Losing Kasie

Ho-yeah!

2010-08-08T07:05:00.000-07:00

Hey Folks!
"Ho-yeah" is a tribute to Peggy Hill (from the show King of the Hill). He means "Oh yeah", but with her accent it comes out "Ho-yeah".
Today is my mom's birthday. I'm bummed because I won't be spending the day with her. Today is also Justin's great-aunt's birthday. She's 90 today. I'm excited for Aunt Ethel's birthday because I've never met her before and I'll also be meeting all kinds of other people.
This morning I took Mom a birthday card (that sings "I can mash potatoes; I can do the twist. Tell me baby, do you like it like this?"...and so on...). I checked my weight there and I'd lost another pound!!!! THIRTY-SEVEN POUNDS! That's insane! It's been way too hot to go for a walk everyday, but I think just sweating is doing the trick.
Also, while I was at Mom and Dad's, she gave me two cowgirl shirts! It's a little too warm for them right now, but I will "Cowgirl Up!" once it cools off.
Have a great week everybody!

Election Day

2010-08-03T18:44:00.000-07:00

Hey Guys!
Today is election time, and just like everywhere else, there's a lot of excitement. Even though it is just local politics, my mom (who works for the Auditor's Office for Taney County) gets me pumped up about the votes being tallied. I have my fingers crossed for a few and a few that I am hoping that the stars have aligned and knocked them out.
Justin and I have been working on the camper. We're getting psyched about the Campout Extravaganza in September. We are going to be camping with some friends from Springfield. They'll be bringing their kids. When everyone gets together and brings their kids, there are 18 kids. Little kids. I found a campsite right off of Tablerock Lake at Cape Fair. Our site runs right into the water, perfect for parking the kayaks.
I'm a little off track with my weight-ins because of the job change. But, I went over to Mom and Dad's house and used their scale. I'm back to a total weight loss of 35 pounds! Just another pound to be back on track of what I was.
Take care!

Great Things In Fayetteville.

2010-07-26T20:13:00.000-07:00

Hey Guys!
I have to be honest. I was a terrible diet-er while out of town training with the VA. No, you don't understand...TERRIBLE! I wasn't great about being adventurous but I did enjoy taking an evening walk around Washington Regional Hospital in Fayetteville. The trail joins up with the Greenway Trail, but they don't call it a Greenway Trail. The last week I spent my Tuesday night playing softball. One of the ladies I was training with told me her son's coed softball team needed an extra girl. So I made sure to pack my glove and didn't do too shabby. It had been about five years since I'd played, but I still pulled it off and batted second in the line-up.
While in Fayetteville, the same gal introduced us to Rick's Bakery. Truth be told, I'd never been to a bakery before, expect the one's at Wal-Mart and Glen's Supermarket. However, they had a killer Picasso sandwich that included turkey, tomatoes, alvacado, lettuce on a croissant roll. To seal the deal, they included a free piece of cake. One day it could be cheese cake, another birthday cake, or coconut cream pie. After the discovery of Rick's Bakery, I dropped my guard.
I'm not quite sure how much I gain (No, trust me, I did!), but I'm already back into full swing diet mode. I just got home from softball with the crew from Golden Living Center. I come home sweaty, but rejuvenated!
Have a great week!

Hippity-hop.

2010-06-26T07:46:00.000-07:00

Hey Guys!
No. I didn't give up. Actually, I'm still trucking along. I'm actually registering at a negative 35 pounds! YAY!
I've got a lot of great things going on right now. I just got back to work from being on vacation. I kept close around the house. We spent some time with Justin's folks because his dad Jerry had a heart attack and enjoyed a triple bi-pass and mitral valve repair. Talked to Bonnie yesterday and Jerry has been sticking to his diet and has lost 32 pounds. Maybe I should switch to a cardiac diet??? ;) Then we took our bikes and did twelve miles on the Katy Trail, which was okay. I'm not a cyclist, but it was pretty. After that I devoted my days to Swan Creek. The last night of my vacation I joined up with my friends from Springfield and went to see Carrie Underwood. Watching her made us all renew our dieting pledges. Nothing like watch her run around stage, never stop to catch her breath, and still belt out all her songs perfectly.
The biggest news is that I got a new job. I'll be working in the VA Clinic in Branson. I was hired for the LPN Retinal Imaging position. I start July 6th and will spend three luxurious weeks in fabulous Fayetteville, Arkansas. All training of course. I'm excited because I'll be off of night shift. Hip-Hip-Hooray for 8-4:30; Monday thru Friday. Let "normalcy" begin!
Well guys and gals, enjoy the heat!

