LET'S DO THIS! CHALLENGE TIME!

On your mark...get ready...set...GO! Let the "Cute as a Bunny Easter Challenge" BEGIN! To all of the participants, THANKS for taking part in Me So Hongry's FIRST ever weight loss challenge and THANKS for spreading the word!

Excuse the hoodie. My hair looked a HOT MESS after working out!

Just a reminder, each participants needs to set a weekly mini-goal.  My mini goal, tracking EVERYDAY this week. I plan to track water, exercise, and food. If I BITE it, I WRITE it! That includes the potato chip debris at the bottom of the bag that I just tipped (shhhh...).

LET'S DO THIS! GAME ON 

LADIES AND FELLAS TOO!

Motivation Makeover: Motivational Strategy

My writer's block stole my words;so, no witty repartee tonight. Every time I sat down to write, my mind drifted in SO many different directions. Tonight, I leave you with my #1 motivational strategy...trying on my old clothes.

Style&Co. size 20 crop pants...

 

 MAJOR NSV...TWO LEGS IN ONE PANT LEG!!

 

Well, that should motivate me to get off the couch and move!!

My homework...ending a blah day with 2 positive statements:

1. I looked in the mirror today and said, "HEY BEAUTIFUL!"
2. I chose to run 3 miles TODAY instead of sitting on the couch.

Motivation Makeover: Homework

So, did YOU do your homework? Remember...I challenged you to write down two positive statements everyday (until Saturday.).

Take a gander at my two statements:

1. By the power of Grayskull...I HAVE THE POWER (My bad. I just experienced a He-Man Flashback...lol @ myself). Seriously,  I HAVE THE POWER TO CHANGE!
   
   
2. I WILL reach my weight loss goals! I WILL!

Please excuse all of the spelling errors in my previous post. I switched to the updated post editor, and I failed to locate the spell checker.   

JUST A THOUGHT

Anyone game for a challenge? Since most New Year's Eve Resolutioners lose steam around or right after Valentine's Day, I tossed around the idea of a short-term challenge to keep the weight loss momentum going. The Luck-O-The-Irish challenge would begin after Valentine's Day and end around St. Patrick's Day. The goal...lose 1 pound a week. I need to muddle through the details and will get back to those interested. Who's down?

CALLING ALL HOUSTON BLOGGERS!

I spoke with God's Favorite Shoes today and we discussed the idea of maybe planning a blogger meet-up. Who's game? Leave a comment.

Motivation Makeover (Pt. 2): My Playlist

Last Friday...

Prior to my workout, I made a mental list of 318 things I wanted to do besides workout. #1 on the list...NOT work out. After much procrastinating and walking around with one shoe on for 30 minutes I made my way to the gym and reluctantly stepped on the treadmill.

I touched the play button on my iTouch , hit the GO button on the treadmill, and proceeded to trudge along for 1 long, excruciating hour.

AND THEN...just as I started to jump off the treadmill, Bodies by Drowning Pool started blaring through the headphones AND THEN...SHAZAAM! I cranked the speed up to 4.5 (that's fast for me...lol) and took off like a streak of lightening.

For me, music makes the world of difference when working out. The music either makes or breaks my workout!

In keeping with my Motivation Makeover theme, I decided to redo my workout play list. Below, I listed my favorite songs by "genre". My taste varies and you may not like it, so keep an opened mind. Take a peek:

GENRE: Songs that...GET THE  PARTY STARTED. These songs generally begin the process of krunkin' me up to workout. GET KRUNK Y'ALL!

Krunkin': The act of being krunk.

Krunk: Drunk+Crazy = Krunk; also used to describe a very fun or enjoyable time.

"Get the Party Started Songs" include but are not limited to the following:

• Banquet by Bloc Party
• Let's Get It Started by The Black Eyed Peas (BEP)
• Hey Ya! by OutKast

 And my forever all-time favorite PARTY STARTER...Junior Kickstart by The Go! Team.  This song really gets me moving on the treadmill. I pretend to take on the role of Ms. Pac Man as I try to escape from the ghost. Huh, you say??? Watch the video and you'll see... 

