Sunday, June 27, 2010

INCHES!!!!

We are now here at the end of week four. I thought it would be a good time to add up all the inches we have lost. There have been little victories each week, but once you add it all together it is pretty exciting.

Jay’s LOST
Neck 3 inches
Chest 6 inches
Up. Arm 4.5 inches
For. Arm 1.25 inches
Waist 8 inches
Hips 6.75 inches
Thigh 4.5 inches
Calf 2 inches
TOTAL INCHES LOST 36!!!!

Laura’s LOST
Neck 2.5 inches
Chest 4 inches
Up. Arm 2 inches
For. Arm 1.25 inches
Waist 8 inches
Hips 4 inches
Thigh 3.75 inches
Calf 0.75 inches
TOTAL INCHES LOST 27!!!!

We have lost a total of 63 inches. That is more inches than I am tall LOL!!!

Laura

Tuesday, June 22, 2010

The trials of this week.

Jay and I have been away from our safe haven for the past week. On Friday we came to stay with Jay’s mom who is recovering from knee surgery. We have been away from our gym, the food we eat (at home) and our daily support. This has proven to be the most difficult week we have had since starting our journey.

Yesterday was weigh-in. Jay lost 3 pounds and I lost 2 pounds. We were not happy with that weight loss. Injuries, a lack of gym time and struggles with food showed. Monday after weigh-in is supposed to be our “cheat” day. We are allowed to double our caloric in-take which is designed to shock our metabolisms into high gear. After a bad weigh-in and struggles throughout the week this was probably not the best idea. I am not ready to say exactly what I ate and how much of it, but I did come out today with some positive and negatives.

I am moving forward today, eating healthy again and exercising. Thank you for all the support and encouraging word we have been receiving.

Blessing from our family to yours!!!
Laura

Monday, June 21, 2010

J&L Biggest Loser Event Five

This challenge will be on Sunday, June 27th at 1:00 P.M. It will be at Sarah Nofziger’s house. We would love to have you come and complete this challenge with us. If you are planning to participate with us during this challenge you need to be prepared to get a “little” wet. We will be providing bowls with water and you will need to provide the upper body strength. You can also come to just watch and cheer us on.

Blessing from our family to yours!!!
Laura

Week Four Weigh-In and Challenge

Here is the video for week four. Hope you enjoy :-)

Thursday, June 17, 2010

Goodbye

So as most of you know I have been battling a long time addiction. It started out as a simple pleasure. Once a day, maybe twice if I was lucky, however, it quickly grew. The next thing I knew I was strung out. I couldn’t function without it. Everything thing I did I required it. Waking up, going to work, while at work, eating, watching TV, browsing the internet, heck even while I was going to the bathroom, I could not complete what I set out to do without it. It drove those around me, the ones I love the most, insane. My husband always had to pick up the empties left behind; sometimes even the half full ones were left behind as well. He even had a name for them, “fallen soldiers”. I would wake up in the mornings to find them all upside down in the sink, drained of every last drop. He had to make sure I wouldn’t go back for more. It was out of control. It consumed my life. It consumed my wallet. I was making daily trips to replenish my stock. If I ran out, I would send my husband to go get more, no matter the time of day. You could say he was my enabler. He allowed it to continue for many years. But today marks a milestone. Today is the longest I have gone without it.

Today it has been 4 days since my very last DIET PEPSI. Yes I have kicked DIET PEPSI to the curb. It will no longer pollute my body with its carbonation and artificial sweeteners. It will no longer control my trips to the store or my stops at convenience stores. So I say good bye to a long time companion, and hello to my new friend, WATER. I will miss you diet pepsi, but I will be a healthier, stronger person without you. I will miss your sweet lime taste, but I will no longer crave you. It’s over, I am finished with you. NOW where is my water bottle?

Laura (written by Jay)

Wednesday, June 16, 2010

J&L Biggest Loser Event Four

This event is going to be a little different from the others.

One month ago Jay went to the REAL Biggest Loser episode one taping in downtown Portland. Their challenge was to walk/run one mile on the waterfront. Jay was very excited to be a part of this and do the challenge. What he did not realize is how hard this mile would be for him and how much he would have an eye opening experience. It took him 25 minutes to walk and rest a couple of time to complete the mile.

He told himself he was coming back in one month to complete the same mile. His goal this time is to briskly walk the WHOLE mile without resting.

Our challenge this week is going to be in downtown Portland on the waterfront, walking/running one mile. On Monday, June 21st, we will be completing weigh-in at Sarah’s house at 8:30 AM. We will then be leaving from Sarah’s house at 9:00 AM to be in downtown and starting at 10:00 AM. All are welcome, and you can follow us up to Portland from Sarah’s house.

Monday, June 14, 2010

The Gym Today

Jay and I just got home from the gym. My gym goal this week is to EASILY run a 12 minute mile. I am practicing for our challenge next Monday. I was able to complete a 12 minute mile running the whole time, but Jay had to stand right next to me, because I thought I was either going to fall off or pass out. While neither of those happened, I want it to be easier. Also, I am very proud of Jay. He was able to complete his mile walk/run in 18:40.

Week Three Weigh-In and Challenge

We have made it to the beginning of week three. The weigh-in this morning was a close one again, but I (Laura) won by .2 percent. Jay lost a total of 5 pounds and 5 inches and I lost a total of 3 pounds and 2 inches.

For the challenge this morning we had to run and drop one ball at a time by someone’s name that we wanted to eliminate. Once you received 10 balls by your name you were out. The last person standing got to pick a number 1 through 13 to see what mine or Jay’s consequence would be.

