Five Year Mark

 

 

 

 

 

 

Growing up, I was the girl who had to wear the pink dress her mother made at her First Communion because I couldn't fit into the frilly, white dresses that you're supposed to wear. I was the last person to finish the mile in gym class every time, and the sweet, funny girl boys always joked around with  but never asked out.                                                                                                                                

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            

At 263 pounds, I didn't see how I would ever reach my goal. Other moms swore to me I would         never lose all the baby weight, my doctor warned  me it was only a matter of time before "You end up like your parents and develop diabetes," and all  the evidence proved that, (even if you did loose weight), 90% of all dieters gain it back. I'm glad I didn't stop trying.                                                                                                                                                                

 

A Good Morning

And today was the day that a PR director at Medi Weightloss gave my name to a producer on Good Morning America?!  I haven't received any phone calls and might never hear from anyone, but to have your name in front of someone who could potentially broadcast your story to millions is unbelievable.  All this for deciding for good that I was done being overweight and finding a program that would really help me. Incredible things can happen when you want to change.

Not Digging It

Oh good lord!  I thought it would be a great idea to finally weed the flower bed in my front yard after tropical storm Andrea thoroughly primed the soil and now I'm not so sure.  What started as a fairly simple project in theory ended up being an all afternoon endeavour that involved dozens of buckets, several bottles of water, and a real shovel.  I have no business using a shovel but ended up going all Joan Crawford OCD, (like when she couldn't sleep because she felt compelled to chop down a tree at 3 in the morning in Mommy Dearest), and dug up the entire twenty square feet to remove all the roots.  Now I can barely bend at the knees.  It's been two days out and I'm still hobbling along worse than someone twice my age. It's pitiful. My only consolation is that at least I won't see another weed for a few months and that maybe I might look like I have somewhat of a backside until the inflammation subsides. Forget about doing squats, just garden.

The Most Wonderful Time of the Year

Four years and 34 days ago I walked out of the clinic on the verge of tears and tentatively into a new way of life.  I was over one hundred pounds overweight, depressed, and nearly done believing my situation would ever really improve after battling weight problems my whole life.  I wasn't even convinced I could even lose twenty pounds but I did.  I dropped twenty pounds within the first two months and another 93 pounds a year later and have kept it off. 

From hiding from life to receiving recognition in front of hundreds... The experience has been better than I ever could have dreamed.  That doesn't happen often in life and I free incredibly fortunate. This time the tears are from knowing that I can beat my doubts.

National Cheesecake Day

How am I now just stumbling upon this? Finally, a day I can truly celebrate. This is the best made up day ever!

I can't think of a better way to honor this special occasion than reserving a table at The Cheesecake Factory for the night to taste test each and every one of their desserts to rate them for the greater good of humanity but I just can't do that to myself anymore.

Instead, I find a healthier alternative and these recipes are much better choices. Granted I haven't made the first one yet however, judging from the ingredients, I don't think you can go wrong. Happy Cheescake Day!

1. Celebrate "National Cheesecake Day" with this delicious cheesecake recipe!: Celebrate "National Cheesecake Day" with this delicious cheesecake recipe!

2. E's Low Carb Cheesecake

Ingredients (makes 8 servings)
- 3/4 cup finely ground almonds
- 3/4 cup almond flour or almond meal
- 2 tablespoons light butter, melted
- 2 (8 ounce) packages of fat free cream cheese, softened
- 2 eggs
- 3/4 cup sugar substitute (I recommend Stevia. You may also want to go up to 1 cup of this for a sweeter taste.)
- 1 cup fat free sour cream
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1 teaspoon Irish cream liquor (optional)
- 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- 1/4 cup sugar free strawberry sauce
- 1 container sugar free whipped topping
- 1 container of fresh strawberries

Directions
1. Preheat oven to 325 degrees F.
2. Lightly spray the bottom of 8 inch springfoam pan with non-stick cooking spray. Mix almonds, almond flour, and melted butter in a small bowl with a fork and press into pan. Refrigerate for 5 minutes.
3. In a large bowl, beat cream cheese, eggs, and sugar (one at a time) until creamy. Add in sour cream, vanilla extract, Irish cream liquor, and cinnamon until well blended. Pour filling over crust and smooth with a spatula.
4. Place cake pan in a large roasting pan with 1 inch of boiling water and bake for 45 minutes or until golden brown and the center is almost set. Let chill in refrigerator for 4 hours.
5. Slice into wedges and top with strawberry sauce, whipped topping, and strawberries. Great with sliced apples and sugar free caramel sauce or berries too.

