TGI Almost F

It's been a looong week. My sister started working with me at my school. Which is great! She's doing a really good job. But I AM the older sister (I won't say big) and am also bossy, a perfectionist, and anything else that will excuse me from not only doing my job all week, but also running around after her to make sure she's doing hers right. To be fair (to me, of course), schools are not the best training ground. You are expected to jump in, with both feet, galoshes and go to war...okay maybe war's not the best example when dealing with a bunch of "problem" children, but you get the point. So I've been shadowing her so that she can ask me anything she might need to when dealing with a kid who refuses to take off his blue shirt...or chasing pot smokers...you know....stuff...

So anyway, let me tell you, if my pedometer would actually WORK, it would prove that I have probably walked well over 15,000 steps each day....but I'm sure its registered like 132 or some other stupid number..(last week when I did 4 miles...which should have been 8,000 steps...it registered 1,132...STUPID!)..bottom line is, I have been WORKING hard....add to that, this ridiculous cold and my favorite Aunt stopping in a couple weeks early, I can't WAIT for tomorrow....or should I say...tomorrow at 4pm.

But have no fear, I have been staying on the ball. Not as much working out as I would have hoped for, yet, but I have the weekend to make up some pointage......lol..new word...pointage...use it, live it, love it.

DUUURN IT

My thighs are KILLING me! I have been in so much pain today. NOT the day to sport the pointy toed heels, I'm telling you! I have been in so much pain all day...it's the good pain. I keep having to remind myself of that! lol.

But I still came home and handled 3 miles and an ab/arm strength training workout. Tomorrow is the day to wear tennis shoes, let me tell you!

Way to Go Partner!!

My partner and I won the weekly challenge on our fitness/mommy board! I am so proud of us! I have the best partner. She has had a lot of struggles, like many of us trying to lose weight and has decided to make the change to change her life. We are similiar in so many ways, mothers of two beautiful girls (plus I get the extra boy..hehe), wives to husbands dealing with keratakonis, and still keeping everything together and that makes us a great team. We balance each other out and I can always count on her for support. I know it was a tough news and you might feel down and out, but remember why we're doing this and why THIS time is THE time. Week 3 here we come! :-)

Project Runway

Does anyone watch this show? You know Ricky, my latin homeboy who is ALWAYS crying. I love him. Sure he's a llorona (is there a male version of that word??) but you know, sometimes you just want to cry. Last night I caught up on some past Oprahs and of course, that woman moves me to tears every time. She went over the whole concept of positive thinking and visualizing what you want. As always, it made me think.

This morning I visualized myself doing a mile. But when I went to pick out which workout I was going to do, I knew today was the day of 4 miles. And 4 miles I handled. The first two I did in a walking, cardio, kickboxing workout. It was awesome. The second 2 miles was in a power walk which I wanted to quit halfway through but maybe it was the whole visualization or maybe it was my little shadow laying on the floor coloring and cheering me on, I knew I couldn't show her that I was a quitter, so on I went. 4 miles and handled our group challenge and then did an additional 175 situpts. I feel fantastic. I smell, quite the opposite. I also need to handle that. But sitting here, I feel almost, proud. Is that weird? Or wrong? It feels almost boastful, but I'm so proud of myself. And I won't say it out loud, I'll just let you all know. It's the pride that moves you to tears. I'm taking back my life even if it's a mile at a time.

My goal for this week is to wake up and do the 1 mile challenge at least 3 times and come home and do the 2 mile challenges 3 times and do the strength training 3 times. I will do it! And I will probably cry after every workout...just cuz I'm a llorona like that!

Off to the showers!

Weigh In Day

Good morning...I woke up with one eye half open and stumbled down the stairs to hit the scale. I ripped off my sweat pants because really, we don't need the extra bulk and they say to always weigh yourself in the same thing every week...and jumped on the monster that we call a scale. Are you ready for it?? A loss of 2.8 pounds. I'm pretty proud of myself...I said I'd be happy with 1-2 pounds...but really was hoping for 2....and here's a little bit more to give me that extra umph for the day.

