First you see them over THERE.... now you'll see them over HERE

So, I saw this type of thing before and thought it was a great idea.... I wasn't yet in to this big health / weight loss thing, so I kind of just let the idea slip my mind.  Then I saw it last night on the Calorie Count facebook page and my creative side really wanted to have a set of these!

They are tracking jars!  I went out last night (it was cold, windy, rainy, but the idea was already in my head and I wasn't going to be happy until I accomplished it).... I picked up 89 "pretty" rocks and pieces of beach glass to represent the 89lbs I want to lose.  Then I decided to keep it simple and use up some alpha stickers that I had in my craft supplies that I will never use on my scrapbook pages anymore instead of cutting something from vinyl. So that easily and that quickly I had the idea in my head, got the supplies I needed to make it happen and had them made and ready to help me track my progress.

I think rather than giving you weekly photo updates when I weigh in, I will do photo updates once a month, this way you will see more of a change between pictures. So, every month, I look forward to sharing my progress, with this tracking device, my monthly measurements, and MAYBE, POSSIBLY, a monthly photo of me to see the progress being made.  We'll see, either way I will take the photo for myself for my own records, we'll just have to see how brave I am at sharing with the rest of the world. :)

Hope you are all finding what works for you and getting to where you want to be, or at the very least are learning what things are right for you.

Until next time, keep smiling :)
~Jenn

Let's Rock

I know I have had enough with feeling the way I do about my appearance and I think this past week my body has finally caught up to my brain and is ready to take on this challenge.

I have had the WORST week ever as far as body image is concerned. Like I said before, my body has finally caught up to my brain so I decided to spend some time researching and trying to see if I could put together a program that I could follow with things that I would enjoy doing that hit all the target areas I have issues with.  Personally I look for things done by real people..... I don't want to see the uber skinny population using their workout as an excuse to prance around in their workout clothes that barely quality to be undergarments.... I  want to workout, to feel better about myself, not have that in front of my eyes bringing me down as I am reminded about what society has come to.  Not to mention I know these girls can do this stuff..... they don't inspire me. Now take someone just like me, working hard and actually doing it....... that inspires me. If they can do it, so can I! 

After going through a million posts of people saying their inspiration was to be uber thin (like beyond what I would ever want or need), it really made me feel that even when I reach my personal goal, I am still going to be "fat" in the eyes of society.  Needless to say my confidence and will power were shattered. Took a pitty week-end, and have turned that pitty in to the drive I need to succeed.

So here's how I broke things down and  how I am starting to form my "routine". First, what do I know about my own habits? Well, I know I don't eat a whole heck of a lot, but what I do eat is shit food, and that's how I've got to be where I am now. I also know that when I make changes in the types of foods I eat, and keep track I lose weight easily.  This is good! This is a great start!  What's the problem then? I DON'T MOVE! I can eat right, and I do feel the difference when I do, with breathing, energy, headaches.... but the "blobbiness" just isn't going to go anywhere without the exercise too.  The good news is I seem to have a TON of energy this week and I plan to use that to my advantage.

First things first, I am a homebody, I am home a lot and thus and stuck with the household chores that never end.  Never ending can be frustrating, but again if it has me off my ass I'm ok with it.  One thing I've noticed is that I seem to get more done and it doesn't nearly seem to suck as bad when the music is playing.... so there's the first step, ALWAYS have music with me to keep my body wanting to move.  I have 2 mp3 Players set up, 1 is my "Cleaning Music".... good beats, fast paced dance music.... this encourages me to move more than just walking from the sink to the cupboard to put away the dishes, this inspires me to dance around while I work, keeping my feet and legs moving, reaching, shaking that booty...... ya know the drill.  Rule for this "Dance Like No One is Watching!!!!!" Luckily most times there is no one here all day, but I'll continue to do it once the boys are home from school and they don't seem to mind. LOL  The second list is of my favorite tunes to sing a long to, slightly fast paced but not too much, and nothing that makes me want to shake it up..... this is my "Walking Stick".... this mp3 player goes with me when I'm ready to go for a walk.  Singing along in my head, the minutes fly by with the songs and I'm not even thinking about the distance or the burn of all the frigin hills around here haha. So that's where I'm stating.... moving as much as possible during the simple things.