GENRE: Songs that ...MAKE ME WANNA PUNCH SOMEONE IN THE FACE! 
The songs intensify my anger from running and running and running and running on the treadmill, but  never really going anywhere. Perhaps my anger stems from the fact that DAILY I realize I made me FAT and now I must PAY the price through sweat and tears.

These songs are not for the faint of heart:

• Bulls on Parade by Rage Against the Machine
• Given Up by Linkin Park
• B.Y.O.B by System of a Down
• Bodies by Drowning Pool

GENRE: Song that...MAKE ME STOP THE TREADMILL AND PERFORM A BOOTY POP!

Leading the pack, my new theme song...Video Phone by Beyonce. ft. Lady Gaga. In my mind, this song plays when I walk into a room..."Can you handle it?"

Rounding out my BOOTY POP favs:

• BOOM BOOM POW by the Black Eyed Peas
• How Low by Ludacris
• Imma Be by Black Eyed Peas
• Bidi Bidi Bom Bom by Selena
• Calabria by Enur

GENRE: CALL 911 songs...

I call these songs my 911 emergency tunes. At the moment when I feel like giving up and waving my white flag in defeat, these songs energize or re-krunk me up to push through and keep it moving!!

• Gonna Fly Now (The Theme from  Rocky) by Bill Conti
• Mr. Brightside by The Killers
• Jump by Van Halen
• I Got a Feeling by Black Eyed Peas
• Spider Webs by No Doubt

GENRE: Songs that...MAKE ME SAY..."BAM BIYOTCHES! HOW YA LIKE ME NOW!" 
I dedicate these  songs to all of the haters in my life: past, present, and future.

• It's Me B****es! by Swizz Beatz
• Ex-Girlfriend by No Doubt
• Show Em What You Got by Jay Z
• Swagger Like Us by T.I. feat. Kanye, Jay Z, etc.
• Bad Girl by Dannity Kane

And  I love to "run" to the finale song from America's Next Top Model (ANTM).. In my own mind I AM ANTM...a real women with curves!

GENRE: WITNESS FITNESS songs that get me krunk for Jesus.

 Last but not least, I've included a few Gospel songs that help me get the job the done: First up...God In Me by Mary Mary

Other Witness Fitness favs:

• Where You Are? by Dietrick Haddon
• Lift Him Up by Hezekiah Walker
• Looking For You by Kirk Franklin
• Always by Jason Champion

Well folks that's just the tip of my workout play list iceberg.  

Please share some of your 

favorites with me!!

My Weight Watchers homework

Remember the challenge? Write down 2 positive statements:

1. Instead of eating a bunch of super bowl junk food, I made healthy choices: buffalo chicken strips, homemade tortilla chips and salsa, and sliders.  I cooked my own food!!!
   
2. When my kids and I went to CiCi's Pizza ( I received 2 free buffet's for being a good Samaritan), I used the stop, rest, ad assess method to ensure I didn't stuff myself.

Thank You...Gracias...Danke... Merci...Grazie

When I returned home from work yesterday, I called the maintenance personnel to remove my door from the frame. Why you ask? My BIG HEAD failed to fit through the doorway as a result of ALL the love fellow blog buddies and MY SITStahs showed Me So Hongry.

I want to THANK EVERYONE for the out pour of motivational and supportive comments in response to my SITS Featured Blogger post. Let me tell you a little something about Me So Hongry. Comments serve as fuel to keep me motivated, especially when the going gets tough and I want to get going ( to the nearest pizza buffet). I want you to know, I plan to respond to each and every person who left a comment yesterday, but it may take a while. I figured if I start responding to around 20 peeps a day, I may finish around...let's see...March (lol).

I even read the comments left by the SITStahs checking in on the SITS website. I discovered that many LOVED and found my blog title humorous. And for that reason, my blog name shall remain the same until the end of time. Well for that reason, plus the fact that I purchased the domain name www.mesohongry.com. And to think, I came up with title while drive down the freeway singing (To the tune of 2 Live Crew's Me So Horny) " Ah...me so hongry...ah...ah...me so hongry. Ah...me so hongry...me eat for long time."

