Usually you don’t see me around here on the weekends, but I just had to come on and let everyone know that I jogged for 21 minutes straight today!!!!  I couldn’t believe it :)  It wasn’t easy and there at the end (last two minutes) I was counting down every second.  My goal was to reach 20 minutes straight by this coming Friday.  So since the goal was reached I get to do my own TOUCHDOWN DANCE (to warm up for the Steelers tomorrow of course.)  Now, I have so many people to thank for getting me this far that it may feel like I just won an Oscar and am giving out my speech.

Bobbie- Thank you so much for doing this challenge with me.  Watching your progress has given me the push I needed to succeed.

My Diet Tribe (Kama, Nancy, Nicole, Deb, Lori, and Tracey) - Thank you for keeping me on track when I’m not logged on here. 

Nancy, thanks for the bootie bounce and for not calling me Theresa

My Wonderful Wildcats - Thank you for being such wonderful teammates.  Watching you all succeed fills me with great pride and makes me work harder to uphold our standards.

My Other Buddyslim Buddies - Thank you for your booster notes, your emails, your laughter and for being you.  You all have made it possible for me to want to continue on this journey.

Other Buddyslimmers-Whether you are old and we have just ever crossed paths, or new and I’m just getting to know you, Thank you as well for adding to the popularity of the site.  I wish I could get to know each and every one of you as I’m sure you would also add something extra to this wonderful trip.

Okay, well the producer is telling me to wrap things up, so I’m grabbing my Oscar and heading off stage. 

Hey All,
I just wanted to share that I started a new thread in the weight loss challenge forum. It’s called Post Your Progress!! My hope is that anyone that wants to particpate (hopefully lots of you) will post their pics and their measurements and update them on at least a monthly basis.

Good Morning buddies!  Well, once again I have to thank my supportive diet tribe for getting me through yesterday.  Nicole, Kama, Nancy, Tracey, and Lori…if it wasn’t for the laughter, you may have had to pool together bail money.  ;)  What a day I had yesterday.  For those of you that don’t know, my husband, Tim, got laid off about two weeks before Christmas.  He is now home all the time.  I am missing my ME time.  I feel claustrophobic.  I tried to explain it to him the other night, but he didn’t seem to get it.  Sorry guys, but most men don’t “get” what women are feeling alot of the times.  So anyway, woke up yesterday in a foul mood.  It was so bad I could hardly stand being around myself.  My body has been sore from head to foot since Sunday with all my workouts, I haven’t saw a episode of CSI since the new season began and there is housework that Tim does half-assed that I have to finish up.  All in all…it was just a crappy day.  I made it through though and decided on an extra workout last night to help relieve the stress and burn off the dark chocolate candy bar I had.  On the treadmill I go.  Pulled up some of my favorite music on my MP3 player and swore to myself that I was going to put my body through the paces once again. *Cranks the music up loud and starts jogging*  Wow!  I’m feeling much better.  *Picks up the pace a bit more*  Okay, now I can really feel the burn and I’m working towards the rare runners high. *Keeps it going* YES!!!!  That is exactly what I needed.  Get off the treadmill with sweat just a pouring out of my pores.  My breath is ragged and my legs feel like jelly.  God, I feel so good!!!  Spend a couple of minutes cooling down and stretching and KNEW that was just what I needed to help put Tim back in my good graces.  Go out to the kitchen and get a glass of water and you know what he says to me?  “I thought Randy was warming up his rig to make a run.”  *Look at him quizzically*  Then he says…oh, it wasn’t Randy…it was you running on the treadmill.  Sounded like a truck was getting ready to come through the house.  Well, let me tell ya ladies…all that hard work that I put in trying not to kill the jerk just about went out the window.  I was thinking that if I went over to Randy’s and told his wife what had just transpired, she would have gone out to the garage to get the rope so I could tie him up and run him over.  I won’t repeat here the names that I called him, because I don’t want anyone to get offended, but I think any sailor that would have heard me would have gone crying to mommy about the girl with the foul mouth!  The funniest part was watching him try to back pedal his way out of that one.  I think the gears in his brain were working so hard that he sprung a sprocket!!  After about 20 minutes of him trying to unlodge his foot out of his mouth (that I forcefully shoved there) he finally got around to saying…”What I meant was…I’m proud of you for working as hard as you are.”  Okay, I guess I will let him off the hook.  Fortunately for me, I didn’t let on that I was leaving him off the hook.  Guess who got up early this morning, folded the wash; washed, dried, and put away the dishes, made me breakfast, and told me twice how good I looked today?  LMAO!  I feel much better now.

