Is it Happy Hour yet? I'm planning on drinking all weekend. Anyone want to join me...Time to drink up!

I woke up feeling great and very humbled this morning.  When I realized this, I immediately felt the need to pose a challenge to myself.  Since I started my fitness journey I have struggled with drinking water…YUCK, drinking what I think is too much water makes me nauseous.   I’ve gotten better but I don’t drink nearly as much as Brent has recommended; 1 Gallon a day, seriously?  That sounds so ridiculous to me.

When I woke up this morning, I couldn’t help but think about people who don’t have access to water like we do.  How selfish am I to complain about not wanting to drink something my body requires when there are so many people in our world who consider themselves blessed if they are able to take in a few sips of it a day?

My challenge is to drink at least a gallon of water throughout the weekend; beginning today and ending Monday.  I know I can do this if I keep in mind those who go without and if I keep in in mind water is a necessity, not a luxury that should be taken for granted.  

With that said, my biggest challenge may not be getting the water down; it may be the staying aware of something I take for granted that so many others lack.

Happy St. Patrick's Day! 

I can't believe this month is half over; life seems to be flying by lately.  It goes way to fast to start with then it seems like I’m constantly rushing through and wishing my life away.

What a wonderful birthday I had.  It was quiet; I spent it with my boys, exactly what I wanted to do.  They are all so sweet.  I love you guys so much!  I was overwhelmed with posts, emails, text messages, and phone calls yesterday.  Thank you, to everyone, I felt so special.  I, too often, forget how blessed I truly am.

Yesterday was one of those days where I did lots of thinking.  I had trouble falling asleep; I was up until about 1 AM.  Of course when that happens my mind keeps going which makes it even harder to fall asleep.
I was thinking about my family, my mom and dad who I really miss.  We will be going to visit for my dad’s birthday the end of April, my sister and my brothers, and all my cousins, aunts, uncles, and friends.  It was one of those days where I missed everyone I couldn’t see.

When I lived in NY we all, always, got together for each other’s birthdays.  We always had so much fun.  Having a HUGE family is wonderfully crazy when everyone crams into 1 house.  It's was always so loud.  Although I miss that, I was perfectly content with sitting in my bed with the boys and watching TV.

TJ got this huge cake from a local bakery...it was so yummy...that may have been another reason why I was up late last night.  I am going to have to force feed that cake to a few great friends before I end up throwing it away, which would really be a shame...anyone want a piece?

I worked on getting back on track today.  It went well.  That’s always a great feeling for me.  My workout even went well.  I had to run, which is never fun for me, but I did pretty well.  I even received compliments from a couple of co-workers who watched.  Life is good when I get a compliment on running haha. And although my good running still sort of sucks compared to others in our group, I got through the other 2 exercises we had to do pretty quickly so I wasn’t to far behind some and I was way ahead of a few others.  I felt pretty good after today’s workout.  Justin has baseball practice on Saturday mornings so my gal pal Val and I plan to workout at the field along with anyone else who would like to join us.  2 weeks ago we worked out under a HUGE oak tree...it was perfect.

I’m still waiting for my next email from the Paleo Caveman I mentioned in my last post.  I’m really looking forward to hearing what he has to say.  I’m excited to learn about how he adjusted to this lifestyle.  I started using a couple of new products that are all natural, non-toxic.  I’m starting with just a cleanser and moisturizer.  My skin is so sensitive so I have to take transitions from products slowly.  My face usually breaks out within 2-3 days whenever I use a new shampoo, moisturizer, makeup, etc. but so far with this product my face had been looking pretty clear.  It feels a lot softer, smoother, and my rosacea is barely there.  If all goes well with this product Ill transition into the shampoo and other products.  My goal is to, at some point, live a clean, healthy life.  So far the biggest challenges are adjusting physically and the expense...a clean, non-toxic, healthy life style is not cheap...but it will be worth every penny spent I’m sure.

