2011 challenges and goals…

Well I went back to my very first post to see if I did anything I really had set out to do. My first goal of many was to weigh 180 lbs by mid-summer. Well that didn’t happen then or now. I made 187, but not by mid-summer, by years end. Disappointing, sorta. Another goal was to get rid of some fat. Well that I did, 50” worth. So that’s not bad. Went from a size 22 to a 16. I wanted a stronger back, that has happened. That is wonderful, no more pain pills every days. I wanted help, input, words of wisdom and more and boy did I get that. I joined challenges, blogs hops, met friends, made friends and have learned tons of stuff.

Today while reading a friend of mine JW she had some posts that really spoke to me. Integrity and Weight Loss and Accepting Flaws and Be Genuine / Live with Integrity. Honesty is the policy. I know this but I haven’t been the most honest to myself. Oh I know that 38 lbs isn’t something to put down but I know that if I had put my all into it, I could of made my goal. I didn’t, I took time off here and there, I screwed up here and there. So that means, instead of 2010 being my year, It’s just the beginning. 2011 will be the year that I meet my goal, learn to live healthy and stay that way.

I keep pushing around the idea of Allan's Phase 4, SSDDDC.

I have been afraid of it. I have been hanging on to the last three challenges by the skin on my teeth and this challenge will really be the make or break one. My heart wants to do it, my mind thinks I shouldn’t, my body knows it needs to. According to Allan’s Phase 4 I can make my new goal by our 31st anniversary. That’s in April. I want to do this!!!

So my goals for 2011 are going to look like this….

1. Be at my goal weight, 165 by April 25th.

2. Walk 400 miles in 2011.

3. Be able to jog a full 5K in October.

4. Put on my wedding dress and my first Christmas dress.

5. After hitting my goal weight to learn to maintain it for a life time.

I can do this, I know I can. I KNOW I CAN!!!

Last Hot 100 update…

My first post for the Hot 100 with Steve. My goals were pretty simple, to lose the last 20 lbs of my 2010 challenge. To exercise regularly and to work up meal plans.

So for the weight, I’m at 187, that’s 7 pounds from my goal. So I didn’t make it, I did work hard most of the time (key word, most) and if I had put my nose to the grind I could of lost those last 7 lbs. Now I’ll be adding them to my 2011 goals. So I’ll give me a

Exercise regularly. For a girl that hated exercise when I first started out my new life style journey I’m in love with it now. This week I’m missing it but with being sick I just can’t muster up what I need to do it but this too shall pass and I’ll get back at it next week. So for this goal I get a

My last challenge was to do a regular menu. Well I think I flunked this part. I did make up meal plans but not like menu’s. It was more of a grocery list then a menu. I would know what I was fixing for the day but not from a menu, just from what I had picked up to match what I already had. So not perfect at all.

So there you have it, my last Hot 100 update. I’m going to miss this. It was my weekly reminder to weigh myself, share it and check on all the other hotties out there. I know I never make it to every single one of you but I hope I made it to a good chunk of you and I hope I was able to encourage you, help you or at least make you smile a bit.

I wish you all a very Happy New Year. A new year to work on some new goals, new challenges and to keep learning. I know that is what’s on my list of to do’s. Take care everyone and God Bless you all!!!

 

Dumb as a box of rocks….

Yep, that me. How did I think it was going to be possible to go to the gym and work out? How come Sandra didn’t post just a bit earlier so I could of said “Sandra said I shouldn’t go?”. Dummy me. I mean really dummy me.

I went and walked 2 miles at a 4% grade at 3.8 mph. Now for me that’s a bit slow but I figured I’d take it easy. Then I worked out with the weight machines for an hour. I worked hard and when I got to the second to last one I was spent, not just a little…way over drawn. We left and I could barely speak or move. I got home and the coughing fits started up. I couldn’t breath, rest, sleep was out of the question and I had to be up at 5:00 this morning. Dummy!!!

Jim said there will be no exercise this week, at least not at the gym. Unless I can sleep the full night through, unless I can go a whole day without coughing, unless he sees Jesus and he tells him I can go. I really didn’t know the man cared but he was worried last night. Mike was mad at me for going. They both just didn’t understand I needed to go. I needed to work out. Well I did, I just didn’t need to do it that hard I guess.

