Weight Loss Wednesday #5

Had a great week and it showed tonight on the scales.
I lost 2.0lbs putting me at a total of 20.8lbs lost!


I was thrilled. I'm pretty sure this is the most that I've lost on my 3 journeys with Weight Watchers. I am determined to stick with it this time and get to my goal...and hopefully become a lifetime member.

Some things that may have attributed to my successes this week are:
*I started to exercise. We have a fantastic treadmill in our basement that has been sitting pretty well unused for quite some time, so I decided to start using it. I walked/ran 3 times this past week - and plan to continue this routine.
*I stuck with the Garden Vegetable Soup (see recipe below Weight Loss Wednesday # 2 - April 8th) I made a double batch and it lasted me almost all week
*Enjoyed the sunshine and played outdoors with the kids

This week, an old friend joined...Christine has decided to attend the meetings on Wednesdays, that way we can go together. As I mentioned below, it's been hard for me to get to meetings knowing I have to sit alone (I'm a suck that way LOL). I am happy that we can travel on this tough road together...and am looking forward to seeing her more often.
Good luck this week, Christine!

Off to bed with me now...just spent 2 hours getting all the daycare tax stuff in order to send off to our accountant tomorrow.
Nite Nite
~ Hollie

Baby Jumping Festival...WHAT?????

Those spaniards sure have some interesting festivals...like the Running of the Bulls, The Christmas Pooping Log and perhaps, the most interesting.....the Baby Jumping Festival.

Men dress up as Lucifer and leap over a couple of rows of babies laying on the street. The belief is that as the “devil” jumps over the infants, he takes the “evil” out of them and the kids are therefore cleansed. This curious tradition has been in full effect since around 1620 and takes place in tribute to Corpus Christi. The Baby Jumping Festival happens this year from June 11-15 in Castrillo de Murcia.

Have already bought my ticket for Budderoo - sometimes I wonder if he could use an old fashioned exorcism. Hee Hee

~ Back later,
Hollie

A Fun Friday

Today was a great day!
I guess it started off last night, when Budderoo got up at 1:30am screaming...I was having trouble getting him back to sleep, so as DH was just coming to bed he offered to bring him in to sleep with him, while I catch up on sleep in the spare room. I can't tell you how great it was to sleep in a bed all by myself. I always end up in the spare room with Budderoo, and sometimes HoneyPie...so it was great to sleep in til 7:45, getting up with my alarm...not when the kids wanted me to.

HoneyPie had her Music & Movement class this morning at our area's rec centre. This is just her 2nd class but she really seems to enjoy it. I wanted to sign her up for something where I had to drop her off. With me being home with her, she has never attended preschool or daycare...I was worried that she may have a hard time adjusting to starting kindergarten in September...but she runs in there and seems to have a great time. When I went to pick her up a couple hours later, the kids were in the gym doing an action game and playing with the parachute. They planted sunflower seeds in a cup and she decorated it with pretty stickers. I LOVE sunflowers. I hope that it grows well, perhaps be as gorgeous as this:

Later that afternoon, I took her to my salon to get her hair cut. HoneyPie was bald at birth and her hair has taken forever to grow. She's only had her hair cut 3 times in her almost 4 years, and most times it was only for a bang trim. We've always gone to the kid places, like Melonheads or Sharkey's Cuts for Kids...but haven't been thrilled with their jobs lately. So, we decided to take her to my salon where my stylist fixed her bangs (they had cut way too much bang, so now we need to grow a bunch out) and put some nice layers in her unruly curly hair. She loved sitting in the big chair and got to hold a Nemo Webkinz toy during her cut.

Pizza for dinner. I know, I know...not the healthiest choice - but I couldn't think of anything for dinner...and really didn't feel like making anything - so we used our free Topper's pizza coupon (collected enough stickers to get a free medium)...and it was GOOD! Budderoo LOVED it, HoneyPie is not a big fan of pizza, so getting her to finish one piece took a LONG time. After dinner, we joined our neighbours across the street for some drinks (me, Diet pop, DH, beer) while the kids played.

We moved to our new street, a court, last August and it has been wonderful. We have the friendliest neighbours anyone can ask for and they welcomed us to their group the night we moved in. Once the weather is nice, everyone gathers across the street and the dads boys play big games of street hockey, while the girls chalk up a storm or jump on M&S's trampoline....once the kids are in bed, the parents reconvene out on the street where there is usually a poker game set up under the street lights. We were out tonight until after 9 and had a great time catching up with everyone after the long, cold winter. They are a really great group.

