310

Happy Halloween! We had the best ever weather for Halloween. I doubt it can be topped. The high for today was 87, the low was 60. No rain, but some clouds which were a great effect for the ‘creepy’ day. The morning had some breeze but it died down and the afternoon and evening were just perfect. Everyone seems to have gotten over their colds. There’s an occasional runny nose that needs wiping or a small cough but atleast it wasn’t what it was looking like it might be today. My teen was a hobo, my 4 yr old a pirate, and my 2 yr old, a ghost. My husband dressed up as a pirate too and everyone was saying I should’ve did soemthing. I usually don’t but this time it got me thinking it could’ve been fun and fitting to have dressed like a Wench!

There was two days in a row of not going to the gym… that kind of bugged me. I don’t usually let it go like that except for that week i was sick. I managed to go this morning, even though I had only gotten 3 hours of sleep. I’ve been staying up late with my husband, eating poorly, and not getting enough sleep. I mostly went to the gym to keep the younger kids quiet so that the rest of the household could sleep. I was SO SLOW, but did manage to get 225 calories on the elliptical machine, and do my arm machines and the 120 reps for the ab ( a.k.a. BIG FAT BELLY reducer) machine. If I hadn’t tossed out my bathing suit, I wouldn’t have done any of that. Instead, I would’ve soaked in the hot tub!

I only did 10 minutes of the treadmill, kind of writing it off since I planned to get enough walking done during trick or treating. The weather was so nice, I would’ve liked to have endured more of the trick or treating but I was dealing with a slow walking 2 yr old who was more irritable than I! So we bid farewell to the two pirates and headed home to pass out treats as well as snack on the loot! I actually didn’t eat too much candy… it’s not all that great AND some of it makes my teeth hurt.

I’ve posted some photos in the new page in the upper right hand corner.

http://3fatchicks.com/diet-blogs/inkheartmeg/photo-album/

Todays’ weight= 295

(15 lbs! But I’m sure that will fluctuate)

I couldn’t help myself. I did really well at the gym yesterday and went pee alot so I wanted to check the weight. I upped the elliptical machine from 15 to 20 minutes. It really gets me sweating and yet somehow its’ almost easier than the treadmill. Could be its’ gliding motion or the handgrips you hold while doing it. It burns me 10 calories a minute. The treadmill only burns 6 calories a minute. However, I did notice that by increasing the elliptical machine those 5 minutes, I might’ve been more tired for the treadmill because for the first 20 minute I went slower than usual. I still managed to burn 250 calories on each machine, which I am very happy with. I’m thinking maybe each week, I can increase my calorie burn by 50 calories for each visit to the gym.

The days fluctuate quite a bit. I have those really good, productive days like yesterday and then sometimes I have those really bad, lazy, and bad-choice making days like I had last Thrusday. I know to try not to overdo it so that it doesn’t effect the next day. So, even though I’m all sore today and not planning any organized exercise, I wanna be careful not to get moody and over eat.

I think all 3 kids are sick now with runny noses, nasal congestions, some coughing and some low fevers. Two days before Halloween. Let’s hope everyone’s better in time. Also hoping my husband manages to escape this cold that we are passing around. I am glad my cold was prior to this so I can help take care of them with ease. I don’t know if they’ve gotten it from me or if it is getting passed around in school and in the playroom at the gym.

Today is a good day to alternate between relaxing, taking care of the children, and getting household chores done. There’s leftover homemade chicken noodle soup, all kinds of juices, all of the cold medicines we could need, boxes of tissues… I shouldn’t have to go out for anything. Maybe it’s a good time for a fire in the fireplace. I love the comforting feel of it.

OK here goes the info on my new scale.

Today’s weight= 298.0, 53.2% Fat, BMI= 45.3

I never thought I’d be excited and actually have fun with a scale! Now I’ve got three things to watch and compare and be excited about as I progress. I’ve decided to try only weighing myself once a week. I think it might encourage me to try harder so I can have a better result each Sunday. It might also save me some anixety or disappointments. But, really, what made me think of that idea was that I just didn’t want to use the scale 6x as much and have it get banged or broken any sooner. I have to store it away, as I don’t really have a good spot to just leave it out. So look for my results each Sunday.

I finally tried the Pilates On The Ball DVD exercise, and it left my arms and legs feeling a little weak and wobbly for an hour or so! It wasn’t too hard, yet not all that easy, being so out of shape. I am really surprised the ball didn’t pop while I sat on it! My 4 yr old son got his oversized ball and did it alongside me. That was cute. I thought it was funny when he said something about how he hoped it was almost over! It was only a few minutes later that I was thinking the same thing!

