It has been a few weeks since I have done a scramble and ramble.  So I am excited for today's!  I have found that again I need to be careful about the time I spend on the computer.  It is really hard to lose weight, be active and spend time with the family when I am sitting on my A*S typing away.  The only thing about being sick this past week that was kind of good is that I think I got caught up and should be back on track.  Mind you it is my track, no one elses so it changes daily but as usual I am always trying to find good balance in my life as I believe we all should.  Now let's move on to this week's Scramble and Ramble!

Rotten #3-Carson, Rotten #1-Anthony, Rotten #2-Reagan

Confused about the Rottens-  I have had many of you tell me you are confused as to who is who in the Rottens, so I thought I would clear it up.  Even though this picture is just over a year old it is one of my favorites.  The hairstyles have changed a little bit but they are still the same little Rottens as always. 

Carson is 9, Anthony is 15 (for 1 more week) and Reagan is 11.  These 3 boys are the light of our lives and we really have so much fun just being together.  I am extremely proud of them and the effort the are making to get healthy. 

My favorite funny Rotten moment this week- I went grocery shopping with Anthony. I wanted to buy the Heart Healthy Bisquick and he yelled..."No way I only eat my Bisquick American style!" LOL ok!

Are you wearing RED?- Do you know that this month is Go Red For Women month?  It is to help raise awareness and money to fight heart disease among women.  Please take a minute and go to their site.  You can educate yourself, donate, get a red dress pin, join a better U makeover program and take a heart check up!  Pretty awesome site!

Thank you for encouragement!- My monday update was the first in 8 weeks that I was having negative mojo.  I think it was between coming down from my vacation and being sick.  I just want you all to know that I really appreciate all of your kind words of encouragement.  It really did help to just let it out and accept advice.  So if YOU are having a bad day/week/month then post about it!  Let us all know that you need some help.  It is amazing how close this blogging circle is and how much support is really there.  THANK YOU!

Operation Beautiful- Can I just say I absolutely LOVE the concept behind Operation Beautiful!  If you have not seen what happened on the cruise with it then please check it out HERE it was really neat and so much fun!

Speaking of Beautiful!- Did you see my favorite blog of the week?  Jennifer from Jeep Jenn is simply amazing.  Stop by and check out her blog I am sure you will love it as much as I do.  There are 2 more blog friends that I want to point out this week Christine from Cunning Mom and Susan from Food Food Body Body.  These two women put it out there this week.  It made me realize I am not alone and that we all have bad days but we can get through it.  Love all three of these beautiful amazing women!!

And thats another Scramble and Ramble wrap!

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I have decided that it is a good thing that I am the only one that holds me to my so called "blog schedule"!  Holy cow I do not know what the deal is.  I honestly do not know if I will ever catch up!  Wednesday is supposed to be Wednesdays With kids and today is supposed to be a a Spotlight Blog.  So what I am going to do it combine them and kind of redeem myself. 

First-  What do you think of the Valentine background?  Is it to much pink and hearts?  I personally love pink so I can deal with the overload but I know I have friends who probably think that it looks like a pepto bismal bottle exploded.  Either way it is up until after Valentines Day.  I love Valentines Day because it is Anthony a.k.a. Rotten #1's birthday and he is going to be 16 this year, WOW! 

Second order of Fab Fattie business- Did you see the Network Blog button over there on the right?  If you are on facebook please follow my blog so I have lots of cute little faces in that square and look cool because you want to keep up with my rantings.  Seriously it is a great way to follow new posts.  I am still having trouble with my RSS feed working right.

How are the rottens doing on getting healthy? 

I am glad you asked.  They are doing wonderful!  They really have changed the way they eat and play.  It is neat to have Carson a.k.a. Rotten #3 ask to go on a walk.  FYI If you think you cannot get a good workout going on a walk, then go with a 9 year old!  You can only walk 1/2 mile and if you count all of the skipping, racing to the stop signs, bending over picking up junk treasures, and throwing rocks as far as possible then you have a full body workout!  He wants to go every day.  It is awesome.

