Saturday January 7th, 2017

Welcome to the weekend.  Today was a not horrible day, lol.  The day started out okay.  My MIL and her sister loaded the camper and left for Dallas on their journey to California.  We got up, had breakfast together, and they left.

I have been eating my egg Frittatas (Frittata recipe here) for breakfast for several days now.  I found the recipe online, and have modified it slightly to make more at one time, but basically the same.  Weird thing, I found that my kids like them too, and so did my MIL.  So the eight I made two days ago are almost gone.  What's with my kids liking my "diet" foods? :)

Here's the thing, I have learned that I do better with sticking to my meal plan and eating better if I am prepared, and have things easy to grab and go on the run.  So this afternoon my DD (Drama Daughter) and I made a few prepared foods to avoid getting hungry and making bad choices.  We made 10 pre-made chop salads (lettuce, spinach, mixed greens, ham, salami, bacon, boiled eggs, celery, green pepper, carrots, a little cheese) and 8 more breakfast frittatas.  I am still working on figuring out some sort of pre-made grab and eat snacks.  I'm thinking some sort of cheese, sausage, fruit, nut packs.  Would love other ideas if you have any.

The good thing about some of this prepared healthy foods is that my kids are getting excited.  My kids want to take my salads to school for lunches, and eat my eggs for breakfasts.  This is not a bad thing however it may change the quantity of how much I need to make each week :).

After the food prep was done, and cleaned up we needed to go to SB (Snuggle Bug, aka, my youngest son) basketball game.  He had two today.  One of them was rearranged which unfortunately rearranged my timeline to make it to the gym.  I was going to go prior to church at 5pm, however that is when the game was.  After the game, DD and KK (was Karate Kid, my oldest son, however he needs a new knick name since he no longer does Karate) and I went to church to see a good friend sing.  She has a spectacular voice.

Since time was of the essence, and church and Ball made it complicated to cook dinner at a reasonable time we went out to dinner.  This was my challenge of the day.  We went to my favorite mexican restaurant and I didn't eat ANY, not one, zilch, nada, none! of the Chips.  I ordered a fajita chicken taco salad and didn't eat the shell.  I used the salsa as my dressing and it was yummy.  Yes, I REALLY wanted chips and salsa, but I am on a stronger path to a healthier, slimmer self and well chips, although yummy, not in my bigger plan.

I've logged my meals on MyFitnessPal if you'd like to see where I'm at calorie wise.  If/when I find good recipes I will post them here.

Have a good night all, be healthy!

OMG I hurt EVERYWHERE!!!  Advil is my friend.  That is all I have to say about that.

I am working on behaving myself on my diet, which isn't easy since my MIL came to town and brought two boxes of homemade candy with her.  Ugh!  We didn't make any candy this year so I wasn't expecting it and oh, it looks yummy.  I've decided next year!  I will be in better shape at a better weight and be able have a piece or two.  So until then!

I need to get to the gym tomorrow.  I am supposed to do two sessions of Cardio before my next training session on Tuesday.  A minimum of 30 minutes each.  So I'm thinking 30 minutes elliptical tomorrow, and a class on Monday.

Can't talk long, got company.

I did it :)

So I made it through an hour with the trainer.  Gail is going to kick my butt in shape :)  She has also given me some nutrition advice and a plan to follow to boost my weight loss.  So I have spent part of the day figuring out how I can still cook for my kids and family as well as feed myself healthy.  Things like I can make chicken tacos for the family, and make taco salad (minus the chips) for myself.  Or Kids get pork steak, potato and salad, I just skip the potato unless I do sweet potatoes (which I'm sure will happen sometime).

The hardest part so far is fruit.  I simply do not like it.  So I have to learn to have some somewhere in my diet.  I am typically a salty person, give me veggies over fruit anyday.  Or in my old day, a potato chip over a candy bar.

I made some breakfast frittata things that you make in muffin pans, and refrigerate for easy heat.  I know myself well enough to know if it's not convenient then I won't eat it.  My Daughter and I were talking today about how we can pre-make salads to keep for lunches on hand.  I find with my job LUNCH is going to be my hard part.  Real Estate is a "meet for lunch" type of job.  Also, it's an on the go during lunch time type of job and well a drive thru is just too easy.  So I have to be prepared to grab n go now that I am officeing from home full time.

