Changes are in the air

OK, just wanted to pop in and give everyone an update and to let you all know that yes I am still focused on my weight loss and on my no smoking.  Today marks 43 days smoke free and I feel so much better.  I can tell the difference in my sleep because I am not awake coughing or snoring, my night cough is gone and my snoring is getting better with the more weight I lose.  I do still cough occasionally but no longer cough nasty stuff up out of my lungs.  It is very rare but when I cough it is just a little dry cough. I have noticed a difference with my ability to walk/ride/run.  All and all it just feels awesome and I am going to try very hard to NEVER light up again.

So as for the weight loss I am still going to the gym at night and now that the kids T-Ball is over I can go every night during the week.  I cannot wait till my DH is finished with lawn cutting season so I can start going at a little more decent hour (8 pm instead of 9 pm).  I have been doing 45-50 minutes on the treadmill which I walk the first five minutes at 3.5 mph and then I rotate every three minutes I run for 4.8 mph and then walk for two minutes at 3.5 and so forth until I reach 48 minutes which I then walk at 4.0 mph for two minutes and then go down in speed until I've reached the 45-50 minute mark.  I like this way because it makes the time go quicker by breaking things up and it gets my heart rate going.  I also heard somewhere it's what to do to burn fat is to do intervals.  Yesterdays cardio was a tad bit rough though. As far as strength training:  Monday and Wednesday's are leg and ab days and Tuesday and Thursday are upper body days.  I haven't been able to do a Friday yet because of my softball games, but now that they are over I am going to try to get to the gym and I may just use those days for extra Cardio and abs.  You can never have to much cardio, correct?!?!


The weekend again brought pain stepping on the scale.  I truly, truly have to work on getting my weekends straightened out and this weekend we have no major plans except yard work and getting the house ready to sell so I can work on sticking to my diet (I hope).  I am not going to drink (beer) this weekend, well at least I'm going to try not too.  I got on the scale Monday morning and it read 270.0 and I am happy to report that this morning it said 263.5 , yes I know that is 6.5 lbs in 3 days, and most of it is probably water from the beer and such and YES I know I'm not suppose to weigh myself every day but I cannot help it and I get on it every morning (except the days I know it's going to be very, very bad).  I only record my weight though once a week and today is the day so I am happy it is down.  The reason though that I am upset with myself is because think about it if I didn't mess up every weekend than I would be down in weight allot more then I am now, but because I work so hard during the week and then I gain back all I worked for on the weekends so then I play catch up during the 1st half of the week.  I have to stop that and work on it better.  I am going to try this weekend.

My goal by this time or the end of next week is to be in the 250''s which I haven't been since right before my father passed away.  By Christmas I should be close to 200's which I haven't been since I got married in October 2005.  I will be wearing a bathing suit proudly next Summer and not worrying about my weight or how I look in clothing because I will fit well in anything I put on by Summer 2016.

Another feel good thing I'm going to do for myself this weekend is get my haircut.  I have an appointment on Saturday at 11 am and I am trying to decide on what I want.  Short, medium with bangs without bangs, with layers without layers and for the first time in my life maybe highlights in my hair to bring out my red hair since the sun has turned it very, very strawberry blonde this Summer.  I will let you know what I decided to go with and I will take a picture (if I'm happy with the results).

Well until next time stay healthy and keep cool (Yes Ohio has finally gotten their Summer weather, just a tad bit late.)


Jennie

Weekend Recap

Hello, I am proud to say that everything that I posted about in the last post (from the past weekend) got accomplished.  We did go to the drive in on Saturday night to see The Minions and before that we had dinner at Aces and it was a very nice family night out.  Something we have to do more often and we currently do not do enough of.  We ended up getting to the drive in an hour and a half early and it is a good thing we did because we got in the 2nd row and the line was soon wrapping up onto the street and the movie started at 9:40 which there were still cars coming in after 10 pm.  We took my DH's truck there and we brought blanket and pillows for the kids, not for ourselves and I have to tell you it was very uncomfortable, my butt and back was killing me the whole time.  I also finished painting the front porch and painted the whole deck myself that day, so that probably added to it.  So because DH and I were very uncomfortable we opted out of staying for the second movie (Inside Out) which was OK because it was already after midnight and the kids were sound asleep before we got on the main road.  Next time we decided we are going to bring an air mattress and blow it up and put it in the bed of the truck.

