bad week

Well, here ends another week. I did pretty good eating, I have to say, but everything else... was a struggle. I feel bad because I am losing points. They are for valid reasons, but, it is hard to do this at school. But I am doing the best I can. :-) Well I'll write more later... it is time for bed.

Too pretty to not post

Hopefully none of you are getting tired of me posting pictures of my bike rides, but these were just too gorgeous not to post.

We went up Provo Canyon today.

It was BREATH TAKING!

We had never been up here before, but we decided to try something new. The colors were amazing. The pictures do not do it justice.

I am really lucky. I love to bike. I have 5 or 6 girlfriends in my neighborhood who bike also. You know that my dad bikes, too. It's fun to be out together.

We had a guy take our picture right by bridal veil falls and I asked him about the trail. He said it was about 3 more miles, and then he told us about a steep road that was a little residential road, but just beautiful and worth the ride.

Of course, we had to check it out. It was about a 4 mile climb. Hard, hard, hard. But so worth it!

Got me to thinking about life. About eating right. About exercising. It's hard. SOOO hard sometimes. But, SOOOO worth it! I don't think I'll ever say, "Man that eating right thing was hard. I don't think I'll do that again." Because it's worth every bite I DON'T take!"

Me and my girl friends with Bridal Veil in the back ground

Me trying to get a shot of us all.

Don't you just love this time of year?!!!

Hot

I don't know how many of you like hot weather, but I am one who does not. I've been in Sacramento this week and it's been 100 degrees! At least it's not as hot as it has been down in my old hometown (Covina) where's it been 113 degrees. Yikes. At least the hot encourages lots of water drinking. Our contest has driven a number of my travel choices (a hotel with an exercise room, meal choices, etc.), which only shows me that where there's a will there's a way. We just have to have the will - that's the hard part for me. Thanks Game On.

Fallow WEek

As I was hanging onto my treadmill for dear life this morning, wondering why it was so hard when I've been exercising so faithfully, something occurred to me...

Farm land usually has fallow periods, where the farmer won't plant so the soil can rest. Constantly producing makes it eventually much less productive, if there's not a "time-out" of sorts. Farmers will rotate which fields are fallow that year, so they can maximize productivity.

I know that marathoners say they don't push every single day - that it's not good for their bodies. They have an intense day, and then a more mellow day in their workouts, rotating them so their bodies stay sharp and productive.

I think I'm having a fallow week. This is the 3rd week of weird sleep, and since I used sleep aids so much last week during the worst of it (full moon), I'm trying not to this week. So, there's no doubt about it - I'm tired! But, as I was struggling to do 2 miles this morning, I thought about this fallow concept. Maybe this week is a fallow week - that everything is in low gear, or something, and maybe I'm building myself back up by laying low. Does that make sense?

I don't know if my body's doing it instinctively or not, but I am definitely having a fallow week.

It's scrapbook day!

I love it! Laureen I got a taste of your sleeping problem. 2 nights ago I went to bed at 10 it was really hot in my house so I had a hard time falling asleep. I finally did but then Grace woke up with a bloody nose at 2:30 I got up, got her and her bed cleaned up! Then I was wide awake I got back in bed. Had to get my 7 hours. Then my brain started going and I could not turn it off. Yet I just laid there trying to sleep. I think I finally fell back to sleep about 4:30 then my alarm went off a 5:45. I meet my friend at 6 to run. I wanted to die ,but I had to get up because I knew she was waiting for me. Then yesterday I was a wreck. If I still had junk in my house yesterday I would have cracked I was craving sugar like you wouldn't believe. Then I got really angry and frustrated for no reason then I got weepy. All because my body was exhausted! I don't know how you do that for weeks on end. I am so much more aware of my body because of this game. It'a so good. When I felt the sugar craving come along. I was able to identify the problem and resist the urge. Thanks for the cute blogs this is my favorite part of the game.

day off!

I am so excited that I took a day of vacation today. I am exhausted after yesterday. It took 2.5 hrs for ptc with two kids. You wonder if it is worth even going when you wait in line 20 minutes for each teacher then you sit down and they say she is doing wonderful, no concerns. really not even 30 seconds, oh well it makes me feel great to know I have such wonderful girls. another scrappin day with Kristin, can't wait! Loving this game this time, feel so in control. After the last two games I did I really didn't want to do it again, but so glad I did!

Down in the dumps

I feel for those that live with pain daily. My bad back has decided to visit for a longer stay than wanted. I keep going to the chiropractor and by morning i'm back in pain. What the heck am i doing during my sleep? On the upside.... thanks for all the great blogs and inspiration.

Feelin' Good!

Thanks for all your inspiration.

Take Kristin's Challenge

I propose we all take Kristin's challenge and have a good day. It's not easy. We all have enticements to stumble over, get around, even crawl through, but we can still have a good day if we see it for all it's worth. Thanks for the encouragement Kristin. I think I will ! ! !

Interesting fact...

It's waaaay harder to exercise when you aren't sleeping properly, than when you're coughing your lungs up.

Did not know this. (I did suspect it, however)

busy day

Today is a really busy day so I thought I had better blog before the day gets away from me. Today is my last day to work from home for 7 weeks. I am really sad about that. I think it will do great for my diet though. No temptations from my kitchen all day. Except I hear they have doughnuts a lot in training!! I sure hope my kids will survive and get where they need to be. i have to work 7 hours today, visit teach 2 ladies, a dr. appointment, parent teacher conference for two kids, do my avon, and clean the gym! AAAGGGGGHHHHH wish me luck!

Have a good day everyone!

http://www.miamiherald.com/2009/02/11/427603/dave-barry-a-journey-into-my-colon.html

If you want to laugh your face off, please go to the above link. Jodi - this is for you. :)

Another great day at BYU-Idaho! It is really warm here... which is really weird... we should be really really cold right now (as in, penguins should start migrating to Rexburg soon...) but... it is not cold and it is lovely! Great weather to run in (and the track is right by my apartment). Yea! Enjoy it while it lasts.

Things are looking up

I said i would explain later after my weird blog. In the past few days i have been highly medicated with lortab and valum for pain, drank a gallon of colon prep for a colonoscopy (which explains the pooping all day) then to top it off i have been out of it since the versed.(I'm sure i'm mispelling all of the drugs) Finally tonight i feel much better.

Good Job

Lori,

Hope your foot feels better.

Dad,

Good luck on your trip to CA. I know you can do it!

Everyone is inspiring. Thanks for sharing!

I may just start my own BB club down here in Saratoga next time around! A whole bunch of friends want to do it with me!

I am doing better and I got all my points today!!!!

workout

so, something is seriously wrong with my foot! my dad thinks it is a neuroma but i can barely walk. well, a nice brisk walk has been my workout everyday so i had to really be creative last night for my workout without using my foot. i did lots of situps, pushups, lunges, and weights, i guess that will have to do until my foot gets better. funny how we all have our issues and have to find ways to deal with them. way to go everyone for hanging in there!

Sleep

So sleep is kicking my butt this contest. I am really struggling to be in bed 7 hours, when I'm waking up after 4 or 5. I'm doing it, because I've committed to my partner to get a perfect score for these 8 weeks, but only after a sizeable "intermission." This leaves me sluggish, and lethargic, and apathetic. Eeyore is more like Donkey from 'Shrek' by comparison, K?

In the past, that is when I have eaten too much sugar. My adrenals SCREAM for sugar. Is there any better proof that sugar is a drug to my system? I am dragging myself to the gym now, against my very will. I have 29+ weeks' proof that I WILL feel better afterwards, RIGHT?

You guys are great - thanks for your positive outlook on life. At the risk of being repetitive, I really love this contest.

Being a mother is my hardest job

I had a rough day yesterday with my 9 year old! Laureen you will appreciate this. If my daughter doesn't finish her jobs (piano, homework, chores etc.) she doesn't get to play with friends or watch T.V. It was her best friends birthday party last night. We had a bad day Sunday too. So I told her if she didn't do what she was supposed to yesterday. She had to miss the party. It was one of the hardest things I ever had to do. Her friend called after the party started to ask where she was and it broke my heart. Sometimes punishing our kids is just as hard on us. On a possitive note. It felt like it made a difference to her! Cross your fingers for me.

Travelin' Man

I'm off to California for a 3-day roadie. Did you happen to see that it was 113 degrees in Los Angeles yesterday!!! Oh, I think I'm going to melt... But I'm taking with me the cool collective inspiration of the group on how well they have done on their recent travels to bolster my detemination to have a perfect week. Thanks everyone.

