New Year 2011

It's 2011.  Time to begin the inner-turmoil of writing the wrong date for about four months.

I wrote down my goals last year.  Way to go, Me.  Now I have no excuse.  I know what I did and did not do this last year.  Here's what I have to say about that: Crap!

2010 Goals:
1. Stop using my pseudo-swear words. No more "crap" or "fricken" or "crap." This is going to be hard.
2. Finish my novel. Josh thinks this is going to be a lofty goal. Granted, so far I only have the Prologue, but I just rewrote it the other day and I like it so it should spur me on to finish the rest of the book, I hope.
3. Lose those last 25 lbs. I'll do this by exercising at least five days a week and eating better. That means I've got to finish the last few Diet Cherry Pepsi's in the fridge so I can stop drinking soda pop. And we've got to finish up the ice cream cake in the freezer so we can stop eating ice cream.

Yeah. 

So, I do have to admit that my pseudo-swearing, though it did not stop, has slowed a lot.  And I didn't finish my novel, but I rewrote it a few times and I've finished a few chapters.  And I'm pretty sure I weigh as much this January as I did last January.  Ugh.  Flop on all three points!!!

But, even though I didn't accomplish all (any) of my goals, I really want to make my new resolutions for 2011.

1.  No moving in 2011!!!

2.  I want to complete at least one 5k and maybe even a 10k this year, if I'm not pregnant during racing season.

3.  Eat healthily and get my work outs back in order.  And get a physical.

4.  Spend more time writing my novel.  I'd LOVE to finish that sucker because I'd like to start another one, but I can't until I'm done with the first!

5.  Feel good about myself so I can give more of myself to my husband and kids.  When I hate the way I look (like now) or I feel lazy (like now) or wish I could get back on track (like now), I spend too much time upset with myself and I don't give enough to my family.  They shouldn't suffer because I'm upset at myself.  So, I want to get myself organized.  I've got a few ideas of what to try.  However, I'm secretly anally retentive and I'm embarrassed to divulge too much info, so if it works, maybe I'll share.  If it doesn't, then you'll just know that I'm secretly obsessive about organization.  Which is good when I'm organized, but bad when I'm not. 

ANYWAY.

Here's to a New Year and new goals that I PRAY I'll accomplish!!

Confession of a Mother

I have some strengths.

I am organized.  Sometimes annoyingly so.  My DVDs are filed away by genre.  So are my cd's.  And then they're alphabetized within genre.  I arrive at church half an hour early to prepare for Nursery. My grocery shopping list is separated into sections of the store, and sometimes even by aisles.

I work hard.  The first month I worked in a call center for the credit union I broke the record for the most hours spent on the phone.  My teachers and bosses have all loved me because I always go above and beyond to find every possible way to excel.  I graduated magna cum laude.  I love to learn and apply my newfound knowledge.

I am optimistic.  I often start sentences with, "At least....."  Once in 8th grade my friend said to me, "Don't you ever get sick of looking on the bright side all the time?"  I guess I annoyed her.  Probably one reason why we are no longer friends.  But I often can find the good in most situations.  It's one reason I enjoyed my thankful posts for Thanksgiving.

But I have plenty of weaknesses.  And the greatest of them all has been slapping me in the face for a good two weeks now.

When it comes to my family, I don't utilize my strengths. 

(A little off subject, but something I need to get off my chest: I've known for a long time that I treat perfect strangers kinder than I do my own family.  I'll smile at a child crying in the grocery store.  Unless it's my own kid.  Then I'll grit my teeth and make threats that I'll never fulfill.  Am I really going to lock my child in the car?  No.  But I hiss it anyway.)

I do things well for other people, but when it comes to my own home, I'm too lackadaisical.  As if I expect my kids to just suddenly start cleaning up after themselves.  Hello?  How are they supposed to do anything if I don't teach them first?  Why should I expect mornings to run smoothly if I don't set the example of getting out of bed on time?  What good am I doing by letting them get away with no responsibilities beyond homework?  And it's all laziness on my part. 

We had Family Home Evening tonight where we established daily, weekly and monthly chores.  A first step in making our home more of a haven than a dump.  The only way this new plan will work is if I stay organized, work hard, and remain optimistic that it will be worth the effort in the long run.  I can do those things outside the home.  It's time to do them inside the home. 

