just around the corner

Hey all -

I'm still here and I'm still working to lose weight! :D

Just to catch you up - I won the contest that I did with my friend, Ally. I think I only lost like 5 pounds, but 5 pounds in one month is not bad when I'm at the weight I am.

Chris and I went to Hawaii with his parents in October. Hawaii was not good to my waistline, but we had a blast. I finally had lost all of my Hawaii weight - just in time for Thanksgiving! HA. My parents came for Thanksgiving weekend, and we had such a good time - very relaxing. Although, again, not good for my waist line.

Luckily, I'm dancing in our church's Christmas production, so I've been getting in a lot of cardio. :D In case any of you are curious - my church is doing an original 4 part mini-series. It's like a tv mini-series meets a broadway musical. It's kind of a spin off "The Office" (in genre, not content). So there are parts that are pre-recorded, like a tv show, and then there are live scenes down in "the warehouse." There is lots of acting, singing, and dancing! I'm so excited to be a part of this - it's going to be awesome. It's called, "When It Snows in San Diego." Check out my FB page for a promo video. If any of you are interested in seeing it, recordings of the videos should be on skylinechurch.org on Sunday each week. Let me know if you want more info.

Chris and I have decided to start a photography business - Snider Photography. Chris is hard at work creating a logo, designing a website, and getting Facebook and Twitter set up for us. Stay tuned for more about this - we are super excited about it!

In addition to all the Christmas craziness, I'm looking for a new job. The hours at my current job are being cut because of cutbacks. I'm still there part time, but need something else to compensate those other hours. Looking for something full or part time - I'm open. So if you know of anything - send it my way.

I'm still working to lose weight even through this crazy holiday season. Last year, I lost 10 pounds between Christmas and New Years. Granted, I was 30 pounds heavier, but I think I can do this again. I'm so close to 100 pounds down - I'm itching to reach that goal.

So that's us right now - lots of exciting things on the horizon. Will keep you all posted and updated as things progress.

Love,
The Sniders

1 month away

Holy guacamole, it's been a long time since I've blogged. Summer has been crazy and busy, and full, and I love it. It's nice to get back into a normal rhythm, though, especially when it comes to diet and exercise.

Well, I am just over a month away from my 2 year anniversary of starting my weight loss journey. I can't believe it's been two years, and I'm so proud of how far I've come.

I still have about 20 pounds to go to reach my goal weight. Realistically, I don't expect to lose 20 pounds in a month (especially at this stage in my weight loss), but I'm going to work hard and lose what I can.

My friend, Ally, challenged me to a weight loss competition - with prizes and everything! HA! Chris and I are going to Hawaii in a month, so Ally and I are competing for one month, to see who can lose the most weight. It's more or less an accountability thing, but the competition motives me since I'm pretty competitive. What can I say? I like to win! :D

Basically, Ally and I are doing our own thing - our own eating and exercise plans. I'm basically counting calories and being intentional about what I eat, and increasing my length and intensity of my workouts. She's doing something similar, but her diet will look different than mine since she's gluten and dairy intolerant.

I will let you know how the competition goes when we're done.

My starting weight for the competition is: 173.2
Overall Goal WeightL 150

Here goes nothing!

Love,
Lauren

the good and the bad

Well hello there - it's that time again - time for a weight loss update.

I started the 17 Day Diet. This diet consists of 4 cycles, each 17 days long. I finished the first cycle yesterday and lost a total of 5 pounds. I was hoping to lose more, but it is a decrease in weight, so I can't be too upset. Today, I start cycle 2. The 17 Day Diet basically consists of eating lots of lean proteins, vegetables, fruits, and some dairy. Then in the 2nd cycle, you add in some healthy carbs like brown rice, oatmeal, beans, etc. Then on cycle 3, you add in more types of fruits and vegetables and some other foods, then cycle 4 is the maintenance stage. That is the brief rundown of the diet.

I'm excited to share that I'm officially out of the "obese" category according to the BMI chart, and in the "overweight" category. Although I'm still considered overweight, it feels good to not be considered obese. (That is just such an ugly word). 

Some good things:

- I went shopping, and I'm fitting in much smaller clothes. I started out as a size 20 in Old Navy jeans, and (although they were tight) I was able to get into a size 10! I'm half my size!

- Chris rewarded my hard work with a new pair of tennis (workout) shoes and a new workout tank top. (So now I can be stylish while working out...haha!)

- I bought a new swimsuit. Although I'm not strutting around the pool in it like some swimsuit model, it was nice to buy a cute swimsuit (that was not being sold in the plus size section) and that didn't have a full on skirt at the bottom. 

