Shoes to Lose

Flipping the Switch

noreply@blogger.com (SherRon) — Mon, 10 Oct 2011 03:02:00 +0000

I am so overwhelmed by the comments on my last post. I seriously have the best readers and it is no wonder that I was doing so well when I was checking in regularly with you guys. You make everything sound possible. Thank you all so much for your love and support. I feel so blessed to have received your encouragement.

Many of you gave me recommendations that I should get to a good place emotionally before I try to tackle my body issues. I've considered this and come to the conclusion that I feel better emotionally when I treat my body well. I've never regretted eating well or felt worse after a workout than I did before. I'm hoping that in an effort to take care of my physical self, that my emotional self will take care of itself.

Tomorrow morning I'm starting anew. I'm going to count calories and am setting my goal at 1800. Even if I go over my goal, it will be a big step for me just to keep a journal of everything that I'm eating. I'm also making a goal to workout at least 3 times this week. I'm hoping to work in a kettlebell routine during a few naps and on a few evenings head down to the gym to meet with my good old friend the elliptical.

You know how it is easier to lose weight when you have a buddy? Good news, the hubs has also expressed a desire to get healthier. We'll take turns on days that we workout so that we still have the majority of an evening together. I know that when we put our minds to getting healthier, that it happens.

One final thought, do you think it is easier to be healthy, or unhealthy? For instance, when I'm not working out and eating well, I feel like I have a lot more choices and freedom. But when I am being healthy, I have more energy, it is easier to find clothes that fit and look good, and I'm less self conscious. So, which do you think is easier?

Well Hello There

noreply@blogger.com (SherRon) — Tue, 04 Oct 2011 19:24:00 +0000

I stand before you a completely different person than I was when I last wrote. I'm overweight and unmotivated. I'm no longer a full time employee and am now a part-time employee and a full-time mom. Last June I gave birth to the most beautiful baby girl this world has ever seen. (There is a good chance that I'm biased.) I struggled with my pregnancy. I wasn't expecting the appetite that I developed and with an early warning of hypertension, I was on modified bed rest for over 12 weeks and unable to workout. I gained weight. A lot of weight. But I also gained one of these, meet Isla:

Since the birth of my daughter I've had a hard time motivating myself again. I'm often tired at the end of my day and have no desire to workout. Having both hands frequently full, I've not made the effort to prepare healthy meals for my family. There is no room in the budget for a new pair of shoes for each 10 lbs lost and when I finally get to see my husband at the end of the day, I want to spend time with him, not leave him at home with the baby and head off to the gym.

The first time I lost weight, it was like I flipped a switch. I made the decision to be healthier and I did it. I put in the work and the time. I wanted it and I wanted it more than I wanted pizza. This time, I'm having a hard time flipping that switch again. Last time I spent time reading several weight loss blogs and I weened a great deal of motivation from them. I also motivated myself by writing my own blog. I'm committing again to both read and write weight loss blog posts. I need a constant reminder of why I'm trying to be healthy. I will create that perfect weight loss storm again.

A few things you should know about me now:

-No, I'm not breastfeeding. Yes, I know it is the best choice for my daughter and I worked very hard to try to be able to breastfeed. However, after a difficult deliver, hours of pumping, and several meetings with lactation consultants, I had to come to the conclusion that I would not be able to breastfeed this child of mine. No need to judge me on this one.

-I am a stay-at-home mom 5 days of the week. I'm not financially able to stay at home full time so I have arranged my schedule so that I go into the office twice a week for a 10 hour day.

-I currently weigh 245 lbs.

-I'm dealing with a colic-y baby and a touch of postpartum depression.

It's about Balance

noreply@blogger.com (SherRon) — Thu, 03 Mar 2011 02:29:00 +0000

One of my biggest fears when it came to losing weight was that I'd gain it all back. The statistics are staggering. It seems that nearly two thirds of those who lose weight gain it all back, and then some within the same amount of time it took them to lose it. Why was I going to be any different? What would separate me from the others?

I thought I would be good for a while. At least while I was young and childless. I'd be motivated by the shopping for clothes and shoes. I'd workout often because I'd have the time and energy. I would be just fine until I got pregnant. Long before becoming pregnant, I knew that I would struggle with it. I knew that I would put on weight (even if rightfully so) and have a hard time getting it back off. I was worried I'd return to my old ways of mindless eating and lazy evenings at home.

Several of you have asked how I have managed to gain so little in my pregnancy and you've express fears that becoming pregnant will make you gain all of the weight you lost back. I assure you that you are SO not alone in this fear. If anything, I know that my weight loss before pregnancy has done wonders to help me control myself when the hormones hit. Its a hard shift to make from eating to lose weight, and eating to be healthy, but in the end, that is what the goal is, right? It's not just to get skinny and then eat whatever we want. It's about finding balance. It's about eating that brownie and going for a walk or doing some yoga.

I am by no means a perfect example of health. as a matter of fact, today I had two Reese's peanut butter cups and a fun-size kit kat. Something about chocolate just calls my name. Other days, I have things very much in control. I eat my planned meals and supplement with healthy snacks. But now, having lost the weight, I know that I need to balance that out. Today I also went on a long walk on my lunch break and have made and effort to eat several vegetables and fruits. Earlier this afternoon I noticed myself leaving the company kitchen with a snack pack of carrots in one hand, and the Kit Kat in the other. (Like I said...all about balance.)

