Before and Now pics

Here are some before and now pics!  I'm still pretty nervous about putting up the before pics.  I've never really shared pics before, because I was always just way to embarrased.  Most of the before pics are far and few between anyway, because I would go way out of my way to avoid the camera.  So they aren't too great. 

I have a paper around here somewhere with my measurements on it, but it's temporarily lost at the moment.  So I can't give you my exact measurements just yet.  I can tell you though...Are you ready...?  ...I hope I am...!  My sizes and weights...

Started October 19, 2012 at a size 16-18 and 225 pounds!!!!  :/

Today March 23, 2013 I am wearing a size 12, and weighed in this morning at 182.2!!!  Almost 43 pounds!!!! 

Ok, now here are a few pics.  I wish I were computer savvy enough to do those side by side pics, but I honestly have no clue how to do them.

 This picture here was taken 7 months ago on my 32nd bday. 

 

 



 This is me and my loving, adoring, & supportive husband.  Sorry it's not a very good pic., but it was taken about a week before I started THM.

 

 

 Here is another one that was taken about a week beofre starting THM.  We were at The Great Wolf Lodge; hence the ears!! 

 

 

 This one and the one below were taken on Thursday =)

 

There you go!!  The good, the BAD, and the UGLY!!!

 

I have to admit though, that while I know I have lost 42lbs, and the scale says I've lost, and my smaller sizes say I've lost, and I see the difference in my before and now pics...I am still struggling a bit.  I feel like I still see the same fat, ugly, monster when I look in the mirror.  It's like my brain still sees me the same as before, even though I know I AM changing and AM different.  Hopefully my brain will adjust soon!  =P

Fantastic Friday!!

Well folks, I've DONE it!  I've reached 40 pounds LOST FOREVER!!  I'm so excited!!  Plus, that means I will actually list my numbers...out loud...publicly...for all the world to know!  Eeek!!  I still get butterflies thinking about that...

It is so invigorating to announce that I have lost 40 pounds.  But, I must say... that while I have obviously been trying to lose weight...I have not tried to lose it this quickly!  I'm NOT complaining at all, but I honestly didn't expect to lose this much this quickly.  I started Oct 19, so that's about 4 & 1/2 months on THM following just S and E, and even going on an ALL out cheat for 2-3 days on Thanksgiving and 4 days at Christmas, and even a cheat meal here and there since Christmas.  I say this because we are ALL different, and I don't want someone who reads my blog to get their hopes up and expect to lose so much so fast.  God made us each differently, so we all gain it and lose it differently.  Don't give up!  THM WORKS! 

With that said, I do feel like my weight loss is slowing down.  I stayed the same last week and this week (I just never had time to post last week), and I'm definitely OK with that!  I'm hoping to lose at least 4-5 pounds a month now.  But I'll be happy even if it's just 1 pound!  I still have about 50-60 pounds left to lose.  Almost half way there!!!!!  =)

So stay tuned!  My numbers and pictures will be up soon!!  Have a blessed weekend! 

Much Love
~April

Fantastic Friday

It was another good Friday yesterday!  =)  I lost another pound!  That means one more pound and I'll share with everyone my numbers and put up some pics!  39lbs and counting!

I need to confess that my last two weeks have been soooooo busy that I haven't had time to workout.  I have wanted to, but it just hasn't been possible.  Today I was finally able to workout again!!  Felt sooo good!  I'm so glad that things are now calmed down again so that I can get back to exercising regularly.  I feel so much better when I am exercising.

Breakfast
Kickin Kefir Smoothie (Vanilla dream)- S
Lunch
Leftover Lasagna (made with dreamfields)  and side salad-S
Dinner
Pizza and wings.  I will make boneless wings for myself though.  S
Dessert
Brownies with fresh sliced strawberries and stevia sweetened homemade whipped cream. S

Hope you all have a blessed weekend!  =)

Fantastic Friday

I missed my last two Fridays.  Thank goodness basketball season is over so I should have a more "normal," less busy life now!!  =)

The Friday before last I went up a pound.

Last Friday, however, I went down 3 pounds.  =) 

Two more pounds and I will give away my numbers!!

I'm thrilled with my new lifestyle!  =)

Fantastic Friday!

Again, I  know I'm really late in posting this. 