Walking the Walk

Signing up for races is a great way to stay motivated when exercising and to stay fit for a bigger purpose. I've been having some problems with tendinitis in my uncooperative right leg so walking is a good alternative. It's also a nice way to spend time with my kids while secretly sneaking in some extra exercise. Just watch out for those cute presents some dogs leave on the sidewalk.  Some owners conveniently fail to notice the grass just inches away.

As a tribute to my father who was diabetic, my son and I are participating in a walk for diabetes this Saturday in Tampa at the Forum. I had hoped to persuade him to sign up for one of these events with me when he took up walking, but life doesn't always work out the way you expect it to. If anyone one is interested or would like to make a donation to our team, (team Blackwell), just click here http://www2.jdrf.org/site/TR?fr_id=1685&pg=entry

Extra, Extra!

My first printed work... and it's published right next to a Dr. Oz article, on my dad's birthday weekend. Today is a good day!

'Life is short … live better' http://tbo.ly/H8rJBq

This calls for some Journey. Bring it Steve. http://youtu.be/VcjzHMhBtfO

Where Am I?

I like the ad for February, especially that woman in the heart with the red dress.  (It's me, I made it into a real print ad for a national company?!)   Yay!!!

Medi-Weightloss Clinics Advertising Survey

Ladies Who Lunch

Fine, expensive cuisine at THE premiere waterside venue in town with THE healthiest people around... Two free tickets to the Oscars of  diet and exercise? Yes, please!

 The 2011 Tampa Bay Healthiest Employers Event is fast approaching and my poster and I have been cordially invited despite my weekly 100 calorie margarita and 100 calorie bag of smart popcorn.  Obama was even invited to this location last year, so you know my mom and I have to scope out this place for ourselves.  I'll be hanging out in the back, pretending to check my phone messages on my son's iPod as I secretly take pictures. Just another perk to joining Medi. http://www.bizjournals.com/tampabay/news/2011/08/08/2011-healthiest-employers-awards.html

On

I'm pleased to announce that my A game for my lifelong mission "No More Plus Size EVER!" is back on. After evaluating the situation, I've cut back on the extra carbs, downloaded some new killer tunes, and have signed up for a 5 mile walk on my birthday.  As a result, that unwanted pound is gone now and it looks like those nine others will disappear too. I can almost see that new wardrobe in the next size down hanging in my closet in the not too distant future as sure as I am blogging.

That's good too, as it's better to address slip ups right away rather than wait until you get stuck in bad situation like Paula Deen. Don't get me wrong, I think Paula is the cutest, sweetest home cook ever but she does have a tendency to match the size of her portions to the size of her over the top personality. Not that I wouldn't jump at the chance to have a mint julep with her on her party show in a heartbeat, but I doubt I would have one for long after just one bite of her deep fried, bacon stuffed, grilled cheese sandwich.  Honestly, I don't know how she and her husband (aka Santa Claus) still have the lung capacity to cut a rug at the end of the day.

Speaking of which, why is her son Bobby ALWAYS coming over at that time for dinner AND dessert. He's such a codependent enabler! You know her sugar,cheese and butter supply would be cut in half if that grown  mama's boy would learn how to cook for himself. What's he gonna do if, heaven forbid, she and Michael should both pass and his own health declines? Someone's gotta run the family restaurant. He can't cook and you know Jamie (her baby) isn't the sharpest tool in the box.

You've got to have knowledge. Not only to be aware of problems from the onset but to then use it to find the solutions to turn it around.  It's not always fun or easy but is infinitely much better than the alternative.

