Birthday's and Weight Loss

How do you stick to your diet when you tempted with birthday treats? Today is my birthday and as tradition at work we had danish brought in.. I did it; I ate...

Small "BIG" Town

Holy Cow our town is falling apart. I live in a smaller town.. Population last year of 10,349, so were not talking hole-in-the-wall small just small.Today news headlines were:

Citizens Bank was broken into this morning at 10am.
All schools on lock-down due to robbery.
Water main breaks at junior high forcing students to drink bottled water and use high school's bathrooms.
Sketch has been released of man who attempted to abduct woman in TC.
Father convicted of sexually abusing and killing his daughter last year.

Really crazy stuff.. Normally our news is of silly stuff like... City council fighting over rights to a corn field or vacant lot. Or who won citizen of the year.

As parents we wanted to raise our children in a small town for multiple reasons:

1. Slower pace of life.. a calm place to live. Where people walk to work, or shops. 
2. Low cost of living.. housing is much cheaper in a small town then a high rise in the cities.
3. Better schools.. (not always) but that is why we picked a good school district.
4. A sense of security.. you don't have to lock your doors when you run to store down the road.
5. Less traffic.. Here a 10 mile commute takes 10 minutes where in the cities a 10 mile commute could turn into an hour fast.
6. Easy access to the great outdoors.. fresh, clean, wonderful air.. trees, birds, oh how about stars.. Can you lay in your yard in the city and see stars?
7. A sense of community.. local shops close up early for the "big game". Run into someone you know anywhere you go. People helping people.. 

Is this "American Dream" becoming a thing of the past? When did we need to start worrying about letting our kids play outside alone? 

Frog Pee

It's been a long crazy busy weekend.. My life is an on the go circus always. With three children as unique as they come and all three super active we are always running. After a busy Friday and Saturday we decided to veg out Sunday. I vowed to do just that. After successfully doing that most of the day my Mother-in-law stopped by so I had to get dressed.

So Sunday night I notice that there is pee all over the toilet seat. Confused I ask around and find out that my Jasmine (6 years old) has decided that she likes to "Frog Pee". Okay new term for me also - but here is the definition for you.. Frog peeing is when you get naked, facing out, place your feet up on the either side of the toilet seat and pee. Oddly when doing this pee sprays everywhere... That girl..... or at least I think she's a girl. Some days she comes up with the oddest "boy" ideas.

That is how I spent my weekend..

Discouraged Weigh In

This weeks weigh in isn't anything to brag about. I stayed the same. Now if I was at goal already this would be great but being that I have a long way to go this is pretty discouraging.

Here is my condensed walking schedule this week:

Thursday 5 miles
Friday (rest)
Saturday 4 miles
Sunday 5 miles
Monday (injury off)
Tuesday 2.56 miles
Wednesday 3 miles

As for my diet I watched my carb intact and fat. Not sure if portions are still my problem, if it's not getting my breakfast in every day or what the deal is. I am so discouraged.

Flash Back

I was going through some pictures on my computer when I came across two very interesting pictures. The first is of me as a teenager. I was my thinnest those years.

The second photo I found was from our friends wedding a few years ago when I was my heaviest at 212 pounds. 

My face is so round and the turtleneck does not help. WOW - I am 35 pounds lighter but still have a long ways to go. 

Here I am in June at 181 pounds. 

Monday, Monday, Monday

Sadly it's Monday again. I had a nice weekend with the family but could really use a day in my house cleaning it - instead I will have to find time tonight to clean it. What I really need is a maid or a cleaning fairy to come while I am at work and do the dusting, mopping, and bathroom.

I started back on the diet and exercise two weeks ago and have done pretty good. But, I know here is the but... I am not happy with my weight lose. I am pleased that I lost 3 pounds last week but worried about this week. I have done fairly well but I am not seeing positive on my daily weigh in's. I know that over the weekend I ate some pretty high sodium foods and feel pretty bloated. Hoping that wont have any affect on my weight lose this week.

I have been doing my indoor cardio walking dvd's rather then walking outside. I have 6 dvd's; ranging from a 1 mile to a fast 5 mile. Last night while doing my workout my ankle started to bother me. It felt weak and sore. I am not sure what was going on with it, this morning it feels better. My ankle might be feeling better but now my knee on the opposite leg is bothering me. I feel old and broken. I think I might need to take tonight off and see how I feel tomorrow.

Weigh In

Hello everyone,

I decided that I need to first weigh in and blog again and second switch my weigh in date. The reason for the switch is that I feel like Monday doesn't reflect my week's hard work honestly. I feel like I have weekend bloat and I don't want to feel that way anymore; so I am switching to Wednesday. 

With all that said; it is Wednesday!!! I had a very long night last night. When I woke up this morning I thought for sure I would have a gain since all I did yesterday was snack; but I was wrong. The scale read 177.9.. I am so excited!!! This means that I lost 3 pounds this week. 