We were very excited to learn that Joe's next performance for his youth group will be Charlie Brown.  Joe is trying out for Schroeder and Linus.  He will have to sing solo for his auditions...hmmm...his singing is not up to par yet so we are keeping our finger crossed he does well.  His allergies certainly aren’t helping the situation at all.  He did say that if he doesn’t get either part he wants to play Woodstock who is considered and extra in this performance.  Well we'll keep you posted on how it goes...auditions are Monday.  We were hoping to get him some singing lessons before then but there isn’t enough time, oh well, prayers will do just fine.

"There is no failure except in no longer trying." ~ Elbert Hubbard

It’s been a while; life has gotten very complex for me lately.  I’ll start with the diet; it hasn’t gone as I planned.  It’s not bad, just not as I planned.  I was hoping to get through tomorrow perfectly but wasn’t able to.  I’ve been over analyzing what went wrong and it always comes back to emotions and lack of planning.  I spoke to Nicole who seems to do well with Paleo.  We talked about how to get through emotional times and the dreaded week or so of PMSing.  She told me she will indulge in Paleo approved foods.  I will be working that into my way of life now.  There are so many little things that need to be conquered to get this straight.

I’m going to try something new with Paleo.  Well “new” isn’t the right word, I’m going to follow someone’s lead.  This person has been on a quest to do Paleo with absolutely not cheats and has been successful.  He’s going to be working with 100 people through email and I was lucky enough to be 1 of his 100.  We received our first email last night with some insight to his program.  Here’s what he has in mind for us:

·        How to go 30, 50, 90 (or hell a crazy YEAR) 100% Paleo... and make it look easy!

·        820 meals 100% Paleo (when all is said and done)

·        Difference between Paleo -Paleo for Athletes- Paleo Solution- Primal ideologies and which of these works best for what reason

·        How to integrate the 4 Hour Body tricks (and what does actually work)

·        Gourmet recipes that are Paleo AND fast

·        How to shop Paleo

·        How to eat out Paleo (and what to specifically ask for at any restaurant)

·        How to avoid crap eating traps (and friends honestly)

·        How to plan your week to be successful

I may find out that I know more than I think; but what I may learn is how to put it all together.  I’m determined to get this craziness that Brent introduced me to; he somehow knew that this was the best lifestyle change for me and I absolutely agree.  When I am faithful to the Paleolithic way of eating I feel great!  My skin is clear, I think better, I’m not bloated, in fact, my entire digestive system feels differently, and actually works, as long as my meats and veggies are well balanced.  The only negative factor I experience is with my workouts.  I feel like I can’t get them to the intensity they need to be. I do think once I get this way of life all sorted out it the intensity will be there.  It’s just so damn hard to change the messy, toxic way I’ve been living.

So, with all that said, I’m not planning on weighing Wednesday as originally planned.  For one, it won’t be the best time of the month for me to weigh; feeling way to bloated and I don’t want to be discouraged.  I was excited yesterday; we had our first softball practice and a couple of the ladies on the team commented on my weight loss.  Last week during baseball practice Stephanie commented on my weight loss as well and we had a good talk about what we are both doing to reach our goals. Conversations like these are always so encouraging and make me want to keep moving forward. Although I feel like I’m failing at this at times I don’t want to give up.  In fact, I don’t think there is anything I’ve failed so much at yet I keep getting back up to give it another shot.  I WILL make this work for me J

All my anxiety came from something I was dreading for years.  I never thought the day would come but it finally did (DAMN IT!)  I was talking with my friend Jennifer about her son being bullied on the bus.  I was so upset for him and her.  We had a meeting at school with Nick’s teachers Wednesday.  The Asst. Principal told us he had to suspend a boy from school and the bus because he bullied Nick.  For some reason it felt like an out of body experience.  As time went on and as I drove home it became more real to me.  With each passing minute I became angry.  I didn’t know what to do.

When we got home we asked Nick about it and he said he wasn’t bullied.  That made me even more upset.  I felt that he couldn’t come to us and was so worried that he would become a target because he wouldn’t defend himself.

I received an email from a friend who asked me to call someone whose name I didn’t recognize.  It was the mom of the young boy who was suspended.  It turns out that we know the parents from elementary school.  They are great people.  We talked about the incident and we are all feeling very positive about it.

