Eating Out Tip #3

We like to eat out a lot, and sometimes those places are buffets - not a great place if you're trying to lose weight, I know. So, I usually stick to a "One-Plate" Rule when I'm at a buffet: one plate of food, and one plate of dessert. I get really tiny portions of everything I want to try, and still get all the yummy variety. On Friday, though, after eating a big plate of dessert, I realized something: while my dessert was really good, it was not any better than the other food I'd had, which included lots of vegetables. I would have been much better off just having another plate of food! But why do I always think I have to have dessert? Maybe I think I deserve it for eating a good dinner :) Next time, I'm going to try skipping dessert but let myself have another plate of food instead.

Make Time for Yourself!

My friends are sometimes surprised to find out that I go to the gym nearly every day. I have found that it is the best way for me to get my exercise in now that I have three kids. I found a gym here that is less than a mile from my home. My membership is $30/month and includes classes and childcare. I keep a gym bag packed with an extra set of toiletries and pack a towel and change of clothes each day. After dropping Darren off at school, we head to the gym. I'm usually there about an hour and fifteen minutes, and workout and take a shower while I'm there. It's so nice to watch the news while I workout, and then get ready for the day without all my kids in the bathroom with me! Plus, I know I've done something good for myself!

This is my current workout routine:

Treadmill: 30 minutes, alternating 2 minutes of running, 1 min. walking
Stair stepper: 10 minutes
Elliptical: 10 minutes
Abs: 3x a week

Sometimes I do weights, instead.

By the way, later morning is a great time to go if you're self-conscious of working out in front of other people. Usually the only other people working out then are seniors or other SAHM's.

Weight Loss Report Card

Exercise: A- (19 miles)
Snacking: A
Eat More Veggies: C
Get Enough Sleep: B

Total Weight Loss: 2 lbs!!! (132.6)

Happy 5th Birthday, Darren!!!

This year we celebrated Darren's birthday with a trip to Chuckie Cheese's on Saturday. Darren was even lucky enough to run into Chuckie in the bathroom! He thought that was cool. Today we had donuts for breakfast and corn dogs for dinner, at Darren's request. He got a green power ranger on a scooter from Claire, a Star Wars battle ship and action figures from mommy and daddy, Color Wonder paper, and a Leap Frog Learning System from Miles.

In honor of his fifth birthday, here are five things we love about Darren:

1. He is funny (just look back at older posts to see what I mean.) With Darren, there is never a dull moment!

2.He is also fun to play with. He loves playing in his costumes, putting together puzzles, building things, and coloring.

3. Darren is a great older brother! The other night, Darren was giving Miles a piggy back ride and Miles spit up all over his bare back. Instead of being totally disgusted, he just laughed!

4. Darren notices and appreciates little things, and gives good compliments. For example, all the primary teachers at church think he's a little ladies man because he will compliment them on their jewelry, hair, or clothes!

5. Darren is a great helper. He often offers to help set the table, feed Miles, or clean up.



We love you, Darren!

What's making me laugh:

Miles caught in the act! Seriously, you should all know that Miles is the happiest baby (the only time he cries is when he's tired or gets stuck underneath a piece of furniture - he's learning to crawl,) but every time I try to take his picture he acts like a deer caught in the headlights. I think it's my camera. A flash and beep go off before it takes a picture. Does your camera do that?


Darren: Mommy, look! I spelled a word for my book. What did I spell?
Me: You spelled "bra".
Darren: Bra? Bra?! That's a funny word!

On the Potty Train!!!

Claire's friend Hannah came to play on Friday, and while she was here, she used Claire's potty. On Sunday, Claire used it too!!!

This is funny . . .

134.6

In spite of Valentine's Day, I managed to lose 1.2 pounds last week. I didn't reach my goal of 134 by Valentine's Day, but I'm awfully close! This week my goals are to:

1. run 20 miles
2. eat vegetables with lunch and dinner
3. only eat at meal and snack times

Miles Can Sit Up!

Weight-loss Update

I haven't posted about my weight in a couple of weeks, because there hasn't been anything to post! In fact, I gained .8 pounds last week. Oh well. There's room for improvement this week.

What's Making Me Laugh:

1. Darren's buzz cut. I had to give it to him because he gave himself a haircut. (Not the first time.) I thought buzzing it all off would make him regret cutting it in the first place, but Darren just laughed and laughed and said now he looks like a man! Hopefully it scared Claire, though, as I threatened to do the exact same thing to her if she ever cuts her hair!

2. Claire and her one-armed "Big Baby!" As you can see, Big Baby gets a lot of lovin'. The nursery in Waco gave Big Baby to Claire when we moved, because it was her favorite doll. Notice Big Baby's big SIZE 6 diaper! I think that a girl who can put a diaper on her baby should be big enough to be potty-trained, don't you? Looks like momma has some work to do . . .

Jerry's Mini-Me

Feeding Time

Our sweet little Miles went for a whole day without a nap and finally fell asleep at dinnertime. So cute and so sad . . .