out of the loop - What day is it?

I have come on several times to type out a post and work keeps getting in the way. Finally a few quiet moments here to type away. This weekend seemed to go by at warp speed! Before I knew it, it was over and I still had a list of things that I didn't get accomplished. My niece came over yesterday after church to play for a few hours with my kids so that gave me a few hours to clean up the house. I made a batch of fortune cookies to try out.

Last week I had gained two lbs and managed to lose them by Sunday. It was a hectic morning and I didn't get my weigh in to Allan. Hoping my email to him will keep me in the contest and keep him emailing me with encouragement.

Saturday I had a birthday party to go to at a pizza place so I did Day 5. I like day 5, food that makes you not quite feel like your on a diet. Today I am doing Day 8, but one modification. They brought in Mexican food today for lunch. I switched my lunch for dinner. So tonight will be tuna for dinner which is good because the whole family will eat that. Tomorrow is day 4, my 1st attempt at eating fish. Writing this all out keeps it real for me. Accountability!

We got a used bike from my uncle. Its old school, but it works and its small enough that I can stick it in my living room. I will do some interval biking tonight as well as a bit extra since I know I CAN and I NEED it!

Here is to reaching a new low this week. Here is to March being fabulous! February I only lost 2.66lbs. I could have done that in ONE week. I WONT be doing that again in March!!

Jen

Breathe

The auditors are gone. Finally some down time. I know we will still be getting requests next week, but at least they are not here in OUR FACES!

I have sucked all week. Back to my old excuses. I had camp, I ate decent for the most part, but also ate some crap. I didnt get the water in that I needed to. I did not follow the plan AT all this week. I came home from camp and was up 2lbs :( Then came back to work Tuesday with my food all packed and planned out. And didnt eat it. Dumb excuses....then weds we had a work bbq, I let myself use more bad excuses. I am full of them! I dont want to be the FAT girl full of excuses anymore.

I am re-committed to myself, to the plan, to Allan and the other challengers! I am going to enlist my hubby for help. It seems to always be my last resort. Having him hold me accountable sucks, but I NEED someone who is around me all the time to be there to shake the finger at me when I want to cave. He is great for encouragement. So each day the meal list for the day will be posted on the fridge

I know I need to do this for myself. But I also look at my kids who are all super skinny and PRAY they never have to go through this. I also know they dont eat as healthy as they could because I dont. THAT has to CHANGE!

So back on plan, back to working out like I KNOW I can, pushing myself. NO MORE FREAKING excuses, back to putting myself FIRST for at least an hour a day. I have to keep reminding myself how GOOD I feel after I workout, after I say NO to crappy food and make good choices. That feeling is SO MUCH better than the feeling of failure!

NO MORE FAILURE!

Love the post that Charlie has up today. She has a GREAT blog!

Jen

I am here...plugging along....a work audit taking over my days! DUMB WORK!


Jen

Relay for Life

On Saturday, April 30th I am walking in the Relay for Life in honor of my mother in law Pepper. She passed away in 2007 a few months before our 2nd child was born. She was an amazing woman who I was privileged to have as my mom. She only got to meet her granddaughter and missed out on both her grandsons. I hope that by raising money my team can keep someone else from missing those precious moments!!!

I am hoping if you can/want, you will donate a little to help me raise money for cancer.

The American Cancer Society - :

Jen

MIA

I will be MIA until Tuesday morning. Its WINTER CAMP TIME! of course I went to bed with a CRAZY headache and woke up with a stiff neck!!

Jen

I'm still here, plugging away, drowning in water LOL!

We are going through our big audit for the year. Its intense. I have lots of paper cuts! Not much time to write or read others. I hope everyone is kicking butt!

This weekend will be interesting. I am going to Winter Camp with our youth kids. I am gone fri-mon. I cant prepare my own food, I am still trying to figure out a way to stay on plan. I can pack my some stuff. I am going to find a small cooler and fill it with as much as I can but without being able to cook my own food, I am PRAYING they have some decent options available. I am hoping to stick to the menus as they are written, but I might have to make due with what foods they serve and what I am able to cram in my bag and cooler. I have been doing good, not happy that this bump in the road is coming at the end of week 2. Luckily I am on the kitchen staff (helping the camp staff out for each meal). So I can at least see what is prepared and HOW its prepared.

