WOW! this has been one whirlwind of a month! We have been travelling so much this month with 2 camping trips, an out of state wedding and some time at a mountain condo with family...boy am I tired!
We just got back from most of that being in this last week, so I am beat and trying to get back into my routines. Lots of laundry to do and library books to return, and we are back to our Civil war book study as well. It's going great!
I still have lots to do in the next month for our summer school, but lots less travel. I will probably take a trip to see some girlfriends for a couple of days, but that is it. The rest of the time we are going to do some swimming, relaxing, reading for the summer reading program and just be together.
now I'm off to pull weeds, switch laundry and make a grocery run! guess the crazyness continues! :)
Tuesday, June 29, 2010
Tuesday, May 25, 2010
weigh in and summer school
wow, I haven't done a regular Tuesday morning weigh in in quite a while. I have had quite a spring! Lots going on and lots to think about, that my weigh loss has gotten pushed to a back burner. not totally lost, but definitely not been my focus with my grandmother's death and funeral and the vacations we took just before that. WOW!
Well, though I gained during vacation, I have lost 3.6 of those pounds since the last time I weighed in. Though it has been a couple of weeks, I am thankful for a step in the right direction. I am hoping to focus more on my eating and exercising again now that things are shifting to a slower pace as summer approaches.
We school through the summer so there will be no last day, but we are finishing up some things that we won't continue in the summer. My daughter (10) will finish up some math and language books this week. My son (12) will do math through the summer because we have had some struggles with getting him to do the work without checking the back of the book for answers. Then we will all do a Civil war book study over the summer. I am very excited about it and so grateful for that resource. Unfortunately we can't go visit the sites like they can, but my parents are going back east to some of those areas and I asked them to grab photos, postcards or other fun things if they can. I ordered many of the books from the library and am choosing to buy a few that I think would be good contributions to our library here at home. I have adapted some of the readings for my ages, as my oldest is only 12. I will be reading Uncle Tom's cabin, but most likely I won't be reading it to them. I am using mostly the everyone, littles and middles books. I am also adding the American girl Addy books since my daughter has them, hasn't read them yet, and loves the series.
I am hoping this will be a fun study at a slow easy pace. we will also be camping some this summer as well as swimming at my grandfather's pool.
see what others weighed in at, and what they are thankful for
Well, though I gained during vacation, I have lost 3.6 of those pounds since the last time I weighed in. Though it has been a couple of weeks, I am thankful for a step in the right direction. I am hoping to focus more on my eating and exercising again now that things are shifting to a slower pace as summer approaches.
We school through the summer so there will be no last day, but we are finishing up some things that we won't continue in the summer. My daughter (10) will finish up some math and language books this week. My son (12) will do math through the summer because we have had some struggles with getting him to do the work without checking the back of the book for answers. Then we will all do a Civil war book study over the summer. I am very excited about it and so grateful for that resource. Unfortunately we can't go visit the sites like they can, but my parents are going back east to some of those areas and I asked them to grab photos, postcards or other fun things if they can. I ordered many of the books from the library and am choosing to buy a few that I think would be good contributions to our library here at home. I have adapted some of the readings for my ages, as my oldest is only 12. I will be reading Uncle Tom's cabin, but most likely I won't be reading it to them. I am using mostly the everyone, littles and middles books. I am also adding the American girl Addy books since my daughter has them, hasn't read them yet, and loves the series.
I am hoping this will be a fun study at a slow easy pace. we will also be camping some this summer as well as swimming at my grandfather's pool.
see what others weighed in at, and what they are thankful for
Wednesday, May 19, 2010
Mother's Day loss
My grandmother died on mother's day. I got a call as I was ditching church, laying in bed reading and painting my nails. My parent's said she wasn't breathing well, that's all they knew. She had been in a nursing home for two years and was doing just fine. (we found out later she choked on some food, aspirated and there was a DNR so they couldn't do anything for her) But I knew I had to go to her. I thought I would make it. I dressed, packed a bag and waited for my husband to get home from church. Then I drove 2 hours to where she was in the nursing home. When I arrived I was still sure I'd made it in time. As I walked up to the building one of my cousins was coming out and she told me it was too late. I cried. I couldn't believe I missed her. I went to her room where my aunts and uncle were around her bed and I had missed it by five minutes. I sobbed! I was present when my maternal grandmother passed away and somehow it was important to me to be here too. but I was late. I kept going over it in my head, if I had not waited for my husband to come home, or if I had not stopped to fill up a water bottle before I left, or if I had sped, or taken a different route, what if I hadn't stopped for lunch on my way? I sobbed and sobbed.
My Grammy was 90 years old. She had been getting progressively more senile for 10 years, the last few were the worst. There was such a conflict in me over her well being and my parents which I wrote about here. But to know she is gone, it is so final. I have had such a torrent of emotion over the last week and a half. Her funeral was on Friday. We went to Pueblo and stayed a few nights in a hotel. we should have stayed with my cousin, but we hadn't seen each other in 10 years and it seemed weird. In retrospect we should have just done it. But it was great to be with family. To reconnect with them. I am so sentimental and sappy. I love them and was glad to be with them, even if it took this sad time to bring us together.
