Spring Chick Challenge Intro

I am in!  I have decided to join the spring chick challenge!  Here is my introduction and my focus points for the challenge.  I am pressed for time today so this will be brief.  I will give more details and pictures in future posts.

I am Amber (overcomingmysugaraddiction.blogspot.com) and I am a sugar lover (hence my blog name).  I am 33 years old and live in Boise, Idaho.  You can email me at (overcomingmysugaraddiction {at} gmail {dot} com)

Over the summer I did an online blogging challenge (Slimmer this Summer).  It was awesome for me to set specific goals and keep to a great plan.  I lost 12 pounds and felt great.  Since then I have been struggling with eating and getting consistent exercise.  In fact I know I have gained a bunch of weigh over the past week.  I have had a few holiday binges and it is time to get back into gear!  I am ready to see the scale and my pant size move the other direction!!

I may alter my goals a bit once I get more time to write a more details, but here is what I am committing to at this moment!

So here are the focus points for this challenge:

1.       Commit to a NSV (non scale victory) to be assessed at the start and the conclusion of the challenge.  

§         My size 14 jeans I currently wear will be loose and falling off!  I will be wearing a size 12!!

2.       Commit to a set of nutrition parameters and track via MyFitnessPal

o        I will aim for 1200/day and adjust according to my exercise  tracking via MyFitnessPal (add me as your friend—ambreee)

o        I will drink at least 64 oz of water a day.

o        For the month of January I am giving up sugary sweets!

3.       Commit to a set of exercise parameters. These can be as loose or as flexible as you feel work for your personality, schedule, etc.

o        I will exercise 4 times a week at least 45 minutes a session (more details to come)

4.       Commit to blogging at least twice weekly and 1 of those times must be you check in with a complete up date on your progress. All other blogs could include new insights, results of weekly challenges, or just letting others know how you are doing.  YES!!

5.       Commit to support... both giving and receiving. Check others blogs and comment as you feel motivated to do.  YES!!

I am ready to kick off this new year.  I am excited to get to know new bloggy friends and to keep moving!!

Brainstorming Goals for the New Year!

I am trying to figure out what to plan out for the next year.  I love making goals and planning ahead for the coming year.

So at the moment I am in brainstorm mode.  What do I want? Where would I like this year to go?  How do I want to pick up on my goals for the next year? 

I pretty much quit trying on the weight loss a month or so ago. I maintained my weight up until the week of Christmas.  I weighed myself on Christmas morning and then again the next morning, a five pound gain.  One day of gluttony out the window and five pounds more.  I will be able to work it off, I am down a couple today, but I have got some work to do!!!

As cliché as it is I am getting back in gear on Monday, when the New Year hits.  I took most of December off from logging food, exercising and being any sort of disciplined. The one good thing is I was a bit more aware how the food felt to my body as I ate it.  I was able to stop a little sooner than I might have previously. 

Did I over indulge a few days too much?  Yeah! Do I have a gray cloud of guilt and regret? No.  I choose to enjoy the holidays, there are some repercussions, but I am ready to make new goals and move forward.  Now if I can just decide if a challenge will be most helpful to me in my new journey for the next year!?!

What challenges are you going to be jumping into for the New Year??

Been absent, but still here.

I am still here.  I haven’t opened up this blog, my email or read any of yours for almost two weeks,.  I am holding strong and maintaining my weight.  This morning pre-Thanksgiving feasting I was at 185.1.  We will see how things pan out on my weigh in day Saturday.

My kids have been sick with runny noses, coughs and an ear infection.  I haven’t been able to go to the gym for a couple weeks and really my priority has been just the care of my kids.  We have been hovering at home for the most part, with a few walks here and there.

I didn’t update for the Christmas Dress Challenge last weekend, so I guess I am out.  I haven’t really put it as a priority in my life right now.  I was excited to have a challenge to keep me going, but my kids have been sick it seems like all fall, and now winter is about here and we are still fighting buggy germs.  I have also been fighting off a stuffy  head, sore throat and runny nose as well.  I have been downing the Coldcalm and Zicam like there is no tomorrow.  It hasn’t gotten worst, so maybe it is working.

