The Great Weight Write-Off

Well, now that I've whined about not having fairy godfathers, I've decided I need to be my own.  After all, I'm a smart woman, and while I don't have $10,000 to toss around per episode, I can afford to spend a little on me, credit card be da*&ed.  

Step one: the body.

After gaining several pounds over Christmas--thanks ever so much to folks who sent us designer foods--I decided the only way to cut sweets is to keep them out of the house, so the new rule is dessert once a week and no sodas except when having junk food or pizza--and those are severely cut down.  We were junk food junkies, probably eating five-10 meals a week in the form of burgers, pizza, donuts, etc.  Since Rob left, we've cut that down to perhaps three, with occasional slips.  Daily sodas are gone, too.

Since I knew I am not alone in wanting to lose, I sent a call to my writing friends and twelve of us have started the Great Weight Write-Off.  We promise to blog our progress and support each other, and once a week, whoever made the most progress toward their goals gets their book, blog, etc toured by the rest.  We've set our goals for March 1, and if this helps, we'll keep going.

Tomorrow, I will tell you about my first day at Biofit boot camp, but today, let me introduce you to the Dieting Dozen:

I have a BIG favor to ask:  Please find one person here who speaks to you as far as lifestyle, writing, or fitness goal, visit their blog, and encourage them  in this process.  It will mean the world--or perhaps a few pounds! 

Sherry Antonetti, http://www.sherryantonettiwrites.blogspot.com:  "I’m 23 years married to the father of our 6 girls and 4 boys, have a master’s in special education and a writer in my second career.  Over the past five years, I’ve been published in the Washington Post, Faith &Family Live, Catholic Standard, Catholic Digest and Beaumont Enterprise, and am currently editing my first work of fiction, slated for publishing in May of 2013! Other than that, I stink at housework, love to eat (especially good chocolate), and exercise and I are not friends." Goal:  lose 20 pounds, develop better eating habits, and get out of those maternity pants!.

Grace Bridges www.splashdownbooks.com, splashdownbooks.com:  "Grace Bridges owns Splashdown Books, an indie press that publishes speculative fiction. She is also a science fiction author and has two published books: Faith Awakened (2007) and Legendary Space Pilgrims (2010). Grace is a New Zealander of Irish descent and a multilingual do-it-yourself force to be reckoned with."  GOAL: 10-15 lb by March 1; overall 40-45lb, eat more slowly, and to not look fat

Karina, http://fabianspace.com: Karina Fabian writes about noir dragon detectives, zombie exterminators, and psychics driven insane by their powers.  She also writes devotionals and stories about Catholicism.  An eclectic woman with eclectic writing, she invites you to join her for fiction faith and fun in Fabianspace (http://fabianspace.com).  Roughly the shape of a pudding bag, she’s like to get back to an hourglass figure, although her goal is simply to be somewhat more svelte by the time her husband comes home from Iraq. GOAL:  14 pounds, and take one inch off waist and one inch off thighs

Margaret Fieland, http://www.margaretfieland.com/,  http://blog.margaretfieland.com/
and the much-neglected http://relocated.margaretfieland.com/: “Born and raised in New York City, Margaret Fieland has been around art and music all her life.  Her poems and stories have appeared in journals such as  Turbulence Magazine, Front Range Review, and All Rights Reserved. She is one of the Poetic Muselings. Their poetry anthology, "Lifelines," was published by Inkspotter Publishing in November, 2011.  She is the author of "Relocated," published by MuseItUp Publishing, and of "Sand in the Desert." Her book,  "The Angry Little Boy," will be published by 4RV publishing in early 2013. You may visit her website, http://www.margaretfieland.com. or http://poetic-muselings.net/”  GOAL: Lose five pounds and exercise (walk) at least five days out of the week

Rebecca Frech, http://shovedtothem.blogspot.com:  “Rebecca is the writer of the award winning blog Shoved to Them, speaker, wife, and homeschooling mother of seven. “ Goal: 15-20 by March 1, 40 lbs overall , stop snacking from boredom or while writing, and  have people  start saying "Wow! You've had seven kids?"

Laura Lowder, www.lauralowder.wordpress.com: Goal: Lose 15 pounds by March 1 and to be able to do something physical for more than 5 minutes without being out of breath, hurting, having to sit down. 

Dennis P McGeehan, http://warriorsworlddad.com, http://workplacetrainingsolutions.info:  “ Married to Susann, we have 8 kids ages 15 to 27. I retired in 2011 and am pursuing a writing career and starting a Safety Counseling Business.”  Goal:  By March 31 - 255 or less and lose two notches on belt.

Kristyn Phipps, www.kristynphipps.com, www.kristynphipps.com/blog: “I was born and raised in the foothills of NC. I’m a novas writer, published in an anthology is 2012 and working on my first novel.  I just celebrated eight years of marriage with my hero, Patrick. We have two daughters, Ellie and Brie, who have begun following my health patterns. My long term goal is to get back to my pre-baby weight and shape so that by our tenth anniversary, I can wear the wedding dress I never got to wear. I want to teach my girls how to eat and stay healthy all of their lives.”  Goal:  Lose 20 pounds and 2 dress sizes

K. Ann Seeton,  hg2au.com: “Mother of four ages 24, 22, 3, and 11 months. Convert.  Married to Gary for 5 years. Lifelong geek and bookworm, love animals, church music, Christ, Catholicism, and my family. Some people knit, I study.  BA English and Art, certified to teach grades 1-8 with specialty areas, nearly all the credits for a BS in Breeding Theory, finally finished a graduate degree=MA in theological studies; some additional coursework in Carmelite Studies, and then there is the passion for history and a wide variety of other subjects. Introvert, love odd things like my autoharps, which I play very badly, Ballroom dance (I take classes for exercise) and long skirts which I am taking a class on drafting patterns so I can create my own perfect skirts. I play in the Society for Creative Anachronism. I home school for many reasons. I write because I cannot NOT write, any more than I could avoid studying or breathing. I am a daughter of the Church. I like teaching in RCIA but am not currently teaching.”  Goal: I am staying on my diet until I reach my target of 130 pounds. By March 1, I would like to say I have stayed on the diet perfectly and lost some weight.  Also, manage blood sugars.

Cindy Smith, https://www.facebook.com/cindyemmet.smith:  “I am almost 61, have three children—21, 26, 29 and I live with my husband. I retired from my job of 8 years last summer and am working on self-publishing my books. I currently have two in print. My website will be up soon. “ Goal: lose 5 pounds and exercise 5 days a week. I would like to increase my endurance from 1 mile on the treadmill to 2.5 and increase speed from 2 to 3

Barbara Wood, https://www.facebook.com/barbara.wood.58173: “I am about to turn 59 in a couple of weeks. At that age, my metabolism changed with my change of life. As a result, maintaining, let alone losing is a real struggle.”  Goal:  By the end of March, I am hoping to lose 7-8 lbs.