My Weight Loss Journey

FANTASTIC Update for Ideal Protein Di

2011-12-12T20:11:00.000-08:00

All I can say over and over again is... I AM SO HAPPY! Today is Dec. 12th and I have been on the Ideal Protein diet now since Wed, November 9th and I have lost 21.3 pounds. I am thrilled and I feel amazing. I still have A LONG, LONG way to go, but how motivating is this?
Below are the dates and my recorded weights. Part of me cannot believe that I am actually posting this for my friends to see; however, I want to share it so that I will keep at it= so here goes...
Wed., November 9th- 252.8 pounds (yeah... feet can not be viewed... EEK)
Wed., November 16th- 243.0 pounds (9.8 pounds down... WOW)
Wed., November 23rd- 238.8 pounds (14 pounds down... YAY)
Wed., Novemebr 30th- 238.1 pounds (14.7 pounds down... I CHEATED for THREE days during the Thanksgiving Holiday... and REALLY wish I had not done that- but still lost almost a pound this week.)
Thursday, December 8th- 233.1 pounds (19.7 pounds down... still motivated for sure!)
Monday, December 12th- 231.5 pounds (21.3 pounds down!!!!)

Although I am still SO VERY OVERWEIGHT and should not be pleased at all with 231.5 pounds, I have to say that I am actually feeling A LOT better. I am so motivated to stick with this. Ben is being so supportive and I like the food too, which helps a great deal. I can't wait to report more later on!

Hope everyone is well! I feel great and am so happy that I am getting my weight under control!

Brandi

Still on a roll to lose these rolls because that's how I roll (although I can't have a roll)!

2011-11-15T06:36:00.000-08:00

Today is Tuesday, November 15th. Tomorrow marks one week that I have been on Ideal Protein and I have not cheated AT ALL! I am so happy about that.
I weighed in at the clinic yesterday and I have lost.... (drum roll please...) 8 POUNDS!!!!!!! I don't even care if most of it is water weight, because I probably would not have lost that without the Ideal Protein.
I feel GREAT too. The fisrt 4 days are a bit rough, actually. The 4th day, which was Saturday was the WORST for me. I had the whole headache, nausea, etc. but it was SO WORTH IT.
We tailgated at Mississippi State for the MSU vs. Alabama game and I did not even eat the tailgate food (which really was hard for me). They had ribs, baked beans, potato salad, pie, dips... you name it, they had it... beer, soda....
Ben made me a FANTSTIC filet and I had grilled zucchini. I was happy with that. I had the vanilla and chocolate shakes the rest of the day along with the Southwestern Cheese Curls. I was satisfied! I was REALLY satisfied when I got my fat rear on that scale Monday and saw that those better choices were worth it!
Now... I did have a bit a disaster last night... so don't let me fool anyone into thinking that everything is fantastic in the Brandi Ideal Protein land....
I was ready to eat my strawberry pudding for dinner, so I mixed it with cold water into my cute little Ideal Protein shaker... I began shaking vigorously and soon realized that I didn't have the top on well. So... I had pudding all of the counter, sink, floor, my clothes.... So here I am hungry and all I can think is... DAMMIT... there went 4 bucks. Keep in mind, you only get enough food for ONE WEEK at a time, so that is one meal GONE.
So... about half an hour later I settled down... I decided to make the Crepes thinking that this would get me over the "I can't have bread" fight that is going on in my head. You can not cook the crepes in an Emeril pan, even with nonstick spray... because IT WILL STICK. It burned on the bottom, although I had it on lower heat, and the top was raw. So... I screwed up TWO DINNERS. At this rate, there will be no food left by Friday. Now I am starving and just down right mad as hell. My language had then escalated from the word Dammit to much, much worse. Yes... get a really fat girl hungry enough and let her ruin TWO MEALS and you will hear bad things. (Just for the record, my baby was in bed and he did not hear such things). Oh- but Ben heard it. I was about it tears and then I sent one of our nurse managers, Linda Ann, a text message with my photo of the crepes gone bad. She told me to go make a shake and she would bring me a replacement meal so I won't be hungry on Friday! GOD LOVE THE WOMAN! My whole week would be bad if I thought I would starve!
Then Linda Ann said, "you are too funny... you should write a blog!" HA HA HA HA! She had NO IDEA! She might laugh a little when she reads that the last time I put full effort into weight loss, in my mind I had a knock down drag out fight with "dancing barbie" at the gym, that I split the ass of my pants wide open while working out, that Madison County had its first earthquake when I decided that "running" was a good idea for exercise and that I view Dr. Pepper as the crack of choice!
Well, anyway... I did have banana pudding for dinner and I slept well. I still miss bread but I am starting to get over it. As I said two years ago... "I am on a roll to lose these rolls because that's how I roll (although I can't have a roll)"!

DID I MENTION THAT I AM DOWN 8 POUNDS??! YAY!

Day three... GOING WELL!

2011-11-11T07:31:00.000-08:00

Today is Friday, 11.11.11!!!! The Ideal Protein diet is going VERY WELL so far. I am not hungry, the food is really good and I just weighed in this morning at the clinic. Already... I have gone from 152.8 and today I was 147.4! I weighed twice just to make sure. Now, I don't care if this is just water weight... I AM THRILLED to see the number drop!

Tomorrow we have plans to go to Starkville for the MSU vs. Alabama game. Tailgating will be hard with all of that food in my face, but seeing those changes today make me want to stay on track... so NO BAD FOOD FOR ME!

Just wanted to write a quick entry because this is exciting. I think I will be able to do this! YAY for Ideal Protein!

FIRST DAY of Ideal Protein Diet

2011-11-09T11:13:00.000-08:00

So, it is 1pm. I just finished with lunch and thought I would blog just a little.

Today is my first day on the Ideal Protein diet. Because I knew that yesterday would be my last day to eat whatever I wanted, I went all out. We went to Nick's for lunch and then Bonefish Grill for dinner. When I arrived to work this morning, I weighed and I GAINED weight. I was 152.8 pounds!!!!!!! But TIME TO GET ON TRACK NOW!

I had the vanilla pudding for breakfast (at 5am) and it tasted pretty good, actually! I was hungry by 9am (but hey- that is four hours later), so I had the Ideal Protein Southwestern Cheese puffs and OH MY GOSH THEY ARE SO GOOD! I really like them. Too bad they are restricted and I am only allowed to have one restricted IP food per day. For lunch, I met Ben and we went to Cheddars. I ordered lettuce with grilled chicken. I purchased the Walden Farms Salad dressing that was recommended by Ideal Protein. I bought Ranch and the Dijon mustard. CRAP is the only word I can use to describe this stuff. It is horrible. Not that I have ever eaten scrap, but this was what I imagine it would taste like! Oh my gosh... it was really bad. This could be the kind of stuff you make your child eat for talking back! WOW, it was really, really bad. (Have I mentioned that it is BAD?) I also bought the BBQ sauce for home and I am afraid to even try it. That really stinks because so far, I think that is the only dressing approved on this diet. I will be finding out ASAP, otherwise... NO SALADS for me! I had a pickle for a snack because I was still hungry after the salad failure.

I have been drinking a good bit of water with the new MiO Liquid in it. I really like the Strawberry Watermelon the best and the Fruit Punch flavor is good too. It makes me want to drink more water, so I like adding it. It is a nice change from Crystal Light.

Tonight I will do a shake or soup... haven't decided which one, but I am excited about this journey (for the most part). I know it will be hard, but I think I can do it!

So here is the scoop of the day...
Ideal Protein food... GOOD
Walden Farms Salad Dressing... NOT GOOD!

Here we go again...... Time to lose this weight

2011-11-08T13:55:00.000-08:00

Well.... here we go again! I am back on the weight loss journey... and GOOD GRACIOUS MY REAR END IS EVEN BIGGER THAN IT WAS BEFORE! But hey... I HAD A BABY!! (Yes, that is right! After all of these years of trying and trying, Ben and I finally have a beautiful baby boy.)

So today is Tuesday, November 8, 2011. TOMORROW, Wednesday, November 9th- I begin the Ideal Protein diet. I am hearing TONS of great things about it and so very excited. I am not working for a medical clinic and we will be launching this program to our patients in January. I am thrilled to be part of 13 people on staff who are trying this before we do so.

The diet is pretty darn hard core, though, and I know it will be tough- but I am ready! The last time I wrote in this blog, it really helped me. The encouragement of my friends and family were a big part in my weight loss and I need that help again! I will, once again... PUT IT ALL OUT THERE! I am going to talk about my struggles and post my weight and pictures. I think the only way to get through this is to get to be honest and admit everything.