Even though I am dropping out the Challenge, I am not giving up.  I am hoping to get back on track soon and really hoping that my kids starting getting well enough that I can start taking them back to the gym with me.

This post is full of randomness.  Today is Thanksgiving and I am so very grateful for all of the many blessings in my life.  I have a wonderful family and I feel so grateful to have most of them near enough to gather for holidays like today.  Although we have been battling germs on the home front I am so thankful for me and my family’s health.  Despite the crankiness we have all had over the past month or so, overall we are healthy.  Yeah, I am still in the overweight category, but when I have gone to the doctor all other things check out to be healthy.

I am grateful for my husband’s job.  He doesn’t particularly like his job, but he has stuck it out for 5+ years.  We are on hot pursuit for a new job, and he actually has his first interview next Friday!!  We are not too excited that the job is 2 hours away from where we live now, but if every thing comes together we will move our family to this little po-dunk town, which feels like it is in the middle of nowhere.  I just want my husband to be in a job where he is happy and feels valued by his skills. If moving is what we need to do, it is what we will do.

I am so grateful to be a mom.  My kids are active and keep me on my toes, but they are fun.  My 2 ½ year old daughter is starting to get stronger language skills and this has helped so much in communicating what she wants.  My one year old is full of smiles and laughs (when he isn’t feeling lousy with an ear ache!).  He just brings me so much joy!  I feel blessed to be able to be at home with them.  We make sacrifices where needed and make it work. Being a mom is awesome.

I am grateful for a warm home and modern technology, it just makes life really great!

PS—My sister who has struggled with her weight all of her adult life, has been working hard at losing weight.  She has been on the journey for over a year now and this week she hit the 100 lb pound mark, 101 lbs to be exact!!  I am so proud of her, and she actually weighs less than me now (she is 7 inches taller than me!!! I am the short runt of the family of tall people).  I think that is a pretty awesome accomplishment.

Have a safe Black Friday, for all of those who dare go out shopping.  I may run to a store, but no early crazy shopping for me this year!

Visual Motivation

I know many of you have things to keep you motivated.  Some of you have incentives, or visuals to remind you of your journey.  I decided that I would like to have a little reminder of where I am headed, and where I have been.

This is my little marble monitor. With each pound I lose I get to add a marble.  I have added lines for every 10 lbs.  I made this around a month ago and I haven’t been able to add any marbles.  I haven’t really lost any weight.  My efforts have slowed down and so has my loss.  I look forward to a full vase!

What are you doing to keep your motivation rolling?

Jeans: Picture Update

Picture Update:  Even though I haven’t lost much weight over the past two months (about 5 lbs), my clothes are fitting differently.  At the beginning of summer I found these jeans in a box of clothes (size 16).  I was thrilled mid-summer when I pulled them on and they fit.  They were a little snug at first but now they are super baggy, especially in the rear.

My one year old is always tugging on my pants.  He isn’t quite walking and his way of getting around is holding onto my legs and walking.  He has pulled my too big pants down several times.  Most of my pre-mom clothing is in the 10-12 range and right now I am about a size 14.  So I have got to work harder to get back into those clothes!!

I headed to a thrift sale a couple of weeks ago in search for some new jeans.  The local children’s clothing consignment store also sells juniors clothes as well. They were having a rocking $.50 sale so my quest was to find a pair or two that fit.  I found two pair, both jr’s size 13.  I knew if they didn’t fit, I would like to work towards them working out soon!  The first pair, (pictured below) is a bit on the tight side, but with a long shirt to cover my muffin top they are tolerable.  The second pair which I didn’t take a picture of actually fit pretty good.  I am grateful to have some new pants that are not constantly falling off.  A bit on the tight side, but we will keep working on that.

