Isabelle's Eye

The poor girl has hit that left eye 2 times in a row now. The first time she hit the corner of our foot board and this time Matthew was flinging toys and one hit her right in the eye and scraped it too. Poor girl! This is about 5 days after it happened. It bruised immediately after getting hit with the toy, but Jordan said she didn't really cry that long. Matthew felt really bad. Always pretty smiley though.

Favorite Waterbottle

I met this Associate while at our NY event that works for Precor that makes my favorite workout machine (btw-only costs $8k). We talked for awhile and I told him I loved the new machine and he told me he wanted to send me some stuff. Lots of Associates say this and really I was thinking he would only send me some literature which I would be happy for as well. It's been about a month and I thought maybe he wasn't really sending me anything and lo and behold a pkg was at my desk when I returned from my 2 back to back May events. Inside were 2 NICE hand towels to use at the gym, 2 Precor T's, and 1 Camelbak waterbottle. It's my new favorite thing. It's so cool and instead of tipping it you bite it and suck the water. I love that it seals out germs from the sucking tube and that I don't have to tip my head to drink my water while at the gym. I swear I have drank even more water that usual lately just because it's so fun to use.

Just something else to help my workout be fun and I thought I'd share one of my new favs! Happy working out everyone!!!

Jumpy Slide

I've posted a few pictures and comments on facebook lately about our jumpy slide we bought this week. At Matthew's last day of school his teacher had this cool jumpy slide and Matthew was having a blast. I took one look and knew we needed to track it down and find one so that Matthew, Isabelle and our sitter Amy would have something to do this summer. Amy can't take both of the kids to the pool on her own and this is perfect to use while Isabelle is taking a nap. Another bonus is that is wears Matthew out and he can get out his pentup energy. We have used it everyday so far at least once and sometimes twice a day. Matthew loves it and Isabelle likes to wade around in the pool part. I took these pictures on Thursday when I took the day off and Isabelle was taking a nap.

I think we're going to use it for Matthew's birthday and we have friends coming down tonight to use it and have a BBQ. I think this might be one of our best investments for the summer. Matthew already has an awesome farmers tan from his rash shirt and shorts. He is getting so dark and we even use sunscreen like crazy.

I love this shot of Matthew. He is so full of life in everything he does.

Fully blown-up. It only takes 2 minutes to blow up and then the fan stays on the whole time you're playing. We are going to move it further into the corner and just leave it there for the summer. The grass is crappy in the summer anyways and will probably just die in that corner-oh well.

Matthew is always inventing one game or another. We played various games with the basketball since I'm over the pound limit and can't go down the slide (but not for long!).

Weight Loss Challenge: Week 11 & 12 Progress

I am combining 2 weeks together as I was at 2 events back to back and worked 14 days straight. Boy was I exhausted by the time our 2 events were over. On top of this someone that worked for me quit so I was doing 1/2 his job + mine. The events were great, we got someone hired for the job that reports to me and our household is almost back to normal.

Workout wise the past two weeks:
5/8: Treadmill - 40 min. and 400 calories burned
5/9: Day of Rest
5/10: Free Motion Machine - 35 min. and 400 calories burned
5/11: Free Motion Machine - 45 min. and 500 calories burned (at event)
5/12: Walked probably 5 miles - I counted that as my workout for the day (at event)
5/13: Treadmill - 40 min. and 400 calories burned (at event)-went at 5:30 in the morning
5/14: Elliptical - 35 min. and 300 calories burned (at event)
5/15: Elliptical - 30 min. and 250 calories burned (at event)
5/16: Day of Rest
5/17: Free Motion Machine - 47 min. and 450 calories burned
5/18: Treadmill - 38 min. and 405 calories burned
5/19: Took the kids for a walk for 45 min. around our community - 200 calories burned (cleansing)
5/20: Free Motion Machine - 42 min. and 450 calories burned
5/21: Treadmill - 30 min. and 400 calories burned

It's been a struggle lately wanting to exercise. I'm so tired some days, but am committed to this challenge. I just need to remind myself that I always feel great after exercising and the payoff on the scale is worth it. It was really tough a few days while at the events. I couldn't go as long as I wanted because my feet were literally burning after walking/standing all day. I figured I walked a lot while at the event and the little I did on the cardio machines was better than nothing.

