50 lbs = 2nd Grader

I woke up this morning thinking maybe I was feeling better, but no no! That would be too easy. My lungs protested as soon as I started getting ready for work. If it doesn't clear up soon, I'll go to the doctor... but I have a tendency to think this is just a nasty, nasty chest cold that refuses to move on. Or maybe this is just what colds do? I honestly haven't been sick in so long that I can't remember.

Regardless of my inability to exercise (or move around much at all, for that matter), I have been working on at least eating healthy. This includes smaller portion sizes, healthier meal options, less snacking, and more water intake throughout the day. I stepped on the scale this a.m. for a mid-week weigh-in, and was 197.6... which at least is some movement in the right direction.

I need to lose around 50 pounds to reach my goal weight, which equates to about....

- An old 25" color T.V.
- A medium-sized dog
- 7 or 8 college textbooks
- A small bag of cement mix
- $200 in quarters
- A large bag of dog food
- An average 7-year-old

I know I can do this!

♥ g. m.

My (Really) Bad

I've officially been sick for over two weeks now, and it occurs to me that maybe I should see a doctor. One of my co-workers is convinced that I have walking pneumonia or bronchitis or something bad. I think it's probably just a really, really nasty cold and anyway, what would a doctor do for me besides tell me to drink lots of fluids and get plenty of rest?

Being sick is starting to wear me down, though. My energy level is very low, which means I'm starting to lean towards naughtier meal options.

Case and point: this morning, I ignored the fact that we had a super important board meeting at work and decided to sleep in instead. Which means I didn't have time to brew my standard green tea. Which means I decided to swing by a drive-through to grab coffee, because I still need caffeine.

Why yes, that is synthetic chocolate syrup drizzled over whipped topping!!

Sure it was delicious, but now I'm kicking myself for it. In a sad attempt to rectify myself, I ordered a vegetarian salad for lunch with fat-free balsamic dressing, an apple, and opted for water instead of diet soda. I understand that we all need to "treat ourselves" sometimes to prevent "falling off the wagon," but I also realize that I do have an unhealthy tendency to revert to fast food for comfort and convenience. Growing up, my family tended to rely on eating out whenever things got crazy, and I definitely seem to have carried this habit into adulthood.

I'm a firm believer that maintaining personal wellness relies heavily upon introspection and one's ability to be observant about their own patterns and downfalls. I know this about myself: when I get stressed out, sick, or otherwise overwhelmed, it's very easy to allow good behaviors to go out the window.

I'm tackling this problem from two angles. First, I'm incorporating time for personal wellness into each day. This includes making time for journaling, meditation, mantra, and emotional check-ins each day -- this self-awareness will help to keep personal stress levels as low as possible. I'm also going to be working on being more prepared. For example, if I can meal plan and prep (as much as possible) a week ahead of time, I will have no excuse to be lazy.

So a big huge FAIL for today, but the times, they are a'changing! I remain optimistic.

♥ g. m.

The Ick

I have the ick, just like the rest of the planet (or at least 95% of my friends list).  I've been sick for over a week now, which is extremely frustrating because I have all this gumption and nowhere to put it.

I can't work out, because the cold has settled in my lungs.  Having asthma, this is bad enough as is without being provoked.  Exercise is out of the question right now, as

Eating clean is something I can still do, and I've been doing my best to stick with it.  It's been difficult, though, because I have no appetite to speak of.  Small, nutritious meals every few hours?  Ha!  And again, ha!  I'm living on warm apple cider (sugar-free, 15 calories per pouch) and, if I can stomach it, oatmeal ("lower sugar," 110 calories per pouch).  If it's not microwaveable and warm, it's probably not on my menu right now.

I'm looking forward to getting with it!  Now, if only my body would cooperate...

♥ g. m.

Meme

I'm not down with The Slang of the Internets, so I had to look up the term "meme" on Urban Dictionary.  After filtering through definitions, I'm pretty certain it's either ...

(a) What Myspacers call spam surveys (as in, "I got this meme, filled it out, and sent it to everyone on my friends list"), or

(b) A vagina (as in, "Wow, that bitch just kicked me in the meme.")

Neither of those meanings work for me tonight, so for this blog's purpose, a meme is a whole bunch of me talking about myself (as in, "Read my meme and learn all about me and my awesomeness or lack thereof!")

Channeling the powers of meme, whatever they may be ...

I'm 24, married, and the proud mommy of a three-year-old little girl.  I'm overweight and feeling pretty disgusting and gross (cottage cheese thighs, bye-bye arms to the max).

Okay, it's really not that bad.  Yet.  Here is a more objective graphic representation:



Me now - 200(ish) pounds.  My goal - 145 pounds.

Mrs. Chunky          vs.          Hot Mama

My plan is to eat clean, track on Calorie King, bust my butt working out (special focus will be paid to cardio and resistance training), blogging for support and fun, and joining up with the fine folks at the Healthy You Challenge.

I have one major short-term wellness goal (for now), which is to find and join an affordable gym.  The plan is to work out 3-4 days per week (to start).

Baby steps.  Baby steps.

♥ g. m.

My Gummi Gummi

When the Gummibär video was big back in 2007, I became completely addicted to the joyful, viral song and the adorable green gummi bear who danced around in his underwear.  I must have contributed at least 2 million You Tube views myself... that's how serious my infatuation was.

I remember being really excited to share the hilarious video with my boyfriend (now husband), and one day when he returned from work, I attacked him with my laptop at the ready.  We watched the video a few times through (it's a catchy tune!) and both agreed that the best part is when the gummi shakes his little booty at the camera in his yellow underoos -- crack and all.

I'm not sure exactly how it happened, but "gummi gummi" became our household's code word for "butt crack."  For example, "Your gummi gummi is showing" or "Nice gummi gummi."  Being a curvaceous woman living in a world of unforgiving jean cuts, I was called on my gummi gummi so much that it became my nickname.  (Note the irony of this, as I don't enjoy snacking on gummis of any sort -- I'm more of a chocolate girl, myself!)

So anyway, then Mommyhood happened, with all of its macaroni and cheese and chicken nuggets and NOM NOM NOMS!... along with an unfortunate birth control faux pas and other medication-related weight gain.  Then I lost some weight.  Then I gained it back.  Then I lost some weight.  Then I broke my foot and gained it all back, plus more.  Then I lost some weight.  Then I gained it back... you get the picture here, right?

Last weekend, I stood in Borders' Health & Fitness section, muttering to myself something about "needing inspiration" and being "unable to lose weight."  I was getting really aggravated that all of the books essentially say the same thing, and then it hit me.  Weight loss isn't rocket science... it happens when you put the effort into it.

Well, that's my problem.  I'm so busy making excuses for myself that I don't have any time to work out, eat healthy, and be mindful of my own well being.  I've lost weight before and I will again... if I work hard and keep at it.

Hence, the birth of this sweet little bloggity blog.  This blog will hold me accountable for myself and help me stay focused.  And stuff.

Oh, look!  A dancing gummi bear!






Note:  The Hungarian version of this song is far superior to all other versions.  'Nough said.

♥ g. m.