Ok so it's been another 3 weeks since I have written again. Wow! Time sure does fly when you sit around and take care of the mundane business of life, right?
I haven't been doing too much to toot my horn lately that I feel are that extra-ordinary but they have made a difference to some people so I'm going to "toot" about them.
On the 12th of this month my sister in law's father passed away. He had diabetes and had gotten bit by a brown recluse spider. Complications caused by the diabetes caused him to go into cardiac arrest early Saturday morning. Since her dad lived with them he was definitely part of the family so That Other Kid and I loaded up and made a quick trip to Kansas. My oldest niece was so happy to see me she started crying, and that made the whole trip worth it. I hung out with her boyfriend during the funeral and we both just hung back to support the family. I'm glad I went...but oh boy I am getting too old for these quick trips to Kansas. Once I got back I just wanted to sit and vegg out!
Bonus for the trip is I got to meet Rachel
. She lives just 20 minutes or so from my brother and so we went out for dinner while That Other Kid hung out with his cousins and my brother and sister in law! It was a great way to end a crummy day! It's always nice to meet one of my bloggy friends and just get to know them on a IRL manner.
Most of you know I homeschool That Other Kid but in case you didn't...now you do!!
I slacked a lot this past fall with school so we will be working (on a reduced schedule) throughout the summer but we have a few more weeks to go before we take a couple of weeks off to enjoy some of the summer fun then move to our summer schedule. He's not too thrilled with that idea but I reminded him that it's too hot to do anything outside anyway, so we may as well do school and then enjoy fall when it finally gets here! My Marine will be finishing up his MOS school and graduating on June 13th. There really isn't a ceremony for this graduation so we are not attending, but he said he will have about a week before he gets orders for a station or a deployment so he will probably come home for a few days and I don't want to be busy so I'm planning our break for during this time. That Other Kid and I want to hang with him while he is home since who knows when he will be home again?
I have been on thyroid medicine for just over a month now and I am already starting to notice a difference. I'm hoping by the end of this next month I will be able to start SEEING a difference.
I started training walks for the Komen 3 Day
at the beginning of the month. The actual 3 day isn't until November but it's best to train if you expect to really be able to walk 60 miles in 3 days! It's not a cake walk we are talking about! This past weekend our training walk was supposed to be 5 miles but I clocked it and it was 5.67 miles. We walked it around 1 hr and 40 minutes so we were moving at a pretty good pace, in a pretty difficult area of town with a steep hill. I was huffing and puffing by the time we took a break after the hills so I can really tell I need to bump up my cardio workouts at home. It was already pretty warm out at 9 am! I'm not looking forward to summer but I am looking forward to training and walking with my friends for a wonderful cause!
I have been slacking with the New Rules of Lifting for Women workouts but I am determined to get back to it. Tonight is my night....I made it through Stage 1 and so I'm going to start over with Stage 2. I am determined to stick with this...it will be good for me to be combining lifting with my walking training too!!
That's it for me...I'm doing ok, just busy with the routine business of life and I don't have much to "toot" about but life in general!
What are you "tooting" about today?
If you want to help me in my goal of reaching $2300 for the Komen 3 Day you can donate here Every dollar counts in this fight against breast cancer.
Tuesday, May 22, 2012
Wednesday, May 2, 2012
A Month Later...
It's been a whole month since I have taken the time to write on this blog. I can't say that I haven't had anything to say...just haven't had time or inclination to sit down and actually write. So I'm going to try to catch you up on my life with some handy, dandy bullet points. They always go fast and are easy to tackle, especially since I don't seem to be able to write in a cohesive fashion this will handle my ramblings quiet nicely!
*I have been weighing in with the Sisterhood
but haven't really been putting much into my weight loss efforts. It has shown - I'm pretty much the same weight that I was 5 weeks ago. Not cool but I'm not sweating it anymore.
*I have been working out with the #Ironsisters
and am ready for the 3rd workout in Stage 2. It's hard and is hurting my knees. I'm hopeful that I can continue doing it.
