High on Life

I'm really not quite sure exactly what it is, but I am finding that I am really high on life lately. I think that a big part of it is that I have managed to hang on to eating under my calories for close to 2 months now. Each day I find myself feeling lighter, seeing improvement in little everyday things like clothes fitting looser, seat belt is looser, stomach is seriously shrinking (and smaller I might add) and I am sticking with it. 


I have been battling with weight for what seems like my entire life. Today I am looking at my life through a new view and I see myself going places. I see a healthier me, both for me and for my kiddos. I see a longer, happier life for my family and it feels awesome. I have yo-yo'd with numerous different diets and finally realized that just watching my calories, which in turn allows me to have little things I like now and again, is totally doable! I do have days where I slip a little, but I pick myself right back up and go on.


I have a long ways to go on this journey, but I am savoring every moment. I will look back one day, grinning ear to ear and say to myself "Yes, you did!!"

Feeling Lighter!

That best describes how I am feeling as of today. Lighter! Albeit 16 pounds is a far cry from the total I need to lose, I really truly feel the difference. Then I thought of something I had told a friend when they lost 20 pounds. I told them when is the last time you walked into the produce section and held up 2 - 10lb bags of potatoes? OMG! I know how much a 10 pound bag weighs because I just bought one the other day. Having said that, I can relate to why I feel lighter and it feels great!!

Now then, the holidays are quickly approaching. There is a lot of chatter among those of us trying to drop weight on how we are going to handle it. I say, enjoy your holiDAY and don't make it a holiWEEK.  Maybe plan now for a really special treat you would like to have on Christmas, plan for your calories and go for it. Everybody has their own way of getting through the holidays, just know this, it will be here and gone before we know it.

Cheers to you on your weight loss. Keep pushing forward and have a great weekend friends.

Meals & Snacks That Keep You on Track

Ever find yourself in a pinch, hunger has crept up on you and you find yourself not prepared? Nothing is in the fridge to heat up or perhaps your are out of this or that? Not being prepared can be a big downfall for those of us trying to lose weight.

I have found that preparing things in advance for the week has help tremendously. Having low cal snacks (wheat thins/pretzels/nuts) bagged into serving sizes on hand, a container of tuna/chicken salad in the fridge, fresh fruit/veggies always available and even leftover soup to be great ways to not lose focus. But there is another item I have found that I really enjoy as of late and that is steamers. Pre-packaged, yes, but the taste is wonderful and the calories are low.  I like Birdseye Roasted Potatoes in Chive & Butter Sauce. The whole bag is just 260 calories. Lunch! Broccoli and cheese is another yummy steamer and LOW cal! Steamers are relatively inexpensive and filling and for someone constantly on the move or even a working person, these microwaveable dishes can't be beat.

The key here is to make sure to not only have healthy choices on hand, but also go-to foods for times when you feel the need to eat right now and not spend and hour cooking.

What meals do you reach for on the go?

My Thanksgiving Nightmare

Well Thanksgiving has come and gone. For me it was literally gone Thanksgiving eve. It became very clear that my stomach has shrunk over the past few weeks because I could no longer eat like I could in the past.

I cooked the turkey and trimmings and my family came over early afternoon. I had told myself that I would have 1 piece of pie. 1 lead to 2 lead to 3... I felt extremely bloated, overstuffed and just horrid. My family left around 6ish and by 7pm I was in the bathroom vomiting everything up. :(  I was in tears thinking of what I had done to myself. At the same time it was an eye opener. I easily consumed over 3000 calories. And here, the past several weeks I had been so faithful to my caloric goal. Why is it that I think because its a holiday I've earned a get out of jail free card to eat whatever I want? I realize that kind of thinking has led me to where I am today, overweight.

Today, I woke to pecan pie, dutch apple, cherry and 1/2  a pan of pumpkin gooey butter cake. I started my day off by eating a couple pieces and then realized they had to go or I surely would eat it ALL! So, I bagged them all up and took them out to the trash. Done deal. Moving on... Hope you all had a great Thanksgiving and are also ready to get back on track. 

A Sign of Good Things to Come!

Today when I was figuring out what to wear, I eyed a pair of pants that just 2 weeks ago I could not pull up over my thighs. :(  Nothing fancy, just a pair of jeans I enjoyed wearing that I couldn't get into because of the pounds I had packed on, Well, I took a notion to give it a try. I've lost nearly 10 pounds, what the heck,  To my amazement, they slid easily over my thighs and buttoned/zipped just fine! Of course they are not baggy or falling off me, but I can now wear them. Definitely a sign of good things to come.  Monday is off to an amazing start! Have a great day!

Making My Life a Bit Simpler

How about that, two posts in one day! Someone must have a napping kid today tee-hee!

Ok, so my earlier post I told you all how I was cleaning the kitchen, purging the garbage and then hitting the grocery. We are pretty well set for a while on meat and "go-withs" as  I often refer to them. But snacks, well that is another story.

So now that all the crap is gone, I needed to replenish some items, including snacks. This time I decided to go with what will be easiest for me in a pinch. Now by that I don't mean I bought a bunch of pre-packaged crap, well, I did buy some 90 calories snacks, but what I mean is I sort of made my own little snacks. I took bags of pretzel sticks, marshmallows, reduced fat wheat thins and sorted them into snack size baggies in individual servings. I bought nuts that were prepacked and then a tin of nuts for my boy. I also found laughing cow queso fresco chipotle cheese (light) and bought some of that. So if someone wants a snack, there is no counting or measuring. Now, its grab it and go!

I got the kids involved. We talked about how there is food that is good for your body and that which is not. We talked about how too much candy not only rots your pretty teeth but makes your body blow up like a balloon and how hard it is to move around when that happens. Overall, I explained how it is important to be healthy so we can run and play and do the things we like to do. For example, we still have "ice cream" its just that on the package they call it frozen yogurt, LOL! Instead of sitting down with a bag of chips, we now have serving size bags readily accessible of pretzels or cheese puffs. Baby steps. Just trying to make life simpler and letting my kids help so they see the importance of making better choices. What have you done lately to make your life a bit simpler?

Cleaning Out the Crap!

That is my goal for today. I'm hitting the cupboards and the shelf and wiping out ALL the crap foods! All the high calorie, fat laden junk. The Halloween candy is going bye-bye! Although I am not quite sure where I will be disposing of it, but it WILL be leaving the house. Then, off to the grocery to replenish the good stuff that our family enjoys.Halloween is over and thus the candy needs to be gone too. It is so easy to lose sight of your goals when you've got a 5+ pound box of candy in your kitchen. Personally, I have been having a "few little" pieces here and there and it's getting out of control. My kids are wanting it everyday and it's just crazy!

Another thing that added to my weight gain besides being TOM was that I didn't drink enough water. I KNOW that when I drink ample water the scale always shows it. So I need to make sure and keep drinking the H20!

