Day 279 - Okay! I have new goals!

Okay, here are my new goals I've been jotting down today...

Exercise. No brainer.

Lose 8 pounds by March 1st. I think that's realistic. (Especially when goal #1 goes into effect).

Hair & Make-Up Daily. I was doing this before, but having a cold makes it the furthest thing on the priority list and I got out of the habit!

Limit TV. The whole sick thing again, I got lazy.

No Wine Sun-Thurs Nights. I enjoy/savor it more on a Friday/Saturday night if I've gone without it all week.

Stop Cursing. Mama's got a potty mouth lately, what's up with that?!?

Come up with a Daily Positive Affirmation. I have two kids currently doing this... and it's WORKING. Duh.

Looking over this list, I know some of them need to be refined. (TV) And I will add "Go to the gym" to the exercise one, because I know it's not going to happen at home. That is where the laziness festers. I will also get a curse jar that I have to put money in, the kids will LOVE that!!

Any comments or suggestions to refine or make these goals more specific are more than welcome! :)

Day 140 - I'm Hungry??

So I missed the gym this morning. My alarm went off, I hit what I thought was snooze... an hour later. Oops!! Crap.

I ate breakfast then got ready & headed to work and I was STARVING!! I had my first snack when I got to work. Then like an hour later, I was STARVING again! I ate my lunch an hour earlier than usual and I'm now eating my afternoon snack. Looking at the clock, dinner is HOURS AWAY!! WTH??

So is it because I missed the gym?? Or is it just one of those days?

Day 140 - Weigh-In Wednesday

Pounds I want to lose --- 100
Pounds down today --- 1
Total Pounds Lost --- 33
Pounds left to go --- 67

With a 5 pound loss last week, I'm not too surprised with the 1 pound this week! But I also didn't have as successful of a weekend either. I let myself get in my slump again. Sigh. I am determined to have a better weekend this next one!!! I'm going to plan a hike for Sunday!! The weather is getting cooler and the chances are going to get fewer and fewer. It's going to be beautiful! I can't wait!!

My son joined me at the gym the other morning! :) Each day he was asking what movie was on, so I invited him along! I worked out while he stayed on the treadmill to watch The Avengers! He was too tired the next day, but it would be great if he can start going with me on a regular basis!!

Day 98 - Weigh-In Wednesday

Pounds I want to lose --- 100
Pounds down today ---  1
Total Pounds Lost --- 25
Pounds left to go --- 75


It's ONE! That's better than NONE!! And besides, I'm feeling stronger! On my first day at the gym, the trainer had me stand up from the bench and do an overhead barbell lift, then sit back down... without using my hands to push. :/ I could barely get my ass off the bench!! I would lean forward just to get the umph! to get up!! He would come stand right in front of me and instruct me NOT to bump him on the way up. Seriously?? So yesterday, he had me do the same thing again. I stood straight up. He cheered, "Now THAT'S how you're supposed to do it!!" YAY!

Besides having to put my ex in his place on Saturday night, (big sigh) I had a really good weekend! I went to a little local bistro to pick up a really yummy spinach strawberry salad they have. But when I got there, I thought, "Why not stay?" I had no kids with me, why sit at home and eat all alone? It was very nice! Then I did something I have NEVER done before... I went to a movie by myself! Despite the grammar snob part of me screaming on the inside, I saw "People Like Us." (If you don't know what's wrong with it, don't worry. You're not a grammar snob and you won't mind. Thanks mom!) Yes, I cried and was very reserved about it, being alone in a theater and all. But I am SO glad I saw it there and not home alone. I probably would've been a wreck afterward!!

As far as my goals are going... 

My first one was to quit weighing in every day - DONE! I weighed in on Sunday and it wasn't even that satisfying. I'm thinking I'll just limit it to Wednesdays!

Second was to walk with my daughter - DONE! But now my poor baby is getting her tonsils out. That will be on the shelf for a couple of weeks.

Third was to write a book - DONE! Yes, I said done! I was going to give myself a couple of months to work on it, but I must have really just needed to get that out of me! So not only is it done, I'm published. (bowing) Thank you! Thank you!

Fourth was to work on my office - - Does having the book done make up for this? :) I DID get my home computer diagnosed. It's dead. So I will be working on my laptop from home during my daughter's recovery. Office clutter can wait... I'm a MOM first!!

Popsicle Party!! My House!! Every night for the next 10 to 14 days!!

Day 91 - Weigh-In Wednesday

Pounds I want to lose --- 100  
Pounds down today ---  0
Total Pounds Lost --- 24
Pounds left to go --- 76


If you read yesterday's post, you won't be surprised by today's results. I was pretty down because when I lost weight several years ago, I had lost more than 20 pounds my first month!! Then my biggest supporter reminded me that I'm a quarter into my 365 day goal to lose 100 pounds and 24 pounds is close enough to a quarter of a 100 pounds to count! So I'm right on track!


Step back.


Re-evaluate.


Okay. Big Sigh. And besides... I gained it all back. I'm doing it differently this time!!


