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

[kimwim8]

Hey Tracy! I gotta agree with Marie. I think we have all been trying so hard over the spring that we're just TIRED of it and want to "enjoy the summer by relaxing a little". Nothing wrong with that. We'll all get back on track - I know it!

I'm completely jealous of your trip to Cedar Point! DH and I are major roller coaster freaks and Cedar Point is our DREAM park!!!

Take care, girlie and like Amy said - don't stress when you don't workout. Stay positive and it'll all come together.

 

[traceycooper]

Hi Tracy
I'm sure the motivation we return soon, i've been a bit the same too!!
Sometimes your body just needs a rest.
have a good weekend

 

[Blueeyes101817]

Hi Tracy-
I hope those blahs are leaving you soon! Im with you though, ive been a bit blah the last few days.
I would LOVE to go to Cedar Point!!!! When i was dating my ex, we were planning on going there becuase his aunt lives so close and we never got the chance--i cant wait to go!

I hope you have a great week!! GO AWAY BLAHS!!!

 

[toystoryduo]

Thanks everyone!

Between computer issues and zero motivation, I didn't get much done this weekend.

I really need to get myself back on this healthy living journey. I can't figure out why it is so difficult to find the motivation to do it. I mean, I seriously don't feel good about the way I look and I just don't feel healthy period. I guess I would think that would be enough to motivate me, but for some reaason, it's not. I think I am going to take the rest of the month of June off.... No planned exercise, no worrying about food choices. Then when July rolls around, maybe I will have more motivation.....I think I will join an exercise challenge too. Obviously, my goal of losing 20 pounds before Disney in September has gone down the drain.

The next few days are going to be super busy.... Today, I plan on doing laundry and going with DH to Pittsburgh for work. Maybe, I'll get an evening walk in....

Here's hoping for a much better July!

 

[traceycooper]

Hi tracy
Sounds like a good idea to have a break & not worry about food & exercise.
Hope July is much better for you

 

[AmyBeth68]

Hi Tracy!

I'm sorry you aren't feeling motivated . I don't want to offer advice where it's not wanted and BOY do I completely understand wanting to give yourself a break. But I guess I'd be concerned about taking a break for a whole month. I don't mean to sound bossy LOL...but I really think instead of just not worrying about it maybe you can find a new motivation. I'm just afraid you'll get down on yourself and really start to feel even less healthy. Maybe just cut yourself some slack in regard to the food...but please try to keep moving. Our bodies heal through movement, lack of movement makes us feel worse. I think if you could find something new and interesting to do...or maybe even challenge yourself in a different way.

For instance...instead of trying to do the same workout routine 3 days a week, maybe you could commit to 30-60 minutes 3 days a week of something different. Here's what I'm thinking (total example):

Week 1:
Mon - 30 minute walk with little jogs every few minutes
Wed - rent a workout DVD...try something new like yoga, pilates, etc.
Fri - drag the bike out of the garage and go for a 30 minute ride with the kids

Something like that maybe will keep the boredom away...and hopefully keep you moving and feeling better in the process. You don't have to completely change it up each week but try to throw in ONE new exercise, dvd, etc each week. This will also help you to find the things that give you motivation and joy versus the exercises that make you cringe!

I hope this helps. And if you choose to take the month off I totally understand . I just know that I always feel better and less pain when I'm exercising. I'd hate to see you feel worse in a month.

 

[myhandd]

Just a quick note to let you know that I am back! This is so addictive....Hope everything has been going well for you and your fam! Talk to you later!

Dax

 

[toystoryduo]

Thanks Tracey, Amy, and Dax!

Tracey~ Thanks! I hope July is an awesome month too!

Amy~ Thank you so much for your words of support and encouragement. I am going to take this week off and then get back on program July 1st. We've got a long drive ahead of us today so I will have plenty of time to think and to brainstorm with my DH.

Dax~ Great to see you! I will try and stop by your journal later on today.....

*********************************************************
Not much time to post today.... We are on our way to Dayton with my DH.

Yesterday was a good day. Hoping today is a good one too!

Today's Plan:

* Work with DH

* Do some online research when we get home

That's about all from here. On the 3+hour drive, I am going to think (and pray) about July and getting back on the healthy living wagon....July is just a few days away.

Have a great day! I will try and get to journals later today....

