Days Eighty-Four to Eighty-Eight

     So the last five days have been interesting. Good, but interesting.  I have eaten well and workout. My primary client has hired me full time as of tonight (yea!) so I will be working five solid days a week again. In fact we spent an hour on the phone tonight. We have all gotten new phones this week which is great! Kayla loves hers, in fact she has texting now and spends tons of time on the darn thing. I have a new iPhone, I have missed having mine. And, Rus likes his new phone.  Better yet, they are all new and won't have the issues we were having with our old ones.
     I have been watching kids a little more lately than usual, which is nice. I love my nieces and nephews, as well as our friends kids and enjoy having small ones around ( at least for a few hours here and there!).  Kayla is doing well in school, except that her spelling still sucks but, hey, I can't have everything my way I guess!
     We are definitely getting more busy as the weather gets nicer. Last week we had dinner at one friend's house, and went out to dinner with another friend the next night. This next week is my step-daughter's birthday, so we will be there one evening, the next night at another friend's house and more of the same the following weekend with some Easter cheer thrown in for fun! I am getting more and more excited for Memorial day weekend just to get out of town and chill out for a couple of days!
     So while the getting is good, I am getting off of here. I am going to finish a couple of things and go to bed. Have a great night everyone and thank you for all of your support!

Day Eighty-Three

     Today was a good day. I ate well and worked out. Kayla and I did this new "workout" someone posted on my wall on facebook. It's called the Harry Potter workout. Every time something happens in the movie ( like a spell is cast or someone says "He Who Must Not Be Named" ) you have to do an exercise. We had to do lunges, crunches, jumping jacks, sit-ups, push-ups, and squats. It seemed like every three or four minutes you have to get up and do something. After an hour of I was tired. Our goal for Monday ( as she will be gone Saturday and most of Sunday) is to a whole movies worth. Then to do that as an addition workout three times a week. That works out okay as we like the movies!
     I am off to bed as I have a really early morning tomorrow. We are going to hit a friend's yard sale then I have to work. Have a great night all and God Bless You!

Days Seventy-Six to Eighty-Two

     I have been having some good and productive days. I have been eating well and exercising, as well cleaning house and working. Unfortunately I found out a couple of days ago that one of my clients has passed on. I am saddened by this. I did not know this person all that well but I was looking forward to continuing to get to know them as well as working with them. May God hold this person tight in His love and this person's family to heal. I am sorry to be so vague but it is a privacy issue and I cannot disclose ANY information about my clients.
     Beside this very sad event, things have been good for me. I am looking forward to continuing to build my reputation as an Individual Care Provider and gaining more clients. I am looking forward to Kayla's spring break and just finished her conferences at school. They were all positive but has shown us that there is still work to be done. Especially with her spelling. Rus and I have a plan for that one. We are going to get her a new phone and let her have texting. If she texts us something we don't understand or even if we do but it is spelled wrong we are going to text her back and tell to spell it correctly. We are asking every one of our family and friends that she may text to please do the same thing. I think this is the best way to get her to work on it, as we have tried everything else we could think and it still doesn't stick!
     Well that is all for me tonight. Have a great night everyone! God Bless You!

Day Seventy-Five

     Today was a good day. I ate well and exercised. I got some housework done, played a game with my daughter and my step-daughter came over for a minute. The only way it could have gotten better was if it was my husband's day off and he was home.
     Tomorrow will be another good day. I am looking forward to July and beating my dad. He spent a week in Vegas and I don't think he did very well! I wasn't there but there is so many yummy treats in Vegas it is hard to resist eating some of them!
     I am heading to bed so have a great night everyone!

Days Fifty-Eight to Seventy-Four

     So the time has gotten away from me. I did not realize that it had been so long since my last update. Here is what has been going on.
     I have been maintaining my healthy eating and most keeping to my exercise routine. I will admit that have been a couple of days here and there that I did not exercise. Most because I let myself get distracted. I am working on distractions right now. I won't let myself get distracted from my final goals and that means getting back on track. I did exercise last night and tonight, but was exhausted after my daughter's sleepover ( for her birthday) and did not exercise Sunday night.
     My eating is on track and I am continuing to lose about a pound a week. I am just trying to find a way to manage life, my daughter, exercise, healthy eating, and work.
    Thank you for sticking with and by me. I love each and everyone of you. Have a great day and God Bless You!

Days Fifty-Six and Fifty-Seven

     The last two days have been good days. i am sorry I did not post last night though. By the time I had finished working, cleaning house, making salads for a barbecue today, doing dishes and exercising I was exhausted and went to bed. Today consisted of working, planning Kayla's family birthday party, school party and friends' party, going to a barbecue and exercising. Again I am feeling exhausted.
     I have to work tomorrow for a new client, pay a bill, exercise, cook, do dishes, yada yada yada. I love my busy life but am looking forward to Kayla's spring break in April so we can go unwind at the beach. Five days of fun in the sand!
     I happy with my weight loss to date. Of course I wish it would come off a little faster but, oh well. I am still looking forward to kicking my dad's butt and winning a hundred bucks to go shopping with!
     That is all for me today. Have a great night everyone and God Bless You all!

Day Fifty-Five

     Today was a great day. I got a lot accomplished. Kayla and I finished the play room and I re-arranged some of the living room furniture. I washed the couch and sofa covers, got some more laundry done, cleaned the kitchen, did some grocery shopping, and interviewed with a new client (got the job on the spot). I ate well and exercised too.
     I am still finishing up some laundry and still have a little more cleaning I want to do after I get home from work tomorrow.  We are having a friend's children over for the night so Kayla has been cleaning her room to make sure it is ready. For that alone I should have kids over more often, it is the only time I don't have to fight her to clean the darn thing!
     I am happy with my weight loss progress. I will admit to wishing it would go faster, but I am happy with where I am at in my journey. I am looking for a new exercise game for our Wii though. I love Dance Workout but I would like to change it up a bit. Any recommendations?
     That is all for me tonight. I am going to go finish with the laundry and go to bed. Have a great night everyone!

