Shannon's Week 4 Weigh In

I started the week at 233!



I weighed in at .....233!



NO! Ha ha. It's ok though. I can feel my clothes fitting better and at the gym I am getting stronger! I can do more than I could before I get tired. I run easier, I can do more squats, lunges, push ups, that sort of thing and it feels great to feel a difference. I still have a LONG way to go. I still can't do the work out the rest of the class does because I'm so weak but I'll get there.

Love, Shannon

OOOOO OOOOOOO!

Last week 259

This week 256

3lbs down!

let me say again OOOOOOO OOOOOOOOO!

It feels really good to finally be moving in a downward direction. I sat at 260 for so so long, It felt like I would never move. I think breakfast really helped me this week. I am gonna stick with breakfast this week and add healthier snacks to my pantry.

Suzi's

Last week = 223


This week = 221


Down 2 more lbs =)


Love,
Down-sizing SUZI

Georgia is now 12 pounds lighter

Megan:
start weight- 175.8
After week 1- 176.8
Today- 175.8
I don't know what this .8 buisness is all about but I am back to my start weight which I was relieved about. I skipped a day of working out this week and I also have been pretty good with my diet until dinner time rolls around, then I stop counting points and I know I have been going over. then this weekend I didn't do too hot! UHG!!! i'm so frustrated with my self control... so frustrated. I have been working my butt off with this P90X stuff and when I was doing weight watchers before and not really working out I was losing two pounds a week because I was doing it to a T. I just need to get there because with this hard core work out in the mix I should lose 2 pounds a week no problem! I am going to be strong this week. Counting points all day long. and if I don't know the calories of something because we are out or whatever I will practice portion control. I WILL!

Rob:
Start weight: 297
Last week: 294
Today: 289
Robs weight is melting off because he is being good with not eating anything too bad and is walking all day still. GOOD JOB!!!

Steve:
Start Weight: 245
Last week: 241
Today: 238
Like I said last week he has a strict diet and has been running and going to the gym along with walking all day. GOOD JOB!!!

Ali:
Start Weight: 135
Today: 132
Goal Weight: 125
Me and Ali have been doing P90X together and she also has been eating much healthier. Once again a good job is in order!

-See you again next week even lighter:) Megan

My Weigh in!

Sorry so late! I've been busy. I had a birthday this week so I procrastinated everything I have to do in my life until after my birthday and now I am STRESSED! Maybe not the best idea. Anyway lets get down to the nitty gritty.

Last week I weighed in at 234! 




This weeks weight........233! 1lb------ bleh


I say bleh because I know I can do better. I was looking at my average levels of activity and cal intake based on weight loss just for last week and here is the stats.
I burned: 2793 cal a day
I took in: 2405 cal a day

Obviously I can see what happened. If I want to loose more than a lb a week I either have to exercise more or eat less or both. My goal is both. I need to burn 3200 and take in 2200.

Before and After

Here you go by popular demand. Do not make fun of me (or my sexy farmers tan). In the bottom pictures it almost looks like I am wearing a shirt.

I have started my next round and want to lose about 15 more lbs. It has been a lot of work, but it has been worth all of the effort. Keep working hard, and talk to each other. It is the only way you can get through it.

Nancy's Report.

Well I just got back from my meeting. This week is all about making sure you get a good healthy breakfast in every day. So that is my goal for this coming week. They gave us some suggestions to try. I think I will try a grilled tomato, cheese and basil sandwich tomorrow. What are somethings you all like for breakfast?

Last week: 260

This week: 259

Oh yeah baby it is moving DOWN!!!!

I will be looking for two next week.

Thank you all for your support in this! I love this blog.

Suzi's week ? weigh in

Last week = 224

This week = 223

Total = 1 pound

We joined the rec center and I only went one time this week. We had 2 birthday's and ate way to much cake and ice cream on those days but, I tried really hard to watch my calorie intake so I could enjoy the sweets. I didn't reach my goal of 2lbs but I'm happy to be down 1 instead of up 1 =)

We are totally doing this thing!!!!!!
Happy loosing this week =)

Love,
Down- sizing Suzi

Week 1 for Steve

This is Megan, Steve asked me to be his blogging assistant:)
He said that he actually weighed in at 245 last week, not 240. Monday he was at 241. He has been eating healthier. Lots of eggs and cottage cheese. For exercise he goes to the gym and then runs at least 1-2 miles and also walks around Georgia all day.
Good Job STEVE-O!