And beyond....

2010-05-15T06:24:00.000-07:00

Hey Guys!
So, heads up on weigh-in totals: Last week I "worked it" and last another pound. At that point I had lost 25 pounds. Twenty-five pounds was a milestone and I advertised it on Facebook! My friends from nursing school were jealous...I know they had to be. This week I lost another two pounds. TWENTY-SEVEN POUNDS, folks! 27! Woohoo!
I've came across Stacy's Pita Chips and have decided they are the very best chips EVER! They are baked. Are three points a serving, which is nine chips. I haven't had them in any dip because they are tasty without any extra junk. Also, after church on Sunday nights, Justin and I have been going to Tijuana Willie's in Branson. It's fan-freakin'-tastic! I enjoyed telling me mother-in-law that Justin and I love Tiguana Willie's because they've got a good bar. I had to back-track and explain that TW's is a Mexican-Subway-kindofplace and that the bar we belly up to is a salsa bar. She enjoyed the story quite a bit more after a little explaining. :) My favorite thing to get is the Taco Salad with black beans, chicken, tomatoes, and pico (Pico is found at the salsa bar.). They also have home made guacamole, which is killer! It is a great meal every time!
Well, guys and gals, enjoy this rainy weekend as much as you can. Take care!

Lucked Out.

2010-04-24T05:10:00.001-07:00

Hey Guys!
I've been busy with Justin. He's been working hard preparing for this weekend. Last night, Justin had the "fellas" down from Springfield. Cigars, getting the Jeep dirty, and shot guns are exactly what did the heart good. This morning, the Fisher's are hosting Coffee Club. This is the first time Coffee has been at this location since before Grandpa Bilyeu past away. Lots of neighbor men are here visiting and enjoying a hot breakfast.
Justin has the rest of this weekend off and then he plotted next weekend off. He's floating the Buffalo River in Arkansas. I pouted around for awhile since girls aren't allowed, but he has sworn to take me (maybe in June).
I lost two pounds this week!!!! I've managed to lose 24 pounds. I was a little shocked because our eating habits were so-so this week. However, I'm glad to have lost a tab bit more!
Have a great week!

Double Deuce.

2010-04-17T08:25:00.000-07:00

Hey Guys!
This morning the ladies were invited to Coffee Club. Coffee Club is the grown up version of the "Heman-Woman-Haters-Club". Justin enjoys going and loves to tell about the good times he has had when he gets home. Today the gals got to tag along and it was great to see everybody. The Wild Recipe Woman and her man (Danny and Danita) were there and it was great to hear about Danita's sneak attacks on Danny. Danny has lost in the neighborhood of 60 pounds and looks as good as Danny can... Just kidding!!! However, he only looks half as good as Danita. It was great to see everybody out and about after being cooped up this winter. We enjoyed chit-chatting about local politics, past and present, and summer time plans. Gardening was all on our minds, but Mom seems to have her plate the most full. How will she ever manage gardening, dinner, and fishing time? With help from good neighbors, we figured it would be best to water while she showered with a sprinkler in the morning, (one word) crockpot, and then time for fishing will be loosed. So, whether or not was wanting our advice, she got it!
Also, I lost another pound, totaling me to 22 pounds! I'm so excited by my progress and the progress of my friends and neighbors!

Here Comes Trouble!

2010-04-10T06:06:00.000-07:00

Hey Guys!
I have to be honest: I was a terrible Weight Watcher-er this week. I walked one time this week, ate things like "Bad For You Enchiladas", and some meals didn't even have an accompanying vegetable. I brought all that to a screeching hault two days ago. I started serving our meals with two vegetables and dinner salad (with spinach). It's been a great sneak-attack on my backward ways. Justin isn't a big vegetable eater, but he loves baby spinach, which is probably one of the best choices of a vegetable he could choose. I've been buying the vegetables that come in a steam bag and I'm digging those. Justin is a little disappointed that I don't add bacon or bacon grease, but he'll eventually get over that. I also enjoy adding Caribbean Jerk Seasoning (by McCormick) to my green beans. Killer!
We've also been catching episodes of "Jamie Oliver's: Food Revolution" on ABC on Friday nights. It's a good show to watch while your eating processed foods. He has gone to the fattest city, in the fattest state (Huntington, West Virginia) and is trying to educate people on what healthy eating really is. It's ridiculous that people consider French Fries a serving of vegetables, but they do. Or that a balanced meal can come from a microwave TV dinner. He gives example after example of people in the Huntington Community who's lives have been changed, disabled, altered, or shortened by uneducated food choices.
Hold on, let me get off this here soap box. There. I'm off.
I lost another pound. I'm rock a negative 21 pounds!!!
Well, guys and gals, have a great week and enjoy the sun! Later!

