Thursday, November 24, 2011

Been absent, but still here.

I am still here.  I haven’t opened up this blog, my email or read any of yours for almost two weeks,.  I am holding strong and maintaining my weight.  This morning pre-Thanksgiving feasting I was at 185.1.  We will see how things pan out on my weigh in day Saturday.

My kids have been sick with runny noses, coughs and an ear infection.  I haven’t been able to go to the gym for a couple weeks and really my priority has been just the care of my kids.  We have been hovering at home for the most part, with a few walks here and there.

I didn’t update for the Christmas Dress Challenge last weekend, so I guess I am out.  I haven’t really put it as a priority in my life right now.  I was excited to have a challenge to keep me going, but my kids have been sick it seems like all fall, and now winter is about here and we are still fighting buggy germs.  I have also been fighting off a stuffy  head, sore throat and runny nose as well.  I have been downing the Coldcalm and Zicam like there is no tomorrow.  It hasn’t gotten worst, so maybe it is working.

Even though I am dropping out the Challenge, I am not giving up.  I am hoping to get back on track soon and really hoping that my kids starting getting well enough that I can start taking them back to the gym with me.

This post is full of randomness.  Today is Thanksgiving and I am so very grateful for all of the many blessings in my life.  I have a wonderful family and I feel so grateful to have most of them near enough to gather for holidays like today.  Although we have been battling germs on the home front I am so thankful for me and my family’s health.  Despite the crankiness we have all had over the past month or so, overall we are healthy.  Yeah, I am still in the overweight category, but when I have gone to the doctor all other things check out to be healthy.

I am grateful for my husband’s job.  He doesn’t particularly like his job, but he has stuck it out for 5+ years.  We are on hot pursuit for a new job, and he actually has his first interview next Friday!!  We are not too excited that the job is 2 hours away from where we live now, but if every thing comes together we will move our family to this little po-dunk town, which feels like it is in the middle of nowhere.  I just want my husband to be in a job where he is happy and feels valued by his skills. If moving is what we need to do, it is what we will do.

I am so grateful to be a mom.  My kids are active and keep me on my toes, but they are fun.  My 2 ½ year old daughter is starting to get stronger language skills and this has helped so much in communicating what she wants.  My one year old is full of smiles and laughs (when he isn’t feeling lousy with an ear ache!).  He just brings me so much joy!  I feel blessed to be able to be at home with them.  We make sacrifices where needed and make it work. Being a mom is awesome.

I am grateful for a warm home and modern technology, it just makes life really great!

PS—My sister who has struggled with her weight all of her adult life, has been working hard at losing weight.  She has been on the journey for over a year now and this week she hit the 100 lb pound mark, 101 lbs to be exact!!  I am so proud of her, and she actually weighs less than me now (she is 7 inches taller than me!!! I am the short runt of the family of tall people).  I think that is a pretty awesome accomplishment.

Have a safe Black Friday, for all of those who dare go out shopping.  I may run to a store, but no early crazy shopping for me this year!

Sunday, November 13, 2011

Visual Motivation


I know many of you have things to keep you motivated.  Some of you have incentives, or visuals to remind you of your journey.  I decided that I would like to have a little reminder of where I am headed, and where I have been.

This is my little marble monitor. With each pound I lose I get to add a marble.  I have added lines for every 10 lbs.  I made this around a month ago and I haven’t been able to add any marbles.  I haven’t really lost any weight.  My efforts have slowed down and so has my loss.  I look forward to a full vase!

What are you doing to keep your motivation rolling?

Jeans: Picture Update

Picture Update:  Even though I haven’t lost much weight over the past two months (about 5 lbs), my clothes are fitting differently.  At the beginning of summer I found these jeans in a box of clothes (size 16).  I was thrilled mid-summer when I pulled them on and they fit.  They were a little snug at first but now they are super baggy, especially in the rear.

My one year old is always tugging on my pants.  He isn’t quite walking and his way of getting around is holding onto my legs and walking.  He has pulled my too big pants down several times.  Most of my pre-mom clothing is in the 10-12 range and right now I am about a size 14.  So I have got to work harder to get back into those clothes!!

