Saturday, May 31, 2008

Changes

I am now going to start visiting my Jenny Craig Centre bi-weekly.  (I have been going weekly since September.  Have not missed one time.  Even went in a blizzard.)  I am a creature of habit and this makes me nervous.  The girls at the centre are sure I'll be fine but they are a little concerned about not seeing Lisa and Baby Jack every Saturday.  (And who wouldn't be?)
As I move to this next phase on the program I have mixed emotions.  On one hand I am so worried.  Do I have the discipline to maintain my weight for 2 weeks w/ no real weigh in?  How much weight can a person really gain in 2 weeks?  How do I stay skinny w/o my consultant?  And who is in my time slot?  Maybe I should just drop in next Saturday to say hello.  On the other hand I am also a little excited about the change. Does this mean I can be trusted?  They really think I can do this by myself!  Yay me!  I have arrived!

It is all very bittersweet.  Jenny and I really belong together.  "What God has joined together let no man put asunder".... or something like that.  I think I will drag this separation out as long as possible.  Like I will weigh in bi-weekly for 2 months.  And then I will go monthly for like a year.  That should make this less painful!  For now I am going to focus on the next 2 weeks.  The goal= not gaining any weight.  Its go time.  Peace.

Friday, May 30, 2008

Tune Up

I am organizing all my music on my new computer.  I love iTunes and have been using it for a year and a half w/ my Nano.  So tonight I've been redoing all my playlists.  So fun!  I've got 5 playlists right now.  They are: Classical, Running 1, Running 2, Running 3, Race Day.  The classical one is for around the house b/c I don't play my exercise music w/ the children around.  (I have an iLive that I play it on in the living room.)  The 3 running playlists are for runs or the elliptical.  I also put them on the iLive while I lift weights after the kiddos are in bed.  And the last one is for racing.  If I ever get to run a road race again!  I try to keep the same pattern on each of the running lists.  A slow song to start for when I am walking- like Alicia Keys "No One" or Dave Matthews "Busted Stuff".  Then a great pick me up song for when I start running.  Like Rusted Root's "Send Me on My Way" or Amy Winehouse's "Rehab".  (Don't ask me why "Rehab" picks me up... it just does.)  Then I go into a wide variety of tunes that keep my heart rate and adrenaline pumping.  I try to have some mix of the following on each playlist:Beyonce
Sean Paul
U2
Justin Timberlake
Maroon 5 or The Killers
LL Cool J or House of Pain or Fat Boy Slim
Pat Benatar
Kanye West
Timberland (obviously)
Fergie
Avril Lavigne
And some nice man called T-Pain

All running playlists end w/ U2's "Sunday Bloody Sunday" as is my preference.  My race day playlist is a little more demanding.  To make this list songs must be super-upbeat... no down time. And of course, I add "Chariots of Fire" on here right about the time I want to be finishing.  I have back-up songs after CoF just in case I don't finish when I planned to.  These have to be especially happy so I don't cry.  This playlist is so super-charged I can't even listen to it on a regular day w/o hyperventilating... just kidding... kinda.

I put a lot of thought into these playlists.  I wonder if I could copyright the song order?  What is everyone else listening to these days?  Do you have a great workout song I am missing?  Let me know.  Peace out!

Thursday, May 29, 2008

Abs Anyone?

I did a super new ab workout tonight.  Click here to see it.  (I couldn't do the one w/ the captains chair.  But I've done that at the gym and it is great!)  I realized that my abs were growing accustomed to the same old  variation of 500 crunched I do every night.  This new routine was difficult and I did not get 500 in b/c my abs were killing me.  But I think the change is good and was necessary.  My old routine was getting stale and I haven't seen an improvement in my abdominal muscles in the past few weeks.  This is my problem area so I am all about a challenge.  I plan to do this new set of exercises for a few weeks.  Probably even the whole month they recommend them for.  Anyone care to join me?