Starting weight: 245
Monday: 241

Pictuers of Suzi

This family Picture was taken in April 2009, when I found out I was pregnant with Kaybrie a little over a year ago.
This family Picture was taken in January of 2010. I believe Kaybrie was 1 month old.

I knew this was coming

Hello Everyone! Welp, got on the scale today... 176.8. Yep that's right I gained a pound! I usually gain a couple pounds when I start REALLY working out, then I'll drop like 3. But we'll see. I really was only on weight watchers the way I should be Wed-Sat. The other days I didn't really count points. Just kind of stayed away from certain foods. Except yesterday, as rob said there was a BBQ and I lost control. not as bad as I would have done previously but still not good. I have done Yoga the past couple weeks but at the end of last week I went to the gym and worked out for an hour and a half and Saturday I started P90X. I don't really have the schedule for them so I am just doing them one at a time. (maybe I should talk to Chad:)
It is freakin hard. My abs and up are sore and I just did the chest and back work out. I am doing a half hour of yoga and then one P90X video a day. Which puts me at 1.5-2 hours a day of working out. My Points counter should be coming this week. Which will making counting calories a whole lot easier. I have decided to up protien and fruits and veggies. AND that is my plan for down-sizing!

Oh yeah... question... should I make my start weight what I started at several months ago, when I started weight watchers or should it just be last weeks weight?

Well for now...
Week 1- 175.8
Week 2- 176.8

-Megan

Rob's Week 1 results

So I weighed in this morning, and I hit my goal right on the mark 294. I know I can stay on pace with three pounds a week as long as I avoid the foods I know I should. I am fine during the week, but Sundays are hard for me to stick to it. If our office hits certain goals we have a BBQ. We usually hit our goals so I will just have to have some self control. To me the beginning of loosing weight is the worst part because you dont start to see or feel results for several weeks. Keep up the good work everyone.

Start weight 297
Goal weight (after summer) 260
Current weight 294

Shannon's Week 3 Weigh in!

So this is not a full week for me because I'm changing from Saturday to Thursday. BUT that is no excuse!

Last week I weighed in at 234.

This week I weighed in at......234!    wha wha wha whaaaa.
I went to the gym 3 days this week for 1 hr of cardio.
I have NOT been recording what I eat until Tuesday and that's where I go wrong. I definitely eat too much. 

AH MAN. I was hoping for at least 1 lb! Dang it. I know where I'm going wrong and I gotta get right. I'll see you next week at least 2 lbs lighter. :)

i wanna join...

so... i think i wanna do this too. My story consists of being fat, then skinny... and now im fat again. What can i say, i like my ice cream and cookies. So now im gonna start working out again and... well, ill probably still eat bad, but at least i'll burn it off in the gym!! As of now I'm 240. I was 210 3 years ago, so thats the goal. see ya mondays!!!

One week into it

Start weight 260

Today's weight 260

Whelp. That about sums it all up right.

This weeks progress:

Friday, Marie was all set to purchase a treadmill I had found on line. I had helped with the logistics of picking it up because she was going to leave it at my house because she is moving in in July and didn't want to move it twice. So I was looking forward to having a treadmill to walk on for the next few months and I was really motivated. Well Friday morning her Lily got sick and had to go to the vet. It cost Marie her treadmill fund and I was so sad to not be getting it. (Lily will be fine). The point is on Tuesday I was sitting at home at 8:45 or 9 pm and thinking about how it would be nice to have a treadmill to walk on while I watched NCIS. Then I realized I can walk in my house without the help of a treadmill! So I started waling back and forth behind the couch while I watched TV. I walked for about an hour and a half. I wasn't speed walking, but I was moving. (Gary was very confused by the pacing) Then on Wed night I did it again. I was not expecting it to show at my weigh in today, but I feel better and can see that I am sleeping better and have more energy during the day. A simple change and no equipment needed. So that is what I am adding this next week. Indoor walking if I am watching something I borrowed from the library, I am walking not sitting. I will keep you updated.

