10 Pound Bites

My current weight loss journey has not been what I expected.  Instead of an easy-breezy sprint (such as losing 40 pounds in three months in 2007), I've been slapped with the reality of a marathon.  This time it's been only a quarter of that in a four-month time frame.  Oy vey!

That is probably for many reasons - the largest one(s) being that I am now two kids later and I know those crazy things called a metabolism, hormones, and over thirty are starting to slow down or kick in.  However, I am trying to focus on what this is for me - not a diet, but a journey to a more healthy lifestyle.  I haven't really been "trying" to lose weight for the last few weeks - work and my son's medical issues have been at the top of my priority list for the past five-to-six weeks, thus things like calorie counting and daily meal planning have been pushed aside for the reality of doctor's appointments and sleep.  I am so pleased though, that in this time, I have stayed right at 230 (ten pounds down from my starting weight of 240 in July).  Sure, I've fluxed a pound over or under, but I've been pretty consistent at 230.  This is new to me, and gives me hope that this weight I'm losing will stay off.  In the past sure I've done some yo-yo dieting - a quick fad here or there and I'm 5-10 pounds lighter, but then have gained it back, plus a couple more.  This initial "maintaining period" gives me hope!

So in light of my first ten pounds down (and then kept off for a month or so), here is a comparison shot for you (please pardon the horrible lighting in the 2nd picture, as well as my looking down and end-of-the-day hair):

Since July, I've gone from a 20W size jeans (yes, I have saved them) to a misses 18, lost inches (not sure how many), dropped my BMI 1.5 points, and am now four notches in on my regular belt instead of two.  I'm also doing jogging/walking intervals for 20 or so minutes four-to-five times a week, and have started added in some yoga and/or Pilates a couple of mornings a week.

What's next, you ask?

Right now, I'm aiming to lose ten pounds by New Years.  Seven weeks to do it.  I think I can, especially now that I am starting to exercise more regularly, Ethan's at a stand-still medically for the next few months, and bidding season at work is winding down.  If I don't make it though... that's okay.  I'm just taking it one day and one pound at a time right now.

Where did October go?

My goodness, October is gone.  Gone!  Last time I posted was on October 9th... almost a month ago!    The last month of the third quarter is by far my busiest month of the year business wise, so basically late hours, eating out waaay more than normal, and no exercise.  On a good note, I'm happy to say I've pretty much maintained where I was when I posted, which for me is excellent, considering a huge stress load, birthday cake, Halloween candy, a bladder infection, a yeast infection (caused by the antibiotics to treat the prior infection), and the hours with the pediatric hematologist with Ethan working on a diagnosis of a blood disorder have happened since then.  In a nut shell, I've pretty much been a train wreck.  Thankfully, I'm nearly done with the biggest proposals, and this week should be my last "hard-and-heavy" week in the office, with one last meeting on the 13th to try to broker at $750,000 annual contract (praying hard for that one; my commission on that would be sweet come January!), and another visit to the blood doctor on Thursday, where we hope to be getting closer to a diagnosis.  So in light of the fact that I need to do be off to bed, I promise to post again next weekend.

Adieu!  :o)

A Tuesday "Monday Motions" Post! :o)

Perhaps I should just title this my weekly weigh-in, as I rarely ever update on a Monday!  Alas, that is how life is right now.  On the plus side, I'm down another 1.6 pounds.  Yay!  Limiting my sugar/simple carbs (and moderating the whole grains) seems to be helping.  However, I'm trying not to be legalistic about it.  For instance, today was MOPS, and I enjoy tasting the various breakfast casseroles and a slice of coffee cake, and this afternoon, enjoyed a complimentary Krispy Kreme coffee and doughnut (thanks to a free-for-me birthday coupon!).  Tomorrow I'll go back to low-sugar again, but being a perfectionist ("If I don't do it exactly right, I won't do it at all!") got me here in the first place.