*I went to the doctor nearly 2 weeks ago and got a bunch of blood work done. I haven't been myself; cranky, tired, gaining weight even when eating right, tired, cranky....you get the point. I had an extremely LOW thyroid and my Vitamin D levels were at 25 and should be a minimum of 60. So he has put me on a high dose of thyroid medicine and 10,000 units of VitaminD3 a day. He also told me to spend time outside in the sun without sunblock for at least 30 minutes a day. I'm getting better at this but I still need to work on it. Sometimes it doesn't seem there is 30 minutes in a day to go outside!
*My triglycerides are a bit high also, but he said not to worry about that right now. He thinks they will even out once the thyroid gets regulated. I figure if I start eating better food that will help both the triglycerides and the weight!
*Jen and I have been chatting quite a bit and we have come up with a plan to set up some goals for the month of May to help us get focused and make sure we make it to where we want to go. Our goals are both pretty much the same:
4 solid workouts every week
morning stretches
tracking everything, every day
(this one is mine) writing out daily to do list - what do I need to do this day and in what priority?
*I am not going to weigh in for the entire month of May. I have been gaining weight over the past few months and it has done nothing but discourage me and depress me. I need to get my hormones fixed up before I worry about my weight. I have weighed in for so long on Wednesdays that I may need a reminder to STAY AWAY FROM THE SCALE!! k?
*We have been homeschooling pretty consistently over the past 7 weeks and I feel like we are finally getting somewhere. I am planning for us to take a couple of weeks off in June but pick back up and school for a few hours a day throughout the summer. It gets too freaking hot here to do much outside and we can only swim so much in the summer! :) This should get us ready for 3rd grade curriculum by the end of summer even though we have taken so much time off. (This is another reason I haven't had much time lately!! It takes time to homeschool, even if it's only one student!)
*I love to read but lately reading has taken a backseat to other things I want to do. I was able to buy a Kindle at the beginning of April and I have downloaded A LOT of books for free but it seems there is never enough time in the day to actually read them. BUT...I am reading Jane Eyre and Jen and I are going to have a kind of "online book club". I have only read 3 chapters so far but I now understand why it is a classic. I'm liking it....can't wait to get further into it!
*I am walking 60 miles in 3 days the first weekend of November to help fight breast cancer. This disease affects families everyday! Me walking 60 miles and raising $2300 is just a small way I can help! Fundraising and training walks are starting up in earnest. I truly would appreciate your support as I work to find a cure!
You can donate here
It could be your mom, sister, best friend or yourself you save simply by donating a few dollars you know that you will be doing your part in finding a cure!
*I have been weighing in with the Sisterhood
but haven't really been putting much into my weight loss efforts. It has shown - I'm pretty much the same weight that I was 5 weeks ago. Not cool but I'm not sweating it anymore.
*I have been working out with the #Ironsisters
and am ready for the 3rd workout in Stage 2. It's hard and is hurting my knees. I'm hopeful that I can continue doing it.
*I went to the doctor nearly 2 weeks ago and got a bunch of blood work done. I haven't been myself; cranky, tired, gaining weight even when eating right, tired, cranky....you get the point. I had an extremely LOW thyroid and my Vitamin D levels were at 25 and should be a minimum of 60. So he has put me on a high dose of thyroid medicine and 10,000 units of VitaminD3 a day. He also told me to spend time outside in the sun without sunblock for at least 30 minutes a day. I'm getting better at this but I still need to work on it. Sometimes it doesn't seem there is 30 minutes in a day to go outside!
*My triglycerides are a bit high also, but he said not to worry about that right now. He thinks they will even out once the thyroid gets regulated. I figure if I start eating better food that will help both the triglycerides and the weight!
*Jen and I have been chatting quite a bit and we have come up with a plan to set up some goals for the month of May to help us get focused and make sure we make it to where we want to go. Our goals are both pretty much the same:
4 solid workouts every week
morning stretches
tracking everything, every day
(this one is mine) writing out daily to do list - what do I need to do this day and in what priority?
*I am not going to weigh in for the entire month of May. I have been gaining weight over the past few months and it has done nothing but discourage me and depress me. I need to get my hormones fixed up before I worry about my weight. I have weighed in for so long on Wednesdays that I may need a reminder to STAY AWAY FROM THE SCALE!! k?