Another lesson I learned was how to actually use food to fuel my body. Before, I was eating thousands of calories of whatever I wanted. I wasn't looking to provide my body with nutrients. I was looking to feel full and satisfied. Dieting taught me how to make the most of my calories. I know that I can a whole lot of fruits and veggies to keep me full without eating too many calories. I cannot tell you how valuable this lesson has been. I never knew just how hungry I would feel at times and now I don't immediately go straight to high-calorie, low-nutrient foods that I ate before.

I guess what I'm trying to say to those who fear getting pregnant for what it will do to them, is you do not need not be afraid. All of your efforts to get healthy will come in handy. It is not easy and there are definitely times where you will getting bigger and gaining weight will be hard emotionally on you. However, you'll have good days and you'll have bad days and you just have to take it one step at a time.

Recipe for a Meltdown

noreply@blogger.com (SherRon) — Thu, 17 Feb 2011 04:18:00 +0000

Several months ago while dining at one of our favorite restaurants, Matt and I shared a dish that I still dream about. It was cheesy and buttery but not too heavy. It was flavorful and tender. It was ricotta gniocchi. We left assuming that it was a specialty item that we'd likely never get again until I stumbled upon a recipe for it at allrecipies.com.

The recipe was highly reviewed and had several comments stating how wonderful and easy it was to make. I knew this was going to be on our menu. Since the recipe called for the dough to be refrigerated before cooking I decided to make the gnocchi the night before we were going to eat it. I also took pictures of every step along the way because I knew this was going to be something I'd want to share with you.

I got all my ingredients lined up.

Mixed them into a soft beautiful dough.

Kneaded and formed the dough into rolls.

and cut the dough into small dumplings.

I laid the little puffs onto a floured baking sheet and placed in the refrigerator over night.

I dreamed about dinner the whole next day. I couldn't wait to get home to my cheesy dumplings that were sure to melt in my mouth. I came home and pulled the cookie sheet out only to see that my gnocchi had turned an unappetizing grey color. I decided to ignore the color and move on to boiling the pasta, thinking that it might breath some color back into them. It didn't. They were still brown and now they looked sticky. Refusing to give up on the dinner of my dreams I began to saute them in butter with some zucchini. The color was really getting to me. They looked like sausage, but they weren't. They were supposed to be a light fluffy pastry, not the atrocious sticky lumps I was seeing before me.

Suddenly I was hit with a wall of emotion. I was inadequate. I couldn't cook. I couldn't even cook something hundreds of other people had success with. How was it possible I was a wife? How was I ever going to be a good mother. I turned to Matt with tears in my eyes and asked, "Why did you marry someone who can't cook?" And immediately the tears began rolling down my cheeks. They couldn't be stopped. I was sobbing over a failed recipe. Matt lovingly snatched a gnocchi from the pan and ate it. He told me it was just fine. I retorted that it looked like sausage and I was not going to be eating it. He hugged me until I stopped my sobbing and I apologized for my meltdown.

I'm so lucky to have a man who can deal with my meltdowns like Matt does. So far this pregnancy I've only had three major cries, another one of which I'll be blogging about in the near future.

Dinner was wonderful.

I spent the rest of the evening cuddling on the couch watching Glee.

*Note: You can find the original recipe for the ricotta gnocchi here. I made a few adjustments to the recipe by using part skim ricotta and by using half whole wheat flour. I'm not sure if these changes are what messed up the recipe, but I do intend to make another attempt, but without refrigerating overnight.

It's a...

noreply@blogger.com (SherRon) — Tue, 15 Feb 2011 03:56:00 +0000

GIRL!

Isn't she lovely?

I am now almost 23 weeks pregnant and I've gained a total of 11 lbs.

I'm Famous!

noreply@blogger.com (SherRon) — Thu, 10 Feb 2011 16:55:00 +0000

I’ve always loved magazines. The glossy pages, the full-color pictures, the perfume samples that make the whole thing smell good. Oh, I love magazines. Magazines have also been very helpful to me when it comes to my journey to get healthier. Its motivating to see success stories in magazines and helpful tips to get the most out of your food and your workouts. I subscribe to many fitness magazines including SELF, Shape, Weight Watchers, and Women’s Health. I may have a problem, but you can get them for so cheap! (Think $0.50 an issue.) I love that they give me extra motivation when I see them on my counter and they also give me wonderful recipes to try out.

So, it is no surprise that I was beyond thrilled when I was interviewed for a magazine. A real-life, glossy-paged magazine. If you pick up “My Weight Loss 2011” (a Better Homes and Gardens Special Interest Magazine) on shelves through March, you’ll find my face and interview on page 17. I was interviewed back in July before the craziness of pregnancy set in but I wanted to wait for it to come out to tell you.

The one thing I would change about how I was portrayed is the title “Secrets of Success.” I always get irritated when people use terms like that or “so-and-so reveals her weight loss secret.” There isn’t a secret. Eat good, whole, healthy foods and work that body of yours. You’ll get healthier and if you have weight to lose, you’ll lose it.

Pick up a copy of the magazine. It has very few advertisements compared to other fitness magazines and a ton of helpful recipes along with some pretty darn awesome success stories.

What you Need to Lose Weight

noreply@blogger.com (SherRon) — Fri, 04 Feb 2011 03:54:00 +0000

I know this post is long, but hear me out.

