Insert blog title here.....

Wednesday, December 08, 2010

Hi Sparkers....

I'm checking in so that those of you who know my MIL passed away will also know that we are okay.

The trip to Illinois was challenging and tiring but also good. We got to say goodbye and visit with family we hadn't seen in years. We found a folder that had 20 years of our family photos in it while packing her apartment. We brought home those pics and some other momentos.

My daughters enjoyed the snow. Our son stayed home for basketball and work. We were amazed to return and find that he had vacuumed and taken out the trash. He tried to pawn several days worth of dishes off on me but I didn't bite.

I did an accountability blog while I was gone. I pretty much did that type of routine everyday to stay on track. I was nervous to weigh in when I got home but am pleased to announce that I lost one pound despite traveling and being in a hotel away from home for four days.

Thanks to all my Sp friends for checking in and sending goodies. I am way behind in returning thanks. We are sad but okay.

And now you know that use can use the Sp app for iPhones and do your blog post all while enjoying a nice hot bath after yoga class!

  

  Member Comments About This Blog Post:

BTRFLY08 12/9/2010 12:20PM

Glad y'all had a safe trip and are back home! Report Inappropriate Comment

TRIPLE_EMME 12/9/2010 10:29AM

I'm glad that you are back! Sorry for your sadness and loss, too! Report Inappropriate Comment

LIZZYP609 12/9/2010 7:21AM

Good to know you are doing well and was able to keep up your routine with all the travel and sadness. Good for you. This is truly a lifestyle for you. Be proud of yourself! Report Inappropriate Comment

JULESANA8818 12/9/2010 7:21AM

I am really looking forward to getting my tablet pc so i I can bathe and blog and well. I sometimes do that now with my sons DSi I just drop it in a ziploc bag so it doesn't accidentally get wet. Report Inappropriate Comment

MESEATURTLE 12/9/2010 1:59AM

Sorry to hear about your Mil . Glad u r doing ok . Need to get my application on my phone .. That should be cool! Report Inappropriate Comment

Accountability blog

Saturday, December 04, 2010

Hey Sparkers - if you've been reading my posts, you know I'm in Illinois due to my MIL's unexpected passing. We are dealing with tough emotions, so I'm using the skills I've learned here on SP to keep me on track. So here goes with food and exercising blogging.

I leaned from LOSINGJESS a long time ago about photo blogging my food.


We are in a hotel that has an all you can eat breakfast buffet so I knew I needed to feel accountable to someone about what I ate. I had a piece of whole wheat toast with egg and 1/2 slice of cheese. One serving of oatmeal with dried cranberries, fresh blueberries, a small amount of crushed walnuts and about 1/2 T brown sugar, and black coffee.


Snack time...stuff I took back from the breakfast bar. Total Whole Grain cereal, banana, skim milk with one sweet and low.

After we left the hotel we went to MIL's apartment and spent several hours going through her stuff and packing. We packed two boxes that we shipped home of things we wanted to keep. We have to go back tomorrow and continue this process.


I had no control over where the family wanted to eat for a late lunch. I ordered a spicy black bean burger with pepper jack cheese on a whole wheat bun. The pineapple/jalepeno salsa was good. I ate about 1/2 the sweet potato chips and again had black coffee.


Snack time..still more stuff from the breakfast bar. An apple, 80 cal yogurt and hot green tea.

I used the fitness center at the hotel and did 50 mins of weights after a 5 min warmup on the elliptical.

Since I'm still sick, I opted not to go out in the dropping temps to hang out at grandpa's house. The family left me alone in the quiet of the hotel room which was something I needed.

I did 30 minutes of YOGA and texted/talked to some family and friends. It was nice to do the stretching and try new poses all in private! I'm learning to love YOGA and how it makes my body feel, but I am a long way from some of these poses. I bought this magazine at the airport when we flew in...



I'm having the campbell's vegetable beef soup for dinner and have had 5 cups of water throughout the afternoon. I'll get in my last 3 before bedtime.



My late evening snack with be the yogurt and strawberries. Our hotel room has a small kitchen so DH stopped at the store earlier and got us some healthy options. If I do get really hungry later, I have three different kinds of fiber bars including a TLC Cherry Dark chocolate which will be my form of a desert for 120 calories if I need it.