Feeling Light.

2010-04-03T16:31:00.000-07:00

Hey Guys!
I didn't lose any more weight this week. Still holding with a loss of 20 pounds! I'm still psyched about last week's milestone.
I have a belt that I bought before I started my diet. I started off on the first notch, but now I'm on the fifth and final notch of the belt! Also, I had to buy new jeans on Monday and I dropped in size also! Woohoo!
I went out and hiked two days this week and I am really enjoying my morning jaunts. It's such a great release for me. With spring arriving, I am diggin' the warm to cool mornings. The flowers and trees are making a come back. I have even managed to scare up as many as seven deer. Such a pleasant surprise in a city like Branson.
Later!

Twenty Ago.

2010-03-27T13:17:00.000-07:00

Hey Guys!
Monday I went shopping for something to wear for Easter. Clothes shopping is something that makes me anxious, because everything fits me weird and it's always a reminder that I am overweight. I found two shirts that I liked in a XL, but they were fitting me oddly. They both made me look pregnant. I him-hawed around looking in the mirror and then ran back out to the rack and grabbed the next size down, large. Girls! Let me tell you what! You would have thought I'd found gold! I celebrated and jumped up and down, then checked myself out in the mirror. They were a great fit! I hadn't wore a large anything since Justin and I first got married. The odd part is that even when I was this same weight before, I was still in an extra large. But, I honestly don't care why.
And, I broke the twenty pound mark! I stared at the scale for a minute on last night's weigh in. "Seriously? Twenty pounds!" AWWWW!
This last week I didn't do as much walking as I wanted to. My plans were thwarted every morning by rain or muddy trails. However, I think I made up for that at work.
Later!

Come Rain or Shine!

2010-03-20T05:44:00.000-07:00

Hey Guys!
Only in the Ozarks would you drive to work with the windows down and the radio turned up, then return home to a warm fire and cold rain.
Things are turned upside down at work, adding to the stress that naturally exists as a nurse. It's caused longer days, less sleep, and a dysfunctional diet. However, I have found a refuge thanks to my mom. Chocolate Cheerios. I really enjoy them splashed with milk and a banana, or dry with dehydrated bananas. (I haven't experimented too much with them, but bananas are good with Chocolate Cheerios.) When I'm pushing through papers and charts on my break, I have a little bag of these Cheerios within reach.
Well, I didn't blog last week (my bad, yo!), but I broke even and stayed at 17 pounds. Tonight I weighed in and I'd lost another pound; that's a total of 18 pounds!! I'm two away from twenty pounds!
In June, I'm going to the Carrie Underwood concert with some friends from Springfield. I would love nothing more than to rock hardcore looking "suddenly" skinnier, seeing as I see these girls once in a great moon.
Also, I've been hiking the Picnic Trail over at Lakeview Wilderness Area in Branson. It's a convenient drive from work and then to home, and there's hardly anybody there at 0700. The trail is moderately difficult, but keeping a strong pace for the 1.2 miles is a great release after a crazy night.
I am in desperate need of a crash. Just worked a twelve hour shift on two and a half hours of sleep, and I'm toast! So, much ado about nothing! Later!

Adventurous Weekends!

