Hello to all.  I am here watching the Biggest Looser show at Tami's and wanted to share that things are going well.  I got my mojo back meaning that I have a the drive and determination to move forward.  I have lost 4 lbs and continue working hard.  I am trying to get under 200 by Feb 28th. I ony have 5 lbs to go so that should not be a problem.  Thanks for all your support and all your encouragement. 

Yesterday afternoon I saw my trainer Rhonda, and let me tell you she kicked my booty all over the gym. It was a lot of fun, she had me sweating within like 7 or 8 minutes, and I mean sweating hard! She put through a full body workout for an hour, then I set up another appointment to see her next tuesday to keep my momentum. After my hardcore workout Lori came by and we did 30 minutes on the Elliptical machine. Then she came over and watched the Biggest Loser at my house and we had some sushi. I couldn't believe that Jackie got voted off, even though I knew they were voting for her I still couldn't believe that man swore on his kids and then stepped all over that promise.
So I think I am going to cut back on the sushi, I have it like 3 or 4 times a week with wasabi and soy sauce and I think that is causing me to reatain my weight. I am gonna give it up for a week and see how it goes. I hope everyone enjoyed the show last night! Have great weeks!

I ended up with Bronchitis right after my birthday on Jan 23 and I was out of commission for a full 7 days and now I am still struggling with breathing issues so my workouts are going very very very slow.  I ended up having an asthma problem from the bronchitis.  So it has been very frustrating but on a good note I have paid more attention with my food intake and prepping.  So I am getting that under control.  I am going to the gym just not able to do a full workout but I figure keeping up the routine is better than nothing and I do burn some calories.  So its going good and just gotta do what you can where you can.  Take care.  Lori

So I am working out with my trainer Rhonda today after work. It's been a few weeks since I have had her work me out, and I am scared she is going to kill me. Oh well wish me luck ya'll. . . Lori and I plan on sitting down tonight after work to talk about our workouts....we will post more then.

So it's been a while since I have posted on here, and I am sorry. I thought about doing it everyday just never got to it. So Lori has been at death's door for like 2 weeks and while I have been working out consistently it has been hard, and I haven't put as much effort into it as I do when she is there working out with me. I don't know why it is easier to work with someone else then it is to work by yourself. I haven't gained any weight and I actually went down a pant size so that is good news but the scale seems to be stuck at 234 and it is making me crazy a few days I even tried to cut my calories drastically to see if that would get me going again (bad idea, i know) but the number on the scale went up. I was floored, so of course I did what every other person with food issues does and I binged because I felt depressed and then I felt even worse for binging. All I want is to see the damn scale move...sorry I don't mean to curse but no other word applies.
So saturday I went to turbo kickboxing and my trainer Rhonda was there, thank goodness I probably would have left if she wasn't. Afterwards we went and did a few exercises for the abs and butt. It was a lot of fun! I worked yesterday and then went to the gym and then home and to sleep. nothing exciting Lori and I are working out this evening and hopefully we can get back to kicking butt.

My workout buddy has been super busy and stressed out lately so she has been a little shaky on when she can workout. I have become so used to her being there that it feels wrong to workout without her. I feel like the only fat girl in there sweating my fat off. I know that is not the case but i feel like it. She will be traveling to Portland this weekend for her birthday so I will be on my own again this weekend. I am going to try and get my butt up and go to turbo kickboxing on saturday morning, I know I need to start pushing through to start dropping more then 1 or 2 pounds a week. I know I am losing and I shouldn't complain but I really want to lose more weight each week I know I can do it I just need to be pushing myself harder on the cardio and strength training. I am setting a goal to go everyday this weekend friday, saturday, and sunday, I am really trying for 4 pounds next week! I want to be outta the 230's.

Is there anyone out there who works out by themselves who has some tips for getting motivated to go alone?

