Up date…

Remember I told you I’d tell you how I felt? Well other then my right shoulder screaming I am fine. Tired still but fine. Pulling up my britches, putting on my bra all were a challenge today but I Lived. I was so surprised I didn’t sleep well last night. This not sleeping can’t go on forever, if it does I’m guessing I will be making a trip to the doctor to just see what’s up. Another week first, we’ll see if it’s just my body getting use to the new diet and exercise.

I hope you all have a great day today. We went and picked out a new sink and counter top for Jim’s garage and got feed and bedding for the chickens. Then Mike and I went to another Mike’s Eagle Court of Honor. Then home to home work. Mike had a big accounting project he needed to work on so I helped. It’s his project I just cut out furniture and lettering. The assignment was to take $250,000, buy a home and furnish it. They can’t spend all the money because they’ll need to save some for closings, financing, insurances and what not. Mike did really good. He got a 3 bedroom home in Montana, single level home with full basement. He got just about everything he needed for each room including bedding and kitchen goodies. It really is a learning experience. Same as another assignment from a different class. He had to find a job straight from school and one from college and see where each one would take him. There is pro’s and con’s from each.

Okay, onward and upward to a new week. Only two days to weigh-in. Oh I’m hoping.

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

How many calories…..

How many calories do you think I used up cross country skiing tonight? We went 2.5 miles in zero temp with candle light and a full moon. The trails weren’t in the best of shape but that didn’t stop us. I fell 4 times but don’t think I got hurt, I’ll tell you tomorrow for sure. I do know I am tired. About 2/3 of the ways I was really having to work hard. I sure didn’t get cold. Mike and I always have such a great time skiing. I don’t usually add photo’s to this blog but I have to share this one.  The rest of our pictures are here.

No exercise tomorrow. A day off. I exercised all 6 days this week and I think most of the days I really worked hard.

Take care my friends, sleep well. Tomorrow is a day of rest if possible that is. We have shopping in the morning, an Eagle Scout Court of Honor for one of my boys and then hopefully some rest.

God Bless you and your families!!

Word of the day….

You know what neep is? It's not a nap and it's not sleeping it's that in-between where you get to neep for 3 or so hours instead of napping for an hour and sleeping for 6. That's our word of the day. I’m taking one of those this afternoon. I am so tired. I don’t know if it’s a family trait or what but everyone in my family experiences it. About every 6-8 months we go though a week or two of no sleeping. We’ll sleep maybe a couple of hours at night but that’s all and after a week of that a person is so dead tired they can’t even think straight. Well I’m at that point. I am tired. To wake up this morning I went for a jog. Nothing far, just about 1/3 of a mile, rest and then 1/3 back but I woke up, especially since it’s –21* out there. I had already done the fire, feed the chickens and the babies, put my daycare kids back to bed, started the blazer for Jim and Mike to head off to work but that wasn’t enough to wake me up so the jog did it’s job.

I can’t imagine me jogging a month ago. I would of preferred to curl up and die first but I did it and I’m glad. I also did my weights for 10 minutes. I have upped the reps to 15 now too. It’s only 3 more days to my weigh-in and I know it’s time to move a bit more then in the beginning. Liking it? Not quite but I don’t hate it as much in fact like one of you said, I sorta look forward to it. I still don’t get in more then 30 minutes at a time but I’m sure even that will get better especially when I get to start walking and riding my bike.

Well I had to share the word of the day with you. Neep, everyone should get one of those once in awhile.

Have a great weekend my friends. Take care and God Bless!!!

I’m excited…

Sorta anyways. I’m also very scared. I have worked very hard this month to get started on the new me. I exercise at least 4 times a week (mostly 5 times) and I have watched and thought about darn near everything I’ve put in my mouth. I’ve said no when offered something yummy but not good for the fat. I’ve even skipped the fries at McDonald’s and the Tator-o-lays at Taco John’s.

Will the scale say anything after a month of being good or will it take another month to move a bit? Will my measuring tape say there’s a little less here and there or will it say, nope not yet? Will I learn that exercise is not the enemy and get to at least sorta enjoy it? Will spring come so I can go out for a walk (now that one I know the answer too, it’s nope….not for at least another 3 months)?! I am trying not to be impatient since it took me the past 30 years to gain this weight and can’t expect in a months time it’ll all float away. I really only need to see a couple of pounds from the scale and a quarter of an inch off the rest of me, then it’ll be easier to stay on track next month. BUT…..don’t you like that BUT?!…. I won’t give up if nothing has happened because that means the end of month two I will see some improvements, right?!

I can move better, I have more energy, my pants aren’t cutting me off in the middle so even if there nothing on the scale or tape, I know I’m doing okay. I’m learning!!!

I have found so many cool friends that are experiencing the same as me. It’s a daunting task learning to live better but one that I am sure will be very rewarding. Next Tuesday I will post what my results are, plus or minus. Wish me luck.

Today is Friday Follow so I’m going to go and see who I can meet and greet and who I can follow and learn cool things from. If you come here to visit me also check out me here. This blog is my weight lost one, the other one is my life.

Take care my friends, old and new. Today is a new day, a new challenge…are you up for it? I know I am. God Bless you all!!!

Got this from my mama this afternoon in an e-mail…..

Recently, in a large city in Australia, a poster featuring a young, thin and tan woman appeared in the window of a gym. It said, "This summer, do you want to be a mermaid or a whale?" A middle-aged woman, whose physical characteristics did not match those of the woman on the poster, responded publicly to the question posed by the gym.
To Whom It May Concern,
Whales are always surrounded by friends (dolphins, sea lions, curious humans.) They have an active sex life,
get pregnant and have adorable baby whales.
They have a wonderful time with dolphins stuffing themselves with shrimp. They play and swim in the seas,
seeing wonderful places like Patagonia , the Bering Sea
And the coral reefs of Polynesia . Whales are wonderful singers and have even recorded CDs. They are incredible creatures and virtually have no predators other than humans. They are loved, protected and admired by almost everyone in the world.

Mermaids don't exist. If they did exist, they would be lining up outside the offices of Argentinean psychoanalysts due to identity crisis. Fish or human? They don't have a sex life because they kill men who get close to them, not to mention how could they have sex? Just look at them ... where is IT? Therefore, they don't have kids either. Not to mention, who wants to get close to a girl who smells like a fish store?

