E2E update….

Nothing is the same, everything is the same. How do you explain these feelings is hard or really impossible. It’s not always down or hard but it’s not the opposite either. I know, it’s just weird. I so want green grass, sunshine, warmth and gardens, lawns, dirt, camping lots more. I want to get back to exercising on a regular basis. I want to get on the scale and not worry the ups and downs. I just need to get some of the me back. I would love not to hurt all the time. Be tired. I know it’ll happen but for now I’ll stick with pause, with maintenance  and when the time is right again I’ll know and be there to kick butt.

My update isn’t grand but I’m not quitting, I’m not stopping, I’m not even pausing I’m just going to take it all a day at a time right now. It’ll work out.

I do have some super good news to help. Mike was offered a full time job starting tomorrow until he heads to college in April. He’ll be home every night and will leave when I leave in the morning to drive bus. It’s the best of all worlds. We got to learn a bit about being away and learning. We got to have a week off where Mike was able to help me with daycare and be home and now full time until late mid April. YEAH!!!

The next 7 weeks will be getting Mike ready for college. Time to start packing up things he’ll need to set up house with 3 other students. We really don’t have a list as of yet but I can imagine the normal stuff.

Take care my friends and have a blessed rest of this week.

Pray for Mir….

Mir needs your assistance. She needs your support. She needs your friendship. She needs your prayers and mostly she needs your love. Please stop by and give her lots.

My update will come tomorrow.

Blessings!!

Me too....

Just like Mir and so many others I hate the new verification rules so I disabled them but I am going to use the moderator so you won't see your comments right away. A lot of you already do this.
Just wanted you to know.
Hope you're having a great weekend. I am working on Abby's birthday goodies and also our daycare Valentine party goodness. I'm sure there will be pictures to share later this week.
Take care my friends, blessings to you all!!

E2E week 7, midway point…

Well I’m suppose to try on my outfit…That’s not going to happen yet. I’m still up 5 lbs from when we started this challenge however there is 7 weeks left and I will be in this swimming suit and as soon as I think it’ll start to fit right I will show you all.

My weight is back to 180 lbs. That is down 5 lbs from last week. It’s not possible, I know this but just maybe things are turning around and I’m getting back into the swing of things. Or finally I’ve got back into pooping regularly and learning when I can drink water and make the bus runs without feeling like I was going to explode. I know the swelling is down in my legs and hands. I know that my middle isn’t quite so blowed up.

My waist is 38” so it’s shrinking and the rest of me is shrinking also though just slow and steady.

My goals for the E2E challenge was to tone up my body, lose a few more pounds and my most important quest, to learn to run and enjoy it. Well I am toning up my body, working on losing what I gained back and then some more and running, running is awesome.

Today I went to the gym and figured no matter the amount of people I was going to work out and get some strength training done. I was there for better then two hours and ran a 5K in 32:18 minutes, did 15 minutes on the elliptical for a total of 3 miles and then 5 minutes on the bike for a total of 1.5 miles. Then to the free weights and machines for better then an hour.

Today I also signed up for my first 10K. I figured it’s time to add a few more miles to my runs and even if there’s a couple miles of walking mixed in I’m happy.

My quote for running is: "If you want to become the best runner you can be, start now. Don't spend the rest of your life wondering if you can do it." -Priscilla Welch  And that is what I’m doing, just doing it.

I am still not sure what’s up with me. My body still aches, my mind is still a bit jumbled and my moods just not like usual but I’m working through it. Terri is going to mix up some natural goodness to see if she can help me a bit more with the hormonal stuff and mood issues and also since my body aches could be my Lyme’s acting up she’s got something for that too. I’m game for the natural approach to anything a doctor can give me if at all possible.

I went back to reading … I wasn’t impressed though because I’m not quite as visual as this book wants me to be. Like I’m suppose to have a picture the visualizes my life. Now I do have a picture that I can stare at and find some peace so maybe that’s sorta what she’s talking about. I’ll keep reading and see what’s next.

I am enjoying this book more…But really this is what I want to be doing.

Also, I have 670 miles on last years running shoes so last weekend Jim bought me a new pair. They are just a general running pair until we can go to a running store and I can get fitted and find exactly what I really need but they feel good and right now that’s what counts.

