Weigh In Week 1

Today is my first weigh in for Weight Watchers and it was a great one.  I have lost 7 pounds, which means I am down to 209 pounds already.  This is not really the norm for the week, but it is normal for my first week to be big.  I have lost my water weight which is common for the first week, and this time I had some bloating from my monthly friend that seemed to take a hike.  I really feel better.  I'm sure next week will be a different story.  I am happy to say that for my first week I did pretty good with the points.  I used all my daily points as you are suppose to do and 33 of my 49 extra weekly points.  This too is normal for me because it takes me a week or two to use up the food already in the house and get used to scaling down, but I was very happy that I didn't go over my extra weekly points.  They are there for special occations and I try not to use them when the plan really gets going. I am taking my vitamins and drinking my water and I can tell.

This week I will continue to work on scaling down my extra points used and on portion control.  I have a meal plan worked out that includes more fruits and veggies and some WW recipes that are favorites of Jennifer Hudson (I just think she looks fabulous).  I'm going to really work on the eating this week and then next week, when Clark is back on day shift, I will begin to add exercise and activities to boost myself.  I'm off to a great start!

The Unthinkable

I have decided to do the unthinkable.  I'm going to post my weight loss success on my blog.  I would have never in a million years done this before, but since I refer to my blog often to remind me of my past few years, I have decided that it will be a reminder of my progress as well.   When we first decided to try to get pregnant, I had read that lossing weight could help, so I joined weight watchers in 2004 and lost 25 pounds in about 4 or 5 months.  It is the only plan that I have ever tried (and I've tried a lot) that worked for me.  It is a lifestyle change that works.  I have tried just eating healthy, fad diets, quick fixes and nothing seems to work as well as WW.  It forces you to make wise choices and think about what you eat, but most of all how much you eat.  After some stress issues and noticing that lately I just feel bad and bloaty, I have made the choice to go back on WW and get back to simple healthy eating, but not having to give up some of my favorite things.  I love that about WW, you just have to decide if that piece of cake is worth it now, because you will have to eat salad later.  This is a picture of me and my sweet baby girl last year at her cousin's wedding.  Since I am often the one taking pictures of my family there aren't very many full length ones of me, really showing my shape.  So, although this one is a year old, it is the best example.  (Please excuse my white legs, I didn't get out in the sun much last year) I weigh and look the same today as in this picture.  Well, here goes nothing.  I hope you enjoy this journey in pictures as much as I hope to in life!

216 pounds

September 1, 2011

Depleting the Disney Fund (already)

You might notice from my Disney Fund sidebar that we went from $400 to $40. I said that money would not be touched because we are saving for a vacation (of some sort, hopefully Disney in 2012), but we made a decision that was meaningful to our family. We decided that since I was able to save so much so quickly, we would put it to better use for us, for right now. I withdrew the money from my hidden envelope and PAID OFF a loan. Now, our debt is a little lighter and I'm happy with starting over on my Disney fund. Sometimes, you have to think about the long term. With fewer bills, I should be able to make up the funds I spent later on. It is what is best for us right now, and when I pulled out that money, my husband was surprised and thrilled at what I had been able to save this summer while he was out of town for work. Now, he knows that I am determined to have a vacation soon, and we can work toward that goal together. I am happy with our decision, but I still can't wait to see Mickey!!!!!!

A goodnight prayer

Abbey:

God is great
God is good
Let us thank him for our food
And all our people
And all our things
And the nursery of our bodies
Pray in Christ name
Amen


I did it just like Poppie!

(Poppie prays before eating for the food to be a nourishment to our bodies.)

I'm sooooo over Summer

Well, it always seems to happen about this time of the year. I get so very tired of summer, the heat, the food, the gardening, the skinny people going to the beach. I'm just over it. I'm ready for my favorite time of year...FALL. The leaves turning, the crisp air, the sunny yet cool days, the football, the food. I just love Fall. It appeals to me in every way. There is a rebirth of the year it seems. No matter what type of year you are having so far, it can begin again, fresh and new as if it were January 1 all over again. I love that about fall. The kids are back in school, the summer vacations are over and it is time for business.

I am trying my best to get organized for this time of year, because I know we will be involved in so much more that we were in the spring and summer, and even last school year. I only have one daughter who is three and a half and you may say, "Well, how busy can you be with just a three year old." As simple as it should be, our lives are not simple. Abbey is in Day Care three days and pre-school two days a week. I work full time, have a little side business, and serve on a town authority board. My husband also works full time. Right now he has crazy hours with shift changes and overtime and he has already spent much of his summer in another state for work(boy am I glad that is over). So we have busy lives. This year we will add dance classes to that and hopefully more involvement in the church where she attends pre-school (that is another ballgame altogether). So, I have to stay on top of my game in order to pull this off.