So what did I learn? They care, they really do. What else did I learn, I guess pushing isn’t a good idea at times. It’s best to feel great, just not better before working out hard. I learned that I should listen to my body, my hubby, my peeps because they know more then my brain.

Oh well I’m paying for it today and probably tomorrow too but maybe by Friday I can go and work out. That sounds so strange for someone who hated to exercise.

I hope you all are doing grandly. I hope that you all have an awesome day. I hope that you all feel the Lords blessings upon you. Take care my friends.

I’m sick and it stinks….

Yep, I have a cold and my period and I’m telling you it is not a good combination at all. NOT AT ALL!!!! I am coughing so hard my lungs are sure they are going to pop right out of my chest. My head is going to explode and I have more muscles I’m using coughing then I use to work out. YUCK!!! I am not counting calories, why I’d have to eat to do that. Or have things stay down to count some. I wonder how many calories you burn off coughing. I don’t have a fever so am still working and each day have 6-8 kids this week so to keep up with them it’s taking everything I have plus. Oh I’ll live, but I have to complain to someone.

I haven’t made it to the gym yet this week either. They were closed Friday and Saturday. Saturday I did put on my sorrels and went for a 3 mile walk. It was work walking with them boots. A good work-out so at least something. Tonight I’m going to the gym but if I can’t run/walk I’ll just use the weight machines.

This is the last week for Steve's Hot 100. I’m going to miss this challenge. I only made three goals and though I’m good at making 2 of the three each week the last one was the hardest, to write up a weekly menu. I have to say I failed there cuz I think I only made up a real menu twice. This week being one of them.

I’m still working with Allan and Phase 3. If I follow the rules I should of been able to meet my year goal of 180 by Jan. 1st. Well I’m trying but not perfect so I’ll be close but not on the dot. I’m hoping 185 so will have missed by 5 lbs. Next year I’ll be adding that 5 lbs to my goals.

Phase 4 starts Jan 3rd-May 1st. That will be my last weight loss challenge because I am planning on being at my goal weight and then will come the challenge of maintaining.

I’m going to start to write down what I want from 2011. What are you expecting from yourself.

Take care my friends. God Bless!!!

9,10,11 and 12th…and last week of 2010…

On the last 4 days of Christmas my new friend gave to me…

 

  

Rachel was my partner and though I would of loved to have gotten to know her a bit better I know that she has some huge issues with her husband so maybe when things get taken care of there I’ll be able to learn a bit about her and her family.

This 12 Days of Christmas swap was hosted by Janna and Kenz.

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Now for the last week of this year 2010. 7 lbs is a lot to lose though I really don’t think it’s possible I will be giving it my absolute best. I’m planning on getting at least 4 days of exercise in and 1200 calorie days. I do have one night I am going out for supper with my daycare mama’s. I need to find out if Famous Dave’s has an on-line menu so I can plan ahead. I’m drinking all the water possible, anywhere’s from 1 to 1.5 gallons.  So as along as it’s a loss I’ll take it. Next weekend I’ll sit down and figure out what I want from 2011. See what I can do to keep improving me. Creating the new me. The old me is gone, the middle me is here learning to take care of herself. Taking the time to do what I know is good for me. The new me will take everything she’s learned and implement it for a life time.

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So I hope that you all had an amazing Christmas. A blessed Christmas. We had a great one. Togetherness, family, love, a bit of travel, gifts that we needed and really wanted. The love of Christ and the real reason for the season.

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Take care my friends. I hope this last week in 2010 is a great one for you. I hope this year ends with a bang and that all your wishes, dreams and more have come true. God Bless you all!

Slow but sure…Hot 100 update…

So today’s weight, 187. I lost 1.5 lbs this week. Still have 7 more to go to make my goal and that is not going to happen in a weeks time but I refuse to fret about it. I am getting there. 2010 was a great year and just think if I use what I learned this year what I can do next year. I’m happy.

