It has been a LONG time...

My apologies...

I always wear black!  It's just my thing!  I sweat to much to wear something with color, especially in the  armpit area so black it is!  However, remember when I was in the city with my sister and bought a new dress?!  You remember the trip where I was asked if I was my 31 year old sisters mother, YEP that one and I bought a green dress...

Well I wore it in Texas!  

Everyone else in my family wore black so I stuck out like a sore thumb!  LITERALLY!  We boogied on the dance floor and although I had a fantastic time getting my groove on I looked at one picture and wanted to vomit, puke coming up my throat vomit!

Yep this is the one...

I could point out everything that drives me nuts about it but I won't!  

Or I can sit back and look at what it really is... 

Two sisters dancing to "Shout" in TEXAS!

Pink

She is so sexy right?!  I think she is and when I saw her in Las Vegas and actually swam in the same pool as her last weekend in Vegas she is even sexier in person!

She was in Vegas for the I Heart Radio Music Festival.  I think she is beautiful!  And to make it even sexier, she is just a regular mom like me.  She was splashing around in the pool, smiling, laughing, splashing, and making her daughter smile.

Hey I do that too!  She is a MOM!

A HOT mom at that and has become my inspiration to get my butt in gear!  I want to be Pink!  She is fit, her arms are so tone, and she is one HOT mom!

What the HECK is That?

Did anyone figure this out?  

Hint:  I have written about this beautiful thing before in my blog about bras.

Well, I can tell you that I wore my bra all day today and I even wore it when I didn't have to (while I was reorganizing the pantry).  Anyway, my shoulder started hurting so I want to check out what the heck was going on and this is what I saw!

Do you see the indentation that my bra makes on my shoulder!  Yep, no wonder my neck, back, and shoulders hurt all the time!  My boobs weigh a ton!  Do you remember the kid in Jerry Maguire that said, "The human head weighs 8 lbs".  Well, my boobs have to weigh that much plus some.  Has anyone had this problem, and what did you do about it!

I have lost a total of 12, give or take 2 pounds either way on somedays, but my boobs remain!  What the crap?  I will keep working out, but I will tell you this...

IF I DON'T LOOSE THE BOOBS I MAY HAVE TO DO SOMETHING ABOUT IT!

It would be great to be pain free and not have a lovely tattoo engraved into your shoulder!

Per Miss St. Louis's Request

Nothing new on the weight loss front.
There are 2 things that I know if I am going to loose this weight...

1. Quit Buying Snacks for My Kids (they don't eat them I do)
2. Get My Butt Off The Couch and Quit Playing Song Pop against Miss Missouri

That is really just it.  If I quit putting snacks in my mouth and go for a walk it will help a TON!

There Miss St. Louis...There is your post!  Thanks for getting me remotivated (is that even a word).  I am going to go with it probably means: MOTIVATED AGAIN!

colonoscopy...what?!

I never thought that at 36 years old I would be getting a colonoscopy, however for the last year of my life (maybe 2 years) I have been having some issues with my bowels and tummy.

I went to the doctor about 3 weeks ago to talk to him about my issues.  When I arrived this was the 1st time I was in this office meeting this doctor.  I was hoping he would be old and ugly...nope, I would be talking POOP with a kid that was 2 years younger then me and a nice looking young man!  Figures!

Dr. Atlas is the man!  If you know me you know I am a worry wart and when we were talking he said "colonoscopy" and I immediately thought the worse and tears started coming down my face.  He was very comforting and reassuring so I scheduled it and prepared myself for a crazy ride.

I went on vacation with my family and really didn't think much about the procedure while I was there!  My mom, dad, 2 aunts, my uncle, and my grandma have all had one and they all told me the procedure was not bad at all.  It was the prep that I was worried about!  So this past Wednesday I picked up my large paper bag (you know the ones we used to hide our 40s in) and had it ready to go in the morning.

Thursday morning came and I mixed my first 32 oz of my cocktail.  I smelled it and it didn't smell so bad at all.  Kind of like sprite with a little lemon smell.  So I stuck it in the fridge to get it nice and cold for my 3 o'clock date at the colonoscopy bar!  At 3, I took my first sip and I threw up!  No JOKE!  I called the nurse at the doctor's office and was like what the heck...she told me to take a sprite chaser...ok!  The cocktail already tasted like a sprite with a gallon of salt poured into it and you want me to chase it with a sprite...Whatever!  So I did and I also chased it with some Gatorade!  I did it and got the 1st 32 oz. down, but wait...I only had an hour to recover and had to get the 2nd 32 oz. down.  Put a fork in me I am done!

