If It's Small, Does I Have To Count It?

Day 7 - Count The Calories That Really Count

Okay, I'm actually a day ahead, but I've been working on this for about six weeks now.  I use www.sparkpeople.com to record all the foods I eat. It has allowed me to calculate just how many calories I've been eating, and also to see what foods I eat.  I can see where I've eaten foods that I really don't care about when I could eat something healthier that I do like.  Most of my calories comes from mindless eating.  For instance, those Hershey Minitures on my desk...they are so small, do I need to write it down?  Oh yes I do!  Each one is around 43 calories, so if you eat several of them without thinking about it, they will quickly add up.  Now I need to sit down with pen and paper and really concentrate on the foods I really enjoy. I may even find healthier ways to prepare them.

Ready to Float!

Day 6 - Drink Water, Lose Weight

Finally!  This is something I'm already doing, so I can relax for a day instead of thinking about something new.  I already drink at least 7 glasses of water a day, and most days it is more like 10.  Yes, I tend to run down the hall at work, or at home, or when I go to pick Pecan up from daycare, but that just puts more steps on my pedometer.  Plus, once you start drinking this much water, you actually do crave it.  After typing that, I need to go find me a tall glass of some really cold H2O.  :-)

Will I Stand Myself Up?

Day 5 - Day-5 -Choose Your30x3

If I wouldn't stand someone else up, why would I do that to myself?  When it comes to working out, that would be easy to do.  The lunch hour is the main time I have for working out now, but that is also the same time I have for visiting with friends or running errands.  However, I have scheduled my workouts for the remainder of April. I will go to the gym to use the treadmill or elliptical, and it also gives me a time to read and relax during the work day.  Good news is I'm actually reading more by doing this, and it gives me something to look forward to.  I'm currently reading "Water for Elephants" which was suggested to me by one of my wonderful co-workers.  Now that I think of it, she has been the one to suggest the last two books I've read and the ones I have on my wish list. :-)

Now that my schedule is set, how did I do today?  Well, I had already schedule lunch with my fabulous group of girlfriends, so there wasn't a workout for me during lunch.  I did order a salad, but again it had fried chicken and ranch dressing.  That's okay.  I was able to get at least two if not three servings of veggies in, and I dripped my fork into the dressing and not smother the salad with it. Oh and I had a Coke.  I'm not going to lie...I love my fountain Cokes, and some places are better than others...isn't that right AM? 

Off the boring food and exercise talk...I want to say a little bit about the group of girlfriends (from lunch) that I have.  Well, I just realized I do not have a picture of all four of us together...now that is strange!  I will definitely have to correct that if we ever can get together at the same time.  One of you should email me one, so I can update this blog!  Anyway...they are some of the best friends anyone could have.  I always enjoy our time together, and they are always so uplifting.  I can only thank God for allowing me to have them as friends.  Thank you, AS, TC, and AM for being who you are, and being my friend!

Here is the cutest picture that Pecan's teacher took of her at school.  Her teacher stated she turned her back and when she turned back around Pecan had climbed up into the rocking chair.  Actually, she and her little friend, JC, were both in it.  From what I understand these two have a lot of fun (or trouble??) with each other. 

Do I Really Need It?

Day 4 - Tweak Your Diet  Today was a little easier, since I've already been working on these type of changes for about a month.  I decided I would make signs and post them in places I really needed to see them.  The ones at work went in the small fridge I have in my office:

and in the drawer I usually keep any snacks in:

The drawer is somewhat empty, but you can see the crackers peeping out from the sign.  Also, after seeing that picture, I'm going to clean out that drawer, because it is awful!  At home, I posted the pictures on the refrigerator/freezer, because it is the place I tend to snack from (i.e. ice cream, leftovers, etc.) Sometimes those snacks are healthy, but I need to stop and think if I really need it.  I can even be a mindless eater even with healthy foods.  Or maybe I just need to think about what type of food I'm about to eat.  I saw the strawberries in the fridge, but I went for the ice cream anyway.  :-( 

Of all the places I placed signs, I think this one is the best:

It is on my credit card, because I use it for almost all my purchases.  Yes, I know using cash is better, but this is easier for me at this time in my life.  Besides, I balance my credit card just like my checking account, AND I pay it off each month.  I'm pretty sure I would be posting a sign on my cash just the same if I had any.

I spent today's lunch on the elliptical again, and between it and not sleeping well last night, I was really sleepy this afternoon.  Looking forward to an early bedtime. 

Blast from the past moment....Here is a Pecan at her first eye doctor's appointment back in February.  She did so well! 

I Need a Lab Coat!

