More Christmas Day 2011

Christmas Day 2011

We had Christmas Brunch! No, I didn't eat any of it! I made a Crockpot breakfast casserole, a ham, Eggnogg french toast casserole, pumpkin breakfast cake and had fruit and veggies out. :) Success.... and fun time with the family that was here! :)

Week 30 and still going strong!

End of week 30 and I am 116.4 lbs lighter!  The first picture of me with our Golden is after 60 lbs.  The second of me is on Sunday after weighing in -116.4!  I can't begin to tell you the difference in how I feel!!  My girlfriend and I talked about this after she took some pics of me for tracking my journey. I opened up and told her things I hadn't told anyone!  Not even my husband!!!   She cried for me!  And then of course I cried!   There were things in my life that I was hiding and holding inside.  I could not share these things with others.  On the outside, I appeared to be smiling but on the inside, a whole different story!  I was miserable.  I was in my own personal jail.... one created by ME!  One created by my weight!  I honestly felt that I was beyond help anymore.  I had seen an orthopedic surgeon for extreme pain in my knees.  No one knew how much pain I was in!  I hid it!  Or TRIED to hide it.  Going to the grocery store would put me in the chair for the rest of the day from pain!  And carrying in the groceries?  Ugh... I would carry in one or two bags (as the added weight would PAIN my knees) and then have to sit in the chair, wait awhile and carry in more, repeat until done.  Then, it would take time to put them all away!  Yes! Going to the grocery store and taking care of the groceries could become an all day project!  I HURT!!!!!  My husband did not understand what was going on and was becoming to think I was LAZY!~ (I need to add that I would do these chores when he wasn't around to see how I couldn't do them!  he just saw the aftermath and must have wondered in his mind, what did I do all day?  lol)  And then the breathing!  Always out of breath.  Simple tasks such as changing the bed sheets was a chore and more!  I would want to stop and rest in the middle of that!  I think I was wearing blinders.  I think I didn't understand or better to say, I didn't want to understand what was going on with me!  And I was afraid!   I couldn't exercise because it hurt.  I was in a catch 22 and I couldn't get out of the situation.  Then my dr told me that my left knee was 90% gone and I would need surgery.  But had to lose weight for that! And couldn't have a cortisone shot because of all the fat cells and swelling from my lymphodemia!    Quite the situation I was in!  Pain, sadness and all of my own doing!  For a couple years I had considered weight loss surgery.  Hubby and I had gone thru the seminars and I had all the testing done and was cleared for it.  But I had to lose 30 lbs to even do that.  The small still voice of God was telling me this was not the answer for me.  Take Shape for Live (www.healthierishappier.tsfl.com) came into my life and the vehicle for losing weight and changing my habits!  Thank you, Lord!  It hasn't always been easy!  But I am learning to make the right choices!  In September I had lost enough weight the dr was able to give me a cortisone shot in my left knee!  The pain was relieved immediately and my mobility increased! YAHOO!  This week I completed the second shot in my first series of Orthovisc shots in both knees.  I am feeling relief!  I have gotten a Nordic Track exercise bike and am doing a mile and a half in the morning and a mile and a half in the evening after work!  I will increase this as I get comfortable with it.  Movement in my knee is 99.9% improved and I am living without constant pain all the time!  I feel like a new woman.  I feel like God has given me a new lease on life!  At Christmas we were taking pictures of all 16 of my grandchildren.  One of the younger ones ran out of the pic and was refusing to come back in. I scooped him up, loved him up and we both got in the picture!   6 months ago I could not have done that!  I don't think my children realized that!  Not just because I didn't like my pic taken but the pain of lifting that weight and standing would have been too much!    This truly is my story.  I am a healthier and happier person!  I know there are MANY MANY others out there with stories similar to mine.  I hope I can help encourage others to lose their body fat and get healthier and happier!  I have started coaching as a Take Shape for Life Coach!  My website is www.healthierishappier.tsfl.com      I am here to be an ear, an encouragement and to say if I can do this ANYONE can do this!   I want to make a difference to others that may be going thru the same experience as me - held hostage by a fat body and a mind that created it's own jail cell!  

Some exciting news to me:  My doctor says that I may not have to have a knee replacement on my left knee, now that I have lost weight.  Time will tell! That is jumping in the air kind of news!!!!  I LOVE THAT MAN!!!  lol  And...... I fit into my biking leathers!  I tried them on this past weekend and I can wear them again.  The bad news is that when I reach goal, I will need to buy new ones as they will be too big!  Oh, wait.. maybe that isn't such bad news!   :) :) :)  :) 

These rolls from Paula Deen sound amazing!

