And the results are in...

And I'll be staying on the first cycle for another 17 days. The last few days have been really trying. I've tried to behave myself and stay on the diet but I have suffered tremendously from cravings and a wicked case of PMS this past week. However, in the spirit of full disclosure here are my results for the first attempt at Cycle 1.

Total weight loss: 8.5 pounds

Inches lost on chest: 5

Stomach: 4

Hips: 2

Thighs: 2

Overall, I am impressed with the results. My decision to stay on cycle one is less to do with results as it is proving to myself that I can do something and stick with it for more than a micro-second. I'm struggling so much with my weight and my self-esteem, I think that this is an important step for me. So, I begin round two tomorrow, pray for me as I continue on this journey!

Day 16!

Well, I won't lie and say I've done everything by the book. I have cheated a couple times, but it's been great so far. I'm not going to put my final measurements in yet... I'm leaving that until the end of tomorrow but it's exciting to me to see the difference. Not only see the difference but FEEL the difference. Even when I'm tired I still feel I have more energy than before. I'm more motivated. I have to confess yesterday was the first day that I have done exercise with the program but I think it will help keep me going.

Well I must be off, time to make salad and prepare some meals for the coming days! I'm not convinced yet that I will be going on to cycle 2 right away or maybe not adding all the bread, potatoes, and rice back. I don't really miss it!

Ummm Day...9?!

So my amazing plan to blog every day about this diet was an epic fail. Life just is way too busy but I will try and update when I can.

Also, I got a text from mom and dad Callaway today telling me I had forgotten to give them credit for introducing Brad and I to this diet. Thank you mom and dad.

So after weigh in / measurements on Sunday we know this diet works. I am down 5 pounds and an inch or more off all of my measurements. Brad is down 7.5 pounds and about an inch of off everything but his chest. And it hasn't been so bad.

I must admit that I have craved the occasional cookie or something sweet. Most of the foods we are eating are regular foods, just no bread, rice, or potatoes. I've been ok with that. The no sugar thing is a little harder for me.

Oh well, I'm happy with the results so far and look forward to what the next 8 days will bring!

Day 2

Ok so technically this is day 3, but I'm writing about day 2.

Day 2 was tough for me. We did a bake sale at work and I had to make vanilla and chocolate cupcakes. All I wanted to do was take a bite, just a teeny tiny one. But I am proud to say I resisted the temptation and I am still doing great with the diet.

Got Brad hooked on the salad I make.

Interested to see how my chicken vegetable soup turned out (crushed tomatoe base with cabbage, celery, carrots, chicken, and fat free chicken broth). It smells divine right now as it is simmering in the pot in the kitchen.

Well I shall try and post about day 3 tonight, now I'm off to eat soup!

Day 1

Well I have gone through my first day on the diet fairly successfully. I ate only the foods that are on my menu plan, and didn't feel overly hungry throughout the day. When I did feel hungry I ate one of my meals or one of the listed snacks. Plus it never hurt anyone to eat unlimited amounts of vegetables.

Overall I'm impressed with myself. I hope and pray I can keep up my motivation and determination to change my life, not just my body but my life.

On the plus side, I got Brad to do this with me. We took our measurements last night (I'm not sharing the initial results, WAY too embarassing but a good motivator). He has decided to join me but it will most likely be easier for him when he is on a normal schedule since he slept through 2 of his 3 meals today! Still he has only eaten what is on his plan for the day and I'm proud of him too.

Well wish us luck!

17 days isn't that long right?!

So I have decided to turn a new leaf. My weight is an ever increasing issue in my life and it's a number that only seems to grow larger instead of shrinking. Let me tell you, if one more person tells me that it's just my "happy weight" I may punch them in the face.

Anyways, I have decided to make a difference. As of Monday October 17, I will be starting the 17 day diet. I plan on blogging through it to update my status and emotions towards this process. Now for those of you reading who are thinking "big deal, 17 days is nothing." Let me tell you a little bit about this diet. It is 4 cycles of 17 days. Count it, that is 68 days.

