Glitter and Glam New Years Make-up

I got to be the makeup model for Valerie Osmond on The Daily Dish CW30! Glitter and Glam New Years Make-up

Trainer Time!

Today I saw my trainer, was weighed, had my body fat % taken, got my new workouts and eating menu and schedule. Tomorrow I start this next stage and dang I am excited. This is the next and LAST corner I take to my ultimate goal! I will post my body fat % and weight weekly and remember, it's body fat that matters from here on out! ;-) My trainer and the gym are my love affairs and these are two my husband totally approves of! LOL

Weeks 27 & 28 WOW!

WOW, how in the world did I not GAIN weight here???! Weeks 27 was good and I lost another pound, yay! Week 28 should have been a disaster! I worked out only twice last week and went to Vegas for my husband's company Christmas party. I didn't stay on plan at all! I gave myself the weekend to let lose and boy did I. The first night we got there we went out to the CUT and I don't even want to know how many calories, fat, and carbs I consumed! I didn't even have the bread at the beginning of the meal and I only had a bite of our sides but there must have been a lot of that stuff in my Indian spiced ribs, oh and also in the gelato I had after dinner! I ate like that all weekend! Even though I had like one meal a day because each meal filled my up and lasted me all day, I know I must have eaten a barrel full of crud! We were very active all weekend though. We walked endlessly every day all day, so that helped. All in all, I walked away with out gaining an ounce, or losing ;-) but what did I expect?
I think I'm not going to see good numbers on the scale for a while, I am really hitting it hard with weights and everything else, it's time to get back on the "building lean muscle" train! I started yesterday, back on plan and in the gym!
I started off yesterday with a great cardio that left me TIRED! I did 35 minutes on the treadmill and at a faster pace. I usually do 20 min, on the tread, 10 on the stairmaster, then another 10 on the tread @ 4.8 speed. I decided to stay on the tread and just run @ 4.9 speed. Today my legs, (top to bottom) are sore. It was great! I think I'll do this every other cardio workout so I can really build up my endurance. I am SOOO not a runner so this is all good for me ;-)
I hope I don't allow the holidays trip me up and I can knock this out of the ball park!

Here is the dress I decided to go with, I loved it!

Week 26, A Good ONE

Week 26 was a good one, I lost ONE pound but it was still a sweet one pound! At 143 I am feeling better and better about my finish. I know the last 10-20 lbs are harder to lose but I have hope. If I lose one pound a week at this point then I know I will get there sooner than later ;-) However, that might have to wait till after the holidays, but I'm good with that! ;-)

Another One Bites the Dust!

Thanksgiving is over and it is bitter sweet. I LOVE Thanksgiving. We go to my grandparents cabin in the mountains of Montana and have a beautiful family reunion with all aunts, uncles, cousins, and siblings that can make it. We eat, drink, and be merry. Making Christmas swags and crafts with my aunts and grandma is the best time. We listen and all sing to Christmas music and with a family that is musically talented it makes for beautiful memories. AND of course we EAT and eat and eat! I let go over the  holiday and threw up a few times because my small stomach couldn't handle it, no one bit. So I'm GLAD that part is over but am sad to see another great holiday come and go.
I am down another pound this week though! I weighed myself on Monday and totally surprised  myself, it sure made me a happy woman let me tell ya! I have been doing some great workouts and my muscles are shaping up nicely, I feel so much stronger now. I still see a lot of women at the gym that have rockin bodies and that makes me want to push harder. I actually workout around the guys because they aren't there to socialize and look cute like the majority of the girls. So they make me want to give it all I got. I have my Christmas dress to fit into here in a week, I don't even know how it fits now because it hasn't arrived yet! lol BUT I will hope and show pictures when I wear it ;-)
Everyone have a great OP day and a dynamite weekend!

Week 25 Results

WOW was this last week hard or what?! I only got in three workouts in and I ate off plan for our in-law's Thanksgiving dinner, BUT I still  lost a pound! Yay! Another not so good thing, I started feeling really light headed again last night, I ate some extra food to see if that would help. It didn't and actually made me sick. My stomach is so not use to having too much extra food too often and I threw up quite a bit. :-( I felt better later but gosh man! This is another reason why they have you only add in certain foods and amounts every week when you are in transition mode. I totally get it!
I started this week off good and hard. I got a GREAT workout in this morning. I cut down my rep time from 8 seconds a rep to 4 seconds a rep, but I added 4  more reps to each set and shortened my wait time between exercises. So I was able to get more reps in each exercise in less time, which really boosts fat loss. I also increased my running speed on the treadmill again. I felt great through the workout and nice and wore out after ;-) I am going to workout tomorrow and Wednesday before we leave to Montana for Thanksgiving, and I am going to bring my weights so I can work out there as well. There's no reason to let the Holidays throw you off your game ;-)
I am feeling so good since I started my workouts. I get to go to the gym and get out of the house, I am really toning up, I have received so many compliments that really help me to keep working hard, and I have 19 pounds to my ultimate and final goal!!! Life is good, even with all it's up's and down's, life is GOOD!
I just realized I need to put up my week 24 pictures, hmmmm where's my camera again???

Just Around The Corner

I have decided to start transitioning with  my next order of Medifast. I have three weeks till I start my new order and I am so excited. I am nervous but still very excited. This starts a whole new ball game for me. Transitioning will be a great test in a way. To see if I can add foods and not cave in and keep up a healthy diet is going to be a big step. My trainer is really excited to have me back once I start my transition and from then on out I will be working out hard and eating a normal balanced diet to finish this fat loss and hit my goal.
I am so close to being in a size 8 and that really makes me feel accomplished. I am going for a lean size 4, but hitting a size 8 is so so SO exciting to me! This is the smallest and healthiest I have been in my adult life, and after having 4 kids! lol I am blessed to have found Medifast, and I owe that all to my mom :-) She introduced it to me after she found the add in the back of a magazine and the rest is history.
I do have concerns for myself though. I have always had  low energy and unbalanced hormones and Meidfast has always helped me be more normal in those areas. Will I be able to feel as good as I do now once I cut my Medifast down to just two snacks a day? Will I be able to keep a healthy balanced diet? Will I be able to have little treats here and there and not over indulge? Can I keep up my workouts? CAN I BALANCE MY LIFE AND NOT RETURN TO BAD HABITS??? I am scared, really scared. I don't ever want to be what I was before and I do not want to constantly be stressed about keeping my new life style up. I want it to come naturally. I am willing to do what ever it takes to be the healthy woman I deserve to be and I will battle any problems no matter what though. I hope and pray for the keys, knowledge, and blessings to keep myself strong and healthy, I want a full happy life. No more judging or judgments. No more sadness or pain. No more missing out on anything!
I choose I FULL life!

