Wednesday, March 30, 2011

Weigh in day. We have been at this 7 months! We are getting closer to our goal each week!

Weigh in Month 7

Well we are moving on... We have lost more weight.  We are coming closer to our goals!  It is happening.  I am so thrilled!
 
Our stats for the week
Dave Starting weight-- 380
Dave's starting weight with fawn- 330
Dave's weight last week 266
Dave's weight today- 262
Weight loss for the week- 4 pound loss
Total weight loss with Fawn- 68 pounds
Total weight loss- 118 pounds!!!


Kathleen's Starting weight-- 270
Kathleen's starting weight with fawn-260
Kathleen's weight last week 207
Kathleen's weight today-206
Weight loss for the week- 1 pounds
Total weight loss with Fawn- 54 pounds
Total weight loss-64 pounds!!!  YEAH!!!! (I want 70!!!)

Weight loss of Dave and Kathleen for this week- 5 pound loss!
Total weight loss of Dave and Kathleen- 182 pounds- In 13 months
Total weight loss with fawn- 122 pounds! (in 7 months!)
Positives for the week!
* My ladies support group is going awesome. We are transforming from the inside out.  Please keep them in your prayers.... We want to loose 300 pounds as a group.
* Dave and I have been able to go to the gym at separate times...we have moved our exercise up a notch and are both doing great.  Many times we are at the gym one to two times a day!
* Brandon and Rebecca continue to get up and go to the gym at 5am till 6:30 just about every morning.
Negatives
* I had gained weight last week (4 pounds) so it has taken me all this week and much hard work to loose that and an extra pound...I would have been below 200 if I would not have gone on my binge!!!
* Dave has been sore from working out at the gym so much...has had to have a massage this week to work out the kinks!
Other then that all is going well,  Hope you continue to  keep us in your prayers.  It is through God that gives us the strength to carry on!  Love you guys!  Thanks for your support!

Sunday, March 27, 2011

Two Chipped Coffe Mugs......

Two Chipped Coffee Mugs...
 
 
Did you ever have a best friend growing up?  Not just a good friend, but a BEST friend.  Like in the movies...where you stay up all night talking and dreaming, taking walks in the woods collecting wild flowers, laying on the ground looking up at the sky kind of friend?  One you could share everything with.  Who loved you for who you were and made your growing up years just plain fun.  I had a friend like that. Summer days consisted of waking up rushing through our "chores" so that we could ride our bikes half way to just spend the day together.  Sometimes we couldn't wait to be together so we would help each other with our chores...just to be together.  It was magical! It was a time in my life that I loved.  We were "best friends".  Nine years ago we had a misunderstanding.  We stopped talking to each other and went our separate ways. When mom was dying we saw each other for the first time in nine years.  Now granted we only live 24 miles apart for all of those nine years. We just could not let go of our hurt feelings and anger towards each other.  Years passed and we missed out on so many things in each others lives. As we walked down mom's street the day my mom was dying, we talked and decided we would get together....

Yesterday she came over to my house for the first time in nine years.  She talked about how she had brought me a gift but it had gotten broken on the way here.  After we talked and visited, and I showed her the house she laughingly went out to show me her gift.  Two mugs one with "Hope" written on it and one with "Believe".  The basket had swung and caused the two mugs to clang together and take a chip out of each one.  She showed them to me and we both agreed to put them into the garbage- so no one would not get hurt.  It was the thought that counted.  As we hugged goodbye and she left, I thought about those mugs in the garbage, but did not remove them. 

Rachael came home and saw the mugs in the garbage and her eyes lit up..."What are these?!" she said in her cute excited voice.  I looked at her and said, "Honey, they are chipped, you could get hurt on them...leave them there!"  She did not listen and pulled the two chipped cups out of the garbage. (they were sitting right on top!) "Those are the two best words ever, you cant throw these out!"  Then I looked at the words and it sunk in...You are right I could not throw those out. They were special, not because Rachael liked them, but .because they represented something so very special in my life.
From the time I was a little girl I had a faith (or belief)  that was so strong. I believed in a father God who loved me so very much. Strong enough that I could sit on my front porch with my best friend and lead her to the Lord, so she could be sure that she was going to Heaven. Strong enough that I could  leave my best friend as we headed off to college, and knew that our friendship could last through anything. Belief enough to cry with my best friend as we both at different times in our lives miscarried children, and knew that our children are up in heaven being held my our father God. I also believed enough to know that God would somehow heal our friendship. I had prayed about it for many years. God knew my heart.