Day Fifty-Four

     Today was a busy day. We filed our taxes today, I cleaned house, started to move everything into the new play room, exercised, ate well and now am finishing the dishes. I also watched the Gatorade Duels on TV. Can't wait for Sunday. Daytona 500!!  I am exhausted. But all in all a good and productive day.
     Tomorrow is more of the same with finishing the playroom, dusting, mopping, vacuuming and going through the WHOLE garage in search of the rest of the toys for the playroom. May even make time to go to my dad's and get the bookcase and children's book there if I can find the time and energy.
     Also trying to plan Kayla's birthday. She will have a family party as most of our family is going to the Vegas race this year (lucky dogs!) and a party with all of her friends. Between all of that and watching a friend's kids this weekend and working, plus Rus working extra shifts because they are short handed, I can't wait for Kayla's spring break so we can go to the beach. Oh yeah, planning for that too! Man, my life has sure gotten busy recently. I love it!
     On that note, have a great night everyone. God bless you all!

Day Fifty-Three

     Today was another good day. I ate well, exercised and made plans for the weekend. Now if I could just figure out a way for my house to clean itself life would be absolutely perfect! Oh well. So after I finish on here it is off to do the dishes then to bed.
     Kayla is loving her room and her privacy and I am enjoying not having to listen to her music all of the time. Why is it that growing up we swear we will never be like our mothers and yet here we are. I was constantly having to tell her to turn the music down and complaining about the "crap" she listens to. Damn, my mom was right again. :)  Now if only I could get her to make better eating choices and clean her room.
     I love being a parent, despite all she does to drive me nuts. I love all of my family and friends and am so thankful for all of their support. You guys Rock! Have a great night everyone and God Bless you all!

Day Fifty-Two

     Today was a good day in so much as I worked out and ate decently. I did fight a headache all day though and didn't start on turning Kayla's old room into a play room yet, but such is life. There is always tomorrow to get the most of it done. Though, I am not looking forward to searching through all the boxes in the garage to find the toys we stored in there. Over the years they have gotten buried. Oh well more exercise for me.
     Poor Kayla was not feeling well today. Apparently there is a virus floating around her school and she may have picked it up. We will have to see how she is doing in the morning. We are finding that her being in the basement is good exercise for all of us. I am sore today from moving her down there yesterday. All the up and the stairs is definitely a workout.
     Well it has been a long day so I am off to bed. Have a great night everyone!

Day Fifty-One

     We finally got Kayla moved into her new room! Yea! Man I hurt, too! Up and down those dang stairs like twenty or twenty-five times today plus my workout? I can't wait to go curl up with my heating pad! All in all though it was a great day. Between Rus, Kayla and I, we got the whole thing done. Now for my next project, turning her old room into a playroom for all the kids to play in.
     I am looking forward to all the days to come. Next weekend Kayla has her play at school. In a couple of weeks Kayla turns twelve. And Easter is not far off either. Not to mention the beach on Kayla's spring break. Lots to do over the next couple of months.
     Today has been a long day and I am going to bed. Have a great night everyone! Talk to you all again soon!

Days Thirty-Four thru Fifty

     SO I know it has been awhile since I have posted and I am sorry for that. Life got busy but I have not fallen off the wagon, I was just feeling a bit overwhelmed for a while. Here has been what was going on.
     I have been working seven days a week with two clients and while the hours are not too much (and neither is the actual work) by the end of my shifts I am tired and still had to come home to clean house, help Kayla with her homework, make dinner and work on a candy order for a baby shower. Along with paying bills, grocery shopping, planning and cooking my meals as well as exercising, it just a got bit overwhelming and has taken me some time to get a new pattern set so as to find extra time to blog and relax before going to bed to start my next day.
     Now don't get me wrong, I love my life. It has just taken a while to adjust to everything going on. Now that the baby shower is over, Valentine's is over and no major projects in the works, I am hoping thing calm down a bit, befor picking up for Kayla's birthday, then spring break and Easter.
     Since I have blogged last I have continued to lose a pound a week. It has gotten to the point where my wedding rings are getting loose enough that I have to be careful to not shake my hands and to take them off before I shower or do dishes so that I don't lose them!
     My pants are also getting harder to keep up and I may have to go buy a belt before I walk out of them. Yea! A few more pounds and I will be buying new pants!
     Tomorrow we will be re-doing Kayla's room and moving her down to the basement ( it is bigger than her current room) to give her more space. This is also in preparation for her birthday as she will be having friends over to stay the night then and if they are all in the basement Rus and I can have some peace upstairs while the party downstairs.
     That is all for me today. Thank you to all of you for your support and love. I hope you all have a great night (or day) and God Bless You!!

Day Thirty-Three

     Today was an interesting day. I stayed late at work and then had to go pay the rent. By the time I got home I was exhausted. So I took a nice long, hot bubble bath. It was great!
     I ate well today and continued with my exercise. I am looking forward to tomorrow as it is Friday, though I have to work Saturday and Sunday as well. My weekend hours are less so I won't be as tired which is good as I need to plan for next week. I feel good but I am tired. My cold is almost gone now, yea! 
     I know this is extremely short but I am still really tired. I will catch you all up this weekend. I am going to bed, so I will catch you all later. Have a great night everyone and God bless you.

