Angie’s Journey…

Good afternoon my darling buddies…

So I had a conversation with my mother today about “working”. She mentioned (as she constantly does) that when Sophie gets in school, I should plan to go back to work. Of course, I had already planned to do that, but you know how moms are. LOL

Well, she was pushing me to go back into the medical/insurance field, and I explained to her that while it was a lucrative position before, it is not something I am truly passionate about, and I’m not really interested in going there. I told her that I’d like to go back to writing professionally, and that I could see no reason to do something I am not passionate about.

Now, here’s the deal. I got into the medical/insurance field when I was a single mom (of my oldest son). I stayed in the field until DH and I decided that I should be a SAHM three years ago. I enjoyed the work, but always felt that “something” was missing. And y’all know what it was…passion.

As a kid, I always said I wouldn’t have children, and that I’d move to Maine, live near the ocean, and write.

Well…I did have children and never moved to Maine. Sigh…but I still write. Or, I did. I haven’t done much writing lately, with the exception of these blogs, and I am feeling the itch again. The thing is, I KNOW this is my gift, my passion, and it’s something I truly WANT to do.

Anyway, I think part of this journey of self discovery involves recognizing what one is passionate about, or even recalling it, and then getting about the business of DOING it. Of course, life gets in the way at times. This is especially true right now. As many of you know, having kids can definitely take over one’s life.

The issue for me, though, is that I tend to give everything I’ve got to the loves of my life, and forget about myself a bit. And even when I do pay attention to myself, it’s generally physically instead of intellectually. I have starved myself intellectually lately. Sigh.

Ok…so my point is (and I think I actually have one), that this whole weight loss thing is more than JUST physical for me. As you all know, I’ve called Buddy Slim “free therapy” on more than one occasion. I’ve come to MANY personal realizations here in the BS blogs, and I believe I’ve just come to another. I need to follow my passion. Even if it’s “around” the needs of my kids. I need to write. And not just on these blogs. (Although, writing here will certainly not stop.) I need to get my groove back on, dig into the work, and remember my passion. I’m feeling it folks, I really am.

So…I am considering taking a continuing education class to get me moving again. Sure, I’ve already got the  degree, but I think taking a class would help spark my fire again. LOL.

Anyway, on to the daily stuff. I’m still staying on plan, points wise, and I’m meeting most of my goals. I have not,  however, been meeting my “intentional” exercise goal. I have been moving more than usual, parking farther away from places, cleaning like a madwoman, and all of that, but I have not “offically” worked out. So I’m going to have to work on that. Blah.

Hope you are all having a wonderful and healthy day. Hugs to you all!!!

xoxo

Angie

Hey Buddies,

Today I’m cleaning. I’ve already cleaned the entire kitchen, done laundry, and a few other little things. Later today, my Parents as Teachers person is coming over. (It’s a program through the school district here where a teacher comes to my home and helps me to learn how my younger two kids are doing developmentally, and gives me activities to do with them that will help them along. It’s really great.)

Yesterday, I went to the pharmacy and the grocery store. I ended up taking all three kids because DH stayed late at work. Surprisingly, it went well. Normally, the baby ends up crying, the four year old ends up whining, and the ten year old ends up grounded. LOL. This time, I parked at the other end of the parking lot (extra walking) and carried Sophie in my sling. So I got a tiny bit of exercise that way I guess lol…other than that, I didn’t really do my fifteen minutes I’d planned. Sigh. But guess what? I’m not beating myself up. I’m going to try again today.

I learned a long time ago that being successful in this whole weight loss thing means being able to forgive myself for little mistakes. So I didn’t work out yesterday technically. I did move my body more than usual and I stayed completely on plan with my eating. So what. I’m moving forward, and that’s the only way I’ll succeed. Someone once said, “You only fail when you stop trying.” So there we go. I’m still trying. Woo hoo.

