I did it…..Moist Banana Bread!!!

I finally got a banana bread recipe to work. I did have a basic one to go by this time but of course changed it out to a better for us. I made 2 loaves of bread, 1 9x13 cake and 18 mini muffins from the changes I made in this recipe but hey, we have some to share, have for snack with the daycare and a cake to send with Jim tomorrow at the store. So all in all a huge success. Here’s my recipe:

I’m going to call it Extra Moist Banana Bread…

1 1/2 cups whole wheat flour

1 1/2cups white flour

1 tsp baking soda

1 tsp each – cinnamon, ginger, nutmeg

1 1/2 cups white sugar

1/2 cup brown sugar

1/2 tsp salt

1/2 cup wheat germ

3 eggs

1 cup oil

10 oz chunked pineapple

1/2 cup pineapple juice (what comes in the can was close enough)

2 cups mashed bananas (which was about 5 banana’s)

1/2 cup plain yogurt

To start out with I took the banana’s pureed them in my blender (I have a family that hates chunky anything), then I added pineapple and juice and pureed that all up, then the yogurt and wheat germ and eggs.

In a big bowl I used my mixer and mixed up all the dry ingredients. Then add the liquid and mix for about 3 minutes, slow at first to get it all wet and then the last minute a bit faster. Don’t forget to scrap the sides and bottom of the bowl.

This makes two loaves or 1 9x13 and 18 mini muffins. I did both because I have lots and lots of banana’s that I got when pretty dark.

Bake for an hour at 350* for the loaves, 35 minutes for the cake and 15 minutes for the mini muffins.

This has to be pretty healthy. I sorta figured it all out and it comes to about… 100 calories a slice. Now for a healthy snack and pretty hardy I think it’s going to be okay. If you’re really worried, try a mini muffin like I did, it was filling and tasted great and I still got to try it all out.

I also did up some onions today. I had gotten a bag of soft gross ones but I’m not to much for throwing things away so I cut up the good parts and froze them. Well they somehow got left out and thawed so I figured I better do something with them so I fried them up in olive oil with green peppers, red peppers, garlic and herb and more garlic. Then seasoned them with season salt and pepper. Oh they smelled so good. I browned them a bit until everything was soft and some what starting to caramelize.

 

Then I let them cool and put them on a cookie sheet lined with parchment paper and froze them into 1/2 cup size portions.

This will save time and energy when I need some goodness to add to soups, hot dishes and so on. I had a tiny bit left over so made a hot dish for supper too. I had 90/10 hamburger, whole wheat noodles, fresh tomatoes and broccoli cup up into little pieces, mushrooms and then my homemade spaghetti sauce. So now supper is done, just have to bake it for 30 minutes and we’ll have good for us, healthy for us, not to fatten of a dinner. YEAH!!!

The kids helped me do all the baking and mixing of the hot dish and Brenda came down to visit and did the chopping of the veggies so all in all a productive day and fun too.

I’ve finally think I’m getting back into the groove. It’s been depressing not doing what I know I should be. I have already did some exercise but need a potty break and then my computer called me so stopped to do a post then back to work I go. I did my weigh training so now will go do the cardio. I know I feel better since kicking myself in the butt and getting back to work. So it onwards and upwards.

Just thought I’d share with you all. Give the banana bread a try, it does taste wonderful and the house smells so good. Take care my friends. God Bless you all!!!

Weight Loss Wednesday…

On Monday I posted a Help!!! because I’m not doing so well with my life style change. I got some really wonderful comments and help but for some stupid reason I am not doing all the right stuff. I mean I have exercised twice this week but not with all my heart and soul. I have watched somewhat to what I’ve been eating but again not with my heart and soul and I know that next Monday is my weight in and I am not going to be happy with my results and who’s to blame, ME!!!!

How can I get back to what I’m suppose to be doing? How can I get my body to rule my mind instead of my mind telling me remember last week, wasn’t that grand? I know I need to get going again. I have been screwing up for 7 days now, it’s enough. I worked to hard from Jan. 1st to April 22nd to screw up any more. I need someone to come here and kick my butt and get me motivated again.