Nancy

ALRIGHT... I'M READY! ARE YOU?

Hello Everyone,

I have been avoiding this for many reasons but I think it will help, so here I am and I am going to lay it all out there. This is going to be long, too honest, and maybe boring. :)

I don't want to hear about how I'm not "fat" or "obese" from anybody, because guess what?! I AM! I'm not crazy either:) Do I think of myself as huge? No. I just don't feel exactly comfortable with my weight or the way that my body is holding my weight, which to me, means fat. As for the obese part, I am medically considered obese. I have been since Junior High and I am DONE with the title. I don't want to go into a doctor for an issue and have them bring up "oh, well maybe if you lost weight it would get better." I am 5.6 which puts me in the range for needing to be somewhere between 125ish - 155ish.I stepped on the scale Monday morning... 175.8(Monday will be my weigh in day because I ALWAYS want to cheat on the weekends and will be more likely not to, knowing that I am stepping on the scale sooner than later)


Here is my story:

I was always stick skinny, I wouldn't eat anything and my Mom HATED it! (i'm sure most of you moms know about that) Junior high I started eating,I loved it, food became my friend,and so I ate, all the time, I gained weight and steadily did til my junior year. I got on the dance team and slimmed down from dancing almost everyday. I was 175 for several years and figured it was where my body was comfortable. Just fooling myself! I was 185 when we were married. I started learning to cook, my favorite things to make, well pretty much everything that is terrible for you. Lots of butter and cream... NEVER GOOD! (You now know why my poor husband gained 100 pounds our first year of marriage.) I had reached 198. I promised myself I would never reach 200, so I was lying to myself thinking I would sit just under it. I wasn't happy at 175, I certainly wasn't happy with 198. Well 200 came and I HATED it. I couldn't wear anything I owned at that point.
I'm sort of a "pro" at hiding the parts I can't stand. Its quite sad actually! No one ever sees me in a sleeve shorter than a few inches above my elbows, because I hate hate HATE the dimples in my arms. I have found just the right materials that won't show anything that I don't want seen. I know every cut/style/print and which will make me look thinner or larger. sad huh? Well, when I hit 200 I started buying maternity type shirts and I was no longer fitting into jeans that I could buy at my favorite stores. They didn't have my new size. I could cry right now for how that made me feel.(fAT JEANS ABOVE IN PIC-ALREADY SAID TA-TA:) Well not too long after I hit 200, I got pregnant. I was so scared that I was going to gain gain gain. Well as most of you know, instead, I was puking all day everyday for 6 months. This was horrible, the worst I have ever felt but I don't know what I would have done if I would have gained 30 pounds rather than lost it. Is that horrible to think? I reached 202 the week before Brigg came and when he was several weeks old I was at 163. Everyone was always telling me how skinny I was, but it didn't make me feel good. It made me feel sick. I didn't work for it, it just happened because I was sick, that is not something to be proud of. People are supposed work their butts off for that kind of complement (like Mom:)
163 came and went, fast. I got up to 187 and started weight watchers a few months ago. I got down to 170 and just felt like it was just not coming off fast enough (1-2 pounds a week) even though I saw and felt results, I gave up. Stupid me, if I would have kept with it I would now be no longer "obese." I don't have THAT much to lose. But it is still very hard for me. I like to eat just like anybody else. I eat when I get bored, when I am sad, when I am thirsty, and just about any other time. I don't have self control, so I have to train for it. I want to be healthy, have self control, and feel good in every way! I can't wait to feel confident and be able to wear pretty much whatever I want because I love every bit of myself. I know this is going to be hard but it will pay off in the end.

