3 months?

Has it really been that long since I've written anything on here? Well...before we went to NYC I finally had dropped another 3-4 pounds, depending on what my last count was. I've taken two walks and done one power sculpt workout (halfway, anyway) since our trip. So I guess you can say that I've fallen off the wagon some, huh? The good news is, aside from the NYC trip, I haven't been eating nearly as much as I used to. But that's another post for another time (the boys are killing each other with pillows on my bed).

tidbits

I'm going to have start writing down everything I'm eating. Maybe I'll even put it up on here, I don't know.

I wrote that last week and never finished it. I also joined the Biggest Loser challenge at work. My sinuses were not happy with me Sunday evening or Monday morning or evening or Tuesday morning, so I went from Saturday morning to Wednesday evening without exercising. Let me tell you, it felt awful! I just had to get out last night, even though I was still a bit stuffy. I pushed Xander in the stroller and Zack walked with me, probably about a mile and a half. We even ran down the big hills. It was very nice!

And yes, I've been writing down what I've been eating...mostly anyway. I skipped last night, but I'm not sure if I had anything between lunch and dinner. I didn't have anything after we got home from dinner last night, though. I've realized that writing down what you're eating really makes you think, because I was feeling ashamed for having to write down "2 cookie dough pieces" the other day. I'm not even including calories or anything, but it is certainly making me think.

On the parenting front...I've been losing my temper way too much recently, and just letting little things irritate me. I felt really awful today when I went to grab Xander (for who knows what!) and I scratched his leg with my fingernail. I knew I'd hurt him right away, because I've scratched myself many times like that. It's a horrible feeling knowing that your temper, your reaction made your child bleed. I really hate admitting that it happened, but I can't be in denial.

Time to get off the computer, because there are still many chores to be done, and only 45 minutes left before getting Zack from school.

So...

I shouldn't have said anything about the chocolate thing. I haven't kept that up, even for one day. That's okay. I should keep reminding myself that when it was time for jumping jacks during bootcamp this morning, I was able to keep up the whole time. When I did the first DVD, I was grunting, trying to keep up but failing. So I consider this progress. Off to fold laundry right now, you know, the laundry that's been sitting on my couch, off and on, for several weeks. Wow, did I really just admit that?

Resolution

I've decided that I need to significantly reduce my chocolate intake. I came to this realization yesterday when I noticed how quickly the leftover trail mix from Zack's birthday party was disappearing and how many of the frozen cookie dough pieces I had eaten without having made a single cookie. So while it would be simply impossible for me to give it up completely, I have decided that I can have no more than 2 servings a week. I think this will not include my chocolate yogurt or granola bars. I'm talking about cookies, candy, ice cream or toppings. This will start today, so I will only have one serving for the rest of the week. I hope this isn't going to be too drastic!
Also, starting tomorrow, I will be getting up early to work out. Wait a minute, I can't say that. Things sometimes get in the way. I'll say I will do my best to wake up early. Because then I'm done exercising and showering early, I can make breakfast and get work done as soon as I get back from taking Zack to school.
I also need to make little notes and signs for myself, to remind me to stay cool with the kids and make good choices when it comes to discipline. Maybe I'll even make rules for them for each room of the house, to help keep the playroom from turning into a pigsty, forcing me to dump the toys out the window, like Dad did to Eileen and me a time or two. Okay, that's all for today. Time to get changed for working out.

Jillian

Okay, so yesterday I wasn't motivated at all to work out. I called Mark at work, and he said to just break open a new DVD. I really like Bob, so I opened the bootcamp DVD. It was a great workout! I can really feel how my muscles have gotten stronger. At one point, I was using the 3-pound weights, and they were actually too easy. That felt great! I was also noticing how tight my quads were during one of the stretches. That felt great, too! Oh, and I was able to keep up the whole time Bob was doing jumping jacks. That felt even better! Even though I'm not seeing the numbers on the scale change too much, I can feel the results of these workouts. I honestly feel stronger and better about myself! Anyway, I realized that I just don't enjoy working out with Kim, and on the workout 2 DVD, she does everything except the bootcamp. It just wasn't fun. Jillian, on the other hand, is not annoying like Kim. She communicates well, is positive, and even a little funny at times. Today's workout was great, too! (The only other update is that I didn't gain any weight over Zack's birthday weekend, what with all the cake and icing and candy around.) Thought for the Day: Keep it fun, or you won't want to do it at all.