Just recently they have started saying that they miss Reese's Puffs and Cookie Crisp.  Do not fear!  I am sticking to my guns on this one.  We will not have those sugar loaded cereals back in our house.  They are doing really well with healthy cereals and eggs for breakfast instead.  We have realized that even though the choices they have may not be their favorite things, the will choose something.  So if they have a good choice or a good choice, the odds are they will end up with a good choice!

Exercise has taken over the house.  Holy mackerel!  Every day they are looking for something to do.  Carson has written himself a little list and Reagan a.k.a Rotten #2 is so proud to be able to do push ups finally.  It is so cute when they wake up with sore muscles (giggle).  Anthony will not let me miss the gym for anything because I am his ride.  I did not think about that when I got him a gym membership!  He is looking really good, getting all buff and stuff.  No girls...N-O!

Very proud of these 3 boys of mine... I am!

Worthy Blog to Spotlight-

This is soooo easy for me because there are so many fabulous bloggers!  I have actually started thinking about me just surprising my blogging friends with this rather than ask them to guest post.  I am sort of torn between guest posting.  I never know if everyone thinks is is a great thing or if they think, Oh Crap I have to find the time for yet another post!   What are your thoughts on guest posts?  Should I keep doing them or just name my favorite of the week with some linky love???  (example below)

A favorite blog that touched my heart this week is Jeep Jenn and no it is not just because she went on the cruise with us!  To be honest I did not really know Jenn before the cruise.  A little on twitter but when I met her in person, WOW!  She is absolutely amazing!!!  I have never met someone so loving and kind.  She is sincerely an angel that I am so blessed to call a friend.  Her blog is WONDERFUL she is very smart and writes so well.  When I visit her blog I find myself drawn in.  She is just a fabulous writer! 

Okay so how did I do trying to catch up?  Just incase you need a little more buttering up below is a song for you that I have already over shared but it is just that good!  If it gets taken off youtube before you get to see it, sorry.

What do you suppose happens when you give 14 women a stack of post it notes and a sharpie???  Operation Beautiful happens!!!! 

About 2 days before we left on the cruise I had a genius moment and decided to bring Operation Beautiful along.  I do not know why it had not crossed my mind sooner because it was the most perfect fit ever!  I have so many stories about it that I am not sure where to start or end.  For that reason I am just going to ramble and I hope you enjoy it

My Mom LaDaun and Sue

Day 1 before we went on the cruise in my hotel room with my Mom...

We were getting ready for the day and I noticed that every time my mom looked at herself in the mirror she would say something negative to her herself.  Now those of you who have met my mom know without a doubt she is beautiful.  Not to mention that she is my very best friend, a very smart business woman, and a ton of fun to hang out with.  From my perspective I have never been able to understand why she cannot see how beautiful she is.  It just does not make sense.

I asked my mom to come and stand in front of the mirror and this is what happened...

Me- "Mom look at yourself and tell me 3 things you love about yourself."

Mom- "I can't there is nothing about myself I love."

Me- "Common mom I can think of a ton of things I love about you.  When I look at you I see who I am going to be 20 years from now."

Mom- "Ok I kinda like my hair and my fake finger nails."

Me- "You can change both of those things.  Name some things that you cannot change."

Mom- "I can't there is nothing else."

We stopped at this point because it would have gotten emotional to go any further.  It seriously broke my heart.  She really has no clue how beautiful she is.  At this moment is when I knew that Operation Beautiful was meant to come on the cruise with us.

The cruise...

At the meet and greet we all took a minute and introduced ourselves to one another.  My first thought was, WOW what a fantastic group of women.  I passed out binders that had the post it notes and some information.  On the top post it note I had written something for each person and I asked them to share what it read.  I explained the idea of Operation Beautiful and I was surprised that my mom shared the story of what had happened at the hotel.  We ended the meet and greet by looking at the person next to us and telling them that they are beautiful.  It was well... Beautiful!

