Trials of a Long Haired Girl

Good evening all!  I hope everyone had a great day!  You know that moment when things just don't go as planned?  Yep, I had one of those days.  While I think that my dinner plan was a good one, it wound up changing.   Today's meals: Breakfast was my breakfast smoothie, coffee with coconut milk creamer.  Lunch was my Subway steak and cheese salad with a little ranch and 2 of the small packages of Club crackers.  Dinner was leftover pizza (1 small piece and 1 standard size piece and 2 cheese sticks.  Water to drink all day.  I was a little lax on getting my steps in today but still managed to get my current goal of 6,000 steps.  I wanted to hit 10,000 but we got a little busy and it was hard to keep moving and type at that point.  I did get in 39 active minutes so that's a positive.   My spaghetti sauce didn't get started as early as I wanted, but it is prepared and currently in the fridge so we can make a quick d...

Overall, today was a good day.  I didn't get everything accomplished that I wanted to, but I did track and I got over 10,000 steps in on my FitBit...only 15 Active Minutes, but I'm proud of it.  It's a start...and a good way to start off the week.  This is going to be short because I'm so super tired.   I had a breakfast smoothie, coffee and coconut milk creamer for breakfast.  Lunch was a crispy chicken Caesar salad from the deli at work and I added my grape tomatoes.  Dinner was a Steak and Cheese Sandwich from Subway.  We added lettuce, tomatoes, spinach, onions, pickles bell pepper and black olives on wheat.  It wasn't my first choice, but it was within my Smart Points.   Tomorrow is a breakfast smoothie, coffee and coconut milk creamer.  Lunch will be a steak and cheese salad from Subway.  Dinner will be the spaghetti that I was planning for tonight.  Tomorrow's goals: tracking (I've got a head st...

  Happy Sunday friends!  I hope everyone is having a FANTASTIC day!  We had a blessed service at church this morning!  I was thinking a little bit yesterday on my goals for this month.  I really want to make sure that I am on task for the bigger goal next month....we are returning to Colorado this summer and I want to make sure I can make it up the mountain without my husband's assistance.  This is a picture of my sweet husband and I on our honeymoon 8 years ago.  I have wanted to go back, but we really never had the opportunity.  I know there are times I was in better shape than I am in this picture and, to be honest, better shape than I am right this very minute, but this is something that is important to me.  I remember how beautiful that it was and I remember the mini-milestone views on the way up.  I know that there is not an artist alive that can match God's handiwork.  He simply does amazing work.   So my goals...

Wow!  I was looking back at June and realized I went from posting everyday in May to almost non-existent posting in June.  I am really trying to make an effort to increase the cardio this month so that I will be prepared for when we head for the mountains.  I did check in this morning and my starting weight for July is 198.  I also talked my sweet husband into taking my measurements so that we could monitor my progress better.  I have realized in my life, even just my life with him (8 years now) that I have been in better shape.  When we last did my measurements, some were the same as today and some were definitely not.  I am definitely focusing on a variety of things and not just what the number on the scale shows.  I am still trying to get all the goals for the month straight in my head before I post them.  I don't want to set myself up for failure.   Sorry for the delayed post, but I intended to add more/complete this post last ni...

Happy Monday friends! I hope y'all had an amazing day!  My day was busy, but good.  My poor DD got all the way to camp and then realized she forgot her toiletries.  DH and I had to make a quick run to the camp grounds to drop her off.  I am so glad that she isn't too far away.   I was not sure I was going to hit my 6,000 step goal today, but I managed to.  My afternoon got a little busy and I wasn't able to walk the way I wanted.  Also, it started pouring down rain this afternoon.  Between the rain and the busy work afternoon, it just wasn't happening.  I did get to take a nice walk around the building before the rain hit.   Again, my food was not 100%, but I am making progress listening to my comfort zone.  That is something for me.  I noticed I have not been paying attention to it and I am making myself sick.  I am a work in progress.  One thing I have noticed is that my body rebels in a not great wa...

Happy Sunday friends!  I hope you have had a fantastic Sunday!  We certainly had blessed services at church this morning.  I always feel recharged after a good service.  I was reminded at service this morning that we need to have "Great Expectations" of God.  Truly some good food for thought.   I have less than a 100 steps to get to my step goal and I am determined to hit it.  One step at a time.  I feel positive about this week.  My DD will be at camp, but I'm hoping that I can start getting my workouts back in order and get things on a schedule.  I know how I feel when I workout and I need to get started again.  My eyes are burning pretty badly so I am off for the evening.  

