What a week!

I am going to start this post with a positive...I lost a pound this week...that is a total of  4lbs in 2 weeks!!!  Which is pretty good for me!!!  I'm super excited!
I did not do too well from Thursday - Sunday of last week.  We had a huge party at work on Thursday and I just ate!  I only exercised 3 times last week!  Didn't meet my goal of 4 times a week!  But at least I still lost a pound...I am grateful for that!!!
It's a new week and I will exercise 5 times this week and I will stay within my points!!  My goal for the week is to lose 3 lbs this week!!

101 in 1001 days

I did # 38, 39, and 40 last Sunday.  It's so good talking to my sister again.  We weren't really talking to each other since late January/early February.  We have had some really good conversations!

I did #49 last week!  Worked out Mon., Tues., Wed, and Thursday!  It felt so good!  I'm really loving walking!  Jeff has even started walking with me a few times a week!

I also did #1 and had a GREAT date night with Jeff at the Margarita Fest!!!   It was about 1/2 hour away, so we had to been careful...even though Jeff drove!!  It was really cool...they had like maybe 50 different tables where you could taste test all of the different types of Margaritas.  They also had food (which we didn't eat) and a place that you could take pictures (which we didn't because of the long line!).  This was one of the best nights we have had together in a while!  And it was something totally different than we have done!  And we both dressed up!  A good time!!!




Well...that's about all I have done on the list so far!  Looking forward to doing everything on the list!!!

Its been awhile

I know its been awhile since I have lost blogged...been pretty busy and a little lazy to actually get on the computer!
I weighed in this week and lost 3 lbs!  I was very happy about that.  I walked 4 times last week...and average of about an hour a day!  It felt so good.  My goal is at least 4 days a week, so I reached that!  I've walked 3 times so far this week!  I didn't walk this morning because I had to get some stuff done for work later!  This week has been ok...it's just I have been drinking which takes my points away!!!  I just keep going though.

101 in 1001 days!!!

The Challenge:
Complete 101 preset tasks in a period of 1001 days.
The Criteria:
Tasks must be specific (ie. no ambiguity in the wording) with a result that is either measurable or clearly defined. Tasks must also be realistic and stretching (ie. represent some amount of work on your part).
Why 1001 Days?
Many people have created lists in the past - frequently simple challenges such as New Year's resolutions or a 'Bucket List'. The key to beating procrastination is to set a deadline that is realistic. 1001 Days (about 2.75 years) is a better period of time than a year, because it allows you several seasons to complete the tasks.

Start Date:  April 13, 2011

End Date:  January 8th, 2014

Family and Relationships

1. Have date night twice a month
2. Have family nights 2 times a month through entire challenge
3. Have a picnic with the kids in the back yard
4. Take a romantic walk on the beach
5. Buy a new house
6. Decorate the new house
7. Get a family picture taken
8. Take one of the kids every month somewhere they want to go…just the 2 of us
9. Watch the sunset with the family in Myrtle Beach
10.   Start a family tradition of going out to eat every other Friday as a family
11.   Watch a movie that the kids want to watch with them once a month
12.   Take Jeff on a surprise picnic at the beach at sunset

Trips and Travel

13.   Go on a cruise
14.   Go to Las Vegas to get married
15.   Get a passport
16.   Stay in St Augustine over night at a bed and breakfast
17.   Take the kids on a vacation once a year
18.   Go to Savannah, GA
19.   Visit California
20.   Go to Universal Studios Halloween Nights
21.   Go on a trip for my 40^th Birthday
22.   Go to 10 new places in Florida
23.   Build a sand castle at the beach

For Myself

24.   Bake a cake from scratch
25.   Plant a vegetable garden
26.   Cook a new meal 2 times a month for 6 months
27.   Bake 10 kinds of cupcakes
28.   Try 10 new foods
29.   Make new friends here in FL
30.   Meet Owen
31.   Get a pedicure once every 3 months
32.   Talk to my friends in OH more than I do
33.   Go to the movies by myself or a girl friend once a month for 6 months
34.   Buy a new outfit once a month for 9 months
35.   Get a massage
36.   Get new contacts

