Accountability

I did it....Monday thru Friday...I was accountable to my journal!!! I'm outta flex points for tomorrow but that is okay. It was a good week of eating. I've decided not to weigh myself this weekend (Sunday would have been my weigh in day). I'm going to wait a little bit so I don't get discouraged if there isn't a big loss. I've added a tracker that is going to help me watch my BMI.

Well, we are in the midst of a government shut down here in good ole' Michigan. We've got to run to get my husband's hunting license since opening day of bow is Monday. If the shut down happens, you won't be able to get any licenses. Though, the DNR will be shut down so it will be a wash. A whole lotta poaching will happen! Like we need one more economic problem in this state!!!!!

Following the Plan

I have been faithfully journaling the last two days. Boy, does that make a difference when you go to put something in your mouth! I don't want to write down that I ate a sleeve of Oreos!!! The only problem today was that I made myself and my husband a Kashi Five Cheese and Tomato frozen pizza(which is 6 pts. a serving) and my kids another frozen pizza ("It's not delivery it's.....). Well, I am a sucker for pizza crusts. My daughter was the perfect child and put her crusts in the trash. However, my son brought his to me. I ended up eating 1 1/4 of his crusts! But.....I did write it down and counted it for 5 pts. Anyway, Weight Watchers is easy and successful when you journal!!! And I have to remember that results usually come from it. Speaking of results...check out this success story from theweighwewere.com. I love to go to this website when I need motivation.

I went for a 3 mile walk today. Our department is moving to a new location so a bunch of us walked to the site for the tour rather than drive. It was a hot, record setting day here which was okay on the way there since it was down hill. But the hill coming back was intense, as was the heat. I also wore my pedometer for the first time in months. As of 6:30 p.m. I have 11,183 steps! I'm sure I'll get at least 1,000 more before the night is over.

Well, gotta get lunches packed, laundry done, books read.....The Bachelor starts tonight! It's going to be one of those busy weeks....IT'S PREMIERE WEEK! I am anxiously waiting for Private Practice and Grey's Anatomy. And Tuesdays are The Biggest Loser. What a TV junkie! Great time for the treadmill!

The Aha Moment Hit This Morning....

Does it ever amaze you when you have that AHA moment? Well, I had a significant one this morning. I awoke early for a Saturday (what a great way to start out a weekend...not!) and turned on the tube. Of course most all I could find was weight loss infomericals. Now, I've been known to watch these from time to time (especially during maternity leave). But today it was more of a push that I have needed to get myself back into "thin" thinking. Weight Watchers started at 9 a.m. but I couldn't make it due to my daughter's soccer game. However, I did pull out all of my WW books and refocus on my journey and goals. My last post talked about my white Gap jeans. And yes, they are a physical goal. Next month I have biometric screening at work that is a financial goal. But this morning my AHA moment caused a personal goal. Me....I want to take care of Me! Not in a selfish, I have to run you have to watch the kids way. But more in a way that I look at the strength of my body and soul and know it is the best it can possibly be. I can't deny that most days of the week I have a little voice in my head that says you have hit middle age (my mom died at 58, my aunt at 64, their brother was in his early 50s, and my grandparents at 70) which scares the crap right out of me. I many times play the song 100 Years by Five for Fighting. So I guess my AHA moment made me realize that I want to live for 100 years! I want to be physically ready for the 68 years and I want them to be FANTASTIC!!!! You see, I promised myself when I hit WW lifetime two years ago that I would never go back....and honestly I have only gained 10 lbs. Which isn't too bad considering how stressful these two years have been. But that 10 lbs. really sucks!!!! So....thanks Mom or Aunt Judy or the Oxygen Channel for showing one too many exercise, weight loss, self-help informercials. I finally got the clue or the AHA moment!

I also did what I always do and jumped on the internet to get motivated. I found a great Zucchini Pancake recipe on Roni's Weight Watchen page. I made them for lunch today and they were fantastic! The kids and I to the berry patch where we picked three quarts of fall raspberries. After that we visited the local farmer and bought zucchini, squash, peppers, tomatoes and pumpkins! I do love fall for the veggies!

Sorry this was so long but.....boy do I feel better! So now I am off to the treadmill and I think I'll play a little JT's SexyBack for motivation!!!!

Time is (not) on my side!

Wow! Where did July & August go???? And how did bon fires stop and school start??? This is how much of August was spent.

