Weathered Wednesday

In first and second grade I walked home from school with my two German friends Pamela and Matthias and we would stop in at the Pic-N-Save we passed and buy a penny piece of Brach's loose candy. Mostly I bought the Neapolitan kind...chocolate, coconut and strawberry in one striped confection. Tonight at Publix I couldn't resist putting my quarter in the box when that memory came to me. I was also celebrating, the scales tonight said 153, the same as Monday when I stepped on, then off and on again in disbelief. I was celebrating that I ran with Susan and even though I couldn't carry a conversation at least my but was moving. I picked up some diet/menu books at the library. Today...Elise was trotting up and down the isle but I was determined. The boys were annoyed until they sat down and look up and found fat bound copies of Calvin and Hobbes. Read that you should eat within 20 minutes of waking and then every hour and a half to 3 thereafter. I had read that in my Curves book but it was nice to read it in a different book. Keep that metabolism working is the theory. I so want to keep my metabolism working. I also picked up some gardening books...native Florida plants and the like. Don't know where I'll find these native Florida plants but at least I'll learn something. What are you learning?

Wannabe Wednesday

1234 by Feist came on right before I was about to wax eloquently about being a copycat...then I sang along with The Littlest Birds...do you ever do that, throwback to the teen karoke years and sing like you want a mic in your hand and a guitar in your lap? There was one afternoon at FSU Laura sat down at her piano and I enjoyed singing some Natalie Merchant song with her. Just now Elise and I were using some percussion instruments and had a nice jam session "not caring if the sun don't shine...I've got those wandering blues".

Before the "I got the music in me" (google The Kiki Dee Band) there were a series of thoughts running in my head about how much I copy others. It's not good to compare yourself to others, I know I've read some thing like that in Proverbs? It is okay to emulate the good we see though. 2Cor 10:12 says something like that and I like Matthew Henry's commentary

"If we would compare ourselves with others who excel us, this would be a good method to keep us humble; we should be pleased and thankful for what we have of gifts or graces, but never pride ourselves therein, as if there were none to be compared with us or that did excel us."

All this to say you all excel me and I wannbe like you...Weigh Wednesday, Firepit, Bible Studies, beautiful homes, you all are beautiful! Part of that has got to be keeping up with the Jones's. I often wonder how much we should do with out so we can put our resources to the starving children in Africa or the dear missionaries in Budapest.

We are having a new couch delivered tomorrow.

Obviously I have succumbed the American Dream of having a nice home. I did not get the craigslist couch...the people smoked. I went to 5 furniture stores when I left the cigarette house and after looking at couches that all cost $1000 I found one for $329 and a co-ordinating chair for $279. Does any of this rambling connect? The craft of writing has eluded me, sorry. Last night I had a lovely conversation during the ESL snack break(I made mini-cheesecake bites, peanutbutter and giant chocolate chip cookies) we discussed losing weight. Have I gone off on a different tangent. Oh my. Will post my weight tonight. Not that I've forgiven evening scales, it's just the only convenient time to weigh. :)

What was it that Robin said last week...better nothing than something...yeah well this week it was another something. Honestly I am back up to 159. I was so happy with 156 and 1/2. Time to go back to plain salads and no more birthday celebrations...

What can I do? Wednesday

"I can do everything through him who gives me strength."

-verse of the day


Can I not be grumpy? That's all I really wanted to post, Elise peed in her pants after I ironed them...there was even a puddle on the floor. When was the last time she even had an accident? Emmett jumped on Stewart and Meanie! was heard throughout the house.
I did find a person to come take away some of my clutter today... saying goodbye to the adorable little desk we pulled from the side of the road during our hurricane displacement stay in Jensen.
Today is Stewart's birthday. He requested homemade cinnamon rolls and "real" bacon. (I usually use the precooked stuff from Sam's..no smokey stink and flying grease). He opened his present at breakfast...a huge Lego set I got on sale online.
I haven't walked all week...still doing my stretches and appendage circles but with much regret this week hasn't been productive toward losing weight. Tonight after I eat Publix birthday cake I will post whether or not the evening scale was my friend. What can I do?
The love affair with evening scales is over!
At 9pm my favorite scale said I had gained 1 & 1/2 lbs. Not really a big surprise, cinnamon rolls, cake, no exercise...even I can do that math. And the cinnamon rolls didn't turn out as good as they usually do which is no biggee except I had Josh take the extras into work not knowing they weren't that good so guess what I making again for tomorrow so the guys can really enjoy some cinnamon rolls. What can I do?

