So Proud

I am so proud of you Mariah! Under 220 is such an accomplishment and you've been working your ass off (literally) to get there. You are an inspiration!

Friday Weigh In - Mariah

Way to lose Katie! So proud of you!

Me and Cruz had a rough night. I was soooo close to coming downstairs and snacking on something just because I was frustrated. But I didn't. Thank goodness cause my first dream came true this morning.

I am 219.4 - UNDER 220 pounds. I don't know how long it's been since I've been under 220 pounds. I wish I remembered what I weighed when Peter and I got married... maybe I'll have to dig out my dress to try it on.

Pre-pregnancy I was 238 pounds and I was at that weight for a very long time. It seems to have been the benchmark since that is what I weighed before Ryenne, Kai, and Cruz. Next goal? To get down to 210 (not in a week of course!)

My goal for next Friday is 218.

I took my waist measurment this morning and it's 39.5" - I hope I'm measuring correctly. It's hard to see under the boobs! hahahaha

Friday Weigh In - Katie

Weight: 209.6

Lost this week: 1.2 lbs.

Lost total: 7.4 lbs.

Well I am below 210 again thankfully! I could have done better this week, especially with eating more snacks, but I am still very happy with the loss.

Zumba was a LOT of fun. I really enjoyed how fast time went. If only I could figure out a solution to Hogan becoming such a velcro baby. I've checked the YMCA schedule and I'm going to try the Zumba classes on Monday and Wednesday morning but I have to wait until June when speech stars is on summer vacation.

Goal this week is to definitely do a better job of eating more meals per day. My goal is to eat four meals per day this week. Shows you just how bad I am about eating infrequently and then gorging myself.

I'll post measurements a bit later today. Go team!

Thursday - Mariah

Oy! I should have been better today since weigh in is tomorrow. Started out really good with my protein shake (strawberry/banana) but then I went to pick up my mom to go to Target and she pulled the, "I'm so hungry! Let's go to Cracker Barrel!" ... so off we went. I had one egg and a biscuit. It was tasty! Then we went to Target.

I had a lunch date with a photographer friend and we met at Chuy's. Chicken enchiladas, beans, and rice. I cleaned my plate!!! When I got home I felt SO LETHARGIC and gross. I don't even know how many calories I had consumed... eek! So I had a blueberry/strawberry/carrot protein shake for dinner. That was at about 5pm so I'm sure I'll need a snack before bed.

Got a new yoga DVD in the mail today. I think I'm gonna try it out. But it should be funny cause my balance is terrible!

Weds - Mariah

I'm starting to get monotonous with my morning protein shakes! This morning was a blueberry/banana one. :)

Snack was an iced coffee and did the 20 minute Zumba - did you have fun Katie? I always feel like such a Goober but it's fun!

Lunch - Lean Pocket Pizza

Dinner - Stewed Chicken with Veggies & Brown Rice

Late night snack - 1 whole grain slice of bread with peanut butter

I did the level 2 shred! i feel like I could be floating right now! haha

Monday & Tuesday - Mariah

Katie, carry around some raisins and almonds with you or carrot sticks to munch when you need a snack. It'll help!

Monday I had a protein shake for breakfast and then at lunch I caved and had mac salad and slice of pie for lunch. So it was another protein shake for dinner and "the Shred".

Today I had a protein shake for breakfast and then me and Peter and Cruz headed out to the Arboretum area for a photo shoot. After the shoot was done, I was "thisclose" to going to Cheesecake Factory, but 1) I had no $$ and 2) I already had a bad eat day on Sunday. So we came home and I had a Lean Cuisine sandwich with a tiny serving of mac salad and a glass of carrot juice. Dinner was basil scrambled eggs with turkey bacon and whole grain toast. Gonna pop in the "3 mile walk" in just a moment. I am REALLY hoping I can be at 220 or less on Friday.

Tuesday

Breakfast: Two slices of bacon

Brunch: Cinnamon rolls

Dinner: Whole wheat spaghetti and garlic bread

Ugh . . .

