We did something we have not done in years. We went to Busch Gardens. We rode roller coasters, we ate funnel cakes, we saw shows, we laughed. We dipped candles. You see on our honeymoon we went to Busch Gardens. The plan was to go to Williamsburg but only had the money for one day at Busch Gardens. So on that one day 17 years ago we dipped candles. So when we went back we had to dip candles.
Pamela
I am so glad my husband is home, I am so glad my dog has someone else to play with.
Abby is a year old now but is still jumping on people. We have been working with her and walking her more. I can see the change already.
Pamela
Pamela
phone pictures have come out blurry recently. I need to clean it. Anyways my friend told me the other day that I have lost an entire person. I know I said I was struggling with not loosing but this helped. Putting these two on me and walking around made me wonder how I ever carried that much weight with me. So this week while I camp with my kids and husband I am going to eat smores and relax a little and enjoy the week. This picture shows me carrying 79 more pounds, and this is me not carrying 79 pounds (although I wish I had a smaller shirt on).
As of today I weighed 169.8 but considering that on Saturday and Sunday I had 2000 calories each day I am thrilled.
Pamela
So my hero took my daughter and I to practice shoot. She shot a total of 3 shots before she was done and played on my phone.
I on the other hand shot cases of ammo. I definitly need to go back a couple of times before the class. I am so nervous I will look stupid at the class.
After shooting Faith decided where we should eat. She chose Pizza Hut because of the salad bar.
Pamela
last week. Life is pretty wonderful when my hero is home. Crazy busy but wonderful. This week we had 2 dental appointments for 5 kids. They love going to the dentist. I asked Jason what the dentist said and he replied "hold my hands down here (by his side), hold my hands under me under his back). It was so cute. I could hear him talking the entire check-up. All the kids pased but sadly one needs to see the orthodontist.
Then at the end of the week my hero and I went away by ourselves. 2 nights ALONE, 2 showers without someone knocking on the door, 6 meals with noone asking for a bite, 48 hours of talking and giggling. I would like to say mornings filled with sleeping in. But sadly I do not sleep well in hotel rooms. 
This week is going to be even crazier. Let me just give you a look into today. I get to pick up my wedding rings (they have not fit in months), go grocery shopping, pack for a 8 day trip. Not just any trip but we are camping with 6 kids. which means clothes and toys and pots and pans and food. It is so worth it because we need time as a family.
Oh and I think the best part of the week was going to lunch with my beautiful daughter and husband. She is getting so big.
Pamela
First I want to apologize. I was given this wonderful review months ago. I could not wait to try it out. The problem was life got busy. We have had a few wonderful things happen like my amazing husband coming home.
Let me be honest and say I have never used a cloth diaper before and was not totally convinced that they would be as easy as they said. That was until the package arrived with our very own Super Undies. Not only were they easy to put on but they were not super bulky. I know the pictures show a unhappy boy but they were too cute not to post. I love that they are made like a pull up. Only this one can be re used. Have you seen the prices of the disposable pull ups. Take a minute and look at all of there products. They have a awesome waterproof toilet rug. This is a definite need in a house with 3 boys. I do have to say my brain is one that has to be taught how to use a product. I know it is a pull up just pull it up (don't laugh). But for me I needed to know how to install the insert. I wanted to make sure I used it properly. I was amazed when I clicked on the video section of there page and found the perfect video. You can watch it right here. If you have ever thought about using a cloth diaper this would be the one I would chose. Please take a moment to look at there site with your child. They have really made it fun for the little ones.
This was a great week. Not as great as this week is going to be but great.
First it was my daughters seventh birthday. My precious baby girl who fought so hard to come into this world.
Part of her birthday was spent watching mommy get my ears pierced. Yes, I had them pierced multiple times years ago but they had healed up years ago. I had been debating getting them re pierced. I finally decided a simple pair of earrings would help any outfit. 
What else happened? Let me think, my husband took a 10 hour gun class so he can legally carry his gun. I am just a little jealous that he got his before I got mine.
Pamela
I would like to tell you that I have lost a ton more weight. Sadly I have not. My weight this morning was 169.4. The day after my husband came home I was 169.8. Him and I decided that we would weigh together on Fridays. Our first weigh in was last Friday. I had lost 2.6 pounds since he came home and he had lost 3. I am sure you are asking how that makes sense. The day before he came home I weighed 170.8. All of this to say I am maintaining right now. This has been a long time at the same point. I think it is time to hit the elliptical harder.
