We are in Chakogoe

Hey guys! The reason for the lack of posts earlier this week was because we were on SPRING BREAK!

Gracie's spelling interpretation of "Chicago"

We went to Chicago and had the best time. As usual, I ran out of time and was throwing clothes into suitcases and searching for the Chicago guidebook that I had checked out of the library months ago and renewed over and over again. We managed though. The biggest problem I had was not packing enough cold weather clothes. After two days of the kids wearing the same hoodies as jackets and getting ketchup and dirt all over them, we took a quick trip to Target to search their 30% off racks.


Whenever we go on family vacations I have grand plans of what they should be like which are drawn from my family vacations growing up. I can remember my parents picking up my older brother and me from school in the packed station wagon and my mom would have road trip games all planned out for us to keep us entertained. She had every day planned from sun up to sun down and she always knew the answer to the question "what are we doing next?"

Well, that didn't happen for my kids. The trip from Indy to Chicago is only about three hours so I thought the kids would be fine without any planned car activities, but I didn't factor in their excitement and after hearing "when will we be there?" 300 times in 30 minutes, I was wishing we had loaded a movie or two on the Kindle. Then, once we were in Chicago I would start each day after my shower, sitting on the bed in the morning, looking at the day's weather on my phone then to the list of activities we wanted to do and figure out what we were going to do that day.

But it all worked out in the end. The kids were so sad to leave on Tuesday evening. Real tears and everything. I think that's a sign of a successful family vacation.

Because it's my blog, I'm going to share family vacation photos with you all :) We stayed at the Marriott out by the Midway airport and took the train into town every day.

Jim and I are huge fans of the show Diners Drive-Ins and Dives so we wanted to hit a couple of the places Guy Fieri had been to. We started our vacation with breakfast at 3 Sisters Cafe in Broad Ripple, Indiana.

I told the boys to look handsome for my photo. I love Jacob's "smolder" as my friend Kelly called it.

I had the Lemon Corncakes with Berries and Lemon Curd. It was delicious.

Our first stop was Legoland.

I had "liked" their Facebook page and was able to get a coupon that saved us $28.

Restroom sign

After Legoland we drove to our hotel and went swimming. We were looking for a seafood place for dinner and ended up taking the train into downtown Chicago and going to Shaw's Crab House. It was quite an adventure including making wrong turns on the street, getting caught in the rain, trying to hail a cab unsuccessfully, and taking the wrong train back to the hotel. But after we got that out of our system we were "L" experts the rest of the week.

Jim's lobster roll and one of my crab cake sliders

The next morning we went to 11 City Diner, which was excellent.

And headed to the Planetarium.

After the planetarium we headed to Michigan Ave. and hit the American Girl and Lego store.

Sunday we headed downtown to visit Willis Tower.

Naturals!

We were going to hit another DDD restaurant but when we took the train, bus and walked a few blocks to it we saw that it was closed on Sundays. I checked the guidebook to see if there was anything close by and sure enough Ed Debevic's was only a few blocks away.

Although, I have to say I don't think the kids were big fans. I think they were just too young to get the humor. They didn't think the waiters should be mean to us.

We headed to the Navy Pier - unfortunately it was pretty cloudy that afternoon.

Monday was my favorite day. We went to the Museum of Science and Industry and Medieval Times (we saved $42 with their Spring Break special!).

On our last day we met up with some friends and went back to the DDD restaurant that was closed on Sunday - Big and Little's. We had mixed reviews. I really liked my lamb gyro taco. The rest of the afternoon was spent at the Children's Museum.

Then it was the trip home with some sad kiddos. It was a great trip.

I suppose I should mention something wellness related in this post. I'm sorry to say that I did not stick to any sort of eating plan while on this vacation. I ate what I wanted (except chocolate) when I wanted. After the excitement of the first couple of shakes and french fries wore off, I started to remember what it felt like when I was 50 pounds heavier. Feeling the fullness in my face, feeling stuffed all the time. Feeling greasy. Just not feeling good. I'm doing better with food choices now that I'm home but I'm having a hard time with portions and not wanting to stuff myself. I'm giving myself two weeks to get this vacation weight off and I'm hitting Zumba tonight (it's been two weeks since I've worked out).

