Must be doing something right!

I have always had to buy the biggest size in jackets, coats, etc. a few reasons for this, my breast were always too big but since last years breast reduction... Shirts have fit better but not jackets still. However, I am down 25 lbs and last night I purchased a jean jacket at Old Navy. I put the xxl on like usual and it seemed.... Too big. So I thought, no way am I able to wear a smaller jacket. Wrong! I fit on the xl!!!!!! I know it is a small feat but any woman with bigger tatas knows this is a huge feat! Jackets are hard to fit properly and I went down a whole size. So excited!

Making Progress

Happy Daylight Savings Time!
Losing a hour of sleep makes me happy because it means spring is near!

Today was a great day! I have been doing the AdvoCare 24 day challenge. So far I have lost about 2lbs, but more than that I feel really good! I am still planning on doing weight watchers long term... I love it, but I wanted to try something different and see how it worked for me. With WW I am down 20 lbs, but I have seen how AdvoCare is working for my friends and thought, there are no rules to finding what works for me! Anyway, I was able to eat some great speakers today at an AdvoCare event and this company sounds just like something I want to associate myself with. We shall see how the next 21 days to and I will try and keep everyone posted.

In an effort to continue preparing my weeks for success I decided to take all the veggies I bought this week and blanch them for freezing. I have a tendency to not used veggies quick enough... Or they just go bad, and I lose a lot of money. So I want to try this method to save money and time! Everything is prepared now and I am hopeful for the week. I also used the water I blanched all of the veggies in and saved it as "homemade vegetable broth".

On a completely unrelated note: I love, love, love Justin Timberlake on SNL! I also dig seeing all the oldies!

Have a great weekend!

Making sure to stick with it!

So it has been a rough couple weeks with eating right. I've managed to maintain but haven't lost too much. I did OK today, but I am planning on hitting the gym again tomorrow. I honestly have missed it!!! I just can't catch a break at work. But never the less, I think it is more about recognizing than it is having to overachieve. I recognize that I need to do my routines at all possible times. I also recognize that there will be detours and it is ok as long as I know I have to jumbo back in the saddle again...quickly!

This is why I hate shows like Biggest loser. It is easy to eat right and stay in shape when you have a stocked kitchen and nothing else to worry about or change plans of working out.
So I'm off to bed to dream and wake up refreshed and ready to continue to embrace Weight Watches and my successes the last 2 months!!! Wow, 2 months!!!! Yay me!

The Windy City is the Walking City for me!

So this past week was hectic. I was on vacation in Chicago and can't say eating well was my top priority, but I did manage to do alright most the time. I tried a Falafel for the first time and lentil soup too! Thanks to Lauren for her awesome recommendation!
Although I didn't eat perfect I managed to exercise enough to off set it! I walked over 10 miles, most being on Friday. I also ice skated for the first time in probably 20 years. It was amazing! I skated on Solider Field where the Bears play. I truly love Chicago, if I had to move to a happening City, it would be there.

Anyway, I'm down a pound and half so I'm still reaching goals. I went grocery shopping today to get stuff for healthy lunches this week and I am sure missing my gym, so they will be getting a visit from me tomorrow. Zumba/saratone-in starts back up soon! I cannot wait! With spring coming I am looking forward to trying new exercises and not just spend time being a gym rat. I am looking into ballroom dancing, belly dancing, and maybe tennis as some alternatives to traditional "work outs". I think it is important to mix it up so I adopt this lifestyle and not just focus on working out and losing weight. It's about development right? So it is time to develop my life and skills!

Small steps, big rewards!

This time last year I bought a dress from Lane Bryant to wear to a Jaycee All-State Year End Award Ceremony. I got it on sale and it was a little snug but it fit with some help from my besties helping in it. Well, since I've been working out now for 3 weeks solid and eating right... Thanks to WW, I thought I would try that same dress back on. It fits! I mean it fits WELL. In fact, it may be a little loose in areas! I'm so happy! I am not going to the award ceremony this weekend because I have other plans, but knowing that dress didn't fit a few weeks ago and now it does feels fantastic! I haven't been deprive of things I like and I certainly and starting to enjoy working out. I know the number on the scale is going down, but my body wants "looking" much different yet. However, putting on clothes without Effort that once took 3 of us... Feels like a small step toward my big reward of being healthy!