When it comes to my Christmas goal dress, I am afraid to try it on.  My belly was a half inch bigger when I measured last week.  My legs and lower part of me is getting smaller and my belly and chest are getting bigger!! Yikes, for what ever reason my body wants to think it is pregnant or something.  I am 97% sure I am not, there is always that 3% uncertainty lingering, especially because my tummy still looks it!  Uggg!

How are your clothes feeling these days?

Christmas Dress Countdown Challenge: Week 9

Initial: 189

Week 1: 187.3 (-1.7)

Week 2: 186.9 (-.4)

Week 3: 185.0 (-1.9)

Week 4: 187.3 (+2.3)

Week 5: 186.5 (-.08)

Week 6: 185.5 (-1)

Week 7: 186.5 (+1)

Week 8: 186.5 (0)

Week9: 185.5 (-1)

This week was yet again another roller coaster week.  My sweet son had his first birthday, and both of my kids have been struggling with illness (some stomach flu and colds).  I only made it to the gym once.  It is frustrating to want and have the desire to work out and have things get in the way of it.  I have accepted that this is life and things will stand in the way.  Working out at home just hasn’t been going well with my kids on edge.  I am aiming for this next week to be a better week, with high hopes that the kids will be well again.

I had way too many sweets again this week.  Why must I be so weak!  I did better the later part of the week, but I am hoping next week will be even better.

What is your best defense to your weaknesses?

Christmas Dress Countdown Challenge: Week 8

Christmas Dress Countdown Challenge: Week 8

Initial: 189

Week 1: 187.3 (-1.7)

Week 2: 186.9 (-.4)

Week 3: 185.0 (-1.9)

Week 4: 187.3 (+2.3)

Week 5: 186.5 (-.08)

Week 6: 185.5 (-1)

Week 7: 186.5 (+1)

Week 8: 186.5 (0)

I have not had it in me to blog lately.  My personal blog hasn’t even been updated for over a month.  I have been busy and I haven’t given up, I just don’t fee like sitting on the computer to write.  Ugg.

So I am still here.  I am still working out.  I am still watching what I eat.  No super numbers to report though. 

I was feeling really good about this week. I was down to 183.3 on Thursday and I was excited to be able to report a loss.  Then yesterday morning I went to weigh-in which should have been my official weigh in day but I was astounded by the number 189 (and that was after I had a really great work out, that was even higher than when I began this challenge!!).  I know it was water weight, I have been drinking a ton of water and haven’t had to go to the bathroom nearly as much as I should, weird.  But six pounds over one day where I didn’t go crazy on my calories!!!! Holy Cow.  This is why I decided to post today’s weight rather than yesterdays of 189!

That is one big reason I would rather go by how my clothes fit and my measurements.  I did some experimenting a week or so ago.  I weighed myself in the morning when I first got up.  I ate breakfast and started drinking my water then weighed myself again.  Through the day I periodically weighed myself just to see how many pounds I vary through the day.

Interestingly enough, I varied about four pound though the day.  Really if you think about it drinking two glasses of water you will “gain” a pound.  I often forget to weigh myself at the same time of day and almost always drink a lot of water before I weigh in.

I am not making excuses about not losing lots of weight for this challenge, rather sharing why I don’t let the scale ruin my day. 

I did get in four great work outs this week.  It has been awesome to feel sore.  But the time change this morning wasn’t so awesome.  My kids are early risers and 5am was way too soon for me for a Sunday morning.

Have a great week!

Christmas Dress Countdown Challenge: Week 7

Christmas Dress Countdown Challenge: Week 7

Initial: 189

Week 1: 187.3 (-1.7)

Week 2: 186.9 (-.4)

Week 3: 185.0 (-1.9)

Week 4: 187.3 (+2.3)

Week 5: 186.5 (-.08)

Week 6: 185.5 (-1)

Week 7: 186.5 (+1)

Dang temptations and Halloween parties and goodies.  Enough said.

