Right around the corner...

The new year is right around the corner, and I am feeling fine!
I ate breakfast today - Yay! I don't always eat breakfast, but I am determined!

I am working on my shopping list and meal plan for the week - I will post in a bit.

I've just downloaded a few dozen apps on my Droid... including a calorie counter!

I will be updating my pages (what I ate, workouts, etc) on a daily basis.

I am ready to start the challenges (Marcy's and Syl's) in January!

I don't currently have a scale in the house, so I will have to use my Wii Fit one... With the way the TV is positioned, I have to work out on carpet, but I have to do the weighing in on tile. Otherwise it thinks I weigh 20 lbs less than I really do. :P

Did I mention I am ready and excited?!?!

Have you met Marcy?

I found Marcelle [link]about a year ago - I read her entire blog, one entry after another. And then one day, she went private (at least on her older/other blog). I still kept her in my blog roll and checked out her blog regularly, hoping that one day I would get in.

No such luck.

Until one day (okay, a few days ago), I was reading Syl's blog - about her challenge - and I saw in the comment field a note from Marcy. I almost died.

I immediately clicked on her profile, to make sure it was her. It was.
And then I began to read. I wanted to see what Marcy had been up.

That woman truly amazes me.
I am drawn to the fact she lives in Germany as I lived in Germany myself for about five years (back in the 80s). I am drawn to the fact that she is South African - what a gorgeous country.
I am absolutely drawn to her before and now pictures.  She looks like a lovely lady... but that NOW picture on her blog has me stoked.  It makes me want to get up and shake my ample bottom. It makes me want to eat well and work out mucho.

I got my eye on Marcy - and whether she knows it or not - she is inspiring me to make this lifestyle change, once and for all.

Proud to myself...

I am so proud to myself... =)
I've been drinking lots of water as of late.
Which is good...
During the first half of the month, I drank so much Dr. Pepper that I thought I was going to explode.

I don't ever want to feel like that again.

With the weather being a bit cooler, I find I get myself into a funk.
Yes, I live in Arizona - No, we don't get too bad of winter weather.
But I miss my WARM days.

So it's going to take EVERYTHING plus focus to get me thru the next 60-90 days. That means I am going to have to take advantage of EVERY SINGLE sunny day there is and get my ample bottom OUTSIDE.

I am working to collect recipes for my meal plans now and loading up my iPod... and looking to find different (and free ways) to get my exercise in.

I am ready to change my life.

 - - - - - -

The kids and I went for a 3 mile bike ride today. It was sunny and 60 degrees! We have recently moved out to the "country." Not a lot of bike paths, but we were able to go around our community. It was a nice ride!

For dinner we had chicken (a little EVOO to brown and then simmer in Chicken Broth, then added spices), and pasta, and then steamed brussel sprouts. Oh and slices of apple. Instead of making the customary 5 chicken breasts (for our family of five), I made three. We each got a smaller portion, but more veggies and apples. The kids didn't like the sprouts too well, but at least they tried them. My littlest one, Nic, hardly ever eats dinner anymore. He wants to snack all of the time, and if I have unhealthy snacks in the house, that's what he eats. We've been forcing him to stay at the table and eat a little something each night because we are worried about his nutrition. Tonight, he ate all of his chicken, his pasta, and 4 apple slices (with a little bit of Peanut Butter). I couldn't believe it.  Shocked.

I am sitting down now to work on menu plans for January!

still alive

I survived the sickies!
Boy it's been a hectic week...

But I am still around...
doing loads of research and getting myself ready for twenty-eleven.
I've got goals...
and I AM going to get moving.

[266]

I've had strep throat and a cold for almost a week.
I thought I was a goner.
I couldn't eat for three days...
and lost seven pounds.

lol...

The new year, new me is almost here.

[scale]

I got on the scale at my cousin's house today....

273

I am stunned.
Not much else to say right now.

[anxious to get started]

We have our family's Christmas "eve" dinner this Friday... and after that, I should be ready to go with saying no to junk food.

I've already started drinking more water... and last night, for dinner, we had 3 veggies and a little bit of roasted chicken. 

I am seriously thinking about checking out Weight Watchers again (but seriously this time).

I am kinda ready for the holiday season to be over with. I am ready for the new year and these new challenges!

[arggghhhhhh]

No, today is not National Pirate Day - I don't think.
I feel GROSS!

First, good news. Maybe my crying and moaning yesterday about the Benjamin's?! Well, God is good (but you already know that, don't you?!).  We've had an old truck of ours on Craigslist for over a year now, the husband not being too aggressive. It's in perfect shape, it just doesn't run. Well, someone finally bought it yesterday. 1000 smacker-roos. Nice.

We became debt free earlier this year (except for our rent and van payment)... and then decided to buy a house. We went from having my whole salary being extra each month to having new bills and expenses (landscaping, furniture, etc) - so we are relearning to say no to certain things (eating out).  So, we are not in a desperate way - we just had a desperate moment.