SNACKS!

Why can't I figure out how to eat more than twice a day? I'm starving now and dinner is still almost two hours away.

Sunday - Mariah

I was so proud of myself last night. I did the 45 minute long Zumba in preparation for today's bad eating. :)

Breakfast - coffee protein shake

Lunch - leftover pestogetti

Dinner - Kalua Pig & Cabbage, Spam Musubi, Potato & Mac Salad, and Chocolate/Haupia pie. It was mighty tasty!!!!

I had a photo shoot this morning that I jumped around a lot on so I'm giving myself the night off from exercise. Back at the healthy diet tomorrow!

Saturday - Mariah

Breakfast- bowl of Fiber One cereal w/coffee

Lunch - Banana/Blueberry Protein Shake (AWESOME!)

Snack - iced coffee with some bites of spaghetti

Dinner - Dominos chicken club sandwich (bad!)

Last night I did a 1 mile "walk" and tonight I might do something but I haven't made up my mind yet. I'm so tired!!!

Friday & Saturday - Katie

First, I am so proud of you M for your amazing week! I know how hard you worked including doing the Shred multiple times!!!

Friday - I didn't eat much in the morning and lunch because we hadn't gone to the store yet. I think I had a few pieces of bacon. But after the store, I had some sushi and made shrimp linguini and garlic bread. Super yummy!

Saturday - Pancakes for breakfast, leftover shrimp linguini for snack, and chicken picatta and brown rice for dinner. Lot of walking today as we went to three festivals.

We are so looking forward to tomorrow. I'd suggest we Shred before hand but Nicole would make us look so pathetic. :)

Friday - Mariah

Today was pretty mellow. I woke up with a stiff neck - I don't know if I did something to it during the workout or if I just slept on it funny. But it was a little challenging playing with the kids today.

Breakfast - protein shake

Lunch - leftover prosciutto chicken, saffron rice, and sweet potato

Snack - a piece of banana peanut butter pie (bad!)

Dinner - Pestogetti

I really, really wanted to make pesto but the kids won't eat it since they like their red sauce. So I just mixed it all together with whole weat pasta, mushrooms, onions, beef, zucchini and garlic. It was really, really good!

Before bedtime snack: piece of chocolate and slice of bread with peanut butter

I need to be really good tomorrow cause Sunday is really gonna be fun to eat!

friday weigh in

221.2 this morning!!! yesssssssss!!!!!

This was just what I needed after gaining last week. Katie, so far we've both gained on our period!!! Dang aunt flo!!!

Katie's Weigh In

Well I guess I got cocky last week and felt as though I could slack because I gained one pound. Honestly, I knew it was coming. I could just feel that I was unhealthy this week. I kept giving myself an excuse because my period came but now I feel guilty. Back to the healthy grind.

Weight: 210.8

Gained 1.0 pound.

Total lost: 6.2 pounds

Thursday - Mariah

Good day today!!!

Protein shake for breakfast

Chicken-Artichoke-Avocado Sandwich with crackers and a glass of carrot juice and a glass of kefir for lunch

For dinner I had an "eating right" frozen meal - Chicken Poblano and it was SO GOOD. Then I got the kids to bed and did the shred DVD.

But we ate dinner early at 6pm and by 10pm I was hungry again so I had a little bowl of cereal to tide me over.

Hopefully this week will show some progress on the scale tomorrow!!!

Weds - Mariah

Breakfast - protein shake

Lunch - Turkey w/cornbread stuffing

Snack - banana

Dinner - prosciutto chicken (thanks for Jamie Oliver recipe!) with sweet potatoes and spinach & mushrooms

Dessert - chocolate & skinny cow ice cream bar

I was so excited to make this gourmet dinner for everyone tonight. It tasted SO GOOD. But apparently I was the only one in love. Ryenne liked her sweet potatoes only. Kai didn't want anything and ate yogurt instead. I gave Peter his beautiful plate of food and he said, "You didn't make rice?"

Exercise - none

So Behind!

