Jumped on the scale this morning and it held at 208... so unless I lose another pound today, my weightloss for the 1 wk challenge will be 3 lbs. Not bad. Might have to do that the last week of every month! I will do the 'official' on thursday morning to give everyone a chance to weigh in and email me! I dont think that anyone, including me, will win the prize for sticking to all the rules! LOL.. I have missed a couple of workouts.. so that ruins it for me. I did stick to all the clean eating though... that I am pretty impressed about!

Anyway, yesterday was fun. Kinda drove all over the place. Went to my friends house and did some singing.... then went to my FIL and visited my new MIL. It poured down rain while we were there so no playing with the horses.

I added my 'July' picture to the side bar... only 7 lbs lighter, but still looking better! My hair is extremely curly, so with this humidity it really takes on a life of its own.

I have no plans for today...if it dries up a little I will take the girls to the park.. or maybe their cousins house. Either way, we need to get out of the house and enjoy the cooler weather.

Find you focus... and hold on for dear life!

Ooooooooh Yeeaaaahhhhhhhhh.....

So yesterday was weigh in day and the numbers were good. I was not going to post my weight because of the challenge going on... but I HAVE to share!!! -3 lbs!! I'm at 208!!! Oh so close to that magnificent Onederland!!

It has been raining like crazy here... so my morning walks have either been nice and cool.. or canceled completely. Today may be nice and cool with a possibility of running my ass off back home to keep from getting drenched! Sounds like a good workout!

My weekend was great.. very relaxing. Hubby and I did what we needed to do, and then just enjoyed each others company. Sunday I went to my moms house. She was in Tx for a week with my Aunt G. She brought back a bunch of surprises for me and the girls... including a pair of BLUE SUEDE SHOES that my aunt is lending to me for the show this week.

This morning I am either walking outside or doing my run on the treadmill... then I am off to a new friends house, who happens to be a vocal instructor.. and one of my competitors... but she has offered to help me with the song. At this point, I need the help to get a little more *umph* in there! She has a 14 yr old daughter who will watch my girls while we are there.. YAHOO!! Possible New Babysitter!!!

OK.. so as far as meals go..

BK: Oatmeal and green tea
L: Salad with Broiled Pork Sirloin
D: hmmmmm... not sure, probably fish?

Running/walking 1 mile this morning and hopefully 1 mile tonight. Water is awesome.. I have found a way to keep myself sipping at that straw!

Hope everyone has a great Monday!!

I bought a talking refrigerator that said "Oink" every time I opened the door. It made me hungry for pork chops. ~Marie Mott

On A Side Note:

As some of you may know, I had a hysterectomy 2 years ago. Since then I have been prescribed anti-depression medication and have had terrible mood swings. Not to mention that I am going thru menopause at a very young age...WARNING: Hot Flashes SUCK!! Anyway, I recently started using a Progesterone Cream and it has been doing wonders for my mood swings and depression. Such a wonderful job that I wanted to share this with you ladies because this cream can also help with those monthly visits, post menopause, osteoporosis,Estrogen Dominance symptoms : These are water retention, breast swelling, fibrocystic breasts, uterine fibroids, loss of libido, mood swings, depression, craving for sweets and weight gain with fat deposited at hips and thighs.

THE BENEFITS OF USING NATURAL PROGESTERONE:

PREVENTS:

Fibrocystic Breasts
Breast Cancer
Osteoporosis
Heart Disease
Strokes
Mood Swings
Depression
Hot Flashes

RESTORES:

Hormone Balance
Thyroid Function
Energy
Libido
Restful Sleep
Mental Clarity
Vaginal Health
Memory


If you suffer from any of this (even unwanted facial hair...yes, this can help with that hairy upper lip) then you need to go to your local natural health store and talk to someone there. I cant believe I wasn't told about this miracle cream earlier. What is Natural Progesterone made of??.... unbelievably it is a food grade product made from Mexican Yams or soybeans. The list of illness and ailments that this cream can help is long.... for the women out there, its worth checking out! The cream I am using currently is called Happy PMS. I buy it at my local natural health store for $25.

((((((((((((DDDDDDDDDRRRRRRRRUUUUUUMMMMMM RRRRRRROOOOOOOLLLLLLLLL))))))))))))))))

I made it past last nights eliminations.... Only one more round and then it is the finale! Yikes!! It was a blast though. I had to go first... which made me really nervous.. but I did great, and then I got to sit back and relax and watch my competition. So.. last night there were 10... now there are 7. Next week they will eliminate 3 more to make the Final Four!! Yahooooo My song for the next round....Blue Suede Shoes! Here is a picture of the contestants...I managed to hide from the camera yet again (God bless men who wear cowboy hats!), but you can see my eyes and nose! LOL.. I am in the second row, second from the right.....


and this will show you who has been eliminated...


