ENCOURAGING>>>>> You bet!!

Over the past few weeks since I started my healthy lifestyle, I have never once looked back at what I could be eating. I make meals that my family will eat. This does not include veggies. Darin and both boys hate them. If I can manage to hide them somehow then they get eaten but otherwise forget it. So I make one meal and just tweak mine a bit or totally eat different. It becomes a difficult road and I continue to try to add veggies to their life but it doesn't seem to happen very quick.
I find I have to plan ahead. Make sure that I know what I have planned to eat for the day so I can keep a balance. Know my ranges and stay within them. Weigh, measure and count everything. Seems tedious right now but once I know what, how much and what it looks like then I can learn to moderate.
Today I came home from work to find the most inspirational message from a friend. She reads this blog and didn't know what I had been up to. Till today. She told me what a great job I was doing and offered to join me walking. That is what I need to stay focused. I cried.big baby I know. But those words that Steph wrote just hit me right there. I know I am doing the right thing no matter how I got here, I know where I am headed. And that is healthy.
The impact of others sometimes has more of an effect that we'd like. I'm glad that Steph took the time to encourage me. It meant alot. She knows how hard it is she's been there done that.
The weight doesn't seem like much but I can feel it in my clothes, the dryer didn't shrink them this time!! lol I can see that one of my chins looks smaller. LOl. Little things like that.

I did get a few minutes of exercise in today. Not as many as I'd like it is hard when I work 1-9pm to get things into my day that I would like. And Ty is home tomorrow so I'll try but it isn't always easy.

So thanks again Steph. I appreciate it more than you know.

Friend.... for life!! And weigh in day!

So I have managed to recruit a friend/ family member on this healthy little life changing journey. I am going to call her Lady P. I don't know what she would like me to share and I know she reads this blog so until I get the go ahead I will just give you tidbits of info.

Lady P is a beautiful woman. She is a cousin in law. I have only met her once but talked to her many times on facebook etc. I adore her. What I do know. She is a woman who is a bit "fluffy" like myself. She loves all the comfort foods, pasta, cheese, and bread , again like myself. She has tried many diets to no avail. ( This info I hear from others in the fam). She needs support like me and I think together because we both have a bad side that we can puch each other to a less "fluffy" version of each of us. I think that the bad side in easch of us, will cause us both to make the other accountable. To encourage and to understand. Then together we can shop for new clothes when we see each other next year. I see no downside. Other than we live so far apart. But email/ facebook will keep us connected.

We can do it Lady P!! I know it!!

On another note. Today was total weigh in day and I am happy to write that I hit the scale at a lighter 216.5lbs. That makes me happy. Not thrilled but happy.

I haven't managed any exercise since last week. I'l have to get on that tommorrow when the boys head out to school. Some days I find with shift work that it is difficult to get a work out in unless I am doing it before I go to bed....then who can sleep??

Any advise for that??? Working shifts, small kids and regular life just thrown in??

Well that's it for today. Got a few christmas presents in today. Only like 31 days or something. UGG!

So thanks again Lady P, I am so looking forward to you and I pushing forward together!!

Nice Day...

It was a perfect day for 4 wheeling.

Darin's Mom, her friend and the four of us went on our bikes for a ride. It was a great day. The kids had a ton of fun. We went out for lunch and it was a bit difficult having everyone around you eating hamburgers and fries, chicken nuggets and fries, and you have to choose a turkey sandwich. I love turkey so it wasn't that difficult. It isn't as good without Mayo and butter but it was good. It is also more difficult to control the calorie count. You don't know how it is prepared and all the extras that they put into it.

I used my best possible guesstimate. I was quite liberal with it better more than less. I also had a bowl of turkey soup. It was good. It warmed the belly on a cool fall day.

I just can't get past the whole "black" coffee thing. I like my cream. I love my Tim Horton's but too have learned to drive by instead of drive thru. If I told you that an extra large double double was over 200 calories would you be surprised? I figure I should have an extra $ 10.00 in my pocket each week if I continue to Drive by. Maybe it's a good thing "black" coffee doesn't taste so good? Kinda makes you think doesn't it. A few little changes can make a BIG difference.

Some thing's are easier than others. Trust me though I still have a LONG way to go.

Santa is coming to town.....

My legs feel good today. No pain. stiff a bit but the pain when I bend has passed. (That's a good thing). No exercise today :( I had Tyson home, no excuse I know. But I had many other things more important to get done. That had to be done.

I can have a day off I just have to be sure to stick to my calories and push that water into me. I find it easier to drink it at work when I am busy and get my few minute breaks, than at home when I have so many people needing different things all at once.

I took Dalton out of school early this afternoon. He went to see his teacher from last year, Ms. LeSage. He loves her. I guess that she was really happy to see him. Surprised and happy!! He was too. Thank you Nicole for making such a wonderful dent in my son's life and for giving him back the love of school. Your one special woman... and you hubby is not too bad either...:).

Nanny and Poppa took the boys to the Santa Claus parade. It is at night, and lots of lights. I met up with them after work and finished watching the end of it with them. Pastor Mark was sure to stop by and drop a TON of treats at their feet. I said no but apparently he forgot that Halloween was just 2 weeks ago. He always spoils them.( on the up side though, I have been good to stay out of the treats. If you know me personally, you know how good it is that I have not eaten the chocolate bars, it calls me but I resist! Yay Me!)

