K.I.S.S. http://www.extrapounds.com/blog/karriesjourney Keep It Simple SISTER!!! en All rights reserved Weight loss extrapounds v2 http://blogs.law.harvard.edu/tech/rss 1440 http://www.extrapounds.com/images/avatars/users/karriesjourney.gif Avatar http://www.extrapounds.com/ 100 100 Keep It Simple SISTER!!! Week will be a bust no matter what I do....Booooooooooo! http://www.extrapounds.com/blog/karriesjourney/comments/358762/week-will-be-a-bust-no-matter-what-i-dobooooooooooo Well, here comes that bloaty pinchy feeling that I get every month right about this time.&nbsp; Oh...and of course a little bit of the huuuungries!<br><br>But the one thing that I am come to understand is the way it all works and not to get too frustrated with my scale when it can't help but reflect what my body is doing.&nbsp; The water weight....about 7 days prior....always a fun time in my world.&nbsp; <br><br>The scale said an ugly UGLY thing this morning and it is a liar.&nbsp; And I know this.&nbsp; Because I have not eaten badly this week.&nbsp; A little more than normal but not several pounds worth.&nbsp; And I have been exercising.&nbsp; Just like I should.&nbsp; <br><br>And so, through this time, I just have to remind myself that as of the day after TOM comes, the scale will drop like an avalanche like it always does.&nbsp; And I have to remind myself that I just need to do what I have been doing and stay on track...no matter what lies the scale tells me....and that in about 10 days, it will all be okay.&nbsp; <br><br>Sometimes, we just have to remind ourselves that we are women and, unfortunately, there are some things we just can not control.&nbsp; <br> <a href="http://www.extrapounds.com/blog/karriesjourney/comments/358762/week-will-be-a-bust-no-matter-what-i-dobooooooooooo">Comments(2)</a> 358762 Saturday, December 8, 2007 22:04:13 Ah...the week of challenges..... http://www.extrapounds.com/blog/karriesjourney/comments/358563/ahthe-week-of-challenges This week A's grandfather is in town from Oregon.&nbsp; And so that means southern cooking every night.&nbsp; I know it sounds good....but at best, I am working at a maintain on the scale for Friday.&nbsp; And I am fine with that.&nbsp; There are just some weeks that will naturally have me eating more and this is one of them.&nbsp; We are going to M&amp;M's Soul Food and I will be damned if I am going to miss the Mac and Cheese that would rival anyone's grandmothers home made recipe.&nbsp; So here is to a maintain this week!! I am half way through my exercise week too. <br><br>So here's to a maintain!!!!!&nbsp; :)<br><br>Happy Tuesday...<br><br>Onward and Downward...<br><br>xoxoKBB<br> <a href="http://www.extrapounds.com/blog/karriesjourney/comments/358563/ahthe-week-of-challenges">Comments(0)</a> 358563 Saturday, December 8, 2007 22:03:20 Oh happy day!!!!!!!!!!!!!! http://www.extrapounds.com/blog/karriesjourney/comments/357567/oh-happy-day I am reporting a loss of 2.2 pounds this week!!!&nbsp; That is almost 20 for the year (Since January), 11.2 in 10 weeks. <br><br>I am so happy with my progress.&nbsp; My focus right now is 199.9999999999. <br><br>Hope you have a great day!!!<br><br>Onward and downward!<br><br>xoxoKBB<br> <a href="http://www.extrapounds.com/blog/karriesjourney/comments/357567/oh-happy-day">Comments(1)</a> 357567 Saturday, December 8, 2007 23:09:13 Sobering moments..... http://www.extrapounds.com/blog/karriesjourney/comments/356187/sobering-moments <p>Tonight I was watching Discovery Health Channel and there was a show on about an obesity clinic that has 75 of the most obese patients in the country.&nbsp;</p> <p>As I looked at the bodies of these people...the people that suffer from the same disease that I do....compulsive overeating....I realize how much of the battle I have won.&nbsp; I am not saying anything&nbsp; negative in any way about the people that I was seeing on the show.&nbsp; I can only imagine what it is like to be in a clinic that is your last hope because there is a tumor on your leg that is life threatening, but you still are ordering take-out that is being sneeked into the clinic.&nbsp; I can only imagine being 750 pounds and not even being able to get out of a bed without basically what looks like a crane.&nbsp;</p> <p>As I watched this show, it made me realize that although I struggle with this every day...and probably will for the rest of my life.....it made me see how much I am <i><u>winning</u></i> this battle.&nbsp; Today, I got on the scale and weighed 204.7...that is exactly 10 pounds that I have lost since July 11th.&nbsp; And although it is the same weight that I have lost before...I am making effort to continue the battle every day.