For Others

37.   Send a postcard to anyone once a month
38.   Call and talk to my mom at least once a week
39.   Call and talk to my sister at least once a week
40.   Call and talk to my grandma twice a month
41.   Send flowers to 5 people for no reason
42.   Babysit for someone for free when they really need it
43.   Do 5 random acts of kindness
44.   Clean out everyone is the house’s closets and donate once a year
45.   Send everyone in my family homemade birthday cards for one year
46.   Donate 5 toys to any local toy drive during Christmas time
47.   Donate 25 items to a food drive
48.   Make Arianna’s eye Dr.’s appointment

Self Improvement

49.   Exercise at least 4 days a week every week of the challenge
50.   Run a 5K
51.   Learn to play golf instead of just riding in the golf cart
52.   Buy a new bike
53.   After getting bike, bike ride with the kids
54.   Lose 40 lbs by the end of this challenge
55.   Do not drink any alcohol for a week for 6 months
56.   Read 5 self help books
57.   Do not eat any junk food at all for a week (ice cream, chocolate, cakes, anything)
58.   Do not drink pop for a month
59.   Do not watch tv one day a month for 6 months
60.   Do not eat fast food for a month
61.   Read 2 different books on jealousy
62.   Get a breast job when I reach 140 lbs or less
63.   Go a whole day without using any electronics
64.   Don’t be bothered or jealous by the stupid people around me
65.   Inspire someone else to complete their 101 in 1001 list

Spiritual

66.   Read Women in Devotion everyday for a year
67.   Read The Secret within the first 30 days of this challenge
68.   For 1 month write down what I am grateful for daily
69.   Read motivational quotes daily for a month
70.   For 30 days right down a positive thought of myself
71.   Visit 5 different churches
72.   Identify 75 things that make me happy and list them

Create and Learn

73.   Read 50 books in 1001 days
74.   Finish my 101 in 1001 days list
75.   Scrapbook 1 day a month for a year
76.   Print pictures monthly to have hard copies of all the digitals we have
77.   Blog about every task I complete
78.   Every month take a picture of myself
79.   Every 6 months get the kids pictures professionally taken
80.   Blog for 30 days straight
81.   Keep a written weekly journal for the entire challenge
82.   Redo our kitchen
83.   Make a recipe book
84.   Buy a great camera
85.   Take outdoor pictures when I get the Great camera

Just for Fun

86.   Go to 2 cupcake shops
87.   Dance on the bar in Vegas with Chrissy
88.   Go to a Jags football game
89.   Sky dive
90.   Get a tattoo on my foot
91.   Get a tattoo on my stomach
92.   Get my bellybutton pierced
93.   Go to a play
94.   Go to a Bon Jovi concert
95.   Go to another Kenny Chesney concert

Money and Career

96.   Pass all the tests for my teaching certificate within a year
97.   Pass all the classes I need to take with B’s or above to get my teaching  certificate within a year
98.   Put $5 in a Travel account with every task I complete
99.  Put $25 in a ROTH IRA monthly within 6 months
100. Get a teaching job
101. Get life insurance
 

 ***Had to "steal" a few of these from other blogs I have read...just too good to pass up!!!

What a GREAT day yesterday!!!

So, I'm finally starting to feel a little bit better and have been trying to sleep in my bed instead of my recliner!!!  Hopefully that will last because I have missed my bed!!!
So, I took a 50 minute walk yesterday morning before going to my Weight Watchers meeting which was great!  I weighed a little more than I would have hoped, but thats ok, I just have to lose it!!  I have to stick with going to the meeting because they are just so motivating and give you some good ideas on how to help.  I weighed in at 178.6...I want to get down to at least 145 by the end of July (my 20 yr reunion)!!
Yesterday I earned 7 activity points!!   YEAH!!!  I stayed within my points...I actually had 3 points left!  I have to work on eating a few more points at breakfast to try to even this out...but I'm just excited that I stayed within my points!!
Hope today will be good...I have a LONG day...meeting, work at 2, training 5-9!!  That is going to suck!!!  Hope everyone has a GREAT day!!!

The new day!!