Christmas Dress Countdown Challenge: Week 6

Initial: 189

Week 1: 187.3 (-1.7)

Week 2: 186.9 (-.4)

Week 3: 185.0 (-1.9)

Week 4: 187.3 (+2.3)

Week 5: 186.5 (-.08)

Week 6: 185.5 (-1)

This week was another really busy week.  I was challenged by reader Michele to not have any desserts this week.  I did great the first five days, and only okay the last two days.  I had to make some spiced almonds for a church outing and I had several here and there, but for the majority of the week I refrained from candy, desserts and all things wonderfully sweet. 

I am going to do my best to do it again this week.  I have been super busy with some church assignments so all of my spare time has been consumed. 

This is the first week since starting my weight loss where I only got in two days of exercise. I usually get 4-6 work outs in.  This week will be equally busy, but I will do my best to get a few more in.

Sorry for the lack of posting and commenting for this challenge.  My priorities have been else where.  I am still trekking along and not giving up.  Just super busy with lots of things going on, so blogging falls low on the list.

Have a fabulous week!

Christmas Dress Countdown Challenge: Week 5

Initial: 189

Week 1: 187.3 (-1.7)

Week 2: 186.9 (-.4)

Week 3: 185.0 (-1.9)

Week 4: 187.3 (+2.3)

Week 5: 186.5 (-.08)

It has been a crazy busy week.  I began tracking my food again this week and for what ever reason I have been retaining water like crazy.  Finally yesterday the bloat started going down. 

I weigh in on Saturdays and I weighed 186.5.  Happy it is headed back down again.

My eating was good for most of the week and water was good too.  I also got in five workouts (two of them at 6:30am, and I am not a morning person!!).

Tonight we celebrated my sisters 40^th birthday with a dessert bar and I over indulged.  I am going to have to work out extra hard this week!

Christmas Dress Countdown Challenge: Week 4

Initial: 189

Week 1: 187.3 (-1.7)

Week 2: 186.9 (-.4)

Week 3: 185.0 (-1.9)

Week 4: 187.3 (+2.3)

So here we are another week passed.  Last week I squeaked by with a loss, this week, not so lucky.  I weighed in this morning at 187.3.

I am back to where I started four weeks ago at the beginning of this challenge.  It is like I have forgotten that I am trying to get somewhere with weight loss. 

This week wasn’t so good.  After last weeks chocolate fest at my in-laws, and not the best eating choices this week, it makes perfect sense that I had a gain.  I know it will go down.  I know what it will take, re-committing.

I haven’t tracked for two weeks.  The first week went fine (until chocolate fest), and this week it all caught up with me.  I only was able to work out three times this week and that also has also taken a toll on me.  For me to lose I need to work out between 5-6 times a week.

So today as a new day I am looking forward again.  I am back to tracking and going to try to fit in 5+ work outs this week.

I hope you are all doing well.  Have a great week.

Persistence and the CPA

My husband has a degree in accounting.  He is an auditor right now, and his ultimate goal is to not be an auditor and maybe go into fraud investigation.  On this journey he has been working towards becoming a CPA, Certified Public Accountant.  To become a CPA you have to take four grueling exams.  After you pass one section, you have 18 months to pass the remaining three sections.  It is said that the CPA is worst than the BAR for attorneys.

The short of the story is, my husband didn’t take the CPA immediately following graduation from college and has been taking and re-taking these exams for many years (4+). He has been slaving away at these exams our whole marriage.  It has been our ball and chain.  All of our time has revolved around studying and the next test date.

He passed three sections then lost credit on one section, so he had to re-take it.  On that re-take round he missed the mark by one point. And the one he hadn’t passed yet, he missed it by one point as well. This was not the first time he was a point away from passing, success was just hanging on a string in front of us.  Frustrating!!! 

We decided this year, that this last testing window was it.  He was going to take the last two exams one more time and we were calling it quits.  The end.  Enough is enough.   We handed it over to the Lord and stated we have given it our best shot, year after year and now if it doesn’t happen we know it isn’t meant to be!