Week 24

Well I can sure tell you that this last week was insane! I worked out really hard and ate really hard ! lol I did very good most days and a few days I had some little pig outs. I would get so hungry bc of the work outs and didn't have any food with me, so I had to eat whatever I had around with me. I had my kids treats with me bc I packed things for them when I went out, I didn't have my stuff bc I ate right before we would go out on our errands. I didn't think I would need anything so soon after but the workouts seriously made me hungry and of course my kiddos treats were not at all what I needed and were bottom less calories. SO I just ate and ate and ate. BUT I did still lose a pound LOL. I however have learned from my mistakes and will  be prepared from now on.
I feel great and can I just say wow?! My body, especially my legs, are feeling so much stronger! M-W-F I do 20 minutes of cardio and about an hour of weights. When you do a good 20-30 mins of cardio before weights you are in for a much better work out. The cardio burns through the sugar and the weights can get right in there and attack the fat. I started out doing 5 mins of normal walking, then 5 mins of fast walking, then 5 mins of jogging, 2 mins of fast walking, 2 more mins of jogging, ending with 5 mins walking for a cool down. Then I do squats. 3 sets of 8 with each rep lasting 8 seconds (4 sec. up 4 sec down). All my exercises were exactly like this. With doing exercises for hamstrings, back, chest, shoulders, biceps, triceps, and ball abs. Talk about killer! Then T-Th-S I do 30-40 mins of cardio. I start out on the treadmill doing what I do before my weights, then I go to the Stairmaster, and end either on the eliptical or treadmill for my cool down. Today I actually started on the treadmill and jogged for 10 mins with out stopping and that is really good for me! I hate to run lol. This week I will do exactly what I did last week just upping my time and weights if I feel I can and nest week my routine will change.
I am so glad I finally went and got a gym membership, it helps me keep my goals, and that is more than worth it! I am hoping that this next order of Medifast will be my first order in transition. We're all getting there and it is so worth it! Stay on plan and kick some fat!

My Week 20 Pictures

I realized that all my previous picts I was in dark colors so this time I wanted to do it in a white shirt, show all the imperfections ;-) I am in a medium shirt and my pants are a size 10. By looking at all my pictures on here, I think I look so much bigger than I am. I think " those don't look like 10's, I look like I'm bigger than that." But then I realize what everyone says about the camera and I think it really is a valid point. But I am feeling good and plugging along.

Week 22 and 23

WOW, I have been on a roller coaster lately!  The week before this last I had a one pound loss and this week a 2 pounder but ugh I felt so out of wack. I had a cheat day 2 Thursdays ago but sadly it went through that Saturday. This was right before my cycle started, just so you know, I have always been someone who eats a ton and is starving constantly the week before my cycle. I need to stock up on calories and retain lots of water just to get me through my t.o.m. So I know that the extreme hunger, cravings and blacking out was due to t.o.m. So I understand it when I had a one pound loss but most of all, I felt so tired and hungry. Then this last week with t.o.m going I have had the cravings but not the hunger.
This is the main reason I do Medifast, with doing other programs or just simply working out and cutting my calories I can't stick with it. When my cycle comes it throws me off so bad it completely ruins all the progress I made in the weeks before it started. I would eat healthy and work out 6 days a week and do wonderfully but as soon as my cycle gears up my body goes into 'hoard' mode. I get SO hungry and so tired, I feel like I'm pregnant all over again. On Medifast, my cycle is  more calm and lighter. I don't have the cravings or hunger that I normally do. I think it's the soy, it helps regulate my hormones (which have always been way off) which is worth more than you can imagine for me. But I don't know what's going on with me the last 3 weeks, I felt like my old icky self again and that scares me. I am going to look into getting my hormones and thyroid checked by a specialist as soon as I can.
NOW I think a 3 pound loss in 2 weeks with having 3 cheat days and my cycle is very good results ;-) I am still working hard to get into that size 8 that I need to be in for my husband's company Christmas party, I WILL do it! I hope every one STAYS on plan, stick with it, keep going! A slip up is just that, a SLIP up. It doesn't mean it's who you are or what you are! We are what we make of ourselves, so KEEP GOING and be the better person! I know we can do what we want and what we need regardless of our imperfections! Have a great on plan week you all and stay in touch with what really means the most to you ;-)

Another Friendly and Inspiring Personal Journey

A very good friend of mine just posted this on her blog, I wanted to share it with you all. She has an amazing spirit and is letting that spirit shine. Here is her journey thus far.

"To whomever still reads this blog, I wanted to say that I have finally been taking charge over my weight. 

It has been a hard and long battle {or at least it has felt that way}. I was never overweight until about 

2 1/2 years ago before we had our baby boy. I couldn't get pregnant and the weight started to mount on...then the miracle happened, had a beautiful baby boy...but it left mommy looking not so beautiful, even worse, FEELING not so beautiful. This was hard, because it is not like I was having a bad hair day {which happens to me oh so often} when you can just improve on the next day, but it was something "permanent". I wasn't happy with my looks, how I felt, and it was going to be the same thing the next morning, and the morning after that, and the morning after that. Unless I did something about it. Which I have done for a couple of months now...and I have to tell you that I am finally starting to feel like the old me. 

I have felt in the past couple of years that I am not in my own body, I never looked like this before, when I used to exercise I used to be able to do so much more...and this body that I am in {slowing getting rid off} was just not mine. 

This time though I am so committed...this time it is not coming back. I will feel like me again. 

I have lost 27 pounds and I am so proud of myself. It has been lots of hard work {not to mention sweat!} and I still have SO much more to go...but I really know that I can do it...! 

