I don't have to run fast, I just have to run faster than you!

Okay, so the hus dropped me off three miles from home yesterday. On a dirt road. It was almost dark. Anyone see where I'm going with this? Skunks! Taht's where I'm going! Skunks! Big ones! Fluffy ones! Ones that wanted to dimember me and eat me as I slowly died! I didn't have my cell phone (first time for everything) and I was miles (1) away from civilization! I had been walking for all of, oh, three minutes, the dust had hardly even settled from Daniel driving off, and there he was! I assume it was a he because if it had been a she, it would have just grazed along in the brush like Flower on Bambi (this is my minds interpretation of what a female skunk does).
Anyway, I had no more than put my arm down from waving goodbye to my children, unknowingly for the last time, when I saw movement. Slowly at first, a fluffy black and white figure came into my view. Coming at me from the south. He stopped. For a brief period we looked at each other as if to come to an understanding about who was the dominant figure in this scenario. Then I realized that it was not me!
That skunk lit into a sprint across the pasture in my direction that Superman could not even touch! I stood there. Frozen. What was I to do? All of my farm experience told me to stand still and let him go where he would. But my mind said, "No! Run you idiot! It's a freaking skunk!" The mind won out and as I passed him by a mere few inches ( six yards) I could not get my body to stop.
I ran 100 yards to safety! And now that I was sufficiently paranoid, I had to keep looking over my shoulder, sure that he was after me. The rest of my walk was spent praying for Daniel to come pick me up and scouting for other vermin. I think I will stick to the walking trail from now on. I have never seen a skunk there.

Are My Thighs Actually Slimmer or is it the Shorts?

I have, to date, lost 9 pounds. This is even according to the cattle scale at the hospital. I had to cut in front of children getting physicals just so I could weigh myself. I am thinking about taking a weekly trip down there just for that purpose.
I walked 4 miles the other night and burned a record breaking 587 calories! It's my own record, but who cares right? It was really hard to push my three year old in the stroller. The wind was blowing into us making the stroller act like a sail trying to send me the opposite direction but my legs really got a workout! i had to push myself extra hard not to quit. Nan was having so much fun though. We even saw a Horny Toad. She had never seen one and thought we should take it home. It could sit on her lap!
It really adds something to it when you have to keep up a conversation with the kid. My abs were getting a workout too because I had to keep stooping over to ask her to repeat what she had just said. It took us over an hour to get to our destination, but it was well worth it!

God Bless Pitbull!

I have found my inspiration! Yesterday while I was playing with my phone, I realized that I could stream a really awesome radio station out of Berlin. (As in Germany! Woot Woot!) I can now have a beat when I exercise!
So I set out on my walk last night at about 8:15 pm. I had the radio flowin' and my spirits were high. After about ten minutes, I realized that I was kind of beeboppin' on down the road. I was dancing while I was walking! I'm quite certain that my children will be taken away when the authorities are notified of my severe brain damage! I was having a great time.
At about mile 2, this song came on that I had never heard, but I fell instantly in love! Lumidee's Dance! It samples Whitney Huston's I Wanna Dance With Somebody! I love it! So I was riding pretty high on that when Pitbull came on. I love, love, love, love, love Pitbull! His beats just always get me moving! I got a few strange looks from people, but what the hell did I care. I was having a blast. In fact I was a bit disappointed when the husband called to come pick me up.
I ended up going just over three miles, but it was awesome! I would however like to take this time to apologize to all the passers-by that had to hear me sing. Sometimes the excitement is just too much for me to contain and I gotta sing and dance!
Oh, and I've lost 7 pounds!

I Will Get up the Hill

Four miles! Woot! Woot! I feel exuberant! I went further then I thought I could! My bike ride was great. I went east of town last night. My goal was to make it to the bridge. When I made it to the bridge (easily, I might add) I decided I wanted to go up the big hill, just so I could go down the big hill. It's the kid in me I guess. I did not, however, make it up the hill. I got about a quarter of the way up. Then I turned around and went down. It was still a lot of fun. I can't wait to try it again tonight.
I also got my husband to eat squash. I feel accomplished!

