A New Challenge

I decided that I need to spend less time sitting and more time moving. I wouldn't say that it is a "New Year's resolution" because I have a tendency to self-sabotage myself when something has that label!

So here's the deal. In order to watch TV, I have to "pay" for my time. If I have worked out for the day, I have to "pay" 100 jumping jacks (without stopping to rest) for every hour of TV that I watch. If I didn't work out that day, I have to do the same thing for every 30 minutes. It seems to be working. I have been watching less TV which has given me more time to get things done around the house. And when I have watched TV, I get a little bonus workout!

I should probably do the same thing for my computer time. I would be doing 1000 jumping jacks a day! Okay, not really, but I would be doing a lot. Baby steps...for now, I'll stick with TV.

Tools I use...clothing

For me, I have three essential pieces of clothing for a good workout - a good sports bra, a headband, and good shoes.

First the bra. Obviously, this one only applies if you are a woman! I have worked out with the cheap sports bras from Walmart. I don't know if I got the wrong size or if they are just crappy, but when I get jumping around, the dang thing slides off! Yeah, that makes for a fun workout! And, I never really felt like it gave me good support anyway! Just because it says sports bra, doesn't really mean it is! So, I went and tried on a few bras. I jumped around, raised my arms in the air (basically, I was doing jumping jacks in the fitting room). But it has made a HUGE difference. I can't get on here though and say, buy this particular bra because I think it varies from person to person. My recommendation would be, TRY THEM ON!!

Okay, now to the headband. This is totally a personal thing, but I HATE having to push my hair out of my face all through a workout. And when you are sweaty and jumping around, the hair has a tendency to stick to your face...yeah, not fun. So I highly recommend a good "stay in place" head band.

Finally, a good pair of shoes is a must. I should have put this one first because I really think this is the most important. When I first started working out, I had a good pair of shoes, but they were walking shoes. They weren't designed for aerobics. I got horrible shin splints at first. After those went away, I would find that my legs were completely spent about 3/4 of the way through my workout. I was given a gift card so I went and bought some GOOD shoes specifically designed for aerobics and I cannot believe the difference they made! It was amazing! I was able to get all the way through my workout with legs that were less tired than half way through my workout with the old shoes! So get good shoes! Ask the salesperson for help. Make sure you get shoes that are designed for the type of exercise you will be doing. It will take so much stress off your legs and back. You will pay a little more but it is SOOO worth it!!

Exercise

I don't get it. I hear a lot of people say how much they LOVE to exercise. They say how addicting it is. I just don't get it. I DO NOT love to exercise. I know it is a critical part of weight loss. I love what it does for my body. I do enjoy how I feel when I have been exercising regularly. But honestly, I would rather have a root canal than exercise (they numb you at the dentists office and then give you drugs afterward).

I started up a new weight loss group today so I figured I better get back into exercising mode. I couldn't bring myself to pull Jillian out AGAIN. So I decided to go back to Bob. I like Bob but he is obsessed with lunges. Lunges are hard!!! Especially when you have to keep going and going and going. It's like he thinks I'm an energizer bunny!! Well I have news for you Bob Harper. I'm not a bunny!

Oh well, I guess it's a necessary evil. I need to find a running partner and go running in the wee hours of the morning. I love exercising outdoors but it's kind of hard to do with five children and hubby leaves for work at 6:00. So I would have to go running (okay, realistically, I would be mostly walking) at like 5:30 am....My body doesn't even know that time of day exists!! Any volunteers?

Tools I Use...Ab Lounge

This little contraption was a life saver for me when I first started this journey! I could not do a crunch, sit up, superman, etc. TO SAVE MY LIFE! Seriously! I had ZERO muscles in my stomach. I had given birth 5 times in 7 years (one six months before I started and one 15 months prior to that). I felt like the biggest doof! I didn't know what to do because I knew I wasn't going to build any muscles if I wasn't using them...

