Weigh-In Wednesday: A confession of a "cokeaholic"

by Susan
I have a confession, I cheated. We were at our parent's homes this weekend and I drank a coke, ok maybe it was more like three or four. Oh the temptation. I haven't been keeping coke in the house which has made it easy to stay on track but I got to my mom's and there they were; shiny red cans all nice and chilled. My mom knows that is my drink of choice and she had "stalked up" for me.
Romans 7:15 (NKJ) Paul says: what I will to do, I do not practice; but what I hate, that I do. That is how I have been feeling lately. it is so frustrating to know what I need to do but without any thinking I let the temptations over rule. The next month is going to be full of temptations; it is going to be my choice to continue the cycle or break out it.

I mentioned before that I have been trying to pick up my bible when I want something instead of going to the cupboard and staring at the possibilities. This has helped me when I am at home but it is difficult to do when I am at someones else's home even if it is my mom's. Today I was reading a post on my pastor's blog about memorizing God's word verbatim with references. After reading that I decided to adjust my weekly goals and start memorizing scripture to remind me that I can make good choices when I am not at home.

Here are my goals for the next week:

1. I am starting to read in Ecclesiastes and I am going to work on memorizing this scripture: ...A wise man scales the city of the mighty, and brings down the trusted stronghold. Prov. 21:22 For me the trusted strong hold is food.


2. We are spending a lot of time with our extended family the next couple of weeks and I want to make sure to have some time for just DJ and me.


3. Logging my food and working towards burning 500 more calories per day then I eat.

Next week I weight-in on the scale to see if I made the goal of 5lbs for Thanksgiving.


~Susan

Hot Tip Tuesday: GET RID OF IT! (aka Magic Fudge)

by Jenn
I know our postings have been a bit sparse, but all of your SAHMs understand...if it's not one thing it's another!

If you're looking for an update on my goal of 5lbs by Thanksgiving, there's good news and there's bad news...here it is...

This morning I decided to finally weigh myself. Unlike Susan, who is scale obsessed, I avoid the scale like a plague. Ignorance is bliss, right? Well, I was sick over the weekend and the only things that "sounded good" were nachos, fudge and Coke classic. Normally these things wouldn't even be in my house (HONEST, just ask my friends, our food selection is very boring and fairly healthy thanks to our lack of self-control) but we had just had a leaders retreat and all of the leftovers came to my house. SO...when sickness hit I was able to indulge my weaknesses, NOT GOOD. Needless to say, it was time to face the music and weigh in.

This first time I stepped on the scale I was shocked, it said I had LOST 12lbs!!! Perhaps this fudge was MAGIC FUDGE!!! How could this be? So I moved the scale to a different spot on the floor and weighed again...12lbs down, AGAIN!!! Could this be? Is fudge the next weight loss miracle drug?! Knowing the unlikeliness of this (but secretly hoping deep inside), I moved the scale one more time and all of the magic left...3lbs up. Boo. (ah well, it was nice while it lasted) That's definitely the BAD news.

Here's the GOOD news. Yesterday, while trying to regain my footing after being sick for three days, I couldn't stop thinking about that fudge just waiting for me with all of it's creamy goodness contrasted against it's crunchy nuttiness (ok, I'll stop). I found myself walking toward the freezer (I had put it there in an attempt to avoid it...and yes, I ate it frozen, don't judge) several times telling myself that I would just have "one more piece" and then be done with it. Well, friends, one more piece turned into SEVERAL more pieces. Finally I got a hold of myself and did the unthinkable...I THREW THE MAGIC FUDGE AWAY! That's right, the fudge that was delicious and comforting (and deadly) went into the garbage never to be seen again (well, at least until Christmas comes along with some new fudge).

So, here's my hot tip of the week: When you know you just can't handle yourself around a certain food item, GET RID OF IT! I knew the moment that fudge entered my house that it would be a problem. I couldn't, however, stand the thought of throwing it away. So, I put it in the freezer in the garage far away from my normal roaming patterns. Usually this would work for me, but we're talking about FUDGE, people, this is not the USUAL temptation! So (although a little too late) I finally did what my first instinct had told me to do and threw the lovely fudge away (in the OUTSIDE garbage-this was serious).

For all of you food-savers who can't stand the thought of "wasting" food, don't panic. There are other options to throwing food away. You can give it away to a skinny friend (sabotage?), you could share it the moment you received it (which is what I should have done at the retreat), or you could send it to work with your spouse. The method doesn't matter, but the principle does. If you know you can't handle a certain food item in your house GET RID OF IT! One moment of food waste is ok for the sake of the health of your waist.

Wednesday Weigh In ... on Thursday

by Susan

Man, I am exhausted. You would think being a stay at home mom I would have so much time on my hands. I wish. I was so disappointed that I didn't get my "Wednesday Weigh In" posted on Wednesday. I know it sounds a little lame but i have huge problem with constancy in my weigh loss and I really wanted to break that. I am really good about logging my meals, exercising and being healthy for maybe two or three days and then everything flies out the door. So I am a day late but I'm posting.
I read an article this week 10ways to cut 100 calories on the Everyday Health website. It states that if you can cut 100 calories per day it can result in a 10 pound weight loss. Guess what one of the tips was? go on a beverage alert! "Obvious drinks to avoid sodas"! The article goes on to attack my coffee creamer. Two of my most favorite things. I have to say that I have been told to cut out "my coke" and i will loose weight. I have done it before while trying to conceive and remained "caffeine free" for 9 months with my first baby. When i was pregnant with our second I found a loop hole. I could have 300mg of caffeine a day. So I went searching. I found out that 20 ounces of Coke only has 51mg of caffeine. As I am writing this I am embarrassed at how pathetic and addicted I sound. It is time; I'm going cold turkey.

