Hormones, Shmormones

It just so happens that the beginning of "that time" of the month was yesterday. All I wanted to eat was chocolate. I didn't give in to that temptation even one bit. I didn't even have anything sweet. Even though I have been diet faithful, I am completely bloated (gross, sorry!) I had homemade soup for dinner that was way too salty (kill the cook! .... Oh wait, that's me!?!) I need to drink gallons of water today to get it out of my system. I will weigh in tomorrow morning instead of today. Don't worry, I'm not cheating the plan.....next week I will only have 6 days between weigh-ins to make up for it.

My sink is clean & shiny. My sheets are getting washed. I'm going to do my ab exercises while the girls are having their physical activity for the day.

Yesterday was a fairly awful day as days go. My across-the-street neighbor passed away. She just didn't wake up in the morning. She was less than 10 years older than me, a nice lady who was the backbone of her family. I didn't know her very well, we were at different stages of our lives. I don't know what her relationship with the Lord was. The neighborhood is just floored.

Her death also served as a reminder to do the best for my health. She was, unfortunately, overweight, had heart problems and diabetes. I think a lot of her health problems had much to do with her genes. My genes are pretty good......I shouldn't squander what I've been given healthwise. I need to be around to see Carrie well into adulthood. She doesn't need a couch potato mom. I have choices. I CAN exercise, I CAN eat healthy foods, I CAN watch my portions. I CAN still celebrate, live life, and enjoy food without it controlling me.

Have a great day! I'm off to take care of some laundry and some learning.

P.S. Anyone out there from the Raleigh, NC area? My husband is going down there in November for some training and Carrie and I will be tagging along. I'm looking for some fun stuff to do in the area, cheap or particularly good restaurants (Jim's meals will be paid for, ours will not), or fun parks. There is an awesome looking park near the airport so if you know anything about it, please speak up!

The Best Laid Plans

The sink is clear. My bed is made. No laundry left to put away. I was going to get my walk in about 10 minutes ago but my second student's mom just called and said she'd be over early today which will preclude my walk. Any other time, I would just say, 'sorry, I've got to walk' but she has to drop someone off at the airport. If I want said student in class today, I will have her early rather than not at all.

I think I'll get them started on their journaling project and then have #3 watch them while I do a 30 minute walk and stop at the grocery store to get something we need for an art activity today.

Have a great day!

Karen

It's a Process, Isn't It?

I'm here to report that I have been completely faithful to the eating plan now for 68 days! It feels great. I am also here to report that I still haven't gotten this exercise thing worked into my routine. I haven't been a couch potato and son#4 has been good with challenging me to do a few ab exercises here and there but it is still not a regular part of my routine......I cannot lie to my blog friends. As I become more organized, I am reworking my schedule to accomodate that measly 30 active minutes. Jim and I were going to walk last night but he had a very stressful week last week and ended up sound asleep by around 9:00. He needed it and I don't begrudge it, but I need to somehow get that stuff in earlier so I'm not dependent on someone else. I have plans with one of my friends to start walking in the morning but she has obligations early for the next few days. I'll get there. I promise. I guess I should tell you how I plan to get my exercise today....then you can hold me accountable tomorrow! I will get my 30 minutes in today right at 5:00. The Y is nearly empty then and Carrie can actually come for 30 minutes of Kid's Club for free. I know the people there and it's fun for her. The Y is usually a great option because I tend to end up doing 45 minutes to an hour. I also usually push myself to run nearly half of it. You would laugh if you saw me. I am the lamest runner EVER! I can't go more than a tenth of a mile before I'm ready to pass out, so I alternate walking and running every tenth mile.



Just so you know that I haven't been a complete couch slouch, Carrie implored me to go outside and rake leaves yesterday. Somehow that activity loses some ambience and romanticism when it's 84degrees out. No nip in the air here. It did make it more of a workout and Carrie was thrilled that we did that together. We then made chalk drawings of fall leaves all over the driveway!

My laundry is done and put away although I still don't have a good answer with what to do with all those 'single' socks that inevitably show up at the bottom of the basket. How DOES that happen? My sink is clean and bleached! The dishwasher is running. My bed is made. I will start another load of wash in a minute. Then school will start.