My goals I’ve been working on are the weight loss. Then my exercise. I am proud of myself for joining the gym on the 9th of this month and I have gone 9 times so far. Next week have planned at least 3 times and maybe a 4th if possible. I have been using the C25K program and have made it to week 4 day 1 which I have to do again. If I don’t finish the certain day the way I feel I should I repeat it until I am happy. I was able to run for the 5 minutes and the 3 minutes but couldn’t make the last 5 minutes to the end so will do it again next Tuesday. I did walk 2 days of my 4 this week, on my Nike 5K and one was my personal best of 40:28. I walked and ran this one at a 2% incline and ran at 6 mph and walked at 3.5. I love all the weight machines available so have found muscles I didn’t even know existed.

My menu planning, not on paper but on my grocery list and in my head. I could just throw this challenge out the window but I keep having plans on really doing up a menu. Maybe next week. :o)

So for my 2nd to last Hot 100 update, not bad. Not perfect but I have improved tons so no complaints at all.

I wish you all the most awesome and blessed Christmas ever. I hope that it is the best one yet. Take care my friends and God Bless you all!!

Getting ready for…

Well Allan and I had a chitter chatter today. Even though that man can be hard as nails he sure can be tender too. So as you can see Phase 4 is coming just around the corner. That means Phase 3 is just about over, in fact according to Allan’s clock it’s just 12 1/2 days left. As hard as I try the pounds are not jumping off, they are stuck on there like crazy glue. It’s taking dynamite to remove them, one at a time. But they are moving and even though there’s 12 days left of Allan’s challenge and 13 for mine and 8.5 lbs to go I’m going to keep giving it my best shot. I would so love to reach my goal of losing 45 lbs in 2010 but if I don’t, I don’t. It’ll just mean that extra bunch for 2011.

Yesterday while we were working out butts off trying to thaw our septic (Minnesota weather in a trailer house) Jim had some super kind things to say to me. First while I was putting on my winter boots, I was bent over tying them and not wheezing, not gasping for breath and he noticed. Second, someone…that’s me…had to climb under the house. None of us care for that job, I just picked the shortest straw (yes, we did that because like I said everyone hates it) and climbed under there. Now last Christmas you couldn’t of shoved my fat behind in that little door that’s cut out, you couldn’t of shoved my fat tummy between the floor and the ground, this year…in a snowsuit none the less…I could climb through, turn around and carry supplies to the floor in the bathroom. Jim was not only nice because I drew that short straw but because I could do it. Then after we finally got water going, could go potty in the house…not in the snow bank…we took a shower…together…in a not the hugest shower and “did it” without dying.  It has been …well we’ll say 10 years since that has happened in there. So even though those last 8 lbs of the year refuse to budge, even though I’m trying my hardest there are those victories that have made this year a success so far.

So like I always say, it’s onward and upwards to the last 12 days. Tonight after work I’m going to go work out for an hour plus a bit and then it’s our boy scout Christmas party where I work out and we are all going swimming. A pot luck but I know very well what will be there so I’m bringing me a salad I made this afternoon. Shrimp, peppers, onions, garlic, some seasonings and a touch of olive oil on a salad mix. YUM!!!

Take care everyone. Have a great week. It’s Christmas time. Time to enjoy it all and each other and to remember the reason for the season, our Lords birthday. God Bless you all!!!

4th, 5th, 6th, 7th and 8th….

I’m a bit behind but….

On the 4th, 5th, 6th, 7th and 8th day of Christmas my new friend gave to me….

 

This mug is so cute. And the green tea, though I’m not a tea drinker I have heard it’s excellent for you so I will be giving this a try.

 

I started this book last night and it is awesome. I so love good books and what’s better then a cooking one.

This is a little note book. Perfect from my backpack when I go and work out. I’m using the journal I got but this one I can use for reminders. The pen on the side is perfect because you don’t know how often I lose them.

Well I can’t eat them but I sure can look and enjoy them. I needed a new calendar for my kitchen. This one will work grandly.

Jon helped me open up my gift this morning and we decided the Ocean scent was the best. Jon loves things that smell good. In fact he’s wearing just a touch of Ocean on his way to school today.

Thank you Rachel for all my goodies. There’s 4 more waiting for me to open this week. It has been the neatest thing having a gift a day waiting for me.

Baking day today. I have carrots, broccoli and just finished a salad so hopefully I can just keep my fingers out of the bake goods. I’m trying!!!

Take care my friends and I’ll chitter chatter with you later on. Have a blessed day today.