I headed to a thrift sale a couple of weeks ago in search for some new jeans.  The local children’s clothing consignment store also sells juniors clothes as well. They were having a rocking $.50 sale so my quest was to find a pair or two that fit.  I found two pair, both jr’s size 13.  I knew if they didn’t fit, I would like to work towards them working out soon!  The first pair, (pictured below) is a bit on the tight side, but with a long shirt to cover my muffin top they are tolerable.  The second pair which I didn’t take a picture of actually fit pretty good.  I am grateful to have some new pants that are not constantly falling off.  A bit on the tight side, but we will keep working on that.


When it comes to my Christmas goal dress, I am afraid to try it on.  My belly was a half inch bigger when I measured last week.  My legs and lower part of me is getting smaller and my belly and chest are getting bigger!! Yikes, for what ever reason my body wants to think it is pregnant or something.  I am 97% sure I am not, there is always that 3% uncertainty lingering, especially because my tummy still looks it!  Uggg!

How are your clothes feeling these days?

Christmas Dress Countdown Challenge: Week 9

Initial: 189
Week 1: 187.3 (-1.7)
Week 2: 186.9 (-.4)
Week 3: 185.0 (-1.9)
Week 4: 187.3 (+2.3)
Week 5: 186.5 (-.08)
Week 6: 185.5 (-1)
Week 7: 186.5 (+1)
Week 8: 186.5 (0)
Week9: 185.5 (-1)

This week was yet again another roller coaster week.  My sweet son had his first birthday, and both of my kids have been struggling with illness (some stomach flu and colds).  I only made it to the gym once.  It is frustrating to want and have the desire to work out and have things get in the way of it.  I have accepted that this is life and things will stand in the way.  Working out at home just hasn’t been going well with my kids on edge.  I am aiming for this next week to be a better week, with high hopes that the kids will be well again.

I had way too many sweets again this week.  Why must I be so weak!  I did better the later part of the week, but I am hoping next week will be even better.

What is your best defense to your weaknesses?

Sunday, November 6, 2011

Christmas Dress Countdown Challenge: Week 8

Christmas Dress Countdown Challenge: Week 8

Initial: 189
Week 1: 187.3 (-1.7)
Week 2: 186.9 (-.4)
Week 3: 185.0 (-1.9)
Week 4: 187.3 (+2.3)
Week 5: 186.5 (-.08)
Week 6: 185.5 (-1)
Week 7: 186.5 (+1)
Week 8: 186.5 (0)

I have not had it in me to blog lately.  My personal blog hasn’t even been updated for over a month.  I have been busy and I haven’t given up, I just don’t fee like sitting on the computer to write.  Ugg.

So I am still here.  I am still working out.  I am still watching what I eat.  No super numbers to report though. 

I was feeling really good about this week. I was down to 183.3 on Thursday and I was excited to be able to report a loss.  Then yesterday morning I went to weigh-in which should have been my official weigh in day but I was astounded by the number 189 (and that was after I had a really great work out, that was even higher than when I began this challenge!!).  I know it was water weight, I have been drinking a ton of water and haven’t had to go to the bathroom nearly as much as I should, weird.  But six pounds over one day where I didn’t go crazy on my calories!!!! Holy Cow.  This is why I decided to post today’s weight rather than yesterdays of 189!

That is one big reason I would rather go by how my clothes fit and my measurements.  I did some experimenting a week or so ago.  I weighed myself in the morning when I first got up.  I ate breakfast and started drinking my water then weighed myself again.  Through the day I periodically weighed myself just to see how many pounds I vary through the day.

Interestingly enough, I varied about four pound though the day.  Really if you think about it drinking two glasses of water you will “gain” a pound.  I often forget to weigh myself at the same time of day and almost always drink a lot of water before I weigh in.

I am not making excuses about not losing lots of weight for this challenge, rather sharing why I don’t let the scale ruin my day. 

I did get in four great work outs this week.  It has been awesome to feel sore.  But the time change this morning wasn’t so awesome.  My kids are early risers and 5am was way too soon for me for a Sunday morning.

Have a great week!