Weigh-In Friday And A Goal Met By Rodeo Time

When I started this weight-loss journey on March 12th, 2010 one of the goals I set for myself was to loose 25 pds by the Spooner Rodeo (I LOVE THE RODEO)......and today.....I DID IT!!!!! I jumped on the scale this morning and I lost 1 pound this week for a total weight-loss so far of 25.5 pounds....WOO HOO!!!!! I can't begin to tell you how good this feels, it's amazing!!!!!

Last year, when we went to the Spooner Rodeo, I felt so embarrassed and down right FAT!!!! Spooner is a small town and I pretty much know everyone,( my husband is always shocked at how many people I know and talk to during a quick trip to the grocery store:)

As I have blogged about before, we moved to Rapids 2 years ago for my husbands job, and while we have been down here I gained 17 pounds (so as of today I am 8 pds less then when we left Spooner 2 years ago...YES!!!!) I think because I was lonely and felt down right lost, I was out of control and so miserable!!!!! When I would go home to Spooner, I found myself almost hiding from people because I was not happy with myself and the path I found myself on because of my own out of control eating and lack of self control. At times I found myself giving in to it by saying....."you are going to be 50"....."this is what happens when people turn 50, I guess you're destine to gain a few pounds".....this is so NOT like me to give in and start talking this way, I had to change my mind-set!!!!!!

Then, just in the nick of time, came the bitter/sweet Christmas present from my daughter Alyssa. I have blogged about this before, you can click here for the whole story, it's toward the bottom of the post....my present was that she had signed me up for a 5k in Lacrosse, WI on May 1st. I was in shock that she had signed me up for a 5K (I hated running) but because she thought I could run a 5K, I didn't want to disappoint her and wanted to make my girls proud, (she gave her sister, Kara, the same gift...so it would be a mother/daughters weekend). I started training the end of January (it took me that long to get over the shock of it all and get on the treadmill) . By the beginning of March, something changed.....I was not only doing it for her I was also doing it for me...I was enjoying the journey. Running and that 5K on May 1st motivated me to finally get serious about loosing weight and be ALL I could be when I turned 50. Nurtisystem had been in the back of my mind for almost a year, I had wanted to try it but something always held me back. I decided enough was enough and took the plunge and ordered it (actually I had my husband do it for me, I was too chicken).....one of the BEST decision I have made in a long time!!!! My husband was totally on board with me and he also started running and watched what he ate and he has lost 21 pounds...so proud of him, honey, you are such a hottie!!!!

I am still on this journey, and want to lose at least 10 more pounds. As of right now I am trying to ween myself off NS and go it alone. This week, I did half NS and half making choices on my own and I was very happy with my 1 pd loss results. All I can say is that I am learning as I go and loving this new found confidence. I am starting Cosmetology school on August 23rd and am so excited to learn and become a beautician!!!! I have wanted to do that since I was 18. I can walk into class and hold my head high knowing I have finally gotten control of myself and my thinking. I will probably be the oldest student in the class but that does not matter to me...what matters is that I continue to be all I can be at 50 years young:) and show the young girls that you can grow old gracefully:) I want to live my life for JESUS, to be a light in this dark world and continue to live out the CALL that God has placed on my life.

One of my first goals realized is....I ran and finished the 5K on May 1st....and LOVED it!!!! I am going to run the Monster Dash in the Twin Cities in October with my girls. I am hoping my husband will join us this time. Maybe I will have to surprise him with a 5K sign-up....it works:)

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BEFORE-AFTER PICS

Ok, time for the before and after pictures. I am NOT proud of the before pic that's for sure but it is where this journey began but I NEVER want to go back there again!!!!!!

My BEFORE picture...
This was taken at the Spooner Rodeo last year...see why I was hiding!!!!!!

The AFTER picture.....WOO HOO!!!!
So happy with my weight-loss and so proud to be the Mom of these 2 precious girls!!!!!

Thank you Jesus for never giving up on me even when I sometime want to give up on myself. You are always there gently nudging me toward the life you died to give me here on this earth and also in Heaven....you are truly AMAZING and I LOVE you with all my heart!!!!

Last but not least....here is a picture of Alyssa at the Rodeo last year. Cotton candy at the Spooner Rodeo has been the highlight of her summer since she has been a little girl. She is such a nut and I will forever be thankful that she didn't give up on her out of control Mom....Thank you Alyssa for your awesome Christmas gift and for believing in me when I didn't believe in myself. I didn't realize what you were giving me that Christmas morning...but I know now what you were giving me was my life back, I just had to believe it and receive it. You truly are my gift from Heaven....I love you!!!!

Brent and I are leaving this afternoon for Spooner (that is why this post is a day early). The first Rodeo performance starts tonight at 7:30pm and we will be front and center...can't wait, I get tickets for all 3 nights every year. And yes, I will be sportin those new jeans I bought last week...I will have pictures to share with you all next week of our Rodeo dates. We will also be spending a lot of time at our new house....I will be posting pictures of our house progress next week also.

Until then, have a GREAT weekend and Blessing to everyone, Rhonda