Monday, October 27, 2014

200!!!!!

As I was logging my exercise and food information into myfitnesspal (an app to track calories in and out), I realized it's been 200 days in a row of logging info on myfitnesspal. (I started this change in February of this year...but really got with the consistency, a month or so after) Thinking back, I was proud when I hit the 21 days mark. They say "it takes 21 days to create a habit/break a habit". Well, I think I've created a pretty good habit.

So, here's some results from started out with this healthy lifestyle change...
I've lost 6 inches in my waist, 3 inches in my neck, 7 inches in my hips (sweetness), and 3 inches in my chest. These are the few measurements I've kept up with since starting. Around Labor day, I started tracking my steps with a Fitbit. And in almost 2 months time, I've walked 250 miles!!! One day at a time....and it all adds up. I'm currently 43 lbs down from my starting weight!

All I can say is consistency with eating right and working hard ...it's paying off.  I really never thought I'd get this weight off. I remember when I was pregnant with my first, my mom was telling me to stay active. Once you start having kids, it's harder to get it off. Well, she was exactly right!!! I'm about 10 lbs away from "before kids" weight. I love that I can run with my kiddos (when my silly knee allows). I love that our eating habits have changed. Oh, we still eat what we want. And yes, we sometimes eat junk. But all in moderation (that's something that my dad would say while growing up...moderation). Now, I finally understand it. 

It's funny how the things your parents said while you were growing up....they never made sense. But now, that I'm in the same position as them, the wisdom is INCREDIBLE!!

 Me with the girls... February 2014


And Me with Leia at the pumpkin patch....October 2014

It's amazing to see and feel the difference of 8 months!! I feel healthier and happier :)

Consistency.
-enJoy

Tuesday, October 21, 2014

Pumpkin, Prayers, & Patience

That morning when the not-so-happy-about-mornings child is smiling :) I'm thinking it had to do with the muffins for breakfast (easy pumpkin muffins), but I'm positive it had to do with prayers from family members that we'd have a successful morning. 

It's been a doozy of a time here in the morning. Getting kids up and out the door by the time the alarm go off. It's like a "minute to win it" marathon. Some mornings, I just tend to give up and say "I'm in the van. Get in when you're FINALLY ready." I know, it's not the best of attitudes. But wowza!! my patience is spread thin lately. 
The girls are in this "let's see how fast we can make Mommy look CrAZy" competition. Separately, the girls are perfect little angels. But as soon as they are together, it's everything you can imagine between a good knock-down sibling squabble. Oy Vey! 


That hour before school and those 2 hours after school make or break me. I almost feel as if I shouldn't let this affect me so much. But I guess it's the joys of motherhood. If anything, it's strengthening my patience (I hope) and teaching me something I surely need when "the girls" are teenagers. 

Patience .....one that I'm still working on. I think this was a new year's resolution. :}

-enJoy


Wednesday, October 8, 2014

Peace, Love, and......look at that squirrel !!!

Do you ever have those days were you'd love the world to be happy? For everything to go just right for everyone. Just one day for smiles on everyone's face, money in everyone's pockets, green lights and red lights when they're needed, the milk jug always full.....oh, you get the idea. 

I'd love for one of those days to happen.
Can imagine all the happiness and smiles? 

Just one day....in a perfect world.

It's a nice thought.

Currently, I'm dealing with short attention span. Here's a smidgen....

Hmmm...I really need to wash dishes so I have utensils for dinner tonight. I start on that only to realize that something needs to be set out for dinner causing me to open the freezer door. This in turn makes a noise triggering my youngest to come running into the kitchen acting as if she hasn't eaten all day. But she really only wants to hold the fridge door open and talk about what might be in there to eat. Seeing the fridge open makes realize that we're almost out of milk and something in there needs to be tossed. I toss it only to realize that the trash is super full and needs to be emptied. Off to empty the trash...not just in the kitchen but throughout the house (might as well do it all at once). 

Are you getting the idea??? Maybe it's Child Induced Attention Deficit Disorder for me...but any who, I finally finished the dishes, made the youngest lunch, and had my lunch. After all that running around just to originally wash dishes, I'm flat wore out. But is the child exhausted?? absolutely not! let's play games, Mommy!!! While I'm thinking, let's just lie on the couch and watch a movie instead. For now, my ploy is working...but my mind is wandering to the full hamper in the girls' room that needs to be washed. 


It's a never ending day of work for my happiness. Those few moments when all is right in the world....is the result of the times when you question your own sanity.


Off to get a load of clothes in the washer....and who knows when I'll be back because I'm walking into the garage where I'm sure there's a gazillion things to do with a door to the outside that Leia will surely want to open just to check if the swings are still outside :) Yes, she's a smart child with ploys of her own to get what she wants. 

-enJoy

Thursday, October 2, 2014

Children change your perspective

Remember the good ole' days when life was so incredibly busy? You were rushing from one job to the other just trying to make ends meet. I used to think that life was crazy...so busy. I would look forward to my days off. Now.........I look forward to the weekend. My husband is home and we can tag team responsibilities with the children.

I don't know how I had the energy and gumption to take a full load of college courses, work a 40 hour job and still cope with reality. Times have changed. Now, I'd love to clock in and clock out. Oh, don't get me wrong. I love my current job...stay at home Mommy. The good stuff outweighs the bad stuff. Yeah, I have days where I want to run away and never come back which is usually stifled with a piece of dark chocolate or a quick run to the coffee shop for a few moments of peace. But I wouldn't trade it. (just don't ask me that after school while the kids are fighting, working on homework, and I'm trying not to burn dinner....lol)
Some days I'm pushing myself just to make it to the kids' bedtime. How'd I do it back in the days when I was living off Mountain Dew and ramen noodles?????

It's amazing how a child changes things. It changes your perspective on almost EVERYTHING. I remember when washes dishes wasn't such a chore. But thanks to some absent minded humans in my house, I have to wash dishes almost daily (sometimes more often than that) just because we're short on spoons (I swear someone is throwing them away). Back in the day, I'd just use a tablespoon or do a quick eating job with fork...lol Yeah, I can't really make the kids do that. Today, I accomplished the job of cleaning the kitchen in 24 minutes. Why 24 minutes?? that's the exact time of the mermaid episode of Dora the Explorer...lol Crazy how it gave me a thrill to finish just in time. Yes, times have changed.


Now, I'm off to bribe a certain almost 3 yr old to cooperate while Mommy goes shopping for Jeans. Last years jeans don't fit!!! Sweetness! oh, did I tell you....I'm down 40 lbs! Yippee!! I can currently run 1/4 of mile without stopping (big accomplishment for me). I was thinking  "Wow, this working out is getting easier....NOPE!! I'm getting stronger." :)

Until we meet again....
-enJoy