Amy's New Start : Comments Welcome!

[Amy&Dan]

Lol Tracy, that is the very last time I go to Olive Garden so close to weigh in when all I can order is a salad with the dressing on the side!

I was down 1.2 today so I was happy with that. I had a rough week with a lot of challenges but I stuck with it. All the vacation weight is gone and I am now down .4 below what I was the day we left. Last year I had lost around this much and then went to WDW, got off track and never got back. This year, I have broken through that barrier. I did basically lose a month with the trip, getting back and getting the weight I gained off, but I can deal with that.

My new goal is to be at 25 pounds by July 1st when we leave for Texas for my mom's memorial service. That's about 9 pounds in 8 weeks, I think that's attainable. I first thought I"d set a goal of 30, but that's probably pushing things! I have lost 15.8 pounds in four months. When you consider one month was totally nuked by our trip, that's not bad. If I do this all year, I'll be 52 pounds thinner by New Years. Four months ago today I started WW and was so discouraged by that number on the scale. Since then I have worked out consistently and feel very positive and confident that I can get this weight off once and for all!

Dh and I thought about taking the kids out to dinner tonight but realized we really shouldn't be spending that money. So I am going to make something here. Then Sunday we are going to a friend's house for prime rib. I love prime rib, probably because its the highest fat meat on the planet! I am taking an ice cream cake to that. So Mother's Day will be a definite splurge. My hope is to get a walk or two over the weekend. The weather is supposed to be nice for a change of pace which might help with that endeavor!

Happy Mother's Day Ladies!

 

[lovinaz]

Congrats on the loss! I know you are in a better place mentally this year, you are not letting little slip-ups get you in a rut anymore, you are jumping back on the wagon and on the road to success. Wow, 52 lbs lighter by the end of the year, that will be GREAT!

I'm glad to hear you were able to reconnect with your cousin!

I hope everything is going well with Dan's job search.

Have a wonderful Mother's Day. Enjoy that prime rib!

 

[toystoryduo]

Happy Mother's Day, Amy!

Congrats on your weight loss this week!

Hope you have a nice time at your friend's house today!

 

[Amy&Dan]

Thanks Amy and Tracy. I had a very nice Mother's Day. My friend and I went and got our mani/pedicures which was nice (and Dan drove us so we could sip some cocktails out of water bottle decoys!) and then we went back to their house for lunch. I didn't get too much prime rib, it was a very small roast and with 8 of us (four of whom are teens) the portions were small. And frankly I was glad! I got enough to get a good prime rib fix without all the calories. Dan and I brought shrimp cocktail and a baskin robbins ice cream cake and I also made sure I got one that served exactly 8, not a big one with leftovers. I did load up my baked potato with enough butter for probably three potatoes but it was tasty!

Food this weekend was hit or miss. I did well on Friday during the day only to blow it that night with chips and queso and then on Saturday I again did well throughout the day only to slip up a bit that night.

But Dan and I did get a 45 minute walk in on Saturday, it was the first time he and I had walked together in awhile and he commented on how much faster I walk. So that was good.

Today I am about to head to the gym. I have too much to do around here to go in all reality but I am going anyway. Tonight we have to take ds to something clear across town and I was going to try to make something in the crockpot but for some reason that didn't sound appealing on a sunny spring day. Dan offered to grill chicken breasts when we get home but that would have us eating too late so I think we'll either get Subway or maybe Tokyo Joes. Its rare for us to eat out during the week but I figure its probably still Mother's Day somewhere in the universe so another day off from Kitchen Duty isn't a bad thing!

 

[toystoryduo]

I'm glad that you had a nice Mother's Day, Amy!

How's your week going so far? Any news on the job front for Dan? We're praying!

I hope you have a nice evening!

 

[Amy&Dan]

I cannot believe I have not posted in my journal since Monday! What a week is all I can say. Its been so crazy busy and if I don't get on the computer in the day, I know once the kids get home I won't be able to get on until very late (heck, its after 11:00 right now).

Its been a very good week. I have done really well with food and I did get in 345 minutes of exercise. I skipped yesterday which was not good but I was having company for dinner and I just got so busy cleaning and cooking I ran out of time. Oh yeah, we also had a few inches of wet heavy snow and it was nasty and miserable and I couldn't face walking outside at all yesterday (which had it been nice I would have time for that for at least a half hour). Its raining right now and if it turns to snow I am going to scream!

