One of my best friends is in labor as we speak. Very excited to meet their new son!

Another great friend is celebrating his birthday tonight. Should be a wonderful time. Hurricane Earl turned out to be a dud, so even though the weather wasn’t terrible, I did opt to stay in. I made my first batch of blueberry jam, which I must say turned out awesome! I’m very proud of myself. Don’t be surprised if you all don’t get jams for Christmas.

Now onto more exciting news:

Weigh in: 222.8lbs

Chest: 45.5 inches

Waist: 43.5 inches

Hips: 50 inches

I think measuring with a measuring tape is going to be what satisfies me this time around. I really love seeing those #’s change. But I had an excellent week at WW, wish me luck on week two now that it’s becoming more routine!

I’m going to do what I can to get there tomorrow morning, from what every media outlet is saying I should be alright to get out first thing, it’s later in the day that is going to be wicked.

So this week I diligently used WW E-tools that come with the monthly membership. It’s been a very useful tool. I’m eager to see the results. One of the major reasons is because I used 1 flex point and had a hard time eating all my points everyday. This was a struggle because I really wasn’t hungry so I didn’t want to force them. Once I see how this translates on the scale it will let me know if I have to add something to my meals to get those extra few points in. Be it margarine or cheese or more protein.

I did a fair bit of walking this week. Really need to pick up a pedometer or a pedometer app for my Blackberry. See how much movement I am getting in.

Enough of the self analysis. It’s a long weekend! Earl is on the way, hopefully it isn’t too intense. Chris W’s Bday dinner is on Sunday evening. Asian themed… I’m eager to make pot stickers! I’ll report tomorrow with measurements and weigh in results.

Wish me luck.

Set up my E-tools for WW. I totally love the Recipe Builder and the online tracker… I’m going to try to use it for the week and see how it goes. I should be able to access it from work as well so I can look stuff up. That will nice.

I’m eager to see how this first week goes. I’ve promised myself I won’t get on the scale until I weigh in on Saturday, I will also measure every two weeks.

Thanks for coming along on this journey with me.

I was very surprised to see that since I stopped going in the late spring early summer, I have only gained 3 pounds back. In my mind… it felt like all of the weight I had ever lost came back.

I decided to make use of this blog space by chronicling my journey, and being loyal to posting. This is a commitment I’m making to myself. Of course comments, feedback and all that fun stuff will obviously make it much more fun for me to use this forum, so please…let it be interactive.

Without further adieu:

Weigh in: 225.6lbs

Chest: 46.5 inches

Waist: 44 inches

Hips: 51 inches

Now that these numbers are out there… there is no hiding from them.

Let’s see how this journey goes.

Outside of that I did find my scrapbooking supplies as well which reminds me once again I need to print off new photos and get back to that hobby, which I have always enjoyed but never really had a lot of money to sink into it. I think I am going to take some money out of my next pay and get some photos done and go from there.

Back to the event planner notion. I have some ideas, and a few things I want to be really good at before I venture into the world of special occasion planning. But it’s in my bonnet and growing. Kind of exciting to be creative about something again. Feels like it’s been awhile.

It has also been awhile since I’ve been back at Weight Watchers… I’m bad. I want to lose the weight but my head just isn’t there, I want it to be there. I think I might just suck it up, go back and vow to not quit. I have a goal in mind, I’ve been successful before, I’m not sure why all of the sudden I have self doubt. Just need to get back on the horse. We’ll see if I’m there on Saturday….

Until then, stay frosty.

PS  How many sleeps boys?

This time of year is always exceptionally difficult on me. A few years ago I had some personal issues that were very hard on me. During that time I also lost one of my close friends. So between the first of April and the end of May it is an uphill battle to keep my shiny disposition. That being said it has also been very hard for me to stay focused on my fitness and weight loss goals, because I want to eat based on emotions. *sigh* It’s hard. However on the positive note, I have one friend near by and one who is far away I have been able to talk to about most of these issues and really found that I have the inner strength to get through.

Really I need to focus on the fact that my experiences in life have made me stronger and primed me to better handle whatever else might come my way. In saying that I need to acknowledge that it isn’t always easy, but the experience I’ve had have shaped me into who I am now, but I should not let them govern how I continue to live my life. Hardships have been endured and survived. I’m still here.

That’s something.

We go away in 17 days. I can’t believe how fast it is creeping up. I need to find a less formal outfit for one of the events. I am going to do some shopping this week and hopefully I’ll find something.

I was so exhausted I didn’t go to WW yesterday. I should have. But I didn’t. I did get on the scale and I am down just under a pound from last week. Ill be back next Sat of course. I was just so burned out I couldn’t pry myself out of bed to go.

