Congratulations To.....

....anyone who learned something from this little 'competition.' Robert is the winner of the $180. I feel like I am a winner in that I am stronger and my cardio-vascular system is in much better shape. Junice mentioned what she has discovered during this exercise. So, I think we all can feel good about having learned something. The big question is, what will we do with what we have learned? January has been a wash for me, but I am determined to concentrate more on the 'food' aspect of the equation, keeping the activity part going, and getting actual weight off.
I am going to keep this blog open. Anyone who wants to post about their experiences can do so. The contest is over, but the pursuit of better health certainly isn't, I hope. So, no more reminders for weigh-ins. You can do it or not, post or not. Maybe it can still be a tool for comraderie and support.
Love to you all.

I need to lose weight, I like competition, and I love to chat. So I thought this would be a great support to my efforts to get healthier. As usual, I began with enthusiastic effort. I ate better, exercized a bit, and faithfully bloged each week for 11 weeks. I lost 11 lbs, but felt like I was alone in my efforts and was talking to myself, so I gave up the blog, inertia kicked in, and I gained back my loss and then some. Upon our return from Hawaii in October I had risen from 182 to 200 lbs. Final weigh-in 198 lbs., a 2.6% gain.

I'm sorry that I was not more persistant, and stopped contributing to your blog. It is a noble effort, and I wish you all well in the battle of the bulge.

Let's Get Down To It

So, here we are at the end. There is still time to realize some weight loss before the 31st. And as far as the money goes, here's what I need:

1 weigh-in between now and the end
AND
a final weigh-in on January 31st. (A weigh-in on Feb 1st will NOT count.)

I will be rounding the tenths in weights and percentages (.1-.4 rounds down, .5-.9 up)

Let's make a good effort for our own sakes!

Time to get serious

I've got 29 days to lose 25 pounds! I better get going.

Back to 145 again after Thanksgiving pie. Yum! I'm grateful. This week is Nutcracker week full of practices for Austin and Stephenie. Stephen is Stage direct0r this year so he is busy and Lona is helping with the quick clothing changes. She is back to work for 4 hours each day, comes home and naps and then goes in the evening to help. We're grateful that she is doing better. Love to all, Grandma Gloria

Bragging rights

OK, I know that my kids did not sign up for this contest. Still as a proud parent I need to brag about their weight loss - plus, it improves our family stats quite a bit! Here's what Jacob and Ariel have accomplished:

Jacob - start 200 in Jan, currently 165 (17.5% loss)
Ariel - start 185.2 in July, currently 156.2 (15.7% loss)

(Which means both Jacob and Ariel weigh less than I do)

And so... ta da! the family totals:

Start: 748.2
Currently: 683.2
Loss: 65 lbs, 8.7% (thanks to Jacob and Ariel)

Really, hopefully this inspires me to follow Jacob and Ariel's example and get back on track! On the good side, by summer I was 4 pounds up, so now I'm actually 8 pounds down from my July high. Hopefully I will continue in the right direction.

- Carolyn

Never, Never, Never Give Up

Okay, so I am back to 170....sigh. The formula for weight loss is so simple - fewer calories in than expended. If I am not willing to give up the 'calories in', I guess I need to find out how many calories I need to 'expend' to lose weight. Two hours a day? Three? Well, that starts to get ridiculous, so maybe I better think about the 'calories in' again.
On a good note, I went to a chiropractor last night and, although I am sore, I am doing better. I didn't wake up once last night with numb arms and hands. And I can 'scrunch' my shoulders and feel the release - ahh. He said I had a lot of things out of whack (my words, not his) and I must have. I will go back tomorrow - my choice - because my muscles have all been so tight that I am sure they are trying to pull everything back out again.

Reluctant to Post

I have been avoiding posting because it seemed like my weight was out-of-control heading the wrong direction. I was 168.5 this morning - after breakfast - so that is better than it had been looking. I was talking with trainer Holli about it - my original goal was to get healthier and stronger. Weight loss would come with getting healthier. Well, I am definately healthier and stronger than I was at the start of the year, but have been quite discouraged by the weight loss - or lack there of. Especially lately. Part of it is stress. I don't know exactly why I have been feeling so stressed of late, but I have, and I am a stress eater. Holli said stress releases cortisol (?) which makes you think you are hungry - preferring fats and sweets because they release endorphines. AND stress makes you hang on to the fat harder. So the key is to RELAX - NOW! Yeah, you all know what that is like. So, my goal for the next week - month - is to do some relaxation during the holidays - and not relaxation with a package of cookies:)

Staying steady at 145. Getting cold up here but no snow so far. Austin lost his new coat so we went looking for it in the "lost and found" at Jefferson and sure enough it was there! Hooray!
There were about twenty good coats in the bin waiting for their owners to find them. We are going to Robert and Junice's for Thanksgiving. All of their children and spouses will be there with Noah and Gage also and we will be bringing Alisha with us. She is arriving Tuesday night with Jordan Brame. His sister's reception is the Friday night after Thanksgiving. Should be fun.
Hope all of you have a wonderful Thanksgiving! Hugs, Grandma Gloria