Other than that…nothing new to report. I’m staying on plan eating wise, feeling better every day. I’m beginning to feel my energy levels rise as my body grows healthier each day. That’s a huge plus. I’m up and moving more often than not, and my kids are certainly keeping me busy. Oh yea, speaking of kids…this afternoon, my oldest has a piano lesson. Maybe I’ll take the younger two for a walk around while we wait for Cameron to finish his lesson. That would be a good half hour walk, and what else would I do with the time?? LOL. Ok, it’s on.

So I’m off to work on cleaning up this house, after I check some blogs. And to Jo: I haven’t decided yet what I’m wearing for Halloween…but I’m looking. All I know is it can’t be a belly dancer this time (did that two years ago lol), and it’s gotta be sexy. I’m seriously leaning toward sexy nurse…maybe. LOL. Anyway, love and health to you all.

xoxo

Angie

Morning Buddies…

I’ve been kicking butt on this WL thing for a couple of weeks now, and I think it’s time to start adding in intentional exercise. *SIGH* LOL. I have been meeting these goals each week, and want to continue:

1. Drinking all of my water.

2. Writing down EVERYTHING I eat and staying OP.

3. No eating after dinner.

This week, I’m going to start small here, I’m going to add this one:

4. Do at least fifteen minutes of “intentional exercise” per day. This means, to make an effort separate from the daily grind stuff, to actually get off my hiney and move my body.

Yes, I know the goal is small, but this is what works for me. Taking baby steps tends to be what finally makes me succeed, as we’ve seen. I set a small goal each week, and it works for me. I like the layering approach to WL. LOL

Anyway, I’m hyped and ready to go this week. So woo hoo. I hope you are all having a wonderfully healthy day and let’s have a superskinny week!! WOOT WOOT!!

Oh..and GO ROCKSTARS!!
xoxo

Angie

LOL…morning Buddies…

I did my weigh in this morning and have lost another four pounds this week. WOOT! It’s happening folks, finally, I’m on track again.

Little side note…when I came home from the hospital from having Sophia (she’s five months now), I tried to put on a pair of size 24 jeans that my SIL had given me. I am ashamed to say I couldn’t button them. Then, two weeks later, I could, even though they  hurt still lol. (I had a C section). Well…awhile after that, I was in size 22’s, and then more recently, size 20’s. But the exciting news…yesterday I finally got the nerve to try on 18’s and guess what?? They fit, with a bit of room to spare. I could wear them quite comfortably out of the dryer even. So WOOT WOOT! We’re on the way.

Granted, size 18 is nowhere near where I want to end up…but it certainly is a step along the way. Definitely a motivator to keep going.

So I hope y’all are having a fabulous and healthy day! I’m good, but super busy this weekend. Hugs to all of you, and let’s pass around some skinny dust lol!! WOOT!
Have a great day.

Hugs,
Angie

Hello Buddies…

I am having a rough day. Don’t worry, I’m managing to say on plan. Here’s the deal. My husband is occasionally a bit difficult, and my mother is also quite opinionated, to say the least.

Well, when my grandfather passed away a couple of weeks ago, my extended family apparently agreed to get together this Saturday in order to help Grandma get her house ready for spring and summer. I missed this conversation, on both occasions apparently, and was just recently informed of my “duty”.

Now, I have no problem with this. I love Grandma and want her to know that I support her and will do whatever I can to help her. Here’s the problem though…my husband considers his weekends precious time. He works all week and feels put upon whenever there’s a family event. (Even though I told him when we met that I needed a man who was willing to do family things, and he said that he was that guy….but we won’t go there!)

Anyway…I dreaded asking him to do this, and rightfully so, because when I asked him, he emphatically gave me the same old speech I always get about his weekends. (Even though he said things would change when my Grandpa died…but we won’t go there either.)

So…then I had to call my mother and inform her of the situation, that DH would be unable to attend. Well, she informed me that everyone will think he’s an asshole and trying to avoid being part of the family if he doesn’t come. So here I am. Stuck in the middle–again.

I just want everyone to be happy, to get along, and to avoid drama and conflict. Is that too much to ask?

