Wednesday

Yesterday I went for my Red Cross first aid training. I am certified in first aid now. If you have a minor accident while I am nearby I know how to call 911. Just kidding. It was a pretty comprehensive course and luckily covered a lot of the legal aspects of what you can and can not do. I hope to volunteer in our school's clinic. It did not include CPR and I might go back for that. It has been many years since I took CPR and the procedures have changed.

I'm feeling a little blue today. I didn't exercise yesterday and then I blew my diet in a big way. (Because once you realize you've blown it you might as well blow it big, right?) I'm working today and tomorrow and then I have a 3 day weekend without a lot of plans. Maybe I can pull myself out of this slump and stop being so lazy.

Our area Water Department has put us on water restrictions. This is as good an exuse as any to stop watering & fertlizing the flowers. They seem to be holding their own. I'm still wishing for a little tropical storm to blow some rain & cooler weather our way.

Friday - Diet Update

Well, my hard work this week paid off. I was hoping for 2 pounds to jump start my weight loss. I wanted to lose those 6 pounds I had gained back since April. So I've been sticking to my program this week, I walked 4 days and I tried to drink water. And this morning when I weighed in I had lost 4 pounds. Wow! That is more than I have ever seen in a week. Which leads me to believe that the numbers were unnaturally inflated last week. Probably from water gain. At any rate I am glad to see the number on the scale. I am motivated to keep it up for another week, anyway. A big loss one week usually means a plateau or gain the next week, though.

Today is a me day. The kids are at school, I've done my exercising and have the whole day to myself. I think I am going to work on projects for my Homemaker's Clubs' upcoming Cultural Arts Competition. And then a special lunch treat. And then a nap.

Saturday

My dieting got away from me this summer. I was very fortunate for the first month or so to be maintaining a comfortable weight. Then my eating got a little out of control. Because the kids were home I found it difficult to exercise. And slowly the pounds crept back on and the scale numbers were registering higher. I told myself it was time to get serious and last week made a half-hearted attempt to get back on the wagon. Thursday morning I was baking cookies and what started out as a nibble became a full-day of binging that left me unsatisfied and disappointed with myself. Friday morning the scale registered I had gained weight. So now I am motivated. School has started, so no more excuses about exercising. This morning before work I went out at 6:45 and walked the neighborhood (and I'm not a morning person!). I'm trying to drink more water and give up on the late night junk food. I'm blogging about it to have some accountability. I lost 15 pounds over a 6 month period and I was really proud of myself. So proud, in fact, that I deceived myself into eating anything I wanted. And then into eating everything I wanted. So I've gained 6 pounds of it back. Gasp! My goal this time is to lose beyond the previous loss. I'm hoping for 10 pounds.

Friday Weigh-In

Okay. We all know that all good things must come to an end, right? So how many Fridays could I weigh in at the same weight? 3? 4? This week I had gained 2 lbs. So Monday I'm back on my diet. I was beginning to feel bad about the amound of junk I was eating anyway. Why not now? Well, it's the weekend and I have big plans. Better to start on Monday, anyway. I also, need to try and exercise more. This morning I took the kids to a local park that has a walking loop and they were bored before I did the loop twice. I had wanted to do 6 laps (I think that is 3 miles) but had to give up after 4. Next time I told them they would have to bring a book to read. We have a busy week next, so I'm not sure how much exercise I'll get in.

Tonite? Dinner and a movie. With. Out. The Children. Yeah, be excited for me!

Friday

I got on the scale this morning for the first time in 2 weeks and despite the out of control eating I've been experiencing I was weighing in within 0.2lbs of 2 weeks ago. I should use this as incenitive to diet for a week and try to lose another two pounds. But I have that potato soup leftover that has to be eaten (it was really good, folks!) and next week is our VBS. I do have to get back into exercising again soon! I think I would be happy, though if I could maintain this weight. My clothes are fitting nice and I can still eat the things I like if I just exercise some and use some restraint. The important thing is to keep weighing because that is where I have gone off track (and gained 15lbs) before.

Diet Update

This morning I weighed in with a net loss of 15.8lbs (we'll just go ahead and round that to 16). This despite the chocolate cake I had this week and the strawberry shortcake yesterday. And all the other junk I've been consuming. Maybe it is two days of exercising. Maybe it is all the water I've been drinking. At any rate, I'm feeling good about this and am going to try and stick to the diet better next week.

