Holding.... I have gained and lost but stayed right the same. 275 since July.

On the positive: I have still lost 10 lbs for the year.

on the negative: my blood pressure is up. My blood pressure was perfect this summer and then I went to work. You think i can use the whole my blood pressure says I shouldnt work to stay home again? LOL

Life is complicated. I work with kids who have nothing and it reminds me to cherish what I have: above all a family that always loved me.

I like my job when I feel like I make a difference. But lots of days I am treading water or sinking to the bottom. I look forward to doing something different soon. New job or PhD, hopefully the latter.

Merry Christmas.

The End.

Zucchini Casserole

Sooo goood!!

4 cups shredded zucchini
1 cup sharp cheddar
1 med onion chopped
1 box Jiffy corn bread mix
2 eggs

Mix all ingredients but about half the cheese put in greased pan. Sprinkle rest of cheese and bake for 30-45 minutes at 350.

6 main dish servings- 275 each

Make with 3 eggs whites instead of 2 eggs = 255 calories each

leave out half the cheese and use the egg whites = 217 calories each

I have not tried the modifications yet... but will be :)

i want to eat

sad sad fat girl. Has had a really stressful week and really really really wants to eat...

damnit why do I always get back on the wagon when I am stressed...oh wait never mind I am always stressed.

I am acutely aware that my current cravings and yearnings for something sweet feels distinctly like other addictions I have faced and conquered in my past.

How did I quit smoking??? cold turkey on a whim

give up sketchy men?? cold turkey on a whim

dude. I am so going to take a shower and go to bed. Thats really what the issue is. I am tired.
Stayed up much to late having a wonderful conversation with hubs. and if I go to bed now, I am much more likely to make my 5 am date with the gym.

Food today was:

2 breakfast muffins- 500
1 apple- 100
carrots and light dip- 150
chicken Parmesan- 300
1 slice light garlic bread- 130
steamed broccoli- 25
1/2 serving wheat pasta- 100

yes sir today was a good day :)

hey look food!

Packed some food- new love in my life = grapefruit = 50 calories for the whole damn thing! Love it!
2 blueberry pumpkin flax whole wheat muffins- aka breakfast muffins- 500 calories
lean pocket - 270 cal
carrots that never got eaten


green beans and cabbage casserole with fat free stuffing on top.

Wanna know how to make fat free stuffing....make stove top and leave out the butter.

Ate this plus another half serving of casserole.
Casserole has 1 large cabbage, 1 onion, 1 cup light sour cream, 1 cup sharp cheddar, 1 lb ground turkey breasts, 1/4 lb hot sausage, 1/4 cup butter and panko bread crumbs - lots of yummyness- makes a large 9x13 dish that feeds me and hubs 2 dinners and 2 lunches each.

Other eats that went unpictured- 1 bite of a lara bar - kid and hubs stole the rest.

Note to self - buy more Lara bars they rock!

Hubs so did not believe me when i told him that it only has 3 ingredients in that flavor- peanut butter cookie = dates, peanuts salt.

also some green bean crisps thingys- 150 calories per 22- kid loved these weird cracker green bean shaped things too. Got them from Whole Foods. Depending on the sale more than likely would buy them again.

PS. Made it to the gym- 45 minute kick my ass step class and 15 minutes on the bike.

today i decided i wanted lap band surgery...watched videos online...psyched myself up, hell I even posted my desire on facebook. (not really the wisest idea)

Husbands insurance does not cover it.

In February I can opt into insurance at my work and they do cover it.

So now I have to wait.

I am not really that good at being patient or waiting.

I wanted surgery like tomorrow.

PS. I deleted the facebook posting- my feelings get hurt really easy and I hate people giving me warnings of dire consequences when all I want is to look hot in a swim suit. WHo wants to think about death??? Fuck Forrest Gump and his damn life is like a box of chocolates bullshit- I want to cheat and get the box with the map of which chocolates are which because I want to KNOW what I am going to get.

SPICY SWEET GLAZE CHICKEN
2 Tablespoons Minced Garlic
2/3 cup Apricot Preserves
1/3 cup Soy Sauce
1/3 cup Ketchup
1-2 tsp or more! spicy Asian chili sauce


Dump all parts of sauce in plastic gallon sized freezer bag, mush with hands. Add 4 chicken breasts- Cut up into chunks if you are feeling ambitious. Mush some more.
Leave in fridge overnight or put in freezer up to 2 months. If frozen let thaw overnight in fridge.

