P 10 Day 4- Going Strong!

So today is day 4 of my new way of life and I'm still going strong! Yesterday was a tough day for me though because I made mini-cupcakes for my son's preschool class. I had to taste the frosting as I was making it, which made we want to taste a whole cupcake. I mean, they're just mini, right?! But I was strong and I resisted. Then my will power was tested again when I went to my son's soccer banquet at the local pizza buffet place. The garlic knots and all meat pizza were calling my name, but I only paid for the salad bar and turned my back to the pizza. I can't believe how strong I was!!!

This morning I weighed myself and I am down 3.2 pounds already! I was hoping for 5 pounds in the first week, and it looks like I might achieve it! I have been walking with a friend at night every day this week, and I think that's helping. It's sure helping me sleep! Today is my rest day from walking, and but I've got a bunch of cleaning to do, so hopefully I'll stay busy enough cleaning that I burn a few calories that way.

Speaking of calories...I've been tracking my food intake on livestrong.com and it shows I'm barely eating over 1000 calories per day. How is it possible that I'm consuming so little, yet I'm not hungry? I think it has to do with the lack of diet soda in my life! It really was making me eat and think about food more! Now, I know enough about dieting to know that if you don't eat enough calories, you can send your body into starvation mode. So that's my worry of the day. Am I eating enough? I'm eating what the book is telling me to eat, and I'm not hungry...so I guess we'll see! When I hit a plateau the first thing I'll be doing is eating more, as crazy as that sounds!

Oh, and my new favorite breakfast? Organic, whole milk yogurt...french vanilla flavored! I put about 10 raspberries in one cup of yogurt and sprinkle it with one packet of stevia. OMG, it is one of the best treats, and I get to eat it for breakfast! The whole milk means it sticks with me longer and I don't get hungry for lunch for several hours. It's fantastic!

The other discovery I made is uncured turkey bacon. I bought some at Trader Joe's and it is completely nitrite free. I freakin' love it! It is a thousand times better than the turkey bacon I was buying at the local chain grocery store. It's meatier, tastier, and not even more expensive!

Ok, so that's all of my little tidbits of joy this morning. Hope you're having a fantastic day!

Be Healthy!

P 10, Day 1

Today I started the Perfect 10 Diet (P 10). I weighed myself and measured my waist (yikes, on both accounts!), but I don't know that I'm ready to share that here just yet. My first thought was that if I told y'all how much I weigh and how big my stomach is, you would be able to better appreciate the progress that I will make. My second thought though was "What if I don't stick to this and I don't lose anything? Then everyone will know what a cow I am!" Unfortunately, I went with my second thought and will keep track somewhere else until I've seen some major improvements! I know you're not supposed to weigh yourself everyday, but I can't help it. I'll update with my weight loss (or gain) everyday and will track my exercise here too!

Anyway, on to food and exercise. This morning for breakfast I ate 2 eggs cooked in real butter (since I'm not allowed to use cooking spray). I should have eaten more than that, but I wasn't prepared, and didn't have a lot in the house. After breakfast I put my 2 year old in the stroller and we walked for just over 30 minutes. For lunch I ate a leftover chicken breast and a honeycrisp apple. Amazingly, I'm not really that hungry. I'll have a handful of almonds for my mid-afternoon snack and then something light and healthy for dinner...I'm thinking maybe soup, since it's easy!

I'm wondering if I'll be able to get my husband on board for this way of eating. He typically follows the South Beach Diet principles, but with his own twist. The problem is that he eats a lot of processed foods that contain preservatives, artificial sweeteners, hydrogenated oils, etc...It will be hard to convince him to give those foods up since he is still maintaining a healthy weight. I guess time will tell! I'm also wondering how to apply this diet to my kids eating habits without having a revolt on my hands. Baby steps...