I was able to get 5 balls by Jay’s name before I was eliminated losing the challenge. Jera (our daughter) came in first picking number 5. Jay won the challenge and my consequence for the week is I have to walk to the gym all week.
This is going to be a strong week for us. I have a 6 pound goal this week and Jay wants to lose 10 pounds. We will be counting EVERY calorie, eating VERY health and spending A LOT of time in the gym.

Hope you enjoy the video!!!

Blessings from our family to yours!!!!
Laura

Sunday, June 13, 2010

Updates from Jay


Hello my blog friends, hope you are enjoying this beautiful weather we have been graced with, maybe it will decided to stay for a while. By the way, this is Jay typing. I figured I better disclose that ahead of time and will continue to do so any time I decide to make an entry here.

So here it is starting the 4th week of my journey. Yes, I started a week earlier than Laura, I felt it was time, I couldn’t wait any longer. Let me be the first to say, this has NOT been easy. Not the food, not the workouts, nothing has been easy; not even losing the challenges is easy. I am finding that night times are the hardest for me. I will eat well all day long and then eat a good dinner, but after dinner sucks. I want to snack on anything I see. I haven’t found a good way to deal with it yet, but what does work is to stay out of the kitchen. Another thing that’s difficult, making food for Jera. While she has been eating better, we basically have just been cutting down on the amounts she eats. But when you are making it, it’s hard not to take a bite here and a bite there while telling yourself, its only one bite. But those add up and add up fast.

CASHEWS are my weakness. I had Laura buy some the other day, I eat them with my breakfast, but at night, I have to hide them. They sit there and scream at me from the kitchen, “one handful isn’t going to hurt you”, “there is a lot of us in the jar, no one will notice we are missing”, or my favorite tactic of the nasty cashews, “our fat is good fat for you, it won’t hurt you”. Them suckers are smart. While yes their fat is healthy, only in small amounts, I can’t stop eating them at one serving, which by the way is a 160 calories for 28g(roughly 20 pieces). I might have to rethink having cashews with my breakfast.

Workouts are really not that bad. I can get to the gym, I can do my warm-up, and I can lift the weights, but I know I can do more. The other day I pushed myself and was able to walk 2 miles, huge victory. I am dealing with the soreness right now, and I know that it will go away here shortly, but it sucks and makes it very easy to talk yourself out of doing something. Then again, our bodies can tell us a lot if we would just listen to them, and soreness is one of the ways of saying, “hey give me time to recover please”.

So while I know that struggles are a normal part of this journey, I thought I should share them so others can see its par for the course. In my mind, the victories far outweigh the struggles, but I know the struggles can drag us down and they will fight you to do whatever they can to stop you from succeeding. Keep focusing on the positives; weight loss, change in body shape, being able to stand for 30mins without sitting, being able to run on and off the softball field, being able to walk 2 miles, counting calories for everything that goes down the hatch, because in the end, you can look back down that mountain you just climbed and yell to the world, I DID IT!!!

P.S. I tried something new today, and fell in love with it. EATING ASPARAGUS. It really isn't that bad. Actually it is really good. Laura took a picture for all to see I really did eat it.

Saturday, June 12, 2010

J&L Biggest Loser Event Three

The third J&L Biggest Loser Challenge Event will be on Monday, June 14, 2010. We will be having it at Sarah Nofziger’s house at 10:00 A.M.

There will be balls, running and baskets.

Please come and join us, or you can watch and cheer us on.

Wednesday, June 9, 2010

Week Two Weigh-In and Challenge

Finally, here is our video for week two. We were having some technical difficulties. Hope you enjoy!!!!

Friday, June 4, 2010

J&L Biggest Loser Event Two

Our second J&L Biggest Loser Challenge EVENT is quickly approaching.

It will be on Monday, June 7, 2010. We will be holding this event at Sarah Nofziger’s house at 1:00 P.M.

There will be a balance beam, medicine balls and a stop watch.

You are welcome to join us or you can watch and cheer us on.

Wednesday, June 2, 2010

Parties, Food, Parties, and More Food













When will the temptations ever end? Oh right, NEVER!!!

Graduation parties, birthday parties and year-end parties. To the left of you is a large bowl of peanut butter M&Ms (my favorite), and in front of you are bowls of chips, pretzels, dips and more candy. Then to your right is a full spread of meats, cheeses, salads, little smokies and meatballs, and then somewhere you can smell the dessert (cakes, cookies and brownies) waiting to be served.

Could this be heaven, we are surrounded by great friends? For those of us that have no self-control when it come to food and are trying to change our habits, this is a nightmare.

With that said, Jay and I will be eating before we come to all the parties during the next couple of weeks and we will be making sure that we have plenty of gum in our pockets. Also, if it is your party that we are coming to, please do not be offend if we do not eat the food, I am sure it is wonderful!!!

above is a picture of the Warrington’s new favorite dinner. Whole-wheat, turkey breast, spinach tacos. Here is the recipe and nutritional information.

Serves 4 Tacos (2 Tacos Each)

* 8 oz. cooked Jenny-O’s Ground Turkey Breast (2oz each taco)
Add no more then 2 tablespoons of taco seasoning when cooking
* 4 Whole-Wheat Medium Tortillas (we use the 96% fat free)
* 2 oz. spinach leaves ( ½ oz. each taco)
* 1 small tomato cut into small pieces ( ¼ for each taco)
* ½ cup red onion cut into small pieces (1/8 cup for each taco)
* 4 tablespoons of salsa (1 tablespoon for each taco)
(Jay likes to use shrimp instead of turkey.)

For 2 Tacos
Calories: 440
Protein: 29 grams
Carbs: 57grams
Fat: 10 grams

Blessing from our families to yours!!!!
Laura