WWI#80 and Five Indoor Workouts

Ah Friday

 ... time for the Friday Five and my weekly recap and weigh-in.

Although I haven't missed a weekly weigh-in, I've been a little slow at getting them up (usually on Saturday or Sunday). I have NOT been participating in the various Friday Five link-ups for a bit. I saw the theme the DC Bloggers (Courtney, Mar and Cynthia) put out ... Five Favorite Indoor Workouts, and thought I'd link up this week. 

I am an indoor workout gal. The extremes in weather, bugs, traffic, people looking at you, dogs ... I just don't want to deal with it. I love having a home gym where I am super spoiled with equipment, in charge of what I watch, and it takes just one moment to go from home to gym and back again.  I do have FIVE main types of exercise that I rotate through ...

• Elliptical ... is my go to machine. I almost always get in an hour a day. I never actually do an hour at a time, but small 10-20 minute segments spread out. Admittedly, I am usually in my workout wear (comfy clothes, sports bra) most of the day, but even if I'm not, I can still just jump on the elliptical for a few minutes for an energy boost, getting some "steps" in. I like that it's low impact, quiet, and I can wear slippers (I don't like shoes!). 
• Treadmill ... I'll either hit the treadmill for a quick one mile run (ok, it's been a while since I've done that) or commit to a longer (30+min) workout. I mean, if I'm going to go to all the effort of putting on shoes and socks ... I know many dislike the "dreadmill" but I love seeing an exact count of my distance and speed, of putting on a program to watch and entertain me (although it is noisy, I need subtitles), and I really like the option of incline. Often I'll use the treadmill for "hikes" to up my calorie burn.
• Stationary Bike ... I wasn't a fan of the bike. It was a pain in the butt (literally!) and I wouldn't get "steps" on my Fitbit. But, I've found it's the perfect time to read my book. Instead of laying or sitting down, I read while I ride. Admittedly, I'm not putting my whole heart into this "workout", it's pretty low-key, but I really enjoy my read/ride time and actually feel I concentrate better on my book!
• Strength Training ... we have a nice weight set up in our home gym, but all I really need are some dumbbells and the bench. At times I've worked with a DVD (30DS for example) but more often I just have a full body workout I do on my own. I have been a little lax in my weights for a while, I need to get back, always getting it in at least once a week!
• Zumba ... of course I can't leave out ZUMBA! I started one year ago and am absolutely addicted.  I go to classes Mon-Fri mornings. All different locations and instructors (and all free ... I love that, as I don't want to buy a gym membership for classes as I have my home gym which as outlined above, I am very content with!). I do occasionally workout out at home, sometimes a full hour, or just one song here and there throughout the day as I have a spare five minutes.

Because I not only have easy access to all these indoor workouts, but actually enjoy all these indoor workouts, I have no excuses! I do usually get in quite a bit of exercise/activity. I wish the fitness alone could keep me slender and healthy, but NO, food plays a part too. Dang it, I'm not nearly as good with my eating.  And with that I'll transition into my weekly weigh-in and recap of the week.

It was a pretty good week. Very routine, set structure. No excuses. I had a 1.2 pound loss from last week's weigh-in (average went up a smidgen though). I Zumba-ed each week day, double on Thursday evening. Elliptical and bike every week day too. Only one small treadmill time and ... no weights this week. Oops! I really meant to either on Tuesday or Friday but then it didn't happen.  I really controlled calories on Monday, then went totally overboard on Tuesday. My average intake for the week was 2236. Average burn was 2848. Crunching the numbers I ended up with a deficit of -2435. 

I've just spent SO long in this 150-155 range ... I just need to drop to the 140-149 range and then I'll be fine maintaining. So close, yet sometimes feels so far ...

WWI #71 and Friday Five

Okay ... up AGAIN. But, it IS the day after Thanksgiving, so I'm not going to be too hard on myself. Unfortunately, I did bop up over 150 once this week. That is something I really don't want to do. If I can NEVER see the 150s again, I'll be happy. Anything under is okay.

The weekend wasn't great. Mon/Tues were 30K days, good in both exercise and eating. The kids were out of school on Wednesday, but I was still able to get in my Zumba and elliptical. Thursday ... Thursday was THANKSGIVING. I did still get in my elliptical, but that was all. A little overeating, but not extremely bad.

NUMBERS: Weight was up .11. Average weight  for the week stayed exactly the same. Average in was 2136. Average burn was 2789 ... definitely down this week. Still managed to have a deficit of -2499. 

I'm hoping that the weight will reverse this next week. With the birthdays and Thanksgiving behind me, I shouldn't have any excuses for a few weeks (until Christmas of course).  Linking-up with Fitness Friday with Jill and a late Weigh-In Wednesday.

 Speaking of Thanksgiving ...

Throwback Thursday Thanksgiving Style

Then (above) ... Now (below)

The boys have grown a bit!

I made those turkey cookies and had them set aside to take to the family party. They didn't make it to the party, these naughty boys ate them for breakfast on Thanksgiving day! Ok ... I must admit I ate one too. I'd been thinking about those yummy turkey cookies all night. I like them best after the frosting and candy corn have been sitting and softening overnight.  I was on dessert duty for the Thanksgiving feast ...

I'll do a quick Friday Five 

 featuring our Thanksgiving Treats this year:

• Turkey Cookies: These are our annual family favorite.
• Cool Whip Dessert: I don't make pie, but I call this "pie in a pan". It's a simple crust, with a cream cheese layer, then chocolate pudding and whipped topping. Yummy! I only make it about once a year.
• Lemon Jello Cake: Not really a Thanksgiving themed dessert, but this was Hub's request.
• Brownies: Fudge frosted and marshmallow.
• Cookie Press Pumpkins: Another cookie that didn't make it to the family party. I made a batch a few days before Thanksgiving and they were going fast. #3 hide the last few so that he could snack on them solo (they are his favorite).  

There was some pumpkin and banana cream pie too ...

