Losing Weight

There was a great quote in the WW Weekly this week:
"You don't 'lose' weight, you 'take it off.' Sometimes when you lose things, you find them again!"

That unfortunately happens a little too often. Lose a pound, gain a pound, lose a pound, gain a pound. There's a radio personality around these parts that jokes about losing over 1000 pounds, but it's always the same 10 pounds over and over again.

I need to get the mindset of taking 10 pounds off and not just losing them. I get comfortable whenever I see 200 on the scale and tend to relax a bit, stop tracking for a few days, stop the intense exercise, eat a few more sweets, etc. and then number creeps up again. I need to refocus the energy and not be happy with the 200.

This weekend, I had a wedding to attend. It was a great event and the food was awesome. Someone close to me, chose to skip the reception because of recently joining AA. I understand the thinking and realize this is a temporary avoidance until things are more under control. Got me thinking about food and avoidance. If I were to avoid every difficult situation involving food, my family would never see me. In fact, I don't know how I'd function since food needs to be consumed to live. Sometimes my toughest days are the days I spend all day at home. I welcome the celebrations! I tend to have good days then. I can only eat what is put in front of me and I tend to steer clear of the appetizers because I feel like everyone is watching me and what I eat.

We also had a chicken dinner at our church on Sunday. It was a delicious meal. Afterwards, I came home with the kids and my wife went back to work the dinner for the second half of the time. She stayed till the end and unfortunately decided to take advantage of the "half price bake sale" that takes place with all the leftover bakery for the last half hour. She came home with a bunch of cherry turnovers. They're mocking me in the kitchen right now. I've stayed out of the kitchen all morning, which will continue to be a key for the rest of the day.

Weather is going to be awesome here all week, hoping to get in a few quality walks!

Black Bean Brownies

My 4 yr old came home from preschool on Monday and NEEDED to make cupcakes. Unfortunately, we didn't have any cupcake holders around, so I offered to make brownies with him. I had a can of black beans in the cupboard just calling to be used, so we made black bean brownies...one 15 oz can of beans, plus a 13x9 brownie mix. That's it. Follow the directions on the brownie mix and they're done.

We hadn't made them before and I had no idea what to expect. I let them bake at least 10 minutes longer than the pack suggested and still they were a bit sticky when we cut and ate them. You really can't tell that they're made with black beans, but the texture was different. My kids liked them and I'm pretty sure my wife would have liked them had she not known what was in them. She's quick to figure out a difference in most things, but usually doesn't ask about it. I had told her what I had done, just because they were hard to get out of the pan.

Reminded me a lot of the soda cakes using a can of diet soda and package of cake mix. The cake tastes fine to me, but the wife notices the difference right away. Probably a big reason why I struggle with my weight, because I can eat anything that's not moving and even if it's moving, it better be quick or I'll grab it!

The brownies are gone. I ate about 4, adding up to about 8-10 points, versus 22-25 points with 4 regular brownies. Not bad!

Still struggling with our nap time schedule, hopefully, we'll get back to a good routine soon.

Food Scale

I've been contemplating purchasing a WW food scale probably since the first week I joined WW. It has only taken my 4 years before purchasing one. I did it Saturday. I've used it for everything the last 3 days and it hasn't surprised me that I've been cheating on portions. Actually, I had no idea how many strawberries and blueberries I could eat for 1 point! Most everything else I've been guesstimating on the low end. It really is a cool tool and hopefully it gets me back into a tracking truthfully and motivating my mojo to get me back in the right scale direction.

We've had beautiful Spring weather lately and I've been outside a bunch. Last week, my pedometer hit 10,000 4 out of 5 days. Nice! Our nap time has been all out of whack with the time change. 1 yr old has not wanted to lie down in his crib, so I've been having to rock him to sleep. I would love to be able to take him for a walk in the stroller, but he does not relax in the stroller...too busy watching everything!

My 8 yr old is a biking pro now. She still has a little problem getting started. She can't seem to get her pedals a going, but once she gets started, there's no stopping her. It's really fun to watch her succeed at a skill that will be with her forever.

Have a great week, I'll be weighing and measuring to keep myself from stealing bites, licks and tastes without thinking first.

