Toystoryduo’s Journal: Baby Steps are the Key... Celebrate Each Victory!

[toystoryduo]

Good morning fellow WISHers! :wave2:

I'm back. Since my old journal is gone and I really need to kickstart my weight loss again, I thought I would start a new journal here. Since my last entry, I have gained about 8 pounds putting me at 212. I am really uncomfortable at this weight. :( My clothes are tight and I am just not feeling good about my healthy living journey. I have recently started a new program called 5 Factor Fitness. With this program, you can eat 5 meals a day, it takes 5 minutes to prep and cook these meals, (5) 5 minute phases in each workout, 5 workouts per week, and one cheat day per week! So far, I am working on the exercise portion first and I will add the meal portion somewhere down the road. :car:

Today's workout consisted of:
* 5 minute cardio warmup
* 2 sets of 25 chest presses and forward/ backward lunges
* 5 minutes of abs
* 15 more minutes of cardio (only need 5 for the program)

I started this program Tuesday and I am still sore from that workout! I can just imagine what tomorrow may bring. That's good though because it means that these exercises are waking up my muscles a bit.

So, my goal is to lose 15 pounds by September 16th. That's the day we leave for WDW and free dining!!! :jumping1: I may adjust this goal a bit as the weeks go by because I may need some "insurance pounds" with that free dining! ;)

Finally... to all of my WISH friends... I'm sorry I haven't been around much lately. Life has been very, very busy! I hope to get around to journals a couple of times a week from now on. Please know that I have been and will be WISHing you the best! party:

P.S. I chose the title for my journal based on the fact that I see my weight loss/healthy living as a journey where baby steps are key and where victories (no matter how small!) should be celebrated. Yes, there will be bumps in this journey, but if I take it step by step and day by day, I can make my goals! :bounce:

Have a great day! :sunny:

[toystoryduo]

Whew! I am soooo sore from yesterday's workout! It's a good thing that the next two days focus on upper body because my legs feel like Jello!

Today's workout consists of:

* 5 minutes of cardio

* 2 sets of 25 shoulder presses and pullovers

* 40 upper body twists (core work)

* 5 minutes of more of cardio

* cooldown

Yesterday, I had a small victory of sorts.... It has become a habit for me to have a snack around 11:00 p.m. at night. Well, last night, I wanted to eat and didn't. Again, a small victory, but a victory none the less.

Hope everyone has a great day! I will try and get to some journals this afternoon or evening.

[kimwim8]

Welcome back! :wave:

Your plan sounds like a good one! You're doing some GREAT exercises. Keep up the good work! :cheer2:

Congrats on skipping the late night snacks. I definitely know the feeling, and how hard it is to fight! But YOU won!! :thumbsup2

Take care, and keep in touch!

[toystoryduo]

Good morning,

Well, I broke down last night and had a midnight snack (chips and dip) and it came back to me in the form of heartburn. I feel really yucky right now and I didn't sleep well. :(

Today's 5 Factor Workout includes:

* Cardio

* Biceps

*Triceps

*Core work: Crunches

* Cardio

So far, I am really liking this program. Tomorrow is an official rest day, but I think I will still take a walk or wog....

Thanks Kim for stopping by! :goodvibes Have a great day everyone! :sunny:

[toystoryduo]

Good morning,

Today is a rest day for 5 Factor so I think I will take it easy and work on eBay for my WDW trip in September. Or maybe we'll go to the Disney Store and buy some Disney Dollars for the kids' baskets. Either way, it looks to be a relaxing Sunday! Have a great day everyone! :sunny:

[Blueeyes101817]

Hi Tracy-
welcome back :)
Your program sounds great so far--you can do it!

[toystoryduo]

Thanks Jen!

Today I am back to 5 Factor:

* Cardio

* Chest Flys

* Squats (60 of 'em!)

* Upper Body Crunches: Core

* Cardio/ Cooldown

I am really liking this program! I hope to see some great results from it.

Today, I am starting to get on the 5 Factor eating plan as well. I'm going to start off slowly by eating 5 meals a day. Well, it's actually 3 meals + 2 healthy snacks. So far, I've had a bowl of corn flakes for breakfast. Not the healthiest of meals, but there are Krispy Kreme donuts in the house and I am avoiding them like the plague. A victory! :) I also need to work on NOT eating past 8:00 p.m.

Quick mom brag.... My DD5 finished her indoor soccer season this weekend. She scored two goals, was named player of the game, and was the leading scorer for the season. Way to go, Em! :cheer2: I am so proud of you! :grouphug:

Have a great Monday! :sunny:

[goldcupmom]

Sounds like you had a great weekend! I love your exercise plan - and you're doing great at it!!

Hope you're having a good Monday! I'm SO glad you're back on here!!

[eeyore25]

Hi Tracy,

Welcome back...I was a little worried that something may have happened....glad to see you posting again!

Your program sounds great...I know you can do it. You will meet your goal by the time you go to WDW....I just know it!!!!

Happy Monday, keep up the good work!!!!

[keenercam]

Welcome back, Tracy!
I've missed you.
Congrats on getting into such a healthy exercise routine. I have to get more disciplined now and it is nice to have the inspiration you provide.
Congrats to Em! Awesome, awesome job!
Have a great day, sweetie, and keep posting! :goodvibes:

[DisDon]

Hi Tracy :wave2: The 5 Factory sounds good, keep up the good work. I know about the late night snacks, our downfall is ice cream. I think for me it goes hand in hand with late night tv. I need to cut that out too, get more sleep. Your upcoming trips sure sound fun, I'm dying to get to DAK and ride the Yeti!

:banana: :banana: :banana: :banana: :banana: pirate:

[eeyore25]

Good Morning,

Hope you are having a great day!!!! I too am so excited about WDW and the free dining!!!!! I can't wait!!!!

Hope you have a wonderful day!

[toystoryduo]

Good morning everyone and thanks for the Welcome Back! I missed y'all! :grouphug:

Yesterday was a crazy busy day and so today, I am playing catch up.
:faint: Nothing really went as planned and my eating healthy went right out the door. Thank God today is a new day! :sunny:

Today's Plan:
* 5 Factor (Cardio, Deadlifts, One Arm Rows, Core, Cardio)

* Laundry (Since my DH fixed the washer :love: , I have been playing catch up on laundry.)

* Clean the house a bit

* Library

* Enjoy the nice weather

* Disney Store?

I also need to spend some time planning some things for Easter and beyond. I'm trying to plan as much as I can in advance so I don't feel overwhelmed later.

I will try and get to journals today or tomorrow! Have a great day everyone! :sunny:

P.S. DH and I are thinking about switching our resort in September from POP to ASMo. We won't be at the hotel very often... Anyone have any thoughts on this? Thanks! :goodvibes

[kimwim8]

Hey there! You're doing GREAT with your workouts! :thumbsup2 The eating will follow. Keep up the great work!

Congrats to your Em (I have an Em too :teeth: )!

I've never stayed at Pop, but we have stayed at ASMo - and loved it! No matter where you stay, it's just so nice to be at Disney!!

[Amy&Dan]

Hi Tracy,
This Five Factor thing sounds interesting. I just clicked on a link in another thread (maybe you provided that link?). I think I need to order that book! I agree, small steps really add up and are key. Good luck, keep up the good work! Oh, and I have stayed at Movies and Pop and love them both. I love the theming so much at Movies but love the newer feel at Pop. I think they are both equally great! We are back at Pop for the second time in two weeks, we literally tossed up a coin between it and Movies!

[keenercam]

Hi, Tracy! I hope your day is going well! I am going to take a lesson from you and try to get some Easter stuff underway so that I am not overwhelmed this weekend.

Have a great day, sweetie! :hug:

[toystoryduo]

Good morning fellow WISHers!

I'm sorry I haven't gotten to journals in a couple of days. My DH has the opportunity to bid a huge job for communications work and I have been helping him with that. Plus, I have been busy with booking ADRs for clients and pulling quotes as well. I hope to get to journals tomorrow or Saturday.

Well, I re-started my journey at 212 pounds. I had my first weigh-in yesterday and I am up .6! You would think that with all of this exercising, I would have held steady or at least lost a little. I have been eating salty foods and TOM is coming soon... Maybe that's contributing to the slight gain. :confused3 Pressing forward....

Five factor Today:

* Cardio

* Shoulders/ Forward and Backward Lunges: 3 sets of 20 each

* Core

* Cardio

Whew! I really am enjoying this new program because I know that I only need to workout 25 minutes a day/ 5 days a week. Of course, I can extend cardio session #2 much longer if I want, but it's not required. Now, if I can get the eating plan down, the weight loss may come! :goodvibes

Update on POP vs. ASMo..... Okay, we have finally decided to return to ASMo. Call Disney reservations to change resorts.... Agent looks for availability... Only availability at ASMo is preferred... That will add $140 + tax to your bill. Hmmmm... This is a budget trip.We have two trips scheduled this year. No can do. Need to save money for December too. So, we are staying at POP. DH says," No big deal. We won't be at the resort much anyway." I say, "But honey, I wanted to stay at ASMo." DH says, " Well, spend the $140+ and get a preferred location." I say, " But this is a budget trip." Dh says, "Okay, POP Century it is!" :teeth: (I can laugh about this now! :teeth: )

So, we are staying at Pop Century.... I'm still a bit apprehensive because of all the negative reviews I have read, but I have read some really positive ones and hopefully our experience will be a good one. :goodvibes

Okay, I am off to 5 Factor.... Got lots to do today! Have a great Thursday! :sunny:

[kimwim8]

Happy Thursday!

Yes, I'll bet the salt has a lot to do with it. And think how much bigger your gain would have been if you hadn't been working out! Less than a pound is no biggie....you can get rid of that in no time, and you will!

Good luck to your DH with his bid! :wizard:

[toystoryduo]

Thanks Kim!

Yesterday was a very long day for us..... The good news is that my DD5 won a coloring contest at a local store! She won a $15 gift card and promptly spent it on her and her sister. She has had such an amazing week! First, she was soccer player of the game/week. Then, she became the leading scorer for the season. Now, she won first place in an Easter coloring contest! Way to go Emily! :cheer2:

I'm not sure what the plans are for today.... After yesterday, I feel like just sitting bcak and going with the flow. The only thing scheduled? 5 Factor Fitness and it should be an easy one today.

[toystoryduo]

Thanks Kim!

Yesterday was a very long day for us..... The good news is that my DD5 won a coloring contest at a local store! She won a $15 gift card and promptly spent it on her and her sister. She has had such an amazing week! First, she was soccer player of the game/week. Then, she became the leading scorer for the season. Now, she won first place in an Easter coloring contest! Way to go Emily! :cheer2:

I'm not sure what the plans are for today.... After yesterday, I feel like just sitting bcak and going with the flow. The only thing scheduled? 5 Factor Fitness and it should be an easy one today. :goodvibes

Well, I am off to read the Groovy New Pop Century thread.... It's pretty long!

Have a great day and a Happy Easter! :sunny:

[DisDon]

Way to go, Emily!!! :teeth: :sunny: :banana: :donald: My DD8 starts outdoor soccer next Saturday, she's only ever played indoor before, scared of bees! Took some major convincing from me to get her to do it.

So, POP sounds fun, ignore the grumpy people! I like the looks of the tie-dye cheesecake :hippie: I'm totally trying to justify a free-dining trip too, i'd like to do it the last week of Sept., so we could catch a night of MNSSHP. My biggest concern is the heat+humidity, but I'm also thinking that we could use this as motivation. I know that if we lose weight the heat+humidity won't bother us as much, it would be a great victory!!

Have a good day!!
:banana: :banana: :banana: :banana: :banana: pirate:

[kimwim8]

Wow - Emily IS having a great week!! :woohoo:

Have a great weekend!

[goldcupmom]

Way to go, EMILY!!!!!!

Sounds like you are still on track, Tracy! I say we have a scale bashing party. Mine is being mean, too!

Hope you have a great Easter weekend!

[toystoryduo]

Thanks Kim, Don, and Julie for stopping by! :goodvibes Thanks for the congrats for Emily too. :thumbsup2 She is having a great week and who knows what her Easter egg hunts might turn up?!?!?;) She has 4 of 'em to go to! :teeth:

Well... I was supposed to start working out at 8:00 a.m. Now, it's 8:20 a.m. I got sidetracked by a trip report. :teeth: Today's workout is FUN!

5 Factor:

* Cardio (5 minutes)

* Biceps/ Triceps (10-15 mins.) This is the fun part! I love working on arms!

* Core: upper/lower body combined crunches ( 5-10 mins)

* Cardio (5-?)

* Cool Down (5)

Today's Plan:

* Workout

* Help DH with bid

* Go Shopping

* Easter egg hunt @ grandma and grandpa's house

* Church (Emily's class is holding an Easter egg hunt and sundae party for Caley's class. FUN! FUN! FUN! :cheer2: )

* Dinner at my MIL's.

* Home to work on Easter baskets and tomorrow morning's Easter egg hunt

Whew! I'm tired just writing all that! ;) Nah.... This warm weather we have been having here in Ohio has been a huge blessing! I seem to have more energy and a better outlook on life when I am not freezing cold. :teeth:

Have a great Saturday! :sunny:

[Blueeyes101817]

WHEWWW you have a busy day!! Hope you get some time to relax!!!

I stayed at POP century two times and i liked it! dont worry and just enjoy!
have a great day

[toystoryduo]

Happy Easter!!!

Today is a busy, but fun day for us:

* This morning: The girls are doing a treasure hunt type game to find their Easter baskets. On index cards, I drew clues that will help them find the baskets. For example... Emily's first clue is the TV. She goes to the TV and finds another clue. The TV's clue is the refrigerator. So, she goes to the fridge and finds a clue for the dog's cage. She goes to the dog's cage and finds a clue to go look by the tree. She goes to the tree and finds the clue that her basket is in the dryer. Emily gets 5 clues (5 years old) and Caley gets 3 clues (3 years old). By the way... Caley's basket is in her toy box. Shhhhh.... Don't tell her! ;)

After that, the girls will do an Easter egg hunt with plastic eggs filled with money for WDW. Then, we'll get ready for the day and have breakfast somewhere.

* This afternoon: We will go to Grandma's house for an Easter egg hunt. Then, we will head out to my aunt's house for Easter dinner and another egg hunt.

* This evening: We will met DH's family at a local hotel for food, swimming, miniature golf (in the hotel!), and FUN! Then, it's time to head home and off to bed for a good night's rest before the busy week ahead.

Whew!

