Lori

It doesn’t seem like it was 2 yrs. ago that I first joined Buddy Slim.
I am so grateful for all the support I’ve received here and all the friends that I’ve made.

Crazy how fast time flies.

I’ve gone from a size 3x to a size small / medium

From a 24 to a 6/8

From shopping in plus size stores to regular department stores.

Losing weight has changed my life in more ways than I ever imagined it would or could.

I am a much more confident woman now.  I carry myself differently - taller and with pride.
I speak up for myself  and I am eager to try new things and embrace life.

I swim, I hike, I enjoy finding new ways to have fun while getting exercise.

I love to sweat.  LOL
Yup its true.
That was not the Lori of 2 yrs. ago trust me on that.
Sweat - ewwwwwwwwww
But things change - THANK GOD

The Lori of 2 yrs. ago avoided physical activity at all costs.
She knew every excuse in the book and she used them.

The Lori of 2 yrs. ago dreaded social engagements because of her size.
I hated HAVING to get dressed to go out.
Now I use it as an excuse to buy a cute new outfit and maybe to show off the new me just a little bit.

I am a much  more outgoing person now.  I just love life and I love being around people who also love life.  Life’s fun and we all deserve to enjoy it.  It’s way too short not to.

I no longer worry about what others think of me (for the most part anyway).
I know I’m a good person and that’s all that matters.

I no longer need to please everyone all the time.  That’s HUGE.

This is the new me and the me that is here to stay.

My new confidence has affected all aspects of my life in a positive way.
It’s not something I expected at all.
I wanted to lose weight to fit into nice clothes and now I do.
I wanted to get thinner to be healthier and I am now.
I wanted to be able to go to a restaurant and not worry about having to cram myself into a booth.  No more worry there.
But there are so many things that I didn’t expect to gain from losing weight.

I’ve lost 120 + pounds but I have gained so much more.

This weight loss journey is a tough one, there’s no doubt about that but like I have said before it is all worth it.
Every painstaking step is worth it.

Yup there’s days when I don’t feel like exercising (thank you to my buddies who help push me when I need it).
Yup there are days when the sweets are calling my name LOUDLY.  UGH
I am sure this is always going to be a struggle for me.
But it’s one challenge I am up for.

I hope that my little blog here, my little story about how things have changed for me in 2 short yrs. will help to motivate some of you that are struggling and some of you that might be feeling overwhelmed by how much weight you have to lose.
I started out at 265 pounds.
I am now somewhere around 140-145  (not getting on the scale right now - PMSing and I’ve learned my lesson about that).
It took me just over a year to lose 100 pounds.
I had days where I felt like I could never do it.
Like that was far too much weight to lose.

But I had to just keep chugging along.  Plugging away.  Persevering.
The best advice I can give you is to just take it one day at a time and one pound at a time.
That’s how to get through this and when you slip up you shake it off and you start over and you keep moving forward.

I wish everyone could find success at weight loss.
I know how painful it is to be big, obese, a plus sized woman whatever you want to call it.

I guess my  message is that it can be done.
I am just plain old ordinary Lori and if I can do it so can you.

Much success buddies!
Lots of love
Lori

YIKES!!!!!

Do you ever do that?  Eat while you are deciding what you are going to have to eat?

I used to do it all the time.  Rifle through the cupboard or fridge to find something for lunch while I was munching away.
Hmmm wonder how I got to be so heavy

So 200+ calories later I wake up and smack myself.  Put the damn chips away grab a carrot stick and procede to scramble up some egg beaters and put salsa on top.
Yummy a very good lunch that I really enjoyed.
Now if only I had that planned in the first place.
Old habits are hard to break and even once you think they are broken they can creep back in when you least expect it.

This was a very good reminder to me of why I NEED to have a meal plan in front of me.
It’s too easy to get off track when you are already hungry and easily distracted and pull in by foods that you really don’t want to be eating.

Another thing I used to do is if I was eating a meal that wasn’t particularly good but it was just OK I would finish eating it because it was already cooked or already on my plate or whatever.
Then I would go ahead and have something else to eat that I did like because I wasn’t satisfied by the blah meal.
Ugh that’s a lot of extra calories.

I never do that now, NEVER.  If I don’t really like something I’m eating then I stop.
It’s gonzo.
My calories are WAY too precious to me to waste on food that isn’t good.

I have changed my eating habits a lot.
It’s good to have reminders of that especially at times when feeling down and feeling like it’s just a constant struggle and I’m not making any  headway.
Good reminders.  We all need those I think.

Have a great afternoon
Lori

I am SOOOOO looking forward to the holidays.

