Mamavation Monday-The end of the two week challenge

Well. I finished the two week challenge. Some days were harder than others, but ultimately I did it. Toward the end, I didn't quite stick to the nutrition plan due to the parties that have been popping up.

I've tried to bring healthier options just for me, like the roasted green beans from Skinnytaste, but some of the "goodies" were just too good to pass up. Like those damn cheesy potatoes.

Overall, I'd call the two week challenge successful. I lost a total of 1.8lbs, an inch off my waist, a half inch off my hips, and an inch total off both of my thighs (0.5in a piece).

The Mamavation Question of the Week!

What is your biggest achievement of the year?


My biggest achievement this year was sticking to my 2011 new years resolution. That resolution was to lose weight. Though I have had a few little sticking points where I've deviated from my plan, food benders if you will, I have always managed to get back on track. Sometimes not as quickly as I would have liked. But ultimately I've gotten back on the wagon, and kept going, sometimes even picking up speed. I'm down almost 20lbs since the beginning of 2011, and life is easier. I get around better. I'm not as winded chasing after the baby. My knees don't hurt anymore. It's not as hard as it was for me to get up off the floor. At 25, it was sad, and catastrophic that these things plagued me. But now I'm free. AND I've got my eyes on the prize, 135 pounds. I've still got to lose about 35 lbs to get there, but I fully intend on being there by next  Christmas, and my biggest achievement for 2012 will be that I met my goal weight!

I’m writing this to be entered into a giveaway sponsored by YumYucky, Eco-Foil, andMamavation and hosted by Mamavation – a community dedicated to obesity prevention & weight loss for women”

Mamavation Tuesday -- 1 Week Into the #2WeekChallenge

Life is super crazy right now, So here's just a little update. #2weekchallenge is going well. I've been doing the trying my best to stay within the nutritional parameters (I've tweeted most of my food), and I've been getting my workouts in. So I'm happy to report that this week I'm 169.4 lbs that's a loss of 1.6 lbs! From last week to this week! Yahoo!

Mamavation Monday--Let's Get This Challenge Started!

So the damage from Thanksgiving wasn't nearly as bad as I thought. I gained less than a pound, 0.8. I'm TOTALLY counting this as a victory after my
F-O-U-R desserts, multiple bread rolls, and multiple helpings.

This past week I've been on  oral steroids, so I'm really expecting a gain come Thursday (official weigh in day), but I've been extremely dilligent about what I've been eating, and I've been working out, even though I'm not really supposed to because of my ear. Oops. I've been careful though!

The next step of "Ear Drama 2011" is a trip to the ENT, to see about gettting my tonsils out. Joy! So that will be interesting.

As for today, I'm starting the #Mamavation #2WeekChallenge! Woot, Woot!

My starting weight is: 171.2
My waist measures: 37in
My hips measure: 42 in
My thighs measure: 24.5 in each

But now it's time for The Mamavation Question of the Week, Sponsored by Reflect It Apparel!

When it comes to holiday shopping, how do you make sure you stick to your budget ?

When it comes to sticking to my holiday budget, the first thing I do is have a list of who to buy for and what I intend on getting them, or what they want, and how much the items total. My goal is to complete my list while spending AT LEAST a $100 dollars LESS than what my original total was. My gifts never total more than $500, I REFUSE to spend more than that on gifts.

Then I start shopping early, pricing the items, and using the internet to find coupons and the best deals. I also haunt black friday ads online for weeks beforehand to make sure I'm getting the best deal. I also sign up for e-mails from the companies, and get notices in my inbox when the items I'm looking for go on sale, or a new coupon code is released. Typically, if it's not at least 50% off, or I don't have a coupon or coupon code, I won't buy it. I'll wait, go somewhere else, or if all else fails opt for a similar product, at a lower price.

That's my secret! What's yours?

This post is sponsored by Reflect It Apparel and I’m writing this to be entered into a giveaway hosted by Mamavation – a community dedicated to obesity prevention & weight loss for women

Mamavation Mon, oh Tuesday.

Last week I lost 1.6. At least I WAS down 1.6 the day before Thanksgiving. And on Thanksgiving I had a plan. A plan that worked until just about the time that the yummy deliciousness hit my mouth. And then I ate. The potatoes and bread that I was going to skip made their way in, followed by 4. Yes, FOUR. F-O-U-R, desserts. 

Thankfully, I managed to avoid eating a crap ton of leftovers, but the carb overload on Thanksgiving triggered a vicious monster inside of me. One that caused a deluge of horrific eating, up until today. Today, I am back counting calories and points, and eating better. So now that I'm back on the wagon, that's where I'm staying. Patiently waiting to find out just how many pounds I potentially gained from my eating bender. God do I hate having an eating disorder.

In the meantime, I'm joining the #2WeekChallenge!

Mamavation Monday-Being a Thanksgiving Loser

Well, this week went by quickly! But I've got somewhat good news. I lost 1.4 lbs this past week, not the whole 2.2lbs that I was hoping for. But I guess that's still a loss, it makes my total 23 lbs down since I joined Mamavation. And 8.2 since the beginging of October. This week, I've been training hard core for my 5k Turkey Trot on Thanksgiving Day.  However, last night, I found out that I might be over-training. Oops.

Example: Saturday, I went from basically no running to a 45 minute run. Just got in my head and pushed it out. I ACHED the next day--still am actually. Then, I did TurboFire last night. And since I'm no longer living in an apartment worried about the people underneath me, I went BALLS OUT. For real. I jumped. I ski-three-kneed. I Air-Jacked. I Jack-Tucked. (I've never done these "intenser" moves, I always followed the modifier) Afterward, I coughed up a lung, and then wheezed for the rest of the night. Today, I'm raspy, but I'm going out running after work.

