Sorry I’ve been missing. I just don’t have the heart right now to be doing what I need to be doing. Things have been extremely busy. We returned from Michigan Saturday 4/19, I had very mixed feelings about leaving. On one hand I was very excited to be getting back to warm weather and my own bed and house. But it is almost like while I was there I was in a time warp. I was near everyone that was close to my dad. I know he is gone and he is in my heart and around me every day but I still felt like I was leaving him behind when I left Michigan. I’m know it is because his presence was evident staying in the house he was living in (as he lived with my grandfather), being near his room, etc. I have this need to talk to everyone he knew and just be around them. Anyway I’m back and have been so busy with the kids back in school, projects, homework, sports, etc. I have a TON of stuff to catch up at work, and in between all of that my house looks like a tornado hit it.

On the weekends I’m trying to devote a day to clean and a day to play. So far it isn’t working out LOL I mean the playing is but I’m so behind, this weekend I’m still working at getting to the beach but I haven’t done laundry since I’ve been back EEK!!  So needless to say even though eating well is suppose to be a way of life I’ve fallen off the way of life right now. I don’t have the mindset to jump back on this week, but it is never far from my mind.

Cindy you look like you are doing a GREAT job look at you at 195 that is so awesome. I’ve been spending more time on myspace then anything else as I have some friends I’m staying in contact with. Cindy if you have one jump on by and we can be friends LOL www.myspace.com/honeys_mom. If anyone else is interested you are welcome to start up a friendship with my. My space is private and I have to accept you. If you are wanting to add me please let me know where you came from as I don’t usually accept friends unless I know them as I do post about myself and such on my blog.

Hope everyone is still winning the battle. Hugs Colleen

Hi everyone!!!

It's been a while since I posted...I had a bad week last week, no particular reason, just a hiccup in this journey. We, as a family, have been really active since the weather broke around here. Last week we went on an hour long nature hike and spent some time in our park. My computer time has been limited, but frankly, I'd rather be outside!

My daughter had another dance competition this past weekend and her class did very well. She took classes too, so that was my entire Saturday and Sunday...once again packed food so that we had some healthy snacks and lunches but was impressed with their concessions too. They were really conscious about providing salads, fruit and wraps instead of the usual burgers, fries, pizza and chicken fingers *blech*! This convention was local, so that helped too.

Colleen, my friend, I hope that you're doing ok...I've been thinking about you and your family.

Hope everyone else has a great rest of the week!

~ Cindy

PS -- OMG I just remembered I haven't posted about the finale...So, So happy for Ali and Bernie! WOOT! It was a great show and everyone looked amazing! And to Marcus & Amber, our MPMU Winner a HUGE CONGRATS!!! So when does the next season start???

I will be away for a week, I just found out my dad passed away. Cindy I didn't want you to wonder if I had fallen off the face of the earth. I didn't post Friday (haven't been doing well) was going to get back at it this week. We are flying to Michigan tonight, it is going to be a shock to my family's system (the cold I mean.) This has taken us by surprise and not expected at all. My father was 55 and it is believed he died of a heart attack. No one was home, as my grandfather (whom he lives with) was believe it or not, down here in Florida on vacation. The neighbors became concerned after not seeing my dad leave the house in a couple of days. They found him sitting in his chair which I'm choosing to believe means he passed suddenly. He had been to the doctor just that week complaining of shoulder and arm pain. However it was thought maybe he pulled a muscle. I do not believe now that was the case. They are working now to determine the actual cause of death.

Hugs to all I will check back in next week

~Colleen

At least a loss :) 0.4 lbs. but I'll take it!

The exciting thing??? I am down a size! I'm officially a size 14 and too small for the plus department WOO-HOO!!! HECK YEAH ~ I said too SMALL!!! I had to go shopping because all of my spring capri's are size 20's from last year! I went to Fashion Bug and because of habit went directly over to the Plus side of the store and loaded up on size 16's to try on...all too big! I think the saleswoman thought I was delirious when she asked me how they fit! LOL I had an enormous grin on my face and just said "they didn't!" and marched my butt over to the Misses section!

God that felt good!

~ Cindy

Soooo.....who did you vote for last night???

As for me? You'll have to hear me out on this one...

I was sooo totally voting for Mark to stay in the competition...I'm sorry, PINK has been my fav since day one! I'm a BIG Ali fan and think her and her Mom were unjustly voted off the first time!!! I soooo much want her to win this and be the first WOMAN (sorry guys!) Biggest Loser!!! So, my pea size brain figures she has the best chance against Mark so sure, that's who I'm voting for!

