tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-91929047058413771042024-03-05T02:03:27.752-06:00Diary of a Fat GirlEating clean and training mean.Bea Beautifulhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11300051488128638465noreply@blogger.comBlogger34125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9192904705841377104.post-91478844509223336712014-06-05T20:23:00.001-05:002014-06-05T20:25:28.257-05:00The Fine Line - Finding balance in weight loss<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">It's been a while - about seven months, actually - since I sat down to write about my weight loss journey. When I was last here in December, I was at 216. In January I was down to 204 - the lowest weight I've been since junior high school. From there, the scale has climbed back up to 229.8 (I refuse to round up). Now, I could whine about gaining back nearly 26 pounds in five months. In fact, I have felt sorry for myself many times in the past few months. However, this needed to happen, and I'll tell you why. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">When I reached 204 pounds, I was not in a good place. This journey, which began with impressive motivation and determination (really, I'm still not sure where it came from) somehow, around five months in, turned into something unhealthy. I don't know what shifted it from good to bad, but it happened. I was exercising daily, eating clean and healthy (and taking in around 1400-1600 calories per day). I never slipped up, never cheated, had no desire to. I was so proud of myself, and somewhere in there I became obsessed with food and the scale. I kept precise records of what I ate, and got so focused on it that I was eating less and less - some days under 800 calories. If I ate over 800 calories (and I'm not sure why the number was 800 - no clue), the next day I would punish myself. Not intentionally, mind you. None of this was intentional. I would end up eating even less the next day, subconsciously making up for the extra calories from the day before. Also, I had begun to weigh myself every single morning, and again, if the scale moved up instead of down, ended up eating less. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">So, at 204 pounds, I was in a dangerous, borderline disorder place in which I could potentially cause myself great harm. My husband had begun to notice my behavior and shared his concerns with me. He suggested that I take a break from everything and just give myself time to relax. I did not want to stop my progress, but realized that I was headed in the wrong direction, so I reluctantly took his advice. At first it was fine, and I allowed myself to indulge in some of the foods I had avoided for six months. But then, as expected, I got too relaxed with eating. I started overeating again, and ate more junk than healthy food. Surprisingly, I kept up with exercising, because I greatly enjoy it. I also got a job at a local gym, which introduced me to many different types of exercises and machines. So, although I've slowly been putting weight back on, I have maintained my fitness level and see the dangers of letting the weight loss control me. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I am starting fresh with a new outlook, a new plan and some new support. My cousin, who is currently living at my house and working on her personal trainer license, has agreed to take me on as one of her first clients and will plan out a fitness and nutrition program for me. She will also keep an eye out for any of the behaviors that might mean my previous issues are returning. We are implementing Chris Powell's method of carb cycling, as explained in his book <u>Choose More, Lose More for Life</u>. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I have realized that even when attempting to lose weight in healthy ways, it is easy to slip into harmful habits. I feel confident that the accountability of my cousin and my determination to journal about the process on a regular basis will help me stay on the right track mentally and emotionally. I'm excited and hopeful that this time, the journey will remain an uplifting, encouraging process! </span></div>
Bea Beautifulhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11300051488128638465noreply@blogger.com13tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9192904705841377104.post-22746882304983676242013-12-05T13:43:00.001-06:002013-12-05T13:43:36.528-06:00Fitness HumorYesterday I was bored (which seems to happen more frequently now that I don't have 2-3 books to read every week) so I googled fitness memes, and came across some hilarious images. I decided to share a few with you guys. Hopefully you'll get a good laugh (or several) from them.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-dsj1i2o4WGyZGfvZMX7uR3qmAoD7XoX3mya1i-UlOnfWmAB4g3jisSEOuiAWUtQjTl-NtuxAlpb2OZNikkRgSFrQNAdQJSTLIn6OiRDAivVb12_-zW24FkReSQRxcafHnbhdNciSHTs/s1600/bundymeme.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="245" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-dsj1i2o4WGyZGfvZMX7uR3qmAoD7XoX3mya1i-UlOnfWmAB4g3jisSEOuiAWUtQjTl-NtuxAlpb2OZNikkRgSFrQNAdQJSTLIn6OiRDAivVb12_-zW24FkReSQRxcafHnbhdNciSHTs/s320/bundymeme.png" width="320" /></a></div>
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Just posted this on my Instagram with a short bit of info about how I had to reach the point where I realized it didn't matter what I was wearing, I looked fat because I was fat. Still am, but not as fat as I was! And I'm a heck of a lot healthier! </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifaf1hR64RVz1bEbmSlGmL-PdA_F0Yc4OaN5cSUcMNM5ekAyErhQp27WpidS6BhpwBwXfF9w58N_UGGZut5Vo3nih8u9hjXxG5HbT0HZFIhauY1Q2f35vgGWCN7vYy5fU818OrgAu2hes/s1600/cardio.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifaf1hR64RVz1bEbmSlGmL-PdA_F0Yc4OaN5cSUcMNM5ekAyErhQp27WpidS6BhpwBwXfF9w58N_UGGZut5Vo3nih8u9hjXxG5HbT0HZFIhauY1Q2f35vgGWCN7vYy5fU818OrgAu2hes/s320/cardio.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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LOL My husband LOVES this. He's all about that kind of cardio (as I'm sure most men are).</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEih9teQZ9Ogc2B1AaTCJG-Y-makRcr9tlVxSC4xSFaxeLByXaRi6IDQrz_CDOnEYsAQ60uozJLALppWRTZXCFZiOkqh5T83VhBpOVN6neZ1pDnPCye5YTYmXsnnuxXJTpiflh4EMR8iIbc/s1600/Fitness-Meme-Austin-Powers.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="226" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEih9teQZ9Ogc2B1AaTCJG-Y-makRcr9tlVxSC4xSFaxeLByXaRi6IDQrz_CDOnEYsAQ60uozJLALppWRTZXCFZiOkqh5T83VhBpOVN6neZ1pDnPCye5YTYmXsnnuxXJTpiflh4EMR8iIbc/s320/Fitness-Meme-Austin-Powers.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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Not happening. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3ReHUCcDfXUQckt2Un_eLva59KIQCDMCguq6UQRbIHnV-t6oToDMw_MGbBixVBrycCE5SsX5ccS0DbaPrMUWMnd4JBToJXeYp2A__8_s_vKWa4rqgfywiH88oQrM5hXn9T4aWUTOOf1Y/s1600/fitnessmeme2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="224" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3ReHUCcDfXUQckt2Un_eLva59KIQCDMCguq6UQRbIHnV-t6oToDMw_MGbBixVBrycCE5SsX5ccS0DbaPrMUWMnd4JBToJXeYp2A__8_s_vKWa4rqgfywiH88oQrM5hXn9T4aWUTOOf1Y/s320/fitnessmeme2.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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Hubs and I had this exact conversation once. </div>
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We laughed through most of it, but there was some truth to it! </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgq4uz7bgw-uy-JYJ4HxVZ27FEALtEYgIQ-ZqErzmVXVZrkukzbw2dYIrLstJeuRKeKWSKEp6jtMUV6_bRKDokCzktF3AGWlbLiu7apK1dMUzUTNkFj4TS_sGav-KKnsThopZpAgUlTtI0/s1600/fitnessmeme.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="224" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgq4uz7bgw-uy-JYJ4HxVZ27FEALtEYgIQ-ZqErzmVXVZrkukzbw2dYIrLstJeuRKeKWSKEp6jtMUV6_bRKDokCzktF3AGWlbLiu7apK1dMUzUTNkFj4TS_sGav-KKnsThopZpAgUlTtI0/s320/fitnessmeme.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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I am addicted to yoga pants. </div>
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I still haven't gotten small enough to wear them in public, but I'll be there!</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg398pPw9HNrt227kSsPDat8Bdg77mPlAMDqWHpGbR_3LFRq_jVdm7mI9mTZsJQ9dM1yGHYIr7tYOYKozuu2_m0BiQoVTF98wypcxIyq1_UHnWquJXrWXTNhRKEZ9KOyoHhtH3XCvY3jr0/s1600/gumpmeme.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="250" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg398pPw9HNrt227kSsPDat8Bdg77mPlAMDqWHpGbR_3LFRq_jVdm7mI9mTZsJQ9dM1yGHYIr7tYOYKozuu2_m0BiQoVTF98wypcxIyq1_UHnWquJXrWXTNhRKEZ9KOyoHhtH3XCvY3jr0/s320/gumpmeme.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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P90X evokes this feeling in me sometimes. </div>
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Like last night, doing Kenpo X, after 15 minutes I was whining. Some days are easier than others...</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjn7LMU-tKcqKDgyHZ5PbkDgpWObShaTtPx7lhvISYb0ydeMCwsaUiTwsj4Ek4PqbnnLnGPwY1FoJaWEMaT7C71Ama8dbcuPYKQU4HdlwtgTV0uohSs3Z4Qepv8OAfoOJd3mjAqm_9zi9k/s1600/hungergamesmeme.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjn7LMU-tKcqKDgyHZ5PbkDgpWObShaTtPx7lhvISYb0ydeMCwsaUiTwsj4Ek4PqbnnLnGPwY1FoJaWEMaT7C71Ama8dbcuPYKQU4HdlwtgTV0uohSs3Z4Qepv8OAfoOJd3mjAqm_9zi9k/s320/hungergamesmeme.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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I think most of us would be among the first to die anyway, but still. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9JCVpnj6EP0cwk23EQr6GCE-EF1xAT2gh2yEkncRZ-pVVYEIzzhbIqvgvBuY8toqwuWPFc4JLanDJrY96CFcseiDfP6ZlsC-Jcem7sHMmdt-ovGYC1hYvT7CsPTq80S1I_zqzF3_U-AE/s1600/images.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9JCVpnj6EP0cwk23EQr6GCE-EF1xAT2gh2yEkncRZ-pVVYEIzzhbIqvgvBuY8toqwuWPFc4JLanDJrY96CFcseiDfP6ZlsC-Jcem7sHMmdt-ovGYC1hYvT7CsPTq80S1I_zqzF3_U-AE/s1600/images.jpg" /></a></div>