One day I was listening to the news and they were making fun of this model. she had said "Nothing tastes as good as skinny feels" I'm sure her definition of skinny is different from mine, which is why they were making fun of her. But I told myself that when I was feeling tempted, and it helped. I gave up when I stopped reminding myself. This might be stupid, but I think I'm going to put it up somewhere to keep myself accountable because I know it has got to be true. I always feel the best when I am doing what is right for my body and losing the LB's.
I love you all and I'm excited to be on this journey with you all. Thank you for all the support I know I am going to get:D Sorry for being so drawn out and brutally honest, I haven't even admitted most of this stuff to myself till now!

Goals:
My goal is 2 pounds a week.
Short term goal: 160
Long term: I'm not sure yet. but somewhere inbetween 130 and 153.
I'll be doing weight watchers, because if its followed, we all know it works.
Exercising at least 5 days a week, mixing it up alot.

Good luck,
Megan

Weigh in!

Begining weight = 237lbs

Last week = 226lbs

This week = 224lbs

Total weight loss this week = 2lbs

Total overall weight loss = 13lbs

This week for exercise I went on two hikes, played some DDR, and played outside a lot. I still don't have an exercise routine down yet but I will soon. We are going to be joining the Rec center this week. I feel good about 2 more pounds =) It makes me feel motivated to keep going! My clothes are starting to fall off of me! I have recently dropped 4 sizes!!! I am working hard at watching what I eat and my calorie intake!

Keep up the hard work everyone!!!

Much love,
Down-sizing Suzi

ahhhh... (sigh of relief)

My body bug is BACK! And I'm ready to weigh in on Thursday! Yikes!

The story of Mom

My Story,
I never really thought of it as a “story”, so this will take some thought. I always felt “out of control huge” in high school. Looking back at my high school pics I was not heavy.

(This was actually just out of high school while I was at MCC.)

Nevertheless, like most teenagers I felt like a cow. I got married right out of high school, and began having babies by the time I was 20.

I loved being a mom and having my babies around me. Still do!! :)But 8 babies in 15 years can take a toll on a body. Especially when most of the time we were living hand to mouth and so I did not ever want to throw any food away, especially if it was still edible. So as many mothers do, I always cleaned up my children’s unfinished plates of food so it wouldn’t go to “waist”. The only problem was, it was going to mine. When Kevin was about 2 years old I decided that I didn’t want to be classified as this dowdy “Mormon mom of 8” so I decided to lose some weight. It took me about a year to lose 50 lbs and I felt great. But it didn’t stay off. About three years later. It was all back with a vengeance. So for the next 15 years I just kept thinking that someday I would do something about my weight. I was over 200 lbs for the first time in my life and I didn’t like it.

Then a couple of years ago, Christi was really getting going with weight watchers. She was losing weight and said how well it worked. I didn’t think it was for me but Kevin said he thought I could do it and he set me up with all my numbers. So I said I would give it a try. Well the rest is history. I was already walking the dog every day. So I just stepped up my pace and then I stepped up my duration and the weight came off. In about 9 months I lost about 60 lbs. I now weigh only about 15 pounds more than I did when I got married. (I can actually get into my wedding dress.) I feel great, and best of all, I can get down on the floor and play with my grandkids.

Then someone, I think it was Shannon, asked me why I didn’t start running. She thought we should enter a 2 mile fun run in town. I tried it and said that it was impossible, that I was too old to start running, and I just couldn’t do it. She encouraged me, and Coleen sent me a walk/run training plan. I started looking at Runner’s World Magazine for articles and tips for beginning runners. I started really slow. Really, really, slow, and built up gradually. We did the 2 mile run and I thought I would die, but I did it. Then there were some 5K’s and then a couple of 10K’s. I could actually run for 6 plus mile without stopping. When Shannon was putting together the Ragnar team and thought that I should be part of it, I was really skeptical. But with a lot of encouragement from everyone, I decided to give it a try. What an amazing experience that was. But that is for another story. At the age of 56, I don’t know if I will ever run another major run. But if I don’t, I still will always have the memory of this one. Thanks to all of you who helped or supported me in any way in my journey.