I Feel Like I'm Back in High School

I went up to the track last night. I feel old. I remember when I used to be able to run an entire mile. Yesterday it was all I could do to walk it. I felt ambitious though and ran at least part of it. I also did some stair sets. Whoo! That was something else! My legs today are craving relaxation. They are not going to get it. I didn't go as far last night as I wanted to, but my body just said, "No thank you. Not tonight." Sometimes you just have to listen to it. I really feel like riding my bike. I would also like to go rollerblading, but our road just isn't good enough for that. I'm pretty sure I better invest in a helmet before venturing out on that quest.
I have found some new recipes that are healthier for us. I made a deal with the husband, that for every new recipe I cook, he will do the dishes. All of them. I say let's see what we can find! Any night I don't have to do the dishes is a pretty, darn good night! If anyone has any recipes, please let me know. I am not a picky eater. Mr. Man is!
I am kind of impressed with myself. I have never stuck to an exercise routine for more than a week. I have done something physical all, but two days out of the last 12 days! Go me!

Good Health is Painful!

Okay, so I'm pretty sure that what doesn't make me stronger is definitely going to kill me! I ran yesterday. 6 blocks, but whatever. I ran. I almost passed out, but that is irrelevant. I felt good about it. I felt great after my workout. I never feel great after I workout! I have lost 5 pounds in 8 days! I have started to look forward to getting a little alone time and doing something good for my body. I have even started thinking about buying some weights. I have been using soup cans, but that just makes the girls decide they are hungry and could really go for some soup. They are so funny. I kept knocking the little one over the other day when I was trying to Zumba. She laughed and got up so I could do it again.
The big one loves to exercise with me. She is really into dancing. I have a lot of fun with my girls. They are really getting into this. I think tonight I will play soccer with them after my workout. I have never felt this good! Tonight....Belly Dancing!

Sing it Larry!

So the girls and I decided yesterday to relieve some stress. We had a dance party! I loved it and it got that little one in a much better mood. Today is my 26th birthday. I am in a very depressed mood. Not so much for getting older. I really don't mind that. I just hate that I have to age along with my girls. I wish we could all stay young together. I love those girls. They make me want to be a better person, mother and wife. They are really helping me with the exercising too.

I Have to Lift What?

My husband tried to kill me with manual labor yesterday. I do not like to sweat. I was doing things that made me sweat in places I didn't even know I could. Walking around in the alfalfa at high noon picking things up is not fun. On the plus side, I did get a good cardio workout in while doing it.
I have even cooked five meals since beginning this expedition on Tuesday. I am really excited about cooking. I love to cook, but it is so hard when I am tired after a long day at work. So I am at least making an effort.
I have also decided that working out doesn't have to be unenjoyable. I really like the Zumba workout and I can do strength training with my children using them as weights. Sometimes this is easier said than done as the big one is a wiggler. I have lost three pound and actually feel better about myself.

Unknown

Zumba is my friend! Zumba is my friend! I Zumba'd last night and it was great! I actually made it through a complete workout. I have never done that in my life! Granted it was the 20 minute workout, but it was a rough 20 minutes. Husband took the kiddos and I had the entire house to myself to look ridiculous in. It was the best thing that could have happened to me yesterday. My ab muscles are aching today, but that is what I need. If I don't feel it or see results, I am not going to do it again. I loved it!
I think today I will try a longer workout. I have decided that it takes 30 days to create a habit, so I am going to workout in some form every day for thirty days. If I can push myself then I will be more apt to continue exercise more frequently in the future.
Husband says he is willing to start walking with me so that will be a big help. I enjoy spending time with my family and we can all walk! I am also going to try cooking at home at least five days out of the week. We eat out far too much. Which is sad because we both love to cook. I have also started eating breakfast everyday. I hear that this jump starts the weight loss process. I hate breakfast, but I'm giving it a shot.
Oatmeal is my friend! Oatmeal is my friend!