Where have the past couple of days gone??? And where is my memory? I can barely remember what I've eaten lately. Here's what I do remember:

Monday - Pancakes, steak, green beans, rice AND 30 minutes on the treadmill

Tuesday - My best friend's birthday so the boys and I went up to Austin after school. The boys stayed with Nana and Grandpa while I went to Trudy's for drinks and appetizers. Two margaritas and some yummy, fried egg roll like tex-mex dish. I didn't eat all the fried things but I drank every last sip of the margaritas and they were fabulous!!! When we got home the boys and I had a big dance party to Glee and I'm actually sore from it. My kids have moves!

I can't wait to try the Zumba videos with you. I know we will look so silly but that's what girlfriends are for :)

Today is pay day so we'll be headed to the store. I better get started on planning what healthy dishes we will be eating.

Tuesday - Mariah

CHEAT DAY TODAY!!!!

My mom and I had some errands to run and the bank took a loooong time so we went to "breaklunch" at Marie Callenders. I had an egg scramble with bacon, sausage, gravy, hashbrowns, cheese, AND pancakes. YUMMMM!!!

Afternoon snack of Sonic onion rings :)

Dinner was a Domino's Chicken Bacon Ranch sandwich that I added spinach and avocado to. Delish!!!

I did a 45 minute Zumba cardio workout tonight. I felt so silly. Big fat girl doing hip thrusts. LMAO.... looked ridiculous but I had fun!

Monday - Mariah

I almost forgot what day of the week it was... It's like I'm in a time warp since I don't leave the house much!

Breakfast was a strawberry banana protein shake followed by my iced coffee about half an hour later.

Lunch was SO GOOD. I had a Lean Cuisine chicken club sandwich but I added a boatlaod of spinach and avocado to it. Seriously tasty. And I cut open a ripe cantaloupe and me and the kids totally ate it all. It was sweet like candy! I also had a few bites of Kai's leftover cheese pizza.

I also went on a Newflower Market run to get more Spiru-tein. I used the last packet today...

Dinner was really tasty. I sauteed up some cubed chicken breast with onions, mushroom, garlic, and spinach and put a can of cream of mushroom soup. Served it over brown rice with mixed veggies. And we ate the other half of the cantaloupe.

Dessert was chocolate. I am just a chocolate fiend!!!

Exercise:

I did the Zumba 20 minute workout while Kai and Cruz were napping this morning. It went by really fast and it was fun. The moves are a little complicated so it takes a moment to absorb what they're doing but it's fun. Lots of hip movement - reminds me of dancing hula. :)

When the kids went to sleep me and Peter did the Jillian Michaels shred DVD. I almost died. But I got through it! I'm feeling strong! Hopefully I can re-lose that two pounds I gained last week ;)

Inspiration

Ever go shopping and wish "Oh man... I wish I could wear that..." ?? I do all the time. Here's a little inspiration for me.

Sunday - Mariah

I was stumped on what to have for breakfast... I am out of my fave raisin bran and had only one more spirutein packet... so i had whole grain toast and coffee.

for lunch i tried this other protein powder that i got a packet of. holy moly it was nasty! but i downed it anyway and it held me over for a few hours.

**just put the baby down so I can actually type!**

When I started getting hungry again I got a piece of oat bran bread and put peanut butter and honey on it. It was AWESOME.

Dinner was chicken apritada - a filipino dish - it's tomato based and it is SO GOOD. We had it at Sherwin's house. I wanted to lick my bowl.

Dessert was a chocolate chip cookie and two sugar cookies. I couldn't resist!

Exercise: Peter and I did a one mile "walk" with weights and it was the perfect thing after the booty kicking we got yesterday. The Zumba came in today and I was going to try the 20 minute workout, but Cruz got mad at me 8 minutes in. Just in the 8 minutes though... WOW. Good workout. Hard but fun. Let's try it together one of these days!

Spiru-tein - it's at Newflower or Central Market (haven't checked HEB). I got it because I could try different flavors in individual packets first. By far the best protein shake I have ever tried. It tastes like you're cheating and having a milk shake. I put it in the blender with almond milk and sometimes fruit.