I think we need an episode of MamavationTV that talks about over training, it might be the kick in the pants I need to not torture myself. :) I just don't want to disappoint my brother--have him sign up to do it with me, and then run a half mile and walk the rest. Not cool.

The Mamavation Question of the Week, Sponsored by Eco-Foil.

What is your plan to avoid overindulging during holiday feasts?

This year, I actually have a plan, a two phase plan actually, which is better than I can say about years previous.

This year, my plan starts with the prep. I'm not going to be making the standard high sugar, high fat fare that I normally do. I've found new recipes that focus on healthy whole foods that I'm going to use instead. For Thanksgiving in particular, instead of canned cranberry sauce, I'm making orange cranberry relish, instead of green bean cassarole, we'll be serving steamed green beans, instead of sweet potato cassarole with marshmellows and butter, I'm making roasted sweet potatoes with cumin.


But just because I'm making healthier alternatives, I know that there's still not room to eat 10,000 lbs worth of roasted sweet potatoes! So I'm dividing my plate into sections. Half my plate is going to be devoted to non-starchy veggies, a quater of my plate to protien, and a quarter of my plate to a starch. Since, I'm not skipping the roasted sweet potatoes, I'm giving up my dinner roll. I'm also allowing myself a small dessert. I think I deserve it after running a 5k that morning. :)

I think the biggest part of my plan, I guess that truthfully means there's three parts, is that Thanksgiving Day, Is a DAY. It's not a week or a month. Same with Chirstimas, and New Year's. They are just one day, one day, to have food that you might not normally have, not an excuse to eat your way through the entire holiday season. I'm sending my leftovers home with others, and/or taking them to work the next day, and being mindful of the other things I will be consuming on the "regular" days of the year.

This post is sponsored by Eco-foil and I’m writing this to be entered into a giveaway hosted by Mamavation – a community dedicated to obesity prevention & weight loss for women“

Mamavation Monday--I was right.

Well. I was right. I did gain this past week. 2.2lbs to be exact. And I wanted to kick myself. So instead of kicking myself, I got right back on track. I've been really good this week, tracking what I'm eating to a Tee. I even got Chicken and Broccoli from the chinese place last night, instead of my usual Almond Chicken (Miracle in and of itself), and suprisingly I didn't miss the crispy greasiness of the latter. So hopefully, I'll be able to take those 2.2lbs off, just as quickly as I put them on. Only the scale will tell.

If you've been following my posts, you know that I haven't exactly been working out like I should. Between the baby and I passing illness back and forth, I've been hard pressed to get in a run, let alone anything else. And now I have a problem--kind of a big one.

I have my first 5k race, The Turkey Trot, on the 24th. I whole week and 2 days away. I'm running it with my brother-in-law while he's home from the Navy on leave. So god knows that he's not going to have trouble banging out 3.2 miles. But I, on the other hand, am lucky to make it through a mile without dying or throwing up. So here's hoping that I can pull this one out of my ass, because I'm not quite sure how I'm going to go from 0-3.2 in 9 days flat. Any suggestions?

Now it's time for...

The Mamavation Question of the Week, Sponsored by Omron.

What kind of activities have you done with a pedometer on?

Well, normally, I walk. Though, I'm not sure exactly how accurate my pedometer is; I have to clue how to measure my stride length. However, I have used my pedometer just for fun, to see how many steps I can rack up doing other fitness activities, but once again I worry how accurate it is, because aren't you just supposed to use it for walking? Won't you get residual bounce? Anyhoo...

Crazy things I have done with a pedometer on....

TurboJam and TurboFire, just to compare the difference :)

Run on the treadmill

Ride rollercosters all day at Cedar Point

Hula Hoop, it's kinda hard because the hoop hits the pedometer

Rollerblade/Rollerskate

Go Sledding

SkyDive (Okay, I haven't done that. But it sure would be fun!)

Can't wait to see all of the pedometer craziness from everyone else! Wishing you all a fabulous week!

This post is sponsored by Omron and I’m writing this to be entered into a giveaway hosted by Mamavation – a community dedicated to obesity prevention & weight loss for women

It's the most wonderful time of the year!

Image courtesy of freechristmaswallpapers.net

Ready or not, Christmas is coming! And FAST! And one of the most cherished traditions in our family is sending Christmas cards. If you send out cards as one of your time-honored traditions as well, it's time to think about getting them together so they get out in time, after all, there's only 41 days until Christmas! No, I don't know where the time has gone either. Last year, we bought our Christmas cards from TinyPrints, and they were a HUGE hit with our family. So this year, as a returning customer, I thought I'd share with you some of my favorite designs, and I want you to help me choose! Leave a comment with your favorite, and help me choose our Christmas card design.

Favorite Design #1

Favorite Design #2

Favorite Design #3

Are you thinking about your 2011 holiday cards yet? Aren't these ones cute? Have fun choosing your own cards at Tiny Prints!


Tiny Prints provides simple, modern, and unique stationery from Christmas cards, New Years cards, party invitations, and address labels to thank you cards. Once the holidays have come and gone, Tiny Prints will still be here to fill your stationary needs with their exclusive designs from the nation’s top designers.  All year round, you’ll fine business cards,birth announcements and even custom wedding invitations. Come try the easy card personalization, a powerful preview engine and top-notch customer service and paper quality for yourself. With Tiny Prints by your side commemorating every holiday and momentous occasion is a cinch!


**This post is sponsored by Tiny Prints, though I am being compensated for this post, all opinions are my own**

Are You Fit 2 Fight?

The month of November is Diabetes Awareness Month, and throughout the month Better'n Eggs is raising awareness about Type 2 Diabetes and ways to counter act it.

