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Hi everyone I thought after every 20 lbs I will post a new photo.I knowrnmy last blog was about The eatting 4 hot dogs I know alot of you havernmentioned on how I stay on plan all the time. Well you know I am now 46rnyears old and have yoyoed my weight most of my adult years afterrngetting married & having children. I am tired of that endlessrncircle of trying & giving up& trying & giving up. Why was Irnin that cycle? Well I believe I felt I wasn’t worth the trouble. I wasrn@ the bottom of my list - my well was empty. But this time isrndifferent. I know I have to get healthy for me! I don’t care aboutrnanyone else this time but ME.Even when we go out to a friends BBQ Irnwill make choices for me! I don’t care if anyone is offended I don’trneat all their food selections. I was always a people pleaser. I stillrnam polite but not a people pleaser any more. Yay Me! So that is how Irnam now able to stay on plan 97.5% of the time.  Well this weekendrnWe had great plans. The town had a dragon boat festival & race Butrnit didn’t happen due to severe winds on the lake. We hardly ever getrnwind here in the valley but we got a years worth all weekend. So Bigrnwalks were out but I did manage to get an early am walk in on Sat &rnSun. I also went this am @ 7:45 for a 1/2 hour walk and 3000 steps. Irnam going to try to get an am alone walk in as much as posibble. I feltrngood after that. As you all know I am not a AM exerciser! So this was arngood change for me. Yesterday I saw a show about pizza……. Man did Irnwant some so this is what I did.Irntook wholewheat pitas sliced them in 1/2 (gave me 2 round pizza shellsrn= 170 cal crust for 2 personal pizzas) I opened a can of tomatornpaste-added itallian season & fresh garlic. Put some of this onrncrust/ Topped with fine chopped spinach, shrimp, mushrooms, onions, hotrnpeppers, grated low fat cheese & a crumble of lite feta cheese. Irnput them on a cookie sheet and put them on the BBQ. I was able to havernmy pizza & eat it too You knowrnI totaly enjoyed it as much as regular pizza. and talk about thinrncrust! I was also very full after and felt good. I guess we just havernto not eliminate our favorites just alter them to fit into our new lifernstyles. Today is cooler out finally and I will do some house work (orrnlike Bernice says think of it as a work out) I have a friend gettingrnmarried in Vegas in Nov. I woud sure love to buy that cute little blackrndress that you hear about. So that is my goal If I go to the weddingrn$$$ permitting. I will wear a little black dress. If I don’t go well Irnwill still buy the little black dress for christmas. I havn’t readrnblogs for 2 days sorry all will catch up tonight. Take care ….. haverna Happy Dayrnrn

Ok I was to of gone kayaking this am but DH wasn’t feeling ggood. I even got up early & was ready to go! But thats ok I spent my day productivly …. Eatting.rnI started out with 2 poached eggs a piece of cheese and a piese of wasarntoast. Very Good. Then I went out for groceries and got all healthyrnstuff but did pick up a pack of hot dogs (I havn’t had them for a year)rnI did however choose the 35% less fat type - They were the large size =rn100 cals. each. I did however take the whole wheat hotdog bun and slicernit thinly in 1/2 to make 2 buns. (I did this twice) Ok I ate 4 hotdogs I put lite cheese on them & mustard. & hot peppers. But I have to admit I haven’t had a rnout like that in like forever! I know I have TOM coming to visit in thernnext day or so - so I blame him! But again I sat down and logged all myrnfood on sparkpeople.com   At that time of the day I had about 250rncals left for the day. I thought no problem! But then DH told me wernwere going to a friends BBQ. OkrnI get to our friends place - I make good choices 1 buffalo burger- 1rnbullalo smokie - 1/3 cup brown rice - 1/2 cup potatoe salad. - 1 fruit.rnI had no bun! I only drank water  I brought my own water bottle.rnSo to end my day of eatting as exercise! I prob. only went over myrncalories by about 800 cals. I know that might sound like alot but Irnthink yesterday I was under about 900 as the heat realy got to me. Sorntomorrow I am going on a hike early in the day before the heat hits me.rnI will also use my back up menu I made as my guideline for tomorrow. Irnam using it as my life line!rnrn

