Friday, April 6
Mothering a Daughter: What I Am Looking Forward To
Thursday, April 5
The Meltdown {v.14} Battling Through
Weight Lost Since Last Weigh-in: 1 pound
Total Weight Lost: 22 pounds
Inches Lost This Week: 1.5
Total Inches Lost: 35.5 inches
Points Earned:
This Week: 55
Points Balance: 342
I've reached the dreaded "crawl" in my weight loss and inches. I blame: Jillian Michael's. It doesn't feel like I should be entering conservation mode because I am only working out 20 minutes a day, however; the scale and measuring tape are starting to say otherwise. I was actually surprised to have lost any weight this week because I just feel, well, crappy for lack of a better word.
I've been feeling less energized, super moody (and its not even close to that time yet) as well as just blah over all. Everything is pointing towards the body quite misleadingly thinking its starving. I have to switch things up and get back to a place where my body and spirit can co-exist in harmony while walking hand in hand towards my end goal. So how in the world am I to convince this body of mine that everything is ok?
For one, I refuse to cut back on exercise…that is just not going to happen. I need exercise and I've got to the point where it is habit, and don't want to lose that drive.
So, what other options do I have? Diet modification. I thought cheating by adding a little more condiments, a little more calories here and there would be enough, but I was wrong. Right now I'm eating on the Medifast 5&1 plan (5 Medifast meals + 1 Lean & Green meal). The next step would be to switch to the 4&2 plan (4 Medifast meals + 2 Lean & Green meals).
I'm sort of torn on whether I want to just finish out the 30 Day Shred without changing things up because even though I only lost 1 pound and less than 2 inches, it was still a loss. Can I use mind over matter here or am I just delaying what will actually work? I haven't decided what it will be yet, whether I will do one more week, finishing out the Shred, or start taking in a few more calories. Guess you'll have to visit next week to see!!
Have you reached a plateau in your weight-loss? How did you break out of it? What helped you battle through!?
This Week:
I'm proud of these choices:
I'm rocking the 30 Day Shred, only 8 days left until I can say I did it!
I'd like to work more on:
Getting to bed by 10pm, most nights.
Keeping my food journal again.
Drinking half my body weight in ounces of water.
I totally cheated when:
I've been eating these delicious sugar free Jell-o mousse cups with sugar free Cool Whip, does this count as cheating??
How did you do this week?
Want to catch up on my weight loss journey?
Wednesday, April 4
Wordless{ish} Wednesday
Tuesday, April 3
Leaving Winter Behind & Embracing Spring
I wanted to share this post with you here in case you missed it when I shared it on Imprintalish!
As Winter comes to a close, I find myself reflecting on what I've learned in the season. How has being limited by the weather and the elements shaped my use of time in this closing season? What does Winter signify in life seasons? Many things happen in the Winter months: holidays, the coming of a new year, cold, darkness, even the death and retreat of much that lives.
With each season we are given the opportunity to reflect, reinvent and refresh according to our willingness to embrace each cycle of life. Winter is a season of allowing what is dead to be covered over, and what is still living to be preserved in cold, quiet darkness. Winter allows what we didn't like about our lives in the former year to be buried and forgotten. Winter allows us to rest and reflect, to slow down and contemplate, to create warmth and light from within.
Just when we arrive to the point where we have had it with forced reflection, the coldness, the limitations of snow, ice and bone-chilling wind...signs of change emerge all around us. The long nights begin to shorten, the sun shines more frequently and the birds begin to chirp outside our windows.
In our hearts we ponder the next season of our lives and begin to implement the changes we've considered in our hibernation. Some of us emerge from our Winter's rest roaring like a bear, ready to tackle the most grandiose of plans, others of us remain more reserved…cautiously surveying the climate and waiting for our chance to embark on new adventures.
Perhaps we've shed a few pounds and our clothes are fitting looser, or our readership has increased, or maybe our marital intimacy has begun to flourish from all those warmth-seeking Winter cuddles. Maybe we've noticed our little ones as they've grown so quickly before our eyes, perhaps experiencing their own wonder at their very first Winter.
