My First Blog Award

Posted on October 8, 2009 by Leah@MyNewEnding


Larkspur over at Am I Really That Fat? honored me with my first ever blog award.

My understanding is that I’m supposed to answer the following questions with one word and then pass this award on to six blogs that I would like to honor. Since it’s the first time I’ve ever done one of these I will indeed pass it on. Plus, I have a few extra minutes today. 🙂
1. Where is your cell phone? pocket
2. Your hair? curly
3. Your mother? artsy
4. Your father? wise
5. Your favorite food? homemade
6. Your dream last night? none
7. Your favorite drink? coffee
8. Your dream/goal? reachable
9. What room are you in? living
10. Your hobby? many
11. Your fear? failure
12. Where do you want to be in 6 years? US Navy wife
13. Where were you last night? church
14. Something that you aren’t? tall
15. Muffins? chocolate
16. Wish list item? camera
17. Where did you grow up? USA
18. Last thing you did? type LOL!!! J/K breakfast
19. What are you wearing? slippers
20. Your TV? nonexistent
21. Your pets? none
22. Friends? lots
23. Your life? blessed
24. Your mood? content
25. Missing someone? mom
26. Vehicle? paid off
27. Something you’re not wearing? jacket
28. Your favorite store? Many
29. Your favorite color? red
30. When was the last time you laughed? morning
31. Last time you cried? yesterday
32. Your best friend? faithful
33. One place that I go to over and over? bed LOL!! (I’m just cracking myself up on this one today..)
34. One person who emails me regularly? Sarah
35. Favorite place to eat? various

Okay, I only follow a few weightloss blogs, so I’m not sure that I have six people to forward this on to. I will do my best.

Thank you, again, Larkspur! I know many people get and receive awards, but this was a little fun for me and I’m honored.
And my awards go to …..*drum roll please*….
A New Start To A New Me, Chris is one of my best friends and faithful weightloss partner who is still pressing on in her weightloss journey even though she’s going through some stuff right now. So far she has lost 24.3 pounds. Her blog is private, so I’m sorry you will not be able to see it.
Fit to the Finish, When I read Diane’s story it just clicked with me and where I was coming from. Plus, the fact that she has kept it off for 12 years showed me that it was indeed possible. We have very similar struggles and she has been a blessing as a support to me from pretty much the beginning of my weight loss journey.
Journey to the Healthier Side of Life, Pam inspires me with all that she accomplishes and how she never gives up pushing herself to do better.
Thirty Ways, Nancy has been very kind and supportive of me and my blog. I appreciate all her comments and am encouraged by the success stories she posts on her blog.
Sunflowers ‘N Daisies ~~Finding My Inner Athlete , Anyone who gets up before 5:00 am to workout deserves and award. 🙂
Log My Loss, Steve has been very kind by leaving suportive comments on my blog. Also, it was his challenge that I decided to join. He keeps up with his blog and has some very good insights on different topics. The backgrounds of his videos are lovely also… ahh to live in the country!
So, I guess I managed to find six blogs. I don’t expect you all to pass the awards on, but feel free to if you’d like. I know it can get overwhelming when too many of these go around.
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Hot 100 – Week 2 Update

Posted on October 7, 2009 by Leah@MyNewEnding


So, week 2 of the Hot 100 Challenge is done!

My goals for the first third of the challenge are:

Hot 100 Goals for October:
Scale Goal: See any kind of a weight loss by the time my mother-in-law leaves, which should be by the end of this month.
Emotional Goal: Not get offended when my mother-in-law offers a comment she thinks will help me with my “diet”. She hasn’t made more than maybe two in a week, but I found myself getting angry right away. Yet, when I thought more on it…she was right. Ouch.
Today I am feeling: Good!

I finally got some real exercise in yesterday and it felt very good. Last Friday I was down some more, which means I’m getting farther and farther away from where I was when MIL came. So, that’s helping me meet my October goals.