I did take a nap today, and am keeping up with my mucinex and vitamins. The head cold kept me from doing some yoga poses because the drainage is just too much. But I am feeling better.



So now I'm chillin in my sparkly houseshoes and blogging on SP. My daughter teases me when I wear these and says that I'm slowly changing into a sparkly vampire after all. :)~

Thanks for helping keep me accountable to the healthy lifestyle that I am chosing. One good note about that...last time I saw this part of the family I weighed 256...now I weigh 169. I forget sometimes about the transformation I've been in because I get tied up in the fact that I haven't reached that elusive 156 I'm aiming for. Today I appreciated all the weight I have lost. One day I hope to see Spark Guy Chris and tell him Thank You in person!

  

  Member Comments About This Blog Post:

ITCANBEDUN 12/10/2010 5:27PM

Sorry to hear about your MIL, you are in my thoughts and prayers. You are such a inspiration to me and you motivate me. The way you blogged about your food and exercise is awesome. Keep up the good work. You have done an awesome job. Report Inappropriate Comment

CLWELSH 12/9/2010 9:46AM

You are sooo awesome at blogging! So inspirational and motivational! it's no wonder SP Chris isn't coming to find you and thank you for being so great to all of us! I'm sorry to hear about your MIL, tough times but always good memories. Take care of yourself. Report Inappropriate Comment

TRIPLE_EMME 12/7/2010 4:47PM

on putting the lessons that you have learned from Spark into practice during such an emotionally challenging time. You are walking the talk!!! Report Inappropriate Comment

CSULLIVAN83 12/6/2010 1:12AM

Sorry about your MIL passing. It is SO hard. Today was 7 months for my boyfriends moms passing and I dreamed of her last night. Hope everything goes as smooth as possible for y'all. Sounds like on the food and workout department you are doing awesome. Especially considering the circumstances. Loved the food pics. I don't know how sick you are but be careful about lifting weights while you are sick. Since lifting tears up muscle your immune system has to help build them back up and isn't fighting as hard as it could to make you better. I stayed sick for a month straight about 2 years ago because I lifted the whole time I was sick. I did not have fever, BUT I did have chest congestion. Cardio is good still as long as you keep it light. http://www.military.com/m ilitary-fitness/workouts/workin g-out-with-cold Anyways you are doing SO great!!! Comment edited on: 12/6/2010 1:18:40 AM Report Inappropriate Comment

ANDREA0301 12/5/2010 10:22PM

Keeping you and your family in my prayers. Your blogs have been so encouraging and motivating. Keep up the GREAT work! Report Inappropriate Comment

BIGBADMOMMABEAR 12/5/2010 7:00PM

Sorry to hear about your MIL. I've been away from the computer since Wednesday! You did awesome with your meals/self care. I didn't do so well my last few days when I was away. Report Inappropriate Comment

ALLEY2300 12/5/2010 6:06AM

Very good blog! So sorry about the trip, they can be bittersweet under those circumstances. =( The house shoes are amazing! love them! Report Inappropriate Comment

RUNNINGSUSHI 12/5/2010 3:45AM

Congrats on staying on track at such a hard time in your life. You are doing great. Sorry to hear about your loss. All the best to you and your family! Oh, and sparkly vampire- too funny! Report Inappropriate Comment

AMYC0128 12/4/2010 11:49PM

You are doing great Report Inappropriate Comment

BTRFLY08 12/4/2010 11:10PM

You are doing great!! Report Inappropriate Comment

SP_COACH_DENISE 12/4/2010 10:47PM

Great blog! I'm glad you are able to use the skills that you have learned from SP! There is nothing wrong with being a sparkly vampire! LOL! And being the impatient person I am, I canceled my order with Amazon and ended up buying Eclipse from Target this morning. I've already watched it once today and have a feeling there may be another showing tomorrow. :p Lots of healing and positive thoughts coming your way! Report Inappropriate Comment

LIZZYP609 12/4/2010 10:42PM

You are doing a great job! Good for you of being food conscious through this tough time Report Inappropriate Comment

CAROJONES 12/4/2010 9:40PM

Sorry about your MIL's passing, our thoughts and prayers are with you and your family. -------- Congratulations on your food photo blog -- keep up the good work! I had the family over for my son's bday party last night. (this involved cake . . . . - but I sent the rest of it home with the birthday boy.) Check out my blog to see what happened afterwards. (Its something to do with weights and . . .) Report Inappropriate Comment

SUSIEWHITE1109 12/4/2010 9:39PM

Awesome blog!!! You are doing an amazingly wonderful job!! I'm so proud of you!! Report Inappropriate Comment

I made it....

