Posted by crookedeyebrow on April 20, 2009
16 weeks!
I am 16 weeks pregnant already. The time is flying by, but thankfully I am feeling so much better these days.
Luckily at work there are team competitions going on right now with wearing pedometers and it is encouraging me to get up during the day and take those steps I need. It is a great motivator for me to see my steps (or lack there of). I want my team to win but I’m loving that I am getting the exercise I need to boot. Not to mention that I am still trying to continue to walk on the treadmill as well. TYRING…
My diet? Outside of the delicious Easter candy floating around, I think I am doing great! Far better than I did with my first pregnancy. Thankfully all the food that sounds and tastes good are great choices for me. Like I seriously can’t get enough salads and cottage cheese. Just thinking about a Cobb Salad makes my mouth water. Before it would have been cookies or ice cream.
How’s my weight gain? Well since last month I have only gained one pound. I am perfectly happy with that and think that a pound a month is just fine. We’ll see what my Midwife says next week. One pound in a month and quite the bellly growth as well!
I’m still having struggles with things too.My struggles for the last week have actually been water consumption. Isn’t that horrible? It is! Shame on me, I know better! Unfortunately at night my stomach hurts so badly that even water upsets my stomach. So for this week my goal is to get more of that precious liquid in during the day. We’ll see how that works. I’m thinking I should just plan on living in the bathroom.
Posted by crookedeyebrow on April 4, 2009
While everyone here at the sisterhood is gearing up to start the Shred challenge on Monday, I’ll be sitting this challenge out. Something tells me that being 3 1/2 months pregnant and doing the 30 day shred challenge isn’t a great idea for an out of shape pregger momma.
I couldn’t stand by and not do a challenge of my own though. At home my husband has started to run on the treadmill faithfully everyday and he has motivated me. Maybe it’s the fact that we both gained TONS of weight with our first child and we both don’t want to see those days again. Who knows? But he is looking great! Both him and the sisterhood have motivated me to get my ass in gear.
I hit the treadmill twice this week, more than I have since January. Last night after dinner was done, it was my time. My time to stretch, walk and lift light weights. So my personal challenge is to walk at 30 minutes on the treadmill, 5 times a week with a combination of light arm weights as well. It may not be shredding but from walking on such an incline last night, my butt hurts. I must have done something right, right??
Posted by christy on March 29, 2009
1st Mini-Challenge
The first mini-challenge of the Shrink Into Summer Challenge is geared to those of you who have Wii Fit. We’re going Hula!! Now, I know not all of you have a Wii or a Wii Fit, so maybe this challenge is just the reason you need to go out and get one! You can always beg, borrow, or steal one from a friend! If that’s not an option for you, grab an old-fashioned hoop hula along with us just for fun.
Now for the challenge! If you have Wii Fit, you must hula enough to unlock the Super Hula option under Aerobics. It won’t take long, trust me! Okay, so do you have Super Hula unlocked? Good. Once you unlock it you’ll be able to choose the 6 minute option, and if you do it enough, you’ll unlock the 10 minute option. Are you there? Okay, here’s where the fun begins! Our challenge is to see who can get the highest number of spins in 10 minutes! My best prior to starting this challenge is somewhere around 3,000 spins, and I plan to improve it throughout this week to see just how many hoops I can get.
So, are you up for it? Great! Here’s the deal, everyday come back here and let us know what your highest score is and at the end of the week, the person with the highest overall score will be eligible to win this fabulous giveaway:
Sisterhood Review & Giveaway
Looking for a fresh new way to shed some calories while having fun too? Of course you are! Do you remember how much fun it was too hula hoop as a kid? Well Hoopnotica has a great product and DVD set that gets your hips and inner core muscles moving!
Hoopnotic Hoopdance is a part dance, part exercise activity that gives you an energizing and effective workout. If you don’t believe how fun it is go watch the video on the site. The instructional DVD encourages you to keep trying and offers troubleshooting on how to perfect your hooping. Once you become familiar with your hoop you will soon find it’s not just great for your hips, but it also includes your arms for a full body workout.
With hoops starting out at around $30 and DVD’s around $20, hooping will be a great activity for years to come. Once you learn the basic moves you’ll be able to make up your own workouts and be hooping your way to a great body.
We are giving away one travel hoop and beginning DVD thanks to Hoopnotica.
Reviewed by Crooked Eyebrow!