Monday Weigh In

Today I weighed in! I'm down 15.8 lbs. I am so excited. I'd like to say it is easy, but it isn't. I struggle daily to make good choices. At any rate I am enjoying this small feat! WW does things in 5% losses so I've met step one! I am hoping to lose another 5% by March, but the app yells at me and says I'm losing too much too fast. So I shall be careful. I am eating my daily allowance plus some occasionally and I am working out almost every day. So I am not sure what I am doing wrong, but I am not complaining so I wish the app would stop too! Lol!!! I know there will be times that I only lose .5 percent or something so I feel like this is my time to enjoy the bigger losses!

Happy Monday folks!

The Scale

So this morning I weighed myself just to see how things were looking this week. It really hasn't been a perfect week, but when is really? My official weigh in day isn't until Monday, that's when I log and try only to really weigh myself on that day. Anyway, according to the scale I'm down 12.4 lbs since starting almost 4 weeks ago. This makes me feel so good! However, I know that eventually my successes will be smaller because really it isn't good to lose too much, too fast. As far as I'm concerned a .01 fluctuation in weight is a success! Lol

I did go out to eat last night with my mom. It was a struggle finding something relatively healthy and it reminded me why I have been cooking on my own. We were at Tumbleweed. I should have known it was a bad choice web before we left to go I couldn't find nutritional information on their website. I am learning if they (chain restaurants) don't want you I know, it is because nothing on their menu is probably healthy. I got the half taco salad... I am scared to see the full order. This thing was huge! It had a fried huge chip on the bottom and then more chips in the salad mixed with tons of cheese, retried beans, and seasoned beef. So I asked for another plate and dissected the "salad" and avoided the big fried chips that it was laying upon. I did my best to eat only the good stuff and I did eat the meat and beans for the most part, but only because I have a habit of not eating enough meat and/or protein. I am just not a big meat eater so I find it elsewhere usually.

Anyway, these restaurants aren't bad, but it is beneficial to share your meal that's for sure!

Hope everyone is having a nice weekend!

Healthy Strides and Alternative Choices

Today has been a great day! The weather is beautiful for January in Ohio!!!

Anyway, I made it to the gym today with my bestie at lunch. Although, afterwards we realized we should have walked outside, since it was so nice. At any rate, we worked out and hit it hard for the 25 minutes we could.

For dinner I was really craving some of Jets BBQ Chicken Pizza, but for someone trying to lose weight, it isn't the best craving to indulge on. So I made my own BBQ chicken pizza. I used Flatout Italian Herb Flat Bread and put 2 tablespoons of Sweet Baby Rays BBQ Sauce on top, 1/2 cup mozzarella cheese, Tyson Grill & Ready chicken, red onion, and pineapple (not normally on Jets, but I was without bacon and wanted another topping). I baked it and it was darn good!

Right now I am not able to eat Jets and use portion control properly, so until I'm "retrained" I will stick with my tasty, healthier take on their recipe.

Weight Watchers, back again...