Diet

Well, I gained a little weight this week. This was to be expected after I got a little carried away this week. Nothing like a good loss to inspire you to eat. And also, I skipped a couple of days exercising. Anyway, I got myself back under control yesterday. I ended up with only a 0.4lb gain. Yesterday, after I decided to get back on track I went to the new Fresh Market in South Huntsville. There were lots of wonderful things in there to eat. I was regretting that I decided to behave. I got out with just some fresh fruit and bread. Also, they had roses for $7.99/dozen so I treated myself. At any rate this weekend I am back on schedule and back to points tracking.

15.8lbs

Diet Update

16.2 lbs and probably the lowest I've weighed in at least 7 years. Add to that, I tried on those Levi's or "skinny jeans" this morning. They fit!! I'm feeling pretty good about all that.

Friday

I had a good couple of days off, though we were very busy. Wednesday. Mother and I took a long walk then went to WM to buy groceries. After returning the groceries to my house we went to eat lunch at Terranova's. In order to stay true to our dieting we each had a side salad and split the cannelloni. It was very good. After lunch we shopped for a while at Kohl's and then drove around looking at real estate.

Thursday I had a meeting with the insurance man at 8:45 followed by a VBS meeting at 9:30. Following those meetings we drove to Arab to take my foster sister, Jackie, out to lunch. We ate lunch at a little restaraunt in Arab. I had potato soup and a half sandwich. We were both tired after we drove back to my house and we had a little nap.

SIL showed up around 4pm and spent several hours playing with the kids. We ordered pizza and mom, SIL, and I spent an hour at the table talking. We then watched a movie.

I pulled something in my back yesterday and I was feeling quite sore. I did not do my exercise and was feeling a little guilty about that. I weighed in this morning 0.4lbs lighter, though. Isn't it funny how if you work really hard you might not lose and other weeks you over indulge and losse 0.4lbs?

At 7am this morning I remembered I didn't have to leave the house as early to be at work because a) kids are out of school and b) it is a federal holiday so I slept an extra 20 minutes. I left work and went by Publix to pick up some bananas for the pudding I'm making for Sunday. Traffic was very light.

Everyone who is off work or school today have a great holiday! Everyone enjoy your Easter!

Tuesday

We had a really good restful weekend. Friday I cleaned off the porch and washed the outside furniture. I washed sheets and curtains. I am feeling really good about all that. Friday night we had Chinese because we recently learned there is a decent place that delivers to our door.

Saturday, B had a birthday party at Jump Zone. While she was at the party I went to pick up trash. My homemaker's club has adopted a mile of residential road on Eastview in Madison. I decided with the large hill I had to climb and the repeated bending over this would count as my exercise for the day. I walked the mile picking up trash in both directions. It was a good day for this, warm with a nice breeze. Near the end of my second mile a resident of the street came out and brought me a bottle of water and said, "Thanks". After my shower and nap I went out and bought 2 new sofas and got J's haircut.

Saturday night we went to dinner at Greenbriar Restaraunt (the original location next to the old gin) not to be confused with Greenbriar Barbecue. As a family we really like Greenbriar. The wait for a table is short, the service is quick, the food is good. It is a family, slightly rustic place and priced right. They have good barbecue and catfish. The hushpuppies are never-ending.

Sunday after church I did my workout and then took a nap. It was a good nap. Sunday evening I even cooked supper.

Monday I had to work at that other job of mine. It was a long day. I dreamed about it all night long. I am thankful to have a nice restful day at my regular job today to make up for it.

Of course, I got off my diet on the weekend. Friday morning, though I was weighing in at my alltime low of 14.8lbs net loss. I was feeling really good about that. This morning I snuck a peak at the scale and I had lost another 0.5lb. Feeling really great about that!

Mom is on her way to vist for a week or so and SIL will be spending Thurs & Fri at our house. Easter is coming up this weekend. Let the eating begin.

Diet Update

This morning the scale showed a .4lb increase. This in spite of all the exercise I have gotten this week. I've worked really hard this week. However, after 3 weeks of not gaining a slight gain was to be expected. Eating out so much last weekend didn't help, either, I am sure. I am not going to be discouraged, though. I am going to keep at it this weekend and hope for a bigger loss next week. Easter is still 2 weeks away.