Hot 100 update #12

For Steve's 

I am so tired this morning. Twice this week I got up at 4:15 am to go and work out at the gym. Once I got to go at 7:30 am and once at 7:00 pm. So I’m getting my work outs in. I have gotten to the 3rd week, 2nd day of the C25K program. That means I am running for 3 minutes at a time. Not to bad considering when I started walking this summer I couldn’t go from power pole to power pole. I have also added one or two balls to the walls 1 minute run. Each is at 7mph or better for a full 60 seconds. I use the exercise machines with 30-50 lbs and the 4 lb medicine ball for single and double work outs. And crunches on the vertical bench with the medicine ball. Only 11 crunches so far but I started out at 2. I think I have almost solved the stomach problems during my workouts. I eat about 3 oz of protein and a cup of milk before I head out. While there drink at least 30 oz of water and when I come home I finish up some kind of breakfast, more water and after about an hour everything is just fine. Except the muscles I don’t remember having.

I stepped on the wii this morning. It said –1.5 lbs. Now that’s from my Sunday weigh in, not Friday’s. Friday’s weigh in was 189, Sunday was 190. 188.5, that is now what the scale says. I’ll take it because it’s not up. Still 8 1/2 lbs to go by the 2nd of January but I’m trying.

Only 2 more Hot 100 updates. The only goal I have not kept is the menu’s. I write something down when I get groceries, I do plan my meals but not on paper.

So all in all, I’m losing. I’m working out and will be ending my first year in better shape then I started it out at. Better then I’ve been for at least 25 years. More to go, more to work on, much more to learn. I’m ready, able and willing.

Hope that you all are having a great pre-Christmas week. Only 8 more days to go. Take care my friends and have a very blessed day.

P.S. I’ll be back in a bit with day 4 and 5 of my 12 days of Christmas.

Better….

 

So with 1 cup asparagus tips, 3/4 seasoning blend, 1/2 tiny shrimp, 1 roma tomato, 2 cups salad mix, 5 baby carrots and 1/2 honey crisp apple and the last 16 oz of my first gallon of water. I have used up 250 calories, 37 carbs, 2 fats, 26 proteins, 23 sugars and 6 fibers. And I’m full and not craving anything. I had cold cereal for breakfast with 1% milk and have over 500 calories left for snack time and dinner.

See I can get my ducks back in a row. It just time to think about me and skip the worrying about what I can’t fix or can’t change.

Now I did bake this today…no licking the bowl, no licking off the knife with frosting. No eating the crumbs from crushing the candy. Nothing, and….I’m not missing it. I did make sure though, it’s suppose to be cookies but I made one huge one instead and will break it up once the after school kids get here. Less temptation!!

16 days left in 2010. I started out well, hung in there and plan on ending it with a bang.

I’m not perfect and I screw up. I don’t have the will power some of you amazing people have. I wish I could say I do, I wish I could have the perfect blog with no screw ups or mistakes but then I would be God instead of just Julie, the going to be me new….one day soon!!

Take care my friends and thank you for your words of honesty, love and help. Have a blessed afternoon. I get to do some beading at nap time. I am so ready for that.

Challenges…

That is what this past few days has been all about. Personal ones, business ones, financial ones, life style journey ones. I know that all of us have them, I know that all of us deal with them in some different ways. Me, I use to handle things a lot better then I do now. Don’t know why but maybe because I can see where some of it leads.

So the way I’ve been handling all of this extra stuff is not the way I should be. Both Monday and Tuesday were not good diet days. I made homemade bread and apple/banana muffins and had no intentions of eating any of it but that didn’t happen and once I had one, I ended up eating three/four. Then the bread came out and I had made homemade butter and well then ended up in my tummy. Yesterday I roasted a chicken and made two huge meals with it along with homemade gravy, stuffing, red potatoes and pudding. Well I didn’t keep my hands out of that either. I’m guessing in the both days I had enough carbs to last the week, plus the calories had to equal out at least 3 days worth. I don’t know, I can be so good for so long and then I screw up. Well it’s a good thing it’s just Wednesday, a new day, to do what I know I should. Today will be a veggie day, low calories, low carbs, low everything and that will go for tomorrow and Friday too. If I’m allowed 8000 calories a week and I’ve used up a huge portion of them, I better not screw up any more. It’s a good thing I joined the gym, at least some of the calories are getting burned off. It doesn’t help either that I started a cold on top of everything. When the stress is high, why do people have to get sick? It’s not like I can handle any more junk. I know the Lord says he won’t give us more then we can handle but I swear he sure does like to push and push at times.