Saturday night Tim (my husband) and I went out to a local watering hole for karaoke.  We have been regulars there for probably the past ten years, which means we know practically everyone that walks in the door.  Some of them we see on a regular basis and some of them we see once or twice a year, but they are all friends of ours.  So we were out having a good time and socializing and what not and I was a bit surprised that nobody really commented on my weight loss.  Not that I was looking for compliments mind you, but you would have thought somebody would have said something to me.  Anyway, while driving home that night, Tim says to me that I wouldn’t believe how many people came up to HIM and said how great I looked and asked what I was doing to make it work.  He proceeded to tell them that it was three basic rules…

1.  Watch how much I eat

2.  Exercise to burn it off

3.  Water, water, water

He then (being Mr. Observant) said “That’s right isn’t it?”  My reply, “Yeah, what else would I be doing?”  He then said that several people commented that I had to be doing something else.  What kind of diet pill was I taking?  The answer being none.  He then tells me that they wouldn’t take that for an answer.  She has to be taking something.  Folks, I’m here to tell you once again that weight loss is common sense and hard work.  It’s that simple.  Yes, it’s alot of busting your rear end and yes, it can be alot of sacrifices and a long and hard road to travel.  But it is a journey that you can take without the use of any crutch or pill. 

Anyway, back to the title of my blog…these people that didn’t come up to tell ME how good I looked, but they never came up to tell me I was fat and needed to lose weight either.  I learned an important lesson this weekend.  These people love ME for ME.  Fat or skinny.  Happy or grumpy.  I am learning to love me like they do.  My advice is for you all to do the same.  Love yourself today and every day. 

Anj

Good Morning everyone in Buddyslimland!  How are we all feeling today?  I am feeling MUCH better than I did yesterday.  You see I was stressing out over a doctors appointment for yesterday…wait…no, that’s an excuse.  I just did crappy yesterday and Wednesday.  I have copied my confession for all to read:

Alright ladies,
I know we are all busy with work, but there is something that I have to confess to and I think I will feel much better once I do.  The past 16 hours have not been good for me diet or exercise wise.  Last night it was chicken quesadillas for supper.  Not too bad but then it was a banana split from Dairy Queen around 8.  I set the alarm this morning to get on the treadmill and then it went off and I laid there for a hour trying to talk myself into it and for whatever reason I just couldn’t.  I thought that I was just stressing over my doctors appointment, but now that I’m cleared and things look well on that aspect things aren’t looking well in others.  I haven’t even cracked open my water bottle today and had a turkey and bacon club on white bread with mayo for lunch (Hope, i.e. “the boss” bought lunch).  I very easily could have had a salad and should have, but I didn’t.  Then it’s meatloaf, mashed potatoes and corn for supper tonight, one of my favorites.  I feel so guilty because I won’t be able to get on the treadmill tonight either due to having to run errands after work and then weigh in is looming tomorrow. 
 
Okay, now I’m going to give myself a pep talk…I can’t change the past 16 hours.  I can only forge ahead.  I will adapt and do my best and use right now as a new starting point. 
 
Did I mention that Hope brought in candy bars that her daughter is selling and they are out of site, but not out of mind?
 
HELP!

Yep…there it is for all to see…I need to own up to it.  I only showed a 1 ounce loss today and I can’t help but wondering how much I screwed up there.  But you know what?  It’s OKAY!  As I have told some other Wildcatters that have gained or maintained this week…look ahead.  It’s a brand new week for us.  We can start working NOW to make it a better week next week.  Kama, Nancy, Nicole, Tracey, Lori…I don’t know what I would have done without your support yesterday through email.  You guys continue to remind me and each other that we just need to forge ahead.  THANK YOU!

