Inspirational Quote Sunday

Four steps to achievement: Plan purposefully. Prepare prayerfully. Proceed positively. Pursue persistently. William Arthur Ward
I love this quote.  Not only does it apply to weight loss it applies to life in general.

Do you have a favorite quote?  I plan to post at least one every Sunday that will be my motto for the week.  When I'm feeling discouraged I will look back over them for inspiration.

It's BYOC-BLTN

From Drazil's Blog it's Bring Your Own Crazy (better late than never).  A little ditty where we answer a few questions on Friday to get to know each other better and to give our blogging brains a break. Copy and paste to your own blog if you so desire! Enjoy!

1. Sun or rain? Roses or tulips? Romantic movie or comedy?

Rain.  Sun = hot and the rain makes for a good nap.

2. I've been sick lately and haven't eaten in two days - except for ice cream...which leads me to ask - what's your favorite ice cream flavor?

Ben and Jerry's Phish Food.  It's chocolate with marshmallow fluff, caramel and chocolate fish pieces/  To.Die.For

3. Are you a door locker - in your house and car?

Yes to both house and vehicles.

4. In the spirit of my being sick and wanting to die - tell me your "go to remedies" for when you are sick?

• Toast
• Scrambled Eggs
• Chicken Noodle Soup
• Hawaiian Punch
• The appropriate cold meds
• Tons of sleep
• Lots of whining
• Baths

5. Repeat question: Summarize your week in blog land and in real life.

I'm on my second week of blogging and getting into the swing of it.  I'm up to 16 followers *waves hello* and I'm following about 80 other blogs already!

 

I'm also on week 2 of Jenny Craig.  I lost 3 pounds at my week 1 weigh in and I'm really into the groove with the whole plan.  I am weaning myself off of pop and learning to drink water by adding Crystal Lite.

 

M is still making the rounds with softball tryouts and lessons and will hopefully land a team soon.  We went school shopping and I spent entirely too much money on shoes, so much in fact they should come with a motor in them.

 

One of my soaps All My Children is ending in September.  The writers are bringing back beloved characters from years past and it's making for good TV.  I'm really going to miss AMC but will still have The Young and the Restless and General Hospital.

 

In other TV news I am still watching whiney mcwhineypants Ashley, The Bachelorette.  The season ends on Monday and then Bachelor Pad starts.  Another guilty pleasure.  Also, Project Runway started this week and The Glee Project sent another one home.  I'm a TV junkee.

 

WTF Friday and Other Stuff

From WTF meme where I answer the following questions then link my blog for other bloggers to read and comment on.  Here we go:

1) Be totally honest... Could money buy you happiness (even if it's only for a little while)? 

Definitely yes.  It would take the stress of finances away which is honestly our biggest issue. 

2) Today (July 29) is "National Lasagna Day." What is your pasta dish of choice? If you like lasagna, are you a traditional lasagna type of person or are you into the vegetarian kind with eggplant instead of noodles? 

I'm a fettucine, preferably with seafood, kinda girl.  I like lasagna the traditional way with lots and lots of cheese.

3) How do you feel about people who get permanent makeup (lipstick, eyeshadow, etc. tattooed on the face so the person never has to actually put on makeup again)?

I've only seen one woman with it.  She had eyebrows and I must say it looked silly and fake.

4) The Nickelodeon company has reintroduced its hit teen sitcoms from the '90s (like "All That," "Kenan & Kel," "Clarissa Explains It All," and "Doug") on its TeenNick channel and has broke ratings records doing it. It has also sent the Twitter trending topics into a TeenNick frenzy. Is it too soon to be bringing back the '90s?

Yes!  I'm still stuck in the 80's.  Sigh.


5) Some women go totally insane for men in uniforms and vice versa. How do you feel about people in uniform?

I prefer a man in a nice fitting pair of jeans.

6) When you go to a movie theater, what food/drink items do you get from the concession stand?

Popcorn, Goobers and Diet Pepsi.

7) My entire refrigerator/freezer is covered in magnets. What kind of magnets are on yours?

I have a huge magnet collection from all the places we've visited.  Unfortunately when we moved here last year we only chose to use the functional magnets-like chip clips and other clips that hold papers and things.

8) A recent report by the Center for Science in the Public Interest says Cheesecake Factory's Ultimate Red Velvet Cheesecake contains 1,540 calories and 59 grams of saturated fat, but Saturday (July 30) is "National Cheesecake Day." Are the calories and fat grams worth the tastiness of cheesecake?

