My Weight Loss/Healthy Living Goals

Since I just posted about mine and hubby's 10% challenge, I thought I should post about my overall goals for myself.


Currently, I am 210 lbs (my high was 214), and I'd like to ultimately be down to around 135 lbs.  So, I need to lose 75 lbs to reach that goal.  I've set my goal date to around the end of October, 2013.  That is letting myself go slowly and lose about 1 lb a week, although I know some weeks will be more and some will be less.


I am currently tracking my calories and exercise (using www.myfitnesspal.com) and I've been doing good with that.  I need to continue trying to plan my meals and work with the calories I have to eat each day.  I've figured out my BMR and I go with that number, not what my fitness pal has given me, as their numbers are a bit low.  I need to make smarter choices with my foods and get more variety in my diet.


I'd like to get on track with exercise and begin working out for at least 30 mins 3-5 days a week, and work up to 45+ mins, 5+ days a week.  Currently, I'm starting with mostly cardio, such as walking or riding my stationary bike, but I'd like to incorporate strength training into that also. 


I'd like to begin jogging/running eventually, and hubby and I would like to do a 5k, maybe before the end of 2012.  That is our small goal.  We'd like to work up from there and do a 10k or maybe a marathon!! lol  But, we'll start slow for now.  I could easily walk a 5k now, but I'd like to be able to jog/run it. That is a bit of a challenge for me right now, as I can barely run without getting tired, but that is my goal.


My main goal, I just want to be HEALTHY!!!!!!

10% Challenge

Hubby has somewhat agreed to do a 10% challenge with me.  The challenge is to see which one of us can lose 10% of our current weight first.  For me, that will be about 21 lbs.  For him, I think it's about 22 lbs.  We are neck and neck for this :)  


I'm very excited for this motivation and I'm hoping it'll help me.  I've been back on track for almost a week now, and my Monday weigh in was down 1.4 lbs from 2 weeks prior, and that was with only 3 days of tracking my calories.  I'm so ready for this!!!

Happy 14th Birthday, Sky

I can't believe it, but my oldest "baby" is 14 now.  Where did the time go?  I swear, I just had her, like yesterday.  Didn't I??? lol  She is a beautiful young lady now.  She has her moments where I could strangle her, but she's a teenager AND a girl!  So, it's expected of her!!!

I am very proud of her.  She is not only a beautiful young lady, but she's sweet (most of the time) and she does her best to excel in school.  She has advanced up to 2 grades in some of her classes, so currently, she is in 8th grade, taking some 10th grade classes.  Pretty impressive, in my book!  

She's spent the past few summers attending a program at the University of Richmond, called MSI: Math and Science Innovations.  She could just spend her summers being lazy, like most kids would do (and as I would do!), but she chooses to attend this program to advance her academics.  She has also used a few of her Saturdays during the school year to participate in the same program with the University.

She's hoping to either attend the University program again this summer, or be a counselor at one of the summer camps here in Richmond.  Either way, I'm sure she'll have a wonderful summer and learn some valuable lessons.

Happy Birthday, Sky!!!  I love you, Baby Girl!!

Happy Mother's Day

Today was a pretty good day for me.  Hubby got up early and him and the girls went to the store to get stuff for breakfast and dinner.  All while I was still asleep.  When they came home, the girls cooked breakfast for me.  They'd also stopped at Lowe's to get some flowers for the front yard, and so we all went outside and they did yard work, while I sat and watched. lol  We went to Sweet Frog for some frozen yogurt and hubby cooked dinner for me tonight... steak, baked potato, sweet peas and sauteed bell peppers and onions.  It was delicious!!!

I also got a potted flower and some perfume from my Virginia Mama, C.

I am so thankful for my wonderful hubby and kids.  I am so thankful to have such awesome kids.  I was blessed when I was allowed to be their mom!  They get on my nerves a lot, but I wouldn't trade them for anything!!  I love you all!

HAPPY MOTHER'S DAY to all the mothers out there!

Getting Behind A Bit

I'm thinking 31 Days To A Better Photo was supposed to be done in 31 days, but it seems it's taking me a bit longer. lol  I think I need to get back on that and see what new things I can learn about photography.  Life has just been so busy lately, that I've barely pulled my camera out lately.  Hopefully I'll start back up with this soon and be posting some awesome pictures with my newly found skills!!

Happy 2nd Birthday Little Man

I couldn't stop it from happening, and so my little man is now a big 2 yr old!!  Where does the time go?  I swear it seems like I was just finding out I was pregnant with him!  The past 2 yrs have been an amazing adventure and I've loved watching him grow and learn so much.  He has such a wonderful smile and laugh... he makes each day worth getting up.  I can't imagine my life without him.

Happy Birthday, Rahmad!!  We love you so much!!

Just a few hours old :)

Yesterday.  Such an amazing smile :)

FREE pedometer

Just thought I'd share this link if anyone is interested in getting a free pedometer.

http://ads.thestudio.condenast.com/humana/index.php

I really wanna get back on track

Early last year, I started using My Fitness Pal (MFP) and I was logging my food daily and exercising about 4-5 days a week (usually a nice walk through my neighborhood).  I lost 20 lbs and was below 200 lbs and I was so proud of myself.  And then I let myself get off track!

I've now gained 18 of those lost 20 lbs back, and I'm very disappointed in myself.  I'm tired all the time and my clothes are tight.  Oh, I *could* try to blame my tiredness on the fact that I have recently been diagnosed with sleep apnea, but I don't think that is the whole issue.  I'm just lazy and I'm not doing anything to find motivation!  It's like a catch 22... I need to exercise so I'll have more energy, but I don't have energy to exercise. *sigh*  

But I REALLY want to get back below 200 lbs and to get even lower.  I REALLY want to not be tired all the time.  I REALLY want to have clothes that fit me well, without this tummy bulge.  I REALLY want to have the energy to play with my kids.  I REALLY want to feel attractive.  I REALLY want to just be a healthier person!!

So please, Everyone, help me find some motivation!! lol

Today is "stupid parents" post day!

Sorry mom runs from attacker and leaves her 4 yr old daughter behind!  Be warned, this video will most likely disgust you as much as it did me!!!

http://wtvr.com/2012/05/08/video-knife-wielding-man-attacks-woman-child/

I can't even begin to describe how disgusted this makes me feel.  Really?  A crazy man tries to take your purse and you run off WITH your purse, WITHOUT your 4 yr old?!  And to claim it was because she was trying to make the man follow her.  No, you were only thinking of yourself!  How can you even call yourself a mother when you would run off to protect yourself and your purse, but leave your child behind?!

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Parents strap children to hood of car and drive to liquor store.

http://wtvr.com/2012/05/08/police-parents-strap-children-to-car-hood-drive-to-liquor-store/ 
  
Seriously?!  But it's ok.  The kids (ages 4, 5, 6 and 7) said they wanted to because it sounded like fun.  Yes, let's do all the "fun" things our kids want to do.  

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Mom tans while kids wait in idling car

Yeah, I found another article to add to today's list of stupid parents in the news.  A mom thought it was ok to leave her 6 yr old and 10 month old in the idling car, while she worked on her tan in the alon across the road.  
 
http://www.fox43.com/news/wpmt-lancaster-county-woman-charged,0,1158249.story 

Some people just shouldn't have kids!!!