We have spent thousand’s (between $8,000-10,000 the hubs doesn’t want me to add it up!) on testing fees and our lives can no longer revolve around this exam.

Well, after a lot of work and sacrifices in many areas of life he DID IT!  My husband finally passed the CPA exam!  I am sooo grateful to be closing this chapter of our lives.  We are now seeking a new job and have high hopes he will find something that is a better fit for him.

Since this is my weight loss blog, I will liken it to weight loss.  Persistence.  You must never lose hope of your goal, even when it doesn’t seem possible or even something worth working for any longer.  There are angels out there cheering you on.  Allow them to help you keep your head lifted.

I always believed my husband could pass the CPA exam, I just never dreamt it would be so challenging.  It doesn’t seem real yet, but I am so proud of him for being persistent.

May we keep our visions straight and keep plugging away!!

Chocolate Fest and a Sleep Number Bed

Over the weekend the hubs, kids and I all went to the in-laws for a little staycation.  They have a spare sleep number bed that we wanted to try out to see if it would help us get better sleep.  I spent several weeks, several years ago at a friend’s that had a sleep number bed and all I remember is being uncomfortable and rolling onto my friends side of the bed, due to different number preferences.  Not the best rest. I found the same this time around.

We stayed at the in-laws for three nights.  First night: lots of waking up and adjusting the number.  Second night: not too bad, slept well but was probably so tired from my lack of rest the first night.  Third night: uncomfortable and sore.  I felt just like I had woken up in my own bed.

We decided not to make the switch, at least not for now.  There is no reason to change  out one bed that you wake up achy in, to another bed that leaves you achy.  We were going to buy a memory foam bed a month or so ago, but instead we had a different impulse buy, which drained our funds… a mini-van.  Yeah, now I am a mini-van mom. 

While staying with the in-laws I went crazy on chocolate.  My mother-in-law has got junk food all over the place and I took the Liberty to help myself.  She even has a fridge in the garage full of chocolate.  I have never opened it though!  When ever I am at their house I am weak, so many temptations.

I made sure I chugged a ton of water while inhaling the cocoa.  Before I got to their place I was bloated, and the whole stay I was even more bloated!  I could hardly stand to keep my jeans buttoned up! I gained a like four pounds over the weekend (so much for my loss!).  Thank goodness the scales are declining again.  I will be lucky if I actually have a loss this week, we will see once Saturday rolls around. Yikes!

So back to life on the home front.  Things are busy between the kids and church, but I will continue to move forward.

I have tried to comment on several blogs and I am not able to again.  I have no idea why.  Just know I am out there reading several of your blogs.  Keep on trekking along!

Rambling Battles in my Head

I have wanted to get back into running for a long time.  I used to run, or should I say jog 5k’s several times a week.  I did this for several years.  Since having my two little ones, I have not been able to run with out pain in my neck, shoulders and back.  This is a pain I have had for several years, but it is getting progressively worst, even with help of a chiropractor. Kind of driving me crazy!

I started back to a chiropractor six months ago and I have seen improvement, but every time I run my neck gets all messed up, almost to the point of screaming pain.  Tomorrow I have another appointment and I am tempted to go running right before just so I can get another run in, then get adjusted.  But the best thing would be to find something else to challenge myself to enjoy.  I have tried the elliptical, it is alright but my heart is just not there.  I get bored.  Even with my ipod and a magazine.  I do like cycling, but not so much on a stationary bike.  For what ever reason, that irritates my neck as well.  

I feel at odds.  I feel like when I run, I really can drop pounds.  I have minimized my running the past couple months, so I wouldn’t be in such pain and the scale is much slower.  I like the challenge of running.  It isn’t easy for me and my heart rate gets up real quick.  I like to see how far, and how fast I can go in 45 minutes. But my pain in the neck is just that, a PAIN in the neck!  So, now I am on a quest to find my new favorite challenge. 

