Ahhh Friday.

3 of 4 kids out of school today and one gone with friends.
Oldest in school and to work today.
DH working on his day off today.
Babysat all day.
Ran a bit on the treadmill today.
Talked on the phone too much today.
Felt a little lonely today.
Got very little housework done today.
Took a TWO HOUR NAP with the baby today.
Think pizza is in order for dinner today.
Not a dang darn interesting thing to share today.
Just Friday.

Darla
:O) Hope you enjoy your weekend!

Crazy sort of Thursday here....

Well, let me tell you, I am no longer a "night owl". Last night my friend Lisa and I went out to hit the big 50% off sale at Khol's (midnight shopping, gotta love it!) and after being up since 4:45 a.m. I was getting a little punchy come 11:00pm. I had a time getting to sleep and although I slept HARD through the night, I am still tired. I allowed myself this morning "off" from the gym and slept in, but still feel like I am dragging.
Had a Dr appt this morning too - some oddball stuff and also my test results from my thyroid bloodwork I had done this week. VERY weird stuff I tell ya, I don't know what is going on, but my levels were all wonky again and so he decided to up my meds and then we'll recheck in a few weeks. TSH (thyroid stimulating horomone) is way high again and we are not sure why, and the T4 is off too. They were coming under control and now they have gone whack-o. *ugh* I told the Dr I was finally starting to feel normal again, whatever that is, but he just said this is a fine art trying to get things leveled out and regulated and to be patient. OK. Like I have a choice?
Weather is still being weird too - just cold. No snow. No winds. Just cold. So odd for Idaho this time of year... not that I am dying to drive on icy roads or anything but a little snow is always festive and fun ya know?! I am dying to go take sleds out behing the 4wheelers again like we did up at the cabin. LOL It was SO stinkin' much fun! (photo is of Lisa (all in black) and Blake (in brown) on the sleds, even the adults took rides!!! but no one got pix of me, however, I DID do it, TWICE, it was so fun!) So, yes, I am wishing for a "little" bit of snow, not a blizzard please!
That's about it for me. Got kids here needing attention and laundry that never waits too... Parent teacher conferneces tonight (student led, HATE that) and Survivor and ER on tv this evening as well as taco's for dinner. Should be a good one!

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FINALLY FEELING GOOD AGAIN!

What a roller coaster life has been the past few months! I almost hate to say it outloud, but I FEEL GOOD AGAIN! LOL (I said that a few weeks ago and then got sick!) I can honestly say that back in July and August was the best I have felt physically and emotionally in my entire adult life. I just can't explain how good I felt... so many emotions that run with it.
Then things went haywire with life and my health and I just sort of started to spiral down. Not just the stuff with my thyroid but also with my Mom, my bf and some other things...just enough all bound together to put me way off track. :O( Then with the pending surgery in the back of my head, I started with the EXCUSES (oh they stink!!!) and got this mindset that if I could just "maintain" where I was through the surgery that I would be happy with myself. Now, honestly, that WAS a good thought - but it became an EXCUSE to not do the things I should be doing.
Now, here I am , almost 3 months later and just now getting back to where I was?? That was just DUMB THINKING on my part! I did try to get back to the gym right after the surgery but it was too much too fast then I continued to fizzle from there. Foods have been a major issue as well and the two combined have been "fatal" for my weight! I am now fighting hard to get off 10-15 lbs that I re-gained during all of this! STINKY POO YUCK! I swear I will never allow myself to backtrack again! :O<
THE GOOD NEWS is that this week I have totally put my brain back in it's proper healthy place (well, almost there) and have been going to the gym and feeling like I am back to where I should be. I realized I MISS the workouts and my body feels so much more refreshed when I go. My routine at home is better, my days run smoother and I sleep better. Those are all plusses in my book! Now if I can get a handle on my foods again I will be melting pounds like buttah baby! :O) Easier said than done though, I know.
One other thing, I have been straggling along on this Couch to 5K program for a while now : http://www.coolrunning.com/engine/2/2_3/181.shtml and it has been frustrating as I have been back and forth on it with being sick, going out of town for Thanksgiving and all that. So this week I have consistantly been hashing it out and "re"doing Week 2 and it is amazing how good it feels! Today I was not going to run, (I take 2 days off a week from the program) and once I got on the treadmill I WANTED to do the running! Crazy! Love it! Felt so good! This is a great program for anyone who is wanting to build up some endurance running, even at a slow pace, it is a good one. I do more of a "trot" than a run, but I figure as I build my endurance I will eventually build some speed too! It just feel so good.
WHO WOULD HAVE EVER THOUGHT THAT I WOULD BE DOING ANY RUNNING AT ALL ANYWAY?????
So, with that, I have to say, if you want to get healthier, there is no time like the present and yes, we have set backs but if I can do it, so can you!
:O) Have a FAB Wed folks!