I myself was diagnosed with Type 2 Diabetes after I gave birth to my son. I had developed gestational diabetes while I was pregnant with him, but had gained such a significant amount of weight that my body developed type 2 diabetes post-partum.

Since my diagnosis, I have lost weight and now am "diabetes free". One of the things that helps me to lose weight is increasing the amount of protein I eat, so I'm less hungry for carbs. An excellent way to do this is by adding Better'n Eggs or AllWhites to your diet.

But eggs, particularly egg substitutes, are boring right?!?! WRONG! There are so many excellent, tasty, and healthy recipes that incorporate Better'n Eggs. Some of my favorites are (click the link below for recipes):

Bacon Cheddar Mini Egg Cups

Mini Turkey Meatloves

And if you're looking for something sweet...

Blueberry Oat Muffins

Don't those recipes look delicious? And you can make them all with Better'n Eggs! AMAZING!

For more recipes and tips on fighting type 2 diabetes with Better'n Eggs don't miss the #betterneggs Twitter party with Bob Greene on 11/16 from 8-10pm EST. Visit http://bit.ly/sa9wmC for more information!

**This post was sponsored by Better'n Eggs as part of the the Fit2Fight Type 2 Campaign. Though I am compensated for this post, all opinions are my own**

Mamavation Tuesday--Preparing for failure.

This week I'm preparing for failure. I'm already late with my post because I was on vacation all weekend.

Last week I lost 1.2lbs (as of last Thurs--I weigh Thurs because that's when my WW meeting is and I want to be consistant), and the week before 2.8 or something like that--it was almost three. That's all I remember but this week I'm preparing to have gained back all that and then some. Not that I want to or anything.

Let me start by saying that my friend from Austrailia was in all last week--I haven't seen her in 9 years, since high school. I was good all week until her trip's conclusion when we had a girl's weekend out in the form of a trip to Chicago. My friend is skinny, gorgeous, and fabulous. She doesn't have to worry about a thing she sticks in her mouth. I do.

That said, here are the reasons I expect to gain this week.

Friday night
4:00pm Peanut Butter Pretzels and Grapes
7:00pm McDonald's Chicken Nuggets and Fries
11:30pm A glass of Chianti and what I thought would be a slice of pumpkin cheesecake at a resturant, turned out to be a six inch cake. I shared with my travelmates, yet still ended up eating 3/4 of it.

Saturday
9:00am HUGE Starbucks berries and yogurt and a tall pumpkin spice latte.
2:00pm Half panini and just a few chips with a red velet whoopie pie.
7:00pm Chicago style deep dish pizza (1 slice. I ended up eating the other 3 once I got home)

The only redeeming part about the trip is that I walked over 10 miles on Saturday, and have no idea about friday evening--my guess is 2 miles. Since I've mentally chalked this week up as a loss, I'm having MAJOR difficulty getting back on the wagon. I've made a promise to go out running tomorrow. And I'm hoping that that gets my ass back on the wagon. I've got my first 5k on the 24th and I have no idea how I'm going to do it, when I haven't ran for the past 3 weeks since I've either been sick, or the baby has.

I'm kind a little FML right now. How is everyone else doing? I need some inspiration!

Mamavation Monday--Still losing and loving it!

This past week I was a little disappointed. Since I started C25K the week before, and was super dilligent, I thought I'd be in for an enormous loss. I didn't have quite the loss I expected, but I still managed to lose 1.6 lbs. I was really hoping for 2lbs, but I'm happy with what I achived.

This coming week I'm really hoping for at least 1.2 lbs. I really want to have a loss of 5 lbs since I started "really trying" again. :) It might be hard, because I've been a little lazy with the C25K plan this week (week 2). In fact I haven't really worked out at all. It's been really rainy and dreery here in The Mitten and I just couldn't bring myself to get off the couch--though I have been REALLY GOOD about my eating habits.

But enough about me. It's time for.....

The Mamavation Question Of The Week, Sponsored by New Balance!

How would you brand your health and wellness lifestyle? How do you want others to know you in this area?

I would brand my health and wellness lifestyle as "Workin' It With Baby". My son goes EVERYWHERE with me, we have extenuating "work life" circumstances that rarely ever let me get a break, and at 18 months, he can sometimes be a hindrence to getting a work out in. Particularly, when he doesn't take a nap. So rather than waiting for an opportune window, I've decided that he is just part of my workout.

If I go running, I burn some extra calories by pushing him in the jogging stroller. If I'm doing yoga, he climbs all over me, after awhile it improves your balence. If I'm strength training, he's my 25 lb weight, and the best part is that he thinks it's a game and laughs the entire time. It brightens my day.


Overall, I want others to know me as a mom, who manages to do it all, including getting fit; And that it is possible to be fit and healthy after baby, you just have to make it work for you.

Best wishes for a wonderful week to all!

This post is sponsored by New Balance and I’m writing this to be entered into a giveaway hosted by Mamavation – a community dedicated to obesity prevention & weight loss for women

Mamavation Monday--Down Another Pound(ish)

I'm not usually one to brag about myself, or even speak highly about myself, but this week I'm really proud of myself.

I've lost another 1.2 lbs this past week.

I can't believe it!

I started working out again this past weekend, but after our move, our basement is still not quite in order. Oh, let's face it, it's still kind of a hell-hole. So my once avid Turboing has taken a backseat this round of weight-loss. That's why I decided to take my workout outside, and started running. Granted, it's starting to get a little chilly, but I'm going to adjust. I hope. Otherwise, I'll be driving across town to my dad's and hopping on the treadmill.

