Updated My Virtual Model Picture & Belly Shot.

The picture of me in the pose of a "My Virtual Model" was taken over a year ago. (March 24th, 2006 to be exact.)

Time for an update!

I also said that I wanted to add a more current picture of what my belly looks like, so I killed two birds with one stone! Tah-dah!



You can really see the difference in my thighs! :-D
Note the lack of "loose skin," and what's that below my boobs? Is that the start of some KILLER ABS? Woo hoo!

The funny thing is that even though I am more slim and trim in the new picture, I weigh about 7 pounds more now than I did in the old picture!

Wild! Looks like I gained lots of nice and lean muscles in 2006!

I'm going to go bike now. I gotta keep working to keep this body looking like the picture I just posted, or better!! ;)

Cheers!

Jess

"I Wish Someone Would Do Something About How Fat I Am"

The title of this post is from a t-shirt I saw in “The Onion.”

This shirt pokes fun at the idea that people don’t take responsibility for their own health.

Even though it is supposed to be "funny," it really hit home with me. For so many years I just WISHED I weighed less, but I never did anything more than that.

“God! I wish I was thinner! SIGH! (Mope, mope, eat more junk food…)”

I even hoped I’d be in a horrible accident, and get sent into a coma, so I could just “wake up thin” months later. But for all my wishes… I just stayed fat, waiting for a miracle to happen -
while feeling sorry for myself and eating Little Debbie Snack Cakes™. :-6

Ultimately, you are the only one who can do something about how fat you are. Suing the food industry or banning “Trans Fats” in restaurants will not automatically make you become healthier. You still need to LIVE a healthy life.

Accepting that responsibility and taking care of your body is really hard work! It takes time and practice to "rewire your brain" to live a healthy life, but it is so worth it.

I give lots of advice on how to "trick" yourself into being healthier. ;) I hope it helps!

In a previous post, I said I was working on the mental aspect of weight loss. Locating my "triggers." Boy! Did I find a doozy!

Dessert. In my mind I still had the childhood link that "Dessert is a reward." You know, like "Eat all your vegetables and you'll get a COOKIE!"

"YEA! COOKIE!!"

But I also link eating dessert to the "Desserts make you fat!"

Why did I eat those COOKIES?!?! :-(

Lots of people have this. Eating sweets gives you that instantly gratifying rush of sugar! Then you crash and hate yourself for "blowing your diet." Next thing you know you're heading back to the comforting arms of chocolate- again. ARGH!!!

When you try limiting your sweets - then feels like a "punishment" because you still have that "Good Girl gets COOKIE!" mentality!!! It's like you can't WIN!

So I have been working very hard the last month or so to break the "Sweets are a Reward" link. New mantra: Food is just the fuel my body needs to run. It does not make me good or bad.

I think it is starting to sink in! ;-)

Take Care!

Jess

Greif and Stress

ACK! It’s been a while since I had a new entry here. Things have been so sad and stressful recently.

On March 12th my cousin’s wife gave birth to a son who only lived for 90 minutes. The Funeral was last Friday. It was so touching and heartbreaking.

My work has also been really stressful the last few weeks. I don’t seem to have any free time! (This is apparent by the lack of updates.) ;)

Keeping healthy these past few weeks has been difficult.
I’m back to 150.50 since I am a “stress eater.”

But things are going to get better soon! I always try to keep positive, even when things really suck. I’m not going to get stuck in a depressed rut! I can get past this, and back on track. :)

I think I can. I think I can. I think I can!!!

Cheers!

Jess

My Bootie is Better!

My tailbone has been given a clean bill of health! It will always be twisted to the right, but it no longer hurts. :-) I have a follow-up appointment on March 26th, but if I am still doing well by then, I can cancel it. :-) Woo!

The weight I gained in February is being really stubborn! I was 149.25 this morning. It has taken me 12 days to lose a pound. If I keep at this rate it will take about 4 months to get back to 140. 140 by the 4th of July? Sounds like a fun goal to work towards!

I hope to go a bit faster, but I know this is not a RACE. I’m just trying to be a healthy as I can be! :-)

I should update my FAQ with a new picture of my belly. The “Rib-Roll” image is from the 14th of September 2006. I weighed about 145 when it was taken. It is strange to weight 4 pounds more now, but be more toned and slender. Must be all those sexy muscles I’ve been building! :-D