  Sorry to say I won't be working out today but I will be watching my calories.  I am buying a new car today and I am driving down to Portland, OR on Friday for the weekend.  This will be the best birthday ever.  I have had new cars before but this just happens to fall on my birthday so it is a fantastic gift to myself.
So have a great day.  I will blog next week.  Lori :-)

I wish I great news like I lost 10 lbs or that I ate awesome for the past week but reality is I have been consumed with my job and I have a lot of stress right now that food is my down fall.  I have maintained my working out everyday for the past week but I can't say my food intake has been good or healthy.  I struggle with fast food and I struggle with sweets.  I love burgers and ice cream.  I have stayed away from a lot of temptations but at the same time I can turn around and mess up in a different way.  So it is a complete struggle and today I just wanted to cry for my frustrations.  I know it will get better and I know life will go back to normal.  I just need to forgive myself for my setbacks and pick up and start up a new.  I am very thankful for my work out partner Tami and for her dedication with her food.  I have gained a few lbs this past two weeks but I am setting a goal to loose it in the next couple of weeks.  I gotta get on track and stop letting food control my life.  I need to control my life.  So this is as real as it gets.  Hang in there if you are struggling and just know that this is a process and there is no race for health.  Health is an ongoing process or for me I am looking at the longevity.  Good luck to anyone you struggling.

I have always considered food to be the enemy. Like food and I were waging a battle against each other, food I thought up until now was winning hands down. I had an epiphany this week. I have been dieting for a while, however I always allow my self to cheat once a week, this week I didn't and I felt great. I started thinking about why I was giving myself a cheat, I was rewarding myself. I was shocked, I was rewarding myself with food, with the enemy in other words. I kinda freaked out, how could I have done this to myself. It was no longer food that was the enemy, I became the enemy against myself.
It becomes a very scary dialogue with yourself when you try and get to the root of why you are fat, or why you can't put that 2nd or 3rd helping down and walk away. I have never admitted this to anyone in my life but like Bernie on the show I can eat the heck out of the dollar menu. I can eat 4, 5, 6, etc burgers in one sitting I can eat a whole large pizza with bread sticks in one evening. I made the choices to become a pig, and I enjoyed it while I was doing it. I can't blame it on genetics, because my DNA didn't make me scarf that food down it was my choice.
So now it is all about choices.
I hope everyone enjoys the show tonight good luck on the weigh ins this week.
~Tami

This week has sort of flown by without me really being at the wheel driving, I have sort of been on auto pilot. I have been tired all week, exhausted really. I did work out everyday though of which I am proud. Lori had her big b-day party this past Friday night and it was a lot of fun. We went out with our trainers Rhonda and Davy, a friend from the gym Liza, and Lori's best friend Jamie and her boyfriend Rod. We went out to dinner, and I have to say that besides the 5 chips I unconsciously ate when they sat the basket down in front of me and a forkful of corn mash I did not eat anything. I brought sushi over to Lori's house before and ate while we were getting ready, I did have a few margaritas but certainly those do not equal the calories of a plate of Mexican grub. I didn't even try a bite of the birthday ice cream concoction they gave Lori along with a sombrero. After dinner we went to the bowling alley and played a few games...I came in last place I am the gutter ball queen. After that we went out dancing so overall the night was really fun. I do admit to overindulging a bit, since I woke up on my bathroom floor at almost noon. I felt really bad too because I was supposed to meet Lori, Rhonda, and Liza at the gym to Turbo Kick boxing, and I didn't so yesterday was spent recovering except for the 60 minute walk I took around 3pm. Today I am back at the gym full force. Hopefully I can get Lori over sometime soon so that she can get on here and post something. Have a great week and good luck at your weigh ins!!!

So I felt as if I had done really good this week, but the scale did not reflect my hard work! I was so disappointed last night when I weighed in and saw that I only lost 1 pound. Now I can really sympathize with the contestants when they only lose a few pounds, and really don't see their hard work counting for anything on the scale. I am disappointed, but not discouraged. I will not let that scale beat me into cheating and putting myself even further behind. I plan to write down everything that goes into my mouth this week, see if there is anything I can modify in my diet to see more changes. I may discuss with my trainer as well what has happened and see if she has any suggestions on what I can do to see more of a loss on the scale.
So for a change of topic I am probably one of the only fat girls who does not have junk in her trunk. However I would really like to have a nicely shaped behind when all is said and done. I did some research on msn.com last night after the show and I found some exercises that they say will tone up the butt area and while it can't really give me the booty I want I can build bigger muscles back there so maybe I will have just a little junk in the trunk. I am going to post the links below if anyone is interested in a better fanny.
Boost a Flat Butt:

http://health.msn.com/fitness/articlepage.aspx?cp-documentid=100146956 Sculpt a Better Behind:

http://health.msn.com/weight-loss/best-body-women/slideshow.aspx?cp-documentid=100186031 Have a great week everyone!
Tami