2010-03-08T06:18:00.000-08:00

Last weekend, Justin and I took Mom and Dad on a little off-road adventure. The Mark Twain National Forest is our neighbor and there's a great mud hole that Justin and I came across this fall. We had a lot of fun splashing around through water holes. The water would come over the top of the Jeep. When we finally got to the mudding hole, the Jeep was throwing mud everywhere. The mud would get thrown up into the air and fall back down onto the Jeep. When it hit the soft-top, it sounded like a hard rain. It started getting dark, so Justin says "Okay, we'll do this last hole and then head home." He revs up the Jeep and takes off, then we abruptly stop. After a few minutes of trying to squirm out of our situation, we come the realization that we are stuck. No, no....STUUUUUUCK! The Jeep is sunk down in a mud/clay mix down to the frame, over the tires. Dad found something to scoop mud away and the rest of us start gathering up gravel, wood, and even an old blanket, anything for traction. Well, to no e val. Justin kind of, sort of remembered a house on up the road, but couldn't how far. So, we all walked...a mile and a half. There just so happened to be a really nice lady, with a really nice son-in-law, with a ton pick-up. It took twenty minutes, and a lot of straining and pulling, but the guys returned following the pick-up, Jeep in motion. The picture is from the day after. It took about twenty dollars worth of quarters to spray off the Jeep and the undercarriage.
This weekend I decided to make it an active weekend. Saturday I denied myself sleep, and took the kayak out to the Landing. I put in south of Bass Pro and paddled up into the mouth of Coon Creek. It got shallow real quick and it's a small cove. I saw five turtles sunning on some rocks. Then I paddled the entire length of the Landing to the Kanukuk Camp, and paddled back to my truck. There were a lot of fishermen out, only a few boats were even in motion, but when they were, I enjoyed riding their waves!!
Yesterday, Justin and I hiked the Old Soldier's Cave Trail in the Lakeside Forest Wilderness Area. It's 2.8 miles of stairs (about 300 hundred stairs), bluff lines, and views of Taneycomo. There are three caves, an overhang, and an interesting rock formation at the end. I worked my legs going down using my brakes, and my lungs and heart on the way back out.
I also lost another two pounds this week, totaling to 17 pounds! I can't believe I'm almost to twenty pounds!
Have a great week and enjoy the sun!

Bada-bing!

2010-02-27T06:58:00.000-08:00

Hey Folks!
This will be an eventful week. I start bridging to my RN this week! I'm excited, because getting my RN is part of a huge goal I have for Justin and I. Plus, then I'll be "okay" with getting pregnant, which is a day my mom has been looking forward to for five and a half years.
I lost another pound this week! Fifteen pounds total! Woop-woop!
I've starting eating Activia yogurt. Probably the best taste yogurt there is. I really enjoy the fruit; right now, I'm eating the peach yogurt. It's awesome, except for the bifidus regularis. Nothing like a stomach cramp to get you regulated. However, Activia is a great with granola, which is still a staple.
Everybody have a great week!

Is That You, Spring?

2010-02-20T08:51:00.000-08:00

Hey Guys!
Today is a great day! It's a pretty, sunny day. Squirrels are barking, birds are out and about...it's just a great day! I'm looking forward to consistent days of summer. I'm going to drag "Modern Day Drifter" (my kayak) out of the barn, into my truck, and onto the creek, lake, or river. Bring on the vitamin D! I know days like today are only teasers, but maybe, just maybe, spring is trying to sneak in the side door.
I am also excited to announce I have docked off another THREE POUNDS! That is fourteen pounds, folks! I keep of thinking of a fourteen pound bowling ball and how difficult it is to bowl with a fourteen pound bowling ball...and how much easier my life is going to be without a fourteen pound bowling ball distributed over my body!
Yesterday, I had a dream that some how influenced what we had for supper last night. I guess I'd been dreaming about crescent rolls and pizza. I took a can of reduced fat crescent rolls and rolled them out in a pan. Made home-made pizza sauce (That would have been great just by its self!), chunked up some reduced-fat cream cheese, browned some burger, onions, peppers, black olives, and sneaked in a little WW shredded cheese. Baked until it looked good enough to eat (How's that for a recipe, Danita?). Justin said, "You are so weird, but that was REALLY good!" Baby, you have no idea!
I hope everyone enjoys the sun. I know I have! Later!

Milestone!

2010-02-13T05:28:00.000-08:00

I've lost my first ten pounds...and then some!!!! I lost another pound and a half which is totaling me to ELEVEN POUNDS! Wow!
Wild Recipe Woman (Danita) put it in perspective for me the other day. "Go to the baking aisle at Wal-Mart and pick up the weight you've lost via bags of flour," she said. Brilliant! Next time I'm shopping for groceries, I will bee-line it for the baking aisle and squat my lost weight!
Part of the reason I've wanted to lose weight is because I'm a nurse. It's a little difficult to take health advice from a chubby gal. Plus, if I don't start taking care of myself, I'll end up being a patient a whole lot faster than I ever intended!
So, salute...Here's to ten more pounds!

Loser.

2010-02-06T05:58:00.000-08:00

Hey Guys!
When you're on a diet, it's okay to be a loser! I lost one and a half pounds this week! Woot-woot! I have to be honest, I was a little disappointed that I didn't lose any last week. However, I'm over that little road bump and am optimistic once again!
Right now it is breakfast time, but I am eating left over green beans from supper. Weird, I know, but I love green beans. They are my favorite vegetable, with tomatoes in at close second. Justin's grandma adds basil to her green beans and I have to agree with her that that is the best way to have g'beans.
Have a great week from this "loser"!

