Ta da! I'm back at it.

I am so "Consistently Inconsistent" 

It's really aggravating.  I have about a million ideas & well-meaning plans but often when I start them, another idea forces itself in and the original falls out.  So onto the next.  I've got the worst short-term memory--that I come by honestly ;)

This is me...

I am Dug.  

Of course it irritates my husband to no end :). As he is an electrical engineer......for anyone married to one no further explanation needed right?  For anyone else--he's the complete opposite.  Very by the book, very schedule dependent is he.  Things have to be in the exact same spot every single day.  Even crazier he expects his clothes to be in his dresser rather than between 12 baskets spread about the house ALL THE TIME!  Enough about that ;)  

So in an effort to organize my mind tornado I'm going to initiate a rotating habit program.

Here's where I shine....the planning.  I can plan like no other but executing said plan ends up in fiery crashes every time.  But what about a plan about how to make following the plan the actual plan?  

I've also changed career ideas.  I'm getting my own at-home business up and running to launch January 2015.

I only have one investor and he's very skeptical of my follow-though ability so for the next 6 months I am going to develop myself into the person I know am.  The one that just doesn't make it too far outside my thought process.

My program.....Make 1 habit, Break 1 habit.

(lightly using my nursing education & basing it on Maslows Hierarchy of Needs)

Days 1-21

(Since it takes 21 days to create a habit, or so it's been said)

(Bedtime = 9:30pm-5:30am)

In addition to this I'm also developing a plan to lose weight while still eating clean, real food.

I'll save that for another day :). I'll get too excited and not sleep!

20 things to give up for Lent

So I've seen this going around on Facebook right in time for Lent.
A great life plan to continue after Lent.

The website for Lutheran Church of the Good Shepherd

http://gs4nj.org/20-things-to-give-up-for-lent/

I made a printable to be able to see these all throughout Lent.

You can't right click and save as your background :) 

My 40 day Quest....

This week is Ash Wednesday which means Lent is starting.

Lent being the observance of the 40 days Jesus fasted in the desert 

and had to endure that jerk devil's taunting.

It also ends with the Holy week in which Jesus died on the cross, was buried, and rose again Easter morning.

So you know the best part of the Bible.  

The part where you see what Christ did for you so you

could share in the awesomeness of heaven.

Pretty sure there is no one else that would go through all this.  It's sad we need reminders of it but we do.

So I am making this year count.  

Not like the others haven't but this year I'm going to marvel in it.  

Take in the LOVE that was given to me and 

turn it into a projection from me.

This year for Lent I wanted to really make it count.  I wanted to really give up something that is hard to do.

It's a 2-part 40 day "Quest"

A quest to build a better me.

My 2 parts actual compliment eachother and hopefully

they'll last as a lifestyle change :)

Part 1:   

All the "internets".  Email, Facebook, Pinterest, 

and everything else in the black hole of time-sucking hours that I allow myself

to jump into everyday.

I am going to limit to checking all those to only 1 hour.  

Oh wow, that's going to hurt.

In place of it I am going to start reading, like from an actual book.

I love to read and haven't in soooo long.

1 book being the Bible.  Not sure what I want to read for the others.

Part 2:

Clean eating 100%  Monday through Saturday.

You get Sunday off so this is going to be my challenge to do it and KEEP doing it.

A lifestyle change.

Today and tomorrow are serious planning days haha.  I better go prepare.....

Jack Bauer Power Hour

So in anticipation of the new series 24 Live Another Day, 

my husband got me all 8 seasons of the first series 24.

He is so awesome.

I am now going to turn it into the Jack Bauer Power Hour (my sister's awesome name for it)

1 hour treadmill workout:

5 minute warm up stretch

40 minute treadmill workout (during show)

(3 mph @ varying inclines)

5 minute cool down stretch

10 minute Yoga poses 

Another part of this is my eating plan.

I have been slowly--like painfully slow in--learning the clean eating way to go about this.

I also have this issue with organization.

So to hit 2 birds with 1 stone I spent 3 hours yesterday (Sunday)

planning and organizing every single meal for this week.