Happy Monday

Hope you all had a great weekend. Jodi, I hope you have recovered from your weekend... how are you feeling you crazy mudslinger you!?

crazy monday

So, I've been up since 5:30 (I know... shock!) doing homework or going to school (Beside FHE and other essential stuff)! and I have just finished! holy crud! I am glad I am done for the day! Good new is that I stayed under my calorie goal! Woot Woot! Now I''m off for a 20 min run.
See ya!

GOING OUT OF TOWN

Thanks Lori for explaining the free day. I am going out of town tomorrow & won't be back for 3 days. I am extremely nervous about staying on the program during this trip. I have never been able to go out of town & stay on a diet. But I AM going to do it this time! I may or may not be able to blog so I will do the text thing. Love the C.S. Lewis quote Laureen.

Checking in!

I love Sunday's.

A day to refresh and renew.

Free day was yesterday. I woke up and got ready for a day of visiting other wards. Our stake had 5 primary programs yesterday. My secretary and I visited 3 of them. I got dressed in a nice outfit that I haven't been able to wear for a while because of some extra pounds hanging around and I didn't even want to have the Cinnamon Toast Crunch I had been planning on. I just had my regular, healthy breakfast. I felt fine and felt great in my skin and clothes.

Came home and then had my free day. It was oh so good, with browned-butter applesauce spice cake. IT WAS TO DIE FOR!!!

Anyway, felt a little blah this morning, but so ready to get back on!!! Love how good I feel when I'm on, but appreciate the 'blah' when I'm off. It helps me want to get back on!!

ATTENTION! PLEASE READ!

I found out there is some confusion about free day. everyone gets a free day off of all point items. example: one day without exercise, one day without water, one day without blogging, one day without new habits etc. these day off items do not need to occur on the same day, say you dont get all your water in on sunday, and you dont blog on monday, or dont do your habits on wed. you can split them up. just mark on your score sheet the points and then next to it write off so you can keep track of what day you took off what thing. also your free day of meals can be split up. take breakfast on a wed, lunch on a friday dinner on a sunday. we are not going to go back and adjust scores for the last two weeks if you took penalties for these things, we are just starting that as of today. I sure hope we all understand this. please dont hesitate to call me if you have any questions, 801-647-8310. thanks!

I posted this on Facebook when I couldn't sleep (still got my 7 hours) - it strikes me this morning that this IS the test of all tests:

"[Satan's] cause is never more in danger than when a human, no longer desiring, but still intending, to do [God's] will, looks round upon a universe from which every trace of Him seems to have vanished, and asks why he has been forsaken, and still obeys." (C.S. Lewis, Screwtape Letters)

It seems that any bad habit is never more in danger than when a human, no longer desiring, but still intending to change, looks round at no evidence of progress towards the new goal, and wonders why he is even still trying, and still does it.

That was a really crappy paraphrase, but you get the idea. Change for the new habit, even when the result is slow in coming. Sounds like we had some interesting weekends.....

My score for last week.... ooops

Score = 685

I'm still here

Wow, what a week last week was. It was good, it just flew by so fast
and I didn't talk to many of you. I hope you are all well. This was by far a harder week for me
but, I still did ok. Thank goodness for good snacks to have on hand!
Lori, thank you for your example in being good.

Marvelous

I marvel at how much we learn each week. All the wisdom in just our weekend posts is amazing. Here's what I want to learn (as said by Virginia Woolf): "To enjoy freedom we have to control ourselves." Voila! (i.e. "wall-aaah!" if you're from Alabama).

p.s. Jodi: I don't want to know...

Here for my points

Can't wait for the explanation Jodi! Ha

I'll explain later

what a day of sleeping, starving, pooing and hard core pain.

Sunday

It is hard on fast Sunday not to stuff yourself at dinner time... which today I did!
:-( I was just so hungry. I slipped today... but I will start again tomorrow. :-) Here is to a great week!

fast sunday

wow, it is hard to get the water in when fasting all day. i am afraid i will be up all night! I hope all of you know that on fast sunday you give yourself full meal points if you fast. i am not sure we covered that for the new people at the meeting. amazing how good food taste when you have fasted all day! hope you had a great day!

KEEPING THE SABBATH HOLY? I DON'T THINK SO.

I am sad because I had to work a few hours today. 95% of the time I can put appointments off until Monday & not work Sundays but every now & then there is a housing "ox in the meyer" & I have to "pull it out." It's my only day off & it is VERY painful when I don't get all of it. Oh well... I need to play the glad game & be grateful I have a job & that I have clients who trust me with their largest asset. Anyway...I will just read some of the great quotes you all have been posting & that will lift my spirits. Thanks for what you write.

5 points

Last night was a feast, then a fast, followed by another feast. WOW.

Fast Sundays have even been different because of this contest. More purpose-driven. Boy, it's good for us to always practice discpline, eh?

Happy Sunday, y'all. :)

Last week points

I texted to Jennifer and Laureen my points on Friday.  I did not have access to a computer on Friday.  My points were 700!

Relaxing today.  Trying to decide if we are going to Vegas or not.  I hope not!!!  I'd rather stay here!!  It is going to be hard to go to work in October!  I am enjoying our company and my time away from the office!!  We had fresh melons for breakfast this morning (from Green River!!)

Day of rest

Thank heaven for that!

Sunday

I love Sundays - for many reasons. It's nice just to have a day off, mostly "off" of the normal pressures and stress of the work-a-day week. Hope you all have a great Sunday.

saturday

I almost forgot to post as well- today was a great free day! :-) controlled and I didnt feel sick or gross. I did enjoy my tres leches cake- so so good! Now to a fresh start tomorrow.

Dissapointing day

I've looked forward to this dirty dash for months and have been having back issues for over a week. Well, today during the race, i slipped and my back went out and i had to drop out. Talk about mad. Now i'm on strong meds trying to stop the spasms. The pain SUCKS!!!

Consistency

Consistency is the key.

How do you be come consistent?

By being consistent.

If you stop, you start again.

Had a great day...had a wonderful spiritual uplift tonight.

I want to be the person I know God wants me to be.

By being in control with food, I am closer to that person. This contest is helping me get there.

Thanks.

almost forgot to post! I had a really busy day but I kept drinking my water and I think my energy level was higher because I was hydrated.

TO JODI

Feel better, I am thinking about you always. Sorry for the rough day. You are tougher than any rough day.....

We all rock!

I'm embarressed to say it's taken me 14 hours spread over 3 days to deep clen and de-junk my kitchen and dining room! Cleaning is like excersize it's never done! Good night.

Saturday is a special day

Special because I had a bushel of fresh peaches that needed to be taken care of today...

3 peach pies, 14 quarts of canned peaches, 9 pints of cooked peach jam, 5 pints of freezer peach jam, and a whole family with tummy aches... Glad I am done, but sure enjoyed having the wonderful fresh fruit around.

I took my dinner off so I could enjoy some fresh peach pie (and I had taken my lunch of yesterday for the same reason). Fresh peaches, graham cracker crust (made with splenda at least), real whipped cream... Seriously-lovin' the fall harvest! Because I ate a whole half of a pie myself I had to double my workout today too. That probably accounted for maybe 2 of the bites of the pie... But it was so worth it!!!

I am glad that so many of you are loving this game. It has been good for so many people and it makes me happy that so many are making positive changes in their life. HERE'S TO A GREAT (PEACH PIE FREE) WEEK!!

Back from Moab!!

Wow!!  Arches, Canyonlands, Dead Horse Point!!  Forgot how awesome it is down there!!!  We went out to eat and I had a healthy meal and no dessert!  Everyone else did!!  The amazing part is that I didn't even want any.  I was full so finished!!! 

Did a 4.2 mile hike to Double O Arch and Landscape Arch!  It was beautiful and so was the weather!!

Next week we head down to Vegas (maybe?)  Trying to talk them into Yellowstone instead!

I am so glad I am doing this with all of you!  I really made good food and snack decisions (califlower on the drive down!!) and it is getting easier!!  Thanks to you all!!!

beautifu day!

What a gorgeous fall day out there. I wish i could be out doing something wonderful in it. Instead I am inside cleaning and doing laundry. ugh, i hate saturday chores. thanks kristin for the beautiful boutonniere you saved us! i will take you for a sinful red mango for our treat. Love it! only 100 calories and 2 ww points. makes you feel like you are cheating!!!!

I GOT NOTHIN TO SAY

I have no thoughts in my tired brain. Sunday tomorrow- free day & sleeping in. Love 1 pm church!

Habits

This is a paraphrase of one of my favorite quotes. It's been rattling around in my head this morning, as I completed 29 consecutive weeks of exercising 6 days. It's Albert Grey, whoever he is, and it goes something like this:

"The difference between successful people and failures is that successful people have the habit of doing things that the failures don't like to do. The successful people don't necessarily like doing it either, but the strength of their purpose subordinates their disliking."