Pour sauce and chicken in greased casserole dish bake at 350 til done- depends on size cut pieces usually around 20 minutes in preheated oven, large pieces 35-45 minutes.

Serve over brown rice or egg noodles or mashed potatoes.

Breakfast muffins
2 cups whole wheat pastry flour
1/4 cup ground flax
1/4 tsp ginger
1/4 tsp nutmeg
1 1/2 tsp cinnamin
1 1/2 tsp baking soda
1 tsp baking powder
1/4 tsp salt
1 small 16 oz can pumpkin
1/2 cup brown sugar
1/2 cup honey
1/2 cup milk
3 tb oil
2 eggs
1 1/4 cup frozen blueberries (do not thaw)
3/4 cup walnuts
place all dry ingriedients including walnuts in blender- pulse til walnuts are chopped
in large bowl mix wet except blueberriesfold dry into wet, add blueberries- stir as little as possible- fold in blueberries
put in greased muffin tin- they will be very full!12 muffins- 350 22-28 minutes

250 calories per muffin

This week I have been at conference…Arkansas Counseling Association Annual Conference to be exact. LOVED IT…yes I am about the biggest dork you can meet. It makes my day to learn new things in my field. I attended sessions on pediatric bipolar, girl bullying, Jungian approach to adolescence and using creative arts with kids. Plus I had meetings for the Licensed Counselor Division in which I am secretary, got offered v ice president position but turned it down because of my plans for next year and the increase in work that it would entail.
But the most earth moving life changing epiphany creating thing that happened is that I used a coozie for the first time. LOVED IT why do I not own one of these things... why have I never used one.. why was this not on my wedding registry list???
Its cool though I got two this week at conference. One day I want to get one with my name on it.
On the eating front, no pictures but I haven’t hated myself for what I have been eating. I have not been “good” by any means- ate lots of sugar but also did things in new ways. For example threw away ice cream with chocolate sauce that was really really good but I was full. Didn’t eat more than a bite of some foods that were just meh when going out to eat.
Earlier this week I also did some things that were kind of out of character for a fat girl: decided NOT to get a birthday cake because I knew I would eat too much of it. Chose instead to have one dessert each day while on vacation. Not sure if it was the best idea but it sure was fun and there was no overeating of sweets!

food today

pb sandwhich 300 cal
ham sandwhich 300 cal
doritos 260 cal
nachos bell grande 760 cal
taco supreme 200
random bites of a burrito- 200 cal

total for the day = 2020 cal

Nothing like a little food poisoning to start a new diet off.

Mondays intake:
1 slice of toast with pb
1/2 glass Gatorade

output:
you really don't want to know.

todays imput has been a little more:
1 banana
1/2 pear
2 homemade granola bars
1/2 cup tomato soup
5 crackers
1/4 toasted cheese sandwich

No work out the last 2 days :( well unless you count the massive ab exercises that are involved with multiple up chucks.

updates

life is starting to get more comfortable. Well kinda.
The kid actually made it to daycare all 4 days this week and hasnt had a fever since sunday...Huge considering hes been sick off and on for 2 weeks.
Still not sleeping great at night but he has taken a few 1.5-2 hour naps at daycare.
I still hate it though.

Some peeps at my work are starting a biggest loser contest. Money is involved. I love competition and I have decided that I would like that $100 or more pot for christmas fun.

That means i should be getting back to my food blogging on here a little more consistently.

According to my scale I have lost 5 more lbs. I say that because the scale we are using for the contest says i am 7 lbs heavier...i dont think my clothes weigh 7 lbs but whatever.

i miss my blogging adventures :(
one day soon I hope to get back to them more consistently. For now I am proud of myself for going to the gym a couple times a week and not resorting to fast food more than once a week or so...work is good, hard but good. I learned how to castrate a goat the other day...you really do not want to know FYI I am a school based therapist.
My kid got sick after 5 seconds at daycare so he has not been sleeping which in turn means we have not been sleeping either. he stayed home 2 days and then friday went back.
I feel like writing a letter to my sons new daycare, it would go something like this.

