Who Are We and Why Are We Headed for Shamrock?

We met online in 2005 trying to--what else--lose weight. We've had our ups and downs along the way, but we're not where we want to be. This is our journey to get fit and healthy. We invite you to follow us as we "exercise" our way across the country--track our progress on the map to Shamrock below-- in an effort to each lose 50 pounds by the end of 2009 and adopt a healthier lifestyle along the road.

Where will we go once we reach our goals? The sky's the limit... but we're thinking Greece would be nice.

Thursday, April 9, 2009

Daily Report: Day 98


It was another so-so day. Better than a bad day, but didn't end up being the day I'd planned.

Calories: 1783
Exercise: Had planned to join a gym tonight after work, but it didn't happen for a number of reasons. Planning again for tomorrow.
Water: 65 oz

Victories: Water. Did much better, but still room for improvement.
Defeats: Exercise or lack thereof. I need to make some big changes in that department.

Daily Report: Day 97



An ok day food wise. Did a lot an awful lot of sitting at my computer working today, so can't claim to have gotten my exercise in.

Calories: 1568
Exercise: none
Water: about 50 oz


Victories: walked away from a cupcake and didn't look back
Defeats: worked too much and didn't make time for exercise at all.

Tuesday, April 7, 2009

Daily Report: Day 96





Day 96?! Where is the year going? And why isn't my extra poundage going with it? Because I'm being lazy, that's why! But today was different. Sort of. At least I tracked my calories. Not bad, not great. Better than yesterday.

Calories: 1794
Exercise: 2 miles walking
Water: Not enough


Victories: Only served myself half a sandwich during work-related lunch. Took 2 bites of what should have been a delicious cookie and through the rest away because it wasn't. Chose another flavor, ate half tossed the rest. Sorry to wasteful, starving children in Africa, but my new motto is: if it ain't tasty, it's wasty. Yeah, I need to work on my mottos.
Defeats: Realized AFTER I ate half a sandwich, that the whole sandwich would have been almost 800 calories. 400 cals for half a sandwich? So not worth it!

Monday, April 6, 2009

OnStar? I think I need directions...


Hello? This is Betty Lou and I'm lost. Where was I going? Well, I thought I was on the road to health and wellness/hotness, but I must have taken a wrong turn on or about March 10 and I've been driving aimlessly for weeks now. There were a few time where I thought I was back on the right road, but I realize now that I've just been going around in circles.

I have a number of good excuses: the kids in the back seat distracted me; there were other good-hearted but clueless drivers on the road... drivers that bake and share the goodies; the car broke down in front of a birthday party and I had to go in to use the ... cupcake? I guess one won't hurt!; I got car sick. To be honest, it's just hard to stay on the right track. It just is.

So, OnStar, can you help me? The big sign that says "stop"? Yes, I see it right in front of me. Let me see if I have this straight: I come to a complete stop at the stop sign and then proceed with caution through the intersection of Popcorn and Cookies; I'll pass Ice Cream, Tortilla Chips and Full Fat Cheese on the right and Mini Bagels with Butter on the left; proceed onto the Expressway of Fitness and Well Being (stopping along the way for walks, time at the gym, and the farmer's market) and I'll see the signs to Happiness. Just follow the signs? Got it! Thank you so much.

Saturday, April 4, 2009

Weigh-In: Week 13



Blame mother nature for me being up from last week. Not that I was on plan for the most part, but I know this isn't an additional gain. I've really been sort of taking it one meal at a time and I've done ok, but I haven't been tracking. This week I'm going back to tracking calories. Has to be done.



I knew it would be higher this week. I could feel it. Hopefully this Alli will help me out some.

April Showers Bring May Flowers...


...and hopefully an April recommitment will bring a May reward. I want to lose 20 pounds by the end of May (and BL is trying for this as well). I have a homeschool conference to attend, and it would be so nice to have some clothes to wear for it....comfortable clothes!

Here's my plan:
  • Alli: I bought a pack of Alli yesterday and am going to try it out. It's not a rapid weight loss pill, and doesn't affect my heart (which already has issues, so that's good). It's supposed to boost your weight loss efforts, not be a weight loss tool on its own.
  • Exercise: I've been so busy and so tired that I haven't been feeling well enough or feeling committed enough to do regular exercise. So for now, I'm working in the garden for 1/2 hour each day with Obi-wan. If I can get a 1 or 2 mile walk in with the kids, I'll do it.
  • Food: This is my biggest hurdle. Low-fat is usually not hard for me to eat, but low sugar is. Until I can meet with the endocrinologist in May, I'll have to just try to eat less sugar. Eating lots of fat and taking Alli will have me spending a lot of time in the, uh, bathroom. So eating lower fat will be important. I just have to try to behave better. Ideally, I should be recording calories and fat, but I just don't have that kind of time right now. If the weight doesn't start coming off, I will do it though, because that will be an obvious sign that I'm not doing it right.
Okay. Well. Here goes. This weight has to come off. I cannot live this way. I feel like the Michelin tire guy and I hate the way my body feels. I'm so uncomfortable in my own skin. I can do this. I have to. And like BL said to me last week, if I do have to have surgery for my heart condition I really ought to be in the best shape possible.

Friday, April 3, 2009

Weigh-In: Week 12


Disappointing to see that it's possible gain back almost 4 pounds in less than half the time it took me to lose it, isn't it? I'm trying to get my head back in the game.


This is REALLY late getting posted (sorry BL). I know that my weigh in tomorrow will be more. I had hoped to have lost more because of my hospital stay, but no such luck. I really think my PCOS must be screwing things up. I haven't been eating enough to gain weight, or even stay the same. I might try to go on Alli for a while and see it that helps. I have an appointment with an endocrinologist in May to discuss how to manage my PCOS. I hate that I have to wait that long, but what're you gonna do?