I’m a little PMS’y this week, so I had a few days of munchies. Not too bad, but more chocolate a couple of days than I needed. Though Monday and Tuesday nights I didn’t have “real” hot cocoa because I knew I had to be careful.

Comments are fine. Mother-in-law laughed when I declined the yummy, rich Abuelita’s cocoa she made Monday after I told her I needed to be careful. She means the best and has been so supportive. I’m doing better about that and who knows..maybe I’m just eating better so she doesn’t need to say anything. Or, maybe our talk when I shared with her some of my struggles with weight gave her some insight.

Anyway, just so you know, she has not been overbearing at all with her comments. Please, don’t get the wrong picture. There is just this unwritten rule that anything a MIL says that goes contrary to what a DIL thinks seems to be taken as criticism. I’m learning to break that rule in my life. 🙂

And one more confession… I’m SO GLAD I JOINED THIS CHALLENGE!!! Thanks, Steve! 🙂

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My First Healthy McD’s Lunch

Posted on October 7, 2009 by Leah@MyNewEnding


Yesterday I took McDonald’s to the school to have lunch with the girls. I was going to take one of them to get braces after lunch, so since she didn’t like the lunch being served I decided to treat them both to McDonalds.

I drove up to the window, ordered two Big Mac Combos* and then I ordered a Southwest Grilled Chicken Salad for me with a diet Coke. I almost just ordered a McDouble for me and told myself I’d have a few fries, but something in me said, “No, you don’t want that greasy ole burger today and you need some veggies. That salad should work.”
So, I went to the school, we ate and I enjoyed my salad while they enjoyed their food. I didn’t feel like I was left out because I didn’t get a burger and fries. In fact, I ate about 5-8 french fries and that satisfied the salty craving I have around fries.
It was great and surprising all at once.
I remember reading a post from Diane at Fit to the Finish where she mentioned ordering healthy at fast food places and I thought, “Well, I can’t see myself ordering a salad at McDonalds. I’d rather just have a small amount and be okay with that.”
But I did order a salad and I liked it. 🙂
* Don’t hate me about the Big Macs, because those are a treat for them. They also don’t eat the entire meal. It’s really amazing and something I learn from watching them. They were full after the burgers and so they only ate maybe a quarter of the fries. They gave me a few each and then we passed them on to some boys sitting at a table next to us. They were satisfied with their treat and didn’t force more in just because it tasted so good. They’ve pretty much always been this way and I’m glad they have this good instinct, because I didn’t as a child and it got worse as I grew up.
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Staying Busy At Home

Posted on October 6, 2009 by Leah@MyNewEnding

The last two weeks I worked full-time substituting. I usually work only 1-3 days a week, but once in a while I accept a lot of work all at one time. It was a crazy, busy time, but I noticed something about myself that I may not necessarily like.

When I have to work outside the home I am able to get up, get going and stay busy all day. Though I may be tired when I get home I’m usually pretty good about still taking care of my home duties and preparing for the next day.
When I am home all day I tend to waste more time and am not usually keeping myself busy with productive activities for the same amount of hours that I do when working a full day.
*sigh*
This is something I need to work on.
I think what it comes down to is that I can be more disciplined and stay busy when I’m accountable to someone else. However, when I’m just home I get the mindset that as long as I get the basics done I’m okay.
I truly believe that one of the joys of a stay-at-home mom is being able to work at your own pace and enjoy being home. Yet, I really need to learn to stay focused enough to get a little more done each day.
What does this have to do with weight loss?
Well, I noticed that the past two weeks I was on my feet, up and down all day at school. Then I came home and was on my feet some more. It was exhausting at times, but I made it through fine.
I think that I need to push myself a little more to stay more active when I’m home all day so that I’m using that much energy throughout my day as well. Maybe not to the same extent that I’m exhausted by bedtime, but I think you understand.
Anyway, maybe it really doesn’t have as much to do with weightloss as it does with habits that need changing. I don’t know, but I know that I needed to get it out there. Now you know something else that I struggle with/am working on. 🙂 Comments?
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20 lbs = Hope