We find ourselves in a new place of hopefulness, getting out more frequently just to experience what had been hidden by the cold…new fresh life, new possibilities.
The last signs of Winter begin to be washed away as the cleansing rains of Spring fill the air. Galoshes, umbrellas and wind-breaker jackets make their way to the front of our closets. We begin to purge ourselves of all that held us back in the year before…devoting hours to cleaning, rearranging, reorganizing, and regrouping. In the same way our minds and hearts are purged of past regrets and old patterns, creating space for new paths to be explored.
At last, we arrive in a place filled with beauty, serenity and calm. We accept where we are, and look forward as greater things are now just on the horizon. We press onward, making our plans for the year and feeling free to indulge in the bright shining sun.
Spring has come. The season of rebirth captivates us by its elegant charm. Flowers pop up beneath the remnants of leaves shed in the Fall. Leaves open wide like outstretched hands. Children once again fill the parks with laughter. We walk lighter on our feet, have a new song in our hearts and smile at strangers as if to agree that Winter is gone at last.
Without being too hasty or unappreciative of all the wonders of Spring, a new thought arrives in our minds: Summer is now just a season away.
Photographs are not mine, however; I received full permission to use them from their owners!
"So Yummies!" Dessert Everyday!
I've told my husband as long as I can remember, that it does no good to keep dessert out of our house…because I have a very demanding sweet tooth! Instead we try to make sure we have plenty of lower calorie treats waiting for me when the I'm in the mood for dessert…which is, well, almost every night.
Here are some of my favorite everyday desserts made extra special by simply adding COOL WHIP whipped topping:
Chocolate Mousse!
Recipe:
One single serve container of Jell-O Decadence Chocolate Mousse,
+ a big dollop of COOL WHIP right on top! Voila!
I'm definitely not the only one in the family that enjoys their dessert! Recently, Zion has been asking more and more for a "treat" after dinner. I have to admit, I love love love the joy it brings when I bring out something I've baked for her and she smiles and says, "So Yummies!"
Berry Smoothies!
Recipe:
1 Cup Frozen Berries,
1/4 Cup Yogurt,
1/4 Cup COOL WHIP,
1/2 Cup of Milk -
Blend together,
Top with a dollop of whipped topping!
My husband has a soft spot in his heart for brownies with ice cream, but I've discovered that I can help him cut out a few calories by forgoing the ice cream and using COOL WHIP instead! He certainly hasn't complained!
Brownie "A'La More"!
Recipe:
Brownie Mix prepared per package directions,
Topped with generous amounts of COOL WHIP!
I love my coffee and I love chocolate. So when I discovered that I could make rich, creamy home-made mochas using brewed coffee and hot cocoa mix, I never turned back! I have to say that nothing makes a homemade mocha more perfect than finishing it with a dollop of COOL WHIP and a few sprinkles.
Homemade Mocha!
Recipe:
8oz fresh brewed coffee,
1 packet instant cocoa mix,
Whisk together.
Top with a generous dollop of COOL WHIP.
Now that the weather is warming up, and fresh fruit is filling up the produce sections…I'm ready to make some delicious fruit salad. Is there anything more enjoyable than sitting out on the deck on a warm sunny day eating a bowl of fresh fruit salad!?
Fresh Fruit Salad!
Recipe:
A bowl of chopped fresh fruit (whatever is in season!)
Tossed with plenty of COOL WHIP, so simple, yet so divine!
What is your go-to dessert!? Have any simple dessert recipes to share? I'd love to hear about it!
Sponsored posts are purely editorial content that we are pleased to have presented by a participating sponsor. Advertisers do not produce the content. I was compensated for this post as a member of Clever Girls Collective, but the content is all my own.
Monday, April 2
"Pinning!" Sweet Enough To Eat: Pastels
Welcome to "Pinning!"
