Extreme Makeover--Me Edition Update

Welcome to this week's Extreme Makeover--Me Edition. If you're just joining us, the lovely, funny, and sweet Amber is hosting this weekly challenge. It's not too late to join in. Actually, it's never too late. She rounded up a bunch of super sweet women together who encourage and inspire one another. If you would like to come along on our journey check out Amber's site for the details. We'd love to have you!

This week was good and bad. A lot has been going on around here and I've found it difficult to keep motivated to exercise. I did very well with eating and there was almost no snacking since things have been on the busy side. This fact made me very happy. Although I exercised only twice, I was excited for today's weigh-in. My scale was the lowest it's been in months. Although my scale is a bit lower than the one at Weight Watcher's, I knew I was in for a loss. Just unsure how much. To my surprise, I'm down 2.8 lbs. Needless to say, I'm thrilled. I have to keep reminding myself that now is not the time to slack off or to reward myself with eating more. I have to keep this momentum going.

Amber's question of the week is:

Show us your inspiration picture. Of yourself skinny, of yourself fat, of a celebrity that inspires you to keep going.

Originally I was going to search for a celebrity who has a rockin bod. Then I reconsidered. This was part of my problem. I was always trying to look like someone else. I have to learn to be happy with who I am and feel comfortable in my own skin. Not striving to be someone I can never be. I was always impressed when a celebrity would drop the baby weight in a matter of a few months. But the perfectionist in me would then beat myself up for not being able to do the same thing. It was unrealistic as they have personal trainers and chefs to cook for them. Logically I knew this but emotionally I didn't. Here are some pictures from my past that inspire me.

{August 2001 - taken at my bridal shower. Although it's not a great shot you can see my chest and arms. This was when I had a personal trainer, Patty. Incidentally, she's the only person in real life who knows about my blog. :-)}

{The next picture is from my honeymoon. I weighed 113 lbs. and for that brief period in time I liked my body. Very sad that it was only once in my life where I thought I looked good. This is something I'm working on.}

{The last picture was taken in May 2004. A year or so after I had my first child. This is probably more realistic as to what I can achieve. Not according to the leader at Weight Watchers...according to me! :-)}

My goals for this week are:

~EXERCISE EXERCISE EXERCISE
~drink lots of water
~limit snacking
~make healthy choices
~not be so hard on myself

I hope all of you did well. I'm looking forward to hearing about your progress.

Much love from NJ,



5 things I'm grateful for today:

1. My parents loaning me one of their cars while mine is at the dealer being fixed.
2. It's warm and sunny and I was able to walk to the bus stop to pick up my son...summer is almost here!
3. My family is healthy when a few friends of mine are not.
4. My children have a great imagination and play without toys, only using a box or tupperware or simply nothing at all.
5. That I am inspired to exercise after feeling unmotivated for the past 2 weeks.