lovinaz's "getting her act together" journal

[Amy&Dan]

Yeah Amy, that idea of Bill Phillips that a free day is only one day and the other days are perfect is sort of soemthing I have yet to master! But I like the idea and do think its sound advice!

That is great your husband can do all that, you guys will definitely save a ton of money that can be very well spent in the kitchen.

Good job avoiding junk. I cannot have those big cheese balls in my house. We take them camping and I swear the adults all eat more than the kids!

Glad the Cardinals won, I'll pull for them since the Broncos are history this season!

 

[toystoryduo]

I'm pulling for the Cardinals too!

That's great that your DH can do the renovation work. That saves a lot of money that way!

Hope you have a great day! Is Shred on the agenda today?

 

[inkkognito]

Ugh on the insulation!

But as you said, it's so nice to know how much money you are saving.

 

[lovinaz]

I am really starting to notice a difference in firmness in my abs, legs and upper body! I do have to say that I am getting more effective workouts at home than I was at the gym... I know I still have 2.5 weeks to go on my "at home" trial, but if things continue to go this way, I will be kissing that gym membership goodbye!

One bad thing is that my knees are a little sore. I decided I was going to start taking some glucosamine (DH has a huge bottle from Costco) but when I read how many to take, there is a huge warning on it - it contains crab and shrimp and says that anyone with a shellfish allergy should consult their Dr before taking it. STUPID FOOD ALLERGIES!!!!!!!!!! So I left a message for my Dr, but I'm sure he'll say not to take it. Guess I'll have to find something else...

For Monday:
B: chocolate oatmeal
L: leftover chicken stir fry w/brown rice; caramel cashew chocolate
S: 3 egg whites; 1 oz monterrey jack cheese; 1 square 72% Ghirardelli chocolate
S: red peppers-n-hummus; 1 Hershey's kiss (sensing a theme here today )
D: 2 eggs overeasy; 4 pieces turkey bacon; 2 pieces wheat toast w/butter; SC ice cream sandwich

E: 45min TJ Cardio Party; 20min Shred L2
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Amy, I have been pretty good avoiding junk these past couple weeks, even the Twinkies and Ding Dongs I got for the kids! I put them in their lunches - they get one junky treat a day. Lucky dogs... However, pre-TOM hormones are starting to creep in so I will be struggling these next couple days!

Tracy, I did do Shred yesterday afternoon and it still kills me. I am absolutely drenched at the end of those 20min! It will be MWF this week, plus Sunday. I have been really good sticking to every other day with that.

Barb, I think knowing how much money we are saving is the only thing allowing me to put up with the constant mess!

 

[toystoryduo]

You are doing a great job on getting those workouts in, Amy! That's wonderful that you're seeing results already!

 

[Amy&Dan]

Amy, that's funny, I just noticed today on my Glucosamine that it said that about shellfish. I had no idea about that! I am glad you read the label before you took it.

You are doing great with those workouts, and its great you now know you can probably get by and even do better without the gym membership. Money saved is money earned!

 

[traceycooper]

well done on the home workouts Amy - i'm glad they seem to be working out for you
Best advice i ever got regarding knees - is to make sure they never go out further than your feet (if that makes sense!) & make sure your feet are flat (toes not pointed) when cycling! & massage the muscle that runs down the right side of your shin - helped me

 

[lovinaz]

Knees still sore during workouts... It's the Turbo Jam causing it, I think. But I'm getting great results, so I am determined to tough it out for the next 2.5 weeks! Then I will look for a different cardio DVD or stick to Pilates for a week or two. After that I'll do the Turbo Jam maybe once a week or so and just not follow the schedule once the initial month long program is finished. My Dr recommended Knox Gelatine instead of glucosamine. So I need to get some of that and give it a try!

Had my first soccer mom carpooling experience. Not a fan! It started with 1 girl on DD's team, who lives relatively close. Then that mom told me another girl's mom was in a 2-person carpool and their girls have practice at the same location at the same times (not on DD's team). So, we figured that if we all carpool, we'd each only have to drive 1 way each week (it's a 20min drive each way). These 2 "new" girls live in a very affluent neighborhood, which is a total maze! Luckily I have the navi in the car or I would still be driving around, trying to get out of their neighborhood.