*We have been homeschooling pretty consistently over the past 7 weeks and I feel like we are finally getting somewhere. I am planning for us to take a couple of weeks off in June but pick back up and school for a few hours a day throughout the summer. It gets too freaking hot here to do much outside and we can only swim so much in the summer! :) This should get us ready for 3rd grade curriculum by the end of summer even though we have taken so much time off. (This is another reason I haven't had much time lately!! It takes time to homeschool, even if it's only one student!)
*I love to read but lately reading has taken a backseat to other things I want to do. I was able to buy a Kindle at the beginning of April and I have downloaded A LOT of books for free but it seems there is never enough time in the day to actually read them. BUT...I am reading Jane Eyre and Jen and I are going to have a kind of "online book club". I have only read 3 chapters so far but I now understand why it is a classic. I'm liking it....can't wait to get further into it!
*I am walking 60 miles in 3 days the first weekend of November to help fight breast cancer. This disease affects families everyday! Me walking 60 miles and raising $2300 is just a small way I can help! Fundraising and training walks are starting up in earnest. I truly would appreciate your support as I work to find a cure!
You can donate here
It could be your mom, sister, best friend or yourself you save simply by donating a few dollars you know that you will be doing your part in finding a cure!
Saturday, March 31, 2012
Motivation Board - SpringN2Action
I realize its been a while since I have posted but I've been busy and haven't had much to say! I'm making up for it tonight with this great motivation board idea from The Sisterhood of Shrinking Jeans
At the beginning of February Bari started doing pushups, situps, and planks for the February FabAb workout. The workout gradually increased up to 100 situps, 35 pushups and a plank for 2 minutes and 30 seconds. I started out doing it and felt good but then I got a sinus infection with a double ear infection and gave up on myself. I quit...I was mad at myself. I was frustrated with my body and plan ol' aggravated.
This was me at the end of February...so I wanted to change that!!
February 27th, I started lifting weights following this plan. I am doing it with a wonderful group of women and it has done more for me than build my muscles. It has built my confidence!
Then March approached and Lissa put together the #6PackMarch workout. It was the same workout only a couple of days longer! Even though I was committed to doing a weights workout with some of the other wonderful ladies from the Sisterhood I decided I wanted to prove to myself that I could do this! So I signed up and started doing it. Some of my #Ironsisters told me to use caution. Don't do too much, I was out to prove to myself that I could follow through and do this.
Tonight I FINISHED IT!! AND just for the heck of it and so I could have visual proof that I am stronger than I think I am I took video of it!
Tonight I did 100 SITUPS!! 35 modified PUSHUPS!!! and a 2 minute 30 second PLANK!!! I FREAKIN' DID IT!!!
Some of you may be asking what does this have to do with the motivation board but let me tell you it has ALOT to do with it. See I usually give up on myself when things get hard. I usually think since I'm not in my 20's or 30's or even early 40's that I can't do "it"!! Whatever the heck "it" is! It really doesn't matter what that "it" is. I usually talk myself out of it but what this did was prove to myself that just because I'm not in my 20's or 30's I can still do something that is HARD for everyone!!
After watching the videos I realized that my butt was too far up in the air for the plank and that I need to work on the pushups a bit more so I don't fade out toward the end but hey, I did them! I completed the month long challenge and I'm proud of myself!
I'm busting my tail so that That Other Kid will always think it is a good thing to try new things, work hard to accomplish his goals, and want to be active! I want to be a good example to him!! This afternoon he got the skateboard that he has been asking for since he was 3 and he wasn't afraid to try something hard! He looks pretty happy and I want to look that happy when I try something hard and new!!
I want to always remember this day. I want to always remember how good I felt after doing this month long challenge! I want to remember that if I decide to do it I CAN DO IT!!
Sunday, March 18, 2012
Lookie here, i did another week's worth of menus! I'm on a roll...and last week I followed the menu, except for 1 night I didn't feel like fixing what was on the menu, so I went with one of our standby meals.
I'm gonna be out a lot this week so the food is all quick and easy.
