Tuesday

This week is dragging. When my husband got out of bed to get ready for work this morning I was confused because I thought it was Saturday! HA!

So tomorrow is the end of February. Two months down, ten to go. I am pretty excited to see what the next month will bring. This is literally the longest time I have actually stuck to a 'change in lifestyle' without giving up on myself.. or finding some REALLY good excuses to plop myself on the couch everyday and stuff my mouth with whatever is in the kitchen.

Meghan... my challenge partner.. wrote a great blog today about fear. The fear of what is to come when you no longer have the 'armor' of fat and your left naked in front of the world. I can say that fear has caused many of my self sabotage episodes. My fear is not so much the fear of standing thin in front of the world... but more of... what will I do when I reach my goal? What then? Losing weight has consumed half my life.. once that is done... what then? Will I be happy? Will it get me off of my anti-depression medication? Will everything be perfect and will I never have troubles again?

NO

That may be the hardest conclusion to come to. Of course you want all of that to happen.. and after working so hard for so long, you really start believing that will happen. But the truth is.. the only thing it will bring me is a longer life. More time on this earth to be troubled, to be sad and happy, to enjoy my not-so-perfect life. More time to ponder my existence. Not such a shabby prize after all.

Today is another day of Tae Bo Hell... oops... I mean EXTREME.

Have a Blessed Day!

Monday

Only 3 days left in the month of February... and although I have not reached my goal of 195, I am very satisfied with my progress thus far. I am hoping that next month will be my break thru into the 190's... but no rush. As long as I keep to my eating and exercising routines.. I have faith that I will eventually arrive at my goal weight. I am seriously hoping it will be before my 30th birthday though! LOL

The month of march brings one holiday that involves alot of food for me. St. Patricks Day!!! Corned Beef and Cabbage.. and I make the most delicious recipes!!

As for today.. I took it easy on the workouts. I only did some easy calisthenics and some crunches. Tomorrow will be a full Tae Bo extreme workout.. An hour of hell.

Have a Blessed Day!

Weigh In.... before and after pics!

Ok.. so today is another month gone by... officially Weigh In #2 of 2007. My weight is 206... and my pics.. well.. see for yourself!

January 9, 2007





February 25, 2007


January 9, 2007


February 25, 2007


I can see a big change in my belly! and my butt looks better too! YEAH. I'm glad I did this, it is really motivating to see the difference a month can make!

xanth, itis, megaly, ex=ices

I have had almost 4 years of diapers, crayons, 'goo-goo, ga-ga', wipees, bottles, mush, unknown smells and spit up. Yesterday, I received my books for getting my Nursing Assistant degree. For a moment I didn't know what I was doing.. then, all of a sudden.. I found myself! Yes.. I remember this stuff! I remember how to pronounce big medical words like electroencephalogram. I remember that I used to do some of this stuff!! I remember that my dream was to become a nurse... Wow... I remember who I am!! Somewhere hidden between my life as a mother, and a woman obsessed with her weight loss.. I forgot who I am. I lost that person who was full of determination and had unbelievable goals. Instead, I became a woman obsessed with her children (not a bad thing, by the way) and trying to stay alive. I dreamed of what my children would become when they grew up... and forgot what I want to be when I grow up ( I am still not admitting that I have). Yesterdays package was a God send. My husband had enrolled me a while back in a school out of Washington that allows you to study and test at home. In 6 mos to a year, after passing all the tests and certifications, I will have my Nursing Assistant degree. Not quite a nurse, but at least on the right path to being one. So last night was my first study session.... and what a headache! LOL. I thought I would remember most of it from being an EMT way back when... but apparently if you don't use it.. you DO lose it!

As for my diet.. and yes, I am still obsessed with becoming healthy... as EVERY person should be... I have done well. Today I have a 3 hour Kempo class.. tomorrow is my Weigh In / Measurements/ Picture day... so I have to stick with it today!

I'm off to kick some butt~ Literally!! Have a Blessed Day

TGIF!

Another week gone.. and this month is almost over. I have a strange feeling that this year is going to fly by!

Ok, so I hopped on the scale this morning... just to make sure it was going back in the right direction. The results.... -2 lbs!! Yeah! 206. My 'official' weigh in is not until Sunday.. but I'm happy!

My Aunt J (my most favorite Aunt in the world!) sent me an email about a friend of hers that had the same problem as I do. She went and got her thyroid tested once.. it was fine. She went back years later and found that they had not done the RIGHT tests. There are two tests they do. A T4 test and a T3 test. Now dont ask me to break that up for you.. because I dont know the differences just yet. Anyway, turned out that she DID have a problem with her thyroid (thanks to the T3 tests) and was put on medication. She lost 60 lbs in 5 months.

Now, I've had my thyroid tested... recently. And they said all was fine. Now I am wandering if they new what they were doing. So today I am going to contact my doctor and find out what tests they did... should be interesting. (Thanks Aunt J)

As for my 1800 calories.. I'm finding it much easier. I am eating well, but not over eating either. My portions are staying in check... so I am happy.

