Friday, September 28, 2007

Nighty night!

I'm too pooped to party! I worked out at the Y for about 45 minutes.....did the circuit training and walked/ran two+ miles. I came home and finished making my de-fatted homemade chicken soup with whole wheat blend noodles. My sink is empty, dishwasher ready to run, pots and pans washed and put away and laundry done.

Now I will plop into bed. Jim was so exhausted that he went at around 8:00.....it's been that kind of a week at work. I had to stay up to give the kitten her meds at 11:00 and make sure the kitchen was up to snuff.

Soccer with Carrie tomorrow morning. My parents are coming to watch, as will one or two of her brothers. And since I've been getting my house somewhat under control(still a long ways to go, though), maybe I'll have my parents over for lunch afterwards.

Jim and I are going to the last antique fair of the season this weekend, but just for a day. Should be fun!

G'night!

Partial Success

I kept the sink clean of debris. I folded and put away the laundry warm from the dryer. I kept within my points. However, I did NOT exercise. I think the biggest reason is that I have to have a better "plan B" when my schedule for the day changes. Yesterday was supposed to be my day sans kids, but my friend wanted to switch that afternoon to today. I still got a lot done but couldn't make it to the Y or out for a walk that would be brisk enough to be exercise with the girls tagging along. My friend had to head out for a few hours so her daughter wasn't picked up until 6ish. While they had been playing together, I was scrubbing bathrooms, doing laundry, etc. After she left, it was time to get dinner going, take a shower (I was grubby from doing scrubbing stuff and cleaning out garbage cans and such), and have dinner waiting for my dear husband, who has been getting home rather late due to some projects he's trying to 'hit out of the ballpark' during his first hundred days at his new position. Once he's home and we have dinner together, I don't want to leave and go to the Y when it's our only real time together.

I talked to my other friend yesterday about walking in the morning after dh leaves and before school. Son#3 is home then to watch #5 and then I get my activity early in the day and don't have to try to squeeze it in. I then have the added benefit of spending time with this friend who I don't get to see enough.

Looks like I forgot to make the de-caf tea this morning, hence I am talking your ear off.

Have a great day!
Karen

Thursday, September 27, 2007

Ah, Thursday. I like Thursdays. It's garbage day so I get to empty all the trash from my garage and I usually clean out the fridge on Thursdays, too. Thursdays are also my "pray with the ladies" day which usually changes the whole tone of my day. Carrie (#5) usually stays after we're done praying. I homeschool Carrie and her friend so on Thursday afternoons, she stays at the friend's house to give me some catch-up around the house time. I realize that most people don't need this but I need to get things back on track around here and I have a few big house projects I want to bless my husband with. I DON'T want to start in on them without having the house nearly spotless in all rooms first.

I have made a discovery. Kittens and medication are a dangerous thing. When the medication wears off, she is pretty near comatose. If I happen to sit down, she climbs up on my shoulder or lap and just crashes. After I give her the medication and it kicks in, she turns into a crazed hunter. My husband is 6'4" and she was lying in wait to capture him as he walked around the corner last night. While she's sick she won't eat so I've had to capitalize on this psychotic hunter thing. I have to take each TINY nugget of kitty chow and roll it across the floor so she can stalk it, torture, and 'kill' it. It takes forever to get a lot of food into her but is extremely effective. Right now she's about 15 minutes before medicine time and in the 'cuddly stage', so my life isn't in grave danger from being attacked by this 1.9 pound kitten.

Off to get the kitchen spotless, do some laundry, change the sheets, and take out the garbage!

So I start my day, on target and off my keister.

Wednesday, September 26, 2007

Weigh-in Wednesday

Well, weigh-in was less than exciting but I did go down a pound. It's not a lot but , hey, I'll take what I can get. What's important is that I was disciplined and did the right thing.

I did my workout yesterday. My fourth was kibbitzing the whole time, giving me exercise tips. Of course he was right on everything he said and has the muscles to prove it so I had to swallow my pride and listen. He was a real taskmaster. I was glad he stepped in to keep me going. I do think my triceps might not like him so much this afternoon when they will more than likely be screaming in pain.

My bed is made, my sink is clean and empty, and I have exercised planned for later in the day. I confess that I have a load of laundry sitting in the dryer which I plan to go get and fold AND PUT AWAY!!!!!!!!! in just a few minutes. I'm blogging while the girls are doing their math. I've already taught the lesson, they're just doing some seatwork.

Like I mentioned to Connie, I am taking baby steps. I've got this eating thing down pat now, but the bad housework habits I've gotten into the past few years will take some real work. I am up for the challenge.

