SUCCESS OF THE JOUNEY IS ARRIVING AT YOUR DESTINATION NOT HOW FAST YOU GET THERE.
-Bob , Biggest Loser Winner Australia 4th season


I WILL meet my goal (may take me some time BUT)
I HAVE the patience (to keep going because)
Giving Up is NOT an option!
I AM DONE BEING THE FAT GIRL!

I have to thank all of you who voted for me to be a SparkPeople Motivator!!! REally REally means ALOT! When I first saw the email I was in disbelief tears ...

SUCCESS OF THE JOUNEY IS ARRIVING AT YOUR DESTINATION NOT HOW FAST YOU GET THERE.
-Bob , Biggest Loser Winner Australia 4th season


I WILL meet my goal (may take me some time BUT)
I HAVE the patience (to keep going because)
Giving Up is NOT an option!
I AM DONE BEING THE FAT GIRL!

I have to thank all of you who voted for me to be a SparkPeople Motivator!!! REally REally means ALOT! When I first saw the email I was in disbelief tears came to my eyes. THANK YOU ALL AGAIN ((((((big hugs))))))

So now it is time to give myself a little bit of LOVE. I have really done great these last couple of years and I really believe that it WILL be permanent! I still have a ways to go but the goal is not too far away and I dont have a deadline. I can go as slow as I want to. I also look at it this way, the periods that I dont lose or gain is a big bonus really. Because a couple of positive things are going on.....
1) I am learning to maintain or
2) I am gaining muscle and losing fat
The point is this, my body is changes and it is what I wanted! I have learned the steps and depending on where I want to go from here, I have more steps to learn. I have enjoyed my journey so far both the ups and downs, the frustrations and excitments. I am proud of me!

A little about me, I am 37, I am an American living in Sicily with my husband and two children, Gino 4 and Emma 2. I started my lifestyle change on Feb 11, 2007. My starting weight was 210, now I am at 162.

My weightloss is moving along but very slowly still. But I am okay with that! Really is not about how fast it comes off, what is important is that I live healthier and everything else will follow in due time.

My motivation mainly was the fact that I could not stand how I felt in my clothes. Living here in Italy I found it very difficult to find clothing that I could wear. Now I am feeling so much better, alot of my pants are getting too big. What a motivator that is! My goal weight I think I will set for 120-130 so I still need to lose about 29+ more. I hate that I cannot just buy what ever I want. I also want to feel more sexy for my husband and have more energy for my children. I am also looking forward to how my family and friends will react next summer when I go home for a visit.

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"DO YOU SUFFER FROM DIET RAGE?"
by Mike Kramer (clip from SparkPeople article)


"Pay less attention to how much further you have to travel. Stop asking yourself "are we there yet?" You’ll get there when you get there. Instead, look at the scenery, think about life, carry on a conversation, sing along with the radio, or simply be thankful for how far you’ve come.

The journey is always more fun with a passenger. Have you asked anyone along for the ride?

You know the route you need to take to reach your weight loss goals. It’s already mapped out. As long as you stay pointed in the right direction, you’ll get there. Even in the worst traffic jams, you still get to your destination at some point. It’s the same way with dieting – just a matter of time. It may take longer than you first expected, but you will get there.

There will always be periods of stopping and starting. It’s something that you should just anticipate and allow for. No use getting upset or stressed about not making progress. It’s a normal part of the journey.

Sometimes, you’ve just gotta go with the flow of what’s going on around you. Life can present some situations that you really can’t do anything about. When that happens, staying straight and steady – doing the best that you can – will keep you on track and sane. In traffic, impatient people stop, change lanes, weave in and out of other cars, driving themselves and everyone else crazy – and in the end, usually don’t get any farther along than you do by staying put and going with the flow.

Shortcuts never work.

Driving too fast is dangerous. That’s why they call it "crash" dieting. Slow down, take what life gives you, and make sure you arrive at your destination in good health. "
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"THE 12 STEPS TO PERMANENT WEIGHT LOSS"
Bella Online: The Voice of Women (http://www.bellaonline.com)


Permanent weight loss is a serious journey. These 12 steps require making life-long lifestyle changes, managing a range of emotions, overcoming addictions and many other challenges.

But taking the 12 steps to permanent weight loss can lead to a happier, healthier life.

Basically, by the book, permanent weight loss is based on calories consumed, your metabolic rate and calories burned through exercise. But in reality, there's much more involved. Your job is to take one step at a time, stay on track and have as much fun as possible along the way.

The twelve steps to permanent weight loss

1. Make a commitment to health and fitness. You've probably "tried" to lose weight time and time again. But to be successful, you have to make a life-long, daily commitment to persistently do whatever it takes to be healthy and fit. Commitment is the single most important success factor. Commitment creates persistence. It's not, "I want to" or "I'll try." It's, "I WILL find the way!"