So far my food intake has been good.  Making Chili for dinner.

Talk to you soon.

Here goes nothing!!!

So I took new before pictures, UGH!  I hate that.  In my head I do not look like this.  In my head I'm not as thin as I was in High School, but not fat.  As you will see, I carry the majority of my weight in my mid-section, BAD PLAN!!!

Appointment is in an hour!!!  Here goes nothing!!!

Time to get serious

This is going to sound cliche but I'm ready to get back to serious.  If you have been here with me before, and you are seeing this pop up again it's because I have to get my weight and health under control.

In the last 1 1/2 years I've gained an additional 30-35 lbs.  AHHHHHHH!!!!!  Not that I want to make excuses, but to give you a little background.  I had an issue with my right foot.  I was dealing with Arthritis and it got to a point where i couldn't bend my big toe at all.  So 6+ months goes by (had to get through my final cheer coaching season) and I had it operated on.  Apparently I had bone spurs on the joint, and a part of one of them broke and was in the joint causing the lack of motion.  Surgery was December 2015.  Long story short, throughout the injury, then surgery, and recovery I gained a lot of weight.  Of course I could start exercising last Spring but with the weight gain, and added pain my motivation was FAR from where it needed to be for success.

NOW, I have met a fantastic personal trainer who works primarily with the Pilates Reformer machine which is a lower impact higher output program that I think I am going to love.  In reality even if I don't LOVE it, I've paid for it, so 12 sessions in here we come :)

My first session is tomorrow morning at 11am.  I am looking forward to it, yet a bit nervous.  I have a long history of putting effort in and not finding much success, or at least not the success I feel like I should have.

Wish me luck, here we go working on creating a MUCH LESSER ME!!!

Ugh... off the wagon

Okay, so I'm back.  I was doing so well and then...well...not so much.  Where have I been you ask?  Well here is what's gone on in the last 5 months (or so) in a nutshell.

First I left Kansas, and went on a whirlwind 4 1/2 week vacation starting at the end of June.  We started in St. Louis for my hubby's Grandmother's 90th birthday.  All the extended family was there, and of course there was FOOD, and lack of exercise.   It was okay though, I was feeling good about myself and was determined that it was only temporary.  It was a ton of fun, and although we didn't all know it at the time, a blessing that we could all be together for the long weekend. 

This is where it gets hairy.  My two sons went with their Grandparents to Iowa, my hubby grabbed a train back to KC (he had to go work), and my daughter and I left for Michigan for the vacation experience of a lifetime.  We spent the next several weeks, rehearsing, and preparing to participate in a play at my old High School.  How often do you get to be on stage with your daughter?  I'm guessing the chances are slim.  Anyway, along with preparing for the show, it was like a huge class reunion.  Reuniting with old friends, making new ones (even ones that I found out live in KC with me :).  I spent most of my time at the school building, painting, rehearsing etc.  Of course then we end up ordering pizza at odd hours, going out for drinks after and getting appetizers, or filling our bellies with whatever suits the moment.  On the other hand, I was staying with my WONDERFUL Aunt and Uncle who tend to treat me and my family like royalty when we are there, so we had gigantic breakfasts everyday, and coffee on the deck next to the pond, and relaxed.  Honestly, it was like pure heaven!  Fun, relaxation, extraordinary food, no responsibility, or bills to pay.  Oh, and well, I made it to Zumba once while I was there.  Yeah, not really the best exercise/food intake ratio. 

Oh well, it was worth it.  I was going to get on the band wagon as soon as I got home right?  Well I did go to the gym once the first week I was home.  Then, the worst of the worst.  My father in-law passed away very sudden and unexpected (remember when I said what a blessing we had in St. Louis but didn't know it).  Fortunately my two sons were able to spend two weeks with him this summer while my daughter and I were in Michigan rehearsing.  Then we stopped by for a night on our way home from Michigan (which was not in the original plan) to say hi.