Hope everyone has a Happy Easter! :sunny:

[toystoryduo]

Good morning, :sunny:

We had a great time this weekend! It was super busy and the girls had some "attitude issues" last night (They were exhausted!), but it was really a good weekend! :goodvibes Foodwise, I didn't do so well, but that is what a new week is for! :thumbsup2

So this week, I will continue with 5 Factor Fitness. This starts week 3. I am also going to be doing an Anti-Toxin/ Internal Cleanse. I am hoping that this will help get rid of the toxins in my body and help jumpstart my weight loss a bit. I am also going to try and eat healthier this week too. I may be journaling food to help with that. Not sure yet. :confused3

As for the rest of my schedule.... It's up in the air right now. I have no idea what is going to happen today. DH has to finish that major communications bid and he has some real estate drama to deal with. The results of these situations are going to impact the rest of our day....I don't like when my schedule is up in the air, especially on Monday. It has a tendency to set the tone for the rest of the week.

Well, I am off to exercise.... :yay: Have a great Monday! :teeth:

[goldcupmom]

Glad you had a good weekend, Tracy!

I love your clues to the baskets. CUTE!!

We still have 1 egg lost in the house - fortunately it's plastic!

Hope you have a good Monday and things don't go too wild!!

[brandip22]

Hey Tracy- just wanted to pop in to say hello! I loved your clue ideas, too- too cute! Glad you all had a great Easter!
On the journaling thing- you shoudl try it. I've been keeping one and it really helps. Of course, I have someone who will see it, so I don't want to be "bad" for them! But, I have realized how much I had been eating!! No wonder I couldn't lose weight before! I hope your day goes well!

[kimwim8]

Hi Tracy...glad you all had a great Easter. You guys were sooo busy!!

I'd love to know about your cleansing. Can you share? You can PM me if you'd prefer.

Congrats on getting to week 3 of the 5 Factor Fitness. I just started week 5 of my running program....it's so nice to be in the middle of a program (for me anyway). I love starting the new weeks and feeling that sense of accomplishment.

Keep up the great work, and good luck with your upcoming week!

:wave:

[kmp1191]

Hi Tracy!! Just got done reading your journal!! You are doing great!!
Keep up the good work...the pounds will be melting off you in no time!!
I'd like to try the 5 Factor....we'll see....i'm commiting myself to running and Bob (Biggest Loser) workouts.

Great job!!
marie

[toystoryduo]

Thanks everyone for stopping by! :goodvibes

Yesterday was a very stressful day. :( Hoping today is a much better one! :teeth:

Food yesterday:

*1/2 Reese's Peanut Butter egg
*1 mini-Ordeo
*2 servings of Stouffer's mac-n-cheese
*1 small box of popcorn
*1 corn dog
*1 hot dog
*1 small fry
*1 bite of a fish sandwich and a double cheeseburger

Okay, the food choices weren't the best, but the fact that I was able to limit the amounts counts as a small victory. That's what baby steps are all about. :goodvibes

Weigh-in is tomorrow and I'm not feeling too confident about it. We'll see what happens though.

If you have any good thoughts/ prayers or :wizard: to send our way, we would appreciate it. DH is turning his communications bid in today and if he gets the job, it could be a huge blessing! Also, he has two houses that are pending for closing. Please pray that they would close and fund quickly with no problems at all. Thanks! :goodvibes

Lots to do today... Laundry, Business Meeting, eBay, Scheduling, e.t.c. I hope to get to journals this afternoon.

Have a great day! :sunny:

[kmp1191]

Hey Tracy....don't let yesterday get you down....today is a new day and a better day!! Walk away from the oreos....they are TROUBLE!!!
Hang in there and here's some pixiedust: for you.

have a great day!! :sunny:
marie

[kimwim8]

Hi Tracy!! Happy Tuesday!

Good luck wishes to your DH with his bid and closings!

Yesterday wasn't the best for you, but like you said...it's also not the worst. You really limited yourself, and that is what is important. One bite of a double cheeseburger.....I could never stop at just one! :rolleyes1

Take care and have a good night! :wave:

[toystoryduo]

Good morning,

I have a busy day ahead of me so I thought I would stop by early...

Yesterday's Food:

B: 2 cups Stouffer's mac-n-cheese
S: 1 small brownie
L: Lean Cuisine Lemon Garlic Shrimp w/ broccoli
S: 1 and 1/2 handfuls of carrots
D: small Caesar salad, 3 biscuits, shrimp scampi, shrimp pasta (Red Lobster)
S: 1 handful of light popcorn
S: 4 small reese's cups

I'm getting there. ;) At least I did the 5 meal plan yesterday which will help me ease into 3 meals + 2 snacks per day. (5 Factor) I need to go to the grocery store at some point today for some healthy snacks.

Today is a rest day on 5 Factor. I do plan on taking a walk this morning. I used to walk every day and I miss that morning quiet time.

Today's Plan:

* Walk

* Put Laundry Away

* Vacuum

* Grocery Store

* Thrift Stores?

* Disney Store

* Children's Place

I'm sure other things will come up to do in the course of the day...They always do! ;)

Have a great day! :sunny:

[toystoryduo]

I forgot to add...

Weigh-in today was at 214. :( That means I am up almost 2 pounds from last week. I am hoping that this is water weight gain from eating salty foods and from TOM. :(

I'll keep on keeping on though......

[eeyore25]

Hi Tracy...

Sorry for being gone...again....I am recommitting myself to getting back to journals daily!!! I think you are doing great...don't be too hard on yourself for the weight....it will start to melt away!!! Baby steps....like you said!!!

Hope you have a wonderful day!

[Blueeyes101817]

Tracy-
Keep on keeping on is the perfect attitude..
Hang in there, and next week will be better!
you can do it tracy!!

[Amy&Dan]

Hi Tracy, it sounds like you are doing great at working your food into five meals a day. Good for you! Also, don't worry about the small gain, salt and TOM can pack on way more than two pounds so once the salt and hormones are out of your system you will probably be down some! Hang in there, good luck with your dh's closings and job prospect, I am sending good thoughts your way! Keep up the good work!!!

[toystoryduo]

Good morning,

Yesterday was a great day foodwise until I hit 10:00 p.m. I ate an entire bag of hot fries with some cheddar cheese and I wasn't even hungry! :furious: Oh well... Today is a new day.

Plans for today:
* Workout (DONE!)
* Laundry
* Relax

I have been trying to get motivated to eBay.... I have some stuff that I think would sell well. I just haven't had the time or inclination to eBay for awhile. I need to get rolling though because September and December are coming up fast!

Hope everyone has a great day! :sunny:

[eeyore25]

Good Morning,

Today is a new day and you are going to do great..sometimes we all have those times when we just want to eat!!! I know that feeling well.....it is hard to not want to eat!!!

Good luck today with Ebay!!!!

Hope you have a wonderful day! Keep up the great work :)

[keenercam]

Hi, Tracy! I hope you have a great day. Congrats on getting all the way until 10 pm with good food choices. I definitely understand where you are coming from, though. I had the "munchies" last night and at 9:10 pm removed myself with a book to the bedroom to avoid hitting the cupboards for salty snacks.

Good luck with getting motivated to ebay! If you figure out how to find that motivation, can you let me know please? :teeth:

Sending :goodvibes: and :hug: your way, sweetie! WISHing you a WHOOSH on the scale soon, too! :wizard:

[Amy&Dan]

Hi Tracy,

Well if you already worked out, then you got right back on track which is a huge step in the right direction. Don't worry about those hot fries, they are gone and you are back on track! Keep up the good work, its all going to pay off, I just know it! And thanks for supporting me with my journal, its great to know I have so many friends here on WISH. Have a great day!!!

[toystoryduo]

Good morning,

Yesterday was a good day, but a tough day for me. :( I really was struggling mentally with my weight gain and how I look right now. For the past few months, I have been stuck at 204 and I complained about that. Now, I am at 214 and I am feeling discouraged. I've been working out pretty consistently. It's the food that gets me everytime. :sad2: How many times have I been stressed out to the max and used food as my comfort? Also, why am I gaining weight? I have been making much better choices (eating in moderation) and not eating as much. Why am I retaining so much water? I have been drinking in the neighborhood of 100 ounces of water a day. :confused3 The number on the scale does not bother me nearly as much as the way I feel and the way my clothes fit do. :(

So, what to do from here? Well, I am going to continue withe 5 Factor Fitness. I can't say that it's not working for me because I don't have the eating part down at all. The exercise part is easy for me. I workout for 25 minutes (or more) and I am done for the day. With eating, I have to think about and practice good choices all day long. Not as easy.

I'm going to do some serious thinking over the weekend about this weight loss journey. I've been with WISH for over two years. I started at 226. I'm down to 214. I should be well into Onederland by now.

Sorry for the vent.... I hope everyone has a great weekend! :sunny:

[keenercam]

Hey, Tracy! Don't get yourself down about the scale number, sweetie. I know what you mean about the uncomfortable clothes, though, so I wanted to share what I have been thinking. I don't know about you, but it occurred to me that I have not been eating enough fiber and maybe I should. I am going to try with eating shredded wheat for breakfast and still drinking lots of water. I am hoping that that will help. I think adding an apple a day to my food plan helps with that too. I wish I had your disicpline about exercising. You are really doing something so good and important for yourself there, so congratulations for overcoming that huge challenge.

Sending :goodvibes: and :hug: for a wonderful day!

[eeyore25]

Good Morning Tracy,

Don't be too hard on yourself. Maybe you just need to do what Cam is doing...add a little something to your diet....maybe something is missing....
You are doing great with the exercise....

No worries about venting..that is what we are here for. Vent away Hon!

Hope you have a wonderful Friday and a great weekend. Keep your head up....it will get better and you will succeed :)

[toystoryduo]

Thanks Cam and Jamie! :goodvibes

Today started off quite well. We went to a children's consignment sale and bought the girls some great clothes for $10. We got 2 brand new shirts (Gap), 2 pairs of like new jeans (Gap, Jordache), a princess shirt, and a long sleeved shirt. Them we went to Gabriel Brothers and found WDW t-shirts for $2.00/each! It's been a good day shopping-wise! :goodvibes

Foodwise:

B: 2 scrambled eggs with cheese, 1 serving of corn beef hash, 3.5 servings of home fries, and 2 slices of wheat toast

S: Orange

L: Nothing yet

It seems I have pulled a muscle in my back. It's hurting a bit today, but my DH puts some BioFreeze on it and it's tolerable for now. Tomorrow, I plan on a hot bath and some mild stretching to see if that will relieve the pain.

I'm still thinking about my weight loss journey.... Maybe DH and I can talk about it after the kids go to bed this evening. He wants to lose about 25 pounds before we go to WDW, so maybe we can come up with something together.

Have a great weekend! :sunny:

[Amy&Dan]

Hi Tracy, my those are some great deals on kids' clothes! You hang in there. You could be gaining some weight because of all the exercise. Muscle weighs more than fat. I agree with Cam, try adding some fiber. Frosted Mini Wheats are pretty good, and they have some sweetness. I also got some Kashi at Sams recently and its delicious. Unfortunately I am out right now and need to get some more soon! Since milk is also supposed to help with weight loss I figure milk and high fiber cereal is a good bet. And 12 pounds down is just that, 12 pounds off your body! You could have gained 20 or more pounds in two years instead you have lost some. I know its hard, God knows I get discouraged too, we all do. But don't give up and keep up your hard work because it is really paying off. If you are consistently doing your five factor fitness than I think that is incredible. I am betting your food will come into control soon, portion controlling is huge and you are doing that already. So I think you are nailing many of the components it takes to lose weight and will nail down a few more very soon. Have a great weekend!

[goldcupmom]

Hang in there, Tracy! I'm right there with you!! Frustrating, but we must keep on.

For fiber the Kashi go Lean crunch mixed w/ yogurt is good. Also from WalMart the Carb Down Flat out bread. On ww there's a kind that has 1 pt and I think 11 fiber. Also the delightful bread has 5 in 2 slices, the carb chopper tortillas have 8/tortilla. I'm a carboholic so I try to do my fiber in my breads.

Hope you have a good day tomorrow.


Prayers & :wizard:

[toystoryduo]

Thanks everyone! :goodvibes

Food was actually pretty good yesterday.... I ate in moderation. :thumbsup2 Not 100% healthy foods, but moderation was the key!

Today looks to be a relaxing day. We need it because next weekend is going to be crazy busy! I think we'll go to the Disney Store for Disney Dollars today and then do nothing but relax the rest of the day. :goodvibes I may eBay a few things, but we will see....

Today is my day off from 5 Factor, but I am going to get my family up for a walk this morning. It's a beautiful day so far and we need to take advantage of it! :sunny:

Have a great Sunday! :sunny:

[Amy&Dan]

Moderation is the key, and if you can do that on weekends you are really doing well :thumbsup2 ! Good for you taking a family walk. Sounds like you are having a great weekend, keep up the great work!

Amy

[toystoryduo]

Good morning,

My food choices yesterday were nothing to write home about so I won't write about them! :teeth: Today is a new day with a clean slate....

Today's Plan:

* Workout (5 Factor... Squats and Chest)

* Spring Cleaning: Living Room (15 minutes a day/ Mon-Sat)

* eBay?

* Research Homeschool Option for Next Year

* Laundry

That's it for Monday... Hope everyone has a great day! :sunny:

[eeyore25]

Hi Tracy!!!

You did get some great deals on clothes! I think this may have been the weekend for great deals everywhere! DMIL went shopping and called and told us all the great deals that Kohls was having. She bought shirts and stuff for like $3.50...just crazy!!!

Sounds like you have a pretty good day ahead! Keep up the good work..you can do this. And if your husband wants to lose weight too, you both can be motivation for each other!!!!

Have a great day!

[toystoryduo]

Good evening,

Today has been a good day. I sat down and re-read the 5 Factor Fitness book again and was reminded of all the reasons why I should watch what "fuel" I put in my body. I've also realized that these changes in my diet are not going to happen overnight, but that they are going to happen over time, day by day and step by step.

The first thing I have decided to do is aim for the 5 meals a day. That's it. No more, no less. Then, I am going to try and add 1 fruit and 1 raw vegetable into my diet daily. Then, I will working on healthy eating choices. Again, step by step, day by day...

Tonight we went to see The Wild. We were with one other family in the movie theatre. It was a cute movie. I know a lot of people have said that it was a knockoff of Madagascar, but we haven't seen Madagascar so we couldn't make the comparison.