I'm also exercising more; this past week was more just walking, but tonight I added one minute jogging intervals.  It felt wonderful!  Though there is a part of me that wants to punish myself for stopping jogging after the 5K last December (I could actually run three miles - argh!  Can't even do a mile right now), I can't change the past, and have to move forward, one day at a time.  For right now, I've decided not to set a 5K goal, though I had hoped to run one more while 30.  I have a tendency to set a goal, do it, then be sick of it, and I don't want do that again.  I enjoy jogging, and simply want to do just that for a season, and in the meantime, develop new and healthy exercise habits.

The Monday Motions:

Starting Weight:  240

Last Week's Weight:  229.8

 This Week's Weight:  228.2

Weekly Loss:  -1.6 lbs

 Total Pounds Lost:  -11.8 pounds

Weekly Average:  -0.84 pounds

Starting BMI:  36.5

Current BMI:  34.7

I CAN Post on a Monday!

See?  It's a post!  I actually can get my blogging in on the day I'm supposed to be blogging.  And good news - I have FINALLY passed the the ten pound gone mark.  Yes!!!  Only took thirteen weeks of the scale crawling along, but I am out of the 230's, and Lord willing, will never inch near them again.  Plus, it's 1/8 of the way to my final weight goal.  Now onto the next ten!

The Monday Motions:

Starting Weight:  240

Last Week's Weight:  231.6

 This Week's Weight:  229.8

Weekly Loss:  -1.8 lbs

 Total Pounds Lost:  -10.2 pounds

Weekly Average:  -0.78 pounds

Starting BMI:  36.5

Current BMI:  34.9

 

PS:  I'm down a full size in my jeans, as well as another notch on my belt, and back in a misses size 18.  Yes, I was actually wearing a 20W - at the age of 30.  *shudder*  I'm saving them, however, for the after pictures, and to always remind myself where I don't want to be again.

So after a couple weeks of my weight fluxing around (coming off of Weight Watchers, Aunt Flo, massive proposals due at work, getting sick, etc), I seem to have my regular 1.2 pound weight loss again.  Yay!  Hoping to hit the ten pound mark next week.  It's slow, and I'm trying not to be frustrated, yet I want this weight loss to be lasting, so the slow maybe good for me.  But I am down a full size in my jeans, which is very nice, and had to buy a new pair, as none of my others would hardly stay up.

Starting at the beginning of the weekend, I did start implementing some diet changes.  Basically, I knew I really needed to cut back on the sugar and simple carbs.  So far so good!  Had a few yucky wicked sugar cravings at first, but now those are mostly gone, and I've had an increase in energy, which is good!  I'm also working on cutting back on my caffeine intake, and have gone back to buying K-Cups again.  I know, I know, it sounds silly, but I drink a ton more coffee when there is a half-a-pot then the "The costs me $0.65 for each K-Cup so I'm going to get a glass of water instead".  I'm excited to see if there is any result on the scale on Monday that reflects these changes.

The Monday Motions (as of 9/24):

Last Week's Weight:  232.8

 This Week's Weight:  231.6

Weekly Loss:  -1.2 lbs

 Total Pounds Lost:  -8.4 pounds

Weekly Average:  -0.7 pounds

Starting BMI:  36.5

Current BMI:  35.2

Monday Motions Update - on Friday!

Sorry I didn't post earlier this week; September and October are busy, busy months for me!  I was not able to exercise like I wanted to, or had planned to, but was still pleased to find that I had lost 1.2 pounds.  Yay!  Slowly but surely, I am inching towards that ten pound loss mark.  I just wasn't expecting to have to fight very ever inch of it!

We are going through some financial distress right now.  Jonathan gave his notice at LifeWay to spend more time working from home on both his ministry (Jonathan David Ministries, which we are exploring the world of non-profits later this winter), as well as our nanny agency.  It's a big jump though not to have two regular paychecks coming in, and I am struggling with trusting God in the transition.  In light of some tight times ahead, I am not able to keep doing Weight Watchers, and my membership expires tomorrow.  I'm a bit worried about not having that, but have already updated my account on www.fitday.com so I can continuing tracking my food and exercise.  I've also not been handling the stress at all and chocolate-binged last night very well.  Also, I've not been diligent with my spiritual walk this week either... and yes, there is always a huge connection!  So it's a work in progress, as always.  I continue to remind myself that this is a marathon, not a sprint.