As for my diet yesterday... I am on a roll. I ate beautifully... I only had corn on the cob last night for dinner because my stomach was doing flips. I did not run my mile... which I'm a little disappointed at myself for.. but plan on doing two again today. My water was great.. as all I drink at the bar is water, water with a chaser of water! LOL

Today looks pretty gloomy.. and I have a bunch of cleaning and laundy to do.. so I better get started.

I am STARVING this morning. why? Well, I think its because I ran my two miles yesterday. My first one in the morning, my second in the evening before dinner. But my second one made me feel a little bit nauseous, so I only ate a very small dinner and a protein shake. I think my body used it all up before I even went to bed.. so this morning my tummy is grrrrrrrrrrowling! That's a good thing!!

Tonight is the second part of the karaoke finale! I have been singing my song all week. In fact, I'm really quite tired of it.... but I definitely know the words now. I have to figure out what to wear... it has to look rock n' rollish. I really hope I go on to the next round!! I will get to sing an Elvis song!!Not to mention it is one step closer to winning $1000 and the possibilty of getting noticed for my voice! Wish me luck!

So today's plan:

BK: 2 eggs and a protein shake
Run 1 mile

L: Salad and left over fish
Do a Pilates Dvd

D: A lite salad...something that wont make me sick when I get nervous tonight!!
SING!!!

I peeked at the scale this morning.. because this is a competition I will keep the numbers to myself.. BUT I LIKED WHAT I SAW!!!!!

OH.. and I added Kitty to our list. She is a bit late signing up.. but I hate to keep someone out of a challenge when they want to do it.. so YOUR IN KITTY!!! To make it fair though, I will have to say that you will not be eligible for a prize... unless of course you lose 3 lbs... then that is a prize all itself isn't it?

Find your focus and carry it with you!

I'm in shape. Round is a shape... isn't it? ~Author Unknown

There are 4 people in my "Last week of July" challenge! Perfect number! I am very excited to have something...and someones.. to push me. I haven't done well at all this month, so this will at least drive me to get a loss! If it works out then I might have to do this at the end of every month!

****For Randi, Cory and Lola****

yogurt, cottage cheese, oatmeal : packaged....but allowed. I guess I should have said 'no PROCESSED food'

also, the new workout could be something you haven't done in awhile.... even if it is 25 minutes of stretching that you never do!

my goal for this week is to give our bodies a little shock. A jump start, if you will. Healthy eating, more exorcise then its used too... and some food for the brain! Its only ONE week... give it all you've got!

*********************************


I have to go to the store to get batteries for my camera.. then I will post my before pic. I am *running* a mile this morning and another tonight along with my weight lifting regimen. My food for today... BK-oatmeal, L-salad,baked chicken,D-Mahi with fresh squash from the garden! I bought a water bottle that holds 32oz.. so drinking 3.5 of those should give me my 112 oz. As for my recipe, yeah.. still thinking.

Time to run!

I'm not overweight. I'm just nine inches too short. ~Shelley Winters

ONE WEEK CHALLENGE:

So I'm looking at my calender sitting on my desk, and I realize that there is only one week left until July 'o7 is over.. so I am handing out a one week challenge. Whoever is interested in doing this is welcome to join in.. here is how it goes:

1. The challenge will start this morning (July 24) and End on July 31.
2. The 'OFFICIAL' Weigh In Day will be August 1st
3. Whoever fulfills all 7 challenges will win a prize....
4. Whoever loses the most weight (on your honor) over that week will be sent a prize as well!

THE CHALLENGES:

A) Walk/Run 8 miles (over the course of the challenge)

B) Drink 112 oz of water everyday....yes, I know, its more then 8 glasses..but it will make you feel better and with all the working out you will be doing (hint hint) you will need the extra hydration.

C) Eat only fresh food... no pre-packaged stuff...no pasta (unless you made it!!)..all meat and fish must be fresh (from your store).. no canned meat/tuna

D) Challenge yourself at least 4 days with an exorcise you've never done before...pilates...tae bo...yoga??

E) Workout twice a day...morning/noon...morning/night..noon/night

F) Come up with your own recipe of a low fat/low calorie meal that you can share with everyone!! Be daring!! (email it to me so I can post it!)

G) Take a before and after picture of yourself.. nothing too revealing... just so we can see what a week of staying focused can do!!

If you want to give it a try, just comment that you are IN and give me your before weight! I will add you to the list! The prizes will depend on who won...I will try to give you something that fits your personality! It wont be anything expensive...but it will be fun! On the morning of August 1st please email me what you were able to complete.. and your final weight! I will announce the winners that morning.

