Accountability Counts

First of all I wanted to let ya'll know that yesterday I did my first "guest" post over here. It was fun and challenging! It was also a novel so if you are limited on time wait for a while and then go back and read it! lol Basically, the whole post talks about the great game of Wii EA Sports More Active and the challenges and successes I have had over the past few weeks amid abnormal challenges that I would normally just say forget it!! But I now have a new "normal" and I love it!

Secondly, I just want to let ya'll know that if you are trying to lose weight -- get in a group of people that you can be accountable with. Yesterday afternoon, we were only going to be home about an hour before we had to leave again, but I knew I needed to eat something. I'm still trying to eat every 3 hours according to the Game On Diet Plan....hey, it works so I'm sticking with it! I was about to grab some chips and queso...it just sounded good. Not good for me, but good tasting, ya know? Anywho, as I was getting into the fridge to get the queso out I checked emails on my phone (great modern convenience, btw that I am addicted to!) There were a couple of emails from my Game On friends so I read them. They were both talking about how well they were doing even though we are "officially" done with the game. They were still eating frequently and the right amounts of the right foods (for the most part) and here I was about to eat chips and queso...um, I don't think that fits in with healthy eating! So instead I ate a greek yogurt (you can get it at Walmart or any grocery store around here), with an apple and some almonds in it! Lean protein, good carb, and a healthy fat! There, I ate healthy snack instead of junk! Accountability counts!!

Then this morning I had to get up to take dh to work after only having about 4 hours of sleep. He decided he wanted to stop at the donut store and get some sausage rolls. I was tempted to have him pick me up some donuts too, but then I remembered one of my other Game On Diet friends who mentioned earlier in the week that if you spell donuts the way the English do and you think about it you probably won't eat those D-O-"U-G-H"-N-U-T-S because as you can see they will make you feel UGH!!

So as you can tell accountability has kept me from goofing up 2 times and none of my friends knew they were doing it, they were just talking about things going on in their life! Tonight we will be celebrating the end of the game at a great Mexican restuarant. I am looking forward to it. I haven't seen one of them in the 6 weeks since we started and I haven't seen the rest since the first week of the game. It will be nice to sit and enjoy a meal with some great women who have helped me on this journey to weightloss!

Bottom line -- accountability helps!!

Another Weigh-In - Shrink-a-versary Ending

Today is the final weigh-in over at the Sisterhood for the Shrink-a-versary. It has lasted 7 weeks, during Thanksgiving and the beginning of December. This one has been a mixed bag for me. I started and ended the Game On Diet with friends, got the flu, moved to another home and started preparing for Christmas! Wow!! Just typing that and knowing I accomplished it all in 7 weeks time makes me tired! but happily this time is over!

I have had a lot of success for the stresses that I endured during this time. In times past I would have left all caution go and just ate whatever, whenever and drank lots of COKE and NO WATER!! This time I did pretty well with eating, and I drank at least 3 liters of water MOST every day. I did have an occasional coke, but I did not go overboard!! I'm calling this challenge a success! I lost weight and that is what matters most, right?

Today's weigh-in: 188.4!!
That's 1 pound less than last Wednesday and about 1 and half pounds since Monday when I did the final weigh in for my Game On Diet!

When we started this challenge I weighed 197.9! I lost almost 10 pounds during this challenge -- and I hit my 30 pounds lost mark!! I've also by-passed that ugly 190 barrier!!

So I'm calling this challenge a success and I'm happy to report that I am still losing weight even though it's the one time of the year most people EXPECT you to gain weight!! Not me, this year!! I'm losing!! My goal is to weigh 185 by the end of 2009~~!!

How'd ya'll do??

Wow!!