Today was the most frustrating day I have had in along time.  Everything was going wrong no matter how much I will trying to reinforce positivity things would happen.  Stress level at work was very high and over time is booming.  I manage to stay away from temptations and did go to the gym and did a killer cardio workout without my partner.  So now I am here at Tami's watching the show and feel much better. Stopped by subway for a good meal.  Glad this day is over. 

Hey there....Well it's been a long week, I have worked out everyday since friday. I am really going to try and make an effort to go to the gym everyday. I worked out really hard yesterday I was dripping with sweat, I did 45 minutes on the Elliptical trainer, then I did 25 minutes of strength training which was very fun. Tonight the plan is to do another 45 minutes on the Elliptical trainer, strength training and then swimming. Lori is working out with her trainer tonight after work and then she is coming over to watch the biggest loser and do our weekly weigh in. I am really hoping for a loss, but my body doesn't feel any different then it did last week, so I am a little concerned. I may ask my trainer to show me how to use some of the other equipment since I have been using the Elliptical pretty exclusively, I think that maybe my body has gotten used to it and needs to be shaken up a bit. There are these machines at my gym that look like a treadmill but are split down the middle and move up and down, they look like torture, and I want to try them.
So Lori and I are taking our official Biggest Loser before pictures tonight, ya know the ones in the sports bra and bike shorts, I am so afraid of what I am going to see. I think though that it will be a good thing, maybe if I can see what others really see when they look at me that might be the push I need to keep going on this lifestyle change. Still scared though...I would love to hear from others who have taken those pictures though and what they felt like. Was your perception of yourself different then what you saw in the picture? How can we look in mirrors everyday and not see it?
Anyway back to work I will talk to you all later, enjoy the show tonight if I don't come back online.

I am so sore! I guess that is what I get for telling my trainer that I have entered a contest for losing weight and I get a year of training if I do it best! Yeah so the stairs and lunges and the ball throws have my whole body sore. It's like one big cramp called my body! I work today so getting up out of my chair to refill my water bottle was a challenge...one of my co-workers even said I was walking like an old lady. I smiled at her, and thought in my head give me six months lady and you will see that walking like a granny is worth it! I am meeting Lori at the gym after work today again. We have been doing really well and I expect to see some really great things on the scale come Tuesday! I will be happy with any kind of loss, but I will be thrilled if I lose 3+ pounds. So the name of the game for today is hydration hydration hydration....I read that for your body to be perfectly hydrated you have to drink half your body weight in ounces of water...120oz of water! I mean it is not as hard as I think it will be since I drink out of a 20oz water bottle anyway, but still seesh! Anyway new week new out look...I hope everyone enjoys the last little bit of the weekend and that you all have great and productive weeks!
~Tami

Well it's Saturday and Lori and I have a pretty busy day. We are going to meet at the gym in an hour and work out and take some pictures of her working out! She is very excited and so am I. We are also going to have some sports bras printed up with some flames, to represent how fired up we are. I think these kind of activities keep us focused on our goals, and moving forward. We are gonna take the typical biggest loser photo in shorts and bras today as well which I think will help us to get out of our distorted body image frame of mind. I was thinking the other day when I was looking at my pictures at how different I must appear to people because I don't see myself the same way. I see myself with curves, but that is a lie, I am fat no if ands or buts about it, plain fat. Aside from that I am missing out on so much of my life while I am fat. I live in one of the most beautiful states where everything is at your fingertips and I consider myself an outdoors person, but if I am honest with myself I have not been outdoorsy and gone on hikes in the mountains or at the rivers in probably five years. That is something that I miss terribly. I want to be outside living my life, not looking out the window while the seasons change. So that is something i am adding to my goal, I want to enjoy my life outdoors.
Anyways need to get some food in my belly before I go work out, I will post the pictures of Lori later and maybe I will also post another blog entry.
Tami

On September 14th, 2007 I took a health assessment test and found out that I have one foot in the grave.  All my tests were off the charts.  I have high blood pressure, high blood sugar, high cholesterol and etc.   At this time I have not been put on any medications for the fact I am currently in a research program through University of Washington for Metabolic Syndrome. 

