Jeni, I love to cook and bake and fantasize about quiting my job and opening a bakery. You job must be like an alcoholic being a bartender. It must be hard to resistthe food.

I am a research scientist. I work in a lab that studies prostate cancer. I like it but am ready for a change. I have been considering making a move to nursing school. I joke that my name is going to have the whole alphabet behind it when I retire.

It is great you get to stay at home with the kids most of the time. My job is fairly flexible so I come and go as I please and am able to be home by 3:00. Not a bad gig. After I had my son, I realized I loved everything about being pregnant and think I would love to be a labor and delivery room nurse.

I have tried a few Spiroleana (sp) shakes. They would not be something I would want to eat everyday but I think adding protein powder to a smoothy may be the way to go.

So so far today:
1 scrambled egg
1 hashbrown
1 Diet Coke
Lunch
1 can of tuna
1 tomato
5 whole wheat/flaxseed crackers
1 Diet Coke
20 minutes of walking

I'm debating on going back to school too. I have a BA in cultural Antrhopology, I would like to get a social work or human resources degree but everytime I put in the figures, after paying for day care I would still need to work a second job to make ends meat. Right now we are doing okay, just not enough for the extras.
It is hard to stay away from the food. I normally am there during dinner so I just make something there (And believe me we do not do healthy at all!) All week I have been taking my food with me and I have been doing great.
But one of my goals is to not eat at work. I am working a 10 day stretch right now cause the other cook is on vacation. . .I have resisted 3 days, 7 to go.

18 minutes on my exercise bike
15 minutes Pilates

2eggs
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How is your day going, Amanda? I am just sitting back I had lunch and my snack! Now my Kids are asleep and I am going to do more pilates!

Good Morning Amanda! How is your day going? Mine is just getting started. Have a great day, Keep up the good work!

Morning Jeni, sorry I didn't post earlier. I have been running around trying to get things straight to take an Anatomy class this fall. The university will pay up to 6 credit hours so I am taking advantage of it.

You kids are adorable. Are they both red heads? I need to update Olivers photo. He looks so different.

I am doing well today. I almost slipped off but recovered with a good slap in the face via the internet. Since it is Friday, I splurged and purchased a breakfast sandwich, well while I was eating one half I decided to look up on the company's website to see if they had the nutrition information. I am glad I did. If I would have eaten the whole thing I would have consumed around 600 calories and like 48 grams of fat!!!!!!!!!So, I finished my half and took the other half down the hall to the stapping mail boy.

I am hoping to get off early and go on a walk before I pick up Oliver. Any plans for the weekend? I think we are going to finaly finish painting our living room and maybe go down a state park.

Did you eat breakfast today?

Have a great day,
Amanda

I had OJ enriched with calcium, vitamins A, D! Not a real breakfast but it is something. I think I am going to get protein shakes if I can find any that are ready made.
Good for you on the Anatomy class! And the Breakfast sandwich.... Convienence comes at a price.
Fridays are bad days for me because my husband likes to bring home Lunch, I might let him bring me home a Subway sandwich or salad, but chances are I will stick to my eggs and toast for lunch.
Makenna's hair is dark red, Tommy's is stawberry blonde. I am partial to red heads, my husband and my best friend both have Red hair.
Have a good day!

Good Monday Morning Jeni,

Sorry, I didn't post over the weekend. I forgot my password. I usually post at work and have it so it remembers my password. Saturday night I was stumped.

I had an o.k. weekend but think I went a little heavy on the salt. I feel I retained a bit of fluid and need to flush it out of my system.

I had a good hour mommy only walk on Sunday morning. It was crazy humid here so it was no fun but it did start my week out right.

This weeks goals:
excersize at least 20 minutes a day
drink at minimum 64 oz but goal is 90.