One of the biggest things that has helped me get back on track is the fact that Matt is currently participating in a "Transform Your Body" competition at a local gym. As part of his participation he has a free gym membership and a personal trainer for 12 weeks. He's been on track for almost 4 weeks and has lost 25 lbs. (Yes, irritating, I know) However, this has become a huge lifesaver for me because I know I can't really keep sweets and snacks around the house and I can't justify cooking him a fattening meal. Its easier when I put him first. I may want pizza, but my husband needs a meal that will fill him up and won't be too high in calories. (More on this later)

As part of his participation he needed to attend a seminar at the gym. His personal trainer, who is also trained as a sports nutritionist, was putting on a seminar on nutrition and told him she wanted his wife to attend. At first I was hesitant because, I'll admit it, the people at the gym intimidate me. Most of them are very healthy and I just know they're judging me. Ok, ok, they probably aren't, but I'm still working on the self-confidence thing. I finally agreed to go because I thought they might give me some information on how to better feed my family and provide some fun recipes or insight that I hadn't previously considered.

The meeting was nothing like I had imagined. It started out with a manager introducing the 5 levels of fitness which are:

1. Nutrition

2. Supplements (along with a shameless plug to purchase their specific brand because it was the best)

3. Cardiovascular training.

4. Resistance training.

5. Professional Aid

I was annoyed that I was already trying to be sold something, not only their supplements, but also the idea that I needed professional help to be fit.

Then Matt's trainer stepped in and began with a quick true or false nutrition quiz designed to make class members feel stupid. One question was "Muscle weigh more than fat." The trainer proceeded to tell us that the statement was false because a pound of muscle weights the same as a pound of fat. Well, duh. A pound of anything weighs as much as a pound of anything else. We're talking about density and yes, muscle is more dense than fat.

Another question was "You can lose weight by doing cardio only." The trainer then again told us the statement is false. That is so not true. I lost weight for months by doing only cardio because I was scared of the weights. Is cardio only the best way to lose weight? No. Does it work? Yes. If all you can fit in is a walk around your neighborhood, you're still making an effort to be healthier and that will pay off. For each person that answered one of the trainers questions correctly she would give them a protein bar. (I made sure I got my hands on one of these so that I could check out the label and see what she thought I should be eating. Apparently this trainer's idea of a healthy food involves corn syrup, vegetable glycerine, sorbitol. maltitol, palm oil, and margarine)

The rest of the seminar consisted of complicated formulas to figure out your target heart rate and how many calories you should be consuming. I glanced around the room and saw a lot of confused faces. The trainer also mentioned what portions of our diet should come from carbs, protein, and fats but failed to mention complex carbohydrates, lean proteins, or the right kind of fats we should be eating.

The presentation then ended with an overview of an expensive website ($13.00 a month plus a $30 set up fee) where users can track calories in and calories out with the help of a calorie counter and a devise similar to a "body bug." There was a lot of interest and a lot of questions being asked about the website. I had to use some serious self control to not just stand up and say, "There are free websites out there that do the exact same thing!" However, I was a guest and my mama taught me to have manners.

It makes me sick how companies prey on the overweight, waiting to sell them the miracle pill, or exercise machine, or magic workout that will instantly make them thin and happy. They don't empower people to make the healthy changes themselves. Rather they tell people that they NEED all these products and services in order to be healthy.

So let me tell you what I wanted to tell my fellow classmates.

You don't need any supplements to help you lose weight. (I would however recommend a multivitamin but whatever one you buy is completely up to you.) If you eat food, real food, something that comes from the earth and not a lab, you'll be getting relatively good nutrition. You don't need expensive, chalking-tasting, highly processed protein bars.

You don't need a gym membership to lose weight. A gym membership can be a wonderful thing to have and I myself have one. But I believe that people can lose weight with a simple resistance band and some willpower. You can walk or run your streets (weather permitting). You can do jumping jacks until your heart wants to pound out of your chest. Don't let not having a membership stop you from taking steps to be healthy.

You don't need a personal trainer. These can also be wonderful help to you on your journey, but I've never had one and I don't know that I ever will. It simply does not fit in my budget. I believe that with some research you can figure out what exercises are right for you and you can see proper form for weight training in countless DVDs. Can a trainer help? yes. Do you need one to be "fit"? No.

I guess the thing that bothered me the most about the whole meeting was that I walked away feeling completely unmotivated. I wanted to be empowered. I wanted to be given tools that I could take with me to improve my life. I felt like all I was given was a list of things I needed before I'd ever be successful. I understand that gyms are businesses, they need to make money however, I believe a gym could be successful simply by empowering their members.

You already know how to be healthy. You know what foods, fundamentally are best for you. You know that sitting in front of the TV for hours is unhealthy and that going for a walk, swimming, or playing a basketball game is healthy. Don't fool yourself into thinking that you don't know how to be healthier. You know how, you just need to put your own common sense to use.

Note: This post is not a gym hating, personal trainer bashing post. I simply want you to know that there are other ways. The only thing or person you should depend on to make you healthier is yourself. Also note that I'm not a doctor or a nutritionist and I've had no formal weight loss training. I'm just a girl who has found a way to become healthier and I want to share it with you.

Home Sweet Home

noreply@blogger.com (SherRon) — Tue, 01 Feb 2011 14:05:00 +0000

I have been feeling the love since my last blog post! I am so grateful to have such an amazing support system to come back to and I'm glad to hear that you all won't mind a few (a lot) of baby posts coming up in the future.

