Hello Size 14...

So good to see you again!

My suggestion...second hand clothes stores while you are in clothing size transition.

My new favorite store...Clothes Mentor. Not only can I purchase clothes inexpensively, I can sell some of the clothes I am growing out of.

• My size 14 jeans and a pair of boots today = $13.00, sold $11.00 back to them...Heck of a deal!

Got Snacks?

My absolute favorite NEW snack comes from Vitalicious! They make Vitatops and other various products. I LOVE the Vitatops. They are only 100 calories and contain 8-10 grams of FIBER per snack.


I highly reccommend the corn bread, and pumpkin spice... so satisfying, and delicious, when you NEED bread!


Check out their web site... I also found these at my local grocery store in the frozen foods section. The variety is much bigger online.

BMI Victory!

The BMI chart for women shows 40.0-49.9 as Morbidly Obese.


When I began my journey in June 2010, my BMI rating was 38.89. I was already experiencing health related issues due to my weight.

35.0-39.9 = Severely Obese 30.0-34.9 = Obese 25.0-29.9 = Overweight

18.5-24.9 = HEALTHY

As of January 17, 2011 I am now at a BMI rating of 29.58.

I never thought I would be SO PROUD to say... "I'm overweight!!" I have come down 2 levels on the BMI rating scale. My chances of health related problems due to weight have decreased dramatically.


I'm coming for you 24.9!

Healthy Tools: BOOK Reccomendation

You have to have the right tools for the job... and the tools for me included a trainer, a gym, the Tap & Track app AND the book Transformation by Bill Phillips. Bill wrote Body for Life and has inspired many. This book, along with his daily motivational texts keep me positive, even when the going gets tough.

I recommend this book to everyone... not just to those wanting to lose weight. Transformation.com is another tool that you can utilize if you need/want. I prefer the daily texts, however, I have recently added the RSS feed to my Google account.

Chapters include:

• Lifetime Intentions
• Right Nutrition
• Progress Not Perfection
• The Positive Mindset
• Healthy Spaces Makeover, and
• Heart of Gratitude... just to name a few.

GREAT STUFF HERE. Check it out!

Dream Cookies

Dream Cookies


This recipe has seen me through MANY chocolate cravings in the past months. The recipe came to me from my father, Bill and step-mother, Cookie.

They are gluten free and are easy to make. Whip up a batch before bed and they're ready in the morning. I calculated them around 100 calories per serving. I make the cookies a little over teaspoon size, and I eat 3 per serving with a nice hot cup of coffee.

• 2 egg whites
• 1/3 cup sugar
• Pinch of salt
• 1/4 tsp. cream of tartar
• 1 tsp vanilla extract
• 1/4 tsp. almond extract
• 2 tbsp. cocoa powder
• 1 cup chopped walnuts or pecans
• 3/4 cup semi sweet chocolate chips

1. PREHEAT oven to 350 degrees. Beat egg whites until fluffy with a mixer, as for meringue. Add sugar, tartar, vanilla, almond extract, and cocoa powder, then beat until soft peaks form.
2. Add nuts and chocolate chips. Drop teaspoon size amounts onto lightly greased cookie sheet.
3. Place cookie sheet in oven and TURN OVEN OFF. Let cookies sit overnight.
4. In the morning, put them in an airtight container.

SO DELICIOUS!

Begin at the beginning...

On June 9, 2010 I walked into a health club with a job to do. I had basically 100 lbs to lose and I knew I needed help. I checked out a few health clubs in my area, and was most impressed with Bally Total Fitness. You can find a Bally Total Fitness in your area.

I knew I could not begin this journey alone, so I hired a personal trainer and committed my self to 12 sessions. In my mind, this was my summer job. I was finally ready to take this on...this desire came from within, not from anybody else. I have learned that it has to come from within.

My trainer told me that I had to begin tracking every morsel of food that went into my mouth. I truly have done that...good or bad, they all make their way into my daily food journal. I have used Tap & Track, available for iPhone. I can track my food as well as my exercise. This is a fantastic app! I can even export data to my email, where I can print reports so I can take them to my trainer on a weekly basis.

I will be adding many of the recipes, tips from friends, exercises, and ideas to this blog that have been a part of my current success. To date, I have lost 57 lbs. I've come down 2 scales on the BMI from "Severely Obese" to now "Overweight."

Join my on my journey... hopefully you too can find some inspiration and ideas. Share with me your success stories and let's sculpt that beautiful stone that lays within every one of us!