So, that is the plan for today. Had a little jump in my weight Friday. I know why. I'm doing something about it and moving on. I've got 25.8 pounds to lose by Christmas and IT IS GOING TO HAPPEN. :)

Getting It..

This has been one discombobulating week for me. For starters there was Halloween Monday..all the oodles and oodles of chocolate goodness. Now too mention pizza for dinner and a chocolate cake donut! ARGH!  Then the very next day was my little boys' birthday...cake & ice cream blah, blah, blah... Throw in 1 or 2 fast food trips and its been whack!

Interestingly though I did some things different. I had "1" piece of cake, a smallish piece. "2" pieces of pizza instead of half the damn pizza. Also, McDonalds.. NO FRIES. Hear me? NO FRIES, none, not even one. 1 miniature candy bar instead of 5 or 6....ya getting this?  Yes, I am GETTING IT...I am realizing I CAN enjoy things I like, but keeping in moderation..I am realizing the FRIES are a weakness of mine and I need to just not go there at all. But CAKE...oh sweet baby Jesus, me and cake have a love affair that goes back as long as I can remember. I ate 1 piece on his birthday and a piece yesterday. Today, I am waiting for my sister to get off work and come take the damn thing to her house. YAY!

Thing is I am not denying myself. I am not passing things by. I am not letting myself feel deprived for sake of weight loss.. Nope, I am getting it. And it feels good. OH and BTW, lost 1.2 pounds this week!!

Weigh In Day Today!

Weigh in days are Fridays for me. I didn't weigh in last Friday because I had weighed on Wednesday I believe. Anyway, over the past 9 days I have lost 5.2 pounds!!! YES!!! I think I am finally figuring out what works for me and that feels wonderful! Hope you all are doing well. :)

A Little Tip...

I've been doing really well staying under my caloric goal. One thing I have been doing is having high protein breakfast. Why? Well, protein keeps your body fuller for longer periods of time. For me, the mornings are my run-run-run time while my kids are both in school. I found that if I simply had fruit and a bowl of cereal that I was ok, but was hungry again before lunch.  So what I am doing now is 2 bacon strips & 2 eggs for breakfast. After that I am good to go til lunch, I have energy and I am not craving snacks. I also have been trying to suck down the water!   I'm sure water is a big, big part in fullness.  Anyway, its working or me..thought I would share.

What are you tips for staying full and avoiding the snack attack?

Down

On the scale that is! I've lost 5.4 pounds since October 10th! Now mind you I gained a bit over where I originally had started. So I am only down 0.4 from my original weight, but its still down and not up. It's amazing the changes that can happen when you make a few changes to your diet and lifestyle. The addition of   lots of water and fresh fruits & veggies coupled with exercise has really made a difference. Not just on the scale, but more importantly about how I feel about myself. I have more energy throughout the day and sleeping wonderfully at night. I wouldn't say I have made extreme changes, but very beneficial changes.

My actual weigh in day will still be Fridays. But since I have been without a scale for a bit, I needed to see where I was. My new scale is awesome! It had rave reviews and I would have to agree with them. :)

Its Heerrrrreeeee!

My new EatSmart scale arrived today! I am so excited to try it. My old one, which was a POS, died on me so I am going with the last weight I had on it before it crapped out. I opened the package and put the batteries in and on she went. She lights up with big numbers and the scale itself is rather wide. It has what feels like a thick glass surface. No tapping or touching or waiting! Just get on and it puts out your number. It will flash 3x to let you know its done. I got off and on 3x and the number was the same, down to the ounce! (Not going to count this number as it is well into the afternoon and I am sure my morning number will be less. Although, it is a bit lower than the last scale.)  I put my son on and it and it seems about right for him as well.

So, I am going to weigh in when I wake in the morning and see what it has to say. I'm pretty excited to have it! Here are the pics. First one is right out of the box and the second shows how bright it lights up.  I love it!

P.S. Just tried something. Took my jeans and t shirt off and got back on. SAME weight. Put my jeans and shirt on the scale by themselves, 0. Interesting.

Figuring It Out

That sums up what my life has been like over the last week or so. I've been exercising and keeping under my calories and not craving crap. I finally decided to look at what I have been doing since things seem to be going to smoothly. This is what I am noticing that I am doing differently and its working!

• Drinking 8-12 glasses of water a day OR MORE. Usually more...
• NO fast foods! NONE! (Especially french fries)
• Exercising each day. Even if its just walking 30 minutes.
• Choosing fruit for snacks over high calorie products. I am actually starting to reach for fruits more than ever.
• Making healthier choices like chicken instead of beef or frozen yogurt instead of ice cream. These are making HUGE differences in my daily caloric intake.
• Going to bed at a decent time. I've always been one to go to bed when I am tired, regardless of the time. Now I am finding myself in bed between 8-9pm and getting up at 6am. This helps me by avoiding late night snacking.

On another note, I have not been able to weigh so I have no idea how its working for me. The scale is due in by the 20th!

So that is it on my end. Things are going REALLY well. I am happy and content with my food choices and not hungry.  I do think mega H20 consumption is a big factor. Gotta stay hydrated!

Feeling Good!

This has been a GREAT week. I don't mean simply because I worked out and kept under my caloric goal, I mean I feel great. I haven't felt the all day fatigue I had been feeling and with the water intake increased I have been sleeping well. More water=less Diet Coke.. Diet Coke is a whole other topic.

I still have not received the scale I ordered Monday and after checking my amazon account it shows that it STILL hasn't shipped. The expected delivery date however shows 10/18-10/21, so we shall see. My scale died and the gym scales don't work. The gym is the youth center. It serves as a multi-functional building for everything from working out to children's sports, a lot like a YMCA. I chose this one because its only $30. for a yearly membership as opposed to $35. a MONTH with a contract at the other. Hell, I burn more mowing my huge 3 lawns that I do walking 30 minutes on the treadmill. 

So that's about it for now. Things are going well. This week flew by and left me feeling recharged and ready for the next. I hope you all are doing well also.

**UPDATE: As soon as I hit "Publish Post" I received an email that my scale shipped today. :)

Here's To US!

My friend posted this on his Facebook page today. I read it shortly after I got home from the gym. I am going to print this and hang it on my fridge. I smiled when I read this as I nodded my head from beginning to end. What inspiration! Thanks Rick!

Back into the Groove

Its a new day and a good day! Went and paid my membership for this year at the gym and started my work out. Today I walked 30 minutes on the treadmill. Going to start slow and work my way up. The chaos in my life has somewhat subsided and things are looking great. My scale had died so I was looking forward to weighing at the gym. They have an older physicians scale and a digital. Neither work. I was a bit pissed as I have no clue what my current weight is, so instead of running to Walmart and buying a scale, I placed an order for a scale that Becky had told me about. Its the Eat Smart Precision Scale and after my luck with scales I just pray for consistency. The reviews are staggering so fingers crossed its just what I need. So until it arrives I will have no idea what my weight is. :(  It should be here within 5 days or so.