You would be real proud of me. In the breakroom there are donuts, leftover cake and cheesecake. A sales rep just went out to dairy queen to buy everyone ice cream. Here I sit still sticking to my diet.

14.8

Despite my prediction last week that I would gain weight this week I again saw a loss! I am very excited. That brings my total loss to date to 14.8lbs.

I have done the Pilates Basic Workout 7 days in a row now. Of course, it is too early to comment on results. Everyday, though, I could see an improvement in how well I could follow the exercise. After a week I am able to do most of the exercises without the modifications. Pilates is not as hard as I thought.

I've also added a weight loss supplement. I have tried many of these in the past with various results. As a pharmacist I do not generally recommend these products unless pressed. Personally, though I am always looking for a boost. Of course, there is no miracle pill. Exercise and diet are a must and I have been working very hard at staying on my diet and exercising 4 days a week plus the Pilates. The supplement has really helped control those afternoon cravings, though.

Now this weekend my SIL is coming for a visit and Chinese food has been mentioned for supper. Also, Saturday night I will have my traditional Rosie's dinner. So I am not going to hold out for another pound for next week. But it is looking like I may be able to make my goal of 5lbs before Easter!

Diet Update

I lost 2.6 lbs since last week. Yeah for me!! Of course the WW website tried to put a damper on my enthusiasm by pointing out that this is too much for one week. But hey! When you look at the slump I have been on and realize I have lost only a total of 2.9lbs since 1/29/07 it is still a steady loss. I worked really hard this last week. I exercised 4 days and I really stuck to the program. I even started the Pilates workout today. (We will see how I feel about that tomorrow.) I know that the way my weight loss works I may show a slight gain next week. But I am going to try and hold on to this feeling and be encouraged. Now it is time for a reward (non-food of course!).

13.6 NET LOSS

Finally Friday

Did I say that I would weigh in on Friday and update you on my diet? Well, no good news. I am holding steady at an 11 lb loss. My goal of losing 5 more lbs before Easter is looking more difficult. Easter is only 6 weeks away now. I think I am going to have to work harder. Gosh, I don't think I can work any harder. I need some encouragement people!

I worked at my other job yesterday. I had been working there every other Monday but because school was out Monday I agreed to Thursday. So now I have Friday and Saturday at my regular job. Now I am really tired. Last night because I was exhausted but not really sleepy I stayed up too late. This morning I am kinda in a fog. I am tired and moody.

My mother let me know this morning that she and my dad were driving to Alabama on Sunday to visit my grandfather. My "Granddaddy" is 91 years old. He has been very healthy for most of his life. He has caught and infection in his bones that modern medicine cannot defeat. Until last week he was in a rehabilitation home receiving treatment. He has now been sent home and Hospice has been called in. I know that I need to go visit. I have been finding exuses for several weeks not to make the trip. I am going Tuesday. You can hold me to that.

On the postitive side the weather here the last few days has been incredible. The temperature has reached the high 70's. Blue skies and sunshine (and I can see them out my window!). Maybe the groundhog was right. I saw some daffodils blooming yesterday. I can see the little buds on the Bradford Pears. I AM SO READY FOR SPRING.

Weekend

This past weekend was a 4-day holiday for us. The kids were out of school both Friday & Monday so I was off work, too. We spent the weekend at my parents house in Memphis. I had a really good weekend. (You can read all about it at mom's blog.) It was very restful. We went to the movies and to the Children's Museum in Memphis. The original plan was to visit the zoo but it was too cold. (When we visited in July it was too hot.) The trip there and back was also very pleasant (4 hours of mostly open road). Sunday was hubby's birthday so we returned in time to take him out to dinner. Monday I got to sleep late and redeem myself with 40 minutes on the NordicTrac. The last week following the discouraging weigh-in on Monday I went a little out of control. I am not even going to weigh this week. I'm going to take a week to get back on track and will report to you next week.

Oh and I finally watched that Pilates Video (watching counts, right?).

Update

Update on Glasses: Yesterday I had the spare pair of glasses repaired. J also cleaned his room. I don't think he liked that his sister was playing Nintendo without him. Didn't find the other pair of glasses, though.

