On a Mission Again... this time with Zumba!

Ok, while I was at convention a few weeks back, one of my teammates was snapping pictures like crazy and I got a good look at some of them I was in.  Um, holy cow.  Literally.  I dunno how it happens, how I don't SEE it happening.  I knew I wasn't losing weight, and I knew my clothes were fitting tighter than they should, but all of a sudden, I realized that I am creeping closer and closer to my top weight again.  Not what I'm shooting for, c'mon!  I'm embarrassed.  I don't know how I let myself get to this point.  Ugh.

In 2008-2009, I was able to successfully lose 75 pounds through Weight Watchers.  I watched every bite I took, was walking the neighborhood for exercise, and I lost that weight in just over a year (like, 53 weeks, I think it was).  My goal was to lose that weight so we could have another baby (Callen).  Well, we want to have another baby soon, and I certainly can't gain baby weight on top of what I am already carrying with me at this time.  So, I've got to do something!!!

Back to counting calories (yay, free apps like My Fitness Pal) and being active.  A few days ago I discovered some Zumba Class videos for beginners.  I tried it, and loved it.  I've done 40 minutes of Zumba for 5 days in a row now, and been trying to stay under my calories (though not being so great at that so far).  I am hoping to make this a habit.  Not just hoping... determined!

And hopefully by posting it here for anyone to see, it'll push me to stick with it.  

New Year Goals...

There are two things that stick out in my mind that I'd like to work on as I start this New Year.  

One is losing weight.  Yeah, I know... cliche.  But, Michael and I are starting to talk about Baby #3 and I'd like to lose some weight before getting pregnant.  That's what motivated me last time... I dropped 75 pounds(!) before becoming pregnant with Callen.  Thankfully, I don't need to lose that much weight again... but I certainly need to lose quite a bit again.  Michael and I are going to try to stick close to the Weight Watchers diet and points system.  That's what worked for me last time, so here's hoping!

The second thing I'd like to work on this year is being more patient and gentle towards my boys (all of them!).  I blow up and lose my temper way too easily with them much too often.  They seem to know how to push just the right set of buttons to set me off.  But I don't want my sons to think back on their childhood, remembering Mom as being "mean."  There are ways to keep them in line with out yelling, scolding, etc.  And I need to hold my tongue more often against my husband!

So, no resolutions... just a few goals to throw out there and work on to better myself in 2012.  What are your 2012 goals?

Summer Weight Shedding Challenge, Post 4 (of 12)

I have joined up with some other ladies at The Homeschool Lounge in this Summer weight-loss challenge. I have found that when I have a specific challenge or a real goal and someone to be accountable to, I can do much better! My goal is to lose around 25 pounds.  The challenge lasts 12 weeks, ending on October 7th.

Uhhhhh.  I suck.  Lol.  I don't know if it's me or my scale.  My husband and I have speculated for years now that our scale is wrong... or at least dumb.  I know, I know... suuuurrrre, blame the scale.  It's frustrating.  Either the scale went nuts (which is possible because my son was playing with it the other day), ORRRRR, my body is crazy.  I weighed myself on Friday morning and it showed I was up four pounds.  FOUR?!  What the hey?  This morning, though, it showed I was up to my original starting place for this challenge.  I choose to believe this morning's reading because... it's not as bad, of course!  But I have to admit that I have not been active.  I keep saying I want to be, but I just don't do it.  Besides chasing down my kids through the house and going back and forth with laundry or picking up toys... I am not up to much.  I have the (convenient) excuse of it being 112 degrees outside - I mean, what can I do about that?  I could get the kids up early, try to figure out a way to walk with them to get exercise, but honestly... that does not seem likely.  Preston cannot keep up, gets tired 5-minutes in, can't ride his bike very well... his options are strictly limited.  I can't put them both in the stroller.  My hands are tied.  Yes, convenient excuses... I know.  I obviously don't want to lose weight as bad as I say I do.  Perhaps I should just wait until Fall to really put some effort into it.  Or I could just stop shoving food into my mouth now.  Hmm...