Wednesday, May 28, 2008

Apples and Oranges

My Mother and I are now on what I call the "Apple Diet".  It works like this.  You buy an Apple computer like, oh say, the MacBook.  You want to be on it all. the. time. b/c it is so cool.  You do not want to eat or drink while you are on it b/c you are afraid of spilling Diet Coke or Fat Free Cottage Cheese onto the keyboard.  Now- just watch the pounds drop off.

Monday, May 26, 2008

4 Real!

Yes!  I am in a size 4!  I've got two pair of jeans, capri pants, and this jean skirt all in my new size. Here are some pictures of the kiddos and me today.


My Mom and I got a new computers today.  MacBooks!  I am learning how to use it.  It is a lot of fun but very different.  Hopefully, I will be able to do something cool w/ it soon!  Peace out.

Sunday, May 25, 2008

Maintaining what?

Okay- I cannot figure out how to maintain this weight loss comfortably. I am starving. I am snacking. I am struggling. What I really want to do is order a pizza. I am not used to this AT ALL. I am supposed to eat 1500 calories a day. And I am off all my Jenny Craig food except snacks, which I am just getting b/c they are so easy. I used to have all my foods on my menu planned out for me. Now I have to build my menu myself. I am finding this extremely challenging. Any advice would be appreciated.

Friday, May 23, 2008

Spotted at grocery today...

Why do I feel like everyone is eating these but me?

Wednesday, May 21, 2008

Exercise- The Best Medicine

I still felt pretty rough today. A trip to my primary care doc confirmed my suspicions... a sinus infection. Oh, the agony! But he prescribed the Z-Pack, I took it at 4 pm, and I swear it is already working! ;) ;) Seriously, I decided to exercise and I think that is why I am feeling a little better this evening. I headed to the gym this afternoon. I haven't worked out at all in the past 2 days so it felt great! I did 4.25 miles on the elliptical. And then... I was feeling good.... the leg was not hurting... so I decided to run a mile to test out my leg. And once I got going I said "I feel good. I am going to run this mile fast." I wanted to finish it in under 8 minutes. That is something I have not done since high school. Check out my time below. Peace!

Tuesday, May 20, 2008

Sicko

I have not been blogging lately. Sorry. I am wiped out. So much has been going on. Now it seems I am getting sick. I promise to be back on my A-game and blogging away soon.

Saturday, May 17, 2008

A List

I had a good weigh in today. I am down another pound...bringing me to 122.2!! Yay! I am loving it! Here are a few nice things about losing 73 pounds:
1. I weigh about 120 pounds less than my husband.
2. I can share clothes w/ my Mother and sisters.
3. I have renewed self-confidence.
4. A few people have referred to me as "skinny".
5. I am happy w/ me for the first time in a long time.
6. My before and after pictures are hanging up on a huge bulletin board at my Jenny Craig Centre. I am in the "50+ Pounds Lost" category!
7. I now weigh 20 pounds UNDER what my driver's license says.

I am almost "weaned" off my Jenny Craig food. Not that I want to be. I could seriously eat it forever. But that is not practical. I'd like to eat the same thing I cook for my family each night. Right now I am still eating JC dinners for half of the week and am still on JC snacks. Lunch and breakfast are on my own. I am doing well and I think I am making smart choices. I am so thankful for their structured meal plans. I am still using them to pattern my meals and snacks. Oh Jenny. It will be such a sad day when we separate. I can't think about that now. I'll think about that tomorrow. Peace out peeps!

Wednesday, May 14, 2008

The Graduate

I am having so much fun hanging out w/ Grace. I can't believe she has graduated. The baby of the family! It seems like yesterday she was climbing trees and showing sheep. Here are a few shots of Grace and I from the past.
20 years ago

14 years ago
Isn't she cute? Well, she is all grown up now! Grace graduated Magna Cum Laude and we are all so proud of her. Yay for you Grace! Love ya.

Tuesday, May 13, 2008

Temptation Island

The children and I are staying at my parent's house tonight. My sister Grace just graduated and came home. We are having a lot of fun hanging out. My Mother normally keeps a very healthy kitchen. This, however, is not the case when my younger siblings are home. Pictured above are just some of the foods that can be found here.... in the junk food mecca of the family. I am trying really hard to resist. Wish me luck.

