The "F" Word

Oooooh, Mommy said the "F" word ... I'm gonna tell!

So "tomorrow" has come, and it is today!  Let the "D" and "E" begin (see previous posts)!  Once the big kids were at school,  my coach Charlie and I powered up the wii fit to kick off our day.  After it was done making its snarky remarks about how long it has been since it has seen me, and that I have gained 23 lbs since the last time I worked out, it spit out that my "wii fit age" was 42.  Besides the annoying 23 lbs, I felt pretty good since I am almost sure that I turned 46 on my last birthday -- all hope is not lost.

Last night was the first weigh-in for our neighborhood's "biggest loser" competition, and I am determined to win.  I've got visions of dollars dancing in my head, or maybe I'm just seeing stars from the lack of oxygen to my brain due to my hyperventilating from said wii workout!  My breakfast of (the-soon-to-be-one-of-the) champions was a delicious, nutritious shake -- their words, not mine!

Today, lunch will be a yummy arugula salad with goat cheese, walnuts and pomegranate seeds,

 and dinner will be homemade butternut squash soup -- I am trying, really I am.

Yes, I know that it is $6.00/dozen Monday at the Maple Donuts store, but with one workout already under my belt, I am vowing to actually fit into my belt soon, soooo -- no donuts today!  I'm lacing up my sneakers and my personal trainer and I are headed to the playground for some mother-son playtime ... who says exercise can't be fun? Oh, that was me!

Well, let the journey begin -- come along for the ride.  I have been here before, and I hope to never be here again. F**%!

Yeah, all you get is one foot -- the last time I weighed this I was probably in  6th grade!

The "E" Word

Oooooh, you said the "E" word ... I'm gonna tell!

Exercise!  As equally abhorrent as yesterday's "D" word -- maybe even more so!  And, sadly, for the "D" to work, you need the "E"!  Remember when exercise was fun, or, better yet, when it didn't even feel like "exercise"?

 

Remember when moving was not something you had to be motivated to do ... 

 when you did not have to have a device to tell you how many steps you took in a day ...

 when you actually derived pleasure from being active ... 
or when being told to sit still was a punishment?

Yeah, me neither. 

As I wade through the gym membership offers and the sale flyers claiming the "lowest price of the year" on exercise equipment, all I want to do is crawl back onto the couch and pick up the remote control -- is it really wrong to watch "The Biggest Loser" while eating ice cream?  In any case, I have dusted off my sneakers, put batteries in the wii fit balance board, and loaded up my ipod with new songs and books to keep me motivated as I walk those pounds off -- tomorrow!  Today, it is off to the Farm Show for milk shakes and baked potatoes slathered in butter ... sigh.

The "D" Word

Oooooh, you said the "D" word ... I'm gonna tell!

Diet.  There, I said it too.  The most miserable word on the planet -- especially in January when it is on everybody's to-do list.  Remember the days when eating was fun?

When there was no guilt?

When lunch could be this

 instead of this?

Well, with the "D" word rearing its ugly head, those days are over!

I could blame the predicament I am in on many things, but I think I will have to place the blame where it really lies -- not on me, but on Maple Donuts $6.00/dozen Mondays.  It is completely their fault that I have to, once again, DIET.  Damn it!

Tomorrow, yep, for sure, I will start tomorrow ...

The 12 minutes of Christmas

It started at 11:30pm on Thanksgiving and didn't end until 2:30am on Christmas morning -- 699 hours (yes, I did the math) preparing for 12 minutes of Christmas joy!  Somewhere between "It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas" and "Oh Holy Night", the days from Thanksgiving to Christmas have become an enormous to-do list: Halls decked with boughs of holly (aka "decorating the house")? Check.
Christmas tree cut down? Check.

 4 new ornaments for each child to hang on the Christmas tree? Check.

 4 new pairs of pj's for the Christmas elves to deliver on Christmas Eve? Check.

Candy Canes bought for "Santa" to put on the tree? Check.
Cookie dough cut out, baked and decorated? Check, check and check.

Teacher gifts wrapped? Check.
Christmas Cards mailed? Check (albeit a bit late this year).

Festive outfits to wear for church and school concerts? Check.

 Christmas shopping done?  Yep, the list was checked once, then twice!

A visit with the man himself? Check.

Ugly Sweater contest won? Check!

Preschool, elementary school and middle school concerts attended? Check.
Christmas Eve church service attended? Check.

Hannah was a lector at the service

Olivia was an "angel" in the Christmas Eve play

Table set for Christmas Eve dinner with the family? Check.

Presents wrapped? Check.
Stockings hung by the chimney with care? Check.

Cookies and Milk set out for Santa? Check.

Last minute notes for the big guy in red? Check.

Presents under the tree? Check.

Presents opened in 12 minutes flat? Check!

 Christmas Joy achieved? Check (for 12 minutes anyway!)

Christmas miracle? Check.

Ready to do it all again next year? Hmmmmm ...