Coming soon...more of me, and hopefully less of me too!

I've been bad about updating this week, but I wanted to give you a teaser to some changes coming soon. Because of some opportunities that have come my way, you will find a couple new venues for my writing popping up soon. OK, one isn't really writing, but it is that more public opportunity that has me in the process of possibly "outing" myself in blogland.

What I have not yet decided is if I will keep this blog going, or eventually let it go for another more public blog. I've wondered about that for quite awhile now. But, for now, I will be probably write in both places. So, stay tuned! I am hoping in a few weeks I can introduce you to more of me than I ever have before, as well as tell you about a great opportunity for support for moms in which I'm quite happy to be involved.

Finally, is it just me, or does it only take one episode of The Biggest Loser to completely get sucked in? I watched last week after having boycotted the past few seasons of the "family" style episodes. I'm already hooked again and this week they, of course, voted off someone I liked. The funny thing is, my husband watched tonight and pronounced himself hooked as well. What IS it about that show? And, I wonder if any of you without weight issues find the show annoying or as addictive as those of us who have them? Share your opinion, please--my comment box is really hungry!

I'm also excited because my favorite trainer on the show, Jillian Michaels, is guest posting over at on of my favorite having-fun-while-living-healthy sites, Mizfit, this week too. I just bought her new book and am about to dive into that weight loss program through my doctor's office in November.

Right now, it feels like everything is pointing me in one direction, and that is DOWN (on the scale that is!)

An all time TOE low, and maybe just what I needed...

Last Sunday, my fourth toe on my left foot suffered a casualty when I rammed it into a chunk of concrete as I was carrying my groceries to the back of my car. And, when it hit, I knew it was broken. Why? Because if you know me at all, you know this toe stubbing thing isn't new. It is not uncommon for me to break a toe per year, or more. Such is the life of a klutz who enjoys toeless shoes, I suppose.

And, I cried when I did this in my car before I headed home. Not, because it hurt, even though it really did hurt. But, it was mainly because I was just getting back on track with my workouts thanks to Hurricane Ike and the power outages. I've had family staying with me since then for that reason as well, and I'd managed to work out hard three out of the past four days when the toe debacle happened. I also knew I've gained about 3 pounds since Ike, because of the aforementioned situation too. And, it just felt like someone up there was having a laugh at my expense. As if someone was saying, "Oh, you thought you were getting it together, did you? Mwah, ha, HA--now deal with THIS!"

So, I've hobbled my way through the week and through a jewelry party I hosted Wednesday night. Through errands and running after kids, I've gimped along hoping it will improve soon. And, today I am able to put full weight on it, so I'm getting closer. But, even as I sit here there's a dull pain shooting through my foot. Gah!

Then, last night I got an email from my diabetes doctor's office that I almost deleted thinking it was spam. Once I read it fully though, I discovered it was actually a request to join a weight loss program through the doctors office that would actually PAY me if I reached my goal. The program would offer direct counseling with dieticians and my doctor, 6 months group training classes and support group meetings weekly and much more. I would pay in a couple hundred dollars, but would get that back and get more than 500 dollars back if I reached a goal of losing 10 percent.

Dude, 10 percent isn't THAT much. I've lost that with Weight Watchers how many times before? (Yes, I've done Weight Watchers more than once...ha!)

So, is this the key? Being PAID to lose weight? Maybe, just maybe it is. Maybe all I was waiting for was for someone to wave a check at me and say, "Go for it, chubby!" The truth will be told, in the end, I suppose. I have to call my insurance, find out if these support meetings are something I can even make with my crazy schedule, and see if this is even possible.

Maybe whoever threw this toe thing at me is now throwing me a bone? Stranger things have happened!

Sharing the support...

If you have the same struggle in life that I do...that being a struggle to live fit, eat nutritiously and get to a healthy weight, the good news is that there is a lot of support out there. In light of a weekend of not-so-great (but it could have been MUCH worse) eating on my part, thanks to a 4th birthday celebration for my daughter, I thought I'd share my two favorite weight loss/success story blogs.

Melodee has been an inspiration to me for quite awhile now. I first stumbled across her original blog, The Amazing Shrinking Woman, which was featured on Club Mom this past year. Now, her site, The Diet Naked Blog, continues to chronicle her ups and downs with food after losing more than 50 pounds. She's about 20 pounds from her goal weight and I find myself cheering for her to hit that goal.

Roni's Weight Watchen site is such a vault of incredible information, especially if you follow Weight Watchers. I have in the past, so I understand all the talk of points ranges. Most fun are her videos, often done with her toddler, making various recipes or teaching how to make healthy foods, such as spaghetti squash. After watching all of these little videos for many months now, it feels like you almost know Roni--like she's your neighbor friend or that mom you hang with at playgroups. And, the girl has lost around 65 pounds and has kept it off. So, what's not to admire really?

