shrinkvivor challenge week 2

And we're back! Week 2 of the Shrinkvivor Challenge over at Shrinking Jeans! I will lay it all out here - I had a bad week. From Friday-Tuesday I didn't watch what I ate and the scale showed it on Wednesday with a gain of 1.3 pounds this week! Very disappointing for me but how can I be upset when I know what the reasoning behind it was? Because of my gain I was lowest % for my team so I have been moved over to Exile Island. And you know what? I'm okay with that. My team - Team Pink - AKA the Pinkbury Dough Girls - is an amazing group of ladies who didn't make me feel less than for my not-so-good week. And in past challenges or life in general when I screw up I give up. Not this time. As Ann (LOVE ANN!) texted me this evening - "...this isn't for prizes it's for health!" And you know what? Isn't the biggest prize of all being healthier for me and my family? For me? Absolutely. So yes I gained. Yes I'm okay with it. And yes I'm back on track this week. And it's a great place to be mentally.

This week's physical challenge is exercise minutes again - time devoted to exercise specifically. So I will be working on that and continuing to keep track of my foods and staying within my daily Points Plus target for Weight Watchers. I did well in the exercise department last week going from zero to 195 minutes which is substantially less than some but an improvement for me.

This next week will be better and I will keep plugging away. I'll check in with you again on Wednesday.

And this? When I'm feeling down I remember this. I will not let the number on the scale define me any more. It's not worth it. I am worth more.

shrinkvivor challenge week 1

This is it! Week 1 of the Shrinkvivor Challenge over at Shrinking Jeans! I almost wish I had waited and started back to Weight Watchers a week later since I'm down 4.2 pounds this week!

I am teamed up with some great gals for this challenge including Ann and Heather! We are part of Team Pink - AKA the Pinkbury Dough Girls! Cute, huh?
















This week's physical challenge is exercise minutes - time devoted to exercise specifically. So I will be working on that and continuing to keep track of my foods and staying within my daily Points Plus target for Weight Watchers.

The best part about this past week? (Excluding a nice loss on the scale, of course.) Energy. I actually am not dragging my butt, exhausted all the flippin' time. Guess my body was trying to tell me something. Obviously I'm hard headed occasionally. Or all the time if you ask my husband.

I am really looking forward to seeing what I personally and the Pinkbury Dough Girls as a team can accomplish not only this week but throughout this challenge.

Until next Wednesday...

i confess...

...that most of my days are so busy I have no idea what time it is until the alarm on my phone goes off and reminds me to walk to the bus stop to meet my son.

...that when it comes to being healthy and doing what I know I should be doing I've not been doing it.

...that I am overwhelmed with life and I have let that stop me from, well, a lot.

...that the excuses need to stop and I need to figure out my game plan. I'm meal planning. Now I need to either count calories or go back to Weight Watchers. Whatever I decide to do I need to do it and not look back. Period.*

*I wrote this post over the weekend. I re-register at Weight Watchers on Wednesday morning. Wish me luck!

menu planning

I have a love-hate relationship with menu planning. Okay, it's a mostly hate relationship, but it must be done. If it's not done we eat out, we eat crap and spend money that could better be used in other areas.

I love the idea of linking up our weekly plans and sharing them with our friends to keep us accountable and give us ideas for future meals. Because I, for one, need both the accountability and ideas!

Here's our meal plan for this week in no particular order. I try to decide the night before what we're going to have the next day. If I forget then I pull from something easy on the list (example - the Cheese Ravioli Bake, because it's quick to make from frozen). Side dishes are listed in parentheses.

Country French Chicken & Veggies (garden salad)
Cheese Ravioli Bake (tomato ranch salad)
Shepherd's Pie (broccoli steamed for me and with sour cream sauce for the rest of the peeps)
Balsamic Pork Chops (rice pilaf & cantaloupe)
Taco Burgers (warm ranch potato salad)
Pizza Loaf (garden salad)
Grilled Turkey Tenderloin (green beans & baked cauliflower)

I will say that one thing I really need to start doing is planning breakfast and lunch. We always just wing it with those meals (leftovers, salad, sandwich for lunch and breakfast is quick with lots of options). If you have any ideas to help me get into a groove with those meals I'd love to hear them!

Now go visit the link-up over at Shrinking Jeans and see what everyone else is eating this week!

fessin' up

I realize confession is good for the soul and all but I'm not really feeling it. I don't participate like I used to on the weekly stuff at Shrinking Jeans and I actually miss it. I do spend a good bit of time over at the 'hood now that I'm a Social Sister and all but I feel like I'm not being a good role model by not participating. Am I just making myself feel guilty when I really shouldn't? Eh, probably. I'm good at that. So there's confession #1.

