107 Down

Redeemed Collection Winner

Alana — Sat, 05 May 2012 13:00:57 +0000

The Redeemed Collection by DaySpring is so beautiful! I know that whoever wins this will love it! Thanks so much to DaySpring for sponsoring this giveaway!

Drumroll Please…

#5 is Bethany! Bethany, please check your email for a coupon code to DaySpring to be redeemed for a Redeemed Wallet!

2012 Losing It ~ Week 18

Alana — Fri, 04 May 2012 14:50:16 +0000

How goes the battle? Well I squeaked out a loss this week! Yippee! I have had a super, busy week and have fallen back into the habit of not working out. So this week is all about working out! Starting with Bloomsday on Sunday! Yes, thats right, I decided at the last minute to walk the 12K race with a friend. I have done Bloomsday before and we have a love hate relationship. I hate doing the race. I love having finished the race.
I did it alone two years ago. It was very empowering to finish strong. I am hoping to do the same this year. Tonight I brave the crowds and go try to pick up my race packet. We have a busy weekend full of family in town for the race, birthday parties and work.

Here are the Stats:
Starting Weight for 2012: 264.2 lbs.
Previous Week: 2251.0
Current Week: 250.6 lbs.
Loss: -0.4 lbs.
Total 2012 Loss: -13.6 lbs.

How are you doing?

2012 Losing It ~ Week 17

Alana — Fri, 27 Apr 2012 14:44:01 +0000

The scale is starting to go back in the right directions…whew. Even though I am ending the month heavier than I started it, I am glad to see the number go back down. Its almost like my body likes 250 lbs. and wants to be around it. I don’t like 250 lbs… so this week my goal is to get under 250 lbs. and stay under 250 lbs. forever.

Starting Weight for 2012: 264.2 lbs.
Previous Week: 2253.6
Current Week: 251.0 lbs.
Loss: -2.6 lbs.
Total 2012 Loss: -13.2 lbs.

How are you doing on your journey? Leave me a comment and let me know!
Don’t forget to enter the Dayspring Reedeemed Giveaway today!

Redeemed Review and Giveaway

Alana — Mon, 23 Apr 2012 04:08:39 +0000

As you know, I love Dayspring! The Redeemed Collection by Dayspring is no exception. I always get so excited when I see a box from them on my doorstep because I know that it is going to be something beautiful and inspiring. Dayspring sent me the Redeemed collection wallet and make up bag to use and share with you what I thought! I love them both.

The make up bag has an outside pocket, 2 inside pockets and a zippered closure… its a good size, big enough to fit everything in, but not too big!

The wallet is beautiful. It has Romans 8:28 and the words “Truly Treasured” . Inside has plenty of slots, a mirror and a secure place for coins.
I love the bright fun colors and the reminder that God loves and redeems us!

Check out the collection on their website and let me know what you think!

GIVEAWAY
Dayspring has generously given me a coupon code good for 1 wallet to be given away to one of you! Please leave a comment on this post to enter! Deadline for the giveaway is April 28th, 2012 at midnight.
* The code is good only for the wallet and no other promotional codes can be used on the purchase. Shipping charges not included.

* I was provided these items free of charge and all opinions are my own.

2012 Losing It ~ Week 16

Alana — Fri, 20 Apr 2012 15:11:04 +0000

If you thought my scale hated me last week… just you wait.

Truly it is nothing short of a miracle that my scale is still alive. It took all my will power not to throw it out the window, drown it in the bathtub or send it to the dump this morning. Ok, that might be a bit extreme… but I am not saying those thoughts did not cross my mind. Stupid Scale. The Stupid Scale says I gained 4 pounds this week. I am really disappointed to have to report that, however I know it is not an accurate reflection of an actual weight gain. You need a 3500 calorie excess to gain 1 lb. So that means I would have had to eat an excess of 14,000 calories in the last 4 days to gain 4 pounds. Did not happen. I stayed in my calorie limit every stinking day.
I say 4 days because on Tuesday at my final weigh in for the 12 week challenge at the gym I was down another pound. So I didn’t murder my scale because I know it is lying to me. I must be retaining water or something wonky like that. Heres to hoping for a HUGE loss next week.

Here are the stats:
Starting Weight for 2012: 264.2 lbs.
Previous Week: 249.6
Current Week: 253.6 lbs.
Loss: +4 lbs.
Total 2012 Loss: -10.6 lbs.

How are you doing this week?

2012 Losing It ~ Week 15

Alana — Fri, 13 Apr 2012 14:34:38 +0000

And the scale hates me! Or rather I hate it. Or the feeling is mutual! The last weigh in before the end my 12 week weight loss challenge (Tuesday) and I should be down. I should be down a lot. My goal was 36 pounds. I am not going to make that. UGH! I am stalled again this week. No loss, no gain. I weigh in for the official 12 week contest on Tuesday so I have a bit of time to lose a pound, but seriously I know I won’t win the grand prize. Bummer. I know I am not losing weight for the money, but the money would come in handy right now! My plan for the week is to lower my calories down to 1500, drink at least a gallon of water a day. Work out with the trainers four times and do four hours of cardio before next Friday. I am still trying to start the Couch to 5k program and still trying to figure out how to make good eating choices when out and when there isn’t much time to prepare foods.

Here are the stats:
Starting Weight for 2012: 264.2 lbs.
Previous Week: 249.6
Current Week: 249.6 lbs.
Loss: +/- 0 lbs.
Total 2012 Loss: -14.6 lbs.