**Contest will run from Sunday, March 29th through Saturday, April 4th at 11:59 p.m. CDT. In the event of a tie, the winners will have a hula hoop-off to determine the winner. Prize will be shipped to the US only. If someone outside of the US wins, they will be responsible for shipping charges incurred by the Sisterhood. The Sisterhood is not responsible if you pull a muscle or strain your back, so always use care when starting a new exercise program.**
Posted by crookedeyebrow on February 23, 2009
I thought I had this whole week planned out with meal planning. Wrong. In attempts to conquer morning, afternoon and evening sickness I was a wee bit closer to figuring out what worked for me, or so I thought. What did work, isn’t working quite so well now.
My plan was to eat small, frequent, healthy meals while drinking plenty of water, orange juice and milk. It was an easy plan but it has not panned out the way I had hoped for. Instead this week has welcomed a nasty cold that leaves me unable to stomach food and tolerate fluids. So, this week my body has other plans. Something tells me that I’m just going to have to go with the flow and listen to my body.
If only my body was telling me it was okay to eat bowls of ice cream, that would be nice…but then the scales would totally tell on me.
Posted by crookedeyebrow on February 16, 2009
Lisa has started Monday’s true confessions here at the shrinking jeans so I figured I would play along this week. I’ve had one of those weeks anyways…
1. I have not been drinking enough water, morning sickness is kicking my butt and fluids make me feel awful.
2. While I did have pizza on Friday, I only had 2 small pieces. damn night sickness too.
3. I am way behind on blogging and reading blogs.
4. Every time I sit down at the computer I feel sick and nauseous, making blogging not fun lately.
5. I ate out Thursday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday.
6. Instead of ordering water like I should, I have ordered sprite for the “bubble factor”. I was trying to stay away from pop.
7. Doctors orders are no exercise for the next few weeks. Which I should be upset about, but I’m quite thankful seeing how I have no energy.
8. I haven’t cleaned my house in over a week. It’s bad. ( no energy)
9. I haven’t washed my face at night for about a week. (no energy)
10. Once the room stops spinning while I type on my laptop, I will visit more blogs. I have guilt…
Posted by crookedeyebrow on February 13, 2009
When we started The Sisterhood of the Shrinking Jeans we all had goals in mind and we were ready to start our walk down the weight loss road together. Our journey so far has been nothing but awesome here at shrinking jeans. This week I have to announce that my road to shrinking jeans will be taking a different turn. No longer will I be able to hope for shrinking jeans. In fact, my jeans are surely to keep expanding.
For a full explination you can read here at my personal blog, but long story short…I am still pregnant. I am so blessed and excited to finally expand my family as I had hoped and prayed for. Me Pregnant? After so many years I never thought I would be saying that.
(with a history of PCOS, I lost weight and got pregnant!)
In 2000 during my first pregnancy I started out at 150# but ended up at a whopping 215# on the day I delivered. I gained 65# and I am not about to do that again. So here on shrinking jeans I will be gaining weight, but I am going to be smart about my pregnancy this time around.
When I found out I was having my son about 9 years ago I had the mentality that I was eating for two and more was better. If I had a hundred bucks for each ice cream container I ate by myself, I would be a millionaire. My meals were full steak dinners including all the fixings and dessert. I lost all control and it continued even into my post-par tum.
My post-partum days were full of low self esteem, obesity and depression. I hated what I let by body get to and I do not want that again. This time around my plan is to be physically fit and for my body to be rich and full of nutritious foods for me and my baby. Oreos and ice cream no longer have a place in my healthy pregnancy plan.
So in the next few months I no longer will be hoping for shrinking jeans, but a slimmer, healthier pregnancy this time around. My goal is to only gain 25-35 pounds, less if I can help it. Each week I will still being weighing in with the sisterhood and sometime in the fall, I will be right back to shrinking my jeans down for good!
Posted by crookedeyebrow on February 5, 2009
If you are anything like me, you like to snack too! I’m all about salty, sweet or just about anything after lunch. Here are a few great low calorie snacks.
*Pop Secret light butter microwave popcorn- half a bag is only 140 calories and 4 grams of fiber!
* Banana- it’s easy to take on the go and only about 100 calories
* Baby carrots
*1/2 cup of your favorite whole grain cereal. It’s not just for breakfast!
