The week 2 lull?

For those that watch the Biggest Looser on NBC, know all too well about the lack of weight loss in week 2. I don't know if it's because they shock their system that first week or if it's because week 2 is just harder period. For me, I was surprised when I went to weigh in today. I was figuring that proverbial week 2 that's notorious on the Biggest Looser was going to grab hold. It wasn't that I wasn't on plan, it was just a bit harder. But I was down 1 lb which made me smile, and reaffirmed that I can do this. Last week I concentrated on adding power foods, but I lacked the exercise that I did that first week. So this week I am going to strive to hit the gym 3 times, at least 2 being in a group class. While I love doing the Zumba class Monday night, it's just hard to make with Chandler's Taekwondo which is about an hour before my class.

So next weeks goals: hit the 5 lb mark and hit the gym 3 times. Seems easy enough! :)

Week two!

I weighed in on Monday and was down 3.6 lb! I was very pleased with the number! Very!!

I was really good all week, didn't used any extra points, just activity points, so I earned them. On Saturday I did a new class, Bodypump at 24 hr fitness. It really was amazing, kicked my ass! I was so sore on Sunday and worse on Monday. So I was even more insane and did it again on Tuesday! Guess what?! I wasn't nearly as sore. I am going to go again on Saturday, so we'll see how the 3rd time goes. I am sure it will be better. This afternoon, I'd like to hit the gym and do the elipitical for 1/2 an hour or so. Hopefully that will happen.

I am doing well with the diet, counting points and tracking. I bought the new WW cookbook and it looks promising for menu ideas. I am looking forward to making some recipes out of it. You can get it at Amazon or I bought mine at Costco. Even came with a free WW Magazine subscription!
I am also trying to add in more power foods to each meal this week, which was the topic of this week's meeting. So far I am learning what the green triangle means: you are fuller longer, and they are better bang for the buck! I rediscovered Malt O Meal hot cereal, only 3 points, and with 2 Tbs of brown sugar it's 6 points for breakfast! Yum!

I will try and post on Monday for the weigh in. I'd love to see another big number!

First week-take one!

So I did it, I weighed in. I am at 331. There I said it. I have 50 WW points to eat a day, plus 49 extra points a week (which I don't have to eat, but can if I am doing something special). I am trying to stick to my 50 pts a day only; best way to start the journey, no "cheating" even if it's allowed.

Monday I did pretty good, I had 52 points, but I went and worked out. So that gave me 7 extra points for the week. I went with Amy and Jonathan Echols to Zumba at 24 hr fitness. It's a 60 minute class, all cardio. I did pretty well, Jonathan was very impressed that I lasted the whole 60 minutes, and frankly I was dumbfounded I lasted! Woot! I was cramping toward the end, and feared what Tuesday might bring. I was sore Monday night, but nothing too bad. Just used muscles I hadn't in a while!

Tuesday, I woke up sore-had a restful night's sleep, but tossed a bit thanks to those rarely used muscles that were making their presence known. I ate well, under my points by a couple. Had pasta with sauce for dinner (a fave for the boys) and some peas. I need to find a dressing for salad that I like. I am so picky-and really only like Ranch (which is bad for those on a diet). I also made a spreadsheet with foods that we keep in the house and eat often, listing their portion and points value. That will be handy!

One thing I have noticed is there are some great sites that I have found for resources for WW people. I have become a fan of 3 Fat Chicks on a Diet for their message boards. I am going to add some buttons off to the side of other blogs that have great recipes or tools for myself. Feel free to visit them and learn from them as well! I already have!

Today, I am trying to figure out dinner. Not sure what to do. I am thinking chicken, but not sure what I want to do with it. I have some left over pasta for a side. But I will see if Chandler has some ideas, since Rob will be at school tonight and it's just the boys and I.

On Saturday Rob and I will be going to 24 hr to try out a new GroupX class-a barbell lifting class called Les Mills Bodypump. I hope it is a good class, since I prefer lifting to cardio any day. But I will continue with Zumba on Monday nights with Amy and Jonathan. It was fun!