I tackled my first social event of the season over the weekend and passed with flying colors.

I had a plan set out in front of me for the dinner and dance and managed to stick to everything I said I would in my last blog.

I enjoyed my meal but managed to do so in moderation and I had a small dessert - no point being unrealistic.  I knew I was going to have dessert I just had to limit it and really savor what I had.  I did just that and I didn’t go back up for seconds and I didn’t indulge in midnight goodies when most other people were.
I am very proud of myself.

I danced and danced and danced and worked off the extra calories by having so much fun.

I made sure I worked out early in the day so there were no excuses as the day got busier.

Having a plan for the day and feeling in control helped me to be able to relax and enjoy myself and have fun with my hubby and friends.  Besides that’s really what it’s all about right?

I hope my buddies are able to do the same thing and just enjoy the holidays without stressing too much.  I know how stressful it can be but let’s remember to focus on what’s most important - family and friends.

Take care buddies
and HAPPY DECEMBER 1st

Lori  

Good Morning Buddies,

Last year at this time I was SOOOOO nervous about going out to any social events in fear of undoing all the work I had done working towards losing weight.

This year I have a different attitude and heading into the holiday season in a totally different frame of mind.

Hubby and I are going to a Christmas party tonight - dinner and dance.
I am SOOOOO excited about it.  We are going with friends and it will be a great time.

I am already planning the whole day, okay I’ve been planning it since the day we bought the tickets over a month ago.

It’s 7 a.m. right now and I am going to workout soon as I finish blogging.
Then it’s shower time and grocery shopping.
Then I have some errands to do around town with my son and going to get my hair cut.

I am going to eat light today keeping my calories low but still not going to the dinner famished - that’s just not a good thing at all.
I’ll enjoy dinner there without going completely nuts - I can do this and I know I will.
I will have a small dessert so I will be very choosy about it and enjoy it.
Savoring it.
I’ll have a couple of drinks and then I will dance the night away.
Dancing is awesome exercise.

Last year I was so nervous about this Annual Christmas Party.
We ended up not going at all and that sucked.
Then there were only other social events to follow anyway so it’s not like they can all be avoided.
The key I think is having a plan and having the right attitude.
I’m hoping and thinking that I have both this year.

So the main things I am going to remember to do
- workout this morning

-eat light today

- enjoy dinner and dessert without going overboard

- drink plenty of water

-DANCE, DANCE, DANCE (like I’ll need to remember to do that) I love dancing

- the main thing is I’m going to have fun and enjoy being with my hubby and friends

Did I mention that I am SOOOOOO excited about tonight?

Have a great weekend my buddies!   I plan to.
Lori

After working so damn hard this week
working out a ton and eating so well and feeling so good about myself  I blew it tonight.

Fell asleep watching TV then woke up hungry and instead of just going to bed like I should have I ate.
Didn’t eat healthy either.
I started out by having some yogurt - not a bad choice if I had to eat late at night.
Then I had some sugar free candies - sugar free NOT calorie free.
Then I had a chocolate covered granola bar.
Should have just gone to bed but Nooooooooo

I ate crap and now I feel like crap.

I hate that it takes so much work to get the weight off and takes so little to put it back on.

Ugh sorry for bein such a downer.
Just feelin’ really crappy right now.

Tired and need to go to bed.

I guess the good thing is that tomorrow’s a new day.

Goodnight Buddies
Lori

I am so sad to have to come here to tell you that Kama lost her dad last night.

The great news is that he is no longer suffering.  Has no more pain.
They were able to keep him pain free in his last hours.

Kama’s mom is staying with her for awhile so together they will get through this.

My heart is breaking feeling the pain they are going through right now.
I know how hard it is to lose your dad.

Kama and her family are in my thoughts and prayers and I know they are in yours too.

Take care buddies
Lori

Hey buddies I just wanted to let you know that I talked to our good friend Kama.

She is doing alright all things considered.

She is exhausted of course and still dealing with the news about her dad (refer to Jennifers previous blog if you havent read it yet)  but she is one super strong lady as most of you already know.

She was going to lay down for a little while.  A very good idea.
She’s had an extremely long day.

The krazy kook actually told me that she didn’t workout today and she didn’t do that well with her eating this afternoon either.

Who else would be thinking about that right now, but our Kama?
I couldn’t help but laugh but that’s Kama always making me laugh.

She will be back on line tomorrow and I know she’s going to need all of our support.

Thats that for now
Just wanted to let you know how she is and that she is going to get some rest.
Ted will make sure of it.

Hugs buddies
Lori

Good Morning Buddies

I hope you all have a terrific weekend.

