Dear Flabby,

Happy Easter!!!

2009-04-12T09:41:00.000-07:00

I just wanted to pop in really quick and tell everyone Happy Easter!!! I have been absent for awhile so I thought I should drop by to say Hi! I went on a very nice two week vacation, so that's part of the reason I've been gone. After today's scrumptious Easter dinner I am gonna try to get back on track and should be posting again more regularly. So I hope everyone has a great Easter and try not to eat too much...lol!! Yeah Right!!! LOL!!

Kateedyd's Friday Weigh-In...WAY Late!

2009-03-31T14:41:00.000-07:00

Well...one would figure that between 3 of us, one of us would be posting regularly. LOL! Jen has an excuse, she's on vacation and had the unfortunate luck of breaking her laptop. Ugh!

So, I have had a bout of depression and haven't moved in a really long while. However, I still watch what I eat and caloric intake, which seems to have paid off. I got lucky and lost 5 pounds in one week! YAY! Um, and yes, I did gain one back within a day or two. LOL Still, 4 pounds for doing nothing is pretty darn good I think. Personally, I'm just glad I'm holding it off! To date I have actually lost about 12 pounds in the last couple of months. I was about 4 pounds heavier before I started posting. It's nice to hear now that I actually look like I've lost weight...great fuel for motivation!

Starting Weight: 148
Last Weigh-In: 144
Current Weight: 140!

Friday Weigh In

2009-03-13T23:38:00.000-07:00

Ugh, the last couple of weeks haven't been going quite as expected. On the up side, I have been waking up early and actually sleeping so I can get a good start on the day but each day I'm bombarded with things and I still end up running out of time. So, I haven't been working out as much as I could be although I'm still eating pretty well. Next week should bring a better report.

Starting weight: 148

Current weight: 144...nope, not one pound lost in two weeks :o(

Friday Weigh-In

2009-03-13T21:00:00.000-07:00

Well I lost two pounds this week! Yay! I'm happy with that. I wish I could of lost more, but I knew I wouldn't. I have cut down a lot on what I am eating, and have been making better choices with what I eat. I just absolutely despise exercise. I hate it, hate it, hate it!!!! I know that I eventually have to do it to lose weight, but I really don't want to...lol!

I did however by the Wii Fitness Coach game for the Wii, so I'm hoping that it will help me. It should be good. I've heard good things about it. I also bought a new exercise dvd, so I can vary it up a little bit, so I don't get bored. I get bored easily...lol!

So next week I am hoping for at least another two pound weight loss..

Last week: 221

This week: 219

Friday Weigh In--Eli

2009-03-13T04:48:00.000-07:00

Well, maybe I celebrated last week's success a little too much. This week was not a good weigh in. I gained two pounds. Now, part of that could be water retention among other things, but I think I did it to myself. I drank this week--I had a few glasses of wine and a few beers--and I ate out several times and while some of the times I thought I was making healthy choices, I was probably off. For example, one night I had tomato soup with cheese on top. I thought this was an excellent choice. Turns out it was 600+ calories. Well that combined with dinner was not very good. I also did not get the amount of water I know I needed each day. I think I thought I was coasting along and just slacked off and the weigh in proves that. I am disappointed in myself, but this is a new week!

Today I am going BACK to the gym. I canceled my membership last year since I never used it. Well, I emailed the customer service team over at XSport Fitness (they are exemplary) and they said I could reactivate my membership without paying enrollment fees. I was chatting with one of my close friends and I said, wouldn't it be amazing if I could have the discipline to go to the gym each day until I leave for vacation in early June. It is only 12 weeks away. What is 90 days of my life? I think that would be an amazing challenge but I am afraid if I try and fail I will be even more disappointed in myself. I guess the fact that I am already worried about failing doesnt help. Either way, I am going over there today and getting set up.

Previous Weight: 214

Current Weight: 216

+2 pounds!

Friday Weigh In--Eli

2009-03-06T14:55:00.000-08:00

Woo Hoo!! It was a decent week--I cannot complain! I kept up my water intake at 1/2 gallon minimum a day, got my 30 mins of exercise in and ate my veggies!

Last Week: 217

This Week: 214

3 pounds! I'll take it!!

Kateedyd's Weigh In

2009-02-27T20:55:00.000-08:00

So...it's already weigh in Friday. Wow, the week sure flew by!

I've been doing pretty well with my eating and working out. I make sure I eat plenty of vegetables and limit my high calorie foods to a small amount. And of course I drink PLENTY of water. I kept to my goal and had not one cookie! I'm really proud of myself for that. I have hit a bit of a obstacle since I got sick again the other day. It has taken some of my energy but I'm still keeping up with my exercise.

I'm REALLY glad to be doing this and having the friends I have to do it with me. I really can't stress that enough. I know that I can turn to someone to whine, complain, and celebrate with. That's a HUGE help and big motivator for me. Just with this one week I'm already starting to apply a healthier outlook onto other things in my life. I'm finding myself wanting to clear out the house and start off new. It's amazing what this can do for you! So, until next time...

Starting Weight: 148

Current Weight: 144

I lost 4lbs! WOOHOO!

Jen's Weigh-In Results

2009-02-27T07:24:00.000-08:00

Well I could of done a lot better, but I'll take what I got...lol! I lost a 1lb. I'm happy with it, considering I could of ate better and exercised more. To be honest I was afraid I wouldn't lose any at all, and maybe even gain...so again...I'm happy..lol!

