Susan & Patti's Journey

The scale just isn't cooperating . Both Patti & I each barely registered a one pound loss over the last week. We have had several slow weeks like this & while we are grateful for any loss, we are working so extremely hard at losing weight, it is somewhat discouraging when we only realize one pound down per 7 days. I just wonder sometimes if this long, cold & snowy mid-west winter isn't part of our problem ? I mean, it is depressing to get snow storm after snow storm with no hint of spring. I finally gave up trying to clear my drive-way of snow & hired a local man to shovel for me. Patti has hers plowed. I am just itching for spring  so I can get out & walk, which is my preferred form of exercise. I don't have a treadmill (no where to put one) & I don't have use of a gym (can't afford a membership). So, I do what I can with what I have. I'm not complaining (except about winter) I'm just ready to get outside  without having to deal with 16 inches & more of snow & the cold. About now I'ld like to go some place tropical  !!!!!!

I've been reading lots of good blogs today. Lots of people on expressing their feelings & sharing their weeks results. The Biggest Loser is on tonight so that is something to look forward to .

Time to change my attitude! I'm sounding like a pity party is taking place here!  So, I am going to go accomplish something positive, do some exercises.  I know I'll feel better & tomorrow I have plenty to do. Everyone hang in there. Two more weeks until the end of the MPMU (but I'm thinking maybe we should push for some form of it to continue, via MSN & The Biggest Losers. I'm working on it). I can't wait to see who the 5 winners will be. I hope it is someone we all know thru our little community. And I hope who ever it is, they wear a safety pin at the finale. Keep on losing, one day, one pound at a time!   

Patti & I are keeping up with one another.  We have both lost 14 pounds to date.  I lost three pounds last week & Patti lost 2. I haven't been exercising much but I have stopped snacking & am eating better at my meals. My job is pretty physically demanding so I figure I get plenty of general exercise there. Patti does a LOT of exercising & she is really toning up & feeling so much better.

Last week both of us had people make comments to us about our improved appearances due to our recent weight losses. Patti was wearing her safety pin  at work & a customer asked how much weight she had lost. So there are a lot of people out there who are aware of what the safety pin represents. If you aren't wearing your safety pin as a symbol of support for yourself and all of the other Biggest Losers you might want to get with the program .

I had dinner with a friend & business associate last night (& yes I was extremely careful of what I ordered & how much I ate, thank you very much :)). When I told him I had lost 14 pounds he said he noticed that I looked thinner but didn't want to ask in case I was feeling private about my weight lost attempts. I was very pleased to know that the 14 pound loss shows. Both Patti & I have baggy jeans now & we are loving it!!!!

We both felt it was time for Paul to go home, although we hated to see the Black Team go to elimination. We think next week will be really interesting because it seems unlikely that the Blue Team can continue to maintain the huge weight losses they enjoyed last week & Jillian will make sure the Black Team gets back on course. And what is up with a trip to Las Vegas?  Hmmmm.......!!!!!

To get in your exercise this week, try dancing. It is a very enjoyable way to exercise, be it with a partner or by yourself. I dance around the house with my dogs while listening to some of my favorite tunes & cleaning (the dogs need exercise too!) Don't forget to get your 8 hrs. of sleep (yeah, I know, "In your dreams", right?), eat plenty of fresh fruits & veggies & drink your water. Everyone is doing great, so just keep focused & we will reach our goals, one day, one pound, at a time.

We are into week 6 already and Patti has lost another 2 pounds and I am sticking with my solid one pound, weekly loss.  Our total loss so far is 12 pounds for Patti and 11 pounds for me or the Team Total of 23 pounds.  Patti has become addicted to exercising and would rather be doing her tread mill or stationary bicycle then anything else right now.  I can't say I'm as focused on the exercise as she is but I do get my fair share in.  I'll probable change my tune as soon as it warms up enough to get outside and walk though as I love to power walk. We have some really great walking/bike paths here in Rockford.   Gotta go shopping for gel seat cushions for both of our exercise bikes tomorrow.  Those hard seats are ruff on our tender behinds.