Weigh In

Weigh in Day - March 23Previous weight - 195.8
Current weight - 196
Difference - gain .2

Total weight lost - 49 pounds

It's my day off. See ya later

GO HOOSIERS!!!

I Miss Chocolate

Day 29 of no chocolate.

I'm starting to have dreams about chocolate.

Last night I was eating a piece of chocolate cake as big as my head.

source

Five Year Plan

A few weeks ago I was having a meeting with my boss to discuss my professional development. One of the questions he asked me was: "Where do I want to be in the next five years in terms of competencies?"

I hadn't been asked a "where do you see yourself in x number of years" since I had interviewed for my job over 12 years ago!

It got me thinking.

Since that meeting, I've been telling myself "self, you need to sit down and write out a five year plan!" I have not thought in depth about my future in a really long time, if ever. I really want to think about where I want to be in all areas of my life including my career, marriage, home, kids, and of course, wellness.

So to kick off my five year plan, here is what I put down for wellness.

• Reach my goal weight of 180 lbs. (or lower if my doc changes her mind) and be in maintenance. 

source

• Successfully stayed under 200 lbs. during this process.

source

 

• Still incorporating exercise on average three times a week into my life.

source

• Participate in an exercise I love. 

source

• Once hitting goal/maintenance try running.

source

• Eat healthy as a family.

caption

• Be a wellness role model for my kids.

source

• Be happy with proud of my appearance.

source

• Have an action plan for when I fall off my wellness path.

source

 What is on your five year wellness plan?

source

Weigh In and The Will

Weigh in Day - March 16
Previous weight - 195.8
Current weight - 195.8
Difference - no change

Total weight lost - 49.2 pounds

I am a bit disappointed that my weight stayed the same this week. I ended up with 26 unused weekly WW points this week, so I know I will see the scale go down over the next couple of days. This has been my strongest week so far, this go around. I went to Zumba on Sat., Mon., and Thur. I did great with my points. I feel good and am noticing a difference in my clothes. I'm not as hungry as a few weeks ago either. I'm not doing a whole lot of snacking at work which I think is helping.

The husband and I are getting really excited about garage sale season getting ready to begin. We are actually going out tomorrow morning to hit a few sales we found on Craig's List. I'm toying around with the idea of starting a blog about our adventures. We have a lot of fun garage saleing and then we sell a lot of what we buy on eBay for a profit. Would you read the blog or know someone who would?

Since I've got the garage sale fever I hit a couple of Goodwills on my lunch hour this week (hence the lack of blog posts the last couple of days). I scored the pants I'm wearing in my weigh in photo at the Will. They are Talbot size 16 (regular 16, not 16W NSV!). I looked them up online and they retail for $120. I got them for $4. AND, I bought two pairs! Pretty sweet.

Yesterday I went to a different Goodwill and did awesome. I got four blazers, three tops, a pair of boots and a cute bag for under $50. Brands included Anne Taylor, The Loft, H&M, Jones New York and The GAP. The stuff looks brand new. My theory is with the nice weather people are switching over their winter/summer clothes and donating the stuff they don't wear = score for me.

This is the kind of stuff that Jim and I get so excited about. I was in desperate need of work pants and went to Macy's earlier in the week. The average price of their pants was $55-75. I just can't do it. I found a clearance pair for $30 that I bought but felt conflicted about. Just knowing I can find comparable (or better) pants and Goodwill for $4 makes it hard to buy retail. I know some people can't stomach the idea of wearing "used" clothes, but good golly, I couldn't care less. That's what washing machines and dry cleaners are for!

The Final Countdown

Last night I took the kids with me to the Y so that I could go to Zumba. We did our normal routine of scanning in, putting my purse in the locker, going upstairs, Gracie grabbed me a towel from the weight room and we headed down the hall to the child watch room. I got them signed in and gave them hugs goodbye and walked out the room to head to the gym for Zumba.

That's when I heard it.

There is a exercise room next to the child watch and I could hear the instructor over her microphone. She was counting down a set. "5 ..... 4 ..... 3 ..... 2 ..... last one ....."

And my brain said - "Oh thank God I'm not in that class!"

I have gone to those types of classes since I was in college. Don't get me wrong, they are great classes, but they're not my favorite. They are hard and I don't like going to them and I watch the clock the whole time.

For so long I thought that's what exercise meant. Something you don't want to do, that hurts and you can't wait to get it over with.