I mean, is it any wonder my weight was up a bit this week?

Linking up with the Friday Five blog hops ... the DC Bloggers ((Courtney, Mar and Cynthia), Five on Friday at The Good Life, Friday Favorites at Running4Cupcakes, Friday Favorites at Housewife Glamour, High Five Friday at LaurenElizabeth and Five Things Friday at Fitting It All In

WWI#67 and Halloween Friday Five

Happy Halloween!

Celebrating this day of sugar over-indulgence 

with my lowest weigh-in yet!

 I'm far from an angel (especially when it comes to eating!) but I must be doing something right! After months and MONTHS of being STUCK between 150-155, the scale has finally shifted and seems to be staying there. This is week four under 150, and a nice little drop from last week.

The weekend wasn't great, but I still managed my lowest Monday weigh-in since I restarted this journey. I was really hoping that would bode will for my official weigh-in today, and it did. I think it motivated me to be extra good this week too. I enjoy exercise and activity, and I got a LOT in this week (elliptical and Zumba Mon-Friday, several sessions on the bike and treadmill, weights, walking instead of just watching during the boy's basketball games). I kept eating in check too.

NUMBERS: Down 2.5 pounds from last week. Average is down too (146.16, -.34 from last week). I managed to keep my average intake under 2000 ... just barely, at 1950. So close to hitting an average of 3000 on the activity. 2947, about the same as last week. Crunching the numbers, I had a total weekly deficit of 5764. That's great!  Last week I had a good deficit and didn't show a loss, but this week I got even more off a loss than the numbers would have indicated. TOM did wrap up over the weekend, I wonder if that plays a part.

My MFP ticker showed a new number.

I'm always excited when I see it shift ...

I'm very happy with the recent losses. 

Whether I stay here or loose a little more, I'm feeling good!

Linking up with my weekly check-in link-ups:
Fitness Friday with Jill and Aubrey 
 and a late Weigh-In Wednesday.  

On to the Friday Five .... Halloween Style!

Now I'm NOT really a fan of Halloween. But for many years, I've been the room mother at the boy's school, and one of the duties is to plan out the Halloween party. Usually several stations of games and activities that groups of kids rotate through. This year I wasn't in charge of anything, I just went in (to #4, Anxiety Child of course) and helped out, manning the "memory" game. 

I thought I'd share a few of MY favorites ...

• Monster Toss: This could be adapted in many ways, simply trying to get a small item into a bucket. For the Halloween theme, I picked up these darling plush monsters, and a cute cauldron. The game is always a hit! Another option could be tossing candy corn into a plastic pumpkin.
• Cup Crash: There are always oodles of themed party supplies. I picked up some plastic cups and a couple plush pumpkins. Stack the cups ... have the kids toss a pumpkin to knock them down. This one is always a favorite!
• Make a Mummy: With rolls of toilet paper, each group of kids wraps up one of their members into a mummy. Take pictures, as it's always very fun to see!
• Pass the Pumpkin: With another plush pumpkin, the kids sit in a circle. Play spooky Halloween music and the kids pass the pumpkin around. When the music stops, if you are holding the pumpkin, you must move to the dead spot (a designated position within the circle). If you are caught holding the pumpkin while in the dead spot, you are out.
• Purchased Games: I picked up the Halloween edition of "Pictueka" several years ago, and we like it even better than the every day game. It's great for this type of play ... easy to pickup and for several kids to play. No real winner or loser, just a quick, fun activity.  I also found a "Twister" type mat with a Halloween theme, and a nice set of "Memory" cards. There is a little investment with these items, but I've used them year after year!

Halloween tonight! 

Don't eat TOO much candy!

Linking up with the Friday Five blog hops ... the DC Bloggers ((Courtney, Mar and Cynthia), Five on Friday at The Good Life, Friday Favorites at Running4Cupcakes, Friday Favorites at Housewife Glamour, High Five Friday at LaurenElizabeth and Five Things Friday at Fitting It All In and with my

WWI#66 and Five Recent Reads

Holding! Week three of staying under 150. I am up just a smidge from last week. I really didn't think I'd even be as close as I was. I had the usual gain after the weekend, and then I didn't have the much of a drop the following days like I usually do. But stepping on the scale this morning ... the drop was there.

It's been a bit of a stressful week. Things have just been a bit off. Anxiety issues with my 11-year old have been a daily battle. Such sobbing every morning before school :(  There has been more homework help needed, as some big assignments were due this week. #5 earned an award at school, so I spent some time there one morning for the program. Hubs had two pinewood derbies this week. Back to basketball practices and games after a bit of a break last weekend.

NUMBERS: While my actual weight was up just a bit, my average went down (again, just by ounces). Eating is always a struggle ... I didn't have any huge days (2600 calories on Sunday) but also didn't have many low days (yesterday, 1500, that is low for me!) I did pretty good on exercise. I got in a Zumba session last Saturday ... my first Saturday Zumba in a while! I got in my hour of elliptical and Zumba every weekday. Even on Thursday, when my son's award program was at the same time as my Zumba class, I still did an hour on my own. I got in three sessions on the bike, just one treadmill time and one weight workout this week.  It did all equal out to a deficit of -4484 for the week. I'm happy with that.

On to the Friday Five ...

I've been reading a LOT lately. Every time I have a session on the bike, that's 30+ minutes of reading for me. I think it's more about the reading than the riding really. 

The last time I posted a "recent reads" Friday Five was about a month and a half ago (WWI#59). Yes ... I've read five more books in that time. What can I say? I love reading!  My spotlight here isn't necessarily a recommendation or in-depth review, just a quick peek at what has been capturing my interest of late ...