Here goes...
My name is Brandi and my rear is the size of Texas!
I recently bought cute shoes, but I can't see the suckers unless they are off of my feet.
I get compliments on a shirt I wear that is actually a MATERNITY shirt! Yeah... I had my baby TEN MONTHS AGO! Time to move on from the maternity wear, right? Right.
I eat too much and I eat BADLY!
I like to drink wine and martinis
I actually get out of breath walking to my car
At work, people take the stairs. I LIKE THE ELEVATOR! Yeah... that's right... IT DOESN'T FEEL GOOD and I DON'T WANT TO TAKE THE STAIRS!
You may look back at my previous posts where I have split the rear of my pants open, had hostile feelings toward the skinny girls at the gym and literally felt the earth shake when I tried to run for exercise. Well.. IT IS WORSE NOW! I am MUCH BIGGER THAN BEFORE.

So... here is the REALLY HARD PART FOR ME!
I am 251 pounds (and I am 5'5)!!!!!
I am a size 20 (yes... a size 20... TWO, ZERO) OH MY GOSH I CAN'T BELIEVE I AM ADMITTING THIS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I will have my measurements on Friday when I meet with our Dietician about the rest of my Ideal Protein Diet. I am starting the food tomorrow.

Comments welcome....

BACK IN THE SWING OF THINGS

2009-09-08T13:31:00.000-07:00

Today is Tuesday, September 8, 2009. I am officially back in the swing of things since I have been lazy, had surgery AGAIN... been lazy, eaten too much, been lazy and stopped working out much because I have been lazy!
At the end of July I went into the hospital for gallbladder surgery but then had to go BACK in because I had pacreatitis. I AM BETTER NOW! I did lose some weight, which I discussed in the last entry, but now I am back on track. I do not want to gain the weight back that I lost and I want to lose more.
So.... since I started with the "dieting" (if you can call it that)- I prefer "lifestyle changes...." hmmm... that sounds stupid too- anyway... I was almost 230 pounds and now I am right at 198-200 range. Not TOO bad... BUT if I would have consistently lost ONE pound per week since I started earlier in the year, I would be about 42 pounds thinner....
I still want to lost about 50 more pounds and then maybe a little more after that! I can not believe that I was about 100 pounds over weight. I mean... really? How int he heck did I let myself get this way.
This blog has been the best motivation I could have ever had. I love when everyone reads in and stays on my case about entries and wanting to know how it is going. You think having a trainer holding you accountable is helpful... well try having about 30 friends on your case.
Oh... I still hold too it that old habits die hard. I love cake... I love tailgate food at Mississippi State games... I LOVE WINE... although I haven't had a single drink since May 27th at 10:25pm, but who is keeping up with that??? HA!
After this long break from surgery, laziness, etc... I am SOOOOO OUT OF SHAPE AGAIN! The weight is off... but MY GOODNESS!
Yesterday afternoon I started back in the gym. I said... "OKAY.. it is Monday, and although it is a holiday (Labor Day) and I getting my tail back in there." Funny... it was quite empty. Everyone else was taking a break and I was in there breathing like a madwoman on that treadmill. I think the lady next to me was actually staring at me and wishing I would shut up... I just turned up my MP3 Player and ignored her. I felt like saying, "Yeah... I am the one making all the noise and breathing hard... so?"
Today I went to Ben's office and met him for lunch. Let me confess what I had... right now.... I CHEESEBURGER from BURGER KING. I saw a sign that read that it was 1.00 and I bought it... cheap lunch... but let's see how my hips respond.... anyway... Ben had his healthy turkey sandwich on wheat and some pretzels and a big glass of water! He is wonderful! OH... he can do this for just a few weeks and lose all the weight he wants!
Back to my trip to Ben's office.... His office is on the 4th floor of his building. WE TOOK THE STAIRS... I REALLY THOUGHT my heart was going to burst out of my chest when we arrived to the 4th floor. He wasn't even breathing any differently than when we were on the 1st floor. What in the world has happened to me. I wonder if any other fat people think what I do... like, "HOW IN THE HELL DID I LET THIS HAPPEN TO ME?" Please don't misunderstand me... I am not having a pity party for myself. I KNOW this is my fault. I am taking ownership!!! I jsut wonder who else has gone through this!
Thanks again to everyone who reads this! I LOVE the comments. They help!
I am going to work out again today. I will report how it goes! :)

How GOD made me lose weight

2009-08-13T07:18:00.001-07:00

So..... it once again has been a while since I have written. I will say right now that 2009 has been a tough year! I just had ANOTHER STINKIN' SURGERY! (If you can't make yourself lose weight, God can find a way to give you a push! ha ha ha)
For the last few months, I have been really sick and the doctor told me that I had a bleeding ulcer. In order to help this, I stopped drinking and it forced me to cut out just about everything that I really WANTED to eat! This helped to drop a few more pounds.
During the first week of July, Ben and I went back up to NYC and I got sick there again. When we returned home, I became sicker than I had ever been and we went back to the ER. It turns out that I never had an ulcer, but gallstones and a pretty bad case of Pancreatitis. I spent 8 days in the Baptist Hospital and over two weeks off of work! The good news is this.... (most importantly), the doc says that in a few weeks, I should be able to enjoy a nice glass of red wine! WHOO HOO!!!!! THEN.... here is the second best part.... are you ready?????? I AM FINALLY UNDER THE 200 LB mark!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I never thought that I would be proud to weigh 198 pounds!!! I feel like I have reached a huge point that will keep me going! Yeah... I might not be so proud to announce that I am still a fatty and weigh 198 pounds, but hello.... let's revisit previous blog entries and remember HOW BIG I WAS! This is awesome!
Today is Thursday, August 13th, 2009 and I am wearing a DRESS to work that I have not been able to fit into for over a year. Also... I tried on the dress I wore to our rehearsal dinner for our wedding and I got the sucker zipped! I hope to be able to wear it with pride on New Years!
As I have said before, this weight loss thing is NOT easy... especially when you do it without any diet pills and try to make lifestyle changes. I am NOT perfect and I have NOT been working out the way I should be, but let me say this... changing the amount of food you eat and habits can be the hardest part of the journey- I am sure of it!
I hope everyone who writes to me is still on track! I would like to give a shout out to my sweet friend, Natasha in Hattiesburg, whom I still have not had the pleasure of meeting in person! She is doing a GREAT job with her joourney and is enjoying her afternoon walking with her daughter! She is already beautiful and I admire her so much for finding something that she can enjoy with her daughter! This should keep her motivated! WE WILL GET THERE!!!! GOALS... here we come!

Hope everyone is great and thanks again for all the emails and messages that support and encourage me. I will soon be breaking up with my fatt butt! Can't wait until it happens!

Snakes and other reasons to STAY FAT!

2009-05-05T11:50:00.000-07:00

I am kidding... no one wants to BE FAT or STAY FAT unless they have serious issues. I have serious issues, but none quite THAT bad!
So... it has been a while since I have written... I hit the wall everyone kept telling me about. I have lost a little over 20 pounds (23 actually). I have NOT GAINED, but I have not lost anymore in the past month!
I did not stop working out all together, but I fell off the fast track, that's for certain. Let me just share my "serious issue" I faced recently..
A few weeks ago, my great friend, whom I love with all of my heart, Ginger Todd Gorman and I decided to use those blasted bicycles that Ben and I purchased a few years ago. We decided that it is a shame to let two awesome Treks like that sit in the garage. So Ginger and I dusted off the seats, geared up and headed out for a beautiful bike ride through my neighborhood, Ashbrooke. Now... there is a wooded area with a trail in the back portion of my neighborhood and since these Treks are mountain bikes, I had a FANTASTIC idea... LET'S RIDE OFF ROAD!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Ginger says, "Brandi, I don't think that is a good idea.... we might see a snake!"
I said, "Oh... give it a rest Ginger... we are NOT going to see a snake, plus we will have to bike harder and burn more calories!"
So... I turned off the paved road and headed onto the trail! I felt so good about myself. I just knew I was going to feel all "OFF ROAD FITNESS WOMAN"!!! As soon as I got on the trail, I ran over several ruts and a very, very large stick. Then I saw that there is a large tree down over the path and I could not go any further. Ginger was still near the road, so I turned around and told her it wasn't a good idea after all. Just as I did that, I discovered that the VERY large stick that I ran over was a WATER MOCCASIN! The damn thing was HISSING AT ME! I mean... really? Are you kidding me??? IT WAS A FREAKIN SNAKE! I was wearing my heart rate monitor and I really did look down at it to see that my heart rate increased from 135 to 187! Yeah... scare the hell out of me and I burn calories... whoo hoo! HERE WE GO DIET!
So now I am in the woods, I can't get past the tree, I yelled some sort of profanity that I am certain scared the small children in the neighborhood park and Ginger is screaming at me asking what I am going to do! Let me pause here and say this.... Ginger Gorman is one of the SMARTEST friends I have ever had in my entire life. I am serious... she really is... We go WAY BACK!!!! She is full of book smarts and common sense that most people would kill for... but on this afternoon, Ginger has a solution to our problem and I began questioning her for the first time in our 11 year freindship....
She says, "Brandi... I have an idea... just stay there and I will go to your house and get a hoe and we will kill it!" Ha ha ha ha ha ha.... DO I LOOK LIKE THE KIND OF PERSON WHO OWNS A HOE? I mean... what would I do with farm equipment? I don't plant things. Just ask my husband about the flowers in pots outside. They look like plants from a horror film. I am waiting for the homeowners' association to leave some rude note on our door.... Anyway...
I decided to pick the bike up, run with it through the woods, around the fallen tree and I came out on the other side of the neighborhood! All I could think of was that there were going to be more snakes. Then I got back on the sucker and peddled as fast as I could until I came out at Lake Caroline. When I finally made it back to Ginger, I had burned 400 calories! Now I don't know if this was God teaching me a lesson for slacking or what, but the calories were burned that day...

