I'm soooo sleepy

I didn't make it to BP last night.  I planned on it..but I was/am tired.  I pulled into my drive way and took a 10 minute power nap in the car before going in to deal with my household.  All I wanted to do was go to sleep.  Instead I played with the kids and cleaned my bathrooms (I clean the bathrooms every other day...I can't stand a dirty bathroom).  After putting the kids to bed at 7 I wanted to go to sleep myself.  Then I remembered...duh I haven't eaten anything.  I hate waking up hungry so I peddled around until Charles made it home and I had a sandwich.  Nothing heavy.  Hit the spot. 

So off to bed I go after showering and ironing.  Only problem...Book 2 of the Hunger Game Trilogy.  Sigh...I was so close to being done.  I should just finish it then go to sleep.  Which is what I did.  But dang if it wasn't already 11:45 pm.  Tonight...I'm going to be at 8.   I don't care.  I want to sleep.

I cleaned up the Rollerblades.  But I can't find my knee pads.  I will keep yall posted on when the fateful event will happen.  LOL  There may even be pictures.

BTW...I used my 30 minute lunch to take a nap...just sad.

Thankful in spite of

Things have been going to the dogs in my life as of late.  But guess what.  I'm still thankful to God for all He has done for me and will continue to do for me.  I'm going to keep doing what I know how to do and that is survive.

I say this to tell you...don't give up on yourself or your situation when it gets to hard.  Giving up allows the other part to win.  I refuse to let them beat me.  I will not only get through this, but I will come out of it brand new.

In other news....

I went to an early morning Body Pump class on Friday.  Let me just say it was the best BP class I have taken.  The instructor was awesome and lively.  Although it was a nice size class, I didn't have to fight for room wot workout.  It was great.  I can't wait to go to this class every other Friday morning.  Tonight I have BP...but before it starts I will get to get in at least 45 minutes of Cardio.  Thank goodness.

My weight dropped a pound...then went back up that same pound.  Craziness.  But I'm moving on.  I have my meals for the week planned out.  Well at least my dinner meals.  I never plan my lunch anymore.  Crazy, but I don't.  I just grab what's in the fridge or I eat out of the chow hall while at work.

I was cleaning out this closet this weekend and found my Rollerblades.  I totally want to put them to use again.  I will give it a try one day this week and let you know how it goes.  I just hope nothing gets broken.

Have a great week!!

With love,

Good morning, Good morning....

Good morning to you!!! 

I see that everyone is excited about BOOBS 2012.  I've en read that some have already purchased their plane ticket.  Good for you.  I will be there.  I already have my wonderful roommates lined up.  Don't be sad that you can't stay with me....it's okay.  LOL

Last week I did not workout one time.  Nope...nada.  I was tired after training and all I wanted to do was go home and sleep.  It didn't happen, because my kiddos don't think mama should take a nap.  Heck the don't even want me to sit down. 

Saturday was a great day.  I met up with some Texas BOOBS for lunch in Waco.  It is always amazing to spend time with these ladies.  I always walk away feeling renewed...like I can really do this.  Each and everyone of them inspire me to do better.

The remainder of the weekend was uneventful.  I started a new work scheduled this week.  Being at work for 9 hours is not the best thing in the world.  But hey.  I get an 3 day weekend every other week.  I will take it.

On the band front.  Things are pretty good.  I'm at a good restriction level.  I have an appointment for a fill on March 13th.  Unless things change I will cancel and reschedule it.  I schedule an appointment every month....just in case.  On the weight loss front I hit a new low this week.  I'm super excited.  I only have 26 lbs to get to my birthday goal.  My birthday is in July.  I hope to surpass my goal by then.

Seriously...Body Pump is not a fun class.  I don't even like it.  However, I keep going back.  I know it is the only way I'm going to get some weight training into my routine.  But I want to point out that I don't like it.  LOL

Stop the presses!!!

I have 200 followers!!!  Wow!!  I'm in shock and very grateful that people actually want to read what I have to say. 

Thank you for your continued support and encouragement on this journey. 

Love,

It's been awhile...

I stopped posting.  I started to feel discontent with blogging.  Then I realized...I started this blog for ME!!!!!  This is my blog and my thoughts.  I can stop reading other blogs today if I want (I don't by the way).  I need to write for me.  So here goes.

