100 gone!

Fifteen years ago I gave birth to twins who were so early, that I had no idea what would become of them, and what my life would be. Would they be healthy? Would they live? Could I handle whatever challenges we might face? I turned to M&M's. Literally. I went through bags of them the first year of my cute little babies life.My family can tell you that M&M's were always around. When they came home from the hospital 3 months later, my sister would come over every day to watch them so I could workout. I worked out, and gained almost 100 lbs. Who knew you couldn't eat bags full of chocolate, and not gain weight just because you were working out?!

During the next 8 or 9 years, between the normal stresses of life, and having another baby, my weight stayed about the same. I would lose 20 pounds, but fall back into old habbits. The one thing I did do right, was that I always worked out pretty consistently.

When I was about 30, I fell on a slippery tile floor and broke my back. I ended up having surgery, and gained another 50 pounds on top of the 100! Yikes! I still tried to walk as much as I could, but it is really hard when you get big.

Well now I can say that I am getting my health back! Within a couple years after back surgery, I lost some weight, but kind of stalled out, which brings us to last summer. I gave up my treats, started working harder in my workouts and since last summer, I have lost 57 pounds, BUT....from my highest weight after back surgery, I have now lost 100 pounds!!! Life is good, and I have a wonderful husband and 3 healthy kids too(One towers over me!). We are all on this journey of life together, and I am thankful for their support. We all need it!

This week I have started calorie counting again. I hate it, but it works. If you want to join me, come find me at My Fitness Pal. I am shanse. I love friends!

What else weighs 35 pounds?

It's that time again...Shanna and I have both reached our 35 pound goal...HOORAY! We are pretty excited!  So I thought I'd list a few things that weigh 35 pounds:

1- 140 sticks of butter...GROSS!  That equals the 35 packages of butter up above.
2- Seven 5 pound bags of potatoes.
3- About 6 gallons of gas.
4- My nearly 3 year old son.
5- A mid-sized microwave.
6- Seven 6 packs of soda.


I'm pretty proud of us; we've had our ups and downs this last month, but overall we're making progress!
What else weighs 35 pounds???

Get started

I really believe this.  I've got 10 more pounds to reach my halfway mark, of 42.5 pounds, on my fitness journey.  I'd really like to do this by the end of December.  I'm super excited and kind of nervous.  I know that sounds weird, but I tend to be a self saboteur.  I reach certain goals, then start freaking myself out, over thinking things, then backsliding quite a ways.  I have done a lot better in the last 4 months, but still...it's a little nerve wracking.  Ultimately though, no matter what goal you're trying to reach, the ONLY way to make progress is just to get started.  Now 3 1/2 months later I can see the progress I've made and I'm SOOOOOO glad I got started when I did.  So, if your reading this thinking, "Man, I wish I could get started,"...well, duh, just start!  Even if you just watch what you eat for one meal, that's starting...or go for a walk, or write down what you ate that day....just start!  I promise in a month you'll be glad you did! ;)

They Fit!!!

I Never Said They Weren't Tight!

Oh, and I may have my hands strategically put over the ever-so-slight muffin top. ;) Yes, you can see every little bulge in my legs, and it ain't pretty, BUT...I can get them on!

Do you ever buy yourself clothes hoping they will fit in the future? I rarely do, but once in a while if I  am feeling motivated I will. I bought these green gems last year around Christmas, and I am going to be in them around Christmas this year! 

In other news, my September was completely crazy. My birthday, my anniversary, my little girl's birthday, and getting ready for her baptism which was this last Saturday, and completely wonderful! I am happy to say I lost 5 lbs in September which put me at a 4 month total of 25 lbs!!! I am good with that. Now I am at 28 lbs lost and  ready to put in more work! My goal is to be at 50 lbs lost by January 1st!  What goals do all of you have??? I want some comments people! I love them! I am so happy to be on this journey. It is so great to have so much support from everyone, and I know Erin and I are happy to support any of you who are on, or ready to go on this journey with us!

Oh, and just a side note:  How many pictures do you think I had to take before I could post? It wasn't only one!  :/

Reaching goals puts me on a high!

Okay guys, I am super excited.  Drum roll please......I am 2 pounds away from reaching my 30 pound mark, and I'm going to reach it this week....I can feel it!

I came across this idea today and I love it!  It said: A healthy lifestyle is not something you turn on or off depending on your current outlook. Love it! Totally true.  

Also, this article had some simple ideas for getting moving.  What are some ways that you get your cardio in every day?