I miss my Grammy. I have missed her for a long time. But it is final and she is gone, and I have been feeling like I don't have enough memories, enough pictures, and I just want to hang on so tightly to the ones I have. I am overwhelmed with my emotion and distress of the last week and then I go a day with out crying and I wonder if I have forgotten. Or I feel cold and uncaring that I can't cry today.
I was so blessed to be loved by her. And I never want her forgotten!
My Grammy was 90 years old. She had been getting progressively more senile for 10 years, the last few were the worst. There was such a conflict in me over her well being and my parents which I wrote about here. But to know she is gone, it is so final. I have had such a torrent of emotion over the last week and a half. Her funeral was on Friday. We went to Pueblo and stayed a few nights in a hotel. we should have stayed with my cousin, but we hadn't seen each other in 10 years and it seemed weird. In retrospect we should have just done it. But it was great to be with family. To reconnect with them. I am so sentimental and sappy. I love them and was glad to be with them, even if it took this sad time to bring us together.
I miss my Grammy. I have missed her for a long time. But it is final and she is gone, and I have been feeling like I don't have enough memories, enough pictures, and I just want to hang on so tightly to the ones I have. I am overwhelmed with my emotion and distress of the last week and then I go a day with out crying and I wonder if I have forgotten. Or I feel cold and uncaring that I can't cry today.
Saturday, May 08, 2010
TWO
WOW~ it has been two whole years since we welcomed this little miracle into our family. At the time I knew she'd be the last. Right now she still is, though with each passing day, as I see her growing up, I long for another baby to hold. As she runs farther from me and spends more time playing big kid games, I remember the early days and how tiny she was (though she was my biggest at 10lbs 13oz). I want more babies, but I haven't convinced my husband of that :) and so for now I have to watch as my baby learns to climb and jump, as she mimics older siblings and asserts her independence. She is such a joy! Her smile lights up a room and when she laughs, you can't help but laugh along...it is truly contagious.
Two years has flown by. I am so blessed that I get to be her mom. I don't feel worthy of it.
Two years has flown by. I am so blessed that I get to be her mom. I don't feel worthy of it.
Happy Birthday Emma!
Thursday, May 06, 2010
weighing in after vacation
Well, we went on vacation for almost 2 weeks and I gained a little over 5 lbs! I was afraid it would happen. See, this is the part of this journey that is hardest for me to wrap my mind around...eating with other people who eat the SAD (Standard American Diet). I don't eat that way anymore. And though I am losing slowly, I am losing. We eat differently but when we are with family we have to eat what they are eating, mostly processed foods with a slew of artificial preservatives, colors and flavors. I know we can't be perfect all the time, but after eating that way for almost 2 weeks, it did reek some havoc on my body and I gained weight. And WOW did I feel horrible. I felt bloated and irritable and sluggish. I had forgotten. Oh and since there were 3 birthdays celebrated in that time, I at so much store bought cake full of nasty ingredients, but let me tell you, after the very first bite, I craved it! I couldn't get enough of that frosting! I really made myself sick on it. bleck!
So, this week I am happily back to eating well now that we are home. It has been hard because I am coming off that processed stuff and kind of detoxing. I have had a headache and felt kind of tired this week, but am so glad to be back on real food!.
I have more trips with family coming up this summer. They will be shorter, but I still worry about the food. I don't like feeling like my body is on this roller coaster, and I don't like gaining weight so quickly that it took me so long to lose. I wish I knew how to balance this better. How to be around people who don't eat this way, and not offend them, but eat better. And it isn't really about educating them on the subject (though I'd like to spread my knowledge) but it is about not losing ground in my journey and keeping my body functioning at it's best.
but for now I will just get back to normal and hope my body will release those pounds quicker this time.
So, this week I am happily back to eating well now that we are home. It has been hard because I am coming off that processed stuff and kind of detoxing. I have had a headache and felt kind of tired this week, but am so glad to be back on real food!.
I have more trips with family coming up this summer. They will be shorter, but I still worry about the food. I don't like feeling like my body is on this roller coaster, and I don't like gaining weight so quickly that it took me so long to lose. I wish I knew how to balance this better. How to be around people who don't eat this way, and not offend them, but eat better. And it isn't really about educating them on the subject (though I'd like to spread my knowledge) but it is about not losing ground in my journey and keeping my body functioning at it's best.
but for now I will just get back to normal and hope my body will release those pounds quicker this time.