Eating today was okay:

B: 2 bowls of Cheerios (no milk)
S: 2 small oranges
L: 1.5 cups of cheddar fried, 1 hardboiled egg, 1 Stouffer's meatloaf and mashed potatoes
S; 4 spoonfuls of cookie dough (Blah! I felt horrible afterwards!)
D: 1 plain baked potato with chili; 1 small caesar salad, 2 bites of a bacon cheeseburger, 1 handful of fries
S; 1 small tub of popcorn

I did manage most of what was on my to do list except eBay and homeschool research.

Hope everyone has a great Tuesday! :sunny:

[toystoryduo]

Good morning,

I've spent most of the morning getting DD5's enrollment application in for homeschooling this year. I have also been printing out her placement tests and will give those to her later on today.

As for the rest of my day:

* 5 Factor (Deadlifts, 1 Arm Rows)

* Garage Sale (yep, on a Tuesday!)

* Placement Tests for DD5

* eBay Research

* 15 minute Spring Cleaning in Living Room

That's it for today... For now at least. ;) I am working on healthy food choices and hope weigh-in isn't too brutal tomorrow...

Have a great Tuesday!

[eeyore25]

Hi Tracy!

Your plan sounds great! You are right, this is going to take a while....but it will happen!!! You can do this......I know you can!!!

Hope you have a wonderful Tuesday!

Keep up the good work!

[kimwim8]

Morning! Sorry I haven't stopped by in a while!

Congrats on re-reading your 5factor literature again. It helps to reinforce things every once in a while.

You're really doing great! I always admire how much you accomplish each day!

Keep it up - you can DO this! :cheer2:

[AmyBeth68]

Hi Tracy,

I just read through your journal and I'm here to tell you that you are doing a really great job! Life throws curve balls....but you are making healthy choices for yourself, exercising and you are SOOO busy on top of it! :goodvibes I'm really impressed with your hard work and dedication....so I want you to know that I'm cheering for you!!! :cheer2:

Take care and have a great week!!!

[CACruisin']

Hi, I am new and just started reading journals (and trying to keep one of my own - eek!). I really like your attitude of baby steps! :banana: The 5 factor plan sounds really interesting.

(I have an Em too, but she will be 12 tomorrow. Where did the years go?)

[Amy&Dan]

Tracy, you are doing great. Your idea of baby steps is so smart and right on the money. I have been trying to do the same thing and feel for the first time in many years like I might actually succeed this time. When we throw too much at ourselves we only get overwhelmed and frustrated. Better to get one thing down pat before we embark on another thing! Your food yesterday was awesome, aren't you proud of you that cookie dough doesn't even taste good anymore? Thats an accomplishment right there! Keep up the good work!!

[toystoryduo]

Thank you so much everyone for stopping by and for your words of support and encouragement. :goodvibes

So far I have spent most of the day on DD's online homeschool enrollment. She took her placement tests this afternoon and I should be able to get all of the extra paperwork out in the mail tomorrow. :thumbsup2

I did my 5 Factor this morning and I've been eating pretty well today:

B: 1 bowl of Cheerios (no milk)
S: 1 small orange
L: Lean Cuisine Chicken Basil Something or Other
S: 1.5 handfuls of tator tots, 2 bites of DD's mac-cheese
S: 1 handful of baby carrots
D: ?

I know I have only been eating 5 meals a day the past two days, but I am really hungry all of the time! Does that mean my metabolism is higher now? :confused3 It's odd because I really am hungry. Can eating 5 meals a day make that much of a difference?

When DH comes home from work, we may head out to the Disney Store for Disney Dollars. (My first commission from the travel agency should be here today! :Pinkbounc ) If that happens, we may eat at Red Lobster for dinner or just get something quick somewhere else. It's really up in the air right now.

For the rest of the day... (garage sale was cancelled :( )

* eBay research

* 15 minute cleaning in the front room

* Disney Store?

* dinner

* Library (have DVDs to return)

* Work on some client follow-ups and practice quotes

Again, thanks everyone for stopping by! I really appreciate your encouragement and support! :grouphug: I hope to be stopping by journals soon. :goodvibes

Have a great Tuesday! :sunny:

[keenercam]

Hi, Tracey!
If you do go to Red Lobster and you are looking for something new to eat, I'd highly recommend the roasted tilapia in a bag. It is very highly seasoned tilapia baked in parchment with all sorts of veggies. I think the full serving was 12 pts on WW but they also have a 1/2 serving. I'd order some steamed broccoli with it and mix that in with the veggies as the wine sauce it is cooked in is to die for.

Have a fun evening, kiddo! Congrats on that commission! :hug:

[toystoryduo]

Weigh-in today: 215.4.. :headache: I'm really getting tired of this... Back on April 6th, I weighed in at 210.6 and now I am up to 215.4. :sad2: When I originally set my new goal of 15 pounds by September, I would have weighed 189. Now, if I lose 15 pounds, it will put me at 200!:furious:

Don't have any clue where I am going from here... I know that this weight loss journey I am on has taken a turn down the wrong road. I can' t understand what is going on. I've been working out consistently for almost 4 weeks now and modifying what I eat. The result? Almost a 5 pound gain! :( It just doesn't make any sense to me. :sad2:

Today's Plan:

* Get DD5's enrollment information sent out

* Walk ( 5 Factor rest day)

* Practice Disney Cruise Quote

* Ebay research

* 15 minutes of cleaning x 2 in the living room (didn't get to it yesterday)

* Start planning garage sale

That's it for today..... Sorry for the vent this morning. :blush: Have a great Wednesday! :sunny:

[eeyore25]

Hi Tracy!!!

Sorry to hear the WI didn't go the way we wanted :grouphug: It will start moving in the right direct soon....I know it will. One thing that my DH has to constantly remind of is that mucsle weights more than fat...maybe with all the exercising you are gaining more muscle....that could be it...Just stick with it....the scale will move in the right direction....

Hope you have a wonderful day!! You are doing a great job. Keep it up

[CACruisin']

It is totally ok to vent. That is what this place is for! I know I definitely feel better after a good DIS vent. :grouphug: You are doing all the right things. The scale will turn around. Maybe it is more muscle or TOM is coming for a visit?

Thanks for your kind words in my journal. Congrats on your first commission check! Have a happy Wednesday! :banana:

[toystoryduo]

Yesterday was a very tough day for me... I just couldn't get over how much weight I have gained. I literally sat around most of the day trying to figure out why. :( I've been working out. I've been making better food choices. So, what's up? I would have been happy just maintaining, but a gain? I just don't understand. :confused3

So, needless to say, I ate way too much yesterday. I won't go into the gory details, but let's just say that at least 2 pieces of cheescake and a can of Pringles were involved. :sad2:

The strange thing is that I am in better shape now than I was when I was a size 7 in high school. I have more muscle and better cardio endurance. (And I was a gymnast! ) I guess that's one positive I can look at on this journey.

So, the quest for answers continues today......

Have a good Thursday! :sunny:

[eeyore25]

Hi Tracy,

I am so sorry that you had a tough day yesterday.....It will get better. :grouphug:

Keep your head up.....

Have a great day!

[DisDon]

"hey, cheer up Tracy, you know what they say...
Some things in life are bad, they can really make you mad :furious:
Other things just make you swear and curse,
When you're chewing life's gristle,
Don't grumble,
Give a whistle :rolleyes1
And this'll help things turn out for the best.
And...

Always look on the bright side of life!!

If life seems jolly rotten,
There's something you've forgotten,
And that's to laugh and smile and dance and sing. :cool1:
When you're feeling in the dumps,
Don't be silly chumps.
Just purse your lips and whistle. :rolleyes1
That's the thing.
And...

Always look on the bright side of life!!"

;)

[CACruisin']

Pringles - YUM!

Hang in there Tracy, it will turn around. Tomorrow will be a new day. :thumbsup2 Like you said, you are in better shape now and the weight loss WILL follow. Just maybe not as fast as we would all like it too!

[frogmommy]

Hi Tracy!

It's been awhile since I've seen you. I'm so glad you're back!

I've read through your journal. The 5 factor plan sounds interesting. I know you are having a hard time with weight gain, but don't give up!

[AmyBeth68]

:grouphug: First of all....a HUGE hug for you. We've all been there...discouraging days, tough days. I'm so sorry that you had a tough one. But you ARE being healthy, making GREAT lifestyle choices and taking care of yourself. It will make a difference and it does make a difference right now. Unfortunately, all your hard work isn't showing up in a tangible way for you. Just keep in mind one thing...and this isn't just one of those sayings....working out builds muscle and muscle DEFINITELY weighs more. That is a fact. Plus, you could be retaining water....many things can cause weight fluctuation from day to day. So please don't be hard on yourself. And sometimes we slip up, and sometimes we eat bad food or don't exercise. It's okay....I promise!!! You are doing SUPER overall!!! Keep your chin up and keep plugging away. You will see results. :grouphug:

[eeyore25]

Hi Tracy,

How did you do go? Did you have a better day???

Hope all is well. Keep it up....you are doing great!

Happy Friday :)

[toystoryduo]

Good morning everyone,

Thanks so much for your words of encouragement and support! Your posts put a big :teeth: on my face this morning.

I am ready to have a great day today! Yesterday was pretty good, but towards the end of the afternoon, my DH had some work stress that he had to deal with. We went out to eat afterwards and had a slow, relaxing meal at Outback. Ahhh... Went to bed early and for the first time in months, I got 8 hours of sleep! :cloud9: Woohoo! :Pinkbounc

Today, I plan on taking a hot bath, relaxing, doing some WDW planning, and finishing laundry. That's it! Tomorrow, there are a lot of rummage/ garage sales I want to go to, DH starts deejaying weddings with his friend again, and the girls and I will go to church and my MIL's for dinner. On Sunday, we'll get some Disney Dollars with DH's deejay money and clean the garage out.

I got 5 Factor in already and added a 45 minute walk at the end. It's so :sunny: outside!

Hope everyone has a great weekend! :sunny:

[kimwim8]

Hey Tracy!

I'm glad you're doing better. I know it's frustrating when you have an unexplained gain. I'm sure it'll make up for itself next week. Don't get down, get goin! (which you're already doing!). You are sticking with the 5 factor plan, which is awesome. You're gonna see those numbers falling off...I know it! :yay:

Thanks so much for your encouragement on my journal. You are a GREAT source of support for me, and I appreciate it! :thumbsup2

[AmyBeth68]

Tracy,

It's so nice that you got to go out for dinner and especially get a GOOD night sleep! I'm so glad that you are feeling better :sunny: .

I hope you have a great weekend! Enjoy the Disney planning...that is MY favorite activity :goodvibes .

[CACruisin']

Sounds like you have a really nice day and weekend planned. Great job on getting your 5 Factor AND a walk in already! Glad today is better for you! :cool1:

[kmp1191]

Hey Tracy - glad things are going better for you. I can relate to being upset w/ a gain....or with life in general.....hang in there, the scale will show you that your hard work is paying off! Like you said, you are in better shape, you're cardio endurance is great, and you feel great - don't worry about the scale....it will come.
Oh, I'm so jealous....you got to take a nice hot bath today!!! I can't even take a shower without some kid (usually one of mine) banging on the door and yelling about something someone did!!! Geez....i'd kill for a nice hot bath......hey.....maybe i'll go take one now..... :teeth:

hang in there girl...we're all on the same path and we're here for you!!

marie

[Blueeyes101817]

Hi Tracy!
I am just checking in and catching up on your journal--
I did bring back some pixie dust--even if i didnt go to disney :)
hope you have a great weekend

[toystoryduo]

Good afternoon fellow WISHers! :sunny:

Today has been a good day so far. This morning at a rummage sale we got:

* A stroller for WDW: $5

* A booster seat for DD3: $4

* A kid's set of golf clubs (real ones!): $3

* A BRAND NEW dehydrator: $4

* A bunch of stuff for eBay: $10

* Like new bedding for DD3: $2

:banana: Woohoo!

I got my 5 Factor Fitness book in the mail today so I can take the library's book back. ;) I'm going to re-read it again and this time, I can highlight in it! :cool1: I'm also reading The Weigh Down Diet by Gwen Shamblin so I can see if there are some ideas I might want to incorporate into my diet as well.

DH is off deejaying a wedding with his friend tonight so it's just me and the girls! We already miss him, but it's great that the money he earns will go towards WDW. :goodvibes The girls and I will got to church and then to my MIL's for dinner. Then, home to read! :thumbsup2

Tomorrow, we are celebrating Easter with my grandma and grandpa. Monday is Spring Cleaning day.

Hope everyone has a great weekend! :sunny: I'll try to get to journals tomorrow or Monday. :goodvibes

[AmyBeth68]

What a productive day you are having!!! :banana: Sounds like fun...enjoy the quality time with the kids and your new found bargain purchases!! WTG!!!!

[CACruisin']

Good bargains! Have fun highlighting your book :teeth: and a great rest of the weekend!

[toystoryduo]

Good morning,

I can't believe it's Monday already! Where did the weekend go? :confused3
We had a really good weekend, but I'm not feeling prepared for the week ahead.:( At some point today, I need to sit down and make out my to do list.

Today's Plan:

* 5 factor (week 5)

* eBay (3 items minimum)

* Clean, clean, clean

* Call DD5's homeschool advisor...

* Plan the week ahead

* grocery store?

That's it for this Monday. Hope everyone has a great day! :sunny:

[eeyore25]

Hi Tracy,

Looks like you had a great weekend!!! Good for you on getting a good night's sleep...that is always nice :)

Keep up the good work and have a great day!

Happy Monday

[CACruisin']

Good Luck with your To Do List! :cheer2:

Happy May Day! :flower1:

[eeyore25]

Hi Tracy,

Just wanted to pop in and say hi :wave:
Hope you are having a great day!!!

Keep up the good work!

Happy Tuesday :)

[toystoryduo]

Good morning WISH buddies,

How is everyone doing today? Today has been a mixed bag for me so far... I've not been getting enough sleep lately and so I've been kind of grumpy. :( However, I did get my workout in and I felt somewhat better after that. :goodvibes

I managed to get everything done on my list except eBay yesterday. I was having some issues with my computer and I was trying to get it fixed.

Today's Plan:

* No clue! I am really kind of tired and not feeling motivated to do much. I think I will take a hot bath and read a book for 20 minutes and see how I feel from there.... At least my workout is done! :thumbsup2

Hope everyone has a wonderful Tuesday! :sunny:

[kimwim8]

Hi Tracy!

You are really doing great. And you always accomplish so much every day! That in itself is amazing to me!