- Chris' eating habits are changing, and he has been losing weight as well. 

Some tough things:

- I've been getting discouraged that I'm not "there" yet. I want to be in the maintenance stage SO BAD, and it's frustrating that I still have 25 more pounds to go. 

- I've felt like giving up. I mean, hey, I'm out of the obese category, I've lost 85 pounds, and I'm way more fit than I was. I lose more weight later. I need a break. (Don't worry, I'm not giving up - these are just the thoughts that have been going through my head).

- I have been feeling like I've been/am becoming obsessed with weight loss. I feel like everything revolves around this. I'm still processing this because I literally just had this thought/revelation last night. There needs to be a balance in life. I'm going to struggle with food and weight my entire life, but does everything I do have to revolve around my weight? Maybe for now it does until I reach my goal, then I won't be so consumed with it. I know that so many aspects of life contribute to my weight. Food, exercise, stress, even relationships can contribute to my weight loss. So I want to be conscious of these things so that I can continue to lose weight, however, I don't want it to be the only thing I ever talk about with people. I don't want it to be the only thing that dictates my day, my activities, my conversations, my thoughts. Like I said, I'm still processing all of this, but I guess the bottom line is I just don't want to be consumed by this even though it is important - it's not the MOST important thing. 

So my birthday is 12 days away. Obviously, I will not meet my goal by that date (unless someone has some magic drink that will instantly make me skinny. In which case I will drink it, become skinny, then proceed to beat you with a stick for not giving it to me sooner). But seriously, I intend to stay on the 17 day diet, at least for cycle 2. I will splurge on my birthday (we're having sushi), and then jump back on the diet the day after. I will do my best to keep losing weight and reaching my goal. 

The "90 Day Fitness Challenge" that I wrote about a while ago is going good. I'm still doing it - reading the entries every day, trying to continue to create a lifestyle. The 17 day diet is what is keeping my eating under control, but the 90 day challenge is educating me, encouraging me, and helping to keep me structured in my weight loss. 

So there's the good, the bad, and the in between. My new goal is to be at my goal weight by October 18th - my two year anniversary of my weight loss journey. I hope to be at my goal weight before this date, but if I'm not, I think this is a realistic date to lose the weight by. I need to be held accountable to this date and to this goal. It's time to finish the first leg of this journey. Thanks for your love, support, accountability, and encouragement. I so greatly appreciate it. 

Love,

Lauren

guest blogger

Hey all -
I just wanted to share a quick link with you. A friend of mine who is on her own weight loss journey asked me to be a guest writer on her blog. She posted it yesterday, and I wanted to share it with you all in case you didn't see it on Facebook.

Thanks, Leah, for allowing me the opportunity to share my story on your blog in hopes of inspiring more people to get healthy. Praying and pulling for you as you work towards your goals. I'm right there with ya, sister!

You can see the blog post at Leah's blog, Nesting Doll.

slowly, but surely

So I finally started losing again. It's slow and only a couple of pounds, but it's a loss. I realized that part of the reason I wasn't losing is because I was splurging too often. It's one thing to have a piece of dark chocolate every now and then, but to have some sort of sweets every day (even within my calorie limit) was not helping things. Plus, I would lose, and then go celebrate some thing or go to a party or something, and end up gaining the weight back. I'm working on not splurging and really watching my calories at parties and events. It's easy to justify poor eating when it's for a special occasion, but when those special occasions happen often, it makes it hard to lose weight. 


Here are my current stats:


Last Weigh In: 181.6
Current Weight: 178.8
Goal Weight: 150
Weeks Left: 6


I'd really like to get to 175 this week. We're going to Vegas with our families for my sister's softball tournament, so we'll see how strong my will-power is with all the buffets. :D According to the BMI chart, 175 (for my height) puts me into the "overweight" category and out of the "obese" category. This is a big step, and I'd really like to get there soon.


Until the next weigh in...
Lauren

quick check in

Hey all - so here are my stats for this week.

Last Weigh In: 181 lbs
Current Weight: 181.6 lbs
Goal Weight: 150
Weeks Left: 7

Although I've been really liking the 90 Day Challenge, I have been struggling with losing the weight. I will lose one day, and then gain it back the next. Between trips back to Sac, celebrating our anniversary, and other things, I've struggled some with eating right and getting all the exercise in. I know I've been maintaining, which is better than gaining, but I still have quite a bit to lose. Trying to figure this thing out, and I'm hoping that even through all the summer fun and celebrations, I'll be able to make good choices and keep losing.

