A New Me!

The few of you who read my blog probably already know that I'm taking a diet supplement called Skinny Fiber.  I started taking it August 26th.

I'm 50 years old, 5' 1/2" tall (yes, I count the 1/2") and I started out weighing 207lbs.  I wore a skin tight size 18 jeans and needed a size 20, but couldn't bring myself to buy them.  I wore an XXL top.  I was miserable, my body ached, my hips hurt, my knees cracked and hurt all the time, my feet burned, I had headaches, acid reflux, IBS, esophogitis, diverticulitis, I tossed and turned all night long and would wake up exhausted. Like I said, I was MISERABLE!

I saw an ad on Facebook for Skinny Fiber and a before and after testimonial and thought "that's fake".  I'd been on every diet plan, taken diet pills, shots, HCG, and all the fad diets you see in the magazines while your waiting to check out at the grocery store.  Yes, some of them worked, some didn't, but I was always hungry, felt deprived, tired and drained.  I'd give in to a dessert or go out with my friends for lunch and screw up, then I'd give up and all the weight would come back with a few friends.

I really don't have an answer or reason why I clicked on that website and purchased Skinny Fiber except that they did offer a 30 day empty bottle money back guarantee.  I really didn't think it would work, and was totally expecting to get my money back in 30 days.  Within 1 week, I started noticing something happening.  I was a Diet Dr. Pepper FREAK...that's all I drank, I would drink 4 or 5 - 32 oz fountain drinks EVERYDAY!  It was crazy, but I didn't crave and need the diet pop anymore.  I wanted water!  It was funny, but I realized that I hadn't taken my prescription meds for acid reflux in a day or two and I hadn't eaten any TUMS or Rolaids.  So I kept taking the Skinny Fiber and after 30 days, I had lost 11 lbs and lot's of inches.

Since I've been taking Skinny Fiber, I'm not hungry, I don't feel deprived, because I can eat whatever I want to eat.  Skinny Fiber expands in your stomach making you feel fuller faster, so you are able to control your portion sizes.  The digestive enzymes in Skinny Fiber fixed all my gut problems.  No more acid reflux, no more IBS, no more diverticulitis episodes, no more esophogitis.  My aches and pains are gone and when I go to bed now I actually sleep and wake up feeling very rested.

I'm a slow loser, no metabolism to speak of, I don't exercise like I should but I've still lost 38 lbs and 60".  I'm now wearing a size Large in my tops (I've got big boobs) and a size 10 in some jeans others I'm still in a 12.  So I knew things were happening, but I really couldn't see it that much.  My family wasn't noticing, if they were they weren't saying anything.

Okay, the reason I've gone into this story again is because...

This morning I woke up, I'm going to Branson, MO this weekend for a Skinny Fiber meeting and decided I'd better dye my hair and wash away the gray.  I grabbed a box of color from the cabinet (I bought 5 boxes one day because they were on sale) and mixed it up and started applying it to my roots.  I wasn't really paying to much attention and then I looked in the mirror.  I normally put dark blonde on my hair, because I feel like it lets me go a little longer with the gray not being as noticable as it would in dark brown hair.  As the color processes on my hair it starts turning a dark color with a little purple in it.

Back to the mirror, when I looked at myself, my hair was clown orange.  I grabbed the box and I had dark auburn.  Most of my hair was covered, the beginning had been on at least 10 minutes.  I didn't know whether to rinse it out right then and put the dark blonde over it or just dye all of my hair orange.  So that's what I did.  I was really nervous about what the color would be.  In fact, when I was rinsing it out in the shower, the water looked like someone had been stabbed.

I had taken a picture of the orange goo on my head and sent it to my BFF for her to see my clown orange mess.  She told me it would probably be okay and to send her a picture after I dried my hair.

About an hour later, hair dried, eye make up and lipstick on.  I took a selfie.  I was really suprised at how pretty I felt.  The picture I was looking at didn't look like the girl in the mirror.  So I found a picture that I HATE of myself from my daughters college graduation last May.  I put the old picture and the new picture side by side and I was in total shock.  Here's the picture, what do you think?

In the first picture I was so miserable, It was a happy occassion, but I wasn't happy.  Today, I'm happy and I feel pretty.  I haven't felt pretty in 25 years.

If you are interested in trying Skinny Fiber and finding the pretty you again.  Visit my website at www.teresaharmon.sbc90

Keeping my hands busy

I do really good on my "diet" all week, and then Sunday comes and something happens to me.  I don't know if it's because everyone is home or what.  Maybe it's because I'm spending too much time doing nothing.  

Hayden, my grandson spent the night last night.  We had a really good time, he is obsessed with Minecraft and watching the videos.  We created a new world and built houses, it's a blast watching him be creative.  His dad picked him up this morning around 11am and that's when the restlessness hit me and I caught myself several times opening the refrigerator door, then closing it.  I did really good this week, lost 2 lbs and I don't want to sabatoge myself.  