So, I have started this week off GREAT...I really hope to keep it going!  I have 30 lbs to lose in 3 months!!  I started the day out with a 50 minute walk then went to my Weight Watchers meeting and got some motivation!  The thing that I need most.  I know what to do...how to do it...now just to actually do it!!!  That is what I will do!
I'm still working on my list of 101 in 1001 days...I'm up to 72, so a few more to go.  Its really hard to think of a few more things!!  Hopefully by the end of the day I will have them!!!  And will post as soon as possible.

101 in 1001

I found this on someone else's blog and think that it is a GREAT idea, so I am going to start working on my list today and hopefully will start it tomorrow...let me know what you guys think!!!

101 in 1001

The Challenge:
Complete 101 preset tasks in a period of 1001 days.


The Criteria:
Tasks must be specific (ie. no ambiguity in the wording) with a result that is either measurable or clearly defined. Tasks must also be realistic and stretching (ie. represent some amount of work on your part).

Why 1001 Days?
Many people have created lists in the past - frequently simple challenges such as New Year's resolutions or a 'Bucket List'. The key to beating procrastination is to set a deadline that is realistic. 1001 Days (about 2.75 years) is a better period of time than a year, because it allows you several seasons to complete the tasks.

How the week has gone

Well obviously if I haven't been blogging about how good I have been doing with WW, then I'm probably not doing too good!!!  Its not that I have been doing really bad, but just haven't been writing alot of it down like I should to be sure I am staying in my points.  But I did actually join yesterday and will start going to meetings tomorrow morning!  I am also going to try to start walking again.  I went back to work last week and it did take a toll on me and my stomach!  I'm hoping that at 3 weeks post surgery, it will be getting easier!!  I just got to learn to let people help me and not do it all myself...once I do that I think things will be a ton better!

Why do kids not appreciate what they have????

I am sure this is not just my kids (at least I hope it is not!!), but why do kids just take for granted what they have in their lives?  There is this thing on FB going around it says:

When I was a kid, I didn't have a computer, cell phone, Nintendo DS, XBox, or Wii . I had Barbies or Hot Wheels, a bike, playing outdoors, and chores. If I didn't eat what my mom made, I didn't eat and I dealt with it. I didn't think of telling my parents "no" or dare to talk back or I got in BIG TROUBLE if I did. Life wasn't hard, it was life and I survived.... 

I just  find this statement so true!  My kids just expect everything that they have and expect to really not do much for what they have.  I find the only time that my kids really do anything is when I yell and complain about it.  Even the few chores they have they don't do on their own!  I'm just so fed up with it that I really don't even know what to do anymore.  I told all of them if they don't keep their rooms clean I was going to put all their stuff that was left out in garbage bags...including clothes!!!  My daughter has so many clothes that it is insane...so I told her that if she couldn't keep them cleaned up that I would leave her with 7 complete outfits at my choosing!  And of course they wouldn' t be her choice!!!  And I really have to stick to that because I feel she will never change.  Its really hard for me to be like that because I know when I was their age I wasn't the best of room cleaner at all!!!    But there has to be a break in the cycle right...why not start here??? LOL!!!!  I came home from work yesterday and there were 9 cups on the table (I only have 4 kids)...I was so mad!!!  So, I actually took all the cups out of the cupboard except for 4 and they now have assigned cups!!!  I don't know what else to do!!!  

Well I hope I can follow through on everything that I have told the kids over the past few days!!  That is a weakness that I have...not following through!!!

Day 6: Something I hope I will never have to do

This is a pretty easy one for me...I hope to NEVER EVER have to bury one of my kids!!  I think that it would be the most painful, unforgettable thing ever!!!  I don't even want to think about it, talk about it, or even blog about it...so that is the end!!!

The Weekend

Sorry I haven't written how I did this weekend!  I did good both days and I even had pizza on Saturday after talking with Alexa all morning about weight watchers and what pizza place was the best point wise!!  Thanks for putting that into my head Alexa!!!  Sunday I ate really good most of the day...for dinner I had 2 soft tacos instead of a taco salad, so a few more points...then me and Jeff went out for a few drinks.  I used about 20 of my weekly points over all that day, which made me still be under my weekly points by about 19!!!  So, pretty good!!  All and all it was a great WW week!!  I'm very happy and am continuing on my journey.  Hopefully going to join WW next week or the following week!  Well, just looked up the new special they have and it expires Saturday, so I guess I will be joining by then!! 