I was still very upset that Nick didn’t say anything about the situation.  I received an email from the Asst. Principal that it was done behind Nicks back.  Nick must have been buried in his DS with ear buds on and didn’t realize what was going on.  I have never been so thankful for the DS.  Nick is such a loving boy.  He sees nothing but good in people and I was so afraid this would change the way he views others and more importantly himself. 

We are in the process of meeting with professionals on how to present Asperger’s Syndrome to Nick.  We want to do it in the most positive way.  We don’t want him to feel like there is something wrong with him, there simply is not.  He is an amazing child who needs a few accommodations because his thought process is different than some others.  I checked his grades this morning online.  He has mostly A’s and just 2 B’s…how awesome is that?  I’m so proud of that boy.  I truly wouldn’t want him to be any other way; I just love him so.

Hungry and craving...

Just one more day to go to complete a full 3 weeks of strict Paleo than 7 more days of it and I’m done.  Don’t get me wrong, I will continue to do it, I will just add a bit for fruit to it.  It really is a great way of eating. Lots of people can do it and add so much variety.  The problem I have is that all the variety you add to it increases carb intake.  Once I finish losing weight I’ll start experimenting with different kinds of recipes.

Today was another good day.  I am extremely sore from this week’s workouts.  We have been beaten up!!  I’m sore from arm pits to knees…OUCH!  Our trainer is out for a couple of weeks so he left us with workouts.  Whenever we start a new one we are commenting on how difficult the workouts he left with us are; they seem more challenging than the ones we do when he is there.  One thing is for sure, he has left us with workouts and soreness that will not allow us to forget him while he is gone. J

We were very proud of Justin today.  His trainer had him and Joe walk to the park by our house with 10lb plates overhead, they did a workout at the park, and then he had to run home.  He ran all the way without stopping.  It’s not very far to you and me, but to an overweight 8 year old it is.  He too is very sore; he’s limping around the house.  Poor little guy has his first baseball practice at 9AM; he is going to be hurting.  I can’t wait to see how he does; his fitness level has improved so much.

Temptation to eat was all around me today; big time cravings for any kind of carb. Nothing satisfied my cravings today.  Usually a chocolate protein shake satisfies me, but not today.  We had dinner out; I ate well, prime rib and greens beans.  I thought this would satisfy me, but it did not. The best thing for me to do when I feel this way is to go to my room, relax, and try not to think about my grumbling tummy.  It’s working well so far.

Here’s what I ate today:

700                         3 eggs, turkey bacon, prune juice

100                         2 large pcs grilled chicken breast, asparagus

315                         Protein shake, 6 almonds

630                         Prime rib, green beans, onions, 1 small piece of potato

Things are great...God is Good, No Doubt about it

Well my third week is almost done.  I'm real pleased with how it’s gone so far.  I have struggled a little bit with temptation but I haven’t given in to it.  I’m hoping I can hold onto this mindset for a while J

Something weird happens to me when I am doing this type of diet.  After a couple of weeks my head clears.  I handle things differently; my outlook is different.  I feel good about myself therefore I feel more secure.  When I feel more secure I feel more confident in telling people how I feel.  I can explain myself better. It’s a great feeling, something else I hope will last a while.

Baseball starts this weekend!  I’m excited!  Justin is playing and I can’t wait to see how he's progressed.  Everything he’s been involved in this year he has improved tremendously.  Its coach pitch so TJ will be an assistant to Coach Jamie and he will also be the pitcher.  We are looking for forward to lots of fun with good friends.

We have lots of exciting things coming up in the next few weeks.  I’m especially looking forward to open house at School of the Arts for Joe.  I was there for his audition but I didn’t tour the school.  I can’t wait to see it and learn all about what we can expect.  Joes real excited to.

We also have a baby shower coming up to.  Just love that kind of stuff; it’s so much fun, such a joyful occasion.  That same night we have Nick’s school fundraiser, which should be a blast as well.

There are so many wonderful things happening in my life; so many wonderful people in my life to enjoy things with.  God is good.