Those of you that have been following me for quite some time know that the elliptical is my go-to workout. It was the only exercise I did when I started my healthy journey because it was something I didn't have to think about, and I could burn a lot of calories in not a lot of time. I was best friends with my elliptical for several hours a week and it really helped me to achieve my goals. I have to say that during my recent exercise hiatus I did miss it a little. I missed the feeling of my heart pounding in my chest and the sweat starting to form on my head. Thats not to say that I missed it enough that I actually sought it out.

When I decided to resume my exercise routine I spoke with my doctor about it first. It used to be that when you were pregnant you were not supposed to raise your heart rate over 140 BPM. I asked my doctor if this measurement was still in effect and she suggested that I just maintain a easy enough pace that I'd be able to carry on a conversation while still working out. The problem with that is that I don't talk when I work out -unless you count me randomly screaming out Jeopardy answers.

I decided to just do what I'd been doing and see how I felt afterwards. After a sweaty 30 minutes on the elliptical my heart rate was around 170 and I was tired. Really tired. I didn't realize just how tired I was until I stepped off the machine and was immediately dizzy. There was no hiding this from DH as I quickly sat down to regain composure.

A few days late he told me he was concerned about me using the elliptical because he thought I pushed myself too hard. I could see his point. I didn't want to risk hurting the baby but that was how I was used to working out. His solution to keeping me in line was to banish me to the bike when we went to the gym. I really hate the bike. I feel like I'm not even working anything, even if I put it on a difficult level and I hate watching my belly move in the mirror as my feet peddel up and down. I agreed to give it a try but after 45 minutes and nearly no sweat I'd had it. I wanted my elliptical back.

Upon discussing my frustration with DH we agreed that I could use the elliptical again however, if the machine ever displayed my heart rate over 150 BPM I'd get off and ride the bike.

Home Sweet Home

Its good to be back to a familiar exercise and a familiar sweat. I'm not able to go nearly as quickly as I used to but I feel good about the exercise I'm getting for me and for my baby. I've also been spending my lunch breaks going on walks with a coworker and I have two prenatal workout DVDs I'll review later. While it was really easy to stop working out, I feel really wonderful about myself for getting back into the swing of things.

What is your go-to exercise?

Confessions and Fears

noreply@blogger.com (SherRon) — Thu, 27 Jan 2011 16:55:00 +0000

I haven’t blogged in over a month and it is because I’ve been afraid. I know that sounds strange as there really is nothing to be scared of when it comes to writing down your thoughts but sometimes it makes it that much more real. Don’t get me wrong, I’m not scared to be pregnant (well other than the usual concerns, ya know) I’m scared of the changes that will be happening to me. Here are the three biggest reasons I’ve been MIA.

1. I’ve gained weight. There. I said it. I know that I’m pregnant and that gaining weight is acceptable and healthy for me and baby. My doctors (Yes, I had two of them. The first turned out to be a jerk. More on that to come.) both agreed that I should gain about 25 lbs throughout my pregnancy. However, before I even knew I was pregnant I had gained weight and I didn’t want to confess it to you. I struggled with my diet all through September and October before I even knew I was pregnant. That was probably a blessing since I don’t know if I would still be blessed to carry mini-me if I had stuck to a 1200 calorie a day diet plus exercise.

I figure that I weighed around 195 when I became pregnant. I currently weigh 205 and am 19 ½ weeks pregnant. That doesn’t sound outrageous, but it is on the high end of the spectrum of where I should be. I’ve spent countless hours hating the fact that I let myself gain so much weight so quickly but upon talking with some close loved ones I’ve come to accept it and be proud of it. Because while it may be at the high end of where I should be, it’s still within a healthy range (considering my pre-pregnancy weight). Not only that but in those 19 weeks I went on an 8 day cruise, a mini-vacation to Las Vegas, and celebrated Thanksgiving and Christmas. Not too shabby when you look at it that way eh?

2. I was not the healthiest of soon to be mommies in the first few months. I know that being pregnant is not an excuse to “eat for two” and that baby only needs about 300 extra calories. But that is 300 calories over what I would need to eat for me to maintain my weight. To maintain my weight I would need to eat about 2000 calories a day so in essence, this permits me to eat about 2300 calories a day. Do you know what 2300 calories looks like to someone who has been eating 1200 for months?!? It looks like a party for my mouth is what it looked like. I had a very hard time envisioning those extra calories being in the form of apples and carrots. Those extra calories quickly turned into foods I’d restricted for so long. I ate pasta and pizza galore. I’m not proud of it.

It was very hard for me to go from a mindset of eating to lose weight and eating to be healthy. I’ve never eaten to be healthy before. There was always a purpose for what I was putting in my mouth. It was either pure enjoyment, or to lose weight. Getting on track has certainly been a challenge for me. This particular fear is hard for me to share because I feel like I was weakest at a point where it was so important for me to be strong. I should have been better for me and the life that is depending on me for its life. Those months have passed and there isn’t anything I can do to change them now. I can only be healthy today.

3. I was scared that I’d lose my audience. I know that people come here to see me lose weight. I don’t know how many people will be interested in reading what I have to say if the numbers on the scale aren’t going down. Then I realized something. You come here for my story, and that is exactly what I’m living right now. Sometimes life gives us a curve ball just when we think we’ve got things figured out. Maybe there is another expectant mom out there who will read what I have to say and will be able to connect with me. And you better believe that after I have this baby that I will most certainly be back to doing the whole weight loss thing. If my current situation is of no interest to you, please come back in July and see how I’m doing.

