Wow! Has it really been 3 months?

Wow! Has it really been 3 months since my last post? Hard to believe. I guess for most of us it's been a busy summer with the kids, vacations, visitors, etc. But there have been many of you that have messaged me over the summer asking how I have been doing. Thank you for that.

For the most part, good. I think summer is a really hard time to loose weight. A lot of socializing. Golfing, BBQ's etc. Which of course for me, means a lot more beer as well. Even Mom kept saying to me, "Tammy, if you can just make it through the summer and get back on track. It will be ok".

So On June 20th, which was my last post. I was down 46.5 pounds. I managed for most of the summer to stay within 4 pounds of that. Which I felt was pretty good. The last week of summer, however.....lol. Last Tuesday, September 6th I weighed in at 208. Still down 40 pounds. I was ok with that.

This past week however, was time to get back on track. But I felt with everything I had over the summer. The best way to start was a detox and cleanse. So I have been on isagenix for the last 6 days. This is not something I would do all the time. I do enjoy food too much. But my body does need it right now. So after weighing in this morning. I am 203. I lost 5 pounds the last 6 days. Back to a 45 pound weight loss. So I feel good. I will stay on the isagenix one more week and then back to counting the calories on livestrong.com.

A friend gave me a lot of motivation today. She told me she will take me on a trip down south in April after I reach my goal. So goal....here I come!

Now that summer is over and things are back to normal. I will be much more diligent with keeping up with my blog. Thank you again for all your love and support.

Till next week. Have a fantabulous one!

Tammy xo

It is sooooo close!!!!!!!!!

It has been a few weeks since my last update and I apologize for that. I have had many messages asking how the journey has been going. The answer.....FANTASTIC!!!!!!!!!!!!!

To bring you all up to date. I weighed in on June 6th to find I had gained 3 pounds. So I was back to the 40 pound mark. Considering it was my birthday the week before and I had many birthday celebrations thanks to my friends. I was ok with that. 3 pounds was good!

On June 13th, my weigh in was 205 again. I had lost the 3 I gained. Very happy! Although it's great to keep on track, there are times to enjoy and we can't forget about them. Otherwise, we binge and loose all control.

I am so close to my next goal I am almost outside of myself if that makes sense. When I weighed in this morning....I was 201.5 pounds. I am now down 46.5 pounds! I cannot begin to tell you how good this feels. I don't think I have been below 200 in 3 to 4 years. I am 2 pounds away from under 200. I am 3.5 pounds away from 50 pounds! And that will take me to half way through my journey.

It has been a long road and I see the light at the end of my journey. I just can't wait to get there! A lot of people keep asking how I am doing it.

It comes down to this:
livestrong.com
Hungry Girl Recipe Books
Working out *Most days

The last couple of weeks were very trying on me. I was not working out with my birthday. This past week I was so sick I did not work out. And I still manged 6.5 pounds weight loss in the last couple of weeks. Even if you don't work out everyday...it will happen. But exercise firms you up and gives you energy.

If I can do it....you can too!

Till next time...........

Nacho Turkey Cups 125 Calories Each

Shopping List:

Lilydale Tailgate Turkey Sausages, Mutli grain Nachos, Pam Cooking Spray, Eggs, Salsa, Salt, Pepper and Frank's Red Hot

Cook Lilydale Tailgate Turkey Sausages as per package instructions. I then spray the pan with Pam to Golden them up. You will only need 4 of the 6 sausages for the recipe. Use the remaining two as you like. They taste fab!

Spray your muffin pan like crazy with Pam. Otherwise it sticks. Put one Multi grain Nacho into the bottom of each muffin area. Put 2 Sausage pieces into each of the muffin areas. Put half to a tablespoon (up to your taste) of Salsa on top of the sausage.