Either way, I downloaded this super cool app, the C25K app, or Couch to 5K. I love it! The first time out, I felt like I was going to die. But I finished and feel stronger every session I do. I put my phone in the cupholder of the jogging stroller (because being a mom means taking your child every where in my instance), and it you start walking for your warm up, and then the phone "dings" and then you run until it "dings" again. It really makes working on intervals easy. I always dreaded having to time myself following the couch to 5k plans in various fitness magazines, but this totally takes the dread out.

Image courtesy of buycheapshoesale.com



I also went and invested in some super new kicks to help my over-pronation. So I'm not dying of achy ankles everyday. Thanks to Running Fit, for fitting me, and showing me what shoes I needed--the FABULOUS Brooks Adrenaline. Aren't those shoes sexy? And they feel wonderful. It's such a change going from a being runner with the wrong shoes, to a runner with the right shoes. I love it.

Anyhoo, I think my goal is going to be to run the 5k in the Detroit Turkey Trot this Thanksgiving. That gives me a little over a month to train. I think that's do-able. Any tips?

Aright, enough jibber jabber about my elation over my new running regime...it's time for...

THE MAMAVATION QUESTION OF THE WEEK!

What parts of your body are you especially proud of right now? What makes you love them?

The parts of my body that I'm expecially proud of right now are my legs and my lungs. My legs always carry me around, and I've thought nothing of them, up until I started running this past week. They are the biggest muscle group in my body, incinerating the most calories during my run, and they are strong enough to carry my big, yet shrinking, behind around. I'm sorry that I've taken them for granted until now.

I'm also proud of my lungs. I smoked from age 13 to 22. I quit when I found out I was pregnant with my little man 28 months ago. I love that my lungs are resilliant. They have forgiven me for the damage that I did to them and they help me to catch my breath to power through the next mile.


"This post is sponsored by Grunt Style and I’m writing this to be entered into a giveaway hosted by Mamavation – a community dedicated to obesity prevention & weight loss for women. All of my praise for the C25K app, and Brooks Adrenaline GTS 11 is my own, and not associated with Gruntstyle."

Mamavation Monday-How to (or how not) eat out on a diet.

Well, at my WW meeting last week (Thursday) I was told that I lost 1 lb. This week, I maintained though. And I know exactly why.

A smorgesboard of fried food from Max and Ermas.

Let me start by saying that I can count on one hand, hell, half a hand, how many times my husband and I have been out to eat since we had our son almost 19 months ago. Once to Max and Erma's when our son was still small enough that he slept through most of the day (he was asleep in his carrier when we went), and once last thursday night. Yes, we do like our Max and Erma's.

Since we were out to eat, I knew I was going to have a "cheat day" (and what better day to do it--after weigh in), because I refuse to eat salad at a retaurant. I eat "rabbit food" all the time at home, I sure as hell am not going to go out and pay top dollar for it. So I eyeballed the Tomato Mozzarella Chicken Sandwhich

Image courtesy of Max & Ermas

Because it looked like it was just about the healthiest thing on the menu. (There aren't any "healthy cheat symbols" on the menu as far as I could tell. And then I ordered. And this is what came out of my mouth:

Cheese Skewers- Deep Fried Mozzarella cheese cubes with Dijon mustard mayo sauce & marinara.

Tortilla Soup-Our secret recipe chicken cheese soup with a spicy kick, topped with cheddar, Monterey Jack & freshly made tortilla strips.

Crispy Chicken Tender Dinner-With seasoned fries and cole slaw. Served with BBQ sauce. (I got ranch.)

And I ate it. All. Well, 2 of 4 of the cheese skewers, and a cup of soup, not a bowl. But still. I used up all of my Points+ weekly points in one sitting, and about half my day! And then I got sick. REALLY sick. I started having gallbladder pain, and almost an instant bout of IBS. Yowza.

So it's no shock to me why I'm maintaining this week. BUT, the most important thing is that I got right back on track--which I'm pretty sure I've never, ever done. I'm just hoping that I'm back on track enough to at least put a microscopic dent in the scale come Thursday's weigh in. Wish me luck! And I apologize if I made you want to eat crappy food by posting those pics.

Good luck to all in this new campaign!

Mamavation Monday- I got my butt in gear. FINALLY!

Not only am I on time with my post this week, but I'm back on the weight loss wagon.

I dug out my Weight Watchers stuff, and started going to meetings again. And it's really helping. As of Wednesday, I'll be on plan for a week straight with no cheating! I've got my mojo back. So far, I've lost 1lb. But I'm focusing on the small victories. After eating crap for what seems like months on end, one week on plan is a big deal for me. And after weeks of gaining and gaining. 1 lb down is a big deal for me as well. I've just got to keep up the work. So, I'm going to be ever present in my goals, and start thinking about consequences before I put something in my mouth.

Looking forward to a good week, and wishing you all a good week too!

Mamavation Tuesday. AGAIN.

Well. I unpacked the scale this morning. Eeep. Moving and eating like I've been starving for the past 25 years of my life has apparently made me gain a CRAP TON of weight. Ugh. About 9lbs to be specific.

I'm praying that most of the weight is water weight. I'm coming off my monthly visitor, and am praying to God that the weight miraculously melts off this week. I'm in need of a miracle hardcore on this one.

The next step after unpacking the scale, will be to unpack my weight watchers materials. I need my points calculator, pedometer, and tracker really bad right now. I have to get back on track. And I have to do it now. Wish me luck--both on the weight loss, and on finding my weight loss materials burried in boxes.

Quicky Mamavation Monday--On a Tuesday.

Well, it's Tuesday. And I'm writing this post at work on my break. Why? Because I have no Internet. Or computer at the moment. Ugh.