Jen

Customers orders....thank GOD I like SALT more than SWEETS or I would be doomed!

Cake Balls

Cranberry Bars (much like that certain coffee place makes)
Sugar Cookies

Jen

9/120

I have the hardest time getting on here on the weekend. Especially ones that involve an upcoming holiday. Much of my time was spent in the kitchen baking crap I cant eat. We went to visit my father in law. Interesting weekend to say the least. Had a nice message at church yesterday. I didn't do well from Friday on. Not sure how I managed to squeak out a tiny loss, but I will be happy and move on to a new week. I know that if I have one solid good week on the plan, I will see the loss and that will keep me motivated to stay on plan. The food is decent, the workouts are not that hard. I just need to suck it up and STAY FOCUSED! The only thing I did right all week/weekend was the water.

So here's to a Valentines day with NO crap! Normally hubby is at band practice on Monday nights, but since we are going to youth camp for the weekend, he is off. My kids want heart shaped pancakes with strawberries for dinner. Which I can eat...just moved my day around a bit so I can have pancakes with them.

Jen

Here Kitty Kitty

My cake business. My lifelong dream.... someday I hope it will be my real job and not just a part time thing. These are cake pops....lots of hello kitty cake pops.

Jen

4/120

1st things 1st. Peaches are NASTY! I tried to eat the whole thing, I just couldn't do even with NO skin left on it.

After losing and gaining this week, I am back to where I started on weigh in day. Hoping the next few days produce a loss. That time of month is coming, who knows. I guess I need to hide the dang scale until Sundays since my eating is laid out and I am no longer using the scale reading to lay out how my day will be. I have been having a bit of trouble getting in my last 16oz of water, having to drink it late and then sleeping crappy because I am peeing ALL NIGHT. So last night after work, I took my cute cup home, filled it this morning and drank 16 in the car. Hoping that helps!

Tonight we are having a couple from church over for dinner. They are bringing dinner. I was nervous at first. Found out she is bringing beef, rice and beans, tortillas. I will do the toppings (sc, guac, cheese etc). I am planning to have steak over a salad, with some wild rice I have at home. Fitting right into day 1 of the plan. Then I am going over to her house to sew some Valentine dresses for our daughters. I don't sew often, but I love it.

I got my kitty pops almost done. just some eyes and whiskers need to be drawn on as well as bags and ribbons for delivery tomorrow (here at work). I would love to show pics and go on about my business, cause I LOVE to bake, but I don't think this is the place!! Especially on day 4!

This weekend we are going to brother in laws house, father in law is in town from AZ to visit. He is making a prime rib. GAG, they do nothing for me! I think I am going to follow day 9. I don't do mushrooms (those are not negotiable LOL), but recently have gotten into the onions. YUMMY!

Jen

3/120

My calves are sore...that's a good thing! I plan to get my workout in at lunch today. Brought my deodorant for after LOL! I don't typically workout at lunch time since I have no shower to get back to decent shape. But if i don't do it at lunch, I just know I wont do it. Life group right after work, then many many hello kitty cake pops to be made.

Made a really good steak last night, but as I was cutting my carrots they were dry and gross looking, so I opted for some broccoli. Fresh steamed broccoli. Yummy! I will get some new carrots today! I will say I am enjoying the waffles/pancakes for breakfast. I have had more oatmeal in the past 6 months that its nice to be able to skip that!

OK so poached eggs. I had to google how to make them. So they are like hard boiled eggs, but the yolk is runny? What is the difference is eating an egg this way versus preparing it sunny side up in a pan? I use Pam and no additional oil or grease. Share your thoughts please?

Today I have a peach. Not a fan of the hairy skin, so that will have to go, but hoping I will enjoy it somewhat so I can add it to my small list of fruits I actually like. This new eating is stretching me big time. New fruits....even going to attempt to eat fish this weekend. Any good ways to prepare flounder? I have never once cooked fish!

Jen

2/120 Post 2

you know how Monday comes, you start thinking of all the things that you have to do during the week, plans for the weekend etc.

this is my week: Why oh why do I overplan!