Menu
Sunday- eat out
Monday- shredded chicken tacos &
Chips/salsa
Tuesday- steak & salad, rolls
Wednesday- eat out meal
Thursday- Parmesan chicken (spark people recipe)
Friday-grilled chicken salad rolls
Saturday- Leftovers
Tuesday, March 13, 2012
Tooting My Horn Post
Instead of our usual "confessions" post on Tuesday's the Sisterhood has changed things up and now we are "tootin' our horn". I actually have a couple of things to "toot my horn" about this week so here I am!
Bullets are fast and easy, right?
* I have been participating in the #6PackMarch challenge with a few lovely ladies looking to tone up the arms and core before summer. I have done all 13 days of this during March and today I did a plank for 1 minute and 10 seconds! I also did 17 pushups and 45 SITUPS! These were straight out sit ups. Not crunches, Not knees bent sit ups. I could hardly believe I did them all!
* I have been doing a weight lifting program with a bunch of ladies (we are calling ourselves the #IronSisters) and I have surprised myself with how well I am sticking with it. I realized tonight that next time I workout with this program I will be half way done with Stage 1. I'm actually sticking with something that has to do with weight lifting!! Whooohoo!
* I have notoriously been a terrible lesson planner when it comes to planning lessons for our homeschool, but over the past couple of months I have come to the conclusion that we both NEED me to plan lessons. This weekend I moved into the library and completed lessons thru the month of MAY! That's 12 weeks of lessons COMPLETE! And we have done school according to the lesson plans both Monday and Tuesday!
* Menu planning, UGH! I always thought it was a waste of time, but decided since I was on a roll this weekend I would make a menu for this week. I did it and it's gone pretty well this week. EXCEPT tonight my alfredo noodles tasted YUCKY and I didn't feel like eating a salad....so here it is 10p.m. and I'm STARVING! Goes to show how I need to follow the menu.
That's enough tooting my horn for tonight. How has your week been?
Bullets are fast and easy, right?
* I have been participating in the #6PackMarch challenge with a few lovely ladies looking to tone up the arms and core before summer. I have done all 13 days of this during March and today I did a plank for 1 minute and 10 seconds! I also did 17 pushups and 45 SITUPS! These were straight out sit ups. Not crunches, Not knees bent sit ups. I could hardly believe I did them all!
* I have been doing a weight lifting program with a bunch of ladies (we are calling ourselves the #IronSisters) and I have surprised myself with how well I am sticking with it. I realized tonight that next time I workout with this program I will be half way done with Stage 1. I'm actually sticking with something that has to do with weight lifting!! Whooohoo!
* I have notoriously been a terrible lesson planner when it comes to planning lessons for our homeschool, but over the past couple of months I have come to the conclusion that we both NEED me to plan lessons. This weekend I moved into the library and completed lessons thru the month of MAY! That's 12 weeks of lessons COMPLETE! And we have done school according to the lesson plans both Monday and Tuesday!
* Menu planning, UGH! I always thought it was a waste of time, but decided since I was on a roll this weekend I would make a menu for this week. I did it and it's gone pretty well this week. EXCEPT tonight my alfredo noodles tasted YUCKY and I didn't feel like eating a salad....so here it is 10p.m. and I'm STARVING! Goes to show how I need to follow the menu.
That's enough tooting my horn for tonight. How has your week been?
Sunday, March 11, 2012
A Menu!! A Real Life Menu
Welcome to my very first edition of writing out a Menu! Everyone has been encouraging me to write out a menu for sometime and I always make some excuse. I decided to follow instructions and do what they asked me to do cuz this week I'm trying to do things differently! I finished planning school lessons thru the end of May (we homeschool year round with periodic breaks for mom to regroup!) and I decided since I was planning lessons maybe I should plan meals, too! Maybe being organized will help me accomplish more! I can only hope, right?!!
So here are dinner meals...
Sunday- spaghetti, salad, bread
Monday- chicken Parmesan, spaghetti, salad
Tuesday- grilled chicken breast, salad, whole wheat roll
Wednesday- eat out meal
Thursday- turkey Parmesan (cooking light), salad, whole wheat roll
Friday-chicken tacos, chips
Saturday- leftovers
Lunch around here is pretty simple - sandwiches or tacos and I'm going to try to include fruit or some carrots in it too.
