Long time, no see...

So I wanted to jump in and give a quick update. Life got CRAZY for me and I am afraid that although I have not neglected my weight loss journey (although I could be doing much better) I did completely fall off the blogging wagon.

I am down a total of 10 pounds, which is ridiculous considering I started at the first of the year. I have started C25k though, so things should be getting better quickly.

I want to let you know that I will be abandoning this blog, but I will be sticking with, and updating my original blog with at least one post a week about my weight loss.

You can find me here although, I will not be updating until tomorrow.

God Bless!

Friday Weigh In

I didn't expect much when I stepped on the scale this morning. Womanly issues have made me bloated and miserable and this usually results in a gain on the ole' scale. I was hoping simply not to see an increase. Imagine my surprise and delight when the numbers read 182.5! Woo Hoo! 2.5 lbs seemed so impossible to me I had to double and then triple check to make sure.

I was so uncomfortable and miserable last night all I wanted to do was curl up on the couch with a heating pad, a bowl of potato chips, and a chocolate bar. I'm so glad I didn't. If I can just make it another week without giving in to the hormones I'll be happy and hopefully at least another 2 lbs thinner.

Have a great weekend everyone! I'll see you again on Monday!

Getting It All In

I want to thank Jo at 282.5:Behind for giving me the topic for today's post. Go check her out, definitely worth the read.

I don't know anyone who has loads of free time. Whether you stay at home, work full time, go to school, have 0 kids or 10, are married or single, I can bet you have a full plate. I know I do. I could go on all day about all the things I do, I'm sure we all could, but we still need to take time to do the things that will preserve our health.

I don't have 2 straight hours a day in which to exercise, I just don't. I have used this in the past as an excuse not to do any exercise at all and that is just sad. Because I couldn't do a full upper and lower body workout plus cardio all at once, I would just skip the exercise all together. I don't believe you need to do it all at once in order to achieve results.

I can come up with 15 minute increments throughout the day, and this is how I exercise now. Think about it this way, none of us sit down a drink all of our daily water intake at one time. We take it one glass at a time. The same thing applies to exercise.

We can do so much, even though it may not seem like it at the time, in little increments. You can do squats in the morning while you are brushing your teeth. Wall push ups while breakfast is cooking. Toe rises while your reading your e-mail. March in place while you cook dinner. Do lunges while you run the sweeper. Turn on some music and dance with your kids. Take a 15 minute walk or run. No, you won't be able to train for a marathon or look like a body builder this way, but you will burn calories and help your body out.

It doesn't have to be all or nothing. Any step forward is a step in the right direction.

A Shift In Tastes

I am starting to lean towards becoming a vegetarian. In fact if I could find more "real life" vegetarian recipes I probably would have already made the transition. Ironically, I was raised on a beef farm. Red meat was a staple in our household, but that is part of my problem. For 18 years I ate meat that came from cattle that spent their days out on the pasture. We "finshed" them with corn and grain and then had them locally butchered. I ate meat with no dyes, no additives, and no chemicals. Our cattle lived like cattle, not standing in feed lots. I can actually smell and taste the difference in "local" beef and "store" beef. Once I became pregnant with my son I couldn't stand to even be around it anymore. Now that the USDA (or is it the FDA) is requiring meat to be labeled with it's source, I am amazed to see where it is coming from. None of the local grocery stores have had meat strictly from the USA. It has all been a combination of several countries. I don't know about you, but that is scary to me.

We have 60 acres here, and I could easily raise my own cattle for beef, but I honestly just don't have it in me anymore. I would be the one doing the feeding and care and I have just become too soft to kill and eat an animal I raised.

In my search for vegetarian recipes I cam across several published in a book by Dr. Dean Ornish. Our local hospital uses the Dr. Dean Ornish Program for Reversing Heart Disease and I was interesting in finding out more about it. I am impressed with what he has to say. He isn't promoting a fad diet, etc. but a lifestyle that will make you as healthy as possible. The more I read, the more I think my decision just may be a great one for me.

We will see how it goes. My husband is going to be less than thrilled, so I will still be cooking with chicken and fish. Yes, I know that the same issues apply to those too, but as of right now the smell and taste of them does not make me ill like beef or pork do.

Still Here

Wow, what a week! Just to let everyone know I am still here, and no I didn't fall off the wagon. I live so far out that I am connected to the web via dial up, and last week I could not maintain a connection long enough to post. Thankfully a local cable company has already strung lines across my property, but it may be several more months before they install service. There are pros and cons to being a rural gal.

I didn't behave quite as well as I should last week and as a result a 1/2 pound came creeping back, but as I cannot go back in time, only forward, I am letting it go and plugging away.

I apologize for such a short post, but my inbox is flooded and I have lots of catching up to do on the blogs I read. Rest assured I will be back in full force tomorrow.

Good Monday

I had been avoiding church, as well as any other public places, in order to keep my son from being exposed to the H1N1 virus. I'm not usually one to panic over something like the flu, but a local friend of mine lost her sister to H1N1. Her sister was only in her thirties and the shock of it really made an impact on me. Rest assured I am not a helicopter mom, but even before her passing, the voice in my head cautioned me over and over that it was critical to do everything I could to protect him from exposure. I choose to listen to that inner voice, particularly when it speaks to me about my son. I have chosen to ignore the voice a few times in the past and regretted it each time.

Yesterday we were able to attend church services again as a family and I just can't get over what a difference it made in my mood. I feel renewed and lifted.

This morning I got up early and was actually able to get in some "me" time before my son woke up, and I've even managed to start cutting a few fabric blocks for a charm swap. I don't know about you, but I find it so much easier to complete my workouts etc. when my day starts off right.

I've managed to cut my soda intake down to 1 a day, which is a major accomplishment for me, and I've stayed on track with my water consumption. Now that I have my routine down it is time to start working on my food choices. More on that tomorrow.


Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door. I will come in and eat with him, and he with me. -Revelation 3:20

Friday Weigh-In

Yesterday was a total bust for me and honestly I don't know why. I spent my day like a toad on a log. I just couldn't get motivated to do anything. I blogged about exercise, but then didn't even bother to do any. I can't even tell you why I didn't drink any water. I just didn't. I hate days like that. I'm not going to let it set a precedent though. Today is a new day and I'm going strong.

My Friday morning weigh in.................184.5! Yippe!!! 2 pounds down! I'm happy with this number considering that my eating was not all that great and I completely skipped one whole day of water and exercise.



T'was the month after Christmas, and all through the house,
nothing would fit me, not even a blouse;
The cookies I'd nibbled, the eggnog I had to taste,
at the holiday parties had gone to my waist;

When I got on the scales there arose such a number!
When I walked to the store (less a walk than a lumber),
I'd remember the marvelous meals I'd prepared,
The gravies and sauces and beef nicely rared;

The wine and the rum balls; the bread and the cheese,
and the way I'd never said, "No thank you, please."
As I dressed myself in my husband's old shirt,
and prepared once again to do battle with dirt,
I said to myself, as only I can,
"You can't spend a winter disguised as a man!"

So, away with the last of the sour cream dip.
Get rid of the fruit cake, every cracker and chip.
Every last bit of food that I like must be banished,
'til all the additional ounces have vanished.

I won't have a cookie--not even a lick.
I'll want only to chew on a long celery stick.
I won't have hot biscuits, or corn bread, or pie,
I'll munch on a carrot and quietly cry.

I'm hungry, I'm lonesome, and life is a bore,
But isn't that what January is for?
Unable to giggle, no longer a riot.
Happy New Year to all and to all a good diet!

Author Unknown