BL and Jake Update

Hey HWHL friends!
It's been a while for all of us!  We all lead busy lives don't we?  I keep checking here to see if anyone is doing anything exciting or challenging, but same as you...did not post anything...till now!

Biggest Loser update:  Well, I had a little set back with my weight.  I believe that my change in eating habits had my stomach confused.  I gained 10 lbs in 2 weeks!  I wasn't eatig badly...but still beating myself up for it.  My "gut" feeling was that my gut was not processing all that extra protein I was ingesting.  I had to do a tea cleans to finally get things moving in the right direction!  By my wiegh in on Friday,  I had lost the extra 10 lbs I had put on and by this morning I had lost the 5 more lbs that came off this month with my exercise and good eating habits!  It came off as mysteriously and as fast as it came on!  Finally some encouraging results!

I'm so glad I didn't give up and go back to my bad eating habits!  I have to admit that I did turn to some comfort food in my depths of frustration...but not over doing it...just enough to help me feel better...then guilty about not eating the way I know would help me to be healthy.

What I find most encouraging is the shrinking numbers...from the scale and the measuring tape! 
It's all good!

Jake update:  Jake's blog  click on this link to read the latest.  Jake finished his last chemo and we are waiting to do a P.E.T. scan to make sure the tumor is dead tissue.  It looks to me that the tumor is actually bigger, but if it's dead tissue, it doesn't matter.  We are going to see a Urologist and hopefully have most of his hospital/doctor visits finished by the end of this month. 

I'm really looking forward to things being "Normal" for a while.  Won't that be nice! :)

I'm still here and doing Cat's Challenge

It's been really quiet on Healthy Wife.

I've been wondering how all of you are doing and checking the blog to see if anyone has posted.

Cat's doing her 120 mile challenge again this summer and I was hoping that some of you might want to join me in doing it, I've already signed up. I did it last year, it was a great incentive for me to get my cardio in each week. I finished in August having reached Cat's goal and with a smaller tush and gut.

Let me know if you are joining the challenge too.

http://nutsinanutshell.blogspot.com/2011/05/fat-butt-friday-summer-challenge.html

Yay!

My husband got a new job!!  And they are sending him to Austria next week!  How cool is that?!

Biggest Loser update

Biggest Loser weigh in today! I worked really hard yesterday...last chance work out! I did weights twice during the day, ran (up hill!), played racquetball two hours (one in the morning, one at night), ate nutritiously and weghed more instead of less from the day before! Very depressing! :(
I still lost 7 lbs this month! -1% body fat.

Sorry, I'm out

A stomach bug has been making the rounds at our house and unfortunately it caught up to me last night and today. Ugh! I'm out for this challenge. I should be ready to go for the next one though.

He he...

Soldiers in the army till the conflict is o’er.

Happy are we, Happy are we!

Only healthy foods when we get to the store!

We will grin and bear it by and by!

Rose-bud Update!

Hey HWHL friends!

Here's what's going on in my life!  Jake is almost done with his cancer treatments!  He has one more to go...if his blood counts are good enough!  Yesterday his platelets were 19.  They need to be at least 65 to get chemo.  We are shooting for May 3rd!  Good news...he gained 4 lbs!!!


My Biggest Loser Team is doing great!  We have the best trainer and she really drills us on learning how to eat healthy!  It's a big change in habit eating, but the results are very good.  I have lost 26 lbs since December and 14 lbs since the competition started.  I'm putting pins in my skirts to hold them up and the team t-shirt I ordered is too big for me! 

I'm running a 5K twice a week to get warmed up for the real 5K I'm running in May (actually 2 5K's).  So actually, I'm running a 10K...I'm just splitting it up into two different days! haha  I ran this morning and did it in 44 min.  My trainer wants me to improve my time!  We've been doing weights 2-3 times a week.  I have to say...I can really feel my muscles!  My goal is to be down 3 more lbs by weigh in on May 6th!  I have finally lost enough weight that people are starting to notice! 

I didn't buy my kids any Easter candy this year.  I thought they were really bummed, so I picked up a few things on Monday...they haven't hardly eaten any of it!  I guess they are getting used to not having treats around too!  This is a very good thing!

Today's Funny

Wife to Husband: Last night there were two pieces of cake in the refrigerator and now there is only one. How do you explain that?

Husband: I guess it was so dark that I didn't see the other piece.

Diving Back In!

This has been the strangest two weeks....but it's time to dive back in. Are you ready to join me? Today was a great day. Warm weather, exercise, good food. I dove in head first!

We will have a one week challenge ending Friday. That's five days...can you do it? Then we will start a two week challenge starting Monday May 2nd.

Still Moving!

Hello Everyone! Looks like Spring, Spring Break and Life have taken us all away for the time being. We will start another one week challenge on Monday. Even if you are not participating in challenges feel free to share your great stories!!!!

Have a wonderful Easter!!!!

Post Your Points

Gee, that week went by fast. I did pretty good....but I'm ready for next week to ramp it up even more.

How did you do?