I do have to say though, that my competitive side kicked in and I thought geesh, I'm so close to 3, why didn't I get 3..and then i released that thought. Sure I could hop on the potty and "release" that last .4 but I'm at the weight I am this morning for a reason and I'm okay with it. Better than that, I'm good with it.

I'm off to have a light breakfast so that I can get in at least a mile this morning. (Did you know that you burn off more fat/calories if you eat something and then work out as opposed to working out on an empty stomache. I forgot why, but I paid attention that much in nutrition class.) I am going out of town for a wedding shower, but I can't neglect myself or my partner. Today's our final day and we are so close I can taste it! ;-). Happy Sunday everyone!

And a walking I will go....

I got up at the butt crack of dawn this morning to have some me time. I should have given that thought up years ago because two seconds later, my little shadow that I call Iliana was with me. We cuddled on the couch and watched a movie, Cheaper by the Dozen 2. Halfway through the movie, mini-er me, Adelita, came down and announced she was HONGRY and wanted SURREUL. So I got up and made us all a healthy breakfast and we finished watching the movie. I, of course, cried. What can I say...I'm a wuss. Anyway, after the movie was over, I put in my WATP video. I first did the 1 mile and then realized I was still ready to go. So I added on the 2 mile workout. I did a total of 3 miles and added on my crunch workout on the end. Yea!! I'm feeling great and it's not even 11. Woohoo!

So I'm off to take a shower, seriously my stench is offending even ME and heading over to my parents house. It's been a minute since they've seen the kids and my dad reminded me of it this morning. So as always, his wish is my command. Have a great Saturday ya'll. Be smart!

WATP and Chili's

I got a new video yesterday. It's not the one to the left, but it's the same chick. Walk Away the Pounds. It's a 5 workout dvd and let me tell you all. It is GREAT. You so need to get one, any one. There are like hundreds to choose from it seems, but get one and USE IT. There are light workouts for the times you are in a rush and heavy workouts when you really want to get serious. I had a blast doing it today. I felt the effects of it but didn't want to stop. Note: You may want to get a set of light handweights as she does incorporate them into her workouts, but they're not mandatory.

And I had a restaurant success today. I went to Chilis with my comadre after letting the kids PUMP IT UP....my favorite food from here might very well be the Nachos. You know, the appetizer that contains 1570 calories and...are you ready...wait for it....115 grams of fat....OH.MY.HECK. It's really bizarre, the foods that I had no problem at all sticking down my throat and thinking I was giving myself a "treat". Yikes.

So today, I thought I was doing great by ordering the turkey combo. It's half a turkey sandwich and your choice of a soup or salad. Good thing for Biggest Loser giving me the advice to not be afraid to be picky. I specified the sandwich to have no bacon, no mayo and mustard on the side. And I asked which dressings were low fat for the salad and requested it on the side. Thankfully! It seemed like they brought me half a cup of salad dressing. I portioned out 2 tbsp and sprinkled that over my salad...and when they brought my sandwich..you are not going to believe what was on my plate...PINCHE STEAK FRIES!!

oh goodness. I said THIS comes with the combo? And they said, ya, the deal is you get half the sandwich, but you still get the fries and a salad. I feel bad for the poor shmuck who orders this meal as is and thinks they are DOING GREAT by eating a salad. I immediately asked for a to-go box and dumped every last fry into the box. I also took half the swiss cheese (did you know, swiss cheese has the lowest calories, fat content of cheeses?) and dumped it in my salad. Ooh, another tip....eat your salad first!

I felt succesful. Two glasses of water and I gave myself a high five and big ole makeout hug on a job well done. Add my workout on top of it and I do believe I am ready for weigh in tomorrow!

At Peace...

It's just how I feel. I went to find an image on google images. I typed in at peace and this is the first image that came on. Isn't it so very fitting? Really, I'm almost near tears right now....it's such a sign from Creator.

