Kindergarten Contemplations

It’s hard to believe that I’m even writing this post because I am having difficulty with the fact that my baby will soon be old enough for school.  It really doesn’t seem like five years since Todd and I held her in our arms and thanked God for her miraculous birth!  And I’ve heard it only gets faster…

We have some big decisions coming up in the next couple of months about Grace’s education.  There are so many things to consider.  Of course, each option has both pros and cons, and we are prayerfully seeking the best choice for us.

Side note:  This post is not meant to criticize any school or program.  A parent’s right to determine the best education for their child(ren) is a highly personal and subjective matter.  There is no right answer for everyone!

Todd and I have not made a final decision yet, but here are the options that are available and my thoughts on the matter:

1.  LOCAL PUBLIC SCHOOL

PROS:  I am a former employee of the current district in which we reside.  I know a lot of people and I have a high level of confidence in the kindergarten program in our neighborhood school.  This is obviously the easiest option for us to choose because it is FREE and CONVENIENT (a short walking distance from our home).  It would be quite easy for me to become involved in the school.  A few of Grace’s friends from church will be beginning this school in the fall, so she will see some familiar faces.  It would also be nice to be a part of the local community in which we live.

CONS:  The class size is large (up to 21) and Grace has a tendency to get lost in the crowd.  She is rather quiet and reserved (until you get to know her), and she doesn’t bring a lot of attention to herself.  I’m afraid that she might not get as much academic attention as she would in another option.  Also, I’ve been in a lot of kindergarten classes and I’ve seen a lot of shocking things.  Regardless of how excellent the teacher is, in a public classroom, Grace will be exposed to things I would rather her not see.  I have no desire for her to grow up in a bubble, completely shut off from reality, but Todd and I have a responsibility to protect her as best we can.

2.  LOCAL CHRISTIAN SCHOOL

PROS:  Smaller class sizes and an emphasis on spiritual growth are the biggest advantages to this option.  The academic rigor is also well-known.  Many of our church friends attend and/or work in this school.  The location is convenient (about 2-3 miles), and the area is very safe.  Most of the families/employees in this school share similar values and I know it would be a great place for us to get involved and make new friends.

CONS:  The main problem is cost.  Private school is quite expensive, and in order for Grace to attend this school, I would need to go back to work.  This is something that we are considering, but it is not ideal.  When I resigned from public education three years ago to become a full-time homemaker, we realized that it was exactly what our family needed.  That topic warrants an entire post, but everyone is happier since I stepped out of the workforce.

3.  LOCAL FINE ARTS CHARTER SCHOOL

PROS:  This is a relatively new charter school with an excellent reputation.  The kindergarten class size is only 12, and there is an emphasis on fine arts:  ballet, music, and art.  This is right up Grace’s alley.  Instead of one ballet class per week, she would receive classical ballet four days per week.  The academic rigor is respectable as evidenced by high testing scores.  The convenience is good (about 5 miles away) in a safe area.  I have friends who have put their children in this school and are very happy.  I am looking forward to a tour with the principal next Tuesday where I can learn more about the curriculum and see the learning in action.  Another wonderful benefit is that this is a FREE option! 

CONS:  It is still a public school venue, and many of the challenges would be the same as in our local public school option.  And, since Todd and I were both former fine arts teachers in a public school setting, I can say with some level of experience that artsy people are different.  World views, philosophies, values, etc. are not always going to be consistent with what we are teaching her in our home.  That’s not necessarily all bad, because it will provide opportunities for us to talk and teach her things from a biblical perspective.  But we also feel a responsibility to surround Grace with like-minded friends and teachers to give her a solid foundation before she spreads her wings and flies off into the world!

