Playing Catch Up and Hoping to Lose It!

So, it's barely 2012 and I feel as if I am already behind.  The kids FINALLY went back to school yesterday (Happy dance!).  I spent all day yesterday and today (so far) catching up on the stuff I cannot do when the kids are home.  You see, taking four kids to the grocery store is my version of being waterboarded!  It is sheer torture.  It's bad enough with the two big kids fighting over which side of the cart they are going to be on and the little one whining and throwing stuff in the cart (that kid has the longest arms!), but throw in the 7 year old autistic kid who screams and squeals the entire time we're in the store, and it is just unbearable!  When we were in Wal-Mart before Christmas, L's computer lab teacher came up to me and said, "I was on the other side of the store and I heard a familiar squeal and I knew it was L".  UGH! 

In other FFB news, I am fat.  There!  I said it.  I'm a fatty.  How do I know I am a fatty?  Well, I've seen myself naked (Yikes!  Who is that fat chick living in my bathroom mirror?) and I've seen pictures of myself.  I mean seriously people, I knew I was chunky, but when I saw me sitting in our Christmas picture, it looked like someone else was in my jeans WITH me.  Gaawlee!  So, as if that wasn't enough, see the chart below. 

Height Weight Chart for Women

Height Feet/Inches	Small Frame	Medium Frame	Large Frame
4' 10"	102-111	109-121	118-131
4' 11"	103-113	111-123	120-134
5' 0"	104-115	113-126	122-137
5' 1"	106-118	115-129	125-140
5' 2"	108-121	118-132	128-143
5' 3"	111-124	121-135	131-147
5' 4"	114-127	124-138	134-151
5' 5"	117-130	127-141	137-155
5' 6"	120-133	130-144	140-159
5' 7"	123-136	133-147	143-163
5' 8"	126-139	136-150	146-167
5' 9"	129-142	139-153	149-170
5' 10"	132-145	142-156	152-173
5' 11"	135-148	145-159	155-176
6' 0"	138-151	148-162	158-179
Weights are for women at ages 25-59 based on lowest mortality. Weight in pounds according to frame (in indoor clothing weighing 3 lbs.; shoes with 1" heels)

 

Okay, I hate this chart.  I am 5'4"  (okay, I am 5'3 and 3/4" if you want to get technical) but then it comes down to frame size.  How do you know if you are small, medium or large frame?  Well, I am a HAUS (Bonanza reference) so I pretty much figured that I was a large frame.  I always heard to go by your wrist size.  I can wrap my middle finger and thumb around my sister's wrist and have room.  I can't even get my finger and thumb around my wrist.  They don't even touch.  But, I figured that wasn't technical enough so I found another chart.

Female Wrist Measurements
	Height less than 5' 2" (Less than 155cms)	Height 5' 2" - 5' 5" (155cms - 163cms)	Height more than 5' 5" (More than 163cms)
Small	Less than 5.5" (140mm)	Less than 6.0" (152mm)	Less than 6.25" (159mm)
Medium	5.5" - 5.75" (140 - 146mm)	6" - 6.25" (152 - 159mms)	6.25" - 6.5" (159 - 165mm)
Large	More than 5.75" (146mm)	More than 6.25" (159mm)	More than 6.5" (165mm)

Again, I am 5'4" (almost) and my wrist measurement is 6.75".  See!  I told you I was a Haus!  So, I'm back on Livestrong and so far so good.  I'm not having too much trouble sticking to my diet YET.  As I mentioned a few weeks ago, my gym sold out and was closed for remodeling so I haven't been in MONTHS!  So, Hubby and I are going in less than an hour.  They reopened in December, but I was working and they don't have a nursery so no kids.  This is the first opportunity I have had to go and I am so excited!  I'm ready to get back at it.  But, I do have one complaint already.  They don't have Zumba anymore.  I loved my Zumba class.  I've thought about buying it for Wii.  Has anybody tried it? 