I'm just happy in general though today, we got our tax return! So I am off to the store to buy all sorts of good and healthy food. I definitely think with better food choices I can lose more. We've been having to eat cheap food all week because we haven't had much money, thanks to dh's car($450!)...ugh!!

So I'm hoping that next I will have at least a 2 pound weight loss. On a side note..I've have been sticking to my weekly goal of no ice cream...it's been hard...really hard...but I'm doing it..lol!!

Starting Weight: 222
Current Weight: 221

Friday Weigh In

2009-02-27T05:48:00.000-08:00

Good Morning!! Today has been a good week! No alcohol, LOTS of water (at least 1/2 a gallon of water), exercising each day for at least 30 minutes, and trying to eat well. The results are in for the week and I lost 2 pounds! While it doesnt sound like a lot, the healthiest way to lose weight is 2-3 pounds a week. I also think that while I followed my calories intake I didn't always choose the very best foods (I did have a few garlic dough nuggets the other night). That said, almost 2 pounds is fine with me. I am just going to ramp it up a big so I can be 20 pounds lighter by May 14th!

Last Week: 219

Current Weight: 217

Sleep and Weight Gain

2009-02-24T18:52:00.000-08:00

I know that many moms, and women in general, do not get enough sleep. We always take of everyone and everything else before ourselves. And, let's be honest; we cannot get anything done until the kids are in bed anyway. Something has to give and usually it is our sleep.

There have been many studies conducted by researchers looking to see if there was a correlation between weight gain and sleep. Big surprise--ladies who get 5 1/2 hours of sleep per night or less weigh MORE than women who sleep 7 hours or more. In fact, these women who sleep less are 32% more likely to have a significant weight gain (33 pounds or more) and 15% more likely to be obese. Women with 6 hours of sleep were 12% more likely to experience a major weight gain and 6% were more likely to be obese. The interesting part is that women who sleep less also EAT LESS.

It may sound a bit confusing--if you are eating less, who cares how much sleep you get. Well, sleep plays a major role in insulin production and hormone levels. Lack of sleep may also increase cortisol, the stress hormone as well as improperly metabolize carbohydrates which can lead to higher levels of glucose and insulin (which can lead to storage of fat and insulin resistance). This combination also leaves women feeling hungry, even when they are not.

According to WebMd, sleep (and the quality of your deep sleep) is extremely important to weight loss. The bottom line is, you HAVE to get 7 hours of sleep to stay healthy. Not only does sleep affect weight, it also affects your mood, your energy levels and cognitive functioning. Here are some tips for catching your zzzzzzzz's and shedding those unwanted pounds:

Don't go to bed feeling hungry, but don't eat a big meal right before bedtime.
Exercise regularly, but no sooner than three hours before bedtime.
Avoid caffeine, nicotine, and alcohol in the late afternoon and evening.
If you have trouble sleeping at night, don't nap during the day.
Establish relaxing pre-sleep rituals, such as a warm bath or a few minutes of reading.
Create a pleasant sleep environment. Make it as dark and quiet as possible.
If you can't sleep, don't stay in bed fretting. After 30 minutes, go to another room and involve yourself in a relaxing activity until you feel sleepy.

Source: WebMd

Free Pancakes Today--Is it Worth it?

2009-02-24T08:56:00.000-08:00

Today is FAT Tuesday, and to celebrate, IHop is giving away a free shortstack of pancakes. Before you get all excited and run out for free pancakes, let me give you some facts. According to The Daily Plate one buttermilk pancake has 110 calories. That may not seem like much, but that is only ONE pancake and does not have any condiments. Let's say most pancakes come in a stack of two or three. That puts us at 220 or 330 calories. Next, butter. A lot of people put butter on pancakes. Butter for one pancake is 80 calories. SO, now we are at 380 calories OR 570. Well, you cant have pancakes without syrup right? Well, just 2 oz of syrup adds a whopping 230 calories. And who actually measures syrup when putting it on the pancakes? I know I usually just dump it on. So, even if you limit yourself to 2 oz of syrup, you are looking at a tiny plate of 2 or 3 pancakes costing you 610 calories or 810 calories. Is it really worth it?? Probably not if you are trying to get healthy or lose weigh.

I challenge everyone to double check nutritional information the next time you go out to eat--BEFORE you leave the house. You might be surprised.

Jen's Goal for the Week

2009-02-23T19:44:00.000-08:00

Ok, I have thought about this all night and finally decided on a goal for the week. It was a tough decision, but I'm going with.....No ice cream for an entire week! For those of you that don't know me...this is going to be extremely hard....and I am going to be in a bad mood for most of the week...lol!!

I love ice cream, it's a huge comfort item for me. If I'm having a bad day...I turn to my little friend in the freezer. Although it's not really a friend, more like an enemy...lol! It's a little backstabber.. Ok maybe I'm exaggerating, but you get my drift... It's bad.

I think I can do it. I might need some late night support though. I will have to enlist my friends and hubby to just tell me "NO!" when I start making a move towards the freezer. I know the other girls have hard goals too, but you know what ladies....I know we can do it!!!!

Kateedyd's Goal for the Week

2009-02-23T19:02:00.000-08:00

Man, there are SO many things I need to learn to work on that I won't be running out of weekly goals any day soon. However, this week I had to go with no baked sweets.

Last night I found myself battling the cookie jar after my oh so supportive mother decided to bake some butter cookies. Trying to reason with reason, I heard myself in my head saying "oh come on, one won't be so bad...even half of one...maybe a crumb?" I was very proud of myself when I didn't even open it to get just a whiff of them.