By the way, our kitten - Shirley, is doing much better. The vet sent me home with an antibiotic, an antihistamine (she could barely breathe), and nosedrops. Shirley thinks they are all torture. I feel like the bad guy cramming pills and medicine down her throat and drops in her nose, but hey, after raising 5 kids I can take it.

This is a great day to accomplish all our goals! Go for it!

Tuesday, September 25, 2007

So Far, So Good

I went to the wedding on Sunday. We were gone pretty much the whole day so no time to walk. However, I did fail to mention on the details of my challenge, that weekend workouts are optional. Family time is more important to me on the weekends. I promise that this is not a copout! I actually did walk on Saturday and spent enough time standing in high heels on Sunday to actually count for some serious exercise and I have sore leg muscles to prove it.

Monday, my husband and I got a brisk 2+ mile walk in. Very nice. Felt great! I have stayed within my point allowance....even with the wedding.

My sink has been devoid of lingering dishes, my laundry has been getting put away as it is finished. I am still finishing some catch-up work in the laundry room, as I stated yesterday.

Tomorrow, I have a feeling I will be spending some time sitting around the Michigan Humane Society Vet Clinic seeing that our precious little kitten seems to have brought a respiratory infection home with her from the shelter. While fairly common, I guess it can be dangerous which is why I woke up in the middle of the night and sit here blogging while monitoring kitty's breathing. I'm waiting for the clinic to open so I can call.

When I'm tired, I ramble so I will stop here. Just know that I'm hitting my goals! Have a great day!

Sunday, September 23, 2007

Playing Catch-Up

I got my 30 minutes of exercise in via a walk with my daughter, although it was more of a run for her ---she's only six! We went two miles and on the way back I ran by a clothing store to see what time they were opening today. I am going to a family wedding this afternoon and needed some shoes for my dress(nothing like the last minute, eh?) We went in and I found the right pair of shoes in the right size and color. I hadn't even paid attention to the price at that point. I looked and they were on sale for $24. I knew I'd have to come back because I didn't have my purse or wallet on me. Then she told me that everything on clearance was only $6.98. Ha! I got my shoes for under $7 and purchased them right then because I actually had that much in my pocket. I was so glad......I don't have that many occassions to wear really dressy stuff so I really didn't want to pay much.

Here's the rundown from yesterday.....

Got my exercise in.
I never let dishes sit in the sink.
I cleaned off the counter.
I did what seemed like a million loads of laundry.
I folded, hung, and put them ALL away.
I left the room before making the bed because my dearest was catching up on some much-needed sleep.
I stayed within my Weight Watchers points.

I'm looking forward to seeing what a difference all these changes will make! I can do pretty much anything for just 40 days, right? After 40 days it becomes a habit.

Have a great day everyone!
Karen

Friday, September 21, 2007

My Messie's Manifesto

Let me just say this---if you're a clean freak, you just might NOT want to venture any further. You might be sick just contemplating the fact that dishes might sit in my sink for a while or my bed sometimes doesn't get made. I must, however, state my goals here for all to see.

As a `natural 'messie', in order to stay on top of things, I must:

Never leave my room in the morning until the bed is made.
Never leave ANYTHING in the sink.
Keep the counter and the table cleared off.
Unload the dishwasher the minute it stops.
Complete tasks on a checklist for every room in the house, every afternoon.
Complete a different tasklist for each room for weekly chores & monthly stuff.

And the biggie:

Fold and PUT away all laundry as it comes warm from the dryer. THIS will be the tough one but the most needed to end the c.h.a.o.s. (C-an't H-ave A-nybody O-ver S-yndrome.....see http://www.flylady.com/ ---great website for people who struggle with messiness, a little hokey but it works)

Yesterday I put a lot of time in to prepare for this and I will put more in today. I believe that tomorrow is the beginning of Jen's next challenge so I start tomorrow. (I get to practice today:-D) The other reason I am doing this challenge as well as the 30 minutes of exercise challenge is that I feel guilty pulling myself out to go to the gym or walking for an hour if my house looks like garbage. If my house looks decent, I feel free-er to spend time doing other pursuits.

By the way, I finally baked that apple pie yesterday and had a carefully measured slice last night with a 1/2 cup of vanilla ice cream. What a treat! I didn't even have to feel guilty because I only dipped into my weeklies by 8 points, which gives me 27 left to blow at the family wedding this Sunday. Life is good.

I'm looking forward to blessing my family in this way. Is anybody out there a 'messie', too? Feel free to join in the challenge.

Karen (soon to be: behind no more, ahead of schedule, in shape, out of clutter, on target, off the sugar, up on energy, and down in pounds) Whew! That will feel great!