Both of these books are post-apocalyptic stories. Both of them feature a "safe" but flawed world, with an "outside" that is barren, dangerous and unknown. In "Breathe" ... trees have been destroyed, and with it, the oxygen they produced. Oxygen is now manufactured, measured and sold. From that standpoint, it was interesting that only the rich elite could afford to exercise! "Breathe" is the first of two books ... I'm not sure I enjoyed it enough to continue on. But only one more book ... maybe I will, just for the sake of closure.  "Wool" is a series of five books, but they aren't long ones. I'd read the first one ages ago (it had been a free Kindle download) and the "outside world" theme reminded me of it. I'd picked up the remaining books where they were on sale (for Kindle $1.99). I was a little unsure I could get back into the story, but I did. I really quite liked this series. I believe it's only available in digital format. Whereas "Breathe" is aimed at teens, "Wool" is a little more adult (although really just in the age of the characters, not really because of content).

You can see I like a little something different in my reads ...

These books centered on Artificial Intelligence, Time Travel and Alien Abduction.

• Turing Evolved: This had really high reviews on Amazon, and I was able to snag it when it was offered free (just follow Book Bub or Pixal of Ink to watch deals and steals). It IS adult, in language, content and complexity.  It was really interesting though.
• TimeBound: This is definitely a teen read, but I still enjoyed it. As an Amazon Prime member, I borrowed this from the Kindle Lending Library. It's the first in a series, but other than a novella, the other books aren't out yet.
• The Taking: I've always been a fan of alien abduction tales... loved the TV series "The 4400". This had some similarities to that ... the protagonist is "taken" and returned, thinking she has been away a day, but five years have passed and she is still the same ... or is she?  It is book one in a trilogy, but the other books haven't been written or released yet. It did have a cliffhanger ending!

So that's my weigh-in, and what I've been reading. At the rate I'm going, I'll be able to do another "Five Recent Reads" shortly!

Linking up with the Friday Five blog hops ... the DC Bloggers ((Courtney, Mar and Cynthia), Five on Friday at The Good Life, Friday Favorites at Running4Cupcakes, Friday Favorites at Housewife Glamour, High Five Friday at LaurenElizabeth and Five Things Friday at Fitting It All In and with my weekly check-in link-ups: Fitness Friday with Jill and Aubrey and a late Weigh-In Wednesday.   

WWI #64 and Family Friday Five

I did it! The entire week under 150! Today's weight is a new low, and it changed my MFP ticker to a new number I've never had before...

I've been keeping track of my weekly weigh-ins since I started this journey again (a little over a year ago). Back in March, I managed to get the MFP ticker to 32 pounds lost. I had a week under 150 then. But I couldn't keep it. I bumped back up a little and stayed there for months. Here's hoping I can keep "under 150" a consistent thing this time! I could still lose another 10 pounds or so, but I'll be content if I stay here. 

The 150 number was my "second" goal (see sidebar). I hit it momentarily back in January, but it didn't stick. I hit it again in March, even stayed under an entire week, similar to above. Again ... couldn't quite hang onto it. Do you count it as goal accomplished when you hit the number? Or do you have to STAY at that number, and for how long, before you say you have officially reached that goal?

NUMBERS: I'm down 2.4 pounds from my weigh in last Friday. My average is down 2.4 pounds too (147.87). I did better controlling my calories ... my daily intake averaged in at 1857. That's only the second time in a long time I've been able to keep it under 2000. My average daily burn was 2966. I didn't quite beat last week ... there was some stuff going on (more on that below *Ü*). But the intake vs burn came out with a deficit for the week of -6450. I like that!

Onto the Friday Five ...

I haven't been that great at blogging lately. I can't express how much I dislike simply sitting. Blogging requires sitting, as I don't have a fancy treadmill desk. Lately I've just been working out, instead of writing about working out.  But I miss the Friday Five link-ups. I thought today I'd give a quick peek into our family, featuring my FIVE boys ...

Wednesday this week took an unexpected turn when a big white envelope arrived in the mail. I mean, we were expecting the envelope ... just not quite this quickly. It was a mission call for my oldest son. At the age of 18, the youth of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints (LDS/Mormons) often elect to serve a mission for the church for two years. You don't know where you will be called until said envelope arrives. We threw together a quick "opening" party and invited family and friends who could make it on such short notice. A map of the world was set up, and guesses as to where he might be going ... Mexico, Puebla North.  He'll be leaving in February, so we get to keep him around for another few months.

My second  son is Mr. Social! Seriously, between friends and basketball, he is never home! He and his buddies love Frazils ... similar to a slurpee or Icee.  It's traditional to take Frazil Photos now ... I don't even think I have all of them. This gang of guys will hang out all the time. They are a good group of kids.

In the wee hours of Wednesday morning, there was a lunar eclipse  (Blood Moon). Son #3 told me he would get extra credit in his science class if he took a "selfie" with said moon. It would require waking up around 4:30 in the morning. I wasn't particularly interested in setting my alarm for that hour and did not commit to that mommy duty. But ... I had trouble sleeping that night. Around 4:20, I was awake anyway, so I went ahead and woke up #3 (THAT was a chore!) and we took a picture. While our picture isn't great, it was pretty cool to see!

#4 son is my anxiety child. He's like me in so many ways ... any break from routine can really throw him off. His school was doing an activity, Colonial Days. The kids would learn basic skills from back in the 1800s. Things like making bricks, carding wool, weaving, dipping candles, making soup, quill pen writing. Parents were asked to come help out if they could, so I signed up (even though it meant missing Zumba!). My son's class had tried the weaving a day early, and my poor child couldn't quite master it and was completely stressed out about it all. I ended up helping out at the weaving activity, which was a favorite for most of the kids ... followed closely by the candle dipping.

#5 is my angel. Such a good little boy! He is a rough and tumble kid, and a few weeks ago he bonked his head while at recess. It created a nice big mark right in the middle of his forehead ... just in time for school pictures! I was just happy that the scab finally did come off and didn't seem to leave any permanent scar. But it is forever memorialized in the school picture. I think there are retakes coming up ... should we have a do over, or just let the picture be a representation of my boy?