Last Friday's fantastic Friday was another pound GONE!!  Putting my total at 35lbs!  =)  I have a  number in my head (I'm 5 lbs from reaching it) and when I reach it I'm going to post my numbers!  I haven't had the guts to do that yet!!  But, I'm feeling more and more confident now.  I am NOT that person anymore.  I will NOT go back!  I KNOW it!! 

I celebrated this lovely Friday with a new hair cut, new clothes, and a new purse!  =)  Clothes shopping was my favorite!  I finally decided I needed to go get some new (smaller) clothes.  Honestly, I had been putting it off for fear that I would still be too big for the smaller size.  Well, I picked up the next size down from what I had been wearing.  And right behind that size was the next size down.  I decided to pick that size up, too!  Not sure why, just felt the need to try!  I thought it would give me an idea of how much further I needed to go before I could fit into them.

So, I took my items into the dressing room.  I decided to try on the smallest size first.  Just to get it out of the way.  I told myself as I was putting them on, "Now don't be upset, you know they aren't going to fit, and that's ok!"  Well, I put them on, and they came all the way up with no problem.  WHOA!!  Next, I go to button them, and they buttoned right up without a problem.  SO SHOCKED!!!  I'm still amazed as I type this almost a week later that I'm wearing this size!  It's been 10 years since I have worn this size!!  I LOVE it!!  I am re-motivated ALL over again!!! 

Thank you AGAIN Pearl & Serene for writing this book!!  I love you so much for it!!

Fuel Cycle Day 7

So I'm totally LATE in posting this I know!! 

My last day of the fuel cycle.  I decided not to do the second week, due to a lot of traveling we were going to have to be doing.  I just thought it would be easier to free style.  And since I lost 4 lbs, I feel very sucessful for this one week.  I think I will do a fuel cyle for a week every couple of months.  It was much easier than I had anticipated. 

So for my last day I enjoyed more pancakes for breakfast, and leftover lighter side of chili for lunch.  I had a pudding for snack.  And for dinner I had an S meal!!  =)  I couldn't wait anymore!!  I had some scrambled eggs and bacon for dinner!!  It was quite tasty!

Day 5 & 6

Day 5
My last FP day this week.  These two days have been much easier than I had anticipated them being. 

I had some greek yogurt with strawberries for breakfast.  For lunch I had the egg white scramble.  Then a peanut butter pudding afterwards.  I did my workout.  I was starving after my workout and it was still a ways to go till dinner.  So I made a sunshine smoothie, and put  a little chicken, lettuce, mustard, and very small sprinkle of mozz cheese into half a Joseph's pita.  Mmmmm, very yummy, satisfying, and filling!  For my dinner, I had another egg white scramble (Yes, I'm totally ok eating the same thing twice in the same day!!)  And before bed I had another pb pudding! 

I should add, I was very sleepy today.  Aside from my workout, and taking care of the kids, and my normal houselhold things, I didn't do much today. 

Day 6
My first E day after 5 days without!!  For breakfast I made the TH pancakes with blueberries in them...MYOHMY...they have NEVER tasted so good before.  It was like a party in my mouth!  I was so happy! 

For lunch, I'm going to have half a Joseph's lavish bread with some lunch meat, skim mozz cheese, mustard, and lettuce with 1/2 a banana on the side.  =)

For snack, I will make a smoothie.

Dinner will be Lighter side of Chili.  With some Joseph's crackers. 

And of course, I plan to workout. 

Hope you all have a blessed Saturday!!

Fantastic Friday!!

It's definitely a FANTASTIC Friday this week...I lost 4 more lbs!!!!!!!!  WOW!!  Can't believe I've really lost 34lbs!!  Holy Cow!! 

I've been putting off shopping for new (smaller) clothes, but my closet is really getting empty these days.  I won't be able to put it off much longer.  Not a single pair of my capris fit me.  I only have a few shirts left that don't hang like a sack on me.  And my jeans are getting loser by the day, I think.  Plus, by the end of the day they're stretched out and really lose, especially in the leg area.  I can't wait to go clothes shopping!!  I might actually enjoy doing it this time!

Fuel Cycle Days 3 & 4

Day 3
Well, day 3 of deep S was a bit of a fail for me.  Partly due to my lack of being prepared and partly because my life is so busy some days!  And this just happened to be one of those crazy busy days. 