So, I prepared my other drink and put it in the fridge to cool (knowing it really didn't matter), however I thought cold would be better then warm.  When my hour was up, I started taking down gulps of the cocktail with my many different chasers.  Was it better this time around...NO!  I was plugging my nose, sipping my cocktail, rocking it out, and got to the last 4 oz!  I was so grateful to be almost done.  I quickly took down the last 4 oz. and as fast as I took it down it came back up!  Lovely right!?  I was done...To be honest with you - The drinking part was the worst...I didn't even mind the pooping!

The next day I dropped the kids off at my friends house and my hubby and I took off to the hospital.  Everyone there was so nice.  They were really busy and I had several nurses helping me out!  The cute anesthesiologist came in, talked to me about what was going to happen, put the iv in me, and they wheeled me to the procedure room!  That is when Dr. Atlas got called up to another floor to do something so I had to wait.  Thank goodness I had the best nurse in Miss Donna who was willing to explain everything to me and tell me that she was going to be in the room with me and that I was her only concern!  I loved her!  She sang while she worked!  Then the anesthesiologist came in the gave me something to relax me (which made me silly) and all of the sudden I was out and done!

Dr. Atlas said I look fine...some inflammation that they are looking at but nothing big!  A little gastritis because they also had to scope my throat but over all - my colon (which is 5 feet long, can you believe that) looks pretty!

Vacation.....FAT

I feel like everything I have worked for totally went out the window on vacation!  I told myself to be food strong while I was there...NOPE...the temptations were to much for me and I enjoyed the food:

• chips and AE dip (if you are from Iowa, then you know what I am talking about)
• bacon and eggs on a greasy skillet chased down with a couple pancakes with peaches
• no  lunch because I was busy getting kids lunch and putting them down for nap
• no lunch = snacking on CRAP (usually chips and dip)
• i drank diet coke like it was going out of style
• i ate a decent dinner but chased that down with beer, brownies, and ice cream

So, it is back to the food grind after my colonoscopy on Friday.  Nothing to be concerned about, just a couple issues that need to be resolved so I can quit my silly worrying!  Until Saturday...BRING IT!

Seriously...Open Mouth Insert Foot

It has been a while since the race, but I just wanted to let everyone know that I am still continuing my quest to be a skinny mama!  This weekend however I ate my fair share of bad food...

• 1/2 grilled cheese (but I had a salad instead of soup so that is good right)
• garlic bread with blue cheese fondue
• a glass of wine
• sushi, fried calamari, fried shrimp, and crab cakes
• a carona light
• a carmel latte from Starbucks with a berry coffee cake

Ok...so that about covers it.  However, I did it with my sister, in Chicago, at Michael Jordan's restaurant, and at Shaw's Crab House!  If you have never been to any of those you need to save your cheat day and GO!

Here is were things get nasty...

I was at Macy's shopping with my younger sister by only 5 years.  I bought this hot green dress for a couple weddings this fall and as I was checking out the lady at the counter asked (and I am not joking)"

"Are you in town for a mother/daughter weekend?"

Seriously, If my sister is 31 years old and she thinks I am her mom then that puts me at what?  

Wow...OPEN MOUTH, INSERT FOOT!  I wanted to fly over the counter and start choking her!?  REALLY?!  Then I ran past a friends house to pick up some trucks for our sandbox...Yep, you guessed it...Her neighbor asked if I was her mother?!  Seriously!!  I feel like I may need to invest in some anti-aging cream!

So as the weekend in Chicago came to an end so did the crazy eating!  Jump right back on the "healthy eating" train tomorrow!!  Good night!

You Dirty Girl You

Well remember this post about I Want To Be A Dirty Girl well on Sunday I was one!

Thank you to my friends Mickey and Lindsay for running with me!

And yes....I RAN!

I ran over 3/4 of the way!

Am I a runner...NOPE, but I did it and I had a great time!

At this point in the race I was struggling, dripping in mud, and HOT!

I looked up as I rounded the corner and my husband and my kids surprised me!

They cheered me on over the climbing wall and under the cargo net!

I was so happy to see them!

 (Lindsay...I just noticed I spelled your name wrong)

 I was a mess!

It was the most awesome feeling to finish my first race!

Am I excited for my next running adventure!

BRING IT!

"You Dirty Girl You"

5K....What?!

I have a crazy running friend Mack (you know you are) and she just happen to be home visiting her mom at the same time I was visiting my family!  We were at the park on Friday and she talked me into running in the 5K on Saturday.  So I signed up!

On Friday, I went out with another high school friend Steph and my crazy running friend Mack!  Went out do dinner and laughed and talked about the good old days!  My kids ended up actually sleeping in on Saturday so it was madness to get everyone ready and over to the race!  My parents, kiddos, and Mack and her family were all there!  It was a great turn out and my son wanted to race with me!  I decided that it would be in our best interest to do the 2K instead around the park! 