I need someone to challenge me to something. Got any ideas? I love being competitive so maybe I’ll go look around and see what’s happening out there.

Well guys this is my Weight Loss Wednesday. Nothing grand or worthy of you guys reading. You say I’m inspiring, I teach you things, I’m fun to read…well I’m betting your pretty disappointed in me this week. Tomorrow is a new day, it’s time to get off my butt and start doing what’s right.

I’m sorry to be disappointing this week, next week I promise to be back at it with something to teach you, something to share with you and something inspiring. Or at least I’ll do my best!

Take care my friends and have a great evening. God Bless!!!

HELP!!!!

I’m getting a bit tired of this new life style change. I’ve been so bad this past week. I’ve eaten out, had cake 3 days in a row, I’ve eaten chips and candy and the bad part of all of this, I HAVE LOVED IT!!! I am missing these goodies. Now my stomach has not missed these goodies. I have had troubles going poop, my tummy has hurt and I am tired and touchy and I know it’s because of all the “goodies” I have been eating. My body was doing so good with the life style change but my mind loved the idea of eating whatever was offered this past week.

I have to start all over tomorrow. Get back into my exercise routine, back into eating all the right stuff and I know that it’s going to be like starting over because my mind and taste buds were so happy.

I need some help, I need some support, I need you guys to tell me this happens but I can start over. I can, right? Will one week of mess up be so hard to undo? I’m thinking yep it will be but I did so good for 12 weeks I can do it again, right? God I really hope so.

I so want to go and buy a new pair of shorts, I want some new panties too, both a size smaller. Right now I’ve lost enough my pants are uncomfortable but not enough for a new size. I’m still fat people and I don’t want to be. I have to weigh in on the 3rd of May, boy am I worried this time. More so then ever before.

I’m human, like everyone but some of you are so good, you stick to your life style change and aren’t tempted or let nothing upset your cart. Me, well I guess I can’t resist temptation. Jodi has lost 165 lbs…she is amazing. Heck I can’t loss 20 lbs without screwing up. Oh well I can’t beat myself up, I guess just start over and go from here. I can do it, I have to.

So that means tomorrow I work out harder then I’ve done, I need to get my 10,000 steps in and I will keep my calories at 1300 or so. I will drink enough water to have to pee 10 times a day, I will eat enough fiber and roughage that I poop and I will stay away for all the sugar, carbs and all that I know is bad for me. I can do this, right? RIGHT!!!

I hope you all had a great weekend and a great new week coming up. Good luck on your life style changes, I really hope you are doing better then I did last week.

Take care my friends. God Bless you all!!!

48 today….

Today was my day and it was a great day. We drove 250 miles today to celebrate it with my aunt and uncle and it was so worth it. We had such a great visit. We went out for lunch at Perkins (it Mike and my favorite restaurant) and then went back for this wonderful birthday cake. I have to say today was a blessed day.

When I got home and finally settled in for the evening I checked my e-mail and found some really cool things. 1. There were about 8-10 face book birthday wishes for me. 2. Pat wrote me the nicest letter. She just always knows the right things to say and she made me feel so good today. 3. I got a gift from a friend I have never met. Angela is such a sweet person. She’s been such a huge support for my life style change and tonight I opened an e-mail that said she has given me a years subscription to Cooking Light magazine. So cool since I’m working so hard to lose some weight and learn to be healthy and able to take better care of my family.

Thank you to everyone. Today was a great day!!!!

Tomorrow is my first craft show of the season. Really this year I’m only doing two craft shows. It’s time for a break this year but I had promised to do these two shows last year and both Brenda and I can’t go cold turkey so we’ll hope for a great show. Mike took tomorrow off too so he’s going to help us set up and be there for a bit with us. Mike has been such a great help with my craft shows. He makes some of the jewelry too and it sells wonderfully.

Sunday is Jim and my 30th wedding anniversary. 30 years, it seems to have flown by pretty darn fast. Life flies by pretty darn fast. Lots of mile stones along the way, lots of smiles, happy memories and so much more.

It’s time to head to bed. I hope you all have the most blessed and wonderful weekend. Take care my friends!!

Weight loss Wednesday….