I have 2 more things I would like to get in to.  One is the Zumba Fitness Rush for Kinect.  I have watched so many youtube videos of people trying it out and using it in their weight loss and it looks like a ton of fun...... work but fun. I'd like to be able to switch it up with my Sweatin' to the Oldies videos....go ahead, laugh, say what you want, but that lil man is inspiring to me AND it has the REAL people I need to inspire me! I'm still hunting for a VCR to use with those though.... those things aren't easy to find these days!  The other thing is I'd really love to get my Curves Membership back.  I loved going to Curves so much.... so that's my big goal, as soon as I can afford to pay for it again.

So, with that said I have sat here long enough, I need to get up and get moving again. Look for more posts as I feel while I'm on this energy high I am going to be excited to share some stuff with you and be here often. 

~Jenn

Love Your Body Movement

I am not ashamed of being a larger than normal woman, and I am not afraid of the critics out there who will try to put me down. I am content with who I am and have found a way to “love my body” on my own terms.  When I see photos of other woman who also have joined in this movement it makes me proud of them, I can see the beauty about them and it also reminds me to be proud of myself, and that I am ok….. if not better than ok.

This is not to say I still don’t want to make a few changes. Just because I am trying to make healthier choices, and wouldn’t mind dropping a few pounds does not mean my mind is set on being Super Model thin….  Nor does it mean I feel I have to do it in order to feel better about myself,  but I would like to be able to shape up a lil bit to be able to keep up with my children a lil more, ease the pain on my knees and back a lil, the only thing I have going for me is that I hold my weight evenly everywhere….maybe this will come to bit me in the ass later, but I just feel I don’t look the same as what the scale says because it’s everywhere.

With all that said there are a few key areas I’d like to see the most change in.  First being my legs…. I want to be able to wear shorts again.  I haven’t worn shorts (out in public) since 2001.  I was the smallest I had ever been that summer, but that was also the summer I got pregnant and all that weight I had lost prior came back full force and then some…. Well more than some. I never looked back.  Not only is is disgustingly hot all summer in pants but shorts are just one more thing to switch up the wardrobe with more possibilities to be super cute. (I know, it took until I tuned 30 to start to care about fashion….go figure). Anyway, I have been walking a LOT lately, and I do notice a difference, not so much in getting smaller yet, but definitely a lot less “cellulite-y”.  This is great news cause it tells me what I am doing is working and I need to step up my game a little.  The second thing is the gut….. again, not looking for a flat stomach or anything BUT it would be nice if my gut didn’t stick out further than my boobs. Lol  A couple smaller nit-picky things, I obviously want the 2^nd chin gone…. That always drops with eating right so it’ll happen, and the loss of some back fat would be nice too….I’m sure it’ll help with the back pain, my posture (which sucks cause when I stand straight I’m pinching that shit and it hurts), and well, you’re all gonna scream TMI at me, but I’d like to have a lot less jiggling going on when I’m getting’ it from behind ;) lol

So yeah, there are goals, none of which I think are unrealistic so next is to come up with the game plan J

I think what is making it feel (or at least seem) so easy for me is that I’m not trying to go overboard or be unrealistic with my vision of myself. We shall see.

~Jenn

The Hardest Part: a Veggie Tale

As I sit here eating a Monster Cookie (an over sized cookie from the grocery store, made with the mini baking M&M's), I'm thinking the hardest part for us all (the change in diet), is the best place to start. Especially since it is the foundation to our day.

I openly admit that we are indeed 'garbage eaters'.  Not everything, but most things we eat come from a box,   is processed, full of sugar, or a quick 'throw it in the microwave and it's done" type thing.  I do know a lot of that comes from me, I'll admit I can be lazy in the kitchen, especially during the winter when it's far too cold to be out from under a blanket for too long.  This is NOT what I want for my kids, but it has become a habit out of convenience none the less.

I don't want to sit here and keep making excuses but I also have a group of VERY picky eaters here (including myself).  I hate Vegetables!  There I said it, it's out there.  I will eat potatos and corn, but I know those aren't the best ones to be filling up on all of the time, but at least it's something. A lot of people have asked me, "Well you must starve, what can you possible eat?" I don't know how they can look at me and tell me I "must be starving" but they do. LOL  In response to that question there's lots of things!   a lot of meat and potato meals, a lot of pasta, a lot of BBQ, Rice, french fries, hot dogs, basically what I said before..... Garbage Food!  I'm sure maybe they are thinking 'nothing at all' to do with veggies, but I will do things like spaghetti sauce....  I'm just not a fan of how veggies taste.  Raw disgusts me.... Cooked can be just as gross, they get all slimy, and chewy, they usually smell bad... YUCK!  If you can figure out a way to mask it, or mix it in to something and not know it's there I'm good with that.  One time a friend had sent me Jessica Sienfeld's cookbook on how she hides vegetables in her children's food, good book.... I have yet to try anything from it and that was years ago!!  (I'll keep that in mind when I go to write my personal goals and be sure to add "try a veggie hiding recipe once in a while" to the list).