I could have never imagined what happened.  I found notes in bathrooms, in elevators, on tables, on doors, on waiters and I heard about it all over the ship.  It was very cool!  The level that our rooms were on was plastered with post it notes.  They were of course on all of our doors but they spread out onto so many others.    People started letting us know which rooms they were in (just incase) LOL.

One of the wonderful ladies, Helen really grasped the concept and wrote out 100 notes in 2 days!  She went all over the place and sometimes walked right up to people told them what she was doing and then gave them a note.  Always walking away leaving a smile and making someone's day brighter.   One day after Helen ran out of notes I was talking with 3 waitresses who told me about these ladies who made so many people happy and how we all need to realize how beautiful we are.  Yeah, that made me happy! 

The thought of what someone may have done when they found the notes is so exciting.  There were so many that we all have no idea but we know that it made someone smile and hopefully made them realize they are beautiful. 

My most favorite moments of Operation Beautiful were when I first got back from Cozumel and got off the elevator to walk to my room and came across this...

What was even better than that is that it was all the way down the hall!  Seriously the hall was full of people who were reading the notes. People would walk down the hall and stop door after door to read the notes.  They would smile and mention what a great idea it was.  I loved standing back and watch it all happen.   I turned around and ran down 6 levels to get Mo and Jenn so they could come and see, I was SOOOOO excited!

One beautiful lady came down the hall from reading them and mentioned how wonderful it all was.  So I did what any person would do...I stalked watched what room she was in and I left one on her door!  A while later she came up to me with tears in her eyes thanking me and hugged me, not once but twice.  Then she took some of my post it notes to do it herself.  Can I just say AWESOME!

I loved this from Oveta on facebook-

Shannon Ray Lavery Hi there beautiful Oveta!

Hi Shannon, You are an inspiration! You helped us all feel better about ourselves. Keep up the good work! Oveta

 

Mission accomplished!

I have to many stories to tell but one thing I learned is that Operation Beautiful is not only for women, it works on men and children to.  Not only that it is more contagious than chicken pox!  I want to thank all of the wonderful women who went on the cruise for taking Operation Beautiful and sharing it.  Thanks to Caitlin for coming up with such a wonderful idea! 

If you have not gotten the Operation Beautiful bug yet...GET IT!  You will have a so much fun with it.  To see some of the pictures of the notes I found you can check them out HERE.

XO Shannon 

Here is the official cruise photo that actually has everyone in it!  I wish I was more organized and had all of the pictures on here by now but... I don't   So here is at least this one so you know who was there!

Back Row: Jenn, Jaci, Lynn, Carol, Helen, LaDaun (my mom), Sue, Shirley and Sally

Front Row: Shannon (me), Joyce, Monique, Kyra, Brad (kyra's hubby)  and Oveta 

I miss everyone already and cannot wait to see them all again!

First I have to say THANK YOU to all of you who left such sweet comments while I had my melt down yesterday.  I have come up with some plans that include a 10k to help keep myself motivated.  I appreciate all of your ideas and no matter what anyone ever says we all need to post our ups and DOWNS so that we can get help when we need it.  Thank You, Thank You!

I am short on time here this morning but I have to share some exciting news with you this morning.  I have not said much about my gallbladder issue because I have not had anything substantial to back it up.  All I have had is my experience and what I have thought could be an issue.  Well this morning I do not feel near as crazy as I have the past 2 1/2 years! 

So here is my gallbladder story...

2 1/2 years ago I got into the best shape of my life.  I lost 50 pounds was cycling about 12-25 miles a day and eating very healthy.  Then my gallbladder quit on me.

