128 days until pools open for the summer. I know. I counted. What's that mean ladies? Well, if we start now, there's hope that we can feel good this summer and enjoy ourselves at the pool instead of worrying about which roll of flab is falling out of our tankinis. If we don't start, it'll be another year down the drain, another year of, "Next summer is my year." And I don't want that.

With high hopes of group motivation, accountability, and dare I say positivity (although feel free to moan and bitch as much as you'd like- it'll make me feel better), Ann and I are starting I Am's very own weight loss support group and would love you to join us... the more the merrier.

Ok, so let's get started on what you really want to know. How are we going to do this? How are we going to lose the weight??  First and most importantly, you need to start from within. This was the the mistake I made the first time around in weight loss. I had a goal - my wedding - and my eye was on the prize. I was not really looking at it as a LIFE change, but more of a "I want to look awesome in a dress" kind of change. The moment that stressful situations began creeping back up in my life, so did the scale.  Now, looking back on it, I thought a starting weight of 147 was terrible.  When I got to 125, I knew it was the number that was healthy for my body.  Now at 180 (yes this is more than what was originally posted but we are going to go by my weekly weigh in's with my trainer and that includes shoes and clothing), I would do just about anything to see a glimpse of the 140's.

As women, it's so easy to take care of others and put ourselves on the back burner. So, this is just a short and simple public service announcement to remind you to schedule that yearly- Yes, I know it's uncomfortable and the thought of "baring down" in someone’s face can give you the heebie jeebies, but at least you can groom yourself to the nines and surprise the hubby, get that mammogram, or have that mole checked out! It's so important. Trust me- ya never know what you will find...

For instance... with training for a marathon, you'd think that I'm in pretty good shape... Or not.

Cinch. It's a catchy little word, isn't it? I wish losing weight was a cinch... or that I could cinch my waist in a few inches... But it's not, and I can't- Unless I follow the new diet and wealth of information put out in this newly released book, Cinch, by Cynthia Sass- who just happens to be the coauthor of the bestseller the Flat Belly Diet.

Cinch, available in stores now, promises to help you conquer cravings, drop pounds, and lose inches. It also gets you all psyched up that you are going to have a bunch of "Yes" moments by following this plan- You know, like being able to zip up your skinny jeans without having to lie down on the bed and suck it all in. And eventhough the book calls for a mandatory daily dark-chocolate escape- Yes, as in having chocolate every day; this diet still seems far from being a cinch to me.

It happens to the best of us. Ugh. A picture is worth 1,000 words... Remember my before picture?

Continuing with the New Year, New You theme, I thought it would be great to spice it up a little bit here on the weight blog.  We're adding a new author to the mix and I couldn't be happier (hopefully this will motivate me to get my rear in gear)!

Don't worry- you'll be able to tell the difference between our columns. I'm the foul-mouthed, in desperate need of a dye job, stay-at-home mommy that still has extra weight from my children... and my youngest is going on four. Ann, the newbie, writes professionally, is insightful, and is a younger, natural blonde that has an excuse to still have extra weight since she hasn't even hit the end of her maternity leave. Oh- and she'll also be sharing the many challenges a new mom encounters- everything from breastfeeding to heading back to the work force.

Readers- We are in it to win it... and I hope you enjoy following along these next few months. And Ann- I'm challenging you right now- First one to say hello to our 150's (as in 159.9) gets a pedicure from the loser- and I don't mean the Biggest Loser.:)

Some women just have it. It just seeps out of their bones and you can't help but notice it... straight up sex appeal. And then there are women like me that are more like the girl next door. I attempt a sexual face and it's almost comical. I shake my derrière and instead of making the crowd go wild, it draws a giggle.

You know a woman has that X factor when you catch yourself looking at her Facebook photos. Trust me, you'd look too if Lisa Sanders was your friend. And as a woman, I hate to say it, but you might even check out her rack and admire her glutes. Not gonna lie here, I do...

Don't worry- Lisa is so much more than just eye candy- and when I decided to write my New Year's Resolutions, I immediately thought of her. Luckily, she was game to let me do this and even took the time to talk with me. I honestly feel like I am on a mission to meet my goals. This year, I want to become more like Lisa instead of just stalking her from afar. Are you ready for my resolutions?...

*Don't Judge a book by its cover. This year, I plan to stop judging so much. Living in this area, it's easy to assume things about other women... and I must admit I'm horrible about this. I will also say it usually stems from jealousy- so when a woman like Lisa steals the show just by entering the room, I'd love to cover my hubby's eyes and talk trash about her. But really- is that fair? Or is that being a God-loving woman? I think not. Take Lisa for example. She's fit, gorgeous, and beautiful, but she's also full of smarts and there isn't a mean bone in her body. Not only that, but she's served her country in both the Army and the Air Force, been stationed overseas, is an ex police officer, and currently manages a huge account for Verizon. She's not just a pretty face...

*Age is nothing but a number.


42. Let me spell that out to you. Forty-two years old. As in over the hill, past her prime, old. Yes, pick your jaw up off the floor. I'm putting an end to calling my self damaged goods! This is just the beginning. No more fretting over my age- I'm a baby and there is hope for me yet!:) The best is yet to come!

