Weight Loss Success Story: Carol Bartholomew

Today, I would like you to meet my Mom, Carol!! My Mom is on her own weight loss journey. So far she has lost over 50 pounds and 12 inches. I am proud of my Mom and the lifestyle changes that she has made. She is a constant source of encouragement and inspiration as we watch her reach her goals on day at a time. She hasn't reached her goal yet, but I know that she won't give up until she gets there! 

Me, Olivia, and Mom September 2013

Check out my Mom's story and be inspired!!

I was very thin when I was growing up and once I got married and started having kids the weight came on and it never left. I have 3 daughters and 2 sons plus 7 grandkids. I moved down to Springfield, Oregon from Washington in January of 2013. I weighed about 50 lbs. more than I do now. 

Before

Currently, I am a caregiver for my mother who has Alzheimer’s.  I started walking in March of 2013 and by August I was at 199 and had hit a plateau.  I needed more.  I met a man named Tim from International Fitness and he gave me a free pass to come to the gym.  I went, I joined, and I haven’t looked back since!

I know the weight doesn’t seem like a lot for a year but I have also become very toned and much stronger.  I recently re-measured myself and I have lost 12 inches so far.  That’s a whole foot! How insane is that!

After

I have a really bad left knee which has hindered me being able to take more classes.  When I found PiYo things just clicked for me.  I love PiYo!! I do it 5 days a week in a live class at the gym and I also have the home version which I do 6 days a week. I am very proud of my accomplishments.

Amazing!

I am changing my life one day at a time. I want to show my kids anything is possible if you put your mind to it and show my grandkids to never give up on your dreams!! I also want to encourage my girls to start getting healthy now while they are young.  It isn’t as easy when you are older like me. But ANYTHING is possible if you want it bad enough and try try try!

A Day on Simply Filling

I get questions from people about what they should eat now that they have started their own weight loss journey. Below is a record of what I ate for one day using the Weight Watchers Simply Filling technique. These healthy foods kept me satisfied throughout the day.  I hope this post gives you some new ideas which you could easily add to your daily routine.

{Breakfast}

For breakfast I ate...

hot oatmeal (powerfood)

blueberries (powerfood)

1 tbsp agave nectar (2 pointsplus)

1 liter water (0 pointsplus)

delicious blueberries

{Morning Snack}

I was so full from breakfast that I wasn't hungry for a snack. That doesn't always happen, but on this day it did.

{Lunch}

For lunch I ate...

1/2 bbq chicken lean cuisine pizza (4 pointsplus)

green salad (powerfood)

2 tbsp fat free zesty italian dressing (0 pointsplus)

1 liter water (0 pointsplus)

water bottle

{Afternoon Snack}

For snack I ate...

1 large banana (powerfood)

{Dinner}

  For dinner I ate...

1 slice nature's own 100% whole grain bread (powerfood)

2 egg muffins (powerfood)

1/2 cup roasted tomato, potato, zucchini, and summer squash (powerfood)

1 liter water (0 pointsplus)

roasted tomato, potato, zucchini, and summer squash

 {Late Night Snack}

For snack I ate...

4 cups plain, air-popped popcorn (powerfood)

{Daily Total}

3 liters of water

lots of powerfoods

used 6 pointsplus from my 49 weekly pointsplus allowance

Simply Filling Technique

Over the past few months I have been eating more "whole foods". Whole foods are foods that have been processed or refined as little as possible and are free from additives or other artificial substances. I feel very strongly about the importance of making wise food choices.

source

For the past 5 years, I have followed the Weight Watchers program. I have consistently followed the PointsPlus technique and it has worked. I lost 90 pounds in 2009 using the PointsPlus program. 

Recently, I have been conflicted, because I wasn't sure that I could continue to be on the Weight Watchers program with my new convictions about the importance of eating whole foods. Instead of quitting Weight Watchers all together, I have decided to start a new journey using the Simply Filling technique.

On the Simply Filling program you eat foods from the Power Foods list until you are satisfied, not worrying about counting PointsPlus. If you want something that isn’t a Power Food, then you use your Weekly PointsPlus allowance or any Activity PointsPlus you earn. If you want more information, here is what Weight Watchers has to say about it.

My plan is to try Simply Filling for two weeks and see how it goes. I am both nervous and excited at the same time! This morning I was so careful about the food choices that I made, because I wanted to be sure that they were within the Simply Filling guidelines.

I have tried Simply Filling before, but I have always gone back to PointsPlus, because it is what is familiar to me. I don't want that to happen this time around.

I can't wait to give you more feedback in the coming days and weeks about this technique!!

Making Exercise a Routine....again

Ever since I gave birth to Sophie in December, it has been incredibly challenging to get back into a regular exercise routine. I have worked out at home, but I have not gone for an actual run yet.

Yesterday, I put on my workout clothes and laced up my running shoes and went for a run. My goal was to complete two miles. I am very out of shape and had to alternate between running and walking. I was so excited that I did not pass out or give up.

It was hard and I am very sore, but it was worth it!!

I anticipate that it will continue to be challenging to make time for myself and exercise. I know that in the end, this will all be worth it!!

Here's a fun before and after picture below...

I will not be able to go for a run everyday. So on the days when Jon's gone, I will workout at home by using my exercise videos. I do not have very many exercise DVDs so I am currently rotating through "Jillian Michaels - 30 Day Shred", "Weight Watchers: Punch!", and ":08 min. Abs".

Anyone else struggling to get back into a good exercise routine? What is your favorite exercise routine right now?

Bounce Back

In case I haven’t mentioned this earlier, I am leading a local Weight Watchers meeting again!! I am so excited about this opportunity and thankful that God worked out my schedule so that I could be a part of a weekly meeting.

Last night at Weight Watchers, we talked about bouncing back from a slip up. Everyone has had a slip up and we will have them again. The most important thing is that we need to remember that they are not a big deal. We must do whatever we can to forgive ourselves and get back on plan as soon as possible. None of us are proud of our slip ups, but we all have gained a lot of wisdom as we have learned from our mistakes.

Right before the end of the meeting, we wrote down words of encouragement on a Post-It note. We were told to take that note home with us and put it up somewhere in our house where we will see it. This way the next time we mess up our note will be there to help us get back on track.

On my note I wrote, “The scale does NOT define you.”

What would your Post-It note say!?