Enjoy your Sunday and get ready to start again on Monday!!!!

Are you willing?

This past Monday I went on a 60 mile training ride. That ride takes about 5 hours. Five hours of you, nature and your thoughts. During this ride I thought about a conversation my husband and I have occasional. Usually this conversation has to do with me riding my bike has always trailed over into other topics. The general idea is that I don't like to do hard things...I don't like to suffer. Whenever this conversation comes up I get frustrated...but I've decided that I get frustrated because most of the time he is right.

Many times I have grand ideas and designs. Paticularly when it comes to being healthy. But, the truth is I don't want to have to suffer or give up being comfortable to achieve what I want. Maybe I will for a short time but not usually long enough to make a difference.

Did any of you read this article by Trainer Momma? It basically is her experience with what I'm talking about.

This is not easy for me but I'm trying to find a way to push through, be strong, make the hard choice to achieve my goals.

The thing that it amazing is usually once we break these barriers that we put up for ourselves it's no longer hard.

Ex. It's so hard not to eat late and night....but then once you stop for good it's really not that big of a deal.

It's the TIME it takes to develop a habit that's challenging. We get started and give up when it gets the slight bit uncomfortable. It's time to change this.

Just some food for thought for you all. What's holding you back...what do you not want to suffer through? Don't let it stop you!

YOU CAN DO HARD THINGS

I'm a lurker...all take, not much give!



I may seem absent from the blog, but I really do come and soak in the inspiration that you all give.  : ) 

Life is a balancing act, and I truly feel that I'm doing an okay job balancing it all.  I have three busy kids, a very supportive husband, but I'm also a college student embarking on a MAD dash to graduate this December.  I do okay with my eating and okay with my exercise, and I know I need to do better, but with a fussy back I feel like I'm doing the best I can right now.  As if I need my life to be any crazier...they just called me to the Young Women's President at church!! (For you non-"Mormons", I'll be in charge of all the girls ages 12-18 at church).  This will be really fun, but not so easy. 

So Audrey & friends, from now till December 16th, when I graduate, I'm asking for your patience as I try to be a Healthy Wife with a crazy & Happy Life.  : )  (Besides, I can't give up!!I need to look really good in my graduation pictures, right??)

You girls are amazing! Thanks for inspiring me to be better!!

Hello!

Good morning girls! I've had a rough past couple days with my bowels. I don't know what is going on. Last week was awesome. No bloating or pain, and I stuck to my boring menu. Then, over the weekend I ate some things that I normally don't eat...and have been miserable for 2 days now. I hope my body gets back to normal so I can get my duties accomplished. Is anyone else bothered by certain foods? For me, I know my body doesn't like wheat, but there is something else going on too. I took the advice from a girl who has IBS and it seems to be helping. She advised me not to eat anything processed. Now, this has been really hard, and it has forced me to plan ahead so I have food on hand to eat...like boiled eggs, baked potatoes, brown rice, fruits and veggies. It's been a little tricky to get my carbs in but I've been able to eat between 200g-300g daily. With all the running I'm doing it should be a little higher, but I'm glad to have at least that much without eating wheat. Everything felt great until this past Sunday when we had guests over from Chad's work and I made a gluten free cake mix for peach cobbler. I also ate some chips, and some other things that are processed. I'm finally feeling a bit better, but still not 100%. Any advice? I hate to be so absolute and crazy with what I put in my body, but if I'm not, I pay for it for days!!!! Can't a girl just eat what ever she wants!!!!! Thanks for listening to my ranting and raving!

Quick Answers

This first week challenge started yesterday!!! Hop on board if your ready...if not, the next challenge starts next Monday.

There are no free days or 30 point challenge. Since we are doing Monday through Saturday use Sunday as your free day!!!

READY, SET, GO!

Ready, Set, Go!

The next three weeks are going to consist of THREE quick challenges. They will start Monday and end Saturdays. This way for any of you that have plans for Easter, or Spring Break don't have to feel left out!

I hope that with three quick challenges they will be fun, motivating, and a quick jump start to the swim suit season that is just around the corner.

Join me! We are going back to the normal point system. Hopefully for those that participated in the 5 week focus challenges this will be no problem! The rest of you hop on board and get going!

Looking forward to hearing about your successes and great ideas to keep motivated now that the warmer weather in on it's way!!!

Did any of you keep track of your points for the 5 week challenge....let's hear about it!

Mark me absent

Just want you ladies to know why I've been absent on HWHL of late.

It has to do with part of Sue's post too actually: not being critical of others.

When I'm participating in HWHL de rigeur, my focus tends to be a bit, well, health-related. It becomes a part of my vision, my rose-colored-health glasses, if you will.

Problem is, that vision tends to make me more critical of a certain really wonderful man in my life who is not blessed with my genetics, my vegetable-loving disposition, or the time I have to indulge my weight-lifting/walking proclivities.

I've tried not to be critical, prayed about it and held my tongue, but my mind still goes there and those thoughts seep out of my pores in subtle ways unwillingly.

And it's just not good.