I especially want to THANK everyone for congratulating me on achieving a loss of 45 pounds. Believe me when I say, I am truly touched that you find me inspirational, as well as motivational. Funny thing, I sit here thanking perfect strangers, but yet I struggle with accepting compliments from familiar faces: family, friends, co-workers, fellow WW members, etc. Why is that?

I work hard on my blog and my body, but yet I devalue myself by failing to acknowledge compliments. So from this point forward, I plan to accept and embrace weight loss recognition from family and friends with grace. So with that being said, I need practice with the whole "accepting recognition graciously thing," so let's get the complimets-a-rolling!

Another Chance to Get it Right!

In 2010, I guarantee I'M BRINGING SEXY BACK! I failed to deliver (to myself) on my SEXY BACK promise in 2009. Rest assured my fellow bloggers...GAME ON!

First and foremost, I want to thank all of you for making my first year of blogging inspirational, motivational, and exciting:

My New Blog Buddies: Thanks for allowing my blog the opportunity to entertain and motivate you as we both struggle through our weight loss endeavor. Many times last year I wanted to surrender to the food devil and just give up, but your blogs encouraged me to persevere.

Me So Hongry First-Timers:WELCOME! Sit back, strap on your seat belt and get ready for a roller coaster ride. Experience my ups and downs with me and I hope you plan to return time and time again.

My Supportive Lurkers:You know who you are. Those of you I inspired to venture to Goodwill or try new food products, show me some love when stopping by my blog.

Well without further adieu I present my 2009 weight loss adventure in pictures:

December 2008: Already 2 months into my stint with Weight Watchers

January 2009:Celebrating a friends academic achievement

March 2009: Britney Spears concert...check out the hoochies-in-training behind me. Lol.

March 2009: Spring Break at the spa with my Mom...what a treat!

April 2009: 2nd of 2 birthday celebrations in 1 night

May 2009: Chilling at the No Doubt concert with my son

June 2009: Celebrating a friends birthday and my FIRST Summer OFF!

July 2009: GAME ON! As per request of a fellow blogger I proved my dedication with my sweat!

August 2009: Waiting to perform at the Michael Jackson Karaoke Party

October 2009: 3 generations of fabulousness celebrating my Grandma's 94th birthday

October 2009: My 1st grown up Halloween complete with costume and everything

November 2009: Thanksgiving break at the Aquarium

December 2009: Yuletide by the fireside

December 31, 2009: New Years Eve

January 2008/December 2009: Wearing the same shirt...45 pounds lighter.

As you can see my hard work paid off , and a long road ahead looms before me. I must work even HARDER to continue to lose and keep the weight off. I refuse to go back to this:

ALRIGHT Y'ALL, 2010 GIVES US ANOTHER CHANGE TO GET IT RIGHT! LET'S DO THIS!

And MY Belly Shook Like a Bowl of Jelly. . .

First things first...to my surprise, my weigh in results yielded a 1 pound loss. I walked through the doors of WW this afternoon with the mindset that I failed last week and I expected to see a gain. You see, sometime last week during winter break, I decided to somewhat step back and take a small break from this whole weight loss battle.

For those of you struggling, do you ever feel exhausted from constantly thinking about weight loss 24/7? I know I do. The stress of not meeting a personal goal, losing 50 pounds by the end of 2009, began taking a toll on my motivation and started to make me feel like a failure. So, last week around my 4th buffalo chicken bite and 2nd pot sticker at T.G.I. Friday's I decided to just chill and relax. At Friday's I wanted to enjoy myself and not think about weighing in, working out, food point values, tracking, etc.

Constantly thinking about those things when hanging out, partying, or just chilling with friends SUCKS the fun right out of any festivity. I took the "chill approach" on quite a few outings last week, which explains my surprise of this week's weigh in results. But now as I write this post and think about last week, I still made the occasional good choice, such as spliting a burrito at Chipotle with my Mom.

