Return Of the Pumpkin Head (Holiday Greediness Is Afoot?)

Uh-huh. It all started with The Pumpkin Head Experiment. That’s when I hollowed out my organic orange helmet and affixed it to my cranium. I always look forward to re-attaching my head gear when the season rolls ’round.

Now that Fall is  *this close*  to flinging itself into our midst, I’m readying my chewing jaws for increased pumpkin-pie action, cozy nights of couch-azzing while buried in 15 blankets and, as the months go on, they’ll be free food from people throwing holiday parties.

Free food is FUN. m’kay?

But what else is a greedy gal with fitness goals supposed to do at a time of year like this?

I’m keeping my goals at the forefront of my mind. I’m deciding right now what will and won’t be — how far I’ll allow myself to indulge in the indulgences of the holidays, and when to cut that shizz short.

It’s pre-decision making. Ding! I’ve decided to formulate a set of personal holiday-eating guidelines right now, and I’m imprinting these ideals into my noggin as expectations I intend to follow through on, even while staring into the face of holiday delectable goodness. Although voluntary incidents of splurging will still be had, my Greedy-O-Meter will surely be toned down compared to previous years.

Why?

Welp, I’ve got some amazing body transformation progress going on right now (a new progress pic will be posted on January 1st). Repeated overindulgence “just because” it’s the holidays does NOT fit into my plan, so I’ve pre-decided that no overeating trainwrecks will be had.

My plan is 99.998% foolproof. That other .002% is margin for cupcakes.

The mind is a powerful thing. I’m using my mind (not my food-emotions) to control what happens. Where the mind goes, the body will follow. You see what I’m saying?

But this isn’t about willpower. I see it more as taking charge and following through on the commitments I’ve made to myself. It’s gonna suck sometimes. It might will even feel heart-wrenching as I turn away from the greediness and strive to stay on course, yet I intend to finish what I started and NOT let myself down.

Will you pre-decide along with me? We CAN DO THIS together! ((insert champion music of victory here))

Ye wise ‘ole Pumpkin Head has spoken. Now go… Go from this place to frolic and be merry.

View the original article here

Personal First Aid Kit (AKA the return of the cowboy hat).

Once upon a time I yammered about the importance of first aid kits.

I was kindasorta a new mom and as a result BLANKETED the domicile (and car) with tiny kits crammed with ‘saving’ devices.

Bandages. Medicine. Tweezers. Ointments. Ice pack thingies. Heat packs. Surgical tape.

You name the medical crap & I had it jammed into a huge Ziplock and at the ready.

And then the Tornado left me for the Garten of the Kinder.

I found myself flying solo after years with a perpetual sidekick & realized I’d forgotten to create the most important kit of all: my personal first aid kit.

While of course Im crazy enough to fret Im going to fall, break a hip & since I work from home there will be no one around to call 911  I probably still could benefit from the other ‘kits— more than ever I needed an emotional first aid kit.

You see, without my noticing the Tornado had become my walking talking Personal First Aid device.

If I felt sad I merely needed a glance over at  this to perk me right up:

If I felt “less than’ or unsuccessful in my world of work this always slammed everything back into proper perspective:

Short of driving to school & stealing her away each time I feel the frazzle (something which sounded initially like a viable option) I decided my best option was to revisit/recreate my Personal First Aid kit.

AKA Self-Preservation in a COWBOY hat.

What are a some items you reflexively know you’d place in your Personal First Aid Kit?

What self-love/self-care container would you plop the whole thing into?

Wanna lie to me normalize my addiction and tell me your P.F.A. Kit would contain beef jerky too?

Wanna know what NoMoreBacon would put in HIS P.F.A. Kit? Ive dragged him along for the ride…

**It bears stating A Million Miles in a Thousand Years would be in my personal first aid kit were it not something I read and refer to every.single.day.

Tags: self-care

View the original article here

Return of the pink gloves (wordless wednesday).

Oh how I adored the day of the PINK GLOVES.*

Oh how happy it made my heart they returned.

No matter how ephemerally.

It was a PINKtastic day.**

(countdown to kinder? five more days…)

*I know it takes time to go back to old posts—but you may think me (her?) a lunatic if you missed said gloves the first time.

**The rest of the day was lived not blogged.  Shocking I realize.

Tags: I LOVE the age of 5, pink gloves

View the original article here

My Return to Weight Watchers!

My day started like most, with a nice big glass of water.

Since I’m nursing I’m really making an effort to up the water intake. It’s easy to get dehydrated.

I didn’t have time to have breakfast while Little Man was eating so after I got him on the bus I made myself a feast.

A 2 egg omelet with onion, peppers, ham and spinach with a side of GRAPEFRUIT! I seriously can’t get enough grapefruit anymore. They’ve just been SO good. After breakfast I cleaned up a bit and got ready for the big weigh in at Weight Watchers.

I grabbed a banana to hold me over.

The meeting went well! I purposefully went out of my way to find a meeting time with a leader I like. I weighed in and stayed afterwards for the PointsPlus informative session. I’m trying REAL hard to embrace the new plan. The least I can do is give it a chance, right?

My weight was what it was. I’m trying real hard to not even focus on it. I’m 30 lbs over my goal weight and 35 over my "happy weight." This makes total sense as I gained 50 with the pregnancy. I dropped 20 after delivering which I think is pretty normal.

To help me put it in perspective I’m 30lbs less than my highest weight. Again, it is what it is. I can cry and get depressed about it or I can move forward. I choose forward. :)

After the meeting Little Bean had his doctors appointment. I’m happy to say he’s gaining weight! On his 2 week birthday he’s weight is back up and actually more than his birth weight which is great! and gives me more confidence on the nursing front.

The Husband then asked if I wanted to go out to lunch. OF COURSE on the day I return to Weight Watchers. Ugh! But it wasn’t that big of a deal. I settled on some Miso Soup.

and sushi.

It was AWESOME! I’ve been craving some tuna rolls.

Once we got back I took a nap with Little Bean. This is becoming a nice afternoon habit. We cuddle on the couch and dose off until Ryan gets off the bus.

When I woke up I decided on a snack before before dinner.

Then I strapped on the little bean while cleaning up and making dinner.

I bought the Original Sleepy Wrap Baby Carrier and I couldn’t be happier with it! I always wore Ryan too but normally in those back back style carriers. Little Bean is WAY to small for them so this has been great.

Dinner was Beer Can Chicken, potatoes and broccoli. It was a FEAST!

I don’t know why I fear cooking whole chicken. They really are easy and taste SO much better!

Later I wanted something I could just grap and settled on this.

Very tasty!

Here’s the the first of my new progression pics. I’m planning on taking pics once a month like I did the first time.

I could be telling you SO much more but I have to get some sleep. I just really wanted to journal my day 1 as I figure out a new routine for myself.

My daily points target is 29 plus I get an extra 14 for nursing. That’s a total of 43. I was 2 points shy today but I’m not going to eat for eating sake. I’m totally satisfied at the moment. Especially after my pretzels. :)

Morning Weigh In: 176.4 — Official Weekly Weigh In: 178.82 egg omelet with ham and veggies3 Maki Rolls (tuna, salmon, california)1 serving (yes I weighed) of pretzelsConscious Activity: None. :( It was too cold and raining to take baby on our morning walk.

Note: The morning weigh in is my scale at home. Official is Weight Watchers’.

View the original article here