Weigh In Wednesday

Ahhh, another Wednesday another weigh in. I had the best of intentions last week after maintaining. Well sometimes the best laid plans don't work out. I am up. Sniff, sniff. Two Whole Pounds. I am disappointed in myself, but honestly it wasn't a surprise. Like I said yesterday graduation cake is soooooo good. Over the course of the weekend I ate 3 pieces. In my defense all three of my pieces only equaled one piece for Gary, but he doesn't have to tell anyone when he gains a little here or there.
Although I am sad about the gain, I am already getting over it. I realized that having the sisterhood to turn to and help me keep accountability in my eating is a great way not to let one weeks slip ups because one month and then 6 months and then 20 extra pounds. So I haven't lost consistently yet, but the challenge isn't over and at least I am paying more attention to what I eat and working out much more consistently, and all of that together is giving me more self confidence that I can do this.
Sometimes, ok usually, I see the end result and get frustrated by the steps along the way to get there. But this being more challenging that I thought it would be I am seeing that it is the everyday choices that need to be better to make the end result a reality. I am still hanging in there, this week will not completely throw me off my game. I will get back up, brush myself off and try again.
On the plus side though I have been good about exercise the last 2 weeks. I have progressed to the 2nd section on my step aerobic tape and I have been walking a lot more and mowing the lawn, push mowing. I am feeling good and more powerful. And besides I am on vacation next week, so I have two weeks before I will be back here to share a weigh in. Imagine what I can do in two weeks. Look out scale, your going down!
Check out the rest of the sisters! Way to go everyone!

Ok, confession time. It has been a tough week, and that is an understatement. Well here goes........

1. Graduation open house cake tastes way better than wedding cake, especially when it has blue frosting on it that turns everything it comes in contact with blue. NICE.

2. I am scared of running a 5k. Actually I fear getting to the point where I run 1/2 mile at one time. I am scared because to me that seems huge. I think I am secretly sabotaging myself and letting this fear keep me from training.

3. I cried at work. I am completely frustrated with things at work, but I am afraid to change occupations.

The stress in my life right now is starting to get a little overwhelming, but I am trying to take things one day at a time. One little task at a time. I know that I am just tired right now and getting ready for my vacation next week is a ton of work! WHEW, one breathe at a time right?!?!
Check out the other sisters confessions.

Weigh In Wednesday

I did not want to weigh in this week, I did not want to step on the scale this morning, honestly I did not want to even get out of bed today, but I did. It wasn't nearly as bad as I expected.
I maintained this week. Which is totally awesome because I was thinking I was going to have another gain. I had a pretty tough week. Our niece got married this weekend and with that came lots of food, family, friends, drinks and of course cake. I love wedding cake. I actually did pretty well with it, only eating a half a piece, but they were kinda big pieces. So I don't think it was the food as much as the drinks. I am not much of a drinker usually, but something about my husband's family always puts me in a festive mood and the drinks flow freely. I had a great time and even without a loss it was so worth it.
I don't want to put my life on hold to lose weight, I want to be able to do the things I always do, just maybe make better decisions along the way. Summer is always hard with graduations and weddings and vacations and everything else that comes along, so this challenge is great because it is keeping me more in check.
I have gotten back on track with the work outs. I was trying on dresses to wear to the wedding and nothing fit right, that hit me like a ton of bricks! That was motivation. I had 7 dresses to choose from and nothing to wear. I didn't like the way any of them fit. I picked the best of the worst and went with it, but first I ran down to my basement gym and did 30 minutes of cardio. I have been doing it everyday since. My goal is to get in at least 30 minutes of cardio a day for the next two weeks, then I am on vacation. I want to see what two solid weeks of working really hard will do for my strength and endurance.
Oh and I have a friend that wants to train with me for the 5k I want to run. So even though I didn't lose this week, it was still a good week. I have a lot to work on in the next two weeks and I know that next Wednesday I will be typing a loss.
Check out the other sisters and see how they all did.