It sucks that I am losing the gain I had a couple months ago, but something I have to do. 8 more to go before I am back to were I was in March when I went on vacation.  

Lazy Day

It's my Friday so I am feeling pretty lazy. Not only is it my Friday but it's also day one of my period and that drains me mentally and physically. Work seemed to drag and drag and drag. It rained today so that didn't help. I decided not to walk tonight and use this as my day of rest but I hate that I didn't workout. I feel really lazy now. I had a good dinner but ate too much as always.

I have tomorrow off but need to run around and get a few things done. Saturday I am hosting my nieces 10th birthday party so I need to clean my house for that. I am also taking MiKayla to see Sugarland Sunday night so I need to get a good walk in tomorrow. Maybe then I wont feel as bad about unhealthy eating Saturday and Sunday night.

Let's see what tomorrow brings.. Night all...

Just a Blogger or Good Friend

Good Afternoon,

Today has been an okay day. I am on day number 4 of my starting fresh, starting over diet "life style change" if you buy into that. It's a diet - plain and simple. Monday was a good day; but the first day back always is. You are feeling talk, proud and confidant that this time - the diet is going to work. Tuesday is a little harder - still feeling good but tired, hungry, moody, and life is getting busy and excuses start... By Wednesday you are tired, moody, hungry, and deciding if your going to workout or not and if this diet is worth missing out on the good things your family is still eating. I walked Sunday night and Tuesday night. I walked Wednesday night. I decided back in January that I was going to drop weight by eating right and walking. I normally walk at a good 15-17 mph pace and I am happy with that. This woman I know and envy just posted today that she is going to do a half marathon in October - running....I would love to be a runner - it just isn't in me to run. The only way I am going to run is if something is chasing me. Remind me of this post later if I get in shape and start running. :) Speaking of running I follow this amazing woman Holly's blog. She posted a blog yesterday about the fear of being kidnapped while out running alone. I can so relate. Last night after a really long day at work and really just wanting to go home and crash not head out walking; I decided to walk after dinner. I wanted to try to push myself to walk 4 miles. So I laced up my sneakers and out I went. We have this path that is about 0.80 miles from my house. I normally walk to the path, down a ways and back home. It comes out to 2.5 if I don't get creative. I decided last night to walk to the path, turn left on the path and walk about 0.5 meet back at entrance and walk right my normal way and complete a "normal" walk. When I got back to the entrance I was at 2.67 on the GPS which didn't seem right but I went with it and though okay I need to get to 3.2 and see if I can reach 4 miles; so I walked the left side of the path again. When I got to the entrance it read 5.8 miles which clearly isn't right. By the time I got home last night it read something like 6.74 miles in like an 1.13 hours. I am bummed that my GPS went crazy last night because I really do not have an accurate account of what I did. I think it was 4.5 miles but it could really only be 4. I thought about Holly though during my walk because the path is really woody and shaded and there are times when you can't see anyone nor around the next corner. It is a beautiful path but a little freaky if your walking alone. Last night there was a man walking his dog - I passed him when I turned left onto the path and I saw him coming at me when I turned right onto the path. I looked up and saw him up ahead glanced away and when I looked up again he was gone. One of those moments like is he hiding in the bushes, am I losing my mind, is there another path off into the woods? Walking carefully up to where I saw him last, expecting to get kidnapped I see a path that leads to another road and he is walking on the road. By the end of my walk I thought about Holly's final words of her post "burned some calories, didn't get kidnapped." All in all a good workout. Glad I pushed through the mood and did the time.  I am thankful to have Holly. She is such an amazing woman and motivates me to want to push through my moods and keep on walkin'. She is more than just a blogger to me she is my good friend and we have coffee together every morning.

20 Fittest Foods

After reading several articles online I found the top 20 fittest foods. Here they are:

20) Turkey Breast
72 calories per 3-oz serving
Eat 3 servings per week
Buy it skinless and you get seven grams of muscle-building protein per ounce.

19) Olive Oil
119 calories per tbsp
Eat 2 tbsp per day
Olive oil is rich in good monounsaturated fat, making it an ideal food for heart health.

18) Quinoa
318 calories per half cup
Eat 2-3 servings per week

17) Black Beans
227 calories per cup
Eat 2 servings per week
Tiny as they are, beans can help you feel energized and fuller longer than almost anything else you can eat. The reason is twofold: They're incredibly high in fiber, which swells in your stomach and promotes a feeling of fullness. And, they're stuffed with a highly complex form of carbohydrate that can take your body a long while to convert into energy. Like meat, they're also packed with protein. 

16) Green Tea
2 calories per cup
Drink 1-3 cups per day
From cancer prevention to weight loss to potentially slowing the development of Alzheimer's, green tea has been shown to help fight almost every major medical ill.

15) Eggs
74 calories per large egg
Eat 3-7 eggs per week
Eggs contain a heavy-hitting 4 grams of pure muscle-building amino acids inside every shell, in addition to boasting some of the highest naturally available doses around of a vitamin called choline, which is thought to help enhance memory. 