It’s slow, so very slow going. I am thinking starting next month I am going to start stepping on the scale every 15 days or so. This waiting for 30+ days to go by is hard and also hard to know for sure if things are moving or not. Oh I know by the feel of my clothes things are getting better but I think I need to see it and be a bit more accountable for it. So that means on the 2nd and 17th of each month I’ll do an assessment. Just to keep close tabs and I think it’ll be more beneficial. I’ll try it anyways and see.

I have been doing pretty good but I don’t think as well as I was the past three months. I do know I am moving much more then I was but it’s also spring and lots to do. We’ve working on our next winter’s wood supply and now have 5 1/2 cords put up and 3 1/2 waiting to be stacked. Tonight we’ll work on it again. I am counting the lifting, carrying and stacking as part of my exercise too. I am also doing some cardio and weights 3 times a week. I know I’m toning up, I can see it and feel it. I looked at a couple of pictures of me this past week while we were doing some volunteer work and other then I wish I was a beauty queen I’m not looking to bad. Oh such a very long ways to go but am in much better condition then I was in January.

I want to be sure that whatever I do to get to where I need to be is something that I will be able to do for the rest of my life. I don’t want to stop eating this or that because I know it won’t last forever, I don’t want to start something I know I won’t keep up so it’s a huge learning experience for me. I’m doing really good at the recipe exchanges and ideas and even my family is getting more into watching what we are eating. Jim no longer asks if I want fries or other things like that because he knows I can’t and don’t need it. Mike no longer asks for bed time snacks because none of us need that. We are eating healthier and all are getting stronger as time goes by.

My 48th birthday is Friday and I so want to be at my best but I think it’ll be next year that I’ll be at the top of my game, in the best shape ever and I know, I’m a bit impatient but I also know in the back of my mind I can do this and the pay off will be big. I will be around for much longer, more healthy and so much more able to enjoy life and all it has to offer. I don’t know what life will be like once Mike is out on his own and there’s just Jim and I again. But the sky is the limit and we are going to have to work on building a new relationship and togetherness.

Thank you for sharing my weight loss journey with me. Thank you for all your support, your advice and your encouragement. I will continue to need you for a very long time.

Take care my friends and have a most blessed and wonderful afternoon.

Garden Swap…

So I hope that everyone got their partners now and are figuring out what to send them. Isn’t this fun? I had a blast getting everything ready and then Justin helped me pair up the most of you. If something is missing or wrong with your partner or the e-mails I sent out please contact me and I’ll get them straightened out. I think it’s all okay, I did mess up on one name and e-mail but that got cleared up so I think all is well in the Garden Swap world.

To the right I have put up the MckLinky so when you receive your goodies, post on your blog what you got and then stop by here and leave your name and post and everyone will get to see just how much fun all of this was. I set the link to start next Monday and end May 2nd. I think that will be plenty of time but if we need more time please tell me and since I figured out the MckLinky thing I can change it.

Now to give you a sneak peek on something. May 5th is my one year anniversary and I’m going to be having a give away. It’s not going to require anything but leaving me your name and e-mail address in a comment. No tweeting, no face booking, nothing, just signing up. I have a box of goodies I’ve been working on and I promise it will be worth your time to sign up.

So it’s onward and upwards to continue my life style changes. I was talking to Kim today and we were talking about cookbooks. I love them, I save them, I use to use them quite often but they are the ones that make hearty meals, fattening desserts and such. Kim convinced me to go though my cookbooks and donate them. I have some of course I can’t part with but some that just don’t have healthy recipes in them plus the fact that I can go on-line type in something and at least 100 recipes will pop up. I live in quite a small home and all space is needed. It’s going to be hard but she’s right, it’s time to go though them. I’ve been trying to stick to my new years resolution of fixing a new meal a week and I’m not perfect but have done quite a few. Some that Mike or Jim will say please make again or others times they’ll say that’s something you don’t have to try again. I love all the fruits and veggies that are coming into season and not costing an arm and a leg. I have fresh broccoli almost every night and the asparagus, I just love that stuff. I can’t wait for raspberries, black berries and blue berries (I can’t have strawberries, boo hoo).  I wish I had made smoothies years ago, the kids, family and I love them.