Until next time.
Lauren

creating a lifestyle

Ok - it's been awhile - I know. Part of my hiatus was from busyness, and part of it was out of frustration from the way my weight loss has been going. 

Here's the breakdown:

A few weeks ago, I started getting a lot stricter on my diet - and I gained a pound by the end of the week. 

The next week, I tried to do a cleanse. I did this "cleanse" for 6 days. The longer I was on this cleanse, the more I was feeling like it wasn't so much of a cleanse. I didn't feel like I was being cleaned out. I did lose 4 pounds that week - good for 1 week, but it was not the 10+ pounds promised by the cleanse. If anything I felt more "clogged." Sorry if that's TMI. 

So now, I'm more on track. After the cleanse, I splurged a bit and gained a pound back, but now, I feel like I'm on to something. I'm reading the book, "The 90-Day Fitness Challenge" by Phil and Amy Parham. They were contestants on season 5 of The Biggest Loser, and they are believers. The book lays out what it looks like to live a healthy lifestyle. A lot of it is basic stuff, but it's SO helpful to have it laid out for me. The first part of the book is them explaining how and what to eat, and how and what to do to work out. The second half of the book are daily entries where they have a short note from the author, and then a place for me to journal my eating and workouts and thoughts. I haven't been recording my thoughts in the book because I do that on my phone in an application called, "My Fitness Pal" - thank you Katie Thompson! They have workout suggestions, a 7-day meal plan, an extensive grocery list, and encouraging stories from people that have done the challenge before. 

More than anything, it's reminded me of the importance of a BALANCED diet. I'm realizing, that I was not always eating balanced meals to fuel my body. For example, before, I would have a bowl of oatmeal with honey and maybe some fruit for breakfast. Not a bad meal, but there's almost no protein. There suggestion for a similar breakfast is oatmeal with Truvia or Stevia, and then 2 egg whites. So simple, right? I feel like I was on the right track, this book just helped me to start eating more balanced meals - protein, carbs, fruits, veggies, and fats. They also really push eating natural foods - staying away from processed foods. Again, kind of a no brainer, but it's amazing what is out there that is called "healthy" but is processed. I'm not perfect at this. They suggested I get uncured, no nitrate turkey bacon - I got Jenny-O Turkey Bacon that is cured and has nitrates in it. Hey - I'm working on it. Ha.  

So, I'm on Day 2 of this 90-Day Fitness Challenge. To be honest, 90 days feels like a long time, but really, it's not like this way of life is supposed to end after 90 days. I'm continuing to create a lifestyle that will continue even after 90 days. It just takes the 90 days to create the lifestyle. I'm feeling really good about it, and it's totally realistic. 

Stats:

Last Weeks Weight: 180 lbs

Current Weight: 181 lbs (as of 5/16/12)

Goal Weight: 150 Lbs

Weeks Left: 8*

*This is weeks until my birthday, which was my original time frame to reach my goal. I'm going to keep this date to see how far I can get in this time, although I realize that realistically, I will not be at my goal weight by this day.

Thanks for checking in. Although I've been a bit discouraged lately, I'm feeling good again and ready to keep plugging away.

Until next time - 

Lauren

stats

I realized I never really shared where I got the idea to post my stats every week. Well, allow me to introduce you to Leah. She's an old church friend of mine thats on her own weight loss journey. I highly recommend you check out her blog, Nesting Doll, right now! She's on round 2 of losing over 100 pounds, and she's doing amazing! She's a great writer and really funny, and her blog really encourages me on my journey! Every week, she does "Weigh in Wednesdays." She posts her stats and lists her goals and how she's doing on her journey. This is where I got the idea to start posting my stats every week. Posting my stats gives me a sense of accountability, and it helps me to make good decisions during the week because I know that at the end of the week I've got to post my stats for all to see. 

So here they are for this week: 

Last Week's Weight: 183.2

Current Weight: 184.4

Goal Weight: 150

Weeks Left: 11

As you can see, I gained a pound. I let myself splurge a lot this past week because I was on "vacation" while my mom was visiting, and I wasn't consistently exercising. I actually gained more than 1 pound, but I lost it in the last few days. I've struggled to get back in an exercise routine, but I worked out today (and I NEVER work out on Sundays). I'm also planning this week to start eating more strictly. It's a sacrifice, but I need to be strict if I want to lose the weight. So I'll let you know how that goes. 

Until next time...

a little perspective

Lately, I've been reading "Jesus Calling" by Sarah Young during my devotions. Every devotion in the book is from the perspective of Jesus - it written as if He is talking to you. (Side note - I HIGHLY recommend this book!!!) Everyday it seems that the reading for that day is exactly what I need to hear - my God is cool like that.

