A Taste of 'Before' & A Dash of 'After'

So I haven't shared any photos before this time but here's a taste of my journey. I will post more soon. I promise!!

Life is WONDERFUL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Transformations

Haven't been here in awhile. Life gets busy, or rather you get busy living ;) Hope all is well with all of you and that your making things matter in your lives. Remember that a lot of times it's the small things that matter. The small steps make large bounds.

Weight loss is going well for me. I am pleasantly pleased with the successes I have & am experiencing. I ate too much at supper tonight. I am a bit uncomfortable and hope that it passes. I ate a few things that were new too me, or rather my new pouch. Things I hadn't eaten yet, so maybe thats part of the 'full' feeling I have.

I am excited that Spring & Summer are just around the corner. I an anxious to get out & walk & do many more things than winter will allow. I am looking into gym memberships & trying to figure out blocks of time that will enable me to work out. Living with Bobby & having an awesome sand colored lab named Tanner, I know at times when no one wants to walk with me that Tanner will be my walking partner. :) I just hope he will listen too me as well as he does Bobby.

My hair has finally stopped falling out so much. For that I am thankful. I thought for awhile I might go bald!! Everyday I would worry because I was cleaning out way more hair from the comb than normal. Now I have 'fuzzies'. Fuzzies you say? New hair growth thats at all growth stages and looks like baby duck fuzzies. I'm serious. Its pointless to try and blend it in too because inevitably they spring back up the way they want too.

I had to have a mammogram recently. Went to my yearly check up at my ob gyns office & she ordered a mam. because I have fibrostics cysts, but now that I have lost 125lbs they are more noticable. I got a clean bill of health from the breast ultrasound & mammogram. All is well. :)

In light & love~

Happy Beyond Measure

Hello all!! I hope you are all doing well and forging thru the winter doldrums that seem to try and keep our days slow paced and unimaginative. Note: I said 'try'. Some are able to overcome, some of the time, some struggle and others are successful. Thats just life.

I have been well. *Laugh* I guess that would almost be an understatement. My weight loss has been doing well. I am down 125lbs as of yesterday. I had hit a plateau that lasted 2 wks. I did not panic, although I found it odd, as I hadn't switched anything up, but alas, when I went to my Dr appt Monday, I was pleasantly surprised. I am fitting into jeans I could wear when I was a freshmen in highschool. WOW. I know right?? Of course they are not the same jeans, just todays trendy pair in sizes I could fit back then ;) . I have been able to tolerate more foods than before. I eat salads that are high in protein & always take my multi-vitamin. I still do not deviate much from drinking H2O. When I work I do tend to drink decaf, fat free, sugar free lattes, & I do drink a Crystal Light once in a blue moon. I am able to tolerate skim & 2% milk, although I don't drink either much. My boyfriend, Bobby, is a great cook and for that I am greatful, because I love to cook as well, but it is nice to be cooked for too ;). Our house combined is quite interesting. He is an insulin dependant diabetic, so I am trying to educate myself on that in its totality because honestly it scares me. Not severely, but enough that I want to understand it so that I may be of help in any way I possibly can for him. We have lots of sugar free things in our cupboards, and we also have a few extra things around that help him when he plummets.

It's been interesting here lately. We have all been sick, in different ways. Coughs, sinus stuff, ear aches, sore throats. We are all on antibiotics, so hopefully we'll all be better soon.

Valentines was a nice day. :) Bobby took my daughter & I out to LoneStar Steakhouse for dinner & then afterwards unexpectedly he surprised me with a beautiful silver heart locket necklace. I had gotten him a single red rose, a cute music card that plays Etta James song "At Last", and his favs cologne. And of course the total comfort and love that both of us share together was ever present. I'm happy and it makes everything around me so much better. For that I am tremendously greatful. I can't believe how far I have come since mid-year last year until now and it just continues on a grand roll.

For those of you who are wondering. Yes, Bobby & I moved in together. I feel like my cup runneth over. I have the 'man', 'his' kids, 'my' kids, the dog, the house. Sometimes I think I am in a dream. I wouldn't change a thing. When you make it a point to be honest in everything and the other person is on that same page you just 'know'. And its been so exciting.

When your hearts filled with love sometimes it overflows. Share it in everything you do, or touch.

In light & love~

Love is Amazing...

Sorry I have not been here in awhile. Life has a way of getting busy, and time has a way of getting a way from me at times.
The weight loss is going wonderfully!! I am now down 117lbs. I can fit into size 15/16 jeans, which look totally FAB by the way!!! I'm so excited about EVERYTHING!!! I am due to have labs drawn soon to see where all of that is at. I broke down & bought a 'body suit' for underneath my clothing to help keep me warm. I seem to have a hard time keeping warm these days *laugh*, unless I am snuggled up with the newest edition to my life. Which brings me to another wonderful development in my world! FAB BOYFRIEND!
He loves me for me & we are on cloud nine together. The openess & honesty in our relationship has carried us far & some may say quickly to our commitment to eachother in the relationship. I know I am going to give this 100% because I can 'feel' that I am right where I need & want to be & its the best damn feeling I've had in forever!!! Sometimes I feel with all the successes in my life that its all jus a dream & at any moment I will wake up, but when I feel his arms around me I know this is my reality & I feel truly blessed!
I wanted to give you all a quick update. I will have more time to post tomorrow, so alas, i bid farewell, until we meet again!
PEACE & LOVE
^j^