*A hand full of almonds
*Low-fat string cheese. A little pick me up packed full of protein
* 100 calorie bag of your favorite cookies, chips or my new favorite, chocolate covered pretzels
*low calorie, low fat yogurt
* a handful of grapes
* an apple
*sliced veggies, i love cucumbers!
There are so many options, so many choices. Just make sure when you are getting hungry you don’t go and grab a candy bar. Make a smart choice!!
Share some of your favorite snacks!
Posted by crookedeyebrow on
This past week has been a whirlwind of emotions and I’m guessing the scale would only make it worse. You know what happens with me and emotions? Eating. Yes, even when I’m not hungry I will find something full of fat and sugar to eat. It’s automatic and a bad habit I have been trying to break. But I fell hard this week, in more ways then one.
Last week I was on track, losing an amazing 5# and starting the couch to 5k program. I was feeling fabulous, ready to take on the world.This week? Not one step was taken that wasn’t absolutely needed. There were only steps taken to the couch and then to the kitchen. I fell off the wagon.
Then with awful news to start my week I turned to pizza and chocolate. In a senseless act I had a fluttering thought that chocolate would heal my soul for that one moment. In went half a bag of peanut butter cups. Did I feel better? Nope. Only guilty. I hate guilt.
Today I struggle to pick myself up and dust off my hands and get back on track. I have to, it is far better emotional and physically for me if I do so. It beats sitting and eating, right? Right. By next week I hope I will be talking about how great it feels to run and to be eating right. No more falling of track…
Have you fallen too? I hope you know it’s ok. Pick your self back up and find your way back and get going. If I can, you can! Will you be right along with us again next week? I sure hope so, because all my sisters motivate me.
*thank you for all your kind words and prayers over the last few days. From the bottom of my heart, I love you.
~CE
Posted by crookedeyebrow on January 26, 2009
Today was my second day of the couch to 5k program. I was pumped and ready to hit the treadmill right after work. The first week of the is simple and thankfully isn’t too hard for me yet. Right now my max on running is about 2 minutes, so it works. When the one minute run is up, I feel good but I am thankful to get to walk and catch my breath for 2 minutes! Overall I am really, really excited about completing the program. When I am running I picture my self skinny in a bikinifor motivation. Seriously folks. Mental imagery is totally working for me. I want my bikini back!
Remember when I posted my goal to drink the right amount of water for my weight? Guess what? I did it. Every single day I have been averaging about 90-100 oz of water. Yes, I even drink more. Fortunately I have started a routine. First I found the largest plastic glass I have (it’s about 22ounces with ice) and I use a straw. Yes, there has to be a straw. I drink so much more and not to mention faster with one. Here is the breakdown:
*22ounces driving to work
*16 ounces by 9am
*16 ounces by 11am
*16ounces by 2 pm
*8 ounces on the drive home
*about 30 ounces at night
This has been about 108 ounces of water a day. You know what? I feel great. My skin feels and looks better as well. Of course each day varies but this pretty much has been my routine and if fits for now. The number of trips to the bathroom are countless…How are all my sisters doing on drinking water?
Posted by crookedeyebrow on January 24, 2009
I totally gave in for my craving and ate pizza hut’s new “natural” pizza for dinner. Whole grain crust and all. You know what? It was good.
that is all, carry on…
Posted by crookedeyebrow on
Straight off the treadmill and I just had to share the fact that I ran even though I wasn’t being chased. In the past I figured why run if I didn’t have to? Well times are a changing. Yesterday Melissa posted the couch to 5k program for our Fitness Fridays and it was just the push I needed.
Our reader Elaine actually emailed me the program awhile ago(thanks hun!) when I was so inspired by her running. There it sat on the fridge since just waiting for me to start, but today was a new day. I did it. I
Finally after saying I was going to clean off the treadmill, I did just that. After the first minute of running I was feeling good. With running my problem has always been breathing right. I tend to find myself holding my breath and then struggling to catch up. Thankfully with the week #1 in the program I was able to try and learn how to breath. It should come natural shouldn’t it? But it just doesn’t for me yet. Yet. I one day will be a lean, mean running machine.
So here I sit cooling off feeling amazing that I started something completely awesome. Just another step(or run) in the right direction. Which direction are you headed in?
Posted by crookedeyebrow on January 22, 2009
Ok, so yesterday I weighed 203# after eating Mexican the night before. The Great thing is that I was soo very proud of myself for only gaining 1# back after being sick. So I got off the scale yesterday motivated for more loss.