Tuesday, April 13, 2010
weighing in and eating in
So, I am down another 1.2 lbs this week. I have eaten pretty well, probably too much chocolate, but I feel like my body feels different this week. When my husband rubs my back he says my skin feels smoother (maybe less fat underneath?) I feel like my belly hangs different. (TMI?) It's a good thing. I still would like it to be going faster because no one else will see results for quite a while, but I know I am working in the right direction. See Eclipsed for more weigh ins
I really am excited about this ecourse I have been taking. I have done some of the things before, like cooking my own beans (though I never soaked them first which I do now) and I have made stock and cooked chicken before but I am learning traditional methods of doing things which is so much more healthy, and so much more the way I believe God wanted us to eat. I am really happy about the direction I am going with food, my family is doing ok with the changes. I think the hardest part really is planning ahead to make sure there are enough snacks for the kids (I have a 12 year old with a hollow leg) and to make sure I have meat thawed etc, because there's no McD if I didn't pull it together. We are done with that.
I am a bit concerned about us travelling at the end of the month. I don't want to resort to eating out as we go just because it is easier. I am going to try to plan as much for the car as possible. I will write about that next week as I plan ahead and cook ahead. The other concern I have is that we are visiting family and of course will be eating the standard processed food they fix, which of course is not what I prefer. But, I guess it is a small time and since we don't eat like that often, hopefully it will be fine.
I really am excited about this ecourse I have been taking. I have done some of the things before, like cooking my own beans (though I never soaked them first which I do now) and I have made stock and cooked chicken before but I am learning traditional methods of doing things which is so much more healthy, and so much more the way I believe God wanted us to eat. I am really happy about the direction I am going with food, my family is doing ok with the changes. I think the hardest part really is planning ahead to make sure there are enough snacks for the kids (I have a 12 year old with a hollow leg) and to make sure I have meat thawed etc, because there's no McD if I didn't pull it together. We are done with that.
I am a bit concerned about us travelling at the end of the month. I don't want to resort to eating out as we go just because it is easier. I am going to try to plan as much for the car as possible. I will write about that next week as I plan ahead and cook ahead. The other concern I have is that we are visiting family and of course will be eating the standard processed food they fix, which of course is not what I prefer. But, I guess it is a small time and since we don't eat like that often, hopefully it will be fine.
Tuesday, April 06, 2010
weigh in
I lost another pound this week. I was starting to think that this is taking forever and I wish, as I watch the Biggest Loser contestants melt away, that I could do something dramatic. But in the end, I know I am making lifestyle changes over this time that will last. And I don't have the extra time in my current life to work on dramatic anyway. And also, it IS going down, consistently, and with out much real work, so I tell ya, I'm not complaining one bit! See how others are doing here.
Monday, April 05, 2010
Spring Fever
I almost feel like we should be on summer vacation. The weather isn't great, though it is warm and sunny, but the wind is whipping and it has a nip to it for sure. But I am feeling lazy these days. Maybe it is just recovering from the illnesses in the last few weeks, but I don't feel like doing school work. I just want to sit and play with bubbles and I really want to plant some flowers (though they will freeze if I do it this early), or maybe read a book and I certainly don't want to finish the spring cleaning or the laundry. I don't want to think about lesson plans or any plans for that matter. I just want to do nothing. I am not feeling particularly sad or depressed or grumpy, just lazy. I sound like I am naming dwarfs here.
But, I have made the kids do a little work today. They have done their core subjects even though I was half hearted in my attempt to make it sound meaningful. I have been going full force though for a while with our American history unit study, and I think maybe I am a bit burnt out. I still have a few lessons left in it as well. And I do plan on getting to them this week and maybe a bit into next to finish it up. And I really wanted to get to the Civil War this school year, though right now I am contemplating rescheduling it for another time.
Whatever shall I do.... I think I will go pour myself a glass of sun tea and think on it a bit more...
But, I have made the kids do a little work today. They have done their core subjects even though I was half hearted in my attempt to make it sound meaningful. I have been going full force though for a while with our American history unit study, and I think maybe I am a bit burnt out. I still have a few lessons left in it as well. And I do plan on getting to them this week and maybe a bit into next to finish it up. And I really wanted to get to the Civil War this school year, though right now I am contemplating rescheduling it for another time.
Whatever shall I do.... I think I will go pour myself a glass of sun tea and think on it a bit more...
Tuesday, March 30, 2010
weighing in
so I am down a little this week to 276.2. that is 1.4 down from last week YAY! but I will say that I had a wierd stomach bug last week which, well, may have helped. I ate fine, felt fine the first half of the week but had to use the bathroom lots! all week! so by the end of the week I was pretty drained...litterally! LOL (I know, tmi)
anyway, I felt better over the weekend only to wake up monday morning about 3 with a croupy little girl! will it ever end? I feel like it may not. It has been a rough couple of nights (and days aren't that easy either) of sitting in a steamy shower with a fevery, croupy girl who really, couldn't breath well, and maybe we really should have taken her to the ER. We almost did. But each time we sat in the shower she was better so I held onto that. Oh and did I mention it's 70 degrees? boy am I hot and sweaty and in need of an actual shower!