Homemade Strawberry Jam

Well last night did not work out exactly as I had planned.........it was better. Gary called to ask me if we had 5 cups of sugar. That made me a little nervous, why in the world does Gary need 5 cups of sugar. As it turns out my wonderful MIL sent home strawberries for me to make Jam with. She would have made it for me, but she likes to let me try my strengths and mess up and then she swoops in and fixes everything and we appreciate her all the more for it. Well I am sure that isn't her plan exactly, she is very conscious about not stepping on my toes when it comes to taking care of my boys. She needn't worry though, I love the help she always gives, she truly is a great lady. Anyway back on track here, she sent me home strawberries to make jam with. She had them hulled and mashed and ready to go. All I had to do was add the pectin and the sugar and can them. So I did, and for the record Gary helped with adding the sugar. So that fact that I totally messed up is partially his fault since technically he added the sugar. Right? right.
So here's the thing, I spent time looking this stuff up, I must have read 10 different sites on how to can strawberry jam and they all said the same thing, so what do I do. I mess up. I add the sugar at the wrong time. In my defense the directions were not exactly clear, well or it could be that I skimmed them rather than thoroughly reading them. Anyway, although it looks pretty and tastes fantastic, it didn't exactly set up all that well. I have decided to call it strawberry syrup and not tell the kids the difference. Pancakes anyone?
Anyway, not to be defeated I am trying again tonight. I have enough strawberries left to make another batch. Keep your fingers crossed that this one sets up. And tonight I will not only read the directions, I will follow them to a T. Wish me luck.
Other than the added canning last night, the rest of the night was just as I had planned. I was even motivated enough to do all my weekend laundry last night, which is probably a good thing since our niece is getting married tomorrow and we will be busy this weekend.

Back on Track

I am already feeling much better since starting to get back on track. I ate better yesterday and I got in a workout. What a difference even just a few minutes of sweating makes. I got home last night and put dinner in the oven and then went outside and started mowing lawn. I took a break to eat dinner when it was ready and then headed back outside to finish mowing. I felt so good when I was done and I knew I wanted to do more exercise that I jumped on my bike and took a quick 2 mile ride. It felt great, and I was still home and showered and looking for something to do at 7:30. I had noticed on the days that I didn't do a work out that I was really bored. I don't really like to watch too much T.V. and I didn't have anything to clean, what else could I do to fill my time. I mine as well get a workout in. It makes the night go faster, it makes me feel good and sooner or later it is going to make me look good. All winning outcomes.
I am still trying to think of something yummy and quick for dinner tonight. I have a full evening on schedule and I have to make sure to get dinner in there somewhere, G is a very picky eater, so finding something easy that he will like is a trick. I am getting tired of the old stand bys and I am sure he is too. Last night we tried mushroom stuffed chicken breasts with disastrous results, it was awful. G ate his, but I could not stomach it. It sounded great, looked good, tasted much like I would expect butt would taste. So I need to redeem myself tonight. Any ideas?
Also I have to clean out K's room tonight, Grandma is visiting on Sunday and she will stay in his room, and we don't want her to trip over some random toy. I have laundry, dinner, workout, and picking up my truck from the shop tonight, all before it gets too late and I run out of steam. That and the Capri's I want to wear tomorrow are dirty so I have to get that done. I can't wait to start my evening! I just wish I could figure out a way to motivate myself to get up earlier so that I could start some of this stuff in the morning.

Weigh-In Wednesday

Another week, another weigh in. And a gain. I gained 1 pound. That was really hard to write. I knew it would happen, I knew that my "I could give a dang less" weekend would show up on the scale today. I am somewhat disappointed, but not at all surprised. It is really just giving me more motivation to work harder this week than I did last week. I am still down 5 pounds which is great, so I am not going to let this little set back throw me off course. I will use this little gain to make next week even better. It just shows me that when I work out and eat right I can do great things, but not paying attention brings on the weight.
I did notice this week that I had absolutely no energy and I was somewhat irritable and I know that it is from eating badly. Skipping just one work out really throws me off. I can see that now, and I know that from here on out I need to find something, no matter how small it may be, to do everyday just to keep on track.
So next week I am going to conquer that scale, I am going to have a loss, or at least try my best to have one!
How did you do this week? Check out the sisters to see how they all did.

Made with My Cool Signs.Net

I completely stole this idea from here. But I loved it. Check it out, very fun.

Also I realize that today is True Confession Tuesday, oh where to start.
Well last week ended on a high note for things in general, but eating right and exercise went right out the window. I spent all weekend pretty much doing whatever I wanted, eating whatever I wanted and not caring in the least.
Tomorrow will be proof of this I am sure. But I don't even care at the moment, I am getting back on the wagon tonight with exercise, tomorrow with better food choices.
I am hoping that the exercise and eating better will improve my overall attitude which has been pretty lackadaisical to say the least. It isn't a bad mood, just no energy.
On the plus side I went to the doctor last week for my yearly blood draw and was told that if my iron was down I had to have a scope done! EWW, but it was fine, yeah me, and it was my B-12 that is down. Thank goodness for vitamins!