I love my five boys so much! Six boys really, because Daddy is just a big boy himself! It's crazy how good life can be. And the recent success on the scale has added to my happiness. It's nice to finally see a little bit of progress, even on a week with an unexpected ice cream party, early morning awakenings and a missed Zumba class (I did an hour on my own later in the day, Zumba Stats coming tomorrow). 

The weekend is now upon us ... Can I hold onto the loss? 

Check back next week!

Linking up with the Friday Five blog hops ... the DC Bloggers ((Courtney, Mar and Cynthia), Five on Friday at The Good Life, Friday Favorites at Running4Cupcakes, Friday Favorites at Housewife Glamour, High Five Friday at LaurenElizabeth and Five Things Friday at Fitting It All In and with my weekly check-in link-ups: Fitness Friday with Jill and Aubrey and a late Weigh-In Wednesday.  

WWI#61 and Friday Five

Hey, hey, hey ...my weekly weigh-in (as well as several during the week) is UNDER 150! Yea! I feel like I've been stuck just a few pounds up for months. I have actually hit this milestone before, in January and in March, but couldn't quite keep it up ... or down in this case (you can see all my weekly weigh-ins here).

I had a good week. Controlling caloric intake, getting in the exercise.  I actually had a good weekend too though. By that, I mean I had a rather blah/boring weekend. For food and fitness, boring and blah is better than birthday cake, eating out, family get-togethers, even though those types of weekends are more fun!

EXERCISE: This past week, I got in my hour of elliptical every day, including Saturday and Sunday. Good Zumba workouts Mon-Fri (I'll post my Zumba numbers and reviews tomorrow). I have not been good at getting in my mile jog, but I have had quite a bit of treadmill time this past week. Instead of going for speed, I've upped the incline. 10 is far as my machine goes. It's a little hike while I watch a show. I got in a bike ride last Friday night, but haven't been back on the bike since. I've meant to, I've wanted to, but I generally leave it until the end of the day, and I've been occupied helping with homework most evenings.

EATING: My intake was high last Friday, but I was able to stay in control Sat/Sun. All my weekdays I was able to easily stay under 2000. Still need to work on quality, instead of just quantity control. This past week, I actually took a bit of scrambled egg! I haven't had that in ...30 years? If you don't know about my Eating Issues, that is a HUGE deal for me. I've been doing a little better getting in some fruits too.

NUMBERS: Today's weight of 147.6 is -2.6 pounds down from last week. Three weeks in a row with a loss, although this is the biggest one! Average weight was also down, -2.37. I was able to keep my average intake under 2000. That is huge for me. That hasn't happened for a while. 1921 was the actual number. Average daily burn was 2951. This gave me a total deficit for the week of -5715.

No big plans for this weekend either ... so maybe I can get an entire week under 150, no bump up. Check back next Friday!

Onto the Friday Five ...

I've enjoyed the return to routine that the school schedules bring. It seems synonymous with success for me. Fridays for me, still have some of the same stuff, but the schedules are skewed. The high school and middle school has late start. The elementary has early out. I tend to sleep in a bit. I have an extra drop-off (normally I can drop off high school and middle school together, but I have to make separate trips on Fridays). After I drop off the elementary boys, I have about one hour before I need to get #3 to middle school. I've been making a quick run to the store during this hour. This morning, there were FIVE items we were almost out of. Here's a peek at today's shopping list and a little about our family food ...

• Grandma Sycamore White Bread: Yes ... I know I should be getting the whole wheat stuff. #1 (and sometimes the hubs) are the only ones who will eat it though. The rest of the family will only eat the fluffy white stuff. And it can't be a generic brand, it has to be Grandma Sycamore.
• Apple Slices: During the summer, we went back to regular ol' apples, but school back in session, these pre-sliced, non-browning apples are a lifesaver in lunches.
• Sliced Turkey: I make a turkey sandwich for three of the kidlets each school day (the other does peanut butter and honey). I'll grab a slice of turkey here and there too, for a quick snack and a punch of protein. 
• Eggs: The kids have been enjoying scrambled eggs in the morning. As mentioned above, I actually ate a few bites myself. We've been going through a LOT of eggs. I need to keep them on hand for baking too. I did grab some of the Egg Beaters today too.
• Bacon: Every Sunday we have a big family breakfast. Every Sunday ... there is bacon. It has been so expensive lately! I'd been hoping for a sale or something, but with Sunday almost here, I went ahead and picked some up. My boys love bacon ... who doesn't?

I'll usually end up making a couple trips to the grocery store throughout the week. I do try to shop sales and get the best prices. Today's trip was to Sam'sClub. I usually get milk there too, but it is on sale at Smiths for a slightly better price, and I do like to get the fuel rewards they offer. I'll hit Walmart every once in a while (a lot less, since I've been going to Kmart with my FitStudio points each week).  It's always a challenge trying to keep things on hand, without overbuying, and having them go bad. I quickly packed up #3's lunch after shopping, before dropping him at school ... I hadn't been able to make it earlier, as we were out of bread and apples! I bought four loaves today.I hope that gets us through to next Friday!

Linking up with the Friday Five blog hops ... the DC Bloggers ((Courtney, Mar and Cynthia),. Friday Favorites at Running4Cupcakes, Friday Favorites at Housewife Glamour, High Five Friday at LaurenElizabeth and Five Things Friday at Fitting It All In and with my weekly check-in link-ups: Fitness Friday with Jill and Aubrey and a late Weigh-In Wednesday.  

WWI#60 and Five Favorite Songs

Is it the start of school, the return to routine? Is the new medication helping with nervous eating? I've been able to better control my calories during the week (keeping them under 2000) ...weekends are still bad though. I wasn't at all surprised by the up Monday morning. I was happy it wasn't quite as up as it had been the last couple week. Even with some kinks (a sick kid on Monday, same child having a panic attack Tuesday morning ... Zumba was affected both days) I had a good week.

