I'm Really Good...

At gaining weight. I'm actually kind of a pro. In fact, I'm so good at it, I'm the heaviest I've ever been. Don't look to me for answers on losing weight. I can't help you there. You want to gain? I'm your girl. All 271 pounds of me.

Yesterday was Christmas. Turkey dinner (delish... thank you to my cousin Danielle for dinner) topped off with lots of fudge and pumpkin pie. After dinner we went out to my other cousins, John and Christine. They got me this really pretty red blouse. The collar has black beading on it. Very pretty. I pulled it out of the bag and it was a 3X. "Oh my... I don't think it'll fit. If it doesn't, I'll take it back and trade it in for a 2X." Got home, tried it on.. guess what...

...the 3X fit.

A little too well.

 

This is no longer a matter of wanting to lose weight. I have to. My health is at risk. Please pray for me that I have the courage to do this.

  

(Notes to self)...

Red Shirt 3X

Gray Pants 20W (Did I mention that they're floods?!)

Weight 271

Measurements - too depressing to think about. Will have Mom take those later.

The date on the camera is incorrect.. it's actually 12/26/13.

Merry Christmas Everyone... May God richly bless you with health and love. And let us not forget the reason for the season. Jesus. He loves you so much, that He came to this world to be an example to us. To teach us.. to die for us. He paid the ultimate sacrifice so that we may have the ultimate reward. Eternal life with Him.

Blessings and a piece of oohy goooey fudge,
Leslie :)

Update 1/12/14... We did our measurements. Chest, hips, thighs, arms, and waist... total measurements were 218.50. **sigh**

Happy Thanksgiving!

It's that time of year again. The holiday season is upon us. Turkey (or ham if you prefer) and all of the fixings. Time spent with family. Shopping for Christmas presents. STRESSFUL! But before all of the shopping, and football, and the meal you spend all day preparing, it is a day of thanksgiving. A time to be thankful.

This year I am thankful for my mother. Thankful for all of her love, guidance, and the time that I get to spend with her. Thank you MOM! I may be a brat sometimes, but I value our time together. Hope you feel better soon.

I am thankful for my sisters (my brothers too) but mostly for my sisters. Candi, Shannon, and Bonnie. I love you all. I appreciate everything you have done for me! You all mean the world to me. XOXO

I am thankful for my nieces and nephews and all the greats. You all have brought a lot of joy to my life. Friendship too. I love and miss you all and our time together. My angel girl Aryn gets a special mention because she has a super special place in my heart. Aunt Leslie loves you Angel Girl!

I am thankful for my church families. Livingston (MI) and Huntsville (TX). Livingston, you all made it possible for me to open up and be comfortable with you and to allow you into my life. Trust does not come easy for me. I will cherish the friendships I made there. I have the picture you all made me at my going away dinner hanging on my bedroom wall and the box of mementos sits on my desk. Huntsville, even though we are small in number, we are BIG in love and caring. Y'all ROCK and I am thankful for you too. Especially my buddy Stephnie! Love you girlie!

I am thankful for my cousins. Wynn, You were my first friend (well... next to Sheila) but you and I got to torment each other more often. John and Christine, I appreciate you too! Thank you so much for helping me and mom out when needed. You guys have hearts of gold.

I'm also thankful for my friends (new and old). Sheila, Beth & Heather, I miss you guys! Wish Michigan wasn't so far away!

I'm thankful and truly blessed beyond measure. God has been so good to me. I hope that you all have a blessed and happy holiday season and that you get to spend it with the ones that mean the most to you.

Leslie

UNSTUFFED CABBAGE ROLLS

I got this delicious recipe off of Facebook. I do not like cooked cabbage, but this was so yummy, I just had to share. I hope you like it as much as me and my Mom did.

 

UNSTUFFED CABBAGE ROLLS

In a VERY large skillet, using Medium heat add the olive oil, ground beef, onion, garlic and dried spices. Once the beef is browned, add the tomatoes, tomato sauce, and cabbage. Bring to a boil. Reduce heat, simmer until cabbage is thoroughly cooked. Salt and pepper to taste. Serves 4-6.

Ingredients	Calories
Ground Beef  - 93% Lean, 7% Fat, 16 oz.	949
Oil Olive, 1 tablespoon	119
Onion 1 cup	68
Minced Garlic  tbsp.	4
Oregano, dried, 1 tsp., ground	6
Italian Seasoning, 1 teaspoon	0
Tomato Sauce 15 oz. (425g), 1 container (1 4/5 cups ea.)	140
Tomatoes - Diced, 2 containers (1 4/5 cups ea.)	210

Total:	1,496
Per Serving:	374

Just Some Food for Thought...

“The difference between a mountain and a molehill is your perspective.” ~Al Neuharth

“Little by little does the trick.” ~Aesop

“Whether you think you can or can’t, you’re right.” ~Henry Ford

“Don’t wait until everything is just right. It will never be perfect. There will always be challenges, obstacles and less than perfect conditions. So what. Get started now. With each step you take, you will grow stronger and stronger, more and more skilled, more and more self-confident and more and more successful.” ~Mark Victor Hansen

“Courage is fear that has said its prayers.” ~Dorothy Bernard

All quotes were taken off of www.fitnessforweightloss.com.