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LOL</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjt4zsUHPfFW1DVqeKSAMBJuBW-IX3ZKqrdkpn5tEIHrw75a8ZLmFuyulLo0LyLc6w01bbZ8AGNH2DCejDZpB-owEfGHadocyKFdZnZOQ09VKaJSxPrJBmadA1fyNGsxVCWKv2rpVZAeKM/s1600/p90xmeme+1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjt4zsUHPfFW1DVqeKSAMBJuBW-IX3ZKqrdkpn5tEIHrw75a8ZLmFuyulLo0LyLc6w01bbZ8AGNH2DCejDZpB-owEfGHadocyKFdZnZOQ09VKaJSxPrJBmadA1fyNGsxVCWKv2rpVZAeKM/s1600/p90xmeme+1.jpg" /></a></div>
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Spongebob and P90X. So much awesomeness.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaeIqHl_4fp4gi4UrKPgk-sPcBAIyYwIp5IcgSCwGkFBa4yfPl2frp2Aw9wRFZ5ZxKoTrKmExuuC53pLsHlAPFe_KBcfRYcb3AqSEczH7lYbuiBIonpnZikxbJcQmXRsq7S1lc6nqtFZQ/s1600/p90xmeme+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaeIqHl_4fp4gi4UrKPgk-sPcBAIyYwIp5IcgSCwGkFBa4yfPl2frp2Aw9wRFZ5ZxKoTrKmExuuC53pLsHlAPFe_KBcfRYcb3AqSEczH7lYbuiBIonpnZikxbJcQmXRsq7S1lc6nqtFZQ/s1600/p90xmeme+2.jpg" /></a></div>
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Yeah, this guy. When we first started P90X, we would do a workout and I'd see the time counting down and think "YES! We're almost done!" and then Tony would be like, WAIT - Ab Ripper! Ugh. </div>
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(Now I love it. Kinda.)</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmrQ29QYiZEdPgd4nj__bUsPvECafonVWeSzSUTetsW5FYaH3soVG2fcbyRkZGkdIDeUO1wBGMJ4sAhmGGvyzVAVcehQMfMXF7fYqHtCqoN-PTAGVz_e1H_vY0EmDeiPdvYXuQ8ZeQLEw/s1600/Some_Motivation_Requiredu2sDetail.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="249" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmrQ29QYiZEdPgd4nj__bUsPvECafonVWeSzSUTetsW5FYaH3soVG2fcbyRkZGkdIDeUO1wBGMJ4sAhmGGvyzVAVcehQMfMXF7fYqHtCqoN-PTAGVz_e1H_vY0EmDeiPdvYXuQ8ZeQLEw/s320/Some_Motivation_Requiredu2sDetail.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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A LOT of motivation required. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgC7tblmZxWFhzE2Fw7lPeJwN4qqHROjABInoeZSDt34wAJ_fXiRZkN4Gl3pl1M440NL_anSCkZm6w0zcxG3eVaOh3wf5l5ILMk_p1YpsAzO-zeESkVPcjiCmTP5cshxtI6xMw8nBJur1o/s1600/youre-done-meme.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgC7tblmZxWFhzE2Fw7lPeJwN4qqHROjABInoeZSDt34wAJ_fXiRZkN4Gl3pl1M440NL_anSCkZm6w0zcxG3eVaOh3wf5l5ILMk_p1YpsAzO-zeESkVPcjiCmTP5cshxtI6xMw8nBJur1o/s320/youre-done-meme.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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Fitness is never finished. Ever. Embrace the lifestyle, people. </div>
<br />Bea Beautifulhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11300051488128638465noreply@blogger.com11tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9192904705841377104.post-30879995063362653892013-12-04T09:23:00.004-06:002013-12-04T09:24:33.222-06:00Blogging takes a break, but the journey never stops<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Hey guys. Thanks to those of you who have stuck around. My first semester of graduate school is complete, and I must say that while I adjusted to it faster than I figured I would, it still consumed a great deal of my time. However, I'm on a break until mid-January, so hopefully I can get back in the swing of things and then keep up with it come Spring semester. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Just as an update, I'll share where I am in my fitness journey. I weighed in this morning at 216, which puts me at 59 pounds lost. I am SO excited about hitting 60, but after passing my first goal of 50 the next is to be 75 pounds down, so I have 15 to go before I reach my second goal and then I am on the edge of ONEDERLAND! Yes, ladies and gents, I will be - for the first time in over 12 years - under 200 pounds. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">CAN YOU BELIEVE IT?! I can hardly imagine how excited I will be. I know fitness is more than a number, but for me, personally, being in the 100s is something I have longed for, dreamed about, but never really believed I could do. Of course, once I hit that goal I still have 55 pounds left until I reach my weight goal. I'm not worried, though, because I look back at how far I've come, what I've accomplished in the past five months, and how much stronger I am. I look forward to the challenge, because I know I've got this. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Oh yeah, I finally got around to joining Instagram. Find me and I'll follow you back. We can share fitness motivation, encouragement, recipes and successes! <a href="http://instagram.com/bea_beautiful_12/">bea_beautiful_12 </a></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Happy Hump Day! </span>Bea Beautifulhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11300051488128638465noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9192904705841377104.post-13706837606441475432013-08-15T13:18:00.000-05:002013-08-15T13:18:38.435-05:00Ab Ripper X (or why I hate Tony Horton)<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">So, as Hubs and I have increased our stamina and fitness, we decided to up the intensity of our workouts. Hubs did P90X a few years ago and was some kinda buff. Then he got the flu, took a week off and that was all she wrote. He held on to the DVDs though, so when discussing our exercises he suggested we start using the Ab Ripper X workout every other day to help prepare ourselves for when we jump into the full P90X workout schedule. Of course I thought it was a brilliant idea. We could continue to improve our fitness and throw in some intense ab workouts to better prepare for the next step. I have been feeling super enthusiastic about my workouts, and I know I have gained stamina, strength and endurance. Surely I was ready for a 15-minute ab workout. Should be no problem, right? </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Wrong. So, so wrong. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The P90X guy, Tony Horton, is super fit. Like Chuck Norris before his Walker, Texas Ranger days. Like Arnold Schwarzenegger in The Terminator. Like Sly Stallone in Rocky. You know, FIT. He's also really enthusiastic. He talks a lot. Like, a whole lot. Although his words are that of encouragement, you can't help but get pissed when you're sweating like a pig, out of breath trying to do the 117th variation of a sit up and this guy is Chatty Kathy-ing it up about spandex or feeling good or something (I'm not entirely sure, I wasn't listening. I was trying not to think about the remaining seven minutes in the workout). </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I won't lie, I feel like a beast after completing the workout. But it HURTS. LIKE. HELL. My abs were so sore the next day that I could have cried. I did it again on the second assigned night and it was just as torturous as the first time. My abs weren't <i>quite</i> as angry at me the day after that, though, so I'm hopeful that after I fight through it tonight my abs will have adjusted and be able to forgive me. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">All in the name of being fit and sexy. </span>Bea Beautifulhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11300051488128638465noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9192904705841377104.post-67111491792280682612013-08-14T07:00:00.000-05:002013-08-14T07:00:05.196-05:00Little victoriesYesterday I had some girl time planned with some lady friends, and as I haven't put on a pair of jeans since Spring, I reached automatically for the size 26 (yes, internet, I just admitted my pant size) jeans, the 'ol reliable off-brand-because-popular-clothing-companies-refuse-to-use-that-many-yards-of-fabric-for-one-pair-of-jeans-because-if-they-did-it-would-cost-$200/pair. When I put them on, I was delighted to find that they were way too big.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjc-eQQuHQnNalUz1F2snafkU-jItmzA5ql4oN9I7KgXJmF5jys07C5NryfbdV0834w0D5Zuu74Zn_gNA5gxXzoCwyX-sCUitifLnbDHUVX1t7w4YsHkvam_eJiLNLMQ0R_hO2Zz3T2qJM/s1600/Jeans_Fat_blog.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="173" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjc-eQQuHQnNalUz1F2snafkU-jItmzA5ql4oN9I7KgXJmF5jys07C5NryfbdV0834w0D5Zuu74Zn_gNA5gxXzoCwyX-sCUitifLnbDHUVX1t7w4YsHkvam_eJiLNLMQ0R_hO2Zz3T2qJM/s200/Jeans_Fat_blog.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I WISH my stomach was this small (it will be). You get the picture. </td></tr>