Monday, May 12, 2008

Valerie the Surfer

Have you seen Valerie Bertinelli's latest Jenny Craig commercial? Here. It is so adorable. I am so excited for her to be doing all the things she used to do. (I know how she feels!) Yay Val!

Sunday, May 11, 2008

My Mother's Day

Happy Mother's Day to all Moms! What a great day this is. Since Jack is out of town I didn't get to sleep in and have breakfast in bed this year. But that is okay. (He did get me a new Nine West purse and a pedi./mani. trip to the day spa. Thanks love.) I spent the day w/ Lisa and Baby Jack and it was wonderful. We were up at 6:30 am for 7:30 am Mass. (We were only up this early b/c Baby Jack is not sleeping right at all.) After Mass we all changed into comfy clothes and relaxed. I sat on the floor most of the day and played w/ them or read to them. While they napped I cleaned the bathrooms and the kitchen. I did my weights and abs this evening after Baby was in bed and while Lisa played. It was a restful and fun day. The only thing I would change is that Baby Jack is still sick. He woke up this morning w/ a fever and has not slept well for.... well, for months actually... but this week has been worse than normal! I am calling the ped. first thing in the morning.
I also planned a super Jenny Craig dinner for me tonight! Since it's Mother's Day I figured I would have all my favorite foods. For dinner I had Jenny's Rising Crust Pizza, Jenny's Bruschetta Veggie Chips, and an extra salad. (I let myself have 2 of my salads today for a treat. I am obsessed w/ my lunch salad. Let me know if you want the recipe!) Peace out!

Friday, May 9, 2008

Sleepy...

Today was a busy workout day. I swam laps this morning. I ran this evening to try out my leg. (It is a little better.) I lifted weights and did my Abs 500. I am exhausted! I am stretching and icing my leg now. It was a good day all around. The kids and I had a lot of fun at a party we went to. Baby Jack is not sleeping right but what else is new? I wish I had something witty to say... but I am just too tired. Ni-night.

Wednesday, May 7, 2008

Active Day!

Today was supposed to be a slow day. It just didn't turn out that way. Here is a list of things that I had accomplished by 6:45 pm tonight. My day starts, as always, w/ feeding two of the hungriest people I know! I feel like I feed them all day long.
- Children fed
- Swam a little over 1/2 a mile
- Bank
- Wal-Mart
- Children fed and napped
- Phonics lesson w/ Lisa
- Snack for children
- Kroger
- Children fed again
- Baby in bed- 6 pm
- Lift weights and do Abs 500
- Lisa in bed- 6:45 pm
Whew!! I love days like today. I got a lot done. I feel efficient and productive. Here is a picture of Baby Jack at the end of the day. After dinner he got his binky and blankie out of his diaper bad and walked over to me and laid down on the floor! Hence the 6pm bed time.
Now I am sitting down to eat my Jenny Craig dinner (pizza!) and watch "America's Next Top Model". Ahhh- what a nice way to end the day. Peace out everyone!

Tuesday, May 6, 2008

Just keep swimming

Newsflash--- I still strongly dislike swimming laps.

Monday, May 5, 2008

I know, I know...

I haven't blogged in a week.Things have been so busy around here. I was out of town all last week. Came home on Friday. Then spent Saturday and Sunday night at my parent's house. I got back this morning. During the last week I've been a lot of places. One spot I visited was Children's Hospital ER where I found out that Baby Jack has the croup. Geesh! Poor kid.

As for working out-- it was sporadic last week. I was able to swim one day while I was out of town. I also ran a mile that day to test out my leg. (Still not right.) I didn't do my weight when I was gone but did them the day I left and the day I got back. The past few days I've got all my workouts in. Swimming on Friday and today. Elliptical on Saturday. Weights on Saturday and today. Abs all days.

Here is a picture of Baby Jack today... as happy as ever. Croup can't keep him down!