My first foray into "green"-land

I went to the grocery store on Friday and picked up a few "green" products. Seventh Generation makes recycled products and cleaning products that are eco-friendly. They're expensive! But I found coupons on their website and decided to try the all-purpose cleaner. I have to say that I'm pleased.

The cleaner did a great job on my white counter-tops and there was only a very faint odor. I'm used to cleaning products that knock you down with the smell, but this was nice.

My other successful purchase was an organic spinach and mozzarella pizza. AWESOME!!!

On my weight loss journey. I'm loosely following Weight Watchers and just trying to eat better all around. I bought lunch meat, pita bread and feta cheese. I made sandwiches with those and lots of lettuce...they were very yummy. I'm also snacking on more fruit and drinking more water. I had a cupcake over the weekend at one of the birthday parties as well as a little thing of ice cream.

I'm losing slowly. I lost .4 pounds last week and this week am down .8. Slow but sure.

I want to go green

For a while now I've been thinking about going green. I do some things already. We have a special thermostat and lightbulbs to help save energy, we use the high efficiency appliances, etc. I use reuseable bags at the grocery store, etc.

But I want to do more. I want to start eating more organic foods and using products that are good for the environment.

Part of the problem is that organic and "green" products are so much more expensive. And part of the problem is that there is just so much stuff out there...it makes my head spin to think about it. So I'm going to start small.

I think first, I'll tackle cleaning products. Next time I run out of something, I'll buy the "green" version. I expect some trial and error as I find products that I like and don't like.

So here I go on my journey to be "green".

Vegas baby!

My Vegas trip was FAN-freakin'-TASTIC!!!! After a bumpy start...things were great!

Okay, so first for the bumpy start. My flight was supposed to leave at 8:55 PM. I got to the airport and found that my flight was delayed until 9:30 while we waited for a fresh flight crew. By 10:00 PM I'm sitting on a very full plane of people all ready to head to Vegas. They announce that there is a problem with the maintenance logs for the plane. They tell us to sit tight. Around 10:20 they announce that the plane is not going to be flying anytime soon and that we are going to DISEMBARK the plane and go to a new gate and new plane. ARRGGHH!!!

All 150 of us troop down to the new gate...moo...moo...bunch of cattle that we were. We get down there and they tell us to have a seat and get comfy...since we changed gates and planes we have to wait for yet another NEW CREW! Argghh!! We are now looking at a departure time of 11:10 PM. Yeah, right.

About 11:15 they announce that they have a new crew...and a new plane...AND a new TERMINAL. ARRGGHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!

Moo...moo...me and 150 of my closest friends troop down to the tram en masse and head to terminal A. Once there, they tell us that since we boarded and de-boarded (is that a word?!) the other plane we now have to get new boarding passes. It turns out that with all the delays they actually cancelled my original flight number and created a new one.

We finally go wheels up around 12:30 AM. If you aren't good at math...that's 3 1/2 hours late. I arrive in Vegas at the hotel around 2:30 AM...4:30 AM CST. I was exhausted and PO'd.

But the next morning...well, later the same morning...things started looking up. Had a nice breakfast, spent some time by the pool, walked around a lot, did some shopping, did some gambling, drank a bit, tried on a pair of $600 shoes (Jimmy Choos...wish I had a few hundred bucks to spend!!) and laughed more than I have in months. All in all, it was totally worth it!!!

After my awful flight to Vegas, I was dreading the return trip. But I guess I must have passed some sort of test because the flight home was a breeze. I walked right to the gate, got to my seat and we took off without an incident. We even arrived 30 minutes early in Dallas.

Jim and the kids met me and I took one look at my babies and burst into tears. I was so happy to see them!! Nicholas was more interested in riding the escalator than my being home, but Abby barely left my side the rest of the day.

I'm exhausted but happy.

Not quite 5 pounds

My total weight loss to date is 4.8 pounds...yeah!!! But more importantly, I can feel it. My pants fit more loosely and I have fewer "rolls" around my middle! LOL I still have a ways to go, but I'm making progress. And I'm trying to make my focus less about losing weight and more about creating new, healthier habits. I want this to be a life change.

I'm doing interval training several days a week. That's kicking my behind...let me tell you! All in all I feel healthier than I have in a long time.

The money situation...well, let's just say I'm exploring my options. I'm trying to tackle one budget item at a time. I can't really control utilities to a significant degree...we turn off lights that we aren't using, etc. Where I can try to make a difference is our grocery budget. However, grocery prices being what they are, even that's a bit of a challenge.

Anyway, fingers crossed for a good month.

Fat, muscle, budgets and money

I broke my vow and got on the scale yesterday. I made it from Thursday until Monday, so it's better than before. But here's the thing...my clothes are fitting better so I'm thinking that I must be down. I got on the scale and I'm UP .2 from Thursday. UGH!!!!!