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I had a couple of other size 26 jeans and one pair of size 24, but in my peripheral I saw hanging in my closet a pair of Mossimo 22s I bought back in 2005. Yes, I've been hanging on to them for eight years. When they no longer fit, I told myself that someday I'd be able to wear them again, after one of the MANY diets I attempted. Each time I went through my clothes to toss out stuff, I never threw them out. Despite the fact that when I tried to put them on I looked like this:<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJIrGTyKDmsACzLRLS0TrVZ46L9SLF5FujdcMqW_wTsr7FlP1lgFfJomApJuO18gXLAlVrfAJvbUjmH4YtvqLCX5vqcPgjmouuGDUtQWOsGYpmwIakRj9K9Y9m-siCLdkh8UWi_FttoSc/s1600/jeans.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJIrGTyKDmsACzLRLS0TrVZ46L9SLF5FujdcMqW_wTsr7FlP1lgFfJomApJuO18gXLAlVrfAJvbUjmH4YtvqLCX5vqcPgjmouuGDUtQWOsGYpmwIakRj9K9Y9m-siCLdkh8UWi_FttoSc/s1600/jeans.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This tummy picture is much more accurate. <br /><br /><div style="text-align: left;">
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I still held on to the hope that someday, somehow, I'd start losing weight and I'd need them in the in-between sizes. <div>
<br />Yes, 22 is still a quite large size, but since I haven't been able to FIT into them in over eight years, I figured being able to get them on again would be a small victory of sorts. I debated internally for a few minutes, then decided to give it the old college try and see if I could squeeze myself into them. I pulled them up with a fair bit of ease, then took a breath and pulled the waist together to button. <br />
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EASY. PEASY.<br />
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The buttons snapped with no pulling, no struggling, no sucking in or laying flat on my back. Those puppies not only fit, they were LOOSE!<br />
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<span style="font-size: x-large;">WHAT. </span><br />
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I just stared down at my waist for a second, then started to giggle. Yes, I giggled in my closet. For a good two minutes. Then I just felt such pride. <i>You dropped two pants sizes,</i> I realized. Two! That thought was followed by, <i>If you can drop two sizes, then by God, you can drop more! </i><br />
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Of course the little nagging witch in my head (I call her Myrtle) was there to try and convince me that it's impossible to lose that much weight, but I shut her up easily this time. I CAN do it. I can get down to a size that I'm comfortable and confident in. I can, and I will. <br />
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Just sit back and watch me, Myrtle.<br />
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Bea Beautifulhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11300051488128638465noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9192904705841377104.post-6789443683857467862013-08-13T07:00:00.000-05:002013-08-12T15:59:35.461-05:00Yes I can. I can!<br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Sometimes I feel like Eddie Murphy in the Nutty Professor, after Sherman gets motivated and starts eating right and jogging up a ridiculous number of stairs. You know, when he gets to the top and does the Rocky dance thing. Yeah, that's how I've felt lately. </span><br />
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</span> <span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Before I started getting fit, though, I felt like this:</span><br />
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<tr><td><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><img src="http://www.dreamagic.com/roger/theNuttyProfessor.gif" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" /></span></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: xx-small;">www.1up.com </span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I thought it wouldn't matter how many miles I walked/jogged, how many crunches or jumping jacks or cardio workouts I did. I felt like I would always be fat. I </span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">have</span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> </span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">always been overweight, so maybe I was just one of those people who would stay overweight their whole life. </span><br />
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</span> <span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I have quickly learned that it does, indeed, matter how many miles I walk. Every day that I walk gets me more in shape than I was the day before. Every time I do a Chris Powell workout, that's 30 minutes of cardio and core strengthening I've accomplished. Getting healthier, day by day, matters. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
</span> <span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">It matters that I'm eating better. It matters that I'm drinking water instead of sweet tea all day long. It matters that I eat more fruit and vegetables than pasta and bread. It matters that by getting healthier, I can look forward to watching my kids grow up, instead of worrying that I won't make it to see them become adults. </span><br />
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</span> <span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">It matters. </span><br />
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</span> <span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">So, with that in mind, I'm sharing this video of poor Sherman from The Nutty Professor, and how he started off feeling down about working out, but got better and better at it. Progress, guys. Progress. </span><br />
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<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/uHrgRJFd5Vc" width="420"></iframe></div>
Bea Beautifulhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11300051488128638465noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9192904705841377104.post-15622670967188122882013-08-12T08:58:00.002-05:002013-08-12T08:58:58.183-05:00Monday's Meal<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Happy Monday! (Yeah, right.) </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Since I've been eating clean, I spend a LOT of time searching for recipes that don't include butter, sugar and other no-no items. The best recipes I've found have been thanks to Instagram and Pinterest. There are many great accounts posting fitness motivation and recipes. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I have designated Mondays as recipe day. Each week I'll share a new recipe that I've found and tried. Up first: </span><br />
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<b><u><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Garlic & Lemon Chicken</span></u></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> posted by <a href="http://www.keyingredient.com/members/10951359/">Key Ingredient</a> on <a href="http://www.pinterest.com/">Pinterest </a></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhUxW3pvrsbJNiBWj9qyvYfOiJl-2rP3WZUcQ8E9rm6UAeu86TOkELSZJShRTYZKDqjYxYNfbnxlJIG2foosSbJ7t4kZ1-3xogwzYQurl2gPv6Cz5MRTWA7CmHUATSuJfwOGtQcJnfUK8/s1600/lemon+chicken.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhUxW3pvrsbJNiBWj9qyvYfOiJl-2rP3WZUcQ8E9rm6UAeu86TOkELSZJShRTYZKDqjYxYNfbnxlJIG2foosSbJ7t4kZ1-3xogwzYQurl2gPv6Cz5MRTWA7CmHUATSuJfwOGtQcJnfUK8/s320/lemon+chicken.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></div>
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<u><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Ingredients</span></u><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">4 chicken breasts</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">6<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>tablespoons extra virgin olive oil</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">2<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>lemons, 1 thinly sliced, 1 juiced</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">4<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>cloves garlic, minced</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">1<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>teaspoon salt</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">½<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>teaspoon freshly ground black pepper</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">¾<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>pound trimmed green beans (I used 2 cans)</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">6 red potatoes, cubed or quartered</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><u>Directions</u></span></h2>
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<div class="instructions directions" itemprop="recipeInstructions" style="background-color: white; color: #333333; margin-top: -47px; white-space: pre-wrap; word-break: break-word;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;"> </span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Preheat oven to 400°F. Coat a large baking dish with 1 tablespoon of the olive oil. Arrange the lemon slices in a single layer in the bottom of the dish or skillet.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">In a large bowl, combine the remaining oil, lemon juice, garlic, salt, and pepper; add the green beans and toss to coat. Using a slotted spoon or tongs, remove the green beans and arrange them on top of the lemon slices. Add the potatoes to the same olive-oil mixture and toss to coat. Using a slotted spoon or tongs, arrange the potatoes along the inside edge of the dish or skillet on top of the green beans. Place the chicken in the same bowl with the olive-oil mixture and coat thoroughly. Place the chicken, skin-side up, in the dish or skillet. Pour any of the remaining olive-oil mixture over the chicken.