Excersize is feeling even better. I am actually enjoying working up a sweat! I am starting to see gradual changes in my body.. the way it looks, and the way it feels! I think all this work is actually paying off! Huh... who knew?

Today is my major cleaning day. I make sure the entire house is spotless from top to bottom so that I dont have to worry about it all weekend! Since I've been sick for 2 weeks.. this house definatley needs the cleaning! Speaking of sick.. today is the first day I have NO symptoms of being sick! YEAH!!

Alright.. I have munchkins climbing all over me.. so its time to go! Have a Blessed day!

Thursday

Hi ya'll. Sorry I'm posting later then usual. I had a long morning of balancing our budget, paying bills, running errands and then making lunch. Now, I am waiting to digest my lunch so that I can get my days workout done!

So many of you have given me fantastic advice. I have decided that I will be raising my calorie intake to 1800 and switching my workouts a little bit to 'shock' my body. I am even more determined this month to lose some weight... something HAS to work!

I found Traineo on Lola's blog. It is a pretty cool little helper. My favorite thing about it is the graphing. Its always a little more rewarding when you can see your success on paper! Just click on either of the buttons in the upper right hand corner and they will take you to my page!

For my Group Challenge I have decided to give up sugar.... as in cookies, candies, cereal (the kids stuff). I also wanted to add one more thing... I want to give up spending money. Dont laugh! I spend way too much money on little things that I or the kids could do without.. So my goal is to put $100 a month into a savings account!

Ok.. so I am off to blurf (blog surf) and then I have to get the sweat flowing! Have a blessed day!

Faith and Determination

The longer this fight for health continues, the more determined I seem to get to see the goal. Yesterday fall back was depressing for me, but without hesitation I continued my daily schedule. My workout was a doozy... nothing changing other then the fact that I was a little mad at myself, so I pushed myself a little bit harder on everything. I think the main part of me wanting to see the goal is not only being healthier and having a knock out body, but because I am tired of giving up on myself. There is a reason I have gotten this heavy over the years, and it wasn't because I became a good cook. Every diet I started I would end with a mouth full of chocolate and a thought of... 'if I'm meant to be fat, then so be it'. But I know better. I always have. This time I'm not going to let myself give up. I deserve so much more, and I want to give it to myself. It may not be the 'change of lifestyle' that I am trying to achieve, but it is definitely a change of mind that is necessary.

As for what I have been doing... I have been keeping track of my calories on Fitday.com for a month now.. keeping them between 1200 and 1500 calories, with the occasional set back of 3500 calorie break downs! ... I exercise 6 days a week, twice daily. Monday, Wednesday and Friday are my weight training with bands, stability ball ... Tuesday and Thursday are my Abs and BL workouts. Saturday I have 3 hours of Kempo. Sunday is a rest day. Now I thought I was doing right.. and maybe I am. Hubby thinks that my body is getting ready to change. My measurement have changed a little, and he says I am definitely looking better. So maybe my body is just busy building muscle and will drop all this fat next month! LOL.. I sure hope so. Anyway... I was cruising the web and found a site about body building and weight loss that said the best way to lose weight is slow and steady.. Ok, I've got that down... and they gave a mathematical formula to determine how many calories you should be eating to lose weight.

15 X (your current weight) = X - 500 = Calories to be eaten

OK... so here is mine

15 X 208 = 3120 - 500 = 2620

Holy Cow!! That is 1000 calories more a day then what I've been eating. So is my problem NOT eating enough?? Or did they just pull these numbers out of their butt and I should stick to what I've been doing?? Hmmmmmm this is confusing.

So, what I have decided to do for the next month is simple. I will continue with my workouts because I really enjoy them. As for eating.. I will eat healthy and small portions. I will continue to keep track of calories, but will not limit myself to 1500. I will continue my water and tea. I will keep doing this until my body wakes up from its dormant sleep and realizes that it is 2 months behind the rest of me!

As for my SIL... eh, who cares. I realized last night that I really don't care what she does. In a way it will still give me some determination the next 3 months... and I will use that... but in the BIG scheme of things, I already know I don't need her to reach my goal!

Ok... so enough of this. It's time to start my day and get this body moving. Thanks to everyone who left comments yesterday, I really appreciated them.

Have a Blessed Day

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

My measurement as of this morning compared to two weeks ago:

Measurements at 6 wks / 8 wks
Thighs= 27.5 / 26.75
Hips = 44 / 44
Below Navel= 46 / 44
At Navel = 40 / 39.5
Above Navel= 39 / 37.5
Arms = 14 / 13.5

total inches lost : 5.25 IN TWO WEEKS!!!

A Challenge Has Been Accepted!

