I'm sure they don't count Melissa! I'm really jealous you got to spend time with Mom and the Pays. I'll bet it was a lot of fun! Tara, I understand about it all "going south" with the flood and all. Stress will do it everytime! At least for me anyway. This will pass and you'll get back on track soon. Just don't give up. I actually have ran on my treadmill for 4 days in a row. That is a record for me! So miracles can happen after all. I would be afraid to turn on your treadmill too. Maybe wait until Trent is home. Let him have the "shocking experience"! Gotta run! Kim

Thanks a lot Tara! Tell the whole world that I lapped up a yummy brownie with vanilla ice cream, fresh strawberries and blackberries, and a chocolate drizzle straight from heaven!
Seriously though, calories never count when you are entertaining the former prophets in-laws! Didn't you know?
Melissa

The truth be known

Hey everyone, I'm glad to see some new posts. I thought that no news meant bad news, like no one was following their diets or exercising. I know that's why I haven't posted. This whole flood thing has got me all out of whack. In fact yesterday I felt so sorry for myself, I had a gigantic bowl of peppermint ice cream drenched in chocolate syrup. Boy was it delicious. I haven't gained anything, but I haven't lost any either. I don't know if I dare turn my treadmill on since it got water inside it. (Good excuse Tara) Way to go Kim and Jill. I am really proud of you. P.S. Tonight I had a brownie with ice cream on the top, drizzled with berries and chocolate syrup. I think Angie and Melissa might have a confession as well.
Love,
Tara

One day down

Okay, so I finally went one whole day eating well and drinking my water. It made a big difference in my energy. Now if I could only get some sleep. I have not incorporated exercise unless you count hauling around 17lbs of lovable chub times 2, hand scrubbing my kitchen floor, cleaning the bathroom, up and downstairs with laundry, vacuuming, and all the crazy stuff we Mom's do. I gained two pounds since my barfing experience, but hey that is still 6 pounds lighter. Baby steps.
I am so impressed with you all. Thanks for keeping me going. I love you sisters!

Jill

Hey girls! How are you all doing. I'm finially getting around to reporting. It's been 3 weeks and I've lost 8 lbs. I am out of Jerry's pants and wearing my own although they are still a bit tight. I've been off sugar and garbage for the last 2 1/2 weeks. I've also cut down my portions and have been eating much healthier. I've been somewhat hit and miss with my excercising because I wasn't feeling well but I hope to get in 5 days this week instead of 3. I sure enjoyed doing the excercise videos with Tara and Shelly last week. We got as much excercise laughing as we did jumping around! Especially with Tara's grunting while she did sit ups! I wish one of you 5 sisters lived by me and we could excercise together. But alas you do not! :( I guess I have to be all alone here. Anyway keep encouraging each other. That's what keeps me going. When I get a minute I'll post that poem you wanted. Gotta run. Love you all tons! I just don't want to love a "ton" of you so get going you big losers! :) Love always, Kimberly

I Finally Started

OK, everyone I officially started to exercise today. Iwalked on my tread mill for 30 min. and then on my stair stepper for 25 min. I then did forty sit ups and stretched out. Would you believe that Sawyer slept the whole time and also while I showered. It's a miracle!! Maybe this is a turn around for him too.
I have been so depressed lately with Trent gone. I figured that this was a good way to get some endorphins going. Hopefully I can keep going. I was reading a post on the biggest loser web site of a girl that lost around 150 lbs. She said that she started exercising of course, but instead of changing everything she ate, she just cut everything in half. She didn't deny herself the things she liked, she just ate far less of them. I think that is what I am going to have to do. If I try and cut things out, then I end up freaking out and eating more of it than I would have in the first place. She also said that she added healthy things to her diet, like more vegetables and fruits.
I know I am rambling, but I wanted to say one other thing. I am also going to try really hard to get the water I need each day. That has always helped me lose weight.
Love you all,
Tara

I think it goes: Sweet and creamy with tons of frosting, with just a pinch of spicing, for an added touch, but not much, only a four inch square, I swear, just wait you'll see a whole new me, in a month or two, well maybe three...
I'm not quite sure on some of the words, Angie

"Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure. It is our light, not our darkness,that frightens us. We ask ourselves, who am I to be brilliant, gorgeous,talented and fabulous? Actually, who are you not to be? You are a child of God. Your playing small doesn't serve the world. There's nothing enlightened about shrinking so that other people won't feel insecure around you. We were born to manifest the glory of God within us. It's not just in some of us; it's in everyone. And as we let our own light shine, we unconsciously give other people permission to do the same. As we are liberated from our own fear, our presence automatically liberates others." - Marianne Williamson

I really liked this quote off of that web site that Melissa and Jill were talking about.

Does anyone have the full poem that Grandpa Allphin wrote?? I know the first part of it...
"Tomorrow I diet I said, as I slowly drug myself off to bed. Twenty pounds of ugly fat, just like that, a snap, a piece of cake, Oh, don't remind me, that's the last thing I ate....

I think that would be fun to have on our site.
Have a great day!!!
Tara

Angie,
That is so funny! I laughed and laughed and am still laughing! Are you laughing mom and dad?!?! Thanks for the smile! Love, Kimberly

Smile today

Try JibJab Sendables® eCards today!