I had no indications at all it was even a problem.  I had an attack in the morning was at the hospital that evening they tested it and it was 0% functioning and took it out.  I had no trouble bouncing back and could eat just like before.  None of the stories that I had heard like lettuce kicks your butt etc. everything just went right back to normal as if it never happened.

That was in August.  By December I had gained 50 pounds.  It made me crazy!  I went to the Dr. had my thyroid tested and everything was fine.  He told me I just needed to diet and that the gallbladder being out has nothing to do with weight gain.  Everyone said the same thing, that it is more likely to lose weight after it is out than gain it.

So I let it be.  I looked online and could find a few stories similar but not many so I really just decided I was officially a fat ass and could never lose weight and that I just needed to deal with it.  Over the past 2 1/2 years I have been struggling with losing any weight at all let alone 1-10 pounds.  It is a huge feat for me.  Before my gallbladder was out, not a problem.  I would decide to lose 2 pounds the following week and lose 3, not once was I not able to lose the weight.

Frustration GALLORE!

And then there is Heath...

Last week as I am visiting with my trainer Heath.  We were talking about how strange my body is.  According to his scale I have only lost 2 pounds in 8 weeks.  On the flip side of all of that I am shrinking, literally.  I am super strong and getting toned and then the scale shows 2 pounds.  Mind you this is while I am working out 1 hour a day at least 6 -8 times a week.  Not your average workouts either, cycling classes, sprints and weight training.  I was going on about how I used to could lose weight rather easy and that since I had my gallbladder removed I have had such a hard time losing weight at all.  Heath said "You know what your gallbladder does don't you?  It breaks down lipids before your body stores them."  Immediately a light came on, and this time it was not in my head it was in HIS!!!  He told me he wanted to look into this because it would make perfect sense. 

Then this morning he tells me that he did some studying and that there are millions of stories like this.  What he thinks is happening is that my body minus the gallbladder is just storing all of these lipids.  Instead of breaking them down first it is just storing them.  Not only that I have to work 10 times harder to access them. 

So bottom line is that every time I eat fat it is stored immediately.  My body is not breaking it down and burning it like before.  Makes perfect freakin' sense!  The way my body works is such that I do not have the flexibility to just eat fat and burn it off.  If I choose to eat to many fats I am going to have to kill myself to get rid of them. 

The solution.... STAY AWAY FROM FATS!  Easy enough right?  My diet is going to consist of tons of fruits and veggies and very lean meats.  I can do that I really can!  To know that I have some sort of an answer to what I have known is a problem is such a relief!  It actually kind of makes me mad that this is such a simple solution to something that could have been answered a long time ago with a little research umm... DR.! 

Anyway its a good-good-good day her in Shannonland

* Please note these are opinions, neither of us are Dr.'s.  This information is from personal experience and research. 

I have to admit... I have had a very hard time getting back into the blogging mode this past week.  There is really no reason why I just have been kinda in the dumps.  So yeah this is probably going to be a ohpoorme post.  You have been warned!  If you follow me then you know I really am an upbeat sometimes annoyingly positive person, so this will be out of character but hey everyone has to vent every now and again...right? 

While I was on vacation I did really well.  It is easy to eat properly and exercise while you are on a fitness cruise.  The only day I did not eat properly is the day I came home.  I made horrible choices at the airports.  When I really think about it, I think I was anxious that the cruise was over and I was going back to real life and now I have nothing pressing to help me lose weight.  Does that make sense? 

I have had the cruise to look forward to for months.  That was a big reason why I wanted to be fit and why I wanted to lose weight.  Now it's over.  So what now?  Here I am today and the only "reason" I have to lose weight is for MYSELF.  It has always been for myself but I have been able to hide behind other reasons.  Myself is more than enough of a reason, I know but I have never just done things for myself.  Apparently that is a common thing for women and parents and just your average person in general.  Not a bad thing, right?

