Fit Friday

This has been a decent week for me. I totally enjoyed Thanksgiving dinner...on two separate occasions (complete with a sampling of desserts), so I knew I had to get my rear in gear.

I only worked out once, but I have been seriously eating very good. Lean proteins and lots of veggies. Something about having a camera in my face at Disney World for the next five days has really motivated me. Jerry even offered to take me to one of my favorite Mexican restaurants this week and I declined. He was shocked. I just knew I couldn't avoid eating their great chips and salsa. So we compromised and went to Chipotle, where the chips are also wonderful, but where you have to buy them separately. I love their veggie bowls. It is so hard to believe they are owned by McDonalds. The two places couldn't be more different.

My weight hasn't changed that much...it is only down a couple of pounds, but if you remember two weeks ago...I think it was up a couple or more. I am mainly excited because my favorite pair of size 8 jeans is getting packed for Disney. And I will be wearing them. Because they fit now.

Woo Hoo. Now I'm sure all the Cinderellas and Belles are size 2s, but size 8? It has been so long since I've seen you...I'll keep you any day!

To check out the how the other Fit Friday sisters are doing, check out It's Almost Naptime.

Fit Friday

I was really surprised that the scale wasn't a little more friendly to me this morning. I only had two workouts this week, but they were good solid workouts. The best I've had in...well...ever.

Our little mom and pop gym recently got bought out by LifeTime Fitness, so we are enjoying the mega club's benefits until they jack our rates to more than I currently weigh...and then we'll be saying adios. Currently though we are enjoying it at our little old gym's prices.

The problem with a new gym is that it has taken me a little while to get comfortable in the weight area. At our old gym, the hefty man area was on a separate level...far, far away from the likes of me. Although our new gym has separate hefty vs. non hefty areas, they are adjacent to each other, and this intimidates me so much.

So, a few Saturdays back, I allowed Jerry the pleasure of showing me around the new weight area. He was so not enthused. I thought this would surely be the highlight of his weekend. Kids in childcare. Showing off his skillz while parading his wifey around the weight floor. All the whining and constant reminders that he would not be doing this again were enough to last for a lifetime. Where did he want to be? The hefty area. Puleeeeeez.

I listened well and learned fast. I have now decided that I am not going to the gym to only do cardio or only do weights. I will only go when I have time to do both.

The problem isn't me being embarrassed to not even need to use the pin on the chest press...the 20 pound bar is my max, it is the weights where you have to adjust the seat or various other mechanisms to fit your size. That is what gets me. And it happened a couple of times this week. I sit down to do leg extensions and I can't get the dern thing to adjust. I pull. I push. I turn the nob. I apply weight. I take my legs off. Finally I just get off the freakin' machine and get everything to what I think is the right height and length, only to get back on and realize I've overestimated my leg length by a good six inches. That is when I am positive the hefties are huddling and discussing the poor little lady that they are observing in distress. Let's just say my face wasn't red from the workout.

My friend Donna commented last week that all my indulging in Austin probably wouldn't hit me til this week. I wanted her to be wrong, but it seems she was right. So, while my scale is lucky there wasn't a bathroom window to throw it out of, I still actually feel pretty good. I'm hoping to workout 3 to 4 times this week. That may not sound like much, but it has finally gotten cold here in Texas and for some reason that propels me towards hot chocolate and warm cuddles on the couch with my girls.

I do have some good news that I forgot to report a while back. I had my blood drawn at my annual exam...and get this...since doing this diet my cholesterol has dropped nearly 40 points. I am ecstatic about that! Sadly, we are paying higher life insurance rates on me because it had crept up to 199 two years ago. So, at least I know I am eating healthier and doing better overall...if I wasn't such a wimp about needles I'd probably come have them check my blood again to lower our rates. I am more frightened by a blood draw than I am labor and delivery. Freaky I know!

I just can't do it like Daddy.

Daddy is the fun guy around here. I love how he can get the girls all riled up before bedtime but also has no problem calming them back down again and tucking them in for the night. He is also the "fixer". It doesn't matter how big or small the task is, if something breaks around here during the day, it is automatically assumed that it will have to wait until daddy is home for it to get fixed.

Although I can compete in both of those arenas, the one role I will never challenge him on is "bug removal". Case in point:

Lily trapped some sort of bug under this glass TWO DAYS AGO. Although it is surely dead, there is no way that I will be lifting the dome to find out for sure. These type of creatures have a way of reviving themselves at inopportune times.

Daddy: if you are reading, PLEASE remember to dispose of this little guy tonight.

We bought a double jogger a few months ago. We got a good deal on it at a second hand shop, and despite its hot pink color, Jerry has been the one to give the girls frequent spins in it. He'll give the girls a jog in it occasionally when he gets home from work to give me a chance to finish up dinner and get in on the table. Hey, the boy likes to eat. I guess that trumps being seen pushing a fuchsia stroller around the neighborhood. I'm sure he's secretly thankful for daylight savings time though.

I wasn't in the mood to haul the girls in and out of the gym this morning, so I thought I'd give the jogging stroller a whirl. Whew. I know the invention of the wheel was great, but it didn't seem to make their 62 pounds any lighter for me today.

I was optimistic as I got going, but then the surface that I'm sure is nearly flat seemed to be entirely uphill and out-of-shape-girl had to slow to a walk to recover. Oh the whining that ensued.

Mom...what happened?
Mommeeeeeee...why did you slow down?
MOMMY...this is boring.
MOM, go fast again!

and the real kicker:
Daddy doesn't have to go slow like this.

