Chipping Away!

I am slowly chipping away at all those extra pounds! I am running when I can during this winter, though finding it harder to stay motivated for various reasons, sickness going through the house, shin splints being back and all the snow days. The snow days have been the hardest for me, since it means being stuck inside and that makes me want to munch and snack.

I am definitely looking forward to all this snow melting so I can get back outside for some of my runs! I am especially interested to see how well I do running my route since I have been getting faster on the treadmill. I don't exactly know why, but I definitely run faster outside than on the treadmill. Probably has something to do with the scenery and that you're actually going somewhere! We have also set up and started using the Kinect Santa brought us for Christmas. It's much easier to use than the Wii (no remotes!) and so the boys and I have started dancing again! This game is a much better workout than the Wii one for sure!

In any case, I have no complaints about how things have been going for the most part. I have some work I need to do in the "diet" department but like I said, this has been a tough winter and we've been on an ordering out kick again. The Doc's schedule changes tomorrow so he won't be getting home as late so that will help! And hopefully Mother Nature will stop pummeling us with snow so we're not stuck inside like we have been because I am really hoping that by next week that 5 will be a FOUR! I haven't seen a FOUR in that spot since the Fall of 2002. There will be lots of celebrating when that happens for sure!



Last Week: 151.7
This Week: 150.9
Wk 5 Loss: 0.8
Total Loss: 4.1 (34.5 overall!)

Photoshop

Ever since I got the new camera I have been checking out some online tutorials on how to use the Adobe Photoshop program that my Dad installed onto my computer. I have taught myself how to do boarders, adjust curves, soften an image and last night I played around with color adjustments.

Here is my before and after of a picture I took of Evan in the shower last night!

Before


After


By adjusting the colors a bit, I was able to take some of the pinkness out of the picture! This photoshop stuff is pretty cool! There is so much more that I can do in the "digital darkroom" and I am looking forward to taking an actual class someday!

Yup! Slow and Steady!

They say the last 10 pounds is the hardest to lose. Well I have 17.2 pounds to go to reach my overall goal and so I keep plugging along knowing that as long as I keep running and keep making healthy food choices, I will eventually reach that goal! And I know that by losing this weight slowly, I am increasing my chances of keeping it all off!



Last Week: 152.0
This Week: 151.7
Wk 4 Loss: 0.3 lbs
Total Loss: 3.3 lbs (33.7 overall!)

One of the best things about having a group of women who all have the same goals to lean on during this journey is getting some really great tips to help everyone stay on track. In one of our tip threads I had posted these three easy things that I have done to help me along the way. The first one was to get a really good 24oz. water bottle! And fill it and drink it at least 3 times per day. I used to only drink soda. All day long. Now I hardly drink it at all and to be honest, I don't even miss it anymore!

The second tip was about taking baby steps! I have one overall weight loss goal, but found it overwhelming to think about the 50lbs I needed to lose to reach that goal. The fact that my Biggest Loser rounds are 12 weeks long, helped me break down that goal into a number of small more attainable goals. Making my goals smaller has helped keep me motivated because I am able to celebrate each victory!

And last and probably the most important thing everyone should do when starting this journey is to FORGET ABOUT THE NUMBER ON THE SCALE!!!! It's easier said than done, I know. But as long as you make healthy choices and get in some exercise your body will change and it will eventually show on the scale!! It is the reason that I swear by taking measurements and before and after pictures. Because when the scale is being unkind to me, I can go back and look at those before pictures and see just how far I have come and get back that motivation that I can do this! To add to this one of the other moms took it a step further because as she puts it, the scale doesn't tell the whole story! She suggested setting your goal to fitting in a smaller pant size or setting a fitness goal, like running a 5k, instead of a weight loss goals. That really stood out to me and I am going to remember that on weeks where the numbers are moving more slowly!

Building a Snowman

Yesterday while hanging out at my parents for the day, the kids spent some time playing outside in the snow. They went sledding, had a snowball fight and with the help of Uncle Jesse (OK, so he did most of the work!) built a snowman!





He had a candy cane nose, a pickle mouth and two eyes made out of olives!!


The finished snowman!

The Dentist

Last Thursday we took the boys to their very first Dentist appointments. Since our insurance changed we were all able to go to the same place and all have cleanings done together. I was having my teeth cleaned while David and Shaun went so I didn't get to see them but they both did great.

The girl was unable to do Shaun's cleaning since he would close his mouth over the polish brush! He does that with his toothbrush at home trying to "eat" the toothpaste. They told me that he is a little young anyway, they normally wait until 3 years old. But for 2.5 he did great! He sat in the chair with no trouble, got to go for a "ride" and even let the girl count his teeth! David also did great! In fact, he LOVED it, especially because the girl let him help paint on the fluoride! He had so much fun, he keeps asking when he gets to go back!

18% and 4 Miles!

It's officially been 7 months since I started my journey to a healthier me and I have lost 18.02% of my body weight!



Last Week: 152.7
This Week: 152.0
Wk 3 Loss: 0.7 lbs
Total Loss: 3 lbs (33.4 overall)

I have also finally gotten back to my running routine. I have some new goals I would like to achieve this year with my running and that would be able to run a 10 minute mile and to run a 10k (at least!). There is a big road race down on the Cape Memorial Day Weekend which includes a 1/2 marathon, a 7.2 miler and a 5k. I know I can do the 5k, but I am still debating whether or not I want to give the 7.2 miler a go. It's an entire mile longer than a 10k would be. I still have time to think about it since the registration isn't open for the race yet, but it would give me something to work towards! In any case, this week I have already started working on increasing my distance by running at least a 5k on the treadmill. And tonight I ran 4 miles in 46:35 which is an average speed of 5.1 mph! I continued right into my cool down and was so proud of my accomplishment, took a picture of the treadmill with my phone!