Tonight: make 2 cakes for cake pop order for Friday, make 2 batches of sugar cookie dough for order due sat.
Weds: we rush home, eat dinner, go to life group until 9, then I have to roll 40 cake pops, freeze and cover in white chocolate. (they are hello kitty ones, so a bit more work)
Thurs: We have a couple from church coming over for dinner. Then I had planned to go to her house and do some sewing. Then home to cut and bake 24 Valentines cookie pops. Bag and tie all of the cake pops, for friday delivery (gal I work with)
Friday: Spaghetti dinner for fundraiser at church for youth Winter camp, Frost and bag cookies.
Sat: we are heading to Brother in laws (hour away), Father in law is in town (from AZ)

all this while keeping the house somewhat clean, cooking dinners, working out, taking care of three kids! Snore! At least I will be sleeping good!

Jen

2/120

Got my cute water cup filled. Breakfast has been eaten and I am sipping some coffee very slowly to enjoy every drop. I made a huge bag full of the salad mix we eat a lot but couldn't find wheat rolls at the store near work. Random. I am not a fruit eater, veggies yes, fruit no or yogurt. I used to like yogurt and ever since having kids I don't anymore. Not sure whats that all about, BUT I am going to suck it up and eat what I am supposed to. I am determined to drop this extra baggage!

I watched the show "I used to be Fat" last night. Its about high school/college age kids wanting to drop weight during the summer to start the next year fresh and skinny. You can see the ones that worked hard really lost a lot and looked great. They have huge signs on their walls with the days, counting down, each day ripping off the old day and starting with a new. The guy I watched last night had 120 days. He dropped 86lbs. Now I know he had a "biggest loser" style thing going on, trainer daily etc, but its not unrealistic...I could happen, if you work hard, stay focused, DON'T CHEAT, drink your water, do the workouts.....

I am pumped!

I weigh daily...just to see how I am doing throughout the week. Today I saw 209 on the scale. Its been a long time since I have seen that #!!

Jen

1/120 post 2

I figured for all the new Phase 5 readers I would introduce myself again. I am Jen, married to an insurance agent/youth pastor/awesome musician. I just turned 35 last month. I have 3 kids. Oldest is a girl and is 5 1/2, my middle is a boy 3 1/2 and my youngest is almost 9 months, a boy and our surprise baby. We were done at 2 kids...God had other plans!

I never was overweight until I got out of high school. Then the lbs started to pack on. I got up to 211 and went on a crazy diet. It consisted of eating chicken, rice and veggies, a few protein shakes a day, tons of working out and the dreaded hydroxycut. I lost over 60lbs in 5 months. I was 155lbs, still thought I was fat. I got married in 03, lost a bit more weight when I found out I was prego with #1 in 05. I gained FORTY five freaking pounds...eating for two. Had my daughter and never lost the weight again, then #2 in 07.....then #3 in 2010....and hit 221 when I checked into the hospital to have him. He was 9lbs! I got down to 207, then got lazy, and shot up to 218. I am done being FAT! I am going to SO appreciate weighing 155 when I get there this time.

Today was a good day despite catching whatever my hubby had. I am excited at the new food program. Having it all planned out for me makes life so much easier. Having 3 kids 5 and under takes lots of prep all by itself. Luckily they are good eaters and most of the things on the plan for dinner are things they are fine eating. The workouts are stuff I can do at home after they are in bed or in the morning before we have to race out of the house for school, daycare and work.

I am pumped at the out pour of support and people in the same situation I am shooting for the same goal. I am so thankful to have stumbled across Allan's blog at the right time!

Lets ROCK this weight loss people!

Jen

1/120

Today is an exciting day for me and for 57 others participating in Allan's Phase 5 Challenge. He has lost 171lbs! He has laid out the eating plan and the workout plan (with the help of people smarter than us LOL) There are some amazing prizes to those who lose the most, but the best prize of all is my health! My goal for this challenge is to lose 38lbs in 120 days. To see the 170's on the scale would be AMAZING. I will say WHEN I see 172 on the scale it will be AMAZING. I know I can do this, I have to, the plan is laid out, the eating is reasonable. A few things I don't like, but I will eat, knowing its on that day to help me lose. I will do the workouts even if I don't want to. I NEED to do this. I WANT to do this. I have 57 other people who are doing it!!

We can do this people!!

and I mean who wouldn't want to win a trip to NYC!!

Jen P

Day 36

I posted a picture of myself, how I am now. FAT GAG! I hope to have many pictures of myself going down in weight to post as during and a final picture of me at my goal as a final!