Have any questions?? email me at whereistigerlilly@yahoo.com. YOu have until 6 o'clock on the morning of the 25th to sign up!

Find your Focus!!

Well, it is a sad day for me. I gained 2 lbs over the weekend. Why? Well, if it wasn't the poptarts, ice cream, chips, soda, cake, McDonald's and no exercise... then it must have been the fact that I didn't get off the couch for 99% of the weekend and drinking zero water. So.. I guess I deserved that terrible number. Ah well... today is a new day and I found my focus..

Today I am taking the girls for a walk before the rain starts coming down... then it is packing time. I am going to start packing up all the closets and drawers that we are not using. Tonight is my cardio night.. so another run I am looking forward to. I have my water bottle ready to fill, my breakfast is cooking (oatmeal) and vitamins on the table... oh yeah.. its going to be a good day!

I am always thankful for the way that I ended up. If you had known me 5 or 6 years ago, you would have known an alcoholic, chain smoker who was at the bar every night. I had no dream of becoming a mom... or even a wife. I was just living to party. I met my husband at a bar... I became pregnant before we were 'officially' a couple. I met his family for the first time when I was 6 months pregnant (that was awkward). We fell in love...got married (our daughter being the flower girl).. and a year later had our second daughter. 3 months after having my daughter I was diagnosed with Ovarian Cancer.. they removed a huge tumor and did a full hysterectomy. I look back and realize that had that not all happened the way it did, I would never have had kids. I probably and most likely would still be a drinker and partier... and life would not be so good. Divine intervention??? You bet your rear end it was! I was saved by Jesus Christ in 2002... about the time this was all going on.

The point to all of that is.. I am thankful.

I got a call from SIL who had a miscarriage on Wednesday at 9 wks pregnant.. the second one this year. They have been trying so hard, and they have had so much heartache. I talked to her last night and told her I would be praying for her... she said she was tired of hearing 'it was Gods will' and 'it was meant to be'... and I don't really blame her. SO I didn't say those things.. I just said 'I'll be praying'.. . I really do believe all those things... God has a plan, and whether you know it or not.. what you suffer through is all part of it. In the end, you will get triple what you ever wanted for yourself!

Now my question is... am I meant to be fat? HA ... NO... I am suffering what is better known as gluttony. Especially on days when I eat more then I need.. like that second package of poptarts..yes, I indulged yesterday. So what do I do? Well, I pray... and I run... and I pray.. and I run.. and when I stop running, I pray ALOT! LOL I will lose this weight... I have faith (In Him.. and in me!!)

Today we are staying home... playing with hubbys new puppy 'Newt'.. and being thankful. (thankful that I made it thru another run last night!!)

Last night I got a glimpse at stardom...well.. as close as I am going to get on this small mountain town! The karaoke competition I had mentioned earlier started last night. The first night of four! Three people were eliminated...leaving ten. I moved on to the next round!!! Yahoo. Pictures were taken for the local paper.. and we were told that the radio was going to do a live broadcast from the bar on the last night. If I make it that far I am going to be so nervous! Anyway, the winner of last night got to draw their song for next week out of a hat. The theme being Rock n' Roll, I got "Old Time Rock N' Roll"... one of the easier songs that they had. I cant wait until next week.. this is really fun. Its kinda like a back country version of American Idol! LOL.

My diet yesterday was fairly good. The bar made pizzas for the competitors before the show... they had a veggie pizza, so I grabbed a medium piece and stopped at one! Plus, I drank a TON of water.. everyone made fun of the fact that I was the only singer not getting drunk.. I told them that being water logged was a close second! I had to pee the entire time!! LOL

Today is a muggy, gloomy.. eh.. day. Its kinda hard to get going.. but I will probably get the girls and the dog out for a bike ride. Tonight is my cardio night, so I am going to do my run... Hubby doesn't want to go to the rodeo, so it looks like it will be a non-eventful night. I will tell you this, it was awfully hard to not sneak a package of pop tarts this morning when I was handing the girls some. I can already tell its going to be a challenging day.

Find your focus.. and if you find mine, will you give it back please??

**************************************************************

ONE MORE THING!!!!

If y'all know me by now, you know that I love science fiction and fantasy novels. I came across a fellow blogger, FatDaddy, who is a writer.. he is giving away his E-Books.. and if you want to get a paperback version.. just enter his contest. Check it out!!

Yesterday was a cardio day... which meant that I would have to either get on my treadmill and walk or put in a Tae Bo DVD. Neither one of those sounded good to me. I needed to find something that would be fun to do and would pass the time quickly... I get bored easily. So, I pick up my SELF magazine and find THIS article:

"Take Inches Off"

To boost your calorie burn, do this 25-minute cardio workout, developed by trainer Tim Adams, up to five days per week. Walk, run, swim or bike. It's your choice. By day 6, you'll look and feel slimmer!