There are many reasons to why I am losing weight. I know that you may be having your own to do it ...but I will tell you the main 3 reasons for me

1. To be healthy: Heavenly Father has giving me this body, and I have abused it. I must take control of it before it takes control of me...as simple as that.

2. To look and feel beautiful: and you see, it is not to feel and look beautiful to the world, but FOR me! My most wonderful hubby has always been loving and caring...and has found me beautiful no matter what. But I refuse to live my life being heavy, I have never been like this in my life, and I will not keep on being like this. {these can later on be called my "dark ages"}

and the last one...

3. I want to live life now!: I don't want to be 40 something and finally do something about my weight {not that 40 is sooo old or something...but it is lots of years away, for me}...I don't want to be older and finally be able to do athletic things with my already grown up children. I refuse...

For these reasons I am doing it now and I am NEVER going back!

I hope that if you have plans to lose weight and take back your life...you GO and get them...get up and do something with the body that God gave you and make yourself proud!!

Thank you, To whomever is listening!" =)

A NEW New Weigh In Day

Ok, so I didn't just cheat Thursday, it continued through Saturday. I started fully on plan yesterday so I am back to my Sundays to weigh in. I feel so much better, no light headedness or blacking out. During t.o.m I get like this really bad, I have been like this my entire life. So adding those extra calories for those 3 days has really helped and will help carry me through the rest of the week.
I am completely back on plan and am SO glad I am! I felt soooo GUILTY eating those foods, it's a good sign that I will be health conscious during transition and when I am done with the program. I'm glad it was easy to get back on plan, I love the way I feel and am going to see how much I can lose this month with working out. I am going to go pick up one of those body fat measuring devices and see where I stand. That will help me gauge my fat loss as I gain muscle. I have a size 8 Christmas dress to fit into in about 6 weeks! ;-)

New Weigh In Day

About 5 months ago my husband made a deal with a friend/co-worker that involved us taking him and his wife out to dinner at our favorite restaurant Bombay House (Indian food). So they finally set on a date which was last night. I have been preparing for a cheat night for about 2 weeks knowing that there isn't anything you can get there that will be on plan. Today I am feeling the unwanted affects of eating foods like that. My stomach has been killing me and let's face it, bowel movements are not so comfortable! I got my all time favorite dish and everything was superb including our dessert at The Chocolate BUT I am feeling like I have a food hangover. So now my new weigh in day is on Fridays, I started this next 4 weeks strong today and I can not wait to get to my goal!
I only allow myself a cheat about every 4-6 weeks, it actually revs up my metabolism and since I don't have near as much as weight to lose now I need a little boost here and there. I also try and make it around my t.o.m so I don't get so light headed. I DO NOT think others should do this and put their weight loss at risk, not ever! I hate how I feel the next day and heck even while I'm eating the stuff, I do enjoy the extra boost and I really do need the extra with my cycle. I also can really tell why they have you add such little foods at a time during transition, it would be a shock on the body if they did it any other way.
Speaking of Transition, I am hoping that the new shipment of food I just received will be my last normal shipment so I can transition! Of course I will still be on Medifast but I am hoping that after this next 4 weeks I will be transitioning and adding in those other foods. I have 25 to lose but I will consider transitioning after the next 15. I don't mind doing it sooner now because of my workouts, I really do need the extra food for these work outs and this way I can have a little more time finishing my goal with doing it the old fashioned way, eating the proper food groups and exercise ;-)
I know that I could not be succeeding they way I am with out Medifast. I am forever in the debt of this great program, thank you!

Week 21, Wonderful and HARD!

I don't know why after 20 weeks week 21 proved to be the hardest week yet. I was constantly hungry, craving tons of different foods, and temptation was at its all time high. My best guess is because t.o.m is right around the corner BUT still I have never felt like I did last week ever on this diet. I did my best, had nibbles here and there, and came away with another two pound loss! I am now in the 140's!!! 149 is a number that is a little monumental to me. The last time I did Medifast I got down to 150 before I got pregnant, 149 is the lowest I have weighed in my adult life. Today is a day to smile for me....so I think I will do just that ;-)
Today for church I am wearing a really pretty dress I bought right at the end of September. It is a medium and it was snug with the pockets bunching and sticking out on the sides. Now, it fits perfectly....I feel great just knowing I get to wear it today. Thank you Medifast, I couldn't be doing what I am doing with out you. And a much deserved thanks to my husband who works so hard to provide it for me and who is my biggest cheer leader! OH and I noticed I need to post my 20 week pictures....let me get right on that!

THE Dress

Here is THE dress! I fell in love with it instantly and just had to get it! My hubby's company Christmas party is in Vegas and the theme of our trip is Vegas Bling, obviously ;-) This dress was so different from all the other ones I looked at and tried on. I'm not going with red anymore because all the other wives will be wearing either red, gold, or silver. So I went with another very popular Christmas color that has been one of my favorite colors my entire life, a BEAUTIFUL dark green! If you visit the web site this dress came from you can see what the dark green looks like. I am going to have to adjust the neck line and sleeves a little bit but it will still look the same only with more coverage.
Oh and I bought it in a size 8! I am so nervous about that because I can only return the dress if there is something wrong with it. HOWEVER, this will ensure my workouts. I will HAVE to stick with my workout routine, I have seven weeks. I know I can do it and I can't wait to post picts.! Time to rock myself into this dress, here I go!!!

Week 20 and a Sisters Weekend in Park City!

Last week had some ups and downs. I got in some really good workouts, all walking. I love walking and most of them were up hill at a fast pace. I didn't get any weight lifting days in though but I am ok with that bc I did tons of walking! I also go sick on Wednesday and it lasted till....well I'm still sick :-( And when I get sick my weight loss isn't as good. I am happy to say though that I still lost my normal two pounds last week and once again I am very happy with that.
Thursday I went to Park City on a ladies only vacation with all my sister in-laws, it rocked!!! I stayed on plan 99% of the time. We went out for sushi, I ordered a cucumber, radish, crab salad that had a vinegar dressing and a Utah roll. I pulled as much of the rice of the rolls as I could but there was still a little, very little, left on each roll. I'm not too torn up about the rice because we walked all over the place for two days straight! Everyone had a delicious breakfast and ate out for lunches and dinner but I didn't :) I ate out with them for dinners but did very well and stayed on plan, mostly. It was a fabulous weekend and I can't wait to do it again.
On another note, I have a company Christmas party in Vegas in December. I need to find a dress for the dinner! I am on the hunt for a red sequined dress and my goal is to make that dress a size 8! IF I do then that will be the smallest I have ever been in my adult life! I am ready to meet this goal! Wish me luck :)

Why Must This ALWAYS Happen???

