Posts by gibsonartist

I am going to put #1 in a jar for every pound I lose.

I am going to put $1 in a jar for every pound I lose.

(So I hit the # instead of the $.... ) not bad... and I figure by my birthday (July) I can take myself to the Spa and have a facial or something!!!! 

Welcome to the Party... and that's what this is... A Celebration of OUR LIFE!!!!  I'm slowly making it to my goal.... not necessarily as quickly as I'd imagined... but I'm re-training myself to eat and behave healthier.

Happy Be-lated birthday... I just turned 36... so you're in the 30-something club... and it's all good!!!

What's your excuse?

Here's mine:  It's summer, i've been busy, it's TOM... it's oh - the late dinners, the kids birthday parties... the umm......  the meal that someone else MADE me buy???? UM...... 

Okay seriously,..... what's my excuse?  Duh!!! I am my own worst excuse...  I've NOT been eating a regular breakfast, and if I do eat a sensible lunch I have NO idea if I'll snack on potato chips during the afternoon before having dinner.... 

Exercise?  Guilty for NOT doing anything on a regular basis except chasing after my kids....

So I've got til October 15 to get my weight under control and lose something...

Inches... lbs.... and just get healthy - so.... let's do a mini-challenge!!!!

8 week challenge

Starting today - August 10th....

Weigh in on Sunday -

Log Weight loss

Log Minutes of Activity

Log Inches lost

Ready - Set - GO!!!!

Natural Family Planning (and not for religious reasons)... it worked... both for preventing and successfully planning my family...  Never taken a drug, a pill... and since meeting my husband,... never used any FAKE stuff, or Condoms....  Trust, understanding and education is the .....

There are some great books:  How to take control of your fertility (etc...)...

Best...

Good Morning... It's 10:00 and I've already had a chocolate chip cookie (Bad Bad Mommy)....  So, I guess my motivation today is to add my fruits and veggies to my diet...  PROPERLY... I don't think a slice of Tomato on a burger will be the right option...

So....  with 3 kids and 2 extra coming over this afternoon... i think I'm going to do a "food pyramid" game with them....

If I don't get them motivated, how can I get myself motivated?

Have a good day...

So.... it's a few days before the 19th....

i've lost 13 lbs and am holding.....   not the 24 I was hoping for... but I'm feeling a little better....

NYC.... this is the beginning of the rest of your life.  Think of Saturday as  the Opening Day Party for the rest of Forever... it's the KICK off party...  smile, enjoy and remember.... the wedding is a DAY... the Marriage is forever after that!

LOVE LOVE LOVE is in the air....

NOKA....  Don't give up on your goal

For me... turning 36.... it's another reason to celebrate and do something for myself.... I'm going sketching for the day...  :)

I am going to start a NEW thread.... 

the JULY 19th CELEBRATION CLUB...  forget the bikini idea.... let's just celebrate the good things we have... and our selves...

What do you think?

NYC - Don't be so hard on yourself...  keep this in mind:  "A Wedding is a Day... A Marriage is a lifetime"....  that's something I was told just before my special day... and it was just that... very special...  but what comes after that...  for me it includes very happy.... 3 children... a house, a home and of course the man that made it all possible for me... my husband.

Sure, i would have loved to be another 10lbs less... but I was and still am healthy...  I'm about 15lbs heavier now... than I was on my wedding day... but that's 8 years ago and 3 kids...

I'm healthy.. I'm happy... and I am the example to my children.  If you and hubby-to-be promise to keep working on yourselves for EVER... then you are both on the right wavelength and you will be successful.  If you are concerned about the photos from the wedding... STOP stressing about it.  Talk to your photographer and ask them to take lots of candid shots of you and your guests at the reception.. and privately explain what you don't want (a photo of your back side (that's my fear for myself when I go anywhere)....)

Yesterday I went to Knott's Berry Farm for my son's 6th birthday.  We had a great day... I took the boys (6 and 4) and a few friends joined us.  It was HOT and we spent most of the day in Camp Snoopy and on the Log Ride.  Lots of drinks and walking.  I treated myself to a little wrap dress/skirt/cover-up, which can be converted to many things - from one of the little clothing shops.  As mom-in-charge for the day, I deserved it. 

Today is the first "normal" day of summer vacation with the kids.  Swim lessons at 11 for David,... and a house full of laundry.  Let the kids have a healthy lunch and play outside for the afternoon.  A friend may come over later so we'll keep it outside and active so that I can get clothes folded and put away. 

I'm also purging from all closets.  I'm determined to get rid of at least 5 bags of clothes that are either worn out or too small.