My husband came home last night sicker then a dog. He was hacking and wheezing. At the dinner table he was able whisper/wheeze/gargle that my sister in law Tasha told her husband that she would be at the weight he met her at in 3 months. HA HA HA... First of all, she wieghs as much as I do, if not more... but her husband seems to think that she only weighs 160 (just because that is what she has on her drivers license.. all together now... HAHAHAHAHAHAH). Second, there is no way she can get down to 130 in 3 months, even if she did weigh 160. Third, there is no way that she is going to look good before I do! Dont ask me why I feel so competitive with her. She and I are nothing alike. We dont really get along, but we dont fight either. We just kinda put up with each other when forced into the same room. We have totally different ways of raising our children... and our husbands are polar opposite brothers. I think that I really just want to look good for my husband. I want his family to see that I am willing to do this to look good for him. I want to be the pretty sister in law.. which will be very hard seeing that I have 3 other sister in laws that are absolutely breath taking.... or maybe I just dont want to be the fat one! Hubby deserves so much more then that. So, without really talking to her, I challenged myself to matching her weight loss. I may not get down to 130 by June, but I AM going to be at least 30 lbs lighter.

So while this is floating in my head all night long, I woke up this morning wandering just how much weight I had lost so far. I broke out the scale and weighed myself. In total horror the scale said 208. I've gained... I dont understand it. I know that I feel better, and I think I look better.. but no weight loss in a WHOLE month.. in fact.. I GAINED! I am devastated. So, maybe its time to rethink my diet. Maybe its time to step up my cardio another notch. I've got to do something, because this just isnt working.

UGH....

Monday Morning

All I can say is... I AM SO TIRED OF BEING SICK!!!! I start to think that I'm getting better, and then WHAM , I feel terrible again. My throat is constantly sore, yet it is nothing more then a virus. I have no fever, so there isnt anything a doctor can do for me.. its just so frustrating.. I hate being this way. Friday, hubby came home sick. Last night we were both in bed coughing and hacking... and keeping the other from sleeping. It was terrible. Ugh.

On a positive note... the girls seem to be healthy again! No more runny noses. They do still have a little bit of a cough, but not too bad! YEAH!

So the weekend was kinda bad for the diet. I dont think I went over in calories too badly... but I didnt work out at all, thinking that maybe my body just needed some rest days. I think that may have been a mistake, because it seems to have made me lazy! LOL . Today I am back to my routine of working out at 10 and 2 .. and hopefully this week will rock... since my #2 weigh in is on this Sunday! Aaaaaaaack.

As for all my february challenge buddies, I have to apologize because I have been terrible at leaving comments. I am reading everyones.. but have been lacking the energy to reply to them.. Sorry! I will try to be better this week!

Have A Wanderful Monday...

Adam and Eve

The aches and pains are slowly going away. Last night mom invited me out on a Mom and Daughter night out. We went to a dinner and show at the local college. It was really well done! The dinner was a salad, roast beef, corn and mashed potatoes with a 'calorie free' cheesecake for dessert. It was all small portions, so I felt very comfortable eating it all! The play was Mark Twains, The Diaries of Adam and Eve. It was very funny and the actors where quite talented. We had a wanderful time... I am hoping it will turn into a habit for mom and I!

The weather was beautiful yesterday.. but being sick, we could not go out and enjoy it. Today we were hoping to at least open the house up and get some fresh air in here, but the clouds have rolled in and it is somewhat cold again.

I am anxiously awaiting the tax returns to come in so that we can do a little bit of fixing up with the house. I want to paint the girls room different shades of pink and put up these cute little fairie stickers that I've had in the closet for ever! I also need to do some touching up in the living room and our bedroom could use a makeover again too! Not to mention the whole outside of the house! I cant wait for spring to come.. I am soooo ready to start working on the outside of the house again. I am planning our vegetable garden... and our 'new' yard! Ugh, the next 2 months better fly!

Have a Blessed Day!

TGIF

Quack-quack, quack quack quack!

This is what I sound like this morning. Imagine Donald Duck with a cold and you've got me! LOL

I'm sure you've noticed the change in scenery. I got bored and thought it needed some color! Green... what I am looking forward to seeing this spring!

So today is the 16th... which means I have 9 days till my #2 weigh in of 2007. I think it will be a good one.. at least I am praying it will be! LOL... I think I would be extremely depressed if there isnt a loss after a whole month! I'm also planning on doing my before and after pics again that day.. so that if there isn't a major change in weight.. then maybe I can see it in the pics!

Excersize went well yesterday. I did my Tae Bo Abs and then 20 minutes on the balance ball. Today I have my TAe Bo cardio this morning for an hour, and this afternoon is another session of Biggest Loser. Is is just me.. or does BL focus mainly on LUNGES??? Good grief..

Food wise I am doing fantastic.. mainly because my throat is very picky as to what it will swallow for me... so its been alot of soup. Last night I made a delicious Baked Fish and veggies. I had a whole fillet and a bunch of veggies left over, so that will be my lunch today! I must say, my portions have really gotten smaller and smaller. I listen to my body alot better these days... If I think I'm getting full, I put my fork down and leave the table. If I get hungary a couple of hours later, thats ok, I just grab an orange or apple. I've been drinking a TON of water every day.. .and with my sore throat, lots of lemon tea.