In the past when I have lost weight it has been in a contest or in a group or I have had a deadline to meet.  Never have I ever just done it on my own for no other reason than to just lose it and get healthy.  This is a weird realization for me.  The hardest part of my journey is just beginning.  I am nervous and afraid.  I have actually thought for a minute, is it worth it?  Can I really do it?  Here I am in a good place physically.  I am strong, I am looking healthy, I feel great.  Mentally I am struggling.  Weight loss is mental you know.  With my experience and degree in um... nothing.  I would say weight loss is 90% mental and 10% everything else.  I have my 10% in check and am working on the 90%.  What is interesting is that I thought I had it figured out and BAM I was wrong.

I have been here before and this is the place that I give up.  I am not going to this time but I am working through all of this.  I know without a doubt that if I did not have my family, all of you and my trainer Heath I would quit.  That is what I have always done.  That is why I have never changed and gotten to the finish line.  This is my way of acknowledgment.  I have to write this today to get it out there and move past it. 

So what is the next step for me?  Well my super fantastic trainer Heath has decided I need to up my cardio once again.  Cardio... another huge fear for me.  Maybe that is it.  I have gotten past all of my little fears and I am to a point that I have to face the big ones.  I have always turned away from the big ones!  Well not this time.  Even though I am struggling I will face them head on.  They may kick the crap out of me.  I may get bruised and banged up a bit.  Even though I am afraid, I know that I need to make it this time.  I know I can and I know I need to stay focused on... myself! 

Lynn, Shannon and Joyce

Something I have always believed in is the power of friendship.  There is nothing like having a friend that you know is always there in good and bad times.  A good friend cheers you on when you are doing well and is there for you to offer a hug when needed.  A good friend is priceless!

This past week on the cruise was amazing.  14 women came together and created a support system that is just amazing.  I know without a doubt that you can build friendships that will last a lifetime in 5 days.  For 5 days there was no difference in anyone.  We were all a part of a sister hood full of love and support… Amazing!  (I know a lot of amazings but it really was!)

There are so many stories that I want to share with you and this post could go on forever if I let it.  So I have decided I am going to have to break it all down and do several posts.  A great place to start is with Joyce and Lynn.  All I can say is WOW!

These two women ended up coming with us by searching for a cruise online.  They were the only women that someone did not already know.  I have to be honest I was very excited to meet them but nervous at the same time.  I knew they were coming on the cruise to get fitness and nutrition information and I so wanted to make sure they left with useful information. 

The first day I met them they came in ready to workout.  As a matter of fact I think they may have already.  These two did not slow down the whole entire cruise!  They took full advantage of all of the classes and opportunities to work out that they could.  Exactly what they were there for, YAY!!

Right away you could see that they had a bond.  We went through a little introduction and learned that Joyce had been chosen to participate in a year long program at a gym with a group of people and trainers.  She was starting it as soon as she got home from the cruise.  Her story of how she gained her weight and what she has overcome to be at this point today is touching and heartbreaking.  The strength that she exudes is contagious and she is one of those women that I know without a doubt is ready to move ahead and get healthy.

Joyce made a comment that really hit home for me as I have said the same thing.  She said “2010 is my time”.   There is power in knowing that and you can see that it really is for her. 

I wish that I could remember the exact years that Lynn and Joyce had been friends.  It really seemed as if they were probably born on the same day and started hanging out with each other in preschool, lol.  They really seem that close. 

I have never seen someone as proud of her friend as Lynn is of Joyce.  Lynn just beams as she shares the stories of their friendship and what is in store for Joyce in 2010.  She is dedicated to support her friend and even though she is not “in the program” she is going and watching from the sidelines to participate when she can and cheer on Joyce.  WOW, that is a true friend.  Come to think of it I do not think that Lynn knows how not to be happy.  She had a smile on her face the first second I met her until we hugged goodbye.  What a wonderful woman!  Anyone can be a friend but to be THE friend that holds your hand through all that life throws at you and always there to pick you up and help carry you when needed… that is a TRUE friend. 