I can't believe it has been 5 days since I have written anything here. Time is just slip, slipping away from me. Things have been busy and fun in preparation for Christmas and I guess I just let time get away from me. That Other Kid and I went to the mall on Thursday to see Santa. We don't really "do" Santa (I know I'm evil for spoiling all the fun of childhood), but we do allow him to have fun with the season. He told "Santa" what he wanted for Christmas and I took his picture. We also went and saw the Miniature display of trains (amazing!!)and a couple of puppet shows. It was a great way to get ME in the Christmas spirit. It seems like I am just too busy this year to give it a whole lot of thought...but that doesn't mean I'm not getting into Christmas this year. It's just taking me a little longer!

This weekend we also had a hockey game for That Other Kid and he got to play goalie! He was super excited about it, and played a great game.




I have been playing the Game On Diet with some friends. Friday night we will have our celebration dinner and I think we are all looking forward to it. Today we decided that since "the other team" won (meaning the team I wasn't on) we would not count points this week, so basically yesterday was the end of the game for us. We all had success and lost weight which was the whole point of it. I lost about 8 pounds during this 5 week period which included Thanksgiving, the flu, our move and all the stresses involved in these things. My exercise routine got completely disrupted during this time as well as my "normal" eating schedule. I feel like I could have done better had I done this at a different time, but was still successful at busting past some of my nasty habits and a plateau I had been stuck on for several months. I'm not pleased with my point count, but I am pleased with what I did accomplish. I'm also happy that my friends asked me to join in and participate with them in this. I really didn't want to (at first), but am glad I did! I don't really plan to change the way I am eating now, because I saw success, but I am glad I don't have to count my points anymore! I bumped my exercise up last night and today I am sore, which tells me I need to keep it up...

Oh and I won again over at the Sisterhood. This time I won one of the 12 Weight Watchers Chocolate Pecan Clusters that they were giving away yesterday! What a yummy treat I will receive in January!



If you want a chance to win some yummy Weight Watcher products check in over at the Sisterhood, because they are giving away product EVERY day till Christmas! Great presents for us from Weight Watchers and the Sisterhood of Shrinking Jeans!

Well I gotta go fold some laundry and clean a bathroom and finish loading the dishwasher then get That Other Kid to bed....ya know just normal mom stuff!

Sisterhood Weigh-In

It's Wednesday so that means it's weigh-in day over at the Sisterhood. On Monday I weighed in for the Game On Diet Plan with my friends and I was disappointed because I had gained from last Wednesday's weigh in so I didn't know what to expect from today. However, I have eaten well this week so I decided just to hop on and give it my best shot!

Last week my weigh-in: 189.6
This week my weigh-in: 189.4

So for the week my official loss is .2 and really I am ok with that because as Thea said today during her post a loss is a loss! I also know that I am down about 2 pounds since MONDAY! And I'm still UNDER 190!!

In other news it is STINKIN' COLD in Texas and we are not accustomed to such weather. How do you people in the northern climates deal with all this cold weather? I am not used to having to wearing a coat and gloves and multiple layers of clothing! In fact I believe that I gave away my gloves a few weeks ago because I never wore them. Today I need to run to the store and buy myself a pair of gloves because I have to go and organize the storage unit and get our Christmas decorations out. The new place is mostly organized and I am ready to start thinking about Christmas. I have to take a few things to the storage unit that we don't ABSOLUTELY need here, like the rocking chair and ottoman that I bought for nursing That Kid (about 19 1/2 years ago) that I can't bear to get rid of.

So after a cold day at the storage unit I will take That Other Kid to karate and watch him do his stuff then come home and decorate our tree. Hopefully, there will be some good Christmas shows on to watch as we are decorating!

Hope ya'll are having a wonderful Christmas season...with successful weight loss!

Tiny Talk Tuesday - Moving is Tough

Tiny Talk Tuesday celebrates our children and their view of the world. They continually make us laugh and by recording their Tiny Talk we can focus on one of the many JOYS of parenting! If your kiddos made you laugh this week (don't they always), then feel free to share the humor! Check out more Tiny Talks with Mary.