Dear daycare peeps,
I get that you have 8 other kids in my childs room to worry about but since you know i will be there at 4:05 everyday can you make sure his diaper is fresh, I mean i am paying you for this kind of shit right? also if I have to tell you again to put sunscreen on him I might go postal...do you remember what that is, it involves guns and dead people.
Thanks,
the therapist mom that is not all warm and fuzzy and instead is kind of a bitch

PS. 15 minutes does not count as a nap so dont even bother to write that shit down.

PS.

I am now employed. I start MOnday.... I will busily be looking for easy portable lunches this weekend as I cry and hold my baby :(

"undertakers have discovered that human bodies are not deteriorating as quickly as they used to, The reason, they believe, is that the standard North American diet now contains so many preservatives, and these chemicals may prevent the body from decomposing rapidly after death." From this website...Eat Shrink and Be Merry


Holey ewww batman!

Funny old person moment happened at my house today.

Hubs grandma was in town and had some hostess lil debbie 100 calorie pack Carrot cake muffins....and was talking about how they were healthy and would make a good breakfast because they have CARROTS in them.

Dude I cant make this shiz up.

I was struck speechless.

I wonder how preserved her body is getting if she thinks the pooo that is hostess cupcakes is good for you food???

How did we get so out of touch with the reality that is real food?

This video was AMAZING.... a trainer gained 90 lbs on purpose to better understand his clients well and make a documentary film but I dont hate him for wanting to make money off it.

something awkward happened after my "i think i am going to die" workout class this morning.

An old man (yes there are several men in the class- soo weird) but back to this particular old man.

He walked up to me, said "good job" and stuck his hand out for a high five!!


Ok what is one supposed to do in this situation... I mean I couldn't very well leave the man hanging and how is he supposed to know that I:

1. am not a morning person
2. don't talk to strangers
3. and definitely don't do high fives with them especially at 6 am when my legs are jelly and I have a huge wedgie and cant pick it because there are mirrors everywhere because apparently skinny people like to LOOK at themselves while getting all red faced and sweaty.

so I gave him a weak high five and said thanks and left quickly.

Polite but not encouraging of more interaction. that's how I roll.

Now if I could just figure out how to get rid of a wedgie in a room full of mirrors.

I have been a horrible fat girl when it comes to food the last few days. The stress of going back to work is really getting to me.

I dont wannnaaaaa.

starting new things is not my forte. Blah.

So since I just cant seem to keep junk off my plate this week I am focusing on my exercise routine...you know the one that has me getting out of the bed before 5 am.

I take a class that totally kicks my ass.

really need to start getting these posted on the right day

homemade granola bar (3 more over the course of the day)
1000 calories (ya this recipe really needs to be modified)



buffalo chicken dip, celery, and chips - 600 calories



cheez-its - 160 calories


total = 1760

Fast and Easy Chili Nachos

Chili Nachos

12 tortilla chips - 140 calories
1/4 can of Hormel Turkey Chili with Beans - 100 calories
lettuce
onions
spinach
banana peppers
1/4 cup 2% cheese - 80 calories
tomatoes
3 tb light sour cream - 60 calories

less than 500 calories


I ate one other meal today- Lunch at Chilis with a friend to celebrate my new job.

I had 1/2 a bacon burger 500 calories , 1/3 a molten cake 430 calories, some cheese fries - 300 calories and a corn on the cob - 190 calories

Total for the day = 1920 calories

ouch!!! and no exercise :(

Fat Girl needs to IGNORE friends who tempt them and say they should go out to lunch to celebrate ANYTHING! (just an FYI that biatch is skinny too!)

Now I am off to bed....gotta get up early so I can get my ass spanked by some crazy skinny chick at 5:15 am!

Mondays Food

Breakfast- half a Texas Roadhouse Cheeseburger
400 calories




lunch- homemade dark chocolate mousse and mint chocolate chip ice cream
700 calories




Dinner- fruit salad, pb&j and cheese its - plus another 1/2 sandwhich and a glass of 2% milk

700 calories


Total for the day: 1800 calories

Exercise:

45 minutes of agonizing step aerobics & 1 hour mowing the very tall tall grass in my front lawn in 100 degree heat

" In the study of 173 countries, we stood with Liberia, Swaziland, and Papua New Guinea as the only countries providing no paid maternity leave. Of the 169 countries that guarantee paid maternity leave, 98 of them provide 14 or more weeks. Among wealthy countries—except ours—parents are entitled to as much as 47 weeks of paid family leave"

Source- Newsweek

But dude I bet those countries do not pay out billion dollar buy outs to companies that are failing.