Logging back in on MFP! YAY! I'm feeling really good after working out. I have to shout out to Becky, God knows I have had my ups and downs and she has never given up hope. Thanks B! Love you girl!

Almost Done!

With art class that is. This class has been like a thorn in my side. I do not like it. Why did I take it? I took it because I thought it would be a cush class compared to the rest of my load. NOT the case. Anyway, lucky for me it is an 8 week class and we are in week 7 now because I am SO over it! SOOOO over it!

On a good note, Monday is almost here...I hear the gym calling for me.

Back in the Game

Ok, feeling a little better about my now less chaotic life. I had been so busy I was to a point where I felt like the world was spinning around me, yikes! Things are settling down more and school work is now in sync and I am ready to get back in the game.  I just purchased my first MP3 player so that I have some tunes to listen to while I rock the treadmill come Monday! Yep, FINALLY hitting the gym. I am ready now. Still working on my eating though, I am bouncing between low carb and low cal and trying to find some middle ground. It will all come together. I think getting into the gym will lift some stress as well.  Hope you all are doing well. Peace.

Taking Some Time Off...

This last month has been crazy. In a good way. In August, both kids started school which left me with an amazing sea of free time to do whatever with. That was exciting. Then as school began, things started getting a little more crazy with essays, discussions, exams and a gazillion deadlines. Not having the babies at home has made things a little better as far as time management for school, but my mind just can't settle down enough to stay put. In other words, I find myself wanting to go go go in the morning since I am flying solo rather than sitting down and getting my work at home and with school out of the way. Like a bird, I have been set free to fly anywhere I want with no bars held and I feel like my wings are gaining more speed each and everyday...

Ok, so what else? Well...I am going to back off from calorie counting, carb counting and the like for now. I am trying to watch what I eat and I am getting ready to start my gym work outs. But I am feeling quite honestly overwhelmed at the moment. Sort of like things are spinning out of control. I forget to put my numbers in then I dwell if I think I went over. I start to get depressed and start eating more. I gotta stop the insanity for a minute. I need to relax.  To breath.. No pressure...  No numbers.

I am, however, thinking about doing a juice fast. I have watched several documentaries on them and the results are amazing..No just for weight, but for clarity, health and a sense of well being...I will keep you all posted. I will still be blogging, but I am not going to worry obsessively about my weight and the numbers right now.

Hope that makes some sense... I need to take some time off. Peace and love to you all   ~Kimberly

This is a Cake Free Zone

Good  morning friends! Its been a few days since I have blogged, quite a few actually. A lot has been going on in my life that has kept me busy. Slowly but surely I am getting back on track.

So, lets talk weight, food and issues for a moment, rather, let me do some bragging and venting if you will.

First the bragging. For the most part, I have been doing well on my eating plan. What eating plan? Atkins. A modified version. I am using the My Fitness Pal calorie calculator and so I am eating under the calories I am supposed to, but with low carb foods only. Does that make sense? For me, the calculator allows 1750 calories a day max for my weight, height and lifestyle. So I stay under that number (that is the goal anyway) by eating 20 carbs or less a day and under 1750 calories a day. Its working for me because as you know protein keeps the body fuller for longer periods of time. I find that I don't snack as much as I normally would when I am on Atkins, so yay me.

Now for the vent. I had some issues this week with a family member bringing sweets. I know she means well, but there has to be some limits. This week she brought a cake over to celebrate my daughters 1st tooth loss. OK, the thought was nice, but I had just got done telling her not to bring it. Plus she knew I was on Atkins. Her way of thinking was "well, it wasn't for you"...OK that was not cool. I am extremely overweight and trying to get my self back in shape as well as helping my kids make better eating choices. Cake is my #1 temptation buster. So to validate herself by saying it wasn't for me just didn't sit right. My reply was 'would you bring alcohol to the house of a recovering alcoholic? No, you would not. Please respect me and please understand I have issues with sugar. Two days later she brought over candy bars. Seriously.  So last night we had a nice talk and I explained to her exactly where I am coming from and I think she gets it. I hope anyway. Needless to say, I tore into the damn cake and candy...I expect bad news on the scale, but I am back to good now. It's like when I am in my house doing my think I am in control. I even grocery shop with a list and don't splurge there either. Anyway, that is my vent.

Come the first of October I am signing up for my gym membership. I am REALLY looking forward to that!

I Have a Confession to Make....

I am addicted to Jersey Shore. Or perhaps I am just addicted to Pauly D. He is one hot young man! The show is a riot! Dancing, drinking, fighting, smushing and the list goes on. At first I was hesitant because my friends advised against watching it, but I did. And now I am into it for nearly 2 whole seasons. I don't have cable, so I have caught up with season 1 and 2 on Netflix. I believe there are 2 more seasons still....I may be having cable installed again..of course there are other shows I like as well...but oh Pauly......MEOWWW!!!

Up

Too much Diet Coke added to back to school stress topped off with some binge eating and I am up 1.6 pounds. Argh..that is frustrating. The good news is there is no more soda in the house. The kids will both be in school Monday and I can breathe just a little more easy. Life with children 24-7 as I have known it for years is about to change and I am finally going to get some me time. You can't appreciate time for yourself until you have gone so long without it. Smile.

Some of the things I am looking forward to with my new found freedom: long, quiet walks in the fall, grocery shopping and actually being able to relax while doing so and take my time perusing the aisles, exercising without munchkins running off with my weights or getting in my way while I am doing so, window shopping at the local antique stores, doing some deep house cleaning.....the skies the limit! Big smile!

So yeah, I gained, but this hell week is almost over and moving on and looking toward a better weigh in next week.

Oh and one more thing.. I will be going to the gym so I will be weighing in on the physicians scale. Hope its more accurate than mine!

A Loss is a Loss

My much anticipated weigh in was less than I expected, but a loss is still a loss. .2 pounds off and I'm okay with that. So long as the scale goes down and not up, I am doing something right.  However, I do think MFP has my caloric intake set high so I am adjusting it to lower my daily caloric intake by 200 calories. My goal this week is to walk 10 miles over the course of 7 days. Here we go!!!!!!

TGIF Folks! Enjoy your weekend!

Having to Modify...

This is week 2 into Jillian Michaels Last Chance Work Out. I'm doing good, except for one thing, my right knee. Its got a crunchy noise when I bend it and has for a while. I took a fall last year and  I am not sure if it is from that or just weight. At any rate, some of the exercises are causing me extreme pain, lasting pain to said knee. So for the time being, I am going to have to skip some of the exercises in the circuits. In particular lunges to said knee, mountain climbers and so forth. The problem I am having is how to count it? If I simply jog in place during those particular circuits would it be fair to claim all the calories?