Keep up the great work, and thanks for stopping by my journal & giving me encouragement! I really appreciate it! :thumbsup2

[goldcupmom]

This is SO WEIRD!!! Three different places, including here, that I posted earlier today, the posts are INVISIBLE!!!!!

Anyway.....hope you had a good day and got the bath & book - those usually help!

Have a great week!

[CACruisin']

Bath sounds heavenly right now. What a good idea! It is great you got a workout in even though you were tired. Hope the rest of your Tuesday was restful.

[toystoryduo]

Good morning everyone,

Weigh-in was this morning and the scale read 215.4. I am happy with this because it is the same weight I had at last weigh-in which means I am holding steady. I'll take that as a victory after 4 weeks of gaining! :banana:

I've been reading the Weigh Down Diet by Gwen Shamblin and the information in her book is really different from what we've been taught about dieting and nutritional needs our whole lives. I'm going to finish the book and then go back with my trusty highlighter to highlight the important stuff. It seems like a good plan, but again, it's very different from what we've been taught.

I am currently in week 5 of the Five Factor Fitness program. According to the book, I am supposed to have a celebrity body by working out less and eating more in 5 weeks. Well.... I'm not quite there yet. to be fair to the program though, I haven't eaten on the 5 Factor Program at all. Also, I think that only 10 minutes of fat burning cardio is not enough so I will be adding in some extra cardio minutes daily. :yay:

Today's Plan:

* Clean my bedroom

* Put laundry away

* Vaccum

* Eat only when I am hungry

* Go to the Disney Store for some Disney Dollars

* eBay? (I've been having issues with my computer... Not sure if this will happen or not.)

I think that's all for today. Today is a rest day on 5 Factor, but I hope to get a nice walk in at some point in the day.

Have a great Wednesday! :sunny:

[eeyore25]

Hi Tracy!!!

Good news that you didn't gain...you are holding steady :)

Hopefully you can get your walk in and your ebay!!!!

Have a great day! You are doing a wonderful job!

[ScoJo15]

Hello Tracy!

I just read your journal and want to say good job!! I admire your planning for each day...must give you a good feeling of accomplishment when you cross everything off of your list. Nice work on the bath & book, too!! Gotta have some relaxing 'me time' every once in a while.

I noticed that you are going to WDW on Sept 16th....we (DD and I) will be there Sept 17-23, staying at POP Century (woo hoo free dining again!)....maybe we'll get a chance to say 'hello' and congratulate each other on our WISH goals! Oh yeah, did you notice that there is a MNSSHP on the Friday of that week?

Anyway, great job so far and keep up the good work!

[AmyBeth68]

Hi Tracy!

Great job on the "no gain". You are doing really well....keep up the great work. I am so impressed with your organization! I am trying SO HARD to stay organized in my home and with my volunteer work. It's so hard.

My next goal is to get back to my Ebay selling! I've got SOOO many clothes set aside in containers to sell.....my DH is getting frustrated LOL! Maybe that will be my new goal for next week!

[toystoryduo]

Hello Tracy!

I just read your journal and want to say good job!! I admire your planning for each day...must give you a good feeling of accomplishment when you cross everything off of your list. Nice work on the bath & book, too!! Gotta have some relaxing 'me time' every once in a while.

I noticed that you are going to WDW on Sept 16th....we (DD and I) will be there Sept 17-23, staying at POP Century (woo hoo free dining again!)....maybe we'll get a chance to say 'hello' and congratulate each other on our WISH goals! Oh yeah, did you notice that there is a MNSSHP on the Friday of that week?

Anyway, great job so far and keep up the good work!

Thanks Scott! :goodvibes

We are going to be in WDW from September 17th-24th and we're staying at POP with free dining! That is soooo cool! :thumbsup2 (We're driving from Ohio on the 16th.) I didn't realize that there is a MNSSHP on Friday! :Pinkbounc We have never been to MNSSHP party before, but we have gone to MVMCP and loved it! Thanks for the heads up!!! :banana:

[toystoryduo]

Good morning fellow WISHers!

I just realized that I am behind on my schedule... I should have started working out about 10 minutes ago.... I'll make this quick.

Today's Plan:

* Workout 5 Factor (Lunges! :faint: )

* Eat ONLY when hungry (Easier said than done. ;) )

* Laundry

* Disney Store for Disney Dollars

* eBay?

* Book a vacation for a client (waiting on an e-mail)

* Homeschool (Get DD5 ready for kindergarten readiness test.)

That's all for today. I think. ;) I will try and get to journal either later on today or tomorrow morning. Have a great day! :sunny:

[eeyore25]

HI Tracy,

Just wanted to pop in and say hi!!! Hope you are having a great day. You are doing great!!!

Keep up the good work!

Happy Thursday :)

[eeyore25]

Hi Tracy,

I hope everything is well and okay!

Have a great day and a wonderful healthy weekend :)

[kimwim8]

Hi Tracy!

You're doing so great! Keep up the good work, and have a GREAT weekend! :wave2:

[CACruisin']

Hi Tracy,
I am catching up on journals this evening. Congrats on no weight gain :cheer2: You are turning things around now! Good Job! As others have said, you are super organized. That is great!

It is hard to eat only when hungry (and also not eat poorly just because your hungry!) My biggest problem times are snacking in the morning while making DD's lunches when I haven't eaten my own breakfast yet, in the evenings while making dinner, and after I have gotten everyone to bed ice cream always sounds so good. It helps me to just remove the temptations and not have them in the house.

Keep up your good work and have a great weekend!

[Blueeyes101817]

just catching up tracy--you are doing great--its great not to gain weight!!

i stayed at POP two times now and we enjoyed it! Also did MNSSHP and had a great time..i liked that better than MVMCP!

[DisnyMama]

Hi Tracy,
I wanted to come visit your journal and say Hi and to tell you that you are doing really great with your program. :thumbsup2

Have a great Saturday!!

Shannon :wave:

[toystoryduo]

Good morning WISH buddies!

Yesterday was a good day! Why you ask? I'll tell you!

1. I got lots of walking in yesterday! This was in addition to my 5 Factor workout.

2. We found a like new Princess scooter for DD3 at a garage sale for $3. Came with a basket and a bell!

3. We had a nice meal with my parents and grandparents.

4. The Cleveland Cavaliers made it to the 2nd round of the NBA playoffs! :cheer2:

Now, the one part that I would like to leave out, but won't because I need accountability, is that I had a bag of Hot Fries with cheddar cheese slices as a snack last night. :( I woke up feeling bloated and heavy this morning. The plan is to drink lots of water, exercise, and wait to eat until I am hungry! We'll see how that goes. ;)

Today's Plan:

* Five Factor (biceps, triceps)

* Mail out some bills

* Take a walk

* Church/ Dinner at MIL's

* Relax

I sold another vacation this week! Woohoo! :Pinkbounc That's 5 vacations sold so far!! :woohoo:

Have a great weekend! :sunny:

[toystoryduo]

I'm back to try and sort some things out.....

I just finished week 5 of 5 Factor Fitness. It is a 5 week program based on strength training and variable cardio. I think that in the book, it said that at the end of 5 weeks, you would lose 5 pounds of fat. (I'll have to go back and re-read.) Well, I've gained weight steadily except for this past week when I held steady at 215.4. My clothes feel tighter. To be fair to 5 Factor though, I did not follow the food component of the program at all. And as always, I think the answer to my weight loss issues revolves around food.....

So, where do I go from here? Do I continue to use the 5 Factor Fitness portion or do I go back to the FIRM? Or do I go back to walking 45-60 minutes every day with some strength training thrown in 3-4Xs a week? :confused3 To be honest, I have no idea. I am hoping my DH and I can talk about this sometime during this weekend so we can have some set goals for a very busy week ahead. Once we are in the midst of busyness, it will be too hard to come up with a plan.

I am almost 100% sure that my lack of weight loss revolves around food. Why? Because I have been working out steadily for 2+ years now and I have not seen any major lasting changes. I have kept off about 10 pounds, but for me that's not enough. I am very uncomfortable at 215.

For me, food has been a comfort..... I need to get out of the habit of feeding my emotions and instead get into the habit of nourishing my body. The question remains.... I know what I need to do. Why do I have such a hard time doing it? :confused3

[CACruisin']

Good questions. Everyone's body reacts differently. For me, to truly lose weight I have to get in good cardio on a consistent basis. That's what my body needs to burn off the fat. I also need to watch my calorie/fat intake, but that alone won't do it. The strength training is also good, but without the cardio, the weight won't come off or stay off for me.

For the food intake, I am a Fitday.com convert. It has really helped me make better food choices. Good Luck and I hope you and DH can come up with a good plan. :cheer2:

[toystoryduo]

I am still feeling a bit lost.... It's Monday morning and I have no set idea on what to do for exercise this morning. I may just continue with Phase 2 of Five Factor. I may just walk. I really don't know. I know that I am feeling quite anxious right now because I have no plan and because my computer is giving me problems. :(

I have a quote to do this morning and then I'm going to take a few minutes to relax and pray. I don't feel prepared for today at all and I need to steady these feelings before rushing into anything.

Side Note: If anyone knows anything about computers..... My computer has been freezing up lately when I am on the internet. It seems to happen randomly... One day, I was on www.disneyworld.com and it froze up. I had to re-boot the computer. Today, it froze up when I was checking my e-mail in Yahoo. It is so frustrating because my work revolves around my computer as does DD5's enrollment for homeschool. I have done an error check on the computer, my virus protection is updated, my Ad Aware is updated, and I even switched browsers thinking that could be the problem. Anyone have any advice?

Have a good Monday!

[goldcupmom]

I'd say 'happy Monday', but it sounds a bit premature at this point!

I know NOTHING about computers except how frustrating they are - wish I could help.

I understand your frustration about weight, what to do, etc. I'm right there with you.

Praying you'll find some peace today & be able to come to some decisions.

[AmyBeth68]

First of all, I'm so impressed with you! You take the time to center yourself before moving into the day when you know things feel unsteady! That is amazing....really it is....I should definitely do that at times but I tend to go crashing forward and end up having a bad day when I feel like you do today. I sure hope your day is going well and that you found a nice exercise plan for the day! A walk might be the right choice...sometimes just getting fresh air helps!

As for your exercise plan I wish i Knew the answer. Sometimes it's best, when something isn't working, to try a new approach. :grouphug:

[eeyore25]

Hi Tracy :sunny: ,

All very good questions....you will find the answers to...I know you will. Although the weight is not coming off as you would like, you are still doing a great job.

I don't really know much about computers, but I will ask my DH if he knows of something. He is a compute dork!!!

Keep up the great work.....You'l get there I know you will.

[ScoJo15]

Tracy,

I work in IT and know a bit about computers....but would need more information in order to correctly diagnose your problem. Sounds like it's either not enough memory, or an issue with Java/Shockwave or some sort of plugin for your web browsers. Can you provide me with more details (like exactly what you are viewing when it freezes?)..feel free to PM the info to me.

Don't forget that if you add muscle and take away fat that you could actually gain weight....but it would be a good weight gain. I was reading this weekend how some people who are exercising a lot will gain weight (the wrong kind) because they end up eating more OR are less active after their workouts and are thus counterproductive. I'd suggest looking at food labels or visiting nutritiondata.com and adding up calories, carbs and fat on what you eat each day and analyzing those results....maybe you are overdoing it in one area and don't realize it?? Believe me, I'm no pro but just trying to offer different solutions. I definitely would not stop with the exercising though.

Keep your chin up and we're here to encourage you in your efforts!! Have a good day!

[toystoryduo]

Julie~ Thanks so much for your encouragement and support! We'll get our scales to cooperate soon! :goodvibes If not, we'll certainly get a lot of exercise in at the scale bashing party! :rotfl:

Amy and Jamie~ Thank you, both. : :grouphug: I appreciate your words of encouragement and support.

Scott~ I just read something similar in my book this weekend! I am really trying to get my food issues under control. Sometimes, I think I do eat more because I think to myself......"Well, I exercised today so eating the whole bag of Doritos is okay." I'm working on that.;) Thanks for your help in trying to straighten out my computer issue. I really appreciate it! :goodvibes

Well fellow WISHers...

I've spent some time working on my computer and working through the day. I did 5 Factor this morning and ended up going back to Phase 1 with heavier weights. I'm also working on eating only when I am hungry and portion control. We'll see how that goes....

I am off to get some laundry done and to read my book..... Thanks everyone for your words of encouragement and support! :grouphug: WISHers are the best! :thumbsup2

[toystoryduo]

Good morning,

Yesterday was a good day.... I ate only when I was hungry and watched what I ate. Here are yesterday's results:

B: 1/2 cheee & mustard sandwich, salad
L: 1/2 cheese & mustard sandwich, 1 small package of cheese crackers
D: 1/2 cheesestake sandwich, 8-10 waffle fries
S: 1/4 of a Reese's Peanut Butter Cup Blizzard

That's it! Now, I know that it isn't the healthiest of meals, but the key is I ate when I was hungry and I didn't overeat. Woohoo! :woohoo:

Today's Plan:

* Workout (deadlifts, 1 arm rows 5 Factor)

* Take a walk with my kids

* Homeschool

* Computer shop? :confused3

* Vaccuum the house

That's all for today. I need to start eBaying soon, but I want to get this issue with the computer fixed first or buy a new computer before I get back to eBay... :badpc:

Have a great day! :sunny: Weigh-in is tomorrow....

[eeyore25]

Hi Tracy!!!

Good for you for only eating when you were hungry!!! That is the first step.

I was watching TV last night, and our local news was talking about losing weight. You know they get you by saying, "Are you working out, but just aren't losing weight" so I thought of you. I will send you the story that they did.....I don't know if it will help you or not, but I thought maybe....I will pm you with the information...I don't know if I can post the link here.


You're doing a great..keep up the good work!!!

Happy Tuesday :)

[CACruisin']

Great Job eating only when you are hungry! :cheer2: :cheer2:

I love your Journal name "baby steps" because that is really so true! Baby step - eat only when hungry. When you are ready, you can go the next baby step. Keep up the good work and the baby steps and pretty soon, you will see progress with the scale too!

Have a great Tuesday!

Anna

[keenercam]

Hi, Tracy!
Eating only when you are hungry and only until you are full is such a great skill to develop. It is something I am terrible at, so I really, really admire people who do it and I look to you for inspiration.
I am sorry you are having computer problems, but glad to see you are not letting frustration drive you to the fridge or cupboard.
Keep up the great work, sweetie! Baby steps will still move you forward! :hug:

[goldcupmom]

Looks good, Tracy!

