Weekly Weigh-In #144

Another bad week. In addition to weight, I'm late getting my weekly post up, but I guess I did get a couple additional posts up (I'd really like to get one or two in addition to just the weekly weigh-in).  NUMBERS: The official weigh-in was up .8, average also up .82 (165.91). Average daily intake was 2486, average daily burn 2471. That equaled an overage of 2503 for the week. Average steps were 15294. No weights, 533 active minutes, 39.74 miles. FITNESS: I only hit my usual (hour of elliptical and Zumba) three days this week. No bike. No weights.  FOOD: Bad week ... is it ever not? Why can't I control my calories (quality and quantity are both issues). FAMILY: A graveside gathering, a bunch of basketball, and a couple appointments (doctor/dentist).  Here's a quick recap of the week:

• Friday (0422): Just 40min elliptical, catching last night's Grey's Anatomy. I made coconut goodies, which wasn't good for calorie intake (but they taste oh so yummy). 
• Saturday (0423): 30min on the elliptical. Basketball game for #5 and a family gathering at the cemetery, followed by food afterward.
• Sunday (0424): I did do 10min on the elliptical, to finish up my episode I'd started yesterday. Sunday Circles in the morning, pulled pork for dinner.
• Monday (0425): Although I got in my Zumba and hour of elliptical, I should have gotten in more. At least I did keep calories under burn today.
• Tuesday (0426): Crazy busy day. I did get in my hour of elliptical and Zumba in the morning. Afternoon was busy with #3 at the doctor then dentist. Then between the three boys, we had FIVE games. I had to arrange for rides, and was only able to hit two of them. #3 got a head gash in his first game (I wasn't there), but played great his 9:00 game. At home after a shower and looking at it, I wondered if it needed stitches but ... too late.
• Wednesday (0427): Completely lazy day. I wasn't feeling great and talked myself out of Zumba. Only managed two 10min sessions on the elliptical. Still managed to eat ... intake over burn :(
• Thursday (0428): I made myself hit Zumba, and get in my hour of elliptical. Three basketball games in the evening at 4:00, 5:00 and 9:00.

 Graveside Gathering - Grandpa Gordy (my FIL, gone 24 years on Saturday)

 Aunt Olivia giving the boys lipstick kisses (they weren't thrilled)

 Ouch! #3's head gash! Basketball can be dangerous!

 A bunch of basketball!

... when they aren't playing, they help run clocks and keep stats/scores.

TV Tuesday - Showtime & Homeland

The series "Homeland" was recommended to us, and Hubs wanted to give it a try. Unfortunately, it's not one available on Netflix or Amazon Prime. It was available at our local library on DVD, but I've gotten so spoiled by instant streaming that the thought of putting the disks on hold, picking them up, and having to return them by their due date seemed like a lot of work!

I noticed Hulu(a Showtime promotion) was offering a couple episodes free. I figured that would be a good test to see if it was a series we wanted to continue. We were interested, so ...

Did you know there are several ways to get a free trial of Showtime without going through a cable company? And with a subscription like this, you have access to all the content on demand. You can get a trial directly through Showtime, or through various services (Roku, Hulu, Amazon). We did our free trial a bit ago ... and if I remember correctly, we actually got three free trials going through different services.

First I went directly through Showtime. It was a 30-day free trial, and I could access it through the Showtime channel on my Roku, or add the credentials to my PlayOn and even record the shows. As I mentioned, it was a little bit ago, but I don't believe I had to provide any credit card information for the free trial, so when it ended, I just didn't have access anymore. I could continue it for $10.99 a month. Looking at the fine print now, it looks like you DO have to provide a card and have to proactively cancel before the trial to avoid being charged.

After our Showtime trial ended, our Roku was offering a free trial. I didn't think we could do a "free trial" again, but we were able to. With our Roku program, we do have to have a credit card number on file, and it would have been billed automatically when the trial ended. We happened to have a credit card on file that expired right before our subscription ended so ... we just didn't update that and our trial ended, no billing. I do think it would have been fairly easy to cancel regardless, using the "manage subscriptions" option on the Roku site. Now it looks like Roku is offering a 2-month free trial with the purchase of a new Roku box (applies to new Showtime subscriptions only). I'm sure the terms and offers are always changing. To continue with Roku, it would also be the $10.99 per month.