Long story short (and hopefully not as depressing) we immediately left for Iowa.  Our family spent two full weeks there for the services, and getting all the affairs in order for my Mother in-law.  However, what happens when there is a funeral?  Everyone brings food, and with a large family like ours, they bring LOTS of food.  What do I do when stressed, or depressed?  EAT :(  So I had just gotten back from 4 1/2 weeks of food and luxury, then right into two weeks of food and sadness.  Not a good combination for my waistline.

Then to make matters worse, we came home and two days later school started, Cub Scouts started, Cheerleading practice started, Soccer season started, and the whirlwind of my life took over and the routine of going to the gym and paying attention to my health had all but disappeared. 

So now that our crazy life has slowed ever so slightly, I need to pick up my again heavier self, and start anew.  So I'm back, I'm headed to the grocery store today to fill my pantry with smart snacks, and meal preparations for my family and we shall start again.  I think I shall change my outfit for my progress this time around, we shall see what I find in my closet. 

Thank you all for your support and understanding as I've slipped, tripped, and fell into my fat jeans again. 

It's been a while

Hello all, it's been a while.  I apoligize for leaving you out there with no contact.  I have not given up, nor have I fallen off the wagon.  I have however been extremely busy with work and kids.  If you have kids in school, you are probably fully aware of the chaotic schedule that goes along with the end of the school year.  Not to mention my Drama Daughter had First Communion, and Snuggle Bug had his birthday.  I also work in a real estate based business so you put all that in the same pot and BAM!!!  Two months have disappeared in a whirlwind. 

So to update you.  I have not been good about tracking calories, I also have not made it to the gym as often as I like.  I have however started getting up at the crack of dawn a few times when the gym seems to not be an option to walk.  For those that do not know where I live, just around the block from my house is a trail that leads into a nature center/park.  It's a beautiful trail, that is paved, with a water fountain about a mile in from my house, and it's gorgeous to walk by the pond, and watch the sun rise.  Although I don't feel I get quite the workout I get from the gym, I due love the peace an quiet that 6:30am provides :)  My husband on the other hand now believes I am an alien.  I have never been a morning person in my entire life!!!  Anyone who knows me well can vouch for it.  And until recently I have not been an excercise person.  So to combine the two together, he thinks I'm an alien.  The first morning I set my alarm early he actually looked at me and said "who are you, and what have you done with my wife"  LOL.  I am still me, but I am a healthier version of myself. 

As for my diet, weeeeellllllllll, when I work I tend to eat badly.  I have been working quite a bit with a company that many of the people there are on a healthier lifestyle so that helps.  We will go to lunch and have salad or something better for you than burgers and fries.  When I am by myself, it just simply depends on the day and my alotted time.  I also haven't cooked well at home do to the crazy schedule.  I'm hoping that when school gets out (in a day and a half) I will grill more, and eat better.  My work schedule has significantly slowed down it should make healthy eating easier.  I am still eating A LOT less than I used to, and that is still taking some time to get used to.  Simple things like the amount of pizza to order, or spaghetti to make, I have yet to get regulate them properly, and we have way more left overs than necessary. 

Anyway, that is sort of what has been up with me.  For those of you who have been working on this journey along with me, I hope it is going well for you.  I have not weighed myself lately as they moved the scale at the gym, and I don't know where it went so I'm scared to get on a different one.  I do have a more current picture, and I don't feel like I'm losing as much, but I do feel stronger.  Maybe I'm at one of those dreadful plateau's that people have warned me about, and if I can kick myself into high gear again, I will get through it. 

Hope you are well!

Breakfast -
Protein bar

Lunch -
2 taco bell tacos

Snack - 3 small cheddar cheese, 3 rosemary & olive oil triscuits

Dinner - 1 1/4 cups of Chicken fetticinni alfredo, heavy on the chicken.

Water - BAD -  (I left my water cup at home when I went to work and soda was what was available)
4 - 8oz. cups
1 - Coke Zero
1 - Diet coke

Excercise - 55 minutes of Group power (weight lifting)


For those who haven't seen me in a while.  Here is the latest.  Sorry I didn't realize the kids had fingerprinted the mirror all up :):):)