For Tuesday:
B: chocolate oatmeal
L: leftover chicken stir fry w/brown rice; 1 square 62% Ghirardelli chocolate (last one - my co-worker had brought in a huge bag!)
S: 3 egg whites; 1oz cheddar cheese; 4 mini chocolate covered pretzels
S: red pepper-n-hummus; small handful almonds; 2 Hershey Kisses finally gone!)
D: wheat thin spaghetti, sauce w/meatless crumbles, parmesan cheese; SC ice cream sandwich

E: 20min TurboJam; 20min Ab Jam
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Tracy, I am very pleased that I am sticking with it. I guess that's what it takes to get results! Why did it take me so long to figure that out??

Amy, I am glad I didn't just pop a pill in my mouth. If DH had told me how many to take, I would have never looked at the label... I will definitely have to get some different workout DVDs, I know I would get bored doing the same things all the time, but I know I am getting more results than I was at the gym, so that is really cool!

Tracey, I know exactly what you are talking about with the knees not shooting past the feet. Turbo Jam has a lot of punching to the side and rotating the hips, and I think that is where the problem is. At least that is when I feel it the most! That and jumping jacks, which are easily modified. Thankfully my knees are not sore throughout the day, just during working out, but I certainly don't want to get to the point they are sore all the time!

 

[inkkognito]

Isn't it great when you start to see those workout results?

Be careful of those knees! You definitely don't want to end up with an ongoing problem.

 

[toystoryduo]

That is so cool that you're seeing results from your workouts, Amy! I know you want to keep at the Turbo Jam for the next couple of weeks. Please be careful with your knees though.

Sorry to hear about the soccer mom carpooling experience. Good thing you had the GPS!

Have a great afternoon!

 

[eyor44]

Amy
Praying for your family. I hope your Aunt is recovering well.

Wonderful progress all the way around I think. Sounds like the renos are going well and you are feeling good about your workouts. Wonderful!!!!!!

Have I ever mentioned that I live an hour North of New Orleans and that when the Bills (DH is from upstate New York) aren't playing we cheer for the Saints?

Actually, DH and DS cheer for the Saints. I have learned when the Saints on are TV, that is the best time to go shopping. Especially during Monday Night Football. I can have Target all to myself. While normally I wouldn't care, I'm secretly hoping they do make it to the Super Bowl, then I could have Target, Sams and JCPenney's all to myself for several hours.

 

[lovinaz]

I did not want to do my afternoon workout yesterday, but I powered through it and got it done! I thought about postponing it until today, but I have DD's parent-teacher conference so I won't have time. I have to brag - at her gifted class p/t conference on Monday, she had all A's and was ranked 7th out of 22 students! Because of district budget cuts she has to get bussed to a different school for her gifted class now (one day a week) so this is a new teacher for her. I don't necessarily agree with ranking the kids, I think I'd be a little upset if my child was at the bottom of the totem pole... And DD has also been invited to try out for the Mesa Youth Orchestra, which is quite an honor! I'm so proud of her. OK, bragging session over.

I have noticed a very interesting phenomenon. Pre-TOM symptoms are here in full force, I am due any day now. Normally this is when my 3lbs creeps on overnight. I have been maintaining pretty steady the past 2 weeks and that is AWESOME! I can tell I am bloated, but I know I must have lost some "true" weight because my pants aren't snug like they usually are around this time. So, even if the scale shows a small gain or steady number as last Friday, I am VERY happy that I am not the usual couple pounds up.

For Wednesday:
B: chocolate oatmeal
L: spinach salad w/chicken, cheese, LF dressing
S: energy bar (granola-type thing, 130cal)
S: red peppers-n-hummus; small handful almonds; 1 Hershey kiss (found a straggler in the pantry!)
D: turkey fiesta pie; green beans; SC ice cream sandwich

E: 45min TJ Cardio Party; 20min Shred L2
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Barb, I have been taking it easy the past couple workouts and my knees don't seem quite as sore, but that is probably because I am not working quite as hard. I did order some of that Knox online, so hopefully once I start using that the problem will go away.

