Starting Work....

Tonight I will begin working for the first time in almost 7 years. I will be working overnight from 10 p.m. to 7 a.m. so that I can be home during the day time with the car and to care for That Other Kid. During my awake times I will need to care for the house, the dh, homeschool That Other Kid and most of all take care of myself!! I am determined that "myself" will not come last!! I plan to find a way to continue exercising! It is important to me and my sanity!

I am probably going to be blogging and checking emails at night during my breaks, so don't think I have disappeared...I will just be sleeping when ya'll are awake and working when ya'll are sleeping! lol

I would appreciate prayers as this is going to be a huge transition for our family!

On the bright side....I will be moving all night long so I should be burning some major calories!! I'll let you know!!

Taking It To the Bank....

This weeks Monday Project for the Sisterhood was to look at the "deposits" we make each week in our progress. No matter what we accomplish (or don't accomplish) we get something out of every thing that we do. This was an interesting Project for me. This week my life changed dramatically...I got a FULL TIME JOB!! I have been a stay at home mom for nearly 20 years. I have worked occasionally during the past 20 years but NEVER full time! I will also be working 3rd shift (which I have never done!) so that my dh can have the car during the day for his continued search for work and I can still spend time with That Other Kid and continue to homeschool him. Not only will I be working 3rd shift but it will be physically demanding!! I'm both excited and scared, but because of what I have accomplished over the past 11 months I know that I can do it!!

What have I "taken to the bank" this week? Thanks for asking...over the next few weeks I'm sure I will be adding to this list, but for now here it is.

1) I learned that I can still get employment -- even in tough times!

2) I can adapt my very structured, routine life!

3) I can, at the drop of the hat (or ring of the phone in this case) change my "already scheduled" work schedule to adapt to the needs of my new employer. I was originally scheduled for orientation on Friday, but at 5 pm Wednesday they called and asked me to come in on Thursday morning instead. This means I actually get to start WORKING sooner and I get a paycheck next Thursday instead of waiting till the 18th of March!!
YAY!!

4) I learned that I NEED to exercise for my sanity! No matter how tired, busy, or mentally blah I feel, exercising makes me feel better!! This week has been kind of crazy with the busyness of getting a job and preparing our family for the changes of said job. But at the end of the day I have WANTED to exercise...it made me sleep better, relax and let the stresses of the day melt away! And with the Wii Fit Plus I could even do the "free step" and watch the Olympics at the same time!! I burned (according to the the Wii) 128 calories while watching tv!! YAY!!

5) This week I took to the bank that I don't NEED to drink soda just because others are!! Today in the break room every where I looked people were drinking soda!! I drank my big bottle of water that I brought from home!! I also discovered that I NEED to drink at least 64 ounces of water during an 8 hour day to feel hydrated!! I guess they will have to give me lots of bathroom breaks, because I am going to need to guzzle my water on my breaks!

6) Did you know that McDonald's french fries are some of the "healthiest" fries out there? It's true! My dh saw it on a yahoo news report this week! Although they are the healthiest fries out there, they are NOT good for you!! Did you know that most Walmarts have McDonald's in them?...at least they do around here!! Did you know that McDonald's fries are my mostest favorite fries in the whole world? Did you know that I DO HAVE THE ABILITY TO NOT PURCHASE SAID FRIES AT 5 P.M. (even when HUNGRY!)? I didn't know it either....till I walked right out of that store WITHOUT BUYING FRENCH FRIES and eating my apple instead!! I just saved myself some major fat calories!! Thanks me!!

This week I learned alot about myself...and I'm putting it ALL in the bank. Over the next few weeks I know that I am gonna need to look back at all these "deposits" and see just what I am made of!! And I'm going to make sure that I continue making more deposits to the bank....because I still have a long way to go!!

Time For New Challenge....Weigh In

Isn't this the prettiest logo you have seen in a long time?? I need Spring!!
I could definitely go for some Spring-y-ness around here so in preparation for Spring the Sisters are having another Challenge, this time with TEAMS!! I'm on Team E (we get to come up with our own names!!) with Trish (don't you just love this blog name??), Mendie, Donya, Leslie, and Melissa. Teams are a ton of fun and very exciting when we get to encourage each other to succeed!!

I'm so excited to be starting this challenge right now. I'm about to start working (overnight; as in 3rd shift) and I haven't worked in over 6 years. I have never worked overnight...but I am confident that I can continue losing weight with some serious will power, and some love from my sisters! I'm not making any promises on consistent exercise during the beginning of this new schedule, but I will be exercising some since I will be moving constantly and lifting and carrying boxes and what-not.