Is there something about me that makes the universe NOT want me to succeed??? lol I had a good workout Monday and Tuesday BUT yesterday guess whose throat started to hurt....yep, MINE. Since yesterday was a cardio day for me there was no way I could workout last night with a sore throat. No way I'm gong to make it worse. I'm not going to let this detract me from my goal, I just wish I could get a head on my weight loss with working out. On ward, ever on ward I go!
I had an amazing NSV (non scale victory) last night. We took the kids to this new all you can eat pizzeria and salad bar and everything was SOOO tempting! I ate before we left but I wanted to did into that pizza! I stopped my train of thoughts, settled myself, and relaxed. There wasn't one thing on that buffet that was worth my time and I refrained, from it ALL. For me this was a great little success and I was lifted to a new level of appreciation and respect for how far I have come. A sweet success indeed ;-)
I hope everyone can experience these "little" moments and see how big they actually are. Have a great rest of the week and weekend every one, stay OP, it's MORE than worth it!

And Let the Workouts Begin!

I decided to get a little crazy and add exercise into my almost daily routine, (6 days a week). I know, crazy huh?! lol OK maybe not crazy per say but something new, actually some thing more needed than any thing. I decided to do cardio yesterday instead of weights. I started with walking and I WALKED! By the time I was done my legs hurt and at the end of the night my feet hurt even more. Now I know I need to be proud of myself but I don't think my body has ever been this affected from just walking. I'm such a weakling now, SO SAD! BUT I will take my win yesterday, (a noble victory over laziness) and let it propel me into my workout today. So I say "Bring on the weights!"
Tonight I will do the very first workout my trainer had me do when I first started with him. It's about 10 moves, with 8 reps per move, and each rep is 8 second long. Yep, so that means when it come to squats, I am going down slowly for 4 seconds and up the same. Try it and see how you feel ;-) Your quads will be nice and hot, especially the next day. This is a GREAT way to build muscle, no kidding. I am looking forward to this sooo much that I can literally feel my body tensing up now lol. Wish me luck you all ;-)
On another note, I have been having a little trouble with cravings. Now that t.o.m is over so should the little cravings but for some unknown and mean reason, they aren't. Sigh..... BUT I had a great conversation with a friend the other day about something that Medifast has done for me. I was hit over the head with a large thought of fat. I was sitting there explaining things to her and I just started to think of fat. I could SEE fat all in my mind! And I remember feeling overwhelmed and scared. I thought "What if I lose all this weight, get down to my very goal and fail?! I gain all the weight back and then some! And an answer came clearly to my mind,  ELIMINATE THE STRESSORS!  Figure out what makes you turn to food. Find out what makes you lose control, what makes you give in, and what stresses you to the point  you pig out! AND ELIMINATE IT!!! Once we know all those things, little and big, that are our stressors then we can begin to change them. Change will not take place if we are not willing to place the problem!
This week I am going to pause and take note when I have a tempting moment. See what I am tempted with and try and remember anything that I associate with that temptation. Music, movies, seasons, events and much more are triggers for me. I am going to rewire those triggers and put them with something healthy, creating a new look and feel on food. I don't want food to ever be a problem again for me. Eat to live, don't live to eat! ;-)

Week 18 and 19 Stats

SOOO I finally decided to weigh myself today and see what my total was for last week and this week. I didn't want to because of t.o.m but I really wanted to see and it looks like I'm right on my normal schedule. Four pounds more gone, so to make it easy I will just assume I lost two last week and two this week. I am very happy with that. I like being consistent.
 Tomorrow will bring new fun things to my weight loss journey, tomorrow I exercise! Weights M-W-F, cardio T-TH-S. I'm REALLY excited to see what kind of shape my body takes when I start to build my muscle, it's been a long time since I had shape lol. I also have a free consultation for a tummy tuck on the 17. I just want to see what the surgeon says and how much it will really cost. Who knows, maybe it'll happen some day right? ;-)

I am really excited for Katie Anhder, who won the Medifast giveaway. She has expressed to me her joy of knowing that she can start the program and find her true outer self ;-) I feel so honored to help her through her journey. She is going to do great and I just can't wait to see her success, what a great opportunity for her!!! We are all so blessed to have our Medi-family and everyone who puts so much in to giving us new ideas and endless strength. A great big thanks to each and everyone of you. YOU make this ride a good one!

Week 18 and I Have NO Idea!

Last Saturday was the last day of week 18 for me and I have no idea what my weight loss was. I was so so so busy I never got a chance to weigh myself and I haven't had time since either. So I figured I will just wait till this Sunday to weigh and see what I lost in the 2 weeks. Even though I really want to know what last weeks number was I'm having fun refraining and am excited to see if this next weigh in will be a big one :)
This last Saturday was a bit of an eye opener for me. We had family pictures, it was an out door session and I was so excited....till I saw the pictures. Now I know I have done very well and have lost a lot of weight but all I could see was a big butt and gut in myself. I'm not trying to be mean to myself but I really need to get these 30 pounds off and really get on my workouts! I could see that my body is still oddly shaped in some areas. I need to work on my butt, outer thighs/hips and my stomach. ONE thing that really helped me not get down about all this is that our photographer was below us taking the pictures up at us at an angle and everyone knows that those angles make you look bigger. But bottom line....it's time to work out! lol And I'm not discouraged either, not one bit :) I just know what my next step needs to be.
So I now have 10 days till my "sister/sister in-law" vacation to Park City and I am SOOOOOOOOO excited! I need to get my cute jeans, that I can finally fit into, hemmed and everything planned and ready to go. One reason I am so excited is I won't be the odd sister out. I won't be sitting there wishing I could try on clothes with the others when we go shopping and WISHING I had lost weight. I already have!!! It won't be a bad vaca it will only be filled with positives and this is something I really need!
I decided to very pure with my Medifast this week, to only add very little of extras to my meals. I know we can have so many healthy fats, condiments, and snacks a day but I am trying to only have one of one of those options a day. I'm also having more Medifast meals that need more water, like a shake or making my puddings into shakes just so I can have a bit more water with my meals. I'm also being very strict on my normal water intake, making sure I get more than the recommended 64 ounces every day. So far I am doing really well. I'm glad to kick my Medifast in a higher gear and being a little more concentrated on it, I believe this will really help me get these final 30 pounds off once and for all!
I wish for you all to have a wonderful day with wonderful experiences and your wonderful Medifast! Good luck and God speed you all to optimal health! I love you all!!