We have 7 weeks left of this challenge. I have 9 weeks left until I turn 50. I will be at my goal weight (170) then, I will be running a full 5K (in 32 minutes or less) by then and I will be healthier then I have been for the past 25 years. That is my goal and I want it really bad so that means it is time to really kick this challenge in the butt. I also want to get whatever it is that’s making me a bit off under control or at least figured out.

I will be checking on all of you in the challenge this week and I hope that you are all doing great. If not if I can help I will, if I can give you a word of advice, a hint, a pat, a kick anything I will. I’m learning, not wise yet, definitely not wealthy but I am learning.

Take care you all and have a blessed weekend.

My next achievement…gonna be…

So Deb has been doing some amazing running and she joined in on Momma’s Spring Fever run and I’m going to join also. I am also going to sign up for my first ever 10K. I know I can’t run the full thing, I’m just getting the 5K’s into runs but I’ll do the walk/run and just see what I can do. I’m excited to give a new run a start. This challenge runs from March 1-15th so I’m going to shoot for the 10th, a Saturday morning, and just see what I’m capable of.

If you’d like to join, just head on over to Move it Momma's and read and decide. It is perfect to go with my E2E challenge to learn and enjoy running.

Take care and have a blessed weekend.

Can’t put a finger on it…

But something isn’t right with me. Oh I don’t mean my usual mind, that’s always a half a bubble off. I am not feeling right. It’s even hard to explain but I am overly tired and I am getting 6-7 hours a sleep a night. I am ready to cry and it’s not cuz Mike is working away because he’s been home this week, it’s not about college because that’s still 9 weeks away. It’s not my TOM or at least it shouldn’t be until the end of next week. My body hurts but not terribly just enough it’s hard to keep moving, even my hair hurts today. I’m not sick, at least not like the flu or a cold or anything like that. I just don’t know. I don’t feel depressed though all these things sorta point that way but really I don’t think so. There’s light in my tunnel so it’s not deep and dark. I haven’t been on my computer more then an hour a day, long enough to get my mail, check up on a few of you and maybe write a short post but even my computer isn’t drawing me in like it usually does. Diet wise I’m not excelling but I’m not drowning either. Exercise is almost non-existent (except my running/walking, that I try and get in at least 5 times a week and so far so good) but it’s not cuz I don’t want too it’s more I can’t fit it in or maybe I’m not trying hard enough because I’m off. I just don’t know. I don’t think I’ve been “me” since Christmas time. I sure in the heck haven’t been very helpful to anyone, I sure in the heck aren’t very motivational, and I know that I’m a bore to read. I have thought about just quitting my blog and see where life heads but I know that when it comes to Mike leaving I am going to need you guys more then ever. I guess I’m just lost. I did think about going to the doctor and seeing if my thyroid isn’t in the right numbers yet (in November we re-adjusted the meds) or talking to him about the hormonal crap but I just got a bill from last November’s lab stuff and they want $250.00 and this has to be paid first so guess for now I’ll just hang in there and maybe all of it is just that winter blues and once spring rolls around things will level off and be better.

There is lots of good stuff too, like I am enjoying my time with Jim in the garage though I do get my feelings hurt because I have to go talk to him out there and he doesn’t want to come in and talk with me. I am loving the bus driving though it is a very stressful job, making sure 40 students get to and from school all safe and sound. I am loving having just Joss for my daycare though just one doesn’t come close to paying the bills, thank God for driving bus. I am loving, really loving, the fact Mike has been off this week and is here to talk to, touch, have help me and more. The sun is shinning and that’s always a huge plus. Here’s what I saw on my way home last night. It was snowing, sunny and a funny yellow color (in the picture you can’t see the yellow but it really was strange). My parents, sister, friends and family are all healthy and doing pretty good. I am worried about the driver I’m subbing for, he has cancer and they think they got it all on Tuesday but he’ll be gone for a while and he’s 72 years old and …. well I’m worried, but he’s so glad that he picked me as his sub and he’s trusting me with his kids.

