Friday, May 6, 2011

My new excuse!

So about a month a go I mentioned being sick.  What I would have liked to say is that I have been sooooo sick.  I wake up feeling sick, go to sleep feeling sick and feel sick every moment in between.  And I have been so tired that I can barely heave myself off of the couch to provide basic care for my family because.....I AM PREGNANT.  Yep, like on about day ten I realized I was pregnant.  So, the weight loss plans are going by the way sides for a while.  I am starting to feel better so I'll start eating healthy and exercising again, just not to the extreme that I had originally planned!  We are super happy and can't wait for November when our new little addition will be here!

Monday, May 2, 2011

Summer Goal

I was recently reminded of just how many popsicles my kids can eat in a day.  Like a WHOLE bag! So I've decided to make a new goal for the Summer.  I will not, not, not buy any popsicles.  Crazy, you say? And why am I so passionate about an absence of popsicles you say?  Well for starters I love them and if they are in my freezer I will eat them.  Also, my kids, ff allowed would eat bags and bags of popsicles all summer long.  I have a weakness for them because they are soooo cheap.  Last Summer when they went on sale for .88 cents a bag I filled my freezer with them.  And Otter Pops, oh my, you can buy a box of those for practically nothing.  And what is in them sugar and artificial color, TERRIBLE! 

My six year old who is my worst eater is also the most crazy about popsicles, so my sneaky plan is that if the only kind of popsicles I have available are made with real fruit he will eventually eat them, right?  Knowing him maybe not, but still I'm stickin' to this.   The kids won't be banned from eating them.  If they have them at a friends house, family party, no problem.   I just won't be purchasing them.

Here are a few recipes I have found if anyone has any other great ideas or recipe for homemade, healthy popsicles, send them my way!!

Extra Sneaky Chocolate Breakfast Ice Cream
1 frozen banana, cut into pieces (about 1 cup)
2 Tb plain yogurt
1 Tb honey or sugar
1 ts unsweetened cocoa powder

*this is supposed to be super thick.  I don't think my blender (I don't have a really cool one or a food processor) would be able to handle something this thick.  I would add more yogurt or milk (and honestly more sugar) thinner would be OK because I am planning on freezing them in popsicle molds anyway.

Another one from the sneaky chef HERE

I've made the ones found HERE before with great results.

I also just plan on making my own wing it version with pureed fruit and  little sugar.  I'm honestly not too worried about the sugar.  I will be so happy that my six year old is eating fruit!!


Along with the recipes I need to decide what to do about the popsicles molds.  I have some really cheap ones (like dollar store cheap) and in the past I have just done small bathroom disposable cups with popsicle sticks.  I think I will invest in some better ones this summer.  Any suggestions on what to look for?

I'm also intrigued by the idea of using THESE.  They are actually for cake push ups but I wonder if I could use them for Popsicles or find some reusable type push-up Popsicle molds.  My kids LOVE push-pops!  I'll let you know what I find and try!

Saturday, April 9, 2011

I'm still here

I got side tracked the last few weeks.  I blame it on being sick, having my nine year in a play (they logged over 17 hours of rehearsal time in the three practices before opening night, and the parents logged a whole ton of volunteer hours, YIKES) and going on vacation.  So I should be on like day 40, but I'm so not!

Monday, March 14, 2011

Day 14

I missed my workout on Saturday but I'm not going to beat myself up about it becucase even with that last workout in these 14 days I've exercised a total of 660 min.  That is GREAT for me!
Today I really didn't want to exercise but I did it anyway. 
I'm learning to put my health as a priority.  I exercised during my two year old's nap today.  In that past I would have never given a precious hour of nap time away to exercise but I'm changing my priorities.  Sometimes my kids might have to wait for something until I've finished my workout, my toddler has sat by my feet and cried through the last few minutes of a workout and they've been just fine. 
I still need to change my eating habits and make eating better a priority but for now I'm just focusing on exercise.  Baby steps. :)

Wednesday, March 9, 2011

Jane Fonda is awesome!