Even though I occasionally chilled I still worked out by running 3 miles 4 days last week. And working out also proved challenging as well. One day I sat in my car at the park just looking out the window. I somehow hoped the results of jogging 3 miles would somehow cosmically transfer to my body while silently sitting in my vehicle. As I feared the approaching sunset, I finally decided to leave the comfy confines of my car to complete my workout.

AAAAAAAAAAARRRRRRRGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGHHHHHHH!!!! Sometimes I just feel like screaming.

SO WHAT NOW?
After attending today's meeting, I understand that I must commit to working harder when dealing with emotional eating. Part of my plan to combat mindless eating includes asking myself the following questions:

1. Why am I standing in the pantry with my hand submerged in a bag of marshmallows? Am I really hungry?
2. What am I feeling? Boredom? Anger? Frustration?
3. What is my mind saying? "It's only one." "You can walk an extra mile. " "You weigh in on Saturday...there's still time."

Equally important, I realized (yet again) that my mind generates and maintains the psychological uproar in my head surrounding my perpetual battle with losing weight. The battle exist right here in my head, BUT I also realized that each one of my little victories (listed below) helps to win part of the battle:

• wearing clothes in a smaller size
• receiving compliments about my appearance
  
• discovering new foods, like jicama
• introducing others to WW
• attending more than 16 meetings
• moving more
• finding a substitution for stress eating...blogging (sometimes I still choose the food)
• trying new recipes
• using my food scale
• making better choices
• knowing the points values of fast food
  

So in short, I recognize the fact that I MUST CELEBRATE EVERY SUCCESS! And yes, even the little victories make a BIG difference!

"Recognize and celebrate what you want to see more of!"

I originally planned to write some holiday related posts, but I wanted to work through my mini crisis by managing my feelings through writing. Well, I am off like a dirty shirt...my stomach is growling! Stay tuned for some light and more humorous holiday posts.

The Rubber Band (Wo)Man!

Week after week I contemplate changing my weigh in day from Saturday morning to a weeknight. But week after week I choose to keep my standing date with the scale on Saturday morning for two reasons:

1. A Saturday weigh-in keeps me honest on Friday nights (not ALL Friday nights, but most). On Friday nights I try to avoid salty foods and cocktails loaded with sugar. So that means I spend more Fridays at home than at Don Pico's eating chips and salsa while drinking the best Margaritas in town. And yes, this blows!! A little known fact about me...salty food makes me puffy. The salt makes my fingers look like a pack of Ballpark Frank hot dogs.
   
   A Saturday weigh-in also means I miss out on a lot of outings with friends on Friday nights. If I feel like my willpower may waver, then I choose to just stay home rather than torture myself with food and drinks that jeopardize positive weigh in results. So friends, nothing personal...I just want to reach my weight loss goals and maintain a healthy lifestyle (but keep the invites coming!). That's me enjoying a Friday night out with coworkers.
   
2. The second reason why I choose to keep my weigh in day the same, the Saturday meeting always provides the support I need after a disastrous week...like THIS PAST WEEK! I relapsed, more like collapsed thanks to two holiday parties this week. I saw a pizza box and lost my mind. Pizza for me is equivalent to someone waving a red cloak in front of a bull.
   

This week's meeting topic, The Snowball Effect, helped me to put my indiscretions behind me, forgive myself, and move forward. The leader gave everyone a rubber as an ANCHOR reminding members that quitting is NOT an option, so we need to bounce back like the rubber band.

An ANCHOR, one of Weight Watcher's tools for living, serves as a process for creating cues and triggers to remind yourself of your weight goal and the inner resources you have to achieve your goal. When this weight loss endeavor gets tough, that's when ANCHORING come into play. People use anchoring every day. For example, when you hear a song that makes you smile because you associate it with a certain memory, that's an anchor to that memory.