The Monday Motions (as of 9/10):

Last Week's Weight:  234

 This Week's Weight:  232.8

Weekly Loss:  -1.2 lbs

 Total Pounds Lost:  -7.2 pounds

Weekly Average:  -0.72 pounds

Starting BMI:  36.5

Current BMI:  35.4

Happy Labor Day!  Or in my case, Happy Healed Toe Day!  Or Happy Return to Exercise Day!  Yesterday was the kicker test on my toe - if I could wear a shoe other than a sandal without any pain or change to my gait and yep, not a single issue. 

So even though I've been frustrated with slow weight loss, I'm still pleased that I have been losing a bit each week, even with almost a month of no exercising, and not just stalled, or worse, gaining weight.  I'm hoping next week to see a bigger loss and would like my average to be a bit more than three-quarters of a pound a week (which is still 40 pounds a year).  And I can tell a difference in my clothes... my only good pair of jeans for work is barely staying up, even with a belt, and very baggy.  Hoping to hit Goodwill (or something similar) this weekend to buy a new-to-me pair in my size, and I am actually looking forward to trying on a pair in smaller size.  But I'll update you on that more next week!  :)

The Monday Motions:

Last Week's Weight:  234.5

 This Week's Weight:  234

Weekly Loss:  -0.5 lbs

 Total Pounds Lost:  -6 pounds

Weekly Average:  -0.75 pounds

Starting BMI:  36.5

Current BMI:  35.6

A Rebound Is Coming!

So after over three weeks of a yucky ingrown toenail, I officially declare it on the mend!  I'm going to give it another couple of days, but hopefully exercising will commence again next week.

Yay!  So ready to be over this setback!  :)

A Belated Monday Motions Post... Whoops!

Considering I'm working on the renewals for our two largest clients (and I really would like to keep my job past the first of October, which is when they renew), please excuse this late and short posting!  It's been a long week at the office, and it is only Tuesday!

So a quick update then; I was actually surprised to see I lost anything!  First, I have a nasty ingrown toenail, which makes exercise nonexistent painful.  Second, the 2nd week of the month is unofficially "networking week", which means at least two dinners and a lunch out.  It's really the only time I eat out, and no, I don't get a food choice at these, though I did make sure I ate my salad and half-sized portions of the main meal.  Third, I had our annual MOPS leadership retreat on Friday and Saturday.  Bring on the pizza (though I stuck to two pieces, one being a spinach artichoke that was really yummy, and grazed the veggie trays), brownies, chocolate, and soda.  I did stay away from the Krispy Kreme donuts Saturday morning, and instead hit the fruit and hot savory casseroles, and simply focused on small portions and moderation of the soda and sweets.  Finally, to top it all off, Aunt Flo is visiting.  Oh joy!

Needless to say, I was happy with a half-pound lost; I was trying to simply not gain anything!  And in losing these five and a half pounds, I've lost what I have gained over the spring and am back to where I was five months ago.  So here is where things stand now:

The Monday Motions:

Last Week's Weight:  235

 This Week's Weight:  234.5

Weekly Loss:  -0.5 lbs

 Total Pounds Lost:  -5.5 pounds

Starting BMI:  36.5

Current BMI:  35.7

 

Week 6 - 234.5 pounds (and yes, our bed is made for once!)

The Monday Motions - Start of Week 5

Yay!  I finally hit the five pound loss goal; it only took five weeks.  Even though I am frustrated that the weight loss is slow, averaging a pound a week is healthy.  I have to keep reminding myself that the weight didn't come on overnight, it will it come off that fast.  Plus, a pound a week is fifty pounds a year, so by those numbers, I will be happy with it.  I just wish it wasn't such a pound-by-pound battle!

