PJ day

Yesterday on the way home from school Andy told me with much enthusiasm that tomorrow was pajama day.  Okay kiddo.  Sounds good. So this morning, in my half awake daze, I picked out clothes for them both only to hear each child freak out at me: "MOM, it is PAJAMA day today! don't you remember?!" yes, yes I do 3 & 5 year old tiny humans.  Calm your bodies.

Well we got to school this morning and NO ONE was wearing PJs.  No one.  Except my children.  As I look out the window, I see them playing outside - - in Star Wars / kitty pajamas.

Sometimes I feel like I got the wrong memo, just like my kids.  How did I sit with my head in the sand for so many years eating crap - eating sugar like it was water? How did I go from fit and fabulous to chubby and fabulous?

Lately, people are starting to notice that I look different.  My response has been "oh you can tell? really?" I need to change that to "THANK YOU. yes. I'm working hard at it." All I can do is keep going forward and not kick myself (too hard) for my past mistakes.  Sometimes you wear your pjs on the wrong day and you just have to roll with it.

slow but sure

I ran this morning.  That's right, actually running. Outside, not on a treadmill.  Oh sure, I could pat myself on the back and say "Way to mix up your activity, keep your body guessing!"  But honestly, the reason is I signed up for a 5K next Thursday and...well, exercise specificity.  I can't Zumba my way around Maple Grove, I'll actually have to run so I'd better practice. It was slow at best, but I did it and it wasn't too bad.  Doesn't hurt to weigh nearly 30 pounds less than the last time I attempted to run.

Steve and I met our July goals - YIPPEE! Our rewards are deep tissue massages. OMgoodness, Drool.  I can't wait. Neither can my glutes.

go on your way

I wore a swimsuit for 10 hours in public this weekend and felt strong and confident. I felt like, yeah, I'm rockin' this black one piece with polka dots and a ruffly skirt. You go ahead and check me out. No thigh gap here. But also no excessive boobage spilling out into the world. I say WIN. 

We had several off book lunches - one of which involved one plain grilled chicken sandwich that Steve and I had to share. Our sshe meals aren't just healthy, they are filling. Message to announce: now hear this: food is fuel. Use it to run your body, not to respond to your feelings. So my point here is we were hungry eating the non-sshe meals. There was no quinoa at the snack shack at the water park. 

My downfall was ice cream. I enjoyed some super duper yummy real ice cream with my family (um, a couple times, doh) - this was not the best choice. I should have stuck to one time, as a treat. Again, live and learn. 

Then move on. 

Go on your way.

 

Well. Here I come. 

 

vaca

Loving vaca with the fam even though it's either been 95 degrees in the shade or raining cats and dogs. 

In other news, Finding Dory made me cry. The trail of shells... 😥

We had one meal off book for lunch today after a Duck ride. I ate about a pound of spinach. And some pizza. Aaaaaand I've been to the bathroom too many times to count since then. Sigh. This is a good thing for me to experience to help remind me that food like that is an occasional treat to be eaten in small quantities.   🍕😝😵

It has been a fun day. Now let's see if any of us get any sleep tonight. Last night was not so good. The tent next to us was rockin if you know what I mean. I'm serious. Ew. Glad my kids don't understand what those sounds were. 

Here's to sun and fun and family

 

 

 

 

on the wagon

Camping in a tent in 90 degree heat. But with the exception of a little tiny ice cream cone, we are on the wagon. Woot. 

 

one is all it takes

Today I made so many super good food choices but one bad one. I'm trying not to beat myself up but honestly I kinda deserve it. Sigh. I know better -- or do I? 😆😩

This weekend we are going camping - bringing all our meals with us of course - in a tent. Good heavens. Send me positive you-can-do-it thoughts as I hang with these two crazy tiny humans and try to make the best choices I can make. 

 

 

one kilo

Tuesday - deep thoughts with AG:

I love almond milk. So yummy. No chocolate needed in my coffee anymore

I lost a kilogram this week. That would be 2.2 lbs thankya very much. 

I enjoy black beans in a variety of presentations. Who knew?

Advice - surround yourself with amazing people. I am honestly in awe of my friends, family, coworkers, mentors...and this one guy I know named Steve. Yeah he lost 5.1 this week. (Happy dance commences.) so proud of him. 

I am grateful and hopeful. And lucky to have had a turn in the mustang tonight. 

 

you need to let it go

My kids are awesome. They are the reason I don't just eat an entire bag of kettle potato chips right this very minute -- (not that there are chips in my house - they have been banished. Which is good cause sometimes at 11pm I think...hmm, chiiiiiiiips BUT my name is NO my sign is NO my number is NO CHIPS)

Today my kids were brave. They ate healthy foods. They laughed and smiled with friends. They are my inspiration and my motivation. 