The choice is perfectly clear to me:  I want to be a whale.

P..S. We are in an age when media puts into our heads
the idea that only skinny people are beautiful, but I prefer to enjoy an ice cream with my kids, a good dinner with a man who makes me shiver, and a piece of chocolate with my friends.

With time, we gain weight because we accumulate so much information and wisdom in our heads that when there is no more room, it distributes out to the rest of our bodies.
So we aren't heavy, we are enormously cultured,
educated and happy. Beginning today, when I look at my butt in the mirror I will think, ¨Good grief, look how smart I am!¨

For me I just wanted to be a smaller whale, not a great big one. :o)

I did it, and I didn’t….

I didn’t yell at the lady on TV to much. I worked out for a full 30 minutes without stopping and then worked with my weights for another 10 minutes or so. I didn’t die, I didn’t hate it quite as much, I didn’t turn it off and walk away, I finished!!! Not bad for a fat old broad!!! Well not to old yet, not quite 50 but not a spring chicken either. I just had to share that. I am proud of myself today. Now it I can only keep it up. I can hope and pray.

Hope your having a great day, I’m working at it. God Bless my friends!!

One more week…..

Before my first weigh in and measuring. Will I show some progress? Oh Lordy I sure hope so. Mike said last night even if I don’t see results yet he has seen some. He says I have more energy and I can bend better. He’s right but it felt nice to know someone noticed, even if he may be saying it to make me feel better too. He’s also there to give me the thumbs up.

This week’s challenge is to just plain move more and eat less. Drink lots of water and try hard.

It’s not even really the numbers, it’s just the fitting in my skin that’s most important I think. I want to look and feel better, I want to do things without puffing my way though it all. I want to do all the scouting things possible and not worry about their new rules about weight. Our scouts are very active and go and do lots of different things and if it’s a high adventure type of thing I am at the top of the weight chart and they can say no I can’t go if they want too.

So with all that said, I’ve got work to do. So that means I’m off to my workout. I have no kids this morning so am going to try a new work out from Ms. Sarah. She was kind enough to send me a couple exercise DVD’s. She’s working so hard too, to lose some weight and with her family she has her hands full and she’s still doing it. So that means so can I.

Take care friends, have a great week. God Bless you all.

Exercise….and…

Well I haven’t been to great this week. With tubing on Monday, my sorta exercise on Wednesday, my hard work out on Thursday and a great workout this morning. I haven’t been doing to good. I have eaten less and moved more so that part is good but in just over a week I need to weigh myself and measure and if I haven’t lost much there’s no one to blame but me. Any words of advice to keep me motivated? I know it takes forever to get into the routine of exercising and I know I feel so much better after I do it but why is it my other part of my brain is lazy? It’s just so hard. Maybe one day it’ll be second nature.

If you don’t have it in the house, it’s just so much easier not to eat it. This house has nothing to snack on other then fruit and fresh veggies. I was having some major issues early this week. I missed chips and in real life I don’t eat them to often but it must be enough to have withdrawals and I missed my cookies. I ended up making some nasty tasting cookies (kid friendly, not me friendly) that I still managed to eat a few of. I was hoping I could be stronger then this, that I could tell you……Oh I’m so good, I’ve lost this amount of weight, I’ve lost inches here and there but I bet when the 2nd of Feb. comes I’m going to say, this sucks more then ever, all this work and nothing to show for it. Oh goodness I hope that’s not so. I have been working at it, hard at times, half hearted at others but I haven’t quit. For me not quitting has been the biggest issue. I have made it three weeks and have made a conscious effort to be good to put forth some good changes. Will it be enough to see a bit of change? I hope so.

Now …..

Remember I told you about Project Linus asking for blankets to send to Haiti? I have to share the letter I got from Mike’s project coordinator.

Wow--what an amazing group--I have had several people offer to make blankets for the Haiti children and some are helping with postage.  The great news is that Headquarters just emailed and said we have the 10,000 blankets covered in less than 24 hours!!!!  Our chapter will be sending 100 blankets to Kansas so there is still an opportunity to help out.  We will need a few more blankets (we will need to replace our own supply) and some help with the postage for the boxes.  Thanks for those that have already responded you are such a great group!!!

Don't forget to put March 13th on your calendar for our "Make a Blanket Day" at Trinity Lutheran in Bemidji.  Come and have a great day of sewing, fellowship and food!!

Jonette Anderson

Don’t you think that’s cool? 10,000 blankets in less then 24 hours WOW!!! Mike and I will be sending ours off on Monday. We made the 4 for the Give a Day/Get a Day and then 7 for Haiti. It’s not much but it is our contribution to add to the 10,000.

Well it’s shower time and then time to get Scott up and see if the roads are safe enough to head to Brained. We have ice every where but maybe it’ll be warm enough soon to melt off some of it. We have our food pick up today and I’m not just picking up for us it’s also my mom and two of my daycare families. Plus we are going to Home Depot to pick up all kinds of new things for my parents bathroom that they are redoing.

Have a great day today. I hope that you are doing well in your life style change. I’m trying. Take care and God Bless!!!

Much better….

Well I’m feeling better, not so down on myself. No real reason either because I have been doing pretty good. Moving more, eating less. But I feel bad at times when I eat something I know better then to be eating. I feel bad when I exercise but not whole heartedly. But yesterday I took the afternoon to just be, to just sit and think and rejuvenate myself. I want to so bad be able to lose this weight, to tone up this flab, to just plain feel better. It just seems that it gets so hard at times. It’s only been three weeks and I know I can’t expect miracles. So yesterday I just took the time to think and I’m not doing that bad. I do feel better, I can move better. I can put my jeans on and feel a bit better in them. I haven’t weighed or measured yet but I’m getting pretty curious, not curious enough though to find out until the 2nd of February. I am afraid I won’t see a pound gone or a mille-inch lost.

