Thank you Mrs. Crocker

My achievement for this week was cooking my first whole chicken! I wasn't sure that I could do it, but yes I could with the help of Mrs. Betty Crocker. I never knew it could be so easy!

I am excited for the start of a new school year--all the celebrations, new projects, and being a part of bringing more great girls to a fabulous school!

Another accomplishment this week that may not sound huge to the average person, but I went shopping with people other than my husband or family member. I cannot remember the last time I felt confident and unashamed enough to allow myself to be around others when I am shopping. It was fun, but I also had to remind myself to not get frustrated because I still have a ways to go, but I will never be skinny. I ended the day feeling good which hasn't been the case after a shopping trip for a very long time.

I'm back..../Not just any jeans

Yes, it has been too long. No, we have not "fallen off course." We're still going along in our journey, just kind of hit a level plain. Not mountains, not valleys. In the last six weeks we have spent time with family and friends and I have also returned to work. I've been working on a lot of fun projects that have been challenging yet enjoyable and hence not much energy when I get home. My hubby has been working lots of overtime lately, making up for the dollars spent traveling and visiting family as well as paying off some bills. I'm quite proud of the hard work he has been doing, but ready to have him back on the weekends. I guess I've gotten a small glimpse into what it is like to be a single parent and wouldn't wish it upon anyone!!


These are not just any jeans...





These are the first jeans that I have purchased for a long time that were not plus size!!!! While in Georgia visiting my in-laws, Tom and I snuck away while Brooklyn was napping and did a little shopping. These jeans are from one of my old favorite stores, Old Navy! It has been many years since I have fit into their jeans, and I not only fit into them, I didn't have to buy their largest size! I had a bit of a celebratory dance in the dressing room to say the least. My hubby has also fit himself into the smallest pants he can ever remember wearing. To say the least, shopping is fun again! Being able to shop just about anywhere I want to also allows me to be picky and look around for bargains. Here is my latest:







Not the best photo of it, but this is a stylish gold skirt (4 sizes smaller than when I started this journey), that I would have not ever thought I would look good in before. The original price was $54.50; it was marked down to $39.99 with an additional 50% off and I had a $15 coupon... do the math and I got it for a whole $5!


With my new confidence due to my healthier life, it was also time for another drastic change for my new look. My good friend Maggie blessed me with a gift card to Studio 120 for a hair makeover--and boy did I need it! I figured if I wanted to get something different, I should go all out---





and I did!


I promise to blog more and don't forget to send me recipes for your tasty healthy meals! I need to expand my recipe book to keep things changing with our eating and we won't get bored.


Till next time!

The fun stuff we are doing

I met up with a coworker yesterday to get some ideas for a summer camp I am teaching in a couple of weeks and she asked what we had been doing so far (this is technically just week 1 of summer break). I was telling her that I've been in a predicament because summer is shorter than I was looking forward to all school year (going back to work July 6), so I have all these ideas of things to do and want to enjoy the time I have off. But yet, I still want to relax a little so that I feel refreshed when I go back to work. I'm working on the balance.

With that said, I thought I'd share some of the things we have done this week and last week when I didn't have inservice meetings:

• Nashville Sounds baseball game- Tom got to see a legend coaching the Iowa Cubs (Ryne Sandberg)
• Lunch date and a movie
• Wave Country ($12 for the family with our Citipass coupon)
• Trip to the zoo (many more to come)
• Story time at the main library (a must for all young children)
• Free family movie at Green Hills Cinema
• Staying up late and catching up on movies from the Redbox since summer television stinks
• Finished a book I started on Spring Break

If you have other fun and inexpensive things to do, please share!

Today we head to Indiana after Tom gets off work. The first celebration of the summer--my little sister's engagement party! Still hard to believe my little sister is getting married because she's supposed to stay little to me and not do these kind of grown up things--just kidding Karen!

Yesterday I found out that registration for a camp increased, so next week I'll return to my art state of mind and maybe it will inspire me to do some more of my own artsy things!

Summer please slow down.

