KarensJourney

http://www.womenshealthmag.com/

Great site. Loved browsing it!

I finally gave myself a little pat on the back for a day well done. I didn’t get my house cleaned, laundry done, scrapbooks worked on or a million others things on my to do list…BUT, I did manage to have a great eating day and did a workout DVD. I had gone to Ross and found

http://www.cbssportsstore.com/sm-jillian-michaels-cardio-kickboxing-dvd–pi-2155867.html

I was pretty  excited to do it as I am a huge BIGGEST LOSER FAN. But I have to say I was not terribly impressed. She is kinda “Geeky” for lack of a better word. It did not flow and it was super short. I did finish the 20 minutes (really needed to be longer) and felt good about some kind of movement. I do suggest however if kickboxing is your thing, that you check out Billy Blanks. Much better. My baby and I took two naps together on the couch and played on the floor. For Family Home Evening last night I held a scavenger hunt for the kids and  had an award ceremony. Kinda like our own little Olympics. They loved it. I made them bookmarks with Gold, Silver or Bronze on them depending on their standings at the end of the event. Check out this site for those who like to do creative stuff for kids. It is free to print and the kids feel so special.

http://www.123certificates.com/

http://www.123certificates.com/bookmarks.php

I stepped on the scale this morning and I am down two more pounds. Finally I am moving in the right direction. I decided that I needed a plan that was going to allow me tons of freedom and do things on my own terms but with some control. I need it to feel like real life and not a strict diet if I want it to last very long. I also learned about myself that when I get some level of exercise in the morning I eat a ton better throughout the day. Probably because I do not want to work out again to make up for it. LOL Terrible I know. But effective.

I want to put a shout out to my friend Jen from Colorado is who is rocking this weight loss journey. I saw your picture and you look great!!!!! Keep it up. You inspire me.

They looked too cute to not post a recent picture. Trent and I decided this morning to take the kids on a walk and “ended up” at Hands on Museum.

http://www.handsonmuseum.org/

Then we walked over to the Library and rented some books and movies. The kids just love having new material to read. We enjoyed a small lunch/snack on the steps. After heading home the kids got some pool time with dad and I went to the store. I bought myself the DVD workout video by Jillian Michaels…Cardio Kickboxing. Yes, I finally am taking a step in the right direction. We walked all over town today and now I can start a new aerobic activity. Just to add variety. I have several other kinds of tapes/ DVD and and elliptical at home. I have no reason that I cannot get a work out in. The journey is just beginning. It is still baby steps, but I am making progress and that is all that matters. My food is not bad. It is higher than usual right now…”thanks to mother nature” but at least that is short lived.

I need to take a better camera with me next time. Phones should be just phones and not camera’s too.
Taryn loves Gymnastics and is doing great. She tried out and we thought she would be a “comet” that is the age group she is in. But they put her in level one since she has some flexibility and skills. They worked the high beam today, trampoline and vault. Then lots of stretches and sit ups. Gotta get a strong core. She has come a long way in one week on her cartwheels, handstands and back walkovers. Her spits need help. After class her teacher came up to me and said that she was a great listener and a good student. She mentioned that she picks up things really fast and has NO FEAR which we all know is important in Gymnastics. She said that if she keeps up this pace she will be a level 2 within 6 months….GO TARYN. She is disciplined and workout each day after school. Glad I am familiar with the sport and can work with her and spot her on her attempts to do harder things. We make a great team. I am proud of you Taryn. Keep up the hard work and you can be whatever you want…..Even a high school cheerleader who tumbles…(as she tells me all the time). Her gym..http://www.premierathletics.com/gym/premier-athletics-of-johnson-city-tn/

Well I have decided the strength has to come from inside. I have written out a plan of action and small goals that I am going to put into action. As far as I am concerned that is step one. I have not been doing a formal exercise but running after 4 kids, a baby and sports practices I get lots of movement. Now I just need to stop snacking. That seems to be my nemesis lately.

He was such a trooper about getting his haircut. I dare to even say he liked it. He will be 13 weeks on Tuesday and this is his first real haircut. I trimmed it at about a month cause it was so long and hanging down his neck. When his hair is wet you get these super cute curls, BUT when it dries it just got all frizzy. So I decided to just give him the little boy haircut. I think he looks rather handsome. =0) Of course I am partcial.

I wish I could get on here and have great news to report. Truth is no matter how much of a kick in the pants I give myself or others give me I just cant seem to get motivated. I did great on eating and exercising for a few weeks, then fell off track. Now I am so off track I am not even sure where the track is. Bad Karen!!! I am heavier after this birth than I have ever been in my whole life. I hate it and am really uncomfortable with my size. None of my clothes fit. It does not help that I am getting ready to have a “cycle” and want to eat all the junk I can find. OK, off my soap box. Truth is it will not happen if I dont make it happen. I just need to find the gumf and do it. Lets take it a day and a time and forget the long hall. Tomorrow I will eat right and walk and that is all I am planning. I will get through tomorrow and then focus on the next day. Hopefully I can get a habit and routine going. I feel tons better when I put in more effort.

