Monday Weigh In and Tasty Breakfast

Oh Monday how I love to hate you, even more now that I weigh in first thing in the morning. The way I figure it is, Monday is already one of "those" days so why not weigh on Monday?! If the scale tells me that I have made no progress or that the cheese cake I ate added another dimple to my thighs I'll already be grumpy cause it's Monday so it won't ruin my day. On the other hand if the scale tells me that those afternoon walks I have been taking have got me shedding a pound or two then it makes my Monday a little more bearable.

My plan for this past week was to eat a little better and make it to the gym at least three times. I shouldn't have planned for that cause "plans" never work out. So I did make healthier choices... Smaller portions and less junk. I didn't bake this week so that always makes a difference. However John brought home cheese cake that we snacked on all weekend... Oh so delicious, but ughhh for my waist line. Of course I only made it to the gym once, but I had a great work out and it gave me the motivation that I needed. The sun was out so we played outside a lot and went for a walk several days.

The week wasn't a total loss, but it didn't go how I had envisioned it so I was beating myself up a little last night when I remembered "Monday weigh in". This morning I got up and totally forgot to weigh so I came out and ate my breakfast. As I was taking the last bite I cursed at myself, how could I forget to weigh before I ate?! Oh well it's Monday after all so belly full of oatmeal and blueberries I went in and weighed.... To my pleasant surprise I lost two pounds last week.

Now my scale and I seem to be having a constant battle over these two pounds, I lose it, I gain it, I maintain it... So this is a small victory and I am determined to continue winning and not let that scale give me those two pounds back.

Ok so here is a little yummy breakfast that I love as I am sure a lot of people do...

Fruit Loaded Oatmeal

3/4 cup quaker quick cooking oats

1/2 cup fruit

1-3/4 cups water

2 TBS. brown sugar

1/4 cup slivered almonds (optional)

2 TBS. milk (optional)

In a microwave safe bowl add oats, fruit, water, brown sugar and almonds. Stir... Place in microwave and heat for 2-1/2 to 3-1/2 minutes. Add milk (I like the creaminess the milk adds) stir and enjoy.

This gives you a breakfast packed full of fiber (and protein if you add the nuts) that will keep you full all morning. Right now I have been using blueberries, but I also love to use... raisins, sliced strawberries, peaches, and bananas.

Tears in the Check out Line

These little cakes had my eyes watering in the check out line the other day. Now I know your thinking Little Debbie snacks are good, but thats a little over the top to be nearly crying over them, right?! Well I was almost brought to tears not because they are so good (because they aren't), but because they remind me of my great grandma.

Imagine John and I standing in the check out line talking, having a great day. I look up and see these cakes on an end base and immediately there is a lump in my throat and tears in my eyes. These little cakes have brought my gram to the front of my thoughts and made my heart ache just a little as I miss her more then words can express.

My grandma lived across the street from us when I was a teenager. We would go to grams everyday for nothing more then a hug and a treat. Gram always had boxes of these Little Debbie snack cakes and fun size candy bars that were readily available for us. I don't really like the cakes that much, but if you put them in the freezer they aren't to bad. Between my siblings and I, I think I probably spent the most time with gram. I checked on her everyday and loved sitting with her while she watched cheesy afternoon talk shows and napped in her chair. She would tell me stories. They weren't anything spectacular, just life stories and I loved them. I would pull out all of grams pictures and she would tell me who everyone was and stories about them. Gram's was where I always ran when I was upset with mom and dad. She never had earth shattering advice, but she always listened and often tried to reprimand my dad. That never really worked though because my dad was her "little Scotty". I don't think Gram loved anyone the way she loved her "little Scotty". Even at 80 years old she would try to get my dad to sit on her lap. When I had Hayley my dad was in for some serious competition. Gram loved Hayley so much. She really enjoyed just watching Hayley play. Hayley loved to boss gram (their roles were kind of reversed) and gram would laugh and let Hayley tell her what to do. Even when gram moved into assisted living (I happened to work there so I spent lots of time with her) she still watched Hayley. I worked grave yard and John worked days so he would bring Hayley at 6am and Hayley would go up to grams room and play legos, boss gram, and watch cartoons. Gram looked forward to Hayley coming every morning. Gram always made us laugh with her crazy antics and the "swirl fry" and she drove us nuts from time to time with her stubborn nature. The bottom line is that my gram was simply my gram, she loved us and we loved her. Broke my heart the day she passed away and a little part of me went with her. She was my friend and I miss having her to sit with and talk to. I really miss the way she would laugh at us like we were crazy when we would try to tell her what she needed to do.

Gram always told us that she would "be sitting on the stairs to heaven waiting for all of us". Just a couple weeks ago Hayley asked me if I thought grandma was still waiting... Really pulled at my heart strings and all I could say was "I really hope so".

I realize this post is a mess, but so are my thoughts when I think about my grandma... I just have so many memories that it's hard to stay focused, so bear with me and my random babbling.

Girls, Girls, Girls

These girls of mine keep me so busy. They have personalities that are bigger then most adults I know. They are silly, playful, joyful, out going, and adventurous. They have imaginations that are wonderful, full and bright. They are full of laughter.

These girls are caring, passionate, and helpful. They have hearts that are always overflowing with love and the desire to please others. They are daughters, sisters, friends, and some times enemies.

These girls are loud, messy, creative, smart, independent, strong, stubborn, brave and artistic. They love to dance and sing. They have eyes that sparkle and smiles that could melt your heart. They are larger then life. When they do something they don't hold back. They are shy at times and always sensitive, never wanting to hurt others and being hurt easily. I would expect nothing less since these girls are a fair mix of Meier's and Naughton's.

Above all they are mine and I am so full of pride, and love for them it's overwhelming sometimes. Each day is something new with these girls and I look forward to seeing where this little adventure called life takes them. I hope that they achieve great things and bless the world as much as they have blessed me. They are just to wonderful not to share!

The Fat Girl Ate The Skinny Me!

It's been a long time since I have blogged about anything and I guess thats because I always want to "please" people so I was having a hard time coming up with things I thought people would want to read about. I have decided to redirect my blog and make it more like a journal. I am going to write about what is on my mind, write for myself, write for anyone who cares to read.

Today (and every other day) whats on my mind is the "fat girl" that ate the "skinny me". Thats right this is as real and raw as it gets. For 10 years I have been Fat and unhappy. Sometimes I am happy and forget whats on the outside, but then I catch my reflection in the mirror and am shocked by what I see. What I see in the mirror is not at all what I feel like or who I really am. On the inside I am fit, strong, fun, silly, full of energy, passionate, and ready to take life by the horns. I am "skinny", healthy, and beautiful on the inside, but this fat girl on the outside keeps holding that me back. The fat girl keeps telling that awesome skinny chick that she isn't good enough, shouldn't try, and one more cupcake is fine. Well that skinny me is taking a stand and is ready to put up a fight against that fat girl.

The fat girl is always telling the skinny girl that she can eat healthy tomorrow, she can go to the gym tomorrow, she can be happy tomorrow and the skinny me just lets her run the show. What I have finally realized is that the skinny me is not weak, the fat girl is. The skinny me has made up her mind and it's on. From today on out I promise the skinny me that I won't let that fat girl win!

So here it goes, no yo yo diets just healthy choices. I am not about to state my weight and I don't really think that is the most important part of this journey, but my goal is to lose 30 pounds by June. Thats about 2 pounds a week and I think that is perfectly reasonable. Every Monday I will weigh and then blog about my week. Hopefully this will be a positive outlet that will inspire and encourage the skinny me to keep pushing until that fat girl no longer exists.