Friday, December 03, 2010

Thanks for all the moral support from everyone lately. It's been a difficult week - sick, MIL passing away unexpectedly, travel, etc. Certainly one of those times where falling off the wagon would be the easy way to go.

I continue to be grateful for all I've learned on SP that helps me make better choices even in extremely difficult situations. So here's how I'm attempting to stay on track.

1. Log into SP! You always get support from your teammates and friends and that helps.

2. Drag your gym stuff with you everywhere you go. I packed tennis shoes, and workout wear in my suitcase before anything else.

3. Pack emergency food... we didn't leave enough room for breakfast this morning before our 6:30 flight. My fiber bars and instant oatmeal came in handy for the fam. I got a cup of hot water and two straws and mixed up my instant oatmeal for a warm and satisfying breakfast on the plane.

4. When all else fails..do the best you can. We found ourselves out in the middle of freaking no where for a very late lunch with the following food options...McDonalds, Burger king, and Dairy Queen. We choose mcDonalds, and I had 6 chicken nuggets, the apple/walnut/yogurt side, and a bottle of water.

5. Talk to your fitness buddy - I got up at 4:15 - flew from DFW to Atlanta to Midway. Drove from Chicago to Champagne, did the viewing at the funeral home, had a difficult dinner with family (they ordered pizza) and then got back to the hotel exhausted. Yes I did sleep on both planes. MY BFF called me and after her long day didn't want to go to the gym. I told her I would go if she did and after my day, I didn't think she really had any excuse. We agree to text each other from respective gyms.

6. I hauled my tired butt down to the fitness center at the hotel and here's what I did...



4 mile run on the treadmill, followed by 15 mins of stretching and yoga to cool down.

So thanks again to Susie who encourages me always to be my best, and to all my friends here who support me. She made it to the gym and had an excellent workout as well.

I was listening to one of my fav songs on my running list when I hit four miles - I made it by Rudolf. So today wasn't perfect, but I did make it better in a difficult situation. And the view from my window....



Yep...it's snowing. Have a great weekend sparkers.

Oh wait...number 7 - use laughter when life is tough. I told my youngest daughter that I was going to give myself a new nickname... The Party. You know instead of The Situation - the guy that was on Jersey shore. She started laughing... I said she even the airport thinks so - look what they put on my suitcase...



She burst out laughing. Acutally the Hot Bag tag was just because we were rushed and they were trying to make sure our bags got on the plane. But she still thought I was really funny. So she called me The Party for hours today.

  

  Member Comments About This Blog Post:

JULESANA8818 12/6/2010 8:48AM

Hey, just wanted to say again that my prayers are with you during this stressful time and to let you know that you really motivate me to not make excuses even when life is stressful. Have a safe trip home and I'll text ya later FROM THE GYM !!!!!!! Report Inappropriate Comment

ALLEY2300 12/5/2010 4:47AM

So glad you were able to make it to the gym today! I hope that one day, I will have your strength! I am getting MUCH better though, thanks to you and the wonderful people on Spark. So sorry about your MIL, I hope everything goes as well as they can in those situations. Report Inappropriate Comment

SUSIEWHITE1109 12/4/2010 9:46PM

Another great blog! I just saw this one -- thanks to you for helping me get to the gym last night!! I can't even imagine having to do all that you're doing...and in just one weekend...ugh! You are doing a truly amazing job with life right now!! Edward would be SO proud!! Report Inappropriate Comment

CAROLYN1213 12/4/2010 8:43PM

I love this blog for a dozen different reason. Mostly I love that you have found a way to nurture your health, your family and your friendships even during those tough and busy times! You are doing an amazing job! Report Inappropriate Comment

EDGEOFSANITY 12/4/2010 3:50PM

Continuing to pray for you and your family ((hugs)) WTG on getting a workout in and making healthy food choices. I love the tag they put on your bag- made me smile =) Report Inappropriate Comment