Amazon also offers a free trial through them. It's only seven days. But it's monthly fee (as an add on to your Prime membership) is just $8.99. $2 less than directly from Showtime or Roku. I guess it's because you are already paying for a service and this is an add on? Glancing at Hulu, they offer the same add on price of $8.99. We did end up paying for a month of Showtime on Amazon, but it was quite easy to cancel (log into your account online, under "Digital Content" go to the "manage digital subscriptions" tab. I just clicked, and it didn't renew once that payment period was done.

I'm often wary of free trials ... one that I have to proactively cancel to avoid being billed. I know many people have complained that it IS difficult to cancel via the various services, but I didn't find it bad. Through our free trials, and then one month of payment, Hubs and I were able to get through all five seasons of Homeland. We sampled some of the other shows, but I think we'll wait, and then maybe pay for a month and binge again if there is something we want to watch. 

My brother mentioned he was watching Homeland too ... which was a little surprising, because being a cable show, there are language/sex/violence issues beyond what he and his wife usually partake of. He said that they were renting via VidAngel. VidAngel has will edit out whatever you want (you have the choice to mark your edit choices) and you can watch a "clean" version ... all for $1 (with their "buy back" program). My brother said they rent all their movies from VidAngel now, and have enjoyed Homeland (although a series can get a little spendy at $1 per episode). It's another option for anyone who wants to see a "cable" show without the "cable content" that always always accompanies it.

Hubs and I enjoyed Homeland ... Hubs had never been able to get into "24", and I honestly think I liked "24" a bit better. We were years behind on our viewing, but I honestly prefer to watch a series like this back to back on a binge, rather than waiting weeks and months between episodes and seasons.

So that's one thing we've been watching ...
Have you watched "Homeland"?  

Distracted by Duckies

If you followed my blog last year, you probably picked up on the fact that we raised ducklings. I never got around to doing a blog post here, although I had one in mind ("Are My Pets Making Me Fat?"). I just barely got around to posting a summary of our experience on the family blog (Daddy's Duckies). It's almost duckie time again... we have seven eggs in the incubator getting ready to hatch.

I'm a little worried about the disruption to my morning routine. I remember last year ... instead of getting in my early elliptical, I was changing the bedding and water in the ducky box. I was taking them outside or putting them in the bath for their exercise. Even when they got older and moved outside, every morning I'd be getting them fresh food and water ... it ate into my exercise time! I've been complaining a bit about the the upcoming hatch. Ducklings are cute, but they are a LOT of work. Last year we only had three, this year, it looks like all seven eggs are developing ... SEVEN? Yikes!

"Candeling" the eggs ... a bit like an egg ultrasound.

Putting a flashlight under the duck eggs to get a glimpse inside ... All seven of our eggs look viable (yikes, we had our hands full with just three ducklings last year!) #daddysduckies

A video posted by JenB (@jenblackham) on Apr 17, 2016 at 8:04pm PDT

A few weeks ago, I noticed a pair of adult ducks wandering the neighborhood. Now that isn't at all unusual. There is a nearby canal, and many a Mallard nests there. Every year we walk the canal and see so many mama birds with their babies. But it IS a little more unusual for ducks to actually be in our neighbors front yards. I mentioned to Hubby how much simpler it would be if a pair of wild ducks nested. We could get the whole egg experience without as much work. He laughed and said the chances of that were pretty much zero.

But ... after seeing the ducks several times, I was able to coax them into our backyard. I filled up a pool for them to swim in, and provided them with food and water. I could TRY. That first night, I spent more than an hour with the ducks, and my son #3 said "see Mom, you DO like duckies!"  The ducks have been flying away each night, but they have been returning every single day! Sometimes they would again land in a neighbor's yard, and I'd again encourage them into ours. I've spent time out digging in the garden to find them worms. Making sure their food is full and their water is clean. Come on duckies ... it's a great place for a nest! I'm already attached, and worry when they are late showing up, or I only get one of the two. We are suspecting that the female MAY be one of ours that flew away last fall. While still skittish, she's not as afraid of us as her boyfriend. When I go dig worms, she comes right up to me with a look of expectation (not eating out of my hand, but coming within a foot or so). Even with the boys walking through the backyard to head to the trampoline, the ducks have stuck around. During the day anyway. They are still flying away each night. Stay duckies, stay!

