Not a Multi-Tasker

Retta is having a contest. I can't help her with her contest, because I'm what I like to call kitchen challenged. It's all I can do to keep track of food groups and points. It's a very cool contest, though, so please pop on over and take a look. I hope some of you great cooks can help her come up with some good plans!

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My son is sick. He's been having really bad insomnia due to the ADD meds. Once last week he was awake at 5 in the morning--he had not slept. So I let him sleep in, we did school when he got up. I don't think this is working. The kid has bags under his eyes, he felt toxic and sick and had a throbbing headache all day. So will go back to the doctor and stop taking the meds. Poor kid. He loved the ability to focus, but it's not worth it if you lose sleep and become ill.

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Went thrifting this morning, came upon some really bad garage sales. I gave up on sales and went to Salvation Army and another Thrift Store. I found three FIRM tapes for $1 each, so I snapped them up. I was happy. After that we all went to the sporting goods store where hubby bought me 5-, 8- and 12-pound weights with a holder. I also got gloves because I didn't like the feel of the weights. (I wanted the pretty colored ones, but they were too expensive.) I cannot believe the price of weights! Good grief! I had no idea. These will hold me for quite awhile.

I did my strength training today in one of my new outfits!!! Had hubby take a photo of me, but the shirt is so tight that it is too gross to publish. It fits--it's a snug shirt, but it reveals all the bulges and it's just one of those things that nobody wants to see. lol

I wanted to journal about my exercise experience, and I didn't really want to clutter this up with daily exercise posts. That's why I have the exercise calendar--but I want more. I want details, what weights i used, how I felt, etc., because I want to go back and compare. So, I started a blog that I was just going to keep to myself, but then I decided to link to it on the side. It is called 282.5 Firming Up. Yes, it's a play on words as I am so in love with The FIRM (the older stuff) that I'll mostly be focusing on that. I'll throw some Richard Simmons and Leslie cardio in, too, but The FIRM was made for me: It's girly-girl yet tough, and it just makes me feel good to watch/do it.

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I will be cleaning like a fiend tomorrow and don't know if I'll be making blog rounds again. This is really bothering me. I try when I have a five-minute block of time, but it's just not cutting it. Give me a week and I'll be good. I hope. It just seems everything usually hits me at once, and I am not a multi-tasker. I had so much laundry today (and I'm still not even close to being done) that I felt like loading it up and going to a laundromat. lol I didn't.

That is all my fault, though, as I let things slide a bit. I'm paying the price now! At least school is ready for next week and I have zero prep work for that.

Happy weekend.

Bless You, Wal-Mart

Tonight I fell asleep at 6 pm, awoke at 7:30. Hubby and son ate something, I was starved, so my son and I grabbed the grocery list and then went to Subway. My first pop since last weekend, and I absolutely enjoyed it. After we ate, we went to Wally World. (I did not buy pop at Wal-mart!)

I wanted to look at weights, and on our way over there I passed the "skinny people clothes" the territory that I dare not step foot in. I noticed a huge display of workout gear. I looked at my son, and said, "Let's go look for Susie." He loudly protested, "Mom, you're looking for you!!!" Then he got an earful. I told him how hard it was for me to step into the skinny people section, blah, blah, blah, and if I pretend I'm looking for someone else, I don't feel self conscious. I told him the size pants I was looking for: 18, and a 20 top. I said find me something.

And he did and I did. I ended up getting two pair of workout shorts size 16/18, one of which I tried on the second I got home and am still wearing even though it still has the tags in it. I am also wearing one of four new tops, size 20, short sleeves. REAL exercise clothes, the kind that wick sweat away, the cute, trendy, hip stuff. ON ME. The shirts are pretty colors. This girly-girl got pink, peach, light blue and heather gray--all my favorites!

Granted, I wouldn't be caught dead in public in the shirts, they're skin tight and show everything. The shorts? I would wear outside. I told my husband it will be cool to see more of me when I'm working out. lol

I am so psyched. Our Wal-mart never carried this stuff, I looked and looked. Now I feel real, less sloppy, and ready for my workout tomorrow. Of course a tad bit broke, but the shorts were $7 apiece as were the shirts. Can't go too wrong at those prices. They were on clearance. I'm wondering if I should go buy some smaller stuff while it's greatly reduce for this winter. Will pay bills tomorrow and see how much money I have.

It's the little things in life. I feel like I fit in a bit more, having real exercise clothes. lol I'll still wear my pajama bottoms, as I only got two pair of shorts, but I'm happy.