So life challenges, poorly handled but I’m still learning. What have I learned, don’t do any baking when life isn’t cooperating. There are some thing I can work on and some I can’t do a darn thing about. I need to get back into the going with the flow instead of trying to head up stream. I’ll do it, I’ll get my ducks in a row…a straight row.

How are you doing? How’s the Christmas shopping going? How’s the house decorating going? Christmas parties? Tonight I am taking my mama, daddy, nephew and son to see one of Brainerd’s hugest lights displays. I hear it’s even bigger then last years so a perfect way to de-stress, unwind and enjoy the lights, sounds and feelings of Christmas. ‘Tis the season to enjoy, not worry about things. I’ll try really hard.

Take care my friends and have a blessed day today. Only 10 days until our Lords birthday. The real reason for the season. At least in my book.

On the third day of Christmas…

My new friend gave me to, a beautiful butterfly ring.

Thank you Rachel. Also for everyone out there in bloggy land. Rachel and family are going through a very difficult time. If you read Rachel's blog you will see that her husband has been to hell and back with so much physical stuff and he’s now back in the hospital and they could really stand your prayers, love and support. Take the time today to say a prayer and send her a well wish if you have a moment.

God Bless you all. Take care today, drive carefully and enjoy your family!!

And the winner is…..

So midnight was the last time to enter my give away. I was very happy with the response. Thank you everyone. So now for the winner. I used that Random drawing doo-hickey and it wouldn’t let me cut and paste the answer in to this post but …. well just trust me.

The winner is…

STEVE from Log My Loss … He’s the most awesome blog host of

He said:

Although I have no idea what I would use it on yet, I would certainly welcome a surprise Christmas gift! :-)

So yeah for Steve. Now maybe you can find something for your awesome journey in getting healthy. Though I think you’ve done an awesome job.

Thanks everyone for entering. I know it’s hard not to win but try again next time (the people at CSN said they’d let me do another give away later on).

Take care my friends and have the most blessed day possible.

On the…

On the second day of Christmas my new friend gave to me… a beautiful journal and a cooooool pen…

Thank you Rachel. I was looking for something to write down my work outs at the gym. This is perfect. At the gym they have a folder where you can do this but I want it personal, private and on hand. PERFECT!!! Thank you again Rachel.

We joined in on Janna and Kenz 12 Days of Christmas gift swap. This is day one. Can’t wait for the next 11.

Hope you all have a blessed day.

Some how I just lost on the first day of Christmas….oh where or where did it go. Oh well, guess what, you get to see it again…..

On the first day of Christmas my new friend gave me to me, a beautiful Christmas ornament. And it really is beautiful. I have showed to to everyone that has stopped by. Now it’s your turn, SEE!!!

Thank you Rachel.

From Allan…cuz I make him smile…and…

It probably more like I make him scratch his head a zillion times already. It’s probably more like this Minnesota girl is a bit slow but she’ll get it. It’s probably more like, damn she’s not too slow, she’s finally getting her ducks in a row.

But thank you Allan for this award.

It’s a new week, time to get my ducks walking together in a row. Exercise this morning was good. Still haven’t found that magic potion so when I’m done I don’t feel so crappy. It took me 2 hours after working out to not feel like I’m going to toss my cookies. My sister suggested Power Aid for the electrolytes. I tried the 1/2 peanut butter sandwich on 45 calorie bread with a 1/2 glass of  1% milk. Then when done drank 12oz of OJ. Maybe I’m working out to hard but is that possible. I’m pushing myself but not to dying. Oh well, I’ll get it figured out.

And beings I did get to talk to my sister I should share with you how she is. She is home, home health care is coming in 3 times a week. She is weak and very sick. They took her gall bladder out which was diseased. They have done some testing on her liver and there is some form of cancer there but at the moment no one knows a whole bunch. Just that she’s home, getting stronger and trying to heal. I want to thank everyone for their prayers and support. When Cindy was down and out in the cities I copied out all your comments and love and shared them with her. It made my mama cry knowing others out there, that she haven’t a clue who you are, are willing to pray and support us. Thank you from the bottom of all my family’s hearts.