The BEST thing that has changed for me is the 2 hours cut off time before bed. In the past that was my worst binging time. The kids would be asleep, hubby would go to bed, and I would be left sitting in front of the TV. The kitchen was mine!! All mine!! MUAHAHAHAHA... and I would eat... and snack... and eat! But now, when I feel like snacking I look at the clock.. and if it's after 6:30 then I tell myself.. "The Kitchen Is Closed".. and some how it works. It helps that I serve dinner at 6 so that it is usually the last thing I eat for the day! If you havent started doing this, you must try it!! Just stop eating 2 hours before your bed time!

The February Challenge is almost over! Good grief this month has flown by! My goal was to match the 9 lbs lost in January.. which would put me at 195 lbs. Obviously I have to wait another week before I can be sure that I succeeded. But so far I am feeling positive about it!

Hope everyone is having a Fantastic Friday... Have a Blessed Day!

Wonderland

OK, so I will save ya'll from reading the boring ramblings of how we are all sick.. and just describe our health as .... ICKY

I did work out yesterday but only to the Biggest Loser workout.. and I only lasted for 30 minutes before having to sit down. I dont want to push it too far! This morning is my Abs and weights day.. so we'll see how that goes.

I feel better as far as weight loss is concerned. Not having to worry about the number on the scale every morning has given me a little bit of a freedom. (although the temptation to weigh myself is still there) I pay a little more attention to the little things like... I can see a little bit of defintion in my arms when I flex my muscles, I am fitting into pants a little bit easier every time, my hand runs down the side of my hips with a little less effort, I move a little bit easier and best of all, I know I can do this because it has almost been 2 months and I AM STILL GOING STRONG!! Usually by now I would have binged a couple of times and given up on every being healthy again, gaining all the weight I've lost back and eventually having to start all over again (probably at a heavier weight). So the best part of all of this is the feeling of accomplishment. I may not have reached my goal yet, but I have come this far without giving up... so I know I will do this!

Another great thing coming my way.... we're going to Disneyland!!! YEAH!! My mama is treating Hubby, myself and the girls to a Mothers Day weekend at Disneyland. I havent been there since I was 8 or 9... so I think I am just as excited to go as the girls.. probably even more! I cant wait to see their faces when Mickey Mouse walks up to them... or Cinderella!! LOL .. Thanks Mama.. Your the best!!

So today is Devotional Thursday.. and in the theme of Disneyland.. todays devotional is called

"Wonderland"

What do you know that we do not know? What do you understand that is not clear to us? -Job 15:9

When Alice fell through the rabbit hole into Wonderland, she found food that could maker her tiny enough to get through a mouse hole or tall enough to look into birds' nests.

Late this afternoon I suddenly remembered that people were coming to dinner. I raced into the kitchen and as I stirred up a dessert for the dinner, a few spoonfuls of frosting seemed to say -like Alice's little cake- "EAT ME". As I prepared the appetizers, I succumbed to a handful of potato chips and a few dollops of sour cream. And while making the tamale pie, I managed to scarf down a handful of olives, some salsa, and several tablespoons of my beef-and-tomato mixture.

Maybe in Wonderland all those extra calories would only make me short or tall. But here on good ole planet Earth, they head straight for my hips, thighs and waist. Insted of being tall enough to look into birds' nests, I could get wide enough tto require four or five airline seats.

So no matter where you are, it's a bad idea to let food talk you into eating. Chances are you know better then it does.

For Further Reflection

1. Are you listening to the "call" of food?
2. Do you pretend all those snacks wont count?
3. Are you ready to live on earth and face reality?

Prayer

Dear Lord, help me to be aware of the cumulative effect of all the "little" bits of food I grab without thinking in the course of a day. Amen

Wednesday

What wild weather we are having. Yesterday morning we were in the middle of a snow blizzard. The flakes falling were so huge you couldnt see beyond our window... it was like one big white-out! About 10 minutes later it stopped snowing and just started pouring rain! Thunder and all!!! So strange. Today it is still a little cloudy out, but it doesnt look like a storm. Not that it matters, we are staying inside once again today... yes, we are still sick. I cant tell if I'm getting better.. this cold seems to trade one symptom for another. My throat feels less swollen, but is now actually sore when I swallow. The girls are still sick and have developed a yucky cough. If not better by this afternoon, I am taking them to the doctor.

As for my diet.. being sick is doing great! Although I actually fell short of my calories yesterday. At 8 o'clock last night I was putting in my dinner on Fitday.com and realized that I had only eaten 1083 calories yesterday... I actually thought of having a protein shake or something.. but part of Phase I is following a strict cut off time for eating at night. I cant eat anything after 6:30 at night. That seems early, but considering I am in bed at 8:30.. that follows the 2 hour cut off time. So, I actually squashed the thought of eating more and went to bed. Today I will just have to keep a better watch on how much Im eating and get a good 1200 - 1500 calories in.