The past couple of months have been stressful for me, since there has not been any income coming in, but now it looks like dh is finding at least a bit of work, and I will be working so maybe my mental stress will go down. Now I just have to control my emotional stresses of a new schedule and routine.

Ok...so down to business. Weigh in time -- It's not pretty but I didn't expect it to be. Did you read my Confessions? I'll wait if you want to read it now. That way you'll understand...You're back? Ok...so here goes...

Last week -- 188.0

This week -- 189.0

Actually I was surprised that it wasn't more of a gain. So I start this new challenge at 189.0. My goal for the 8 week challenge which takes us into the end of April is to lose 4 pounds so that I am at 185. I would love to lose more but I think if I set up a bigger goal than that I am going to set myself up for disappointment. The next couple of months are going to be difficult enough I don't need to add anything else to it.

My One Year Anniversary of Healthier Living is 30 days away and I would like to hit a major milestone by that date. I think it would be great if I could weigh in at 186.8 on March 25...that would mean I had lost 40 pounds in 1 year. When I look at that number I kind of get discouraged but then I think about all the obstacles that I have conquered in this year. Not to mention going through a year of financial unstability with dh's work situation. So I'm going to be proud of myself and not get down. Instead I'm going to get HAPPY!! And I'm going to workout harder and stick with my healthy eating even better!!

I hope that ya'll will join in this new challenge. We always have so much fun! Oh and I almost forgot to mention -- The Sisters are giving away 11 copies of the Jillian Michaels 30 Day Shred DVD!! You only have 24 hours to get your chance to win, so hurry!! I already own it and I can tell you it is a "killer good workout"!! We are going to start the workouts again on March 1. I hope I can find a way to do it every day...hum...when to exercise?? sleep, eat, spend time with That Other Kid and do everything else that momma needs to do??

Confession Time AGAIN!!

Tuesdays are Confession Day over at the Sisterhood so let's get this over with. I have MUCH to confess this week. It has not been pretty and the scale indicated as much this morning when I hopped on to check the damage before weigh in. Maybe it will be nicer tomorrow...

1) Coke has invaded my drinking routine again. I have had more coke over the past 6 days than I have over the past 6 months combined. I don't even have a good reason...other than I have become BORED with drinking water and don't really like Iced Tea unless it is sweet! Kind of defeats the purpose of drinking tea if you have to have a bunch of sugar in it. May as well have coke which is what I did!! I did break the habit today....I have ONLY had water today...not enough of it, but at least that is all I have drank.

2) Potato chips have also found their way back into my snacking ritual! Why do I do this?? Now I am retaining water and feel bloated. I bought the chips for That Other Kid and I have had just as many as he has.

3) I fixed hamburgers tonight for dinner because dh wanted them. Guess what I served with them? You got it potato chips!! Bad mommy!! What happened to fruit and veggies with my meals? Um...don't know but they have not been very visible this week in my daily food intake.

4) We were without internet service for nearly 48 hours (Sunday afternoon till this afternoon) and I thought my head was going to explode from not being able to get online 20 million times a day! I did have my phone so I could check some things online but the screen is only about 2" x 2" and it's real hard to read anything other than basic emails!

5) WE (as in dh and I) have been frantically searching for employment. Saturday a friend told me of a lead at a Walmart about 30 minutes away. Yesterday I went down there and forced an interview, filled out paperwork, went down and got a drug test and today was OFFICIALLY hired! I will be working from 10 P.M. to 7 A.M., starting this weekend. I am a night owl but this is really going to be difficult to stay up ALL NIGHT, get enough sleep, spend time with That Other Kid and homeschool him. Not to mention exercise, care for the house, and all the other stuff moms usually do!
Where's the confession? I'm scared!! I scared that I will not be able to continue losing weight! I'm scared I won't be able to spend time with my son! I'm scared that I won't be able to handle working again, especially in a physically demanding area. I will be stocking shelves, unpacking boxes, etc. so I know that I will be moving all night long, but will I be able to stay active enough? Will I have enough self-control to not just sit there during my lunch break and eat junk/drink coke? Will I find a way to do it all??

Ok...so here's my confessions!! I know that I'm not alone, so that does make me feel better but I need to get a grip and get rid of the coke and chip habit again!! It's a good thing we have a new Challenge starting tomorrow. That will definitely be beneficial for me. I think I'm gonna need all the help I can get!! Prayers will be helpful, too!!

My SuperHero Alter Ego

Today's Monday Project is to create an alter ego that is a super hero for myself and talk about some of the super powers that she would have. This one was kind of difficult for me so I enlisted the help of my dh.