 

[keenercam]

Hi, Tracy! I hope you are having a great day with DH. I really think there is a lot of merit to what AmyBeth was saying, but I hear you loud and clear --- you feel burnt out and just not able to focus on this stuff right now. That's okay. We all go through it. You KNOW I've been through it myself. You are often the voice of encouragement in my journal, so I am just here to WISH you the best, sweetie!

All that being said, I was thinking . . . yeah, I know it's dangerous. Howard even jokes that he sees smoke coming out of my ears when I say that!
Okay, so here goes. I am not 100% positive of what kind of work your DH does and I am not sure if you go with him just to keep him company or if you are actually assisting him in his "installs". It could be that the 3 hour ride is just so that you can spend time with him in the car, but if that is why you go, is there any chance that you could actually have him drop you off at a mall or a park with the kids and you could all just walk or be active in some way while he is doing the install? That way you aren't just sitting in a car or truck or van for all that time and you'd get to see new places,too. If the kids are going along, it would probably be good for them, too, to get out and be active in the middle of the long drives to and from the job locations.

Okay, there it is. My unsolicited advice. Feel free to tell us to all mind our own business.

Whatever you decide, just know that we are all here, appreciating you and all you bring to us and WISHing you the best!

 

[toystoryduo]

Thanks Cam for stopping by. When I go with my DH, it's basically to keep him company on the drive out. If he needs me to call someone or check something online for him, I do that too. The great thing is that he usually does drop us off at a mall where we walk around and get a snack.

I've been thinking about my weight loss journey and exercising a lot the last couple of days. I am going to stick with the no scheduled exercise, no specific meals plans until Sunday, July 1st. Why? Because I am starting to get antsy and wanting to exercise again. Foodwise, my DH and I will talk about what we can do over the next few weeks to make better choices for us and for our girls as well.

After my DD6's musical and BBQ on Sunday, I need to sit down and plan the next few weeks out. DD4 will turn 5 at the end of July, but we always have several parties for her because it's too hard to get both of our families together at once. So, we'll probably have 3-4 parties for her throughout the month. Also, I am going to start homeschooling again in the beginning of August. I want the girls to get started early so that when we go to WDW in September, it won't interfere with the schedule much. Plus, I want to do a unit on the countries of Epcot before we go.

Today's Plan.... Cleaning, Laundry, Work with DH?

That's about all from here... Have a great Wednesday!

 

[keenercam]

Great plan, Tracy! Have a wonderful day!

 

[bekkiz]

I hope your day went well!

I'm glad you've had the time and energy to really think about the choice you make. I was letting it overwhelm me and feeling bad about myself--it sounds like you're on top of things and have a really good plan ahead of you!

 

[myhandd]

Tracey,

I've meant to ask you this for a long time and have just never got around to it. As a parent of a public educated child, I wonder what is it that made or makes you want to home school. I know each situation is different, but I am just curious about why you do it. Where I come from, it is rare. We have pretty good public schools so it is not a huge issue here. My concern is the social interaction your kids could miss out on as well as the time and expenses for the parent (You!).

Don't get me wrong, to each their own, but I just wonder what your motivations are in that realm.

On other items, I have missed reading you and Desiree's journal. You are such a dedicated journalist and I admire you for it! What is your hubby doing now? I noticed it said you ride with him to jobs.

I'll catch you later!

Dax

 

[toystoryduo]

Good morning friends,

I didn't realize how quickly the 4th of July will be upon us. Next week is going to be super busy!

Saturday: Musical practice

Sunday: Musical, family BBQ

Wednesday: 4th of July

Thursday: Wedding Rehearsal/ Dinner

Saturday: DH's friend's wedding (DH is doing music for the ceremony.), Reception

In between those days, we will have cookouts and attend different fireworks shows. DH may or may not have work that week, depending on what work orders come in. We'll also have to shop for wedding attire and a gift as well. I didn't realize that this week was coming up so quickly!

Today's Plan:

* Workout (I can't handle not working out! I will get some type of workout in today, even if it's just 15 minutes. )

* Laundry

* Cleaning

* Shopping

* Invoicing for DH

* A haircut?

Whew! Lots to do in the next few days.... Gonna have to make some lists!

Have a great day!