So I decided to give the Ab Lounge a try. When the ab portion of the video came on, I would let it play and use my Ab Lounge while the ab part played. At first I would just leave the exercise video playing and use the Ab Lounge for the duration of the ab portion. As I progressed, I would pause the video and use the Ab Lounge a little longer. Now, I can do all the crunches, sit ups, etc. on my own but I attribute a lot of that to this little machine! I don't use it anymore but it was definitely great to give me a jumpstart!

On drawback to the Ab Lounge is that it does have a 250 pound weight limit. There are other machines out there that I assume would serve a similar purpose (for example - Ab Rocket) but I am not sure what (if any) their weight limits are.

I paid around $100 for mine but the cheapest I could find was on Walmart.com for $77.

Diet Mistakes #11

Found the link but had to keep you in suspense:
http://www.webmd.com/diet/slideshow-diet-mistakes?ecd=wnl_wlw_072509

#11 Avoiding Exercise

When you don’t exercise, you place the entire burden of weight loss on your diet. If you become more active, you can eat more of the things you like -- and still lose weight. The key is finding an exercise you enjoy. If the treadmill seems tedious, try swimming, ballet, biking, or Ping-Pong, all of which burn more calories than walking. Spend time at different activities until you find one you want to do on most days.

I LOVE this one!! I exercise not to lose weight faster. I do it because it gives me a couple more points to play with during the day AND it tones. Dieting alone WILL NOT tone your body. And I have really enjoyed doing different activities. I have several workout videos and I walk, run, and bike as well. Find what works and go for it! There are several workout videos that are 20-25 minutes (which is a must for me with 5 little kids) so they really don't take much time out of your day.

Major milestone!!

I have officially lost 30 pounds since January! Yeah for me! My goal is to lose 36 pounds by the time I am done with this round and it looks like I am well on my way to accomplishing that goal! Why 36? Well, my ultimate goal is to not go over 150 (currently I am 151) after I am done. I figure if I go down to at least 145, then I have 5 pounds to play with. If I gain a couple of pounds, I can get back on track before I go over 150. And I would be thrilled with anything beyond the 36 pounds!

I actually lost 2 pounds this week so I am still loosing weight so maybe...

I don't know what my problem is with fat though. I keep gaining fat percentage. So I guess the weight I am losing must be muscle mass or something. So...I pulled Jillian back out! She kicked my butt on the last go round so I'm going to go with her again. I figured the walking I was doing was exercise so it was burning calories but I wasn't really doing anything to tone or build muscle mass. So back to my boring old work out in the front room bit!

It's good though because I have noticed my gutt starting to hang out a bit and she worked great on that last time. It could be too that my chest is disappearing so that makes my gutt show more!! Fair warning all you women out there. When you lose weight, you also lose chest!!

My daughter is funny. She just asked me who is winning the competition with my friend. I told her my friend was winning overall. Then she asked who had lost more weight, I told her my friend. She asked who had lost more fat, I said my friend. She said "So pretty much, she is kicking your butt on everything?" I said yes. She replied, "Mom, I really think you should start working out twice a day. Maybe go running AND do Jillian."

Walking

Not much to report today. I have been doing pretty good with sticking to my points and exercising every day. I have found a GREAT way to get my exercise in with 5 little children. My kids LOVE to ride their bikes. So everyday, we have been going for long walks with them on their bikes. Monday through Thursday, we walk to get free lunch (a summer program for the kids) which is a 1.3 mile walk each way. My kids literally beg me to ride their bikes to this every day. It works great for me because I push the stroller with the babies in it which gives me a little more of a workout. (I actually tried it one day this week without the babies because my husband was home and I decided it really does give me a much better workout with the stroller.)

Today, we had a dentist appointment for two of the older kids. I asked them if they wanted to drive or ride bikes. They wanted to ride bikes so I got my walk in today (no stroller though so not as much of a workout as normal). I love it! I get things done and exercise in for me AND my kids at the same time. It does get a little hot but hey, it helps me sweat off a little more weight and fat, right? So that is my goal for the summer. Whenever we are going somewhere close enough to walk, weather permitting, we will walk (we'll see if that holds up when the temps are in the high 90's).