A Weekly Pinterest Link-Up
(Share pins, meet others who love "Pinning", get inspired!)
First timer? It's simple just follow these rules:
then
Link up your favorite pins post for the week
and
Link back to the party
Each week a winner will be chosen to flaunt the title of "Pinning-est" for successfully wowing us with the best Pinterest find. The winner will be featured/announced in the following week's post!
Easter is this weekend and though I am not a big fan of Bunnies and Egg hunts…I am a pretty big fan of Pastels! This Spring I've seen a surge of pastel in beauty, fashion and even hair…and I dig it. ;)
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| via TheCherryBlossomGirl |
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| via FashionSalade |
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| via TheBerry |
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| via Maytedoll |
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| via Beautylish |
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| via SuperficialGirls |
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| via LoveGraceJoy |
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| via TheBlondeSalad |
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| via AndiesSpecialtySweets |
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| via NastyGirl |
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| via Oreo {Vintage} |
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| via ScentOfObsession |
Are you crushing on this Spring's pastels!??
THANK YOU for Linking up last week!
Check out this week's Pinning-est:
Kelly from Eclectic Momsense
She makes me want to get knocked up with this pin!
Check out Kelly on Pinterest!
Here's your button Kelly!
Kelly from Eclectic Momsense
She makes me want to get knocked up with this pin!
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| via Momtog |
Here's your button Kelly!
Are you "Pinning"?
Come on, everyone is doing it.
Join us MONDAYS for weekly sharing of Pinterest finds.
Sunday, April 1
Having Each Other's Back...
In case you missed this when I shared it on Dominique's Desk a couple of week's ago, I wanted to include this in my regular Faith Filled Marriage series.
I recently watched an episode of Up All Night, where Christina Applegate's character Reagan goes on a mean-spree through the airport in her stress of traveling with an infant, all the while her husband Chris, played by Will Arnett, follows behind her apologizing for her and trying to play it cool.
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| Source |
So, the other morning I woke up and went about my normal morning routine: make coffee, get breakfast going, pack a lunch, attempt to keep my daughter from getting into everything at the same time. My husband had just come out of our bedroom, dressed quite handsomely for work, and my daughter was waving around the Swiffer sweeper like a dangerous baton.
As I'm busy trying to get his lunch together, behind me I hear a frustrated snap at my daughter and instantly, without much hesitation, mama bear rises up in me. "Don't yell at her. What did she do?" I put my husband on the defensive, my daughter is upset. She had smacked his clean pants with the dirty sweeper. The morning ends with this statement, "Why can't you just let me be a parent, too?"
Ouch. As the hubs left for work, without our usual loving good-bye, I felt the sting of truth. I was instantly reminded of the episode I had just watched. Why couldn't I have just had my husband's back?
My husband is an awesome father, one who loves his daughter so incredibly much. And it is clear in everything he does that this is the case. I have no reason to deny him my support when he does what he is supposed to do as a parent: discipline, correct, etc. If I want to him to flourish in his role as a father, I have to give him my backing and support.
My encouragement to you today is: to stand by each other; have each other's backs. As parents, we have such a difficult job, one that has its own unique challenges for both mothers and fathers. We need each other to make it work well. It doesn't stop at parenting either. It is important in maintaining a strong marriage as well.
When you don't feel supported in something that is important to you, especially by the person who is closest to you, it can be a huge discouragement. Feeling unsupported is an issue that can fester, and you don’t want to find yourself seeking out experienced counselors when it’s an issue you and your partner could have taken charge of on your own.
I don't know what I'd do if my husband didn't support my passion to write, or my desire to lose weight. It is his constant support and affirmation that spurs me on and gives me that extra "push" to not give up when things are tough.
As I reflect on that morning, I realize that I need to show my husband that I do have his back, and that I support him as a father. Lesson learned.
How do you show your spouse that you have their back? In what ways does your spouse show you?
Saturday, March 31
Solitude
I originally shared this post on MameMusings! But today, I'm feeling the need to remind myself...
Solitude.
