Happy New Year!!!

Happy New Year!!! I'M BACK!!! I can't believe the last time I posted was 2013!!! It's time to get back on track and get my head in the game! This year's resolution is to get out of my comfort zone more. Maybe try a new class at my gym or a new food (healthy of course).
Hope everyone has a great year and keep to your goals!!!
Here is to an amazing you in 2017!!!

Putting my vacation behind me...

Maybe I shouldn't be blaming it all on my one week vacation. I guess you can say that I have been slowly gaining the weight back before I left for my vacation. However, eating on the road certainly hasn't helped either. I gained a total of 8 pounds in one week. That put me at a higher weight than when I started on this journey. I have 2 options in front of me now, 1) beat myself up over it and continue down the path of not caring what I ate or 2) Learn from the experience and make today a new day. I choose to take option #2. I'm not ready to give up on this journey. Most importantly, I'm not ready to give up on myself.
So I am declaring war once again. Let the Belly Battles begin. And this time, I will NOT be defeated!!!

Scale Battles

We need to learn to focus more on how we feel than the numbers on the scale. It can be very frustrating when the numbers on the scale don't reflect our efforts. But if YOU know you did your best, and continue to do your best, you will start to see those numbers drop again. Don't give up! Keep on going!

Childhood Obesity!!

This season on Biggest Loser, they attacked the subject of childhood obesity. I was once one of those people that looked at obese kids and thought how awful it was that those parents allowed their children to get big at such a young age. After all, my daughter had always been of normal weight and fairly active, until now. My husband had taken her to her yearly well check and came home with news that floored me. The doctor had informed him that our daughter had gained 20 lbs in one year. It was a little hard for me to swallow, I am still trying to get over the initial shock, but I know that I need to make some serious changes here at home.
I feel like the worst parent in the world. How did I let it get this out of control? Twenty pounds in one year for anyone is a significant weight gain let alone for a 10 year old girl. I know that some of you might tell me that I shouldn't beat myself up and that I'm not a bad mom. I want to first thank you for your loving and kind words. Now I am going to give you a little dose of reality. Who is her example? Me. Who bought the food and brought it into the house and made it available? Me. Who sends her to school everyday to eat pizza, corn dogs, burgers, and other junk food items? Me. Who lets her sit in front of the TV and Computer for hours because it's convenient when I have things to get done? Me. Ok so maybe I'm not the WORST parent, but I still can't help but feel responsible for what we're facing.
I know that I can make the necessary changes that need to be made to reverse this. She's too young to go on a diet and lose weight, so what then? Mom needs to make some serious life changes in the home. Mom needs to put her foot down and stand her ground when it comes to the health of her children. Because my biggest challenge will be getting the rest of the family on board with these changes.

I AM READY TO TEACH MY CHILDREN BETTER HABITS!!!

ZUMBA!!!

Here are a few of my favorite Zumba memes and pics from classes.

LOL

Zumba instructor Alena who came out from SF to teach a Master Class here in Idaho. 

This sign is posted in the studio where I take class.

This is my girl Ashley right here. Best Zumba instructor EVER!!!

Party In Pink!! A cause very dear to my heart since both my Mom and Grandma have both been diagnosed with Breast Cancer and have survived it. 

The Blame Game!!!

How do you let every day life get in the way of your goals? It's simple; blaming others. I am the Queen of excuses. I couldn't go to the gym because I had to take my Mother or Grandmother somewhere. My husband's work schedule only allows me to go to workout at certain times on certain days. Sometimes it had to do with one or more of my four kids. And then there's the usual suspects; "I'm too tired," "as long as I go tomorrow it's OK " "I woke up late". There is always that someone or something that we use as an excuse that keeps us from our goals. 

Well guess what sweet heart? The only person you have to blame for not going to the gym, or skipping out on Zumba, is Y-O-U - YOU! Things happen that often times are beyond our control. I get that. But how you deal with those things is entirely up to you. 

Now go out there and make it happen!!!

I am back!