Over the past couple of weeks we have been in the midst of moving. We are finally moved in but over the past couple of weeks we have had some interesting conversations with That Other Kid! Here are just a few of them:

"Why do we have to move away from this house? Can't the "landlords" just let us live here forever?"
My response was, "No, they need to let someone else live in the house for a while. We have lived here for 6 years and it's someone else's turn."

"But can't I just take my room with us? It is my room!!"

"What about karate? Are they moving too? I don't want to miss out on karate!"
"No, karate isn't moving, but you still get to attend! We will just drive over there once a week and see all your other friends!"

Then I reminded him of all the benefits of living in the new place...being close to two of his friends, being close to the ice rink, being close to great parks and having his tv in his room....which he has never had. He still wasn't too sure about this move but he has adapted well this week. He is even spending time in his room!! This is a great thing to me, since he HATES to be alone!!

Moving is tough for all of us, but I love how kids are so resilient!

Trying To Establish New Routine

We are finally offically all moved in. I am down to unloading 5 boxes and getting the bookcases and cabinets organized. Those things will hopefully happen this week! Today is the first day I have been home since last Tuesday. It seems this time of year gets even busier than my normal! I am usually home on Mondays, Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Saturdays, but this week that schedule didn't happen. I'm hoping that I can be home a bit more for the rest of the month. I have to make sure we are completely organized and situated by the first of January when we need to hit the books again for school.

The first week of November I decided homeschooling and preparing for a move just were not a smart combination so I decided we would take some time off for the holidays and the move, but by the time January rolls around I think we will both be ready to establish a routine of doing school! Already he is starting to get a little bored, since it is sooooo stinkin' cold right now and we don't have a place for him to just run and play, but I think he's adapting pretty well. Moving for kids is really difficult and I think last week was his most challenging. He was moody, and angry about various things. Today he has seemed more "normal" playing hockey in the living room and playing with his toys in his room.

I need to establish some new routines for myself, too since I am having a hard time exercising at night now. Bedtime seems to be getting later and later for both dh and That Other Kid, so by the time the house is quiet and ready for me to exercise it is after 10:30 and I'm ready to go to sleep myself! So when do you exercise? How do you manage to do it with kiddos in the house? I can't even imagine doing it with more than 1 rugrat and I know there are many of you that have more, so tell me your secrets, k?

Well it's time for me to get off my duff and get some more boxes unpacked, laundry folded and the kitchen cleaned up! I have spent far too much time on the computer catching up with everyone today...now it's time to get busy! Hope ya'll are having a good Monday!!

Blowing Past the 190's!!!!

This morning was weigh in day over at the Sisterhood and I was actually excited to jump on those scales!! The past couple of weeks have been challenging with the "eating right" and "exercise" but as busy as I was with moving I knew that I had burned a bunch of calories. The eating too much wasn't really a problem....more than anything I had a hard time eating at all -- when I am really busy I just don't do much eating. This is especially true when I don't feel well and have to keep going like last week.

So, as I was saying, I was excited to see what would show up on the scale....and WOW!! I was a happy camper!

Last week's weigh in -- 191.8
This week's weigh in -- 189.6!!!!

I just blew past 190 and I cannot tell you how happy I am to be past that decade!! I am so done with those numbers!!

Officially I have lost a little more than 36 pounds since I started seriously losing weight on March 25. My original goal was to be at 150 by Christmas. I know that isn't going to happen but I do believe I can be at 180 by then -- maybe even less! So that is my new goal, at or below 180 by Christmas!!

I finally got unpacked enough yesterday to get the Wii connected (kind of) so I did my Wii Active - More Workout (Day #2) last night. I really just wanted to go to bed, but I wanted to exercise more!! Can you believe I just said that?? Yes, it's true I LOVE exercising and I really miss it now when it doesn't happen. Anyway, I did the easy setting and need to do the medium intensity at least, it just wasn't really enough for me, but I didn't want to bump it up last night because of how tired I was. Hopefully tonight I will be able to bump it up to medium and really start getting into it. These games are so much fun, it just doesn't seem like I am really exercising, although my heart and body can tell that I am!!

Hope ya'll are having a good day!