&nbsp;&nbsp; And I am proud of my 5 pounds a month.</p> <p>I realize that I am ABLE to get up in the morning and get on a treadmill and do a workout where I am jogging whereas there are people that can't even get out of bed.&nbsp; I realize that I don't eat out a lot and I am doing things to make the better choices for my home.&nbsp; I realize that even though this is hard, that I can do it.</p> <p>Again, I am not saying anything about morbidly obese people.&nbsp; We all struggle with degrees of this issue.&nbsp; Even people who are underweight deal with the same connection to food...either too much, or lack thereof.....it is about control.&nbsp;It is still the same addiction.</p> <p>I am not sure what the point of this post is other than to be thankful that I am able to get up every morning, put on gym clothes, get on the treadmill, take a shower and go to work.&nbsp; I am winning this battle more than I realize sometimes and I have to remember that always.&nbsp; And it is a good feeling.....but my heart just aches and goes out to the people I saw on this show.&nbsp; I feel their pain so much....</p> <p>Onward &amp; Downward<br /> Karrie</p> <a href="http://www.extrapounds.com/blog/karriesjourney/comments/356187/sobering-moments">Comments(2)</a> 356187 Saturday, December 8, 2007 23:04:22 Is it Friday Yet???? http://www.extrapounds.com/blog/karriesjourney/comments/355596/is-it-friday-yet <p>I am SO ready for Friday, it isn't even funny.&nbsp; lol. </p> <p>Today, I got out of bed and I was so tired.&nbsp; But I got on my treaddy as usual because today is the end of my workout week and WI is tomorrow and it is all just part of the better health stuff.&nbsp; So I got on.&nbsp; My goal is for 40 minutes now but I was running behind but got a good solid 30 in which is what I used to do every day.&nbsp; Funny thing is that 30 minutes feels like so little time now.&nbsp; Even though I only added the 10 minutes to the workouts, I kinda feel jipped when I don't do the whole 40!&nbsp; lol.&nbsp; Who knew I would actually be bummed to not get in my entire workout.&nbsp; </p> <p>I alternate doing jogging and hills.&nbsp; So 2 days of jogging and 2 days of hills on the treaddy.&nbsp; Today was 1-10 incline 2 times and then 2 to 4 to 6 to 8 incline...and then 4 minutes of cool down.&nbsp; So it was a toughie.&nbsp; Those hills to 10 incline seriously kick my bootay and take names!!&nbsp; lol.&nbsp; But that is all part of the fun of it.&nbsp; I enjoy making up different workouts.&nbsp; And sometimes I do hills AND some jogging.&nbsp; Watch out!!&nbsp; I am tricky....</p> <p>So tomorro is my WI and I had a superfantastic week but I also know that I lost 3 pounds last week....so I am not expecting too much of this ole body that sometimes likes to hang on to my progress for an extra week.&nbsp; How kind of it. </p> <p>This eating week was very good.....I was right on track..and the weekend is almost here and time for me to be able to have a little more freedom.&nbsp; LIke I said..I am a nazi during the week but on the weekend I loosen up and have more freedom and I really like the way this works for me.&nbsp; </p> <p>Well, off to go and talk to a few of my blog buddies!!</p> <p>Onward and downward!<br /> KBB</p> <a href="http://www.extrapounds.com/blog/karriesjourney/comments/355596/is-it-friday-yet">Comments(2)</a> 355596 Saturday, December 8, 2007 23:01:20 Ah...it has been a while.... http://www.extrapounds.com/blog/karriesjourney/comments/355047/ahit-has-been-a-while <p>....but I went on to my Google Reader and read a few of my girlfriends are back and blogging.&nbsp; </p> <p>So I thought it was time for a check in.&nbsp; </p> <p>How am I doing?&nbsp; REALLY WELL!!&nbsp; That is the scary part.&nbsp; I am not here to blog about how I am doing so badly, can't control myself, havn't exercised in god knows how long....I am actually doing WELL.&nbsp; I am actually proud to say that when I logged on today, I had to change my weight to a LOWER number.&nbsp; Who knew that this could be done?!?!?&nbsp; lol.&nbsp; I have lost 17.1 pounds since January 3rd...when I started this leg of the journey.&nbsp; But a majority of that has been since July.&nbsp; Since July I have lost almost 9 pounds.&nbsp; And I am proud.&nbsp; </p> <p>So, first a catch up on my life.&nbsp; I finally left my job in the mortgage industry and went back to my old occupation, Legal Secretary, after a 10 year gap.&nbsp; I was very lucky to get a shot with this firm and I am glad to be here.&nbsp;&nbsp; I am very very happy with my new job and my new position gives me a lot of discipline with eating, actually....because I am always busy and take a very short lunch.