The race started and off we went....My son started out running so quickly because at his age he would not know how to pace himself so by the time we got about a 1/4 of a mile in he was done, sat down, and said, "I am not going any further".  There were 2 ladies running it too and they challenged him to keep going, so he did!  We ended up walking it and by 3/4 of a mile mark, he wanted a piggy back ride.   On the biggest incline of the park he wants a piggy back ride!  OK buddy here we go!  Mama totally got a work out!  We ended up not being able to finish around the rest of the race as my son was done and my daughter wouldn't let me out of her sight to finish!  So there you go!  My crazy friend Mack ran the race in 25 minutes and 25 seconds, her fastest time yet!  

I still have to finish a race!  However, it was a good start and as my friend says, "it's better then sitting on the couch".  So as June 30th fast approaches, I know that I can get almost get through a 5K and had I not been racing with my son I would have completed a 2K!  Bring it Dirty Girl!

I HEART BIKE RIDING

This has to be the best thing ever!!  We bought one over the weekend and on Monday we went out biking...all of us!  It was fantastic!  My husband on his bike and my little man on the attachment above!  This has to be one of the best inventions EVER!  I rode my bike and my little lady sat in the back!  We rode for awhile, got out, played at a park, and then we decided that we would continue.  Last night, we clocked our route and it was 6 miles!  Yep, I biked 6 miles and it was FUN!  Am I sore today...Yes I am!  Does my butt hurt a ton...Yes id does!  Did i get back on the bike this morning and go on another one with my kids...Yes I did!  This whole bike riding thing might just be my thing AND it is something my whole family can enjoy! I heart bike riding!

Over The Shoulder Boulder Holders

Bras, bras, bras, and more bras are what I tried on last night to find that just right bra!  Did I find it...NOPE!  Let me take you back a minute (and I know this has nothing to do with eating right or exercising, but let me go here please)...

When I was younger I had boobs, but I don't ever remember feeling like I had BOOBS like I do now.  I noticed in college when I gained my freshman 15, I gained boobs and then I started working out at the rec center and got back to the size I was in high school (wait a minute, maybe this does have something to do with exercise).  Then I got married and comfortable.  You know how it is and I gained some weight back.  Then I had 2 babies, gained weight from the first baby, never lost it, gained weight from the second baby, and now I am working on it.

Now the questions are:  

• If work hard at it can I loose my boobs, not all of them, but like a size or 2?
• Will I also be able to loose some inches around and go from a 38 to a 36? 

This takes me to years of shopping for the perfect bra.  Victoria, you may make bras that are pretty and sexy, but you don't really make them for the women that have bigger boobs, need lifted, and held in!  I found some bras that work for me and make my boobs perky, but they are European and cost about 100 - 150 dollars a piece (is that reasonable for me, probably not).  Which brings me to last night...I probably tried on 10 bras at Nordstrom's and Macy's and struggled with finding one that didn't leave indentations in my shoulders or had boob spill over and out!  I came home with one that was comfortable and 10 bucks.  It covered me but didn't necessarily lift me up!  It will be great to wear around the house and out grocery shopping.

So my point is all over the place...With exercise I may loose some boob, but will I ever find the perfect Over the Shoulder Boulder Holder as my friend Mel calls them!  I don't know, but I sure hope so!

Bette Midler in Beaches would have been a good bra shopping partner!  She would have made me LAUGH about it!  Click Bette's name to have a little chuckle about "Over the Shoulder Boulder Holders"!

Rejuvenate With A Little FLF

This past weekend my family came to visit and we went to Jersey Boys in Chicago.  It was so great to have my family and extended family in town to do a little shopping and see a show!  They picked me up a little as I miss them terribly when I don't see them for a long time.  My mom and dad were just in, but it had been a few months since I had seen my sisters, grandma, cousin, and my aunts.  I am always sad when I have to say see you later, but I know that we will be together soon so that is what I am holding onto right now!

They rejuvenated me with a little FLF:

Family

Laughter

Fun

My family is just so fun.  It doesn't matter where we are...

We even were so loud and fun that a lady that got on the "L" and sat beside us decided that she didn't really want to be a part of my "loud" family so she got up and went to a different seat.  Her loss!

So tonight I am back into the gym...The inspiration came from the beautiful ladies in my family!  My mom looks gorgeous, my sisters are so beautiful, my grandma is so classy, my cousin looks like a pretty bride-to-be, and my aunts look so amazing!

Another inspiration is the picture above.  I am the blue dress (yep, that's me)!  I am thinking to myself right now, "does this dress make my butt look big".  The women in my family are on the healthy track too...I am inspired to continue to try my best to become a healthy me!  So thank you to the women in my family that I look to for advice, a healthy lifestyle, laughter, and fun!  I love you all!

A Touch Of The Bug

The flu bug that is...
Yep, I am pretty sure it is lingering and lingering and lingering!  I am hoping that I am really feeling better tomorrow because I need to get to running!  My sister has had it worse then me and she worked out one day and felt like crap!  Well, I already feel like crap so to work out on top of it and feel crappier (is that even a word) - NO THANKS!

