Friday, April 30, 2010

Who said metabolism?
It's hard getting old, and the metabolism ssssslloowwss down.  Especially when most of your life you've been able to get by with pretty much eating what you want, when you want and exercising when you want and how you want.  I've always had a good appetite, and when I was younger it was necessary.  I wore girls size 12 clothing until I reached high school and was frequently teased for my skinny arms and legs, I couldn't gain weight.  Finding a size 0 back then was tough, I had to special order dresses for proms.  What nobody could see, is I was eating, like a man, like I could never fill up.  Lots of girls thought I was anorexic.  I had a really high metabolism and I was super active-we lived on a ranch and there was lots of work to do, and my senior year i was on the track team, plus I was naturally always moving.  When you have an appetite like this and it burns quickly, you really can eat WHATEVER you want.Donuts, pizza, heavy dinners with carbs?  No problem.  When I got to college I didn't have a car so I literally walked everywhere and in Seattle, there are some steep streets downtown where I lived.  But still, pizza at midnight, IHOP runs at 1 am, no problem. I have to say when I met my very health conscience husband to be when I was 23, he was appalled at my eating habits...donuts at midnight?  I got a very funny look from him, and unfortunately over the years I have taken him to the dark side of junk food.  Nevertheless,  in the summers between college, I worked at a lodge where I hiked all the time and ran.  I maintained a size 6 and those skinny arms and legs.  Although I did like my junk food and candy, I have always enjoyed fresh veggies and fruit, whole grains, etc (thanks to my Mom and Grandma and that garden).

So this carried through both my pregnancies, gain 50+ pounds-gone in 6 weeks, gain 35 pounds, gone in 3 months. The picture on the right is when my son is one year old, I am a size 6 and eating whatever I wanted, thank you very much.
  I've only "dieted" twice in my life, I used ediets.com and it was really easy.  If I felt my clothes weren't fitting, I'd go on more walks or eat more produce.  It worked for a long time! 

Well about four years ago I went on this medication and in a year I gained 20 pounds. WHAT?  I didn't really notice it, and thought I was just not being so active or eating too much, but as soon as I stopped taking it, I stopped gaining, BUT I've maintained that weight since (i didn't read the fine print that weight gain was a side effect).  YUCK!  So after a lifetime of eating how I like, I've realized something has to change and I HAVE to get this 20 pounds off!!  Not just to lose weight but I gotta rein in that carb loading and sugar, and bad habits.

Not snacking after dinner, not eating desserts all the time, and consistent exercise? Someone shoot me in the head, please.

Surprise, surprise.
 I found an easy meal program that isn't crazy counting stuff and eliminating foods-just filling up on fruits/veggies/whole grains, lean proteins and healthy fats. I am really enjoying eating well.  I am having some fun and feeling so much better. It does make it easier that I don't mind eating tons of veggies and brown rice and stuff like that.  Naturally I could eliminate red meat but i have to find dishes my family likes, and they LOVE red meat.   I am even getting exercise in-sigh. I hate exercising-I do like walking and riding bikes and hiking, but not aerobics and strength training.  I have some DVD's old and new and they do kick my butt and I'm seeing the scale move!!  Also, after decreasing my sugar, I am noticing my cravings subsiding and not wanting to snack.  Grab some almonds, a hard boiled egg, some fruit, and I'm good to go.  I try and leave Sunday for my casual day since we have lunch at church and a family dinner.  I don't do well saying no to everything but smaller portions are helping for sundays.  I went out to lunch with Mike yesterday and had a salad with vinegrette, no garlic bread and left half my pasta on the plate.  The pasta I ordered wasn't great, but baby steps.  I took the kids to mcdonald's for breakfast, something we NEVER do and I got an egg mcmuffin with no cheese-just egg, canadian bacon and an english muffin.  Little steps.

What little ears hear.
 I'm also noticing a weird thing with Hannah and her talk of getting "skinny".  Um, she is built exactly like me at that age-skinny and bony describes it.  So I have to be careful and say I am working on eating healthier and taking care of my body-not just getting skinny.  I can't believe the way she talks about her body-she is SEVEN!! So I just repeat having healthier habits but all she sees is that I am trying to get thin.  I can't believe the stuff she hears from other girls.  I just tell her she is exactly right for how she was made.  I try and talk about everyone having different shapes and sizes.  I just can't believe I'm talking about that to my seven year old, and how she notices and hears everything.

