...and I need some ME time!
My friend Amy and I have been trying to use each other to stay honest with ourselves about eating/exercising/ goal setting, etc. on our quests to lose weight. While I need to lose significantly MORE than her, the principles are the same.
Thus far, in my quest to lose a GRAND total of 65 pounds from my weight on November 1st, I have committed to the following:
1. Weigh myself only once a month* (I will discuss the ridiculousness of the addiction in a minute)
2. Log on to www.myfitnesspal.com daily to track my calories in and out through food and excercise (shout out to my brother for introducing this to me last week)
3. Complete the Couch to 5k program- I'm in Week 2 so far
4. Work out as many days in a week as I can, for more than 30 minutes. That might seem vague to some of you, but the fact that a stay-at-home mom of 3 kids under 3 can make working out a slight priority is a miracle in itself
5. Use the D.I.E.T. F.R.E.E. "mantra" and 8 simple steps by Zonya Foco. I saw her speak and it's really been helping!
**THE SCALE**
It wasn't until Amy and I committed to only weighing ourselves once a month that I thought about how often I have weighed myself over the last several years. Since I graduated high school in 2001, I would venture a guess that I have weighed myself AT LEAST 2x a week, every week, since. This means that at the VERY LEAST. I have weighed myself 936 times since 2001. HOWEVER......It's more times than that...much more. 936 truly is the very least. I cannot recall going more than a few days without weighing myself, mostly because there was always a scale in the gym at college. There have been times, more recently, that it's been several times a week, and even SEVERAL TIMES A DAY....seriously??!?! a day?!! Yes...its out there.
So, it was like detoxing to weigh myself on Nov. 1st and say "see you in December" to my scale, which is now taking up residence in my linen closet. The first week wasn't too bad. I'd grown accustomed to weighing-in at least once a week, so going a week isn't unheard of. Pushing past that, however, was physically painful at times. I could feel a gut-pull to get the scale and check in. But, I persevered. Not just because I had made a promise to a friend, and not even that I made a promise to myself. Once I realized how insane my attachment to the scale was I realized I HAD to literally STEP OFF for a while and re-develop a healthy relationship with the thing and use it as a guide only.
My clothes will guide me, my cholesterol numbers and blood pressure will guide me-and they will all work together to help me stay healthy- not just above or below a certain number. That's my rant about the scale ;)
Until next time...
xoxo
andrea
Friday, November 19, 2010
Monday, October 18, 2010
And the years go by...
Paige and Aiden turned 1 (ONE!) on 10/5/10.....ONE!
Dear Paige and Aiden,
Thank you, truly, for turning my life inside out in the most magical way possible over the last year. I'm so glad you decided to join our lives at the same time, and not a couple of years apart as your father and I originally planned.
Thank you for being good nursers. You saved us an obscene amount of time and money, and you taught me that my body can do ANYTHING I tell it to do. I'm going to use that sentiment to lose the rest of the weight I need to lose that your brother put on my body when I was pregnant with him ;)
Paige- (Paigeygirl) Thanks for being the sweetest little girl I never knew I wanted. I joke that even though you were 'Baby A' I think you were truly the bonus. God knew we wanted 2 boys, but threw you in as a "see, they're not so bad..." Thank you for being tiny and having gorgeous eyes with long eye lashes- you're 100% girl. Thank you for being a fabulous napper and nighttime sleeper. Feel free to pass these traits on to your younger brother :) However, I wouldn't be hurt if you ceased your random shrill shriek-scream combination that you use when you're happy, mad, sad, hungry, tired......
Aiden- (Aideybum) Thanks for being the cuddly little boy that your older brother has grown out of. Thank you for being the quiet one...Mommy needs a quiet one most days of the week. We could work on your sleep, but you're toothy smile makes it hard to be irritated when you wake up at 5:00am. I'm glad we have those private, quiet moments together. Promise you'll always be my cuddle-bum...until it's culturally inappropriate ;)
Ok you two, as you start to walk, and undoubtedly run, this year, PLEAAAASE take it easy on me, and on Quinn...Yes, Quinn..the blond freak that chases you around..you'll be able to tag team him, and it just won't be pretty :)
Love you guys!
