February Challange

Januarys challange for me was to get under the 200 lbs mark... and I did not succeed. HOWEVER, I DID lose 9 lbs this month and that is fantastic... so my goal for February is too match my weight loss this month and go for the goal of 195. I am also going to add to that...WATCH MY PORTION SIZES.... I do so well some days, and other days I just keep eating and eating... grrrr.

For those of you who dont know what challenge I am talking about... Its the "Make Yourself A Priority in 2007" challenge... you can check it out here. Women AND Men are welcome to join. Currently there are 14 people signed up for the month of February... dont worry, you just have to sign up for one month at a time, so if things just get to hectic you can take a month off! Its alot of fun, and you meet some amazing people. Its a great motivation maker!

The weather is turning cold again and they said more snow is heading our way. We have been told that the possiblility of going to Puerto Rico this month is pretty good...(yes, they are still taking us... but I'm not holding my breath)... so I am praying that it will be soon so that I can walk on the beach instead of digging in snow to get too my car the next two weeks. Wishfull thinking is what I call it!!!!

On a sad note, Billy the goat passed away sometime yesterday in his sleep. I went to feed him and found him in his house curled up and sleeping... but not breathing. I was sad, but at the same time it was a blessing. He was born crippled and had lived to the ripe age of 8 years old.. I think he was happy to go.

Ok... so lets make it happy again... I worked out twice yesterday and this morning I am sore but loving it. The bad thing is I over ate at dinner last night... so guaranteed I crossed those out with the huge plate of spaghetti I had. Today I am making up for it by sticking to fruits and veggies.

Have a Blessed Day

The Wedding!

We are home from the wedding, and I am exhausted! I think it has been 6 years since I stayed up past midnight... I know... pathetic. We had a blast though. The bride was beautiful and the groom look very handsome. They had it in a beautiful garden, that reminded me of The Secret Garden. The walls were high and covered with beautiful ivy and flowers... there were fountains placed all around, creating a very calming affect. They had a quartet playing the whole time and an open bar. To say the least, it was the fanciest wedding I had every been to.

Hubby and I got our chance to dance... and it was wanderful to spend time together without having to worry about the kids. His whole family was there, and very little drama... which was surprising! And by popular demand, I wore the lace dress... which I felt very comfortable in.

We left the party about 10pm and on our way back to Hubbys brothers house, where we had left all our stuff, my cell phone rang and it was my mom saying that the youngest was screaming and crying and she could not calm her down... so we grabbed out stuff and drove 3 hours home... it was a little scary because we live in the mountains, and at night there are always Elk roaming the highways. We saw 10!! Once at my moms house we laid down with the girls, and we all fell asleep. We headed the rest of the way home this morning and now we are lounging around the tv... and not planning on getting out of my pj's! I'm very glad we went.. it was definatley worth the exhaustion!

Here are some of the pics...

Hubby and I


Hubby and his brother, Ivan


Me and my Father In Law... I love him!!


The wedding party...(see me video taping the ceremony)


Me and my Sister In Law, Jessica


The Groom (dark hair in the middle) and his MEN...

TGIF

Good Morning.

So yesterday my husband got a book in the mail that he had ordered awhile back. Now I know I told you that his dream body is to be like LL Cool J.... well this book was LL Cool J's diet and work out routines. It was pretty neat to look at and I really liked alot of what he wrote about.My hubby's fear is that he is too old to have the body that he dreams about...(hubby is 30 yrs old...I know, he's crazy) .... but reading the book last night he found out that LL is 38!!! Hubby seemed to get really motivated reading it and even worked out instead of watching CSI last night. I would have worked out last night, but I had the touch of the stomach flu last night and did not make it off the couch most of the evening.

Today I am feeling better, although I do not have a whole lot of energy. which is terrible because I have a TON of things to do today to get ready for our trip to the city tomorrow morning, and the wedding tomorrow night. I have to pack some bags for the girls because we will be dropping them off at my moms house on the way out of town. I also want to get in a good workout today too...(**yawn**)... but am having a terrible time getting off my butt!

I am still having a terrible time deciding what dress to wear... the majority of the votes went to the Lace dress...so most likely that will be the one I wear! My mama lent me a beautiful shawl that is black velvet and lace...so it will be great with either dress... and I found a black purse that will go nicely with both too. Now the problem I am having is deciding how to do my hair. The stylest that my sister in law made the appointment with had to go out of town on a family emergency... she felt terrible about it and wanted to find someone else to do it, but I told her not to worry about it.. I had planned on doing my hair anyway... I just dont know HOW yet!! I am not getting my nails done, as I did not get under 200 lbs.. :( .. I am sad, but I am not going to treat myself until I get to 199.

On another subject, I threw away those Special K bar snacks... I think that Perfuncto was right... they are sweet and just make you crave the real thing. They have been the start of two little binges in the past two days... and there is no need for a third!

I am going to attempt to get off my butt and do a workout before cleaning... usually working out gives me a little rush afterwards and will give me the energy to get stuff done. I am excited for our 'date' tomorrow.. it has been a very long time since hubby and I have had any time to ourselves...and a 3 hour drive to the city without the kids will be fun!