Today she seems a bit better, lower fever and coughing more up and breathing easier for sure! I hope the worst is behind us and I really hope no one else gets it!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I have managed to get some laundry done and cleaned up the kitchen a bit and made some bread even! I am making this for dinner and serving over soaked rice with a salad. And if you want to see how anyone elses weight loss is going check here.
anyway, I felt better over the weekend only to wake up monday morning about 3 with a croupy little girl! will it ever end? I feel like it may not. It has been a rough couple of nights (and days aren't that easy either) of sitting in a steamy shower with a fevery, croupy girl who really, couldn't breath well, and maybe we really should have taken her to the ER. We almost did. But each time we sat in the shower she was better so I held onto that. Oh and did I mention it's 70 degrees? boy am I hot and sweaty and in need of an actual shower!
Today she seems a bit better, lower fever and coughing more up and breathing easier for sure! I hope the worst is behind us and I really hope no one else gets it!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I have managed to get some laundry done and cleaned up the kitchen a bit and made some bread even! I am making this for dinner and serving over soaked rice with a salad. And if you want to see how anyone elses weight loss is going check here.
Wednesday, March 24, 2010
Tuesday, March 23, 2010
weigh in: the one where everything stays the same...again
Does anyone even check on me anymore? I have been pretty boring. Sorry. Not losing (but thankfully not gaining). Yup. 277.6 lbs still. Don't get me wrong, I didn't gain anything and that is nothing to sneeze at considering I am not actively exercising or really doing anything different in my diet except eating better fats (butter and coconut oil) and homemade food (a lot of it prepared in a traditional method according to this book). And I am doing this awesome ecourse!!
I have made some very yummy things in the last couple of weeks. It is so easy though it does take some forethought. No throwing something together at the last minute. But I am enjoying learning the new methods and incorporating them into my normal routines. It's fun and I love that I am making the foods more nutritious for my family.
There is a soaked muffin recipe that I keep trying with different add ins. I am going to soak some flour and oats tonight to make the muffins tomorrow morning for breakfast, nothing like fresh hot muffins in the morning. I think tomorrow's will have some chopped up chocolate chips and some shredded coconut.
My family also really enjoyed the soaked pancakes and the homemade soaked pasta. I haven't made the soaked biscuits yet. Oh and let me tell you, I have been trying to make my family eat brown rice for years, no one likes it, we gag it down with some chicken and veggies once in a while, but it is a cheap bulk item I really would love us to eat more of. I have never been able to get it to taste good. It ends up still hard on the inside (or I burn it up with not enough water) or it has no flavor. Well, I made the soaked rice and it was SO good!! And my husband liked it too! and he always gags an obligatory bite down and wonders why we can't eat white rice. YAY for soaking and traditional foods!
Maybe I will get some motivation this week to exercise. I say that each week hoping it will be true... if yu want to see how others did this week check out Eclipsed.
I have made some very yummy things in the last couple of weeks. It is so easy though it does take some forethought. No throwing something together at the last minute. But I am enjoying learning the new methods and incorporating them into my normal routines. It's fun and I love that I am making the foods more nutritious for my family.
There is a soaked muffin recipe that I keep trying with different add ins. I am going to soak some flour and oats tonight to make the muffins tomorrow morning for breakfast, nothing like fresh hot muffins in the morning. I think tomorrow's will have some chopped up chocolate chips and some shredded coconut.
My family also really enjoyed the soaked pancakes and the homemade soaked pasta. I haven't made the soaked biscuits yet. Oh and let me tell you, I have been trying to make my family eat brown rice for years, no one likes it, we gag it down with some chicken and veggies once in a while, but it is a cheap bulk item I really would love us to eat more of. I have never been able to get it to taste good. It ends up still hard on the inside (or I burn it up with not enough water) or it has no flavor. Well, I made the soaked rice and it was SO good!! And my husband liked it too! and he always gags an obligatory bite down and wonders why we can't eat white rice. YAY for soaking and traditional foods!
Maybe I will get some motivation this week to exercise. I say that each week hoping it will be true... if yu want to see how others did this week check out Eclipsed.
Wednesday, March 17, 2010
GREEN
I have not been too personally involved in our garden in years past. I am kind of a sedentary person and am a bit girly in the fact that I don't like dirt under my nails. But this year, in an effort to grow more of our food (which has been a goal of mine for a while) I am getting involved. I also hope that the added activity in my days will help with my weightloss lifestyle change.
So I will be out pulling weeds and watering, planting, raking and composting. I will have the kids help and we will do a gardening unit study along with it. I hope to post some pictures through out the process as well.
To start I will show you our plants we started inside so far...
It's mostly bell peppers at this point. We did start a few other seeds just for fun though none of them need to be started yet. I haven't gotten my tomatoes yet or they would be there as well. I hope they come soon because they should be started soon.
So that is how we are coming so far...to see how others are going green.
