My Sexy by Summer Make Over Day

In January several moms joined the Sexy by Summer weight loss contest on a site for moms. We all jumped in not even knowing what the grand prize was....we just knew we wanted to lose weight. After 6 months I'd lost 24 lbs and 17% body fat making me the winner. Here's how my day of pampering went:

This morning I set my GPS then took off to Largo to have my hair cut and colored at Sharp Image. Mary Knaus was very friendly but completely ignored the fact that I wanted to keep my hair long. I've tried very hard to get used to it but I still miss my long hair. She gave me a great cut, it's just not what I wanted. Mary added 2 shades of red highlights on the top and a little bit of blond above my ears- I love the color! The owner, Susan, was there also and I was very appreciative of their time and use of the salon. Along for the entire ride was Kelly Machbitz who can be seen on Channel 10 at 5 PM- for you Tampa Bay peeps. She was there to try to keep Mary on the time schedule (didn't work too well ), give her expert opinion and help me shop. After getting my hair chopped off it was off to Merle Norman Cosmetics in Belleair Bluffs to have my eyebrows waxed and make up applied. Kelly was great at taking before and after pics...even the wonderful pre-waxing pics (blech). Her team at her Merle Norman store was fabulous! I'm very thankful for the lovely ladies who waxed, plucked, moisturized, and purtied me up! They were all fantastic!

Next it was off to Dillard's to meet Mike the camera man. Poor guy had to lug his heavy camera all over the top floor following Kelly and I as we looked for dresses to try on. I tried on dress after dress after dress after dress while Kelly shared her opinion of what she liked and disliked for each one. Sorry to all the ladies who were trying to get in and out of the dressing room and trying to avoid being on camera! It was great seeing people's wide eyes and curious stares wondering why I was being followed by a camera. We also went on a scavenger hunt for jeans and tops since it's not really practical for me to wear dresses while crawling all over the floor chasing kids and cleaning toilets- oh the life of a stay-at-home-mom. Kelly got me to try on jeans I wouldn't normally wear and tops usually out of my price range. She was a great sport listening to me say, "Nope, don't like it. Nope, won't wear it." I think I was a bit of a challenge for her since she's used to 'casual' being a nice pair of dress slacks instead of a pair of pajama pants. I had to explain to her that my wardrobe was EXTREME casual.

So, what did I buy? Well, I really wanted the purple dress they showed on the TV clip but it was $155. EEK! I LOVED it but it just wasn't practical for a SAHM like me (I'm keeping my eye on it to see if it goes on sale). I did get a purple dress perfect for my BFF's graduation party this Saturday. The dress was originally $118 but with it being on sale PLUS Dillard's 40% sale going on right now I only paid $42. I also got a really cute top ($98- paid $35) that I can wear to a football game with sneakers then slip on a pair of heels and hit the town (after the sock marks go away)! My best find that day was a pair of dark jeans (that have to be hemmed for my short lil legs) that were originally $99- I got them for $17.82. Got a big High Five from Kelly for that one! I went back the next day and bought a pair of $80 jeans for $5!

I had a great day and had so much fun with Kelly. We got in some good giggles at me eating Subway while Bobbi was doing my make up. Thanks for lunch, Kelly.

NEW HAIR courtesy: Mary Knaus, Sharp Image (1886 West Bay Drive, Largo)

EYEBROWS & MAKEUP: Bobbi Barry, makeup artist & Nanette Barrows, Aesthetician

Merle Norman Cosmetics, 100 N. Indian Rocks Road, Belleair Bluffs

CLOTHES & NEW STYLE: Kelly Machbitz, Certified Image Consultant http://www.totalfashionmakeover.com/

I was also in another contest called Waist Watchers which was a three month long contest. I came in 3rd for that one. Both of these contests are the reason I started blogging. Below are some of my favorite posts from my journey to lose weight. I recently added a search box and am in the process of tagging my posts so you can easily locate subjects you're looking for. Feel free to read the ones I've chosen and to poke around RMS Snowdrop- you may learn some things you didn't know before!

Thank you to everyone who had encouraged me during these last several months. We're not finished yet though! We're now on our way to be Sexier by Halloween.

Related posts:

Official Weigh-In and Weight Loss Party- this was my last hoorah for junk food

The Dreaded Meal Plan- this helped me jump start my weight loss even though I hated it. Big thanks to Douglas for developing this plan for me.

Thing 1 & Thing 2- Ugh, these are my before bathing suit pictures

It's Working! It's Working!- my hard work was finally starting to pay off

Glass half full or half empty- typical ups and downs of losing weight, updated bathing suit pictures

Slacker Fattie vs Skinny Bitch- humorous struggle between who I was and who I wanted to be

What I've learned- taking time to reflect on what I've learned from losing weight

How I discovered I'd gotten too fat...for me- my wake up call that something in my life needed to change drastically

Second Weight Loss Contest Results- this ones kind of self explanatory!