Day Thirty-Two

     Today was another good day. Long, but good. I just finished a workout and am getting ready to go to bed. I ate well today, cereal for breakfast, a sandwich, sugar free jello and a v-8 for lunch, and macaroni and cheese for dinner.
     While I am loving my new line of work, I am finding that by the end of the day I am exhausted. I am still fighting my cold, so sleep is hard to come by because as soon as I lay down I start coughing. SO I have resorted to using NyQuil. Sleep is now not a problem, however waking up is! Thank you God for coffee.
     Between work and my workouts ( at work I am on my feet for four solid hours) I am happy with my progress. My cold is slowly going away so I am feeling better every day. I can't wait to reach my ultimate goal. I WILL get there!
     I am off to bed. I hope you all have a great night! May God bless you all with good health and many blessing!

Day Thirty-One

     I am sorry that I did not post this last night. I was really tired so I went to bed right after my workout. Yesterday was another good day. I ate well and exercised last night. I went to work, picked up Kayla and went home. We had a good dinner of leftovers and watched a little television. Kayla went to bed at nine and I worked out. I went to bed not much after that.
     I am enjoying the journey just as much as the results to date. It have been interesting. Have a great day everyone and I'll post again later!

Day Thirty

     Today was a good day. I ate cereal for breakfast, half a sandwich and celery sticks for lunch, sugar free strawberry jello for a snack and meatloaf with mashed potatoes (no added butter) for dinner. I worked out this morning before I went to work and just finished a workout before I got on here. Along with lots of water and my daily vitamin I am feeling better. I am glad this darn cold is finally going away.
     Tomorrow will be another good day. I am planning to have oatmeal for breakfast along with an apple and coffee, for lunch I am having leftovers, and for dinner a slice of meatloaf with a small salad. With more water and a vitamin, I will continue to beat this cold. I will exercise before work and again tomorrow evening. As long as I continue with this plan I will meet all of my goals. I can't wait!
     Now that the weather has warmed up some, I am really looking forward to my picnic. I am also looking forward to going back to the Greenway to walk with Lexi again. I'm going to call her tomorrow to see if she wants to go on Saturday after I get off of work. 
     I am feeling happy right now about my progress. It feels good to know that with every pound I lose I am improving my health and lowering my risk of long term health problems. I am so glad that I am taking this journey.
     Thank you all for your love and support, it means a lot to me. I love you all and wish you all the best in everything you do. Have a great night and God Bless You!!

Day Twenty-Nine

     So today was another good day. I weighed myself this morning and I have lost another two pounds. The total now is fifteen pounds lost! I am happy with my progress.
     I had a great evening. We went out to dinner with some friends and the went to their house to play pinochle. It was a nice night. I am home now and getting ready to go to bed as I have to work tomorrow. I am looking forward to meeting my goals and am finding that I am enjoying the journey. The workouts are good and planning my meals helps. Blogging my progress is helping as well. I find that if I know I have to write it down, either on here or on my food journal, I really think about whether I want it that bad or if I can do without it. If I have to see it on paper I find that I change my mind pretty quickly.
     Anyways, that is it for me today. Have a great night (or day) everyone. God bless you all!!

Day Twenty-Eight

     Today was a good day. I ate well and exercised. I even took a long bath, it was so nice.  Kayla surprised me again. She did the dishes, cleaned off the coffee table and picked up around the house. It was so nice of her! 
     I am working again tomorrow so I have already planned out my breakfast and lunch. We are going out to dinner with friends tomorrow night and as I know where we are going I have planned for dinner as well. Along with drinking lots of water and exercising I will get to my goals. I am feeling a little better today so I am hoping this stupid cold is finally going away. It will be nice to get some real sleep again and not be sneezing or coughing all the time.
     I am going to bed now. I hope you all have a great night! God Bless you!

Day Twenty-Seven

     Today was a good long day. I ate well and exercised. But I am very tired. After I got home today I didn't do much. It has been a long week. I work again tomorrow and going to bed here in a minute. I am still excited about my journey. I am looking forward to meeting my 10% goal as well. I hope the weather keeps warming up so that when we go on our picnic we don't freeze!
     I am also still looking forward to beating my dad! It is not about the money, though I won't complain about it, but it is about more motivation to get healthy. I am not a very competitive person but I finding myself to be fairly competitive in this.
     I know this is a bit short today, but I am going to bed. I am exhausted. Good night everyone and I hope you all have a great night!

Day Twenty-Six

     Today was another interesting day. I did okay. I ate lunch and dinner, but no breakfast ( I know better but was just not hungry) and have drank a lot of water. I exercised twice, once before I went to work and then after Kayla went to bed. I went to work, ran a couple of errands, picked up the house and did the dishes. But, I still feel like crap. This dumb cold is kicking my butt. DayQuil, vitamins, herbal tea and water are just not working very well.
     I am trying to get more sleep but when I lay down I start to cough and have to sit up. I have been sleeping on the couch as I cannot completely stretch out and it keeps me propped up but I would really like to sleep in my own bed again. Oh, well. It will go away eventually. Now on to the positive.
     I am enjoying my new line of work, as well as being self-employed as it does allow me more flexibility to do whatever else I need to. The work itself is a learning experience. I am now more valuable as I have new training because of one of my clients. That will make it easier for me to get more clients.
     I did find out today that I do have a paid training class coming up. Seventy hours worth of class but it is all paid. Yea for being paid to sit in class and learn more to help me along!
     Despite my annoying cold, life is good. My family and friends are very supportive, which makes my journey that much better. I am finding ways to turn my favorite foods in low-fat versions that are still tasty and have been researching other recipes to try.
      Well that is it for me tonight. I am going to try to get some sleep now. Have a great night everyone! God bless you all and may He bless every journey you take!