Three weeks ago was January 13. It was also the day I decided (again and hopefully finally) that I cannot be fat anymore. I am officially in the 6 month countdown to my 30th birthday. I have spent ALL of my 20s being overweight, in fact, I have spent most my adolescences overweight too. I am now embarking on my 30s and I want to change things. My dad died when he was 51 and my mom has been ill for many years. Had they lead healthier lives, maybe they would be healthier (and he would be alive). I need to stop the trend before I have children and teach them the same bad habits that were taught to me. I have waited to start talking about my journey because I usually fail within the first week and then I feel shame. But since I have told minimum people in my immediate life about what I am doing, I decided it was time to start talking to anyone who wanted to listen and hopefully build even more support. 3 weeks ago yesterday I started this journey and I am down 10lbs already and one inch around my waist. That may not seem like a lot to some, but I am already starting to feel better. They say it takes 21 days to start a habit... I am watching my eating and most importantly I have been working out EVERYDAY! Even if it is just climbing the 13 flights of stairs at work, I am doing SOMETHING!!! This is most important to me because I have never had a love affair with working out. I feel like this time is different... though I have said that before. But this time I am working on both diet and fitness. I have never done both at the same time. Plus, my best friend is doing it with me. We are keeping each other accountable. She is doing it different than I am, but none-the-less we are in it together. She and her husband are doing Advocare and I am doing Weight Watchers. It's tried and true, for me, so I am sticking with it. I am not committing to posting daily, but I will try and keep everyone up to date on my progress and trial and achievements. I am not going for a quick fix. I didn't get fat overnight and I know I won't change my mind set overnight. But I am already 15 days in of my 21 day challenge to myself... and I feel good about this.

Paw Paw, WV

So my Aunt (dad's sister) and I are going to be visiting my Great Aunt (Dad's aunt) in the begining of November. I'm very excited to learn more about my history. She lives in West Virginia in a small town called Paw Paw. I looked it up to do some research and found out in the 2000 census there was a total population of 524. SERIOUSLY? I graduated with about that many! LOL!

Anyway, I don't know much about the history on my father's side and I'm really looking forward to visiting the place where my daddy was born!

Light the Night!

Hi Everyone! As many of you know, my mother has been in remission from Lymphoma for the past few months after recieving a bone marrow transplant from my aunt! Anyway, it is again the Light the Night for the luekemia and lymphoma society on October 3rd! Last year we volunteered, but this year we're walking! I'm asking for you to join us on this walk, many of you have really been there for us for throughout this journey and we are looking to prove that this organization has really worked! Mom is still here and that is proof enough for me! But if you need more, they helped pay for mom's copays for her care and so much more!

If you can't joing us I encourage you to donate! It's a beautiful event, everyone has a balloon and lucky for us mom gets to carry a white balloon because she is a survivor! I know everyone has had someone effected by some type of cancer and I would really apprecitate your support!

Please follow the link and sign up or donate! Let me know if you'll be joining!! us! http://pages.lightthenight.org/coh/CntlOhio09/feezer



Thanks!

Amanda

Long time no Post!

I've been a busy woman! Did Lean Training all week and then had to work shift change. For those of you who don't know what that is, it's where I work 12hrs for 6 days in a row. It's gruling!

***********************

Anyway, on the 24th I start back to my 5 day shift! 7-3:30! Finally evenings free!

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Mom is back at work! She is tired, but it's going well. About time for normal and happy things going on. She even has her hair back!!!!!!

I got to visit with Heather and her new baby boy! He's awsome!

Went to the Rascal Flatts concernt with Lynely! We had the best seats! Dirks Bently was awsome too! And Darius Rucker!

Yea, that's how close! We saw SWEAT! >

So, all in all things are looking up and I can't wait for fall! I'm going to try to keep this updated more... hopefully I'll have more time on my hands to do so! lol

Later Kids!

One more thing, if anyone knows anything about the "Feezer" last name and family tree stuff email me at Afeezer@gmail.com! Thanks!!!!!!!!

One more thing...

I took Christina's advice... along with my mother's (as much as I hate to admit that one... lol jk MOM) and went to the movies ALONE!!! I saw The Hangover!! Which I have to say was very liberating. Not the movie, the act of going alone. I spent the entire evening on a "date" so-to-speak with myself. I went to Barnes and Nobel and got a new book then went to the movies! It was soooooooo funny! I loved it! Definitely something to buy down the road!

Thanks for the advice Christina and Mom!!! Although, now I need to share the funny moments of the movie with someone! Hahaha!

Long time no post!

Are you serious!? I wrote an entirely too long post in Word and it won't let me copy and paste!!!!!!!!!!!! WTH!??!?!??!?!