Darla

PS - And the photo is of ME!! and lil' Micheal bug up at Island Park last weekend playin' in the snow..... what a great time we had!

Did You Know......??

Did you know that hanging out with your boss too much can cause *THESE* kinds of problems? LOLOL I just noticed the similarities from these photos... cracks me up! (If you didn't know, our oldest son Chris works for our best friends company and Blake is his "boss" man - they do spend way too much time together, don't you think?)
Absolute craziness I tell ya! OYE!

Happy Tuesday - It's SNOWING!

Got up and going this sleepy Tuesday morning and off to the gym I went! It was cool but no frost on the windows so I was a bit suprized! Well, after a hearty workout (I did my walk/run again!! and the ellyptical) I went out to leave and it was SNOWING! It is still coming down a bit, there is just a skiff on the ground but it is enough to make things slick.... from walking across the parking lot at the gym to driving and people just do not know how to slow down UGH! I slid in one intersection and watched others fishtail all over the roads... and this was a good hour before morning traffic REALLY starts! Going to be messy! Gotta love some snow though!!!!!!!!

Had a GREAT workout! I am back to working on the Couch to 5K program as the past 2 weeks got skewed up - sick - holiday - all that. So, I am doing week 2 over again and so far so good. Yesterday was easy as pie but today I was a bit sore so it was tougher but I did it. Yesterday I did weights too and today I did a the ellyptical machine - I have hardly been on that thing for a couple of months and have lost my endurance - need to build it back up! LOVE working out on it though as it is very motivating and gratifying to do. Love listening to my MP3 player while I do it too - Chris, our oldest son, bought it for me for my Bday this year and I have got to get some music on there - I can rock out to ACDC only so much! LOL

A few more pictures from our weekend.... just hanging out at the cabin staying cozy warm! Playing games and watching movies and so on. We got a little silly - but hey - it was FUN!! Chris being lazy and crazy - kids playing games - Blake being "photogenic" and myself and my bad hair day NOT being "photogenic"(you don't want to know). Even got some "footage" of Ed and Blake doing the dishes WHOOOAHHH! You can also view this here : http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yyR-_i7gfNo
It is a pretty good little bit of entertainment if you ask me!

Enjoy your Tuesday! Let it snow let it snow let it snow.....
Darla

** And if you have not already checked THIS OUT : http://blog.luxedesigns.com/livingtheluxelife/2007/11/an-announcement.html?cid=91332262#comment-91332262 you need to!**

Quick Little Funny For You!

Got this fun little thing off another blog I visit... have had a total blast non-stop playing around with it using our own family and friends faces- super easy and fun! This one is of us with our best friends... Ed, Lisa, Darla, Blake just Elf'n around! LOL :O) Enjoy!
Darla


http://www.elfyourself.com/?id=9603022295

New Week - New Beginnings!

What an awesome morning I had! Got up and going, ready to head to the gym, totally pumped to get in a workout! First thing I got a phone call that the baby was not coming for today... so I headed to the gym and got in an awesome walk/run and some weights and then headed home to get the kiddos' going. Kids off to school, dishes done, laundry started, ahhhh long hot bath! Dr to get blood drawn, visited with a friend, lunch with hubby, and here I am. So far a pretty dang darn good Monday if you ask me! :O) I am so pumped with my workout this a.m. - I had to revert back to Week 2 of the walk/run program but I kicked it right up at the gym and felt good!
So, here are a few more photos of our trip to Island Park over Thanksgiving. We played and played in the snow with the kids on the 4 wheelers and sleds... here is just a glimpse of all our fun!
Darla

A few photos of our Adventures over Thanksgiving Weekend!