Mom
Dear Paige and Aiden,
Thank you, truly, for turning my life inside out in the most magical way possible over the last year. I'm so glad you decided to join our lives at the same time, and not a couple of years apart as your father and I originally planned.
Thank you for being good nursers. You saved us an obscene amount of time and money, and you taught me that my body can do ANYTHING I tell it to do. I'm going to use that sentiment to lose the rest of the weight I need to lose that your brother put on my body when I was pregnant with him ;)
Paige- (Paigeygirl) Thanks for being the sweetest little girl I never knew I wanted. I joke that even though you were 'Baby A' I think you were truly the bonus. God knew we wanted 2 boys, but threw you in as a "see, they're not so bad..." Thank you for being tiny and having gorgeous eyes with long eye lashes- you're 100% girl. Thank you for being a fabulous napper and nighttime sleeper. Feel free to pass these traits on to your younger brother :) However, I wouldn't be hurt if you ceased your random shrill shriek-scream combination that you use when you're happy, mad, sad, hungry, tired......
Aiden- (Aideybum) Thanks for being the cuddly little boy that your older brother has grown out of. Thank you for being the quiet one...Mommy needs a quiet one most days of the week. We could work on your sleep, but you're toothy smile makes it hard to be irritated when you wake up at 5:00am. I'm glad we have those private, quiet moments together. Promise you'll always be my cuddle-bum...until it's culturally inappropriate ;)
Ok you two, as you start to walk, and undoubtedly run, this year, PLEAAAASE take it easy on me, and on Quinn...Yes, Quinn..the blond freak that chases you around..you'll be able to tag team him, and it just won't be pretty :)
Love you guys!
Mom
Monday, August 30, 2010
Photos, 10 day treks, tantrums, oh-my!
Hi everyone!
Let me start by pointing out that my new header photo is from none other than the talented Rae Barnes from Rae Barnes Photography (www.raebarnes.com). I met Rae through church and she did shots of our family during my pregnancy with the twins, and did some extra maternity shots as my belly got epic. Bummer for me, she moved to Philly at the beginning of the year. Not bummer for me- she still had some photo contracts up in our area through this summer, which gave us an opportunity to snag her for aNOTHER shoot of our family! The shoot was super fun and I'm so glad to have some gorgeous shots to remember this otherwise chaotic time when I don't always (or often) have my camera in my hand! Thanks Rae!
Anywho...On August 13th Scott and I planned on taking the kids to Clayton, NY (where his sister and a ton of our friends live) for 10 days for a wedding, a firematics event, etc...However, my grandmother was sick/ having surgery/etc and I just didn't feel right taking that trip while my dad was in China and my mom was left to deal. SOOOOOOO I took the 3 kids to Massachusetts with me and sent Scott to the wedding to represent us ;) I spent a week with my mom which allowed us to keep her company and, more importantly, allowed her to breathe a HUGE sigh of relief when Hurricane Randall left ;) Sometimes people just need a little perspective and I'm perfectly fine to provide that! We met up then with Scott in Clayton for a 3 night stay and finally back here. Bummer for me- the week we came back was our daycare providers vacation so this week has been particularly challenging with hyper Quinn.....
However, daycare resumes tomorrow...He'll go Tuesday and Wednesday half days and that's just enough breathing room or mommy! This will help out emmensely in the winter time. For those of you who don't know, the winters up here aren't overly cold or overly snowy in my opinion (in regards to the AMOUNT of snow) BUT the winters are loooooooooooooooong...by long I mean October to April long....Ever since I've lived here there has been one killer snowstorm at the end of October, then it melts away and there's a "normal ish" November with some snow, then the snow returns in a big way for December through February. At this point it's quite hellish. The calendar SAYS March, but we have weather that goes from Blizzard to warm as the weeks roll on. April starts to clear up but there's usually one "farewell" snowstorm in April. And, if you're extra lucky- on your first mother's day with 3 kids and when you're sick, it will snow then too......
