Results and boots

I've been a bit lax on posting my Jenny Craig/weight loss updates. I have gone from charging out of the gate to limping along, and it is for a lack of trying. So, that is much LESS discouraging than if I was working my tush off and not getting any results. It's not that I'm not trying at all, I am just not being nearly as disciplined as I was initially. Hence, the story of weight loss. Sigh.

So, I had a maintain week, then a .4 gain (SUCH a gift if you knew how many sweets I ate that week), followed by today's loss of -1.5, for a new cumulative total of -17.1.

Here's what I know. I'm sad that I am not still über motivated as I was initially, especially since I'm not even to my halfway mark quite yet (5 more pounds!). However I am excited to know that now that I have lost 7% of my body weight, I have reduced my risk of getting type 2 diabetes by 60%. I think that's huge. Because one of my biggest motivators for finally getting off of my steadily growing a$# was that I was so afraid I was heading towards some real health concerns, such as diabetes, due to my poor diet and growing waistline. I have also learned that there are significant differences in my hunger/cravings during different weeks of the "lady cycle". Namely, that around the middle of the month, I am hungrier and want more sugar, and it's much more difficult to do the right things, vs. two weeks later. Now that I have identified that, I can plan for these times more accordingly. {How I have never really identified this before after 15 years of program dieting is beyond me. Though I have mentioned not being as "in touch" with my body as I should be before.} Finally, solely from wearing the armband and seeing the numbers for my activity each day, I am much more aware of my movements and/or lack of throughout the day and am much more motivated just to get up and move around, regardless of what I am doing. I look at programmed exercise so much differently than I did before and realize, as long as you always moving and doing something, that counts just as much.

Soooooo, enough on that. Get a load of this. These boots had me at yee-haw.

 

I know you want to insert those tiny toes into your mouth and start consuming her now, but back off, she's already taken. Unless it's during one of those times where she screeches at the top octave humanly possible which she has started to do on the regular as of late. Then, I might let you just have a little nibble.

My take on salads

I just had this feeling today, that others are sitting there nervously tapping their toes and asking, but what does Rachel think about salads? What's her take on them? How does she deal with them? So here's my thoughts.

I'm supposed to eat a salad every day. So I have been, eating a salad, every day with lunch. Blah blah blah. Lettuce, tomatoes and cucumbers if I'm organized. Fine, but nothing too exciting. And then.... da da da...............I discovered some new crunchy toppings that are making my salads the thing I most look forward to eating each day. Now, by discovered, I didn't invent these things people, zip up your jacket. I just started adding them and I LOVE LOVE LOVE the crunch it's added, not to mention all of the feel good endorphins zinging through my body as I hear the echoes of Dr. Oz touting the health benefits of said additions. So now, I still start with the lettuce--I have been buying a big one lb tub of Simple Truth Organic Baby Spring Mix-a medley of baby lettuces with frisee and radicchio, from Kroger for $4.99. What I love is that there's a lot of lettuce in there; it's really packed in tight, and lasts a long time, plus the pieces are all really small and with just a quick rip in half as I drop it in my bowl, it's ready to go. Or, you don't have to rip it, but I like to not have to deal with cutting anything or pieces hanging out of my mouth as I chew all salad dressingy and messy. Then, I add tomatoes, diced bell pepper, and cucumbers if I have them. The finishing touches come with adding a teaspoon of flax seed and chia seeds, as well as a tablespoon of sunflower seeds, and either dried roasted peas, or pumpkin seeds, or wasabi soy nuts. Add 1 1/2 tbs of Hidden Valley Ranch dressing, and I am so happy. It is so good, crunchy and healthy tasting, I really do look forward to it.

If I'm feeling especially decadent, or I'm making this my whole meal, I will add 1/4-1/2 diced avacado, or some thin sesame sticks. If I'm particularly on the ball, I might have some hard boiled eggs to cut up on there as well. Ooh yummy.

Now go rediscover your salad!

Life as it stands

I tried to take a picture, but it just felt inadequate, so then I took a video, but it cut me off, so part of my learning process is to learn how long is ok to tape and then email to myself to add to the blog. Bear with me on that, but I just  had to laugh at this tonight. Laughing makes it all seem better. And, sitting down to blog instead of dealing with it, also makes me feel better. So I'll get to it right after I finish with my comment on the Kroger web site on how awful their store brand butterscotch chips are compared to the national brand. A girl must have her priorities straight.

 

The days are long, but the years are short.

Laugh

This one made me laugh out loud today:

Basement funnies

Two things have made me laugh in the basement in the last day or two. Today, I dusted off my old Kathy Smith step aerobics VHS tape (clue #1) and during the introduction, she mentions, "Step aerobics have become very popular in the '90's, and for good reason....."