The New Me in the Making

I have struggled with my weight virtually my whole life. My body really likes to be about a size 12 or 14. Unfortunately, my inner self would really like to be an 8 or a 10. Somewhere in here is a skinny girl just dying to get out! And like most people, I've tried just about every diet, and I've joined several gyms, and I've just not been able to stick to anything long enough! I hate feeling deprived of the food I love, and I hate giving up other activities so that I can go to the gym. I'm selfish...I'll admit it!

As of a few weeks ago, I'm now 33 years old. My body is showing the wear and tear that having 3 kids has put on it! My skin is a mess, and I'm starting to worry about things like wrinkles, age spots, and spider veins. Fortunately, I don't have any of those things yet, but I don't want to have them this young either! A friend of mine, whom I walk with a few nights a week for exercise, recommended a book to me that contains a way of eating that is supposed to help you lose weight while getting all of your hormones into balance. Having balanced hormones is good for so many reasons, but I'm looking to steady my mood swings, clear up my skin (I never though I'd have breakouts at 33), and make sure that the rest of me is healthy too! The book is called The Perfect 10 Diet and is written by Dr. Michael Aziz. I'll be doing a post about the book itself on my other blog, but suffice it to say that I'm hooked!

The biggest changes I will be making with this new eating plan are: 1. No sugar or artificial sweeteners (that means no Diet Coke!) 2. No cured meats (i.e. bacon, canadian bacon, lunch meat) 3. tapering my eating throughout the day so that my biggest meal is breakfast and my smallest meal is dinner 4. No Diet Coke (that one is going to be tough!) 5. No processed oils (corn, safflower, canola, etc) 6. Full fat (although limited) dairy

I went to Trader Joe's today for the first time to get some organic and fresh foods for my new "way of eating." Notice I'm not calling it a diet? It's intentional. Anyway, I spent $113 and only had 3 bags of groceries, but I still found the prices to be really good! I thought it would be way out of my price range (I typically like to coupon and get stuff for really cheap). I bought fresh fish, fruits and veggies, steak and chicken, fresh herbs and spices, among other things. I am really excited about finally learning how to cook fish and vegetables that aren't canned or frozen!

Wish me luck on my weight loss journey and pray that I get healthier in the process!

Hello old friend!

I started this blog back in 2007 as a way to just talk...to myself, and anyone who might be reading. I wrote about myself and some controversial topics in the news. Now that it's been well over a year since I posted anything, it was my first inclination to just delete all of my posts and start fresh. I've decided I want to use this blog kind of like a diary of my life. But instead of starting with a blank slate, I'm going to leave up the personal posts and just continue on. I think that the older posts will give people insight into who I am, and what I am about. It's also a good reminder for me!

I have been writing another blog for a few months called 52 Books. It's about my personal challenge to read 52 books in a year! So far I've only read about 4 or 5, but I'm working on finding the balance that I need, so that I have time for that, and everything else that I need to fit into my life! Eventually I may find a way to merge that blog with this one, but in the meantime...here I go--embarking on yet another blog adventure!

My First Homemade Cake

I grew up with a Mom who made all (or most) of my birthday cakes and Halloween costumes. Unfortunately, I didn't appreciate it much then, but as I get older, I realize that she may have been on to something! I've been a sewing fool lately, and I'm really hoping that while my Mom is hear for the boys' party next weekend, she will show me how to do a few things that I haven't tried yet, like putting in zippers, and making clothes! She made all of her own clothes throughout high school, so she is a good resource for me!

Anyway, the point of this post is about the cake. I made my first ever, made from scratch yellow cake with homemade buttercream frosting. It is my intention to make both of the cakes for next week's party, and since today is my middle son's actual birthday, I thought it would be a good time to practice my technique. It's a good thing I did, because it didn't go quite as planned! Here's a picture of the cake baking in the oven:


Notice how it's overflowing onto the cookie sheet below it! I had to cut the top off when it was done and then part of the middle sank as it cooled.