My weight was up from my lowest...but it is back down.  The last month has not consisted of enough exercise and lots of crap eating.  During the last weeks of January and the early weeks of February my job is in training mode.  During that time I'm required to work positions that are not my own...this means shift work...shift work for me means milkshakes, chips, onion rings...etc.  A WHOLE LOT OF CRAP!!!

So this week I'm back to normal...at least I thought.  Until I realized I agreed to faciliate a 3 day training course in Austin.  Ugh...nowhere to store food....or warm up food.  The place that has the trainign won't allow you to bring outside food into the facility as they have their own restaurant.  Frustrating!!  I can control breakfast, dinner and snacks...lunch is up in the air. 

This weekend I get to meet up with some Texas BOOBS!!  I'm super excited.

I've done 2 Bodypump classes.  It's okay...I'm not sure what the big deal is...but I will keep going back.  Now I need to find another way to get in cardio.  I'm not longer going to my Go-Go Cardio class because I just can't afford it right now.  I pay $25 a month for the gym...paying an addition $15 per class or a $110 for two months just to attend Go-Go Cardio is soooo not in my nonexistent budget right now.  I miss it though.

It is starting to get warm here in Austin...I can start running again....I hope.  LOL

So what have you lovelies been up to?

BTW...I'm reading your post...not commenting much...but I'm reading.

Stronger!!!

Get your dance on!!!  Shout out to all my JK's!!!

It's just another Manic Monday

On Saturday I checked out the consignment shop dedicated to plus sized women.  it was decent.  I actually purchased 3 pieces.  A cute purple and black dress, cute blue jean  pencil skirt with a red hot tie in the back, and a really sexy black shirt with ruffles.  Each of these items were in a size I do not normally wear.  It feels good to buy in a smaller size, every when it is not your size.  Style blogger Savonne, says you should always try things own because you never know what is going to fit you.  She is right.

I still didn't work up the patience go thrifting...but there is always next weekend.

Have a wonderful week everyone!   My schedule is crazy this week.  Covering custody post so there will be a couple of midnight and mid-day shifts...as well as my regular shift.  It drives me insane.

Happy Friday!!!

I didn't make it to Body Pump or Zumba last night.  My mom wasn't feeling well (she stayed up the night before reading a book), so I had to stay home with the kiddos.  No biggie.  Tomorrow is another day. 

I received my ATT Letter informing me that I had been approved to retake the test.  Yup.  I'm scheduled to take the test on June 16th.  Seems like forever...but it is only 4 months.  I'm already mapping out my study schedule.

On the band front.  I have an appointment for a fill on February 14th...Valentine's day for most people...just another day in the month for me.  I know she is not going to want to give me a fill...but I need one.  Yes, I've almost lost 10 lbs since the last visit...but I'm HONGRY!!! 

Yesterday while reading the many fashion blogs I follow (all are about women with curves), I decided to give thrifting a try...again.  Keep in mind I have absolutely NO DAMN PATIENCE so this is a big deal.  In my research I found a consignment shop her in Austin exclusively for plus sized women.  What the what?!?!  Yup...I'm going this weekend.  It's not like I need any clothes...but I just want to see what they have to offer.  Other than a little shopping, working and bill paying...my weekend is going to be boring. 

What are you weekend plans?  I hope they are better than mine.

Turbo Kick SUCKED!!!

That's right.  The freaking Turbo Kick class I went to last night was a total waste of my time.  I could of had a V8!!

I own the Turbo Kick DVD's.  On occasion I break out the 20 minute workout and make it happen.  So I knew what to expect.  A great cardio workout that would leave me sweating buckets.  I WAS WRONG!!!  After 35 minutes in this class...my clothes were still dry...my pigtails (yes I wear pigtails for my workouts) were not dripping water.  I planned on finishing the class...even though I wasn't getting the workout I desired.  But I bent down to take a sip of water...instead of standing up and finishing.  I grabbed my keys and bounced.  Yup...I only completed 37 minutes of the class...because I couldn't believe that I was in Turbo Kick and not sweating.  Needless to say I will not go back to this class.  I will just stick with my DVDs.  I am however going to try kickboxing at this location.  I refuse to deal with the skinny attitude girl at the other location. 