SO hopefully I can keep this up another 8 weeks and I will be all done losing and can just maintain.  will I ever be a size 6 again?  Probably not and I am 100% OK with that.  I do want to lose the weight, but more imporantly want to get some healthy habits on board that will last my life.

It sucks getting older, and I will miss the oreos. Yes I will.   That's just being real folks.  Now off I go to make some granola.
Here's to good health! I'm not writing about it until I reach my goal!

Wednesday, April 28, 2010

 
It seems like months since I've posted pics of my kiddos-it probably hasn't been that long but I do like to exaggerate.  In no particular order here they are, lots of Hannah dressing up, our hotel "winter break" a month ago and the kids wrestling, their favorite way to play together.  Taylor is getting to be a hard one to get a picture of (so I took a picture of him doing his favorite thing lately-reading). Hannah on the other hand, well, by the look of ratio between them, let's just say she LOVES getting her photo taken, and tells me what pose she is going to do BEFORE I take the picture.  Yikes.  

 
Notice her necklace she was so proud to make...I LOVE CATS..
I hope I don't have to worry about her owning 16 of them when she gets older and living by herself



Tuesday, April 13, 2010

Let me just brag about my smart boy who got his third quarter report card-all A's and At's and two B's.  Plus he has only missed three days so far (one for a funeral and two for a wedding).  We are just really proud of how well he does in class, and at home.  Right now he seems to be the "easy" child and the only thing he does that gets him in trouble is staying up too late at night to read.  

So I just burned Hannah a CD for her to listen to on her CD player from my iTunes, all songs she selected.  As she told me, "Mom I need some rock." Yes, there is her favorite songs from Taylor Swift ("You belong to me"-she sings it in the shower) and Miley Cyrus.  She heard them at her cousins house last summer and just loves them.  The CD wasn't complete without Queens: We will rock you and Joy to the World (rock version).  Let me just say I am one of those parents who won't let my kids listen to just any music and any lyrics. But Miley and Taylor are pretty wholesome and their lyrics are innocent so I let her pick two of those for the CD's.  Hannah was amazed my computer could "burn" her a CD, she kept waiting for some smoke to come out.  Sigh.  At least she is still naive about some things.  Now for her comment on how she doesn't really like Lady Gaga's music.  Are you kidding me?

Monday, April 12, 2010

I'll make it quick!  If you use Swagbucks as your search engine you get points and they accrue and you can get stuff.  In 6 weeks from normal use, I got enough swagbucks to earn 3-$5 gift cards to Amazon that I used on magazine subscriptions on sale.  You can save up and get other things but it's that easy!!  So here is my link to sign up: http://www.swagbucks.com/refer/casekristi


They even have Starbucks gift cards!

Thursday, April 8, 2010


"Reading is to the mind what exercise is to the body."


Well since I'm not getting much exercise in lately (that Denise Austin bootcamp DVD has only been played once since it's purchase).....I can say I am getting LOTS of reading in, and thus my mind is in really good shape.  I love to read.  Really. love. to. read.  My favorite time is before bed-I can't get to sleep without turning at least a couple pages.  I enjoy watching both my kids getting completely lost in a story.  During spring break, Taylor stayed up until 11:30 most nights in bed with his lamp on reading a series called "Warriors" (and didn't get up til 11 the next morning).  His teacher sent home a sheet that said if he could read 600 minutes in one month, the local water park would give him a free ticket. 
  Taylor read over 1,500 minutes!!   
We are throwing in an extra incentive since he did so awesome! 

Anyhoo.  I thought I would list what I have been reading lately, or in the past 4 months.  I always ask people what they are reading and if everyone could just have a list occasionally, it would be fun. I might not include authors but if you look up the title at amazon, you'll find it. I enjoyed them all, even if I didn't leave a comment.