Here is the finished product. I'm actually pretty proud of it!



Hopefully it will taste as good as it looks!

Edited to add: This cake was good, but I have come a long way since then! I have taken up baking as a hobby!

Going Dark: The Conclusion

I know it's been a while since I had my "low tech" week, but I wanted to write about how it affected me! Just to refresh your memory, here were the ground rules:

1. I will keep my cell phone turned on during business hours, as it is the only phone number that my clients have to reach me. I will not use said cell phone for personal use except for emergencies.

2. While I am at home I will turn off the following: my computer, tv, Wii, and cell phone. The kids will not be following the same rules, but their use of the television in particular (and thus, the Wii) will be restricted to when I'm not in the room.

3. I will check my personal email once a day (towards the end of the day) only to answer emails that require a timely response. I realize that even though I will not be using email to communicate, others who do not read this, may try to contact me by email, and I don't want to be rude by not responding.

4. I will not access the internet for any reason other than something directly related to work.

So how did I do? I did great as far as the TV and Wii were concerned. I did not watch anything on purpose (except for what you'll read below) and even went to bed without the TV in the background for noise. My husband was very excited about the latter.

I was in the middle of trying to sell a house that week (only my second this year) so I was on the cell phone and computer quite a bit more than normal, but it was all for work! I was also interviewing for a job with someone who preferred to communicate through email, so I had to check my personal email more than once a day. I think I only responded to one personal email and made 2 personal phone calls on my cell all week.

All in all, I'd say I stuck to the rules pretty well, until Thursday night (Day 6). Burn Notice was coming on that night and I had been a little stressed. I rewarded myself with a little TV and then I couldn't stop! I stayed up for 3 hours watching shows on the DVR. On Friday I went back to no TV though!

What did I accomplish during my black out? My to do list was this:

1. Write in all 3 journals that I started when I was pregnant with each of the boys
2. Clean out the boys' closets
3. Sort all of the clothes that don't fit the boys into Good Will bags and bins for the next one to wear
4. Take all the bags of clothes that we don't need to Good Will
5. Complete a few sewing projects that I have been asked to do
6. Mail some gender neutral baby items and maternity clothes to Michelle
7. Read at least one book!
8. Buy the boys' school supplies and get them ready for the first day
9. Put my Disney pictures in a photo album
10.Play at least one card game or board game each day with the kids.

Well, as far as this list goes, I failed miserably! I did #8 and started #7. I actually read (almost) every night before bed, which was quite a change for me. Unfortunately, I didn't pick a very fast paced book so I only got about 200 pages in. As for the rest of the list...well...I didn't even attempt most of it! I did play card games with the boys (every time they asked) and I updated Cohen's baby book, instead of writing in his journal. I did do a little organizing in his closet, but there is still a long way to go.

But all is not lost! Even though I didn't make it very far on my to do list, I did get a lot accomplished. I sold a house that week, which was great, but it also meant that I didn't have as much free time as I normally would have. All of that aside though, I came to some important conclusions during this process...



1. I can go to sleep without the television on!

2. I spend a lot of time of time on Facebook and reading blogs, but in the end, it's part of what keeps me sane! I noticed during my black out that I didn't really have a way to declutter my mind. For me, getting on the computer and surfing, reading, playing games, etc, is a great way to forget about what's going on for a few minutes. I found myself a little more short fused this week without it.

3. Balance is the key! Technology is a wonderful thing if you don't let it control your life! Without the distraction of technology I was more willing to play cards with the boys or take them outside. We spent more time together as a family too!

4. I rely on the internet for everything! It seemed like every 5 minutes I needed/wanted to look something up, whether is was a phone number, address, recipe, etc...It was really hard not having that resource at my fingertips!

5. And finally, I can conclude that there is no need to "Go Dark" again in the near future. I have seen the light and it is bright! As long as I maintain the balance, I think I'll be just fine!