I will be back on Sunday to post pics of the wedding!!! Have a Blessed Day and Stay Strong!

Weigh-In Day #1

Ok... so I didnt make my goal for the wedding.. I am at 204. BUT.. I think that is freakin' awsome!!! I can still try and get to 199 for my January challenge...5 lbs in a week?? hmmmm, maybe! I am definatley going to try... thats why its a challenge right?

I wanted to do my measurements, but I cant find my measureing tape. So that will have to wait until this afternoon when I can either find the old one, or go to the dollar store and buy a new one!

I feel great and am ready to start a new day today... So lets go!!!

Have A Blessed Day.

Blah....

Today just didnt start out right... not that anything went really wrong... I just didn't feel myself. So I started the day off with oatmeal and blackberries.....so far so good... then I moved on to one of those new Special K snack bars that are only 90 calories a bar..then some m&m's and some chips... my Lean cuisine lunch that only had 270 calories and now dinner is tomatoe and spinach quiche for 127 calories per serving (the trick to lowering the calories is to take away the crust all together!!... I've only had 3 glasses of water and 1 cup of tea, which might be the problem.. .but I also did not work out this morning which I have been doing for the past two weeks... but am definatley working out tonight... I am looking forward to a good sweat.

So I picked up our portraits today... thought I would share them.. they are not too clear because they are pictures of pictures.. but you'll get the idea!!!




I am still excited for the wedding, although I am not sure I met my goal of 199... we shall see on ....OH YEAH... TOMORROW is weigh day... ACK.

Have a Blessed night.

Snow Day

So we braved to cold and played in the snow... but even the girls did not want to touch it! So we ran around a little, chasing each other and the dog and then ran inside for a nice warm bubble bath!

I took a break yesterday from doing Tae Bo... and yes I am STILL sore... but did do a relaxing Pilates dvd (thanks Michelle).... and was sleeping well until 3 am when my youngest woke up. So I wrapped both of us up in a blanket and we sat on the couch watching cartoons. It was FREEZING cold, but I could not make myself go outside to get the firewood to start the wood stove (which is the only source of heat in the house)... so we cuddled until hubby woke up. He laughed at us and called me lazy and crazy and built the fire! LOL... where would I be without him!! COLD, that's for sure!

Now the house is nice and warm... and it is -10 outside... so yet another day of staying inside... but today is a workout day for sure.. I have three workouts planned, so I better get started!

Have a Blessed Day!.... and thank you for all the compliments on my hair... I scared myself this morning walking into the bathroom!!! HAHAHAHAHAHA.. but I still like it!

A New Me!

Nope, your not imagining it! I dyed my hair!! Another impulse buy.. but I am liking it! I've done worse to my hair... like the time in high school when I tried to dye my hair and it came out green... I called my dad from school because I was soooo embarresed! LOL. I've had black hair, bleach blonde hair, red hair, (green hair).... so this is nice!

Thanks for all the votes on my dresses. So far the count is Lace- 10 and Velvet-2. The funny thing is that all the women have voted for the lace, while the two men... my husband and Galen... voted for the velvet! I am still not sure and am thinking of taking both of them and just see which one feels good the day of the wedding! Thanks PearShapedGirl...I am going to take a silk shawl with me just in case I wear the velvet one... great idea!!

I have a confession to make though... it was harder to post those pictures then it was my half naked before pics.. why? Well, both those dresses were worn years ago. The lace one used to hang off of me and flow so nicely...and the velvet one did the same.. in fact I remember the velvet one being longer, but because of my hips and chest, it has risen a couple of inches. Anyway, I guess it was one of those terrifying moments when you realize just how much weight you've gained. I'm ok with it though... its still me...and I am fighting it. I have actually noticed that since eating so healthy and such low calories that I dont crave the cruddy stuff anymore. In fact, I crave veggies and fruit now when I am feeling snacky... now THAT is a breakthru!!!

So yesterday I did Tae Bo Abs... and Tae Bo Cardio.. and I am S-O-R-E! My obliques are killing me everytime I turn my waist...wooohooo..(ow). Today I am taking a break from Tae Bo, but am going to walk 3 miles with the indoor aerobic walking dvd.

It snowed ALL day yesterday.... we got about 8-12" of snow.. but today is blue sky and sunshine so I am going to take the girls out to make a snowman...or attempt to anyway!


See Ya!
Have a Blessed day!

Dresses!!

Alright girls and guy! Here are the two dresses I have to choose from for the wedding...I dont really like either one too much... a) I dont like my arms showing b)I think they are both a little too clingy to my hips....grrrrrr. Anyway... let me know which one you think looks better on me!! I will be wearing my hair up which makes a big difference because it gives me a longer neck!

"VELVET"




"LACE"

Sunday Morning

Yesterday was a long, but good day. Hubby ended up going to the city for his brothers bachelor party and is heading home this morning. I did some great workouts and lounged with the girls for a little while. We all slept in the big bed together, which made for a very warm and snuggly night... My mom came by last night to give me a little break and play with the girls... she bought me this on one of her shopping adventures!