What a great way to describe.......a true grown-up?

Here's to week 3!

Persistence

I want to congratulate (even tho they are our competition) Lori and Kristin for a most excellent Double-Double: 720x720! Totally awesome. I hope to duplicate your feat this week with Laureen. Here's what Tobias Wolff said about persistence: "We are made to persist. That's how we find out who we are." So true. Thanks for your example.

free meal!

So I had my free meal today... I ate what I wanted... and a little more,and I just didnt feel that great tonight. I am grateful we are all striving to eat healthy. I feel so much better physically and spiritually. Thank heavens for good, healthy food.

Good week and DANG IT!!

Why did I lose the easiest 10 points of the game?

I've been in the temple all morning!!! (Longer than we anticipated...)

Should have planned better and posted before we left!

Anyway, I had a perfect week, minus the 10 for reporting early.......

710

Down pounds, too!!!! :o)

I'm with Laureen-- LOVE THIS CONTEST!

SCORE

My score is 714 and I lost weight!

Week 2

I'm so excited my weight went down again this week. When I first began lifting 7 years ago, it took weeks for the scale to start going down. The best part: I have one of those scales that approximates your body fat percentage, water, bone, etc. My fat percentage was down 2.2% from two weeks ago!

It continues to be hard to plan 5 healthy meals every day (Dan, I feel your pain) - it's my biggest challenge. But, this week's total.......720.

I love this contest.

great week

didn't quite lose my 1%, which is my personal goal each week but close! feeling so good and in control this time around. great job Kristin! we are doing awesome so far! let's hope we can keep it up another 6 weeks. perfect score for me, yahoo, i dont think i had more then a couple of those the last 3 times i have played this game.

That Hurts

My apologies to my excellent teammate (Laureen) as I had a bad day traveling yesterday and didn't get 5 healthy meals in. Total score for the week = 692 pts.

698

Sorry Jodi

I had a hungry week. You know, one of those weeks where you feel like you could eat your shoe if only you had some yummy dipping sauce... The thing is, instead of eating crappy stuff and making bad (or worse) choices, I tried to just eat more good stuff. So I took some snacking penalties because I ate a few too many snacks, even though they were healthier snacks than I would have otherwise chosen. Some weeks are like that.. and I am OK with that. It is not always going to be easy and I am fully invested for life. There will be ups and downs on the scale, as well as in life, and I am not going to let it define me or how I feel about my day. So with that said, here is my crappy score... 685 (hopefully, next week, I won't have a hungry week...)

I only lost.6 last week that makes me disappointed but I like all the habits and I am making progress. I will keep at it! On my free meal and my free day, Saturday I am still going to be a little careful.

points!

This week= 705. wahoo! Improvement from last week. :-)

Friday is here!

Score 720. This is my third game and it's been a long time since I've had a perfect week! Thanks Lori!!

I HAVE GOT TO BLOG EARLIER

I want to scrapbook. That sounds so fun except that I already have too many hobbies that cost too much that I don't have time to do- I wish exercising was one of them. Actually if my mouth is moving then I don't realize I'm exercising. I don't make sense this late... I have got to blog earlier.

hey I was hungery today!! I am glad tommorow is my free meal, I am looking forward to it.

Exercise!

Dan (dad) mentioned biking.

Here's proof:

Almost Forgot

Been traveling all day and almost forgot my blogging responsibilities... Alyssa: Your tres leches cake story es fantastico! I am so proud of you.

YES!

It feels so good to be in control, doesn't it?

I think from reading everyone's posts (and knowing some of you personally) control is the problem, not food.

Food is not the enemy. It is a way to stay alive, fueled, and yes, even indulge in every once in a while.

The enemy is ourselves. As Dave Ramsey likes to say, "WE (I) have met the enemy, and the enemy is US (me)."

Our control with food is the problem. Not food. Like the quote I said earlier, "When hunger isn't the problem, eating is not the solution."

Today I wore shorts I haven't been able to wear all summer because they were uncomfortably tight.

I wore them today. :o)

My body hurts!!!

Worked all day. Back is killing. Plum tuckered out and going to do my 20 min of exercise if i can find something to do without being on my feet.

triumph!

Ok, this was awesome!! I was at home and there is a knock at the door. It is a hispanic lady and her son and they are selling Tres Leches cake!!!! For those of you who dont know what this is.... best cake ever!! It is a delicious mexican cake that is very moist. Anyway, I really wanted some and good mexican food is an awesome treat here in Rexburg. So, I bought a slice... and put it in the fridge! :-) I thought after dinner.. I could eat a bite (using it for my 100 calories)... but then I thought: NO! my goal is to not eat sweets after dinner. I will eat that delicious cake... on Saturday for my free day! :-) It was awesome!

Here for my 5

:)

last blog for next two days

Now we head down to Moab to see Arches, Canyonlands, and Dead Horse Point!  Lots of hiking and water drinking!!!  Eating well for company being here!  Last night grilled salmon, and salad!  I'll be texting the next couple of days!  Bis Spater!

scrapbook day - yahoo!

I am so excited to scrapbook today with kelly and kristin. It is the highlight of my week and with all of us on the game it is easy to pack a healthy lunch to eat together.

5 points

Easiest 5 points of the day. I'm trying to figure out exactly how to get all my water today, as we have our stake' day in the temple. 100 oz. from 2:00 p.m. to 6: p.m.? It could happen....with LOTS of intermissions during piano lessons. :)

ALMOST FORGOT

I almost forgot to blog. Goodnight!

power

I am not the biggest fan of exercising, but I know I need to do it, and it feels empowering. I feel I am doing my body good and helping myself gain discipline. It is also empowering when I eat correctly too. It is awesome how much better you feel. Now I just have to keep at it, so the scale keeps going down! :-) Thanks everyone... and good night!

Ice Cream

I am so well taken care of in my neighborhood.

They all know that Brett is traveling and doing his residency and not home.

My good friend (who doesn't know about the contest) brought me a pint of Ben and Jerry's Pistachio Ice Cream.

I gave her a hug, told her thank you, put it in the freezer.

I didn't even think twice.

I'm with Jennifer.....it feels good to have that kind of will power.

Needing my 7 hours

Sorry, too tired. That's all I got. I hope tomorrow I will have something inspirational to say, but don't hold your breath.

victory over lunch out with the girls

Today I went to lunch with the girls it was my longest Friend Gina's birthday I loved celebrating with her. I had a dilemma it was not my free day. I did not want to use it as my free day either Doug has a date planned and he told me to save my free meal for him on Friday and I really like having my free day be on Saturday. I managed to have a half of sandwich and a small cup of soup. I passed of the desert. I had a great time visiting and I did not even feel deprived. I like having that kind of willpower.

Hump Day!

We are halfway there through another week. Hope everyone is doing well. I am not feeling so well today, feel like I am going to pass out. It is kind of scary! Hopefully it will get better. Have a great day!

Routine

Just finished my workout. Blog while I cool down. Now, off to eat. LOVE the poem. That's what it's all about - the whole life test. Learn another way. There's Someone who will help you, and Someone who will make everything right from all the messes we made figuring it out.

Today, I wish for a personal chef. The wish shall not be granted, so I shall go take care of myself.....well. LOVE your posts, guys.

Not taking credit

I guess i should have noted that this short story was not my own. Someone gave it to me last week in group counseling. I thought it was amazing!

Poetry

I used to tell people that I had no use for poetry as most of it is (at least to my "not-trained-in-the-arts" mind) incomprehensible. Until Jodi. That poem was awesome. I hope there's more where that came from. You need to have it published! It goes well with this quote from Wayne Dyer: "Heaven on earth is a choice you must make, not a place we must find." Thanks Jodi.

Getting harder

eating properly with company is tough.  Not so much the main meals but getting in the healthy snacks.  And drinking water while sightseeing!!  Thank goodness there are toilets everywhere!!!  Today we head for Target, Fashion Place mall, and the Capitol!

It's fall cleaning time.

My mother in law is a cleaning fanatic. We are helping eachother get our houses spruced up! I'm so embarressed she can work twice as fast as me and is a perfectionist. Cleaned my garage out Monday it took 4 hours and yesterday We did my living room, hall, staircase and closet. She helped me for 2 1/2 hours and then I did another 3 on my own. We are talking blinds, walls, baseboards, light fixtures, windows, window runners. You name it I cleaned it. The problem I excercise early in the morning 5:30 or 6am So by 7pm I am toast! Maybe I'll get a metabolism boast. Ha! I should be so lucky!

7 is better than 5.5

7 hours are way better than 5.5 hours of sleep! Last night was crazy for homework! But I did get to exercise. Wahoo! But now, it is off to bed!
Thanks for all your posts! They are inspiring!!