How 4/1 went

So, yesterday was a much better day for me emotionally.  I still didn't walk, but I did eat well at least!  Here's what I ate:

Breakfast:  2 egg whites, a cheese stick, banana
Lunch:  Ham Subway Sub
Snack:  Corn
Dinner:  Taco Salad
Snack:  some drinks

I was only 8 points over today and a total of only 10 for the week!!  I believe I get 49, so it is going well.  I'm still down about 9 lbs, so it makes it all worth it!! :-)

How 3/31 went

Yesterday was a horrible day for me.  Me and Jeff are going through a very rough spot right now and don't even know if we will get through it.  So...yesterday's diet was not too good!  Here's what I ate:


Breakfast:  2 egg whites
Lunch:  vegetables
Snack:  peeps! and lots of Wine!!!

Thats all I ate yesterday...not too good at all, but back on track today and not looking back.  I am not letting one bad day turn me back to what I was!!! LOL!!!

Bikini bound by summer!!!

Day 5: Something I hope to do in my life

I really hope to get married.  I know this is a simple thing and you would think at the age of 38 I would have already experienced that, but no I haven't.  If me and Jeff can get over these problems we are having I'm hoping that he will be the one!!!  The one to love for the rest of my life!!!  Time will only tell!!!

Day 4: Something you have to forgive someone for

I guess my answer for this is Brett...I have to forgive my son's father.  I have let what he did to me impair my life more times than I would like to say.  I was with him for 5 years total, but about 4 of those years were spent cheating and lying.  The first year of our relationship was great...the best I had ever had up to that point then I found out he was cheating on me when I was pregnant with Nikolas.  Of course I forgave him and let him come back.  Things were good for about another year, then the cheating started again.  It was so bad at times that he would say...I'll be right back, I'm gonna take out the garbage...and not come back for days!  We went through this for about 3 years until I finally had enough and let him go.  I have to forgive him for the things he did to me or I don't think I will ever have a successful relationship because I always think the other man is going to cheat on me like he did.  I guess I have come to realize that Brett is just that way...that is the way he thinks life should be since I have seen how he has done this to EVERY woman he has been with since me.  I have to realize that it wasn't me that was doing anything wrong...it was him!!  That is a hard thing for me because I try everything I can in a relationship and this made me feel like I failed, but I have to wrap my head around the fact that it was him that failed, not me!!!

How 3/30 went!!

So...yesterday went pretty well!  Its easier to do when you know the weight is coming off...although it is probably more with my swelling going down, I will take it any way I can get it!!!!
Yesterday I ate:
Breakfast:  2 eggs with ham and salsa, a banana
Lunch:  soup with crackers and a salad with bb, cheese, and ff French dressing
Snack:  strawberries, mixed vegetables, and salami wrapped with cream cheese and a pickle
Dinner:  steak, mashed potatoes, and a roll...from Texas Roadhouse

I used 2 of my weekly points, which is fine, that is what they are there for!!!  I also used my activity points, but again, that is what they are there for!! 

I just weighed myself before I started this blog and I am now down 6 lbs!!!  Since Sunday!!!  Too excited by that!!!

Day 3: Something I have to forgive myself for

I guess one regret I have in my life is having my kids with men that have turned out to be total jerks and not giving them the best dad they could have!  I was raised by my mom and dad...they have been married for almost 39 years, so I wanted that for my kids, but it just didn't happen that way for me or my kids.  I really tried to make it work with my son's dad.  I put up with so much stuff from him because I wanted my son to be raised by both of us, but it got to the point that I knew that no matter what I did that was never going to happen.  I feel like I let my son down...like he deserved more than that!  My daughter's father is just a total different story.  I knew from the beginning that things would never be that way with him...in that way I feel even worse for my daughter.  She never had the chance to have a great father!!  He left me when I was pregnant and never really looked back...I mean he tried at times to be in her life, but mainly to "show her off" to his then girlfriends.  If it wasn't for some women in his life he probably would have never seen his daughter after she was a year old!  I hope that I have done what is best for my kids, by not leaving them in a home where there was no happiness even though the lost being raised in a home with both parents!!
I'm hoping that the relationship I am in now proves to be that for my kids...a home where there is happiness and a mother and father trying to raise 4 kids together!!!!  We'll see what the future holds!!!

how 3/29 went!!

