Wednesday Weigh-in

I have had one of those weeks. One of those weeks that makes you wonder if all of your hard work is worth it, and then you decide it's not and give up.

(The broken glass is a product of a story later to come..)

That week was last week. I was so bummed about not being able to get my eating under control. I was overwhelmed and stressed with caring for my daughter by myself b/c my husband's job kept him gone longer than usual (disaster work). I was feeling like a failure because week 4 of the C25k was kicking my butt.


During my funk/craziness, I cut my hair. No, I did not get a hair cut. I took my scissors and razor and went to town on my head. In the process of cutting my hair, I broke my mirror. I didn't slam it against the wall or anything. I just stepped on it.

My guardian angel/fairy godmother came in the form of a friend who caffeinated me on Wednesday, rescued my daughter and me from our house (no car for this stay at home mommy!) for the day on Thursday and swept me away for an outing MINUS CHILD on Saturday. I try not to complain about my station and current "job" because I know so many mom's would love to be a stay at home mom, but there are times when it's just overwhelming. With only one car for our family, a tight budget (but who's isn't?) and not being within walking distance of a park or store or even friends- a girl can just go a bit stir crazy, especially with as much rain that has fallen this month! So, it was such a blessing to have an ear to hear the complaints, and know that she had been there, done that and come out on the other side. Mostly sane. ;)

My other shining light came in the form of my husband. If you know him, you'll know he's not a veggie eater. He loves pizza, bread and cheese; and has a metabolism that lets him eat that way without puffing up his body. If I ate that way? Well, we all see what happened when I did. Anyway, he told me on Friday that he wanted to do the 21 Day Daniel Fast. So, for him to say he was ready to cleanse his system of caffeine and other junk by eating nothing but veggies and fruit and drinking nothing but water was a big deal! This also provided me a great chance to refocus my energies on eating right, and the Why of it all. I admit, though, I have stuck with the "diet" aspect of this more than the "fasting" part. My goal is to make it more fasting than diet, however. I am on Day 5-and only minimal sugar cravings. A good sign, I think.

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Now, to the reason for the post in first place. (took me long enough to get here!) Weigh-in. Last week, due to my funk, I actually forgot to weigh-in. I'm pretty sure last week's weigh-in would have resulted in a gain-I'm positive of that fact, actually. My clothes were fitting a bit tighter in the waist from all of the junk I had put in my body. This week? I knew there would be a loss, even with T.O.M. appearing.

Weigh-in Results: -1.4

This OFFICIALLY puts me at losing over 30 pounds so far!

I am repeating Week 4 of Couch to 5k and continuing on Level 2 of the '30 Day Shred' this week. My workouts combined with my diet changes should make for an interesting weigh-in next week...

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Lastly, and least:

On the Saturday excursion, we went to an Antique Barn. These guys were soooo creepy I couldn't NOT take a picture and share it with you! I kind of want to go back and get them!

How have YOU ALL been doing???????

Insurance and Wednesday Weigh-in

Insurance companies--bleh.

Today was supposed to be my prosthesis molding, but my insurance company has decided to give us the run around. I don't know about you but I don't have $400 set aside for my feet and the reason I HAVE insurance is for that very reason. So, instead I have to play their games and try a more "conventional method" of fixing my problem. I have to wear generic inserts which are already causing the same pain I was in before. They don't support me enough. I have to suffer through these inserts for 3 weeks, then I return to the Dr. to follow up on how they are doing.

Exercising is going to be just loads of fun these next 3 weeks...

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On a happier note I weighed in today 1.6 pound less than last week! I said on Monday that I wasn't expecting much because my eating has been a bit out of control. I am pleasantly surprised by this loss. It makes me wonder what kind of weight loss I would have had if I watched what I ate, too. I guess we'll find out next week because I am determined to lose AT LEAST 1.4 pounds to round out a total of 30 pounds so far. That's my goal for next week.

