Clean up, clean up, everybody clean up...

As I sit here and look at my clutter, I wonder...what does everyone else do to control this?

In my defence...I'm not the messy one (hahahahaha).  But seriously, I have things that I do to control the clutter and mess that, believe it or not, will actually work - If you use them!

1. Do it right away!  If you've finished with the bowl, go ahead and rinse it out and put it in the dishwasher rather than just tossing it in the sink.  It only takes 2 seconds longer and keeps the sink clean.  Plus it's easier to do it in 2 seconds now than waste way more time later doing several dishes.  This works for everything.  Go ahead and put it where it belongs....now.
2. When you leave an area, take something with you! If you are walking to the kitchen to grab a drink of water, go ahead and hit the trash can or the dish washer on the way.  Again, a few minutes now is better than spending much longer later.

This is great in theory.  However, I haven't been able to convince my husband that this is a good idea yet.  I'm not trying to have a perfect house - I couldn't live in a "show home" anyway.  I just don't want to be COMPLETELY embarrassed if someone just stops by to say hello. 

Even more than not wanting to be embarrassed, I want my house to be safe for my Baby Girl.  Leaving things around that she can get into is very dangerous and I'd rather not have to constantly be hovering over her worrying that she is going to get too close to this, or get into that, or pick up...whatever that is over there!

So the questions for the day are:  What do you do to keep your house clutter under control...and how did/do you get the rest of your household on board with it?

Fitness Friday #2

As I mentioned yesterday, I've been without a laptop for the better part of a week and a half.  Living in this age of technology without Internet capabilities was NOT fun!  Granted, yes, I had my iPhone but that just isn't the same.

I did however still do my best to keep up with my healthy goals.  I did my runs as scheduled, and watched what I ate even if I didn't log it (my log is online!  UGH...again, yes, I could access it on my phone but it's much easier to do it with a computer). 

With all the frustration and a few other chaotic things going on, I did forget to weigh last Friday, but I weighed Tuesday morning........195.8 lbs!

This morning I woke up all excited to run (ha ha), and forgot to weigh until later.  I usually weigh first thing in the morning, before breakfast, before anything.  But today I forgot to weigh until after breakfast, after I ran, after I drank a bottle of Gatorade and a bottle of water...so it may be slightly off but it's OK.  It was 196.5...still looking pretty good :) I figure the extra weight was the fluids I just drank...Yeah...I'm going with that! he he

I saw today that according to the American Journal of Preventive Medicine, people who use a food log will lose twice as much as people who don't!  WOW  Twice as much! Granted, my biggest goal is getting healthier...but in doing so losing weight is part of it so this is a good thing!  I must, I must, I must keep up with my food log (you thought I was going to say "increase my bust" didn't you?  ha ha, Yeah, I know you did...)

I noticed on my log  (when I did log) that I eat when I'm bored, and I eat way too much processed, quick-and-easy-to-grab type foods.  Not really fast food from a restaurant like Crap-Donald's or Booger King (I am only saying those names as such in order to try to convince myself that they aren't yummy...so far it's only having a marginal affect), but more the frozen, pop in the microwave meals or the little to no cooking snacks.  I know that if I spent a little more time that I could make healthier foods but it is difficult to get into the mindset of doing so.  I have a small child and until today, my husband was out of town (military orders - back today!  YAY!!) so I didn't want to cook a big meal just for me - I tend to forget/choose not to remember the leftovers so it ends up going bad. I think this needs to be addressed as a goal.



My goals for this week:

1. Continue with my running (3x's a week). I'll be at my Mother-in-law's Sunday/Monday so it may end up being Tuesday/Thursday/Saturday rather than my normal Monday/Wednesday/Friday... then again...maybe I'll bring my running stuff to her house and let her watch the little one while I go for a run...  Hmmm... decisions, decisions...
2. Try one new healthy recipe.  Any suggestions?
3. Log my food/water
4. I will plan my snacks and meals and eat them at set times so that I'm not munching just to do it.

If any of you out there in cyber-land have some yummy, healthy recipes, I'd love to hear them!  I have a few of my recipes posted HERE...but they aren't all weight conscious.  I'd love to get some more really healthy, really delicious, recipe options that my hubby and I can try out!

I didn't forget...

I didn't forget about my goal to post each Friday on my health goals...but my laptop went KAPUT!  I've been without internet connection (other than on my phone - but really, who wants to do much on that screen?) for over a week!  I'm on a borrowed laptop now while I decide if it is worth trying to fix the laptop or invest in a new one.  Rather than posting all my fitness/health goals today and then again tomorrow, I'm just going to wait until tomorrow to do it all :)

Run Happy!!

Today I.....

...went for a run.  Week 3 of the C25K which was a 5 minute warm up, 90 second run, 90 second walk, 3 minute run, 3 minute walk, repeat the 90/90 and 3/3, then finally a 5 minute cool down.  Baby Girl went with me in the stroller.  She loves the wind in her face!

...finished a recipe project I started yesterday.  I decided to start a "blog" for all my recipes.  It's not really a blog so much as a place for me to keep all my recipes online so that I don't have to go searching for them all over the place (random cookbooks, food boxes, websites, etc).  I also figured that I couldn't lose them so easily this way! I'm not a great cook nor do I really enjoy cooking if truth be told so there isn't much and all the recipes are pretty simple.