Exercise?  Not sure what it will be today.  If I get most of my jobs done (including the laundry) then I'll maybe go and walk when my hubby gets home from work...  I've not committed to much lately, but I've got to.

Food?  Salad, Trail Mix, and Veggies.

Noka... Trail Mix is a great snack food... I have it all the time.  Sometimes with Granola, sometimes with yogurt, and always with nuts.  It's high energy, high protein and tasty.  Add cranberries and raisins... eat with vanilla yogurt and use it on top of salads. 

best of luck with the new job, and the new place to live... 

Have a good day everyone... let's keep ourselves motivated.

:)  Suzanne

Hello Hello....

I've been kinda lax about my diet...  not for lack of trying.... but end of the year activities with all 3 kids will do it.  I signed the boys up for summer school.... David for Soccer and science summer camp, and Alex for pre-k... 

we went swimming all day Sunday at my brothers.  So i know I got some exercise, but nothing seriously noteworthy.  I stressed out too much about the kids in the water and didn't drink because I wanted to be alert for the kids in the pool....  Someone had to be, right?

There was so much food, and guess what... I didn't finish my burger, or the main dinner - I was just too full... I made sure there was Salad and ate a comfortable amount...  Drank lots of water... had 2 Corona's (all day) and kept it smart and simple.  I didn't even have ice cream (except one bite from my son)...

Yesterday was spent chaperoning David's Aquarium field trip... that was fun... I only had the responsibility of 2 boys (mine and his friend)... so we enjoyed the day...

Now on to more work... I just got hired to do 2 murals for a little boys' bedroom... and she wants it done on the 29th?  OMG... that's not much planning time.... not when I've got a full plate between now and then, plus an art show on the 21st and David's birthday on the 23rd, his party on the 28th... AAAAHHHHHhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh!!!!!

okay... i feel better.

have a good day!!!

Suzanne

I guess we all needed a little break (whether we like to admit it or not)... I know I did.... not that I was obsessing about my numbers and losing weight, etc... but I just needed to mentally relax and distract myself with other things (easily done with 3 kids)...

My art show on the 1st was great. My newest art piece sold for over $140... I'm pleased with that as it sets the value of my other pieces at a higher value than they were a month ago!!! Yeah!

My next show is on the 21st, and I've got about 2 dozen canvases ready to go out the door... anyone in the Newport Beach area.. stop by!!! Say Hi!!! I'm planning to have some CC friendly snacks at my art booth.

That's probably what saved me from gaining over the past few weeks. I've been buying healthy options at the store.... as much as I've been craving salty and sweet (TOM en route)...

I picked up 3 new clients in the past 2 weeks as well... one for graphic design of a logo... one for the interior of their almost built home... and a mural for a child's bedroom. I also signed up to be an Art Coach at children's hospital... am I crazy? Did I mention that I have 3 kids and that in about 2 weeks I'll be hosting "summer".... yes... I've been scrambling to get the kids enrolled in the 4-S of Summer: summer school, swim lessons, science camp, and soccer.... I also succeeded in signing up for the end of school Luau (I'm not teaching Hula!!!)... and being bus MOM on the upcoming field trip to the aquarium...

So... that just about catches you up to where I am...

Still holding at 176.... it will go down, it will go down....

I figure by the 19th of July that I can be down to 168... that is achieveable if I just move my butt a little more while I'm painting.

Cheers and Smiles...

Suzanne

Walking home is a great alternative.  Especially if you are tired and not goingto have a full workout.  I've not been able to work out daily, but make the most of what time I do. 

If it means holding onto the sofa and doing 20 reps of leg lifts then I can do that and some squats, "butt crunches" and whatever I can do without the kids jumping on me.

Getting little Alex to eat has been a challenge.  He's still recovering from his tonsillectomy and is getting tired of ice-cream.  He has had a little bit of soft scrambled egg, and not much else.  Not a big fan of jello...  Chocolate pudding and soft peaches are on the plan for later... but otherwise just rest and TLC...

Maybe I'll take out the Yoga Ball tonight and stare at it... willing it to do something fun for me...  :)

Cheers

Suzanne

176.9      I can't believe it...

Okay, I can, I will and I will enjoy this moment.  I was totally surprised and started jumping up and down...  I never even saw 177.... and hopefully I wont.  I just want to keep going DOWN!!!!

I will try the toast and soup option for Alex...  He loves chicken noodle, so If I blend a creamy chicken soup then I'll have a good base.