Tuesday

Menu:

Breakfast: 1/2 cup milk, 1 oz cereal, multi-vitamin (4 points)
Snack: 1/2 cup cottage cheese, 1 package Special K crackers (4 points)
Lunch: Egg Noodle soup, 5 saltine crackers (6 points)
Snack: banana, fudge bar (3 points)
Dinner: spam and beans, 1 cup cauliflower/broccoli (8 points)
Snack: 8 oz Frusion, fiber chewables (2 points)

My egg noodle soup ended up only being 4 points, so I had ten crackers. I found some turkey spam which really knocked the points down on dinner so I had three extra points. I used them for a glass of milk and a granola bar (which actually took me over by one point but I exercised so that's okay).

One thing that I know I need to do better at but for some reason really struggle with is keeping hydrated. I know that will help me be healthier (and eat less for that matter). I am guessing that a lot of the times that I think I am hungry, I am really just thirsty but my mind tells me to eat instead of drink. I think part of that is that I already feel like I use the bathroom a lot (cursed family bladder) so I am afraid to drink even more and have to go even more. Dumb reason to not keep myself hydrated, I know. I actually read somewhere that drinking ice cold water vs just cold water actually burns off a couple of calories. I don't know if it's true or not but it makes sense - you know that little dance that comes with brain freeze....?

About exercising. I did it yesterday but had to do it without weights because I was too dang sore! Why did I let myself go? I could have just kept exercising and not had to go through all this pain! UGH!! Well, I will be sore again today (I always have 2 days of soreness, the second is the worst) and then I will be back to normal tomorrow! When will I learn....?

loss

I think I forgot to report-

I lost 4.2 pounds! Not bad. That put me one pound over my final weigh in last time. I didn't lose any fat but I didn't exercise. I guess that really does make a difference! That is what made me pull Jillian back out, I figured I needed to do something and can't do the walking thing that I talked about in an earlier post because we have swimming lessons that we have too far to walk. I know, go walking later. My kids naps are staggered just so I have only about an hour a day when they are all awake until about 4:00. By then, it is time to start dinner and I don't see a point in taking 5 kids anywhere when my hubby will be home at 5:30. But when he gets home, I am too tired to do anything...excuses, excuses...But hey! I AM exercising so it doesn't matter ;D.

I'm back

It has been too long since I have updated this! I couldn't remember the password!

Well, I have been doing so-so. I have gained one more pound since my last post. So I've gained 2 pounds but I haven't been watching my points or exercising. So not horrible!

This goes back to why I did things the way I did them though. Even though I haven't been "counting" what I have been eating, I made some habit changes that have helped me make better choices in the amounts and types of foods that I am eating. I know my results would have been WAY different had I used some sort of diet drink, pill, etc. I just don't really get why people use those. They are quick and easy but THEY DON'T LAST - unless you want to take them for the rest of your life! The only advantage I can see to them is if a person is WAY overweight and needs to take some weight off quickly so they can get more mobile.

I have felt TONS different though not exercising. I had a lot more energy and motivation to get other things done. You would think it would be opposite. Exercising makes you tired so you have less energy...

I'll admit, at first, that was the case. But after a couple of weeks of exercising I noticed lots more energy. Now that I haven't exercised for over a month, I am back to dragging around tired most of the time. It is hard to get back into that routine though!

Each summer, our school district does a M-Th program at the school that is free. In past years, it has been 3 or more miles away. This year, they moved it to a school that is just over a mile from our house. I am way excited. I plan to walk each day which will give me quite a workout every day (carrying one child in a backpack and pushing a stroller with two others). Plus, that will give my two oldest a good workout which I know is also important!

Happy exercising!

Week 10, Day 2

Whoa! I didn't realize it had been so long since I last posted! I have been working out with Jillian for the last couple of weeks and her workout kicks my butt! I like the workout TONS better than Bob's but that is only because it is more suited to me personally. That is not to say that it would be better for someone else. Bob seems to focus more on endurance. He will do the same move a couple of minutes. That is something I SUCK at! Jillian switches around a lot which I like better but probably wouldn't be for someone who isn't very coordinated (like my hubby!). I figured I would give MY pros and cons to the videos.