In the meantime, while I am trying to make provisions to that, I have also incorporated the PowerWalk DVD with Bob. Oh...what a wonderful treat to see his face and positive tone. Such a huge contrast from Jillian. I am walking 2 miles at a time on that DVD. Walking is excellent exercise and I enjoy it!

Tomorrow is weigh in day! Anxious to see how much I have lost!

Ready for Fall

I woke last night/early morning to the sound of thunderous rain beating on my windows. I have to say it was one of the best things I have heard in a while. We've been pretty much in a drought. We had seen 40+ days of over 100 degree temperatures and very little rain. Today's high was around 90. What a pleasant treat. Our meteorologists are calling for random periods of rain over the next several days. How awesome is that?!

Along with the cooler temps comes the feeling of knowing that fall will soon be here. I am ready. SO ready! So much so that today I found myself making chili in the slow cooker and rearranging my living room. Yes, fall makes me happy. I've come to realize I am just not a summer person. To be quite honest, I could survive with Fall, Winter and Spring just fine. There really is no need in temperatures reaching over 80, not in my book anyway...

Sweet & Cold Treat for 48 Calories OMG!

First let me just say that SWIRL STIX are officially my favorite non-dairy Popsicle HANDS DOWN! I bought it for the kids not paying attention to the calories. When I got it home and was putting groceries away, the different flavors caught my eye. Then I flipped it over and its said 47 calories (some say 48, but mine says 47). I thought to myself, what the heck, I'll try it. Let me just say that the cotton candy as well as the applelicious are absolutely out of this world. You MUST try these!!!

The different flavors are:
Orange Dream – Orange & Marshmallow swirl
Verry Berry – Blackberry & Cherry swirl
Cotton Candy – A swirl that speaks for itself  OMG YUM!
Banana Split – Banana, marshmallow & strawberry shortcake swirl
Applelicious – red and green apple swirl MY FAVORITE!
Rainbow – White lemon, Cherry & Blueberry Swirl

A Day of Rest :)

Today I have vowed to chill. No Jillian, no Bob, no movement, just relaxation. 

Last week I did 5 days of the Last Chance Workout and I tell you it is a tough one, at least it was for me. It is supposed to be equivalent to the workouts they do on Biggest Loser in week 8. I believe it. My biceps and calves hurt every morning when I woke. But I also lost 6.4 pound,s so who is complaining?

Thanks to Becky, I was introduced to My Fitness Pal which is a wonderful tool for exercise & calorie management alongside a vast community of users who are seeking to get fit as well. Definitely saves time using this application as it does all the brain work for you!

I am very thankful for my friends, old and new, who help keep me going. Sometimes life is crazy and its easier to quit than keep going. But with friends like mine, everyday is a new day and a new opportunity to push forward. So thank you girls, you know who you are!

My Last Chance Workout Routine KICKS ASS!

Today was day #4. I hurt. No, I REALLY hurt. But I must say, I keep going back for more because of the pain.  Here is the breakdown of Biggest Loser Last Chance Workout. Also, if you are like me and aren’t completely familiar with exercise/weight training names yet, I’ll explain as best I can. You can always google the exercise names. Make sure you have two dumbbells (5-10lbs recommended, depending on your skill level), a mat (if you feel you need it). I use 3 pound weights and my no mat.

CIRCUIT 1:

• Jumping jacks (45 seconds)
• Rows (knees bent shoulder width apart, bend forward slightly, back straight (no curving!), weights in front palms facing each other with weights in hand, and pull back) (20 reps)
• Criss Cross Jumping Jacks (jumping jacks but cross legs in front of one another) (40 seconds)
• Wide Rows (same position as rows, but palms facing down and bring up to sides as if doing push up in the air with your weights) (25 reps)
• Scissor Jumping Jacks (jumping jacks but legs go front and back with each jack) (40 seconds)
• Rear Flies (same stance as rows, palms facing each other with weights and bring out wide) (20 reps)

CIRCUIT 2:

• Jog in Place (35 seconds)
• Basic push ups (if beginner go on knees, always keep back straight) (20 reps)
• High-knees (35 seconds)
• Staggered Push Ups (hand position is staggered and switch with each push up therefore in constant motion - as if you’re walking forward, then backward with ur hands as you lower) (20 reps)
• Butt Kicks (40 seconds)
• Up/Down Planks (plank position - go on knees if beginning - and get down to elbows one at a time, then back up one at a time, and repeat) (20 reps)

CIRCUIT 3:

• Tap & Side-Kick (tap foot to one side and kick side-ways to opposite side) (25 reps)
• Alternating Lunges (step back and lunge down with weights at sides) (25 reps)
• Tap & Side-Kick (opposite side) (25 reps)
• Step Out Squat (weight almost on shoulders, step to side and squat, do both sides alternating) (20 reps)
• Alternating Front Kicks (40 reps)
• Dead Lifts (stand with feet shoulder length apart, bend forward with weights in front palms facing down - keep back STRAIGHT, and back up, then repeat) (30 reps)

CIRCUIT 4:

• Cross Punches (kickboxing style, punch to each side by slightly turning your bod to each side as well and put effort into punches!) (40 reps)
• Basic Bicep Curl w/Right Leg Lifted (so you are on one foot) (20 reps)
• Hook Punches (kickboxing style, again turning body slightly and put effort into hooks!) (50 reps)
• Basic Hammer Curl w/Left Leg Lifted (20 reps)
• Upper Cuts (kickboxing style) (50 reps)
• Pumping curls (do them fast in a fluid motion) (60 seconds)

CIRCUIT 5:

• Jump rope (40 seconds)
• Tricep Curls (in kick-back position, bring arms at 90 degrees passed your back and curl) (30 reps)
• Jump Rope w/Criss Cross Arms (same as jump rope but cross your arms in and out) (40 seconds)
• Tricep Overhead (bring both - or one if you’re beginning) - of your weights on top of head, arms by ears, up and down) (30 reps)
• Right.Left Leg Jump Rope (jump on one leg for 25 seconds and on the other for the other 25 seconds)
• Pumping Triceps (back to kickback position, and do pumping tricep curls in fluid motion) (35 seconds)

CIRCUIT 6: (last circuit and it sucks!)

• Mountain Climbers (get on all fours and mountain climb in fluid motion!) (60 seconds)
• Lateral Raises (Raise weights to shoulder length to side and back down) (20 reps)
• Plank Jacks (plank position and do jacks in plank position - out/in of feet) (35 reps)
• Front Raises (weights in hand bring out arms straight, palms facing down, in front of you to chest level and back down) (20 reps)
• In/Out Plank Mountain Jacks (plank position and jump inward a bit, back, and jack - jump to spread feet, jump back to feet together, inward again, and repeat) (40 seconds)
• Arnold Presses (hard to explain, please google) (10 reps)

And you’re done!! This should last you 30 minutes at least! No rest in between (if you must take at the MOST 5 seconds rest) is the whole point of circuit training. I can tell you that if you are not in decent shape it will kick your ass, but you will feel the difference in a matter of days!