"My Kitchen Prayer"

God bless my little kitchen,
I love its every nook.
And bless me as I do my work,
wash pots and pans and cook.
And may the meals that I prepare
be seasoned from above
With thy great Blessing
And thy grace
But most of all thy love.

I love it, it found its home on the wall in my kitchen mama!! So this morning I did my Tae Bo Abs workout.... am cleaning frantically, as I did NO cleaning, at all, yesterday... and need to some how squeeze in a shower!

Have a blessed day!

Saturday and Snow

Yes, it is STILL snowing. We havent gotten a whole lot, maybe a couple of inches.. but it is definatley still falling and is supposed to snow all day today. So... enought of the depressing stuff...


I did a great workout last night. I bought a new workout dvd and it kicked my butt!! It used one of those workout balls... you know, the ones you just want to sit and jump on the whole time. It reminds me of an old toy I had as a little girl.. anyway... it killed my butt.. literealy. I can barely sit down today! So, for this mornings workout I am going to do another new dvd that is aerobic indoor walking.. and a Tae Bo Abs workout..

I am getting more excited as the wedding gets closer! My sister-in-law called yesterday... (we are staying with her and her husband for the wedding) and she is treating me to an "up-do" at her hairstylest. I cant wait! Jessica only has the best... and she always looks the best... so now I know I will too!!! Yeah!

Hubby is waiting a couple of hours to see if the roads are clear to the city.. so I'm not sure if I will be camping out in the living room tonight or not.. I am hoping not! But I think it will be good for him to go to his brothers bachelor party too... so either way, I'm fine with it.

Time to go blurfing (blog surfing).. will see ya'll soon!

Have a Blessed day

OH....OW....OUCH!!!

Yesterday was fantastic... I can only hope I can do that EVERYDAY!! I know I had a good workout when I wake up the next morning and I am moaning and groaning as I get out of bed. It feels sooooo good!! Today I have to focus on doing it all over again!

I know, I forgot my Thursday devotional.. but I cant find my book! :( I have a feeling that some little hands have taken them to munchkin land... where things tend to never be found!

It is freezing cold and they said we are expecting up to 12" of snow... grrrrrr. Did I say I HATE snow? LOL Hubby is going to the city for the bachelor party tomorrow night.. and I'm praying he doesn't get snowed out. I have to go to the store and go grocery shopping before it starts falling... :(

well... ya'll have a great day and stay warm...uh.. I mean strong!! LOL

A Pound A Day...

My brothers wedding is just around the corner.. next Saturday in fact.... and I am determined to be under 200 lbs by then... for more then just to look good. Hubby promised me that if I am under 200 for the wedding that he will treat me to getting my nails done for the wedding. I know, that doesn't sound like a big deal, but considering that I LOVE to have long nails...that look girly... and I havent been able to get them done since I was pregnant with our first daughter 3 years ago!!! That makes it a big deal for me!!! So... for the next week I am going to keep my calories under 1200....drink 12 glasses of water...do cardio every night ... and kick butte!!!

I have to ask everyone in blog land a question.... has anyone else had a hysterectomy?? or does anyone have "0" metabolism? My doctor and I had a chat about my weight. Because I gain weight so easily... she recommends that I stay under 1200 calories in order to lose weight... it is do-able... I was just wandering if there was anything else I could do to get my metabolism jump started?? My body basically aged from 27 to 60 over night... and I am trying to find the fountain of youth! LOL

Anyway... I am cleaning the house to keep myself from thinking about eating.. and tonight hubby and I are doing Tae Bo and the Boflex... Monday morning I will have pictures of both dresses for ya'll to judge on which one should be worn to the wedding! OH... and my hubby can dance!!!! Believe it or not, we have never had the opportunity to dance.. so I didn't know if he could or not. Our own wedding was in wranglers and boots in front of the judge... so I was kind of nervouse about the whole dancing thing at this wedding. Last night, while making dinner I had the radio on and the girls were dancing around the living room. Hubby grabs me, spins me and starts dancing with me... wow... I fell in love all over again! I used to swing dance years ago and it was one of my favorite things to do... but when I moved to this tiny town, well, there was no place to dance... so I havent danced in eons... until last night... now I am SO excited for our weekend w/o the girls... and dancing all night with my husband!!

Have a Blessed Day... and take the time to do a little dancing today!!!

The Sugar Jones

I came across this in the Powerfood Nutrition Plan book that my husband bought the other day...I thought it was interesting:

The Sugar Jones

Recent studies suggest that sugar may be able to turn some folks into junkies pretty easily. Researchers in the psychology department at Princeton University gave rats a steady diet of sugar and then abserved the physical symptoms and changes in brain chemistry induced by chemical dependance. Subsequently, once sugar was eliminated from their diets, the rodents had the shakes: chattering teeth, forepaw and head tremors, and increased anxiety during maze tests.

Researchers now believe that the similarities are because the same chemical reactions that get us hooked to drugs take place when we have too much sugar.