When we were young we had such awesome dreams (HOPE) for our lives. We used to sit on our backs in a field and look up at the sky and dream about what our life would be like when we were married! (I can honestly say I did not dream about being a clown when I grew up!)  We dreamed about the men we were going to marry and what our children would be like....we shared our hopes and dreams with each other.  Did our life turn out the way we hoped as a child? No, but we both married our best friends like we hoped, we both lead happy fulfilled lives like we hoped, and we both have three wonderful children.  That is better than anything we could ever hope for or dream up.

The best part about the cups were the chips.  Each one of us in these last nine years have endured many hardships...house fire, accidents, surgeries, sickness and death of parents, loss of those we love, and growing pains from our children growing up.  We each have cracks in our lives that were not there nine years ago. That does not mean that we are not useful.  We have battle scars.  We have hurts that will never go away, but we also have a hope and belief that we can get through anything. If we believe...if we hope for the best we will see it happen.  My favorite verse in the Bible has those words in it..."For I know the plans I have for you declares the Lord, Plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you "HOPE" and a future..."  The next verse is "Then you will call upon me and come an pray to me and I will listen to you.  You will seek me and find me when you seek me with your whole heart (BELIEVE). I will bring you back from captivity and bring you back to the place you were before.

So now those chipped cups are up in my cupboard for all to use. We need to use them carefully, but I have sanded down the spots so they wont hurt us.  But what did I learn about those chipped cups.  Each one of us have gone through things in our life that made us who we are today.  It may be hard things, it may be hurtful things and it may be things that we don't understand.  God is in control and sometimes things need to happen to mold us into the people we should be.  I am a different person today because of my accident.  I am a different person because of loosing all I had in a house fire.  I am better then I could have ever been if those things did not happen. As far as my friendship with my "best friend",  I am thrilled that we have come to a place in our life where we can reach out to each other, and be there for each other.  Some day soon I will have to invite her for tea...I know just the cups we can drink out of. Like us they are chipped... but they are still useful. The words on them will bring us back to our child hood days...when we hoped for our future to be awesome and we believed that we could accomplish anything...
Are they just two chipped cups that were thrown into the garbage...no... they are so much more than that.

Saturday, March 26, 2011

Why do we "cheat"?

Why Do We Cheat?
 
This last week I have been working my but off (literally) trying to make up for when I decided I was invincible!  Dave and I wanted to do something fun with the kids.  We decided it was an "eat what you want day".  Which would have been fine if it was just one day...but....  It started out at a maple sugar factory.  We wanted to take the kids to.  We got a maple sugar milk shake...granted we only got one and split it, .but then we ate at the mall.  We did get a grilled salad and a grilled sub but on white bread.  Then we went to the movies.  Dave dropped us off and when he found us I gave him a kiss.  I smelled peanut butter.  He had grabbed a Reecee's Peanut butter cup four pack and ate it quickly before he came in.  " why?"  For super we ordered a vegetable  pizza...I ate 4 slices.  The next day I had to take Rachael to dentist, then a show, and then doctors, and another show.  We did not have time for breakfast so I grabbed a sandwich at Tim Hortons.  They did specially make it for me with a wheat bagel, turkey and an egg...but  it was still double the size I normally eat and double the calories too.   I was starving by lunch time and decided to go to  my most favorite place to eat....Santoras "All you can eat pizza" ...I got my special buffalo chicken pizza and my white pizza, a salad and French onion soup and ate it all....I ate five pieces of pizza!!! WHY?  I was so stuffed by the time I was done all I wanted to do is take a nap...which I did.  I took a nap every day that I messed up.  I was to tired to do anything else. Then I took Rachael to the movie theatre and we ordered popcorn...not just any popcorn, a large popcorn.. layered. This was the worst you can get...and I ate that too.  Then I had my ladies meeting.  The night before God really convicted me.  Here I was trying to lead these ladies and I have eaten like a hog all weekend.  I weighed myself that morning before they came and had to change out of  my jeans and into my "lighter clothes" just so I could weigh one pound less for the week.... Every chance I could I messed up. I gave in to all of my cravings without even putting up one bit of fight. After I had been working so hard for so long. I was a Mess!
 