So, that just makes me laugh. Because I got this tape in college after seeing my roommate Andrea do it, and I still have it. Because if you can just get past those leotards they wear which are thong in the back over spandex shorts (that is so distracting to me for some reason!) and the thick tall socks all scrunched down, it really still is a good workout.

Yesterday, we were doing Just Dance in the basement, and it's possible that my midriff might have gotten a little exposed in all of those vigorous dance moves. Luke said, "Mom, you know how we always say, Awwww, wook at that cute fat belly! Well, I'm not going to say that to you!".

Whew, we really dodged the bullet on that one. I'm so glad he didn't say that to me! Always the master of restraint, that Luke.

A few other tidbits

In the spirit of sharing interesting wisdom and tidbits I picked up from the book I just read and mentioned, The Happiness Project, here are a couple other things I jotted down. Some I've heard before, or just make sense, but it's worth reminding myself of. I think what made the book so relatable was the author herself. Although I love people like Dr. Phil, he pretty much already has it all figured out, so when he gives you advice, you might think it's good advice, but advice that he himself never really needs to follow because he's already all buttoned up in those areas. This author, however, is quick to point out her own personal flaws and tendencies, and share what she is working on and in some cases how difficult making the changes can be. I am very attracted to that honesty and ability to show the less than pleasant realities of yourself.

• One minute rule-never postpone anything that can be taken care of in one minute. This one so applies to me as I lay something down, or leave it on the counter, thinking I'll deal with it  later when I do my monster clean up. If I would just hang it up/put it on the shelf/in the sink/in the hamper now, it would save that big clean up later.

• Act the way you want to feel. I shared this one with the boys and they have really caught on to it. For example, for some reason, I usually feel tired on Sundays, and would love to take an afternoon nap. However, last Sunday, I asked the boys if they would like to do some Just Dance with me on the Wii, followed up by a bike ride. I explained that I was feeling tired, but that if I acted like I had a lot of energy, I would then feel more energetic.

• 6 seconds is the minimum hug time needed to promote bonding.

• People are 47% more likely to feel close to a family member who often expresses affection. This one might be sort of common sense but it's still a good reminder.

Empower

In the spirit of empowering myself, I am trying to figure out how to do a video on the blog. I see many people do it, but as I've mentioned in the past technology and me have a checkered past. Here we go:

Isn't a baby's belly laugh just about the best sound there is?

Friday night

We had a Groupon for a local roller skating rink, so on Friday we enlisted a babysitter for Josie and took the boys rollerskating.

Here is how I picture one of these type of nights going in my head:

Everyone excitedly enters the roller skating arena in anticipation of a fun new experience as a family. Appreciating the cost involved with getting a babysitter for Josie and food and rollerskating, everyone is respectful and thankful.
Although a bit wobbly on the feet at first, soon everyone catches on and it's not long before we are skating 4 abreast, hand in hand to Xanadu. I show off my long lost backward skating moves to the oohs and aahs of the crowd. Tired yet happy, we walk out of the roller rink arm in arm, remembering why we all love each other so much.

And here's how it goes:
After a long story by a friend about how his family never does anything fun like this, and the only fun he has is when he's at our house or Jack is at his house playing, the boys ask if friend can join us. Wanting to encourage new friendships, we say yes. So long to the family only night out with the boys.
Jack appears to be a baby gazelle just after exiting his mothers womb. He falls at least 756 times on his first spin around. Luke also cannot keep his feet under him. We each take one kid and try to make it around one full time. Although my skills are still good, supporting Jack when he goes down makes me go down too. Ooh the tailbone. However I will not give in to the frustration surrounding me. Jack is not on that same page. Down and down he goes, repeatedly on the same kneecap. Soon the crying starts, both from pain and frustration as friend starts to get the hang of it and leaves our pack. I hate this! and, I'm terrible at this! abound. Luke starts to get the hang of it too, and although he falls often he doesn't get discouraged and keeps trying. Rob makes a few gallant efforts around but is mostly supporting anyone who needs help. I finally give up on the helping and glide around like the superstar I am in my head, encouraged to at least get some exercise out of the night. I am still pretty good, but there are definitely no backward maneuvers, and truth be told, if someone wipes out unexpectedly in front of me, I am not sure what my strategy is. We eat incredibly overpriced and mediocre food, and the night ends up costing double what the Groupon promised it would. Sweaty and red faced, we walk out of the roller rink grabbing people's arms to come with us, remembering why nights don't always go how you think they will, but realizing, it was still fun. Just different than in my head.

The end.