Tracy, I am just not one of those carpooling-type moms! It's actually a little embarrassing. I work in a male-dominated field (engineering) and the majority of my co-workers are men. I just don't seem to be able to relate to some of these other moms, who stay at home or are teachers, or nurses... So I am really trying to branch out and try to make friends with all the other soccer moms but I still feel like a fish out of water. Baby steps, I suppose!

Lisa, thanks for the well wishes, my aunt is doing great and my cousin is still in the same condition. I guess we will have to have a friendly rivalry until this weekend's game over! And if NO wins, I just won't talk to you anymore. JK, it should be an interesting game, depending on which Cardinals team shows up!

 

[Amy&Dan]

Hi Amy, that is awesome news that your pants are fitting and you are focusing on the total picture, not just a number on the scale! I think your Shred and Turbo Jam are clearly doing a good job so keep that up and congrats on keeping up with them both! I am seriously impressed with how you have dove head first into this and how you are also keeping so positive!

I am so sorry there is no change with your cousin. After what we went through with Dan's dad (who was at least elderly and not a young person) I know how hard it is to sit by helplessly in limbo when a loved one is in that condition. I'll keep him and all of you in my prayers. And I am so glad your aunt is doing better. That is very good news!

As for not feeling in place with stay home moms and soccer moms, don't overthink it. In the end, you are all moms and you are all women and believe me you have far more in common than not! I always think its sort of one part sad and one part funny we women feel out of sorts when we are with other women who have chosen different paths. I used to feel out of sorts when I was with women who worked, wondering if they looked down their nose at me. As I got to know more working moms, I realized we all were pretty much in the same boat!

Forgot to post earlier that is AWESOME your dd is doing so well. You have every right to be proud. And I am with you, the rating system is sort of setting up some kids to feel not so great, but I am glad your dd isn't one of them! She's clearly a genius like her mom!

 

[toystoryduo]

Way to go getting your workout in yesterday! You are doing a great job!

It sounds like the parent teacher conference went very well. Congrats to your DD! I know that you are super proud of her.

I understand what you mean about the soccer mom thing. I feel like a fish out of water too. Every year my girls get new soccer teams and it's kind of hard to get to know the moms because they all know each other from school, dance, e.t.c. and they tend to just talk to each other. Since we homeschool (don't have the school thing in common) and because we don't get out a lot (only have 1 car), it's hard to form friendships with the other moms. Like Amy said, the one thing that we all have in common is that we are moms. Maybe we both can use that as a starting point.

I hope you have a nice weekend!

 

[lovinaz]

Weight this morning was 140.4. A 0.6lb loss from last week. I know I said yesterday I'd be happy, but I'm not! But I am also not all bent out of shape, because I know it could be, and has been, a lot worse! So, I'll take it and move on...

DD's p/t conference for her regular class was as expected. Straight A's and the highest marks in behavior! Made me ALMOST miss the 30+ minute conferences for DS, when I got to hear about all the obnoxious and bizarre ways he managed to disrupt class...

I was doing some research on removing popcorn ceiling and discovered that since our house was built in 1976, we should get it tested for asbestos before attempting to remove it. I'm glad I saw that, because I could have been spreading that all around the house and not even have known it! So, I have to get a sample and take it to a lab for testing. Darn, there goes my weekend project!

For Thursday:
B: chocolate oatmeal
L: leftover turkey fiesta pie
S: energy granola bar
S: red peppers-n-hummus; handful almonds; chocolate truffel (I have just scrounged the house for chocolate this week!)
D: crockpot beef roast w/onions and carrots; SC ice cream sandwich

E: 20 min TurboJam; 20min Ab Jam
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Amy, it's not necessarily just stay at home moms that I don't gel with, it's women in general! I know, I'm a freak... I only have a handful of close women friends (including all my WISH buddies ) and the rest are men. You are right, I tend to overthink it. I just don't know what to talk about once the initial discussion of soccer/school/kids runs out, so I just sort of feel awkward! I guess I could ask about TV shows or movies? Any suggestions?

Tracy, I know exactly what you are talking about! On this All-Star soccer team, all but 3 girls were on All-Stars together last year, and all of the parents know each other because they went to all the tournaments together, etc.

 

[inkkognito]

A loss is a loss so that's a good thing. You've got a lot going on, so I think you're doing pretty darned good!