Diet Wise:
So hard while at events to know what you are consuming calorie wise. I ate small portions and just did the best I could. I'm so glad it's Saturday so we can plan next week's menu and go to the store today. We've been winging it this week which has been ok, but I like to know what we're doing every day.

Results: 4 pounds. Overall 30 pounds. 34 to go.

Wow is all I can say! I can't believe I'm at 30 pounds weight loss. We have 5 weeks left of the challenge so I'm really going to push myself this next month as I want to get to 42-45 pounds by the end of the challenge. Also, excited to be almost halfway there to my goal. Yay me!

Weight Loss Challenge: Week 10 Progress

Workout wise this week:
5/1: Elliptical - 42 min. and 400 calories burned
5/2: Day of Rest
5/3: Free Motion Machine - 45 min. and 500 calories burned
5/4: Free Motion Machine - 40 min. and 450 calories burned
5/5: Free Motion Machine - 48 min. and 500 calories burned
5/6: Free Motion Machine - 47 min. and 510 calories burned
5/7: Treadmill - 37 min. and 300 calories burned

Took the kids with me on Monday again and Isabelle had a melt down so I was called in with 12 min. left in my workout. I got her settled down and finished my workout. I love the Free Motion Machine because it doesn't hurt my knees. My knees really hurt after the treadmill and even the Elliptical machine lately so I try to avoid them when I can.

Diet Wise:
I just got my new cookbooks and am excited to try some new things this week. We did a lot of basic chicken with vegetables this week.

It was a tough week for me overall. There is lots of stress going on at work so I worked late most of the week which means I got to the gym and subsequently home late. It's hard when you don't get you see your kids much in the evening and then the mother guilt kicks in. Good thing my will was stronger than my brain this week because I probably wouldn't have worked out much since I was tired from work. I'm glad I did it though because inevitably I always felt better afterwards.

Results: 2 pounds. Overall 26 pounds. 38 to go.

So close to 30 pounds and can't wait until my weight loss is higher than what the amount is to go.

Isabelle Eating

Isabelle really wants to do everything herself that she can. Last night she wanted to feed herself applesauce so we let her go at it. She actually did pretty good!

Weight Loss Challenge: Week 9 Progress

Workout wise this week:
4/24: Treadmill - 47 min. and 450 calories burned
4/25: Day of Rest
4/26: Free Motion Machine - 47 min. and 500 calories burned
4/27: Free Motion Machine - 37 min. and 400 calories burned
4/28: Free Motion Machine - 46 min. and 500 calories burned
4/29: Free Motion Machine - 35 min. and 400 calories burned
4/30: Treadmill - 46 min. and 450 calories burned

I took the day off on Monday and ran errands with the kids and then took them to the gym where they could play while I was working out. I love getting my workout done during the day. Interesting things I've seen lately while working out. While in NJ I saw a man in his work shoes on the treadmill, another day a girl wearing Uggs, and then yesterday there was a wedding going on at our clubhouse and the bride wore purple. Working out is not only good for your body and heart but you can also have the pleasure of witnessing odd things happen. :)

Diet Wise:
Trying to stay within 1400-1600 calories a day. I just ordered 2 new cookbooks that have low-calorie meals. Can't wait for them to arrive on Tuesday as I'm running out of ideas for dinners. Both had great reviews on Amazon so we'll see how they are. We did try some Spinach Lasagna rolls that only had 190 calories each. They were really good and we had some on the side with chicken.

Results: 1 pound. Overall 24 pounds. 40 to go.

Bummed that I didn't get to 25, but it's still weight loss. I think I'm going to do some lower calorie and higher calorie days back to back and see if that can't trick my body into shedding more weight this week. We only have 8 weeks to go and I really want to get to 45 pds.

Side Note: Isabelle weighs 20 pds today and Matthew 37. He wanted to see what I weighed and Jordan told him I probably didn't want everyone to see that number just yet. I'm getting there, but will share once I get to my goal weight.