Shopping.....OFF THE RACK @ EDDIE BAUER!!

What the?? Seriously, where is the camera?? I don't honestly know who's life this is, but I'M KEEPING IT!! HA HA!! I am going to my darling nephew's baptism tomorrow, and one of the unexpected annoyances of weight loss is....I don't fit in anything for very long. Not a complaint, mind you....just annoying when you have to make an appearance at a function of importance, and you have nothing in your closet but yoga pants and tee shirts. It tends to put a damper on say.... baptisms!! So, I was out and about helping my pal Kate find a white dress for a party she is going to tomorrow night (BTW, very annoying to find a white dress AFTER Labor Day :) and we were at the mall feeling defeated because we couldn't find such a dress, and I remembered I needed a top for the said baptism. So, I started to scan the mall for a Lane Bryant, my go to store for such items. Well, South Towne Mall doesn't have a Lane Bryant. So, we started walking around and then I saw Eddie Bauer. I like Eddie Bauer, but I have never bought ANYTHING in there except a travel purse in my life. But, I thought, we'll have a look just for kicks. In we go and I spy a table with some beautiful sweaters. Honestly, I don't even know what possessed me to look there, because I convinced myself it wouldn't happen, but I walked over, pulled out what I HOPED would be my size and Oh My Sweet Lord.....IT FIT!! I about peed in my pants!! It is so cute and it fit me!! WHEW HEW!! I didn't even check the price, I bought it there on the spot! I can't wait to wear it tomorrow. What a day to be me. I also had another weigh in today......drum roll please......I lost 5 more lbs. I am officially 217.5. I don't know why or how this is continuing to work for me or where the fire inside is coming from, but damn it, I am soo happy about it I could bust something!! There. I said it out loud. Maybe it is finally my turn. Thank goodness. I just had to share. It was an exceptionally good day. I tread on.....

Ever Felt Like A Drug Addict @ A Rave??

So....it's the holiday season.....you know tis the season.....blah blah blah! I get invited to a cookie swap. Sounds good, right? Lots of cute ladies getting together for the holiday season and sharing their baking talents and lots and lots of......COOKIES! Oh my Lord!! What was I thinking?? The panic set in at about 10:30 am when I started making my 3 dozen cookies. They looked delicious and suddenly I started licking my fingers. OOPS. Then they started smelling delicious.....OOPS. Then, I had tried a new recipe and had to try one to make sure they were ok.....OOPS. Can you see where I'm going with this?? Not a good place for a cookie crack whore to go. Really. My good pal Diana is such a marvelous hostess and her friends were soo sweet and her house was so darling and her kids were adorable as ever.....but I was truly focused on the cookies! I am so glad no one could read my mind, because I would have truly been embarrassed!! It was pathetic really. All this time I thought, OK I've overcome this feeling of true love with food. I'm good now. Cured, really. HA I say!! It took one cookie outing and I feel like I need to go to LE CIRQUE Lodge with Lindsay Lohan to rehab!! Do they have cookie rehab?? I guess if Isaiah Washington can go for his feelings on Gay people, surely there is a Mrs. Field's Lodge for me right?? Seriously, people.....I was freaking out!! I just wasn't prepared for it and I was scared. But, I survived by the skin of my teeth and only ate one cookie. WHEW!! It was a close call because I was surrounded by delicious cookies and it wasn't looking good for me. It was a nice party though and next year when I go, I am gonna be at my goal weight and then look out cookie monster.....there's a new girl in town!! I tread on.....

Imagine If You Can.....

So, I've had a little trouble lately. I am COMPLETELY burned out on my gym!! Love everyone there, mind you. But, my 2 a days which were so great and empowering 3 months ago.....have lost their magic. It truly has become a battle of wills to get me there and when I get to it, I am pissed off the whole time! Let's just say....I'm over it. Now, I am truly grateful for the amazing progress I've made over the past year!! Totally enthralled, overjoyed, stunned really by what I've been able to accomplish. But, I'm fried. So, this morning I showed up for my Monday standing date with my adorable trainer Todd and he asked the wrong question. (He had no idea)

"So....how's it goin'?"

That's all it took. The flood gates opened and for 35 minutes of my 55 minute appointment, I shared my feelings on the subject. Poor guy.

But, here's the great thing. He pulled a rabbit out of his hat and gave me such good advice, that my attitude TOTALLY turned around, almost in an instant, and if I wasn't positive before, which I was, I am completely convinced I have the most AWESOME trainer on the planet!!

Here's what he said. "Imagine if you will let yourself, the woman you want to be. Your goal "you" if you will. Really study her. What is she like? What will she do? Who will she be? Stop looking at the task at hand and focus on her. You at your goal weight. How will your life be different? Now, when you are struggling through a workout, or a situation you are uncomfortable with....Think.... How would the woman you'd LIKE to be, DO the things you are about to do? And don't do it like you today, visualize how empowered you'll be then and behave like her!"

HE IS A GENIUS!! I know it sounds simple, but today, I acted like her and I was a maniac!! I love her so much better than me! I can't wait to be her all the time. And in the meantime, I have more visualizing to do. Hope is a dangerous thing, but I am going to try to work this whole angle, because I feel excited to see what I can do next! I tread on......

Black Friday....ignored.

