Saw this on a friends FB

I figured out why I'm fat! The shampoo I use in the shower that runs down my body says "For extra volume and body". I'm going to start using "Dawn" dish soap. It says " Dissolves fat that is otherwise difficult to remove".

Trucking along...

I took my measurements My pants fit differently it was time! I probably won't measure weekly but use it as more of a motivational tool when I don't see pounds coming off. I was able to get in a good workout last night and I got back into the pool for the first time in a while to find I'd shaved a lil time off my laps I had to do 1.5 extra laps to get my 20mins :) I swim mostly with my arms because because I'm not good with weights and figure my legs get lots of workout from running :) so my arms must be getting stronger right?
Praying to keep with you all,
Cathie

Hmmm...

I'm thinking of "diet tips" and I don't know I have never been good with dieting persay what we have done is eliminated things that have no nutritional value and things with High Fructose Corn syrup... Now that's not to say I've givin up sugar I love it too much but I try and stick to natural sugars... I love to make oatmeal with dried fruit and almond milk... dried raisens, cranberries, cherries,pinapple, dates and if I have them sunflower seeds or crushed walnuts I use about 2/3 fruit 1/3old fashioned rolled oats then I add almond milk and microwave it for about 2 minutes you could do longer if you like your oatmeal smoother... I like texture. it's a great sweet treat with tons of vitamins, fiber, calcium and protien nothing fake

woo hoo

Yeah I still haven't taken my measurements :( BUT I have weighed in I've lost 4lbs! thats 20 points I'm so pumped He is giving me strength I didn't know I had I used the extra at the gym today it felt great!!!I do need to work on my caffiene consumption though today just to get going I had two energy drinks (no sugar 10 calories) not good but it was a sign that I need to work on that... anyway after a great workout and a hot shower I lost four pounds I still can't believe it! The lord gave me tremendous strength even when I had bad food choices (the hospital cafeteria) I kept it to smaller portions like we shared a small fries instead of getting 2 orders... Over all it has been a good start to the new week! Keep sweating and praying ladies

Week 2

I'm hoping to get a better grip in week 2 I earned 6 exercise points this week wich is better than I was doing off the challenge but I really need to work on that. I still haven't measured this is something I've procrastinated too long and I just need to get it done! I know those numbers will scare me into more activity...haha
I am also asking for Prayers for my eldest son he will be having surgery to remove a hemangioma(sp?) on Friday it is an outpatient procedure so he will be home that day but with some pain we are praying for a fast recovery. I will be spending much of the days following the surgery tending to him, so I'm asking for prayers for myself to be motivated to exercise during the times hubby will be home to care for him. With His strength we will have a good week! Thank you in advance for the prayers
Catherine <3

My fitness journey

Hello ladies My Name is Catherine this is my second fitness challenge with Danielle and many of you. I lost weight and felt great after the first one life got crazy and I didn't keep up with the last one but I'm back on track and trying to get my health regimine back too! With Him I can do this! I am the wife of a factory worker and the mother of 3 very active boys one with special needs. I think part of my struggle happens when I forget I cannot be the wife and mother God intends me to be if I'm not healthy. I am always doing things for my family which is very important to my role as wife and mother but I need this challenge to remind me that I need to do things for my health! I gained some weight over the holidays and am almost back to my pre holiday weight at 223lbs My ultimate goal is 180 but my goal for this challenge is 200. I will keep sweating and eating right and He will make it happen. I haven't posted my measurements yet because I haven't found the direction on where to measure. I know Danielle said they were here and I will find them i'm just not too computer saavy and haven't had time to get going but I needed to make this post to get on track!
In Him
Cathie <3

Woo Hoo!!!

Thanks for all the support Ladies this is so exciting I've been waiting to post my pounds to make sure they were really gone and not still yo-yo-ing I've offcially as of this morning lost 10lbs since the beginging of this challange... and a pants size:) along with counless compliments on my changing looks and even attitude... DH told me last night he could feel/see the difference in how I feel because of how I look at things now I feel healthier and happier instead of being couch potatoes this summer we have tons of great activities planned already :)
Thanks again for all the support <3
Catherine

Struggling

I was really sick for a while and unable to do much of anything let alone exercise I'm afraid I got out of all the good habits I'd developed. I'm struggling to get back on track just have to be consistant. I did lose while I was sick but that's because I wasn't able to eat and I've gained some of that back I really need to get on track once I know these pounds are gone for real I'll add them to my ticker but I REALLY need to get back on track I'm praying for that as well as other health issues that came to light during my illness. Please pray with me and keep up all the great work you all are doing it's very incouraging.