Well all it is Wednesday weigh in I stood on the scale this am and the #’’s stopped @ 194.8 - So that was a 2.2 lb loss rnwhich =  a grand total of 20 lbs. It was exciting to say thernleast! So my question is… When a guy trys on his wifes clothes he isrncalled a cross dresser right? But today after my 2.2 lb loss I was justrncurious how my hubbies cargo shorts would fit me? He is 20 lbs lessrnthan me and wears a 34 waist. (I started wearing a 40-38 but none ofrnthem fit anymore) So alone in the room I thought what the heck no onernis watching well I pulled them up and they sort of fit. (tight.) but hey that means I must be around a 35″  Ok Ok yes I am a crazy cross dresser But a size 35″ cross dresser.rnWell back to business. I had a great walk in today 13,200 steps. Justrnaround town and by the lake. Nearly died from the heat! But I had to dornit as haven’t been hard walking for the last 3 days. I haven’t beenrntracking my meals as close the last week. So Yesterday I made up a backrnup menu with items I always have on hand. (on sparkpeople.com) andrnprinted it out. I hung it on the fridge so when I have a busy day withrnno time to think about meal planning - it is there for me. I think Irnwill make up another one so I can alternate. I have found with all thisrnheat I have a hard time planning a balanced meal. Today I made my sushirnchicken salad rolls. they are great. I feel like I am dinning out butrnstay @ home. My new snack is Frozen blueberries 1/2c. mixed in 1/2c fatrnfree yogurt - with a sprinkle of cinnomonrnI mix it all us and it feels like a bowl of icecream! Hey maybe Irnshould mix it up and try partialy freezing it?Tomorrow I will break newrnground! We have to drop my hubbiesrncar off on the other side of the lake. so we are putting the2rnperson  kayak on top of the car and paddling home!Irnhavn’t been in a canoe or anything for about 20 years! But I guess Irndon’t have to worry about grizzly bears! Well I will let you know howrnit goes. Have a wonderful day I will check in on all of you now!rn

Just a quick note on the hike I did the other day.. The trail got closed the next day because a Grizzley Bear had taken down a moose on the trail and was still feeding on it!Thank God i have lost those 18 lbs and not as appealing as the moose Well all my buddies are you all melting in this heat! I know butter and margarine left on the counter at this heat melts away - My Question is as I sit here and melt  there is no puddle of fat melting off me all I can say is NO FAIR!.rnWell after my big hike on Thurs. Friday was back to reality and regularrnlife. I was shocked as I wasn’t sore Fri. am. but I did get a couplernwalks to town in to keep the muscles working. Sat was action packed asrnour town has a Valley Appreciation  Day. main street blocked off arnMusic stage (my hubby’s band even played for and hour) Farmers market.rnLoggers competion. and…. a FREE PANCAKE breakfastWellrnbeing that I walked to the event @ 8:00 am I decided to have some. (2rnsmall very thin with about 2 tbsp of syrup) But I felt ok about it as Irnwalked and walked it was over @ 1:00 and then I walked home. During thernevent I had Hubbies high end nikon digital camera hanging around myrnneck. (mine is pocket size) I was feeling like quite a perfesionalrnphotographer. . I had someone ask what newpaper I was with. (I was in discuise with my ball cap & cool shades on)(shuld of said the Buddy slim Review)rnSo any ways instead of roaming around and eatting all the great foodrnfrom different booths I roamed around and took photo’s (110 of them)rnI am going to donate the photos to the local chamber as they are alwaysrnneeding them. I went home made a lovely lunch with salad raw veg,rncottage cheese, cheese, wholewheat buns, fat free lunch meat, and more.rnWe had invited a couple of the musicians over to join us. One of thernguys was a lo-carb eatter! He was quite happy with the meal. Sunday wernhad to go to the local city to pick up some groceries. Blue berriesrnwere on special I bought a 5lb box brought them home and packed them inrn1/2 cup bags in the freezer. Portion control!  I wore a new pair of shorts (smaller size)rnand a new sleeveless V neck shirt, with some healed sandles. I feltrnquite spiffy! But get this … this 46 year old mamma had two very nicernmeat department men being very helpful. One even asked are you out here on a holiday! I guess I didn’t look like a localrnOk ok I know I am married but it does lift a girls confidence when menrnmy age notice me. (they are usually looking @ the young ones.) Tomorrowrnwe might try a hike later in the day - depending on the heat! rnrn

