Potluck

I'm working for another week and my colleagues have decided to have a going away lunch. I said pick whatever, but they were persistant...so, I picked a potluck. Not just any potluck, I decided we needed a theme and since the most important meal of the day is breakfast, our potluck will be a "Breakfast Theme." Now, I just need to come up with something that I will bring to make sure that I have something half way healthy as a choice. I know there will be plenty of grease and carbs as people have signed up to bring hash browns, sausage, bacon, blueberry pancakes, a breakfast casserole of eggs, sausage, cheese, etc, and orange juice.

What would you suggest for a healthy choice at a breakfast potluck?

Time to Relax

What a happy day to be in Milwaukee!! The Brewers came through, the Mets came through and all is well!

I did alright during the games yesterday. Had my popcorn and carrots with PB2 and then I was ready to reach for more. Instead, I took my good blogger friends advice and hopped on the elliptical. I was on it for over an hour and not even tired because of the excitement of the ballgames.

This is my last full week of work and I'll looking forward to a relaxing week since I'm not really planning anything further than next week. Today, I'll be attending our Homecoming Dance and I'll have to make sure to dance with a few of my closest residents as it is the last big event before next week.

Oh Happy Day!!

Sunday Stress

I'm planning my food today. I'm afraid if I don't, I'll grab for chips, popcorn, nachos, chocolate, or whatever is in the house. Actually, yesterday I had planned to go to Subway for dinner, but because the Brewers were in a tight game, I decided to eat some comfort oatmeal instead. Today, the Brewers are playing for a chance for the postseason for the first time since I was in 2nd grade! The Packers are playing at the same time and I'll be flipping back and forth while watching the Brewers for the most part.

Yesterday, was a day filled with meetings. Four WW meetings in the morning followed by another WW staff meeting in the afternoon for 3 hours. I came home and noticed I only had 2200 steps. I was not motivated to take a walk and ended the day with 3300 steps. It's a low total and today probably won't be looking much better. As I am planning on watching the Brewers

Friday, I had a "test drive" as a stay at home Daddy. The girls had off of school and I took the day off. We planned a day at the zoo and packed our own lunches. I can already see that I will definitely need to make plans daily with the boys so I keep myself occupied.

Have a great Sunday and GOOOOO BBBRRREEWWEERRSS!!!

Biggest Loser Workout

It is 6:30am and I just got done doing my Biggest Loser Workout. I sure have missed watching the show while riding my elliptical. Today, I set the alarm for 4:30 and after pressing the snooze button only once, I did it. I got out of bed, threw on my clothes that I had laid out last night, rewound the tape, put in my contacts, hopped on the elliptical and rode for an hour non-stop. It felt so good and I don't think I've done a whole hour since the last season of the Biggest Loser. I won't spoil anything here, since I hate it when I'm reading blogging and find out about the outcome before I've watched it, but it was a good show. I am starting to get a favorite team and I'll just let you know that it's the team that had the biggest loss this week.

An hour on the elliptical is huge. I need to do it more often especially after a day of eating like yesterday. I've been trying to eat mostly core foods, but yesterday I seemed hungry all day and even though I stayed within the core foods, I know I ate too much. Today, I'll be counting my points even though I'll still be sticking to the core foods. My portions just seem to get larger and larger when I do core.

Today's challenge: I have to pick the kids up from school. My wife has a meeting after school and I have already told the kids it's a McDonald's night. I'll be eating at home, but have a hard time staying away from the salty deliciousness of the fries. I know my 2 yr. old won't mind if I have a few, but I can never stop after just one or two or ten!

Dear Dolores

Dear Dolores,
You have been an inspiration to all Weight Watcher members for 22 years. You started Weight Watchers before the days of Flex and Core. You follow the "Dolores" plan, which has worked for 22 years; a combination of everything that you have learned through your experiences along the way. I am so impressed by your diligence and perseverance. For 22 years, you have come to a meeting at least once a month and weighed in to make sure you are still on track and under your goal weight. 22 YEARS!!!
If we had more members like you, Weight Watchers surely would have gone out of business long ago as you have not had to pay for a meeting since your losing times. I am truly humbled by your accomplishment.
Dolores I am sad to say you are 3 pounds over your goal weight today and you must pay the $12 weekly fee. This does not mean that you have failed. Please continue on your journey and I sincerely hope you do not need to pay Weight Watchers for another 22 years.


Yesterday, at my Saturday meetings, lovely Dolores came in to weigh in. She was beaming as a success story who has only had to pay once in 22 years. Unfortunately, the scale was not her friend on this Saturday. 3 pounds over her goal weight for the first time in several, SEVERAL years. I was devastated! I think I felt worse for her than she did for herself. She graciously fumbled through her purse as she was not expecting to have to pay and humbly handed me her credit card. The other ladies in line were also horrified and consoled her as well.

I only hope that 22 years from now, I can still be attending a Weight Watcher meeting for free and step on the scale and be 3 pounds over my goal for the first time. What an accomplishment! 22 years!! She is certainly a role model for all and has certainly won my heart over. Next time I see Dolores, I am certain she will be 3 pounds under her goal ;)

Giving Blood

On Monday night, I gave blood, like I do every 8-10 weeks. I have O- and there was a specific need for it on Monday. I've given blood for many years and for as long as I can remember, the technician inserting the needle has always had difficulty finding a good vein. Something has happened since I've lost 80 pounds. It is so much easier for them to find a vein and get me in and out fast. I am amazed at how losing weight has effected every aspect of life even to the time saved and ease met in giving blood.