I have to tell you my daughter pointed to my face last night and said "owie".  I said, "owie" and she said yes and pointed to my pimples ALL OVER my face!  I told her the were zits and she said, "zips" so I just went with it!  I was on pinterest and found this little quote:

Beauty isn't about having a pretty face.

It is about having a pretty mind, a pretty heart, and most importantly, a beautiful soul!

After I had my conversation with my daughter and reading the above quote...
I feel like I have a pretty mind, a pretty heart, and a beautiful soul!
So, as Bill Murray said in Caddyshack (one of my favorite movies)...
"So I've got that going for me, which is nice".

Now off to the dermatologist in June to make the outside reflect the inside!
And hopefully NO MORE "OWIES".

WOG, WOG, You Know It

Today I am on track to do week 2 day 2 which means that after my wog (walk/jog) tonight will be a total of 5 days!  Last time I did this training I made it to week 5 and totally pooped out.  Well NOT this time!

This week it is a 5 minute warm up walk, then you alternate a minute and a 1/2 of running and walking, and finish up with a 5 minute walk for the cool down.  This program is an app on my phone with a lovely lady (whom I haven't named yet) that chimes in when I am suppose to start walking or running.  

Once she tells me to start running I find myself going really good until about 15 seconds left of running.  I look down at my phone and see 15 seconds left and just want to start walking, but then I talk to myself (out  loud, mind you) to keep going.  Then the lady on my phone tells me to walk.  This is when I get really excited to try to catch my breath.  Just as I am catching my breath the lady comes back on and tells me to start running...REALLY!?  Ugh...this lady is annoying why can't they have some hot stud saying, "Wow Gorgeous that was a great walk, now lets get running" or "Keep it up Sexy".  Seriously, if the voice was Justin Timberlake singing it or Bradley Cooper saying it, then I would want to run a marathon!

On a side note, my hubby and I went out to dinner last night on a date (the first one in a really long time) and I think I got food poisoning!  My tummy is in some serious knots and I have been up all night dealing with the pain!  Working it out so that I can run tonight....MUST RUN...or in my world WOG!

One Hour or 1/2 Hour In The Gym

Isn't that the truth? Sometimes for me, it is what I do with the other 23 1/2 hours (and what I put in my mouth in those hours) because sometimes I only get a 1/2 an hour of exercise in.  It is better then nothing...right!?

I know that I told you that I was going to take before and after pictures and let you know my measurements, but I didn't get those taken or written down.  So, you will have to believe me when I tell you that I am down 5 pounds.  Yesterday it was 6 lbs, but when I got on the scale last night it was only 5 lbs.

I know that I should not be totally focused on my weight because I would rather feel it in my clothes (if you know what I mean).  Do you have the pair of jeans that you have always wanted to put back on?

You know the ones I'm talking about!  The pair of jeans you loved b.c. (before children)?
Well, I have 3 pairs of jeans that I absolutely loved and they are still in fabulous shape.  I am hoping to continue and stay motivated!  I have finished my first week of the couch potato to 5k and know that with determination (mom you know I just cheered that word out) I will accomplish my goal!

My sister also sent me this link about jogging.  If this is not motivation, I don't know what is!  So jogging or wogging (walking and jogging) as I like to call is going to be my exercise of choice, with the occasional dance aerobics classes!

Two Left Feet on a Trail in IL

Yesterday I realized that I have 9 weeks until the Dirty Girl Race and that is exactly how many weeks the Couch Potato to 5k program is so I needed to get my butt in gear and what better way to do it then with my friend Mel who runs, is someone who I love to talk to, and someone who needed a good run and conversation on a beautiful trail on a fantastic night!?

So we headed out...
I can tell you that talking and running is not so easy to do.  So next time we decide to train (which is Thursday) we have decided that while the lady on my program tells us to run we don't talk!  This will be really hard for me, but if I want to breathe the right way and not fall over from trying to do 2 things at once I will wait the 60 seconds to talk to my friend!  Kind of like chewing gum and walking...I am just to clumsy!

Not sure if my run got my tummy going because after we ran we went to one of our favorite places in the world, Home Goods, to shop for a minute and my tummy was just a gurgling away.  I know this is probably to much information, but the gas pain was so intense I had to call it a night and head home.  Maybe the run got everything going!?  Also when I got home I couldn't sleep, must have been the adrenaline from the run...I don't know?!

To be honest with you...I have tried this whole couch potato to 5k program before and got to week 5 and pooped out.  I cannot poop out this time because this race is important to me!  I will be turning 36 at the end of June and the race is the same week!  It is a mental thing for me and I have to work past the craziness that I am not a runner because maybe I am?!

Do You Get What I Am Saying...

I pulled this quote off of Pinterest today from a good friend of mine in Waverly, Iowa!  

Don't you feel like this sometimes...