Hope you have an AWESOME rest of the week! We sure do need lots of :wizard: applied to our scales, don't we!!! Think we can order a truckload off ebay???

[DisnyMama]

Hi Tracy, Good Job. With WW only eating when I am hungry is something that I am really trying to learn. You are doing great. :thumbsup2 I hope your WI goes positive for you as well!!

Have a great Wednesday!
Shannon

[toystoryduo]

Hi everyone!

Weigh-in went well today... I'm down almost 2 pounds! I went from 215.4 to 213.6 this week. Yeehaw! :yay:

Today's Plan:

* Workout (FIRM Cardio Sculpt; 5 Factor Rest Day)

* Vacuum and straighten the house up

* Take the girls for a picnic

* Homeschool

* eBay?

* Client meeting to schedule ADRs for WDW (pending)

That's all for today! Please send some good thoughts/prayers/pixie dust our way... We should find out this week if DH got the bid for the communications work he put in a few weeks ago....

Have a wonderful Wednesday! :sunny:

[ScoJo15]

Good luck to your DH on the communications bid!! And great job on the weight loss!! 2 pounds is awesome!!

I also love how you factor your kids into each day...taking walks, having a picnic, etc...you should be proud to be such a great mom to them!

Keep up the great work!

[eeyore25]

Yippiee Tracy!!! Congrats on the loss :banana: :banana: :banana:

You are on the right track ....the rest will soon follow!!!!

Here's hoping that everything goes well with DH :wizard: :wizard:

Keep up the good work!!!

Happy Hump day :)

[Amy&Dan]

Hi Tracy,

Just got caught up with your journal after my trip, congrats on your weight loss! :cool1: I will think good thoughts for your dh and his job, I hope it all works out!

As for some of your questions about food/exercise/weight loss, here is what I have found. I have such a problem with food, can be such a binger that for me, I have to make myself accountable with food above all else. For years I exercised like a fiend. I would do step aerobics, sweat like a pig but didn't lose any weight. I would walk on the treadmill for 1 hour, then do weights for 30 minutes. I would swim laps and do yoga, this was all happening at a weight of over 220 pounds. I am surprised I didn't have a heart attack. This went on for about 4 years. I kept steadily gaining. I was eating out of control and it kept getting worse. I thought that given my level of vigorous exercise I should be losing or at least not gaining. I finally worked with a trainer who told me no way could I exercise enough to burn off what I was eating. I found out you have to walk an entire length of a football field to burn off one m & m! So I gave up on exercising for two years, continued to binge and packed on another 20 pounds, bringing me up to almost 250 pounds. Now I have lost 25 of that, and still have at least 80 to go. The first five came off when I just stopped bingeing, the last 20 has come off with Weight Watchers. When I started back to WW this time I thought to myself, I will concentrate on the food end. I will try to take baby steps with the exercise, but I need to get this food under control. Its been four months and I just really started exercising in about the last six weeks I think. I am trying to step up my exercise now that I feel like I actually have my food under control. That trainer also told me that food is about 80% of the equation. So for me, I know that when I am eating all the wrong foods, bingeing and just making awful food choices, exercise is good but it won't take off the weight. It is very hard for me to balance all of the components to being healthy! I just wanted to share my experience. I know what it feels like to literally work your hiney off and not get the results you want! I am a huge believe in exercise and know that it is something I need to do on a daily basis if I am really going to lick this weight problem for good. But I also know that how I eat is crucial. This has become more true as I get older. So that is my extremely long winded reply! Keep up your good work, it can be done, there are so many people right here on this board who prove that! You can do it too!

[DisnyMama]

Hi Tracy!! Great job on your weight loss!! :thumbsup2 That's great. I'm sending best wishes and pixiedust: your way for DH. You guys deserve it.


Have a great Thursday,
Shannon

[Blueeyes101817]

Hi tracy-
sorry i havent been around lately, but i just got caught up on your journal..You are doing a great job! congrats on losing the weight and on only eating when you are hungry! that is a big problem of mine..keep it up and have a great thursday

[toystoryduo]

Good morning fellow WISHers~

I want to first apologize because I don't think I will be able to make it to journals today. Since it's raining and DH is working, I think the girls and I are going to have a Disney movie marathon. :thumbsup2 Of course there is some housework that needs to be done and some homeschooling that needs to be done, but I think that is part of the plan for the day.

I just finished 5 Factor for today. I had to do the lunges without weights because my knee is acting up. (Old gymnastics injury) I did get through the workout with very little pain; just a locked up knee once in awhile.

Food wise yesterday was okay. I did manage to eat pretty well most of the day and only when I was hungry except for a small snack of cheese curls and cheddar cheese around 11:00 p.m. last night. Today's plan is to wait until I am hungry to eat.....

My computer still has issues. :badpc: I thought that it was fixed, but alas, it is not. I guess for the time being, I'll just try to work around it. We can't afford a new computer yet..

Today's Plan:

* Laundry

* Library

* Straighten the house up

* Movie Marathon

* Homeschool Meeting?

* Homeschool

That's all for today. I will try and get to journals tomorrow morning. Have a great Thursday! :sunny:

[toystoryduo]

Good morning,

Yesterday did not go as planned, but it was a good day. :goodvibes

Today's Plan:

* Five Factor (shoulders,lats)

* Laundry

* Homeschool

* Movie Marathon?

That's all for today. Tomorrow, my DH is deejaying and the girls and I are going to see DH's cousin in concert at a local church. Then, we'll have dinner at my MIL's house.

On Sunday, we are going to see DH's cousin perform again and then we are spending Mother's Day at my mom's house where my grandma will be there too. (We took DH's mom out for dinner last night and will take her gift and dessert to her on Mother's Day.)

Have a great weekend! :sunny:

[Blueeyes101817]

Tracy-
have a great weekend and get some relaxing time in!!

[Amy&Dan]

Hi Tracy,

Sounds like you are doing well, keep up the good work! And Happy Mother's Day! :sunny:

[CACruisin']

Congrats on the WI loss!! :cheer2: :thumbsup2 :cheer2: It is always such a great motivator to see the scale go down! Keep up your good work and have a wonderful weekend and Mother's Day.

You are a really good daughter in law to spend time with MIL every weekend, even when your DH isn't there. I hope she appreciates you! :)

[toystoryduo]

Good evening WISHers~

Yesterday, I was feeling a bit off kilter..... I had a headache and I got sick once, but I thought it was bad food. :( Fast forward to today... I have a headache, I'm still getting sick, and I am exhausted.... :guilty: Plus, my DD5 is sick too and my DH is deejaying tonight. :faint: Needless to say..... our plans for today changed and maybe for tomorrow too. :( We'll just have to see how everyone feels when they wake up.

Oddly enough, I did get 5 Factor in today. My cardio was a walk around the block and weights were biceps and triceps: my favorites!

Tomorrow, we are supposed to go to see my DH's cousin sing at a local church and then go to my mom's house for Mother's Day. We'll see what happens...

Happy Mother's Day to all you mom's out there! :flower3: Have a great weekend everyone! :sunny:

[CACruisin']

Sorry you and DD are not feeling well. :sick: Take it easy and hopefully everyone will feel better tomorrow for Mother's Day. :wizard:

[ScoJo15]

:sunny: Happy Mother's Day Tracy!! :sunny:

[toystoryduo]

Thanks for the Mother's Day wishes! :goodvibes

I'm sorry I didn't get around to journals yesterday to send out wishes to all you moms out there. I have been sick all weekend and I had some extra events thrown at me yesterday. I only had about 10 minutes on the computer and that was spent trying to fix it. :badpc:

My Mother's Day was okay..... It was great to see DH's cousin in concert. He is truly a gifted musician. :goodvibes He told us later that one of the songs he performed was written for my DH and me! How cool is that?!?!?! :teeth: It was also great to spend time with family. However, DH and I had an argument and that kind of put a damper on the entire day. :(

Today, I am still not feeling well. :( I'm not sure if I will get my workout in or not. The only thing that needs to be done is laundry and I will definitely be taking my time with that. ;)

I hope everyone has a great Monday! :sunny:

[eeyore25]

Hi there,

Sorry to hear that you and DD are not feeling well....Take it easy today and get better....don't push yourself. That is pretty cool that your cousin did a song that your DH wrote for you...that is very nice!!!!

Keep up the great work and I hope you feel better soon. Hope you had a great Mother's Day!

Happy Monday :)

[toystoryduo]

Thanks Jamie! :goodvibes

I'm still not feeling well.... I am hoping that the feeling lifts for awhile because I have to contact a client this evening and maybe book another vacation! :thumbsup2

I feel like life is kind of in a holding pattern here. My DH is waiting for several houses to close and is still waiting to here about the communications bid. Hopefully, this will be a very blessed week! :goodvibes

I didn't workout today and I feel a little guilty about that, but I really don't feel well enough to exert the effort right now.... Maybe tomorrow.

Hope everyone has a great week! :sunny:

[Blueeyes101817]

Hi Tracy-
PLEASE dont worry about not exercising...You need to get yourself well first, dont push it!!! Hopefully you will start feeling better and get back into the swing of things soon, but til then RELAX and REST!

[goldcupmom]

Hope you're feeling better, Tracy!

Don't worry about the exercise, getting healthy is more important right now.

Hang in there! Have a good week!

[Amy&Dan]

Hi Tracy,

I am sorry you aren't feeling well, I hope you are on the road to recovery! And I agree, don't even worry about exercising, your body sounds like it needs to lay low and get better! Hang in there and feel better soon!

Amy

P.S. That is so great about the song, what an honor!

[toystoryduo]

Good morning friends,

I woke up still feeling sick today. I don't understand how a 5 year old can catch a "bug" and get rid of it in 24 hours while mom catches the same "bug" and still has it 4 days later.... :confused3 Doesn't make sense to me. Maybe weigh-in will be good tomorrow though.;)

Well, I am going to try and get back on track today because I have a to do list that is about 5 miles long. Since I am still not feeling well, I am going to skip 5 Factor and maybe just get a nice, gentle walk in. If the weather cooperates. ;)

Have a great day everyone! :sunny:

P.S. I booked another vacation!!! :woohoo:

[Amy&Dan]

Hi Tracy,

Sorry you are still feeling crummy! I also want to know why kids can get over things so much quicker! I think your gentle walk idea was a winner. Feel better soon! :grouphug:

[DisnyMama]

Hi Tracy, Sorry to hear your not feeling well. It's amazing how the kids bounce back faster than we do. But, I sure give you credit for still wanting to get out there and get a walk in. Good for you. Hey, you never know, it might make you feel a little better (hopefully). I'm sure setting up the vacation made you feel better. That kind of thing always works for me. I wish you all the best. Have a great Day!

Shannon

[toystoryduo]

Thanks Amy and Shannon! :goodvibes

I woke up this morning and I am starting to feel better! :Pinkbounc I still feel a bit nauseous so I plan to keep on eating bland foods until my tummy is up to some variety. :goodvibes

I weighed in this morning and I'm down 2.4 pounds! :yay: I know this may sound silly, but I think I am going to add a weight loss ticker to my signature for motivational purposes. Whatever works, right? ;)

Today's Plan:

* Walk (no 5 Factor this week... I need to get completely better first.)

* Meeting this afternoon

* Homeschool

* Straighten the house up a bit

* Read and relax

It's hard not to get a hundred things done in a day like usual, but I think that sometimes when you're sick, that's a perfect time to rest, relax, and re-charge your batteries so you can heal. The exercise and spring cleaning will be there for me next week too. ;)

Have a great day! :sunny:

[ScoJo15]

Hi Tracy!

Hope you get back to 100% soon, but enjoy the rest and downtime while you can. You work so hard each day...you deserve some relaxation every once in a while!

Have a good day...

[CACruisin']

Glad you are starting to feel better. Definitely take it easy though. Your body is still weak and you don't want to get sick again. At least the weightloss is a nice upside. :banana:

Do whatever it takes to stay motivated. For me the exercise challenge has been really helpful. I need that since the weightloss is not cooperating - dumb scale! :crazy:

Have an easy day today ...

[Blueeyes101817]

Hi tracy--im glad that you are feelign better, just be careful not to push yourself too hard that you get sick again!!! Get some time in for relaxing!
have a great thursday

[toystoryduo]

Good morning,

I woke up today and I am feeling a lot better. I don't feel like I am at 100% yet, but I am getting there...slowly, but surely. :teeth:

Today's Plan:

* Laundry

* Straighten up the house (That makes it sound like the house is crooked. :rotfl: )

* Read

* Plan the girls summer program (See below)


* Change jar day! It's a rainy day so we're counting the coins! Money is for WDW! :banana:

* Taking DH out to eat.... He's in an all day meeting today and won't be home until 6:30 p.m.

Speaking of my DH.... I would appreciate any good thoughts, pixiedust: and/or prayers you could send his way. The past few months have been tough on him workwise. He has been working with people who have been dishonest and who have really dropped the ball when it comes to getting these houses closed. One house that is currently under contract and should have been closed in March, still has not closed yet. It has been causing him a lot of stress and a great deal of frustration. :furious:

I've decided that I am going to hold a summer camp type program for the girls this summer. Each day, we will be learning about a lifeskill or something educational. For example:

Monday: Alphabet Day/ Learning Day (The girls will learn about four letters per week and will have activities to do in their alphabet journals. They will also be learning about days of the week, shapes, months, community, money, jobs, e.t.c.)

Tuesday: Cooking(The girls will learn how to create a menu for dinner, shop for the ingredients, and make the meal.)

Wednesday: Animal Day (The girls will get to choose an animal that they would like to learn about and we will read books about the animal and participate in activities that teach the girls more about the animal.)

Thursday: Craft Day (The girls will make a variety of crafts that will be gifts for others or maybe something related to what we are studying for the week.)

Friday: Review/ Music/ Exercise Day (The girls will review what they have learned each week. We will also play different types of music (classical, pop, Disney, e.t.c) and the girls will learn how to create movements with the music. I guess that would be dancing, huh? )

I'm not sure if we will do this for the entire summer or just for a few weeks, but I am looking forward to coming up with ideas for the program. I'm also hoping that by having a schedule this summer, it will help us ease into the new homeschooling program that DD5 will be involved with this fall.

Well, I am off into my day! I will try and get to journals either today or tomorrow. :goodvibes

[CACruisin']

SO glad you are feeling better today and here is P & PD :wizard: for your DH and your family.

Your summer camp sounds like so much fun! Can I send my kids over too? :rotfl2:

Thanks for stopping by my journal. I really appreciate your words of encouragement.