Saturday-Katie

I had McDonalds for breakie too!!! Graham and Jack went to the store to buy stuff to make waffles but by the time he got home he had a fever and went straight to bed for the whole day. I had to go to Walgreens to get meds and buy a thermometer and then Jackson said he wanted McDonalds. I was weak but the sausage biscuit sure was yummy!

Since we didn't have breakfast until so late, no lunch. For dinner I had sushi while the boys had Whataburger. I'm proud that I didn't succumb to the french fry temptation.

So this protein shake sounds interesting. I'm always looking for something fast in the morning. Where do you buy it?

On another note, Graham woke up with no fever and feeling much better this morning. Still exhausted but it looks like it was only a 24 hour flu. Thank goodness because taking care of three needy boys is hard!

Saturday - Mariah

Peter brought home a special treat... McDonalds! I had a sausage mcmuffin and a hash brown. But I didn't have any soda and I made my own coffee cause I know their iced coffees are loaded with sugar. So I started the day off kinda badly but I recouped myself.

Lunch was a protein shake - I have discovered Spiru-tein protein shakes and they are SO GOOD. Every flavor I've tried has been really excellent. And if I mix in some fruit in the blender then it's even better!

Snack was a bite of chocolate, a ginger snap cookie, and triscuit's with laughing cow cheese.

Dinner was baked chicken breast with saffron rice and sweet potatoes.

We started a new bedtime routine tonight and I hope it sticks. Ryenne has to go to bed at the same time as Kai. And tonight she did! So Peter and I were feeling strong and did the Jillian Michae's shred DVD. I tripled up my bras and I got through it! I'm sure I'll be "feeling it" tomorrow.

On a side note... I hope Graham gets to feeling better Katie. Sorry he's not feeling well. And I just went back and read your weigh in post and you passed a HUGE milestone my friend!!! You are now BELOW 210 and I am SO SUPER PROUD OF YOU!!!!

Katie's Friday

Good job on your Friday M! Yesterday I had a big night . . . my first tex-mex restaurant since we started this challenge. It was heavenly to have some good cheese enchiladas and I didn't just stuff myself silly. For breakfast I had two slices of bacon and a strawberry yogurt. Lunch was pesto pasta but I forgot the spinach :(

Saturday's plans are Daddy's special waffles for brunch. Steaks and cauliflower risotto for dinner.

Mariah Friday

Friday was great!!! I started the day with a protein shake, had some wheat thins for snack. For lunch I tried the Healthy Request Lobster Ravioli. Ugh. Don't even bother with that one. It was pretty gross. I didn't eat the ravioli but instead ate the sauce with zucchini. Then since that wore off pretty quick I had a big juicy apple for snack with some triscuit and brown cow cheese on top. Dinner was "breakfast". I had whole grain toast with scrambled eggs that had turkey sausage, spinach, zucchini, basil, and cheese. It was delish! Treat was two ginger snap cookies and a bite of chocolate. I really felt good afterward.

ugh!!! - Mariah

Friday weigh in:
224.4!!!

A GAIN of 2.2 pounds. This is what loads of sugar & white flour does to my body... eek! I'm dedicated again this week!!!

Week 4 Weigh In - Katie

Weight: 209.8

Total lost this week: 1.8

Total lost: 7.2

I'm very happy with my weight loss this week. Woo hoo!

Weds & Thurs - Mariah

Oh boy! I've fallen off the wagon big time! This has just been quite the week!

I've made some good food choices, but lots of bad ones too. I'm expecting the scale to not be so kind tomorrow morning.

So... I've started bleeding again and I think that I jilted my uterus last week and perhaps it's not done healing. Then I started getting dizzy spells yesterday around the same time I started bleeding, so I'll ask the midwife about it tomorrow at my 6 week check up. Aside from the walk I did with you Katie, I haven't done much exercise this week.