I decided I needed to keep my hands busy.  The solution, wind and dye some yarn.  Man, winding yarn on a kniddy knoddy is a freakin workout.  My shoulders and biceps are burning like crazy.  I wound 4 - 50 gr skeins of sock yarn.  

Here is a pic of the 1st 2 skeins 

 I think they will make lovely socks.  I've got the other 2 skeins in the crock pot now.  I should have taken pictures of the process, but instead, I'll just explain what I do.

First, get an old crockpot, one that you won't be using to cook food with.  You'll need colors, I use Jaquard Acid Dyes, but you can use food coloring, easter egg coloring, even Kool-Aid.  

 Add about 2-3 qts of hot water to the crock pot, because it takes a long time for the "slow-cooker" to heat the water, you'll need to add some white vinegar to set the colors.  Usually, I like to start out with twisted hanks. This time I did it a little differently.  I left the hanks, loose and then folded them in half.  Tied a cotton string to divide them into 3 seperate dying spaces.

I added about 25 ml of yellow dye to the water and submerged the 1st section of yarn, it's okay if it absorbs up into the middle section.  Once the yellow was pretty much exhasted (yellow takes a long time to absorb), I added 35 ml of turquoise dye to the water and sumberged the 1st and middle sections.  This made the first section turn to a bright kelly green and the middle section stayed turquoise.  Once the turquoise was exhausted.  I added 40 ml of scarlett red and 20 ml of blue to the crock pot.  I put the green and turquoise in a gallon zip-loc baggie and sumberged only the 3rd section. I left the other 2 hanging out of the crockpot.  You need to watch this so that the baggie doesn't melt. But you don't want a big color stain on your counter top either.  (NOTE:  I usually do this outside on the porch, but when I started this project it was raining.)

Once the red/blue color has absorbed.  Squeeze the excess water out of the skeins and rinse with cool water until water runs clear.  Most of the time, there is no excess dye to wash out.  At this point most people say you need to steam the yarn to set the dye.  I don't think you need to do this.  I've never ever had a problem with my colors fading or washing out when I wash my socks or finished garment.

Now just hang them outside to dry, or hang them in the shower.  They will drip, but it's clear water coming off.  Here's a pic of one of the skeins open to see all the colors.

I've got to go check on the other 2 skeins in the crockpot.  I'll post pictures so you can see how it turned out.  I used my normal method of starting out with twisted skeins,  I used scarlett and golden ochre.  Pulled it out and retwisted the hank so more of the white showed and added 50 ml of teal.

Here's the last 2 50 gr hanks.

I love the way the colors bleed together and make something beautiful.  This reminds me of a turquoise ring my mom used to wear when I was a kid.

The best part of the day, was staying busy and not eating out of boredom!  Great day so far.  I think I'll give my arms and shoulders a break and hank up 2 more skeins tomorrow.

Have a great day, and I hope you give yarn dying a go, it's alot of fun!

2 at a time Buddy Socks

If you're interested in learning to knit 2 socks at 1 time using the magic loop method, the best way is to start out with what I call "Buddy Socks". 

Up until last month I owned a yarn shop in our town.  This is how I taught this class.  Each class participant would buddy up with another classmate.  They would knit 1 of their own socks and their "buddy's" sock.  This makes it very easy to know which yarn goes with which sock.

 Toe up socks are easy to try on as you go.  (Unless you're knitting for someone else).  I taught the Fleegle heel method.  You want to start the heel about 4" shorter than your foot length, or when it meet the point where your foot attaches to your leg.

Finished!

The pattern and instructions for buddy socks is here on my blog. 

 Title of post is "Sometimes you just gotta knit"

Have fun!

Bacon Cheeseburger Bake - Yummy

What's for dinner???

This is down right good old comfort food on the lighter side... Your entire family will love it and ask for it often!

Bacon Cheeseburger Bake

Ingredients:

2 tsp olive oil

1 lb extra lean ground beef (you could use ground turkey also)

1/2 onion diced

2 cloves garlic minced

1 Tbsp seasoning salt

Black pepper to taste

1 can diced tomatos

1/2 cup ketchup

1/4 cup mustard

6 oz whole wheat or gluten free spiral pasta

2-3 slices bacon - crumbled

8 oz shredded low fat cheddar cheese

10 hamburger dill chips finely diced - garnish

Pre-heat oven to 350° spray and 9x13 casserole dish with baking spray.  Boil water for pasta.  In microwave, cook bacon until is is crisp enough to crumble.  I used thick cut bacon and it took approx 5 minutes.