Alternate

So I've been feeling kind of guilty keeping Xander inside all these mornings when I've been exercising. It's been absolutely gorgeous out, and I haven't brought him outside until around lunchtime or later. So here's an addendum to my plan: two or three times a week, my exercise will include letting him be outside. Whether it's a bike ride, a walk or bringing the portable DVD player outside and doing my workout outside, I'm determined that this kid will not be stuck inside. He's already addicted to movies and the computer, since he just recently learned how to use the mouse. So we're off on a bike ride today...

Kim

I finished the first six weeks of the Biggest Loser workout 1!!! I started the second DVD yesterday. It's only custome workouts, so you have to pick and choose which ones you're going to do. I sat down with Mark last night and figured out some ideas. My workouts have been about 35-40 minutes long, so this morning I figured out four different configurations of workouts that are 45 minutes long. Once I get used to these workouts, I'm definitely going to MUTE the tv and listen to my iPod instead of Kim. Oh my goodness!!! She's so annoying, she keeps talking, actually squeaking all during the workout! And I really prefer to look at Bob while I'm working out instead of this toothpick, muscle woman, when I know I'm never going to look that good!! Oh, and when she does the deep breaths at the beginning and end of the workouts, she does a full squat, showing off her skinny legs and perfect body shape. Even one of the contestants looks at her funny sometimes. But anyway...I have to get rid of all the Easter candy and goodies that are floating around the house, because they are NOT helping. Hopefully the longer workouts will help the number on the scale go back down again.

jump

One of the intervals on Boot Camp is simply jumping up and down in one place. The alternative is to just do calf raises instead of jumping. That's what I've been doing since I started. But today, grunting and all, even though I was slow, I jumped for the whole minute interval! I was very excited. Plus, I learned a couple things about my iPod, since the headphones kept coming loose and I didn't know how to turn the thing off. I love my hubby! (who is a follower, now) I don't think I really have a thought for the day. Mark went running, and I felt guilty that I wasn't doing anything, so I did.

wondering

So I was grunting again today. Maybe working hard to be in good shape will help next time I'm in labor! At the end of this workout, they have you kick left and right, one foot after the other, as fast as you can. Man, that's hard! By the end, it's really hard work just to lift your legs. Anyway, I'm feeling good about today and being able to get stuff done. Xander's sick, so we really can't go anywhere. I was also thinking about putting him in underwear for a little while today, just to see how he does, get him a little more ready for next week's potty mambo! Oh yeah, and I was wondering if people are actually reading this. I guess it's just a vent, and out for me, something to keep me at least a little accountable for what I'm trying to do, but I'd love to hear from you, see what works for you and if this is at all interesting or motivating for anyone else. I feel really good about what I've been able to accomplish so far. I've really only missed a couple of days of these workouts, and next week is the last week on this DVD. Then I'm on the the second DVD. I'd like to lose at least another 10 pounds (crazy!) before getting pregnant, but at this point, we aren't doing anything to prevent it from happening! Now I just need to adjust my diet a little (stay away from the jello poke cake in the fridge, or at least serve it rather than eating straight from the pan) and drink more water throughout the day, and I should be good to go. Okay, I think that's enough rambling for now, but can you give me a little feedback if you're reading this? Thanks!

grunt

While doing my workout today, I was reminded of when I was in labor with Xander. The nurse, who had also had natural births, told me to grunt and use lower sounds to get through contractions, rather than screaming like I was. So when the pushups and jumping jacks and just plain jumping got to be too much, I found myself grunting through them.

In other news, I'm trying to figure out how to fit in everything during the day. Xander's naptime isn't so much Mommy's quiet time as it is work time. Between laundry (which is now at least folded on the couch and coffee table), dishes, rooms to clean, kid to play with, errands to run, workouts to do, well, I'm losing some motivation. The house it definitely cleaner than it was when I was working full-time, so that's reassuring. I wouldn't be completely embarrassed if someone dropped my unexpectedly.