Enough of the whining.  Moving forward.

What really gives you an awesome burn?? Please do share.

(something that doesn’t involve running or jumping)

Christmas Dress Countdown Challenge: Week 3

Initial: 189

Week 1: 187.3 (-1.7)

Week 2: 186.9 (-.4)

Week 3: 185.0 (-1.9)

Things are moving along this week.  I did not track, it was my little experiment.  I tried to eat as I would if I were tracking, being moderate.  I exercised four times at the gym and got in an additional walk.

I choose not to track my food, to get my mind off of food.  I have found when I am tracking I am constantly thinking about food.  I think it makes me more hungry.  I didn’t skimp on calories, so it is surprising I did lose weight at all.

One of the other reasons I didn’t want to track is I wanted to really focus on listening to what my body needs.  A few weeks ago I had all sorts of labs done at the doctor, cause for the last little while I have been feeling off.  The only thing that we have found deficient is my iron.  It has been running a little bit low.  It makes sense, I feel like it has been more than my blood sugar.

This week when I felt like things were getting low I made myself a green smoothie (water, milk, spinach, strawberries and protein powder). I guess that is another reason I didn’t want to count calories.  They aren’t the lowest calorie snack (266 calories), but they help me level out.  And hey, I still lost weight!  I am not going to worry about how many calories are in my green smoothies.  They help me keep my energy up and keep me from snacking too much between meals.

So here we are venturing off into the next week.  I will post some updates about my book a little later this week. I am at my in-laws for the weekend so things have been on hold.

Have a great week. Let's rock week 4!

Salsa Fresca!

I shared this on my other blog and I thought I would share it here as well!
Super Delicious!

Salsa Fresca

12 roma tomatos
1 green pepper
4 banana peppers
1 jalapeno pepper (more if you like it spicy)
3 sprigs of green onion chopped
½ onion chopped
1 cup chopped cilantro
1 lime, juiced
1 tsp. kosher salt


Chop and seed peppers, place on a baking sheet. Broil in the oven until edges are slightly charred. Keep an eye on them, they may toast quickly. Remove and allow to cool. Coarsely chop tomatoes, green onion, onion, cilantro and add to a large bowl. Add roasted peppers, and add the juice of the whole lime and salt. And Enjoy!

Christmas Dress Countdown Challenge: Week 2

Initial: 189

Week 1: 187.3 (-1.7)

Week 2: 186.9 (-.4)

This is going to be brief, but I am ecstatic for my minuscule loss.  I finally broke 187, barely.  But I am going to take it and run with it! I am slowly breaking free from my slump.  I am feeling better and feeling emotionally stronger (which is one of the areas I have been suffering the most over the past couple of weeks).

I expect the numbers to keep declining this week.  I am getting back into the gym and pushing myself again and I will conquer my difficulties.  Today I am very sore from yesterday’s awesome work out.

This week I am going to push harder on my workouts but I am going to take a different approach on my eating.  I am going to step away from counting calories and really pay attention to my body's cravings.  Since I have started counting calories (in June) I have found that I am not eating as much red meat and in turn my iron is low and I think that is one of the reasons I have had difficulty keeping myself in balance.  Low iron and low blood sugar creates a cranky tired person.  I really won’t do much different in my eating, but I need to take away the tracking for a week to see what things are like.  I know some of you will consider this a dieting sin, but it is what I need to do.

Have a great week.  I am looking forward to finally getting my head into to the Christmas Dress Challenge!!

Bogged Down? Tell it to the Punching Bag!

When upon life’s billows you are tempest tossed,

When you are discouraged thinking all is lost,

Count your many blessings name them one by one.

And it will surprise you what the Lord has done.

Are you ever burdened with a load of care,

Does the cross seem heavy you are called to bear?

Count your many blessings, every doubt will fly,

And you will be singing as the days go by.

Click Here to listen or for the music...