Summer has begun

I've been busy with my to do list for the month and realized I hadn't written an update in a couple of weeks. It's going to be a busy month, but we are excited to see family and friends over the next few weeks! One project I am working on is a recipe book of my own! I collect recipes from various Web sites (eatbetteramerica and Mrs. Dash are my faves), but need one place to put them all so I don't have to keep searching for them. If you have a recipe I can add to my book, please send it to me! We need to energize our menu so that we don't get bored with it!

Here's our next weigh in:

Amie has lost 2 1/2 more pounds for a total of 53 pounds!!

Tom has lost 5 more pounds for a total of 48 pounds!!

We'll post some updated pics after we take some this weekend!

Yummy dinner

Tonight I made this chicken stir fry recipe for dinner and it was very yummy. It has a kick of spicy--which we didn't expect. Easy to make as well!

Celebrations

I've been asked a lot lately how I plan to spend my summer. Although it will be shorter than expected (returning to work July 1), I do have many things to look forward to during the month of June. My little sister's engagement party in Indy, Huntsville to celebrate Sophia's birthday and Eli's baptism, Father's Day, July 4th weekend in Georgia, and squeeze in zoo trips and storytimes at the library with Brooklyn--I hope to go back to work in July to relax!

Another milestone happened last weekend when we cleaned out our closets and donated four trash bags full of clothes that are too BIG to Goodwill. We're used to donating stuff that is too small, so this felt very good.

I keep forgetting to mention that another health benefit from our journey has been that Tom's snoring has pretty much disappeared. I've woken up many times during the night and there hasn't been any snoring. YEA!!!! He had surgery for his deviated septum, tonsils removed, and other stuff four years ago to help with his sleep apnea. They told him the rest was up to him--to cure the snoring and apnea, he had to lose weight. That he has done!

Last night was the finale of The Biggest Loser and I was completely amazed at all the contestants results. We did a weigh in and here are our results:

Amie lost another 4 1/2 pounds for a total of 50 1/2 pounds

Tom lost another 2 pounds for a total of 43 1/2 pounds

I met my pound for pound challenge! I pledged 50 pounds thinking it was a far-reaching goal. WOW! I can't believe I met it! My new goal is another 30 pounds. I'm giving myself the timeframe of my sister's wedding in September 2011.

Here's to the next phase of our journey! Thanks for traveling with us!

Blessings

The past couple of weeks I have been reminded of the many blessings in my life. This Mother's Day as the Bishop of Nashville said a blessing over mothers at Mass, I got a bit emotional because I absolutely love being a mom and it defines who I am. I strive every day to be the best mom I can be and just hope that Brooklyn knows at least an inkling of how much I love her. Nothing quite describes the love a mother has for her child. It's undefinable.


As many that I know also experienced and survived the disastrous floods last week, I am very thankful for everything I have and that we did not have to experience that trauma personally. I am truly touched by the spirit and courage of my friends who experienced losing their homes and belongings to the rivers. I had the opportunity to go help in the clean up a little and wish I could have done more. I enjoyed helping out a guy named Will who needed help packing up things he could salvage (who knew the skills I learned moving so much growing up would help in a disaster as well). Our super-woman team of Deb, Pam, Jenn, Stephanie, and I did everything we could in our three hours only to find most everyone in the neighborhood we were at had plenty of help. The volunteer spirit is thriving!


We haven't given a update on our weight loss, so this is where we are:


Tom has lost another 4 1/2 pounds for a total of 41 pounds and I have lost another 5 1/2 pounds for a total of 46 pounds. Here are a few pics from Mother's Day. Doesn't Tom look so skinny??? I am in my new skirt that is two sizes smaller!

It's a lifestyle

After nearly four months on this journey, I've recently come to realize how our efforts to leading healthier lives has transformed into a lifestyle. It is coming natural to us and is a part of our everyday decisions. We've had some low times in the last couple of weeks, but we continue to encourage each other to keep pressing forward to reach our goals. An unexpected thing that has happened is how our relationship has strengthened as well. The desire to want the best for each other and the pride we have for each other has brought us closer to each other. Every time someone tells me that Tom looks good, I feel so happy and proud of him.

