Kale

I joined a fruits and vegetable co-op here in Columbia. Today was my first pick up and I was very excited to get a basket full of yummy deliciousness. Except... there were three bunches of kale. What do I do with kale??? 

The first thing I do is go to my mom's group and ask the ladies what they do with kale. Someone says kale chips. Then I go to the co-op page and someone is already posting about kale chips. The obvious next step is Pinterest... So i found a recipe that sounded easy and good to me. 

http://thehungryhusky.wordpress.com/2012/09/30/garlic-kale-chips/

I begin working away and ta da! Kale chips!

Here's the verdict. They are kinda yummy. The olive oil and garlic salt help. The kiddo likes them and the dogs, too! (A little fell on the floor...) Would I find myself sitting on the couch thinking "I've gotta have some kale chips"? No. But, if kale ends up in my basket again, I'm definitely making more. Kale. It's good for you. :)

How do you eat kale???

Blogging again

I've decided to pick up blogging again. I usually do when I'm going on a quest to better myself, my health, and to lose weight. Now this time because we want to have another baby. The question is not can we have another baby because we CAN have babies. We already have a beautiful boy. The question is can my body handle conceiving and carrying another baby. There are signs that you let your body go too far: your clothes don't fit, you weigh what you weighed when you were 40 weeks pregnant but your not, you haven't been able to wear your wedding rings for a long time, your feet swell and your knees hurt, your back hurts, and you're angry and tired all the time. Then once a month, you are crying your eyes out because you received that monthly denial notice. I have found myself in the same place many times over the last year or two. I talked to doctors, trainers, and friends. I realize that what worked when I was younger doesn't work anymore. It's time to do what's tried-and-true and get it together girl! I'm not doing anything radical. I'm not taking any drugs, at least not any synthetics. I am moving my body. Eating carefully yet allowing myself a day of rest and cheating. :) I'm pleased to say that I already feel better and I'm down 7 pounds! I'm strengthening my body and preparing it to do what it was made for.

Getting back on the wagon

     I haven't weighed or measured in the last two weeks... well I have weighed but not officially. It's been a bumpy time in our family life and I haven't felt much like bothering. It is so easy to feel discouraged by the little everyday things that happen in our lives.

      Through everything, I have had some fun this weekend. On Friday, my mom, Austin, Ashton, and I went to the Greek Fest here in Columbia. Every year we go just to taste the wonderful food! This year I was fond of the greek salad (feta makes my mouth water...), the spanakopita, and of course the baklava! There was a wonderful baklava type dessert dripped in chocolate. The food was awesome! Ashton rode his first ride. As he sat there riding in circles on the little train ride, I thought to myself how I'm not ready! In all the little things he does, I realize he needs me less each day. He rides the ride at the Greek Fest all by himself, he walks across the parking to church each Sunday morning, he jumps into the bathtub on his own. My baby is growing so fast!

     Yesterday we spent the morning with Trace and Serena playing at the mall. Again, another chance to show me how much he has grown! He climbed the steps to the slide by himself and slid right on down. It was nice to be with a friend I care so much for and our kids. Then Ashton went to Gambaba's and we went to the Gamecock football game. I won't rub it in, but I will say... WOW! It was an experience to remember for a long time, We ate and ate and ate! After the game, we went back to our tailgate and conversed about the importance of relationships and forgiveness. It was a nice gentle reminder of my place here on earth. It's nice to be with good friends.

     Today, I went to Sunday school and spent time with my hubby. Tonight was opening night of AWANAs. We watched the video "How Great is our God" by Louie Giglio. I recommend that every Christian see it! It is awe inspiring. You can watch the video on youtube. It's all about the laminin! He is the glue that holds our very being together. If you haven't seen it, you must!

"For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother's womb.

I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; 

Your works are wonderful, I know that full well." 

Psalm 139: 13-14

     After all the inspiring things in my life this weekend, I feel renewed and ready to get back on the train. It is time! Next Sunday I will be back on track and posting updates. I can't wait! Have a great week. 

Baby steps!

At the end of week 5 and I've lost 15 pounds. I wish it was falling off faster, but I believe this is a healthy rate. I don't feel like I'm starving or being harmful to my body. So over all, I'm excited. I have gone five weeks of eating better and two months without soda! Today in church I was asked: "Are you losing weight?" That is the best feeling since my darling husband says he can't tell... I guess he sees me everyday so it is harder for him to tell. As we ate dinner tonight he made a comment  about how he needed to start doing something since I was losing so much weight! Needless to say, I'm feeling good. 

