Happy New Year - 2008 Will be great!

Happy New Years one and all.

It is almost here....1 hour and 12 minutes more and the bullets will be flying and the fireworks exploding over the New Mexico sky. Where am I? Safe and sound at home thinking of what a wonderful year it has been.

The trips we took, the people we saw, the people we lost and the people we gained.

Life is a circle, and even though there are people and places woven in and out of our lives, they each add a tidbit or more to our lives, making us who we are today.

We had a great Chrsitmas, it is always fun to watch my grandsons, and even my daughters as they get excited over their gifts, and the fun of being all together. Pictures of Kari with Hayden & Hunter, Joanna with Tony & Trevor, and of course Tom, Kari, Joanna & I with Chuy and Sioux in the pix too.

Well the clock is ticking, it is now 1 hour till midnight. Any last thoughts for 2007?

Well I just typed some really HEAVY stuff, and I deleted it.

This is not the proper forum.

2007 has been great, I am blessed to have a loving husband, two beautiful smart daughters who are super moms, a son-in-law that would "move" heaven and earth if we asked, a great "adopted" daughter, and a great "adopted" son. There may even be hope for those 2 additional grandkids someday between all those kids. Could that fortune teller have been right? 6 Grandkids!!!

Bammah's Boys are such treasures...Tony is so fun to talk to now. Really talk about the world, God, Science, deep stuff.

Hunter will get very quiet, and then come out with the cutest sayings. Trevor is very focused on construction right now. Hayden is like a parrot, repeats everythings, loves to say "NO" and is POTTY TRAINED! Hallelujah!

Now there is a 2007 Blessing! No one is in Diapers!

What to say for 2008?

I wish everyone good health and safety.

No accidents, broken bones, or surgeries.

I wish that my mother continues to enjoy good health, and that we ALL can be together for her 90th birthdays celebration next fall.

I wish that Dad finds peace mentally, and that his physical body stays strong.

I wish for compassion and understanding towards others.

(Another HEAVY thought deleted)

I hope to work more efficiently, so I can work less hours.

I hope to take more vacations, and more siestas.

Well my hopes and wishes are making me tired.

I hope all you desire becomes yours, just be careful of those HEAVY thoughts.

Love to all.

MaryJo

Happy Holidays one and all!

Well the holidays are upon us, ready or not they are here. Grandkids are exicted, daughters are excited, and I am exhausted.
Had a colonscopy (baby boomer special) they called it, and doc said I got the boring award, nothing to look at nothing to see, come back in 10 years, I was happy to hear!
I weighed in on Thursday, and all was just fine 136 was what the scale said this time. I dropped off some presents for my JCC, and off like a flash to make holiday preparations.
Just wanted to tell you all Merry Christmas, and to offer a suggestion to be prepared with alternative foods just in case there is nothing to eat that is a good choice.
If you want something go ahead and taste it, get it out of your system, and know that you deserve a treat now and then.
Happy Holidays, I was gonna post a cute pix of Tom and I but I have it on my other computer so...next time.
Take care all, Happy New Year!

Where the Heck Have I been?

Well if anyone is reading this (I am guessing everyone gave up on me...) I am still maintaining my weight loss, and doing great. I have had a busy harried fall, and have been remiss in keeping up with my JC friends, and our journey.
Although I have not been keeping up with my writing, I have kept up with my weight loss goals.
I had my monthly maintenance weigh in today, and I weighed 136.2, and inches lost are 33.75 so I am happy.
Still a size 4/6, and still enjoying my new lifestyle.
Have not been in the mood for shopping, Christmas presents or much of anything.
Don't know why? Waiting for the Christmas Spirit Bug to bite me I guess.
Well I hope all is well with you.
HAppy Holidays and Happy New year. I hope you all make your milestones, and goals.
TAke Care,
MaryJo

The SCALE did NOT need Calibrating - Darnit

Well all, I know as we struggle to maintain our new lifestyle ruts or bumps in the road have to come. I was cruisin along with 19 weeks of maintenance under my belt, and had never weighed more than 136# during maintenance, and then I hit a pot hole.

I went on vacation like I told you all last week (had a great time by the way) and found that I had gained weight and was now at 140.2. A gain of 6.8#'s from my previous weigh in. Oh NO! I never wanted to see 140 again.

Me 140.2, it had to be the darn scale at the JC Center....but NO...it was me, and the butter and the fried eggs I ate, and the homemade cookies, rice krispie bars, and the ice cream, etc....

