The Climb

I can't believe I'm about to quote Hanna Montana but....

I can almost see it
That dream I am dreaming
But there's a voice inside my head saying
YOU'LL NEVER REACH IT

Every step I'm taking
Every move I make feels
Lost with no direction
My faith is shaking

But I gotta keep trying
Gotta keep my head held high

Ain't about how fast I get there
Ain't about what's waiting on the other side
It's the climb!

The weekends are hard for me. I just can't keep my routine going when I have grocery shopping and swimming lessons and hair appointments and a husband hanging out. I can't even take my vitamins. What the heck is up with that?

My neck is better...it hurts in the morning when I get up because I can't stop sleeping on my right side. I still haven't scheduled my massage.....

On a positive note....Saturday I found myself all by myself out running errands and decided to stop by a new grocery store that just opened on the other side of town. It is a GREAT store. They have a fabulous deli with a salad bar, hot food bar and other items prepared by a chef. I selected three items to share with my husband and also 3 donuts that we split 4 ways with the kids. It was the perfect amount of food (and treat), I didn't overeat and I was satisfied.

Today, we ended up going to lunch at the last minute. We almost went to Subway but I felt like something different so we went to Rumbi Island Grill. I could have had a rice bowl or a sandwich but I chose a salad and I left the dressing off.

Aloha Chicken Salad....Exotic Field Greens, chicken breast, diced mango, gorgonzola, red pepper, red onion and tortilla strips. It was great!

Rumbi is nice enough to post their nutritional info and this salad (without dressing) comes out to 440 calories, 17 g of fat, 43 carbs, 5 grams of fiber and 31 grams of protein. Not bad....I think I ate less than that because I did not eat the little triangle of flat bread that came with it.

I'm proud of myself for making better choices and eating less but I also realize that many years of bad habits take time to change and trying to force myself to exercise will take more effort. I was really discouraged this week with my neck problem and I get upset that my hips hurt and I hope that these things will get easier as I lose weight. It has to be hard having all this extra weight on my joints.

Tomorrow is a new day and I will be getting up early to walk. Calvin bought me an arm band for my iPhone (not the one I wanted for my iPod) because he wants me to carry my phone incase I run into trouble.

I will be walking Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday this week and then starting the Couch to 5K on Thursday!

Inspirational Song of the Week:

EDITED...6:35am:
I almost didn't go for my walk this morning. My son woke me up twice during the night because his nose hurt. Someone (hubby) forgot to give him his medicine before bed. But I thought about The Climb and I got my shoes on. I decided that I wanted to go a little farther today so I changed my route and got on a road called Fruitland. Once started down this road I couldn't stop! It's a two lane/no sidewalk road and one side is mostly farmland. I saw cows, chickens and a horse and there some people running behind me so I felt like they were chasing me and I couldn't possibly turn around. So I kept walking. I ran a short ways but my knees protested right away...not ready.

I started to feel like I had run away from home because I was so far away. Finally I could see my street across the wheat field and knew I would be home soon. At this point, my legs started to go numb...they were moving but I couldn't feel them. I remembered this happening during the 5K that I walked with Kaycee and Monica and it is such a weird feeling.

I rounded the corner onto my street and I thought my legs were going to fall off! My hips were screaming at me and my ass was dragging. But I did it! 2.5 miles in 45 minutes! That's a mile farther than I was walking last week!

Week 11....Pizza for Pain

Welcome to the Eleventh (completed) week of Extreme Makeover: ME Edition hosted by the incredible Amber Filkins!

Let's weigh-in...

Last week: 209 pounds
This week: 209 pounds

LOST.....0 pounds

Sigh

The Plan from Week 11

It seems like every week I've got something messing me up. I decided to train for a 5K celebrating my 39th birthday and I got a brand new pair of running shoes, fitted to me and my special situations and then I pulled a muscle in my neck and haven't been able to work out for a few days. I'm still having issues with it but I'm trying to get back on track. Yesterday I got up for my walk even though I was in a fair amount of pain. I felt really good when I got back and was so glad I went. I just wish this pain would go away....

I have to tell you that another thing that was messed up by this pain in my neck was my eating habits. Over the weekend, because I wasn't up to cooking...we ate Pizza and KFC. And there were leftovers and I ate them because they were here. It's like this constant pain wore down my willpower and I was feeling badly so I ate....but the pain was still there. You can't cure pain with pizza...but Vicodin helps.

I went to the store last night because I was out of half and half for my morning coffee and I bought more fruit. Have you had a cantaloupe lately? It must be in season right now because OMG! So good!

The Plan for Week Twelve:

Blue...completed Red....not yet completed

AM Walk Outside

• Thursday (30 minutes, 1.5 miles)
  
• Sunday
• Monday (45 minutes, 2.5 miles)
  
• Wednesday

Also....

• Continue taking Colon Cleanse Pills, Vitamin D and Acidophilus.
• Drink more water...I'm up to 4 glasses a day
• Sleep as much as possible (at least 7.25 hrs)

Question of the week: What's your favorite thing to drink while you're losing weight? We all know how important it is to get that water intake up, especially with summer almost here. What's your favorite way to spice it up?

When I can't have soda (oh how I miss you....) I like to drink brewed tea. That is what I order now when I go out to a restaurant. And I make it at home every day so that there is always a pitcher of DECAF Iced Tea waiting for me. I bought a really nice (thick) glass pitcher at Wal-Mart for $5 and I throw 4 teabags (or 2 family sized ones) in the pitcher, pour boiling water in and let it steep. I have a hot water tap on my sink so this is so easy.

I've tried those crystal light packets but my kids steal my bottle from me!

Have a great week!

If The Shoe Fits....

I was so excited for my husband to get home and dinner to be over last night. I informed him that I was going to run an errand once I cleared the dishes and I ran out the door...so happy for one thing to be leaving the house alone. But also to go do something that was going to put me one step closer to my goal....

RUNNING!

I had looked for a running store on the internet not expecting to find much because my experience with looking for information in Northern Utah has been disappointing to say the least. I found something called Peak Performance which sounded exactly like what I needed.

I was thrilled to find this adorable little running shop right along side the Ogden River Parkway and even more thrilled to meet Anthony Gallegos. I explained that I'm an almost 39 year old Fat Mommy that wants to run and that I have had tons of...let's call them challenges with my knees and hips and blisters and shoes not fitting right and I just really want to stop hurting myself and get in shape and run!

He conducted a couple tests with my feet and legs and determined that I am ARCHLESS and PRONATED. Pronated feet cause the heel bone to angle inward and the arch to collapse. No wonder I have so much trouble. He also informed me that I didn't need TWO pairs of shoes in TWO different sizes. I just need the right shoes that fit my feet properly. Here's the deal....because my feet turn inward when I walk, I need a shoe with stability. The material on the inside base of the shoe is rigid so that it supports my foot and won't turn in. This would also explain why I have so much trouble with my knees...they are also being turned in and I would imagine not rolling on track like they should.

I tried on two different pairs of shoes and ended up with these beauties! They are Saucony Progrid Omni.



After my mile and a half long walk yesterday (with a head wind) my hips were killing me all day. It was all I could do to take my kids to the Air Show Open House at the Ogden Airport and have to walk around. Within a few minutes of walking around the store in these shoes...my hips stopped hurting. I felt like I was walking more level and the shoes were surprisingly light weight.