I won't be able to do this every night, but with the help of the best running coach ever (Charlie!), we're working on coming up with a new routine. I like structure. It helps keep me focused. Eye on the prize! Or something like that!

Pancakes & The First Snow Day!

We found out Tuesday (at noon) that schools would be cancelled for Wednesday. It was nice to know ahead of time so that I could plan on being stuck indoors with the boys. I tend to get cabin fever very quickly and I don't like being cooped up inside.

When we woke up Wednesday morning, the snow was coming down fast and furious. The Doc, who was not so lucky, had to go into work. He said the roads weren't great but he made it in safely. I decided to make the boys some chocolate chip pancakes for breakfast, since a trip to Dunkin Donuts was out of the question! The boys were excited, since they LIVE for pancakes, but I don't normally have time in the mornings to make them. I even made a small one for Evan since, for the last few weeks we have been slowly introducing him to table foods!!



He LOVED them! You can tell by his chocolatey face!


After breakfast was over, I went down and opened up the garage to see just how much snow we had already accumulated. It wasn't much, maybe 5 inches or so, but it was WET and HEAVY.



In fact it was so heavy that it pulled down a wire from our house. Since we didn't lose power, I knew it wasn't a power line, so the only thing I can think of it being is phone line or something and we don't have a land line so it wouldn't affect us.



I came back upstairs and set up the activity that I planned for the morning. The boys Great Aunts got them some fun activity sets for Christmas and this was the prefect day to set one up. It was a plaster magnet set. It came with some paints and paint brushes. I set up some newspaper on the table and let the boys choose the magnets they wanted to paint. I even saved one for myself!

Didn't I do a fantastic job!


Schools were cancelled again today but the roads are clear so I was happy that I could get out of the house. We've already been to Target this morning and then while Evan took a short nap, I took the boys to play out in the snow in our mini-yard! After 20 minutes of being out in the cold they were ready to come in and have some hot chocolate!

Attempting snow angels in our teeny tiny front yard!

It's New Years Resolution Time

And that means time to get back on the wagon! My biggest goal for the new year, besides getting down to a healthy BMI, is to be able to run a 10k. I am going to start slowly working my way up to running 3 miles consistently on the treadmill and on once the weather is a bit warmer and the side walks clear, I will be running a new course that is a total of 4 miles.

The next round of Biggest Loser is in full swing we had first weigh in on January 1st. I am starting 1.5 pounds higher than where I finished the last round, but considering all the Holiday indulgences and lack of exercise, I cannot complain!

Biggest Loser Starting Weight (my third round!)


Things have been really hectic and crazy around here. I am going on 8 straight months without a full nights sleep (thanks Evan!), add that to a busy Holiday season, and I am just spent! It has finally caught up with me, making it hard to stay motivated. So it's a good thing that the competition has started back up. I still have a good 20 pounds I would like to lose, if not more! And so far so good, I had a great first week. It helped that I have been able to give up my morning bagel sandwich habit!



Starting: 155.0
This Week: 152.7
Wk 2 Loss: 2.3 lbs
Total Loss: 2.3 lbs (32.7 overall)

It's such a good feeling to be so close to seeing that 5 become a 4!! A number that I haven't seen there since my wedding over 8 years ago!!

Bringing in the New Year

With a little Christmas on the Cape, followed by Santapalooza, which was dubbed Wintahpalooza this year since it was after Christmas! We had a nice visit on the cape with the extended family. Since the boys are the only "kids" in attendance, they get spoiled rotten with attention from their Great Aunts and Great Grandmothers!

The boys with Nana


The boys with GG


The boys with Aunt Vicki and Aunt Karen


We ate some yummy foods, watched the boys play with the cool new toys they got from the family and then the adults did a Yankee swap and I feel no shame in leaving with the Popcorn maker that I had brought! Ha!

Then on Sunday we headed north for our 10th annual Santapalooza. I made a Rib Eye Roast with a Port Wine Gravy and it was served with Brian's salad, baked potatoes and roasted carrots and fennel. It was SO good!



The kids had fun decorating a gingerbread house and playing with the new toys that Santa brought Cameron and Brady!



It was the perfect way to bring in the new year! 2010 was a wonderful year and I know that 2011 will only be better!

Evan is 8 Months Old!

Not only was yesterday the start of the new year, but it also meant that Evan was another month older! He is really starting to change from that baby look to a more toddler look. Having some teeth helps, he has two as of right now! Plus his hair is growing in a bit more.



We have also started giving him so real foods. He has had some scrambled eggs, ramen noodles, mac & cheese, meatballs, ice cream, banana cream pie and yesterday he even got to have some homemade cheesecake that his Great Aunt Vicki made. We're pretty certain that was his absolute favorite thing ever and MIL couldn't stuff it in his face fast enough! We'll probably start letting him try more and more "real" food, since he seems very interested in what we are eating.

In other milestones, he is on the move using the army crawl. He looks more like an inch worm since he tries to get up on his knees but can't stay there! He is also sitting up on his own, he's been using the side of his crib as leverage, but he's getting better at doing it without the leverage! It was so cute to find him sitting up after I went in to get him from his nap. Then a few days later, I went into nurse him in the night and when I walked into his room, he was STANDING UP! I figured it was just a fluke but when I went in the second time that night and he was doing it again, it was time to lower the crib. I didn't want to take any chances!

Now if we can just work on his sleeping skills! Ha!