Story Time for the Little Ones: Terry Treetop

I downloaded another book for my kids to read on my Iphone.  I'm constantly on the look-out for quite activities. And, since last week's book endeavor was less than quite, I hoped this new book would be more subdued. 

Terry the Treetop is about a little boy who finds a bear in the woods and saves him.  It's supposed to be geared towards children ages 2-8, and has fun & interesting facts about spring time.  

However, it also has words like "harbingers", which isn't age appropriate, and there was a lot of text for a book that is geared toward such a young reading group. 

On the up-side, the pictures were cute and fun to look at and the facts about spring were kind of interesting. 

Week 2 Weigh In: 4 Things I Can Do To Make This Next Week's Weigh-In Phenominal

Week 2 weigh in:

I'm getting mixed signals this week.  Admittedly, this was NOT my best week, though it often takes me a week or two to acclimate myself.  I'm not good at cold turkey.

But this weigh in, even for me, is pretty bad.

Instead of losing weight, I ultimately gained it.    My fat content went up .5%,but my water went down .8%

I lost inches in my bust, upper abs, and hips. But I stayed the same for every other body part.

I think what frustrates me the most is that most of the time, my first week is rewarded with a 5 lb weight loss.  But this time around I gained .8 lbs.

This can be attributed to many things.  It could be that I'm actually gaining muscle, or possibly water weight (though my water weight and muscle percentages tell me otherwise).  Or, it could mean something as simple as the fact that I need to take a good ol' fashioned dump.  .8 lbs could mean a myriad of things.  And I don't have the time to obsess over bad results.

All I can do is concentrate on what I am going to do to ensure I have a FANTASTIC week this next time around.

So this is what I plan to do:

1) Do NOT skip a single work out day.  I skipped a couple this week due to illness or pain.  But, you know what?  There are enough work-out programs out there that even if I'm sick or in pain, there is SOMETHING I can do to burn some calories and ramp up my metabolism.  It's time to be more flexible and rely less on walking and more on moving.

2) NO PIZZA. (Note: I didn't say eat less.  I said eat different) Pizza is the bane of my existence.  It's the go-to food for my family.  When I'm not up for cooking, that's usually what the hubby or kids request.  But every stinking time I eat pizza, my pounds are up the next day.  Goal for this week:  NO PIZZA - at ALL. Period. End of discussion. In order for me to meet my health & fitness goals, I must learn to control my cravings.

3) Drink More Water.  I was trying to drink 8 glasses per day.  Nope.  We're going for 12.  Maybe I need to flush my system out to start the ball rolling.  Heaven knows, extra water certainly won't hurt!

4) Add a little more exercise to the program.  Yes, walking is good.  But apparently it's not good enough, when you're not losing weight.  I do have a secret weapon I'm implementing this week. If all goes well, I'll explain exactly what I did so you can do the same if you want.

My sisters often tease me about it, and my husband notices within a day or two that I've started it.  But well...you'll understand when I tell you about it.  IN A WEEK!  So check back often!!!  You'll be amazed at the changes in me in just a WEEK.  Seriously.

First Day on the Trails. I Think I Almost Died.

Me after the work out. Beet Red!

My sweet husband woke up this fine Saturday morning and asked me what my plans were.  I told him I had a bit of work to do, and then I wanted to take a walk.  He then told me he'd been planning on going on a walk to and asked if we could go now.

I dropped what I was doing and put on some shoes (I was already in work-out clothes to help motivate me to get my butt out of the house...eventually).

We headed over to the trails that follow the Spokane River for our walk. He asked how far I wanted to go, and I told him my hope was to go 3 miles.  Yeah, I know it's not far, but it is when I stop at a mile on the treadmill.

Walking always seems to take three times longer on a treadmill. Blech!

I was able to get about a mile into my walk before my back was screaming, my hands were so swollen I couldn't make a fist, and my calves were beginning to cramp up, and my hips hurt.  Oh, how I love the beginning weeks of losing weight.  NOT!!

The start of a massive blister. Isn't it pretty? I shall name it Henry

KC asked me if we needed to turn back and I promptly told him NO!  I will finish this walk even if I have to stop 30 times and I'm crawling to the car! Little did he know how close to the truth that may be.

The nice thing, as he pointed out, about walking the trails vs. a treadmill, is that on the trails you must turn around and walk back.  You HAVE to walk back.  You don't have a choice, unless you want to die there on the trails. With a treadmill, you can get tired and step off and be done.

When we got to our half-way point, I had to stop and rest my back for about 5 minutes.  My boobs and stomach are too big!  It was hurting my back too much - if felt very much akin to labor pains.