I  mean seriously lets not kid ourselves! I love food and food loves me.  Lately, I have trying to change my love of BAD food and LOVE the healthy stuff.

I have a horrible, horrible sweet tooth and need to get over my love of BAD food like ice cream specifically New York Cheesecake or Peanut Butter Chocolate from Baskin Robbins.  To be honest there isn't one night that doesn't go by that I don't want a brownie, cookie, or ice cream after supper.  I decided tonight after I ate to give it sometime to see if it would go away...

NOPE!  So, I made a small smoothie with strawberries, banana, almond milk, and I put a little Carnation Instant Breakfast (chocolate of course) in it.  NOT SO BAD!  

So with that said, I am going to have to take my new LOVE of good food and find some type of way to add some GOOD sweets for my BAD sweet tooth!  Can it be done!?  I THINK SO!

OK....I Admit That

I took some inspiration from The Life Is Not So Ordinary Wife because there is not much going on in the world of work out and eating right except that I haven't been..."OK, I ADMIT THAT".  On a side note this blog is not intended to a complaining one (everything is fine), just one that is funny and truthful!

OK, I admit....

That I went out last night and had 2.5 beers with lime, french fries, and 1/2 of a chicken wrap while talking to a good friend of mine and had no guilt with each french fry I ate or sip of beer I had because I hadn't gone out like that in forever and I had a BLAST!

That my kids get up at 5:45 the majority of the week and by 9:30 in the morning I am beat!

That I went to the dermatologist probably 10 years ago for bad skin and I probably need to go see one again real soon because my face looks like I am 15 years old.  The thing is I didn't even have this many "Zips" as my daughter calls them at 15 as I do now at almost 36.

That I used to hate fish...you know eating fish, but now that my husband has taught me about the different types that I would like and how to get fish prepared, I LOVE fish.

That the clothes of mine that my husband folds has a hard time finding it's way to my dresser.  Drives him nuts!

That I have 2 friends that I am holding accountable for their exercise routines.  So far, Miss St. Louis worked out this morning and I am so proud of her for getting going so early this Wednesday morning!  Now this mama needs to get her butt in gear and show Miss St. Louis that she picked the right friend for the accountability job!

So there you have it a few "Ok....I Admit That" statements to get your Wednesday going!

Being Held Accountable

I figured out yesterday that you can't start eating right if you haven't gone to the grocery store in almost 2 weeks and your husband cleaned out the fridge and there is NOTING in there!  I had my P.I.N.K shake yesterday morning and then the rest of the day went to crap! DUH!

I got just the call I needed from a friend of mine in MN.  It was about 8:30 and she was heading to the gym while I was watching Dancing With The Stars.  She works, has twins, a hubby to take care of when she gets home, and she can still get her butt to the gym at 8:30 at night!  Kuddos to you my friend!  I could watch my shows on a treadmill, right?!  Then she talked about being held accountable for our goals!  She will be emailing me at the start of the week and we will follow up at the end of the week to see if our goals have been met, new healthy recipes that we have tried, or healthy snack ideas.  During the week if we are struggling we can call email or call each other!  I am looking forward to starting this with her!

Being held accountable is just what I need and what better way to do it then with one of your best friends!

Pink Is My Favorite Color

Some of you may know and if you don't Aerosmith is one of my favorite bands!  They sing a song called "Pink".  I am sure that the pink they are talking about it not the pink I am talking about!  Hmmmm!  So as I sit her today planning my menu for the week I have decided that this is the week that I am going "PINK".

Now I ordered this method 2 months ago and was so ready to get started, bought all of the stuff to prepare my first week, and you guessed it....I got LAZY!  I was watching Dr. Phil (my new love) and he had on a weight loss method that looked like something I could do!  The ladies that had done it so far looked fantastic! So here are 2 ways you can look into the P.I.N.K Method:

1.  You can go to the Dr. Phil show and watch clips here
2.  You can go right to the P.I.N.K Method website here

I am tired of sweating and breaking out! I think that one of the reasons I do this is because I am overweight.  I want to wear other colors then just black, maybe PINK?!  I am hoping that by starting this method I will be able to feel more confident in my clothes!  You know what it is like when you put on your summer shorts from last year and the muffin top has gotten bigger and the bottom of your shorts cut off your thighs!  You get me!  So here I go...."PINK".

I Want To Be A Dirty Girl

First thing is first...

I took my jeans back to Ann Taylor Loft and they were awesome!  Kristy (the nice lady at the store) took back my freshly worn jeans that stretched out to the point of being able to put both thighs in it, helped me find a new pair (which I liked but didn't love), found a cute shirt (size medium), and the best part is they put the money back on my card and didn't fight me with store credit!  

Second thing second...