********************************************************
Thanks Cam and Bekki!

Dax~ You pose a great question... Why homeschool? Here are just a few reasons why we choose to:

* It allows us to spend individual time with each child to evaulate their understanding of material and ensure that learning is occuring.

* It allows us to spend time exploring topics that interest our children. for example, when we do a unit on animals, we always end up at the zoo a couple of times during the week to study the animals. If they want to spend a week talking about tigers, we can do that.

* It allows our children to go at their own pace. For example, our DD6 flew through her math curriculum, but needed to go at a different pace for phonics.

* It's a lot of work, but it can be lots of fun too! It's amazing how much I have learned right along with my girls.



As far as price goes, we often buy curriculum used at curriculum fairs and save a great deal of money that way. Also, the public library is a great source of "free" materials as well. (Our DDs textbooks for all subjects cost about $125 this year. That includes Abeka Science, Health, and History and a separate Phonics, Spelling, Language Arts, and Math curriculum for a kindergartener and a first grader.)

As far as social interaction goes, our girls are involved in activities at church and are involved with extracurriculars like soccer. We live near our families so they get interaction with their cousins and other family members as well. We also have neighbors who have children that our girls play with almost on a daily basis. Since we are out and about during the day, they also get to interact with the postal workers, the store clerks, the librarians, the beauticians, e.t.c that we deal with. My daughters also have a play group they attend and we will be hooking up with a couple of homeschool groups this fall.

We may/may not homeschool our girls through graduation. We are just taking it one year at a time. We feel that this is the right decision for our family for the present moment.

(By the way, I used to teach 5th grade before becoming a SAHM/WAHM/ Homeschooling Mom. )

As for what DH is doing right now.... He is installing data, cable lines, phone lines for commercial customers in Ohio, Pennsylvania, and on occasion, Kentucky. Sometimes we go along with him to keep him company on the drive.

Have a great day everyone! I will try and get to journals later on today or tomorrow morning.

 

[toystoryduo]

I struggled this morning... My eating hasn't been very good the past couple of days and my clothes started feeling tight. So, I decided to break my own rule (and Bob Greene's) and get on the scale... It read 222.4. That is not good, my friends. I am a little under 4 pounds away from where I started on this WISH journey about 3.5 years ago.

Something has to be done. I was watching Shaq's show last night about the overweight kids and I thought to myself, "I might have some of these physical issues myself. I am going to do something about this." Today, I was back to hemming and hawing about taking action. This weight is not going to magically fall off of me. I am the one who has to take action. How? I am not sure, but I need to come up with a plan and soon........

 

[hockeygirl]

Hi Tracy--sorrry I haven't been checking in much! I like the idea of taking a little break from everything for a week. Sometimes, not doing something for a little while makes you enjoy it more. Hang in there! Sounds like you have a busy schedule lately, I know the feeling!

 

[bekkiz]

Boy, do I understand where you're coming from!

What is is, psycologically, that makes this all so hard. I mean, I never walk in front of a moving vehicle or pick a knife by the blade, because I know those things can harm me, and even if it makes my life easier, it's not worth the risk.

And yet, every time I make a bad food choice, I'm taking the risky option. Yeah it's more of a long term risk (heart issues etc) but it's the same kind of risk. And yet, I'm willing to risk it for a stupid cookie or french fries! I consider myself a rational person and yet, I can't do this simple thing.

Hugs to you my friend, this task is long and difficult but I hope we can all work together to support our journey!

 

[myhandd]

Tracey,

Thanks for the well thought out reply to the homeschooling question. I had a feeling you were a teacher at one time. I admire your devotion to that endeavour. I know that my wife and I would not have the patience and discipline to do it.

As a former college baseball player, I have struggled with teaching Blake catching and throwing. His batting is great, but he has not progressed as well as I had hoped he would at this point and I feel like a failure for my inability to get this across to him. I have helped many kids in the past these things, and I have tremendous knowledge and expertise here and am struggling. I can only imagine how I would struggle in the education realm if he struggled there.

Have a great weekend!

I'll catch you later!

Dax

 

[traceycooper]

Hi Tracy
i hope you find the right path to help you reach your goals.
Homeschooling does not happen in the UK so its interesting to 'learn' about it through you, it sounds like your doing a fantastic job
Have a great, healthy weekend

 

[Blueeyes101817]

Hi tracy-i posted "over there" but wanted to let ya know im thinknig about you!
have a great weekend