Before you all think I'm crazy...on Sunday, I went to a healing ceremony for a friend of ours. I went through a quick sweat and after a while the ceremony began. It's a long ceremony. Obviously, my thoughts and prayers were mostly filled with prayers for our friend and his family. But I have to bashfully admit, that in the 3 hours, I did some prayers for myself. I know I don't have any serious ailments. Nothing that can or needs to be fixed with a procedure or modern medicine. But I had such a burden on my heart. So sick of trying and trying to succeed at something and ALLOWING myself to fail. I want this this time. I thought last time was THE time, but it wasn't..THIS was it. I'm ready.

I prayed to Creator to help me get healthy. I asked Creator to give me the strength and the will to be strong, resist temptation, put myself first, take care of myself, take pride in myself, love myself more than I love all of those around me put together. That's a hard prayer to say. You feel greedy, selfish, self-serving. At least I did. But there are just times that you need to be. You can't love someone(s) so much that you put their needs/wants/health before yourself. You can't care about others to the point that you are hurting yourself. You have to love yourself more BECAUSE you love them so much. Because I want to be around for so long.

I need to fix my daughters' veils when they get married. I need to beam with pride when my son graduates from college. I need to sit next to Mario on a rocking chair in our front yard when we're old and gray (or grayER for him) and look over our grandchildren playing in the yard. These things I need to do. There is no ifs ands or buts about it.

Lastly, I asked Creator for patience. This will not happen overnight. I'm convinced it will take a year, perhaps two for me to finally have a lifestyle where I am happy, confident, healthy and successful. But it will happen. This week has been a snap. NO temptation. NO desires or cravings. I've stuck to my meal plan and upped my workouts. I've taken the long way to the potty. I've parked further in the parking lot. I've ordered McDonalds with a grilled chicken salad and balsamic vinegar and only ate a couple strips of the chicken and gave the rest to Mickey. I've been in a restaurant and ordered not only what I wanted but what was the best/healthiest for me to eat from that sin-filled place of temptation! ;-)

It honestly wasn't until I saw that picture right now that I remembered that I had asked for all of this. I was so overcome with my emotions for my friend that I completely forgot that I had made the step to ask for something just for me. I remember now the ancestors telling us all that we would have a blessing soon. This was mine. I'm so thankful. So incredibly, completely, tears brimming over thankful. It is true. You get what you ask for. I'm so grateful that I asked. I hope you all can do the same if there's something you need. Wishing you ALL the inner peace that I currently feel. It's such a blessing and a gift. Thank you Creator.

Everyone needs a quickie!

Where's the smiley devil face when you need it? Get your minds out of the gutter people. I'm talking sit-ups. My group had a 10 minute situp challenge on Sunday and I did...notsogreat. So today I had done cardio for 40 minutes and had to get 10 more minutes to earn my extra 2 points...so I challenged Mickey to the challenge. Never...ever....everevereverever....go up against a 14yr old jock. lol. Off we went.

My goal was 300. I made 307. But to my credit, I did full on side situps and Mickey (okay okay, he got over 600..whatever!) did crunches..soo..in my head, I'm soooo the WINNER!! lol. No but I more than doubled my amount from Sunday, and met my goal..and above all, put in just a little bit more work to get what I wanted..I like it. I feel good.

I have tomorrow and Friday off. I'm going to bed early (if 1030 is early) so that I can take advantage of every minute tomorrow. I plan to stay on track with the eating no matter WHERE we go, Mama B's packing some heat..and by heat..I mean a bento lunch of HEALTH. lol...so I'll let you know how that worked out for me....

Toodle-dee-dee!

STUFFED!

Something was stuffed for dinner and it wasn't me! Ya'll, I used to have these when I was a kid and I loved them. Stuffed bell peppers!

They're just the food that brings back "home" for me, kwim? So I tried making them years ago when I was first learning how to cook. They were a DISASTER. Mario hated them so much, it's the only thing he's ever asked me never to cook again. So I didn't.