So, although I'm still doing all these good things for myself, I'm not as self-aware about it. And by not deliberately thinking about it, I'm less critical.

And that's good.

A strong marriage is important, don't you think.

Finding direction

The past several months have been a difficult time in my life and I have found myself longing for the days when I felt full (no pun intended). When I felt blessed at every turn and I could think of little else (besides money, but who doesn't want that?) that I needed in my life to feel complete. I have been struggling to find joy and the ability to look forward to the coming years.

Today as I walked in the cool morning air I listened to the BYU Men's Chorus on my iPod. The Lord answered my prayers with The Prayer of St. Francis of Assisi.

Lord, make me an instrument of thy peace,
Where there is hatred, let me bring love;
where there is injury, pardon;
where there is doubt, faith;
where there is despair, hope;
where there is darkness, light;
where there is sadness, joy;

O Divine Master, grant that I may not so much seek to be consoled as to console;
to be understood as to understand;
to be loved as to love.

For it is in giving that we receive;
it is in pardoning that we are pardoned;
and it is in dying that we are born to eternal life.

I have experienced a lot of humility lately, recognizing in myself the tendency to judge. What vanity it is to think that my way is the superior way, to not recognize that each of God's children has the right of free agency to maneuver through their trials in their own way, and that God has infinite love and patience for them. I have seen how withholding unconditional love prevents our loved ones from reaching their full potential, but with our faithful love, they can become all that God has in store for them.

I have been pretty self-absorbed for a long time and it is time to shine forth with God's light and be an instrument in His hand. I hope that I can bring comfort to those that are hurting and that I can weave into my character a tendency to put others' needs before my own.

One, two, buckle my shoe - nine, ten, do it again...

I am here to sadly report that just one year after starting with the Healthy Wives I am right back where I started.

BOO!

I began in March 2010 at 158 pounds and size 12, got down to 143.5 pounds and size 6/8 by June 2010, maintained through the summer and fall, then completely went to pot once winter came. I now weigh 157 pounds and am right back in those size 12's.

Simply put, I quit exercising when it got cold and I began eating with reckless abandon. I love exercising outside, more for the mental health aspect than anything else, so when it got too cold I just lost my mojo and couldn't bring myself to do any of the workout DVDs collecting dust on my shelf. I would sporadically go out walking in the sub-freezing temperatures,

(like the icicles on my eyebrows? I think it was 2 degrees on this January morning.)

but was never consistent. I quit caring about what I was eating, I think mostly because I didn't feel great anyway, without the daily exercise, so I just threw caution to the wind. I knew I was gaining, but I couldn't find the motivation to do anything about it. I always found a little comfort in the fact that I was still under my starting weight of 158 and I just kept telling myself that I'd do something about it once spring came.

The other day I got on the scales and was super depressed to see 158.5 staring back at me. How did I let this happen? Why, oh why, did I waste all that effort, all that health, all that fitness only to have to start all over again? It's so frustrating and I'm just kicking myself. I know why I did it. I was depressed because my husband is gone all the time and I'm usually in a lousy mood most of the winter anyway.

I'd like to say that I've had some great epiphany and am super motivated now, but it's more a case of spring is here and I just don't have winter as my excuse anymore. I want to feel better, to breathe deeply of the fresh country air, to fit into my smaller clothes, to feel good about myself again. I want to feel like this:

(Bear Lake, July 2010)

all sassy and confident because this was the first time in, oh, probably forever, that I didn't feel self-conscious in a bathing suit.

So I am starting again with my handy-dandy mini notebook where I write my calories, and tomorrow I will put on my running shoes and get about the business of getting healthy again.

Here is a recent picture of me, on March 16 after having carpal tunnel release surgery on both hands:

My doc said that after three weeks the wounds will be healed enough that I can do push-ups on them. Time to bust a move!

P.S. Where are we in the current challenge? I haven't been keeping track; is the 5 week challenge over?

Just popping in...

Just popping in to say Hi!  I had a lovely birthday yesterday...the very first one without birthday cake!  No body complained, so hey! 

And...actually, it's not my knee that hurts.  I don't know if it's a pinched nerve or what...(very frustrating!).  When I drive or sleep, the top of my calf and the bottom of my thigh (back of my leg) just aches...like somebody punched me there.  It is most painful in the driving position.  I can do weights ok, but running, racquetball and aerobics irritate it (mostly when I bend it alot).  After it's irritated, it's very painful to pull my ankle up to my butt.  If I have to drive very far, the pain about brings me to tears.  I spent over an hour in physical therapy.  It felt better...until I got in the car.  Less than a block away, it started hurting again.  It feels better if I get up and walk around on it.  Rubbing it doesn't help.  No pain killers (Tylenol, Motrin, etc.) have helped.  Two nights ago I had to take sleeping pills (3 times) to get me through the night.

Has anyone else had this kind of pain?  I've been to a regular doctor, a chiropractor and a physical therapist.  It just seems to be getting worse!  Maybe my body is rebelling for lack of sugar! haha