WHY did I do it??? I have the support group that worked hard all week.  I had the encouragement I needed.  WHY would I do this.  Why because I told myself I deserved a break. I owed it to myself for being good for so long.  As I looked at the scale I saw it go up to 210, a weight I did not  ever want to return to. I knew I blew it. I know it is only 3 pounds, but I was no longer in the 200 but the 210.  That scared me to death!  I thought I was invincible.  I thought I could do what I wanted, and still at least maintain if not loose weight. I knew what I was doing.  I realized that it defiantly was not worth it.  My body deserves to be treated as a temple of the Holy Spirit.  I don't want Him to be in  a home filled with fat and garbage. This is the same as I would never want my friends to come in my house filled with garbage.  I talked to Fawn and she set me straight.  We have not worked this hard to let her down...to go backwards now.  I owe it to God, her, myself, and you my readers to keep it up.
 
All week I have worked hard...I have been at the gym every single day (sometimes two times a day) for at least 1-2 hours.  I have done cardio every day, and I have done my weights every day...so has Dave. I have also been very conscientious of my eating.  I stepped on the scale and was back down to 206.  I could have broken my 200 barrier if I would not have done what I did. It makes me sick to think about it.  Please know if you are following along and have fallen off the plan...get right back up and start working. Yes, it is easy on easy off, but you should never have to waste your time doing that.  You should stick to the plan and keep going.  If you have fallen, tomorrow is a new day.  YOU CAN DO IT!  You have the ability, the drive, and the support to do anything you want to do.  Don't waste your time on excuses," I deserve it", "I will just cheat this once!",  and "It is no big deal!".   It is a big deal!  If you  made the commitment to loose weight you owe it to yourself, and God to keep it up! You can do it. Just get back up and start working right back where you left off.
 
 Blessings upon all who follow me and are reading my blog....You are one of the reasons that this is working!  Love you all, Kathleen

Tuesday, March 22, 2011

Something Cool is happening in my family!

Something Cool Is Happening in my Family!
 
I have always been a morning person.  When my kids were younger, my favorite time of day was 5am before anyone was up.  I would sit in my living room with my cup of tea and just enjoy my morning.  Well, I still enjoy my mornings, but they have changed quite a bit lately.  I have been subbing almost every day for the past 3 weeks.  It was very hard to find the time to exercise on the crazy schedule I have been keeping. I was getting worried about my lack of going to the gym. 

My kids took care of that for me. They (Brandon and Rebecca) have been getting up at 4:45am every day and heading to the gym before 5.  I decided I was going to join them.  I have been going to the gym from 5-7 and then heading right to school.  Today Brandon asked for my help.  He wanted me to time him in his boxing in 4 minute times.  The first one was ok, then I suggested interval training. Interval training is used to get your heart rate up and keep it up while you are exercising. You do  1 min regular exercise , then push as hard as you can for 30 sec, and then go back to normal.  You  do this on and off  until your time is up. I told Brandon about it and he agreed.   I got on the bike and rode as he did his boxing.  I pushed him and I hard...Yelling..."Don't slow down. Keep it up!"  just like Fawn did in the gym last time.  It was awesome.  I think I burned more calories and went further in the 8 min then I did in the 10 min warm up...but more importantly Brandon and I bonded in a special way.  Tonight he asked me..."You coming to the gym tomorrow?!"  When I started to complain he looked at me and said "Come on...I need you!"  That touched my heart so much!  I am so proud of my kids.. Brandon goes to the gym 2 times per day. Once in am with us and once in afternoon with Dave.  He is amazing!

I am so proud of the changes this has made in all of my children. This has not only changed our lives but it has broken the cycle of overweight and unhealthy life styles in my family. We are changing future generations of Jeffers children. Wow. When you think of it that way it is amazing. We are leaving our future family a legacy of staying healthy that we hope will last from generation to generation. We are changing the future and so can you!

Springville is 10 pounds lighter this week because of our group!!!

