Shelf Life

Well, I have to admit the best by date at the bottom says MAR 13 2011, but still...I thought Twinkies lasted forever. We have various snacks in the back of the cabinet that I like to throw into the kids lunches. Now, since it's summer, the kids don't even look at the snack cabinet, so in cleaning it out, we found this moldy Twinkie.

The kids have been actually having fun going to the gym with me. There are tons of kids there in the morning and they are able to play fun games, so even though they put up the initial "I don't want to go!" They do have fun.

We're getting closer to our Disney countdown and the excitement is a bit much in our house.  Lots of yelling, screaming and short tempers...me included.  Will be a fun trip though.  Hoping for a good weekend, we're heading to Cars 2 on Friday and lots of 4th of July festivities over the weekend including walking in a parade, watching Fireworks and heading to the orthodontist for some headgear :)

Letting the Scale Dictate Your Mood

I never now what to think when members at Weight Watchers through the normal greeting my way:

Me: "How are you today?"
Member: "I'll let you know in a minute!"

Of course, they all say it with a bit of humor in mind, but really do they?
I had my monthly weigh in on Saturday, the last Saturday of the month.  It was not good! Since it was not good, I did let it get me down food wise the entire day.  I didn't track, I ate way too many snacks and I just plain was mad at the scale!  I went to the gym and worked my tail off for an hour, but proceeded to the grocery store to buy food for dinner and a few extra "I deserve them for exercising" snacks. Nothing horrible, two energy bars and a diet root beer, but after the few snacks I had before hitting the gym, I was not in need of more calories, just a better mood.

I usually am fine about the scale since I know that my weight fluctuates a bunch through out the week, but that ONE official weigh in every month seems to get me worked up.  Not sure if it will ever change, maybe if I ever see positive movement in the right direction. 

Happy Monday, raining here again...

Turn the Lights On

It has been completely crummy weather around these parts all week. I just don't feel motivated to do much of anything. When it's so dark and gloomy that I need the lights on in every room, something is wrong. These are supposed to be the longest daylight days of the year, but it really feels like December with the darkness, and October with the temperatures.

Today, I woke up early to head out for a bike ride and when I came outside it was shockingly...RAINING!!! So I headed to the gym for an early morning spin class. Never attende a class that early, but it was a good group. I shall return, but I really like my 9:00 teacher too.

Will try to get an outdoor something in tomorrow as I'm dropping the car off to get checked out before our long trip to Disney World in two weeks.

Days of the Week

My 5 yr. old, Alex, loves figuring out the days of the week.  Each morning he asks what day it is today. Then he proceeds to tell me what yesterday was and what day tomorrow will be.  Then he sings this cute weather song that ends with naming all the days of the week.  Quite the production, but it's the routine he liked in school and I'm sure by the end of the summer, he won't be doing it anymore.

Do you ever just go through the motions? Another day, another dollar? Or do you take the bull by the horns and seize the day?  I go in spurts; sometimes I am so focused and know exactly what I want to accomplish and other times, I'm just existing.  I have really been focused since joining my gym and having a set workout routine.  I love cardio and could do it two hours everyday, but I also know the importance of strength training and I know the days when I need the strength training.

I look forward to our little morning routine and can't wait till the weather will be sunny and hot once again.  The kiddos have had a good time at the gym, but still put up a fuss before we leave daily.  Once they get there, they have a blast.  Today, was "Shark & Minnow" with the older kids and I actually saw my 9 yr. old smile.  She had a good time walking through the group exercise room and seeing me sweat too.  I have decided to try to get to the gym a little earlier a few times a week, but I do enjoy my groups and the leaders too, so I'd hate to have to learn new routines.

Nothing Tastes As Good As...

I listen to lots of podcasts.  I just enjoy listening to people ramble about nothingness.  I listen to sports podcasts, news podcasts, health & wellness podcasts.  I always have a few waiting for me on my iPod to listen to while I exercise.  I usually don't listen to them while I run, I need to loud heart pounding rhythm making feet music for running. 

Last week, I was listening to a Jillian Michaels podcast from a week or two ago and during her opening schpeel, she mentioned a Good Morning America story that spoke about how different people eat when faced with labels that mention "good for you," "healthy," "fat-free," etc.  She said if people are faced with choices between "healthy" and "non-healthy" choices, they tend to eat less when given the non-healthy alternatives and over indulge when given the healthy options.