And The Winner Is???

Oooooo I bet you are all excited! I sure am!!! First here are our entries in the order they entered:
(1) Cathleen Dean @ 5:50pm on September 20 on this blog
(2) Kerri@ 8:55am on September 21 on this blog
(3) Shannon Henry @ 11 :47am on September 21 on my fb Medifast post
(4) Genie @ 9:50am on September 29 on this blog
(5) Sandy @ 6:24pm on September 29 on this blog
(6) Katie @ 9:00pm on September 29 on this blog

OK I am now going over to random.org!......Give me a sec ;-) ..................

And random.org says???!!!                                 #6!!!!            

Oh my congratulations Katie!!!!!
I will get a hold of you on fb if that's ok and hammer out a plan of when you want to order and all that good stuff.

THANKS to ALL of you for entering and I really want to do something like this as often as I can so I will keep you all posted of any up coming giveaways. Every one have a beautiful OP day, I love you all!!!

Today, I'm Listening.

I want to share my experience with you all that happened the other day. I know it's not exactly weight loss but you never know what it can help ;-)
Today has been a really nice positive day. As I was cleaning my kitchen I started to worry, about anything and everything. If you know me than you know that I am a high stesser with anxiety. Then I was hit with another tender mercy and something that a wonderful man once said echoed through my mind. "The thoughts that you have, when you're not thinking of anything, tells you what kind of person you are." I was doubting, getting angry and sad, feeling overwhelmed and that is NOT the kind of person I want to be, it's not who I REALLY am. So I was brought back down out of the clouds of crap and just stopped. I instantly heard my girls giggling out in the back yard, Christian's little feet running across the floor, and smelt the sweet smell of Ember. The adversary will always play on your weaknesses but that will never compare to that still small voice, as long as you stop to listen to it. Today, I am listening.

Week 17...MUCH BETTER!

I had a good week last week and felt a bit more together. I think it was a tender mercy because T.O.M is coming and I will have at least 2 very bad weeks when that happens! lol I get so tired, cranky, and sad during that time so I'm glad I had a week that could project me into the next couple a happier woman ;-)

I'm glad to say that this week was not a bust and I lost 3 pounds. At 157 I feel great! 32 more lbs until my goal and I can transition off. I'm looking forward to the transition phase just because it's turning another corner of positives and opportunities. I am looking forward to experiencing new things and adding a bit more spice to my life!

I went to a big family dinner last night and my grandma came into town from Montana. I haven't seen her since the 4th of July and have last almost another 30 lbs since then. She gave me a big hug and said "Who is this skinny minnie?!" It made me feel so good. My grandma is this petite tiny little thing and doesn't compliment that  much, she likes to keep you humble ;-) So to get that reaction from here tells me I'm doing something right. Thanks for the ego boost g-ma! hahahaha!

I have had several people ask me what I have been doing to lose the weight this last week. I told them all about Medifast. I had to explain over and over that the cost isn't what it seems. If you added up how much you  spend on food for yourself now you would find that Medifast is dang near close to that amount! I don't feel bad for one second spending the $ on this diet! Number 1, my health is worth it! Number 2, I am sooooo much happier and in return so is my family! Number 3, it's NOT expensive! Heck, for some it will help their pocket book. Not to mention you will be saving tons of your future $$$  bc you won't be obese buying tons and tons of medications. Now THAT is more than worth it! Bottom line.....order, try it, and succeed in every way!

Now on to this week with a positive attitude and a grateful heart...we are blessed!!! ;-)

Donna's Medifst success story - Get the "skinny" on Donna!

"I had been carrying too many extra pounds for too long and was looking for a safe way to lose it for many years.

“By the time I reached 460 lbs, I was miserable. Every step and every moment on my feet was painful. I am hypoglycemic and my family tree is full of diabetics on both sides. My chances of avoiding that outcome were getting smaller by the week, and I knew it.

“I needed something that was simple and nutritionally sound that would allow me to lose weight safely. Medifast has been such a blessing! The Medifast Meals make it simple: no calories to count or points to figure. They’re easy to take to work and fit easily into my lifestyle. I love that Medifast is safe from a nutrition standpoint.

“I started noticing subtle changes within the first few days, and lost weight quickly and consistently throughout the program. If you follow the program, you lose weight. It’s easy to avoid the inevitable temptations in life when you are properly nourished, not hungry, and seeing results every week!

“Since I started to lose weight, life is so much easier. I sleep better and have far more energy. I have a sense of confidence in myself that has been missing for a long time.

“My feet and ankles don’t hurt constantly. In fact, now I can walk a couple of miles a day, shop without pain, take my grandson to the playground, and sit in any chair I want without worrying if I’ll fit in it, or worse, break it. I can shop in regular stores for clothes.

“The scale is my friend for the first time in many years. Thanks to my weight loss, my asthma inhaler is a thing of the past.”

I loved her story, results, and attitude! What a shining example, I want to be just like her when I grow up! lol

$150 Medifast Giveaway!

Hey all you fellow Medifasters, I am doing a giveaway you DON'T want to miss! I am rewarding one of YOU with $150 worth of Medifast food! I am doing this because I know how hard it is to make ends meet and still have your diet food that we all love and need. I have an amazing Medifast family on facebook and here is away for me to help and show my appreciation. I love you all and good luck!