This past weekend we did a small amount of shopping, which gave us a boost of encouragement. Tom fit very comfortably into shorts two inches smaller and also bought a large size Cubs t-shirt. He use to get an extra large if not 2XL. I was very happy when a skirt for work fit me at two sizes smaller than my other skirts and I also bought a few shirts in a smaller size. Sounds like we may have spent a good amount of money, but shopped at Ross and Old Navy to get cheap prices so we aren't investing a lot of money when we hopefully will need even smaller clothes.

As we watch our inspiration tonight (The Biggest Loser), I watched the contestants complete a 5K. It inspires me to research any that might be in the Nashville area and make it a goal for myself as well. Anyone who wants to join me would make it even better! I won't promise to run it, but I want to complete it!

We are also nearing our goal for the Pound for Pound Challenge. It feels good knowing someone in need is benefitting from this journey and getting the food and nutrition they need.

It feels good to feel good.

40.5/37.5

We've hit another milestone! I've lost 40 1/2 pounds and Tom has lost 37 1/2 pounds!!!!!!

Gangsta Style

I had a good laugh today when Tom walked in from grilling out and his shorts were almost around his knees. He was rollin' gangsta style since they were so big! I guess we will have to budget for a new summer wardrobe. My capris and shorts are big as well, but not falling down as much as his.

It's been a crazy couple of weeks as the floors were finished and we decided to change things up a bit in the house while we had the opportunity. There are still a few things to put away/figure out, but we feel good with how things are looking. Here is a before and after of our floors:

This project actually goes along with our goal of financial responsibility. We invested our tax return into our house instead of what we have done in the past--spending it on "things" that don't show for anything. It felt very good to complete our first big home improvement.

We've continued to eat healthy and watch our portions. The temptations were numerous with the stress of the house being out of order and such, but we stuck with it. Today I put a dress on for Easter that was two sizes smaller and it fit great and it felt wonderful. I actually wore it with a lot of confidence. Here are the results:

Tom lost another three pounds for a total of 35 pounds!

Amie lost anotehr three and a half pounds for a total of 39 1/2 pounds!

Weeks 10 & 11

It has been a busy couple of weeks. We are preparing for the installation of hardwood floors tomorrow. Today is "moving day." We'll pick up the u-haul truck and clear out the downstairs after church today. I am ready to say a huge "good bye" to this carpet! I'll post before and after photos once it is complete.

Brooklyn and I had a fantastic Spring Break week. We did lots of fun activities during our stay-cation. I think the most budget friendly and surprisingly fun for her was the library. She is at a great age to be excited about seeing all the books and interacting with the other kids. The week also included painting pottery, the Tennessee Aquarium, and the zoo. I cannot wait to take advantage of our zoo membership this summer. It is well worth the money! A lesson I learned from this week is how easy it is to go out and do something and be active. It's easy to stay at home and get into a rut. This week I looked forward to our next activity.

Tom and I continue to lose a few pounds. We are really looking forward to spring weather so we can get fresh air while getting the exercise in. And here are our numbers...

Over the past two weeks Tom has lost 3 pounds for a total of 32 pounds and I have lost 4 1/2 pounds for a total of 36 pounds!

Week 9 Weigh In

This weekend we came to the conclusion that eating at home is better in several ways than going out to eat.

1. It's cheaper
2. You don't have to sit and wait on slow service
3. It tastes better

Last week we treated ourselves to a dinner out and ordered small steaks. Tom's steak was over-cooked and my steak was dry. Last night he grilled out and it was so much better! It was delicious and we got four portions of steak for $6.

We weighed in yesterday and Tom lost 4 1/2 pounds for a total of 29 pounds! I lost 1 1/2 pounds for a total of 31 1/2 pounds! I better step up my game so he doesn't catch up to me!

Delicious Dinner!