I have figured out something though, the best time for me to exercise when I have daycare is at 5:30 in the morning, as soon as I get the kids back into bed. I use to go back to bed but I never fall asleep, just lay there and think. So the 8 days a pay period the kids come I am exercising then. On the days they aren’t here I try and do it as soon as Jim and Mike leave for work. I was doing it at nap time but it’s hard then. I always have things I have to do or find things I think I have to do so I don’t have to exercise. The only thing when I exercise in the early morning, it’s all me. No TV, exercise disc, nothing. I do what we’ve all been taught, the stretching, the bending, the weights, the crunches, the leg lifts, circles. I’ve done a bit of yoga or sorta from what I’ve learned from TV. I think I work harder by myself then with the TV. Maybe because I’m slower then what’s on TV. But I do a full 30 minutes so it’s something.

Okay, I’m rambling. Sorry about that. I just want you to know because of you I’m trying. Thank you for your words of support and wisdom. Please keep them coming.

Now for something important….Nothing to do with weight loss but important.

I got a letter tonight from Mike’s Project Linus coordinator Jonette Anderson from Blackduck, MN. Project Linus is looking for donations of handmade blankets to send to Haiti. By March 1st they are wanting to send 10,000 blankets to the children of Haiti. Mike and I have been making blankets for the Give a day/Get a Day from Disney so we just told Jonette we’ll make a few more and send them all together. They also need donations so if you don’t have the time to make a blanket maybe you’d consider a donation instead. Just imagine if you were a wee one and everything you knew and held dear was gone. To get something you could hold and cuddle and cry into just might make things just a tad bit better. For each blanket Mike and I make we say a prayer for whomever gets it. We ask that the Lord to wraps them in his arms like this blanket is wrapping them up. We ask that he takes care of the wee one parents. We can’t do lots but the little bit we do we try to do our best.

If you want to get a hold of Jonette we have her address, e-mail and phone number. I am sure she’d love it if I gave it out to anyone interested. Just comment here or e-mail me and I’ll send it to you.

Take care my friends, keep up your great work. God Bless!!!

Tubing is NOT for sissy’s!!!!

Hey, it’s not for a fat lady either. Oh it was so much fun and we had a blast but the day after, you’d think I was a million years old. I hurt from head to toe and can’t even take a deep breath without being a sissy and screaming. I am though, very willing to go again. Just not today!! :o)

See where you hang on to get back up the hill. Yes, it’s nice you don’t have to walk up the hill but…..trying to catch the handle as it goes past, get your fat butt, tube and all to move on sticky snow and hold on for dear life as you get pulled up the hill and letting go at the right time so you don’t have to either slide back down the hill and get yelled at or rolling off like a 30 gallon drum rolling down the hill. The timing is important, very important.

 

I’d say that even though this morning is tough, if you ever get a chance to go, GO!!!! You won’t regret it at all. And the best part to be with Mike and the scouts, it’s great!!!!

So today even though I’m suppose to exercise, I don’t see that happen, at least not this morning. I may just go for a walk today and get back at it tomorrow. Between cross country skiing on Saturday, Tubing yesterday I’m doing pretty good in the exercise department.

I think my biggest challenge this week is going to be hunger. I have my monthly non-friend (don’t you love it when they call it your “monthly friend”?) and that means food is my friend, except I’m going to do my best and if I snack I’ll try and make it good for me. I bought fruit and granola bars so that will help.

I don’t know anything else right now. I’ll come up with more as the week goes on. It’s week 3 for me so I’m still working at it all. Thanks for all your comments, ideas and support. I just don’t know how’d I do this without you all.

Take care, have a blessed day.

5 minutes….

That’s because I spent time posting here. 

This week I’ve been a good girl. Not perfect by any means but not terrible either. I did exercise really good M-W. Thursday I spent the day with mama so I didn’t and yesterday I didn’t really exercise but I also got up at 6:30 and didn’t sit down until 9:30 because of cleaning, organizing and all. Not exactly exercising but also not just sitting. I played on my computer off and on but since I could leave it on I’d check my mail here and there and comment here and there. Okay, I know it didn’t count. So today I’ll go cross country skiing with Mike, I know that will count for something. We’ll go to Mille Lacs Kathio State Park and do a beginner and intermediate trail. That’ll make up for nothing yesterday.

I have been eating just about no candy and I haven’t missed it. I ate a piece I found in my cupboard yesterday and I had a piece earlier in the week I got for Christmas from NY otherwise nothing. I had a small cup of cocoa one afternoon but didn’t finish it and you know what…….I’M NOT DYING!!! For someone that loves chocolate as much as I do I thought I’d come unhinged without my chocolate but as long as I allow myself a piece here and there it’s not bad. See I’m learning.

I stuck pretty good to drinking all the water and peeing all the time. I even had to get up a couple of times in the night to go and that sucks!!! I hate waking up to go potty and then try to go back to sleep. I finally would just get up, not open my eyes, go pee and climb back in. It’s works, it’s sorta telling me brain don’t even think about waking up, I don’t want to think or talk right now.

I’m curious to if I’ve lost any weight but not enough yet to stand on the scale. I’m still afraid if I did that and it said nothing or little I would quit so it’s easier to stay away from it and wait another couple of week. Then just maybe it can say something.

Well my time is up, I have got to get out and do the chores. It’s another nice day here and my ducks have been able to take a bath almost every day this week. I took one of the kids sleds and filled it with water and they slosh around in it. I’m sure the chickens think the ducks are nuts but it makes them happy. I can’t wait to let the little chick and chuck (the chicken/duck) out in the spring to let them see the world.

Bye for now my friends, take care and have the most blessed, relaxing, enjoyable weekend possible. I’m planning on it.

Down, down, down….

Oh I can’t quit listening to the song that came with the music video I shared earlier this week with you on Breast Cancer Awareness. I gotta tell you a good song is the best way to keep things moving. I loved this song so much Mike went and found it for me. It’s Jay Sean, Down. Paid for it, downloaded and wrote it to disc so I can play it in the kitchen and I put it on repeat to hear it over and over. Yeah I know, it’ll get tiring but right now it’s not. It is so good for dancing, b-bopping around and just moving.

My life style change this week is going pretty good. I have had two of my friends tell me I look better, perkier and not so puffy. YEAH!!!! Someone sees something. I don’t see anything but I so feel so much better.