I can't wait to get out there and start training...as soon as my stupid blister is gone!

If you are in the Northern Utah area stop in and see the guys at Peak Performance. They are located at 1895 Washington Blvd, just north of Downtown Ogden. They also sell walking shoes, children's shoes, shoe inserts, socks and apparel. I am so impressed with what I learned there and so irritated with the lack of knowledge I have experienced in the past at that place that rhymes with *Put Docker*.

Birthday 5k

Yesterday was National Running Day. I've been thinking about running a race for my birthday....my 40th birthday, September 2010. And then I got to thinking that I would really like to run one for my 39th birthday as a way to celebrate my new lifestyle and keep me motivated and on track.

I went to my favorite new blog...Weight Loss with the Fabulous Fatties and Shannon decided that she is running a Utah 5K for her birthday in September! It was like fate....another sign telling me what I need to do for myself.

So....here is my plan. This week, I am going to walk every chance I get working up to 2 miles by Wednesday of next week. Starting Thursday, I will begin the couch to 5k training. I have roughly 13 weeks (based on what race we pick).

I'm so excited to have this race to train for! I love having a goal and a light at the end of the tunnel. And of course that means I need some GEAR!

Sennheiser PMX 80 Sport II Headphones for iPhone and iPod @59.95


Incase Sports Armband iPod nano in Grey/Green $29.95

I need some new shoes too but I need to find a running store so I can get the very best one's for my situation. Plus, I have two different sized feet so I have to save up for 2 pairs of expensive running shoes!

EDITED: I walked for 30 minutes this morning and developed a blister on my right foot. Looks like I will need those shoes sooner than I thought. Oh hubby! I need your credit card!

Week 10...Do Over

Welcome to the Tenth (completed) week of Extreme Makeover: ME Edition hosted by the incredible Amber Filkins!

Let's weigh-in...

Last week: 207 pounds
This week: 209 pounds

GAIN..... 2 pounds

I'm blaming this on TOM. I need a do over!

The Plan from Last Week:

I was doing GREAT until Sunday afternoon when my pre-period migraine hit and I knew what was coming next. I won't go into the ugly details but I couldn't work out and I ate some ice cream (Coffee Toffee Frosty from Wendy's) and I drank two sodas. The good thing is that I didn't go too wild and crazy because I don't have any sweets in the house. I could have baked something but I was feeling so terrible that I didn't have the energy.

I told my husband that I need to find the cure for PMS because it ruins my life for a couple days every month. I seriously can't go anywhere, do anything or live my life. He told me there is a cure and it's called Menopause. Thanks buddy....you're a big help!

The Plan for Week Eleven:

Blue...completed Red....not completed Cancelled due to injury

AM Walk Outside

• Thursday (30 minutes, 1.5 miles)
• Friday
• Monday
• Tuesday (30 minutes, 1.5 miles)
  

PM Walk with Family

• Friday
• Monday

Water Aerobics

• Saturday (thighs of steel)

Strength Train

• Thursday
• Monday

Question of the Week: What's your favorite beauty secret?

I don't have a lot of beauty secrets...but I just discovered something that is making a big difference in my skin. It is the Wal-Mart brand of Night-time Firming Cream. It's under $5 and smells great! You may not know this...but Utah is considered desert and is very dry. My skin has been super flaky and dry ever since we moved here and every product I bought did NOTHING. Until this night creme. Within 10 days of using it before bed every night...all flakiness was gone!

Have a great week!

Thighs of Steel?

We started Parent/Child swimming lessons yesterday. I was worried about wearing a swimming suit but once I put it on I realized that I didn't look so bad...just really white. I bought a suit last summer from a plus sized store online and it is a very flattering one with a skirt. And I realized that I didn't give a crap what the other mom's thought of me anyway and I was so focused on my beautiful daughter that I never gave it a second thought.

So...I was crouching in 3.5 feet of water, holding my 23 pound 2 year old for 40 minutes. And 15 minutes of that I was crouching/walking in a little circle called the lazy river. My shins had started to cramp up by the end of the class but I didn't really realize just how much exercise I was doing....until today.

I woke up at 5:35am. This is my normal wake-up go for a walk in the neighborhood time during the week. But it's Sunday and I was going to sleep until 7am. I decided that since I was awake...I should go walk. Great Idea, until I got out of bed....and almost fell to the floor!

The fronts of my thighs are in horrific pain! We live in a 4 level house and it is all I can do to get up and down the stairs! And my left arm (the one that was holding my daughter the most) is almost unusable.

On the one hand.....I am in pain but I'm also thinking AWESOME! I got in a work out bobbing in the water! I'm going to have THIGHS OF STEEL by July when this class is over. My legs are going to looks amazing!

YAY EXERCISE!

my beautiful family

I ran...

Last night was a little rough, even though I went to bed at 9:45pm. Around 11p, my son came to my bed because he saw ghosts in his room. Daddy chased them away and put him back to bed. Then Daddy wanted to talk. Then at 3am...little girl woke me from a dead sleep with her screaming because her pacifier had fallen out of bed. (note to self: time for the binkies to go)

On top of all of this...my stupid wisdom teeth are giving me trouble and the one side is making my ear hurt. I really need to get this taken care of....

So when my alarm went off at 5:35a...I almost went back to sleep because now I also had a headache from being woken up so many times. But I really needed to do some thinking so I got up, put on my workout clothes and headed out.

It is a beautiful day in Utah this morning. I wore a vest and didn't really need it. Once I got to the spot where I normally turn to go home I decided to walk a little further. On my way back, a guy running passed me and I thought about how I would love to run like that.

I have several mixes on my iPod for exercising and one is labeled running. You see how hopeful I am that I will run someday. I could have called it walking....but I want to run. Anyway, on the way home I was having a conversation with Jesus about Calvin's job and wanting to move home to Denver. I had just told him that I was putting it in his hands because I needed his help when this song came on.




Did you listen to the words? Gotta move to a town that's right for me! I was so excited that I started running! And I ran for about 75 feet! Whoo Hoo!

Here are a couple things that seemed to be an issue while I was running.

My hair...in my eyes.
My iPhone...flopping around in my vest pocket.
My knees...hurting.
My hips....cramping.

I guess I have a ways to go here but the good news is that I'm moving to Funky Town!

EDITED: Well, it's 11am now and my hips don't hurt anymore and I feel really....good. I can't exactly explain it...but I feel like I'm breathing easier. Also...keep thinking about the swimming suit I have to wear tomorrow for the kids' swimming lessons. OY!

Are you UP for a Challenge?

If you have been following my journey...you know that I can't turn down a challenge. My new friends Angie and Shannon at Weight Loss with The Fabulous Fatties issued a challenge yesterday and I took them up on it. I encourage all of you to join in because theses are all wonderful things to do for yourself!

Here are the details....

This will be a 2 week challenge based on point system. You can earn points by living healthy, being kind and eating well. We are excited to kick this challenge off and hope you will join us!