Day 3 - Trade Your Judge's Robe For a Lab Coat  This was a little harder than I realized it would be.  Actually, it was harder than the thirty minutes on the elliptical was yesterday, because changing the mindset is hard!  I wrote down a few things, but when I started to write my observation, I felt like I was just making up excuses (where is that lab coat?!).  Again, my train of thought will need to change, but the main thing for me at this point is to be aware of it.  I was completely relieved today when my doctor informed me that it would take three months to see results from the (small) changes I'm making.  I'm not making drastic changes like The Biggest Loser contestants or even others I know.  I'm trying to take it one day at a time, so hopefully, I'll make changes that will last. 

Having said all that, I didn't make the best choices today at lunch.  The fried chicken on the salad wasn't healthy, but good news is I did get more vegetables in instead of eating french fries.  Now, I don't plan to make this a habit, but it is a slow process.  Oh, I did walk to eat instead of driving somewhere.  The best part about lunch was catching up with a friend I don't talk as often as I would like.  The sad part is we work in the same building, but I'm just too lazy to go up two flights of stairs.  Se is so dear to me!  She is one of the few people that has been there for me through some rough (and the smooth) times in my life.  She is a wonderful friend, and I think a mother who does all that she cans for her children.  I just wish she would do for herself, because she totally deserves it!  I'm glad she has given me permission to "bug" her about it.  Look out!  I've already set up a task in Outlook to remind me.  :-)

While I didn't workout today like yesterday, all I really need to do is follow this one around the house.

Are you watching me?

Doesn't this just bring a smile to your face?

How Much Sugar?

We are only on day 2 of the 30 Day Weightloss-athon, and I'm already realizing just how many areas I have lost control over which led me to the place I am now (physically).  One of them is just how much sugar I eat and drink.  I watched this interview, "Sugar and Kids: The Toxic Truth", and it got me to thinking just how much sugar I take in.  How much sugar am I giving my family?  Dr. Gupta made a very valid point about eating the things that are usually on the "outer perimeter of the grocery store, because the inside stuff is packaged and processed foods".  Thinking back to my grocery store run yesterday, I had 13 out of 29 items that came from the outside perimeter.  Of the remaining 16 items, 10 were not the greatest but not the worst: oatmeal, protein bars, peanut butter, pasta, G2, Rotel tomatoes, and reduced calorie wheat bread.  That leaves 6 items that I need to rethink health over convenience.  It really wouldn't take that long to make real mashed potatoes over instant, but a baked potato would be even better.  Do I really need to make cupcakes for Easter?  Well, this time I will, but what about the future?  Funny thing is I have a freezer full of foods that are good for us, but I fail to take them out in time.  I so need to work on planning our meals.  Some weeks I do better than others.  Anyway, it is something to think about.  Maybe I should put sugar in a see thru container for me to see when I go into the kitchen?  If I had the time, I would spoon out sugar to the equivalent of what is in the food I'm eating at the time.  That would definitely be a wake-up call! 

Day 2's challenge was to "Move Your Body and Reframe from Sweat" which was to consist of moving for only 10 minutes.  I went to the Rec during lunch, and moved for 33 minutes on the Elliptical.  When I got home from work, we all walked around the circle.  It took way more than 10 minutes, because a little someone couldn't make up her mind if she wanted to walk, drive, or push.  It's so tough being little.  Anyway, Day 2 is complete!

Here is Pecan from the weekend.  She was so tired at lunch,Saturday, she couldn't stay awake.

Sunday, she is looking sweet as ever with her Cheerios.  This was before she started dumping them onto the floor.

Here is the sweetest thing I saw on this Monday morning.

Is It Sunday Already?

I can't believe how fast the weekend goes, but I'm looking forward to spending today with Pecan while taking care of Sunshine. Instead of bringing home big bucks from Vegas, he brought back the flu. In return, I get my own dose of Tamiflu...Yea me! I'm so excited, and I hope you can hear my sarcasm. Seriously, I do hate he feels bad, so I'm praying it passes quickly.

Yesterday, was spent playing with Pecan, taking care of Sunshine, cleaning floors, and shopping with one of my best friends. It is tax season, so I rarely see her then. I know those long days are tiring, so it was good to spend time together. Although, she is still looking for the perfect shoes for Easter, and I still haven't found a black skirt. Maybe we'll both find what we are looking for this week. After complaining about my weight, we headed to Johnny Rockets for dinner. It was so good! I guess I should consider that my "last" meal before starting my 30 day weightless-athon? Which due to time zone differences actually started last night.

First day of 30, required me to finish this statement with 20 answers: "I want to lose weight because...". This was to help find my true motivation for losing weight. It seemed most of my answers were very similar, but that could have been me trying to get to 20. In the end my motivator is to be in control of my body again instead of letting go. With being in control of it, I'll be healthier, stronger, a better wife, and a better mother. I will be confident I am taking care of the temple God gave me. I also must add the human side of me will be comfortable in a swimsuit again especially in front of my husband.

Well, that is where I am this morning. I would post a picture of Pecan, but I haven't figured out how to do that from an iPad. Maybe I can figured that out during nap time.

Have a wonderful Sunday worshipping the One who created it.