I'm sure I'm not alone in my LOVE of Mexican food.  One of my fun little "fixes" is a HEALTHIER taco salad! :)  I use extra LEAN ground beef and instead of using a packaged taco seasoning mix, I've been using Mrs. Dash  Southwest Chipotle, you can add a little salt if desired to yield a more familiar taste. I just put the Mrs. Dash in when I start browning off the beef , you can vary the amount you use... but be warned... it can get SPICY!  The sodium in those seasoning packets is pretty high, so there is health move #1, well 2 if you count the lean beef, but that is all we have used for the past few years.  Another even better way is to use chicken breast... YUM!

I will add a variation of these, depending on my mood...

• Romaine Lettuce
• Fat Free/Low Fat Cheese
• Olives
• Onion
• Tomatoes
• Green Pepper
• Black or Garbanzo Beans

Then I throw on a small handful all natural tortilla chips, we have  great brand that is available locally, Garden Fresh Gourmet that offers an unsalted variety.  I'll top it all off with a dollop of fat free/low fat sour cream and salsa.

It totally takes care of any of those bad Mexican food cravings in a much more healthy way! :) 

~joi~

Today I started Billy Blank's Bootcamp Elite and I  LOVE it... :)   I have several other dvds of his but I have to say using the bands makes a difference!  I've wanted to get them for a while and I'm glad I didn't *WEIGHT* any longer. It gives you a 4 week plan to follow.  I'm not sure just yet how I'll do it, because I like our other workouts too... but we'll see!  But here is the plan it gives...



I'm just interested to see the "guaranteed results in a week"... lol  :D  Kinda not really fair  to be mixing it in with my first full week of treadmill, but hey, who cares... it's getting this J*U*N*K off of my body! hehe

The days that it suggests rest I will at least to the treadmill... as I've been hopping on that everyday!  No clothes hanging on this equipment! 

~joi~

so, if you looked at our numbers this week, you saw that we BOTH gained.  I gained 2.4pounds?!?!  What the crap  is that??  hahaha  This is soooo not happening again!!  We got the treadmill... we are USING it and we are getting rid of this fat!!  It was pretty darn discouraging this morning to see those numbers though... that is why I waited until this evening to post them and jot down  these few words. 

I've got 19 days until my best friend gets here and by golly , I am GOING to get some more weight off by then!  She is blowing me out of the water!!!  *Go Rachel*   

Brandon gained a little weight too... we are both adjusting our food this week and will see if we can remedy the problem... we are NOT giving up!!! 

~joi~

We got a treadmill... we got a treadmill... we got a treadmill!!!    I am so happy about it I'm singing... lol   I have wanted to get one for a while and we found a pretty decent one for a good price!   I'm sooooo behind, I'm sure most everyone has some sort of exercise machine in their home, but we lived in such small houses before buying this one that we never had the space! 

So, here is my game plan.  We  are going to continue with our regular workout routine (the Biggest Loser DVDs together in the morning (cardio and sculpting on alternating days) and I'm going to hop on the treadmill for at least 30 minutes in the morning... hopefully longer if the kids stay asleep long enough.  And then during the 2 shows I watch during the week, my butt is going to be on there... not sure I'll last the two hours for Biggest Loser but as long as I can stand it! :)

My goal is to be able to run... I've NEVER been able to!!  I could walk for days and days... but running was just something I couldn't get to... well, I'm going to make it happen!   I'm totally geeked!

I also picked up some not so expensive goodies... the rest of the Biggest Loser DVD's (we only had the first one), so I got #2 and the Cardio Max and Power Sculpt ones... :D   I found a workout ball for a SUPER price, so i HAD to grab that!  Oh, and the Billy Blanks BootCamp Elite Set was on sale and cheaper than buying the bands alone (which I've wanted for a while)... :D  So now I just need to make sure I use them all! :)  I figure the more varied the workouts the better it will be... gotta keep the body guessing!  Hahaha

~joi~

I have been struggling with the same 5 pound range for the last few weeks.  I feel like I am stuck at 241 ish... I got down to 238 last week, and the week before and by the time weigh in rolls around I am back at 241... GRRR!!!  I just want to get below and stay there.   I know I can do it, but come on... just get it done and over with! Give me a new range to get out of! 