Day Twenty-Five

     So today went okay. I ate well and exercised, did the dishes, watched a movie with Kayla and got ready for work tomorrow. I did find that it seemed harder today to get the motivation to work out but I think that is my cold talking. I know I have felt more tired the last couple of days but again, I blame my cold for it. I haven't let it stop me yet and I won't.
     I find that I am inspired by this season's Biggest Loser. This season is about "No Excuses". So I am not letting myself use my cold as my excuse. I am still working out every day and continuing to eat well. I am, however, loading up on vitamins though to fight this dumb cold faster.
     Any good cold remedies out there? I would love to hear them! I just want it gone!! Well, back to it I guess. :D Have a great night everyone and Keep On Keepin On!!

Day Twenty-Four

     So today was a good day. I ate well and drank plenty of water, exercised twice and got a little housework done. I have caught a cold though and am feeling pretty tired because of it. However, despite my cold I feel good about my progress.
      I had oatmeal for breakfast, a chef salad for lunch and chicken noodle soup for dinner. Along with cold meds and lots of water. Though I am still addicted to coffee and had several cups of that as well. I am now having a cup of hot tea and then going to bed.
     I am so grateful for my family and friends as everyone is being so supportive on my journey. I love you all! I am off to bed so I can try to get over this dumb cold faster. Have a great night everyone and thank you all for your support!

Day Twenty-Three

     Today was a good day, except that I missed breakfast. I had a good lunch ( whole wheat spaghetti with tomato sauce and a green salad with no dressing) and a good dinner ( stew with a garden salad and a roll). For dessert we had Mini Angel Berry Cakes.
     Between working with my clients and my workouts I am feeling better everyday. I am still feeling a little short on energy by evening but I know this will continue to get better as time goes on. I am finding myself (over the last few days) wanting to go to bed earlier than usual as well, though my insomnia is still bugging me most nights.
     I did have a productive day though. I got to sleep in today ( I was up at 7:30 a.m. and for me this is great as 5:30 a.m. is the norm). I went to work, went to an afternoon appointment, came home about 4 p.m. to find that my daughter had done the dishes (yea!! What a great surprise!!) and went to a friend's house to play some cards.
     I am at the point where I am loving my new, busy life (though I do still enjoy the peaceful moments) and I love my family and friends. Life is getting better every day. I am now working 31 hours a week, I am learning new things, I am exercising regularly, I am eating well, I am spending more time with family and friends, and I am feeling better all the time. What could be better?
     That is it for me tonight. I am going to do a workout, take a shower and go to bed. Have a great night everyone. May you all be blessed in every endeavor you choose to take on!

Day Twenty-Two

     So today was a great day. I ate well, exercised, played a board game with my hubby and daughter, had my dad over for a low fat dinner and low fat dessert and got my butt kicked (by my dad) at cards. SO yep, all in all a great day!
     I weighed myself this morning and lost another two pounds. My grand total to date is thirteen. About what I expected. The last time I did weight watchers I did almost the thing. About week three or four I started to lose about two pounds a week and it stayed that way. So I am pretty happy with where I am at.
     I am noticing that I am feeling better overall and not so tired as I used to be. I am still not where I want to be energy wise, but I know that will continue to improve as I lose weight and get more active. I am still looking forward to my picnic, beating my dad and shopping in six months!
     Well that is it for me tonight. I am going to bed so I can go to work in the morning.  Have a great night everyone!

Day Twenty-One

     I am sorry that I did not post last night. The week had finally caught up to me and I was exhausted. However, here it is.  Yesterday was a good day. I got up ate a healthy breakfast, went to work, came home, worked out, had a good lunch, played some cards with Rus and Kayla, took a nap, worked out, had a healthy dinner, played some more cards and went to bed.  All in all a good day.
     I may have had a couple of bad days but I am back on track. I am still looking forward to meeting my 10% goal. Hopefully the weather will be better by then! Well time to get ready for today! Have a great day everyone!

Day Twenty

     Today was a better day in terms of my weight loss goals.  I exercised twice and ate better. I did not have work today as the roads were really crappy this morning. I took the extra time to develop a plan for my new schedule so that I am more prepared. I feel better about where I am now.
      I am doubtful that a walk is in the works for tomorrow as we are supposed to be getting snow all weekend so my goal is to get an extra workout in to cover it. Same for Sunday. I have planned for lunches at clients houses now I just have to dig my lunch bag out of the garage.
     So my awesome daughter decided to surprise me yesterday. I got home from yesterday and she had cleaned the house. What a sweetheart! It was nice not having to come home and do it. She has been on the ball today as well, making sure it stayed clean. I love these kinds of surprises!
      Well it is off to bed with me. I have to work in the morning and am tired. Have a great night all!

Day Nineteen

     Today was an okay day. I did not make all the best choices, such as just having low fat macaroni salad for dinner and nothing else, it has been a LONG day. I was, and am, too tired to cook. I love my new job but I am flat wore out. It is taking me a few days to adjust to my new schedule. Between getting Kayla up, ready for and to school, working, packing mine and Kayla's lunches, making low fat healthy meals, taking care of the animals, cleaning the house, exercising and this yucky weather, I am not finding much free time at the moment.
     Another couple of days and I hope to be adjusted and back on track. I am still exercising but it has been once a day for the last two days and I need to fix that tomorrow. As for walking on Saturday and jogging on Sunday, it all depends on the weather. If we keep getting snow and freezing rain I think I will just have to do a couple of workout here at home.
      I am off to bed now. I have to be up at 5:30 a.m. with Kayla as her school is still planning to be open and on time at this point. Maybe she will get lucky in the morning and her school will close. I know that is what she wants! Either way is fine with me.
     Have a great night everyone. Stay warm and drive safe!

