Long time no blog!

WOW it has been a long time. I haven't blogged since January. Just a lot of stuff going on with family, work, and school. I really have lacked in my photography project. I have taken a few pictures but it has been hard to balance every thing. I may try that again or in a different way...just right now life is busy for me.


Some other news, my friend Lacey and I started a new blog about our weight loss journey...come check it out, leave a note or just check us out!http://doublemuffintops.blogspot.com/


PS GO MU TIGERS....Final Four baby!

Chuck was my goal!

I have always been a fan of converse shoes. It started in Jr. High I had two pairs and wore them to death. I had another pair in High School and as an adult I had a pair but they were not the classic "Chucks". I had a goal that when I lost 35lbs I would get a new pair......and so ladies and gentlemen...the goal has been met and the shoes have been on my feet for a week now! I will continuing to loose weight and my goal is 20lbs by the end of the year and 30 by May 2009. I am finding that I am embracing these new life style changes and every day is a new day......it is one step at a time!

Biggest Loser

'Biggest Loser' contestant speaks at county wellness program event
Tuesday, April 22, 2008 10:55 PM CDT

By Paul Swiech

pswiech@pantagraph.com

BLOOMINGTON — Jerry Lisenby of Peoria was the oldest contestant in the history of “The Biggest Loser” when he competed on the hit NBC-TV program last year at age 62.

He also lost the most weight in a single week — 31 pounds.

But numbers aren’t what motivated him to begin his weight loss.

“I was worried that my grandkids would get away from me,” Lisenby told The Pantagraph before speaking Tuesday to about 55 McLean County employees at the Government Center in downtown Bloomington. “All of a sudden, I was watching my grandkids play instead of playing with them.”

Lisenby spoke as part of the county’s employee wellness program, said coordinator Jackie Lanier, a health department health promotions specialist.

Brooke Castaneda, a health department office support specialist who is participating in the wellness program, came up with the idea to have Lisenby speak.

“I’m a huge fan of ‘The Biggest Loser,’” said Castaneda, who made an unsuccessful attempt to be a contestant on the show two years ago. Having a Central Illinois person explain his success would help people to realize that weight loss and fitness are attainable, she said.

Lisenby, now 63, is a retired firefighter and retired hardware store owner who has been married for 42 years. A father and grandfather, he is an International Red Cross Disaster Relief Team member and a volunteer for several organizations in the Peoria area.

He had been physically active his entire life and weighed 216 pounds when he retired from the Peoria Fire Department in 1991. In recent years, he exercised less and ate more and was up to 300 pounds by January 2007.

His daughter, Megan, convinced him to try out for “The Biggest Loser.” Lisenby was chosen and lost 31 pounds during week one and 10 pounds during week two. He lost only 2 pounds during the third week when another contestant dropped Lisenby and he tore a muscle in his left thigh. He was voted off by the other contestants.

While Lisenby exercised eight to 10 hours a day on “The Biggest Loser,” he has continued to exercise and eat healthy and went down to 187 pounds. On Tuesday, he weighed 192 as he prepares for a cross-country bike ride that he and his wife begin May 1 to benefit Children’s Home in Peoria.

Lisenby exercises about 3½ hours a day at the YMCA in Peoria, doing the Stairmaster and crunches and lifting weights. He eats smaller portions and less red meat, eats half of what he’s served in restaurants, avoids salt and sugar, and focuses on fish, lean chicken and turkey, vegetables and fruits, oatmeal, water and skim milk.

“He’s inspiring and down to earth,” Castaneda said after Lisenby’s talk. Castaneda, 33, once weighed 331 pounds but is down to 289 by eating six small meals a day, focusing on vegetables and fruits, walking and working out at Curves. She wants to lose at least 100 pounds more.

“For the first time, I really feel like it’s doable.”

Death By Chocolate

I had been craving peanut M & M's for a week. It could be that pms-ing thing, who knows? I wanted those silly little candies. I wanted what I wanted...and I wanted it NOW! I went to work out and then to the store. I ended up getting a bag at the check out. I got to the car and I was very hungry, I had just worked out, I was hungry for dinner. I tore up that bag and started to eat or inhale those tasty little treats. I felt guilty eating them so fast and not savoring them like I wanted to earlier in the day. I got home and felt sick......it was from the M&M's. Will I ever learn, don't deprive yourself but use moderation!!!

I had an idea.....

We are doing the Biggest Loser at work, and I had this idea. Living very close to Peoria and being a fan of the show, I knew that we had former NBC Biggest contestants. I thought it would be cool if we were able to see if we could have either the family or Jerry come speak. I passed on my suggestion not knowing if it would happen....but it did!

Jerry Lisenby, former contestant on the TV show The Biggest Loser (season 4), has agreed to present to the Employees as part of our “Biggest Loser” weight loss challenge going on now. He will discuss his experience from the show, weight loss success and weight management tips, and his upcoming 5,000 mile bicycle trip benefiting the Children’s Home of Illinois. Check out his website: www.jerrylisenby.com. He his graciously donating his time and his only request is that the employees consider making a donation to the Children’s Home of Illinois (you can access from his website). How truly amazing is that? In just a few weeks I will get to meet Jerry! I am very excited, it is during our 2nd official weigh-in. I will keep you posted, I am sure pictures will follow!

Biggest Loser

I have been a fan of NBC Biggest Loser reality show for the last several years. I even went to an open cast call in Iowa. I was able to meet Matt Hover and that was very special. I also sent in a DVD and application, it was an amazing video, but I was not selected. Unfortunate for the fine folks at NBC, do they know what they are missing out on? (Ok, I am humble, I know, right?). I think the experience would have been truly amazing!

Well, I may not be on NBC but at work we are doing the Biggest Loser! It is open to all and I believe we have about 107 people!!! I am so excited, I am on a team of three. We named our team the 3Lucky Losers! Since we started during St. Pats day. I am doing extremely well. My eating habits have really changed in the last several months, so this was pretty easy. I go to the gym every day and walk. I now take the steps every time instead of the elevator. I have also been drinking a ton of water. I am very excited, and have made several suggestions to help the program. I have said that this is my year......I see the goal, now I just got to work towards it!

I will keep you updated along the journey. My goal is to win, I think the competitiveness that is in my blood is coming out.