Despite the difficulties, I did get in my Zumba Mon-Fri. I got in an hour of elliptical every day. I got in some treadmill time ... mostly walking, but upping the incline for quite a bit of it. I even jogged a whole mile! It has been a while. I got in several riding/reading sessions on the stationary bike, and did do weights on Wednesday. Not sure if it was the weights or the jog, but my legs were sore Thurs/Fri in my calves and quads. 

Fri/Sat/Sun were horrible as far as food. Friday just added up. Saturday there were donuts in the morning and "The Cheesecake Factory" in the evening. Sunday was spent at the beach, so quite a bit of sitting and snacking. But Mon-Thurs, I was able to keep calories in check every day. Still not the best quality of calories, but at least controlling quantity.

NUMBERS: Even with a low last week, I was down .8 this week *Ü*  My average dropped 1.18. I actually only had a -475 deficit for the week (hard to overcome the bad weekend eats). Average in 2343, Average out 2883. 

Onto the FRIDAY FIVE ...

I'm normally an ipod gal. I have one set up in my car, so I don't have to listen to all the commercials and radio hosts jabbering. I like having control of my song selection too ... but with the ipod, I don't hear the NEW stuff much, to know what I like enough to buy and add to said ipod. So I do go through phases where I'll turn back to the radio. Today I thought I'd feature five songs that I've been happy to hear, and I'm sure I'll be adding to my collection.

• Shake it Off: Has anyone NOT heard this song? It is just bouncy and fun.
• All About That Bass: Another new one making a splash. Can't help but dance a little.
• Love Runs Out: The hubs really likes this one. It has been introduced in one of my Zumba classes. I liked the song, but didn't love the routine ... but it's been growing on me more and more.
• Bailando: This one I heard first in Zumba, in Spanish. When I heard it one the radio it really surprised me. I do like a little bit of English, like knowing what they are singing about. Three different Zumba classes do this song quite often ... two are completely different routines.
• Maps: This song has become a bit of a running joke in the family. Every single time I have the radio on in the car, this song comes on. Every. Single. Time. Originally, I liked the song. Then I got sick of it. But now, it causes such a reaction ("It's YOUR song Mom!") that I am happy to hear it. Following, following, following ...

As all of these songs are quite popular, I'm sure you've heard most (if not all) already. But I did gather them into a Groovershark playlist. I think I'll appreciate checking back and having the songs of Fall 2014 at my fingertips :)

Isn't it great when a favorite song comes on the radio? This viral video is making the rounds too, but if you haven't seen it, take a minute to check it out. It's sure to bring a smile to your day!

Linking up with the Friday Five blog hops ... the DC Bloggers ((Courtney, Mar and Cynthia),. Friday Favorites at Running4Cupcakes, Friday Favorites at Housewife Glamour, High Five Friday at LaurenElizabeth and Five Things Friday at Fitting It All In and with my weekly check-in link-ups: Fitness Friday with Jill and Aubrey, the FleurtySummerChallenge  and a late Weigh-In Wednesday.    

WWI#59 and Five Recent Reads

Weekly Weigh in, and I was actually excited about it this week. It had been a good week for me. I felt like it would be reflected on the scale, and it was. 151 ... I haven't been there in a while, since about April in fact (Weekly Weigh-Ins).

I originally lost weight eight years ago. Through the years, I have been struggling to maintain, and lose the gains. There have been ups and downs. For my most dramatic drops (in 2006 and 2013) I had success in late spring/early summer. Through the years though, in MY memory, I always seem to struggle, starting around April and through the summer months. When school gets back in session, and there is a return to the routine, I do better. It was interesting to plug the numbers into a graph and see that they didn't actually reflect my feelings. I'd have dips in the Spring, ups in the middle of Winter ... I did know I was in trouble at the end of 2012, dealing with a bit of depression there.

I don't have 2014 on this graph yet ... I actually was lower in January and March (just 150 "low"), and then upped in April and have been feeling stuck for several months now (at 152/153). But looking at the graph, a lot of the lines gravitate to just that area. Not sure if that's my body's "happy place" ... I spent almost all of 2010 right around where I am now (and have been for almost a year, no big changes since the end of 2013).  I'd like to lose about 15 pounds and get back to 135, but anything under 150 is actually fine by me. I know it's just a number on the scale, but I do want to get there.

As I mentioned, this was a good week. Well ... the weekend was NOT good. It was SO bad in fact! Family gatherings on Saturday and Sunday, eating out, birthday cake. Huge up on the eating, very little exercise. But starting Monday, even with it being a holiday, I took control again. I really enjoyed every Zumba class this week and just left each one happy and energized. I got in my elliptical every day, did a little treadmill, and reading while riding the bike. I did a weights workout once too. #4 has engaged me in badminton or ping pong almost every day.

The eating improved too. On the weekdays, I kept calories in check at 2000 or under every day. It is always a challenge for me. This girl likes to eat! But it felt a bit easier this week.  NUMBERS: Down 2.9 pounds from last Friday. High was 155.9 on Monday morning to the low today (for a total fluctuation of 4.9 pounds). Average weight was down -.04. Even with my horrible weekend (3000+ calories ingested both Sat/Sun) I had a weekly deficit of -3083. Average intake 2164 and average burn 2935 (with very little exercise on Sat/Sun dragging that down). 

Hopefully, if I can continue weekdays like this week, and control the weekends, maybe I can get to goal (under 150) and stay there!

On to the Friday Five.

I mentioned, I've been getting some stationary bike in many days. I read while I ride. I also read while I wait at pickups, after school or sports practice, or when I take the kids to play (we spent a couple hours at a trampoline place on Tuesday). I read before bed. I read a lot, and I'm a fast reader too, so I've gone through quite a few books lately. I did spend a little time on GoodReads rating and reviewing, but thought I'd spotlight five recent reads here ...

I've mentioned before, that although I'm not a teenager, I do like a lot of the Young Adult fiction out there. Post-Apocalyptic, Dystopian stuff. So many books now are part of a series as well. A couple months ago I went on a "third book binge" and finished up several trilogies (Teen Trilogies) but I still had some ...