The last couple of days, I've been struggling with my eating, and I was feeling really down and experiencing a lot of self-pity. This of course, made me want to eat even more unhealthy foods.

Here is today's devotional from "Jesus Calling":

April 26

"Welcome problems as perspective-lifters. My children tend to sleepwalk through their days until they bump into an obstacle that stymies them. If you encounter a problem with no immediate solution, your response to that situation will take you either up or down. You can lash out at the difficulty, resenting it and feeling sorry for yourself. This will take you down into a pit of self-pity. Alternatively, the problem can be a ladder, enabling you to climb up and see your life from My perspective. Viewed from above, the obstacle that frustrated you is only a light and momentary trouble. Once your perspective has been heightened, you can look away from the problem altogether. Turn toward Me, and see the Light of My Presence shining upon you."

2 Corinthians 4:16-18; Psalm 89:15

So good, right?! I was falling into the "pit of self-pity" instead of looking at it from His perspective. This, of course, is easier said than done, but when I look at my problems from his perspective, I'm able to press forward toward my goal, instead of being stuck in the muck of self-pity and resentfulness. Let me be clear - I don't think it's a bad thing to be frustrated with yourself when you mess up - on a diet, in a relationship, whatever. Feeling frustrated means you recognize that you did something wrong and you know you need to change it. This feeling of frustration and/or anger at the problem can lead to the action of fixing the problem. However, if you stay in the frustration and anger stage and don't move to the stage of action to change, you can get stuck in the self-pity stage. This is not a productive stage - in fact, it can be very destructive.

So, I was frustrated and experienced my self-pity, and now it's time to move on from this to action. It's time for me to look at my problem from His perspective. Some of my eating habits are a problem, but they don't have to be obstacles that trip me up - they are obstacles to overcome. They are stepping stones to the end result - they are part of the story, my story. I'm always going to struggle with food, but my relationship with food has changed and continues to change. I still fail. I still struggle. But as long as I turn to the Lord after I fail instead of wallowing in self-pity, I will win and reach my goal.

Lord - give me strength to keep going when I fail. Allow me to experience your power when I don't have my own will-power. Help me to feel a healthy level of frustration when I fail to motivate me to keep going in the right direction, but convict me when I begin to get comfortable in my self-pity. I've come this far, Lord, help me to keep going to the end.

stats update

it's late, so here's a quick update on my stats.

Last Week's Weight: 185.4 lbs

This Week's Weight: 183.2 lbs

Goal Weight: 150 lbs

Weight Loss: 2.2 lbs

Weeks Left: 12 weeks

I haven't quite been at my goal of 2.5 lbs loss each week, but I feel like I've been doing good. So I'm just gonna keep plugging away.

Goodnight.

weekly weigh in

I'm a couple days late, but we moved this weekend, so I didn't get a chance to blog on Saturday.

Yes, we moved. For those that don't know, there was a couple from Skyline Church who moved for the military, and they were letting us live in the house they were short selling. We were living there for very cheap until they sold it. Well, they sold it. We found a cute 2 bedroom condo that was willing to take Ace! (Praise the Lord!!!) It's about 1 mile from the church, and I can see the shopping center where I work from our front stoop. Needless to say, we are blessed, although very tired from the move.

Another fun update while I have you here: I got sick over the weekend. (Ok, maybe "fun" wasn't the word I was looking for). Getting sick the weekend you are to move is not...ideal. I had a high fever Friday night, which broke in the night - again, PRAISE THE LORD! I felt ok on Saturday and was able to help move. Saturday night, though, my hands were feeling tingly. Sunday morning it felt like my hands and feet were asleep. They were tingly and it hurt to use them. Sunday night, I noticed red dots all over my hands and feet. I went to the doctor today and confirmed what I thought - I have hand, foot, and mouth disease. BOO.

My friend's son had this disease last week, and the night before we found out he had it, I had been hugging and kissing on him. So, now I have it. Luckily, I don't feel sick or have the fever anymore, but it hurts to walk or do just about anything with my hands.

So, all that to say - my workouts have mainly consisted of going up and down stairs and carrying boxes for the last 3 days. Which is good because my eating has consisted of pizza and mexican food with some oatmeal and a banana or two.

Here are my stats:

Last Week's Weight: 187 lbs

This Week's Weight: 185.4 lbs

Goal Weight: 150

Weight Loss: 1.6 pounds

Weeks Left: 13 weeks

Not too bad for the week that I moved - although I'm sure the high fever helped burn off a few calories as well. :D

Goodnight, from my new condo!

goals.