Day Eighteen

     Today was an interesting day. I finished my training with my new client and start on my own tomorrow. The work is not difficult, but is time consuming and requires a lot of strength and bending. My back is sore today. I have eaten fairly well today except that dinner was just low fat macaroni salad as I am too tired to eat. Though I am apparently not tired enough to sleep yet. I did my workout tonight and prepared most of what I need for tomorrow.
     I have planned my food for tomorrow and just about ready to go. I am excited and nervous all at the same time. I have never worked with this type of client before and will just have to see how it goes.  I am anxious for Sunday so I can weigh in again. I think I have done well this week but time will tell.
     Well i am off to bed to try to sleep. I need to be awake for tomorrow. Have a great night everyone!

Day Seventeen

     Day seventeen has been a hectic day. I started training with my second client today and I start work with them tomorrow.  I had to run around paying bills, had some dishes to get done, dinner to prepare and a workout to do. I got it all done but now I am exhausted.
     Tomorrow's meals are all planned as I will be eating my lunch at work and wanted to be prepared for that. Kayla and I are having a low-fat Denver Scramble for breakfast, 1/2 a sandwich, V-8 and a fruit for lunch and steak with low-fat macaroni salad for dinner. Dessert consists of sugar free chocolate pudding. Along with tons of water throughout the day!
     I am happy with where my progress is. I am getting healthy, going back to work and feeling better every day. Life is great!
     I went to Safeway this morning to get coffee creamer and thought I would get a bagel for breakfast. I asked the baker if he had an information sheet with calorie and fat content on it and he said no, but he could tell me what I wanted to know. So I asked how many calories are in a bagel and he said 360. I asked how much fat and he replied " More than two doughnuts worth". What the heck? That is a lot!! So I came home and made an egg white omelet.
     I knew bagels where bad but I did not know they where that bad! So I am on the look-out for low-fat bagels. I love them warmed up and plain, but not for that much fat. So if anyone knows about a low fat, tasty bagel PLEASE let me know! Thank You!!
     Well I am off to bed. Have a great night everyone!

Day Sixteen

     Day sixteen is in the bag. I have had a good and busy day. I got to sleep in this morning, which was really nice. I got called to an interview with a potential client and got hired on the spot, which was awesome! We went grocery shopping and spent a little more than we had planned. And we had a good dinner.
     I got one workout in today. I am thinking it is time to up the duration and strength as by the time I was done I was not as wiped out as I usually am.
     Our meals are planned for the week. Kayla is not doing so well on her challenge right now. She is getting frustrated with not being able to eat chips, candy and soda like she used to. The exercise thing is not her favorite either.
     So being hired for another client is great. This is a temporary client. I will work for them for three weeks but I will get some invaluable training from it as this client is not one I have taken care of before. I start the training for this tomorrow. Looking forward to it.
     At this point ( for the next three weeks) I will be working every day, seven days a week. Exercising twice a day. Walking on Saturdays with my sister-in-law and jogging on Sundays with my husband. Hmmmm, I am going to be busy for a while. Oh, I forgot. Helping Kayla with homework, blogging, cards at a friends house one night, grocery shopping, cleaning house, and taking care of our pets. Man, life has gotten busy all of a sudden!
      Though I can say with complete honesty, I Love My Life!  I am surrounded by very supportive family and friends, I am working towards my goals, and I am getting healthy.
      Have a great night everyone! May you all get everything you need and most of what you want!

Day Fifteen

     Today was a great day! I ate well, exercised, jogged, weighed myself and spent time with friends. It was an all around great day!
     So, exercise and jogging. Well I did not quite hit my four minute goal. It took me four minutes and thirty-two seconds to complete a lap. But I have another goal now. Next Sunday I am going to try again. If I cannot be under four minutes, my goal is to improve my time by at least fifteen seconds. I am still doing my regular workouts as well.
    So, weighing myself. I am down another four pounds. Bringing my total to eleven pounds. I feel better every day!
    My plans for tomorrow are to pay bills, go grocery shopping, exercise, and eat well. I am planning to start walking the Greenway every Saturday and jog at the track every Sunday. Along with working out twice a day and doing light weights twice a week, I think I am on the right track. I will continue to plan my meals and shop for healthy foods.
     It has been a long, good day and I am ready for bed. Have a great night everyone!

Day Fourteen

     So today was a great day. I ate well, I did one workout and took a 45 minute (3 mile) walk with Kayla, my sister-in-law Lexi, and Lexi's son Emmett. And I started my new career. So, yep, it was a great day! Tomorrow will be another good one as well.
     Our plans for tomorrow include grocery shopping, workouts, eating well, and walking to the track up the road so I can jog a lap. I also weigh myself again tomorrow and am looking forward to it! How often can one say that actually look forward to weighing themselves? Two weeks i sure wouldn't have.
     I think I am going to set a goal for myself. If i can jog one lap around the track in under 4 minutes I am going to reward my self with a walk to the espresso stand and to get a non-fat Vanilla Latte. 
     Well that is it for today. I have to be up early for work so off to bed for me. Have a great night everyone! God Bless You!

Day Thirteen

     Day thirteen is almost over. It has been a good and busy day. I start work tomorrow for my new client. I am excited about it.  I am still eating well and working out. It has been interesting though. I still find myself wanting things I can't have at this point. Like candy bars and bacon cheeseburgers. I am doing okay though. I did find low fat hamburger patties at Safeway so I can have a cheeseburger once in a while. It is the bacon part that is a killer on calories and fat. Oh, well.
     I have made plans to go for a walk with my sister-in-law (Lexi) and her son tomorrow. We are going to Sarge Hubbard after I get off work. I am looking forward to it.  Kayla and her son can play after we take a walk. Fun for all of us! Rus, Kayla and I are going to walk to the track on Sunday so I can go jogging for the first time. This should be interesting. I haven't jogged or ran in a good fifteen years or more. But I will have another goal to shoot for.
      I have my meals planned for tomorrow as I am not sure what my new work will be like exactly. I planned my workouts around my schedule too so that I know I can still get them in. I have a couple more things to do tonight to make sure I am ready so I will say good night.
     Have a great night everyone!