Have a great weekend!

[DisnyMama]

Hi Tracy, Your program for the summer sounds great. I would think that the kids would really enjoy it. I hope things start to go well for your DH real soon. Sending pixiedust: your way.

I hope Fridays a good one for you! :banana:
Shannon

[eeyore25]

Hi Tracy,

I am so glad that you are starting to feel better..there is nothing worse that feeling icky!!!

way to go on booking another vacation...that is great news!!!! you are doing a great job!!!

I like the idea of a summer camp for the kids...I think that is great!!
I hope everything works out for you DH... I am sure that what he is going through has got to be so frustrating. :wizard:

Keep up the good work and have a great weekend!

[toystoryduo]

Good morning,

I think I spoke too soon.... I either ate some food that was bad last night or I still have the "bug." Today, I am not feeling very well.... So between not feeling well and looking for a computer this weekend, I probably won't be back here until Monday.

Hope everyone has a wonderful weekend! :sunny:

[Amy&Dan]

Hi Tracy, I am so sorry you are not feeling well again. It sounds like you really picked up a doozie! In any case I hope that you feel better (for good) very soon! And I feel for your husband. My husband is also not very happy at work right now and it really affects the whole family doesn't it? I hope things look up in that department soon too! Congrats on the weight loss, I hope next week is better for you!

[toystoryduo]

Good morning,

I am still not running at 100%. :( This "bug" has certainly been a tough one to get rid of! I am feeling better, but am still having a hard time keeping food down.

My plan for today is a busy one:

* Walk (not well enough to do 5 Factor)

* Laundry

* Homeschool (week 1 of summer program)

* eBay

* Library

* Straighten the house

* Go to my BIL's birthday dinner

* Follow-up with a client

I think that's it.... In the weeks ahead, we have 2 weddings to attend, a garage sale, 1 birthday party, deejaying, homeschooling, ebaying, and work... It's gonna be busy!

I will try and get to journals later on this afternoon... Have a great day! :sunny:

[ScoJo15]

Hi Tracy...here's hoping that you get back to 100% soon! Looks like you've got a busy time ahead of you so rest up while you can!

[CACruisin']

Hi Tracy. So sorry you had a relapse. I think it is hard to convince our systems to turn "on" again after being ill. Just take it really easy with bland foods - Bananas, Rice, applesauce, toast, plain chicken, etc. for a couple of days until you are feeling better.

Hope you are feeling better soon!

[AmyBeth68]

Hi Tracy,

Gosh, I'm sooo sorry that I haven't stopped by your journal in so long. AND I'm really really sorry to hear that you haven't been feeling well at all :(. What an awful bug you got!! Take it easy and I hope you are back to 100% soon...just try to get as much rest as possible and don't rule out the possibility of checking in with a doctor! ((((HUGS)))) and pixie dust coming your way that this thing gets out of your system for good!!!!

Oh, and the summer camp sounds fantastic! What a great idea. I really wish I was half as organized as you! I'm sure your kids are going to have a blast with all those different activities! WTG!!! :thumbsup2

[Amy&Dan]

Hi Tracy,

Hope you are feeling better. It certainly sounds like you have a busy time ahead! Don't forget to take care of yourself! You are doing great, just hope you are feeling great too!

[toystoryduo]

Thanks everyone!

I am feeling somewhat better, but I still have my moments. :( I don't know where this "bug" came from. It has been a real doozy though!

I went for a walk yesterday. Other than that, I haven't exercised at all. I am hoping to get back on track next week with 5 Factor.

Tomorrow is weigh-in. I'm a little nervous because I have been eating mostly carb laden foods because that's all my tummy can handle. I hope I don't show too much of a gain....

Have a great Wednesday! :sunny:

[ScoJo15]

Tracy - don't worry about the weigh in, you've been sick so there is not a lot you can do about it. Hope you can get back into the swing of things next week!

Have a good day!

[AmyBeth68]

Tracy! I think we're going to be at WDW at the same time!??? When are you going exactly and where are you staying? :thumbsup2

Some more "FEEL BETTER" pixie dust heading your way! :wizard: :grouphug:

[eeyore25]

Hi Tracy,

I am so sorry to hear that you still aren't feeling well....Just rest and relax as much as you can....

Good luck with WI...if you gain or stay the same it's okay...you have not been feeling well...don't worry about it. You will get back on track once you are back to 100%

Keep up the good work.

Have a great day:)

[toystoryduo]

Thanks for stopping by everyone! I am feeling much better today! :thumbsup2

Weigh-in went very well this morning! I am down 2.2 pounds to 209! This has just confirmed for me that in order for me to lose more weight, I really need to watch what I eat. Exercise is important, but not everything. I am going to try really hard to watch what I eat because I like the number on the scale to go down. :teeth:

Today looks to be a busy day... eBay, homeschooling, garage sale preparation, e.t.c. I'm going to get as much done as possible and delegate the rest to tomorrow.

Amy~ We are going to WDW Sept. 17th- Sept 24th and Dec. 1st- Dec. 15th. That's why I need to get back to eBaying again! ;) Will you be there at the same time? Oh, by the way... In September, we are staying at POP and in December, we are staying at a house in Windsor Palms and at BCV. :teeth:

I hope everyone has a wonderful Wednesday! Thanks for your support and encouragement! :goodvibes

[AmyBeth68]

OMG....sorry Tracy I read your ticker wrong LOL. I thought it said 3 months and 3 days. We'll just miss you by a few weeks. We're end of August LOL!

GLAD to hear you're feeling better today. Especially looking at that schedule!!! You go girl! :cool1:

[ScoJo15]

Amy~ We are going to WDW Sept. 17th- Sept 24th and Dec. 1st- Dec. 15th. That's why I need to get back to eBaying again! ;) Will you be there at the same time? Oh, by the way... In September, we are staying at POP


I think we are going to request the 90s building again like last year...it was very close to the bus queues. Did you get tickets for the halloween party on the 22nd??

[AmyBeth68]

Definitely go to the Halloween Party! It is soooo much fun!!!

[Amy&Dan]

Congratulations on your weightloss Tracy! Isn't that a good feeling? And you are right, watching what you eat is the biggest factor in losing weight and you are doing a great job with that. Also, I am so glad you are feeling better. Also, congrats on your upcoming trips to WDW. We just stayed at Pop and BWV and BCV looked so nice I might have to try that too! And definitely get those MNSSHP tickets, we did that two years in a row and are so bummed we can't go this year! Keep up the good work!

Amy

[AuroraluvsPhillip]

Hi Tracy!
So nice to hear from you. I just scrolled down the last page of your journal and it looks as if you are better from your GI bug. There are definitely viruses going around. My ex was sick with one a few weeks ago; a 24 hour thing.

I'm not surprised you lost weight. I always do when I'm sick. It's probably water weight though, so just be careful with your food choices over the next week or so, and you shouldn't gain too much.

Do you ever hear from any of the old WISH members? Do you know anything that's going on with them, Beth, for instance? It is nice to see new journals, but now I will have to read them all to get to know people!!! ;)

Well, have a great Thursday...I'm off to work and then off to my workout, then a meeting at my daughter's school...I won't be posting probably till the weekend!

Jean :banana:

[toystoryduo]

Hi everyone!

I am getting closer to feeling 100% better. :goodvibes I'm glad because that was one tough bug!

As for our WDW plans.... I'm not sure if we are going to go to MNSSHP or not. Right now, we are trying to make $200 extra dollars through eBay and our garage sale so that we can upgrade our tickets with the water parks and more option. (My DDs love Blizzard Beach and in December, my DH and I will be able to go to PI for the first time in almost 10 years since my MIL will be with us to watch the girls! :Pinkbounc ) So, maybe if our garage sale and eBay make us more than $200, we'll buy tickets for MNSSHP too. :goodvibes

I'm not sure what building to request at Pop. I think that we will be requesting something on the fourth floor though so that there isn't any noise above us. (i.e. toilets flushing)

Today's Plan:

* Walk

* Homeschool (Cooking Day!)

* Garage sale prep.

* Laundry

That's about it for today. Hope everyone has a great day! :sunny:

[kimwim8]

Hi Tracy

Sorry it's been a while since I stopped by. And sorry you were so sick! That's just awful. But the good news is you're bouncing back!! And boy, you just jump right back in, don'tcha?? :teeth:

Good luck with your Ebay-ing, yard sale-ing, and all the other things you have going on. And congrats on the loss! A loss is a loss!! :banana: Embrace it! ;)

Take care!

[Blueeyes101817]

i am so glad you are feeling better tracy!!! Hope you get some relaxing in though so you dont end up being sick again!

As for pop, i have only stayed in the 50s section but i absolutely loved it..it wasnt a far walk to the main buidling at all, but yet we didnt pay for preferred..i believe we were on the 3rd floor the first time and the 2nd floor the next t ime..i never heard any extra noises (toilet flushing) but i was worried since i had heard so much about it! im sure you will have fun!

[toystoryduo]

Good morning,

I am really looking forward to this weekend.... The only days we have anything planned are today and tomorrow. :teeth:

Today: Garage saleing, Help DH with work, DH and I are going on a date! :love:

Saturday: We are going to my cousin's vow renewal with my parents. My DH will be deejaying.

Sunday/ Monday: Nothing planned but garage sale prep.

That's it! A relaxing weekend!!! :cloud9: Woohoo! :Pinkbounc

Last weekend, we bought a new computer. It's making some noises so we may be taking it into the store at some point this weekend. Sigh....

So far, my eBay item is up to $51!!!! We are trying to earn $200 between the garage sale and eBay this week for an upgrade to our tickets... Woohoo! :Pinkbounc

Hope everyone has a great weekend! :sunny:

[eeyore25]

Way to go Tracy!!!! You are doing a great job!!!! :Pinkbounc :Pinkbounc :banana: :banana:

Keep up the good work!!!

Enjoy you relaxing weekend!!!!! Glad to hear that you are starting to feel better!

[Amy&Dan]

Hi Tracy, have a great weekend! You are doing so great with all of this, you must be feeling so good about yourself! Also, I am so glad you are feeling better. Keep it up!

[Blueeyes101817]

Hi Tracy-
Im glad you only have things planned for today and tomorrow--enjoy that day off on monday too RELAX!

have a great weekend!

[toystoryduo]

Thanks everyone! :goodvibes

We had to take the computer back to the store yesterday. The customer service rep. told us that the power supply (on a new computer!) was burning out and that it was a fire hazard. Needless to say, they replaced the unit free of charge. Whew! Scary stuff....

Today, the girls and I are going to my cousin's vow renewal ceremony. It seems like it is turning into a wedding ceremony though... We'll see what happens.

Yesterday, DH and I went to Ponderosa for our date night. We hadn't been there in awhile and decided to give it a try again. I really was able to limit my food consumption there. I even passed on dessert because I was way too full! :thumbsup2 A small victory, but a victory indeed! :teeth:

I am going to start working out again this weekend. I'm going to add walking back into the mix and plan on doing 5 factor 3xs/ week by combining the routines together. I have a feeling that I will have to drop back down to 5 pound weights until I can get my strength back.

Hope everyone has a great weekend! :sunny: I will try and get to journals tomorrow. :wave2:

[Amy&Dan]

Hi Tracy,

Wow, I wouldn't call passing on dessert at a buffet place a "small victory"! To me that is more like a huge victory, good for you! Sounds like you have a really good plan in place for working out. I hope you have a great weekend and enjoy your family time!

[CACruisin']

So glad you are finally feeling better and congrats on the Weight loss! That's great!!!

Glad you got a date night with DH :love: those are always so nice, and you did awesome skipping dessert!! Way to go!

Sounds like you have a good plan in place and know to take it easy getting back into the exercise. Keep up your good work! :banana:

[toystoryduo]

Good morning,

The vow renewal went well yesterday. We had a lot of fun! Of course I ate way too much, but we had a great time. :goodvibes

Today's plan is to work on garage sale prep. We may also head out to a couple of Goodwills too because we need more eBay stuff. (I missed the garage sales yesterday due to the wedding.)

Hope everyone is having a great weekend! :sunny:

[CACruisin']

Glad the vow renewal went well. Good luck with your garage sale/ebay stuff today and enjoy the rest of your weekend.

Thanks for stopping by my journal. I appreciate your support. :banana:

[kimwim8]

Hi Tracy!! You're really doing great! I'm constantly amazed at how much accomplish! I don't think I could ever keep up with you!!

[toystoryduo]

Good morning friends,

This weekend was relaxing and fun.....Almost didn't want it to end. Of course, if it didn't end, I would end up gaining a million pounds because of all the good food we had. ;)

I am getting a little nervous about the garage sale this week. We're having it on Thursday and Friday and it is supposed to rain off and on both days.... I am hoping for sunshine and lots of buying customers!

My eBay auction is closing today.... I am hoping the items bid up a bit higher than they are now. I have 30 people watching it so hopefully, the bids will increase!

Today's Plan:

Walk (gotta ease back into exercise)

Laundry

Homeschool

Library

Garage sale prep.

Hope everyone has a great day! :sunny:

[AmyBeth68]

Hi Tracy! Good luck with your garage sale and ebay auction!!! So glad you are feeling well again :).

[Blueeyes101817]

sounds like a great day tracy--enjoy it and i hope your ebay auction goes well!!!

[AuroraluvsPhillip]

Hi Tracy,

I hope you get last minute high bids on your e-bay items! More $ for WDW! :thumbsup2 I love seeing your to-do lists in your journal. I need to do that more...I find I get more accomplished and forget things less when I do.

Congrats on the weight loss too! I need to focus more on my food choices if I want to get to my goal weight. I think when I feel like eating, I will drink some water instead..that way, I will know if I'm really hungry or just grabbing something to stick in my mouth!

Have a great day!
Jean :banana:

[toystoryduo]

Thanks everyone! :goodvibes

Today has been a very non-productive day.... I did manage to get to the store and get signs for the garage sale, but that's it. My DH says I work better under pressure so I guess we'll see what happens tomorrow since it's the day before the garage sale. ;)

I'm starting not to feel well again. :( I have no idea what is going on. :confused3 Maybe too much food this weekend? I don't know. All I know is that I haven't been feeling well again today. Maybe my body realizes that tomorrow is weigh-in and that's why I feel sick. :teeth:

I'm going to try and get to journals today. I've tried a couple of times, but the server is too busy message keeps coming up. Have a good evening! :wave2:

P.S. My eBay auction is up to $102!!! I thought it ended today, but it actually ends tomorrow at 2:00 p.m. Here's hoping for lots more bids and sunshine and buying customers for the garage sale! :thumbsup2

[goldcupmom]

Busy as usual, I see!

