Giveaways!!

Check out this blogger's giveaway!

http://imasleeperbaker.blogspot.com/2010/02/le-giveaway-of-le-creuset-it-kind-of.html

Someone else has a similar one you should check out too:

http://leighvslaundry.blogspot.com/2010/03/its-giveaway-time-at-leigh-vs-laundry.html

Ok, so it'd be super neat to win this stuff, don't you think? :)
R

P.S. Vote in my poll! Would you all want to see me disappear? Well, not exactly, but you get the idea... *muttering* That didn't quite sound as cute typed as it did in my head... And now I'm talking to myself, er, typing to myself... best stop now...

And now, back to the show!

Hello all,

So we've been having a couple very interesting days around my house! I got my monthly visitor for the second time in about two years and barely slept (but I went out yesterday to find out if Midol makes a PM formula and, cha-ching!, they do!) and then my daughter got sick about 5:15 am and then daddy was called into work about five hours earlier than normal and it was raining (in Arizona!!) yet again (this is so not normal, but I do love it!) and life happened. Like my run-on sentence? It's time to get back to our regularly scheduled programming, or a more routine routine. :)

Yesterday was not one of my more shiney days as a mommy. We watched a lot of PBS kids. Anyone else love SuperWHY? :) Today has not been a shiney day in my mommy book either, but daddy is definitely filling that roll today. I'm so thankful for my wonderful husband. I married the most amazing man on the planet. You can try to disagree with me, but you'd be wrong (and I'm very biased and I don't care, lol).

Moving on, my eating plan went out the window yesterday. I incorporated some of my regular menu choices into what I ate, but went outside of it in a major way. I love peanut butter toast. It is my ultimate comfort food. :) I also went to In & Out for dinner. I'm not ashamed and I'm not letting this completely derail me. We are back on track today. And I will go back to a workout tonight. Here's something I know and you probably do too:

Just because one day doesn't go according to plan doesn't mean you chuck the whole plan. You just turn around the next day and get back to routine. No need to be discouraged or get down on yourself! Life happens and you need to move beyond measuring yourself against a perceived standard (set up by your expectations or the world's expectations) and live life.

So here are my questions for you: What standard(s) are you setting up in your life that are unrealistic and that you want to move beyond? What do you do when life doesn't go according to plan? What gets you back on track?

Feel free to comment!
Blessings,
R

P.S. I absolutely love my hobby! This one isn't for sale, yet (I might just keep it, tehe). Check out my Etsy store for others I've made. There's a button on the right----->

Once a cheater...

Good morning all!

Thanks again to all who've commented! You are an encouragement to me! Yay, for Jessica and Steve! I'm so proud of you for taking the journey together as well as Katie and Phil!

You've heard the old saying, right? "Once a cheater, always a cheater." Well, last night my husband asked me if I could have a cheat day and eat pizza to celebrate him being home (he was suddenly sent out of town for a couple days, but is home now--it was very random, lol). I debated. My mind went back and forth and back and forth. I thought I could just get pizza for the rest of the fam and still have my chicken. That is what someone who is hardcore would totally do... Or I could give in and eat the pizza too. Well, I guess I'm just not that hardcore. My body wasn't actually craving pizza per say, but my mind had been craving it for about three days. I like that pizza is fast and easy and it tastes so good. We choose Papa Murphy's Cowboy pizza (pictured below). This is our family favorite and we used to eat it once a week (on Thursday there is one by us that has $4 off a family size pizza!!! I do so love a good deal). So, I gave in. I ate a piece. Then I went back for seconds. Here's the thing: I knew I was full. My body was telling me that I didn't need to eat anymore. However, my mind said, "You've already decided to cheat you may as well go all the way!" And all the way for me would have usually included dessert. I stopped at two pieces, no dessert. Small victory.



So, what is my plan of attack today? I'm going to go to the gym and double the time I usually spend there because I didn't go yesterday and I ate pizza yesterday. No, I don't feel guilty. Here's my motivation: I bought a pair of pants from NY & Co. that were on sale for $12.50 (again, I love a good deal & these pants just look amazing!!!) and my "normal" 16 was a bit loose on me. I asked if they had a 14 and they had to put it on hold at another store. I went over there (yes, kids in tow--they were troopers) and put them on and they fit! They fit!!! I haven't seen 14 in about one and a half years, ya'll! All those 12's hanging in my closet better watch out--I'm comin' for ya!!!

Blessings and be encouraged all! I'm so proud of you, Trina Sue! Keep it up!
R

Choices, choices, well, one choice anyway...

Hello all!