10 Eggs into a bowl with Salt, Pepper and Frank's Red Hot (to your liking). Mix well. Pour on top of each serving.

Bake at 350 Degrees for 20 to 25 minutes. I start to watch at 20 and just wait till golden brown. Love these now more than the Turkey Westerns. Dalton as well. 125 Calories per serving. Makes 12 Servings.

42.5 POUNDS!!!!!! WOO HOO!!!!!

To break the 40 pound hump seemed to be a chore. BUT I AM THERE!!!!!!!!!! Actually, past it. lol. Although I was not fully aware of it this morning.

I was focusing so much on being two pounds away from the 40 mark, that when I went to weigh in this morning, in my mind for some reason, I was 208 the last I weighed in. So when I saw 2o5.5. I thought great. I made my 40. Come home, post it all over facebook. Ya!!! lol.

Here comes the blonde moment. I log into livestrong.com which I have been using lately to track my calories, I also track my weight on weigh in days so I have a record. Other than here. Anyway, when I track it there I was doing a double take. I had not lost 2.5 pounds. I, in fact had lost 4.5 POUNDS!!!! Happy Dance! (Don't picture this too hard, I am not a good dancer) lol. I am now at 42.5 POUNDS!!!! I feel great and am enjoying the compliments. The next milestone is 7.5 pounds away. Not only will I reach the 50 pound mark, (half way through my journey) but it will also be the first time in about 3 years that I have been below 200.

The more I successfully loose, the more I want to keep going. The more I hear compliments and other people telling me their stories and the fact that I have inspired them. I want to do more. So thank you to every one that keeps me going.

Till next time. Cheers! xo

Turkey Western Cups 139 Calories Each

I call this Turkey Western Cups. My friend Kerrie gave me this recipe. It's from the biggest looser. Pure Protein! I find them filling. When I tried them the first time they reminded of a western sandwich, which I would never have because of the calories. I LOVE THESE! Dalton does as well.

Shopping List:

Ground Turkey, Red Pepper, Green Pepper (I used Orange in this batch), White Onion, Italian Seasoning, Eggs, Salt, Pepper, Frank's Red Hot, Dempster's Whole Wheat Tortillas (least amount of calories, less than the WW ones), Fat Free Cheddar Cheese, Pam cooking spray

Start by frying up the ground turkey with Italian Seasoning. Use half of each pepper and onion, cut into small squares. Fry up with ground turkey. Portion it in half. Put half in a container in the fridge for the next batch.

Find something round about the same size as the bottom of your muffin pan to cut out circles in the whole wheat tortillas.

Combine 9 eggs in a bowl and whip up with Salt, Pepper and Frank's Red Hot. I used quite a bit of pepper and Frank's Red hot because I like spice. Flavour to your liking.

Spray the muffin pan with Pam. A LOT OF IT!!! Otherwise it sticks and is a mess to clean. Put a whole wheat circle in the bottom of each muffin opening. Follow with a heaping tablespoon of turkey mixture in the bottom of each. Then top this with the egg mixture over each, finally topping with just a little fat free cheese.

Bake at 350 Degrees for 15 Minutes. Pop them out and cool. You can carry these all day and pop into a microwave. Snacks, I have them for breakfast as well.

These are 139 Calories each. Enjoy!

Berry Salad 241 Calories

This is one of my favorite salads. Very different from your everyday salad.

2 cups of prepackaged salad...Lettuce......15 Calories

1 Cup Fresh Blackberries......70 Calories

1 Cup Strawberries.......46 Calories

1 Cup Raspberries.......64 Calories

1 Tablespoon Slivered Almonds.........46 Calories

Total 241 Calories

Dressing is extra and everyone likes different amounts. I use Raspberry Vinaigrette which is 30 Calories per 1 Tablespoon. So don't forget to count the amount you use.

Enjoy!