I have drank more water, I have exercised 4 out of the 5 days and tomorrow Mike and I are going cross-country skiing. I can’t wait, time with Mike, time to listen to the quietness in the woods and to exercise without flopping around on the ground like a fish out of water. It’ll be such a great day. It’s also suppose to be warmer so I can wear long johns and jeans instead of my Santa suit (I have a red snowsuit my hubby gave me a few years back and when Mike was a bit smaller and didn’t exactly think about what he said, he told me it makes me look like Santa, OUCH!!).

So it’s onward and upwards today. I have so much I want to get done so better get to it. Take care my friends and have a blessed day today.

New followers?

Welcome to the first ever Friday Follow celebration hosted by One 2 Try, Hearts Make Families and Midday Escapades!   We invite you to join us every Friday to get more blog followers and to follow other interesting blogs.

Here's how YOU can join the celebration:

• * Link up your blog name and URL using the MckLinky below at Middday Escapades
• * Follow the Friday Follow hostesses listed in the first 3 slots
• * Follow as many blogs as you'd like to have followers
• * Comment on the blogs telling them you're from Friday Follow
• * Follow back when you get a new follower through Friday Follow

Don’t you just love this? A chance to meet new people. Find new people and learn what their lives are all about. I think it’ll be fantastic so I’m going to see just how many I can follow and comment on. I so love giving and getting comments, it just makes you feel good that someone out there things you have something good to say and they want to hear more. Love it, love it!!!!

So head over to Midday Escapades and see who you too can find and follow.

Take care my friends and do have a great day today. God Bless you all.

Have you noticed….

The more your diet and exercise or like me just have a life style change, the better you take care of you body? I don’t mean the diet and exercise part…I mean the pampering. Like showering and taking the time to put baby oil on, or when your brushing your teeth you are making sure you get them all and not just rushing? Or putting lotion on instead of just having dry and crunchy skin? Or brushing you hair part way though the day? I have and it feels nice. Usually I just do the main stuff first thing in the morning and that’s it. Period, nothing more but now it feels nice to take those extra minutes here and there and pamper myself. Nothing special but I did even bought a  fingernail file last weekend. I don’t have much for fingernails, just stubby thing at the end of little sausage fingers but I’m a bit more aware they need attention too.

Just thought I’d ask you.

I also decided I am not going to weigh or measure myself until the one month mark. I am afraid if I don’t see any improvements I will quit and after a months time I know there will be some of me gone so am just going to wait. I don’t think it’ll be to hard either because I know I’m not strong enough to find nothing leaving after working hard. On the second of February I will take stock and just see what’s happened. I’m not expecting any kind of miracles but a few pounds, maybe an inch here or there or heck I’d settle for an inch with everything added together.

Jim hasn’t noticed anything yet but really there’s nothing to see yet. Mike has noticed me eating better and then him having to too. He’s also very nice in saying, I don’t think you should have that it’s fattening but not being naughty just saying. We’ve skipped the DQ, gas station and grocery store before or after scouts because he knows I can’t say no yet. So he’s either planning ahead or going without. I love the support from him. He says he can’t wait for the snow to melt and then we’ll go biking. He’s excited that I will do that this summer.

Well it’s that time folks, I’ve already made two different sets of breakfasts and one to go but they are still sleeping so I can clean up from the first bunch and get ready for them. Take care and have a super day today. God Bless you!!!

Breast Cancer Awareness

Employees at Providence St. Vincent Medical Center, Portland Oregon put together this video to generate breast cancer awareness throughout our hospital system. We had a ton of fun putting this together and hope it inspires others to join in the cause.

It is amazing, watch and see. I couldn’t help but share this.

Monday already….

It is amazing at time just how fast time flies by. I remember last week at this time writing to you and telling you my 5 challenges for that week. I didn’t do horrible last week for my first week but I could of done better so here’s a new week, another chance to try my best. I have a few new challenges I want to add this week, like….

1. Drink more water. Now if you know me I drink tons of water but it seems lately I have slipped on that and just either not thinking about it or going thirsty and that’s either dumb or wrong so this week I will drink 5-6 ounces of water every waking hour until a couple hours before bed time. I will then get in the needed 64-72 or more ounces needed for a healthy body.

2. I am going to start walking this week. It is going to be warmer and Mike said if I wait for him to come home we’ll go for a 2 mile hike before dinner time. I can’t wait for him today since we have scouts at 7 but I can the rest of the week.

3. I want to exercise 5 days in a row so I can have the weekend off especially since I work this weekend and find it hard to do it while the bigger kids are here.

4. I will allow myself one piece of dark chocolate after supper. It seems my body still craves that and if I know that I have one coming soon maybe it’ll help.

5. and….. Be anxious for nothing, but in everything
by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let
your requests be made known to God; and the
peace of God, which surpasses all understanding,
will guard your hearts and minds through Christ
Jesus.  Philippians 4:6-7      This was in my devotion this morning and I said I was going ask the Lord for all the help he can give me so today I will give this life style change to the Lord. He can then strengthen me to do what I need to do without me feeling I’m doing it alone.

I don’t me alone such as you guys haven’t been a huge help with my support and all, I mean more the inside alone feeling when I’m exercising and complaining and feeling like no on is listening. I’ll complain to the Lord and then thank the Lord I can even be trying to do this because I know there’s no way Cindy could do this and I bet she’d trade everything to flop around like a fish on the floor then being stuck in bed. I’ll thank the Lord I have a TV to yell “slow down to” because I have a friend that has lost that and it’ll be awhile until they can afford to get it back. I’ll thank the Lord I can have the time to exercise during nap time because if i was in an office I’d be stuck there until quitting time and then would I have the energy to exercise? Probably not. Oh I have tons to be thankful for and I will tell the Lord each time I exercise THANK YOU!!!

So how did your first full week of your life style change go? Were you able to stick to it or fail here and there but get back on and kept at it? I do wish you were successful but just remember, the Lord gives us a new day to try it all over again so do what you can. My daddy’s says, “always do your best and let the Lord do the rest”. Bless you all this fine Monday morning. Take care and good luck.

I guess….

I do like working out to Gilad. I just pause him to catch up and was able to do his full workout, with a rest here and there with the pause button. I know not quite right but working on that. I also worked with my weights and am now another sticky, sweaty mess. I need to shower but first think I’ll head outside (I’ll put my coat and hat on since it’s –20* still) and do the fire and chickens and then I get to sew today. I’ve been waiting all week to be able to take my sewing machine out and leave it out for a couple of days.