I myself use several anchors:

When you lose 10% of your starting weight, WW reward members with this gold key ring. After losing 25 lbs, I received the silver ring, and after I lose 50 lbs (7 lbs away from this goal), I will receive my 50 lbs ring to add to my key ring.

I also use Hungry, the star of the WW commercials as an anchor. Hungry lives on my fridge and his bro resides in the pantry. Sometimes Hungry keeps me honest. Other times, I roll my eyes at Hungry and threaten him to try and pry the bag of Hot Fries from my hands.

During times of trouble and distress he knows it's best to just sit by the soup and keep his mouth shut!

My favorite and most treasured anchor, my butterfly ring. When I first began my weight loss endeavor years ago, I told myself I no longer wanted to be the big fat fuzzy caterpillar...I want to be the butterfly. As I alter my lifestyle I spin my chrysalis. Soon I will break free from my chrysalis of fat and emerge as the beautiful butterfly!


O, my weigh in results...
Despite my week of food calamity, I managed to stay the same -/+ 0...talk about second chances. Folks, this week I WILL bounce back like my rubber band...TWANG (the sound of my rubber band bouncing back...lol)!

Let it Snow. . . Let it Snow. . . Let it SNOW!

The city is abuzz with talk of the impending snow. My BB Weather Eye App, in addition to several weather forecasters predict some "snow-like" activity in various parts of Houston.

Why the excitement? Well, as I previously mentioned, we rarely see snow in these here parts. AND if the weather proves too challenging for commuters, perhaps the school districts will cancel school resulting in a 4 day weekend for ME and my coworkers! One can only hope...lol.

So, I forced myself to workout today. As per my goal, that makes 3 out of 5 workouts completed this week, and since my "week" ends on Saturday, I must confess I failed to meet my workout goal. Tomorrow's workout will make 4, and 4 out of 5 ain't bad. How bout some good news (well good news for me)? A new management team took over our complex and they started making changes already. And one of those changes...A NEW TREADMILL in the "gym."

Yesterday, I shared my Frosties with you guys, and unfortunately Frosty will not make an appearance at this year's Polar Express event. Basically, my Frosties refuse to adhere to my butt giving a whole new meaning to the term assed out.

Definition of Assed out: To be out of luck

So, my ill fitting PJs got me to thinking:

"Trina (my internal dialogue with myself), did your butt really fill up these pajamas last year or did I buy the pajamas a little bit too big? Then I answered myself, which is not a good thing. YEP, my butt was really and truly that BIG...big enough to fill up the seat in my Frosty PJs."

When I look in the mirror, my weight loss seems surreal, but "wearing" old clothing, such as my Frosties and other baggy previously owned garments helps me grasp the reality of my successful weight loss efforts. Does that make sense? I just need to work on my brain and my eyes accepting the reflection in the mirror.

A Frosty Friendship

So, I thought about yesterday's post, Experiencing Technical Difficulties, and somewhere between publishing the post and arriving at the grocery store after work, I started to come to my senses about my weight loss frustrations. Well first off, I thought about all of my hard work thus far and I realized (yet again) I ain't going back. Plus, I like the response I get from family and friends. Last weekend we dropped by my aunt's house and she and some of my other family members complimented me on my new developing shape. AND, this weekend I went out with some friends and one of them said, " Woo, hey skinny!" It felt good...real good to hear that.

Anyway, as I previously mentioned I started to come to my senses...
I set some goals and I want to see them through to completion. More specifically, A few weeks ago Actual Scale published a post explaining that 50 days remained in 2009. So, I made up my mind that I want to lose 50 pounds by the end of 2009. Thus, my 50 by 50 goal was born. At that time, my weight loss totaled a whopping 45 pounds. So I thought 50 by 50...no problem. Or so I thought (cue frustration). Since then, a couple of pounds found their way back home.

Time waits for no one, so I decided to make every effort to hit my 50 in 50 goal. For starters, I made myself go to the "gym" and workout. Rain, sleet, or snow, I was determined to workout yesterday, and I did.

I ran through the freezing rain to and from the gym in my complex.