So, as usual my ultimate goal is not to look like this

BUT, I'd love to look like this again:

Us, eleven years and three kids ago (and with hair for Hubby).

BUT, as much as I would love to be this thin again, I was still barely in my range according to the chart.  I'm much older and less willing to starve myself now.  BUT, I don't have to be a fatty.  I'm off to the gym y'all!  Have a great day!

One more thing...why is it that on the days I am going to the gym, I have really good hair days?  Is that ironic or what?  My hair hasn't looked this good in months  and now I have to put it in a ponytail and go get sweaty and frizzy.  Hate that!  Oh well! 

The Trials of Being A Working Mom

Okay, so I have a whole new respect for working mothers.  I was a working mother, when I had just one child.  I worked for a few months after I had two, but my babysitter in our small town went back to work and I had nobody to keep my new baby.  So, terrified of being broke, but excited to stay home with my new baby, I quit my job.  Now, nine years later, I am working again.  I am a substitute teacher at my kids' elementary school and I love it.  I work 2-3 days a week, normally.  Sometimes more.  Sometimes less.  The problem is, I can't seem to get everything done.  I am WAAAAY behind on blogging and visiting blogs.  I am behind on laundry. 

I am behind on cooking (we've had way to many convenience meals lately).  I am behind on working out and boy can I tell it.  I've gained two pounds and I get winded walking up stairs.  Not good.  I miss being strong.  I miss being thin, although I can barely remember the last time I was. 

What happened to this chick?

It's not as if I have unrealistic expectations.  I mean, I know that picture was taken before I had four kids, when I went to the gym for at least an hour a day after work and had nobody to worry about but myself.  It's not like I expect to look like this:

But if I'm not careful, I might soon be blogging about the application process on The Biggest Loser.  UGH!  So, I've decided I'm going back to using Livestrong.com.  It worked last time.  It's only the first step.  I've also GOT to find more time to work out again.  I need to learn to take time out in the evenings to work out, but it's so hard.  The girls' have dance on Mondays and Tuesdays.  Wednesdays are usually free.  Some Thursdays are taken up by C's band performances at ball games.  Friday is usually free but honestly working out on a Friday night?  I'd much rather be snuggled up on the couch with my Hubby watching a movie and having mexican food.  That's actually my favorite thing to do on Friday night.  Obviously, I have some work to do.  Wish me luck. 

So, what do y'all do to balance work and well, everything else?  Any tips for staying fit and healthy?

Helpful Tools for my New Year's Non-Resolution

Happy Friday Friends!  I mentioned in this post that I was trying to be a healthier version of myself this year.  Part of this commitment is trying to exercise more and eat healthier.  I am tracking my calories on a daily basis so that I can get a grip on my portions and be more aware of how many calories are in the food I eat.  I do not believe in deprivation.  By golly, if I want a cookie, I'm eating a cookie. 

The problem with me is, I have zero self-control.  I would eat the whole plate without giving the calories a second thought.  Did you know one Nestle Tollhouse Cookie has approximately 100 calories.  Oh my gracious!  I had no idea!  EEK!  No wonder I have so much junk in my trunk.  Anyway, I found a great way to track my calories.  I found a website that I has been very helpful to me and the best thing is, it's FREE!  The website is called Livestrong and is sponsered by The Lance Armstrong Foundation. 

This site makes tracking your food so easy.  You can either pick from the list of food they have, including restaurant menu items, or input your own calorie count.  This is the largest list of food I've ever seen on a site like this.  Everything I have eaten, has been on the list.  This site also breaks down the ration of fat, protein and carbs that you consume in the foods you eat.  Experts say the ratio should be around 40% carbs, 30% protein and 30% healthy fat. 

You can also log in your exercise, find out how many calories you should be consuming to lose or gain weight in a healthy manner.  There are forums on everything under the sun, including everything from high blood pressure to quitting smoking. 

I have used several other websites in years past, but this one is by far the best.  Check it out.