4.  HOMESCHOOL

This is the option that both excites and scares me the most.  There are moments when I think, “I can do this!  It’ll be fun!”  And there are other moments when I tell myself, “No way.  What if I do a terrible job?  What if I forget to teach her something?  What if …?  What if…?”  Anyway, here goes:

PROS:  I honestly believe this is what Todd wants.  For whatever reason, he thinks I will do a good job. I also believe that Grace would love it.  She enjoys our times of reading and learning that we do together now, and I think that it could naturally progress into a more structured homeschool setting.  The most obvious advantage to homeschooling is that Todd and I make the decisions about what and how to teach her: spiritually, educationally, etc.  There is great freedom in the homeschool classroom, and I could tailor our program to meet her needs exclusively.  There is a HUGE homeschool support system in our area, and many families that I esteem highly have chosen this path for their children.  There are programs that I could take advantage of like co-op groups and TAFA (Travis Academy of Fine Arts), which is a fabulous fine arts education program for homeschool children in our area.  There is also great flexibility in the homeschool schedule.  I could decide to take a day to explore the local children’s museum or observe animals at the zoo or learn about Texas history at the Cowgirl Museum.  In addition to standard kindergarten curriculum, I would have time to spend teaching her things that I love like cooking, sewing, music, etc. 

CONS:  My biggest fear is that I won’t do a good job.  But, I guess it’s kind of like parenting:  you seek God’s guidance through scripture and pray for the discipline to do what is right.  Although I have moments of fear, I have finally come to a peace that if I approach this with a heart that is willing and eager to train Grace “the way she should go” (Prov. 22:6) that God will bless that endeavor.  If we do choose to homeschool, then there will be the expense of curriculum, setting up a learning environment at home, and enrolling her in enrichment activities like athletics and/or dance.  We would also pay for TAFA and memberships to places like museums, the zoo, etc.  These expenses are minimal compared to the cost of private school, but they are expenses nonetheless.  We also have concerns that Grace is an only child.  She is naturally shy, although she seems to be gaining more confidence every day.  We would counter this challenge and provide her opportunities for socialization through church, homeschool groups, TAFA, sports teams, ballet classes, etc.

I do have the added comfort of knowing that even if we make the “wrong” decision and our situation doesn’t work out, it’s not the end of the world.  It’s not like we’re committing to one plan of education for the next 13 years!  We can always re-evaluate and follow a different path on a future date. 

As you can see, we have a lot to think and pray about.  I would appreciate any words of wisdom or guidance from folks out there who have faced similar decisions.  I realize that everyone’s situation is different, so please feel free to leave thoughts about your own experience!

Quick Update

I’ve been pretty busy lately, but I wanted to give a quick update about what’s going on with me and our family these days.

My exercise and healthy eating plan has been going well.  I work out about an hour every day…treadmill, The Shred, or both.  It’s been good to get back into a routine.  My jeans were pretty tight at the end of our two-week Christmas vacation, and it’s nice to now be within two pounds of my lowest weight!  It makes me excited about keeping up my good habits and perhaps seeing my goal this spring!

I’ve also embarked on a plan to read the Bible in 90 days.  This challenge was given by our pastor, and many of my church friends are on this journey with me.  I’ll admit that I’m behind about three days at this point, but I catch up a little more every day. 

Grace is enjoying being back at home and going to her ballet class.  Next Monday I will register her for kindergarten.  Yikes!  I can’t believe our baby is that old.  We are attempting to get her into a local charter school of the arts.  They enroll based on a blind lottery system, so we’ll find out mid-March whether her number was drawn.  If not, there are many other options that we are continuing to explore.

Todd is back at work as a high school administrator.  He is preparing for the spring testing season as well as a huge career fair that he organizes.  His doctoral classes will begin again next week, so he stays pretty busy as well.

My blogging has taken a backseat among all our activities, but I will try to update at least once per week about family news, diet, and exercise goals.  And if anyone wants to join me in my goal to read the Bible in 90 days, let me know in the comment section!  It’s been a blessing so far, and I’d love to hear other people’s feedback about the journey!

Nonexistent Milestones

Well, I gained a little over a pound this past week, and I must say that it was totally worth it.  I ate mostly healthy foods for my meals, but I interspersed it with lots of tastings and a couple of indulgences. 

While we were visiting my parents’ home for the holiday, mom and I spent most of our time in the kitchen doing what we do best:  cooking for the people that we love.  My parents are hosting three holiday brunches/parties in their home, and there was LOTS of preparation to be done. 