Both of these books are fantasy, with a similar feel to "Game of Thrones" ... kingdoms waging wars, trying to wrest power. Quintana of Charyn is book 3 in The Lumatere Chronicles. I read the first one (Finnikin of the Rock) quite a while ago, and then read book 2 (Froi of the Exiles) just a month or so ago. This series actually isn't classified as YA, it is quite complex. Very well written.  Bitterblue is book 3 in the Graceling series. I read book 1 (Graceling) well over a year ago and didn't remember it well. It really didn't matter for book 2 (Fire) which I read recently, but did return to some of the original characters. I actually think Fire should be book 1 (it IS first chronologically), and wished I'd read Graceling and Bitterblue back to back.

These next three are all book 1 of their series. The middle one is a completed trilogy, the other two are still in progress (with only the first book out at this time). These were all pretty good, not super wonderful, but I liked them fine.

• After The End: After world war 3, a group of survivors is living off the land in Alaska. Or so the kids think ... have you seen "The Village"? It's a bit like that. There really was no end of the world. There was a bit of supernatural stuff that was never explained (yet) and the ending was a total cliffhanger. I do like some semblance of a conclusion!
• Inside Out: This reminded me of "Wool" as it started (taking place underground), and "Across the Universe" (in a spaceship) as it progressed. I never quite connected with the characters, the story and romance seemed a bit forced. I'll probably continue with the series as it is out and available and I guess I'd like to see what happens.
• Cyber Dawn: I have Amazon Prime and a Kindle, so I can access a book from the Kindle Lending Library once a month. This was my pick for September. A boy who lost his leg to cancer is fitted with a high-tech prosthetic (basically present day, but a bit more advanced, similar "enhancements" are common). Turns cloak and dagger. Did seem quite "teen" but is one my boys (reluctant readers) might like.

Those are the last five books I've read. I think I'll hit the bike and read a bit more (currently reading "Breathe" ... post-apocalyptic, you have to pay for oxygen, which means you can only exercise if you are rich! Walking over 3 mph is illegal!

Anyone else read any of these?

Linking up with the Friday Five blog hops ... the DC Bloggers ((Courtney, Mar and Cynthia),. Friday Favorites at Running4Cupcakes, Friday Favorites at Housewife Glamour, High Five Friday at LaurenElizabeth and Five Things Friday at Fitting It All In and with my weekly check-in link-ups: Fitness Friday with Jill and Aubrey, the FleurtySummerChallenge  and a late Weigh-In Wednesday.    

FridayFive and WWI#58

It's Friday ... time for the Friday Five and my weekly recap and weigh-in. This past week was our first week back to school, back to schedules. It went pretty smoothly. I had my alarm set, but never needed it until this morning. This year we're leaving a bit earlier for the older boys (high school and middle school drop-off) but the elementary is 15minutes later. I didn't always get my 20min elliptical in before taking the bigger boys (leaving at 7:15), but I did sneak in a session in-between dropoffs most mornings. Getting up earlier again has been good for getting more done during the day.

I wasn't surprised by the jump in weight Monday morning. We'd had a big barbeque dinner Sunday night, with birthday cake for dessert. It's birthday week here (three of the boys have birthdays coming right up, Aug28, Aug31 and Sept7). Usually I can correct an up like that once I get back on my weekday schedule, but it was SLOW this week. I didn't see a drop until Thursday morning, and then Thursday was a birthday day, and Chick-Fil-A was the dinner choice. 

I wasn't going to order anything, but hubs did get me a 12-piece nuggets. I ate almost all of them. I had a few fries (even through their waffle fries are not my favorite) and the birthday boy shared his shake with me. Not a good eating day the day before weigh-in!

I mentioned last week that I started a new medication (Celexa). Weight gain can be a side-effect ... I've been watching, wondering. I haven't been sleeping well at all this week, again, not sure if it's the medication, or just coincidental timing. It was also TOM, in addition to the shift in schedules. 

I actually had several days where I did quite well controlling my calories. If only I could do that every day! I did manage a 1359 deficit for the week, but that isn't enough for a loss. My average intake was 2264, average daily burn was 2911.

I Zumba-ed Monday-Friday (spotlighting my stats below!) and got in an hour of elliptical everyday, although I had more tiny 10-minute sessions than I usually do (squeezing them in when I could). I hit the bike a couple times, the treadmill a couple times (although I just walked, didn't feel up to jogging) and I did get in a weight workout this week.

So ... weight a bit higher than I want. Average was down a tiny bit, weigh-in today up so slightly. I'm really hoping that the schedule and such will get me on track enough to drop below 150. That's the goal!

Onto the Friday Five ...

If you have been reading my blog, you are probably aware that I discovered Zumba this year (I'm late to the party, I know). I'm not a member of any gym, so I don't have access to those classes, but luckily here in Utah, so many instructors offer free Zumba classes. Whether this is to practice, to drum up followers and other opportunities, or just selfless service giving back to the community, I am SO grateful!  This past week, I went to Zumba daily. Monday-Friday, five different classes. For a while there, I was posting my stats to a Facebook album (taking a picture of my HRM and Fitbit numbers), but it's also fun to compare them side-by-side. I thought I'd do that today, with a quick recap of the classes (it's always interesting for me to examine if I think the numbers are reflective of MY perception of the class)...