My Weight Loss Journey- looking back on my weight and measurements along with my desire to keep going to meet my goal of 110 pounds...which I still haven't done.

How I discovered I'd gotten too fat....for me

See that picture? Those are my jeans. I've had them for two years. They're size 5 Arizona Jeans that I got from Bealls while shopping for Kelly. They are stretchy and oh, so comfy. Or, at least they were. The first clue that they didn't fit anymore should have been when I acquired the oh-so-attractive muffin top. But no, I kept squeezing into them, not thinking too much about having to unbutton them when I sat down.

The second clue should have been when I popped the button off when I sat down and didn't unbutton them. But no – it took the third clue. Look closely to the butt of my favorite – once favorite – pair of jeans. Yeah, that's a hole. A big one. Right in the ass. You may notice small bits of black thread. That's where I tried to repair that giant ass hole – ummm, that didn't sound so great. Let's try this. That's where I tried to repair the giant rip in the back. Better? I used heavy duty thread and stitched it over three times.

I waited a week. Why? I don't know. Maybe I was thinking it would toughen, up like Gorilla Glue.

The day came for me to try them on and see if the stitch would hold. I'd lost 15 pounds and an inch off my butt so I thought, "What the hell?" That's 15 pounds since January, not in one week. I'm not on The Biggest Loser...yet. I pulled them on, zipped them up and buttoned them (somehow I managed to sew the button on, too). After 10 minutes of walking around and sitting down a few times, the button held. The stitching? Well, you see the results. The inspiration I got from these jeans has been twofold. First, is to get off my obviously fat ass and exercise so I can fit back into them comfortably (just not in public anymore). Second, to win Sexy by Summer so I can get that $500 shopping spree. I NEED that shopping spree! Not only do I need a new sports bra… but now I need new jeans, too.

Slacker Fattie Tip – If you notice your clothes are starting to fit a little snug, it's NOT ok to go buy bigger ones (unless you're prego, then feel free to shop away). Snug clothes means your shoveling food in your face and sitting on your fat butt – I seem to be in a sarcastic mood today, sorry.

Sexy Meal Plan Tip – I've said this before but it bears repeating. Portion control. That doesn't mean controlling your portions so they don't touch each other on your plate. This means that you don't need 2 giant pieces of chicken/steak/pork, etc. The amount of food a restaurant serves you is ridiculous. I've heard this in many different places: Cut your dinner in half and ask them to box up the other half. Save it for tomorrow's lunch (not a late night snack, you can't be THAT hungry!)

In memory of Jennifer...an anorexic

This is going to be a long and difficult, but important post. I'm already in tears. I feel I need to write it though, especially after one of my cousins expressed concern about me and my weight loss.

Jennifer was my next door neighbor, friend and my first babysitting job. She passed away a few years ago from anorexia. She was NEVER fat. Always so skinny even as a little girl. I was shocked when I learned she had anorexia and saddened to learn she'd passed away.

Anorexia is an eating disorder AND a psychological disorder where people starve themselves. They are usually 15% below the normal body weight for their height and age. We see them as overly skinny but they see themselves as fat. It's about control. There are so many things in our lives that are out of our control. For anorexics, eating and exercise are things they have absolute control over.

There are several signs and symptoms of anorexia. They can include:

* not eating in public, not eating, cutting food into tiny pieces
* anxiety and personality disorders
* depression and or social withdrawal
* weakness, fatigue, inability to sleep well
* brittle skin and nails
* shortness of breath
* obsessiveness about calorie intake, food portions, housework, sex, shopping and exercise
* they often fix large meals for others but don't eat what they've fixed

Medical consequences can include:

* shrunken bones
* low body temperature
* irregular heartbeat
* abnormal growth or osteoporosis
* bulimia nervosa
* difficulty conceiving or carrying a baby to term
* constipation and abdominal pain
* potassium deficiency and mineral loss
* electrolyte imbalance from laxatives and vomiting

Causes of anorexia may be:

* demands from family and society
* poor self image
* a fear of growing up (mostly in girls)
* high parental expectations
* poor communication skills
* recent studies are showing possible genetic links and brain dysfunctions as possible causes

Unlike many diseases, anorexia can be treated. It can be overcome. Women sufferers can carry and give birth to healthy babies. Most cases can be treated through outpatient services but some require hospital stays. Just as losing weight healthily, anorexics must gain weight in a healthy way, usually 2-3 pounds a week. Individual, group and family therapy are all highly recommended as there is usually an underlying problem which caused the anorexia. Proper nutrition education is important as well. Some may choose antidepressants to help with moods and anxiety.