It's been a while since my last blog. My last laptop crashed and I was without a good running computer for quite some time. But now I have a new computer, thanks to our very very large tax return, and I am ready to continue my battle of the bulge right here with you, my 4 followers :). I really need to expand and get more people to read this. Help Me!
Ok so I had to vent to someone about my morning. That's why I am back here. 990 Calories consumed at breakfast and only 115 calories left in my budget. How did that happen? Lack of self control. I let my hunger win over my will.  Now for the next question? How do I prevent this from happening again? Do I have the tools to keep it from happening again? And if not, how to obtain the tools I need to succeed the next time I'm faced with this challenge? We all know that finding the answers to these questions are easy, but actually applying them is a whole other ball game.
Maybe I won't get in enough exercise to recover from my 990 calorie fast food splurge, but I can at least try. And if anything else, Tomorrow is a brand new day and a chance at a Do-Over!
Thank You for Listening!
Gabby

On the way to a size 6 ....

I'm down one pant size so far. I am so very happy that I am on my way. I just need to keep my hand out of the cookie jar and my eyes on the prize. Kickboxing on Tuesdays, Zumba Toning on Thursdays, Regular Zumba on Fridays, and in the gym using the weights and equipment in between. If I keep that up each week, then I am a rock star. And I will look like one come next year if I am able to attend my 20 year HS reunion. Has it seriously been that long already? Ouch!

Friends say the darnsest things!

Wow, it has been a long time since my last entry. Not much to say I guess. I had gained some pounds back and didn't really feel much like blogging. But this week I am feeling recharged. I lost close to 4 pounds and it's not the end of the week yet. So granted that I stay on track for 2 more days, I might hit the big 5.
So what was the gravitational pull that lifted me up off the couch, away from my computer, and kept me from sleeping most of the day? A Good Friend!!!!!! A Facebook message, really. Asking me if I still go work out at the Y. This was a friend that I had not seen in almost 2 years. We agreed to go work out on a Tuesday afternoon. I couldn't believe how amazing she looked. So there we were on the treadmill just shooting the breeze, catching up on old times, gossiping about former co-workers when all of a sudden, 90 minutes had passed and I had almost forgotten that I was working out.  She even got me to run a little. I discovered how out of shape I am. It was at this time that this dear friend said something to me that made me realize that I needed to fully commit to making a change in my life. She told me that I had inspired her to lose weight weight and get healthy. Because 2 years ago I had lost 20+ pounds before my wedding day. It feels good to be an inspiration to someone else. It is giving me the fire to go back to that person I was. I just don't want to let her down. But most of all, I don't want to let myself down.
Tuesday afternoons is a Kickboxing class and I have made a commitment to go with her each week. The rest of the week is up to me to get up and go work out.

This photo was taken at my daughter's baptism. I was so disgusted with how I look here. It was a great day and a wonderful happy moment in my daughter's life. But it was a HUGE (no pun intended) wake up call for me.

My Pants still fit!

I haven't really lost a lot in pounds, but I'm sure I've shrunk in inches. I know this because I have a pair of pants that are falling off my behind. This surprises me because I ate nothing but crap this past weekend. I went to Utah to help my husband pack. Since a lot of the kitchen was already packed, cooking was out of the question. We ended up heating pizzas in the oven and eating take out a lot. My husband and I were not together for Valentine's Day this year because he is still in Utah working. So we went out to dinner Saturday night to my favorite place, Wingers. OMG! They have the most delicious wings I have ever tasted. Their Amazing Sauce is ... well .... Amazing! Then day two, Sunday, we promised our son Jason that who ever helps us with the packing and dumping will be treated to pizza or whatever. So we sent Jeff to get Taco Bell. And yes I could have ordered something off the fresco menu, but did I? No! (Slap my hand for that). Day Three (Monday) , departure day back to Idaho. It was Panda Express for lunch before we left Utah. Then when we got into Pocatello, hunger set in again and it was a grilled sourdough burger from Jack n the Box.
So how is it that I managed to go down a pant size and stay that way after a weekend of gluttony? Maybe it was the hard work of sorting, packing, and dumping.

Drive-Thru Blues!

Sure it would be easier to just go to a drive-thru when I am out and about running errands. But keeping my eyes on the end goal keeps me from giving in to temptation. There is a motto that the weight watchers leader from many years ago used to say to us; "Nothing tastes as good as being thin feels." Maybe I should write that down and stick it in my wallet. Only it should say "Jack n the Box Tacos don't taste as good as being thin feels", or egg rolls, or cheese burgers, or bacon cheddar potato wedges, or .... OK I better stop now before I decide to throw that whole motto out the window.
Bottom Line: Don't shop while hungry, and maybe take a healthy snack along with me to keep me from ordering those yummy but very fried wing dings from the wal mart deli.