Hope you start feeling better.

Glad about the auction - What are you selling?? (PM me - I'm always curious & happy when something goes well!)

Yes, I"m having a GSale Fri/Sat & then next Saturday when it's a neighborhood sale. I'm a big procrastinator, tho & am likely to be up at 3 a.m. getting ready for this!

Have a great rest of the week & take care of you!!

[CACruisin']

Glad to hear the ebay auction is going well and I hope the garage sale goes well for you too! Here's some :sunny: for you for the next few days.

Bummer you are feeling bad again. Take it easy and maybe try some yogurt to easy your system back to normal?

Thanks for stopping by my journal. :banana:

[traceycooper]

Hope the garage sale & ebay auction goes well :)
Hope you feel better soon.

[toystoryduo]

I'm embarrassed to post this morning... :blush:

I weighed in this morning and I am up 3 pounds from last week! :sad2: I know that I was sick the past two weigh-ins and that I did eat quite a bit over the weekend, but 3 pounds?!?!? I'm so embarrassed... :blush:

I did get my walk in this morning. Whew! It is hot and humid out there! I was hoping to sweat some of the extra weight off. ;)

Next week, I hope to add 5 factor back into my workouts. I miss the weights and cardio.

My eBay auction is up to $105 with 4 hours to go!!!! :Pinkbounc Woohoo!

Today will be catching up on laundry and garage sale prep. day. Please send prayers and :wizard: for good weather tomorrow and Friday. :sunny:

Have a great Wednesday! :sunny:

[goldcupmom]

That 3 lbs will come off soon! Don't sweat it!

Hope the GSale goes well! Mine is Fri/Sat & I'm SO NOT READY!!!

[CACruisin']

Your body is just adjusting after being so sick. The 3lbs will come back off. :cheer2:

Good Luck with your garage sale and here's :wizard: that the weather is great for you.

[ScoJo15]

You'll lose the 3 pounds right back...scales are so unpredictable sometimes, just chalk it up to a bad scale day.

Hope your ebay auction closed well and good luck with the garage sale this weekend!

[Amy&Dan]

Tracy,
I know its easier said than done, but don't worry about those three pounds! Its just as everyone else said, your body is adjusting after being sick. They'll come off in a jiffy but I understand its such bummer when it happens. And it happens to all of us! And don't be embarrassed to post that, heck I can gain three pounds in one afternoon! I hope the weather is great, sending a little prayer your way! Keep up your good work, you are doing so well! :thumbsup2

[toystoryduo]

Thanks everyone. :goodvibes

Just a quick post... lots to do today. The weather is not cooperating for us here in Ohio. It rained for awhile yesterday and it is supposed to rain most of today. I think I am going to open the garage sale anyhow and see what happens. I will be home anyhow.

Yesterday, we found out that the one house my DH has been working on for 3+ months is not going to close. The buyer (after 3 months) did not qualify for the loan. We are very upset about this because the people my DH worked with were dishonest about the whole thing. So, it's back to the drawing board today.

The other house DH has been working on has some issues.... Please pray that God would intervene and bless this transaction and allow it to go through with no further complications. My DH needs this boost and we need to come up with Plan B.

I have lots to do today and family is coming in from Florida this evening. Tomorrow is my other cousin's wedding and my favorite community wide garage sale. Sunday, my DH works all day and the girls and I may join him at work. I will try and get to journals sometime this weekend.

Thanks for your encouragement and support! :grouphug:

~Tracy

P.S. My eBay items sold for $115! :Pinkbounc

[CACruisin']

:woohoo: for your ebay auction! Good Luck with the garage sale. Who knows, maybe you'll get a break in the weather.

So sorry about DH and the house. :wizard: for DH and your family. What's the saying? When a door closes, a window opens. You'll find a good Plan B.

You have a busy weekend. Enjoy your family and take of yourself! :)

[myhandd]

Hey Toy,

Long time, no me!

Well, just to let you know, I went on a wild experience. After losing down and getting my 70 lb. clippie, I fell off the wagon and gained....28 lbs in 2 months. It takes some major eating to do that, and boy did I. I alone, raised the Kentucky Fried Chicken stock price $1. I vowed that I would not post on here again, until I was at the 70 lb. clippie, so, today is the day!

Anyway, just wanted to let you know I am back and I missed you guys!

Later,

Dax

[Blueeyes101817]

Tracy-i posted on your other journal, but wanted to stop by and say hi--enjoy your weekend!

[toystoryduo]

Welcome Back Dax! :goodvibes

We made our goal of $200 + for eBay and the garage sale this week. :Pinkbounc Unfortunately, it looks like the money will be going to bills instead of Disney. That's okay. At least we made our goal! :cheer2:

It looks like we will be taking this computer back to Best Buy again... I heard a loud pop from the monitor this morning and it shut off. I am not taking any chances. We are taking the unit(s) back tomorrow. I'm not happy about it.

Today, we are going to a community sale in the morning (100+ garage sales) and we are going to my cousin's wedding reception this afternoon.

I will try and get to more journals tomorrow. It all depends on this computer. :rolleyes:

Have a great weekend! :sunny:

[CACruisin']

Sorry about the computer :badpc: :badpc:

Have a great weekend and congrats on making your goal for ebay and garage sale! :cheer2:

[Amy&Dan]

Hi Tracy,
Congrats on making your ebay goal! Sorry about the computer mess and the house not closing for your husband. I know everything will work out and will say a little prayer for your family! I hope you have a great weekend!

[toystoryduo]

Good morning,

Yesterday was a great day! We went to the garage sales and found a new pair of shoes (Skechers) for my DH for $15 and a tv for our bedroom for $10. We also got a WDW for Kids book for .50 and a Disney Toddler Learning CD Rom for $1.00. What did we get for eBay? Nothing. :blush:

We also had my cousin's wedding reception to go to and it went very well. It was at my grandma's house and included family and a few close friends. My cousin (who has had a very rough life) came up to me yesterday and said, " Tracy, I am happy. Really, really happy." And she was. It is great to see her so happy. :goodvibes

Today, we will be taking the computer back to the store, going to the Disney Store, and getting ready for the week ahead. Prayers and :wizard: for DH's work are much appreciated! :goodvibes

Finally, I joined the June Exercise Challenge and my goal for the month will be 1000 minutes. I'm finally to the point where I am missing consistent exercise and am looking forward to getting back into the groove. :woohoo:

Have a great Sunday! :sunny:

[goldcupmom]

Glad the weekend's going well for you. Are you as glad the garage sale is over as I am????

Hope next week brings good news for your DH. Hang in there!

[AmyBeth68]

Hi Tracy!

Sounds like you had a good weekend!!! You are doing great....still inspiring me to get more organized.....I'm in awe of all the things you accomplish :).

And sending some of that pixie dust for your DH and his job. I sure hope it works out okay :(.

[CACruisin']

Way to go finding good stuff at the garage sales! :cheer2: I always love a bargain.

So glad you are feeling better and had a great weekend.

Great job on your start for the exercise challenge this month. :banana:

:wizard: for Dh and your family.

Anna

[toystoryduo]

Thanks everyone! :goodvibes

My DH and I are working on Plan B and Plan C today.... I hope to have some info. later on today....

Today looks to be a busy day, but I am going to stretch out what needs to be done throughout the day so I don't feel rushed.

Today's Plan:

* Workout

* Laundry

* Homeschool

* Spend time with my mom and brother (He's home from Illinois for the week!)

* Go to the bank and library

* Color my hair

* Help DH with work related stuff...

That's about all for today. I really appreicate your prayers, good thoughts, and pixiedust: . Have a great day! :sunny:

[ScoJo15]

Tracy - best wishes with the husband's job. i know how tough that can be and it looks like you are handling it well! And way to go on the committment for June!! Setting a great goal is the first step and you are on your way! Nice!

Have a good day!

[eeyore25]

Hi Tracy!!!!

Wow..you have been a busy women!!! Glad to hear that you made your ebay goal!!! Even if it went to bills, you still made your goal and that is great!!!
Sorry to hear about the 3 pound gain, but those pesky three pounds will come off in no time! I just know it.

Here's some :wizard: hoping that everything will work out for DH and his job....

Keep up the great work! You are doing an awesome job!

Happy Monday :)

[toystoryduo]

Thanks Scott and Jamie. :goodvibes I have to admit.... It's been tough having my DH self-employed for the past 4 years due to the fact that the money has not always come in steadily.... We are trying to get some things together this week so that we can determine what steps we need to take next. Thanks for your support and encouragement! :goodvibes

I wanted to post this is my journal because it has been weighing on my mind... On Wednesday, I went to get my haircut. The girl who cut my hair did a good job, but I was there for over an hour. In that time, I had the uncomfortable privilege of seeing myself in the mirror for over an hour. For the past few years, I've had this "image" of myself in my mind of me looking like I did in high school. (Isn't it funny how the mind can play tricks on you?) Well, sitting in front of the mirror definitely changed that. I could see me exactly as I am now... Not as I was 13 years ago. It's moments like this where I realize that I need to do something. Not just because I don't look a certain way anymore, but because it is not healthy for me to be at the weight that I am currently at. It's funny because seeing myself in pictures after our first family WDW vacation in 2003 prompted me to start working out for better health and to lose weight. However, I am only down about 15 pounds since then. I really need to focus on eating better so that I can get this excess weight off and so that I don't cringe when I see myself in the mirror. :guilty:

I managed to get my 5 Factor workout in so I will add 30 minutes to my exercise total. Hope everyone has a great day! :sunny:

[DisDon]

Hi Tracy, boy, I sure know what you mean. I just happened to find a bunch of old pictures while I was looking for my birth certificate so we could go across to Canada. Found some from my church mission days, best shape i've been in as an adult, about 180 lbs. ago. I still feel like that guy inside sometimes, until something reminds me of how I am now. Something's gotta change! Good job on the workout, keep on truckin'!

(btw, put a note in the e-ticket, yeah!)

[Amy&Dan]

Hi Tracy,

I so understand that "feeling" you get when you are confronted with an image of yourself that doesn't feel too positive. For me it can be in a mirror (I hate getting my hair done for that very reason), an old or recent picture or even my reflection in a window. But we all just have to keep trying and realize that we are all works in progress! Don't get discouraged, and dont' minimize that 15 pounds! 15 pounds lost is better than 15 pounds gained which can so easily happen. And, 15 pounds is a lot of weight. Go pick up 3, five pound sacks of flour and carry those in a backpack for one hour. It will drive the value of your weight loss home! I also hope that your dh's job scenario works out soon, nothing is more stressful (know all about that too). Hang in there, you are doing so great and you are such an incredibly busy person that you really are an inspiration to many of us. Be one to yourself too, you deserve that!

[CACruisin']

Hi Amy, things seem a bit rough right now, but you and DH are going to get through this too. You will come up with a good plan.

And as others have said, don't minimize the 15 lb loss. That is a lot and if you had not decided to make a commitment to better health, you could have just as easily gained 15 lbs. Age takes a toll. You won't ever be a teenager again (and who really wants to be anyway! :rotfl2: ), but you will get your body back and be happy with the way you look again because you have committed to a healthy lifestyle. You are super organized, and you will find the right plan to get where you want to be! :cheer2:

Have a wonderful time visiting with your brother. That is a nice treat. :love:

[eeyore25]

Hi Tracy,

I too get very disappointed when I look in the mirror because of the very same reasons. It is hard, but you are doing a great job. 15 pounds is a lot and the rest will follow.

You are doing a great job. Keep your head up

Have a great Tuesday :)

[ScoJo15]

Tracy - 15 pounds is an awesome accomplishment. Weight doesn't come off overnight. Just remember to make the lifestyle change (eat good...get exercise) and the weight will come off when it needs to. You are doing so great! You and DH will get things worked out...I admire your positive outlook.

Have a great day!

[toystoryduo]

Good morning WISH friends,

Thank you so much for your encouragement and support! :grouphug:

Yesterday, my brother took us to the Cleveland Zoo and spent the day with us. We had a blast! Plus, I added 135 minutes of exercise to my June challenge. We did a lot of walking! :yay: The only bad part of the day was how much eating I did and that was strictly my fault. I was surprised at weigh-in this morning because I am holding steady at 212 this week.

Today's Plan:

* 5 Factor (2 days combined)

* Homeschool

* Business Meeting

* Walk to the store

* Maybe take an online class

That's it for today....

A few more thoughts....

* I want to thank everyone for your good thoughts, prayers, and support for my DH and his work situation. We are working on some things and praying that the Lord opens many doors of opportunity for my husband in the coming weeks. Thanks again!

* Thanks also for your support on my WISH journey. Lately, I have become very frustrated with myself for my poor eating choices and for the way I look and feel right now. Thanks for sticking with me! :grouphug:

* Finally, I read a quote in Scott's journal today that Amy posted from a fortune cookie and I just love it! :thumbsup2 It says, "Your dream must be bigger than your fear." I think that due to life and the many difficulties we have had over the past few years, I have forgotten what it means to have dreams. So, I am going to spend some time thinking about my goals and dreams today and see what I come up with! This might be fun! :yay:

Have a great day everyone! :sunny:

[AmyBeth68]

:grouphug: Hi Tracy!

What a fun day at the zoo! And don't fret over the eating choices....it was a fun day out and we all eat less than stellar when we're off our normal schedule! Don't worry about it! You are still doing great!!!!

And it really warmed my heart to see that the quote I used was inspirational to you. :cloud9: Whatever dreams or goals your heart led you to today, remember that we're all here to support you along that journey! You are such a strong and positive force here on the boards! Thanks so much for that and continued PD for your DH and his job situation!!!! :goodvibes

[Blueeyes101817]

Hey tracy-
i talked to you "over there"but i wanted to tell you that you are doing a fantastic job! you are allowed to have zoo days once in awhile :) hang in there my friend!

[CACruisin']

WTG with all the walking on your zoo day. :cool1: and don't fret about the eating. You'll get back on track.

I hope you had a great day today and found some wonderful dreams. You are so inspirational and supportive. You deserve all your dreams and hopes!

[toystoryduo]

Good morning friends,

Thank you so much for your encouragement and support. I hope you all know how much I appreciate you. :grouphug:

I would really appreciate your good thoughts/ prayers for my DH today. He has several opportunities that may pan out for him. We are just hoping and praying that many doors of opportunity open for him and that he can walk right through them with God's blessing. How does that saying go? When God closes a door, He opens a window or something like that....