Since this time... I have seen TWO OTHER large snakes. My neighbor killed one in his yard two doors down (he lives on the lake). On Friday, I was leaving from work and a smaller snake wiggled its behind out of my garage! NOW I AM SCARED!

Ginger also killed a snake in HER CLOSET! I understand that she beat the damn thing with a high heel shoe. I suppose GINGER DOESN'T OWN A HOE EITHER!!!!!!!!!!

God help me...

I am back on track though and I hope the blog will be updated more often than it has been! I am doing just fine with the dieting part, but I need to get back on my exercise program full force! I still hold to it that Dr. Pepper is legalized crack. Whenever we go out, I make myself decide between alcohol and Dr. Pepper and most of the time... Dr. Pepper wins! WHAT IS WRONG WITH ME....? I can see the headline now... "Overweight Catholic girl turns down red wine for Dr. Pepper".

I hope everyone is doing well and still on track with their weightloss journey. Please DON'T GIVE UP ON ME! I am still down TWO SIZES! I can see my feet again and I feel a thousand times better!

BRICKED WALLS and FRUSTRATIONS

2009-03-18T05:34:00.000-07:00

Well.... My sweet friends have been writing me asking what's going on with the weight loss! Kellye Franks wrote to me and said, "Your blog called and she misses you....!" ha ha ha! That was cute!

So.... I have hit the BRICKED WALL everyone talks about and let me tell you... IT IS SO FRUSTRATING!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I am actually feeling a little angry!

I lost the first 20 pounds and then THINGS SLOWED DOWN! This morning I weighed and I am actually 203.5, which means I am a pounds and a half heavier than I was the last time I wrote! I am no longer 20 pounds down. I am 18.5!!!! YIKES! I know people will say, "Just hang in there... that could be water weight..." yada yada yada.... but THIS STINKS!

The ONE GOOD THING I CAN SAY IS THIS.... I have gone from a size 20 to a size 16!!!! I am still wearing some of my size 18 pants, but they are baggy. I wore some to work yesterday and my coworkers all said they were hanging off of my rear! I refuse to buy new clothes until I get a little more weight off. My jeans are so big that I can actually fold them down twice on my waist. This is a good thing... I know... but I still want to lose more and being the same weight for two weeks now is frustrating!

I need to change up my workouts. That is what some of my friends are telling me. I probably need to just pay up for training sessions. I just want to do things that I LIKE TO DO... being stuck in the gym is not so much fun for me.

Ben is doing GREAT. He is down 30 pounds... Once again... I love love love him, but he can drink PITCHERS of beer, make sure he gets in a good run... and he has NO PROBLEM!!!!

The running thing... as I said before I HATE IT! I still do. It is getting a little easier, I will say that, but it is still not my favorite thing to do. Someone please tell me that I will eventually fall in love with running so I can be cool like my friends and run 5ks and 10ks and THE NY MARATHON WITH AMANDA CASSELL! yeah... RIGHT! Like THAT'S ever gonna happen! I think Amanda lost me last year when she completed the IRON MAN! WHOO HOO! I will cheer you on from the sideline, sista... NOT GOING TO SEE ME jumping into the Gulf of Mexico with a bunch of sharks and crazy athletes! ha ha ha! Amanda is MUCH stronger physically and mentally than I will ever strive to be! God bless her....

Now... I am going on vacation in the morning! I am going to Gatlinburg with Ben, his grandparents and his mom. On Friday, his mother and I are going to the Biltmore Estate and I will just let EVERYONE KNOW RIGHT NOW... I am going to enjoy that winery! YES... Brandi and some red wine will become one on Friday! If anyone has a suggestion on how to quickly lose the weight you may gain from a bottle of wine, please let me know. I am open to suggestions; however, if anyone tells me "DON'T DO IT".... I will cry like a little girl and question our friendship! ha ha ha....

So this is my update... I am not AS FAT as I was on January 10th... two months into this I am down 18.5 pounds... but I am STILL FAT! At this moment I do not feel that I am on a roll to lose these rolls, but that the rolls are on a roll to rule me! HELP!

I hope all is well! I WILL CONTINUE with this journey. I AM NOT giving up, but this is FRUSTRATING!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! It is hard and frustrating! I have not taken ONE SINGLE diet pill during this entire journey... THAT...I am MOST proud of because let me tell you... it would be so easy to just grab some of that stuff off of the shelf and move things along a little, but I wonder if I will KEEP IT off and have an ongoing healthy lifestyle in the end. I want to be thin and healthy and enjoy my life, not continue on a weight struggle rollercoaster.

I hope all is well with you all! I love you all and thank you so much for reading this and keeping me pumped up. I feel like I can't quit because people know I am doing this and ask me WHAT HAVE YOU BEEN DOING... you haven't written in a while! This helps me OH SO MUCH! So Kellye Franks... the blog did call and HERE SHE IS!!!!!!!!!!!!!

FIRST BIG MARK.... 20 POUNDS LOST!!!!!!!

2009-03-01T07:12:00.000-08:00

YAY! It is Sunday and I just had my weigh in this morning. I have LOST 20 POUNDS!!!!!!! Do I get to eat cake now or what....? Uh.... NO!!!!!!!!! Oh my gosh... I can not believe how wonderful this feels. I am so excited!

I have been taking it easy this weekend. I did a SHORT workout yesterday and I will do some tonight, but I must say... this is really paying off! I feel so much better and look forward to reporting my progress later in the week too! I think it is time to step up the working out a little.

YAY! All I can say.... YIPPPEEEEEEEEEE!

17.6 POUNDS and PROGRESS PHOTOS

2009-02-22T19:35:00.000-08:00

I HAVE LOST 17.6 POUNDS!!!!!! Things are rolling right along and I could NOT be happier!

This first photo is a picture of my friend, Cindy, and me at the party I told you about on Tuesday, January 27th (the one where I had to leave before they cut the cake... oh how I still wouldn't mind having some birthday cake...). I am already seeing some differences in my body since this photo was taken just a little less than a month ago!

This is a photo taken of Ben and me on Friday night, February 20th! I was down about 16 pounds and he is down 25 pounds! WOOOOO HOOOO! I am starting to see some weight loss in
my face. I am just so happy and excited. I hope it will continue to come off and I will continue to be able to fit into some of the nicer clothes I have. I have not been able to wear this black jacket at all this season because I had gained so much weight in my arms. The jacket was literally cutting off the circulation in my arms when I tried it on in December! This is SO EXCITING for me. I think Ben looks great too. I am noticing some big changes in him. His face is much smaller and I think overall, he just feels great! I am very proud of him.

The exercise is actually becoming a lot more enjoyable than it use to be. I think I am actually becoming healthier! I feel so much better. One thing that I want to mention about my health is something that might seem a little silly or weird. Last summer I started to have heart burn A LOT! I had never really had it before, but by Christmas time, it was getting pretty bad! It was so horrible, that it would actually keep me up at night. I am noticing now that I hardly ever have it at all. I don't know if there is any correlation with weight loss and minimizing heart burn, but either way... IT IS MUCH BETTER! I am sure it has something to do with the fact that I am not eating as badly as I use to (although i did have PANCAKES this morning and they were GREAT! ~ I burned them off today, though)!

