READY FOR SUMMER Challenge Week 5 Check-In and Week 6 Goals

5 weeks down, 5 to go! My goals for this week were...

Weight Loss :: Lose 2 lbs. 

This was a success. From what the scales said this morning, I am down 5 lbs this week. It was closer to 6 lbs yesterday, but I'm swelled like a balloon today. Both, my hands and feet are swollen. Too much sodium yesterday. Well and that piece of cake I ate last night probably didn't  help matters any either.  Here you can see my weights from the week. 

Sunday, April 22 :: 289.0

Monday, April 23 :: 288.8
Tuesday, April 24 :: 287.9
Wednesday, April 25 :: 285.8
Thursday, April 26 :: 286.0
Friday, April 27 :: 285.2
Saturday, April 28 :: 283.4
Sunday, April 29 :: 284.0

A 6 lb loss would have been great, but I'll take 5lbs on any week. I'm thrilled!  One of my original goals was to lose 20 lbs during this journey. We are 1/2 way into this challenge and I'm right around 1/2 way to my goal. Yay.

SW: 293.8
W1: 292.8 (-1)
W2: 292.0 (-0.8)
W3: 292.0 (-0)

W4: 289 (-3)

W5: 284.0 (-5)
CW:284.0 (-9.8) Total so far.  

NSV :: Make it 3 days without Diet Coke. 

Yeah, this didn't  happen. Two days, tops.  

Exercise :: Attempt P90X Plyometrics with my husband again. Make it further than the 21 minutes we made it last time. 

Time was not in our favor. We never could work out the time to do it together. He'd work out when I was busy and I'd work out when he was at work. But I did do The Biggest Loser workout by myself. Does that count?  

Nutrition :: Track every single calorie. Even if I eat out, even if I eat crap, even if I go over.. track it! Be accountable for my actions!

I have done very well on this. If there has been something that I didn't know the calorie content on, I made a note of it on the page for that day.


Now that Week 5 is over and we are moving on to Week 6. My goals for this week will be the same as this week.

Weight Loss :: Lose 2 lbs. 

NSV :: Make it 3 days without Diet Coke.

Exercise :: Attempt P90X Plyometrics with my husband again. Make it further than the 21 minutes we made it last time.

Nutrition :: Track every single calorie. Even if I eat out, even if I eat crap, even if I go over.. track it! Be accountable for my actions!

Good luck this week everyone!!  Make it a great one!

Day 119

Today has been a good day. I slept late and woke up in a much better mood than I went to bed in. Thank goodness!

I did a bit of cleaning around the house, but not as much as I should have. I wanted to relax a little, and I did. Michael made it home from work a little before 3 pm, which made my day. It is great when we can enjoy some family time together without worrying about Bai's schoolwork or Dalton's homework.. He, the boys, and I, along with my nephew went for a ride on our 4-wheelers and motorcycles through the mountains. We live in the boonies so there are miles and miles of trails around here. I'm pretty sure we crossed paths with a bear. We definitely heard some sort of wild animal. Thank God, we didn't run into it though. I'd have peed my pants.

We came home, did the usual evening feeding and relaxed a little while. After we rested up a bit, I cooked supper and baked a cake for Mom's birthday. It isn't until Tuesday, but Dalton has a field trip that day, and I won't be able to spend any time with her. I figured I'd take it to her tomorrow when we go down to eat dinner with the family. As soon as the boys heard the word cake, they had to have one too. So I actually ended up baking two. I won't lie, I did have a small piece. But I didn't go crazy, and my daily calories still came in within range.

The scales were super friendly this morning. I just hope it sticks for the big weigh-in tomorrow. I didn't get on the treadmill today. I really thought that I would, but the day was gone before I knew it. By the time I finished with dishes and got Dalton showered, Michael was ready for bed so it was a no go. I did do The Biggest Loser workout today along with the Tone Up Your Arms for Summer video. So it wasn't a total waste of a day. 

I guess I better get a shower and in bed. If you are out there reading, I hope you are having a fantastic weekend!

Day 118

Ok, lets see... today has been not so great. I've felt like I've been pulled in a million directions when all I really wanted to do was take a nap or lay on the couch and read.

Dalton had a nose bleed at school today and the nurse was absent, so the secretary calls me all in a panic to come and pick him up. I tried to explain to her that he has nose bleeds a lot and he knows what to do, but she still felt like I should come pick him up. When I got to school he was no where to be found. He had went back to class and was enjoying an ice cream party to celebrate the end of testing. Well, his class didn't test, the older grades did and his teacher helped out, so he had a sub in his class all week. A week wasted if you ask me. He was fine and didn't want to leave until after they had 'break' outside. But, I made him come on home with me anyway. I wasn't about to make another trip back to the school in a little over an hour with gas prices at nearly $4 a gallon and Bailey had to get back home to his work anyway.