As for excersize, I did my Tae Bo Abs workout for 30 min. When Hubby got home I borrowed his IPOD and rocked out while lifting weights for about 20 minutes. It felt good to get the blood flowing, but it sure did exhaust me! Today I have my Tae Bo cardio day... my Biggest Loser workout.. and some good stretching. Hubby wants me to start teaching him Tae Kwon Do, Karate and Kempo but I have been so tired by the time 8:00 rolls around. Maybe tonight.


Someone asked about "Wicked". The author is Gregory Maguire. He wrote other books like "Mirror Mirror" , "Son of a Witch", "Confessions of an Ugly Stepsister" and "Lost". I have not read any of the others yet.. though I do have Son of a Witch already... I bought them at the same time.

Guess I cant put the day off any longer... have a blessed day and we'll see ya'll tomorrow!




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OH YEAH!!!

Tuesday

Ugh... I am STILL sick today. Last night I felt horrible and was actually in bed at 6:30pm. I ate some soup last night, and I think I ate TOO much of it, because I was dry heaving for an hour afterwards. TMI??? This morning my throat is still feeling swollen and I have a heavy head. The girls are still sick too. They are both coughing alot at night, but just have runny noses during the day. I think they are just passing it back and forth between them! Hubby is made of steel and has managed to live in a house full of sick girls and get NOTHING. I do think he is pretty excited in the mornings to go to work..LOL.. but I dont blame him.

So the measurements helped fight the urge to get on the scale... I think I will do that every 4 weeks, so that it will be my half-way point between weigh-ins.

I did BOTH my workouts yesterday... I thought for sure it would help me get over this flu thing faster... and it still might.. but ugh! Today is my weight lifting day, which should be easier to do with a heavy head... I know some of you think I am crazy, but there is one thing I learned from my good ole days.... My dad was my coach back in the karate days, and whenever I started getting sick, or had a cold, I was not allowed to just lay in bed. I had to do my regular scheduled workouts no matter what.... and most of the time, I got over them 10X's faster. Since then I have become a slacker and a baby about being sick. I usually want to just lay wrapped in a blanket and get waited on hand and foot... but uh-uh.. not anymore.. besides the fact that I have 2 kids that are in constant motion, I need to keep my body in constant motion and get over this stupid thing. Like DE says... Moms dont have time to be sick!....but in no way does this mean that I have to stop whining about being sick! LOL


I started reading the book "WICKED" which has actually been made into a Broadway Musical.. and it is awsome! I wish I didnt live in the middle of nowhere, because I would love to see this book in action! It is based on the story The Wizard Of Oz.. but it is the Wicked Witch of the Wests story! I am about half way thru it, and I cant put it down! You have to read it...(or see the play!)

Well, back to being sick! Have a Blessed Day and we'll see ya'll tomorrow!

******* Measurements*******

Ok, so I am fighting the temptation of weighing myself.... I still have 2 weeks before weigh-in #2. So, what better way to see how I'm doing then to take my measurements. I cant say that I was thrilled to see the numbers, but I do know that they are going down... especially compared to last years measurements that I found in my old workout notebook...

2006/ 2007

13.5"/ 14" / Arms
42"/ 39" / Above Navel
44" / 40" / At Navel
47" / 46" / Below Navel
45" / 44" / Hips
27.5"/ 27.5" / Thighs

WT= 205 Wt= ???

So far 8.5" lost!! That is a good start. My arms have gained a half inch, but I have been doing alot more weight lifting with them, so I kinda expect that... no worries though.. I'm sure they will start dropping soon.

I am still feeling icky.. but did manage doing my 53 min Tae Bo dvd... and actually feel a little bit better.

Bye!

Blahhhhhhh

I thought I was feeling better... but Sunday morning all 4 of us woke up sick. The girls are coughing (and I think one of them has pink eye).. Hubby has a sore throat and stomach pains... and I feel like my head weighs 100 lbs all by its self. I am hoping that by this afternoon I will feel better so I can still get a work out in.. but right now I just feel like crud.

On a brighter note, Hubby and I had a lot of fun on Saturday night. We went to my church's Valentine dinner where we were served steak and potatoe.. and there was LOTS of chocolate!!! Chocolate cover strawberries, chocolate covered cherries.. there was even a chocolate fountain that you could dip whatever you want in it and it would get slathered in chocolate! My will power was checked at the door, so I endulged. Not to badly though.. just got my sweet tooth taken care of! Speaking of sweet tooth.. I wander if I can just get that one pulled?? After, we went and picked up the girls at my mama's house and then went home, where we all fell right to sleep.

Sunday, as I said before, we all woke up sick.. so the only thing we managed to do was make our dents in the sofa! (and watch it RAIN... weird weather)

Today I dont feel much better, so we will be staying inside again. Hope everyone had a great weekend...

Have a Blessed Monday

A Quote To Diet By?

I read a quote the other day that has actually helped me alot... especially during meals.