Finished reads:
  • House Rules by Jodi Picoult  EXCELLENT-I have enjoyed all her books and this one is really good about a boy with Aspbergers
  • The Glass Castle by Jeanette Wells-a memoir so captivating-read it when you are feeling sorry for yourself
  •  The Vanishing Act of Esme Lennox-sad and strange-really excellent
  • The Help by Katherine Stockett-wonderful
  • Vegetable, Animal, Miracle
  • Heaven is so Real by Choo Thomas-amazing is all I can say
  • There is always enough  -amazing
  • Dear John by Nicholas Sparks-what can I say? I am a sucker for a love story-the movie was better
  • Brooklyn by Colm Toibin 
  • Still Growing by Kirk Cameron-biography 
  • Williams-Sonoma book of Baking-yummmm
  • Riding the Bus with my sister by Rachel Simon-must read!
  • The Doctor's Wife
  • The Memory Keeper's Daughter-excellent
  • While I was gone & The Good Mother by Sue Miller
  • Firstborn and Sunrise series by Karen Kingsbury-family stories
  • A Homemade Life by Molly Wizenberg-beautiful recipes and stories
  • The Barefoot Contessa cookbook-my favorite food network chef
  • The Bread Bible
Upcoming reads:
  • Feeding the Whole Family -delicious, whole food recipes-it's been on my wish list for awhile
  • Skeletons at the feast by Chris Bohjalian
  • The forgotten garden by Kate Morton
  • Bringing up Kids without tearing them down
  • Imperfect Birds-Anne Lamott's latest-if you are a mom and have never read Operating Instructions by her, you must!
  • Coop by Michael Perry-one man's qwest to live natural -biography
  • Angels on Assignment by Roland Buck
  • Connection Parenting by Pam Leo
  • Jamie's Food Revolution by Jamie Oliver
More to come later!  I have to say that I love my local library.  Whenever they don't have a book, they get it from another library or three times now, they have bought it!  I love that.

Monday, April 5, 2010

WARNING: NOT SUITABLE FOR CHILDREN TO READ!

Let's just start with the fact that I feel like I am entering a new, um, phase in my life where I am being more honest.  More honest with myself, my kids, my family and etc etc.  Perfect timing since I have a daughter that is lying and stealing lately (see post below).  I am trying to be more open with my kiddos so they don't have as many problems I feel I do as an adult of 33 years.  I have always been taught to just suck it up (deny your true feelings ) and do what is "expected" and the "best way", while underneath you are feeling really conflicted with the true feelings you have been taught to stuff and stuff hard.  Well, that doesn't get you far in life and apparently one child is figuring that out. 

So I'm having a problem lying to my kids.  Yep, I lie to them every Christmas, every Easter, and every time they lose a tooth.  We are just taught to do that because our parents did the same for us.  Uh, excuse me, but I know everything my parents did for me wasn't really great.  It's okay, they were working on the best they knew how, but these are my kids and I get to choose (with the agreement of my husband).  Well Sunday I chose to stop lying to them about the Easter bunny.  Hello!  Do they really still believe a bunny comes through your house at night and brings candy?  My kids are 10 and 7 and they are pretty smart.  Besides the fact it COMPLETELY takes away from the meaning of Easter.  That's right, a big ANTI-CONSUMER FACT IS COMING-Easter is a religious holiday and egg hunts, easter baskets and candy have nothing to do with the fact we are celebrating the day that Jesus rose from the grave and completed his task, giving us eternal life. 

So here is the conversation (that Hannah already started for me):
Hannah: "Mom, I knew you bought me that shirt."

me-"Yes, I did and I have something to tell you.  Dad and I don't feel good about lying to you and there isn't an Easter bunny who brings you your basket, it's us.  I'm sorry I can't keep telling you that lie, it doesn't feel good."

Taylor: "Yeah I already knew that."

me: "It doesn't mean you won't get Easter baskets anymore, but they are going to be focused on celebrating what Easter is about, not a bunny, OK?"  "This doesn't mean you can go around telling other kids there is no Easter bunny, we have to respect what they believe and their family believes and we don't want to make them sad".
Hannah and Taylor: "Okay, can we eat more of our candy?"


Here I was worried about having to go into Santa talk, which we aren't ready for, but there you go.  They accepted it, no big deal and onwards we go.  I mean, come on, you know there is talk around school, they've already asked me about Santa before.
When I was little, nobody told me the truth, I stumbled upon it myself and didn't think so highly of my parents.  Now about the tooth fairy..........