So…I don’t know what to do. I have this giant lump in my throat and am feeling incredibly conflicted. This doesn’t seem fair, and it’s been a constant battle for the last several years. I am so sick of it. I honestly don’t know what the heck I’m supposed to do here, because either way, I lose. And not the good kind of lose. (LOL)

I feel like crying.

Anyway, I apologize for the negativity today, I just needed to get it out.

At any rate…I am still rocking the diet, so at least I’ve got that going well. LOL.

I hope you are all having a wonderful day. Thanks for listening, and again I apologize for not being my usual cheerful self.

Hugs.

Angie

Hey hey buddies,

I have two things to discuss today. LOL. First, I found a fabulous new workout that I just love, and while it’s not all that exciting, it’s something that I can do WITH my babygirl in my arms! Literally. It’s called FitFab Moms or something. It’s a pretty simple routine, so my clumsy self can handle it, but it’s done with your baby in your arms (you could also use a medicine ball if you don’t want to use your baby lol). The thing is, Sophie loves it too, so it works out great. I don’t have to wait till she’s asleep to get my butt moving lol. Yay!

Ok, thing two…I just read my buddy Jo’s blog, and I don’t know if y’all know, but Jo and I have a deal to wear the slinkiest and sexiest Halloween costumes we can get our hands on this year. It’s a way we’re motivating ourselves to get this weight off, and I’m so excited about it. Jo came up with a great idea. She’s already ordered her sexy costume, and she’s going to hang it in the closet in order to help motivate her even more. What an amazing idea!! So I’m going to have to start looking for the perfect costume now, and get it ordered soon…I’m a bit nervous about it, but it will certainly help my MOJO!! WOOT!!

Ok, anyway…on to the daily stuff. I am continuing to stay OP, but I find myself not eating all of my points. I mean almost never. (Those ten extra breastfeeding points are almost too much lol). Still, I won’t worry unless I stop losing. I am drinking my water and not eating after dinner. I haven’t had seconds since I started waiting twenty minutes before getting more. (At the end of twenty minutes, I’m no longer hungry lol). I continue to write down all food that passes my lips. Umm…I’m even starting to exercise. That’s a plus, because I am not actually adding that as a goal yet. Probably in two or three weeks I will, so long as I stay on plan. (I mean I have to take the time to focus on one issue at a time, and once I’ve “got” the eating thing down, I can focus on the exercise thing.) Even so, I’m still getting active and trying new workouts. So yay.

Anyway, I hope you are all having a fabulous and healthy day. Hugs to all of you and thanks so much for your wonderful support. And to Jo…we are gonna look SOOOO HOOOOTTTT on Halloween!! WOOT WOOT!!

xoxo

Angie

Hey buddies,

Today I’ve decided to blog about planning. In this whole weight loss thing, it definitely matters. It matters that you plan how you shop, what you’ll eat each day, what you’ll eat if you go out to a restaurant, etc.

Last night, things didn’t go according as I expected…so the meal I’d planned to make for my family didn’t happen. So, I ended up ordering pizza for them. Of course I didn’t want to eat pizza, and ordered the kind I don’t like to make sure I wouldn’t do it. LOL. I had made arrangements to go and have a mani/pedi (I do this about every two or three weeks–keeps me sane and makes me feel pretty lol.) and so I left without eating. I met my mom there, and originally planned to go and have dinner with her, but then the mani/pedi took longer than usual, so I had to rush home to take care of my kids (mostly the baby, who needed to nurse again). Once I got home I was starving, since it was like almost 8pm and I’d not eaten since 11 that morning. I could have really messed up folks, but here comes the good news. I had a fiber bar and half a sandwich. Yes, it was too low in points (I ended up with a TON left for the day), but by the time I ate it was after 8pm. I would’ve just skipped it all together but I thought I might pass out lol. AND, in the past, it would’ve been an excuse to just eat whatever I could get my hands on, diet be damned.