Another good day!!  A little stressful for my taste and a little boring at the same time, but I made it through.  I thought I would end up having a few beers, but decided against it!!  Very proud of that!!!  Here's what I ate:

Breakfast:  2 egg whites, banana, string cheese
Lunch:  WW Meal, salad with bb, cheese, and ff French dressing
Snack:  Angel food cake with Strawberries and lite whip cream
Dinner:  Pork Chop, baked potato with butter and sour cream (both lite), corn
Snack:  WW Ice Cream cup, Salami, string cheese, and pickle plate

Did much better with my points today...only had 1 point left after using 1 of my active points, since I did walk 30 minutes yesterday!
I really hope that I can keep up the past 2 days for the next 5 weeks and lose the weight I really want to, so it can look really good when I take my compression garmet off!!!!
Here's to another good day!!!

Time to leave the comfort zone!!

So...I finally submitted my application for my FL teaching certificate.  I have been planning on doing this for the past 4 months or so and just have never did it...I guess it has to do with leaving my comfort zone, but its time.  I love my job at the Y, but its because its easy...there is no one looking over my shoulder all the time, but I HATE the money I make there!!!  I have a bachelor's degree and only made $13,000 last year...its just not enough.  Its enough for the situation that I am in right now, but if anything were to change I would never be able to support me and my 2 kids with that!!!  Or even if me and Jeff buy a house we wouldn't make it with me just making that.  Its just time to step it up and do something with my life!  I'm going through this whole transformation of my body...guess it should just be my whole life!!!  I want to learn to just take chances and not always do what is comfortable...I guess this is the chance that I am doing!!  I've always wanted to be a teacher, so here goes everything at the age of 38!!!  I might even have to go back to school, but if so it is only like 5 classes, which shouldn't be too big of a deal!!!  Over the next few weeks I have alot of decisions to make and hope to get everything done by next school year!!

Day 2: Something I love about myself

Something I love about myself...I think that I am a trustworthy and good person.  I believe that I am there for my family and friends whenever they may need me and the things that they share with me I keep in confidence.  I love my family and friends and believe that I would do anything I could for any of them!!!

Yesterday's food

I know its almost 11 am the next day, but this is the first chance I have had to actually get on the computer!!  I did really well yesterday...ended up with a few points which I read in my WW books you are NOT suppose to do, but I just couldn't eat anything else last night.  I just have to do better at planning things today so I don't have 11 points left after dinner!  So, yesterday I had:

Breakast:  Mixed Fruit and a newton fruit crisp
Lunch:  Progressive Soup with Crackers and salad with bacon bits and cheese with fat free french dressing
Snack:  WW Cheese Stick
Dinner:  Ham Steak, baked beans, and green beans.  I tried a new meal tonight...I cooked all the other ham steaks and just mixed them in with the baked beans...Jeff's idea!  But I didn't want to not know how much ham I was eating, so I did my outside the beans.
Snack:  Since I had so many points left, I had chips and salsa then later had angel food cake with strawberries and lite whipped cream!!  That was so very yummy!!!!

I didn't exercise yesterday because I didn't go to the dr's till 4 and at that time she said that I could exercise...just no running or even power walking right now!!  I should be able to step it up within in the next few weeks...I can't even drive yet!!!

I did get a 30 minute walk in today...about a mile and a half!  I didn't want to push it to much.  When I got home my incision was throbbing, so I had to take a pain pill...maybe only 20 minutes for tomorrow!!

Pictures!!

The third picture is a week after surgery!!  I still have the drains on each side, so that why it looks a little strange.  The next picture is just a side view!  The first 2 pictures were taken before my surgery...obviously one on St Patty's day and the other the weekend before the surgery...Jeff took me out and this was the first time I wore a dress in YEARS!!!  The last picture is my birthday of this year...before surgery!
After looking at the pictures I am happy with the 2 after surgery except for my legs...they look awful!!  I am going to get ruid of them by the beginning of the summer!!!  Walk, walk, walk!!!

