Too Long

Well, I know it has been too long since I have posted. This darn snow is proving to be a real pitfall for my dieting. I hate not being able to get to the pool and do water aerobics. Plus I have had too much time on my hands. I had 2 big birthday parties in my house in 2 days... I made caramel and fudge for both,OK,so where is the common sense? Plus the cake and ice cream... UUUUGGGHHHHHH ....

TOPS had to cancel 2 meetings in a row due to this darn snow. Plus since it was cancelled we wentto Montesano for several extra days and low and behold We MADE COOKIES... Why is it I torture myself this way. BAD TINA.... BAD BAD TINA....OH, and another birthday cake to top it off.

OK, BACK ON TRACK...you all help keep me inline.
Hugs, Tina

New Me

Well, I was at church the other night at a party. One of my friends came up and hugged me and commented that I was shrinking so fast. I told her I had lost one of her. laughing... 125 lbs... and she told me almost she is up to 130 now. I was really excited. I have lost a whole person. I feel so much better.

Well, other than the sinus and chest crud I am STILL dealing with. Oh, and the leg that is so sore still. BUT overall my energy is amazing even being sick. I have not gotten to go to the pool for a formal workout this week but have done plenty of working out.

I primed the laundry room on Tues. then painted it on Wed. then moved furniture all day Wed., Thurs., and Friday. Today I just sorted and got rid of tons of stuff. I moved out 5 bags of my clothes and 3 of kids clothes. WOW... We trashed a bag of clothes that were SO worn out or stained. Anyway, my room is organized. Clothes hung up and ahhhhhhh it feels so much better. All my clothes either fit or are really close to fitting ... a few more pounds to go for that section of my closet. Now I gotta go finish the living room and kitchen again. Kids sure thrash things quickly. Hugs, Tina

WOO HOO

WELL, progress IS being made. At TOPS on Wed. I was down 6 lbs in a week. WOO HOO... SO that puts me at 87.2 total. I am so glad to see progress and to keep losing. One day and step at a time.

The pool has been closed the last 2 weeks so it has been hard, but I have been dedicated and still gone to the gym to workout. This morning I am headed for the gym then to do water areobics too. BIG WORKOUT DAY...

I want another good loss this week and I will work hard to get it.

Hugs, and prayers with all of you... Tina

Well, this summer has been difficult to say the least. I have really struggled to handle the ups and downs of kids and exercise and diet.

I am still losing about 7 lbs a month. I am now down 82 lbs total. BUT, it has been harder than before.

I have a great support system in place and even my kids root me on... we gotta take things one day at a time. I love my TOPS group. They are so accepting and supportive even if I have a gain week. I am retaining LOTS of water due to the heat, and likely the salt that I should not have. I gotta get the water retention down so I don't feel so miserable.

Anyway, we have had BUSY days, parks, airshow, swimming, splash park, birthdays, the Fair, too many funerals, fixing the house from the flood, and Northwest Trek (zoo) which a year ago I threw the free tickets away since I could NOT walk it.

I am amazed that I can keep up with my kids most of the time. Including walking 5 miles in 90' weather at the zoo. Walking the Fair for 6 hrs. Walking Wal-mart for several hours at a time. Walking the parks with the kids. SPRINTING 1/8 of a mile or so to find out that the screaming kids were just playing down by the river not that they screamed that someone was hurt.

Anyway, I love the energy and strength that has come with losing the weight. I will continue on this healthy path... I have to, I want to LIVE life, not watch it pass me by.

I have an interview tomorrow and pray I get a position with the school district. I will leave it in Heavenly Father's hands to find me a job that best meets my family's needs. I am ready to work, but not ready to need daycare and have to pay for daycare. I need to work on the school's terms and hours with my kids.

Hugs to everyone... I hope you have had a great summer and continue to see successes in all you set out to do. Tina

Living Life, Challenges, Changes, and SUCCESSES!

Playing with layout

I tried to delete this, but have no clue how to do it. I am playing with my layout and have all kinds of interesting things popping up.

Fun Changes

WOW, Life is just wild lately. I am so excited though. I did a scrapbook page today that shows more of my changes. I was excited to take a photo today and I can see a difference from May till now already. It is fun to change and feel better and better...

Hugs, Tina

Progress Down officially 76 lbs now....

Well, today was weigh in at TOPS, I was really excited to lose another 2.2 lbs.... I am doing well and it is feeling so good. I love to see the scale down each week. I love to feel better and have more flexibilty and capability than I have had in years...

I am sore from water areobics, I have been working out really hard and making every minute count. Lauren at Thorbeckes works us hard. I figure the harder, stronger, longer, straighter, deeper, bigger, smaller etc.... I work I will burn more calories and lose more. Lauren has a way of pushing us harder and farther than we ever thought possible.

On the 4th of July I actually RAN... Yes, I raced my kids from one part of the park to another. Then we raced to the car. I kept up with my FAST little boys and even won a couple of them. The only problem with me running was that I had friends hooting and hollaring and cheering and so I ended up laughing so hard I could not keep going.... It is hard to laugh hysterically when trying to run.

Anyway, life itself stinks most of the time, there is plenty to complain about... Kids are chaos and fight constantly, hubby needs a job still, I have applied for part time jobs, life is just chaos, we still have no laundry room... BUT, I am doing what I can and need to for me. I am enjoying my progress, and seeing that rather than using food for my frustrations, I use exercise. I use the energy I have to work out and do more. We can do this, my TOPS chapter TOPS #WA804 has been hugely instrumental in helping me to stay focused. I feel like I am going to win this thing for myself, but also for them. This year I want to be the 2008 Division winner, and in another year I want to be State queen and possibly National Queen.... I can and WILL do this... One day at a time. Hugs and prayers, Tina

Photos tell the story.

This photo of Me and some TOPS friends is at about 55 lbs. lost. I am down another 18 from there. The one of Steve and I, I labled my heaviest, although I had already lost 15 or so there. I don't have any pics at my true heaviest. I am just glad to keep losing and see the progress. I am amazed at the difference as I try to keep losing and seeing progress.

Time to get blogging.

I have actually been blogging and sharing my journey for the past many months on www.sparkpeople.com My user name there is stampintina and you are welcome to go see my progress and journey. I am pretty open and honest about my life and the journey I have been on. Last September I joined the health club and decided I HAD to lose weight to be alive. At that time my Doctor's scale could NOT weigh me. At the health club, I got onto their scale thinking it would not either, but found that it did. I was 366 lbs. The first month I lost 16 lbs and I was so excited. I decided to go with my friend and join TOPS. The support with TOPS has helped me to stay on track and to really see success. Today I weighed in at 292.6. I am so grateful for all the successes I have been having. Without WA 804 I could NOT make it. My spark team : 200+ Just HAS to go has also been there as a constant support and keeping me on track.

Hugs to you all. Tina