Time= Phase Perceived = level of exertion*
3 minutes = warm up= 3
30 seconds = sprint= 9
90 seconds = recover = 4
30 seconds = sprint = 9
90 seconds = recover = 4
30 seconds = sprint = 9
90 seconds = recover = 4
30 seconds = sprint = 9
90 seconds = recover = 4
30 seconds = sprint = 9
2 minutes = recover = 3
30 seconds = sprint = 9
90 seconds = recover = 4
30 seconds = sprint = 9
90 seconds = recover = 4
30 seconds = sprint = 9
90 seconds = recover= 4
30 seconds = sprint = 9
5 minutes = cool down = 3

*Rate your intensity on a scale of 1 to 10. One is about the effort it takes to raise a glass of wine to your lips. A 10 is a "Whoa, Nelly! I can hardly speak" effort.

It KICKED my butt!!! I finished it... but I haven't dripped sweat like that since my honeymoon!! LOL You guys have to give it a try. The short bursts of sprints raises your heartbeat and keeps it there for the whole 25 minutes...it was an awesome workout!! I cant wait to do it again!!!! (did I just say that?)

So Randi and I are working out together for the next month... or at least on the same days!!LOL... Hopefully this will keep us both motivated to keep it up!

I stepped on the scale this morning to see what my run last night did ... 188.5??? Yeah, I think its broken. I'm pretty sure you cant lose 20 lbs over night... that would be nice... but I dont think so. I'm going to have to figure out how to reset the thing.. I know my munchkins have been playing with it, so who knows what they have managed to do to it!! WI is on Sunday... so I better step it up a notch!

Find you focus... and then full steam ahead!

100 Calorie Snacks

Tired of eating those 100 calorie snack packs? Need a change? Try these 10 yummy 100 calorie ideas!!


1. Mid-Morning Fill-Up Just add hot water to a 100-calorie packet of McCann's Instant Cinnamon Roll Irish Oatmeal, which smells ahh-mazing and comes sweetened with Splenda. No doughnut guilt and there's a bonus: 3 grams of filling, cholesterol-fighting oat fiber.

2. Peanut Butter Crackers Make sandwiches out of 6 All Bran Multi-Grain Crackers (45 deliciously crunchy calories) and 1½ teaspoons peanut butter (45 smooth calories). You'll get about 2 grams of fiber and a little healthy fat.

3. Apple Mousse Mix a cup of unsweetened applesauce (50 calories) with 3 tablespoons of fat-free nondairy topping (45 calories), and ¼ teaspoon of cinnamon. Make a batch at a time and refrigerate in portable snack cups. Supplies 20% of your daily vitamin C and counts as 1 serving of fruit. Sweet.

4. Veggies and Dip Flavor up ready-to-eat veggies from the produce section -- which have almost no calories -- with a dip: 2 tablespoons of hummus (60 calories) or light ranch dressing (80 calories). For the veggies, think broccoli and cauliflower florets, baby carrots, snap peas, pepper strips, baby squash -- all of them filled with fiber, vitamins, and protective phytonutrients.

5. Café Mocha Stir a packet of Swiss Miss No-Sugar-Added Hot Chocolate mix (60 calories) into hot coffee for an instant afternoon pick-me-up that only tastes decadent. It actually delivers 30% of your calcium, 6% of your iron, and even a gram of fiber. Add a splash of milk for more goodness. Compare that to 200 calories for the smallest Caffe Mocha at Starbucks (2% milk, no whip), with 6g of fat.

6. Mexican Potato Microwave a medium potato and slice in half (80 calories). Save one piece for tomorrow. Mash the other half inside the potato skin and top it with 2 tablespoons of salsa (10 calories). Eat the whole thing, skin too. Warm-spicy-satisfying and 2 grams each of protein and fiber, some vitamin C, plus a little iron.

7. Finger Food Munch edamame like nuts: ½ cup of these quick-cooked frozen soybeans (about 95 calories) makes a great nibble, which is why they're a staple at hip bars -- which probably don't care that they're serving you 8 grams of protein, 4g of fiber, and lots of minerals.

8. Snack on a Mini-Meal When you're starving but trying to hold back, try this: Wrap a Morningstar Farms Vegan Burger (100 calories), a tomato slice, hamburger pickles, and a little mustard or ketchup in lettuce leaves instead of bread. The 10g of protein will keep you filled till it's really mealtime.