Hello and Goodbye

I'm going to bed in a few minutes here.

Thanks for the poem, Jodi. I think the key is taking responsibility. Once responsibility is taken, that enables us to change.

Thanks for the inspiration.

An Autobiography in 5 short chapters

CHAPTER 1
I walk, down the street
There is a deep hole in the sidewalk
I fall in
I am lost..... I am helpless
It isn't my fault
It takes forever to find a way out

CHAPTER 2
I walk down the same street.
There is a deep hole in the sidewalk.
I pretend I don't see it.
I fall in again
I can't believe I am in the same place but, it isn't my fault.
It still takes a long time to get out.

CHAPTER 3
I walk down the same street
There is a deep hole in the sidewalk.
I see it there.
I still fall in.... it's a habit, my eyes are open.
I know where I am.
It is my fault.
I get out immediately.

CHAPTER 4
I walk down the same street.
There is a deep hole in the sidewalk.
I walk around it.

CHAPTER 5
I walk down another street.

THANKS CAMI

Thanks Cami for your kind words, you are so right. I have not let my "blowing it" get me down. I am back on track and the exercising & eating are in good shape. Amen to the laughing cow- I love it! It tastes so good it makes me think I'm cheating.

fish tacos for dinner, cannot wait!!

Exercise

Fortunately I am one who enjoys exercising. Yes, some days and some types are boring, but I have always enjoyed the physical workout and the mental boost I feel from doing something that requires exertion. I tell you what... Cami (our daughter) got me on a bike this past July and I am totally in love. Obsessed might be a better word. We go riding together a couple of times a week and the total-body workout you get from a hardy bike ride is 2X better than anything at the gym. From what I have read you can burn more than 1000 calories per hour on a good ride. It is way fun too. Thanks Cami!

p.s. Hang in there Sarah - You can do it and think of how royal you'll feel when you stayed true to your determination. Yeah baby!

gotta blog.....

but nuttin to say!

Great Workout

SOOOO good to be back to the gym. I hit the weights just right today - not impossible to do, but each muscle group was good and fatigued by the end, and could baaaarely do the last few. My body is doing the Snoopy dance inside thanking me!

Amen to the Laughing Cow cheese /salsa/ special K cracker snack, Lyss! It is extremely satisfying.

Right now, I want an egg and my yummy toast. Add some tomatoes and avocado, and get 2 servings of veggies out of it! I get to play with my friend today - better plan ahead and take some carrots and hummus, eh?

Taking care of your bod ROCKS.

so far so good!

First day with company!  We went to the Temple and then Costco!!!  Tuckered them out!!  Ate really healthy!  I am 0.2 lbs away from my goal weight this week!!  It'll be tough with the family in town but I am dedicated to accomplish it!!  Also, the goal to stop cussing is becoming easier!  Thank God!!!

Morning

Have a good day!

great snack

I love eating laughing cow cheese, salsa, and special k crackers. I am trying to eat snacks that are filling, yet good for you. This is one of my favorites. :-) Now it's off to bed! :-)

prayers for a friend.

I know many of you know Eilene Hezseltine, she had a brain anuerysm this morning and is in the hospital. She is doing really well but will have to stay there all week so they can watch her. Please keep her in your prayers. It sure makes you realize you just never know! Live each day to the fullest. night all!

Flood or Fire?

I woke up this morning at 5:00 to go the the gym and right before leaving i went to fill up my water bottle in the kitchen. Lucky for me, I have an amazing sense of smell and could smell something similar to a hot stinky sauna. At first i thought it was the smell from the fires in Herriman but had a really bad feeling it was something else. I then saw water on our kitchen floor and found that our hot water valve under our sink had cracked and was leaking. Then the dreaded was heading to the basement to find 2 rooms flooded. So there went my workout and instead spent hours cleaning up a flooded mess. Do you all think i could count this as my workout since my intentions were all there?

today is a crazy day! I am really working to get everything done. but I am hanging in there.

To Jane

I'm sure we can all totally relate to what you're feeling right now. Wether it's making a mistake, overbooking, or giving into our bad habits, when we do that, then we just throw our hands up in the air and say, "Oh well."

Sometimes for me, it's if I give in and "cheat". In my previous life (before this contest) if I'd 'cheat' and eat something unhealthy, I'd just think, "Well, I've already had that, so I might as well enjoy the rest of the day and go all out, and start over again tomorrow.

That is when the downward spiral begins.

The key is, to acknowledge that it happened. Accept it. Figure out why it happened. Recognize how you feel because it happened. Realize you do not what to feel that way again. Take steps to make sure it doesn't happen again.

If it does, repeat. Repeat and repeat until we realize the consequences of our 'giving in' (or whatever you want to call it) are not worth it.

Any experience can be transformed into something of value to us; IF WE JUST LET IT!!! Everything depends on the way we look at things. We cannot have the successes without the failures, right? :)

Our greatest weakness lies in giving up.

The most certain way to succeed is always to try just one more time.

Thomas A. Edison

So Jane, just keep keeping on! It's OK! We all still love you!

I REALLY BLEW IT!

I really blew it. I stayed up til after 1 AM sat. night putting up peaches & my son had friends, over, which is against my new habit of being in bed by midnight. Peaches wait for no man or woman as the case may be. Real Estate is so unpredictable and I ended up showing homes so the peaches got put to the end of the day. Anyway... I just over booked myself & that's what happens. BUT then I forgot to blog yesterday which I have no excuse for accept that it is just not a habit for me yet. It makes me angry at myself because that one was totally avoidable. Everyone please watch me now. What I have sometimes done in the past when I make a mistake I go right to give-up because I can't have a perfect score. I AM DETERMINED NOT TO DO THAT THIS TIME! So I am promising you all right now that if I give up on this contest I will pay each of you $10. You are all my witnesses!

Guten Morgen!

My family from Germany has arrived!!  Now the challenge begins!!  I have to follow the lead of my sister in law!  She is a lite eater!!  We are going to the Temple today and then Costco!!  Have a good day!

Adrenals & Sugar

@ Dan: AMEN. I had a free meal yesterday, and may I just say:

YUCK.

I cannot believe that I used to feel this way all the time.

As I look back for all these years I've been overweight, I think as I abused my body by staying up too late, my adrenals would scream for sugar the next day, begging for anything to keep it going. Putting that kind of stress on my adrenals for that many years has been like spending your retirement funds on pizza and shoes. Now, I'm behind on my body's ROTH-IRA! Thank heavens I'm changing that. I like how I feel when I eat clean food SO MUCH better than how I used to feel when I ate crap.....whenever. This structure really helps you hear what your body has been saying all these years: FEED ME! Not: FILL ME UP! These are completely different messages. I love that I can tell the difference.

Re: Free Day

I have really enjoyed everyone's posts, especially all he comments regarding free day. It has been a good reminder to me that I used to feel that way all the time, but now it's only once a week. A good lesson for me to remember because I don't want to go back to those days...

good monday!

Here is to another great week. mondays are not my favorite day.....getting kids out the door, back to the grind of laundry, work, and schedules. had a great weekend with friends and family.

Here for my points

Have a good day everyone! I've never thought of making smores with Reeses! Sounds like heaven!!

Free Day

Glad free day is done and ready for a new week! Thanks for all your stories and inspiration!

Grilled Zucchini

Hey everyone! I hope everyone had a beautiful Sunday. My was wonderful. I am very grateful for the weather right now. Rexburg can be so beautiful and pleasant. I hope this last just a bit longer! Tonight for part of my dinner, I had grilled Zucchini. It was wonderful! I just put it in a pan with some seasoning and had it as a veggie. I recommend it to all. Well here's to the start of another crazy crazy week. Good Luck!

sunday back to the good life

I used my free meal on Friday night and it was a delightful meal at a cute Italian restaurant downtown. We sat on the patio in the perfect evening air. I just ordered what I wanted and really enjoyed it. Then on Saturday was my free day I started off thinking I was not going to take a free day this week but I went to a baby shower and they had yummy stuff and I really enjoyed that also. I am committed to my free days because it makes me have more power to stay good the rest of the week. My body is glad that my free stuff is over for a week. My mind is also. anyway I am a believe in the free meal and free day!

Ditto

Ditto Jodi,
My free day was yesterday also.  Those s'mores did look good! However my small steak, salad and corn on the cob were fantastic today! I helped to have a full stomach before going into the canyons to roast marshmellows and make s'mores.

food, food and more food

farewell food. Camp food. reeses smores and more. Too bad my free day was Saturday.

Sunday - meh.

Kristin - I have a raging headache today, too, but I thought it was cause my sleep is off - AGAIN. Harder than 2-3 hour intermissions every night? LYING THERE THE WHOLE TIME TO GET MY DANG POINTS.