Springville is Ten Pounds Lighter This Week Because of Our Group!

Three months ago my biggest desire was to have a Bible study in my home.  I wanted to reach out to my friends and help them learn what I have learned.  I wanted them to join me on my"Journey to Transformation". I decided I would make the commitment to give up one day of subbing and anxiously awaited my Bible study.  I scrubbed my house.  I made sure everything was just perfect, and awaited my friends.  My mom's friend Janette was the only one that came.  She faithfully came week after week.  We faithfully prayed for 6 people at our study. We had only her and I.

It is easy to get discouraged when things don't happen the way you tell God you want them to happen.  When Janette left for Florida for a month I forgot about my commitment (no one was coming any ways) and started subbing every day.  I got a call 10 days ago from someone I met at the gym.  She told me she really needed to loose weight, and would I help her.  Janette had also returned from vacation and was ready to start up again.  Then there was my friend from the pool, she wanted to come.  I did not advertise it. I did not call everyone and bug them to come.  I just put it in God's hands.  Last week we had 5 ladies and one man come to our Bible study.  This week we also had 6 (8 f you count the two daughters that come) I was so excited this week.  God did a mighty work in my house this week.  Not only did we loose 10 pounds total...but the person  who followed the plan to a T...lost the most.  What a testimony to the ladies that had not taken it as seriously.  Every one lost...at least a pound!  We lost at total of 10 pounds in all!  Those that worked the hardest did the best. 

Some times I think God just does things in his own time.  I have exactly what I prayed for.  We prayed for six people and know that each one in my study is hand picked by HIM...not me.  They are so excited about all of it.  When I read the Bible study, they cried.  Each one of us opened up and healing was taking place.. WOW!  I am amazed at what God is doing!  I know why he did it when he did. It was His time not mine.

I, for the first time in a long time, just blew it this week. I did not eat right! Although I am exercising like crazy, I could feel that I was just not doing things the way I should.  I don't think I could get right back up and start again if it was not for these crazy bunch of ladies who are trying so hard to get healthy.  I am thankful that God did things his way, in his time...He makes all things beautiful in His time....

If you don't have a support group please start praying that God would bring the right people into your life. God knows exactly who, what and when you need His blessings. He will bring the right people to you. I love working with my husband, but there is nothing like the power of praying ladies! You lose more as a group!  Just go out and find the group for you!

Thursday, March 10, 2011

Just Keep Swimming....Just Keep swimming.....

Just Keep Swimming...Just Keep Swimming!

Today I really did not want to go to the pool!  My mind was on other things and I really was looking for any excuse I could find not to go.  I almost did not go.  I almost missed an awesome life changing time.  I had gone last Tuesday and I was determined to keep going...but today I really did not want to go. 

As I stood on the edge of the pool ready to dive in I still was trying to talk myself out of getting in.  Finally I dove in and started the first few of the hundred laps I was trying to do.  As I started those laps I could feel my body fighting me.  Not wanting me to work hard, wanting me to quit.  As I finished my first thirty laps I looked up and saw my daughter Rachael's friend come in.. Then I saw her mother come out of the changing room in her suit.  She was ready to do laps with me.  She explained to me how she watched me last week and was inspired and she really wanted to start working with me.  She also wants to do the triathlon with me.  ( I had gotten that message, but was trying to ignore it...so I would not have to do the triathlon) As I saw her working so hard on those first few laps (the first few are the worst) I was encouraged.

I so wanted to have friends who would join the weight loos journey with me.  Now I have her.  Marylyn at the gym also wants to get together with me.  She has an old friend of mine that wants to come to.  It seems like when I gave up trying to do a study in my home, that God would not let me do that .  He is bringing people that he wants into my life.  So, what did I have to learn at the pool today?  God will bring who he wants when he wants into my life for me to work with.  I was trying to pick and choose who I wanted.  He says, "No you will work with who I want".  I am so thrilled that I went to the pool today.  I have a new friend that wants to work with me, encourage me and do the triathlon with me.  WOW! That is amazing!  I look forward to having a friend to walk along side me in this journey.  Thank you God!

PS...I made my 100 laps and she swam 33 laps...which is awesome for your first time!
PPS...moms suit is getting big on me!

