Weigh In

The girls and I weighed in today... I was very happy... I weighed in at 158lbs. YEAH!! I lost 3lbs from last week. I don't really know how though :) I went away and ate quite a bit. Not to bad, but food that wasn't really healthy. I haven't even been getting up in the morning to workout. I keep saying I will go to the Y, but don't happen to get there. It is across town and I wish I could get the energy to go because I know I will feel so much better, but I don't. After a full day with the daycare, I am beat at the end of the day. It is all I can do to go to the store for grocery. As you can see from the picture though, I am still hiding behind the kids. I got to stop doing that!!! I can't help it. Some habits are hard to break.

I finally found a picture of me from the party that was "all" of me. I couldn't believe that someone shot this one without my knowledge. But I am glad they did as I can see what I look like. I can still see that extra tire above my waist, but it looks so much better than it did a couple of months ago. I have to make that commitment again to wake up in the morning and get movin... but that alarm sounds and since I have no one really but myself to be accountable to, I just roll back over and say tomorrow I'll get up. So... I know tomorrow is Friday, but I am making the commitment to myself to get up and move... that bathing suit I have to wear in July and that bridesmaids dress I need to wear in September are laughing at me and saying I'll need a bigger size :)

Oh... and the picture of L and I was taken behind a netting... that's why it looks so foggy. Like I said, I am lucky to have found this one. I will take another one in a few weeks to see if that extra tire thins out a little. Hopefully it will.

Michelle

Last Day of School!!!

Well we made it... it was the last day of school for the big boys. They were raring to go and really had a great time in the water in the backyard. We did some games, water balloons, and even put the slide into the pool. I think that was the favorite. Although we had a great time... J decided that he wanted to go to the community pool (where you have to be 14 to go alone, he is 11). When I said No... he did the pout and I am so bored. Can you believe it... the 1st day of summer and he's bored!!! Well!!! I told him I had enough cleaning for him to do that he wouldn't be bored until August!! He quickly walked out the door and found something to do. We will have a talk tonight about boredom during summer vacation.

We have a lot of fun stuff planned this summer. We go to the Adirondack Mts. in NY with my sister for 2 weeks, we have some field trips planned for the daycare, and of course we will spend a lot of time at the pool and just hanging around with friends. I think that should be enough to last us until August 24th... Hopefully.

I'm Back

Well, we went to NY for my In-laws 50 wedding anniversary. It was a beautiful day, we helped celebrate with all my husbands family and had a nice time. We also had a sick husband, a sick 11yr old, and a puking 4yr old. We have been having a funny bug go through the daycare the last few weeks. The kids don't seem real sick, no fever or anything... just a little run down and tired. Well, they then, all of a sudden, puke or have diarrhea just about anywhere and everywhere. Then they are fine. Until it happens again about 2 to 4 hours later. For some of the kids it didn't come back, others it lingered around like that for 3 or 4 days. It was hard, because no one knew when it would strike or who. So we just went with it. Then we went away and it hit us too. Oh well, that is the life a daycare provider. It comes with the territory.
To say that I stayed on my "diet" I can say honestly, "Yes"... did I have cake, chips and a little extra wine... "yes," but that is what I have been telling myself, it's ok to indulge sometimes. Everything in moderation. I want to live a healthy, normal life. With exercise, healthy eating, and some fun sprinkled in there too. That is why I let myself enjoy the party food. Now that I am home, it is back to my 30 Day Shred, running after all my little kiddo's, and eating healthy. But hey... tomorrow is the last day of school... isn't that reason enough to celebrate :) Ok... maybe I won't indulge in all the ice cream sundae's the kids will be eating... but I will indulge in the fresh fruit I will have out also. I am happy with what I am doing right now... I think I can continue to do it and lose weight also.
When I was at the party, it was nice that people noticed that I lost weight since February (that was the last time anyone saw me and I was close to my highest weight ever... 174lbs). I felt good, and when I see them at the end of July I want to be even closer to my goal weight. That will make me feel even better.
I will try to get some photos posted of the trip, and I think I even have one of all of me... maybe :)

Day 5 of the Shred

I am on the 5th day of the shred... the kids at Daycare are actually noticing that my belly isn't as "floppy." How cute is that. I think my "floppy" belly was a comfort to some of the kids who would climb up on my lap during the day. Oh well, I think my arms will have to be enough from now on. "floppy" is out!!
I am actually feeling a difference with these 5 days down. I didn't want to get up this morning because I knew it was going to be such a long day... we go to Long Island, NY tonight for my in-laws 50th wedding anniversary. So I wanted to sleep, but I am glad I didn't. It was nice to get moving and know that even if I can't shred at the in-laws I got as much in before I left and I can take some nice spring walks there at night.
I am finding it hard not to get on the scale though. It took all my will power not to get on that scale this morning. I know it will just fluctuate each day... so I am hoping by next Thursday I will see some loss. At least a pound I am hoping. I think the slower it comes off, the better chance I have in keeping it off. I mean it took 2 years to put it on...
I am trying to eat like I would normally... not the "diet" kind of eating... just eating to be healthy and the way I would eat when I get to my target weight. I know I have to cut portions and eat more veggies... but I do indulge in ice cream or snacks with the kids sometimes. Running a daycare and having 4 young boys in the house... snacks and ice cream are always flowing :)
Well, I won't post again until I am back from Long Island... but I will post on how I did while away. Will power... I will keep repeating it to myself. Hey... maybe I will even take a picture with me actually in it?? Maybe :)

Sisterhood of the Shrinking Jeans Challenge

I haven't been bloggin for a while, been very busy getting our Spring Program for the daycare off the ground and hoping the parents loved it!!! I think they did. I would show the pictures, but I haven't asked the parents yet if they care to be in my posts.

