I know that it has been ages since I wrote last.  My weight loss journey has hit a standstill.  At least I'm maintaining.  The soccer season has started and takes up much of our time.  Plus, we are nearing the end of the school year and have tons of final projects and school functions.  Craziness!  My husband and I are gearing up for our trip to Charleston and the boys' summer camps.  I tell you...children really can wear you out ;)  I still have 20 pounds to lose but it is not pressing and I will take my time doing it.  My head and body are battling right now.  I want to eat what I want and not worry about the consequences.  I know that is silly but I need to somehow find that "happy medium".

Amber: In February, I had bought a size 10 pair of jeans that were my "goal".  My hope was that I would fit into them when a couple of old high school friends came to town to watch the Broadway show "Jersey Boys".  Well, the show was this past Saturday, and I not only fit into the jeans, but they were COMFORTABLE!  I wore them along with a kickxxx pair of red heels   I will have Keith take a picture of the outfit and post it so that I can show off.  Plus, that morning, I hit 175 pounds.  Keith and I had a side bet that the first to reach 175 pounds, would get $150 to go shopping.  Well, I'm proud to say that I won!  It was a great weekend 

Amber:  Good news and bad news.  I am up in weight this week (180) but down in body years.  When I joined the gym in October, they did an age assessment on me.  I am 30 years old and at the time my body was at 35 years old.  Not good.  As of Friday, they reassessed me at 28 years old.  Fantastic!  I have the potential to be 25 years old and am planning on retesting in June.  But, I must say that I know I'm getting old when I'm happy to see 28 as my age 

Amber:  Woohoo!  I am at my lowest weight in over a decade!  I am at 179.2 pounds.  That is a weight loss of 16.4 pounds since December.  I feel so good.  I am healthier, more energetic, more flexible, and fitter than I can remember.  I just learned yesterday in my barbell class that 1 pound of fat burns 5 calories per day and that 1 pound of muscle burns 50-60 calories per day.  Amazing!  I firmly believe that my strength training is changing my body and mindset.  Plus, they are now offering a yoga/pilates fusion class on Fridays.  So, I hope to begin taking that when I can. 

It's going to be crazy around here.  J.D. starts soccer next month and Zach is taking an acting class.  Between those and swimming lessons, our days and evenings are filling up.  Thank goodness for the health club otherwise I wouldn't get a moment to myself.  J.D. is off all next week for spring break.  I'll have to think of things to keep him busy.  I just wish that the weather would cooperate!  I want to see green grass and flowers again.

Amber:  I didn't lose the amount that I wanted this week.  I am at 180 even.  Oh well.  Next week I should definitely be in the 170's.  But, I am happy with the weight that I am (for the time being).  I went on 3 shopping excursions this past week.  Yes, three!  I spent money that I don't have but at least I look good   I bought everything from shoes and jewelry to pants, tops, and jackets.  Talbots and Kohl's are definitely pleased with me.  Unfortunately, Keith is out of town until Friday night.  He left only a couple of hours ago but I miss him already   Well, I'm off to my barbell strength class. 

Amber:  I have a journal that I use once in a great while.  I have been currently tracking my weight in it and did so this time last year as well.  I lost almost three pounds this week (I'm at 180.8) and as of March 17 of last year, I was at 179.4.  That means that I NEED do lost at least 1.5 pounds this week.  I hit that weight only for one week last year and that's when the creep-up began.  Unreal to have gained 13 pounds in less than a year.  I shouldn't get too down on myself because at my highest weight I was 236 pounds at one point.  I am 56 pounds lighter now.  Hurray!

Amber: I went up 1.4 pounds this week.  I honestly don't know what happened.  I've been exercising like usual and eating well.  The only thing that I can think of is mindless snacking.  My goal this week is to journal all of my food and beverage intake.  Hopefully that will help and show on the scale next week.

Amber:  I lost another 1.6 pounds this week which brings my total to 11.8 pounds lost.  I am now at 181.8.  Keith stepped on the scale and has gained everything back.  We have a personal race to 175 pounds and it looks like I will be taking home the prize.  On another note, I am going vegetarian.  I am so sick of hearing about animal abuse and would just prefer to eat all natural foods that are earth friendly.  I have been halfway there for years since I do not like poultry.  Go Earth!!!