Roast for 50 minutes. Remove the chicken from the dish or skillet. Place the beans and potatoes back in oven for 10 minutes more or until the potatoes are tender. Place a chicken breast on each of 4 serving plates; divide the green beans and potatoes equally. Serve warm. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">This recipe is super-easy and something that takes very little prep time. Best part: it was DELICIOUS! Even Hubs and the kiddos were fans. I only ate two bites of potato, but had my fill of the green beans. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">If you try it out, let me know what you thought! </span>Bea Beautifulhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11300051488128638465noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9192904705841377104.post-289106500236672832013-08-11T20:44:00.000-05:002013-08-11T20:44:11.784-05:00Progress is a process<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Hey, guys. Hope all is well in your lives and summer has been a fantastic one filled with lots of sunshine, love and happiness! My summer has been great, though not quite long enough. I (finally) graduated in May with my Bachelor of Arts in History, and I will begin my first graduate courses in just a few weeks as I pursue my Masters in History. I am equal parts excited and terrified at taking on graduate school. My oldest daughter starts kindergarten and my youngest starts pre-k on the 19th. Basically, this month is going to be jam-packed with new adventures for all of us. I welcome the challenges! </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I last posted back in April and was attempting, yet again, to cut back on bad food and be more active. This has been an off-and-on thing since I fell off the wagon last Spring. In June I jumped back on the wagon in full force, and have since created a great fitness routine that I'm proud to say the Hubs has joined in on, and I have changed my meals to strictly clean foods. My mindset has become less about weight loss and more about fitness. I want to be fit and healthy. I want my kids to see my husband and I eating well and exercising - and enjoying it - so they can learn good habits and being healthy will just be a part of life for them, and not something they have to struggle with. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">What really boosted my motivation recently has been Extreme Weight Loss with Chris Powell. I saw a preview for an episode, so I went on YouTube and found several episodes from seasons past. With each episode I watched, I found myself thinking, <i>man, if people 400 and 500 pounds can find the willpower and determination to do this, then I certainly can!</i> I went on Amazon and found a workout dvd by Chris Powell featuring some of the previous participants. I saw that it had three levels, and one could progress as their fitness improves. I bought it, and two days later it arrived. I put it in and set level one, which was only fifteen minutes. I did it easily and without much sweat. The next day I jumped to level two, feeling confident. Needless to say, it kicked my butt! I pushed through and 25 minutes later, as I was going through my cool down stretches, I felt SO proud of myself. I felt strong. I felt optimistic. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">A few hours later I found myself excited for the next day to come so I could do the workout again. Now THAT was a first. I have never looked forward to exercising, save for basketball and softball practice as a teenager. The second day, I did the workout, and felt the same sense of accomplishment and excitement. I made a commitment to myself that I would workout five days a week and eat clean seven days a week. I did the video workout for a couple of weeks and then decided I should change it up a bit so as to keep from getting bored. I decided to do the video three days a week and treadmill/weights two days. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Before long, I could feel myself getting stronger. I had more energy, I had greater endurance. I found myself choosing to do activities with my kids that I used to dread doing. If we were going somewhere within walking distance, I set out with the kids and made it an adventure. I was surprising myself! Then one night, Hubs came in from work and declared he was ready to start working out with me. Well, imagine my delight! I had a workout partner! Woohoo! </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">So, since then Hubs has worked out three days a week with me, and I have actually RAN on the treadmill - something I haven't done since high school - and have demolished 24 pounds. Tomorrow Hubs and I are moving to the third level of the video workouts, which we plan to do for 2-3 weeks before starting P90X. It's gonna get real! We did the Ab Ripper X earlier and it was serious business. Sheesh. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Anyhoo, that's what's been up with me and what's going on now! I'll leave you guys with my new motto:</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">Finish what you started. </span><br />
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<br />Bea Beautifulhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11300051488128638465noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9192904705841377104.post-1379685990043223142013-04-03T20:05:00.000-05:002013-08-15T19:56:39.096-05:00Bring on the blender<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">One of my most favorite things about my lifestyle changes (both the current one and ALL of the previous efforts before it) is the fact that I genuinely love healthy food. Granted, I also love fried chicken and chocolate-covered <i>anything</i>, but still... I thoroughly enjoy a nice salad, fresh fruit, a bowl of grapes and strawberries. I love foods I had previously assumed I'd hate: bean sprouts, tofu, kale. It's all good in my hood. But something that has always been a favorite of mine and has grown into an absolute must-have for me: SMOOTHIES.</span><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhakw1cmnXoA80P3cXpNNr9e7L0x4PtPB5R8_5ylIu2HCrIe0H3lhAHQz9Z3oUlqJ2KV1qXucalTN2X7ECKwfVnYuNUmNmC8ZC3Ev4XpGpgA1-G6HrOUoYjW0BLvA-oPafTVgWp2qPcZLQ/s1600/smoothie.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhakw1cmnXoA80P3cXpNNr9e7L0x4PtPB5R8_5ylIu2HCrIe0H3lhAHQz9Z3oUlqJ2KV1qXucalTN2X7ECKwfVnYuNUmNmC8ZC3Ev4XpGpgA1-G6HrOUoYjW0BLvA-oPafTVgWp2qPcZLQ/s320/smoothie.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I just LOVE 'em!</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Strawberry, banana, blueberry, acai berry, doesn't matter what it is, I'm a fan. What makes smoothies even more awesome is the fact that even if you're not a fan of things like kale or spinach, you can throw a few pieces into the blender with your fruit smoothie and you'll never taste it. It's a win-win, people. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I typically buy the bags of frozen fruit in the freezer section at the grocery for my smoothies. You know, the just-add-milk deals? So easy and they taste great. I wish I could experiment more with fresh fruits, but the stuff is so dang expensive. I do plan to try out a few new recipes, however. Strawberry-banana smoothies get old after a while. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Do any of you guys ever try out new smoothie recipes? Let me know if you have any good ones! </span>Bea Beautifulhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11300051488128638465noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9192904705841377104.post-26833635303122758882013-04-02T08:42:00.000-05:002013-04-02T08:42:37.059-05:00The Return of the Fat Girl<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I'm back. I've been on hiatus for over a year now. What happened, you ask? Well, I was doing fantastic on my lifestyle changes, and then my father came down for a week-long visit from Tennessee and we ATE. EVERYTHING. IN. SIGHT. Seriously, I ate a ton of food. My dad is only able to visit Louisiana 3-4 times a year, so when he does he has to eat every southern food he loves: poboys, fried shrimp, fried oysters, raw oysters, gumbo, jambalaya, crawfish, etouffee, all of it. Of course, what kind of hostess would I be if I didn't eat along with my guest? </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">So, long story short, I spent a week eating nonstop, and then suddenly it was June and I had completely stopped my exercise routine, was eating fried food, fast food, bread (lots and lots of bread), pasta, etc. It was pitiful. I was able to distract myself from my failure, though, because I was headed to Europe for a study abroad trip in mid-June. That trip was fantastic, and I'll tell y'all about it later just for fun. When I got back it was only a few weeks until my 4-year-old started pre-k, so I was busy with that. Then my fall semester started. Then I had my 10-year high school reunion to help plan and pull off in October, then Thanksgiving, then Christmas, then Spring semester....</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Needless to say, I've spent the last year successfully distracting myself from my re-expanding waistline. I'm so disappointed to admit to you guys (and myself) that I have gained back 22 of the pounds that I lost. All but 8 pounds. What a wasted year, health-wise. I've come back to my blog several times over the past two months, wanting to start writing again, but losing my nerve because I know you guys won't judge me, but I judge myself. Oh yes, I judge myself. Especially when I read over my old posts and see how motivated I was and how much progress I was making. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">However, my pity party is going to be a short one. No time for that, right? I've wasted one more year, and that stops now. I am going to try this rodeo again, and hopefully I'll have the willpower and determination to stick with it this time. I'm not sure if any of you guys have kept my blog on your lists, but hopefully you have and I'll be hearing from you. I'll be checking to see if you guys are all still around as well. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Here's to second (or twenty-fifth) chances.</span> Bea Beautifulhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11300051488128638465noreply@blogger.com11tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9192904705841377104.post-780135867637894452012-03-28T14:11:00.000-05:002013-08-15T19:58:10.937-05:001st Milestone<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I did it. I hit my first milestone. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">THIRTY POUNDS.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">3-0</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The big three-and-oh.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">That's six 5lb bags of sugar.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">120 quarter pounders.</span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #fff2cc; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">monacome.com</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">10 cans of Crisco oil</span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #ffe599; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: xx-small;">preparednessadvice.com</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">4 gallons of water</span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><img height="193" id="il_fi" src="http://t1.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcS_wPYnV_J0j2EHLeWiOxvG9_yBTVBAUXbT4-GWwGHoG1Tk93vmfE3-0qUFVQ" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; padding-bottom: 8px; padding-right: 8px; padding-top: 8px;" width="200" /></span></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #ffe599; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: xx-small;">mistymountainspringwater.com</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">120 sticks of butter</span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><img height="172" id="il_fi" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhd6jN797H3jwVXwD3pP1ySBKl8XypAfM3s2tOVLj0KWoNk08CVMwTcdelt7kOjG3-hfUNdzfLst4BAvGEnFqMkbAwMJ0-gP0EiWjcvaocY6S04Z0_3uzbSdhDD-28iGnaK8eGqU8I80Kj/s200/stick+butter.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; padding-bottom: 8px; padding-right: 8px; padding-top: 8px;" width="200" /></span></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #fff2cc; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: xx-small;">dabbledabbledo.blogspot.com</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">20 dozen eggs</span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><img height="133" id="il_fi" src="http://www.dreamstime.com/dozen-eggs-thumb14059542.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; padding-bottom: 8px; padding-right: 8px; padding-top: 8px;" width="200" /></span></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #fff2cc; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: xx-small;">dreamstime.com</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">A 32-inch flat screen tv</span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><img height="163" id="il_fi" src="http://www.fareastgizmos.com/entry_images/1007/22/LG_32inch_Plasma.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; padding-bottom: 8px; padding-right: 8px; padding-top: 8px;" width="200" /></span></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #fff2cc; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: xx-small;">fareastgizmos.com</span></td></tr>