How to enter and official rules:
1) Friend me on face book, www.facebook.com/brandee.burt
2) Become a follower of my blog, this blog ;-)
3) Post this blog post on your facebook, healthyandwealthyme.blogspot.com -leave it up for at least 2 hours.
4) Leave a comment below this post on what Medifast has done for you and why you would like this giveaway!

I will be using random.org to pick the winner so it is completely fair. The giveaway ends at midnight (Mountain standard time) on the last day of this month and the winner will be announced on October 1, 2011. After the winner is announced I will ask for their email to get their address and what foods they would like. ONLY enter if you feel the terms and conditions are fair. Good luck everyone!

150's Baby!!!

I now KNOW my day is going to be good, why you ask? I stepped on the scale this morning and what did my eyes behold??? 159.5! LOL I know that doesn't seem so great but oh it really is, it REALLY IS! The last time I was in the 150's was the last time I did Medifast and was so close to my goal, and I am almost there! I believe I got down to 150 and was in a size 10 and NOW I can get those same 10's on and it's only a matter of time before I can wear them comfortably and soon after that they will be TOO big! Bahahahahahahahahahahahaha! This feeeeels great! I hope all you Medifasters have just as good of a morning and stay on plan ;-) Love you all!

45 Down and 35 To Go!

 I am over the half way mark on my fat/weight loss journey! I have lost 45 and have 35 left to go ;-) Once that is obtained I will be a Healthy and Wealthy me. Healthy, obviously because my health will have been saved and Wealthy because the more time I get on this earth with my children the more rich in blessings I am! 

I may have showed a 0 for lbs lost for this last week but I am going to celebrate my achievements thus far. I can see now that losing 45 lbs is really amazing and doing it in 4 months is wickedly cool! ;-) So here are my over "half way mark" pictures. Besides the fact that I need some make up on, I am very proud what my body is looking like :) Have a great OP day Medifast buddies!!!


16 week mark.

The Day Before My Weigh In

I have been feeling so good with an added measure of energy this week. My ketosis was SO strong all week and the taste in my mouth from it  was very intense. I went to the zoo with my family on Thursday and walked for 4 hours! And the rest of the week I have been more active than I normally am. SOOOOO I couldn't wait for tomorrow to see my results. I stepped on the scale this morning and what did I see??? A +1lb gain :-( Now I know a lot about nutrition, working out and all that goes with it so I know that I certainly did not "gain" a pound that the scale is showing. I know I absolutely gained muscle and we all know muscle weighs more than fat. BUT it still doesn't do a heart (a very hard working on plan heart) good to see that number on the scale. My knowledge and the fact that my pants are indeed bigger on me today than they were a week ago are keeping me in the calm and positive. ;-) I am hoping to have a better # on my official weigh in tomorrow.
I wanted to talk a little about how I have been feeling lately on my Medifast journey. For some reason the reality of my weight loss thus far hasn't really been sinking in. I try on new clothes and get so excited, when I have to buy a new SMALLER size I rejoice, and when I see the # on the scale lower and lower every week I smile. However, I realized the other day that I haven't allowed myself a full realization of what I have done and how far I have come. I know why  now. I have this strong determination to get to my ultimate goal, which is a lean size 4, having about 22-24% body fat. I want to get to 125 and then transition off allowing myself to get to a rounded diet consisting of 1200 calories. At that time I will go back to my trainer I had a few years back to lose the rest of the fat that I don't need and to build my muscle where it should be. I love my trainer, he is out of this world and I love having some one I have to be accountable to on a weekly basis. I understand fully that I have another 35 lbs. to get to 125 and that is almost as much as I have lost already. I have lost 45 lbs. and seeing that I have another 35 to go tells me that I still have a good way to go before I am where I have always wanted to be at. So I celebrate my weight loss every week telling myself all the while that "I still have 35 more to go." That thinking and mentality hasn't fully allowed  me to really realize what I have ALREADY done and to take a step back and really SEE it and appreciate it. This is something I need to change. I wish I knew how, I keep setting my sights to that ultimate goal and am seeing the negative fat I have to lose and not the positive I already have lost.
So now I think I have a new ultimate goal, stay with the positive! That's something I really need, I have always been a person who is more affected by negative than the positive and a person can only live so long letting the negative be the major. Being positive and letting the light in does a soul good and in return does the body good. Mind, body, and spirit are all connected. When one is affected then they all are. So why not let the domino affect be positive??? When that light spreads then your actions will be that of light as well. To do and to be are inseparable! ;-) The better you feel the better you do and vise versa.
For the rest of this journey, positive is my middle name! And we all know this journey will last a life time and a life time of positives is a life well spent!

Week 15 Over

This last week was a good one. I bought a size Large dress because it looked small for its size and when I got home and tried it on, it was too big. I'll have it taken in but I couldn't believe that I am at that stage in my weight loss journey where I can start looking at Mediums and actually fitting into them and buying them. I lost 2 more lbs this last week  for a total of 45.5 and have 35 more to go. Heck yeah!!!
Now in all reality I have only 25 left to lose to be at my goal weight BUT bc I don't have much muscle I have a higher body fat percentage. So my plan is to get to 125 and then gain about 5-10 pounds of muscle. That should get me right where I want to be and where I should be. Once I get there I will see how I feel and determine if I should lose more fat and put on more muscle. I will cross that bridge when I get to it ;-)
My goal is to be a size 4, a LEAN size 4 with about 20% body fat. Once I start lifting weights and doing cardio I will have my body fat % taken, from then on out I will be having a Check in day instead of a Weigh in day. Keeping track of my body fat % will be more accurate of my success than weight loss. I could lose 10 lbs on the scale but very little body fat, if that were to happen then I know I lost muscle as well and that's not good. If I lose 3 lbs on the scale but a good amount of body fat then I know that I am losing more fat and gaining more muscle, and THAT is what I need. Since more muscle burns more fat then I want to build that muscle and in the end I will be at my target and goal weight being leaner with less fat, more muscle, and hitting my goal! :-)
My short term goal for the next 4 weeks is to lose 10 more lbs. I have a vacation coming up with all my sister in-laws, and I have a pair of pants that I want to wear there and I need to have the length altered. So I want to fit in them just right. Wish me luck and my hope are the same for all of you out there! Thank you Medifast for making this possible!!!