Over the next 68 days I will be trying different foods, a different workout regime, and lowering my sugar, carb, and starch intake. I plan on taking before and after measurements, but at this juncture I'm not willing to share my weight or my measurements (that is how bad it has gotten).

Wish me luck in this difficult endeavor!

Stolen from a cousin...

So after reading a bunch of mushy, gushy, lovey stuff on Mandi's blog... I decided to steal her idea and do an entire post about my amazing husband. It is Thanksgiving after all and I am definitely most thanksful that this amazing man is in my life.

It doesn't seem like 3 years since we were married. Time has flown by and every second is precious to me. So here are a few things I wanted to share (like I said stolen from Mandi).

First time seeing Brad: I went into the store on campus at RDC every day to visit my roomie Kathleen. Brad worked for her and I would not so casually check him out every now and then!

First time talking to Brad: at said RDC store, Brad and I would talk over the free slushies he gave me and we would take turns mocking Kathleen. Not too long after that we discovered we were in the same psych class and he just came and sat next to me. After that we never stopped talking whether it was in person or on MSN!

First present from Brad: He got me The Killers "Hot Fuss" album for my birthday. Pretty sweet gift and I listened to it constantly.

First time he told me he wanted to take me on a real date: I'm not sure if he ever said it in so many words. I had told him that I liked him, he moved away for a few months, when he came back he pursued me.

First date with Brad: It was only a couple days after he came back to Red Deer and we went to see "You, Me, and Dupree" at the movie theater and then went to "The Firm" for drinks and some chatting. Then he came back to the apartment and we hung out for a bit.

First kiss: Around Brad's birthday in early December we went and saw "The Holiday" in the theater. After the movie we just kinda sat there. He had his arm around me and we were talking. Then I looked up at him and he just kissed me,. It was the PERFECT kiss and he hasn't stopped since then! I love his kisses.

First time saying I love you: We had gone on a date and he came back to the apartment. When he was getting ready to leave I was cuddled into him at the front door and he said "I think I'm falling in love with you" and I told him I didn't think I was, I knew I was!

First time being engaged: On our first anniversary, Brad took me to a fancy restaurant (he even had them put roses and a candle on the table to dress it up), then he blind folded me, took me on a drive to this park where we had first held hands. He took the blindfold off and there was this path of candles and tiki torches to the little park bench we had sat on. There was a bunch of white roses and he got down on one knee and popped the big question.

First house: Well we're still renting but our first place together was our crappy little apartment in Red Deer. We had awful carpet in our kitchen, people who yelled and threw stuff off the balcony above us, and had to call the cops several times. But it was our space.

First pet: We don't have any yet, unless you count the stuff that grows in our fridge!

Anyways, that was all!

Who knew...

Babysitting a two and a half year old would be so much fun!

Seriously! Tonight I babysat my bosses son Dylan and I had such a blast. I picked him up at about 4:30, we went to McDonalds for dinner where he played in the play place, ate dinner, and gave lots of giggles and kisses. After dinner we came back to the house and watched half of Toy Story and ate Smarties. Then we went swimming for over an hour! Then we came home, finished the movie and I read him a story and he fell asleep!

Brad came with us for dinner and it was just fun thinking about what the (distant) future may hold for us when we decide to have kids of our own. We sat and chatted and helped take care of Dylan, it was like a glimpse of a family. So cute. Plus Dylan took to Brad almost instantly. It was awesome.

In other news, I don't believe I have posted since Christmas and a lot has happened since then. After much deliberation I changed jobs. I'm still in the same center and with the YMCA, but I am now the Assistant Director of the Out of School Care program. It's crazy fun, I went from having 12 toddlers to having 56 kids from kingerdarten to grade 6! It's very busy and more than a little scary but I'm loving it more than I ever thought I could. In my first week there, my boss Anglea told me they were going to train me over the next year to be able to do the Director position and then they expect me to apply for a Director position in the next year and a half or so. SCARY! In the meantime I am enjoying myself and I am away from aggrivating co-workers.

Well, I'm exhausted now that I have used all my energy chasing a little one so I'm off to relax until Angela picks Dylan up and then off to bed for me. I don't care if it's early on a Friday night!!!