Thursday 3-31, Walking in Sunshine!

So today was great. Got lots of exercise and got to catch up with my mommy friends. We got up early and got lots of stuff done around the house including getting our cell phones squared away for our big trip. Then at 11:00 we met up with our friends at the park at the Marina. Once everyone got there we headed around the Marina for a 2 mile walk. The older kids hopped on bicycles and the little ones rode in strollers. There were 4 of us mommies, and a total of 8 kids, which meant that we didn’t go quite as fast as I would have liked, but we did do about 3 mph. Then we stopped to have lunch and I treated myself to a piece of leftover pizza and a spinach/ asparagus salad. The kids played for a bit, and then we set off again, with an additional mom and two kids! We did the loop again, at almost exactly the same pace. But it was 4 miles, so we burned a lot of calories. The sun was warm and I was really sweaty, but it was still really nice to get some good exercise with good friends.

Now I am home and blogging while both kids nap. We are going to my mom’s house for dinner in Tahoe so I am hoping that “J” can get off work early. Guess we will see. My mom is also on MFP, so I am hoping that the dinner is figure friendly. Either way, I will be monitoring my portions! Good practice for Ireland.

http://www.myfitnesspal.com/food/diary/otm25?date=2011-03-31.  

Teeny tiny stiches make for some
cute jeans that fit a slimmer me!

Side note: Found some super cute jeans at Ross last week, they fit perfectly on my thighs and are a perfect length except they are too loose around my waist. So today I sewed up little areas on each side, effectively "taking it in" about 1 1/2 inches. Who knows, maybe my new lifestyle will help me cultivate some sewing skills!

Wednesday 3-30, A little "Me" time

So last night went as planned “J” even came home early, except once we had finished the delicious Baked Ziti, (thanks to frozen feasts), we loaded up our kayak, Nemo and went to Costco.  Last year we bought Nemo (one of the last kayaks in the Reno store) and soon discovered it had multiple leaks, and we took on several pounds of water. We tried to return it, but all of the nearby Costcos had sold out by then. We kept the receipt and waited until then, even caulking the holes for a temporary fix. My good friend “F” saw they were in stock and told us. So we loaded up Nemo and traded her in for a new, more sea worthy kayak. It looks like this kayak will be named Belle; she is as yellow as the princess’s dress. It fits beautifully on “J”s new kayak rack; we can’t wait for warmer weather so we can take the maiden voyage! Really looking forward to getting lots of exercise with Belle this year, last summer my arms were pretty strong!

Today was totally luxurious, and in the first half, all about me. The kids had a field trip to the local PBS station, so “J” took off the first half of work to take them. I lounged in bed as they ate breakfast, then I came downstairs for some cereal. Side note: so happy to learn that Kashi Autumn Harvest doesn’t have any sodium, how exciting! Caught up on email, MFP and Facebook, then dressed for a walk/run, while the kids and “J” headed off to preschool. I started out walking at my usual 4 mph, then sprinted for about .25 of a mile, and alternated until I had circled the lap. According to imapmyrun, I had gone an average of 5 mph, not bad! So I came home, logged it then realized I hadn’t hit my calories burned goal on MFP. So I broke out JD2 and busted a couple moves. I was sweating by then! Off to the shower!

Loving my new do
and two feathers!

So I headed to my hair appointment to see my good friend Devlin of Devlin’s Rock Star Hair Studio, and got a cut. Long overdue! I normally go in every 4-5 weeks, but it had been over 6! So I got a great cut, he is so good! Then he put a couple feathers in my hair. They are a little more natural in tone than the previous one was, it looks super cool. The best news is that he is by far the cheapest in town; most places charge as high as $40 for feathers, he charges $7 for 3 feathers! Go see Devlin, and tell him I sent you!

While I was waiting for the kids to be done with the field trip, I popped into Marshalls and bought a quilt for “V”s big boy bed, and a couple of lightweight coats for me. I have to tell you, shopping is way more fun now that I like looking at myself in the mirror! Then the kids came and “J” and I ate at Viet Pho. Love their Vermicelli bowls, huge portions and pretty healthy! Then we parted ways and I took the kids to ballet. Now we are home, “V” is sleeping, “P” is watching a movie, and I am just about done blogging, and then I am taking a nap! Leftover Ziti and spinach salad for dinner, yum!

http://www.myfitnesspal.com/food/diary/otm25?date=2011-03-30.

Tuesday 3-29, Weigh-In Day!