What's On the Tube

As of today, I still haven't seen any more mentions on Twitter from the lead singer of The Counting Crows about my blog, but it's alright.  I can click onto the Medi Weight loss channel via You tube and see something equally impactful and cool. To quote the song "Mr. Jones", "When I see that television" I see me, along with many others who have reached their goals on the program, "Staring right back at me".  (I'm the overly pensive woman in the dark blue shirt.)

Sink or Swim

I'll admit it, I'm not a big fish person. Growing up my mother would complain for days if my father dared to cook cabbage on New Year's Eve for luck, so anything with too pungent of an odor was usually too high of a risk in our home. The closest my family ever got to seafood was the occasional splurge on shrimp for when my parents were trying to impress special guests or some deep fried fish sticks, when they were on sale.

As the years passed I've tried more of the mild types of seafood at restaurants out of curiosity like grouper, salmon, and bass and have discovered that they're really not bad at all. I'd even place lobster on my top ten best foods ever list. Fish is a refreshing change from the standard chicken or beef and a welcome alternative, especially for anyone on a high protein diet. I've tried to incorporate more of these dishes into my meal planning but am weary with two picky eaters seldom open to trying anything new.

Well Yesterday, my guys,(my husband and two boys), spent the day deep sea fishing on one of those big charter boats common to Florida for the first time. I opted out this time for some much needed mommy time,(aka a movie and clothes shopping) but couldn't escape the fish all together. They came home proudly displaying their catch of the day in the freezer buried under a five pound bag of ice.

I knew it was in there somewhere, cut, cleaned and ready to be cooked and it was up to me to do the deed. Not being much of an expert in this field I cleverly went to my go to site,(allrecipes.com) and attempted to trick them into believing I was a culinary genius. It worked. They loved it and nobody ever knew that I had completely winged it and hoped for the best. (It's funny how that approach works more often than not.)

Here's the recipe,(not mine), if you're ever stuck in the same predicament. You can use it on any type of fish,(I believe), and eliminate the nachos and serve with brown rice for a low carb effect.
Mexican Baked Fish Recipe - Allrecipes.com

Enough Already

Let me just say that this was how I looked a week before doing the video testimony posted below.



Football mom chic, right? But somehow, when sitting down in front on a television camera, I look like I swallowed it. You know how they say that the camera adds ten pounds, well now I believe it. All of those actresses must look borderline anorexic in person. But in my case, it looks like the camera piled on twenty pounds.

People debating about whether to try the program want to see the results and I just don't think that particular shirt really sells it. Initially I wore a more flattering dress but it didn't work with the lighting and white background, so I had to change. Then, I had to do some readjusting so, umm, certain straps wouldn't show and it just didn't read as well as I think it could have.

Not that my poor posture helped matters either. No wonder I have back problems. I've been working on my core for months now and definitely know better.

And could I be an more calm? I was nervous and trying to stay composed but I look like I'm one yawn away from an Ambien induced nap. A big gulp size coffee on the drive to the studio that morning might not have been such a bad idea. Oh, and my attempt at humor at the end - kinda lame. Yeah, my family thought that was cute but I'm not so sure. The director suggested a one liner as I was rambling, (my hats off to the editors at Tampa Digital Studios), and it sounds a bit rehearsed due to the retakes.

Yet ultimately the whole point of anyone sharing their story is about healing. I wanted to be able to connect to people who are where I used to be and encourage them to take care of themselves and I think I did that, in my own way. Every day I work on not focusing on what I don't have and to value and build on the things that I do, yet I still tend to gravitate toward the negative. Looking back at the clip, this whole experience showed me that I really need to stop thinking that I'm not good enough, as it's clearly wearing me out. I'm not perfect and probably never will be, but I don't need to be. It's about making your mind up that you're going to do whatever is that you're taking on and then giving it your best shot. Something that, if I look back, I've tried to do time and again.

The video may or may not affect anyone but I was afraid to do and did it anyways, just like I did when I first stepped foot in the clinic. Good or bad, I still managed to get through it despite myself and that's a small victory in itself.