I wrote and published this blog post on my Word Press blog. This is a good reminder to myself that I have to let go of my fears.

I wrote and published this blog post on my Word Press blog. This is a good reminder to myself that I have to let go of my fears.

 

What am I afraid of?

Uncategorized February 4, 2013        

“The key to change… is to let go of fear.” ~Roseanne Cash

Fear is a great motivator, but it can also keep you from achieving your dreams. My aunt said something to me last week that well frankly, it pissed me off. She said that “When you were a child, you were afraid of your own shadow. The slightest little thing intimidated you”. Pissed as I was, I sat and stewed on it for a while. I determined that she was partly right. Only partly. My shadow only intimidates me when it’s skinnier than I am and is having a better hair day than me.
I was a shy child and would hide behind my mothers skirt at church. Thankfully I outgrew that. I had friends. My cousin Wynn and my friend Sheila were two of my first friends. Even though I have a huge family, I didn’t have a wide social circle. I went to a small private Christian school, where Tina and later Jackie became two of my besties. Yes there were kids that intimidated me, but they were mean. My limited social circle didn’t really improve until I got out into the real world and started working.
As an adult, I joined a church in Michigan and it took several years for me to let people in. I was afraid that they would see I wasn’t a very good Christian. They were all so smart and well versed in the Bible and I was intimidated. Once I allowed myself to open up to them, I was blessed. They took me in, loved me, and made me feel secure enough to be myself… and you know what, they loved me and my sarcastic self anyway!

“Decide that you want it more than you are afraid of it.” ~Bill Cosby

Am I ready to take on the challenges that I will face to accomplish my goals? One of my goals is to lose 100 lbs. Another is to take a sewing class and a class at my gym. I stepped on the scale this morning, had my mother take my measurements, and have tracked my food intake. Good first steps towards losing the 100 pounds I need to lose. Now that I’ve taken the first steps, I need to take the second, then the third and so on and so forth. The more steps taken (even if they are baby steps), the shorter the distance to my goal. Will I let fear/anxiety get in my way again? Probably. But this time I determined not to let it keep me down. It needs to be my motivator, I will not let it hold me captive.

“To conquer fear is the beginning of wisdom.” ~Bertrand Russell

Hello again!

Well, Weight Watchers and I lasted for about 3 months. I logged my food everyday for about a month, then got so bored with it. I started only logging breakfast and lunch. Then I would skip days. Then a week. I couldn't afford the program. When you live paycheck to paycheck, spending an extra $40-50 bucks a month on a program you don't use to its utmost is a waste of money. It's a great program, it's just not for me, not at this time. Unfortunately, this means the gym membership has to go too.

Apple Cider Vinegar...I have decided to try drinking ACV. In water, it's horrid. The first time I used 2 tsp. of ACV I gagged!! I got 2 sips in me. The next time, I used 1 tsp. of ACV with 1 tsp. of Agave nectar. Still horrid. About the only way I can drink it is in Apple juice. The information I pulled off the internet stated that if you drink ACV, which in liquid form is the most effective, it will help flush your system, aid in digestion, clear up skin issues, curb cravings, and regulate your metabolism. Its also really good for heartburn. I have only drank it in apple juice the one time. I know it's not going to taste good, but at least in apple juice I am able to drink it. Several issues I'm hoping it will help me with - frequent heart burn, my rosacea, and I need to lose weight. I know its not a miracle cure and don't look for it to be, but maybe it will help with my sugar cravings. If I can't do the liquid, then I will try it in pill form.

Zumba. OH MY WORD... ZUMBA. IS. SO. FREAKING. HARD. I bought the DVD's so that I can do them at home. I have two left feet and no rhythm. It's like my brain has a shut off switch when it comes to dancing.

The thing with weight loss is that you really have to want it, be totally dedicated to it. It's not easy. It's a lifestyle change. You have to be willing and able to make the change. I'm going to keep trying and struggling until I figure out what works for me.

Until next time,

XOXO,
Leslie

Here I Go Again....

Hi Everyone. It's been a really long time since I've posted on here. Mostly because I forgot my password. I started another blog on word press and will continue to use that one for whatever ramblings run through my nutty noggin. This one will remain about my struggles with weightloss.

They say to never quit quitting, so Here I Go Again. Tonight I RE-joined weight watchers. They have completely overhauled the program. Along with the meetings, I can use my smart phone to track. I can also access the eTools.

My starting weight is 263.6. The heaviest I have ever been. I am so un-happy in my own skin. I don't even look at myself in the mirror. My measurements are Chest HUGE Waist HUGE and HIPS HUGE. Enough with the depressed talk.

Please pray that I can make the changes needed and through this, I can help my motivate my mom to lose the weight she needs to lose. We need to be each others support.

Blessings,
Leslie