On the topic of WW, I am starting to feel a difference in my clothes. God I love that feeling. I suspect by the end of March I’ll need to get new jeans, if not before. Mine are coming off without being undone now, but they are still comfy and don’t look *too* big.

I am eager to get things organized with Tara for her wedding in October, which reminds me to send her a To Do list we made. We are going out on Tuesday night, I’m looking forward to it. I didn’t realize how much we had been hanging out until she is now back to work, D&D was cancelled and I haven’t seen her. I miss her! So I’m looking forward to hanging out on Tuesday. Hopefully the weather won’t cancel D&D on us again this week.

Dave is coming… I want to go… Well to Montreal and Boston. I wanna go… I wanna go…

On a personal note, I got some stuff off my chest last night… and I feel better. I am always surprised by the compassion and understanding of some people in my life. I am truly blessed.

off to get groceries I go.

X’s and O’s

~Squigzella

So yeah, Saturday. Shovelling. Then Mom brought me in town. Tara and I started cooking. We made some good eats too. I think my favs were the Jalapenos I made and the dip Tara made.

They got me a cake, with Edward Cullen on it. LOL Chris edited the photo so it said “Hope your birthday doesn’t suck, Love Edward”. Thought it was pretty funny. I also got a bear from Tara with a Tshirt that says “Real Vampires don’t sparkle” *giggles* You would think I’m obsessed or something. Barry got me some comics from my folder at the store and Chris got me Dr Horrible on DVD! I didn’t expect prezzies so it was a nice treat. Thank you!

So…we drank our faces off…many many shots. I wasn’t feeling any pain, and honestly I think everyone there was pretty ripped. It was awesome. Speaking of ripped, Tara and I owe Carter a wife beater…. Sorry… We were just mesmerized by your hotness!

Many stories I could tell, but you know what? I just can’t do them justice. Just thanks to everyone for coming out and making this a very awesome birthday! But man does my body ever feel 31 today…

I also got prezzies from family today. Mom and Dad got me an Griffin iTrip for my car. So now I can use my iPod in the car. Nan got me a car charger for my cell phone, which was much needed.  All these gadgets!

So now I am gonna go have my Bday supper, and enjoy Lasagna, Garlic Bread and a piece of chocolate Birthday cake.

So much has changed in the past few years. I’m eager to see where this year takes me.

X’s and O’s

~The Diva of the FLN, Squigzella

Going to WW this morning to weigh in on my way to work. Figure it’s the best time with how crazy the weekend is going to be. We are going to the Midnight showing of Army of Darkness tonight. Meeting up at Boston Pizza at 10pm with everyone for some eats. (Not sure if I’ll be eating anything but I’ll be there)

Tomorrow night is the Bday Bash. Have to pick up eats to make. May do that tonight after work. Not too sure yet. I know I am making bacon wrapped Jalapenos, I’m not sure what else yet… I have a list.

This week has been interesting. Earlier in the week Tara and Steve asked me to be in their wedding! So I am going to be a bridesmaid in October. Should be fun. On Thursday morning I was driving to work, and for the first time in 15 years of driving I had the scare of my life. The roads were terrible, and what happened could have been alot worse, but likely not avoided. I skidded down Chesley Drive, and spun  into 360’s before finally stopping facing up the hill, and a SUV going through the same thing I just had. I had to reverse down the hill so he wouldn’t crash into me, and then I just turned around and got on the bridge… It rattled me good. But like Barry said, after a few days I can laugh about it, and call it an adventure… I’m not there yet, so give me a few days. It was effing scary!

I have half a blog post written on turning 31 (29 with two years experience). I will finish it up on my birthday and post it…

Bring on the weekend!

X’s and O’s

~Squigzella

My first full week back at WW was fantastic. I watched my hunger and used filling foods and tracked everything. In the end I was down 1.6 pounds! I’m pleased because I didn’t have the chance to get as much exercise in as I would have liked, and it is that ungodly week of the month. So typically I wouldn’t even lose this weeks when I was going before. This should make for a really interesting turn out next week on the scale.

That being said, I am going to weigh in on Thursday night or Friday morning as we are crazy busy next weekend and after being out til 2:30 on Friday night, and my birthday party being Saturday night I don’t want to be out for a meeting at 9am on Saturday morning.

Everything is booked for our trip in March. I’m getting very excited. It has been far too long since the trio has left the province for some fun. This trip we have a companion with us. One that won’t be a drama queen and ruin our trip! Good old Slavesheep will be coming and I’ll be honest I think he is going to make the train ride an adventure. Where he is fun and laughter usually follow.

I am on a quest today to find some new music. With that I’ll also post a new pic of me that was taken my Chris. We were testing lighting, this one is blown out too much, but I just love it anyway!

Photo courtesy of Chris Duffield.