&nbsp; Also, I am loving the fact that there is this thing called 'paid holidays'.... have you heard of such a thing?&nbsp; Well, after being self employed for 10 years, I forgot such amazing things existed.&nbsp; lol.&nbsp;</p> <p>We finally sold our house and moved and that was a huge strain off of me emotionally.&nbsp; We had to do a short sale because we bought during the worst time and got a bad loan (which I gave to myself thinking that my income would not be changing and that we could get a better loan later)....so one thing leads to another and we were losing the house.&nbsp; But I am overjoyed to say that we moved 9 houses away and are in the same exact neighborhood with all of our favorite conveniences within 4 minutes walking distance.&nbsp; I am very happy and I really love our new home.&nbsp; It has a great layout and we are all settled in after moving in June.&nbsp; Our sale of our house closed last month.&nbsp; It took 3 months but we had amazing buyers and we hope that they are happy in their new home/our old home.&nbsp; </p> <p>We had to postpone the wedding and don't have a new date yet but we know it will be next year and I am excited about it whenever it happens. </p> <p>And now to the reason why we are all here...weight.&nbsp; Well, I am doing well in journaling my food for the most part.&nbsp; I am not anal/nazi/psycho about it and do it pretty regularly.&nbsp; But my formula has been to be very very good on the week days and get some slack on the weekends.&nbsp; It has been working really well for me. </p> <p>Exercise? &nbsp; I get up Monday-Thursday and workout at 6:45am for 40 minutes on the treadmill alternating days of jogging and hill work using incline.&nbsp; Yes.&nbsp; You read it here first ladies.&nbsp; IN THE MORNING!!&nbsp; I have been that girl that always swore up and down that I would never, ever be able to get up in the morning and workout.&nbsp;&nbsp; Silly girl.&nbsp; That is not true!!!&nbsp; I find, now, that with it out of the way in the morning, my day is better, I have more energy and I can not dread having to do it when I get home because it will leave me no time to be with my family, hence sluffing it off to be with them and then regretting that I did not do it.&nbsp;&nbsp; So I am proud to day that I have been consistent with it for some time now and actually *gasp* enjoy it!!&nbsp; lol. </p> <p>Well, that's pretty much it for now.&nbsp; I will try to make a better habit of checking in here and saying hi to everyone!!</p> <p>Hi Angela, Donna!!, Linda..and all of you other beautiful ladies!!!</p> <p>Onward and Downward!!!&nbsp; Onederland, here I come....</p> <p>xoxoKBB</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <a href="http://www.extrapounds.com/blog/karriesjourney/comments/355047/ahit-has-been-a-while">Comments(2)</a> 355047 Sunday, December 9, 2007 00:09:19 Happy to be Fat???? http://www.extrapounds.com/blog/karriesjourney/comments/322866/happy-to-be-fat <p>Sometimes I look in the mirror and wonder if I am satisfied to just be fat for the rest of my life.&nbsp; </p> <p>Seriously, if I wanted to be thin, wouldn't I do more to accomplish it?&nbsp; </p> <p>I have made a commitment to myself that I will not get on the scale until the last Friday of the month.....see what I can do to lose some of this but not focus on the number every day.&nbsp; I am a daily weigher....always have been and always will be.&nbsp; </p> <p>I have noticed a few things.&nbsp; I usually lose, lose, small gain, small gain, lose a larger number, lose, gain, gain.&nbsp; It has to do with TOM.&nbsp; Most of it.&nbsp; TOM is a hard time for me.&nbsp; For 10 days or so beforehand, I struggle a lot.&nbsp; But the other 20 days of the month, I put in serioius effort.&nbsp; So since the beginning of the year, I have only (I hate that word but that is how it feels) lost 10 pounds.&nbsp; I have a girlfriend who has lost consistantly a pound a week.&nbsp; She exercises 6 days a week (she gets off of work a lot earlier than I do) and eats about 1500 calories a day.&nbsp; </p> <p>What would it take me to do that?&nbsp; Why can't I get that kind of focus?&nbsp; If I ate only 1500 calories a day and worked out 6 days a week, I would have been done already!!&nbsp; lol.&nbsp; She is so focused.&nbsp; And I am jealous that she can do that.&nbsp; </p> <p>I keep saying over and over that I want to be thin.&nbsp; But if I wanted it badly enough, wouldn't I be there by now??? I mean, wouldn't I?&nbsp; This part of my journey started 5 years ago in June.&nbsp; 5.&nbsp; Years.&nbsp; Ago.&nbsp; I mean, I should have been to goal and maintained all of this time. </p> <p>I am just frustrated. Frustrated when I look in the mirror.