Sunday : 1 hour walk
Monday: 20 minute walk to work

8 oz water so far today

Good morning, Amanda! I have started drinking protein shakes in the morning. It seems to help me get/stay motivated to do anything. I had a big test this weekend, I worked both days 8 hours. This is such a test of my will power. I didn't eat anything from work I stuck to my guns! I did however celebrate my Anniversary on Friday by drinking Tequila This was NOT a part of my diet I had a great workout on Sunday, 20 minutes on my bike 20 minutes on my weights and 20 minute pilates! This is not a normal workout for me but it was great!

Good for you staying on track at work

I didn't know tequila was the official drink for 5 year anniversaries. I personaly hate it even hiden in chilly sweetness. I do like beer and wine occasionaly but if I am looking to go off track I usually head for sweets. We had hamburgers last night and I so wanted to grill marshmellows and make samores afterwards. I didn't because I know I can't eat just one.

What brand of protein shake did you get? I had one a few weeks ago that had Spiroleana (sp?) mixed in and it was bearable but I think I needed to get it colder.

I am thinking about buying a blender at Costco, they had a deal on a nice Hamilton Beach one. I know my husband would be a smoothy making fool if I got it.

Almost 33 oz of water down so far today

i'm right there with you. i weigh a bit more than you so i'd like to get down to what you are--around 180. i just had my baby girl two months ago so i'm 15 pounds lighter than when i first got pregnant. i'm going to try the fitday thing, and also bring out my old weight watchers books and try to get those 60 pounds off. i work for a dr so i can weigh myself here.

Amanda: Tequila is my drink of choice. I dont like beer, and wine is okay but it gives me a headache. I don't drink much anymore (compared to when I was 21-25 years old) But it was a nice end to a night at work. I am taking thurs, fri, sat, sun off this week to celebrate. We usually do a mini vacation but I think this time we are going to stay at home and turn off the phone and just be a family. I got Edge soy protein powder (chocolate) from Wal-mart. I like it. I always hated the blender but now I am using it every day.

Kenziesmom-Congrats on the new baby! I found fitday to be a great tool, I record everything in my diary and I check to make sure I am getting enough vitamins and minerals with my diet. I take a multi-vitamin along with it, yesterday was the first day though that almost all of my recommended nutrients came from my diet!

also great job on the water Amanda!!!

Hello and Welcome!!

Good Luck on your weight loss!! You can do it!!

Good Morning!

Not feeling great today and I am not sure why. Last night I don't know what happened. I started getting abdominal cramps and cold chills. I didn't know what was going on. I was also very blotted. This morning the symptoms have gone awy for the most part but I feel as if I was hit in the stomach ot that I did 100 crunches. I usually have cramping around ovulation time but this was ridiculous. I think my neighbors cheap white wine is to blame.

So because of not feeling great I was below my lower limit of calories. I am trying to stay around 1500-1700 a day. If I go below that I am just tired.

I saw some different protein shkes at my grocery store yesterday and was surprised to see that Kashi make one. I love Kashi cereal and I think I may try it if I get a blender.

Welcome Kenzeesmom! Congrats on the little girl. I found the first months post partum the hardest in so many ways. I wouldn't eat enough then I would gorge because I hadn't eated and there never seemed time to excersize or meal plan. I think if I have a second one I'll know what to expect and be much more on the ball. That is kind of why I want to loss the weight now so in a year we can try for #2.

Short 15 minute walk this am but if I get my energy back I think I'll take the babe and the dog for a long stroller walk this afternoon.

Pumping myself with fluids and protein today.

Jeni, does you little girl like the Wiggles? We are going to the concert on Thursday. Olive loves them and it is the only way for us to get him into his carseat is to promise to put them on.

Have a great day,
Amanda

Well, if your not up to walking, don't force it you don't want to make yourself worse!! There are so many protein shakes to choose from, my mom is using spirotein(sp). It is a good breakfast for me.
Makenna used to love the Wiggles but now we only catch it on tv from time to time. They entertain Tommy in the morning if we aren't quite ready to wake up yet (although he prefers Blues Clues). Makenna now watches Dora the Explorer or any disney Movie (she LOVES Sleeping Beauty).