This hymn has been buzzing through my head all morning.  I have felt some of life’s burdens bogging me down.  Some of the things are things I have control over, and some of the things I only have control over how I act and react.  I am so very blessed, sometimes I don’t see my blessings clearly and they lie in a fog.

In attempt to remedy my frustrations and lift the fog in my mind, I took it out on the punching bag. (Another blessing, I actually have a pretty awesome gym set up in my home.) I kicked, punched and back handed the bag with all my might.  I allowed myself to grunt and groan as loud as I felt and gave it all I have got. 

I am not feeling really well (stomach bug again!), so my beating of the bag was a brief 12 minute session, topped off with riding my bike that is propped up on a trainer.  Now that I am cleaned up and getting on with my day I feel a little better.  My issues are the same and nothing is solved, but channeling my frustrations on the bag was helpful.  I can now choose to have a better attitude and hope my body doesn’t freeze in soreness tomorrow.

In the mean time I need to keep my sisters motto in mind, “Good things are coming my way!”  I actually should be saying to myself, “My life is full of wonderful!”  It really is.  I have the cutest kids and a supportive husband.  What more could a girl ask for?? 

Life is good, and I shouldn’t let the things of life bog me down and cloud my vision. 

Good things are comm’en my way!

Vison Boards...

I have always been a big fan of creating a vision of what you want in life then, getting out and accomplishing those things.

For several years now I have created vision boards to create a pathway of what I would like to accomplish in that year.  Having the visual helps me stay on track and remind me of what I want to accomplish and things I want to over come. 

I have had a saying for many years, “I get what I want in life!”  Some times what I want changes, or I get to choose to change, because the outcomes are not what I had originally planned.  But over all I feel it is  important to paint the picture of what you want in life and reach for it.

Here are some examples of my vision boards from the past years.  Each picture symbolizes something of importance in my life or a goal I would like to accomplish.

For my weight loss journey I made a few  “vision boards”.  These are a bit more simple but they symbolize my goals and rewards that I plan to give myself ever ten pound of loss.

What do you do to keep yourself motivated? Do you have a vision board? Please do share!

Christmas Dress Countdown Challenge: Week 1

Initial weigh in: 189

Week 1: 187.3 (-1.7)

Here we are one week down, I experienced a loss, but really isn’t much a of loss since for the past several weeks I have been teetering between 187-189. 

I am still having a difficult time getting full swing into the challenge.  I am hoping that I can get my head back into things this next week!

I did get in my work outs this week, and tracked most days, but a crazy week got in my way of tracking every day.  Again, thank goodness for a new week!

Hope you guys are all doing fantastic!

The Low Blood Sugar Handbook: Chapter One....tidbits

I thought I would post a little blurb from each chapter of my challenge book….

The Low Blood Sugar handbook:

Edward and Patrica Kimmel,

Chapter One—Could this be you?

The first chapter of this book goes over common symptoms of low blood sugar.  The list is lengthy. I will list my symptoms I deal with when I don’t take care of myself (through diet).  Unfortunately my list is lengthy too.  I think I had all but maybe 5 symptoms before my diagnosis of Hypoglycemia.  In doing my first research I found that the only way to treat blood sugar is through diet.  What!!! No magic pill!!  Bummer.

Take a look at this list, does it seem all too familiar?  Maybe you are a low blood sugar sufferer too.  I will continue to post information from my challenge book maybe you will find it helpful too.

Tiredness

Headaches

Drowsiness

Concentration problems

Irritability

Sleeping difficulties

Dizziness

Anxiety

Forgetfulness

Visual disturbances

Depression

Fainting/blackouts

Nightmares

Digestive problems

Aching eye sockets

Lack of sex drive

Indecisiveness

Heart palpitations

Internal trembling

Mental confusion

Antisocial behavior

Obesity

Restlessness

Back ache and muscle pain

Cold hands/feet

Nervousness

Exhaustion

Temper outbursts

Sensitivity to light

Sensitivity to sound

Allergies

Crying spells

Negative thoughts and attitudes

Feeling of going mad, insane

Staggering

Craving for sweets

Unnecessary or excessive worrying

Mood swings

Waking up tired and exhausted

Sighing and yawning

“motor mouth” constant talking

Phew….  That is it, I think.  Hang tight I will cover chapter two soon to give you a little more information about what hypoglycemia is and how it can be treated.

