Finding the Time

Aaron and I have been taking turns working out while the other one distracts Alexandria.  She is a little pistol that gets into EVERYTHING she can.   Usually it is whatever is the most dangerous item in the area - - that is where you'll find her!   Like standing up on her rocking chair...

A wobbly toddler on a wobbly surface what could go wrong?

 Or trying to grab the pedal on the elliptical machine.

Let me help by sticking my tiny fingers into this moving machine!

Finding the time to workout is often an issue.  With all that happens in life how can you commit to a workout schedule?

Time is the thing no one thinks they have.  "I just don't have the time!"

Well there are 24 hours each day.  Everyone has the same amount of time every day. What you pack into your time?

6-8 hours of sleep
8-9 hours at work
1 hour commuting
1 Cooking/Eating/feeding the baby
half hour of Household Chores
half hour of Personal Care (bathing etc..)
3.5 hours of "watching the kids"
30 minutes of "free time" with Aaron



Ways to squeeze activity into your busy schedule.


While at work:

• Take a 15 minute break to take a short walk. 
• if you have a large building - go to the restroom on another floor.
• walk to a co-worker's desk instead of emailing.
• Stand-up during conference calls. Pace.
• Sit on a yoga ball.
• put pedals under your desk and just pedal away!
 

LOVE THIS THING!!!!!

While Cooking:

• March in place
• Do Squats as deep as comfortable with the counter for balance.
• do curls or presses with cans or jars for weights.
• big old jars of spaghetti sauce work those arms!  

While watching the kids:

Be active and set a great example on being active!

• dance with the kids
• chase / play tag
• if small enough -- pick your child up and carry them around. 
• remember to work both arms switch sides.
•  get outside. play in the yard - walk around the block.

Use your time well.  Every day is a gift that is why it is called the present.

Let there be LIGHT!

Ever since we bought our condo in December 2011 I dreamed of doing some home improvements.  This weekend I finally replaced the light in the dining room!!

I never liked the blue pendant halogen light in our dining room.  The whole room was dark except for the one little spot light of crazy bright light.  It was hard to play boardgames with the poor lighting and if the table was not under it -- you would hit your head on the darn thing too!   IT HAD TO GO! 

Before - No light, cobalt blue night time forehead-smasher.

The light is on.  The room is still dark.

 So I used my birthday cash to buy a much needed replacement light for the ceiling! 

After

Let there be LIGHT!!!

What a Change!  I am so happy to have lots of light in the dining room!! 

Alexandria also liked this project because she got to play in the box the light was delivered in.

10 pounds down in January

My New Year's Resolution was to stop drinking sweet tea.  It is like drinking liquid type II diabetes and makes the "lab rat" part of my brain so happy to be flooded with sugar.

I used to only get it as a treat when I had to travel south of the Mason-Dixon Line for work -- but after living in Atlanta, GA for going on 4 years and having daily access to the beverage -- it took it's toll.

Of course that wasn't the only factor to dropping my weight last month -- but I like to think it was a big contributing factor.   Why blow my daily calories on a beverage!

I have switched to drinking a zero calorie all natural diet soda that is sweetened with STEVIA and not something that causes cancer.

Zevia All Natural Soda, Cola, 12 Ounce (Pack of 24) Frustration Free Package

 

 

I like it but it may be more of an aquired taste if you are not used to stevia.

 

 

I've also been trying to follow my own advice and wouldn't you know it?  I was right!

 

 

Tip #1

Drink Lots of Water Every Day!

Most people do not get enough water. Water is vital for the function of the kidneys that purify the blood. When the body does not get enough water some of the load is shifted to the liver. The liver's main function is to metabolize the body's fat for energy. If it is busy doing the kidney's job, you are not burning off fat! (Not to mention all the other benefits of a well hydrated body!)

Some recommend drinking 8 glasses of water each day, but that is the amount of water it takes for a sedentary 128 pounds person to stay hydrated. If you are bigger or more active, you will need more water to take care of your body's needs. (Makes sense to me!)

An easy way to figure out the minimum amount of water you need is to divided your weight (in pounds) by 2 and drink that many ounces of water daily.

Example: A 200 pound person would need a minimum of 100 ounces of water to stay hydrated daily. 

Back to Wisconsin again...

My Aunt Dianne passed away last night.  I feel really depressed and drained by this.  I lived with my Aunt and Uncle my last year of college.  My first kiss with Aaron happened in her home.  It was also where he proposed to me.  I was there the mother's day she learned her son Kurt has commited suicide.  She raised the peacocks -- which is why I have a justifiable dislike of the damn birds.

Aaron and I were just in Wisconsin for Christmas, and we both want to be there for the funeral.  We plan to drive up from Georgia to Wisconsin -- which means lots of restaurants along the way.