I Want to Ride My Bicycle

My 8 yr old has finally decided to get rid of the training wheels and actually learn how to ride her bike without them. I helped her out on Monday and held on a lot. Yesterday, she got so much better. Didn't need me to hold the back of her bike much at all. She got about 20 feet each time before pouting about not being able to steer. I thought she did awesome and I made sure she knew she was doing well. Today, I'm sure we'll try again and soon she'll be riding without looking back.

Why does it take so long to learn how to ride a bike? It doesn't!! Once you learn how to keep your balance it's a breeze and it's a life-long skill that you just don't forget over time. So then...why does it take so long to learn how to eat healthy and live a healthy lifestyle? It doesn't!! Once you learn how to work everything into your lifestyle you have the tools for a lifetime. BUT...

The healthy lifestyle thing, is WAY tougher to keep up with. I wish the healthy lifestyle was like riding a bike. Just give me a helmet let me keep my balance. Wish it were that easy.

Awesome weather today, highs in the low 60's and I'm playing outside!!

Breaking a World Record

I rarely throw up two posts in one day, but I heard about this lady this morning and again this afternoon while listening to a podcast.

Unbelievable! Who would want to be 1000 pounds?

10,000

Yesterday was the first time in a LONG time that my pedometer ended the day with five digits. Over 10,000 steps! It used to be a daily event and easy to achieve, but lately it has been unbelievable difficult to achieve. It felt good to reach 10,000. I took a walk in the morning, shopping with the 1 yr old, helped my 8 yr old try to ride her bike with no training wheels, worked, and then decided to take the 4,000 step walk to achieve 10,000.

I need to make this a daily occurrence once again. I felt like I really achieved something special as I have been averaging 6,000-7,000 steps and I know I should be reaching 10,000. So, like I did way back when I was actively losing 80 pounds, I shall pledge to reach 10,000 whatever it takes. If I need to take a 4,000 step walk at 9:00pm, that's what I'll have to do because I know it felt great. Passed up the elliptical last night in favor of the walk, but if that's what it takes to get 10,000 it's probably not a bad trade-off.

Stale Chips

Last night, we made a whole beef tenderloin on the grill. It's the first time since New Year's that we have grilled out. Spring is definitely on the way! I didn't feel like going all out and preparing potatoes, so I opted for some chips that we've had in our cabinet probably since New Year's. My wife was amazed after we ate. She said that she was expecting the chips to be the only thing eaten off of everyone's plates. We had tenderloin, chips, broccoli, cole slaw, and salads. The only thing left on EVERYONE'S plates...the chips. Could be that they don't taste as good as they once did, a bit stale, or could be that our kids don't really care for them anymore.

I'm really not sure the answer, but I do know that I threw at least 4 handfuls of potato chips in the trash last night and will probably throw the two half-bags of chips still left in the cabinet in the trash soon. I suppose next time, I should take the extra few minutes to prepare potatoes rather than taking the easy way out by serving chips.

Just goes to show me that even though I've managed to gain about 10 pounds since last March, we've definitely created healthy habits. I know my gain has just come about from not tracking and not from eating unhealthy foods. I just eat too much of the good stuff now. Time to start tracking truthfully and daily.

Beautiful Friday

What a great weather day! Went for a walk with the 1 yr old again this morning. That's 4 out of 5 days this week. Today, he didn't want to get out of the stroller, he actually cried because he wanted to stay in the stroller! So I pushed the stroller in the living room and let him sit in it to watch "Price is Right." He was happy :)





I heard about this scale...Yay! that gives you compliments. Unbelievable! I would love a pink plushy scale that would compliment even while I'm gaining weight. The website says that the compliments are mored suited to kids/teens. Really?

Rainy Wednesday

*I finally got around to hauling the Christmas lights in from outside. It really isn't because I was lazy, more because they've been covered with snow/ice since Christmas. Finally, the snow is melting. A great sign of Spring!


*Went shopping this morning with the 1 yr old at the mall. My wife had found a shirt she liked at Kohl's, but they didn't have it at the location she was shopping at, so she had it put on hold at the mall location. I think the lady working was quite amused when a "misses" shirt was held with a "misters" name.


*My 1 yr old has enjoyed going for walks this week in the stroller. Yesterday, I threw his boots on and headed outside. He headed right for the stroller while I lead him down the steps. What a great time he had splashing in every puddle!


*Made a meatloaf last night for the first time in a long time. Last time I made it, I ended up eating most of it cause no one liked it. Last night, it was gone! I had one small slice and everyone gobbled it up. Now, to remember how I made it to their satisfaction.


