Weigh-In Update!!

-41.6 lbs

Wow, what a great feeling it is to finally get out of the 30 lbs range. It was hard to get over the hurdle but I am finally there! So this week I lost 6lbs. I know that this has a lot to do with the hard work that I have been devoted to. Watch what I eat, work out at least 5 days a week, track all my food intake, it's all worth it. My main goal is to lose 60 lbs and I am less than 20 lbs away. So, I have until June to lose the other 20lbs, believe you me....I know I can and will do this, just watch and see. I will work on getting some before and after pics posted this weekend, so stay tuned.

Oh, before I go, I almost forgot to mention that for the first time since college I weigh under 200lbs!!!! Yeah!

Upward Basketball

Asbury United Methodist Church and Bethany Free Will Baptist Church here in Tulsa have a recreational youth basketball league called Upward Basketball. It is such a great program and has a very positive approach to the sport.

Lexi, my god-daughter, plays in the 1st & 2nd grade group. Macey & Darcey, my sister's neices, play in the 3rd & 4th grade group. Here are some pictures and highlights.

Lexi is such a hardcore defender.

Here is some action from one of the games. I snapped the pic right after the ball bounced off of one of Lexi's teammates heads.

Playing basketball makes you parched!

Before each game they announce each player. At this game they turned the lights out and even had a spotlight and a fog machine as each girl ran out . This is so stinkin' cute to watch. They all get so pumped and excited to play. Here is TW with his team. Man they are pumped!

I just thought this was a really cool picture.
Here are Macey and Darcey watching from the bench. You could tell they really wanted to play.

Rain Rain go away.....

Yucky nasty weather here in T-Town. It took me 2 hours to get home. I left at 3:15 and got home at 5:15..I did have to stop at Walgreens but it only took 10-15 minutes. The reality is...this weather sucks!

Dr. Visit Update

Yay!! My doctor took me off of 2 meds. No more lisinopril for blood pressure and no more low dose aspirin. The other good news is that I will stop taking the Zocor for cholesterol on June 1st. Not to mention that I won't have to have anymore blood work for at least a year. I have to ellaborate on this a little. Being almost 30 and knowing more about my blood work than most people at my age do...wow this will be a change. I usually get blood work every 3-4 months. This is another thing I won't have to miss. Now if we can just figure out what the deal is with my allergies then I would be set.
This morining when I was gently waking from my nights rest...Michael saw a cat on TV. And of course he said "oh, Kota!...Let's go get a cat!" WTF!! Does he not realize that cats are smarter than most humans give them credit for...no matter what cat we get they will all know that I am allergic and they will lay on my side of the bed right by my pillow so that when I get in bed at night I am miserable. So of course I said "a hairless cat!" I don't think he thought that was funny. But I sure did.
Hope all is well with everyone else. Keep posted to mid week to see what my new weight loss is going to be. I bet it will be a good number...I just have a feeling!

Dr Visit

I have never been so anxious about going to the doctor but I seem to be a little excited. I am anticipating that she will be taking me off of at least 2 maybe 4 medications. This will be awesome! I will update after the visit, keep your fingers crossed.

Aubrey Update

I talked to an exhausted Jen very briefly last night around 8pm. They were on their way home from the hospital. Aubrey was finally released. You could tell by the sound of Beck's screaming that he had missed his mommy so very much. I am glad that Aubrey is doing better. Thanks to everyone for the prayers.

Prayers for Aubrey

Please pray for Aubrey and the rest of the family. She is in the hospital with pnemonia. She is doing well and strangely enough she said she likes the hospital. She is doing everything she is told and she will be able to go home when her oxygen levels are back up.

Widget

Yes I did!

Yes, I did lose weight over the holidays!! That's right ladies and gentlemen....another 3.2 lbs gone. For a grand total of -35.6!! Woo Hoo!

Resolutions?

So, how many of you have made your New Year's Resolutions?

Well, just in case you need a little push...I am here to remind everyone that there is no better time than the present.

I started Weight Watchers in May of 2008. At my last weigh in on December 17th I had lost 32.8 lbs. It has been a while since I weighed in due to the Holidays...well today is the day. After work I am going to run an do some cardio at the Health Zone gym accross the street from my building. Then it's off to a 6pm weight watchers meeting. Wish me luck! I know I have lost some weight since December 17th, it may not be much but as long as it is in the right direciton, I will be happy.

If anyone is needing information on how Weight Watchers works please don't be afraid to ask. I go to the meeting place in Broken Arrow at 81st & Aspen. They have meetings different times all week long. I don't always go to the same meeting so just call if you want me to go with you. You can go online at http://www.weightwatchers.com/ to find a meeting near you. There are several plans but essentially for the best price and deal it's $39.95 per month per person. There are additional books and tools to help you but you don't have to have them if you use the online tools to look up points. A few pointers I found useful...definitly buy a digital food scale. They sell them at the weight watchers offices but you can find them cheaper at Target, Walmart, etc. Also make sure you have plenty of measuring tools. I have 3 sets of measuring cups and 2 sets of measuring spoons. Very useful tools to have around and not have to waste time digging through your kitchen drawers. There are several keys to this program and measuring and accuracy are one of them. Trust me you don't want to short yourself any food that you might get to eat. And you won't do any good eating too much either.

