I'm starting over-Medifast is my friend!

How many times do we go on a diet-lose weight....stop diet-gain weight...usually gaining more than we lost?  SO FRUSTRATING!!

When will I learn the proper way to eat?

I found the only eating plan that has EVER worked for me.  Take Shape For Life.  Get that last part-FOR LIFE?  It works if you do what the doctor says!!

I lost 75 pds in about 8 months.  Oct 2012-June 2013.  Then I started losing my focus. Eating a little extra (or something I really shouldn't eat at all) here and there.  It took several months-but I've gained 45 pds back. 

I'm not going to wait till I gain it all back.  I'm starting again TODAY!!!!

Starting weight 232.  I took all my measurements.  I've dusted off my books and I'm back serious!

I now have a 2nd grandchild and I've got even more incentive to get as healthy as I can.  I want to live a long time and enjoy every minute of them growing up!

I'm praying that new way of looking at food and feeding my body will be ingrained in me to the point I'll never go back to the old eating habits and patterns.

 

8 mths & going strong

Since starting my Take Shape For Life program in Oct 2012, I've lost a total of 74 pounds. 
The last few weeks have been tougher.  My focus has been wavering.
I've had to remind myself why I'm on this journey.

Wearing a size 12-14 is definitely a major prize!
But more importantly, I'm able to play with my extremely active 18 mth old granddaughter.
I've been able to come off of one of my high blood pressure pills, decreased my depression med from 225mg to 75 mg. Deleted my sleeping pill.

My doctors are ecstatic! 

I'm exercising daily and loving every minute! 

Since I've gotten rid of all my "bigger" clothes-there will be NO turning back!

Healthy life-I'm here to stay!!

One-derland!!

I've finally reached a major marker-I was under 200 today!!  199.6 to be exact.

I've lost a total of 62.2 pounds since starting Take Shape For Life.

I still can't believe it!

Had to go shopping AGAIN!  For clothes-not food! LOL

It's gotten warmer here-I need summer clothes.  Wearing 14-14W, 16 pants.  XLarge in a lot of shirts.
Goodwill has become my go-to store. I don't want to pay a lot of my sizes until I reach my goal and know what size I'll finish in.

This journey is still fun and exciting. I feel like a new person!

5mths on Take Shape For Life

 I'm still in it to win it!!  Still following TSFL plan and eating my Medifast food. Still loving the hot chocolate, cream of chicken soup, bars, shakes, chips.  Easiest and most convenient way I've every done!  It's totally working for me.

This week I'm down from 261.8 to 202.6.  It's still so amazing to me! 
I have so much more energy.  When my granddaughter came to visit for Easter-she had to keep up with me! LOL
I can crawl, chase, dance and roll right with her!

Wanted to share my tuna recipe that my health coach told me about.  I don't normally like nor eat tuna.  So if you're like me-try this recipe!

2 tablespoons LF cream cheese
2 tablespoons greek plain yogurt
3 oz tuna, drained
1 boiled egg
2 small dill pickles, finely chopped
2 teaspoons onion, finely chopped
1/2 cup celery, finely chopped
salt and pepper
garlic powder
smoked paprika

I mash the cream cheese up with the yogurt using a fork, then stir in each remaining ingredient .  Serve on one cup of lettuce, 1/2 cup chopped tomatoes and jalapenos.

Very tasty-very healthy.  Counts as my lean and green.

Week 13-reached 40 pds lost!

Here are my pictures from week 12. Wearing size 18 pants and 1X shirt (fit like a XL)

I haven't been blogging well lately. Wanted to track weekly on here.  The pics are from week 12. My weigh ins are on Mondays.  January 21st I was at 223.4.  Yesterday at 222.4!!  That was right at 40 pounds so far!  

I'm feeling GREAT and still following plan.  I can't keep up with the inches yet. I have little pieces of paper at work & home with measurements and dates!  I'll gather them together soon and try to get a tally recorded here.