2. Take back control and go for your goal. Setting goals and visualizing your ideal self can provide powerful guidance and motivation. But it's important to imagine your future goal with positive excitement and anticipation, as opposed to feeling something's lacking in the present.

3. Get right in the swing of a structured routine. You can't change your life without a doable plan. Failing to plan is planing to fail. So plan for the necessary lifestyle changes, such as what food to buy and eat, when you'll exercise and who supports you. Then get into your new routine.

4. Eat healthy and wise for your perfect size For looking and feeling great, healthy eating is even more important than weight loss. And the combination is unbeatable. Eating healthy calories to lose weight helps you lose weight naturally. And that's the best way to lose weight.
Focus on high fiber foods, low-fat protein, drinking water and taking natural health supplements.

5. Exercise some fat away every single day. Daily exercise is not only important for health, it also makes permanent weight loss much easier. Exercise increases metabolism, burns calories, improves muscle tone and relieves stress. At least a half-hour a day of healthy physical activity can include walking, low impact aerobics, yoga, martial arts, swimming and strength training.

6. Think and act calorically instead of historically. Forget past failures and all the conflicting information you've heard. Calories count! So learn the numbers and write them down or you'll more than likely miscalculate. It takes eating approximately 500 calories less a day to lose a pound a week. So give up watching the numbers on your scale. Watch your calories instead.

7. Manage time and food so you don't delude. Good time management and food awareness are essential for permanent weight loss. To change your body you must change the food that goes into your mouth and how you spend your time. Use a time management book to write down goals and daily priorities, plus a food diary to keep track of calories, behavior and feelings.

8. Give up starvation and hard deprivation. Sweets, salty foods, refined carbs and rich fatty foods are unhealthy addictions. Although you wouldn't suggest an alcoholic take an occasional drink, there's a popular notion that you shouldn't "deprive" yourself of these foods. Permanent weight loss requires you to eliminate addictive foods and liberate yourself from feeling deprived. Eat highly nutritious low calorie foods 4 to 6 times a day to keep yourself from getting hungry.

9. Don't let your mood determine your food. It's estimated that emotion, rather than hunger, is the cause of at least 75% of overeating "comfort" and junk food. But using food to celebrate or "fill the void" caused by depression, fatigue, loneliness, feeling sorry for yourself or boredom is a habit that can be broken. Instead of reaching for food, develop new alternative habits such as:
reading a book,

going for a walk,

talking to friends,

listening to music,

watching a movie,

taking a warm bath,

writing in your diary,

meditating or praying,

cleaning or gardening,

doing relaxing exercise.

10. A slow and steady pace is how to win the race. Of course you'd like to lose weight fast. But it's a trap. Fast weight loss and going long periods during the day without eating releases hormones that make you feel hungrier and gain weight. So steady and slow is the way to go.

11. Let failures teach you instead of defeat you. Yes, you'll have lapses. Accepting this and catching lapses and relapses before they become collapses is just part of the process. Learn to recognize a lapse early and nip it in the bud before it derails your permanent weight loss plans.

12. Reward with non-food fun for a job well done. Achieving permanent weight loss is a major accomplishment. Celebrate your success, but never with food! Find satisfaction in new clothes to fit your new body, getting a massage, taking a pleasant walk or even in a warm bath.
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I always get frustrated when I am stuck, this is just what I needed to read and reread when needed!! I truely live each day with this in thoughts. I am in no hurry to get to my goal weight. I am enjoying the process or the "ride" that I am on. I could have been pushing myself harder in exercising but I am proud of myself for the progress I have made so far!! I know that I will get to my destination and looking forward to it but at the same time I am not letting it make me feel rushed. There is no reason to rush things, I am going to enjoy this all the way through!

December 31, 2008
Last day of the year and happy that I am continueing to lose weight. The process is slow (lost 18 pounds this year) but it works better for me. I am learning to live a healthier life and because of it my body is changing. I will continue doing what I am doing now because it is still working. Yes I do go through frustrating times when I feel the weight is not going to come off but I just remind myself that IT WILL. I just have to (1.) Not give up even when I feel very little hope and (2.) Remember I am still learning to live a new life style.

January 1, 2009
First day of the new year and I am setting a goal to do 2 20 mins sessions on my stationary bike daily. Once in the morning and the other in the evening.

January 3, 2009
I have started back going to the gym. It was close all of the holidays. I am feeling frustrated because I thought that as I started adding ST to my routine that the weight would start comeing off a bit faster but it is not. I know that muscle weighs more than fat and I am trying to keep that in mind,,, but still!!!!

January 9, 2009
Well I seem to be at a brick wall. Cannot seem to get around 166-167. I know I will, just have to figure out what my body does or does not need. (speaking more of food). I have been giving in to myself, eating a bit more than normal.
I wanted to make this note because every now and then I seem to be at a stand still, then I eventually get moving again.