Now that you all know what I’m up to, you should know that in the past several weeks I’ve been far more active about hitting the gym and going on walks for my lunch break. I’ve started counting calories again, but not to lose weight, just to keep myself in check. I feel like I’m back in control again and that I’m doing my best to live healthy in my situation. Now that you all know the things I’ve been hiding, I’m not going to be as scared to show my face around here anymore. Sorry for the hiatus and thank you all for your congratulations and support!

Where I've Really Been

noreply@blogger.com (SherRon) — Tue, 07 Dec 2010 02:45:00 +0000

So, I told you I've been here:

Acapulco

and here:

Zihuatanejo

I've also spent a lot of time here:

The office

But that doesn't really explain why I haven't been here (as in, blogging like a good girl).

The truth is, I've also been here:

Hospital

And shopping for some of these:

Yep folks...that's right. We're going to be having one of these!:

I'm currently 12 weeks along and Due in June. We weren't expecting to be parents but we are grateful for the opportunity that we've been given. Be back soon to give you more details!

Vacation Recap

noreply@blogger.com (SherRon) — Fri, 03 Dec 2010 02:27:00 +0000

Hello my friends! I'm back and I'm here to tell you all about it. Note: this post has quite a bit more to do with my vacation than it does weight loss, so if you'd like to just skim it, I won't blame you. Matthew and I went on an 8 day cruise through Carnival and it rocked our world. :) This is the second cruise we've taken and we've loved them both. The first two days were spent at sea without porting anywhere. We used this time to familiarize ourself with the ship (we were on the Carnival Spirit for those wondering) and to eat a whole lot of free ice cream. We played adult dodge ball and shuffle board on the deck. We sun bathed and listened to Jack Johnson and just really enjoyed ourselves.

The third day we ported in Acapulco. The view from the bay was absolutely beautiful. The water was blue and the city was striking.

Getting off the ship and getting down into the streets was quite different though. The streets were full of pot holes and garbage and there were people asking for money everywhere. We chose to go on a sail boat ride around the bay where we'd stop for some ocean swimming.

I was a little nervous.

After the tour we spent a few hours at a local market and then got back on the ship.

The next day we ported in Zihuatanejo. Have you ever heard of that place? I hadn't before we booked the cruise but now I'm so happy I know about it. The city streets were lined with bricks and the locals were much better about not pushing us to buy their merchandise. We'd heard of the nice beaches there so we stopped to ask an American woman how to get there. She gave us excellent directions and within minutes we were in a water taxi headed over to the beach "Las Gatas".

We arrived to an umbrella lined beach, clear blue waters, and beautiful flowers. We rented some snorkel gear and settled in under an umbrella and beach chairs. We were then asked if we'd like a massage. Of course I wanted a massage. The woman took us to a hut on the beach that was draped with sheets. There were two massage bed covered in flower petals awaiting us. The massage was quite good, assuming that they were not licensed professionals and it was only $40 an hour for two people. Excellent deal if I may say so. We got back to our chairs and ordered a pair of virgin pina coladas.

After some more relaxation, Matt convinced me to go snorkeling with him in some rocks just about 30 feet off shore. The fish were all over the place and so beautiful! I even saw sea urchins. I'd never been snorkeling before so I did get a few mouthfuls of water, but it was so worth it!

While we were relaxing on the beach, some local fisherman pulled up to the shore and tossed out two giant fish!

After a few hours of loving life on the beach we headed back over to the city to find some food. Since I am weird about my meat I just ordered cheese quesadillas, I know not the healthiest of things, but probably one of the safest. Matt didn't hesitate to eat his fish tacos.

It was a no makeup day. Don't judge me.

We did some more shopping before we sadly got back on the ship to leave this beautiful place behind.

Manzanillo was also a great stop. It was slightly cleaner than Acapulco but not nearly as beautiful as the day before. We went again on a snorkeling excursion out to a place called Elephant Rock. There were a lot of fish but I was much more nervous because it was deeper and there was a strong current.

We also went snorkeling over a ship wreck but that really just freaked me out so I headed back to the boat. I know, I'm a pansy. We took some pictures of the pretty areas of the island and saw the motel where "Ten" was filmed. Have you ever heard of that movie? Me neither, but the locals really made a bid deal of it.

We quite enjoyed our time on the ship as well. The food was always quite good and they had a lot of healthy options. Each menu has a "spa selection" that is lighter in calories and fat. Fresh fruit is always available and I felt like if I had chose to be strict with myself on my diet, I could have easily stayed on track. They had excellent gym facilities and offered aerobics classes as well as classes on detox and secrets to a flatter stomach.

I chose not to be strict with my diet on the cruise because it was a vacation. I didn't want to have to worry about counting calories. However, I did make far better choices than I did last year. I tried hard to get a lot of fruits and vegetables in each day and didn't gorge myself on the other food available.

Remember back in this post where I told you I intended to wear a specific dress. Well, that didn't happen. But knowing that my dress was 6 sizes smaller than It was last cruise was enough success for me.

If you've made it this far, thank you for letting me tell you about my vacation. I assure you I return well rested and ready to take on the world, and blogging, once more. I'll be back tomorrow with a big announcement!

Oh...and by the way, I gained 2 lbs on my cruise. Not to shabby for a place where food is available to you 24/7.