Nothing tastes as good as free will!  I don't want to be told what to eat, when to eat it and how much to eat.  Sometimes when I go to the grocery store, I am overwhelmed by the amount of choices. Each aisle, each item seems to have an endless amount of choices.  Yesterday, I went to a big box store to buy some laundry detergent that was on sale.  I know I always get the "original" scent, but for the life of me, I couldn't find it on the shelf: "Spring Breeze", "Scented with Downy", "Frebreze Scented", "Original with Bleach", and a wide variety of other scents, but no plain original. 

Nothing tastes as good as free will! I like going to Applebee's with the family, but when I go out to eat I don't want to think "Weight Watchers", "South Beach", "Atkins" or anything else. I just want to eat something that I want to eat.  I know it's best to plan ahead, but when I go out to eat I want what I want! 

To go along with that way of thinking, choice is a good thing and when offering snacks to hungry kiddos choices should be offered, but healthy alternatives also should always be an option.  Offer the fruit and veggies in different combinations and they'll choice the combo that they like.  I tend to offer with added features such as with peanut butter, with dip, with chocolate dipping sauce, etc.  I will definitely be watching my snack offerings this summer while allowing choice for FREE WILL.

Non-Food Rewards

As the "baby" is learning how to go on the big boy potty, we've been once again looking for those non-food rewards for staying dry.  His favorite reward so far has been gum.  Really that's the only one he's been looking forward to.  And when he has to spit the gum out for wetting his pants, he has not been happy. 

The other kiddos have been trying to "earn" money to spend in Disney World next month.  This has been an easy reward to work towards.  They're cleaning up after themselves, clearing the table after we eat, brushing their teeth without asking, getting along with each other, etc. to get extra spending money.

Trying to get them all the gym has been a challenge as well.  We've been doing the rewarding with a trip to the park and today our reward was a trip to the library.  What next? Always up for suggestions, but I'll be sticking with the park reward as long as they're happy with that one.

I always struggle with non-food rewards. Even when I was actively losing 80 pounds, I always found it difficult to walk without thinking about what I could eat as a reward after my walk.  I've still found myself on occasion saying to myself that I can't wait to get done exercising so I can eat such and such.  I'm sure it will be a life long struggle to get past, but one I will continue to fight.

Counting calories has been going well, and I've been imposing a "no-in-between-meal-snacking" rule since last Wednesday.  Last night, was the first time I had a snack in the evening and I really didn't need it.  I know it's just a habit that once I break I will be happy I did so.

Cleaning Out the Closet

Seems we've kind of split duties when it comes to cleaning out closets.  I've come to clean the boys closets/dressers out while my wife usually tackles the girls.  We don't receive many hand-me-downs for the girls, only occasionally when we're in the right place at the right time.  The boys have received tons from one of my sister's friends and tons from a "bigger" boy in my 5 year olds class.  Alex hasn't grown much at all this school year, while the other little boy grew over 4 inches this year.  Needless to say, both my boys are wearing the same size right now making it easy to get rid of the smaller sizes, but keeping track of who's clothes are whose doesn't matter to me.  The boys let me know when I put some clothes in the wrong place.

The reason I started this process today was because I had just bought some red shorts for Alex and could not for the life of me find them.  Wouldn't have been a huge deal, but of course he HAD to wear them today! Nowhere in his closet, nowhere in Benjamin's closet, nowhere on the floor in their room...knew they had to be somewhere. So, in the middle of checking their room, I meandered into my own room and there they were tucked under my bed. I must have dropped them on the floor while folding laundry and didn't discover them yet. 

Cleaning out my own closet has been a welcome occurrence the last few years.  I have not had to clean it out to get rid of clothes that are too small for me.  Instead, I've been gradually "thinning" out the clothes that have become way too big far me.  I wear mostly size large now and still have a fair number of double extra larges hanging around just because I like them too much to part with them.  I think I'm down to only two or three left and those are jerseys which I hate to give up and replace...who wants to wear a Packer Favre jersey anymore anyway?

So, the closets have been thinned out and we are ready for some summerlike weather now. I did get up early this morning and headed out for a long bike ride.  Definitely sets my day up for a much more successful day when I start it with exercise.

Pleasantly Sore

Have you ever felt soreness after exercising? I've been working out at the gym at least five days a week for well over six months now. Who would have thought that my hamstrings, triceps and abs could be more sore today than the day I started exercising regularly.

Some days I feel like an "old" man. This would be one of them. It hurts to stand up, hurts to sit down, hurts to hurt. But it's a pleasant soreness. Definitely a soreness that leaves me with a feeling the I accomplished something today.