I don't know why I think I can buy jeans just anywhere!  I have only really had success with jeans from White House Black Market but the jeans there are SO expensive.  I went in with my friend Mel last night, tried on like 5 pairs and then it happened!  I tried on a size 10 (that's right people, a month ago I was between a 12 and 14) and I fell in LOVE with them!  The price I did not love (85 bucks) but at this point I wanted to find a pair of jeans that I felt comfortable in and felt good in!  So, I took these up to the nice ladies there, she rung them up, and it must have been my lucky day because they were $20 off and 5% off of that!  65 smackeroos for jeans that I LOVE...whoop, whoop!  They are adorable and if I don't say so myself they make my butt look fantastic (oh and did i mention they are a size 10)!

Third thing third...

I am doing it!  You can't stop me!  On June 30th this year I am going to do it!  And I am going to do it even if it is really hard for me!  My friend asked me to do it with her!  So you may be asking yourself, "what is she going to do?".  I am going to do the Dirty Girl!  The dirty girl is a 5K race just for girls!  "Why do they call it the Dirty Girl?"...well they have obstacles that you have to do and some of them are MUD related!  I will do this race even if I have to crawl over the finish line!  Here is the Dirty Girl link if you would like to see what it is all about!  I am going to DO IT!

So, it is possible to love your body in jeans (from White House Black Market) and it is possible for me to become a "Dirty Girl"!  Bring It!

Diet Coke and Jeans

There are a couple things that I need to chat to you about today!  Some of this discussion may be to much information (TMI) but I am going to just let it out! So, if you don't want to hear me use a boy body part in my blog...don't read any further!

I told my hubby that when we were out of Diet Coke not to bring anymore into the house! Well, today is that day!  I just got the last one out of our handy dandy vending machine thingy downstairs!  Oh how I love my Diet Coke!  Now you may be asking yourself - can she do it and is she crazy?!  Yes and NO! Although the crazy part is debatable!  I am giving it up during the week and if I am successful during the week I will reward myself with a fountain drink of Diet Coke from the seven gas station (as my son calls it) on Sunday!  However, if I go to the movies you can't go to a movie with out having a Cherry Coke!  So there you go!  On this beautiful day in March I am sitting with my little one outside, enjoying the weather, and drinking my last diet coke in the house!

The second issue I am having is jeans.  I have NEVER found a pair of jeans that I LOVE!  In fact, jeans in my opinion are one of the hardest things to shop for besides bras and swim suits!  So I went to Ann Taylor loft and tried on some jeans and guess what....not so bad!  In fact I liked them a lot!  So I have worn them for 1 day....Take a look at the picture to the right!  Is there something wrong with the way these NEW jeans fit......YES and here are the problems I am having with them:

• If I would have turned around you would have noticed that it looks like I have 5 butts because the tush is SO baggie!
• The crotch is sagging down to the middle of my thigh!  I have been calling it "stripper penis" because when I went with my sisters to see "Thunder From Down Under" in Vegas that is how far down they were hanging!  I know it is a crazy picture that I have painted but it is true!
• I can pull out the sides of the legs because they have stretched out so far.  I could probably fit both of my thighs into one leg....

None of this seems right after wearing them 1 day....Do I still have the tags?  NOPE!  Do I have the receipt?  Yes!  So tonight I am going to make my way to Ann Taylor and use my dad's best salesman approach and see if I can't either get my money back or try to find something else!

My Taste Buds Were Having A Party At Lunch

I am NOT a huge lunch lover...in fact if I could skip it I would!  I have never really liked cold meat sandwiches, salads (when eaten in an over abundance) can be tedious, and well peanut butter and jelly is only good with potato chips or Doritios crunched in it and I can't do that anymore!

So today I just decided to use what I had in the fridge and pantry! 
Here is what I came up with:

• cut mushrooms
• sliced onions
• broccoli
• cilantro (probably my new favorite thing to put in EVERYTHING)
• olive oil
• garlic and sea salt (just a pinch)

I sauteed these ingredients in a sauce pan and also made a cup of white rice.  When the veggies were done I tossed them over a 1/2 a cup of rice!  You want to know something....I have this combination of veggies all the time but never with cilantro!  Let me tell you my taste buds loved me today!  Just gave it enough for my taste buds to have a little party this afternoon!  Whoop Whoop!

I Love Chocolate

Who doesn't love chocolate?  Well, maybe the people who are allergic to it, but I don't have that going for me so I will tell you that I absolutely LOVE it!  I love chocolate ice cream (and even better a hot fudge sundae), Reese's Peanut Butter Cups, a brownie with vanilla ice cream, oreo cookies with a huge glass of milk (I love to dunk them), oh and with Easter candy out it is hard for me to stay away from the blasted Cadburry Eggs!  I LOVE those things and a few years back they thought it would be fun to fill them with a Snickers filling.....
What were they thinking?

