HFH Fat ticker Friday

Hello all! Did you miss me? I had a fabuloso time in the Poconos! My weight didn't, but I did! We even walked 2 days, and I tried to watch what I ate (thanks Christa for being the food nazi LOL). Alas, I gained a pound. *sigh* It's ok. At least I am still almost 2 pounds down from my original! Gotta look at that glass half full right?

I have been putting the couch 2 5k program off (http://www.coolrunning.com/engine/2/2_3/181.shtml) because of procrastination and fear. I AM starting Monday. No excuses, no exceptions! I'm gonna try to talk Monica into doing it with me (Ooooooooooooh Moooooonica....that's your fair warning!). C25K is basically a plan to get you , well, off the couch and running about 3 miles by the end of 2 months. You must understand, I need about 6 sports bras on at one time to run. LOL It gives you a schedule to ease into it, and combines running and walking together for about 20 min 3x's a week. I'll report back next week.

Still trying to up my water intake, and the efforts double today on that.

The question this week was to post a photo shoot of something/someone dressed up. We don't celebrate Halloween, so I will forgo that this week. Sorry if you are disappointed, but I choose to give glory to God!

Have a blessed week!
Steph

hfh: Fat ticker Friday-ugh

Here we are again. I'm noticing a trend. It's not a good trend, mind you. It's a downward spiraling, upward gasping for air kind of trend. One week I do excellent, the next well, not so much. I didn't exercise one iota this week. Totally laziness, as I had the time to do it. Ok, I shouldn't say that because we went to Longwood gardens and strolled for 4+ hours last Friday, and Sunday strolled for a few hours at the lake. No sweating my butt off, cardio pumping exercise. The scale showed it. Up almost a pound.

I am NOT making any goals next week except to drink my water and try to exercise. I know, it's a lame thing to do, and total avoidance. I am going away with my girlfriends next week, and know that we eat horribly and sit on our butts scrapbooking all day. I will make a concerted effort not to eat too much chocolate *grin*.

On to the question of the week:

What I'd like to know is, when you think about your body, which part do you want to "refine" during this process? And think about or find out what exercises you have to do to make that happen.

The 2 parts I'd like to refine would be my stomach and my chest *giggle*. I'd like to be able to wear a pair of pants that doesn't fall off because the only thing it fits is my waist. I'd also like to be able to wear a pair of pants that doesn't make my tummy a gross looking muffin top. As for exercises....cardio and sit ups are about it I guess. When it comes to my chest, well, let's just say it needs to be smaller. WAY smaller. This is a challenge exercise wise because I don't want to build muscle, just tone. The only thing I got for that would be pushups. Can you say ewwww?

So introduce us to your favorite part, and hey, if you want to add pictures to your essay then feel free to do that too!

Ok, sorry, no pictures, but one thing I like about my body is my calves and ankles. This is why it was sooooooo upsetting to me when my ankles started swelling because of my medication the other week. I've already had some of my friends tell me "well, at least you have girly legs". Yes, I'm pretty sure it was a compliment. :)

So, how did you do this week? Sound off!

Steph

HFH--Fat ticker Friday near disaster!

Yes, you read right......DISASTER! With a capital D! UGH! I almost gained weight this week! How can this possibly be? I have exercised more than any other week, drank more water, ate more veggies, and thought I had a fabulous week! All for....are you ready for this?.....a measly .8 lb loss. Sheesh! That was the first time I stepped on the scale. I have a digi scale, and it stores my weight. Well, I forgot to store it, so I thought I would get back on and store it. I weighed more the next time and could never get the scale to go back to that weight. So, cheating??? I don't think so (at least that is what I'm telling myself). I figure if I didn't have the brilliant storing idea, I never would have seen those other weights right? Note to self: Store it the first time! So what's a girl to do? Keep on plugging on, that's what! Discouraging, yes! Not a deal breaker though. Who's with me?