This is what I came up with (w/ links to calculations)

Starting weight: 250

Starting BMI:  44.3

Goal weight: 120

Goal BMI: 18.5-24.9

For a weight loss of 130 lbs

-3 lbs per week

45  weeks

Resting caloric intake: 2416
Link:

http://www.nutrition.com.sg/ha/hacalcal.asp

Weight: 250, Height: 63 inches, Age:34

Need a deficit of 

3500*3= 10,500/week

10,500 / 7=1500/day

Calorie goal of 1500/day 

2416-1500= -916/day

  Meals *Made within clean eating guidelines*

  1-300 cal.-Breakfast sandwich

  2-200 Ricotta cheese, small apple 

  3-300- Salad w/ homemade ranch dressing

  4-300 - Energy Bars

  5-400

Whatever dinner I've planned 

All that doesn't seem like a lot but when you are also drinking
120 ounces of water....it's plenty :)

120 ounces (1/2 body weight in ounces)

           

1,500-916=584

Calorie burn of /day = -584/day

Link:

http://www.shapesense.com/fitness-exercise/calculators/walking-calorie-burn-calculator.aspx

40 minute treadmill

(3mph, 6% incline)  =459

Link:

http://www.primusweb.com/fitnesspartner/calculat.htm

10 minutes stretching = 48

15 minutes Yoga= 71 

10 crunches =6

Boom I made all those above for Brian and I for the entire week 

(except Brian likes greek yogurt and 2 hard boiled eggs instead of the ricotta and apple)

Now onto organizing my house.....That's way less exciting sounding ;)

Happy Before-Valentines Day :)

Unless they are made of chocolate.

The house is infested with sickies.

It was just.....

Then it turned into real fevers, sore throats, stomach aches, etc.

They made it through Valentine's parties at school and then dropped and were kind enough

to share with me.  Aww so nice.

Ethan and Mauryn's class valentines.

Ethan said all his classmates opened theirs up immediately and bounced them everywhere.

Great....I'm sure his teacher appreciated that.

I was also a head party parent...imagine that lol.

I thought it would be cute to make valentines and fold them into paper airplanes 

because Pinterest made them look so cute and unique.

Mauryn's teacher might not have appreciated airplanes flying everywhere.  :/

Brian told me they are going to put up flyers up around school with my face and a big slash through it.

One good thing about being sick it you lose weight, it's an unpleasant way to do it but I'm down 3 lbs.

Woot, woot, oww.

Tonight, if I can stomach it we are having

Mahi Mahi and asparagus risotto.

Mmmm amazing colored yumminess.

Of course what I really want is chocolate flavored NyQuil.

Get on that Vicks  ;)

I am ready

I am ready to get back to this.  I think I overwhelmed myself.  

I so want to 

But it's hard to so I'm going to try to learn to

Week 1:

Meal planning for the week--Check

One really cool energy bar recipe--Check

These are really good and I will definitely make them again.

I will also make a lot of variations.

Maybe add protein powder and ease up on the coconut oil?

Workout Schedule planned out--Check

I have my treadmill up and "running" 

My plan is to try a schedule of 30 in the morning/afternoon/evening.

I eventually want to build up to 1 1/2 hrs early in the morning.

 

I know right?

Something to work towards though.

I also want to organize all the things!

My house first.

That should probably last until the end of time.

In other news.....

Olivia now has her talker--(her IPAD with a great app)!  

It is matching to her one at school so she can talk about her day and 

use it consistently with what she works on at school.

I will have to post a video of her "talking".

She is VERY good with it.  For instance she asked word-for-word....

"I want hamburger, french fries, Dr Pepper at McDonalds, Mama"

Not kidding!  It was so cool. Although we'll need to switch that to healthier choices 

BUT who cares right now!!

For anyone who know Olivia this is a major step for all of us.

So proud Liv!!

Christmas break

Just a note to say I'll be back Jan. 1st. ready to get down to business losing weight and getting healthy....

Pioneering a balance ;)

Honestly this clean eating is not fun.  I've been really strict about doing this 100 days of Real Food but it's getting irritating.  I always feel snobbish saying I'm eating clean and it's about nearly impossible to do this all at once and like it.

Case in point that Ezekiel bread I bought.  

It does not taste good. 

I love to cook, I want to be excited to cook.  I also want to eat as healthy as possible.  

So to find my balance.....because BALANCE is my main issue with so many things...... 

I am going to switch things up a bit and incorporate my favorite of all things food, 

The Pioneer Woman (http://thepioneerwoman.com),

with my other favorite, 100 days of Real Food's  (http://www.100daysofrealfood.com)

Now the biggest issue with the Real Food's is the use of whole wheat.  I've been making my meals with it (using ww pasta in place of regular) and eating whole wheat tortillas and the awesome Ezekiel bread everyday.

Now I'm not self-diagnosing myself necessarily with an allergy to the wheat but I have had 7 of 12 symptoms listed on here.....

http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/174405.php

and they have all been super noticeable, especially the asthma, stomach bloating, and my eyes swelling almost shut-UGH!   I've had to use my inhaler at least everyday sometimes 2-3 times a day.  It could definitely be me inhaling the wheat flour as well and it causing a reaction. 