I am so happy to see that everyone is motivated and excited to be on this journey.  It has been a lot of fun so far. I think that The Biggest Loser and MSN has done more with the MPMU to encourage people to lose weight then any other single event EVER.  And The Biggest Loser TV show is probably second only to Weight Watchers for motivating & helping people to finally do something about their excess weight.  Who would of thought that a nationally televised reality show would have such an impact on peoples lives?  

       Patti and I hope everyone has a lovely Valentine's Day.

Another week gone as our quest to reach our ideal body weight continues.  Patti and I both lost one pound each last week.  Patti was somewhat disappointed as she worked really hard to lose and was looking for around a 3 pound loss.  I, on the other hand, was happy with a good, solid one pound loss, as I had slacked off on exercising.  I am happy to see that I can continue to lose with my diet as the driving force.

This is a new week (week 5 of the challenge) and with just 35 days left to the finale for the MPMU, we are just as determined as ever to reach our goals.  Of course,we realize that our long term goals won't be met by the finale.  We are hoping that all of our new found friends on Live Spaces will continue to post their successes and help encourage and motivate one another for a long time.  Realistically, Patti and I are looking at a total weight loss of around 25 pound each for the duration of the MPMU challenge.

Thank goodness it is Tuesday and tonight is another Biggest Losers show.  Watching the Biggest Losers always motivates us and as we struggle with our own weight lose sagas, we can really empathize with the contestants on the show as they struggle as well.  And it is always fun to blog with everyone on Live Spaces after the show for everyone's reactions.  WE ARE COUNTING ON JILLIAN AND THE BLACK TEAM TO KICK SOME SERIOUS BUTT TONIGHT! 

It's also Super Tuesday, so Patti and have to get out and vote today.  There is a huge snowstorm heading our way with forecasts totals of around 12 to 13 inches by Wednesday evening, blizzard conditions, blah, blah, blah.  I am so sick of winter and all of the snow we have had.  And the weird weather has really hit us hard this year.  We are the area that suffered a tornado in January and yesterday we had thundershowers.  YUCK!  And double YUCK!

STAY FOCUSED ON YOUR WEIGHT LOSS GOALS EVERYONE.  ONLY FIVE OF US ARE GOING TO BE WINNERS FOR A CHANCE TO SEE THE SEASON FINALE, BUT WE WILL ALL BE WINNERS FOR LOSING OUR WEIGHT.  THANKS TO ALL OF YOU WHO HAVE VISITED OUR PAGE AND MOTIVATED US WITH WORDS OF ENCOURAGEMENT.  YOU ARE OUR ROCK AND WE LOVE YOU FOR IT.

REMEMBER TO EXERCISE, EAT HEALTHY, DRINK YOUR WATER AND GET A GOOD NITES SLEEP! 

Even though we are in week 4, this is only our 3rd update, as our beginning entry post does not count as an update.  Another somewhat frustrating week for Patti and I.  Patti lost another 2 pounds and I lost another 1 pound.  We are both at 9 pounds total lost so far.  It is coming off sooooooooo slowwwwwly!  As we said in last weeks post, it at least is coming off.  We both think it is because we have a really hard time getting in all of our water.  So, we both have committed to working harder at drinking the required amount this week.

Crazy stuff with Biggest Loser last night.  My money is on Jillian and the NEW Black Team.  I think Jillian will motivate, push and educate them into really awesome losers.  We can hardly wait for next weeks show to see what happens next.

I visited Scott and LeRoy's site earlier and I loved their story about using safety pins by Biggest Loser challengers as a way to motivate yourself and to identify with other Biggest Losers.  I don't want to take away from their site and story, so you should visit it (click on their names for a hyperlink) and read the blog yourself or go to the originator's site of the Safety Pin Secret Symbol, Joe & Melonie(http://nomoreexcuses4us.spaces.live.com).  What I would like to do is help further their great idea by posting about it here and trying to get as many people on board as possible. If you like the idea, please pass it on, but don't forget to give credit to the originators, Joe & Melonie.  One more thought!  If you are going to wear a pin why not post a photo of a safety pin on your site as a symbol of your participation?