Sugar Cravings

Oh sugar...
How I love you...
I wish I could eat...
all the time....
But no...
I must learn....
CONTROL!

So today I was going through sugar withdrawals, which is hard considering I am only allowing myself one serving of dessert per day. Looking back though, I think drinking more water and appropriately using gum can really cut that down.

I sure hope so at least.

Overall, I didnt do so bad today. I ate around 1500 calories and went for a nice bike ride and a 3ish mile walk with a few friends. I am happy with my progress, though I sometimes wish that I didn't have to exert control.....everyone does though at least in one way or another..... mine just happens to be food.

Only One Dessert per Day

I worked out hard this morning, so I am very satisfied with that aspect of the day. The only trouble part is keeping my calorie count. I didn't do it 4 of July because I ate at someone else's house and it is hard to know how they made the food, and then we went off camping which also made it hard to keep track. I don't think I have been too far off, but it is important to keep track. I don't know if I told you, but I am trying to keep my calories between 1500 and 1800 a day. According to the program I am doing you multiply your weight by 7 and that is how many calories you are suppose to eat to lose weight. Since I am nursing I add between 300-500 calories.

I made a rule in the beginning of this that I would only eat one serving of dessert per day, and I have to admit, today I was very tempted to break that rule. I thought to myself... why not just exercise twice and then I could justify that second treat. BUT NO! there is a reason I set that rule, and if I break it once, I will want to break it again. So those few marshmallows that I ate this afternoon will have to be it for today even though I have new skinny cow ice cream bars in the freezer.

I AM IN CONTROL OF MY BODY! Mind over Matter, Baby!

Holiday Weekend

We got back today from visiting the King's Canyon National Park (large sequoia trees). It was a very nice trip, camping up in the mountains. I think I did pretty well keeping my snacking down. Though I admit that it is hard when driving long distances.... That is why I brought sugar snap peas, cut up cucumber, baby carrots, cut up fruit, and some half fat string cheese. We had a lot of fun hiking on some of the trails and camping out in a nice private camp spot. It was a great over-all trip.

By the way, I lost another inch off my waist. I measured myself today. Woopee! (I don't think I have lost anything anywhere else, but hey progress is progress :)

Happy Independence Day!

I weigh in at a whopping 187.6! wahoo! That is 3.4 lbs lighter than last sunday. I like seeing progress. If I continue at this rate, I will be done.... by a week before my goal! Let's keep on trucking.

The never ending workout

This morning I again woke up without the desire to exercise, but since my husband was home. I decided to do something crazy.....go for a bike ride :) It has been a while since I have taken my bike out. I got my bike about a year and a half ago from a mans junk yard. We fixed it up and put tires on it, and I think it is wonderful. Luckily, I am probably the only one :) so I really don't have to worry about anyone stealing it when I am shopping at Wal-mart.

During my bike ride, I went yard sale/garage sale shopping. Not that I bought anything. How could you when you know you have to somehow strap it on to your bike with the rope you don't have.... well it was a delightful bike ride. When I got home, my husband was still taking care of our daughter and so I decided I needed to go to home depot and while I was there I found the perfect plants for out dismal side yard.

So my extra workout was moving a huge pile of dirt off out driveway and planting the 13 plants I bought. Yard work.... the never ending workout. I am amazed at just how much energy it takes. If you were to work as a landscaper/yard worker everyday you would be able to eat anything and everything you wanted, and it wouldn't make any difference. So I worked for about... 4-5 hours out there and I have a sunburn to prove it :)

I like it when my work out makes a difference, when you can see the fruits of your labor. I didn't really count my calories today, but I know I didn't eat very much. It was almost easier to be outside slaving in the hot sun, than to sit in my kitchen these days.

Even though I don't see any significant change in my size or weight. I feel good about myself. I feel that I am participating in my life. It reminds me of the kids that get mad at their parents and say "Well FINE, I am not going to eat dinner" or the student that decides to not do their homework to get back at the teacher, when in reality the only person missing out is the hungry child or the dumb student. Now I understand that even though I might not see all the results right now, at least I am putting in the effort. I am bettering myself and that makes me feel good.

You are my inspiration.....hiker babe

I woke up this morning with out the inkling of desire to exercise. I was thinking that I have worked out everyday this week, whats one day? Well, then I looked at my inspiration pictures.
Thanks to www.divavillage.com

Thanks to www.hubpages.com - which has a great article about hiking as a woman.

and the third picture, thanks to www.alaskainpicture.com

If you hadn't noticed, I would like to be a hiker babe. I want to be the mom at 60 who hikes the whole AT or something (it probably won't happen), but I loved growing up experiencing the outdoors, and I want to pass that on to my kids. At least I can give them the opportunity to love it. So I look at these pictures to give me a goal of what it will be like to do a hiking tour of Alaska or the Alps.

With my motivation in hand, I decided this morning to change things up a bit. I wanted to go swimming. With my baby around, it doesn't happen very often. I called someone to see if they would watch her, and as my back up plan I figured I could always go get a "trial membership" at the YMCA :) In the end, my friend babysat and I got a fun excursion to the pool, what great refreshing exercise.

As far as progress is concerned, you will all be proud :) I have lost two inches off my waist :) It is probably just that my stomach is not stuffed, but none the less, IT COUNTS! Whahoo! I think I have lost about 2 pounds, which is fine by me. I will weigh myself on Sunday to give you the loss for the week. I just have to keep looking at those pictures......

False sence of Freedom

Today I was thinking back on a conversation I had with a friend in college. I asked him when living the gospel would be easy? when I could just stop working so hard? etc. He responded, You can't ever stop, but you will find joy in it the more you do it. So it does get easier as you learn to enjoy the process.

This concept goes hand in hand with how I am feeling today about this journey I am embarking on. Thinking in the future... when will it be easy? when can I just sit back and relax? and the answer is probably never, but I will want the results and enjoy the process.

Thinking about the future it makes me a little sad that I can't just sit back with a bowl of caramel popcorn or eat as much yummy pound cake as I want. I feel a little like I am losing my freedom. Then I think about the law of chastity, and that you are not very free, when upholding that particular law, at least not free in the moment. But in the long run, you have so much more freedom and joy. So with moderation, I can still have pound cake every now an again, and who knows maybe it will end up adding up to more pound cake over my life time than I can eat now, because I won't die early of a heart-attack....