This past weekend was The Big Move. Ya know, the one where DH, Lil Man, and I moved in with my mother in law. We're living out of boxes, and have yet to set up our computers.

Anyhoo, this week I didn't weigh. Why, because my scale is in a box that my husband packed somewhere. Hopefully, I'll be able to weigh next week and assess my progress.

In the mean time, I'm trying desperately to eat healthy--when most of my good eats are packed away. And I've started walking with the Lil Man in the stroller, since all of my workout gear is inevitably stuck in a box as well.

Can you tell I hate moving? Here's hoping were settled by next week. Wishing you a wonderful week of losses and without chaos!

Mamavation Monday--What's going on

It's just going to be a quick post this week. For starters, I maintained. No loss, No gain. So I guess that's good. However, what I thought was a painful IBS attack, turned into a doctor's appointment this morning and a potential diagnosis of gall stones. I had to go to the hospital for an "emergent" ultrasound of my abdomen, and now I'm waiting on results.

In the mean time, I'm waiting out the pain, and hanging on the couch.

Mamavation Monday- I'm BAAAAAAAAck!

Hey all. Sorry to have disappeared on yall like that. But my life fell apart. Really. From my last post with my aunt passing away, until now, a lot has changed.

For starters. My husband and I started Dave Ramsey's financial freedom. And upon learning to make a household budget, learned that the reason we have no money is because our out go is higher than our income. As you can imagine, this is a BIG problem.

So we are currently in the process of moving in with my mother-in-law. I'm not sad yet, I'm sure the sadness is forthcoming, but I'm trying to keep my eyes on the prize. Saving money, paying off debt, and creating a better life for our family. I've had many sleepless nights, and many an eating bender over this. But I'm putting on my big girl britches and moving on.

I'm also looking for a new job. Desperately, at this point. I have over 68 applications in at one place alone. 60 jobs of which I am more than qualified for. So I'm constantly praying that the phone rings and I get an interview. Because that would make the money problems less of a problem too.

As for the weight loss front. This week, I lost 3.4 lbs. I really had my head in the game until last night. I ate an entire sleeve of Oreos while packing boxes. An awful whoops. But today, I'm back at it. I've regrouped, and refriended Fiber One 80 calorie cereal, and salad. And I hope to duplicate my results next week. I'm determined to get out of the 170s. And come hell or high water, I'm going to.

And now for.....THE MAMAVATION MONDAY QUESTION OF THE WEEK!

Why do you think exploring intimacy is an important part of a healthy lifestyle?

My answer is simple. It torches calories! And typically the hotter and wilder, the more calories are burned. And I'm down for any and all of that! :)

Mamavation Monday--Finally, Success!

Whew! It's Monday, and I almost missed it! I'm determined to be on-time with my post this week. Score!

Anywhoo, this past week I lost 2 lbs! I'm pretty excited! Now, I just have to keep going.

I've been eating less, and eating more fruits and veggies when I do eat. That's about it. I worked out once last week, less than I planned--but at least it was something. I'm determined to get more in this week. I think I'll hula hoop through the Bachelorette tonight. And then I'm going to hop back in to TurboFire.

I only have one issue, I've recently started knitting and crocheting--well learning, and screwing up quite frequently. While I started dabbling in "the fiber arts" as I found out that knit and crochet are called by the fancy pantsers to keep my hands busy at night so I wouldn't eat, I've found that I'm sitting on my ass more--and in turn my ass is growing bigger. Does anyone else have this problem? How are you solving it?

Wishing you all a fab week!

Mamavation Tuesday? I'm late again. At a loss for words.

This post will be super short. I'm back on plan. We'll see how this week goes. I weigh on Thurs morning. I don't really have a lot to write. One of my aunts is currently passing away from terminal cancer. It's really stressful, but I'm still not binge eating. In fact, for once, I'm not hungry.

It's Monday, Monday, Monday!

Another week has passed. And now I'm another 2 lbs lighter. Apparently, I dropped most of what I gained back last week. THANK GOD.

But, things are starting to get weird. I've been getting better at tracking my food, though I will admit that I'm not being quite perfect. I just can't keep my darn mouth shut when it comes to eating sweets at night. 

This phenomenon is not weird unto itself. Particularly, for me. It's the main reason I got fat in the first place. What's weird, is that I started getting headaches after I ate some snack size Oreos, or a spoonful of frosting. Turns out, the headaches were from my bloodsugar being high. Ugh. So now I'm going to have to start eating for diabetes again. And lose enough weight and be active enough until blood sugar is no longer a problem. I was never diabetic, except when I had gestational diabetes.

Which leads me to my next conundrum. The case of the missing period. I'm a little too young for menopause, so this is particularly disturbing. But every pregnancy test I've taken is negative, so I might be in for something particularly crazy. I think it might be time for a trip to the doctor...

Mamavation Monday--On Tuesday--With An Air of Defeat

Just a short lil check in. I'm losing my mind this week, since summer reading registration started at work. This past week I really watched what I was eating. REALLY. I watched my portions, made only good food decisions, but I didn't track my calories, or points+. BIG MISTAKE. I gained back another 3 lbs! AND I worked out 5 out of 7 days. I was really defeated after my weigh in.

BUT I'm writing down everything I put in my mouth this week. AND I'm working out. So there's got to be a light at the end of this weight gain tunnel. At least I hope there is.

Mamavation Monday --Try, try, again.

Well...this week, I did a much better job watching the food I was putting in my mouth. And lo-and-behold. I didn't gain weight.
A miracle if you ask me!
I'm keeping my head in the game. I've figured out that constantly reviewing my weight loss materials--i.e. reading about fitness, healthy eating, and learning new techniques keeps my head fresh and focused.

