My daily happenings - April 1st

[Patty_Ann]

Today is the first day to my 21 day challenge - doing a physical activity with my children each day for the next 3 weeks. My children are thrilled with this challenge, as I am too. Today I played tether ball with my oldest daughter for an hour - she always beats me...I think it is the practice she has at school. I took my son out to the school yard @ my mom's house and we flew my brother's styrophome airplane...we had lots of fun doing this - mine went far. After we were finished throwing the airplane I headed back to my mom's house - then my brother decided that he wanted to play so I went back with him and played some more...just me and my brother (he is 25 years old). It might have looked funny - we were the ones opposite of everyone else...they were all throwing some type of ball back and forth and we were throwing an airplane. My brother really got it to do some cool tricks - 3 flips - I could only get it to do 1.5 then CRASH. LOL

My day has been very active...when I was inside sitting I decided that I wasn't just going to sit and read a magazine - I got on my mom's stationary bike and rode for 1 hour & 10 minutes. I really need to get one of these @ my place b/c it is such an easy workout. The weather was just beautiful today - I told my mom that I couldn't just sit inside and do nothing - I had so much energy today...it felt great!

This morning I put on a pair of shorts that I couldn't even get up my thighs back in December....WELL...LET'S JUST SAY - THEY FIT! WOOHOO!!!! When I got them past my thighs I told my daughter "OMG...they are going to fit." She just smiled great big and said "They look good on you." It feels so good knowing that what I am doing is working - I am doing this the right way and it is actually working. I guess the other day my brother was bragging to some chics he knows about how I am losing weight easily - he told them that all I do is watch my calories and workout each day. He explained to them that I am not popping pills, going to a gym, or go to meetings - he also told them how my sister had spent over $1000 to go to Slim4Life and I have lost double what she has lost. LOL I'm not laughing b/c I am losing more weight - I am laughing b/c the way he told them. He told them that I was his "poor" sister and the other is his "rich" sister. Give me a break - I'm not poor. I just don't have money to pay someone to help me lose the weight. I'm bound and determined that I am going to do it right this time and I'm going to be accountable for each pound lost.

Well...I have been rambling too much. Tonight we will be grilling pork steak, steamed potatoes for dinner. I can't wait to eat some potatoes...the way my hubby makes them is so DELICH! I haven't worked out today to any of my videos but I think I have burned plenty of calories...I moved a lot today.

I'm outta here for now...I'll try to be back in tomorrow. I have a birthday party to go to so not sure if I'll have time to check in.

KEEP ON KEEPING ON! LATE!

Oh yeah...HAPPY APRIL FOOL'S DAY!

[Trying4Thin]

Well Patty Ann, I am not sure who is going to enjoy the next three weeks more...you or your children!! I think it is so great that you are willing and able to include your children in your workouts. I know they are so very proud of you and all you have accomplished. Tetherball...is that the ball tied to a pole and you have to wrap it around the pole before your opponent? If so, I loved that game as a child..still do. I bet you were sweating buckets and calories. 70 minutes on an exercise bike? Congratulations! Doesnt that feel awesome! You will feel it tomorrow, but it will be a good muscle ache. Not dire pain, just a feeling of, "Wow, look what I accomplished yesterday, and yes my muscles were worked." Did you happen to copy down how many miles you did and how many calories you burned? I like to do that so I can compete with myself. Bet the next time you hop on that bike you go a little faster and a little farther. I think you were the one asking about my bike. Mine is manufactured by Giant. I think it is called "Expressions." Couldnt find any other name on it. I looked online and nobody had any pics. I got it about 9 years ago I think. It isnt as flashy as the ones at the clubs I have been to, but who cares. It moves, calculates distance and heart rate, and I burn calories.
That is so awesome about the pants fitting. So there goes the theory that the scale is always right. Next time you are feeling down because your "friendly scale" was mean to you, try on those shorts. Pretty soon they wont fit either. Isnt it great to have a brother to brag about you? He may say that your sister is rich, but if she keeps digging in her wallet, then she wont be. You are becoming rich in experiences, and that is worth much more. You made the right choice in doing this yourself. In the end, statistics show that you will keep your weight off longer, or regain less because you did it yourself. I am not saying that it is wrong for requiring assistance, but it isnt for everyone. You need to find out why you eat, otherwise the problem will never go away, no matter how much you lose. I hope that you have a great dinner. Geez is there anything hubby doesnt do??? Going to have to nominate him for Man of the Year.

~Carrie

[muppet]

Patty Ann!!!! I want to come and play too!!!!! What kind of airplanes did you have? I think we have had some type or styrofoam airplane, but either it wasn't a very good one, or we just weren't talented enough to do it right!
You're inspiring me. It's so great for you to get out and play with them - great for you and great for them! They aren't sitting inside playing video games or watching the idiot box. I need to get out and do this more too. My kids are 16, 13, and 10, and I think I'd better grab any opportunity I can!
What a great feeling to have something fit, that didn't before! I know I don't know whether to laugh or cry! It's really very emotional, I think.
And, you know, as far as you being the 'poor' sister ( that was funny), even if you did have the money to pay someone else to help you lose weight -- it's you that has to do it. And I sincerely believe that if you figure out how to do it on your own, with your own resources, your own motivation, you are going to be more successful losing it in the first place, and more importantly, keeping it off!
Great job Patty Ann! You make me want to do better. That's why I love this board. So many -- everyone really -- makes me want to do better.

