A Quick Update...

I am very excited to say that this “journey” keeps going well. This is shocking, but I am actually losing a fair amount of weight – and inches! I am now only 9 pounds over weight and 9 pounds away from my first goal. I have also lost about an inch and a half off my hips and another inch and a half off my waist. This is very exciting!My clothes are practically falling off me. Of course, they’re rather large sizes, but I’ll take it.

I have had to give up on Slim in 6 for the time being. While I was getting great results, it was really killing my knees. I mean, lugging all of “this” around all day is enough strain for my joints, but Slim in 6 was painful. I joked on Twitter that it equates to 6 weeks of feeling like you need a hip replacement. That said, I have started spending more time on our family’s elliptical machine. It’s a lot easier on the knees, and I can watch more entertaining things on television than Debbie and her motivational “counting.” I’ll give it another go though in a few days.

In other news, Starbucks has unleashed a new weapon – the caramel brulee latte. I gave it a whirl the other day because I had to – though I did limit myself to a tall. Anywho, it was phenomenal. And very bad for you. Still, I am not addicted to them. It’s fabulous. I think this healthy thinking is starting to really become more of a habit and I’m more focused on my goals so I’m making better choices. I’m quite pleased with the results.

On the pageant front, I’m judging next weekend, and that should bring a whole new level of motivation. There’s nothing like being introduced as a former titleholder, standing up to wave and hearing a collective gasp from the audience. Although, I don’t think things will go like that, I’m still dreading it. And standing next to a thin and in shape contestant – assuming that’s what wins – for photos after crowning will be lots of fun.

Speaking of photos, I’m completely avoiding them at the moment. And actually, for Christmas cards this year, I’m doing an illustration of our family instead. I think that it will be way adorable, and any day where I only have one chin – even as a cartoon – is a good day. Anyway, I am going to use April Showers Blog Design for the cards. I’m also hoping that the first of the year, I can hire her to do something with “this.” This blog is atrocious and I have no idea how to fix it. So I’m hoping she can help. You can check her out at www.aprilshowersblogdesign.com.




P.S. I really do want world peace.

Boo. Yah.

An amazing thing has happened. Since starting this “journey,” I have lost 5 pounds! Wahoo! Now, I know that I still have a long way to go, but this little victory warrants celebration.

Over this past week, I have been a very good girl. I have only had two – that’s right, TWO – nonfat, no whip gingerbread lattes this week. I have also pretty much avoided my holiday coffee creamers, I just have no desire to try them as much as I thought I would. Still, I’m pretty sure everyone else in the office is enjoying them.

I have also been trying to keep my sweet tooth satisfied by making healthier treats. This past weekend I made low-fat vanilla cupcakes and they turned out great! They mostly consist of zucchini and egg whites, along with a little bit of sugar and vanilla of course, but they were surprisingly delightful and very filling. It was probably the highlight of my week.

The low-point of the week came yesterday, when I decided to order off of a “light” menu when the team went out for lunch yesterday. I was stunned at just how small that piece of salmon really was. But it actually was pretty filling, and I enjoyed the rest of my day.

Slim in 6 is going well. I’m still on the first phase – but it’s getting better and my technique is improving. I’m already starting to build up my strength in terms of pushups, which rocks.

Anyway, I’m sorry this blog isn’t extremely exciting, but I just wanted to drop in and share that I’m making progress. It’s a great feeling and I’m more hopeful that I will be a hot and healthy in no time. Or, at least a few months.




P.S. I really do want world peace.

'Tis the Season!

Wow, it has been over a week since my last post. Where does the time go? My apologies.

Ah, heck. It’s not like anyone is actually reading this damn thing anyway…

The last week has been pure cane sugar hell. Obviously, getting through Halloween was enough of a battle. After purchasing tons of candy – in bulk – Mr. Beauty Queen and I decided to forego handing it out due to H1N1. I know. We’re extremely lame. But I had to deal with a bunch of candy laying around. After consuming a ton of it, I finally brought the remainder into the office. Of course, now I’m tempted to indulge around 3 p.m. daily, but I’ve been doing better of avoiding it than expected.

Of course, now that Halloween has passed, there are new challenges that have arrived as the holidays approach. Probably the most exciting news is the arrival of Red Cup season at Starbucks. A sucker for the gingerbread latte, I have not been strong enough to pass on these delightful holiday treats. Still, I have managed to cut the normal quantity (5-ish a week in past years) down (only 2 this week). I am also
ordering these little devils with sugar-free syrup, nonfat milk, and holding on the whip. I feel like this minor improvement would be enhanced if I could get myself to switch from grande beverages to tall ones, but I’m just not there yet. Tall cups, as an accessory, just look, well… odd.







Another product that has recently made its way into my life for a limited time only is gingerbread and peppermint mocha Coffee-Mate. Yes. Again, can’t resist them. Unfortunately, these little buggers do not come in a less fattening option, so I am trying to restrict my intake. And actually, today I just had no desire to add any coffee to my gingerbread Coffee-Mate. Instead, I opted to add coffee to my sugar-free Coffee-Mate. I was shocked.







On the workout front, this is where I have really screwed myself this week. I have not exercised (aside from walking around Target and Lowe’s) since Day 2 of Slim in Six. I am such a tool. My life is insanely busy with work, and since I haven’t mentioned it before – graduate school. So finding time to work out is a pain in the first place. This has been complicated by the time change which now is even more discouraging in the evenings. It has occurred to me that if I want to make this work, I will probably need to exercise in the morning. So… I’m trying to figure that part out.

Needless to say, my size has considerably suffered as a result of the past week’s activities. I have to get back on track. My mother, and mother-in-law are both coming into town for Thanksgiving. I need to focus on losing as much weight as possible before they arrive. I am sure the looks on their faces when they see me will be awful, so I am trying to minimize the humiliation as much as possible. Don’t know, realistically, how much progress I’ll make, however.

I did, however, want to say that the low-fat cooking has gone well. Cook Yourself Thin is awesome and I’m loving it. I made the chicken parmesan and “zucchini pasta” the other night and it was quite delish. And filling too. Of course, Mr. Beauty Queen adored it. So, yay!




P.S. I really do want world peace.