One percent of teenage girls in the US will develop anorexia. It's seen in many middle and upper economic classes and many are athletes, dancers, models and actors. One percent may seem like a small number, but of that 1%, up to 10% may die from the disorder. The most common causes of death are cardiac arrest, electrolyte imbalance and suicide.

We can blame society, but it's up to parents to be the most positive role models for their children. My cousin was afraid of the impact I was making on my children when she was afraid I was becoming anorexic. I could never be anorexic. I like to eat too much! I could never be bulimic either. After being pregnant 5 times, I have no desire to throw up on purpose. I and my family joke about me being fat but we understand that I am not fat, nor do I view myself as fat. I was over weight for me and was uncomfortable. I am not on a diet. I am on a healthy meal plan. They see me eating healthy and exercising. I've spoken with them about making healthier food choices and cutting back on chips and cookies. We've discussed obesity, diabetes, anorexia, bulimia and clogged arteries.

I am in no danger of becoming anorexic. I am very aware of what I eat and the exercises I do, not as something to control, but as a way to become healthier. I want my children to be healthy, too. Kelly and Reyna look at those stick figure models as ugly and unhealthy. We saw a little boy at Busch Gardens on Saturday who was the same age and height as Maisie. He had to of weighed at least twice as much. We were very sad for him and his overweight parents. Neither of my older girls have any desire to look like a stick figure OR a rollie-pollie. It's MY responsibility as a parent to make sure they have that type of attitude. It's MY responsibility to see that my children eat healthy and get plenty of exercise. If you ask them who their role models are, they will tell you me and their dad.

While researching this topic, I came upon a site where girls posted about their anorexia. They are proud of their disease and how they look. They boasted about trying on size 0 jeans and them being too big. I read two posts and started crying. I only read one page. It was all I could stand. I wanted so much to give each of those girls a hug. I decided not to include the link. I'm not sure if you have to become a member to post but my fear was that people would go on there and say mean and nasty things to those girls. Negative comments will not help them. I cannot help them in any way except to pray for them. I can only help my own children. Their family and friends are the only ones who can help those girls.

Instead of tips today, I want you to look at yourselves and your families. Are you making healthy choices? Do you see anyone in danger of developing an eating disorder? Open your eyes and look deep inside yourselves as well as paying close attention to those you love and care for.

reference sites:
www.medicinenet.com/anorexia_nervosa/article.htm
www.mamashealth.com/anorexia.asp

Back on track

I suppose since this started out as a journal for my weight loss, I should pay a little more attention to posting more about losing weight.

Well, I would if I were losing weight. In order to not get frustrated, I've shied away from posting about it. That's not helpful for me or those of you who read this looking for hints or tips about weight loss. Although I will still wander occasionally, there will always be something in every post either with an update or a tip I'd like to share that I use or that has helped me. If I forget, don't hesitate to send me a comment and let me know!

I've been going to the gym 3 times a week. I've taken a break from training and trying things on my own. It's not going well. I'm stuck at 127/8 pounds. I've been there for over a week. I've decided to make smaller goals inside of my big goals (winning Waist Watchers and Sexy by Summer). I have a long piece of paper on the wall behind my desk with a countdown to May 6th which is the end of WW's. Each day I write which exercises I do. Why? Because I'm a visual person. I look at it every day and my goal is to do at least three 30 minute cardio sessions a day. Sometimes it happens sometimes it doesn't. Occasionally, life with 4 kids gets in the way of "me" time. I DON'T want to see a single blank day. I'd rather see 3 entries for each day, but I can only do my best and sometimes that means only getting in 1 or 2 workouts.

I have 3 important dates coming up in a few weeks. The first is March 25th when Channel 10 is supposed to bring the Waist Watchers contestants back on the show to see everyone's progress. This is big deal for me being the smallest contestant. The weekend after that is the one year anniversary of meeting my biological parents after searching for them for 17 years. I don't know what's planned for the anniversary but whatever it is, there will be lots of pictures taken and I definitely don't want to look how I look now! The 3rd is a slumber party with my girls who I've named the 9-5 Ladies (because we entertain each other during their work days). Again, lots of pictures and LOTS of food. Douglas isn't going to want to read this part, ha ha. I'm not going to go crazy on junk food but I am going to enjoy some good-tasting-as-healthy-as-possible-but- probably-not-yummy food. We'll probably be dancing around like fools burning off whatever we ate anyway!

So, there's your Slacker Fattie Tip for the day. Set small goals for yourself. You're less likely to give up if you do.

Sexy Meal Plan Tip – wash and peel carrots and put them in water in your fridge, same with celery (well, you don't have to peel celery, though). All you have to do is grab and eat for a quick, healthy, fiber-filled snack.