Cindy Crawford, I am not

I had a suspicious mole removed today from "down there" and now the waiting game begins. I know pregnancy can bring on a lot of new cute growths like skin tags and moles, so I'm hoping it's just a part of my pregnancy with Elliott. At least I hope to find out any results before our trip to Mexico NEXT WEEK!

It's amazing how your mind can go to some pretty morbid places based on highly unlikely scenarios. Luckily I got that out of my system last week after emailing a friend about my crazy worries. My husband means well, but sometimes I just need somebody to entertain the possibilities vs. just telling me not to worry. Plus he can't relate to the skin tags of pregnancy like my friend can.

Fingers crossed that I get a clean report from pathology in the next seven days or so!

How to find direction for your blog?

I started this blog when I felt like I was in the midst of a Mommy Life Crisis, but I'm happy to report that life has sorted itself out a bit and I feel less frantic about finding my way as a SAHM. Of course I still have a desire to improve myself beyond my role as a mom, that hasn't changed. What I've been struggling with is what this whole blog is about. I thought I would just write and it would miraculously come to me in an "Aha" moment, but that hasn't happened yet.

Without some direction I feel like the blog doesn't serve a purpose and it just another obligation. I have the itch to just write (like with a pen and paper) and ditch the whole blog thing, but I have a feeling I should press on.

How did/do you find direction for your blog that keeps you inspired?

A Very Happy New Year!

It's amazing what a difference a year makes. This New Years Eve we could actually enjoy ourselves since Elliott is 13 months old vs. a 6 week old that needed to be fed around the clock. We went to two little gatherings with him and put him to bed in the Pack N Play at the second house and he went down with no issues. Of course we woke him up at 11 to go home and then again 30 min. later to take him out of the car and I paid for it by him waking twice after that last night. Oops! That hasn't happened in the longest time and I'm hoping it was just a fluke because of the sleep disturbances.

Yesterday I went to Target and picked up the DVD of the 30 Day Shred and some 3 pound weights so I'm doing Day 2 of Level 1 today after a couple day hiatus. Since we are going on vacation in less than 30 days I won't get the full effect, but I figure it can't hurt.

I didn't really make any resolutions this year and I feel good about it. Yes I want to lose weight, but I've already started that journey, so I just look at it as a continuation of my goal vs. a resolution that can be broken. I feel like there is too much pressure behind New Years' Resolutions, so I'm going to give it a shot and go sans resolution this year and see how that goes.

While I don't have any resolutions per se, I am looking forward to the following in 2010:

• Selling our home and buying a new one
• Vacation with the hubby in Mexico alone!
• Many little trips and outings with Elliott and George
• Possibly TTC#2

False Start!

Damn "On Demand" version of the 30 Day Shred expired and they only have Level 2. I went to the gym and did 30 min. of cardio, but now it looks like I need to head out and get the DVD. Probably a good thing so I can do the workout anywhere in the house and not just downstairs where the cable box is.

30 Day Shred: Day 1, Level 1

I need to get myself a set of 3 pound weights instead of the 5 pound weights, pronto! Actually I found that I was cool with the 5 pound weights until we got to the shoulder raises. The first workout was rough after the first round of cardio and my calves hurt from the "jump rope" exercise, but I felt strong by the end.


Then I tried to lift a pot of chili out of our fridge and I realized I got a better workout than I thought. We'll see how I feel tomorrow for Day 2!

I also need to take a "Before" pic, but for now I just have my measurements. Please note that I am beyond bloated from Christmas face stuffing, so the measurements are a little inflated (so to speak!).

My beginning measurements-all done on my right side:

• Arm: 13 inches
• Upper thigh at biggest point: 25 inches
• Calf: 15 1/2 inches
• Upper waist: 33 inches
• Waist at belly button: 35 inches
• Hips at widest point: 41 inches
• Bust: 40 inches (but I'm still breastfeeding)
• Bra line: 34 inches (actually surprised by this)

On top of doing Day 1 I ran a mile on the treadmill at the gym. I haven't run or worked out since the Turkey Trot 5k on Thanksgiving, so I didn't want to kill myself and it was a super easy run.

My extended holiday is over

Time to get back into the groove of blogging, watching what I eat and all that fun stuff! I stepped on the scale last night, but I'm not even going to report that weight b/c I'm hoping most of it is water weight from splurging since the 23rd. Still doing Weight Watchers, but have definitely hit a mental plateau with the program. As of last week I was down to 166.6, for a total of 19.8 pounds lost in 10 weeks. I just have to remember that it's a journey and not a race.

George & I are going on a trip to Mexico in less than a month, so I need to step up my game. I'm going to start doing the 30 Day Shred tonight since I have heard good things about it and the amount of time required is right up my alley since Elliott only naps for 30 mins on average. I plan on getting to the gym about three times on top of that and tracking my points again.

Tonight I will brave the camera and take some "Before" pics and measurements.

Weight Watchers...again

I wish I knew what it was that made one attempt more successful than another when it comes to weight loss. Then I could conjur up that motivation and lose weight whenever I wanted. This time around I think it had to do with Elliott getting close to turning one and "just having a baby" not being an excuse anymore. Seeing my friend who joined Weight Watchers and who was losing weight and getting attention for it also helped. I admit that I was hesitant to sign up again because I've done it and quit before, even though I had success losing over 30 pounds several years ago. I know it works, but sometimes I think it's a bit cheesy and it's not completely my style. So this time I joined and decided meetings were the only way to go. So far, so good! Here are my stats:


Week 1: 186.4

Week 2: 179.8 6.6 lb. lost

Week 3: 177.6 2.2 lb. lost

Week 4: 173.0 4.6 lb. lost

Week 5: 174.2 +1.2 (oops!) I think it had to do with wearing very light clothing in Week 4

Week 6: 171.0 3.2 lb. lost

Week 7: 168.8 2.2 lb. lost

So far it's a grand total of 17.6 pounds lost in 7 weeks, yay! This past week I hit my pre-pregnancy weight just by the skin of my teeth before Elliott turned one (I was 170). Only .4 pounds to my 10% goal and then I'll reevaluate my next goal.