Posted on October 5, 2009 by Leah@MyNewEnding
Me last April at my brother’s wedding and Me today at church.
(sorry for less-than-optimal second photo…)
The reoccurring theme that’s been in my mind all weekend has been that hitting my 20-pounds-lost mark has really done something to my moral.
It has given me hope like nothing I’ve felt thus far.
When I weighed myself and realized that I had passed the 20 pound mark of weight loss I realized that I was truly seeing something happen in my life. The weight is really coming off.
Six months ago I felt like it was hopeless and I had resigned myself to being the fat wife and mom. But I had decided that I was going to be okay with being a heavy woman. I wasn’t going to hate myself for it. Yet, deep inside I was still miserable to some extent and I was scared of failure so I wasn’t about to try dieting again.
Somewhere deep inside I knew I had to do something and that if I could just keep the scale from going up anymore that would be better than nothing.
Then I had a glimmer of hope in the shape of a nod from my husband, a talk with a friend and a talk with my mom. I could try and do something about my health, just start with little changes.
Though my journey has been slow, I haven’t quit and now I’ve lost 21 pounds. I feel like there is real hope for me after all. Plus, I’m not on a diet, but I’m learning how to make better food choices and listen to my body. This means to me that what I am doing is going to last – it’s not just a program that will have an end. These are changes that are going to become, or have starting becoming, permanent.
For some reason that encourages me the most.
-I’m learning that exercise is a must and saving treats for once in a while is necessary.
-I’m learning I really like fruits and even a lot of vegetables.
-I’m learning that I really do feel better when I keep the fat % low.
-I’m learning that it’s not so bad to have water with a meal.
-I’m learning that diet soda is a good way to cut out 140 calories a pop… pun intended. 🙂
-I’m learning that the hard work is worth it.
-I’m learning that I don’t have to be the fat wife and mom anymore.
-I’m learning there is hope for someone who has spent most of her life heavy.
And it feels so good! There is an inexplicable joy that I am feeling about where I’m at right now. Maybe because I weigh what I did when we moved here two years ago, so any more losses will start putting me smaller than anyone here has known me. Or, maybe it’s because I’m finally pushing myself a bit more and it’s paying off.
I’m not sure.
All I know is that the word that keeps coming to mind is HOPE. There is hope for me yet and I will continue to press on, learning and going forward no matter what to continue on in my new ending.
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Weigh-In … MY 4 bags of sugar!!

Posted on October 2, 2009 by Leah@MyNewEnding
Today’s Weight: 210.0

Loss/Gain: -1.5 lbs
Total Loss So Far: -21.0 lbs
Finally!!!! I can say that I’ve lost 20 pounds!!!!! I’ve been on my feet all week at school, but I didn’t have make time for actual workouts. So, I was hoping for even that little ole 0.5 of a pound that would bring me to 20 pounds lost. I got the added bonus of another pound.
I’m just a tad excited! 🙂
I really think cutting out the sweets, the late night eating and smaller dinner portions is making a difference. I’m going to get a walk in today and get those workouts back on track though. I will not use a loss-without-working-out week as an excuse to not workout.
So, here’s to a happy Friday. Oh, and below are my four five-pound bags of sugar, because that’s what I’ve lost in weight so far!!!!! (Thanks, Chris, for the idea. *wink* )




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Happy Fall Moment

Posted on October 2, 2009 by Leah@MyNewEnding


So, today I ironed a fall’ish t-shirt, that I bought and wore last year, to wear to school. I had packed away my fall and winter shirts and just brought out some a week ago.

And…….
The shirt fit nice and loose. Not too loose that I didn’t want to wear it, but loose enough to be nice and comfy.
Last spring this shirt would’ve been VERY snug and had it been like that now I would’ve been so mad at myself for not fitting into clothes I wore just a year ago. Instead I was pleased and happy that I’m working on losing the extra weight so I don’t have to have many more of those “I’m too fat for my clothes!” moments.
Glory!!
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HOT 100 – Week 1 Update

Posted on September 30, 2009 by Leah@MyNewEnding


So, here I am one week after joining the Hot 100 Challenge.