Oh well this is another week, but I was still telling myself it was that darn scale needed to be calibrated, but yesterday I weighed at home and I was 138 so I decided I would self JCicate. I dropped to 1200 cals yesterday although my weigh in was today I thought I better not wait, and just take the bull by the horns now.

So today I went to my Jenny Center the one with the GOOD scale...right???

And guess what....I weighed 137.6 So the good news I lost 2.6# since I weighed on the BAD MINNESOTA SCALE. The bad news is I am 2.6# over my goal weigh of 135. So needless to say I will be on the 1200 calories until I get back to 135 or below, and I will now know that I am not invincible.

My enemies Fried Eggs, Butter, Sugar, Fried Cheese Curds all still know my address, and are just hanging around waiting for an invitation back into my life.

I was thiking I am eating good, but I was out of my normal routine.

I usually have cereal 6 days a week for breakfast and only eat eggs once a week.

I usually eat 6 cups of veggies and salad a day, and I only ate about 3 if I was lucky, you would think I could have found more veggies in a dairy farming state huh?

I usually eat primarily chicken, and fish, but I ate Beef and Pork instead.

So the Bottom line is...it is good to screw up, to learn you are mortal, to realize if you are not as active you will have consequence. It is also good to have a plan, a lifestyle that has become so ingrained that instead of just giving up and saying well 140 ain't so bad...you can drop 500 cals a day, and JCicate your self back to your goal.

I guess this is what maintenance is about, the success is wonderful, but the Potholes are there to remind me how far I have come, and where I want to always stay!

The other good news...My size 4 pants are not tight, so I gained the weight in my boobs, and who can't use a little more there after loosing 7 inches. So I will just enjoy that extra 2.6# of boobs this week....and work on getting rid of them soon.

Wierd huh, what we can convince ourselves of? I was sure that the scale at the Woodbury, MN JC Centre needed to be calibrated.

Not...It was I thant needed the adjustment!

Here to weight loss once again friends.

Love ya all,

Mary Jo

Roadtrip to WI/MN

What takes 10 days, a Motorhome, 2 harleys, and alot of patience? Driving cross country to visit family in Wisconsin and Minnesota.

What a trip, riding those harleys though the green farmland, swatting at bees (never have seen so many in one place before), and watching the beer flow like water was really great fun.

Here is a pix of two of my nieces LeeAnn, Joni and I. I am the short one in the orange shirt! The little one in the black shirt is my great niece Gracie (LeeAnn's daughter).

The pix of my Tom (hubby) Turkey and I (the Diva) at the Minnesota State Fair Turkey pavillion.

Then there are two little turkeys my great nieces, Ashley & Kayla right before we went on some awesome crazy rides at the midway. What a great trip!

Well we are home safe and sound, 2900 miles, and $585 in diesel fuel later, but we had a blast. We even survived two tornado warnings. What is it about us? Last time we went to California we survived two earthquakes. Is mother nature tapping on our door??? I think not...just a coincidence, but food for thought!

I weighed in the day before I left for vacation and was 133.4# so 1.6# below goal.

Then on vacation I went to a cnter in Woodbury, MN with my sister and almost had a stroke when I stepped on the scale. 140.2#. I hope to hell their scale needs calibration, but I was feeling a bit irregular so could be retaining water. I did eat well and track my food on vacation, but...everything in farm country seemed to be dripping with butter or beer, so maybe it got me.

I will have three days to get back on track, drink tons of water, and eat my own cooking, so I will let you know how my weigh in goes this week weds. This is my 19th week on maintenance, and except for this little vacation anomaly I have never been more than 136# since making my goal on April 25th. So needless to say I was a bit shocked, but regardless I will be fine. I tend to use my clothes as more of a measure than the scale, so no worries....my size 4 skinny pants are still loose, so I am betting that their scale needs calibration!

Am I paranoid? You bet! I worked too hard to slip, and nothing tastes as good as the pounds I lost.

Peace all....

Leveling Off... Maintenance is Great

Hey all....well I have completed 53 weeks on the Jenny Craig program, and it has been a great year! No free cake on my anniversary but...I did get a card from Lurline (my JCC) and plenty of complements.

Oh well once I stopped pouting about "no cake" I sat down and thought how well this program has worked for me. I thought about how much I learn everyday on the JC Chat room, and how much fun it is to encourage others. I have 3x5 cards to keep track of my JC chat pals success, and I am so proud of all of them.

Maintainance is going great! 134.8 seems to be the JC scales favorite number! The past 8 weeks my weight has not fluctuated more than 1 pound. I have ranged from 134.2 to 134.8, and that is exciting. The first 8 weeks on maintenance I found that it was tough to eat all the extra food exchanges (2 extra starches and 3 extra fruits). Can you imagine saying that??? Sometimes I just could not do it...had to skip it. But I never stop eating 6 times a day.