Welcome, Weigh Wednesday

Keeping in mind that tonight was Weigh Wednesday when we were at Benigan's tonight I ordered the "NEW SPINACH CHICKEN SALAD Baby spinach tossed with sweet-pepper vinaigrette dressing and topped with bacon, chopped pecans, sun-dried tomatoes, crumbled bleu cheese, golden raisins, diced red onion, chopped egg and grilled chicken breast."
I only sprinkled the dressing and it was still wonderful. Josh almost always orders what I really want and tonight wasn't much different. He got the beer battered fish and chips...I did ask for a bite and it was really splendid but alas not worth the calories. My mom took the kids to Chik-Fil-A so we had a quiet meal by ourselves, then we picked them up from her house after small group at the Smith's. I forgot to remind Josh to stop by Publix on the way home so I had go back out to do our Weigh Wednesday across the street and evening scale was again my friend. It was less than the 157 that I posted on monday but not quiet 156 and 1/2 but I'll take it because honestly my clothes have been tight this week and I really think the scales are big fat liars. So there you go.
Keep up the good work ladies.
"For I can do everything through Christ, who gives me strength." Philippians 4:13 NLT

Weigh Wednesday, Well, Okay....

Publix 9 pm the scales are my friends. After a several days of Elise's birthday cake my weight is still 158 and 1/2. I've been walking 3x since last week and have been doing my little exercises every time I take Bayley outside. My weight always jumps on a few days later so I better not lag in the exercise department. Still doing the salads for lunch and dinner when I can, this salad thing is going to be a lifetime thing if I want to eat my carbs a couple times a week. Something has to give and I am willing to make that adjustment. (For now) Sorry that's all I have, nothing funny or inspirational this week. I did help out with the sign up for the ESL classes that are starting at our church and that was fun, but I am tired and after my walk tonight I'm sure Josh would appreciate it if I showered. Keep at it Ladies, we have kids watching us.

The Lord is my helper

Today's verse of the day makes me think of food for some reason. Probably because my lunch salad is sitting in my stomach lonely for some carbs to keep it company....carbs that man makes, unlike the fresh produce that the Lord so bountifully provides. Last night I weighed in at 8 instead of 9 and I hadn't gained or lost. Josh thought I should visit the ladies room and then go back to weigh because I had taken in so much water since coming home from my day's adventures. (Another blog, stay tuned for details) Exercise update: Have started doing arm circles and leg circles a couple times a day, tried to go walking Tuesday pm and the boys ended up jogging the whole way so I had to keep up. Will try walking again tonight. I am so thankful that the Lord is my helper, a lot of songs on the radio have reminded me of that lately...it's not my work but His. Faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not yet seen. How often do I set my hope on things and not on being with my Lord? What are you hoping for? picture by Emile Renouf from allposters.com

Thankful Thursday

I am so thankful I weighed myself today even though I also weighed on Wednesday. Yesterday it was 161 which meant that I gained another 1/2 pound (with sneakers on because I walked there). Tonight after I stopped at the UPS store to mail the Connections Academy computer back and then at K-Mart to pick up Elise's Olan Mills pictures I stopped at Publix to weigh. I had my slip on shoes on so I stepped barefooted up on the scale and I was down to 158 which is 1/2 pound less than my last low weight post. I worked out in the yard yesterday and today even though it was 110 degrees with the heat index and I walked down our lane to get the mail. Could be water loss from sweating in sweltering summer sun but I am thankful for even that. I am thankful for Robin continuing in this weight loss endeavor. I am thankful that Susan feels close enough to list me as her contact person in the event. I am thankful that even though the piano did not get delivered today, Kelly Piano is going to work around our schedule because of their snafu. I am thankful that Elise has taken good naps this week. I am thankful that my stuffed Bell Peppers were edible. (sauteed onion, garlic, mushrooms with ground beef, 1/2 cup brown rice and mozzarella) I am thankful that Marianne (the lady we rent from) brought over home grown tomatoes and cucumbers that made my lunch and dinner salads taste wonderful and were so good Elise and Emmett gobbled up some sliced on a plate. I am thankful that my mom watches my sweet neurotic dog ever time we go out of town or when we have company. I am thankful for a merciful God that continues to work in my life because of the grace through Jesus and that He always has good to give me a future and a hope! Thou has brought me to this place and He will lead me home. Thank you everyone for your Help.