Sugar is overrated.

What is it with sunday?

Every sunday I get an awful head ache! I don't get it! Love everyone's blogs. Y"all are keeping me going ;)

Growing Pains

To me this contest is engendered in what Sarah has said a couple of times: Overcoming old and bad habits. It is very challenging. "Happiness is neither virtue nor pleasure nor this thing nor that but simply growth. We are happy when we are growing" (William Butler Yeats). One thing I do know: I am growing when I am defeating bad habits!

A win!! Yeah!

Ended up playing doubles, but we went 3 sets!!  SO FUN!!  The ladies we played were so nice in spite of us defeating them!  Then back home to yet again paint....Today hopefully is the last day - the touch up day and clean up!
And the vacation starts for real!  two weeks of not going to the office!!!!  I am not taking off from this and take the easy way out.  I will be doing the program the entire time, trying to make better food choices, and work on those impossible habits!

water early!!

Well, today is my free day :-) and you should all travel to Rexburg, Idaho to try what I ate tonight. I went to a place called Sammy's and they have these shakes where they put a whole slice of pie in the shake.... that's right a whole slice of pie!!! It was amazing. The burger and the sweet potato fries were delicious too! I had mint oreo pie and my friend had blueberry pie. Now that your mouths are all watering... :-) today was actually a good free day. I didnt eat every bad thing I could think of all through out the day. But, I did learn something very important. When it is free day, drink water more early! I am trying to finish my 100 onces, but I am still so full from dinner! ug.... but I'm going to do it! now to start a fresh new great healthy day- yay for Sundays.

IMPORTANT, IMPORTANT, IMPORTANT!

I don't know if any of you noticed that we added the 100 calorie snacking to the rules. For those of you that were in the last game you already know that rule but for those of you that are newbies let me try to explain that rule. Everyday you may have a 100 calorie bite, snack, taste or whatever without a penalty. Say for instance you go to a birthday party, work party, relief society or any other outing where you would just like a taste or bite of something you can do that. Like a 1x1 square of brownie or bite of cake or ice cream would be your 100 calorie snack. Or if you are really hungry and just need something to hold you over and you want a 100 calorie pack of something you can have that in addition to your regular 5 meals without a penalty. I hope you all understand this. If not give me a call!

PRONATION VS. SUPINATION

Laureen you had to bring up exercise shoes- one of my pet peeves. I know most of you don't know me so before I go into a detailed discussion about buying exercise shoes you need to know where I'm coming from. I got a degree related to this in college. Most athletic shoe makers assume people have a supination (you wear out your heals on the outside) which most people do so they make shoes that pronate. If you have a pronation (you wear out your shoes on the inside)however, then most athletic shoes are going to cause you problems i.e. ankle pain, knee pain, back pain. You CAN often buy great athletic shoes for less if you know what to look for & how you wear out your shoes. I have yet to find an athletic store whose clerks know any of this so asking doesn't work. If you get pain in your joints when you do weight baring exercise most of the time it is your shoes. I'm sorry to be so boring but on the bright side, it is late and reading this should put you to sleep.

Way to go!

I love hearing about everyone's experiences giving up the garbage at big events! It is inspiring!

I had a big family luau (husband's aunt is married to a Samoan) with a fire dance and everything. Of course, there was A TON of food! But, I passed on the rolls fried pork and cookies, ice cream and bday cake. And stuck with the pork tenderloin and fruit! I felt satisfied and it was great!

Thanks for the inspiration! Way to go, Kristin--especially when you were totally craving it. It's one thing to pass it up when the urge isn't that strong. A whole other thing to overcome when it's a 'beast' as you said! Good job!!

Inspiring, motivational thought

Not coming to me. Sorry!!!!

Sketcher's Shape-ups

K - I know Jennifer loves these - anyone else? I bought some, but I'm not sure I like them or not, yet. I have extremely pronated feet (turned in), and they seem to accentuate that. But I love how my glutes feel! Woo-woo.

Today completes 28 weeks - in a row, mind you - of exercising 6 days a week. I'm frankly puzzled at the lack of parade, fanfare, medal or honor, or some type of cash award.

Inspiring

That's what I'm talking about. Kristin - you are the bomb! You passing up the goodies at a buffet is mind-boggling to me. Following your awesome example, I may be able to do it now. Totally Awesome. Thanks. And thanks Game On.

Have a great Sunday Everyone.

I forgot to add my post by noon points!

refocus time!

Wow everyone did so well!  Congratulations on the first week.  Guess I have to be perfect to be able to compete!!  I have tennis league today up in Park City.  Hope I get to play singles since it is more running around!

Tried on a pair of 14 jeans and have about 2 inches to go if I want to button them up!  I am hoping that by the end of this 8 weeks, I'll be able to wear them properly!

Week 2

I went to a Relief Society activity with my mom last night. It was a potluck, salads, bread's and desserts. It was the first time in a week I was really craving chocolate it was like putting an acoholic in a bar and telling them not to drink. It took all my will power but, I passed on dessert, picked half a slice of whole grain bread, passed on all the pasta salads soaked in mayo. I had a large green salad and it was torture. I am glad I did it now, but I'll be honest I had to keep talking myself out of having a treat!" Mind over Matter". Thanks Lori for motivating me to go without sweets for a few weeks it was the only thing that saved me from the beast!

Good job all you perfects!

Sorry partner, but you know I can do better. I have loved talking to you this week and I am so proud of how well you are doing. You are a great example to me (in many ways) and I hope I don't disappoint this week!

Reply's count as blogging right? Seems like to me you should get points for reading and responding to others posts.

Weed One!

Well, this has been a great week!

I have learned a lot already:

I had to lose 30 points from not getting 7 hrs. of sleep on 2 different nights!!! Talk about horrible! I was so disappointed in that! It was due to a lack of planning on my part and I still had so much to do at night time that had to be done.....then I had to wake up early to go exercise! I didn't want to lose those points, too!! Anyway, it taught me that planning is so valuable! I will do better next week!

On the bright side, I did lose 4 lbs!!! (YEA!!!)

So, my points are 670+10 (1% weight loss goal) + 10 (reporting by noon)= 690.

Thanks for letting me be a part of this and for all your great ideas!

Lori- I loved all your snack ideas that you posted on Alyssa's post! Thanks!

Week 1 Total

I started back to the gym - it's been more than TWO YEARS since I lifted regularly. But I got there 3x this week, and my body is letting me know it. Luckily, the scale still went down - it often doesn't with weight lifting - at first. But...a perfect first week - 720 points. Stay. The. Course. Week 2 - bring it on.

RUNNING FAST & WEIGHING LESS

I made it! I got all the points for the week (720) & I achieved my weight loss goal!! Love this program- don't love the break-neck speed my days have sometimes. Working my guts out with Real Estate & Family from 7AM until I drop dead @ 11 PM is tough but I know I'm preaching to the choir. But, I closed on a home & lost 2 pounds WITHOUT being hungry. Kelly, I hope your back is feeling better soon. Thanks for the inspirational comments you all write.

I didn't get all my water in yesterday. What a lazy way to lose 10 points. I did get the weight loss points though so my score is 710

week one

One week down and 7 to go. Well, it sounds like everyone did a great job this week. My score was 684. I lost some points for not exercising one day and a couple other things, but I am down in weight :-) Which is great. I am proud of all you! Thanks for being my great examples!

one down seven to go!

Great first week!!  I still need to overcome my bad habits but I am tons better than before I started this program!!!  I think this is the first time ever I have take vitamins 7 days in a row!!!  Not to mention actually doing my back exercises!!

My score this week is 668.  I didn't count my bad day as a free day.  I dont want to give myself that much freedom.  I know myself and would go hog wild!!!

 Jennifer - I'll try to do better next week!  By the time my next hair cut, you will see less of me!!!!  Good luck partner!!!!

MMMMMMM - Pie Heaven

My son taught me this: "If you ever have to choose between regular heaven and pie heaven, choose pie heaven...because even if you're wrong, mmmmmmmmmm PIE!

I had to deduct 10 pts for eating a piece of pie on my birthday (Tuesday). But, mmmmmmmmm PIE!

I made up the lost 10 pts with the bonus weight loss pts. So my score for week 1 = 710.

Everyone seems to be doing great. Let's do it again.

score 700

glad to have the first week under our belt. did great except one day of exercise. I am down 4.5 lbs. so that is awesome. Here we go to a second week! thanks for playing!