 

[Amy&Dan]

Amy, congrats on the loss!! I know old habits die hard, and its not going to be overnight you can be happy about a loss you think should be more. But you caught yourself from getting really upset and that is progress!

I hear you about women. Truth be known, I don't always like women either! My experience has been that women frequently are our own worst enemies. But I am a lot more ready to befriend other women now and I have found just bringing up anything, a movie, something you see on their bumper sticker or tee shirt (you've been to so and so, how'd you like it sort of thing), ask if they like the kind of car they drive (even if you couldn't care less) can start the process. Then if you have a lot of common and get in a groove, then they became a friend. But for sure, in a group of women when you are all thrown together for whatever reason, its tough to feel like you belong. And yeah, I'd rather work with men over women always and forever!

Have a great weekend. And if you guys get your popcorn off your ceiling and live to tell about it, then I can think about removing ours! You shall be my test case!

 

[lovinaz]

Well, looks like I might be attempting to remove popcorn ceiling after all this weekend! DH was talking to some people at work, one who just removed his popcorn ceiling (his house is about the same age as ours) and as long as the ceiling is sufficiently wet, to prevent the asbestos fibers from floating around when you scrape it off (if there is even any present, which there may not be), it will be fine. Plus our ceiling has been painted, which is good because it bonds everything together, but which is bad because it is harder to scrape off... It's going to be a chore, the whole house is covered in this stuff! I'm going to start with the dining room since that area is already a dusty mess due to the ceiling being half off!

I didn't get my afternoon Shred workout in, there just wasn't enough time before we had to take the kids to their dads, then we went out to eat. I will do it today though, and tomorrow will be a much appreciated day off!

For Friday:
B: chocolate oatmeal
L: spinach salad w/chicken, cheese, LF dressing; candy cane
S: energy granola bar
S: red peppers-n-hummus; 90cal Special K bar (figured it was less calories than almonds!); chocolate truffle (last one!)
D: greek salad w/chicken, cucumbers, feta; 1/2 pita; peach martini
S: SC ice cream sandwich

E: 45min TJ Cardio Party

Avoided: going out for ice cream after dinner!
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Barb, you are right, a loss is a loss! I'm sure if I tightened up my food a little that I'd see some more impressive results, but apparently I'm not motivated enough to do that!

Amy, those are some great suggestions and I am definitely going to give them a try! Thanks! And you are right, I sometimes have to remind myself that I am NOT on Biggest Loser and there is no way I can lose 10+ lbs in one week!

 

[toystoryduo]

Sending some removing the popcorn ceiling your way.

Congrats on the weight loss!

Hope you have a great weekend! GO Cardinals!!!!!!!!!!

 

[lovinaz]

Why, Cardinals, WHY??? How can you go from scoring a TD in the first 19 seconds of the game to getting creamed 45-14?? Sometimes they are their own worst enemy with turnovers and penalties. Ugh... I must say they did great this year and they are becoming a respectable football team. I can't wait to see how they do next season.

I almost skipped my workout yesterday, but when the Cardinals game took a turn for the worst, I decided to sweat it out with Jillian. It was the 5th time I did L2 and I took a peek at L3. Yikes! I MIGHT try it sometime next week. We'll see...

Food was weird since our fridge was in the middle of our torn apart kitchen! I had to lose a corner's worth of shelves and counterspace so we could knock down a wall and move the fridge to a new location. I will get that storage and counterspace back when we put an island in, but that won't be for a while, we need to get the major construction done first. I can actually see from my living room into the kitchen now! What a difference it makes. Now we just need to get the rest of the dropped ceiling removed so we can finally put new drywall up so I don't have a view into the attic anymore!

For Saturday:
B: chocolate oatmeal
L: 4 pieces turkey bacon; 100cal pack Cheez-Its; 2 graham crackers
S: red peppers-n-hummus; energy granola bar
D: 2 bowls Cocoa Krispies

E: 20min Shred L2

Avoided: microwave popcorn (I was really craving this after "dinner")!
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Tracy, I did not start on the ceiling. We only have one step ladder and DH was using it for his tearing down the wall and rewiring projects. I think since the Cardinals are out, I will root for the Colts. I've always liked Peyton Manning.