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<br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I'm beyond proud of myself, but at the same time I'm still in a bit of shock. I have set weight loss goals for myself many, many times over the past 15 years. Never once have I ever met any of them. Even when I went smaller with 15- or 20-pound goals, I could only manage 10 or 12 before giving up and going back to my old habits. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">For the first time, I've actually made it to the first milestone. I feel like I should throw myself a party. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I still have 103 pounds to go, which is three more 30lb milestones and a last one of 13. After hitting this first mark, though, I am so confident that I can hit the rest of them, one at a time, until at last, for the FIRST TIME IN MY LIFE, I will be at my "ideal" body weight. Not only that, I'll be healthy and fit and not have to worry about all of the health problems that come with obesity anymore. What a day that will be!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Don't ever think you can't do it, guys. You can do ANYTHING!</span><br />
<br />Bea Beautifulhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11300051488128638465noreply@blogger.com17tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9192904705841377104.post-84083993994089239882012-03-27T06:21:00.000-05:002012-03-27T06:21:12.694-05:00Yo!Hey guys, I'm still kickin'. Busy gal and all.<br />
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I'm over at <a href="http://adifferentpathtoloss.blogspot.com/2012/03/its-so-good-you-forget-its-good-for-you.html">A Different Path to Loss</a> today sharing a new-ish recipe I found that's low-fat and AWESOME. <br />
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Come check it out!Bea Beautifulhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11300051488128638465noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9192904705841377104.post-37490273587592057322012-03-14T07:33:00.000-05:002013-08-15T19:59:15.033-05:00Biggest Fears<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Yesterday I was listening to Kidd Kraddick in the Morning while driving to school. They were discussing their biggest fears, and each person on the show had to take a turn. Kellie's is being fired. JC's is doctors. Big Al's is disappointing his parents. Kidd's is the triangle of death - he wouldn't give his actual fear. Jenna's is dying in a plane crash. Then they got to Shannon, the quiet chick who keeps them on schedule and is rarely heard on the show. Her biggest fear: getting fat. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">When she said it I immediately got angry. It was self-defense mode, I'm sure, to react that way. I'm like that with many things. If somebody makes a fat joke in general, I get angry. If an overweight person is discriminated against or made fun of on TV or in a movie, I get angry. I know this is more about my own self esteem issues than anything, but that does not make it any less wrong to use an obese person as the brunt of a joke or as a good story line. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I started ranting and raving in my car, to no one in particular, about how insensitive people are, and <i>Oh, you're SO terrified of gaining weight, honey, you should try being overweight for most of your life and being unable to LOSE weight. </i> I'll admit, I had a small pity party going on in the midst of that rant. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">After thinking about it for a while, though, I realized her fear isn't all that shocking. If I were forced to examine my own fears, one of my biggest fears is that I'll <i>always</i> be fat. Isn't all that different from Shannon's fear, is it? </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Even as I'm on this journey, working hard to eat the right foods, smaller portions, exercise, be healthy, in the back of my mind is this nagging voice that says <i>don't bother with all of this, it's too hard. You'll always be fat. Just accept it</i>. Granted, that voice is getting smaller and smaller - I contribute that to my success thus far and the wonderful support I get from my family, friends and blogging buds. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">They say you should face your fears. If my fear is being fat forever, then I need to face it and shut that fear up by proving it wrong. </span>Bea Beautifulhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11300051488128638465noreply@blogger.com11tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9192904705841377104.post-24715048594920684312012-02-22T13:06:00.000-06:002012-02-22T13:06:26.325-06:00It's a Mardi Gras miracle! Seriously.<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">If you're thinking I've been a total cheater and have dedicated no time at all to my Fat Girl blog and ALL of my blogging time to the Different Paths, Same Destination blog....you're right. However, let me clarify that my "blogging time" has been almost nonexistent for the past few weeks. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Anyhoo, I want to tell you guys about a phenomenon I experienced this morning. First, if you missed my post over on the group blog yesterday, </span><a href="http://adifferentpathtoloss.blogspot.com/2012/02/mardi-gras-that-bitch.html"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Mardi Gras, That Bitch</span></a><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">, then you should go read that first and then come back. I'll wait.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I'm trusting you actually went and read it. I BELIEVE IN YOU. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">So, after being a complete food whore over the past two weeks, I was dreading trying to get back into the good food groove again. I was bothered though, because I wanted to know just how bad I screwed up. How much of that weight had I gained back because of my shenanigans (man, I love that word)? How many stones would I have to take out of my "pounds lost" jar? At the same time, I didn't want to know how bad I screwed up. Just pretend it never happened. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Despite my apprehension about it, this morning I stepped on the scale, took a few deep breaths, then looked down to see the damage. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">258.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Wait, what? I had LOST two pounds? What.The.French.Toast? I shook my head, looked down again. Yep, two pounds lighter than before my wagon abandonment. I stepped off, stepped back on. Still two pounds lighter. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">It was a Mardi Gras miracle!! </span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><img height="211" id="il_fi" src="http://i0.kym-cdn.com/photos/images/newsfeed/000/011/296/success_baby.jpg?1251168454" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; padding-bottom: 8px; padding-right: 8px; padding-top: 8px;" width="320" /></span></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I love this little meme baby.</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I don't know how it happened, but I'm not going to question it. I'm just going to breathe a HUGE sigh of relief and get back on the horse. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Also, I got to take two stones out of the "pounds to go" jar and put them in the "pounds lost" jar. Whoop!</span>Bea Beautifulhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11300051488128638465noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9192904705841377104.post-39838646811912846402012-02-10T11:43:00.000-06:002012-02-10T11:43:21.729-06:00DistractedSchool has taken over my life. That bitch.<br />
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Anyhoo, I have been around, but mostly over at Different Paths, Same Destination (the group weight loss blog). It is off to a FANTASTIC start, and I think it's because the women taking part in it are all awesome, wonderful women. <br />
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So, I posted over on that blog earlier this week, but forgot to send you guys there (if you're not following it already). It's <a href="http://adifferentpathtoloss.blogspot.com/2012/02/tragically-skewed.html">Tragically Skewed</a> - my take on today's views of what beauty and healthy is. Some people got pretty opinionated in the comments. Does that make me more interesting? I'm going to go with yes.<br />
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Go check it out, and don't stop loving me. Hate the institution. Damn you, higher education.Bea Beautifulhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11300051488128638465noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9192904705841377104.post-79691383917319709322012-02-04T19:33:00.000-06:002012-02-06T12:31:57.603-06:00Struggling and venting (a twofer)<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">So, on Wednesday I wrote this great January recap post, going on about how proud I was of myself and the success I've had thus far with my new lifestyle. I went on about the new way I look at food, and how I see it as healthy vs. unhealthy now, as opposed to yummy vs. blah. I said that exercising daily has become routine, and how I look forward to it every day. Basically, it was a love letter to myself.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Well, you know how you let your guard down for ONE second? </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Yeah, that happened. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">But before I can fill you in on the meltdown, let me vent a little so maybe you won't judge me so harshly.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The relationship between myself and my mother-in-law has been sketchy since before Christmas. Basically for the past five years I've just let her tell me when she's coming to visit, and for how long, instead of insisting that she ask if we're busy or if it's even okay with us that she and my father-in-law visit. Also for five years I've allowed her to bring their dog with them to my house, even though me and our youngest child are both allergic. They both know this fact, but don't much care. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Finally back in October after the baby and I both got severe allergy colds after a visit from the inlaws and the dog, husband and I had a long talk and decided we were tired of it. We broached the topic with the inlaws and told them that because of kiddo and my health we would prefer if they would leave the dog at home. The next time they visited (without calling first - and they live an hour away) they brought the dog. Unfortunately for them they picked the wrong day to do this, since I was in a particularly bitchy mood on that day. I informed them both that regardless of allergies, this was OUR house and we wished that they would 1) respect our wishes about the dog and stop bringing him and 2) learn how to ask about visiting before just showing up. This did not go over well. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">So Christmas was terribly uncomfortable for me, husband and the inlaws. She was still miffed about the dog, and he had refused to visit the past three times in protest of the dog ban - although his absence didn't bother me that much because he's an insufferable jerk. Seriously. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Fast-forward to two weeks ago, when dear mother-in-law texted me to inform me that she would be coming to visit that weekend. I responded that it was not a good time for her to visit, but that they could come this upcoming weekend (today) to visit for the day. I never got a response. Then on Tuesday night I came in from choir practice and was informed by my very frustrated husband that she had just called him to tell him that they would be coming in on Friday (last night) to spend the night, and they were bringing the dog. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I. Freaking. Lost. It. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I started screaming, "No, no, no, no, NO!" Husband just stood there in shock. I think he was afraid of me for a second. I got on my phone to quickly inform her that no, she would not be coming in on Friday, she could come for a few hours on Saturday, and she most certainly would not be bringing the dog, and if she wants to be angry at me, that's fine. She had no response for me. I went on to tell her that it very much upset husband when they continued to put the dog before their grandchildren, and how much I hated for him to be repeatedly upset because they couldn't bear to leave the damn dog alone for five hours.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">(<em>Note: Let me interject here and say for the record that I LOVE dogs. I always have. I'm just terribly allergic to them and would prefer to keep the place where I live dog hair free. Is that so much to ask??)</em></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">What is her response? She sends husband a text: "Mommy and Daddy love you." </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">What. The. Frick. Even husband was like, "What the hell? How ridiculous can you be?" </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Then again Thursday afternoon she called with yet another plea to come in and spend the night last night. He would stay home (in protest again, I assume). FINALLY, finally (thank you Lord) husband stood up for himself and told her that she was not going to come in yesterday and spend the night, but that she AND he could come in today and visit for a few hours. He stood his ground and she finally, grudgingly, gave in and agreed. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Now, I am not a moron, and have no desire whatsoever to spend my day with two people who I hardly like in general and certainly cannot stand at the moment. I'm being as nice as possible because I don't want my husband to be estranged from his parents, and I do want my kids to know their grandparents, even if they are jerks. So, I will be spending my day elsewhere while the inlaws visit husband and kids. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">So, back to the meltdown....</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I was SO frustrated and aggravated Thursday night that after dinner I popped not one but TWO bags of popcorn and shoveled it all into my mouth like I was starving to death. </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Then yesterday while spending the day at a fundraiser I ate a sandwich (the first bread I have eaten in over a month). Then for dinner husband suggested we order from a little mom-and-pop place up the road that does all kinds of food. I usually order a salad, but tonight, no sir, I ordered the seafood basket. Fried catfish, fried oysters, fried shrimp, coleslaw and hushpuppies. I ate it all. Every. Last. Piece.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">So now I am angry at myself for doing so badly, angry at my inlaws for being morons, and just angry in general. </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I know I'll wake up tomorrow and be back on the bandwagon, but I constantly worry that one slip will cause me to give up completely and that I'll be forever fat. I have GOT to stop being a stress-eater. That, or somehow convince the inlaws to move far, far away....</span>Bea Beautifulhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11300051488128638465noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9192904705841377104.post-89710904731443906142012-01-31T06:08:00.000-06:002012-01-31T06:08:00.078-06:00You can find me...<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">at <a href="http://adifferentpathtoloss.blogspot.com/2012/01/hoghead-cheese-and-gumbo.html">Different Paths, Same Destination</a> today. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">My post is about the awful eating habits that got me fat in the first place. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Check it out!</span>Bea Beautifulhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11300051488128638465noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9192904705841377104.post-24983553713901118092012-01-30T11:39:00.000-06:002012-01-30T11:39:30.995-06:00Craft Time!<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Just to be clear: I am in no way "crafty" - I don't make things from scratch, I do not sew, I hate glue guns and glitter pisses me off. I do have occasional moments where I see something and think <i>I could make that.</i></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">For example, the other day on Pinterest I saw this:</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><img alt="Pinned Image" height="320" src="http://media-cdn.pinterest.com/upload/17029304810742950_sbMhLxu7_c.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="259" /></span></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://media-cdn.pinterest.com/upload/17029304810742950_sbMhLxu7_c.jpg"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Link</span></a></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I think it's a fun, great way to visualize your goal and success at the same time. The large pink diamond is for the very last pound lost. </span><div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">So what did I do? I went to Hobby Lobby, of course. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Found the exact same glass jars, some green stones (I like colorful), some thick pink alphabet stickers and a giant pink diamond. $23.49 later:</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhm2p_ua9I3xiZliO81ss-6DNH4vjGnXOoqIhfbsQabsSLSGPl1ysBad_wmsLvxgYgRXgC2y6YTcQn1yWXXhFPoYg7g7r1KszjHnAs9uYRB1rX-MumHNYURVUqr65irtMZLSadqEc2BHAw/s1600/photo+(1).JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhm2p_ua9I3xiZliO81ss-6DNH4vjGnXOoqIhfbsQabsSLSGPl1ysBad_wmsLvxgYgRXgC2y6YTcQn1yWXXhFPoYg7g7r1KszjHnAs9uYRB1rX-MumHNYURVUqr65irtMZLSadqEc2BHAw/s320/photo+(1).JPG" width="289" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">For some reason my camera flash made the glass look lined. </span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Mine isn't as neat as the original, but hey, I think it's pretty good. I look forward to that pink diamond being the last stone left in the "Pounds to go" jar, and then taking it out and putting it in the "Pounds lost!" jar. I'm going to have a massive party when that happens! </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">So there's your craft lesson for today, brought to you by Bea's Craft Hour. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Tomorrow I"ll be posting over at <a href="http://adifferentpathtoloss.blogspot.com/">Different Paths, Same Destination</a> about my formerly awful eating habits. It's personal, it's exposing, and I felt great after writing it! Be sure to go check it out and follow the blog if you don't already! Today's former food post is by B!</span></div>
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</div>Bea Beautifulhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11300051488128638465noreply@blogger.com16tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9192904705841377104.post-59428733544367508042012-01-28T11:15:00.000-06:002012-01-28T11:15:05.091-06:00Hurt<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I started another post a few minutes ago about walking, but I have other fat-related problems on my mind right now, so I decided to postpone that one for later. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">One of my blogging buds, who is also on a weight loss journey, is having a hard time. She's had some bad days - like we all do - and it's getting her down. After talking with her a bit, I started thinking about the things that get me down. The things that have gotten me down in the past. Basically, all of the little and big things that occur that bundle into one word: hurt.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">People hurt you. Family hurts you. Friends hurt you. Strangers hurt you. You hurt yourself. This happens to everyone, but I'm talking about the kind of hurt that comes with being obese. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">In junior high it was the hurt that came when I tried out for the cheerleading squad, and although I could do the cheers, dances and even the jumps perfectly, I was not picked for the team because I wouldn't look good in the uniform. (I was actually told this by a judge.) At twelve, that hurts. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">In high school it was the hurt that came when I had crushes on really cute guys, who inevitably always picked the skinny, cute girls. Or when I fell IN LOVE (you know, 16-year-old obsession-type love) with my best friend Ben, and he would ask me for advice with all of the other girls he liked. I had boyfriends in high school - I wasn't a total horror - but you know what I mean. Or having to shop for my Junior prom dress in the plus-size section of the store because none of the normal dresses would fit me. At 14-17, that hurts. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Adulthood has been jam-packed with moments of hurt from men, friends, family, strangers and myself. One particular moment that stands out to me, almost ten years later, is a single moment of hurt that came from the last person in the world I expected it from: my mother. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">At 18 I hit a rebellious phase, as most teens do at that age. I was smoking, partying and doing everything but getting caught. I hadn't started with the tattoos yet, but I went and got my tongue pierced. To my deep-south, Church of God born-and-raised mother, this was a huge deal. It was an embarrassment to her, because <i>what would people think</i> when they saw her daughter with a bar through her tongue? Of course, I had to argue loudly with her because that's what stubborn 18-year-olds do with their parents, but she shut me up quick when she hit below the belt. I guess she had had enough of my yelling, because she screamed at me, "SIT YOUR FAT BUTT DOWN RIGHT NOW!" </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Stopped me cold. I sat down immediately. I was shocked, angry and terribly hurt. The hurt was more powerful than anything else, because despite all of the fat jokes and looks I was so used to from strangers, the last person in the entire world I expected to use my obesity against me was her. (<i>God, I can't even remember this without crying.</i>) She seemed to instantly realize what she had done, so she lowered her tone, told me to take out the piercing, then left my room. Neither of us have ever mentioned that awful moment. I don't think either of us ever will. Her, because she knows just how hurtful her statement was to me. Me, because I could never acknowledge to her just how much it hurt. I love my mother; she is the best person I know and she is a wonderful mother and grandmother. She's one of my very best friends. I confide in her, she confides in me. We get along wonderfully. I guess I decided long ago that I wouldn't hold against her the one moment in my entire life that she ever let me down. Still, even now, almost ten years later, it hurts. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I think if my husband were to make a comment about my weight, I would probably be devastated. Somehow, it hurts so much worse when it comes from someone you love. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">So, while these memories - especially the last - still hurt me today, I have decided to use them as yet another motivational tool. I will lose weight and then when those jerks who laughed about me before see me fit, they'll be checking out my ass, oblivious to the fact that years ago they thought I was disgusting. I will lose weight and when someone makes a fat joke in front of me, they will be shocked when I call them out for being assholes. I will lose weight, and maybe, hopefully, I can forget that one awful statement my mother made in anger. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I'm not entirely sure why I shared this with you guys, because it's intensely personal. Maybe that is exactly why I shared it. No secrets here. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">If somebody hurts you, in any way at all, don't let it consume you. Don't let it pull you under. Turn it around and use it to make yourself better. That's all any of us can hope to do. </span>Bea Beautifulhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11300051488128638465noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9192904705841377104.post-70640225707230365852012-01-24T08:58:00.002-06:002012-01-24T12:30:54.103-06:00Introducing Bea<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">On the new group blog, Different Paths, Same Destination. Today is my intro day. Go on over and check it out </span><a href="http://adifferentpathtoloss.blogspot.com/2012/01/story-of-chick-who-got-so-fat-she-had.html"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">here</span></a><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">! Also, follow the blog as well as the other writers. They're all awesome!