Last night I made this for dinner and it was quite tasty! I had leftovers for lunch and two of my coworkers also loved it!

"Healthified" Cashew Chicken and Broccoli

7 reviews

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12 ratings

55% less sat fat • 52% less fat • 21% fewer calories than the original recipe—see the comparison. It's not nutty to serve chicken with cashews. We cut the fat in this dish by using half the cashews. Brown rice and more veggies raised the fiber to new heights. From eatbetteramerica.

prep time:30 min

start to finish:30 min

makes:4 servings

2	teaspoons canola oil
1	lb boneless skinless chicken breasts, cut into 1-inch pieces
1	teaspoon finely chopped gingerroot
2	cups fresh broccoli florets
1	cup Progresso® reduced-sodium chicken broth (from 32-oz carton)
1/8	teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes
2	cups Green Giant® frozen sugar snap peas (from 24-oz bag)
3	tablespoons reduced-sodium soy sauce
2	teaspoons rice vinegar
1	tablespoon cornstarch
1	teaspoon sugar
2	medium green onions, sliced (2 tablespoons)
3	cups hot cooked brown rice
1/4	cup salted roasted cashew halves and pieces

1.	In 12-inch nonstick skillet, heat oil over medium-high heat. Add chicken and gingerroot; cook and stir 4 to 5 minutes or until chicken begins to brown.
2.	Add broccoli, 1/2 cup of the broth and the pepper flakes. Cover; cook over medium heat 2 minutes, stirring once. Add peas; cook 2 to 4 minutes longer, stirring once, until vegetables are crisp-tender.
3.	In small bowl, mix remaining 1/2 cup broth, the soy sauce, vinegar, cornstarch and sugar; stir into chicken mixture. Add onions; cook, stirring frequently, until sauce is thickened and bubbly. Serve over rice; sprinkle with cashews.
High Altitude (3500-6500 ft): No change.

30/25!!!!!!!!!

This weekend we hit another milestone in our journey...

Amie lost 3 1/2 pounds for a total of 30 pounds and Tom lost 3 pounds for a total of 25 pounds!!!!!!!!!!

We have found ourselves deciding that the "easy" meal options do not sound good to us because they are not healthy. Yesterday we found another good healthy place for a quick eat. We met friends at Jason's Deli and really enjoyed the salad bar. It was delicious.

We are feeling good....

A good feeling...

No post this past weekend because we didn't have much to say. Unfortunately it was a down week as I gained a pound and Tom lost just 1/2 pound. We're not going to let it get us down though! I've already lost the pound I gained, so here's looking to the rest of the week.

Today I had a good feeling--sitting in the theatre seats at school have always been uncomfortable, but today as I sat down, I had a bit of room and sat more comfortably! Another good feeling has been the fact that we have had a hard time keeping our pants on, literally. This weekend as we were walking, I felt like my pants were falling down! Tom bought a pair of jeans in a smaller size and the were a perfect fit.

We're hoping for more of those good feelings!

What a week!

So much has happened in the last week! We survived the trip to Indy and all the festivities for Brooklyn's birthday. It was great to hear family say they could see the difference of the weight loss in us. It's always encouraging to hear that something you work hard for is noticed. While there we also talked wedding plans with my sister and she chose a dress for us bridesmaids. It is beautiful and another inspiration for me to keep moving forward on this journey.

We had a bit of a heat wave today in Nashville (49 degrees), so

tonight we hit the pavement and walked with our new iPod nano. The songs that came across for me weren't that inspiring or uplifting, so I have a new mission of making the best walking playl

ist. I'll take suggestions!

When we returned from the trip, we weighed ourselves and our results from Tuesday morning:

Amie lost another 3 pounds for a total of 27 pounds!!

Thomas lost 6 pounds for a total of 22 pounds!!

By the way, if you didn't already know, here is our inspiration to leading healthier lives:

Mid week weigh in

Tomorrow we head north for Brooklyn's birthday. I won't be able to post until late on Monday, so I decided to weigh in this morning and I'm showing a 5 pound loss since Sunday. We'll see how that "weighs out" when we return from traveling and less control of our meals by cooking for ourselves.