I just wanted to post these pictured because I feel that there is some difference from just a month ago! It isn't by any means a HUGE difference, but I certainly feel better

Thanks again to everyone who reads this blog and comments. It has been so helpful to me to keep me going!

RUNNING AND MY 16.5 POUND WEIGHT LOSS!

2009-02-20T10:41:00.001-08:00

I want to begin this blog today by letting everyone know that this morning I weighed in at 205.9 pounds! I was 222.4 when I started on January 10th, so I have officially lost 16.5 pounds! THIS IS SUCH A BIG DEAL FOR ME!

TODAY I am wearing a really cute jacket to work that I have not been able to fit in to all winter long because my arms were too big and I couldn't button it because my chest was too big... well... NOW IT FITS and I CAN BUTTON IT! YAY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

THIS TIME the running is going MUCH BETTER than last time! OH... I am not even far along, but I think I am figuring out a few things! Everyone's input has been MOST HELPFUL! So thanks to all of you!

Let me just tell you about my "Running Adventures" so far....

I arrived home on Monday and Ben had on his new kicks I told you about. THE SHOES looked GOOD too I must admit.... Nice choice! So... I got all geared up for the run with those running shoes that Amanda helped me pick out two years ago... (They still look new and cute by the way as they were not FULLY BROKEN IN from the Hal Higdon era.... HA!) .... YUCK... the Hal Higdon era is not something I need to be thinking about to get me motivated. (see post Running... what am I thinking)

Ben and I did our stretching INSIDE of our house... this was probably a very good idea so that I did not bend over and frighten the neighbors for the homeowner's association MIGHT have left me a letter of complaint if I had done so.... Then every SINGLE time I bend over I am reminded of the "Sexy dance that was NOT so sexy". I just don't know how I will recover if I split the bottom of my pants in public...

ANYWAY....

After stretching, Ben suggested that I just leave my MP3 player at home because I will not need it. "We are going to do this TOGETHER and we can talk", he says.... LESSON #1.... MAKE SURE YOU HAVE THE IPOD or the MP3 PLAYER! THIS IS MOST IMPORTANT! I was a little pushy about taking it, but when I got outside THE DARN THING WAS DEAD!

So... off we went from our driveway for our ONE MINUTE RUN... and it was pretty cold on Monday! I was breathing in the cool air, but I felt great. Ben was responsible for keeping track of the 1 minute and 2 minute sessions, so I tried to relax and rely on him... I was to follow his lead... NO PROBLEM, I thought....

Next came the 2 minute walk and I still felt alright... we were talking and looked down to notice that my heart rate monitor said that I was at 140! Now at 135, I burn fat... 140 is still a good range and at this point I am OH SO PROUD!

The two minutes ended and Ben tells me that it is time to run again! I said with excitement, "OKAY! YAY! Let's do this!" Suddenly I am feeling it... and not in a good way.... The cold air is setting in JUST ON THE SECOND set.... as Ben is running... he is going MUCH faster than me... How can this be... I am really trying to play the cool person here and keep up with him....

THANK GOODNESS THE ONE MINUTE ENDS SOON ENOUGH! I am once again happy that the 2 minute walk is in session....

Ben had to slow down to allow me to catch up.... I was trying VERY HARD not to let him notice that my breathing was out of control, I had sweat running down my face already in the 40 degree weather and I don't feel so good anymore....

BEFORE I KNEW IT... That HUSBAND OF MINE says... "TIME TO RUN AGAIN..." ARE YOU KIDDING ME? ARE YOU SURE? CAN'T BE! OH...... CRAP! I ran as fast and as hard as I could to catch up with him. It was quite apparent that his stride was much larger than mine. I had to basically run for three steps to match his one! I mean... I realize that I am short... but COME ON!!!!! LESSON #2... RUN AT YOUR OWN PACE UNTIL YOU HAVE ENDURANCE TO KEEP UP WITH SOMEONE ELSE! By the 45 second mark... my heart rate was at 178 and I thought I was going to throw up!

So... I want to admit RIGHT now... THIS WAS NOT A GOOD RUNNING EXPERIENCE for me... I finally conviced Ben to run on without me and I explained that I would catch up... he finished all of his sets and eventually had to turn around and walk a long way to meet back up with me! I did at least finish the WALKING portions to complete the 30 minute exercise, but it was the WORST 30 minutes I have had in a LONG TIME! NOT FUN... and with no music to distract me... I was a little upset, discouraged and ANGRY by the time I reached our house again! At the end of this, I saw that I burned 350 calories and although that is less than I would usually burn in a work out, I decided that I WAS FINISHED! F-I-N-I-S-H-E-D!!!!!!!!

HOWEVER......... on Wednesday... I WAS RUNNING AGAIN! Yeah... remember how I am on a roll to lose these rolls because that is how I roll.... YEAH!!!!!!!!!!!! THIS TIME I TOOK THAT MP3 PLAYER and WENT BY MYSELF!!!!!!!!!!!! Several of my friends wrote in to my last blog about running and I took all of their advice. I had that MP3 player with some good music, I REALXED more when I ran and I RAN AT MY OWN PACE, which was SOOOOO MUCH SLOWER THAN BEN! You know what else?????? I finished EVERY SINGLE SET and it felt GREAT when I was done! Also........ at the end of that run, I burned 450 calories!

Ben and I walked the dogs yesterday for 30 minutes and today is back to running! I hope this works out! I am getting excited!

I am super excited about the weight loss and if I keep dropping the weight, I will keep it up!

Hope all of you are well and doing well with your exercising too!

Just for a laugh....

2009-02-17T13:27:00.000-08:00

So any of you who know me well, know that I can do some silly things and not think twice about them. I ran across this picture again recently and thought it was PERFECT for this blog! Last fall, my friends (Amanda and Rachel) and I got together for a girls' night out! We went shopping, bowling and out to eat! We had a great time. While we were shopping at Renaissance mall in Ridgeland, Rachel saw this poster in the window of Ann Taylor. She loved the swimsuit and just had to have it. When she purchased it, I took it from her and wanted to know how she and Amanda thought I WOULD LOOK in it. We know Rachel's figure is perfect for this bikini.

So... my thought is... I CAN GIVE THIS MODEL A RUN FOR HER MONEY ANYTIME! ha ha ha.... NOT! I hope Rachel will let me borrow this if I become thin enough to actually wear it! YAY! I was probably around 222 -225 pounds when this was taken!

Enjoy the photo... It makes Amanda and me crack up!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Running... WHAT AM I THINKING?

2009-02-16T11:31:00.000-08:00

Okay... it is Monday, February 16th and I AM BACK ON TRACK WITH EVERYTHING... working out, eating well... watching calories and FOCUSING, FOCUSING, FOCUSING!!!!! I feel SO MUCH better than I did this time last week. I can pretty much eat anything I want without pain. Well.... I CAN'T EAT ANYTHING I want... but the throat is better.

I have lost a total of 15 pounds!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I was just under 207 when I weighed today. I am excited to be back on track and on board with the working out again... so here is what is NEW with the workout status.

My husband, Ben... he is so wonderful! He really is. I am LUCKY to have a husband who is so supportive about my weight loss without being too critical of me. He loves me and supports me. I mentioned in my last blog that he lost 20 pounds. He is still rocking and rolling and I am very proud of him. Ben decided that he wants to start a running program. This has been in his mind for quite some time now. He ordered what he hopes will be the "perfect" running shoes and they should be delivered to our home today! He sent me an email this morning and INVITED ME TO COME ALONG TO START THIS PROGRAM with him. He sent me a link for Runner's world and shared the program with me.

I reviewed it. I am excited about this, especially since it is something that he and I can do together, but I had to think back to 2007 when I thought I was going to lose weight by running. I had a blog then on my Myspace page and I kept a journal too. I just read it and thought I would share a little from that blog. I sat here at my desk and laughed out loud about my experience then. I am SERIOUSLY wondering if I will be able to do this!

When I started this blog last month, I promised to BE HONEST and PUT IT ALL OUT THERE... so if I hate this... YOU ALL WILL KNOW ABOUT IT and if I hate to the point that I want to kill myself... I will stop. Everyone can call me a failure... I don't care! ha ha ha.... Even when I was a dancer in High School and College, running just wasn't my thing. Nevertheless, I am going to give this a shot and hope that I can become one of those great runners with the pretty legs and limited health issues... we shall see....

So... THIS IS FUNNY! FLASHBACK....