Now I am trying hard to maintain my weight. It is not easy and I have to keep exercising and watching my calories. But it is worth it to know that if I want, I can go water skiing, or hike Havasupai, or do the “hard” hike at camp Lo-Mia. Some of my grandkids call me the “Walking Grandma”. I love it. I always want them to remember me as the active grandma who took them on walks and shared my love of nature and the outdoors with them.

And so it goes.....

Love Mom

Checked my labs today....

Overall about the same as last time....still have some work to do. Need to bring my "good" cholesterol up, and lower my "bad" cholesterol....my overall cholesterol # is fine though. Triglycerides still need to drop about 50 more points. Sugar and A1C are still too high (diabetic - duh). I am now undermedicated for my thyroid, so we made some medication adjustments....that should help the energy level a bit. I was down 5lbs from the last time I saw him, so he was happy with that....I was not as happy with that as he was.

Basically, I am doing OK....not great, but OK....I need to exercise. That would bring all those numbers into allignment. Need to get a good plan for that. I am going to call a trainer that my Dr. recommended today. I am sure he is way too pricey, but I'll call and talk to him anyhow. The Dr. keeps telling me that if I was hurting or aching anywhere we could get the insurance to cover him to train me.....problem is, I dont. Bummer.

I go back to the Dr. on July 1st. - 7 weeks. I want to be down 20lbs more by then.

I'm in Cont.

Well brigg got ahold of the computer and the post got posted before it was finished. The picture in the red and the one in the tie was when I was about 10 lbs over my lowest weight. The other picture is about what I am at now.

I'm in!

It's Rob (well Megan being Rob's secretary) "I just want to be healthy and be able to wakeboard and other athletic stuff."
Rob is going to be doing weight watchers and walking all day in the Georgia heat. And hopefully I can get him to do some excercising with me.
The thinnest rob has been in his adult life is 225, which was on his mission.
He now weighs 297. His goal for the summer is to lose 40 lbs. With an overall goal to be 188. (because that is what is in the height to weight ratio chart) I personally think he will look sickly but we'll see.
His weekly goal: 3 lbs

Weigh In Time!

My weigh in time has been on Saturdays but I am going to switch to Thursdays for solidarity :) Suzi and Nancy both weigh in on Thursday I believe.

My previous weight was.............235 lbs!

My current weight is...................234 lbs! (Wha!?)

I'm shocked and not shocked. My goal is 2 lbs a week and I came up short so I'm a little disappointed. BUT I know why I came up short. I had to send my body bugg back and get a new one, so I've been on my own. I'm not saying I can't do it alone, but I can think of some times when I made bad choices because I knew I wasn't logging them and I wasn't going to have to be accountable each day on my program. You know what I mean? Little stuff. BUT! I lost a lb! Yeah!
Exercise: This week I went to the gym 3 times each time for an hour. (I would have gone more but I had 2 midterms this week and I was a little stressed)
Eating: This week I stopped counting my calories on Monday because that's when my body bugg broke. But I ate low cal stuff anyway except for 2 times. A Cafe Rio burrito worth, 910! And Barros Pizza, 1020! You gotta be careful or that good food will getcha!

So I will weigh in on THURSDAY this week. I will WORK IT to try and get somewhere in that short amount of time. I'm looking forward to all of your updates!

-Shannon

The only thing Honey is working on, is her tan!

A story.....here goes....

Once upon a time in the hot deserts of Arizona there lived girl...........Just kidding.


I do not have the time or space to write my whole "story", if you want to call it that. So I guess I will say that it is similar to Nancy's....I am fat, and I always have been. I have made it a point to not let my fat define me (still do that)....but that doesn't mean I like it. I have tried many things for weight loss ....almost all were at least successful for a time. I never did anything too drastic....drastic stuff scares me. If drastic stuff didn't scare me, I would have had gastric bypass years ago when our insurance covered all of it. But I wont...that is freaking SCARY! So far, the most successful thing I did was in 2001 I went to a center called "Well for Life" (they are now defunct) and I lost 65lbs in about 6 months.