*Eat 5 servings of fruits and vegetables daily- 5 points

*Drink 8 glasses of water a day- 8 points

*Exercise- 1 point per minute

*Do a random good deed- 5 points

*Stop drinking soda pop for a day- 1 point

*Actually read someone else’s blog post and leave a comment- 1 point

* Answer our Fab Fatties random bonus questions about us- 5 points

-Bonus questions will be posted daily on our blog.

* Recommend 2 fabulous friends from twitter and tell us why we should follow them- 2 points

* Eat a healthy breakfast-1 point

* Lose weight- 1 point per pound

* Keep a food journal for the day- 5 points per day

* Take a walk during you lunch break- 5 points

* Have a friend join this challenge- 25 points per friend

-make sure your friend tells us you recruited them!

How to join:

Go read THIS POST and then Email fabfatties@aol.com and tell them you are IN!

But hurry....today is the last day to join!

Week Nine...Re-set Button

Welcome to the Ninth (completed) week of Extreme Makeover: ME Edition hosted by the incredible Amber Filkins!

Let's weigh-in...

Last week: 210 pounds
This week: 207 pounds

LOST..... 3 pounds

YAY! I also lost a total of 3 inches from my waist, hips, torso and thighs.

The Plan from Last Week:

Last friday, I ditched my plan and decided to take some drastic measures. Because it was a three day weekend, I thought it would be a great time to do a juice fast/colon cleanse. You can read all of the details HERE and the update HERE. The bottom line is that I'm so glad that I did it. I feel like I pushed a reset button on my body because I'm not craving soda or sugar anymore. Now, I have to work on this uncontrollable urge to put food in my mouth...even when I'm not hungry. I need to buy some more gum to keep my mouth busy.


The Plan for Week Ten:
Blue...completed
Red...not completed

AM Walk Outside

• Thursday
• Friday
• Monday
• Tuesday

Water Aerobics

• Saturday

Strength Train

• Thursday
• Monday

Yoga & Meditation

• Sunday

7.25 hours of sleep a night
Take Vitamins and Acidophilus

If you are looking for a great cookbook with healthy recipes...look HERE.

Juice Fast/Cleanse Update

Day One (Saturday)
Started my day with my first dose of Colon Cleanse pills and a big glass of juice...Naked brand Green Machine mixed with Strawberry Banana Smoothie. By about 9am, I was really missing my morning coffee so I had a cup of Detox Tea. And I was fighting hunger so I ate a couple cups of watermelon...I decided to pretend that they were chucks of chicken.

About 10:30 am I started feeling a little dizzy and low bloodsugarish so I had a glass of orange juice and I instantly felt better. At Noon, I made my chicken broth which would be my dinner. It smelled so good....

I decided the best way to stop thinking about food was to take a nap. This didn't go too well because the Detox tea was making me have to use the bathroom a lot. Plan B was to start reading TWILIGHT because everyone says that you get so sucked in that you forget to eat and sleep.

Around 4pm...I realize that I am no longer hungry. Strange....

At 6pm, I drink my chicken broth and have a little bit of the chicken (about 1/4 cup) because I can't see how I'm going to make it through the night without eating anything. Through the night, I drink more detox tea and water.

Day Two (Sunday)
I wake up feeling pretty good but I have no energy. All I want to do is sit on the couch and watch TV. The kids want food and it is difficult for me to make things for them and not want to eat. I have another Strawberry Banana Smoothie with a shot of green machine.

Around Noon, I develop the worst headache of my life. I know that it's caffeine and sugar withdrawal and try to just suck it up. I'm also feeling really achey and sick.

At 4pm, I informed my husband that I was stopping the fast and I was going to prepare something to eat. I was feeling so badly that just going up the stairs to get my kids up from their nap was difficult. I poached 5 oz of salmon and prepared a romaine salad with mushrooms and snow peas. I was really full when I finished it...almost too full.

At 6pm, my husband brought me a Iced Coffee from McDonalds. I drank half of it and my headache vanished. I went to bed still feeling full.

Day Three (Monday)
I weighed myself first thing and I've lost 3 pounds. The cleanse begins to work (if you catch my drift) and I feel really good. My head feels clear and I slept really well. I made myself a smoothie with the last of the Naked juices and I throw in a banana and some strawberries.

For lunch I'm going to have Oprah's Green Drink. Here is the recipe I used:

3 stalks celery
1 large cucumber
1 apple
1 chunk fresh ginger
1 cup fresh spinach
1/2 cup orange juice

Combine all ingredients and blend until smooth. My blender couldn't handle the load so I chopped everything up in my food processor and then blended it in the blender. It is a little thick but it smells so fresh and good!

I have to tell you...I was really nervous about doing this but I knew I needed to do something drastic to detox from soda and sugar. I'm hopeful that this has broken my sugar cravings and will help me eat healthier. I already don't feel like eating as much....I just keep feeling like eating even though I'm not hungry. This is another habit that I need to break. Eating for the sake of putting food in my pie hole. I often eat because I feel like eating and tend to grab things that are not healthy. I want to crave fruit and vegetables...not cookies and soda. I want to be strong and healthy and put good food into my body.

And I still want to run....

Desperate Measures!

I'm pissed.

I'm so sick and tired of busting my ass (pun intended) and not having anything to show for it. I have suspected for a while that there is something wrong. This is not the first time that I've worked really hard with exercise and diet and seen very little results. I've lost and gained the same 8 pounds over and over for the last two years. The only time I really lost a good chunk was when I had food poisoning.

Last year, after working out and eating healthy daily for 4 months with no change in weight or measurements....I went the doctor thinking there had to be something physically wrong with me. Every test came back fine except that my good Cholesterol was low and my bad was high. And then my doctor had the nerve to tell me that I needed to lose weight. I even went on a medication called Topamax because I have migraines and it helps people lose weight. Not me. I dropped three pounds on it and that was it.

So here I am 8 weeks into this version of my journey and I'm stuck again. I don't want to go another 8 weeks working hard without results so I've decided to do something drastic. My friend Monica told me about the Liver Cleanse Diet. I did some research and I've purchased some pills from my health food store. Tomorrow, I will be on a juice/liquid fast and then Sunday and Monday I will be doing a colon cleanse.

Here is my plan:

Saturday: Begin Colon Cleanse pills, juice, homemade chicken broth, Detox Tea
Sunday: Salt Water Solution (1 qt of water with 2 teaspoons Sea Salt), juice, broth, Tea
Monday: Salt Water Solution, Oprah's Green Smoothie, broth, tea, fruit.
Tuesday: Start adding food back...fruit, veggies, fish, nuts. Start taking Acidophilus tablets.
Next 8 weeks....I will eat a diet mainly consisting of fruit, veggies, chicken, fish, eggs, brown rice and Sprout bread. There is more...but it's all I can think of right now. I will not eat dairy, fried, fast or processed food. I will add coffee back after a week but I am eliminating soda completely.

I feel like the diet itself....is more along the lines of how I should be eating, with the exception for eliminating dairy. I feel like the cleanse is necessary to get rid of all of the bad stuff that is plugging up my liver and gall bladder and allow it to work properly.

When I was at the health food store....the cashier made a comment about my purchases and I told her what my plan was. She told me to *brace myself*. Which kind of scared the shit out of me. (pun intended) When I went to get my veggies and fruits....I thought about buying the extra soft Northern Bath Tissue....just in case.