So I sat down, relieved the pressure on my back, the stood up.  KC asked if I needed more time and I told him, "This is as good as I'm ever gonna feel, so we might as well get started."

My fingers are so swollen they look like stuffed sausages!

I did pretty good for the first 1/2 mile, then the pain in my back commenced again, followed by my hands (from the swelling), then my shins, calves, quads, and hips.  KC very nicely slowed his pace as I adjusted my stride, and quietly endured the experience through gasps of air.

It wasn't pretty, but I finished without having to stop, and I have the start of only one major blister on my left heel to show for the experience.

I came home with my face beet red, my shirt covered in sweat marks, and my fingers tingling from lack of sensation. There were moments I felt like I was going to die of a heart attack, or pass out from hyperventilation.  But I also came home with a sense of accomplishment.  The fist step is often the hardest, and today was no exception.  Working out at 295 lbs is no easy task, but as long as I persist - remembering that at this point it is merely a war of the wills - I will succeed and it will get better until working out is eventually fun.  It will EVENTUALLY become something I look forward to and crave.

Organic Coconut Oil Capsules

I have read several articles lately about how great coconut oil is for weight loss.

It's been linked to several health benefits including:

Diabetes, heart disease, chronic fatigue, Chrones Disease, Irritable Bowl Syndrome, Alzheimer's, thyroid conditions, energy issues, boosting the immune system, weight loss, lowering cholesterol, and psoriasis.  ( Resource used: http://www.webmd.com/vitamins-supplements/ingredientmono-1092-coconut%20oil.aspx?activeingredientid=1092&activeingredientname=coconut%20oil )

I've experimented with coconut oil a few times. I've done things like oil pulling (swishing the oil in your mouth for 20 minutes) to help strengthen the teeth and help with cavities, and I've cooked with it on several occasions.  However, I haven't been able to use it consistently because I, as a habit, don't usually cook with any type of oils unless the recipe specifically asks for oil.  Plus, the coconut oil I have in my kitchen is more of the consistency of grainy shortening.


However, the concept of using coconut oil as a way to enhance your weight loss, has interested me and I've wanted to try out that theory.  So, when I was given an opportunity to get a free bottle of coconut oil capsules, I jumped at the opportunity to give them a try.

The capsules are look about the same as a fish-oil capsule.  They don't have any funky after taste, and I never had any problems taking them. 

Is it helping to aid in my weight loss?  I'm still up in the air about that because I've made so many recent changes to my lifestyle that I can't pinpoint any one thing.  What I can say is that I haven't GAINED weight.  I can also tell you that my skin is looking pretty darned good lately.  I have a pretty large spot on my right hand that has psoriasis.  It has always cracked and flaked and been pretty nasty.  It's a spot I've been consistently self-conscious about over the years.

I have noticed that the spot is gradually getting less flaky as my use continues.  There is no more cracking.  For that reason alone, I would take these capsules.  Never mind the fact that I may also lose weight, lower my cholesterol, increase my energy, or avoid getting diabetes.  Those are all bonuses to a product I would say is definitely worth giving a try.

Is It Hot In Here? Or Is It Just Me?

Ok, I'm just gonna throw this out there.  I don't know if I'm crazy, menopausal, or if this is normal, and I'm just not getting the memo.  But, for me, when I'm losing large amounts of weight (i.e. a pound or more per day) I notice that I have a tendency to sweat.  Like all day long.  As in, feeling like it's 110 degrees outside, but I'm actually in an air conditioned house, kind of sweat.

Do any of you feel that way, or felt that way when your body was in 'the zone' and burning off a bunch of weight?

I noticed it for the 3 whole days I tried the Hcg diet - then stopped because it was outrageous.  I think I lost 5 lbs in those 3 days, but I also almost passed out and had migraines.  I noticed it this week when I had the 2 lb weight loss in 24 hours.

So, am I crazy?   Just tell me I'm not crazy.  I think I could even handle menopausal.

Maybe it's one of the supplements I'm taking?  I dunno.  What I do know, though, is that sweating like an Banshee is a double-edged sword.  Yes, I know that a killer weigh-in is eminent.  But it also means I feel like I'm living in a fish bowl 24/7.

And, before you start telling me it's just water-loss, I'm gonna stop you right there and say, "Nuh-uh."

This sweating thing is a normal occurrence for me.  It happens all the time.  Not just twice.  And a girl can only lose so much water before she starts losing fat - especially if she's doing everything right.

Oh well, it's hard to get a response from your own personal blog post.  So I'll post this to the World Wide Web and hope that someone responds.

Thank you, and good night :)

An Old-Time Shaving Kit With a Modern Twist

So one of my all-time favorite memories as a child was sitting on the vanity in our bathroom upstairs as my dad got ready for work in the morning.  