The other day, I was flipping through Family Fun magazine and I saw my comfort food staring back at me. Too funny that it wasn't french fries, or a burrito, or a double juicy cheeseburger for once. It was a bell pepper in all its glory. I decided Tuesday would be THE night. I would do it. Mario has class on Tuesday nights so I'd be alone to cook in peace without the cara that surely would have accompanied the news that "stuffed bell peppers" was for dinner.

The good thing is that while the peppers were boiling (uh, the step I missed the last time I made these), I got to get a 30 minute workout in. Yea!! (It is also helpful to find a 14yr old child that calls you mom and is trying to make up for getting in trouble, to check the peppers for you every 10 minutes). So there I was dancing to this CRUNCH video. Uh has anyone ever tried these videos? So it's this white chick right (no offense, some of my best friends are white!--famous classic, i'm not racist line, right?--no but seriously, my dad is white, so step off). Anyway, there she is doing the latin party urging me to get LOCO. Seriously, I've never felt so uncoordinated before in my life. I mean, you can't have party music on in the bakcground and then instruct me to do the mambo and the cha cha...give me something I can work with! But I digress, the point is, a workout was had and 2 points was earned for my team..hollar!!

After I finished my workout, I came to finish my dinner. Now that I am super smart and stuff, I omitted any oil, butter, etc. A bit of cooking spray goes a long way. A bit of low-fat spaghetti sauce, goes even further..and measuring out your cheese gives you the taste, without the guilty feeling and frequent lactose-intolerant potty breaks. Anyway, long story short, my peppers were then baked and they.came.out.DELISH. The entire family agreed (minus Mo, he's still in class). But my biggest food critic (she comes in the form of a 3 year old and answer to Tita) ate every last bite on her plate...uh whuuuuut? So I got a healthy meal. Made an extra one for lunch for tomorrow and have gotten a little taste of my former "home". They came out bomb. I'll give you Mario's review when he gets home, but only if he's nice.

Toodles!!

WEIGH IN DATE

I weighed in this morning since I forgot yesterday. Minus 2.2 pounds. I think it might have been more. I feel..shall we say..stopped up...and it's making me nauseous. I didn't get as many fruits/veggies yesterday as normal I guess..and my water intake went from 130 to 64oz so that might have added to it, but either way..I feel ready to yack. No matter. 2.2 pounds. I'm good with that.

It's another week tomorrow. I have a 4 day weekend next week so I am super pumped!

Okay..seriously, I feel sick. Bye. (NO I'M NOT PREGNANT!)

TGIF!!

WOO HOO!!! It's been a great week but/and I'm so glad it's Friday!!! I've started this team competition on a board that I frequent and i love it....it has got me on FIRE!! I have turned down so many temptations and rethought things so many different ways. It helps that I have the best partner EVER who is overcoming so many of her own obstacles and has made a life decision to be healthy!

So far (1st week competition ends on Sunday)..we are in SECOND PLACE! Woot! (PURPLE POWER!) I am so proud of us. Even if the weight isn't FLYING off, we are definitely making some positive changes and that is great.

I'm trying this water thing. I've been drinking about 125 oz of water everyday. And pee-peeing a lot. LOL. But I've also had more energy and my skin is looking pretty fly if I say so myself. It also helps that i have been trying trying trying to get some extra sleep. I'm upstairs by 9pm now once the girls are down. I don't fall asleep until about 1030ish but it's still an improvement. I have tons of shows to catch up on someday on the dvr..if I ever get around to it.

So this week was a major improvement on the food/water issue for sure. I've gotten some minor exercise in but I'm ready to step it up I think. I went back to the very strict Sparkpeople plan. One day I will be able to eat what I want within reason, but today is not that day!

Food Plan: Day 2

I have to say, it was great being back on track today. I must have been doing something wrong because today I ate everything on my list and didn't want anything else. I mean, don't get me wrong, there was really NO reason for Mo to have leftover snickers cake in front of me;-) but I'll forgive him only because it was his birthday cake....and he's 30 so I'm sure it's like a mid-life crisis or something..hehehe! xoxo!