Today is weigh-in day, and I have consistently kept my net calories above 1200 this week, sometimes getting as high as 1550. But it continues to pay off, even though I am taking in a lot more calories. I am down another 1.1lbs, bringing my total weight loss to 15.2lbs, 9.34% of my initial weight! So happy that I took this on, and that I have seen such awesome results. Down to a size 10 jeans! I am really hoping to hit 160lbs before we leave for Ireland. Only 12 days to go!

Today we are going to Pump-It-Up for a play date, and then I am going to try to squeeze in some exercise, either at the Marina, Mall or here, on Just Dance 2. Then we will have naptime, yay! Then at 4:10 I am going in to get my teeth adjusted at the dentist, a little tweak from the work I had done last week. Then we will be enjoying the Baked Ziti that we made last night at Frozen Feasts. At 418 calories for a huge serving, it will be a good “splurge.”

Then we will hopefully have a quiet night in. I am hoping to watch the Amazing Race that we missed on Sunday, then get to the rest of Eat Pray Love and maybe some Tudors. Watching my snacks all the while!

http://www.myfitnesspal.com/food/diary/otm25?date=2011-03-29.

Monday 3-28, Busiest Day!

So yesterday was so busy, I didn’t even have time to blog. Between preschool, lunch with daddy and our houseguests, shopping, entertaining our guests and frozen feasts, I didn’t really get to sit down until 9:30 last night! But here’s my update:

Sunday night our friends from Tahoe came to spend the night, and we ended up playing games and hanging out with another couple until about 11:00pm. Late night follow up to late night! The next morning I got up with the kids and worked at the preschool. I had left a note for”K” and “T” letting them know where we were, and they ended up texting to arrange plans for lunch. So after preschool I drove to “J”s work and picked him up to meet “K” and “T” at In n’ Out. I had my favorite, a hamburger Protein style, only 240 calories, and so good! Then I dropped “J” back off at work and took “K” shopping while her husband ran errands. We ended up home in time for the kids nap, and watched most of Eat Pray Love, such a good movie and true to the book. Then I got a call that my good friend “S” had a family emergency and needed help with frozen feasts that night. (With the Rugrats we prepare and freeze meals at “S”s house once a month).

So “K” and “T” headed home and my friend “F” and I stepped up to the plate, arriving about an hour early to help cook the meals. I walked the 1.25 miles to her house since I hadn’t gotten much exercise and I arranged for “F” to drive me home. So we cooked and gabbed all night, made Potato Soup, Baked Ziti, Quiche, and two Gourmet Pizzas from 5:45- 9:30pm. Phew! Then “S” and her sister drove 13 hours to Washington State after that to get to their family.

Despite eating at In N Out for lunch, I still managed to stay way below my calories for the day, and got to eat homemade chocolate chip cookies and goat cheese at Frozen Feasts. Didn’t go too over board because Weigh-In is Tuesday!

http://www.myfitnesspal.com/food/diary/otm25?date=2011-03-28.

Sunday 3-27, Recovering from awesomeness.

Feeling pretty good in my new jeans!

  Well, last night was way too much fun. We started out at Rumbullions (we thought that the Ace’s stadium would be too windy since it is partially outdoors) and met everyone there. I was dressed in my new skinny jeans, and felt pretty good. When we walked in, everyone commented on them, and I was on top of the world. The best part is that we all looked so good! Every single person there had been losing weight and was looking amazing. I would go so far as to say that 2 months ago we would have been unrecognizable! Plus, I think the confidence levels were through the roof! So, we decided to go dancing. Unfortunately, our friend “K” and her husband “J” couldn’t get in because on the “no hat” policy, so they set off their own way. Bummer. But we secured the table and started ordering more cocktails, then hit the dance floor. We were there from about 9:30pm-12:30pm, and I am pretty sure we danced for about 90 minutes, easy. So we all had fun joking around and dancing the night away. “E” even treated us all to a “BJ” shot (amazingly only 84 calories) and we all did it the “right” way, no hands. Too much fun!

With my fellow Biggest Losers, "S" and "F"
 (forgot to break out the camera when "K" and
"T" were still there, sorry skinny mamas!) 

So at about 12:30, everyone was pretty pickled, save for a few sober husbands, so we headed home. “S”, “E”, and “J” and I decided to hit Del Taco on the way home, “S” and I quickly calculated food on MFP, and we each ended up with a chicken taco, which we both justified by how many calories we burned on the dance floor! It may have been my saving grace the next morning.