Thursday, September 20, 2007

Joining Jen's 40 day Challenge

Jen at http://jensmakeover.blogspot.com is just completing 40 days of breaking the habit of eating chips. She has been successful and is about to change another habit for the next 40 days. I plan on doing the same. I don't know what hers will be yet, but I've decided that mine will be a dual-sided challenge for those 40 days. The first will be a commitment to 30 minutes(minimum) of exercise per day, whether at home or the Y. I will not come in on my weight target by Christmastime if I don't add consistent exercise.

The next part of my self-challenge is not fat-related. It is something that causes me as much shame as my weight. I have trouble keeping my housework under control. I am not naturally one of those extremely organized people so I have had to struggle against this my whole life. I am not lazy, just scattered, busy, and needing to put my 'system' to work for me. I have had some success in this area with some real analyzing and work, but, like with the weight, it's time to conquer it completely. So, I have refined my plan to 'keep it together'. I will post my 'messie's manifesto' tomorrow as a way to make myself accountable via this blog.

On a positive note, I was just enjoying the fact that I have gotten rid of the equivalent of 4 three-pound cans of crisco from my carcass! That is pretty exciting. Kind of gross to think that a month and a half ago all that fat was hanging on me. Good riddance! I'm going to a wedding on Sunday and I'm very thankful I don't have to carry all that lard on my bones. Very unbecoming.

Four cans down, ten to go.

Wednesday, September 19, 2007

Weigh-in Wahoo!

Well, the numbers travelled in the right direction this week. I lost my 'quota' for this week plus a part of last week's. That took some patience. I was doing all the right things but to have a week where I went up instead of down was pretty disheartening.

A kind of weird thing happened yesterday. My husband just started a new position about a month ago. Yesterday someone approached him in the hallway and said, "I recognize your last name, but I'm not sure from where." We have a last name that is a little unique. Every phone number listed across the country for our last name belongs to someone who is a close relative. I believe I have only found one exception to that, so if someone recognizes our name, they know someone who is related. Anyway, they started talking about where he could possibly know the name from and finally pinpointed that he knew me from UP Bible Camp back in my high school days and must have heard the name from someone when we got married.

I must say that I was mortified thinking that I might run into this guy while at my husbands' office for something. Why? Because I was so skinny back then that he probably wouldn't even recognize me now. Don't get me wrong, this isn't someone I'm trying to impress.....the only one I need to impress is my dear husband. I am just humiliated and embarrassed that I let myself get this much heavier. Oh well. Maybe things like this will keep me going when I'm getting impatient and want to quit. Sheer embarrassment works wonders I guess :-D !

Since this morning was weigh-in, all my extra points reset today so I will bake that apple pie for sure. Son#3 has threatened to bake it himself but I kind of want to enjoy the process. He can bake all he wants....we've got a whole bushel!

I've been at this a month and a half now. I'm a third of the way there, timewise, and just under a third of the way to my weight goal. This just hasn't been that horrible and I'm enjoying staying focused. I hope you are, too!

Monday, September 17, 2007

Birthday Celebration

Today is #5's sixth birthday! We celebrated yesterday at Chuck E. Cheese with all the relatives (since there is flooring and trim stacked all over our place, we couldn't fit them all there. We had a wonderful time. I had two small pieces of pizza (on plan) and no pop or cake. I finished the day completely on target point-wise and we had so much fun! Wow! Food really DOESN'T have to be the center of every party!

I still haven't made that apple pie....just too busy. Maybe tonight.

Saturday, September 15, 2007

Just a Quick Update

Kids #3 & 5 went with me to pick apples yesterday. #5 went to pick apples, #3 went to take photos of #5 picking apples for his advanced photography class. We had a ball. I drooled but stayed completely in control as I watched them eat a half dozen cinnamon sugar cider doughnuts and iced pumpkin doughnuts.

Didn't make my pie yet. Busy weekend. I'll explain Monday because I know I won't have three minutes to sit down between now and then.

I'm on target. Still motivated--even though it wasn't a losing week! Ready to say 'adios' to to all that crisco come Christmas!!!!!!!!

Karen

Friday, September 14, 2007

Friday!!!!

Apple picking day! Which also means pie day! Oh, I can't wait. I already have my points figured so I can eat a big juicy slice.

I am still 'on plan' and doing well. I am going to join Jen at jensmakeover.blogspot.com in a 40 day 'adventure'. Her last one was no chips for 40 days. I don't know what her next 40 day thing will be but I'm pondering mine. Probably exercise.....with a twist. I'll let you know in a few days.

Hang in there all you fit friends!

Karen

Wednesday, September 12, 2007

Weigh-in Woes

I won't freak out but the scale was actually UP from last week's weigh-in. This is more than likely a monthly cycle type thing and should adjust itself by later in the week but let's face it.....it's more fun to see those numbers drop!