I am so close to that 167 that I can taste it. 167 means I am not over weight any longer. So what are my goals? First, to get my weight loss started again. I honestly think part of it has to do with my allergies. I have not gone a day without a head ache.
My next goal is to start toning up. I start light weights yesterday. I should have been doing it a long time ago but no guilt I start today.
I found out yesterday that our military formal is in 5 weeks. I think I better get my act together. I will be honest and say it is hard to not get discouraged.
If you are using myfitnesspal you can find me as Trooppetrie. Please just let me know who you are.
Pamela
So today is really September 2. I am so excited to be writing this because by the time you read it my hero will be home and the surprise will have happened.
I wanted to update you on my August weight.
T his has been a tough month. It seems like this weight is sticking around longer. The last time I wrote was August 5 and I weighed 184. Today is September 2nd and I weigh 175.8. That is 9 pounds in a month. I mean that is not bad when I think about it by the month. It is really hard when you have a week with no weight loss. I am determined to get better about exercise.
Friday night I had friends over and I ate more in one meal than I have in months. Then Saturday morning after a trip to the zoo I went to Zaxby’s. I came home and did the elliptical for 60 minutes. It was not bad at all. After 20 minutes I thought okay I will do 30 and then I just kept going on and on by 5 minutes. Normally I do not exercise on Sundays but I decided to today. I only did 30 minutes. I had not lost weight all week but woke up this morning and had lost a pound.
I constantly have to remind myself it is the end game and not the day to day.
It is funny but this is the first month I have not had my daughter take pictures. That is because I bought new clothes and had my son take pictures. I bought a pair of pants and four shirts. I am trying to decide what to wear when my hero comes home.
Originally I thought I would wear my long black skirt but really I think the blue jeans show my weight loss. I bought a pair of size 11/12 dress blue jeans that are nice and I like them. They are probably what I will wear. I also have a pair of size 10, yes you heard that right a pair of size TEN jeans and I might wear those. They are not as fancy but show the weight loss.
I am in a weird spot. I am wearing makeup and loving my jeans and really enjoying tank tops. All things that are not normally me. I mean I do not want to wear the tank tops in public unless I am walking the track. It does worry me. I want to make sure that I am not losing who I am while losing weight. I hope that makes sense.
Pamela
for the amazing pictures. I cannot wait to have you take my family pictures next week. 
June 15- July 15
Okay, time for some better pictures. People are really starting to notice now which is really encouraging. I have gone from a size 22 to a 16 and it is AWESOME, although I have no idea where to buy clothes at.
The competition is over. I lost a total of 15.78% weight. That is 35.4 pounds total loss. I did not win, my friend won. Tough to lose, even tougher to lose by a pound. Not a total loss when I say I lost 35 pounds in 13 weeks.
I lost 9 pounds this month.
Here are some of my blog posts from myfitnesspal.com:
Traveling and weight loss July 4
Good morning, I just wanted to check in. I am not updating my weight this week. I am in a biggest loser contest and this is the last week. My friend and I are really close to each other in the competition so she asked that I not post this week. I so get it. Although I would really love to see how she is doing. It is going to be close. I have been working harder over the last couple of weeks. I walk with a friend and she is trying to get in shape before a trip so we are using it to motivate each other for the next 3 weeks before she leaves.
This weekend I went home. Not easy, drove 13 hours + in two days. I knew I had to eat at my favorite biscuit place twice. No way can I go home without eating there. My mother in law is amazing and always makes sure everyone has their favorite foods. So hard to try stick to any kind of diet while traveling. Then I went out with a friend. I only ate less than half a brownie and stuck with water but man oh man it was so hard. I was really worried about the driving part and not snacking. I did chew a lot of gum and drink a lot of water.
Biggest Loser competition July 9
This is what I wrote on my weight loss competition page.
Good morning, weight turned in. Now I want to share a bit of my story. I was anorexic in high school and as a young adult. After I got married I wanted a baby and was told continually that I needed to gain weight. And boy did I. After my first sons birth I was told again I had lost too much weight. So I started packing on the weight. Great at the time. But they did not mean go up to 245 pounds. I could no longer play with my kids, cleaning the house made my back burn. I ate to be happy, I ate to make other people happy, I ate to hide when I was upset. I ate to eat when I was born.