Goals for next week:

Continue 4 bottles water/day

up intake to 3 veggies/fruits/day

5 hours of exercise (which I haven't quite made yet)

Add in my ab workout

As soon as something goes in my mouth, it goes on the food journal (i.e. the one sour candy, the 2 mints--they add up!)

Enjoy the journey and don't let the scale discourage me :)

Does it look like a lot? Maybe. I've been doing well, so I thought a few additions this week would be ok.

Onto the question of the week...It is a picture journal, so I will make it mostly wordless.

1. Someone or something that inspires you.

His determination and stick to it attitude is amazing. The depth of her thoughts and how she grasps information, especially about the Lord, is just incredible.

2. Something that you love to do.

These are my girls! Our bi-annual scrapbooking retreat. Need I say more?

3. Something that makes you crazy:

Things that have no place and therefore, end up on my desk. Not to mention, this computer! Kind of a love it, hate it relationship I guess.

4. Something healthy in your life.

*Lifting up my glass* Here's to a valiant effort, and to pressing on! *clink* Cheers!

P.S. Excuse my formatting....I'm still learning this stuff :)

HFH: Fat ticker Friday!

Tick, tick, tick.....That's how many pounds I've lost in the last two weeks.....3!!!!!!!! I'm so excited about this! I've been fretting so much about my weight recently, and I've made the first steps to success! I will say that I really did slack on my exercise this week. I think I did 1 hour out of my 5. Eeek! Wake up call :) Will do better on that next week, and maybe you will see a new pretty shiny badge that says 5 pounds lost! How cool is that? As for my goals, well I don't think I accomplished any of them, so they remain.

Drink my water (At least 4, if not 5 bottles a day)
Eat at least 2 fruits/veggies per day (baby steps here)
Fill out my food journal
Exercise 5 hours
Plan meals and cook at home

Don't get me wrong, I tried. Just didn't make it. I will not give up! I will keep pressing on.

Now, for the question of the week: What is on your life's to-do list? When you post on Friday, list as many as you like and whatever you like.

Wow, this really makes me think! I never really made a "list" like that before. I am a list-maker. I LOVE lists! I have grocery lists, cleaning lists, to-do lists, etc, etc. I even have my Jessie loving lists! Sad, sad situation there! LOL I think making lists give you a sense of accomplishment. There can be days when I say "Man! What did I get done today? Feels like nothing!" Then I will look at my list and start checking things off and realize that I did quite a bit. Now of course there are days when I truly was chasing my tail all day and got nothing accomplished, but those are rare. So back to the list:

Go on a cruise with my husband
Mission trip here and maybe abroad
learn to play the piano
start my own photography studio (already have a name!)
See my daughter meet the love of her life and get married and have a family of her own
Do agility with my dog

There are probably other things, but that is what I can think of for now.

Hey! Happy Fat Ticker Friday! Cheers!

Steph

If at first you fail, try, try again?

Ok, so yesterday was a total blowout for me. I spent so much time on my blog, that I ran out of time to get in my walk (Bailey was not impressed). I had to go to the eye doctor to get some skin tags removed under my eyelashes. Something I definitely do not recommend for your comfort. LOL I was worried most about the Novocaine. Rightfully so! They stick a needle in that thin eyelid.......hurties!!!! Then they burned the skin tags off. Have you ever smelled your own flesh being burned off? It was not nice!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Ok, sorry for the medical review there. I'm still a little puffy under my eye, but it's not really hurting me at all this morning.

Yesterdays food journal doesn't look very nice either. I don't think grilled cheese, cookies, and bottlecaps are on my "can have" list. On the upside, I ate yogurt. LOL Today is a new day! Carpe diem right? So, I'm going to seize the moment. Gods mercies are new EVERY morning. In the words of winnie the pooh....Tut, tut, it looks like rain. I'm not going to let that stop me. I read the devotional this morning from proverbs 31 women. It talked about not letting excuses get in the way of what God wants to do in us and through us. If you want to read it, you can go to http://proverbs31.gospelcom.net/dailydevotions/dailyDevotions.php Click on todays devotion, and it is called "Born to Run". I will tell you what.....God is so awesome. It always seems that whatever I am going through, or trying to accomplish, this devotional is right on the mark. I teach Bible study on Wednesday mornings at my church, and I usually have at least one devotional from P31 that totally fits in with what I am teaching. Who says our God is not alive and active in this world today? I serve a living God!!!

