List Envy

I've been reading some of your blogs today, trying to catch up. By the way, I'd like to welcome some of you that recently started following my blog! It really is nice to meet you all. Anyway, it seems everyone is making a list of some kind. I need to make a list. Or make several. I usually only make a shopping list but I'm liking the idea of listing things I want to achieve. Whether for one day or for a whole week. So thanks to Karen, Deborah, Tamzin and many more of you organized dolls, lists are making a come-back! LOL

Yesterday, I had fun on my Wii Fit. I've unlocked a few new things (you get rewarded with new activities the more you do). I'm getting better at the step aerobics but still suck at the hula-hoop. I just can't get the hoops that come my way. They bonk me on the head!

Here is pic of my Wii looking a little more like me!

I'm still considering going to Blogher conference in Chicago. I've been racking my brain how I can set aside some money to go. It would be so fun to get away and I've never been to Chicago! Damn, I need a sugar daddy!

Have some fun, drink your water, and make a list of something. LOL

Happy Friday!

Today is my weigh-in day and the scale said 268.8!! Woo Hoo! I'm in the 260's. I was hoping to lose a little more, but, and excuse the following if it's TMI, I didn't go potty yesterday (need to eat more flax) so the loss might be more when nature calls! LOL!

In the "old" days, my scale wouldn't have registered the .8, it would have just said 268. That would mean a loss of 2 lbs instead of 1.4 lbs, but I digress. I'm just happy to see that number go down.

At work, they are offering a health "pilot" program called Naturally Slim. In order to be chosen to participate in the program you had to meet certain criteria. Of course, I met the requirements and I've signed up. It's a 10 week trial period and you have to meet the first time for a 2 hour meeting. Then after that it's all done online and you have to keep a food log and other stuff I guess I'll find out at the meeting.

The incentive is, if you don't finish the 10 week period, you have to pay $150 which is the cost of the program. Well, I'm not going to pay for something I'm already doing and I'm hoping this program will help keep my momentum going. All info is private so my employer won't know specifics. I like that even though, it's obvious that I need all the help I can get!

This weight-loss journey will be a long one for me. I have many pounds to lose but I have my eye on the prize. The prize of being healthy and living a better life. One that will allow me to have the fun that I've been craving. A life filled with activity and friends. I have let being overweight keep me from living. I'm so tired of that. It's got to stop. This year. 2009 is my year!

Let's all keep going at it. Don't give up. Keep your eye on the prize and let's turn to each other for support and advice. We will do this!!

New Chocolate Love!

When I started eating clean I learned a lot from Karen, the Dreadmill Executioner, at her blog *Fitcetera*. Thank you, Karen! One of the best things I learned from her is using Blue Diamond Almond Milk with my whey protein. I had already been using the almond milk with cereal but silly me didn't put the two together! Whey and almond milk shakes are sooooo good.

Well, today I bought unsweetened chocolate almond milk. I KNOW!! Chocolate with chocolate whey powder! Chocolate heaven!

Anyway, I rode my bike today since it was 70 something degrees. Gotta love Houston in January. (July, not so much.) Then worked out on the Wii Fit. Tried a new yoga pose, the palm tree. Let's just say I need a little work on being a tree! LOL

Tomorrow is weigh-in day. I'm ready for it. Sweet dreams all. Hope you had some fun today.

Uh-oh! Friday's Coming!

I usually weigh-in on Friday but today I got on the scale just for grins and it said I was up a pound. Whaaa?!! I thought I'd lost some. My pants are baggy today. I had to do it, didn't I? Get on the damn thing and let it get to me. I hate when I do that. It's just a freakin' number but it's like the weather, it totally affects my mood.

On Monday, since I was off work, I rode my bike for 6.5 miles, I worked in the yard hauling tree limbs to the curb for trash pick-up, and I Wii'd (not a word but don't know what to call it!) for 35 minutes. I worked my butt off and the scale just up and went the wrong direction today. I know all the exercise probably threw my body into some kind of freak-out mode: Oh, no! She's burning up the fat! Quick hold on to it! LOL

I'm going to suck it up and think about the saggy pants. I know one thing, I'm not getting off my plan today or tomorrow or the next day. So there! Take that oh mighty scale...

Meet Mii

I talk a lot about the Wii Fit so I thought I'd show you my on-screen self. I've hula hooped so much that my right knee is a bit swollen. But I just put the ice pack on it afterwards and go again the next day!

Today I did the Rhythm Boxing for the first time. It took me a few tries before I got my "rhythm" but once I did, I liked the punching and the sound it makes when you "hit" the punching bag. You can take a lot of frustration out doing this one and burn calories at the same time.

Anyway, I hope your Monday was a good one and the rest of your week is full of healthy food. Get some fresh air and drink your water!!

edited to add: My Mii is much thinner when doing the hula-hoop! LOL- She looks very pudgey otherwise!

Happy MLK Day!