Cheater, Cheater, Pumpkin Eater

Went to Publix this morning to buy my cottage cheese because I have been eating Josh's breakfast bars for the past couple of mornings... that was enough. Morning scales are mean! Came home, worked in the yard for several hours and kept my legs moving in the pool while waiting for Elise to jump to me and it paid off!!! Evening Scale is my friend. Officially no weight gain this week...no weight loss either but no gain....It's like being in a Bible study and not doing much of the book work throughout the week and having to play catch up on the day of the study. Will do better this next week....my yard is going to look fabulous in a couple of months if this keeps up. I could actually do some sit-ups it wouldn't kill me...how many times can I rearrange my shrubs anyway!

Jack Sprat could eat no fat

Just call me Jack this week because I lost 3lbs.! I don't know why that has got me all excited because 5lbs total over 3 weeks isn't breaking any Guinness Record. I have been trying to eat salads for lunch and as half of my dinner and the cottage cheese and cantaloupe for breakfast but there has been ice cream. So I guess I'm excited because I don't have to totally live without but if I'm going to keep losing I am going to have to be wise about my indulgences. Susan said the popcorn caramel cakes were a wise choice and so they have been my life saver this past week and I will continue to buy them even though they are $2.50 a bag. I never spend more than a dollar a bag on snack food so this is breaking new ground. Another first, today I made brownies for the front end loader guy who brought 4 loads of chipped trees (mulch) to my driveway and I didn't eat a single one. Of course I licked the spoon but I didn't eat a single brownie. Front end loader guy got half of the little brownie bites and the kids got the other half. The kids worked hard today helping me spread all that mulch around the driveway. All this talk of brownies and I'm going to have to get a rice caramel cake to take my mind off this situation.

Weigh Wednesday Whatever

Alright so I really weighed yesterday and I had lost 2lbs in two weeks. At least no weight gain, which is pretty good considering Elise kept bringing me candy from the 4Th of July parade. She brought it to me because she couldn't eat it but still wanted to be involved in the candy at some capacity. Considering my exercise hasn't been regular and well Whatever... I am trying, maybe next week will be better. I have had my cottage cheese and cantaloupe (not very ripe and definitely not ready to eat) for breakfast and salads for lunch and dinner. Enter the sabotage...ice cream. I didn't over do it but if I'm trying to lose weight I shouldn't have it at all. Oh my, it is not going to happen overnight but it is a work in progress...just like my faith. Romans 7:15 "For what I am doing, I do not understand. For what I will to do, that I do not practice; but what I hate, that I do." That about sums it up.

Joining In on the Wednesday Weigh In

It was 9:30 pm when I "checked back" to Robin's blog and saw exactly what she had in mind. I wanted partner in this excellent idea, fortunately Publix is across the street so John-Thomas joined me in a gallivant to start the adventure. I thought I remember calculating my BMI once and it told me how much weight I had to lose but the two sites I tried tonight just said I am overweight. Nuff said. Josh said he would pay me $10 a week but he is joining me so I said "what about you?" His reply was "I'm not posting my fatself on the web." The month before I got pregnant with Elise he and I lost a decent amount of weight together, so I'm thinking if this is going to work for me he needs to join the fun as well! I just want a new dress for trip to N.C. in July that's all I'm asking for....well and maybe some shoes too...nice ones not Goodwill (not that there's anything wrong with that, I have found some great shoes there, just not dressy ones).