Disappointed but ok

So I am a little disappointed this week. Which tends to happen. lol. We are our own worst enemy. I stuck to 1200 calories a day give or take, from Monday to Friday. And I worked out everyday. I also worked out Saturday before going to a BBQ. We have to keep in mind it was a long weekend. I had a great time Saturday with friends and I did not count calories. I also had beer. Sunday I did not work out. (I know....bad girl.) And again went to spend a day with Friends at a BBQ. Again I did not count calories. Had some beer and even a sliver of cake. Monday I had a friend's daughter's over and did not work out again. (Two days now). And we went to the movies. I had movie popcorn (not good) and kit kat bites with Dalton.

Needless to say I did NOT hit my 40 pound mark this week. I did however, remain the same. Not up. Not down. Still at 210....but that's OK. I enjoyed my long weekend with my son and my friends and I didn't gain. So now I know that can be managed. 40 Pounds however, is coming next week.

I also have to mention that I had a great week seeing friends, socializing, and not counting the calories and I had a great time and my weight stayed the same. I did to pay attention to this when I are ready to maintain.

I have had an overwhelming response privately. I am going to be posting recipes with calories to help those that are following in private. And thank you for doing so. You drive me to do more.

Luv to all. xo

Motivation is everything!

Good Morning Monday! Well it is today anyway. The last few weeks have been up and down for me. Or should I say up, up and down. The last week of April I gained a pound. I can live with that. However, the first week into May was crazy and I didn't know if I was coming or going. It is very easy to fall back on old habits. I had even ordered in a pizza one night. And those of you who know me well. I don't even do pizza! lol. But that's OK. This past week I knew I had to commit and really stay focused.

It was a good week. I kept my calorie intake to about 1200 calories everyday. Except Saturday. I had a birthday party to attend and did enjoy food and drinks. But I made sure to have salad and fish before going. That way I was not going to fill myself with all the wonderful large calorie foods that were there. I did have a little sliver of cake as well. That being said. I also worked out everyday this week. Cardio was 30 to 40 minutes every day and I did resistance every other day on top of the cardio. Friday evening my friend Michelle was going to work out with me but got sick. So I kept putting off the work out. I finally posted on facebook, Help! I was in need of motivation today. Thank you to my very good friend Sommer, who reminded me of our trip to the Dominican and me wanting to look awesome on that beach. My ass got up and did my workout. Now I have remembered that everyday.

It paid off. When I went in this morning to weigh in. I could hardly believe my eyes. I lost 6 pounds this week! Happy Dance!!!!!! Now, not that I am looking to loose that much every week. I just really needed to get off what I had put on and get back on track. So I am back to 38 pounds weight loss and still going. I am however, going to stick to 1200 calories a day this week, other than my one day for a BBQ and work out ever day again and see what next week brings.

Thank you again to everyone for your kind words and those of encouragement. I appreciate them from the bottom of my heart. A lot of you have been sending me messages in many different ways and it really does help me. So thank you. Until next week...have a great week!

Beautiful Monday!