One of the best friends I have ever had in my life is Amanda Caperton Cassell. Amanda is an amazing person. She is as beautiful on the inside as she is on the outside. We became friends at Mississippi State and have been through so much together. Amanda is a dietician and has ALWAYS been one to work out, eat right and take care of her body. She knew me at State when I was 118 pounds. We worked out together at the Sanderson Center and then sometimes ate pizza afterwards without thinking twice! (OH... the days).

So, back in July of 2007, I was looking for a fitness program and thought I would try running. Amanda runs. She runs 5Ks and 10Ks and marathons... THE BOSTON MARATHON.... then Amanda got into triathalons... Lord have mercy... skinny britches even did the IRON MAN last fall! Yeah.... (Don't EVER expect this of Brandi Kennedy Garrett)!

So below are pieces of my blog and my journal about losing weight...

July 13, 2007
I spoke with Amanda yesterday and she said, "Brandi, I love ya, but you need some GOALS! You need something to work up to and maybe running would be good for you. I know for certain that if you are successful with a running program, the weight will fall right off!" So...... this is when Amanda suggests to me that I should check out a website for Hal Higdon, who has running programs. I viewed it and was VERY EXCITED... it suggested a run, walk, run, walk program and I felt certain that I would be able to keep up with this! July 13th was a great day. I woke up on July 14th and looked forward to my run...

July 14, 2007
I started running this evening.... Oh my... that was tough... My feet are hurting. I think I may need some new shoes. These New Balances are just not for running and my arches hurt. I am going tomorrow to get some RUNNING shoes. I think I need to focus more on comfort than how they look. Amanda said she would go with me to pick some out! She is such a good friend.

July 15, 2007
Running is NOT as much fun as I built up in my mind. Amanda went with me and I got the running shoes. I got them on sale too for 60 bucks! Not so bad! My feet are fine, but my sides are hurting and the breathing thing is terrible. I am running at night because it is cooler, but the humidity is pretty tough. This makes it difficult to breathe through my nose. I don't even know how I am suppose to breathe. I need to remind myself later to Google that. ( I google everything)

July 16, 2007
What in the hell am I thinking? I hate this running business. I am trying to keep it up and follow this Hal Higdon guy's program. I KNOW it is a good program. The man is successful and he has helped lots of people! I also feel that if Amanda feels strongly about his program it must work... it has to work! I am going to keep at this. Motto... BRANDI WON'T GIVE UP!

July 17, 2007
(Below is what I wrote on July 17th, 2007......)
I gave running a shot again tonight.... my sides hurt so badly and I want Krispy Kreme to the point that I would rob a homeless man to get one eclair right now, but I decided to go out and try it again tonight.
I am not so sure about this Hal Higdon.... Hal's plan of "Preparing to run your first 5K" DOESN'T APPLY TO ME! He should have one that says, "How Brandi's fat ass can survive walkin .08 miles". Now THAT is a plan I could see paying for! I am going to die. I am REALLY going to die. This is hell. This is not fun. It was drizzling outside, humid, there is mud all over the street from new construction, and I am fat, dammit. I am really fat! FAT, FAT, FAT, FAT, FAT!! 210 pounds of lard trying to make it around the block! I think that all of the new homes in my neighborhood have foundation problems now because the earth was a shakin'! Picture this... It was so dark outside... When I made it back to my street all I could see were two big bright lights. At first I thought it was Jesus coming to get me, but it turns out that it was just the porch lights that Ben turned on for me. I actually cried when I reached my drive way. I am not sure if it was tears of disgust because I am so ashamed that I am sooooo out of shape or if it was tears of joy to know that I now had a beautiful whirlpool tub waiting for me inside and I didn't have to run anymore.

Well, I will be at it again tomorrow, I suppose. And as far as the Krispy Kreme, I guess I can control myself.

Wish me luck!

July 18th, 2009
I think I am going to accept this weight thing for now. I am in too much pain... I hate running... I need to find something else! My name is Brandi and I am NOT a runner. I HATE RUNNING!

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
SO..... Let's see how we do THIS time.... I am NOT getting my hopes up, but we will see. Ben just might make all of the difference in the world!

I will update everyone later to let you know how this goes. If any of you are runners or have ever been a runner or look to become one in the future, PLEASE COMMENT! I would love to hear your thoughts!

Until next time....

I'M BACK!

2009-02-13T07:48:00.000-08:00

Well... I am BACK! I am soooo happy. Life is getting back to normal and I am getting into the swing of things again!

As most of you k now, I had my tonsils out. If any of you ever face the doc telling you to have your tonsils taken out.... DON'T DO IT! It is the WORST thing I have EVER had done. I mean it. I've had several surgeries, including a breast reduction and NOTHING compares to the pain I experiences with having my tonsils out! I can clearly explain just what it feels like.... You know that horrible burning pain that you feel when you burn yourself on the stove, oven or a curling iron? You know how that burning just remains and pulsates to no end.... THAT IS THE FEELING I had for NINE DAYS! It burned.... it burned... it burned! ALL THE TIME. You REALLY can not eat- swallowing is not much of an option MOST of the time. All I could handle were Banana Popsicles. I found that I like the Kroger brand Sugar Free Banana popsicles. They are 15 calories and yummy. At least they were yummy for the first four boxes. I have been through seven boxes in two weeks. I should say, "Hello, my name is Brandi and I have lost weight and TURNED INTO A BANANA POPSICLE!"

So... about the weight loss. Yeah.... I AM DOWN 13 POUNDS since January 10th! WHOO HOOO! Of course, not eating is NO WAY to lose weight, but I have to look on the bright side of this.... The glass is half full somehow, right?

I have been eating solid food now for three days and let me just say this... FOOD IS NOT OVERRATED, PEOPLE! It just isn't. I was soooo hungry!

I have started back working out A LITTLE on the Wii Fit. I am trying to put in at least 20 -30 minutes of light cardio. It is hard to do a great deal when you can only eat 200 calories a day and have no energy, but slowly I am getting back in the game! YAY!

I can not express how much I appreciate all of the support I am getting from my friends and family about this weight loss journey. IT IS HARD! It is SO VERY easy to put on the weight, but getting it off is difficult. I am NOT giving up, though.

The lifestyle change is good in so many ways. Ben has been such a wonderful support for me too! He has lost 20 pounds. I am proud of him, but let us be honest here, shall we? I DON'T GET TO EAT FOR TWELVE DAYS.... that is right... NO MEAL FOR TWELVE DAYS and I still can't lose weight as quickly as he does. He can eat 1000 more calories a day than I am allowed when I am healthy, but I eat NOTHING and still can't lose what he does. TWENTY POUNDS since we started....

Ben is looking good, though! I will say that. He really does~ and although I am so happy for him and very proud of his motivation and dedication, I can not help but be JEALOUS of this! We women just don't have it as lucky as men do sometimes! I can LOOK at cake and gain weight. There is something in my brain that sends a message to my thighs... it says, "Hey you... fat legs... prepare for the cake... there is more coming!" AND ALTHOUGH I DON'T EVEN TAKE A BITE... I gain weight.... But a man, on the other hand... he can say, "I think I'll just cut back this week.... maybe skip dessert on Tuesday night..." and he loses 10 pounds! NOT FAIR... NOT FAIR!!!!!!!!!

So.... the good news is, I think my stomach shrank and I am full much quicker than I was three weeks ago, but now that I can eat again... EVERYTHING sounds good!

I have completely given up sodas. Yeah... that is right. (Dear Dr. Pepper, I miss you!) The very idea of something carbonated makes my throat hurt, so I figure that I probably got through the caffeine headaches while I was doped up on Demerol, so I will just let them go! I am going to do my best not to turn back.

So here is the update:
I am 207 POUNDS... not so great, still, but SOOOOO much better than 222, don't you think?
I feel better. SO MUCH better.
Food is NOT overrated. We like food for a REASON!
My Wii character still looks like the Michilan man in a cute pink shirt. When I weigh the darn thing still feels that it is important to tell me that I am obese. I want to scream at it and say, "DUH! I KNOW THIS... I am NOT EATING... what else do you WANT FROM ME, really?"
I have given up the sodas.... this is SO HARD!
I miss working out and I am pumped about getting back in the swing of things with my workouts!
If you need to have your tonils out.... DON'T DO IT!!!!! My friends, Haley and Joy, said it would be bad and they were NOT kidding! It is terrible!

Love you all!