Can't wait to see all the family we'll see. I think I am still in a bit of denial that Brooklyn is turning 2, but I'll try to keep the emotional eating in check!

Still feeling blah...

Week 5 didn't show as many results. I didn't lose, but didn't gain either. Tom did lose 2 pounds. I'm in a rut somewhat and having a hard time getting out. The exercise isn't going as smoothly. Hopefully the rut will end soon and I'll feel like getting back on track.

Busy week ahead getting ready for travel and Brooklyn's birthday!

Blah... and some more reflecting

I felt so blah tonight when we got home! Don't know why, but all I wanted to do was curl up on the couch and fall asleep. I did sit on the couch for a little bit and hubby made dinner (baked healthy chicken fingers). Since he made dinner, that got me out of the rut a bit and I decided to go for a walk. I couldn't bring myself to do a workout with Bob, so a walk in the misty rain had to do. I still feel a bit blah, so hopefully the energy from my walk will kick in soon!

I was thinking the other day of another reason I got to this point. When I was struggling with work when I was in the public school system, I remember that I would drive from work to a fast food joint and then proceed to go home, eat, and immediately fall asleep on the couch until I'd wake up at 10-11:00 and go to bed. I was sleeping my struggles away. I remember and joke about how I don't know how I passed high school because I slept through it. It was a coping mechanism for me then when I was dealing with abuse in my home situation. The emotional toll was just too much for me to care during the school day and I constantly slept in my classes. Something got me out of that rut in my work situation several years ago and I think it was a God thing that I ended up at St. Cecilia.

Getting noticed

Today at work several people mentioned how they noticed my weight loss and gave lots of encouraging words. I can't say how much this keeps us going. Knowing that friends and family are "checking in" really does keep us accountable. I walked for 35 minutes and Tom did a 31 minute workout with Jillian.

Back to the Grind

Today we got back to the grind. Tom shoveled snow all day at work, so he didn't "work out" but I think the shoveling definitely was a workout for him. He had been eyeing this recipe for a while, so I rewarded his hard day at work with this for dinner. It was definitely tasty! Before last week, we both had moved up from light to moderate workouts. I did a 30 minute "moderate" workout with Bob. The lunges are killing my knees. Any tips on this? Other than that, I don't feel too bad afterwards.

Healthified" Mexican Pasta Skillet

30 reviews

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47 ratings

72% less sat fat • 68% less fat • 26% fewer calories than the original recipe—see the comparison. This 30-minute sizzling skillet will have your family running to the table! Fromeatbetteramerica.

prep time:30 min

start to finish:30 min

makes:6 servings (about 1 1/3 cups each)

1	lb extra-lean (at least 93%) ground beef
1	jar (16 oz) Muir Glen® organic mild salsa
1	cup Muir Glen® organic tomato sauce (from 15-oz can)
1 1/2	cups water
2	cups uncooked regular or multigrain elbow macaroni
1	cup Green Giant® Niblets® frozen corn
1/2	cup shredded reduced-fat sharp Cheddar cheese (2 oz)

1.	In 12-inch skillet, cook beef over medium-high heat 5 to 7 minutes, stirring occasionally, until thoroughly cooked; drain.
2.	Stir in salsa, tomato sauce and water. Heat to boiling. Stir in macaroni and corn. Reduce heat; cover and simmer 12 to 15 minutes, stirring occasionally, until macaroni is tender.
3.	Sprinkle with cheese. Cover; let stand 1 to 2 minutes or until cheese is melted.

A Month Done, Celebrating Little Things

We have finished our first month in this journey. Yay!! We have little things to celebrate this week: Thomas had to put a new notch in his belt, I was able to button up my coat all the way, and this morning I put on a smaller size pair of jeans! We really cannot say enough how much the support and encouragement helps us with our changes. February is a short month, but we have lots to celebrate and look forward to what's ahead. Brooklyn turns two in just two short weeks, we'll get to visit with lots of family, and will have a date night out. We have broken out of the boring hum drum we were stuck in and are feeling good.