Some guys are more prone than others to addictions, and that certainly applies to sugar as well. To find out whether you are addicted , as yourself the following questions:

1. Do you crave sugar daily? If you feel satisfied after eating something sweet when nothing else will do the trick, or you get a headache or become crabby or shaky when you can't get your sugar fix, you might be addicted.

2. How many teaspoons of added sugar do you eat in a day? If it's more then 8 to 10 teaspoons and your not usings sugar specifically for training, you may have a sugar problem. (One teaspoon equals 4 grams of simple carbohydrates)

3. Can you cut your daily sugar consumption in half without feeling sluggish, jittery or shaky?

Mornin' ya'll!! '

Another day is done.. and once again I found myself hiding in the kitchen after dinner snacking on whatever I could find. Hmmph. I swear, I have this thing in my head that says... 'if no one is watching you eat it, then it doesnt count' .... where did I get that from ? who knows, but I have to shut it off!! So today I am focusing on drinking alot of water, my workouts and my calories... because I KNOW I went over yesterday... I dont EVEN want to know how much I gained this weekend... grrrrrr. I'm not giving up though... I've got to train my mind and body how to live right! Even if it takes the rest of my life!

It is freezing cold here... about 9*. Bailey is doing a little better. I had to give her some Tylenol with Codene last night because she was screaming and yanking on her ear in pain... thankfully it let her sleep all night! The fever has not come back since Sunday night... so that is still a blessing.

I tried on my dresses for the wedding... the velvet one fits nicely, a little snug, but thank goodness its black. The Lace one is VERY snug and is quite revealing. Low cut in the front (I did not have much of a chest when I wore it last!) and love V cut in the back... so I have a feeling that the velvet will be the one I wear.. but I will still put pics up on monday... hopefully I'll lose 10 lbs by then!! LOL

God Bless and have a wanderful day!

Monday Morning

So I only have 13 days to go before the wedding.... and 5 lbs left to lose before I am under the 200 lbs mark!! Will I make it?? I'll let you know on the 25th! As for the pictures of the dresses.. I will post them NEXT monday and will start taking votes then! hmmmmmm will it be Velvet or Lace??

Today I am busting my butt..... I had a pretty laid back weekend with laying on the couch with my sick little girl, and I ate more then I should have... so I am doubling up on my workout this week. I want to make sure that by the 25th I will no longer be in the dreaded '200' zone. I also feel like I am chickening out a little bit by changing my goal weight from 140 to 160... so dang it... my goal is 135!!! And I will be celebrating that weight by 12/25/07!!! I realized after writing down the 100 things about me blog that I have been thru sooo much that I deserve to give myself the body I have always dreamed about! Go ahead Self... try to come up with an excuse.. .I dare ya!

My 29th birthday is right around the corner.. and the best birthday present I can think of giving myself is to be 160 lbs by April 25th.... or at least fit into my old wranglers!

My husband reached a goal this weekend... he has gained 20 lbs!! He is weight lifting and his dream body is to be like LL Cool J. He looks fantastic and I am really proud of him... especially the fact that he is now tobacco free!!!! Its great being able to kiss him whenever I want to without getting that awful taste of chew in my mouth... yuck!

So, now I am off to blog surf and then another round of Tae Bo!! Wooohooo!

Thanks for all the prayers for Bailey... she is doing better today. No fever!

Have a Blessed Day!

Sunday Morning

Hi ya'll. First I want to wish Michelle luck on her casting call for The Biggest Loser!!! You GO Girl!!

Second, thank you for all the well wishes. My baby girl is still really sick with a terrible ear infection and HIGH fever, but we now have her on all the medication she needs so I am praying she will be back to her bubbly self soon.

Yesterday was a long day and terrible eating. I didnt go over my calories too badly... I think I hit the 1600 mark though. Oh well... it was stress eating. At 5 last night I had to drive my baby girl to the Urgent Care 30 minutes away in the middle of a snow storm... and I HATE driving in snow. By the time we got out of there....URGENT my ass.... I had to go get her prescriptions filled and then drive all the way home again.... the weather dropped to below freezing and the snow was still falling. The highway home wasn't even getting plowed so I could'nt even see the dividing lines...or the tracks of the car in front of me. It was scary.. baby girl slept thru the whole thing. Anyway, by the time I got home I was starving and ate what I could grab out of the refridgerator...and thanks to Michelle it was nothing too bad. Some fat free chocolate pudding. A fat free/ sugar free popsicle and some leftover dinner. I worked it off first thing this morning by doing a workout dvd. Yeah me!!

I have a question for those of you using pedometers... I found one I had bought a while ago... but I dont remember how many steps are in a mile?? Can anyone tell me?

Today is cold and snowy... so I am going to cuddle up next to my girls on the couch and enjoy some quality cartoons!

Have a Blessed Sunday!!

TGIF

Mornin' ya'll... will keep this short and sweet today. I am sticking to my 'new lifestyle' like glue!! My youngest is really sick though, and I 've had no sleep... so keep her in your prayers and I hope you have a blessed day!