*Focus on my nutrition.


Duh! That's been my problem my whole life. I can work out for hours each day, but until I learn to change my eating habits, I can forget looking like Lisa. Lisa is a firm believer that nutrition is the key part of weight loss and that “You are what you eat”. Damn. She even went as far as saying that 80% comes down to nutrition (quantity and timing) and the other 20% is weight training, cardio, and sleep. Double damn. I must make a change or I'm a goner. And in case you're wondering what someone like Lisa eats- Here is her daily eating regimen and extra tidbits- Inquiring minds want to know, right?...
1/2 cup oatmeal (plain) or Ezeikel bread
6 egg whites

1 apple with natural peanut butter

6 oz grilled chicken
1 small sweet potato

2 plain rice cakes with almond butter

8 oz fish with asparagus/spinach or broccoli

1 cup cottage cheese or some plain non fat Greek Yogurt with a few unsalted almonds

After workout 2 scoops of protein with a banana
Before workout 1 scoop of chocolate protein powder mixed with coffee for energy

I bring food with me on every trip in a small cooler (hard boiled eggs, rice cakes with almond butter, 6oz chicken breasts with 1 small cooked sweet potato in zip lock bags) I have containers of protein powder already measured out with 1/2 cup oatmeal so I need to do is add hot water and eat.
If I am gone for a whole week I will go to the local Whole Foods or grocery store and get food for the week.

When home I make enough food for several days and already have them measured out in small containers so when I am in a hurry I can just reach in the fridge and heat up a meal.

*Set challenges and keep it interesting.


Whether she's skydiving for charity, attending fitness shows, or being the spokeswoman and attending gun shows for Kangaroo Carry, Lisa doesn't let life become boring. This is the year of the challenge... I see a half marathon, the Warrior Run, and a triathlon in my near future. Nothing is stopping me but myself!

*Spice it up.



My poor hubby. I have an entire drawer full of nighties and pretty panties, but they haven't seen the light of day for years. I've been known to try a negligee from my bridal shower on and when I do, I find that what used to be knee length is now a stomach bearing shirt. And when I put on the matching thong, I cry because it gets lost in my crack and I don't know if I'll ever get it back. My hubby has learned that this sends me into a tizzy and he's much more likely to get lucky if I just stay in the flannels and don't get depressed. I owe it to him to bring my sexy back.:)

*Workout

It's plain and simple. One doesn't look like this by eating bon-bons and watching reruns of 16 and pregnant. Lisa travels 80% of the year and spends a lot of time in hotels and airports. When asked how she fits it all in, she replied, "I don't have time to work out, I make time." I guess that's why she looks the way she does, and why I look the way I do!

*Know that it is possible.

Above all, Lisa is a proud mom to three children...(one is grown). She's been in my shoes- gaining thirty pounds with each pregnancy- and fighting to get the weight off. I CAN do this- and you can too!

Don't fret. I am my own person, and I don't really want to "be Lisa." But I would like to be like her in more ways than one. She is the epitome of a modern woman and she's in the position she's in because she has made it happen. If nothing else, I hope to one day be able to motivate others like she has motivated me. I plan to live this year like the words to her favorite quote:

Laugh when you can, apologize when you should. Don’t hold on to what you can’t change. Kiss slowly, play hard, forgive not forget, take chances. Be happy life is too short for anything else.

Here's to a fabulous 2011!!!

Baby needs some shoes. NOT... But, mama most definitely needs some new duds. There's nothing like putting yourself out there and "applying for a job" in public... But since I'm not one to hold back or let an awesome opportunity pass me by- here goes...:)

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If you need a few good reasons why, let me give it my best shot:

I sweat. There's no good way to sugarcoat it. I don't perspire. I don't glisten. And I don't finish a workout without the need for a long, hot shower. In fact, I usually stink... as in hold your nose, P.U., body odor stink.
Combine my sweatiness with the fact that the strands of hair that aren't quite bangs and aren't quite the length of my hair act as my security blanket. Ya see, I like to have pieces of hair framing my face. They make me feel thinner, and while everyone tells me they look like tendrils that go along with an 80's prom do and that I should have ditched them a long time ago, I still dig them. But when I run, they are annoying with a capital A...

I'm not doing it this year. I spent hours searching etsy for the perfect Christmas decorations. That's hours of my life gone. Precious moments that could have been memories, and instead, I sat on my butt drooling over other women's craftiness. If I had my way, my son would have a tree in his room, my daughter would have a pink one in hers, and we'd have a few more scattered around the house. I'm quite OK with a home that looks like it threw up Christmas... in a Williamsburgy kind of way... But all of that costs money, and so this year, those things will have to wait. I've decided that that's not what Christmas is all about, and after wasting gobs of money on fresh greens that I hung way too early that are now driving me crazy by shedding over my entire house- Seriously- how do those pine needles make it to my master bath?... I've come to the conclusion that my family isn't going to have a better holiday if there are ten trees compared to one. And sometimes... Less is more.