At Aura

So we woke up a little later than usual, about 9, and showered quickly and went to Uncle Vinny’s for breakfast (highly recommend). I had a breakfast sandwich which was just what I needed. I actually felt pretty good this morning in spite of the 6 cocktails consumed, I wonder if that is a good thing or a bad thing?

Then we ran some errands, heading to Costco, Ross, Old Navy, Michael’s and Raley’s. We confirmed that we will be able to return our kayak to Costco, yay! My grandmother heard about my weight loss via a cousin on Facebook and insisted on buying me some new jeans, so I went in search of those. I was cautious and initially and only brought one size 10 and five size 12s to the dressing room. Turns out I had to go back; all of the 12s are way too big! Yay! Officially in 10s! Found a cute pair of jeans originally $88, but they were on clearance at only $12. Once a bargain shopper, always a bargain shopper! Then I found some workout pants, my old pair literally fall off of me when I do Just Dance 2, and some leggings. Success!

Now the kids are down, and I think I convinced “J” to do Just Dance 2 with me. Then our South Lake friends are coming for dinner and Mexican train. Thinking BBq beef, spinach salad and roasted potatoes. Should be another fun night, but I am going to take it easy tonight for sure.

http://www.myfitnesspal.com/food/diary/otm25?date=2011-03-27.

Saturday 3-26, Swimming!

Well last night was good, the Chicken Cacciatore was delish, and I enjoyed eating the regular linguini noodles. Since I had exercised, I even allowed myself dessert, a couple of mini-beligian chocolate bars from Trader Joe’s and a Chai Latte with Foam. Yummo!

The rest of the night was spent watching streaming Netflix, Freakonomics based on a book that I highly recommend. The movie was good, but kept cutting out (weather maybe?) so I read my dime store novel in between and finished that up. It was a good read, getting hooked on Sandra Brown!

By bedtime we were beat, plus I knew we had to be up early for a birthday party in the morning, I slept like a rock. At 8:00 we got up and ready for “P”s friend “L”s birthday party, which featured an indoor pool! So I tried on my suits and discovered that the one I had bought for my high school reunion (when I was at my skinniest) fits perfectly. Of course I showed it to “J” and he thought it was too low-cut. I thought, “Oh, well! It fits great and is flattering, I am wearing it!” So I did, and it was really fun. "V" is really getting a lot more comfortable in the water, and "P" has been for a while.  My fellow Biggest Loser friend “T” complimented me in my suit and it felt good. BTW, biggest loser friend “T” looked amazing, other moms were telling me how great she looked and were wondering how much weight she had lost, she looks like a new woman!

So everyone is down for a nap, and I am blogging, then hitting Just Dance 2. Just found out that Katy Perry’s Firework is a free download on there too! Yay, new song! Then we are having pizza for dinner, Winco for the kids and “J” and Tortilla Pizza for me. Then we are going to the Rugrat’s Couple’s Night Out at Duffy’s Ale House at the Ace’s Stadium. Planning to meet up with lots of friends there, and secured a babysitter so I am exercising so I can drink tonight! Can’t wait for tonight!

http://www.myfitnesspal.com/food/diary/otm25?date=2011-03-26.

Friday 2/25, Snow Day!

Last night’s dinner was a good spread. I ended up eating 1 fish taco and a corn tortilla and mozzarella microwaved quesadilla. Then, although he had plans, “J” stayed home because of the crappy weather and we watched some T.V.



Yummy smelling Chicken Cacciatore!



Today I woke up to find that there was a 2 hour school delay, meaning that preschool was cancelled. So I stayed in bed late, which with young kids is until about 8:30am. As “J” was leaving the house, I told him to leave the shoveling to me, and go straight to the gym before work. So after a warm bowl of oatmeal, I geared up and shoveled the driveway. It took me 25 minutes, but really got me sweating. I came in and showered, then put some chicken, spaghetti sauce and veggies in the Crockpot for Chicken Cacciatore tonight. I will serve it with linguini and steamed broccoli. Just the thought is making me hungry! Then I made myself a new popcorn snack, sprinkled with Splenda and cinnamon. Yum!

Lunch was a quesadilla and banana for the kids, and a breakfast sandwich for me. Then I did a little bit of Just Dance and went back to my “junk-food” novel. Now I am smelling the Cacciatore and eagerly awaiting “J”s return. Looks like another quiet evening at home tonight, wish we had the next Tudors’ disk!

http://www.myfitnesspal.com/food/diary/otm25?date=2011-03-25.