WEEKS 15 THROUGH 18 A QUARTER OF THE WAY TO GOAL -52 pounds

Hi Everyone

It has been awhile since I last posted. I am terrible at doing a weekly post but thought I would catch up on the weight loss and life story. As of week 18 I have lost 52 pounds. So now I am a quarter of the way to my goal. That's right I have over 200 pounds of weight I have to lose. I am beginning to see a change in my ability to do things and in my clothing. Here is a before picture of me at 402 pounds taken the week of Jan 29th 2006 when I started NS. The second one is a picture taken around April with 50 pounds gone. I can see the difference in face and my whole body. HURRAY!!!!!!

WEEK 13 & 14 5 MORE POUNDS GONE & SO IS MY BEST FRIEND

Hi Everyone
Weight wise it has been a good 2 weeks-down 5 more pounds. However life has been hard these past 2 weeks. My best friend of almost 20 years passed away on Tuesday April 25, 2006. I will not go into all the details of her death but it was what she wanted and she is now at peace and has no more pain. Her husband is a wreck. Even though he knew how sick she was, he was in denial that she would pass away and leave him alone. I will miss this dear friend of mine.
**To be continued got to go. For those of you who are following my blog and for all the newbie’s, I started this post in May shortly after my friends death. I couldn't continue it as I had started to cry and couldn't see beyond the tears. However now 2 months later the tears still come on really bad days but I feel I can go on and finish this post. I will try to catch up on what has been happening in my life during the past 2 months with other posts after this one.** However I wanted to continue this post as a tribute to my dear friend. It is lengthy but we had a long friendship, one I will cherish and keep in my heart always.

My dear friends name is Lois and she was the first person I meet in the More To Love club I started in 1987. During the next 3 years the club grow in size (no pun intended) and we all had some wonderful times; pool parties, bowling night, movies, miniature golf, festivals and we developed some real good friends. During this time Lois became my room mate for a few years until I moved into a mobile home in 1990. At that time we learned about NAAFA (National Association for the Advancement of Fat Acceptance)and the MTL club merged with the South Florida Chapter of NAAFA. It was through this group that I meet the man I eventually married 5 years after we had met. Lois married before I did and I attended her lovely wedding. We continued to do many things together and with the NAAFA group and really enjoyed each others company. When I married my NAAFA FA (fat admirer) man others thought I shouldn't have and I soon lost friends but Lois stayed as my friend, for which I am truly grateful. I once asked her why when she and others were so against me marrying did she stay my friend and the others didn't. Her reply was because I am an "unconditional friend". She truly was as no matter what I did or said she was always there for me. In fact it was Lois and her husband who years later showed me in print and pictures why they were all set against me marrying the man I did. However that is another story in of itself.

After my marriage Lois and her husband helped clean my place for many years before she became so sick. She was a Nurse and I would run to her for advise about whether or not it was necessary for me to see a Doctor for all the different physical problems that cropped up. She gave me her shoulder to cry on, which I did many times. One time in particular was when I had a real bad and scary female physical problem. She encouraged me to keep seeking out new Doctors and to keep the appointments until finally one was found who knew what to do. It was so frustrating to have to go from one Doctor to another and another and take all the different test. There was 6 months of such terrible pain until I was finally diagnosed and treatment was provided.

Shortly after this time Lois started becoming ill with Kidney Disease. I remembered all she did for me and now it was my time to do for her. Because of my own ill health there wasn't much I could do except visits, cards, phone calls, an occasional dinner at my house and trying to raise money to help them pay for all the medical treatment she had received. My home was such a mess for about 6 months as everyone was giving me their used ink jet cartridges which I in turn sent to a fund raising company. By the way don't do this as we NEVER got the money they promised we would get.

Then came the Hurricanes of 2004 which practically destroyed their home. They lived in a 5th wheel trailer for a number of months until the insurance company took that away from them in 2005. God knows how she managed to climb up the rickety stairs to get into the unit, but she did. By then I was divorced so I invited Lois and Russell to live with me in my home while the inside of their home was rebuilt. None of us thought they would be here for 6 months but I didn't mind. Lois and Russell got to move back into their home and enjoy the Fall Holidays and shortly after their April 17th wedding anniversary Lois passed away.