Yes I made it back from my BiG Hike!(This blog might be a bit long so feel free to stop here!)rnStanley Glacier! It was a 5.5 k hike straight up.Lots of switchbacks.rn(11 k round trip) 1,500 feet vertical.My pedometer read 18,300 steps. Irnhave posted a photo in my pictures Where you see in the distance thernsnow - We hiked just below that (glacier) In the fore ground is arnmeadow of wild flowers (I took pictures of about 12 different wildrnflowers)- Just breath taking! I found the hike up tough @ times.ButrnI did manage to make it to the trail end. It was so hot though abovern30+ . My group continued a bit farther and I started down the mountainrn(I new my limits and had no interest on climbing down a pile of rocksrnand then back up again). They tried to go down a rocky area & up arnrock slide but i had alreadyrnstepped out of my safe zone. My hike down was nice - I enjoyed doing itrnon my own. I was able to reflect on the my journey up and how I wouldrndo it different next time. I wouldn’t go with people who are at arnhigher hiking level. It takes away from the thrill of the adventure.rnYou are always worring that you are holding everyone up. It makes suchrna successful challenge a feeling of defeat. Not measuring up to othersrnsize, weight and fitness ability.(I know my friends were ok with it butrnI just felt this way) But I had another thought coming down alone. Irnhave climbed many Virtual Mountains in my life and reached  thernsummits that our fit friends have not. I have climbed The Mountain ofrnchild birth & motherhood- twice / The Mountain of marriage - 22rnyears. and The Mountain of a tough childhood. I have successfullyrnclimbed up & down these mountains with succcess. My New Mountain isrnThe Mountain of Healthy Lifestyles. It is not measured in vertical feetrnbut lbs. So I started my climb with 65 lbs to shead, so far as of todayrnI have climbed 18 lbs so that leaves me with 47 lbs to climb until Irnreach to top of the biggest mountain I have had to conquor. I just wantrnto say I could not of made this hike with out all of you routing forrnme. Your support has been overwellming. Thanks.  I have companyrnfor dinner so will read your blogs late this evening.rnrn

Just a big thankyou to all for commenting on my blog about rn& hiking - I am glad you confirmed my feelings. I will know forrnsure tomorrow when we do another training hike caffine free!. If you have time see under forum’s JANET posts such informative info there. Lots of info on caffine. Thanks Janet.I think Janet should get the BUDDY OF THE WEEK for all those forum posts.rnWell I took the day off hiking today as our friends wanted to spendrnpart of the day @ our local natural hotsprings that run beside thernriver. You sit amongst the rocks in natural hot pools and the freezingrncold river goes by. Very relaxing. - I even dipped in the cold river torncool off before we went hhome. I walked a couple short walks downtownrnto the local bakery for coffee (decaf) with friends and that is aboutrnit for a work out. today. I am so tired from the extra hiking we haverndone. But I have been getting 8-10 hours of sleep in so that is good.rnMy food has been ok. but it is so hot that I have been more nibblingrnthan eatting full meals but still making good choices. Well off to seernhow your day is going.rnrn

Well another day another up hill journey - Did a little different hikerntoday 5+ miles. - I had to ask my DH if I look like a mountain goat!Because we were on very narrow paths No I didn’t push him over the cliff either  like I mentioned yesterday -  It was so hot and I drank alot of water. You know today was hard but it is getting easier (I think) Or my body is just getting numb.Well enough of my complaining. I ate well today - but feel I need a larger breakfast & no coffee before a hike.rnI have to watch my coffee intake seems to get my heart racing -I amrnwondering if the coffee and incressed heart racing from the caffinerninpairs my uphill climbingrnDoes anyone know? I seem to be so out of breath on the begining of thernclimb and have all the energy in the world when hiking across thernbenches? I think I will give it a test no coffee rest of the week andrnsee if that is my problem. Well I made an apt. for a physical for midrnAug. I am past my year mark so want to get it done ASAP. I know shernwill be happy with my success. Looking forward to a positive commentrnand not the “Well you know if you lost some weight…….”  Well Irnhave to chuckle on a few comments about how I am an out doors personrnI never thought of my self that way as I wouldn’t do it if my mountainrnman husband didn’t drag my  fat  A* * up and down  thosernmountain trails I guess also I have never in many years had fittness asrnpart of my weekly routine. . I realy enjoy going for a walk aroundrntown. But I have to say that I am enjoying combining my hiking andrnphotography  I do knowrnhowever that because of all of you buddies and your motivation tornworking out (either in the gym, home with your equipment, or all yournmarathon momma’s ) you have kept me motavated! Thanks all Tomorrow - another day another hike………….rnrn