I am noticing a few changes in general, besides the fact that I think I can go one size lower in my jeans size.  For instance, it is "customary" for me to pick up a fun dessert on days that I grocery shop.  I got the usual slice of cake for the kids to split, but instead of picking up a whole small cheesecake sampler for Jonathan and I to split, I simply got the container with two small slices:  new york cheesecake for him, triple chocolate for me.  It tasted heavenly, but holy cow, I would have been sick if we had gotten our usual sampler (3 slices for each of us).  Also, I'm trying to teach myself to leave a bite or two on my plate at the end of the meal.  Growing up in a "clean your plate" family, I still struggle with it, even it means eating past full!  My weight battle has definitely changed my food approach with my kids:  my question is a) did they eat equal bites to age of their vegetables (rarely an issue; Emily will ask for seconds on salad and asparagus) and b) did they get enough to eat?  Even now, Emily has more self-control with food as a four year-old than I do as a thirty year-old.  You can give her a pack of cookies, tell her she can have five, and she will eat five, put the rest away, and totally put it out her mind.  I pray daily that the weight/food battle is not one she is going to have to go through!

Though I didn't get much exercise this past week (battling an ingrown toenail makes exercising a bit painful), I am enjoying being more active in general.  Taking the kids on walks or a bike ride or playing outside with them after dinner or on Saturday morning is becoming standard.  Now to just get Jonathan on board with us...  one thing at a time, I suppose!

The Monday Motions:

Last Week's Weight:  236.2
This Week's Weight:  235

Weekly Loss:  -1.2 lbs

 Total Pounds Lost:  -5 pounds

Starting BMI:  36.5

Current BMI:  35.7

Super Fast Monday Motions

Really quick update for those few people who follow this blog (and no picture this week - sorry), but watching my eating more closely and upping my exercise payed off!  In the first month of Weight Watchers, I'm averaging a loss of a pound a week.  It's slower than I expected, to tell you the truth, but a pound a week over the next year is over fifty pounds and that I CAN live with!  :-)

The Monday Motions:

Last Week's Weight:  237.6
This Week's Weight:  236.2

Weekly Loss:  -1.4 lbs

 Total Pounds Lost:  -3.8 pounds

Starting BMI:  36.5

Current BMI:  35.9

Today was an odd day; in general, I just felt "blah".  Not sure why.  Maybe it was the overcast, but very hot and muggy weather, or that it was a Monday, or perhaps it was simply one of those days.  My body seemed to be having one of those days, too.  I had a gain this week of almost a pound (0.8 lbs, to be exact), yet I lost an inch around my waist, as well as some in other areas.

However, the weight gain was not a surprise for me as I struggled with the same old habits I've battled for some time.  Overall, I was disciplined with my eating until Friday hit.  I had a stressful day; lived on coffee until two o'clock, where I think ate a Pepperoni Lean Pocket.  Then Jonathan wanted to go out for dinner with one of his former interns.  Mexican.  So two burritos later (covered in sauce, cheese, and a large serving of refried beans on the side, as well as chips and salsa), the guys went to the store to pick up a movie to watch.  The came home with not only two movies, but an entire six-pack of Hershey bars.  I think I ate four candy bars over the weekend.  I can't blame them, as they were not the ones who shoved the chocolate down my throat, but having it in the house is not something I can handle well at this point.  Or sweets in general right now; I simply struggle with self-control in that area.  Or salami.  Not together of course, but I could literally eat my weight in either.

Anyway, I am working on being more disciplined this week with my eating.  One big area is late night snacking.  It's out of boredom or stress, not hunger.  I also need to start doing some exercise every day, even if it is only for 15 - 20 minutes.  Skipping days between walks/runs make it easy to miss one and tell myself that I will "make it up" another day.  So this week I will be disciplined by 1) eliminating late night snacking and 2) being active every day for at least 15 - 20 minutes.

Here's to a new week!

The Monday Motions:

Last Week's Weight:  236.8
This Week's Weight:  237.6

Weekly Loss:  + 0.8

 Total Pounds Lost:  -2.4

Starting BMI:  36.5

Current BMI:  36.1

 

Beginning Week 4 of WW:  237.6 pounds

 

Changes

Over the past three weeks we have made some changes to the Rogers' household; truth be told, Jonathan and I just started our third week of Weight Watchers.  It has been an interested journey of sorts, but was prompted by a couple different factors.  Even though I have been watching my eating on my own for the last three and four months, I was still struggling with overeating, eating at night, and pure ol' laziness.  In return, the scale was creeping up again.  In fact, it had creeped back up to 240, which is what I weighed the day I delivered Ethan... before labor.  I finally hit the point where I needed help, accountability, and support.  After talking with Jonathan, we both signed up for Weight Watchers the next day.  He does the men's version online; I have the monthly pass, so I can use all the online gadgets, but still go to as meetings as I want in a month.