Thought for the day: Put it all together!

kick

Did I mention that the boot camp workout is kicking my butt? Well, if I didn't, the boot camp workout is kicking my butt!! It's one-minute interval bursts for 20 minutes. But it's going to be worth it one of these days. I'm definitely increasing muscle, though I can't really tell anything by my clothes. It's made me more conscious of my posture and I'm holding my abs in constantly. I should have done before, during and after pics. I watched Suzy's story from the Biggest Loser yesterday (on the workout DVD), and they showed pictures of her progress. I guess seeing the difference between start and finish would be more powerful than watching the numbers go down slowly. Maybe if I'm brave enough, I could post them. Maybe not. Thought for the day: Have a goal in mind, and know that it's going to be worth it, even if you're getting your butt kicked.

three

Still trying to stick with the biggest loser workouts, but I'm feeling very yucky today, so it's not happening. Monday and Tuesday kicked my butt, though! They were hard!! Lost another three pounds. Mark said that the dramatic change from week three to week four in the workouts is supposed to jumpstart weight loss and tease your system a bit. Oh yeah, and I had a very important doctor's appointment on Tuesday, and there is nothing standing between us and another baby except for needing to increase my folic acid (oh yeah, and "frequency," just in case you wanted to know). Thought for the day: Get better and stop feeling like yuck.

progress?

I'm slowing catching up on the laundry, but there's still one more load to go into the washer and two loads of sheets and towels on the couch. I've been able to keep the living room floor clean for about 2 days now. We'll see how that goes over the weekend and when I have to work tonight through Monday. The main part of the kitchen counter has been mostly clean since Monday or Tuesday, and I even cleaned my bedroom yesterday. It's nice to walk in the room and not have laundry baskets on the floor. Parenting is difficult, especially when your children are in your bed at 6:10, when it's still dark outside, making popping noises with their mouths and wanting to snuggle with their brother. But it's so worth it to see these little people grow from helpless bundles to chatterboxes and smarty-pants. Hopefully we'll get to do it again... Gotta fit in the workout later while P and/or Xander are sleeping (I have princesses today). Thought for the Day: It's worth it!

today

It's week three, day three. Just finished my workout a little bit ago. I missed the workout yesterday, but I don't feel as guilty about it as I thought I would have. I was little surprised at myself, but then again, I think I worked as much putting this (I found it for $8 at Target. I'm hoping that I can use it in place of my shoe crates behind the front door. Unfortunately, those convenient canvas bags like the one you see sitting on the shelf are way too small.) together as I would have doing the strength and sculpt part of this.

Plus, I walked down to the pond with the boys after school to feed the geese. Oh, and I carried Xander most of the way back while trying to get Zack to stop and wait for me. He was running ahead of me because he was mad at me. He had dropped his lollipop on the goose-poop-covered ground and I threw it away. He lost all privileges for last night and sweets and desserts for the rest of the week. He actually handled it pretty well. This was after he was late for school because of a temper tantrum about losing his legos. He refused to put them in the tub (he was worried about breaking the things he had made), so I took them away. He proceeded to trash his entire room during time-out, then tell me that it was too big of a mess to clean up. I was really proud of myself because I didn't yell (I raised my voice in a strong way) and I didn't throw a temper tantrum myself. I was even laughing about it when I was telling Mark on the phone. Anyway, today's an early release day, so hopefully it will go better with Zack.

Thought for the day: Even when things are difficult, children are being loud, schedules don't work out, house becomes chaotic, every day and every person (big and small) in your life is a blessing.

company

Week three, day one...had to shorten the workout, but still got it done. Went grocery shopping after lunch, Mark and I decided that we should try to get more fresh foods, less processed foods (duh!). So trying to work that out by buying catfish and raw shrimp rather than trusting the Gorton's fisherman. And the house is actually pretty clean right now, because I watched a friend's little boy during her dentist appointment. I admit, though, that I had to do a quick clean-up and stash this morning before she got here. Thought for the day: I should have company more often, my house stays cleaner that way. :)

lacking

I'm just not feeling it today. After stressful and intense dreams, I guess I wake up to stressful mornings, even if they aren't really so. I let the boys get to me, I let myself get to me, I let myself be a mean mommy, I let myself doubt myself. I've been too lazy today, haven't even put a bra on! Don't know if I can find the motivation to work out, but I'm going to be kicking myself if I miss a workout during my second week of it! And so the laundry that I should have already folded is going to sit on the couch, unfolded, and I'm going to drag my butt to get changed and try to find energy. Thought for the day: Maybe downer days are the best days to work out so I pull myself together. Maybe.

going

Week two, day three. Is it a good thing or a bad thing when your quads starts hurting during the warm-up? And I suppose that cinnamon rolls don't really go along with a biggest loser workout. Zack had a two hour delay, and it seemed okay to give him that much sugar, since it would be a little while before he was at school. But anyway, if I'm to lose weight with this workout, I really need to eat less food, drink more water (so that's my thought for the day). Eat less, drink more!