That's right! I said Beautiful Monday. Hard one for me, for sure. Not a good Monday person. However, TODAY I AM!!!! Was very disappointed last Monday when I went and got on the scale to find that I had not gone up or down. I was exactly the same. At least I had not gained. But what did I do wrong? I do tend to eat a little heavier when Dalton is home. So I had cooked him a roast that week. I ate pasta twice that week and I rarely eat pasta at all. I am sure I could have made better choices. Although I was still walking, I was also wondering if what my doctor said was true. At some point the walking won't be enough. So this past week, I really tried to pay attention to what was going into my body. I have started working out with Friend's Kerrie and Dave that have given me a lot of guidance and a lot of good tools to continue this journey. Even though I do have Just Dance 1 & 2, I did not know that in Just Dance 2 there is a section that is called Just Sweat. And trust me you work up a sweat. Because of Kerrie's work schedule she does 2500 sweats a day as opposed to 1000. So when I got home from work Saturday evening. I thought. Hmmm. That is going to be my cardio for today. After I had done about 1000 sweats and was working on quite a sweat myself, I thought I am going for the 2500 sweats. So I did. Takes about 5 songs and I reached 2493 sweats. I thought, WOW! I feel great! Let's do more! lol. So, now I turned on the Zumba for Wii. Have not tried it since the first night. Must have had the setting wrong because I quite enjoyed it this time. So, I did the easy workout for 20 minutes on Zumba. Easy or not. My calves were freaking killing me!!!! But I had quite a work out and felt great! So for future reference. If anyone tries this at home. (HA HA! The try it at home warning). I would suggest, even for me. To do 1000 sweats on Just dance 2, followed by 20 minutes of Zumba. That alone is quite the workout!!! And is about 40 minutes of good cardio. I have downloaded an app for my berry, LiveStrong.com to help track my calorie in take etc. Turns out when Dave told me to write down what I was having. Some days I was not taking in enough calories, which apparently cannot be good either. So the plan is to watch my calorie in take. Cardio everyday for 40 minutes and Resistance 3 times a week. After one week of this. I lost 4 pounds this week!!!! Woo Hoo!!!! Total now at 38 Pounds!!! My next goal on my journey is very close and I can't wait to get there. So Beautiful Monday to all of you and I'll update you soon!

32.5 km later and another 2 Pounds!

Happy or disappointed? I have not quite figured how I am feeling. Don't get me wrong.....I am thrilled to be down another 2 pounds. Total loss now at 34 pounds. And it puts me that much closer to my next goal in my journey. But I was thinking and I guess hoping that walking every day would put a boost in my weight loss. It didn't. I was hoping for more than 2 pounds with walking 32.5 km since last Friday! My body aches so bad...I can't even begin to tell you. Then the next thought is....am I expecting too much. If my body is hurting, I must be doing something right. I must be building some muscle. And after all, down is down and that is what is truly important. And the fact that I am still feeling so much better than when I started this. Would I have been able to walk 32.5 km in just over a week 5 months ago? Not a chance. So I have to remember to celebrate all victories, even if they seem small. They are still at the end of the day a victory.

Forget a feel good day....It's a feel GREAT day!!!

What a fantabulous day! Everyone that has been following knows the last couple of weeks were hard for me. And that for the first time in my journey I had gained. I am very happy to report today that I lost the 2 pounds I gained and lost 1 extra pound for good measure this past week. So I am at a total of 32 Pounds and at 216 pounds and I cannot tell you how much better I am feeling. In fact, with more good news. My Blood pressue has been good on a consistant basis now. My B12 is up and all my other levels are normal. So, as much I as I do like my doctor, I don't need to be under his watchful eye any more. So now it's up to me to keep up what I have been doing. I will be going to the doctor's office on a regular basis just to weigh and have the nurses keep track. I have made a commitment to walk every day now. 4 laps at the mall = 2.5km and I will keep going till it's nice enough, hopefully soon, to walk at the park again. I am very happy to have Michelle back walking with me again. But this past weekend, my support and partner was my little man. Dalton walked with me Friday night even though Michelle and I walked Friday afternoon. And when Michelle could not come Sunday, Dalton did 4 laps with me at the mall. Thanks Dalton. Mom appreciates it. I would like to say thank you today as well to Diane Tavares at my office. She just made me feel great and I had a smile from ear to ear. I walked into the front door of the office today, and Diane looked at me and said "Wow! You look skinny!!" Although I have a ways to go before I see skinny, she made me feel like I was. Thanks Diane. Your a doll! So everyone.... enjoy this bright sun shinny day! Have a great week! And I will be back with another update soon. See you at 4pm Michelle!

Stress =

To say that the last couple of weeks of been stressful is an understatement. I should have posted an update on the 14th when I went to doctors. In fact, I have had people message me asking how it's going because they have not seen an update. Thank you for that. On the 14th I found that I had dropped another pound since I slipped in the last time just for the weight. So my total was now 31 pounds and my BP was good. I was planning to come home and post my latest update when my friend Carol contacted me about our friend and my neighbour Mike. Considering Mike's condition I was in no mood to come home and celebrate my pound weight loss or to post an update.