Day Twelve

     It has been a good day. My workouts increased again, now up to 18 minutes each. My eating has been good and I am finding that seasonings help. A lot. I start work on Saturday. I am looking forward to it. It will be an interesting day.
      I didn't get to go for that run I wanted. I had more to do to prepare for Saturday than I had thought. But I am not giving up on the idea either. I am shooting for this weekend. I may even get my husband to go with me. I don't know if I can get him to run, but at least I can get him to time me. If I have a time then I have another goal. I will want to beat that time. By how much depends on what it is.
     I am also finding that having goals is helping to keep me motivated. Goals like hitting 10% and beating my dad. I'm going to need that money for new clothes anyway and a picnic lunch sounds great to me!
     I am parking further away at the grocery store too. I know this doesn't burn many calories but I figure every little bit helps! While I watch TV I have started using my weights as well. And while I am on the computer I am tapping my foot. Just finding ways to keep moving though is getting hard.  Any ideas are welcome!
     I am going to try a new recipe for pasta salad next week. If it turns out well I will post it. I love to try new foods. I am finding that low fat recipes are really good! I am glad for that. I remember past diets I have tried where the food was so bland it was almost impossible to stick with it. I love food and flavor is a HUGE part of that. Foods that taste like cardboard or just completely unappetizing and I would find myself cheating constantly. Now, with weight watchers, I can eat real food. It's great. In fact, I found a recipe on their website that I have to try. Chocolate souffles. Yummy. It will be an experience though as I have never made a souffle.
     Well that is where I am right now. Have a great night everyone!!

Day Eleven

     Day eleven is done. It was a good day. I ate well, did both my workouts and am getting ready for my first client. I am feeling better today. I am no longer sore and my workouts are increasing again. Today's post will be short. I am tired and fighting a headache so I am ready for bed. I am ready for tomorrow. My meals are planned, my workouts set up and the housework done. I am hoping to take a walk with Kayla after school tomorrow. We have a small track about a half mile from us and I would like to walk to it. I may even see if I can jog a full lap yet.
      I am off to bed. Have a good night everyone!

Day Ten

     So today has been a good day. I have been struggling with having to weigh and measure everything. It really does get kind of frustrating but I know in the long run it will help me. One day at a time.
     So I am watching The Biggest Loser ( I love this show!!) and they are doing a segment on nutrition. A frozen pizza is 2000 calories if you eat the whole thing. Crap! No more pizza! Though they did show how to make one with a tortilla shell for 280 calories. I have to try that. Pasta? Chili? No way. I had no idea that chili was as bad as it is. I knew pasta was high but Alfredo sauce is killer! I am going to whole wheat pasta thank you! And sticking to homemade tomato sauce. Though I will be on the lookout for a way to lower fat and calorie contents in Alfredo.
     I am looking for low fat, low calorie recipes if anyone has them. Please share them on here so anyone who reads this can benefit. Please and thank you!!
    Kayla and I had low-fat chicken fajitas for dinner with homemade guacamole. They were yummy! Tomorrow we are eating leftovers. Low-fat chicken fajita salads with lettuce, tomato, cilantro and a tablespoon of guacamole for the dressing.  Hmmm, that is making me hungry now. Time for a bottle of water.
     That is another thing. I have up my water intake and find myself having to potty more. You can't see me but I am rolling my eyes right now. Why does it seem to work that you always have to go when you are no where near a bathroom? Driving me crazy!
     I am finding though that the more water I drink the less hungry I feel. This is a good thing. I am going to try drinking a glass before every meal ( as I have heard you should do to help control how much you eat) and see if that truly works. It sure can't hurt.
     If anyone has any other tips and tricks they have heard or learned please share them here so I and any who read this can see them and maybe even try them. Thank you.
     Well it is off to bed with me. Five a.m. rolls around quick. Talk to you all tomorrow.  Have a great night everyone! God Bless You!

Day Nine

     Another day down and I am not worried about how many more to go. One day at a time is good for me right now. I am still sticking to my plan. I am eating healthy and exercising twice a day. I feel good about my progress so far. I am also feeling better and am not so sore anymore.
     I have a good day. We went to a friend's house and played some cards, helped another friend with a water heater problem (though this is not completely fixed yet) and I found out today that I have my first client! So it has been a great day.
     Tomorrow Kayla and I are going to start going through her stuff, she has enough, so she can re-do her room with her new bedroom set. I am looking forward to this as it will get rid of a lot of her miscellaneous things that she never uses and will create less of a mess for her to clean up later. I can hope that she will be able to keep her clean then but I will not hold my breath! I love her to death anyway!!
     After two years of being a stay at home mom, I am actually looking forward to going back to work. I think it will be interesting. I do have some more training to do. I found this out today. But that is okay. I like to learn new things.
      I am hoping to hear back from my other potential client this week. Hopefully I will get that job too. That will give thirty-four hours a week. A good week's work.
      I did both my workouts tonight and ate well. The only problem I am having today is remembering to take my vitamins. I have gotten into the habit of not taking them and have to get back into the habit of doing so. Eating healthy is helping me feel better, but the vitamins may help me from catching everything Kayla brings home. Oh, well. One day at a time.
     I am off to bed, have to be up at five a.m.  Have a great night everyone. God Bless You!!