NEW DIET... TONSILLECTOMY

2009-01-29T13:57:00.000-08:00

Dear Friends,

My blog will probably be on HOLD for just a bit. I just visited my ENT (Ear, Nose and Throat) doc and I AM HAVING MY TONSILS TAKEN OUT TOMORROW!!!!!!!! I am really not looking forward to it! The doctor told me that it is much worse for adult patients. He said I will not be able to eat for at least 7-10 days! THIS COULD MEAN WEIGHT LOSS PEOPLE!!!!!!!!!!! HA HA HA... Not really the ideal way to lose weight, but I WILL TAKE IT AS I CAN GET IT! Okay... I am trying to be funny about this, but I am actually nervous and dreading it!
I will keep you all posted and as soon as I am better... YOU BETTER BET THAT THE WEIGHT PROGRAM IS ON AGAIN!

God bless,
Brandi

THE SEXY DANCE... NOT SO SEXY!

2009-01-29T06:58:00.000-08:00

Okay.... so several of my friends write to me and tell me to keep them posted on what sort of workouts I am doing to "KEEP THIS FUN"... so here is an update. Please keep in mind as you read this people, that I SAID I WOULD PUT IT ALL OUT THERE, so here it is..... (I hope you are sitting down)!

Last night I got home and I said to Ben, "I think I will change things up a little tonight." I then went to the Comcast On Demand section and selected the Exercise and Fitness option. Oh yeah... I found some GREAT cardio workouts on there. I did a little cardio warm up, then I did some Abs... ohhhhhhh I was FEELIN' it for SURE! Then a big burst of excitement ran through me as I noticed there were some CARDIO DANCE STUFF ON THERE! So the first little hip hop routine was a lot of fun. I was BURNING THE CALORIES for sure. I caught on so well. I was PROUD!!! Mt hear rate was up and I was jammin'! Then I saw that there was a "SEXY DANCE" routine that was to help my abs and legs.

So here is what happened... (Oh, Gosh... this is SO hard to admit)... uh... The girl came on the screen with her little skinny posse! I immediately loved what they were all wearing. Color coordinated little outfits. You know... the same color sports bras with the bright colored work out tops that hang of the shoulders a little bit. It was like LOVE OF THE 80s without all of that hair! YOU KNOW WHAT I AM TALKING ABOUT!

We started with a little sexy hip motion. I had this down in no time and I believe I was lookin' pretty good! I was even sort of hoping that Ben would walk through the living room so he could be like, "Dang, wifey... you are lookin' GOOD!" So realizing that I was burning the calories and I was REALLY FEELING THE BURN... I decided to put ALL I HAD INTO IT, especially since Ben might see me and be OH SO PROUD! Well... suddenly- little chickie instructor on the screen decided that we should all do this "SEXY MOVE"- as she called it- where you spread your legs a part and squat in a way that would stretch all of your leg muscles, your behind and even keep work those abs some more. Then as you are in this sort of SITTING position, you stick your behind out and bend back up in a rolling fashion. I must admit, it looked pretty sexy when they all did it, so I became very excited. I even thought... Hmmmm... Carma Electra has NOTHING ON ALL OF THIIIIIISSSSSSS! Yeah... that was until I put all I had into the second motion and RIPPED THE SEAM OUT OF THE ASS OF MY PANTS!

At this point, my heart rate went up and it was NOT because I was working out. Have any of you been embarrassed of YOURSELF... IN YOUR OWN HOME? It is devastating! My heart was racing and I wanted to cry. I then decided that I "wanted to sit in the floor and do sit ups" so that Ben wouldn't think I was throwing in the towel so soon on my nightly work out. I actually just wanted to sit down on the floor because I didn't even want my husband to know that his FATTY WIFE ripped out the seam of the butt of her pants while working out! I mean... ARE YOU KIDDING ME? What else can happen, really?

I am OBESE, my Mii looks like the Michilan Man, I am sore, tired, hungry and now I have ripped the butt out of my best work out pants... Oh... and there is NOTING SEXY ABOUT THIS! GOD HELP ME!

Thank goodness this didn't happen at the gym. I probably would have suffered that heart attack that I am diligently trying to avoid and just DIED on the spot!

So.... All of you who are really working to lose a good bit of weight! HANG IN THERE! This is no easy task. There will be peaks and a WHOLE LOT OF VALLEYS!

Anyone who wants to workout with me... let me know; however, I must warn you... YOU MIGHT END UP SEEING MORE OF ME THAN YOU BARGAINED FOR! Just ask my pants!

Until next time... I will work to make that sexy dance sexy!

Don't WHINE because you can't have WINE

2009-01-27T18:51:00.001-08:00

Well.... if I were to say this weight loss journey was a piece of cake (ooooohhhhh..... cake......hmmmm.... IIIIIIIIII WAAAAAAANT CAAAAAAAKE......FOCUS, Brandi), I would be telling a LIE. I big ole fat lie! You know... I use to think that when people would say stuff to me such as, "Getting in shape has to be a lifestyle change... blah blah blah" that is all I would hear... BLAH BLAH BLAH! But people.... it is SO TRUE!

I realize more and more everyday how unhealthy my lifestyle has been. Tonight I went to a birthday gathering after work. It was at a friend's home and she made amazing food! I seriously had to mentally prepare for this today. All afternoon I thought about what I could eat today and how much I could really eat tonight. Usually... I would go and have a glass of wine or three... eat whatever I wanted and look forward to that cake. IT IS ALL ABOUT MAKING DECISIONS! As much as I have been concerned with calorie intake and calories burned... I realize that the cake just isn't worth it.

I did NOT have wine tonight....(but I would like to take this time to WHINE about it)! Any of you who know me well, know how much I like to drink. I do... I can't help it... I love martinis and red wine! I know... I know... DON'T WHINE because you can't have WINE... This really shouldn't be a big deal, right? BUT IT IS IN BRANDI LAND! Tonight I had iced water in a beautiful wine glass with a charm on the stem... so YAY... (thanks Cindy and Mary Beth). I didn't have to be the only one not holding a great glass and chatting it up with everyone! These are sacrifices... I will continue to focus on PRETTY things when I don't feel good about a situation... such as PUT WATER IN PRETTY GLASS WITH CHARM ON IT (remember cute shoes in dance hell with dancing barbie... or pink shirt and nice hair on FAT Mii... yeah... you're catching on, right?)

With all of my might, I made an EXIT before they cut the cake ! I knew how much I wanted it... so I decided to head on home and get a little work out in instead of eating every single bite of it like I really wanted to. Has anyone ever felt like this or am I losing my mind?

I think the biggest problem for me is that when such tempting things are right in front of me... I just want it. So, I am going to have to do whatever it takes to make this work. I AM NOT GIVING UP!

When I do LOSE ALL OF THIS FABULOUS FATTINESS... ha ha ha... I WANT MY FRIENDS TO TAKE ME OUT FOR CAKE! I AM GOING TO HAVE SOME CAKE... a PIECE of cake, though... not the WHOLE THING!

Thanks again to all of you who read this. I am still on my way and I don't think I could do this with such enthusiasm every day without all of you! You are more help to me than you will ever know!

I stand firm that my favorite workout is Wii Boogie Superstar! IT IS SO MUCH FUN and I am amazed at the amount of calories I burn each night doing it. My foot still hurts VERY much, but I am shake, shake, shakin' it as much as I can...

I weighed again this morning. I lost another .40 pounds, and although my Mii on the Wii still looks like a big fat piggie... I know she is going to eventually be FABULOUS! I can not wait!

Again, I love you all and thank you so much for all of the wonderful wishes and support! May God bless each of you!

BIG BAD BOOGIE BRANDI

2009-01-25T18:59:00.000-08:00

I have discovered the trick for me... OH YES I HAVE... (and any of my friends are welcome to come on over to my house and join me). Thanks to my friend, Jennifer Moudy... on Friday night, Ben and I went to Gamestop and I got Wii Boogie Superstar! OH YEAH! For those of you who do not know what this is... it is a game where you can follow dance routines or make up your own!!! That's right... I am BIG BAD BOOGIE BRANDI! I had soooo much fun..... until.... I tried to get all creative like I was in high school and college... (you know I am still poltting on this Dancing Barbie) and the rug in the living room slipped out from under me... Picture it... ME... CUTE DANCE SHOES... gray dance pants, blue top... cute pony tail, make up was ON people.... splattered all over my living room floor. I twisted my foot and by yesterday morning it was swelling and I am still having a little trouble putting pressure on it. NO FEAR... because tomorrow... IT IS ON AGAIN! I am already feeling better and just itching to get back in that living room to bust a move. (*Please note that I would like to BUST A MOVE... not BUST MY TAIL). Young MC's Bust a Move is playing in my head... Is it playing in your heads too?