Oh My Muscles!

This will be day 3 (only day 3) of my Jillian workout and I am sore as hell. I am clearly out of shape, but even so, her program is an ass kicker. Its a 30 minute aerobic workout designed to be done each day. The DVD cover says you can lose up to 30 pounds in 6 weeks, and I believe that!  Each day is different and then after 1-2 weeks you move to the next one. Her workout includes warm-up and cool-down as well. You will need a pair of hand dumbbells for some of the exercises. I can tell you that each time I finish I am a sweaty mess and my heart is beating out of my chest.

I had put the weight back on, which I think was mostly water weight and now am back down 3 pounds so far! Can't wait to do it again tonight!

P.S. I have a new found respect for the Biggest Loser contestants. I'm hurting from a total of 1 hour..I can't imagine doing this all day, everyday!

School and Jobs

School is upon us. Less than a month away. My kids are ready, but for me, not so much. It will be my sons first year at a new pre-school and my daughter will be in 1st grade. And I, well I will be in year 3 of 5 working on my degree in computer science.

Lately, with the heat of this wicked summer that is bearing down on us, I have been thinking about all the cooler places that I would rather live. If truth be known, we live here because my parents, the only grandparents my kids have, live here. Now don't get me wrong, Oklahoma is not a bad place to live, not really. But, the summers are very humid and nasty, we have tornadoes in the spring and we have ice in the winter. It is relatively cheap to live here, well, really cheap to live here as opposed to my native state of California. But when it comes to jobs, Houston, we have a problem.

Jobs are slim to none around these parts. I'm sure the same could be said for many states with the current financial situation our country seems to be in. So I had a talk with my mom and she understands that once I graduate, wherever the jobs are is where I will need to move my family. Will it suck to be away from my folks? Sure it will. My kids love, love, love the grandparents as do I. But love does not pay the bills and that's where we will be.  I have 3 years to plan and save, because once I graduate that's it. Ideally, I could find something around OKC or Tulsa, but who knows. To say I am worried is probably a fair assumption. We will see what life throws at us..

WhoNu!?

I happened upon a coupon for a "nu" kind of cookies and thought I would give it a try. But first, let me tell you what attracted me to this "nu" cookie...

The website explains that each 3 cookie serving contains:

• As much fiber as compared to a bowl of oatmeal
• As much calcium and Vitamin D as compared to an 8oz glass of milk
• As much Vitamin C as as compared to cup of blueberries 
• As much iron as compared to a cup of cooked spinach
• As much Vitamin B12 as compared to a cup of cottage cheese with fruit
• As much Vitamin A as compared to an 8 oz glass of tomato juice
• As much Vitamin E as compared to two cups (16oz) of carrot juice

Well, I found that attractive! So with coupon in hand I headed to the store. At walmart, they retail for 2.78. I had a coupon for $1.00 off, so I paid 1.78! The website http://whonucookies.com/ shows 4 different types of cookies, however I only located 2. I chose the crispy. I was thinking they would probably not taste all that hot, but with the nutrients suggested I couldn't help but try it.

Yum! Yes, YUM! These little cookies are wonderful! For a 3 cookie serving it is 150 calories, Fat 7g, Carb 22g, Fiber 3g, Protein 2g.  A nice snack with healthy rewards!

After years of research, testing, (and gallons of milk), the ingenious people at Suncore Products arrived at four scrumptious cookies, based on classic cookie flavors – only these are rich with calcium, iron and vitamins A, B, C, D and E. They also have 3 grams of fiber and a total of 20 essential vitamins and minerals. “Who knew a cookie could be so delicious and nutritious?” Someone wondered aloud. “Who knew? Hey, I kinda like the sound of that.” So they changed the spelling a bit, and the rest as they say, is cookie history.  -www.whonucookies.com

Postcrossing!

I don't know why it's taken me so long to blog about postcrossing. It is just as much a part of my life as the air I breathe. Have you heard of it? Allow me to share it with you...

Postcrossing.com is a website that was created to allow people from all over the world to send and receive postcards.   "The goal of this project is to allow people to receive postcards from all over the world, for free. Well, almost free! The main idea is that: if you send a postcard, you will receive at least one back from a random Postcrosser from somewhere in the world." -postcrossing.com

Some people are attracted to this simply because they collect postcards, others because they collect stamps. Me, well I just think its awesome to interact with people from all over the world. I send a postcard and usually within a week I have one in return from some other country.

Why not give it a try? The only way someone gets your address is once their postcard is registered as received by the person on the other end. Totally safe! And you can even do what is called a direct swap. Say you are yearning for a postcard from say Ireland (as was my case) and you just can seem to get one from there. You can search for users in said country and narrow your search to those who are interested in direct swaps. Message the user, ask if they want to do a direct swap and you are on your way.

Its a pretty cool thing they have going on over there! You should check it out. =)

Below I have posted just a few of the many beautiful postcards I have received from all over. In a later blog I will try to add more. What a joy!

Ireland

Netherlands

Italy

Japan

Russia

I Heart Bacon

Ever daydream about bacon? Ever think "what is the deal with bacon" that makes me love it so much? Is it the aroma that fills the room whilst it cooks? Is it the crunchy feel between your teeth when you bite down on it? What is it?  Whatever it is, I love bacon! 

Today I was thinking of all the ways you could serve bacon. I think one of my favorite ways to have bacon is on a BBQ cheeseburger. Seems odd when you think about it, pork on top of beef; pig on top of cow..ok, thinking too much there. I just know that when I smell bacon cooking I must have some. I think it should be mom, baseball and bacon. What do you think? Do you like it soft or crispy? What do you absolutely have to have bacon on? 

Wk 1 = -10.8 POUNDS!

Well, its my first weigh in after being AWOL for a bit, and I am proud to say I did very well. My weight loss for my 1st week back on Atkins = -10.8 pounds! Woo Hoo! Now I know what the Biggest Loser Contestant's feel like when they hit those big weeks. You can't imagine how big the smile was on my face when I looked at the scale!

I've stuck to it all week. No cheating. (Not like me!) And did my best to put away as much Dasani as humanly possible. I still had my Diet Coke, but matched it equally or more with water. For those of you who may not be familiar with Atkins or Low Carb plans,  protein keeps you fuller for a longer time than carbs. So if I have a bun less bacon cheeseburger and salad for lunch, I am set til dinner. Being that I am a major grazer/snacker, this is helpful for me. I'm just not hungry between meals.

I'm ecstatic that I am 1/3 of my way to the 30 pounds challenge!! Go me, go!

Setting Goals

How often have you set a goal and then realized not long after that you really weren't able to achieve it. Or maybe you could have achieved it, but since it was so big you gave up early? I think the same could be said for setting goals for weight loss. More specifically if you have quite a bit to lose.