What are your fitness, or other, goals for this week?  

P.S. If we're not already friends on myfitnesspal come find us...I'm mrserinjohnson and Shanna is shanse.

He can kiss my {soon to be tiny} hiney!!!

From October 2012 until now, I've been learning so much, not just about fitness...it's been the year of self discovery and it also seems like about life in general.  I was kind of thrown into the self discovery process, and I'm so glad I was!  I thought I'd write about a few of the things that I've learned.  Satan is sneaky!  This is quite obvious...but I'll tell you why I say that.  No matter what your dealing with or struggling with in your life...if you look at the root of what it is your struggling with there's usually a pattern.  We all have weaknesses...and they are usually most evident and hardest to control when we're alone. {Obviously he knows we are weaker without support, or even just too embarrassed to do whatever we do with someone else around us.} Then, after we succumb to temptation, we feel like crap and let him beat us up! For me it's eating junk.  I discovered that I really love to have my little snack when all my kids and husband are asleep.  I got to have some much needed alone time and I'd use my little crutch of food to give me comfort from an exhausting day.  Think about what it is that your struggling with and see if you can see any sort of pattern to your temptation. 

The next thing I realized is that Satan wants us to continue to deal with these struggles on our own because by ourselves we are weak.  He can torture us and make us feel like crap...so of course he doesn't want us to talk about it and work through our problems!  I've been recognizing his handy work in my life in many areas, but specifically with getting fit, I've found having Shanna as a workout buddy and someone I can complain too and talk about what I'm struggling with has been a huge help.  I also have a pretty awesome husband who is always willing to help me work through things.  But most importantly my biggest supporter and greatest strength comes from my Heavenly Father.  If I'm having a rough day I can ask Him for help and believe me, help always comes!

I really love this saying and this picture.  It's exactly how I feel right now.  Weight loss and getting fit can be really embarrassing.  It's embarrassing to me that I let myself get out of control and forget to take care of my body.  That I could eat an entire bag of__________{insert choice junk food here}in one sitting!  That I love clothes and looking cute and that I was squeezing myself into my too tight stuff.  But I've learned how to overcome being embarrassed...do you want to know the secret?  Taking action, no matter how small, makes you feel empowered so you can make your new ending!  I feel strong and beautiful and amazing.  Even though there are still temptations and guilt..and a long way to go to get to my goals, I know that with my Heavenly Father I have the strength to knock Satan on his butt and he can just kiss mine as I'm jogging past him!

Speaking of jogging...I've started doing the couch to 5k and I'm sore this morning!  But this has been my mantra all week!

I'm pretty proud of myself!  I've always wanted to be a "runner," with all the coolness that comes from it....those of you who are runners and are fit, you may not know that those of us who are not, think you are cool and secretly wish we could do it too!  Plus.....drum roll please...I AM A THIRD OF THE WAY TO MY GOAL!  I'VE LOST 25 POUNDS!!!!!  And I'm just getting started.  It's really exciting to be feeling so strong.  

So anyways, I hope this helps someone in some tiny way.  Seriously look at what's holding you back and see if Satan has any part in it.  The good new is that if he is...you can be stronger than him!!!

Huge milestone

Alright, I am super excited because I hit my 20 pound mark today!!!  I was getting pretty frustrated because I was working out hard, and eating a lot better and not eating at night at all and I just wasn't seeing the results I wanted.  I have been feeling so much better, and I can see a difference in my body, but still not showing on the scales.  That's when I knew I had to track my food better.  Stupid food!  I hate that I have to write down everything I put into my mouth, but apparently that's the only way this is going to work for me.  So anywho, today is a big day....20 pounds down.

Here's my list of 20 things that weigh 20 pounds:


1. A puppy
2. A 1 year old 
3. KitchenAid Mixer
4. Car Tire
5. Medium sized bag of dog food
6. Two bags of sugar
7. My purse packed full of everything for my kiddos
8. 2 gallons of milk
9. 80 sticks of butter  {Seriously gross!!!}
10. 4 large Rainbow Trout
11. A big bag of ice
12. A propane tank
13. Karaoke machine
14. Thanksgiving turkey
15. Dining chair
16. A pug dog
17. 2 medium bowling balls

18. 2 cats or one really large one!
19. A Racoon
20. All the fat I just lost!!!


That's pretty gross and awesome all in one!  So here's to being 20 pounds lighter and being diligent about writing all my stupid food down!!!