Can Of Mixed Nuts

So, it’s been six days since the challenge has started and I wanted to share my progress with you.  I do intend on taking pictures today so hold me to it.  Ask me tomorrow where they are

The Eating Category:

As for how I’ve been doing in the food department.  Okay, I guess.  I have managed to eat at least three times per day and have increased my water intake significantly.  However, I have not been actually charting my water intake or being particularly careful with the types of food I’m eating.  It’s not been ice cream sundaes (Oh, how I wish!) all day but some of my recipes need to be modified for my slower metabolism body for sure.  And I need to do a better job at eating breakfast before noon.  Or eleven.  So, progress?  Yes.  To my satisfaction?  No.

So, my goal in this department this week is to aim for three or more small meals/ meal replacement shakes and to chart my water intake.  I also want to get back into the habit of creating a menu and sticking to it.  So, next Monday also look for my weekly menu.

The Exercise Category:

Now, we did start on a Wednesday and I will be honest and say that I didn’t actually get into the gym for a workout until Friday but I have done at least 30 minutes of cardio every day since including today when I actually took myself to the gym and worked out by myself.  For me that is a BIG deal.  WAY outside of my comfort zone but necessary.  And actually Sunday I cleaned carpets for 4 and a half hours in an 80 degree room but let me tell you between the actual carpet cleaning and moving all of the furniture around multiple times, it was hard work.  And my legs are telling their story because they are S.O.R.E!

So, all of that being said, I have workouts planned with one of my co-workers scheduled for Tuesday thru Friday and workouts with my hubby planned for Saturday and Sunday.  According to My Coach Oscar, I need to do three weeks of cardio before considering adding anything else to my routine considering that other than housework and chasing my children around that I really haven’t done any exercise in a very long time.

The Weighing-In Category:

So, after being reminded that I needed to do that today (thanks Amber), I went to my handy dandy scale and found that I still weigh the same.  Within .2 pounds but basically the same.  But I know I’m making changes and I’m not going to let the scale get me down.  Figuratively speaking, of course.    But speaking of my scale, it’s a pretty neat gadget all in itself.  It not only tracks my weight but tells me what my body fat percentage and water percentage are.  Which goes back to helping me make sure I’m drinking enough water so that I don’t get dehydrated with all of this new activity.

Hopefully I will have some actual weight loss to share next week.

Resources?

To Check out my scale go here:  www.amazon.com and search for Whynter Digital Body Fat Scale.  I actually purchased mine from Target but didn’t see it on their site.

My training advice:  www.mycoachoscar.com – He’s promised an article to share with us in the next week or so…

My gym:  www.nextlevelfitnessclub.com

Well, that’s all I have for now.  Check back tomorrow for my ‘before’ pics.

So, as I mentioned previously, I work in a gym.  In child care thankfully.  However, I can say being my size it’s quite intimidating when you start working in that enviornment where everyone is more fit than you.  I’m so glad that over the past few months I have come to know some really great people there who are willing to inspire me to get in there and use my free membership (great employee benefit!) to take care of myself.  And yesterday I finally did.  And my hubby went with me, too.

Now, he’s not all buff like Rey Misterio Jr. or Jeff Hardy (my current favorite two wrestlers) or anything but he does have that higher metabolism and can pretty much eat all that he wants and does not gain an ounce.  Just makes me sick thinking about it sometimes because I have really put in some effort in the past with not a lotta result and that in itself is just frustrating, ya know?  Anyways… all of that to say that since I have told the people around me that I am going to get back on the weight-loss trail, they have been even more supportive.  Probably because they are all concerned at this point (especially my hubby) that this weight could put me out of commission and it very well can.  Weight can and does kill.  God did not give us instructions about overeating for no reason folks…

So, back to the fact that I went to the gym yesterday.  And did 45 minutes of cardio total.  Boy, are my legs feeling it today but I can say that I am not hurting as much as I thought I would.  I chose to go at the end of the day simply because that when my hubby could go with me and it was nice that there were very few people in there on a Friday night and getting on the equipment was quite easy.    But getting in there this morning was another story.  It is very busy and I feel very self-consious going in there and standing on the treadmill next to the others.  I am so going to have to get over that hurdle and not let it get in the way of my progress.

I think I can.  I think I can.  I KNOW I CAN!!! (Yeah, I talk to myself sometimes…)

So, to anyone else who have Gym Intimidation Syndrome, just remember that you are NOT going there to impress anyone or to pass judgement on their level of fitness but to better yourself.  Put on your blinders and just keep at it.  Or drag your mate or a friend in there with ya.  I am sure they can use a little fitness, too. 

Oh yeah.  LONG way.  It’s amazing how gaining weight is like running down hill.  It’s so easy to get there but when you want to turn around and go back up, it looks impossible.  That’s certainly how I feel about how much weight I have allowed myself to gain and now I have to make that long hike back up to the top of my health and fitness.  My bestest friend in the entire world is hosting a weight loss challenge here and you are welcome to join in on the *not so much* fun!  Since I’m not feeling particularly creative this morning, I’m going to follow her template as far as putting my goals in writing my first post…

WHERE I’M AT NOW:

Hello.  My name is MamaNut and I am 30 years old and carrying 265 pounds not so gracefully.  That puts my BMI at 46.9 and is definitely in the obese category.  According to whoever comes up with these numbers, my average weight for my height is between 104-141 pounds and I’m not even close.

