Dear Jennifer Hudson (Week 1)

Dear Jennifer Hudson,

Yesterday was my first meeting at Weight Watchers. For never having attended a weight-loss meeting or weight loss group before, I was surprised at how not-nervous I was...and how un-dorky I felt.

My mom and I signed up for Weight Watchers last week, and with the New Years Eve par-tay, I was pleasantly surprised to discover that I actually had a weight LOSS on their scale. :0) I am down 3.6 pounds for my first week...and again, considering that I was only dieting for 2 of those 6 days since my initial weigh-in, I think that's pretty good.

I had taken an unintentional sabbatical from the gym during the holiday season. Between vacationing in Big Bear, the gym being closed on holidays, the kids being sick, me being sick, me being lazy (the largest percentage of my list of excuses), I only went to the gym 2 times from Thanksgiving to the New Year. :-0 I put on so much weight during the holidays. :0(

And don't forget, I am currently in a weight loss competition...ahahahaha! Yeah, that's not really happening for me. On New Years Day I was actually up a few pounds since the start of that competition. But as of right now, I am moving the numbers on the scale in the right direction, and I am reporting a weight LOSS for the competition. That competition is over on this up-coming Sunday. Some of the other competitors have taken the competition very seriously, and I am SO happy for their success! I know 2 people in the top 5, and one of them is even thee Top Dog! I hope she can pull off the win! :0)

Any who, back to you Jennifer Hudson...I just wanted to tell you that I am liking your program. In this most recent year I have been fond of tracking my calories in a notebook, and so that practice has made it an easy transition for me to track my foods, and my points with Weight Watchers. I am especially fond of the fact that all fruits, and most veggies are "free" for me. And now that I am back at the gym, it is really neat to see my "Activity Points" adding up. :0)

Currently your biggest fan,
Elizabeth

P.S. Your commercials for Weight Watchers are WAAAAAAAY better than Mariah Carey's advertisement for Jenny Craig...just sayin'.

Wrapping Up the Year (Part 2)

Our week started off pretty rough...I somehow contracted a 24-hour flu, and I was down for the count all day on Monday. :0( I just kept praying that it was only a 24-hour bug, and that the rest of my family would not get the flu from me. I'll be honest, it was a rather selfish prayer...as I was in the midst of doing a couple of things you do when you have the flu, I couldn't even begin to fathom caring for (and cleaning up after) the ones I loved, when I felt THIS bad! Fortunately, my prayers were answered, and I was 100% healed by Tuesday morning, and no one else in the house caught the virus either...Praise the Lord!

After suffering that short (but not minor) set-back, the remainder of our week was full-speed ahead!

In little happenings, some of us were turtles this week...



One of us lost our 6th tooth...



One of us had to test out Grammy's new cotton candy machine...





All of us had to sample the product...



Some of us won both games of Buzz Lightyear Operation (the winner is not pictured, SHE is behind the camera, lol)...



We got to pick up Grandpa from the hospital after having elbow surgery...





Some of us got to sit on the top bunk with our cousins...





We all got to visit with our grandparents/great-grandparents...



But one of us was especially entertained by Great-Grandma Sally's dancing Santa hat...







And fiiiiiinally, some of us got to see The Muppets!...with a special guest!!! It was a GREAT show, and Bea made it until the final 5 minutes before she fell asleep...



She was still sleeping when I wanted to take their picture in front of The Muppets sign...but she cracked a smile when I asked Wyatt to say "cheese", hahahaha!



Everyone is awake NOW...



In BIG happenings, we went to the Big Bay Balloon Parade...the largest balloon parade in America! We got on the trolley, and headed downtown...



We went with quite a few of our friends...





and ate donuts, and drank hot chocolate together...







MY favorite part of the parade are all of the bands...











...Bea's favorite part of the parade are all of the balloons...









...and Wyatt's favorite part of the parade are all of the guest appearances/performances...









And lastly, we rung in the new year this week! In years past, our little family is fairly boring on New Years Eve. We are exhausted of gatherings from the Christmas season, and we usually don't even bother staying up to watch the infamous ball drop on TV. But this year, Rick had to work, and my friend Katie offered to host me and the littles at her house for a sleep over. :0)



Our night consisted of watching food-related documentaries ("Food Inc." and "Fat, Sick & Nearly Dead"), playing around...







A little bubbly...



And LOTS of eating...LOTS! The kids started off with a pizza picnic on the floor...



And then Katie and I began our feast shortly after. We had spent the days and weeks before New Year's constructing the most delicious menu...and I think we mastered it!

We started off with crab stuffed mushrooms...



...and shrimp cocktail...



We then had an amazing surf-and-turf entree with lobster tails, tri-tip, cheesy risotto, and some AMAZING skirt steak potatoes...







And then for dessert, the kids enjoyed mini mint ice cream sandwiches...



...and we indulged on a NY cheesecake...



The kids and I had such a BLAST with our friends...it was so much fun to actually have plans for New Years! :0)

We wish you the BEST in 2012!...Happy New Year!!!

Resolutions

Someone else said it before me, but I am claiming it as my own…For 2012- I have focused on a vision of how I want to live. I will say “yes” to the things that align with that, and “no” to things that don’t. I want to be in the best physical, mental, emotional & spiritual shape of my life.

Making it my own…

Physical- I started Weight Watchers…not just the online group…but the actual meetings. I am pausing the Sugar Shack…No new orders until I reach my goal weight. I need to focus more on weight loss, and less on confectionary treats. I will meet my goal weight this year. I will. I will purchase 95% of my produce from a farmers market or my local produce stand. I will purchase all organic dairy products, and organic or all-natural meat products. No fast food in 2012. I will ask family and friends to not feed my children fast food as well.

Mental- I will exercise 5 days a week. Yes, this is for my mental stability…my head-game functions superior when I am consistently exercising.

Emotional- I will continue building relationships with positive influences in my life…and I will continue to remove relationships from my life that become more harmful than beneficial.

Spiritual- I will continue to read my Bible daily. I will continue to serve in ministry in the church. When I am done serving in leadership at MOPS at the end of May, I will volunteer my time serving in the Awana program.