....played with Baby Girl!  I love these summer days where I can just sit on the floor with my baby girl and just let her crawl all over me and giggle!  Oh how I love hearing her giggle!!

...got a headache and took a nap during Baby Girl's afternoon nap.  The house didn't get cleaned up (oh well!) but that nap was MUCH needed!

...remembered to log all my food!  I earned nearly 300 extra cals by running, and came in at 18 cals under my "lose 1.7 pounds a week" goal - but I didn't quite reach my water goal...unless you count the 12oz of gatoraide and the glass of chocolate milk after my run towards it ;)

Doesn't sound like too usy of a day...but I'm exhausted now so it's off to dreamland to refresh for another great day tomorrow!

Fitness Friday #1

First off...the weight ......

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:::Drum roll please:::
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197!

w00t! :)


Starting weight: 200 (6/01/10)
Current weight: 197
Goal weight: 140


Last week's Goals were:
1.I have already run 2 X's this week...I will run once more. Did it! Did it! My legs are finally remembering how to run :) I did however have to have a pep talk with myself this morning before getting out of my nice, warm, cozy bed! I even had to gt up before the baby did if I wanted to get out there before the Florida summer sun made it too hot to go out.
2.I will drink at least 64oz of water daily. I *think* I did this...but.....

3.I will log EVERYTHING I eat onto my food diary (even the chocolate ice cream I ate today!) WHAM...didn't do this one :( I forgot/put off/neglected logging - which is why I'm not sure I made goal #2 or not...but I think I did. I know, I know...that's not as good as KNOWING I did...sheesh...get offa my back already! ;)
4.I will weigh myself again on Friday and report back here. Did that one...see above :)

5.I will call this "Fitness Friday." HA HA...see the title? Yep...that was an easy one! lol
OK so that was only a 1/2 week. This week is the REAL thing! No more cheater goals like numbers 4 and 5 up there...those were easy ones lol :) So, without further ado...


This week's goals:

Log my food into my food diary. I need to do this for myself to see if there are any patterns (yes, I'm a nerd like that) to be sure that I'm not only cutting my cals but to make sure that I am eating healthy foods for my body.

Run 3 X's this week (C25K week 3) and walk after dinner as often as possible. The hard part of running this week will be that I have to take the baby with me each time this week. She loves the rides and I love every minute with her...but if I'm honest with myself (and you), I don't like running with the stroller. I don't like not being able to use my arms to run. I didn't quantify how many walks because lately, it's been raining every night so it isn't possible to load up the baby and walk. If the weather permits, I will be going for a walk!

Drink 64oz of water a day. Hopefully I will KNOW I did this one because I will have done #1 :)

They look pretty similar to last week's huh? Yeah, I know. But I want to accomplish them and make them a habit...then I'll add some more to them! :)

After all,

...watch your actions, they become your habits...

Here's to having healthy habits!

Starting over again (again). The starting of Fitness Friday

A friend of mine started a blog to journal her weight loss and it has inspired me to start blogging again and focus on my own weight loss journey. (Go check out her blog and offer a word or two of encouragement)  Since 2007 I have gained 50 lbs!  YIKES!  Way too much to be healthy, so I'm starting over again (again).


I actually started getting serious about this a few weeks ago but I didn't blog it.  Perhaps like Patty, the blog will keep me accountable.  So, for those of you who are friends of mine on Facebook and/or who see me in real life on a regular basis...let me hear about it if I don't update this too often!  For the rest of you...comment me here and send me a stern finger-shaking via e-mail!

OK, throwing all shame out the window I will face up to it.  A few weeks ago I stepped on the scale and saw a 2 in the hundred's spot!  Luckily, there were zeros in the tens and ones places, but I had officially gone into the 200's and it quite literally FREAKED ME OUT!!  I started then.

Exercise: I've started running again.  I'm doing the Couch to 5K to get me back into the swing of running and have agreed/committed to running a local 1/2 marathon in November.  I'm on week 2 and feeling great!! I plan to run 3 X's a week (at least).  I also plan to start throwing in some other non-gym, no-equipment-needed exercises such as squats, push-ups, and sit-ups for some cross training. These may be done sporadically through the day between baby pick-ups and play-times. If I can ever scrape up enough to join the gym I will start swimming again...I love swimming!!

Food:  Nothing special here...just trying to choose more healthy alternatives and put down the fat-filled, greasy, empty calories.  I will usually have a Slim Fast shake in the mornings for breakfast because it is fast and easy, but I won't really be following the full Slim Fast program (I won't be having one for lunch nor will I be having their snacks throughout the day).  More fruits and veggies, and less sugar and processed foods.

I weigh myself first thing Friday mornings before I eat or drink or do anything so hopefully that will give me the truest estimate of my real weight.  Last Friday I was down to 198! :)

This week's goals:
Yes, this week is already 1/2 way over.. but I can still make goals can't I?

So...

1. I have already run 2 X's this week...I will run once more.
2. I will drink at least 64oz of water daily.
3. I will log EVERYTHING I eat onto my food diary (even the chocolate ice cream I ate today!)
4. I will weigh myself again on Friday and report back here. 
5. I will call this "Fitness Friday."  (If you want, I'd love anyone who wants to to join me in making fitness or healthy goals each Friday.  You can post them here in the comments or on your own blog -please comment me and let me know you did so I can go read and be inspired too.  If nothing else, consider making health-related goals just on your own, even if you don't let me indulge in my voyeuristic side and get all nosey into what you are doing!)