"Steady As She Goes"

2010-01-31T13:15:00.000-08:00

Hey Guys!
I've had "Steady As She Goes" by The Raconteurs on my mind this afternoon, and thought that would be an appropriate title for my entry today. I say that because I didn't lose or gain this last week. However, I know that has a little to do with the choices I made. Don't worry...nobody was seriously injured.
My home has turned into a Winter Wonderland, as the week turns out. With all the thrills of "Wonderland" comes an added stress. Stress, ugh. Just a small shift in my life, such as seven inches of snow and the anxiety involved with driving, TOTALLY JACKS ME UP! So, pizza would be ordered in by people I work with, or donuts dragged in, and just a friendly offer turned into "Oh no I shouldn't, but since pizza and donuts are delicious and deadly to my cause...Sure! Fire away!" So, needless to say, I fumbled. Not terribly. Terribly would involve a lot more!!!
So, I am resolved! I made an emergency run to Wally World and returned with WW yogurt, salsa, and baked Tostitos (all staples). My FAVORITE thing to eat right now is yogurt and granola for breakfast or snack. And to make matters even better, I discovered Cherry Cheesecake WW yogurt...excellent!!!
Mama Jean (Other night nurse at work) sent me home with a stack of back issues of WW magazine, a binder full of WW crock pot dishes, and a cookbook to thumb through. The help and surprises come from all angles!
Well, steady as she goes!

A Total of Eight.

2010-01-23T18:53:00.000-08:00

Hey Guys!
Justin and I spent last Sunday in Eastern Missouri (around Eminence) doing some hiking and visiting mills and springs. Eastern Missouri is scenic and has lots of GREAT swimming holes. Last spring I got a kayak with the sole intention of using it to find the Ozarks greatest swimming hole that is remote in location. Well, I haven't found the 'perfect' place for a good skinny dip, but last weekend I found a lot of good swimming holes. I hope to go back when the weather is warmer and so is the water...
It was great to get away for a day, especially since the weather was rare for mid-January. One of my favorite things about hiking in Eastern Missouri is that it's not only hiking, but scrambling over rocks and boulders along springs, creeks,and rivers. I'm able to put my agility to the test!
Also, I was able to lose another three pounds on top of what I've already lost. For folks who are slow at math, I've lost a total of eight pounds. (Here's the proof: 5lbs+3lbs=8lbs...ground breaking science)
My mom brought me home a strand of BRAVO stickers from Weight Watchers! Another appreciated encouragement that I've gotten. And Danita...Danita! My wild recipe woman! I haven't served up anything to my husband that he didn't love; I owe Danita, for sure. Thanks gal! Justin is still getting used to fat-free-everything, and thinks I'm sabotaging him sometimes, but he is slowly making better food choices also!
Thanks for the encouragement!

Let us.

2010-01-15T06:55:00.001-08:00

Hey Guys!
It's less than one week and I've lost FIVE POUNDS! I'm so excited! FIVE POUNDS! One more time...FIVE POUNDS! I guess I'm mainly psyched because I've worked really hard. Not only that, but I worked out to a workout video this morning. My husband made fun of me, but then again, he didn't lose FIVE POUNDS!
I made Lettuce Wraps my first night of my new weight management plan. Honestly, I was so hungry afterward. Probably more hungry than I was before I ate at all. However, it made for a great photo. Actually, I have to give it credit because it tasted great and was refreshing to eat. This will be reincorporated into dinner, but probably not until this summer.
Skinnier days ahead!

Thin in 2010.

2010-01-11T04:37:00.000-08:00

Hey Guys!
So, as lame as my reasoning is, I'm overweight. Way overweight. This blog will be my therapy and my go-to-gal. I'm using Weight Watchers. It's a diet structure that has worked for many of my family members, so I figured that going with Weight Watchers makes sense. My mom is the best example I have. She has lost 70 pounds with Weight Watchers since she started a little over a year ago. She looks great, feels great, and is great!
When my brother and I were in high school (and vain), we swore to one another that if the other got fat, we'd tell the other. He was in from Myrtle Beach this last week and in his own weird, twisted way, he let me know I'd reached that point.
So, here I go! Healthy minded and a supportive husband in hand; I'm excited to reach this goal, and change the way I eat and perceive food.
Wish me luck, chuck!