Bob
Pro - 1) real people working out, you can see them get tired. 2) very effective cool down. 3) Bob is very upbeat and positive and explains the moves BEFORE you do them. 4) Four different workouts so you do a different one each day.

Con - 1) requires endurance and I have none. 2) the warm up and cool down add 15 minutes to the workout.

Jillian
Pro - 1) moves around a lot which is good for me. 2) explains the hows of the moves VERY well but not until you're almost done, but this helps as you do the workout more.

Con - 1) skinny bimbo models showing the workout. 2) not much variety, you do the same workout until you "move on" to the next one. 3) the cool down really didn't even help me, Bob's is much better even though it is way long.


Okay, now I wanted to post about something else. My hubby and I went to a nice restaurant for our anniversary last weekend. I was a little nervous about how I would do. I didn't do great but I did a LOT better than I would have in the past.

I had 1 and 1/2 rolls and two pieces of cornbread. I should have had one of one or the other but pre diet, I would have probably had three of each!

For my appetizer, I ordered salad instead of soup and just lightly sprinkled Ranch over the top (I even asked for light Ranch but they didn't have any). Before, I would have doused the salad with ranch (that is if I even got a salad).

For dinner, I ordered a baked potato instead of mashed or fries. When dinner came, I scooped the butter out of the potato (I didn't realize I needed to order it on the side). Normally, I would have used all the butter AND the sour cream. Then I ate my veggies FIRST instead of the meat. I only ate about 1/3 of my steak instead of forcing myself to finish it.

I did order a strawberry lemonade instead of water but it was my anniversary after all!

So, while I didn't do as well as I could have, I did much better than I would have. Things to change in the future - stick with water and eat only one bread. Not too bad!

Week 8, Day 3

This has been a bad couple of days. I have NOT WANTED to work out AT ALL! And haven't worked out at all. I think it is finally getting to me that the other girl is kicking my butt and now I won't get the $300 that I have been working so hard for. I so have no internal motivation! I need to do this for me not for the money. But knowing I don't have a shot at the money doesn't help...

We have been doing a Biggest Loser workout with Bob Harper. I actually really liked it. It was challenging and it gave four different workouts to change things up. BUT exercising in my living room to the same video (even if the workouts are different) had taken it's toll. I am very much an outdoor exerciser! If the weather was perfect Spring weather all year round, I would not be in this situation to begin with! It's kinda hard to exercise in 3 feet of snow and sub zero temps or in 100+ temps! I know, waaaaaaaaaaaaa...

Anyway, we got a new video on Thursday. This time, I decided to go with Jillian Michaels 30 day shred. I WATCHED it on Thursday. I had every intention of doing it, but it didn't happen. Nor did it happen Friday or today. Friday night, I bought a mini trampoline so I did do that workout today but it didn't really seem to work me like the video did. Anyway, come Monday, I really need to get back on track!

My great diet food for today is butter spray! I LOVE that stuff! I can still get the yummy flavor of butter on my pancakes, toast, muffins, bread, veggies, etc. (yes I am a butter freak) without the fat and calories. AND I have found that you can cook with it too. So when I want to grill a sandwich, I just spray the bread with butter spray and wala! It works great on garlic bread too!

Week 6, Day 1

Well, almost half way through the competition and I finally hit the 10 pound mark! Not as well as I had hoped, but not bad. My goal was 25 pounds for the 12 weeks...it could still happen. I am now exercising twice a day. I do the video workout in the morning/early afternoon (depending on the babies) and the go running (or power walking, depending on my mood) as soon as hubby gets home. I'm not sure he's real into me leaving as soon as he walks in the door, but it works for me!

I found another great diet (I mean, healthy lifestyle) food. Sarah Lee makes a "Delightful" bread that is 45 calories per slice. Translated into weight watchers, that is one point for two slices (when you take the fiber into account). Love it!