Confession #2. I haven't been listening to my body with the whole intuitive eating thing and I've been stress eating again. I know I have because I recognize it when I do it. It needs to stop. I know this. Why the heck is it so hard to stop though? Lots of head knowledge here but not a lot of following through.

And last, but certainly not least, confession #3 is I stopped walking/running/jogging. I was feeling really good and I stopped. Life, as Christie O. mentioned in her post "3 Reasons You Should Never Wait to Work Out" has derailed me. But life won't be getting easier any time soon. In fact, after Saturday when my husband moves to the new job, I will be doing the single mom thing until we move. I gotta make it work. Period. If for nothing but my sanity.

And there you have it...Roo's confessions for the week.

i feel like the energizer bunny

It's after 11:00 PM and I have finally sat down for the first time today. No, really. Other than driving and a quick chiro appointment I haven't stopped. I feel like the Energizer bunny - the one that keeps going and going and going - except I think my batteries are dying.

Did I tell you guys I'm moving? I can't remember. Anyway, we're moving. Again. Husband took a job that requires relocation. Our house officially lists tomorrow and I just now finished "staging" it for pictures. My next step is tackling the basement and sorting donate versus trash versus keep. I don't think I want a basement in my next house because all I ever do with them is use them as storage for things I should just get rid of. Please tell me I'm not the only one that does this... ::looks around::

The most exciting news of the day? I'm a Social Sister over at Shrinking Jeans! I am so stinkin' thrilled. I love these gals (and guys!) so. much. I know there are so many new faces over there too. I promise to get my booty in gear and mosey on over to the 'hood and start connecting with you ASAP! The best part? I get to do it with Trish B! Yay!

...and I guess I'm going to hit publish and shut down the PC for now because SOMEONE (my 3 year old) is still awake. This is what happens when she naps. Oh well, at least it's summer vacation and we have nowhere we have to be first thing in the morning.

G'night!

may your way: 5/4 check-in

Seriously? It's already time to check-in? Okay, here goes...up 1/2 a pound since Monday.

Update on goals:

• Water - minimum 64 ounces. None today *runs for cover while hanging head in shame*. No excuse really - I just didn't. I PROMISE I will redeem myself on this goal from this point forward.
• Eat better & track my food. I've been more cautious about what I'm eating and I'm writing everything down (including the 2 mini peanut butter cups I ate this afternoon). It is very eye opening and it's no wonder I've not really been making progress. I am too embarrassed to share my log so far but suffice it to say it ain't pretty.
• Work on strengthening my back. Pilates after I hit publish on this post and link up!

Not perfect but making slow progress. That's a step in the right direction and I'll take it.

my way

As a work-at-home mom I rarely, if ever, do things "my way". I mean I kinda do but my life revolves around my kids and their needs. It's no secret that I don't take time for myself and I know that this needs to stop - especially if I want to be around to be here for my kids in the years to come.

Enter the new Shrinking Jeans challenge for May - My Way, My Needs, My Goals. Here are my initial goals:

• Water - minimum 64 ounces
• Eat better & track my food. I realize this is very general but I'm still trying to make a decision on how to proceed with this one. I kicked the sugar habit once before and felt amazing. I'm going to do a little research over the next few days but am leaning towards eliminating as much sugar as possible. I know I'm a sugar addict. So I'm going to do my best to stop the processed crap and incorporate more good-for-me stuff. I will also track what I eat so that I can see what I'm eating, etc. No calorie tracking yet. Writing it down is enough of a first step for me.
• Work on strengthening my back. It's still giving me a lot of pain and the last shot that was supposed to work (the preliminary one did) did not work and I'm in a lot of pain still. I am going to start with Pilates 3 times/week and when it's nice out I'm taking the stroller and my little one and I are going for a walk because something, anything is better than nothing.

So there you have it. My goals, my needs. It's all about me this month.

spring in2 action challenge kick-off

Spring is coming and the Sisterhood is kicking it off with a new challenge - Spring In2 Action! It's a buddy challenge and I've teamed up with Kate aka @northdakotamom on Twitter. We're calling ourselves the Crazy Brownies.

