A Milestone.

                              I love November. Its not just the changing color of the trees, fun football games (GO OSU COWBOYS!!) and I get to wear fuzzy socks a lot. Its a time where traditions of friends and fun times happen. Life is a little slower since now the farm is in the "off" season till about the end of April when Pete will start getting this ready for the June harvest season. Last year we were in Kansas so I didn't get to attend the EHBC shopping day. It started about 10 years ago, the women go shopping all day long eat at Abuelo's for dinner, shop till Target closes at 10 pm then meet at The Cheesecake Factory for yummy dessert and coffee. Since I have really been focused on weight loss and making better choices I was a little nervous about the trip. I LOVE LOVE LOVE Mexican food. Chips and salsa are a huge craving for me. I love restaurant salsa. So much that in the past I when I was pregnant with both of the little people I would get the salsa to go and eat it all week. yep,probably more of an addiction. But over the last year and half I also realized that I love Mexican food but it's not really the tacos, burritos and enchiladas so much as it is the chips and salsa. I also love restaurant tortilla soup. So now I get a cup of soup, count out my chips (12 for 4 WW points plus). I also break up my chips so that it feels like I have more. Since I really enjoy the soup I don't feel like I am not enjoying eating out!

One thing I realized is that I really enjoy the atmosphere and visiting with my friends. It's not all about the food. I can have fun, enjoy the evening and not have huge amount over the guilt over what I consumed the next day. This what a huge thing for me to think about.

 Especially when I looked up the information on The Cheesecake Factory. My goals for this week and the information didn't mesh. But I focused on the fact that most of these ladies I don't see often ,so really visiting and talking about our finds is what I love the most and being in the atmosphere of the restaurant is one of my favorite things of the year. I found that the caramel apple cider did fit with my goals for this week.

It looked something liked that..but yes I did give up eating these yummies...

But I had a blast, still had a special treat and enjoyed shopping! Also two of my weight loss buddies were there so that helped to have the accountability. This season of Holidays can be tough on the waistline but making informed choices, planning out the trips and meals on the upcoming holidays really makes a difference. I have a lot of all that coming up and I am determined to keep my goals! So whats your plan and whats your goal for the upcoming months??

New goals...

(source)

These are so true. My lifestyle has had major changes since April 2010. It takes a lot of motivation but the endurance to get through it comes from deep down. Having a support group is a must! If you need some structure and great weekly support click here ---> WW

source

I came across this on Pintrest. I haven't run consistently for exercise since Jr High. Over the years I have done aerobics, zumba,pilates, cycling, lots of walking and kickboxing. I enjoy all of these but I needed a new goal. I am attending a Zumba class twice a week but I need more than two workouts a week. So I decided to train my body to run. I just moved to a new town and Pete's cousin Tiffany is  "coaching" me. It's been awesome. I am still learning form and how to breathe and run at the same time.. Its easier for me to do this with my eyes closed but that doesn't go well with running outside.

Our scenery isn't as pretty as this but its nice being outside.

I need shoe suggestions!!!

Afternoon Snacks

One thing I have learned in this weight loss journey is that snacking is good for me. But I don't mean sneaking bits my little people's snacks like I used to. My typical go to snack in the afternoon is an apple and it has be that color to hit the spot!

Sometimes I pair it with a cheese stick. I usually have a coupon for these and the yogurt so it makes it affordable!

I do like variety so the apples are always in fridge for when I run out of yougurt and other fruit.

I had blueberries and strawberries today!

I used to gorge myself on chips and salsa. It was really the salsa that I enjoyed the most. Granted I do love chips and I can down a bag of jalepeno kettle chips really fast but I have learned to not eat them everyday and if they are around me to count them out. I love the Special K crackers and I really enjoy The Laughing Cow cheese. I have also put the cheese on celery. A lady at one my WW meetings suggested salsa and carrots. It is also one of my favorite snacks. When I eat a snack in the mid afternoon I tend to be less hungry at dinner and my portion sizes choices are better too! It has really helped me lose the 52 pounds. I have 7 till my WW goal and I would really like to be 10 under that :) But its not really about the number as it  is about clothing sizes and how tone I am.

Carnival and Parade Part 1...

We got to take the little people to the carnival and parade last weekend. Pete and I also got to eat the best BBQ brisket sandwich, and yes I was down 1.8 at weigh-in.. If I dont write my food down I have to give my friend Suzanne a dollar for everyday. This has been awesome in helping me focus on my goals. Just the kick in the butt I needed!!!

Ryan and Lily loved the carnival. We were excited that Lily wanted to ride the carnival rides this year. I have great childhood memories of riding carnival and fair rides with my sister. It's defianetly a special treat and we are teaching Ryan to use his tickets wisely but he is still a work in progess when its time to go home.

Here's some more carnival pictures...

...fun family time!!

Yummy cooking, blogs and some sand fun too.