I'm smart...I completely understand that muscle is more dense than fat and that someone who weighs 150 pounds with a low fat ratio can wear a smaller size than someone who weighs the same with a higher fat ratio. I get that...really I do. But is it too much to ask that the scale shows some loss of weight too??!!!



And then there's money. **sigh** Ah, on second thought...I don't even want to go there. Let's just say that my fingers are crossed that our plan for me to go part-time in August is in jeopardy. UGH!

Sacrifices

Anyone who has reached adulthood knows a little bit about sacrifice. And if you're a mother you know A LOT about sacrifice. And in this economy we are all learning even more about sacrifice.

When I was pregnant with Nicholas I joined an online bulletin board for expectant mothers. We were all due in April of 2004. After our babies were born, seven of us bonded over similar sleep issues. After a while, we broke off and formed our own online bulletin board for just the seven if us.

We were from all over the country and the world even. Texas, Oklahoma, Michigan, Boston, Denver, Seattle, and England. We ranged in age even...with me being the oldest. For all of us except for one, this was our first child. And all of us except for two have had another child in the years since we first came together.

For several years we've talked about getting together in person. I've met two of the ladies in person and spoken to another one on the phone. As for the rest, they are just words on a computer screen. It may sound strange but I consider these ladies to be friends. We've "listened" to each other's rants and raves about kids, husbands and life in general. We celebrate and commiserate. We use each other as confidantes and sounding boards.

This week one of the ladies finally "pulled the trigger" as it were and suggested a meeting. So after lots of back and forth, checking finances and checking with husbands...at least five of the seven and hopefully all will be travelling to Las Vegas this June for a meeting.

All that brings me back to sacrifices. Jim and I are on a super tight budget right now (who isn't...right?!). Our plan for me to quit work and go part-time in August depends on us staying on track and on budget. But I really want to go on this trip in June...so...for the next few months, I will be spending as little money as possible. No more morning lattes (ouch!), no more chair massages (ouch again!) and I dropped my online Weight Watchers membership.

I hate sacrifice...but it's worth it.

Week 2 Weigh In

Woohoo!!! I lost 1.5 pounds this week for a grand total of 4.2. Hooray!!

Today starts my scale hiatus...I will not get on the scale again until next Thursday...wish me luck on that! I may suffer from scale withdrawal and get the shakes or something.

On a broader note...I feel good! I was chasing Nicholas around the park on Sunday and it didn't exhaust me. I'm certainly getting stronger and I look forward to my workouts everyday. I'm working out five days a week at the gym. Monday through Friday I go to the gym after work and on the weekends, I give myself activity points for vacuuming and playing with the kids.

I feel like I'm on my way to better health.

I have an addiction

Hello, my name is Robin and I'm a scaleaholic. I know that I probably should only weigh myself once a week, but I can't seem to stop getting on that scale! I'm on it daily. Which is only a bad thing when my weight goes up slightly. Ugh!

I got on yesterday and was doing great! I felt wonderful all day long. I got on it this morning and I had gained .7 since yesterday! I immediately felt horrible and I'm still trying to shake the feeling of failure. Tomorrow is my official weigh in day and even with the weight gain from yesterday, I'm still down...so that's good.

So my goal for next week is to NOT get on the scale until my official weigh in day. Keep your fingers crossed for my willpower.

Weird stuff

Okay, so the weight loss thing is going well. I'll give a full update on Thursday (my official weigh in day), but this is something that has me wondering what's wrong with me.

I've been noticing that my clothes are a bit loose. Part of me is saying "HOORAY!!!" but there is this other feeling that's creeping up on me. It's almost like anxiety or...fear?? How weird is that?! I'm feeling a bit of FEAR at losing weight? What's up with that?

I realized a while ago that there was certain psychological component to my weight gain and continued inability to lose it. But this is nuts! What am I protecting with my extra weight? What exactly am I afraid will happen if I lose it?

Stay tuned...

My Bucket List

There was a movie called The Bucket List - I haven't seen it yet - it was a list of things that these men wanted to do before they "kicked the bucket". The other day I was thinking about things that I might put on my own bucket list. I find that I'm adding things almost daily.