Saw this on a friend's facebook! Too cute! 

Once again, I have not met my personal challenge to start getting physical. Although, I have been thinking a lot about it. But I have been seeking some encouragement. I found a link on facebook to a site http://www.bodyrock.tv/. I've been watching the videos and trying to get the courage to try them out. The girls are very fit and a little bit frightening. Although they do offer variations in their daily challenges for beginners. Check it out. 

 Weight: 237.0 lbs (-15.0) 

Waist : 41 inches (-4) (I've lost weight but gained an inch in my tummy???)

L arm: 15.0 inches (-.5)

R arm: 15.0 inches (-.5)

L thigh: 29 inches (-3)

R thigh: 29 inches (-3)

Bra size: 40DD

Mood: Ready to be done with rubber bands as pant fasteners!

Week 4 is over... I've decided to keep at it!

This week was a hard week for me. I felt unmotivated to exercise and truly struggled with the eating. On Tuesday, we had to drive to Clinton SC for a visitation service for Austin's cousin. We were tired and it was almost ten o'clock when we finally got home. McDonalds was the only restaurant on that stretch of I26 so I had two hamburgers and fries. NOT ON THE PLAN. Thursday, I got it in my head that I had to have skittles. After fighting the urge all day, Austin went and bought me a bag that night. Friday, while at the grocery, I bought another bag of skittles and worked on them Friday and Saturday. Last night, my friend came over for a game of canasta and I drank two glasses of wine (ANOTHER NO-NO!) I feel bloated and my skin is breaking out... we know what that means! I also found it very hard to prepare for four meals a day, which I think is important to keep your body from storing.

This morning when I weighed in, it was with dread! To my amazement, I lost 6/10s of a pound. I was fearful of gaining ten pounds! So while I wasn't happy that I had not lost but a smidge of weight, it was better than the alternative.

I must get moving. Any ideas? Let me know!

Weight: 240.2 lbs (-11.8) 

Waist : 40 inches (-5)

L arm: 15.0 inches (-.5)

R arm: 15.0 inches (-.5)

L thigh: 29 inches (-3)

R thigh: 29 inches (-3)

Bra size: 40DD (Yeah! Now to vanish the cups!!!)

Mood: Determined!

Update on the road to weight loss...

I've just finished my third week on the 4HB program. I'm overwhelmed with work and other things in my life, but I wanted to post my stats for this week. I will say, even with all the stress, it has been very easy to stay on the plan. I did go roller skating with the youth from church. It's a workout, but I enjoy it so much. Hoping to do that again soon. So here's to another successful week on the journey! Goal for the week (again) is to get some regular exercise. Someone told me that teacher's are doomed to be fat. It's considered the fat profession. Wow. I get it though because you spend so much time caring for everyone else and not yourself. Well, I'm planning to change that in my life. Ready to start week 4. 

Weight: 240.8 lbs (-11.2) 

Waist : 42 inches (-3)

L arm: 15.0 inches (-.5)

R arm: 15.0 inches (-.5)

L thigh: 30.5 inches (-1.5)

R thigh: 30.5 inches (-1.5)

Bra size: 40DD (Yeah! Now to vanish the cups!!!)

Mood: Exhausted. Overwhelmed. Prayerful. 

Week 2 of 4HB

I've just ended week 2 of 4HB. It proved to be another trying week with the first day of school rapidly approaching. I have found myself questioning myself a lot this week and missing my family terribly. So while my spirits have not been the best, I did find that the diet was not a part of the problem. I continue to enjoy the food and don't feel hungry. After last Sunday's cheat day, I became worried and weighed myself obsessively. By Wednesday the scale was back to where I was before cheat day. By this morning I was down an additional 2 pounds. The book warns to not get on and off the scale, because the weight will fluctuate when you spike your calories. (Why must I learn everything the hard and not do well at taking the advice of others? I may never know.)

So, the long and short of it... I can eat the food, I don't feel hungry, I love cheat day, I wish the weightloss this week was as much as last week, BUT I lost two more pounds!

Getting ready for my kids tomorrow... signing out.  =)

Weight: 242.3 lbs (-9.7) 

Waist : 42 inches (-3)

L arm: 15.0 inches (-.5)

R arm: 15.0 inches (-.5)

L thigh: 30.5 inches (-1.5)

R thigh: 30.5 inches (-1.5)

Bra size: 42DD

Mood: Bitter sweet, summer is over & school kids are coming!