"Eat breakfast like a king, lunch like a prince, and dinner like a pauper"

Simple huh? So breakfast for me carries the majority of my calories and carbs, lunch is quite a bit smaller and less carbs... and dinner is something small and simple with as little carbs as possible. I've tried this for two days now, and I can tell the difference in my eating habits... for one, I am not hungary in between meals!! Second, I am not over eating! As the day goes on my portions get smaller. I am also keeping tack of my water by drinking 2 (16oz glasses) of water before breakfast, 2 before lunch, 2 before dinner and 2 before bed... giving me a grand total of 128 oz... which is definatley keeping me full.. and hydrated!

I am fighting the urge to jump on the scale every morning... I want to see a drop, but I'm also scared to see it not move.. or worse, a gain! .... I still have 2 weeks before my second weigh in of the year... so I am keeping the faith.. and moving on.
I do feel a change in my body, but is it real? or am I just imagining it to make myself feel better? grrrrrrr

Today I have a 3 hour Kempo class, so I will definatley be burning calories today! This afternoon the girls are heading to my moms for the day and hubby and I have a dinner date tonight all by ourselves to celebrate an early valentines! Yeah!

Have a Blessed Weekend... I'll see ya'll on monday morning!

A Day On The Hill

Good Mornin' Ya'll... I am feeling much better, but my oldest girl has been sick with a cold too... so, I haven't had any sleep in two days. My nose has cleared, but now I am just exhausted. Oh well... it's always something. I didn't work out yesterday, just cleaned. But today I have two workouts planned again. The only way I can even THINK about working out today is because Hubby has offered to stay up with the sickling tonight.. which means I am gauranteed a good night sleep tonight!!! Yeah!

I have read Phase I in Bob Greenes book and am excited to get into the routine he suggests. Its not really a big change from what I've been doing, but it did recommend some little extra things. The best part of it, is he suggests weighing in only once a month too!!! Which is great since that is what I have been doing!!

Ok, so I missed yesterdays devotional.. but dont fear.. I have one for today!!

A Day On The Hill

The pastures of the wilderness overflow, the hills gird themsleves with joy. -Psalm 65:12

My house is on a hillside in the last row of homes at the edge of the woods. I can take my camera up on the old logging road through the tall fir trees and bushy alders, or I can cut through the bushes to a now-abandoned quarry, where the rocky core of the hill is exposed.

Recently our relentless spring rain broke for a day. The sun came out and dazzled the flowers into bloom, clothed the trees with ripe green buds, and brought great clouds of birds to feed among the wild greasses. The hill was the scene of a party, and I spent most of the day in celebration. I stroked the pussy willows, breathed in the scent of freshened Douglas firs, and took close-up photographs of tiny yellow violets. I danced over the dark basalt rubble at the old quarry, and sang a hymn, sitting on a boulder under the trees.

That evening when I was getting ready for bed, I realized I hadn't nibbled all day. Beauty had satisfied all my senses, and I was filled not with food, but with the glory of God.

For Further Reflection

What satisfies your senses and meets your emotional needs besides food? Take some time to find the answers, then act upon them.

Prayer

Thank you, God, for the beauty of Your creation. Teach me to be satisfied with that. Amen

I know that most of you are in the middle of ice storms and freezing weather... but look around.. there is always something that God has handed you to enjoy!

Have a Blessed Day!

The Best Life

I had another great day yesterday...that is, until the afternoon when I started sneezing and sniffling. I thought for sure it was a cold comming on, so I drank alot of tea and went to bed early. This morning I am feeling a little bit better, though still a little achey... but my nose has cleared up. Maybe allergies? hmmmm . I may be feeling better but hubby had to stay up with the girls last night and appearently they did not go to bed until midnight, so he is extrememly tired this morning and not in the best of moods. hmph.


If you ever came to my house, you would notice the piles of books I have everywhere. Closets, corners... even the kitchen. I just LOVE books. Anyway, I have a whole bunch of diet books.. all different kinds.. but the one that I picked up yesterday was wanderful. Its Bob Greene's The Best Life Diet. You may recognize the name because he is Oprah's personal trainer. Now I am not a big fan of Oprah, but this guy makes sense! If you want to learn more about the book and the 'diet' check it out here.

From the introduction: "The Best Life Diet is not a diet in the usual sense of the word. You don't go on it, then off it as the term diet typically implies. It is, instead, a diet in the traditional sense of the word: a way of eating -- for life. It's based on a well-balanced regimen of interesting, satisfying, nutrient-rich, and easy-to-find-and-prepare foods. It's not extremely restrictive in calories or limited in variety, but rather it is rooted in the idea that eating is and always should be one of life's greatest pleasures. You can love food and live happily on this diet while still meeting your weight-loss goals."

I'll let you know if I come upon anything interesting as I go along reading it.

I am going to see how I feel today. My schedule says today is Tae Bo Abs day... but I have such a hard time working out when I dont feel well. It is definatley a day for lots of water and tea and soup! In fact, it feels like a good day to just grab a good book, a pillow and a blanket and relax on the couch. Now if only I could get the girls to play along! LOL Yeah right!