In addition to the traditional Thanksgiving cooking that we did on Wednesday/Thursday, we made the following treats for upcoming parties:

• Blackberry Cream Cheese French Toast Casserole
• Banana Crumb Muffins
• Fiesta Scrambled Eggs
• Cheese Grits
• Several pounds of bacon and sausage
• four recipes of Stained Glass Cookies
• a TON of Creme de Menthe Cheesecake Lollipops dipped in white chocolate and covered in crushed grasshopper fudge cookies
• White Chocolate Cashew Bark
• other stuff that I can’t remember

Mom and I did take the time to exercise one morning, but it wasn’t enough to avoid THE GAIN.  Oh, well.  I’m hitting the treadmill hard again this week.

Monday Milestones

I had a pretty good week overall.  I worked out hard five days and ate well most of the time.  I did cheat when we took Grace to Six Flags on Saturday and a birthday party yesterday.  But I guess all the walking around the park balanced things out and I was able to lose one pound this week.

That brings me to 65 pounds lost since I began my journey last February.  I’ve still got 25-30 pounds to go, and I’ll admit it’s getting harder towards the end.  The weight seemed to come off so easily when I first started, and now it’s more frustratingly slow.

I’m actually not too worried about Thanksgiving week and overeating.  We’ve planned healthy meals, and I’m going to enjoy everything we are cooking.  As long as I don’t have a gain next Monday, I’ll be happy!

Over The Top

My bloggy friend Kim gave me this award today because she thinks my blog is over the top!  She’s a sweet woman who has gone through the journey of infertility and is now entering the land of adoption.  If you have time, pop on over and visit her blog, Thoughts By Kim.

Here are the rules:

USE ONLY ONE WORD! It’s not as easy as you might think. Copy and change the answers to suit yourself and pass it on. It’s really hard to use only one-word answers so try your best.

Once you’re done tag 6 other bloggers and let them know that you think they are ‘Over the Top’!

» Where is your cell phone? Purse
» Your hair? Ponytail
» Your mother? Fun
» Your father? Kind
» Your favorite food? Fries
» Your dream last night? Strange
» Your favorite drink? Coke
» Your dream/goal? SAHM
» What room are you in? Living
» Your hobby? Baking
» Your fear? Loss
» Where do you want to be in 6 years? Happy
» Where were you last night? Home
» Something that you aren’t? Spontaneous
» Muffins? Banana
» Wish list item? Cruise
» Where did you grow up? Crowley
» Last thing you did? Cook
» What are you wearing? Pajamas
» Your TV? Up (the movie)
» Your pets? None!
» Friends? Amazing
» Your life? Fun
» Your mood? Content
» Missing someone? Yes
» Vehicle? Minivan
» Something you’re not wearing? Jewelry
» Your favorite store? Hobby Lobby 
» Your favorite color? Pink
» When was the last time you laughed? Today
» Last time you cried? Today (watching ‘Up’)
» Your best friend? Mom
» One place that you go to over and over? Church
» One person who emails you regularly? Todd
» Favorite place to eat? Genghis Grill

I tag:

Nicole @ Here’s The Diehl

Lindsey @ The Lewisi

Claire @ Claire’s Novels and Cal’s Footnotes

Sarah @ Barren In The Promised Land

Crystal @ Not My Steps

Larry @ Larry Thompson

Monday Milestones

Well, I lost that pesky pound from last week!  I’ve been on a roll with my exercise for the past few days, and I hope to build my endurance back up to where it was before I caught the head/chest cold.  My mornings are looking pretty light, so I’m going to make myself work out EVERY day.  I really want to move my ticker down next week!

I’ve been getting myself in the mindset for the holidays.  We’re spending Thanksgiving with my parents, and my mom and I have already planned a diet-friendly menu:  turkey/stuffing pinwheels, roasted vegetables, green beans, and lightened up sweet potatoes.  We’re still contemplating a special low-calorie dessert, so feel free to comment if you want to share a tasty recipe with us!

I’ll be doing a LOT of baking over the next few weeks.  I have several cake orders, cookie exchanges, and holiday treats to make to give as gifts.  I think the key for me will be to keep plenty of fruits and HMR shakes to snack on, drink lots of water, and plan my meals carefully in order to not be ravenous at a given time.  Being really hungry is when it’s easy to just grab the closest/easiest thing, healthy or not.  I’ve got to keep myself fed the right stuff and stay consistent with my exercise!