In a skillet add olive oil and heat to med-high.  Add onions and cook for 2-3 minutes until clear.  Add garlic and stir together for a minute or so.  Crumble beef and brown together with onions and garlic.  When beef is browned, add seasoning salt, pepper, tomatos, ketchup, mustard and mix together.  Simmer for a few minutes to thicken.

When pasta is tender, add to meat mixture and stir.  Transfer to the 9x13 dish.  Sprinkle crumbled bacon over the top, cover with shredded cheese.  Bake approximately 15 minutes until cheese is melted.

Garnish with diced pickles.

Optional toppings - diced jalapenos, diced raw purple onion, diced fresh tomatos.  

Hope you enjoy it.  If you make this recipe, please leave me a comment and let me know what you thought about it.  

I would like to invite you to join my weight loss support group at www.facebook.com/groups/healthy.choices.WLS/

Yummy Meatballs

I was trying to think of something different to make for dinner tonight and decided to try and make a low carb meatball.

Here's what I came up with...they were really tasty and I have some leftover for lunch tomorrow.

Meatball Ingredients:

2 lbs of ground beef (I used extra lean beef, but you could use sausage, turkey or a mixture)
1/2 c grated parmesan cheese
1 Tbsp seasoning salt
2 eggs
minced onion (I used dried onions about 3 or 4 shakes)
black pepper to taste
Worchestershire sauce (about 3 or 4 shakes)
1 Tbsp dry mustard
3 Tbsp milk

Preheat oven to 375°
Mix it all together until eggs are well incorporated into mixture.  Roll into golf ball size balls.
Heat a skillet and add about 2 Tbsp olive oil.  Brown the meatballs on all sides.

Line a baking sheet with foil and place meatballs on baking sheet.  Bake for 15-20 minutes

Mushroom Sauce Ingredients:
1 pkg Pioneer Brown Gravy Mix
1/2 c mushrooms
1 Tbsp Worchestershire
1 Tbsp butter

While meatballs are baking make a brown gravy.  (I cheated and used a package of Pioneer Brown Gravy)
Make the gravy as directed on packaged.  Saute the mushrooms in butter.  Add mushrooms and remaining ingredients to gravy.

Remove meatballs from pan and add them to the gravy, toss them to coat.
Serve over brown rice or noodles

Enjoy!

Skinny Fiber Results

Here are some friends of mine who have had excellent results using Skinny Fiber.  I wanted to share some of their stories with you.  If you're interested in ordering Skinny Fiber you can visit my website at http://teresaharmon.sbc90.  If you're looking for a way to make money and earn a living from the comfort of your own home, click this link and watch a short 5 minute video.  It might just change your life... http://teresaharmon.sbcpower.com

This is Courtney!!! She is so beautiful!!!
She says : It has changed my life. 90 pounds GONE in one year.Just 2 capsules you take twice a day with water, 30 - 60 minutes before you eat.
Where can you be in one year? The year is going to pass anyways. It is NOW your time. Take care of yourself. You are worth it!
Are you ready to change your life? All Natural, No stimulants, No fake food, No crazy shakes, and a 30 day empty bottle money back guarantee!

Meet Bonnie....

She says - I am so excited to share with you from mid March 2013 to now I have lost a total of 60 pounds! I take 2 Skinny Fiber capsules 30-45 minutes before my 2 biggest meals. Remember i am not big on pills so I take one with a glass of water then the other one with another glass of water. Yes I am human and I do miss a dose here and there too! I follow a low carb diet with my Skinny Fiber.

It is amazing how SF helps me to stick with my diet. Without it I would have already failed again! Sf helps to cut my cravings for junk food, curbs my appetite and helps me feel full quicker! I want to lose another 60-70 pounds and I am about halfway there! I know I can reach my goal by my 57th birthday on June 12. 
Skinny Fiber is helping me so why don't you let it help you too?

Angel just looks wonderful!!
Well.... I DID IT!!!! I have been on Skinny Fiber for exactly ONE YEAR!!!! I have never made it thru a year sticking to something but I am so glad I never gave up!
For those of you who do not know me my name is Angel and I am 23 years old. I've always been a big girl. It wasn't fun and it's not who I wanted to be. I wanted more than anything, not just to be skinny but to be healthy and happy in my own body....but when the scale was pushing well over 200 pounds that just wasnt something that was going to happen. It seemed like years that I tried to lose weight. I tried a million and one things....I'll never forget once my junior year of highschool i got pulled into the principals office because someone suspected drug dealing was going on either with Restaurant Management class (mine) or the MedTech class. The principal searched my purse and found a small bag of pills and began to question me. Honestly I would have rather him thought they were illegal drugs than weight loss pills (stupid i know) i didnt say anything i just sat quiet but the office aide said "hey thats nothing, i take those, its just ali" I really wanted to beat her lol.
Anyways nothing worked. Anything i tried seemed like an epic fail. It seemed like the more i tried to lose weight, the more id gain. Until I found Skinny Fiber. I bought it. Figured if nothing else i would just add it to the list of sh*t that doesnt work lol plus if it didnt work, id just mail it in and get my money back. Well it worked!!!! The rest is history!
I feel a million times better!! I feel healthier, happier, more full of energy. I feel like a whole new person!! Anyone who is around me can tell you just how much Skinny Fiber has helped me...and not just with my weight, but with my whole life. I feel like its not only helped me lose weight, but it has also made me a more pleasant person, a more caring person.