Anyway, the point I’m getting to here is this: Last night’s experience reminded me that I need to plan for when my plans fall through. LOL. Meaning, I need to keep things around the house that are easy to grab and take on the go, or know what my “alternative” meals can be in this situation in the future. Had I thought of it, I could’ve had a bowl of soup or something, but it never occurred to me. Probably because I had blood sugar issues or something, I don’t know. But having some “set” options would have made last night a lot less of a risk. So that’s what I’m going to do, next time I go to the grocery store. I will get some things that keep, that I can take with me or eat in a pinch, for situations like this.

I know it’s a simple thing, but each little babystep gets us closer to our ultimate goals. And speaking of ultimate goals lol…so far so good this week. I’m staying within my points range, writing down what I eat, drinking my water, not eating seconds, and not eating after dinner. So hey, things are good. WOOT WOOT. I’m feeling that groove folks, and I’ll tell ya, it feels good. I’m gonna do it this time, I can feel it.

Ok anyway…I hope y’all are having a wonderful and healthy day!! xoxo

Angie

Hey buddies…

My goals for this week include all goals for last week, which are:

1. Drink my water.

2. Write down everything I eat.

3. Don’t allow myself to have “more” until waiting twenty minutes. (This has been great so far in keeping me from overeating.)

And since I have managed to stay on plan this week by following these goals, I’m also adding this one:

4. Stay OP (on points), or at least within my points range.

I think I can do it. I’ve managed to stay completely on plan for seven days now, going on eight. And for now, that’s what I’m sticking with. I think that I will have to add exercise in very soon, as a goal, but I’m not quite there yet. I do find myself moving more though, and that’s a good thing.

Well, I’ve got to run for now as I’m being called to make lunch for my four year old lol. I hope you are all doing well and here’s to another healthy week for all of us!

One more thing..GO ROCKSTARS! LOL!

Hugs,

Angie

Hey hey buddies, since I’ve joined the Rockstars team, I’ve changed my weigh in day from Monday to Sunday. Sooo…drum roll please…I’ve lost four pounds since Monday. Woo hoo! I don’t have much time to blog right now, but I will try to be back later today if possible to blog some more. I’ll just say this: I’ve stuck to plan all week and have even encountered two restaurants in the process lol. I’m feeling good and seeing the future looking better each day!! Thanks again for all of your support. Hugs and talk to  y’all soon!!

Hey buddies…I always loved that song by Deelite (and a lot of their others too). As I was telling y’all yesterday, I am feeling it, finally, I’ve got my GROOVE back. I’m loving it, feeling confident and pushing forward. I’m meeting my goals consistently, and I’m looking forward to my weigh in on Monday.

The thing is…I’m realizing that the changes don’t happen overnight (we all know it!) and that it’s taken me months to get here. Five months to be exact, or darn close to it. It’s more than “deciding” to lose weight. It’s literally changing your mind (and your heart) and making serious changes within oneself. It’s being able to live a certain lifestyle today, even though it’s not immediately gratifying, to achieve a fabulous goal tomorrow.

Getting your groove on, for me, is truly KNOWING that my actions today will show tomorrow, quite literally, and being able to have the strength to accept that and live it. It all sounds very simple, but every single person reading this blog knows better.

Now that I’ve waxed poetic on your asses, let me break it down for you this way: If I can do this, get this groove on and hopefully keep groovin’…so can anyone. Seriously. So to all of you struggling today…stay strong, and remember that you CAN do this…and that your groove is in your heart!! LOL! All you gotta do is find it.

On to the more mundane part of my blogging…I kicked butt staying OP yesterday, and so far today as well. I’ve written down every morsel that’s gone into my mouth, stayed well within my points range, and have been drinking my water. I’m less and less tempted to over eat and the few times I’ve been tempted, I’ve somehow managed to resist. WOO HOO! So I’ve realized it again, every bite counts. And I’m hoping that Monday’s weigh in will show it. WOOT WOOT!! Ok buddies, I’m multi-tasking here and my dinner is about cooked, so I’m off to feed the family. I’ll be in after to check in on your blogs. Hugs to each of you, and thank you again for your support in this journey. xoxo Angie