Oh, oh I have one more thing to share. Kim brought me back this from a thrift store she visits. Since pop-corn from a bag is bad I can now eat air popped pop-corn. The kids thought it was the greatest thing to watch. Did you know 5 cups of air popped pop-corn is just 100 calories and 6 grams of fiber. A bit high in the carbs at 24 grams. Thank you Kim.

Okay, enough for now. We made apple/banana muffins and am working on fresh whole wheat bread. Next Mike wants some cookies so better find something yummy for his tummy.

Take care my friends and have a blessed day today. It was –20 (wind-chill was –32) when I left to go work out this morning, now up to –8, the wind-chill is –13. Burr!!!

New week…

I haven’t quite figured things out yet. Try as I might I can not get under the 189. Up a pound this day, down a pound that day. I am following a 1200 calorie diet, working out 3-4 times a week (though last week I slacked a bit until I joined the gym), drinking an amazing amount of water. Maybe joining the gym will help. I sure do hope so.

This morning I was feeling pretty disappointed. There’s no way I can lose the last 9 lbs in 19 days. I won’t make my goal and it hurt. It made me cry, it made me mad, it made me upset. Then I remembered the nicest comment I had in this whole process. This past week I met up with two old co-workers that haven’t seen me all year, one man, one woman, and both had to pick up their teeth, close their mouths and then had the nicest things to say. Dan said I look so much younger then when I worked with him 12 years ago. Tammy hugged me and just couldn’t stop saying sweet things. So I need to not look forward right now, I needed to look back and remember just how far I have come and what I have done and what I can still do. I’m still a bit sad but I’m not throwing in the towel. So maybe I won’t lose the last 9 lbs, maybe it’ll be 3, maybe 5, could even be 7. We’ll just see.

So this week is more calorie counting, more water and more gym. Tomorrow Brenda and I are leaving the house at 4:45am to go and work out. Our gym opens at 5 and we are going to be there to give it our best shot. I have to be back home for daycare at 8:00 but we should be able to get a good two hours in, plus paperwork before we head home.

I have one question I need an answer to. First I’ll explain why. On Saturday when we went to work out, it was 7am and I just had a tiny muffin thinking that would be enough to hold me until I got home to have a decent breakfast. I walk/ran for 30 minutes, worked out with the weight machines for 30 minutes and as I was finishing up some bench pressing I sat up and damn near hit the floor. I felt faint, puky and beyond light headed. Brenda went and got me some OJ and after a little bit I felt good enough to finish up our double workout. My question is, what is the proper breakfast before a work out? I know it couldn’t be anything heavy because it’ll come back up, it can’t be to light because that didn’t work. Help my friends.

So it’s onward and upwards to this new week. I hope you all have a great productive one. May we all lose a pound or three. Take care and God Bless!!

60 hours left….

Give away.... That’s all that left for entering my Give away!

Only 14 entries for this Give away. Up to you. It’s a $35.00 gift code from CSN and it could be yours if you’d enter. Tuesday evening at Midnight it’s over. There’s no rules other then to leave a comment.

So if you want too, go here and enter.

Take care and God Bless!!

Hot 100 update

First, can I lift my arms? Can I move my legs? Does my tummy muscles hurt? All the answers, a little….not as bad as I expected. Does that mean I’m a bit fit or does it mean I didn’t work out hard enough. I did work out for a couple of hours so I’m thinking that I’m a bit fit. YEAH for me!!!

So for my weigh in, I’m back to 189. Down a pound from Sunday. Now that’s not great but it’s not a gain but I really was hoping for a much better result but will take that. I’m hoping that it’s my period I can blame for not a bigger loss and when I weigh in on Sunday it’s better. But if not then next week I should see some amazing results with Allan’s Challenge and my exercising.

My exercise for this week was okay but not great but then again I knew I was going to join the gym so I sorta slacked.

My menu, yeah right. That’s funny. Why don’t I do this? There is no excuse except I’m lazy. Just down right lazy. I have three weeks to do this, to at least say I did it part of the challenge. It has helped that Allan has helped us plan some meals so I’m going to follow that exactly too.