I just finished 31 minutes on the treadmill after getting the kids to bed. Am now feeling a bit tired...it's after 11:30 so I should get to bed. HoneyPie has dance in the morning. Only 5 more classes before her first recital. HoneyPie loves her dance class...and she is so cute doing her little routine. Can't wait til the big show.


Night Night,
~ Hollie

Weight Loss Wednesday #4

Well after a weekend in Montreal, and a little bit of indulging, I was happy with my results tonight. I only lost 0.2, but at least I wasn't up. I wasn't able to stay at the meeting last week, so I did my celebrating and received my 10%keychain.

My leader asked me how losing 10% has changed me. What the difference is between now and when I walked through the door at the end of August. I have more energy to play with the kids, I am starting to feel better about myself physically - I am quite pleased with losing 18.8 lbs.

It's been hard for me the last little while - I think because when I first started it was with 3 of my friends. Since then, they have quit the program, and I am now attending on my own. Keeping on track is always a challenge - I like to snack LOL but it is hard going to the meetings alone. I switched to a location closer to my house once my last friend quit. This location is a lot busier making me nervous to talk in front of them...but today I finally had to celebrate. I am proud of myself for sticking with it, getting to the meetings. I am hoping next week to get my 20lb ribbon....then on to goal.

I am not big on exercising...but have vowed to incorporate it into my daily routine. We have a treadmill that sits unused far too often. But DH and I have agreed to do 1/2hr every night once the kids go to bed. We will watch a show and take turns doing our 30mins. Tonight I made it to 27 before Budderoo woke up screaming (not sure what's going on tonight, he's been up a few times already)...but I kept at a decent pace (2.5/3) with about 5-6mins of running (at 4) here and there - I am SO NOT a runner...and was disappointed that the first set of running I couldn't even do 2 mins...but the next time I got to 3mins...so, who knows, maybe someday I will be a runner. hee hee (doubt it, but I can dream, can't I?)
Would love to look like someone who runs =)

You've got to say, I think that if I keep working at this and want it badly enough I can have it. It's called perseverance.

This too shall pass.....

My mom says that to me all the time, whether it be about Budderoo's still waking often through the night or HoneyPie's saucy attitude...I hope she'd say it to me right now, because I really hope that "this" passes soon.

I've been feeling really down lately. Actually, I haven't felt quite right since having Buderoo. I even talked to my doctor about postpartum depression but he chalked it up to being back to work when Budderoo was only 2.5months old and then moving to a new house when he was 5 months....there was a lot of stress in those early months. And I did seem to feel better once we were all settled in our new home...but still not quite right.

Tonight, DH and I had quite a talk. I finally expressed the things that have been bothering me. I have been feeling like I've been walking around in a haze, not knowing who "I" am anymore. Right now, it feels like I am HoneyPie and Budderoo's mom and DH's wife...but that's it...where did Hollie go? I really am not sure - she's been gone for too long.

I feel like I've lost sight of myself, like I am drowning in motherhood. I never felt this way after HoneyPie was born but I think the addition of a second child really changes things. "The time and attention it takes to go from mothering one child to mothering two doesn't just double, it quadruples".

In no way do I resent my role as a mother...this is all I have ever wanted...to be a mommy...and to be able to stay at home with them. I just feel like I am losing my own identity as I tend to the needs of everyone else. And I wonder sometimes, if working from home is adding to my issues. It was my choice to stay home and it was the best one for us and the kids...but I miss the adult interaction and getting out of the house during the day. I think even having an outside of the house job would be some "ME" time. But then at the same time, I am not ready to put my babies in daycare.

Learning to take time for me has been very hard to do. I think that I need to find something to do that makes me happy, but while thinking of that something...I come up with nothing...I don't even know what I'm interested in anymore. I like scrapbooking, but finding time to do a page or two is just not happening lately. It's hard to balance so many roles and still find time for me. But I think, once I do, I'll be happier and an even better mom - wife - person than I am now.

So, starting today, I am going to work on ME. Perhaps find a hobby that I could do outside of the house once a week, or even just get out for a walk by myself...

and as my mom tells me...

This too shall pass.

My family is the most important thing in the world!

Weight Loss Wednesday #3

Another week spent tracking...and I am happy to be down 0.8lbs. I always think that anything "0 point something" is really nothing...but really it's almost a pound so I am down now 18.6lbs....putting me over my 10% goal.