I haven't realized how much I rely on a cookie, cake, or even a couple of microwaved smores. Yeah, it's pretty bad. So, this week instead of those, I am training myself to have a yogurt, a piece of fruit (grapefruit slices included), or even another glass or two of water to finish me off.

Weekly Goal--Eli

2009-02-23T18:37:00.000-08:00

Something new I wanted to incorporate along with the quest to get healthy is to set a weekly goal. It can be anything that we are having trouble with that might be easier to conquer with a one week goal as opposed to indefinitely. My goal this week is to refrain from alcohol! I am not an alcoholic, BUT I do love a glass of wine or beer at night. That is bad for weight loss so I need to stop. It is a little tough since dh isnt joining in with me, but, I will be proud of myself if I get through the week.

I am anxious to see what the other girls came up with!

Kudos--Eli

2009-02-22T20:54:00.000-08:00

So today I feel like I had a breakthrough. One of the things I struggle with the most is self control. I am very impulsive in all aspects of my life. I buy things I dont need but want (and maybe cant afford) on a whim, say things without thinking, and just eat whatever (thats what got me here). Today I went shopping and out to eat with one of my best friends, her boyfriend, and my daughter. We ended up going to a nicer seafood/pasta restaurant for dinner (think about 2 steps up from Red Lobster) and I was nervous.

[For those who dont know, I am sort of a vegan/vegetarian. See, my immediate family and I used to not any animal product at all, which is the definition of vegan. After about a year we laxed a bit and allowed fish and cheese back into the mix along with prepared foods that included dairy that we had no control over (such as salad dressing at a restaurant). We are going back to eliminating cheese and dairy, but for the time being allowing fish and shellfish. Yes this is all very bipolar and strange, but I thought some background might help]

I was nervous because I LOVE seafood, LOVE sushi, LOVE anything fried. I could seriously eat fried shrimp, fried calamari and sushi every day for the rest of my life and be happy as a clam (I know, that was lame). Whenever I go to Red Lobster or the like I always get some all fried platter and eat 4000 calories of junk. I dont want to, but I can never say no. Tonight's menu was a little higher end, but it was still filled with bad choices. I was incredibly tempted, let me tell you. I ended up going with something healthy and different than I would ever eat. I chose the fresh Idaho Trout that was covered in sweet potato shavings and baked over coconut brown rice with steamed asparagus. It was DELICIOUS, healthy, and I felt better for having some self control.

It is so easy to just blow off your plan and eat whatever and justify it with "Oh I will eat less tomorrow" or "I will just work out longer tomorrow." 99% of the time we dont make up those calories and just set ourselves up for failure. The girls and I made a commitment to ourselves and each other to work out every day a minimum of 30 minutes and eat right 6 days a week and have Saturday as our cheat day. Today was NOT saturday and I take the promise I made to my friends seriously. I am glad I didn't let them down and I am glad I didnt let myself down.

Ready, Set, Go!

2009-02-21T21:09:00.000-08:00

How do I always end up last?! LOL

Hey people, my name is Kateedyd. Some of you may already know me from my blogs. I met Eli and Jen almost a year ago and we finally have gotten fed up with our lazy selves enough to do something about it. I had collaborated with Eli on Dear Flabby but wasn't sure I had the motivation to make the commitment yet, so I waited. I happen to be a lot smaller/shorter than the other two but the amount of weight I need to lose is about the same.

It's time now though for sure! I can't stand being this fat anymore. I have been yo-yoing with my weight for years. I have two kids that are 11 years apart so that's been a major factor in my weight gain. Each time I lost weight and kept it off I'd either change jobs or have a kid and that would totally change my activity level. I'm SO glad that all of that is over and I can start focusing back on myself...more.

I think one of my biggest problems, if not THE problem, is that I am an insomniac. I think that my hormones are totally out of whack and that messes everything else up. Not sleeping properly changes everything and I end up not having any appetite during the day. I'm pretty good about not binging at night but if my only meal is dinner then I haven't had any fuel all day and it just sits there all night. Some people have called me anorexic because I just won't eat and can go like that for days on end but the problem is much bigger and far different from that.

My main goal is to be able to wear my entire wardrobe again. I have a VERY full closet and I'm lucky if I even wear 10 different things. I have totally become one of those sloppy big shirt and sweats moms and being that I'm not even 30 yet, that just isn't acceptable at all. Now that I have two friends willing to "do" this with me, I am really motivated to match or pass up their progress. hee hee hee I never really thought that I'd be doing this with people around the country instead of friends in my own neighborhood but hey, what ever works right? These are two of my closest friends and I am really glad that we have finally pulled this together.

Wish us luck and feel free to share as the journey continues!

Starting Weight: 148
May's Goal Weight: 120

Let's Do This!

2009-02-21T19:29:00.000-08:00

Hi all! My name is Jen and I am one of the new contributors to Dear Flabby. I thought I would just jump right in and tell you a little about myself. I am a stay at home mom to a five year old girl and a two year old boy. I'm married to a great guy, he has to be to put up with me..lol! We've been together since we were teenagers and have become late night eating buddies. Which is not good at all. The proof is in the pants size. We have both gained a lot of weight in the last 10 years, but that is going to change starting right now.

With everyday life being a chaotic and stressful I've packed on the pounds. Between late night eating, overeating, making poor food choices, and lack of exercise I am the biggest I have ever been. I would love to weigh 150lbs again. I think I looked pretty good at that weight and it's a healthy weight for me. I joined Dear Flabby in hopes that a little challenge between friends would make a huge difference in my life, because every pound lost is important. I'm hoping to lose at least 25lbs by our May 15th deadline. I think I can do it. Scratch that. I know I can do it!