I have been faithful to the program and I won't stop. Now my husband and my mom are on the bandwagon too. There's strength in numbers! I'm excited to see the "thin" three of us come the new year!

Hey, wonders never cease! My son found the cable connector for hooking my digital camera to the computer. I am so thrilled. I want to be able to post some pictures of what's going on around here. Maybe I'll even post a before and after picture. Okay.....well maybe an after picture. The 'before' is still a little embarrassing to me. I can't believe I got to that point. Oh, well.....now I press on!

Monday, September 10, 2007

Oops, It's Been a Few Days!

I guess I just don't post much on the weekends. I am still with the program and doing well. After today, I have just 105 days left and I should be either at or close to goal. I will definitely reach my goal of sticking to the eating plan until Christmas Eve, but I suppose I am not in control of whether my body loses weight that quickly, so I'll try not to get too hung up on the scale at that point.

This week is one in which I will be saving all 35 weekly bonus points for one thing. Homemade apple pie! Carrie and I are going apple picking with my cousin and her daughter on Friday. To me, there is nothing quite like homemade pie. I have yet to taste any fruit pie at any restaurant anywhere that has even come close to BAD homemade apple pie, let alone the good stuff. So I will be saving those points, dreaming all week, and savoring the flavor in my mind even before I climb that first apple tree.

So far I'm not down more than a half pound from last week, so I think it might be a slow week. You know what? That's okay. I have done my part and been faithful to plan. The rest is not under my control.

Friday, September 7, 2007

Mountains out of Molehills

I got my exercise mowing the lawn yesterday. We've got MOLES!!!!! It made it so hard to mow that I didn't have to even think about going to the gym. Going up the hill over the molehills was a crazy workout in that heat. Yes, I do most of the lawn mowing in the fall. Most of the guys are in school and working and it blesses my husband. Also---then he doesn't have to do it on the weekend and we can get a step closer to getting the trim finished in the living/dining room. Enough about that. I'm rambling.

Thursday, September 6, 2007

Connie's Beef Stew

Last night for dinner I made a recipe I got from a new blog friend. She is a delight and so was her recipe for Russian Beef and Cabbage Stew. You will find it here http://connies-kitchendelights.blogspot.com/ I did cut the brown sugar in half just to make it more Weight Watchers compatible and to suit my taste. I figured I could always add more in later....and it turned out I didn't need to. It was fantastic.

That's all for today. Have a great, disciplined, joyful day!

Karen

Wednesday, September 5, 2007

Weigh-in Wednesday Once Again!

Wahoo! I'm down 2.5 from last week's weigh-in! I am trying to fully enjoy the consistent weight loss right now because about 8 pounds from now is the place I typically get stuck. Then I will need my wonderful 'loser' friends to get me over the slow patches.

Oh, I found another great(that's a relative term) breakfast. I have a third cup of Kellogg's Bran Buds with fresh berries and about a cup of fat-free plain soy milk (the real stuff makes my mouth and throat itch). The Bran Buds have about 13 grams of fiber and the whole meal is only 2 weight watchers points.

Since it's peach season, I've also been enjoying that delicious fruit with cereal, by itself, and yesterday I had it in some homemade salsa. I just chopped up a tomato, a peach, a small onion, garlic, and cilantro. Throw in a little salt, black pepper, lime juice, and a teaspoon of oil. I ate it with one serving of Baked Tostitos Scoops (sorry, Jen:-D) for a total of 3 points. I also had some of it later in the day with fat-free light rye seasoned RyKrisp. Those are zero points for 2 crackers. (I've even had pbj's on RyKrisp before----they are a dieter's delight)

Tuesday, September 4, 2007

Eating Like a Loser

What a joy to be past the holiday weekend, even eating at someone's house on Labor Day, and still be able to say that I stayed on target. I didn't go over my daily or weekly points....although it felt like it because dinner was so amazingly good. Chicken marsala over angel hair pasta. Baby greens. Strawberry shortcake (1/2 a piece of course). Water with lime. That's one of the reasons I love this program. I didn't even have to mention 'diet'. I could eat what they were eating....just less of it.

No big diet tips today. I'm just happy that we're all hanging in there!

Saturday, September 1, 2007

Saturday

I'm not blogging much of interest this weekend. Just checking in to let you know that I haven't gone off the diet deep end. I'm still plugging and on plan. I walked down into the village yesterday, played with Carrie running around outside and I'm about to play outside with her again in a minute.

Today, I have been at this for one month. It doesn't seem that long. It doesn't seem like it's been grueling either. Thank you, Lord! He really does give us the strength to do these things we need to do.

I've got promises to keep, and miles to go before I sleep.

Karen