We're going to get ducklings one way or another ... I guess we might be overrun with our own AND a wild pair and their babies. But it sure would be fun! You can follow my Day to Day Doings and Weekly Recaps to see how things progress. I'm sure duckies will be playing a bit part in our family in the near future.

It's going to impact my exercise ... I know it! Taking away my time. It already has a bit (with my wild birds). I'm watching out the window and worrying about them. Even today, I WAS going to get in weights or a session on the bike, but instead, I ended up making a muvee (Ducky Days 2015) and spending time on my ducky blog posts. Distracted by duckies indeed!

Weekly Weigh-in #143

I've been making it though the Mon-Thurs ... getting in my Zumba and hour of elliptical each day. The weekends are harder, with the shift in schedules, my motivation melts away. Eating is a challenge every single day. I like to eat. I like empty calories. I eat empty calories. NUMBERS: Official weekly weigh-in is down a smidge (.3) but average weight was up .15 (165.09). Average intake was 2629. Average daily burn was 2647. That equaled an overage of 2626 for the week. I didn't get in any weights this week. 675 active minutes. 56.35 exercise miles. 20547 was the step average for the week. It was a busy week, back to basketball for the older boys. Here's a quick look at the day by day ...

• Friday (0415): Not a very productive day. Just an hour of elliptical, but at least kept calories in check. Hubs had a derby in the evening and I dropped the kids off at basketball practice.
• Saturday (0416): Started the day with basketball (a win!) and ended with a dinner date (Texas Roadhouse) ... very over in calories, and only 30minElliptical. 
• Sunday (0417): Lazy (rest) day (no exercise) ... over on calories with our Sunday Circle breakfast and delicious dinner by Daddy (bbq ribs, potatoes and Brazilian cheese rolls). Another big calorie intake day.
• Monday (0418): Hour of elliptical, Zumba and Bike, also kept calories in check. A little shopping and two basketball games in the evening.
• Tuesday (0419): Zumba and my hour of elliptical. Sent #5 to his games with a teammate so I could watch #2 play over at the high school. Kept calories in control again today.
• Wednesday (0420): Got in my hour of elliptical and Zumba. Calories a little high, under burn but over goal. Two basketball games in the evening, walked while I watched.
• Thursday (0421): Got in my hour of elliptical and Zumba. Way over on calories though. 

Pictures from the Week

 Feeling Pink on Tuesday while walking to Zumba

Soccer City on Wednesday for two games for #3. It's crazy chaos there! Two basketball games, two volleyball games, two soccer games. NO parking. Overwhelming sound from ref whistles, cheering parents, yelling coaches, scoreboard buzzing and pounding feet. I brought my noise cancelling headphones and audiobook and got 2+ hours of listening in while tuning other stuff out (and was still able to watch our kids get totally creamed! WHY do I keep allowing us to participate in these AAU tournaments?). 

More basketball next week ... Tuesday will be crazy with FIVE games (I think I can hit two of them to watch).  Hubs has derbies, and then there is a big activity on Saturday. I'll be glad to get this next week over with!

Weekly Weigh-In #142

BAD week. I've just been dragging. Every. Single. Day. Not sure what's up ... besides my weight, obviously. Just feeling so tired, and down emotionally as well. There were some extreme anxiety issues which leave me feeling very down, Hubs not feeling great, super sad stuff happening to Zumba friends (a loss of a baby, a toddler almost drowning). We owe in taxes this year. We've had some dreary weather too, that really doesn't help. On the bright side, we did have a visit from friends we haven't seen in a couple years, there have been duckies, and we successfully got #3 registered at the high school, getting every class he wanted.