I woke up and had a Fat Strippen Frappa with an added egg yolk, 1T coconut oil, & 1/2t mint extract (if you haven't tried that smoothie with mint yet...you DON'T know what you are missing!!).  It was tasty and very filling. 

I wasn't even hungry come lunch time.  So I did my workout.  After my workout, I needed to clean up and get ready to go.  We had an appt., and I desperately needed to grocery shop.  And an FYI for those of you that don't know me personally, I live way out in the middle of no where!!  I have to drive at least an hour to an hour and a half (just depending which town I go to) to get to our doctors, grocery shop, etc. 

By the time I got myself and the three babies ready it was time to go.  And it's quite the ordeal to get them all loaded in the truck sometimes!!  =)  I was racing to leave on time and make sure we made my son's appt.  So I never got a lunch.  I meant to at least bring my skinny chocolate to munch on for the drive, but in my rush it was forgotten.  We did stop for fuel and I grabbed a bag of beef jerky to eat.  Not the best for a deep S day, but about all I could get at a convience store and I didn't want to grab nuts.  I also got a Vitamin Water Zero. 

After our appt. we went and got some groceries.  I was STARVING by that point.  All I wanted was to get a big FAT bagel with lots of cream cheese on it!!  Mmmmm....

We left the store (with NO bagels) and got some dinner.  We needed quick, so we went to our go to fast food joint...Chick Fil A.  I ate the nuggets. 

So my last deep S day was a pretty glorious FAIL!! 

Day 4
Today was the first FP day.  I was a bit concerned about how it might go today.  But, it went well.  I've stayed on track and haven't been too hungry.

My breakfast was a Sunshine smoothie.  I saw someone post that on the forum yesterday and thought it sounded good, so I gave it a try.  I wasn't disappionted at all. 

I ate a couple of chocolate mint meringues for a snack.  And for lunch I had a nice big bowl of Fotato Soup!  That soup makes me happy!  I really like it. 

I had a couple more meringues this afternoon.

For dinner I made the Succulent Citrus Fish with tilapia, and creamless broccoli.  Before, I go any further I have to tell you I don't like sea food!  Never have!  But, I keep trying to eat/like it since starting this plan.  I can usually only manage a few bites, before the fishy taste/smell gets to me.  Tonight was no different.  I just couldn't eat it.  Blech!!  My hubby and the kids really liked it though.  So I just ate a bunch of yummy ceamy broccoli.  I've also had a few more meringues.  I'm getting a bit hungry again as I sit here and type this, so I'm thinking I might have some strawberry greek yogurt when I'm done. 

Thankfully, I didn't fail again today!! 

I'm looking forward to tomorrow!  Fantastic Friday!  I will weigh in in the morning.  I stopped weighing everyday a couple weeks ago and decided to only do it on Fridays.  So I'm curious to see what the scale will say tomorrow.  =)

Also, thought I'd make note that I re-measured last Friday, and I've lost 19.25 inches TOTAL so far!!!  That's a LOT of inches to lose!!  I'm so excited!

Fuel Cycle Day 1 & 2

DAY 1
Yesterday was day 1 of my fuel cycle.  It went ok.  I woke up and had my breakfast of scrambled eggs  (cooked in coconut oil) and turkey bacon.  I was full for a long time after that, so I didn't even make lunch until 2. 

For lunch, I had planned on making the Tuscany in a Bowl, but I never got a chance to finish my grocery shopping this past weekend, and didn't have everything for it.  So I made the Chicken Broth Anything soup FP style.  That was pretty tasty.  However, I was in a hurry and trying to get ready, and get all the babies ready to leave for basketball games that I didn't have time to eat all of it.  And that isn't something you can bring and eat in the car.  So I grabbed a little skinny chocolate for the drive. 

Dinner was on the run. We had to games tonight.  So we had to leave the house at 3pm and I didn't get home until 9pm.  We stopped at Whataburger for dinner.  I ordered a doublemeat burger.  I just pulled it all out of the bun and ate it that way.  So, it wasn't great, but wasn't the worst. 

When I got home I was starving!  I munched on some more skinny chocolate.  But, it wasn't cutting it.  I was really hungry.  I just went to bed.  It was 11pm at that point and I just didn't want to eat anything that late. 

I didn't have time for a workout.