Stay Strong

Watching For A Sign

Good Morning... Well.. This is my 101st post. Unbelievable!! I cant believe I have written for so many days. It makes me feel confident that I can stick to this diet and finish this year right!

Anyway... it is another day of staying home and playing! My diet went great yesterday. I worked out TWICE... I did a Walk Away The Pounds dvd in the morning.. which is really a nice way to wake up... and a Tae Bo Bootcamp workout last night! I am feeling good today, so I might do them both again!

Have a Blessed Day... and here is Thursdays Devotional

Watching For A Sign

Others, to test him, kept demanding from him a sign from heaven -Luke 11:16

As we sipped our tea, my friend said, "If I'm really supposed to lose weight, why doesn't God give me a sign?"
God probably HAS given her a sign. At her last checkup, her blood pressure was high and she was found to be hovering at the edge of diabetes. God was surely speaking through her test results.
Mayber our first sign from God comes when we can't button up our jeans or when we look awful in a favorite dress. Most of us don't see those events as heavenly messages, because we think God has to speak through the thunder, or send down some handwritting on the wall. The trick is recognizing signs in everyday things and events, and remembering that God is always nearby, always sending words fo encouragment and direction.

For Further Reflection:
On a journal page, list the ways God has already shown you that you need to examine your relationship with food. Then list the ways you plan to respond to God's signs.

Prayer
Open my eyes and ears, my God, so that I may see what you hold in store for me. Amen

100 Things About Me...

1. I was born in Arizona
2. I have lived in California, Arizona, Texas, Florida.
3. I have lived in Mexico.
3. I have 2 sisters and 1 brother
4. I have always wanted to go to New York... and will , one day!
5. I have worked in the medical field since I was 15.
6. I know Tae Kwon Do, Karate and Kempo.
7. At the age of 15 I sparred in the National Finals for Tae Kwon Do and won second place.
8. I have been dying my hair since I was 14.
9. I have 4 tattoos ... one is a Tigerlilly!
10. I have had 11 piercings in my life... but now only wear one pair of earings.
11. I was published in a poetry book when I was 14.
12. I learned to drive on a military base with a tank right behind me!!
13. I am a SAHM of 2 beautiful girls.
14. I am a Cancer survivor.
15. I lost my dad to cancer in December 2001
16. My mother is mexican.
17. I am scared of hieghts.
18. I love to ski, but havent been in 6 years.
19. I love to read.
20. I have over 100 books in my house.
21. I am currently writing my first novel.
22. I have started 3 novels in my life and never finished them.
23. I am a Christian.
24. My mom and I were baptised at the same time 5 years ago.
25. I have a fear of reaching my goal wieght....
26. I have been sober for 4 years.
27. My husband has been sober for 3 years
28. I smoked for 10 years.
29. I quit smoking 3 years ago.
30. I LOVE bubble baths
31. I havent been able to have one in 3 years.
32. I worry about being a good mom.
33. I worry that I favor one kid more then the other.
34. I hate my mother-in-law
35. She hates me
36. I have been married for 2.5 years, together for 4.
37. I have a Basset hound named Woodroe
38. I have a two legged goat named Billy
39. I love rodeo's
40. My husband is a bull rider.
41. I grind my teeth at night when I am stressed.
42. I went thru menapause at the age of 27.
43. I have a grey streak in my hair. (really, its like 25 greys all bunched together!)
44. I love the ocean.
45. I want to learn to scuba dive.
46. I have swam with dolphins and had the bruises to prove it!
47. I want to go to Paris
48. I have been engaged twice
49. My high school sweetheart died of natural causes 5 years ago.
50. I was in the army for 4 hours!
51. I can shoot anything with my gun.
52. I LOVE to take pictures
53. I want to be on Biggest Loser
54. I have been on a tv. commercial
55. I inherited my dads temper
56. Spanish was my first language
57. I learned to cook 3 years ago
58. my favorite dessert is Apple Pie
59. I was addicted to food... and am still battling it daily!
60. My girls are my life
61. I wear my dads sweater whenever I miss him.
62. My dad is my hero
63. I married the man of my dreams
64. I know God has a plan for me.
65. I talk to God everyday.
66. I dont believe in judging people... that's up to God.
67. My best friend lives 4 hours away...
68. My favorite place to relax is the zoo.
69. I love to swim
70. I LOVE to dance.
71. I play the drums
72. I play the congas for my church praise band
73. I play the guitar
74. My favorite memory of my dad is him playing the guitar.
75. I used to be in the SCA. (society for creative anachronisms)
76. I bartended in Ft. Lauderdale for a summer.
77. I have never done drugs.
78. chocolate is my enemy
79. I always burn cookies when I make them
80. I love to decorate
81. I am computer illiterate
82. I hate snow
83. I have a fear of driving in the snow
84. I love my little house
85. I miss my Mammaw
86. I quilted a Noah's Ark quilt for my oldest daughter.
87. I am still quilting an ocean scene quilt for my youngest.
88. I just taught myself to knit...
89. I love to do things with my hands
90. I am slowly remodeling my kitchen myself.
91. I am excited that this year is the year I lose weight!!
92. I am blessed to have a caring husband who puts up with me on a diet!!
93. I am blessed to have a mom that I can talk to about anything.
94. I am excited to grow old with my hubby.
95. I cant wait for grandkids!! LOL
96. I look forward to watching my girls grow!
97. I plan to home-school my girls..
98. I went to private school for 8 years
99. I hate cauliflower
100. I am so glad I'm done!!!!

