water where the soda used to be

Look at my pretty new water bottles, LOL! I am excited about them! The pink Camelbak one makes me want to fill it with milk (but I won't) because I think it would look even prettier with the white beverage inside :-) So far I have had 24oz. of water and have loved it! Having the Camelback with the bite valve (though it's weird to bite and suck, LOL) was convenient when I was feeding Katie this morning - because I could have it on the couch next to me and didn't have to worry about Ryan spilling it. There are so many times I'd like to have a drink but don't because it's not easy with the kids. So, I think I might favor that one so far. I do think I want to order at least one more.

I had realized that soda (besides being the most delicious drink in the whole word) was convenient because the cans were in the fridge, ice cold and easy to grab. So, with the purchase of these water bottles, I am trying to achieve the same thing. I think 3 will be better than 2, because right now I refilled the Camelbak and I might need it again before it's as cold as it can get.

I was drinking AT LEAST 6 cans of regular (caffeine free) soda a day - which is **900** calories!!!! And like I said, that was a minimum! SO, I am hoping that this change alone will help me lose a few pounds!

6 months

In the next week I want to take some "before" pics and really focus on losing weight in the next 6 months. I want to see how I can do from March 1st - September 1st. If I lose 4lb. a month, that would be 24 lb. and would put me at 161. That would be amazing for me - that would probably be less than when I got married in 2003. So, I am going to be working toward this, as well as taking other baby steps to make my life better! I have been doing great with making little steps to improve our house and reduce clutter. I really think that this goes hand in hand with eating better and exercising. Everything seems to go better when the house is clean! I still have a long way to go, but I'm definitely making progress!!

blah

I updated my "progress" section with my new weight. It's so sad for me to see that my pre-pregnancy weight was 183, and I was 171 about 2 weeks after delivery, and I lost all of that progress.

I still have the tags on those pants and I might return them.

Ok, maybe I'll post again on a more positive day, LOL.

corduroy pants

They are some new motivation for me. I have a pair of 12s that I bought from Eddie Bauer over a month ago now. They were snug but fit, and I thought I'd lose a few pounds and they'd be perfect. Now they are even tighter and I really can't wear them. Tags are still on, what to do? I found some 12s in the basement that fit, but again, are tight, and I can't spend money on 14s that I don't want to be wearing. I love love love wearing corduroy pants in the winter - they are so cozy and comforting, like a warm hug. I want so badly to have clothes that I love and feel great in. Clothes that make me feel like I look as good on the outside as I feel on the inside (happy).

I tried giving up soda about a week ago. I had zero soda for almost 2 days. This was after a wake-up call when I realized I had 2 12 packs in 3-4 days. I felt good giving it up, but I wasn't quite ready and have been very stressed with a lot going on including Kya being very sick. I gave myself a break and am just being more reasonable and trying to drink more water for now. I just didn't have any extra energy to devote to anything else.

I have been making progress with getting the house organized, and I truly feel that it is all a big picture. Little things I do now to make my life better will make it that much easier when I am ready to be more hardcore about losing weight and exercising. As I am typing that sentence I realize that giving up soda cold turkey is NOT a baby step, and that is probably why it didn't work for me right now!

baby steps . . .

ok, I'm back, with a new goal

So I haven't posted here in over a month, but I am working on getting my focus back now, so I just have to move forward!

I have actually been just under 180lb. lately, so that is something for now.

My new goal is to have things more together so that I am not up all night (cleaning, making icing and cake, etc.) before Ryan's birthday party on October 11th. That is just under 4 weeks. I will also try to eat better and lose a pound or two or three before then, but I just want to slowly get things more organized. I think if I do that, the weight loss will come. Or at least I'll be more prepared. I HAVE been cooking more, and I'm focusing on not wasting food that we buy.

Anyway, about Oct 11th - so many times, we are vacuuming right before an event. Sometimes Marc will be finishing his shower as guests arrive. Not fun. It is SO stressful to do things like that, and I want that to be history!

I wrote "October 11th" on the chalkboard in our hall that we pass every time we go in and out of the garage. Hopefully that reminds us to take baby steps to get things ready ahead of time!!!

in the weeds

I was just outside walking the dogs and was looking at all of the weeds. Same thing. I thought about how I haven't REALLY weeded in a month (because I didn't have a few hours to spend on it), but if I had done a little each week or on a few different days, it would be so much better right now! Ok, I am stopping myself from adding "weeding" and a million other things to my goal list - because a bunch of baby steps taken at once is still overboard and going to extremes - one baby step at a time, LOL.

I am going to start checking out the CHOP recipes (link at right) and I'm also planning on making the buffalo chicken in the crockpot in the next few days (maybe Saturday).

that was hard, LOL

I *just* posted below about how I am working on setting small baby step goals, but it still felt ridiculous to type that I should exercise once a week as a goal!! I have to see how it works, but I am forcing myself to put something down for now!!! Once a week is an improvement over nothing. Why can't that be enough for even one week????

If anyone is actually reading this and has advice I'd love to hear it!