Death, Re-birth & the Promise of Tomorrow

My maternal grandmother died yesterday. She was 95 due to turn 96 in April. Her health had been failing her and so had her mind, but I know she lived a wonderful God filled life & now the Angels have taken her home. She wasn't a 'close' grandma, she had always had her own agendas & lived far away. I do have fond memories of her making us peanut butter & banana sandwiches as kids, telling us during the summer months to steer clear of dragonflies or else they would sew our eyes shut with their tails. She had a white fluffy dog for a long time named 'Tuffy' & she loved her dearly. She had this smile & this laugh I don't think I could ever forget, kind of like a melody with a high dramatic end to it. Her hands were soft as silk & she attended church & also taught bible study classes for years. She lived modestly & spoke softly. What a beautiful woman. You will be missed grandma.
This new year has actually besides the loss of my grandmother been uplifting and more promising and peaceful than I could have imagined. I think mostly in part to my changed way of looking at life in its totality and too my being surrounded by some pretty amazing people at all levels. I am still learning my 'gifts', but things seem to come a bit easier to me now. I am also very in tune with my body and the changes it has gone thru and the changes it continues to go thru. I am conscious of what I put in my body, my mouth. I am empowered by my success and know that I can go the distance. That this is only one small part of who I am and theres so much more to be thankful for.
I am down 100lbs as of today. My new fav jeans that I got at Christmas time are a tad bit big on me. Is it ok to say that I like my big butt? And that I do not wish to lose my boobs? LAUGH. I am serious though.
There are a few other developments that I wish to remain anonymous at this time but I will update you on those at a later time. Sometimes when you wish & pray and have tucked those things away and have the patience for them to develop, well; they I believe are answered. All we have to do is keep the Faith.
Remember that a smile & even a warm embrace can change a dismal day into one filled with hope.
In light & love

Phat jeans, Skinny jeans, Every inbetween jeans

Ok, so I have come to the realization that my once skinny black jeans have become my old black phat jeans, and that my Christmas present too myself blue jeans are my favorite jeans, while my really nice white jeans also look really good as well!! I'm excited!! Although I'm sure the sales ladys in the clothing stores I usually shop are probably excited when I walk through the door. No, I didn't go out and spend a huge amount of money for them~ I mean why would I when in a few weeks I'll be into another size? BUT...I did have to have something that I felt good & looked good in right? So paying $15 is not the end of the world. Trust me, if I could find ones that looked great & felt better at the Salvation Army, well they would be mine!! But I haven't been able to find anything that appeals too me there.

The photo I posted is of me. Yes yes!! All serious & blue eyed.

This holiday weekend has been a bugger. Boring more like, but I have enjoyed catching up with friends & family during my lulls. The next 3 days here at work should go by fairly fast & then I am so looking forward to my days off!! Cleaning house, spending time with kids & who knows what other wonderful things may happen.

I do plan on checking out something a friend of mine shared with me. Protein bullets? You can buy them over the counter, liquid capsules, although apparently they contain collagen, so I may have to touch base with my nutritionist & see if its something she recommends. Of course I would not use it frequently, but only now & again, when I know I haven't obtained the right amount during a day. I'll keep you posted. ;)

I had a lovely salad today for lunch. Turkey, cheese, mushrooms, peas, little lettuce and a bit of fage yogurt mixed in with crushed boiled egg. Might not sound like a lot too you, but it was divine let me tell you!

It's gently snowing outside here. Looks peaceful, however I know that its VERY cold out. Looks better from this nice cozy seat I am in. Happy that I wore a sweatshirt today to stay warm.

I'm happy!!

PEACE

Merry Christmas!!!

Merry Christmas everyone!! May you be blessed this holiday season & throughout the New Year!

My children & I celebrated our Christmas last night. It went over well, as I told them I put a special call into Santa since I had to start back to work on a 7 day & we needed to celebrate a few days early. ;) They were happy with the things they recieved & played til their hearts content. It made my heart happy to see them happy & that was my Christmas present :)

Onto the weight loss subject. I lost 10lbs from the last week I worked, during my week off. WOW. What did I do? I can't really say, because I did eat & I did eat healthy, I drank more water, & I recall a day where it seemed I ate more than normal, but I still lost! I know I did not go out walking, as Michigan weather has been snowy & cold, but I did walk during shopping trips to the mall & the stores. Some of you have asked me what is a typical day in eating like for me, so I thought I would share :)

Breakfast: 1/4 c of Special K/ or sometimes Kashi Go Lean Cereal with just enough fat free skim milk to cover the bottom of the bowl. & sometimes I will eat just a South Beach Living high protein cereal bar. (10g to 14g of protein)

Water 16oz glass after I have waited a half hour for my pouch to digest.

Snack: Yoplait fat free light yogurt. (5g protein)

My fav flavors: Strawberry, Key Lime, Peach Harvest

Water 16oz glass again after waiting for my pouch to settle.

Lunch: beef stir fry with veggies (protein anywhere from 14g to 19g)

Water

14 oz Chocolate Muscle Milk Light 20g protein

Snack: ritz crackers (4) with Simply Jiff creamy fat free peanut butter.

Supper: 2oz of pork chop with a sauce or gravy. Few veggies, carrots, green beans.

Water

And if I feel like something later in the evening its usually the ritz crackers with peanut butter.

I feel great today. I 'feel' like I look good & have been told several times that I look great.

I met a pretty amazing man. We're excited to see where things could possibly go. He's a breath of fresh air. Intelligent, well spoken, kind, caring, strong, a good father, and someone I could definately see myself spending more time with. So we shall see. He shares an interest in the whole paranormal realm & is fascinated with my abilties. We can talk for hours and not get bored. I'm happy :)

Thank you God for all the gifts you have bestowed upon me.

Wishing you all the best in life & love!!

PEACE