I hope all our Dear Flabby readers will join us, and challenge themselves to see how much weight they can lose by May. I think it will be fun, and interesting to see the results. So all that I have left to say is....Let's Do This!!!!!

Starting weight 222lbs(Yikes!)

Friday Weigh In and UPDATES!

2009-02-20T10:08:00.000-08:00

Hello, Hello! Anyone notice anything new? We have 2 new people on the Dear Flabby team, a whole new look thanks to Jen, and a lot more to come! I want to start by introducing the new team members/contributors/bloggers/admins/challenge participants: Jen and KT. These awesome work at home moms are in the same boat as many of us, got pregnant, gained weight, had babies that turned into children and run around like crazy people with no time to lose it. Eventually you get so used to the extra pounds, it is overwhelming to even think about the effort to lose them. I will let Jen and KT share their personal stories with you so you can get to know them better. I am excited to have helped inspire them and I think the 3 of us together can lose this weight, become healthy, fit and live longer, better lives.

So, Dear Flabby is going to be a little different now, but I want every reader to be included, so if you have any suggestions or want to see something, please let us know! We will take everything under advisement! As of now, Friday weigh ins will continue, only the weigh in will consist of all 3 of us. You can follow all of our progress and for those looking to get in shape, I encourage you to follow along and let us know in the comments section how you are doing as well.

Monday will be "Goals" day! This is something new that I am hoping is beneficial to everyone. On Monday we will set a goal to follow for the week. It can be any health or fitness related goal, such as "No Alcohol for the Week," or "Wake up an Hour Earlier." Many times we make resolutions or goals for infinite periods of time and it is just too hard to follow. If we set short term goals we have a much better chance at success, which is motivational.

We will be posting relevant health articles. Many times these articles are overlooked or just not timely. We will make it our goal to inform ourselves, as well as our readers what is new in health and fitness.

We will review fitness and health products! Have you ever wanted to try a new fitness DVD or work out equipment but wondered how it fared for someone else first? Well, we are going to try all types of things and let you see how it worked for us.

What we are hoping to achieve is weight loss, better health, and to inspire others to do the same. If 3 moms from across the country and come together and do this, so can anyone. We are all busy, we all have kids, and we all work, but those excuses are just that, EXCUSES!

So wish us luck on this journey and please follow along!

Starting Weight: 224

Current Weight: 219

(I gained a couple of pounds...I am not sure why, but I think drinking alcohol this week and PMS are the culprits)

Be back soon!

2009-02-18T14:48:00.000-08:00

I know, I know, I havent posted, but we have been working on some major changes to the blog. Everything should be in place this Friday so be prepared!!!

Friday Weigh-In

2009-02-07T12:32:00.000-08:00

Sorry I have been scarce--sick again. Went to the doc Thursday b/c I could not break a 104 degree temp all week. It is strep throat and sinusitis. The only days I was able to work out was Sun and Mon and I pigged out on Sunday! Needless to say this wasnt a huge weight loss week. I did weigh in yesterday, was just too sick to get to the pc.

Starting Weight: 224

Last Week: 217

This Week: 216

So I was able to lose a pound. I am going to sign off now so I can get some more rest. Of course I have to be sick the day it gets to 60 degrees in Chicago! Go figure.

I do have some exciting announcements coming up for Dear Flabby and I think it going to be very cool. More to come soon!

Weigh-in Friday

2009-01-30T09:30:00.001-08:00

Well, for the first time I was actually looking forward to this weigh in! Week 1 was a bust because I gained 2 pounds (I was out of town all week for the funeral and ate nonstop w/o any workouts), Week 2 I had the flu and I dont think the results were accurate, and last week I was back to my starting weight. So, basically it is almost like starting over even though this is week 4! So, on to the results (drum roll please)

Starting weight: 224

Current weight: 217

Yes---that's right, I lost 7 pounds this week!!!! I am so proud of myself! With commitment and determination this really is possible and I worked my ass off this week! So, YAY!!! (Im pretty excited)

Another Great day!

2009-01-27T17:03:00.000-08:00

Woke up this morning and did some yoga first thing. I got this cool DVD at Walmart called AM and PM Yoga and the morning session really gets you going. I was so stretched out by the end, I had my feet flat in downward dog, which, early on, were nowhere close. I had to work, so I had to wait until this afternoon to work out. I did some more Turbo Jam (I love it, what I can say). I did the 20 min. one and the ab jam, so 40 mins of that and then 3o of yoga, so a total of an Hour and Ten minutes of exercise. NOT BAD!

As far as eating today, I wasnt that good about it. I didnt eat anything bad, just not enough. I think my total calories was about 700. I wasnt hungry in the morning and had a big salad for lunch--romaine lettuce, fresh brocoli, chopped carrot, and I chopped up 1/2 an apple. I used honey mustard salad dressing and actually measured it! One 1 1/2 Tbls.

Dinner was 1c of whole wheat spaghetti with homemade tomato sauce (2 cans tomato sauce, 1 can tomato paste, 1/4 chopped onion, some taragon and oregeno), small peeled baked potato, and a small dinner roll. It was really good.

I was also really good about my water intake (I swear I must have had to pee about a 100 times). So, yay for me.