For many years I told people that I was just about the healthiest fat person you could know. It was true. Other fat people (less fat than me, and similar age) would ask me...How come I don't have the energy you do?? where do you get your energy?? How come you don't ride a cart in the grocery store like me?? I would watch shows about fat people on the discovery channel, and was baffled....some of these people on these shows were nearly 100lbs lighter than me complaining that they could not walk to the mail box without getting winded and having to rest. REALLY??....I mean, I know I cannot run Ragnar's and such at this weight, but I can certainly go to my mailbox without being winded....I mean, I work 12 hour night shifts as a nurse...no desk job here. I figure I owe it to our Quist genes!! I did not have high blood pressure, diabetes, joint problems.....NOTHING....I was just fat.


Well, that has begun to change...since the beginning of the year, I have been diagnosed as diabetic. Yep....I knew it was coming if something didn't change....and here it is. At that time I was at my heaviest weight ever, so, starting in January, I started seeing my doctor for monthly weigh ins and lab work, medication adjustments, etc. Since then, I have lost 30lbs. Also, my cholesterol is down about 50 points, my triglycerides are down 350 points (yes.....350!!), my fasting blood sugar was down about 50 points, and my A1C was down one point to 6.4. I just had more labs drawn this morning, and I'll get those results on Monday. Hopefully they have all stayed the same or gotten better.

Currently I am at a standstill. This always happens to me.....the initial weight starts to come of easily....then, when I hit a certain weight (the weight I am at now) my body says...I think I'll stay here. This is the weight I have been for most of the time over the last 12 years or so....my body is comfortable here. It is very hard for me to break this barrier, and the next 10-20 lbs are the hardest for me to get through. I usually get discouraged, quit trying so hard....and eventually the weight comes back. I have gained and lost this 30lbs so many times. It is my theory that if I can get through these next 10-20lbs, that it will be easier again (at least for a while).

So I need to get a plan together of how I am going to do this....as far as eating, I will use weight watchers to guide my food choices and calories etc. I have used it successfully before, it is logical to me, and I am paying for it, so why not use it right?? The exercise is a bit more tricky. I know it is the key to being successful, and I actually eat better when I am exercising too. I have tried gyms, and trainers, and videos, etc. Here is my problem.....none of these people were trained, and none of the techniques were developed for the morbidly obese person (yep, that is what they call me - morbidly obese - gross, huh?). Having 30-40lbs to lose is not the same as having 130-140lbs to lose...they are VERY different. You CANNOT treat those two clients the same....yet they do. I have not yet found any person or program who has individualized a program for a severely overweight person. I cannot move/bend the way mildly overweight people can...there is simply bulk there that will not allow it. These skinny mini trainers who have mostly never been overweight, let alone severely overweight, do not understand how to train me.

So, there it is, for what it's worth. Oh and by the way....if you think I am posting actual numbers on here.....YEAH RIGHT! This blog is public, and there are too many people who may follow this blog that would never understand....I'll just post amount of loss, etc.

I looked for some pics....
One from high school....Drama Banquet and awards (I think)




This is the only picture I can find of me when I was near my lowest weight of the last 13 years:


One of the times when I was at my heaviest:

WOW....that turned into a LONG post....sorry.

Nancy's Non Story

OK so here is my deal. I am FAT and I always have been. Only today I weighed in at the highest I have ever been (260). I am making changes, planning meals, moving more etc.
Thursday is my weigh in day so I will be sure to keep you all posted. (oh and I didn't post any pics cause eeeeewwww). :O)

Some of Suzi's story

I'm not going to post pictures because I'm unable to at this time but here it goes!!