Here's what tomorrow has in store for me.

Breakfast
1 cup diced cantaloupe
1 cup milk nonfat
1 cup cheerios
.5 bagel
1 tbsp cream cheese light

Lunch
3 serving turkey bacon
2tsp yellow mustard
2 slice whole wheat bread
4 slices red ripe tomatoes

Dinner
1 whole wheat hamburger bun
2.5 oz ground turkey
1 chocolate chip cookie
4 slices red ripe tomatoes
2 cup shredded lettuce
1 slice American cheese

Snacks
15 grapes
.75oz whole wheat hard pretzels

And here we go!

Mijo and I went grocery shopping after I spent 30 minutes of figuring out a food plan for this week. I'm going strictly off Sparkpeople and not improvising in any way this week.

So here is my food plan for tomorrow. 2/11/08 (feel free to steal--this will keep you well under 1300 calories (closer to 1200) and in all healthy areas of nutritional values)

Breakfast:
.5 Banana
1 Yogurt, Yoplaight Light, Strawberry and Banana
2 slices Toast, whole wheat
1 tbsp Jelly

Lunch:
2 cups lettuce leaf salad shredded
.5 can Tuna, Canned in water
8 Whole Wheat hard pretzels
.5 tbsp Kraft Mayo light mayonnaise

Dinner:
.5 green bell pepper
2 oz flank steak
2 oz colby cheese
2 flour tortillas
.5 cup salsa

Snacks:
.5 Banana
.5 oz Tortilla Chips
5 tbsp Salsa

I'm Frustrated!!

No matter how hard I try,I can't get better! I was fine yesterday and woke up today feeling like crap. I feel like the kids and I keep passing this back and forth to each other. Note to self: Next year..........EVERYONE is getting the flu shot!

Weigh in--1 pound weight gain in the last two weeks. I'm not impressed. But in my defense..I have nothing.

TGIF--almost!

All I need to say is thank goodness it's almost Friday. I am so happy for this week to be over. It has been a bad bad week and I have noone to blame but..everyone else, just kidding..ME!! ME MEMEMEMEMEMEMMEMEMEME! I take all the blame. I haven't made time to make lunches and my wonderful bosses have been buying me lunch..which I totally appreciate of course....but tacos de carne asada and pizza is probably not at the top of my list..right?

Anyway, starting next week, I have a full hour after work to workout before I pick up the girls. I now officially have no excuses. The sun is shining, testing is almost over (1 more day), no more wrestling, no more rushing around. I should be good to go!

With that said. I'm looking forward to a long weekend of rest and relaxation. One more Saturday of wrestling and that's pretty much all I have planned. It's been a long week of sleepless nights and let me tell you..this cara is NOT looking pretty....ugh.

See..I Told You So

When you don't hear from me....I'm not doing so hot.

Okay well to be fair, I'm not doing too bad either..but mostly because I am sick. I will say I'm not doing well because I'm eating about 1 meal a day. It has been a ridiculous week at work and next week will be more of the same...my job tends to be on the slow side most of the time, unless its testing time...then...it's long hours and lots of stress. And since I'm not feeling well, when I get home, I just crash....

However, I'm going grocery shopping today and will presort a bunch of snacks and meals to make this week easier for me. I'm hoping my honey does his part to help us out and cooks some good meals on the days I can't be here to do it.

I've had a really bad cold I guess, and am worried that I went straight from a cold to a flu because my stomach is very very sour right now. yuck. BUT to get me through the stress of this week, I promise to workout 30 minutes a day. I'll need some me time to destress and will attempt to eat more than one meal a day....I promise!

Oh I forgot to mention in here, but I am going to an every two week weigh in. I don't want to be a slave to the scale so my weigh in dates will be Saturday mornings and my next weigh in is next Saturday. See you then!

JK I will be checking in this week if anything to post my workouts and food goals...

adios! super bowl is on ;)