How are you doing?

2012 Losing It ~ Week 14

Alana — Fri, 06 Apr 2012 15:46:10 +0000

Whaaaa…… [that is me crying]

Well, the week has come… after 13 straight weeks of losing, I have gained. What? UGH! I am so discouraged.
I ate well this week, within calories every day but one,

I worked out on schedule…

but still a gain. Ugh!
I am hoping its a gain from sodium, water weight or something similar.

Although I am discouraged, I will keep going… keep trying and eventually I will see the results of my work!

Here are the stats:
Starting Weight for 2012: 264.2 lbs.
Previous Week: 248.8
Current Week: 249.6 lbs.
Loss: +0.8 lbs.
Total 2012 Loss: -14.6 lbs.

How are you doing on your weight loss journey?

2012 Losing It ~ Week 13

Alana — Fri, 30 Mar 2012 14:45:45 +0000

Its Friday again my friends! Yah for weekends and weight loss! I had a very busy week but still managed to stick to my diet of Lean protein, green veggies and limited condiments with only a few slip ups. I have to say that diet is so hard to do eating out. We went to Applebee’s for my father in laws birthday and it was ridiculous. The only thing on the menu I could order without a ridiculous amount of special requests was a sirloin steak with only veggies for the sides. They say they have the Weight Watchers items, but still a lot of the ingredients are not healthy, its just small portions and extra veggies. Ugh! This weekend will be difficult, we are going out to eat with my mom for her 60th birthday (Happy Birthday Mom!) but we are going to HuHut, so I can customize my meal to my liking! Yah! The rest of my weekend will be more challenging as I have a Mary Kay conference all day Saturday and then we are going out to dinner at a Mexican restaurant Saturday evening.

Here are the stats:
Starting Weight for 2012: 264.2 lbs.
Previous Week: 250.4 lbs.
Current Week: 248.8 lbs.
Loss: -1.6 lbs.
Total 2012 Loss: -15.4 lbs.

How are you doing on your weight loss journey?

Oh, an article I wrote for SheSpeaks is published today! Check it out!

Answers and More Questions

Alana — Tue, 27 Mar 2012 18:28:31 +0000

About six weeks ago I had a bad day…. and long story short I ended up in the doctors office. She looked at me, my records and sent me off to the lab to get a bunch of test done. Turns out they might have figured out what has been wrong with me for last few years: PCOS. This diagnosis fits every symptom I have had in my current health struggles and I am happy to be able to work on a solution instead of feeling like my body hates me.

This diagnosis explains why I have so many thyroid problems, why I am always tired, why I can’t seem to lose weight and much more. I am hoping that this diagnosis levels the playing field. Now that I know what I am fighting against I hope that I can actually make progress!

Some of the steps I have taken to try to gain control of my PCOS

Drastically Changed My Diet – I now eat 1600 to 1800 calories a day of lean protein and vegetables. I am eating very limited carbs and when I do eat carbs 90% of them are whole grain. I am eating very limited fruit. I doing my best to avoid refined sugar and flour.
I Work Out – I have been doing small group personal training sessions 4 – 6 times a week. I have been doing cardio in addition to that as I can fit it in my schedule. Some weeks it is not very much but other weeks I fit it in 6 days.
I Am Trying Acupuncture – My Doctor actually recommended I try acupuncture as several of her patients have had great success with acupuncture and alternative treatments.

I have consistently lost weight every week since beginning this journey to beat PCOS. I have not consistently lost weight for this many weeks in a row in the last four years. I am excited about the progress I have been making, but I am also full of dread because I know this is a lifelong battle to keep my hormones in check, my weight under control and my life in balance.

Have you ever been diagnosed with something that changed your mindset?

Product Review: Ghirardelli Milk & Truffle Chocolate Squares

Alana — Mon, 26 Mar 2012 16:04:43 +0000

It is no secret that I am losing weight. That is pretty much the focus of this blog. 107Down stands for the 107 pounds that I need to lose. Truly after a few failed attempts it was more like 122, but who is getting that technical? So you may be wondering why I am reviewing a chocolate on my blog. Well, it is because I am part of a blogger community called SheSpeaks and they sent me a bag of these puppies to try and review. Well, when I first got the bag of Ghirardelli Milk & Truffle Chocolate Squares I wasn’t going to review them and kind of forgot about it. Then a few weeks back while cleaning I found the bag of Ghirardelli Milk & Truffle Chocolate Squares and thought I would put them in the pantry to save for guests. It had been sitting in the office for a month or so when I picked up the bag - it felt pretty light and upon inspection only found two squares remaining! My husband enjoyed those chocolates. I decided to try one since he thought they were good and I was sick and craving a bit of comfort food.

70 calories for 1 square is a bit steep for a treat in the world of weight loss, but I have to say it was worth it. I loved the contrast of the creamy truffle and chocolate in the middle of the candy and the milk chocolate on the outside. It was very rich and one square was satisfying. The only thing that could have made it better was peanut butter. I love peanut butter with my chocolate, however I might not have been able to stop at just one!

If you are interested in trying these they are available at Walgreens, Walmart, Target and other retailers, check them out for your *ahem* kid Easter baskets.

Disclaimer: I received a sample bag of the new Ghirardelli flavor courtesy of shespeaks.com and Ghirardelli in exchange for an honest review on my blog. The opinions expressed on my blog are solely my own and have not been influenced by any third party or shespeaks.com.