So in order for me to fill up my sweet tooth through this whole process I found an wonderful little treat courtesy of Pinterest.  The website I got this from even put in white chocolate chips which are one of my favorites!  The serving size for chocolate chips is 23 (I probably would have eaten that many at one time, but not anymore) and I only have at the most 10 of these little yummy treats!  It just hits the spot and it is really easy to make!  Take a chocolate chip and stuff it into your raspberry!  That's it, there you go, and pop it in your mouth!

I "Pumped It Up" on Saturday, took yesterday off to hang with my family outside as it was such a beautiful day, and plan on hitting CX and Sha'bam for a little dancing tonight!  Hope you enjoy these little treats to give your sweet tooth a fix because if you love chocolate like I do...you just gotta have it and what better pairing then with a raspberry!

Blog About "Skinny" Jeans

I am going to tell you right now that I have decided that I probably will not update everyday....because let's be honest, most days are pretty uneventful around here!  I will post when I have a great new recipe or yummy healthy drink or when I have an awesome work out that you just have to know about!  I will update when I have a weight loss break through or my "skinny" jeans (you know the ones I have been saving for almost 11 years now) start to fit again without a muffin top hanging out!  Those types of successes need to be blogged about, don't you think?!

I ate leftovers for lunch yesterday!  Or should I say I ate 1/2 of the leftovers because my youngest LOVES turkey, broccoli, and rice so she hovers over me and has to eat what I eat!  Which I should be thankful for, but she ate 1/2 of it and I was left with 1/2 and was starving at 3.  Solution....have a cookie, NO!  I had a blend of raspberries, strawberries, and blueberries (and yes I actually ate the blueberries raw and not in a smoothie).

Bare with me on posts and celebrate the ones I am successful in and encourage those when I become discouraged!  Because I know with exercise and healthy eating there may be times where I am like....UGH!  Right now however, I have more energy and LOVE the way I am feeling right now (a little sore, but it is working).

"Blog About "Skinny" Jeans"

Pump You Up

My day was really good yesterday.  I have yet to measure myself, but did get a new scale that I need to get out of the box, program, and stand on.  You know just standing on it takes tons of guts especially when you know that you are heavier (by a few pounds) then you were when you got married!

I had a great eating day today:
Breakfast: I had a Stephanie Smoothie and a hard boiled egg.
Lunch: I had a bowl of turkey chili and 1/2 a can of green beans.
Dinner: Turkey on the grill, a little bit of rice, and broccoli.
Snack: I had a fiber one bar with a little bit of chocolate and peanut butter on it (it came that way) and it was delicious, yummy, and just what I needed as far as chocolate goes!

Do you remember these guys from Saturday Night Live?  Hanz and

Franz were muscle loving non-girlie men who wanted to be stronger then everyone else!  When they were on the show they were there to "PUMP YOU UP"!  Well, yesterday I had my own Hanz and Franz friends: Kristy, Sarah, and Darci.  I went to a class called Pump with them and it was intense, heavy, body shaking!

The discription in the book at my gym says:

Body Pump: A total body strength training class using barbells and weighted plates. Space is limited: Sign in at the Service Desk up to 1/2-hour prior to class. 

It is a very popular class and there were young people (younger then me, I know hard to believe) and people who were grandmas in the class.  It lasts an entire hour and if it hadn't been for some Aerosmith and RUN DMC I probably would have crapped out!  The beat of the music just kept me going!  Thanks goodness for Steven Tyler!

Also, the instructor Donna H. was fantastic.  She took the time to make sure the "newbies" were doing everything right and made me feel like I had a successful workout!  She came up to me afterwards and said, "now you may have a hard time getting up and down stairs...all you have to do is go down backwards or sideways and then it won't hurt" and she also said, "you may need to hold onto something when you get  up and down from sitting and standing".  I know she is telling me this because of the killer squats that we did.  She also told me she would see me on Saturday!  So not only do I have my great mama friends cheering me on, I now have Donna H.

"My name is K, and I'm hear to PUMP.......(clap).......YOU UP"

Bet You Didn't Think I Would Be Doing This Tonight

Let's just be straight up tonight!  Yes, I am watching American Idol!  What happend to going all out and to the gym all the time!  Well, let me tell you what happened...CRX the ab class! I woke up this morning thinking I might puke from the way my body ached, any way I moved "ouch", and getting up and down off the floor after changing diapers and playing - "double ouch".  So I just spent most of the day on the floor!

Do I love the way it feels...I think the answer is "yes" because if I didn't feel like this way I would know that I didn't push myself hard enough during class yesterday!  So bring on the crazy aches!  Each week will improve as my body decides that it really does like to exercise and feel really good! So, tomorrow my friends are cheering me on to join them for PUMP which is incorporating weights into the class!  I am looking forward to trying something new and I am sure my arms will love me for it!

Well, I am off to watch American Idol...

I can't even believe they are making the ladies sing Whitney Houston. 

I mean seriously, NO one can touch Whitney!