I think I'm O.D.-ing on wheat ;)

So I am going to back off and see if it clears up.  I have no idea what else it could be :(

I am a highly allergic person so it doesn't surprise me.  I once had a skin prick test on my back of roughly 75 items with all but about 5 causing a reaction.  Some hives coming around to the front type reactions.  My mom took me for allergy shots (to desensitize me) and I was too allergic to those to continue.  

So no wheat the next two weeks and we'll see if I am better  :)

Back to the Pioneer Woman, with whom I have NO issues :)  

Her website and pinterest page always make be HAPPY!

Her beef stew and creamy cheddar grits!  I'm definitely making this next week!

http://thepioneerwoman.com/cooking/2012/01/spicy-stewed-beef-with-creamy-cheddar-grits/

If I can whip up something 1/2 as good as what hers looks like I will consider that success.  Now I just have to choose a few.  That's going to be hard.

Last note...I'm down 4 pounds this week though!!  Yay.  The 300 calorie burn workout and healthy eating is paying off.  Now the mission is to actually enjoy it.  :)

My life mantra's are expanding :)

I've got a ways to go......

I finally have a Before picture

I finally have a Before picture that is worth posting.  Not that exciting I know.  It's a starting point (again) and is EXACTLY what I needed to see yesterday when we got them back. 

It really needed to be out there in my face because I really just look at the mirror from my shoulders up.

(I'm not tall enough to see further down without getting on my tippy toes.)

I have been SUPER slacking in the eating to lose weight department.  I've been working on clean eating in the hopes of  breaking my horrible cycle of eating diet foods (or doing the NO-whatever it is-diets) and the giving up because they are just gross and making me feel horrible.  

So I've been researching a lot and switching us over to clean eating and its going pretty smoothly except for that darn bread I can't make.   

This week's cleaner food is bread.

Ezekiel bread because I give up making the beast (for now).

Ingredients

Organic Sprouted Wheat, Filtered Water, Organic Malted Barley, Organic Sprouted Millet, Organic Sprouted Barley, Organic Sprouted Lentils, Organic Sprouted Soybeans, Organic Sprouted Spelt, Fresh Yeast, Organic Wheat Gluten.

Here's all about it in.....

http://www.foodforlife.com/about_us/ezekiel-49

It is expensive ($5.00) but the trade out is we won't eat as much and it doesn't have all that filler in it like our previous bread.....

This is the Walmart "Whole Wheat" bread that's probably about $1.50 a loaf or so......

Whole Wheat Flour, Water, Wheat Gluten, Yeast, High Fructose Corn Syrup Or Sugar. Contains 2% Or Less of: Molasses, Soybean Oil, Salt, Calcium Sulfate, Honey, Dough Conditioners (Sodium Stearoyl Lactylate, Mono- And Diglycerides, Ethoxylated Mono- And Diglycerides, Datem, Calcium Dioxide, Dicalcium Phosphate And/Or Azodicarbonamide), Vinegar, Yeast Nutrients (Ammonium Phosphate, Ammonium Chloride, Ammonium Sulfate And/Or Monocalcium Phosphate), Wheat Starch, Cornstarch, Soy Flour, Whey, Calcium Propionate (to Retain Freshness), Soy Lecithin. Allergy Warning: Contains Milk, Wheat And Soy. May Contain Traces of Eggs And Walnuts. 

(I'm including all this info, not that anyone cares except me, so I can look back to it and remind myself why I'm doing this)

Lucky for me the kids prefer Trader Joe's whole wheat tortillas to bread at all times.  If they didn't it would be way harder to do this.  I really lucked out on this one.

Now if I could get a healthy version of Nutella I would be in heaven!  :)

Needless to say I hit the gym this morning after seeing the pictures.  

Much less enthusiastic as last time for sure and only burned 300 on the treadmill.  

(Luckily I have this guy for a reason to workout) 

I must include that he is NOT shorter than me (freaks him out lol) he's just sitting down :)

And even more so for these 3 cuties......

So my starting weight for this week: 247 (yikes I went up a few lbs)

I'll weigh again on Wednesday so I have a consistent day to do it on.

My food plan for this week is still the 6 meals (about 200-300 cal a piece) and working back up to 1000 calorie workouts.  I think I'll do 300 this week, 400 next, etc. until I'm burning 1,000 each day.  

I always go full speed or no speed so I need to really buckle down and build this up so it's actually do-able.

I just have to remind myself it's my own mind that is standing in the way.  If I can keep my motivation up and stay consistent I can do this.  Why must I sabotage myself?  Ugh....

That being said....