busy

I have to admit that Mondays are going to be harder. It's my grocery shopping day. After I drop Zack off at school, I go directly to the grocery store. Sometimes this happens on Mondays and Tuesdays, depending on sales. So now, here it is 1:30, lunch has been eaten, we've played outside, and Xander is happily watching Mickey Mouse (with the promise that he will nap afterwards, we'll see how that goes) and I'm about to start my workout. I'd rather do it earlier.
UPDATE: Got the workout in before naptime. Hopefully I can do the weights tomorrow morning instead of waiting til later. Have these weird marks on my arms, in the inside just below my elbows. I think it could be friction something-or-other from doing punches across my chest. Don't know, but it doesn't hurt. Tomorrow, must do laundry!

ordered

Today was Day 4 of the workout! My calves are still hurting, but it wasn't too bad. I have to watch it when I do shoulder raises and stuff, because of my neck injury from 1998. I went to Walmart.com and ordered the DVD I'm using now, the next volume, as well as the Cardio Max, the Boot Camp and the Power Sculpt. It was still WAY less than a gym membership. Now it's time to get dressed and start making lunch. Thought for the day: Pain may be good, but it's not necessarily fun when you have squat down to help a customer with something and you have to groan as you get down and up.

push

Going to the circus today with Zack's class, so I had to get up early to do my workout. It was interrupted by "Go back to bed so I can snuggle with you!" and "No, you need to put your shirt on!" Zack came out too and he started doing some of the exercises with me. That was fun. Oh, and MAN AM I HURTING!!!! I could hardly stand up when I got up this morning. Last night I tried to get on my tippy toes to get something from the back of the fridge, and I about fell down. So, my thought for the day: Pain is GOOD!!

even

My good friend Andrea called last night and asked if I could watch her two little girls, age 4 and 1. But even though I have extra people in my house today, I'm going to work out! I'm still trying to figure out when, but I'm going to do it!! I think I'll have to wait for P to be in deep sleep in my bedroom, because my clothes are in there. Sigh. The other two (K and Xander) are playing with My Little Pony's in the playroom, so they are quite occupied. My calves and sometimes my thighs are killing me today, and Zack's toilet overflowed this morning. There are many towels on the bathroom floor, but I have yet to get in there to clean it up. Don't really like cleaning!

Thought for the Day: Overcome obstacles.

two months later

Okay, back again. Is this the third or fourth time I've started on this thing?

Last week, I was tired. Tired of not exercising. You see, we cancelled out gym membership because the gym didn't have a day care. So I couldn't go there during the day. And although we have the nice (scratch that--btw, how do you make it marked through?) piece of junk jogging stroller/bike trailer in which all four of the shoulder straps have since worn through and broken off, it's just been too darn cold to subject Xander to such torture. Plus, who wants to get out and walk when it's 35 degrees and windy?? Well, maybe my husband does, but not me.

So I set off on a quest to find a Wii Fit Plus, with the balance board. Unfortunately, after looking online for availability at every Walmart, Target and Best Buy in the area, and going to the Super Walmart twice in one day, I came up empty handed. I was pretty much ready to cry! Which seems appropriate since I hadn't had a good dose of endorphines for a while.

Another trip to Target (for something that I forgot on another trip, no doubt) brought me to the exercise section where they have several DVDs. Before I spent money on one of those, I wanted to try it out through Blockbuster. I got "The Biggest Loser Workout Volume 1" in the mail today, and I feel great about it! This one DVD has a six week workout program on it, and it only costs $9 at Target!! That's like a whole bunch of savings from a gym membership. It not only has low and high intensity cardio, it has weights and sculpting as well--just what I like and need! I'm definitely going to buy the DVD next time I'm in Target.

So here's my stats since I last posted: I've been trying to eat healthier, which mostly means less and including more fruits and veggies. I've also gone a little healthier when eating fast food by not having any or at least having fewer french fries and not having cheeseburgers. Oh, and I've tried more recipes from Deceptively Delicious, only one of which was a total flop. I need to up my water intake, too, but I'm sure that will happen if I'm working out six days a week (!). Since I haven't been working as much in the evening, I've been able to actually clean up after dinner, and I've been doing okay (at lease since last Friday) with keeping up with the rest of the house. I need to get Mark more on board, because I have to work a lot again next week.

From my highest weight, I have lost about 7 pounds or so. I've fluctuated a bit, but I haven't gone back over that magic number that I mentioned a while back. Only 38 more pounds to go!

Thought for the Day: Every day, week, month, year can be a new beginning. You have to start somewhere.