Here are a FEW photos of the weekend... I have over 100 I took (YES, I did!!) but I'll save some to share for later. The TURKEY BIRD (wasn't he a beauty!?!) and Ed carving... then the kids being rediculously silly at the table waiting for dinner to start! One one side was Abbi, Chris and Dani (the monkeys!) and the other was Tiffany(in glasses), Lauren, Berg and Micheal. The meal was delightful, we even took the opportunity to go around and have each person say what they were thankful for.... I loved it! Oh, and note the cute little name cards on the plates?? *I* made those for the occasion! :O)
Darla

THANKFUL

Thankful for a loving family.XOXO
Thankful for a safe home and cozy enviroment to live.:O)
Thankful for friends who are like family that shared their Holiday with us - so blessed to have them in our lives. XOXO
Thankful for an amazing turkey dinner! :OP
Thankful for friends who do so many nice things for us and our family, including a SUPER awesome show last night! So thankful for so much right now!
Thankful to be back home ....

I'll share more later but have a lot to do! Took tons of pictures of our trip and am excited to share!
I just wanted to say how Thankful I am for so much in our lives.
We are blessed.
Darla

Look Out Birkey Turd!! Darla's in the kitchen!

OK so anyone who knows me very well also knows that I am not the world's best cook. As a matter of fact, I really don't even LIKE to cook very much but there is one or two excpetions... and one of those is THANKSGIVING! I love to cook the turkey and stuff it and make all the yummy treats to go along. I have had success with baking a turkey for quite a few years and so this year when we were invited to go up to the cabin with Blake and Lisa for Thanksgiving I all but begged to be the one to do the bird!!! So, we split up the duties and I get to bake my big ol' 20 lb "birkey turd" and do my stuffing....MMMM! I can't wait! I have been working all day today doing some prep work and pre-cooking what I can to save for time and energy at the cabin. We will leave around noon on Wed and be back Sat and I AM PUMPED TO GO! It is so awesome up there in the quiet beauty of nature and just being with family and friends and just enjoying one another- it is the best! We are SO very blessed!
So... while we are off enjoying nature and assuredly playing in the mud and some SNOW too... you all enjoy your friends, family and turkey dinners and remember to count your blessings as well. Much love and happiness to you and yours - we all have so much to be thankful for!
XOXOX
Darla

Thyroid Information

So, since I have undergone all this crazy thyroid stuff the past few months, I have had tons and tons of questions relating to it. A lot of gals that I know "think" they might have HYPOTHYROIDISM (aka: underactive thyroid) and have asked me so many questions. My best suggestion would be to ask your Doctor and see about having the bloodwork done to see if you do in fact have levels that are off - and also there is tons of info on the internet which help with understanding this disease.
For me, when I was first diagnosed like 16 years ago, I had no idea that mine was off - I had a lot of the symptoms but never put them together. It is likely that I had it even back in Jr High or High School and just never knew it. I was diagnosed after I'd had major surgery in 1992 and all we had to do was put me on a prescription for it. To be honest, I was not very faithful in taking that medication over the years. I really didn't see a big difference when I was on or off of it so I was not diligent, that along with I did not keep a regular Dr so it was difficult to stay with it.
When my Dr put me on the medications at the first of this year, he was very adiment that I must stay on the Rx - my levels were way way off from where they should have been and he was pretty sure that it was effecting my ability to lose weight. I was totally amazed at how great I felt after I got on the meds and got regulated - I did not know I COULD feel so good - I decided that I was not going to let myself get off them again. At that time the Dr also noted that my thyroid was enlarged but nothing to worry about. As you know, as a few months progressed it became way more enlarged and then I had my surgery to have it removed. This choice, was hard yet easy because my thyroid was SO underactive that it was basically not producing hardly any horomone at all so going from that to where I am now was not going to be a big change. But it was. I am still hypothyroid - as in underactive - as in my body produces none of the horomone now because I have no thyroid - but getting the medications to level it out has been hard. I am having a lot more of the symptoms, well, not more, just more intense. Here are a few according to Yahoo Health Online:
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
What are the symptoms?
The symptoms of hypothyroidism occur throughout the body. In adults, they usually develop slowly and are often mistaken for part of the aging process. Symptoms in adults may include:

Coarse and thinning hair.
Brittle nails.
Dry skin.
A yellowish tint to the skin.
Slow body movements and speech.
Inability to tolerate cold.
Feeling tired, sluggish, or weak.
Memory problems, depression, or difficulty concentrating.
Constipation.
Heavy or irregular menstrual periods that may last longer than 5 to 7 days.
Other, less common symptoms may include an enlarged thyroid gland (goiter), modest weight gain, a hoarse voice, muscle aches and cramps, a puffy face, and swelling of the arms, hands, legs, and feet.

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The only one that is different for me, is that I have had a problem with getting too hot easily my whole life - I sweat like crazy - no, I don't perspire, I SWEAT! However, since the surgery my feet and fingers and nose seem to be cold almost all the time - so that is one thing that is different for me. Otherwise almost all the other symptoms or traits of hypothyroidism are right on track.
So - if you have these symptoms and are concerned, I really would just talk to your Dr about them.
I feel like maybe had I been more consistant with my treatment over the years I may not have ended up where I am today - the surgery was good in many aspects for me but in the long run I wish I had not had to have had it.
Darla

Christmas goodies, bye-bye Rowdy and girls frills!

Just a few pictures to share with you.... all in one days' events for our family!!!

I picked up these ADOREABLE Christmas mini loaf pans at the craft store today for only $1 each - they were too cute to pass up so I had to get several! They will make some fun Holiday gifts!
Tiffany and her lil' Webkin bear "Snickers".... who recevied an entire new outfit today! Her friends Mom (and our neighbor) sewed this cute little frock for her and I dressed it up with some frills and lace and then added a cute little headband too! So cute!
Last but not least, Micheal and his kitty "Rowdy" who had to go to a new home today. He was not getting along well with the doggies and also causing some other problems around the house so he went off to be adopted - Micheal was sad - but we know he has a good home. :O)

Darla

FRIDAY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

T G I F BABY!

I was really really ready for Friday this week - even if the kids ARE out of school! LOL Dani and Tiff went to sleepovers last night and Chris had to work all day today so it was kind of like a normal Friday around here.
I slept in - so needed it. Yesterday was too long and with being up so early and then still fighting this cold gunk (that the antibiotics aren't touching - viral?) I just needed to sleep.
We got some Thanksgiving shopping done and bought the ol' burkey tird to go in the freezer ... took Micheal to buy a new hamster and I got the CUTEST mini loaf pans at the craft store and Ed took a motorcycle ride (one of his last for the year I think) and that is about it for us. Seems like a busier day than that but it really wasn't? Crazy isn't it?
I am working on some craft projects for Christmas gifts and making meatloaf for dinner... don't make it very often as dh doesn't like it, but it is a fave for me!
Hope you all have a good Fri. evening....

Darla

ALMOST Friday..... that is why I love Thursdays.

Yes, I think next to Saturdays, Thursdays are my favorite day of the week. ONE is because it is almost Friday, which is hubby's day off, which is OUR day together. TWO is because it is an AWESOME night for TV with Survivor, ER and so on... just got to love Thursdays!
I am feeling somewhat better but hate how cold/sinus things hang on and on and I especially HATE how you wake up in the mornings feeling like somethin died in your mouth - so gross!!! I just think I'll improve throughout the weekend and then I'll be healthy and happy for next week when we go to the cabin for Thanksgiving!!! There I go with that forced optimism again! :O)
Got the baby back today! They were "stranded" in Boise at her folks as her car died over there - they did a temp fix on it to get her home but it is DEAD and she is w/out transportation now. Poor girl. I picked them up at 5 am this morning and took her to her carpool and will pick her up tonight. She says she has some plan for something so I hope it works out for her.
Got on the treadmill for a few min last night - not alot as I was so tired and worn out but I did walk a whoppin' 1/2 mile and at least I did something. Today I'll try the walk/run and see how I do with it. Geeeeeeesh I hate getting sick, it throws SO much off track!
OK - house and laundry - that is my agenda today! I think I'll try to clean out the fridge and a couple of closets too.
Make it a good one!
Darla