9. Happy Hour Combo Mix 1/2 cup of tomato juice (22 calories) with ½ tsp Worcestershire sauce, 2 drops of Tabasco sauce, and a dash of lemon juice. Serve over ice with a celery stick and about a dozen dry roasted peanuts (about 60 calories). Have a second "drink" if you like -- no biggie!

10. Healthy Confetti Crisps If chips are your downfall, make a batch of these RealAge crisps and divide into 6 portions (95 calories each). Much through a bag while sipping your club soda and lime. If you remember to, enjoy the good fat from the olive oil and the fiber and vitamins in the veggies -- though these taste so good you may forget they're healthy.

REALAGE CONFETTI CRISPS
6 servings, 95 calories each

2 Tbsps. olive oil
1/2 tsp. garlic salt
1/2 tsp. dried dill weed
1/8 tsp. pepper
1 cup each of peeled and thinly sliced purple potatoes, carrots, and parsnips

Mix the oil and seasonings together, add the vegetables, and toss to coat. Arrange in a single layer on a baking sheet lightly sprayed with olive oil. Bake at 350 degrees for 20-25 minutes, or until crisp and golden brown.

Hump Day

I thought I would be.... ambitious??... and have my husband wake me up at 5 a.m when he leaves for work so that I could get in a workout before the kids woke up. My oldest daughter must be on the same wave length because she was up at 4:55 a.m. watching her cartoons. Those of you who have toddlers.... and a warning for those of you who WANT them.... know that you cannot do a great workout when they are crawling all over you...and they definitely do not appreciate you turning their cartoons off to put in a workout dvd. So, instead, we waited for my youngest to wake up...which was only 30 min later.. .and I loaded them in the stroller, grabbed the dog.. and off we went for a walk. It was wonderful going out that early, the weather was nice and cool... and the traffic was minimal. I got a good mile in, so I am happy.

So our house is on its way to being sold and hubby and I have decided to move to another town. It is farther away from the city... but it is also a smaller town, which I never thought I would want to live in.. but the town we are in now started out small, but over the past 3 years has boomed. It is crowded and unwelcoming. So, we are looking for a rental for now, until we can find a house we would like to buy. I am a little stressed about everything going smoothly... but I am sure it will be fine. One day at a time right??


Today is supposed to be 88*F/31*C ... 14 degrees cooler then yesterday. Good grief! Its a good day to open all the windows and air out the house! I hope this weather stays cool... the rodeo is this weekend and I am looking forward to going!



Blessed are those who hunger and thirst, for they are sticking to their diets. ~Author Unknown

Organic

So the big thing these days is buying Organic. As much as I wish I could afford to buy ALL organic... and why is it more expensive?... I am usually prone to buying the regular (and cheaper) stuff. This week, however, I had a chance to try out the Organic way of life...(it was on sale!).

My first try: Full Circle Organic Apple and Cinnamon Oatmeal. I will never eat anything else. This oatmeal was absolutely delicious. Compare it to yours: Per serving.... 150 cal, 1.5g fat, 30g carb, 13g sugar, 4g protein. The flavor is fantastic, and yes, there are little chunks of apple in every bite! A definite thumbs up from me!~

My second try: Full Circle Organic Popcorn. Could use a little more butter...but I say that about all popcorn! LOL. This is actually very tasty. It has a little more flavor to it.. and the texture is a little bit different... but all around, very good!

Will I buy these things from now on? well.. the oatmeal is a definite yes (if I can afford it).. the popcorn, only when its on sale!


So, today is going to be another scorcher. 100*F/38*C .... and on top of that the monsoons have been trying to come all week, so the weather is humid too. I'm not sure what to do today... maybe a bike ride.. or a walk to the park...something!

If hunger is not the problem, then eating is not the solution. ~Author Unknown

Monday Morning Comin' Round

Hi y'all. So to begin the day I will update you on yesterday weigh in.... -1 lb! Yeah!! Not the 3 lbs I was hoping for, but still going down!! I think the first 5 lbs lost was a lot of water weight... so now is the REAL FAT!! I am happy...

Yesterdays missed posting was due to a celebration... Hubby and I celebrated our 3rd Anniversary... and still going strong. I love this man!!



We took the girls to the river to go fishing on Saturday... had a great road trip up, but the girls got a little restless after about an hour of fishing.. so Hubby took one girl and I took the other, and off we went exploring the woods. It was a lot of fun, I got some great pics of my youngest..... Hubby and the oldest saw a snake along their route... thank goodness we went the other way!! hehe



Ok.. so a little funny thing about me... I LOVE to sing karaoke. I know, scary. But the truth is, its a real outlet for me. Anyway, I competed in a competition last week where the winner got to go on to the finals and compete for a thousand dollars!! I tied for first and we had to do a "sing off". I didn't do so well because by then it was well into the night and I was exhausted... I got 'runner up' which meant that if someone doesn't show then I will get to compete. Well... they called last night and told me there was a really good chance that I was going to be put in!!! YEAH!!! The first competition is this Thursday night.. you get to pick your own song to sing... next week you have to draw a Rock n' Roll song out of a hat... the third week is an Elvis song (out of a hat) and the fourth week is a country song (out of a hat)... then they add up all your points from every show and the winner with the highest points gets the money!!! I am so excited!! I'm still trying to think of a song to sing this week... any ideas?? Keep in mind I sing 'low' songs.. meaning I don't hit high notes very well. For example my winning song was "Pour Me" by Trick Pony.