On a side note, I appreciate all the kind words after my last post. It wasn't the easiest thing to do, but was needed. A fellow MOMS member reminded me that it related to the "wheel" we discussed and how the physical, spiritual, personal, interpersonal, intellectual, and emotional all have to be in balance to be in balance.

So here are our week 4 results:

Thomas lost 3 pounds for a total of 14 pounds.

Amie lost 4 pounds for a total of 19 1/2 pounds.

We didn't work out as much this week due some joint pains and such, but will get back on that saddle tomorrow.

A Lyrical Walk

Tonight I walked to give my knees and ankle rest since they have been bothering me. I couldn't help but notice how ironic some of the lyrics coming out of the iPod were to this journey. Here's a few of them:

• keep the faith
• just hang on, a new day is coming
• the old me is dead and gone
• everybody needs somebody
• my baby don't mess around
• thank you for loving me
• I've been traveling down this road to long, just trying to find my way back home

I think we all find inspiration in music and how it relates to different periods/stages in our life. Tonight was a reminder. It also inspired me to listen to the words Jillian says on The Biggest Loser that we all have to confront, "What got you here and why do you want to do this?" and most importantly, "Are you truly happy?" I have known for quite some time that I am an emotional eater, who isn't?

I thought a lot about the what got me here. It was a bit emotional and I even had a few tears fall down my cheek. There are still some things in my life that I have to confront and deal with that I just don't have the courage to do yet. A lot has to do with loneliness I felt in my past. Abandonment, loneliness, loss of trust and security, and dealing with different unhealthy relationships had a lot to do with what got me here. The love I have found in Thomas and as a mother has filled me with more joy than I ever knew possible. I focus a lot on the present and what is good right now, but these things I have to confront still tug at my heart and I hope that through this journey I can work through them.

What a walk I had tonight...

Week 3 Weigh In

This has been a good week. The weather has been nice in spots, allowing us to exercise outdoors. Yesterday we went to the park for another beautiful family walk and also ran around with Brooklyn at the playground. We've also tried some new recipes. We've really been watching portion sizes so that we can keep an accurate calorie count each day. Here is a recipe I made Friday night and is in our top favorites so far. It is from the Mrs Dash Web site. I just had to take a picture because I thought it looked like it came from a restaurant. Here's the recipe: http://www.mrsdash.com/recipes/recipe-view.aspx?recipeID=77.

And now for our week 3 results (insert dramatic music):

Amie: lost 6 pounds for a total of 15 1/2 pounds

Thomas: lost 3 1/2 pounds for a total of 11 pounds

Observations

We are 20 days into this journey and I have made a few observations to celebrate:

• in these 20 days we have only eaten out once and we had salads
• we have eliminated regular sodas
• we have "withdrawn" from caffeine
• our dishwasher has worked mighty hard in the last 20 days, it has been ran more in the last 20 days than in the past 6 months--maybe we need to invest in Cascade
• most importantly, we have reevaluated what is most important in our lives and I feel we have grown closer by doing this journey together!

We both have had people mention that we've lost weight and look good, which really feels good to hear. We may not be breaking records in weight loss, but we feel healthy. Here's to hoping to even better health!

Yummy recipe

We made this last night for dinner and loved it!

Pork Chops and Apples (Cooking for 2)

Pile on the Pork

Pork loin is a lean protein choice. Protein supplies amino acids that give structure to the body in skin, cell membranes and muscles.

22 reviews

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43 ratings - Click to rate

Lean chops and apples baked in one dish to serve two. All you need is a mixed green salad. From eatbetteramerica.

prep time:20 min

start to finish:1 hr 5 min

makes:2 servings

1	medium unpeeled cooking apple, sliced
2	tablespoons packed brown sugar
1/4	teaspoon ground cinnamon
2	pork rib chops, 1/2 to 3/4 inch thick (about 1/4 lb each)

1.	Heat oven to 350°F. Place apples in ungreased 1 1/2-quart casserole. Sprinkle with brown sugar and cinnamon.
2.	Remove fat from pork. Spray 8- or 10-inch skillet with cooking spray; heat over medium heat 1 to 2 minutes. Cook pork in hot skillet about 5 minutes, turning once, until light brown. Place pork in single layer on apples.
3.	Cover; bake about 45 minutes or until pork is no longer pink in center and apples are tender.