Finding exercise clothes at my local Wal-mart that I can wear? I count that as an NSV for sure!

Aaargh!

AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAARRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRGGGGGGGGGGGGGGHHHHHHHH!!!

I can't keep up with anything but school. I've been trying to figure out my exercise stuff, too. My house is a pit, laundry is piled up--it seems I have double laundry now that hubby has to dress up for work and then changes when he gets home, I have furballs floating on my floor and I don't even care anymore...and I'm so behind on blog reading I don't know that I'll catch up.

My son's medication has been causing him insomnia. When he can't sleep, I don't sleep well because I wake up listening for him or else I hear him get up. In the morning he's tired due to lack of sleep. We're hoping that this changes as he becomes used to the meds again. This has made me one very tired mom.

This chaos usually lasts 2-3 weeks when we start school. It's such a jolt to the system. Then things will settle and we'll be in our routine. Until then, Calgon, take me away. If only I had time for a nice, long soak. =)

The good news, the pain is all gone. That's its history, it comes and goes. Crazy.

Wednesday

My new order of The FIRM stuff arrived today. Sadly, I couldn't do it. "The pain" that I have had for years now was rearing its ugly head with a vengeance. It was so bad I was doubling over, crying out, and very fearful. This sucks. I need to make a doctor appointment and get it checked out again. Hopefully we'll be able to figure it out. Tonight it was the worst it has ever been. Ugh.

My husband suggested I go through my old prescription bottles and look for a pain killer. Ibuprofen doesn't touch the pain. I took a Vicodin left over from last summer's sinus infection. I don't think I ever need to fear becoming addicted to pain medications, as there is still half a bottle left. Anyway, the pain is mild now, and I'm a little bit stoned drunk. Funny, I don't drink or do drugs, but I'm feeling it.

School today was great. My son's ADD meds are working wonderfully! He's doing school in much less time and I don't have to sit next to him to help him with his focus. I'm sure maturity has something to do with it as well, but there is a huge night and day difference from last year. This is such a huge relief to me. It was a difficult decision to start ADD meds. He has neurological issues, epilepsy, ADD, etc. We have coped and tried techniques to help with focus, but it got worse. Now? His confidence is soaring, his focus is clear. What a huge blessing.

We have unintentionally gone pop free. Pop is what I call soda, soda pop, Coke, Diet Coke, whatever you call it. Coke Zero and Diet Sierra Mist are my favorites. Hubby favors Diet Coke. Sunday we were out, and when I ran to the store for milk, I didn't pick any up. We're out of milk again, so hubs is going to run to the store after some show he's watching, and he said he's not buying pop. It's amazing how much more water I drink. I only had one pop a day, but I bet I've consumed double-triple the amount in water. That will save us a lot of money.

I'm not giving up pop forever, though. I enjoy a fountain pop every now and again. Yet, this is one big step toward better health in not drinking it every day. I'm surprised my husband is on the band wagon, too. He drinks more than I do. Funny, my son hates pop. Always has. He always orders milk or water at restaurants, and he always gets complimented for doing so. lol He just doesn't like pop.

I did not plan on doing this, it just happened. Perhaps my mind is stronger than I give it credit for: leaning in the better direction, even when I don't plan it! Definitely a NSV!

I'm going to bed. I'm still feeling the pain, and I'm loopy, so I'm just going to call it a night.

Blog or Sleep? Blog Wins

I'm tired.

We had a great first day of school. My son enjoyed his biscuits and gravy, and I didn't miss an egg McMuffin one little bit.

We jumped in full force with school and my son accomplished a lot. I love watching him grow and mature. I hope his great attitude lasts. He's a good kid.

When we finished school, I worked out. Richard Simmons' Disco Sweat today. My Collage order will arrive tomorrow. It's nice to live in the same state, even if I did have to pay sales tax. I am very eager to work out with a new tape.

Hubs took the son and dogs for a long walk when he got home for work. Phy ed, I guess.

My enthusiasm over The FIRM has touched everyone in the house. Even though we have a BowFlex, hubs has been researching weights. My son whispered to me that he wanted to learn to lift. Hubby heard him and took over and quickly squashed son's desire. Tomorrow I'll surprise my son with a Strength Training for Young Athletes book I have, and we'll study that as part of our phy ed. While I'm learning a thing of two from The FIRM, I'll also hit MizFit's videos to watch proper form. I will go buy my kiddo some weights, and I can help him (God help me!) while his dad is at work. My son is at that age where his dad annoys him. I wonder if I'll ever annoy him? Oh, I already do, but hubby is worse.