SUCCESS!

noreply@blogger.com (#1Sis) — Fri, 26 Nov 2010 01:48:00 +0000

This is ShaReece again and I come to report what i like to refer to as "TURKEY DAY SUCCESS"! As I woke up this morning, I mentally rehearsed (I know, totally geeky) what I was going to do to make today enjoyable and still be down 2 lbs. by the masquerade. I told myself, "I can have a small amount of anything I want, and a large amount of healthy foods." It wasn't as hard as I thought it would be and I totally enjoyed my meal with my family.

Although I don't know what the scale will say (no bathroom scale at my parents house) I made way better choices than I normally would have and I didn't even feel the "post dinner turkey coma". I give myself an A for the day and will let you know what the scale says at the beginning of next week.

How did your Thanksgiving 2010 go for you? Success? What did you do to make sure you had success?

Also, I found this turkey comic and thought it was way funny!

oooh...A Masquerade!

noreply@blogger.com (#1Sis) — Sat, 20 Nov 2010 00:45:00 +0000

So...Let's get you up to date. I attended my weekly weight watcher meeting on Wednesday and Weighed in at 171! Also, I have been invited to go to a masquerade ball on December 3rd. My goal is to be in the 160's before the ball. That is totally doable 2 lbs in 2 weeks. However, it's Thanksgiving and all.

In addition, I have a problem. A big one. So...I am still single and go on dates fairly regularly. How is it possible to eat good when you are at places like Outback Stakehouse? Does anyone have any coping strategies? What is your Turkey Day game plan? HELP ME OUT!

Do We Really Look Alike?

noreply@blogger.com (#1Sis) — Mon, 15 Nov 2010 05:45:00 +0000

So I had the opportunity go visit my parents this weekend and while I was at the wedding of a family friend I had many people calling me SherRon and getting in arguments over which one I am. Personally, I don't feel like we look that much alike (but that's because we continually fight over who is cuter).

What do you think? Let me know. I'm curious...

Hello All

noreply@blogger.com (#1Sis) — Sat, 13 Nov 2010 15:22:00 +0000

Hello there...as mentioned in the previous post. I am ShaReece, SherRon's sister. She asked me if I would guest blog. I am not a blogger and have never done this in my life, but...here goes.

A little about me. I am 25 years old and have been trying to promote a healthier lifestyle since last January. My starting weight was 232 lbs. My current weight is 172 lbs!! YEAH!

SherRon and I have some things in common like: we share the gene pool, innate poor eating habits, love of pretty shoes and desire to lose weight and become more healthy. However, in all other ways, we are polar opposites. I have a LOVE for working out (Zumba, TurboKick, Hip Hop Hustle, most sports). I have a total different body shape as well that SherRon has often referred to as "built like a football player." This lovingly means that I have no hips or butt. When asked about my body shape I call it brick of cheese. Note pictures below.

Well... is there anything else you want to know about me? Or anything about SherRon?...she is on a cruise and can't stop me...

BRB

noreply@blogger.com (SherRon) — Fri, 12 Nov 2010 04:03:00 +0000

Hey guys! I just wanted to check in and let you all know that I'm all still very much alive. Tomorrow I head out for my anniversary cruise with my husband where we will be spending 8 days doing nothing but enjoying ourselves. In the meantime, my sister, as mentioned in this post, will be keeping you entertained with her weight loss story and other happenings. I'll be back in just over a week and I have some very exciting news to share!

Freezing Cold

noreply@blogger.com (SherRon) — Thu, 21 Oct 2010 02:28:00 +0000

Alright peeps, I'm here for your help. I usually a very cold person and I'm not talking about my personality. What I mean, is that even if a room is at 70 degrees, I'm still chilled. My toes and fingers get the worst of it.

Matt learned this quickly about me and he also noticed that when I'm cold I'm not a very pleasant person. My Christmas gifts last year included a snuggie, an personal space heater, and a down blanket. I guess he likes his woman happy!

Anyway, my latest problem is that after I work out and come back to my apartment to cool down I get really cold. Like teeth-chattering, body shivering-ly cold. I'm not quite sure why this is but I don't like it.

Any recommendations?? Does this happen to any of you?

Wear the Skinny Jeans!

noreply@blogger.com (SherRon) — Tue, 19 Oct 2010 12:35:00 +0000

A few weeks ago I found myself in a dressing room wearing a pair of skinny jeans. I stood there and looked in the mirror for a long time, debating if I would ever dare wear them out of the dressing room. I'd been wanting to try them for a while, just because it would add something new to my current selection of boot-cut jeans.

It was a conflict within myself. My negative self talk was saying that I was still too fat to wear them and that I looked silly in them. They made my calves look huge and my stomach look even bigger because it was not proportional. However, I could also hear 286lb-SherRon screaming in the back of my mind, "WEAR THE SKINNY JEANS!" My perception of my size was so much different when I was larger. How many of us have once been a size, and thought we were so fat, but would kill to go back?

I left the fitting room undecided. I would try them again, but those certainly weren't the pair. I couldn't shake the experience. Why was I so scared to try something new? I resolved that I was going to stop being worried about how silly I was going to look. It was a simple pair of jeans.

I wondered how many other things I'd not done because of my size. How many times have I been too worried about what people would think of me?

I went back to the store, I bought the skinny jeans, and I rocked them!

I realized that this is not about simply wearing a pair of jeans. This is about living life right now, not waiting until we reach our goal weight. There is nothing magical about that number we all have picked out in our mind. Life won't start being wonderful then, but it can start now.