Torri's Story-please Read!
Hello Everyone! This is actually me and YES I am on Skinny Fiber. I started my journey on Jan 4 2013 after I saw a picture of myself taken by a friend of mine posted on Facebook. I was mortified. I was 202 lbs and realized at that moment it was time to stop this nonsense and get back to my healthy self! I am 43 years old and was on anxiety meds, depressed and my marriage was suffering. I also was beginning with high blood pressure, back pain among female issues. I was about to have a hysterectomy they were so bad! My friend Leah had asked me to try skinny fiber back in October to try and help me with my weight issue but probably like you I read all the testimonies and read. I was like "NO WAY' I resisted purchasing it because I have tried everything I could and nothing helped or either the weight came right back. I cannot take "diet" pills because of a heart issue and I was sure it would not work. I then saw "THE FAT PIC" ! Although I still was skeptical, Skinny Fiber has a 30 day (empty bottle) money back guarantee. I was like well if it doesn;t work then I have lost nothing. I have never looked back and needless to say I have lost a total of 30 lbs plus....I am down from 202 to 168. I am down from a size 16 to a 11/12- My inch loss is phenominal! I noticed after about three weeks of taking skinny Fiber my tummy was shrinking and I could wear clothes I had not worn in years. Skinny Fiber is a natural steady loss and stopped my sugar cravings, I did not over eat anymore. I noticed a difference in our grocery bill immediately. I didn;t buy the junk, I didn;t grab McDonalds. I am also no longer on my anxiety meds. My husband started taking it with me when he saw me dropping and not craving. He is now down from a 40 - to a 36. His cholesterol is down 32 points! With no help from meds. It was amazing! I feel better, I sleep better, I have no female issues anymore and am just a healthier person all around. I walk, cut out the sodas, and watch my bread intake. It works and its worth giving it a try!

Skinny Fiber is 100% natural, it's not a "DIET" pill.  It contains 3 plant products and 7 digestive enzymes.  If you are skeptical as I was, you've got nothing to worry about.  There's a 30 day empty bottle, money back guarantee. What have you got to lose?  If you don't like it, send it back.  No questions asked.  Here's the link one more time http://teresaharmon.sbc90.com  

Get a 6 month supply for only $179.70 plus shipping.  You're buying 3 bottles and getting 3 for FREE, yes free!  There is also a 3 month supply for only $119.85 plus shipping.  Buy 2 bottles and get 1 FREE or you can try it out and get 1 bottle which is a one month supply for $59.95 plus shipping.  I know everyone wants to get a good deal, so get a friend, sister, brother, husband, mom or dad to go into with you and get 6 bottles and share the cost.  You won't be sorry.  

What's for dinner???

"What's for dinner"?  Don't you hate that question?  I sure do.  I have all these wonderful recipes that I would love to try, but when cooking for a family it's really hard to have something that everyone loves or just likes okay for that matter.  That's when you fall back on the box meals like Hamburger Helper (yuck, I've never been a fan, but they like it) or run by the closest fast food shop on the way home from work.

Now, that I'm a housewife and home all day, well, most days.  I have more time to prepare better, healthier meals.  I still have the recipe poopers in the house though.  Hubby, doesn't like anything called a casserole. So, I just don't call it that. lol.  He also wants everything crispy or fried or well done.  My son Dave will eat almost anything except, eggs and fish.

So, what's for dinner?  Tonight we're having Crispy Buttermilk Chicken and Rice

Ingredients:
4 chicken breasts
2 cups buttermilk (I keep dry buttermilk on hand to mix up when needed)
1 egg
3/4 tsp onion powder (divided)
3/4 tsp cayenne pepper (divided)
1/2 tsp salt
2 tsp black pepper
1 tsp celery salt
2 Tbsp oil
1/2 c flour

Combine buttermilk, egg, 1/4 tsp onion powder, 1/4 tsp cayenne pepper.  Place chicken in a large zip-loc baggie and add buttermilk mixture.  Place in refrigerator for at least 4 hours.

Preheat oven to 425°  Remove chicken from bag and discard buttermilk mixture.  Salt chicken, mix together remaining onion powder, cayenne pepper, black pepper, celery salt and flour in a shallow pan.  Dredge chicken in flour lightly and shake off excess.