Cooked supper, cleaned up, went over school for tomorrow, did some tweaking with our school stuff, did some laundry, played with the doggies, and poof, the night was gone.

I scanned blogs really quickly, but didn't comment...except JackFit's. lol! And Karen! Oh my! Both were a good laugh.

So welcome to the world of a homeschooling mom at the beginning of the school year: I won't be around much until we get our routine down pat and I figure out when I can get online. I hate not keeping up with my friends and commenting, but that's life.

Now, time for sleep so I can get up and do it all over again tomorrow.

Can't Sleep

Tomorrow we start school, and here I am, wide awake. I'm so not ready for school, the routine, the lack of freedom--yet I'm very ready for it at the same time.

Every year the first year of school it has been our tradition to go to Hardee's drive through for biscuits and gravy for my son and a ham, egg and cheese biscuit for me. Well, Hardee's closed. We now have Arby's, and last year we drove through Arby's for DS and McDonald's for me. I always order 2 Egg McMuffin combos. I've been debating if I want to spare the fat and points for such a breakfast tomorrow. I don't think I do. My son really wants to continue his tradition, and I will accommodate him.

This morning I did one of my The Firm exercise DVDs. I did Maximum Body Sculpting with Tracie Long. It's an older tape. I like their older tapes better than the current versions. I did not use weights, I used my old step bench which is only a few inches high, and I took it very easy. I didn't want to injure myself. That all said, I was simply amazed--I poured sweat. I couldn't figure it out because it wasn't that difficult. I really enjoyed it. I mean really, really enjoyed it. I enjoyed it so much that I spent too much time online previewing The Firm videos and bought myself some more.

Their whole premise is you do cardio, sculpt, and a combo of cardio/sculpt in rotations. There are lists on the net floating around telling you which is which. I don't like their cardo tapes, so I didn't buy any. I have my beloved Richard Simmons tapes plus I won Ang's random pick in her summer challenge, so I'll soon have a Leslie Sansone video! How cool is that! (I also won a Hungry monster, a pair of Laura Silverman earrings and the Biggest Loser cookbook. I have picked that book up at Wal-mart many times to buy it, put it back down because I'm a cheapo. I was very happy this morning, thanks so much, Ang, and thanks random generator. lol)

So I bought a couple of the older Firm cardio/sculpt DVDs and another sculpt tape. I like their older stuff because it's not so hyper, it uses steps -- fanny lifters or transfirmers. I bought a transfirmer also. It's like a step, only it can go up to 14 inches high. It reminds me of a younger me--because the tapes are old, if that makes any sense.

I did notice something very interesting. I watched the three DVDs I have already purchased, and I've done two of them. They use the skinny, perfectly in shape men and women. This used to be off putting to me and one reason I liked Richard Simmons so much, as he uses all sizes of people. I've changed. I actually enjoyed looking at the beautiful bodies. It actually gave me great hope and inspiration. Could I be like that? Well, not likely as I don't plan on losing that much weight, but could I look really firm and fit at whatever goal weight I settle on? This was an amazing moment for me, because I had never thought that far ahead. It has never been what I would look like, it's always been fear of diabetes, getting my health in check.

I now have a desire to tone, to build my body, to be strong. After all the whining that I've done on this blog about resistance training, I now have a tool--a few of them--that I enjoy and will give me the strength training I've been so lacking. The old tapes are more girly-girl--it's a beautiful setting, the women have grace and poise, and due to the age, they're wearing pretty colors. lol It's just so ME.

Perhaps over time this will rev my metabolism a bit, too. I've lost an average of 1.2 pounds per week, according to my Weight Watchers report, since starting this journey. I'm thrilled, but I've also seen people start after me and are way ahead of me in weight loss. I'm thrilled for them. I didn't do all the work necessary to get there, they did. Plus, this is my own personal journey, and while I notice those things, I worry more about my own journey.

This journey is full of amazing discoveries. With each step, things get better. I am really excited about bringing exercise back into my life, having some variety. I've done Richard Simmons off and on for over 20 years--it's time to change things up a bit.

I wonder if I'll see "visible improvement after 10 workouts" like The Firm claims. I have taken my measurements, so we shall see.

Well, off to bed. Homeschool mom must be well rested for our big day tomorrow.

Monday Morning Weigh-In

Current Weight: 235

Loss: 4 pounds!!!

Total Loss: 47.5

I guess this really proves last week's gain was a fluke. I'm very happy today!

Oh, another red star for me! I hit another 5-pound mini-goal.