Some of you have left very kind comments on my facebook page regarding this blog and I'm so grateful for you! You are a great encouragement to me.

The topic I want to discuss is my limited food choices. I started to get just the tiniest bit bored with chicken for dinner on day two. Now that I'm on day five I've progressed to semi-dreading lunch and not even wanting to contemplate a dinner of chicken, yet again. Apparently, days three-five are some of the toughest. I can tell you that I've been finding that I'm very bored with chicken, even though I've been using different spices to, erm, spice it up. So, I asked my nutrition plan coordinator when I could incorporate green vegetables. Please, oh for the love of my sanity, please let it be soon! I got the go ahead to eat broccoli, 3 pieces of asparagus, cucumbers, and spinach! I'm really looking forward to my shopping trip to pick up these items, as well as more chicken *insert some sarcasm here*.

The one thing that has helped is the fact that I can have eggs OR yogurt for breakfast. I get a choice! I do like having a choice-we all like having choices. This is what I try to do for my daughter so she feels like she has some control over her life. I've read that this helps to eliminate fights between parents and children. It seems to work at my house. The fact that it generalizes to me as well shouldn't be surprising.

I had an interesting food day yesterday because I RAN OUT OF CHICKEN! I totally thought I had another pack in the freezer, but I was mistaken. What to do? I ended up grilled two pieces of high-fiber bread with my SmartBalance butter and a slice of cheese in the middle. I tried to think of what I was allowed to have and make a meal of of it. Volia! Then, since I didn't have time to make it over to the store (life with children), I ate scrambled eggs for dinner. My daughter then wanted to share her ice cream with me. I tried to get her to share it with her grandma, but she wouldn't have any of it. So I took one bite, and it was reallllllllllly good, and then stopped. I wasn't craving more, however, I was able to enjoy my one bite. :)

I've also enjoyed workouts the last couple days in the gym. Nothing working out within your target heart rate for 30-40 minutes! ;)
Blessings to you!
R

P.S. Check out my new Etsy store! There's a button on the right-hand side! And you can now follow me on Twitter! What fun! :)

Mama never fried a chicken...

Greetings and salutations, one and all!

Today is the third day of the new eating plan! I have another confession. No, no cheating today.

Here it is: I don't cook meat. I'm a decent cook, but I absolutely hate cooking meat. I do ok with hamburger, but to this point I've only done chicken/chicken breast when hard pressed to do so. How is it I've been eating chicken the past few days you wonder? I have the most wonderful husband on the planet! He is the chef in this family (I'm the baker!). He is out of town today and I am on my own for cooking up some chicken. No, I do not plan to fry it as that would be throwing the new, healthy eating out the window. :)

Now, I tried to remember all he told me for making it flavorful, best ways to cook it, spices to use, techniques, etc. I semi-succeeded. It doesn't taste half bad if I do say so myself! The outside was a tad tough and a couple of spots were a little rubbery, but overall I did a good job. It wasn't even pink when I opened it up! Whoot! First time in a long time I've cooked chicken and no pinkness. I think I will have to flatten it more next time or cut it in to strips so I can cook it all evenly. I got my chicken breasts from Costco and they are rather thick on one end versus the other. I did flatten them some today before cooking, however, I will probably do it more tomorrow.

What are your tips for cooking chicken breasts?

Blessings,
R

P.S. It is my goal to sell some of the hand towels I've crocheted. Great for house warmings, bridal showers, wedding gifts, baby showers, and more. If you are interested stay tuned!

Day by day

Hello all!

So yesterday was the second day of my new plan and it was relatively easy again. Instead of ham in the morning I substituted a handful of peanuts because I was out at my MOPS (Mothers Of Pre-Schoolers) meeting and I knew ham wouldn't keep until my snack time. It was a little difficult to say no to all the yummy breakfast foods brought in by all the MOPS mommies. I wanted to cheat, but I didn't do it! :)

Chicken again for lunch and dinner! If you are going to do this you will have many opportunities to try different ways of preparing chicken-especially if you don't care for fish like me. I did have a second handful of peanuts, which is a no-no apparently, but I think it'll even out. And mixing the metamucil and drinking it all down right away is definitely the way to go.

Ok, I'll admit it; I did cheat. I was filling Easter Eggs for the MOPS Easter Egg Hunt with some nerd jellybeans and I ate three of them. They were little! Now I know some of you are thinking, "Well, you can cheat a tiny bit like that--it's not like you ate the whole bag!" And you are right. However, I don't want to continue to make little compromises here and there until my new plan is a long buried and gone from my consciousness. I have decided that after these first two weeks are in the books I will be opening a bag of Starburst jellybeans I got (they only make them at Easter time & they are my favorite!!) and have a couple every day. This will be an exercise in willpower. I will tell you if I fail and eat the bag in one sitting, but I don't plan this eventuality. So, yes, I do believe that most things are fine for you in moderation. It is just having the willpower to exercise moderation in a society that tells you more, more, more and do it because it makes you feel good.