Add oil to skillet and heat to med-high.  Saute' chicken on both sides.  If you have an oven proof skillet, use that and pop it into the oven for 10-15 minutes.  If not, transfer chicken and drippings to an 8x8 baking dish. Serve over brown rice, add a veggie and Enjoy!

Sometimes you just gotta knit!

Here's one of the patterns that I used to teach sock knitting in my old yarn shop!

Magic Loop 2 at a time Toe Up Buddy Socks

Materials Needed:  50 grs of two different colors
US #1 circular needle (at least 32” but 40” is best)
1 - locking st. marker and 2 - round st markers

Gauge 8.25 st and 11 rows per inch

Casting On – Judy’s Magic Cast On

Set Up: Starting with Sock B, cast on using Judy’s Magic Cast On (Youtube video tutorial) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1pmxRDZ-cwo cast on 16 sts onto each needle.  Drop the yarn for Sock B and slide the cast-on stitches further down the needle.  Pick up the yarn for Sock A and repeat the cast-on.

You’re ready to knit, rotate your work clock-wise so that both needle tips are pointed to the right.  At this point it might be wise to trim your tail to about 6” or you might accidentally knit with the wrong yarn.  Make sure you don’t cut your working yarn.

NOTE:  Side 1 = instep; Side 2 = sole

Round 1

Side 1 – Sock A
With needle tips pointing to the right (make sure the bumps aren’t facing you), lock the tail and the working yarn by twisting.  This will keep the first st from falling apart.  Pull the bottom needle out, so that the stitches on now on the cable. 
Knit the 1^st st of side 1, sock A onto the empty needle.  If the first st seems lose, pull gently on the tail to tighten it up.  Attach a locking or split ring st marker onto this first knit stitch to indicate the beginning of your rounds.  Knit to the end of side 1 sock A.  You are now ready to knit side 1 sock B.

Side 1 – Sock B
Drop yarn A and pick up yarn B.  Repeat the same steps from sock A. 

Side 2 – Sock B
Rotate your work clockwise so the working yarn for sock B is on the right and the sts on the cable are on the top.  Push the top needle to the left so that the sts move from the cable to the needle to knit.  Pull the bottom needle to the right so that the sts you just knit will lie along the bottom half of the cable.

For this round ONLY, you will need to knit through the back loops of the side 2 sts (this will untwist the cast-on sts)

Side 2 – Sock A
Drop yarn B and pick up yarn A.  Repeat Side 2 – Sock B, knitting through the back loop of these sts.

Rotate your work so that the tips point to the right and the stockinette side of the work is facing you.  Push the top needle to the left so that side 1 sts for both socks are ready to be knit.  Pull the bottom needle to the right so that the sts for side 2 are on the cable.  You should be back at the beginning indicated by the marker.

Round 2 Shaping the Toes – Increase

Side 1 – Sock A: K1, M1, knit to one st before the end of side 1 of sock A, M1, K1
Side 1 – Sock B: Switch from yarn A to yarn B.  K1, M1, knit to one st before the end of side 1 of sock B, M1, K1

Rotate your work and arrange needles as before to begin knitting the sole sts.

Side 2 – Sock B:  K1, M1, knit to one st before end of side 2 of sock B, M1, K1
Side 2 – Sock A:  Switch from yarn A to yarn B.  k1, M1, knit to one st before end of side 2 of sock A, M1, K1

Rotate work, arrange sts as done in previous rows.

 Round 3 –
All sts will be knit on each side of each sock without increasing.  Remember to change your yarn when switching from sock to sock. 

NOTE:  One complete round includes working following sections:  side 1 of A, side 1 of B, side 2 of B, side 2 of A (always in that order).  When you end each round, you will be back at the marker.

Next Rounds:  Repeat Round 2 and 3 (the increase round and the even round) until each sock has 64 sts (32 sts on each side of each sock).

Foot

All Rounds:
Knit all rounds (stockinette st) until socks measure approximately 4” less than desired foot length.    End your work having just finished side 2 of sock A.  You are now at your beginning of side 1 of sock A, ready to begin the gusset increases.

Increasing for the Gussets

Round 1 (increase)
Side 1 (Instep) Sock A and B:  Work in stockinette pattern as established.
Side 2 (Sole) Sock B and A: K1, M1, knit to last st of each sock, M1, K1

NOTE:  Increases are only made on Side 2 (the sole) of the socks.

Round 2 (even)
Knit all sts on both sides of each sock without any increases.

Next Rounds
Repeat rnds 1 and 2 of Gusset 14 more times.  Side 1 of both socks should still have 32 sts and Side 2 of both socks should now have 62 sts.

Turning the Heel - Fleegle

Place a marker at the center of the heel sts.  You should have 31 sts on each side of the marker.