TGIF

Thank goodness it is Friday. More so because it means that yesterday is now history than anything else. I finally got a hold of G, and he met me at the repair shop where we unfortunately are known on a first name basis. One because our oldest son works there, but more because this is our third trip there this year. 1 windshield and 2 rear truck windows in a 2 month stretch, all G's! They are so good though and I love taking my vehicles there.
Exhausted by the emotional day I even ordered pizza last night instead of cooking. I had made a conscious decision not to work out and to spend the rest of the day some what wallowing in self pity. Ha! That didn't last at all. Once the truck was taken care of and the pizza eaten I felt soooo much better. I took a 2 mile bike ride with K and then we spent the rest of the night watching Food Network and reading books.
A perfect end to a not so perfect day.

You take the good you take the bad

It seems like whenever I relax and think that life is coming around and that everything will be ok and right in the world it gets all jacked out of shaped again. Like last night, I was peaceful and very content with how things in my life are going. I was happy and less worried and stressed than I usually am. I am pretty high strung and by nature a worry-wart, something I apparently get from my dad. We both can lose sleep at night over things that are completely out of our control, but we worry none the less.
But last night I felt good. I went through my before bed routine, turning off lights, making sure my cell phone was plugged in and checking on K. He was sounds asleep in bed, flat on his back with his little arms crossed over his chest and his hands tucked into his armpits. It was a funny, yet slightly creepy thing to see, so I went in and covered him up and gave him a little kiss and he woke up a little and said, "Mom, you scared the hell out of me." Normally I would correct him and tell him he was too little to say bad words, but that fast he rolled over and fell back to sleep, which was a good things because I was to busy trying not to laugh at the remark to scold him. All was well in my world, I went to my own room and fell asleep.
Then morning rolled around, and disaster came calling. First I woke up late because I had turned the alarm down so as not to wake G when it went off and so of course I didn't hear it either. So I rushed around and headed out to work running about 15 minutes behind, in the scheme of things not a real big deal. I was half way to work when out of no where a dear crossed in front of me in the road and BAM, I hit it. Took out my front grill and passenger side head light. I was fine, oddly calm. I called to place a report and found out you don't even have to do that at the time of the accident for hitting deer, you can do it later if your insurance requires it at all. So that set me feeling somewhat better. I got to work only 30 minutes late and felt pretty good.
But now, hours later, the adrenaline rush is gone and the sinking feeling in my stomach is here full tilt. I feel like crying, and I did, and throwning up and going home and crawling into bed and pulling the covers over my head. My precarious perch on stable has now been sent sent spinning. I haven't been able to get a hold of G yet to tell him of the accident since he worked all night and I don't want to wake him. And I know that in the whole realm of things this is pretty insignificant. I wasn't hurt, there wasn't alot of damage and that's what insurance is for anyway, but the entire thing has sent me reeling. Feeling like I am in a free fall and I don't know when or where I will hit bottom. I have had more stress in my life in the last year than I can handle and this has just sent me over the edge. I am sure it doesn't help that mother nature is paying her little monthly visit, but I am just so overwhelmed. Thank goodness that vacation is only 3 weeks away. It can not come soon enough.

Weigh In Wednesday

Sweet Success! I worked really hard this week and I am happy to report that all that hard work paid off.

I lost 4 pounds!

I know that sounds kinda crazy and a lot for one week and I know that it is not good to lose that much in a week, but I am excited anyway. I was hoping for a big number, I know that when I did WW in the past the first couple of weeks I had large losses and then it leveled off. So this is not unusual at all for me. So I have now lost a total of 6 pounds. My first mini goal. I decided to look at my goals as 5 pounds at a time instead of one big number at the end, it keeps it easier and more manageable to think, hey I only have 5 pounds to lose rather than 40!
So all the working out and counting points has really paid off, and even better I feel good. I feel stronger everyday. Things I was doing last week are just a little easier to do this week, like mowing the lawn. G has his heart set on getting the new riding mower next week and to be honest I am a little sad to be getting one. I kind of enjoy mowing the lawn, it makes me feel like I accomplished something when I am done and I like that it is a little hidden exercise for the day. I have to do it so I don't count it as part of my exercise.
So I am super excited to be starting another week. I am motivated and pleased with the results so far, although I don't expect another week like this one. I have even been giving myself little added daily tasks, like 30 crunches and 15 push-ups a day. This week I am adding 10 crunches and 5 push-ups to that. I am trying to get a little mini daily routine that I can take on vacation with me, so that I have something to stick to to make sure that I don't fall off course.
See how all the other sisters did this week! And keep up the good work everyone!