So I will be out pulling weeds and watering, planting, raking and composting. I will have the kids help and we will do a gardening unit study along with it. I hope to post some pictures through out the process as well.
To start I will show you our plants we started inside so far...
It's mostly bell peppers at this point. We did start a few other seeds just for fun though none of them need to be started yet. I haven't gotten my tomatoes yet or they would be there as well. I hope they come soon because they should be started soon.Here is our garden area (newly hoed though we will rototill before actually planting)
And here is the new compost area my husband built this weekend.
We have had bad luck in the past, maybe because we just weren't adding enough "brown" to our green. I am having a homeschool chuck-wagon dinner next week and will have some bales of hay to put out here in the compost after that. I also will send the kids out to turn it each day as well. They love playing with rotting food and worms :) We will also use the hay to mulch in between plants to keep moisture in and weeds down.
So that is how we are coming so far...to see how others are going green.
weigh in
so, I didn't get around to posting yesterday. We have been busy with getting over sickness, and had a field trip on Monday to the railroad museum and then my oldest ended up sick yesterday. It has been a roller coaster these last few weeks.
I am down .4 lbs from last week. Not terribly exciting, but I am thankful it isn't a gain. Exercising is still slow in coming but the good thing is that I am definately working more movement into my everyday tasks. I guess over the long haul that is the best thing to sustain a life change and not just a "diet". So while I''d love to be 25 lbs down now, I think the things I am doing are definately changing my lifestyle.
I am loving the ecourse I am taking and will hopefully have some time to post about it soon.
I am down .4 lbs from last week. Not terribly exciting, but I am thankful it isn't a gain. Exercising is still slow in coming but the good thing is that I am definately working more movement into my everyday tasks. I guess over the long haul that is the best thing to sustain a life change and not just a "diet". So while I''d love to be 25 lbs down now, I think the things I am doing are definately changing my lifestyle.
I am loving the ecourse I am taking and will hopefully have some time to post about it soon.
Tuesday, March 09, 2010
weigh in and life
Well, no loss or gain this week. I am not surprised, but a bit sad because I keep thinking I could be 20 lbs down by now if I would keep exercising. I am lazy.
so I am going to work on working out this week, AGAIN. I was unpacking a box in the storage room this week and found 2 workout videos that are old, but could serve to mix me up a bit from just riding my stationary bike (infrequently as it is). So we will see.
Good news is that my daughter Megan is doing much better and seems to be recovering from her food poisoning. I am so glad. I felt so bad!
And my 5 year old son Gabe had his speech evaluation today and I am a bit disappointed in the evaluation itself and am glad to hear she doesn't think he has a hearing problem (though she never acctually did a hearing test), but I am not sure she can do any more then I am doing myself at this point. SO, I am not sure what to do next...
so I am going to work on working out this week, AGAIN. I was unpacking a box in the storage room this week and found 2 workout videos that are old, but could serve to mix me up a bit from just riding my stationary bike (infrequently as it is). So we will see.
Good news is that my daughter Megan is doing much better and seems to be recovering from her food poisoning. I am so glad. I felt so bad!
And my 5 year old son Gabe had his speech evaluation today and I am a bit disappointed in the evaluation itself and am glad to hear she doesn't think he has a hearing problem (though she never acctually did a hearing test), but I am not sure she can do any more then I am doing myself at this point. SO, I am not sure what to do next...
Sunday, March 07, 2010
bad mom
So my 10 year old has food poisoning. A couple of weeks ago I made homemade mayo. That of course means raw eggs. I was fine because I used eggs that I believe are from better sources then most factory farmed eggs, so they would be safer and less likely contaminated. We ate the mayo, all of us in several dishes over several days and were fine. Well, almost 2 weeks later I went to use it and saw big red spots on it so I threw it out. Coincidentally, that same day Megan says she isn't feeling well, and starts throwing up and having diarrhea. I wondered ho we got the stomach flu when we hadn't been out to the store or park or museum or anything (usually you can tell where you where in the last few days that you might have caught a bug). We had been home all week!
I started to worry about everyone else getting sick, but had this nagging feeling about the mayo. So I asked if she had used it at all lately. She said yes in fact she had made herself a deviled egg two days before! I asked if it looked or smelled funny. She said there were some brown dots but she scooped around them!!!
Oh no! So I am confident that she has salmonella poisoning. I have done lots of research and it seems likely. She has been feeling bad for 4 days (though today she seems better) and no one else has gotten sick. I have been making her drink lots of fluids and I wish I had some homemade broth to give her. But I tried getting her to eat some yogurt, but she really doesn't want to eat much, most things make her nauseous and gag. But I got some probiotic pills and she seems to be able to take them fine.
I am thankful she seems to be getting better. I have never had food poisoning and no one else in the family has either. I have been a bit freaked out and I feel so bad. I should have paid attention and thrown it out after the recommended 3 days. I feel horrible that my baby is suffering. I hope that the fact that she hasn't thrown up since yesterday means she is on the mend.