YouTube - Changed Lives: Erin

Gone

I thought I might crash and burn at yesterday's Foodapolooza but I feel like those days are gone. I can't say I didn't indulge in any treats, (I had a scoop of black raspberry ice cream), but that was all I could literally stomach. Maybe it was the oppressive heat or the sight of hundreds of fit women in small sundresses everywhere I looked, but the idea of shoveling down more junk food didn't appeal to me. I kept thinking that the old me would have stayed at home, too embarrassed to be seen walking by food tents in summer clothing overweight. I would have never even made it past the mile walk to the event and now I could handle being on my feet at length. I was with all the other women who were enjoying Sunday at a bay front park and, for the first time in years, I felt comfortable doing the same. That's the treat these days and I don't want to ruin that. In fact, I'm trying to go a few more pounds past my original goal weight and have already lost five pounds this month.

In the words of Third Eye Blind's Stephen Jenkins, "I want something else to help me through this life" and I'm still searching to find what exactly that is. Not so sure my husband and I watching a nineties band perform with two restless kids fits the bill though. I'll always have a passion for music but am starting to feel like those days of not feeling old at a concert may be gone too.

YouTube - ThirdEyeBlind.MOV

As Seen On TV

Oh my God, what was up with the Rachael Ray show? Can you say agenda?! So much for telling the WHOLE story and informing people on an incredible personal achievement and an excellent program for weight loss. The show was all about NBC promoting The Biggest Loser and Jillian Michaels pitching her book, as she has all the answers to making your dreams come true. Jeez, even the viewer who had to overcome wearing minimal makeup for 30 days got more screen time!

But it's not Jerome's fault. He and his wife did mention Medi numerous times during the five hour taping of the show but were told they may not have time for them to answer all of the interview questions. So they were overshadowed by the bigger so called celebrity and, (due to some clever editing), it looks like The Biggest Loser is responsible for inspiring the couple and serving as the perfect guide for them to lose the weight on their own. They even showed them going into the doctor's office for their weekly weigh-ins!!! ARRRRRGHHH!!!!!! Those weren't done to mimic the show!!!! It's an important part to the medically supervised weight loss program they were both on to help keep them on track and to monitor their health called Medi!!!!!!!!! The clinic even sticks with their patients after they reach their goals to help them sustain the change long term too. TV Land does things a bit differently. In that world they drop you after the cameras stop rolling and catch up with you a year later when you've put the weight back on and they can exploit you all over again.

I understand a network wanting to plug their own show and not wanting the segment to be just a commercial for the clinic, but they really short changed both of them. To not give them a chance to share more of their story or to even mention the program that was a key component to helping the couple shed over 400 pounds is wrong. They missed out on an opportunity to potentially help a lot of overweight people. People who have tried diets on their own, or may be contemplating gastric surgery, and could benefit greatly from medical support. I don't think I can watch Rachael Ray ever again.

On the Show

Medi weight loss patient, Jerome Biggars and his wife Shawna share how they lost over 400lbs together on the Rachael Ray Show tomorrow!

On the downside, Jillian Michaels is going to be on as well. I don't watch The Biggest Loser anymore because of how they degrade their contestants for ratings and she seems to be the worst offender. Maybe it's not nice to label her a bully but how else would you describe someone who gets up in other peoples' faces, screams at them, and makes them exercise until they feel chest pains for ratings. (As if they haven't already been humiliated enough.) Thankfully, Jerome and Shawna will be there to show her how losing weight is really done. Set your dvr.

Rachael Ray Show - On the Show - Jillian Michaels’ Fan Surprise & French Onion Mac ‘n’ Cheese

Slimming Down

I may not be the toast of town like my brother with his Bears, but my work has been popping up in my own community along with some other Medi Mamas. We may not be hairy but we know how to rock, especially in skinny jeans and heels. Nice job ladies!

Your Community Newspaper | Blog | The joy of permanent weight loss

Lights, Camera, Action

Yes, it's that time of year again. It's annual sick week. You know, that one time of year when you've got the longest To Do list to tackle? When you're counting down the minutes until the medicine kicks in and you can fade into unconscious where pain ceases to plague you for at least a few hours?