 I was in an exercise slump today.  I really did not want to do anything, but thankfully I've committed to seeing this 60 min thing through so I did finally force myself to do it.  I decided to stick this little gem in the VCR (we totally still have VHS!)   I have had this Jane Fonda video and step for close to 20 years.  I asked for this one year for my Birthday when I was in Junior High.  I remember my mom kept asking if that was really what I wanted, and oh yes, it was!  After this many years I don't think I will ever have the heart to get rid of this thing.  I haven't done the workout in a loooong time but it all came back to me.  It is amazing after doing a video so many times you know it by heart no matter how many years it has been. And really, step aerobic moves haven't changed all that much in 20 years.  The basic step, over the top, straddles and three knee repeaters are timeless.
Here are some photos I took for your enjoyment.  LOVE the leotards and flesh colored tights!
In this one below I was trying to get a shot of this lady who has a pretty skimpy back.  I don't care how thick your flesh colored tights are I do so not want to be behind someone in step class wearing a thong on! And Merri, I think that might be you in the back there in the purple.  I'm pretty sure that is what your hair looked like in 1992. :)
And the last one is of some other winners I have sitting on my shelf anyway.  I got these beauties at the DI not too long ago.   Why?  Becuase they were $1.  I need help.

Monday, March 7, 2011

Day 7

I've logged 365 Minutes of exercise for a calorie burn of 3,080 (as calculated by myfitnesspal.com)  Not a bad first week! :)

Baking Day

I've been trying to make my grocery dollar stretch a little farther and feed my family healthier foods.  Really the only way I can figure to do this is make more things from scratch at home.  And thus, baking day was born.  For this instalment of baking day the agenda was, whole wheat pancakes, Chocolate Chip Cookie Bars, and Banana Bread.  And the results:

I made Zonya's recipe for banana bread found HERE, this we will eat this week for after school snacks. I probably won't freeze any of it.

The chocolate chip cookie bars recipe also came from Zonya, go HERE if you want it.  These will go into the freezer for treats in my nine year olds lunch.  They do have a lot of sugar in them so they really are more of a treat but apparently it is totally dorky not to bring a treat in your home lunch.  Really you may as well just give up on ever having a life if you are that big of a loser that you can't even bring a treat in your lunch.   So this will be better than a Hostess snack cake (although I'm sure it does not carry the same amount of trading power)! 

And for the pancakes, I made half using my usual pancake recipe but replacing half of the white flour with whole wheat and cutting the oil called for down by a lot (like more that half). The other half I used a new recipe called, Whole Wheat Fluffy Pancakes.  They definitely taste like 100% whole wheat but I think my family could get used to them.  We do already eat 100% whole wheat bread so it's not that much different.  The pancake recipes are from cook books so I don't have a link for them but if anyone wants them I will add them to the site.  Obviously most the pancakes will be going into the freezer.
 And the totals: 2 loaves of banana bread
                        24 chocolate chip cookie bars
                        32 pancakes

Last week I made some frozen roll dough as well.  I just use a basic roll recipe with whole wheat flour.  After I shape the rolls and before they rise I set them on a pan to freeze, when they are frozen I take them off put them in a baggie and voila, my own frozen roll dough. 


And this is what your toddler and your kitchen look like after baking day!  At one point I looked over and he was pouring salt from the salt container all over the floor.

Sunday, March 6, 2011

Pizza Dough Recipe

I'm sooooo  excited to try this pizza dough recipe made with purred white beans.  We LOVE pizza at our house and I usually do make my own crust.  I don't mind putting some whole wheat flour in it but there is just something about white pizza crust that whole wheat just doesn't offer.  I'm hoping this will help up the fiber and protein but still offer the traditional yumminess!  I already have meals planned for this week so I won't be making it for at least a week. but when I do you will be the first to know!

Tuesday, March 1, 2011

Day 1

It begins today, March 1, 2011.  Jamie's own P90X program which involves :60 min. of intense exercise six days a week.  Lots of lean protein, I'm shooting for  135 grams a day.  No more than 150 grams carbs a day and at least 64 oz. of water a day.  What I'm not doing is weighing myself often.  If the scale is not moving it just gets too depressing and I give up.  Giving up is not an option.  I as sick of living like this, I am sick of being obese, sick of being too tired to fully enjoy my kids, sick of being the "heavy girl" when I am am with a group of women.  Of course no one says this but it is the truth!   I will see this through for the next 90 days!!