I've been walking 3-5 days per week at our local Jack Dalton Park.  My hubby has gone with me a few times, my furbabies, and my BFF.  Sometimes it's just me. It's a great way to clear my thoughts and be with God.  

I've read chapter 11 in our workbook.  It's about moving more.  Learning to incorporate any movement in every day life.
I'm adding:  squats while I'm waiting 2 minutes for my medifast to cook in the microwave, side to side wiggling while I'm blow drying my hair, more stair climbing at work to get my water, walking around while I'm on the phone (headset).

My health coach has tracked my losses and says I'm averaging 2 - 2.4 pds per week.  Totally awesome!  I'm looking forward to being at goal (148)

I can't close without telling you all the credit for my weight loss goes to my Lord and Saviour!  He's giving me the strength and grace and wisdom to pursue this lifelong goal.  Without him I am nothing.

I praise God with all that I am!  I thank him for leading me to my health coach-Alisha Reynolds.

“If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to you.” James 1:5 NIV

Have a blessed and happy day! Stay warm!

Survived Birthday Party!

My husband and I traveled to Richmond for my granddaughter's 1st birthday.  I'm always concerned when I am out of my daily routine that I won't eat like I should and make poor choices.

It was such a joy to see Brianna and play with her! She is one of the many reasons I started this life journey.  I want to be able to get in the floor, get back up, pick her up, dance with her in my arms, be silly and still be able to move! LOL

SUCCESS!!  We had a great time. She enjoyed her day so much and around 5pm, she laid her head on my shoulder and went limp!  Asleep with no fuss, no runting for a good position.  She was tuckered out.

I still had energy and was able to continue to my -including the drive home-till 11:30 last night!

My son fixed me a New York strip steak, I had brought my frozen broccili to microwave and had my lean and green meal while everyone else was eating hamburgers, hotdogs, potato salad and cupcakes.  I played with Brianna while they all got their plates full. He had two different areas to eat, so the "young" people ate in the front of the townhouse and the grand parents and baby ate in the back. Worked out well.

Enjoyed seeing Brianna shove the cake in and lick her hands until her Dad said ENOUGH!  She's never had sugar and I don't like her eating it now!  Good boy!  He doesn't want her to be overweight and addicted to sugar and I don't blame him.

Here are some pics from our day.

Psalm 118:24
This is the day the Lord has made.
    We will rejoice and be glad in it.

What a perfect verse to start my first week of graditude.  I am thankful for my son, daughter in law and granddaughter!

Weigh in was today:  226-own another 2 pds.  Total lost 36 pds!  Woohoo!!

Love & hugs!
Karen 

Goodbye 2012

Today is a day of reflection and preparation.

Reflect on the past year.  Good and bad.

I have been so blessed!  God continues to surprise and delight me! 
He's graciously provided many miracles. 

The first and most precious is my new granddaughter-Brianna.
2nd I've found a church home that I love.
3rd Donnie is going with me to church!
4th God spared my Dad when he had a minor stroke in October. He's fully recovered.
5th God showed me the diet plan that is changing my life.  One day. One meal. at a time.

Those are just the biggest! LOL  There are so many I simply couldn't list them all here.

But I do have a plan for 2013.  I'm going to spend a year documenting my thankfulness to God with scripture.
A Christian website I'm a member of is starting it.

http://inspiredstamps.blogspot.com/



I can't wait to start!!  I'll post on this website what I create and what the weekly verse is.
I think it will make a ton of difference in my life.

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

This week's weigh in was very humbling.  I have wanted to lose weight for so long. Even now, I keep thinking this is too good to be true and one day I'm going to wake up and be 262 pounds again. 
God is so good!  This morning the scale happily said 228.6. 

I am in awe of the doctor that did the Take Shape for Life program.  The medifast foods are tasty and so easy to use for my life.

AND I'm happy to report my husband (who needs to lose weight as much as I do) ate my lean and green meal last night!  cube steak, cauliflower mashed potatoes and cabbage.  We had the new medifast gravy.  It was delicious!