So what's the rundown?  I actually like it; it is more like a slow lifestyle change:  We are both focusing more on portion control, better choices in food selection, and being pro-active in planning our menu.  Yet I can tailor my food preferences and he can tailor his.  I do much better health-wise on a low-sugar diet (I have struggled with candidiasis ever since Ethan was born), and am happy to eat leftovers from supper at the office for lunch, yet Jonathan can eat his lunch sandwiches and "snacky" foods in moderation.  We are also seeing a slow increase in energy and activity, which is a blessing (in fact, Jonathan is riding his bike while I type this, and it has been a long time!).  In addition, I'm seeing slow and steady results on the scale; in fact, it's been 1.6 pounds each week and I now weight what I did in April.  Progress!

As for goals, I hope to have lost at least 10% of my body weight by my 31st birthday, and I've started training for the Fall Out for Autism 5K, which is three days before my birthday.  I did my first walk/jog combo on Saturday (I've been walking the last couple of weeks) and I didn't totally die, and I actually had a decent minutes per hour time; I was surprised by that.  I'm wanting to bring Pilates back into the game soon, and I already have been biking a couple times a week, yet I'm trying not to over-obsess with exercise, or I get into an all-or-nothing mentality, which is what leads to running a 5K in December, then not running again for um.... three months?  Four?  Yeah... I don't know anyone who would do that!  *rolling eyes*

The Monday Motions:

Last Week's Weight:  238.4
This Week's Weight:  236.8

Weekly Loss:  -1.6

 Total Pounds Lost:  -3.2

Starting BMI:  36.5

Current BMI:  36

Beginning Week #3 of Weight Watchers:  236.8 lbs

 

Zucchini Pizza Bites

In light of our normal Saturday night pizza while Jonathan works 2nd shift, I decided to go for a healthier option.  A friend of mine had sent me a link to Skinnytaste's Zucchini Pizza Bites (a healthier option than store-bought Bagel Bites), so I decided to experiment with them for dinner tonight.  So I took two zucchini, 1/2 bag pepperoni, four ounces tomato sauce (seasoned with Italian seasonings), two teaspoons olive oil, 1/2 cup mozzarella cheese, my stoneware pizza pan and viola! a yummy pizza alternative.  Ethan wasn't sure about the zucchini (but liked everything else), and Emily had seconds.  It turned out to be an easy, and pretty yummy, dinner on a summer Saturday night.

Slice zucchini into forths (or for "bites", 1/4" round slices), brush both sides with olive oil, then broil both sides on high for two minutes each.

Topping Time!

 

Broil on low until cheese is brown and bubbly

Have your helper make a fruit salad and there is your easy, healthy, dinner

Sunday Motions Report

Good morning!  It's a beautiful (but HOT!) Sunday in the Savannah area.  It is also my first Sunday weight-in day.  I had hoped to lose two pounds, but am happy with the 1.6 pound loss.  However, I did learn some things this week:

1.  My office is NOT conducive to losing weight!!!  Almost every day someone is bring in cake, cookies, donuts, candy, etc, that they don't want to have at home so they won't eat it.  Argh!  Thankfully, my job is not a sit-at-my-desk-all-day job and I spend part of my day in the field.

2.  I need to get an exercise plan in place.  I only exercised once last week, and that was last Sunday.  I really would like to get back to what I once did (when I weighed 65 pounds less than I do now:  before mono (twice), and marriage, and moving, and two pregnancies, and one miscarriage, and all-in-all, a completely different life!).  Even when I lost forty pounds to help get preggers with Emily, I made sure I exercised in the morning, and tried to in the evening as well.  But if I didn't get the evening session in, I knew I had exercised that day.  And I can't use the heat as an excuse.  I have exercise DVD's, Netflix (yes, Netflix has work-out videos), and I can always use Jonathan's bike in the office.  It is just laziness on my part.  Going to try to remedy that this week and with that, will hopefully see the weight loss I'd like to achieve!  Maybe even try to post daily what I did/didn't do for a bit of extra accountability.