I annoy people on purpose sometimes.

there is a man who lives across the street from us who watches me mow my lawn.
creepy right?

Except for he isn't getting his jollys off- he watching and shaking his repeatedly because I do not mow my yard the way he thinks it needs to be mowed.

He uses a bagger and has PERFECT diagnal lines and mows twice a week.

I usually wait to long, dont bag and my lines are always crooked.

Here recently I have taken to tormenting the poor old man.

I can't seem to help myself- I have been making crazy disorder with the lawn mower.

think lines & squiggles.

Dude if I knew his name I would soooo mow that into my front yard.

Told ya I was mean.

I made it to class at 5:15 this morning.

That shit is soo hard.

I seriously can feel my fat MELTING.

Am I the only person who hates her former fat friends who got skinny??

(1 gastric bypass, 3 lapbands and 1 au natural)

Seriously its not about the jealously...dude its there but that's not why I hate them.

its all about the secrecy... as they lose the weight they seem to become increasingly uncomfortable talking about it.

my compassionate side sees why they have this issue, I am sure EVERYONE asks them what they eat and how they exercise.... and they must get so tired of talking about "it"

but my nosy fatgirl side wants to know....what they eat EVERY single day.

I want to see it.

I read lots of food blogs, some with peeps that have lost weight.
But its always 15-30 lbs which I admire them for but only a little.
I want to see someone who was super fat and is not anymore, what did they eat while they were losing....what do they eat now...?

I've toyed with the idea of getting lapband. I am a good candidate for the surgery. I do know how to eat well and I exercise more than most girls who weigh over 250 lbs.

What keeps me from seriously looking into it is that I know I would feel like a failure.

I want to do this on my own.

Thursday Morning we got up way to early and loaded mr jackson in the car to take him to stay with his great grandma for the weekend.

I miss the lil booger. A lot!

But it has been fun to play childless for a while. Hubs birthday was also on Thursday so after driving for 5 hours I asked what he wanted to do for his bday and he said "go to the gym together"

I played Wallyball (volley ball on a raquet ball court- 10 people are on the court at once!).

I sucked. but at least I tried.

it was fun...kinda. Its very loud because its enclosed and the ball hits the walls alot and I am not soo good when under pressure and the ball flies all over the place and my a.d.d kicked in a couple times....well anyway I think I will stick with my workout classes.

it was VERY FUN to see hubs having a great time, he loves anything competitive.

Then we went to a late showing of Harry Potter- not the best but we were the ONLY people in the theatre so that was kinda cool.
Since we had not eaten dinner and were starving we got popcorn to share.
Dude stale popcorn sucks....and $8 stale popcorn really sucks.

So its was after 1 by that time and we were both starving so we hit up Mcdonalds for breakfast food. I had a bacon egg biscuit, dissappointingly though :( booo again!

Finally on Friday I got some good eats.
me and chickie banana went to Jasons Deli for the first time.

Seriously, I am in love.

AMAZING Salad Bar.

Then we shopped for 7 hours.

Dinner was some more amazing grub at a Brazilian grill called Gauchos- hmmm Atkins dieters paradise. I think I am now set on protein for a month.

Hubs rented the newest Fast and Furious, loved seeing all the original cast back together and then we hit the hay around 2 am again.

Today things are finally slowing down. We went to a Greek restarant for lunch called Layla's in west little rock.

Hummus & babbaganoush & tabbouleh with fresh warm pitas for appetizers & then hubs got a spinach garlic pizza and I got a gyro ( but ate some pizza after only a couple bites of gyro which was not my fav)

First time for both of us on gyro, tabbouleh and babbaganoush.

then we went to Harvest Food to get some supplies (shrimp, yogurt, whole wheat pastry flour, spices, honey, TVP & wheat gluten) and gifts for the gma (cocoa nibs & cashews).

Fun couple of days!

Next on my to do list is going to Kroger and Walmart.

Then its time for me to start cooking.

I am going to attempt to do once month cooking!

Then menu is planned and the lists are ready to go!

