Tuesday, July 17, 2012

Moving Forward

 Morning, y'all!

It's a hot, muggy day here in north Alabama. Baby Boy slept extra well last night probably due to all the time we spent outside strolling around the yard. I got some much needed exercise & he got some fun outdoor time. He has always loved being outdoors, he's like his Momma & Daddy in that way.
 

So you're probably wondering how Day One of my diet/new lifestyle went? I am happy to report it went GREAT! Here's what I had :
     breakfast : one bowl of Frosted Mini-Wheats & just enough whole milk to make it wet {I didn't have any skim or I would have used it}
     lunch :  four saltine crackers & a tiny bit of chicken salad {my Momma gave it to me & I couldn't waste it although it does have mayo in it}
     snacks: about 2:30 I was having a sinking spell & craving a Dr.Pepper SOOO bad. But instead of giving in I had sliced an ounce of sharp cheddar cheese, 15 raw almonds, 4 wheat thins & a sliced tomato. And you know what? It was a wonderful snack, very filling! Then when I started fixing supper at 5:00, I felt that hunger creeping back up so I had another small snack, a pack of Turkey Jerky (only 70 calories & packed with protein).
    supper : I ate at 5:50 because I am going to attempt to have nothing but water after 6:00pm whenever I can. Supper consisted of one Salisbury steak patty (150 calories), a small serving of mac&cheese & half a Hawaiian Sweet Roll.

Throughout the day I drank lots & lots of water. I only had one canned Coke Zero! I was very proud of myself. Did I go to bed with a splitting headache & a bit of a grumbly tummy? Yes. But it will pay off! And it will get easier! Ive been eating way too much for way too long & it will take a while for my body to adjust to these new portions. You know, I'd always heard that drinking water would keep you fuller but I just never tried it. I don't care for water, I crave something with flavor. But I don't want to get started on those water flavoring packets either because I don't want to stop pouring $$$ into buying cokes & start pouring it into buying those packets. Water is FREE, so I will learn to love it.

I can honestly say I have seen a HUGE change since yesterday. Yes - I said a change in just 24 hours! All the water I've been drinking has seemed to flush me out. I bet I got up 5 times last night during The Bachelorette. {Don't y'all just love that show?!?} I can see a change in my tummy, I guess it's a loss of water weight or maybe I'm just less bloated. But I like the way I feel.

Okay, okay - enough about me, let's talk about Baby Boy! He finally walked FORWARD in his walker yesterday. It's been a bit of a battle getting him to do that. He would just go everywhere backwards! So I have started squatting about 5 feet in front of him & attempting to bribe him with the remote or our long-corded telephone {under my supervision, of course!} It seems to be working & today he is all over the place! He will be 8 months tomorrow & still hasn't really crawled. He scooches & rolls well but no real "hands & knees" crawling. So this forward walking is a big step for us... literally!

Well I'm off to finish that laundry I started yesterday. And by finish the laundry, I mean I am going to restart the dryer again to throw the wrinkles out. Then when it buzzes I will decide it needs a few more minutes & I'll continue this until when I finally fold the clothes, they'll be nearly smoking & burn my forearms. Y'all have a blessed day!

{colby}

Monday, July 16, 2012

A New Day

Well, it's been a while y'all! Almost 4 months since I made a post. That just shows you how well I stick to things. But that is all changing! I am turning over a new leaf. I am starting a DIET & I need a way to hold myself accountable. I could think of nothing better than sharing my struggles & triumphs here. I will also get back in the swing of sharing the latest news in the world of Baby Boy. So, let's get started!

Today is Monday July 16, 2012 & I am changing for the better!

I mean you can only start a diet on a Monday, right? At least that is what I told myself yesterday as I ate nothing but fast food in an attempt to "get my fix" so that maybe I wouldn't crave all those yummy, greasy concoctions. I had chicken fingers & fries with M&M sauce {a north Alabama staple} & Mexican food for supper. I also drank real Coke & Mountain Dew & real sweet tea. I haven't worked out, jogged or done anything other than lug a 22 lb. baby around. I'm not proud of this, but it is what it is. And everyday is a chance for a new beginning! So although I am referring to this as a diet, I am actually starting a new way of living - eating to live, not living to eat.

I dont have a great big mapped out plan. I have been pinning ideas {gah, don't y'all just LOVE Pinterest?!?!} & trying get rid of all the bad food in the house... don't ask HOW I disposed of the food, just rest assured that it is gone. One of my goals is to prove that you can lose weight & not spend a fortune. We live on a budget& my hubby shouldn't have to suffer because I want to lose weight.

So here's the plan :
        no more REAL cokes -- switching to diet drinks for a couple of weeks & then hopefully wean myself off them for good.
        cut the condiments -- no mayo or dipping sauces {did you know one tiny cup of Chick-fil-A Polynesian Sauce has 110 calories?! I usually eat 3 of those with my meal}      
        water - I never drink water & now is the time to start.
        don't eat late -- I have found myself saying 'I'll wait until the baby is asleep so I can eat supper in peace'. Well sometimes he isn't asleep until 8:30 or 8:45 & that puts me eating at 9 at night. So, I am going to attempt to have nothing but water past 6:00pm.
        watch those calories -- I'm not sticking to a certain caloric intake at the monument, just going to try to make every single calorie count. I mean on an average days have been drinking over 400 calories worth of Cokes!
        get up & move -- I don't have the budget or the time to go to the gym so that means finding exercises I can {& want} to do at home.
        portion control -- I don't want to have to fix a special supper for myself every night. I want to eat what my family is eating, so I will just have to learn to reach for the smaller plate in the cabinet when I fix mine.

Now, the hard part. I was going to post my starting weight. I've actually thought a lot about whether I should or not. I knew I would be ridiculed by some people. So many people get their laughs at other peoples expenses. And I will be the first to admit, I used to join in. But like I said earlier, everyday is a chance to start fresh, turn over a new leaf. So if you want to make fun of me, go ahead. As Ellen says, "My Haters Are My Motivators".

Okay, off my soapbox now, back to posting my weight... I don't own a scale. Sure don't. Never have. & neither do my parents. Weight was never an issue in my household growing up. I was blessed with a mother who didn't pressure me into being thin or perfect. I never knew what I weighed growing up & I think I want to stick to that. {Ignorance is bliss, maybe?} I am not going to buy a scale so that every other day I can step on it only to be devastated by the number or the fact at I only lost a pound. I am going to the doctor in a couple of weeks so I guess I will see then. I am, however, going to post pictures of myself in my "goal shorts". I bought these shorts back when i was in shape before Baby Boy was even a twinkle in my eye. Back when I had curves not lovehandles! A picture of myself in those shorts will be much more embarrassing than sharing my weight. But again, my goal in doing this is to motivate myself & if I can motivate others along the way then that's just icing on the cake. Ohh... cake... mmm... Focus, Colby, Focus!

                                                                   So, here it is :

{me today -- soon to be my BEFORE picture}

Well there you have it. I've put it out there for the world to see & somehow I think that is going to help me stick with it. I'm off to wash clothes, fix a healthy lunch for myself & sweet baby boy {who peacefully napped long enough for me to write this}. Wish me luck! Have a blessed day!

{colby}