It's time to flip my weakness into a strength.  It's nothing a whole lot of prayer and determination can't fix.

Time to Expand

I've decided to start a new blog. One for my fitness goals. And because I love people to join in everything I do, I open this to you and challenge you to come blog with me.

This new blog, The Bloggest Loser, is for any fitness goal we may have. My biggest one right now is preparing for the 1/2 marathon in January. I'm planning that my training for that will help me when The Bloggest Loser, Season 2 begins on September 5. I plan to track my progress as I train and that way I can get a better idea of how I'm doing.

So, the idea is to choose a fitness goal and track it there. The goals can be anything: drink more water for a week, go walking three days for a week, lose/gain weight in a healthy way. Anyone, no matter their stage in life, should be able to join. I really pigeon holed myself with the last Bloggest Loser, so this time I want to make it a more general forum.

The new blog's purposes:
1. Track my training.
2. Track fitness goals of anyone wanting to participate.
3. Keep The Bloggest Loser alive and running.

Come check it out. It could be kind of fun.

And So It Goes.... Again

Well, the Bloggest Loser is done. Fess Up Fridays ended about four months ago. And I gained weight over the summer.

It's time to start things up again.

This week I made a few goals and have actually stuck by them.

1. I've walked around our neighborhood every morning, despite the 100* heat that makes me sweat like a one-legged man in a butt kicking contest. Especially when that contest is in August in Arizona.

2. I cut out refined sugar this week. No chocolate, candy, cupcakes, brownies, ice cream, all the things I crave. But I've stuck to it. It's just as hard today as it was Sunday when I began. I'm hoping it gets easier, but until it does I'm very conscious of this goal. Very. Next week's focus is simple carbs. Heaven help me and every person I come in contact with. We're all in for a bumpy ride.

I'm thinking of starting up The Bloggest Loser again on September 5, when every kid going back to school should be there and there will be no excuses. Let me know if you want in. Any preferences this time? I'll consider everyone and everything.

Oh, and I'm planning to run in a race in January. It's called London's Run. It was established for a girl here in Queen Creek named London who passed away in 2005 from leukemia. The run was set up to help her family after her death. Every year they do the race again and donate proceeds to local children's charities. When I read that and saw the amount of the entrance fees I decided it would be worth doing. I'm not sure if I'm going to go for the 10k or the 1/2 marathon. Early entrance fees are due by December, so I'll train for a few months and decide at that time. If I weren't typing, I'd be rubbing my hands together in anticipation. I'm gonna do this, dang it.

The Bloggest Loser -- Finale

I don't know that the beginning of this post needs to be filled with the same type of fluff the BL season finale has, so I'll get right to the good news.

And the winner is........

Carina lost 7.27% of her body weight since she joined our competition! Holy cow, Carina!! You are my hero! Despite your stresses of life (and you've had some stress, my friend!) and the unruliness of summer, you've done well and inspired me to find my inner strength. You're amazing and I'd love to see some pictures of you and your chiseled body!! :)

I appreciate everyone for stopping by and playing along. I know not everyone was able to stay focused for the entire time we competed, but I'm grateful for the love and support. I hope everyone was able to get something out of the last several weeks: a complete goal, a realization, a plan for a new goal.

Here's what I've learned: I crave routine. I have little to no will power, although my heart is always in the right place. So, to counteract my lack of restraint, I need to force myself into a no-fail situation. I know my weaknesses even better now, no matter how much I'd love to deny that I have weaknesses. I am really looking forward to next week because the kids go back to school (I know, it's so soon!) and I can create a new schedule and routine. This will be good for me and maybe I can finally catch those goals that keep running away from me.

So, congratulations, Carina!! You totally rock!

And let me know..... anyone up for another competition once more of the general population has children in school?

(It won't hurt my feelings if you say no.)

(And I'm only partly kidding about a new competition.)

The Bloggest Loser -- Week Ten

Last week's winner for the most weight lost was Carina with 1.41% lost. Congrats, Carina! You've had a really steady loss each week. That's great!!

My story is stuck in my rut. I don't know why I do this. I think my head has decided that I'm fine the way I am. I'm thinner than I used to be, which is good. And I have no major health risks or concerns, which is also good. It's just my vanity I'm trying to appease. If I can't get past this hump, then I guess that means I'm not a very vain person after all. Yeah, tell my ego that.