I’m just off and weird and needed to chatter with you and need to take time to see what you’ve all been up too. Maybe tonight I’ll just come and sit and read some of what you’ve been up too.

Okay, I’m done. You don’t have to say anything, I know it’s me and I just need to find what’s up. I will because I hate not being the smiley, happy me, even though I’m not terrible I’m just not “me”.

Take care my friends and I’ll be back with the E2E challenge update this weekend. Have a blessed day!!

Oh I gotta share what Joss made for her mama today. She was gone on Monday and yesterday we played outside so today we made her mama Valentine’s flowers.

Midweek E2E Challenge…

So it’s Wednesday already. WOW, life is sure in a hurry. I would so love for it to slow down just a bit. Mike will be gone before I know it, summer will be here and there will be yard work and gardening and camping and fishing and hiking and ….. but life sure could slow down just a bit.

I have gotten in 4 - 4 mile runs/walks this week. I didn’t go today, or at least not yet I haven’t. With it lighter when I get home at night I am hoping to get a good one in tonight just depends on a visit with my aunt-in-law or grandma. With both of them alone a good part of the day I try and stop by and see then as often as I can.

While in the bus today I made a daily plan for exercise and eating. No refine sugars and no extra fruit sugars, 50 crunches and a 4 mile jaunt. The crunches are finished, the walk is planned for tonight and the sugars … well close…I had a mini blueberry muffin after they came out of the oven and one Oreo cookie. Of course they are calculated into my journal for the day so I won’t go over but I didn’t stick to my plan. So I’ll carry it over for the rest of today and again tomorrow. These mini challenges seem to work better for me then either a weekly one or monthly one. One day at a time just is more simpler right now.

I am noticing that my tummy is not shrinking. It’s from all the sitting and lack of gym exercises. Since I can’t get to the gym I need to find a routine that I can do here that will work on these issues. My legs and butt and arms are doing good but that’s from the running but my middle, it really needs help. I found a couple really cool sites for exercise ball exercises and also 15 Pilates moves for beginners that will work on those core muscles. I am a work in progress and I can see it being my life time goal to just keep toning and moving.

No reading time, I have visited you all in this challenge at least once and a few others but my time is limited now more so then ever so I just get a bit here and there.

That’s about it for now.

I wish you all the best this week. Take care and have a blessed afternoon.

E2E Challenge update…

I am still not feeling great so this post is just going to be the facts and I’m going back to bed or at least to the couch.

My weight stayed the same this week, 185.4 (really it was 185.1 but that’s not enough to say anything about). My measurements didn’t change either for the week. My book is awesome, I’m  back to reading…

I have stopped by all of you this week at least once and I tried a few more. Casey was on vacation this week and I can’t wait to hear about it when she’s home and settled. My quotes I shared this week with another blogger that wants to run and is at a crossroads and I’m hoping the helped her like they have me. It just reminds me that if I really want to become a runner, just keep doing it. "If you want to become the best runner you can be, start now. Don't spend the rest of your life wondering if you can do it." -Priscilla Welch

And yesterday I did my run for the Healthy Heart Weekend, I did prove to myself that even though I felt horrible that I can push myself and do what I have committed to and get it done.

So that’s my update guys. Nothing fantastic. Just another week in learning to take care of me so that I can become the happy, healthy Julie I want to be.

Take care everyone and I hope that this week is a fantastic week for you. I have a small worry that I am going to figure out. Since I am driving full time bus for the next 4-6 weeks I am hoping that I can get in my exercise so that sitting on my butt doesn’t turn it all to mush and I gain back all that I’ve worked to lose. I’m not sure when the gym will fit in my schedule so am thinking it’ll be running here in the dark when I get home and fish flopping exercise to a DVD. I can do this, I am going to do this. I don’t want to get fat again.

Blogger’s Healthy Heart Weekend…and…

My run in the snow for Bloggers’ Healthy Heart weekend hosted by Lori at Finding Radiance didn’t go as planned today. For one thing our snow just isn’t, for another I am feeling punky and it was –10* this morning and didn’t get much warmer then zero but….yep there’s a but…I ran my road instead. It wasn’t in the snow since the road is clear and clean but I went even though feeling yucky. No, it didn’t make me feel better like I had hoped but it did do my mind and soul good because I said I was going to run and I did. Along with this running I am also recommitting to eating extra healthy and taking good care of me.

