1 Month Weight Loss Results

(1st and 3rd are 05/31/09 ----- 2nd and 4th are 06/30/09)

Ok, here I am in all my glory! Just makes me want to lose weight even more when I look at these! YUCK!!! LOL But, ya gotta do what ya gotta do for motivation, right!? I'm relaxed in those pics - no sucking in, no pushing out - nothing. It's kinda weird to see the difference in the pics. And the difference is in some random places. (other than the obvious face, neck and stomach - how about shoulders (front view) and calves and thighs from the side view) Walking does put a little muscle on them calves! :-) Anyways, so, when I weighed in at the doctor on May 29th, I weighed 272. I wished I would haved weighed on Sunday, May 31st, but I didn't. So, my starting weight is 272. Soooooo, total weight lost is . . . . . 7.8 lbs for the month of June! It's a small start, but more importantly it is a start!

As I mentioned in one of the other posts, I had a hard time with the diet in the beginning. And this week is starting to feel like the first week. I'm thinking it had a lot to do too, with the fact of "fixing to start." That's when I'm typically really lethargic, have headaches and my iron drops really low. So, with everything rolled into one - being hypoglaucemic, fixing to start, starting a diet, etc. it was a lot for my body to handle. I'm taking some good vitamins that seem to be helping and I think I've got the blood sugar stuff figured out so hopefully, July will be a great weight loss month!

When I started this I was wearing a size 24w pant/shorts. WOW!! We went shopping last week for a wedding last Friday. Austin was really determined to have me in a dress. So, I looked around and the lady at Lane Bryant had me try on an 18. Pfffttt, yea right! Let's just say I put it on and Austin almost cried. I did cry and had to run back to the dressing room! I was in an 18 dress . . . . and it fit and it looked good . . . . . and the people in the store were telling me it looked AWESOME on me! So, I bought it. However, I wore it around the house Thursday (the wedding was on Friday) to make sure I was going to be comfortable in it. Well, I ended up not wearing the dress. Austin was devestated! I just wasn't comfortable in it. All I saw was huge arms and big boobs. Which brings me to this - everyone kept telling me that my boobs would shrink first - and I call bull crap! they are ALL still there! Though I will say that I have to wear my bra at the next smaller hookings! wwoooohhhoooooo. And that sports bra I'm wearing in the pic up there . . . was so tight that I couldn't even put it on by myself. Austin had to do the hooks in the back for me. And now, I have no problem doing it! Another wooohhhooo!

The doctor said I would notice inches lost before pounds lost and I really notice that a lot. My clothes are much baggier and everyone says they really notice it in my face.

Until my mind wanders again . . . . .

Love and blessings!

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Angel Day - Alexa Aigner

It’s been 1 year today since 4-year old, Alexa Aigner earned her angel wings. In December of 2005, Alexa was diagnosed with stage IV neuroblastoma. I came to know this little girl through her CaringBridge site in 2007. She was an amazing little girl who never gave up hope, who continued to have a smile on her face and loved her family and friends with all her heart.

Alexa’s mom, Crys, wrote in Alexa’s CaringBridge site almost daily. She was very vivid and detailed in telling us Alexa’s story. And though most who read the entries posted by Crys had never met Alexa or her family, we all felt as though we had known them her whole life. I can remember telling Crys at one time that I felt ‘like I was reading a book that I couldn’t put down, but I had to remember that this was real – this was about a real child with cancer.’ I remember thinking as the time drew nearer for Alexa to go to heaven that I was almost afraid of reading the next entry in the CaringBridge site – the next chapter - for fear that it might one day say “our sweet princess had earned her wings.” And that day did come – June 25th, 2008.

I was one of the lucky ones, Shane and I both were. We got the chance to meet Princess Alexa about two weeks before she passed away. She was in the hospital and wasn’t really feeling well, so we didn’t stay long. She stayed in her bed watching Shane as he played with her toys and drew on her wall in the hospital. She wouldn’t take her eyes off of him. He had his mohawk at that time and she was fascinated by it. Her room was covered in pink things and princess stuff. Shane asked questions about Alexa when we left and as best I could I answered them. Having been through and knowing what he does with his Dad, he understands what goes on and takes the time to process the information.

When the time came, I told Shane that Alexa had passed away. I gave him the option to attend the funeral. His first response was, “I don’t have any dress clothes!” He didn’t even think about it – he was going! At the request of Alexa’s parents, Zack and Crys, all were to wear pink in honor of Princess Alexa. So, we bought Shane a suit with a pink shirt, I wore a pink shirt and Austin wore a pink shirt. Shane even wore a pink ribbon with lace in honor of Alexa on his suit jacket. And his mohawk was spiked just as Alexa would have loved to see! (pic of Shane before Alexa's funeral below)

I have been to many funerals, but that one was different. That was the hardest funeral I have ever attended. Watching as all her little friends walk to the casket to say their “see you laters” to her was just devastating. I keep the little handout from Alexa’s funeral hanging up at my desk. It has my favorite picture on the front (the one above) – her “scrunchy smile”! Shane keeps one hanging in his room, too. Crys did an amazing job at giving her own eulogy or as I had rather say, telling Alexa’s story. She is an amazing woman, Crys is. She has since started the Princess Alexa Foundation, providing seriously ill children with dress up clothes.