I also made the mistake of baking a batch of homeade chocolate chip cookies with Ryenne. I thought it would be a good project. BUT... I have not been able to control myself. I go into the kitchen, I grab a cookie. I get a drink of water, I get a cookie. I do the dishes, I get a cookie. You get the idea. And while I don't feel good doing it, I KEEP DOING IT. It's like the sugar makes me want more and more sugar! And my friend Nikki came for a visit today and brought double Sonic cheeseburgers. And of course I ate it... the whole thing!

So after I weigh myself tomorrow morning, I am going to start cleansing the sugars out of my body by not consuming more sugar (cookies!). Maybe get a fruit protein shake going in the morning!! I am still going to be really easy on the exercise front until I stop having dizzy spells and the midwife says it's ok.

Mariah's Tuesday

We started the day with Peter dropping off the kids at school while I nursed Cruz at home. He came back, picked us up, and Cruz fell into a nice sleep while Peter and I had a date at Cracker Barrel!

Since it was Tuesday, I went all out... biscuits, gravy, bacon & eggs. It was soooo tasty! It also lasted me throughout the day!

Dinner was Macaroni & Cheese casserole. It was really good and I ate too much. While I was on a roll of eating WAAAY too much, I also ate a chocolate bunny. The whole thing. But it WAS Tuesday... my cheat day!

Exercise: running around chasing the kids and holding up Cruz in his pod (for photography) which really worked my arms!

Monday

I am officially a gourmet chef!!!!! The shrimp linguini was amazing. Graham was very impressed. The big secret is that it might just be the easiest recipe I've made in six months. I won't let Graham in on that secret :)

Yesterday I had sushi for lunch. No breakfast and no snacking.

Exercise: I went to the Y to work out yesterday and only got ten minutes in on the treadmill before they brought me Hogan. He wouldn't stop crying in the nursery so they kicked him out. Not sure what I'm going to do but I'm super bummed about this. Maybe have his brother stay in his nursery one day instead of going to the 4+ room.

Week Four - Mon - Mariah

Oh Katie shrimp and linguine sounds awesome!!!

I too had Wendy's over the weekend. Fish sammy WITH cheese. It was delicious!

Today I started out with a bowl of raisin bran and coffee.

Lunch was cheese pizza with basil and I probably had one slice too many.

We stopped by Likkity's frozen custard for snack. Not a good choice but it was really good and I didn't eat the entire thing.

Dinner was shoyu chicken (soy sauce) with brown rice and veggies. It was really tasty and pretty darn healthy.

Treats: Chocolate squares :)

It was a MUCH better day today!

Katie's Week Four Weekend

First of all, it is 100% okay for you to have had a rough weekend Mariah. I would have eaten at least two dozen flour tortillas and probably two tubs of chocolate ice cream. You've been so great about watching what you eat that I'm sure you will be able to get back on track soon.

My weekend was pretty good. Saturday lunch was Wendys which I'm not proud of. I had a 10am meeting in Buda and then an noon meeting in San Marcos. In those rushed situations my fast food willpower goes down the drain. Yesterday, we had bagels and just simple sandwhiches for dinner. I helped my sweet tooth by eating some strawberry yogurt.

This morning we went to HEB and spent $165. How can I possibly continue to afford groceries? If only we can get Hogan off expensive formula that would help greatly.

Tonight I'm trying a new recipe of shrimp and linguini. Wish me luck!

Week Four - Sat & Sun - Mariah

OH WHAT AN EFFING WEEKEND!!!

My mastitis is back and hurting. Antibiotics haven't kicked in all the way yet. And with Peter's work situation up in the air... it wasn't a good eating weekend. I was totally stress eating. There were lots of good choices but a few bad ones as well so I'm not going to list anything. My brain is fried and I can't even remember all the things I ate! haha

Friday-Katie

I can barely write this as I am so SORE from yoga yesterday. Gentle yoga my a**!

Breakfast - oatmeal and soy milk

Lunch - mac and cheese

Dinner - whole wheat spaghetti

Snack (can't remember when) - goldfish

Week Four - Friday - Mariah

Oh my! I am SORE after that workout yesterday!!!

