And the results are in.

Yesterday was my 40th birthday and the date I had set for my goal to be at 250lbs. I did not make that goal but I am still very proud and happy.

My 40 week Recap

I have dropped about 4 clothing sizes. In January my 28/28s and were getting very tight. I really should have been moving to a 30/32. Now I am solidly a 22.

I have been taken off 2 medications and the other 2 have had the doses cut in half. To be perfectly honest I have not been taking the 2 meds regularly. I am testing my blood sugar at times and even with not taking the glucophage my numbers have been in the normal range. Heck last night at bowling I had a lot of sugar and before bed my blood sugar registered 108. This morning it was still 108. My knees are hurting and popping less. I still have some issues and may need to do something about it.

I have made exercise a habit. When I got back from vacation I did not work out much for about 3 weeks and I totally missed it. My request for my birthday was to have my gym membership paid for the next 3 months. That was the only thing I really really wanted. I love pilates and water aerobics. I even got a pass to take pilates at a different facility so I can do it twice a week. It also helped that they had a groupon. *grins*  I am still working on getting a good strength training program underway. Maybe for the holidays I will ask for personal training.

I think I will get my Y t-shirt for the 100 hour club next month. This means that since March I have worked out 100 hours.

I had earned enough points in 6 months to get payout with my work wellness program. Unfortunately my work decided to cancel the program they had for 2011. So no reward from work for 2011. They are starting a new program in 2012. It is going to be run by the health insurance company. It seems like the rewards are along the same line as what you can get from credit cards that do point programs.

I am happy in my own skin again. I can go the stairs and not feel like I am going to die. I do not circumnavigate a parking lot to get the closest space because it is hard to walk from the car to the store.

Oh yeah, I guess you might be wanting to know what the numbers ended up being. So here you go by the numbers:

Starting Weight: 328 lbs

Ending Weight:  270 lbs

Average 1.45 lbs/wk (40 weeks)

So where will I go from here. I am still thinking about changing the name of my blog. It is not about weight loss. It is more about my journey. Or more to the point my quests. I need to figure out how to get it done, but I am leaning toward YAPS about her quests. One of my quests is to be healthy. Another is to be happy. Heck I have a quest to blog more both here and a couple of other places. I plan to make another weight goal even though that is not the end all be all of this journey. I was going to say be at 225 by 2/25 since it sounds so COOL, but I might be setting myself up for disaster. It would be 45 lbs in 18 weeks. That would mean I would have to average 2.5 lbs/week during one of the more stressful and food filled times of the year. Not going to happen. My next idea which is the one I think I will go with is: 100lbs down (228) by day 100 (April 9th) in 2012. That would be 42 lbs in about 23 weeks. A more manageable number. I am probably going to change my weigh in to Mondays and set up a new ticker over the weekend.

Now it is time to get ready for work and get this day over with. Then the weekend!

I hope everyone has a healthy and happy day!

I have a waist!

Last picture update I mentioned that I could not see progress. Others could, but I just could not see it. But today a picture is worth 1000 words.  The 1st picture is from June 26th and the 2nd is from Sept 30th.

I really see a difference in my face and waist. My cheeks and double chin are not as pudgy. I can see daylight between my arms and side. I really think the Pilates is causing the change in my waist. As the muscles get toned/stronger the waist is becoming more defined. I think it is quite interesting that the previous pictures were 2 months and 20 lbs. (April-June) and I could not really see the progress. This time the pictures are 3 months and only 10lbs but I see major changes.

Tomorrow I am heading with my mom and stepdad to North Myrtle Beach for VACATION!! I am so excited. I plan to bring some healthy breakfasts and snacks. I know I will be eating out more and hope to not stress about it. I have checked out the pictures of the weight room at the hotel and it should be good. The closest Y is about 10 miles away in Myrtle Beach and charges $5/day so I am not sure if I will get to go. I did print out a class list just in case. There is also a facility in North Myrtle Beach but they have a $15/day rate.  I do not think that is worth it. I will be doing a bunch of wave jumping and hanging out in the ocean so that will be great exercise. I hope to get some pictures and maybe some will have me in them. (and not just my feet). I have noticed I am not as camera shy as I once was.

Hope everyone has a great week!

Pictures are worth 1000 words

I have a picture from April and one that I took recently. Based on the numbers there is about a 20 lb difference in the 2 months. I am not sure I see it, but LM states she does. I can tell some in the face but that is about it. I so do not like pictures.  LM was kind enough to put the pictures side by side. At least I am smiling in the 2nd picture. The one in the swimsuit is from April and the one outside is from June.

Now for some pictures that I really like. I work to pay the mortgage for my cats. I have 4.

This is my oldest at about 16 years old. His name is Mr Melodie Man. When I got him from the humane society I was told he was a return and that he was a she. That is where he got the name Melodie. On the 3rd vet visit I was advised that I had a male kitty. Then his full name became Mr Melodie Man.

Next up is Dustbunnie. She is about a year younger than Melodie. She is our pudgy curmudgeon. She is also another humane society adoption. She is the heaviest of the 4 but can move when she wants like when she has a mouse.


Last up are a brother and sister named Strife and Serendipity. He perfectly named cause he brings such strife at times into our life. We call him our slow and special kitty at times. He just lives life to his own special music. He is such a lovable kitty. 

Serendipity is his sister. At one time I was feeding the strays outside and we caught the mother and picked these 2 up at the same time. I think they were about 3 weeks old when we brought them inside.

She is a sweety but if you visit you probably will never see her or Strife. They do not like guests much and will run and hide. She also does not like to be held but loves to be brushed.




So those are my 4 babies. They deserve alittle face time on my blog.