These pictures are horrifying, especially this last one!  I can't wait to see the progress in this side shot at my thirty day check point!!  Wish me luck, and please if you are reading this comment!  I need your support! 
               (I know I sound desperate, but these pictures say it all, I am desperate!)

Who needs Cardio X?

Cardio X Shmardio X, I can totally do P90X without it.  I've decided for now I will go ahead and do two days of my own intense cardio for 60 min to replace the Cardio X DVD I am missing and do the plyometrics Dvd in place of the Core Synergistics (or whatever it was called) DVD that I am missing.

Honestly if I am doing ANYTHING for 60 min. 6 days a week as opposed to  what I am doing now which is NOTHING I think I will see results!

Monday, February 28, 2011

Why oh why are the fates determined to keep me FAT?

Today was going to be the day.  The day I start P90X, my journey to a hot ripped bod!  I borrowed the DVDs from a friend, got a schedule off of the Internet and got my self all excited by watching "Get Ready to BRING it"!  I was so ready to BRING it people, which is saying something because there is A LOT of me to bring. 

Anyway, I ended up being up all night with a sick baby, grrrr, makes it hard to get up and go for it but still I was committed.  So I went to pop in the Core Synergistics DVD that the schedule said to do on Day 1......... but it actually ended up being the Stretch DVD.   So I think maybe I will just do the cardio DVD instead...can't find that one either.  (BTW, if my friend Sam is reading this, I totally don't blame you, after all I am getting to use your P90X DVDs for FREE!  So really instead of complaining I should be thanking you, but unfortunately I'm in a complaining mood!)  

Do I give up? NO!  I think I will just put in one of my other workout DVD's, so I stick in The Firm 500 calorie workout.  It is an hour long so I figure it will do.  My almost two year old has other ideas.  After I almost accidentally kick him in the head because he keeps getting in my way I decide to just go for a walk/run with him in the stroller.  Pull out the jogging stroller, blow off the dust and try to find the tire pump.  No where to be found, OK, instead I will just do the tires with the big, noisy pump that plugs into the cigarette lighter in the car....except too bad it seems to be broken!!!!

AGHHHH, but this time I am frustrated, angry, and discouraged  and it is 10:00 a.m.  After trying to exercise all morning I just give up. I Plop myself down on the couch and watch Good Things Utah.  And to end off my bad morning it was a stupid show to boot!  They made lamb in the kitchen (really ? who cooks lamb)  talked about the Oscar's ( I don't really care) and they had a segment on getting your kids into Hollywood (because really, don't we all have the next Justin Beiber?) 

Why does losing weight have to be so hard!!!????

Thursday, February 24, 2011

One of my big problems is that I trade what I want MOST for want I want NOW.  (yes, I know I did not make that quote up and I'd give proper credit if I could remember who said it).  Like what I want MOST is to be thin but what I want NOW was ice cream sandwiches. 

The ice cream won. :(

I almost gave up

Do you ever feel like you just can't do it all?  That is my feeling lately.  I am just so overwhelmed with life.   It's not just the weight loss thing, it's EVERYTHING!  I can't get my kids to stop fighting, keep up with the laundry, feed my family enough fruit, vegetables and fiber,  decorate my home with items I salvaged from the side of the road and then refinished, organize my pantry, read the book for book club, volunteer at my kids school, live within a budget, have family home evening, incorporate owls into my home decor, perfect the messy bun, keep up on my blog, keep the romance alive in my marriage, match all the socks,  do the dishes, wash the walls, clean out the minivan, read with the kids, practice time tables with the kids!  And those are just the things on my mind right now, give me minuter and I'm come up with a whole another list.  I am so overwhelmed I just want to throw in the towel.  But, notice the title of this post, see the important word, almost.  I'm really not giving up.  I'll keep plugging along.  My home won't ever be fabulous, my kids will always fight, I'll always  be a  little pudgy around the middle.  But on the flip side because I won't give up we will always have a roof over our head, my kids will know how much I love them and at hopefully I won't be this fat forever!

Saturday, January 29, 2011

Hot Momma

I went to playgroup this week at the swimming pool. The kids had fun and it was nice to get out of the house....the bad part....there was only three other moms there besides me who were not wearing bikinis....and two of them were pregnant. I would like to use the excuse that I have kids so that is why my body is so gross but this was PLAYGROUP...EVERYONE there was a mom. And, not only were they wearing bikinis, but they looked GOOD in them... It was depressing.