I think the reason I keep reading both of these blogs, aside from the fact that they have a wealth of helpful nutritional information, is that both women are brutally honest with their continual struggles. These are people who have successfully lost most of what they need to lose, and yet they still have awful days where they fall off of track...and they're not too proud to share that in full detail. It makes me feel like my goals are a little bit more attainable when I read that, to be honest.

I hope this inspires any of you who are battling the bulge as I am to keep it up! Who knows, perhaps one of these days we'll be blogging about our big successes and sharing with readers along the way as these two bloggers do daily!

Taming the Inner Voices...

What my inner voice says prior to running for the first time in 6 months or more:

Don’t do it.
You’re tired.
You’re too out of shape.
You’ll never make it.
The neighbors will make fun of you behind your back.
Sleep is more important.
Remember how hard it is to start back?

What my inner voice says during my first run in 6 months or more:

Ouch. Ouch. Ouch.
Man, am I out of shape!
Aerobics and spin class really don’t not prepare you for running.
…

...

...
It sure is a beautiful day.
If I get too tired, I can always speed walk.
It's most important that I'm out here, now how fast I go.
Look at that landscape on that home.
Oh, I love this song.
I miss getting to listen to my tunes while I run.
I feel better now.
Almost there!!!
I can't believe I made it!

What my inner voice says after my first run in 6 months or more:

You did it!
I feel fantastic!
Why do I always forget how good I feel after I run?
Oy veh, my feet hurt!
I can’t believe the surge of energy I have now.
I can do this.
I have to run again soon. No excuses.

What my inner voice says in Muscle Conditioning class during lunges the very next day:

Holy HECK! What did I DO to myself yesterday! @#$@#$@#!!!!

The MomCat Weighs In

Awhile back, I wrote a very inspired entry on here about GMST (Getting My Shit Together) and receives an amazing amount of comment love and support. And, then, like what had always happened in the past, I promptly got overwhelmed with my life and felt I had to drop those promises made once again to just keep up with my daily commitments. The only thing worse than breaking a promise to a friend or a loved one, is breaking one to yourself. Right?

Well, I'm back. And, if it doesn't annoy you too much, I'm promising once again. Balance, fitness, and self-acceptance are my goals. Would you like to jump aboard for the ride or lurk around and shoot me a comment of support now and then? Perhaps you'd like to call me to the table, if I post this and then not mention anything about weight loss again for months as I did last time? I say to you--FINE AND DANDY! Go right ahead! I would appreciate you more if you did, in fact!

The signs are all pointing to go on this and I cannot turn back. Here's just a few of those signs that I really am open to reading right now in my life:

• I'm writing an article on Type I Juvenile Diabetes for my magazine. Seeing what these kids go through and how a simple thing like NOT testing or not counting carbs could take their lives makes me realize how truly arrogant I have been in taking my Type II so lightly.
  
• My much anticipated running shoes FINALLY arrived today in the right size. UPS rang the doorbell at 9 p.m., which they never do, with the delivery. AND, I planned to work out at 6 a.m. with a friend at our neighborhood fitness center. Tell me that is NOT fate!
  
• I watched one of my favorite and most inspiring shows tonight where they recapped past contestants and if they kept their weight off. Most had done an outstanding job. One of my favorites that I followed was Amy last season because we have similar builds and height. She not only looks great, but is getting married to another great/favorite contestant!
  
• I've followed Mel's quest and success with weight loss at The Amazing Shrinking Mom for probably close to a year now. She recently sent out a challenge and introduced me to two great sites. Fitday.com lets you log all your food and activities and maps out your carbs, protein and fat for the day as well as your activity levels. Using that, along with Dietfacts.com, I've started logging my intake for Mel's 10-day challenge. And, whoa! Is it eye opening. Instead of evenly eating carbs, protein and fats, I am eating over half of my food in carbs. That can't be good when you have a metabolic disorder as I have! I'm already focusing on more veggies and proteins for tomorrow.
  
• From Mel's site, I also found a link to a blogger that I instantly found a connection with and have quickly added to my list of must-read blogs. Roni is truly an inspiration, and her blog is a wealth of information as well. We are almost the same height and when I look at what she's done, I am totally amazed and impressed. I hope that one day I can claim the kind of success that she's had. (And, I think she's quite gutsy and cool for posting her tummy tuck pictures as well.) She also has some great healthy recipes, so check it out!
  
• My kids are moving 90-to-nothing with the back-to-school craziness and I have to be able to keep up! So, I'm really going to work on this thing, y'all.

So, I'll put it all out there. Anyone want to join me in this thing? There's nothing like fellow bloggers banding together to make something positive happen!

If not, can you put up with me blogging about this at least once a week for some time? I promise, it won't just be this and product reviews. I'll try to actually BLOG now and then too! HA!