NOTE:  You will only be working on Side 2 of Sock A and Sock B (when you turn, you will pull the needle on the bottom to purl into the sts on the top needle)

Row 1 (WS) Purl across all sts on Sock A and Sock B, turn and adjust needles so that you will be able to knit on the RS of Side 2
Row 2 (RS) Knit to 2 sts beyond the center marker, k2tog, k1, turn, pull the yarn tight. Turn.  You will only be working 1 sock at a time until you have the heel turned.
Row 3 Sl 1 purlwise, purl to 2 sts beyond the marker, p2tog (or SSP), k1, turn, pull the yarn tight.  Turn.
Row 4 Sl 1 purlwise, knit to 1 st before the gap, k2tog (knit the st before the gap and the st after the gap together), k1. Turn.
Row 5 Sl 1 purlwise, purl to 1 st before the gap, p2tog (purl the st before the gap and the st after the gap together), p1. Turn.
Next Rows:  Repeat these two rows until you have one stitch left on each side. Then, if you haven't already done so, please see this post to avoid gusset holes.

Repeat beginning at Row 2 until 2nd heel has been turned.

Note that you will have two more stitches on the heel/gusset needle than you started with (this means you should have 34 sts) do not turn your work to purl row 5.  You will now rearrange your needles to work on Side 1 (instep) sts.

Side 1 Sock A and B: (Instep) Knit across all sts
Side 2 Sock B: (Heel) K1, SSK, knit across Sock B, switch yarns
Side 2 Sock A: (Heel) K1, SSK, knit across Sock A

Top of Sock – Leg
Resume knitting in the round on both sides, both socks, making sure to switch your yarns as needed.
This is a generic, plain vanilla sock.  You will knit the leg the length you desire.  I usually knit my legs about 4 or 5”.

Cuff
This is where you will want to use a ribbed pattern.  It’s your choice.  You can do a 2x2 rib, 1x1, 3x1 whatever you prefer.  I usually do a 2x2 rib.

Bind off using Jeny’s Surprisingly Stretchy Bind off.  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=53Mtbkyf5CQ

That horrible word "plateau' that no one trying to lose weight wants to hear!

We've all experienced it.  We're eating the right things, exercising and the weight is coming off.  Then one day it happens, well, I mean nothing happens.  The scale isn't budging, in fact, sometimes it goes up a pound or two and then the next week it's back to that same old number.

This is where most people give up.  They fight that 2 pounds for a few weeks and seeing no results, they convince theirselves that they are just destined to be fat.

It happened to me, I started my healthy journey on August 26, 2013.  Skinny Fiber helped me drop 30 lbs in 5 months, but that dreaded "plateau" hit me and I chased 2 pounds up and down for 2 months.  I was doing everything I was supposed to do.  Taking my Skinny Fiber twice a day, drinking lots of water and trying to eat healthy.  But, I knew deep down, that I'd been slacking.  That 1 bite of dessert had turned into a whole piece of pie.  That nibble of biscuit had turned into a whole biscuit.

This past Sunday, my usual weigh in day.  I stepped on the scale and there it was 177.  Same number I've been looking at for almost 2 months.  I made a decision not to let the number on the scale deter me from my goal.  I've got a Skinny Body Care seminar in Branson on May 3rd and I want to be able to announce my great results.

On Sundays, I always fix a family dinner.  My daughter and her family come over for the meal.  We had grilled burgers, fries and salad.  No dessert.  David grilled 12 burgers and wondered why he was making so many, since there are only 6 of us eating.  I told him I wanted them for leftovers.

Instead of 2 Skinny Fiber capsules 30 minutes before my meal, I took 3. When dinner was ready, I made my plate, which consisted of a burger patty, all the veggies (lettuce, tomato, purple onion, dill pickles and a slice of avocado). No bun for me thank you.  I also had a few fries (oven baked) with ketchup.  I noticed later that evening, when hubby was pilfering through the kitchen looking for a snack, I didn't feel the need to join him.

The next morning, I woke up and started to pour myself a bowl of raisin bran, but when I opened the refrigerator, I saw the leftover hamburger patties.  I put the cereal away and heated up the patty with a little pepper jack cheese on top.  That was breakfast.  I didn't have that 10am craving for something like I had been having.  30 minutes before lunch I took 3 Skinny Fiber capsules with 20 oz of water.  Lunch was a piece of salmon and spinach.  I did the same thing before dinner, 3 SF capsules with 20 oz of water. Dinner was a pork chop (no breading), green beans with onion and bacon and scallops potatoes.  (I skipped the potatoes).  Once again later that evening David was in the kitchen looking for something and I thought to myself.  Hmmm, I don't want anything.

Tuesday monring, I was getting ready to get in the shower, so yes I was naked and just stepped on the scale.  This is really a no-no for me because I know how the scale can really get to you.  But, I did it anyway.  Totally expecting to see the same 177 or 178, I was shocked and actually screamed.  A big 175 was looking back at me.  I'd done it!  I'd finally broken through that ugly wall of plateau.