NUMBERS: Official weigh-in was up 1.2. Average weight was up .83 (164.94). Average intake was 2714. Average daily burn was 2534. No surprise there, over for the week by 3727. Step average for the week was just 17393. I got in four sessions of Zumba.  Elliptical was a little down, only hit my hour of elliptical four days, got in 40 on two others and took Sunday off completely for a rest day. One session on the bike. No weights this week.  Here's a quick week recap (for more detail check out the Daily Doings posts):

• Friday (0408): Dragging day. Late start, so sleep in and no Zumba. Just my hour of elliptical for the day. Uber over on empty calories ... as usual. High School registration for #3.
• Saturday (0409): 40min on the elliptical for activity. Basketball game for #5 (with some drama when I couldn't find the charger for my video camera). Some Popeyes chicken, cheesy bread and popcorn while watching a movie pushed me way over calories.
• Sunday (0410): Down day :(  No exercise. Didn't really eat much for the first half of the day, then overate the last half of the day. Hubs had a Menier's attack in the evening again.
• Monday (0411): Not my usual motivated Monday. Didn't have the energy to attempt Zumba, only got in 40min on the elliptical. Had friends over in the evening.
• Tuesday (0412): Decent exercise day, with my hour of elliptical and Zumba. Double basketball games in the evening, I walked while waiting the hour in-between. Overate ... as always.
• Wednesday (0413): Hour of elliptical, Zumba and a session on the bike (as I had to pick up #3 from a 10:00pm practice, and figured reading while riding would be the only way to stay awake). 
• Thursday (0414): Dragging this week. Got in my hour of elliptical and Zumba but it was a push. But still so easy to go uber over on calories in ...

A bunch of boys! Three of mine, and three friends. We used to hang out all the time until the DiFran Family moved away to California. It was so fun to see them as they came back for a visit!

I had noticed a pair of ducks in the neighborhood lately. I was able to coax them into our backyard. They do fly away every night, but they've been coming back regularly too. I have set them up with a pool to swim in, water to drink, and food to eat. We're really wondering if perhaps the female is ours ... one of the three we raised last summer who flew away in the fall. Has she come home? My son teased me saying "See Mom, you like duckies!" ... because I've been moaning a bit about the prospect of hatching a batch this year. I do like ducks, but raising ducklings is SUCH a big job. Cleaning their box (poop and spilled water), giving them time outside, time in the tub ... eventually they move outside, but it's a lot of work! A wild pair raising their own ducklings in the backyard would be downright easy in comparison. I don't know if these two will decide to nest here or not. I can keep hoping. Hubs went ahead ... and we have seven eggs in the incubator right now too. So I think we'll get ducklings one way or another!

Weekly Weigh-In #141

The week was decent. NUMBERS: Official weigh-in was down .5, average down .58 (to 164.11). Average intake 2529. Average Daily burn 2741. No deficit this week, over by 305. Average Steps were 21043. 80min spent in strength training, 804 active minutes, 84.41 miles. FOOD&FITNESS: Still overeating as always. Exercise was good though, with five sessions of Zumba, lots of elliptical, a couple sessions on the bike and two sessions of weights. FAMILY: We had a family gathering at my MIL's on Sunday. #5 started up his midweek basketball, and it was high school registration, which occupied much thought this week for #2 and #3.

Here's a quick weekly recap:

• Friday (0401):  An hour of elliptical, and a Zumba class (as the older boys were out of school). I indulged in a pink cookie, I'd gotten for easter ... and some Reeses eggs and other treats. Not a good eating day!
• Saturday (0402): Not bad on the activity for a Saturday. 40minElliptical, 30minBike and mowed the front lawn. Eating though ... not so good.
• Sunday (0403): Completely lazy day! No exercise ... but still overeating.
• Monday (0404): Back at it with extra energy! 90minElliptical, Zumba, bike and weights. Also kept calories in check. If only everyday could be like this!
• Tuesday (0405): Zumba and 80minElliptical. Double header for #5 in the evening.
• Wednesday (0406): Same activity as yesterday (Zumba and 80minElliptical). Over on calories today though, whereas I kept them in check yesterday.
• Thursday (0407): An hour of elliptical, Zumba and bike. Over on calories though. Under burn, but barely.

I don't think I took any pictures this week ... but I did make a highlight video of the first two games for #5's Spring Saturday Season. They won both of these games! My #5 IS #5 ... yes, he picked that number at MY request!

A 5-Star Spotlight

Recent Read ~ The Tripartite Soul 

Every month here on my blog, I'll spotlight a book(s) or series I've been reading recently (JenB'sBookReviews). Lately? I've been DEVOURING books! Audiobooks while I clean the house or drive in the car, reading on my kindle app on the bike and before bed (and any spare minute I have). I got through 17 books in March, and already reviewed/rated five for April so far.

It's almost embarrassing.