Another edition of True Confessions, yikes. Well actually I think I did pretty well this last week. I have worked hard and really tried to make good decisions. Except
1. Brownies, I had a huge craving and gave in and made brownies, yummy walnut chocolate brownies. I ate three.....in one day.
2. I did not want to train for my 5k yesterday, I made every excuse in the world. I did it anyways, but I didn't want to, and I walked a little more than the plan I am following calls for.
3. I only did a quick 10 minutes on the elliptical on Sunday, that is also the day of the brownies.

Otherwise I think I did pretty good this week. I drank all my water and got in some really tough work outs. Lets see tomorrow how the brownies affect the bottom line.

Congratulations Connor

My nephew, Connor, graduated today. I am so very proud of him. He has been my little buddy since he was born. I was 14 when he came into this world, I remember my sister was in labor and I was watching her first born, Marcia, while Mom and Dad were at the hospital with her. Connor's Dad wasn't there, at the time he was in the Navy and wasn't able to be there. I remember riding my bike with Marcia in the little bike seat on the back to and from the hospital all morning and finally that afternoon Connor arrived. Connor, Connor fat head we called him, and he was perfect, and still is. He has put us all through moments of terror, like when he swallowed a penny, and when he was diagosed with Diabetes a few years ago. But more than that he has brought us so much joy. He is funny and determined and helpful. He is just an all round good kid, and now he has graduated. He is going off to culinary school in 6 weeks and I will miss him. I am so proud of him though. He has met the challenges of his life and faced them. He is going to go places in this world and as always I will be standing there, telling everyone that will listen that he is my nephew and I am proud of him. Way to go Connor.

Ouie!

Newsflash, I am an idiot. Here are just a few of the dumb things I have done lately.
Well as you may recall I was beyond excited earlier this week for conquering the elliptical, yeah, well I am an idiot, upon closer inspection K had changed the dial on it. So although I did do the 20 minutes that I was so proud of, it was not at the level I had thought it was. I got over that disappointment quickly though when I got back on the elliptical the next day and moved the level back up and still went 20 minutes. It is not back up the the highest level yet, but hey it is still one heck of a work out. And I am proud of myself.
Another dumb thing I did this week was deciding to run a 5k. Okay that really probably isn't dumb at all. I really want to feel like I accomplished something. You can't reach a goal if you don't set one right? So I decided to take the plunge and I am going to sign up for a race. I don't think that I will actually complete the training if I don't have to, and shelling out some money for a registration pretty much means I have to.
So last night I started my training. I actually went outside and ran down the road. Who would have thought I would ever do that during day light hours, where people could see me. It was hard. I am not a runner, I am a walker, but I would like to do this. To accomplish what in my mind is a huge goal. To say hey, I ran a 5k. I know this is small potatoes to some people, but to me it is monumental. So today I am just a little sore, not bad, but I can feel that I used muscles I hadn't used in a long time. As I was running down the road I passed a couple of my neighbors and the little older lady said, "Oh good for you honey, I would be passed out on the side of the road." I smiled and said oh thanks, although I was not completely sure that I wasn't going to pass out on the side of the road. That little bit of encouragement went a long way for my mental well being.
So here I am, facing my demons of workouts and weight loss and running. I feel more empowered to do these things than I ever have. And the more I work towards them the better I feel. The happier I am, the more energy I have. I think everything I am doing to better my physical well being is doing so much more than that for my mental well being.

Moving on....to second grade!! And other points to ponder

Well I am now officially the mother to a second grader. K finished 1st grade with flying colors. I could not be more proud of him. Way to go Kris! He is now celebrating by spending 2 days at Grandma's house. I am not sure who this is more of a treat for him or me! I will actually be home alone for a whole 4 hours tonight, this is unheard of and I can't wait. I am hoping the G is later than expected so that I get even more alone time.
I started WW yesterday. I did it about 8 years ago before I had K and I lost over 50lbs. Back then I had a MIL that took really good care of me. It was pretty much mandatory that we be there every night for dinner and on the weekends, that could be part of the reason she isn't my MIL anymore. Anyway, my SIL and I did WW together and the MIL made us all our meals and since she was literally a chef everything tasted awesome. This time around I have to cook for myself and well, I suck at cooking. Its sad really because I love to cook, I just am super bad at it. You would think that as bad as I am at cooking we would all be rail thin, but alas the only truly skinny one in the family is K, he gets this from the male genes in the family. Tall and thin. Anywho, getting back on track, I started again yesterday and all I can say is thank goodness there was nothing on TV to watch so I went to bed early and therefore was not tempted with late night snacking. Other than that is was a good day. I even mowed more of the lawn and got on the elliptical again.
And on to a somewhat related topic.......a 5k run. Ok so I am not a runner, seriously not a runner. But I am intrigued by the idea of running. I have been thinking alot lately about trying to run a 5k. I have gone as far as getting online and checking websites to help me train for it and I did start training back in February. It only lasted a couple days but in my defense it was cold and dark at night and I don't have a treadmill so I had to go outside, and well I am a huge chicken-shit, and I gave up. Okay I admit it I gave up, but after conquering the elliptical I feel empowered to try again, and yesterday in K's end of year paperwork from school there was a flier for a 5k run in August in my town to help benefit a local teen with muscular dystrophy. I almost think it is fate that I start training again, and I figure if I have a goal in mind and something concrete to work towards I am more likely to succeed. What do you think? Any words of advice?