Going Dark: A Challenge

My brother-in-law Wayne who writes Dad in the Middle, has decided to "Go Dark" for a week. With a few exceptions, he is going to put away his electronic communication and entertainment devices, like his cell phone, ipod, computer, the internet, email, the television, etc...Back in March I wrote an entry about how we stay connected through the internet, sometimes to the detriment of our personal relationships. I think Wayne was feeling the same way, and decided to shift his focus away from technology (for a week) and towards his family and God. I'm trying to decide if I
can
will join him.

I find that so often in my life I say "I just don't have time." Whether I'm talking about reading a book, cleaning the house, planting flowers, etc, the excuse is always the same. But somehow, I find time for
farting around on the internet
keeping in touch with my real life and online friends through face.book, t.witter, and online message boards. I play countless games of Bejeweled Blitz, Uno and Tetris, but I don't seem to have time to play cards with the boys when they ask.

What I'm trying to say is that I enjoy technology. I do. I just kind of miss the days when I didn't have a cell phone in my pocket at all times, a laptop next to the couch, and a tv with DVR in the living room and bedroom. Technology is allowing me to be lazy! I get to keep up with everyone, and let them know what I'm up to, without ever leaving my house!

For the last 3 weeknights I have been walking with other moms in my neighborhood for an hour a night...thanks to the neighborhood Yahoo group where we all agreed on a time and place to meet up! I've met more neighbors (from outside my cul de sac) in those 3 nights than I have the entire 3 years we've lived here! We talk about our kids, our husbands, our jobs and our weightloss goals, all while getting some serious exercise! It's been great, and it makes me look forward to exercising as opposed to dreading it. It's also been a time to unwind without my TV, cellphone or computer.

So I think this "Going Dark" idea can work. I'm not saying I want to get rid of the technology in my life for good...but I think that if I can go a week without it, then it might not remain such a dominant part of my life when the week is through. I think I just need to remind myself that there are other ways of staying in touch with people, without relying so heavily on electronic gadgets.

Ok, so I think I will go dark for the same week as Wayne; Saturday July 18 at 12am, until Friday July 24 at 11:59pm. I will follow most of the rules that he has set for himself, with the exception of the radio/ipod. I don't believe that the use of the radio/ipod in the car will get in the way of my communication/relationships with others, so I see no point in going without.

Here are the ground rules that I am setting for myself:

1. I will keep my cell phone turned on during business hours, as it is the only phone number that my clients have to reach me. I will not use said cell phone for personal use except for emergencies.

2. While I am at home I will turn off the following: my computer, tv, Wii, and cell phone. The kids will not be following the same rules, but their use of the television in particular (and thus, the Wii) will be restricted to when I'm not in the room.

3. I will check my personal email once a day (towards the end of the day) only to answer emails that require a timely response. I realize that even though I will not be using email to communicate, others who do not read this, may try to contact me by email, and I don't want to be rude by not responding.

4. I will not access the internet for any reason other than something directly related to work.

Basically, I will continue to use electronic communication for work (as it is nearly impossible to be a REALTOR without the internet and a cellphone), but will go without electronic communication for personal use. I'm interested to see how it goes. I have a feeling I will get a lot more done than I usually do!

My goal is to complete as much of the following as possible:
1. Write in all 3 journals that I started when I was pregnant with each of the boys
2. Clean out the boys' closets
3. Sort all of the clothes that don't fit the boys into Good Will bags and bins for the next one to wear
4. Take all the bags of clothes that we don't need to Good Will
5. Complete a few sewing projects that I have been asked to do
6. Mail some gender neutral baby items and maternity clothes to Michelle
7. Read at least one book!
8. Buy the boys' school supplies and get them ready for the first day
9. Put my Disney pictures in a photo album
10.Play at least one card game or board game each day with the kids.

I'd like to hear what you think about this challenge, so leave me a comment below. Do you think I'm crazy? Or would you like to join us?