As I posted yesterday, I'm currently (or was) at my highest weight in a while of *whispers* 202.2. Cue tears. Lots of tears and internally beating myself up. Enough. Ice cream never solved anything. Can I get an AMEN? That being said:

Weight at last check-in: 202.2
Challenge Starting Weight: 202.2
Change This Week: -1.7 (200.5)
Change for Spring In2 Action Challenge: -1.7
Total Pounds Gone since 3/1/2011: -1.7

My goals for this challenge:

• Watch the scale go down (and not just because I'm seeing the number when one of my kids is on the scale playing). Seriously give it my all and work on losing weight. How will I do this? Weight Watchers (went back yesterday) and water.
• Ah, water. My body needs it but I have a bad habit of filling it with caffeine (i.e. coffee and Diet Coke). Daily goal (because I'm hardly drinking any) is 64 ounces. I should probably aim for more but baby steps, right?
• Complete the 100 push-up challenge. Because I want smokin' hawt arms. It's true. I also want a strong core and this will help towards achieving that goal as well. Push-ups are done 3 times a week. I will walk the other 3 days for at least 30 minutes (or restart C25K if my back allows) and rest one day a week.

Speaking of push-ups, I decided to go with real push-ups (on my toes and not my knees). I was able to do a whopping 3 for my initial test. But I will get better and I will get stronger. You can count on it. (Pssst: Day 1 complete!)

I keep reminding myself "baby steps" because I tend to go full force into something and give up within a week or two because I've done too much. I'm truly working on changing that this time around and can't wait to see where I am at the end of this 6 week challenge!

the power of one: check-in #4

Challenge Starting Weight: 198.1
Change This Week: -1.0
Change for The Power of One Challenge: -1.2*
Total Pounds Gone since 9-8-2010: -6.8

Down 1 pound!

Slow and steady, right?

*disclaimer...I suck at math. I had to readjust this # based on my weight this week. I have no idea where I screwed up. {sigh}

power of one: january project #2

I keep putting this post off. Why? Because I don't want to write it. I'm afraid I'll look back on this 6 months from now and not have accomplished anything. However, I'm slowly learning that sometimes always it's just the fear of the unknown that scares me. (It's only taken me 34 years to come to this conclusion. I'm insanely bright.)

Writing down my plans and goals for my life shouldn't scare me. Sure, I may have to adjust some things along the way but without a plan I'm just hobbling along making the best of my situation instead of taking the bull by the horns and making my life the life that I want.

So what is it that I want?

Physical Goals

Conquer my back problems: May will be one year since I injured my back. I still have no idea what I did to cause it, but during my training for the San Diego Half Marathon I managed to develop a herniated disc. I've had 3 cortisone injections and while the first 2 helped relieve pain for a little while the 3rd one did not. I don't really know what to do. I don't want to have an invasive surgical procedure but what would other options be?

I know that walking doesn't bother me. Oodles of walking in Orlando last weekend proved that. Running does hurt. So my short term plan is to walk 3 days a week and do Pilates the other 3 days to build up my core and strengthen my abs and back. I'll plan to take one day off a week (either Saturday or Sunday).

This is my start. I know I'll need to readjust this at some point and make a decision on fixing my disc problems.

5K by June: This goal stems from the previous one. I WILL walk a 5K by June. I found a few this Spring on Active.com and will sign-up for one of those. I will also plan to take part in the 5K at Fitbloggin. Until I can figure out my back it will be a walking 5K. Walking it is definitely better than not doing it at all, right? Right.

Get within 10 lbs of my goal weight by end of 2011: I'll admit, this is the scariest of them all. 40 pounds is what I need to lose to get within 10 pounds of my goal weight. 50 pounds would actually get me to goal. I know this is feasible because I lost 60 pounds in 11 months back in 2003; so 40 pounds in 11.5 months is reasonable and healthy. Getting there will take some serious discipline from me though. I will need to stick to my exercise plan of walking and Pilates and I will have to keep my eating and Points in check. Daily.

Other Goals

To better manage my time: This is a really general goal but the long and short of it is I want to put myself on a schedule. I thrive on routine and having a to-do list. With no routine at all I don't feel like doing anything and/or I get so overwhelmed I don't know where to start. I have started working on a daily schedule for myself and am going to do my best to stick with it. It's actually 90% done. I need to tweak it a bit and I plan to start working with that schedule on Tuesday. (Tomorrow is a play day - movies with my kids and my nieces!)

Research alternate schooling for my kids: This one overwhelms me so much; but I'm not happy with the school we put our 6 year old in this year. I don't like the hours he's away or knowing that he's in a class full of kids with anger issues, bullying problems, etc. I get that dealing with difficult peers is part of life but I don't believe that at 6 he should be forced to deal with these things.