I'm still surprised that I was able to find an exercise that I love.

Zumba is easy for me. It's like dancing for an hour with a bunch of friends. After two and a half years I still love it.

A sweaty mess after Zumba last night. It was so hot in that gym!

Chugging Along

Things are really starting to click for me now. I was able to go to Zumba on Saturday morning. I was in the second row which felt great. I actually liked what I saw when I looked in the mirror.

So after Zumba, I was on my own for lunch. I started driving toward the fast food places and tried to decide where I wanted to go. Taco Bell sounded surprisingly good. I started to think about what I would order from TBell and then I drove past a restaurant that had a sign advertising their juicy hamburger. Oh, that sounded so good. So I decided to go to McDonald's, Then I remembered that Culver's was further down the road and the thought of their butter burger, crinkle fries and custard had me salivating.

And then it happened. That voice of reason popped in my head and said, "Steph, do you really want to do this? Do you really want to go through the drive thru, order all that crap and then shove it down your throat in the parking lot before the guilt sets in."

And the answer was a quick No!

I didn't want that. I began thinking about how I'm starting to see changes in my body that I'm proud of and I had no interest in screwing that up.

So I swung by Chick fil A and got a grilled chicken salad. As my luck would have it, they forgot to give me croutons which saved me 2 WW+ points.

This salad was 7 pts. It was filling and served its purpose.

After lunch and some errands I FINALLY went to the grocery store. It had been at least three weeks. We had no food at the house. I just picked up the basics which included some fresh fruit.

You guys have heard me say it before, but the only way that produce doesn't end up uneaten and rotting in the trash is if I cut it up. So I spent nearly as much time cutting up the fruit as I did at the grocery store, but it was worth it. I made this fruit salad Saturday afternoon and it's nearly gone.

I also went clothes shopping yesterday. I didn't end up buying anything, but here are a couple of dresses I tried on that I liked.

Zumba tonight! I can't wait - I need to re-energize after DST!

Weigh In

Weigh in Day - March 9
Previous weight - 197.2
Current weight - 195.8
Difference - lost 1.4 pounds

Total weight lost - 49.2 pounds

So I feel pretty amazing about my loss this week. This is my first big loss of the year where I was really putting in the work to lose weight. It wasn't perfect - I finally figured out that you can't track beer by nutritional information which ended up having me add 8 additional points to my week - ouch. There were also a couple of things I ate but forgot to track until a few days after the fact. I did end up over my points this week, but it's so hard when I'm guessing points for things I don't have nutritional information for so I always over-estimate so in the end I think it all evened out. I also made it to Zumba three times this week which felt great.

I was happily surprised by the number on the scale this morning. I'm a daily weigher and I hadn't dropped below 196.2 all week. As of yesterday's weigh it was looking like I was going to have another week at the same weight again which really pushed me to have a great day yesterday with my eating and exercise. So when I saw 195.8 on the scale this morning I was all "YES!" I felt that my work this week had been validated. I did get off and on the scale a dozen times just to make sure the numbers were consistent.

So I'm feeling good. I'm ready to ride this wave of success and really keep things in control this weekend.

If only ...

Here's a little story for you with a lesson that can be applied to weight loss ...

Last year I was going through a rough patch, I'm sure we all have these. I was a little down, felt like something was missing from my life, wanted to "be happier." I attributed it to missing my kids and feeling like I wasn't spending enough quality time with them. I really started to obsess over it. I kept thinking if only I could be a stay at home mom that would be the answer to all my problems.

Like I normally do, I went to Jim to talk about it. And like he does, he listened and was supportive. I told him about all the different solutions that I had come up with on how we could make it work for me to stay home. After I was done with my presentation he asked me what I really, really wanted. Well, there were a lot of little things that I wanted. I had dreams of picking the kids up from school every day, working on homework and then having the time to make a healthy meal every night that would be ready when Jim got home. I had dreams of a clean house - all the time. I had dreams of volunteering at school and church. But what it all came down to was more quality time with my kids.

And being the smart husband that he is, he told me that if that's what I really wanted that I could do that now. If I really wanted more time with the kids I could find a way to make it happen. And he was right. (He's always right- it's kind of annoying.)