On the Bright Side

Well the dial on the scale still isn't moving enough to say so (little up and down action bah) HOWEVER I bought a pair of shorts when we had a few days of nice weather in March and when I put them on yesterday they were too big :-D So while I still haven't picked up a tape measure (the 10 million times I've been to the store) I'm definatly losing inches and by the way these short feel at least a few :) Thanks again for all the encouragement ladies... Gotta go sweat :)

ugh :(

I'm getting frusterated... I'm sweatin but nothing is coming off... I really need to get a tape measure to take my measurements. I've been holding firm at this weight for 2 weeks I would just like to nudge the scale a little...
However I have met my short term goal of being able to swim a half mile, honestly I'd have to say I'm a 12 lap swimmer and God gives me the determination for last 6 laps.
I can also feel my ab muscles now (under a smaller layer of fat:). It was funny when I first noticed it, it was almost like when I was preggers I took hubby's hand and said "feel this" I was so excited.
I know I still have a long journey but until I joined this challenge I'd never hit 3 miles in one day. Since joining,I have gone 1.5 miles on stair climber 1 mile on treadmill followed by a half mile in the pool on 2 different days.... Thanks Dani for inviting and encouraging me...God Bless
Catherine

Woo Hoo

Well yesterday I didn't do anything that resembled exercise and I didn't eat well because we were on the road, those Golden arches got to me. Some how I still didn't gain PTL...
Today I decided not not mess around I busted my buns at the gym today and it felt great between stepper, tredmill, and the pool I got 3 miles in then I played with my boys in the kids pool (not enough to "count" but kept moving and had fun :-)

Then we ate real food indstead of junk and I feel sooo much better... I am getting hungry for a snack though so I'm probably going to have an apple and maybe something else healthy and yummy :) I pray everyone else is enjoying the challenge and sweatin'

still has sugar but...

I like to make freezer jam just mash fresh berries add pack of certo/sure jell(for freezer jam) and I only use about 1/2 to 2/3's of sugar called for in recipie on box we LOVE it because you can actually taste the berries and you can get creative and mix up what ever berries you like best or stick to one.. our fave is Mommy's triple berry jam with raspberries, blueberries and strawberries :)

My kids love waffles and pancakes but the maple syrup we were all using was totally out of control... So I took the above triple berry jam (few spoons) and added A LOT more berries in the blender (more berries no more sugar) until its the right consistancy and tada' Mommy's triple berry syrup less sugar than maple and tons of great vitimins and anti-oxidents you get from all those yummy berries :-)

Reading Labels Diet Tip

I don't know how this will work for everyone but I am not at a point where I'm strong enough to totally give up sugar but one thing we (as a family) have done is to really read labels and we have almost eliminated High Fructose Corn Syrup after doing some research on the subject I've learned some of what it does to our body and how it increases obesity and diabetes (both run in my family). This is harder than I thought it would be because the stuff is every where from ketchup to breakfast cereals and yougurt :-/ I give myself extra time in the grocery store but I feel it's worth it...
We also try to really adhere to the half plate rule (fill half of you plate with fruits and veggies before you add anything else) it seems to be helping and it's pretty easy...

Let's get started

My name is Catherine, I am the mother of a 5 year old son with Pervasive Developmental Disorder (High functioning Autism) and twin 3 year old boys. I work part time at a supermarket as a cashier. My days revolve around the schedules of my children... school, lessons, playdates etc... Dani invited me to this challange and to be totally honest I was thinking 'yeah sure'. We as a family have been working toward becoming healthy eaters and getting off our buns and moving more, the idea of admitting to 'the world' that I have at least 60 more pounds to lose didn't appeal to me but what better motivation than putting it out there so.... In the begining of April I decided I was too fat to be the kind of wife and mother I want to be, I had no energy and got winded playing outside with my kiddos, hubby and I talked and decided it was time to do something other than whine about our "issues" we joind the YMCA and have started working out and not totally changeing our eating habits (wish weren't awful just not great either) but being more consious of what we eat. We have treats and take out but we get veggies or a salad instead of french fries and things like that :-) We are also following the 'half-plate' rule (visually divide plate in half and one side get's loaded with veggies). So far I have lost 11 lbs and dh has lost 27 lbs. We are only at the tip of the iceburg though I still weigh 243lbs...there I said it... my first goal is to get into this black shirt I've had since before pregnancy and have it look good, but really I need to get a 1 back in front of my wieght then I will reasses how I feel and where to go from there... I really want to be able to coach my boys soccer teams this summer without getting winded say a prayer for us :)