Jill, I know all about stress and what it does to your waist. I have always turned to food when I'm stressed. That's why I'm wearing my husbands pants! But I am trying to get out of that habit. It's HARD!!!! Just don't give up when you give in to stress and head for the junk. Keep trying. If you are going to eat, try to eat something healthy. Easier said than done! I know! We can do this together, right?! Good luck! Kim

Stress

Stress, it's a killer. What is about stress that makes you want to eat, eat, eat, eat, eat? I am not talking about wonderful wholesome and healthy foods. No way. It has to be something like my menu this afternoon. Fresh crisp Tortilla chips smothered in cheese (yes it was a whole plate full all to myself), milk chocolate mint sandwiches (3 or 4 I stopped counting), and a couple lovely bowls of sugar cereal. HELP ME!

Real Age = Real Cool

www.realage.com Check it out. I used to get their e-mails when I was working. There are a ton of good tips and info on this site. If you take the test it will not only tell you your real age, but it will personalize what you need to be doing. So, what is your real age?

Jill

I am pretty sure Melissa and I have been looking at the same blog. It is called http://www.theenlightndwoman.com/. It is very interesting. She has a lot of really interesting things on it. She has a really cool thing on the importance of good posture. I am trying to work on my posture. I am going to start eating 5-6 times a day - small meals. That helps keep your metabolism up. I like her food list to, but I am not ready to cut out dairy and wheat bread. All things in moderation right! Thanks Jill for getting us back to the blog.

Oh, by the way, a few days ago I had to start wearing my husbands pants because I do not have one pair left that fit. Talk about depressing! My goal is to get out of his pants by next week!!! At least I can tell him that for now I am wearing the pants in the family! JK He still won't let me boss him around. Ha ha! Kim

Hey sisters! It's nice to know I'm not alone. Just want you all to know that I'm going to be the "biggest loser" in the family! You might all be "losers", but I'm the "biggest"! Just kidding- I'm just older and wiser! JK Anyway, I weighed in at 152 lbs. this morning. Last January when we had our ''biggest loser" contest (that no one did with me :) ) I weighed 135 lb. on January 2 and was down to 125 lb. by January 30. That means I have gained 27 lbs. since last January! Very depressing!!!!! Why did I do that??????????? Anyway, I lost my stats from our challenge last fall. Obviously I put back on what I lost and then some. I can't remember what I got down to in October but I guess it doesn't matter. My goal is 125 lb. again and size 10 pants. (I have to weigh less to wear a bigger size than the rest of you. Must be the big hips from 8 babies!) I also want to get into that red dress I bought from the D.I. Like you, I not only want to look good, I want to be healthy and feel good. I want to make lifestyle changes, not just a quick weight loss fix. Well this morning I did Oxycise with Jenni. I am hoping to do that 5 mornings a week and run on my treadmill MWF. I am going off pop, caffeine, sugar and crap. I am going to start doing my sprouting again and eating more whole grains, legumes, and fruits and vegetables. Together we can do this. Keep encouraging me!!! Love you all!!! Kimberly

AAHH a New Year

Hey Gals,
I like this idea of posting here instead of reporting in emails. I'm ready to hit it hard again. While I was up for Christmas, I even bought a treadmill from someone on KSL. I guess you can say that I also go a good head start losing weight by catching the flu.
If anyone has some good ideas on recipes, I think they should post them here as well. Courtney posted a really good one for pancakes on her blog. I can't wait to try them.
I think the first order of the day tomorrow is going to be trying to get all the chocolate out of the house. Over the holidays we have grown quite fond of each other.
Love you all,
Tara

Hello to all! I have been thinking a lot about food choices recently and not just the effect they have on my waistline, but the effect they have on my mind, my health, and my well being. I am determined that I am going to show my gratitude to my Heavenly Father and my sweet mother for creating this amazing body I have been given, by taking better care of it. I want to be healthy. I want my kids to be healthy.
I found this AMAZING blog today that really motivated me for the right reasons. It is written by an LDS woman who has a great "road to health" story. You can read it in her "about me" section. She provides you with a list of "good" foods and a detailed plan with shopping lists and such. I encourage you all to check her out. If anything, you can print of the picture of the cottage cheese bum on her site and put it on your fridge...that ought to motivate ya! Seriously...ha, ha...seriously though, don't do that. Why beat yourself up? That's no motivation at all! Think positive thoughts! I can do this! We can do this! Good luck! I love you all!
Melissa

Still Sick

Okay, so I am not one-hundred percent recovered yet from this nasty stomach flu we (my lovely sisters)all managed to get. I have not really been able to eat anything for a few days now. Talk about a weight loss plan. I lost eight pounds. Well, according to my scale which is sometimes a little fishy. Seriously though we know that is not a great weight loss plan. So tonight when I was literally starving I whipped up a bowl of frozen fruit and milk, as Shelly suggested in a previous post. It really is delicious and it is the only thing that hasn't made my stomach go crazy. (At least not yet)

Jill

A New Day

Hello fellow Healthy Mamas. I am now the mother of two twin boys and surely wear it around the waist. I have posted below some pictures of me in 2006. My goal for the year is to look like that again and fit into my size 4 pants. I never thought I would look back at myself and think man I was so skinny, but here I am 25 pounds heavier and wondering what I was thinking. I not only want to look good, but feel good too. I definitely need some more energy to keep up with the boys. I challenge all of you to post your goal for the year so we can keep each other on track. Good luck to us all!

Jill