Eating out is one of those things that is a challenge when trying to lose weight -- especially when it seems your only choice for the next 40 miles will be a Waffle House.

Get ice water or bottled water if you think it could be sketchy.  Don't blow your calories on drinks!
Don't eat anything that is deep fried.
My favorite choice?  24 hour breakfast! 
An order eggs are full of protein and only 70 calories per egg.
Get some veggies in those eggs and you are really doing great.
Whole Wheat toast for fiber and you got a winner!
Avoid fatty meats, pancakes, waffles, syrup and potatoes/hash browns.

Alexandria prepares for her next Road Trip.

Keep your food journal even when on trips -- expect with the holidays or with a family gatherings you will eat a bit more than normal -- but that's kinda what families do.  Once back home normalcy can resume.

As long as you keep trying to be healthy you will get healthy.

One Year Flies By

Alexandria is a year old now!  She has taken a few baby steps, but has not started walking.  She seem very pragmatic about this. 

Mommy, falling sucks.  I'll stick with crawling for now.

Wearing her new outfit from Great Aunt Diane.

 

She is sitting in the same Rocking Chair her Grandpa Tom used as a child.

 

 

We are all going back to Wisconsin for Christmas this year.  It will be extra special because Aaron's brother, Michael, and his fmaily will be there too.  Mike and Amy had a baby boy in April.  (Alexandria's first Cousin!)   He teaches English abroad and they have been living in the Middle East.   Aaron's yougest brother and his wife are due with grand-baby #3 April 2013!

 

Nearly walking

My baby girl will be a year old on November 4th!    Amazing how fast the year has past.

She is able to stand up and even CLIMB up when she holds on to things.

She sometimes lets go and just stands all by herself (look ma, no hands)

She has not taken those monumental first steps.   She has also started to cut her first tooth!

My Mom and sisters will be down this weekend and I am SO EXCITED to see them.

Getting Close to Crawling

Alexandria is now 9 months old.  She can stand, but cannot balance without holding on to something or someone.   She is also starting to figure out this crawling thing.  She can get into a crawling position, then fails towards the way she wants to go.  I see her taking off by September.

I have started to baby proof the house.   The hearth were you see the basket above is now covered in a thick foam pad.   I also got bumbers for the entertainment center to the right.  I need to get some gates or screens to keep her from getting into all the wires back there.

At work there has been a huge re-organization.  I am lucky enough to still be under the same boss.  Extra bonus - I am moving to my own office with door and window.  Yea!

I am baby stepping my way back to pre-baby weight.  I do walking at lunch when I don't have to worry about Alexandria.   I am cutting drinks with calories out of my diet again. (WATER WATER WATER!!!)

When I lived in Wisconsin, Southern Sweet Tea was a treat I got when ever my work sent me below the Mason-Dixon Line.  Living in Georgia for 2 years where I could have it every day if I wanted...  yea.  That made as much of an impact as getting pregnant!

I have started to introduce baby food to Alexandria, some days she is so good, other days she just wants to play with the spoon and fling the contents.  I want to be a healthy example for her and teach her good habits so she never has to be like me - and weight twice as much as my classmates.

5 months of Cloth Diapers

Alexandria wears cloth diapers.  They are are the cute liners you see snapped over a cotton/hemp diaper on the inside.  The diapers do not need to be pinned.  the cover does it all.  But a cute girly diaper cover is cute.

We keep a stack of cloth diapers inside the covers ready to go --  and they are just as easy to use as disposables.  Never had a nasty leak and never had diaper rash.

Being a mom

This is a picture of my daughter Alexandria from St. Patrick's Day.  I think we calculated her to be 9/16ths Irish.  She get's an 1/8th from Daddy and a smidge more from me.

Getting Fit Post Baby

Alexandria lifting her head during tummy time.

It's been 90 days since the wonderful Miss Alexandria joined us.  90 is also how many pounds I would like to lose now that she's here.  Yep.  I have 90 pounds to lose.

My focus the past year has been my pregnancy and caring for my newborn daughter --  not myself.

My habits have gotten horrible and I really need to start being healthy again!!!


Today I was able to get some exercise by taking a walk outside during work - just like I used to do -- what seems ages ago.

I will have to start eating better too.   Back when I was at my ideal weight, I had a packet of Raisin, Date and Walnut Quaker Instant Oatmeal for breakfast every day.

Lately I have been eating a bacon, egg and cheese croissant with a sweet tea.

Talk about a huge calorie difference!!!


Since I moved to Georgia sweet tea has become my worst vice. Seriously, it is like a drug to me.

I need to follow my old lead!

So.. in a huge change of events -- My weight loss blog will acutally be me losing weigh again!