I don't get it. I wash my hands. I take my multivitamin. Why the extra obstacle? Why now? Can't it wait until the weekend?

The prime source of these germs is none other than my first born. He's showing all the signs of a flu - stuffy nose, sore throat, no appetite for my cooking... Naturally he thought nothing about coughing on my pillow during a recent Harry Potter marathon but I am not getting sick. I'm not getting sick. I'm NOT getting SICK! The mucus setting up shop in my sinuses is just an unpleasant drainage problem that will magically clear up just as quickly as it set in.

It better because Thursday is a big day and I can't be looking all run down and blowing my nose on video. I just found out that I will be sharing my weight loss story for a video testimony! Yay!While I'm glad to be able to spread the word to others who might think permanent weight loss isn't possible, it could also create yet another strange experience. Now I could potentially be in the waiting room at the clinic while a video loop, with me in it, plays on a flat screen behind me. I can just see the confused looks of other patients now. (Insert Twilight Zone music here).

That's right - I'm going to be inside a real video studio, in front of a camera crew, with my adult acne and all, trying to articulate just how much my life has completely changed since joining the program while trying not to get choked up. Not that that would make me emotional or anything. After all, if I don't lose it, my spot could potentially be seen by a few more people than just my immediate family. But my camera time consists only of a B52 karaoke song in high school, a requested tribute to Pat Benatar, and some headache inducing background audio after my son's touchdown. I don't think that qualifies as valuable experience. Wish me luck.

Finding Myself

(Warning: This is shameless self promotion. This doesn't happen every day so I felt compelled to document it. Forgive me.)

Took a few more pictures of my new home. It was similar to playing Where's Waldo. :)

Aside from fine dining, it looks like my alter ego, is interested in health




the arts




and all things beautiful!



It's uncanny how my bannner just happened to be located at these particular places. How'd they know? I might just start liking malls, especially this one.

Hangin' Around

The weekly visit to the Medi clinic is very routine at this point. Walk in, sign in, and then wait for my name to be called in the waiting room. Yup, once again I'm there like the last person at a party who doesn't notice that everyone else already left. I've seen some staff and four doctors come and go and the ones that remain are probably wondering how long before they have to push me out the door.

In a lot of ways, nothing is new. There are no more sizes dropped, pounds lost, or drastic physical changes. I go in the exam room for a B12 injection and get weighed once a month, free of charge, and that's it. All that ever changes is the staff member I see and I just hope it's not a doctor, since they're typically more aggressive when sticking your arm with a needle.

But just when I think I've reached my goal and it doesn't get any better than that, I get another gift handed to me. Today, while seeing my favorite nurse, she exclaimed, "Erin, did you see? You're picture is flying all over Wiregrass my dear! Did they tell you?"

HOLY SH**!!!!!! What?! I may not make it to the local shopping mall that often, but apparently my poster image sure does. She's hanging around every other street light at the most popular place in town! She's in front of Grillsmith restaurant where it looks like she always has a table reserved for her and I haven't even eaten there yet. She's about to check out the new releases at Barnes & Noble when I only have time to read magazines. Hell, she's even next to my favorite store, JcPenNEY, yards away from actor Terrence Howard's ad like they're both just hustlin' and flowin'. That chick looks ten times cooler than me and appears to be having more fun than me too, but she is me. True it's me made up me wearing a dress that I don't typically wear often and in heels that I can hardly walk in but the promise of living out this "night on the town" look it obtainable now when I never imagined I would get this far.

Looking at yourself after losing over 100 pounds is surreal enough but to see a glammed up version of yourself when your shopping around town is both strange and incredibly empowering. How many people actually lose a significant amount of weight through a weight loss program and also have their success publically broadcast? Not only that but people I don't even know have been posting comments about my story on Facebook. Comments like, "You're story gave me chills... it's a blessing... you inspired me to try again." To have any impact on anyone else with a weight issue, and to possibly motivate them to getting back their life when I've been overweight off and on since I was a little girl... It means everything to me. I couldn't ask for more and if my weight should continually stay at my goal, well then I'm just going to have to get used to it. :)

YouTube - Talking Heads - "Once In A Lifetime"