Workout DVD Junkie!

I'm addicted! I see new ads for home workout DVD's every single day and I have to watch their little infomercial videos!! I'm so intrigued by it all!!!

So, I'm making a list of the ones that I really want:

P90X Who doesn't absolutely want this one?! I mean, look at the results!!!
ChaLEAN Extreme It's like the "girly" version of P90X from what I get...
Insanity Do you see a trend?! This one, I already love Shaun T. from Hip Hop Abs :)
Bob Harper Inside Out Method Who wouldn't love to watch Bob workout and burn some calories yourself!?

Of course I'll probably find more tomorrow when I'm surfing the 'net! But that's a pretty good list thus far.

I understand that everything always promises the BEST results...but it's really your diet as well as just staying active. So, don't freak out thinking that I'm just looking for a quick fix. I'm not. (Even though it would be nice!)

For now, I have sitting at home, collecting dust, these fabulous DVD's:
Jillian Michael's 30 Day Shred
ENVY Girls
Hip Hop Abs
Tae Bo (on VHS)
10 Minute Solution: Kickbox Bootcamp
10 Minute Solution: Fat Blasting Dance Mix
Jillian Michael's Yoga Meltdown

I think that might be it....there's probably more! haha If you have any questions about those that I do have, let me know! :)

Goals...maybe?

While checking in on HYC just now, I was thinking what could I really say about my journey thus far???

I've been "trying" to lose weight for quite some time. Somehow, I always find EXCUSES that get in the way of success!

Sure, it's a common problem with most people and I really just need to suck it up, but all in all, I think I'm more scared than anything.

I've never really accomplished a goal for myself.

I remember in high school constantly knowing exactly what I wanted to do with my life. I knew perfectly the path I was going to follow..and I knew what it would take to get there.

That changed about a year into college. I jetted off to Ireland and was still working on my teaching degree. That was my main goal: become a teacher. I came home from Ireland and a semester in Nebraska and got married. That definitely wasn't in the plans...I didn't think I'd really ever get married...

Maybe it was for the better...I was divorced just over a year later!

After getting married, I changed my degree path to computer aided drafting...

Ok, it's still school...it's still a degree...but it's definitely not what I thought I'd be doing!

That ended when I ran out of money...

Now here I am, in a part time job, with no degree...and really no hopes of going back to school any time soon...

I guess that's the biggest goal I never achieved that has always lurked in the back of my head!

I don't want weight loss to join that one and just pull me down...

Measurements

I did measurements today because it is 30 Day Shred Day 1!

Starting Weight: 194...yes, I know it's high...but that's because I have a snacking problem. And I usually end up eating something salty before bed...which makes me retain water over night...boo!

Waist: 43"; Natural Waist: 38.5"
Hips: 48"
Right Thigh: 27.5"
Right Arm: 13.5"

Ew...

This is the last week of the first half of Marlee's life (does that make sense?). I can't believe come Saturday she'll be 6 months already! It's amazing how time flies!

Along with this milestone, she has figured out how to flop forward from sitting, push her legs out from underneath her, squirm on her tummy some, and then flip to her back! I wish she'd spend more time on her tummy and figure out how to move her arms with her legs and at least rock!

I know, all you mother's out there are yelling at me saying "NO, don't wish for that! Love when they are immobile!" Yeah, I should...but I don't. I can't wait for her to start crawling...walking...running!

Thanksgiving recap...

The day started out just as all days do. Sleeping until the very last second that I can when Marlee starts to really get mad in her bed! Then I gather her up and do the usual boob, diaper, play...

I switched on the t.v. after my shower just in time to see Jessica Simpson sing, nah lip-sync, her song (they all do, don't get offended) in the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade. I did more getting ready and came back to the t.v. as good ole Santa Claus appeared! OFFICIAL START TO THE CHRISTMAS SEASON!

Once we were all showered and ready to go, me in my jeans and sweater, Steven in his jeans and t-shirt (surprise surprise), and Miss Marlee in her pink leggings and brown dress with pink polka dots (it's a 9month size...she's almost 6 months..), we headed to my mom's!

At my mom's we enjoy the usual food suspects. Nothing fancy.

Marlee was the highlight of the dinner table though. She tasted some Mashed Potatoes, Sweet Potatoes, and Orange Jello! This girl was a drooling machine! Not to mention, after she confiscated my spoon from me, she was a hammering machine! Loud...as...ever! Loved it!

I must also put that that girl LOVED sweet potatoes!

The rest of the day was spent napping and watching Marlee be her crazy self!

I love Thanksgiving naps...

Well, I'll leave you with Marlee being silly via a photo from Papa (Paul Moloney), Marlee's great-grandpa!

HERE WE GO!

I guess you could say I've jumped on the bandwagon! Okay, that's not fair..because the other people involved are really working their butts off..literally! But, needless to say, I've joined yet another weight loss challenge/journey/blog/forum/whatever...

While I love Sparkpeople , I do want something else. I always seek for supplementation...get all I can out of every resource available!

So, I joined the Healthy You Challenge via Scale Junkie.




I'm adding this to my other list of:
Daily Burn
Calorie Count
Fat Secret

And there's probably more...

I just hope one day I can reach my goals! For now, I'm stuck at 190lbs and I'm about to start Jillian Michael's 30 Day Shred...again....

The holidays are among us...

This time of year makes me look at my house and realize how sad it is around the holidays! I have ZERO Fall/Thanksgiving decorations to put up...and I have a minimal Christmas ones! Granted, the house is only 420 square feet...I still want it to become warm and cozy and beautiful this time of year!

