Wednesday, June 29, 2011

Weighing In

My new scale, and toes in need
of a pedicure.
I've had it with feeling fat and frumpy when I should be forty(ish) and fabulous. So I've decided to do something about it.

Here's the plan...

Food Journal:  I have a tendency to snack. A lot. Writing down everything I eat will force me to acknowledge how much I'm eating, and hopefully encourage me to eat less.  That's the theory. I'm also trying to make healthier choices and reduce my portion sizes.

Regular Exercise:  I'm an admitted couch potato. Don't get me wrong, I love to go camping and hiking.  But when I'm home, I'm usually curled up on the couch with a book or my laptop. Last week, I received my Zumba Total-Body Transformation System from Amazon, and discovered just how fun this exercise program can be. I love Latin dance and I'm really hoping that this is something I can stick with.

Measurements:  On Saturday, I bought a new digital scale. I recorded my weight and measurements and will check these weekly.  This is my least favorite part of the plan because my numbers really suck right now.

Accountability:  I'll be posting my progress here every week. No, I'm not going to post my weight or measurements (I'm not that gutsy), but I will report how much I've lost - or gained. I'll also share my observations on eating and exercise.

So far I'm feeling really good about this. I've been faithfully doing Zumba workouts every evening. I skipped over the weekend, but made up for it with running a ton of errands on Saturday and mowing the yard on Sunday. The food journal is an eye opener. It makes me think twice about grabbing yet another handful of M&M's. As for the measurements... well, I guess we'll just have to wait and see.

Monday, June 20, 2011

Let's Hear It For the Boys


Aren't boys amazing? They can spend an entire afternoon pelting each other with paintballs in 100 degree heat, and still remain best friends. Let's hear it for the boys!


This photo was submitted in the I Heart Faces weekly photo challenge - http://iheartfaces.com/.

Sunday, June 19, 2011

Things My Father Taught Me

I haven't spoken to my father in over ten years.

My parents divorced when I was seven and we moved to Texas a few years later. For years, I tried to stay in contact with him through letters, phone calls, occasional visits, announcements and greeting cards. I maintained the hope that one day he would realize that he missed me and wanted me to be a part of his life.

I pretended that it didn't hurt when he never responded. I was kidding myself.

Five years ago, I gave up. I finally admitted to myself that he was never going to respond and I was wasting my time.

If I were to talk with my father today, I would thank him for teaching me a few things about parenting.
  • You do not divorce your children when you divorce your spouse. Children are family forever.
  • Children are a labor of love. They should never be made to feel like a burden.
  • It takes very little effort to show your child that she is loved.
  • Children (both boys and girls) need a male role model in their lives.
  • Promises are not made to be broken. Sometimes, it can't be helped, but it should be a rare occurrence.
These are just a few of the things I have learned from my father. I like to think that they have helped make me a better parent for my son.

Perhaps one day my father will realize what he's missed.