Day Eight

     Day eight is now in my own personal history book. It has been a good day. I had healthy meals, my workouts increased in duration (again), and I spent the whole day with my husband and daughter. All in all, a good day.
     I did this week's grocery shopping already and made sure we have healthy snacks on hand. I also splurged and bought low-fat ice cream sandwiches. It is nice to be able to have dessert once in a while. My tip for grocery shopping is to never go on an empty stomach. Rash and fat filled purchases are made the most when we are hungry. Another tip is to write up a meal plan and write your grocery list for that with healthy snacks included and buy nothing that is not on your list. Even if you think you need something, you may find when you get home that it was not that important or necessary.
     By setting a plan up, I have avoided buying "crap". We have no soda or candy in the house. If you feel you have to buy things like chips or soda, buy the smallest single serve containers you can find. This way portion control is built in and you can still satisfy that craving without going overboard.
     I am finding that the hardest part of getting healthy is being more active. I will admit that up until January first my activity level, outside of the usual (cleaning house, raking leaves, etc), was non-existent. I am happy to be doing the workouts but feel so tired afterwards. I know that it just takes getting used too, but I am glad the work is hard, as I am learning to appreciate it more. If losing weight was easy, no would be overweight.
     I find, as the days go on, that I look forward to tomorrow. Every tomorrow. For I know this is one more day toward my goals. For everyone, who like me, that struggles to change bad habits into good ones, each of us is here for you. And each other. Encourage your friends in all good works, encourage your kids in all they do, and encourage your loved ones because you love them.
     "And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love." 1 Corinthians 13:13   
Have a great night everyone.

Day Seven

     Week one down. At the end of this first week I feel great. I have been eating right, exercising twice a day, and sticking to my goals. In fact it showed on the scale this morning. I have lost seven pounds!! So here I sit, writing this blog and listing to one of my two favorite songs. It fits perfectly for this endeavor, Bring On The Day by Charlotte Martin. "Hey, Hey C'mon Bring on the day, Cause I just might get everything I need. Hey, Hey I've given what it takes, I'm ready as I'm ever gonna be....Bring on the day. What you get is what you see.
Open up your eyes, they'll set you free. It all works out eventually. You gotta keep on keepin' on. I can rock and I can roll. I know I wanna move, gotta take control. Watch out world, 'cos here I come, and I can't stop 'til I'm done. Hey, hey, I'm finally on my way." This song is perfect. No matter what happens, bring on the day!
      So with that in mind, I am ready for next week. My meals are planned, my workouts are ready to go, and so am I.  I can't wait to hit my 10% goal so we can go on a picnic. I know I don't have to wait, but it is a good reward and something to look forward to.  Motivation is a good thing. I found, for me at least, that if I have a goal and a reward in sight I work to achieve that goal. By setting attainable goals I don't get so discouraged. Before, my past dieting experiences, I would set a goal to reach my healthy weight and then get discouraged when it seemed to be taking forever to get there. Now I give myself smaller goals and rewards for reaching them. I feel I am accomplishing more and it seems more attainable. I know I will reach my ultimate goal in the future and that is enough for me.
      I also find that when I am tired and don't want to do anything, i.e. exercise or clean house, that putting upbeat music on helps get me moving. It is hard to sit still when there is good music on the stereo! In fact, listening to the stereo right now I am having a hard time concentrating on writing this and not getting up to do the electric slide! Oh, the heck with it. I'm going to go dance in my kitchen.  You all have a great night and God Bless You!!!

Day Six

     Here I am into day six. I did both my workouts, ate well and got more housework done.  I am still feeling good.  The nice thing about the Wii Dance Workout is that it increases in duration and strength. My workouts have gone from three minutes to today's twelve minutes and will continue to get longer and harder.  It has the feature to do additional workouts which I did to get a minimum of ten minutes. This program is really a workout. It works your whole body and if you are not used to it, it will work you out. I love that it changes some every day. It hasn't gotten boring yet!
      I am going to try a new creation tomorrow morning for breakfast. I haven't made it yet, but it is a take on bruschetta.  It will have vegetabel loaded scrambled eggs on toasted french bread and a little bit of reduced fat shredded mild cheddar on it.  If it turns out like I hope I will post the recipe for you all to try.  I am taking down the Mini Angel Berry cakes for a revision, so I can add the calorie and fat content, as well as the WW PointsPlus value.
       I am going to be overhauling a bunch of my recipes to make them healthier. I love food and am going to love experimenting with lower fat versions.  I am looking for anyone else's low-fat recipes as well. If you have any I'll take them! 
      I have been trying to drink more water and less coffee also.  This is a problem as I am a coffee addict. I love almost all kinds of coffee.  Espressos, lattes, mochas, brewed, etc.  I know the are low fat versions of the lattes and mochas but I am trying to cut them down. I have made it so that if I want one I have to walk to my favorite stand to get one. It works out to be just over a two mile walk round trip. I think that makes it worth getting the extra calories. I would make sure that they are accounted for and that I have the points budget to allow for it, but working for it will make it that much better.
     I have also been trying to substitute tea for coffee as I use creamer in coffee and Splenda in tea making it zero calories. Seeing as how I like tea a lot, this is an easier substitution for me. I think I am going to get some zero calorie flavorings for the water.  It might help if it tasted better! 
     Well I am off to bed. Have a great night everyone! God Bless You!!