Well, for the first time I didn't participate in Black Friday. I know to all of you that know me, this is a sad thing. I really enjoy it, actually. The chase for the bargain.....the thrill of getting some "must have" item at a ridiculous price....waiting in line with all the unwashed masses....meeting up with friends and family and using your cell phone as a walkie talkie to let them know you found a certain item you are sure they want. I know it is sick a little, but dammit I enjoy it!! So, this year, because my focus is on other things, I forgot. I made other plans and didn't even put 2 and 2 together until....it was too late. So, I had to cancel with family and friends and deal with the knot in my stomach that was aching for....shopping.

But, you know what?? I lived through it. Oddly enough, I survived. I accomplished everything I needed to and even had a little time left over after I worked, and I DIDN'T go shopping. I was a little concerned at my lack luster enthusiasm over the whole thing, but then I realized, PERHAPS I am evolving (a smidgen) and I didn't need the hunt to be complete. WHAT!! Who is this girl?? I am perplexed by this development. I don't quite understand it, but the way the year has rolled out for me, I can't say I am stunned. Anyhoo, I had a nice day, in spite of the small knot that lingers still. I hope everyone that did participate in Black Friday got all the bargains they were on the hunt for. I hope you were smacked with old lady's carts and items were snatched out right out of your hands!! And, I hope you headed out with victorious grins on your faces and had a DELICIOUSLY FATTENING breakfast afterward to celebrate another successful beginning to your holiday season!! (MAN!! That sounds awesome!! :) I tread on...

I Am Thankful

Today, was probably the best Thanksgiving I've had in awhile. Honestly, I know this sounds sad, but Thanksgiving is really a hard day for me usually. I love my family, but they have always kind of depended on me as the "buffer" or the "go-to" for everything, and it doesn't leave much time or energy left for me. I typically get up, become the cleaning lady to get the table and kitchen ready for "guests", the sous chef for my mother so I have to chop, stir, mix and get everything ready and then serve dinner and clean up after because the married sisters are off to the in-laws to be served again. In the midst of all of this, my Mom will not worry about the fact she is a diabetic and will get a low blood sugar attack, which will cause her to behave like a giant grizzly bear with a thorn in it's paw, one or more of my siblings will pick a fight with each other and my nephews will get bored and start to make trouble so someone will pay attention to them. I know, everyone would like an invitation to next year's festivities!!

But, this year was totally different. I planned ahead and got everything in motion, so that I could do what I wanted to do, and still be a productive member of the Olpin family. I told everyone my plans, I asked my sisters to come over beforehand to help my Mom, so she wasn't stuck doing everything, and you know what?? IT WORKED!! It was truly a miracle. I got up early and went in the rain to run/walk the Utah Human Race 5k, and it was fun!! I took my friends Amy and Kate and met some others there and it was great!! First of all, it was really wonderful to see how many people did the 5k for the Food Bank. Second, I jogged my little heart out and got my best time ever of 39 minutes! Then, I grabbed a granola bar and a banana and off I went to 24hr. Fitness to do a "Boot Camp" my darling trainer Todd put on for anyone who wanted to do it. Now, let me just say, if me attending this little activity doesn't prove my deep love and affection for Todd, I don't know what will, because it was truly awful! Boot Camp isn't for sissies and I now have 10,001 reasons not to join the military! But, I got through it and supported Todd and off I went home to shower and get ready for dinner. I got home and my sister Kate was there helping my Mom and they were having a wonderful time! It was awesome. I jumped right in to help with the finishing touches and even got a yummy nap before I put on my size 18 jeans and headed up for the most delicious Thanksgiving dinner!! I don't know if it the fact that I've eaten pretty much nothing but nuts and berries for the past year, but that dinner rocked it big time and I didn't over do it, so I felt OK about the extra scoop of stuffing!

It really was a wonderful day and I am so grateful for so many things. This year has been a rocky one, but in other ways, the most fulfilling to me. I have learned so much about what I am really made of and how I can overcome obstacles that I believed were impossible. I've been humbled by so many things and have really come to hone in on things that were being neglected that I needed to address in my life and I have been so fortunate to reconnect with many many people I have missed terribly and that has been the best thing that has happened this year! (OK, fitting in an 18 was pretty frickin' amazing too!! I can't deny that :) I am really surrounded by wonderful people and I am so blessed in this life and I am finally able to open my eyes and recognize it better. So, to all of my friends (old, new and reacquainted) Thank you for always supporting and loving me even if I am a little crazy sometimes. I love you all and this life wouldn't be worth a hill of beans without you. Happy Thanksgiving. I tread on.....

TWILIGHT IS HERE!!

I don't know what life was life before Stephenie Meyers came into our lives. All I know is I am ready for my Edward. (Audible Sigh!) I tread on......

And the verdict is.....Size 18 Jeans Fit!! Whoot HOO!!

What the?? I am truly at a loss here. I just put on a pair of size 18 jeans.......standing up without huffing and puffing!! I just didn't think this was possible. I am 22 lbs. away from the 1's. To most people getting on the scale and seeing 222 lbs. would be frightening, but honestly, I wanted to jump for joy and scream hale-frickin-lueigh!! I am a woman on a mission and everyone thinks I am absolutely nuts, but I don't care!! I have warned my trainer Todd that he needs to be prepared for the weigh in day that is coming.....sooner than later.....because I've told him I am gonna tackle him and probably kiss him on the lips!! (it doesn't hurt that he is totally hot either!! :) But, that is beside the point!! He has assured me that he is working out faithfully so I don't hurt him when this occurs!! :) I love him most of all because he doesn't even bat an eyelash at my madness and puts up with all my nonsense!! Anyhoo, I just had to share. I tread on.....GO UTES!!