Ok.

So I feel like I'm on the home stretch - sort of.

I have less than 40 pounds to lose, and I have a feeling they are going to be hard to lose.

My goal is to lose the rest of my weight by my birthday - July 16th (yes - of this year).

That's a little over 2.5 pounds every week. I know that is a lot, but honestly, I'm ready to be done losing and be in the maintanence stage.

So I need accountability, which is why I'm posting my stats and goals on here - to be kept accountable!

Current Weight: 187lbs

Goal Weight: 150lbs

Weeks Left: 14 weeks

Here's to 14 more weeks!

my journey (so far) in pictures

I recently realized that I hadn't ever posted any pictures of myself during this weight loss journey. So I went back through old pictures to find some to share. Let's just say, some pictures almost brought me to tears because of how big I am in them. It's amazing how I was able to convince myself how I thought I looked. Now, looking back, I was very big and extremely unhealthy. I'm so blessed to be where I am today - losing weight and getting healthier.

So here they are. Sorry, I forgot to take an actual "before" picture when I started losing weight in October 2010, so I found some from earlier in 2010.

Our wedding, 5.23.08. I can't remember my exact weight, but I think I was about 260 lbs and my dress was a size 24.

Trip to Mendocino, CA, May 2010. About 260 lbs.

Paige's Wedding, 1.8.11. 235 lbs. (Liz Wang Photography)

Shay and Haley's Wedding, 5.27.11. 224 lbs.

Mud Run, October 2011. About 216 lbs.

Valentine's Date, 2.12.12. 199-200 lbs.

ONEderland

I find it extremely interesting and slightly ironic that my 100th blog post is about ONEderland.

If you watched season 11 of the Biggest Loser, you have heard of this term, ONEderland, before. If not, allow me to explain it to you.

Definition:

one-der-land (wndr-lnd)* n.: 1) the state of being when one's weight is in the 100s. 2) when the first number on the scale when one is weighing themselves is the number one. 3) the very exciting place one looks forward to being in after being in the 200s for YEARS!

*thefreedictionary.com

YES, i am FINALLY in ONEderland, and it feels oh so good. As of yesterday, I weighed in at 199.0!

As you may have noticed, this is the first time I've shared my actual weight on this blog. I mean, it's not exactly something you shout out from the rooftops. But I feel that now it's important for me to share it because it allows a level of accountability, and even though I'm not at my goal weight yet, I'm so proud of how far I've come and the fact that I'm no longer in the 200s.

Honestly, I have been dreaming about writing this post for a very long time. In the spirit of full disclosure, I hit 199.8 on New Year's Eve, but thanks to a really fun New Year's Eve Party, and my still somewhat unresolved issues with self control as well as the unashamed desire to party it up, I quickly left ONEderland. I plateaued for all of January wavering back and forth between 200 and 201 - it was quite brutal! I've found over my journey that I tend to lose a lot of weight quickly, and then I plateau for a bit, and the cycle continues. (I had lost 10 pounds between Thanksgiving and New Years). But now I'm back, and I'm ready to keep moving in the general direction of SKINNY. :D

I haven't posted in so long because I was waiting to be able to write this post. To be honest, I was embarrassed that it took me so long to get into the 100s when I was so close for so long. I'm planning to be more consistent with writing about my journey because it keeps me accountable. By writing about my journey, it's out there for the world (or whoever actually reads this) to read and there's no going back.

But right now, there's no sulking or would of, should of, could of's, or thinking about how far I still have to go. Right now, in this moment - it's time to celebrate.

Celebrate that I've lost a total of 61 pounds. Celebrate that my relationship with food and exercise is changing. Celebrate the fact that I usually can't find anything to wear because my clothes continue to be too big. Celebrate the fact that I'm down 3 jeans sizes, and I'm almost into a 4th. Celebrate that I'm more educated on nutrition, health, and exercise. Celebrate that I'm in better shape than I have ever been in my teenage and adult life. Celebrate that I jogged for 25 minutes straight (although I haven't yet been able to do it again, ha.) Celebrate that I'm getting healthier and stronger, mentally, physically, and spiritually.

I know I still have a ways to go, about 50 more pounds or so (remember, full disclosure here). But I'm excited. Getting into the 100s has given me a mental boost of energy that I needed to tackle the second half of this journey.

Thank you to all who have encouraged me, supported me, given me advice, or have simply listened to my story from a distance. I can't wait to keep sharing my story as it unfolds.

Mmm - onederland. :D