The start of the rest of my life??!!

Ok...I'm not going to start going to weight watcher meetings this week because I'm still not able to drive, but I am going to start counting my points and changing my day to day life.  No more pigging out like I tend to do...no more ice cream every night with magic shell and redi whip...ice cream is enough!! LOL!!  I'm not sure if I can do the walking yet...will find out at my appointment later this afternoon.  Hopefully I can at least do 20 minutes a day.  I know I can't do any weights for 6 weeks, so I have to start with walking, which is always said to be the best form of exercise!  I want to lose some inches in my thighs and knees (of all places!!).  And tone by butt up!!  At the end of everyday I am going to write everything I ate for the day, so that maybe some of you can give me some pointers of what I could be doing right and wrong!  I am keeping a food journal. I want to be sure to stay within my points every day.  My goal is to lose at least 20 lbs in 5 weeks!  That is when I can take my compression garmet off...May 2nd!!!!!  When that comes off I want to be able to have my new cute stomach to match my legs!!  I'll be taking pictures in the next few hours and post them and will try to do weekly pictures of my progress!  Also, if I make any new dishes, I will be sure to put them on here too!!! 

Day 1: Somthing I hate about myself

The thing I hate about myself is my follow through on things!  I always have a lot of great plans, but I rather follow through all the way on them!!!  That is something I really want to change within myself.  I finally got the tummy tuck that I have wanted to get for the last 5 years at least!  I know have to take that and move on with what I need to do with my life...I want to lose the rest of the weight I need to and be positive!  I need to raise my self esteem with in myself and prove to myself that I am the person I am!!

So...this thing that I hate about myself I hope in 30 days will be one of the things that I love about myself!!!

30 Days of Me

Day 1:  Something you hate about yourself
Day 2:  Something you love about yourself
Day 3:  Something you have to forgive yourself for
Day 4:  Something you have to forgive someone for
Day 5:  Something you hope to do in your life
Day 6:  Something you hope you never have to do
Day 7:  Someone who has made your life worth living for
Day 8:  Someone who made your life hell, or treated you like poopy
 Day 9: Someone you didn’t want to let go, but just drifted. 
Day 10: Someone you need to let go, or wish you didn’t know. 
Day 11: Something people seem to compliment you the most on. 
Day 12: Something you never get compliments on. 
Day 13: A band or artist that has gotten you through some tough days. (write a letter.) 
Day 14: A hero that has let you down. (letter) 
Day 15: Something or someone you couldn’t live without, because you’ve tried living without it. 
Day 16: Someone or something you definitely could live without. 
Day 17: A book you’ve read that changed your views on something. 
Day 18: Your views on gay marriage. 
Day 19: What do you think of religion? Or what do you think of politics? 
Day 20: Your views on drugs and alcohol. 
Day 21: (scenario) Your best friend is in a car accident and you two got into a fight an hour before. What do you do? 
Day 22: Something you wish you hadn’t done in your life. 
Day 23: Something you wish you had done in your life. 
Day 24: Make a playlist to someone, and explain why you chose all the songs. (Just post the titles and artists and letter) 
Day 25: The reason you believe you’re still alive today. 
Day 26: Have you ever thought about giving up on life? If so, when and why? 
Day 27: What’s the best thing going for you right now? 
Day 28: What if you were pregnant or got someone pregnant, what would you do?
Day 29: Something you hope to change about yourself. And why. 
Day 30: A letter to yourself: tell yourself EVERYTHING you love about yourself.

The beginning!!

Well...I have started this blog to help me through the next few months!  I had a tummy tuck 5 days ago and am so happy about it!!  It is something i have wanted for about 5 years now and I finally had the opportunity to get it done...thanks to Jeff!  Jeff is my boyfriend of almost 2 years.  I moved to FL to be with him and has been the best decision of my life...not only for the relationship that I got, but because I believe i have a better life for my kids now...we live in a better area, they go to a great school, and they have a better life, I believe!
So...I going back on Weight Watchers and plan to walk daily to get the rest of my body as hot as i hope my stomach will be after all the swelling goes down...lol!!!  I want to wear a bikini by the middle of the summer!!!