My little Benjamin loves speaking with gestures. One which is a favorite is when he holds two fingers pinched closely way close to his eyes. This is his way of saying tiny. I like poking at his tummy and saying Big Belly. He responds with his tiny gesture and then points at my belly and gestures his hands as far apart as he can and saying in a deep voice "BIG!"

Nothing like being put in your place by a 3 yr old, who I can't keep up with because I'm pleasantly sore.

The Park

We have been off school since last Thursday for summer vacation.  Since that time, we have gone to four different parks and played for at least a half hour at each of them.  Today, my oldest daughter wants to go to the park once again.  It's an ugly day outside and rather chilly too, so we're having an indoor day this afternoon.  Probably, a good idea since a few of the kids have been in foul moods today.

So what do "we" do at the park? Well, I start out sitting on a bench, but that lasts all of 10 seconds.  "Daddy, can you help me?" "Daddy, I need a hand!" "Daddy, can you swing with me?"...get the idea?  I am amazed by the number of people that are usually at the park.  It's well used! But I am also amazed at how the adults are always just sitting and watching.  Not much interaction and the adults could stand to have a little activity in their lives!

We'll be back at another park tomorrow. It's been a good way to get my kids to come to the gym with me.  I tell them that we'll play in the park after we hit the gym. Of course, then they all have to "hit" the gym door when we arrive.  Such a site, Daddy followed by 4 little ducklings.

Today, was the end of a 7-week "Fit Club" session at the gym.  It's a tough, boot camp type group with lots of circuit training, which I hate doing on my own, but if someone else plans it, I am more than willing to partake.  The next session doesn't start for another few weeks and as long as the kids are still OK with me hitting the gym before the park, I'll be doing the next summer session.

The Saddest Part of Working for Weight Watchers

Even though my lastest weigh in was 213 for the month of June, I know I'd be much worse off if I didn't attend/work at Weight Watcher meetings regularly.  I feel so much stronger and healthier now than I even did at 190.  I work out at least 5 days a weeks and in the last 6 months this has included weekly with a trainer and weight training 2-3 times weekly.  My clothes fit better than they did at 190, but I'd still like to get back to that weight eventually.

I am so grateful to be able to work for Weight Watchers just for the mere fact that I can attend meetings for free.  This has kept me closer to my WW goal than I would be not attending meetings and weighing in regularly.  I'd love to work more meetings, but something about "you're above your WW goal" is keeping me from doing so.

This past weekend, a member returned to the meeting room for the first time since February.  He reached his lifetime status in February and took it on his own.  Unfortunately, he has gained a noticeable amount of weight.  Sucks! I know how tough it is to keep weight off and stay on top of nutrition and exercise.  In some regards, I think it was SO much easier to lose 80 pounds than it is to lose 10-20 pounds.  I was focused, in the zone, had an ultimate goal and wanted that goal.  When it was reached, it felt great and I let my guard down and haven't been able to regain that "in the zone" nutritional feeling.

My member "looked" that same way.  I could see his dissapointment in himself and feel the same emotional let down that is tough to regain.  I hate when successful WW members stop coming for a while and come back needing to "re-lose" weight that they once lost so easily.

Even though I have had a difficult time following Points Plus, I continue to stick with it, but I have recently begun to count calories as well. I feel a double dose of accountablity can't be too horrible.  I don't want to come into the meeting room and have anyone think "boy, he looks a little bloated!" anytime soon.

Been a while

Time sures flies.  Summer vacation has started and all the kids are home for the summer.  This could be a good thing or a bad thing.  Seems it's a lot tougher to take 4 kids grocery shopping, to the gym, or anywhere for that matter.  My wife is home most days, but is on a year long contact as of July 1.  I love the summer and don't mind waking up early to exercise, but I also love sleeping in at least till 7:00. 

Grocery shopping hasn't happened for a while.  This is not a good thing...out of bread, out of fresh fruit and veggies and I refuse to go with everyone because even though my kids are well behaved and I can give them something to be on the "look-out" for, they still seem to beg for treats. 

The gym will be a challenge to keep regular.  I love my spinning classes and working out with group classes, but I could definitely see skipping as an easy alternative.  But I also know that I get in a very foul mood if I don't exercise and nobody around these parts would appreciate that.

We'll be spending time outside and the countdown to another trip to Disney World is well under way.  28 days till we visit the Happiest Place on Earth!

I'll pledge to check in more often, just for the mere fact that I know I need to.