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