Brandon is still losing well and I can't help but feel a tad bit jealous... but it happens! :)  He's a guy... statistically it is easier for the weight to come off of them, so I need to keep that in mind. :)

Anyone else feel like they are at a standstill ??

So, we had a CRAZY whirlwind 20 hours!!!  We left for Chicago from my parents house at 3:45 am on Monday morning.... were cruising along having fun... singing away and then stopped for breakfast at about 7:15 or so... by the time we got back on the road at 8 it had completely changed.  The next 10 miles took me 45 minutes to drive and the following 30 miles took an hour and 15 min...    We passed several smashed, flipped or the like vehicles in a 25 mile range... 27 cars/vans, 1 tour bus and 1 semi containing some sort of flammable  liquid.... EEK!  SCARY!!!! 

So, we get into Chicago after surgically  removing my hands from the wheel... drove around for a while to decide what we were going to do after the interview...  it was such a beautiful sunny day... WOOHOO!!  And then I got out of the car to go into a gas station... holy flippin freezin!!!   COLD  COLD COLD!!!! 

This HAD to be the coldest I think I have ever been... it was terrible!!!  And of course once we parked and made our way to the TOP SECRET interview location... hehehe  We were soooo cold that we could barely bend our fingers and such.  My forehead was apparently catching all the wind through the walk and I had a splitting headache for several hours afterwards (even through our call back).... it was CRAZY COLD!!! 

We sat in the lobby and sent them a text letting them know we were there.  I was expecting to see SOMEBODY else there for the same reason... we saw 2 girls leaving before we went up and when we left there were 2 more people waiting to go in. 

Okay... so on to the part why EVERYONE is reading this!!!  :D  The call back!!

It was awesome... :)  We went up to the room and sat on the dreaded "casting couch"... thankfully we were only sitting on it... ;)   we talked, laughed and answered questions with them for about 45 -50 minutes and chatted it up pretty good!!! :)    We took some photos at the end and went on our merry way... :)  I want to give more details, but am not sure if that could kill our chances... but I have to tell you the casting directors that interviewed us were a TOTAL blast... I would hang out with them in a heartbeat!!! :D 

Such an amazing experience!!!!  We decided to just leave  Chicago since it was so bitter cold and we couldn't function walking around the city... we made our way to the car and paid our $26 parking fee for less than 3 hours and cruised on... lmao!  the roads were pretty good until we got back into Michigan at which point we were driving in  white-out  at several points... YIPES!  We made our way to Mom and Dads and got there ate 11:45 pm... 20 hours after when we pulled out...  WHAT A DAY!!!!!  :D

I'll put the very very few photos up in a while! :)

~joi~

hi everyone!!!!  :) thank you thank you thank you for all of your support and posts and for clarifying Megan's stand on biker chicks... hehehe  :)

We had a VERY VERY interesting trip... Tons of fun at the interview and I will update in the morning.  We just got home (we were at my parents house today and left late)... Such an amazing experience and the casting director we spoke with were HILARIOUS and made it a VERY comfortable time... haha   

But my lord... was Chicago ever cold!  Mind you we are from northern Michigan... and we were FROZEN!!!!! 

~joi~


I am sooooooo tired that I'm not even going to add color *gasp*  can you believe it?!?! 

I know I won't have to post in the morning, so I'm going to do it now. 

We are heading out in the morning to take the kiddies to my parents' house and will spend some time there and then head out for Chi Town  in the weeee hours of the morn... well, it'll actually still be night technically.  We'll be taking photos of our journey (well, once there is daylight and then before and after the interview...    So, you'll all be seeing those on Tuesday or Wednesday at the latest, I'm sure! :)  Not sure how much time we'll actually be spending around the city... it all depends on how early we get there and the weather.  I would love to get some shopping in, but I'm sure that will be the last thing on my mind (and our $$checkbook$$ wouldn't like it). 