                                  

I’m not sure if I have the touch of the flu or just really tired but I went to bed at 10 last night slept till 8 this morning and then took a 3 hour nap this afternoon but whatever it is will pass and I can say that even though it was cold and I was punky I did a 5K run in 38 minutes in the winter.

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I hope you all had a great Saturday. My nephew has been here since game night last night and I just love watching him and Mike play and enjoy themselves. Last night we play Monopoly with grandma and of course I lost. Heck I never win that game and am the first one always to go bankrupted. It’s the electronic one so the boys can’t cheat and Mike got to be the banker with the little adding/subtracting device.

Then this morning the boys and I played games on the Wii. We bowled, played tennis and golfed.

I had to get a shot of the boys together but of course they’d sit for one and it’s not the greatest but it’s still a picture for me. I think Mike looks like a little boy in the picture while Scott looks like the older one. They are 3 years apart in age.

So that was my Saturday. A good one even though not feeling tip top. I’m going to have chicken soup for supper and just sit and watch a movie. Mike brought one home from the gas station so it’ll be nice to just sit and relax.

Tomorrow is my E2E Challenge update. Nothing fantastic there but still hanging in there.

Take care my friends and have an awesome and blessed evening and a terrific Sunday.

Midweek update….

Up until Tuesday evening I was doing great with everything. Exercise was in, book was getting read, food was on plan, I was getting to visit you all and then Wednesday rolled in and so did more work and less time to do the other stuff. I am subbing both am and pm’s which means up and out of the house by 5:30 and not home in the evening until after 6:00. In between of course is daycare and family and what else makes my life run. So the exercise is on the back burner until Saturday which I will still have in 4 days this week but with 3 off in a row it’s hard to get back at it. Food plan is not terrible but since I don’t eat before my run I am starving when I get home so I have breakfast and lunch within 3 hours of each other and then it’s 7+ more hours before the next meal and I hate eating after 7:00. And for reading, heck by time I get into bed at 10:00 I can’t keep my eyes opened so again the book is on hold. However, next week I will be driving all 5 days plus I have an activity on Tuesday so won’t be home until midnight. It’ll work out, just requires extra planning which really is no excuse since I just need to take the time to do it. It’ll all work out, I’ll make it.

My crockpot is getting a workout. It’s so much easier when I get home to put something in there and have it ready when I get home. However Mike is not about to eat soup everyday of the week so that means I need some hearty meals too. Yesterday was spaghetti made with all my garden goodies and whole wheat noodles. So it’s not bad for me but it is higher in carbs then soup. Tonight I put chicken breast in onions and mushrooms on a bed of stuffing (I don’t eat stuffing so that part is good) and I made whole wheat bread from cracked wheat and oat bran. Need to make a salad but can do that when I get home. But as you can see suppers are a bit heavier then they use to be. Breakfast is oatmeal and lunch is usually yogurt with some fruit. And water, well I drink tons between 9 and noon and then from 6-9 but in-between, it’s a ship here and there. I do get really close to a gallon in but I sure do know when I don’t, my head begins to hurt and it takes a couple of days to get back to normal. It’s all adjustment and I bet just as I get all settled and get it together the rules will change again and either I will have a different shift, different daycare or it’ll be summer time and it’ll all be screwy. Oh well, at least I am never, ever bored.

I hope that you all are doing great. I have read some of you are bored out of your minds, others are stuck, others are doing so well that it makes it even harder to keep going because they are doing great and you (really me at times) just get discouraged. Well don’t let it, just keep plugging along because even if the scale hasn’t moved in the last couple of weeks and you’ve been working your butt off, it’ll happen. Everything catches up eventually. I don’t understand why sometimes it’s just like wham bam thank you madam and the weight leaves and other times dynamite wouldn’t even remove it. I have faith in you though, I know that if you keep your nose to the grind stone you will lose what you want, you will tone up, you will maintain, you will succeed!! I know you will!!

Take care you all and I’ll have my E2E weekly update ready sometime this weekend. May the good Lord bless and keep you all safe.