TRIPLE_EMME 12/4/2010 7:58AM

I appreciate that even in the midst of turmoil, you share a positive message with all of us! ************* I'm glad that despite your LONG day, you lived a healthy day -- making good choices. Way to really ROCK this positive lifestyle! I'm happy to be friends with THE PARTY!!! Report Inappropriate Comment

RITAROSE 12/4/2010 7:11AM

So sorry to hear about your MIL's death. That is hard to deal with. Congrats on the evidence that exercise is such a part of your life that you do it even when you schedule is turned upside down! That is tremendous progress on your health journey! Love the humor you're enjoying and sharing with your family! Hugs, Ritarose Report Inappropriate Comment

Thoughts for the day

Tuesday, November 30, 2010

I think everyday can have some kind of miracle in it. The picture above is of me and Lexi Colmenero. She let me borrow her beautiful hair clip! Lexi was born very premature and weighed less than 2 lbs. In this picture she is over a year old. She was so tiny that her foot fit across two of her dad's fingers. Now she is crawling and moving around and growing. We all enjoyed holding her on Thanksgiving. She is a living miracle.


This is just a fun picture in case Coach Denise who is also Team Edward drops by!

I am sick and took advice and slept alot today. Good for me that I work from home and have the ability to control my schedule. I had intentionally built in a couple work from home days since my mom had been visiting and flew home yesterday. I thought I might need a couple of catch up, work in my pj's days and that proved to be accurate for the wrong reason. I did get in about 4 hours of work, but rested as well.

This evening I'm sitting in bed reading some old issues of Success Magazine. I love that magazine and find it truly inspirational everytime I read one. Here are a few quotes and thoughts that I took note of tonight:

1. Failure will never overtake me if my determination to succeed is strong enough. Og Mandino

2. All obstacles have one thing in common: you. The only thing standing between you and what you want is all that chatter in your head. Mel Robbins

3. Create a legacy everyday. Live fully, authentically, and spontaneously with nothing being held back.

4. What is now proved waas once only imagined. William Blake

One of the challenges for my team this week is to create your own personal mantra, and then next week will be followed up with sharing positive motivational quotes so I've been doing a little research. I have two mantras right now that I am trying to focus on...one is borrowed:


This is from the Susan G. Komen foundation and I love it. I bought a key chain with this on it, and a tshirt (which one of my daughters immediately confiscated as her own).

My other mantra is Live UP! I had a dream about that recently which I thought was interesting. I must have really been pondering this mantra thing if I started dreaming about it. In my dream my saying was Live UP! and it meant that I was focusing each day on living in a positive direction instead of a negative one. I was challenging myself to do better, and be better, and to have a positive influence in the world.

So all of this is percolating in my head as I try and determine how to cross the finish line with the last 10 lbs or so I want to lose. How do I get those thighs to look toned and not flabby? How do I get closer to the six pack abs instead of the kangaroo look? We all have to push ourselves beyond our comfort zone to reach the goals that we have for our life. If it were easy, then everyone would be able to do it and there would be no effort required.

Getting to your goals requires effort, focus, determination, and a dream. What is your dream? What do you need to focus on, and put the effort into in order to achieve it? Start tomorrow and tell me what you are going to do for one day to get closer to your goals.

  

  Member Comments About This Blog Post:

THE_JULES1 12/2/2010 8:54AM

Love the inspirational quotes. I am borrowing one! Report Inappropriate Comment

CAROJONES 12/1/2010 6:48PM

Very good! Report Inappropriate Comment

TRIPLE_EMME 12/1/2010 4:17PM

I love the picture of you and Lexi! I'm glad that you are taking some time off to rest and take care of yourself -- that is so important. I enjoy reading your blogs. They are always so thought provoking! My mantra for the rest of 2010 is: "Healthy Makes It Happen!" I'm going to follow my strength training exercises on Spark to get closer to my goals. You are Report Inappropriate Comment

AMYC0128 12/1/2010 3:03PM

Hope you are feeling better soon. You gave me alot to think about will take me time to process everthing and have it come out right though. Report Inappropriate Comment