Tonight I'm scheduled to try Body Pump...which is conveniently followed by Zumba.  I think I will stay for both.  I do miss Zumba.

Epic FAIL

Yes...I failed my test.  Don't freak out...it's okay.  I have already submitted my application to retest.  I should get a reply in the next couple of days.  I'm thinking I can retest in either March or April.  Either way...plenty of time to study.

Now that the test drama is over I'm working on the kids ability to recognize letters and words.  This week we are working on the letter A for the week.  We have our sight words ready to go.  I love learning...I hope my kiddos will too.  They both take a book to bed every night...even though they can't read.  I love it.

Charles has weekends off for the next 2 months!!!  Hell yeah I'm happy.  We have decided we will get up early every Saturday morning and go for a hike on the many trails that Austin has to offer.  I'm looking forward to it.

I'm also back on the tracking bandwagon.  Ugh...I hate it...but I promised I would give it a try...so I'm doing it.  My weight is still at my new low...which is an accomplishment after last week.  This is the third week I have missed Go-Go Cardio.  I miss it so.  I should be back on track next week.  Tonight is TurboKick (first time) and tomorrow is Bodypump.  I hope I like this.  I'm also going to the gym Friday night.  I love the gym on Friday and Saturday...nobody is there.  LOL 

Hope everyone is having a great week. 

Lean on Me

I needed to hear this today. Maybe someone else needs to hear it too. Listen to the words...realize there  importance.

I got a roommate....

...for B.O.O.B.S.!!!  Yup I already have my roomie.  Don't be jealous.  She is amazing!!!  And she bought me TONS of clothes to wear.  I am officially only shopping in her closet from this moment on.  Thanks Angela!!!

Here are a few pics from the night....unedited of course.  LOL

Me taking pictures before the girls picked me up.  LOL

Delicious fried pickles...and Beth's hand.  LOL

The group photo...those are some FINE chicks!!! Beth Anne, Angela, Debi, Me & Ronnie

That is Carlos...our waiter.  He was totally willing to go home with one of us.

Me after 3 Sassy Sara drinks!!!  OMG...that stuff was good. 

hey

Sorry I haven't been posting or commenting this week.  Training at work so I wasn't in front of the computer.  At home I was cleaning, exercising and cooking.  Sorry.  In Dallas this weekend for a photography workshop.  I'm super excited.  Going to dinner tomorrow night with some Texas B.O.O.B.S.  Hell yeah...gonna be a good time.  I might have a cocktail.

Bye the way...I hit a new low this week.  I'm in a new decade...and happy about it.

Be blessed and have a safe weekend!!

O Magainze Article

I was reading this article in the check out line yesterday.  What do you think of these "new rules"?

They're the imperatives for well-being that have been drilled into us forever—"Drink eight glasses of water a day!" "Eat nine servings of fruits and veggies!" "Stay away from red meat!" But it turns out that taking care of yourself isn't quite so black-and-white, says Harvard Medical School psychologist Alice Domar, PhD, coauthor of Live a Little! Breaking the Rules Won't Break Your Health. "Research is revealing that whoever wrote the old guidelines didn't have the whole picture, and that there are more paths to optimal health than we previously thought," Domar says. Happily, the new rules are more user-friendly than the old ones. Here, four tips to live by.

Old Rule: Drink eight glasses of water a day.
New Rule: Eat your water.

The recommendation to chug all that H2O was likely based on guidelines published in 1945. However, says Howard Murad, MD, author of The Water Secret, much of your daily requirement is contained in foods: Fruits, vegetables, beans, and cooked whole grains like oatmeal and quinoa (which soak up moisture in the pot) all deliver servings of water. And, as Murad points out, they offer the added bonus of nutrients: "Watermelon and cucumber are more than 90 percent water, but they also contain antioxidants. With a glass of water, all you get is water." You'll know you're hydrated when your urine is colorless or pale yellow and you're rarely thirsty.

Old Rule: Eat nine servings of fruits and vegetables.
New Rule: Fill half your plate with produce.