If I could turn back the clock 6 months we wouldn't have moved to the area we chose if for no other reason but the school system. But as it stands now we've purchased a home and this is where we are so I need to do something.

I've gotten some information from an awesome friend on charter schooling and am going to start reading everything I can get my hands on and researching this. Honestly? I don't want to go the at home route because for starters it's not easy. And the idea of tackling something so big is, well, scary. (See paragraph 1 and my phobia of the unknown.)

Another option is private schooling of some sort but the cost is prohibitive at this point in time.

Any feedback on this goal or any of 'em, for that matter, would be really appreciated.

Gracias!

power of one: january project #1

Instead of a monthly project for January, the Sisterhood has decided to mix things up and make our projects weekly. I'm behind as they've already posted our week 2 assignment but I am really trying to keep up so I'll post mine as I can. Better late than never, right? Right.

This project was to write a letter to your future self. So I am going to attempt to write a letter to me in 2012 talking about 2011 and how I succeeded, was challenged, etc. I didn't participate last year because, frankly, I was overwhelmed. I wish I had because maybe it would've kept me more focused on the overall picture. Oh well, live and learn.

Dear Roo,

It's January 2012 and I gotta say 2011 flew by. But don't the years always seem to fly by now that you're a grown-up with kids of your own?

You've managed to stay married for 10 years (holy smokes!) and you've got two beautiful kids that you adore.

You were worried there at the beginning of the year how you would fare with your re-dedication to Weight Watchers and being healthy but you did great, woman! You kicked 2011 in the ass and told it that there's no way you'd let it be as crappy as 2010. You are so close to your goal weight. I have no idea why it took you so long to get your head back in the game but we are so glad you did.

Learning to put yourself first has been so hard. You're a giver and while we love that about you it makes it much harder for you to do what you need to do for yourself. You finally started exercising again and that back problem? Yep. You finally got that fixed. You can exercise again without pain. It took long enough but you're there. What a relief!

I'm really proud of you. You have made tremendous strides over the last year. Let's keep it up!

Love,
Future Roo

the power of one: check-in #2

Challenge Starting Weight: 198.1
Change This Week: +1.5
Change for The Power of One Challenge: +0.7
Total Pounds Gone since 9-8-2010: -4.8

Up 1.5. You know, I REALLY don't like writing these posts when I have to report a gain. It sucks. Lots. But it's MY FAULT. Grrrr. I've given myself a pep talk and I promise not to be bitter because really there's no reason to be bitter when you know you've had one too many pieces of cheesecake.

quick confessions

Once upon a time, a girl named Roo went to Disney World. She ate dessert every night (mmmmm...cheesecake...), had very little water and not nearly enough sleep. She lacked motivation for eating well in general for no real reason. She arrived home to find that there were no "real" groceries in the house. And instead of going to the grocery store she ended up working all day. I think my girl Roo needs to get her act together. The end.

the power of one: check-in #1

Challenge Starting Weight: 198.1
Change This Week: -0.8
Change for The Power of One Challenge: -0.8
Total Pounds Gone since 9-8-2010: -6.3

Down 0.8 this week which is good because I didn't really re-focus until this past weekend. I'm worried about the next weigh-in only because I'm traveling. And eating right while traveling is so flippin hard. But the upside is I get to finally meet IRL - Kirsten, Brooke and Christie!!!! YAY!!!!! I'll be chillin with Brooke's hubby on Sunday cheering them on at the Disney Marathon. So proud of those girls and cannot wait to hug them!

i'm in, i'm in...

{BIG SIGH} What. A. Week. As if 2010 wasn't grumpy enough with me it definitely went out with a bang. I did let the last few weeks derail me more than I should but I am better now. My scale has been creeping upwards but no more! I am in for the Power of One challenge over at the Sisterhood and it's all about me and my needs. I'm going to be selfish. Completely, totally selfish.



My stats for the new challenge (as of Wednesday the 29th, anyway):
Challenge Starting Weight: 198.1
Change This Week: +2.3 (that's a lot of cookies and stress eating, yo)
Total Pounds Gone since 9-8-2010: 5.5

My healthy living goals for this challenge:

• To continue working towards not allowing circumstances to derail me. I'm getting better, I think, but it's definitely a work in progress.
• Continue to attend Weight Watchers meetings weekly (I skipped the last few weeks). I like the meetings not so much for accountability (that's what I have all you wonderful peeps for) but for the information, sharing of tips and ideas, etc.
• Water. I used to be so good at this. It definitely needs to become a priority again.
• Walking. I'm going to start walking again. I won't even attempt running with the state my back is in; however, I will either walk outside when it's nice, pop in a Leslie Sansone walking DVD or hit the treadmill. I must. (Although I will be kinda sad when the Daily Mile # over on the right doesn't read 69 miles anymore...that was for Bari and Bekki *grin*).