I could offer excuses such as I have four children and a loving husband that demand much of my time and currently have a part-time job.  However, the truth is that I choose what I make time for in my day and I choose to not make time for myself.  I choose to eat only one meal most days and not exercise beyond my daily chores.  None of this is good.  In fact, I started working at a gym of all places a few months ago (in childcare) and have a free membership.  Have I taken advantage of that?  No.  And I have access to personal trainers for advice and have I used that?  Not really.

WHAT’S MY MOTIVATION YOU ASK?

Well, the fact that my knee bothers me almost daily and sometimes my shoulder should be enough on its own.  I could add the fact that I’m not so fond of my hubby ‘admiring’ how pretty other women are and the fact that I certainly can’t expect my children to want to lead healthy lives if I’m not setting the example for them.  And since we homeschool I’m also responsible for their fitness activities and haven’t done such a great job thus far.

Bottom line is that I do want to feel the way I did 10 years ago because I felt great being able to run and play in the park or go hiking or just buy clothes in the latest fashions at any store in the mall.  Not to mention that being so heavy has kept me from enjoying high heels.

SO, HOW AM I GOING TO GET FROM HERE TO THERE?

Good question.  However, after speaking to the trainers that I have the opportunity to speak with on a daily basis, I’m going to start by making sure that I’m drinking enough water and eating at least three times a day with a goal of five smaller meals.  I will use the water chart that I have made for my children and put it up on the wall so that I can mark out each 8oz. cup.  I found a ‘how much water to drink’ calculator that is quite thorough and I should be drinking 108.4 oz. of water per day on a healthy diet with 30 min. of exercise per day and 135.5 oz. as I am now.  That’s quite a bit of water!  I’ve been adding Crystal Light to some of my water to change it up a bit.  According to the consensus, just by adding 30 minutes of moderate activity (AKA cardio) and eating at least 3 healthy meals plus meeting my water quota I should be able to shed at least 20 pounds and possibly more because of my size.  Now, that’s just for the first month.  After that it won’t be such a large number but I’m okay with that.  I intend on using some meal replacement shakes to keep me on track as well as the support of you guys.  This is what I have set out to accomplish for this month and for me that’s quite a bit!

RESOURCES TO OFFER?

Well, I’ll do a bit of advertising for some folks here.  I’m sure they’ll appreciate it. 

My Gym:  Next Level Fitness Club

A GREAT Trainer:  My Coach Oscar I don’t have a personal trainer but I do get some great tips from this one

Information and Calculators:  About.com’s Nutrition section

Meal Replacements:  EAS Myoplex Lite

NOW WHAT?

Well, now I finish up my post and get to it.  I will add pictures later but after I’m out of my pj’s…   Let’s battle our weight issues and conquer!  (Insert battle cry here)

As we are wrapping up our mini-summer school session, it’s time to start purchasing our materials for the new school year that starts Sept. 1 for us.  #1 is starting 5th grade (snif, snif).  They grow up too quickly!  This is actually our first complete year of homeschooling so I’ve had a lot to look at and try to decide what will work best for him.  I’m also trying to keep the cost down because what works for his learning style may not work for the other children.  So far, this is what we have:

From A Reason For… we have the handwriting, reading, spelling and science; Bob Jones Math 5 and Heritage Studies 5; Spanish Elementary Level 1;  and Studying God’s Word.

We still need to decide on something for grammar, health, some kind of art, and enroll in sports activities.

Now, #2 is 4 but will be 5 in the middle of the school year so we’re going to try to get the rest of the preschool basics down before Advent and then get a good start on kindergarten.  Since he will be going to speech therapy and we don’t know what time that will be, I will have to wait until we get that schedule to enroll him for his sports.  For him, I have some great workbooks and since he doesn’t have much of an attention span, that’s probably the best thing for him (and my sanity!)

And #3 will be kept busy coloring and enjoying her favorite show – Charlie and Lola.  She thinks at the ripe age of 23 months that she doesn’t need a nap anymore.  Boy is she wrong but I’ll keep working on her.  Hopefully #4 who is 3 months old will cooperate just a little.  I know that it will take a lot of work on my part with keeping a good schedule going.

So for all of those seasoned homeschoolers out there, please feel free to speak up and share your wisdom.  I look forward to reading trough the advice. 

Well, lemme ’splain. A can of mixed nuts fits my family quite well. I am a native Texan and my husband is native of Mexico but has lived here for about half of his life. So, we have a mix of cultures as well as each one of our four children having quite different personalities. Sometimes I feel like I live in the ‘I Love Lucy’ show. And I love (almost) every minute of it! So, if you think about what you get in a can of mixed nuts, you have a little bit of everything – sweet, salty, different textures – and that is what makes them so great! And it just happens to be that I’m the MomaNut – the peanut. I’ll introduce the rest of my nuts later on! Welcome to my blog!