3.  I battle late night snacking/cravings, so to help conquer this (and help with getting up in the morning for exercise), I'm going to try to go to bed between 10-10:30 without my smart phone, and see if that makes a difference.

Sunday Motions (Week #2):

Last Week's Weight: 240
This Week's Weight: 238.4

Weekly Loss: -1.6

 Total Pounds Lost: -1.6

238.4 pounds

My First Sunday Motions

Okay, so no excuse for the two months of not posting.  For right now, I'm going to blame it on the fact that I work for a landscaping firm and we are right smack dab in the middle of the growing season.  That and I've been struggling to balance everything on my plate:  marriage, two kids, a full time job, bill-paying... it has added up and I've wanted nothing to do but pull the covers over my head - literally!

However, I have to take responsibility for myself.  The other day I was reading this article titled "4 Ways to Pour Yourself in Your Pursuits".  One section really thrummed my heart-strings:

“And Jesus grew in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and man” (Luke 2:52).

Interestingly this sentence is just about all that is said about Jesus in the years leading up to his public ministry. 

Still, it says quite a lot. In preparing to live out his purpose, Jesus grew in four key areas:

• Wisdom: mentally and emotionally
• Stature: physically
• Favor with God: spiritually
• Favor with man: relationally

With this model in mind, invest accordingly.

So this is my challenge to myself - to pursue Godly living based on growing in all of the above areas:  mentally, emotionally, physically, spiritually, and relationally.  My journey towards health impacts all of these areas.  How?  Well, exercise improves my mental and emotional state tremendously (for those who struggle with stress and depression, it is a God-given relief!), physically, spiritually (if you don't think exercise touches your spiritual life, you need to reevaluate disciple.  And it helps me overcome the sins of laziness and gluttony), and relationally.  When I am not stressed-out and depressed, I can be a better wife, mother, and friend.


So anyway, I'm being more proactive in this journey.  Personal goals include getting down to 200 pounds while I'm still thirty (my next birthday is almost four months away), running another 5K by then as well, and as of today, I'm changing my eating plan.  I have tried just about anything and everything and the only way I ever lost weight and kept it off (until I got pregnant with Emily, that is, and abused the eating for two brutally) was by using the principles of the Atkins Revolution and The South Beach Diet.  It works for my body, and I'm tired of trying other things that I just know don't.  So bring on healthier eating!  Also, I'm going to try to do these posts and weigh-ins on Sundays, instead of Mondays, to start the week on right note.

Sunday Motions (Week #1):

Starting Weight: 240

Once Again, It is a Tuesday Monday Motions Post!

I was a bit bummed when I got on the scale yesterday morning; a weight gain of 0.2 pounds.  Not so much disappointed at the numbers, but in myself.  It has been such a struggle to battle getting back on an exercise routine!  I can do pretty good on eating healthy, but know I will never see permanent, long-term weight loss without regular, everyday, good-old-fashioned exercise.

In light of that, I did go out for a jog last night for the first time in two months.  Basically, I'm restarting the Couch to 5K program that I did this past fall that got in my shape to run the Hilton Head Jingle Jingle 5K exactly four months ago.  So basically, four evenings a week of jogging, then on off nights walks will be added (hopefully next week), and I want to start doing a Pilates workout in the mornings once my body starts adjusting to the increased exercise (i.e. I get shin splints very easily, and hope to avoid them at all costs!).  They say it takes 21 days to make a new habit, so over the next three weeks, my goal is to get my exercise habit in full-swing again!

Part of me is gnawing at the bit and wants to go out and jog tonight.  However, I know me.  I can get too obsessive and push too hard, and that is when I deal with injuries and quit exercising all together.  So I'm listening to the ache in my knee and the slight strain in my shins from last night's jog, and outside of going for a walk in the neighborhood after supper with the kids and doing some stretching later, am not going out tonight.  Tomorrow, however, will be a jogging night after church; woohoo!