Tomorrow, we are heading to Montreal for the weekend. DH is going to the UFC fight on Saturday night with some friends, so the wives/kids are tagging along. I am worried about having to eat out all weekend - even choosing salads sometime isn't the best choice...for example - Last Friday, we went to Kelsey's for lunch. I thought I was choosing something healthy and ordered the Chicken Sonoma Valley Salad...it was really good. When I got home I looked up the nutritional info online...Calories: 740 Grams of Fat: 44g Fibre 6. 44 GRAMS OF FAT????? IN A SALAD???? I couldn't believe it. The salad total was 17points. I only get 24 for the day...insane. So, hopefully I can find some healthy options while we are away.

Will be back Sunday.
~ Hollie

Weight Loss Wednesday #2

Tonight was weigh in night at Weight Watchers. I had done so well this past week - tracked EVERYTHING...except a little indulgence at Red Lobster on Saturday night...oh, and some fries at Swiss Chalet on Friday. hee hee. Well, my hard work paid off and I lost 1.4lbs. This puts me at 17.8lbs total - which is only 0.2 away from my 10%. (10% of my body weight lost).

One thing that I think really helped me was making the Weight Watchers Garden Vegetable Soup. It is 0pts per serving and was so delish. I made 1 batch and it did 3 lunches...I plan to make a double batch tomorrow. Here is the recipe

GARDEN VEGETABLE SOUP

2/3c sliced carrot
1/2c diced onion
2 minced garlic cloves
3c fat free broth (beef, chicken, or vegetable)
1 1/2c diced green cabbage
1/2c green beans
1 tbsp. tomato paste
1/2 tsp. dried basil
1/4 tsp. dried oregano
1/4 tsp. salt
1/2c diced zucchini

Spray a large saucepan with nonstick cooking spray, heat. Saute the carrot, onion and garlic over low heat until softened, about 5 minutes. Add broth, cabbage, beans, tomato paste, basil, oregano and salt; bring to a boil. Reduce heat; simmer, covered about 15 minutes or until beans are tender. Stir in the zucchini and heat for 3-4 minutes. Serve hot.

With Easter coming this Sunday, I am a bit worried about my love for chocolate. Most people at the meeting last night were worried about overeating at dinner...I guess I am, too, a bit...but I have an obsession for Cadbury's mini eggs. The Easter bunny will be bring some to HoneyPie and I'm hoping I can control my weakness for them and the Mr. Munchy chocolate bunny that the Easter Bunny is bringing me LOL. Perhaps knowing the points value will help me out and will allow me to still be able to eat these treats by working them into my daily points.


Cadbury Mini Eggs 5points for small package


Allan's Mr. Munchy 6points for 1/2pc (50g)

And for those who enjoy them....I do not....

Cadbury Cream Eggs 3points per egg)

Enjoy!
~ Hollie ~

Appreciate what you have...you may not have it forever

There are many mornings that I wake up, grumpy and irritable because of being up all night with Budderoo and/or having to wake up early 'cause HoneyPie has to use the bathrom. I admit, that when I am tired, I am miserable...and lately that has been quite a lot. DH tries to find out what is bothering me, I knock it off to being tired...the little things tick me off, making me more grumpy...the kids irritate me a lot when I am sleepy - and they are only being kids.

My loved ones are more valuable and precious to me than anyone else on the face of this earth. I should look at them and remember what it is I love about them – AND not take them for granted. But I admit, sometimes I do.

On Tuesday night, DH had a health scare that brought him to the E.R. which has really made me stop and look at the little things. He is doing OK but has been referred to some specialists...I keep thinking what if he hadn't been as in-tune with his body and known that something wasn't right? Would he have woken up the next morning? What if the treatment at the hospital hadn't worked? How could I face the world without the only man I have ever loved, my partner, my best friend? How could I be a good parent to our children on my own? Just thinking of it brings me to tears.



I have realized that I need to appreciate and give thanks for everything I have. And rather than let the silly things get me down, I need to focus on the positives in my life...and there are many. I will appreciate and take care of the wonder things I have, while I still have them - Because you never know...What if "Tomorrow Never Comes"?