For my first full week of trying to eat right, exercising and all I didn’t do terrible. Not perfect by any means though but I did try. I worked out Sat, Mon, Tues, Wed, Fri and Sat. I ate good on the days I worked out, the days I didn’t, well let’s say it took all the other workouts to make up for a part of the screwing around.

I so want to weigh myself but I know need to wait another full week and then hopefully have lost at least a pound or two. I know I’m more flexible after just a week of working out so each week it should get better. I just need to keep working on it.

How did you do this week? I hope wonderfully but if like me you screwed up, you know the Lord gave us another day to try again so keep trying.

I wish it would warm up out there. I would love to go for a walk but being so cold even bundle up like an Eskimo I get cold. You know what? You know what I want to be able to do as soon as it does warm up? I want to ride my bike. Mike asked me all last summer to go and I hate riding bike, almost as much as exercising, but this year I want to get on it and go. I have a bad right knee from playing volleyball but I think it would be much stronger with less weight pushing down on it so here I go trying my best to do this too.

I have to treat this summer like the last one I’ll have Mike. I mean I’ll have him for a life time too but next summer he’ll be getting ready for college and all that brings but this summer he’ll still be here, mine to enjoy and have fun with. So far there’s no real special girl in his life so I want to be sure that if he wants to go and do, I can and will. Also, if I lose all the weight I want too, I won’t have to be so embarrassed when I fill out the boy scout paperwork for camps, outing and all. Such a treat so just need to do this.

Okay, gotta get out and do those animals and fire. I wish you all a blessed weekend. Find time to enjoy, relax and rejuvenate. God Bless you guys. Thank you for all your help in answering my questions, giving me support and ideas to make all of this work.

Naughty me……...

It’s hard to post when you know you’ve been bad. Yesterday I was naughty, not a little bit….more like I threw my new life style change right out the window. I knew I was being naught too but you know what, I didn’t feel bad until I went to bed and thought about it. Naught, naught me. It’s a good thing the Lord gave me today to try and make up for it.

I didn’t do anything right yesterday. I ate tons, even ice-cream, I didn’t exercise at all…I didn’t even walk down and get the mail. Oh naught me. I have sorta of excuses like….during naptime when I exercise I had to get my taxes done so Jim can do the household ones this weekend. I invited my parents over for supper and we had chicken and butter garlic shrimp, red potatoes in butter and for dessert ice-cream with both chocolate and caramel toppings. But it is their birthdays this month so we celebrated them yesterday. Does any of this count for excuses………..not really!!!!

So a new day today and what have I done…..took mama out for breakfast, ate 4 slices of bacon and a cup of hot cocoa, then went to visit her best friend that’s dying from cancer, got groceries and came home. No exercising yet, no extra water to help flush the fat away. Guess I have a long workout ahead of me as soon as I finish writing this. I do plan on being good the rest of today and later….just 24 hours of naughtiness I guess. I wouldn’t say it’s to bad if I had been doing this for weeks and deserved a treat, a break but heck I’ve only been doing this since Saturday. I better not be like this too often or I won’t be fitting in the new skin I want for Mike’s graduation open house.

On a good note, Mike ordered me two fitness programs last night. Both for the PS2, one is just a normal workout that looked really good, the other is more of an interactive one. Sorta like that Wii one with the fitness lady on it. Just not as sophisticated or expensive. Both we got used for $30.00 together and they’ll be here next week. I am hoping it’ll help me stay on track more because the one keeps track for you. All worth a try.

I have a good thing to report too. During this mornings romp in the hay I was able to move better and feel better. It didn’t hurt to bend and move like it has so I’m a bit more flexible then I was. Just think, everything could be more enjoyable, if I just keep working hard. I haven’t shared my new life style with Jim yet. He has a way of making me feel like I’ll not succeed so figured I’ll wait until he notices and then tell him what’s happening.

Okay, I promised to do better, really I do. I’m off to see what program I DVR’d for today and will do it twice to make up for yesterday.

Take care guys and I hope that you are doing better then I am but if you falter too, that’s okay…..The Lord gave us another day to try it again. God Bless you all!!!

I did it…glad?..well sorta….

I did it, I did a yoga strengthen 20 minutes and then did my dumbbells for 10 minutes. Then I also walked to the mailbox and jogged back. Enough for right now. I think tonight since it’s not cold out (or not suppose to be, I can handle zero) I’ll go for a walk or since my nephew is coming maybe we’ll go sliding again. I’m figuring if I’m moving it’s more then I was doing and it is getting easier, kind of. I can do some stretching I couldn’t before but my middle still gets in the way a whole bunch for other moves. I’m trying.

Does anyone know is it better to exercise in the am or afternoon? I know pm is not as good for you unless that’s the only time you have.

Also is it best to eat before or after a work out? I know not right before or right after but something like that.

I don’t know these answers so thought I’d ask you guys.

Well I have two calls I have to make so better do that while the kids are napping. Take care you all and have a blessed afternoon.

You said it’ll get easier, right?

But I don’t want to, I don’t want to exercise today. I’m tired and crabby this afternoon. I have a headache too. Can I think of any more excuses? Oh I have paperwork to do, the laundry needs doing, the fire needs stoking, the chickens……..well they don’t need me yet but I could go out there and do something with them so I don’t have to exercise.

I know, get off my butt, close the lid on my laptop and just go do it. I will, I will….in a tiny bit. I heard that you said NOW!!! …..Okay, I’ll go but I won’t like it. I’ll be back…..

Seen this yet?

It’s an awesome opportunity to do something good. Something excellent and to help someone out. Mike and I signed up today and we have no intentions on going to Disney, but …..here’s the greatest part. For us this will be a two fold project for kids. Mike and I have chosen to work with Project Linus, a organization that has blanketeers that make blankets for children 0-18 that have had some traumatic experience in their lives and then when we receive our vouchers for tickets to either Disneyland Resort or Disneyworld Resort we will donate them to a non-profit children’s organization so they can send a child that can’t go, there. If you want to check into this go here www.disneyparks.com and see what you can do. There are amazing opportunities and so many to choose from. We have a reason for choosing Project Linus, we’ve done this twice before.

A little background…..