This hatred I have for vegetables has been passed on to my children and that I do not like and is my reason to try and change.  I have never 'forced' my kids to eat their veggies, I mean how can I really?  If I'm not eating them why should they??  As long as they are eating potatos I am good with that. That's not to say they are ALL like that. My oldest son is exactly like me when it comes to veggies, my middle son used to eat lots of different ones, but has reverted back to just potatos and corn.  A lot of his reasoning I believe is "if Zay doesn't have to eat them, than neither do I"..... this does sadden me.  My youngest son loves veggies!!!!  Even if they are raw! I buy carrot sticks and broccoli often for our Guinea Pigs and Rabbits, and he likes to feed them.... great! He also likes to ask if he can have some too with a little dressing to dip in.... excellent!  He also likes cucumbers in a little vinegar. No work to be done with that kid, just encouragement to keep up the good snacking habits! *note to self, maybe get some celery some time and see if he'll eat a stick, or a stick with a lil peanut butter*  

Lately, when I make my spaghetti sauce I have been making an effort to add Onion to it, I grate it really fine so it just melts away in the sauce so the boys and I don't worry about it when eating. A very TINY step in the right direction, but at least it's a starting point.   The past 2 years I have been adding a little bit of spinach to things that I eat.  It all started when I was staying with my best friend while she was pregnant and she used to make scrambled eggs with spinach and a lil cheese.  I tried it and couldn't taste the spinach so I thought to myself "here is a good place to start!" Now not only do I add spinach to my scrambled eggs, but I add it to my grilled cheese sandwiches, my pizza, risotto, and have been experimenting with some green smoothie recipes also. It's not like I'm eating it by the bowls full or anything but again it's a small step in the right direction.

Fruit, the equal to veggies on the Food Pyramid..... that is another story, and I think we'll save that one for tomorrow. :)

Do you have any tips or tricks on how to get kids to eat (or at least be open to try) vegetables or any recipes  on how to hide them in your every day foods???   If so, share with us in the comments below.

~Jenn

A Different Approach

Well, this blog definitely didn't take off the way I had hoped so I am scratching my previous idea / plan to keep a 'Diary' of my own weight-loss journey in hopes that it will help keep me on tract (obviously that didn't happen), and focus more on life in general, and the life-style changes my family will be going through (and need to go through).  A lot of what will be on here will be health related, whether it be diet change or exercise, but it will also be more than that.  Coming together as a family, working together, helping each other, activities together, learning habits..... all that sort of stuff.  It's not going to be easy to change things, we are a family of 5 very independent people who like doing our own things but there is also a lot of love and care there for one another and the togetherness and good life habits will be something that will last our entire lives.

Mission Statement: "To share our family's growth in togetherness, healthy lifestyle changes, and experiences not only for our own record to keep track of, but also to inspire and possibly even help others to try the same."

Over the next few posts I'd like to discuss our family life, and what work needs to be done to better things.  I'm not saying we are a troubled family, we're doing just fine but there are times when I feel everyone just does their own thing and we are missing out on a lot of the little things that end up being the most memorable.  We need more variety in our activities besides sitting in front of our technology, new learning experiences and just plain old fun.  With that said, here are the Family Goals we have come up with:

Family Goals:  - Healthier Eating Habits
                         - Create Better Bonding Time (Do More Together as a Family)
                         - Getting Organized
                         - Everyone doing their part to have a smooth running household
                         - Creating Lasting Memories

I'm sure as we go we'll think of more things to add to this list, but this is definitely a good starting point.  My first goal is to get started on that Healthy eating thing, and not just for me, but for everyone.  So stay tuned tomorrow and we'll jump right in and get started with that.

If you could list 5 things you would like to improve on as a Family what would they be??  Let me know in the comments below.

~Jenn