I saw this shirt featured on Facebook this past month. Definitely applies to me! I might buy it, but I'm also uber cheap, so I probably won't *Ü*.  I rarely BUY any books either, as there are so many free offerings (I have 500+ books in my Kindle cloud). I also love my library and take advantage of my Kindle Prime to borrow a book a month from Amazon's lending library.

The Tripartite Soul was one I downloaded in April. 

I started it on Saturday ... finished it on Sunday.  

Now a bit of an admission ... I know Eve (the author). We went to high school together. Her house was THE place to hang for me and my friends during those years. Her older brother John was my dear friend. Of course I think it's totally awesome that someone I know has written a book ... I feel like I have to admit it in a review though, and hope you don't think it made me biased. Maybe a tiny tich, but that's all.

I was actually very nervous to read this book. I'm a bit picky. I'm pretty straightforward in my reviews and ratings on GoodReads. I've been blunt about things I don't like. Very few five star ratings (lots of three/four star, I have to be fairly displeased to rate two or one ... but I have.) I wasn't sure what I would do if I read this and did NOT like it ... quite the predicament, right? I figured I would read it, but not tell anyone I was reading it. I have two GoodRead accounts, my main, more anonymous one (she(e)reader) and one under my name (I joke that I have a split personality as I have multiple accounts on facebook, Instagram, twitter, and Fitbit too ... family account, fitness account). If the book didn't do it for me, I could just rate/review it as sh(e)reader and I doubted anyone who knew me (or Eve) personally would track it back to me.

Another thing that made me a bit wary, is following Eve's reading patterns. She always seemed more into the sophisticated books and classics ... while I like supernatural, post-apocalyptic, fantasy or sci-fi YA. Yet reading the description of this book, it did seem right up my alley.

And it was. 

I loved it.

We are introduced to Evionia - a young girl with a mystical connection to Dyre (an unlikable fellow) and Zefforah, (described as part giant winged horse with a reptilian tail ... I think I just saw her as a dragon in my mind. I'd LOVED the Anne McAffrey "Dragonriders of Pern" series which had dragons and humans with a physical/mind connection as well). These three share senses (sight/smell ... any physical injury will affect them all). They can also build mental walls to block each other out (so there isn't a sensory overload, and  privacy is possible). This is Evionia's tale, as we follow her travels and all she goes through. There is a mysterious prophecy ... will it come to pass? What is the role of this tripartite soul? There is an interesting love triangle. It's a stand alone book, no cliff-hanger ending (I usually like to know this going in! If there are sequels, I'll try to wait until a series is complete, then read books back to back ... even if it means putting off a series for several years).

One thing I really enjoyed ... at the beginning of each chapter, there was a word and a definition (related to the coming text).   I often THINK I know what a word means, but I would have trouble actually defining it if asked. Here we had a mini vocabulary lesson throughout the book. I was reminded of my childhood when my mother would  introduce us to a "word of the day" to learn and use. The title ... "tripartite" IS a bit tricky. I'd always forget how to spell it when searching it up on Amazon or Good Reads. I think I finally have it down :)

It was fun to chat a bit with Eve after reading the book. I saw a typo or two, and she requested the info so she could get those corrected. I mentioned I saw some things coming, yet another item caught me completely by surprise (she asked which one, as feedback from friends have people uncovering different things). 

Right now the book is only available for Kindle download. Just $4.99. Or, if you have Kindle Unlimited, it's on there, and is also available to borrow for free from the Amazon Lending Library if you are a Prime member and have a Kindle device.

So I just thought I'd share and shout out ... independent authors have a hard time getting attention at times. There are SO many books out there (as I mentioned, the 500+ in my Kindle cloud). The more reviews and ratings on Amazon and Good Reads really helps authors out. Personally I like to review/rate on GoodReads for my own records (I read so many books, sometimes I forget what I read, or what I liked), but I sure hope my reviews help out others, and authors.

Do you stop and rate/review your reads?

March 2016

For the most part, I think March was pretty good. I got back into a routine, and even with the Daylight Savings time change, was able to start getting up extra early (5:30) to jumpstart the day. Sleeping in on Weekends though! Near the end of the month, with Easter and Spring Break looming, I got a little lazy.