Breakfast is always the same - Greek yogurt w/apple and almonds for me and That Other Kid eats bread and a couple of slices of bacon for protein.
Snacks - nuts, fruit, and hopefully the cookies Lissa told us about yesterday!
Best part of this menu? I Fixed Spaghetti Today! How's that for a menu and sticking with it?
Friday, March 9, 2012
It's Been Awhile....
Here I am again with a few minutes to spend on the computer. I just finished working out with the New Rules of Lifting for Women and I'm finding it a nice change. I have always hated working out with weights and I've always avoided it like the plague!
But...I'm finding that sometimes I need to push myself out of my comfort zone and this is one of them. I am lifting weights at home 3 times a week following the plan set forth in the book. It's challenging and I'm having to improvise some since I don't have weight machines but I am getting a good challenging workout every time.
I'm also doing the #6Pack March workout that is going on over at the Sisterhood. It's like the #FabAb February workout I was doing in February till I got sick and gave up on it. I finished day 9 today and I'm not gonna lie, it was hard to do it all but that's ok to push myself, right?
I've also decided that it is time to make some drastic changes in my diet so this coming week I am going to make a MENU Plan and FOLLOW IT! That's right....I'm going to write out a menu and I'm going to follow it. On my menu? Lots of fruits and veggies and lean meats and a few whole grains and not much else. I need to break through this plateau I have been on far too long.
I'm also going to add in some cardio which I haven't been doing in some time. That should help me too.
On a totally different note, I'm gonna brag a little on My Marine! He has been at his Military Operations School (meaning he is learning his job for the Marines) since the 28th of February and today he sent me a text saying he is number 1 in his "detachment" with a score of 98.45%!! He is training for Combat Photography which according to what I understand is a very cool job in the military. He also received a promotion last Thursday. He is now a Private First Class and if he graduates at the top of his class he will receive another promotion in June. I'm so proud of him! He has finally found something he loves and is excelling at it!
Ok...it's late and I have a full day of lesson plans to tackle tomorrow so I need to get to bed. Just wanted to spend a few minutes chatting with anyone listening. Btw, thanks for all the nice comments a couple of weeks ago when I was so down about my blog. It really is nice to know someone is out there reading! Thanks y'all!
Have a great weekend....
But...I'm finding that sometimes I need to push myself out of my comfort zone and this is one of them. I am lifting weights at home 3 times a week following the plan set forth in the book. It's challenging and I'm having to improvise some since I don't have weight machines but I am getting a good challenging workout every time.
I'm also doing the #6Pack March workout that is going on over at the Sisterhood. It's like the #FabAb February workout I was doing in February till I got sick and gave up on it. I finished day 9 today and I'm not gonna lie, it was hard to do it all but that's ok to push myself, right?
I've also decided that it is time to make some drastic changes in my diet so this coming week I am going to make a MENU Plan and FOLLOW IT! That's right....I'm going to write out a menu and I'm going to follow it. On my menu? Lots of fruits and veggies and lean meats and a few whole grains and not much else. I need to break through this plateau I have been on far too long.
I'm also going to add in some cardio which I haven't been doing in some time. That should help me too.
On a totally different note, I'm gonna brag a little on My Marine! He has been at his Military Operations School (meaning he is learning his job for the Marines) since the 28th of February and today he sent me a text saying he is number 1 in his "detachment" with a score of 98.45%!! He is training for Combat Photography which according to what I understand is a very cool job in the military. He also received a promotion last Thursday. He is now a Private First Class and if he graduates at the top of his class he will receive another promotion in June. I'm so proud of him! He has finally found something he loves and is excelling at it!
Ok...it's late and I have a full day of lesson plans to tackle tomorrow so I need to get to bed. Just wanted to spend a few minutes chatting with anyone listening. Btw, thanks for all the nice comments a couple of weeks ago when I was so down about my blog. It really is nice to know someone is out there reading! Thanks y'all!
Have a great weekend....
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