Menu Plan Monday

Good Morning!

I am trying a bunch of new recipes this week because I went crazy on Tasty Kitchen and honestly, we really don't have a lot of recipes in our stash that we enjoy enough to have them all the time. So i'm trying new ones trying to find new favorites! Wish me luck! For more menus, check out OrgJunkie.

Monday- Cheeseburger macaroni (new)

Tuesday- Cheesy Crockpot Chicken (new)

Wednesday- Red Beans and Rice w/sausage and cornbread (new)

Thursday- Tacos

Friday- Out of town

Saturday- Pork Chops and Scalloped Potatoes (new-Thanks Lisa)

Sunday- Probably out of town

Level 2 Day 7 of the Shred

I realized that I haven't posted in a while about the exercise and since i'm sitting here in the quiet early morning and enjoying my coffee I figured I should.

I'm now on level 2, actually almost done with level 2. Today is day 7 for me. I ended up taking 2 unintended rest days this past week so i'm 2 days behind my mom now. Oh well.

Level 2 started out hard....really hard. I wanted to curl up into a ball and not move forever after the first time. But, again, as with level 1 it became easier after about day 4. Now i'm not nearly as out of breath when doing the exercises and I feel stronger doing the plank moves. I don't particularly care for the abs in level 2, I liked those better in level 1.

I haven't lost any more inches or any weight at all since starting this program. I don't know if it's because i'm gaining muscle or what. I did go down a bra size though. I think the shape of my body is changing even if the tape measure and scale say i'm not losing. Does that make sense?

I have 13 days to go in this program and then i'm switching to my Sports Active More Workouts on the Wii and doing their 6 week challenge.

I get my cholesterol checked this week and i'm hoping with the exercise and medication it has come down alot in the past month.

Menu Plan Monday

We followed our menu plan last week so well! This week will be an easy week because Chad will be gone for two nights and I already have all the necessary items for the rest of the week.

Monday- Burgers/hotdogs on the grill

Tuesday- FRG meeting (eating there)

Wednesday- Breakfast for dinner (Chad out of town)

Thursday- Whatever night (Chad out of town)

Friday- Homemade pizza

Saturday-

Sunday-

Happy Anniversary to me!

Today is mine and Chad's 6 year wedding anniversary. I have to say it has been a great 6 years. Nothing like my first marriage. I hope the next 6 years and beyond are just as good, if not better, than the past 6. I love you honey!

Day 1 Level 2 (day 11 total)

Today was my first day of level 2 of the 30 Day Shred by Jillian Michaels. It was hard! A good hard, but definitely hard. Lots of plank type stuff in this level. All of the circuits seem doable though and I haven't found a circuit that I hate yet, but today was only the first day. My jeans were literally falling off me today so I guess it's all worth it.

More tomorrow!

Day 8...

I missed writing for a few days but i'm back and I have been exercising! I ended up taking my rest day on Friday instead of Sunday.

The exercises, while still dreaded in circuit 1, are getting easier. On Friday i'll be moving to circuit 2 and will probably have more to talk about.

I've been logging all my food and exercise at myfitnesspal.com. It tells you how many calories you should eat per day to lose weight and all that jazz. It's pretty helpful and not nearly as busy or annoying as Sparkpeople.

I'm happy to report that i've lost 1/2 an inch in my waist and 1/2 an inch in my hips so far. I would like to lose a few more inches in my waist and hips and tighten up my belly flab, but that may be impossible after 3 babies. haha

I've noticed that I think harder about what i'm going to eat since i'm tracking it on a log. I also have my appointment with the nutritionist next Tuesday and I plan on taking my food logs with me.

Later!

Menu Plan Monday

Last week we stuck to the menu plan and cooked every night. This week I hope to do the same.

Monday- Country Pasta

Tuesday- Hotdogs with mac n cheese (meeting for me)

Wednesday- Burgers on the grill with baked beans and salad (maybe homemade fries)

Thursday- No Dough Dinner (FREE!)

Friday- Probably eating out since we'll be in Topeka

Saturday- Homemade pizza

Sunday- Homemade chicken pot pie

Day 5.....

Yesterday ended up being an unexpected rest day because I was gone most of the day in meetings. So I got my happy butt up this morning and exercised and got it out of the way so I didn't have to worry about it for the rest of the day. Tomorrow morning, instead of having a rest day, i'll be up exercising as well.

I went grocery shopping today and came home with a ton of fresh fruit and veggies. We usually buy a few apples here and there but I came home with 2 bags of apples, oranges, green pepper, green onion, lettuce, broccoli, cucumber, and even baby spinach. I wanted all the stuff to make a good salad (I already have carrots here) and lots of apples for snacks. My kids have been eating apples like they're going out of style. I'm not kidding, they ate at least 3-4 today and were asking for more later on. I can't imagine that it's good to eat that many in a day even though they are pretty healthy. But they could be asking for worse.

I'm proud to say that we've cooked every night this week since at least Monday. I hope to continue that trend this week. Well, one night we'll be going to the free No Dough dinner on post so we won't be cooking that night.

Anyway, if you're following along, thanks for reading!

Day 4 of the shred

Today I slept in, we all did. Chad didn't have to be at work until 9 a.m. due to the weather and the kid's school was cancelled (assuming due to the temps). After breakfast and coffee and watching some Rachael Ray, I finally got my butt into gear and turned on the shred. Addison tried to do it with me.