*Eating is not going so hot, so I'm avoiding the topic...did you notice??

No School

Another day off for the kids. We thought of different things we could do on our day off and really planned on heading to the zoo until the phone rang. My neighbor invited the girls to a movie. We have a budget movie theater that shows movies for cheap. "The Princess and the Frog" is showing for $2.

So, it's Daddy and the boys again for the afternoon. Didn't weigh in this past weekend as we took a family roadtrip to bring Grandpa back home. It was a long Saturday in the car, left our house at 8:30am and returned home at 10:30pm. My kids do awesome in the car so I actually preferred the drive to staying home with them.

I know the weigh in wouldn't have been a positive one anyway. I haven't been horrible in my choices, just horrible in my tracking, which continues to be a big key.

Off to play a game...

Conversations with a 4 yr old

I spend my mornings chasing my 1 yr old around the house, playing ball, zooming cars and having him help me with my morning routine. He could probably make my coffee and oatmeal for me if I'd let him. He helps sort the laundry and even puts it away for me. His mother must have taught him how to put the dishes away from a clean dishwasher cause he doesn't quite get the silverware where it's supposed to go. Somehow his company is lacking something. I mean he knows exactly what he means, but it's simply a oneway conversation when I talk to him.

My 4 yr old, on the other hand, has lots to say. He always jumps to my arms after preschool, shows me the sticker he's earned, takes his time before choosing the perfect place for the sticker on his folder and off we go.

On the way home, he tells me about his day and gives me orders about what we'll do in the afternoon. No "can we's" or let's do" it's always "we're going to"!

We have lots of quality time together!

Thursday Naptime

I really got nothing today.

Happiness is taking a nap with the 1 yr old! Getting ready to flip on the Brewers first preseason game. This time of the year is awesome since everyone has the same chance to be in first place.

Wee Wee Wednesday

My little guy makes me laugh everyday. His latest quest at being like his big brother is imitating him going to the bathroom. Benjamin yanks his shirt up and holds it while sticking his belly out. He pulls his shirt back down and flushes the toilet. It's the cutest thing! He's not even close to being able to go to the bathroom on his own, but to him, this is it.


Over at JackSh*t Is Getting Fit, he's discussing being "afraid" of food. There are several foods that I am afraid to have in the house because I know if they're around, I will eat them till they are no longer around. I thought Girl Scout cookies would be one of these foods. Actually, I know they are one of these foods, but as long as I don't start eating them, I won't worry about them. We have four boxes and all four have been opened. The chocolate peanut butter ones are just about gone, the peanut butter sandwich cookies have been going in the kids lunches, the thin mints are a favorite of my 4 yr old and the 1 yr old is a fan of the shortbread. I know if I tried one cookie, there would not be any left by the end of the day, so I've been avoiding them.

Being afraid of food, and knowing your weaknesses are two different things. I'm not afraid of food, but I do know that certain foods will give me reason to overeat.

It is beautiful here in Wisconsin and I have put the winter coat away for the season! I may grab it again if totally necessary, but do plan on wearing my Spring coat for errands and quick in and outs. Feels good to wear a baseball cap again!

Unexpected Packages

Isn't it fun to get something left at your doorstep that you haven't been expecting? It happened to me yesterday!

I went outside in my short-sleeves, cause it is March now, and our "Welcome" mat was moved. Seems the UPS deliveryperson covered the box up with the mat.

WW sent me a bunch of free coupons for new products they're endorsing plus three boxes of their snack cakes. The snack cakes are 1 point each and we have them almost gone. When six people eat two each, they don't last long. There's no way my kids would have eaten these if I bought them, I would have hidden them because they're too expensive to share. Since they were free, I didn't care that my 1 yr old crumbled his up and made a first class mess.

Looking forward to a seasonally warm week. We got out for a walk yesterday, my 4 yr old was so excited to be able to ride his new scooter from Christmas. Can't wait till he can use his baseball glove!

March 1st

One thing that totally makes me happy today is that the weathermen consider today the first day of meteorological Spring. For some reason, it just makes the month go by smoother when I call it a Spring month.

Saturday's weigh-in was up again. My body does not seem to go for the .2 gain/loss, it always seems a bit extreme. Up 1.8 this week, but it's all good. Welcome Spring!

Grandpa doing as well as expected. Will probably leave the hospital today, but won't be able to get home for a while, so he'll recover in MN for the week at least.