I'm not sure how many Oprah fans are out there, but yesterday and todays episodes were really good. It was about a group of obese teens and their health. It was fascinating but also very sad. One of the stats that came out of the show was that 1 in 6 kids is obese. That is a horrific statistic. I think part of it is our screwed up school lunch program, and the other parts are parents AND kids making irresponsible choices. McDonalds is not food, it is just a bunch of chemicals. Something to think about I guess.

Goodnight!

2009-01-26T18:43:00.000-08:00

So to finish up the day--

I had a good dinner: 1 salmon patty, 2 cups steamed green beans, 1 small baked potato.
Then, I had a 30 min. PM Yoga DVD. So I feel relaxed, less stressed out, and actually pretty happy. I dont usually go to bed happy. Ambivalent, exhausted, annoyed, bored, dreading the next day--those are more likely emotions at bedtime, not happy. So, all in all, I think I really set the tone for a great week. Hope everyone else had a good Monday too!

Good Day Today

2009-01-26T15:07:00.000-08:00

Today was a pretty good day, I have to say! Saturday night I didnt go to sleep until very late, so Sunday I was exhausted and went to bed around 7. I slept til 630 this morning and decided to get a jumpstart on my morning and set the tone for the rest of the week.

First thing I drank 2 cups of ice water and started doing the Wii boxing. For those who have not played it, it is challenging and you will get sore if you play for awhile--I did for about 45 mins. Then I did one of my favorite DVDs--Turbo Jam!!! I LOVE Turbo Jam. I did Turbo Sculpt with weights. It is 45 or 50 mins and it kicks your butt. BUT, it is a lot of fun.

Then I did a load of laundry, hopped in the shower, then got both girls bathed, hair brushed (which is a feat let me tell you) and dressed. And this was all before 10am. Then I worked, drank another 2 cups of water, had my protein shake and an apple and later some brocoli for lunch (I am a vegetarian who really tries to live vegan except that I occasionally eat fish).

I am sore now, but it feels good. My body feels tired, but in a good way--I know I worked hard today, it was fun and I am one day closer to my goal. Which brings me to dates. I am going back to VA in May for my grandfathers burial at Arlington National Cemetary. It is important to me to look nice, so I want to shoot for a certain weight loss by May 14th. What do you think is realistic or at least challening enough to make me work. I was thinking 40 pounds since I have 4 months. Any comments?

Food For Fuel

2009-01-20T11:16:00.000-08:00

Growing up, two things were seared into my brain--eat everything on my plate because children were starving in Africa AND whatever the occasion, you use food to celebrate/mourn etc.

My Italian makes a lasagna for everything. If something good happens--I get a new job, have a baby, got an A on my report card, it's Wednesday, WHATEVER--have a lasagna. If something bad happens--a boyfriend broke up with me, got a speeding ticket, had a long day at work, kids acted crazy, the mail was late--HAVE A LASAGNA. The mental association you make with food has a lot to do with your weight and even eating disorders I think. I don't need a lasagna because I got hired or fired.

Food is supposed to simply fuel our body--not act as anything else. Sure it can taste good but there is no reason to eat junk OR eat until you are so full you feel like exploding. We are supposed to eat whole foods that serve a purpose, like strengthen our muscles, enhance our brain development, regulate our insulin. I am fairly sure that Big Macs and Twinkies do not do any of those things (not to mention they are made of chemicals).

So how do we change our mindset? How do I put aside everything I have ever been taught and learn a new way to eat? I think this is really the first hurdle for me personally to start seeing some real progress.

PS I didnt post my weight loss because I was sick, so I felt like the results might be skewed. I will post this Friday and if it is still gone, great. If not, well we know why.

Biggest Loser Gains the Weight Back

2009-01-19T19:16:00.000-08:00

Erik Chopin, who won the popular NBC series, The Biggest Loser Season 3, has gained back most of the weight he lost. The infamous deli owner recently revealed in an interview with Access Hollywood and Oprah Winfrey he gained 122 pounds back after losing an astounding 214. Chopin said that after all of the media attention went away he became sad and depressed and stopped exercising. He says that now that his weight is back over 300 pounds he is ready to get healthy again. He admits that yo yo dieting just doesn't work and this time he is not interested in a number but simply feeling good and being fit.

I think the important thing that this news exposes is that eating in and of itself is not really the issue. The deeper issue is WHY people overeat. You can lose all the weight you want, but if you don't address the root issue, the weight will come back. Like I have said before, some people use food as a drug. Binge eaters have endorphins released just like drug users do. Binge eaters eat to fill a void just like alcoholics and drug users "use." In order for binge or over eaters to get "clean" they have to change their way of thinking and figure out what they are substituting the food for. Sometimes I even think I need therapy...I would just feel sorry for whoever tries to analyze me.

Guess Who Got it??

2009-01-18T09:02:00.000-08:00

So, I came down with the flu too! I knew it was inevitable...I mean, how lucky do I really think I am? I am finally feeling better today, thank god, but I was worried for a minute.

I am going to post my weigh-in today (since I was sick Friday). I am not sure accurate the results will be since I was sick, but we shall see.

Stay Tuned!!

Honestly...

2009-01-15T11:29:00.000-08:00

I received a blog award from the Lazy Housewife over at So Not Domestic, BUT in order to accept I have to follow some rules:

A) first list 10 honest things about yourself - and make it interesting, even if you have to dig deep! B) pass the award on to 7 bloggers that you feel embody the spirit of the Honest Scrap.

I don't think I really know 7 bloggers, so bear with me on that....Here we go:

1. I watch Dr. Phil just like I watch car accidents. I don't really want to watch, I hate it, I am afraid I will see something gross and disturbing, but I just can't look away.