Today my eating was sooo like my personality...I tend to go to extremes A LOT.
I realize this flaw and I am working on it.
Today ummm I didnt do so good :)


1 egg + 2 whites
1/4 cup 2% cheese
spinach
onions
watermelon
= 300 calories



yes I really ate ice cream for lunch, naughty fatgirl.

this times 2
ice cream = 280
cookies = 150



Taco Salad for dinner
baked tortilla shell - 210
1/4 cup taco meat - 120 calories ??
1/8 cup 2% cheese - 45 calories
2 tb light sour cream - 40 calories
lettuce, spinach, onions tomatoes = 50 calories




Hubbys birthday cake! We have been together for a lot of his birthdays (ummm like 9) and this is the first real cake I think that I have made him. Usually he gets cheesecake but I had this idea for a cake and oooo it was soo good.

No I didnt eat the whole thing! but i was so excited that i umm forgot to take my picture. and i had a glass of whole milk. GASP! it was all we had (the one year old has to drink it :) and dude with cake u have to either have milk or ice cream. No. Exceptions.

This is a white cake with dark chocolate filling and peanut butter glaze. it involved a lot of standing and whisking over a hot stove but hubs was impressed.

My total for the day before cake and milk was 1195 so I think I am safe in the whole not going over 2000 calories category.

My daily eats are back!


Flax waffle + 1 tb pb = 350
watermelon = 100



pita = 120
1 tb pb = 90
1 laughing cow = 35
tomato = 15
watermelon = 100
peas = 30



1/2 pita with 1 tb pb= 150



Hummungo chicken burrito
1/2 cup chicken = 115
1/2 cup rice = 150
1/4 cup 2% cheese = 90
large flour tortilla = 210
assorted in rice mixture (2 fat free cream soups, salsa, enchilada sauce) = 50
3 tb sour cream = 60
salad = 15

oh ya AND 6 grasshopper cookies and 1/2 cup mint chocolate chip edys light ice cream = 120 + 225
and the picture wont upload...maybe i will have to do it seperate???

total for the day = 2025 dinner f' ed me.

It was my own fault because I had to go to the grocery store and then I got back and hubs left to go to the gym and then it I had to finish feeding kid, clean up...blah blah blah by then i was mucho grande starving.

Renee is tired. She got up BCD and did crazy things with crazy people. So now fat girl is hitting the pillows like an elderly women.
If it wasnt raining I am sure there would still be sunlight.

PS I started taking pictures of everything I eat again. its annoying. yet helpful.

Before and After Pictures: take 1




The happy family Memorial Day Weekend 2009



Us again (hubs has been working out too...can ya tell??) July 25, 2009

I love that the only one getting bigger is the kid :)

I have found the skinny people!

You cant tell anyone I told you but they congregate at the gym at 5 in the morning.

FYI: I think to be skinny maybe you have to be a touch insane

well or hate to eat.

The class was tough! Like i kinda thought about leaving 14 times and then I thought about upchucking twice and I actually laughed at the lady once when she said we should be "starting" to feel our heart rates increasing, ya right lady by that time I felt like my heart was going propel it self out of my body because it was beating so hard.

First of all I am not a morning person. Really.

Like people laughed at me when I said I was going to start taking an exercise class that started at 5:15 AM.

2nd it was like Oh my god hard.

45 minutes on a step board...doing stuff that I could barely understand let alone get my body to mimic. I am sure I looked a fool because I was not keeping up very well because I was sure I was going to fall.

and I may or may not have let out some gas...thank jesus for loud music.

But I made it.
and
I can't wait til the next class on Wednesday.
:)

The Organic Debate

Just some facts I picked up from the Prevention Magazine online website.

General Health Benefits

• Organics Have More Nutrients: Reports of organic food not being better for you are outdated. A brand new analysis of about 100 studies, including more than 40 published in the past 7 years, found that the average levels of nearly a dozen nutrients are 25% higher in organic produce.
• There May Be Weight Benefits: Research in rats found that those fed an all-organic diet (versus conventional food) had lower weights, less body fat, and stronger immune systems. Plus, the "clean diet" animals were calmer and slept better.
• You Consume Fewer Toxins: Eating the 12 most contaminated fruits and vegetables exposes you to about 14 pesticides a day. A study supported by the EPA measured pesticide levels in children's urine before and after a switch to an organic diet. After just 5 days, the chemicals decreased to undetectable levels.