When I started JC I had to set an alarm on my phone to remind me to eat..especially my 10:30Am Yougurt or Milk, and my 2:30 Fruit or JC Snack, but now my bodies clock tells me when it is time!

So I am happy, but not complacent! I at this point religiously journal all my food eaten, and make hash marks to be sure I eat all my food. I still buy JC desserts, and snacks, and there is always a package of JC dressing in my purse. I still eat a huige salad everyday for lunch, and still smother all meals with unlimited non-starchy veggies! These things my friends have become part of my lifestyle.

You know what??? One of the benefits of maintenance is those extra starches...tonight I had a SF A&W Rootbeer Float with Dryers Slow Churned SF/LF vanilla ice cream. OMG you would have thought it was a sin....it was soooooooooooooooo good.

I was thinking as I ate it..."Bless me Father for I have sinned...it has been one year since my last Root Beer Float" but then I realized this was ALLOWED! The Diet A&W is FREE, and the 1/2 C of SF/LF Icecream = 1 Starch! Hell....Life is great!

My daughter Kari went to San Diego for some well deserved R&R, so Panga (Tom) and I (bammah) had two of our four grandsons for the evening. I am behind the camera...but we all had fun in the pool. Even hayden who usually runs for the hills at the sight of water, decided it was okay! They had a blast!

Well what else is new? The next blog will come on the road in our motorhome. We are heading out to greener pastures literally! Wisconsin and Minnesota in the motohome, and towing the Harleys on our vacation. Family & Fun! Yeah...I'll make the next pix one of me on my Heritage Softail.

Well I better get back to work...so I can leave for vacation worry free! See you in a week or so.

My favorite things about JC

When the fat rolls,
When the pants pinch,
When I'm feeling sad, I simply remember my favorite JC and then I don't feel so bad.

Fruit on JC Lemon Cake
All my friends on JC Chat
Sharing my story with all that I meet,
Encouraging others to Join JC, while watching their successes along the way.
Learning by Sharing, and Sharing by Caring.

I hope in some little way, this encourages you to become the you you have always wanted to be, and to stay that you once you arrive.

I learned long ago that the teacher is always the biggest learner, so I want to thant you all for teaching me.

I want to share a few motivational quotes with you as well. These are things I live by daily...

" Nothing Ventured Nothing gained, be not afraid to try...
So dream big dreams, reach for the stars, and set your standards high. "
Author Unknown

"Do not follow where the path may lead...
Go instead where there is no path...
and leave a trail."
Author Unknown

"When Faced with a mountain I will not quit...
I will keep on striving until I climb over, find a path through, tunnel underneath or simply stay and turn the mountain into a goldmine - with God's help."
Dr. Robert H. Schuller

The last quote from Dr. Schuller is one of my foundation principles I carry it with me 24/7. The other two I have had framed on my wall since 1984, and read them daily. Visualizing postive messages is a really important part of life goals. As far as JC, having a goal book with words and pictures of clothes, people, things, that you want to accomplish will help you acheive those goals.
Look at them daily, and you will be surprised how quickly they become your reality.

Thanks again for all that I have learned from my JC family and friends. It has been a wonderful year!

362 Days on JC

Well this is week 51 on Jenny, actually today is my 362nd day on JC! When I weighed in last week I was 134.6, so I was down 2/10 of a lb. Maintainance is really coming into its own, and my weight is hovering right at my 135 goal weight now. Less fluctuation than in the first two months of maintenance.

We will see how this week's weigh in turns out since I was in the Rocky Mountains this past week for 4 days, and ate lots of wierd stuff. Elk, Bison, Lamb, Sturgeon, Sea Bass were all things I had never tried before, and with their various preparations, I am not sure how it will pan out on the scale, but I think I padded them with sufficient salads, water, and veggies to balance it all out.

You know the JC lifestyle is all about making good decisions about portions, and food choices. It is not about denying yourself, but rather rewarding yourself with good health, and a new you!

In case you don't know the pix above is my younger daughter Joanna & I. I am wearing the glasses just in case you could not fuigure that one out!

We were standing at about 13,000 feet elevation, after a 15 minute gondola ride from 7500 ft.

Incredible view isn't it?

Well I will post a few more pix later this week when I get them.

50 Weeks on JC - Wow what a Great Year

Well Hi there everyone!