I think I'll start with a cup of coffee and a conversation with myself that starts out with 
"Suck it up, buttercup"

A lesson I learned from Ron Swanson

That's my problem.  

I choose way too many things to do all at once and out of pure time restraint I end up half assing a lot of things.  

It's so annoying.  I can't just be obsessed with one thing either it has to be 5 at a time.  For instance this cleaning eating.  I want to eat the healthiest food out there, lose weight while doing it, save money while doing it, make my own bread, etc while doing it....AND that's where I lost it yesterday....

If my family had to live on the bread I concoct we would never have bread.  The stuff I made is not good, like stray dogs might pass it up not good.  I can NOT make bread to save my life.  Not even biscuits.  I can make banana bread but it's boring after awhile.  It's so sad because I love bread.  I'm going to try one more recipe and if it doesn't work I am probably going to call it bad names and yell at it..  Not like it cares but it makes me feel better if I lay blame on the sad looking loaf, what's it going to do, yell back?

My husband is oh so honest in my cooking efforts, nice, but honest.  New things are not (always) "eww nasty what were you thinking" they are "oh, this is healthy tasting".  Except for last nights biscuits that was something along the lines of "I'd rather lick a dogs butt than eat those again".  Ya that bad. 

So my new plan of action is to focus on clean eating until it's under control.  I'm still going to workout but I'm NOT going to count calories, eat pre-packaged diet food, weigh everyday or even at all and everything else that I know won't work AGAIN.

Ok back to Ron...

I have got to learn how to eat vegetables.  So do my kids.  Brian loves vegetables and I never make them because they are icky.  So I plan on trying at least one new vegetable each week until we've tried them all.  I may have to use my food processor a lot to get them in but if that's the worst food complaint I have I think I'll survive.

My first lesson to learn....

Now to see about making that bread.....

How the Grinch stole your Motivation

It's cold.  It's cloudy.  It gets way to dark, way to early.

Usually this is my favorite time of year.  Now I'm craving some good old sunshine.

Going to the beach and soaking it up.  Ahhh..

I miss Oceanside!!

Until we get to go back though I better get my butt in gear so I can actually live it up there.  I want to learn how to surf.  Oh yah.  But first I need to get into shape.

First thing first.  I got to get my attitude in check.  

I can't do anything if I allow the Motivation Grinch to control me.

I love the Grinch but he's not going to steal my motivation!  I have 3 plans of action for today to battle the Motivation Grinchs.

#1--Motivation Grinch --> Don't feel like it

Plan: Raise Endorphins

So since I'm on a clean eating lifestyle change I am researching natural ways to up my ENDORPHINS.....

Elle does have a point....

When your favorite opening scene in a movie EVER is this.....

Makes you want to go watch it now huh?  One of my all time favorite movies!

You can imagine my excitement that it is #6 of the "Endorphins: 8 natural Boosters"  http://www.rd.com/slideshows/8-ways-to-naturally-increase-endorphins/

I am going to take the advice of this article and try these ways.  I already know the chocolate one works.

#2 Motivation Grinch--> Nothing good to eat

Plan-Be Prepared

So yesterday I made a few things for everyone to get this week organized.  I will post the rest of it tomorrow because I still have to make a bunch of other stuff. 

I replaced all sandwich bread for wheat flat bread....

Pile O' Flat breads (below)

The recipe...from my favorite website....

http://www.100daysofrealfood.com/2010/05/26/recipe-whole-wheat-tortillas/

I made the kids whole wheat banana bread for after school snacks.

The awesome recipe...

http://www.fullmeasureofhappiness.com/2011/12/10/classic-banana-nut-bread/

Add some of this peanut butter and oh my goodness...yummy....

and caramel popcorn for after school snacks.

Recipe here...

http://www.thegraciouspantry.com/clean-eating-caramel-popcorn/

I even put a whole chicken in a crockpot to make, well the chicken, but also homemade stock....

No picture :(

But here's the recipe

http://www.100daysofrealfood.com/2010/08/09/recipe-homemade-chicken-stock/

Each dinner is planned out and I'll work on those daily.

I am making the weeks worth of 4 meals a day (5=dinner, 6=protein shake) for Brian and I.  I'll post that tomorrow.  Along with the kids homemade fruit rollups--they take 6 hours so Im doing that today.  

#3 Motivation Grinch --> The Scale

Plan-Do not weigh  myself EVERYday.  

Opt for a "Weigh In Wednesday"

Today's weight:  Down 2 pounds! I'm going to just weigh in on Wednesdays from now on because the daily weighing is annoying and de-motivating. 

Off to make some yummy food and pin Christmas ideas.  I'm going to play some Christmas music today and you can't stop me.