Then this morning I stepped on the scale and it was 201.5#! I could not believe it. I made my husband look too. Just so you all know, I have been drinking my 84 ounces of water each day like I wrote about earlier in the week.
Funny thing is that I was going to “splurge” on my pizza craving today, but once I saw 201.5 on my scale I just knew it was going to be a salad instead. That was all the motivation I needed to get rid of my craving.
Instead I tossed 3 slices of pepperoni on my salad that was full of cucumbers and tomatoes. I gotta tell you, it was darn good and I just know it was the right choice. I am totally going to kiss the 200’s goodbye and for now, my pizza craving too.
Posted by crookedeyebrow on January 21, 2009
Finally after 2 weeks I signed onto the wii fit and I was pleasantly surprised. Down 5.5 pounds!! Although it keeps telling me I’m obese and all, I still really like it.
It didn’t hurt that it called me a yoga master either. I think the wii fit is my new best friend. My goal now is to drop enough weight that I see myself skinny on there. Yup. I want a skinny mii.
Posted by crookedeyebrow on January 20, 2009
After not working for a week, going back today was miserable. My head is still swimming and there is no way I’m cooking tonight. Nope. So instead I’ll order Mexican and swell up like crazy, just enough to retain a heck of a lot of water for tomorrow’s weigh in.
See? I’m totally having one of those emotional eating moments. I do want to explain that the only other thing I have eaten today has been a protein bar and a salad. Point and calorie wise, I think 2 steak tacos and a coke can be fit in, right?
Totally.
Posted by crookedeyebrow on
In keeping with our heart healthy month, what’s more important than (re)learning about the fats that can affect our pretty little hearts? Ladies and gent, It’s time to talk about fats!
We need fats in our diets. There is no getting around them, our bodies depend on them, without fats we are just plain and simple unable to survive. However when we eat nothing but large amounts of fats as most typical Americans do, it leads to not only weight gain but increased risk of heart disease as well.
Knowing which fats are good or bad for you can get quite confusing. So the all of us at the sisterhood want to make sure everyone is on the right track in when talking about fats. We’re keeping it simple now, good vs bad, but just know that you can always read up more here at the American Heart Association or more here.
Good Fats
“Unsaturated”
Monounsaturated Fats– They lower total cholesterol and LDL cholesterol (the bad cholesterol) while increasing HDL cholesterol (the good cholesterol). Monounsaturated fats are typically liquid at room temperature but start to turn solid when chilled. Olive Oil is a perfect example.
Peanuts, walnuts, almonds,avocados, canola and olive oil are high in Monounsaturated fats. Nice fact:they have also been found to help in weight loss, particularly body fat!
Polyunsaturated Fats –These also lower total cholesterol and LDL cholesterol. They also include essential fats that your body needs but can’t produce itself – such as omega-6 and omega-3. Omega-6 and omega-3 play a crucial role in brain function and in the normal growth and development of your body.
Seafood like salmon and fish oil, as well as corn, soy, safflower and sunflower oils are high in polyunsaturated fats.
Bad Fats
Saturated – Saturated fats raise total blood cholesterol as well as LDL cholesterol (the bad cholesterol). Saturated fats are mainly found in animal products such as meat, dairy, eggs and seafood. Don’t forget that many baked goods and fried foods can contain high levels of saturated fats too. Some plant foods are also high in saturated fats such as coconut oil.
Trans fat– (or trans fatty acids) are created in an industrial process that adds hydrogen to liquid vegetable oils to make them more solid. Another name for trans fats is “partially hydrogenated oils.”
Trans fats raise your bad (LDL) cholesterol levels and lower your good (HDL) cholesterol levels. Eating trans fats increases your risk of developing heart disease and stroke. It’s also associated with a higher risk of developing type 2 diabetes.
Found in many commercially packaged foods, commercially fried food ( French Fries ),as well as in vegetable shortening and hard stick margarine.
How much fat in one day?
You should not eat more than 25–35 percent of the calories you eat in a given day from fat.
Based on a 2, 000 calorie diet the American Heart Association recommends the following:
Trans fats- no more than 20 calories or 2 grams of trans fat for one day.
Saturated-no more than 140 calories or 16 grams of saturated fat for one day.
There is a nifty little fat calculator here.
Not sure about everyone else but I’m off to use that fat calculator, how about you? Do you know how many good and bad fats are in your normal diet? Read your food labels for one day, you just might be surprised to know that you may not eating the right fats.