As soon as I reached home, I ran upstairs and immersed myself in a steaming hot shower. And after my shower, I treated myself to my Frosties.

Meet my friend Frosty!

I purchased this ensemble last year for Polar Express Day at work. Yes! I wore pajamas to work. In my opinion, all companies should require employees to wear pajamas at least twice a month. What is Polar Express Day, you ask? On the last day before Christmas Break, the librarian hosts Polar Express day where the entire school wears their PJs, watches the movie, and drinks hot cocoa.

And unfortunately last year, Houston's unpredictable December climate made wearing fleece pajamas in 70° weather a nightmare!

Today the weatherman predicts snow this Friday. It snows in Houston maybe once every 3 or 4 years. My kids reveled in last year's winter wonderland...their second snow experience.

Making a Snow-not-so-much-an-Angel

E - I - E - I - O No . . . My Birthday on the Farm!

So Wednesday, November 4th, I celebrated my 36th birthday. The day started with a birthday surprise from my Mom. I thought she decided to deliver some birthday treats, even though we never decided on a cookies or a cake. When she arrived she opened the backseat door and removed this skirt.

If you remember from my Halloween post my Mom made her own 50's inspired skirt. After seeing her skirt I requested a poodle skirt for our 50th Day of School Celebration. In honor of the 50th day of school, the Kinder team decided to pay  homage to the 50's...THANKS MOM! That's not the E-I-E-I-O no part.

After receiving my skirt, I dressed for work and departed looking forward to visiting Old Mac Donald's Farm, our first field trip of the year. The Kinder team decided to rock overalls for the excursion.

Here comes the E-I-E-I-O no part. First of all, one of the buses arrived late and our estimated time of departure changed from 8:30 A.M. to around 8:55 A.M. So, we hit the open road and found ourselves LOST! Yes, lost! Finally we arrived to the farm around 10:20 A.M. We lost an hour of fun.

SILVER LINING: When the students spotted the farm they cheered in delight. I think the students sensed our agitation as the bus drivers aimlessly wandered the freeways.

Upon arrival, yours truly looked forward to eating lunch, but we decided to let the students terrorize and feed the animals first. Then FINALLY, feeding time for the humans. While everyone else ran to the concession stand, I made this bad boy: sandwich thins with deli sliced roast beef, hoity toity mustard, and baked Cheetos.

So here's the E-I-E-I-O no...I feared for my life as I ate my sandwich while battling what seemed like a swarm of killer bees. No silver lining.

After two long hours we FINALLY boarded the bus to return to school. As we reached our final destination I noticed my throat felt scratchy and I got that E-I-E-I-O NO vibe again. I thought to myself...Self, that would suck more than anything to get sick on your birthday. By the time I packed my bag to go home, some nasty bug completed the invasion of my body.

SILVER LINING: I stayed home from work, sick I might add, and slept all day.

So needless to say ALL birthday celebrations remain canceled until my body resumes all natural functions, specifically, BREATHING: NO annual birthday dinner with my Mom and my boys, NO annual birthday happy hour with my girls, and NO dinner date with GIFGOW.

SILVER LINING: Me and GIFGOW celebrated his birthday Monday and I helped him eat this.

O, and I felt not one shred of remorse as I ate some of his dessert. And I still feel nothing. Perhaps I gained .8 this week thanks to this decadent delight. Who cares? Truth be told I would eat this again.

SILVER LINING: This .8 gain means nothing, compared to the NSV experienced at the doctor's office. Tune in to tomorrow's post for more details.

Ain't No Stopping Me Now!

As my one year anniversary with Weight Watchers nears, I feel a little unsatisfied with my 39 pound weight loss. But, then the thought occurred to me. I should compare old and new photos to see what a difference 39 lbs. make. Lately, whenever I feel myself dipping into a slump I pull out old photos and I usually regain my motivation and momentum.

February 2008/August 2009


September 2008/October 2009


April 2008/October 2009

After seeing these three comparisons, I am more than grateful for the 39 pound loss!