I did really well a few weeks ago when I wrote out my goals for the week. I'm going to try that again.

1. Do not eat after I put the kids to bed.

2. No candy or sugary snacks.

3. Exercise five days.

4. Drink three to four jugs of water.

5. Go on a bike ride every night possible.

6. Read my scriptures and Ensign everyday.

I have been loving going on family bike rides with the kids. Josh has been at work most of the nights we've gone, but it's still been nice to get out and ride around our neighborhood a little bit. The only trouble is that we have to go at night because otherwise it's over 100 degrees, but we can't go too late because the kids have to go to bed. Unfortunately, I'm not in a position to leave the kids and just go alone so I have to cater to their schedules. It's tricky, but I like going.

So, calculate your loss for the week. I had troubles with the old calculator again, so it's the newer one. Let me know how your week went. Also, my friend Amy asked me to talk a little about all the contestants. So, even if you didn't lose any weight, leave a comment. I'll try to think of something nice to say about you. ;)

Sunday Thoughts

And if men come unto me I will show unto them their weakness. I give unto men weakness that they may be humble; and my grace is sufficient for all men that humble themselves before me; for if they humble themselves before me, and have faith in me, then will I make weak things become strong unto them.

Ether 12:27

This verse was mentioned in church today. It goes along very well with how I've been feeling lately. It's one of the reasons I want to truly push myself to lose weight. And be a better mom. And keep my house cleaner. And be a better wife.

It seems my weaknesses stare me right in the face quite often. And I want to win and overcome those weaknesses. I will stare back at them and see who blinks first. Unfortunately, having a staring contest with your weaknesses is like having a staring contest with a statue. I keep losing.

I'm tired of losing. I'm going to start working on some of the things I know I can improve and pray for the ability to discover the things I don't yet understand. With Heavenly help, faith, humility and work, I'll be the woman (including mom and wife) I want to be.

A New Decade....

There is so much to look forward to at the beginning of a new year, but when it's also the beginning of a new decade AND a blue moon, it's nearly overwhelming.

First of all, let me just say that 2009 was one of the most difficult years we've experienced so far. In fact, there were some things that happened that I just need some closure on. Thank goodness we get to close the door on the year, maybe that will help a little.

We had some good things too. Emma turned 8 on Easter Sunday and was baptized that evening. That was a good thing. Abby became an incredible reader and reads at least two grade levels above her age group. That's a good thing. Matt has a healthy heart and only broke one bone this year. That was a good thing. Millie turned one and scares the poop out of all of us. That really is a good thing, because we all laugh about that.

Josh got a new job, we have a new home (however temporary it is), we're all healthy and happy. It's a good way to begin the decade.

I've decided to write my goals for the year. I didn't write them last year and now I have no idea how pitifully I didn't fulfill them.

2010 Goals:

1. Stop using my pseudo-swear words. No more "crap" or "fricken" or "crap." This is going to be hard.

2. Finish my novel. Josh thinks this is going to be a lofty goal. Granted, so far I only have the Prologue, but I just rewrote it the other day and I like it so it should spur me on to finish the rest of the book, I hope.

3. Lose those last 25 lbs. I'll do this by exercising at least five days a week and eating better. That means I've got to finish the last few Diet Cherry Pepsi's in the fridge so I can stop drinking soda pop. And we've got to finish up the ice cream cake in the freezer so we can stop eating ice cream.

I think that's a pretty good start.

Here's to a new year, a new decade, and a new attitude of resolve. Cheers!

'Fess Up Friday

I know, I'm late again. It's not Friday, it's Sunday. But, this weekend we went house shopping, so that's my excuse. We found lots of possibilities, but I think our house is still out there somewhere.

Anyway, on to the weight loss. This week Tara and I decided to take the challenge to losing 15 lbs by Christmas. I admit, I balked when she first suggested that, but we've both been on plateaus for too long. So, for the next two months, we hope to lose an average of 2 lbs a week. Here's what we plan to do:

Exercise 5 to 6 days a week.

We now have child portioned plates to use for dinnertime.

Limit the number of Halloween candies we get a day.

Drink more water.

This is going to be tough, but we've got to do this! Waking up at 5am isn't worth it if the weight doesn't come off. We've got to do this. And we will. Think you might want to try too?

How'd you do?