January 14, 2009
Well, hopefully I got things going down again. Woke up this morning to a better reading on the scale. Of course yesturday I really paid attention to what I ate too! Also, Started playing a new game on my Wii "My Fitness Coach" . I really did not expect too much out of it but I was pleasently surprised! I really worked up a sweat and there were even things I had difficult time doing. Mainly the push ups! I am also making sure that I have water constantly with me. And I stopped eating at 6pm.

January 27, 2009
For the last week I have been very sick. Have had bronchitis I believe,, no appetite. I have lost 5 pounds which to be honest I hope does not come back!

February 2, 2009
Today I hit 159, that is a loss now for me of 50+ lbs. I dont know wether to celebrate it or not because the last 6 lbs were lost due to being sick and not being able to eat much. I suppose I will celebrate it in a week or so if it stays off.

February 7, 2009
Is it time to stop looking at the scale every morning and go by the measuring tape? I am entering the realization that since I have start strength training that the scale will more much slower but the inches should go faster. I suppose I could still weigh myself everyday but go more by the tape. I am just really afraid that if I stop weighing myself then I will stop working so hard and then the weight will slowly creep back on. I just have to get my mind straight, I have to get it drilled inside that now it is more important the inches that are lost and along with the inches the scale will slowly move. I still believe I can do this, Just having a problem seeing myself lean. Even now, my hips are going and I see it but Having a hard time believeing it.... I look in the mirror and double and triple check to see if it is really happening.

February 10, 2009
So I am starting to figure out (or maybe it is finally sinking in) that if I continue to weigh myself everyday that I cannot get frustrated because the scale is not going to change like it did before I started adding strength training to my program or I should say life. Because of several reasons,,, muscles weigh more than fat, muscles will retain water and glycogen. I dont know if I will stop weighing myself everyday. Maybe I could give it a try (dont know). Another thing I need to do is try calorie counting for a couple of weeks. I am interested in how much I am taking in. If I am getting enough or too little. Starting today I am going to try.

Feb 11, 2009
So yesturday I tried counting calories and I believe that I am first of all not eating enough, but when I tried yesturday to eat in range I put on over night. Should I keep trying or stop???

February 16, 2009
Ok so I have decided not to get on the scale today for a couple of reasons. The first is because I loaded up this weekend (mainly Sunday) on calories. Not the good calories either. Lots of chocolate, corn puffs, cake. CAN WE SAY SWEETS. I dont feel bad about it either. I have done so well these last couple of years and every now and then you have to give into yourself. If not then you get no enjoyment in life. The other reason I have decided not to get on the scale is because I want to see if the motivation is there to really pay attention to what I am eating. Still going to eat every 3 hours and I am going to try to write down on a journal exactly what I am eating and at what time. Maybe this way I can also try to figure out my calorie intake.

February 17, 2008
Did not do so well on writing down all my meals yesturday. Today I have put down my plan for my meals today in SparkPeople's meal tracking. As of this moment I have not finished it, still have dinner to add and snack. I am still lacking at least 900 calories. ?????
It will be difficult for me not to weight every day so I am going to at least try for every other day.

March 5, 2008
I have been sick again for the last couple of weeks. I really hate being sick and I have not been going to the gym. But I did decide that as of March 1st that I was going to do at least 50 mins on my stationary bike every day! I have done it so far every day too. I am not pushing myself too hard because I have a little bit of a problem with my chest (coughing). The weather here in Sicily is getting warmer, I am really looking forward to spring! So tired of staying in the house all the time. My weight is not changeing much and the last couple of days I have really increase my calorie intake. I need to get back into tracking everything again.

March 16, 2008
I have been feeling better for the past week and have return to the gym. The Sonoma diet that I am incorperating is helping. I dont follow it 100% but I use alot of the menu ideas and all of the meals I have tried have been great! The last couple of days I have gotten rid of alot of water that I have been holding on to and I feel so much lighter. You know, I think what happend that got me so down was this,,, one day I decided to buy a big bag of peanut M&Ms and I ate 90% of the bag myself and almost all in one setting (not good). All that sugar really got to me and made me mentally and physically drowned! But I have gotten control back... even tested myself by buying another bag! GUESS WHAT?? It is open and sitting in the cabinet and I have not touched it in 2 days!! Do not even have that craving desire to! I even bought me Snickers and those have not been touch either! I feel so strong both physically but mostly mentally!

March 26, 2009
The last few days I have been so very hungry and I have been eating everything seems like, trying to find something satisfiing (sp?). Just yesturday it hit me why I am feeling the way I am...TOM is arriving! Also my scale has been at my MIL's for the last few days and I went off track. For me it IS nessary to weigh myself everyday. It is my visual and keeps me on track.