Absolutely!  Any year but this year that is.  I just started Jenny Craig so no Cheesecake Factory for me.  Fortunately JC has awesome cheesecake (seriously).

9) Febreze has started a new ad campaign in which they blindfold people and take them into a dirty disgusting room which has been sprayed down with Febreze. When the blindfolds come off, the people are shocked at their surroundings. (Watch a commercial here.) Would you be mad if you signed up to star in a commercial only to find yourself sitting in a room of complete filth?

Not if I was paid a lot of money.  :P


10) Do you think hair shampoo and conditioner bottles really need to have directions?

Yes.  People are really dumb.

On to other stuff.  I've been faithful to Jenny (craig) this week.  I'm still struggling with night time hunger though.  I've been reminded that the more water I chug the more I have to pee.  M has another round of softball tryouts this weekend-wish her luck.  Also going to yet another church to visit (the last one on our list).  We're getting close to finding one I hope!

Have a great weekend everyone!

We Want to Know Wednesday

From Mamarazzi and Queso at Dandelion Wishes it's We Want to Know.

{1} Who would you call if you had to get bailed out of jail?  Either my sister or one of my best friends

{2} If you were a superhero what would your hero name be? Captain Mommy or The Queen of all Things -it's lame but I can't come up with anything else at the moment!

{3} What do you think is one of your best qualities?  My loyalty to those I love. 

{4} What song would you pick to be your own personal theme song?  That's easy!  Bitch by Meredith Brooks (I'm a bitch I'm a lover I'm a child I'm a Mother I'm a sinner I'm a saint...)

{5} What celebrity do you think is most over rated?  Most of them really.  I'm really wishyu washy today!

Weigh In Wednesday

I'll just get right to it.  I had my first weigh in today and I lost 3 pounds.  I know I should be happy because a loss is a loss and all BUT reading all the posts on the Jenny Craig boards really got me in the mindset that I was going to lose BIG.

My goal for this week is to cut back/almost eliminate Diet Pepsi (I drink a lot) and replace it with lots and lots of water.

On another note, a lady at my Jenny Craig Center commented that my pants were loose.  LOL I don't think 3 pounds makes ones pants loose but it made me feel good anyway!

True Confession Tuesday

This is my first time participating in True Confession Tuesday from Sisterhood of the Shrinking Jeans.

My Confessions:

~I am a complete nervous wreck about my first WI with Jenny Craig tomorrow.  I have a number set in my mind that I need to lose to be a success at this diet thing.

~I can't bear to look at myself naked and would die before letting anyone else see me naked.

~I am addicted to Jenny Craig cheesecake.  It is so freakin good.

~On an unrelated note I am still watching The Bachelorette even though Ashley is a whiny whiner who whines.  I was glad when Constantine walked out on her last night and think Ben is adorable.

That's all for me this week. 

Welcome Followers!

I am so glad you stopped by to read my blog and I'd like to follow yours, too.  Make sure you have your blog link in your profile (when I click on your icon it takes me to your profile).  Or include it in your comments to me.  I love reading other blogs for inspiration and support!

**I can't figure out how to reply to comments but know that I appreciate them and will comment on your blogs as well!

Friend Makin Monday

From Kenlie at All the Weigh it's Friend Makin Monday.  Each week Kenlie posts a question which her followers are asked to answer then post a link to our own blog on her site for everyone to read.  This is my first time participating...here we go!

FMM: Defining Moments

Was there a defining moment in which you realized that you needed to lose weight? If so, will you elaborate? (If you experienced this moment in some other area of your life, please feel free to share that too!)

I can't really pinpoint an exact moment that I knew I must lose weight, it's been apparent for a long time.

I was always the thinnest girl growing up and on through college.  I could eat anything and not gain an ounce.  With both my pregnancies I gained 18 and 21 pounds respectively so that wasn't an issue.  Then I got sick first with post partum depression and anxiety (child #2) after a truly terrible pregnancy resulting in 7 months of bed rest, then developing fibromyalgia.

The various medications caused gradual weight gain, some more than others, some extremely so.  I literally gained 39 pounds in approximately 90 days once.  I also have a hard time exercising-everything hurts me.

What prompted me to join Jenny Craig recently was the realization that I am missing out on the big things with my daughter-like attending her softball games.  I typically can't depending on the weather and the distance from the parking lot to the field.  On vacation my wonderful husband took my daughter to a theme park while I stayed behind because I simply couldn't walk the park all day.

I hate what I've become and am determined to do this so that I can be there for the big stuff.