I'm off work today thanks to MLK. Since we share the same birthday I always feel a special bond with him. Just kidding, but on a serious note, I do think today holds a very significant meaning. I wish our new President was being sworn in today. Don't you think that would be really cool?

Today it's a little windy here but I went for a bike ride anyway. Rode for 6.5 miles and my average speed was 10 mph. I haven't figured how many calories I burned but I don't really care. I know I felt great after the ride and that's what's important.

I'm off to do some errands today and then later I'll be getting Fit, I am so addicted to my Wii Fit! I'll try to take a pic of my Mii (if you don't have a Wii or don't speak Wii, that is the little person that represents you on the screen). I just love her expressions. She's gets a little frustrated when I'm "unbalanced"! So funny, I screw up more when I'm laughing! LOL

Ta Ta for now! Have some fun and eat your veggies!

De-Clutter Diem!

I'm taking a cue from Karen from *Fitcetera* and today I'm going to try to get somethings outta here! I've had enough of all this stuff. Where does it all come from? I couldn't possibly have brought all this junk in here! Good heavens! I'm so sick of having to deal with it, I just want it out!

Don't get me wrong, my house doesn't look like the next episode of "Clean Sweep", but I'm afraid if I don't get busy, they might be knockin' on my door. LOL

So today I'll be the queen of all things organized. I hope anyway!

I'll leave you with the cute greeting from one of my birthday cards:

Hey, You - goddess of unequaled perfection, princess of coolness, example of perpetual youth!

(inside card) And you thought you were simply the birthday girl!

Love it! Have a great day, drink lots of water, and smile!

Challenge Weigh-In & Good Eats!

I got on the scale this morning (not that I haven't been getting on it all week~lol) and I've lost 2.6 lbs since last Friday!! Yep, I did the happy dance! I was afraid last nights meal might have made a difference since we had pasta. I think this is the first time I've had pasta for dinner and not shown a gain the next morning. Hmm. I was mindful of how much I ate last night and I didn't overeat. And, I was very satisfied!

Here's what my dear mother cooked for us last night (all from the Clean Eating Mag Jan/Feb 2009 issue):

• Baked Penne (p. 52)
• Roasted Zucchini Fries (p. 53)
• Apple-Cranberry Crumble (p. 57)

I'm telling you this meal was so delicious! The pasta was excellent. I loved the asparagus in it. The zucchini fries had the consistency of butter! Melt in your mouth goodness! The crumble was just the right ending for such a great meal. My mom did substitute cherries for the cranberries. I think she used unsweetened cherries from a can so they may not have been ultra-clean, but still healthier than what we usually have on a birthday! I figure any step towards healthy is still a step well taken. Anyway, here are a few pics from the evening. I somehow forgot to take a pic of the pasta dish but it looked just like the one in the magazine!

Here are my tulips!






Yummy crumble!

And me - happy after my 5.5 mile bike ride!!

Have a great Friday! Eat your veggies and have some fun!

Celebrate!

Is it weird to mention that today is my birthday? Well, today is my birthday! Whoopee! I'm 52! Whatever that means. I don't really think of my age except when my knees grind as I'm going up a flight of stairs. Ugh. Why do the parts have to wear out?

When I woke up this morning, I found a pretty bouquet of red tulips. My son left them for me! He's such a sweetheart. When he was 4 years old my mom brought him to my office (where I was working at the time) and he walked all the way to my desk carrying a sweet little bunch of flowers. Every year after that he insisted on getting me flowers. It's so nice that even at age 24, he still remembers to get me flowers. Thanks, mom, for helping to teach my son to be thoughtful and giving. It means so much!

I'm not having cake today. I'm not having cheesecake (my fav). I've asked for a yummy fruit crumble made with cherries, apples, oats, and pecans. Yummm. Since I've been doing well this week and feeling good, I don't want to blow it over having a birthday. Dinner will be at home and then on to the Wii! It is so much fun. I laugh at myself (my mii) when it hangs its head in shame! Those of you that have a Wii, know what I'm talking about!

I hope you have a day that makes you smile!

Reflection and Change

I've been doing pretty good for the last week. Lost the weight I gained over the holidays and I've been more active. If you're like me when I get in the "zone" I begin to feel like a thin person. Not that I think I'm thin, but I'm behaving like a thin person. This behavior makes me feel good. I even think I step a little faster and livelier when I'm walking.

Then I see my reflection in a window while I'm waiting in the doctor's office and - poof! Reality is like a cold splash of water in my face. Crap, why did I even have to look. I knew what I would see, that fat chick that keeps following me around, year after year. She was beginning to just be a memory.

The change part of this post is that this time I really looked at myself. I think I see a change in my face. A change in my posture. I'm even holding my head up a little higher and not slinking away. Yep. I see myself but this time I know that the reflection I see is of a woman with a purpose. A woman determined to lose the weight and live the healthy life she longs to live.

I am thankful for all of you that offer support and really care about others that are facing the same (or close to the same) uphill climbs. It is what helps keep me going somedays. Thanks for that!