SO, after falling like a fool... I pushed the sofa and chair against the wall, I moved the cofee table against the fireplace and pulled up the rug to expose the hardwood floors. My living room has become my dance studio, people! All I need are some full length mirrors and a ballet bar... and I will be a mixture of Margot Fonteyn and J LO! (If you don't know who Margot Fonteyn was... please google her now!

The music is MOTIVATING too... as soon as I busted my tail, I noticed that my heart rate was 175!!! At this point, I was in pain... I wanted to CRY like a little fat chick. BUT I DIDN'T! I got back up and then I heard the music sent by God to keep me going.... The clouds parted and God had Kanye West sing "Stronger"! Oh yeah... Now THAT that don't kill me... can only make me stronger...I need you to hurry up now...Cause I can't wait much longer...." SEE, PEOPLE... I found the REAL meaning of this song.... If this weightloss program doesn't kill me, I am going to come out STRONGER! uh huh!

So... I AM DOWN SEVEN POUNDS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

So here is my AA report from the weekend...
Hello... my name is Brandi Garrett... I am a fatty. I haven't had a Dr. Pepper in 15 days (this is much like being sober....)! I miss them... but I DON'T MISS THOSE SEVEN POUNDS! NO I DON'T! I am 216 pounds! YEAH!

Love you all and can't wait for the comments! 'Till next time....

ATTENTION FAT PEOPLE

2009-01-22T20:15:00.000-08:00

Okay... I hope all of you are enjoying my blog. I must say... I am enjoying writing it. I can't wait to look back months from now to see how much I have accomplished! My friends have been SO SUPPORTIVE and I can not thank you all enough for the encouraging messages! Even old friends from high school, whom i haven't talked with in the longest time, have wished me well! I love you all!

So.... I hope my title for this evening is not viewed by any of you as POLITICALLY INCORRECT... if you find such things offensive... please read another blog! If I can have the courage to admit that I am a FATTY at 222 pounds.... I can address those who look like me as FAT PEOPLE! Hell... that is what we are... FAT! Heck.. I can say whatever I want! THIS IS MY FAT BLOG!

So... back to business....

ATTENTION FAT PEOPLE.... NEWS FLASH... We actually DO have ABS under our ROLLS! OH MY GOSH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! After that Abs class yesterday, I felt GREAT; however, when I woke up this morning, I felt like someone had punched me so many times! I am still dying! I could barely make it from the bed to the bathroom when I woke up. Once in the bathroom, I thought about how I couldn't move and how I just might have to stay in the bathroom all day long. I even looked on the bright side of things... I was thinking... "Hmmmm.... this might not be too bad. We have a pretty bathroom.... and I think the lighting is beautiful in here this time of the morning... and is that a bird I hear chirping... this might be an alright place to spend the day...." SNAP OUT OF IT, BRANDI!

Suddenly my doggies needed to go outside... as I crawled through the house to the back door, I then thought about I could lay down on the sofa for just a moment! But if I did that... I really wouldn't get going. I then got in the shower. IT ACTUALLY HURT to lift my legs to get into the shower! I mean... are you kidding me? Am I seriously THIS out of shape that it HURTS to shower! But I can't be SMELLY and FAT! OH MY GOD.. the thought!

I need not explain that I had to shower for a LONG time... lifting the shampoo bottle was even tough... I made it though... I did~ I really did and I even made it to work ON TIME! I was at work for about an hour when I looked in the mirror at my desk and realized I had all of my makeup on EXCEPT for mascara... Do any of you know what it looks like to have on pretty black eyeliner and NO MASCARA? I looked like an alien!!!! Yeah... a bloated alien! At first I thought.... OOOH... I need mascara, but then I thought about how I would have to LEAN OVER to get my makeup bag out of the bottom drawer to retrieve the mascara... and DAMN... THAT WOULD HURT! You will all be delighted to know that after several minutes of thinking about this... I took a deep breath, and I DID IT! I can say now, that without a doubt, I have never worked so hard to achieve this look for my big brown eyes! It was tough... it was REALLY tough...

SO- tonight I am sleeping in my mascara because it still looks really good and I worked SO HARD to achieve this look! ( I wonder how many calories I burned puttin on my mascara? Hmmmmmm.....)

Working out this evening....
My workout for this evening consisted of the Wii Fit! When I arrived home at 5:00, my sweet husband, Ben, was NOT FINISHED with the Wii Fit. He told me I WOULD HAVE TO JUST WAIT A WHILE!!!!!!!!!!! I felt a sudden surge of rage like a second grader in the 1980s who wanted her Atari back! The flashbacks of beating up my little brother, Marty, to get my hands on the joy stick to play Frogger came back to me at lightning speed! (Quick question for my fit friends... DOES WORKING OUT MAKE YOU HORMONAL? HA!) After we shouted for a moment, I stormed into our room like a spoiled little child who didn't get her way, turned on my laptop and began logging the things I had eated today into www.livestrong.com

Thirty minutes later, Ben came to our room and said he was finished. YAY! GET OUT OF MY WAY!!!!!!

I wore a cute pink top and grey Danskin pants! I left my BEAUTIFUL rhinestone earrings in my ears to give the outfit a little something! (Hey... I am at least going to LEARN from Dancing Barbie, people. She might have pissed me off... but the girl looks GOOD!) I did some stretches and a little running and some push ups... (OH YEAH..... that was SOMETHING TO SEE) and then I had enough minutes logged that I OPENED UP THE BOXING! HOLY CRAP!

That boxing is something and Ben says I haven't even gotten to the hard level! At this point I feel that it is important to mention that my Mii got a new outfit for boxing! She looks pretty good!!!!!! (Even if my Mii's behind is the size of Wisconsin, she looked kinda cute in that boxing outfit!.... OOOH... Wisconsin... cheese.....yuuuummmmm..... OKAY... FOCUS, BRANDI... FOCUS!)

So... I worked out until my heart rate exceeded 170 and I felt like I was dying. My abs hurt so much still that IT WAS SERIOUSLY HARD TO BREATHE!!! When I hit 31 minutes... I said, "The heck with this I am hungry. I had only eated 600 calories all day long and it was TIME TO EAT, people!

I look down at my Polar watch and I had only burned 310 calories! BEN BURNED 1300 calories! ARE YOU KIDDING ME???????????????????????? I think I should at LEAST get extra credit for carrying around this BEHIND! Now THAT IS WORK!

To end my session, I decided to do my fitness test to see how much I weighed, etc....

It makes me go through ALL THE MOTIONS to tell me once again.... "THAT'S OBESE"... Now, look... I really like this Wii, but as much pain as I am in today and I am STILL AT THIS, I will kick that wii in the knee caps! It should have focused on the fact that I LOSTANOTHER POUND! That is right.... I am not down SIX POUNDS! I know that isn't a WHOLE lot, but please google what six pounds of fat looks like! I AM SO HAPPY! If that Wii was a real live trainer, he or she might be filing for disablility right about now! NOT EVEN KIDDING!

So, here is my "AA REPORT" for the night...
Hello, my name is Brandi Garrett and i am a fatty! I miss bread and chocolate and MARTINIS... oh God I miss martinis... I want Bang Bang shrimp from Bonefish Grill with a rasberry martini and some potatoes.... and OOOH... I would love to go to Coldstone Creamery... BUT I AM STRONG! I have been sober for 13 days... and I HAVE LOST 6 POUNDS! 13 days of eating healthy, working out and having a new attitude. People say that when you do something 21 days in a row it becomes a habit!

Let's see what new habit I might roll with tomorrow!

I am on a roll to lose these rolls... because that is how I roll!

2009-01-21T18:39:00.000-08:00

YEAH.... I am on a roll to lose these rolls... because THAT IS HOW I ROLL!

Too bad I can't have a ROLL!

OOOOH... what a night working out... let me tell ya.

So, I have been excited ALL DAY about the dance class at the Courthouse tonight. The class is AMAZING... It made me miss my dancing days from high school and college! The choreography is rather impressive as well! I AM SO PUMPED! So... yesterday I went to Jazzy Dancer to get me some new Blochs (these are super cool split soled dance shoes that I had in college... LOVE THEM). Like I said before... If I am going to be the fattest and ugliest person in the class... I AM AT LEAST GONNA HAVE GOOD SHOES. Those of you who know me well... know that I like shoes.

*Since I can no longer fit into REALLY cute clothes, I find that I like to compensate for it with cute shoes and FABULOUS bags! The bigger the purse, the better! I love em!