My goal this week is: Stop shoving food into my mouth without thinking.

The great thing about being on WW was that I had to think about and record every single thing I ate.  That really puts things into perspective, and you start going "I don't want to admit to eating this, so I'm not going to!"  I guess I should start recording my food intake and it'd challenge me to make better choices. 

7/15 - 24 pounds to go
7/22 - 23 pounds to go
7/29 - 23 pounds to go
8/05 - 24 pounds to go

Previous Summer Weight Shedding Challenge post can be found here.

Summer Weight Shedding Challenge, Post 2 (of 12)

I have joined up with some other ladies at The Homeschool Lounge in this Summer weight-loss challenge. I have found that when I have a specific challenge or a real goal and someone to be accountable to, I can do much better! My goal is to lose around 25 pounds.  The challenge lasts 12 weeks, ending on October 7th.

Week one is over and I apparently lost a pound.  That's awesome!  I have no idea how, because I didn't do anything that would have helped me lose weight this week.  In fact, to be completely honest, I forgot I was even doing this challenge most of the time.  My bad!  I simply continued to eat whatever I wanted, snack wayyyy too much as usual, etc.  So, it was nice to step on the scale yesterday and see that it was one number less than it was last week.  I'll take it!  I don't, however, expect that to happen again.  I'm not that lucky.  I have to gain control over my snacking.  The boys are constantly hungry, constantly clawing at the pantry door... but I need to learn that just because they are having a snack, it doesn't mean I have to have one.  Especially if I'm not hungry!  C'mon, Jade, duhhhhh!

My goal this week is to 1) remember that I'm trying to lose weight and 2) act like it!  But seriously, I think I'll put a note on the pantry door or the Summer Shedding Challenge Icon at least to remind me that I am on a mission!  I need to do some grocery shopping, so hopefully I can keep myself from buying anything that would be too tempting.  And more fruits and veggies!  I know I can do this if I really put my heart into it!

7/15 - 24 pounds to go
7/22 - 23 pounds to go

Initially, I was only going to blog an update once a month, but I think if I commit to blogging it once a week, I'll be more likely to stay on track or at least be more accountable.  Sorry, this series has gone from 4 posts to 12!  Previous Summer Weight Shedding Challenge post can be found here.

Summer Weight Shedding Challenge, Post 1 (of 12)

I am joining up with some other ladies at The Homeschool Lounge in this Summer weight-loss challenge. I have found that when I have a specific challenge or a real goal and someone to be accountable to, I can do much better!  So, here's hoping!

My goal is to lose around 25 pounds.  The challenge lasts 12 weeks, ending on October 7th.  It's Summer and we aren't going to be able to get out and walk, and I don't have the ability to make it to a gym.  Losing 2 pounds a week is going to be extremely difficult.  But, as long as I see SOME progress, honestly, I'll be happy with myself.  My main problems are portion control and binge snacking!  So, I must curb those things to get control of my weight.

I have had a very successful weight-loss experience in the past.  After seeing a horrific picture of myself and realizing how out of control my weight had become, I signed up with Weight Watchers on March 31, 2008.  On April 9, 2009, I met my goal, having lost 75 pounds!  Honestly, it was a lot easier than I ever thought possible.  I walked my neighborhood and I controlled my portion sizes.  That's really all it took.  My motivation was that I had to lose weight so I could get pregnant again - I didn't want to add baby weight onto my current weight.  It worked!  Two months after I hit my goal weight, I got pregnant with Callen!  Now, we're not ready for another child just yet, but it would be nice to be rid of this extra weight and be back down to my goal weight (the same one I had with WW).  That way when we ARE ready for another kiddo, my body will be ready as well!

So, let's see what happens over the next 12 weeks!

7/15 - 24 pounds to go