Alias

I guess you guys are probably wondering why my alias is knakedknitter. I promise I'm not really naked when I knit.

When I was 3 years old my grandma (Deanie) taught me how to cast on stitches. When I was about 5, I was knitting squares (potholders). I kept up with knitting over the next few years, but by the time I was a teenager, knitting just wasn't cool. I'd create the occassional baby booties or blanket for a new mom, but that was about it.

About 2 years ago, while visiting my parents in Colorado, my sister (Leigh) and I both caught the knitting bug (by the way, knitting is way cool right now). We met the owner of Edla's yarn in Walsenberg, CO. She is from the Farro Islands and turned us on to knitting with wool, felting and creating beautiful art.

We were so into the knitting, that my sister's co-worker (Pam) decided to go back to Colorado with us for a weekend trip just to knit. We started a monthly Friday knit-in, Leigh and I would go to Pam's house and knit into the wee hours sitting around in our pjs. Pam would joke about us knitting in our "wearwears" and we became the knakedknitters. You should see some of the things we've made. Felted totes, purses, gorgeous shrugs, sweaters, scarves, lots and lots. I've even set up an ebay account and sold lots of things on ebay.

Knitting is my therapy - if you knit, you can't eat was my slogan. Now that spring is in the air it's been harder to get the yarn out and start creating. I haven't knit for the last month, the last shrug I made took forever, lots of detail, lots of counting and it took it's tole on me. But, I just got my latest newsletter from Berroco and the bug is starting to get under my skin. I love yarn, I think I'm addicted. You should see the yarn collection I have - mind you - I don't buy Wal-Mart yarn. Once you've knit with quality yarn, the discount store yarn is just to synthetic.

I'll post pictures soon of some of my work.

Good Morning

The sun shone through the curtainless window, bright and brillant. My eyes slowly opened to the wonderful day ahead, flipped back the warmth hugging my body and stood to a new morning. Slowly I make my way to the bathroom, stripping off my nightshirt. Empty my bladder and step on the scales. 171.8 - yeah, another loss.

The dogs are in a hurry to get outside for their routines, the cats are underfoot circling my legs waiting for me to get their daily crunchies. I grab my 32 oz of cold water and start chugging as I walk to the computer to read the daily dose on ns and document my new weight.

Decisions - what's for breakfast? Looking through the cupboard and trying to decide, pancakes or granola with yogart. Opting for the pancakes I busy myself while mixing the batter and waiting for the pan to heat I hum a Kelly Clarkson tune that I can't get out of my head. Because of you...and I wonder is her life really so bad because of someone else or is it an excuse. Why can't she change her destiny? I could say the same thing, because of you I'm overweight. My mother has been overweight all my life. I would never blame my weight on someone else. It's because of me and my choices. So today, I'll continue making good choices - because of me.

4 day weekend

Well, I'm taking tomorrow and Friday off for vacation days. The plan is to finish painting my bathroom, I stripped all the old wallpaper off (dated back to 1990). What a task! Fixed the wallboard in a few places and ready for paint.

Mom is in town from Colorado this week and hopefully we can do some playing this weekend if it's not yucky outside, it's supposed to be nice, but you never know in Oklahoma. It could be 90 degrees one day and snowing the next.

Tomorrow is my weigh-in day, hopefully I'm down 2 lbs this week. Which would put me right under 25lbs lost since Jan 11th. That's pretty good, I'm happy with myself. This week has been a little tougher than others, because I've had lunch meetings everyday. But, I've been making good choices with food. I've finally come to the realization that I have to eat to live and not live to eat.

I've really got to step up the exercise, the plan is to do yoga 3 times a week and cardio 2 times. Hope that will help strengthen the muscles and burn more fat. I need an exercise buddy to keep me going, I hate exercise.

Just Thinkin

Hi, my name is Teresa and I'm 42 years old. This blog will journal my long road to a healthy lifestyle.

In The Beginning
I began this journey with Nutrisystem on January 11, 2006. Wait let me back up because that isn't really the beginning.

Like I said, I'm 42 years old, mother of 2, David will be 20 on Easter Day and Chelsea will be 18 July 3rd. I've been divorced from their father since 1993. I dated a little for the first 3 years, but after having my heart broke once again I decided my children would always come first. So I haven't been on a date in 10 years. Now that the kids are pretty much on their own, I'm ready to start living for me again, the problem is I found myself almost 80 lbs overweight. If you gain 8lbs a year for 10 years you end up with a huge problem.

One night sitting in my room watching TV, I saw Zora talking about Nutrisystem. The next day I signed on to the website and decided it was time. I ordered the food and began my program on Wednesday. When I told my friends what I was doing, some were supportive, others acted like they didn't think I could or would really stick with the plan.

As of today, March 26th - I am down 23 lbs and 2 pant sizes.

I was able to finally convince my sister that this was the program for her also. She just placed her first order last Friday and I'm so excited for her. Her food will be here sometime this week and we will be able to really help each other out.