As a stay at home mom who has poured almost 20 years into caring for her kiddos, as well as homeschooling and taking care of the home management side of being a homemaker, my dh has often called me "SuperMom". I never really thought of myself as supermom but as I have been thinking about this alter ego I decided that this would be my ideal super hero character. As SuperMom I would definitely NOT wear a cape....A cape would just get in the way of my constant movement! Because as SuperMom moving all day long is just part of the role!

Although I have been a stay at home mom for what seems like forever it is what I always dreamed of doing as a kid. After I got over the idea of being a nurse the first time I saw a bunch of blood and a broken bone (my own) -- of course, because didn't every little girl want to be a nurse back in the 70's??

I would change MANY things though, if I were the SuperMom in my head...

1)I would not be lazy EVER!! I would never go to bed with a dirty, cluttered, unorganized home.

2)I would enlist my kids in a healthy lifestyle from Day 1. Sitting around just watching tv would be for OCCASIONAL days...not days where I just don't want to do anything, which sadly is more often than I would care to admit!

3)I would homeschool my kids the way THEY learned best, not how I learn best! I would take more walks, do more nature studies, do more things that incorporate the lifestyle of our ancestors. I would also teach them more about the finer things in life; art, music, and caring for others.

4)I would make sure that my kids were actively moving EVERY.SINGLE.DAY. Even when it is cold, rainy, snowy, windy or too hot! I would teach them that the most important part of their day needs to be to take care of their body by moving it and caring for all parts of it...from the top of their head to the bottoms of their feet!

5)SuperMom would also have time to help others in her life. Friends, family, and the community around her would benefit from all that she accomplished.

6)One of the most important things that SuperMom would do is to put herself FIRST; NOT LAST...Because she would realize that the mom that is healthy and happy is a better mom.


I am accomplishing much more of these things as I continue to get a grasp on my own health and raise That Other Kid but the way I see it there is always room for improvement. Maybe by the time I am a grandmother (which better be A LONG TIME FROM NOW).... I will be where I want to be and I can be SuperGrammy!!

Olympic Weigh In Time

Over at the Sisterhood of Shrinking Jeans we have been participating in a little Olympic competition ourselves! It has been fun and I have found that I am a lot stronger than I thought I was. Last night I did the Plank Hold and did it for 1 minute and 57 seconds. The last time I did Plank Holds on a regular basis I was only able to do it about 45 seconds!! I have really improved over the past year and that made me proud of myself! The last time I looked at the record board Karena was leading the pack with a standing of over 3 minutes!! All I have to say to that is "holy cow"!! My arms hurt like crazy today and I did it for a full minute less than she did!! She is obviously alot stronger than me!! YAY Karena!!

The Olympic games have been fun to watch on tv this week, although I haven't been able to watch nearly as much as I want to. But I do have to workout myself and care for my family....and sleep...such a drag!!

If you are of the competitive nature and want to participate in our Olympics come on over to the 'hood and sign up. Anyone can join and they are even giving medals!! Not to mention the sheer joy of participating in something good for you!!

Ok...now it's time for the all important weigh in for the week. I didn't really know what to expect so just got on and looked down....

Last week: 188.8
This morning: 188.0

So I am down half a pound and happy to see a number that is LESS than last week! This is the first week in several that I can say that.

I have been working out harder (especially doing the Olympic competitions with the girls) and have been trying to eat more carefully...meaning thinking before I stick something in my mouth! That doesn't mean that I have cared what I have put in my mouth, but at least I am thinking about it!

The Sisterhood is starting a new challenge on the 24th (next Wednesday) and we are doing teams this time, so I hope ya'll will join in. It's always fun to compete with others while losing weight!! If you want to join in go over and sign up...May the best team win!! (The one I am on, of course!!)

Just When I Think I Can't Go Another Day...

God shows up and makes me realize that HE will take care of me/us.

This weekend I checked online and found that the automatic debit that comes out of our bank account for our Toll Tag had debited $40. That took our account into overdraft status with the purchases that were made this weekend (gas and groceries).

DH has still has not found work. I have applied for work for nearly every place I can think of that I would be qualified to work at (which isn't much since there isn't a big demand for stay at home moms in the job market). That leaves us in a bad place again.

Fast forward to this morning....a friend emailed me and said she wanted to bring a book over to me that I had loaned her, but wouldn't be able to stay long. I told her it could wait till later in the week since she couldn't stay long. She said that was ok, she wanted to bring me something else, too. Ok...I would welcome her coming over even if it was a short visit.

She came over this afternoon, with my book and a check that her husband said to bring us. I started crying, even before seeing the amount. After she left I looked at the amount and really started crying! It is enough to pay our past due auto insurance payment, our cell phone bill and money for gas and groceries!!

Dh said "Thank God for friends!!" I say, AMEN!!

God is sooooooooooooooooo good to us!! All we have to do is believe!! I believe!!