As for me... I am struggling. I am struggling right now to remain optimistic about my weight loss, the way I look, our finances, e.t.c. Could be pre-TOM roller coaster or it could be the stress of life that has been a constant for the past 5 years. :( In any event, I'm not scheduling much today, but prayer and relaxation....Maybe a nap too. ;)

I hope everyone has a wonderful day! :sunny:

[Amy&Dan]

Tracy, I will defintely say a prayer that these possiblities work out for your husband. It would seem as though you and I are on the same page right now where these matters are concerned! Hang in there, it will all work out I know. Don't get discouraged with your weight loss efforts, you are doing so well! It is such a long road with so many pit stops, turns and detours that its easy to forget how far we have come. I notice you are almost half way to June Exercise Challenge goal. Way to go, its not even the middle of the month yet! Hope you get your relaxing, prayerful day in, that is just what you need. Have a wonderful day! :sunny:

[toystoryduo]

Thank you very much, Amy. :hug: My heart needed your kind words this morning. :goodvibes

I will be honest and say that I am still struggling.... I did take a major rest day yesterday, but I also found myself having a bit of a pity party. :blush: Today, I'll be too busy for that. (I hope! ;) )

Today's Plan: (How do I fit all that needs to be done today into today? :confused3 )

* Workout (5 Factor: cardio, upper body, abs, cardio)

* Garage sales (1 church; 5 neighborhood sales... need eBay stuff!)

* Pull a Disney quote (booking system down)

* Take DH to a job interview

* Go to Akron to pick up my MIL's meds from her doctor

* eBay

* Straighten the house up

* Grocery Store

* Go to see Cars today?

* Help DH with work

* Pick up free tickets for the zoo tomorrow

:crazy2: See what I mean? Some things may not get done today, but the majority have to. Whew! :faint:

Other Thoughts...

* Please continue the prayers and :wizard: for my DH.

* I am over halfway to my June Exercise goal! :Pinkbounc

Well friends... that's all for today. I probably won't be able to make it to journals until tomorrow or Sunday. Have a great weekend! :sunny:

[toystoryduo]

Good morning friends....

Today looks to be a much more relaxed day.... Our plans? Go garage saleing (2 community sales), start eBaying, go to church, dinner at my MIL's, go see fireworks at a local community's home days.... That's it! :banana:

My exercise will come from walking to the garage sales today. I didn't get much sleep last night and so I am feeling kind of sluggish today... I think I will skip the weight lifting and just stick with a gentle walk.

Hope everyone has a great weekend! :sunny:

[CACruisin']

Glad you are having a more relaxed day today and best of luck for your DH and your family. Challenges only make us stronger, right!

Have a great weekend.

[toystoryduo]

Thanks Anna! :goodvibes

Hello WISH friends,

Yesterday was a great day! We found some great deals at a garage sale, my DH started feeling better (was sick), the sermon at church was wonderful, dinner was delicious, and the fireworks were awesome! Now, how do we top that today? :rotfl:

Today's Plan:

* Family Walk w/ Scavenger Hunt

* eBay... just a few items

* Plan the week ahead

* Relax and recharge our batteries...we have a very busy week ahead of us!

I would appreciate your continued prayers/ good thoughts for my DH. He has a job interview tomorrow for a third shift job that pays quite well. Thanks!

Hope everyone has a great Sunday! :sunny:

[Amy&Dan]

Hi Tracy, sounds like yesterday was about as good as it gets! We had a great sermon last night too, must be something in the air?! I will definitely say a prayer for your husband and for you regarding his job. Keep up your good work, you are doing so well. Happy Sunday! And thanks for all of your support!

[CACruisin']

Glad you had a great day and are taking today easy. Wishing your DH the very best of luck at his job interview this week. :wizard:

[toystoryduo]

Thank you Amy and Anna! :goodvibes

Today looks to be a very busy day so I probably won't be able to make it to journals..... Here's today's to do list:

* Workout

* Laundry

* Homeschool (money, scavenger hunt)

* Work for DH... probably about 2 hours worth

* eBay... I have 8 items up now... I hope to add several items later on today and tomorrow.

* Library

* We're going to see Cars this evening... $5/movie + free popcorn! Can't beat that! :teeth:

* Need to make a trip to Goodwill

I just wanted to add.... Yesterday, I did a jog/sprint/walk and it felt good to push my body through that. My knee even held up too! :goodvibes I may add jogging + walking+ sprinting back into my exercise routine... :Pinkbounc

Thank you everyone for your continued prayers and support. My DH is getting ready for is interview this morning.... Hopefully, I'll have some good news to post later on today! :goodvibes

Have a great day everyone! :sunny:

[toystoryduo]

I'm back.... DH still isn't home yet... Hopefully, that's good news!

I managed to get my workout in. I did 35 minutes of cardio and heavy weights. Right now, I feel good. Tomorrow, I'll be sore. :rotfl:

Now, I am off to eBay... I've got so much to do this afternoon, but at least I have CARS to look forward to this evening....

Until later.... :sunny:

[ScoJo15]

Wow, nice job on the workouts!! Glad to see that you can add the jog/sprint stuff back into your routine!! Hope that DH's interview goes well this morning...I know how much it means to you guys :) And have a blast at Cars!!! We saw it this weekend and it's a great movie!

have a great day!

[keenercam]

Tracy -- Hope all goes well with DH's interview. Congrats on your great workouts! :cool1:

Hope you enjoy the movie. DS12 and I went yesterday and really enjoyed it. Be sure to stay through the credits -- some really funny stuff there!

Hugs, sweetie! :hug:

[Blueeyes101817]

Hi Tracy-
How did you guys end up liking Cars? I saw it two times this weekend (one babysitting, one visiting with my buddy kim!) I thought it was cute!

Way to go on getting your workouts in! Im proud of you!

Hope you are having a GREAT night!

[toystoryduo]

Thanks everyone! :grouphug:

Cars was great! We really enjoyed this moving! It gets four thumbs up from our family! :thumbsup2 :thumbsup2 :thumbsup2 :thumbsup2 The credits were so funny!

Today looks to be a more relaxed day than yesterday. I only have 4 things on my to do list:

* Exercise (Walk+ jog)

* Homeschool (money+ nature hike)

* Laundry (finish)

* Go to the Library

That's it for today! :goodvibes My DH got called back for a second interview and he has that today at 10:30 a.m. Please send prayers, good thoughts, and :wizard:!!

[CACruisin']

Wow, only 4 things on your to do list today! That is a very relaxed day for you - Enjoy!

Here's :wizard: that DH's second interview goes well!

[Amy&Dan]

Hi Tracy, can't wait to hear how your hubby's interview went! I'll send some prayers after the fact, I hope it went great. I also love your lists, I should follow your good, organized example. Hope you had a great day!

[toystoryduo]

Thanks Anna and Amy! :grouphug:

I do have some good news to report.... Yesterday, my DH had interview # 2 with ABC Company (not the real name :laughing: ) and he thinks it went quite well. His potential boss is going out of town on Thursday so they told my DH that they would let him know today. Then, he goes to an interview at XYZ Company and they want to hire him on the spot! They told him he could start Monday! :banana: So, we are waiting to hear from ABC Company today to compare the offers......In the meantime, he will be working on real estate and Prepaid Legal to make some extra money.

So, what does this mean for our WDW trips? At this point, it's anyone's guess. He's thinking that the XYZ Company is a bit more lenient and that he could get the vacation time from them for September. He's not sure about December though. So, we will wait and see what happens today and then go from there.

Today's Plan:

* family walk/run

* help DH all day

* run some errands (library... notice how that's been on my to do list several days in a row? ;) ; walgreens, post office, e.t.c)

That's all for today. Please keep your prayers, good thoughts, and pixiedust: coming! :goodvibes

[keenercam]

Tracy -- Congratulations to your wonderful DH on finally being recognized as the hard-working valuable employee he will be at either of those places. I really hope he has a difficult decision to make with 2 fabulous offers to consider today. Good luck and many prayers!

Have a wonderful day, sweetie! I LOVE that your to-do list looks like a good mix of fun and productivity! :goodvibes: :thumbsup2

[goldcupmom]

Way to go Tracy's DH!!!!!!

Isn't God good?? Not one offer, but TWO to choose from!!

Can't wait for the news on which gets the privilege of having him!!

Have a great day!!

[ScoJo15]

Tracy - Congratulations to your hubby!! From worrying about not landing a job to getting two offers is pretty awesome!! Good luck with choosing the best one and here's hoping you can still get that WDW vacation in!!

have a good day!

[AmyBeth68]

:grouphug: Tracy! I'm so glad to hear about your DH's work situation. That must have lifted a huge weight off you guys! Really really wonderful news! And I have to hand it to you...all along you always stay so positive. That is a true testament to your spirit :).

[CACruisin']

Congrats on the job situation turnaround for DH. That is absolutely wonderful news for your family!!! :cheer2: :cheer2: :cheer2:

[toystoryduo]

Hello friends,

Thank you for stopping by with your kind words and encouragement. :grouphug: We are still waiting on offer #2, but DH has decided that he will make his decision today. I will update you as soon as I know more......

Today's Plan:

* THE FIRM (DONE!)

* :laundy:

* Homeschool Parents Night @ 7:00 p.m.

* Little chores

* Errands

That's it.... Hopefully, I will be back later with an update and I'll be able to get to more journals then too. Have a great day! :sunny:

[Blueeyes101817]

Thanks for posting tracy...cant wait to see an update!

Have a great day and hope you get everything done that you need to get done!

[toystoryduo]

Good evening friends....

My DH called this morning and left a message to let company XYZ know that he would take the job and could start Monday. They did not return his phone call.... Now, I am totally stressed out... Why aren't they calling? They wanted to hire him on the spot, but he wanted to take some time to think about it. Now, do they not want him? I've been alternating between crying and stress and yelling all day today. I thought things were starting to look up and now, I am not so sure. Company ABC never called him back so it looks like XYZ was his only option and so far.... no call back. I would really appreciate your prayers/ good thoughts/ :wizard: . I'm hoping that we get a call tomorrow, but who knows.... :sad1:

[DisDon]

:wizard: :wizard: :wizard: :grouphug: pixiedust: :tink:

[CACruisin']

Tracy, It will all be good. Have faith and :wizard: . :grouphug:

[toystoryduo]

Thanks Don and Anna. :grouphug:

Well....

We still haven't heard from this company yet. I don't understand why they can't call him back and say yes or no. They wanted to hire him on the spot. What changed since Wednesday? I am so tired of going through all this work stress. I've been bouncing back and forth between anger and tears for the past 24 hours. I really thought things were starting to look up.... Now, it's back to the drawing board.... again. :sad1:

I probably won't be able to get to journals for a couple of days... Have a good weekend.

[goldcupmom]

Hang in there, Tracy! I'm praying double time that you hear something today.

Try to relax, enjoy the girls and have a good day and weekend.

God is in control!!! (But sometimes it seems He has gone on vacation!!)

[keenercam]

Tracy -- I know this might now help much, but keep your chin up, sweetie! It will all work out according to God's plan and in His time. I know how hard it is when your family's future is involved, but I hope your spirits will pick up today. Sending pixiedust: and a :hug: this morning.

[toystoryduo]

Hello friends,

Thank you for your words of encouragement and support. :grouphug: WISHers are the BEST! :goodvibes

DH was able to get ahold of the HR person yesterday and she said that they have two more interviews to go, but my DH is still at the top of the list. Basically, my DH thinks that they are playing cat and mouse with him because he made them wait for an answer so now they are making him wait for an answer.. Does he really want to work for a company like that? :confused3

Anyhow, we are moving forward and faxing resumes out for him. He is still working on the real estate and Prepaid Legal while waiting for the right job to come in. In the meantime, I may start looking for a job. I'm so scared about re-entering the work force.. It's been almost 6 years! I would love to go back to teaching someday, but I can't do that until both girls are ready for school. My ideal job would be teaching at my old school and having both of my girls attend there. It is a private school though and right now, we can't afford the tuition.

Needless to say... DH and I have a lot to talk about this weekend. We need to decided about Disney as well. The whole family was supposed to go to WDW in December (renting a 6 bedroom house), but my SIL just found out she is pregnant and due in early January. So, my MIL is thinking about taking my niece and nephew during the free dining in September, but hse won't do that if we aren't going. I really wish those houses had sold and closed like they were supposed to. :(

In any event, I can't change what happened. I can just look forward to the next door of opportunity that God has for us and hope that it is a big one!

This weekend should be quiet (minus the job discussion :rotfl: )... DH is deejaying today, the girls and I will go to church and my MIL's. Tomorrow, we'll stop by my dad's for a bit and spend the rest of the day chilling. My girls got their daddy a coffee maker, coffee, and two ties they bought with their own money. They couldn't wait so they gave him his gifts already. ;)

Have a great weekend! :sunny:

[toystoryduo]

Good evening,

Today has gone surprisingly well. DH and I had a great talk this morning about work and we have some plans in place for next week. Let's hope that they pan out. :goodvibes

Tomorrow, we are taking DH out to eat(his choice), letting the girls swim for a bit, and spending time with my dad. It looks to be a relaxing day. :goodvibes

Have a great evening! :goodvibes

P.S. I added a 30 minute walk yesterday and a 30 minute bike ride today! :yay:

[goldcupmom]

Glad you got to talk & plan. You sound a bit more relaxed. That's GOOD!!!

Have a fun, relaxing day tomorrow!

I'm still praying about the job situation.

[CACruisin']

Glad you and DH got a chance to talk and plan. Here's :wizard: that everything will fall into place. You have a wonderful attitude and that will do wonders.

Great job getting exercise in yesterday too!

[toystoryduo]

Hello WISH friends,

We have a very busy few days ahead of us as we begin work on our POA... better known as our Plan of Action. We had a small crimp thrown in those plans when our muffler on our van went yesterday. My DH has to finish installing the new muffler on the van and then we are all set to go. I probably won't be able to make it to journals for a day or two. Please continue sending prayers, good thoughts, and pixiedust: our way.... I appreciate you all very much! :grouphug:

Have a great week! :sunny:

P.S. I love the quotes that you guys are putting in your journals.... As my DH and I are starting down a new path career wise (hopefully!), I thought this was rather appropriate..

" Progress always involves risks. You can't steal second base and keep your foot on first." Frederick B. Wilcos

[eeyore25]

Hi Tracy,


I am so glad that your talk with DH went well and you have a POA!!!! Ton's of pixiedust: heading your way that everything will work out the way that it was meant to.

Keep your head up!!!

Happy Monday :)