Anyway.... so I arrived at the Cypress Lake Courthouse and got there in time to do ABS CLASS! WHOO HOO! My friend, Morgan, came as well... we were all excited about the Abs class and Dance class! I made it through the Abs class... 15 MINUTES OF HELL, PEOPLE... but I DID NOT GIVE UP... I was able to hang in there! It is funny how you don't quit when you know all the skinny chickies will look at you and think, "That fat girl doesn't even have abs... so what in the heck does she think SHE is doing?"

After Abs... WE DANCED! The instuctor, Tina, was SUPER NICE! I was ALL READY... do you hear me... READY! A few more people came in just before the class started... some of them were in high school or college... (you could tell). The class started... I didn't know the choreography, like most of the people did. The instructor said to see what we could pick up if we had never been in there... but not to worry because next week WE GET TO LEARN A BRAND NEW ROUTINE!

So, Morgan and I are hanging in there... we aren't getting in all, but I look down at my heart rate monitor and I see that my heart rate is 178... so HECK YEAH... I AM BURNING THE CALORIES! YAY!

Then.... GUESS WHAT HAPPENED!!!!!!!!! OOOOOOOH........ UGH! This little HIGH SCHOOL OR COLLEGE CHICKIE comes in LATE... yeah that is right... LATE... She is BEAUTIFUL... no doubt... black dance pants, red top with her tummy showing.... LONG, BEAUTIFUL brown hair with the sweet little curls.... her make up was perfect... jewelry... yeah.... you get the picture... We shall call her "DANCING BARBIE"

SHE STANDS RIGHT IN FRONT OF ME! I can no longer see the instructor... the only part of myself I can see in the mirror, is the part that sticks out on the edges of her skinny rear end....

Skinny Barbie knows ALL THE MOVES... yeah... she's been there before... She was twirling and kicking and slinging that hair all in my face... NOW DANCING BARBIE HAS NAPPY HAIR TO ME. I am upset with her... she is showing me up... making me look stupid on purpose... she has it all... the look, the hair, the moves... the body... I DISLIKE HER!

So... as I catch a glimpse of myself in the mirror again while I am BEHIND because I don't know the steps... I notice that the purple shirt I am wearing makes me look like Grimace (the big fat purple character from McDonald's)or perhaps Barney! I can't decide if I should cry or start singing, "I love you, you love me... I should hang my fat tail from a tree..."

Before I had a mini breakdown in the middle of the gym, I look at Morgan.... she is perky and blonde and has a great figure... DESPITE THE FACT THAT SHE HAS 4 YEAR OLD TWINS....
She says, "Okay... enough!" We gathered our things... and hit a few weights....

As I am working my arms, I reflect on the 15 MINUTES I spent in dance class... (THAT IS CORRECT... 15 STINKIN' MINUTES is all I made it)!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I decided that I will be there next week and learn ALL THE NEW MOVES... THEN I WILL SHOW DANCING BARBIE HOW WE ROLLED IN THE 1990s!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! YEAH!

I was a part of the 1996 American All Star Dance team and I performed in London, England in the International Goodwill Performance Tour! Dancing barbie doesn't know this... YET! And when I lose enough weight that I can see my cute shoes again... I am going to ROLL RIGHT over her... in the mean time... I might smack her with one of my rolls as I twirl around NEXT WEEK!

Ain't nothin' gonna break my stride! Not even dancing barbie!

After the gym, I went to Kroger to pick up steamed shrimp for the salad Ben and I had for dinner! I WON'T EVEN MENTION the ROLLS I smelled and had to pass up on the bread aisle... Those are not the GOOD ROLLS I need to focus on....

So... Until next time... please think of me while I continue to be on a roll to lose these rolls because that is how I roll.... although I can't eat a roll!

Another day of working out and big decisions!

2009-01-21T08:32:00.000-08:00

Well... I did something different for the FIRST time last night! My friend, Eric, came in from Dallas and he invited Ben and me to join some friends for dinner and drinks.... Although I wanted to see him SOOOOO badly, I refused... and you know what I did.... I WORKED OUT INSTEAD!
Yesterday after work, I did lots of cardio. I even threw in an extra 20 minutes on the bike... I changed the setting where it was very hard to peddle. MY LEGS HURT SOOOO MUCH today! I actually FEEL IT more than I thought I would! WHEW!

My sweet husband made dinner for us last night. He had dinner ON THE TABLE WHEN I GOT HOME! We had spaghetti with ground TURKEY instead of ground beef and you know what... IT WAS ACTUALLY pretty good! I even had enough calories left for the day that I was able to enjoy low fat frozen yogurt for dessert!

This "getting in shape" thing is ALRIGHT! I am pleased! I think Ben is happy too, which means a lot to me! HE LOOKS GREAT! He is already down 10 pounds! It seems like men lose it so much quicker than we women do!

TONIGHT I am attending the dance class at Courthouse! I am very excited. My next door neighbor, Morgan, will be going with me or rather... she is meeting me there! I even got myself a brand new pair of Bloch dance shoes for the occasion. I might be the FATTEST and UGLIEST girl in the class, but I am going to as LEAST have the best shoes! ha ha! I hope I will be able to hang in there! WISH ME LUCK! The last time I went to this class, I thought I was going to D-I-E! Right now... I am excited. Check with me tomorrow! ha!

Hope everyone has a wonderful day!

2009/ New Year/ Wii Fit

2009-01-20T11:10:00.000-08:00

WOW... I haven't written anything since right after the tornado hit on my birthday last April!

Things are very good! Ben and I are doing well!

Ben and I decided that this is the year to get our big behinds in shape. I know, I know... everyone says that in January and by Mardi Gras... we are all eating King Cake... I have done it too.... so many times... THIS YEAR I feel differently! I really do. Ben and I are supporting each other 100%, which is helping SO MUCH!

I am going to try to write in and track everything when I can... this is more for ME! I am also going to put this out there IN BLACK AND WHITE so I CAN SEE IT! When I weighed on January 10, 2009... I was 222 pounds! YEAH! That is right... BRANDI WEIGHED 222 POUNDS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I am sick of this... I hate how I look. I don't feel pretty at all anymore... I feel guilty that I have made Ben look at me like this for so long. Sitting behind a desk all day and then eating out with friends and having drinks on a regular basis has done this to me. IT IS ALL MY FAULT! I am no longer going to make excuses. I have been living the most unhealthy lifestyle a person can, I think. So... I can treat this blog thing like my AA for fat people...

Hello... my name is Brandi Garrett and I am a fatty! I like fried foods, martinis, chocolate cake, Dr. Pepper... OOOOOH... how I love me some Dr. Pepper! I am a fan of REGULAR Dr. Pepper, so no one write me back and suggest diet... despite what the commercials say... REGULAR IS BETTER! You know... the commercials say, "There's nothing diet about it".... well... THAT IS A LOAD OF BULL, people! SUGAR JUST TASTES BETTER... PERIOD!

Okay... so my journey began on Saturday, January 10, 2009. My jeans were tight but I squuueeeeeeeeezed into them and Ben and I headed out to purchase a nintendo Wii Fit! I would like to say this... IT IS AWESOME!

My little Mii was so cute. I think she looks just like me, dark flipped hair and all... However, when I put in all of my information on the Wii fit and stood on it... my little Mii blew up like the Michelan Man wearing a pink shirt... And do you know what that rude little Wii Fit said to me? "OOOH... That's OBESE!" WELL NO KIDDING... why in the heck do you think we just dropped a hundred bucks on ya? Anway.... my heart sank... my little Mii is no longer cute... She actually really does like me now!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Just like a fat girl with a cute pink shirt and nice hair! What can I say... my heart was broken into a million pieces! MY HUSBAND DOESN'T SAY I AM FAT, BUT MY VIDEO GAME DOES! HA!

So... I have been EATING VERY WELL! I haven't eaten one thing that is not planned and I am logging EVERY BITE OF EVERYTHING on livestrong.com!
I am also playing with the Wii Fit and going to the gym!

I HAVE LOST 5 POUNDS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I am going to keep it up! My friends are being SUPER supportive. I am signed up to do some 5Ks already. Although I know I will be WALKING them... it is a start! I have a new MP3 player, new work out pants, a heartrate monitor.... I AM READY TO GO!

So watch out people... if you feel the earth trembling... that's no earthquake in Mississippi... That is ME... BRANDI and my now... 217 POUNDS RUNNING behind you!

Hope you all are well! I hope to keep the updates coming, even if they are BAD!

Lots of love!