Diet: Monday afternoon I was feeling really blue. I don't know why I let the scale dictate my moods but I do. In fact, I let a lot of things dictate my moods. I am somewhat of a chameleon in that I reflect the moods of the people around me. This is good if everyone is cheerful but I am also easily brought down. I also sometimes get into a funk because of the book I am reading. So Tuesday I was really bummed. It was raining when I took the kids to school so I decided not to go on J's field trip (he really hadn't wanted me to come anyway). I went home and layed in bed a while but then guilt (or something like it) got me up and on my NordicTrac. At least I can be proud of that.

By the afternoon I was feeling a little better (following my nap). I baked cookies for the kids for Valentines since I have to work today. Then I ate cookies. I made chili for supper but not with the turkey ground so that wasn't good either. Then I ate more cookies after supper.

Today someone is buying us lunch and I was really not in the mood for the WW meal in my little freezer especially since I forgot my jello. So overall, I am being a little self-destructive. Friday, the kids and I are driving to Memphis to visit my mother. I probably won't stick to my diet this weekend, either. Hopefully, I will get out of this funk by next week and get back on track.

Diet

I am not even going to post what my weight was this morning. Needless to say, it wasn't DOWN. I think I am going to start weighing in on Friday. The weekends are the hardest and weighing on Monday is just self-destructive. Better to weigh on Friday after 5 days of careful dieting. Also, my new scale at home is much kinder than the one at the clinic. So I am just going to forget what that number was this morning and weigh again on Friday after exercise.

Diet Update

I am down another pound from last week despite how crazy I went this last weekend. It seems to go that way. If I work really hard I might gain 0.5lb but if I have some serious slip-ups I lose. Or maybe it is that I weighed on Tuesday this week. But of course, I exercised several days last week so maybe that is it. At any rate I am down 11.3lbs total now. A good reason to celebrate, you think? Maybe I deserve a strawberry slushie? (Get thee behind me, Satan.) This week I promise I am finally going to look at the Pilates DVD my sis-in-law (sil) loaned me. What good does it do to lose the pounds if you still have that belly flab sitting there in the middle? (My SIL will probably chime in now on her 25 lbs or so she has lost.)

Good luck to my mother at Bears in Exile. She is heading back to Tennessee this week and has vowed to get back on the program (as we call the Weight Watcher's plan). Last week her friend R* sent her back to my house with a pan of homemade cinnamon rolls and some sourdough bread. Talk about sabotage.

Tuesday

Today is the first day of a 3 day-in-a-row workweek for me. (I know some of you work 5 days in a row. But please remember that I work 10 hour shifts and am not allowed to leave for lunch.) I have caught up on my blog reading and now must come up with something witty to blog about. (Tomorrow, I'll read all the magazines - what will I do on Thursday?)

"Today you will feel completely in control of your life and it will feel as though nothing can fluster you. This will be very useful as there is likely to be something of a crisis at school or in the workplace that will need your input. A positive aspect between the Moon and Saturn will allow you to cope with ease. "

This is my horoscope for today. The crisis could be that my previous employer (WM) has begged me to come back and offered me more money and better hours than I was making with them before. I am having a hard time with this decision. I hope the Moon and Saturn will help me out.

I read about this quiz called Weffriddles on Chichimama's blog and I am stumped. I only got to level 3. Someone help me out here.

I got several comments on my jeans blog. It seems at least 5 people are reading my blog. Wow!

I weighed in today and have lost a total of 9.2lbs. Yeah for me!

Diet Update

Well, despite a week at Disney World eating high on the hog when I weighed this morning I was at the same place I was before Christmas. So YEAH! No net gain since Christmas. Now I can get serious again about Dieting. I am trying to ease into it this week. (Can you ease on to a moving train?) I started cutting back slowly and arrived at Thursday following the Weight Watcher's Point System again. (Last night, I went to a meeting and left before the refreshments were served!) I am encouraged by the scale this morning. Next week, I am going to start back exercising and take a look at the Pilates DVD my sis-in-law loaned me. Meanwhile Sis-in-law has been doing fantastic! on NutriSystem. Mother is also dieting because that is what women do in January.