Lately my biggest challenge lately has been tracking my food. I can't make up my mind about whether I want to track on myfitnesspal.com or track with Weight Watchers points plus. I suppose deciding one way of the other would be greatly beneficial at this point.

I am also getting better at making sure I work out. Even if it means that I didn't get a "regular" workout in during that day, I'm hula hooping in front of the TV at night. Tonight, I'll be hoopin in front of the Bachelorette as I watch the guys make fools of themselves for Ashley's affections. My pick to win is J.P. btw! :)

And now for the Mamavation Monday Question of the Week brought to you by Together Counts!

How often do you and your family eat meals together and get active together?

As of right now, I have to admit. The answer to this question isn't a very good one. But, I'll be honest. Sure, we eat together about 4 out of 7 days a week, but it's not always healthy. And our family's numbers on getting active together are even worse. My husband and I put the baby in the stroller and go for a walk, hum let me think, ummmmm maybe once a month. These numbers make me uneasy, and are embarrasing!

So I took the Together Counts pledge. I've pledged 3 days of healthy family eating AND excercise per week. That's pretty do-able if you ask me! Cheers to a healthier, more active, AND more family oriented lifestyle!

This post is sponsored by Together Counts and I’m writing this to be entered into a Qlip Any-where Pedometer giveaway hosted by Mamavation

Mamavation Monday-What the hell is wrong with me?!

Happy Mamavation Monday All! I'm super excited this week because I lost 0.2 lbs! Which is a major feat for me since I've been gaining the last couple.

BUT I FINALLY have my head back in the game! And for me that's darn near the whole battle.

I'm at the point where I think I know everything about healthy eating, and exercise. Calories in vs. Calories out. Whole Grains. Lots of fiber. Even more water. Fruit and veggies. Lean protiens. Move your ass.

It's just that my biggest problem is actually doing it. I love the bad stuff, and I have to get back into the balance of "Yes, I love the things that are bad for me, but I love myself more than that". And I want my husband to want me more than I want that damn piece of cake. And I'm there. Again. The only problem is that this is a repetitive cycle that I need to break.

Prior to getting my head back in the weight loss game, I made a mental revelation this week. Every time, I reach a major weight loss milestone, usually every 5 to 10 lbs depending on my motivation, that I reward myself--WITH FOOD.

With every milestone, I get the "screw-it" mindset. I'll have Pizza, Chinese, Mexican, or (Insert other non-friendly food here) because I've earned it?!? And I justify that meal with "I'm not going to gain all that I've lost back with one meal".

But, that one meal, turns into many more. Which sends me back into a "bad food" addict spiral, and I eat and eat and eat until I've gained back at least half, sometimes more, of what I just lost! What the hell is wrong with me? And the sickest part of this cycle is that even though I feel like I know every thing there is to know about diet and exercise, I don't know how to fix this cyclic self-sabotage that I keep embarking on. (If you've won this battle yourself, please share your insights with me, I would greatly appreciate it!) When, I figure out how to fix this within myself, I will definitely let you all know my secret.

But now it's time for....

The Mamavation Monday Question of the Week by Omron Healthcare!

What gaps in your nutrition knowledge do you want to fill?

Hummm...let's see. This is a hard one! 

.......Thinking .....................

......................Thinking.......

My "staple" veggie

For me, the biggest gap in my nutrition knowledge is vegetables. I don't particularly like them, so I typically only eat green beans. Well, yeah, I guess in all seriousness I ONLY eat green beans, mostly out of a can, but sometimes frozen. I could eat potatoes and corn all day long, but I count those as starches-not as veggies. When I've tried to cook veggies in the past, well anything other than green beans, they usually turn out mushy, flavorless, and green. I can live with the green, but is there a "best" way to cook veggies so that they actually taste good and retain their nutrition? What are the best ways to season them, so that they don't taste nasty? And finally, is there a "best" veggie for you, I assume it isn't the green bean, particularly a canned green bean. :)

Wishing you all a wonderful week! Can't wait to look at every one's fitcation pics! I've already snuck a peek at a bunch on Facebook! If we aren't friends, we should be!
 

**This post is sponsored by Omron Healthcare and I’m writing this to be entered into a Omron Go Smart Pedometer giveaway hosted by Mamavation**

Let's take a short break for a PSA

Keeping our families safe on the road is a very important task that we undertake as parents. We drive carefully, keep our cars in tip-top shape, and make sure everyone is buckled in safely on each and every trip. Unfortunately, we can’t control what other drivers on the road are doing. We must rely on the police and essential safety equipment, such as red light safety cameras, to help keep us safe.

A recent study by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) found that 113,000 people were injured and 676 were killed in crashes that involved red-light running in 2009 – two-thirds of the victims were pedestrians, bicyclists and occupants of vehicles hit by the red-light runners.

The study also showed that red-light safety cameras helped save more than 150 lives in 14 of the biggest U.S. cities from 2004 to 2008. Had the cameras been operating in all 99 U.S. cities with populations more than 200,000, more than 800 lives could have been saved.

Each time we enter an intersection, our families are at risk of becoming the victim of an accident – whether on foot or in a vehicle. Red light safety cameras help to change driver behavior and reduce the risk to our loved ones, however many people are unaware just how valuable these cameras are to those on the road.

The National Coalition for Safer Roads has created a powerful video, showing just how tragic the consequences of running a red light can be.



You can find the National Coalition for Safer Roads on their website, Twitter and Facebook pages, for more information about this important initiative.

Join the Coalition in spreading this important message. You may save the life of a loved one or spare a family the heartbreak of losing a life to a tragic intersection accident.

Dear God, please bless me with some Motivation. Amen.-Mamavation Monday

I hope everyone is having a wonderful Memorial Day weekend, remembering those who have fought and served our country valiantly. BUT, for most, this weekend is all about the eating. And I'm not an exception. This week I gained a susbstantial amount of weight. BLAH.