Have a Blessed Day

YAHOOOOOOO

I am feeling great this morning. Yesterday was a perfect way to start off a good week! I ate my 1200 calories...
did my Tae Bo Elite in the morning... took the girls to the park and walked 1.25 miles in 15 minutes!... and then tried out my Biggest Loser Workout 2 dvd after dinner!... I drank 12 glasses of water, 4 cups of decaf tea... and slept like a baby. Now this is how it should be everyday! I am a little bit sore this morning, but I am ready to do it all over again! It looks like another warm day, but will have to stay home today... I dont have enough gas in the truck to get back into town again today! But I might take them to the local park this afternoon, there isnt a walking trail there.. but it will wear the girls down!!

I am loving my dvd workouts. As much as I sometimes crave the gym and its privacy..(yes, the gym is private when you dont have two kids constantly needing their cup and bottle, diaper changes and toys in the middle of your workout!) ... I still get a great sweat going... and I can do it all in my pj's! LOL Working out is not really my problem. I can workout everyday and never really complain.. its the eating that I really have to concentrate on with my diet. My eating and my will power.. everyday I work a little bit harder on it.. and hopefully by the end of this month, if I can get a perfect 24 days in a row, I think I will have it made! It has to get easier... doesn't it?

well.. I have to go if I'm going to have another great day!

Superbowl Hangover!

My will power failed yesterday. As the Superbowl started, so did the munching.. chips, pizza , chocolate... grrrrrr. The problem was, it was such a great game to watch that I kinda spaced out the fact that my hand kept feeding my face. LOL. Oh well... once a year wont kill me! It was a great game and although I didnt really have a favorite team, I was glad to see the colts win it! My favorite part of the entire evening was when they were interviewing the Colt's coach Dungy after the win and he said that although it was great that two black coaches made it the superbowl for the first time.. it what was even better that two CHRISTIAN coaches made it to the superbowl.. I thought that was awsome!!

Anyway.. so today I have two workouts planned..AND.. for some reason, after having freezing cold temperatures for weeks.. today's high is supposed to be 60!! So I am taking the girls to the park and taking them for a ride around the park trail. I'm hoping to go a couple of miles around... that should be a great workout! I also have to keep up with me water.. I am really feeling dehydrated this morning. Its already the 5th of February which means this months challenge is going to fly by.. so I better get my butt in gear this month.. and fast!!

Speaking of challenge.. go check out my February Partner in crime.. Meghan... and give her some good cheer!

Have a Blessed Day

Sunday Morning

Yesterday was a great day! I went to my old Kempo class at my church. I havent taken the class in 4 months because we thought we were going to move. Yesterday I finally got my butt up early enought to get everything gathered up and out of the house. The class is 3 hours long.. and starts with a fantastic half hour of stretching. Then one of the other ladies in the class had just gotten sparring gear.. and I had my old gear from 15 yrs ago when I was a black belt in Tae Kwon Do and Karate. So for the first time in 15 yrs, I got to put all my pads back on and actually fight someone. It was fantastic!! I was out of breath after a full minute of fighting... which is pathetic.. but it still felt good... .and what a workout! I am actually sore in many places this morning! I think I am going to try and make the class every other weekend... only because it takes up such a huge chunk out of my saturday morning with the family.

I have to keep it short this morning because I have a late start in getting the girls and I ready for church... but I did want to share todays devotional...

Learning Hope

O my God, in you I trust; do not let me be put to shame; do not let my enemys exult over me. -Psalm 25:2

When Pandora opened her box, all the troubles in the world darted out. They attacked and stung her , and then flew through the door to trouble everyone else on earth. Afterward, one quiet little creature kept crying out from inside the box, and what weeping, wounded Pandora finally released was hope: God's gift to humanity.

It isn't always easy to keep a spirit of hope alive when magazines show me pictures of delicious food in living color, and every model on television looks like she weighs twelve pounds. But recently I saw a program that showed photographers gluing food together and enhancing its color with dyes and inks, and other camera people using a computer to shave inches off the waistline of the world's most famous model! Am I going to let photographers and computer artists deprive me of hope?

Hope has to be realistic. I can't hope God will appear like a wizard, waving a magic wand to make me thin and self disciplined. But I can hope God will give me the wisdom to deal with overeating or any other aspect of my life.

For Further Reflection

1. What guides you most: Hope or Guilt?
2. What can you do when you begin to lose hope?
3. Are your hopes realistic?

Prayer

When I lose hope , Lord, I'm not keeping faith with You. Catch me before I fall!! Amen

Have a Blessed Day

TGIF

When I was 6 or 7 years old, my family went to visit my oldest sister in Louisiana. She took us to see her horse who was grazing in a pasture nearby. She hopped on him bareback and my dad lifted me up and plopped me behind her. She took off at a racing speed, at least that is what it felt like at 6 yrs old, but in truth it was probably walking a little bit faster then normal! I remember yelling at her to "STOP!!!" , but she didn't. I kept sliding off the ass end of the horse. Trying to grip anything I could with my little hands. In honesty, I dont remember if I ever did fall off the horse, or if my sister finally stopped and let me down. I just remember that for the next 10 years, I hated her!! LOL. Of course that wasnt the only reason... she was the oldest of 3 girls (17 yrs older then me) and I was the youngest. Daddy always bragged about how well she was doing. He was so proud when she became a Russian translator in the Army... she was intelligent, beautiful and Daddy's absolute favorite. For the past 6 years, I have come to see what my dad did in my sister. I call her for no reason sometimes, just to laugh. Yesterday was one of those days. We talked about everything and nothing.. .and I loved it. She and I are alot like our dad.. which makes talking to each other a little comforting I think.