So, I'd like to challenge all of you to do one thing that you otherwise wouldn't do because of your size or appearance. You can wear skinny jeans, or red lipstick, or a two-piece. You can get up and sing karaoke or dance on a raised floor. Sent me a picture of what you did, or write me about your experience and I'd be happy to share it.

Grab a button and put it up on your blog so that people can see you're choosing to live life now and they can join us in the challenge.

PS: I'll be posting a picture of me in skinny jeans shortly.

Before Me

noreply@blogger.com (SherRon) — Wed, 13 Oct 2010 02:58:00 +0000

I've been wondering for quite some time now if I should remove old pictures of me from my Facebook. I look at the pictures and my smiles seem fake. They don't look like the me that I know. I didn't even see myself in them when I was that size.

But the thing is, that IS who I was. That is what I looked like. That was the sum of a lot of decisions I made. But I've decided not to delete or untag those old photos of me.

Before SherRon was pretty darn awesome. She nailed a pretty great job. She was a loving wife and sister. She was a good friend. She had the courage to walk in the gym that first time. She was smart enough to know that she needed to make a change and that it was up to her to do it. Before SherRon stays. She is both a warning and a beacon of hope.

What I've been up to lately

noreply@blogger.com (SherRon) — Tue, 12 Oct 2010 02:08:00 +0000

Well...lets just say that Matt bought me a new camera and I'm in love. Firstly with Matt, then the camera :) So here is a little of what I've been up to lately:

I've been going on walks every day during my lunch hour. This is the view from my office window. How could I possibly stay inside?

I've been doing a bit more cooking.

and I've also been eating some other, not so great things....

But life is good,

and it's all up from here.

I hope everything is going great with all of you! I'll check back in tomorrow with a bit more details.

I'm SO Blessed

noreply@blogger.com (SherRon) — Fri, 08 Oct 2010 02:48:00 +0000

I've recently started to notice something very special about my journey. I have SO much support. I've always had that support. Even though Matt hasn't always been on board with the diet, he was always willing to eat where I felt comfortable. He put up with my low calorie dinners and was a sport when I'd leave him each night to go to the gym. But I haven't had just Matt. I've had many, many more supporters.

My Mother in law started her weight loss journey last August and she was a driving force in me deciding to change my ways. I saw how it was possible for her to lose the weight and for some reason it just clicked that if I really committed and did what I knew I should do, I could do it too.

My sister, ShaReece, started weight watchers at the first of this year and has since lost 50 plus pounds. She's great to talk to about her struggles because we come from the same background, eating the same foods, and participating in the same activities. She gets where I'm coming from and knows where I want to go.

My sister in law, Mariah, has also been a huge inspiration to me. She works long hours, cares for two small children and still finds time to make it to the gym. If she can do that, then I have NO excuse. She's also great to have around family functions where I can see what she's choosing to eat and I no longer feel alone.

My Cousin, LaraLee and I have gotten much closer this year. She lives about 4 hours away from me but we talk nearly every day. She was the one that made me decide to go on a diet in the first place. We were going to be each others weight loss buddies. We'd hold each other accountable. It worked. She kept me motivated. She can also help keep you motivated. Check her out over at her blog.

My friend, Eileen, at work. She is one of my best friends and is on this journey as well. Its great to have someone facing the same work temptations as I do. We both smell the pizza when it is brought into the office. We both know that the cupboards in the kitchen are stocked full of cookies, and crackers, and chocolate. We also both know that the fridge is full of apples, grapes, oranges, and carrots and we help each other make good decisions. Lately she's even started to join me on walks around our office park during lunch. Not only are the walks helping me get more movement in for the day, but I also have way more energy after them and I'm more awake at work.

There are many, many other people who have inspired and motivated me along the way. Some to of the biggest players have been fellow bloggers. I cannot begin to think where I'd be without the daily motivation and support I get from all of you. I am truly blessed to know, without a doubt, that I am not alone in this fight. I know that no one buy myself can make the healthy food choices and do the workouts in they gym, but having people that continue to support me and hear me ramble about what I've eaten or what I'm struggling with, makes it that much easier.

A Non-Scale Victory.

noreply@blogger.com (SherRon) — Fri, 01 Oct 2010 03:10:00 +0000

I've never been able to wear my friends clothes. I've never even considered asking. I've always been the fat friend. I used to be so jealous of other girls that had 4 times the wardrobe because they could share and swap back and forth. The only person I've been able to share clothes with was my sister and I haven't been able to do that for years.

This past weekend, that changed. I was with some friends and sat down on a bench that had recently been sprayed off. My whole back side was soaked. I was upset because I knew this meant that I had to spend the rest of the evening in soggy jeans. Then one of my friends piped up, "You can borrow a pair of mine!" and rushed off to her bedroom to find something suitable.

I had a quick flash back to "The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants" when they come up with the idea to share pants and the larger of the girls says, "You think that a pair of pants that fits all three of you is going to fit...all of this?!"

I was scared. I was scared that they wouldn't fit and I'd either be stuck in soggy jeans with my friends questioning why I was still wearing them, or in sausage casing tight pants that I couldn't move or breath in. My friend came bouncing back with a pair of pajama pants that I quickly changed into. THEY FIT! They weren't too tight, they weren't too lose. Granted...they were stretchy pajama pajama pants that probably could fit an array of people, but it didn't matter. They were my friend's pants and they were on me!