This has been such a crazy  awesome experience!!!  And regardless of what happens, rest assured we'll be back to our regular blogs in no time.  It has just kind of consumed ours mind lately... Sorry!  ;) 

As far as weightloss, we are still going strong despite the mind game  it is playing on us .   Do we WANT to keep losing if we'd be on the show?!?! You know?!?  It kinda defeats the numbers you'd want on the big scale... lmao!  Oh the troubles my mind is dealing with.  Hahaha

In the mean time, you should all read Rachel's blogs... she is awesome and has some AMAZING stories about her life and weightloss journey that need to be read!  click HERE

Talk to you all soon!!!!

~joi & brandon~

So, only a few short days away... until we speak with the casting directors! :D I hope they don't frown upon us for not coming in with a THEME... because we don't want any cheesy gimmicks to get in the way of them seeing just how amazingly *p*e*r*f*e*c*t* we are!  Afterall, on the show... it needs to just be us being us... not some silly get up or props to get us through.  I'm pretty sure we'll "fill the room" with not only our mass... hehehe  but our personalities... Besides I'm better with spontaneous  goofiness than having to plan it out... I'm SURE we'll stand out!  lol


I went to freshen up my hair color and get a trim and well, the stylist and I got a little goofy! :)  Mind you, the color is not something totally out of character for me... I mean look at my blogs and the pics in my house... i LOVE color!!!!  I just didn't think that was what I was going for yesterday... lol   :)

Take a peek! :)

not the greatest shot...  and the lighting was TERRIBLE... but it gives you a better idea of the cut. :D

~joi~

What an amazing blog!!  I just read this today and see she posted it a week ago. It gave me chills and is really touching on something that has been a struggle of mine for a while.

Since getting married and having children, I feel that I've lost a bit of myself under these new titles.  Don't get me wrong... I love my family... but I also miss ME!  I have a hard time reasoning it thinking that taking care of myself is selfish... NO!! It's a necessity!  How can I raise a healthy, happy family if I'm not happy with myself?!? 

It is time to step back and take care of myself too!

Quote

Tamila's apology to Herself for gaining weight.

Dear Tamila,

I was listening to the radio and heard this song and it made me think of You. You have been overweight and I have been ashamed of You. I realize I should have been more of a friend and helped You take better care of yourself. I am truly sorry that I have taken You for granted and put You last for so many years. I am changing. Please be patient with me. I PROMISE You, I will never do that to You again.

With ALL my LOVE,

Tamila

I'm not a perfect person
There's many things I wish I didn't do
But I continue learning
I never meant to do those things to you

And so I have to say before I go
That I just want you to know

I've found a reason for me
To change who I used to be
A reason to start over new
And the reason is you

I'm sorry that I hurt you
It's something I must live with everyday
And all the pain I put you through
I wish that I could take it all away

And be the one who catches all your tears
That’s why I need you to hear

I've found a reason for me
To change who I used to be
A reason to start over new
And the reason is You [x4]

I'm not a perfect person
I never meant to do those things to you
And so I have to say before I go
That I just want you to know

I've found a reason for me
To change who I used to be
A reason to start over new
And the reason is you
I've found a reason to show
A side of me you didn't know
A reason for all that I do
And the reason is you

Hoobistank -- Reason

So there is a dual reason for this post...Here is a little history.  Rachel and I have been best friends for almost 24 years through thick, THICKER and thin...   We would normally have done this type of challenge with each other but both of our husbands were willing to jump in with us and get healthy  and fit and well, even hotter! ;)   So, we may not be partners on the teams for this challenge but we have always been the "biggest" *no pun intended* support for the other through this and many many other challenges in life.

