My commitment to a thinner me, a nicer butt and a flatter belly

I've been procrastinating doing something....I don't really think I meant to put it off, but...it just kind of happened. I had told someone that I would do something a few weeks ago, but just never got around to doing anything really seriously about it.

Well....Debbie is about to get serious.

One of my most favorite people in this whole blogging world, Mrs. G, threw down yet another challenge to her readers that, shall we say, felt some exercise and getting into shape was something that they...we....I needed to start doing. It's kind of a blogging "Get Your Ass In Shape" support group. Each of us committed (some more loosely than others...sorry.) to doing something to get into a shape better than the one we had. Some people, like Mrs. G...have posted pictures of their bottoms (keep reading as an explanatory picture follows) to show that they are committed to this project. Some pictures have been more revealing than others...but all have been pretty entertaining...and yes...encouraging. (Okay...so seriously...I can see my mom....right now as she is reading this...shaking her head and saying, "Oh, no...Debbie...not a picture of your butt." :-D This is so fun.)

Mrs. G. has asked that everyone post weekly results, on Wednesday....there is a list of everyone doing this challenge on her site and people can check up on others to see how everyone is doing. Some people are really doing great....exercising, running, walking, working out....nothing but good stuff happening out there!! It's nice to belong to such a supportive and encouraging group.

I am not a thin person. My grandfather used to say that I had big bones! I'm a big girl....not fat by any stretch of the imagination (in my mind, "fat" is for those who resemble sumo wrestlers...and that...I do not!!). I was looking at some pictures that were taken at Issei's birthday party, in February and honestly, it just made me sad. That...was not me. It was time for a change.

I have literally been on a diet/watching my weight pretty much since I was about 17. I have done most of the diets out there.....the apple diet, the banana diet, the "9-Day Wonder Diet", the soup diet....need I go on? Oh, yeah, I would lose some weight, but....the rebound would soon set in....and I'd be back to square one.

So...two months ago, I decided that enough...was enough. I am 40-coughcough years old and it. is. time. At a party, I ran into a Japanese friend that I hadn't seen in almost a year. She looked wonderful. Then I noticed her husband...and he, too, looked incredible. I demanded that she tell me politely asked her what they had done....and she told me Herbalife. At first, I was all like "oh....no way...that's shakes all day...no...can't do it." But she assured me that it was easy (two shakes a day plus one meal) and not that expensive. I thought to myself that, well, okay...I'll give it a try...for a month...you know...just to see.

In the first month....I lost 4 kilos (which is about 9 pounds)!! I was so excited that I went for one more month...and another 3.5 kilos have come off......I have just now started my third month and have decided that 4 more kilos is my goal. Let me tell you....it really wasn't that too terribly difficult...my motivation is pretty high right now and with my schedule (go! go! go!), it works great!! (If you want to know more, ask and I will tell you about it!!)

Now....it is time for some exercise. (Picture me with my right hand in the air, left hand on a very worn out copy of the Divine Secrets of the Ya-Ya Sisterhood) Starting tomorrow.....I will try to do some kind of exercise to get this belly (sorry, Mrs. G....my belllllayyy is the problem area!!) in to shape. I want to be able to put on a 2-piece swimsuit and wear it without making people laugh or want to hurl their cookies! (Not that I would actually wear a 2-piece in public, mind you, but...IF I wanted to, I want to be able to, dammit!)

And so....in meeting the suggested guidelines of this challenge....I give you... my butt. (Okay, okay...so it's just part of my bottom....sorry, that's all you're gonna get for now, folks.) Check in on Wednesdays for an update....when this is all said and done...I am going to feel much better and healthier and yes, look mah-ve-lous, dahlings!!!

And of course there is some yummy stuff to look at tonight.....'cause I know what some of you like!!!

Flamingo Friday

(I found this picture on Google Images...it was tagged as "In honor of Lance Armstrong and his efforts"...I think this is a great picture!!)