Ok.. on to the "Challenge" I visited the blog... The Sisterhood of the Shrinking Jeans and they are having this great challenge. I need to lose 10 to 15 pounds and really want to be held more accountable to someone besides myself or my sister. She has kinda been weaning herself off of the calling me and waking up, so I have been bugging her to get going. I hope she does. But for me, I think this is exactly what I need.

Ok, here I am with the family after my 8yr old made his 1st Holy Communion. I tried to get behind the little guy, but I didn't make it. I can't find any pictures of me... the WHOLE me. I am always behind someone, only the head shot, etc... I am tired of that and that is why I am going to do this challenge!!! I need to do it!!! For myself and my kids!

Here I am at least covered by that great big sweatshirt. I think one of my boys took this photo. If I had known I probably told him not to, but I am glad he did or you would have thought i never went on a family vacation. Sad really. I try to get more photos with me in them, so my children actually think I was a participant in their youth :)

I weighed in this morning... I was 161lbs. Wow... I can't believe I wrote it down. I think I will be doing the 30 day Shred w/ Jillian Michaels. I also go to the gym 2x's a week to do some cardio and they have Fittlinks... a strength training circuit thing for beginners like me. I also try to eat walk whenever I can. Mornings or at night with the dogs or a friend. Now that the pool is open... I hope I can swim a little too. I am exhausted just writing about it, but I am committed to doing this.

I want to lose at least 10lbs in this challenge... I will work hard to do it... and with the Sisterhood of the Shrinking Jeans I think I can. I will try to provide a link, but if I can't figure it out you can click on their button on the side bar.

Jillian Michaels 30 lbs Shred!!!!

WOW!!! What a GREAT workout!! My sister gave me this new DVD of Jillian Michael's from the Biggest Loser and I love it. I have been getting up in the early morning, I do love the time I get to spend with the boys (who by the way have dwindled down on their early waking), but it is hard to get up and out. So I decided to try this video today. WOW!!! Between the jumping jacks, weights, and cardio... all in 20 or so minutes. I was done with time to spare. I got to make my coffee, check my emails, and have some water before I had to go upstairs to wake the kids and shower for the day.

My sister has been such an inspiration and so has Julie from My Life With Boys, I am not the only one who has to do this. I know I'm not the only one who hates to exercise and Jillian Michael's makes it quick, and maximizes your efforts. I don't know how to put in the shortcuts to Walmart.com where I found it the cheapest if you want to buy it and have it delivered, but that is where I found it.

I also got two of my girlfriends to join me in a weekly weigh-in. Like Weight Watchers. I can't afford to go to the meetings right now, as my hubby is out of work. I want to do it, but this is the next best thing. We can be accountable to one another and come up with some great recipes to exchange... what works for me, what works for them...etc... I think it will be good.

I will continue to workout at the YMCA 2 to 3 days a week, I don't want my body to get used to what it is doing and hit that plateau. I have lost 10 lbs and am kinda stuck where I am at. I know it is because I haven't really watched my portion sizes, but now that I have kicked myself into high gear again, I think I can lose those last 10 lbs before my Sister-in-law's wedding. I'm sorry I know I can!!! And I will continue to work on those flabby arms of mine so I won't be embarrassed in that spaghetti strap dress...

I hope all are doing good out there and if anyone want to buddy up and exchange recipes or support please let me know... I would so love to have as many people as I can to be accountable to!!!!

Weight

What is it about losing weight for women?? It seems to be a daily battle for so many of us. I wish that our food supply was not laden with preservatives, fat, chemicals, and whoever knows what else. I have been really trying to keep up with my AM walking, but have started to fall off the exercise wagon. I think that sleep is getting the better of me. Plus, I have started to lose some weight and am feeling better, so I think, What the Hay!! But I also know that I will hit a wall and just start gaining again. I wish I could just get up and do it without it seeming like a chore. I hate to EXERCISE!!! I wish I loved it like so many people, but I don't and wish I could eat what I wanted (within reason) and stay slim and healthy.

There is an up side to this weight loss business, my boys are so happy for me. They still get up and walk with me some mornings and have made comments that I have been playing with them more and keeping up with them better. WOW!! Boys are good for a Mother. They have been also helping me to eat healthy, they are trying new things and not making those terrible faces when I put asparagus on the plate... or the brussel sprouts that I love and they hate. They keep pushing it around their plate until I say they can be excused, but don't complain... at least not to much.

Dessert is the hardest time for me. I wish I could say the kids help me here, but they don't. And neither does the husband... it is cookies, ice cream cones, or something else just as enticing. They have this EVERY night!!! Then they need a snack before bed. That at least is cheese, an apple, or something healthy. But it is the hardest part of my day. I try not to use the, "I Deserve It" speech to myself, but sometimes I feel like I do. Not a good excuse though huh :)
I try to keep my desserts to fruit, yogurt, or nuts. I will have something from the Weight Watchers dessert collection a few nights a week, but no more. I could just keep eating if I did.

Well, I need to get these kids up from nap. We have snack to prepare today (strawberries) and toys to pickup. I will keep plugging along and get this weight off, even if it takes longer than I expect :)