My husband is prepared for the aftermath of the next few days and he is offering his full support. I'm imagining the detox, plus withdrawal from soda and coffee will be traumatic and much like that of an alcoholic. Things could get ugly.

The good thing is that I know I'm doing this to get healthy and that I will feel so much better when it is over. I have these addictions that must be dealt with....sugar, caffeine, processed food and US Weekly. It's going to be tough...but I can do it!

My Symptoms of Liver Dysfunction:
Inability to lose weight while dieting
Sluggish metabolism
Reflux
Gall stones
Nausea
Abdominal bloating
Irritable Bowel syndrome
Craving for sugar
Headaches

My Twitterscope for today!
It's easy for you to hold on to an exciting vision today without becoming too impractical about it. Just because you can imagine something extraordinary that you want to do doesn't mean your goal is beyond your reach. But even if you're trying extra hard to keep yourself grounded, don't let this be a justification to talk yourself into letting go of a dream. Believing in the impossible will help you stretch beyond your normal limits.

The Perfect Recipe for Losing Weight & Eating Great

I recently bought The Perfect Recipe for Losing Weight & Eating Great by Pam Anderson. She is a veteran dieter and spent several decades Yo-Yo Diet track. (hmmmm....sounds familiar) She is also a cookbook author and food writer....her job is FOOD! I just eat like my job is food. She finally realized that the gimmicks weren't working and she just needed to eat less and exercise more! She talks about how her desire to change her life began more than two years before she shed a single pound when she decided that she wanted to be proud of the way she looked.

She started her journey by seeing a psychotherapist and getting acupuncture/massage treatments. She learned that she put everyone else's needs above her own and she started to change her relationships.

She began her exercise program by walking twice a day...throwing in an extra walk at the end of the day. The extra activity was not only calorie burning but also curbed her appetite! Before long she was running.....

What I like about her advice is that she didn't completely cut out sweets and wine. She made room for them in her every day diet. She didn't deny herself anything. She just made better choices and ate smaller portions. Her other tip is to eat what you love! Find things you love to eat and make them healthy. Eat what you love but eat small amounts.

I have bookmarked a bunch of great recipes in the book and I can't wait to try them! I found much of what Pam says to be so helpful to my journey and how I want to live my life. And....she was in her mid 40's when she lost 42 pounds and changed her life! She is proof that it is never too late to make your life better!

A few of the recipes I'm anxious to try....

Seared Scallop, Black Bean, Orange and Avocado Salad *
Mexican Chicken and Hominy Soup
Creamy Black Bean Soup with Cumin and Salsa Verde
Baked Fish with Asparagus, lemon and Fresh Herbs
Spicy Grilled Shrimp
Wine Biscuits with Cracked Black Pepper
Numerous Pan Sauces
Roasted Buttered Brussels Sprouts with Dijon and Lemon
Light Orange Panna Cotta with Fresh Raspberries
Biscotti
Fruit Salsa

* Recipe I'm making this week!

And from Marie Claire Magazine....

Top 10 Beauty Foods!

Wild Salmon...reduce skin inflammation, prevents redness, wrinkles and loss of firmness
Low-Fat Yogurt...strong bones, teeth and nails
Oysters...helps build collagen and speeds up renewal and repair of skin
Blueberries...prevents long-term cell damage
Kiwi...help prevent wrinkles
Sweet Potatoes...keeps skin smooth and protects against sun damage
Spinach...helps protect eyes
Tomatoes...can protect against sunburn
Walnuts...helps against psoriasis and eczema
Dark Chocolate...increases blood flow to the skin and boost hydration

I had blueberries in my cereal this morning but these are all things I like (minus the yogurt) and I should be eating more of them!

Week Eight....Routines

Welcome to the Eighth (completed) week of Extreme Makeover: ME Edition hosted by the incredible Amber Filkins!

Let's weigh-in...

Last week: 210 pounds
This week: 210 pounds

LOST..... O pounds

What the heck???? ZERO. I've worked so hard.....

The Plan from Last Week:

I'm loving Amber's challenge! I have exercised every week day! Still exercising while the kids play....some days for longer than others but I'm moving! Still drinking more water and much less soda. Brewing iced tea to have in the fridge as a alternative is working out great! I am getting more sleep which is helping my workouts. I went to bed really late the other night...after sobbing watching Grey's Anatomy and it was a struggle to get through my work out the next day. Sleep is a crucial ingredient! I ate fast food. *hangs head in shame* It was horribly deep fried fish too. With Tarter sauce and deep fried English chips. I felt terrible after eating it....my stomach hurt and I was pissed at myself.

I looked into the Gluten Free lifestyle...because I thought I had a problem with Gluten but I'm not sure that's my problem at all. Ever so often (a couple times a week) I get stomach craps from something I've eaten. I can not figure out what is causing it. I went one whole day without eating Gluten and felt pretty good....but it was really hard!

The Plan for Week Nine:

Exercise every week day...adding 5 minutes more
Strength Training 2x
Replace more soda with Iced Tea
7 hours of sleep
Vitamins!
No Fast Food

I took a look at my credit card statement.....and I broke out in a cold sweat! I am putting myself on a spending freeze for 3 weeks. I am allowed 1 shopping excursion per week (for fresh veggies and fruit) and that is it! No more Target, No more Internet purchases, No more runs to McDonalds and Starbucks. Connie has been a very bad girl!

Questions of the Week: Name your guilty pleasure. Think of a healthier choice you could use as a substitute.

I love Starbucks Latte's, the White Chocolate Variety. A good alternative is the Iced Coffee's from McDonalds because they only have 180 calories instead of 400. And even better alternative is to make my own Iced Coffee at home....where the only calories come from 2 tablespoons of cream that I throw in. I also love ice cream and there are lots of great alternatives from Weight Watchers and Skinny Cow.
Check out this post I wrote yesterday about what drives you to succeed at your goals.

I am UNPLUGGED from the internet, twitter, facebook and TV today so that I can spend a distraction free day with my family. I will be visiting everyone tomorrow!

Check back this week when I review a diet/cookbook that I just read.

What Drives You?

I posted about momentum the other day and it's been on my mind ever since. It is not just the motion but the power residing in a moving object. The power to continue this momentum is within ME! I'm surprised how much of this journey to lose weight is mental. And how much I have to convince myself to do what I know is right....and how often my body takes over and makes cookies anyway.

I found an article in Body+Soul magazine about meeting goals. The information is based on the book Get Motivated by Tamara Lowe. I will give you an overview and you can determine which one you are.

What Drives You?
Like fuel your engine...what is the powerful internal force keeping you going to your goal?

If being competitive, having a deadline and the end result drives you then you are most likely a Producer. A producer gets things done! You probably have a TYPE A personality and are blessed with willpower and self-discipline. Fast-paced and task oriented, producers can conquer any challenge.

When you feel your motivation dwindling....

• Crunch the numbers...track your stats, keep a food diary and count calories.
• Turn your goal into a game...try to break a record or outdo yourself. Make your progress public. (like on a blog)
• Enlist a few friends to join you!

If collaboration, teamwork and relationships drive you then you are most likely a Connector. A connector puts relationships first! You are loyal, empathetic and supportive. You would rather fit in than stand out and are fueled by open ended time frames.