Then I read Jillian Michael's Facebook post from this morning:

"Tip for the day: STOP BEATING YOURSELF UP. Give yourself a break will you. All masters started out as students. You can’t be amazing at something over night. It takes time and patience. The same goes for exercise. Don’t have unrealistic expectations from yourself like running 3 miles next week. Instead, take the time to learn the basics: Proper form for each exercise, build muscle memory, build up your endurance and cardiovascular strength. Remember, Rome was not built in a day and neither is a healthy body."


Thank you! I feel better today!!

Day 85 - Theme Song Thursday

I was sooo tired this morning! The thought of going back to sleep for several hours sounded better than anything I have ever tasted. I seriously don't know what made me get up. I'm driving to the gym thinking, "It will be okay, it's upper-body today. No squats." I usually do 3 sets of 15 reps, whatever it is.


Trainer: "OKAY!!" (sets the weights on four different upper body machines) "I want you to do 25 reps on each machine, as FAST as you can. Then get up, do 25 squats, grab these dumbbells, do 25 shoulder presses. Start over, do it again, 3 times!! GO!!"


I closed my eyes...

Day 84 - Weigh-In Wednesday

Pounds I want to lose --- 100
Pounds down today ---  1
Total Pounds Lost --- 24
Pounds left to go --- 76


Considering how I've felt for the last couple of days, I'm neither surprised, nor disappointed! I'm feeling much better today and this morning, I put everything I had into my workout!!

No, today... I'm okay!

Day 77 - Weigh-In Wednesday & New Jeans!

Pounds I want to lose --- 100
Pounds down today ---  3
Total Pounds Lost --- 23
Pounds left to go --- 77

YAY!! I'm headed down again! And I'm starting to feel it! 

I was able to skip a size! Look!! In the store with baggy 24s, out with tight 20s!! HA! Yes, they are a bit tight, but if they zip, button & buckle, I'm not wasting money on 22s!! My trainer says he wants to see me get to an 8! When I lost the weight before, I was in a 10. I'm SO ready to have this fat off of me!!

Day 70 - Weigh-In Wednesday

Pounds I want to lose --- 100
Pounds down today ---  2
Total Pounds Lost --- 20
Pounds left to go --- 80


I had unfortunately gained 2 pounds since my last weigh-in, so I really lost four! Joining the gym really helped to get me back on track!! So aside from my body being sore... it's been a good thing! :)
I was hoping for a bigger number after being so good and working out, so to not get discouraged, I got out the measuring tape! I had measured several areas before I started: neck, each upper arm, chest, diaphragm, waist, abs, hips, each upper thigh, each upper knee and each calf. Total inches lost from all areas is 34 inches!!! 4 inches each from my waist, abs & hips, then trickles down to half an inch in places like my neck and calves.
So to see all those changes really helped!! I'll take those two pounds, thank you!! All the way to the clothing store to get new pants! (They are SO baggy!!)

Day 62 - I Joined A Gym!

I couldn't sleep yesterday morning. It was really early. I think to myself, "What do people DO this early?" (Besides my mom, who goes to work at 4am! Crazy, I know!!) The other crazies go to the gym!! I'll join a gym!!

There's me at the gym. Weird. Of course I've been IN a gym before. I have gone on guest passes with friends, but only used the treadmills. I've never been a member of a gym or used that equipment!! Scary!!

(And check out those saddlebags I mentioned in my last post! YUCK!!! I gotta get rid of those!!)

So I have a trainer who is teaching me all I need to know about the machines. I went again this morning and he made me do these things called SQUATS!! Seriously!?? Okay, my office is downstairs. No elevator. Yeah, it sucked.

But HEY! Check this out!!

Best pedometer steps to date!! And that's even with a 7 hour workday and 1 hour commute!!

Can a get a WHOOP! WHOOP!?

Day 61 - New Adventures

I got my Slicing & Dicing done this weekend!! YAY!!

Look at all that yummy produce in my new (to me) fridge!! 

The two oldest kids were gone all last week for camp. One came home sick and spent an entire day on the couch. The other came home (thankfully) excited. I worried about him the most and had nothing to worry about after all!! I was anticipating their arrival home all week and wanted to spend some time with them, but before I knew it they were both gone again!! One to their dad's, the other to my mom's to hang out with cousins. So the littlest, of course, wanted to go too!! Don't they know how much I missed them while they were gone??!!

No, probably not.

It left me time to get all my prep work done for the week, but it also left me lonely. I acquired a fridge, so I had that to work on as well as a huge pile of stinky laundry!

Then I was awake at 3am this morning. I tossed and turned until I realized it was futile. Despite all of my housework yesterday, I really didn't get a good workout in. I thought it was way too early to get on the treadmill and annoy my downstairs neighbors. So I left. Went & joined a gym. Just like that.

I hurt.

Day 42 - Weigh-In Wednesday

Pounds I want to lose --- 100
Pounds down today ---  5
Total Pounds Lost --- 18
Pounds left to go --- 82

I did better than I thought I would, especially considering I had very very very little motivation over the weekend! I cleared off the DVR for starters! (In my living room because I got rid of the TV in my bedroom, remember?)  I caved and had a glass of wine on Saturday night. But then that lead to crappy sleep and I was wide awake at 4:30 on Sunday morning. One, I shouldn't have had it at all. Two, I could have had it earlier in the night so it wouldn't affect my sleep. Stupid wine. (It was tasty, just not so worth it!)