And there it is. I'm a little late to the game this week seeing as it's almost 10 PM on Saturday night but I will fill up my water bottle, put it in the fridge and get my booty in gear.

G'night all!

holiday hoe-down ~ the finale

Challenge Starting Weight: 199.6
Change This Week: +0.6
Change for Holiday Hoedown Challenge: -3.8
Total Pounds Gone since 9-8-2010: 7.8

Err, ummm, I didn't get my 10# button. But I know why (see yesterday's confession and I'm late for the monthly thing - do not go there, friends). I am not stressing. I'm on track. And I'm looking forward to a loss next week.

Weekly Update on Goals:

• Track my food and do my absolute best to stay within my Points target on Weight Watchers. - YES! Until Sunday. Sunday and Monday I did not count and ate crap.
• Attend my Weight Watchers meetings consistently. - I did not go this week (weighed in at home).
• Drink. More Water. - I have no idea why I'm having issues with this. Definitely not drinking enough. I did chug 32 ounces yesterday and that's the most I've had in any one day all week. Bad Roo!

Okay, I gotta make this quick. Off to pick up the boy from his last day of school until 2011 and my reminder is going off on my phone now. Later!

confessions: planning fail

"When you fail to plan, you plan to fail."

I've heard this quote many times and while the source is unknown, the message is so true.

I did really well through Saturday...stayed on plan, counted Points (even during Christmas dinner at the in-laws), etc. I had planned on going to the grocery store on Friday when my oldest got sick. Today is the first day he went back to school and guess who has no real food in her house? Yep. That'd be me. I should've went to the store this weekend when my husband was home but I was exhausted. Still am, actually. So this bump of not having any real food is totally my fault. Sunday and Monday I ate crap. And guess what? I felt like crap too. I'm back on track today and if I don't get to the store before my husband gets home (youngest is sick - read: crabby and whiney) I am going after dinner. I don't care what time it is, I'm going. I just hope my two bad days don't mess up my weigh-in even though I know more than likely it will (if not this week then next).

Moving on...

holiday hoedown check-in ~ week 4

Challenge Starting Weight: 199.6
Change This Week: -2.0
Change for Holiday Hoedown Challenge: -4.4
Total Pounds Gone since 9-8-2010: 8.4

I am SO CLOSE to my 10 pound button that I am going to do my best to grab it next week - which means I need to lose 1.6 this coming week. I *really* want to accomplish that before Christmas. That would be awesome!

Weekly Update on Goals:

• Track my food and do my absolute best to stay within my Points target on Weight Watchers. - YES! I even consumed all but 2 of my 49 weekly points allowance.
• Attend my Weight Watchers meetings consistently. - Yes! Went to Tuesday morning meeting.
• Drink. More Water. - Let's just say this is still a work in progress. I'm so addicted to Diet Coke it's not funny. I PROMISE to work on this daily. And if anyone wants to text me or @ me on Twitter reminding me to drink my water, I'll gladly accept it!

Guys, this feels so good. I'm so glad I'm finally taking care of me again!

holiday hoedown check-in ~ week 3

It's finally happened. I've finally stopped letting things that are out of my control thwart my weight-loss efforts. I don't know exactly what happened but a switch flipped and I'm done. Done letting my husband's work schedule dictate my routine. Done letting my mind tell me I'm not doing it right or good enough. Done with the negative thoughts about how long this will take (forever - because we all know it never stops - we may get to goal weight but we can't stop being healthy because we lost the weight). Done beating myself up for one bad choice which ultimately turns into several bad choices. I'm done putting everyone else first and not worrying about me.

And with that, I give you my weekly weigh-in deets:

Challenge Starting Weight: 199.6
Change This Week: -1.7
Change for Holiday Hoedown Challenge: -2.4
Total Pounds Gone since 9-8-2010: 6.4

How am I doing with my goals from last week? Pretty darn good, I think. Except for the water. Need to work on that this week!

• Track my food and do my absolute best to stay within my Points target on Weight Watchers. - YES & YES - No cheating. Not once!
• Attend my Weight Watchers meetings consistently. - Yes! Went to Tuesday morning meeting.
• Drink. More Water. - Meh, notsomuch. Will do better this week!

Now, off to see how my fellow Shrinkers did this week!