Breakfast: Raisin Bran with a banana & coffee

Lunch: Whole grain cheese pizza with fresh basil on top

Snack: Two Choxie Chocolate pieces, handful of wheat thins & hummus

Dinner: Loco Moco (hamburger patty with brown gravy and fried egg over rice)

Snack: Carrot Juice

Dinner choice wasn't such a good one, but we were at my moms house and it was for dinner!

Exercise: playing choo choo train in the backyard (will do the kick butt workout again tomorrow!)

I forgot to post my goal for this week - I'd like to lose 1 - 2 more pounds.

Week Three - Friday morning weigh in - Mariah

222.1!!

So I'm going to count it as a full pound lost. hehehe
Total lost: 7lbs

I was really expecting to see more than one pound gone though. I really FEEL like there's been a change in my body this week. Especially in my thighs (not rubbing together quite as much).

My body is in major pain after the shred workout yesterday. My legs are on fire! Kai dropped his plug and I squatted down to pick it up and almost yiped!

Week 4 starts tomorrow! We can do it Katie!!!

ps) I am a carb addict too.

It's Friday

Katie's Weigh In

Weight: 211.6

Total lost this week: 1.0

Total lost: 5.4

I'm so mad at myself because I had lost even more weight this week and then gained about a pound just yesterday! Yes, it's very exciting that I've hit the five pound mark and we can get our pedicures but I could have done so much better. That loaf of garlic bread last night did me in. Now that I am at the old age of 30 I need to accept the fact that I have no willpower when it comes to carbs and just stop buying them.

Today I will be eating oatmeal for breakfast, probably shells and cheese for lunch (or some other leftovers) and then whole wheat spaghetti for dinner. I'm also going to go to yoga at the Y this morning. It's no Shred DVD but I think it will be fun.

Hope your week was better than mine!

Week Three - Thurs - Mariah

Breakfast - Bad, Bad, Bad! Sausage McMuffin with Hash Brown

Lunch - Protein Shake with fruit

Snack - Wheat Thins

Dinner - Brocolli Pasta with a piece of whole grain bread

Snack - macadamia nuts

Exercise - Jillian Michae's "Shred" DVD - OMG I wanted to DIE!!! But I got through it. Weigh in tomorrow!

Past Couple of Days

How did the talk with Peter go about the RN? I knew you mentioned he was a nurse before but I thought he didn't like it.

Tuesday night I had what is probably the most romantic dinner I've had in the past four years. No Graham wasn't my date as he had a meeting but Jackson was. Hogan was in his swing asleep so Jackson and I made our fancy salad together. Jack really did lots of the work. Then he set the table (the coffee table) up for the two of us. We sat on the table and he brought he DVD player over for us to watch Toy Story 2 together. He insisted upon us touching at all times. He was just so excited about it and it was really sweet to have had this moment with him.

Wednesday morning I was having all this crazy anxiety and stuff. Part of the reason, I think, was that I was hungry. I didn't eat breakfast and my dinner from the night before was pretty light. Letting myself get hungry is one of my biggest problems as my will power is blown. I ended up eating two cinnamon rolls from the gas station. Really fancy!

Today I have been super sluggish and we haven't had much food in the house until our after school HEB run. Maybe a coincidence? For dinner we will be having oven roasted chicken, mac and cheese, and garlic bread. It's definitely been a moment of weakness for me that I bought the garlic bread. Hopefully I will be able to show some restraint rather than eating the whole darn loaf myself. The mac and cheese I bought was Graham's favorite but not mine so I think I will be able to resist it much better. But bread is like a lover to me . . .