Well my friends, good luck this week and keep working hard. Thank you so much for all your love and support. There is no way I could of make it to this point if it wasn’t for you. I also want to thank you all for your kind works and prayers for my family and Cindy. Cindy is out of the hospital and hanging in there. She is improving every day and will see the doctor on Thursday to see about her bone marrow testing. I find it so amazing how one week ago we were afraid she wouldn’t be coming home and here she is at home and able to do a bit of shopping and go for a car ride and enjoy. Praise the Lord!!!

God Bless you all!!!!

Has anyone…

Taken a 3+ mile hike though the woods? Following two men with legs like giraffes and GPS’s to follow? Well if not, come out here one day. Both guys want to head out to a lake we found on the map and it’s about 2 miles in and back. We went for a walk Wednesday evening. Jim wanted to find the corner stakes from a 1893 survey. Now I have lived out here since I was about 8 so I’ve walked this land, the land next to us for many years and I do know where things are or about where they are. But you can’t tell that to two guys with GPS’s because they aren’t wrong. Well not exactly wrong but not right either. So we walked, we marked the trees I followed the old fence line that was put up in the early 1900’s, it follows the property line in most places. We finally get to the place Jim says it’s suppose to. That’s after over the river and through the woods to the survey marker we go. He says it’s here, somewhere in a 35’ radius or so. Me, I know it’s not. It’s over there, where the yellow marker is, where the metal thing is in the ground. I finally pipe up and lead the way and low and behold, the wife was right. Kind of cute really, they look at you like how in the word did you know that. No I didn’t say I was right or anything. Just smiling make it good enough. I do have to say we had a blast walking though, with no distractions it’s the perfect time to just chatter or walk and enjoy. We left at 6:00 and got home just at dark so I’m counting that as my exercise for Wednesday except, I didn’t know we were going to go for a walk and since I didn’t exercise to hard on Tuesday I decide to really have a work out. So between my mean work out and our walk, I wasn’t able to move yesterday, at least not very fast. I even begged last night to just stay in and do nothing. For me that’s strange because I love being outside when I can but I hurt. It seems either I don’t work hard enough or I work out to hard. Not to many of those in-betweens.

I’m learning though and listening more to my body. The “I’m full” part is finally working. I don’t ever remember having that button work. I would just eat until my plate was empty and go back for more. Now the “I’m full” button is telling me to quit eating, sometimes 1/2 way though my meal. It’s great. I have also found out something, I am hungry in the morning but if I eat my fill at breakfast, have a snack and lunch the rest of the day I am fine. I don’t usually want a snack in the afternoon and dinner time I’m happy with just a small plate of whatever we’re having, as long as I have eaten my fill in the morning. So my mornings are like this, a bowl of cereal with Mike at 7:00, a pieces of toast with Hannah and Justin at 9:00, 1/4 of a cup of almonds at 10:30 or so and lunch with the kids. Sometimes a hot dish, or meat and salad. Always some kind of fruit and veggie too. Most of the time all of the items are the good for me kind. Like multigrain Cheerios, or Bran and fruit, whole wheat 45 cal bread with a thin coating of peanut butter or jam, the almonds are a mixed bag, plain one with the salted ones. It’s hard from me to eat just the plain ones so bought a big bag of them and a small bag of the salted one so in every hand full I get 5 salted to 15 plain. The hot dishes are homemade ingredients and the meats are something from the farm or here.  I think the main thing about this life style change is I am thinking about every single ingredient I use, what is better for us, what can I use to add taste without something bad. I am forever watching my portions and have made sure I never eat as much as Mike and Jim. I read somewhere, or heard it, when we are eating with our man we tend to eat as much as he does and we don’t need that.

I’m 1/2 way through this month and I feel even better then last month so I’m learning. 3.5 months so far, by time I get a full year in I bet I will be in the best shape ever both physically and mentally.