But again, that moment is over.

Momma was a the grocery store last night stocking up on more veggies and roasted chickens! Go me!

The whining today is about how I feel.
I feel like crud.
I think I drank no less than 5 Dr. Peppers yesterday. And I can't remember the last time I had water that didn't have tea added in.

My insides hurt and my outsides are crazy.
So glad I am working on this now.
And so glad I said "goodbye" to the Pepper man. I will miss him, but the taste is so not worth the 150 calories and 40 grams of sugar per 12 oz can.  I do not drink diet - so if I can't have the real deal, I am fine with water.

Water - I am challenging myself to get at least 10 glasses in today! My innards need it!

[two twenties]

Long story short... I am outta cash this week. Hate to admit that, but such is life.  Who knew purchasing a new home would SUCK the dollar bills right outta ya?!

Thankfully, I hit Sprouts a few days back and have some good veggies to munch on. I have $40 to spend at the grocery store today... We need some stuff to go with the veggies.  I have a pantry full of stuff - so we will be getting creative with what's in there. But the whole being broke thing doesn't really jive with eat fresh & healthy thing.

A few things in my fridge...
Brussel Sprouts
Lettuce
Mushrooms
Zucchini
Apples
Tangerines
Celery
Tomatoes
Potatoes (in the pantry, to be accurate)
Asparagus
Lemons
Limes

I have NO meat (of any kind) in the freezer, so we will be feasting on veggies and what ever is in the pantry (pasta, I am sure).   I don't want to spend my last $40 on meat, so I think I need to get some cucumbers (I bought 5, but the husband and kids love eating them with lemon and salt)... some milk, some bread (school lunches), some eggs, and cheese... I guess I should make a list. A real one. On paper.

Thankfully, we are well stocked on the essentials (TP, paper towels, and such)...

This just goes to prove I need to get my organizing on... Can't be running out of food. That whole not eating thing?! That's a whole other kind of diet. [one i am not interested in!]

Is it the 15th [pay day] yet?! ;)

[go ada!]

Seriously... this week's episode of the Biggest Loser had me in tears.
I am very proud of what Ada has accomplished. She deserves to be in the final 3.
Off to go vote.

[exclusive premier]

No one has ever seen these photos.
They were the photos I waited over 15 years to take.
I dreamed about these photos.
And since taking them, they've been hidden like some deep dark secret.

These pictures are from the day we got the keys to our first home (Sept 9, 2010).
I normally share everything with the world; whether it be on Facebook or on my family blog.
I couldn't bring myself to post these.

Maybe on our one year anniversary I will have better pictures to share.
No... not maybe. For sure.

[again?]

A lot has happened since I last posted... I have another blog that chronicles my daily & family life, so I am still writing, just not on this here blog. Which is a shame. Now, more than ever, I NEED this blog. I need to be held accountable for my bad choices.

I just turned 34. Just, as in yesterday. Do you know what that means? That means that in less than 364 days I will be 35.

Do I really want to weigh this much at 35? Do I really want to be THIS unhealthy at 35?
No.
I don't.

I thought about starting a new blog [again] to document this next year of my life... but I think I will stick it out with THIS blog.

I have to admit - that at the current time - I have NO idea how much I weigh. I know I am completely UP from what I weighed at the beginning of the year, and that makes me sad. I haven't changed any of my habits (good or bad), so old age must be kicking in.

When I went to the doctor last month with my husband, I jumped on the scale for a quick sneak peak: 270.
How is that possible!?

I can tell you, in the past, I've been happy with myself - no matter what I weighed. Sure, I hated clothes shopping. But my weight and health didn't stop me from being happy.

But as of late (as in the past 2 weeks)... every time I see myself in my bathroom mirror - I stop, look, and laugh. LAUGH. I am laughing at myself; at the way I look. I look horrible. I've completely let myself go. My skin, my hair, my body, my health. All of it. Gone. I am surprised my husband hasn't kicked me to the curb. I laugh because I cannot believe how I've let myself go. I look like trash.

I don't want to look like this. Part of it is that I work from home, so 5 days out of the week, I don't go anywhere... no need to get take a shower, get dressed or put make-up on. I've become incredibly lazy - which is horrible for a weight loss regime.

We just bought our first house, so I've been much busier the last three months - but lazy always wins. Any time I have a few spare minutes or hours, I am on the computer or in front of my television. I don't want to live like that.

I have a wonderful, beautiful family - my husband and three children. We can ALL benefit from changing our lifestyle (as I'm sure I've mentioned before).  My husband keeps stick-poking me to join WW again - for ALL of us. He's not happy with the weight he's put on.

So, I am starting there - going to check out WW; see what's up.

One way or another, we have to make this year - our 34th - our best year yet. We have TOO much to live for.  Why choose failure, when SUCCESS is an option?!