She was the only friend I had for more than a few years. Our friendship lasted 18 wonderful years. I like to think that because of her loyal friendship I am a better person today. I continue to see Russell on a regular basis as I am trying to help him adjust to his new way of life without the love of his life in it. It will take time for us both to heal. He is progressing as he has asked me to help him go through her many things and putting some of them away. So I figured it was time for me to finish this tribute to my Dear Friend Lois Leissing-Gannon, my Best Friend and my Nurse Angel.
May you rest in peace!

Week 10, 11 & 12- 13 pounds gone

Hi Everyone
Boy have I been neglecting this blog. It isn't because I didn't get back on track, because I did. As you can see by the title I have lost an additional 13 pounds in 3 weeks. I have now lost a total of 47 pounds in 3 months. The weight loss is fantastic but even better are the non weight loss victories.

During the 10th week I was sitting in my recliner chair and I looked down at my legs and my ankles were crossed. It has been years, (so many I can't even remember when) since I was last able to cross my ankles. What a grand feeling that was that week. But the 11th week I had an even better victory. I was sitting on my bed with my legs out straight on the bed. I was putting my daily lotion on my feet. This is quite a chore as I can only reach my left foot with my hands. In order to get the lotion on my right foot I have to put lotion on the left feet and rub the left foot over and around the right foot. Well I guess I should have used the word had to. That is correct I applied lotion to my right foot with my hand. I had just finished the left foot and had an excess amount of lotion on my hand and the next thing I know my hand is appling the lotion all over my right foot including the bottom. WOOHOO! Now that is a victory I am so proud of. This past week no victory other than weight loss of 3 pounds. Believe me I am pleased with that victory but the non weight loss ones are the best.

Now I have started my 13 week and my monthly NS food should be sent Monday and hopefully I will get it by Thursday. I sure hope my 30 and 40 pound bears are in the package. Pounds and committment are getting bored with each other and need some new play mates. I look forward to getting to know the names of the next two. Silly little bears but they do mean a lot. Well until next week stay happy and healthy everyone.

WEEK 9 - 2 POUNDS UP - THE DONUTS DID IT!

Hi all
Well you and I both know the donuts at work didn't get me. I mean it's not like they jumped off the plate and into my hands and said you must eat me now! I let my hands get into them (2 of them) and a bagel with cream cheese. Sad part is I didn't stop there. When I left work on Friday I went across the street to Wendy's and ordered a Wendy's burger. Hey I could have done worse with a bigger burger, french fries and one of those ice cream things but I didn't have any more money. As it turns out I had to search the bottom of the purse and the floor of the car to pay for the 99 cent junior burger. Sometimes there is an advantage to having no money. But after the burger I still didn’t stop. I was out of control and the rest of the night and into Saturday I ate cheese and bread until they were gone.

Come today I am up 2 pounds so I guess I got what I deserved. However this gain has gotten me right back on track. I will not be around donuts again until the end of April and this time I am keeping my hands off of them. I am also going to wait a few weeks before I buy cheese and bread again. I have had trouble with the bread before and now I am overeating the cheese. These 2 foods are trigger foods for me still and I don’t have control over them. So the best thing to do is stay away from them for now. I have to stay on program this coming week and must not give into temptation. Heck I have no excuses not to stay on program the sabotager has been out of my life for over 14 months now and I will not have him in my life again. Thank God! So folks stay on program, stay happy and healthy and I’ll see you next week with a loss.

WEEK 8 - 1 POUND GONE

First off thanks everyone for the lovely comments left on my week 6 blog. I'll have to check out your blog Susan. This was another slow week, but I am trying to stay motivated. I think it is time to read some blogs from big losers and get back on the boards. This week I should receive my new order and my 3 bears (I don't know why I didn't get 2 with last months order) I was looking forward to those bears but maybe they weren't to be sent as I need them now as they will give me some motivation. I have 8 more weeks before a huge event takes place and I want to lose at least 20 pounds. However, based on this past months' weight loss I may not make it. I am hoping and praying my body is just taking a break from having lost the 27.5 pounds last month. I'm going to have to begin to do some chair exercises 3 - 4 times a week and that will help burn extra calories. If I can lose those 20 pounds I'll be so happy and feel a lot better for this important event in my life. Wish me luck that next week will be better. See you on the boards.