Know something else, as long as I’m fixing the physical body, I’m working on my mental one too. I have been more opened, more honest. I listen more and hear more. I do seem to cry easier and my moods aren’t level yet but I think in time all of that will become normal too. Well, my kind of normal. I am finding more time for my Savior, I have found a couple super cool ladies that have devotions and ideas and discussion groups that I read and think and reflect with. I have my daily devotion on my computer each morning waiting for me. I know I have a very long ways to go with the Lord but he’s patient and loving and letting me learn that I need him and to lean on him.

This past week and a half has been stressful beyond belief. With my sister so ill, my nephew sick, my parents needing me, my family needing me, my daycare kids sick and some personal business I am at my peak. It’s a good thing this morning I have no one. Time for the Lord and I to chatter or really for me to sit quietly and listen while he teaches me his word, his thoughts, his ideas.

So this is my check in guys. Just life here with me and my life style change. Next Friday, the 23rd, is my birthday and I am hoping that I will be in better shape then the past 10 years, maybe even 20 years. At least I’m giving it my best shot.

Take care my friends, have a wonderful weekend. God Bless you all!!

It’s weight loss Wednesday….

I will admit I haven’t been following my own advice this past week. With two friends dying, my mom’s best friend on her death bed, my sister doing so poorly I haven’t been putting my mind into exercising. I have been but not to the top of my performance possibilities. I’ve been outside more, raking, cleaning out the garden, cleaning up the yard and all the kinds of stuff but for exercise like lots of walking, riding my bike or doing my weights, not to good. Monday I did work out hard and walked 12,000 steps plus played tennis with Mike Tuesday some weights but nothing to much, today nothing yet but we did just get 2 cords of wood that have to be stacked because 2 more are on their way. Getting started for next winter. So that will mean lots of bending, stretching, lifting and all tonight and tomorrow. So I’ll count that just not traditionally. I need to get out and ride my bike, it felt good to do that so maybe some time today between the visit to Cleo, Cindy (total opposite direction), the wood pile, daycare after school and dinner time I can do it.

I am however doing well on the eating part. Gum seems to take care of the sweet cravings if I just can’t ignore them and I chew it way past the point of any sweetness left so I think it should count as a negative calorie. I haven’t made any new recipes either. I know, I need to but it’s just so hard to concentrate right now. I don’t think constantly of Cindy or Cleo but they are in the back of my mind always.

I’ve got to get my mind and body back into the game of this. I’m still losing and toning but shouldn’t it be a bit faster? I know I didn’t get to looking like mama whale overnight. I put on some shorts I had worn last year, boy are they baggy. It’s a good thing garage sale season is starting. I think I’ll go for at least one size smaller and maybe try two and have them waiting. Maybe I won’t have to go into the big girl department to buy something, just maybe by fall I can go to the normal girl department and find myself something cute for the holidays.

So there’s hope. I’ll keep working on me, taking care of me so that I can be there for family, when they need me.

Take care my friends, remember when you have a moment to please say a prayer for my sister, Cindy. God Bless you all!!

What happens…

When you take a banana bread recipe and try to make it better, softer, better for you? Well this…

See the smoke from the warmer burner?

The one that didn’t boil over, just fell instead.

My oven isn’t that messy but after that smoke, fire and mess, well it’s that messy now.

I guess I’ll work on that recipe again when the next batch of banana’s die. The loaf that fell, well it tasted wonderful. It was moist, tasty and about 1/2 the calories and fats as a normal loaf. I’ll have to figure out what I did wrong and work on that again.

So one more thing….

My sister is very, very sick again. I do not know how long her body can take all of it that happens to her. She looked so frail tonight. She’s been in the hospital since Friday, has had tons of test and they can’t tell her a bunch yet. Her white count is so low it’s not even on the charts, her intestines are enlarged, her hemoglobin is 3 points below low. She barely can eat, talk and stay awake. She so weak but she made sure she stayed awake to visit with us. She ate dinner because I sorta pushed her too. I brought mama, daddy and Mike with to visit too because we just don’t know. I feel so helpless. She has been though so much in the past 16 years.

Please pray for her and her family. She has two sons and a hubby. My mom and dad and me. She is so loved and needed.

Good night my friends. God Bless!!