Weigh In Wednesday

My first ever weigh in Wednesday, I was kinda nervous this morning stepping on the scale. I did not expect to see the little needle move at all, but it did. And even in the right direction.
I lost 2 lbs this week. Yeah!
I have been trying this week, but after a long weekend and cook outs I wasn't too hopeful. But getting on the scale this morning and looking down and seeing a loss I was super excited. Even if hadn't lost I still would have been pretty proud of myself this week.
Last week we got new bikes and I have ridden mine everyday since I got it, expect for Monday when we mowed the lawn and that pretty much kicked our butts for the rest of the day. Last night we mowed the lawn again, but the mower overheated and we had to stop early. I didn't think I had gotten in enough exercise for the day, so I headed down to the basement to use my elliptical. Usually I can only do 5-7 minutes before I feel like my legs are going to turn to rubber and fall off, but last night I did over 20 minutes! I was shocked and excited. I kept checking the tension gauge to make sure K hadn't messed with it. But it was on the highest setting and I was motoring through. I even went for a 2.5 mile bike ride when I was done because although I felt good about the cardio, I felt like I needed some more muscle toning to be done. It felt awesome. It has been such a long time since I have felt that good about a work out. I feel so empowered and ready to face another week. So with week one under my belt I am starting on week 2, and I am starting WW as well. I have stopped looking at the final goal and am focusing on the little goals along the way. The first one is 5 pounds and I am almost half way there. I know with the starting of WW and the exercise I will be there soon.
How was your week? Check out the sisters to see how they all did.

This is my first time confessing so bear with me.......

1. I ate mashed potatoes with cheese twice for dinner this weekend. Nothing else just potatoes and cheese. My gosh that can't be good.

2. I didn't ride my bike at all yesterday, but I did mow 2 acres of grass.

3. I got really really crabby both Saturday and Sunday nights when I got tired and should have gone to bed.

4. I lied to my husband Sunday night and told him I was just going to the bathroom and then snuck out to the couch to sleep, cause he was snoring so loudly. He found me.

I guess that is all I did rotten that I need to confess, oh wait one more.

5. I ate 3 pieces of cherry coffee cake on Sunday, and it was awesome.

Weekend Recap

I hope everyone had a great weekend, although mine started off a little shaky I am going to look at it in the best light and say it ended well at least. It started Saturday morning with G and me trying to get the lawn mowed. Well, we spend two hours just trying to get the riding mower started. It is 10 years old and we work it hard, and it never has been a great one to start, but Saturday it was awful. After 2 hours, countless tries and finally rebuilding the starter we got her to fire. G got on and rode all of about 5 feet when she blew. A big plumb of white smoke issued from under the hood and that is all she wrote. CRAP, so we spent that afternoon comparison shopping for a new mower and budgeting to be able to buy one. But G did take me out to lunch and the worst restaurant I think we have ever eaten at, but on the bright side we spent a lot of time together and we had something to laugh about later.
Sunday we spent with friends and family. We took a bike ride on the Rails to Trails, which if you don't have one is very cool, it is where old railroad tracks have been converted to bike trails. Then we went to a cook out and the Nascar race. G won 70bucks on the race which was nice since he probably spent at least 30 on his beer for the day. My Dad also reminded us that I have a push mower at my sisters that we could pick up to help with our mower issue. So we left the party, stopped by my sisters to get the lawn mower and then stopped to get some dinner.
Monday morning we got up and gave the lawn mower a tune up and proceeded to mow our 2 acres of lawn. PUSH MOWING 2 ACRES! We did it in under 2 hours and we were both hot, sweaty and tired when we were done. But we also were both kinda bursting with pride at a job well done. We had worked really well together and we were really pleased with how it looked.
So although the weekend started out with an explosion it ended with a nicely mowed lawn. And on the bright side it gave us some exercise and time in the sun, and it proved how far you can get with a little teamwork. I am actually looking forward to mowing the lawn again. And as a bonus this lawn mower didn't cost us a thing.