It seemed easier today. I had more energy and felt better after completing it. I think it's because I exercised later and had fuel in my body from breakfast and coffee. I read somewhere a while back that those who drink coffee before a workout have more endurance and tend to exercise longer than those who don't drink coffee. I enjoy working out later in the morning, that way I get all my sleep because i'm not worried about getting up early to beat the kids waking up.

Day 4 went well and i'm actually looking forward to day 5!

Day 3 of exercise journey

I will admit, I dreaded getting up this morning. I was so tired and just wanted to get that little extra bit of sleep. But then I started thinking, "if I don't exercise now, when will I do it? I can't do it with Eli crawling underfoot and Addison trying to participate. And even if I could, how would I shower afterwards?" So, I made myself get out of bed and exercise.

The first circuit makes me want to stop but I force myself to push through it the best I can and once I reach that point, i'm good. I just have to get myself past the first circuit. I seriously dread moving to level 2 in 7 days.

The funny thing is that I don't feel more energetic, if anything i'm more tired. I don't understand that. I signed up on myfitnesspal.com yesterday. My mom is a member as well so we are friends on the site. As I previously mentioned she is doing the 30 Day Shred with me.

I'm hoping in the next few days i'll feel more energetic and the exercises will become easier. We'll see.

Day 2 of my exercise journey

Yesterday I started exercising again. I'm determined to continue exercising no matter what. What usually happens is that I get a week into exercising and then I get sick so I have to stop, then I never start back up. This time i'm going to work through the sickness, if I get sick.

The program i'm doing right now, along with my mom, is the Jillian Michael's 30 Day Shred. Let me tell you, it's no joke. I watched it all the way through before I started and thought, "this doesn't look too bad". That was before I actually physically did it.

Let me tell you, it is that bad. It's a good bad though, like the kind that leaves you feeling great that you lived through it but dreading for morning to come when you know you have to do it all over again. Then you feel great again.

There are 3 levels to this program. Since it's called 30 Day Shred, I assumed that you are supposed to spend 10 days in each level, that's my goal anyway. Like I said i'm on day 2 of level 1. This morning was worse than the first day because my muscles were sore from yesterday. But I made myself get up and do it.

I think it's worth mentioning that level 1 is 3 circuits. You do 3 minutes of strength training, 2 minutes of cardio, and 1 minute of abs. You do this 3 times. The first circuit is the hardest for me so I have to push myself through it and remind myself that in 6 minutes i'll be on to the next circuit.

I wanted to mention that i'm really not trying to lose weight. I'm actually at my pre-pregnancy weight of 132 right now, which suits me fine. What I would like to do is tone and tighten up the flabby areas, so that's my goal here.

I plan on recording my adventure here on my journal. So feel free to follow along.

The Simple Woman's Daybook

FOR TODAY...January 4, 2010

Outside my window...I see lots of snow still clinging to the ground and in huge piles.

I am thinking...that i'm glad I got up and exercised this morning but I sure am tired.

I am thankful for...my family.

From the kitchen...we are having creamed chicken over egg noodles.

I am wearing...a t-shirt and comfy pj pants.

I am creating...a deep red knitted scarf.

I am going...to Topeka at some point today to pick up Samuel.

I am reading...The Probable Future by Alice Hoffman

I am hoping...that we can pick up Samuel at a decent time.

I am hearing...the radio playing, the news on TV, Eli upstairs playing in his crib.

Around the house...I need to vacuum and do some laundry.

One of my favorite things...my new boot slippers I received for Christmas.

A few plans for the rest of the week...back to school, meeting, relax.

Here is a picture for thought i'm sharing...I don't have my pictures on this computer. :(

Find more daybooks at: http://thesimplewomansdaybook.blogspot.com/

Menu Plan Monday

This week begins a healthy eating pattern for our family, hopefully. It's going to take some time to get used to and we will start slowly. I have an appointment with a nutritionist on the 19th of this month and after that we'll really be hitting it hard. So if some things don't seem that healthy, they may not be, we are working slowly! Also, i'll be using low-fat, low sodium, fat-free, etc. types of items that are available.

Monday- Creamed chicken over noodles

Tuesday- Beefy Stroganoff

Wednesday- Chicken Parmesan

Thursday- Tacos

Friday- Chicken Pot Pie

Saturday- Chili

Sunday- Leftover buffet

January Personal Life Goals

I took out some categories that don't really apply to me right now.

Marriage- Celebrate our 6 yr. anniversary!

Family- Implement a family game night once a week, as well as eat dinner together every night. Have the kids help prepare dinner sometimes. Less TV watching more reading books. Begin taking kids to library every other week.

Self- Purchase new makeup when able. Begin exercising daily taking one rest day a week. Eat healthy foods.

Home- Work on decluttering every area in anticipation of possible move in the near future.

Holidays- Celebrate Rudolph day on the 25th by making a list of homemade items to gift for Christmas. Make a supply list and a deadline list.

Hobbies- Finish scarf for me and begin a new project.

Spiritual- Find time to meditate.

Word for 2010

I finally chose a word for 2010, my word is "Learn". I figured I could easily apply this to all areas of my life. For example, learn patience, learn to eat healthy, etc.

Did you choose a word for this year? If so, how do you follow your word?

I plan on posting phrases of my word in strategic locations around the house so I can see them when I really need them. I also make a list of things I want my word to encompass to help me use it wisely.

Next up, January Life Goals. Stay tuned!