Then, my darling husband is rationalizing with me this morning and he doesn't think Mark deserves to be there...heck anyone that can make their way back into the competition and stick it out this long winning challenges after challenges DESERVES to be there...but... I understand he was already voted out once. Yes, Roger is the one that TRULY should be in the final...he was never below the yellow line until this week...he's done an incredible job.

So, I did vote for Roger to stay in the final...Hubby was calculating all the percentages and figures Roger and Kelly both need to pull some amazing numbers to be able to catch Ali. I figured if America votes him in, she will still have an awesome shot at winning this whole thing!

What are your thoughts? Who did you vote for? And what about those amazing weigh-ins this week, eh??? Geesh, wish I could lose 15 lbs. in one week!

~ Cindy

The quote on the rock reads:
"God wrought for us this scene beyond compare, but one man's loving hand protected it and gave it to his fellow men to share."
~ Sarah Evans Letchworth

We had a glorious Sunday afternoon! The weather was absolutely perfect and we couldn't bear to waste the day inside or just putzing around the house. We traveled about an hour out to Castile, NY to go on a hike at Letchworth State Park.We hiked the Gorge Trail which is about a 7 mile hike...we did about 3 miles down to the lower falls, had lunch, then turned around and hiked3 miles back to the car. The kids did great, and loved collecting rocks and pine cones along the way. Josh had enough in his pockets to literally weigh him down and he just didn't quite understand why he was having so much trouble towards the end. LOL I am so proud of them though!

Here are some of the pics...pretty, eh?

Well, I was reluctant to change my ticker to encompass the entire journey instead of just the BL Challenge...but now that I did I realize how much I really have accomplished. I have to admit...that 277 start weight a year ago is still really embarrassing to me.

Today was a great morning...great weigh in for me since it's been over a month since I've been able to post a loss. The leg is much better, the tendon is still not 100%, but I'm being careful. I started another 8 week session of Hip-Hop class and spring has finally sprung around here, so I have my park runs back. I am re-energized and ready to tackle this last 48.4 pounds.

~Cindy

Here's me in perspective...a little before and now ("after" will be when I'm finally at a healthy weight)

Before                        Now

First off Congrats Cindy on being able to post a weight loss this week! I bet it felt great to be able to do that. I hope your foot is doing better and so exciting to see you were able to get back under the 200 mark. Here’s to staying there LOL!

I’m very excited to say I’ve now lost over 40 pounds total. That was my mini goal getting to 156.5. Today I weighed 155.5 and am going strong. My next goal is 149 (under 150’s). I’m going to be able to get back to the gym this week since the boys are on spring break I have no after work commitments. I’m hoping the week back will help me get back on schedule I really miss working out.
 

Can’t wait to see the winners! Wish we were going to LA.

Oh I HATE April Fool’s day I’m so glad (cross my fingers, toes, and legs) I haven’t had any pranks. I HATE practical jokes, I feel like a party pooper saying that but I do. Like that show PUNKED oh I could never watch it, when they do practical jokes on the radio on people I switch the station. Anyway thought I would check in today as I haven’t been posting tons, just a little here and there. I have NOT gotten back to the gym, I was feeling bad about it but have decided I can only do what I can do and I just have so much going on with the boys sports and trying to get my house in order I’m not going to sweat it. I’m a little disappointed as my gym challenge is up Saturday and I don’t feel at all like I did what I could have done if I had stayed on track and really hit the gym. I’ve decided challenges like that maybe aren’t really my thing. I get more irritated that I don’t stay on track then using it to motivate me. I guess at this point in my journey I really don’t need a challenge to motivate me.

I weighed 157 this morning, which is great, I’m back to what I was the Friday before my week binge. So it is only losing from here, I’m so glad I count myself after a week and was able to get it all back off that quick. Here is to a great week and can’t weight to post my weigh in on Friday.

Since the Biggest Loser Challenge is over we've decided to redo our page. I also thought since both Cindy and I started this journey long before this challenge we should change the stats to be that of our TOTAL weight loss. Cindy if you disagree you can keep your stats as is. I just thought it would be nice to see the BIGGER picture of how far we really have come. I will be changing the percentages in the right hand bar soon. I hope you enjoy the new "spring" page, hopefully it will bring some warmer weather Cindy's away as well as any of you up north. Here in Florida the pools and water parks will open next weekend.

If signing out, going to try to get my car cleaned why the kids play in a small pool I bought yesterday. Have TONS of cleaning and laundry to do as well as a trip to the store.

Hugs
Colleen