I am nearly at one year on Jc, and doing great! My maintenance weight has stayed between 131 and 136, with my current weight at 134.8. I weigh in again this Wednesday, and as of last week had lost even another inch. So....50# and 35 inches.

I wasn't sure if I should put this pix in or not, but it is from my grandsons Bday party, and I chose to wear a bathing suit top. A bit "risque" my daughter said, but goes to show when you loose your weight you don't necessarily loose your boobs!

Speaking of daughters, I thought I would show off my two beautiful girls. My redhead has gone blonde (Joanna, she'll be 28 next month), and my blonde has gone redhead (Kari, she'll be 30 in January)...and no they did not do it to copy each other...they are afterall still SISTERS!

Yeah...I know you are doing the math right now. I will be 52 in November.

Well maintenance is going well. I am finally able to get in all of my starches, and all of my fruits, and my weigh has leveled off. I do still track my food religiously, and make has marks to be sure I eat everything. I beleive it is importnat to track so you know where you need to make adjustments if you need to. I still eat 6 times a day, and still eat tons of veggies, and drink about 2 gals of water a day.

Well good luck all. I will share more later. Hope your summer is going well. I will have some vacation pix to share, and a pix of me on my Harley so come back soon.

My Tattoo

Hi All,

It is hard to describe, so I thought I would just post a pix so you could see it.

BTW...weigh in today +1, weight 136. It is okay thought I think it was water, cuz I was a day early, and I just had drank a 44 oz. tea.

So not to worry.

I had Beef w/ Mashed for Dinner and lots of Green Beans!

MMMMMMM!

My favorite JC meal!

Well Dopey Me... Forgot my Password

Hi All, Well I finally figured out how to get back in here and update my blog.
I did not realize that my last post had me at -45#. Well I made my goal of 50# (actually 50.4) on April 25th. The pix above is fro a party we had on May 5th. That is me holding the cake. So you all get a back view. I am usually taking the pix, so it is hard to find one with me in it.

I am in my 10th week on JC maintenance, and doing well.
Maintenance is a gradual increase of your daily calories and food exchanges.
I was on 1200 calories while loosing my weight, and now to maintain my weight I have been increased to 1700. Sounds like a big jump huh? Did to me too, but like I said it was gradual so as not to SHOCK the system.
The first week I did 4 days at 1200 cals, and 3 days at 1700 and WI = 134.8 ( so I gained 2/10 of a #)
The next week I did 3 days at 1200 cals, and 4 days at 1700 and WI = 134.8 (no loss/no gain)
The next week I did 2 days at 1200 cals, and 5 days at 1700 and WI = 134.8 (no loss/no gain)
The next week I did 7 days at 1700 and WI = 134.4 (lost 4/10 of a #)
From then on I have been on 1700 cals which in food exchanges is:
7 Starches
6+ Veggies
6 Meats
5 Fruits
3 Milk
3 Fat


I actually in week 7 of maintenance dropped down 132.8, because I was not getting all my food exchanges in. I know this because I keep a log of every meal that I carry in my wallet. It is really important to keep a journal, log, or something to keep you honest. It makes it so much easier to adjust things, if you know what you have done.

As of last WI on July 27, I am once again at goal weight 135.0 because I have been eating all my fruit exchanges.

So maintenance has been a great experience for me.
I log into the JC chat room nearly every night, and try to do all I can to share my knowledge as well as to learn from others.
A big big big benefit of my JC experience has been the friends I have made in the JC chat room.
So If you are Reading this and have never joined us there, come on in, and chat awhile. You will make some fabulous friends, and learn from myself and the other losers.
Take care.
Mary Jo

The Photo that Started me on JC

July 7, 2006
This is Tom (my hubby of 32 years) and I at my niece EJ & Justin's wedding in Eugene, OR.
This pix was taken with my camera, but when I got the photos I ordered from her professional photographer, I was shocked to see myself at 185# and knew I needed to take control of my weight.

I actually had to run to Wal-Mart that morning, because the outfit I brought to wear for the wedding did not fit, and then I slapped on that gold sweater to hide my chubby arms. What was I thinking? Well of course I thought I looked cute with my new hairdo, and was pleased with the whole ensemble!

You know until you realize you are ready you are not! So thanks EJ & J for giving me the opportunity to see myself with my own eyes.

32 Years and Going Strong

Well today is my 32nd wedding anniversary. 32 years ago we were just wrapping up the reception at the church hall, and everyone was migrating to my parents house for more merriment. What a great party that was. The weather was alot like it was in Albuquerque today. Rainy in the morning, a little blustery, and then the son began to shine just as the wedding was about to begin. On a JC note I did taste the "free Happy Anniversary Mud Pie" the watress brought us tonight, but for Dinner I had Grilled Halibut, Salad, and Steamed Brocolli & Carrots, so I should survive the week just fine.