Okay, so there’s my update. Not grand, not terrible but plenty of room for improvement. There is only 3 weeks left this year. Can you believe that, only 3 weeks left. 49 weeks have gone by already, it is amazing how time flies.

Take care my friends and have a blessed weekend. I’ve got work to do.

I did it…!!!…

I joined a gym today. Want to see it? Check out The Hallett Community Center I am now a member for as long as I want to be. I didn’t sign a years contract, just a month by month membership. That way come spring I can go back to my working out here outside and not stuck inside.

So today was my first day. Today was a free day so no trainer, so Brenda showed me around, Brenda is my best buddy, my exercise partner, my camping buddy, my …. well lots of stuff. I worked out for 2 hours. I walk/ran on the treadmill for 40 minutes. I worked out with legs, arms, back, stomach machines. I used a medicine ball…didn’t even know what one of those were but I worked the singles and then Brenda and I worked some doubles. Then I did some crunches on a bench that points towards the sky. I could only do 10, on the floor I can do more but this sure worked my stomach. There are weights and balls and other things to use too but since I have weights here and the ball I will use them on the in-between days I don’t go. I am hoping to go three times a week. Tuesdays evening, either Wednesday or Thursday day (which ever one I’m off) and then Saturday morning (when I’m off). I’m sure my schedule will change as my daycare schedule changes but 3 days is my goal. I’m also going to work on the C35K program. Today I did Week 2 Day 2, because I had already been doing the last 4 days for a couple of months in the house and on the ice.

Will this help in my weight loss, I sure do hope so. Between Allan’s Challenge, Steve’s Hot 100, Charlie’s train to Onederland and now the gym there should be no reason the last 9 lbs don’t run for the hills this year and then I’ll work on a plan for next year.

Tomorrow I’ll post my Hot 100 update. Oh Lord please have the scale move from 190. I hate it went up that pound and back into the 190’s. It’s that time of the month but I don’t feel the extra this time, oh I hope.

Take care, sleep well and tomorrow is TGIF!!! God Bless you my friends.

P.S. I'll tell you tomorrow how bad I hurt. Right now just my stomach and left arm. Tomorrow will I be able to move? We'll see!!

I hate…

Noreply-comment@blogger.com do you know why I hate that. So many people leave such sweet comments I so want to write them a quick note saying thank you. I know it’s a privacy issue. I understand that but still, I so want to say thank you.

SOOOOOO!!……

For everyone that has norply-comment@blogger.com I thank you from the bottom of my heart for stopping by and leaving me such sweet, caring, wonderful, funny, loving and much appreciated comments. I try to get to everyone’s blogs but of course I don’t make it all the time. Life gets busy, sometimes to busy to do that but I wanted you to know that I love comments and I now that it takes time to leave them and I appreciate them.

I’m off to the Hallett today. My first workout in a gym in over 10 years. I’m joining today also so that means I hope to go at least 3 times a week and work this body into shape. I think the pass said I get one free trainer day too. Well not trainer like all my own but someone to show me all the machines and how they work. Someone to make sure I’m not going to get hurt or screw up their machines. It’ll be good. Oh goodness I hope it will be.

Take care everyone and again, thank you for all your comments. You make me smile and feel like I’m doing something good. Have a blessed Thursday.

Like Hot Dogs?

They are not my most favorite food but my wee ones love them so every couple of weeks we have them and I am always eating a couple of their dogs. Well last weekend while shopping I found these.

40 calories, 1 gram of fat, 3 carbs, and with no yucky stuff in them. I had a couple for lunch today. Now they are not as good as a polish sausage, brats, skin on wiener but then again they are better for you and I think grilled they’d even be better. They are about $5.00 for 7 dogs but if I can get 3 meals from them and no one else eats them I can afford to do that. I bet they’d taste good split opened too with onions, pepper and some garlic.

Just thought I’d share these with you.

Hey want too see some cool pictures of an evening out? Check out this…Music in the Park. Singing, bon fires, friends and fireworks.

Good night my friends. Sleep well and have a blessed Thursday.

Day two…

Well how did your day one go on Allan's Challenge? For me it seemed hard to drink the water yesterday. Now I don’t drink anything else (but a glass of milk with supper) during the day but water, always have been that way. I don’t like pop, tea, coffee, drinks, most juices but yesterday 2 gallons of water just didn’t want to go in. I made it though at 10:00 last night so you know what that meant, a trip to the bathroom about 3:00. My calories came in at 1128.

