Attitude

First and foremost, if you want to lose weight, you MUST have the drive and determination to change. I'm not just talking about the desire to lose weight. Because we all have that desire.

The desire to lose weight is what had me telling people "I'm working on it." for years. But let's face it: I wasn't doing a darn thing! It wasn't that I enjoyed being fat. I hated it! I definitely had a desire to lose weight, but for whatever reason, I lacked the drive and determination to get the weight off.

I can't tell you how to get that drive and determination. I just know that it has to come from within. External forces (such as a nagging critic) might work temporarily, but I don't think it's going to last. It really does need to come from within.

For me, it finally came when I reached my threshold of tolerance (what I was willing to put up with, with my own body). I don't even know if that phrase "threshold of tolerance" makes sense, but it's what I reference when I talk about where my drive and determination came from. Better put: Your breaking point.

When I reached 283 pounds, it was a breaking point. And I didn't even reach it immediately when I got to that weight. But just one day, it hit me. Of course, it was like, a day or two before I found out I was pregnant. But once I reached that point, there was no going back.

Things were put on hold for 9 months. But I can tell you that my determination and drive to take the weight off never went away. And I promised myself that once I had the baby and was done breastfeeding, that I was going to follow through with myself and get this weight off. And I did.

That drive and determination needed to be there, and not on just a superficial level like desire.

Aaannnd with that, my daughter is awake from her nap and she is NOT happy. I hate to end abruptly but I'm going to post this anyway, otherwise it will sit as a "draft" for another 3 months!

I have to start getting ready soon anyway. Hubby and I are going to see my most favorite comedian ever, Jim Gaffigan! I can't wait! If you've never heard of him, I highly suggest checking him out. You can check out tons of his comedy clips on youtube just by typing in his name.

Keeping Track of Calories

I recently added an app to my phone so that I can (hopefully) keep better track of calories and exercise. The site is http://www.myfitnesspal.com/.

If you also use this site, feel free to add me as a friend! My username is "livingmylife30"

As with everything else in my life... I'll try to be consistent with it.

Created by MyFitnessPal - Free Calorie Counter

Friend Makin' Mondays

When I first started actively losing weight, I came across a blog that I LOVE. I would love to meet her someday, she is so awesome and inspiring. Kenlie over at All The Weigh started this great ritual. Every Monday, she posts something for her readers to respond to, and then link up to her blog. Well since my blogging and computer time is so sporadic these days, I have been missing the opportunity to respond to them for weeks! So today I finally have a ((little)) bit of time, so rock on! - I'm doing it. Feel free to do the same!

FMM: Ten Random Questions

1) What do you like most about yourself? When I get determined to accomplish something - it's full steam ahead!

2) List three characteristics that you like to have in your friends. Caring, Loving, common sense

3) How often do you brush your teeth? Twice per day

4) If you could travel anywhere today, where would you go? Alaska. Or Montana. Somewhere where the weather is much milder than it is here in sweltering Florida, where the views are beautiful and there is lots of wildlife.

5) Have you ever met anyone from the blog world in person? No, but I would love to!!! I have met friends from the online world though - one of whom has been a "bff" for 6 years now. So I am always open to meeting new friends!!

6) What is the last show you watched on TV? Hubby and I watched "Camelot" on Netflix. It's going to leave us extremely frustrated, I already know.... because the series was just recently cancelled! They got through Season 1 (which we are loving so far) and after that, no more. Boo!

7) What kind of perfume/cologne do you wear? For over 11 years now, I faithfully wear "J'Adore" by Christian Dior. I was given a sample while walking through Macy's back in... early 2000 I think (or 99) and I have been hooked ever since. I just wish the price would go down - 11 years later and it's still just as expensive as it was when it was new! Guess it's just THAT good, lol. I also occasionally wear "Heavenly" body spray by Victoria's Secret.

8) How long ago did you complete your last workout? Honestly I couldn't tell you. The last time I really remember working out was at the hotel we stayed at in Orlando before taking off for our flight up north. And I was so proud of myself for being able to run nonstop (level 4.5 on the treadmill) for 2 whole minutes (walked for much longer than that). I had never been able to run nonstop at a pretty good pace before for ANY length of time. I try to be active everyday, but I still struggle with incorporating a regular exercise routine.

9) What will you eat for dinner tonight?  I'm not sure yet. I may have a meal replacement bar, or I may have McDonalds. The kids have been begging, and it's 99 cent chicken nugget night. I know, McDonald's is bad, but hear me out: If I only eat 4 to 5 nuggets - and that's IT - my weight loss is not affected. Trust me, I've done it several times throughout this entire process.

10) Share something fun that you did over the weekend. We took the kids to the local aquarium. I love seeing their faces light up! :)

Sorry to post and run

If I don't rush through this, it's just not going to happen. We're cooped up inside today due to rain and the kids can only be entertained without me for short periods of time lol.

Anyway, my husband and I went up north for our friend's wedding. Let me tell you, the entire experience from start to finish was amazing!

As far as flying, no problems at all, no discomfort at all (other than the mere fact of flying. Not a fan. IDK, something about being 30,000 feet from the ground doesn't settle well with me lol).

I love the northeast and I miss it. The place where the wedding was is a few states north of where I grew up....which I think made it even more gorgeous. I love the geography up there. And the weather of course. It was wonderful to be able to sleep at night with the windows open.... or to walk outside and not instantly break out in a sweat!

What's wonderful as well: Posting some pics on FB and friends from all over writing "You look AMAZING! You look radiant!! You look great!" 

After over 100 pounds lost, everyone is finally noticing, lol. Except 1 person in particular. She refuses to acknowledge - I mean, goes out of her way to "not" acknowledge - that I have lost weight. But this person is also the mother of a very nasty nasty c-word who said some very nasty things to me regarding my weight while I was 9 months pregnant... I believe in hopes of actually hurting my pregnancy (literally). But that's a LONG story and for another day. It's a doozy though, that's for sure!!

But anyway... the facebook compliments... I was not seeing much of those back in January or February. Even then I had lost quite a bit of weight, but I guess I was at that point where people may have noticed a difference, but weren't 100% sure and didn't want to say something and make it awkward. That's just my guess.

But anyway!! Without further adieu here are some "me" pictures (rehearsal and then wedding):

The background was the bathroom, LOL. So I just grayed that out. You're not missing anything there lol.

The dress had spaghetti straps, but surprisingly I was actually a little cold so I wore the (bolero?) jacket I bought with it.

And here are some pics from the wedding "photo booth":

(Friends faces blurred out)

And two more pics:

Not a fan of the lines on my face, but I know things could be much worse!

This was the first time I didn't feel incredibly disgusted with myself for as long as I could remember. And that night, I had my cake and I ate it too! Didn't suffer too much for it and when I went to my weigh in yesterday after spending the better part of a week with friends and family urging me to EAT... I had still lost a few pounds. Not much from the previous weigh in 2 weeks prior (I think 3 lbs lost?) but hey, it's still something!!

And since the kids are starting to get restless I'll end with 1 more pic. The last wedding we attended was October of 2009, when I was very close to my heaviest weight EVER. This was me then:

I tried to find a full body shot and then realized there are none. It's actually pretty difficult to find many full-body shots. I remember in this pic I was jutting my neck out as far as I could without looking awkward in the photo (to try and minimize the chin-doubling).

I have so much more to say - so many half-started blog posts waiting for me to finish and publish. Hopefully I get time soon just to work on those. Ok, the kids are officially jumping off the walls. Have a wonderful day!