This past week I've still been suffering from a horrific sinus infection, that left me on the couch, eating-not logging my calories, and getting fat. And I'm disheartened. Which has lead to yet more, (emotional) eating. I've also been on antibiotics, which as I've heard this week, are notorious for scrapping even the most valiant weight loss efforts. I was also on my period. If the deck wasn't stacked against me this week, I don't know what was. And I didn't win, at all. And now I feel like I'm stuck in a rut that I can't see my way out of.

I also had a blinding reminder of how overweight I still am yesterday. DH, lil P, and I were out for a walk, in an effort to get me off the couch, 2 miles out, the tornado sirens started going off. And it started getting dark really, really fast. The worst part is, I'm DEATHLY scared of storms.

The skies looked similar to this--in an instant

It became clear that we would have to run home. Cutting through fields with a stroller was hard work, but running 1.5 miles, without a sports bra, on the tail end of a sinus infection sucked worse. I was out of breath, bright red, and super sweaty. 1/4 mile from home the storm hit, we were trapped in torrential rain. We took cover under an awning in a neighboring apartment complex, and with the sirens blaring, my husband decided to run through the sheeting rain to grab my car.

I've never been so scared in my life. My eyes on the sky, I clung to lil' P for dear life in case I would have to make a beeline for the storm shelters underneath the stairwells of the apartment complex. About 4 minutes later, though it seemed like hours, my husband came barreling around the corner with my car. We loaded up as fast as we could and floored it home.

When I got home, I immediately turned on the TV to see what was going on, only to find out that there was a tornadic cell moving over the main road we live off of--while I was outside. Thankfully, it never touched down. Next time, we'll be checking the weather before we go out.

So running from the tornado was my workout for the past week. I hope your week is way less eventful than mine, and that your workouts aren't running from a natural disaster!

But now for the Mamavation Question of the Week, brought to you by Your Best Face!

What are your go-to tricks for when you need a confidence boost?

I'm not so sure I have some super special go-to trick when I need a confidence boost. Most days I don't really have that much confidence, but my confidence and self-esteem are going up exponentially as I'm dropping weight. 

The "New" Hair

The "Old" Hair

As of late though, my most recent confidence boost was from getting my hair cut. I donated almost 9 inches of my locks, to Pantene Beautiful Lengths and got a sassy new short cut in the process. I felt like my hair was so much cuter than it was a long limp thick heavy mop before. And it gave me a little pick me up, particularly knowing that I was doing something nice for someone else.




Wishing you all a wonderful week!

“This post is sponsored by Your Best Face and I’m writing this to be entered into a giveaway hosted by Mamavation and sponsored by Your Best Face.”

Mamavation Monday-Cough. Sneeze. Hack.

This week has been a little on the rough side.

Let's start with the good news. I lost 0.2 lbs this week. Whether it was from actual work or cutting my hair off, I'll never know.

BUT.

A serious victory occured yesterday. I FIT BACK INTO MY PANTS FROM HIGH SCHOOL! And I'm excited. Can you tell?

Despite my victory, I've been horrifically sick this weekend. I have a sinus infection from hell. Coughing, sneezing, sandpaper thoat, green goo, fever--I'm having my ass handed to me. Needless to say, I haven't been moving as much as I should, since I can barely breathe when I'm sitting still.

BUT- yesterday I walked 3.5 miles, in the hot sun, barely breathing, with a fever of 101.  I made a promise that I was going to do a 5k on May 22nd to complete the Walk-It Challenge for Weight Watchers. And though I didn't drive 45 minutes from my house to do an actual race, I still did my 5k--and then some. So take that sinus infection.

Anywhoo...

The Mamavation Monday Question (brought to you by GruntStyle) of the week is:

What keeps you from having healthy snacks on hand when you are out of the house?

I have a hard time keeping healthy snacks on hand while I'm out and about because most of my snacks are parishable. I favor string cheese and cut up fruit, which I prefer cold. But I don't feel like dragging around a humongo cooler just to keep some pineapple rings and a string cheese cold. Blah.

I know there are more portable snacks out there. Like nuts and granola, but they tend to have higher calorie counts so I tend to stay away from them. I like it when the scale goes down--so a calorie, is a calorie, is a big ol' fat creatin' flippin' calorie. :)

I'd love to know if you guys have any suggestions of portable snacks for me! I get bored easily and love to try new things to switch it up. So get at your girl! :)

Wishing you all a most wonderful week.

Also, if you could say a prayer, do a dance, send up good ju-ju, whatever you do, my husband got called back for a second interview for a job we desperately need. So here's hopin' and prayin'! Thanks!

Wordless Wednesday-In Honor Of My Aunt

Tackle It Tuesday

This weeks Tackle it Tuesday is kind of simple. Pack up this darn box, and get it to the post office so QVC can give me my money back. It's been sitting in the trunk of my car for almost a month-which is kind of problematic when it comes to a 30 day return policy, so I needed to get off my lazy butt and get this thing packed and shipped.

For those of you who are wondering what exactly I bought from the Q-and needed to return, here ya go.

All Packed Up And Ready To Go!

Philosophy Summer Grace-you should never buy perfume off TV because they will always tell you it smells wonderful, and yet you can't smell it for yourself. I personally didn't like it because it had a heavy top note of coconut, but I did get compliments on it on my trial run, even though I thought I smelled like a walking container of sunscreen. And Bare Escentuals Faux Tan. I got stripes. 'Nuff said.