Today I am taking the girls for a bike ride BEFORE it gets too hot. Then we will catch up on the weekends cleaning. That should drop another 5 lbs!! LOL

Find your focus... and stick with it!!

Off to the river....

Have to make this quick... we are off the river to go fishing.. and then maybe the lake to go swimming..

Hope to get some good hiking in...will post again later. Tomorrow is weight in day.. Yeah!!!

Yabba Dabba Dooooo!!

So I snuck a peak on the scale this morning...206.5?? Looking good.. I'm just hoping it stays that low for weigh in on Sunday!

I am exhausted today.. so will keep this short and sweet. Taking the girls for a bike ride... then cleaning.

The older you get, the tougher it is to lose weight, because by then your body and your fat are really good friends. ~Author Unknown

Find your focus... it's never too late!

Ouch....ouch....

Yesterday was a pretty active day. I finally got to take the girls on a bike ride and it was lovely. The rain clouds had moved in, cooling it down quite a bit, but managed to not rain until we were back home. After it stopped raining, the girls and I went out back to enjoy the cool weather once more. Hubby has a speed bag hanging on the back porch, so I just started playing with it. About 40 mins later, I had broken a sweat and my arms and shoulders where really feeling sore. We came back in, where I finished the days chores. Hubby came home and decided that it was a good night for us to start working out together again. So we hopped on the bowflex after dinner and did a full upper body weight regimen. This morning I am feeling every bit of what I did yesterday! It does feel good though.. not a bad thing at all!

Today I am going to take the girls out for a walk and then clean out their closet. This evening will be a pilates work out to even out the weight lifting.

Stressed spelled backwards is desserts. Coincidence? I think not! ~Author Unknown

Find your focus... another week is almost done!!!

Ooooops!

Went a little bit over board with my calories yesterday. I had a couple too many whole wheat tortillas... its ok though... I just need to make sure not to make that a habit today!

The weather today is cloudy and cool.. looks like rain actually.. so I think I might finally be able to get the bicycle out!! LOL.. how long have I been wanting to ride now?

Last night I was sitting on the couch with hubby... I was so uncomfortable because I was wearing jeans, so I went and changed into some comfy sweats. Maybe some of you do this too... but I was thinking... I remember the days when I could be just as comfortable in a pair of jeans then I could in a pair of sweats. OF course I was a size 6/8 back then... So, there is another thing to look forward to WHEN I lose this weight... finally being able to lounge comfortably in my favorite pair of jeans!!

So, my focus for today is to stay in my calorie limits.... drink my water (which I have been doing fantastic with).. and get that bike ride in!!!

Some of you were worried about me quitting my job. I am happy with this decision and I think that it will do nothing but make me a happier person... some good advice:

Reality check: you can never, ever, use weight loss to solve problems that are not related to your weight. At your goal weight or not, you still have to live with yourself and deal with your problems. You will still have the same husband, the same job, the same kids, and the same life. Losing weight is not a cure for life. ~Phillip C. McGraw, The Ultimate Weight Solution: The 7 Keys to Weight Loss Freedom, 2003

Find your focus... have a great day!!

Undoing the Stress

Ok, so last night I put in my 2 weeks notice at work. I love this job...delivering babies, what could be a better job? But working nights (6pm-6am) two nights a week on top of having to take care of my kids and doing house work... it just kills me. I feel like I can never catch up on sleep. I fall asleep just sitting on the couch in the middle of a movie... or as soon as hubby gets home I go to bed... what kind of life is that. Besides all that, hubby and I sat down and worked out the math. Because he has to leave work early on the days I have to work.. and then does not get to work until later the next morning... we are actually coming out under. He makes so much more then I do, so it is actually pointless for me to be doing this. My goal now? To continue my schooling... get my Paramedic... so that when the girls are in school I can return to work on an ambulance.. or in the ER.

As for the diet... I have to say that last night was the first night of work that I did not snack and munch all night long. So I feel pretty good this morning. I have been drinking a ton of water... the fact that its been 100 degrees outside has probably helped that too. I have quite a bit of work to do this morning... mostly in the yard. ugh. We have an appraiser coming ... and yes, I am exhausted.

