Happy Birthday Evy...

Three years ago (about this time) Evy was just about to be born.
Evelyn
7-29-05
Born 5:04 pm
6lbs 4 oz
18 inches long

It seems simple to say, but I can't believe how fast time flies. This last year has been very difficult. I hope that in our future, we don't have to have such a stressfully compact year. So... this day has been all about our Princess. She woke up this morning to balloons and the Happy Birthday sign. This afternoon after her nap, she opened the "big present" a Cinderella castle. She and her daddy have played all afternoon. She said "it's perfect!"


Cake... my weakness. I made a butter recipe cake and decorators icing (oh, oh so good...but soooo bad). I colored the icing, got the decorating materials out and tried my hand at decorating again. Here's the finished product.

Cooking ideas

So at my sis's home and garden party, I bought a bean pot and fondue set... I can't wait to try them out. The bean pot lets you cook hamburger in the mircowave...not the stove. That could be helpful once school starts... Also she cooks a 4lb roast in the microwave for 32 minutes... instead of 3 hours!!! Wow! I fell in love with the "idea" on the convience. Let's hope it works...

I got a chance to catch up with some old friends yesterday. It was very nice to see them... It is amazing how busy our lives get. It is nice to hear about how other people are doing. It definately makes life feel a little more normal when we hear what others are dealing with.

So. on the pacifer front. I took the pacifer away. The first day wasn't too major. But last night was a major issue. About 1 am she woke up screaming, crying, kicking, punching, yelling, as much anger as she could muster out of her little body. It took me 30 minutes to get her to calm down. Michael was working at the office, so she wanted to talk to him. We have been gone for quite a while and she wanted some Daddy cuddles. I ended up taking her to the office in the middle of the night in my pajamas...not too revealing ones. I came back home about 3 am and had trouble going to sleep.

On the food front, I managed to stay OP for yesterday. Today is a new week... I am starting a new weigh in day and everything... so far so good. I am determined to lose down the the 20s this week. (despite birthday cake)

Inspired!

Today I was inspired by Roni's Shepard Pie video. I cooked up my own little version
zuchinni, carrots, fresh green beans, brussel sprouts, chopped onions, and one pork chop topped with brown gravy and sweet mashed potatoes. Besides the beans and carrots not being totally done, it was yummy.




I planned to eat and go for a walk after doing a little toy shopping for the LO birthday. But, earlier in the afternoon, my knee started hurting... I tried to pysch myself up to do it anyway, but it is hurting too much. So, I am icing it and resting. I am disappointed, but will swim tomorrow to get in the exercise. It was also 102 degrees so it is hard to *want* to go workout.

Here is the princess outfit we bought with birthday money from Great-Grandma!

Surgery break

Sister had her surgery, she is doing well, but is sore, tired and cranky today. We are finially back at her house... but it is kind of boring.

Tuesday- went for a 2 mile walk/run with stroller, toddler, sister and sister's friend. We did it in about 30 minutes...not to bad for pushing a stroller on gravel. Evy wanted to run, so I let her out. She and Brooke ran almost a the whole lap which seems to be a 1/2 mile. My HR monitor said 360 calories burned.

On the food front, we have been eating fast food on the highway... which means McD's... I haven't made salad choices because it is hard to eat salad and drive. I figure I will just work off these setbacks. I am making the choices so I will have to live with them. Also the stress makes me want to eat chocolate... but after Monday that should be over. Mom made chicken and noddles for her to eat, so I can munch on that for the next few days. I am definately the kind of person that needs to eat the same things everyday in order to feel in control. If I change it up, I want to eat more and more... which means more exercise.

My BIL really commented to my sister about my weightloss, she called me to tell me about it. We talked about the Tour de Trykes that I am doing and my Triathalon goal for 8-09... she wants to join me. That will be fun. She is going to have her gallbladder removed on Monday... so I will let her heal and then we can train together via the internet.

So after the sun sets a little I will go walking down the trail... I brought the stoller to take Evy with but ipod got messed up so now I am going to fix it... hope it works.

Here is a pic of my quick ride today before diving into the pool. I guess it is suppose to feel like 100+ (as my mom informed me) so my 20 minute quick ride was good. I spent about 15 minutes before trying to fix my too short bike seat. My heartrate monitor shows a whopping 340 calories burned. Somewhere I read today that you should not look at work outs as how much you burn off, but in my case that pushes me to do more. But... that is my lunch I burned off. So... that means tonight, I can not feel so bad going out to eat once again! After tomorrow, I won't have much internet access. Sister doesn't have internet and I will be there until Saturday.