[Missy]

YAY!!!!!!!!!!!!! I am so glad you were able to get into your shorts. That must have been a really great feeling knowing that only a few months ago you couldn't wear them. Look at how far you've come! You are doing such a fantastic job with your weight loss and I bet you look amazing.

[Trying4Thin]

Hi Patty Ann,

Just wanted to say congratulations again on fitting into those pants again. What a huge achievement! Keep sweating those pounds off girl!!

~Carrie

[Patty_Ann]

Today has been a pretty good day - spent it with my children and hubby. We had my aunt's 50th birthday party and was able to visit with other family members.

*Woke up @ 8am (climbed out of bed @ 8:30am)
*Walked 1/4 of a mile this morning - walking the dog.
*Ate breakfast @ 10:30am - it was more like brunch...(hubby made pancakes, bacon, eggs, toast, and sausage) I had one small pancake, 4 pieces of bacon, 1/2 sausage link, 2 eggs, 2 pieces of toast. I wasn't able to finish it - it was so good. Hubby loves making a large breakfast for us on the weekends when he is off work.
*Straightened up the house and started laundry after eating. Listened to the radio and pretty much just chilled until 12:30pm.
*Took Sam's friend home @ 1pm
*Went to the birthday party @ 2:30pm (I had a small piece of cake and punch).
*Visited father-in-law @ 4:00pm
*Got home @ 6pm (worked out immediately after walking in the door)...3 miles with Leslie - 45 minute workout.
*I was going to go play ball with the kids but realized it was too late - I had to eat by 7pm...I don't like eating after 7pm.
*Ate dinner @ 7pm (Healthy Choice Meal - Roasted Turkey w/Mashed Potatoes, and Smart One Dinner - Mac & Cheese...1/2 serving.)
*Watched TV for a little while.
*Played Monopoly with the kids and Dan for 45 minutes...Grant won!
*Laundry & Trash - walked the dog.
*Heading to bed now @ 10:30pm

I really enjoyed the day - had lots of fun with the kids & Dan.

*

[Patty_Ann]

Carrie - I was surprised but I didn't hurt at all today from my workout on the bike yesterday. My butt doesn't even hurt...lol. You have the right idea about tether ball - our tether ball game is a tennis ball instead of a regular ball...and we hit it with raquets. It is a great workout!

Hubby is a great man - it has taken many years to get where we are but wouldn't trade a single thing about him.

[Patty_Ann]

Muppet...one thing my children do not have and never have had is a video game. I can't stand seeing children playing those things - I just like for my children to be active (physically). Also, my son has ADHD and BiPolar - I do not think the video games would be good for him...yeah, it would keep him calm but I would rather him do something healthy and physical. The airplane that we had was a large styrophome - not sure what kind it was. It was so much fun flying the airplane - I can't wait to do it again. I told him that I had to go buy myself one. LOL It was so funny b/c we are in our 20s and we were out there playing like that - my brother and I are always doing something physically challenging...basketball, baseball...always something. I know what you mean by fitting into pants that we haven't been able to wear is emotional...I have cried b/c I am so proud of myself for keeping on.

Thanks for the kind words.

[Patty_Ann]

Missy...thank you for the kind words. I'm sure you are looking amazing, too with your weight loss. I will be taking pictures of myself again within the next couple of weeks. I take them each month to keep track of the difference. I can't wait to see the difference this time.

[muppet]

Patty Ann-- kudos to you for not giving in on the video games. You are 100% correct to keep them out of your home. We do have a game box -- cube.. whatever.... We've had it for a long time. My kids are pretty good, and have a wide variety of interests, so that isn't all they do. But when we first got it, every kid in the neighborhood was over - all the time-- to play. And when they couldn't play, they just watched!
So that was a battle for awhile. But we don't have to fight that too much any more. Our systme now, is pretty 'old school'. The kids still enjoy it, but I told them, this was the only one they were ever going to get. I'm not going to invest big bucks, just because some new system has cooler features! The systems are bad enough, but it's the games that kill you! Yikes! $50 a pop!
I teach preschool, and it really saddens me how so many of these little kids know so much about so many of these games. You can tell many of them spend HOURS playing ( 3, 4 and 5 year olds!!!). And some talk about games that are totally inappropriate for them. ( games I woudn't even let my kids play!) It's also shocking to hear what many of them watch on tv, or the movies their parent's let them see. i know of preschoolers who have watched, 'Kill Bill', 'Texas Chainsaw Massacre', and 'Saw'. I'm sure that's only the tip of the iceberg. I dont' know a lot about these movies-- nothing I would watch, but I'm quite sure they aren't for children!
So anyway--after all that-- I just wanted to say great job, keeping those things out of your house! Definitely not good for your son, or for anyone really.
I love big breakfasts too. I love to cook them on the weekends. I really try and limit what I eat though. It's tough-- a lot of my favorite foods. But my family really loves this and looks forward to it. I think Breakfast is our favorite meal -- sometimes we even have it for supper!