Good evening and happy Saturday friends!  I hope everyone is well!  I was exhausted last night and wound up dozing off before I managed to even get the computer opened on my lap. I did get up and make a run to check-in with Weight Watchers this morning.  I managed to lose 0.2 lbs in the last 2 weeks. I definitely have some room to improve that's for sure.  I was a little frustrated with myself yesterday but while I didn't get my steps in during the workday, I refused to just give in.  Although, I will admit it was tempting just to go to bed without finishing.  I walked standing next to my bed just to hit my 6,000 step goal.  I was in a similar situation tonight.  We worked on my house so I managed to get some movement in, but not quite enough steps.  I did a little walking around the house to get my last few steps in.  I am feeling pretty good that I have managed to hit my step goal this week.  It was definitely a busy week, but...

Hello friends!  Welcome June!  This year is just flying by for me.  What about you?  I am feeling pretty positive about this month and setting myself up for achieving some goals for this month.  I do need to check in at Weight Watchers so I have a starting weight, but I promised my DD that we would go to the mall tonight to try to pick up some pencil skirts.  It was a successful trip.  For the new month, my goals are: 1. Track, no matter what I eat; 2. Focus on hitting my step goal;  3. Meal Plan, even if I don't have an opportunity to prepare it ahead of time. What goals have you set for yourself for this month?   My Pastor was talking about the "Next Right Steps" and it's really giving me some food for thought.  In the grand scheme of things, it can really apply to different areas in our lives. I am hoping to share a little bit about it soon.  I should get to bed!  Hope everyone has a great night!  

Happy Wednesday, friends!  I hope everyone had a wonderful day!  My day was pretty good and we enjoyed a good Bible Study tonight at church.  I am so thankful for my church and my church family.  It is a blessing indeed. Points-wise, I definitely went over.  I am proud that I tracked though.  Step wise, there was no 1 mile walk in the middle of the day but I did get my hourly steps in for most of the day and managed to hit my step goal this evening after church.  It was another busy day at work, which I am also thankful for.  I hope everyone has a great night, but I'm off to bed!  

Happy Tuesday, friends!  I hope everyone had a fantastic Tuesday!  While not a perfect day, I still feel pretty good about my choices.  Breakfast was a Trader Joe's Pretzel bagel with about a tablespoon of whipped cream cheese.  Lunch was a salad with .5 oz of shredded cheese, 3 oz. of ground beef, tomatoes, mushrooms, red bell pepper and about a tablespoon of dressing.  Snacks were a Golden Delicious apple with 1 tablespoon of crunchy peanut butter and about a cup to a cup and a half of grapes.  Dinner was Trader Joe's Sun-Dried tomato chicken sausage on a hot dog bun and about 1/2 cup of baked beans.  I am in debate on whether I want some Halo Top or not.  I did go to the store tonight while they are still on sale and stocked up on about 6 more.  I just can't see spending $6.00 for a small container of ice cream.  I did buy ice cream for DH and the kids as well. I think I have made the decision to carry this everyday thing into Jun...

Wow!  This day has certainly not gone the way I planned, but it has been a good day!  We have been busy at work.  I would much rather be busy than bored for sure.  I am determined to get back into a workout routine aside from the walking I've been trying to do.  I haven't successfully managed to hit 5,000 steps this week, but I got close today.  There was just too much going on for me to take the time to walk.  With our new girl getting up to speed, I feel like I should be able to take walks soon.  I tried to make better choices today.  The one thing I do feel like I've done though is get more fruits and veggie in.  Okay, off to bed.  It's going to be a long day tomorrow!  Hope everyone has a wonderful evening and a fantastic Friday!   

Good evening friends!  I must apologize for last night's post.  I literally sat here with the computer in my lap and dozed smooth off.  When my husband woke me up getting ready for bed, I just didn't have it in me to do more than put a picture in.  I've posted everyday in May, although a couple of times it's just been a picture.   I have really been trying to do better with my eating.  I went over my points today, but still feel like I made some better choices today.  My breakfast wasn't the best choice, but lunch was a tasty salad with 0.5 oz of shredded cheese and 2.8 oz. of hamburger meat and 33 grams of Catalina.  Dinner was a roast (approximately 3 oz.), 2 King's Hawaiian rolls and Brussels Sprouts.  My plan is to have a salad again tomorrow, but perhaps with not so much dressing and such.  And I will definitely have more than a bacon, egg and cheese croissant for breakfast.   My walking has definitely been lacking today....

Happy Friday, friends!  I hope everyone had a fantastic day!  It's been busy at the office, but a good day.  We slowed down enough at work that I was able sneak out a few minutes early.  That was kind of nice given the last couple of weeks. I am back to twice a week for the shots.  Not my idea of fun, but it sure helps!  