And this is what September looks like....

We've been busy with soccer, homework, school snacks, etc. And I'm starting my first graduate class next month on top of all of this!

Exercising and dieting have only been happening by chance. The treadmill calls my name daily but is hushed by sleep! I am taking a yoga class once a week, which I love by the way! I've thought about going back to Weight Watchers but when I get out the materials.....well, to be honest I get bored. I think that means I'm burnt out. So right now I am focusing on clean eating. I know my body is a machine that needs to be fueled properly.....and I haven't been doing that so well lately. I have a pair white GAP jeans hanging on my closet door....they are my inspiration! Here is how they fit now...

They will look MUCH better next month, I am sure!

Catch Up

So much for my posting every day! Boy has time gotten away from me lately!!! We've been so busy. Guess that's what happens to families.

Exercise.....it has been going really well! I'm really enjoying the Big Mo strength training schedule from Corinne. It has been really interesting doing this routine while studying for my personal trainer certificate. Corinne designed an awesome program! I haven't been hitting the treadmill as much as I would like. However, I have been taking hour long walks at lunch....at a pretty good pace (fast enough to get in a few miles).

I picked up a copy of the The Eat Clean Diet by Tosca Reno. I am just starting it so I'm sure I'll have more to post later.

On Sunday I am heading to Southern California for work. Believe it or not it will actually be colder there than in Michigan! I will only be there for a few days but it will be fun! I am staying at the Hyatt which has a pretty amazing gym and also offers a GPS for outdoor walking/running. The Today Show actually featured Hyatt as one of the best hotel gyms and workouts this week.

So that is it for now.....

Let the week begin....

Well, the vacation officially ended this morning with my alarm clock going off. I was off all of last week and enjoyed every morning waking up to the birds, sunshine, my darling son's feet in the middle of my back! But it did feel good to get back into a routine. I love my job so it wasn't a problem to head back to reality.

I mentioned last week that I was going to make a Chicken, Cashew & Vegetable Stir-Fry that was featured in Self Dishes. It was fantastic!!! Here is the recipe:


1 cup quick-cooking brown rice
2 tsp. cornstarch
3/4 cup low-sodium chicken broth
1/4 cup hoisin sauce
2 tbsp. low-sodium soy sauce
1 tbsp. chopped ginger
2 cloves garlic, chopped
1 lb. boneless, skinless chicken breast, cut into 1/2 inch cubes
1 tbsp. peanut (or sesame) oil
1 zucchini, cut into 1 inch cubes
1 yellow squash, cut into 1 inch cubes
1 red bell pepper, cored, seeded, and cut into 1 inch pieces
1/3 cup chopped cashews


Cook rice as directed on package (omit added fat). Dissolve cornstarch in broth in a bowl; stir in hoisin and soy sauce; set aside. Toss ginger, garlic and chicken in another bowl. Heat oil in a large pan over medium-high heat; cook chicken until nearly cooked through, 4 minutes. Add zucchini, squash and pepper, cook; stirring, 2 minutes. Add reserved sauce; cook, stirring until sauce is thick, 2 minutes. Add nuts. Serve over rice.


Serves 4. 463 calories per serving, 12.4 g fat (2.4 g saturated), 3.9 g fiber, 53.3 g carbs, 35.1 g protein.
Note: I did not have hoisin sauce so I added a little more soy sauce and cornstarch. I also substituted ground ginger for chopped ginger.



Well, tonight is arms/chest strength training followed by the 20-minute "Baby's Got Back" buster from Phit-N-Phat's Cardio Directory (which is amazing!). It is almost 8 p.m. so I guess I better get crackin'.

Welcome to the year 2007

Well, I finally took the plunge and purchased a digital camera. I know, I know...where have I been? I've always borrowed my dad's, used the one given to us by my mother-in-law, resorted to "gasp" film. But today I went to the electronics department at the great Meijer store and found a steal on a Kodak EasyShare. It has 5.0 mega pixels, which I am told is great (they could have told me anything). I got the camera for less than $50 bucks on the clearance rack (well, it was behind the counter getting ready to be on the clearance rack, helps to have friends in high places). So I walked out with a camera, great memory card and batteries for under $70.00!!!! And it is so tiny! It will travel easy in my purse and capture all sorts of things. The first place will be the Drake Bell concert tomorrow!!!! What fun!