[bella sacha]

Hey Jen,

Yeah it's me...I hope you are not too mad at me for not letting you know what happened to me...Well...let's say it has been a hard time for me for many reasons...I am glad that i am doing better now and hope I can be back more often. The one thing positive is that i've been to the doctor and I no longer have high blood pressure! Wonderful uh? I think that's a victory...I hope you are doing fine and that you are still on top of things. I hope that we can still be diet buddies and that you will forgive me for leaving you in the dark! Miss you!!!!

Sacha
XXX


PS I HATE HALLOWEEN AND THE MINI CHOCOLATE BARS!!!!!

[Jen24]

Hi Sacha!
I was so pleased to see that you're back! I've missed you here--and yeah, I WAS wondering what had happened to you, but had no way of finding out! I'm just glad that you're okay and that we can be diet buddies again.
Is school going okay? I know you were stressed about the beginning of the new year the last time we were in touch. Not meaning to pry, but are things between you & your fiance okay? If you don't want to answer that, you don't have to.
I am still doing well--I'm at the 44 lbs. gone mark, and really pleased about it! I'm working on portion controls these days, and I'm getting in good consistent exercise, so things are well. I'm trying to get down another 13 lbs. before Christmas, so that I can be at 180 when we go visit my family in South Dakota! (-; I can't WAIT to see their shock & surprise--I'm refusing to send them any photos & they haven't seen me since mid-August! That's nearly 30 lbs. ago!!!
Anyway....I'm glad you're back & I'm looking forward to hearing more about how you're doing. Maybe you'd even be up to bringing back the "question of the day?" Or, if you're too busy for that, how 'bout a "question of the week"? Something to think about.

Jen

[bella sacha]

hi Jen!

I only have 5 minutes to write for now!!! So nice to hear form you!!! Congrats for everything!! I am so proud and jealous of you! hehehehe... Things are better now. I might send you a private message to tell you more about it if you don't mind. Have a wonderful evening and i'll talk to you very soon! Oh and...loose some for me!!!!!


Sacha
XXX

[Jen24]

Sacha,

Certainly feel free to private-message me, or whatever you feel most comfortable with. I'd love to hear more about how you're doing, etc....
Let me know how you truly are!

Jen

[bella sacha]

Hi Jen,

I hope you are doing fine. I am doing pretty good myself. I am drinking light hot chocolate right now and I am so greatful that it exists! I think it is a great way to end a meal without having dessert. And it is only 49 calories!!!!

I have been cooking almost all day. I bought this weight watchers magazine and decided to try some of the recipes. I won't have to cook this week!

The past month hasn't been wonderful for me when it comes to eating. But the funny thing is I didn't gain weight at all! It is hard to go back to my good habbits though. I feel like I am always hungry. I need some a$$ kicking. Do you ever feel discouraged?

I have a question for you. Do you go to the gym alone or with a friend? How did you feel the first time you went? It is impossible for me to jog or walk now that it is getting cold and dark. I come home at 6:30 and it is pitch black. I don't think it is safe for me to go all by myself so I have to find another way to workout. I was thinking about going to the gym but feel a little bit self conscious. What do you think?

Alright, time for me to go...Please send me some motivation girl!!!

Have a good week end!

Sacha

[Jen24]

Hi Sacha!
WTG on drinking the lite hot cocoa (that's a good idea, by the way) and cooking the healthy recipes! Sounds like you're on the right track.
To answer your first question, YES, I sometimes feel discouraged. I had a rough few days about a week ago....and it was hard. I just had to pick myself back up, though, and continue on! It was more rough mentally, than with my actual eating/exercising....so no harm done on the scale. But I find that the MENTAL stuff, the real emotional work of this whole process, is the hardest. I have really been striving to be positive on this journey. That's why it says in my signature, "if I think I can, then I can." I lived in defeat about this issue for SO long...too long. Now it's honestly my faith combined with my determination to be in good health, that keeps me going.
And to answer your question about the gym.....I felt intimidated the first time I went--REALLY intimidated. I go to a private, rich-kids' university gym (for free--I teach for this university), so there are thin, "perfect" looking college girls everywhere. I was pretty self-conscious when I first went....actually for a few weeks or so. But, as time went on, I got more & more comfortable with it, and felt more & more like I belonged and had the "right" to be there as much as anyone else! And of course, as my fitness level has increased & my weight has decreased, it's gotten better & better. Even though it's intimidating, I would encourage you to just break through that....you'll be stronger for it.
I do walk here in the dark now....but it's much warmer here than where you are, and our street is dead end w/ a cul-de-sac, so it feels very safe to me. I wouldn't venture off my street at night, though!
Hope all that helps....sorry so long. I hope you have a great Sunday, and we'll "visit" again soon!

Jen

[bella sacha]

Hello girl,

How are you doing? I am doing pretty well even if I feel like a cold is gonna hit me pretty soon! I am aslo in my TOM so I feel a lil bit grumpy at times!! I had a really good day yesterday. I went to a baby shower and saw a lot of my old collegues frm the school I used to work at last year. They said I looked awesome! One even said that I look half the size I used to be. That made me pretty happy and proud. I don't know if you are like me but right now it is harder to see the changes because you live with your body 24/7. I mean, I know I lost weight but it is so nice when people remind you of how great you look. It gave me a big kick in the *** and now I am ready to continue to melt away. Friday I am going for my first session at the gym and I can't wait. That is gonna help me so much to loose some weight. I wanted to be wearing size 14 at Xmas but I do not think it is realistic. Well...we will see! I just know that I am super motivated and that I will succeed!

Sorry to talk about myself so much! I hope you had a great week end...Did you do something special?

Talk to you soon!

Sacha

PS. talk to me about your workout sessions at the gym....what do you do exactly?

[Jen24]

Hey Sacha!
I'm so glad to hear you're ready to get back to the gym & lose the rest of the weight! You're going to feel so awesome!!!
I use my gym usually about 3-4 times a week (dependent upon the weather). 3 of the times I go, I do 35 minutes on the elliptical machine (love those things!) and then around 30 minutes of weight training. Then there's usually one other time I come in during the week when I'm there just to do cardio--either the elliptical again, or walk/run on the treadmill. I love the fact that you KNOW your pace on a treadmill, and can control it. My gym is at a university, so there aren't very many classes or anything, but it suits me just fine.
I work out 6-7 days a week, generally, and usually 2-3 of those are done by walking/running outdoors--thankfully that's an option in this climate. If I lived in a cold climate, I'd probably use the gym a lot more, or else get into some exercise videos.
Hope that helps!
Write soon-
Jen