When you feel your strength weakening...

• Find and connect with people who have overcome a similar hurdle or reached the same goal.
• Seek out a group that can stimulate your motivation and match you with like-minded individuals.
• Make yourself accountable to someone that can keep you focused.

What Inspires You To Do Your Best?
What makes what you are doing all worthwhile?

If you feel validated by appreciation and you like to make a contribution you are probably a Internal. Internal's what to make a difference! You have an internal reward system and tend to be mission minded and derive satisfaction from meaningful work. You need to feel good about what you are doing and are fueled by positive feedback.

When you feel unmotivated....

• Reconnect with your mission. Jot your goals on a post it not and hang it on your bathroom mirror.
• Journal. Write about your frustrations and refocus on the reasons you chose your goal in the first place.
• Replenish your inner resources. Take a yoga classes, get a massage, read a book or get a good night's sleep.

If you need tangible benefits to spur you on you are probably a External. Externals thrive with attention and reward! You are success oriented and energetic and measure your success with tangible assets. You have a bottom line focus and good work ethic...but risk coming across as high-maintenance. Being compensated and recognized for your hard work keeps you inspired.

When you feel like you're stuck....

• Celebrate an achievement with a reward such as a new workout outfit, shoes or weights.
• Evaluate how each action you have taken has brought you closer to your goal.

Go HERE to take a test and learn more about what motivates you! Here are my results.

Connie’s Motivational DNA Type is: PVE
(Production-Variety-External)

The Champion

Champions enjoy a challenge and love to win. They are charming and enthusiastic leaders. Champions are natural persuaders. They don’t mind being the center of attention and are good at working with others while advancing their own ideas. Champions tend to be engaging and charismatic. They are skilled at getting things done in spite of seemingly insurmountable obstacles. In fact, obstacles just make tasks more interesting for a Champion. They are quick decision makers and can be impatient with those who are not. As solid negotiators, Champions are willing to compromise to get the job done. Champions have an innate ability to get others to follow their lead.

PVE Motivators: Challenging assignments, authority, profitability, freedom from supervision and control, opportunities for advancement, contests, public recognition, deadlines, calculated risk and popularity.

PVE De-Motivators: Strict controls, protracted analysis, “group think,” and deliberation without meaningful action.

Quick Start Tips:
1. Your motivational type is always busy. It’s imperative that you create space in your schedule to devote exclusively to doing what is necessary to achieve the goal. The time will not magically appear. You must block off intervals to work on your goal.
2. Competition and commensurate rewards are powerful motivators for your motivational style. Design a contest with like-minded achievers who have the same goal. The first one to cross the finish line wins the big prize.
3. Make sure that the process is enjoyable. Invest the time and intentional focus to find fun ways of achieving your goal.

I thought the results where right on! While taking the test, it asked what de-motivates me and I realized that being criticized can completely ruin any momentum I have. I feel like criticism of my weight as a kid had a detrimental effect on me. It would upset me so much emotionally that I would take it out on a box of butter cookies which I would hide in my closet. I still need to realize that I can't heal wounds with cookies.

Free Gym Membership!

You all know that I love Subway right? I just discovered that Jared Fogle...the spokesperson for Subway is giving away a one year membership to the gym of your choice! Wouldn't that be a great way to reach our goals? I am having some success using my home gym and getting out and walking but I think I would reach my goals (and enjoy some kid-free time) if I belonged to a gym. I think the ability to work with a trainer would be so helpful to me and help me reach my goal faster. Just think if I had some like Jillian trying to kill me motivating me...I could be like Tara too!

Go to Jared's website right now and find out what you need to do to enter!

Gaining Momentum

I am feeling really good about how I'm doing with my diet and exercise. I am feeling stronger physically and my knee hasn't hurt for two weeks! That right there is reason for celebration! I am making good choices and thinking before I put things in my mouth.

There is an iPhone App that I bought a while back that I was using but then I stopped but it's really great and helpful so I'm going to start it back up again. It's called Lose It and you can track your food/calories/nutrients and exercise. You can set how many calories you want to take in during the day so you can see exactly where you are at all times.

I find quotes to be very inspirational....most of the time. I saw this one today and it made me laugh after the morning I had.

Treat your dreams as you would a garden: Give them room to grow.

I laugh at this because I doused my garden in weed killer this morning! Damn weeds! This one is a little more helpful to me right now.

Change doesn't happen overnight. It starts small and gains momentum.

That is exactly how I feel....like the changes I'm making and the exercise is helping me gain momentum. I just have to keep it up!

Week Seven...Choices

Welcome to the Seventh (completed) week of Extreme Makeover: ME Edition hosted by the incredible Amber Filkins!

Let's weigh-in...

Last week: 211 pounds
This week: 210 pounds

LOST..... 1 pound

*yay...I'm so happy*

The Plan from last Week:

I exercised every weekday (except Friday because we were traveling)! Whoo Hoo! I have to tell you...I was so proud of myself while we were on our trip. We ate at Subway instead of McDonalds and I only drank one soda a day. Many times I only ate half of my meal but I did drink an entire bottle of wine by myself! If you would like to see more about my trip...Click HERE.

I have not replaced my soda yet. Coming back from Denver and all of the laundry and just getting back in our routine has been a little difficult. AND NOW...I am running around the house like a crazy person trying to declutter because we have decided to move back to Denver! My hubby is applying for jobs and hopefully he will find one quickly. Please Pray that this works out for us.


The Plan for Week Eight:

Exercise every week day
Drink more water
Replace soda with Sun Tea
Get 7 hours of sleep
Take Vitamins everyday
NO FAST FOOD

I am going to try really hard not to have fast food this week. The calories and sodium really screw me up and I don't need it. I would much rather have a bowl of cereal than a burger. Now...If I could just break this soda habit. I am also going to research eating Gluten Free and I have a new cookbook to share with you.

Question of the Week: Show us your inspiration picture. Of yourself skinny, of yourself fat, of a celebrity that inspires you to keep going.

I really need to go through my tub of pictures and find one from the past that is inspirational to me. For now, I will tell you about when I felt the most fit and was in the best shape.

In 2002, I went to the gym every morning with my roommate, I ate small healthy meals and I looked really good. I was active, outgoing and having a blast! That year....I went on a white water rafting trip and I jumped from a 30 foot cliff into the Colorado River. Fat Connie wouldn't have done either of these things.

Here is the celebrity that I most admire and would like to look like. She looks awesome in jeans and has great arms! I have had to conceal her identity....but I'm sure you know who she is.

WOW! Did you watch The Biggest Loser. Can you believe Jerry? And Helen? I was a little disappointed that Tara didn't win but what an inspiration Helen is. She is only 10 years older than me. Jerry is proof that anyone can lose weight and get their life back...you just have to work at it!


I want to thank you all for your support the last two months. Having this blog and knowing that I have people that are rooting for me and are willing to take time out of their busy days to comment and encourage me has been so helpful!

Have a great week! Need some Motivation?

The Motivator

I am a visual, goal oriented person. My personality thrives on having a plan...something to look forward to and work towards. This is one reason why (and my husband doesn't understand) that I NEED to plan family vacations out several months. I need this light at the end of my tunnel.