The Monday Motions:

Last Week's Weight: 237
This Week's Weight: 237.2

Weekly Loss: + .2

 Total Pounds Lost:+ 0.6

Week #4

The Monday Motions (On Tuesday)

So as you will soon see by the following numbers, not such a hot week.  A respiratory infection (read NO EXERCISE) and a trip out of town for the Easter holiday combined to be a destructive combination.  Ugh.  The dreaded weight gain.  Normally, I would have just skipped posting this week and worked my butt off to make it up and never would admit that I had a poor week, but this is about being honest.  I wasn't disciplined and I gained weight this past week.  So here is where things stand:

The Monday Motions:

Last Week's Weight: 234.6
This Week's Weight: 237

Weekly Loss: + 2.4

 Total Pounds Lost:+ 0.4

Week #3

Yet I am still blessed and not discouraged.  It is a new day and a new week and I serve a God who is so much bigger than the scale.  May I learn how to continue to nourish my soul in Him and not try to substitute it with filling my mouth.

Monday's Workout

So maybe I'm not this happy when I'm sweating up a storm doing yard work, nor am I barefoot or wearing a skirt, but I do enjoy the hour or so it takes to do tend our 1/2 acre of yard.  Something about yard work is a bit... I don't know... therapeutic for lack of a better word.  It's very easy to see what you've done and some days, I just need the simplicity of a physically laboring job done well.  Plus, Emily loves to help!  She assisted with the planting of my herb seeds, as well as a few annual flowers, for us to eventually put out.  I know, I know, it's a bit late in the season, but we've been pretty busy!  However, I think this does count as my workout for today, and shall put it on my weekly do-to list.  I think that will make me, and the hubby, very happy indeed!

The Monday Motions:

Last Week's Weight: 235
This Week's Weight: 234.6

Weekly Loss:  -0.4

 Total Pounds Lost: -1.8

Week #2

My doctor started me on an antibiotic today, so hopefully exercise without a major coughing/breathing fit will help!  I am learning that I have to exercise!

Saturday Update

This week has been so-so; not spectacular, but not a full blown crash-and-burn, either.  Deadlines at work, Aunt Flo's visit, and everyone battling respiratory infections has made the exercising non-existent difficult .  As much as I hate it, I think I'm going to have to go back to doing mornings again, and then evenings if I have time.  That way, I know I am getting at least one workout a day!  And I have no excuse doing an exercise video; Emily is usually up anyway, and even though I have several DVDs myself, there is a whole line of my favorite ones on Netflix.

One thing I am please about though is that I have eaten breakfast every day this week, had veggies with my lunches (thank goodness for Green Giant's Just for One options and that they've been on sale at Kroger!) and have started drinking Calli tea again.  I've been doing one cup of coffee in the AM with my Bible study, then brewing my small teapot full of tea and take it with me in a to-go mug to work.  Has really cut down on my coffee there, as well, and upped my energy level.  One cup of coffee around 3, and sometimes a cup of decaf while I make dinner, but I'm trying to do more herbal tea in the evening.  It's more psychological than anything else for me to drink coffee - not sure why...  The Calli tea has also seemed to help me not get nearly as bad as Emily and Jonathan with this respiratory infection, too; that and I started back on grapefruit seed extract again.  Started putting it in Ethan's juice, too, over the weekend; maybe it will help boost his immune system a bit.

I'm getting to the point where I know I have no excuses; I have all the knowledge in the world to help with my weight loss - I just have to do it.  I feel like I'm back at the point where I was my senior year of high school; I had a habit I had struggled with for years that I needed to break and I just hit the day where I said "I'm done with it".  Twelve years later I haven't looked back at it.  I feel like I'm at that point again.  You know, the crossroads.  You have to go one way or another and neutral is going backwards.  Just gaining the momentum to make the big push, I suppose... like the Fred Flintstone car!

No more excuses; time to claim the responsibility to get myself healthy again.