Thanks to my formerly unfit blogging buddies who are now keeping me 'honest' in my quest for fat loss and fitness and encouraging me by example. Hopefully I can encourage some that are struggling as well. This weekend I wanted nothing more than to stuff my face with a greasy grilled cheese sandwich and a brownie sundae but I knew I'd have to answer to this blog and I'd have to tell the truth. Thanks! I survived unscathed. A few months ago, I would have said, "Nuts to it, I'll start the diet again tomorrow, bring on the fatty foods." Now those temptations are fleeting thoughts and I'm able to stick with it so much better.

Have a great day. Stick to your goals. Someone is depending on you!

Things are going well! I did ALL of my 30 minutes of exercise yesterday (I walked briskly around the schoolyard where Carrie is having soccer practice as well as walking/running TO the practice). My dishes are all done and put away. The countertops and table are clean and decluttered. My laundry is all put away except for the load that is in the washing process right now. Today I should be able to get to the Y for a good, long workout.

It's been a very productive morning and I think I'm going to go have a bowl of Bran Buds and soy milk. (Don't knock it 'til you've tried it!!!)

Wahoo Weighdown!

The hard work is paying off. I'm down two pounds from last week! I've lost the equivalent of 5 cans of Crisco! That's less fat dragging me down, making me tired, discouraging me, staring at me in the mirror, and keeping me from being an energetic mom for my kids. I'm not all about the scale, but it does motivate me to see some concrete 'pounds lost' results....the visual results aren't always apparent to us women since we tend to criticize what we see in the mirror so much.

My sink is clean, my laundry put away, and my bed is made. I have already started my exercises this morning. I've decided I need to get a good chunk of that out of the way in the morning since I end up very reluctantly squeezing it in at the end of the day when I'm zonked.

Off to eat my oat bran!

Fiber, Fiber, Fiber!

I found an another great fiber-rich food that I can use instead of bread. They're whole grain, high fiber, low carb tortillas made by The Tortilla Factory. I got them at the grocery store on a shelf in a part of the store that had nothing to do with bread or mexican food.....so you can ask at the desk, I guess. One tortilla is ZERO Weight Watchers points so I can wrap it around an egg & salsa, tuna and fresh jalapenos, peanut butter and jelly, etc. They come in a few flavors. I suppose how good they are is somewhat dependant on how long you've been eating rabbit food. I love these things but my dearly beloved hates them. I think in another week or two he'll be wanting me to share mine with him :-)

The other higher fiber things that are great for you are all the peas and beans! They are so good for you and as the weather gets colder they make a wonderful addition to soups of all kind. Bran Buds are another great source, as well as Pepperidge Farm mini whole wheat bagels (it helps if you have a Pepperidge Farms outlet near you)

My bed is made, the sink is clean, pots are scrubbed, laundry is started, and I did manage to squeeze about 25 minutes worth of intense exercise in last night. It was pouring out so Jim and I couldn't walk. I knew I had to answer to my blogging friends so I pried my behind off the couch about 30 minutes before the Y closed. The good news is that I was able to RUN for almost half the time I was on the treadmill. I then spent my last few minutes on the circuit machines doing glute and leg exercises. This morning I'll use my medicine ball for my abs. The scale is looking promising this week. We shall see tomorrow morning. I'm at the place on the scale where I usually stall a little bit so I will keep exercising to make sure that doesn't happen.

Sorry for the long-windedness! Off to FINISH the laundry ---- that's what usually gets lost in translation.

Reforming slowly but surely,
Karen

Monday, Monday

The antique market was fun. We didn't get anything but enjoyed the day out. I stuck to my points like glue. It was gorgeous out. Carrie had a party to go to in the afternoon so David (#4)took her.

Speaking of David. What a trip! He's a piece of work. This week is what they call school spirit week at his high school.....the week before homecoming. Each day has a different theme. Today's is "get up and go" day. You can show up with your hair a mess, wear your slippers, etc. Now my son is a Junior and although he isn't really tall, he works out so he is BIG! He got some big, glow-in-the-dark fuzzy footie pajamas with dinosaurs all over them and he wore them to school today. I just sat there shaking my head. I must post pictures.

I know that had nothing to do with weight loss but it was my laugh of the day.