I almost was turned away as I had a temperature of 100.8. Who knew chewing mint gum raises your temperature up to 4 degrees? Wish I knew that trick when I was growing up. I spit the gum out and less than 10 minutes later, temperature 97.3. All was well.

After giving blood, I have always enjoys the snacks provided by Panera. They donate bagels, Danish, muffins, etc. and are delicious. I did have a half of Danish. I figured I had to lose a pound of blood, don't you think? ;)

5:00AM

I did it. Yesterday, I finally hauled my lazy butt out of bed when the alarm went off. I've not been doing the morning exercise thing since BB#4 arrived in June. Even though I wasn't waking up with him in the middle of the night and even though he's been sleeping through the night for the last month, I've excusercized every morning. My alarm still goes off every morning at 5:00 and every morning I reset it for 5:55. I've done this for too long. Wednesday, someone on the WW message board commented on feeling really good about waking up early to exercise and challenged the rest of us to do so. I did it and swore and my cyberspace friend the whole time. Afterwards, I did thank him for the motivation and he reminded me that I was actually the one to recommend early morning workouts many months ago. So, now that the little one is sleeping through the night, I shall wake up at least twice a week to exercise so I can keep reaching my 4 time a week goal.

Thanks for the well wishes about staying home. I'm really looking forward to it now and will definitely need to make myself a "lesson plan" for the days. Just like when I was teaching, hopefully these lessons will actually turn out ;)

The Next Chapter

I've been stressing and stressing this last week. What happens when I get stressed? I don't so much eat, but I can't sleep, feel unmotivated, and get a nasty zip on my chin EVERY time. In my past occupation as a music teacher, it happened each year right after Thanksgiving and the feeling went away after all the Christmas concerts. Anyway, mMy wife and I have discussed this several times in the past, but now with 4 children it has become "the" time. I will be staying home with the boys as of October 1st. I really wasn't stressing about the situation, more about how my boss would take the news. In fact, when I went in to talk to her, it felt more like the right thing to do. I love my job and like forward to returning to the field after the kiddos are all in school, but for now, I am an official "stay-at-home-Dad."

That will be the biggest challenge "stay-at-home." I always do great when I have a planned breakfast and lunch at work, but at home, I will have 24/7 access. I'm a little worried there. The other thing that concerns me is my 10,000 steps. It is so easy to get 10,000 when working because I'm escorting wheel chairs from here to there and back again and easily rack up 10,000 by 2:00 in the afternoon. At home, I sometimes struggle to hit 7,500 on the weekends. My goals will need to be modified and I know I am up for the challenge.

Another Ball Game

Well, today is the second Brewer Game that I will be attending within a week. This time, 30 of my family members will be tailgating. I'm in charge of bringing the fruit. I'll report back later, but since I'm fessing up now, I think I shall be fine. No hot dogs today! ;)

The tailgating went great. Lots of food and fun. I was too concerned watching the three little ones swiping snacks that whole time to eat much myself. I did feast on a cheeseburger only because there were no plain ones left by the time I got around to eating.

The game? Considering we were 4 outs away from a Perfect Game and it wasn't for the Brewers, enough said. I will stay away from them, they've lost the 4 games I've attended this year.

Hot Diggity, Dog Diggity, Boom!

Yesterday, I took a group of 20 residents/staff/volunteers to the Brewer Game. Initially, we were set to tailgate, but because of parking concerns we opted to bring as much of our lunch in with us, which the Brewers are so nice to let us do and get hot dogs once we got settled. I often help in the dining room at the nursing home, so I know there is always a lot of wasted food. Yesterday, our stadium hot dogs were a success. Everyone polished them off, including myself. It was the first time that I really wanted a hot dog in over a year. Last week, for our school open house, I feasted on a hot dog for the first time in well over a year. That was because it was the only dinner offered. At the ballpark, I could have gotten lots of healthier choices, but this is a lifestyle and I don't want to deprive myself of a stadium hot dog if that's what I want.

It was the most delicious hot dog I have ever tasted. And you know what? I ate it slow. I savored each bite as I knew THIS would be something that I regularly do not eat. Maybe that's my key. Eat food that I really want, not food just to eat food. Unfortunately, the Brewers stunk up the joint, but we enjoyed the game and the hot dogs just as well.

Mmmm....This is Good

My 7 yr. old and 4 yr. old went shopping to Sam's Club with me over the weekend. We were looking for healthy snacks to take in their lunches. I stumbled upon a Chex Mix Bar. It looked like gooey deliciousness, so I took a look. To my surprise, it had 130 calories, 3.5g of fat, and 4g of fiber. Not much unlike a Fiber One Bar. We decided to buy them and taste test them in the car on the way home. Of course, Daddy had his down in 2.2 seconds, but the girls savored each gooey delicious bite. My 7 yr. old said, "I'm eating it slow because it tastes so good." And because she said it, my 4 yr. old repeated the same only emphasizing different words and a fight broke out of "Quit Copying Me." Why is it that kids get it? Food that tastes good, should be savored and enjoyed slowly, not scarfed down like you have seen food in days. I am working on it, but apparently as evidenced by my to little food critics, I still have a ways to go.