My goals for the first third of the challenge are:

Hot 100 Goals for October:
Scale Goal: See any kind of a weight loss by the time my mother-in-law leaves, which should be by the end of this month.
Emotional Goal: Not get offended when my mother-in-law offers a comment she thinks will help me with my “diet”. She hasn’t made more than maybe two in a week, but I found myself getting angry right away. Yet, when I thought more on it…she was right. Ouch.
As of this week I feel: PRETTY GOOD!

Yes, I’m feeling pretty good about it so far. I haven’t had the exercise that I know I need this week, due to a busy schedule, but my food hasn’t been too bad. And as of last Friday I’m already down lower than I weighed when my mother-in-law arrived here. I’m also doing better about not getting all up in knots over any comments. (Though I don’t think there have been very many that I can think of right now.) Yay!

So, here’s to another week working towards those goals and overcoming fears of failure!

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CRAZY Busy

Posted on September 30, 2009 by Leah@MyNewEnding

It’s late, I’m tired and I’ve had a CRAZY group of talkative 1st graders the last two days at school. I have them again tomorrow and then I gladly give the class back to their teacher; and I commit myself to send her cards of encouragement regularly from now on. 😛 wow. To be fair, there are about 6-8 well-behaved students in her class, so that’s nice. That’s all I’ll say on that subject.

I desperately wanted a snickers yesterday and today in fact, but I haven’t had one. I ended up having some hot cocoa yesterday and that helped with the sweet tooth. Otherwise, eating has been okay.
But…I haven’t walked these past two days due to the busy, busy schedule. Today I only got a 15-minute walk in during lunch because I had kids coming in at recess. Plus, going to the fair Saturday instead of staying home and doing laundry and cleaning house to prepare for another full week of work makes for a more stressed out Monday and Tuesday, since it means I had to do laundry in these evenings. Even though I didn’t have to make dinner I do clean up the kitchen and so it wears me out. I feel yucky about it, but am so tired I don’t care.
My mother-in-law did wash all our bedding today and that was a total blessing for me! But, I was too tired to put in a DVD tonight and try and workout before bed.
I’ll get back into my groove, so I’m not worried about it. I just wanted to check in before bed in case I don’t have time to tomorrow.
I hope you are all having a good week!
p.s. These high-stress situations and finding time to workout, etc. is teaching me some things about myself and what I can handle. hhmm…. I feel some deep thoughts coming on in a couple weeks. Stay tuned! 🙂
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It’ll Be Here Before I Know It

Posted on September 28, 2009 by Leah@MyNewEnding

This past Thursday my husband and I celebrated our 14th wedding anniversary. It’s amazing to both of us how the time flies by.

I remember when my husband talked to me about going to college and trying to become a dentist. We had our three children by then and had just celebrated our 7th wedding anniversary. He said something to the effect of, “It should take about seven to eight years from beginning to end. It will go by fast. I mean, look how fast these last seven years have already gone by.” I remember agreeing with him.

Now, we’re seven years away from that conversation and he’s almost done with dental school. What seemed as a distant dream is very close to becoming a reality.

Sometimes I wonder why I waited so long to get serious about my weight, why didn’t it click sooner — like when I was a teen and lost weight, or those 6 years ago when I had already 40 pounds? I wonder wether it will ever come off, or wether I’ll get to enjoy very much of my life as a thin person, etc. etc.
Maybe I’m overreacting, but these thoughts cross my mind.
On this past anniversary I realized that just like the past fourteen years of marriage have passed by quickly, so will my weight loss journey. I can’t go back and fix the weight problems of the past just like I can’t go back and fix the mistakes that I’ve made as a wife these 14 years. What I can do is learn from those past mistakes and press onward for bigger “smaller” and better things ahead. 🙂
For the future will be here before I know it!
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