I also need to have reminders of why I am doing something. In the past, I have put pictures of lingerie models on my refrigerator and my workout equipment. It triggers that mental note in my head that oh yes...I want to be half naked in a magazine thinner, healthy and fit! These work great but the downside is that my husband is constantly turned on and badgering me get jiggy with it! Don't get me wrong...I love that he is attracted to that girl on the fridge me but not at 1 am after he is done playing World of Warcraft.

My beautiful friend Monica is a jewelry designer. She makes the most amazing jewelry and what I love most about what she makes is that many of her pieces have meaning. She makes Mothering Jewelry for pregnancy, homebirth and nursing. She also makes custom pieces. A few months ago I asked her to help me design something for my sister. You can read about it here. It turned out great and is inspiring Bobbi everyday!

It occurred to me that I should have Monica help me design something to wear daily to remind me of my Goals. Something I would see everyday and would ping that mental note in my head to help me make better choices and keep me on track.

I asked Monica what stones would be the most helpful based on what my goals are and this is what she came up with!

Isn't it beautiful? I have been wearing it for about 3 weeks and it is truly helping me to attain my goals. It is a constant reminder of why I am making these changes in my life and I can feel the benefits from the stones! I am a firm believer in holistic healing and I would like to explore it more. Check out what this bracelet is doing for me.

Carnelian (orange) improves motivation, concentration and personal power. Helps one achieve greater success in personal matters. Helps ground people who meditate. Carnelian is one of the most helpful crystals for healing trauma, stress and emotional wounds that have accumulated in the etheric body or the Aura and are now manifesting as physical symptoms. Also increases sexual energy.

Citrine (yellow) - This stone is very versatile and is used for mental and emotional clarity, problem solving, memory issues, will power, optimism, confidence and self-discipline and life enjoyment. It reduces anxiety, fear and depression. An energizing and highly beneficial crystal, citrine absorbs, transmutes, grounds and dissolves negative energy, which makes it a very protective stone. Citrine crystals are invigorating and positive. Increases motivation! It can guide you to harness and utilize your creative energy. It develops inner calm and security, and makes us less sensitive and more open to constructive criticism. Can dispel negative feelings and help us to accept the flow of events. This stone is great with help in achieving goals.

Apatite(Blue) Using apatite is said to facilitate the desired results when working with other minerals. Apatite has been associated with appetite suppression, weight, self-acceptance, balance, healing and psychologically, increases motivation.

If you would like a bracelet like mine....Monica would be happy to make one for you. They are $18 and we are calling it The Motivator. They are not in her store because she designed it specifically for me but she will take special orders for them. You can contact Monica HERE.

** ** ** ** ** ** ** ** **

Okay...so I'm off like a prom dress to Denver for the weekend! I have enabled posting via email so I will be posting when I am feeling weak and I'm counting on all of you to make inspirational comments and get me back on track! I will also be twittering....

Too Sweet For Me!

Can you believe this? Look at how many cubes of sugar are in these sodas! I'm shocked and disgusted!

Go to Sugar Stacks and check out all of the other foods and their sugar content. It is sure making me think twice about what I put in my mouth! No wonder I'm addicted to sugar....

Week Six...Miracles

Welcome to the Sixth (completed) week of Extreme Makeover: ME Edition hosted by the incredible Amber Filkins!

Let's weigh-in...

Last week: 212 pounds
This week: 211 pounds

LOST..... 1 pound

This is a freakin miracle!

The Plan from last week!

I did not exercise 4 times. After I made that goal, I started to think about the 3 mile walk that I needed to complete on Saturday and I didn't want to let my team down by injuring my knee. I was so proud of myself for walking miles IN THE RAIN! I felt really good that day and made some healthy choices afterward. For example, that afternoon...I went to a birthday party and I ate a turkey burger! It was so good!! I also ate some fruit instead of chips. I have been drinking more water but I didn't cut back very well on the soda due major PMS. I really need to find a cure for that....I didn't drink any alcohol and I ate several salads. Overall, I think I did great this week!


The Plan for Week Seven:

Exercise Every Weekday (except for Friday)
Drink more water
Begin to replace soda with Iced Tea
Lift Weights 2x
Get 7 hours of sleep
Eat more veggies

Friday...we are driving to Denver (525 miles away) to see David Copperfield. I'm hoping that he will make my fat disappear. It's worth a try right? We will then turn around and come back on Sunday. 20 total hours in the car. Fast food, junk food, Big Gulp Sodas, my favorite restaurant and a Starbucks within walking distance. AKA TROUBLE!

I vow....to make good choices. I am going to enjoy my dinner out with my husband but will make good choices during the day to allow for more dinner and wine (oh yes, there will be wine) calories. I will make smart choices when we stop for fast food and I will grab a bottle of water instead of a soda on the road.

I accepted Amber's challenge to workout every weekday in May. I also stole her idea for marking days off on a calendar, putting mine on the fridge right next to the Victoria Secret model that I tore out of a magazine. I'm hoping she will help keep me out of the fridge! This was just the challenge I needed! Thank Amber!

I feel like an idiot. *connie smacks herself on the forehead* I am guilty of getting stuck in one way of thinking and not being able to see beyond that. I had myself convinced that I had to get my workouts done while the kids were napping/sleeping/caged. The reason that this is a ridiculous idea is that my gym is IN my kids' playroom. Today, I took them downstairs and they played while I worked out. I wasn't able to concentrate because they were asking me a million questions....but I moved my body! There is NO REASON why I can't do my workout every single day!

Question of the Week:We're all here at EM:ME because we're unhappy with our bodies, or our health; there are things that we are trying to change. But today you must share one thing with everybody that you absolutely love about yourself.

Great question! It is easy to focus on the negative and forget that there are wonderful qualities within us. I think the thing I love most about myself is my passion! I tend to be passionate about many things...my children, cooking, crafting...the list can go on and on. This passion also helps me to be a glass half full kind of person and I'm always focusing on the future and how to make it better. Lastly, my ability to take care of my family. I work so hard to make sure that everyone has what they need. I prepare wonderful meals, clean, organize, plan trips and outings and love my husband with everything I've got. Oh, And I think I have pretty eyes.

Check back this week because I am going to share something that is keeping me motivated! I'm really excited about it!

No PIzza for Me Ma!

Last night my husband decided to bring home pizza because the kids requested it. I agreed and then got to thinking about it and decided that I did not want to eat pizza. The amount of calories are more than I wanted to eat and it gives me heartburn. Plus, I always feel like crap after I eat pizza...like a carb hangover. However...this doesn't happen when I make my own pizza with homemade dough and choose my own toppings (favorite right now is Fresh Mozzarella and Caramelized Onions!)

I called Hubby up on his way home and I asked if he minded bringing me a Subway Sandwich instead. He was happy to do it and was proud of me for passing up the pizza.

I was proud of me too.....

Week Five...Injuries Suck

Welcome to the Fifth (completed) week of Extreme Makeover: ME Edition hosted by the incredible Amber Filkins!

Let's weigh-in...

Last week: 215 pounds
This week: 212pounds

LOST.....3 pounds

I'm disappointed. I was hoping that all of that 4 pound gain from last week was all water weight and I would be back to 211 today. I ate much better! How can all of this salad be turning to fat?

