Chop and Shop

So, while my friends were here I learned about a new concept. It is called a personal shopper. I had never heard of it. My friend Liz told me about it. It is where you pay someone a fee (around $150) to go shopping with you and pick out clothes for you. They know current style, are excellent and sizing, colors, etc. I kind of thought the idea was absurd since it was so expensive but my friend Liz had some really cute clothes and she inspired me. We seem to get stuck in a rut. Do you notice that you wear the same 10 outfits and just regurgitate them over and over again. Or have you ever liked a shirt so much that you went back and bought it in another color? This is totally against everything a personal shopper's thinking. They want each outfit to be unique and not just a copycat.

I haven't went clothes shopping in forever! I can't even remember the last time I bought some business casual outfits. I did buy a dress for Maggie's wedding but that was it. So......I talked my friends into being my personal shoppers...for free! We went to my favorite store, New York & Company. They were having a great sale. We didn't get there until 8:30PM and they closed at 9. My friends and I ran around like crazy and I tried on tons of clothes. I ended the night with 4 great outfits. Nothing that I would have bought on my own. The best part about it, is that I only spent $200 and the regular bill would have been well over $400. I got everything for about half off. These outfits were a good deal too because they all had three pieces, like a pair of pants, shirt and sweater or pants, shell and blouse. It was very fun and it was great to get some confidence and feel good good in some new clothes. It was also great to be able to fit into the pants with no trouble and to even have to buy a shirt in a large instead of an extra large.

I also hacked my hair off while they were here. I now have a chin length a-line bob. It is cute! A little shorter than I expected but it will look great in a month! It is way healthier now. I got rid of some old highlights with the cut and now I am just back to my natural color. I will take a picture soon.

Weight Watcher Results: Week 24

OK, so its not huge but I am pretty darn proud. For having friends in town for four days, I am amazed that I almost lost 2 pounds. I haven't been to my workout on Thursday nights in two weeks. One week I was in Chicago and this week my friends were in town. I meant to do weekend warrior last Saturday but it was the annual neighborhood garage sale and we had planned on participating for months. I did make about $400 at the sale! It was great, I put it together in under an hour and still have quite a few things to craigslist and donate.

I just have to keep telling myself that slow and steady wins the race!

The fire is ignited!

So the fire has been ignited. I have a goal for the next 8 weeks. At least 16 pounds. That will get me 10 the 185, I have been shooting for...for so long. Just in time for my birthday. The big 31. Today was day 1. I ate 25.5 points! I am allowed 25. I packed my lunch, made good choices and feel good about my success. Please help keep me motivated! I need it! I am also going to try and be better about updating my blog. I have been slacking and that has made me less accountable.

Well, I am excited. Do any of you have any goals for the next 8 weeks? Lets do them together!

Pumpkin Spice Cookies

OK...these are so good and they are only 1 point each! They are almost like a personal little cake. You could add cream cheese frosting for a real special treat but that would add another point. Here is the recipe!

Pumpkin Spice Cookies

1 Spice Cake mix

2 egg whites

15 oz pumpkin

1/2 C applesauce

1 tsp cinnamon

1/2 tsp nutmeg

1/4 tsp cloves

(you could use pumpkin pie spice if you have it)

1 tsp vanilla

1/3 C semi sweet chocolate chips

I used my cookie ball scoop and it made 50 cookies. These cookies don't expand much so you can fit quite a few on a sheet. They spread a little bit but they pretty much just turn into little mini muffin tops. The dough is really soft so using the cookie baller what great. You could use a small ice cream scoop too for a larger cookie but then they would be two points. You could also do a lot more chocolate chips but 1/3C makes them have a little treat with out the calories. The cookie is very cakey (if you have ever had pumpkin choc chip cookies from the deli at the grocery store, they are very similar). Make sure to lightly grease the cookie sheet or they will stick. Cook 10-13 minutes until the tops of the cookie feel firm to the touch.

Enjoy! :)

A Bend in the Road, Is not the End of the Road

So these past few weeks have really been a struggle. It is getting harder and harder to stay 100% motivated, to pack lunches, to make time to work out, etc. I have just hovered right under 200 for weeks. It is so frustrating and it makes you want to give up. I am hating to say it but for the first time, I am feeling defeated.

I have to be honest with myself. My diet has not been perfect and even though I have been exercising, my trainer always says "you can't out train a bad diet". However, even though I haven't been blemish free I have still tried hard to stay on track. I can definitely tell you where my downfall is...I am not logging my points. In order to be successful you have to "write it..if you bite it". I know that this is what has been hindering me. I only get 25 points a day now and one slip up can cost you 10 points. Also, I have been eating out way more since returning to work. I have work lunch meetings, my trip to Chicago or forgetting to pack my lunch because I know the hospital cafeteria or atrium cafe will have an option for me. Yet these options are never as good as the option of bringing my own food. I know my pitfalls but for some reason I have been complacent.

I really need something to ignite that spark again. I was so motivated to lose 50 pounds by the time I returned to work. What can I be motivated for in order to lose the last 50. I need to just be motivated within myself but it is so much easier when you have a goal or something to look forward to. I have tried to set little goals but have failed.

My birthday is 9 weeks away. I have been trying to be under 185 which would be my lowest weight in the past 6 years. That is what I am going to try for. I am going to work super hard to do it. I need your help. Are you guys even still reading?? I know I can do it. Also, the new season of biggest loser just started. That will help! I have a few challenges ahead though. I have friends coming into town starting Thursday. The good news is that both of them are also trying to eat healthy; so hopefully we will all be able to hold each other accountable.

Weight Watcher Results: Week 23

So, this is probably the hardest post for my weight since this began. It is a gain. I knew that it would be. At least it is under 200, I swear I will never see that again! Well, a new post is coming to let you know what is going on...more in detail.

Chicago

Well, I had to go to Chicago for a few days. I am the president of the East TN chapter for a professional society, so every year there is a chapter leaders meeting in Chicago. It is a fun meeting, gets you excited and motivated. It was the first time I had been away from Reese over night.

While the conference is good, it is very busy and hard to get a chance to leave the hotel. I got to Chicago Sunday around 3. I got to connect with an old friend that lived across the street from me growing up on Frago Ct. in California. Him and his wife picked me up and took me to a great dinner and for a tour of the city. It was a nice night...but that was my Chicago experience. Starting Monday morning I was in meetings all day and never left the hotel again until I got on the shuttle to head back to the airport. I was really proud of myself. The hotel gym was beautiful and I highly recommend the Intercontinental. I was an amazing hotel. Since I knew that I wasn't in control of my eating (all meals were catered) that I better hit the gym. I worked out Sunday night, Monday morning, Monday night and Tuesday morning. I tried to do cardio and some weights each time.

It was actually fairly easy to be dedicated to working out. I had no distractions. I went to bed early every night, slept good and had time to relax. I actually read a 400 page book in those two days as well. For any of you Nicolas Sparks fans, I recommend "Safe Haven", it was one of his better books because it was suspenseful as well as romantic.

Tuesday night I was home and hit the pavement running. I had to work Wednesday and Thursday, Thursday night has a meeting, Friday had a CPR class, Saturday a garage sale...in a nutshell its been nuts! I have friends from California flying in on Thursday and will be visiting for almost a week. It will be great to see them both. So, I have slacked on my blog posts but more will be coming soon. My next post will be an actual update on how this journey is going.