The next week was very stressful. Mike had taken ill very suddenly and was on life support. This very much took a toll on Mike's family and friend's over the next week as Mike was taken off life support and then awaiting the funeral. A lot of us took Mike's death hard. He was a great friend, super nice guy and to me a great neighbour. Needless to say, it was a week of not watching what was going into my body.

When I woke up yesterday, the 23rd, I felt like I had gained 5 pounds. It was not a good feeling. Again I didn't want to wait to see my doctor on our regular appointment for me to see the damage I had done. So off I went again to slip in and get on the scale. I am glad to say that I was not up 5 pounds, but I was up 2 pounds. So I am now at 29 pound weight loss and I am ok with that. We are allowed to have rough weeks. And it was for me. The choice is now to get back on track and get those 2 pounds back off along with some more.

On a positive note I am very happy to have my walking partner back tomorrow. As I told you all before, Michelle fell in the first walk back in January after the holidays and I have missed her terribly!!! Our walks, talks and support. So I find myself back on my mission, wanting more than ever to get fit and healthy.

The picture attached to this post is at 30 pound weight loss. Taken on March 12th by friend Virginia. I can honestly say I already feel a lot better and look forward to more. Thank you to everyone that has told me how good I am looking and gives me a boost. Makes me want to keep going.

I will post again soon. As for now, Thank you everyone for your words of encouragement and support. Michelle my friend I will see you tomorrow. And for my friend Mike that I will not get too see tomorrow, we miss you and you will forever be in our hearts and thoughts. Rest in peace.

Just when you think buggered up. You didn't!!

I will start by saying that I seriously thought I had screwed up with eating late. Things that I shouldn't be eating and quite honestly drinking a little more as well. I had actually felt a little down if not depressed a couple days last week. I have been doing this with a stable loss. To say that I did not want to go 2 steps forward and 1 back (or should I say 2 pounds up and 1 down) is an understatement. I was really beating myself up over it. And all I kept thinking is that I don't see the doctor for another 2 weeks! It would kill me to wait that long. I know I would make myself feel worse. So I figured let's see what damage I did to myself.

So this past Friday morning I got ready and went into the doctor's office. I told one of the nurses that I was not seeing the doctor for another 2 weeks and I really felt that I had buggered up. Was there anyway that I could just get weighed to see what damage I had done so I could get back on track. No problem, she said. Let's go get weighed. So I went into the nurses room and taking off my coat and shoes, I told her that I was 224 the last time on the scale two weeks ago. So she set the scale at 224 for when I stepped on. Guess what???? To my amazement....the scale was tipped to the right. So she started to move it to the left and the scale started to level out till she stopped. I looked up. As soon as I saw 218 I started to cry. Not sure if it was from happiness or relief. Or maybe it was a bit of both. She looked at me and said 6 pounds. What were you worried about. That's a total of 30 pounds lost!!!

I left that office so happy. I felt like dancing!!!!!!! Even more so when I got home and got a pair of size 16 jeans on. Even more so when I put on some clothes that fit and people were telling me how great I look. That so helps me in this long journey that I am committed to. My friend Gina said to me, I wasn't that long ago you want to hit the 20 pound mark and here you are at 30 already. Thank you. Trust me when I tell you that I have been desperately trying to get the time to sit in front of the computer so that I post this latest update. So I am posting my newest pics with my weight loss now at 30 pounds. Update you in two weeks! Wish me luck!

Cheers!

Happy Valentine's Day!!!!

It has been 3 weeks since my last post and it has been a difficult 3 weeks. Work has been busy and I have found it difficult to eat at regular times. Not having lunch till 2pm or dinner around 8pm or later. Therefore I am trying that much more to watch what has been going to my mouth. I have not been out for walks at all in the last few weeks and some added stress that I feel was taking a toll on me but was trying very hard to not let it affect me.