Week 14 Done!

I weighed in yesterday and I was pleasantly surprised. My weigh in day came right in the middle of T.O.M so when I stepped on the scale and saw a 3 lb drop I thought "Hey now that's more like it!" Having a week finally with more than a 2lb weight loss was a nice treat :)
Tonight I had to eat more than I normally do for my lean and green. I had a bigger helping of Salmon and slightly more veggies. I could tell that my body was needing more for the last couple days and if I've learned something about myself during my cycle it's definitely listen to my body!  Especially since I spent 9 hours painting my sons room, non stop, I could tell  I was short on nutrients. But now I feel great, well at least hunger wise, I'm still VERY tired though. I only got 2 hrs of sleep last night, no joke :(
Today was my husband's grandma's funeral and it was such a sweet service. There was a wonderful lunch after wards and I felt so good not letting my emotions get to me and cave in and eat those emotions. Instead, I fed my two little girls and sat back and had my honey mustard pretzels ;-) I love having control of my food that I never had before, Medifast has allowed me to change so many things, I will be forever in debt to my new life style change, thanks MF!!!

Week 13 Done and Loving Life!

Ok all I have WONDERFUL news! I have now officially reached the half way point of my goal by losing 40lbs!!! Actually 40.5 ;-) Just to know that I am past the half way mark makes me so proud and I already feel like a new woman. One confession though, I cheated yesterday LOL We went out to dinner and celebrated BUT I got my new shipment of Medifast food and am starting that today, so it's like another new beginning to start and FINISH this next and LAST 40 lbs! I feel so blessed to be given the chance to be healthy again. Thank you to EVERYONE who has supported, complemented me, and believed in me. I love you all!!!


Oh and I bought 2 shirts and a pair of pants on sale at GAP. GAP clothes seem to run smaller than other stores but I bought to medium shirts and size 12 pants and they ALL fit great!

Week 12 and Feeling Fantastic!

Ok all I am glad to say that I am at 167! Another 2 lb loss and I can fit into some of my size 12's!!! The pants that I am wearing in my new pictures to the right are 12's, the pic before I'm wearing a  loose 16 and my starting pics are a tight 18. I am so proud and I  now think I am addicted to shopping! lol It feels so good to go into a store, try on a size that normally wouldn't dare try and either have them fit or see that they will fit very soon.

We went to my husband's parents house for his sister's birthday and my mommy in-law came up to me and said, "You are looking so skinny girl!' with a big smile on her face which made me smile right back. When you work so hard toward something and someone notices and compliments you is one of the most rewarding feelings!

I have been averaging just a little over 2 pounds a week for the last month and I am ok with that, it is proven that if you lose an average 2 pounds weekly you are more likely to keep it off long term. I am also almost to the 40 lb mark!!! Now just to firm up and build some muscle!

I decided to watch my condiments and pop intake this week and see if I can do a little better and see if I can have a 3 lb loss this week!

Everyone have a great week OP and good luck!

12 week mark.

Week 11 Down and a Happy Dance!

Weigh in day is a great one, a 3 lb. loss, now I'm in the 160's, and doing a happy dance! I know for some to think they weighed in the 160's would devastate them but for ME, who once was in the 200's, it's nothing but a beautiful dream right now.

So right now I have a little "high" that I am on. I figured that my family doesn't need to miss out on treats just because I can't have them. So I started buying them, candies, cookies, and yummies. Once I found out I could resist having any of them I started to buy them MY favorite treats. I find it quite amusing that I buy all my favorite things, torture myself, and defeat the temptation. It's actually really liberating and has become a fun game ;-)

Here we go on week 12 and I am pretty excited to see the after pictures. Keep it going everyone, have faith, and give it all you got!

Quick Update

My new weigh in days are on Sundays in stead of Thursdays. So I will post my stats this Sunday. This is due to the fact that I went off my diet last Saturday for my birthday and started again the next day. I will tell that fun story when I do my weekly update this Sun.

I am feeling great though! I am seriously wearing a size 12 right now! They are a little tight bc I am actually now a 14 :):):) but since I don't have any 14's yet and the 16's are big and silly looking I put the 12's on. They actually look good too! They are skinny jeans so them looking tight is no biggie, that's how they are suppose to look! ;-)

I got a gift card from my wonderful hubby to Old Navy for my bday and I think I'm going to have to go and get some new jeans, I wish I could find someone who had some 14's they could give me so I don't waste my gift card though. Maybe I can find someone ;-)

I can't wait to do my weigh in, I am a bit nervous for it but any loss is a loss right?  I have also decided it's time to tone up, especially my butt and legs, so starting this Monday I am going to incorporate weight training into my schedule.

I have been trying some fun new recipes with my Medifast meals and I really love them. The next one I want to try is a Strawberry short cake. I'll  try that one once I order my next months supply, I'm excited to sink my teeth into it!

Have a great weekend everyone and stay ON PLAN, you're worth it ;-)

Week 9-10 and Still Going!

There is one thing I do not like about getting sick and that is how much it screws me up in pretty much every way. Again I was sick and it was not a pretty sight but I am proud to say that in both weeks 9 and 10 I lost 2 pounds for a total of 4! I think my body is going through it's slump but that is ok bc I know it will get better. I have also been drinking a LOT of pop lately and I hardly ever have pop. I am promising myself to cut way back on the pop and make sure I get more water in and today I have been great on that.

I have been doing well with the temptations and only have little nibbles here and there every now and then. I took my two little girls to Cars 2, they sat there with lemonade, licorice, Mike and Ikes, and popcorn while I had my pretzles ;-) And I LOVE theater popcorn but still didn't have any. It's amazing how you can say no and feel perfectly fine doing so. I am loving my Medifast and I am so close to the 160's I can taste it! Literally lol. 

I have a goal for weeks 11 and 12 and that is to up my weight loss each week by a pound better than the last two. I think I need to just concentrate a little more on myself and my health's future, I know it's worth it!