WEIGHT: Started the month at 162.4, ended at 164.7. High was 165.9. Low was 160.40. Average weight came in at 163.42. FOOD&FITNESS:  On weekdays I was quite consistent at getting in my Zumba and hour of elliptical. I hit the bike about 10times during the month, had a couple treadmill times, and got in some weights. 8 sessions. Overeating and empty calories a BIG problem. Girl Scout cookies, mint chocolate chip ice cream and Easter treats were temptations this month. STATS: Average intake 2603. Average burn 2654. Step average for the month was 19139. 265 minutes of weights, 3155 active minutes, 303.01 miles.

FAMILY: #3 was in his cast most of March (got it removed right there at the end). Hubs had a nasty Menier's episode. He's been very busy at work and doing derbies. Not too busy to take two of the boys and run a 5k! Not much basketball, just #5 starting up in a Saturday league. We had some TV trouble, but got it repaired. The boys been improving their eating, even unto wheat bread! Spring Break and Easter. I've been reading up a storm, and Hubs and I watched several movies this month.

WWI #140 - Up After Easter

I'd pull a prank and say I hit my goal weight ... but it's pretty obvious that is an April Fools joke! Up again after Easter, which isn't surprising, nor undeserved. With the holiday, and kids out of school Friday and Monday for Spring Break, I had a bit of an "it's not going to happen so I'm not even going to try" attitude (this attitude actually kicked in early last week in anticipation). 

NUMBERS: Up .7 for the official weekly weigh-in, but average was actually up 1.62 (164.69). Average intake was 2543. Average daily burn 2720. This equaled an overage of 1204 for the week. Average steps were 19982. 725 active minutes. 69.27 miles.  FOOD: Was just BAD. With family feasts Sat/Sun, and the Easter treat temptations (my chex mix, jellybeans, malted milk eggs, Reeses eggs) I was easily over every day. FITNESS: I got in five sessions of Zumba. I was a little low on elliptical (under an hour) Fri-Sun, but hit goal (60min) every other day. I got a couple sessions on the bike, and a couple on the treadmill, but no weights this week.  FAMILY: The 16-year old had friends over on Friday (and a Skookie indulgence), an Easter party with my side of the family on Saturday, and with Hubs side of the family on Sunday. #3 got his cast off on Tuesday, and there was a team dinner for his basketball bunch on Thursday.

Here's a quick day to day recap: 

• Friday (0325): Kids out of school for Spring Break. I hit Zumba with Nicole, but only got in 40min on the elliptical. Some grocery shopping, basketball practice for #5, and #2's friends over for dinner and dessert (our house isn't "the house" very often, it was fun to host). Prepped some eggs for Easter.
• Saturday (0326):  Just 20min on the elliptical this morning. Party at my folks house in the early afternoon. Hubs and I watched "Spy" in the evening. I was so tired having to stay up late being the Easter Bunny!
• Sunday (0327): Two 10min sessions on the elliptical today. I prepped roll dough (orange rolls, dinner rolls and Brazilian cheese rolls). Hubs made mashed taters. Dinner was at his mom's. Fun evening seeing her baby chicks, smashing a pinata and competing in an egg toss. #5 stayed and slept over.
• Monday (0328): Last day of Spring Break. I did get in my hour of elliptical and Zumba class. Calories over goal, but under burn at least.
• Tuesday (0329): Back to the routine. Up early. An hour of elliptical, Zumba, and a session on the bike. Calories were very high though, as I snacked, AND made a dinner I actually eat. Dr. appointment for #3 to get his cast off.
• Wednesday (0330): Good exercise day. An hour of elliptical, Zumba, bike and 20min on the treadmill at an incline. Hubs and #3 were off to a derby.
• Thursday (0331): Early rising ... an hour of elliptical, Zumba, and 20minTreadmill Intervals. #3 had his basketball team dinner in the evening. End of the month!

... and pictures (and video) from the week

 These meringue nests are a favorite for a few of us!

I ate several this Easter season.

Easter buckets ... the one closest to the camera is for the kitties!

Grandma and her Grandbunnies Easter photo booth.

... and finally, a quick capture of #5 attempting to bring down the pinata.

Instead of candy in eggs ... Maga provided a piñata! Colton's turn ...

A video posted by JenB (@jenblackham) on Mar 27, 2016 at 6:46pm PDT