My Score

ere I went to bed tuesday evening. Did I think to pray? No! DANG! -10 score for the week 710. I did have a fabulous week! One whole week without chocolate or diet coke and I didn't die!

total of points 1 week

my points for the week is 710 i missed one of my personal goals this week.

sign in= points, turn in points tonight = points

The bad news: this week I had 2 days with no exercise due to an epidural on tuesday, and  MD orders to take it easy for 2 days. ;(
So total points for week is: 670
The good news : I lost 5.5 lbs!!

exercising.....

Well, this week has been a great week. A hard one... That is for sure. I think my hardest thing to do in Exercising. I know I need to and it helps me a lot, but during school it seems to be a last priority for me. Anyway I am trying to make sure I plan it in... or it will not get done. But it is getting easier as the semester starts.

On another note,... Anybody have any good snack/ meal ideas that are easy to make and take to school?

veggie quesadilla

tonights dinner was pretty good, you take a whole wheat tortilla in a pan with a little olive oil, put a handful of broccoli slaw with 1/2 c. mozzarella cheese and a few onion slices and pan fry. you need to use pretty low heat so the broccoli slaw has time to soften. serve with salsa and 2 T. light sour cream. It is pretty fun to try these new recipes, this is not something i would have thought to do.

thursay

hey, It has only been a week from the start, It seems like longer. This is how I want to live the rest of my life.

I hate canning!

I have a peach tree and the fruit is ripe. I've been canning all day today and part of yesterday 30Quarts and 5 pints of peaches 2 batches of raspberry freezer jam and the worst is yet to come my tomatoes and peppers are ready so it's Salsa tommorrow. I love growing a garden ,but this time of year it's overwhelming! I must say it is nice to have fresh veggies everyday though. I had steamed fresh green beans for dinner. Tonight I get crookneck squash and zuchinni cooked with onions and olive oil. I LOVE IT! I also eat fresh tomatoes and cucumbers for lunch almost everyday! So much work to keep it up but I do love it! Good luck to everyone tommorrow! This week has been fantastic!

Yummy Breakfast

Some of you have heard this one before, so forgive me for being repetitive. Forgive me for being repetitive.

I love to nuke grape tomatoes with a little olive oil, Salad Supreme, and grated FRESH parmesan cheese (throw that green can away!). I have these yummies with an egg and a piece of 1-pt. whole wheat toast. WELL....

Today, I cut up chunks of avocado with it, and smeared the avocado and egg on the toast.

OH MY GOODNESS. And here's the best part, besides the fact that my tongue is still begging for more. FOUR servings of vegetables in my breakfast. FOUR. A good lean protein, a whole grain - does it get any better? Between that and my workout, my body loves me sooooo much right now.

Good first week! I never know if the scale will show it, but it's good to be accountable for my habits again. LOVE the blogs - you guys are great!

almost there!

Remember to put your scores on as a post by noon tomorrow. Hope everyone had a great week!

GO KELLY!

Way to go Kelly my amazing partner! Thanks for the tip Dan. Got a break-neck day today. GO! FIGHT! WIN! Everybody!

Excited

Had a wonderful workout yesterday and then a wonderful phone call (from your house, Jodi! So excited!).  Realizing that I can survive and even thrive when feeling just a bit hungry.  I can overcome cravings.  I can be disciplined with my diet and feel wonderful. Thanks for inviting me to play Lori.

Don't worry - Be happy

I have to admit that over the years I have had my struggles with being happy. The stresses of life and my own personality conspired against me at times. Knowing that the object and design of our existence is to be happy, I have to accept responsibility for my own well-being. I truly believe that being happy is a learned behavior - one that requires constant practice.

Turns out that there is even another benefit from being happy: A Cornell University study showed that people who are sad tend to not only eat more food but also eat more high-carbohydrate, high-calorie comfort food than those who feel happy.

Just another great reason to be happy!

almost end of week!

First day back to work.  Took time off to paint, then next two weeks I am on  vacation.  I'm not going to take time off from this program though.  I need to learn to eat properly even when on vacation.  I will try to blog when possible, and then text when I cannot!  Not sure if a scale will be around on Fridays but we will see!

My rings are on my fingers again!!!  Just after a few pound loss!  Next those size 14 jeans...

Thank you

Thanks to all of you who post and share. This contest has saved me from a "bad choice" more than once!!

Thanks for your inspiration. And have you heard this one?

"Nothing tastes as good as being healthy feels."

SO TRUE!!!

love this blog

I think we have the best blog ever! I am inspired by all of you! Laureen I thought that was you going to the gym this morning! Morning work outs rock!

doing good

hi to you all! Hope everyone is having a great week. It has been a good one for me.
It's amazing how eating good, exercising, getting rest and taking care of yourself can
make you feel sooo great. It feels good to be back in the game.  Hurray!!

Pray for Janna

For those of you who were on the last "Game on" and were able to meet my partner Janna, I just wanted to let you know how very sick she is. We went to Jackson Hole the first week of August and since the day we got back, she has to go to the hospital twice a day, 4 hours at a time and be fed by IV. Last week she finally got to eat some apple sauce. Her condition is quite unknown but her stomach got swollen and tore inside and the acid is making it not heal. She was hospitalized for 4 days last week and they were going to do surgery but found that her blood levels were off. She is scheduled to have her surgery next week.
It puts a new perspective on all the healthy food that we are able to eat. I'm sure IV food sucks!!!!!

Food / Nutrition Values

In answer to Jane's question and as a recommendation to all: www.livestrong.com has a great way to track any food and all associated nutrition values. Just register and then pull down the "My Plate" menu and you can get started. It has really helped me.

delicious lunch!

one of my favorite lunches is a whole wheat tortilla with 1 T. 1/3 fat chive and onion cream cheese. two slices low sodium deli turkey with 1 sliced tomato and a handful of spinach. It is very filling and satisfying and only 4 pts on WW.

PLEASE HELP ME

Does anyone know a free, don't have to set up an account & provide your first baby tooth, web sight that has a list of foods and the numbers of calories they have? OR you put in the food and it tells you how many calories. I would appreciate any info you all have. THANKS!

so mad!!!

Kristin you are going to kill me! I forgot to exercise yesterday..... Had such a busy day with work and getting parkers cast on and getting parker to play practice getting savanna to and from gym, doing 8 loads of laundry and then at 7 parker came down with the flu!!!! I was planning on going for a walk after work but with cleaning up barff all night it totally slipped my mind. when i crawled into bed at 11:30 i just couldnt do it! so sorry, i hope this doesn't make it so we cant win. On the positive side i weighed myself today and i am down 4.5 lbs!!!!!!!!!

loss of points

dang I lossed 10 point yesterday for not saying my prayers. All day I said to myself yes I need to do that and I just forgot.

Awesome Partner

Talked to Jodi this morning and it really helps that she is doing so well and is so excited about this game. Thanks partner! I am finally getting into the groove and finding my "game"legs. Off to do my workout!

free meal lesson!

I had my free meal yesterday at lunch.  And learned not to waste it.  The food was so so.  Next free meal will be Log Haven or something like that!!!

I think all the painting is helping me drink plenty of water not to mention sleeping lots!  Wonder how I will do after the project is completed! 

My husband the cook went out of town for two days.  Now I have to figure out what to cook and prepare for two days!

I know this sounds weird but I cannot wait to weigh in on Friday!  Gotta run - have a good hump day! (When I was a teenager my swim coach made us swim butterfly for the entire 2 hour practice - because of this I thought he named Wednesday as hump day!)  I kind of miss those days of naivetivity (sp?!).

Routine

This is a nice routine every morning - to blog while I cool down. Good workout. Kristin - I saw you running on my way to the gym - go girl!

I had great dinner last night - we had leftover small new potatoes from our ward garden that we had steamd for Sunday's dinner. So I opened a can of low-fat turkey chili, used low-fat grated cheddar and mozzarella cheeses, and low-fat sour cream. Had a big salad with it. YUM. Very satisfying.

It's so interesting how on the one hand I fight routine and structure, but on the other hand, I crave it! Remember: if you always do what you've always done, you'll always get what you've always gotten.

Good day y'all!

Check and check

Perfect day! A bit of a stressful day but I was able to withstand and conquer! Sounds as if everyone is doing good! That is awesome! Keep it up everyone!

dinner

I made enchiladas for my family and they loved them i had a healthy choice dinner. It worked out pretty good.

tired!

I am very tired today......still loving my new menu, and i am not hungry which is wonderful. I made a marinated salmon last night with real maple syrup and low sodium soy sauce. It was heavenly!! Braedon came over tonight and I let him eat my left overs. He made me promise to invite him over next time I made that.