WEEK 7- 2 POUNDS GONE

Seems like writting in the blog has not been as exciting as it once was. Perhaps because the weight loss has not been as exciting either. Yes it is going down but has slowed so much. I started my new phone answering job on March 20th and sold one bounce house rental. I couldn't get on the computer during the day and was tired by night fall so I didn't post in the boards at all. Not much else is new. Everyone stay happy and healthy.

WEEK 6 - 3.5 MORE POUNDS GONE

This is fantastic! I have lost every single week. In the past by this week with the WW plan I all ready had a no loss week. I really like the simplicity of the NS program and the variety of foods. I can eat Pizza, Chili dogs, hamburger, chocolate, chips and still lose weight.

I had some pictures taken in a swim suit this week There is story behind this swimsuit, so if interested keep reading. If not, skip to the next paragraph. In 1999 (when I weighed over 100 pounds more) I had gone to a BBW bash and a Lady there was selling swimsuits. I ordered one to be made and when it arrived I couldn't fit into. There was another Lady who ordered the exact same style and colors and I thought maybe I got her suit. I told the seller this and she said it was the correct size for me. So I put it away and forgot about it until this week. This week I had about 15 college students (who were on Spring Break) volunteering at my house. They did over 16 chores for me to try and get the house back into shape after the last 3 hurricanes hit here. Anyhow, two of the girls and I went through my closet to straighten it out and come upon the suit. After they all left I tried to put on the suit. As I slowly pulled and tugged I finally got the panties up over my hips and even fit into the top part of the suit. There never was much support in the swimsuit for me so the ladies aren't in the proper place, but I had it on! Saturday I had a very close friend of mine take some pictures. I probably should have had some taken when I was 33 pounds heavier but I have so much to lose that I am sure the 33 pounds loss wouldn't show that much. I will have more taken in May, which will be 4 months I have been on program. Of course no one will see any of these pictures until I get to goal.

Well folks I don't know how many are reading the blog as I don't see any comments. But if you are reading it I hope you have enjoyed reading about this week and my success in doing it the NS Weigh. I hope you all have a happy and healthy week. See you on the boards.

WEEK 5 - 2 MORE POUNDS GONE

Oops! I forgot to post here last week. The fifth week of being on the program. Let's see if I can remember the week. Oh yes I avoid the temptation of donuts that stared at me for over 1 1/2 hours. Turns out one of my clients didn't show for her lesson and I had to wait in the employee lounge area (I only work 2 days and don't have an office). Sitting there on one of the tables was a box with Dunkin Donuts and some of them were my favorite kind. I had plenty of lesson plans to write so I kept my eyes on the plans and had a diet coke. It was very tempting when 3 Ladies came in and took donuts but I kept saying to myself "You don't want those donuts they are poision". I tried to remember the way I felt after eating them in the past. They maybe tasted good going down but for at least 3 hours afterward I had a feeling like a brick was in my stomach. Yes well, there was a "brick of lard" I avoided the temptation and my reward was a 2 pound loss. Hurray what a nice reward.

Also this week I got my second order. I was a bit disappointed though as I didn't get the 2 bears I thought I would. I have heard so much about those bears and was excited to think I will have a new bear collections and one that shows my weight loss. I also got another extra week of food - I didn't think I asked for that but the bill doesn't shows the cost for the extra week. So I guess that is my second week free for signing up. I also didn't like the moldy NS chocolate cake. I had seen on the boards some people were talking about it and hoped I didn't get any. After I saw it was moldy I went to the package and there was no expiration date. I called them and they said they would send out another one or something different. . The second one I ordered was fine. In the grocery store I found some veggie ground beef, and sausage and hot dogs. I had a real nice chili dog for dinner one night. Used the NS chili, the veggie dog and one of my breads along with a big salad. I also tried the NS hamburger and added lettuce etc. Felt good to eat a bit differently than I had been eating. Well folks stay healthy and happy and see you on the boards.

WEEK 4 - 5.5 MORE POUNDS GONE

TOTAL FOR THE MONTH 27.5 POUNDS OF FAT GONE FOREVER!
I LOVE THIS PROGRAM! Yes I am shouting it from the roof top and to all who may be reading this blog. If you are wondering if this program will work for you. Be assured that if you have the right mind set and really want to lose weight this program will be it. As their jingle says it will “nourish your mind, nourish your health , nourish your body, nourish yourself.” I have been on many programs in my life time and this is the first one in which I feel all those things are happening to me. I am learning portion control and how to eat the correct way and not to put so much emphasis on food. My health is beginning to improve, so is my body and my self worth.