still feeling ick -

Got my antibiotics last night, taking them faithfully (four times a day!!) and slept absolutely HORRID. Sinus headache, then when I got it to drain it would not stop so I blew my nose 1001 times over night ....... you get the picture.

no running today.

Darla

I hab a nuffy nobe again....

Went to bed last night thinking my nose was getting a bit snuffy - woke up several times during the night due to massive wind storms and had to blow my snout a few times and by morning I was full blown ICK! Just so happens I got over this stuff not a week or so ago and having already suffered through 2.5 weeks of it I do not want it back again. :O( I had already scheduled a Dr appt for this a.m. for my blood pressure so I had the Dr check this out too - he said my ears looked gross and my nose was nasty draining too - he thinks I never fully got over previously said cold and it was making a second appearance just for my benifit! LOL Gettin' me on some anitibiotics and hope it is gone by next week and Thanksgiving! So... I am drinking some nice hot tomato soup and going for a nap!

Darla

9:36 pm
I started on my antibiotics, took a long hot bath, drinking lots of hot green tea and hope to feel tons better in the a.m. but definatly have gotten worse as the day progressed - added to the stuffy nose some aches and pains and sore throat :O( Feeling so icky - hope it clears up soon!

Rock ON! I did it!

Just have to toot my horn! I just did the Week 3 Training on the Couch to 5K program! I actually made it through the whole workout! :O) It went a little something like this:

5 min walking warm up
90 sec jog
90 sec walk
3 MINUTE!!!! jog
3 minute walk
90 sec jog
90 sec walk
3 MINUTE!!!! jog
3 min walk
cooldown...

I did it, for real, ran for two sets of three minutes! Unreal!! And, the best part, it did not hurt at all! :O)

can I get a little "go Darla - go Darla" !!

OUCHIE MAMMA!!! (and a date night)

OUCHIE MAMMA! Yes, that is right! Darla took a little bouncing ride on, err, OFF the 4 wheeler yesterday and it hurt! My little scrape on the leg is just one of my many wounds but I am certain I will live and I will ride again! LOL I was going through a muddy tire track and tried to stradle it with the 4 wheeler and when I got to the end I wanted to jump up over the rutt and get out of the track so I gunned it a "bit" to pop up out of there and I guess that lil' baby wanted out more than I wanted out and jumped right up over the edge and I proceeded to BOUNCE off the atv! I landed askewly on my big ol' rear end right in front of Ed and in the process shook myself up pretty well! LOL I have found that this morning I have hurts I didn't know I'd have - lol - my butt has a lovely bruise as well as my hip, all three sides of my elbow (front, and both sides) and my shoulder is wayyy sore as well as a spot behind my ear! (all on my left side) I DID however, get right back on the ol' beast and rode for another good 1/2 hour before we loaded up and went home. :O)
In other news....
We always do our Sat night date night with our bf's Blake and Lisa, we'd missed the past 2 weeks so I was anxious to go - then at the last minute Ed got called into work for an emergency but luckily made it home in time.
We went to Garcia's mexican (our normal fave) and they were busy! Must be the cooler weather? I ordered my standard shrimp avacado salad and it was YUM as always. We ate chips and salsa and bean dip forever too - just such awesome treats while visiting and laughing the evening away.
After dinner we walked over to the mall to Macy's and looked around a bit but they were closing so that was a flop!
So the guys headed home and Lisa and I ran an "errand" - FUNNY! (This is a tad X-Rated) They had gone previously in the day to TGI Fridays and noticed a Beatles Poster in the waiting lobby area. Well, on the bottom of it was this 1/2 apple picture... that did NOT look like the inside of an apple IYKWIM!? (think female parts)So Lisa had to take me over there and SHOW me this poster in person and took photos of it too!!!!!!! ROTF! When we got back to our house Ed looked it up online and found it was in fact the label to the center of the 45 record of one of their albums - but being a 45 the center was cut out and you could not see what it REALLY was? So, for you that are a bit 'older' than us, was this a big controversial thing back in that day? I am so curious! Do tell - please!
When we got home we played a game of Balderdash and had a ton of laughs and giggles, ate some kettlecorn, and were just plain silly. Then at about 11:30pm we decided to go make a run to Denny's for dessert! The guys both got breakfast (geesh!) and Lisa and I got gooey, sugar filled yummies (of course I had the cherry cheesecake) and we sat and talked till' after 1:00 a.m.!
AND THAT is the rest of the story! LOL Other than I woke up painfully sore this morning and am whining a lot!
Have a great Sunday folks!
Darla