Peking Chicken Wraps

1/2 cup brown rice
2 teaspoons dark sesame oil
4 scallions, sliced
1/4 pound snow peas
1 cup finely chopped shredded red cabbage
1 cup shredded carrots
2 tablespoons unseasoned rice vinegar
2 teaspoons grated fresh ginger
6 whole wheat tortillas (10-12" diameter)
6 tablespoons hoisin sauce
2 cups shredded cooked chicken breast

Cook the rice according to the package directions. Set aside

Meanwhile, in a medium nonstick skillet, heat the oil over medium-high heat. Add the scallions and cook, stirring constantly, for 1 minute, or until wilted. Stir into the rice.

Bring a small pot of water to a boil. Add the snow peas and cook for 30 seconds. Drain and rinse with cold water until cool. Pat dry and cut lengthwise into thin strips. In a medium bowl, combine the snow peas, cabbage, carrot, rice vinegar and ginger.

To assemble the wraps, lay the tortillas on a work surface. Spread each with 1 tablespoon hoisin sauce. Place one-sixth of the chicken in a strip along the bottom of each tortilla, 1" from the edges. Top with rice and vegetable mixtures. Fold over the bottom edge of each tortilla to cover the filling. Fold the sides in and continue to roll up tightly, burrito style. Cut each in half crosswise with a serrated knife to serve.

Makes 6 servings

Per serving: 290 calories, 23 g protein, 45 g carbs, 4 g fat, 45 mg cholesterol, 490 mg sodium, 5 g dietary fiber.

Hump Day

I had a big Non-Scale victory yesterday. Hubby came home from work early, so I got to a little time to myself and I decided since the weather was warm yesterday that I would go for a bike ride. I havent been on my bike in at least 3 weeks because of the weather. Our house is in a valley, which means that either way I go I have to battle a hill.... yesterday I took the big one, mostly because it is a pretty ride on the other side.... usually when I go this way I only make it half way up the hill before I have to walk the rest... yesterday, I took it slow, switched to an easier gear and just wanted to get a little farther then I usually do... and before I knew it, I was at the top!!! I was so excited that I let out a little 'yippee' when I got there and kept going. I did a mile. I could have done more.. but I wanted to be home before dark. What a thrill going back down that hill at the end of the ride,knowing that I had conquered it!


Today is a day at home cleaning... I have to try and get a Tae Bo workout in sometime. I have been doing really well on my calories... yesterday was 1244. I made some DELICIOUSE Peking Chicken wraps with peanut sauce last night for only 290 calories each.. and they are huge, so you only need one!

I wish you all a blessed day and I challenge you to a non-scale victory today!

Tuesday

Good Morning!!! I am feeling gooooooooood today! I hopped on the scale... just to make sure that everything I am doing is right... and it is!! I am not going to tell you what is it was this morning... but I am difinatley on the right track!! Woohooo. Now I am going to hide the scale so that on the 25th it will be a wanderful surprise!

I have been going thru the back of my closet to see if I have anything to wear to the wedding... we have to buy hubby a suite, and seeing that he has never owned one I thought we would get him a really nice one and save on the money by me just wearing a dress I already have... and there were two that I am debating on. One is a really gorgeous black dress that has a lace back and the dress part is actually pants. The last time I wore it was on a Cruise when I was 15... it still fits, but is tighter then I remember... but maybe 20 lbs lighter.. hmmmmmm...


The second dress is a black velvet, full length dress that is sleevless. I wore it 10 years ago to a company Christmas Ball. I haven't tried it on yet, it is at my moms house but I am picking it up today to see if it might work. I might have to take pictures of me wearing both and get a vote from all of you as to which one I should wear! That would be fun!!

While I was in my closet this weekend cleaning up the mess my girls made, I found a shirt that I bought a LONG time ago that I would LOVE to fit in again. It would mean me getting down to probably 170 to get back into it... but it would sooooo be worth it. So that will be another goal for me this year... to be able to wear this outfit again!!!




Today is full of running errands and I am applying at the hospital here for a part-time night job. I am hoping to get into the ER or OR.. and it will bring in the little extra money that we are really needing now.

Have a Blessed Day!!

Monday

Mornin' ya'll... hope everyone had a lovely weekend. Time went by too fast for me.. .but it was a great weekend. Stuck to the calorie counting...writing what I was biting... and drinking a ton of water!

Today I have a TON of laundry to do... and somehow the girls go into my closet yesterday and managed to pull ALL the clothes out onto the floor and off the hangers... so it looks like I will be in there most of the day... might be a good time to clean out the closet again!! LOL

I worked out last night with the Tae Bo Ultimate and my arms are little sore this morning. I havent been using the bands that they use in the video becuase one or both of my daughters managed to chew them in half... but I have been using 3 lbs weights.. and whooooooooooooo does is hurt! But its a good hurt ... LOL

I am hoping to get another workout this morning.. but I might have to go with the lower body one today!