Ya today another fricken mountain hike - did 5 miles but a differentrnhike. Still trying to get prepared for the big one this week! Today as I was climbing 950 steps straight up!and then stopped to rest.  I wanted to sit down and cry My shoes were so heavy I wish there was a chair lift for this I  can go full out across the benches & down hill with no problem - but up hill (mountain) is so extreme.And then when we were 3/4 up (950 steps I stoped to check my pedometer) DH has the freekin nerve to say “you are doing wonderful!” I wanted to push him over the cliff rnI know deep down he was thinking how will she ever make it to StanleyrnGlacier with our 2 friends who are extreme people but still trying tornincourage me - guess he didn’t want to carry me the rest of the way.rnI know I know I shouldn’t be so negitive but I guess I am just scared.rnand I know I can climb up to the Glacier (aprox 5 hours round trip) atrnmy own pace but….. maybe we should take 2 cars to the starting pointrnand If they finish early they can go home. Ya that is it … See How helpful it is to blog… I think I will sugest it. Any how… tomorrow is another mountain to climb.rnrn

This am I awoke with still a sore lower back for the hike on Thurs. butrnI broke down and took an anti anflamitory pill. Just like the athelitesrndo. Heat/ Ice& medicine! Well I am considering my self in training.rnToday I did a 5 mile mountain hike. It was tough with my back not having the strength to climb up as fast as I would like but I did itThere was an area that you could see the highway going through the national park and the cars  were so tinyI was sure up highButrnon the way down I had a  thought about different extremernactivities I have passed on or been very cautious about the last fewrnyears. Skiing - Hiking - kayaking ……. Why was I so cautious???? Irnam a mom and I have to keep my self safe for my girls.I never wanted tornfall and break something.  BUT WAS I CAUTIOUS WITH MY HEALTH EATTING ?????? NO!rnMan think about it! How I was eatting - overweight- no exercise - transrnfats…… I could of had a HEART ATTACK! So what was more cautious? Irnwould of been better gettng out there and working it than staying homernand eatting and living a unhealthy life style. I have had healthy mealsrntoday. Breakfast. - cheese - & fiber crackers. - coffee. / lots ofrnwater. Lunch was Whole wheats pita - stuffed with chicken breast,rnceaser salad, cheese, tomatoes, & side salad. Green tea & morernwater. Dinner was weird - hummas & turkey sticks & baked chips.rnWater & red wine  Alsornthis afternoon there was a wakeboard compition @ the beach a block awayrn- so We walked there and took some photos and took in the event. I hadrna great Sat. I hope all of you have a wonderful day. (PS. @ the beachrnall the tiny slim girls didn’t get to me! I felt happy in my body. Irnhave accepted I am who I am(46 year old mamma of 2 teen girls) and Thatrnis ok)

The big up hill walk yesterday seemed to have hit my lower backrnBut I have just been icining it tonight. Trying to stay away from antirninflam pills. Today went to the local city with youngest daughter forrneye apt. & shopping. Loaded up on healthy vegs -  cheeses -rnfruits & meats. Sooo much cheeper than some of the stuff here! Evenrntook my cooler this time. You know an interesting thing happened @ the check out … All those magazines there, I usually buy one as they all have titles “Loose 10 lbs in 1 day” Loose 30 lbs by Aug.” rnblah blah blah! I would of usually snapped one up to find the magicrncure to weight loss. But You know I don’t need that crap any more! I know what magic things I need to do -
rnHere are My Top 10 Magic Tips For Weight Loss!
rn#10  Log all my food intake
rn#9  Drink lots of water (I love water(filtered) no problem)
rn#8  Count calories and stay within my limits
rn#7  Carbs - no bad ones(no white flour - white rice - white pasta) - only 100% whole wheat
rn#6  Exercise. - I am a walker. I love my pedometer. - (in the fall I will get back to my workout DVDs
rn#5  Laugh - Enjoy live - Look only at the positive & surround my self with Happy people
rn#4  Green tea. - brew loose tea & have on hand for sipping.
rn#3  Be creative in my meals
rn#2  Pre - prepare food and freeze in single serving emergency bags!
rn#1  Journal and read others journals on Buddy Slim - every day - ( my weight loss rock)Thanks all my Buddies!
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