Up & Down

So yesterday wasn't the best day I'd ever had eating wise; it started off well, but ended up attacking the cheese crackers in the afternoon and finished off a huge slice of cake with the kiddos and justified it as snack time.  You would think I wouldn't want to pass these habits onto my children, that this fact in and of itself would be a motivator... instead I brought them in on it.  Dear Jesus, forgive me... help me not to use them as an excuse to eat when and whatever I want.

As for exercise though, I didn't need to go out for a jog or walk; I spent almost three hours walking all over a 40 acre property doing measurements for a landscaping bid that aggravated my shin splints because I was in my generic Walmart brand sneakers.  Also aggregated my allergies.  Bad.  Haven't sneezed so much in ages!

Not the most uplifting post... but that's the way it was.  However, today is a brand new day!  Bring it on!

Renewing Firsts

So tonight I went out and took my first walk in probably two months... as I knew it would, it felt great, and I truly enjoyed our cool Savannah evening.  It brought back memories, though.  So many evenings I worked my emotions out on the asphalt of our subdivision:  elated joy, suppressed fury, piercing hurt... how many evenings did I wrestle with our circumstances with God while disciplining my body?  I couldn't count.  Truthfully, I am disappointed in myself.  I spent all last fall training to run a 5K, and I haven't hardly run at all since the race this December.  I remembered the elation the first time I ran a consecutive mile for the first time in my life just months ago, and am a bit pissed at myself that I probably couldn't do it now.

*sigh*

What is done is done.  I can't play the "what ifs" or "if only" games... I can only strive for the future ahead of me.  I am blessed.  I am a redeemed beloved daughter of a holy and majestic God, treasured wife, adored mother, and hopefully what most would consider a good and loyal friend.  I am beautiful and cherished, no matter what my body shape is at the moment.  Life is a gift, and I don't intend to take it for granted.

However, I see areas of my life that pull me away from that.  An unhealthy relationship with food.  Laziness.  Complacency.  I don't want to settle for that - I don't want a mediocre life.  I want vibrancy and joy, even in the hard times.  Thus I want to try to start taking steps in the right direction.  I have noticed that when I am giving over the areas of food and exercise and weight to God, it improves every area in the my life.  But I need the accountability and sometimes blunt honesty of a venue like this.  I just ask you not to judge me, but simple walk (or jog or crawl!) beside me.

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The Monday Motions:

Starting Weight: 236.4
This Week's Weight: 235

Weekly Loss:  -1.4
Total Pounds Lost: -1.4

Week #1

 Not a great picture, I know (and yes, our bed didn't get made this morning and that is Ethan playing with the dog crate at my feet), but it's the honest picture of me.

No, I'm Not a Serial Blogger...

...it's just the fifth blog I'm made.  Surely, once I get to seven, I will be a serial blogger.

Seriously.

Okay, okay, I'm stop with the punniness.  And no, this is NOT a blog feature stripping, so if you were confused by my title, don't be.  It's about the ugly battle I have fought for ages.

My weight.

I've been overweight since middle school.  Having very wide hips given to me genetically just exasperates the fact that very closely resemble an obese pear.  Two kids later and ugh... I'm stuck.

Literally.  I've been fluxing five-ten pounds above and below 230 since Emily was three months old.  Note, I gained just shy of 50 pounds when I was pregnant with her, lost the first twenty easy as pie, and then... nothing.  Up and down, up and down.  Ethan's baby weight came right off (after all, ten of the fifteen was all baby!), but my body seems to have adjusted to 230 and wants to stay there.

If you've followed my journey, I have stopped and started weight loss a gazillion times since then.  But I will be truthful - I hate counting.  Points.  Calories.  Carbs.  Grams.  I don't want to focus on food.  I'm waaay to obsessive in my personality.  I don't need to train for a marathon, though I'm so disappointed in myself that I ran my first 5K in December, but once done, I've only been out of a jog maybe half a dozen times.  I just freaking want to eat controlled portions three times a day with maybe a snack, an occasional dessert, drink my water, and exercise regularly.

So this blog is to help reinforce this journey, to hold me accountable.  I want to post at least weekly, maybe more, maybe less.  I'm also a working mom with two kids, so we'll see.

Wish me luck!