Well that's about it. I am on my journey to my first goal of 5% of my weight, about 17 lbs. But I'd really like to be down to 271 (60 lb down) by Lincoln's birthday. Besides hitting that in 6 months, it's the weight I was as a Freshman in High School (when I did track). I can do it!
Melissa

New year, new start!

This year, I am actually going to try to keep to something I resolve to do. It never works, but alas, I try. For 2011, and beyond, I am going to give it my all to loose this blasted weight. With all of Chandler's health issues fixed (Tethered Spinal Cord surgery June 7, 2010), it's time to focus on myself. Not for the selfish reasons, but to be alive to see my grand babies (here's hoping)!

So I start this year...FAT! I pray I am just less FAT!


I am going to loose weight by doing Weight Watcher's Points Plus system. Currently I am allowed 49 points. I don't know how to eat that much and loose weight, but Rob tells me you have to eat to loose. He's also aiming to loose some pounds, so we will do this together! Plan is to hit 24 hr Fitness 3 times a week to do either Zumba or 24Lift. Then two more times to do weights.

My blog goal is to blog on my weigh in days: thinking Monday right now. I will even give you the shameful numbers! I need to own it, even if I am embarrassed by it.

So tomorrow, I'll report the whole deal. Promise!

Chandler's journey part 1

I know I have been posting on Facebook all about the doctors appointments and evaluations and most don't know all the details so I thought I'd get this written out. He's being evaluated for entry into Kindergarten next year. He currently has an IFSP with Beaverton ESD, and now we are working on switching it to an IEP for Kindergarten next year. With all the evaluations we've found out he's got some other issues besides the speech delay.

• He's physically behind (evaluated to be at about 22-40 months), he has poor balance, nervous to walk up stairs or down, doesn't run properly, and doesn't jump on 1 leg.

• He has hyperactive reflexes on his legs, where you hit them, and they bounce more than 1 time (about 6 on some spots), and they shouldn't do that. He even had one spot where the opposite leg's spot moved, not right.

"that the reflex is hyperactive and that there is clonus present. Clonus is a repetitive, usually rhythmic, and variably sustained reflex response elicited by manually stretching the tendon. This clonus may be sustained as long as the tendon is manually stretched or may stop after up to a few beats despite continued stretch of the tendon. In this case it is useful to note how many beats are present."

http://www.dartmouth.edu/~dons/part_1/chapter_8.html

• He's always been chronically constipated since he was born. There was discussion he had Hershprung's Disease (where part of the Colon doesn't have the nerve cells to tell him it's time to poo. Surgery fixes it easily).

• Then his Apraxia of Speech shows that there is a neurological component to his body that's just not working in sync.

After seeing a PT, Developmental Pedi, eye doctor, audiologist, speech language path, and I spoke with an awesome Pedi Urologist on the phone (free!), we decided to see a Neurologist.

He's ordered the MRI to see if he has a tethered spinal cord or if he's got something going on in his lower back that could be causing these issues. The PT thinks she can get him to where he should be by September (YAY!) but we don't want to waste our PT visits if there is an underlying cause.

So that's about it. It's taken about 4 months to get to this point. If it's a tethered cord, we'll see the Neurosurgeon at Emanuel and she will fix his cord. From what I've read, she's excellent!

More updates after we get the blood work results on the Fragile X Syndrome (doubt, but easy blood test), and then Monday's MRI at the hospital (he'll be under for it). Thanks for the prayers & good thoughts! It all helps!
Melissa

Wisdom Teeth...

These suckers were supposed to come out 5 years ago... But now I have finally done it! This morning all 4 of my impacted wisdom teeth were taken out. I had IV sedation and am taking some nice pain pills. I don't remember anything of the surgery except waking up to Paul Simon on my Ipod and going to sleep with Garth Brooks. :) Very nice!

My jaw is sore and I can only open it up 1/2" or so but I am hanging in there. I am praying that I don't have a dry socket. But so far so good.