Exercise... today I am hoping, again, to get a bike ride in. Maybe while the appraiser is here! I also have a Pilates dvd that I want to do to... maybe tonight... and I am going to try all those great ab workouts you guys mentioned!!

Find your focus!

In the Middle Ages, they had guillotines, stretch racks, whips and chains. Nowadays, we have a much more effective torture device called the bathroom scale. ~Stephen Phillips

Day One of Another Focused Week!

Its Monday morning... for some reason that always depresses me, whether I'm working or not! LOL I have a million things to do around the house, and at the same time I am dieing to take the girls out for a bike ride. The weather has cooled down a bit, but not much. It is our monsoon season, yet we've only had one day of rain.. and it wasn't all that much either. Very sad.

Yesterday was great.. finding that I had lost 5 pounds last week gave me a little bit of jazz in my step. I even stayed up a little late last night just so I could get a workout in. I desperately need to work my abs...if anyone has any great ab workouts... let me know!! I did 300 crunches... some straight legged, some not.... some to the left, some to the right... I even did the twist!! (The twist: squat down, put your arms up in front of you like your going to fight, then twist your upper body to the left and right squeezing your abs while you do it. Keep your head facing forward and don't move your hips. This is supposed to reduce your waist line!)

Today I am planning on the bike ride, house cleaning and then work tonight... oh... and finding my focus for another successful week!

Inside some of us is a thin person struggling to get out, but they can usually be sedated with a few pieces of chocolate cake. ~Author Unknown

Weigh Day

My first weigh in is today... and the results of staying focused for 1 week =

I LOST 5 POUNDS!!!


YAY... I am finally back on track and it feels fantastic. My food choices have been great, I have been eating small portions thanks to Satiatrim, and I have been drinking tons of water. The only thing I need to focus on a little harder this week is getting in at least 20 mins of cardio a day. Even if its just a walk around the block.

I went out last night with a friend from work and her husband. My hubby, being sober now for 4 years, was not up to going to a bar so he watched the kids for me. We went to the local bar and had a blast. They had a live country band who I happened to know.. and we teamed up on the pool table and beat everyone. I have been sober now for 5 years, so no alcohol for me, which meant no liquid calories and lots of water!!! We also danced which burnt a lot of calories. I don't think it will be a weekly thing, but it was definitely a great time all around!

Today is Sunday, and seeing that I have not been to church in months, I think we will get dressed and go.

Find your Focus... Have a Blessed Day

The cardiologist's diet: If it tastes good, spit it out. ~Author Unknown

SNACK ALERT

So I am always keeping my eyes open for a healthy snack! (Aren't we all!!) Although the 100 calorie packs are good... they kinda of start the ball rolling for me, so then I either eat 2 or 3 packs at a time, or my sweet tooth has gotten a taste and is craving more. I found these yesterday... and I LOVE them! They are called Fruit Ripples : 'crispy baked real apple pieces'. They are only 50 calories per pack, 0 fat, 75mg sod, 13g carbs, 10g sugar. They are very crunchy.. but oh so tasty. The best part is that they give you just enough in each pack to quench your hunger and not leave you wanting for more.


Tomorrow is weigh day for me. I snuck a peak today... I have gained since my 6 lb loss.. but I am still under my 215 high. I think a lot of that weight I lost in the beginning was water. In fact, I can prove it. My wedding ring was so tight at first that I couldn't wear it all the time. Now I have it back on all the time, and it has room to turn! I'm ok with the 'gain' which I am still calling a 'loss' because it means that I am headed in the right direction. Anyway, I have a lot of outdoor fun planned for today, so maybe I will burn off another pound or two today...


I'll leave you with another quote:

More die in the United States of too much food than of too little. ~John Kenneth Galbraith, The Affluent Society


Find your focus... have a wonderful day.

Heat Wave

My daughter with her "new" haircut. I have to say... she does look cute with short hair! You can also see the little bump under her right eye that we are having to have surgery on. It has been looking so much better lately that I am wandering if it is going to go away on its own.. I would love that. The thought of my little girl having to have surgery makes me sick.

What a hot and miserable week it has been. We have hit record highs.. and NOW the rain clouds are moving in, which means "hot and muggy" will be an understatement. Ick.

So I have neglected my treadmill for the past week.. which means I have not been getting the cardio I need to. Today I have scheduled in 2 hours of treadmill. That may seem like alot, but I am also training for the 60 mile Walk For The Cure in November. So it will do me some good.

Today is a catch-up day for me on all my house cleaning. Again, Ick. I will be weighing in on sunday... so I better get my butt moving.

find your focus!