On that note, I think I need to find a hobby. A crafty hobby. Something that really feeds my soul and keeps me out of the fridge! Any ideas????

Just call me Betty...Betty Crocker...

Tonight marks the second night in a row that I shall attempt to cook dinner by myself!

This is a feat folks...

I've never really known how to cook...

Last night I made a Sausage Pasta Bake...that was delicious!!!

Tonight I'm attempting an Easy Paella...

Steven has told me that me cooking is "hot"...hot as in the kitchen/oven warms up the entire house?!? Nope, hot as in it gets him hot and bothered to have a woman cook him good food...odd! But I love him nonetheless!

Dear Paella,

I hope that I don't ruin your easiness. I know that you're going to belong warmly in my stomach and I'm hoping my taste buds don't have a different idea!

From,
Your dearest, new BETTY

Photos!

The main point of the photos lately is that Marlee has decided this past week that she's going to sit up on her own now! Thank goodness! Now if she could just learn to roll over! haha

Something must have been very interesting...
Who doesn't love those eyes?!

This is Marlee's innocent face ;)

Attacking Nina's nose!!! Oh the dangers of being a godmother!

Haha...I just love it!

Someone kick her out of my head!

Have you ever been so comfortable in your own skin that it's dangerous?!

Yes, it's good to be confident at any size...

But my confidence is turning into laziness!!! Ugh...

I've been stuck in the 188-191 range for about a month now! I can't handle it anymore! At least if I was at like 180 and stuck, I could say I've lost all my pregnancy weight..but nope. I'm stuck...at an awful point...and I just want past it!

The key to getting past it...working out! Enter Queen-of-all-excuses! Yep, she's sitting her content, fat butt in my head and not letting me move. I'm so disappointed in myself...

I have 2 weeks to bet at 184...I want to reach my mini goals so bad...

Someone help me kick her out of my head!

Mobile posting...yes Marlee's toes are painted!

Testing the mobile blogging! I feel so tech savvy!

Water...in many forms...

I decided last night that humidifiers are amazing. Marlee was able to sleep for 9 hours straight and breathe the whole time because of the moist air floating around her room!!!

Oh, and we got a new water heater this morning...

I'm so glad that my grandma is my land lord...

And I'm so glad I don't own a home yet! I don't think I could handle things like the water heater going out...or even patching holes in the walls! Which I'm going to have to do anyways...

**shakes fist** Darn you temper and having the insane ability to create holes in the walls!

A few thoughts...

I know I've lacked in my blogging lately...but I'm a-mess with thoughts.

I've decided I want to write my own book. I'm not sure it would ever get published, but I feel I need to write out how I feel about being a mom. I guess we'll see when this gets off and running and how I really feel about it then!

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I'm wondering what it would be like to actually have all my mental motivation come true. I've got all the right tools...the right skills...everything...to achieve my weight loss goals. But I let life take hold. I let the fact that when Steven is home we do nothing but sit around control my workout schedule. I don't know what it is, but I'm embarrassed to workout in front of him.

I asked him today if he would do some Yoga with me so that I wasn't stuck alone...but he told me no. I'm not sure what to do.

I can't go out and do my walks/jogs right now because we just got our first snow of the season...it's cold...and I keep getting sick!

I meet with a nutritionist about every 2 weeks...this should motivate me, right?! Yeah, it doesn't.

I log my food every week day (I don't weekends because I don't have computer contact) and I still eat 1900+ calories every stinkin' day!!

I'm at a loss...and not a good one!

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I have a rainbow striped box at home by the heater. Inside is my laptop. The one that has died..and I'm not sure if I can save it. The one that has ALL my photos from my study abroad in Ireland. The one that I loved having! But otherwise, I don't remember what else is in there... Maybe I'll do some treasure hunting and dig into it tonight... I hope there's something really good in it!

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Babyfood cook!?

Marlee eats...a lot...she loves food! (Must be hereditary!)

Well, since I can't seem to keep up with my breastmilk, we've always supplemented with formula. She'll eat boob as long as I'm around and otherwise have some formula to hold her over in the afternoons.

This doesn't seem to be completing it for her. She's still downing an 8oz bottle every chance she can get and always could go for more! Granted, I don't want to over-feed my child..but I certainly don't want her to think she's starving!

Soooooo...I'm going to try my hand at making some homemade rice cereal. I saw it done on 19 Kids and Counting the other night and I've thought over and over again about doing my own baby food anyways!

Well, I think it's going to be really easy...

1/4c rice (we're going to use brown rice for the health benefits)
1c water

1. Boil water - add the "powder" ("Powder" is ground up rice)
2. Simmer for about 10 minutes whisking constantly
3. Add breastmilk or formula
4. Serve warm

I think my cooking expertise (which extends no further than my elbow) can handle this! What'cha think?

Halloween weekend...

Well, Halloween weekend was essentially a total bust! Steven worked the whole darn thing and I sat at home watching t.v.! Lori accompanied me (which makes it much more bearable).

On Halloween evening we took Marlee over to my parents and Steven's mom's to trick or treat in our costumes. We also walked up my parent's street to about 8 houses. Just enough to get Marlee out and about but also get us a little bit of candy! haha

Here's our little BUG:

Why did the chicken cross the road?! Because he was shopping with his family!

Group shot! (Wish my mom would have done a long one so you could see our entire outfits...but oh well!)

And simply because we're strange....