Mike needed and Eagle Project for boy scouts, Mike isn’t one to do something someone else has done, he’s not going to copy anyone else’s or be the same as anyone else. So we did a dogpile search for volunteer opportunity and Project Linus jump right off the search page and he knew from the minute he read it that was what he wanted to do. So we contacted the Headquarters that had us talk to Northern Minnesota Project Linus and low and behold Jonette loved Mike as much as he did her and it was a hit. Mike hosted his first “Make a Blanket Day” with friends/scouts/community and it was a huge success. All together they made 80 blankets.

Jonette took some back with her to her community and Mike donated some to our local hospital. There’s more but first gotta tell you this part…..While at our hospital there was a little boy in ICU that was very sick and Mike was able to donate a blanket right to him. You should of seen his mama and the little boy and Mike, oh the eye’s. It was great.

That part always make my eyes leak……

Okay the next part….

Mike’s great grandpa, grandpa Grahlman was a Shriner, for many, many years. So Mike asked the National Headquarters if he could make a donation to the Children’s Shrine's Hospital in Minneapolis, Minnesota. Of course it was a go so we took down 40 blankets for Mike to give to the children there. He had to go on a weekend so of course not to many kids there but Mike did get to meet a couple kids and talk to them and he was greeted by the big Shriner man (don’t remember what they called him, starts with a “P”). They were so appreciative of him and his work. Sure did make this mama puff up proud.

All in all it was a great project and he earned his Eagle Scout rank.

Then one year later we did it again, we hosted another “Make a Blanket day”, this time the weather was horrible with a snowstorm and temps way below freezing but we still had a good turn out and made 45 blankets that Mike kept here to keep our hospital full of Project Linus blankets.

It has been a very rewarding project to work with and Jonette has become a big part of Mike’s growing up life. We will get to work with her at least one more time and are hoping to host one more “Make a Blanket day” but if that doesn’t work out Mike and I will still be working on a few to make sure there are plenty of blankets for all of God’s Children in need.

So that means go to www.disneyparks.com check it out and just see what you can find to do for your fellowman, woman, child, or one of God creatures. I promise you will feel so good, so rewarded and fulfilled.

I know this isn’t diet related but it is a challenge for the lifestyle change, so what better place to post it but here and on my main blog. Go….look….see…volunteer………it’s a blessing!!!

"If Mama Ain't Planning 2010”

I have some place I want you to go too, www.anitraelmore.com. Check out Anitra’s Daily Agenda and Devotional. She sent me a copy to review and try out and I think it’s one of the best things I have ever seen. I am going to be using it every day plus I’ve come up with a few other ideas to add to it too. Since I plan on opening it every day I will also use it for my daycare information, my diet information and my thoughts and prayers for the day. What better thing then to have it all in one place with so many wonderful words in it. You have to look at the preview copy to understand exactly what it’s all about buy I promise you, you won’t be sorry. Not one little bit.

Go, check it out and see. Tomorrow will be my real first day of using it. I’m going to transfer all the stuff I have already written down for 2010 right into it. I put mine into a 3 ring binder to keep it safe and together.

Now have a safe and wonderful evening. It’s finally not as cold here, only –10* and not suppose to get to the –30’s like it’s been. A heat wave and tomorrow light snow but warmer. I can let the chickens out for a little bit. I sure do feel sorry for them but if I give them treats they sure don’t seem to mind any.

Take care, God Bless you all.

Kim says “quick turn on channel 11”….

Dr. Oz is on and he’s talking about diets and exercise and stuff. I say, “who’s Dr. Oz?” As you can tell I don’t want much TV and when I do it’s like Extreme Home Makeover and Neat, Clean House….those kinds of shows. Anyways…. I learn few very important things when I watched him.

1. Did you know your waist is suppose to be 1/2 the height you are… such as I’m 5’6” which equals 66” so my waist is suppose to be 33”. It’s not, it probably will never be but it doesn’t mean I’m not going to try.

2. There are 5 foods we are suppose to avoid…. Sugars, syrups, white flour, saturated fats and trans fats. Not terrible hard since lots of us are home bakers/cooks. Just will take some adjusting too. Oh fat free and low fat just mean they took the fat out but put something else in there we don’t need.

3. Never eat off a plate bigger the 9”.

4. Eat a spicy breakfast, it speeds up the metabolism.

5. Have a partner and tell the world, blog, write, call, anything that makes you accountable.

6. Walk 10,000 steps a day. Have a good pair of shoes too, he said go buy a new pair, it’s more exciting to work out with new ones then the old ones. I’m stuck with the old ones for now.

7. Drink 64oz of water a day, for me that’s easy, I don’t drink coffee, pop, tea or much of anything else except 1% milk for breakfast and supper and a glass of juice if there’s any I like in the house.

8. Exercise. There are 4 ease exercises that you do each day and you don’t have to do them forever either. One is stand straight on your tip toes and move your arms back and forth side to side like you are trying to get rid of that darn bee that’s bugging you. Do that for two minutes. Two, lean against a wall, knees bent, feet straight out by your knees stay there for two minutes. Three is get on your hands and knees, extend your left hand and right leg as far back/forward they can go. Make a very long line then bring the two together at the knee stretch back out, repeat 5 times, do the same to the other side. And last, lay flat on your back, place your hands behind your head and bend your knees and raise them up (sorta like sitting on a chair on your back) then straighten them back out. At the same time keep your stomach tight and try and remember to breath. If you can’t do both legs at a time do just one and then the other.

That’s it. It seems like something even I can keep up with. I tried them and yes they are harder then it seems, two minutes is forever (heck 30 seconds took forever, I’ve got a long ways to go) and I’m really tippy so that will take time. And boy can I feel it in my tummy. The breathing part, I still hold my breath too much, I never exhale when they tell me to, I seem to be breathing at the wrong time or I’m breathing to fast, not sure. But this too shall get easier, I hope.

I just thought I’d share what I learned with you just in case you don’t want TV either. Thank you Kim for telling me he was on. Any other shows I should DVR and watch when I can?

I hope you guys are doing great this week. I am trying my best. Right now I am terrible hungry and water isn’t cutting it so I’m going to see if there is something I can snack on without ruining all my work so far. I find it easier to go hungry then try and limit myself to just a hand full of this or 10 pieces of that. Not good I know but I don’t have any self control yet but am trying.