Being one of ten children, it wasn't very often that I'd get any one-on-one time with my dad.  I'd have to get up pretty early to get it.  My favorite part of his morning ritual was when he shaved.  He had this old porcelain mug that had years and years or residue from soap, and an old, horsehair shaving brush. 

He'd water down his brush then dip it into the mug and swirl and swirl the hairs of the brush until the mug was filled with suds from the soap.  If I was really good, he'd hand me the brush and let me dip it into the mug and lather his face up, painting the bubbles all over the stubble on his face until he look looked like he'd fallen into a pile of snow. 

When I was done being more than thorough with his soap, dad would rinse off the horsehair brush, tap it a couple times on the sink, then place it behind the vanity mirror for safe keeping and proceed to shave, followed by a few drops of Old Spice.  

To this day, the smell brings back fond memories. 

A few days ago, I was given the opportunity to test out a new, more modern version of the shaving kit.  I have a 15-year-old son who is now at that age where the perpetual peach fuzz is sprouting all over his face, so I thought this would be an excellent way to pass down the tradition of a shaving kit, rather than foam and a razor.  What's the fun in that?

When I got the package in the mail, I was impressed.  The stainless steel bowl was sturdy, designed to last a long time.  There was also a holder for the boar hair brush,which was pretty cool to look at because the bristles were several tones, so it looked like there was a stripe through the bristles. 

At first, I thought the bristles would be too coarse for shaving, but one it was wet, they softened and wasn't an issue at all.  

In all, the consensus was that the shaving kit was pretty cool, and really quite sturdy.  It's something that would make a great gift for the man in your life.  Father's Day is coming up...just sayin'.

Does Reading To Your Children Count As Exercise?

I recently downloaded a book off Amazon called: GREEN Bird: The Adventures Children Book illustrations.  I thought it would be a fun book for my kiddos, seeing as they are 4 1/2 and 6 years old.  

I've been looking for something that I can give them to read when I need them to sit quietly - i.e. in waiting rooms, in the car, or wherever. But I didn't want to be lugging a bunch of books around in a diaper bag either. Thus, the e-book method. 

My first mistake was to read the book after dinner - which means they had full tummies and a renewed sense of energy.  I sat my 4-year-old on my lap and flipped on my IPhone.  His face immediately lit up when he saw the bright green bird on the cover then he began to clap, which drew the attention of my 6 year-old.  

I began reading the book out loud to my children.  One was on my lap, and the other was standing next to me, leaning over the screen, making it hard for me to see.  This caused me to have to dodge my head around my 6-year-old daughter to read the screen while my 4-year-old son pointed to the pictures. 

The pictures were cute and completely engaging.  But every few pages, it was a white page with words, which caused my 4-year-old to zone off momentarily until another picture appeared.  This lull in his attention caused him to look elsewhere (i.e. at his big sister) for entertainment.  

Eventually, the book reading session turned into something akin to: 

ME: "'Excuse me, are you a bird?' The little green bird asked the little green thing."

JACOB Grunts and tries to tap the phone phone to turn the page.

COURTNEY: "JACOB! It's my turn!"  She slaps his hand.

ME: "Courtney, don't hit your brother." I bat her hand away and touch the screen myself.

JACOB Dives for the phone and I wrestle him away as Courtney manhandles it out of my grasp while my attention is focused on Jacob. 

COURTNEY: "Ooh, Mama! What do you think this is?  An Apple? A Pear?" She waves the phone in front of my face, but yanks it away when I try to grab it for a closer view. 

JACOB tries to make a move for the phone, but I grab him around the waist and pull him back on my lap. 

ME: "Courtney, give me the phone back so I can read it to everyone."

COURTNEY returns the phone and leans in, tapping the phone to turn the page to words.  

JACOB grunts and taps the phone too, causing it to turn back to the mystery picture. 

I tap it again, batting both hands away and reading the words. 

BOTH KIDS grin when it's revealed to be a mango!

JACOB lunges again to turn the page.

COURTNEY screams and lunges too. 

I wrestle the phone away, dodging little hands, and reading the dialogue while moving the phone every .3 seconds to avoid sticky fingers. 

More screaming (some from me).  

We turn the page. 

COURTNEY guesses, giggles, and squeals.

JACOB lunges, successfully turning the page again, and pointing to the newest animal discovery.
And then repeat....

Seriously, can I count that as my workout?  My arms are kind of tired.  It's gotta count for a few minutes anyway.

Needless to say, the book was a hit.  You might want to check it out.  If you dare...but I wouldn't recommend it for quite time.    :)