In February my hero (husband deployed). Right before he left we were up late talking and he nicely said we both could stand to lose a few pounds. Something he had said. He left and a friend invited me to join myfitnesspal. I ignored her, another friend invited me, I ignored her. Finally one of them called and said you can say no but do not ignore us. I almost cried because what they did not know is I had already given up my beloved mountain dew. I agreed and on March 1 i started my fitness pal. Then soon after that my friend Becky Nicholas Smith asked me to join this competition. I said yes. After the first week I thought it was a mistake. I was already down over 20 pounds and everyone was losing that early easy weight. Within a few weeks I realized that win or lose it was great motivation and so worth it. Becky and Jen and I have encouraged one another we have talked and talked and talked.
So today I can say I have lost 35.4 pounds since starting this competition. So win or lose I have won. I have motivation to keep going. And on a brighter note this is all going to be a surprise to my husband. He has no idea I have lost weight. I cannot wait for him to come home in September/October and show him. I do not have a number I am trying to get to. I do want to be able to chase my 6 kids; I do want to not cringe when I get on a roller coaster. I want to be able to do a zip line with my husband and not be told I am too heavy. I want my children to know that food is fun and healthy. Not just food. My son has lost 20 pounds since February. I think part of it is just growing but a big part of it is our new life style. I rarely eat out (because not much I want to waste calories on). I no longer keep a bunch of junk around.
So how have I lost weight. I started on myfitnesspal (trooppetrie) with 1800 calories and am now down to 1200 calories. I walk several times a week. I walk with the kids in places they can hang out at. I walk around the playground while they play. I am trying to use my elliptical but have not gotten past 10 minutes at a time. I am not stopping today. I am going to take it slower this week. But next week the next competition is starting and i am going to hit it hard. I have 2 months (more or less) before my hero comes home and I want to see how much I can lose before then.
Grocery Shopping July 9
I am allowing myself to splurge this week, just a little bit. Funny what splurge means now? I ate chicken with the skin yesterday. Thought about eating the whole meal and it just did not seem worth it. I did have half a candy bar. I wanted to try the new Girl Scout cookie candy bar. So I got one last night and split it with my son. Funny it was still less than 100 calories.
I have all these recipes I want to make but do not even have ingredients anymore. I am making a yummy goodness for church tonight. Counting down until I can have it. Although I think I will take chicken for dinner.
This morning for breakfast I am making pumpkin oatmeal. As i am making it I am realizing this could be a everyday food. No oil, 2 eggs but that is about it. Skim milk, oatmeal and pumpkin.
Okay, I am off to eat a yummy food.
Dr. Phil and weight loss July 13
I am up before the kids and watching Dr. Phil. It is about people wanting to lose weight. I had to giggle because this lady said she cannot afford to lose weight. I almost laughed because I keep saying when (not if) I change my life and keep this weight off then I am going to write a book on how to lose weight without spending money.
Do not get me wrong I would not mind a membership to a gym so I could walk on the treadmill in air conditioning. I am a people watcher and would enjoy exercising while watching people. But reality is i still would not have childcare and a gym membership is not in our budget.
So how do I lose weight without spending money?
1. First find a friend to encourage you
2. I have found a couple of places to walk that is safe, the first is a track on post, not close enough to a street and the kids can run in the center on the grass or even play in the sand box. I know you are thinking sandbox at a walking track. Yep, really it is the long jump but the kids do not know. The baby stays in the stroller and walks with me. He loves it because I have special toys and of course snacks.
3. Take those rare moments to exercise. Sometimes we go to the playground. I walk laps around the playground. It is great because I can see everything they are doing but instead of setting on a bench I am moving.
4. When we go to the playground I look for ways to exercise. Our favorite playground has a piece of equipment that encourages the kids to be able to stay balanced. I did it for 5 minutes one day and the next day my ribs were killing me. Pushing children on the swings really works your arms.
How do you stay on task without spending a ton of money?
195 pounds
I will bring you the next update soon. Only 2 more months until my hero comes home. I am getting nervous about him seeing me. Getting nervous about how I will keep up with it once he is home.
Pamela
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