Tyson was so excited this year, I was surprised. It will be fun this year at Christmas. It's fun ever year! Just more interactive this year.

THANKS Mom and Dad!! We all Love you so much! The things you do for us we can't say thank you enough.

Ugg the pain...

Well, if I thought that Jillian was hard yesterday. I didn't know what today was going to bring! I am sore. My legs are killing me. I thought I had good muscles in my legs but boy was I wrong. I fought through it again today. Pain and grimacing aside it was OK. But I am sure walking funny I am sure.

Not much to report, it is a beautiful day again today but I cannot walk outside. I have way too many things to do and not enough time to do it! I managed the workout so I'm happy.

I have to go to Wal*art and I think I am going to pick up some weights to go along with the workout.

On the food side. I am doing pretty good to stick to my calories and fat. I am looking more and more for things at the grocery store that are healthier. Thing is.... most of the stuff i love there is no way it can be lower calories. lol

I found the best recipe for some muffins and my kids LOVE them. And they are healthy. It's a devil's food cake mix and a 15 oz can of pumpkin. That's it. Mix them together and bake for 30 minutes making 24 muffins. It is just like brownies. They are 87.5 calories each and very little fat and LOTS of fibre!! I wish everything on this new way of thinking was that easy.

Try it out!!

another nice day....

I did it I made it for a walk like I said I was. I walked for 40 minutes at a healthy pace. We only have sidewalks so far down our streets so I walked to the end and back. It's about 2.5kms. Far enough for my first day. It was nice not too hat and just enough vitamin D to make me feel good.

I was tired I have to admit or I would have went farther. I worked 4 midnights and it makes me so tired with not enough sleep. I don't care how much energy people think that they can get from being healthy but you know midnights can kill you no matter how healthy you are.

Last night I had a prepackaged Salmon steak. Let me tell you at 700 calories per portion it isn't very healthy. Companies sure know how to wreak a nice thing.

Today i did the Jillian Micheal's 30 day shred. For anyone who is trying to lose weight or exercise. It will kill you!! Holy Hannah. I was stiff when I was done and it was only a 20 minute work out. Ugg I am out of shape. I can't walk today my little man is home it's not his school day.

I hope everyone takes a few minutes today to remember all the brave soldiers that have and are fighting to keep our country as well as others safe. I appreciate all you have done, are and will do to keep me and my family in a safe, free and war free place. You are a special breed of people that I admire and remember.

Well I need to get a few things done before I head out to work. So have a great day and remember to take a few minutes to.......

Remember the soldiers that have given their lives so your families can be safe....

Long time.....no post..

So, as you can see I have been over neglectful on this blog. I will try to be more accountable in the future. For those who know us we are quite busy and having two boys a full time shift working job and trying to keep a house in one piece can be a lot some days.

I will post the pics of the house from the past year that some of you have been wanting to see the competed project. It is nice I must admit having a new house. It is unfortunate but I am glad now that all things transpired as they did. At the time and for the last year I could not say that but now that things have settled and I have not lost my mind. I am greatful. And thank the powers that be everyday.

On the kid front, Dalton has recently turned the big nine and Tyson turned four. Dalton went into grade four and Tyson started in Jr Kindergarden. He loves it. I find that he is starting to settle down and develop the personality with wisdom. He was such a character before and now he can use the bigger words to make us laugh more. Only because he now knows what they mean. He has a great teacher and I adore her. She is so attentive to all the kids. And patient. I am glad that Tyson got her for his first year of school.

Dalton is not enjoying school this year as much as last. He does not have as nice of a teacher as last year and apparently she is a screamer. It seems that every year that he is in the portable that he ends up having a teacher that is. Then again no teacher is as great to him a the teacher he had last year. ahe is hoping that she returns to his school next year to teach him in grade 5. But he will most likely get her mother instead.

Darin is Darin and he is well. Nothing much changes with him. He is busy with work and when he is home he is busy in his garage. When he isn't busy with his kids.

Me well I have embarked on a new adventure and will share with you along the way. Hoping for encouragement and kind words. I am starting the long struggle to get healthy. I am not going to "preach" about diet and exercise but be aware that if your coming here, you may find me venting about it sometimes. Or looking for help. Either way I look for your feedback.

This blog is about our family and health is a part of that. It is a long journey that I have entered in. Looking about 90lb journey for me. So feel free to give your 2 cents.

90 lbs. Seriously. I can't believe I let it get to that. I am ashamed as well as happy that I have decided to stop here. It was 99lbs. I have struggled through 2 weeks of eating better and lost 9 lbs. Doesn't seem like much and becomes hard to find a way through your eating habits when I go to work. I take things with me but when you have the will power at home and remove all temptation, then go to work and it awaits you it is a challenge. Not to mention the shifts. It is hard to totally switch your days and nights around and still eat healthy. Excuses. I know I can do it.

So I am about to do it. I can't believe that I am but.... I weigh 220.0 lbs today. Hard to believe but I do. It makes me sick to look at that. Upsets me. tears me up. But not anymore I can do it. I can do it for me. I can do it for my family. I can be an example to my kids. Whom I love more than anything.

On that note. I am going. Saddened and flustrated. But I am going to go for a walk it is a beautiful day, my kids are at school and I CAN!!

Thanks for reading!