• Monday: It's a 15minute drive to Draper. The class is supposed to start at 9:30, but it's usually about ten minutes late ... There are several instructors changing off. I'm quite familiar with most of these routines. I got my highest HRM calorie reading in this class this week.
• Tuesday: This class is close to home ... so close I walk to the church. This is my original instructor. She is pretty mellow and it's a small class, but because I'm so familiar with her routines, I can usually get good numbers. Couldn't quite get the heart rate up today though.
• Wednesday: I usually hit the Draper class again on Wednesdays, but today I needed to stay closer to home, and this class is only five minutes away. This is a large group, with several instructors on stage all the time (which I like, good for seeing variations). I really like how they have the playlist set and ready to go, no waiting between songs. They did have a very slow start this week (almost 20minutes later than the 9:00 advertised time). Got my highest numbers on the Fitbit in this class.
• Thursday: I had my lowest numbers here ... I can be a bit hit and miss with this class, depending on the songs and instructors (several trade off, I have trouble following a couple of them). There seemed to be three or four warm up songs, just not very high intensity. Finally Cha-Cha Swing (a favorite) got my heart rate up ... but then there was "Work" which while I've seen several different steps to this song, I just don't care for any of them.
• Friday: Across town again. This class is a little later, which works out perfect with the middle-school's late start on Friday. I've always really enjoyed this class, it is one of the most energetic, with almost all higher-intensity songs, mostly different than those in the other classes. I had a blast today, I really thought my numbers would be a little higher based on how I was bouncing around.

I've been Zumba-ing since January. I don't know how others do it ... do you all just go to the same instructor/class? Do you visit different classes? Do you like to have the same songs and steps, or do you like variation and something new?  I'm NOT a big on "new" so I'm a little surprised that I do like the variety of different classes, instructors and songs. It really keeps me on my toes. I do love my old favorites too though.

Linking up with the Friday Five blog hops ... the DC Bloggers ((Courtney, Mar and Cynthia),. Friday Favorites at Running4Cupcakes, Friday Favorites at Housewife Glamour, High Five Friday at LaurenElizabeth and Five Things Friday at Fitting It All In and with my weekly check-in link-ups: Fitness Friday with Jill and Aubrey, the FleurtySummerChallenge  and a late Weigh-In Wednesday.   

Summer Fun Friday Five and WWI#57

As summer started up, my oldest son asked if we could get a new chaise lounge. He went to the store to check out the available options. I enjoyed his attempt at picture persuasion to ok the purchase of the more expensive ones ($24 vs $150 ... um, still no). We didn't do much laying around this summer though, we stayed pretty active. Here are five of our summer fun outings ...

 The main activities this summer were BOUNCING and BOWLING. We bought a month pass (actually, two of them) to Jump N Bounce, a local place filled with bounce houses. The kids would always get in a ton of steps, and I'd walk around and get some too. We participated in the Kids Bowl Free program and hit the bowling alley multiple times over the summer months.  #2 discovered golf, and I took the younger ones miniature golfing. We went to the local splash pad ... and then of course the Seattle vacation (sans me) ... famous for "the tree" which the boys love to jump off and into the lake.

School starts Monday for #2, and Tuesday for #3, #4, #5 ... I think we had a fun summer though. Ready to get back to schedules. I'm hoping the return to earlier rising and routine will help me push through this plateau. I feel like I've been stuck for a while. Looking at the weigh-ins this past week, I had four days in a row of the exact same weight ...

... up from last week (average up too). Weight was up over the weekend, and although I was able to correct that pretty quick, I wasn't able to get the weight a little lower after the initial drop. It was a decent exercise week, got in my Zumba Mon-Fri, elliptical everyday. I did get on the bike one time, and did a mile jog. I didn't get to weights this week.  It was busy, trying to fit in the last of the summer fun (we hit Jump and bowling). I had a doctor's appointment (my annual physical), took #2 in to the DMV to get his learner's permit, #3 to back to school night. There was quite a bit going on. I've signed up the little one for soccer, and basketball starts up soon, so it will continue to be crazy, but I still think I prefer the school schedule and routine.

NUMBERS: Even with some really bad eating and exercise days, I managed a deficit for the week of 1167. Average intake was 2314. Average burn was 2846.

Linking up with the Friday Five blog hops ... the DC Bloggers ((Courtney, Mar and Cynthia) Friday Five.  Other Friday linkups ... Friday Favorites at Running4Cupcakes, Friday Favorites at Housewife Glamour, High Five Friday at LaurenElizabeth and Five Things Friday at Fitting It All In and with my weekly check-in link-ups: Fitness Friday with Jill and Aubrey, the FleurtySummerChallenge  and a late Weigh-In Wednesday.   

Five Favorite Family Treats & WWI#55

This is NOT a good topic for a "health/fitness" blog, and yet ... I thought it was interesting to look at our family treat trends. Something new is introduced and it's an instant hit, and for a while there, it's a pretty constant addition. Then we go through phases and certain snacks only make an appearance every once in a while. For the Friday Five, I'm going to highlight five of our family favorites!

• Skookie: This "skillet cookie" is delicious. We were first introduced to it at a local pizza joint, but then found the pan and made it ourselves at home. We actually have about five pans now. We just use a tube of cookie dough, bake it up, add ice cream and everyone digs in! 
• Otis Spunkmeyer Chocolate Chip Cookies: These have been a big part of our family for many years. We rarely make chocolate chip cookies from scratch, as these are so yummy, quick and convenient.  There is actually an Otis warehouse here in Utah, and the hubs has gone straight to the source, buying the big, distributor boxes. Yes ... we'd go through them. Now, he usually just picks up a box or two at Costco. They do seem to have changed a bit in recent years, they don't turn out quite as well.
• All Edges Brownies: When I first picked up this brownie pan, we made brownies in it almost every night. They would always turn out perfect. Back when school was in session, I'd make brownies and bag them, setting them aside for lunches (and #1 would find them and eat them!) Ironically ... the kids have let me know they actually prefer the gooey middle brownies regular pans create (sometimes I'd make a double batch and had to use a regular pan, well, still a specialty one with the little dividers). Who knew? I still prefer the edges!
• Chocolate Malt: The Hubs picked up a Blend-Tec, and a new favorite was born. Chocolate Malts. Just ice cream, milk and malt, but blended together until smooth. This is strictly a "daddy" do though ... I must admit I've never used the Blend-Tec myself.
• Homemade Oreos: For a while there, I was making these every single Sunday. They were the expected traditional treat. Just a Devil's Food cake mix, 3/4 cup shortening and 2 eggs. Roll into balls and bake at 375° for 7-8 minutes. Add cream cheese frosting in between. As Sundays aren't MY best exercise day (and I do like to partake) I've tried to move making them to Mondays, where I'm more active and can combat the calories a bit better.