I lost what I had written so here goes again. The pound I thought I lost found me so I'm 145 again. The Ribbon Festival is Saturday. Chandler is playing a solo and a duet plus his scales, etc. Stephenie isn't taking piano this year but is playing the duet with Chandler. Austin is playing a solo and a duet with his Dad plus a modified scale, chord, etc. They are both playing hymns also. The missionaries are coming for dinner so I've been working on getting the kitchen cleaned after the grape juice canning. Looks like we're getting about 30 quarts this year. We share with Junice and Irene. Robert has a job interview tomorrow. Have a good week. Love to All, Grandma Gloria

A Weigh-In - ugh

Interesting weighing this week. My weight spiked to 169+ and I didn't want to post that, but here I am. But today was a new 5 week cycle with trainer Holli, so we weighed - 166. I don't get it. When I weighed in the first time at the club, it was off from my scale by 1 or 2 pounds. Well, I guess this is just 3 pounds off - JUST! I will continue to go by my own scale - darn it. I really need to address my eating as my sleep has also been really crazy this week and I know they can just work off each other - tired, eat more sugar - eat more sugar, sleep disturbed - tired, eat more sugar, etc. That is my goal for the week - really think about what I am putting in my mouth again and get better sleep.

Happy News

So, with the snow yesterday I had to wear long pants and shoes (not sandals) for the first time since last Spring! I dreaded that, because I had grown out of my pants last year or so. I bought ONE pair of pants that I wore all last year. I didn't want to buy more than that because I refused to think that I would stay that size! And that is why I have resisted wearing long pants as summer has turned to fall and now winter. I knew the day would come, but I tried to postpone it as long as possible. So yesterday I decided to try on the outgrown pants and they fit! I didn't have to suck it in or jump around or anything to get in them :) My weight hasn't come down like I would like, but my body is obviously changing and responding positively to the work I have been doing. Working out has definately been beneficial - I am stronger physically and I know my cardio-vascular system is working better and stronger, too. So that is all a plus. I will just stick with it and, eventually I'll get the food under control and lose weight, too.

144 this week. Don't ask me how with Halloween and Austin's Baptism Party also. Maybe it was because of Fast Sunday. Stephenie, Chandler and Austin did "Trunk and Treat" and then Stephenie and Chandler also went "trick or treating" with friends. Austin didn't want to go. He said he had enough candy and wanted to stay home to answer the door and give out candy. We did have some trick or treaters come and it was fun to see Austin enjoy giving them candy. We still have a lot of candy left over. Sigh!

Halloween - ugh

So I managed to salvage a weight-loss this week by weighing after a vigorous workout this morning. Monday mornings you will find me at the club on the treadmill. On Friday I had Don drop me at the club for my spin class and then I walked home! Saturday morning found me walking VERY early - 5:30am, because I had been woke up by activity in the house and I was too frustrated to go back to sleep, so Sanders & I walked for a little over an hour. The funny thing was that I went to sleep in the guest room around 7:30, so when Don got up he took Sanders for another 1 hour walk - virtually the same walk we had done earlier! My undoing was definately Halloween. I was good not to get into the candy before Halloween, but Friday night I couldn't/wouldn't stay out of it! So ugh again! This does put me a bit behind my goal, but not too far. And I am NOT going to throw in the towel just because I am a little off my 1 pound a week. As long as I keep heading down, that is good.
I like the email post notification that I rigged up. Do you?

Checking in After 1 Week

I did weigh in at 169, so I met the 1 pound in one week goal last week. It's amazing, because I am really wanting - and indulging in - treats. I know it is stress eating. Now I just have to figure a better way of dealing with it. (I was actually 168 this morning, but I'll hold that thought for next week :)

I'm back ...

at least for today.

I had a system going that was working for me, slow, but working. I have somewhat abondoned that system and the results are a gain in weight. So, it is time for me to really think about the quote I added to the blog and stop eating just becasue I want it now. I am setting a goal - weight goals are tricky, I think - to lose 5 pounds by Thanksgiving - that's 1 lb a week. I will let you know how I'm doing.

145 still and happy about that. Enjoying this season (my favorite) with its good weather and good food (tomatoes, corn on the cob, watermelon and yes even the zuchinni) Hope all is well there. Love to All, Grandma Gloria

Weigh In Sept 21-27

You know what to do.

Education Week eating habits

I spent Monday night thru Friday night at BYU education week. I was really worried about the effect that would have on my progress, with all the sitting and no time to get in a real work out and the temptations of BYU brownies, ice cream and fudge, etc.. There must have been just the right combo of stairs, campus traversing and BYU food and treats, because I actually came out a little ahead, but not enough to really count, so I am keeping my weight from last week. Anyway, good things can happen, even while having fun :)

Camp and aftermath

The good thing about last week is that we were at Moon Lake and I managed to get a lot of exercise and at the same time avoid overeating too much. The day after our return was Friday and I weighed in at a very nice 167.5. I have to say that, but since then I've settled in at 169.0, so that is my post (and after the excesses of today celebrating John's birthday, I'm afraid I'll go up... so I have to enjoy this while it lasts).