The story of this little girl has forever changed me. It has opened my eyes to many things. As a caregiver, Crys has given me so much inspiration and hope. She has shown me that it’s okay to be weak at times even when everyone is expecting you to be strong.

I encourage you to read Alexa’s story by reading the journal entries on her CaringBridge site. You can do that by clicking here . . . http://www.caringbridge.org/visit/alexaaigner

Visit the Princess Alexa Foundation http://www.princessalexafoundation.org/
Today, on the 1 year anniversary of Alexa's Angel Day - the Princess Alexa Foundation will celebrate the opening of two dress-up closets at Children's Medical Center of Dallas!



Or keep in touch with Crys and her two Zacks http://www.meandmyzacks.blogspot.com/











Love and blessings!

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The last month . . .

All right, so here is the official first posting. Basically some rambling about what’s been going on with us for the last month, may be a long one. Austin and I started a “diet” on Monday, June 1st. I put it in “ ” because it’s not just a diet for us, it’s a new way of life! It’s a new lifestyle. AND IT’S GREAT! I went to a weight loss doctor in Dallas and am following his plan (diet, exercise and medication). Austin is doing the same, except he’s not on the medication. I had a rough first two weeks trying to balance out my blood sugar levels and having low blood pressure, severe headaches, nausea, fatigue, etc. But, I have that all under control now and am doing great!

The biggest thing the doctor told me is that I have to be patient. I have a long way to go before I reach my goal of fitting back into a size 12. (I started at 22w-24w) And he told me not to weigh myself everyday because I will notice inches lost before I notice weight lost. And let me tell you that is the truth! Love it! Anyways, we feel good, we have good energy, we are conscious about the food we eat and how much we eat too. We hardly ever eat out anymore – maybe once a week – compared to the 5+ times we used to (and that didn’t include lunches). We eat 5 times a day – small portions . . . I feel like I’m constantly eating! We eat anywhere from 1,000 – 1,200 calories per day, walk 5 days a week, but more importantly we support each other. And we have a great support group. My cousin, R.J. and his wife, Shelly, referred me to the weight loss doctor. Since starting in January, R.J. has lost about 60 lbs and Shelly has lost about 35 lbs. I saw the results and I knew that if they could do it so could I! I was determined and I set my mind to it! They encouraged me to see their doctor and I made an appointment that same week – my appointment was on Friday, May 30th – I weighed 272.4 lbs. No need to read it again . . . you read it correctly the first time . . . 272.4 lbs! LOL Austin’s starting weight was 250 lbs. We took before pictures the Sunday before we started and we will take monthly pictures. We weigh ourselves every Sunday morning. So, next Tuesday evening I will post the before pictures and the after pictures . . . our one month progress. And let you know our total weight lost for each of us.

So, thank you, R.J. and Shelly, you both have been great examples and inspirations to us! Your support, encouragement and your friendship has really made a difference and helped us keep going! Thank you a million times – we love ya’ll!

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Shane started football camp June 8th and is loving every minute of it! He is in tackle football this year on the sophomore team. He is hoping to be quarterback again, but may end up as a receiver. The coach is a little worried about him not being able to see over the line to throw the ball. The boys on the line are big! We will just have to wait and see. GO PANTHERS!! SHANE #13!!

He starts 2nd grade in August and is excited about it. He’s getting more into school and wanting to learn more about the extra-curricular activities at school. So, we will be looking more into what and when he can start with that at his school.

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We spent Father’s Day/Bubba’s birthday weekend at my dad’s house – Lake Tawakoni – our “vacation” spot. We had a great time with the family. We spent most of the day Saturday and Sunday at the lake just having fun and enjoying family time. Bubba turned 17 last Monday, the 22nd. Makes me so sad! Where have the years gone!!?? He’s going into his senior year in high school and then he’s off to college. He hasn’t decided which college he wants to attend yet, but he has a lot of possibilities. He made it into Dave Campbell’s Texas High School Football Magazine again – 3rd time! But, this time he is first round pick for 1A class pre-season. A very cool honor! Go Bubba Tyler #73!

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That’s about all I have for now. Until my mind wanders again . . .

Love and blessings!

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Just Me!

Hello!

Check this out! Isn't it cool? I have my own blog . . . don't really know what I'm doing yet, but I'm learning. Ya know there are so many "sites" out there now - myspace, facebook, etc. that we can keep up with each other on. But, I wanted more. I wanted something I could write on . . . like a journal. I love to write. I love to write about life - just everyday happenings, what I'm feeling or whatever is on my mind. I lay in bed at night and I tell stories to myself and this is my way of sharing them with you. :-) So, here you will get - ME - my feelings, my opinions, my thoughts. I will share with you whatever I am feeling at that moment in time. It is said that writing is a great way to relieve stress and I always feel so good after writing. If you have ever seen me write about Austin and Shane then you know I refer to them as "the boys". . . thus, the blog name . . . . . justme-n-theboys.

So, welcome to my blog - I hope you enjoy reading it!


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