Day 1 in Week	Target	28
Food	Points	Count
french toast sticks	-8	20
Kashi Chicken Rostini	-6	14
Carrots	0	14
Fruit Salad	-1	13
Italian Portobella Sandwhich	-7	6
Tomato Basil Soup	-3	3
Tea	-2	1
Biking 2.5miles 9 mph	3	4
Total:	27
W{ remaining 35 in Week

From Kristi ( BtL)
The extra degree...at 211 degrees, water is hot. At 212 degrees, water is boiling. Boiling water produces steam and steam is used to power a locomotive. It's that ONE extra degree that makes all the difference in the world! Most likely it is only ONE extra degree that needs to be taken to fuel our weight loss. So what extra degree can we go to in order to achieve weight loss? Go outside (or the gym, or the living room, wherever) and get that exercise? Make sure to journal every day? Make a point to get in all your water or vegetables? It doesn't have to be all, it just has to be ONE! Chances are that ONE thing is going to produce an awesome result and once you get boiling and producing steam, you don't want to stop so you naturally pick up the other "one" things and you boil yourself all the way to goal!

So my extra degree is..... exercise and hydration. I know it is suppose to be one thing... but I want to push myself to workout. In the summer (well year around really) I don't get enough water, so my extra degree will be working out and drinking my water... it should push off those extra pounds.

Power of the Positive Thought!

Okay... so as I typed a blog post and I realize that I am sound TOO negative. A fellow blogger has pushed me to think positive. So I am going to retell this bit with a more positve flair.

I am feeling a little concerned with the choices I have been making and how they are affecting my body and my weightloss goals. I usually feel much better if I get a workout in, but I haven't pushed myself in the last couple days. I did spend two hours moving furniture in my classroom and cleaned some spray paint of the windows. Unfortunatly, it has seemed too hot to go walk/run or ride. Today was a fun day, eating breakfast with my husband and fishing with my daughter and my parents. Dad and Evy caught 3 little perch.

On a personal note, I am feeling a little confused about the fertility meds I have been taking. So far, no positve test, so I stopped the progesterone. Usually, AF would have started now, so I am confused.

Also, I can't wait until my facilitation check arrives, so I can splurge and go get a family gym membership. I am looking forward to working out inside and all the fun things we can do together (rock climbing, swimming, racketball). Until then, I am going to have a personal goal to ride around the neighborhood and stay in the shade to get a workout in.

WOW! That is much better... I seem to be feeling more in control over things and less defeated... the power of positve thinking really helps. Thanks Michelle!

A good Teacher....

~~gets her keys THREE weeks before school and starts planning. I did it... I went and picked up my keys. I am not sure if this is the earliest I have ever done it, but I plan to start working on my room tomorrow. I will be teaching a new grade level and with that comes some pretty hefty challenges. I am SUPER excited about what will be going on in my classroom next year. I went in my room and started picturing it in my head. Michael will work all night tonight, so I am going to go and get the layout set up for next year. I have LOTS of work to do, so I need a head start. Once I get the layout set, I can work on lessons and matching IEP goals with PASS skills. I just finished the Literacy First Process workshop and am loving the ideas. I really can't wait to get started. Tonight... I am stealing stellar ideas off the internet.

My rump has finally stopped hurting. I guess I was beginning to wonder after sitting on picnic style benches for 6 hours a day this week. I did install a new wider, more cushiony bike seat... which helped incredibly. I did take a ride yesterday in the 90+ degrees at about 5:30. I tired faster than I hoped, which I think is due to hydration issues. I did manage to get 4.87 miles in, which felt great- at a slower 9mph. Today is was more than 100, so I decided to take a break. After Evy goes to bed, I am going to do some balance ball work.

I think Michael is going to check out the gym tomorrow. He has decided that he wants to work out with his dad, to help him gain more muscle tone. I guess maybe I intimidate him because he never seems to want to work with me. When he has in the past, he pushes too hard- to compete, I think. I don't push him because I want him to discover the positive feeling from working out on his own, not the forceful nagging of his overbearing wife. My delimia is I like my former gym better than our town YMCA. I did personal training and now they have unlimited tanning. It is also 24 hours. I can't really imagine wanting to work out past 9pm, but I guess it is a good option for an insominiac. The YMCA has a pool and swimming lessons. I have decided that I need to give up my *almost* 30 year old pride and take some good old fashion swimming lesson. I have been working on proper lap techniques via internet instructions and seem to choke on water each time. It is rather frustrating and counterproductive to the triatholon adventure. Michael suggested nose plugs. So my deliema is 24 hour- brand new, personal trainer, tanning gym or local YMCA with pool, track, racketball, and rock climbing wall. hmmm...

