I have MOVED!

Because I have been blogging for so long, I have a boring, annoying, REALLY OLD, template that WILL NOT allow me to change it. SO...I have moved. Please join me here. http://theplantoprosper.blogspot.com/

Here he is!!!! In our house!!!!

Happy Birthday to my baby girls!!! For their birthday they got this little Rat Terrier(they are much cutier than their names!), Samson. He is 8 weeks old and my mom has his half sister, Willow.

Here they are right after getting him! I created a hunt for him which included "the rules" in rhymes, a puzzle to put together(a picture of him) and a password to call my sister with(she was waiting with him in the car). As you can tell, they were pretty excited!

Almost home!

Samson puzzle pic

Olive Oil... JUST EAT IT!

I have been focusing on NOT focusing on weight loss this week but trying to balance the thoughts in my life. Sounds strange...but for someone who is anxiety driven it is easy to find yourself thinking(obsessing) about one certain topic for the entire day. I DO THIS.

For example...if I am thinking about if I decide I need to make thank you cards to thank my recent hostesses then I will...research the latest technique on card making, scour my house for the necessary tools, cut WAY TOO MUCH paper, try to do something I have had no experience with, and end up frustrated because I wasn't "good enough" to be able to finish the project. I do all of this while trying to keep up with the housework, kids, business, volunteering etc. You get the idea.

So, part of me trying to just make this automatic means that I am not thinking about it all day.

One of the things that I think is helping me is that I am now getting in my daily recommendation of 2tsp. of healthy oil. Weight Watchers believes this is so important that they have put it into their program as one of their daily requirements. In the past I rarely ate any oil while on ww. In fact...I don't even know if I owned any oil during that time.

At the meeting last week Sally(who I adore and is the best ww leader ever), told us that the oil is actually one of the things that keeps your body satisfied and thus, keeps you from those crazy cravings...where you will eat the cardboard packaging that the cereal was in because...there isn't any cereal left!

So, I started eating 2 tsp of olive oil(2.5pts) with a bit of parmesan cheese and 2 slices of whole wheat healthy life bread(1pt for 2 slices). 3.5 points gone. But I think worth it!

It does seem to be working too! So, tidbit of the day...eat your oil! And...don't obsess about food!

Slim Down Sunday- Week 2

It's been two weeks since I started back with ww. Its very interesting to me that exactly the same thing happend at this first weigh in week. I was only down .6 lbs.

This is good right? Well actually the first time that I started ww I was SO disapointed to the point of tears when I only lost a small amount on my first week. I knew that I hadn't "cheated". I knew that I followed the program probably better than most. The second time I started, again...small loss and then frustration and self defeat.

This time was SO different. When I saw that I lost .6 pounds I was ok with it. At least I have greater confidence. This is just part of the process.

I can't even stress to you just how important it is to NOT get mad at yourself over a small loss. A SMALL LOSS IS STILL A LOSS! And it does matter in the long run.

I would much rather have lost .6 than to have gained .2 or stayed the same.

So, this week went well. I actually probably ate less than I should have. I am learning that it is important to eat all of the calories that are required on your plan so that you metabolism stays working at a higher level. This will be a change for me.

How did your weeks go? It really helps me to learn from others!

Flashback Friday- Man, I love this kid!

These are pictures of my brother Joel. He is three years younger than me. Which means he is 16... ok...maybe not.

He has and always will be there for me. Even though he is married and has a life of his own, I know that if I ever needed him he would be there. No questions.

That is just how our family rolls.

He is funny, probably the smartest person I know, fiercely protective, mysterious, cautious, thoughtful and a very quiet romantic. He doesn't need anyone to know how much he loves his wife. He knows that he only needs her to know.

He also has the ability to see through the clouds of life and get right down to the issues. There is no emotion when he is giving advice. He has already thought it through and knows that there is just no better advice.

Happy Birthday little brother! We lived through the same memories, we are bonded more than any of the others. I wouldn't trade the memories for our relationship! I love you!

Hey Chelsea!!! You want a chipolte...I WANT A PINKBERRY!!!!

I read about this place in Weight Watchers Magazine. It is rumored to have frozen yogurt that the highest cup value is 2 points!!!!! WHAT?????!!!!????? So, I checked it out to see if perhaps I missed a new construction plan and was met with great frustration...they aren't around here!!!!!

It almost makes me want to go to New York City...if I wasn't a complete people a phobe!

Song of the week- Revelation Song

If you don't know this...you should! It is amazing!!!



Have you guys heard this? Do you know this? Maybe I am the last?

Slim Down Sundays! ME TOO ME TOO!!!

I agree! Hollie great idea! I would love to be accountable to give a recap of my week..the good, the bad and the ugly!

This week I started back on weight watchers. I actually did what it seems everyone is doing and started back on January 1st!!!! I actually loathe doing things that are typical. But...I figured to put my personal feelings aside to focus on starting today instead of "starting tomorrow".

I am working on jam packing my diet with "filling foods". That is the key ingredient in the weight watchers new momentum plan. I am eating beets(personally one of my favorite veggies), big salads and apples. There are not alot of points used on these foods and they do leave you feeling satisfied so I can use some of my points on yummy salad dressings that are not terribly low fat.

We had dinner last night with our friends the Viercks! It was SO MUCH FUN!!! They are such wonderful hosts and we all had a blast! I was able to stay on point during the meal and had alot of fun focusing on the company and not the food! (THANKS SO MUCH MARTY AND HEATHER!!!!)

So, there we have it. I am trying to just take this one day at a time. I am quite surprised by how many things that I like to eat are lower points that I thought...I just can't eat ALL of the chinese food or ice cream! Portion control apparently matters ;)

Have a great week! I love reading all the slim down sunday entries!!!! Thanks again for the suggestion Hollie!

And...Im back!

To weight watchers that is. I know...I should be a pro by now but alas...I am proving that I am not too good at this!

So I started today. I knew it was coming and wanted to get through the CHINESE FOOD GLORY that is our new years tradition!

I would like to lose 35lbs by April 25th. I think it is a pretty realistic goal, but I am nervous because I have alot of work related goals. I am a one track goal minded girl and I don't want to compromise my work goals for my ww goals. I would like to try to find a healthy balance of the two. But...I don't really do balance well.

So, here I go!!!