SUSIEWHITE1109 12/1/2010 9:50AM

Awesome blog!! Love the mantra idea! Obviously, I'm behind on my Jingle Bell Challenge reading...bad girl, I am! Good job resting too! I hope you feel much better this morning! My mantra (I think)... Take back control of your mind and take back control of your life! OR It's never too late to make a difference! Rock on girlfriend! Report Inappropriate Comment

ALLEY2300 12/1/2010 2:45AM

Hope you get to feeling better soon!! I am still working on my mantra! I would like something new if I can come up with it! something other than Nothing tastes as good as how skinny feels. Although I DO use that a lot, a change would be good I think. Report Inappropriate Comment

BRIAEL 11/30/2010 10:39PM

Mantras: "One step, one day, one life - make it count". "Goals, goals, goals .... keep setting them, keep getting them!" Love this blog, you made me dig deep for those mantras. I don't generally set goals in writing, they're more vague wooly-clouded ideas floating in my head so it was pretty darned hard to put thoughts into words. :) Comment edited on: 11/30/2010 10:39:55 PM Report Inappropriate Comment

SP_COACH_DENISE 11/30/2010 9:45PM

LOL! Thanks for the picture in your blog! It's perfect!! I am anxiously awaiting the Eclipse DVD that is coming out on Saturday! I ordered through Amazon and now wondering if I did the right thing because I think it will be delivered next week, so I will have to wait a little longer. ARGH! I'm glad you got some rest! I hope you feel better very soon! Coach Denise Report Inappropriate Comment

Uncharacteristic binge and review

Sunday, November 28, 2010

Well I had a weird binge on bad food last night. I don't usually do that - really can't remember the last time I did. So I thought I would review what has been building up to that so I don't let it happen again.



My mom is here from out of town and she wanted me to drive her to Bailey which is about an hour from here. She wanted to try and find her dad and brother's grave sites. We walked around in the chilly wind for about an hour once we found the cemetary but never found the headstones. I did find two different sets of two stones that couldn't be read. There is a historical association over the cemetary so I told her I would contact them and see if they could tell me where they were buried and I would go back and take pictures.


We also found where her school used to be. The town is small - 263 people now live there according to the town sign. We also took pictures of where her house used to be and the church she went to at that time.

Needless to say that was an emotional day. She is 78 now and I think she thinks of things as this may be the last time I can ever do this. We did some Christmas shopping for my children so she could get their Christmas presents before she goes back home.

I took her to church this morning. I told her before we left that she couldn't introduce herself as "the old grouchy woman" to anyone. She's been doing that since she got here. She argued back and said she was old and grouchy and had earned the right to call herself that. I asked her if I should aspire to be that way in 30 years? She didn't answer.

We've got food in the house I don't normally buy. I think the stress and availability just got to me last night. I downed about 1/2 a package of chocolate chip cookie dough and some random other stuff. She likes to have sweets and I bought stuff that she wanted at the store that isn't in my normal routine. So I went to bed last night feeling almost like I wanted to puke. I thought..man I don't even want to eat tomorrow.

Today I got up and realized that not eating is not a normal, healthy way to deal with it. I logged onto spark and did a few point things. I texed by BFF who quite bluntly told me today was a new day so get over it and get back on track. I made a healthy breakfast with egg beaters, spinach, steak and fat free cheese. I also had a fruit side that was fresh pear, banana, topped with some mandarin oranges. Lunch was half a sweet potato and a large salad. While mom napped I went to the gym and did my weight routine and spent 15 minutes in the sauna. I have increased my water today as well.

When I got home from the gym I made an awesome shake: 1/2 c water, 1/2 cranberry juice, greek raspberry flavored yogurt, fresh raspberries, frozen peaches, cinnamon, ginger, and flax seeds.

So overall I feel better. My mom is going home tomorrow, and as much as I don't like seeing her go - it will allow me to get back to the normal routine here at the house. I'll throw away anything left that I don't normally keep. I've read my Oxygen magazine, made some fitness plans, and feel like I am better than I was yesterday.

I changed my background on Twitter and posted a new "tweet" today about how I am crafting my future. I don't think you have to stay on some path that you don't want to be on and that I'm not destined in 30 years to be a sad, old, grouchy, physcially challenged individual. I am going to set some challenging goals for 2011 and keep on moving in the direction I do want to go....fun, optimistic, physcially fit, seeking new challenges and accomplishing my goals.