Mmmmm ... tempting treats! There are a ton of others too, but these five make it in the rotation the most often, and have the most family memories surrounding them. Chocolate does seem to be a theme.  We just had Skookie last night ... not a good idea right before the official weekly weigh-in!

You can see, it didn't turn out too bad, even with the Skookie indulgence. I've really been trending at 152ish for a long time now. It bumped up last Friday, and went up even more before starting back down, but my weight is back down this week to the norm Just wish the norm was under 150. Numbers for the week weren't great though. Only a -550 deficit for the week. Average intake was up at 2464 and average burn was down at 2761 ... it hasn't been that low in a while.

I've been a little low. My mojo is just not present. Some emotional turmoil, talks, letter writing, thoughts, worry ... it drains the energy. Sleep hasn't been great. Some days I've still been able to get some pretty good exercise numbers, but I feel a little like I'm just going through the motions. I guess that's better than just assuming the fetal position. I know things will be all right, it's just hard to shake it off. I'm feeling a bit in limbo here with just a couple more weeks of summer. I think I'm looking forward to the return to the routine, a set schedule, the structure of it all. I've really enjoyed the summer. Sleeping in, taking the kids bowling and jumping. Still have managed to get my workouts and such in. School and sports starting back up bring their own challenges, but I think I do slightly better, even if the schedule is absolutely crazy. Summer can be just a little too laid back at times. 

Linking up with the Friday Five blog hops ... the DC Bloggers ((Courtney, Mar and Cynthia) Friday Five.  Other Friday linkups ... Friday Favorites at Running4Cupcakes, Friday Favorites at Housewife Glamour, High Five Friday at LaurenElizabeth and Five Things Friday at Fitting It All In and with my weekly check-in link-ups: Fitness Friday with Jill and Aubrey  and a late Weigh-In Wednesday.   

Friday Five Look Back and WWI#53

Yesterday I talked about the number 22 ... today it's five, Friday Five. The DC Bloggers are looking back at their goals. I didn't set any "New Years Resolutions" and my goals have stayed pretty much the same ... but I thought I'd look back on five things I'd mentioned a while back and let you know where things are standing now.

• Revising My Records: Back in January I posted how I was switching from my small recording notebook to a bigger one. It didn't QUITE work out that way. I did revert back to the small one for downstairs. I do still write my stats on it each day and tear off the sheet and bring it upstairs. I so still have the bigger notebook, which I keep upstairs by the computer. I'm pretty good about transferring the stats from my single sheet to the notebook and then tossing the small sheet so they don't pile up (like in the picture). I do like having the bigger notebook with everything in it, nice and organized for me to keep (although I do still transfer the info to the computer as well). 
• A Farewell To French Tips: Back in March I said goodbye to my pretty, acrylic nails. I loved the look. I didn't love the upkeep or the cost (in time and money). It took a good two months to finally grow out the damage. I really don't know that I'll ever be able to grow them to anything I'll be happy with. I did just invest in some Pink Armor Nail Gel that had some good reviews ... but as far as I can tell it's no different than any other nail strengthener I've tried. I was doing ok ... until yesterday! One of my nails got a snag and I couldn't leave it alone. I'd nibble at it and soon it was gone. Once I've attacked one, I often attack the others. Not down to the quick, but I lost the tiny progress I had. Starting over ...
• My Treadmill 5K: In April, I was excited to finally "jog" a 5k (no walking!). In that post I pondered "will I do this once a month" .... ummm, no, I haven't even attempted it again.
• Check Engine: Also in April, I posted about our car troubles. The dang "check engine" light on in my son's truck and in my suburban. Happily, the light magically went off in my car Someone had commented that once it was just their gas cap not on tight enough ... I HAD had that warning, and I guess it just took a little time for things to regulate after I had fixed that tiny issue.  My son's car did not have such a happy ending ... we couldn't pass emmissions inspection, thus couldn't register the car and be legal. No easy fix either ... a "cylinder misfire" which can't really even be repaired. You have to replace the engine! We did manage to get a waiver to just buy us some time (got registered for this year) while we figure out what to do. I'm actually driving the truck this coming week. Hope it holds up for me!
• Committing to Fruits/Veggies: I've posted about Pact a few times, and every time I wonder aloud if in addition to the "gym" and "food logging" pacts I've committed to, if I should try the "veggie" pact. I really considered it ... but have decided NOT to do it. Having to take a picture, post it and wait for people to vote and approve it just seemed more stress than it would be worth (especially as I'm on a Facebook group where people post some of their vote downs and showcase people cheating). I just decided to stick with my food and fitness pacts, which are easy peasy for me. I will TRY to eat more fruits and veggies still ... just not commit to them on Pact.

I just KNOW you've been wondering about these topics with baited breath, so there you go. The updates! I also know you are anxiously awaiting my weigh-in results, so without any further adieu ...

I'm the S.A.M.E. Again! Down to the ounce. I'm consistent at least, right? That's three weeks in a row at 152.6. I did finally go in and update my WEEKLY WEIGH-IN page... easier to see the week to week trend. I haven't yet crunched my weekly numbers, I will. I'm happy I'm not gaining ... I AM still trying to lose, not maintain. Just taunting me with these few pounds, that elusive 150. Gotta get below and THEN stay steady. I know it's just a few pounds, and I know it's just a number ... but it's the number I have in my head! 

So, linking up with the Friday Five blog hops ... the DC Bloggers ((Courtney, Mar and Cynthia) Friday Five.  Other Friday linkups ... Friday Favorites at Running4Cupcakes, Friday Favorites at Housewife Glamour, High Five Friday at LaurenElizabeth and Five Things Friday at Fitting It All In and with my weekly check-in link-ups: Fitness Friday with Jill and Aubrey  and a late Weigh-In Wednesday.