I started to worry about everyone else getting sick, but had this nagging feeling about the mayo. So I asked if she had used it at all lately. She said yes in fact she had made herself a deviled egg two days before! I asked if it looked or smelled funny. She said there were some brown dots but she scooped around them!!!
Oh no! So I am confident that she has salmonella poisoning. I have done lots of research and it seems likely. She has been feeling bad for 4 days (though today she seems better) and no one else has gotten sick. I have been making her drink lots of fluids and I wish I had some homemade broth to give her. But I tried getting her to eat some yogurt, but she really doesn't want to eat much, most things make her nauseous and gag. But I got some probiotic pills and she seems to be able to take them fine.
I am thankful she seems to be getting better. I have never had food poisoning and no one else in the family has either. I have been a bit freaked out and I feel so bad. I should have paid attention and thrown it out after the recommended 3 days. I feel horrible that my baby is suffering. I hope that the fact that she hasn't thrown up since yesterday means she is on the mend.
Tuesday, March 02, 2010
weigh in
This week I have done ok with food, still not regularly exercising but definately moving more in my normal routines, and I lost 1.4 lbs! YAY! I think I mentioned last week that I am losing with so little effort, but I am losing so little at a time...I know if I put even a little effort into exercising I would see better results. I will work on that still, but at least the number is going in the right direction, even if I didn't lose my goal of 10 lbs this month. I need to kick it up a notch this month I think. I will aim for 10 lbs again this month.
See how Kris did...way to go!!
See how Kris did...way to go!!
Monday, March 01, 2010
weekly challenge #9
So, I am still plugging along, trying desperately to be motivated to exercise. But I am still moving forward toward health (I am especially excited about this course) and haven't given up so woohoo!
This week Kris is challenging us to get more sleep and add a fruit or veggie at every meal. Well, first, I have a nursing toddler and she does nurse at night. I try not to stay up past 10pm most nights, but sometimes if hubby and I want some extra alone time we will watch a movie til late. But, I am awake a lot during the night while I nurse. I am a big fan of letting kids wean themselves in their own time, so I won't stop this. I will say that it is getting better, she is sleeping longer these days (though usually still in our bed) but it does affect my sleep. I am sure that I could feel better if I was more consistently getting full nights sleep. But for now this will have to do.
I have been drinking green smoothies some mornings, not every morning, to get some extra veggies and fruits in my days. They are so good and I just made this heavenly one (I used milk instead of rice milk, and honey instead of agave) this morning.... it was that kind of morning :) the kids love this one and I didn't make enough...I may need to make more later :)
I am not a huge fan of salads, though I do eat them. I had wanted to do a salad for lunch every day when I started this but it hasn't been working. I was too hungry too soon after. I won't eat commercially marketed salad dressings as they are too high in artificial things I can't even pronounce. I need to learn to make my own but the things I have tried haven't turned out so well. So salads end up being tasteless and boring.
The kids and I do enjoy orange, yellow and red bell peppers. I can't find them organic this time of year around here, but I do buy some non organic since it's one of the only things we buy non organic ( along with the clementines I like to snack on). I try to have a frozen veggie my kids like at dinner every night. I can't wait til summer and farmers markets and our garden .... but for now we work in what we can.
Fruit is easier because it is sweet. This time of year we eat a lot of clementines and apples. I use a lot of frozen fruit in those smoothies I mentioned and if there is a sale on grapes like we had last week we stock up (though they were still gone in a few days) but is was a nice treat in this boring time of the food year.
So... good things happening in our food life.
This week Kris is challenging us to get more sleep and add a fruit or veggie at every meal. Well, first, I have a nursing toddler and she does nurse at night. I try not to stay up past 10pm most nights, but sometimes if hubby and I want some extra alone time we will watch a movie til late. But, I am awake a lot during the night while I nurse. I am a big fan of letting kids wean themselves in their own time, so I won't stop this. I will say that it is getting better, she is sleeping longer these days (though usually still in our bed) but it does affect my sleep. I am sure that I could feel better if I was more consistently getting full nights sleep. But for now this will have to do.
I have been drinking green smoothies some mornings, not every morning, to get some extra veggies and fruits in my days. They are so good and I just made this heavenly one (I used milk instead of rice milk, and honey instead of agave) this morning.... it was that kind of morning :) the kids love this one and I didn't make enough...I may need to make more later :)
I am not a huge fan of salads, though I do eat them. I had wanted to do a salad for lunch every day when I started this but it hasn't been working. I was too hungry too soon after. I won't eat commercially marketed salad dressings as they are too high in artificial things I can't even pronounce. I need to learn to make my own but the things I have tried haven't turned out so well. So salads end up being tasteless and boring.
The kids and I do enjoy orange, yellow and red bell peppers. I can't find them organic this time of year around here, but I do buy some non organic since it's one of the only things we buy non organic ( along with the clementines I like to snack on). I try to have a frozen veggie my kids like at dinner every night. I can't wait til summer and farmers markets and our garden .... but for now we work in what we can.