Speaking of my buddies, some of them are going through a really rough time right now.  It’s not my place to share their pain or their problems, but I want them to know that if I could switch places with them I would.  If I could hop on a plane and fly to Arizona or California…I would be on the next flight out.  You ladies (and many others, you know who you are) have become such an important part of my life.   When I fall off the wagon you give me a soft place to land and a helping hand back up.  When I feel like giving up on the race…you remind me that you are waiting at the finishing line for me.  When it’s 2 in the afternoon and I haven’t even started drinking my water, you remind me of how well you all are doing and that I don’t want to be left in the dust.  My sense of gratitude cannot be put into words.

 If you have read all of these ramblings I see you as one of two types of people.  You are either sitting there nodding your head, saying “Yep, I got buddies like that!”  Or you are wondering how to get buddies like that.  Well, if you need a buddy like that I will be happy to share mine or become yours myself.  This journey that begins with a single step should NOT be walked alone.  I, and the rest of my buddies, will walk with you.  For those of you that have buddies like that, consider yourself very lucky.  However, nobody can ever have too many friends and I will be there for you as well

Have a wonderful Friday!

Love,

Anj

Some of you have expressed an interest in what quotes I have on my wall.  I have some of these up now and will replace them when I get tired of looking at them with the other ones.  Please feel free to use them to stay THINspired and send me some of yours as well so I can add them onto my wall

 ~Every worthwhile accomplishment, big or small, has its states of drudgery and triumph; a beginning, a struggle and a victory.

~The greatest thing you have is the 24 hours in front of you.  The past is gone; the future is distant.  Today you CAN succeed.  Set a goal you can achieve in the next 24 hours.

~If you can imagine it, you can achieve it.  If you dream it, you can become it.  Discipline is the bridge between goals and accomplishments.

~No one can make you feel inferior without your permission.

~Above all challenge yourself, you may be surprised at what you can achieve.

~I was always looking outside myself for strength and confidence but it comes from within.  It was there all the time.

~Do not go where the path may lead.  Go instead where there is no path and leave a trail.

~The man who can drive himself further once the effort gets painful is the man who will win.

~If you keep at it, one day something that seemed impossible will become merely something very difficult indeed.

~No matter who you are, no matter what you do, you absolutely, positively have the power to change.

~The greatest pleasure in life is doing what people say you cannot do.

~My world is expanding as my butt is shrinking.

~You have got to say, I think that if I keep working at this and want it badly enough I can have it.  It’s called perseverance.

~My life tomorrow will be the result of my attitude and the choices I make today.

~You may have to fight a battle more than once to win it.

~The only person who can stop me…is me…and I can take her.

~Failure will never overtake me if my determination to succeed is strong enough.

~Do not let what you cannot do interfere with what  you can do.

~There isn’t a person anywhere that isn’t capable of doing more than he thinks he can.

~Destiny is not a matter of chance, it’s a matter of choice; it is not a thing to be waited for, it is a thing to be achieved.

~Do whatever it takes, whenever it needs to be done, regardless of whether you feel like doing it or not.

~Never give up on a dream just because of the length of time it will take to achieve it.  The time will pass anyway.

~Never, ever give up!!!

~You must act as if it is impossible to fail.

~The greater the obstacle, the more glory in overcoming it.

~Nothing tastes as good as being thin feels.

~If a problem is not caused by food, food can’t solve it.

~To lengthen your life, shorten your meals.

~It’s a lack of faith that makes people afraid of meeting challenges, and I believe in myself

~Shoot for the moon….even if you miss, you’ll land among the stars

~Being defeated is often a temporary condition.  Giving up is what makes it permanent

~Winners are dreamers that never give up

~If you do what you always did, you will always get what you always got.

~Eat for the body you want, not the body you have.

~I would rather skinny dip than chunky dunk!

~It’s never too late to be what you might have been.

~The train to success usually runs on the track of determination

~There is no strength without struggle

~One should eat to live, not live to eat

~Success is the ability to go from one failure to another with great enthusiasm

~You can’t change the past but you can change the future

~When you look in the mirror you are looking at the problem.  You are also looking at the solution.