We are supposed to camp Sat. night nearby, around 45 minutes away in the foothills. We always do this because we all want to go but with spring snow (the mountains got two feet) its got to be down here. Even so, it will be in the low 30's on Saturday night so definitely need to pack layers!

I'll post my weigh in tomorrow, in spite of a good week I am still worried because that's what I do!

 

[toystoryduo]

Happy Friday, Amy!

How did weigh-in go? Mine went as I expected. I'm starting over on Monday!

I'm glad that you are enjoying the book. Leslie has another book called Walk Away the Pounds that is a wonderful read too. I got that one at the library.

Have a great time camping this weekend! Stay warm!

 

[Amy&Dan]

Thanks Tracy, I may look for her other book at my used book store or at the library. I just love her (and the lady who sent me her book of course )

I was only down .02 I was so disappointed! But then I started thinking about how hard I have been working out and how I have been eating. I overate big time on MOther's Day last week, however I had all my flex points so points wise I came in fine. Then MOn-Thur I underate. Yesterday for instance I came in over 10 points under and worked out 110 minutes. Dumb! Add to that I haven't been sleeping well and of course as hard as I try, I am still stressed about Dan's job situation. So I need to make sure I get my points in and when I am hungry, eat some of my activity points.

I am right at 16 pounds and at least the scale moved down.

I am taking some naughty things camping, namely a sour cream, butter pound cake. But I am also taking plenty of fruit and a veggie tray.

Dan and I went to Happy Hour tonight with some friends of ours and I shared some junk but I did share. I did have three Coors Lights though. Oh well, its Friday.

As for camping, thank goodness we didnt' go tonight. Its 38 and rainy now and if I was in a tent in the cold, I'd be heading for home. Tomorrow will be a high of 60 and only down to 39 that night. I can handle that. It will be fun, but honestly I just sort of wish we were staying home. But I love my friends and the fun we have when we go. Just so much darn work!

 

[lovinaz]

Hey, a loss is a loss, right? You are doing great. Just like on Biggest Loser, some weeks you have a small loss, some weeks you have a big one! I bet you will have a big one next week.

Mmmmm, that cake sounds divine! Have fun camping!

Any good news on the job search? I sure hope so.

 

[eyor44]

on the losses Amy. You are being very consistent and I know you will make your goal. You have the determination to get there.

Have you talked to any more cousins? How is your friend doing? Is she in rehab now? How is Dan's job hunt? any new leads? He'll find something.

How was camping? did you freeze? you are a very brave person to tent camp in cold weather.

 

[toystoryduo]

Congrats on the weight loss, Amy!

How was camping this weekend?

Hope you are having a good week so far!

 

[Amy&Dan]

T

 

[Amy&Dan]

Well, I typed that extremely long post last night only to have the letter "T" come out. So sick of slow computers with issues. No idea if its a disboards thing or something with my own computer.

Camping was okay. It was very cold, I had to take so many blankets and jackets to keep us from freezing and now I have loads of smokey smelling laundry. Really and truly, my 15 minutes of patience and trying to play nice for Dan and the kids sake with camping is about over. I do all the work and truth be known don't even enjoy it that much. Sheesh, I can sit at home on my deck and enjoy the outdoors. And I ended up tanking our budget with this since I had to spend so much at the store for firewood, camp stove fuel and charcoal, paper products (had used all those up last time) and all the food we have to schlep since so many people go. We could have had a nice dinner and movie out and stayed home where it was warm and dry. I told Dan I am making no promises about future camping trips!

Food has been good, exercise good and that's about it.

I have talked to some more cousins, I am so hoping this stuff with Dan's job works out so we can still go. I know we'll go to Dallas for my mom's internment, but if he's not gotten a job, we'll basically drive the 900 miles, spend one or two nights then drive it straight back. Not fun.

He's got four good prospects, just waiting for everyone to step up the pace (not him, but rather the people he needs to talk with etc). Meanwhile, the 28th of the month just looms closer.

I am stressed to the max right now. Crap with Dan's dad's estate, dealing with ds' crappy grades and worrying about this job stuff. Right now, I feel in that mode where I have nothing fun to look forward to, no idea what will happen and even though I know it will all work out, the not knowing is hard. Its been almost two months of this. And ds not pulling his weight at school is the last thing I need and today I informed him how selfish he is to put his dad and I through that right now. I guess if nothing else the old guilt trip is worth something.