When I got married I was about 175 lbs and healthy. I was running 3 miles at least 4 times a week and happy with the way I felt and looked! 3 months after our wedding I got pregnant at 195 lbs. When Isaiah was born I was 265 lbs. I was never able to loose the weight for lack of motivation. when Isaiah was just 11 months old I got pregnant again and my weight was 275. I was SO scared I was going to gain 65 lbs and be well over 300lbs before Haila was born. I tried really hard not to do that and when she was born I was 289lbs. DANG that's was so depressing to me but still not enough motivation to do much about it!! I lost a little doing weight watchers on and off. When Halia was 11 months old I got pregnant AGAIN weighing in at 272lbs. This time I had motivation to not let my weight get even further away from me. When Kaybrie was born in December 2009 I weighed 265lbs and was happythat I didn't let my weight get away with me this time around and chose to let the baby weight I was going to loose be my boost to get going on my health!! I weighed 237 lbs when I moved to Durango March 27th. Since I have been here I have been actively doing weight watchers and have lost 11 more lbs! My weight loss last week was 2 lbs so my current weight is 226lbs! I already feel SO good compared to where I was last year!! I will continue to up my exercise and watch what I put in my mouth =) My goal weight for now is 170lbs. I'm glad I can be a part of this and get healthy with the people that I love and care about!!!

Love,
Down-sizing Suzi =)

My story... If you're interested.

I was always concerned about how much bigger I was than all my friends ever since 3rd grade. I always tried to exercise, too. I remember Coleen and me would go running late at night when she would get home from Toys R Us or Home Place and freak our selves out. I was always trying SOMETHING to loose weight. When I was a Junior in high school I went to a motivational speaker thing about some girl who had anorexia. She told us and awful story and how no one should do this to themselves, but all I could think about was how beautiful she was and how much I longed to be beautiful like her and all my friends. So I stopped eating. I stopped eating lunch with my friends and sat with Susie and her friends instead. I ate a roll and an orange every day and that's all. I lost weight. The boy I wanted attention from gave me attention. I got lots of compliments. Uncle Steve said "You're starting to look like your cousins, don't get too skinny." I thought it was great. But I thought I was SO ugly. And I couldn't keep it up forever... When I started eating again I gained every single lb back and more.

This photo is of me and my friends on graduation day.

After high school I moved in with my best girls for the best and worst 2 years of my teenage life. I was having so much fun, and on the outside I appeared happy. But I was so depressed and unhappy with the way I looked. I was constantly being compared to these gorgeous girls everywhere we went. I felt like the grenade all the time. I stopped eating. This time for almost a year... The result was not pretty. Maybe I was pretty on the outside, but not for me on the inside. I hated the way I looked and I felt morbidly obese. I never wore a bathing suit in public and covered up as much as possible. My hair fell out in clumps, you could see my scalp like a cancer patient. I was constantly dizzy. I was so fearful I would faint while I was driving that I would drink a soda right before I left school so I could get home. It was not good. And I couldn't do it forever...

This is me when I was 19. I was in Rocky Pt. I would not wear a bathing suit, even though it was so hot, I wore a tank top and pants. (We were taking a picture of the blue bikini)

...This is the result of me starving myself and then eating food. (below) I was so sad.

This picture was taken less than a year after the one above.

Even though I swore I would never put myself through that again, years later and many heartaches later... I was so unhappy with my body, AGAIN. I felt discouraged and sad and lonely. I stopped eating, again. This time for about 2 months.

This is in 2005. The last time I starved myself for a LONG period of time.

Of coarse history repeated itself and I gained the weight back, plus plus. But I have been through a lot emotionally and spiritually since then. I know who I am and that I need to treat my body as a temple. That includes making healthy choices, not just "don't stop eating".

Part of my change, of coarse, has been finding my loving supporting husband Donald. He treats me like I am the most beautiful woman to ever live. And he really believes that! It's hard for me to doubt myself when I've got him telling me that every day. I know I am beautiful. I still long to be that thin girl, but I have different reasons for that now.

This is the 2010 model of Shannon. I know I've changed a lot over the last 10 years. But I'm ready for a new and FINAL change.

My desire to loose weight this year is not to look prettier than my roommates or to boost my self image. I want to be healthy. I want to feel comfortable in my skin. I want to run with my husband. I want to have more energy. I want to have easier pregnancies(someday). I want to do active things just as good as anyone else: snowboarding, wake boarding, hiking, etc. I want to make my husband proud of me.

Coming SOON....

A new blog! Kinda. The Ragnar is over. And we still have work to do. And you know how much I just LOVE organizing stuff! (that's a joke)