maintaining

So, I have lost another 3lbs officially. I am finding that I really need to find different ways to deal with my emotions instead of eating. (Stress, anxious, bored, upset, mad, and celebratory.)

I do catch myself mindless eating while cleaning up dinner or just because I saw it. But I am getting better at catching myself and most importantly - STOPPING!

I bought myself two new pairs of jeans a few weeks ago and since the jeans FIT I have been compliments left and right about the weight loss. I am flattered and then sometimes embarressed that I let myself get overweight. (sigh) but that is behind me now.

My next goal is 2lbs off by Nov. That means - don't let Halloween mess me up and also try to lose. I can RUN a mile now and not be horribly out of breath, so I will continue and jog/walk another 2 mi about 5 times a week. I need to start some strenght trainning soon. Just got to do it.

New favorite find - Fiber One cottage cheese. I will add a spoonful of apple butter to a cup of cottage cheese and its a great snack that will hold me over for a bit.

How is everyone???

Hit the BIG 30!!

I did it! I finally (official - not just standing on the scale naked in the morning after I just peed) got rid of 30lbs!!! I am thrilled. Ugh. It was tough, but holy crap it feels great. I seriously have no pants that fit or dresses for that matter. DARN, I have to go shopping. ;P
We have "transitioned" to regular food a few weeks ago. Let me tell ya, I was SCARED. I really have to pay attention to what I am eating. I am trying really hard to not consume more than 1200 cals/day. My fridge is FULL of veggies and fruit and we are slowly switching out our pantry foods to be whole wheat and no/low sodium. I am trying to be an example to my kids and husband without too much pressure so that they won't rebel. hah hah

Things I struggle with on a daily (hourly) basis:
mindless eating
eating because I am anxious
eating because I am stressed or depressed

I need to find a new outlet to handle "my issues" listed above. Preferably something active to keep burning calories instead of consuming them.

I have not found the passion for working out yet. I still hate it even though I know I need it and will feel friggin fantastic and proud of myself afterwards if I get it done.

What has really helped is planning healthy grab n go snacks. AND eating 300cal meals. (Google 300 cal meals and there are a ton to choose from and with foods you like.)

I NEED to find a good alternative to Diet Coke. I love it. But I need a bubbly substitute that does not have sodium. There is sodium in EVERYTHING. No wonder we all have junk in the trunk!

My next goal is knock off another 5lbs. I want to do this before October...so that I can buy a single digit pant size. I need pants, but don't want to buy them until I can get into that size. Vain?? A little. But I want to refer to it as just a goal. ;P I really do need to get off at least 20lbs more to be at my "ideal" body weight. But baby steps. Keep the 30lbs off, and try to get another 5lbs GONE.

My new love -La Tortilla Factory Smart & Delicious™ Low Carb, High Fiber Tortillas
http://www.latortillafactory.com/

Size 8"
Calories 80
Carbs 19g
Net Carbs 5g
Fat 3g
Fiber 12g!!!!
Sodium 210mg

Use one of these, some egg beaters ( or ONE egg) and some black beans and salsa or load up your eggs with spinach for a filling breakfast!

Another tip that is working for me - keep fruit and prepared veggies out on the counters or accessible. When you find yourself just needed to grab something to eat, grab them instead of crackers, cheese, etc.

Where I am at

Hey ladies,
so as of today I am at 152lbs! That is 22lbs gone! YES. To celebrate losing 20lbs, I got to do a little shopping. Buh bye sizes 14/16 and HELLO 10's! I bought three pairs of shorts and 3 shirts to get me through the summer. I have two hand-me-down skirts from my sister that will get me through the summer. It feels great. I have officially stopped nursing, which helps me out. Chris and I spent a few days in Ft. Lauderdale on the beaches and we left the kids at home! This was the first time away overnight from Calvin. It was tough the first night, but then we lived it up!

It has been so hot, I am having a hard time staying motivated to keep working out. I NEED to get up before the kids. That is the solution.

When I jog I feel "lighter" which is awesome and makes the jogging less painful and jiggly! hah hah I am no way "toned" and hopefully that will start to be a result from exercise.

I hope I can make these changes permanent or at least enjoy them for a while before another baby comes along. ( no announcements here! I'm just saying... that's been the pattern for 8 years!)

How are all of you?!?! What is working? What's not?

-2lbs!

The cootie bug has been an unwelcome visitor in our home. So much so, I was sick the day of the 5k marathon. For the week before that, I could barely jog 15 minutes without having a coughing fit or feeling like I was just going to fall. NO energy, achy, chills, etc. Plus the baby was sick and a cranky boy. Not fun.
I was BUMMED about this. I was throwing myself a little pity party that weekend. Failing to reach goals makes you feel lame sometimes. Luckily the hubby is always there to crash my pity parties. He's good at that.

Well, that passed and we had one week of no sick kids or parents. Saturday, my 5 year old asked to go home from the park since she was tired. This NEVER happens and we were there only about an hour. She fell asleep when we got home and woke up with a 103.6 temp. Yikes! She fevered until Monday afternoon. Now, its just the constant coughing, congestion, and the runs. (swine flu??)Guess who else caught it. Yup, the mama is sick again. The two little boys have colds but hopefully no fevers coming their way.
The good news is that I am down another solid 2lbs. WOO HOO!
One thing I have changed is that I notice I will eat something just because it there...out of boredom, feeling cooped up and can't get anything done, etc. So, I have been trying to be good on that level. Lots of water drinking too.
So YEAH! for 2lbs down. Blegh for being sick again. Too bad there are no sick days for mama's. Kids still need some taken care of.

Buh Buh 5lbs!

So, as an update, I have been able to lose 5lbs and keep it off for a couple weeks now. I think walking my daughter to school everyday pushing two boys in a stroller was the key factor in that. I didn't do any real change in my diet. The walk to school is 0.5 miles. So I get in a 2 mile walk a day just from that. There is a cute little pedway near my home that is also 0.5 miles. I have attempted to jog it pushing the two boys in the jogging stroller after I dropped off Jaylin. In theory, this was a great idea. In reality, Calvin started hating the stroller and would scream before I could finish. I would end up carrying him home. It's been hotter than hot the past couple weeks, and well, running in the heat is just miserable. It was too hot just walking some days and my kids were miserable also. So, I ended up doing a lot on my treadmill at home. {BORING, unless I could read or listen to a book on my ipod}

My next goal: 5lbs off in October. I know I have some serious diet changes I need to make. For instance I ate graham crackers and a diet coke for dinner. Not exactly a {healthy meal.} And I know I need to avoid the tempations that Halloween presents. Curse you candy corn and peanut M&Ms! And all those {bite size} candy bars.

The 5k Marathon is this Friday evening. I'll be honest and say I have not even jogged the 3{ish} miles all at one time. I've tried. I end up doing start stops the whole way. Its a lofty goal, but I think you need to aim high sometimes. I have no shame in walking it if I need to. The past week was a loss for exercise. All three kids were sick. So I feel like if I was not on the couch nursing a baby, I was on the couch holding another sick kid. And of course, being around sick kids, you eventually get sick. Bleh. {Thanks BACK TO SCHOOL COOTIES!}

I'll let you know how the 5K experience was. I am secretly hoping that the marathon bug bites me and becomes a new hobby. One that I will WANT to train for, WANT to push myself to do better. And hopefully that will keep me motivated to exercise on a regular basis.

Anyone watching Biggest Loser this season??