2. I spend way too much money and I spend it on crap I dont need. If the economy is still doing okay it is solely because of me. Did I mention I dont have the money to spend?

3. I NEVER do laundry. I let it pile up until there are about 100 loads and then I scream, moan, bitch, and complain about doing it.

4. My 9 year old son has a cell phone. I was going to get him one, but my main motivation was that the only way I could get an iphone was to open up another line. I think it is perfectly fine for my son to have a cell phone and it makes me feel better knowing that I can reach him at anytime, especially since he is in after school activities 4 days a week. In my defense he turns 10 in a couple weeks AND we don't use a landline at home.

5. I am super messy. Not dirty or filthy, but messy. I have clothes all over my room and my bathroom sink has lotions and makeup all over it. Sometimes I think I have too much stuff, but that isnt the problem; I just don't put anything away. Then, the #1 argument in the house with the kids is to put their crap away. Go figure.

6. I am a total hypocrite (see #5)

7. I have knock off Coach sunglasses, but let people think they are real. Like you wouldn't do the same thing?

8. When I think about exercising I want to throw up. It's not that I don't like it, because I do, I think it is just getting motivated to go and do it.

9. I HATE the winter. I have NO IDEA why in the world I live in Chicago because the winters here are horrific. I want to curl up in my bed and hibernate all winter.

10. I don't think of myself as a grown-up. I still feel like a big kid and love playing video games with my kids and going out with my girlfriends. I can't imagine hosting dinner parties and wearing loafers with mom jeans...

Do you all still love me? Hope so!

FLU ALERT!

2009-01-14T18:21:00.001-08:00

Well the last 36 hours have been a blast--dd has the flu. Not just a little old flu, but the Super Flu. Like, I think it might be possible it was a biological weapon being developed and if not, it should be. She has been throwing up every 20 or 30 mins. Luckily, the doctor called in a prescription for her of Zofran and that kept her tummy in check for a few hours. I feel so bad for her because if she took one sip of water she was heaving 5 mins later. Poor girl.

I obviously didnt get a workout in since I was dealing with her all day, but on the plus side I didnt have the appetite to really eat. :)

Hope all of you are well and if anyone has any tips or advice on dealing with the flu, I would LOVE to hear them!

I am BACK! (with a weigh-in and a soup recipe)

2009-01-12T13:58:00.001-08:00

No more eating out for me, that's for sure. I just did my weigh-in and almost puked. Actually I wish I had...maybe I could have lost a couple pounds! SO...here are the results"

Starting weight: 222

Today: 224.5 (gained 2.5 pounds)

I am really disappointed, but I have spent the last week surrounded by cheese, brownies, bagels, quiches, red wine and beer, so I am not really surprised. All I can do is get back on track now that I am finally home. No more c-r-a-p!

So far today--I made homemade vegetable soup this morning and it is AWESOME!

Vegetable broth (add tsp of oregano, rosemary, and pepper)

5 med. potatoes peeled
5 medium carrots peeled and chopped
5 stalks of celery chopped
1/2 onion chopped

Put chopped veggies into pan with about 2 tsp of olive oil and sautee for about 7 mins.

Put sauteed veggies into boiling vegetable broth. Boil for 10 mins and bring to a simmer. Simmer for about 20-30 mins.

This tastes AWESOME, is filling, super healthy, gets you your daily allowance of veggies, and is super low-cal. If you make it, tell me what you think!

I ate this today, had a couple glasses of water (2 more to go), and a cup of coffee. I think I need to detox my body and get all the junk out of it. Anyone have any advice or suggestions? Wish me luck for Friday's weigh-in. I NEED IT!

No Snow For Me

2009-01-10T09:52:00.000-08:00

But I did eat and drink A LOT yesterday! I did try to do a weigh in, but there are no scales at Grandmas, so it is going to have to wait til tomorrow. I did get out for a walk this morning and it was gorgeous! It was 50 something degrees, sunny, a lot better than freezing and 6 inches of snow in Chicago. I miss my dh and kids, but I am not looking forward to that weather, thats for sure. It is especially difficult when 1/2 of my family is from San Diego and all they talk about is how warm it is. How unfair!

Just checking in and look forward to the weigh in tomorrow. I am sure it will GREATTTTTTT. (You are detecting the sarcasm right???)

Hello Hello

2009-01-08T09:32:00.000-08:00

My flight last night was wretched. It was snowing Chicago and we were delayed so that the plane could be deiced. Then coming in to VA the winds were so bad we came down to land twice and had to go back up. People were grabbing the seats in front of them and holding them the plane was shaking so hard. The pilots were great though and got us down safely and it was a mild 60 degrees when we landed.

We headed straight over to grandmas were there was pizza, brownies, panera, deli trays, cobb salads, etc. So, I tried to minimize the damage and eat only a little bit and lots of salad (minus the bacon of coure) and drink lots of water. It was so good to see all my family, especially my cousin Luke who I saw this morning. We are almost the same age and I havent seen him in years.

Tonight is the wake and tomorrow is the funeral. I will keep you posted.

Buh Bye.....

2009-01-07T07:47:00.000-08:00

Just wanted to check in--obviously I have been very busy and havent had the time to really post. I am going to an aunts house tonight and staying there until Saturday morning, so since I will be settled in one place I should be able to catch everyone up. :) Lord knows I need a distraction.

PS Nip/Tuck started last night. I am an avid follower. Any thoughts/comments??? It was GOOD!

