100 POUNDS GONE FOREVER!!!!!!

Amazingly  this post has taken me a long time to write because I have had to reflect on such a long journey.  After looking back I decided that I wont look back any more. Making it to this points makes me realize that I am capable of change.  So from this moment forward, I will no longer reference what I used to be, or talk about the "new me". 

I will constantly change as a person but I am moving forward in a new direction. My past habits and body composition are just that the past. I am now a fit and athletic woman , who works diligently on a daily basis to achieve the physical and dietary needs that I have chosen for my  life.

I still have a ways to go, to be where I want to be but that is okay. No dream  is ever accomplished with out hard work, persistence and commitment. I know now that I have all of those things.   After parting with  100 POUNDS!!!!!

I am pleased to say I can do this. If I can do this then so can you, you have what it takes to make a change. All it takes is changing one meal at a time and moving a little bit more each day. There is no quick fix, this has taken me 19 months of hard work and I am still going .  Everyday that you are working toward your goal, is  a successful one. We all  fall off the wagon occasionally but what is important is that you immediately get back on. Getting off the couch  is the first step. 




 

A Love Letter

I did not have to kiss a lot of frogs to find my prince. Ten years ago I was just dating my husband, we had no titles but at 22 and 23 we were becoming best friends. I shared with him everything about myself  before we got into a relationship. Even knowing all my imperfections, he asked me if I would be in a relationship with him.
We have never been  big on Valentines Day, we give each other cards year around. Several times a day we tell each other " I Love You", and I never leave the house without giving him a kiss. Even if I am angry I still give him an angry peck. This year Valentines Day has had a bit more meaning. The past few years have be incredibly difficult for me. I am and have been going through the process of changing myself both mentally and physically. It has not been an easy process and in the process of becoming the new me, I gave up a lot.I gave up some of the people in my life and some of  my old habits. I have struggled with these changes and through it all one thing has remained constant. My husband has been there!

He told me I was good enough when I could not see it myself. He Loved me when I did not have enough Love to give to myself. He saw the extraordinary in me, when I did not know it was there.  He held me when I cried and wiped the tears away. He pushed me when I thought that I could not go any further. As I began to change, he would let me know that my changes were visible. He gave me tough Love when he saw that I needed it.  When it was clear that , I had become a different person, he fell in Love with the "NEW" me. Now I know this man is not perfect, he has flaws but I Love each and every one of them.

I am not a very religious person but if there is indeed a God, I know that he created this man for me. When I woke up this morning, there were no roses but a card. A card that explained exactly what our relationship meant to him. There was just enough chocolate , so that I would not deviate from my plan. I was in his arms and he whispered " I Love You Nip".  The same whisper , that I hear each and every morning.

So today as I look in the eyes of my two little boys, who look just like him. I know I that  am Blessed!! It is entirely possible that he will do something to annoy the hell out me, sometime soon. But it is okay because, I never said he was perfect just perfect for me.

Motivation

Last week after watching this video, it hit me. I can do way more than I  think I can. A lot of motivation is about your mindset. Having a "can do" attitude will go a long way,  it was seeing this video that made me realize I was selling my self short. I can work much harder than I am, so I have kicked it into high gear! So far this week I feel like I have a new level of motivation.

Look for motivation in everyday things, you never know what might push you to the next level.

Weightwatchers Shoot

Goodie Bag 

I am so excited to blog about my experience at the Weight Watchers Magazine shoot. This was an amazing experience that actually started a week before, I actually thought it would. I live about an hour away from New York City, so a week before the  the shoot, I drove up to have a hair consultation at the ritzy  John Sahag Salon.  If you have no idea who he is , he is the hair pioneer behind the acclaimed dry-cutting technique that many stylist use today. 

I met with Doug who happens to be the chemical/ color specialist. Sacha who is a associate colorist.  Karmela, who happens to be the most unique and warm hearted person ever. She also is fantastic with scissors and seems to work magic every time she touches a pair. Not to leave any one out , the manager of the salon Zoe and several other junior stylist and assistants were in on my day.  After the consultation it was decided that I would need to get one of the chemical process done to my hair that day. Then come back the following week and complete the look.  


The day of the actual shoot the call time was 9am, and I arrived at about 8:40.  I was met at the door by a host of Weight Watcher staff members. Including  Liz Brous (editor) and Deborah Hard(photo editor). I met all the three other women who were apart of the makeover shoot. Everyone was extremely excited to get stated. So after they took our breakfast orders, we were whisked to the back to change into  t-shirt for our before pictures.  


It seemed like immediately after the pictures were taken, the process went into overdrive.  I sat in Sacha's chair and she started my color process. Sacha was a very personable stylist, she held a great conversation. She was also very attentive and never walked away from me. This process in other salon probably would have taken 6 hours. with Sacha I was done with color and in Karmela's chair with in 2 hours and in another set of amazing hands. 


Karmela blew, cut it and flat ironed my hair in no time and it looks amazing. So with in the hour I was in the make up chair.I never actually got the name of the make up artist but  she did tell me that the last film she worked on was  the new Men in Black 3.  She was really personable and concerned with how I wanted my make up to look.  She even took the time to give me a few tips. 


After my makeup was complete, we headed by taxi to  Location 05 in Tribeca. I was a beautiful white loft style studio. As an apartment in NYC we are talking at least a million, five real estate. When we arrived lunch was waiting and catered by Green, there was a nice healthy assortment of sandwiches, cous cous, fruit  salad ,tarts and and assortment of beverages. 


After eating lunch, I met with the stylist  Alyssa Deen, who had an assortment for clothing choices available. I tried on about four different out fit before  we found the one. As soon As I was out of wardrobe, I walked right back into Karmela's hands and she perfected my hair for the shoot.  Then Elisa Flowers, another awesome makeup artist brightened up my make up and created a fabulous lip shade for me. Yes, I said created!!!


Then I headed over to the set where, the photographer Sarra Fleur, took some amazing photos of me!!! I got to do about eight different poses with props.  Sara is amazing and gives gentle direction but allows you to be your self. After I completed my part I was able to relax for a while and talk with Liz, about my wight loss experience and how I felt about the makeover. The day concluded with a group photo with the other makeover participants. 


I received a great goodie bag with some primo Weight watchers products.

The New Cookbook

The New Issue of the Magazine

These are new bars with all natural ingredients!!!! DELICIOUS

PB bars, are okay but not my cup of tea, my six year old loves them

 I have to say it was an amazing experience!!!! I will be able to add additional pictures of me at the set after the magazine comes out!!!