the man eliminated in week 3.  Obviously, Mark has the highest percentage and it is not a popularity contest.  Maybe they needed two more weeks to fill?  Ali really did a fantastic job on her own and the first week back.

 

I was really disappointed that we have to wait one more week to find out who gets eliminated.  I'm sure that keeps the carrot out there for us, but jeepers, it is really frustrating.  My guess is that Britany will be the one voted off because she is a bigger threat than Maggie in the long run.  I'm sure Dan will really kick it up next week after only losing 4 lbs this week since he usually puts in such high numbers.

 

Mark said he is only 3 lbs from his goal, so maybe he will reach it and go home soon - again.  It will be interesting to see how Ali plays into all this.

Justin is the same this week as last at 210 lbs - 14 lbs lost to date.

 

I weigh 204.4 lbs - 9.6 lbs lost to date (1.2 lbs down from last week.)

 

God is surely working in my life.  I know this because of the opportunities I've had to hear the message he has that I need to hear when I need it the most.  Satan has tried to make me feel like a failure in certain areas of my life and tried to keep me focused on these failures and my hurt rather than God's redemption and love.  The failures don't have to do with dieting, but could translate into affecting that area if I turned to food for comfort instead of God and those God put in my life who love me.  God is so wonderful!  We are so blessed to have a loving God who wants us to love Him and turn to Him in good and bad times - in success and failure.  Sometimes Satan obscures that fact, but God is so good to find me where I am and remind me that He loves me so.  He is truly a loving Father.

 

My virus is better, but not completely better because I was not able to get the rest I needed over the weekend, but I am sure I will be better soon.  The girls seem to have this a little bit, but they are busy bees, so they are doing okay overall.

 

Wishing blessings to each of you!

 

Tammy

I checked.  I don't have allergies, I have a viral infection, so I will be resting, drinking juice for the infection, and hot coffee for my throat, and praying my children and husband don't get it.

 

Blessings to all!

Tammy

I'm feeling kind of low right now, like a personal failure, after a discussion I had with someone.  My sweet little girl saw me crying earlier and told me that, "God doesn't want me to be sad.  God wants me to be happy."  She is such a sweetheart.  I'm trying to perk up, maybe when I go to sleep, I will wake up with a better perspective, or at least the capability to address what is wrong - or what is perceived to be wrong.  I'm not sure which it is - reality or perception.  Only God knows for certain.

 

I started sneezing last night.  My allergies are tearing me up - Runny nose, soar throat.  I am on the verge of laryngitis and have a knot on one side of my throat.  I get moodier more easily when I feel poorly.  I took my regular daily allergy medicine, plus the one I take when my allergies are active this morning.  Hopefully they will clear up in a few days.  The worst part is Texas weather.  In the 20s one minute and in the 70s a little later.

 

It was gorgeous today.  The girls and I played in the backyard.  The four-year-old and I tried to jumprope.  I stink at it - at least in the backyard with unlevel ground.  The best I could get today was 6 in a row.  We played a little soccer together.  The baby got the soccer ball and brought it to me.  I thought she wanted to play with it or have me hold her or be on the ground.  It took a few tries, then I figured out that she wanted me to carry her while I kicked the soccer ball around the yard.  She thought that was great fun.  Adding 20+ extra pounds probably helped the exercise a little, also.

 

I sat down outside in my director's chair on the unlevel ground, but thought it was sufficiently level.  I was talking with Justin on the phone and was not rocking or anything, but leaned into the back of the chair just enough for it to tip me over backward into one of the toddler walking bikes that was right behind the chair.  It could have been worse, but boy did I feel silly.

 

I did get a good bit accomplished today, but there is oh so much more to do.  With God's help, I will accomplish what He wants me to achieve tomorrow - whatever that may be.

 

Sorry if anyone reads this and gets bummed.  I just needed an outlet and I couldn't really talk to anyone because they are all asleep and I couldn't talk without crying anyway.

 

I'm starting to feel better.  God willing,  I will have a good night's slumber and see the world fresh tomorrow.

 

Blessings to all,

Tammy

First of all:  Justin has lost 14 lbs as of this morning. Yea!  When he loses 6 lbs more, he will be 1/3rd of the way to his goal weight.

 

I lost 7.8 lbs as of this morning and when I lose 7.8 lbs more, I will only have 80 lbs more to go.  I like nice, even numbers. 

 

The weight is coming off slowly, but steadily for both of us.  I am completely ok with that.  I've done the lose quick, gain quick - and then some, diets before.  What we ard doing works for Justin and me and our family.  He will reach his goal before the end of the year regardless - his slacks fit better each week and he's looking really handsome in his suits  Justin's leg and arm measurements are already fairly close to what I want mine to be.  He has thin legs, but carries his weight in the middle like an apple, which doctors say is the most dangerous way.

 

It may take me until Christmas 2009, but I WILL get there - and be more than halfway there by this Christmas.  I am a little more eager for Justin's weight to come off simply because of his high blood pressure - the last time he measured it, the top was in the normal range, but the bottom number was 90 (that's what I am accustomed to for my top number).  I want mine to come off to be fit, healthy, energetic, and to feel sexy rather than like "The Blob." 

 

It was far too windy and cool to have a picnic yesterday, unfortunately.  Justin took us out to eat to a family restaurant about 1 hour away from home.  I had a veggie plate and he had pot roast and vegetables.  Afterward, he let our older daughter and me go look at Easter outfits for the girls at the Outlet Mall - he waited in the car with the baby so she didn't have to get out in the wind (and to avoid girly shopping).  I then ate 3/4 of an ice cream cone and was completely satisfied.  (I haven't had ice cream in over a year because I am allergic to milk - and it has been over three years since I had a Braum's ice cream.) It was a nice treat.  I can probably go another couple of years without one now.

 

I don't know if we will get to go outside today or not.  If it warms up and doesn't rain on us, the girls and I will go play in the backyard for a bit.  They are talking about a blowing snow just north of us.  I like playing in snow, but not when it is really windy.  Also, it has been too warm lately for it to stick.  Who knows, maybe it will snow at Easter on the bluebonnets again this year like it did last year.  That was the only snow we got last year - in April - and we haven't had any this year, yet.

 

Well, I have chores to do.  Maybe I will be lucky and get a few done before the baby wakes up.

 

Have a blessed week everyone!

Tammy

 

I'm planning on fixing blackened tilapia, brown rice and zucchini & tomatoes for supper tonight.  I'm looking forward to that.

We had a lovely day today.  It was overall a nice, relaxing day - no place to have to go, Justin was home to help with the children.  It was very nice.  I got a pleasant workout in this morning.  We watched the gymnastics trials today.  I love to watch that.  This was the first time we could get our older daughter to watch them with us.  I would LOVE to be in condition to do some of that again.  This evening, we took the girls to the park to play.  That was fun.  Our 4-year-old is starting to get the hang of straightening and bending her legs to help herself swing.  I tried to see where I was physically on some of the equipment.  I have a LONG way to go, but at least I have a fun way to measure where I am.  I can't even do a single pull-up.  Justin did one.  We are thinking about a picnic tomorrow if it doesn't rain.  Maybe we can work on our jumproping skills and play some soccer together.

 

Have a lovely weekend everyone and best wishes on your weigh-ins.  Ours is Monday morning, so I will write more then.  (I only cheated at looking at the scale once this week since Monday.)

 

Tammy