Arrangements Made

2009-01-05T17:54:00.001-08:00

This is the last picture I have with my Grandfather. It was taken in April '08. My Grandma June is holding my daughter Ella June.

Well, all the arrangements have been made and I will spend the week in good 'ole Virginia, my former stomping grounds. I am nervous about the funeral and wake. No one in my family has ever died and the only person close to me that has passed away was one of my best friends who committed suicide two years ago, tomorrow. To say that the beginning of January will forever be a tumultuous time in my life is an understatement.

Today was fairly uneventful and I realize it is the calm before the storm. I paid close attention to what I ate today and had a large salad with a bit of basil vinaigrette dressing on the side, steamed veggies, and a cup of vegetarian chili. I am an emotional eater, big time, and if I do not make a conscious effort to stop myself, I will eat until I feel like I might die. Very unhealthy, I know. Which is why I am here! Now I just need to get in some exercise and I plan on doing that. As soon as I do, I will post--just so you know I am not faking it.

Thanks again to everyone who commented or contacted me with your condolences. I sincerely appreciate it and it really does lift my spirits. Also, please feel free to browse my Grandpa's guestbook and obituary. I want everyone to see what an extraordinary man Joseph John Braun was!

Damn You Macianos!

2009-01-04T21:47:00.000-08:00

So, as you may have read, my grandpa passed away. Yes he was 83, yes he had a great life, yes he died peacefully, but that does not make it hurt any less. Not to mention that his death has brought out family drama that I never thought I would have to deal with (mostly with my unemotional, detached father who I am surprised even acknowledges my existence). Last night I could not sleep, not at all. Finally at 8:00 this morning after researching flights all night and writing and crying and moping I forced myself to go to bed. I slept til 2:30 in the afternoon, finally dragged myself out of bed at 4:00 in the afternoon and have been moping and trying to figure out where I will stay while in Virginia.

Of course I didnt want to do anything today. Of course I wanted to eat my way out of sadness. So what do I do? Instead of being strong, I call Macianos, the Satan Underlord of pizza. Macianos pizza is my favorite. It is so good, there arent even words to describe it, other than to say if I had to choose Macianos pizza or sex, the pizza would win hands down. One of Macianos minions delivered my Spinach and Mushroom pizza and I ate way more than necessary. What can I say? I fell off the wagon and feel guilty and angry with myself for doing so. The only thing I can say is I havent eaten anything else today, but I am not sure if that is good or bad. Let the public stoning commence.....NOW.

RIP

2009-01-03T20:48:00.001-08:00

Sorry I havent posted...I found out yesterday that my grandfather who I love dearly passed away. Thank you for your thoughts and condolences.

Deep Thoughts...

2009-01-02T17:08:00.000-08:00

If your skinny jeans are size 18...are they still "skinny" jeans??

Weigh-in Friday

2009-01-02T10:31:00.000-08:00

I GUESS today is supposed to be my weigh-in day since it's Friday and all. Honestly, I really DO NOT want to post my stupid weight. I just weighed myself and even I was shocked. I cannot believe I let it get this bad. It is so freaking depressing. On the positive side, I am doing something about it, and I have to remember that. So I guess if I am not honest and accountable here, where will I be? So, here we go!

Starting weight: 222

Short Term Goal: 170

Long Term Goal: 140

I am drinking my 1st glass of ice water now (in my defense I just woke up, but I went to sleep very very late, so this still counts as early since I could have slept longer) and today I am going to do the Wii boxing, 34 mins on the treadmill, and hopefully Yoga on demand so I can stretch out. I didn't stretch at all yesterday and am paying for it. Check in later!

Did It!

2009-01-01T22:06:00.000-08:00

So I swore I was getting on that treadmill today and I DID! I did 33 minutes of interval jogging and incline. I didn't want to overdo it and I feel great. I finished right before midnight, so I am proud of myself. I probably didnt burn that many calories, but I watched what I ate today and tomorrow is another day.

I did not, however, get my essential water intake. So I really need to commit to drinking my 64 oz a day. It isn't that hard, only 4 big cups a day. So, tomorrow, will make sure I do that.

Starting the New Year Out Right!

2009-01-01T18:14:00.000-08:00

I have read a lot of resolutions and to do lists and quite honestly, just reading them starts to make me feel overwhelmed. I am terrified of failure, I think everyone is. I pretend like I don't care but really I do. In fact, I can trace this whole weight issue back to not getting in to the law schools I wanted to go to. In fact, I was only accepted to 1. I didn't go because it was my safety school and I never really thought I would not get in to where I wanted to go.

Let me back up a little for those who have just started reading. Long story short (or at least shorter) I had my ds when I was 16. I was educated, knew better, knew about birth control and still managed to wind up pregnant. I told myself no matter what I would still pursue my dreams in spite of all of the obstacles and go to law school. SO, I managed to finish high school early--what would have been my junior year in fact. I went to my local community college since I had never taken the SATs and received several scholarships.

After a few semesters there I was accepted to many top schools but they all required moving across the country and unfortunately I let fear get the best of me and decided to attend a college close to home, which was the best decision for me since I found out I was pregnant with dd1 at 20. I took my junior year of college off and then went back at 21. I finished my jr/sr year of college in 3 semesters and graduated Magna Cum Laude and formed some amazing relationships with a couple of special professors I am still close with today.