:)

Lori is going three weeks without a free day or free meal. I am going to make an attempt to do the same! In previous games I found that having a free day awakens the beast. Although I don't think that it is realistic to never slip up and have a treat. I think maybe if I stay away for a few weeks it might jump start the process! So I will attempt the unthinkable.
I went to the fair last night with my family. They all planned to eat at the fair and I must say I love corndogs, I mean there deep fried what else can I say! but here is the best part! I planned ahead...IMAGINE THAT! I ate a salad at home before we left. I also brought some airpopped popcorn and some fruit and nut mix for a snack so I wouldn't be tempted to eat. Guess what it worked! No corn dog for me!

JUST STUFF

Loved the quote Cami- that is SO true. Emotional eating has been a battle for me. However, if I exercise it balances me out emotionally so I don't have as much of a problem. I can never lose weight by just dieting. GO! FIGHT! WIN! everybody!

One of the best things

I sure enjoy reading everyone's posts - it's one of the best parts of this contest.

Lori - thanks for the great salad recipe. Laureen - thanks for reminding me to listen. Cami - thanks for reminding me of the real purpose of food... Jodi - please send pictures... Sarah - I can't wait to meet you - the first person I know to beat Turrets! You guys are great.

Something to think about

Ok Friends.

For lack of a better cliche:

"Put this in your pipe and smoke it":

If hunger is not the problem, then eating isn't the solution.

Just thought I'd share that with you all. It was very eye-opening for me and it is SOOO true!

Half way there!

with painting that is!  The lesson is a little bit every day - just like changing habits and eating right!!! 

5 points

Off to a good start so far. 46 points and counting...

AM I CRAZY IF I THINK THIS IS EASY?

I am loving this program SO much. I have not been hungry once & I am afraid that I must be doing something wrong. I feel GOOD! So is the free day just so we can feel how bad we feel when we don't make the best eating choices? (And my choices weren't even that bad yesterday). Thanks for the good salad recipe Lori. I love salads!

Loving my crazy workouts!

Happy to be starting a new week. As far as exercise goes..... I'm always in for whatever. But, it is always helpful to have a goal to be working towards (i.e. triathlon, 5k, marathon,climbing a mountain, bike racing, etc). If you are always trying new goals, your workouts will always be changing depending on what you are training for. This theory is supposed to do wonders for your body by muscle confusion. It never knows what you are going to throw at it.
I am now training for the dirty dash which is a 10k run with 9 muddy obstacles. Now this one is just plain fun to think of how to train for. If any of you would like to come train with me, i promise you will get lots of looks (and probably a few laughs).

monday

Monday work outs are hard for me becuase i am getting things back together from the weekend. I am going to work out tonight, I think it is risky to wait until the evening but gotta do it!!! I am chuggen down the water it feels good.

Healthy delicious Salad

I thought I would share some of the recipes from this menu that i am following if they are good. when I first looked at the ingredients in this salad I was really scared. I hate vinegar and oil dressing!!! Surprisingly it was delicious so here you go! 3 cups baby spinach, 1/2 c. cubed cucumber, 2 oz roasted turkey breast, 2 T. craisins, 2 T. feta cheese, 2 t. balsamic vinegar, and 2 t. olive oil. mix and enjoy. very lowfat and healthy!!

Happy Monday!

Hey All-

Had a great weekend and yesterday was free day!

And, I kept my goal. I was in control. No bingeing or going overboard! It was a great feeling and I didn't wake up feeling horrible.....which lead to a great Monday morning work-out. (Which if your free day is on Sunday, is hard to come by!)

busy day!

today is the first day of my really strict 3 week menu. Lots of new interesting recipes that i am not sure i will love because it is not what i would chose to put together but excited to try new things. My son broke his wrist on saturday night and we will find out today if he needs surgery to pin it back together or if it will heal correctly without it. lets pray surgery is not needed. off to a busy day! good luck this week! I love this blog, it is so fun to read everyones thoughts.

Cool Down

We talk about listening to the still small voice sometimes, the voice of our Maker that helps us, guides us, urges us upward. But there's another still small voice inside - the voice of the thing that the Maker made - our bodies. There are so many distractions to keep us from listening to the engine that God gave us to navigate through this life. But if we can tune into THAT voice, listen to what our bodies need, give them what they ask for, it makes it so much easier to listen to the still small Voice.

I woke up at 6:30 - plenty of sleep. But it was dark! And I didn't want to get up yet. As I lay there, I realized that I didn't want to get up yet - out of sheer habit, but my body wanted to get up! It was finished sleeping! So the next thing that I did was amazing.

I got up (I know. Where will it end?)

Stretched. Started on the water (duh!). Went to the gym. Pushed myself just a little bit (sometimes that body is like a child that needs a parent, too, you know?). The day has begun....well, because I listened!

It starts with listening. Getting up when you'd rather not. Filing away in your brain: ooh, chocolate chip cookies sound good - just not today. I can go faster, or farther today on my workout. Or not.

And then, as we master these stupid little impulses of indulgence, we can listen to a higher Voice: "Don't say that." "Call so-and-so." "Your kid needs you today." "Don't think that." And on the refining goes.

This contest is teaching me to master dumb easy stuff like getting out of bed, and slowly, but surely, it's teaching me to master harder stuff like holding my tongue, refining my thoughts. I'm off to my happy tomatoes and toast - good morning to all!

more challlenging than I thought!

I guess a habit really is hard to break!!!  and create or start!  At least I'm aware of how much I swear.  Now I can alter it.  I'm going to check the dictionary or thesaurus out to find real words to use when I'm agitated with traffic, politics or whatever!!  And really how hard is it to take daily vitamins!!!! 
I can't wait until Friday to weigh in.  I made a weekly personal goal to lose 2 lbs.  I'm gonna make it!!

Being a mother

Last one to bed. First one up in the morning.

Now that we're all warmed up...

Woo-hoo, it's Monday! Our first full week. "Here's the best way to treat a problem: as an opportunity to grow. Change if you have to. Modify if you must. Discard an old philosophy that wasn't working well for a new one. The best phrase my mentor ever gave me was when he said: "if you will change, everything will change for you." Jim Rohn

FREE DAY

Too tired to write. Good night!

Day 3

Feeling great! My friend Tiffany and I decided to quit drinking pop for good! For all of you that know me this is going to be a really hard thing for me! I figured now is a great time. There is barely enough time in a day to get my 100 oz of water. I have felt intitled to my diet coke, but it controls me. Sometimes the things you love the most are the things you need to let go of. I am sentimental about a chemical filled drink. Sounds silly I know, because it is!

Sunday Dinner

Pork roast in the crockpot all day - with applesauce cinnamon glaze.

YUM. The leftovers will pretend to be Cafe Rio salad this week.

Steamed tiny new potatoes from our ward's garden, and corn on the cob from Farmer's Market. Salad with fresh tomatoes and avocadoes, and that homemade vinaigrette that I love.

This is much, much better than dessert. Truly.

Here's to a great week, y'all!

I made it over one hurdle....bring it on!!!

Life is full of challenges and many times disappointments. It seems to be challenging just for me to walk a straight walk (i think i'm more of a wanderer or what may appear to be a drunken idiot). Today though, I had my first success in doing something right in my life as far as my spirituality. Having overcome this hurdle, i hope it drives me to know i can succeed with this 8 week challenge. A saying that my daughter found for me is "The moment someone says this is difficult, is the moment it becomes attractive to me". I love that we can all keep in touch by blogging because it takes many strengths besides our own to succeed. I love all the positive blogs! I still would love to meet all of you sometime.

Day 3 and all is well..

I am just getting ready for my Sunday nap and decided to post.  Thanks for the encouraging words Jodi.  I am feeling much better today and had a good day yesterday, I don't remember any deductions! Unfortunately, it may be a long week because I used my free day on Friday.  (Kinda sad when the first day of the game is your free day).  However, I have played this game enough times to recognize how to moderate on my free day, so even though I was around all of the wonderful greek pastries (baklava, butter cookies) and lamb gyros and butter lemon rice.. I ordered the low carb option which was still HEAVEN (chicken, zucchini & onion kabob plus a wonderful salad with tomatoes, feta cheese, etc...) . I thoroughly enjoyed it.  I have come to realize you can still be completely satisfied even when making good choices.  I still say that 100 ounces of water is too much like torture (aka waterboarding), but I know it must be good for you (really??).  I am off to take my nap!! Gotta love Sunday's!!

almost did't get 7 hours of sleep

that was close I thought that I would never be a problem with me getting 7 hr. of sleep but last night the night go away from us and then we had to go get our teenage daughter at her Friends at 11:oo and then I finally went to be at about 11:30 and got up at 7:00 but I am happy to report that I made the seven hrs. and It has brought an awareness to my amount of sleep. SLEEP IS GOOD a am going to take a nap also today. I love Sunday naps.

Wow 100 oz of water keeps you in the bathroom for most of the day!!  Won my tennis match with a new partner at that!!  Then headed off to the paint the rental.  Lots of leg and arm work involved in painting.  Guess that is why I have never seen an overweight painter!   See ya!

