Gold at the end of my rainbow...

So it has been  two days since my dreaded weigh in. And I am happy to report I have done a lot better the last two days. Everyone always talks about the moment their life changed, the moment they hit rock bottom with their weight and things changed.

I thought I was there, apparently I wasn't. Sunday, weigh in day, it has to be the lowest. I can't imagine feeling any lower than I did weighing in. It isn't going to be an easy smooth ride, but it is a ride that is worth it!

Skinny Meg is starting a new Diet Bet. I am excited to join! Again, public accountability works for me. Plus I made $15 the last time - not bad for getting healthier!

Thank you for the support, your emails, comments and feedback really does help. It also helps knowing that I am not alone!

Happy Tuesday!

The post I never wanted to write...

I weighed in on Sunday. I had another gain. I am pretty sure I have never felt worse about my weight than I did yesterday. After the weigh in clerk recorded my weight, I bit my lip and held back my tears as  I made my way to my seat. I wanted to run away from the meeting. Go sit in my car and cry. But, I didn't. I texted Justin and my friend that is helping me trying to help me stay on track.  I continued to bite my lip while my leader discussed exercise. I felt like a huge failure and like I didn't deserve to be there.

I know what I am doing wrong. I am not following the plan. I am not counting points. I am not keeping myself accountable. I am having food from work. I am not exercising. I am not making good choices when we eat out. I know what to do right. I know I have to count points, be honest with myself, only eat food I know what is in it, MOVE/exercise and most importantly, when we eat out - don't throw all my hard work out the window. But why is it so damn hard? It is like having an open book test but not using your books? Why do I make this so complicated? Why?!?!

For some reason I keep slipping. I keep making bad food choices. I am not ready to give up or go back to eating whatever I want all the time. I am not ready to stop trying to get healthy. I so badly want to start a family of our own. I have no idea why losing weight is so hard when I have a goal of a family.
Now, don't worry. I am going to give this week my all.  I am going to go back to tracking everything and drinking my water. I am going to go back to putting 100% into this. But I wish it was easier. I wish there was a magic button to push or a magic pill to take and the weight would be gone instantly. Don't we all?

Tell me, have you experienced these kind of highs and lows on your journey? How'd you overcome them?

Here is to a new week.

5 on Friday

1. Do you watch How I Met Your Mother? Have you seen the spoiler thing going around Facebook? If that's true, I will be soooooo disappointed. This show has put me through enough of a roller coaster of emotions.  Only 4 more episodes! I feel like this show is a part of my life, these characters, the relationships... I know, I know I have a problem. I was this way with The Office too.

2.Have you ever heard of Oil Pulling? I haven't, but I am intrigued. If you have done this, have you had any benefits? Any concerns? I am going to order some coconut oil for some other uses and thought I may try it.
                                               

3. Last week the Hubs and I went to see Old Crow and The Avett Brothers. I love string music, fiddles, and harmonicas. I also love these two bands. But I love Country Roads more than all the above, so when both bands came out to end the show singing WV's favorite song... well my heart was happy.

4. The stomach bug hit our house last weekend, of course it did. My BFF from high school came to celebrate her 30th birthday and I couldn't get out of bed. I am still not feeling 100%. I am ready for spring. For cold and flu season to be done. For kiddos to get outside and not keep all the germs indoors. Spring is almost here. We were actually under a county wide state emergency last Sunday b/c of the snow.

5. Does anyone here watch Private Lives of Nashville Wives?  I grew up with one of the girls on the show and it is kind of neat to watch her now! Cassie was always one of the sweetest girls. It is more of a family housewives show, not so catty. If you haven't been watching, you really should. If you are watching, what do you think??
                           

Saving Money

Justin and I are both trying to be more frugal. We both have taken an interest in Dave Ramsey and have started changing some of our habits to be better spenders and smarter with our money. No one likes to talk about money, me included. But I do like to tell you and talk about ways to save money. Or make money.

I am by no means an expert on any of these things. And I don't know if they are the best choice, but they are are easy, simple and work for us!