 

 

before

So I guess today I'd just like to say that I was still beautiful 25 lbs ago.  And I actually felt beautiful on the day this picture was taken.  Now, I look back and think, eek, oh my.  But honestly, I look in the mirror and although I can see and even feel a significant difference, I was still me then and I'm still me now. I am beautiful.

5 weeks down

We have officially been through all 5 weeks of meals - it is so nice to know what to expect. Garden veggie burger = good. Cucumber sauce = bad. 😆 but honestly, there are very few things that I hate. I was pretty pumped to have the veggie sausage again. I seriously love those fake meaty patties. 

My progress so far is a bit surreal. I've lost 25 lbs in 5 weeks. Wait, WHAT?!? Isn't that insane? Another 3+ pounds feel off this past week. 😮

I feel like the journey is not going to be this smooth for the next 21 weeks...but my fingers are crossed. Ha. Actually. I'm in it to win it kids. No crossing anything. Nose to the grindstone - here I come. 

 

peace and guacamole

My head and heart are full with all that is happening in our country and in Falcon Hgts, our very backyard, right now. It has been hard to focus on myself when lives are being lost. My gut is shouting:

"we belong to each other"

In Zumba we've been dancing to a remake of Sister Sledge's We are Family.  Super fun and seriously, words to live by. But here I am sitting in the coffee shop turning up the volume on my headphones so I don't have to hear the conversations of 'family members' nearby.  

I did have a moment last week where I put that mantra into action. My college friend and pastor extraordinaire Siri Strommen Campbell shared a thoughtful post each day of Ramadan. I learned so much about 'family members.' Last Tuesday, she challenged us to greet someone that was Muslim with a word of peace - Salaam. So low and behold, walking on the sidewalk that morning, I had that very opportunity. I went for it. A smile and Salaam. The smile returned to me was one of surprise, of joy, of connection. 

So rather than turning up my earbuds, maybe I should smile and say 'peace' to the annoying loud-talkers nearby. Maybe.  Maybe I should ask them if they'd like my guacamole because I'm sure not going to eat it. (sorry Stef) 

Oh no, now the loud talkers are kissing. 

Never mind. 

Another before pic for you 

 

😓

My eating is so incredibly irrelevant in light of the unbelievable sadness of Alton and Philando. I have no words. We must change. We must act. We must be a part of a solution. 

#BlackLivesMatter

we're #1

Rough day of food today. Only 230 calories for breakfast and hummus for lunch. Dude, it is sauce. To me. It just is. I couldn't do it. 😫

So I'm feeling hungry and sorry for myself. Yeah, boo hoo. Such a tough life. My free and healthy food isn't my favorite. Suck it up buttercup.  #firstworldproblems

However - according to the Life Time Fitness New Hope leaderboard, both Steve and I are #1 in the 60 day challenge! Woot! 

 

Ok ok. Life isn't too bad. 😆

Fingers crossed for no hummus tomorrow. 

2 pieces

So my new goal is to wear a bikini and rock it. Hard. I'm serious people. I bought one. 

Here it it - this very one is in my closet:

I do declare, I shalt rock that bikini!

Plus hey, I lost 3.7 lbs this week. BOOM!

(Happy dance commences)

 

be still my beating heart

We had such a wonderful weekend with family. As I sit down to write tonight my heart is grateful and happy. And tired. 

Looking over my food diaries for the weekend, I was not perfect by any stretch of the imagination. But just imagine if I was not on plan right now? The Whippy Dip was a special treat today, enjoyed with kids on all sides, and followed hours of walking and being active outside. Without our plan, it might be one of several calorie laden visits. 

Plan to work, work the plan. 

Here's the other pleasant surprise. My resting heart rate has g o n e  d  o  w   n. 

Check that out from the last 30 days. 

Niiiiice. 

I hope y'all are enjoying the calmer, more chill Angela. Ha. Yeah right. 
 

bike trail - for walkers too

My rockstar husband suggested that we take a nearly 3 mile walk tonight! Yippee! Felt so good. Love the stars, the fireflies, the quiet. 

My kiddos love their nana and grandpa, their cousin Sammy and the horses! Such fun. 

And I love my hubbie. 

 

on the road again

Headed to Iowa for the long weekend. Just stopped at a playplace for some jumping around / kiddo lunch. We rocked our SSHE Southwest salads! Some random mom stopped over at our table and said "wow, good idea!" Oh yeah. Go us.