I know a bunch of you have weigh in today.. I wish you friendly scales and a beautiful day!!

Sunday

Dinner at moms was wanderful.... and I found (all together now) on FITDAY that chicken curry is under 300 calories per cup!! It was yummy, and I could have had another cup.. but it filled me up and was spicy warm for a cold night! Thanks mama!!

Bailey made friends with moms cat Morris. She laid down next to him and just started up a little conversation. Very cute.



Yesterday calories were 1551. I was hoping to work out again last night, but passed out on the couch again. So I am hoping to get in a workout this morning when hubby wakes up. I already have a kidlet up this morning and she is my shadow.. so will have to wait.

I changed my weigh in day to once a month! On the 25th of every month I will weigh in. As long as I lose at least 4 lbs every month I am on track...and I really want to quit worrying about the numbers on the scale. I am just going to pay attention to my body.. and right now I can already tell that I am losing weight...(Dont get me wrong.. I will probably be hopping on that scale every once in awhile to make sure I am on track!!) My first goal I am hoping to meet by Jan 25th and that is to be under 200 lbs! My brother in laws wedding is on the 27th, so that would be perfect timing!

Today's plan is.... workout, church, clean

Have a Blessed day!

Pictures and Curry

So, today is picture day! Alot of you wrote me yesterday saying that you hated having pictures of yourself taken. I only like them when I have tons of make-up on and am wearing flattering clothes... otherwise... I , too, am hiding behind the camera! I enjoy getting my pictures done with my girls. When I was told I had cancer, I remember being terrified that my little girls were not old enough to remember their mom, should I die. Amber was a 1.5 yrs old and my Bailey was 3 months old. So, after I got thru all of it, I started taking alot of pictures of us together. I really enjoy the family portraits though, because it shows a family that I never thought I would have.... and I love it!

This evening we are supposed to be going to my moms for a curry dinner... hmmmmm, how many calories is Curry and Chutney?? OH!!! Speaking of calories, thanks to FitDay I now know I ate 1345 calories yesterday and 10 glasses of water!! Yeah me! So I guess I will keep my calories to a minimun today so that I can enjoy dinner tonight!

According to FitDay (I am really enjoying this website), if I lose 1 pound a week I will reach my goal of 160 for next New Years! That is not bad at all.... when you think of it all together it seems overwhelming... but a pound a week... VERY do-able!

I just did my Tae Bo Abs workout.. and everyone is still in bed this morning.. lazy bums!! So I am going to enjoy a nice cup of herbal tea and relax before the mad rush begins!

Have a Blessed Day!

*******UPDATE*****

All right Everyone.... I did it!! I cleaned out my refridgerator!! So here it is....







I hope my before and after pics look as good as this!!

Have a great day...

TGIF

Good Morning Ya'll.... Thank Goodness Its Friday!!! I may be a stay home mom, but fridays mean I've got two whole days of being with my hubby...(and having a little help with the rugrats!) Tomorrow morning we are getting our family portrait done... and its about time! The one hanging in our living room shows my 1 1/2 yr old when she was 2 weeks old!! I LOVE pictures... so whenever I can drag my hubby to stand in front of a camera.. I do! Sunday I am headed back to church... yes, I said back. I have been terrible and have not gone in months. When I thought we were leaving for Puerto Rico I said goodbye to everyone and that was that. But the move get postponed...over and over again.. and now it is cancelled completely. So now its time to get back into the grove of things. Today I am going to unpack the suitcases, which makes me a bit sad.. but I cant keep them packed forever... and I am tired of stubbing my toe on them every time I walk into the bedroom.

So I spent 2 hours cruising everyones blogs yesterday.. and I'm sorry if I did not leave a comment on everyones blog, but I think everyone is doing awsome.. and it is such a fantastic group of women! What a Blessing!

In a couple of those blogs I read that they were using a sight called FitDay.com. So I thought I would check it out.. and thank God I did. I sat down yesterday and wrote down everything I ate yesterday... even the cheats... and when I thought I had eaten about 1600 calories (before dinner) FitDay figured it all in at 3500 calories! YIKES! I think I was fudging numbers without even thinking about it... just to make me feel better. Well.. shoot... that sucks.. .but at least now I know that I am still eating WAY too much. So today I am going to "write what I bite" and type them into FitDay as the day goes on... that way, I am doing this right!!

I am hoping it will be a warmer day today so that I can take the girls on a bike ride... they are saying snow.. but sometimes that means really warm weather before it starts falling.. keeping my fingers crossed.

So, I finally got the pic of my fridge for the 2007 Group Challenge, and compared to ya'lls, it is a MESS. I was going to try and clean it out so I could post the before AND after pics together, but I havent had time yet.. so here is the BEFORE...



It's a side by side, the left side is the freezer. To be completely honest, I dont know what is all in there... but it obviously needs to be cleaned out... so ... stay tuned for the AFTER pics!!