Christmas Dress Countdown Challenge: Initial Post

Christmas Dress Countdown Challenge (CDCC)

It is a great time to start a challenge.  Let me tell you, I need it.  The past month has been challenging and I have not lost any weight.  My energy has been shot, have had an injured foot and I have felt nauseous a lot.  Not only have I been having troubles, my kids have been sick too.  When the kids get sick I am not able to go to the gym.  Needless to say my work outs have been minimal.  I really would like to get back into the routine I had over summer of going to the gym 5-6 times a week.  My mood reflects the need as well.

I have been teetering +/-2 lbs.  I ended the Slimmer this Summer at 187.9.  Today I am at 189.  I have been suck in this little slump for a month.  I am ready to break away from the 180’s, almost 190’s.  I want to start feeling better.  I am not sure what is going to take.

I have a doctor’s appointment next week to get my thyroid checked.  I have had it checked before and supposedly it is in the normal range.  I just want to see if there is something I can do to help me feel a little better.

So on to the dress….

Right now since I am a stay at home mom and we are a “one income family” money is tight.  It wouldn’t be so bad, but my husband works for the state and with budget cuts and our house falling apart all around us, money is hard to come by (especially because we do not believe in debt).

In reality I don’t need a new dress, and probably don’t have any fancy shmancy Christmas parties to go to.  So I perused the local thrift store to find my dress of choice.  I wanted to find something a little bit retro, a little bit 50’s inspired, a belted dress of some sort.

I got lucky and found something up my ally.  It is a size 12. Right now I am pushing a 14 (with things being tight in the belly area).  I was happy that when I went into the dressing room that I was able to squeeze into it.  Granted, I wouldn’t wear the dress today in public, but for the purpose of this challenge I will post pictures.  Bear with me here honeys! I am looking a bit pregnant, argh!

I spent $23.00 on the dress and shoes.  Not a bad bargain, but for me it was like pulling teeth.  I don’t spend money on myself very often, and right now we don’t really have a whole lot to spare.  I had to have a long drawn out conversation with myself after leaving the store that I better get back on the wagon and get moving.  In the mean time I got sick, which has been really annoying.  I am feeling manageable, just now if I could get my son’s nose to stop running.  We will be gym bound soon!

Part of the challenge is choosing a book to assist us through the next few months. The book I choose is The Low Blood Sugar Handbook by Edward and Patricia Krimmel.  I have read it in the past and I would like to revisit it.  It will be a great reminder of what I need to change with my eating habits to get me on track.  I hope to share my insights from this book. I have found in the past this is a helpful tool in keeping my blood sugar in balance.  I am sure there are others out there too that can benefit from this book too.

Challenge Details:

-September 11 through December 18... That's 14 Weeks to a Smaller Dress Size

-Get the dress: One size smaller with pictures

-Caloric intake goal

-Exercise minimum 3x week

-Be consistent: Don’t be a yo-yo!

-Hydrate sufficiently

-Choose one or more books and work on your main obstacle to losing issue

-Initial post September 11 post your weight and goals

-One update a post a week by Sunday evening link up.  Also one additional blog post a week.

-Be supportive visit and comment on at least 3 blogs Challengers blogs

My Stats:

-Start Weight: 189

-Dress Size: Aiming to fit into a size 12 (currently 14+ish)

-My Book: The Low Blood Sugar Handbook: Edward and Patricia Kimmel

-Calories: 1300/day 165 carbs a day with fiber adjustment (see here for explanation)

-Water: 10 glasses of water a day (80 oz)

-Photo: Here are my lovely before photos!