Why is does it seem so elusive for us mothers?
Perhaps, we make it more complicated than it has to be.
What exactly does solitude require of us?
Aloneness.
Impossible.
My first reaction to the possibility of finding time alone.
[Insert list of reasons why here.]
Critical.
What can we possibly give if we are not taking the time to be refreshed?
Possibility.
How can I give myself ten minutes of quiet each day?
If I start with five minutes is that okay?
Release.
I will not feel guilty for taking this time out for me.
Reflection.
My mind is finally free to be me.
Oh hello lovely thoughts, restful sighs and tensions eased.
Retreat.
Is this vacation for my soul?
Believe.
A content, rested mother (&wife) is one highly praised.
Today, take those five minutes…or even ten.
Set down your burdens.
Embrace.
Solitude.
Perhaps, we make it more complicated than it has to be.
What exactly does solitude require of us?
Aloneness.
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| via |
My first reaction to the possibility of finding time alone.
[Insert list of reasons why here.]
Critical.
What can we possibly give if we are not taking the time to be refreshed?
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| via |
How can I give myself ten minutes of quiet each day?
If I start with five minutes is that okay?
Release.
I will not feel guilty for taking this time out for me.
Reflection.
My mind is finally free to be me.
Oh hello lovely thoughts, restful sighs and tensions eased.
Retreat.
Is this vacation for my soul?
Believe.
A content, rested mother (&wife) is one highly praised.
Today, take those five minutes…or even ten.
Set down your burdens.
Embrace.
Solitude.
I previously shared this post on MameMusings, but had to share this here as a reminder to take time out for quiet reflection.
Friday, March 30
The Meltdown {V.13}
Weight Lost Since Last Weigh-in: 1 pound
Total Weight Lost: 21 pounds
Inches Lost This Week: 3!! (+gain .5)
Total Inches Lost: 34 inches
Points Earned:
This Week: 65
Points Balance: 287
I'm in a diet funk. I'm totally happy to be wearing my Express jeans again. I'm happy about the shrinking mid-section and thighs too. BUT…ugh! I miss bread. And pasta. And bread. Did I already say that? I've reached the halfway there FUNK it seems. Even my exercise program is going stale. I'm bored and tired and losing motivation.
Remember when I said that it was going to be a battle from here on out? It totally is. I need to regroup, refocus and get myself back in line with the program. I had a loss this week but it feels, well, unexciting. Am I being totally ungrateful right now? Probably a little bit. I just want to be done and to my goal already!! I want to be in transition so I can be moving on out of pre-packaged meals and into whole foods.
See…don't let me fool you into thinking that I've got this whole thing in the bag. I don't. I'm still struggling here and there…and especially this week. I feel like I need to confess to hold myself accountable:
Confession #1: I've completely stopped tracking/logging in my food journal. I'm fumbling through the day barely eating all the meals I'm supposed to. And struggling to eat every 2-3 hours. At the time of writing this I haven't eaten for six hours. (Don't worry, I'm setting this laptop down and going to grab something now!)
Confession #2: One of the most important things on this diet is drinking tons of water….I'm not even tracking this lately…and therefore my points and everything have gone way down. What am I doing!? Someone slap me!
Confession #3: I've had a few meals out…and although I've still chosen healthy options…I'm kidding myself to think that its not having a negative effect on my plan. I need to get my mind back in the game here friends.
I feel like I've reached "the Wall" in my weight-loss marathon! I need someone to cue up some motivational music…and convince me that I need to press through this. Oh and don't even get me started on Jillian. Thank God I have a break on Monday. (Only 3 days left of the Shred level 2!)
How are you doing with your goals? Have any advice on how to get my mojo back!?
This Week:
I'm proud of these choices:
I'm staying with the 30 Day Shred.
I'd like to work more on:
Everything mentioned above!!!
I totally cheated when:
Not sure how, but because I've not been monitoring well…I know I'm cheating a bit!
How did you do this week?
Want to catch up on my weight loss journey?
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