Here’s my Friday update: I am down 0.8 lbs. this week.  While it may not be as much of a loss as some, it is still a loss AND the even more important thing for me this week is that I tracked every meal every day!  I am proud of that fact.  I am, however, pondering changing my strength training goals for the moment.  I was reminded this week that I need to have a little bit of wiggle room in the event of an emergency.  My DS15 ran into a car while riding his bike and that was a scary situation, but we wound up spending a fair bit of time in the ER and I had such a headache when it was over.  I do not want to set myself up for feeling like a failure.  At the present, I think I may adjust it for 2 times per week and continuing to hit my step goal, which is still changing from week to week.   I know I need to focus a little more on my food intake in the coming week.   At present, I am 7.6 pounds down from my highest weight.  ...

I took yesterday to reflect over my weekend.  I was determined to do better with my tracking over the weekend.  While I didn’t track over the weekend, I went back in on Monday and tracked everything I could remember that I ate (note to self: the paper tracker doesn’t do you any good if you don’t use it).  I went blew through my Weekly Smart Points and every FitPoint that I had earned.  Finding that out yesterday, I had to change the way I was thinking about it.  I am really focusing on the fact that it is truly my choice.  I made each and every choice for each thing that I ate over the weekend.  I am proud of the fact that I tracked it.  I am also proud of the fact that I have had a Dr Pepper sitting on my desk for 2 weeks now and I haven’t been tempted to crack it open.  You are probably wondering why it’s on my desk and not in the fridge or put out of my sight…it seems to disappear when I put it in the fridge and it has been a test for m...

Wow!  Did I really just type that??  Seriously, time has just flown by for me in 2015 and already this year.  I won't lie and say that I wish 2015 was longer or anything like that.  I had two friends lose parents and a FB friend that passed just between Christmas day and New Year's Day, not to mention the friends that were diagnosed with cancer and things like that.  I wish it were easy to make things better, but as we know, there are no easy fixes.  This goes for weight loss and exercise, as well as getting organized or meal planning.    To that end, I've really been trying to make sure I meal prep.  I wasn't feeling 100% on Saturday (the day I have been trying to meal prep) so I decided to wait until Sunday to meal prep, which didn't turn out quite the way I planned.  My DS25 had a blowout and needed my car.  I had enough time to go to the store and start eggs in the oven when he called to ask.  I don't feel totally prepared,...

Honestly, you would think as long as I have been on this journey that I would know that what I may expect on the scale isn't always what I will get when I step on the scale.  I was shocked and surprised last night to step on the scale and realize that I had not gained, as expected, but lost just under a pound!  I have determined that for me that tracking is key, but I was thrilled to see that number go in the right direction.  I am back to tracking though.   As I have decided that 2016 will be my year to meet my weight loss goal, I decided that I wanted more than just the FitBit One.  After discussion with my husband because of the expense, it was agreed that I could get the FitBit Surge.  Because I know I have an issue with change, I didn't replace the One, but added the Surge as an additional device.  I figured out this morning that I believe they are feeding off each other.  I had the One on before I finished set up for the Surge, but they ...

As I sit here eating my snack of carrots and hummus, I have been thinking a lot about how to make 2016 my year to hit goal.  Not just to say it, but to find a way to make it happen.  To that end, I have listening to some audiobooks about being happier at home and being better than before.  It has given me some insights into things that I hadn’t realized before.  My hope is that I can use these things to my advantage.  Some of these new things I think I had already begun realizing but to be able to put it together is definitely helping me know what I need to do to hit goal for the coming year.  Here are a few things I have learned for sure: Meal Planning/Meal Prepping helps me stay on plan. Tracking helps me stay aware of what I’m eating or how I am working out. I tend to do better with a weight loss buddy or workout buddy. I do better with in a structured environment. There is still much I know I need to learn and do to make...

Wow!  Sometimes I have quotes that just hit me like a ton of bricks and this was one of them.  I have been struggling with this the last few workouts.  My body aches and my legs will feel like they are going to cramp up and my breath feels like I just can't get enough...but I give myself a pep talk while I'm on that machine and tell myself...hey you only have 7 minutes left...you did 30 minutes yesterday or the day before or whatever.  Sometimes it really is mental for me just to get me there.  I was hoping to do Zumba yesterday, but, well, it simply didn't happen.  Life got in the way, but I am planning to try to make it next week.  If I plan ahead, I can make it happen, right? This morning started out very frustrating,  but I am trying to turn it around.   I did decide that, instead of a rest day,  which I normally take on Thursday because if weigh in, I am walking for 30 minutes and going to do a few sets of squats,  lunges...