Our challenge this week was to get under the range we were in... she was 271 and i was 241 so i needed to get to at least 239.9 and she at 269.9... simple enough, right?!?! NOPE!!  We both gained... lol  SOOO  the penalty for the "loser" was to have the one who lost the weight post an old photo of the loser!  Well, she posted one of me on her page... here it is!!

So here is my post of HER... since w both "lost at losing"... lol This is from 1996 when we were in Chicago together.  How fitting that Brandon and I will be there once again in just a few days and it could possibly change how we live  the rest of our lives!!!  WOW!  We are praying the interview goes well and everything works out for the best... :)  

As you can see we have both been "fluffy" for a while! Oh wait... FOREVER!!! Time to get a skinny pic together!!!

~joi~

We have an interview scheduled with casting directors for Monday in Chicago...   We are SOOOO excited!!!  :)  BUT... they want a theme... what do you think of when you see something from Joi & Brandon?!?!  HELP!!!! :)

**UPDATE**
All of you are soooooo awesome! :) Thank you!!!!  Obviously being ourselves is what got us noticed, and we'd never stray from that...  just curious what "part of ourselves" you all have seen and stands out to everyone!  As my best friend, Rachel and I always say..."No, I'm not fishing for compliments!"  Hahaha


~joi~

So there I was...

It was 7:20pm EST (7:20am in Istanbul, not Constantinople).  I had Just finished my Lean Cuisine Pasta, salad, and snackie...

The Lights Dimmed....All But One...

THE VENDING MACHINE OF DOOM under poor florescent lighting called to me not unlike the Sirens of yore.  A Siren filled to the hilt with Butterfingers, Doritos, Hostess Apple (well Apple-esque) Pie, and Andy Capp's Cheese Fries...

Whats a poor guy to do?  Just like the sailors that ran their doomed ships into rocks, due to the sweet song of the Femme Fatale Siren I walked up to the rotary dispensing harbinger of sweet and salty destruction and yelled "NAY BEAST...NAY!  I WILL NOT FALL INTO YOUR CARAMELY, NUTTY, AND CHEESY TRAP...NOT TODAY...NOT...TODAY..."

So, I had an Apple....and saw it was good....

(fin)

Okay...  I saw on a friend's page that they were using myfooddiary.com and my oh my is that a cool site!  I signed up today!  It gives VERY detailed analysis of what you are eating and how you are exercising.  Mine isn't super detailed yet as it is my first day, but I can see already that I love it and it will be something I continue! :)

It tells you when you are doing good!!  :)  Nothing like a pat on the back, huh?!?

Meal Calories Fat Carbs Protein Breakfast 335 3.3g 73.9g 7.7g Snack #1 222 4.8g 33.9g 12.4g Lunch 0 0.0g 0.0g 0.0g Total Percentage of Calories 1 557 8.1g 12% 107.8g 74% 20.1g 14%

Exercise Description Duration Calories Household Chores: Multiple Chores ~ Light Effort 45 Min. 124

Goal Calories Maintain Weight 1868 Lose 2 lbs. per week (maximum safe) 868

†  You earned 124 extra calories through exercise.

Water Consumption

Notes Exercise!  You burned 124 calories. A high-fiber breakfast can help you lose weight and reduce your risk for heart disease, stroke, and type 2 diabetes. You have eaten fiber-rich foods.  This is a good indicator of a healthy diet. Saturated fats only accounted for 1.4% of your calories.  Good job staying below the 9% limit! You consumed 137.2 mg of vitamin C.  This is 183% of the recommended daily value (75 mg) for adult women. You consumed 39539 IU of vitamin A.  This is 1,318% of the recommended daily value for women. You deserve another smiley face for having no frowns.  Great job!

Check it out... :)

~joi~

Sooo... it looks like we might REALLY be going to the casting-call in Chicago for Season 6!!  How COOL! :)  This is soooo new to us.    We have a lot of things to consider  if we do "make the cut" but I think it is a MAJOR opportunity!  That is all we've been talking about last night and today.  I'm checking into everything right now... we will keep you posted. 