DAY 2
I'm determined today will be better than yesterday.  I started my day with Serene's Steamed Omega Sensation (minus the optional stuff.  Blech!!  Not my cuppa tea!  lol!!)  Not bad though; as I'm a girl who usually can only do scrambled eggs.  I made sure the yolks cooked through.  I can't do runny eggs! 

For lunch my plan is a big cheg salad.  I have some chicken and hard boiled eggs to go in it, and turkey bacon, along with a lot of veggies.  I made some italian dressing last night.  I bought an Italian dressing mix and mixed it up  with the directions on the back.  I used EV olive oil for the oil.  That should be yummy for my S days. 

For dinner, I put a nice pot roast in the crock pot.  I'll serve some broccoli with it and maybe a side salad for me, and brown rice for the kiddos. 

For snacking today, I plan to have more skinny chocolate.  I am also going to make the Mouth Watering Meringues this afternoon, as well.  And if I'm really hungry, I'll have a mint chocolate frappa, too. 

I will workout this afternoon.  I have to take a baby to the droctor in a bit and I plan to come home and put them down for naps and workout afterwards.

Well, I'm off to my busy day!!  Hope everyone has a blessed day!!

Goodbye 30lbs!

Well...I've done it!!!  I LOST 30LBS!!  WOOHOO!!!  I can't believe it!!  It's amazing!  I am so excited and so thankful to have accomplished this!  I still have much more to go, but I KNOW that I WILL do it!!  I celebrated by pulling out all of the clothes that are to BIG for me now!!  =)  What a fun thing to do!  I will soon be shopping for new (smaller) clothes!!

I have to say when you can eat chocolate cake, cheesecake, muffins, pizza, cookies, and ice cream and lose weight, it doesn't even feel like you are really trying!!  I can honestly say that this hasn't taken that much effort for me!

I think that I may feel comfortable enough to post some before/after pics soon, and possibly even my weight and measurements.  We'll see...that's still a little tough for me.  I'm still ashamed of how bad I was, but at the same time am feeling so much better about myself and the changes I have made.  But, I feel like it might be soon!  =)

I'm gearing up to start the Fuel Cycle with a bunch of ladies from the forum next week.  I'm looking forward to it.  I've been doing the regular S & E & FP's for about 3 months now, and felt like it was time to give this a shot.  I'll try and stay on here and update often. 



Breakfast
Zucchini fritter- S
Lunch
I rolled up some ham and cheese in a half a Joseph's lavish.  On the side I had some sliced cucumbers and bell peppers with laughing cow cheese.  S
Snack
A few peanuts and a little skinny chocolate  S
Dinner
Salad and a side of spaghetti made with Dreamfields pasta.  S
Dessert
Peanut square, and because you can't have peanut butter without chocolate, I melted some skinny chocolate and poured over top.  Perfect!!  S


No workout today!  I will tomorrow though!  I love my workouts now!!  =)

Hello!!  My first post of the New Year!!  Sorry it took me so long!  (Things just don't slow down for me sometimes)

I have a busy day ahead of me so I'll keep this short and sweet!  =)  I finally lost the rest of my 4 Christmas pounds.  So I'm at 28lbs lost!!  I really can't believe it!!  It's crazy!  I don't even feel like I had to try that hard.  It's amazing!  I AM 28LBS LIGHTER!!!!!!  =)  2 more pounds and I have reached 30!!  Thats the size of my toddler!  Eeekkk!!  Makes me so excited!!

I cheated/splurged the other night!  We went to CiCi's Pizza for dinner, and I ate real, carby, bread pizza!!  It was yummy!!  Surprisingly, I don't feel too guilty about it.  I got right back on track the next morning and have been since.  Thankfully the scale hasn't gone up, but it hasn't really gone down any since then, either.   Oh well!!  It will!!


Breakfast-2 oopsie rolls  toasted with a little butter and slim belly jelly on them.  S meal
Snack- leftover piece of cheesecake (so glad I can have that treat after a workout and know I'm not packing the pounds back on)
Lunch-Leftover chili with Josephs Crackers- S meal
Dinner-Alfredo chicken over dreamfields pasta

I did my Bob workout this morning.  I did the Kettlebell Sculpted Body one again.  I am really liking all of his DVD's.  I enjoy working out now!
Take care!!  =)