I hadn't much more than walked in the door until my sister-in-law called wanting me to come and take pics of her son this afternoon. Tonight was his 8th grade dance. I rolled my eyes, because well she'd rot in hell before she would do anything for me, but doesn't care to ask me to do anything and everything for her. For my nephew's sake, I couldn't say no. So there went my sleep, again. I get down there and my nephew was in a grand mood. Let me tell ya. He didn't want to go to the 'stupid dance' he said. He didn't want to wear those 'stupid clothes' and he didn't want me to take his 'stupid picture'. I had to bite my tongue. Seriously. He was straight up rude and I told him about it. He stood still for about 30 seconds, made a mad face, and left. Ugh. People need to teach their children respect. I'd have made mine stand there, act right, take the pic, and apologize for being a jerk. We even had to miss Bai's home school group's Mystery Dinner in order to try and do something nice for them.  But whatever.

Of course, when I was down there, his little brother wanted to come stay all night with Bailey. So now we have company. He just invited himself, and his Mom said it was ok. Was it ok with me? They didn't even bother to ask.  I'd never be mean or rude to him, because it isn't his fault his Mom is an idiot. Sorry, I don't usually say those sort of things about people, but you just have to know her and our history. She is awful and can bring out a side of me that I usually don't let out. He has turned the house upside down and went so far as to tell Dalton he hated him. Seriously? What is going on with people today?

After dealing with my sister-in-law I just wanted to eat. I know, emotional eating. I saw it, I knew what I was doing, but I still done it. I didn't let it get too out of hand, but I still done it. Then I felt guilty and almost cried. So I got on the treadmill and walked a mile. Even though I just wanted to lay down and cry.

Michael's truck has been messed up for a couple weeks. It is missing like crazy which is costing us a boat load of money in gas that we don't have. He took it to the auto part place and had it put on a computer. They tell him which part is messed up, he buys it, puts it on, and guess what? It didn't work! The stupid truck is still missing. I could scream. The thing is, you can't take the part back after it had been put on. GAH!

It has just been one of those days.

Day 117

Today has been a great day. The weather has been horrible, I had to grocery shop and the kids acted like they have been raised by wolves, and I have a stack of dishes in the the sink that I didn't have time to get to. But, none of that can dampen my mood. My Mom heard from the transplant center today; she is back on the active transplant list! All of her cardiac work-ups came back fine. The fluid that was in her lungs is still gone and had nothing to do with her heart. Thank you, God!!! My sisters and I are still going to attempt to give her a kidney, but it is such a long process and we don't even know if we would be considered as possible candidates yet.  The paper work is in, but it still a insanely long waiting game. Just knowing that there is a possibility she could get one soon is a blessing in itself. Praise the Lord!

Food has been good today and I walked 2.5 miles tonight.

I have to make this short and sweet. I need to hit the hay.. I have to drive my little man to school in the morning. Nite all!

Day 116

I had the craziest dream last night. It went something like this.. I collected eggs from my hens, maybe four or five, and put them in my underwear drawer. Don't ask why. I have no clue. Well, the next morning I went to to take a shower, opened the drawer and there were baby chicks falling out of my drawer left and right. I was screaming at Michael, "Oh.my.god! What am I going to do with all these chicks?" I was trying to catch them all, but couldn't. They were running everywhere. No matter how hard I tried, I couldn't catch them all. It was totally nuts! Kind of like the dream where you are trying to run or scream and can't. It was so frustrating. But now, every time I think of it, I can't help but laugh. You should of seen it. Who puts eggs in their underwear drawer?

Today started off great... well after the dream, lol. I hopped on the scales and was down to the exact amount I weighed at Mom's last week. I'm hoping it it sticks this time. Cross your fingers for me.

I got up, got Dalton ready for school, but as soon as he and Michael were out the door this ol' gal went right back to bed. Bailey and I slept til a little after 10 am. I knew we would have to work hard and not lallygag around to finish his work, but it was so worth it. Thankfully, we got everything finished up before we had to pick Dalton up from school. Well, except his free-reading time and he usually does that in the car on the drive to and from school and while we are waiting on the bell to ring anyway. He must take that ability after me. Michael would puke.

I think we both were day dreaming when I pulled out of our intersection because I needed to fill up on gas, and had told Bai to remind me to get it, yet I started driving toward the school. Not good. The gas station is in the opposite direction. I guess I drove 5-6 minutes before I realized what I had done. Thankfully we had enough time to turn around, get gas, and make it back to school before the bell.