The box with the enclosed items are now on their way back to Pennsylvania or wherever the heck they came from ( I can't read pre-paid postage labels). And I have a new found sense of accomplishment and satisfaction, knowing that my credit card balance will be a little less this month! :)

Mamavation Monday: Confessions

Confessions

Well, somehow Monday didn't exsist on planet Lisa last week, so let me catch you up on the last two weeks of my journey.

Last week, I hit a milestone the day before Mother's Day. 15 lbs down. And that put me just over 2 lbs away from losing 10% of myself.

Then, Mother's Day I rewarded myself, with food; chicken, potato salad, cake, rolls, cheese and crackers. I made dinner for my family and In-Laws and seemed to eat the majority of it myself. Big mistake. That one little slip, led to a deluge for the rest of the week. This week's weigh in said that I GAINED 3.2 lbs! I nearly had a heart attack. I'm blaming it on the fact that I was wearing jeans when I weighed, and not just my usual yoga pants and t-shirt. But I know that I can't blame all of that weight on my wardrobe, some of it has to be attached to my ass, and thighs, and bat wings.

So I had a final hurrah yesterday. Mexican. Somehow, despite all that I've learned about portion control, when I get take out-I eat the whole damn thing. Thats why I typically refrain from take-out. And will once again be refraining until I learn to control myself. If anyone has any suggestions on this, PLEASE! Leave me a comment! I'm like a bottomless pit when it comes to Chinese, Mexican, and any form of cake. A taste, just makes me want more and more and more!

Myself, Lil P, and DH in front to THE Detroit Zoo Fountain

But here's the deal. I'm back on track starting today. I'm going to meet and exceed the 15 lb mark. I want that 10% so bad I can taste it. And let me just say, it tastes sweeter than cake. I'm back to logging what passes my lips, and working out. This past week I walked for the Arthritis Foundation @ The Detroit Zoo (it was lil P's first trip to the zoo). A 5k. The only problem- I couldn't resist the damn bagels that they were passing out, though I did skip the brownies. Thank god.



Lil P with "Auntie" Andrea, she suffers from R.A.



And this coming weekend I'll be a Christian supporting The Walk for Isreal on Saturday and doing a Weight Watchers 5k on Sunday. And since the Walk for Isreal isn't until 1pm, I'm thinking about doing The Race for The Cure on Saturday morning. Is this too ambitious? The following weekend I'm thinking about doing The Support Our Troops Walk.

Overall, I'm hoping that all of this walking on top of working out will create a maxium shrinkage in ass size this week. I'll keep you posted.

And now for the MAMAVATION QUESTION OF THE WEEK!

In your wellness efforts what is the simplest healthy habit that makes you feel most centered after doing it?

I really had to think about my answer for this one. But after great pondering, I really think the simplest healthy habit that I've developed that I feel most centered after is drinking tea.

I'm not much of a yogi, I'm too competative. And apparently, that's not what yoga is about?!?! Hehe. So I chillax with a cup of tea. I don't sweeten it with anything, it's just hot water and a tea ball full of herbs. So it's just me, mellowing out, with a tummy full of antioxidants! Pretty darn simple and healthy, to feel so centered afterwards.

**I wrote this blog post while participating in the Mamavation Blogging Carnival for a chance to win a pair of Earth Footwear sandals.**

"To Every Thing There is a Season...

And a time to every purpose, under heaven". Whether you know this lyric as a Byrds song, or as Ecclesiastes 3:1, we are entering into Graduation season. No sooner do college grads walk across the stage, the high school grads follow, and then the kindergarten graduates as well. As Americans, we love to celebrate these "next steps" in life. The end of one season, and the transition to a new season--with new purpose. That is why every graduation I have ever been a part of  has been a momentous one.

Me, Age 6 Kindergarten Graduation

My first graduation, Kindergarten graduation, was a momentous one. In the middle of the ceremony, when my class was singing "The Months Of The Year" song, I started bawling. My mother chalked it up as stage fright, but at the reception afterward, when I pulled up my shirt to reveal a pock mark next to my belly button--she quickly realized that my tears where a symptom of Chicken Pox (this was prior to the vaccination). That pock mark lead to a neighborhood epidemic, including my mom. This day, also marked my transition into public elementary school (I went to private Lutheran preschool and kindergarten), when I finally had the chance of being in class with my best friend--a big deal to any little kid. It is also marks one of the final memories I have of my mom before she passed when I was in 2nd grade.

Me, Age 18 High School Graduation

High school graduation was just as momentous. It marked my transition into adult-hood. Though my mother witnessed my graduation from heaven, my dad could not have been more proud. I graduated 33rd in my class, with honors. And with 3 different scholarships to the college of my choice. Oakland University. It marked me setting out on my own, moving 50 minutes away from home, and living on my own. All while pursuing my Nursing degree, as a direct admit to the Nursing school, due to my high achievement in high school.

Me, Age 23 College Graduation

The most momentous of my graduations was my college graduation. I was the first person in my family, nuclear, extended, EVER, to graduate from college, let alone a 4 year university. This was the first time that I saw my dad prouder than my high school graduation. I graduated with a B.A. in English. A far cry from my intended B.S. in Nursing, I found that I preferred reading and writing, and that there was just too much pressure having someone's life resting in my hands. I graduated with departmental honors, and as a member of Sigma Tau Delta- English Honor Society, during the height of the Swine Flu. Shaking hands with the President and Dean was forbidden and close contact with friends was "at your own risk". But I was more worried about contracting the Bird Flu. A bird pooped on me right before the processional! Apparently, that means good luck, but I felt far from lucky at the time.

Despite all of the debacles of my various graduations, one thing rings true. How proud my dad, and I'm sure my mom were of me. So when it's time to spread the word about how proud you are of your graduate, you should check out Tiny Prints.