Don't believe me?? Do ya??

Well, I finished up on Week 2 of Couch to 5K training last night. It was really tough this week, and there are 7 more weeks to go! OYE! The first two really weren't too awfully bad but the Week 3 scares me. We go from running 90 second segments to 3 MINUTE segments and I just don't know if this ol' body is ready to do it! LOL I am going to give it a whirl though and if I cannot do it without coughing up a lung or falling over dying, then I'll go back and re-do Week 2 again to prepare myself to go into Week 3.
It is a GREAT program and a good way to ease into running but when you are as out of shape as I am , well, no, that is not right, because I am in pretty decent shape from this past year of workouts. I guess what I mean (and hate to admit) is that when you are as heavy as I still am, it is quite hard to follow the routine and stay with it. Fair enough?
Now, I know some of you just simply cannot fathom ME - Darla - RUNNING on a treadmill... well, here is the proof! Tiffany took pix of me on the treadmill last night doing my final Week 2 run! SEEE! I really am doing it, gushing sweat and all!!!
Also have a new picture of my not so beautiful neck as yesterday was Week 9 since my surgery. It has not changed much in the past few weeks but it is getting red more and that is weird to me. I have read alot about how it "should" heal and I guess this is all part of the process. Hopefully within a year it will be unoticable!
Well, gotta get moving. Running a few errands, cleaning house and date night with Blake and Lisa tonight (HOOOORAY!) and I am so happy, we have missed the past 2 weeks of date nights and I have been going through withdrawls or something! LOL

Have a great one!
Darla

Honey, can you make the car payment and the car payment please?

THIS is what we did this week. SERIOUS as a heart attack!!!! So, when Blake affectionatly nick named our new Ford "The Exxon Valdez" he was so not jokin' with us! We bit the bullet and went down to the best gas station in town and filled er' up! YES - that reciept is for real! Ed says there is something about watching a gas pump roll past a hundred bucks that just makes your eyes go buggy and your head start to spin. Just plain SCARY stuff! At nearly $3 a gallon and a 44 gallon tank, well, we might as well have another car payment! LOL HOWEVER - we knew what we were in for when we bought the ol' beauty and we'll just have to choke on it while prices are high.

On a happy note. Had a good day today. Ed and I ran errands, had a nice lunch, went and used my FREE Khol's gift card and I got 2 new blouses! Tonight is taco night at our house and it is smelling rather delish if I do say so myself! I am in a good mood and things are going well. Kind of a busy but lazy weekend - but all good.