The Plan from last week:

I worked out 3 times. Still having issues with my stupid knee so I bought a Ace Brace for it but my knee is so fat that it cuts the circulation off to my leg. I totally understand that my knee is mad at me for putting so much weight and pressure on it but DOOD...I'm trying to do something about it! It's like a catch 22. I need to lose weight, but I can't move as much as I'd like so that I can lose weight. I'm getting really good at the Bend and Snap and we are eating a lot more veggies and salad. I did drink wine. But now it's gone and I'm not going to buy anymore. I did find out why my brother in law is losing 5 lbs a week. Check out his sample meal for a day.

Breakfast Whey Protein Shake 110 Calories
Snack 3 Kiwi's 108 Calories
Lunch Cabbage Soup 77 Calories
Snack Asparagus (2 Cups) 79 Calories
Dinner Whey Protein Shake 110 Calories

That's ONLY 484 calories!

The Plan for Week Six:

Exercise 4 times
Drink More Water
Drink less Soda
No Booze
More Veggies
Meditate for 10 minutes each day

I have a application on my iPhone for meditating and they have a couple choices...one helps you fall asleep, one for chilling out and one for emotional eating. I am going to test drive a couple of these and see if they can help me relax.

I am struggling to get my workouts done because of a recent development in our house. My little boy...has learned to climb out of his crib and is waking up at 6:30 am each day. I normally get up at 5:30am, exercise then shower and get dressed. He is messing up my routine because I am usually just finishing my work out when he wakes up and needs me. He also has decided that he doesn't need a nap and when I try to put him down...he climbs out. Nap time is when I relax, finish household chores and read. I am going to have to find a way to fit my exercise in this time too. I'll let you know how it goes...

Question of the Week: Share with us a healthy recipe.

I made this last week for Earth Day and it was a huge hit with hubby and the kids. We will be making this all summer! I used my new favorite dressing on the salad and it went great with the apples and pecans. Here are all of the recipes I have labeled HEALTHY on my Food Blog.


Grilled Chicken and Fruit Kabobs

1 cup lemon juice
2 (8 ounce) cans pineapple chunks, juice reserved
salt and pepper to taste
2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
3 skinless, boneless chicken breast halves, cubed
1 cup butter, melted
2 tablespoons brown sugar
1 teaspoon ground nutmeg
24 large strawberries

In a flat glass container mix together the lemon juice, juice from pineapple can, salt, pepper and 1 teaspoon cinnamon. Add cubed chicken and marinate for 1 hour in the refrigerator.

Preheat grill to medium heat.

In a bowl mix together the melted butter, 1 teaspoon cinnamon, brown sugar and nutmeg.

Spray Pam on the grill grate. Using soaked wooden skewers arrange chicken, pineapple chunks and whole strawberries on each stick. Brush kabobs with butter mix and place on grill and cook, turning, until chicken is cooked through and strawberries are sizzling. Approximately 8 to 10 minutes.

Greens and Apple Salad

6 ounces pecans, coarsely chopped
1½ pounds mixed greens
3 Gala apples, coarsely chopped or sliced
1 red onion, coarsely chopped

Heat oven to 350 degrees F. Toast pecans on baking sheet 5 minutes, until lightly toasted.

In large serving bowl combine greens, pecans, apples and red onion. Toss to combine.

recipes adapted from Kaboose.com


As promised...here is my *before* picture. I tired to pick an outfit that I could wear for every picture and I'm surprised at what I look like. When I look in the mirror...I don't think I look this big (do I have fatarexia) and I hope that isn't the expression that's on my face all the time....I thought I was smiling. And one of my legs is obviously shorter than the other.....

picture for my fridge

Have a great week!

The Elle Woods School of Fitness

I came across this video and thought it should be my Move of the Week. Oh what? I forgot to tell you? Instead of just a Yoga Move of the Week...I am going to do a MOVE of the week. I thought of it after I tripped on my exercise ball and thought it might be a way for me to learn to use the dang thing.

Please learn this move by Wednesday...there will be a quiz.

Stuck on a Slide & Sauce

Me and the kids went on a play date with my friend Monica and her kids today. We had a 1 yr old, a 2 yr old, a 3 year old and a 4 yr old! The kids were playing and Alex got upset and decided to sit in the middle of this structure with big kids running all around and I didn't want him to get hurt so I handed my iced coffee to Mallory (my 2 year old) and scaled this rock wall thing to rescue him. In the meantime, he got up and went down the slide. I had two choices....go down the stairs or go down the slide.

I decided to be wild and crazy and took the slide.....and my @ss got stuck. Right there in the middle....I was wedged into the slide. I was so embarrassed and my first thought was 'thank god this isn't happening when it would embarrass my children...I have got to do something!' So I'm going to blow up a couple copies of this slide and put them all over the house. Hips don't lie!

And then I came home and ate this....my leftover steak weighed 2 oz, so I only ate 4 oz last night. An amazing thing happened. While I was eating this...my kids were stealing veggies off my plate! AH HA MOMENT!


Here is the salad dressing that I just discovered! It is Ken's Steakhouse Fat Free Raspberry Pecan. It is soooo good! Here is the skinny...2 tablespoons have 50 calories, 12 grams of carbs, and 10 grams of sugar. Only bad thing...is that it has High Fructose Corn Syrup which I'm trying to avoid but if it helps me eat more SALAD which is totally good for me...then I will take the HFCS.

Week Four...Pissed!

Welcome to the Fourth (completed) week of Extreme Makeover: ME Edition hosted by the beautiful Amber Filkins!

Let's weigh-in...

Last week: 211 pounds
This week: 215 pounds

Gained...4 pounds

***hangs head in shame***

Crap! I'm hoping...that this is water weight or the the 6oz Ribeye I ate last night. I cut off all of the fat AND I didn't eat all of it. So I probably only ate 5 oz (note to self: weigh the leftover steak that is in my fridge). I am feeling a little bloaty today....AGH I'm just so pissed! I didn't eat the birthday cake or the ice cream. I threw out the Easter Candy! I did drink some wine on Monday...it was my son's 3rd birthday and he gave me the business all day long. Hubby brought me some Merlot. I also didn't get to work out as much. My knee was messed up and then I threw out my back and it took a few days to get better. That has to be it....

The Plan from last week:

I only exercised once because of my knee but I did plenty of walking and took the kids to the park, which winded me. I drank more water and a little less soda and ate more salad. I found a new salad dressing that I like! I didn't learn a new Yoga move.

The Plan for Week Five:

Exercise 4 times...
Drink MORE water
Drink NO Alcohol
More Salad...small servings
Learn ONE Yoga Move

Question of the Week:
Share some of the music that you work out to. What helps you rock it!? What gets your blood pumpin?

I start every single workout with this song. I do some light stretching while I listen to it and it lifts me up and gets me ready to start my workout and my day on a good note. Some of my other favorites are....

Stronger by Kanye West
When I Grow Up by The Pussycat Dolls
Womanizer by Britney
Beautiful Liar by Beyounce & Shakira
Sexy Back by Justin Timberlake
Rockstar by Nickleback
Love Story by Taylor Swift
Wanna Be Startin Somthin' by Michael Jackson

Then I end with New Soul by Yael Naim!