Exercise: None but I'm excited to hear about your DVDs. I want to come over one day and we can throw the kids in the playroom and do one together. I'm really interested in the Zumba as they have that class at the YMCA.

week Three - Weds - Mariah

Breakfast - raisin bran & coffee

Lunch - small bowl of leftover pasta

Snack - chocolate square, wheat thins

Dinner - Brown fried rice w/turkey bacon, sausage, onion, mushrooms, peas, carrots, spinach & egg

Dessert - strawberries & grapes w/Cool Whip

Exercise - 2 mile walk

Week Three - Tuesday - Mariah

Cruz didn't sleep so good last night so I've been tired and lethargic all day!

Breakfast - 2 scrambled eggs with cheese and tater tots (bad!)

Snack - Dark chocolate square

Lunch - Peanut Butter sandwich on whole grain bread & carrot sticks

Snack - Wheat thins

Dinner - Pasta with chicken and prosciutto - this had quite a bit of cheese. I'm thinking it's not so good for me - it was really tasty! But it was a gift casserole and thus I couldn't turn it down!

Exercise - none

Mariah's "before" pictures

Here I am doing what I normally do... Hiding myself behind the kids.



Me and my mom. She's about the size I'd love to be (but she thinks she's overweight!)

Week Three - Monday - Mariah

Katie, I think you're beautiful in your before pictures! I'm so proud of you for going to the gym!! I'll be doing more "gym" type stuff at home :)

So last night I did a 1 mile "walk" with my DVD. It was just what I needed because my body was a little sore from the tahitian cardio workout that I did.

Started out the morning with a small bowl of raisin bran. Kai stole most of my raisins. And this is so bad but I snuck in a Reeses peanut butter cup. Tsk tsk.

For lunch I had a lean cuisine carbonara pasta. It was ok. I took a bite of the kids' mac-n-cheese too.

I had a really yummy apple for snack and some swigs of Kefir.

Dinner was brown rice with chili. I had a small portion because the fat content of the chili was pretty high.

Treat: some dark chocolate bunny and then... *sigh* I snuck in another dang peanut butter cup. At least there's no more in the house! NO WILL POWER!

And now it's 10pm and I was hungry again. I ate a tortilla with peanut butter and honey on it. I think it would have been a better choice if I had whole grain bread. I think I need to get some whole grain tortillas. Add that to the list!

I also ordered the Zumba DVD's so I can do them at home when the babies are sleeping. And I have a Jillian Michael's "Shred" DVD coming on Netflix so I can try it out. My cousin swears by that one. She started at 247 and she's 198 now.

On a more personal note, I am trying to convince Peter to go back to school to get his RN. We just really need the money to plan for our future and the kids' future. Did you know he's an LVN? He just hasn't worked as a nurse since 2002. So I'm hoping that I can convince him - wish me luck!

Tuesday is technically my "cheat" day, but since I was so bad on Easter I think I'll eat healthy on Tuesday this week. While the kids are in school, Peter and I are going to try to put together some of the new swing set!!

I'm off to do some pushups - hopefully I can do 30 today. I started out being able to do FIVE.

Big Step

Today I took a big step on my way to a healthier life . . . I went to the gym!!! After I dropped off Jack at his tumbling class I spent 25 minutes on the treadmill. Next time I will learn how to coordinate our schedules better so I can get a longer workout in. They have a Zumba class offered at the same time that I'm excited to try out based on Mariah's review.

Before Pictures

These were the before pictures that really shocked me taken at the Hays County Democratic Party County Convention. I just can't believe that I was up there speaking to hundreds of people this overweight. It has just snuck up on me something horribly.

Easter Weekend

I'm feeling okay this morning about Easter weekend. Yes, I ate some non-diet stuff but I didn't stuff myself so full that I felt like I couldn't move which is what I normally do on holidays.

What I want to know is when did Easter start having as much candy as Halloween???? The Easter Bunny brings one gift to each of our boys in their basket in the morning (Toy Story DVD and an Elmo) but the eggs . . . oh the eggs are filled with so much candy. And my sister's family doesn't do gifts in their baskets they do those impossible to resist chocolate bunnies. Of course, my little niece is such a sweet little girl that she kept offering to share her bunny with me. I can't resist her! We also celebrated my middle nieces 13th birthday with a decadent chocolate cake. I had a piece but didn't finish it all.