During my previous weight loss attempt in 2004 I had to plan each week what foods I was going to eat, figure out the points for each item, spend hours shopping for it and preparing it. Going to get weighed in was a very uncomfortable chore for me. I had to try an get my scooter around that small room to get to my card and the scales and then have a crowd of people looking on as I tried to get off the scooter and balance myself on the scale and hope and pray I did everything right that week so I lost a few more pounds. On that other program I lost 19 pounds the first month. It took me almost 7 weeks on that program to lose the 27.5 pounds I have lost in 4 weeks with NS. NS is so simple and the best thing I have done for myself. They are right when they say "the pounds will melt off.


I pray to God each day to help me to choose to stay on program so I can continue to reach my goal. Each day I say to myself “obstacles are what you see when you take your eyes off the goal.” Well let me tell you my eyes are fixated on that goal. I no longer will accept being a Super Sized Fl Belle. I know inside of all this fat just waiting to come out is the Sexy Slim Fl Belle. “I’m coming out and I want the world to know and I’m going to let it show.” Of course it may take me a year or more but it will happen. I know I will be staying healthy and happy the NS weigh and hope all of you will too. See you on the boards.

WEEK THREE - 6 POUNDS GONE

This is the year for me to get even more weight off. I can feel it in my heart and my body. I am focused on this plan and my work. No husband to bring food into the house he knew I shouldn’t eat. No husband to say I am an FA (fat admirer) your turning into skin and bones. Believe it or not he said that to me just before the divorce, while we were on vacation. I had spent the previous 5 months following WW and exercising at Inches a Weigh. I had lost over 50 pounds and got down to 447. Our marriage had been rocky for about 4 years and I thought this vacation and my new found ability to do things would perhaps mend it. Instead it made it worse as I came to find out it wasn’t me he loved it was my fat and now I was getting too thin for him. How can any body be too thin at 447 pounds? I saw the light as to what he was doing with not only my life but his life as well. I couldn't let this continue so I filed for divorced. (Believe me there were many other reasons I filed, just don’t wish to go into those areas). Then came Hurricanes Frances and Jeanne. They not only walloped Florida but took me for a spin too. House damage both times, 1st time insurance wouldn’t pay second time they wouldn’t pay either but I fought for over 6 months and finally got the insurance. Here I am fighting with a husband who wouldn’t leave my house, fighting for a divorce, fighting for insurance money, yet still trying to lose weight and I did. He finally left Feb 2005 and then 2 friends move into the house for a few weeks, more like 6 months. Their home was in horrible shape because of Frances and Jeanne and they couldn’t live in it and the FEMA trailer the insurance was paying for was taken away. They had no where to go - Amanda to the rescue. I was so lucky to have been able to not gain back all the weight I had lost. Oh well I have to forget about those 2 years and keep focused on this year 2006.

This year it is my turn to be rescued! With God’s help, my determination and the NS Weigh I am going to have a life again. I am so sick and tired of being sick and tired. I want to live again, to do the things I use to do. To be loved for who I am and not the size of my body. To be able to love that special someone ( whoever he may be) back and know it doesn’t matter if I am 200 or 400. I have to stay focused, stay motivated and stay on program. With the encouragement of all my friends from the NS and Jazzman support boards and my Happy and Healthy yahoo friends I know I can do this. Reading the posts and the blogs of NS and Jazzman friends (I have never met but hope to as we have quite a group of them in Palm Beach County)) who have lost 50 to 100 pounds in such short periods of time gives me so much encouragement. I am so excited for them because I know where they came from weight wise and know how I would feel if I was 100 pounds thinner. I know I am going to have that feeling and I see it coming to me before the end of the summer. So I look forward to your e-mails, and I’ll see you on the boards and in the chat rooms. Stay Happy and Healthy.