I was all set to workout this morning before I went to the grocery store.

But first I came on here to update my ticker YAY Finally (it was stuck for a bit got it movin’ again though, guess it just needed oiled LOL)

So anyway instead of working out I started reading blogs and more blogs.

I just have to say this is such a wonderful site with so many amazing people with incredible stories.

I am proud to be a part of it and its so exciting to see how well people are doing and how hard people are working.

While I should have been working out this has been good for me, very motivating and inspiring.
I love how we can all help to boost each other when we need it.

Anyway I didn’t have much to say other than I wanted to say a big thank you to everyone here for helping to keep me going along this journey.
It’s a tough one but it’s also priceless and worth every bit of hard work that we put into it.

So now I am off to the grocery store feeling more motivated than ever.
I have a list of healthy foods I am going to stock up my fridge with and then I’m going to come home and do my workout.

Have a terrific weekend buddies
Hugs
Lori

 

 

EATING LESS AND MOVING MORE – SIMPLE!

 This blog is inspired by Debbie’s blog (Feeling ornery not horny) her words not mine LOL.

 I started to reply to you Debbie but soon realized I was going on and on and had better write my own blog.

You made some very good points, thanks for the great blog.

 
So here’s my two cents worth:

 You are right about it being simple.

 
We all need to eat less and move more.  SIMPLE

 

But it really isn’t simple at all is it or else we would all be thin and fit and healthy.

 

I agree with you that forming new habits is a major key in losing weight.

At least in losing a large amount of weight in hopes of keeping it off forever.

 

It really is a lifestyle change.

A change that is so worthwhile.

 

It’s not easy but it is so worthwhile.

 

Focusing on losing weight and being successful takes a commitment.  It’s not something I set out to TRY and do each day.

It’s something I am GOING to do each day.

 

So many times I see people write in their blogs I hope I can have a good day today and I hope I can avoid going to McDonalds today or I am hoping to make it to the gym today if I’m not too tired after work.

When I hear and read things like that I think that that person is setting themselves up for failure.

 

You have to set yourself up for success.

Plan for success.

 

Succeeding at weight loss is one of the best feelings in the world.

It’s empowering.

I really feel like if I can conquer weight loss, and I am, then I can do anything.

 

You have to go into it with a positive attitude.

An attitude that you ARE going to do whatever it takes to get healthier.

Not you are going to TRY and do it.

Trying leaves you the option of not doing it.

Is there an option?

For me there isn’t.

 

Having said that it doesn’t mean that I don’t mess up now and then and that I don’t have my weaknesses cause believe me I do.

I am human.

 

But it’s the getting back up afterwards and moving forward that paves the road to success.

No one is perfect.

You don’t need to be to lose weight.

You just need to do your best and do more than you did in the past to be healthier.

 

So move a little more today and eat a little less.

Make better choices and feel good about them.

 

I’m tellin you its all worth it when you can look in the mirror and feel proud of yourself.

 

Okay sorry if I got off on a rant here or maybe I am sounding like the ornery one now LOL.

Weight loss is a passionate issue for me though.

I just want to see people succeed at it.

 

It’s one of the toughest things but also one of the most worthwhile and most rewarding.

 

We all have days when we feel pissy about the whole thing.  Feel like it’s such a struggle and wonder why WE have this struggle.

We look at others that seem to be able to eat whatever they want and never gain a pound.

 

None of that matters.

We get past the pissy days and we move forward.

We can’t worry about what others eat or don’t eat.

We just have to look at ourselves and focus on what we have to do.

 

Remember to look at the successes you do have and the positive choices you have made.

Be proud that you got out for that walk / run with your little one even if you didn’t go to a gym and lift weights.

Be proud that you chose the bagel rather than the donut even if it had more calories than you were hoping to eat.

 

Make small changes that you can live with and take things one day at a time.

 

Lean on your friends, buddies, co workers, family whoever it is that lends their support.

You don’t have to do this alone.

Buddy Slim has been a huge part of my success and I will always be grateful for that.

Thank you to all my amazing buddies who have helped me more than you know and continue to help me daily.

 Stay strong and be proud!

Lori

Wow I can’t stop looking at my ticker now.

Yup its true Lori you lost 100 pounds as of this morning.

Wow thats kinda hard to even fathom.
I am soooooooooooooooo excited.

It also puts me at the very same weight as my skinny minnie husband so my next goal is to be lighter than him.

I hope you all have a great day buddies I know I will.

Remember if you want it bad enough you can accomplish it you just have to work for it.
Thanks for all your support
Lori