Take care my friends and have a great rest of the day. God Bless you all.

Don’t forget….

Don’t forget to click on the pink button on my side bar. The Feeling Fabulous one…. What better way to feel better and try and win something too. I just printed out my worksheet and will see what I can do to earn points.

Just a reminder it was there. Try and enjoy!!

I did it and I’m glad….

I tried the belly dancing thing, now that’s funny…she looks like a worm and moves like one, she’s pretty and is in the greatest shape but I looked like fat grub worm stuck with a hook trying to escape. It just didn’t work so I went to the next one and that was plain old normal stretching and exercising and I was able to keep up and work with her so I did that and then when done took my 3 lb weights and worked the bat arms. So I’m done for now and though I don’t feel totally worn out I figured I better stop so I can do it again tomorrow.

Just wanted to share that with you. Along with my meals today, this morning just cheerios and milk and then for lunch a nice salad with lettuce, a tomato, carrots, and a tiny bit of thin sliced ham and a smidge of dressing. Oh and broccoli all cut up too. I’ve drank at least 24 oz’s of water and shortly I will have some pineapple juice and the rest of my morning pear (the kids ate the first half). Supper is BBQ ribs and another salad. Remember I’m a meat person so I’ll just have a deck of cards size piece and a nice salad and a glass of milk, ice cold milk….my favorite. I’m not going to add up the calories because I know that this is 10 times less then I usually eat and that has to count.

I am off to relax a little bit. I need to do that before it’s time to get the kids back up and going again. It made it to 1* so far today so I’m thinking a walk tonight might be in the making, if it doesn’t get windy. Just to my parents house but better then nothing.

I hope all is well with you all and that you are finding the time to get your workouts in and eating what you thinks is right. Take care my friends.

God Bless you all!!!

Someplace, somewhere….

I had read yesterday about posting 5 challenges for each week on Monday. Challenges to work on, to try and over come, to ask help with. I thought it was a pretty cool idea so I’ve been thinking about mine and here there are…..

1. To exercise everyday for 20-30 minutes. Everyday except the weekend, unless it’s warm and then I can go for a walk.

2. To keep my calorie intake under 1500 calories. That one will take some work because I’m use to just eating it and wishing I didn’t later. Think….think…think…. (that’s what the little donkey says on Winnie the pooh).

3. To take time to pray and read my bible and ask the Lord for support each day to make all of this possible.

4. To support anyone and everyone that asks for my help with their life style changes and diets.   

5. Mostly to exercise, I know I said that one already but for me I think I better say it twice. I really hate that word so until I can find something I really like to do I need the help and it’s my biggest challenge.

You got any you want to post on your blog or share with me. It wasn’t my idea but I love it so took it and ran. If it’s yours tell me and I’ll give you all the credit because it is really an excellent idea.

So far today I am not in as much pain as I was so it’s time to work out again. I am going to dig way under my bed for my 3 lb weights and work on the batman wings. Maybe it will help the fat under my chin too, haven’t a clue about that but that stuffs got to go. My goodness, if I sleep on my tummy I have to pull it all down so I can breath, the boobs, fat and all. Not anymore….well in a while not anymore, soon I hope.

Good luck with the new week. It’ll be the first greatest week in 2010. It has to be, we can make it happen.

God Bless you guys and thank you for your help!!!

Please answer….

How long will it take for me to get to like exercising? I know each person is different so if I could get a few comments then I can have some kind of time line to look forward to….cuz I am still hurting from my Saturday work out. I have muscle I didn’t even know I had, I hurt in places I don’t ever remember hurting before. I will admit tonight I am able to at least get up and down from my chair with out groaning out loud but you should of heard me after walking all over Cabela’s and then trying to get back in my suburban. The pain was just about as bad as could be. I was told that my body will get to love to exercise, it’ll crave it………I can’t wait for that to happen but I’m betting it’s not going to happen in the next few weeks, right?

I didn’t do terrible today with the eating part of my getting fit. Oh I did eat too much pork but oh that was so tasty. I knew today was going to be a flop on calorie counting but I didn’t gorge myself either. I had some scrambled eggs, a few tator pieces, a pork pattie, 3 links and 6 pieces of bacon and 1/2 caramel roll and some OJ. I know, plenty of calories and lots of fat but I normally would of eaten twice that before I started to care. I haven’t eaten anything else today except a glass of milk when we got home. I think I’ll eat a pear later on otherwise I’m fine until tomorrow. I want to try a smoothie tomorrow. I don’t have plain yogurt but do have black cherry so will add that to some banana’s and mix it up and see. I need to look for some other recipes too. Remember my new years resolution, a new recipe a week.

I was searching last night for new recipes and came across this site, www.fatfree.com  there were quite a few to check out. I like my meat and that site has lots of recipes for non-meat meals. Anyone got something some what normal that’s good for me? I’m from the north and I know eat lots different then other regions but am game for anything really as long as it does not have any kind of bean/pea that is hard on the outside and squishy on the inside. I love the rest of the veggies. Squash, beans, carrots, corn, snap peas, spinach, tomatoes, lettuce …. cabbage, yuck!!!, onions are okay, peppers as long as not hot, asparagus, beets….any others I can’t remember?

So that’s that for today. Not to interesting but tomorrows a new day, a new adventure. Imagine a snowwoman trying to belly dance, that will be me tomorrow. Oh I hope no one ever looks in my windows, I’d scare them forever.

Take care my friends, keep the support coming….you don’t know how happy I am when I go to get my mail and there’s comments and encouragement in my mail box. It makes the pain and hungry much more manageable when I know that this too shall pass.

God bless you all.

I hurt guys….

I hurt so bad it isn’t funny. My back, oh my back. Now this won’t stop by from doing what I know I have to do but right now the only thing I can do is sob because I hurt.

I got everything I needed done today, even got a nap in but when I got up I hurt so bad. I decided to take that walk, no jogging just walking. Walked to my parents house, equals about 1/2 mile when there and back. Not far but hoping it will help some. Also took some pain meds and will use the ice pack shortly.

I watched a video today from Jennifer. She’s a woman in the same boat as I am, in fact there are lots of women out there like me and at mamavation there is some amazing support to be had. I am still new at all of this so not even sure how to talk to people yet but I will learn just like I will lose this weight and I will exercise even if my body says it hates it.