Since I haven't mentioned my actual weight, I feel it's important to share something with everyone. One of the ways I track each week is by measuring. Here is a list of what I measure and how many inches I have lost since starting to track them on November 23, 2009.

Total Inches Lost

• Right calf: - 1.5 inches
• Right thigh: - 2 inches
• Right upper arm: -1.5 inches
• Bust: -4.5 inches
• Waist: -7 inches
• Hips: -6.5 inches
  

I love looking back at where I started. Sure, I have a LONG ways to go but I have already come so far! If you haven't started monitoring your progress by using something other than a scale, I strongly suggest that you do!

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Monday I shared how I had been pretty lazy with preparing foods and eating healthy so I tried something new.

Tofu Lo Mein

C'mon now, you can't tell me that it doesn't look goooood!! It tasted as good as it looks, too! I never measure anything so I'll just post the ingredients with a general instruction :)

1/2 package Extra Firm Tofu
(Marinade)
Lite Soy Sauce
Ginger
Garlic

100% Whole Wheat Spaghetti noodles (they're boiling in the background)
Sesame Seed Oil
Green Onions (chopped)
Carrots (finely chopped)
Lite Soy Sauce
Bit o' Sugar
Teriyaki Sauce (I only used this because I ran out of Soy)
Crushed Red Pepper Flakes (barely used these)

I marinaded the tofu for about an hour then cooked it with some oil while the noodles were boiling. I added the carrots in about 10 minutes later and let them cook while the noodles were still cooking. I added the green onions in just before I put transferred the noodles over. Then, I added the soy, sugar, teriyaki and red pepper flakes.

I used whatever veggies I had in my kitchen. Had I had green peppers, red peppers or broccoli I would have added those in. Maybe not the broccoli. I hate broccoli. But I would have added it to my daughters' plate :)

It was yummy and it has my 23 month old daughter's approval.

I hope you enjoy it!

Homekeeper's Journal: May 11

Homekeeper's Journal

In my kitchen …….tofu lo mein, green smoothies and something using lots of lettuce!

On my mind today …… POTTY TRAINING!!! In full force! Only 1 pee accident since Friday! Now, if only I could get the little Princess to poop on the potty and not in a corner...

Something that makes me feel rather touchy …….. nothing comes to mind right now--ask me tomorrow :P

One goal for this week is ….. to make my house suitable for company at any given time. I'm not expecting any, but I don't want to miss an opportunity to fellowship because I'm ashamed of my (lack of) housekeeping.

What I’m reading …… the LOVE REVOLUTION by Joyce Meyer

One individual I am praying for ….. my husband. He's working 12 hour days, 6 days a week while taking on a different job description to aid in the Nashville Flood Relief.

I am looking forward to …… continuing the Couch to 5k training. I love running.

On the Back Burner of my mind …… wondering if my mom will ever make it up here to visit, and if Michael and I will have any house guests over the summer.

I see God moving ……. in my husband and in me, when I don't over analyze/over think everything.

Just Do It

I have been hesitating all day to blog.

Do you ever have days where you just want to hide under a rock and let the world go by? Yeah, that's me today.

I feel like I am beginning to sound like a broken record with my posts. I'm doing great, then I'm not. And exercising isn't the problem. I AM doing great there. I love to exercise! Even when I'm not motivated to exercise I still do it. It's becoming habit. I roll out of bed to walk or run most mornings without even thinking about sleeping in. Being active is not my problem.

My love/hate relationship with food is the problem. I know what foods to eat, I buy the right foods to eat, I think about eating the right foods...but I don't. It is easier to pour a bowl of cereal than make a healthy omelet, or eat a frozen pizza for lunch than prepare something healthy. And, yes, those have been my meals for the day. I have a refrigerator PACKED with healthy foods but I chose to eat processed stuff.