Well, let me tell you how much motivation that gave me!  I got out of the shower and fixed the same breakfast as the day before, burger and cheese.  Lunch was tilapia and roasted brussel sprouts, dinner was chicken breast, with a slice of bacon, jalapenos and cheese with grilled asparagus and mashed potatoes (I skipped the tators once again).  Before lunch and dinner I had my 3 SF capsules and water.  I have to tell you, I felt so good yesterday.

This morning, I did it again...I stepped on the scale.  I was ready for the dissapointment, telling myself it was just a fluke!  1 freaking 73.8 was looking back at me.  YES 173.8...

When someone asks me about Skinny Fiber and what to eat I always tell them, you can eat anything you want, but you have to listen to your body.  When you feel that first inkling of fullness, STOP, don't put another bite in your mouth.  Don't eat just to be eating.  Don't eat just because it tastes good.  Don't eat because you're bored, depressed, stressed, happy or angry.  Listen to what your body is saying.

I had stopped listening.  Skinny Fiber isn't a magic pill, you have to do the work, it just helps you listen, but you've got to want to hear it.

I've always known that my body can't handle alot of simple carbs and sugars. I just needed to take off the blinders and turn up the hearing aid.

Sharing the bulk

Don't you like the feeling of doing something good for someone you don't even know.  My Saturday started off like any other.  I had plans to go to Walmart this morning, mainly to buy meat.  I was down to 1 package of chicken breast in the freezer.  That's the difference in cooking every night and eating out 3 or 4 nights a week.  When you actually cook the food you buy, you run out.  lol.  On my way up to the store entrance, I could tell something was going on by the door, someone was selling something.  I didn't think it was girlscout cookies, but I could see a table, as I approached, they saw me and about 4-5 people with fliers in hand were eyeballing me, I wasn't going to be able to just smile and walk on by.  This little old man, bent over at the waist, crippled fingers and a smile as bright as the sun came to me first, he held his balance on one of the bumper poles by the door and told me they were having a food drive, and that this was a list of the items that they used on a regular basis.  Giant bulk cans of peaches, applesauce, chili with no beans, the list went on and on.

I proceeded to the meat section with the flier still in hand and got what I went in for, then I looked at the list again and thought about the old guy outside.  If he could spend his Saturday, standing outside, bent over with arthritis I could buy some bulk cans of food.  I bought the peaches, applesauce, chili with no beans, giant can of starkist tuna, giant can of corn.  You know I can't even remember who the food drive was for, but it was so worth seeing that smile again when I took the giant cans back outside and put them in the baskets for that little old man.

About me...

Welcome to my blog...

My name is Teresa and I'm on a journey to lose weight and get healthier.  I'm 50 years old, my significant other is actually my ex husband/common law.  I know that sounds confusing and it is, but it works.  I have two grown children, a 28 year old son and a 25 year old daughter.  My daughter is married and has a 6 year old son.  Yes, I'm a grandma...he's the light of my life.

I wasn't always the fat girl, but I always thought of myself as fat, in high school I weighed 108lbs, but I was curvy, big boobs, little waist and big hips, I had the hourglass figure.  It seemed all the boys were more interested in the skinny, no boob, no ass girls.  I felt like I never fit in with the normal crowd.  That's when the 4 letter word "diet" began.  I think back and wonder, if I'd never tried to lose weight in my teens would I be fat now?  Fast forward a few years.  I got married, then had my son a few years later and weighed 147lbs at delivery.  I thought I was HUGE...I might mention here that I'm only 5' and 1/2" tall.  Yes, the 1/2" counts.  I started a new "diet" it was actually called The Diet Center, I deprived myself of lots of food, no red meat (unless it was organ meat), no tuna, no tomatoes, no carrots, no cauliflower, there were lots and lots of nos in this food plan.  But I lost weight, down to 103lbs.  I felt great and looked pretty hot too!  I finally felt like I was in the "in crowd".  Then I got pregnant again.  This time I weighed 159lbs at delivery.  I went back to The Diet Center and lost the weight again, but only got back down to 116lbs.  But, I was happy and felt good.  Moving into my 30's was hard.  I had to have my gallbladder removed at 33, the doctor said it was because of my low low fat diet.  Within a few months of the surgery, I noticed I was gaining some weight and had horrible acid reflux and IBS.  Medications didn't help so I just trudged along feeling pretty miserable.  At 36 I had to have a total hysterectomy.  That year I gained 60+ lbs.  It didn't matter what I ate or didn't eat, the weight just piled on.  I went to several doctors trying to understand why I was gaining so much weight, they told me I needed to be on a very low calorie diet.  1000 calories or less.  So I basically starved myself, but the one thing I couldn't understand was this...because of the IBS, after every meal (within 15 minutes or so of eating) I'd have to RUN to the bathroom.  I didn't have a normal bm for years and year.  If what I ate was running straight out of me, how was I gaining weight?  I tried other diets, Weight Watchers, NutriSystems, HCG drops, Phen Phen, other diet pills, shakes, even shots.  Yes, I'd lose a few pounds, but as soon as I veered off the path, it would come right back on with friends.  I will say, the best success I ever had was Weight Watchers, the problem I had was that they kept changing the program.  The first "Points" program they had worked for me, but when they started "Flex Points" it screwed up my brain and I started gaining the weight back.  I tried WW a few times after that and it just didn't work for me.  So, I did what most people do and gave up.  Resolved myself to the fact that I was just going to be fat!  