Garden Swap sign up over….now the fun part…

Well guys, we have 16 people for the Garden Swap. Yeah, I am so happy. I am getting ready to send out the survey and shortly you’ll receive it. If for some reason you signed up and didn’t get it please leave me a comment and I’ll send it right out. Fill them out and get them back as fast as possible and I’ll get to the next part, giving you your partner.

So now it’s onwards and upwards to the fun part. Getting something for your partner. I have picked a few things already for whomever I get (oh by the way, I’m going to number everyone and put it in a bowl and let one of the daycare kids put the partners together, I hope that’s okay with you all how I’m doing that part) and once I get my partner I can personalize it better.

Thanks everyone. Really!!!

Have a great week. God Bless my friends.

Periods…

Why in the world does it seem that no matter how hard you try you can not get enough to eat when you have your period? Why is is that candy just calls and calls and calls and you can’t ignore it or it just keeps calling until you go batty? Why is it that the bottom feels like it’s gonna drop out and the tummy wants to explode and the back wishes it really were broken instead of just feeling like it? I HATE PERIODS!!!! It’s really a good thing they only come once a month for a few days otherwise can you imagine how big I’d be. I mean I’m not little now but with what I’ve eaten the past two days I’d make a mama whale look like a kitten. This really sucks. And I’m trying to be good, really I am but I can’t. So with that said, after going 3 months without french fries I ate a full order at bowling last night. Today I ate a box of malted milk balls, 3 slices of pizza and a pieces of Hersey’s chocolate. I am hoping now that this months cravings are done but this is only day two of my period.

So I guess we’ll just going to call this week a wash. I exercised three times, rode my bike about 5 miles and walked about 10. I don’t think I went far enough if II had walked the whole earth around twice!!!

Does anyone else have periods from hell? How do you deal with the hungry or like me this month just give up and go for it. I do have to admit my periods aren’t normally this demanding, good thing too. Tomorrow a new week I’ll start all over again.

While waking this week with daddy I took a couple spring pictures. It’s finally spring here but being Minnesota we also know that next week it could snow, blizzard or get way below zero. It wouldn’t stay but it would be enough to freeze all the pretties that are blooming. Anyways, here’s a couple pretty pictures to share.

Tomorrow’s suppose to be another beautiful day. I hope you all have a great and blessed day. Take care my friends.

Garden Swap…

Who: Anyone - the more the merrier.

What: You & your partner will each send one another a package of gardening goodies (i.e. flowers/veggie seeds, garden tools, gloves, etc.)

When: Sign up NOW through the 12th. Just leave me a comment here.

Partners: Assigned 16th or 17th

Swap Date: April 26th.

So far there are 4 signed up so anyone interested?

Want to read more about the swap? Click here.

Take care everyone. Have a blessed day!

Weight Loss Wednesday…

Well I weighed myself last Saturday and have lost a total of 15 lbs since Jan. 1st and 27.5 inches. So I’m doing pretty good. Oh like everyone else I wish I could lose the weight faster but I know that the 1-2 lbs a week loss is just right if I want to keep it off for the rest of my life and that is what I want to do. I am never ever going to weigh that much again.

This week I have gone though my closet and found 2 pairs of jeans, 1 sweater, 1 sweatshirt and 2 blouses that I will never fit in again. I also found 2 tanks and 1 fleece jacket that I gave to one of my daycare mom’s because she’s losing weight too just a bit larger then I am. If really feels good doing this but I can’t take to much from the closet, there’s not that much in there to begin with. I sure do hope garage sale season starts soon because I don’t want to buy anything new until I’ve reached my goal. I’m 1/3 of the way there.

I need to get out and move a bit more. This week I’ve been slow. It’s already Wednesday and I’ve exercised once and rode my bike once, not enough to call a great job yet. I did walk over 12,000 steps on Monday, 10,300 yesterday and 9800  today. I need to get back to my food journal. I’m doing okay but I do better with the help of that. Also I need to make up a weekly menu. I’ve said that before but for some reason I keep procrastination about it. Stupid, how hard can it be to take 30 minutes and work on it.

I’m doing this whole life style change by myself. No gym, no WW or anything else and I’m learning to cook and bake healthier. I figured since this is a new life style for me I might as well do it all naturally and learn from the beginning.