Ebates. 

If you don't use this website you are missing out! It is FREE, it gives you cash back on stuff you buy online. Any you do nothing else but shop. I made a nice little extra earnings during Christmas time last year. Enough to pay for a few Christmas gifts :) You typically get anywhere from 1-5% back in CASH for every dollar you spend. Most websites participate with Ebates. Kohls, Amazon (departments change all the time), Walmart... It is the most easy process. It is literally paying you to shop!! If you aren't using it and want to start, use this link, please!
http://www.ebates.com/rf.do?referrerid=IVgCXl6HG3Lc%2B%2Bju%2B3oKdQ%3D%3D


Swag Bucks

Swag bucks is one of the easiest ways to earn gift cards to your favorite shopping site. I love the 5$ Amazon GC for 450 Swag bucks. I can usually earn 3-6 a month minimum. Save those up for Christmas, presents, on just to feed your Amazon addiction and it is a win win situation lol :)

Swag bucks pays you to use their search engine or participate in their special offers. I usually find one or two special offers I was going to use anyways and get paid to do it. Like booking out Hotel for our February getaway - I used the Hotels.com offer on their site and got paid 10% back to do it! Not bad! The concept is Search, Earn, Redeem - no extra expense to you and you get awesome free gift cards for searching the web!

If you haven't signed up - here is a link swagbucks.com/refer/CassieM2012

Viggle



Viggle is the one I probably use the least, but it also the easiest! You download the ap, and use your phone to check in when you watch tv. You earn points for every minute of every show you watch. Rewards are gift cards, merchandise, special offers... I haven't redeemed my points yet for Viggle so don't have a lot to offer but, I use it when I remember and have around 50,000 points since November.  My username is CCMWVU



Now again, I am not a expert. Just a trying to be frugal newlywed :) What money/budget system do you use? Do you have any tips? Anything you use to make extra money?

Happy Wednesday! Sorry for the delay in posting. We are still having computer issues so I borrowed a laptop from work to give you guys some updates. We are planning on going to the Apple Store on Sunday. The thing I hate about Apple Products is they are great until they die, then your heart stops, you beg the Apple Techs to please please help you, and when they finally restore your broken item, you feel this huge weight off your shoulders and all is well again.  I am hoping the techs can fix our issues Sunday and all will be well soon :)

Sorry, tangent over Apple Products over.

So WW got cancelled on Sunday due to the weather. I didn't weigh myself in till Monday and was pleasantly surprised with a 1.7 loss!! I hate not going to WW and getting the official weigh in!

I've done well on my goals, but I could have done better. Specifically on water intake. I had a moment last week where I was dehydrated. I realized in 9 hours I had nothing to drink! I have done so much better this week with my water and fluid intake. No excuses.

I am doing well with tracking and staying away from food in the kitchen at work. I finally feel like I am heading in the right direction. I'm doing this, slowly. But I am doing it.

How have you been?

Rewarding myself...

Everyone loves a good reward. I used to treat myself with food...like a dog. Pathetic I know. (Hence the weight)

However, I feel that losing weight needs to be rewarded and celebrated. So I thought I would make a little reward chart for myself.  So here it is:

20lbs - 2 new songs on iTunes
                                              
30lbs - a new book
                                             
35lbs - new socks

                                                
40lbs - 2 new OPI nail polishes

                                              

50lbs - Fitbit

                                         
60lbs- new work out gear

                                     
65lbs - new hair 

                                                           
70lbs - new undergarments 

                                                        
75lbs - new tennis shoes

                                                     
85lbs - pedicures
                                       


90lbs - new jeans


100lbs - new North Face jacket

 

what's new...

Sorry I have been MIA this week. Our Mac gave us the screen of death last Sunday, we had planned on going to the Apple store today but mother nature isn't done with winter so we are staying put.

I got a virus on my Dell so I'm writing on my kindle fire. Not fun. I've had an awesome week and can't wait to catch you up on it. :) hope everyone is doing well. Let me know how your week has been!