Here are my goals for this week:

1. I am still working on finishing the Song of Songs series. I tried to finish it last week but it was longer than expected. I have also been reading in the book of Hosea.
2. Take Ryleigh on a date.
3. Log my food and NO COKE. I am also going to work toward Jenn's goal of 5lbs for Thanksgiving and 5lbs. for Christmas.
   

Here are the other tips for cutting 100 calories:

1. Make oil substitution


2. Go on a beverage alert


3. Change up the coffee


4. Modify the recipe


5. Portion control counts


6. Learn to say "no thanks"


7. Beware of condiments


8. Watch out for toppings, dressings, and dips


9. Make smart food substitution


10. Drink responsibly

Here's to a good week. ~ Susan

I'm Back and ready to jump!

by Jenn
I took an unintentional hiatus from blogging both here and there, but I'm back and ready to get this weight loss party started! I know what you're thinking, "She sounds too ridiculously peppy to be talking about dieting." Perhaps I do sound a little silly, but I can't help but get excited because I finally have a goal that is measurable, challenging and yet (with some serious hard work) still attainable. Are you ready to hear it? (drum roll please...)

My goal is to lose 5lbs BEFORE Thanksgiving and 5lbs more BEFORE Christmas!!! I know, I know, it's the holiday season and it's crazy to try to lose weight in November or December, but I have great logic behind why I chose this goal.

I have been overweight going on over 10 (yikes) years and there have always been "great" reasons to wait on losing weight. I was dealing with work, then I was dealing with infertility, then miscarriage, then infertility drugs, then work stress, then friendship stress, then IUI procedures then (finally) pregnancy, then a new baby, then a busy summer, then-oh wait-then is NOW. I've come to the conclusion that there is never a "good time" to lose weight. There is, however, always time to hate having a fat bottom, low energy and zero confidence. (Funny how that works, isn't it?)

So, here I am, jumping back in to weight loss with a head full of excuses on why this is bad timing, but a heart just as full of reasons why I must be who God wants me to be. (Besides, maybe working so hard to lose 5lbs will keep me from gaining during the holidays???)

Here's my game plan for this week: Exercise at least 4 times and write down what I eat.

Here's to 5lbs by Turkey Day...Geronimo!!!

Wednesday Weigh In

by Susan
I wanted to share a success for this week. I haven't been weighting myself for a few weeks. I tend to put a lot of focus on the number and not on my health so I decided I would put the scale away to remove the temptation and to change my focus. For the most part I have done pretty good. I realize how much of a habit it was for me to step on the scale. I know it was at least once a day if not more. Anyway, since it has been a couple of weeks the curiosity was getting the best of me and I weighed myself. Woohoo!!!! I was down 6 POUNDS! I am so excited. To be honest I am not sure what changes I made to have dropped the pounds but I don't want those pounds back again.

The next few days we have a lot going on but I am determined to be focus on my goals. I do feel like I have a new little "hop in my step" to help push me through. Just to recap I have set my goals up in 3 part; My walk with God, Family, Health.


Here are my goals for the week:

1. My intimacy with God. This has been a so heaving on my heart since our church's Ladies Retreat. I know he desires it from us but how... My time with my bible has kept me in the Song of Solomon. I have also been going through a study of the Song of Solomon with Mike Bickle of iHOP I would like to finish the series.

2. Spend one night this week without the t.v. on and just hang out with DJ.

3. Drink my 64oz water every day this week. I'm also trying really hard to go to my bible when I get bored instead of the fridge.
I am trying to find some type of exercise I can do while my hand and toe are still healing. Please let me know if you have any ideas.

I'm looking forward to another great week. ~Susan

P.S The scale is back in the garage... ;-)

Positive Lists

By Susan
After reading a blog I decided I was going to list the positive things for working out and I am sad to say I couldn't think of 10. Maybe that is my problem I don't see the benefit or reward for loosing weight. Here is what I came up so far. I'm going to think of six more things. I have to!


1 - I will be practicing self control
2 - I will be healthier
3 - I will be more fun for girls
4 - I will be an example for my girls

http://ordinaryinspirations.blogspot.com/2009/10/get-excited-about-working-out.html

~Susan

Setting myself up

By Susan
It is Wednesday and time to check in. I haven't been as consistent in my blog writing like I want to be; hopefully I can get on track. Having the cast removed from my hand definitely makes it easier to type.
I have been doing ok the past couple days. I haven't been eating like I planned but I have been drinking my water which for me is a huge accomplishment and I have been getting out and walking with my girls. I am doing something; however, the grand plan in my head has me running miles and super skinny by this point. Did I mention that all that was to happen on the first day?
I'm trying not to get disappointed that the pounds haven't melted away just because I drank some water and went for a couple of walks. I know that it took years for me to get this way and I can no longer think I can change that in one or two days. I have decided to take some steps to keep me from dwelling on things the first is I have put some scriptures up in my bathroom, on the frig and in my wallet and the second is to remove my scale from the bathroom. Another big big help has been my weekly talks with Jenn. Jenn is the only one (including my husband) that knows my "real" weight. I think it is important to find a friend, someone you can be completely honest with about struggles and to celebrate accomplishments rather it is losing weight or trying to be the person God intended for you to be. These are the things I believe can help me at this moment. I realize as time goes by there will be other things to deal with and to conquer but this is where I am choosing to start. What are some things that can help you get started ?

~Susan

Here are the scriptures I have posted:

1Peter 1:13 (NIV) "Therefore, prepare your minds for action; be self-controlled; set your hope fully on the grace to be given you when Jesus Christ is revealed"

2 Timothy 1:7 "For God did not give us a spirit of timidity (of cowardice, of craven and cringing and fawning fear), but [He has given us a spirit] of power and of love and of calm and well-balanced mind and discipline and self-control