If you are like a lot of Americans, you are carrying around some extra baggage, and I don't mean the vacationing kind. Often, people wait until the New Year and set this massive goal of losing 50-100 pounds. Or you might hear the infamous "I'm starting on Monday". Then, after they have lost 10 or so, the balance looks so big that it is easier to say screw it. Fail.

Reality. What if you need to lose 100+ pounds, and instead you tell yourself you need to lose 20. Would it be safe to say that you can lose 20 pounds? Would it be fair to say you could do this rather easily? Sure you could! 20 pounds is a walk in the park. Sensible eating and a little exercise and that 20 is gone. Goal reached! Wow, accomplishment. Reaching your goal is euphoric! You lost 20 pounds! Now..can you lose 30? Sure you can!  You get it, little goals, more realistic goals...and in the end..100+ lost. 

Keep your head up knowing you are awesome. You can do anything you set your mind to. Just set your eyes on the prize and the sky is the limit.

Determination

If you asked me this week how I am feeling in one word it would have to be determined. I don't know, I have tried and tried to get this weight off and something or other has continuously dragged me down. Not this time. Nope.

I hopped on the scale today for giggles and about fell to the floor. Not going to post my weight until Friday, but if today is a sign of what is to come, I am a very happy lady. =)

I've eaten almost only protein, kept my carbohydrates to under 20 a day as Atkins advises while on induction. I have been drinking plenty of water, but still drinking diet coke regularly as well.  Diet coke and I go back and forth but that is a whole other blog post.

I have a LONG ways to go. But for today, I am focused only on a 30 pound goal. I can do this. 30 pounds is a walk in the park, made even easier with the awesome support I receive from my girls. =) So here is to another wonderful day. Cheers!

Simple Exercise...with kids!

So as it stands now its more than likely both kiddos will be in school this August. When that happens I am set to hit the gym. The new found freedom I will have is going to be so appreciated. But, in the mean time what am I doing?

Here in Oklahoma, the weather is very hot and humid. Between noon and 7 we usually stay in. BUT, in the morning and in the evening on any given day you will find me and my kiddos out running around in the yard. Generally, 1 hour in the a.m. and 1 hour in the p.m. Both times of the day when I return to the house I am and have been in a full sweat. So for me, THAT is exercise. 2 hours a day running, playing, throwing balls, jumping rope, playing tag..all the things that the kids enjoy.  If I am not playing I am mowing my lawn.

Keep in mind when I say lawn, its like 3 lawns.I have a HUGE backyard, fairly large backyard and side yard. Today I mowed (push mowed) just the back. From start to finish it was 45 minutes. That is not counting the front or side. So that too is good exercise. And again, I am incorporating the kids as they are out running and playing while I mow. So that's it folks, I'm taking advantage of the sweat factor in this miserable summer weather until August.

What are you doing that also gets your kids involved?

30 Pounds Off by Christmas!

So here is the deal..I quit watching what I was eating and put all the weight I lost back on, +2. Its my fault. I love to eat. So here I am, pissed off and wanting to kick my own ass. Lord knows I can't miss it. (Ok, that was supposed to be funny). Anyway, back to Atkins. I have too. For me, any other way of eating that allows me to have carbs is just an open door for a pig out. I have to get this weight off. I know it will kill me if I don't.

Starting fresh today. Making a mini goal to have 30 pounds off by Christmas. I can do it. That's 6 months basically. Baby steps and staying focused this time. I gotta shout out to Becky & Lori & LeAnne..The 3 of you have been my inspiration and my support time no matter what. Love you girls!

Little Coupon Shopping Anyone?

Today we had a list of errands to run, one of which was a coupon stop at Walmart. While I am no pro at couponing, I am starting to feel really comfortable with using them. So what was the goods today?

Everything in this picture (less the bananas) totaled $54.52 and after I turned over my coupons, my balance was $2.12! Woot!

5 - AirWick Freshmatic Air Fresheners
2 - Angel Soft 4pk toilet paper
1 - Carefree liners
4 - Scotch Tapes
10 - Dial Body Wash
10 - Tic Tacs

Summer Time

I just realized it has been over a month since I have posted a blog. Shame on me. Life sure gets busy around my house, that's for sure!

So, school is out, summer time is in full swing. What's new around my house you ask? We have been couponing quite a bit, lots of shopping for near free. I have been working on getting my stockpile built up for a 6 month run on food and 12 month on non-food items.

There has been a lot of flack on coupon users ever since the Extreme Couponing show started. I've heard on more than one occasion couponers referred to as hoarders. Wow, really? When I think of a hoarder, I think of a house full of crap, mold, filth, bugs, animal feces, clutter...well you get the picture.  On the other hand, a stockpile is a nicely organized supply of items that you use on a regular bases. It just happens to be in a larger quantity. Why do people "stockpile"?  We stockpile by purchasing items we use when they go on sale for a very low price, then use our coupons to drive the cost even lower. By buying in larger quantity we reduce the chance of having to purchase again, at a retail price, until the next sale. This way we save $$ by not having to pay retail every time we run out. Make sense?  I am, for the most part, stocked for 1 year on most all sundry items. Right now we could probably live for 1 month out of our pantry, so we have a ways to go to be where I want. Think for a minute of how much money you spend a month on groceries, cleaners, sundry items, etc...now think about the savings you could have if you didnt have to buy these items for a few months..nice eh?

So what else is new? Trying to work in a few road trips before school starts, Not sure where yet though, as I have numerous places I think the kiddos would like to go. Woolaroc has kids fest creeping up and there is a big possibility that we may be in attendance. I think the kids would love it!

Jacob is starting pre-school in August which will be a much appreciated break for me. I must say, I am looking forward to having a few hours a day to do whatever I want.

How about weight loss you ask? Well, not so much. I do have a plan however. I've not counted calories, I have however been somewhat watching the portions of food I eat. In August I will finally be able to go to the gym! I cannot wait!!!

So that's about it for now. We spend a lot of time outside, shopping and appts so I haven't been blogging much. Just been enjoying my simple life with my little ones. Hope you all are well!

Christmas Shopping?

Some of you might be wondering why I am talking about Christmas in May! Well, you know as well as I do that before we know it Christmas will be here. I wanted to share something exciting with you on how you can get free money that would be great to help with the Christmas shopping!

Every time I earn 450 swagbucks I get a 5.00 amazon gift card.. Stay with me here..the gift cards are good for 2 years. You can earn points by simply taking daily polls, surfing on their page via the swagbuck search engine and so much more! They give out swagbucks on their blogs, you just enter the free codes.

The best part? You are already online surfing, there is NO cost to you, its free! The reason I am telling you NOW is that if you get started now who knows, you could earn 50, 100 or more swagbucks to purchase amazon gift cards with.