WEEK TWO - 3 MORE POUND GONE

Hi everyone

This week was good until Thursday night. Thursday was the first time I had bread since I started on Jan 29th. I had NS Sloppy Joe and it said to have it with a roll. I had a wheat roll 80 calories and put the meat on it. I also had an oz of FF lunchmeat and some lettuce. Later I had my afternoon snack, my dinner and my evening snack. Around 10 p.m. I was hungry. Now I know from Oprah's show that when you are hungry it is a good sign that you are losing. However I went to that stupid refrigerator about 3 times. It seems like the roll and lunch meat were calling me to it. I broke down and had 2 oz of FF lunch meat and the roll with FF mayo, at least 150 extra calories. But I didn't stop with one, nor two but had three sandwiches. That's an extra 450 calories I shouldn't have had. What bothers me is that I have always had a problem with bread. I have been known to eat a loaf of wheat bread in 3 days. However I thought since starting this program I had it under control, I guess that is not the case.


The only things that made this a weight loss week was the exercise I did after midnight and staying on program 100% for the remaining week. I had 4 more rolls sititng in the refrigerator. Today for lunch I had NS meatballs with a roll. I know why do it again when you had trouble on Thursday. Two reason- one I didn't want to waste the rolls (especially when I am only working 10 hours a week and don't have much money coming in at this time) Second reason - some of the NS meals suggest bread of some kind and I need to learn how to control the impluses to over eat on this food. So we shall see what today brings. One good thing I have no more lunchmeat to put on the rolls so that may prevent me from a binge.

I will have to get on the NS and Jazzman's boards to see what others are doing with the sloppy joe meal and tuna salad, chicken salad, chickenbreast, beef burger etc. instead of using rolls. I'm sure when I express this problem to the NS friends they will have some excellent suggestions. So 2 weeks down 3 more weeks of food to go. I'm going to have to ask them also when I need to re-order for next month. That is it for this now see you next week.

WEEK ONE - 13 POUNDS GONE

WEEK ONE 13 POUNDS GONE
Hi All

I started a new program today January 2006 and decided to write about what I had been doing and what new program I will be doing for awhile. I was very pleased with the previous program but was getting tired of it and felt I had to change things up a bit. In Decemeber 2005 my employer of 18 years let me and 9 others go. Downsizing! So I am using the Severance Pay I received for hardly ever taken any vacation for myself to pay for the food. I also filed for disability in December as I have a physical condition that has gotten worse over the years and it was getting harder and harder to do my job. So I suppose that had something to do with them letting me go also. Anyhow even with the disability I can still work a few hours a week and I did find a new job.

So here is my short story from the previous 2 years!
I had been following the WW program since Jan 2004 even though Hubby was still in the house. You see in May 2004 I started the divorce process but he would never leave the house so once the divorce was final in February 2005 he was forced out. H*** he wasn'tt here much anyhow and he wasn't sleeping in the bed so it didn't bother me. I had no idea where he was eating and I could really care less. One year later January 2005 I was 95 pounds thinner. I went from my all time high 497 to 402. 95 pounds in 1 year.
Here is the before and the after

 When the divorce was final in February the ex left but my best friends Lois and Russell came to live with me from March 2005 until Sept 2005. There home had major damage due to the Hurricanes of 2004 and their 5th wheel trailer was taken away by their insurance. They had no where to live so I told them to come and live with me. It was suppose to be for about 6 weeks but turned out to be 6 months. Well it was extremely hard to follow the program when 2 others were living with me and they were cooking meals on the 3 days I was working. I was trying not to eat the Banana breads and other wonderful things they made, but I gave in several times. As a result I gained back some weight but did manage to lose it again after they left. I was hoping for more weight loss in 2005 but was very happy that I managed to finish the year up at the same weight as I started the year.

So that catches you all up to now 2006. Started a new weight loss program. I'm doing it the the Nutrisystem Weigh now. I got my food delivered to the door, sorted out the 5 weeks worth of breakfasts, lunches, dinners and desserts, read the booklet and started on Sunday Jan 29th. Five days after my 50th birthday and weighing in at 402 pounds. Sunday was a good day. By the afternoon on Monday I though all my God if I don't stop going to the bathroom I am DONE with this program. Tuesday I woke up and I was fine and it has been great each day since. I guess Monday was the day my body got rid of all the bad toxins I had in my system. Thank God it was only one day's worth. I am enjoying the food and not having to do a great deal of planning, preparing of food nor cleaning up. Best of all I don't have to count points (like the previous program) or calories. NS does it all for me. This first week I lost 13 pounds, I am now down below the 400's, didn't even see the 390's as I flew by them and now I am into the 380's.
I LOVE IT!