Welcome to the Shrinking Days of Summer challenge! And you know what? It’s a team challenge! Yep, that’s right, we are going Biggest Loser style for the next seven weeks! Ya’ll ready for this? I’m on TEAM BLACK, baby! Check out the toes. You saw that right! Pay no mind to the flip flop tan.

My goal for this challenge is to lose 5 lbs. I think this is a good goal, especially since I’m only 14 lbs from my goal weight and my body is fighting me hard. My body feels good and healthy right now, and doesn’t want to let go of these last pounds, so I have to “trick” it. And I’m gonna!

Starting weight for challenge: 143.8 (I'm really surprised this isn't more. Aunt Flo showed up today and we all know how much she hates me. Feeling's mutual.)


Good luck to all teams! I wish you the best of luck!!!

Mel, Shelley, Allison, and Elena, let’s go kick some weight loss ass!!! Are you with me?! Go TEAM BLACK!!

Do you know what it’s like to not be liked by a grandparent? I do. For as long as I can remember, my dad’s mother has not liked me. (I’m not joking around. Keep reading.) So, when last week my mom told me that my grandmother had actually complained to my dad that I never come to see her, my mouth dropped open.

My first thought. Is she serious?

Of course this is my first thought every time I find out she complains about things. Which is a lot. I know I should be more respectful of my elders, but I swear to you that I have bent over backwards to win over this woman’s love. And I have failed every time.

When I was 9, I hit a growth spurt. I was so proud that I was growing taller. So, I proudly went up to her and gave her a hug and asked did I look taller. Her response : “All I see you is getting wider, not taller.” I cried.

I was the ONLY girl on that side of the family. She will wait on my brother and cousins hand and foot. If I needed something as a child, I had to get it myself.

One year, I was the only person in the whole family who didn’t get a birthday card. Nice, huh?

Every Christmas gift I ever bought her, she returned back to me the next year. I quit buying her gifts and started taking her flowers. She seems pleased with this change.

I have lost 62 lbs and she has not once said that I look good. But if I gain weight, she’s the first to say something.

See why I have a hard time with this? I finally had to just separate myself from it. These things hurt too much, and I knew that by continuing to allow myself to feel these things, I would eventually become angry with her, and I don’t like feeling angry.

I’m not angry with her. I feel sad for her. It makes me incredibly sad that someone could feel such hate for a child, not to mention her only granddaughter. What a lonely and bitter existence to go out of her way to make someone feel so rotten.

I surround myself with my mom’s parents. They are THE BEST grandparents. And I think they pay more attention to me sometimes because they know the neglect I’ve received from my dad’s mom. I realize now that I don’t need my dad’s mom’s love. Because I feel loved; I am loved. And that is enough.

I’ve been missing Charlotte a lot lately. I never knew how much I’d miss that silly little dog. In the past few weeks, though, every time I walk into my parents’ house, I look for her just knowing she’s going to greet me with her usual “Here I am, pet me!” bark. But, of course, she's not there.

But rather than give you a long sappy post that will leave me (and possibly you) in tears, I’ll give you a funny one. Well, at least I think it’s funny.

The day that I brought Kelci home, my little German Shepherd was only 6 lbs. She was the runt, and even though I didn’t know it at the time, she was dangerously sick. I was so excited that I had my new pup, I burst into my apartment, anxious to introduce my dogs to one another, and Bayleigh, my cocker spaniel was less than thrilled.

She took the stance that “If I ignore it, it will just go away.” Sorry Bayleigh.

So, when it was time for bed, I put Bayleigh in her crate at the foot of my bed. (Don’t feel bad for her. She prefers it.) Next to my bed I had a nice new crate stuffed full of stuffed animals and a ticking clock. Just for Kelci. So, I snuggled little Kelci into her crate, turn off the lights and wait.

Two minutes and the whining began. I was sure she would eventually settle down.

An hour later, I wasn’t so sure. What was I going to do? I had to work the next day. I needed to sleep. Ah! Solution: PUT THEM IN A CRATE TOGETHER. Excellent idea! Right?!

So, I got Kelci out, put her in the crate with Bayleigh, turned the lights out and……silence! I waited about 20 minutes, turned on the lamp, peeked over the bed and I see Kelci just as happy as can be sleeping at Bayleigh’s feet. Bayleigh was sitting straight up looking at me as if to say, “I really hate you right now.”

So, the solution? Kelci slept with me.

This was an off week in more weighs than one (HA HA, get it? Yeah, okay that was lame.) One, we're on an off week over at the Sisterhood! A new challenge starts NEXT WEEK so be sure to stop by and check it out! But this was also an off week because I gained a pound.

I know this is totally water weight. I know I didn't drink water over the weekend like I should have. On work days, I can drink water like it's no body's business, but on weekends, blah. In fact, I don't drink much of anything on weekends...well, sometimes. ;o) So, you give me a three day weekend where I'm not drinking water and the week is pretty much shot.

So, I gained weight. I can either kick myself in the ass over it or I can look at what I DID do this week.

1. I took my nephew to see my grandparents, and we took my dad's mom lunch since it was her birthday. I know that's not weight loss related, but I know you moms know that chasing after an almost 15 month old boy is not easy work! :o)

2. I climbed a mountain! Seriously, I did. It was one of the hardest hikes of my life, but I loved every minute of it.

3. I climbed a harkening hill, which I could swear to you was very much like climbing the mountain.

So, I may have gained a pound, but I'm really fine with it. Because hiking that much in two days was a lot of calories burned, and an accomplishment! Next week, watch out!

Last week's weight: 143.6
This week's weight: 144.6

Going to the Peaks was not our first choice of destinations when my parents and I headed to the Blue Ridge Parkway this morning. We first started in the opposite direction heading towards North Carolina. We got to the trail we wanted to hike, and it was pouring rain. So, we needed a Plan B. We knew the sun was shining in Roanoke, so we headed back and kept on driving until we got to the Peaks of Otter. If you're ever in Virginia, this is a must see! We tried a new trail today. The Harkening Hills Trail: 3.3 miles, and while our map said "moderate" as the difficulty level, I can honestly say that the first 1.3 miles was straight up. Here are some things we saw on our hike:

That was my last picture. Not two minutes after, it started to rain. A lot. I got wet. My camera was snug in my backpack. Whew. :o)