When you search their site on Fridays, its mega buck day! You can earn a ton of swagbucks!

Oh and guess what, you don't have to simply buy Amazon gift cards, you can redeem your points for so much more! So why not give it a try? Any extra money helps in times like these..of course me, I love Amazon!

Goodbye Spring Semester 2011!

Who would have thought at the age of 40 I would have just completed 2 years of college? Well, if you would have asked me 10 years ago, I would have told you no way. Well, I did it. Yesterday was the last day of Spring Semester for me, it was the completion of two years at Northern. It has not always been easy, especially when the kiddos take a mind to stay up late on a night when I have a 10 page essay to write. LOL! I think that is why I am so excited, just knowing the things I had to get through to be where I am today. So there ya go, a little about me..

NOW, onto the issues I am currently facing. My weight and my way of eating. I was doing well until about 2 weeks ago, or about there. Suddenly I find myself wanting to eat and graze and eat. Not for satiety, but simply because 'it sounds good'. This has been a problem for many years, which has culminated in the weight I am today. To be honest I don't know what I weigh now. I have 2 scales. One scale is a digital and the other an analog. The digital measures me roughly around 10 pounds heavier than the analog. I have noticed on several occasions that the digital when weighing several times consecutively has changed +/- up to 4 pounds! Well, I know I didn't gain 4 in a minute so wth? The analog, well if I lean or stand a certain way, the dial moves, so who the hell knows. I could way more or less and wouldn't know any better.

Well, now that school is out, it does release quite a bit of pressure and time from my day. So now, I am focusing on me. I keep teeter-tottering with the idea of Atkins. Bottom line? I can lose weight FAST. Then I keep coming back to do I really want to lose it that fast? I know from past experience I will gain it back FASTER...so here I am. What to do?

#1. I am going to ditch the analog scale. Any movement on this scale changes the number, screw it!
#2. I am tracking my calories at http://www.sparkpeople.com/ (its free and easy!)
#3. Limiting my Diet Coke, increasing my water.
#4. Getting back to taking all the vitamins that made me feel wonderful. (I don't know why I simply stopped taking them)
#5. Blog. Blogging helps me with accountability. Responses are my inspiration. Hand in hand its like a magic high.
#6. Move more, way more. This is key.

So that is it. That is what I have today. Glad school is out and now focusing on taking care of me.

Peace out ♥

Summer Break

Summer break is close at hand. I have 2 finals left to take next week and my daughter has 14 days of school. I have been scouring websites of fairly local places to try and map out some fun places to take my kiddos this summer. Here are a few of the places I am hoping to take them to:

• Woolaroc
• Barnum & Bailey Circus
• Oklahoma City Zoo  *especially Wednesdays in July & August 1.00 admission!

Ok, the list is not finished. I also want to take them to one of the many Native American Pow-Wows our state hosts. And some other festivals here in Oklahoma.

I'm extremely bothered by the price of gas! I know it doesn't help to gripe, but it sure does put a damper on how far your road trips are. We are closing in on 4.00 a gallon already and its not even May yet.

Easter Goodness

I cooked. A LOT.

I ate. A LOT MORE.

I failed to keep track of calories. I had large portions. I ate sugary goodies.  I haven't been drinking my water.

I expect a gain this week.

And now, back to the program.. Pumping down water now and tracking my calories...

Hope you all are well :)

The Weight Loss Journey

As you may have noticed, I have broadened my page to reflect my life more so than simply my weight loss journey. I don't want my life to be consumed with what I eat. Having said that, my weight loss journey is going good. I am really excited that I am not gaining my weight back. I mean I have my weeks where I am up a pound or so, but I lose it and more eventually. This is key to weight loss, for me anyway.

I cancelled my membership to WW. Not because they are bad, but because I don't want to continue to pay for it. Instead, I am doing the American Heart Association caloric intake. Its *alot* like WW but without the points and without the $. Its basically eating the calories you need to which will allow you to lose 1-2 pounds a week. For me, I can have 1800-2300 calories a day. I am happy with that. And if truth be told, at 40 years old and having tried nearly every diet out there, I do not care if I lose 2 or 3 or 7 pounds a week. So long as I am losing something, I know that my body is doing what I need it to do.

I allow myself a certain amount of  calories for each meal and then snacks are 100 calories or less. Mostly fruit or veggies. I have to tell you, it is working for me. I am happy! Calories are easy to count because you can find them on almost everything you buy.

So, weigh in is tomorrow. I have had a couple days where I had some chocolate, not more than my daily calories allowed, but I have consumed an awful lot of diet coke over water. I am sitting here sucking down the water now! I am finding the best way to limit my pop intake is by only putting in a couple of cans in the fridge each day and leaving the rest out. I will NOT drink hot pop, blech!

Lately I have been quite the shopping girl! Hitting sales with coupons and paying so little that one day the lady behind me in line asked me if I was the "coupon queen". She saw my total start at $70 and after coupons show $6~! That was a good day. And I have to say, a diversion to sitting in the house stuffing my face. :)

Hope you are all doing well on plan!

Wal-Mart Coupon Deal for 4/11/2011

Items

• 12 Similac quarts @$3.84
• 5 Suave Childrens Shampoo @$1.98
• 5 Oil of Olay 2 pack bar soap @$2.72
• 1 fizzy bath tub color tablets (not shown) for .98

TOTAL: $70.56

Coupons

• Similac $5/1  x12
• Suave ..50/1  x5
• Oil of Olay $2/1  x5

TOTAL AFTER COUPONS: $.06

(This does not include sales tax)

I will donate the Similac, I do not have young children that use this. My reason for purchasing it was clearly overage. The difference between the 3.84 item price and 5.00 off manufacture coupon helped offset balances from other items.


***UPDATE: All similac donated!! Yay!

Stockpile!

So I have learned that items go on sale and through a cycle. When you find an item on a rock bottom price, you will not see that happen again for 12 weeks. So, you stock up on it if it is an item you use.

Well....our local grocer had Diet Coke 20 packs for 3.73! AWESOME price, right? WELL, on the boxes were peelies that said $2.00 off of 2 20 packs..So, I got mine for 2.73 each! (I had the cubes that I had purchased before I knew this other sale was going to hit. Needless to say, I am good on Diet Coke for a LONG time!

A Strange Week..

That is the only way I can sum it up.I've been swamped with homework, I've been trying to stay on top of housework, I'm trying to get some genealogy research done, keeping an eye on my baby seedlings and for some reason I feel like overwhelmed..gee, wonder why? LOL!

I will be so glad when school is out in about 7 weeks. This has been an especially busy semester. Probably because my daughter started Kindergarten this year. I feel like I am going 90 million directions. Just ready to breathe, no deadlines, no exams, no extensive reading over and over to "get it".  I am ready for summer vacation.