&nbsp; Frustrated that I can not stay as focused as some others can.&nbsp; Frustrated that I am not 'there' yet....after all this time.</p> <p>I just want to weigh 150.&nbsp; But I guess I don't want it enough somehow...or I would be there already.... </p> <a href="http://www.extrapounds.com/blog/karriesjourney/comments/322866/happy-to-be-fat">Comments(6)</a> 322866 Wednesday, December 5, 2007 00:09:13 Those moments.... http://www.extrapounds.com/blog/karriesjourney/comments/314567/those-moments <p>Sometimes on this journey we have 'those moments'.&nbsp; Moments of clarity.&nbsp; Moments when we realize something about ourselves or just plain moments where we 'get' something that we did not get before.</p> <p>I guess that this journey is filled with these things.&nbsp; Here I sit, almost 5 years from when I started on my WW journey.&nbsp; I started June 3, 2003.&nbsp; A few months after I had my son...who just turned 5 in March.&nbsp; And one of&nbsp; my moments today consists of realizing how long I have been doing this and have yet to get to the end of this part of the road.&nbsp; </p> <p>I am not on WW any longer.&nbsp; But I am on Calorie King and I county my calories instead of points.&nbsp; So basically the same thing.&nbsp; I have a workout buddy that I exercise with 2 times per week.&nbsp; </p> <p>I was on strong for about 2 years and got to my lowest weight of 175.&nbsp; But my life took turns and twists.&nbsp; My journey has been long and hard.&nbsp; And I have yet to get to my goal weight of 150. I was so close and then, I let it, over time, slip away from me.&nbsp; And I got back to 223 in January.&nbsp; I can honestly say that I thought I would have been here by now.&nbsp; But this is a journey in every sense of the word.&nbsp; This journey has been full of a baby growing up,&nbsp; getting a divorce, finding a new place to live and a job after not working for 2 years, finding new love in my life, having a major illness that required surgery and recovery, buying a house, my income being cut in half, our financial life going down the tubes...losing a home.&nbsp; That is a lot to go through in just 5 years.&nbsp; And when I type that all out I realize why this is called a journey.&nbsp; Life is a journey with only one final destination.&nbsp; It is what you do in the middle that counts.</p> <p>The first little while that I have been back on track was hard because of all of the things I could eat over.&nbsp; Money.&nbsp; Stress and more stress.&nbsp; But those are all excuses to not do what I needed to do.&nbsp; And although I have lost quite a bit of weight since I started back to eating better and exercise, I have not fulfilled what my potential is.&nbsp; I have lost 11.3 pounds since January 2nd.&nbsp; And I know I could have done better.&nbsp; But on the flip side of that same coin, I could have done a lot worse.</p> <p>I have been trying to figure out what has been holding me back.&nbsp; I have a wedding dress to get into...although I bought the right size and it is a corset so I can go down about 3 sizes without alterations.&nbsp; I want to be much thinner by the time I have a baby because being almost 300 pounds at delivery with my last one was no fun so that is not something I want to repeat.&nbsp; So what is holding me back??</p> <p>The truth is, I don't really know.&nbsp; I don't know how I let all of these pounds creep back on in the first place.&nbsp; 2 gained became 5 gained became 10.&nbsp; And next thing I knew I was back where I said I would *never* be again.&nbsp; Over 200 pounds.&nbsp; But for some reason, in the last 2 weeks, something switched.&nbsp; Last week, I lost 2.8.&nbsp; And this week, I am on track for at least another 2 pounds.&nbsp; I added one more day of exercise a week (making it 3 now) and I modified my lunch time meal to have less calories.&nbsp; That is working.&nbsp; But I think that the other part of it is that I finally got my mind in the game.....if that makes sense. </p> <p>I am the only one in control of my eating and exercise.&nbsp; I guess another part of it was my honey.&nbsp; He is the most awesome man I know but we have had so much stress lately with everything that has gone on.&nbsp; One of the things he has been doing to try to 'help' me is ask me about what I am eating and if I am going to exercise and when, etc.&nbsp; I felt monitered.&nbsp; I felt like he was watching everything I did and it was making me very conscious and I didn't even realize it.&nbsp; And he was just trying to be helpful because I have told him that I want his support.&nbsp; But I realized that one of the things I didn't want was someone to play food police.