RECIPE ALERT*****

Cauliflower Mashed "potatoes"
steam whole head of cauliflower with a chicken bouiliion cube, drain well.
Add to it: 2T cream cheese, 2T smart balance butter, Mrs Dash table seasoning (my favorite), pinch of onion powder and garlic powder, pepper.

Important part:  use a hand emersion blender to mix it up. 

Enjoy!

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

Tomorrow I have a special post about a pencil.  I don't want to forget it.  Has very good encouragement.

Until then......Thank you Lord for all your blessings in 2012!

You never can tell when you do an act
just what the result will be;
But with every deed you are sowing a seed,
though its harvest you may never see.
Etta Wheeler Wilcox

TSFL 8 week update

I've stayed on program for 8 whole weeks!  Today is weigh in day-down 29 pds!!  233 and coming on down-LOL

They have some new items to choose from on the medifast menu.  Macaroni and Cheese and GRAVY! Not together silly! LOL 

I've already tried the Mac and Cheese and it taste EXACTLY like store bought kraft.  It is truly amazing how good they get this food to taste.  That's the only way I'm able to continue daily. 

I haven't totaled up my inches lost-but it's a lot!  I've already had to start a TOO BIG clothes box! Now that's a first.  I have had plenty of too little boxes -but never a too big.  LOL

I had a huge NSV (nonscale victory) today. Every year our office has "snack" day.  I've already been thinking about it.  Trying to think of what I could have.

Our menu:

BBQ Meatballs with turkey/beef
Ham Rollups
Dill pickles
cauliflower, broccili with ranch dressing
deviled eggs

Didn't eat: fudge & mini boston cream pies!!

I'll post the recipes for the meatballs & ham rollups later this week.

Here is pictures from today:

Thanks so much for stopping by!
Have a great week preparing for Christmas!

Happy Dance!!! Still losing weight!

I'm starting to really look forward to Monday's -which is weigh in day.  I lost another 1.8 pds. My total Monday was 235.8.  total lost 26 pds.

I think secretly I keep thinking-I'm going to wake up and it's a dream and I still weigh 262.  Crazy sounding? I've just never had success at losing weight.  I've never stuck to any program longer than 1-2 weeks.  I've never had a program that was so EASY to do!

I'm getting to pull out clothes I haven't worn in awhile.  It's very exciting!  My husband even asked me where all my new clothes from!! LOL  I told him-out of my closet! LOL

I continue to try new recipes for my lean & green meals.

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

Spaghetti LEAN & GREEN

-cut spaghetti squash in half & microwave for 10 minutes on a dish with 1/4 cup water.

-Using a fork flake out the "spaghetti" strands.  1/2 squash yields 1 1/2 cups.

One whole squash makes 3 meals.  Stores well in the refrigerator.  Only use 1 cup in your meal.

Sauce:

Mix 1/2 cup skim ricottia cheese, 1/2 cup approved salsa or sugar free spaghetti sauce (found Ragu @ Krogers)
2 T shredded parmesan cheese, 4 ounces cooked ground beef or turkey.  If you like spices like I do, you can add a sprinkle of garlic powder, basil & oregano.

Mix together & put 1T of the parmesan cheese on top. Bake @ 350 till bubbly. apprx 20 minutes.

Pancakes-yumm!

Have had a good week. Haven't backslid! I cannot believe it!

God is so good!

He continues to bless my family & I.

I added my picture as of one month to the top of my blog. I can tell such a big difference in my clothes & my energy level.

I've cut back on my depression med. The doctor changed my amount from 225mg to 150mg.

I've started walking some days during my lunch time with a coworker.  When I let the dogs out I'm trying to get on my stationery bicycle which is sitting on my back porch.  Really convenient.

My new favorite medifast thing is the pancakes.  They cook up just like a real pancake. Have a vanilla flavor.

All in all-I'm still really satisfied with the plan. Am getting 90+ ounces of water per day.

Hugs!
Karen

Energy-I found you!

My energy levels have went up! I'm soooo glad!  I don't get sleepy during the day at work, I don't feel exhausted when I get off and this past weekend I was cleaning, painting, visiting a friend, cooking, and never got wore out!

