Honored and Excited! Can I be a success story???

This week I submitted my story to Weight Watchers as a possible Success Story. I'm hoping I am chosen to represent my amazing leader :-) Here's my application!

My Story:

250 lbs

After having my second child I found myself more overwhelmed, overworked, and more tired than I've ever been in my entire life. In July 2013, I’d had enough and I decided, "I'm going to lose 100 lbs!" I knew Weight Watchers worked and had tried it with success in the past. Prior to that, I’d tried pretty much everything; personal trainers, diet pills, Adipax (phentermine), working out, low carb, you name it, I tried it. I would just yo-yo up and down.  

I had sizes 12, 14, 16, 18, and even 20 in my closet at any given time. Not only was it frustrating to fluctuate like that, I knew it wasn’t good for my body. At 250 lbs I had heartburn every day. My back hurt, my knees hurt, and I would become winded walking up 1 flight of stairs. I had an active 2 ½ year old who wanted me to play outside. I had a newborn that needed me. Mommy was always “too tired”. I was miserable.

Starting weight watchers I made sure I did everything the way it was suggested. I made weekly goals. As each week passed I made that goal a part of my new lifestyle. 5 weeks in, I had a new set of guidelines which were attributing to my healthier life. I attended meetings regularly, I used my phone to track my meals, and when we went out to eat, I made sure to add up points. It was not easy at first, but the weight started coming off and I was so excited I wanted to keep going.

There were so many excuses I could make for not losing the weight. I work full time.  I have two kids, one a newborn. We’ve gone through sickness and stitches, sleepless nights, and every holiday meal. I hated exercise. Though active in high school athletics, it had been years since I really “worked out”. I thought I had to go to a gym and life weights.

150 lbs

After I had lost about 40 lbs, I felt so much better. I had a Wii, so I purchased Zumba and Just Dance. I alternated those work outs in my living room. Completing just 25 minutes of Zumba and 25 minutes of Just Dance the first week was easy. The second week, I did 2 zumba classes. The following month, I was working out 3-4 times per week. With my eating following Weight Watchers and my workouts, I found the losses steady each week.

If I had a craving, I found a way to satisfy the craving either by recreating it in a more healthful way or using my weekly points to splurge. In the 20 months it took me to lose the weight, I never felt deprived. That’s why it worked for me. Recently, I completed a 10 week workout program that included 60 workouts, resting only on Saturdays. That’s not something I EVER would have done before.

My life is completely different than it was before. My husband and I are happier, I play with my kids outside, and I have even been complimented for my positive outlook at work. Things are incredible! I am very happy. 

Photos I submitted are above.

My stat sheet from WW: Join Date, Goal Date, Lifetime Date (hoping tomorrow)

Sick. Sick. Sick. AND, Sick some more....

 This is ridiculous. I mean, RIDICULOUS! Our little team Dable cannot get well. We cannot! It's driving me CRAZY!

My brave boy!

This is my last 2 weeks of frustrations. Apologize for taking away from my weigh loss mommy and going into bitchy mommy here, but hopefully some of you can relate.

Monday- Phone call. Oldest Son fell on the playground. 3 stitches. Trip to Urgent Care.
(Hubby leaves to go out of town Tue-Thu)

Thursday- Youngest son crying in agony. "Mommy. Ear. HURT." Another quick run into the Urgent Care, Antibiotics for an ear infection.

Friday- Back to Urgent Care to remove the stitches. Wound is healing great! Time for Mederma

Fri night- Hubby home, happy weekend. All seems great!

Monday am- Oldest son wakes up sneezing, coughing, etc. "Mommy- I am too sick for school." Stay home.

Tue- Hubby leaves again- gone until Thursday....

Tue NIGHT- Pick up younger son from daycare and he seems fine. At bath time, I notice he has a few bumps and a slight rash. Before my eyes, it doubles. AGAIN, go to Urgent Care. It would appear he has a reaction to Penicillin..... New antibiotics.

Poor little man! 

Wed- Pick younger son up from daycare. Rash is SO bad he can barely see out one eye. Call my Dr. they say he should be seen. AGAIN, Urgent Care. They say, "Well I don't want to say the Dr. last night was wrong, but....this isn't an allergy. This is just a viral infection. BUT, he needs Steroids".... UGH!"

Thu- All good BUT younger son refuses to take medicines. I tried hiding it in Ice cream, yogurt, chocolate milk, you name it. NO DICE! He's too smart for my games.

Fri- All good BUT after our friends leave at 12:40 am, I realize I am not feeling so good, so I take Ny-quil. Next thing you know, my OLDER son gets up at 2:30 am. He threw up, EVERYWHERE. Change the sheets, snuggle him back in, give him a bowl. good, right? NOPE. 3:45 am- "Mommy, I frew up again". Cut to another sheet set soiled and put him in the guest room with me next to him. Poor guy up the rest of the night. Moaning and in pain. Mommy- NO SLEEP.

Sat am- YOUNGER son wakes up. Having labored breathing. Seems to be very lethargic and not better at all. Hubby takes him to EMERGENCY ROOM! 3 hours later, a chest x-ray and breathing treatment, he has a Viral Infection which just has to run its course....Great!

Sunday- Mommy sick all day. No rest for mommy.

Monday- Mommy still very sick, but needs to be at work. Boo.

Tuesday- Feeling a little better- still at work.

Wednesday- FINALLY better. 45 minute walk on my lunch break! I'm back baby!

I didn't weigh in last Saturday (you know the whole ER thing) and I am nervous at my number this coming week. In guessing, I think the last 2 weeks added about 3-4 lbs.

I have this week to make it up. Back to my healthy eating and get my workouts completed. Hope you all have had a better couple weeks than me....

Next challenge accepted

T25 is done. I finished it a week and a half ago. After 10 LONG weeks, I am able to share that I went from 155.4 to 148.4 lbs. I also lost a total of 9 inches from my chest, waist, arms and thighs. Went from a size 8-10 to a size 4-6.

It was HARD work. I've never committed to 10 weeks of anything in my adult life. I always thought the people on infomercials were fake. And maybe some of them are, but DANG! This worked. I gained muscle in places I never knew existed. I toned my legs, butt and arms. I can see clearer definition in my abs and I definitely lost some of the apron-y fat which sets in front of my tummy.

So, I took a week off. I deserved it, right? Whew! Let me tell you. I ate and ate. And ate some more. I went out to eat 5 DAYS IN A ROW! I dined on Chicken Teriyaki wrap with Sweet Potato chips, a bacon cheeseburger with an egg on top and fries, a plate full of Chicken Marsala from Calderone Club, a grilled ham and cheese panini with FRIES (again). I haven't been this mean to my body since before I began my journey.

Interestingly enough, the scale wasn't too cruel. I had lost a little weight, but I am a little nervous to see what happens this weekend. I am on Day 2 of 30 Day Shred by Jillian Michaels. This is a 3 DVD set I bought on Amazon for $8.50 or something. It is meant to do DVD #1 for 10 days, #2 for 10 days, #3 for 10 days. I believe you're supposed to rest on Sunday so it's a 33 day challenge. This one seems much more do able for me right now. I don't think I could commit to another 10 weeker! Whew!

I'm back on track with eating and I have discovered a new food line which is 100% organic that I'm excited about! It's been Yummy and Healthy! Will keep you updated. Stay tuned for my 10 week photos. I am a bit delayed, but I still look pretty good!