As for being back on the wagon...I'm pretty much rocking it. I've been to the gym every night this week. My eating has been on track. I lifted weights. I go on walks around my office park on my lunch break. BOYAH!

The Dress

noreply@blogger.com (SherRon) — Tue, 28 Sep 2010 03:02:00 +0000

This year I've found a lot of motivation in competitions like the biggest loser group I participated in. I also was inspired by the thought that if I could lose just 2 lbs a week, I could lose over 100 lbs in a year. There is a third inspiration I haven't shared with you. Back in March, Matthew and I booked our anniversary cruise. This November will mark our second year of marriage and we're celebrating by taking an 8 day cruise down to Acapulco, Mexico and I couldn't be more excited!

Since the time we booked it, I've had visions of what my vacation pictures could look like. How healthy I'd look. Last November we went on a cruise and our pictures were so bad I didn't really want to show anyone. I was so embarrassed of my size. We didn't even purchase any formal pictures on the cruise because I couldn't find one that I liked.

This year will be different. This year, I'll be hunting down the professional photographers on the ship an posing for all the pictures I'd like. I won't worry about onlookers and I'll take pride in what I see on the prints.

One of the things I've been the most excited for is the formal night. I've spent a lot of time looking for a dress that I just love and I finally found it. This little number stole my heart.

Looks hot huh? I found the dress at TJ Maxx and I couldn't stop thinking about it. THIS is the dress I want to be wearing. Well, there is one big problem. It doesn't do up in the back. This dress is a size 12. I'm not a size 12. I thought about finding the dress online and in a size up but when I found it, it was $5o more and I'm kind of a cheap girl.

I know that in order to make this dress happen, I'm really going to have to buckle down and try hard. I've lit my own flame. I have my motivation back. I'm focused. I'm eating right. I'm planning my evenings so I can exercise.

So the plan for the next 7 weeks is:

Log my food and exercise EVERY DAY! I've been slacking at this and I can really tell a difference.
Workout at least 5 days a week for at least 45 minutes.
Focus on toning and strength building exercises.

The photo of me in the dress is now my background on my phone so I am always reminded of my goals. I've got 45 days to lose a dress size but I've got a mountain of motivation. And how is this for a start?

What motivates you?

CSN Winner and The Fair

noreply@blogger.com (SherRon) — Tue, 21 Sep 2010 04:03:00 +0000

If you knew how I'd been eating this past week, it would come to no surprise to you that I gained on the scale again. My Saturday morning weigh-ins have become things I dread now when they used to be one of the highlights of my week. I felt like all of my efforts were validated and that I was headed in the right direction.

Now it seems like I'm getting a test back that I know I didn't study for. I'm not really sure why I'm off my groove most days of the week. I can understand allowing myself special occasion food, but I'm having a hard time deciding what counts as a special occasion.

I remember when I first started my diet I had to come to terms with not always eating what I wanted, whenever I wanted it. I had to understand that just because something sounded good, didn't mean that I should eat it. I'm finding myself falling back into that hole more and more lately and I need to find a way to reel myself back in.

Speaking of special occasion food, this last weekend Matt and I went to the state fair.

Matt and I shared a deep-fried PB&J

I had some cinnamon roasted almonds.

And we shared some funnel cake with some friends.

I probably should have been a little quicker with the camera on this one.

It was a great time and I don't regret anything I ate there. I do regret the large dinner I had after the fair. I also regret the large chicken wrap from a drive-in I had on Saturday.

Anyway...enough about me. Let's give this gift card away!

And the lucky winner is....

Leane from Leanne Lately

Send me your email address and I'll get you the gift card.

Thanks everyone for entering!

CSN Gift Card Giveaway

noreply@blogger.com (SherRon) — Wed, 15 Sep 2010 01:59:00 +0000

Do you guys remember way back in June when I told you to look forward to a review and a giveaway from CSN stores? Well, that day has finally arrived.

The hardest part about this giveaway was choosing what I wanted. There are so many items in so many stores! They carry everything from dining tables, to fitness equipment, to shoes and accessories.

I browsed through many, many different stores but kept going back to the shoe section. (Can you blame me?) Being a good weight loss blogger I would have purchased something in the health and fitness section, but where is the fun in being good all the time?

After several hours pouring over the different shoes, I picked a pair and submitted my order. Immediately afterward I got an email telling me my order had been received and that it would ship from the warehouse within two days. The first day came and went with no news from the store. The second day I received an email telling me they were checking with the warehouse to see why my item had not shipped and within just a few hours I had tracking information. My item arrived within two business days. TWO!

I was thrilled to come home to a package that contained another box that looked like this:

I'm a sucker for a cute shoe box.

and on the inside....

EVEN BETTER!

(If you're loving these shoes as much as I am, you can find them here.)

I really enjoyed my experience with CSN and I'll definitely be shopping there again.

Here is your chance. CSN is giving away a $40 gift card to one of my readers. There are 4 different ways to enter.

1. You must be a follower of my blog.

2. Follow me on twitter @shoestolose

3. Like Shoes to lose on Facebook

4. Post about this giveaway on your blog.

Please be sure to leave a comment for each entry. Contest ends Saturday at Midnight MST.

Good Luck!

Fine Print: US and Canada only and international shipping charges may apply for Canada addresses. CSN Stores did provide me with a gift card so that I could share my opinion of their stellar customer service with y'all.