Perspective pics

so I seem to be on a losing slide...which in my case is a good thing!  But alas, it's Fair week.  Which could spell disaster as I love Fair lemoade and Fair fries...mmmmmmm.

as promised, I took those pictures with the 2 different attitudes.  I like the results that came from it...

Frumpy                              7/31/11   204                            Fabulous!

So...lesson....it's all about how you present yourself.  I look a full 15 pounds thinner just by looking confident and happy.  I think that's a lesson we can all take to heart and put to good use!!

A lesson in perspective

Obiviously my head didn't explode, so there was a loss last week.  1.5 pounds.  I'll totally take that.  This week I'm hoping for the best, so please keep your fingers crossed for me.  My fabulously witty children have taken a shine to helping me out as well.  Every time they see me reaching for something I should not have...they simply utter the 2 most hated words of this dieting female..."Bathing Suit".  Believe it or not that's all it takes.  So when they baked cookies last week (omg the most delicious cookies ever, from scratch even!  Kel even said they were the best cookies he's ever had ((sorry Mr. Pete)) I came home to see a big computer printed note that said "BATHING SUIT".  So thoughtful.   However, I am ashamed to say...(and truely can't believe I'm admitting to it in print) to avoid being caught eating their cookies, I went to Walmart and bought my own.  SHAME-FUL!  I'm a closet eater apparently...lol.  Oy I have so much work to do...

On a lighter note, I tried something this weekend, and the results actually made me smile.  My perspective lesson.  I'm always looking at movie stars and actresses in photos.  I've always noticed that they always stand with their legs crossed for photo ops.  obviously a look thinner trick that works.  So, I decided to try it myself.  Instead of taking my photo with a 'woe is me I'm so fat' look, I turned on my charm, crossed my legs, put my hands on my hips and flashed the camera a million dollar grin.  And wouldn't you know it, the picture looked so much better!  I'll post my experiment pics this week. 

So, if that attitude in pictures can convey so much, just think about what conveying that attitude in real life would do?  I realized...I do convey that in my classes, which is why my students like me so much.  So I think I'll be perpetually cheerful, and see what reactions I get from people...

Wish me luck!

um...whoa?!

OK, yesterday was fabulous!  Kelly called on his way home from work in the morning asking me to meet him for breakfast.  He had to be back at work by 6, so I wouldn't get to see him before he left.  Yay for happy surprises!  We met at Denny's and I had an English muffin and some fruit.  Yes!  I was totally good!  That was a very proud moment!  I did my Zumba class with minimal pain from my epically sunburnt legs. (Seriously, they are bad.  Worse than my sun poisoning from too long in the tanning bed at 17 years old.)  Then worked out my dance tuition, and Alyson can take all the classes she wants for less than I thought I'd have to pay.  Bonus!  Granted, I'm still paying both arms and a leg, but my kids are happy.  And that's what I'm going for.

Today I woke up to even less pain from the cherry red appendages below my waist.  I can even take steps that are more than 12 inches long, and I can just about straighten my legs without wincing.  I added up my calories from yesterday, and was happy to find out that what I ate was way fewer calories than I thought. 

So why then, since being very good and weighing only 206 as of Sunday EVENING, does the scale at work now read 2 f'ing 12?  My good mood just plummeted, and I'm down right pissed off.  Let's see, how is this possible?  I started my period...could be bloated.  My dinner was super high in sodium...could be retaining water.  I stepped on the scale at a different time and after I ate breakfast.  I didn't undress...pretty sure my dress and shoes don't weigh 6 pounds.  Or maybe the scale is having a bad day.

All I know is...if it still says that tomorrow...my head might explode.  At least that'll knock off 6-8 pounds.

And here they are...

So here are the new pics...please look with caution....

7/14/2011 - 207

Well, that's not pretty at all, and frankly, it's a bit painful!  I hate looking so large!  I thought I did so well yesterday, until I wrote all the calories.  Then I realized I did not do as well as I though.  BUT....I will take this one small victory-while taking the kids to DQ (Kelly's idea) I did only get a small blizzard, and did not get the extra Reese's.  Granted, that's still a whopping 600 calories, but I did downsize!  It's all about baby steps at this point, and gradually weaning off the bad stuff.  so for me...getting a small instead of a large is a nice little compromise.