On my weigh in this week I stayed at -45#, no loss, no gain. I kind of expected a flat week, since I did attend a St. Patty's day party, and tasted a few chips, a piece of spice cake, and some corned beef. It was also a measure week this week, so I did loose another 1.75 inches so I have now officially lost 30 inches in the past 32 weeks.

This is all very exciting, and my size 4 pants are fitting loose, so I hope the last 5#'s just help me tone up, and keep me where I don't have to go to a special store to find clothes. I guess that would not be a bad thing but I would rather not.

Have a great week. On the home front, I have attached a pix of our construction project. Sunroom (all materials piled up) and Pool (deck poured yesterday and under plastic due to rain).

90% There T-45 and counting.

This is TODAY! I have lost 45# in the past 31 weeks, and 25.25 inches. I have 5 more to go to get to my goal of 50#. My self imposed target date is April 27, 07 (my husbands birthday).

I wanted to say thank you to my friends Jessamy & LesterLou from the Jenny Craig chat room that shared blogspot with me. I hope I can help others, as I have been helped in the chatroom, and at the Albuquerque (Lomas) Jenny Craig center.

I now have 9 - 5# bags of flour sitting on the small bookcase behind my desk (see above). Each one representing a 5# weight loss. This is my visual reminder of my weight loss, and the white papers taped to the bags are my inches lost. Each yellow ribbon is the length of the inches lost. Lurline gives me those little rewards once a month when we measure.

I am in week 32 now, and so next wednsday we will measure again. So if not before another post to let you know how that goes.

In case you wondered:

I walk, walk, walk. ( I try to do 10,000 steps a day)

How you might ask? I park further away from the door of the store, and walk into the store, mall, etc..., and then I walk briskly though every aisle at least once while shopping or not.

I wear my "light clothes" when I weigh in.

For the first 29 weeks I was wearing the most lightweght size 14 pants that just kept getting looser and looser until they started to fall off.

The last two weeks I have been wearing the most lightweight size 4 pants (see above center photo) I could find.

Regarding weigh in -

don't weigh your self every day.

weigh in the same time of day once a week.

weigh in on the same scale once a week.

and yes...

wear your light clothes even in WINTER

Check out the chatroom at www.jennycraig.com

Everyone there is willing to share their thoughts.

Go when you need to be encouraged, and go when you are encouraged.

Who knows who you will help?

All the Best,

MaryJoNM

Halloween & Almost Half Way There

Well I was shopping this past weekend and came across this cute little camo outfit, and thought "gee that is what I will wear for halloween.

Since I had lost 23.6# I was willing to wear my t-shirt tucked in, and I could acutally button my jacket.

I am not in the military, but I support and respect the troops that are out there daily fighting for us to be free.

I don't take pictures often, seems as though I am on the taker side of the camera more than the takee, so I had to search to find a pix of me at "almost half way".

I love the Jenny food, I love the support from Lurline my consultant, and I love the way I am looking and feeling.

Thanks Jenny & all.

Harelys in Hawaii

In Feb 2006 we rented Harley's on Kauai. I am on a Softail, Tom and my sister Mary Lou were on the red Road King behind me.

These jeans are a size 13. 13's and 14's had become the norm. Don't know how the 9's and 10's grew but the pounds have a way of creeping up when you are not looking!

Still more to come. Seems like I am always the one behind the camera, so finding pic is sometimes hard. I have not taken any pix of my self since Halloween 2006, so I guess I better get out the camera huh?

Well my JC Adventure had yet to begin. This pix is from Feb 2006. I (MaryJo) am on the right. Mary Lou is on the left, and Mom (Helen) is in the middle. We all went to Hawaii. This picture is from a historical sugar mill on Kauai.

When I saw the pix from this trip it did not really shock me, but in July when I attended my neices wedding, and looked at my pix, I knew I was ready to make a commitment to JC, and to myself.

Like most decisions we make in life, it would not mean anything, or be a true decision if I could not admit that I was READY.

So watch for my next blog, and I will post the pix that put me over the top. To you maybe I look fine, I was 5'7 and 185 when I began my JC Adventure. I covinced myself that I was "tall" and I wore it well, but I was not feeling the energy I should have, and I was on the verge of needing meds to control cholesterol and blood pressure. So JC was not just a weight goal but a health goal. See you soon.

MaryJoNM