I did not workout (yet) today and may just take it as a day off but I want one more good try on the week 2 part of my 5K walk/run... I was still at my good weight this a.m. despite a small ice cream splurge last night (totally was IN control though) and eating dinner out with Ed's work guys. Today I made good choices too so I am feeling confident in holding together for the weekend! I am so happy with how I have done this week and see the lbs just going going gone and making me one thrilled lady!
I can do this!
**Edited** Food choices went OUT the window tonight, snacked and ate way too much at dinner then felt guilty as heck and forced myself down to the treadmill... running on a full stomach of taco food is NOT ideal folks - I would not reccomend it to even my worst enemy - seriously. Ick! BUT I did do my walk/run and I feel so accomplished as I have now completed two full weeks of the training. Can I do week #3 ? I don't know, but I will soon find out! LOL **

Hope you are doing well and happy too!Enjoy your weekend!
Darla

** You can click on the images to see them in larger detail **

Good Week

OK only have a second but HAD to report what a great diet, excersize, health and fitness week this has been for me! I have consistently lost EVERY day this week and am down 4 LBS since Monday and doing a megga happy dance! I will be back down to my big 50 lbs again soon! I LOVE IT! I am finishing up week two of the couch to 5k walk/run program and it is killing me... week three scares the heck out of me but I will give it a try. If I cannot manage to pull it off I will go back and re-train on week 2 and then move on. I won't stop though till' I get to my 5K run goal!!!!

Busy morning here so I need to go. Have had late starts one after another all morning so I need to catch up with myself!
Have a GREAT Thursday!

Darla

WHOO WHOO!

Having a great week! Having a great day! Just happy overall! AND that is good!

Today is day three of really working back on track and I am happy to report I have lost OVER 3 lbs since Monday! I knew this would melt off since I'd already lost it once, my body just had to "recover" I guess? I am still doing great on my foods and not feeling hungry for junk which is the biggest hurdle for me! I just got done with my 5k walk/run training and it kicked my butt again, but always feel so good when I am done to say "I DID IT!" one more time! I am almost through week 2 of the 9 week course of training and I feel great. I was worried this a.m. though because last night I was doing some quilting at the Church and was down on my knees on the hard floors for 1 1/2 hours and my knees were really sore. I had to get up 2 x over night to take some motrin for the pain and stiffness and this a.m. I was really stiff and sore. My left knee is a wreck anyway so I have to be careful. Well, I skipped going to the gym but once I got up and going and moving around it was a lot better so I just did the treadmill at home. Maybe I can get to the YMCA later today?? Maybe I just need to hire good ol' Richard Simmons to come personally train me?? LOLOL!
Ahhh but I have that dress to keep me motivated - sorry Richard baby! :O)
Housework and laundry today and pre-making dinner for the family as I am going to a card class at Church tonight. Totally enjoy the time at those! :O) Hope to find time to put together some more card kits this afternoon but I don't "have" to so that is ok if I don't too.

OK off I go! The dustbunnies await!!!!! :OP

Darla

For the Love of Salad LeRoy!

Hee hee! OK that is total and utter silliness but I have to tell you that I am REALLY glad that I love salad and fresh fruits and veggies as much as I do! I would die without them - seriously! So I am way over the top jazzed and back on track with my fitness and health goals and feeling FAB U LOSO baby! I got up and went to the gym at 5:00 a.m (just like in the "old days") and got in my 5k training part too, the only downside was that I have lost my endurance on the ellyptical and will have to build back up - BUT that is OK!!! At least I am doing it again! Right? I feel so good today and I plan to get right back on where I left off pre-surgery and soon the fatty lbs will be meltin' like buttah baby! Oh hhh yeah!
So, on top of my super awesome fabuloso workout I have done 2 days now of excellent food choices and NO!! - I AM NOT STARVING! Amazing grace! LOL I feel great! This is awesome and I can't beleive I let myself get so out of control because I feel sooo stinking good again! In just 2 days I feel awesome! LOVE IT!
Kind of a crazy day here (on top of me being on cloud 9 ... ) I got some housework and laundry done, then I went and visited with my neice who I NEVER see then went with a friend to look at a house out in Menan which is a ways out there. It was a nice day - we are having baked potato bar (with chili, cheese, ect) for dinner and I am heading to bed early AFTER I watch Biggest Loser for some more seriously serious inspiration!
Hope you had a GREAT day too!