</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Oh AND since my last post we've welcomed an additional blogger to the new blog, and she's sweet, funny and super excited to be joining us. I love her bunches! Ashley from </span><a href="http://findingtheskinnierme.blogspot.com/"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Finding the Skinnier Me</span></a><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> is her name, weight loss is her game. Go on over and follow her as well. Welcome, Ash! </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Why are you still here? Go now!</span>Bea Beautifulhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11300051488128638465noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9192904705841377104.post-14705841414442515842012-01-23T08:11:00.000-06:002012-01-23T08:11:08.529-06:00Drumroll, please...<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I know I mentioned this in my last post, but I'm just SO FRICKIN' EXCITED and cannot contain myself so I'm telling y'all again...</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I was asked, along with three other fantabulous ladies: Yandie from <a href="http://andiegoddessofpickles.blogspot.com/">Inspiration Strikes. In the Kneecaps</a>, Mrs. One Day from <a href="http://onedayimgonna.blogspot.com/">One Day I'm Gonna...</a> and Jessica from <a href="http://jj-simplemusings-jj.blogspot.com/">Simple Musings</a> to join B. from <a href="http://oppositeofthat.blogspot.com/">The Opposite of That</a> in a new group blog. The blog is called <span style="color: #38761d;"><a href="http://adifferentpathtoloss.blogspot.com/">Different Paths, Same Destination</a> </span> and it will focus on weight loss. Each of us are, in our own ways, attempting to lose weight, some just a few pounds, and others (like me) a bunch. We're talking a whole Backstreet Boy. Seriously, they only weigh like 90 pounds. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Anyhoo, the first posts (coming very soon) will be our individual introductions, and then we'll get into the nitty gritty of it. We will post about our successes, failures, progress, food, exercise - basically anything and everything having to do with our journeys through weight loss. I suggest you get on over and follow us so you won't miss any of it!</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">We appreciate the support, just as we appreciate having each other to count on for support, encouragement, and shared celebration as we succeed in achieving our goals. Hope to see y'all over there! </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">P.S. Those chicks I mentioned up there...they're totally awesome, and their blogs prove it. If you're not already a follower, go check 'em out as well! :)</span>Bea Beautifulhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11300051488128638465noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9192904705841377104.post-74219857191892600752012-01-21T12:44:00.002-06:002012-01-21T12:50:54.135-06:00Blogpalooza<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I'm not typically in favor of doing memes or any type of pass-it-on thing, but recently I've been awarded three separate blog awards, and I really appreciate them so I felt it necessary to accept them and pass them on. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The first award I received was the Reader Appreciation Award from Jo-Anne over at <a href="http://jo-annemotherandnanna.blogspot.com/">Jo-Anne's Ramblings</a></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><img height="149" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwOWpflFRXbz_8iM0UXVeadcuX57EHiMwHdr3g9OM-NK7AtfY2cINfmXIEwEenkn8swQMJXS2RU34a9Uq_j84lebRO-noKuccprwAnY09Xkf97g46M9i5JT3_ntmNi1-TABPkgWI1fTKQ/s200/ReaderAppriciation-Award.jpg" width="200" />
</span></div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">There weren't any specific rules other than passing it on to 7 people. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The second award came from B over at <a href="http://oppositeofthat.blogspot.com/">The opposite of that</a>. It's the Happy 101 Award.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEge2ChNsaal6OTYXvYX1ZXGK_zTGFvgRKIKGmEOMJZPNtldzilknV-IaaldTNfz6LaI49TtB4HOyaaLUlrvKKaTX6AP5kngeYsksSCM4iZuiKCU6C6vpKtHG_HRs3ECVZdWAneYS_CM744/s1600/HAPPY+101.jpg" />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">To accept this award you must list 10 things that make you happy and then pass the award on to 10 bloggers who brighten my day. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">10 Things That Make Me Happy:</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">1. My children</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">2. My husband</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">3. Watching football</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">4. Music of any kind</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">5. Puppies</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">6. Coffee</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">7. My education</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">8. Flip flops</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">9. Family</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">10. Friends (both the people I love and the tv show - twofer!)</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The last award was the Overlord Award from Mrs. One Day at <a href="http://onedayimgonna.blogspot.com/">One Day I'm Gonna...</a></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZBOXQWVTIgngjxZas8BBAmFVmvgNqLocAodL5g0xJcDWc2tKf7dlMiQdB084qFlrVepeNl46qUXxru76F2ww5ci4vfrKYzLXsX1SuJ2-AP1vuNSzj9pkL1_pKMkG7eSTMQPZmUH-woQiN/s1600/overlord+award.png" />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I think this one is my favorite because I get to list three things I would do if I were overlord, then pass it on to 10 blogs I feel worthy of world domination. How badass is that?! </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">So the three things I would do as overlord:</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">1. Make Steven Tyler and Johnny Depp my personal assistants. On call 24/7. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">2. Pass a law that every single person who abuses a child, either physically or sexually, will have his/her sexual organs removed, and then they will be all locked together in my own special version of the Hunger Games, which will be held annually. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">3. Force celebrities/athletes/government officials to donate 40% of their annual income towards efforts to feed, clothe, house, educate and provide health care for the needy all over the world. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Now, instead of selecting 7 people for the first, 10 for the second and 10 for the third, I'm going to bundle them up into an awesome blog award package hereinafter referred to as Blogpalooza. </span><br />
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<img alt="Blogpalooza Award" height="228" src="http://i1185.photobucket.com/albums/z356/Beabeautiful/BlogpaloozaAward.png?t=1327171329" width="320" /></div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> The following ten bloggers/blogs have been awarded all three of these awards because I appreciate their writing, they make my day brighter and I find them more than worthy of world domination:</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span><br />
<span style="color: #e06666; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Sarah at <a href="http://www.bravedays.com/">Brave Days</a></span><br />
<span style="color: #e06666; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Dr. Heckle at <a href="http://www.drheckle.net/">Dr. Heckle </a></span><br />
<span style="color: #e06666; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Cole Garrett at <a href="http://dryhumordaily.blogspot.com/">Dry Humor Daily</a> </span><br />
<span style="color: #e06666; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Ashley at <a href="http://findingtheskinnierme.blogspot.com/">Finding the Skinnier Me</a> </span><br />
<span style="color: #e06666; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Yandie, goddes of pickles at <a href="http://andiegoddessofpickles.blogspot.com/">Inspiration strikes. In the Kneecaps</a> </span><br />
<span style="color: #e06666; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Mrs. One Day at <a href="http://onedayimgonna.blogspot.com/">One Day I'm Gonna...</a> </span><br />
<span style="color: #e06666; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Jessica Jenkins at <a href="http://jj-simplemusings-jj.blogspot.com/">Simple Musings</a> </span><br />
<span style="color: #e06666; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">B at the <a href="http://oppositeofthat.blogspot.com/">Opposite of That</a></span><br />
<span style="color: #e06666; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">With Love at <a href="http://ashleybcrochets.blogspot.com/">With Love</a> </span><br />
<span style="color: #e06666; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Al Penwasser at <a href="http://alpenwasser.blogspot.com/">Penwasser Place</a> </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">In order to accept all you really have to do is continue being frickin' awesome. If you'd like, though, you can repost with 10 things that make you all warm and fuzzy inside, followed immediately by the three things you would do as overlord. Basically, you guys are all badass enough to decide for yourselves.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">You guys are all awesome and I very much enjoy reading your posts. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">On another note, I have joined forces with some fantastically awesome people who are also on a weight loss journey and we will soon be unleashing a group blog on weight loss. We will all contribute our own various ideas, suggestions, successes and failures as we attempt to lose the pounds and find the healthier, happier versions of ourselves. I'll post the link once it's up and running!</span><br />
<br />Bea Beautifulhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11300051488128638465noreply@blogger.com11tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9192904705841377104.post-4531622715982545992012-01-18T08:01:00.001-06:002012-01-18T08:01:41.544-06:00Failure... and encouragement<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I had a bad day Monday. My spring semester started Tuesday, and despite the fact that I'm 27 years old, I still get nervous jitters the eve of the first day back. Habitually, my immediate response to nervous tension or anxiety of any kind, is to eat. Eat and eat and eat. Doritos. Oreos. Some pretzels. Maybe a bowl of cereal. Whatever was available, really. I would take a few bites of this, a few bites of that. Food has been my go-to comfort for my entire adult life. No wonder I woke up 283 pounds. Life is stressful, y'all. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">So Monday was the first stressful day I've had since starting my new lifestyle changes. My first urge, of course, was to start digging around for the bag of chips I know my husband has hid somewhere in the house (I told him if he insisted on buying junk food, please hide it from me because I don't even want to see it. He's a good husband.). I calmed myself down, repeated all of those little phrases like "food is not comfort" and "eating is not the answer" blah blah blah. I managed to refrain from a full-on chip search, so I felt proud of myself and let my guard down. A little while later my kids were in a chicken nugget and fries mood so I cooked just enough for them to eat, no leftovers. About halfway through her plate, my youngest decided she was full so she left her plate and went to play. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I stared at those two nuggets and six fries (yes, I counted) for a good five minutes. <i>Throw it away</i>, I commanded myself. <i>You don't want it. Just throw it away.</i> </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">But what happened? I ate the food. I ate both nuggets and all six fries. Immediately I was angry with myself for being weak, and internally counting how many calories I had just consumed on impulse (I don't even count calories anymore). All the while the nagging voice in my head had turned into a mean hag. <i>See? You ate all of that bad food, and are you still anxious? Yep. I told you. I said 'Throw it away' but you wouldn't listen, would you? Now you're going to gain back a pound or two. Way to go. Fat ass.