I ended up not having a very good week last week. There were moments! Great, healthy moments you can't wait to track and discuss in groups. Raw veggies, salads, and lots of water! But on the opposite end of the spectrum, there were also things that you'd never even whisper in front of your closest friend. Fast food. Junk food. Lethargy......

Today is a brand new week. I will plan. I will follow plan. I will have a healthy week!

I'm going to keep it simple since we are in this tiny studio winter rental (basically a large motel room) and I don't have a lot of room to store food.

Breakfasts: Oatmeal all week long! But it's oatmeal with a TBS of almond butter OR a hard-boiled egg) and a piece of fruit with a cup of tea

Lunches: Sandwiches on whole grain sandwich thins, or a salad with added protein, or leftovers, plus Greek yogurt.

Work snacks: (Not all of these in one day - but these are my choices) String cheese, almonds or Triscuits, fruit, veggies & hummus, boiled egg, seafood snackers (I love these things - 80 calories, no fat, full of protein!)

Dinners:

SUNDAY: Stir-fried pork with lots of veggies and brown rice + green salad

MONDAY: Turkey dogs + mac n cheese (Daughter's choice - will utilize portion control!!! That is the plan anyway!

TUESDAY: Steak, baked potato, and green beans

WEDNESDAY: Spark Recipe - Chicken & Asparagus Pasta (I'm going to stick in extra veggies though!!!)

THURSDAY: Eat Out Night - Probably Subway!

FRIDAY: Mediterranean Chicken & Brown Rice Casserole with Syrian-style green beans with tomatoes (Spark Recipes)

I've been really bad at working out or even getting in extra steps most of last week. Very unhappy with myself. I am going to commit to three workouts this week. Sunday, Tuesday, and Thursday. It's a start. Sunday (today) I am going to have my favorite God-pup (My Goddaughter's 6-month old Dauschand-Terrier mix, Charlie) and we are going to go for a nice walk either at the dog park or the beach! I will post pictures either later today or tomorrow :)



Then on T and TH I PROMISED my best friend I would go to the gym with her. I am just scared to death. I hate crowds. I hate being embarrassed. I hate people looking at me. I hate not knowing what to do. And there is SO much room to be humiliated - so I have procrastinated. But this week I PROMISED.

I know what I want my life to look like two years from now. I have it all organized in my head. Oh, I won't be thin - but I will be living a healthy lifestyle! I'll be down around 100 pounds (around 1 pound per week - that is my goal right now) I'll be living in a small but homey house with my kids. I'll have one dog and one cat. I'll be working for the same company I am working for now, except it will be a Michigan-based office. My oldest daughter will be off to University of Michigan. I will be much more involved in my church and community. I will be sponsoring a child. I will be planning my first missions trip to Mexico with my church. By then I will know how to play the guitar and keyboards (just enough to get by!) so I can write music more easily. I'll also be writing more of the books God puts the ideas for in my head!

There's more but I don't want to bore you all too much! I just see it so clearly and I keep telling myself :JUST DO THINGS THAT WILL HELP YOU REACH ALL OF THESE GOALS BY YOUR 45TH BIRTHDAY!!!! I find myself asking 'Is this helping you move forward to your goals?" and if it's not - then I'm trying to just cut it out. I don't need it!

A couple of things which need to be kicked to the curb IMMEDIATELY is shopping frivolously (yes, even on the tiny bit of money I have, I still spend too much on nail polish, make-up, and small things I could live without) and fast food. Oh yes. My nemesis all around!!! I do not have the money. I do not need the fat! ONE fast food meal every week of Subway or a salad and only then costing under ten dollars is my current goal. (Ten for my daughter and I together)

Because you know what?

I've been spending 40-60 on carry out food the past 2 weeks. I'm ashamed to say it. Very ashamed. We really needed to be saving that money and I was just too lazy to cook dinner! I'll admit, I do have to cook on a single hot plate and cooking a full dinner takes a long time and then I have to wash everything in a tiny sink and the whole ordeal is a little bit more work than I am used to - but COME ON! It's not like I have to walk 30 minutes to get water and carry it home and then boil it before I can even start cooking! I'm spoiled and I need a kick in the pants to remember not to be so darn lazy all the time!!

So I am unhappy with myself. But I am not without hope! God gives me hope. And I can so clearly see where I NEED to be in 2 years. And if there is a man in that picture - great - and if not - I am fine with that too! :)

On the man front .... still talking to my ex-long-distance boyfriend. We're talking things out. Going slowly. We share a lot of the same beliefs and interests. So at the very least, we will be very good friends!

So here is to an AMAZING week full of healthy foods, lots of water and movement. Positive outlooks, less laziness, and a big step toward where I want to be by my 45th birthday. (Side note - my 43rd birthday is April 21st - to give you some reference!)

And finally - if God sees me fit - I'd love to begin the steps toward becoming a foster parent in my 45th year. It's something I've wanted to do for a long time.

Ok - enough for today!

I have limited wi-fi access so that is why I don't post more. As it is now I have none whatsoever so I will have to save this post until which time the Internet decides to work again....but I digress!

Love you all!!!!! Will visit and thank you each for your kind words as soon as I get some Internet bars!

FINALLY -- I got the SP app on my phone. So I will have NO excuse not to track and check in every day, even when there's no 'net :)

Be blessed!

Sherry