And I have out of town company coming for a week in June (for my fil's service) and knowing how expensive it will be to feed extra people, the gas to take them places etc., well that's making me stressed too!

Sorry to be so negative, its just been one of those days. And its only 9:30.

 

[DisDee]

Amy, don't apologize for being negative cause we all have days like that. You and your family are going thru a stressful time and it helps to have somewhere you can vent like the Disboards. Let it all out and know in the end that things do have a way of working themselves out. Give yourself some Amy time-something different than what you're used to doing. Go somewhere different to take a walk with your favorite music or go get a manicure. Just a little something for you to temporarily forget about all the other crap.

I hear you about the camping. We did it years ago and its a bunch of work. There's so much prep and clean-up, I much prefer staying at a nice hotel!

I hope your day improves!

 

[goldcupmom]

Vent away, Amy! Seems that's about all I do here anymore.

Glad camping was ok. Still praying about Dan's job.

Sounds like you are doing great w/ exercise & food.....can I please have some of your stick-to-it-iveness?

HOpe all is well.....

 

[traceycooper]

Tracey: If that well does turn out big, I am taking all my Wish Sisters to WDW! But don't hold your breath!

Just printing that quote off - just incase..lol

sending lots of & for you & DH
& a to DS to hopefully kick him into touch

 

[toystoryduo]

Sending a gentle and prayers your way, my friend. Please don't apologize for venting in your journal. We all have days where we just need to get it all out and journaling is a great way to do that.

I'm sorry for all of the stress that you are experiencing right now. Please know that we are praying for you and for Dan as well.

You are doing a great job with your workouts and food! Keep up the good work!

I hope you have a nice weekend!

 

[Amy&Dan]

Thanks Ladies,

I didn't weigh yesterday, I was going over to my friend's house that just had surgery and knew if I went to WW, I'd be short on time for anything else. I did weigh at home and it looked like I was about the same. So sort of on a plateau but I am hopeful I can shake it for next weeks' weigh in.

We are having a bunch of plumbing work done today, we have one of those home warranties where you pay a monthly fee and then your plumbing, ac/heat and appliances are covered. Well I called, they sent this very nice plumber out that the home warranty picked and then they declined his estimate. Which was very reasonable by what I could tell. I really wanted this done today and so I got on the phone and over an hour later, finally got it resolved. I am not normally the type to complain and demand, but darn it I pay for this dumb thing and when I have a claim, I don't want to be given the run around. Dh and the plumber just sat there and enjoyed me going head to head with this woman named Judy who finally decided to approve the work because I think she was sick of dealing with me. Let me just say I am getting my work done and I got one heck of a lot of my frustration out!

We ate out last night, went to the world famous Casa Bonita (if any of you watch South Park you have heard it mentioned and yes its a real place). Awful food but in this huge place with cliff divers, fire dancers, strolling mariachis, a haunted house and arcade and God knows what else. I read once that if Disneyland and Tijuana had a love child, Casa Bonita would be it! I am sorry I wasted way too many of my flex points on their crappy food but we had fun with our friends and now Matthew and Maria can say they have been to Casa Bonita. I have done my duty! And if any of you ever come to Denver on vacation, somebody will tell you to go there but do yourself a favor and check with me for a better Mexican food restaurant first!

 

[Amy&Dan]

By the way, thanks for letting me vent ladies. I needed it!

This week is is going along. The woman Dan is working with to get on with her firm is on vacation but he does have an interview on Thursday. She has a total of five possible positions for him but they are all moving along slowly which is the usual case. And one of them would have him driving three hours per day total so not sure that one is even a good idea at all. He also may get another two week extension but the rest of his team will be done on Friday. One of the guys is a single dad and I really hope he finds something soon.

It will be two months tomorrow since we found out, I am hoping the end to this is very soon! And I feel it will be.

Floundering with my motivation lately. I have to fight to make myself work out the last few days and in fact I should be getting ready for aquasize right now but I am iffy to even feel like it. And I won't have time to walk beforehand. I just feel blah!!!

 

[goldcupmom]

Home warranty problems.....let me guess.....AHS? I have to call them tomorrow as our Swamp Cooler doesn't work this year. fun, fun.

Casa Bonita? I didn't think they were anywhere outside OK. They are SO good, yet SO bad!

Praying for Dan's job situation. 3 hour drive doesn't sound like fun....or cheap!

Hang in there. You will endure and through it all, God is faithful, even though I really do think He takes extended vacations to WDW sometimes.