It's been awhile...

So I haven't written in awhile. Everything is ok. Mom is doing well health wise, she can finally stay by herself which is a step in the right direction. The biggest issue going on right now is affording to stay in her house. It really sucks how money works when you are sick. She can't work and shortly her pay will go to 60 percent which most of you all know is not enough to keep a house and pay all the bills. She will only get one pay check a month as well. It's just stressful and we are looking into disability, but the problem with that is we've heard you can't get disablilty and still get paid from her job. Ugh, if we could jut win the lotto!

As for me, I'm doing alright. Could be better, but I guess I can't complain. Mom is getting healthier and hopefully I will be too! I am putting a lot more focus on my health and weight. I want to get back on track how I was last year at this time. I went to a trainer last wednesday and I wish I could afford him all the time. He kicked my butt!!!!!!!! But in a good way. I really felt powerful and I know I can lose the rest of the weight that I started losing last year!

I am looking forward to summer, the pool... cookouts... baseball! All of it. I'm going to try to make the best of my time and remember that even though I am sad sometimes that I have a lot of good things in my life. Even if I'm not always happy at work, I have a job. Even though mom doesn't have enough money to have her house and such anymore, she is in fact alive to have this problem. And I'm hoping to go visit my family again soon... and perhaps catch an O's game with Heather and Shawn... We'll see!!!

Day + 6

Mom is doing a lot better. Yesterday and today that is.

Just a small update!!!

Day + 4

I'm at the hosptial with mom, last night she was kind of bad but we were told this would happen. She had a fever and chills but today she is looking better. With low hemo levels they are giving her blood, again something we were expecting. She keeps dozing in and out, but it makes me feel much better to be with her even if I can't do anything for her.

WBC:700
Hgb:7.9
Plt:92
K+:3.8
Mg:1.9
Cr:8.9

Twiddling My Thumbs

I was bored, so I wote a "funny" on the board!

Aunt Linda is home, mom had her second dose and last of the stem cells! Now it's all a waiting game to see if she responds well!

I'll be spending the night again, but going to work early in the morning! =)

Day Zero .... again

Ok, so here is some info about what's going on.

Aunt Linda gave a successful 2.4 (of stem cells out of her bone marrow) but they want more just in case. So she stayed overnight and mom received what she gave yesterday. What took Aunt Linda 6 hours to give took mom 30 minutes to receive. But all is well. Aunt Linda was back at it at 7:30 this morning and needs to give 1.6 more to make 4.0. I realize this all sounds like weird stuff, but trust me it does to us too... we just know everything is going right as of now. Aunt Linda will go home today and mom will get the rest of the cells.

Mom's stats as of now:

WBC (White Blood Cell Count) 1.6
Hgb (Hemoglobin) 8.1 - Anything Less than 8 she will need blood
PH (Platelets) 127 - Anything Less than 10 she will need platelets
K+ (Potassium) 4.3
Mg (Magnesium) 1.7 - and this is low so she received some this morning

It's very likely these numbers will decline. It's normal and she should get weaker before better. They said at Day +5 and Day +9 will probably be her worst days. However, right now she is doing great!

Also, on a good note Aunt Linda's WBC was very high and she didn't have to receive the shot to stimulate them to produce! (Good times with no shot in the belly!!!)

Day Zero

So, I'm at the hospital as we speak. Aunt Linda is down the hall she got her port put in this morning and is currently giving bone marrow and they are filtering out the stem cells. This process could take 4-6 hours and maybe even into tomorrow. There is an hour of testing to make sure they have enough then mom will start to recieve the stem cells via iv into her port. Everyone is doing well, Aunt Linda is a bit nauseated but this is natural and everyone should be just fine! =)

Visitors are welcome after this week...

No laytex or rubber balloons only mylar.
No real flowers.
No one under 12.
And absolutly no one who is or has been around anyone ill.

Thanks everyone!! Call the cell if you need any information on locations and stuff