Refining my philosophy

It never ceases to amaze me how easy it is to fall back into my old self. Even after our last successful 8 week experience, I found that going back to old habits was way too easy. I wonder why? I would like to suggest we recruit a psychologist to be a part of our next game so that he can help me with my funny brain! Maybe for me it just takes longer than 8 weeks. I probably should realize it's going to take forever... When I was a kid I could eat what I wanted in the portions I wanted - without an obvious consequence. Now that I'm no longer able to metabolize gluttony, I need to adjust my forward-thinking philosophy and consciously plan for a healthy lifestyle. I am going to act instead of be acted upon.

Thanks Game On.

free day

today was a cazy free day I really enjoyed my self. I am ready for sunday and have some disipline.

Anyone tried depends????

By 4:00 am this morning, I had already been up 3 times during the night to pee. I love the feeling of drowning myself with water!

Here for my points.

Thanks for the cute comments!

Day 2

So.. today was my free day. I thought that would be most appropriate. But, I can tell a huge difference between an excellent day (yesterday) and today. oh- it was a great day of feasting on real Mexican food and cake- but after... the body feels sluggish... I have done this before... and I think I still want free days- I just need to have better control. anyway... I cant wait to start again tomorrow. :-)

I ALMOST FORGOT

Starting this game has been great so far. I feel GOOD! I almost forgot to blog but then I talked to Laureen & I remembered. Lots of new stuff for me to remember. Laughing cow cheese is AMAZING! I feel SO much better when I eat healthy. Why do I ever stop? Natural man is not my friend.

Day 2

I am feeling a bit better about the game today.  I think I am going to be OK Jodi.  I do have some catching up on my water... I best be getting me a glass (or two or three)

I will never forget.

As I sit here and think about what happened 9 years ago, today, I reflect on this; the gift of life that I have.

How am I living my life?

Am I living life to the fullest?

Am I becoming the kind of person I want to be? The kind of person my Heavenly Father wants me to be?

Or am I distracted? By food? By my weight? Am I so distracted that it interferes with other parts of my life?

I think about how I am showing my gratitude to Heavenly Father for the life I have. How am I living my life to show him I love him? How am I treating this gift that is my body? Am I taking care of it and using it for the most good I can? Am I treating it like the temple it is?

On this day of remembrance, I chose to live my life. I chose to rely on God to help me overcome my 'distractions.' I do not want to be taken away from the beautiful life I have because of them

Saturday is a Special Day

It's the day we get ready for Sunday. And by that, I mean....

- Wake up at 4:00 a.m. Be unable to go back to sleep.

- Stay in bed till 6:00 a.m. Gotta get them 15 points.

- Go to the temple for the ward sealing assignment, which is always quite wonderful, even
when you want to sleep through most of it. Note: it is almost impossible to sleep kneeling,
which is why everybody's goal to PRAY KNEELING is such a fantastic idea. Who ever
thought of it?

- Come home, full of resolve to get my exercising done, and have absolutely no energy
whatsoever, because, actually we've had 3 not-full night's sleep at this point.

- Finish reading Catching Fire, since, when I started Mockingjay a few days ago, I had
absolutely NO IDEA what was going on.

- Eat many fruits and vegetables, in the hopes that a modicum of energy will seize me and
drag me off down the lane.

- No good, Dale's doing it instead. Let's hope the endorphins kick in here soon, or I'll have no
choice but to just read Mockingjay all afternoon.

Happy Saturday, all! VEGETABLES ARE OUR FRIEND!!!!!!! (as a food group)

free day!

It feels so weird to have a free day on the 2nd day of healthy eating. However starting Monday i am following a very strict menu for 3 weeks and will not be having a free day or free meal. so I had better enjoy today....... off to walk the dog on this beautiful, glorious, fall day! oh by the way, I am so excited, I joined weight watchers today. i committed to 3 months. I will follow my strict menu for 3 weeks which i am sure will fit into the weight watchers counts and then maybe i will have my extra 35 points after that for treats.

Ok I can tell already the hard part for me is the eating a protein carb and fat each time (no surprise!).  Also, I wont drink 32 oz of water prior to my tennis lesson!  Talk about saturation!!!  Really good first day though!  It really helps me succeed knowing the Jennifer is counting on me!! 'Til tomorrow!

Day 2

Wow. Getting my groove back on isn't as easy as I thought it would be...

Day one

Hey everyone! I hope it was a great day for you guys. It was a great day for me too. It was hard to get back on track to eating healthy. I am in school right now and so drinking 100 oz. can be really hard, especially when your classes are 1 hr long and you haven't gone to the bathroom.... in 1 hour. :-) But I'll adjust. So I want to revise my goals (not that I think I can't do it- I was just informed my goals have to be different from the set rules...) So I want to keep my getting rid of bad habit, which is to not eat sweets after my meals and for a goal to start... it is to write down everything I eat.
Thanks and have a good night!

First Day

Not so bad today. I was hard to get back on the wagon, but did ok.
I know it will get easier and will be worth it!1

Sooooo happy to be back in the game!

I'm so sad that i missed meeting all of you. We should plan another meeting soon. I've never been so ready to start having good goals back in my life.

Day 1

Two things I've been thinking about!
1. I am creating my own food group the "C" group all my favorites Candy, Cookies, Carbs, Cake and Coke! It's time to say goodbye!
2. Why are people so ignorant. The story- I walked into a gas station 2 days ago for a date with one of my "C" friends diet coke! I was carrying my 16 month old son. I was also carrying an extra 40lbs. That I've been hanging onto for the last couple of years! When the cashier proceeds "cute baby, you having another one or did you just have one?" my reply "no I'm just fat, thanks for noticing!" I wanted to throw my coke in his face. So I did what most would do got in my car and balled my eyes out. Wow was that a wake up call. Thank goodness I had a plan, this game was starting. So grateful to have this opportunity to get healthy with friends. I'm so excited to get to know all of you! In the past this blog has been healing for me. Let's get to work.
Time to change my habits. Time to accept responsibility for what I've been doing to my body!

It was nice to meet those of you I met last night. I'm Jane Spence (one of Laureen's oldest- meaning we have known each other since Kindergarten) friends. It has taken me all day to get this blog thing figured out but I did it! Being amazingly stubborn is not always a bad quality. I went walking outside today. I usually do the tread mill. How long do you think it will take for me to stop looking at people's homes & figuring out what they need to do to increase their resale value? Being a Realtor makes it even more work to walk outside. Maybe that's why the tread mill has been good for me. Walking on it just makes me see all the dust and clutter in my home. Horrid resale!

Exercise today

This was my view as I started out my ride today.

Lots of corn

Lots of antelope

I feel like I sort of look like a man in this picture.......oh well! You all know I'm not!

This was a great ride.

30 miles.

Hello Everyone!

Hi one and all!

My name is Cami Rush and I am Dan Bell's oldest daughter.

That's right: Watch out! ;o)

Due to an extremely busy day and being a single parent this week-- and for many weeks to come-- (my husband is in a anesthesia residency) I was not able to attend the meeting last night, or have yet to have a minute to think about and post my goals. But, that will change tonight. I will have some time tonight.

I just wanted to check in and say hello and tell you all that I am very excited about this all.

Thank you for letting me join!

Day 1

It's ridiculous to have to have your free day be Day 1 on this contest!

BUT, my Dad's 80th birthday is today. We're going to be eating out tonight as a family - my sibs and their spice (plural for spouse). I made my dad's favorite dessert this morning, and....well.....um....you see....

I licked the bowl.

So, instead of just tonight being my free meal, today became my free day! Sheesh.

BUT, I did intervals this morning, the water is coming along, and I've already had a serving of vegetables (turns out, I sort of like vegetables for breakfast - who knew?)

I think I'll go drink a V-8, BECAUSE I CAN.

So great to meet everybody last night. Except for Stacy. And Cami, Alyssa, and Jodi, I missed you. Jodi, you always make me wish that you lived in my neighborhood so we could be naughty in Relief Society (and by that, I mean, giggle a little too much on the back row)(once in a while)(honest, not all the time).

And finally, a huge pay day today. I had to go to a meeting with other piano teachers, and one of my tiniest, skinniest friends (seriously, she is like the chihuahua of human beings) went on and on about how great I am looking! Then, she had to call me about another item of business from the meeting, and she sort of just picked up where she left off! She said I looked ten years younger (we haven't seen each other since January - before any contests). Not to mention YOUR kind words, Jane, on the phone, as well. What a huge positive reinforcement when others notice your efforts.

The moral of the story: TAKING CARE OF YOURSELF PAYS OFF!!!!!