I took the kids on a stroller ride for about thirty minutes last night which they thoroughly enjoyed. Owen loves watching the cars and Ella likes standing, sitting, and walking along.

Good, productive day at our house doing laundry, cleaning bathroom, dishes, and cleaned kids' room!
I hope and pray the same for you today!
R

Today was the day!

Hello friends,

Today was the first day of my new plan. Which means last night was the last time I would nurse my son or any other child (God willing! We are not planning on anymore). I'm sad for this phase to be over. I never imagined I would enjoy nursing as much as I did with my little guy. His older sister and I only made it to five months with great difficulty. It was so different this time around and I really enjoyed the bonding, etc. I am, however, ready for my body to be completely my own again. :) Last night was also my last night of eating whatever I wanted with abandon. Cookies, ice cream, a glass of wine (which I haven't had in about 2 years!!!), pasta, and so on. I felt a little guilty at the over indulgence, and I usually don't eat that many sweets, but it was my last hurrah for a while. I hope my friends are not too offended when I don't sample their goodies. I guess I'll just have to refer them here.

So, some may be curious about my new approach to eating. Let me tell you, so am I. The person coaching me with this only gave me the first two weeks. Here is what it looks like (since I know you are reading this saying tell us what you are doing already!!!):

First wake up: 2 scrambled eggs (no butter). May use spray butter or anything with no calories (I opted for SmartBalance with an olive oil base).
OR 1 yogurt-CarbMasters ONLY from Fry's.
Drink a glass of water (no ice absorbs better in to the body)

10:00-3 slices of ham (the thin deli sliced kind that is like 95% fat free), Metamucil, orange flavor helps, take 1 & 1/2 teaspoon with a cup of water

Workout-preferably 45 minutes of cardio (though work up to this)

Noon-boneless, skinless chicken breast (have two if you are hungry)

2pm-3 slices of ham (or beef jerky). OR one serving of whey protein but mix only with water

4pm-1 handful of unsalted peanuts OR two pieces of string cheese (pick the brand with the most protein)

6pm-fish or chicken
NO sauces whatsoever on anything.

Do NOT eat after 7pm. Chew on sugarless gum when you get the craving to eat. Your mind will tell you that you are hungry. DO NOT LISTEN TO IT. You body is signaling a craving for sugar. Ignore it.

You can have two pieces of bread a day, but ONLY the high fiber kind. Thomas English Muffins have one kind that has 8 grams of fiber and only 100 calories. Keep the carbs low, low, low.

Use spices--a lot. :) Salsa is also good for increasing your metabolism. As much green tea as you want!

So now that you are thinking I'm crazy here was how my first day panned out:
I do love me my scrambled eggs--no problem.
I don't generally eat ham, because someone in my home has a pork allergy, but the ham was just fine and I didn't mind it-just hadn't eaten it for a while.
The Metamucil is where I had my first moment of unease. When I was a little girl my Godparents' parents would drink it and it looked terrible and clung to the glass, etc. In my mind this is for old people. lol Ok, so I used the orange flavor and it was almost like Tang. Not nearly as bad as I thought it could be. However, I had to walk away for a few minutes because of the children and I came back to finish it. The M had gotten gel-like and it was extremely hard to get past the texture to finish drinking it, but down it I did. I won't make that mistake again. Next time I will just mix it and slam it! :)
I should have had 2 chickens, but only did one. Tomorrow I will do two. My hubby was awesome and spiced it up and it was yummy!
I tried beef jerky, but I still don't like it, so I went back to ham.
I was really looking forward to my handful of peanuts! :) I love peanut butter and am sad to give it up for a bit.
Then the chicken again. Yum, yum!
I am feeling hungry, but not overly so and popped gum for the evening.
These first two weeks the point is to cleanse my body of its sugar cravings and to shock the system. Then we add back in other foods progressively. :) I'm told green veggies (sans any dipping sauce) will be on the menu after these first two weeks are over. Whoot! Broccoli and asparagus is what I'm looking forward to! :)

I skipped the workout today in favor of going to the zoo for 2.5 hours with my family and doing the loops. :)

So I'll let you know how tomorrow goes and share one of my goals with you!
Blessings,
R