Deployment

My sweet brother Jon is leaving today for another deployment to the Middle East.  This time he will be in Afghanistan for several months.  He leaves behind his pregnant wife, 3-yr-old, and 1-yr-old daughters. 

It’s at times like this that I find it difficult to obey God’s command not to worry, especially when I’m constantly bombarded with media coverage of the atrocities that are happening over there (and here!).  But part of walking in faith is trusting that God’s plan is working just as it should, no matter how difficult or worrisome it seems. 

We all covet your prayers for Jon and his family during this lengthy time of service.  Specifically, you can pray for protection for Jon and his entire Marine unit, a healthy pregnancy for his wife, and comfort for each member of their family during his absence.

I also encourage you to continue to lift in prayer all members of our military who give such great personal sacrifice to ensure our freedom to live as we do.  Here in Texas, our national and state flags are being flown at half-mast because of the terrible Ft. Hood tragedy.  It is a constant reminder of the force of evil that is at work in this world. 

Thank you, veterans, for your works of service to this country.

Monday Milestones

Horrors.  I gained a pound this week.  I was hit with a terrible head/chest cold that knocked the wind out of me, therefore I didn’t step on the treadmill or do any “Shredding” this week.  I figured if I couldn’t breathe sitting on the couch watching “Dancing With The Stars”, then I would end up in the hospital if I tried to keep my appointment with Jillian Michaels.

Anyway, in addition to limited physical activity (other than extreme shopping with my mom), I also ate out several times.  Even though I made good choices and counted all my calories, my sodium intake was pretty high and that contributed to my gain.

Sigh…

Hopefully this will be a better week.

Monday Milestones

Well, the good news is that I lost a little over half a pound this week.  The bad news is that I still don’t get to move my weight loss ticker.  I’m taking full responsibility for not losing more this week because I ate pizza one night, exercised only twice, and raided the Three Musketeers candy from Grace’s trick-or-treat bucket.

I consulted with The Diet Evangelist (a.k.a. Larry Thompson), and he gave me some good advice about my general plateau over the past few weeks.  I am not drinking nearly enough water.  And, my caffeine consumpton has practically tripled over the past 3-4 weeks.  My sodium has gone up as well.  That combined with only exercising a couple of times per week has contributed to my stalling.

I guess the silver lining is that I haven’t gained anything back!  I’m not going to meet my ultimate goal by Christmas, which is what I’ve been wanting, but I’ll just keep trucking along and praying for the self-control and motivation to stay consistent! 

Monday Milestones

Same song, fourth verse.  For four weeks I’ve stayed at the same weight.  Grrrr.  I’m not quite sure what is going on.  I’m staying within my daily calorie count every day.  I rarely eat out.  I could exercise more, but I’m working out hard 2-3 days per week. 

Someone suggested that maybe my body is trying to hold on to extra weight for the winter.  At first I laughed it off, but now I’m starting to wonder…

Anyway, I’ve still got almost 1/3 of my journey left towards my ultimate goal, so I need to figure something out.  On a positive note, this is the healthiest I’ve been in a long time.  I played tennis with my husband for a long time on Sunday afternoon, and actually gave him a run for his money!  I have a lot more endurance and don’t get worn out as easily as I used to.  My blood pressure has been great.  So I guess I’m doing something right, but I wish the scale would reflect it too!

Monday Milestones

I’m starting to think I should call this series “Tuesday Trackings” since this is my third time to not post on Monday!  My life has been crazy-busy the past couple of weeks, and I haven’t had much time to focus on my weight loss.  Thankfully, God has helped me sustain without gaining any weight back, but I am still stuck for the moment. 

I did manage three workouts this week, but I did not have the time or energy to cook separate low-cal/low-fat meals for myself.  I should have had extra HMR meals stockpiled for myself, but I finished them off and ran out.  (Another order is on the way!)

Anyway, life is getting back to normal (for now), so my goal is to get back into my routine of eating and exercising regularly. 