A Quick Hello!

I realize that I am about 12 hours late for my post of the day, but I worked last night and was exhausted when I got home. My mom came by to watch the kids and I crashed out. I was very happy to sleep!! When I woke up, every inch of my body was sore. It was a busy night.. and I would like to think that it burnt a lot of calories! So far today I have had two Satiatrims and some grapes.. after being up for 36 hours I kinda lost my appetite. Dinner is pasta, so that should bring my energy level back to par. Hopefully I can get in a couple of miles on the treadmill before bed tonight.

I had a patient last night that made me want to lose weight. Not that I want to say anything bad about this person. I definitely understand how she got as heavy as she was.... but I just saw how miserable she was. Granted she had just had a c-section... she was so heavy she couldn't keep herself clean. She had sores all over her body from the skin folding over and creating these crevices that never got air. Part of my job was to help her get cleaned up and ready to start taking care of their new baby. The whole time I was helping her all I could think of was... I cant get this big... Please, Lord, don't let me get this big. It was sad to think she was in her early 20's and already miserable.

It gave me a little kick in the butt. One of many that I will need to keep going.

Find your focus and make the rest of the day wonderful!

Happy 4th of July!!

It is Independence Day... and the plans are to sit on the couch ALL day! LOL. With all the rodeos' and parades going on in town there are a million people here. No offense to any city people, or as we call you 'flat landers', but they come to the country and drive like they are idiots. We have ONE main street.. .and they have to drive down it like its a race way. Grrrrrrrr. Anyway.. today will be enjoyed at home.

Yesterdays diet went well. It could have been better, but I'll focus on not making the same mistakes today. I am feeling well.. but definitely need to do some sort of exercise and weight lifting.. I think that will make me feel a little better.

We had a walk thru yesterday and I think we have sold our house! We are still looking for a rental to move into... but I am definitely a little more relaxed about the whole thing.

I hope you all enjoy the day...

Find Your Focus!

6 pounds lost.... ALREADY??

Yep... 2 days of staying focused and I have lost 6 pounds already. At first I couldn't believe it. I did a little stepping off and on about ten times before I finally believed my scale was not broken. Yeah!!! The amazing part of it all is that I have not been taking out anything... just making sure I eat a very nutritious meal every time. Protein, veggies, carbs. Staying focused if definatley key for me losing weight.

Yesterday I had a little bit of a meltdown. My 3 yr old got a hold of some scissors and cut her hair.... and her sisters hair. I almost died. So I tried to make their hair as even as possible... looks a little bit choppy... then I went into their bedroom to clean up. I sat down on one of the beds ... and just to make this clear, they have toddler beds, not full beds.... and it broke! I broke my daughters bed. The wood snapped in two. I died. My husband had come home just in time to see all of this... so I was even more humiliated. I grabbed the car keys and went for a drive.. I cried for miles. I am just so tired of things falling apart. Mostly its just me falling apart. Working two nights a week makes me exhausted all week long. I have let my body get out of shape. I just felt miserable. The cry was good... and so was the cigarette. I drove back home and walked straight to my bed where I slept until this morning. I feel better today.. and the girls hair will grow back. Its time to eat breakfast.. and then take the girls for a bike ride!

Find your focus.... today is going to be a success!

(oh and thanks for all the support... I LOVE you guys)

Focusing on a Smaller Goal

I sat back and really focused on why I try and fail so much... .and what I can do to help myself succeed this time. I think the problem is this:

1. I want immediate results... you know, wake up on day two with 10 lbs gone.

2. I suffer from the, "if they don't see me eat it, it doesn't count" syndrome.

3. I become discouraged and sabotage myself....making me gain the weight back and becoming depressed to the point where I have a hard time getting back up.

4. I work out hard at first, but burn myself out before I get into "the groove"

Ok... so what do I do about it? Well... I have to do a mental make over. As I see it, 99% of the problem is in my head. I need to dig deep.. and get myself going.

I am focusing on losing 20 lbs right now. 75 lbs looks so impossible.. so lets make the target a little closer. I want to be under 200 lbs again.

I am focusing on doing some kind of exercise everyday... whether its a walk around the block or a full blown 5 miles on the treadmill... move my BUTT!!

I am focusing on eating healthy.... I am going to continue with the Satiatrim, as it has helped me understand good portion control... but what I also need to work on is the kind of food I am eating. I will be using the Sugar Solutions book for recipes.

I am focusing on one day at a time.... if I try to plan out the whole week, then I will fail.... I will wake up strong and determined to make that day a success.

I am removing the 10 wk challenge and putting up a 6 wk challenge.... I am changing my goal ticker to 20 lbs... I am going to write every morning...

I feel much better!

Today is going to be a success!!