:O) Darla

Angry at myself

I cannot believe I have done this to myself and I just am going to have to get mad and get busy! This photo was from my lowest weight back in July, when I hit my much awaited and blood and sweat worked for 50 lbs gone. (it is not a great photo but you can see how happy I was with myself)
So, since that time I have wavered between the 45-50 lb mark up until my surgery in Sept when I started making excuses for myself. Slowly I am creeping up till' I am at 40-45 lbs rather than 50... my morning workouts have gone to nadda and my eating has gone back out of control. I so have not worked this hard for this long to just go back to the old me. I don't want to go back to the old me and I don't want to FEEL like the old me.
Last week a friend challenged me to do a Couch to 5K program with her, and I have been doing it - meanwhile gorging my face with every piece of Halloween candy that entered our doors along with tons and tons of poor food choices. DUMB! I didn't even want to eat it - I just did. That is what stinks about being an over-eater like I am, it is not even a thought process, it is just food in mouth, chew, swallow. I hate feeling out of control of that.
This morning I woke up and weighed myself for my Monday charting... I was very very unhappy with what I saw. I decided then and there that I will NOT be gaining one more lb of this weight back and I WILL be going back to doing all the good things that I was before. Morning workouts, better foods, plenty of water and so on.
Today has been good - good food choices, good workout and positive attitude. I am better than what I have been treating myself and I am worth every ounce of effort I put forth?!
So.... I am doing this - if you see me - cheer me on! I can do this! Totally CAN DO THIS!

Darla

**EDITED**
I DID go to the gym today and did my Couch to 5K workout AND I made amazinly wonderful food choices ALL day long! No cheats! Not one tiny teeny little one, I was good ALL day! :O)

Brrrrrr Winter is coming!

Well, I love fall, autumn, whatever you call it, I love this time of year. The colors and cooler temps are so awesome! However, it is just getting dang right chilly out now! We have been down in the 20's overnight and this week we are projected to be in the mid 50's to low 60's for highs during the day. Brrrr!
Since I had my surgery I can't seem to get warm and my fingers and toes and nose seem to be cold all the time. Brrrrr.
Happy Monday to ya all. Busy with house and kids today, hope to make it to the gym this afternoon. :O) And THAT is about it for me!
Later.....

Darla

Tonight brought to you by the letter : M

mmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm
as in yummy.

Happy Sunday
:O) Darla

Wanted to share....

A few new things I have created lately. I have not been the world's best at keeping up on my scrappy fun this year so now I am trying to play catch up and creating lots of fun stuff. :O) Some layouts I did last weekend and some cards with scraps and then a fun friends "treat" can made from a baby formula canister! Thanks for looking!
Darla

Saturday

Well, lots to do and no big agenda today. Go figure. I will be spending the day doing some household chores (with the kids help!!) and then the rest is up in the air. Ed is taking some friends 4 wheeling as a HS Girls Choice Dance all day date thing (we did not do this when I was in HS)!! Ed is also doing some computer work for some co-workers and friends. Me? Well, I was invited to assist someone at a craft fair but I doubt I will go. I'd love to go look around though. Also wanting to go "scope" out all the new scrapbooking goodies at the local shops around town, there is so much new, neat stuff out there and Christmas IS coming you know!? I was browsing websites last night for some fun fonts for my different die cut machines and fell in LOVE with this one for my Cricut: http://www.cricut.com/shopping/ProductDetails.aspx?id=91&s=1&sc=18&t=ip
It is not only an alphabet font but has different animal shapes for each letter too! SO SUPER CUTE!!
Anyway, not a big day today - just kids and home I guess. No date night tonight either as our friends' have a family birthday dinner to go to - bummer. So love date night and look forward to it all week. Good thing they took me to lunch earlier in the week so I got to get out anyway LOL.
A few pix to share too. Micheal's new hair cut, he is so handsome! Chris carving pumpkins, he has quite a talent for this. Lil' baby Noah who I babysit, had to give him a tubby the other day and he was so stinkin' cute I had to take some pix. OH and my newest desire, a beautiful black dress from Fashion Bug that I am dying to buy, in two sizes SMALLER to use as a goal and motivation! Isn't it pretty!?

OK enjoy your weekend!
Darla