Yeah. And I'm sure your dad isn't panting wildly out of breath and feeling faint after about 90 seconds of jogging with you guys EITHER.

I will have no problem getting them to the gym in the future. The gym machines don't mock me.


So here is the run down for me this Fit Friday:
I made it to the gym for cardio and minimal weights twice.
I attempted to jog with my girls this morning but it was cut short. Don't they look happy?

I ate pretty decently, but I just remained steady on weight.

I was a little shocked at that, but then I remembered the huge piece of cake I ate Wednesday afternoon. This week marked the end of my little PT at home job. They threw me a little farewell party at the office, and oh my word, the size of the piece of cake they put on my plate? It was big enough for three people. But, being the good sport that I am, I ate the entire thing.

We're heading to Austin this weekend for a good friend's wedding, so I'm sure I'll meet cake once again, and maybe some sparkly bubbly stuff too. If I was the dancing type, I'm sure I'd work all that right off, but I. am. so. NOT.

Next week is a new chapter in our little family's life though. I'm sure without 20-25 hours of paperwork hanging over my head and keeping me up way late at night, I will have plenty of time to hit the gym. And prepare healthy home cooked meals, too. Right?

Actually I'm just hoping to survive Jade's new Daylight Savings wake up time. 5:25 AM is brutal.

Oh, and several of you asked about how Jade's surgery went. She did super. Jade got ear tubes in and adenoids out and is feeling great. She is quicker to smile, more giggly and overall just a happier, chattier kid. I don't think we realized how bad she had been feeling. Thanks for checking in on her.

Snack size M & Ms may not be the best snack

Dieting around Halloween time can be difficult. I shouldn't have bought the candy until the night of Halloween so I could have gotten rid of it quickly. But I'm a sucker for a good deal...especially a CVS or Walgreens deal. I love those stores. So, when CVS put M & Ms on sale the same week the paper had a $1 off coupon...I prepared for Halloween early. 2 bags of snack size M & Ms for two bucks? That's a deal.

We've had a crazy busy week that started off on Sunday with the baptism of my 15 month old. I haven't even posted the pics of that yet, so you know how busy I've been. We celebrated that event with a nice dinner out at Pappadeaux's Seafood Kitchen. I was determined to "be good", so I ordered blackened catfish with a side of grilled zucchini.

But then the devil himself appeared at our table. He was in the form of a bread basket of course. With a side of real whipped butter. We had 17 guests and I swear the waiter brought out a bread tray for each and every one of us. I couldn't let it go to waste. It went to my waist instead.

Warm crusty bread with whipped butter.

Not a huge problem. Except for my mindset. When I've had a "cheat" like that, the day is blown for me. I hadn't eaten that much food in one setting in a couple of months. So dinner was no problem. Jerry and I even had a date that night and I could barely eat. I was still full.

But then about 10:00 PM I swung by the Halloween candy bowl. I thought to myself...hmm...I've already blown the diet for the day...a little snack wouldn't hurt. I opened a snack size peanut M & M's and quickly ate them. All six of them. Seriously. Six M & M's...that is hardly a snack.

You know that when you find yourself irritated and wanting to call the candy makers late at night to complain about the size of their snack bags, you are clearly mad at yourself for your lack of self control.

Anyway, I survived, decided not to weigh myself for a few days, and the week continued.

So did my "snacking".

I have a part-time job that I do from home. For a long time it has been easy to manage and I rarely go into the office. Recently though my hours have increased from 15 to closer to 25 weekly. With little childcare, it has become more stressful.

This week one of the other girls was on vacation and I was asked to help even more due to her absence. Quickly my little at home job turned into more of a monster. And to top things off I got called into the office two times this week for meetings. I usually go in twice in a month...so twice in one week was a stretch. The second of the meetings delivered some important news. I am needed full time. Not full time from home though. They want my presence at the office full time. They gave me 30 days to decide.

It took Jerry about 30 seconds to decide for me. Our desire is for me to be able to focus on the kids during these early formative years. Putting them in someone else's care 10-12 hours a day so I could do a long commute to work and make almost nothing after taxes, gas money, and the $390 a week daycare bill...just isn't worth it.

I get paid well, but to pay over $20,000 annually in childcare? Is it just me, or is that outlandish?

I'm in angst about communicating our decision to my employer. We can tighten the purse strings and make it. It just feels wrong not taking an opportunity when you know so many people are without work. I guess I'm just going to look at it like we're allowing someone else the shot at a new job...someone who may need it more than we do.

So the stress has continued...and along the way I needed some "snacks". Although somehow in the madness I convinced myself that two snack size M & Ms were clearly necessary due to the obvious packaging size error.

I realize this is a totally pathetic Fit Friday/Hot for the Holidays post.

My report:
Work outs---NONE.
Eating---healthy except for downing an entire loaf of bread with butter and enjoying multiple "snack" size M & M packages.
Weight---STEADY! Yay! I didn't lose, but I am actually just relieved that i didn't gain.

There is hope in sight. Jade woke up before 6AM with a stomach virus. So I'm thinking by the time it ravages the family, I will have a weight loss to report next week.

Hey, you've got to take it...in no matter what form it comes.

It's not too late to get Hot for the Holidays...join the fun at It's Almost Naptime!

And don't forget to check back here for my blogoversary giveaway. Starbucks makes great "skinny" drinks. I should have it up late Sunday or early Monday.