Today I watched what I ate and really didn’t do to bad. Cereal for breakfast with milk, a pear for snack, sandwich and cottage cheese for lunch, a little over cup of hot dish for supper and one piece of chocolate (only one). Oh I had pineapple juice too. I’m figuring about 1500 calories or so. The hot dish is hard to add up since it’s homemade from my garden veggies. Kim is helping me do this too and today we figured out we can make homemade tortillas with almost no calories or just a few and fill them with amazing stuff. She’s a vegetarian so her taste are lots different from mine but I’m opened to try a few different things except the refried beans or black beans or peas…..any of those hard on the outside squishy on the inside veggies.

Tomorrow we are gone so I won’t be blogging anything and yes I will be screwing up the meal part of my day since Mike is taking Jim and I out for breakfast at Cabela’s. I’ll just eat a good breakfast and eat lite the rest of the day. Also on the 13th is my mama’s birthday so I know that day I won’t be good but I figure if I’m good all the rest of the time I can screw up and make up for it later.

I have two questions if anyone can answer them….

1. Can I save calories from day to day, like the screw up days, can I eat light the day before and the day after to make up for the huge calorie count the day of? I’m thinking it should be okay but never really thought about it before.

2. Is it better to exercise every day for 10-15 minutes or every other day for 30 minutes or what? I was thinking M-W-F for 30-40 minutes each of those days but that’s a huge chunk of time but can a person get their heart rate up and all if they do just the 10-15 minutes every day?

So that’s that my dearies. Praise the Lord today is done…well not the relaxing part but the hard part. It’s only –10* right now so not nearly as bad as last night at –30* and no wind which will help the fire last longer too. Having to stuff it every 2-3 hours is not fun especially in the middle of the night but neither is getting up to 50* so I’d rather just go and do and be warm. Mike stuffs the stove once a night before he goes to bed and so does Jim when he goes so it helps me out too.

Take care my friends, thank you so much for your words of wisdom. Please keep them coming. I really need them. God Bless you all.

Huff, puff….cough….huff, puff

Okay, 10 minutes of yoga stretching with someone on fit TV and then I tried to keep up with Gilad…….whoever he is but he is cute…… A total of 40 minutes. Enough for right now. I’ve got to shower and get to the housework, chickens and fire done.

I just wanted you to know, I did it. I’m hot and sticky now so that has to mean something. Oh it’s been a while my friends. A long times since I did anything above and beyond what’s normal here.

To anyone trying to do what I am, good for you, go for it…. You’ll make it, I know I’m going to try.

Take care, off to the shower and house. God Bless each and everyone you of. Thanks for the encouragement.

You know that shark music on Jaws….

Doom, doom, doom, doom? That’s what it feels like right now. I just got out the tape measure, the scale and took off my clothes…….oh the horror. It’ scary….

I got a new notebook for all of this. I had it special made at Vista print. It has a beautiful picture of mountains on it with the word’s Julie’s Moments …. Thoughts, prayers and ideas….

First though in there is how in the world did I let myself get this way, second though, it doesn’t matter because this is a “going to be new me” and I will do it, I will work as hard as I can.

But first……..let’s measure.

WOW!!!!! Adding everything up…neck, upper arms, lower arms, bust, below bust, stomach, stupid fat below stomach, butt, hips, thigh and calf…..I am 326.5 inches. That is the number I will use to show you the ups and downs. I can’t share my weight, it’s to darn embarrassing but lets just say, to make my goal I’ve got lots of work to do.

I have a thought running though my head, yep that’s scary a thought!!! What happens if I don’t do it, what happens if I don’t make my goal before Mike’s open house. I’m scared guys, really scared. I know I will work on this, I know I will do my best but will I get defeated if it doesn’t work? Will I flip out and quit because I’m not seeing what I’m hoping. Oh God I hope not. I know this will be an on-going process for a long time but still there’s the hope and dreams that I will look good, Mike will be proud of me, Jim will love me more for less. But mostly because I will be proud of me for doing something I thought was never possible.

Okay on to the exercise…..here I go….I’ll be back and if I can breath and type at the same time will tell you just how that went. What should I do? I’ll play it be ear today and see. Bye for now.

Started

Well the heck with waiting until the kids go back to school. At least for part of my get going. Today I ate almost like I was suppose to, I did cheat and have two pieces of chocolate but that’s much less then the 5 or so I would normally have. I had two taco’s for lunch (we missed breakfast by sleeping in) and skipped the tato o lays (we went to Taco Johns). I also had water. For supper I had left over hot dish but only about a cup of it instead of a plate full and some pineapple juice. Oh I know I need more fruits and veggies and all but today was more just eating less. The main things today was shopping, I took my Christmas money and bought fruits and veggies, butter buds, soy peanut butter, and some chip things but baked not fried. It’s a start.

I did weigh myself, and though I am not as heavy as I thought I was I am still terrible over weight. If I was 7’10” tall I would be just about right but since I’m only 5’6” I have a long ways to go.

I want to thank everyone for their support for me to get moving. The words of advice and support and inspiration have been wonderful. Please keep them coming because I know that I am really going to need them. I have had many requests for a twitter name so tonight I opened a twitter account. I am umengine3. If anyone wants to know why the engine 3, I posted here …. fire trucks  on my regular blog why and how it came about. It’s part way down the blog by the fire truck picture.

So now it’s onward and upwards to tomorrow. It is my first Saturday off in about 2 months so I will be alone from 7:30-1:00 or so. That means I am going to measure myself, reweigh myself and the find my weights. Then I will do my first day of exercise.

How should I start out? Just stretch and do floor exercises, you know the usual sit-ups, leg lifts and so on or what? I do have an exercise ball I could blow up and use, it’ll be a bit hard if I used it’s flat. I could go for a walk but tomorrow it’s not suppose to get above zero and the most exercise I will get it getting dressed to meet the cold and then undressing.

Thoughts and ideas, please share with me.

I am going to see what I can find on twitter, bookieboo wants me to check out Mamavation Sistahood. I’ll share what it is when I figure it out. I hope it’s something I can share with everyone.

God Bless you all and truly thank you so much!!