It Tastes Like Chef Boyardee

So I've been loving the Jenny Craig food with the exception of the french toast.  For lunch today I had the rotini with meatballs and I could swear it was from a can of Chef Boyardee.  Blech.

I missed going out to breakfast after church this morning.  I think I'll make it a MOMO (meal on my own in Jenny speak) each week.

Speaking of church, we are on a mission to find one here.  We made a return visit to one this morning and Megan seemed to really enjoy the youth program.  We really need a church home.  Finding a church is so hard and it's so important to make the right choice.

I'm Melting

My daughter had softball tryouts at 9 am this morning where I stood in the sun for a flippin hour.  It was already 90 something at that point.  As much as I was sweating you'd think I'd melt some of these pounds away.  At least in my dreams I did.

I had my 3-day follow up with Jenny Craig after that.  I had the humiliating task of being measured and having my "before" picture taken.  I can't even type my measurements-they are that bad.

Off to the grocery store from there where I filled my basket with yummy fruits and vegetables.  Oh and salad.  Jenny Craig herself says to eat more salad so it must be true.  *wink*

So far I've liked the Jenny food...the cheesy chicken, chicken fettucine, fish and chips, bbq meatloaf, breakfast scramble, personal pizza and turkey burger.  I don't care for the french toast the anytime bars or the soupetizers.  Like I said on Day 1 the cheesecake is to.die.for!

Now I'm going to watch a marathon of Project Runway on Lifetime.  A girl can dream.

BYOC-Bring Your Own Crazy

 I got this off Drazil's Blog...It’s BYOC day! Bring Your Own Crazy! We answer a few questions to get to know each other better and to give our blog brains a break! Copy and paste to your own blog and enjoy!!

1. Alright – forgive me – we’re gonna get a little personal here. I was flipping through my organizer and saw in big bright letters “ANNUAL PHYSICAL DUE” coming up soon. Then I remembered that last year my lady bits doc said that since I haven’t had a bad pap in so many years – that I don’t have to come back for another 3 years if I don’t want to. What the what? Did you guys know that?

No speculum in the vaginulum?

Anywhoozle – it sounds all good but really – do any of you follow this medical rule? Do you go every three years if you’ve never had a bad pap?

My Answer:  I actually haven't gone to the Gyn in several years (yes I need lectured)


2. If you read, what are you reading right now? Or how about what is your fave music right now?

My Answer:  I used to read all the time.  Now I don't have the concentration to.  I do like magazines and subscribe to Redbook and Ladies Home Journal.

I am always into music.  The 80's, Classic Rock, Jimmy Buffet to Carole King-it's on my iPod.

3. Name some of your favorite smells.

My Answer:  Fresh Cut flowers, Yankee Candle's Home Sweet Home fragrance and apple/cinnamon.

4. Showers or baths? Shampoo only or shampoo & conditioner? Shave daily or just when you start feeling and looking like an ape?

My Answer:  Both, showers daily and baths when I shave,  Shampoo and conditioner (I have the thickest head of hair known to woman), shave a few times a week.

5. Repeat question: Summarize your week in real life and in blogland.

My Answer:  If you are reading this you know I started Jenny Craig this week so it's been a week of huge changes for me.  I'm new to blogging and am really getting into reading others.  Check out the ones I'm following.

Day 3 Musings

Since I burned my french toast on Day 1 I was really looking forward to trying it today.  Yuck.  I didn't like it and only managed to eat 1/2 of it.  Isn't it funny how varied our tastes are?  It came highly recommended from my best friend and my sister!

I am having trouble getting all my calories in (1200).  I don't like salad, milk, yogurt, anytime bars.  I've been reading the JC forums and the consensus is that you really need to eat all 1200 calories and follow the plan.  Unfortunately I don't have any literature yet so some exchanges/alternatives will have to wait until tomorrow-my follow up JC appointment.  I have lots of questions!

Day 1 on Jenny Craig

After my initial weigh in yesterday where I spent an hour painstakingly choosing 7 breakfasts, lunches, dinners and snacks I was eager to wake up energized and ready to try this expensive cuisine! 

Based on recommendations from friends and the Jenny Craig forum community I chose french toast with berries.  Somehow I managed to actually burn the french toast so bad that it wasn't edible.  Great start!  I opted for cantaloupe and a Slim Fast.   The bright side is that I actually saved a few calories.   

Lunch was much better. I had the Cheesy Chicken with some broccoli.

For dinner I had the Chicken Fettucine, green beans and some more cantaloupe.

Lastly came the snack.  OMG the snack.  I had the Triple Chocolate Cheesecake and it was to.die.for.

I think I'm really going to like this plan!