One more thing to share. My husband just called me a few minutes ago and said, Hey, I just won tickets to a Sanctus Real concert with 10th avenue North. I was sooooooooooooooooooooooooooo excited!!! Next Sunday I will be going to see them *jumping up and down with excitement*. I always love going to concerts because it gives you such a better perspective about the groups songs when they share in between. I think the first concert I went to was a Jennifer Knapp concert. She was so awesome! When she shared, you could really sense her heart for God. It just gives you a new spin on the meaning of her songs. I'm telling you, if you get a chance to go to a concert, you will not be disappointed.

Be blessed, and be a blessing!
Steph

Hot for the holidays

Ok, here we go....I have been soooooooo very bad about my eating habits. Toooo bad. I'm about to cross a barrier with my weight that I am kicking and screaming about. I've been half-heartedly making attempts, but last night's pizza, soda, and slurpees are haunting me. UGH.

In comes Hot for the holidays! Starting today, I am going to making a stronger attempt to avoid those butt enlarging things that I shouldn't be having. LOL I have been doing pretty good on the exercise homefront, as my dog has way too much energy. If I don't walk her, she pretty much bounces off the walls. I also got a bike a week or so ago. I LOVE to ride. Who would've thought? I used to avoid the stationary bike at the gym like the plague.

So, here are my thoughts.....

I will try my hardest not to eat after dinner.
I WILL fill out my food journal honestly.
I will try to exercise every day, but will be happy with five hours a week.
I will cook more at home.

Oh my goodness! These are the same things I have failed at doing in the past. *sigh* Lord help me!

So who's with me?

Taking the plunge

Ok, I did it......finally. I'm taking the plunge. I vowed not to do this, but here I am. I'm blogging *sigh*

I guess the first step is to go out on the limb before the dive, and introduce me and my clan. My name is Stephanie, I am a wife to Shawn of 13 years. I am a mom to a beautiful dancer, Jessica, 8. Mom to my puppy baby Bailey, who is part Border Collie and part Lab. Smart as a whip and trouble to the max. If only I had a little of her energy, I'd be doing good. We live in the suburbs between Allentown and Philadelphia Pennsylvania.

So, the third week of school started this morning. I did not want to get out of bed. We have been letting the puppy sleep with us in bed. I don't think that is going to last much longer. If she is not rutching around, she is licking or biting herself. No she doesn't have fleas, just sensitive skin. I did not sleep well. Daughter gets up, and plays with the dog instead of getting ready for school. I swear I should lock up the dog in the morning till she is ready. Five minutes to the bus, she is still eating. She has written me a love note on a napkin with......a permanent marker. Yep, you guessed it.....bled through onto my wood table. UGH. Thank you Lord for soft scrub. Yes, it came up. How can you be mad at a love note bled through onto the table? Clearly a good deed gone awry. Gotta love that girl. Jessie goes out to the bus stop in front of the house a few minutes before I did. While trying to put the halter collar on the dog, she resists.....screen door wasn't latched right.....wiggled out of my grasp....ran across the street to greet all the kids. Need I say more? BAD DOG! LOL

Let me share with you why I labeled my blog from glory to glory. I grew up in a Jewish household, and was saved at the age of 19. Before being saved, things happened that kids should not have to go through. By God's saving grace, he has set me free from the bondages that enslaved me. That was the first glory. Ever since, it has been one glory to God after another. My pastor put it this way....my trials are as pearls. Each trial has a beauty all it's own, and when strung together, they make a beautiful necklace for all to see. Each glory has it's own attributes that make it different and unique. All the glories strung together will make me stronger, and better able to help others.

I hope to spur you on also, in your journey of life. I have many things to share along the way. To God be the glory, forever and ever, amen.