Fruit is easier because it is sweet. This time of year we eat a lot of clementines and apples. I use a lot of frozen fruit in those smoothies I mentioned and if there is a sale on grapes like we had last week we stock up (though they were still gone in a few days) but is was a nice treat in this boring time of the food year.
So... good things happening in our food life.
Thursday, February 25, 2010
being a grown up
Being a grown up is hard. Sometimes, many times, you have to make hard decisions. You have to deal with things that you'd rather not. I don't like being a grown up. Why is it that kids spend so much time trying to be more grown up. They don't know how good they've got it. I was like that. I couldn't wait to grow up and have babies. They have been a blessing. But sometimes I have had to make hard decisions, and it is then that I wish I hadn't grown up so fast. Like when I had to hand my 6 week old baby over to have surgery that I didn't think she'd come out of. Or when I pushed my son into a preschool classroom and had to stand on the other side and hold it closed to keep him in. And now, my 5 year old son is going to be evaluated by a speech therapist. I have known for a long time he needed it. I was trying to deny it. I have worked hard to try to help him overcome his speech issues with out outside help.
But it's time to be a grown up.
I don't know why it is so hard for me. I think part of it is that I don't want him to be stigmatized as different. He already is by the fact that he can't be understood by anyone outside of our family (and sometimes not even by us). But I don't want to admit there is a problem I guess. I know he is so smart, the things he comes up with... but he can't get it all out. His communication is lacking. He is so brilliant and funny and brave and kind hearted... I don't want to admit to his fault. I haven't wanted him to feel out of place by having to go and be tested and have people talk about his "disability" but as it stands, he has no friends because they can't understand him, and I can see it hurts his feelings.
So finally I have realized it is time to take further intervention. In 2 weeks he sees the speech therapist. I am nervous, for me and for him. He is shy around others (probably because of his impediment) and I worry he won't cooperate. I worry that treatment will be long and complicated and he will feel bad about himself, or that it won't be fixable... I know I need to wait and see. I can't jump to every possible conclusion... I need to relax and take it as we go. I know if I trust God I will be able to get through and do the right thing.
I guess that is another part of the problem... I wonder if I am making the right decision. My daughter came out of surgery and recovered and is a healthy 10 year old...I made the right decision. My son hated school and didn't want to go and life was miserable for all of us... the wrong decision (though I took him out a few weeks later and was so glad to have him back home where he belonged...the right decision) I don't know how this will turn out. I hope it will be the right decision, I hope it wasn't the wrong decision to wait this long. I only want what's best for my kids.
And sometimes I want to curl up in my mommy's lap and not have to be responsible for these other lives.
But it's time to be a grown up.
I don't know why it is so hard for me. I think part of it is that I don't want him to be stigmatized as different. He already is by the fact that he can't be understood by anyone outside of our family (and sometimes not even by us). But I don't want to admit there is a problem I guess. I know he is so smart, the things he comes up with... but he can't get it all out. His communication is lacking. He is so brilliant and funny and brave and kind hearted... I don't want to admit to his fault. I haven't wanted him to feel out of place by having to go and be tested and have people talk about his "disability" but as it stands, he has no friends because they can't understand him, and I can see it hurts his feelings.
So finally I have realized it is time to take further intervention. In 2 weeks he sees the speech therapist. I am nervous, for me and for him. He is shy around others (probably because of his impediment) and I worry he won't cooperate. I worry that treatment will be long and complicated and he will feel bad about himself, or that it won't be fixable... I know I need to wait and see. I can't jump to every possible conclusion... I need to relax and take it as we go. I know if I trust God I will be able to get through and do the right thing.
I guess that is another part of the problem... I wonder if I am making the right decision. My daughter came out of surgery and recovered and is a healthy 10 year old...I made the right decision. My son hated school and didn't want to go and life was miserable for all of us... the wrong decision (though I took him out a few weeks later and was so glad to have him back home where he belonged...the right decision) I don't know how this will turn out. I hope it will be the right decision, I hope it wasn't the wrong decision to wait this long. I only want what's best for my kids.
And sometimes I want to curl up in my mommy's lap and not have to be responsible for these other lives.
Tuesday, February 23, 2010
weigh in, random stuff, and gratitude
well, I lost a pound this week. yay! I am now finally down .6 lbs from my original loss (because I gained a bit back). down to 279.4. So, I definitely know I need to exercise. I am just not making that a priority. I have done little things to improve my daily movement, which is good, but if I am going to really lose a big amount of weight, I am going to have to exercise. I feel like I have some valid reasons why it isn't being worked in, but they are just excuses and if I really wanted to make it work, I would.
So I am going to do the Biggest Loser cardio max 2-3 days a week and then ride our bike the other days, taking only Sundays off. See Kris for more weigh ins.