Today’s weight - 300

Week tally = +1

OK so… Week 1 I lost 7 pounds, Week 2, I gained 1 pound, Week 3 I lost 4 pounds, and Week 4, I gained 1 pound. 4 weeks= a 10 pound loss and I KNOW it should be better than that. This coming week 5, I hope for good results. I’m sorry to say, it’s become obvious that this is no longer a family quest , but my own. I cannot blame them for my bad eating habits the past week, but I will say they aren’t making it any easier either. My plan this week is to ignore what they are doing and focus on myself. I’m gonna actually try to put myself first. A BIG part of me wants to let the teen go because it is burdensome for me to have to push, pull and nag him along. I don’t think it’s fair to me, it’s not my sole duty and sorry honey but since you aren’t helping me much with him, I give up, atleast for this week. I know everyone wants this to work for me but if it’s going to, it’s time to get selfish. The meal I make is going to fit me, and if no one likes it, then they are on their own to fetch, prep and clean up their own. May the Lord grant me the strength and courage to get through this. One week… let’s see what we can do.

BTW, I am really enjoying myself at the gym. I just need to get the food in sync.

Today’s weight = 299

I’m sure to be back over 300 tomorrow. It’s been a messed up couple of days. I started out ok yesterday but something about the arms hurting and not going to the gym put me in a bad mood. It got worse mid afternoon and before I know it, I’m eating cheese and crackers and making the day my “day off” which is normally Friday, not Thursday. Then I went to the gym this morning and it was pretty good. Did those arm machines again and the epileptic (?) machine, if that’s what it is called. You know the one where it’s like you’re skiing? My husband and I are calling it “the wipe you out” machine. I kind of liked it and got thru the 15 min of it pretty well. It seems like an easy way to burn calories. I burned 201 calories in 15 minutes. I was kind of in a hurry, we had alot of things planned on a tight schedule for today. Then there was the Papa Murphy’s de-lite pizza tonight. So I’m expecting to be back over 300 lbs tomorrow. I’m starting to get used to the imbalance of ‘good’ days and ‘bad’ days. I can see the excess food and drink choices I’m making that need to be corrected in order to see better and faster results.

Now about those 3 scales. The one I started this diet with says 299, yet the one upstairs says 305.0! And now I’ve got one on its’ way from Amazon. It’s one that can track 4 people’s progress. It also can give body fat %. I think it will be interesting. I’m just curious what my new weight will be and how will I calculate it all? Do I just start from there…? After all I am only down 10 pounds. SO look for a ‘new/adjusted weight’ that I’ll be starting at come Monday morning.

Yesterday and Today’s weight = 297

Ow my arms hurt from the arm machines the trainer had me do almost 48 hours ago. They didn’t hurt much yesterday. I don’t know how those people on The Biggest Loser do all those hard work outs day after day. They must be really sore and in pain. I don’t like working through too much pain. I can tolerate some but when it hurts like this, it seems like I overdid it. I kept asking her if she thought it was too much.  I even said ‘I guess you know what you’re doing and this isn’t too much for me?’

Bottom line is I’m going to find what I think works for me. I’m not out to do a Biggest Loser, I’m out to slowly and steadily lose weight, get stronger, and be living a healthier lifestyle.

I’m putting off today’s machine work until tomorrow. I think I’ll space 2 days in between those for now and maybe as it gets easier then I’ll do it every other day. I did my hour on the treadmill last night. It seems like a long time, but it went by pretty quickly and I was really glad to have accomplished it. I did 440 calories and walked almost 2.5 miles.

No weight change today though. I suppose the small slice of birthday cake and 1/2 a scoop of ice cream probably totaled that 440 I burnt! Seems like such a waste. Good to reflect on that for future times, but when you have a guest over for their birthday, sometimes you allow that exception.

Yesterday I made my first child’s Halloween costume. The simplest one possible, of course, a ghost. I think it turned ok considering. The 2 yr old will be wearing that one. It’s good to know this year, I’ll be able to walk alot more and alot easier than the past years. I’m actually looking forward to it. I just hope it won’t be cold, windy, or rainy. We don’t get that too much here in Las Vegas but that would be the worst day to have it happen.

Today’s weight= 299

Praise the Lord! I feel fantastic today. I could tell last night that today I would get back to the gym and the plan. I didn’t need any cough medicine at all yesterday until bedtime. As soon as you lay down, it gets worse. I got enough sleep last night. No more runny nose. My lungs still rattle a little and cough kicks in when I get active but nothing uncontrollable. It feels really great to be feeling all spunky again. Of course, I am currently nursing a Starbucks Double Shot on ice, sugar free syrup and non fat milk for a total of only 150 calories, so maybe that’s adding to my pep!