14) Milk
118 calories per cup
Get 3 servings of dairy per day

13) Water
0 calories
Drink Eight 8-oz glasses per day
You know you need to be drinking more water, and for good reason. Water flushes toxins from your system, regulates body temp, acts as an insulator for joints, prevents kidney stones, and supplies the body with a raft of crucial minerals.

Although water helps in every way, it may be at its most powerful when it comes to weight loss. Drinking a glass or two of water a half hour or so before mealtime, for example, can help take the edge off your hunger.

Getting in all that water each day seem like a drag? Try making a half gallon of sugar-free lemonade you can sip throughout the day, or buy a pack of calorie-free flavorings to add to your water bottle at work.

12) Sweet Potatoes
100 calories per med. potato
Eat 1 per week
A four-ounce sweet potato holds more than 100% of our daily supply of beta carotene, a hefty dose of iron, and a plentiful shot of vitamins C and E. 

11) Soy300 calories per cupEat 2 servings per weekSoy nuts and the soy protein used in some protein shakes and bars not only taste great but are very guy-friendly.

10) Beef
163 calories per 3-oz serving
Eat 3-4 servings per week
It's not only high in muscle-building amino acids, it's also a powerhouse of iron and zinc, which aid circulatory health. 

9) Whole-Wheat Bread
140 calories per 2 slices
Eat 6 slices per week
White flour doesn't just rob you of fiber and protein, it also digests incredibly quickly in the body, giving you a rapid spike of energy-but one that comes crashing down just as fast. Over time, those spikes in insulin production wear on the body, damaging cells and promoting excess storage of fat. So why would you ever eat white bread?

8) Almonds82 calories per 1/2-oz servingEat 3 servings per weekHigh in protein, fiber, and vitamin E, almonds are great for your heart, digestive system, and skin. 

7) Yogurt
154 calories per cup
Get 3 servings of dairy per day
Yogurt has all the benefits of milk, plus active cultures that boost the number of germ-fighting bacteria along your intestinal walls.

6) Spinach
7 calories per cup
Eat 2-3 servings per week
What do button-down dietitians have in common with brawl-happy cartoon sailors? They all love their spinach! And for good reason. One serving of these leafy greens is loaded with fiber, calcium, and virtually your entire day's recommended dosage of beta carotene, a nutrient vital for immune-system health, good vision, but not-as far as we know-huge wrist flexors.

5) Broccoli
31 calories per cup
Eat 2-3 half-cup servings per week
It's rich with a healthy supply of iron, calcium, fiber, and vitamin C, meaning it's good for the circulatory system, bones, and fighting colds. 

4) Tomatoes
83 calories per cup
Eat 4 servings per week
This powerful antioxidant, which comes from the pigment that gives tomatoes their red color, may actually help fight off a number of diseases and ailments-most important for men, prostate cancer. 

3) Oatmeal
148 calories per half cup
Eat 3-4 servings per week
When it comes to eating breakfast in the morning, there's nothing better than a bowl of oatmeal to spike your energy levels and provide you with an hours-long supply of fuel. Oatmeal is also filled with stress-fighting and immunity-boosting zinc.

2) Blueberries
41 calories per half cup
Eat 1-2 cups per week
Of all the fruit you can eat, blueberries may be the absolute best. Whether you're getting them raw, tossed into cereal, mixed in fruit salad or a smoothie, blueberries pack more fiber, vitamins, and minerals per ounce than any other fruit in the produce aisle. 

1) Salmon
121 calories per 3-oz serving
Eat 3-4 servings per week
Salmon made out list for a number of reasons, but the biggest has got to be because its so densely stuffed with omega-3's. These fatty acids are thought to slow memory loss as you age and boost heart health by regulating heart rhythms and keeping arteries and veins supple and free of blockages.A three-ounce cooked serving contains 20 grams-making it ideal for building muscle and trimming fat. Besides helping stimulate your metabolism three to four times more than carbs or fat, protein is the absolute best food for helping fill you up, so you take in fewer calories and burn more. And that's what being a fit food is all about.

Sick

Okay stop reading now if you don't want to read another "I am depressed blog post'. Here it is.. I am so depressed today; okay for the past week to be honest. I worked so hard to lose weight and had lost a nice amount of weight but as of this morning I have gained almost all of it back. I am so depressed and every pound back on I sink further down into a deep depression. I have now made myself physically sick. I don't know if it's because it's so hot out and we have had company and not getting much sleep but I gained 4 pounds this week and can't get out of a mental slump. Why can't I get back on the bandwagon and start losing weight? I did it before and can do it so what the hell is wrong with me?

I don't want to hear advice or really hear anything from anyone. I know what I need to do and how to do it. I know how I feel when I do - I just am not ready to do it. So for now I am fat, ugly, and depressed..