Oh yeah, I almost forgot, I cracked on Sunday. And I mean totally cracked, caved, gave in, yeah, it was bad. I have been doing good with the eating thing when I know exactly how many points I am eating. So eating at home and even at restaurants (because I can look up the nutrition info online before I go) has been working out fine. Sunday, I went to an Eagle Scout presentation. I knew they were serving dinner so I only left myself 2 points for the day. I figured that way, I wouldn't be tempted to eat because I was already out of points and I could have a little snack when I got home. BAD IDEA!!

My first real test and I failed, and I mean I FAILED!! I ate lasagna, garlic bread, salad (with dressing), and dessert. But I didn't just have dessert. I had the biggest most fattening dessert that was there AND I had TWO of them! I figured I had already blown it so why not enjoy myself? I cut back on my points the rest of this week to compensate but that could explain why I only lost one pound when I have doubled my exercising!! Okay, next step, work on eating at gatherings! Or should I say, not eating...

Week 4, Day 5

Three more days until I get to do an official weigh in!! My husband is kicking my butt though. He decided that since I am actually losing weight, he is going to double his workouts and eat even less than he already was! I do worry a little that when this competition is over, he is going to gain it all back because he can't keep up this pace forever...

I have decided to just stick with my slow and steady. It is working and then I will be more likely to keep the weight off. The money would be nice but I guess my health is what is really important (that sounded convincing I know).

The workout video that we have has two stages. The first three weeks are low-intensity, and the second three weeks are high-intensity. I have decided that they need to add a medium-intensity! I commented before about no sore muscles. I started the high intensity on Friday and haven't been able to move my arms since! My legs are doing better though...

I have found a great snack. Orville Redenba...(don't know how to spell it) has a smart pop mini bag that is 100 calories and 5 grams of fiber. I usually pop a bag of popcorn but can't stop at one serving! I eat the whole bag! So these mini bags are great plus they are the smart pop so they are lower in fat and calories than regular microwave popcorn anyway!

Week 2, Day 3

I had intended to post on here every day just to help keep me motivated, but...OOPS! :)

Thursday went well. I stayed within my points and got my workout in. I started using my Ab Lounge during the crunches part of the exercise video. I just don't have ANY stomach muscles right now so crunches just aren't going to happen for a while. But I am VERY glad that I have the Ab Lounge. It feels like it does something and I can do it!

One concern I have is that I haven't had sore muscles AT ALL. I know that sounds weird to be concerned about that. I should be glad. But usually I get sore muscles so I worry I'm not doing something right. Or maybe it is just that I actually AM doing something right this time. I am doing a warm up and cool down with each workout which is something I have NEVER done before. I am still losing weight though so that is what matters.

Friday was GREAT! I finally found something to motivate me. I am excited to have motivation but at the same time sad because it took something external to motivate me. I should be motivated just because it is the right thing to do and it will make me healthy. But at least now I can do it full throttle! I am not going to go into my motivation right now. But it will help someone I love A LOT and that is very important to me.

I even took the stairs at the hospital (my daughters pediatrician is at the hospital so I was there for a well-check) and I was going to the fourth floor! Then I walked the length of the hospital four times (and let me tell you, it is a LONG hospital). I was very proud of myself!

Now for today...weekends are hard because the routine gets thrown off. But I am determined to stick to it AND get my workout in today. I am doing fine with eating but it is already almost 4:00 and I haven't worked out yet. But it WILL get done. It HAS to get done!

Week 1, Day 7

Well, I barely made it through the first week. I'm tellin' ya' though, if I didn't have the money/husband competition to keep me going, I'd be for calling it quits. I am a big wus (don't have any clue how to spell that)! And my husband is kicking MY butt! It was supposed to be the other way around. He is exercising 2-3 times a day. I just don't have the time or the motivation!

I caved yesterday. My kids were having cheese quesadillas for lunch. I cooked them on the skillet with a light coat of buttter. Oh it smelled good! So, I caved and ate half of one of them. BUT...I still only ate 26 points yesterday! So while I may have caved, I did still stay under my points. I have been doing decent at staying within the points. Now I just need to work on making the points that I eat a little more on the healthy side!