"A study in the journal Meat Science compared the nutritional content of organic and nonorganic chicken meat. The researchers found that the organic samples contained 28% more omega-3s, essential fatty acids that are linked to reduced rates of heart disease, depression, type 2 diabetes, high blood pressure, inflammation, and Alzheimer's disease. Animals raised organically can't be given antibiotics, growth hormones, or feed made from animal by-products (which can transmit mad cow disease)."

"Recent studies revealed impressive findings on organic milk. Some highlights include: It contains 75% more beta-carotene, as much as a serving of brussels sprouts. It has 50% more vitamin E, a powerful antioxidant that aids the immune system and fights cancer and heart disease. It provides 2 to 3 times the antioxidants lutein and zeaxanthin, and about 70% more omega-3 fatty acids. Organic milk also contains more conjugated linoleic acid (CLA). This good fat has been linked to numerous health benefits, including stronger immunity, less belly fat, a lower risk of type 2 diabetes, and healthier arteries"

"The most important fruits and vegetables you should buy organic: (1) those with the greatest pesticide residues and (2) the ones you eat most often. Government lab tests show that even after washing, certain fruits and vegetables carry much higher levels of pesticides than do others. Between 2000 and 2005, the not-for-profit Environmental Working Group (EWG) analyzed the results of nearly 51,000 tests for residues on produce. Based on the data, they created a "dirty dozen" list of the most contaminated fruits and veggies. Top offenders include: peaches, apples, bell peppers, celery, nectarines, strawberries, cherries, pears, grapes (imported), spinach, lettuce, and potatoes"

I try to buy as much organic as we can afford. I have noticed that the stuff we do buy- milk and canned veggies are so much tastier!

Now is it my brain saying that it should taste better... I do not know.

Adventurous

Today's word of the day is "adventurous". ( brought to you by the number 14....ya I am mommy for real now with my sesame street references)

I felt adventurous when I went by myself to a Zumba class this morning.

It was hard! But I made it and it was fun.

I also felt adventurous this afternoon when we went to a birthday party at a bounce house and I slide down the slide and play boxed with Kirt.

To often I am not adventurous, I do not do things because I am afraid.

I let my fears control my life for too long.

Even today I had "fear thoughts" or what if thoughts.

Like what if someone laughed at me at Zumba or what if I couldn't physically do the steps or what if I was too big for the bounce house and it broke?

I had to talk myself out of the fear what if thoughts. If someone did laugh at me I can choose to challenge or ignore them. That is my right.

If the class was to hard I can choose to modify or simply to leave.

and the fear of being so big i would pop things, well it was silly to begin with...and it didn't hurt that hubs weighs close to my weight and there were no lights and warning sirens that went off telling him "oh hell no, you to fat, get off the ride" when he got on, oh ya and nothing exploded.

Today was fun.

PS I had WONDERFUL cake today! Yummy! Gotta love birthday cake!

update on the debate on giving up bread and sugar...

so not...



because i have eaten whatever I wanted for the last week or so...and not worked out near enough and my funky chunky butt lost 3 lbs. So like whatever.



I will trudge on and stop worrying so much.



Some days I think I want to throw away my scale but I really really like knowing even if sometimes the number makes me:

• frustrated


• mad


• sad


• pissed


• depressed

because today the number made me

ECSTATIC

Such is the life of someone trying to lose lots and lots of weight.

There is such a long journey to be made.

should i give up bread and sugar??

perhaps...

the question might be

can i give up bread and sugar?

WTF

WTF = What the fuck, for the peeps not initiated to text slang.

I lost 2 lbs all month.

April-May I lost 6 and I was eating way more and exercising WAY less.

taking a break

I am taking a break from taking pictures.

I am working on getting my house in order to go back to work, starting a new gym routine and also finding a job and dude for real, I am just kinda tired of taking pictures of everything.

maybe because it doesnt feel like its working.

Or at least not fast enough.

I know that means I need to restrict my calories more but I hate being hungry :(

I figured I would take 1 week off from taking pictures and then start again on Monday.

Baby Houdini

My kid was taking his morning nap or at least WE THOUGHT he was taking a nap.
Instead he was trying to be a baby Houdini.
The cord you see wrapped around him is his video monitor cord.
My husband LAUGHED at me when I used packing tape to tape from under the camera all the way down the wall to keep Jackson from playing with it. He claimed I was being slightly excessive.
The kid is laughing at us now.
I believe the word he is thinking of is "amateurs"
I retaped the cord...and from now on when he is in bed we are pulling the crib away from the wall.