My point- getting him out of the house will be nice in the winter...
This Labor Day weekend some friends and I were going to go to a Baby Shower for a friend in Sag Harbor. Unfortunately she delivered her baby at 30 weeks on Saturday. Mom and baby are doing well, although it will likely be a long road. So, Scott said I still had to go somewhere by myself. MOM TO THE RESCUE! I'm heading to my parents house or the weekend to sleep, eat, drink, and read. I'm excited to see some of their high school friends who I essentially grew up with. My parents have been together since high school and married 30 years this October..that's right..I'm not lying!
I'm ready for some full on relaxation tomorrow with Quinn going to daycare in the AM, I'm getting my hair cut and colored in the afternoon, and then running errands with Julie in Plattsburgh tomorrow evening......I RAAAAAAAAARELY say this (as I'm working on living in the moment) but..I CAN'T WAIT UNTIL FRIDAY!!!
xo
andrea
Let me start by pointing out that my new header photo is from none other than the talented Rae Barnes from Rae Barnes Photography (www.raebarnes.com). I met Rae through church and she did shots of our family during my pregnancy with the twins, and did some extra maternity shots as my belly got epic. Bummer for me, she moved to Philly at the beginning of the year. Not bummer for me- she still had some photo contracts up in our area through this summer, which gave us an opportunity to snag her for aNOTHER shoot of our family! The shoot was super fun and I'm so glad to have some gorgeous shots to remember this otherwise chaotic time when I don't always (or often) have my camera in my hand! Thanks Rae!
Anywho...On August 13th Scott and I planned on taking the kids to Clayton, NY (where his sister and a ton of our friends live) for 10 days for a wedding, a firematics event, etc...However, my grandmother was sick/ having surgery/etc and I just didn't feel right taking that trip while my dad was in China and my mom was left to deal. SOOOOOOO I took the 3 kids to Massachusetts with me and sent Scott to the wedding to represent us ;) I spent a week with my mom which allowed us to keep her company and, more importantly, allowed her to breathe a HUGE sigh of relief when Hurricane Randall left ;) Sometimes people just need a little perspective and I'm perfectly fine to provide that! We met up then with Scott in Clayton for a 3 night stay and finally back here. Bummer for me- the week we came back was our daycare providers vacation so this week has been particularly challenging with hyper Quinn.....
However, daycare resumes tomorrow...He'll go Tuesday and Wednesday half days and that's just enough breathing room or mommy! This will help out emmensely in the winter time. For those of you who don't know, the winters up here aren't overly cold or overly snowy in my opinion (in regards to the AMOUNT of snow) BUT the winters are loooooooooooooooong...by long I mean October to April long....Ever since I've lived here there has been one killer snowstorm at the end of October, then it melts away and there's a "normal ish" November with some snow, then the snow returns in a big way for December through February. At this point it's quite hellish. The calendar SAYS March, but we have weather that goes from Blizzard to warm as the weeks roll on. April starts to clear up but there's usually one "farewell" snowstorm in April. And, if you're extra lucky- on your first mother's day with 3 kids and when you're sick, it will snow then too......
My point- getting him out of the house will be nice in the winter...
This Labor Day weekend some friends and I were going to go to a Baby Shower for a friend in Sag Harbor. Unfortunately she delivered her baby at 30 weeks on Saturday. Mom and baby are doing well, although it will likely be a long road. So, Scott said I still had to go somewhere by myself. MOM TO THE RESCUE! I'm heading to my parents house or the weekend to sleep, eat, drink, and read. I'm excited to see some of their high school friends who I essentially grew up with. My parents have been together since high school and married 30 years this October..that's right..I'm not lying!
I'm ready for some full on relaxation tomorrow with Quinn going to daycare in the AM, I'm getting my hair cut and colored in the afternoon, and then running errands with Julie in Plattsburgh tomorrow evening......I RAAAAAAAAARELY say this (as I'm working on living in the moment) but..I CAN'T WAIT UNTIL FRIDAY!!!
xo
andrea
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