So here's my weekend highlights:

Saturday - one blueberry muffin, Sonic (boo000), and chicken picata with brown rice and garlic bread. Now that I'm writing about it Saturday was a pretty unhealthy day.

Sunday - one blueberry muffin, boiled shrimp, raw veggies, ham, twice baked potato, broccoli casserole, chocolate cake, mac and cheese, and Easter candy. I know it sounds like a lot but my portion control was pretty good today. Lots of tasting.

Tonight we are having pasta with pesto and baby spinach. I'm sure Graham will need his meat but we brought home lots of ham from yesterday so he can just get himself a slice of ham.

I've got to finish that last 0.6 lbs. for my pedicure this week (plus more)!!!

Week Three - Sunday - Mariah

Happy Easter!!!

We started this morning with Apple Cinnamon pancakes with butter, sugar, and cinnamon on top. They were delicious. And REAL butter. Mmmmm

Lunch was cheese pizza with whole grain crust, carrot sticks, and grapes.

Dinner was fantastic! Deep fried scallops, green beans, toast, and a chocolate mousse dessert. My mom forgot to make rice, so we made toast as a last minute "filler".

Exercise - bucket loads of laundry, chasing the kids, and hopefully some stair sprinting later when everyone's asleep. :)

Week Three - Saturday - Mariah

The beginning of WEEK 3 for us! Yahoo!!

I had a little bowl of raisin bran for breakfast. BUT, Peter brought home donuts. Grrrr. I ate a cream filled one. I savoured it. hehehe

Lunch - Lean Cuisine chicken & artichoke sandwich (salty! but tasty)
Snack - Apples and two chocolate squares
Dinner - vegetable mac & cheese and Parmesan chicken
Dessert - strawberries & blueberries with cool whip and two chocolate squares

Exercise - 30 minutes of tahitian cardio (kicked my butt) and 20 push ups

Tomorrow I will be getting in exercise but I am totally pigging out!

Friday - Week Two - Mariah

I was so happy with my weigh in Friday morning! I had to check twice actually. Yippee!

I started the day with my raisin bran and coffee
snack was an apple
lunch was lean cuisine chicken marsala. It was good but a bit salty!
snack was wheat thins
dinner was leftover spaghetti
treat - two chocolate squares

I was really bad and had a late night snack of peanut butter & honey sandwhich!

I rough-housed with the kids a lot and they really wore me out. I did three loads of laundry and ran the stairs 4 times. When Peter woke up I took Cruz and me and my mom got a haircut. It was nice to get out of the house, but Cruz was a cranky pants the entire time!

My goal for week 3 is to lose 2 more pounds. I would love to say goodbye to the "220's" in the next couple of weeks.

CONGRATULATIONS KATIE! I am soooo proud of you. It's so awesome we're doing this together!

Katie's Weigh In

Weight: 212.6

Total lost this week: 2.4

Total lost: 4.4

Woohoo! I had some bad days this week so I am so happy that I still lost weight. It's scary to think how badly I was eating. Only 0.6 lbs. until I get a pedicure!

Next week's goal: no eating out for dinner.

Mariah, I am so proud of you. Four pounds in one week is amazing! You are inspiring.

Week Two - Friday morning weigh in - Mariah

I got a digital scale yesterday. I stepped on it this morning... 223.2!!

Four pounds lost this week! YAY!

Total of 6 pounds so far.

Is it pedicure time???

Mariah- week two - Thursday

The day started off really well! Oatmeal and carrot juice. Then lunch and I had a lean cuisine butternut squash ravioli (YUM) and then it just kinda went downhill. I munched some chocolate and then had a bread craving. So I had toast. And then I had 15 wheat thins. And then chocolate milk.Then for dinner I had fresh basil scrambled eggs with spinach, leftover pesto pasta, AND two pieces of toast. Then about 10 macadamia nuts and two more squares of chocolate. I am craving salty and sweet and ice cream REALLY BAD!!!

Tomorrow is weigh in! Scurred!