And once again, my weekends threw me off and I missed some lunches. I was really good with my water intake though! I can't believe how much I'm drinking now when just a short time ago it was making me gag! The lemon thing helped, but I don't always do that anymore!

I did have some successes...

I went to an awards banquet for work. It was at a restaurant I've never been to before and with it being a banquet, I didn't know if we would even have a choice. But when I walked in, I was handed the menu and asked to choose from 4 or 5 different beef, chicken or salmon plates. The salmon said it came with a garlic butter sauce and I asked if I could have it without. Sure thing! YAY! Then they asked, "Chocolate Cake or Cheesecake?" I said neither and the gal looked at me weird. "You don't want dessert?" I almost felt like saying, "A fat woman doesn't want dessert? Crazy, huh?" But I just said no thank you. The meal came with green beans, baked potato and rolls. So I had salmon and green beans for dinner! It was really super tasty and I didn't miss all the extras!

Last week, all the kids wanted to take turns on the "new" treadmill! That's fine with me!! My youngest spent a surprising amount of time on it. She comes out of the room all huffy and sweaty and my oldest daughter says, "Wow! Look at you! You're all sweaty!!" Youngest replies, "No, that's my fat cells crying!!" That's my girl!!! :)

....Onto another week!!!

Day 29 - The Universe works in mysterious ways

So many End-Of-School-Year activities going on today and tomorrow, I'm working from home. I hit a lull and thought, "I really wish I had a treadmill." Because if the boss called and I was a mile away on a walk, that wouldn't work, right? So then I thought, "I'm going to post on Facebook, asking if anyone has a cheap treadmill they want to sell."

Before I had a chance, I continue working and I am asked to schedule a closing with a client. He has been out of his house for several months, but after we schedule it, he says he still has a treadmill in the house that he'd better get out. He's going to put in on online classfieds and sell it for cheap. How much do you want for it? I ask.

It's yours, thanks for your hard work.

Wished it this morning. In my room tonight.

I REALLY don't have any excuses now!!

Day 28 - Weigh-In Wednesday

Pounds I want to lose --- 100

Pounds down today ---  3

Total Pounds Lost --- 8

Pounds left to go --- 92

Not as much I wanted. I really could have planned my holiday weekend better!!! So, even though I haven't completely finished it, I'm starting The Skinny Rules today!!!!! I had a lot of good stuff on hand already, so I had Greek yogurt with blueberries and Ezekiel toast for breakfast. I'm having apples & peanut butter for a morning snack and a tuna garbanzo salad for lunch. I brought the book to work with me to go through the dinner options and will stop at the store on the way home if needed. 

I'm going to stop anyway to find an older person version of Just Dance for the Xbox!! I've been doing Just Dance Kids with my children and that GUMMY BEAR SONG gets stuck in your head for hours!! AGH!!!

This is what I REALLY need!!!!!

Day 21 - Weigh-In Wednesday

Pounds I want to lose --- 100

Pounds down today ---  2

Total Pounds Lost --- 5

Pounds left to go --- 95


After weighing in last Wednesday and only had lost 1 pound, it really kicked me into gear! So I weighed in last Friday excited for my new changes, but from now on I will keep it to only Wednesdays. So that means I've lost 4 pounds in the last week! If I had just been so determined when I started 3 weeks ago, I'd be down much more by now! But 5 pounds less is in the right direction.


I had another good day yesterday! After dinner, my oldest children had activities so I took my youngest to the park. Then while we were waiting to pick up one of the older children, we walked several blocks of a sidewalk chalk art festival. Getting 75% of my total pedometer steps in after 7pm!!

And my child is enjoying her mom's new-found energy.

We have a date tonight. A walk around the neighborhood 
then countless rounds of Ruckus.

Day 20 - Starting to feel great!!

Yesterday, I ate as planned and got all my water in! YAY! When I got home from work, I put the prepared foil salmon dinners on the bbq grill, giving me time for a walk around the block with my youngest.

So my Sunday work paid off for my eating, my exercise AND time with my children!

I'm still not up to 10,000 steps, but I got "weekend" steps on a work/school day!! So considering I sat at desk for 7 hours and in my vehicle for more than an hour, that's pretty good for me!
Without a TV in my bedroom, I got to sleep about 1 1/2 hours earlier than usual.
I've been wearing my walking shoes consistently. Because who knows when the opportunity to get a walk in will come up in my schedule?? I don't want to be stuck wearing flip flops!!

Oh!! And I haven't mentioned that my jeans feel very baggy today! Because they do! :)

Day 6 - Pedometer

The layout of my home lends it's way to a continuous circle, a "Kid-Track" if you will. My youngest child was running laps when we almost collided. I looked down to see she was holding a pedometer. I put my hand to my waist and nothing was there. I said, "That's Mommy's, it must have fallen off!" She replies, "I know! I got you more points!!!"