~The tiger can’t change her spots.  No, wait, she did!  Good for her!!!!

~My will shall shape the future.  Whether I fail or succeed shall be no man’s doing but my own.  I am the force: I can clear any obstacle before me or I can be lost in the maze.  My choice; win or lose, only I hold the key to my destiny

Send her some love!

Thanks for being our fearless leader!

Here are some pictures of my THINspiration wall!  Let me tell ya…it sure helps keep the treadmill interesting!  I have about 30 inspiring quotes up there, some great pics, and my “helly kitty” calendar that I made.  Each day I get to put a kitty on the calendar if I got my butt moving to get on the treadmill.  Thus comes in the childlike behavior.  Let me start by saying that my daughter, Paige, is 8.  Sometimes she acts older (okay alot of the times), but she is still 8 years old.  If feels good to have her look up to her mommy and it feels better knowing that I’m being a positive role model in her life.  HOWEVER, after getting off the treadmill yesterday (she was in the bedroom with me) I immediately went to put my sticker on the calendar.  She got them out, got out the tape and took the calendar off the wall.  Her reply to my question of “What are you doing?” was “Putting your sticker on for you mom.”  Ummmm….okay now, I know it’s a silly thing and I should have just let her put on the sticker, but darn it….I worked for that sticker!  I earned that sticker!  I wanted the satisfaction of putting it on the calendar!!!!!!!  So I did.  LOL, I wasn’t mean about it or anything, I just explained that I appreciate her help, but that was Mommy’s calendar and mommy was going to do it.  Of course I felt like a total heel afterwards so I let her put my quarter in the jar from Deb’s challenge.  Anyway, I  hope you like my wall and you find a place of your own that keeps you motivated.  If you would like me to share any of the quotes that I have just give me a yell and I will happily forward them!

Anj

 View from the treadmill:

One of my favorite quotes

My kitty calendar

Twas The Month After Christmas

Twas the month after Christmas and all through the house
Nothing would fit me, not even a blouse.

The cookies I’d nibbled, the eggnog I’d taste.
All the holiday parties had gone to my waist.

When I got on the scales there arose such a number!
When I walked to the store (less a walk than a lumber).

I’d remember the marvelous meals I’d prepared;
The gravies and sauces and beef nicely rared,

The wine and the rum balls, the bread and the cheese
And the way I’d never said, “No thank you, please.”

As I dressed myself in my husband’s old shirt
And prepared once again to do battle with dirt—

I said to myself, as I only can
“You can’t spend a winter disguised as a man!”

So–away with the last of the sour cream dip,
Get rid of the fruit cake, every cracker and chip

Every last bit of food that I like must be banished
Till all the additional ounces have vanished.

I won’t have a cookie–not even a lick.
I’ll want only to chew on a long celery stick.

I won’t have hot biscuits, or corn bread, or pie,
I’ll munch on a carrot and quietly cry.

I’m hungry, I’m lonesome, and life is a bore—
But isn’t that what January is for?

Unable to giggle, no longer a riot.
Happy New Year to all and to all a good diet!

Good Morning to everyone in Buddyslim land!  I am so glad to be back to work and ready to get back into the swing of things. :)  I am not normally the type to make resolutions for the New Year, but there are somethings that I want to accomplish so I thought I would write them down here. 

1.  Take a class.  It doesn’t matter if it is a painting class, a computer class, a homebuyers course or whatever.  Just take a class of some kind.

2.  Volunteer.  Again, I’m not sure in what capacity, but my daughter is old enough to start volunteering a bit, kinda.  (She’s 8).  It’s never too early to learn right? 

3.  Tone up!!!  If I don’t lose anymore weight, I will be okay with that if I can at least tone up what I have.

4.  Be honest.  With myself.

5.  Be honest.  With my family.  (I’m always the peacekeeper and put my feelings aside to not offend others)

6.  Save some money.  You realize that if you can save $20 a week that’s $1,040 per year?

I’m sure there are other things that I would like to do or improve on.  That’s what I’m writing this blog for.  I can revisit, change, add or delete as needed.

Thanks for letting me share!

BTW, if anyone has some good ideas on classes or volunteering I would love to hear them!