I had planned to visit a library across town this afternoon, which is in the sticks, more so than where we live. It's a good 20-25 minute drive from our house and not a single gas station on the way. So, if I wanted my book, which I did, I had to go back for the gas. The library we normally go to had the first book in a series that I am reading, and the third book, but someone hadn't returned the second book. There was no choice in the matter, I had to get the book from across town.

The library ended up being small and deserted, but they had a great selection and it was totally worth the drive. I may start checking books out there more often. I left with a bag full of books for myself, the boys, and my Mom.

By the time we took Mom her books and made it back to the house, Michael was home. I cooked, done dishes and some laundry before he and I went outside to fix a run for one of labs. Peaches normally just runs all over the place. We live in the boonies, so she is free to roam as far as she wants during the day, but she usually sleeps in my kitchen floor in front of the fridge. I noticed this morning that she was going into heat and I don't want to deal with that sort of stuff inside my house. She had to go out. Thankfully we don't have other dogs around or she would have had to be put in a pen. She hates being in a pen. Freedom is where it is at. That meant Michael and I had to rig her put a run. The only place we could put her was under the hill below our house. We have acres of land that is fenced off but she and the goats don't get along. We needed to find a place where they could avoid her. We ended up having to reroute part of the electric fence. It turned out to be a bigger job than we would have liked. We got it finished though, thank goodness. She now has about a 100 ft run. We  had to level a place for the dog house, get chips in it, dig a hole to sink her water bucket, etc. Then I about cried because we had to leave her out. Michael just rolled his eyes at me.

It had started to rain, but we still had to feed the other dogs, cats, goats, chickens and rabbits. As well as put up the boys motorcycles. They ditched them as soon as it started raining and headed straight for the house. We were soaked by the time we got in, but we had a good time. I did notice a few things about myself today. I had no issues at all climbing up and down the mountain to take Michael fence posts, hammer, shovel, etc. Before, I wouldn't even go under the hill to feed the dogs because I absolutely hated trying to climb back up it. The make-shift steps didn't even help. I was just too fat. Today, I was up and down that hill numerous times without even getting winded. That made me feel great.

After a quick change of clothes, I got Dalton showered and hit the treadmill. Seeing how far I've come as far as going up and down the hill, I decided to push  myself a little. I upped the incline of the treadmill to 1.5% and the speed to 3.5 mph. That is faster than I've attempted in years. I made it a quarter mile at that speed before I had to drop it back down to 3 mph. I made it two miles tonight. I didn't get in any strength training, but I think I probably built a few muscles packing that hammer up and down the hill. It felt like that sucker weighed 10 lbs. Good thing I wasn't the one swinging it.

That about sums up my day. I hope you all had a great one! 

Day 115

Hey all! I hope your day has been a great one. Mine's been "fair to midland" (as my Grandma use to say). Nothing too eventful happened today, which is good. Just your run of the mill Tuesday. I've had a crick in my neck all day so I've been pretty useless around the house. I did walk 2.5 miles on the treadmill tonight, though.

Food has been, eh. So, so. I caved and had about a tsp of Nutella and a 100 calorie snack cup of pudding. But I didn't binge and I came in within my calorie limits so I'm ok with it.

I still plan to do the Tone Up Your Arms video, then shower and bed.

Nite all!

Found this on Pinterest. I need to remind myself of this very quote every single day.

Day 114

Sorry that I didn't get a chance to post last night. I was so tired. Night before last, I could not go to sleep no matter how long I laid there. It was one of those nights where my brain would not shut off. I was so frustrated. I finally had to get back out of the bed and read until 4 am before I FINALLY went to sleep. Then, I had to be back by 7 am.

It was a long day, let me tell ya. Bai and I did the homeschool thing and from then on it was pure chaos. I had what seemed to be 50 places I had to go yesterday afternoon. The highlight being the kids 4-H Livestock meeting which last for almost 2 full hours. Usually we really enjoy ourselves and learn a lot, but I was just like let's get this show on the road.

Speaking of the Livestock meeting, as we were turning off the highway onto the extension office's drive, someone almost rear-ended us. We were just sitting there waiting for traffic to pass so we could cross, and I hear this loud screeching noise. I turn around and a car is right on my bumper, smoke coming from their tires. They left a good 10-15 feet of black marks where they slid. Scared me to death. They had to be driving like a loon to pull a stunt like that. I know one thing for certain. I will not sit there waiting to cross the road again. I will drive down to Rite Aid, turn around, and come back up on the other side so I can just turn straight in. Thank God, they didn't hit us.