Jen

Day 35 - sllllloooooowwwwlllllyyyyy

Well here we are yet another Friday. Into February already. We have been having some beautiful days! I took weds off, walked with the kids to the park, played and walked back. Its not far, but felt great to get out and be in the sunshine!

My kids are all healthy now, no more snot! Thank GOD! BUT now I have a sick hubby. Fever, chills etc. I have ZERO sympathy...I suck at being compassionate, its just not in me. I pray about it often, and so far nada LOL! I try my best to be helpful to him when he is sick, getting him water or juice, medicine etc, but in the back of my mind I am always thinking - SUCK IT UP! Maybe because I don't get sick often and when I do its not that bad and I continue with life as usual. Maybe because when we were young my parents couldn't stay home, so sick or not we usually went to school and dealt with it. Its something I have had to really work on since having kids, I am caring and loving to them when they are sick or hurt, but if its barely a cold or a hang nail, I am not as compassionate as I would like to be. Its something I will have to be conscience about and concentrate on the rest of my life, much like my weight loss. My dad and I are very similar. Not too touchy feely, don't need a hug to feel love etc. On the other hand my hubby is very much that way, very much an affectionate person and needs that from me. I guess it all goes hand in hand, so I will continue to pray about it and work hard to be more compassionate to him.

With that being said, I am SAD that he is sick THIS weekend of all weekends. I am supposed to go out with some girls that I have known for years. We do it every Jan/Feb for our birthdays (we are all within a month of each other). We get together once a year and have a girls night out, dinner, drinks, maybe a little dancing! Ahh well if he is still tooo sick I wont go, but I will be sad :(

I am down another 1.4lbs today. Slowly but surely getting there. I was hoping to see under 210 this week, but I'm close to next week for sure.

Jen

Day 34 - Chicken Santa Fe

EASY CHICKEN SANTA FE http://www.recipegirl.com/

One (15 ounce) can black beans, rinsed & drained

One small bag frozen sweet corn (or 2 cans, rinsed & drained)

1 cup bottled chunky salsa

6 skinless chicken thighs (or 6 skinless chicken breasts- see tips below) (I used breasts)

One (8 ounce) package cream cheese (low fat is fine), cut into chunks (I used half a package)

1 cup shredded cheddar (I didnt use)

1. In a slow cooker, mix beans, corn and 1/2 cup salsa. Top with chicken and pour remaining salsa over the chicken. Cover and cook on HIGH for 3 hours, or until chicken is tender and cooked throughout.
2. Remove chicken to a cutting board and cut into bite-sized pieces. Return chicken to slow cooker along with cream cheese. Stir and let cream cheese melt into the mixture to create a creamy sauce.
3. For serving: You can serve the chicken & sauce over rice with a sprinkle of cheddar cheese on top. Or you can serve these as tacos with cheese and a couple of taco fixings such as lettuce and tomato.

Serves: 4 to 6

Cooking Tips:*For chicken, the thighs will turn out more moist and tender than the breasts in a slow cooker. I used bone-in thighs and removed the skin. After the 3 hours, I removed the thighs, cut off the chicken, discarded the bones and returned the chicken to the slow cooker. You can use breasts too, just be sure not to overcook them or you’ll run the risk of drying them out.*If you’re watching your weight, you can most certainly leave out the cream cheese. It makes an awfully yummy sauce, but the corn/beans/salsa/chicken mixture would also make for an excellent dinner over rice or inside tortillas.

This is a keeper. I made with half the cream cheese and no regular cheese. It was delish with a tortilla but would be really good on top of lettuce. I dont even think it needed the cream cheese, the mixture was good and easy to make. Easy to heat up for lunch the next day.

Jen

Day 33 - Pink eye

Now I am sure you would think it would be one of my 3 kids with it, but nope its me! Blah....woke up Monday with stinging eyes, but assumed it was because I was exhausted, but nope pink eye! Got some drops and they are feeling better now! Home today because the littlest has been sick, took him in today to check for RSV. We will get results by end of day, but he does have a double ear infection. Poor guy cant nap longer than 20 mins. He is SO tired :( Got some meds so he should be feeling better soon! I am eating good, water is good. Hope to get in a workout today while the older kids nap since tonight is life group and we dont get home until after 9. And by then I am useless.

Jen