When applying to law school I figured I was in--I had an excellent academic record, incredible recommendations including professors who were practicing attorneys, pursued a challenging undregrad curriculum, was VP of a Natl Honors Society, performed community service (without being court-ordered) and what I believed to be a supurb personal statement. I did, however, perform less than stellar on the LSAT (law school admission test). I would like to blame the guy who sat behind me, BREAKING THE RULES with his stupid watch beeping every 5 minutes. I complained to the proctor and he told me I could cancel my test results--well this test costs over 100 bucks and is only offered 4x a year--so I didnt want to do that. Now I wish I would have.

Needless to say when the rejection letters started pouring I was beside myself. I had worked so hard the last 6 years, chasing my dream, to watch it just slip away in the form of a computer generated generic "Sorry you suck" letter. I didn't know what to do with my life, where I would go. I was so hurt, so confused. It seemed like everything I worked toward was in vain and pointless. I was so angry--I beat the odds, I beat the statistics and yet here I was with nothing to show for it. I had spent the last 6 years repeating the mantra "Failure is not an option" and yet I had failed. I failed myself, I failed my children, I failed my husband, I failed my parents. Once I began to "recover" I tried to get out and get a job, and I did, for a Fortune 500 company. 2 weeks later I was sent a letter saying the offer was rescinded due to my credit history. I think that was it for me. I broke. I became extremely depressed, angry, reclusive, and lashed out at everyone. I was so unhappy with myself that I couldnt figure out how anyone could love me or want to be around me. I carried around that anger and guilt for the last 3 years and I think it is time to get over it and let it go.

So I am not sure what all of my resolutions will be, but I am starting with forgiving myself. Hopefully that will allow me to let go and work on the inside and have it reflect on the outside.

Happy New Year!

Diabetes, Yikes!?!

2008-12-30T16:24:00.000-08:00

Dear Flabby,

My mom just came up to visit and told me she got some blood test results back. She has diabetes and has to start taking medication for it. Keep in mind 6 months ago her doctor told her she was borderline diabetic and that if she just lost weight she could avoid a lot of potential health problems. I love my mom but I wish she would have picked the broccoli over eating a gallon of ice cream at a time. How ironic that the day I start this blog, I get this news. Everything happens for a reason doesnt it Flabby?!

Dear Flabby??

2008-12-30T16:12:00.000-08:00

So I decided I wanted to have fun with Dear Flabby, so if you see me write to myself, it is mostly a joke or me being goofy. This is sort of like a diary (only anyone in the world can read it) and writing it makes me feel better. In fact if you feel so inclined, you can write Dear Flabby too! Might make you feel better.

Yummy Alcohol

2008-12-30T15:52:00.000-08:00

Dear Flabby,

Why do I love alcohol so much? It isnt even all that great, yet for some reason I have to have a glass of wine to relax at night. I mean, its not like Im an alcoholic, I dont attend meetings.

Seriously though, I know that you arent supposed to drink when you want to lose weight,so why is it I have no self-control? Oh wait, I have no self-control with eating either.

Thanks for listening Flabby, you're the greatest!

Welcome and Hello!

2008-12-29T15:47:00.000-08:00

10/31/2008~~most recent picture I have (with DD2)

So the buzz lately has been the weight Oprah, Queen of the Universe" recently put on. In fact, she hit the dreaded 2-0-0. Well, she isn't the only one. Which brings me here. I was always pretty thin, curvy but thin. In fact, after my first child was born, I was smaller than ever and wore a size 2. Then when he was about 3 or so my weight started fluctuating so I began working out every single day and watching everything I ate. I stopped drinking alcohol, which was tough! (I'm a wino, what can I say). From that time until my daughter was born in 2003 I went up and down between 140 pounds and 180 pounds. After dd was born in '03 I was at my highest and during my pregnancy I hit the dreaded 2-0-0. I was sad and depressed and couldnt believe how I looked. After about 6 months I started working out again and lost about 30 pounds and while I wasnt at my ideal, I was much happier. Then in 06 I found out I was pregnant with dd numero dos! And once I found that out all I did was eat. I thought my OB was going to kill me. In Feb. 07 alone I gained 10 pounds. She only wanted me to gain 20 for the whole pregnancy. Well, I ended up gaining about 70 or so. DD2 is now almost a year and a half and while I have lost almost 1/2 of the baby weight I still have a ways to go and I just haven't been motivated to do it. I guess it seems like there is so much that it is just overwhelming and seems impossible.

I am sick of being lazy, I am sick of wanting to throw up when I look in the mirror before I jump in the shower, I am sick of being tired all the time, I am sick of feeling guilty every time I eat something. So, please come along with me on my journey. Hold me accountable, cheer me on, and if you are in the same place as I am, work on this with me. Women, especially moms, cheat themselves. We are always concerned about other people and meeting their needs and making sure they are taken care of. We put ourselves last and that is not healthy!

I know there a lot of weight loss blogs out there but I would like to think mine is a little different. My goal is to post everyday. Weigh-ins will be Friday morning and I havent decided if I am posting inches or not. Maybe later on. I dont think I am that brave yet! :) And while I know there is Sparks people and things like that where you can journal what you eat and drink, I am going to do that here. I am sure there will be a lot of whining and complaining too. BUT, that's a good thing because I think I overeat when I am stressed out. So maybe if I get it out here, I wont shove it down my throat.

Addictions come in many forms. It may be cocaine, heroin, vicodin, alcohol, tobacco...but some addictions are not as recognizable, like food and shopping and gambling. Food is my drug and since there isn't a rehab for loving Burger King I guess I just have to do it on my own. So wish me luck!