I love comments, encouragements, ideas, recipes, ideas…. anything that you’ve learned I’d love to be taught.

Thank you for hosting the Weight Loss Wednesday Jennifer. For anyone wanting to share their journey, go to Jennifer's blog and check it all out and go to the Weight Loss Wednesday and join.

Take care my friends. God Bless you all!!

Biking riding….

Is it good for you or not? Really I know it is but…..all that huffing and puffing, all that complaining about the hills, all that “Mike, wait for me”, is it worth it?

According to Trails.com it is a wonderful exercise for you. It’s almost as low an impact on your joints as walking. Pedaling strengthens the quadriceps, calves, hips and buttocks, without putting a lot of stress on the joints. When biking outside the vitamin D is excellent and it’s a great stress reliever. Plus when you push it the cardio is excellent. I bet my heart rate was way past the point of excellent but I’ll get better at that.

They say a 150 lb person that rides for an hour can burn from 240-410 calories going between 6-12 mph. I only went for about 15 minutes and about 3 miles but I also got some walking in there since I can’t make it up the hills yet. So that means I didn’t burn tons of calories but some and I did get out there and try. It’s more then I’ve done for at least 3 years.

I just read this at a different website and though I seen it before it’s finally sinking in.

The higher your resting metabolic rate, the more calories you burn even at rest. So eight hours after your bike ride, sitting on your couch, you’re still burning extra calories! I’m sure that’s after being out there for a good hour of moderate to hard riding but still I bet it counts working up to that.

Bicycling also works to strengthen the core region of the body, the abdominal and back muscles. A strong “core” is essential for good balance and posture, and beneficial for activities of daily living.

So there you have it, bike riding is good for you. So that means, “Mike, wait for me” is going to work out just fine and time with Mike is worth all that huffing and puffing.

Hey, update, I told Jim what I weight and said how I want to weigh less then him and he said, “you do, you do!!!” YEAH!!! Never in my married life, that’s almost 30 years guys, have I ever weighed less then him.

Thank you guys for all of your kind words and help. There is no way I could of done any of this without you. Thank you to Mike, Kim and Brenda the most, you guys have supported me, helped me beyond any words I could say. I need all the help I can get and so appreciate all of you!! THANK YOU!!!

It’s onward and upwards to a new week. What challenges are you facing? Need some support, a word of wisdom, a helping hand? I’m here if you need me. I will stand beside you, I will give you a push to keep you going, I will love you no matter if you screwed up today or did your best day. Let’s get this life style change a kick in the butt.

Take care my friends and have a wonderful and blessed week.

Results and challenges..

Easter candy….Yum!!!! Naughty but yummy. Darn I’m glad that the candy is off to my little ones houses. You know what’s really bad, I didn’t even get the kind I really like figuring I’d just ignore it because it’s not my favorite but WRONG, it didn’t matter. What was in the bowl on the table for the kids was also for me. Okay, I can say I’m mad at myself and all but it won’t do any good, none at all so I’ll just be glad that the candy is gone and today is a new day. Another naughty thing, daycare of 15 hours a day making it impossible for me to have enough energy at the end of the day to go for my walk. I bet this past week I have walked twice. I mean my power walks because we are always walking in the woods, going to see grandma and grandpa and those kinds and in my everyday walking with the pedometer I walk anywhere from 3-5 miles a day, but I try to get a power walk in there to get the numbers up and to get my cardio in there. Oh well, another I can wish. Next week things go back to normal there too so I should be able to get my butt moving. Mike is going to get my bike down and ready to roll this week which mean my cardio will be off the charts. Biking isn’t easy out here, there are two-three huge hills before there’s any big flat riding and then the flat riding really isn’t either but at least not huge hills.

So let’s see, riding my bike, a power walk or three, no blasted candy, more water, keep up on the food intake and by the end of April I should hit a mile stone. Right now the big things is, I think I weigh less then Jim. It’s has never happened, me weighing less then Jim . If it’s not yet it’s really close and by our 30th anniversary I should make it. That’s a goal in itself, to weigh less then Jim.