Happy Three Months old big boy! For his little milestone he got new sneakers. They are the cutest little things ever. They are Nike. Now i am not a real name brand person, but how can you pass up perfect shoes for 3 dollars. =0) I had to cut my nails off. As you can see from the picture I keep scratching him. I got him last on the nose..Poor thing!

Tonight Taryn went to her first Gymnastic tri-outs. She qualified in at a level one Gymnast. She gets to skip the “comets” class. She was thrilled. I was so proud of her for listening to her coaches. She was great at the bars and the beam. She was the only one in her class that could stay on the beam doing all her tricks. I will have to take a picture of her next week and post it. She is super excited. We got home and she got on the floor and said ” MOM will you do a back bend with me!” I thought….OH NO!!! I have not done gymnastics in a long time I am not sure I can even do that. Well, I managed to fool her and do them still, but let me tell you, with this much extra weight it is not that easy. It gave me a little more motivation to get my butt more in shape. I love Gymnastics and always have. I always wanted my daughter to be in it. Now I have my wish. I do not want her to struggle with weight as I have, so I figure I should install good eating habits in her now as well as a good exercise habit. She does both anyways, but it would be a better example for her to see her mom moving more and putting more emphasis in it.  Tomorrow is a new day, a day to do a little better. She also signed up for girl scouts this week and will be in the Daisy Troop. Somehow I got roped into being an assistant leader. Ok, so i  will be a busy lady. The boys got signed up for Baseball this fall too. We should hear back in a week or two what teams they will be on and what their schedules will be like. As busy as it is, it is wonderful and I treasure it. The best part is that Trent got a day shift now and he is here to help at night. Being the assistant scout master like he is, it is beneficial  having him here at night to go to their meetings each week and take them on their camping trips. I know he loves it too.

http://www.howmanyofme.com/

Just for fun……

Well he had his first bowl of cereal today. It is a little early to start him, but he is hungry all the time so we decided to see how he does with it. Daddy then decided to take him out for some exercise. Teaching an 11 week old is not as easy at he thought. LOL….Kadyn was a good sport.

Well, onto real business. I exercised all week and was super at my eating. I weighted in on Saturday with big anticipation. The amount of weight loss was ……0! Can you even believe it? I was so good. I am not going to fret though. There has to be a reason and maybe it will reflect this next week. I know in my heart that I did a good job and worked hard and something has to show for it. The one thing i do have is a headcold! Not what I would like to have right now. Oh well, what can one do?

Well buddies, have a great week. I will work hard again and hopefully move that scale.

PS…Trent got a day shift. No more 3:30-midnight. Now he works 6:40am to 3:15 pm. It will be so nice to have him around now in the evenings. Yeah. God does hear and answers our prayers.

I want so bad to weigh myself but I am sticking to my guns of just once a week. I have found that I am more strick with eating right and getting exercise if I am not sure where I am. My weigh in date is Saturday. I have exercised everyday this week and feeling pretty good. It started with just a 30 min walk once a day. Then twice a day to get my daughter from school, now I have added on 20 minutes on the elliptical at night. I figure why not get the body burning more while I sleep. Today I kicked out 45 minutes on my elliptical.

http://www.soletreadmills.com/details.php?name=E35&product_type=ellipticals

I invested in a nice one last year. I prefer to just have it in my home. I will walk and get daughter for another two mile walk and kick out 20 minutes before bed. I found I am sleeping better too. I love that it is giving me additional energy. It is about time I got my butt in gear.

I have also been logging the food tracker on here. It is pretty good. Not the most up to date and user friendly, but it works none the less. I like that it is making me accountable for the things I put in my mouth.

I hope everyone is working hard and feeling good with the efforts and results they are seeing. I appreciate the support!!

Oh I found this cool site to calculate calories burned based on weight…check it out.

http://www.aolhealth.com/tools/calories-burned?sem=1&ncid=AOLHTH00170000000022&s_kwcid=calories%20burned%20walking|1939849520

I took baby steps over the weekend and feel pretty good about it. I started logging my food in the food journal. Overall I did good. I messed up with a few low fat brownies when I was feeling a little stressed. But it did not ruin my day. My husband and I even went for a walk today. Tonight I managed to kick out 20 more minutes on the elliptical. A perk of having a nice one in my home. I dont have to hit the gym.

I can see area’s where I need improvement but I am pleased with my efforts.

I am going to the grocery store tomorrow. I love to grocery shop. The best part is, I am empty on lots of things so I can stock up on all the good stuff. My husband is very athletic and health conscious so it makes it alot easier to chose good foods.

I feel good and have a little more energy. I am taking things a day and at a time so I do not get overwhelmed.