I'm ending with this picture. It's me from the back yesterday. I think of it as me looking off into the distance deciding which way I want to go. It's also me almost 90 pounds down wearing a pair of jeans I got from my daughter, and a black cardigan that we bought together and share. If I hadn't worked so hard for the last two years...I wouldn't have attained that goal. I know I can move foward and not be taken down by one weird weekend.

Thanks for listenting sparkers who read this.

  

  Member Comments About This Blog Post:

TRIPLE_EMME 12/1/2010 4:20PM

on pulling yourself out of a bad situation and getting back on track! You rock!!! Report Inappropriate Comment

FIT_N_HEALTHY 11/30/2010 12:28PM

Awww it happens to the best of us... We can eat great and something can just knock us off that horse...Like Susie said...Today is a new day and you can always start a new day healthy. If we ate perfect all the time then we wouldn't be living. ;o) Report Inappropriate Comment

_COSMOPAULATAN_ 11/29/2010 7:53AM

You look so little! Back to the grind... Report Inappropriate Comment

CAROJONES 11/28/2010 11:55PM

I'm not taking any "guilt" prisoners for the eating choices of the Thanksgiving holiday (you can check my tracker -- red velvet cake and more is duly noted). I didn't avoid all those foods I love that comfort me -- but I didn't binge either. I actually threw out a whole corning ware dish full of sweet potatoes w/marshmallows that we didn't even get around to eating and I didn't bat an eye. The rest of the cupcakes and the red velvet cake is next. Ya done pretty good, sister gurl! Remember . . . NO "GUILT" PRISONERS!! Take a note from Scarlett O'Hara, who said: Tomorrow is another day! Report Inappropriate Comment

AMYC0128 11/28/2010 11:13PM

Good for you bouncing back from the off day that you had! Glad you are here and back on track, you are an insprirtion :) Report Inappropriate Comment

CSULLIVAN83 11/28/2010 11:11PM

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BRIAEL 11/28/2010 10:46PM

I love reading your blogs - the good and the bad. I love that you learn how to identify the problem and you take deliberate action to push yourself back onto the right track. That's very inspirational and you make me a proud SparkFriend. :) Report Inappropriate Comment

BIGBADMOMMABEAR 11/28/2010 10:20PM

Nice butt! Seriously - I think we all have those moments where we slip, but it's how we reflect and learn from those mements and what we do afterwards that is most important! Report Inappropriate Comment

BTRFLY08 11/28/2010 9:08PM

It is awesome that you can look back and see what caused you to get off track. It is even more awesome that you can move on and continue on the path that you want to be on. Good for you!! Report Inappropriate Comment

ANDREA0301 11/28/2010 7:34PM

You are greater than this out-of-the-norm eating binge. Good for you for stepping back to see what caused it so that it hopefully won't happen again in the future. You are a wonderful inspiration! Report Inappropriate Comment

ALLEY2300 11/28/2010 7:33PM

Writing about it and getting it out of you helps!! One bad day, one bad weekend will not undo everything you have worked at for 2 years! No one is perfect and the key is not beating ourselves up over those bad days or weekends. On holidays, emotions run high, routines are out of whack. We are creatures of habit and when we aren't running normal, things happen and no one is perfect! You are doing great and are a huge motivator for us! Keep on doing a great job! Report Inappropriate Comment

SUSIEWHITE1109 11/28/2010 7:03PM

Hey there, Great job today!!!! Like I said earlier, it's hard sometimes with all the food around that we don't normally have, and won't continue to have, once the holiday weekend is over!! The food, the stress, being physically tired...it just wore you down to a frazzle, so don't be hard on yourself. You are doing an absolutely fantastic job juggling life, and living your "best life", as Oprah would say! You are healthier and stronger than I've seen you in 25 years, and my gosh, that's something to be proud of!!! Great picture, and a great message to go with it! You can face the future with joy and optimism...good things are coming your way!! Rock on girlfriend! The Frosty 5K awaits us in just 12 days! Report Inappropriate Comment

LIZZYP609 11/28/2010 6:44PM

It is always good to reflect back on where you took that wrong turn but it is more important not to dwell on it for to long! I think you are doing just that! Moving on is the best thing you can do! Report Inappropriate Comment