For eats today were:

700                  eggs, turkey bacon, prune juice
1115                Meatloaf, mixed veggies, 6 almonds
215                  Protein shake
600                  Grilled chicken breast, large salad, asparagus

Water              approx. 96 oz.

To see progress made is great, to actually feel it, is amazing!

Today was a pretty awesome day…of course there was an exception to that but otherwise, awesome.  I was feeling great today.  I decided to break one of my “rules”.  Wasn’t going to weigh myself until the 16^th but for some reason I felt compelled to do so.  I was excited to see that I lost 8lbs since I started 16 days ago.  WOO HOO!!  Not too bad.  That’s a total of 16lbs since the beginning of January.  I’m very excited about my progress.  My goal is to lose an average of 5lbs each month, which I believe, is realistic for me; I’m already 6 pounds over my average in just over 2 months.

I’m on a roll and feeling great about this.  I’m trying to figure out if there’s a way to lose 13 more pounds by the 16^th.  I think I may be pushing it though.  If I do that, I will be at another milestone. I need to stop thinking that this is a possibility; I don’t want to set myself up for failure.  I am going to make some adjustments to my diet.  I’m going to cut my prune juice intake by half.  I don’t want to cut out my protein I will just need to find leaner meats.  I am thinking about cutting back on my whey, not sure about that though, and I will increase my water intake.  That’s a start; we’ll see how it goes.

Had to say good bye for a while to a friend today.  Our friend Liz is in the Navy and is heading back to Norfolk this weekend then will be deployed to the Middle East until July.  Having to say good bye to someone you care about and someone who has helped you is so hard.  She and I got a long great; we were a great support system for each other.  We would both do Paleo together and hold each other accountable.  We worked out together often and when we did my workouts were better.  She was a great motivator for me. I’ve found the bonds I’ve made with people who I work out and diet with are the strongest bonds I’ve ever made.  I’m really going to miss her L

I get so hung up on myself in such a negative way.  I feel as though I’m so easily forgettable.  I know I am the person who is “out of sight, out of mind”.  I feel as though I’m so easy to walk away from, that my friendship isn’t all that valuable. I just hate that I feel that way about myself.  So Liz…Don’t forget about me!! We need to do the Mud Run in the fall!

Got to share a special moment with one of the ladies in our Boot Camp at work.  We did her measurements, she lost 5.5 inches in her waist alone.  Down from a size 12 to a 6!  WoW!!  I L-O-V-E those moments.  Tears of joy…I’m so proud of the people I work with.  Once again, those special bonds with those you work out with are amazing.

Eating went ok today….I slacked on my veggies but I will make up for it tomorrow.  Here’s what I ate today:

700                         2 eggs, turkey sausage (that’s right I figured I would sausage a shot), prune juice

1145                       Hamburger

215                         Protein shake

600                         Salmon steak, broccoli, olives

Watching the Parenthood; one of the young boys on the show has Asperger’s.  Tonight’s episode is where they tell him about his diagnosis.  We have not told Nick about his Asperger’s, it’s been weighing heavy on my heart and mind for weeks.  We just never knew when the right time to tell him would be.  I’ve been waiting for this episode of The Parenthood for a couple of weeks now.  I’m hoping it will give us some kind of direction.

We have lots to think about, I have lots to pray about. I did find something that I really like, I was very excited about it this afternoon and it made me feel more comfortable about having a conversation with Nick.  I think it might even be good enough to share with him; I think it might make it easier for him to understand how and why there are difference between him and some other kids his age.  Here’s the link to it  http://www.dudeimanaspie.com/2009/11/dude-im-aspie.html

So, here’s what I ate today-not bad for and emotional chic.  I hear Rob Wolff is on Nightline tonight, he wrote a book called The Paleo Solution.  I’m hoping it is on tonight and I’m not staying awake for nothing  J

End of the 3^rd fast…not to bad!  Looking forward to breakfast in the morning. 

1100                       steak, cabbage, mushrooms

200                         Protein shake

730                         Steak, salmon, salad, asparagus