A little late but I thought I should do it anyway

Week 4 Challenge Survey
1. Do you feel your eating habits that ended you into this challenge are a direct result of habits formed during childhood?

I remember the night our mother told us she was getting divorced. My sister Nancy and I sat next to her eating chocolate chips right out of the bag. It's been one type of comfort food or another after that.

2. Tell me about your living situation. Are you married? Kids? In College? What is your life like OUTSIDE of weightloss?

Married, 3 kids, SAHM/homeschooling, I work at a karate studio (the office part, although I can and have broken boards with my feet). I seem to spend a lot of time driving people places.

3. If you were given a magic wand that you could use one time to do one thing, what would you use it for?

Give my home a complete extreme makeover. We have too much junk and too small of a house. I could use one more bedroom really.

4. What is your favorite thing about this time of year? Least favorite?

The cooler days, the clear crisp air, the leaves turning and the wind are all my favorites. My least favorite would be the rain that makes the leaves piles of muck.

5. You have a day off, no responsibilities, so what will you do with it?

I'd sleep and read all day long.

6. What is YOUR sin food?

Reese's peanut butter cups - the minis

7. Your in a foul mood, what lifts you out of it?

Laughing with my husband.

8. Your in a good mood, what keeps you there?

Enjoying the moments with my family.

9. What is one of your biggest struggles right now?

Exercise and water intake. I will literally be so busy all day and then realize I hadn't drank a single drop all day.

10. Your motivation is running low, where do you find your refill?

Watching The Biggest Loser helps.

11. Your in house support (meaning the people in your life that you see face to face) is beginning to dictate your weightloss journey by telling you your too heavy, or your getting too thin, but your not where you want to be. What do you do? How do you handle it?

Hasn't happened yet, although my husband one time got snarky and got on my laptop and brought up my Livestrong page and turned the computer to face me as I was just starting to eat a bowl of icecream (although it was Edy's frozen yogurt). I did explain that I had calories budgeted for my treat. Otherwise, he has been supportive.

12. List me your favorite:color:smell:activity with your child:Activity with your girlfriends/ guy buddies:way to relax:

Color: lavender/blue
Smell: the smell when you first walk into your house and the crockpot has been cooking dinner all day.
Activity with my kids: zoo
Activity with girlfriends: hanging around and talking
Relax: a book and a bed!

13. Where do you honestly see yourself at the end of this challenge?

I had hoped to be 30 pounds lighter but at this point I don't see it happening unless I really get off this plateau. So honestly, a 15 pound loss seems more realistic.

14. What are your goals AFTER Gag?

After GAG, I still plan on staying on my weight loss journey. I started this last February and want to lose a total of 100-110 pounds. I've lost 30 so far and while maintaining is okay, I still want to lose this excess pounds.

15. How do you think GAG is going so far? What would you like to see done differently? (I must be asking for torture! LOL)

I think GAG is ok, but I did better when the point challenge involved me drinking and moving. I don't have as much computer time as necessary for some of the other challenges.

16. Tell me all about your "typical" autumn weekend? Special activities that arise as well?

So far, we drove 2 hrs away to visit my husband's great-aunt out in the country. We spent hours in her backyard and taking pictures in front of a 100 yr old tree. We also hike in a nearby state park.

17. Is there one person in your life, who you hope your weightloss journey inspires?

I hope it inspires my children to not make the same bad eating habits. Right now they all eat fairly healthy, they eat their veggies and they don't overeat. I do know that I inspired a friend to start eating healthier and tracking his food and he's lost about 10 pounds already.

18. How did you find GAG, and what made you committ to join?

My sister Nancy told me about it. We are losing weight together and she knew I needed more motivation.

19. If you could nominate one BIGGEST INSPIRATION out of all your Team Gaggers, who would you nominate?

Of course my sister Nancy is the BEST inspiration of all. Not only has she committed to lose weight (she's already lost 60 pounds!), but with her new attitude and meal planning her husband has lost around 60 pounds, her oldest son has lost weight and her two older daughters have also lost weight. The teens/tween all have hit the point of just maintaining and look fabulous. Their entire family have a new healthier LIFESTYLE, not just a diet. We were able to visit recently, and to witness the whole family have healthier bodies and attitudes is very uplifting. I'm very happy for them all.

20. Please, tell me about you. What are your dreams? What are your desires for your life? What sparks the passion inside of you about your life? What goals do you have that seem impossible?

Dreams: family unity, enjoying each other and maintaining close bonds.
Life desires: raise my children in the Lord
Passion: I love to give to others
Mission impossible: getting my sister Nancy to move her family back to Missouri where they belong before her children set down their roots there and then none of them will come back here! waaaaaa!!