Sometimes, I don't think it's fair though. My husband is at work all day. He takes what he is going to eat with him and that is all he can eat. I am surrounded by food all day and feeding my kids all day and I just have to try my best to resist. Then there's the whole exercise thing. He works out at work and then comes home and exercises again at night. By the time night gets here for me, I am so tired from chasing kids all day that I exercise just won't happen. So I do it in the morning but then nothing gets done around the house....blah, blah, blah.

Okay, I need to be more positive. That is one thing that I have found is key to any goal. You have to have a positive attitude and you have to WANT to change. I just wish there was a magic pill to help me WANT to change. I know I NEED to change, I just don't WANT to do it.

My workout this morning seemed harder than it has before. I don't know why. On The Biggest Loser, they always say week 2 is the hardest. Maybe they mean motivation or energy or something. I don't know. I still did as much as I could. One thought that I had is that maybe I wasn't doing the moves correctly before and now I am so they are straining my muscles like they should. I don't know.

My husband is doing really good though. He has already been doing this for 12 weeks and his weigh in was today. He still lost 5 pounds and .4% body fat. According to our scale, I lost almost 4 pounds but I have no idea on the body fat because our scale doesn't measure that. I can't wait for 3 more weeks when I can do a real weigh in. Hopefully, I will see some big changes. That would definitely be a huge motivator.

I think a big part of my problem is that I want to have a super model body when I am done with this. I know I won't. I never have. So I worry that when I don't achieve that, I will feel like I failed. I have got to change my mindset and be happy about little changes instead of wanting to be what the world considers "perfect." Being healthy and happy is all that really matters.

Day 6

I did good yesterday! I only ate 27 points! Usually, I look around trying to find something to "fill" my points but yesterday I didn't! I was talking to my husband last night. A commercial came on for Slimfast. It talked about how it keeps you from being hungry. We both just kind of laughed.

Hunger is not my problem. I don't eat because I am hungry. I eat because I like the taste of food. I usually am not hungry when I eat. I just want something in my mouth. I know, try gum, mints, etc. Those actually do make me feel hungry. So, I put something in my mouth to keep me from eating, and then I end up feeling hungry which increases my likelihood to eat! Maybe that trick works for some, but not so well for me!

Right now, my boys are eating graham crackers and milk. That is one of my FAVORITE snacks! I must resist! I ate a yogurt so I would be "eating" but not getting nearly the calories but...

I worked out this morning. It was "strength and sculpt" day. I still suck at it but I did a little better than last time. My biggest problem is the crunches. I can do the rest of it (at the lowest level anyway) but I totally suck at crunches. Having five babies in seven years with no attempt at regaining those muscles has really taken it's toll. I do have an Ab Lounge but I am waiting on my husband to fix it and maybe that will help. I can hope anyway.

This whole thing definitely is a lot easier with external motivation. When I was completely on my own with just "desire" as my motivation, nothing worked. In fact, I gained weight. But knowing that I could win money has its perks. Oh, and it doesn't hurt that I challenged my husband and I am very competitive. It will be great to kick his butt at SOMETHING! He gets to weigh in every week though and see his progress. Because we live so far from his work and I have to bring four small children with me, I only get to weigh in monthly. I think that has it's advantages and disadvantages.

I am hoping that getting into shape will give me more energy so I can get more done around the house. But another quote I like comes to mind - "Cleaning the house while children still live there is like trying to shovel snow while it is still snowing." SO TRUE! I also feel like I use my "cleaning" time to exercise. How do I do it all?

I hate how expensive eating healthier is! I would love to stock my pantry with low calorie snacks, fruit and juice drinks, soups, etc. but it is so expensive! My husband likes his Smart Ones desserts and Lean Cuisine meals and he actually does use the Slimfast shakes. By the time I buy all that, my budget is pretty much cleaned out and I still have to buy food for the rest of us, diapers, formula, blah, blah, blah...

Okay, enough whining for now. I've got kids to attend to...You'd think I'd lose weight just chasing them around all day...