Many years ago, when I was trying to get organized with housework, I made a daily cleaning list. The concept was to clean a room of the house each day, so that it would always be in some type of order. Each day had a checklist of what should be accomplished in that room. Along with the "a room a day" idea, I had a list of simple daily chores such as pick up toys, clear table, make up beds, that were daily jobs overall. My job was to set aside time each day to work on this list. I haven't worked on that list in a very, very long time, but I do believe it is time to reinstate the list.

Also, a task to save time in the past was freezer cooking (or once a month cooking). I always seem to love to cook and put away food in the fall. I like to actually bake fresh bread and use up the last of the garden and farmer's market finds. I have a very extensive list of foods that freeze well and in order to help save me time in the evenings when I need to be cleaning or spending value time with my family, I will only have to cook minimally due to the prep work and menu planning for each month. There will more on this in future posts, because I would like to keep up with my progress on my blog.

Finally, Sunday afternoon. It is a wonderful time for rest and since my daughter loves her Sunday afternoon naps, I intend on taking advantage and prepping for each upcoming week. My idea is to already have the laundry fixed so that I have each family members clothes laid out for the week (and yes Clark will pick his own clothes, I'm not that obsessed with this). I also will have lunches planned for the week (this will be part of the menu plan and freezer foods). All the bills for the week will be signed, sealed and ready for the mail the next day, and any school work that needs to be planned, signed, and/or sent to school will be looked over and ready in Abbey's backpack.

I know this seems very detailed for the normal, everyday life, and there will be kinks in the road, but having it written will hopefully set it in stone for me. I pray that you will make me accountable for my plan and that I can blog more regularly with my results. Now, that my computer is in operating order, I really hope to make that happen.

Now, tell me, what do you have planned for the Fall????????

Conversations with Abbey

#1 - While driving to work earlier in the week.

Abbey: I have two boyfriends, mommy.
Me: You do?
Abbey: Yea, Isaac (a little blonde boy from day care) is my number 1 boyfriend.
Me: Oh, well, who is boyfriend number two.
Abbey: Zac Brown Band, but I haven't seen him in a while.


#2 - While stopping at Linda's Market, a local convenent store, for a biscuit for breakfast before work.

Abbey: What is the place called that we get our biscuits.
Me: Linda's Market.
Abbey: Yea, Linda in my best friend.


#3 - And some of you might have seen this one on facebook.

Me: Who is that singing, Abbey?
Abbey: Thompson Block.
Me: No, it's Thompson Square. What is the name of the song?
Abbey: If your gonna kiss me then what.


We have just had so many memorable conversations this week.

Farmers Market

I've been in a fix lately, trying to save money by couponing and stock piling instead of buying local fresh food.

My name is Carrie and I have failed to buy local.

Coupons are great, especially for things like cleaning supplies, makeup, and things that you can't get locally. But when this time of year provides you with the best the ground has to offer, you should take advantage, and I haven't.

Hubby got home from two weeks in Michigan and mentioned that he was living off IHOP and Burger King. I knew he would love to have some real food while he was home, so I went to the Farmer's Market, one of my favorite places, to re-energize my love for local. I'm glad to say that it worked. I came home with broccoli, english peas, cabbage, lettuce, onions, squash, cucumbers, and the desire to make an incredible meal.

Tonight's meal:

Steak (as requested by hubby)
Steamed Broccoli
Fried Cabbage
Squash Casserole
Pea Salad
Garden Salad

I almost went back to buy extra peas to freeze, but didn't know if I would have time to shell them today. I have heard that you should shell and preserve them as quickly as possible. I just hope there are some available next week, so I can start adding to my freezer for the winter. Well, I know this hasn't been a very exciting blog, but I was just happy to enjoy food again and needed to share. Here is the pea salad recipe that I have fixed. It isn't really healthy, but there are ways to make it so.

Peas Salad

16 oz. Fresh or Frozen Peas
1/3 cup onion
1/2 cup cheddar cheese
4 slices bacon, cooked crisp and crumbled
1/2 Ranch dressing


Blanch the peas for one to two minutes in boiling water. Drain. Mix all other ingredients together. Fold in peas. Chill for at least a half hour before serving.

** To make this healthier use turkey bacon, low fat cheese, and make this dressing