April 16, 2009
Well, the last couple of weeks I have taken a break, still feel like taking a break. I dont have that drive to continue for now. My MIL is still away so I have to go to the gym in the evenings which I dont like because by that time I dont feel like going plus there is always too many people there. I much prefer going in the mornings when my energy is high and I can be done for the day. I am trying to get my drive going again by thinking of different things such as,,,, summer is almost here and I want to look good in the bathing suit but think I think ahhh there is still time, I dont have to be in a rush to look great just now or even this year. My weight loss has been so slow anyway I probably would not even get to where I would really like to be. Saying all of this, I am still trying to watch what I am eating and stay away from my trigger foods. Guess what I have to do is take baby step again to get my drive back.

May 13, 2009
MIL returned a couple of weeks ago and I am back in the gym at my regular time on M,W and F. On Monday this week I did my measurements at the gym and went down everywhere!!! Funny thing is my weight was up. I think it was up because over the weekend I had pizza on Sat and on Sun I did not really care what I ate. So I think I was retaining water. Anyway measurements say alot! If any of you read my little blogs here and look at my daily weigh in then you may wounder why I do it.....well I will tell you, I do it not only for myself but for others that may by chance come across my page.... to show that my progress is slow,, my weight has not changed much but other things have... Even though my scale does not move much some months I refuse to give up! I will make it to my goal, I JUST BELIEVE I WILL. Sure the scale is frustrating but I blunger onwards!!

June 29, 2009
Scale still not moving much...goes down a little then up. The good thing is I am not going higher. I am feeling tired today, really exhausted! It is not because I am exerciseing because I am not. I am actually taking a break from the gym. The main reason is because of my kids, dont have anyone to watch them. Plus the gym hours change in July then they close in August. So it is just better to wait and start up again in September. I am expecting TOM any day now so I am sure that is why I feel so blahish today. That and my daughter has not been sleeping well which causes me not to sleep well. I am also feeling a little sick to my stomach.


((2009))
7/11--
6/11--163.8
5/11--165.4
4/16--165
3/11--163.6
2/11--162.4
2/02--159.8***loss 50 pounds
1/11--169

((2008))
12/11 --167.4
11/13 --169***loss 40 pounds
10/9 --170
9/11 --171
8/14 --174
7/10 --175
6/11 --178
5/10 --181.2
April on vacation
3/12 --175.8
2/11 --176.6
1/11 --178.6

((2007))
12/11 --177.4
11/14 --175.0
10/11 --178.4
9/12 --179.8***loss 30+ pounds
9/11 --180.2
8/11 --184.4
7/12 --187.8
6/13 --189.4***Loss 20+ pounds
6/11 --192.8
5/11 --196.4
4/11 --198.6
3/26 --198.8***loss 10+ pounds entered Onderland!!
3/11 --203.2
2/11 --210.2

Information below is from my Pulsar HRM watch
05/25/09 to 05/31/09
total exercise time 3:38:19
total calories burned 2768

05/18/09 to 05/24/09
total exercise time 4:55:14
total calories burned 3604

05/11/09 to 05/17/09
total exercise time 5:28:27
total calories burned 4404

05/04/09 to 05/10/09
total exercise time 5:08:16
total calories burned 3765

4/27/09 to 5/03/09
total exercise time 06:02:15
total calories burned 4211

4/20/09 to 4/26/09
total exercise time 5:00:56
total calories burned 3175

4/13/09 to 4/19/09
total exercise time 2:04:26
total calories burned 1491

4/06/09 to 4/12/09
total exercise time o:oo:00
total calories burned 0000

3/30/09 to 4/05/09
total exercise time 3:32:35
total calories burned 2842

3/23/09 to 3/29/09
total exercise time 2:28:06
total calories burned 1933

3/16/09 to 3/22/09
total exercise time 2:20:41
total calories burned 1853

3/09/09 to 3/15/09
total exercise time 3:30:47
total calories burned 2754

3/02/09 to 3/08/09
total exercise time 5:01:41
total calories burned 3136

2/23/09 to 3/01/09 (sick)
total exercise time 00:51:25
total calories burned 594

2/16/09 to 2/22/09
total exercise time 3:40:07
total calories burned 2516

2/09/09 to 2/15/09
total exercise time 4:20:42
total calories burned 3288

2/2/09 to 2/08/09
total exercise time 3:31:49
total calories burned 2351

1/26/09 to 2/01/09 (no exercise due to being sick)
total exercise time 0
total calories burned 0

1/19/09 to 1/25/09 (sick)
total exercise time 1:59:14
total calories burned 1168

1/12/09 to 1/18/09:
total exercise time 6:00:29
total calories burned 3730

1/5/09 to 1/11/09
total exercise time 4:38:31
total calories burned 3035

12/29/08 to 1/4/09
Total exercise time 3:53:11
Total calories burned 2618

Read More About SUEKKY (Updated September 23)

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