On another note, the weather gurus are calling for us to get snow starting Sunday.  SNOW!!!  I am trying not to get my hopes up, but I can't seem to help myself.  I soooo love the snow and we rarely get any.  So, hopefully Monday I can post a few pictures of snow!  Fingers crossed! 

I'm linking this post to Homebody Holly's Tips and Tricks Party.  Check it out!

Hope y'all have a great weekend!

**Photos are from Google Images.

BEEP. BEEP. BEEP.

Beep.  Beep.  Beep.  Oh, hear that?  It must be a truck backing up.  I hope it sees me.  Oh crap!  They're doing that for me.  I'm the "wide load" backing up.  That's right.  My butt is as big as the side of a barn!  UGH!  I try so hard to give up the yummy, but bad for me food and I do well during the day, but when Hubby comes home and we finally get the kids in bed at night and we settle in to watch TV, all I wanna do is eat - and I don't mean carrots and celery (Eww!).  I'm talking about those durn Golden "crack" Oreos or the Caramel Brownies I made a few weeks ago.  Kit Kats (they have crack in them too, btw).  Peanut M & M's.  Nestle Tollhouse Cookies.  Chocolate.  Chocolate.  Chocolate.  Maybe with a side of white cheese dip and guacamole.  YUM!  Hubby is perfectly happy with a chocolate protein shake so he's lost a few pounds, but not me.  I don't want liquid, I want a treat!  I want rich, chocolatey goodness!  So....

I ordered these.  They are called VitaTops Muffin Tops and VitaBrownies.  My sister told me about them last year and they are marvelous!!!  She found them on the Hungry Girl website.  They have a few varieties at our Kroger (in the organic freezer section) but I wanted more variety.  I got the sampler pack from the Vitalicious website.  I've only tried a few of the varieties so far, but they've all been pretty good.  My favorites so far are:  Deep Chocolate VitaTops and Dark Chocolate Pomegranate Vitabrownies.  FABULOUS!  Best part?  They are only 100 caolories and have 5-6 grams of fiber each.  I think that makes them 1 WW point.  I can eat them instead of the other bad for me chocolate junk food with 0- fiber and at least 250 calories!  What a fab substitute.  I've actually lost 3 pounds in the last few weeks.  YEA!  I've still got a long way to go, but I hope I'm on my way. 

BTW, I am NOT being paid and I am NOT receiving anything free from this company.  I'm just sharing good information with my bloggy peeps.  Just a little FYI!

Resolutions

Okay, so I'm a little late on the resolution action. I have several.


RESOLUTION #1


GET IN BETTER SHAPE!!!


Okay. So, let's just be honest about this, shall we? I'm 30 something with four kids. I am not now, nor have I ever been below a size 8 (except for about 10 minutes in high school). I have always had some junk in the trunk. I am shaped like a giant pear. I've learned to live with it, even like it a little. BUT, I do need to lose a few pounds. I used to go to the gym 3 to 4 times a week until the sweet lady (Hi Ms. Sherry) who kept the nursery had to quit. I haven't been back since. That was 6 months ago. I've got to get off my tush and get healthy and hopefully lose a few pounds. Nuff said!



RESOLUTION #2

GET ORGANIZED!!!!!!!!!!


If you've read my profile, you know that I'm not June Cleaver. Somehow, that whole organization gene missed me. My mom, my sister, even my little brother, got it. Not me! I'm completely overwhelmed with stuff. I get way too emotionally attached to things people have given me or things the kids bring home from school, etc. This adds up to WAY too much clutter! I don't mind the cleaning, but I just don't know how to organize stuff and keep it that way.


At my father's suggestion (thanks Dad), I signed up for FlyLady. You get daily emails that suggest cleaning and/or organizational tips every day. Yesterday, I was to shine my sink.





I shined my sink. Two hours later. It looked like this.



Now, was that worth the hour of time it took me to clean it? I'm just saying. This whole cleaning/organization thing is gonna be tough.