Week 2 Report

We are two weeks down! How long before it becomes a habit? Anyway, this week we stayed strong on our goals of drinking water, exercising, eating healthy, and staying on budget. Another accomplishment is that we didn't have any regular sodas and only a few diet ones!! I am not affected by not having caffeine in the morning any more, which is nice. We continue to try new recipes for healthy meals and watch our portions. As noted before, we also are seeing how working out helps our energy levels. We are not as tired during the day since we've become more active.

Week 2 Results:

Amie lost 5 pounds and Thomas lost 3 pounds

Total weight lost:

Amie 9 1/2 pounds, Thomas 8 pounds!!!!!!

Thanks for all the support everyone!

Loop-de-loop

The frigid weather has taken a bit of a break and we took advantage of it. We headed outside tonight for our exercise. It was nice to be outside and not cooped up in the house. Our subdivision is in a loop and I improved my timing by 2 minutes a loop. Yes! That felt good.

Last night I cooked fish fillets for the first time (the non-breaded kind). I really like it, but Thomas didn't. I baked it in the oven brushed with olive oil and sprinkled with some Mrs. Dash. If you have any suggestions on how to make it so my hubby might like it, please let me know!

Tonight the menu was turkey burgers. Thanks to my friend Maggie (and I think her mom or new mom), we had a delicious recipe and Brooklyn even ate some!

On another note, we are starting to see the benefits of our exercise. We have more energy during the day since the we've been more active.

The weather is supposed to be in the 50s this weekend, so hopefully we get out to a park for a family stroll.

Passed a Test

Tonight we decided to go to a basketball game and whenever we decide to do this, it isn't worth the drive to go home and back. This caused us a dilemma of what to do about dinner. We picked up a couple of salads and a diet coke. It was so hard to resist the smell of the french fries and cheeseburgers, but we did it and we were quite proud of ourselves. Tom said, "It's a sacrifice for our own good." So my teacher friends, what grade do we get on this test? By the way, the Scarabs won by over 30 points.

Catching Up- Week 1 Report

Well the first week of our journey is up and we have made a lot of strides toward our goals. Although I didn't blog, we continued working out for 6 of the 8 days. Wow... that sounds like SO much considering we never worked out before. We drank 2 regular sodas the whole week, when we used to drink 2-3 per day. Our caloric intake is so much lower and we see the results!

Drum roll please........................Amie lost 4 1/2 pounds!!!! Thomas lost 5 pounds!!!!

We really appreciate all the encouragement and support. Please feel free to share recipes, suggestions, tips, whatever you think might help us!

Here's to hoping for even more strides on our journey during week 2!

Props to my hubby

I give props to Tom for doing really good when he was taken out for lunch today at work. He ordered a healthy meal, didn't eat any bread, and drank water! Woo hoo!

After tonight's 36 minute workout with Bob I actually feel really good. I felt the burn, but I am not exhausted afterwards.

Amie: 2 medium meals, 1 light meal, 1 snack, 5 glasses of water, 36 full body workout with Bob on Wii

Thomas: 2 medium meals, 1 large meal, no snacks, 3 glasses of water, 29 full body workout on Wii

I actually worked out without shoes tonight. My arches kill me when I wear my tennis shoes and work out. Any suggestions as to why this might be happening?

It continues to be frigid

It is cold and we have a possibility of a snow day tomorrow. We'll see if it really comes!

Yesterday we did really well with our meals. For dinner we had an easy meal of spaghetti. Not the healthiest, but we had a small portion and also had leftover steamed vegetables, which we previously never ate vegetables with spaghetti. We drank a lot of water and also both did the 30 minute full body workout on the Wii.