He was right because I was wasting a lot of my time. When I picked up the kids from school and we would get home, Jacob would either read or play video games while Gracie watched TV and I did my own thing. I would be on Facebook or doing laundry or checking e-mail. On the weekends I would sleep in and if we weren't busy doing something I would just lie around the house and "relax."

If things like spending quality time with my kids, cooking and having a clean house were so important to me then I should have been using that extra time to make those things happen.

So when I really, honestly looked at what I was "down about" it didn't have anything to do with wishing I was a stay at home mom. That's not what I wanted. I love my career and I have no interest in giving it up. It was just one of those times when I was in a funk and felt like I needed to find something new that would make me happier. When really what I needed to do was look at what I was doing and seeing what improvements could be made.

So I did make some changes. I take the kids to the library every weekend and that is a really special time for us to spend together. I try and do a little laundry in the morning before anyone gets up. Recently I've started washing the kids uniforms on Sunday and having a whole week's worth ready to go before Monday. I volunteer with school and church when I can because it makes me happy.

So ... the tie in to weight loss? How many times have we said - if only it were easier! If only I had a personal trainer or a cook like celebrities have. If only I had more time to make it to the gym. If only I was skinny! If only I had the motivation. If only I had the discipline. Then I could lose weight.
 
Is that what you really, really want? To lose weight? Well, in the words of my husband, "if that's what you really want, you can do that now."

It's not about it being easier or having someone else help you. You have to make the changes necessary to get what it is you really want. No excuses - find the time to grocery shop and cook healthy meals, find a way to exercise whenever you can, find your motivation and discipline. Look at how you spend your time and find places that aren't a good use of your time and make those choices to get healthy.

P.S. - I went to Zumba last night when I hadn't planned to. Gracie has ballet on Wednesdays and it's tough to squeeze in Zumba before her class, but I did it anyway. Yay me!

Besties

I finally made it back to Zumba last night and man did it feel good. I was glad to see that after class our instructor posted on Facebook that she had worked us extra hard because I sure did feel like she had. I can count at least three times I thought I was going to puke. But there is nothing like feeling after you do and exercise that you love. Nothing!

It sure is awkward taking a photo in the locker room at the Y. I had to make sure no one was in there as to not feel like a creeper. Could my face be any redder?

I am in a good place emotionally right now. I seem to have gotten out the funk I've been in lately. Some of it is from some kind words friends have given me lately, some of it is doing kind things for my friends in return. And I love when I open up an inspirational book to a random page and it speaks to me.

"What did Jesus know that enabled him to do what he did? Here's part of the answer. He knew the value of people. He knew that each human being is a treasure. And because he did, people were not a source of stress but a source of joy." - Max Lucado, In the Eye of the Storm

I've made the conscience decision lately to have a positive attitude and not make everything about me. And that has made all the difference.

And just for fun ... I posted this on Facebook today and my friends got a kick out of it.

Watching Big Bang the other day and I said "That's my sweater!!!" and then I realized it probably wasn't cool to have the same sweater as Amy Farrah Fowler and then I said whatever - Amy rocks.

Cravings and How to Stop Them

I already posted today, but I need to get this out and reach out to you all for suggestions.

I'm am STRUGGLING with cravings right after I eat lunch. Here's the deal ...

For the past couple of months I've gotten into the bad habit of eating chocolate after lunch. At first it was a couple of times a week I would eat a couple of Hersey Kisses. Then it progressed to 5 or 6 kisses and then I was doing it everyday. I would finish eating my lunch and immediately start reaching for chocolate.

That was a big reason I gave up chocolate for Lent. And I've had no problem not eating chocolate the last two weeks, but the cravings are still there - big time. First I switched to eating a carmel to satisfy the craving and then I was honest with myself and admitted that was just stupid. Luckily last week I was so busy at work that I was able to distract myself with my to do list. This weekend I went and bought a pack of gum to chew after lunch and that has been helpful but the cravings are still there.

For example, it's been an hour since I've eaten lunch. I've chewed a piece of gum, my stomach is full, but if there was a piece of candy on my desk right now it would be a fight for me to resist it.

I know it's mental. I'm breaking myself of a bad habit that has gotten way out of control. And I think I already have the answer to it written above. I need to distract myself until the habit is broken. I need to commit to not giving into the cravings and recognize them for what they are.