Sunday I ended up not going to the Indians game with the family because I had way to much I had to get done before my 6 pm softball game.  After they left I went to my new gym Planet Fitness and got my T-shirt and swipe key and walked around to get an idea of the set up.  Then I went to my former gym Fitness 19 and signed the papers to cancel my membership with them.  Then I went home and cleaned the house (1st floor only) and did 8 loads of laundry including the sheets, blankets and all the bath towels.  So, the Indians game started at 1:05 pm and it was very lightly sprinkling all day off and on, well I got a call from DH about 12:45 to come pick up my 3 year old because he wouldn't stop screaming and crying.  Here's the thing about that, he got catch in a start of a thunder/lightening storm at T-Ball practice one day (I was not there I was with Addisyn at her dance rehearsal) and he hid under a tree crying and frightened and then they called practice.  Then a few days later both boys went with DH one day to help him cut some grass and we got the worst storm we've had all season (4 huge trees on our street we're blown over) and he came home shaking and crying from fear.  Well ever since all that he will not leave the house when he sees it raining or if it's about to rain.  I mean we have a all out battle trying to get him out and then we won't stop crying.  I have tried everything that I can think of to get him over this fear, but nothing is working.  It is truly effecting the poor kid.  I will keep working on it and if it continues bring it up to his doctor at his 4 year check up in September.

Oh and even though it was sprinkling off and on we still played my softball game on Sunday and we won 13-3 in 40 minutes (that is a fast game for co-ed).  They were desperate to get the game in because we have had so many rain outs already.

Alright enough about that now on to my fitness/weight loss part of it.  I weighed in at PWLC on Monday before lunch and I think I gained a lbs or two, but that wasn't surprising because it is a week before my period is due.  I just added more water to my daily routine intake (which is over 256 Oz's) and I have stuck to my eating schedule.  The scale at home was nice to me this morning and I was back down the pound.  I also started at my new gym last night, which I got there about 8:30 and did 30 minutes on the treadmill which consisted of intervals of 2 minute walking, 2 minute running.  Then I did 20 minutes on the elliptical and that was very bothersome to my knee, so tonight I'm going to stick to just the treadmill for 45-60 minutes.  I then did a leg and ab workout.  I got home at 10:30 and showered and was in bed before 11 pm.  I have to say it felt great being back in the gym atmosphere.  I felt wonderful afterwards.  I was a little pissed at DH because he was already giving me a hard time about going (which the kids were already sound asleep before I even left) so it's not like he had much to do except take care of himself and go to sleep.  Ugh, he pisses me off sometimes.  All I want is to be able to do something for myself.  It's been a very, very long time since I have been able to do something that I want to do.  I'm always putting my family and others ahead of my happiness.  Anyways, I'm excited to go back tonight and I've come to realize it may be later then normal on some days because I have to wait for DH to get home from his grass cuttings (he runs his own side job of lawn care) but I just hope he tries really hard to get home by 8;30 so it's not to late for me or I'm afraid I'm going to fall off the wagon.

Anyways, there is a huge thunderstorm that is hitting us right now so I better go and make sure everyone is good.  Until next time............ Stay hydrated.....

On Track

After gaining those 3 lbs over the weekend I am proud to say I am back on track and am at my lowest weight since right after my father passed away in November 2014.  I just got back to business and worked on what I slacked on over the weekend.  I promised myself I will not do it again this weekend.  I believe I can do it because we have a very busy weekend ahead of us (as long as the weather cooperates).  If you're from Ohio you understand that for the last month and a half we have basically had nothing but rain and not so warm weather and what sucks is Summer is almost over, it's the middle of July.  UGH, I HATE crappy Summer's.  Bring the heat on!

Another thing I did today is I am cancelling my membership with Fitness 19 and I joined Planet Fitness (not a huge fan of them).  It looks like Barney puked all over the place because everything is purple and I don't agree with some of their rules, but they are open 24 hours Monday thru Friday and that works with my schedule the best because I can go after the kids are in bed and actually get my 1 hour & 45 mins to 2 hours workout in.  I will be starting this on Monday evening.  I might go on Sunday just so they can show me around and so I won't have to worry about doing it on Monday night and can get right into the workout.  Fitness 19 was great and I have no complaints about them except their hours, but they do have day care (which Planet Fitness does not).  I'm not to concerned with day care because I will be going when they are asleep and if I go on the weekends I'll just have to go whenever Chris is home.  Yes, I did for a while go workout after dinner and just put the kids in the day care at the center, but I felt bad because I am away from them for 9-10 hours a day and so I would love to be able to spend the evening time with them doing stuff with them.