I am ecstatic to see what happens with these two women in the next few months.  I know that big changes are coming their way and that whatever hurdle may be thrown at them they will overcome it. 

They are thinking about blogging their journey and if they decide to I will be sure to let you all know.  What a journey it will be!

I know!!  I am a S-L-A-C-K-E-R!!  I have been wanting to get on here and write all about the cruise and post some pictures and...and...and I am to busy trying to catch up.  So I thought I would at least leave you a little message and let you know that I have missed visiting your blogs and seeing your wonderful comments.  I should be back on track in a day or two hopefully with all of the details and pictures from the cruise.

It was so much fun and I have new sisters for life!  Just to give you a little glimpse into part of it enjoy the video below   You know those of you around my age love those tight little pants and belly shirts!  Memories... LOL

I am leaving in the morning for the Fit and Fabulous cruise!!  I am so excited to go.  I will be flying to Miami then getting on the ship and going to Key West then Cozumel.  There are 15 of us going total and I cannot wait to meet everyone!

I want to give a special thanks to my personal trainer Heath,  Miz Fit Online and Pat Barone.  These 3  have helped me get an awesome agenda together for the cruise.  I am so excited to share all of the things I have learned.  There has been more kindness than I could ever ask for in helping all of this come together.  Thank you all so very much!!!

This past week I recieved a Blog Award from my sweet friend Hanlie.  Thanks so much Hanlie you made my day!  This is my first blog award EVER, how exciting!! 

I have been saving it for today because if I am going to have a post sit here for 6 days without an update, then this is the one I want it to be.  Because of the cruise I will not be back until after the 25th.  I highly recommend while you are waiting for me to get back that you thoroughly checkout my blog roll... hint

I often think about being happy and what it really takes.  I try to figure out why people choose not to be happy and in many cases I have never been able to figure it out.  To me, for the most part it is a daily choice.  You can make a big deal out of everything and be miserable or see the bright side.  I LOVE the bright side! 

To only think of 10 things that make me happy is really hard.  Once I get started oh man!!!  Not only that to choose only 10 blog friends that make me happy is even harder!!

As always, there are instructions:

1. Copy the image and display it on your blog.

2. List 10 things that make you happy.

3. Try to do at least one of them today.

4. Pass on the award to 10 bloggers who brighten your day.

Happiness is...

1. My children laughing.  The sound of them being happy is contagious.

2. Snuggling up to Mr. Fabulous.  There is such comfort in knowing I am with my soul mate.

3. Exercise, wow I can't believe I just typed that!  Extra dose of happy because Anthony goes with me.

4. My friends new and old, in real life an online.  Such a blessing!

5. Reagan telling me I am pretty.  For an 11-year-old he knows how to make me smile

6. My pets.  I love that their whole purpose is to just love you and all they want in return is a pat on the head.

7. My children's imagination.  I love that they know they can be and do anything they want to in life.

8. Inspiring others.  It makes my day when I hear that my journey has helped someone else, LOVE IT!

9. Tomorrow full of hope and promise.

10. The little note I found in my purse tonight that said "Mom I love you and I am gonna miss you. Love Carson"

Now 10 people that make me happy...

Lori from Slorunner Mom on twitter @Slorunnermom

Ali from Not As Fat Runner on twitter @alitherunner

Christine from Cunning Mom on twitter @Cunningmom

Ryan from No More Bacon on twitter @nomorebacon

Tee Tee from Tee Tee 71 on twitter @teetee_71

Jen From Jen In Real Life on twitter @bwjen

Trish from I Am Succeeding on twitter @Iamsucceeding

Josie from Yum Yucky on twitter @YumYucky

Susan from Food Food Body Body on twitter @foodiemcbody

Jenni from Phatty Blog on twitter @PhatBFF

Have a fabulous week and I will have way to much to share with you all when I get back!!

XOXOXOXOXO
Shannon