The New Seat Does Nothing for My Tailbone

I finally received my Zumba Dance workout! Yeah!!! I got it out yesterday and the first thing my girls see are the toning sticks. They are essentially a bar with a ball on each end containing beads. They weigh about a pound each. The big one thinks they are maracas. The little one thinks they are chew toys or weapons depending on her mood.
To get things started I had my three year old take a picture of me in my workout gear. I didn't realize that my feet were so blurry! So we tried again. She was having too much fun getting to use Mama's camera. I now have three pictures of my feet and four pictures of the carpet. I ended up talking my own picture, but it is only of my gut. Frankly, it's the part I'm most concerned with anyway, so that works.
I pop in the basic DVD to learn all the moves. I forget how hard dancing is. I used to be in Show Choir and I was actually quite good. I can barely make my feet move anymore. The dancing resembled a duck stuck in a mud puddle. But I did it. I didn't get to finish it because the little one decided that it wasn't fun enough just to watch Mama dance around like a fool. She had to get in on the action from a higher level, like my arms. I am definitely in no shape to be carrying a one year old while trying really hard not to fall down. Not that I didn't try. Sometimes it's good enough for my self esteem that I make my children laugh. And the big one was having quite the time laughing at me. She also was trying to dance, but eventually got bored and went to watch cartoons.
Later that evening I even got to get on the bike for a little while. I had all but talked myself out of going very far, when I had an epiphany. Why do I keep telling myself I can't do it? I should be telling myself I will do it! So I pushed myself to ride 3 miles. Not a great amount for a bike, but I am here to tell you. That bicycle seat hurts! I even got the kind that doesn't smash up my womanly parts. I cannot however do anything about my tailbone!

Weather, Don't Get in My Way!

So day one was kind of a bust. I didn't get my exercise in, but I did eat a small portion of spaghetti (vegetables hidden right in) and we did work pretty hard at putting our new bed together. I really wanted to go for a bike ride. Sometimes at my house, other things get in the way. Like taking the children. I haven't ordered my bike trailer yet, so unless Daniel is at home with the girls, no bike rides for Mama.
On the plus side, when I got home last night the first thing I did was not sit in the chair and watch Judge Judy (oh how I love her!). I actually started prepping dinner. I forget how much I love squash and zuchinni. I was actually snacking on it raw. Not too much just a few peices. I only sat down for 10 minutes to rock the little one to sleep. Then I promptly got back up and worked on my veggies. I have to hide them to get the husband to eat htem. He was never the wiser.
Tonight the girls and I are going to go for a walk. I hope it's not raining, even though the big one would love to use her umbrella. But I am committed to a walk tonight so bring on the rain. I am going one way or another!

The beginning story

I'm fat. Not I-Love-My-Extra-Large-Lover Jerry Springer Show fat, but more Anna Nicole stripper fat. Not cool. More importantly, I am unhealthy. I am obese. I am unhappy.
I know what you're thinking. The same thing my sister thinks. Put down the fork, Fatty! Trust me, easier said then done. I love to eat. Nothing makes me happier than to go out and indulge in all things fat. I have yet to find a restaurant where I cannot find something to eat. I never order the lunch portion. I pick off my children's plates, my mother's plate, my husband's plate. It is sad.
So, I have decided to force myself to lose weight. I hate myself and it is ruining my marriage. I love my husband, but feel even he should not have to look at me this way. I refuse to allow my two daughters to grow up with bad self-esteem. I want them to love themselves in a way I have yet to allow myself. They deserve having me around for a long time. They did not ask to be born, it is not fair for me to kill myself slowly without allowing them the chance to get to know me. I want to be around to see them grow, learn and endure. They deserve it and I deserve that chance also.
I begin my journey at 164 lbs. I am 5' 1" so this makes me obese. My goal is 130 lbs. I hope to achieve this by September 2010. That gives me two and a half months to lose the weight. I will not crash diet. I will lose my weight in a healthy fashion. I refuse to give up food, but I can make better decisions with my diet. I CAN do this!