Robin’s Bucket List

To Do:

Visit Rome
See the Sistine Chapel
Ride in a gondola in Venice
Visit Paris
Go to the Louvre
Climb the Eiffel Tower
Go to Egypt and see the museum and the pyramids
See King Tut exhibit
Go to Machu Picchu
Go to Africa on safari
Learn to scuba dive
Scuba dive somewhere great
Visit Australia – see the Arizona, the Outback, etc
Visit England
See Buckingham Palace
See Big Ben
Run a marathon
Complete the Breast Cancer 3 Day
Get into super shape
Learn to play the piano
Learn to speak Spanish
Learn martial arts
Learn photography
Write a book/article, etc
Learn to cook really well
Be debt free
Learn to snowboard
Learn to skateboard
Fly in a helicopter
Learn to ride a horse
See my children grow to happy adults
Help my daughter pick out her prom dress
Help my daughter pick out her wedding dress


Done:

Get married
Have children
Own a home with a pool
Climb Chitzen Itza
Get college degree
Snorkel in the ocean
Go to Mexico
Learn to shoot

Happy, happy, joy, joy!!

At the end of my first week and working out and eating healthy, I've managed to lose 2.7 pounds!!!! I'm thrilled! I know that I won't lose that much every week, but it's a good start.

I'm annoyed with myself because I forgot to bring my workout gear so I won't have time right after work. I'll have to go out after the kids go to bed. It's not my ideal time, but I want to work out tonight since I won't be able to tomorrow. Abby's has a doctor's appointment so I'll be leaving work early to pick her up and I'll have her the rest of the day. I could drop her at daycare and then go work out...but I probably won't.

And I'm not starving myself either. I'm just trying to change what I eat. Instead of chocolate in the afternoon I'm eating fruit. When I need something sweet right after lunch, I chew sugar free gum. And I'm finding that with working out and eating more filling foods, I'm not generally as hungry as I was before.

And finally...I've managed to cut out my snacks in the evenings. Well, mostly! LOL

My Weight Debt

I had a bit of a revelation yesterday. I was in the car and I was thinking about my weight and how I was doing with my eating that weekend. I was thinking about how when I eat, I need to make my calories count...like I make my money count. I wouldn't just walk into a store and give them money without expecting something for it. Why would I carelessly spend my calories that way?

In a way it's like a weight debt. I started thinking about it in terms of a credit card. I spend calories on my food Visa card and the interest I earn is my extra weight. Things like activity and healthy foods (fruit and veggies) are payments against the balance on my weight card. If you don't make any payments or just pay the minimum then the balance keeps getting bigger and bigger...and so do you!

There are certain requirements in any budget. You have to build in rent, food, clothes, transportation, etc. Anything you have left over is considered disposible income...you can spend it any way you want. The same is true in any diet. Anything leftover after the requirements, you can eat in any way you want.

Okay, so in terms of a food budget, what is required daily? There are a couple of places to go to find out what you need. You can go to the food pyramid for one (remember the food pyramid from grade school?)...personally I use both the food pyramid and Weight Watchers.

Daily Requirements from the Food Pyramid:

• Calories = 1600
• Fiber = 5 ounces
• Veggies = 2 cups
• Fruit = 1 1/2 cups
• Milk/dairy = 3 cups
• Protein = 5 ounces
• Liquids = 8 cups

Daily Requirements from Weight Watchers:

• Liquids = 8 cups
• Dairy = 3 servings
• Fruits and Veggies = 8 servings
• Multivitamin = 1
• Healthy Oils = 3 servings
• Activity

I'm keeping a food journal (recommended by WW) and in that food journal I have headings for things like liquids, dairy, fruit, veggies, protein, fiber, vitamin and activity. When I eat something, my first thought is "Where can I put a mark in my food journal?" If the answer is no where, then I rethink my food choice.

Of course it's all neat and tidy in theory...in reality I have to face tough choices everyday. This weekend I took Nicholas and Abby to a birthday party each day. Both days I had to face pizza and cake...two of my favorites. I'm happy to say that both days I was able to choose wisely. I did lick some frosting off my finger on Saturday...but both days I resisted actually eating pizza or a slice of cake.

One day at a time.

Starting Out

I seem to spend all my time and energy on my job, kids and husband. I love my family, but like a lot of women I tend to sacrifice my own happiness, etc for them. If I don't put them first ALL the time, I feel guilty. If you're a mom, you know how I feel.

Today is the day I start to make changes. First of all, I am tired of being tired, not sleeping well, not eating well and being in pain. Here is what I plan to do to change that:

1. I changed my work schedule so that I now have time after work (before picking up the kids) to work out. I will work out Monday - Friday for at least 35 minutes.
2. I will go to bed at 9:30 every night (unless there is a special event, etc).
3. I will snack on fruit and veggies instead of chips, candy, etc.
4. I will drink more water.

I WILL do things just for me...because I enjoy them.

1. I will read a book, magazine, etc just for entertainment with no other purpose.
2. I will not feel guilty for getting a chair massage at my office once a week.

I'm sure that I'll add more to this from time to time, but it's a start. My goal is to lose 34.4 pounds by July 23, 2009...that's about 5 months. It's about 1.5 pounds a week...I think that's a realistic goal.

Anyway, wish me luck!