Sometimes late at night
I lie awake and watch him sleeping
He's lost in peaceful dreams
So I turn out the lights and lay there in the dark
And the thought crosses my mind
If I never wake up in the morning
Would he ever doubt the way I feel
About him in my heart

If tomorrow never comes
Will he know how much I loved him
Did I try in every way to show him every day
That he's my only one
And if my time on earth were through
And he must face the world without me
Is the love I gave him in the past
Gonna be enough to last
If tomorrow never comes

So I made a promise to myself
To say each day how much he means to me
And avoid that circumstance
Where theres no second chance to tell him how I feel

So tell that someone that you love
Just what you're thinking of
If tomorrow never comes

Garth Brooks, If Tomorrow Never Comes, revised =)


T, if a day goes by without me telling you I love you, please know just how much I do. There are so many things I love about you. The sound of your voice, the warmth of your touch, so many little things that make me love you so much. The way you support me, and help with my emotions, the way that you care and show such devotion. The way that your kiss, fills me with desire, and how you hold me with the warmth of a blazing fire. The way your eyes shine when you look at me, lost with you forever is were I want to be. The way that I feel when you're by my side, a sense of completion and overflowing pride. The dreams that I dream, that all involve you, the possibilities I see and the things we can do. How you finish the puzzle that lies inside my heart, how that deep in my soul, you are the most important part. I could go on for days, telling of what I feel, but all you really must know is my love for you is real.
You have always been my biggest fan...and I will forever be yours.
I LOVE YOU, T.


1999

Weight Loss Wednesday

Talking about weight is always such a taboo topic. No one wants to disclose their weight, especially women. Aren't we more likely to lie about our weight than our age? I thought about how I was going to write this post...should I disclose my weight at each stage of my weight loss journey...Am I too embarrassed to admit how much I actually weighed at the end of my pregnancies? Then I thought, who cares? I know that people are most often judged by their weight/body type...but I hope that people who read this or people that actually know me, see that I am a wonderful person and the numbers on the scale are just that...numbers - and one really shouldn't be judged on that.

As I mentioned in my first post, I am one of those girls who gain A LOT during pregnancy. I have always struggled with my weight and am on my 3rd go with Weight Watchers (WW). I joined WW just before I got married so that I wouldn't be a "chubby bride". So joining in January of '02...I worked my butt off and lost 20lbs by that April...and got married at a healthy weight of 139lbs. I felt great...and I vowed to keep the weight off and stay healthy....


139lbs on our honeymoon in Hawaii

HA, that didn't last long. I gained a bit here and there...

In June of 2004, DH and I decided to start trying for our first baby. At that time I was 155lbs, and I still felt good - I thought I looked alright....


155lbs

We got pregnant with HoneyPie that October and I really wanted to try and have a healthy pregnancy with not much weight gain. Well, this did not happen and I gained a whopping 68lbs. Ya, do the math - it was insane! I had a horrible time with water retention and swelled massively. I struggled with gestational diabetes - it was a very uncomfortable pregnancy - but giving birth to my beautiful 8lb 14oz HoneyPie - made it all worth it.

I joined WW when HoneyPie was 6 months old to help me lose the last of my baby weight. I didn't quite get there before giving up...I made it down to 164 and stayed around there until getting pregnant with Budderoo.


167lbs - DH and I on the ferry in Cape Cod

My pregnancy with Budderoo was even worse than HoneyPie's...I gained 55lbs and had a harder time with my gestational diabetes - this time I had to go on insulin and swelled just about the same - Budderoo was huge (10lbs 4oz) and made me SO uncomfortable. Check out this belly:


223lbs OUCH! On the way to the hospital for his arrival...

With Budderoo, I lost 41lbs in 3weeks. I had retained so much water...it was ridiculous.

So...here I am again. I've had enough and am determined to get this weight off. With having gestational diabetes twice, my chances of getting diabetes later in life has increased. I joined WW this past August with 3 of my friends...and since then...all of them have decided to try and do it on their own without the meetings. So, I go alone (which depresses me) and am working at the weight loss...slowly...I had lost over 18lbs, but have had a few off weeks recently and gained a bit back. UGH!

Wednesdays are my weigh in night...I worked so hard this past week, tracked everything I ate...and lost 2.6 lbs at the weigh in Losing a total of 16.4lbs. According to my scale, first thing in the morning, I had lost 5.6....so I was thrilled and am now even more motivated to get back to that first picture! Presently, I am 1lb away from my pre-pregnancy weight with Budderoo. I would love to get back to 140-ish...so I've got about 27lbs to go. I can do it this time!