</i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I could feel the disappointment in myself growing. I started to doubt myself. How in the world would I be able to lose 118 more pounds if I can't even refrain from my kids' leftover nuggets and fries? Will this happen every time I have a bad day? </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I started out my first day back at school in a funk. I had decided I would keep to my plan, continue doing what I've been doing, and somehow figure out a way to control myself whenever bad days came around. I still couldn't drag myself out of my funk, until something small but important happened. Someone made me feel better. Want to know who? Well, I'll tell you. It was B. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">B is from <a href="http://oppositeofthat.blogspot.com/">The Opposite of That</a> (you should go check it out), and we're also Twitter pals. B suggested I go read her newest post. She had won a blogging award, and in turn had passed the award on to several other bloggers. The award is not what cheered me up. It was what B wrote:</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 20px; text-align: left;"> </span><a href="http://beabeautifulfatgirl.blogspot.com/" style="background-color: white; color: #33aaff; line-height: 20px; text-align: left;" target="_blank">Bea Beautiful</a><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 20px; text-align: left;">- For keeping me laughing and on track with my weight loss goals. </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 20px; text-align: left;">Your honesty shows in everything you write, and I love that.</span>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 20px; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">It may seem small, but it was someone making a positive remark about what I'm doing right now, the effort I've been making. I decided in the beginning that this blog would be my way of holding myself accountable for my actions. I would share my successes, but also my failures. </span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 20px; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Her reminder of my honesty made me realize that it's okay to screw up sometimes. We all do. There will be bad days along this journey, which I'm positive will be quite long. 133 pounds does not fall off overnight. But it WILL fall off. And if I have a moment of weakness here and there, I will share it with you guys. You will encourage me, as you all have from the beginning, and hopefully I will be there to support and encourage you whenever you guys have bad days, whether it be weight-loss related or life-related. </span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #333333; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 20px;">P.S. After I found my determination again, I kicked butt in my workout yesterday. I only weigh on Sunday mornings usually, but I cheated this morning and stepped on the scale. I've lost 3 more pounds. 18 down, 115 to go. I've got this. </span></span></div>Bea Beautifulhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11300051488128638465noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9192904705841377104.post-22168129542480433462012-01-13T18:49:00.000-06:002012-01-13T18:49:39.229-06:00Feel the Burn! OR No pain, no gain.<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Can we talk seriously about exercise for a sec? Yes, it's great for you and makes your heart strong, blah blah blah. But really, have you ever stopped to consider the number of exercises available to the average person nowadays? Strength training, cardio, cycling, walking, dancing, running, tennis, football, basketball, soccer, baseball/softball, badminton (ha), polo, etc....on and on the list goes of possible ways one can try to burn calories, kill fat and get fit. I think all of these are great ways to get in shape - except for badminton and tennis, because one is stupid and I'm not coordinated enough for the other. Not all exercises are compatible with everyone. People generally pick a certain type of exercise and stick with it until the bitter end (which usually happens on a couch with a bag of Cheetos). </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Being the eternal fat girl, I have tried out MANY different types of exercise routines in the constant effort to slim down. Obviously, none so far have been successful for me because I had no willpower whatsoever. Until now, which is another story (and a much happier one, so far). I decided I would share with you guys a few different exercises I have tried over the years, and a brief summary of each. This should be fun. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /><u>Tae Bo</u></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Yes, we've all heard of Billy Banks and his band of super-fit followers who manage to grin whilst beating the hell out of invisible attackers. I tried this workout around age 16 with my mom, some of my friends and some of her friends. We figured it was a double win because it's cardio AND self-defense lessons. Right. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The first few times we did it we were pumped up, and thought <i>hey, this isn't so bad. Just some punches and kicks and lots of "Ya!"ing. </i>I felt like Chuck Norris: Badass. I knew I could beat the hell out of any predator who dared cross my chubby path. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Unfortunately this was in the day of the video cassette (yes, I'm THAT old) and the tape wore out after about a month. What a rip-off. By then the old ladies were complaining of aching hips and backs and since my mom was my ride that ended my routine. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">So, let's not blame Billy for my failure on this one. We'll blame my mother. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><u>Curves for Women</u></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">For those of you who've never checked out one of these fat female havens, I'll explain the setup:</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">There's a circuit of machines with little bouncy pad things in between each machine. The machines are designed to work out different areas of the body - legs, arms, abs, butt, etc. You spend 30 seconds on each machine, then a little bell dings and you shift to the bouncy pad and dance/walk/jog in place until the bell dings again and you shift to the next machine. Three rotations equals a 30-minute "full-body workout" (their words, not mine). </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">My freshman year in college I decided I'd try out Curves because one of my aunts went there and gushed repeatedly about how much weight she'd lost and how fit she was getting. She was also doing the Atkins diet at the time so I'm not sure which contributed more. I was at a very insecure age; being 19 and fat is not fun for anyone. I figured Curves would be great because I could be dedicated to a gym but not have to worry about being self-conscious. It's all chicks. No dudes allowed. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I joined and went in, did the circuits correctly, bounced on the bouncy thing actively, and did lose about 10 pounds in a month. After a while though, I got to where I didn't feel like I was getting adequate workout for each area of my body, and while 30 seconds wasn't long enough for me, it's not allowed to remain at one machine repeatedly because it hinders the flow. Also, as I've mentioned previously, the music was horrendous. Cheesy remake of old dance music sung by Spanish tone-deaf dude. AWFUL. Give me Pantera, Aerosmith, something loud and mean to work out to. So, that endeavor failed after the one-month trial. Adios, Curves. I'll take mine with me, thanks. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><u>Pussycat Dolls Workout Video</u></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">It's okay, laugh it out. I'll give you a minute.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I know. I was in Walmart one day and had recently started yet another fad diet and thought I might try some new workouts. I moseyed on over to the fitness area (what a joke. There are more orange hunting vests than exercise items in my Walmart) to peruse the dozen or so exercise videos available. Immediately the PCD Workout Video caught my eye. I know they're hoes, but you've gotta admit, they're HOT. <i>I can be hot</i>, I thought to myself. I quickly envisioned myself all svelte and sexy, doing PCD dances for my husband. I threw the DVD in my cart and bought it before I could talk myself out of it. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I only attempted this workout one time. Just once. Wanna know why?</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Fat should not, and will not, move the way they think it can in that video. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I started out okay, swaying my hips and thrusting <i><span style="font-size: x-small;">(oh my God, I can't believe I'm sharing this with you people)</span></i> over and over again as Nicole Scherzinger encouraged me with her sultry voice and smoky eyes (Side note: who wears layers of makeup to workout? Seriously!). Soon, though, they started with the REALLY sexy dance moves. Let me just say that fat is mostly sedentary, and if you get it all moving too fast, it builds momentum. I looked like a Jell-O commercial. A bad one. Eventually I just collapsed to the floor, dejected and hating the Pussycat Dolls with every fiber of my being. Stupid hot girls. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Suffice it to say I will not buy any more sexy dance videos of any kind until I have much less fat on my body. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I think that's enough horror for one day. I'll share some more endeavors with y'all later, including my current exercise routine and future plans. Happy Friday! </span>Bea Beautifulhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11300051488128638465noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9192904705841377104.post-10897725247076147872012-01-11T11:49:00.001-06:002012-01-11T11:49:38.593-06:00A New Obsession<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Everybody and their brother has been telling me for weeks about this wonderfully fantastic website that I just HAD to join: Pinterest. They insisted that I would fall in love and spend hours of my life "pinning" things - whatever that means - and find great little tidbits. It even has an iPhone app (what doesn't these days?). So a blogging bud of mine sent me an invite, and a few short hours later, a monster was born. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Pinterest is SO COOL. They have pictures and ideas for everything. Literally, everything. You can type in just about any keyword and a bajillion images pop up for your perusal. I wasted a good three hours looking up fitness, food and humorous. Made my day. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I'm sharing my newfound obsession with you guys for two reasons:</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">ONE: Come join me in this fantastical world. If I'm going down, I'm taking <em>everybody</em> with me. My username is easy: beabeautiful </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">TWO: I found a lot of great motivational phrases and photos, recipes, exercise and fitness tips, etc. It's a weight loss gold mine. Seriously. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I'm going to share a few of the treasures I found last night. Enjoy!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Amen!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I love it!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Lots of these little how-to things!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><img alt="100 Healthy Snack Ideas to help you reach your weight loss goals!" src="http://media-cdn.pinterest.com/upload/140526450842523497_xQE5sNTu_b.jpg" style="height: 192px;" /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Snack ideas</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><img alt="Recipes for Good Health & Weight Loss in 2012" src="http://media-cdn.pinterest.com/upload/209769295113347853_tSHJqKYO_b.jpg" style="height: 192px;" /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Healthy/weight loss recipes for 2012</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Like I've said before, small victories. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Jump on the bandwagon!</span></div>Bea Beautifulhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11300051488128638465noreply@blogger.com12