It was 8 pm before we finally made it back home. I made Dalton get straight in the shower so that he could have on pjs before he relaxed. I knew he'd be out in a matter of minutes, and he was. He feel asleep on the couch watching Back To The Future III.

My intake yesterday wasn't ideal. Well, it was ok while we were at home, but we were gone all afternoon and I had no choice but to eat out somewhere. I did go to Subway in order to make a healthy decision, but I caved and had the BBQ chicken. It was great, but I'm sure that BBQ sauce was loaded with sugar. 

On the upside, I had walked a mile during they day yesterday... but after we ate, we still had about 30 minutes before we had to be at the meeting. So, I took the boys to the local park and walked 3 laps around the track which is a little over a 1/2 mile I think. I could have got in a full mile, but there is a river there and the boys kept wanting to feed the ducks. I wouldn't let them get anywhere near it without me beside them. That consumed the other 15+ minutes of my time there. I am pretty proud of the fact that I even thought to go to the park and walk during that wait. In the past we would have just sat in the car talking about our day and snacking on some sort of junk.

Even though I was exhausted, I still made myself get on the treadmill last night. I walked another mile and did the Tone Up Your Arms video 2x. So I managed to get in around 2.5 miles yesterday. That's pretty decent considering how crazy my day was.

Here are a few cell phone pictures from walking at the park yesterday:

Bailey was trying to catch a duck.  Who knows why he had his jacket on his head like that. He's a boy, I guess.

If you look close you can see 2 ducks flying away.

There is a woodpecker in this pic on the side of the tree. He was further down, but every time I got close he would go further up the tree.

Here we have my rotten little man, Dalton tromping through mud puddles.

I told him to smile. He said "I'm NOT smiling, Mom!"

Of course, he couldn't hold out long.

I guess that is about it. I hope you guys had a great day yesterday!

Day 113

OK, I think my fingers will fall off before I get this wrote. LOL. I just finished with my Ready For Summer Challenge update. Now for the daily update....

Today has been fair. Michael and I had to end up going to my sister's and picking Dalton up at 2:30 am! So, needless to say it was late when we got in bed. We slept til 1 pm. Yes, you read that right, 1 pm!!! My Mom woke us up calling to see if we were going to come down and eat dinner with the family. We always go to their house on Sunday for our family meal. I couldn't believe we had slept that late. We were straight up out of the bed, brushing teeth, slinging on clothes, and out the door.

When we got to Mom and Dad's their was a house full of people. Dad's brothers and their sons had came over with a couple coolers of fish. They wanted Dad to fillet them and for us to have a fish fry. Yes, a fish fry after we just ate! It took a while to get all the fish done, so it was more like fish for supper. I passed though. No fish, fries, or hush puppies for this ol' girl. It was hard to walk away from the fries. It always is, but I did it. I couldn't allow myself to cave any more than I already had.

See, I ate a small piece of cornbread with my meal and I've been avoiding it since I like it so well. Usually I smother it in butter, but I didn't today. Just had the cornbread plain. Then I had a bowl of peach cobbler for dessert which was made with peaches that Mom had put up last year. It was heavenly. Thank goodness Sunday is the first day of a new week.  Overall I don't think I went over my calories today, because I didn't eat much after dinner and I walked a mile on the treadmill.

I've had issues with my allergies all day today. I didn't do much to help clean up Mom's house today. My sisters took care of that. Thank goodness. I did dust her bedrooms because I hadn't done them on Friday. Other than that I was useless today.

My thigh is doing 100% better now. No pain lingering. I'm very thankful about that. I'll be sure to stretch really well before and after I do P90X from now on.

I haven't had any issues with my eyes today, and I am so happy about that. I've been kind of panicky all day when I think about it. I never want an experience like that ever again. I'm still up in the air about weather I will go to the doctor tomorrow or not. I don't have health insurance and I sure don't need any more bills, but I don't want to take chances with my health either. I'll pray about it.

Oh, I forgot to mention that cousin of mine is in from Indiana and I got to spend a couple hours with her at Mom's this afternoon. She hasn't been to Kentucky for a couple of years so it was nice to catch up.

Well, I guess that is it for today. I'll leave you with a funny:

Dalton is obsessed with Back To The Future. Tonight he told me he wanted to change his name. I said, "To what? Dalton McFly Couch?" He said, "Yep". Then later I said, "Hey Dalton, come here." He said, "Mom, don't call me that! My name is Marty McFly Couch. But call me Marty for short."

He is something else! I just love him to bits!

Nite.