We have been moving so I haven't been able to blog at all! I have also missed reading all the neat blogs that I follow. I didn't realize how neat the blog world  was until I moved to Kansas and everyone at church seemed to have one. I have learned so much from reading thiers and ones they follow!

Here's some for meal planning-
 http://www.marcandsarah.blogspot.com/- she puts her weekly meal plan on here with links to recipes
http://www.breezyacresblog.com/2011/08/cappuccino-crinkles.html- neat recipes and inspiring adoption journey and birth stories of preemie babies.

\http://crockpot365.blogspot.com/ - lots and lots of crockpot recipes!!
http://collinandandrea.blogspot.com/2011/08/iced-coffee.html- this my friend Andrea's blog- I feel like she is the queen of finding yummy recipes to try online. She inspired me to be more creative in the kitchen! If you know me well then you know I am new at really enjoying cooking!

I have lots more but will save them for another day :)



                                                               The kids have been hanging out with Grandma Freda.
                                                                Ryan really loves to cook with her!

Lily just likes to eat the icing.

                                                Ryan and Pete made a sand mote.
                                                They filled it up water and let it explode and then start all over agian.
                                                 Pete used to do this with his brothers when they were young.

Ryan started school this morning. He goes in the morning Pre-K class.

Lily just wanted in the picture.

                                                 Ryan is totally giving me the " quit taking pics look"

Working out..

I have learned alot about myself since joining Weight Watchers last December.
              1. That I struggle with emotional eating more that what I realize
              2. I am a social exceriser
              3. I like yummy healthy food alot
              4. I can and do like to cook most days!

                                                      This was right before I joined

                                                    Almost 6 mths later
                                      ( I was out in the field no makeup so dont look too close)

                           I have been blessed with a workout buddy this last week too! We have big goals and she is a morning person that motivates me too! I am working on toning. The gym here doesnt have childcare hours during the classes so I had to come up with another plan and was blessed that Jessica Alexander needed a buddy too so we started our 6am workouts!!
                                            
                                                                  

                                                                              This is actually a great workout, its older but has some great excerises. I ordered it off Amazon. I used to the tape version with my mom and sister.

And we are going to add these into our rotation -

    

A June Picnic

Despite the really dry winter,our wheat looked really great. This a picture off the East patch of the North place. Yea, it really gets confusing because different generations of Pete's family call some of the fields different names. I think there should be little signs on the fields.

Ryan loved helping his daddy this year! He rode on the combine for most of the day and was a great helper. Ryan's favorite thing to do right now is have a picnic.

He was REALLY excited to eat out in the field under the red truck. (yes, this is the truck that I don't really like at all, its big and hard to drive when it has alot of wheat on it)

Our  "CHEF" (Pete's mom)

Steak sandwich... yum!! Yes, I kept track of my points for Weight Watchers and I lost one pound that week. I think my exercise points cancelled out this sandwich really easily. The farm kitchen is also stocked with LOTS of fresh fruits, veggies, salad, salty chips when u need them and some chocolate in the drawer in the freezer for those times when its just plain necessary.

One of my favorite times of day in the field is dusk. It cools down and is really peaceful. It was hard to get a good picture of the combine going at night, I'll try again next year!

Weight Loss part 1....

 I love to exercise! One of my favorite things is Zumba. I lost weight between pregnancies attending those classes. It's a fun dance class that tricks you into working out. I LOVE walking, I LOVE a classes that are cardio and strength training mixed and I really LOVE Pilate's classes too. I also LOVE to eat especially when I am stressed out. After I had Lily, our life was crazy. Pete was laid off and then took a  job in another state. I had the kids during the week while we waited on our home to sale which took 5 months. My neighbor for 6 years was and still is one of my best buddies. Our kids played together, we were members at the same church, scrapbooked together and exercised off and on together too. But in 2010 we decided to get serious about it.

                                Here's a pic of us in Spring of 2010. Here's a shot of a group of us..

Here's a recent pic!! Look at the changes!!!

Updated group pic!!

These ladies are great source of encouragement too!! I may not talk to them in person as much since we no longer live in the same state. But thanks to Facebook and texting we stay in touch, share our struggles and accomplishments too!!

Oh and Tonya was at there too but at different times when pics where taken.

                                       She is great example of overcoming her struggles and MAINTAINING her goals!!

 Before I moved I got to workout with her at Gym One.

                                         I learned SO much from her and she is an amazing encouragement to me too!

                                           

                                           As you can tell I am social person :)

                                          I like to exercise with friends and eat with them too!

                                          What made the difference in our lives?

                                            Tracking what we ate!!!

                                             Melinda, April, Suzanne and I track with Weight Watchers!

                                            Tonya writes down her daily calorie intake and has for years !

 In order for this too not to be crazy long,

 I am doing it in two parts which I hope to post by the end of the day :)