A serving of broccoli is about five florets. A serving of raw spinach, one cup. A serving of mango, roughly the size of a fist. "It's not surprising that people get confused over what, exactly, a serving is," says Washington, D.C., dietitian Rebecca Scritchfield. Her advice: Stop counting and instead make half of every meal produce. "You don't need a big mound on your plate. Six asparagus spears at dinner, a spinach salad at lunch, and a sliced banana and some berries at breakfast should do it." And quality counts: Even two or three daily servings of deeply hued fruits and veggies (like blueberries, bok choy, or red peppers) may help reduce your risk of cancer and heart disease, Scritchfield says. "It's like darts. The goal is to hit the bull's-eye. But hitting nearby is good, too."

Old Rule: Avoid red meat.
New Rule: Beef in moderation can be healthy.

Red meat was long considered a heart attack on a plate because it's high in saturated fat. But a 2010 study from the Harvard School of Public Health found that the cardiovascular risk comes from processed varieties, such as sausage, hot dogs, and cold cuts—not from steak, hamburgers, and other nonprocessed cuts. (The real culprits may be salt and preservatives). Red meat is a good source of iron and immunity-boosting zinc—two nutrients some women don't get enough of. Beef (especially grass-fed) also contains high concentrations of conjugated linoleic acid, a type of fat that may decrease cancer risk and help reduce body fat.

"But not all red meats are created equal," says Leslie J. Bonci, director of sports nutrition at the University of Pittsburgh's Center for Sports Medicine. She recommends choosing very lean cuts and avoiding anything labeled "prime," as it will have more fat marbling. And try not to eat more than three 4- to 5-ounce servings (about the size of an iPhone) per week.

Old Rule: Keep your BMI between 18.5 and 24.9.
New Rule: Eat healthy, exercise, and let your weight settle naturally.

Physicians use BMI (body mass index)—a ratio of your weight to your height—as a tool to diagnose obesity. But critics say BMI ignores muscle mass, and a 2011 Obesity study notes that it also ignores a person's hip circumference. "People come in different sizes and shapes," says Joanne Ikeda, nutritionist emeritus at the University of California, Berkeley. "The idea that everyone should fall under 25 is ludicrous." A person can have a high BMI and still be healthy, Ikeda argues. Research supports the theory: A Journal of the American Medical Association study found that fit women—even if they were overweight according to their BMI—were less likely to suffer a heart attack than those who were out of shape. Ikeda advises her patients to stop obsessing over their BMI, eat a nutritious diet, and log 150 minutes of exercise per week. "A healthy lifestyle results in a healthy weight."
Read more: http://www.oprah.com/health/Health-Rules-to-Break-Healthy-Living-Guidelines/4#ixzz1kIOVDJHK

The one about the BMI was really interesting to me.  I know many of us are still using the BMI chart as a guide to determine if we are actually healthy enough.  My favorite line from the article is

"A healthy lifestyle results in a healthy weight." Well alrighty then.  Umm...like I didn't already know that.  But hey...it's important to start living it.

Here is a to a healthy week everyone!!

New week, new goals and my plate

Seriously, myplate on livestrong dot com is driving me batty.  It should not be this hard to create a damn recipe.  Ugh...so frustrating.  Moving on...

Last week I set out to workout 3 times.  It didn't happen.  I didn't work out once.  I felt like crap last wee and I am really just staring to feel better today.  No worries though.  Sometimes a girl just has an off week.  But I'm back.  I'm going to get my 3 workouts in or 180 minutes some way some how this week. 

My only goals for the week are to eat on plan, eat lots of protein and get my workouts in.  Since I wasn't feeling well last week I used that as an excuse to eat ice cream  And eat it I did.  Three days in a row...twice on one of those days.  Yup.  It was totally good.  Was it worth it.  Nope...but it was good.

Luckily today's weigh in did not reflect the ice cream fiasco.  Thank goodness.  My weight stayed the same as last week. 

But that's just it.  I don't want a weight that stays the same.  I want a weight that goes down.  Though I weigh in every week, I'm not married to the scale.  I use the fit of my clothes and the spring in my step to determine my success.  Yes, I have a number that I ultimately want to see on that scale...but I'm not going to let it determine how I proceed on this journey.

Well that's all for me.

I want to wish all of my ladies (Angela, Sandy, Stephanie) who are having surgery this week a speedy recovery...and I pray that God is in the room during your surgery.