Today’s a new day and I tried something new. A pomegranate. At first I thought, heck I’m not doing all that work for this fruit.

 

             

But then after I figured out it’s not that hard and it tastes wonderful plus…for a full pomegranate it’s only 131 calories for 1 1/4 cups. Mix that with a bag of Instant Cream of week and you have a filling, good for you breakfast. Totaling 231 calories, 3 proteins, 1 fiber, 0 sugars and 19 carbs.

I got a treat for me yesterday. My local Schwann’s man comes once a month and I usually just buy juice for the kids and a special ice-cream for Mike but my Schwann’s man is such a suck up and told me how great I’m looking, the weight is falling off…you know all those sale pitches that no matter what sounds terrific. Anyways he told me about these…

TRIM CREATIONS® Chocolate Fudge Sticks 

Serving Size 1 bar – 50 calories, 0 fat, fiber 5g, sugar 4g proteins 3g and 14 carbs.

So now if I have baked cookies all day, a cake or two and the kids are having a treat that is just a plain no-no I can have something too. There’s 24 bars in that box so I will be set for the next couple of months or more. A treat just for me. I can handle that. I hid them in the downstairs freezer too, a bit to keep them out of site out of mind and also to keep the guys from eating up my food. I was pissed at them this morning. I have been buying turkey/chicken thin sliced meats for me for lunch and they have eaten every single package. I leave them hot dishes, desserts and everything they need when they are hungry. It’s always in a blue container just for them and they ate my food. On top of my ear ache and headache this morning I was mad at them. Told them so, not that it will make any difference. Oh well I’ll have to be creative the rest of this week since I don’t shop until Sundays.

Now for one last thing. Remember the 12 Days of Christmas Swap? Well this is a sneak peek for Rachel. I warned her I’m not a creative gift wrapper but what’s inside will make up for that.

 
Rachel has joined in on Allan's Challenge so when you have a moment, stop by and tell her your secrets, share your ideas, give her some bloggie love and give her and her husband some prayers.

I’m off. I’m not sure to do what yet. It’s library day for the kids but I’m not really feeling that so maybe some paper crafts and painting. Oh I have some good news. Tomorrow I am joining the gym. With lots of creative financing we are going to be able to swing it for the next 4 months. After that we’ll just see but for the winter months I can go and do. None of the group sessions are available to me but all the equipment and pool will be. That is after a 14 hour day I can get up enough energy to go, I have to but it will take some discipline going.

Take care my friends and have a blessed day!!

A reminder…

In just 7 days my give away will be over. If you want to give it a try, go here and enter. It’s easy, you don’t even have to become a follower or anything, just leave me a comment and you earn a chance to win a $35.00 gift code from CSN. The only thing, you have to live in the USA or Canada.

Tomorrow is day one of phase 3 of Allan’s challenge. Lots of water, 1200 calories and exercise. A good plan to lose the last 10 lbs and start the New Year with a goal.

Take care my friends and have a great week. God Bless you all!!

I treated myself….

This weekend, for the first time in years, I treated myself to getting my caterpillars taken care of. They were having a short Christmas special so for $9.00 I got my eyebrows shaped and boy do they look better.

I also treated myself to a new to me sweater and t-shirt to match. I spent a whopping $3.00 on the two but am very happy with it.

I had Mike take pictures this morning to share with you. I’m not happy with my image yet but you can see how things are shaping up.

I also did something else today. I treated myself to more fresh fruit and veggies then I have ever. These are just part of them.

 

I also picked up 96/4% ground beef, chicken breasts and sliced turkey. All of this means I am ready for the next phase of Allan’s challenge.

Well here’s to a great week for everyone. We are strong, we are smart and we are in this together. Thank you everyone for all your help along this life style journey of mine.

P.S. I got this yesterday from a great friend that has been helping me in lots of ways but mostly with my fear of an empty nest. Want to stop by and check her out? Go here. I’m suppose to past it on to those that comment all the time but there’s no way I can do that. So if you stop by you may pick up this award if you wish.

Take care my friends. God Bless!!