Week 8 Update and Photos!

So I was a little bummed at my weigh in this morning seeing only a 2lb drop but then I quickly realized that I noticed my capris were fitting quite a bit bigger and had a lot of extra room in them. Also all my other capris and shorts are bigger and some are TOO big and I bought them not too long ago. So that perked me right up, remember it's about inches ;-)

I took my 8 week pictures and I can really see a difference. The first set is with me letting it all hang out again. I know that even if I lose all my belly fat I would still have a pooch because my abdomen has been so stretched out from my babies and the extra skin. This is why I have requested a tummy tuck ;-) lol

I am excited to see what this next month brings and hope for great success. I have been struggling with a lot of temptation, A LOT!!! I have not given in though and I pray for the strength to continue to resist.

8 week mark.

Week 7 Finished

Some might think that a 2.5 loss isn't much but it sure is to me, especially seeing as how that T.O.M is about to start and I KNOW I am retaining a lot of water to prepare for it, that is just something that my body has always done. SO I am very happy with that number.

So a little look into this last week for me. Tuesday was my husbands birthday. I bought him a mini cake from a bakery and some cupcakes for our kids and some of his coworkers. My husbands was a chocolate cake with cream cheese frosting topped with caramel and toffee. Then for his birthday dinner he had some of OUR favorite  sushi. For his birthday cake I got him the very best carrot cake ever  made and ice cream, my favorite ever! And guess what??? I didn't have any of it, I didn't cheat at all! While everyone was having cake and cupcakes, I had my pudding. As my husband was inhaling the yummiest sushi I was having a grilled chicken salad, and while my kids and hubby were eating the most tantalizing cake on the planet I had one of my brownies. I can't believe I didn't budge, I am so proud of myself and if you all knew me you'd know that I just achieved the impossible for me ! hahahaha

So now I can sit here, type this, and feel no remorse what's so ever ;-) Now here is hoping for an even better week this week and much success!

Week 6 Done :)

Another 3.5 pounds gone and not cheating during the holiday!!! YAY! I hope this week is an even better week and I can fit into some more clothes that I have been dying to get into. I tried on my size 13 capris from 2 years ago and I could squeeze into them, I was all smiles :) I started out a tight 18, I love this feeling!!!

Ok lets keep this ball rolling and kill it!

Week 5

I forgot to post with all that has been going on with our move and the 4th of July. I lost 3.5 pounds but I lost more inches this time. I was non stop walking up and down stairs, lifting heavy boxes over and over and cleaning two houses. I burned a lot of fat and gained a lot of muscle so I am more than happy!

I do get the urge to cheat when treats are around or when I am late on my eating, so to fix those cravings and temptations I have a little of what I want :) Like when we have Doritios I will have ONE chip, yep just one :) And it is completely satisfying. I also haven't had to take my appetite suppressant pills for a while now, I am never hungry any more, unless I am late on my eating. I haven't done too well on my water intake but am for sure working on that! 

So as I see it, another very successful week!!!

4 Week Mark!

Today ends my 4th week of Medifast! I am more than happy to say I am down 17.5 pounds!!! I have been sick for the last week and a half and had the unpleasant set back of T.O.M but I still lost over 17 pounds and that puts a huge smile in my face. I have clothes that fit me new and older clothes that fit me better and even some that are too big!!! Now my pictures might not look like there's a big difference but there really is, of course I still look like I'm pregnant LOL but not as pregnant now! HAHAHAHA! Also, remember my picts are with me letting it all hang out lol and I usually pull my abs in and have better posture ;-) So today I start week 5 and I am ready to kill it! Knowing that I still lost 4.34 pounds a week while being sick and mother nature reaking havoc makes me fell great and lets me know I can do even better! But if you ask me, having an over 4lb. average of weight loss a week is dang good! Wish me luck on the next 4 weeks!

4 week mark.

Awesome And Not So Awesome

Week 2 I DID lose that 5 pounds I was hoping for!.......Actually I might have lose 5.5...I really can't remember. Now week 3 was hard and week 4 is starting out hard. Not because of mess ups or temptations but the 2nd day of week 3 I got Strep Throat and it has been killing me. Now that week 4 started yesterday I am dealing with a HORRIBLE head cold, 3 of my kids are sick, and lucky me it's that T.O.M! So I am constantly coughing my guts out, with a sore throat, and cramps trying to take care of sick kids and cleaning and packing since we are moving! But I did manage to lose 3 pounds week 3 and I have already lost half a pound in the beginning of this 4th week! So I am really happy with that! I am hoping for another 5 pound week this week and next, that would put me at about 25 pounds lost by the 4th of July, when I get to go home and see my family! Wish me luck!

Excited

Ok tomorrow is weigh in day for me! I am hoping to have a 5lb. loss, that would be 12lbs. in two weeks! I have several pair of shorts and pants that I am dying to get into. The greatest thing about Medifast and my body on is that the fast just melts off! So lets hope I melted 5lbs. worth this week. lol

Is It Possible?

Healthy and Wealthy Me

Is going from Fat to Fab even possible??? I have been over weight for the majority of my life, I have gotten close to weight goals but have never reached the Fab stage. So I decided to do a health program called Medifast. I have done this program twice before and did awesome on it. The first time I had 60 pounds to lose and I lost 36 of them in just over two months. Then I got pregnant, after I had my daughter I got pregnant again! So two babies later I had 80 pounds to lose. After I finished nursing my second daughter I started the Medifast program again. I lost 50 pounds and found out I was expecting again! lol So now here I am a mother of a 9 month old, and a 3, 4, and 12 year old, I have no energy and have over 80 pounds to lose. Right now, in this time of my life, I am going to do it! Finally rid myself of obesity!

Please feel free to follow me on my fat loss journey or heck even join me! I actually started Medifast a week and a half ago and have lost 9 pounds. My "starting" pictures are pictures I took tonight but you really can't tell a difference the 9 pounds have made. I am going to take monthly pictures and post weekly "pounds lost", and will rejoice or complain about my experiences ;-) Wish me luck and any and everyone please feel free to post comments. Here I go!!!

At the beginning of my Medifast journey