My next plan is to get my original measurements from Brooke, and re-measure myself.  It's been 3 months and even though my weight is not really fluctuating, I'd like to see if my measurements are changing.  Hopefully they will be smaller numbers, and it will be a little extra 'oomph' to my esteem and willpower.

Feelin' Gooooooood

So I took pics this morning with the intention of posting them.  however, the email didn't come through, so I will have to post them tomorrow.  They were yucky anyway...large looking...lol.  However, I do have a totally different pic to post.  I think I found a dress for the vow renewal we're planning.  check it out...

It's got lots of ruching at the waist and is flirty and fun...just like me!  You may not be able to see all the detail in the small pic, but it's totally cutesy...at least in like a size 8 it is.  Maybe not so much in a 16-18...lol.  But that will add to my inspiration and determination to lose 30 pounds by vacation.  That will give me a good 6-7 months.  That does not seem too incredibly daunting to me. 

Yesterday was good...last night...ehh...i survived and lost 1/2 pound for the week.  I'll totally take that!  But I'm certainly aiming for a much higher loss next week.  I'm shooting for at least a 2-3 pound loss.  That gets me back to a point where I don't feel like a total failure...lol.  I have all my goals posted in the front on my notebook that travels everywhere with me.  So there is a constant reminder of my journey...which I certainly  need!

Hello Monday!

Well it was a busted diet weekend, obviously.  But oh well, It's Monday, and the cookies are gone.  My hair is freshly blonde again, and I'm feeling fabulous.  Now to focus on the body.  I need to work in more weight training, and know exactly how to do it.  Tuesday and Thursday will be the Zumba Strength days.  I'm excited to work out the music and hopefully I can con Linda into coming down and joining me.  Tuesdays will be at home for sure, Thursdays I may do it at the gym.  I'm bummed that I haven't been able to get a pic up, although I've gained significantly since the last (ok so 4 pounds may not seem significant, but it is).  I'm not good at the self timer and aiming to do it myself, and the girls have been sleeping in the morning when I'm ready to take it.  This Wednesday for SURE...lol. 

So in the spirit of full disclosure I will tell you, the reason the cookies are gone is because I ate the last 6 this morning after Zumba.  lol...what a goober I am.  But moving on.  My coworker said her doctor congratulated her on significant weight loss and I am now major jealous.  I also am full on planning 2 vacays next year...What?!?!  you heard it!  Me and Kel are gonna take the girls somewhere, and then the 2 of us will go on a romantic getaway, (including Piero and his girl, which is totally cool with me) to a Caribbean resort somewhere.  We're going all inclusive, and he's all in for renewing our vows on the beach.  I even said I wanted us to write our own vows, and he was game.  WOW!!  That's big news!  The smile has been tatooed on my face since that moment. 

So I now have to get gorgeous and glam so he can flaunt me in all my glory on our vacations.  And so I can feel totally confident and beautiful and his side. 

GAME ON!!!!

Hi. My name is Stacey, and I'm a diet failure.

Now that that's out of the way, I can continue with my morning.  Lunch is being brought into work by a shipping rep...pizza.  And I'm totally looking forward to it!  I'm not going to beat myself up either.  I'm going to eat a piece, maybe 2, and then focus on what excercise I'll do later to work it off.  I like to eat, so I think it's in my best interest to think of burning it off, rather than not eating it.  I like to excercise too, so it seems like it should work out just fine to me.  We shall see.

I've gained 6 or 7 pounds.  Not going to beat myself up over that either.  Just get back to the routine and work it to suit me.  I had a major Pepsi relapse this weekend and last week.  So I'll get back to water and boost my confidence, since that's an easy goal to accomplish. 

I'm getting my Zumbatomic (kids Zumba) certification on August 20th and am on the schedule at MCDA to teach 2 classes on Thursday nights.  Boo-yah!  That will help my efforts immensely!  Kel and I went and bought baseball gloves and a softball and a new frisbee so that we can play outside instead of sitting on a couch.  He really enjoys cornhole, so I'm looking into a set as well.  Any thoughts on where to get one?

I'm forcing things to look up.  Because really, in the long run, is there really a point to being gloomy?  I think no.

So have a lovely day, and I'll be back tomorrow with more updates and what not!  Ciao Bellas!