It's amazing what eating the right food does for you.

Yesterday menu was:

7AM    Peach Tea
10AM  Chicken Noodle soup
1PM    Broccoli Soup
4PM    Chocolate Mint Bar
7Pm    Turkey Balls *recipe below (4oz)
          1 cup lettuce, 1/2 c cucumber
          Healthy fat: salad dressing 2T
          1 oz 2% cheddar cheese
9:30   cheese pizza sticks


Turkey balls:
98% lean ground turkey 1 pd
1/2 c diced onion
1/2 c diced green pepper
1/2 tea each:  garlic powder
                     chili powder
                     poultry seasoning
                     season salt
                     pepper
                     smoky paprika

Baked 35 min @ 350% until brown.

I feeling great and drinking WATER! Lots of it! 

The Lord gives his people strength.  The Lord blesses them with peace Psm 29:11

Hope you have a happy & healthy day!

Weigh in Day a Success!

My first week weigh in I lost 7 pds!  Weighed in @ 254.8.  Not sure what's up with the .8 so far?  LOL-I'll take it.

I was hungry yesterday? I kept thinking-that's wierd. I've faithfully been on plan a week. Who can figure out a woman's body?  I fought the hunger monster by drinking more water! 
I think my body is still trying to trick me into cheating and I'm NOT going to do it!  I've searched a long time for the perfect weight loss plan and Take Shape For Life is it!  I will keep doing the right things until my body understands we're not going back to the old habits!

Water-I didn't realize I need to drink 1/2 of my weight in water! At 261.8 -that comes out to 131 ounces a day-that's A LOT of water!  I'm an avid water drinker-but didn't do quite that much.
I pushed thru and got all my water and it wasn't that bad. 
    If I get tired of plain-in the late afternoon I'll add some crystal lite for flavoring. I never use a whole packet-too strong for my taste. It take me 3 or 4 bottles to use one packet.  Probably more healthy for me anyway.

Yesterdays eating/fueling:

7AM Hot cocoa-becoming one of my favorites. A great comfort item for me.
10AM brocilli soup-I love brocoilli soup & can eat it for breakfast! LOL
1PM peanut butter bar-taste like reese cup & I feel like I'm cheating!
4PM mixed berry cereal-I LOVE a good crunch!  Has a taste of berry in there too.
7PM: Lean & Green Meal
           5 oz deli (lean) roast beef
           1/2 c each; cabbage, green beans, diced tomatoes
9:30PM cheese puffs

I'm feeling that good energy & loving it!

Till tomorrow-I hope every is staying safe with Hurricane Sandy on the move.  It's pretty windy here.
Hugs!
Karen C

Before pictures

I made it to the fat burning day! Woohoo! 
I don't usually make it 4 days without cheating!

God created me & made me whole!  Over the last 51 years I've abused my body by overeating.  My body is wearing out before it was supposed to. But there is hope!  By starting now on a new lifestyle with new eating habits an choosing healthy living-I can undo a lot of the damage.

I'm sure it will take time.  It took time to get where I'm at now.

Here's some recent pictures:

A picture says more than you want to know when your overweight! 

I can't wait till I can play with Brianna without being totally exhausted! 

Yesterday's menu:
7AM                 Hot Cocoa
10AM               Broccoli soup 
1PM                  Chicken noodle soup
4PM                  Chocolate mint bar
7PM                  Lean & Green meal
                          Chicken, green beans, cauliflower
9:30PM             Cheesy Pizza bites-yummm!

All the food replacements were great!  I don't feel deprived because I'm eating every 2 1/2-3 hours.  I didn't have a headache but did felt a little woozy in the afternoon. I followed my health coaches advice and mixed up some chicken bouillion and sipped on it. Didn't even have to drink the whole thing.  I drank lots of water.

I'm looking forward to settling into this routine (not cooking every meal, not stopping at fast food & not feeling crappy by eating the wrong thing).

Have a super Thursday!!
Karen C