That being said. I was expecting to go to the doctors this morning being up a couple of pounds and the BP on the high side. I was very thankful however, to find I am down another 2 pounds and the BP is actually pretty good. So it was not a jumping up and down day like last time, but I am very happy all the same. Down is down after all. So I am down 24 pounds and counting!!! It's funny how it goes on a lot faster than it comes off. But it has been travelling in the right direction and I don't want to loose sight of that.

Thank you to everyone for your encouragement. And to the people, friends, colleagues and family that tell me how great I am looking. It makes me feel fantastic and helps keep me motivated. So thanks for that as well, it is truly appreciated.

Have a great day everyone and Happy Valentine's Day as well. Thank you for touching my heart.

Happy Dance!!!!!!!!!!

So here we are again. Another update that I am thrilled with!!!

I have had a difficult time since the new year. The normal stresses are in place again after a short break for some time off. My walking partner, Michelle fell in the parking lot after our first walk of the year and was so hurt that she has not been able to walk since. So I miss my walking partner and our talks. Also, because now that I have not had her to meet. I have not been walking either. Work has been busy which is great, but I find myself not walking because I have been so busy. The truth is....busy at work and not having Michelle to meet has made it easy for me to not walk. And I have to change that coming up.

Although it did not hurt me on the scales the past three weeks, it can still come and nip me in the butt later. So it's time to get back at it! On Monday morning, the 24th of January I went for my check in with my doctor. I really did not think I was going to be down much if any. So of course I go into the room, take off my shoes and empty my pockets. I think I said it before, if I could strip naked to weigh in. I WOULD!!!! After stepping on the scales and looking at weight, I was doing a double take. That couldn't be right!!! When I realized it was, my doctor entered the exam room to find me jumping up and down. I felt amazing!!! He looked and was just as pleased as I was. I am down another 6 pounds in the last 3 weeks! A total loss now of 22 pounds!!! I am now at 226 pounds. I can honestly say that I am feeling much better physically and about myself. My doctor said he's glad he didn't challenge me for weight loss, he wants to loose some as well. He said he would be loosing. Ha ha!

So I kept telling everyone that I would post an updated picture once I had hit the 20 pound mark. Here I am at 22 pounds of weight loss.

2011 is off to a great start!!!!

Thank you again for everyones support through this journey. It really does help me enormously!!!

I went to the doctor's yesterday. The first time since December 3rd. With all the Christmas parties going on, as well as Christmas and New Year's and not really eating the way I should with the kids home. Piece of chocolate here. Piece of fudge there. I thought to myself that if I gained a pound or two or at least hopefully stayed the same, I could live with that. After all you have to enjoy as well and not deprive yourself all together.

I did have a challenge this past month as well. With the holidays etc., Michelle was not able to get out and walk as often with me. MY ACCOUNTABILITY WAS GONE!!! WAS THIS THE EXCUSE I NEEDED NOT TO GO???? ABSOLUTELY NOT!!!!! Instead I went on facebook to ask if anyone could go walking with me. The first to respond was Kathy. But she could not go when I was going but offered to go any other time. I had no one to go but I was determined I wasn't cancelling on myself. As I was pulling out of the driveway my friend Mike responded. I told him I was on my way there now. He said I will be there in 10 minutes. Where do we meet? Thanks Mike.

I do honestly believe that keeping up with the walking this month really helped!!! I was thrilled when I got on the scale at the doctor's office yesterday. I was down another 4 pounds!!!! Happy Dance!!!! How I lost with all the eating and yes drinks this month??? It had to be the walking. So I am at a total loss so far of 16 pounds and counting. 232 is where I am now and I am very much looking forward to what a new year and a new outlook has to bring.

From my family to yours, HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!!!

P.S. Everyone is asking for a comparrison picture. When I hit the 20 pound mark I will take a new one to post.