A little better

Since my last blog, new events have happened. I was sick this past week and was unable to work out at all, but I still managed to lose a little bit of weight. Also, even though he is using oxygen, my step dad is doing pretty well right now. One of the people from hospice that comes by to check in on us, brought me some reading material for preparing my daughter for what will come.
My husband has still not found a job here in Idaho Falls, but he will still be coming up permanently at the end of the month. We did our tax return, and will have enough income to last us a little bit while he searches for a job. Wish him luck. He is trying to get into the police department here.
As for me, I am still recovering from my cold, and will continue with my work out routine starting on Monday. Also back to keeping my focus, and losing 30lbs for the pound for pound challenge. I want to lose a total of 60lbs all together but will be happy with 50.  

Curve Balls

Ok, so I guess not having my husband here with me has put some added stress on me. I haven't been making great food choices lately. Ice cream just makes it all feel better. But besides my husband being away, here comes curve ball number two. My step dad had to go into the hospital again because he was feeling weak and passed out. He is home now, and on Hospice care. I know that now it is just a matter of time for him. I'm doing my best to prepare for it, but the hard part will be telling my 7 year old daughter who adores her Papa! She is his little princess.
Let's hope  I can get back on track and have a good weigh in this week. I'm gonna get on www.mytrainerbob.com and get some excellent work out videos!

Bob Harper's Inside Out Method - Squat Thrust with Plyometric Jump Chall...

Biggest Loser

I just pledged 30 lbs for the Biggest Loser's Pound for Pound challenge. Here's how it works: for every pound you lose, Biggest Loser will donate a pound of food to your local food bank. (-1lb on the scale = +1lb of groceries.) Wish me luck!

Harsh Truth

Today I weighed in. Not a happy number. 192 .... Yikes! I am at my biggest I have ever been not including pregnancy. So today was just as any good day to start reclaiming my life back. (Was that a Cliche`? ... eh oh well it's still the truth.) I pulled out my old Weight Watcher's stuff. Sure it's out dated but if it worked then it is sure to work now. I did go over on my points today, but I did order the crispy thin crust from Pizza Hut instead of Pan or Hand Tossed. That has to count for something, right? Besides, I know I will do better tomorrow. I just need to plan my menus better so I can say "no pizza, we are having ____ for dinner tonight." I need to stand up and tell my mom that I will not run errands after a certain time unless it's a drastic need or an emergency. Is it my fault that she goes to bed at 3am and doesn't get up until the afternoon? Not only will I have success in my meals that I eat, but my daughter can have success in going to bed on time. "And the Oscar goes to Victoria for best performance at bedtime." (Roll clip of major temper tantrum and melt down.)
I will not let a little bit of stress cause me to stick my face in a bowl of ice cream.
This week's words to live by: "The road to success is always under construction."

In the beginning...

In the beginning there was a young single twenty-something who battled with her weight since that dreaded Freshman fifteen; Me. And then finally at the age of 28, I had lost a good 40 pounds. I looked and felt fabulous. I was ready to take on the world with my new confidence. And then there was "the guy" who will always be referred to as "the guy" in these blogs. And I had "the baby" that "the guy" helped create. Unfortunately "the guy" was better at running than parenting. So then the weight came back on and back off and on again and off again. I was a single mom trying to do it all. One day my boss had organized for us to join a gym and so I did. And I was successful once again up until a few years ago when I met my husband who had some belly battles of his own. At first we were doing well. We would work out together and started losing weight together. Then I found out I was pregnant and I let my cravings get the best of me. I stopped working out and spent more time in front of the TV than on the treadmill.
My baby boy is now going on 4 months and I am still having battles with my belly and the belly is winning. I hate making New Year's resolutions because I never keep them. So this is not a New Year's resolution, this is a Life resolution because I want to live. I want to have the energy I once had. I am only a few years away from 40. If 40 is the new 30 than I want to make the most of it and look my hottest.
Watch out world- Here I come!!!!