~joi & brandon~

For those of you who may have missed it... Brandon blogged late last night and it is pretty darn *hilarious*... :)  Be sure to click the links... they are pretty funny!  ;) 

So, with that being said... I am demanding that he blog at least hourly now... lol  Okay, that might be a little extreme but he needs to do it more often.  He has just been working SOOOO  many hours lately and finally has a day off .  The job is nice, but it would be even better if he could have a life... hahaha

So... scroll down, read his blog and be sure to leave comments for him! :)   I think we are all going to be surprised by his weigh in this week. 

Ahhh... on the subject!!  We are changing our weigh in day to Tuesday mornings... just a day later, but it seems to line up better! :)  Soooo... don't think we've forgotten if you check on Monday! ;)

~joi~

Hi.

My name is Brandon S. Colvin, ESQ. 

And this is my story....

I was born a poor, Irish fat kid in Mid-Mitten Michigan.  I did realize I had "convenientitis" ( not to be confused with the dreaded gum disease "GINGIVITIS!!!") until recently.  For those of you  who are unfamiliar with the term before-hand it is an issue in the lower left hemisphere of the brain which controls video game reflexes, Coca-Cola intake regulation, and apparently, the urge to take a 15 minute lunch to run to McTaco King.  Heres a picture of me with my first Big Mac...

By age 13, my already "Generation Why" type attitude was show thru.  I sought out the temple of the Whopper as much as possible.  Now I might be up on a soap box of a different height, BUT!!!!  My generation is a generation of modern, and instantaneous gratification.  Hence, the tag line of "Give me convenience, or give me death" rings true...(A note for the folks who haven't read my rant before...I think this is the first official time I've use the word "Hence"...)

Throughout the years there aren't too many days (before kids) that I didn't eat out fast food or other wise.  Mostly due to my rigorous work schedule of work until you pass out, and then 20 minutes more....

Jump forward about 4.35 years...to...TODAY!  I'm making a change for the better...I'm going to rock this junk outta my trunk...or....something....

We were both a little "blah" about things last week... not REALLY bad but not as excited as we had been.  Well, yesterday we both felt a big change!  People are commenting!!!  :)  that is soooo awesome  when people you see all the time notice!  It's usually the ones who haven't seen you for quite a while that notice, but I had several people at my MOPS group compliment me yesterday.  And Brandon... WOW!  I am really starting to notice his change visibly!  Back of ladies... lol  He had a few people at work notice too! That was a big boost for the both of us.

We were also contacted about being interviewed for the next season!  Hmmmm...  We'll see where that leads... We really wanted to go to the casting call in Chicago (the closest one to us) but it is in ONE WEEK!  Yipes... we shall see!!!  *Keep your fingers crossed*

I'm still busting butt to AVOID the evil photo that Jen challenged me on... whoever loses the least this next weigh in has to ... *GULP* post a photo in a sports bra... eeeeeeek!!!!  So, I'll be exercising in my sleep. lol I think I'm doing pretty good though... we shall see come our weigh in!


~joi~

Well, I am feeling MUCH better... Brandon is still pretty *uggg*.  We had the flu fly through our house and it hasn't been the most fun.  Maybe it will have helped our numbers this week... maybe! ;-)  We'll see... so just in case anyone was wondering where we were... we are alive!  

~joi~

As I mentioned in an earlier blog, Jen (of Jennifer and Megan) and I are doing weekly challenges and for this weeks weigh in, we were both to get to the 230's... my weight was 242.6  close but no cigar... :(  So I have posted a photo that I would not ordinarily show people of myself.  LOL   this was in 1996 on a trip to Chicago with the choir I was in... Such a super "sexy" photo, I tell ya... lol  You can see it HERE or go to our photo albums... :)

So, I was trying to figure out what our new challenge will be... I think we should  keep it along the same lines..  But since I don't know what her weight was I think we should keep a level playing field... whoever loses the MOST weight this week wins bragging rights... the loser once again will have to post an embarrassing photo.   It WILL NOT be me again!!! ;)

~joi~