Hope you all have a good weekend...  I'll do my best and if I don't check in tomorrow or Sunday it's because I'm nursing Alex....  I'm probably more nervous right now than anyone else.

Suzanne

Okay, I'm back on track.  Not that I was off track, but I had hit a plateau since Easter.  I'm down to 178, and I have lost an inch at the waist.  My healthy eating habits are managing my food decisions, even when we go out.

Heading to a wedding this afternoon, so I will enjoy the light meals this morning, and will ENJOY this evening.

Hugs all around.

Suzanne

Another quickie...

I've been so busy with a variety of things...  that I'm barely keeping up with my "to do" list....  i'm keeping my diet right, and am trying to exercise.

I've not gained... and I think I've lost .5.... I've not logged or worried about it because I know I've not "sabotaged" myself at all... My biggest stress are my kids...  they're all in the "gimmie now!" mode and I'm TOM too... stay out of moms way mode... my daughter is in the throws of potty training, so without diapers we are a little housebound, and let's just say I'm tired of washing the carpet, the floor and today,  the sofa cushion....  she's been doing well, and just today of and all days has had a few oops moments... I'm tired and cranky.

So, without depressing everyone or starting a pity party... I'm going to make a spinach salad and come up with some healthy brussel-sprout and pork dinner... things in my fridge that I need to use today...

I took  moms dog for a walk this morning (1 mile) and have a feeling I'll go and take him for another after hubby gets home.

Great job to everyone... i've been reading through the past posts and am glad to see everyone is motivated and moving right along.

Hugs to all....

Suzanne

Hi Ladies... Newcomers welcome!!!!

John and I left for Vegas on Friday and had a great weekend.  As promised I took food in the cooler and we had ham and spinach wraps on the way there.. Lots of fruits and nuts, and I drank water (propel) most of the time.  I did have one slice of cheesecake on Sunday night, but for the most part, even when GOOD food was in front of us (at the team party) then I just selected a suitable portion and DID NOT go back for seconds, except for the salad.

I got up early Saturday morning to swim for 1/2 an hour.

When out on the racecourse (140 miles from Baker, CA to Vegas) we were "catchers" for our 20 member relay team, we had to park 1/4 - 1/2 mile from the transition spot, and I ended up walking at least 4 miles (we were catchers for the first 10 legs of the relay) - each runner had a leg of 5-6 miles, in 92 degree heat (2 p.m.) with 30 mile winds, and at 9 p.m. the temp had dropped and the wind increased up to 45 miles in some areas... I'm lucky we were in a vehicle, the runners were amazing...  Our team completed the course in 16 hours 27 minutes.  The winning team was done in 12 hours and change (Kudos to them)... I'm just impressed with all of them, as I watched from the sidelines.

At one of the stops, our parking area was around a 1/4 mile circle and I walked back and forth to the van at least 3 times... not to mention the rough dirt road... several stops later I was feeling it.

The bad news...  I didn't lose any weight over the Vegas weekend, despite all the walking and swimming...

The good news...  I didn't gain any weight over the Vegas weekend, even though I enjoyed a healthy breakfast, and enjoyed some chili fries, pasta, and other munchies at the team dinners and socials.

I guess maintaining is just as important.

13 weeks for 20 lbs... that's 160 and perhaps down to 155 would be wonderful.

Hopefully I can chug right along.

I am going to the park later this morning and will walk a few laps (hopefully 6) around the walking path.  We'll see.

Cheers to all of you.

Suzanne

NYC and NOKA...  you are both so active and motivated... walking, treadmills and 19 miles...

I've got 3 run-a-mucks to keep me busy.  2 of them are trying to build a fort out of the rocking chair and cushions... I think we are all going to take the dog for a walk this afternoon. (We are dog sitting my parent's dog while they are out of town)...

Today I've been paying attention to my foods...  and after last nights HUGE salad... I'm feeling pretty good.  I had a little cereal (shared with my daughter) and a cup of coffee...  1 waffle  and for lunch I had an English Muffin with salmon on it...  just enough to fill me up.  I was light on my carbs yesterday and have to face the fact that I am not a carb free person. 

Hubby got a bad cholesterol report (again) and I think he's now ready to follow through and EAT the oatmeal and other healthy grain stuff (Cheerios) and whatever to help him out.  We are going to "TAKE" healthy food in a cooler on our trip to Vegas... yogurt, trail mix, celery, and carrots.... etc.  That will help us with our $$$ and save one meal out a day for our pleasure.  I will log in my pocket journal and post when I get back (unless hubby takes his laptop...but I'm leaving mine at home)

Hugs and Happy thoughts to everyone!!!

Suzanne