So what you’ve been waiting for.

Weight, 4 more pounds gone. A total of 15 so far.

Another 6” loss so a total of 27 1/2” so far. I didn’t lose any on my hips again, and this time my biceps stayed the same. Now that could be because I’m building some muscles there but those bat wings are still hanging around. It’s time for them to fly away.

All in all, I’m not depressed about any of it. I could go and wish for more but really it’s me, I just have to work harder and get going a bit more. But as long as I’m losing that is the main thing. Right? Right!!'

So it’s 27 days days to my next weigh in. I am wondering if I should do a two week weigh in so that I can keep myself on better track but I don’t think that’s for me. I don’t want to see a pound loss, I like the 4-5 lbs at a time. I just have to keep at it. What do you think?

Oh I almost forgot, I went to the Chiropractor on Wednesday, I had put my middle back out cleaning out the garden and all the spring raking and I didn’t say anything when I went into the office. I’m still fat, I’m still like Jell-O in spots so figured maybe when I see him again in June or so then he’ll notice. Boy was I wrong. He didn’t say anything at first, adjusted my neck and then had me lay down and he said “this is so nice”, I didn’t understand I figured maybe because I took my shoes off and had clean socks on but he said it again and I said “huh?” He said I look so nice, was easier to adjust and says I will feel so much better. He noticed! He then felt me up and down, he’s a chiropractor, hands on is okay. And said he feels muscle, a waist and I look good. It felt so nice to hear that. Really. Other then Mike no one says to much but they see me all the time, you can’t see an inch here or inch there or even a few pounds but since he hadn’t seen me since before Christmas he could tell. It felt wonderful, to have someone notice. Just think because I plan on keeping this up, by time I go and see my everyday doctor in June he’ll notice something too. Maybe I won’t get that weight lecture. I could really handle that one.

So a new recipe anyone? I could use something healthy with chicken in it. We have so much chicken we can cluck by the end of the week. Between clucking and my rabbit tail from eating so much lettuce I wonder if I’ll lay an egg with fluff on it or have babies with feathers.

I’m off to exercise, shower and start my day. I have no kids today, NONE!!! Well sorta really. We have an Eagle Project to go work to this afternoon but they are big kids, only need support not physical help or watching over. I love it.

Take care and I’ll be back to tell you how my first bike ride goes and how I feel the next day. I hope it isn’t like when I jogged for the first time in 20 years, that took me 3 days to get over. I’m getting old, not to old yet but not a baby chick anymore.

Have a great and blessed Easter.

Good Friday, Friday Follow, New Friend Friday….

Boy is there lots going on today.

First and foremost, today is the day Jesus Christ was crucified. Every time I read about this I cry. Can you imagine what Jesus went though for us? The pain, the torment, the dejection, the hatred and all. He did this for us. He died so we don’t have to ever go though all he did for us. He died so that we have a chance to except him as our savior and when we die we can go to heaven and live with him. It is amazing what love can do. His love for you and I is something we all need to embrace, except and then share with others. Please remember and pray and thank our Lord Jesus for all he has done and for what is still to come. With Christ all things are possible!!

Today is Friday Follow over at Lynn's. Time to meet and greet some new and wonderful people.

Today is also New Friend Friday over at Diana's. It is so neat to put your blog in the McKlinky, at both wonderful ladies blogs, and a short time later your have some really wonderful people to follow you and you to go check out and follow back.

Now don’t forget my Garden Swap. Check this out at my post from yesterday. I have had a couple of questions and here’s the answers. This swap is open internationally and that means Canada too or anywhere else. I’ll try and put together countries with countries unless on the survey I have you fill out you don’t mind sending anywhere then it won’t matter. I did one over in Australia once and I just added part of my shipping cost in the gift part so it wasn’t so big a price to ship.

So there you have it all, my friends. Remember all of these good things today and most importantly remember the good Lord died for us so that we may one day join him in his house.

Take care and God Bless you all.

P.S. I will be here tomorrow with some of my life style changes and what my chiropractor had to say and the biggy, my weight loss and inches for the month of March. Wish me luck, I’m hoping I did good at least I know I learned a few more things.