In 2009, I lost my job.  I was devastated.  The job market was horrible, there were no jobs.  My hobby has always been knitting, so the family told me "Why don't you open a yarn shop?"  So, I did.  Let me tell you, being a business owner isn't all it's cracked up to be.  I couldn't afford to pay myself a paycheck so I damn sure couldn't hire anyone to help me.  I worked 6 and sometimes 7 days a week for 10 hours a day.  Knitting and helping others knit, teaching kids to knit, it all requires sitting.  So for the past 5 years I've had a pretty hectic, but sedentary lifestyle.  And, guess what...I gained more weight, yep I knew I getting bigger because my clothes were telling me I was getting bigger.  I just didn't want to listen to them.  I turned 50 years old on August 14th.  I saw that bathroom scale starring at me.  I hadn't talked to him in several years, just mopped him off once a week, but never stopped to visit.  But that day, that day I turned 50, I could hear him yelling at me.  I stepped on him and he told me the most vulgar story I'd ever heard.  I weighed 207lbs.  I cried.  I never told anyone I cried, but I did.  I stomped on his face, like it was his fault and cried.  I knew I needed to make a huge change in my life, or I wasn't going to be around to watch my grandson grow up.  

In the knitting world, when you aren't knitting, you're looking on the computer for cute patterns, spending time on pinterest and facebook.  I had noticed someone posting about a weight loss group and decided I'd join and see what they were discussing.  In this group, I saw lots and lots of picture and testimonials of people who had lost weight and were keeping it off.  They were taking something called Skinny Fiber.  One of the testimonials really caught my eye.  It was a lady, 50 years old who had suffered from acid reflux and IBS.  She had lost about 40 lbs and tons of inches and the best thing was that her acid reflux and IBS were gone.  I clicked on the link provided and ordered a bottle.  I figured, what the hell...I've tried everything else, why not give this a try too.  What have I got to lose?  If nothing else, maybe it will help with my acid reflux and IBS.  My bottle of Skinny Fiber arrived about 6 days later.  There was no special diet plan, no crazy exercise program.  All it said to do was take 2 capsules 30 minutes before your two heaviest meals of the day with 8 oz of water.  Heck, I could do that.  So I did.  My beverage of choice was not water, it was diet dr. pepper. I decided to go cold turkey on the ddp and only drink water, and I drank the crap out of that water.  80-100 oz per day to be exact.  I noticed within 3 days that my acid reflux was gone.  Within a week, I had the first normal "poop" I've had in almost 20 years...yes, that's right 20 years.  

Today, I've been taking Skinny Fiber for 6 months.  I feel so good.  I've lost 30 lbs and 58.75".  I measure my neck, bust, waist, hips, right bicep and right thigh.  I used to go to bed and toss and turn all night long and wake up exhausted.  Now, I go to bed and fall asleep within minutes of my head hitting the pillow and wake up rested and ready for the new day.  I didn't change my diet, except for no more pop or carbonated drinks.  Only water for me, thank you.  I'm not good at exercising, but I want to be, if that counts for anything.

In January I made a big decision to close down my yarn shop.  No one was getting rich except the landlord.  I was missing too much of my family's lives.  I wanted to be able to take my grandson to Silver Dollar City and go to his school functions.  I closed the shop on March 20th.  Now, I'm a housewife.  I've never been a housewife before.  I've always worked outside of the home, so this is a big change.  

Since I've been off work, I've started a walking plan.  I've walked every morning to the end of the road and back which is about 1/2 mile.  I know it's not much, but I'm working on it.  Remember, I did NOTHING for 5 years, so 1/2 mile is a good start.

If you are interested in joining my weight loss support group on facebook, you are more than welcome.  I post healthy recipes, motivational and inspirational weight loss tips, exercise programs, we have a good time and yes I am a distributor for Skinny Fiber now, but I'm not going to push anyone into anything.  Lots of people are in my group who don't use or want to use Skinny Fiber, they are there for the support in their journey to get healthy.  If you want to come on over click this link https://www.facebook.com/groups/healthy.choices.wls/

hope to see you soon.

Teresa