Now I am not saying that I want to necessarily wear a bikini...but just feeling good enough about myself that I dont have to don the fat mom swim skirt would be a good start! Oh well. At least my boobs are real.

Monday, January 24, 2011

Can Zucchini=Fruit Snacks?

I am on this kick of trying to make healthy snacks for my kids but I'm unsure if this next one goes way too far.  Check out THIS link for how to make fruit snacks from zucchini, SERIOUSLY!   If I ever try it out I'll let you in on the results! 

Sunday, January 23, 2011

New Baking day recipe

I had some ripe bananas to use so I searched for a new healthy recipe and found THIS.  The only change I made to the recipe was to use half whole wheat flour and add a 1/4 cup of applesauce.  These Banana Muffins turned out very yummy and don't even need chocolate chips like the Monkey Bars.  I made some mini muffins and some regular sized muffins.

Say what you will, but when my five year old eats these I'm counting them as a fruit.  These will definitely be on the agenda for the next baking day!  Try them, you'll like them!

Friday, January 14, 2011

Baking Day-Take One


Today I attempted my first "Baking Day".  Pretty much the idea was to make a whole bunch of healthy snacks and portion them into individual servings.  Then I can quickly pop a delicious and nutritious snack out of the freezer for my family to enjoy.  Here is what I made:

*Monkey Bars (recipe found here)
*Chocolate Chip Bar Cookies (recipe found here)
*Breakfast in a Cookie (recipe found here)
*Chex Mix (recipe found here)

And here are the results:

Monkey Bars-the kids liked them.  I thought the texture was gross and mushy.  I'm not sure if I under baked them or maybe it is the mixture of applesauce and bananas but I will defiantly experiment with them again seeing as my kids liked them.  I'm hoping with some tweaks I can get it better because it is super healthy.

Chocolate Chip Bar Cookies-these I have made before and we all like them.  I'm not gonna lie to you, they are not your Grandma's chocolate chip cookies but....they have whole wheat four and no oil or butter. :)

Breakfast in a Cookie-this was my major flop.  I made the full batch (which makes SIXTY cookies) and they were super gross!  I think they will be making their way over to my dad's house.  Because my kids will tell you, "Grandpa will eat anything!"

Chex Mix-this is my daughters fav so there were no surprises here.

Grand totals:

28 Monkey Bars
24 Chocolate Chip Cookie Bars
60 Breakfast Cookies (honestly I didn't bother to count)
10 individual bags of Chex Mix

(notice how I didn't even bother to clean up the monkey bars smashed on the table by my one year old?  Just keepin' it real folks.)


Stay tuned for Baking Day-take two!

*Update: Breakfast in a cookie not as bad as I thought the second day.  They seem to get better over time. (Although not good enough to make them again.)

Monday, January 10, 2011

GROSS!

My kids were eating brownies this morning (I know not a great breakfast but I pick my battles people) and I pick up what I think is a brownie crumb and pop it in my mouth.  Turns out it was not a brownie after all but a dried up piece of hamburger from last nights dinner!   It totally serves me right for mindlessly putting crumbs from my children's food into my mouth.  I need some sort of intervention!!!!

Thursday, January 6, 2011

Great deal on Kashi

I LOVE Kashi cereal and LOVE it even more when it is cheap.  I got these five boxes of cereal for $ .99 each.  How did I do it you ask? Well, our Kroger store (Smiths) has Kashi cereal on sale for $1.99 as long as you buy it in groups of four.  Then I went HERE to print off a coupon for $1.00 off one box of Kashi Crisp (you can print it twice).  I already had a coupon for $3.00 off fruit when you purchase three boxes of Kashi cereal (and since I was already buying fruit, I figured it as $3.00 off three boxes of Kashi).   Score!

 And as long as we are talking deals take a look at THIS deal. Cheap diapers from Amazon  shipped to your home for free.   You just need to sign up for Amazon Mom (which if you haven't you should cause it's free and awesome) and the subscribe and save option, (which you can cancel as soon as your diapers ship).   A box of 180 size four diapers for under $25.00 and you don't even have to go to the store. Your welcome.