Days 5 & 6: 9/15/10 & 9/16/10

So I realized today that I didn't post yesterday, so I wanted to make sure I checked in today.  I'm still going, writing down what I eat, following a plan.  I'm not doing it perfectly, but I'm doing it.  I could go into all of the things I could do more of or better (like eating more produce and drinking more water or getting more activity), but I won't hash all that right now.  I'm not doing it perfectly, which is a good thing. 

I made granola earlier in the week, and was craving some today.  Had a bowl for a snack--delish.  Wrote it down and was accountable.  It's feeling OK.  I'm pretty tired at the moment, and am not focusing at the moment.  Need to hit the hay.

I've found it hard to get computer time these days with my one year old.  He was pretty demanding of my time today--not feeling quite himself.  But that's OK--am loving my time with him.

Until tomorrow.  There's a chance I might get in a few "meatier" posts.  Anythings possible:)

Day 4: 9/14/10

I these aren't exciting posts, but I just want to check in.  Things are going well.  Now that the kids are back in school, I've been able to so some more cooking in my kitchen--love it!  Feel like I've been away for a while.  Besides our turkey dinner on Monday, I made granola--not for me but for my picky eater son who loves it!  Also had an easy dinner of ham and beans (dried pinto beans, ham bone, and water in slow roaster all day)--works for me.  Not sure how much fat from the ham seeped into the beans--didn't seem too bad.

Spent the afternoon with my boys at the Minnesota Landscape Arboretum--a wonderful place to take a walk.  They have a great kid's maze there, so my son was very willing to walk to the maze; the walk back was a bit more challenging, but we made it.

Hopefully soon, I'll have more interesting thoughts on interesting topics.  But for today, checking in is a good thing.  I have a babe crying at my heals, and I"m pretty tired too, and it's not even 7 pm, so I'm signing off for the night.

Thanks for reading!

Day 3: 9/13/10

Just checking in before I hit the hay.  I'm hanging in there at Day 3--that's a pretty good accomplishment for me.  Another fine day in our neck of the woods--mid 70's and sunny.  What can go wrong on such a beautiful day as this.  I've been thinking about posting more thoughts on some specific topics, but my time right now is limited.  It's always limited, but that will come.  Right now I'm just checking in.

Followed my plan; counted my points; and got in a little activity.  Went for a walk with my two boys today--one in the stroller and one on training wheels.  It was a little on the long side for my biker, so I shortened it up a bit, but it was still a nice 40-45 minute walk--I'll take it.

I've had a turkey in my freezer since last winter, and I finally got it in the oven.  It made a nice dinner (which I admit I ate too much off, but not the worst thing I could do), and will make for great sandwiches and a few other meals this week.  I'm thinking I'm going to cook up the stock and make some homemade turkey soup.  Could be interesting.

So those are my day 3 ramblings.  It's feeling good.  Got to take those good days when you got them!

Hope you all are having a great week!  Do you have any good, healthy turkey recipes?

Day 2: 9/12/10: Apple Picking & Bike Riding

 I'm checking in on day 2 of my 38 days.  It was a very nice day--one of those days where we didn't have to run anywhere.  I stayed on plan, wrote down what I ate, and got in a little activity.

My family and I hit the apple orchard today.  It was a gorgeous day--in the mid 70's and sunny (after a depression, gloomy week before)--the perfect day to pick apples.  Last year, we had an early frost, and we missed apple picking season, so I wanted to make sure we made it this year.

We go to a cute little orchard about 20 minutes away.  It's perfect: a little store, tractor/wagon ride out to the apples, a few animals to look at, and a few hay bales for the kids to climb.  It's simple, perfect, and not overdone.  Now the fall colors haven't started to change yet (I can't wait), and there were only two varieties of apples to pick, so I"m pretty sure we will be headed back.

I love apple season, and there are so many great apple recipes--ones that are relatively healthy.  Today, for a snack, we had our apple slices with light caramel--perfect.  I also love baked apples and apple crisp.  I also have a great recipe for healthy apple muffins.  I think I will have to share a few of my recipes soon!:)

We also went on a family bike ride.  Now that my little guy is over a year, he travels nicely in the Burley.  If only my almost 6 year old (in the pict above) would learn to ride without training wheels.  This little guy is having such a time adjusting to Kindergarten, and his anxiety is coming out in other ways -- like crying all the way home on our bike ride.  Oh well--it's all part of growing up.  I'm walking him to school tomorrow instead of the bus--trying to make him feel a little safer.

So that's my "newsy" day 2!  It was good, and it feels great to be back on track!

Day 1: 9/11/10

So I actually started.  Today.  This was the day.  It wasn't a perfect day, but I'm going, and I feel pretty good about it.  I need to talk more about perfection--and how it's my downfall, but I will have lots of time for that.

I decided this morning that I was going to act on my plan --today.  And I was doing great until my husband said, "Where are you taking me for lunch?"  Right then I knew I had a choice, and I didn't make a good one (or so I thought).  We chose to go to Famous Dave's, and I had a big lunch.

Now I could have used that as an excuse to live in denial, in limbo for another day--I've done it before.  But I didn't.  Instead, I went for a walk.  And while I was walking, I thought about what I ate at Famous Dave's--and do you know what?  It really wasn't that bad.  It certainly wasn't a reason to throw in the towel and eat with abandon.

So I ate a light supper, and skipped the bread and dessert.  I wrote down what I ate, I had some good activity, and I'm writing on this thing.  All in all, I'd call that a pretty good start.

So what am I doing:

I've spelled it all out on My Plan page.  I actually wrote this out in July, and I feel like it is a good summation of what I want to do and the things I should do that can help me be successful.

I need to update my Goals and Rewards page, which I will do soon, and, knowing me, will probably have too many details.  But right now I have three basic goals:


Goal 1: To follow my plan for 38 days -- in homage to home many years I've been alive.  My plan is to post on Jen to Lose everyday for 38 days. 


Goal 2: To return to my pre-pregnancy weight, which is right around 200 lbs (now I don't expect to do that in 38 days.  We'll just see.)


Goal 3: To track and reduce inches on my stomach.  Did I mention that I had a baby.  A year ago.  OK almost 14 months ago.  My stomach grew during pregnancy, but in the last year, it hasn't shrunk.  It needs to shrink.  I'm going to start working on this and make some serious, solid, progress.   I might set a more specific goal for my 38 days, but that will need to wait until tomorrow.

That's it.  Where I'm at on Day 1.  It's all good. Time for bed.   See you tomorrow