Its been 6 years now that my Dad past away... and whoever can say that missing them gets easier as time goes by should be shot! I miss him more as the years fly by. My husband asked me after the wedding last weekend, if I wanted to have a 'real' wedding like that one. He and I were married in the little courthouse here in town, dressed in Wranglers and boots...(my sister was there!)



I love my husband, and a wedding like that is a dream, but I told him... " I couldn't walk down the isle without my daddy" ... and that is the truth. I dont feel sorry for myself... I loved our little wedding.. and I would do nothing to change it. So my husband said "How about we have something 'kinda' like a wedding for our 5 yr anniversary" ... LOL.. how can you say no to a man who just wants you to have a day where your the princess! I said I would love to... but we're going to have to do something besides have me walk down the isle... maybe we could do a conga line!! LOL just kidding. Whatever we do end up doing... you can bet I will want my sister right next to me!!

So... today is a day of cleaning this house top to bottom...so that I can just relax all weekend with hubby! I have two workouts planned.. and am going to drink 14 glasses of water.. thats right, 112 oz... which is what I should be drinking for my wieght and hieght! Huh.. .who knew? So, I better get off memory lane and get my butt moving!!

Have a Blessed Day!

Goal Addiction

So I feel bad that I didnt post yesterday! LOL... It has become such a ritual for me to get on the computer every morning and write my days little adventures that when I miss a day, I feel like I let myself down! Ha! To be honest with you NOTHING happend the day before except some major binging and sitting on my a@@ all day. My depression kicked in a couple of days ago.... there are a number of reasons that could have jump started it.... but mostly I think its because I missed a couple of days here and there on my medication and it just finally caught up to me. Yesterday I started feeling a little bit better, although my eating was horrific. This morning I am feeling back to my self again and am craving a good workout and lots of water... so that is good! It is amazing how depression can bring you down so fast. Sometimes it takes me a couple of days to recognize the signs... no energy, eating LOTS, snappy, angry, wanting to go to bed all the time.... but when I do, I am able to get the medication in me and then try to do some positive thinking... usually that helps me until the meds kick in again. For anyone who is feeling any of these signs, please dont think that its just the way you are... get some help... this may even be the cause of your eating habits! I have been on antidepressants for 5 years now and can tell you that the difference is night and day!

Ok... so onward...

I found my devotional book hidden between the mattresses in Munchkin Land (my daughters bedroom)... how can you get mad at your daughter for wanting to look at a christian book? LOL... So, todays devotional seems perfect since today is also the first day of the February Challenge.

Goal Addiction

I press on toward the goal for the prize of the heavenly call of God in Christ Jesus. -Phillipians 3:14

Sometimes the goals I set for myself are absurdly high. But on the other hand, if I'm aiming for too easy a mark, I dont feel satisfied. Goals can be addictive: elusive, always promising happiness or riches or success.

The trick is making sure they're really my own objectives. When TV presents me with an actess who weighs ninety-two pounds, and whose wavy red hair falls to her waist, I dont have to try to be that person. When two of my friends go on crash diets to lose thirty pounds in three weeks, I can wish them well - but set my own target.

I neet to listen for the goals God has in mind for me alone. Goals that will challenge me to be strong and brave and full of good humor. Perhaps what I most need to accomplish is making a rich strawberry trifle, piled high with whipped cream, for my guests - and not eating any of it myself. Your challenge may be quite different.

For Further Reflection

1. Are your goals too easy or too hard?
2. What sensible hard mark can you aim for today?
3. Do you beat yourself up when you miss the mark?

Prayer

Help me strive , God, toward the goals You set for me. Amen



So my goal for February is still to match my weight loss this month and hit 195. My 'sensible mark' that I am aiming for today is to not eat any of the junk food that I bought the other day... chips, cookies, ice cream...(hmmmmm think it was self sabotage yet again??). I was hoping today would be a nice day, but once again it is snowing/raining and is very cold... so another day of staying home... the girls and I are getting a little bit of cabin fever! Does anyone have any suggestions on fun things to do indoors with a 1 yr old and a 3 yr old??? I think they are tired of everything I can think of... painting, play dough, movies, making a tent with the couch pillows, dress up, bubbles.... and to be honest.. I'm kinda tired of them too!!

Well, I guess I can no longer put off starting the day!! I am hoping to get in a couple of good workouts today... nothing like starting the month off right!!

Have A Blessed Day