SMOKED CHEDDAR ROLLS
Makes 18 rolls

2 (1/4-ounce) packages active dry yeast
3 tablespoons sugar
1/2 cup warm water (105° to 115°)
2 cups whole buttermilk
1/2 cup butter, melted
1 large egg
2 teaspoons salt
6 to 7 cups bread flour, divided
2 cups shredded smoked sharp Cheddar cheese

Melted butter (optional)


In a small bowl, dissolve yeast and sugar in 1/2 cup warm water; let stand for 5 minutes. In a large bowl, beat buttermilk, melted butter, egg, and salt at medium-low speed with a mixer until combined. Add yeast mixture, beating until combined. Gradually add 4 cups bread flour and shredded cheese, beating until smooth. Beat in enough remaining bread flour to make a soft dough.


On a lightly floured surface, turn out dough. Knead dough for 6 to 8 minutes or until dough is smooth and elastic. Place dough in a lightly greased bowl, turning to grease top. Cover, and let rise in a warm place (85°), free from drafts, for 1 hour or until dough is doubled in size.


Spray 18 muffin cups with nonstick cooking spray.


Shape dough into 54 (1 1/2-inch) balls. Place 3 balls in each muffin cup. Cover, and let rise in a warm place (85°), free from drafts, for 1 hour or until doubled in size.


Preheat oven to 350°.


Bake for 12 to 15 minutes or until lightly browned. Brush hot rolls with melted butter, if desired. Let cool in pans for 5 minutes. Serve warm.

Healthier is Happier

I just celebrated my 61st birthday on Friday.  I had such a wonderful day and the whole weekend was fabulous! My husband and I took Friday off and we hopped on the Sounder train and went into Seattle and spend the day, just walking around exploring.  Spending the day with my best friend was FABULOUS!!!  When we got off the train I looked ahead of me to not one, not two but three flights of stairs to take us up to the street........I gulped ...and then took a deep breath. I was down over 90 lbs... I could do this!  I made it up those stairs and I was NOT gasping for breath when I got to the top!  YAHOO!  We had a fabulous day walking around the town and exploring a museum.  Even the rain and wind could not damper our fun!  5 months ago, I could not have done this!!  The weight, the pain of arthritis would have been too much.  As of last Saturday and now 5 months into this weight loss journey, I am down a total of 94.4 lbs.  I am SO thankful to Take Shape For Life using the medifast foods!!    

After we got home on Friday, my oldest son and his family came to help us celebrate and stay for the weekend.  We had such a wonderful, blessed time together!  I had surprised most of my family with this journey so they had not seen me since I had lost 19 lbs.  They are so happy for me and SO encouraging to me!  That is very important in the journey of weight loss to have the encouragement and support of your family and friends.  I am truly blessed because each one has and is lovingly and faithfully encouraging me and not tempting me to do things that I know I should not do on this journey.  

I have made a very big decision.  I have decided to be a health coach for Take Shape for Life.  My website is www.healthierishappier.tsfl.com    I just feel that there are others out there with a similar story to mine.  Feeling like they are at their wits end!  That nothing works for them and perhaps even considering weight loss surgery as I was but in their heart of hearts feeling this is not the answer!  Perhaps even having the surgery and finding that it is not getting them where they want to be!!!   I want to encourage others and be a part of their fantastic journey.  I know if I can do it, YOU/THEY can do it!!!  I am very excited about this!  

I am working on creating a healthy body and mind.  We can do this together!  Check out my website and contact me!  I would love to hear from you and I would love to be a part of encouraging you in your journey!!!

Reflecting.....

I was asked yesterday by a friend, what are some of the comments that I am hearing about my weight loss.  There have been many encouraging and very nice comments, but the comment that means the most to me is this.  My girlfriend was talking to me on the phone the other day.  I check in with her every week and let her know my weight loss for the week. She always has such wonderful encouragement for me but the one that REALLY stands out was this comment last week; "I can HEAR it in your voice, Marcia!"

I knew I was unhappy with myself, but I didn't know that it showed in my voice.  I thought I hid that...... guess you can't hide somethings from your closest friends.... I pray I never get to that point again.... 

I am so thankful for this journey to creating a thin healthy mind and body....

16 Weeks

We are celebrating birthdays at our house today.  Doug's brother and sister each have a birthday this week so I have made their mom's cake and frosting, orange with creamy nut frosting on her plate and in her carrier.  It is her recipe that she always made down to the fork marks on the top!  It doesn't look special but it is special to family.  No, I do not plan on having a piece and any leftovers will be sent home with all visitors! None will be left in the house.  It was a little difficult to mix up the frosting without taste testing it... but my three year old granddaughter was here to lick the beaters.

However I am celebrating today.  I am 5.6 lbs down from last week which gives me a total of 71.6 lb!!!  A very sweet elderly lady that I have made an acquaintance with on our every other week dinner with my father in law gave me a sweet compliment last night, which was great encouragement.  

I am working on getting my webpage started with Take Shape for Life and think I am going to call mine, "Lose Weight Get Healthy!"  I will post a link when I get it started. :)  Been pretty busy!