Saturday, March 5, 2011

OOOOOH yeah baby!!!!

Oh Yeah Baby...Dave Needs New Clothes!

 I went through my closet dudes and dudettes. I was HUUUUUUUUUUUUGGGGGGEEEEEE. I mean really HHHHHHUUUUUGGGGGEEEEE!!!!!. I'm talking my shirts literally wrapped completely around my body like a bathrobe. I can't believe I actually fit into that stuff. I was really shocked at my own fatness. I can't believe I survived at that weight. It's no wonder I was so tired all the time. My poor body was under so much strain.

 It was a truly eye opening experience. I'm so glad Fawn put on this new weight loss journey. Can you imagine what I would weigh now with out her help? I was already pushing 380 when I first decided enough was enough. We have come such a long way in just a short time. I was all bummed out because I was stuck at 270 pounds for a loooooooong time. But I'm feeling ok with it now that I see what I use to be. Did I mention I was really HHHHUUUUGGGGEEEE !!!.

I upped my cardio and it's started the fat burning machine again. I dropped to 264 at my last weigh in. I'm all pumped up now after seeing the clothes I use to wear. I also went back and watched my first video with Fawn. Who is that fat guy sitting next to her. I mean I take up the whole picture! All by myself I was a crowd! I had my own zip code. Did I mention I was really HHUUUGGGEEE !!!
  
Yeah I got a ways to go but I'm a happy camper. I look in the mirror and see a new guy. I don't fill up the mirror like I use to. So, if your just starting this adventure or your at a tough time along the journey, DON'T QUIT. It's all worth it!  DON'T QUIT!  You'll feel so much better soon!  Did I mention your should not QUIT.

I'll see you all on the skinny side of life.

Dave

PS. Did I mention that I was really HHHUUUGGGEEE !!!.

Today we cleaned out our closets...could we really have been that big????

We Cleaned Out Our Closets. Could We Really Have Been That Big?

Dave and I have been meaning to tackle the closets for some time now. It is one of those projects that you put off for a rainy day and you are to busy when it does rain.  I had come to the point where I could no longer move in my closet.  Becca looked in there and said, "Mom, you don't even wear any of these clothes, they are too big!"  Dave was getting clothes out of the closet for shows and finding them all swimming on him.  He was in a hurry one day, and I looked at him at the show and the only thing holding up his pants was his belt.  When I asked him about it he said, "That was all I could find!"  I knew I had to do something.

The family was getting together this Friday, so I knew it was time to tackle it.   I cleaned out 90% of my clothes and put them in a box for Carolyn. I went from a closet so full I could barely get anything in it to 3 dresses, 2 suit jackets and 3 skirts, some shirts and 4 pairs of pants. Then Dave came up.  He had outgrown everything.  Some of his 3X could wrap around him almost 2 times!  I think he now can see that he really has lost a lot of weight.  We had to keep 4 pairs of 42 (he is wearing 38 but we don't have any)  dress pants and found a few other things...but most are all cleaned out. I will have to call my sister Paulette and see if she can find him some clothes.  We went to Coat factory and they has t-shirts for $1.00. (Rebock and Nike and really nice ones!) We got 25 of them in size large! They also had jeans for $5.00.  We spent $50 and got 34 things!  He now has a new casual wardrobe...but we will have to look at dress shirts and pants for him.  I kind of feel like I did when Fawn cleaned out my cupboards.  Good but scared...In the back of your mind is always, what do I do if I gain weight??

I know it is not an option. By cleaning out the closet it is reinforcing the fact that we need to keep working on it.  I was able to fit into clothes that I had saved for when I got skinnier...some of them were big on me now!  There was so much in there I really could not tell what I have.  Now I think we have maybe 20 things total and about 100 hangers that are empty!  I am so thankful that my life has changed soo much!  We can bless others with what we have.  Plus, if I get my room cleaned out...I can get it painted with the paint I have had for a month now.  That is my project for today!!!!I am thrilled that we have Sat off...I have been working all this week! Thankful for the money, but when you are not used to it...it is tiring.  We are doing great and have confidence that "He who has begun this good work in us will continue it until it is finished!"  We would not be where we are today without God's help.  We also would not be where we are today without your encouragement!
Love you guys!