Yard Sale Day

Yard sale day was tiring but fun! It was almost like a party with all our friends and their kids coming over to hang out. The boys kept the kids inside and played the Wii and the girls sold the JUNK!
I was banned from taking money though because apparently there is some kind of order that the bills need to go in inside the money box, i am the girl who keeps her monopoly money in a pile too ;)
We all made loads of money and since we still had lots of stuff and its all tagged and ready to go, we plan to do round 2 next week!





Megan brought Krispy Kreme Donuts to the Yard Sale Party
I ended up eating TWO over the course of the morning!! = 700 calories



Breaded "Chicken" Soy patty + lettuce + tomato + miracle whip + mustard = 310 calories
crackers - 120 calories
light clam chowder - 120 calories



From Backyard Burger
Salsa Potato - 250
Side salad with light catalina dressing - 100
BLT - 250

total = 1850

2 days later...

Wow has it really been two days since I have posted??? Its been a busy 2 days. Friday I was working on yard sale stuff all day and then our air conditioner went out. Luckily we have a friend whose husband fixes air conditioners and he came and fixed it for us- but we did not get in bed til almost 12:30 that night. The next morning I was awake...well sleep walking anyway at 5:50 am.
It was the perfect day for a yard sale. Overcast with a little breeze. For Arkansas in July it was almost cold LOL.




300 calories



400 calories



160 calories



Ham Sub from Subway
650 calories

Unpictured Fruit Loops for a late night snack - 300 calories

total = 1810 calories

Exercise - 30 minutes of walking at the park

Before Picture

This is what I would look like if I rolled out in a bikini.
Not exactly super model material...dude, not even plus size super model material.

PS. I hate this picture.

Perfect late night snack!

I was getting ready for bed when all of a sudden I was RAVENOUS like I could hear my stomach growling!
LOL no wonder with all the activity I did and eating dinner at 5:30 today instead of our usual 6:30-7!

1/8 cup cheddar + 1/2 cup cottage + 1/2 cup light cole slaw = 200 calories


revised total = 1655 calories

Worn Out!

waffles + 1 tsp butter + 1 tsp honey & an egg = 300 calories



1 cup Pina Colada Fruit Salad - 100 calories
1/2 cup low fat cottage cheese - 90 calories



2.5 cups Pina Colada Fruit salad - 250 calories
1/2 cup cottage cheese - 90 calories




3 ounces Meatloaf - 250 calories
1/2 cup mashed potatoes - 160 calories
1/2 cup corn - 80 calories
1/2 cup lima beans with butter -135 calories

Total = 1455 calories

Exercise Calories Burned
1 hour push mowing the yard - 600 calories
1 hour water aerobics - 528
15 minutes swimming laps - 200 calories

After all this exercise I am WORN OUT! Tomorrows agenda includes a possible 5 am gym work out followed by walking at the park at 8 am with friends. Then I am finishing all my tagging for the massive yard sale we are having on Saturday.

Yogurt Chicken Salad Recipe

4 cups cubed cooked chicken breast
1 small apple cubed
1 cup celery diced
1 bunch green onions diced
1 1/4 cups fat free plain yogurt
1/4 cup miracle whip
2 tb dill pickel relish
1 cup tomato diced
2 tb poppy seeds
salt and pepper to taste

Combine and chill.

Makes about 10 cups with 160 calories per cup

Serve with crackers, in lettuce wraps, or on pitas.

Carrot/Pineapple/Raisin Muffin Recipe

these were soo pretty I knew I needed a picture! (this is 3 cups grated carrots- I made a double batch of muffins for the freezer)



Finished Product- these freeze really well too!
160 calories per muffin

1.5 cups whole wheat flour
1 tsp baking soda
1 tsp baking powder
1.5 tsp Cinnamon
1/4 tsp nutmeg
1/4 tsp ginger
1/4-1/2 cup of brown sugar
2 tb dark unsulphered molasses
1 egg
2 tb oil
1/2 cup milk
1 8 ounce can crushed pineapple drained well
1.5 cups grated carrots
1/2 cup raisin soaked in boiling water for 15 minutes and then well drained

Mix dry ingredients in one bowl and wet (including fruit and carrots) in another. Add dry to wet and mix just until combined. Grease muffin tin or put in paper cups. makes 12 muffins

Bake at 350 for 18-23 minutes