Amber:  This has been a VERY difficult week.  First, there was Valentine's Day.  We had Chinese for dinner and then celebrated with chocolate.  Then on the 17th was my son, Zach's, 4th birthday.  He chose to eat at McDonald's where I think I chose well.  I had a hamburger, side salad, yogurt, and diet Coke.  Then we had two parties with two cakes.  Hmmm...couldn't pass up the cake!  But, somehow I managed to lose a 1/2 pound.  I am now up to 10.2 pounds lost.

Amber: I am now down to 185.7.  Getting there!  It's definitely slow going but I have to remember that I didn't get fat overnight.  Plus, if it were easy to be thin, we wouldn't have an obesity epidemic.  It was a tough weekend.  We had our last Christmas party and I intended to eat healthy and not drink.  It didn't quite work out that way but I can't beat myself up.  I'm back on track now and that's what is important.

Amber:  I tell you...I sure had a wake-up call this week.  I was not doing well eating or exercising as I let life get in the way.  I had to head back to my hometown in Wisconsin because my mom had her hip replacement surgery.  I stayed with my in-laws and they stocked the house with doughnuts, soda, Oreos, etc.  Ugh!  Then we came back home and everyone got the flu.  I had it all day yesterday and the night before.  I lost a few pounds because of it but would not recommend that weight loss method to anyone.  It's much easier to lead a healthy lifestyle.  At least now, I am down in weight (188 - yeah!)  and am home so that I can prepare my own nutritious meals.  I have lost 5.6 pounds since January 1st.  Not bad.  Another 30 pounds and I will be at the weight that I met my husband at when I was 17 years old.  What a present to myself to weigh that once again. 

Believe it or not, I partook in a step class at the gym today.  I lasted the entire hour and can see how others would think that it is a fun activity.  I'm not sure that it's my cup of tea, though.  I broke a sweat but was not huffing and puffing.  Maybe it was because I felt out of it and didn't know the choreography.  I did keep moving.  At least it got me over my fear of group fitness.  I usually do cardio on a treadmill or eliptical and then hit the weights.  I think that I will try an abs class or a barbell class next.  A friend of mine wants to get me into yoga.  We'll see.  I'm always up for trying things at least once.

I have the exercise portion of this weight loss down and am making headway on the eating part.  I am following the SlimFast plan.  They have an awesome website where I can plan a week's worth of menus and print out the shopping list.  Very handy!  They believe in eating breakfast, snack, lunch, snack, dinner, snack.  Love it!  Works for me since I love to eat. 

Amber:  Doing a page like this is new to me.  I am trying to figure it all out.  Plus, blogging?  Who would have thought that I would be BLOGGING?  Things have been going well for me.  I am ruining Keith's weight loss though.  I had to run to the store last night and he begged me to pick up doughnuts (his biggest weakness) and I did.  I bought four.  One for Keith and one for each of our sons.  I bought myself the new People magazine instead.  Much better than a doughnut anyday!  This morning I hit the gym and did 35 minutes on the treadmill doing interval jogs.  I would speed walk for 3 1/2 minutes and job for 1 1/2 minutes.  I did that for 30 minutes then did a 5 minute cool-down and hit the weights.  I reward myself with the steam room afterwards.  Gotta love it!

A girlfriend and  I have a bet going to see who can lose 30 pounds first.  We are each paying $150 and the first to reach the 30 pound mark wins the pot.  We weighed in on the 1st and then on each following Monday morning.  This past week I lost 2.4 pounds.  I figure that is $37.50 worth of weight that I lost because Keith told me that if I win, he will chip match my contribution.  That means that I could win $450!  That should give me a head-start on a new wardrobe.

I added our pictures...now you can see just how chubby we've gotten.  But, hopefully you will only see less of us from now on.  I plan on adding pictures at the beginning of each month so that we will see progress.  Keith already had a tough night yesterday.  He wanted doughnuts so bad, but I wouldn't let him!  It was hell last night but we feel so much better today :)  Keith's downstairs working while on the treadmill and I will get on it while Simon (our youngest son) naps. 

I added our pictures...now you can see just how chubby we've gotten.  But, hopefully you will only see less of us from now on.  I plan on adding pictures at the beginning of each month so that we will see progress.  Keith already had a tough night yesterday.  He wanted doughnuts so bad, but I wouldn't let him!  It was hell last night but we feel so much better today :)  Keith's downstairs working while on the treadmill and I will get on it while Simon (our youngest son) naps.