Today we did well with our meals and had light snacks. We rewarded ourselves with some rest. Four days straight and our muscles are finally getting over the soreness. We'll continue working out tomorrow-- and I'm not just saying that! :)

Strange Looks

So I got a few strange looks tonight walking with my hood up and bundled in my layers for my frigid walk tonight. I guess I looked a bit like a criminal walking around. A few people stood in their doorways and just stared at me as I walked by. I just waved and kept going!

Today was the first test of getting the exercise in after a full work day. I did drink a lot of water at work-- I would usually have a diet soda to sip on while working on the computer. Dinner was delicious tonight with chicken tacos. I seasoned the chicken with cajun seasoning and garlic powder vs. taco seasoning and it is great. A bit of cheese and salsa, and we had easy tacos. We didn't get around to preparing our meals yesterday, so hopefully we keep up with the cooking with some easy meals.

Amie: 2 light meals, 1 heavy meal, two light snacks, 4 glasses of water, 40 minute walk

Thomas: 2 light meals, 1 medium meal, two light snacks, 3 glasses of water, 40 minute walk

The Soreness Continues

We began the day barely able to walk we were so sore! The stairs were definitely not our friend today. It was another cold day in Nashville, so we worked out with the Wii.

We had delicious salads today and they looked gorgeous too! I should have taken a picture. Mixed greens, left over chicken breast from last night, cucumbers, broccoli, a few croutons, tomatoes and a bit of cheese topped with lite Catalina dressing. It might have been the best salad I have ever had!

Amie: medium breakfast and dinner, light lunch, one snack, three glasses of water, 42 minute workout on Wii (upper body and yoga) with Bob

Thomas: medium breakfast and dinner, light lunch, two snacks, two glasses of water, 29 minute workout on Wii (full body) with Jillian

Zip & Steam

Okay... this is going to be hard. We both were VERY sore today. We really had to encourage each other to work through the pain.

On a different note, we got lots of fresh produce at the store today and I used the "Zip & Steam" bag for the first time. It steamed the veggies perfectly. We had squash, zucchini, carrots and mushrooms with a bit of butter and some Mrs. Dash. They were quite tasty and easy to make.

We did our grocery shopping today, checking for calorie counts and serving sizes. To help our budget plan, we shopped at Aldi and got many of their "Fit & Active" items. I also give props to Tom for agreeing to skim milk. We've always drank 1%, so it isn't a big change, but tough for him. We did well at Sam's and just purchased our meat, salad mix, and a couple of household items. We filled our cupboards, refrigerator, and freezer (all were pretty bare before shopping) for about $260. Our plan is to hopefully only spend $140 for the rest of the month on food and not eat out.

Amie: light meals, one snack, 4 glasses of water, 35 minute walk

Thomas: light meals, one snack, 2 glasses of water, 37 minute walk

Today's Report

After mulling over it for a week, we pooled gift cards and Christmas money to purchase a Wii today. In all honesty, I have a self-esteem issue and working out in my home versus a gym was a big attraction. We have sat and been "inspired" by the Biggest Loser for several seasons, so we also bought the Wii game for this.

Amie: 40 minute work out with Bob Harper (The Biggest Loser) on Wii, ate small portions at meals and had two light snacks, drank four glasses of water (I never drank water before)

Thomas: 60 minutes on Wii sports, ate small portions and two light snacks, one glass of water, feels like he is going through withdrawals from caffeine.

I wish I had appreciated doing jumping jacks in high school p.e. more. They are much harder to do now. I had to ask Thomas, "Am I shaking the house?"

The Beginning Steps

We're going to be taking baby steps in our plan to get us started. Here are a few things we are starting with in the journey:

• Smaller portions
• Walking at least 30 minutes a day
• The envelope budgeting system
• Drinking more water

We have a great attitude about the road we are hoping to go on and hope it continues. Remember, we need family and friends to keep us accountable, so ask us how it is going!