Monday Milestones

I’ve been dreading writing this post…in case you can’t tell considering it’s Tuesday!  Frankly, I’ve lost my focus the past couple of weeks.  I’ve eaten well (mostly), but I’ve only worked out once or twice a week. 

But as I sit here watching my DVR’d recording of The Biggest Loser, I’m realizing that nobody is going to push me on that treadmill but myself.  Unless you count Jillian’s voice, which I hear shouting in my head sometimes.  So, I’m throwing away all the excuses I used this week in the trash (too busy, too tired, sore toe, sore back, etc.) and getting my groove back on. 

My whole purpose in blogging my journey is for the accountability it provides me.  So feel free to pray, cheer, question, and/or send some encouragement my way…I need the motivation.

Sadly, the ticker is staying put another week.

Thoughts on 9/11

I still remember exactly where I was and what I was doing.  I was working as a school counselor at an elementary school, preparing for a difficult parent conference.  My principal knocked on my office door and told me that I needed to go to the library and watch what was happening on the news. 

The librarian had moved the TV out of view of public eye and a few of us gathered around to watch the horror.  I remember the fear that went through my body.  Not necessarily fear for myself, but the fear of the unknown and of being responsible for 500 children DURING the unknown.  I remembered that I was supposed to be the calm one, and I started praying.

Parents soon began to arrive to pick up their children.  I completely understood…while it presented challenges for us, if I had been a parent at that time, I would have wanted my child with me too.  The superintendent released a statement asking school personnel to go about our duties as normal, releasing students to parents if requested. 

Since most teachers were in their classrooms working with kids, they didn’t have the freedom to get information.  Of course word (and panic) got around quickly, and teachers were doing their best to remain calm and not show their students that anything was wrong.  Every time I walked by a classroom, a teacher would signal me and ask what was happening.  I talked one teacher through a panic attack.  I can honestly say that 9/11 was one day in my life that I literally prayed without ceasing.

The images of the two towers falling is one that will stay in my mind until I die (or lose my mind!).  Pictures of the Pentagon and the plane crash wreckage will always haunt me.  Everyone’s life changed that day.  Many experienced deep personal loss while the whole country grieved. 

We will never completely win the war against terrorism until the Lord returns.  In the meantime, many of our men and women are fighting the battle for us to remain safe and protected in our country. 

My brother Jon is leaving for another tour of duty in Afghanistan in a few weeks.  He leaves behind a sweet wife and two beautiful daughters. 

We are constantly praying for his protection and the safety of his unit.  In reality, we know that as Chief Surgeon he will probably see and experience many horrors.  Not to mention the loneliness that comes with being separated from his family for nine months. 

I hope that today we can all remember the lives that have been lost as well as the folks who are giving their lives to ensure the freedom that we often take for granted.

Monday Milestones

Well, I made it!  Sixty pounds is gone.  It’s hard to believe I was carrying around almost two extra Graces all the time.  It took 26 weeks, a lot of sweat, a few tears, and much determination.  I officially weigh what I weighed when I got married over 13 years ago.  (Although it seems like things are shaped a little differently…hello motherhood!)

I have the energy to tackle my final goal of thirty pounds.  I realize this might go a little slower, but I’m hoping to reach it by Nov./Dec.  It’s hard to even imagine how that will feel!  It’s been 17 years since I was slim.  

I really appreciate the comments and notes of encouragement I’ve gotten over the weeks.  It’s hard to explain, but when you’re losing weight, what you see in the mirror doesn’t always seem to match what the scale says.  People tell me I look slimmer, but when I look at myself, sometimes I don’t feel any different.  And it can get pretty discouraging at times. 

But now I’m starting to really enjoy the difference in how I look and feel.  It’s fun to go shopping and try on clothes.  If you are a person who has struggled with weight, you will appreciate this next statement…It’s nice to look in your closet and know that EVERYTHING fits and you have a wider selection of clothes from which to pick! 

So, my goal this week is to stay the course and be consistent with my nutrition and exercise.  My biggest desire is for these to be lifetime habits.

Random Thoughts…

I have a lot of thoughts rambling around in my head this morning with no coherent organization.  So I’ll just list what’s on my mind!