Weight loss

I have heard it said...or read it written...or something like that - "An unwritten goal is merely a wish. So I have decided to "write" down my goals and keep a log of how I am doing on them. I am not doing this for anyone to read. It is just for me. But having it written and public will hopefully motivate me to take myself seriously for once.

This is my year to get ME back. I used to be a very organized, clean, detail oriented person who spent some time (not a lot, but enough) making herself look decent each day. That was ten years ago.

Now I have five children who are my life but that has come at the expense of me. They come first and foremost. That is something that I do not plan to change. But, I do plan to put a little more time into me instead of putting myself DEAD LAST.

So that is what this blog is for. This year, I plan to get my body back. I weighed in on a super deluxe scale at my husband's work and I was mortified at what I saw!

180 pounds
40 % body fat
metabolic age of at least 50 (that is as high as it goes and I am only 34)
overfat body type

I can't remember all of the figures but those are the ones that stood out to me. That has GOT TO CHANGE!! I joined The Biggest Loser competition at his work with them. I am very grateful that they were gracious enough to let me join despite the fact that I am not employed there. Before I joined, I was gung ho ready to go. I was going to exercise all day, eat right and in very small amounts. I went out and bought "The Biggest Loser" workout video and I was going to push myself to make every move that they did on that video no matter how hard it hurt or how tired I was.

AND I refuse to take diet supplements, metabolic enhancers, diet shakes, etc. because in the long run THEY DON'T WORK. What happens when I stop taking those? Unfortunately, I know from experience that all the weight plus some comes right back!

Then I weighed in and the time came to actually put all of my goals and aspirations into practice. I wasn't as excited anymore. I think the reality of it just hit me. Dang! Now I really have to do this! I think I am too afraid to do it because I have failed too many times in the past. What if I work so hard and starve myself and nothing changes? If I don't try, then I can't fail, right?

So, in comes the hard work.

Day 1. I couldn't do the eating thing. It was too hard. I have eaten too much for too long to just quit. I decided I would start tomorrow. I ate all morning to bulk up for the weigh in anyway. Might as well enjoy the rest of my day. And since I am starting the eating thing tomorrow, I will just start exercising tomorrow. Maybe a dietary supplement wouldn't be so bad afterall...NO I CAN'T DO IT!

Day 2. Did the low impact cardio workout. It dang near kicked my but!! But I did it! I thought I would be way sore the next day. I wasn't. Just tired. I broke down and tried a slimfast shake. It was NASTY. Good thing! Now I won't be tempted to go back down that road.

Day 3. Did the strength and sculpt workout. Okay, I mean I TRIED to do the strength and sculpt workout. I think I only actually did about half of it. Went to a baby shower and ate everything in sight. But I worked out so it's okay, right...

Day 4. Sunday. Can't work out on Sunday right? Did okay with the eating until we went to my aunt's house which is completely stocked with chips, soda, candy bars, candy, etc...

Day 5. Today. I have actually done pretty good today but I feel like I am starving. I am doing Weight Watchers. I am supposed to have 24 points a day based on my weight with 35 weekly points. I decided to split the extra points up and give myself 29 points a day so I don't feel so restricted on a daily basis. And then I gave myself one more extra point for exercising so it's a nice round 30 points per day. I know I won't lose weight as fast that way but if I try to quit eating cold turkey, there is no way on this earth I will stick to it. So today, I have had 9 points and it is almost 2:00! Not bad! I have already exercised. I got both babies down for a nap before my kindergartner came home. So I just had the preschooler and he loves to sit and watch. I think I did a little better today on the workout (I did the cardio today). My coordination was definitely better.

If I win this competition, I have decided to take the money and do a mini make-over.

1. Get a professionally hair style. I have been to a salon once in my entire life because I have had an ugly mole on the back of my head that I was too embarrassed to have anyone see. I had it removed last year so now, I can do this for me!

2. Get back to wearing a little make-up. I'm not big on the cake it on style but a little never hurts.

3. Get some cute clothes! All I have are drab sweats and t-shirts because I feel too fat to wear anything else.