I haven't been motivated to eat healthy. I am by no means giving up on losing weight and becoming changing but I've come to some sort of road block. Seth at Fit with a Purpose really struck home when he made a list of what his life looked like before his weight loss journey and after. Before he ate whatever he wanted and now?? He said, "I am intentional with my eating." Yes! That is what I want.

I haven't "felt" like eating healthy. My excuses? The dishes pile up so fast when you cook instead of re-heat or order out. My husband has been working late hours and not eating dinner at home so why make big meals for just me and Liesl?

At church yesterday my pastor taught from Romans 12:1-2 about being a Living Sacrifice.

Therefore, I urge you, brothers, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God—this is your spiritual( or reasonable) act of worship. 2 Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.

This scripture has always convicted me. I am supposed to offer my body as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God, as my act of worship. I can defile my body by what I do with it. Whether it's sexual immorality, cruel words or putting substances I know are harmful in my body. For me, I know certain foods can harm the body but I've chosen to let my feelings lead me and eat them anyway. As the pastor said yesterday, being led by feelings is a mark of immaturity. There are things that we know we have to do even when we don't feel like doing them: go to work, school, clean the house, pay the bills, etc,. Just because I don't feel like eating healthy is NOT a good enough reason. Nike said it simply, but wisely: Just Do It.

I am responsible for sacrificing myself, all of me, to God whether I feel like it or not. It is my "reasonable act of worship".

Do you struggle with staying motivated to eat healthy?? What do you do about it??

Wednesday Weigh-in

Today is the first weigh-in for the month of May. I was super scared when getting on the scale this morning because, although I had worked out consistently, I have been sick and while I haven't been binging, I also haven't been eating as healthy as I should. So, I stepped on the scale and had to do a double take. I am down 3.6 pounds!! This weight puts me about 15-20 pounds away from being able to fit back into MOST of my old clothes. They are still fat clothes, mind you, but they are my pre-pregnancy clothes.

Oh, I can't freakin' wait!

Birthday Vacation

Sorry for the unexplained absence last week. Monday was my birthday and my husband was on vacation last week so I decided to forgo blogging and spend more time with him. I'm sure you can understand!

As I said, last Monday was my birthday and it was a great one! I went to the podiatrist and got diagnosed with tendonitis (I knew that was coming) in my left foot AND found out that I have really high arches. For years I've been telling my husband that his feet were flat when all along it was ME that was the weird one. Go figure. I'm going to go back in a week or so to get a cast made of my foot for prosthesis. They taped my feet while I was there and it has made a huge difference in how I exercise. I can finally exercise without pain! I can only imagine how much better it will feel with the prosthesis!

I had an amazing NSV (Non-scale Victory) last week. I was able to fit into a pair of jeans that haven't fit since November 2008! Oh, boy was I excited!!

I did weigh-in on Wednesday, even though I didn't post, and it was the same as the week before. It was T.O.M. so I'm not surprised. However, I am a bit nervous about this coming Wednesday. I've had a yucky cold for the past few days that has just wiped out my energy, AND I haven't been motivated AT ALL to eat healthy. I am really struggling with binging and craving sweets. I'm not sure why. Usually I would binge when I'm upset or sad, but I haven't been either of those. My birthday was great, I finally figured out what's going on with my foot and will be able to start running once I've kicked this cold, I had an amazing NSV, and yet I am still sabotaging myself by eating crappy. Why? I wish I knew.

For the past few days I would eat unhealthy at one meal then vow to eat healthy at the next. This is the beginning of a dangerous cycle. This way of thinking is what lead me to gaining all of my pregnancy weight (and then some) back. I have to nip this thing in the big-fat butt before it gets any more out of control. Being healthy CAN and MUST start NOW, not at the next meal. I need to remember how it felt to button my jeans again, or to look in the mirror and see a wee-bitty bit of collarbone staring out at me. Because those things felt a LOT better than this mental yo-yo game going on in my head.


Here's what my last week looked like...lot of fun!