Still need to reveal my BEFORE picture....hopefully this week.

Snack Time: Sugar Snap Peas

I'm trying really hard to eat better. I want to eat more veggies and fruit but when I reach for a snack...I end up with popcorn, pretzels or chocolate.

Today instead of putting some chips on a plate with my sandwich I decided to have some Sugar Snap Peas instead. These come in a package ready to eat! 3 ozs (or a third of the bag) is only 40 calories and 7 carbs, 2 g of fiber and 2 g of protein. This is the perfect snack! You can cook these too but I love them straight out of the bag!

Give it a try!

P.S. I threw away all of the Easter candy and I didn't eat any of my son's birthday cake. I am so proud of me!

Week Three...Gluttony

Welcome to the THIRD (completed) week of Extreme Makeover: ME Edition!

Let's weigh-in....

Last Week: 211 pounds
This Week: 211 pounds

Lost? Nothing! But I didn't gain either!

***happy non beyonce style dance***

I was scared! I even dreamt last night that I gained 10 pounds! What a freakin miracle that I didn't gain. Here is what happened. My brother in law came to town....I flew him in so that my husband and I could go on a date and for his birthday. To read the whole fiasco click here. The short version of this story is that I had mexican food (and chips and salsa), a ribeye, a loaded baked potato, rolls, raspberry honey butter and 3 martinis. That doesn't even count what I made for Easter! I think the only thing that saved my @ss is that I didn't finish any of it. I ate exactly half of everything (except the rolls).

The Plan from last week:

I exercised 3 times in 7 days. My BIL being here messed me up because my home gym is in the basement right by the guest room. I was more active while he was here...shopping, cooking and cleaning the diaper creme from the floor! OY VEY! I did drink more water and I have set an alarm on my iPhone to go off at 10am and 3pm to remind me to drink more. I did not drink ANY wine this week. I did have three martini's but they were small and I drank them while I watched Twilight which scared the crap out of me. LOL! I can't believe I made a goal to not eat chocolate the week of Easter! LOL! I didn't eat ANY salad. I bought salad...but I didn't eat it. We are having Salad for dinner TONIGHT!

The Plan for week four:

Exercise 4 times...
Drink more water
Drink less soda (not quitting...just less)
More Salad...add a small salad to each meal
Learn ONE Yoga move

Question of the week:

What are you going to do this week to get yourself back on track??

I am going to throw out half of the candy! Only keeping a small amount for the kids' to have as treats. I am going to stop the insanity! (anyone remember that gal?) I was going to say that I am going to ramp up my workouts but I hurt my knee scrubbing the dang carpet and I'm going to have to let it heal a little bit. I am not going to stop moving though...I am going to lift weights and keep doing sit ups.

Goal Check Up:

3 Wk Goal (denver trip)....7.5 lbs (205.5) 5.5 lbs to go
6 Wk Goal (swimming).....12 lbs (201) 10 lbs to go
14 Wk Goal (milwaukee)...24 lbs (189) 22 lbs to go

Last week I formed a March of Dimes team to march for Maddie Spohr. The 3 mile walk is in TWO WEEKS so I need to get ready. If you are in the Utah area and would like to join our team please click here. If you would like to help me out by sponsoring my walk please click here or on the cute little baby in my sidebar. Amanda (What's Going On?) made a big donation last night while I was crying my eyes out watching the video Maddie's parents played at her funeral yesterday. And Jen (Harried Mom of Four) make a very generous donation last week. Thanks again Amanda and Jen!

Okay...Let's get back on track here! We can do this!

Thoughts on Easter

I feel terrible about the weekend....and the amount of chocolate that is in my house right now.

We hid M&Ms and Kisses in plastic eggs. My sister sent chocolate bunnies and jelly beans. My in laws sent cookies (which the kids didn't like...but I did) and then there was the super delicious dessert that I made for my brother in law's birthday. I feel like I ate in small quantities. But we also went out to dinner twice and I ate more than I should have...feeling sick afterwards.

I DID turn down Ice Cream from the malt shop.

This got me thinking about how we could put Easter on a diet. I don't mind my kids having a treat once in a while but the amount of candy that is involved is ridiculous. Not to mention that Easter falls around my kids' birthdays so we also have cake twice in one month.

I suppose next year we will be ready to dye eggs and those can be hidden for the kids to find. And maybe the baskets can hold small toys and crayons and paint sets instead of chocolate bunnies.

Anyone have any more ideas?

Week Two...Accountability

Welcome to the second week of Extreme Makeover: ME Edition! Let's weigh-in....

Last week: 213 pounds
This week:211 pounds

LOST...2 Pounds!

***happy dance***

The Plan from last week:

I exercised 4 times in the last 7 days. Wait...of course I have an excuse....*that* time of the month. It was super bad. Migraines, cramps, wanting to kill my husband. But I got back on track and yesterday I was at the point where I was going to stop and decided to keep going....for a total of 38 minutes and 357 calories! I was so proud of myself!

I am eating smaller portions and I can't stand the Activia Yogurt but I'm trying to eat one every other day. I'm taking my Vitamin D and my friend Jessica even ordered more for me in the bigger dose. She is an expert on Vitamin D deficiency. Here is a blog post she wrote about it. Since I started taking it this week and exercising more....I have been more calm. The kids screaming hasn't bothered me as much and they have been behaving more. They probably feel the ZEN.

Goal Check Up:

5 Wk Goal (denver trip)....7.5 lbs (205.5) 5.5 lbs to go
8 Wk Goal (swimming).....12 lbs (201)
16 Wk Goal (milwaukee)...24 lbs (189)

Question of the Week: How are you keeping track of your achievements. How do you reward yourself when you achieve a goal?

Excellent question! I'm so glad you asked. This blog...for one is going to place where I keep tract. I am also writing about my workout on my calendar each day so that I can look back to see how many minutes and how many calories I burned. I am working on figuring out some goal items because I really have to have something I'm working towards. Things I am thinking of include...new workout clothes, a heart-rate monitoring watch and a facial!

I just opened a new twitter account for my workouts/food tweets. If you are on twitter please follow me and send me inspirations tweets when you can. Remember Jessica that I talked about earlier? She is in Central Time so she is sending me motivational text messages in the morning when I should be getting up to work out! What a great friend! Thanks Jessica!

The Plan for week three:

• Exercise 5 times..also sit ups and push ups
• Drink more water
• Drink less wine
• No more daily chocolate breaks
• More Salad
  

One thing I am going to change this week is eating more salad. I am going to start serving a small salad along with our meals in an attempt to get in more veggies and eat less. My husband is back to taking a second helping of food at dinner and this has to stop!

Check back this week when I will be revealing my BEFORE picture!

Have a great week!

Thanks Amber for getting this started!

8 Weeks....

I just signed my kids up for parent/child swim lessons. You know what this means right?

It means that I will be wearing a swimming suit in 8 weeks. OH MY HECK!

I guess this just might be the motivation that I need to really keep with this.

Luckily, I already have a lovely black suit with a built in skirt that I don't feel too terrible in...I would just like to not look like I'm a whale that needs rescued.

Check out my Mommy Blog to see the contest I am trying to win.