The best part about weight watchers is that you get to eat real food. You don't eat those packaged dry foods that say just add water and heat to eat. GROSS! Of course there are the Smart One meals you can find next to the Lean Cuisines in the frozen foods section at your grocery store. Ok so they are not all that great but try each one at least once. There are a few that are my absolute faves and I eat them all the time.

Four words: Weight Watchers Fudge Bar!!

And they are only 1 Point each!!!!

When I started this journey it wasn't like I didn't know how to eat healthy or how to work out, I was an athletic trainer in high school for pete's sake. I know what is good and bad for your body. Not to mention that my sister and I once went to a dietician. Trust me we know what you should and shouldn't eat. It's the motivation, the accountability, the simplicity that has help make me successful. And I am not done yet. My goal is to lose 60lbs! And sure I have fallen off the wagon a few times, but now I know I can get back on.

New Year's Party!

Oh what a night! I for some reason, I know this sounds shocking, hardly took any pictures this night.

Happy New Year! Love, Mike and Chrissy

Holy crap there were so many people at Missy & Luis' house that night.

I love how everyone in this picture is looking at the camera and Missy and Luis are embraced in a kiss in the center of the picture. Too stinkin' cute!

Logan Schroeder...a blessing with no disguise.

While I was in Houston I got to go to the Texas Children's Hospital and see Logan. Amy is doing such a great job as a mom. And his Aunt "Sissy" Tiffany is wrapped around his little pinky toe. It was so good to see Logan and how well he is doing. Everyone keep praying for him to get stronger and stronger each day. He will be having another surgery and he needs to be extremely strong.

Christmas in Houston

The Saturday after Christmas the Dillahunty's and I packed up into the Suburban and headed to Houston to visit DeeDee and Pammy. We had a great idea to leave way early in the morning but a storm and possible tornadoes got in our way and we had to leave a little later than we wanted to. But we made good time even with the rain we encountered. Jen slept more than Aubrey and Beck did on the way there. Poor Brad, I don't know how he stayed awake the entire time. It was hard for me to stay awake the entire trip. I took a few short naps.

While we were in Houston we decided to take the kids to the Downtown Aquarium. Here is a recap of our walk through.

Here are the Dillahunty's in line to see the Piranas eat. Man where they hungry.

Aubrey and Beck taking a cheese moment.

Jen decided to make out with a triantula. GROSS!

Beck got to touch a Sting Ray!

Aubrey decided to watch the sting rays from the bubble underneath the water.

I just love this picture of Beck with his reflection on the tank. He really enjoyed himself.

We got to see Dory. Man was she swimming, swimming, swimming.

And Nemo's cousin was cleaning himself in the anemone.

Then it was time for the photo opp in the old fashioned scuba gear. Sissy

Brad

Jen

Beck, he must have been hungry like the piranas.

Aubrey

Dillahunty's in line to see the White Tiger training, unfortulately we missed the training.

Kiddo picture with the White Tiger.

Jen, Beck, and Sissy

Beautiful White Tiger
Beck and Aubrey looking at the White Tiger, which of course Beck called it a "Doggy".

Then the Dillahunty's almost got eaten alive by a White Tiger. I had to save them. It was a close call.

Here are some pictures from our visit in Houston.
Aubrey up late.

Aubrey calling Jenna to see how her Christmas was.

Here is Aubrey, Beck, and I's attempt at a ginger bread house. Beck mostly ate candy off the hosue after he put it on. We really had a great time. Notice there is absolutely no central theme to the construciton. It's pretty much just haphazard building.

The Day After Christmas

I got to spend the best time with Aubrey and Beck, their happy morning time. I made them waffles, strawberries, and orange juice. This is one of their favorite breakfasts'. They love their sissy and I love them too.

Beck was talking up a storm and being as loud as he could be.

Aubrey loves her princess cups at Sissy's house.

Caught her off guard on this picture.

Beck thought that strawberries would make a great hair gel!

The Girls Christmas Party

Every year we get all the ladies together for a Christmas Party. It's a tradition that Clarissa hosts the evening and it was at her house this year. She is so creative and comes up with the cutest ideas. The theme this year was Christmas Around the World. Each girl got a different country and either had to do a drink, appetizer, entree, or dessert. It was such a hit. Some of the countries were a little difficult but we all made do. Thank you Clarissa for planning such a wonderful party.

Mindy & Chrissy (myself)
Miya, Clarissa, and Julie

Sarah, Missy, and Andrea

Jenny & Stephanie

Michelle, Kendra, and Stephanie

Aishia, Nicole, and Erica
Newest and youngest member to the girls group, Miss Addison James.
Missy with a new boob job.

All the Ladies together. Unfortunately my camera died and this is the only picture I got of all the girls and I cut part of Julie off, Sorry.