More Than a Month Later...

Well, it's been more than a month and I have TOTALLY slacked off until now. Well, not totally, but definately quite a bit. I have my weight consistently below 280, which is great. However, I haven't done any exercise or anything like that until now to do it. I've been eating less. Paying closer attention to when I am full. Trying to make sure I drink a lot more water and drink a lot less soda. That's it though.

Tonight was the first night I did concentrated exercise. Don't get me wrong. In the past month I have been trying a lot harder in a lot of aspects of my life. Doing more things myself, when before I would ask someone else to do it. Trying harder to get more housework done. Climbing up the stairs more frequently. Walking places. That kind of thing.

I have 2 videos that have 5 10 minute segments of exercise on them. They are designed so that the segments can be used individually or mixed and matched or all together as one long workout. I have one set that is Pilates and one that is Yoga. I did the yoga tonight. The 10 minute "beginner" yoga. Until I get back in the groove of doing yoga regularly (I used to) this will definately count for cardio too!

I want to get to the point where I am doing a pilates segement in the mornings, maybe up to 3 segments together even, and then a yoga sement, again eventually up to 3 segments together, at night. I'm not sure if I want to go for every day or not. I do think that once it becomes habit, I'll wind up doing it every day simply because it IS habit.

That is my next step. To make the exercise habit. My goal isn't to lose a ton of weight. OK, to most people it will be quite a bit of weight lost. However, I'm not shooting to be 135 or 140 pounds here. I'd like to see 200, or possibly 10 or 15 below that. I know I'd feel really good about what I have accomplished if I can do that, when I can do that.

I know that as I age, I will need to stay on top of my weight for the simple health reasons. There is so much that runs in my family, on both sides, that I can prevent just by being a healthier weight, and maintaining that weight. I also need to be a better role model for my kids. I want and need them to understand what HEALTHY is. Not as the media portrays it, but as life says it is. They need to see the work that it takes to be and remain healthy.

I will admit that I would like to be a "hot mom". By today's distorted standards, thanks in a great part to the media (all media, print, t.v., movies) I will never be the skinny waif beautiful. I do want to instill in my children a true sense of beauty. That women are beautiful in a lot of different shapes and sizes. That curves are good and sexy and you can't have curves unless you go under the knife and have them falsely put there or you have fat on your body.

I'm a work in progress, I admit that much is true. I will always be a work in progress, that I also understand. Right now happens to be a heavier construction period than at other periods.

Prayers and Blessings everyone. I'm sorry I missed Thankful Thursday. Life has been a little hectic around here this week.

Technically the 18th...

Well, it's now technically August 18th. The day I set upon myself to change some serious habits. To try to make life around here a little smoother, a little nicer, a little healthier (at least for myself on that last one). I'm still on Sunday, however as it is now Monday, I'll refer to today (Sunday) as yesterday, kosher?

I asked Jason what his priorities in my trying were. What it is he'd like to see me do in a list, a chore chart. I made a list. A list that I'm going to convert in to an actual chore chart. With designated days of the week and everything. I'll also be making charts for the kids. They need to help too. It can't be just me or just Jason. It really needs to be all of us, even Katy when she is here.

Here's my list:
Kid's bath cleaned up - take care of the cats (litter, food, water) and pick up toys in bathroom
Dishes - stacked, scraped, neat
Laundry - washed, dried, folded, put away
Meals - planned, cooked, served
Playroom and Upstairs Bedrooms - picked up, dirty clothes brought down, beds neatened
Pick up after ourselves - trash, mail, toys, dishes, food
Dining/Living Rooms and Downstairs Bath - picked up, wiped down
Kitchen - clean up, wipe down stove, counters, microwave, sweep, mop up floor
Office and Downstairs Bedroom - pick up, reorganize
Table, Chairs, Couches, Floors, and Windows - wipe down and vacuum as needed
Water and Weed Garden areas - as needed
Lesson Plan for next day
Exercise
Storage Room - organize and sort
EBay/Work at Home option/Wal-Mart work
Personal Projects
Family Time
Computer Time

Ah yes, my computer time comes in dead last. It really does need to. I'd like to get a work at home job that will really replace the Wal-Mart income. I'd like to always be able to be home, to cook at least, if not for all the other good reasons. Anyone have anything where they make a decent amount of consistent income while being at home?

Obviously, not all of those things will be done every day. They'll be split up a bit. Jason said it wasn't so much the washing of dishes he wanted done, just trying to get myself and the kids to keep them a little more organized. Plates and bowls stacked. Everything scraped out. Keeping them as neat as possible, so even the dirty dishes don't look like such a mess.

I may move the exercise up further on to the list, or have it on the chart 5 days a week. Planning the meals will help also. I'd like to be able to get to the point of doing a whole week at a time. That way, on the days I do work, Jason will be able to take a look, get what is needed for the meal (if I haven't made it in advance), and put it all together. I would like to have more stuff set up in the freezer, just pull it out and heat it, however we need a 2nd freezer really to do that for the family our size.

Reorganization is going to be a big thing around here. What do we need? What can be tossed? What can be sold? What can be donated? By reorganizing, it will help keep things picked up and neater.

I will be doing more follow through with the kids. I can't tell them to go do something and then not check up on them and then be angry when it's not done. They are kids, they need supervision and direction. How are they to learn the correct (read MY way) if I'm not there with them, showing them, teaching them?

This week I will be caring for my neice and nephew as well as my kids. Allen and Jessi will be here because my brother is starting a new job, and his training is taking place during the day. From what I understand, on normal occassions, he will be working evenings. So this week will be a little more hectic than usual, but I'm sure we'll all do fine.

That's all for now, it's almost 2:30 in the morning and I really need to head to bed. Jack will be here around 9:30 with the kids. I hope the migraine leaves me as I'm sleeping tonight, or I'll be a grouch tomorrow morning. Prayers and Blessings.