&nbsp; I write down what I eat.&nbsp; I get my workouts in.&nbsp; But if I feel I am being constantly scouted, it thwarts my efforts.&nbsp; So this weekend, I finally told him that.&nbsp; I told him that I appreciate what his intention was but it was hurting me.&nbsp; I actually said that.&nbsp; &quot;What you are doing is not helping me.&nbsp; It is hurting me&quot;.&nbsp;&nbsp; He was surprised a little bit but told me that he was sorry and that he was just trying to help.&nbsp; I guess he didn't realized that I need SUPPORT not the FP.&nbsp; lol.&nbsp; I felt like he was on my back all the time and he though he was helping.&nbsp; And in a way, I understood what his intention was but it was not what I needed and I spoke up.&nbsp; And since then, it has been easier for me.&nbsp; It is so interesting what triggers us, you know?&nbsp; And we don't even realize it.&nbsp; </p> <p>I don't really know where all of this is going.&nbsp; I just feel like I have so much to say and I know I can come and share it here.</p> <p>But my *moment* that I had today was simply this.&nbsp; I will get there.&nbsp; And there is no clock running.&nbsp; I am not in a race.&nbsp; I just have to simply continue to do the things that I am doing right now to get the losses that I have been the last few weeks and I WILL GET THERE.&nbsp; I don't have to be *perfect*.&nbsp; If I am looking for perfection, then&nbsp; I will fail.&nbsp; There is no doubt about that. </p> <p>So for those of you who are struggling today, let's all say it together.&nbsp; WE WILL GET THERE.&nbsp; We are not on a clock.&nbsp; Persistance, not perfection. </p> <p>That's it.&nbsp; And I realized something else....I have blogged 3 days in a row.&nbsp; I think that is because I don't feel like hiding anymore.&nbsp; And I know that I will succeed.&nbsp; And I know you are all here for me.&nbsp; And I thank you. </p> <p>xoxo<br /> KBB</p> <a href="http://www.extrapounds.com/blog/karriesjourney/comments/314567/those-moments">Comments(4)</a> 314567 Monday, December 3, 2007 23:06:14 Girlfriends are there when you need them. http://www.extrapounds.com/blog/karriesjourney/comments/314181/girlfriends-are-there-when-you-need-them <p>*pull into Subway for lunch with girlfriend, Julia*</p> <p>&quot;Hey....have you lost weight?&nbsp; You look great!!!&quot;</p> <p>Julia is my best friend.&nbsp; :)</p> <a href="http://www.extrapounds.com/blog/karriesjourney/comments/314181/girlfriends-are-there-when-you-need-them">Comments(1)</a> 314181 Monday, December 3, 2007 23:05:17 Ah. Me Vida Loca http://www.extrapounds.com/blog/karriesjourney/comments/313661/ah-me-vida-loca <p>Hello ladies.&nbsp; It has been a little while since I blogged.&nbsp; Things are going well on the weight front.&nbsp; I am down 11.2 pounds since January.&nbsp; Less than 5 pounds a month but still progress nonetheless.&nbsp; I am happy with the changes that I am making.&nbsp; I wish the pace were quicker but I am not the kind to look a gift horse in the mouth.&nbsp; I am happy with my accomplishment.</p> <p>My life has been hell for the last few months.&nbsp; We are one of 'those' people caught in the mortgage crisis and we are losing our home.&nbsp; Please don't feel badly for us on that front.&nbsp; We made the decision to do the short sale on our house and the bank is working with us...and we are not going to be out in the cold.&nbsp; But to add to that, we racked up a ton in debt trying to save the house.&nbsp; And in doing that, we had credit card bills up to our you know whats.&nbsp; So in the decision to sell the house, we also put ourselves into consumer credit counseling.&nbsp; So for the first time in a long time we are caught up on everything and it is finally turning the right way.&nbsp; </p> <p>My Fiance and I were dealing with all of this pretty well but it started to take a toll on our relationship.&nbsp; We have been in a few fights that should have been more like nothing but I think that we are so stressed and in our own worlds, that we just forgot the other person was involved too and that we are both feeling the stress.&nbsp; So we have had a few good talks and things are better. </p> <p>It is odd.&nbsp; Usually in times of struggle, I want to talk talk talk about things...but I have just shut down for a while.&nbsp; But I am glad to say that I finally feel almost normal right now and that is a good thing.&nbsp; </p> <p>This is a very hard time in my life so please send good thoughts my way.&nbsp; Thanks for listening.&nbsp; </p> <p>xoxo</p> <p>K</p> <a href="http://www.extrapounds.com/blog/karriesjourney/comments/313661/ah-me-vida-loca">Comments(4)</a> 313661 Monday, December 3, 2007 23:04:17