So today is finally sunny out and I think for the first time in a month or more we are going to get to play softball tonight (unless the fields are still to wet).  I am looking forward to it and then I have a game on Sunday night.  We have quiet a bit of a loaded weekend starting with tonight.  I have softball and then on Saturday the trio have a make up T Ball game at 10am and then go pick up my new SUV GMC Acadia (hopefully)

This is it, well different one but same color (silver)

Then the kids have 2 different birthday parties and we'd like to finish painting the decks and doors (inside doors) and some other stuff to get the house ready to sell.  Depending on how things work out we are taking the kids to the drive in to see the new Minions' movie and the move after that is Inside Out. On Sunday my kids Old Brooklyn Little League is being honored at the Indians game at 1 pm and they were their T Ball shirts and get to parade around the outfield.  Then I have a softball game at 6pm.  Somewhere in between that I have to squeeze in baths and laundry, UGH.  I should have given baths last night but we were at the dealership until 9 pm and by time we got home it was past bedtime and it was showing on the kiddo's.

Love these guys

Ok, I typed more then I was planning on doing so I'm going to end it here.  Hope everyone has a wonderful weekend and I will update after my first or second or third workout and how the new gym is.

Until next time....

Jennie

July 4th = bad habits

I can say I am sort of happy that July 4th has come and gone and not because I didn't enjoy it, because I sure did.  It is because I fell off of the weight loss wagon.  I went to my weigh in today and truly wasn't expecting good results and I was right.  Because I chose to drink beer and White Wine Peach Sangria, OMG I'm going to talk about this drink for a second.  I actually got a recipe in my Weight watchers book on Thursday and it looked so refreshing that I had to try it.  It was similar to the recipe above but I used White Wine, Peach tea, peach schnapps, fresh peach, Granny Smith apple, fresh lemon and when it was ready to serve I topped it off with diet 7UP.

Here was mine

 It was really good, but I have to figure out what was making it really sweet, because the sweetness factor was really high.  My eating habits for the weekend could have used some work too.   I made some red, white and blue strawberries.  I took a strawberry and dipped it in white chocolate (next time I'm going to use yogurt for a healthier version) and sprinkled it with blue sprinkles. They were a hit and all gone.

I am upset with no one but myself.  I worked hard to lose the 10 lbs in two weeks only to blow it this past weekend.  I gained 3 lbs at my weigh in today all because I made horrible choices and the sad thing is I even brought spinach and lettuce with me and banana's and such.  I let temptation fail me and gave in to the cheese, my mother's dip and a half of a hot dog.  Then on Sunday I had a breakfast sandwich 6" from Subway on our two hour drive home.  and I'm pretty sure I had some other stuff in between that and dinner which was three cheddar bratwurst.  So I'm sure you can see why I gained 3 lbs this weekend and I'm thinking one or two of those are water too.

Rest assured I am back on track today.  I bought a new bike yesterday because my trio are now at the age where they ride fast and just walking behind them isn't working anymore, so now I can ride along with them.  I wanted to ride tonight but they have a T-Ball game at 6:30 and so I am going to "TRY" to get my lazy butt on the treadmill tonight after they go to sleep.  My running/walking should be much easier because today I am 20 days smoke free.  I haven't tried running since I quit, but deep down inside I have actually been looking forward to doing it since I have. I just severely lack the motivation.  I set my alarm for 4 am this morning and other mornings thinking I'd get up and run, but my sleep and wanting to stay in bed and sleep for another hour and a half has out ruled that.  I know that once I get into the hang of it, it will then become habit and I'll look forward to it (because I've been there done that) and will have that guilt feeling on the days I end up missing.  I truly am looking forward to those days.  Another thing I'm worried about is my right knee has been tightening up and sore the past couple days and I just got them back to normal almost a year now.  I have to try and look past that and work through it and not let it interrupt my need to get well and in shape.  I wan to also start doing my ab video workout because as I'm losing this weight the skin will not tighten if I don't help it, it is only getting lose and will soon be hanging (only bad thing about having twins plus one).

Well I blabbed long enough.  I really hope everyone had an enjoyable weekend and stayed safe.  We spent the weekend out at my Aunt & Uncles 59 acre land and it was GREAT.  Never have I been somewhere that was so peaceful and just a great experience to wake up to in the morning.  I personally don't think I could live that isolated, but I can do 2-5 acres and be happy.  I'm a City girl and will always be a City girl and have the luxury of having a store 10 mins away.  I can find that amount of acre's and still be close to City.  I still love that feeling I had this weekend though.  They are truly lucky.

Until next time.. Be safe and well!!