Wiggle Wiggle Wiggle Wiggle Wiggle

Today is the day where I weigh myself and take measurements! Dooms Day....maybe or maybe not!  Today is not going to be one of my favorite days, however I feel like you need to have a starting point in all of this crazy healthy madness so that you can look back and say "I'm Sexy And I Know It".

Last night during my Jam session we were supposed to wiggle!  Well, I don't know if I was wiggling or jiggling!  I would have to say that it was probably more of a jiggle then a wiggle!  There are a few places on my body that are sligthly (ok that is being nice) bigger then what I would want and they jiggle (just saying).  So my goal is to go into Jam class with more tight wiggle then flappy jiggle!  Do you get what I am saying?!

I want to feel sexy and fit...I want to be able to sing the LMFAO song, "Sexy And I Know It" and totally mean it!  So, I found a little inspiration and humor from my good friends Jimmy Fallon and Bruce Springsteen.  Just click on their names, find the video, push play, and enjoy a little "Ode To My New Theme Song" and "Wiggle, Wiggle, Wiggle, Wiggle" a little bit!

If you want to see LMFAO do it here you go...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WKxx5QC0ewc

Off To The Gym

To be honest, I was going to wait to go to the gym tomorrow.  However, my friend Darci had another idea.  She read my blog this afternoon and I got a text from her saying, "Hey there, "Where'stheskinnymama"! Want to go to CRX and/or Jam tonight out by you?" 

Here we go, this is just what I was talking about...being held accountable! So, I text back asking what time, she texted back 6:15, so I got my butt together and scooted to the gym to work out with my mama friend!  Here I go being honest again...I don't think I have done a sit - up since college and this CRX was all abs and butt workout for 30 minutes long!  To say my abs were burning like hell is quite and understatment!  Burn baby burn!  I also learned that balance is not my thing!  I knew I was clumbsy, but not that clumbsy!  I was falling all over the place on different moves!  Probably very humorous for the people behind me!

Then I stayed for Jam!  Jam is all about the dancing and everyone knows how much I LOVE to dance!  It was my first time doing this routine and I am ready to jump back in!  Cathy is our instructor and she is so enthusiastic and loves what she does which makes it easier for me to love what I am doing!  It's like a dance party in a club on Tuesday night!

When I got home, I realized that I didn't have supper and I didn't want anything really heavy so I decided to go with a little Cheerios, banana, and strawberries!  Tell me, when you have a workout that starts during supper and goes until 8, when and what do you eat?!

Stephanie's Yummy Breakfast Drink

I bought an individual blender just for a special, yummy, healthy breakfast drinky drink. My sister Stephanie had mentioned that she drinks this yummy concoction every morning and it is delicious!  So, when I ordered the "Pink Diet" and saw the same recipe in there i decided to give it a try! 

I would love to share it with you:

Stephanie's Yummy Breakfast Drink

1 Scoop of Vanilla Whey Protein

8 oz. of Almond Milk

Berries

This morning it was: Strawberries, Raspberries, Blueberries, and Banana

Sometimes I add ice to make it colder and chunkier (is that even a word)

I hope you enjoy it as much as I do!  It is filling, yummy, healthy, delicious, easy to make, quick, colorful, and I drink it every morning!  You can make it your own and add whatever you would like.  I know some people who have put in yogurt?!

Here is a secret: I HATE blueberries but love them in my morning smoothie!

And We're Off

Let me set the background for you to let you know who I am:

• I am 35 years old.
• I was married in 2000 to my neighborhood friend, moved 9 times in 7 years, and really put myself to the side while trying to balance a new life and new jobs in each town!  We got comfortable and well, I just let myself go!
• Mama of 2 beautiful children.
• I weigh the same I did when I gave birth to my second child and that was almost 2 years ago.
• I want to show my children that healthy eating and exercise is extremely important in life!
• I have seen my mom go through 2 battles with cancer (and win) and my dad suffer a massive heart attack and live.  And because of that I know that I need to be in my best shape ever so if I get sick I am able to fight back strong like my parents continue to do everyday!
• I just found out this week that i have degenerative arthritis and a bone spur in my neck probably from a cheerleading fall when I was 18 years old that I have just been living with for years!  And i just found out that my B12 is very low.
• I love to sing, laugh, dance, golf, go on dates with my husband, go for drinks with friends, go back to my hometown and spend time with family, travel, and watch reality t.v. and be grateful that that lifestyle is not my life!

You may be wondering why I would put this process of my becoming a "Skinny" mama for the world to see?  Well...I need to be held accountable for what I put in my mouth and how well I keep up an exercise schedule.  I also am taking inspiration from my friend Mel and her detication to becoming a runner again!  I am no runner, but I love to dance! So with the awesome dance aerobics classes that I haven't attended in awhile I am hoping that I can become a healthier me!

In this blog you will find a ton of humor because that is how I roll...