My eating has been, for the most part, good! I am more so sticking with calories. I find, FOR ME, that calories are easier to control than points. I mean I can go in the store, look at the box and know instantly if its something that I want to buy based on calories. I allow myself 500 calories max per meal 3x a day with fruit or veggies in between. Its been going really good. I really want to get more exercise in. Wish I had someone to watch my son so I could go work out, but its just not happening. I hope he will be accepted into the daycare/headstart for fall, I will be a treadmill walking fool if he does. :)

Its beautiful weather out today, loving life and all things. 1 pound away from a 20 pound weight loss, that is amazing. It has taken me longer than others, but my big excitement is that I have kept my weight off, yay!

So now I am off to get a shower and go see what good sales are on for my stockpile.

Back to Coupons

I really get a high from coupons, I must admit it. I was hard and heavy into coupons for a minute, but school and kids somewhat took over. More so school. Well, now that summer break is near, I am sorting and clipping coupons again, ready for the fun shopping trips.

As someone who loves to shop (who doesn't) I take pleasure in shopping with coupons. Why? Its the thrill of free or near free items. Its saving my money but using coupons to purchase multiple items so that I save even more money the next month. I don't spend much out of pocket and come home with a trunk full of goodies.

Currently, I have a stockpile of shampoo and creme rinse to last for a year. No joke. I probably paid 25 center a bottle. Sundry items are running only about 3 - 4 months out. So yeah, this is the time to get focused and build my stockpile. Summer time stocking up leaves me with less shopping to do in the winter and enjoy being in my warm and cozy home!

Do you use coupons? Do you stockpile?

Diet Coke....

Oh my old friend, Diet Coke, made her way back into my fridge. I love my DC, but it gives me issues. So this week I show a gain of 1 pound. Not because I had a diet coke, but because I consumed diet coke primarily in place of the water I had been drinking. So, I was 1 pound from 20 and now I am back down to 2 pounds to go.

No big deal! I went and restocked my bottle water yesterday, so I am good for this week, or at least until I get back to the store. I was consuming about a case (24 bottles) every 5 days...WELL.. to show you how much diet coke I have drank this week, I have only consumed 5 bottles...16.9 ouncers...so yeah, there is my 1 pound gain and I can see it now.

Well, I am not going to let it get me down. Its a beautiful day. We are re-organizing bedrooms, plantings seeds and going outdoors to play. Life is too good to let a pound get in the way, next week, I hope to be at a 20 pound loss. :)

***On a seperate note, I am not counting ounces on the scale. I am only going by pounds since my scale decided to show my weight in kilograms. Hopefully I can figure out how to get it back to pounds!!***

UPDATE: On the bottom of the scale is a little button with the words KG/LB next to it...one push an voila! Back to pounds! I dont dare get on now though! :)

Raised Beds for Vegetables and Flowers

That's right, I am going to be planting this year. Since I do not have the best of luck planting directly into the ground, I am going with raised beds. Doesn't seem too difficult. I have the seeds and am getting ready to sow them. Next I need to find some inexpensive wood to make the beds. Then I need to figure out where to put them, in the front or back. My yards are not fenced in so I am trying to think which would be a better location. I have various veggies to plant and then I am wanting to plant a couple flowers...I will definitely post pictures before, during and after!

Dropped the Ball

That sums up my way of eating lately. It has been cold and cloudy and dreary lately. I have noticed that during this kind of weather I tend to want to eat and eat, which I have been doing.  When it is sunny, I tend to be outdoors, running around and sticking to plan. So yeah, I've dropped the ball..but I picked it back up and am moving on.

Becky, thank you for being my friend. For noticing when I am not posting much. For checking on me. Thank you for being there. YOU help to keep me on my toes. So yeah, THANKS!

Now where the hell is my sun?  :)

Hog and Hominy

I was doing some recipe searching for something to use with my leftover pork steaks when I stumbled upon this recipe. Its a civil war era dish called "Hog and Hominy".  I will cook up some fresh cornbread to go with. So, this is what we are having for dinner tonight. Its only supposed to reach 50 today and its supposed to rain! It feels quite chilly right now.

"Dice up the pork and stir it into a medium-sized saucepan with a can of white or yellow hominy with the liquid, a dash of garlic, a tablespoon of diced onion, and a teaspoon of parsley flakes. Heat through, salt and pepper to taste and serve with fresh hot cornbread."

I will post a follow up tonight or tomorrow and let you know how it turns out!

---

A Great Weight Loss Week

Down 2 pounds for the week!!!  That is really exciting! I am trying to take it slow so that "this time" it stays off. I am doing Weight Watchers, er, with a new twist.  I track points and keep track of my weight online, but in reality, I am using the daily calorie intake suggested by the American Heart Association. Now, I'm not saying that Weight Watchers doesn't work, it does! But I am doing what works best for me, so please, no flaming. 

I am consuming around 1800 calories a day, give or take a few. If I need more, I eat more. I am in no rush. All I know is that I am feeling better than I have in a very long time. I have loads of energy, I am drinking lots of water and I am moving more than I used too.

So here we are, 19 pounds down since January 8th.  Not a lot when you think of the time, but I have kept it off, and that is what matters most to me. 6 pounds to go until I get to wear my Biggest Loser shirt! Woot!

Get $50.00 in Free Gas!

Do you eat cereal? If you do, you are in luck! For every 10 boxes of Kellogg's cereal you buy you can get $10.00 in free gas. You can do this 5 times thus allowing you $50.00! Follow the link and print the rebate form 5 times!

Rebate for Free Gas!

New Capri Pants!

My old Capri's were falling off me, oh darn! I have jeans that fit comfortably, but no Capri's. I like to wear Capri's in Spring and Summer more than jeans so a new pair were in order. I could have went to the thrift stores, but with the price of gas being what it is I opted for a local store that has them for 16.00! Score! Its nice to be feeling comfortable in the new ones versus swimming in the old! Losing weight really feels good!!!

Has It Really Been Two Years?

Today I registered for Fall classes at my school. 2011/2012 school year will be my last before I transfer across the street to the university. I could have transferred sooner, but the classes are much cheaper at the community college level, so I am taking all my general classes here.

My major is sociology. My original plan was to major in education, but due to the current economy/jobs situation I did not want to limit myself to one specific occupation. I still would love to teach, but now I will have a degree that gives me a few more options.

Its hard to believe that in a couple months I will have 2 years behind me. While losing my job was initially devastating, it has really turned into a blessing. As they say, when one door closes, another one opens. So true.

A Day at The Oklahoma City Zoo

We made many memories over Spring Break. We played out in the yard, picnics at the parks, stayed up late and camped out in my room. Clearly, the best memory of the week was St. Patricks day at the Oklahoma City Zoo.

We were lucky enough to see the new elephant exhibit, watch the Sea Lion show, ride a carousel for the first time, gaze in awe at the meerkats and walked all over the place, 5 hours in total.

Here are a few pics from our zoo adventure.