This research program is a 10 month program where they put you on two different diets and observe and run all kinds of test on how the different diets affect your blood levels.  Currently they have been gathering data for a foundation and in 4 weeks they will supply me with 30 days worth of food and then I will be off for 30 days then I will be on again for 30 days then off again for 30 days then depending on which diet works best with my body I will be put on that diet for 4 months.  All the tests, food, and my time is being paid for.  I do not know how they got my name for this research but I thank God that I have this opportunity to change my life for the better.  By the end of the 10 months I will know what foods my body process well and how to eat and what food makes my blood levels go out of whack.  This is a great chance to win lifes victories one day at a time.  I am too blessed to be stressed.  Thanks for stopping by.

Hello to everyone who reads this.  My name is Lori Thompson (aka Bubbles)  I live in Lynnwood, WA and I am friends/workout buddies with Tami.  Tami signed us up on here and I only have internet access from her computer or work so this is the first time I am getting a chance to write a blog entry.  I am very excited to be part of this contest and to extend friendships across the world.  I have been over weight most of my life with the exception here and there.  I have been over 200lbs for at least 2yrs. I quit smoking a year and 2 months ago which caused me to gain at least 20lbs.  So weight is definitely   a struggle for me.  My biggest struggle is not working out but is Fast Food. 

My current weight 204lbs
My goal is to loose at least 54 lbs by August 15, 2008
I have a personal trainer currently at 24 hr fitness in Everett, WA
Tami and I are regulars at our gym and we are know as the go go girls. 

So today is my day off and I scheduled a workout with my trainer Rhonda. I started working out with her before the holidays and made some good progress well today I found out that during the holidays I stayed steady and didn't lose any weight or inches. Which I could beat myself up over, but you know normally I would gain weight and then feel even worse about myself and I am a "feeling eater" which means the more I feel bad about myself being fat the more I will eat. This time I ate and didn't feel bad I worked out but didn't kill myself and I came out even after the Holidays, so you know what I feel pretty dang good!
So Rhonda kicked my rear end today, I had her take some pictures while she was working me out. 

She also put me through a circuit which I will post it under the photo sections.
Rhonda is very supportive, I told her about the challenge and she is excited and willing to help as long as she can be Gillian. Now I am a huge fan of Bob's and love his zen style of training, but Rhonda does look more like Gillian then Bob.

Today I am meeting Lori at the gym after she gets off work to do some cardio, I may try and get some more strength training done but I am not going to push myself over the edge.

I will post more later..."Get up and do it"

Hi! My name is Tami and I am a Washington State native. I work as a technical support analyst for Boeing, if it sounds boring that's because it is. I have always had issues with my weight, even as a kid. I was never the small or skinny girl, I was always athletic and strong. I played sports all during my junior and high school years which helped to stave off what seemed to be my destiny, being a Fat Girl. I have tried to be proud of being my size, and really all I think is that it is sad and very scary. My family has a history of diabetes, heart disease, high blood pressure, sleep apnea, etc...the list just goes on and on. At 28 I feel like it is now or never, I do not want to spend the rest of my life trapped in a body I hate. I have not owned a swim suit in more then 7 years, I have never worn a bikini.
Goals:
My Goal is to lose 27 pounds by March 11
My starting weight on Jan 1, 2008: 245
My Weight Week on Jan 8, 2008: 239

I am happy with my six pound weight loss, it is a very good start i can't wait to start seeing the difference in my body. Even better I can't wait for others to notice how good I am looking! ;p Good Luck this week everyone