I made my appt to the gym for 8am this morning with the trainer and we got a plan set up for me. Now I have 4 machines in addition to the treadmill that I know how to work out on, how much, etc. It wasn’t easy either. I kept thinking I wanted to stop but I couldn’t give up with her right there beside me! Now I have to make sure I don’t give up when she’s not there, right?

I’ve got alot of goals and plans in mind:

I’d like to eat veggies three times a day, with each of my meals. (Starting tomorrow)

I need to have some sort of meal planning going on so I don’t wake up every morning and wonder what I am going to eat.

Gym no less than 5 days a week (so long as there is no serious sickness or pain going on)

3 days a week with the plan the trainer set up, 2-3 days a week 1 hour treadmill

Pilates on the Ball DVD workout 3 days a week

Cut back on computer online activites (wasting time)

Accomplish that ever growing list of things to do around the house and for the family

Today’s weight= 296

I know it’s much easier said than done. I’ve been hard on myself and everyone around me. Intolerable and impatient. Aggravated. Sick of being sick and tired of being tired. Tired of having to keep everyone in line or atleast try to. Slacking on dieting because I’m sick and feeling like I’m taking the easy road out. People are sick on a daily basis and still have to push thru.

Sometimes I feel like I’m making excuses so I don’t have to go to the gym, or jusitfy that coke I drank last night with Doritios. But I’m confident I’ll get back to it soon. And I’m not sliding all the way off the plan. I’m just glad I didn’t gain a pound yesterday.

One thing that really stops me from exercise is my lungs. If I do it, I’ll get all that extra oxygen in there and the cough will kick in again. I’m starting to cough less and keep it under control. I got 9 hours sleep last night with Nyquil, but when I woke up in between, boy was I a-hacking away!

Today makes a week. It’s been so many years since I’ve had a cold this long. Atleast it’s only the cough lingering. Now, I also got my period and my lower back hurts for the first time in awhile. I didn’t realize I wasn’t having regular back pain until this morning. Funny how when things go away, you forget about having had to deal with it. It’s probably been almost 2 weeks since I complained of back pain. I think the exercise might have something to do with that.

Today’s weight= 299

Week total weight loss = -4 pounds

Still coughing (hard- it wipes me out) and sniffling; runny nose. Might try some hot tea with honey, as much as I don’t care for tea, a good friend suggests it and I’m ready to try anything. Did get some sleep, thanks to NyQuil. No plans today, except eating right and maybe giving the new ball and Pilates DVD a try. I’m hoping I can get enough energy and desire to go to the store. There’s a few places with good deals I need to get before everything is gone.

Can someone please tell me how to enlarge the text size on this. I see every option except that one. Thanks.

Today’s weight= 298,300,301,299,298…. 298

Yep. That’s how many times I got on and off the digital scale and those are the weights that came up. If I do it enough times, I should be able to find a match of the one I want! I’m thinking about getting a new scale. One of those ones that has the point digits. like 298.8. Only thing I am afraid of is what will be my new starting weight on the new scale?!

I also need an accurate thermometer. After having 3 kids, you would think I have the perfect thermometer by now. But that, too, is a guessing game. Try 2-3 thermometers and pick and choose which temp you think might be right, if any. Yep. It seems like my 4 yr old might be sick. No temp, but so far he is just laying around today and saying his belly hurts.

I still coughed last night but managed to get in some blocks of sleep thanks to the generic Nyquil and the exhaustion from the day before. I didn’t even keep my food journal yesterday. I knew it was my ‘off’ or ‘cheat’ day, whatever you wanna call it. I planned to ‘hang out’ last night since the younger boys were in bed earlier, and hubby, teen son, and friends went out ‘camping’ in the desert for part of the night. They build a campire, roast marshmallows and hot dogs, and light off fireworks. You know, guy stuff.

So anyway, during my hang out, I had part of a MGD 64 calorie beer. (That stuff is not so good, I ended up pouring it out.) And part of a strawberry daquiri wine cooler. I ate real well during the day. Last night I finished off a steak leftover from honey and son’s dinner out the night before and a piece of chicken and some veggies. But then after that, I made some cookies. There was 12, but I ate 10! 10 cookies!? Really , they were small. LOL. Oh well. Atleast the rest of the day went ok. Oh except for the sodas. I cracked open my first can of cola since the start of my diet and guess what? It wasn’t all that great. I used to drink atleast 6 cans a day. What a waste. After that, I drank a Dr Pepper. Yep. I did plan to drink 2 sodas last night. But it’s good that it proved to be something I can do without. Now I just need to put away or give away all of the leftover junk from the boys night out; Doritos, sodas especially. I don’t really think I want to be having those, even on my day off.

Thank you to everyone for their supportive comments and well wishes. It’s greatly appreciated.