If you have any other suggestions/explanations I'd love to hear them.

Lovely weekend

We had a nice, relaxing, fun weekend. Friday we had karate and then went to Joe's Crab Shack for dinner. I had looked over their menu before hand so I had already decided on the 18 piece peel and eat shrimp which was only 6 points. So very awesome! Jacob wanted to get the snow crab kids meal. Since none of us had ever eaten crab before we had to have the server give Jacob a lesson. It was really cute.

Saturday we had simultaneous basketball games at 9 a.m. Then I headed over to my church for a MOMS club brunch. We all met at home for a quiet afternoon. Later, we spontaneously decided to join some friends to see our high school alma mater play in the basketball sectionals. (We love our high school basketball in Indiana.) We got all retro on our outfits. Jim wore his baseball jacket from Freshman year and I wore a t-shirt I stole from Jim when we were dating.

Here's a photo of Jim wearing the shirt I'm wearing back in 1993 ...

We met an awesome pizza place and had a lot of fun chatting while the five kids entertained themselves at the other end of the table. The game was a nail biter and unfortunately, we lost by two points.

Sunday was our normal day of Jim taking the kids swimming and me taking them to the library, followed by church.

I just love weekends like that. Besides the extra serving of Margarita pizza that I had on Saturday night, my eating was spot on. I'll make up for that at Zumba tonight - I'm ready for a butt kicking.

Weigh In

Weigh in Day - March 2
Previous weight - 197.2
Current weight - 197.2
Difference - no change

Total weight lost - 47.8 pounds

This has been a crazy busy week - catching up at work with being out sick all last week and having activities planned every evening. I'm ready for the weekend. 

Shorts and Tank Tops and Swim Suits

I've been working on our summer calendar the last couple of days and I just realized something ... Summer 2011 was the best summer of my life.

Last summer was packed full of fun. I saw my babies go to their first week of overnight camp, which just happened to be the place Jim and I fell in love. There were weeks full of day camp, scout camp and vacation bible school. There were three weeks the kids spent with their cousins that live in Maryland, building memories that they will remember the rest of their lives. There was a week in Florida for a work conference where I got to spend time with one of my best friends. And then there were the weekends at lake houses with good friends.

July 4 was my favorite weekend last summer. It was the weekend the kids had gotten back from their overnight camp. I was just a complete mess that week, not knowing how they were doing and then when I finally got them back in my arms it was a huge sigh of relief. We had made plans to spend the night at our friends the Elmore's to watch the fireworks on their lake and we ended up staying two extra days. What can I say? The Elmore's know how to entertain! It's not only the kids that have tears in their eyes when we pull out of their drive way to drive home, but Jim and I do too. We love spending time with them.

That weekend was so fun. I'm just sitting here with a huge smile on my face remembering it. The Elmore's have two kids too and our kids all get along so well. They just spent the whole entire day in the lake playing and going down the slide and then at night they'd all put on their jammies and cuddle up on the couch and watch movies together. And let me tell you, the adults had a great time too. Staying up late around the campfire enjoying cocktails while the kids are sleeping. Making fresh guacamole with Julie Ann and hiding it in the fridge so only we would know about it. And the parties! - a friend's 40th birthday and the next-door neighbor's party, with music and laughing and sunshine. What a great time!

As I began to pencil in all of these activities into our 2012 summer calendar, I couldn't help but begin to get really excited about the fun we will have. It's really not that far away. Which of course means, it won't be long before the jeans and sweaters and coats will be packed away and the shorts and tank tops and bathing suits will make their way back in my dresser. And to be honest, that thought is kind of scaring me a little. Ok, a lot! It's a good kind of scare though - it's the kind of scare that is lighting a fire in me to really kick my weight loss into high gear.

Last summer was the first summer since the 1990s that I had been under 200 pounds. It was the first time in a very long time that I was comfortable with my body. I wore maxi dresses and tank tops proudly. I wore my swim suit in public without any tears being shed. I'm sure that helped to make last summer the best summer of my life.

On July 4, 2011, I weighed 194.3 lbs. That is three pounds lighter than I am today. When I think about this summer, I don't want to be in the 190s. I need to be at least in the 180s. To feel the way about my body that I did last summer, I know I need to drop at least 10 lbs. And that is totally doable.

So that's what I'm going to do! I'm excited.