Next week, I am leaving to help my sister recover from surgery. I won't be able to pack my bike, so I am thinking this will give me an opportunity to increase my running skills. I am working on these. I am *trying* to enjoy it. I have been reading Megan's blog. If she can do a 5K unprepared before golf, then I can do it. I really enjoy the running, it doesn't hurt physically, I just feel like I am gasping for air. My lungs need training, my body is working through it.

My first ride....

I had to let my friends dog at so I decided to put on my new workout gear, strap on my helmet and ride over there. It was less than a mile there, so I decided that I would go out to Southgate road, another mile and half away. I was thinking it would be a great ride overall. I was right. Near the golf course, a coyote trotted out on the road andstopped to stared at me, I slowed my pace slightly. I knew if it "turned on me" I would be in trouble because I couldn't out run it. Just then a large female deer came chasing it away. I am still not sure why the deer was running after it, but I am assuming she had a fawn or two in the brush. I finished the course, but not strong. I hadn't eaten breakfast yet (mistake #1) and felt ready to puke about a 1/2 mile from home. I tried to drink lots of water, so it helped. The overall ride maps almost 5.5 miles. I figured average speed was about 11 miles in an hour. My rear was sore, so I bought a new seat to try out. I hope that helps. I mapped another course and plan to try it out when it gets a little cooler tonight. Although, it may be rest day, we will see. If I don't ride, I will def. walk tonight. I am kind of in exercise withdrawl. It feels good and it has HUGE benefits. I lost 3.5lbs last week with increased exercise.

Decided to Tri

After reading an inspiring blog for a few days, I have decided that I am going to try a Triathalon. I started training for a marathon last year then got pregnant and quit. I am not a great runner, so if I do a race that doesn't focus on a race it will better for me. I decided for sure this last week and found a great training log to begin this process. My plan was to swim a few laps in a friends pool (which I suck at) and then do a ride. It began to rain after we got home, so I maynot get that in today, but will for sure in the morning.


Day
Week 1 Goals: Begin baseline workout. Get through the first week feeling rejuvenated and enthusiastic.
1 Lift: Legs (include abductors and adductors)*, Back and Abdominals. 2 sets of 10 to 12 repetitions for 2 exercises each body part.Bike: 20 to 25 minutes indoors. Use an Upright Bike as opposed to a Recumbent Bike**. Work on keeping feet flexed (like scraping gum off the bottom of your shoes) and upper body relaxed. Keep your resistance light to moderate. Just trying to create some endurance in this first mode. 5 minute cool down!Stretch: 10 to 15 minutes of FULL BODY stretching! Stretching reduces DOMS (delayed onset muscle soreness).

2 Lift: Shoulders, Chest, Abdominals. 2 sets of 10 to 12 repetitions for 2 exercises each body part.Bike: 30 to 35 minutes indoors. Stick with Upright Bike (you burn more calories on an Upright Bike as the position forces you to work against gravity). Use a program and add hills in this routine. Time to start getting used to using those vital leg muscles. 5 minute cool down.Stretch: 10 to 15 minutes of FULL BODY stretching.

3 Lift: Biceps, Triceps, Abdominals. 2 sets of 10 to 12 repetitions for 2 exercises each body part.Bike: Longer ride 40 to 50 minutes. Incorporate hills and endurance with this workout. There will be one longer ride each week; this is the first for the month. Try to put the resistance higher for a minute here and there (no more than 4 times) and come out of the saddle. Working on leg power and relaxed upper body. No bouncing or rocking. 5 minute cool down.Stretch: 15 to 20 minutes of FULL BODY stretching. Aids in injury prevention as well.

Rules of the Road

I am beginning to feel a little discouragement as the scale stayed in the exact same spot as last week. I'd like to say that I have been doing great... which I have for the most part, but I could do better. I feel like I need some more support... I guess I am going to start going to WW meetings instead of doing it on my own.

Top 5 Musts for losing weight

5.Must eat five servings of fruits/veggies per day, however much that is. I just eat fruits/veggies with every meal and for a snack and hope it adds up right.
4. Must drink at least 64 ounces of water.
3. Must exercise (for me, right now, that's 3-4 times per week).
2. Must track & eat within my points range. (that's two isn't it? But Top 6 doesn't sound so good)
1. Never give up.

On the other front... I am pretty sure I ovulated (temp spike today) so... I will start the progesterone on Sunday. I have enough for 5 more days-- since the pharmacy in town won't be open until Monday, I guess I am kind of stuck. When I get to Oklahoma City on Sunday, I will go check into compounding pharmacies and see if they can transfer the prescription and get it filled there. (it will be cheaper, too!)