Oh and I am totally excited to be taking that ecourse I mentioned! I can't wait to learn about all the great natural, traditional ways to prepare food to make it more healthy and nutritious. I am working my budget to try and incorporate raw milk but I may not be able to quite yet. I am going to get a farm share of fruit and we are going to grow our own garden of veggies, I am going to get pastured eggs from a farm as well. I will blog a bit about that as I go. The course started this week and just talks about the basic definitions of natural and organic (according to the industry and according to God).
We are wrapping up our Revolutionary war unit this week and the kids are presenting a president report on Friday at our co-op. Then we will get into Lewis and Clark and the westward expansion of our country.
Oh and I made a sour dough starter this last week, from scratch! I made pancakes with it yesterday and they were great. I am making the bread today so I will let ya know how it comes out. I hear this is an art and it may not turn out the first time.
I haven't been blogging much on my spiritual journey as I had hoped. I had said at the beginning of the year one of my resolutions was to become closer to my Creator. I have been consumed with reading books, books about joy and God's love. I have loved them and have been feeling more joy in my life then I have in a long time. It is still mixed with days that I feel defeated. I think that satan wants to make me feel like that so I can't press on. But I am continuing to look up and know that God loves me even when I don't love myself. I still want to be better at doing my devotions. I don't spend enough time with God alone. But I am trusting him with some life situations and he is teaching me some things. And I am so grateful for that.
So I am going to do the Biggest Loser cardio max 2-3 days a week and then ride our bike the other days, taking only Sundays off. See Kris for more weigh ins.
Oh and I am totally excited to be taking that ecourse I mentioned! I can't wait to learn about all the great natural, traditional ways to prepare food to make it more healthy and nutritious. I am working my budget to try and incorporate raw milk but I may not be able to quite yet. I am going to get a farm share of fruit and we are going to grow our own garden of veggies, I am going to get pastured eggs from a farm as well. I will blog a bit about that as I go. The course started this week and just talks about the basic definitions of natural and organic (according to the industry and according to God).
We are wrapping up our Revolutionary war unit this week and the kids are presenting a president report on Friday at our co-op. Then we will get into Lewis and Clark and the westward expansion of our country.
Oh and I made a sour dough starter this last week, from scratch! I made pancakes with it yesterday and they were great. I am making the bread today so I will let ya know how it comes out. I hear this is an art and it may not turn out the first time.
I haven't been blogging much on my spiritual journey as I had hoped. I had said at the beginning of the year one of my resolutions was to become closer to my Creator. I have been consumed with reading books, books about joy and God's love. I have loved them and have been feeling more joy in my life then I have in a long time. It is still mixed with days that I feel defeated. I think that satan wants to make me feel like that so I can't press on. But I am continuing to look up and know that God loves me even when I don't love myself. I still want to be better at doing my devotions. I don't spend enough time with God alone. But I am trusting him with some life situations and he is teaching me some things. And I am so grateful for that.
Monday, February 22, 2010
challenge week 8
Wow, I have been on a roller coaster the last few weeks and have felt like I am going nowhere but back to where I started. But the fact is that I haven't gained back all the weight I lost (even though it wasn't much) and so I keep looking forward at what I can do next to make habit changes.
This week Kris issued the challenge of how to handle cravings. I don't think I have handled them too well in the last few weeks, but I have done better then ever before so that is a plus. First, I don't deprive myself. I have found that if I say "No chocolate" then the first thing I want is chocolate! So I do have some. I keep my favorite chocolate around but only have one or two squares and keeping it cold helps because it takes longer to eat, allowing for the feeling of indulging. I also discovered this smoothie and it is fabulous!! I use honey instead of agave but it really feels indulgent and I am getting all those great vitamins and nutrients and way less calories then lets say a Reece's pb cup. So that is working for me. I have a cookie if I have made the kids some (I may even have two) but I am not getting carried away, because I don't feel deprived.
The second thing in the challenge is doing strength training along with he cardio. I totally believe in this but haven't even found a way to work in exercise every day so I will keep it in mind as I get better at that.
Thanks for all the encouragement and great tips everyone!
This week Kris issued the challenge of how to handle cravings. I don't think I have handled them too well in the last few weeks, but I have done better then ever before so that is a plus. First, I don't deprive myself. I have found that if I say "No chocolate" then the first thing I want is chocolate! So I do have some. I keep my favorite chocolate around but only have one or two squares and keeping it cold helps because it takes longer to eat, allowing for the feeling of indulging. I also discovered this smoothie and it is fabulous!! I use honey instead of agave but it really feels indulgent and I am getting all those great vitamins and nutrients and way less calories then lets say a Reece's pb cup. So that is working for me. I have a cookie if I have made the kids some (I may even have two) but I am not getting carried away, because I don't feel deprived.
The second thing in the challenge is doing strength training along with he cardio. I totally believe in this but haven't even found a way to work in exercise every day so I will keep it in mind as I get better at that.
Thanks for all the encouragement and great tips everyone!
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