1.  Our home has been on the market since last October with little to no interested buyers.  The market here is just tough.  We switched realtors a couple of weeks ago and…voila!…all of a sudden there are several people wanting to see the house.  We’re praying that someone will love it land want to buy it like we did.  Of course that means that the house must continually be in tip-top shape so we can leave if the realtor calls for a showing! 

2.  I bought 5 beautiful pots of flowers for our front yard.  Grace and I had a lot of fun planting and watering them.  I read all the instructions very carefully on the soil bag and little plastic thingies in the plants.  So far one has died.  Uugh!  Someone help!  Why can’t I keep plants alive? 

3.  This is the most hilarious post I have read in a while called “Urine The Money.”  Good one, Larry.

4.  I had my first mammogram yesterday.  I felt so old!  Normally women get their first baseline around the age of 40, but since my mom is a breast cancer survivor, I have to start at 35.  It wasn’t too bad…I had heard horror stories from other women.  I would just label it slightly uncomfortable.  It helps when you have a great nurse tech like I did!  I should find out results in 5-7 days.  If you are a 40+ year old woman and have never had a mammogram, please schedule one ASAP!  It saves lives.

5.  Todd is continuing his doctoral work at Tarleton University.  He left yesterday morning for “doctoral boot camp.”  I actually had to pack sheets and towels for him to stay in a dorm room!  He was not happy.  Anyway, when I asked him what he was having to do, he said that there were lots of seminars and heavy loads of assignments to complete before Saturday.  Last night he was working on writing 1-2 page synopsis (each) of 100 biographies before Saturday.  (I think they’re trying to weed out people.)

That’s most of what swirling around my head this morning.  I’ve got to run and get Grace quickly ready to run out the door for our busy morning…weigh-in at the doctor, go shopping for baby shower presents and birthday presents, then go to the dollar store to see if they have any of those cheap charcoal grills to replace the one we lost in our last Texas Tornado!  Hope everyone has a great day!

Things I Love – Rice Cake Snacks

I’ve discovered a new snack that is totally addicting and not too terrible on the waistline.  Quaker Rice Cake Snacks.  Oh, man.  My favorite flavor is Ranch, but the Cheddar Cheese and Sour Cream & Onion are excellent, too.  The other flavors are pretty good if you have a sweet tooth, but I’m more of a savory gal.

The only problem is stopping after a single serving!  I could literally sit down and eat the whole bag (which I did on my recent road trip to stay awake while driving).  When I eat it as a snack, I have to measure out one or two servings then put away the bag to keep myself from going overboard.  But at only 70 calories per (fairly large) serving, it’s hard to do too much damage with these tasty snacks!

For more Things I Love Thursday posts, visit The Diaper Diaries.

Preschooler Quote of the Day

Grace:  “Mama, I love granddaddy, don’t I?”

Me:  “Yes, we all love granddaddy.”

Grace:  “He’s so sweet.  He lives with Mimi, doesn’t he?”

Me:  “Yes, they are married and they live together, remember?  Right by granddaddy’s church.”

Grace:  “Well that’s perfect!  Because I want to go see both of them!”

Grace and I are leaving in the morning to visit my parents.  (Unfortunately, Todd has to work and go on a business trip.)  The long-awaited, much-anticipated, answering-fifty-questions-a-day-about-it trip is finally here!  And I’ve still got so much to do to get ready to leave including:

• wash clothes
• pack clothes
• pack books, movies, toys, exercise stuff
• pack food/snacks
• pack toiletries
• fully charge and pack the camera, cell phone, DVD player, and laptop
• pack stuff for the beach (floaties, towels, beach toys, etc.)
• load the car
• vacuum/sweep
• cook and freeze meat for Todd’s meals for while we’re gone
• pick up a prescription at the pharmacy
• make sure I leave everything clean (kitchen, bathrooms, etc.)
• clean out stuff Todd won’t eat in the fridge so I don’t come home to science experiments
• get a good night’s sleep before driving 9 hours tomorrow!