Have a Blessed Day and Stay Strong... One day at a time we can change our lives!!!

Thursday's Devotional

Good Morning Ya'll! Yesterday went MUCH better. I took everyones advice and just let go of my binge and moved forward. I drank water all day long, excersized- twice!, and ate healthy. I feel good about it.. and I feel good about today.

I have to thank everyone that left comments on my 'before' pics. Ya'll are awsome!! I was more then flattered at all the beautiful comments.. and it made me feel a little bit better about putting them up here. My hubby, who finally came home last night, said that I was very brave to do that. I told him my reasoning was this.... People see me everyday this heavy. Besides, I am looking forward to seeing my results every month.

So, thanks again. I have never had friends that I could share my fat fighting with... and this is great! Ya'll are so supportive and I feel blessed to have met all of you.

Anyway... onwards to my weekly devotional. From the book Devotions for Nibblers by Kristen Johnson Ingram

Listening to My Body:

And now, my children, listen to me: happy are those who keep my ways. Hear instructions and be wise, and do not neglect it. -Proverbs 8:32,33

Science has now mapped human genes, and I'm awed to know that when I was only a single cell, God had already put my DNA together, with instructions for my life. My body KNOWS what it needs, has known since before I was born.
God didn't program me to eat more then I need. But my body and my appetite are now out of touch. My stomach isn't always asking for food, but I keep reaching for the potato chips and chocolate chip cookies. I quench my thirst with soda pop, even though our city has the best water in the country. And when the brain God gave me asks for mental stimulation, I anesthetize it with food. I can listen to the body God gave me. And I can give my brain the food it needs: books, music, friends and work.

For Further Reflection

1. what is your body telling you about your eating habits?
2. Even if you're overweight, could you be starved for vitemins and minerals?
3. How can you satisfy your creative urges without food?

Prayer

O God, You made me with a mind and body that know what to do. Help me listen to them. Amen

It's time for me to check on all of ya'll!! So have a Blessed Day and we'll see you later! (With pics for the Group Challenge!)

"BEFORE" Pics.... yikes....

OK... so hubby isn't home to take them so I had to rig something up in the bathroom! LOL.. .but I got them.. and they look hideous.. but isn't that the whole reason of 'before' pics. So without further ado..... Me at 207 lbs:

Day 2

Ummmmmmmmmmmm... yeah I binged. :(

That is a habit I have gotten into when my hubby leaves town. I'm not sure why I do it.. but I do. I tried hard yesterday not too... and knowing that it happens, I went to the store and bought lots of fruit, Wheat Thins, Fat free jello pudding and a Healthy Choice pizza. Why I bought these things, I dont know, because I had plenty of healthy food already at home... just none of it chocolate or carbs. It would have been fine, but I binged.. meaning, I ate ALL of it... nothing is left, nada, zip, zilch zero. So I feel like a blob this morning. The funny thing is that the other side affect to my hubby working out of town is that I can't sleep. So at 11 pm I found myself steam cleaning my carpets!!! LOL. It took me a second last night to realize what I was doing.. but it finally hit home when I walked outside at midnight to empty the water resevoir from the machine! IT was FREEZING and I thought.. 'WHAT AM I DOING???" The great thing is that when the kids and I woke up and made our way into the play room the kids looked at the carpet and said "WOW". That made me feel good. I didnt think they would notice... but then again, they did use the grape juice puddle stains as some kind of Twister game! LOL

So today I have to try and get myself back on track. I dont have alot of energy this morning.. but am going to try another Tae bo Workout while the kids are busy with their morning cartoons.Lots of water... and eat as little calories as possible today. Maybe, just maybe, I can make up for yesterdays blunder.

I read some great blogs yesterday from the 2007 challenge. I am really looking forward to getting to know some of them better! There are some funny characters!!

Well.. wish me luck today.. I am off to try and make up for yesterday.. grrrrrrrrrr.

Have a Blessed Day

Tuesday

Good Morning! Today is Day 1 of the 2007 Challenge! If your interested you can still sign up today... but if you just cant do it this month... no worries... you can sign up for the February Challenge!

Yesterday was a good day. I stuck to my diet and even got in a Tae Bo workout. I wanted to workout last night, but passed out on the couch... again. So I didn't do as much as I was hoping to do.. but at least I did something! My hubby left this morning and is working out of town for the next couple of days :(
I hate it when he is gone. The hard part is trying to get time to workout when the girls are on top of me all day and all night long. So hopefully I can get a little bit of a workout today and tomorrow.

My mom and I went shopping yesterday.. just us! No Kids!! It was alot of fun. Mama got dresses for the girls ... they will wear them in the family portrait getting done next week.. Here are some pics:






Just in case your worried that I favor my youngest when it comes to pictures....I dont. My oldest just knows to run when mom has the camera in her hands! I guess I over did it when she was younger! LOL

Speaking of pictures... I am going to post before pics when hubby gets home to take them!! Once a month I'll keep adding pics to them so that we can start seeing the difference!! I think that will help motivate me!

Have a Blessed Day!!