Day Five

     Today has been a good day. I have worked out twice, eaten well and cleaned my house. Oh, I also put all the christmas stuff away. Well, except the lights outside that Rus has to help me take down! I feel good.
     I had a request for recipes so once or twice a week I will post recipes I have adapted to a low-fat, low-calorie lifestyle.  The first is one of our favorite desserts, Mini Angel Berry Cakes.  One serving is one muffin with whip cream and berries. It is one of the ways I still get to enjoy dessert and I love it!
     I love that there are now so many ways to enjoy "normal" foods without the calories and fat. In the past, while dieting, it was hard to do that. Some diets require you to drink a shake (that takes like crap) for breakfast and lunch and eat a small dinner. This hardly left me satisfied or happy. I don't do diet pills.  And the problem I have with diets that give you all your food is that there is no accountability. The problem with that is once you lose all the weight you want to, if you haven't been held accountable for what you eat, how are you supposed to do so now? If you haven't tracked calories, fat, carbohydrates, etc. are you going to once you are at your target weight? Probably not. So you go back to eating the same stuff that made you overweight.
      The plan I am on makes me accountable for EVERYTHING that goes into my mouth. It is also teaching me about making better choices. Like substituting low-fat sour cream for full fat sour cream, low-fat ranch for full fat ranch, and using lean meats instead of fattier cuts. There are so many healthier choices now that taste great. I love it! I am loving all of this. Though I have found out that I don't care for turkey bacon. It is just not the same! :D 
     Well back to it. I have some laundry to finish and a bed to go to sleep in.  Have a great night everyone and God Bless You!!

Day Four

     I have had a great day today. I got both my workouts in, had chicken, steamed veggies and a baked potato for dinner and had two interviews with potential clients. I even had enough calories left to have a triple chocolate chip ice cream bar ( it was a Breyers Smooth and Dreamy bar for 130 calories)! So, yep, a great day!
     I am still fired up. I am feeling better and find myself already having more energy. With Kayla back in school and having to be up at 5:30 a.m. with her that is needed!
     I did have to miss my walk with my dad and that was disappointing, but I had an interview to go to.  I am looking forward to going back to work. I am looking forward to this new type of work.
     Kayla is still doing good on her plan as well. I love seeing her being more active and am looking forward to buying her a new swimsuit, as well as the swimming.  I think I need to find an indoor pool. Swimming sounds good right about now.
     I am tired today. And still a little sore.  I am looking forward to tomorrow. For dinner we are having pork chops!  I love that I can still eat my favorite foods and I am glad to be learning moderation. If I haven't explained it yet, I am doing the Weight Watchers plan. Tracking points values is so much easier than calories, fat, carbs, etc.  And, you are still accountable for everything you eat.
     This plan works for me.  Kayla prefers to do the calorie, fat, yada yada yada.  I am glad she wants to do this. I am glad she wants to learn better eating habits. And mostly, I am glad that we can do this Together. I love you baby girl!
     I think I am going to turn in early tonight. Have a great night everyone.   

Day Three

      Kayla weighed herself tonight before bed and in three days has lost two pounds. Go Kayla!
     I am stoked! I worked out twice tonight and did a mini marathon on the Wii! If you know me you know I don't run, but I did! I really did!! And it was great!! I was inspired by watching Biggest Loser tonight to try to push myself into doing something I don't do (running) and I did it! Yea me!
     I was supposed to go walking with my dad tomorrow morning but I called today for an interview. As of tomorrow I may have my first client. I also received a call today about another potential client. I am so excited!
     For those of you who haven't heard yet, I am training to be an Independent Provider. What that means is that I will take care of people in their homes. Things like cleaning house, running errands, reminding them to take their meds, cooking for them if they can't, etc. I am looking forward to doing this and I have helped my mom with this type of work before ( unpaid of course).
     So now that my workouts are done I am just getting a few things done around the house. Why does it seem that you can never really finish housework? :D
     Three days in and I can already feel a difference. I have no idea if I have lost any weight yet, but I feel happier. I am excited. I can't wait for tomorrow!
     Have a great night everyone! May this New Year bless you all!

Day Two

     So day two has been good. I worked out twice today, made good eating choices and double checked my plans for the week. In fact, I just finished a workout. I have found, for me at least, that Dance Workout for the Wii is one heck of a workout. That thing kicks my butt! Two days into it my workouts are only ten minutes long but between the Latin dancing and the Cardio Boxing I am sore. However, I am still determined.  I am so ready to beat my dad!
     I am looking forward to getting to healthy weight. Not having to worry about weight related health risks will be such a blessing. I am also glad my dad is getting healthy, between his age and his weight the risks for him are even greater.
     My eleven year old daughter has decided to take up the challenge I have issued to her. While she is not significantly overweight, she is on her way to being so. Her eating habits are as bad as mine and I have not been very good about monitoring her. The challenge for her is to get to a healthy weight by May 1st and I will buy her any swimsuit she wants provided it has some modicum of modesty. She showed me the one piece swimsuit she wants and it is cute as well as covers her very well!
      I am glad that she wants to do this with me. It makes for some good mommy-daughter bonding. The side effect is that my husband now has to eat healthy as well! All the chips and candy he likes to eat? Gone. He's okay with it and is very supportive of both Kayla and I. Now if I could just get him to try the Dance Workout so he could see just how much of a workout it really is! Ahh well, I'll keep working on him.
      Well, have a good night everyone. God Bless You. And off to bed I go!

Day One

     So I went to my dad's this morning and we weighed in. I hate to say this and it really is embarrassing but I weigh 361.7 pounds.  So my first goal is 10% at 36.7 pounds. So far my day has been good with the exception of finding out how much I weigh.
     I started my day out with a cup of coffee with creamer and a small banana. I did my Wii Dance Workout  (Cardio Boxing and Latin Dance) and all three of toke a 30 minute walk. I also went grocery shopping for healthier foods.
     We are now getting ready to go play cards with some friends of ours and I have planned for a healthy dinner and no dessert.  When we get home I am going to workout again. My exercise goal is to work out at least twice a day and strength train four times a week.
     All in all a good start.