I’ve got a monthly check-up appointment first thing in the morning with my doctor, then we’ll be off!  Now I’d better get off the computer and get to packing.  Hopefully when I post tomorrow I’ll be showing pictures of Grace and me with my folks!

Monday Milestones

 

This was an encouraging week for me.  I utilized Calorie Count and kept a really good record on their food journal.  It analyzed my diet and told me exactly how much protein, fat, fiber, etc. I was eating and gave recommendations to improve.  For example, I was trying to eat at least 60 grams of lean protein every day, but the nutritionist recommended 80 grams to help maintain the muscle I am gaining from The Shred!  The nutritionist also said I wasn’t eating enough calories, so I bumped up from around 1200 to about 1500 per day. 

When I weighed in this morning, I had lost 2 pounds, which brings my total to 46 pounds in 18 weeks. 

My Shred challenge will be finished on Thursday, and I really want to keep a good thing going, so I’m joining another 30-day exercise challenge with my blog friend Kim, which starts today.  Her challenge is to get at least 30 minutes of activity in each day through walking, running, aerobics, weight training, basically anything that gets your heart pumping.  She’ll be using her new Wii EA Sports Active game.  If you want to gain some accountability in your exercise routine (which totally works for me), go join in the challenge!

Grace and I are leaving for Mimi and Granddaddy’s house this Friday (woo-hoo!) for a short visit before we head to Orange Beach, AL for Youth Camp!  Unfortunately Todd can’t go because he has an education conference in Austin, but Grace and I will enjoy the time with family, friends, and good biblical teaching.  Because several of the camp speakers and counselors have young children, I’ll be helping to coordinate a mini-Vacation Bible School for the preschoolers.  I did it last year, and it was a lot of fun, and this year we’ll have twice as many kiddos! 

Our family will spend the majority of June traveling around the Southeast to visit relatives (that’s what happens when the closest family member lives 9 hours away).  But, although that means I won’t be able to do The Shred every day, my goal is to get SOME sort of daily activity in over the next few weeks. 

Also, traveling to visit relatives presents challenges with what I eat.  I want to be appreciative of the hospitality we receive, but I also don’t want to “fall off the horse” so to speak with my diet.  The key for me this summer will be bringing plenty of my HMR shakes and entrees on the road and using portion control when I choose to eat something that is provided.  If I can get home in July without gaining any weight, that will be good enough for me.

Monday Milestones

This week I did my combination of treadmill and Shred routine five days.  I ate well…with the exception of several french fries I sneaked out of Grace’s kid’s meal.  (I’m totally blaming the fact that Wendy’s was OUT OF BAKED POTATOES and I was frustrated and hungry…this brought my Calorie Count food analysis average grade down to B+). 

Overall, I lost two pounds this week.  My total weight loss is now 44 pounds in 17 weeks.  

I’m about 2/3 of the way through my 30-Day Shred experience and I can say with certainty that it has truly helped me.  I haven’t come anywhere close to losing “20 pounds in 30 days”, but I have definitely lost inches.  Once my 30 days are up, I’ll plan to do Jillian’s videos at least 2-3 days a week to keep up my new muscles! 

One thing I have discovered through all of this new exercise is my terrible balance.  When I first started doing the Shred lunges, I was wobbling all over the place.  I’ve gradually gotten better, but it’s still pretty funny.  I might try to alternate strength training with some yoga or Pilates (minus the Eastern mysticism) to improve my strength and balance. 

This is my inspiration:

Well, Jillian too:

Monday Milestones

This week I lost one pound.  One pound.  This seems scientifically impossible considering the amount of calories I burned on my workouts, but there it is.  That brings my total to 42 pounds in 16 weeks. 

However, even though the scale did not reflect a big change this week, my body is changing.  The 30-Day Shred is definitely helping me build muscle, and I am losing inches.  I felt better after reading this article. 

So, I will keep trucking on.  I’ll keep my eyes on the big picture and try not to let the scale be the only measure of my success.  After all, I’m working on a permanent change in my eating and fitness habits, not just a temporary crash swimsuit diet. 

I have a busier week coming up, but I should be able to get my 20 minute workout with Jillian every day.  My goal is to get in at least four treadmill workouts, too.